- Virginia State Police say, Sunday afternoon, a suspect shot at deputies from the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department, killing two and leaving two others in serious condition. The suspect used a rifle while shooting from the mountains in the Vansant area, just outside of Grundy. Several deputies were called to Buchanan County to help in the search. Later, state police and other officers found the suspect and after "some sort of engagement" they fatally shot him. Virginia State Police say deputies were investigating a complaint from the owner of Roger's Service Center, a rural salvage yard, who said his business was being robbed and he had blocked the suspect's vehicle with his own.
- Lawmakers will return to Frankfort Monday for a special legislative session to deal with the deficit in the state's Medicaid budget. In advance of a Republican dinner in Corbin Saturday that was expected to draw GOP activists from across southern and eastern Kentucky, gubernatorial primary opponents Louisville businessman Phil Moffett and Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw unleashed criticism on Republican Senator David Williams. At issue is a proposal by Democratic Governor Steve Beshear to transfer $166.5 million in funding from next year's Medicaid appropriation to be used this year. Williams, the state Senate President, rejected the proposal, calling instead for across-the-board cuts to all government programs to free up money for Medicaid, an approach Beshear and House Democrats rejected almost immediately. Senate Republicans forced an early end to the session by using up the last legislative day last Wednesday instead of March 21st, as scheduled. Beshear notified Medicaid providers Friday that, unless something changes, they're facing cuts of about 35 percent in reimbursements for the final three months of the fiscal year. Medicaid reimbursements pay for about 95 percent of operating revenue of facilities that care for people with intellectual disabilities.
- Kentucky State Police are investigating after the Johnson County Sheriff's Department says a 58 year old man was pronounced dead at a local hospital after he was taken there from the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center. The man was arrested Thursday afternoon on charges out of Morgan County and was pronounced dead just before 5:00 P.M. Friday evening. Officials say they are not ruling out foul play, but, at this time, it's just a death investigation.
- Family members of Jerry Rowe Jr. held a benefit auction Saturday at South Magoffin Elementary School with the aim of raising money and publicity about his disappearance from his Magoffin County home six weeks ago. They raised more than $8,000 in reward money. Last week a dog tracked his scent to a burned out campfire at the Magoffin-Breathitt County line, but there are still no solid leads as to his whereabouts. The family hopes the reward is enough to get someone to finally step forward with information they need.
- Thomas McKinley, a Cynthiana, Kentucky native who won the Silver Star for capturing a high-ranking Nazi official in World War II, has died at the age of 87. McKinley attended the Kentucky Military Academy before joining the Army's 101st Airborne Division. He fought in Europe, Africa and the Middle East during World War II and received the Bronze Star. The military awarded McKinley a Silver Star after he and four others forced the surrender of 100 German soldiers, including Franz von Papen, who had served as chancellor of Germany under President Hindenburg and vice-chancellor under Adolf Hitler in the 1930s.
- Police in central Kentucky were searching for a wounded soldier who has gone missing from his post. Radcliff police said Sgt. Rusty Pool was last seen Saturday around 9:00 p.m. leaving a local motel on foot. Officials did not know what direction he went in after leaving the motel. Pool is 5'-6" about 150 lbs. dirty blond hair hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing light blue jeans, navy zip up jacket with white letters, black Nike shoes with a neon green swoop and neon green shoe soles. Police said Pool has a brain injury that impairs his thinking. Pool was in a warrior transition unit.
- Investigators in southern Kentucky say they've recently gotten solid information on a hit-and-run that killed a man and his 3-year-old stepson late last year. Warren County Sheriff's Maj. Tommy Smith says investigators reviewed surveillance video provided by nearby businesses that shows a pickup truck striking the two people. Smith said the truck's brake lights illuminate as the truck stops briefly before taking off Mark Medaris and his stepson, Jordan Staten, were struck by a full-size, dark-colored pickup truck and killed while on their way to Walmart to get a haircut for the following day's church service on November 22nd.
- A central Kentucky jailer will face a trial in July for contempt of court after jail employees released two prisoners prematurely. The contempt charge against Clark County Jailer Bobby Stone stems from two incidents earlier this year, when a prisoner was approved for work release, but was instead released from jail. Another prisoner was sentenced to serve 360 days, but a jail employee wrote the wrong number of days down and the prisoner was released early. In 2009, two Clark District judges voiced their concerns to Stone when bonds were amended and prisoners were released without judicial approval. During a closed hearing on Thursday, special judge David Hayse scheduled the trial for July 14th.
- Federal authorities have completed a clean sweep in successfully prosecuting dozens of people arrested in a drug bust in a central Kentucky neighborhood where cocaine was flowing near a high school. The last defendant was sentenced Friday, capping a sweeping case in which all 55 defendants were convicted and sentenced after being rounded up by federal and state authorities last June in Paris, Ky. U.S. Attorney Kerry Harvey called it "quite a record" in gaining convictions against every defendant. Authorities say a tiny grocery store two blocks from Paris High School was the hub of the drug trafficking operation. Paris Mayor Mike Thornton says the crackdown has given residents their neighborhood back.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 11:37 PM