Morning News – 01/08/15

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON

After leaving students and parents in temporary suspense, Harrison County school officials decided to cancel all classes for today–the decision was announced around 7:45pm, Wednesday evening. Initially, the school district had sent children home with word of a two-hour delay due to the extreme cold temperatures expected overnight and into today; parents were also notified via automated phone-call, SMS, and social media. The final decision to keep the doors closed for Thursday was also announced via automated call, social media, and broadcast media.

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HARRISON COUNTY SPORTS

Fillies Basketball: – The freshman game that had been scheduled last night at Mason Co was cancelled in relation to yesterday’s cold weather. Likewise, the JV/Varsity games set for this evening at home vs Augusta have been cancelled and rescheduled for Feb. 3 at 6:00 and 7:30.

http://www.harrison.kyschools.us/virtual/high/sports/?p=399

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Breds Freshman Basketball: Harrison Co will host the 2015 38th District Freshman Basketball Tournament on Sat, Jan 24. The Breds will play Nicholas Co in the High School Gym at 10:00 am. Pendleton Co will play Robertson Co at 10:00 am in the Middle School Gym. The winners will play in the High School Gym at 11:30.

http://www.harrison.kyschools.us/virtual/high/sports/?p=405

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Fillies Freshman Basketball: The Fillies Freshman basketball team will play at Nicholas Co on Jan 24 at 11:30 for the 38th District Freshman Championship.

http://www.harrison.kyschools.us/virtual/high/sports/?p=402

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KENTUCKY

Gov. Steve Beshear delivered his final State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night in front of a joint session of the Kentucky General Assembly. In his address, Beshear introduced an aggressive agenda that includes a statewide smoking ban, requiring more children to ride in booster seats and protecting heroin users who seek help from minor drug charges. This is the last year of Beshear’s second and final term as Kentucky’s governor.

http://wuky.org/post/beshear-deliver-his-final-state-commonwealth-speech

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/287857321.html

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A Bourbon County man was shot in the leg Tuesday evening in Lexington, and was found in the Speedway parking lot across from the UK Chandler Medical Center. According to information released to the media, the man had agreed to meet with someone with whom he’d had numerous disagreements with in the past.

“They were going to meet up on Paris Pike in Fayette County and evidently settle their disagreements,” Lexington Police spokesperson Sherelle Roberts told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “Evidently, when they met up to settle this once and for all, they got into a fistfight that led to the shooting.”

Lexington Police contacted the alleged shooting suspect, who denied having seen or shot the man. Police are continuing to investigate the case; as of Wednesday afternoon no charges had been filed.

http://www.kentucky.com/2015/01/07/3628767_bourbon-county-man-shot-in-leg.html

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NATION

Kaitlin Walters; age 13. Last seen 12/30/14 in Wayne County, OH.

The FBI has issued an alert for a missing girl out of Ohio. Kaitlin Walters, 13, was last seen on December 30, 2014 in Wayne County, Ohio. Walters is described as being 5’4″ and 110 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office believes that Walters is with Walter Lee Dunn, 27, of Richmond, KY. According to reports, Richmond Police searched Dunn’s home Tuesday, finding it had been abandoned. Dunn has also reportedly lived in Texas and Indiana. Dunn is described as being 6’1″ and 150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Deputies believe Walters left on her own with Dunn.

The FBI in Knoxville report that Dunn’s car was found in Knoxville on Wednesday, however the Kentucky license plate on the car had been removed.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these two individuals should call 911 or your local law enforcement agency.

Walter Lee Dunn, 27, of Richmond, KY.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Missing-Ohio-girl-believed-to-be-with-Richmond-man-287870751.html

http://www.wbir.com/story/news/crime/2015/01/07/car-connected-to-search-for-missing-teen-found-in-knoxville/21404163/

http://www.waynecountysheriff.blogspot.com/2015/01/kaitlin-walters-update.html

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Nashville, Illinois is saying goodbye to four of its own killed in a Kentucky plane crash.

Services were held yesterday for 14-year-old Sierra Wilder at Nashville’s Campagna Funeral Home. Wilder died in the Friday crash near Paducah along with Nashville furniture store owner Marty Gutzler, wife Kim Gutzler and their 9-year-old daughter, Piper. The Gutzlers’ other daughter, 7-year-old Sailor Gutzler, survived.

Private services for the Gutzlers are Friday.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what caused the crash.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Illinois-town-to-bid-farewell-to-victims-of-Kentucky-crash-287760081.html

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1697 – Last execution for blasphemy in Britain; of Thomas Aikenhead, student, at Edinburgh.
• 1790 – George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address in New York, New York.
• 1815 – War of 1812: Battle of New Orleans – Andrew Jackson leads American forces in victory over the British.
• 1835 – The United States national debt is zero for the only time.
• 1863 – American Civil War: Second Battle of Springfield
• 1867 – African American men are granted the right to vote in Washington, D.C.
• 1877 – Crazy Horse and his warriors fight their last battle against the United States Cavalry at Wolf Mountain, Montana Territory.
• 1918 – President Woodrow Wilson announces his “Fourteen Points” for the aftermath of World War I.
• 1920 – The steel strike of 1919 ends in a complete failure for the Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers labor union.
• 1964 – President Lyndon B. Johnson declares a “War on Poverty” in the United States.
• 1973 – Watergate scandal: The trial of seven men accused of illegal entry into Democratic Party headquarters at Watergate begins.
• 1975 – Ella T. Grasso becomes Governor of Connecticut, the first woman to serve as a Governor in the United States other than by succeeding her husband.
• 1982 – The break up of AT&T: AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions.
• 1994 – Russian cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov on Soyuz TM-18 leaves for Mir. He would stay on the space station until March 22, 1995, for a record 437 days in space.
• 2002 – President George W. Bush signs into law the No Child Left Behind Act.
• 2011 – The attempted assassination of Arizona Representative Gabrielle Giffords and subsequent shooting in Casas Adobes, Arizona at a Safeway grocery store, for which Jared Lee Loughner is subsequently arrested, kills six people and wounds 13, including Giffords.

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SONG OF THE DAY

In going through the list of “This Day in History” items, I couldn’t help but think of the following song:

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“Morning News – 01/08/15” was originally published on J. Palmer

Morning News – 01/07/15

HARRISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

• Archery:
  • Jan. 31, 2015 Saturday Harrison Co. Invitational
• Bowling:
  • Saturday, 1-10-15 HC vs East Jessamine at home
• Breds Basketball:
  • Thursday, 1-8-2015 Freshman at Montgomery 6:00
  • Friday, 1-9-2015 JV/Varsity at Home Jan 9 vs Woodford 6:00/7:30
    —
  • Monday, 1-12-15 HC vs Mason Co at Home Freshman 7:00
  • Tuesday, 1-13 Hc vs Clark Co at home Fr/ JV/Var 5/ 6/7:30
  • Thursday, 1-15-15 HC vs Bourbon Co at Bourbon JV/Var 6/7:30
  • Saturday, 1-17-15 HC vs Oldham at home Fr/JV/Var. 4:45/6/7:30
• Fillies Basketball:
  • Wednesday, 1-7-15 Freshman at Mason 6:30
  • Thursday, 1-8-15 HC vs Augusta at Home JV/Var 6/7:30
  • Saturday, 1-10-25 HC at Lex Christian JV/Var 12:00/1:30
    —
  • Tuesday, 1-13-15 HC vs Paris at Paris f/JV 6:30/7:30
  • Thursday, 1-15-15 HC vs Nicholas at Nicholas F/JV 6/7:30
  • Saturday, 1-17-25 HC vs Bourbon Co at Bourbon F/JV/Var 4:30/6/7:30
• Wrestling: 
  • Trojan Inv at North Hardin HS Jan 10

http://www.harrison.kyschools.us/virtual/high/sports/

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KENTUCKY

Gov. Steve Beshear and Attorney General Jack Conway announced on Tuesday that heroin overdose reversal kits will be purchased for Kentucky hospitals with the highest rates of heroin overdose deaths. Overdose patients will receive a free kit when discharged from the hospital, in hopes that they or a loved one can prevent another overdose event and potentially save a life. Funding for the project is provided through the Substance Abuse Treatment Advisory Committee (SATAC).

http://wuky.org/post/pilot-project-announced-combat-heroin-overdose-deaths

http://www.kentucky.com/2015/01/06/3626974_state-to-fund-kits-with-life-saving.html

http://migration.kentucky.gov/Newsroom/ag/overdosereversalkits.htm

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First Lady Jane Beshear, along with representatives from the Kentucky Cancer Program, the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center and KentuckyOne Health, launched a new Horses and Hope campaign to raise $1 million for a mobile unit to provide free or significantly reduced cost cancer screenings to underserved populations across Kentucky. Mrs. Beshear announced a $90,000 commitment from Churchill Downs and a $25,000 donation from Kroger for the new van.

http://wuky.org/post/horses-and-hope-kicks-1m-fundraiser-purchase-mobile-van-cancer-screenings

http://migration.kentucky.gov/Newsroom/firstlady/20150106screenVan.htm

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William “Will” T. Scott is a former Associate Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court. He was elected in November 2004 to represent the 7th Supreme Court District.
Photo via courts.ky.gov

Former state Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott has announced his bid to run for governor. Scott said Tuesday that he will announce his running mate at his official campaign kickoff next week. Other Republicans in the race are: state Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and former Louisville councilman Hal Heiner. Democratic hopefuls are state Attorney General Jack Conway and former congressional candidate Geoff Young.

http://wuky.org/post/former-justice-will-t-scott-will-seek-gop-gubernatorial-nomination

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NATION

Historians at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts opened and unveiled the numerous items that were contained within a time capsule that had originally been buried by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams some 220 years ago. The capsule had once before been uncovered and opened in 1855 during construction at the Massachusetts State House, only to be reburied–after a few additional items were added to it. Contained in the capsule were five folded newspapers, two dozen coins–some dating back to the 1650s, a silver plaque, and the seal of the Commonwealth. After conservation work is conducted on the capsule’s contents they will go on display at the museum. Eventually, the time capsule and its contents will be returned to the cornerstone of the Massachusetts State House, said William F. Galvin, secretary of the commonwealth.

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/01/06/1795-time-capsule-buried-by-sam-adams-paul-revere-to-be-opened/

http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/06/us/feat-paul-revere-sam-adams-boston-time-capsule/

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WORLD

Divers in the Java Sea have located the tail section of AirAsia Flight 8501, an Indonesian search and rescue official said Wednesday; the discovery of this part of the wreckage is significant as it could contain the plane’s “black box” recorders. AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes said on Wednesday that if the correct part of the tail had been found “then the black box should be there.” Writing on his Twitter account he added: “We need to find all parts soon so we can find all [our] guests to ease the pain of our families. That still is our priority.”

We need to find all parts soon so we can find all out guests to ease the pain of our families. That still is our priority

— Tony Fernandes (@tonyfernandes) January 7, 2015

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/airasia-plane-crash/airasia-flight-8501s-tail-section-found-divers-java-sea-n281171

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WEATHER

Light snow showers will move through the area this morning resulting in a dusting of accumulation at best for some locations. This light dusting of snow may cause slick spots for the morning commute. Travelers are urged to use caution and allow extra travel time this morning.

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A wind chill advisory remains in effect from 9am this morning to 10am Thursday.

* Wind chill values: Readings will drop down to around 10 below zero by mid morning over north central Kentucky by late this afternoon or early evening. Readings of -10 to -15 are likely this evening through Thursday morning.

If you venture outdoors, make sure you protect your extremities. These low wind chills could result in frost bite and hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1608 – Fire destroys Jamestown, Virginia.
• 1610 – Galileo Galilei makes his first observation of the four Galilean moons: Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa, although he is not able to distinguish the last two until the following day.
• 1904 – The distress signal “CQD” is established only to be replaced two years later by “SOS“.
• 1927 – The first transatlantic telephone service is established from New York, New York to London, United Kingdom.
• 1948 – Kentucky Air National Guard pilot Thomas Mantell crashes while in pursuit of a supposed UFO.
• 1959 – The United States recognizes the new Cuban government of Fidel Castro.
• 1960 – The Polaris missile is test launched.
• 1968 – Surveyor Program: Surveyor 7, the last spacecraft in the Surveyor series, lifts off from launch complex 36A, Cape Canaveral.
• 1980 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter authorizes legislation giving $1.5 billion in loans to bail out the Chrysler Corporation.
• 1985 – Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launches Sakigake, Japan’s first interplanetary spacecraft and the first deep space probe to be launched by any country other than the United States or the Soviet Union.
• 1990 – The interior of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public for safety reasons.
• 1999 – The Senate trial in the impeachment of U.S. President Bill Clinton begins.

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“Morning News – 01/07/15” was originally published on J. Palmer

Morning News – 01/06/14

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON

Kaitlyn Bach holding Hayden Joseph and Dr. Gerald Harpel, HMH OB/GYN
Photo via Harrison Memorial Hospital on Facebook.

Hayden Joseph Bach son of Kaitlyn Bach, of Carlisle, is the first baby born at Harrison Memorial Hospital in 2015. He arrived January 2, 2015, at 7:07 p.m. Hayden weighed 7 pounds and 2 ounces, was 18.5 inches long and was delivered by Dr. Gerald Harpel. He was presented with gifts from HMH, the HMH OB department and Project Linus.

Featured in the photo is Kaitlyn Bach holding Hayden Joseph and Dr. Gerald Harpel, HMH OB/GYN.

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KENTUCKY

Former state senator Walter Blevins
Photo via: The Lexington Herald-Leader

Gov. Steve Beshear set a special election for March 3 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Walter Blevins Jr. (Dem.) of Morehead from the Kentucky Senate. Blevins resigned Sunday from his seat as State Senator for District 27 to become Rowan County judge-executive, a position he won in the Nov. 4 election. District 27 includes the counties of Bourbon, Fleming, Harrison, Lewis, Mason, Nicholas, Robertson and Rowan. Potential Democratic candidates have been listed as: banker Scott McCauley of Harrison County, Maysville attorney Kelly Caudill, James Bodie Stevens of Rowan County, Paris Mayor Mike Thornton and Paige Short of Paris. The State Democratic Party is scheduled to select a candidate at a special meeting in Morehead, this Saturday. The State Republican Party has not revealed any potential candidates as of yet.

http://www.kentucky.com/2015/01/05/3625045_democratic-state-sen-walter-blevins.html

http://wuky.org/post/beshear-sets-special-election-state-senate-seat

http://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-Stream.aspx?viewMode=ViewDetailInNewPage&eventID=%7b48995C37-CA91-4D93-9338-03AB01036AEF%7d&activityType=PressRelease

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For the second year, Whitaker Bank, as part of its continuing title sponsorship of the Boys’ Sweet 16®, and the KHSAA will be presenting four one-time $1,500 scholarships. The scholarships are open to high school seniors that participate in KHSAA sanctioned sports and sport-activities.

Deadline for the information to be received by the KHSAA is Feb. 25. There is no limit to the number of applicants from a school.

Winners will be recognized during the 2015 Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Boys’ State Basketball Tournament, March 18-22 in Lexington.

Whitaker Bank/KHSAA Sweet 16® Scholarship Application Form:
http://khsaa.org/forms/bk148.pdf

http://khsaa.org/010515-whitaker-bankkhsaa-sweet-16-scholarship-application/

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According to recently published numbers, only 1/4 of Kentuckians have taken advantage of their eligibility to purchase insurance through the Kynect system. State officials had previously estimated that 340,000 people would be able to select and purchase subsidized plans through the state’s insurance exchange; in reality, only some 86,000 have done so.

“People earning between 138 and 400 percent of the poverty level — between about $16,000 and $47,000 for a single person — can get subsidies to help with the cost,” explains New York Times reporter Abby Goodnough, who has been chronicling Obamacare and Kentucky’s lead in the use and enrollment under the Affordable Care Act. According to Goodnough’s article, part of the reason behind so few enrolling in healthcare still lies in the views of healthcare being too expensive–despite the ability to pay a subsidized premium.

http://www.kyforward.com/only-a-fourth-of-those-eligible-have-bought-subsidized-health-coverage-through-kynect/

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/30/us/kentucky-health-plan-is-flooded-with-the-poorest-and-sickest.html?_r=0

Personal note: I am among one of the 86,000 to have enrolled. Due to my low-income, I was able to qualify for Medicaid and have now been insured for over a year–the first time that I have had medical insurance since I was 21, when I was no longer eligible under my parent’s plans. I am very grateful for the ACA, as I have now been able to pay better attention to my health. Had it not been for the ACA, I would likely have HMH breathing down my neck for that gall-bladder surgery that I had this past summer.

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ENTERTAINMENT

A streaming cable/satellite-like viewing experience for as little as $20 per month is what Dish Network aims to deliver with the forthcoming launch of a product called Sling TV. Dish unveiled details about the service at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, yesterday. Among some of the top points mentioned in the announcement are that Sling TV will carry channels like ABC Family, Cartoon Network, CNN, Disney Channel, ESPN and ESPN 2, the Food Network, HGTV, TBS, TNT, The Travel Channel and Adult Swim. Sling TV will be available on many devices and platforms including Windows and Macintosh OSes, Andriod and iOS devices, Roku, Xbox One, and certain LG televisions. Sling TV is set to launch  in the first quarter of 2015.

http://about.dish.com/press-release/products-and-services/sling-tv-launch-live-over-top-service-20-month-watch-tvs-tablets

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2015/01/05/dish-new-sling-tv-streaming-service/21236795/

http://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/15/01/05/2115219/dish-introduces-20-a-month-streaming-tv-service?utm_source=rss1.0moreanon&utm_medium=feed

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WEATHER

An Arctic front will bring the coldest air of the season to the region beginning Wednesday. After a mild December, this Arctic blast will be some of the coldest air to affect the area since last January. Now is the time to make precautions for the cold.

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1838 – Alfred Vail demonstrates a telegraph system using dots and dashes (this is the forerunner of Morse code).
• 1853 – President-elect of the United States Franklin Pierce and his family are involved in a train wreck near Andover, Massachusetts. Pierce’s 11-year-old son Benjamin is killed in the crash.
• 1907 – Maria Montessori opens her first school and daycare center for working class children in Rome, Italy.
• 1912 – New Mexico is admitted to the Union as the 47th U.S. state.
• 1912 – German geophysicist Alfred Wegener first presents his theory of continental drift.
• 1929 – Mother Teresa arrives in Calcutta, India to begin her work among India’s poorest and sick people.
• 1930 – The first diesel-engined automobile trip is completed, from Indianapolis, Indiana, to New York, New York.
• 1931 – Thomas Edison submits his last patent application.
• 1941 – United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his Four Freedoms speech in the State of the Union address.
• 1947 – Pan American Airlines becomes the first commercial airline to schedule a flight around the world.
• 1950 – The United Kingdom recognizes the People’s Republic of China. The Republic of China severs diplomatic relations with the UK in response.
• 1951 – Korean War: An estimated 200–1,300 South Korean communist sympathizers are slaughtered in what becomes the Ganghwa massacre.
• 1960 – National Airlines Flight 2511 is destroyed in mid-air by a bomb, while en route from New York City to Miami, Florida.
• 1974 – In response to the 1973 oil crisis, daylight saving time commences nearly four months early in the United States.
• 1994 – Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the knee at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, Michigan.
• 1995 – A chemical fire in an apartment complex in Manila, Philippines, leads to the discovery of plans for Project Bojinka, a mass-terrorist attack.
• 2000 – Celia, the last Pyrenean Ibex was found dead after a tree had landed on her.
• 2005 – American Civil Rights Movement: Edgar Ray Killen is arrested as a suspect in the 1964 murders of three civil rights workers.

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“Morning News – 01/06/14” was originally published on J. Palmer

Morning News – 01/05/14

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON COUNTY

A Sadieville man was killed Friday in a two-vehicle crash near Corinth in Grant County, Kentucky State Police said in a news release.

Jeffery Adams (42) died at the scene; Adams was passenger in a 1998 Dodge Durango driven by Amy Lemons (38) of Sadieville. Lemons was reportedly traveling west on KY 330, when she lost control on the slick road, and crossed into the path of a 2003 Dodge 3500 driven by Rodney Milner (51), of Berry.

Lemons was taken to University of Kentucky Chandler Hospital, and listed in fair condition Friday; Milner was taken to St. Elizabeth Edgewood, where he was treated and released.

http://www.kentucky.com/2015/01/02/3621156_sadieville-man-dies-in-crash-of.html

http://www.news-graphic.com/breaking_news/article_081e77ec-92ca-11e4-a284-c32669819711.html

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KENTUCKY

Investigators from the NTSB arrived in Lyon County yesterday to investigate a tragic plane crash that occurred Friday night. Marty Gutzler (48) and his wife Kimberly Gutzler (46) were returning to Illinois from a holiday with family in Key West with their daughters, Piper (9) and Sailor Gutzler (7) and their cousin Sierra Wilder (14), when some trouble arose. According to State Police, Gutzler declared an emergency to air traffic control and proceeded toward the nearest airport, Kentucky Dam State Park Airport. Weather reports of the time show that cloud cover was around 600ft, which would have made visual landing at the airport difficult. The twin engine Piper Seneca crashed less than ten miles from the airport; seven-year-old Sailor was the sole survivor. A website has been established to assist in the “emotional, physical, and educational support” of Sailor Gutzler at www.sailorgutzlerfund.com.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/NTSB-on-scene-of-deadly-Western-Kentucky-plane-crash-287462251.html

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NATION

Jurors will be selected from a pool of about 1,200 today for the case gainst Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the man charged with the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. Jurors will decide whether Tsarnaev carried out the twin bombings that killed three and injured more than 260 near the finish line of the marathon on April 15, 2013. If found guilty, jurors will also decide whether he should be put to death.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Jury-selection-to-get-underway-in-marathon-attacks-287488141.html

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ENTERTAINMENT

James Cecil Dickens
December 19, 1920 – January 2, 2015
[Photo circa 1971]

The eldest cast member of the Grand Ole Opry, “Little Jimmy Dickens“, passed away on Friday at the age of 94. Dickens last appeared on the Opry on December 20th in a celebration of his birthday, the day prior. Dickens was hospitalized a few days later on December 25th for a stroke. The song-writer and performer joined the Opry in 1948 after being discovered by Roy Acuff. Dickens is perhaps best known for his small stature, rhinestone studded accouterments, and comical novelty songs–including his number-one hit, “May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose.”

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Little-Jimmy-Dickens-oldest-Opry-member-dies-at-94-287391501.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Jimmy_Dickens

 

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WEATHER

An arctic front will bring the coldest air of the season to the region beginning Wednesday. Temperatures will fall during the day, reaching the lower teens by late afternoon. Wednesday night will be the coldest–plan on lows around zero degrees. The combination of the very cold temperatures and brisk winds will create bitter wind chills Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning as low as 5 to 10 below zero.

Now is the time to prepare for these cold conditions. Take precautions to keep water pipes from freezing. Make sure you have heat sources prepared. Make arrangements for outdoor animals. Check on friends and family–especially those who may have limited heat sources. Finally…dress properly for the cold and wear plenty of layers.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=lmk&storyid=106087&source=0

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1757 – Louis XV of France survives an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, the last person to be executed in France by drawing and quartering, the traditional and gruesome form of capital punishment used for regicides.
• 1781 – American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.
• 1846 – The United States House of Representatives votes to stop sharing the Oregon Territory with the United Kingdom.
• 1896 – An Austrian newspaper reports that Wilhelm Röntgen has discovered a type of radiation later known as X-rays.
• 1914 – The Ford Motor Company announces an eight-hour workday and that it would pay a “living wage” of at least $5 for a day’s labor.
• 1919 – The German Workers’ Party, which would become the Nazi Party, is founded.
• 1925 – Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming becomes the first female governor in the United States.
• 1933 – Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge begins in San Francisco Bay.
• 1944 – The Daily Mail becomes the first transoceanic newspaper.
• 1949 – United States President Harry S. Truman unveils his Fair Deal program.
• 1957 – In a speech given to the United States Congress, United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower announces the establishment of what will later be called the Eisenhower Doctrine.
• 1972 – United States President Richard Nixon orders the development of a Space Shuttle program.
• 1974 – Warmest reliably measured temperature in Antarctica of +59 °F (+15 °C) recorded at Vanda Station
• 2005 – Eris, the largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System, is discovered by the team of Michael E. Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David L. Rabinowitz using images originally taken on October 21, 2003, at the Palomar Observatory.

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“Morning News – 01/05/14” was originally published on J. Palmer

Morning News – 01/02/15

KENTUCKY

Colmon Elridge III
Photo via WUKY

Executive Assistant to the Governor, Colmon Elridge, is considering entering his bid for a run as Kentucky State Treasurer. Elridge would be the second African-American to attempt to win a state office in Kentucky. Elridge has been working in the Governor’s office as an assistant to the Governor since 2007. Elridge is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, and Harrison County High School.

http://wuky.org/post/beshear-senior-staffer-hoping-make-ky-electoral-history

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/colmon-elridge/8/9ab/322

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Reagan Carter
Photo via WKYT

A Nelson County youth’s suicide is being blamed on bullying that she had received online. Twelve-year-old Reagan Carter took her life two days prior to Christmas, apparently after harassment received from other girls of Bardstown Middle School became too much for the youth to handle. “They don’t think about the long term consequences about what that’s doing to another human being, who has feelings and who has thoughts, and who has a really big heart,” said Megan Hack, Reagan’s mother. Bardstown police say they’re investigating Reagan’s death.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Nelson-County-mother-blames-bullying-for-daughters-death–287309781.html

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NATION

Mario Cuomo
Photo via Wikipedia

Three time New York Governor Mario Cuomo passed away yesterday evening in Manhattan, due to heart failure. Cuomo was 82. Cuomo’s death came hours after his son and current New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo, gave his second inauguration address at the Erie and Buffalo County Historical Society.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/02/us-usa-politics-cuomo-idUSKBN0KB00F20150102

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/lost-giant-former-new-york-gov-mario-cuomo-dies-n278256

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General Motors is recalling roughly 92,200 trucks and SUVs for defective ingnition lock systems. GM says that the issue comes from lock acutators being set a bit wide, resulting in difficulty in turning the key when the temperature of the vehicle’s interior is exceedingly hot. Vehicles included in this recall are Chevrolet Silverado light-duty and heavy-duty pickups; Avalanche, Tahoe and Suburban; GMC Sierra light duty and heavy-duty pickups; and Yukon and Yukon XL; Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT. For more information on the current recalls, please visit:
http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/images/US/Release_Images/2014/05-2014/recalls/Recalls-Running-Total.pdf
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gm-recalling-83000-more-vehicles-according-to-reports/

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WEIRD

Arthur Lampitt
Photo by Jesse Bogan/Associated Press via ABC News

Seventy-five year-old Arthur Lampitt is recovering following surgery related to injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred 51 years ago. After lifting and moving concrete blocks a week or so ago, Lampitt reported feeling great pain in his arm–radiating from an area where he had discovered nearly a decade ago that an unknown metallic object had been embedded. When Lampitt previously discovered the unknown object by passing through a metal detector, Doctors advised him to let it be, as it caused no pain and wasn’t creating any danger at the time. Once his arm began to “grow” this time around, Lampitt decided it was time to have the object removed. What surgeons discovered was a seven-inch turn signal lever from Lampitt’s former 1963 Thunderbird–a vehicle he had totaled half a century ago. Lampitt hasn’t decided what he’ll do with the signal lever, but he’s stated that he will keep it as a trophy of some sort.

http://www.salina.com/news/national/years-after-wreck–inch-car-part-found-in-arm/article_72f898c2-2b81-5b85-be9f-10544b503379.html

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 1860 – The discovery of the planet Vulcan is announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France.
• 1920 – The second Palmer Raid takes place with another 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists arrested and held without trial. These raids take place in several U.S. cities.
• 1942 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) convicts 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history—the Duquesne Spy Ring.
• 1945 – World War II: Nuremberg, Germany (in German, Nürnberg) is severely bombed by Allied forces.
• 1959 – Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.
• 1967 – Ronald Reagan sworn in as Governor of California
• 1974 – United States President Richard Nixon signs a bill lowering the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during an OPEC embargo.
• 1976 – The Gale of January 1976 begins, which results in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, resulting in at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.
• 2006 – An explosion in a coal mine in Sago, West Virginia traps and kills 12 miners, while leaving one miner in critical condition.

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“Morning News – 01/02/15” was originally published on J. Palmer

The Road Behind & Ahead: Reflections of 2014 and hopes for 2015

So here it is–January 1, 2015; that day where many of us sit and think about what we’ve done, and where we plan to be in the year that’s just begun. And here I am, left sitting, wondering where the time went, whether it was worth my while, and what I can do to try and make it better.

In many respects, 2014 wasn’t that great of a year for me; in some it helped to lay the path for what could be a better future–though optimism seems to be running a tad short due to certain events and feelings leaving me jaded.

The biggest change that took place in 2014 was the dissolution of a ten-year marriage, eleven-year relationship and the drastic effects it’s had on a friendship that has spanned nearly two decades; intertwined in this mess, of course, is the affect that it has on my family–my children. In this respect, 2014 was very cruel to me–and I welcome it’s passing. Still, I’m left with so many more frightening questions and uncertainties of where I am now, and where I am going.

Another drastic sort of occurrence was the removal of my gallbladder–which came without much warning. Earlier in the year–and late in the previous year, as I think about it–I had suffered symptoms similar to those that I’d had the night before/morning of my gallbladder’s removal; I had felt incredibly ill, suffered terrible sweats and drastic cold chills–not to mention excruciating abdominal pain. Funny, on the morning of that last attack, I’d thought that I’d simply worked myself into one terrible emotional fervor related to my relationship woes. When the pain became too great to handle, I took myself to the hospital for help; hours later a diagnosis of an infected and dying gallbladder was made–surgery was eminent.

One great positive did surface around the last third of the year; I got a job! For nearly a year I had been searching for some sort of employment that would work with the scheduling needs of my family–that need became greater and even more difficult once I found myself a single parent. I was so discouraged–worse than discouraged–as prospects were so few and far between; then one day I found a posting for a “less-than” part-time position at a local business. At first, I believed that I shouldn’t bother, as I’d applied for positions with the company in years past; something, however, told me I should try–just as I’d been trying with every opportunity that I found. Much to my surprise, I was interviewed and hired.

It’s hard for me to say what the future holds. Honestly, there’s not much that I can forecast, given the hand that life dealt me this last round. I guess that I could say that I am somewhat cautiously optimistic–hoping for the best, yet still expecting and planning for the worst.

I would like to find myself in love, once more; to find that person that I hope to spend my life and eternity with. I don’t expect that it will happen–given the difficulties related to “finding” someone when one has children. I’d imagine it will also be rather difficult as I am still that shy, fearful person at my core–the same scared child that got incredibly nervous and awkward at the mere inkling of a smile from any member of the opposite sex in high school.

I still have a very strong desire to move away from this neighborhood, and to find a place better suited for my children. Since the divorce, that lofty goal has grown even more desired, as I wish to escape the memories associated with this place. I do hope that I may find some house available somewhere that I might be able to call home, and continue to raise my children in.

I hope that I might somehow manage to gain more responsibility and become more involved in my job and in the community. I’m not exactly sure of how to achieve this, though it does seem–at times–that I am actually taking steps toward these wishes everyday.

My vision for 2015 is rather blurred and hazy at this point. I do hope that the forecast calls for a lifting of this fog, and brings a future of bright sunny days…

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“The Road Behind & Ahead: Reflections of 2014 and hopes for 2015” was originally published on J. Palmer

Morning News – 01/01/15

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON

Harrison County EMS is searching for a few good medics to add to their team. If you believe you have the right stuff, stop by their offices located on Rodgers Park and fill out an application. For more information, call: 859.234.1515.
https://www.facebook.com/HarrisonCountyEms/posts/1005542226127365

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KENTUCKY

2015 has been declared to be the Year of the Women Veteran in Kentucky in a recent proclamation by Governor Steve Beshear. Throughout the year, the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs will spotlight the 33,000 women that have served our nation, through numerous outreach programs, events and opportunities.

“Our Kentucky women veterans have served honorably and commendably in virtually every aspect of the U.S. military,” Gov. Beshear said. “They have earned their full benefits and services, as well as our thanks and appreciation.” For more information about the Year of the Woman Veteran, visit: veterans.ky.gov/Pages/KY-Women-Veterans-Unite!.aspx.
http://wuky.org/post/beshear-declares-2015-year-women-veterans-kentucky
http://surfky.com/index.php/component/content/article/123-general-news-for-all-sites/56168-governor-proclaims-2015-the-year-of-the-woman-veteran

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Pendleton County will be receiving a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for the construction of a new building to house the ambulances and office of Pendleton County EMS. The new structure will move Pendleton County EMS outside of the 500-year floodplain–far from their current location that presently lies within the 100-yr floodplain. The new building will also allow for an additional ambulance bay, ample storage for equipment, and a hazardous materials decontamination room. The grant is administered by the Department for Local Government and funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

http://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-Stream.aspx?viewMode=ViewDetailInNewPage&eventID=%7b3D33C15A-9B99-4F81-88CD-B59A30A472C8%7d&activityType=PressRelease

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NATIONAL

Chick-Fil-A announced yesterday that the restaurant chain is investigating a possible breach of consumer credit card data. The company is currently working with IT security firms and law enforcement officials in their investigation into the matter. According to the restaurant chain’s website, the investigation stems from financial institutions and payment verification services contacting the company about suspicious activity originating from cards that had been used at certain Chick-Fil-A locations. The website also states that initial reports of the discrepencies came on December 19th. No information as to which locations or the number of patrons affected has been released.

http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/287260731.html

http://press.chick-fil-a.com/Pressroom/LatestNews/PressDetail/databreach

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WORLD

A promotional stunt in Shangai seems to have turned deadly during New Year’s celebrations at Chen Yi Square. Reportedly, 36 people were killed and 47 injured during a frenzied stampede that resulted from people responding to collecting what appeared to be money falling to the ground from a nearby building. The “money” turned out to be promotional advertising slips for an area nightclub. Officials are still investigating whether the nightclub’s coupons are the root cause of the stampede.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/01/35-killed-42-injured-in-shanghai-stampede-local-media-says/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/31/shanghai-35-people-killed-42-injured-new-year-crush

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The seven bodies recovered from the area of AirAsia 8501’s crash site will undergo identification processes as recovery efforts continue in the Java Sea. Family members of the victims have submitted photos of their loved ones, as well as DNA smaples to aid in the identification process. An image of radar data was leaked onto social media Thursday afternoon [early morning, local time] suggesting that the flight made a ‘dramatic’ ascent before the crash, which would have pushed the Airbus A320-200 beyond it’s capabilities. It has been suggested that the pilots of the craft may have been attempting to react to and correct for turbulence; further suggestions have been made that the engines stalled in relation to the flight’s ascent. Official determination cannot yet be made until a thorough review and investigation conducted. The flight’s “black boxes” still have yet to be recovered.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2893026/First-two-bodies-AirAsia-flight-victims-arrive-land-emerges-wash-Borneo-beaches-storms-scatter-wreckage-hamper-rescue-operations.html

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FREE TACOS

Taco Bell is giving you the hookup for free Doritos Los Tacos throughout the month of January! The catch–you have to place an order using the Taco Bell mobile app; with every mobile order placed, Taco Bell will add on one free Doritos Los Taco. Unfortunately, Cynthiana’s Taco Bell does not participate in mobile ordering. 🙁
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/31/taco-bell-free-doritos-locos-tacos_n_6400340.html?ncid=fcbklnkushpmg00000063

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY

• 45 BC – The Julian calendar takes effect as the civil calendar of the Roman Empire, establishing January 1 as the new date of the new year.
• 1773 – The hymn that became known as “Amazing Grace“, then titled “1 Chronicles 17:16–17” is first used to accompany a sermon led by John Newton in the town of Olney, England.
• 1800 – The Dutch East India Company is dissolved.
• 1801 – The legislative union of Kingdom of Great Britain and Kingdom of Ireland is completed to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
• 1804 – French rule ends in Haiti. Haiti becomes the first black republic and second independent country in North America after the United States
• 1808 – The importation of slaves into the United States is banned.
• 1818 – Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, a novel by Mary Shelley, was first published in London.
• 1863 – American Civil War: The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect in Confederate territory.
• 1863 – The first claim under the Homestead Act is made by Daniel Freeman for a farm in Nebraska.
• 1885 – Twenty-five nations adopt Sandford Fleming‘s proposal for standard time (and also, time zones)
• 1902 – The first American college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl between Michigan and Stanford, is held in Pasadena, California.
• 1908 – For the first time, a ball is dropped in New York City’s Times Square to signify the start of the New Year at midnight.
• 1934 – Alcatraz Island becomes a United States federal prison.
• 1954 – NBC makes the first coast-to-coast NTSC color broadcast when it telecast the Tournament of Roses Parade, with public demonstrations given across the United States on prototype color receivers.
• 1970 – Unix time begins at 00:00:00 UTC/GMT.
• 1971 – Cigarette advertisements are banned on American television.
• 1983 – The ARPANET officially changes to using the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet.
• 1985 – The Internet’s Domain Name System is created.
• 1994 – The North American Free Trade Agreement comes into effect.
• 1995 – The World Trade Organization goes into effect.

 

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“Morning News – 01/01/15” was originally published on J. Palmer

Morning News – 12/31/14

KENTUCKY

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife is accepting donations of used, natural Christmas trees for use as fish habitats. By submerging the trees, a type of reef is created, thereby creating over and a nursery area for young fish; the trees also attract baitfish and algae, bringing food for young fish and other aquatic organisms. For more information on Fish and Wildlife’s Christmas tree recycling program, visit: http://fw.ky.gov/Fish/Pages/Xmas_Tree_Recycling.aspx
http://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-Stream.aspx?viewMode=ViewDetailInNewPage&eventID=%7b3B259E22-92B2-498D-A44F-38CBE9E83603%7d&activityType=PressRelease

Six flu-related deaths have occurred across the state this year, according to the Kentucky Department of Public Health–of the six deaths, five were adults, and one was a child; the deaths were reported in Fayette, Spencer, Boyd, Mason, Owen and Boone counties. Health officials report that with the numbers of people having been tested for the flu after the holidays, Kentucky has officially reached the peak levels–the typical period for a peak in flu season occurs between January and March.
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/6-flu-deaths-reported-in-Kentucky-287160071.html
http://www.lex18.com/story/27729646/six-flu-related-deaths-reported-in-kentucky

Governor Steve Beshear released a list of 2014’s accomplishments on Monday, announcing his pride of the Commonwealth’s achievements. “We’ve fought our way through the Great Recession during the past seven years to get to this point – employment rates back at pre-recession levels, real investment in our schools and health care for hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians. I’m grateful for the outstanding accomplishments in 2014,” Beshear said. Included in Beshear’s list are Kentucky’s reports on business investment, lowered unemployment rates, increase in medical insurance coverage, and increases in educational funding.
http://www.kyforward.com/beshear-says-kentucky-accomplished-much-in-2014-sees-great-momentum-for-2015/
http://migration.kentucky.gov/newsroom/governor/20141229top10.htm

NATIONAL

Fiat Chrysler has recalled approximately 67,000 trucks from their 2006 and 2007 model years. Chrysler said that the issue stems from a problem where a wire in the clutch ignition interlock switch may break in trucks equipped with manual transmissions.; the fault could then allow for the vehicle to move when the ignition key is in the on position, or prevent the engine from being started altogether. The recall comes after an investigation where a child managed to start a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 without depressing the clutch–another child was killed when the vehicle lurched forward and struck the child. Models included in the recall are: Dodge Dakota, Dodge Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 and Mitsubishi Raider pickups that were made between July 2005 and June 2006.
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Chrysler-recalls-67000-pickup-trucks-287088751.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/chrysler-recalls-67000-pickup-trucks-27880530

WORLD

Reports of debris from AirAsia 8501 off the coast of Borneo were confirmed yesterday by the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency. Some of the identifying debris that has been recovered include pieces of the jet’s interior, and luggage. The flight’s “black-boxes” have yet to be recovered. Seven bodies have been retrieved from the area, thus far–one reported to have been a female wearing a flight attendant’s uniform. According to a report by The Washington Post, the attendant has been identified as 20-year old Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/12/31/airasia-wreckage-recovery/21090565/

WEIRD

Brasstown, North Carolina, population 240, will not be dropping a ‘possum this New Year’s Eve, despite a twenty year tradition, thanks to efforts made by PETA. A law passed earlier this year in result of an ongoing legal battle does allow for the community to continue their tradition, however according to Clay Logan–organizer of the event–the ruling came too late for him to acqurie the proper permits. In years past, community members would collect a live opossum and lower the animal caged in a plexiglass cage in a fashion similar to the “ball-drop” in New York’s Times Square. Hopes are still high that the event will be attended without the traditional lowering of an opossum. The event has drawn as many as 4,000 people in previous years, featuring gospel sings, and an annual “Miss Possum” contest where local men compete in makeup, heels, wigs and ladies’ formal wear. “Don’t call it a drag show, though,” Mr. Logan said. “It’s Southern gentlemen dressed up like Southern ladies.”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/possum-drop-will-go-on-without-a-live-animal-1419888968
http://www.wcnc.com/story/news/2014/12/29/no-live-opossum-at-nc-possum-drop/21006717/

Hasbro’s “phallic extruder”
Photo: http://www.ktul.com/

Hasbro has issued a voluntary recall following complaints of an accessory upsetting parents due to it’s phallic like appearance. The accessory in question is a part of the Cake Mountain set from Hasbro’s Play-Doh Sweet Shop line of toys; the accessory is supposed to function as an “icing extruder” for the imaginary play, however the design of the accessory does seem to resemble a penis to many. Hasbro has said that customers who bought the toy and would like the replacement part, can call them at 1-800-327-8264.

http://www.local12.com/template/cgi-bin/archived.pl?type=basic&file=/news/features/top-stories/stories/archive/2014/11/hXSx401l.xml#.VKPkTSvF_ng

http://rare.us/story/check-out-the-new-play-doh-toy-thats-pissing-off-parents/

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1862 – American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln signs an act that admits West Virginia to the Union, thus dividing Virginia in two.
1878 – Karl Benz, working in Mannheim, Germany, filed for a patent on his first reliable two-stroke gas engine, and he was granted the patent in 1879.
1879 – Thomas Edison demonstrates incandescent lighting to the public for the first time, in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
1923 – The chimes of Big Ben are broadcast on radio for the first time by the BBC.
1944 – World War II: Hungary declares war on Nazi Germany.
1946 – President Harry S. Truman officially proclaims the end of hostilities in World War II.
1983 – The AT&T Bell System is broken up by the United States Government.
1991 – All official Soviet Union institutions have ceased operations by this date and the Soviet Union is officially dissolved.
1999 – The United States Government hands control of the Panama Canal (as well all the adjacent land to the canal known as the Panama Canal Zone) to Panama. This act complied with the signing of the 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties.

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“Morning News – 12/31/14” was originally published on J. Palmer

Morning News – 12/30/14

CYNTHIANA / HARRISON

The Cynthiana Harrison County Public Library will be ringing in the new year during a special “Happy Noon Year” party on Wednesday at 11AM; the party–open to children 6mos through 2nd grade–will take the place of the library’s regular Story-Time hour. The event will take place across the street from the library, at the Cynthiana Presbyterian Church. For more information, contact the library at 859.234.4881.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=760457000689196&id=179196648815237

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Harrison Memorial Hospital honored members of the Board of Directors at their December meeting, which was held on Dec. 18th. Eight members recieved the Calvin Martin Perfect Attendance Award, as well as desk clocks crafted by Don Wynn–the clocks were crafted from wood that had been retrieved from the hopital’s former “South-Wing”. Those that received these honors were: Doug Hampton, John Lair, Dr. Brian Mulberry, Jane Thomas, Gerald Fields, Larry Wiley, Dr. Derek Clarke and Paul Tucker. The award is named in honor of former member Calvin Martin; Martin was approaching 10 consecutive years of perfect attendance when he passed away just hours before the October 1999 board meeting.

Other honors presented at the meeting included the presentation of plaques to members leaving the board. Those exiting the board at the end of the 2014 year are: Jane Thomas, Dr. Derek Clarke, Steve Moses, and Doug Hampton.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/harrison-memorial-hospital/trustees-honored-on-hmh-board-appreciation-night/783962981674778

 

KENTUCKY

Justice Will T. Scott is stepping down from the Kentucky Supreme Court
Photo: Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts

Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Will T. Scott announced yeterday that he will be stepping down from his position effective midnight this coming Friday. Scott–a 67 yr-old Republican–has served as a Justice for 10 years; Scott states that serving on the Sumpreme Court has been a “great honor”, though the position limits court member’s abilities in finding solutions to Kentucky’s problems. It is rumored that Scott may consider running for governor in 2015.
http://wuky.org/post/scott-stepping-down-ky-supreme-court

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Campus kitchen students prepare food for local charities.
(Photo from UKNow)

A new program at the University of Kentucky is working to educate students on hunger and nutrition while feeding members of the community. Campus Kitchen–a national community service initiative–focuses on collecting unused and left-over foods from school cafeterias and delivering meals to community members in need. At UK, the effort has collected foods from UK Dining and produce from the school’s College of Agriculture Food and Environment’s Horticulture Research Farm, and delivered meals to Lexington charities such as the Catholic Action Center, Salvation Army and Hope Center. You can find more information on the UK Campus Kitchen efforts on facebook at facebook.com/ckkentucky.
http://www.kyforward.com/uk-students-tackle-food-waste-problems-while-also-helping-feed-lexingtons-hungry/

NATIONAL

Kathryn Allman and Tristen Dutiel went missing from Sumner County, Tennessee on Christmas Day
(Photo: Gallatin Police Department)

Gallatin, Tennessee authorities are asking citizens in Louisville, Kentucky to be on the lookout for two teens that have been missing since Christmas Day. Police believe that 16-year-old Kathryn Allman and 17-year-old Tristen Dutiel may be in the Louisville area, based on recent activity on a debit card belonging to Kathryn’s mother. Police have reported that Dutiel has friends and family in the Newark, Ohio area but cannot speculate as to whether the teens are heading in that direction. Allman is described as being 5-foot-3-inches tall, weighing 130-pounds, shoulder-length reddish-brown hair and was last seen wearing a long sleeve pink shirt and black leggings. Dutiel is 6-foot-2-inches tall, weighing 150-pounds and has short brown hair. Anyone having information pertaining to the teens are asked to contact Gallatin Police at 615.452.1313
http://www.whas11.com/story/news/local/2014/12/29/tenn-authorities-search-for-missing-teens-possibly-in-louisville/21018445/

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A recent study has concluded that some patients may find it difficult to find a doctor accepting Medicaid. The study–which was conducted by phone, in a manner similar to that which Medicaid patients would face–revealed a high number of inaccuracies in information published by the varying state Medicaid systems; the most common issue being that providers listed could not be located at the addresses/offices listed in the Medicaid managed care-plans.

“In these cases, callers were sometimes told that the practice had never heard of the provider, or that the provider had practiced at the location in the past but had retired or left the practice. Some providers had left months or even years before the time of the call,” the study report says.

The second and third most common issue–which only accounted for a total 16% of responses to the inquiries–were practitioners either no longer participating or no longer being able to accept new patients.

http://www.kyforward.com/u-s-study-finds-medicaid-patients-may-have-trouble-finding-doctor-kentucky-in-minority/

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Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Extend Run as Most Admired
Photo via Gallup

President Barack Obama is the “most admired man” for the 7th year running, according to Gallup’s Most Admired Man and Woman, 2014 results. Joining the president at the top of the poll on the women’s side is Hilary Clinton, who has had the honor of being most admired for 17 out of the 18 years she’s appeared on the list. Gallup has conducted the the open-ended poll for nearly 7 decades.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/180365/barack-obama-hillary-clinton-extend-run-admired.aspx
WORLD

Six bodies, as well as some debris has been spotted in the waters near the last known location of AirAsia 8501. The bodies were found approximately six miles from the last known coordinates of the flight; the bodies have been recovered and taken aboard an Indonesian naval ship. AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes has stated, “My heart is filled with sadness for all the families involved in QZ 8501. On behalf of AirAsia my condolences to all. Words cannot express how sorry I am.”
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Indonesia-Bodies-found-near-site-where-plane-disappeared-287088081.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/30/airasia-flight-qz8501-found_n_6387938.html
https://twitter.com/tonyfernandes/status/549840195579703296

ENTERTAINMENT

Netflix has given parents the chance to allow their kids to experience a countdown to 2015 at any time of the day; DreamWorks has produced a special three minute cartoon using the character’s of All Hail King Julien–a Netflix exclusive spin-off of DreamWorks’ Madagascar franchise. The cartoon is available for viewing at any time through New Year’s Eve.
http://lifehacker.com/send-your-kids-to-bed-early-new-years-eve-with-this-net-1676139174

FEATURED INTEREST

Kentucky for Kentucky has released a list of 29 ways that Kentucky has “kicked ass” in 2014. Included in the list are numerous statistics–like Kentucky being the 7th-ranked “nerdiest” state; stories that made national attention; and even a few odd goofs that were good for a laugh–like WDKY inadvertently broadcasting an image of John Wayne as an escapee. To see the list, head over to:

http://www.kentuckyforkentucky.com/blogs/news/16401100-29-ways-kentucky-and-its-kentuckians-kicked-ass-in-2014

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1813 – War of 1812: British soldiers burn Buffalo, New York.
1922 – The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is formed.
1981 – In the 39th game of his third NHL season, Wayne Gretzky scores five goals, giving him 50 on the year and setting a new NHL record previously held by Maurice Richard and Mike Bossy, who earlier had each scored 50 goals in 50 games.
2006 – Former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein is executed.

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“Morning News – 12/30/14” was originally published on J. Palmer

Morning News – 12/29/14

Been up since 5am and have come to a conclusion; it’s a very slow news morning! Everyone just seems to be repeating wire stories and reading police reports. There aren’t many good interest stories, either… Heck, even this day’s history is slow and boring!

KENTUCKY

Photo via WLEX

Lexington Police are searching for two women involved in a shooting that occurred at the Days Motel around 2PM on Sunday. According to reports, a man and woman agreed to meet with the women at the motel to buy a cellphone that had been listed on a Facebook “yard-sale” group. The victims claim that when the women arrived they produced a handgun and began demanding money; when the victims attempted to flee the area in their car the armed suspect fired at least three rounds toward the vehicle. One suspect is described as being approximately 6′ in height, wearing a red hoodie and pink tennis shoes; the other suspect is described as being approximately 5′ tall, wearing a grey hoodie. The owner of the Days Motel states that no one involved in the incident were staying at the motel.
http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Lexington-Police-looking-for-women-wanted-in-shooting-286964771.html
http://www.lex18.com/story/27718693/sale-over-facebook-leads-to-shots-fired-outside-lexington-motel

Several Kentucky State Parks have events scheduled to help you ring out the old and bring in the new; among the options are entertainment, dining, and package deals for those wishing to stay away from home for a night or two. Nearby, Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort is offering a “New Years Eve Comedy in the Parks” event featuring stand-up comedy, music and dinner at the Worthington Lodge. For more information on this and other events, visit the calendar at parks.ky.gov.
http://parks.ky.gov/calendar/default.aspx

WORLD

AirAsia flight 8501–which was lost mid-flight from Indonesia to Malaysia on Sunday–has yet to be located, leaving officials to believe that the flight’s wreckage may lie at the bottom of the sea. Earlier reports of the sighting of a possible oil-slick and contacts from flight-recorder pings have been discounted as false rumor. Reports of visible wreckage seen in the area have yet to be confirmed at the time of this writing. The flight was carrying 155 passengers and 7 crew members.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/29/world/asia/airasia-missing-plane/

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1835 – The Treaty of New Echota is signed, ceding all the lands of the Cherokee east of the Mississippi River to the United States.
1851 – The first American YMCA opens in Boston, Massachusetts.
1949 – KC2XAK of Bridgeport, Connecticut becomes the first Ultra high frequency (UHF) television station to operate a daily schedule.

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“Morning News – 12/29/14” was originally published on J. Palmer