Author: Associated Press

Kobe opening extrusion, fabrication plant in Bowling Green

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - An aluminum extrusion and fabrication facility is locating in Bowling Green, where officials say Kobe Steel Ltd. plans to invest $46.7 million and create 105 jobs. Gov. Matt Bevin's office announced the facility on Monday. The…

Cochran, Wicker: 12 airports to get grants for upgrades

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Twelve Mississippi airports will benefit from more than $4.15 million in grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to help with facility upgrades. U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker, in a news release Monday,…

Memphis interim police director applying for permanent job

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Officials say interim Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings is applying for the permanent position. According to The Commercial Appeal, Mayor Jim Strickland said Monday that he asked Rallings to apply for the permanent job, and Rallings…

First Tennessee Foundation donates $500,000 for education

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The nonprofit foundation of First Tennessee Bank is giving $500,000 to fund a program that helps at-risk youth in Nashville gain admission to and graduate from college. The money, a press release from the First Tennessee…

Beshear transfers $4.5 million to Kentucky State Police

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear has transferred $4.5 million from his office to the Kentucky State Police to help eliminate the backlog in rape kit testing. The state legislature approved the transfer last month. The money…

UT to host master beekeeping classes around the state

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture will be hosting a series of master beekeeping classes around the state beginning next week and continuing into June. The classes will feature hands-on training at a bee yard,…

Bill Clinton to headline Tennessee fundraiser for wife

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to headline a fundraiser in Nashville next week for the Democratic presidential campaign of his wife, Hillary Clinton. The Tennessean reports that the Monday event will be held at Adele's…

State Bar Association asks judges for fair campaign promise

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Bar Association is asking judges to subscribe to the Tennessee Fair Judicial Campaign Code of Conduct leading up to state elections in August. The organization says three state Supreme Court justices and seven intermediate…

Impact of teen pregnancy is focus of state health officials

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Department of Health is trying to raise awareness about the impact of teen pregnancy in communities across the state as National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month is observed during May. Deputy Commissioner for Population Health…

Ex-police officer faces court hearing in street gang case

ATLANTA (AP) - A former Georgia police officer accused of helping a street gang evade police faces a court hearing as part of a nationwide racketeering case. A federal indictment accuses former DeKalb County officer Vancito Gumbs of tipping off…

Dollar General plans Georgia facility, creating 500 jobs

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal says Tennessee-based Dollar General Corp. plans a 1 million-square-foot distribution center southeast of Atlanta that will employ 500 people when the plant is fully operational. Deal said Monday that the new facility is…

Atheist group sues Bradley County sheriff over Facebook post

CLEVLAND, Tenn. (AP) - An atheist group and an anonymous Bradley County woman are suing Sheriff Eric Watson over posts on the sheriff's office Facebook page. According to the lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court for East Tennessee, objectionable…

Man who disappeared with girl recently lost custody of her

ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Authorities say a man who disappeared last week with his 9-year-old niece recently lost custody of her. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesman Josh Devine told reporters on Monday that Carlie Marie Trent of Rogersville had been…

With 6 cases, Kentucky officials promote Zika awareness

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - State officials say six people, including at least one pregnant woman, have been diagnosed with the Zika virus in Kentucky. All of the confirmed cases got the disease while traveling abroad to Zika-infected areas. State health…

Beshear criticizes Bevin, Obama for secret Medicaid talks

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Former Democratic Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is criticizing Republican Gov. Matt Bevin and the Obama administration for negotiating in private as Bevin seeks to replace the state's expanded Medicaid program. Beshear sent a letter to Bevin…

Fatal police shooting in Mississippi under investigation

ST. MARTIN, Miss. (AP) - Authorities in Mississippi say one person is dead following an officer involved shooting. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Ezell said the shooting occurred early Monday morning at the Ramada Inn on Interstate 10 in St. Martin.…

ACLU sues Mississippi over ‘religious rights’ law

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi is suing the state over a law that will allow workers to cite their own religious objections to same-sex marriage to deny services to people. The suit was filed…

New cruise ship to stop in Vicksburg on first voyage

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - The paddle wheeler America is expected to stop in Vicksburg Tuesday as it makes its maiden voyage for owner Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines. The Vicksburg Post reports the boat is the newest in the company's fleet…

Natchez must make $600K convention center debt payment

NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) - Natchez must make a $600,000 debt payment on July 1, but officials say cutting the check will not be a problem. The 2006 Convention Center Refund Bond will require the sizable payment for the city's debt…

Woman dies in Lamar County shooting

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Authorities say a 24-year-old woman has died from a single gunshot wound she sustained in Lamar County. Coroner Cody Creel tells The Hattiesburg American Iesha Magee was shot around 3 a.m. Saturday. Creel says Magee's body…

Fayette Co. Schools hires full-time homeless coordinator

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Fayette County Schools will hire a full-time staffer to assist the district's nearly 800 homeless students. Fayette schools spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall tells the Lexington Herald-Leader the homeless coordinator will be in place by the start of…

Delta flight makes emergency landing in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Delta flight from Atlanta to Chicago had to make an emergency landing in Nashville after hitting turbulence that caused an engine covering to come off. News outlets report that Delta Flight 762 was flying above…

Parts of prison on lockdown because of violence, contraband

PARCHMAN, Miss. (AP) - State prison officials say parts of the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman are on lockdown because inmates have assaulted staff members and inspections have turned up banned items, including shanks, cellphones, cash and alcohol. A Department…

LGBT community braces for impact of new counseling law

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Questions loom about what Tennessee's new counseling law means for people seeking help. Does it discriminate against gay, lesbian and transgender people or protect professionals with deeply-held beliefs? The new law allows counselors to refuse to…

Memphis schools appeal charter revocation

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Two charter school operators are appealing the Shelby County Schools board's revocation of their charters. Media outlets report that the leaders of Omni Prep Lower and Middle schools and Southern Avenue Middle filed appeal paperwork with…

Mother of boy who fatally shot classmate facing charges

ESTILL SPRINGS, Tenn. (AP) - The mother of a 12-year-old boy who allegedly shot a classmate to death in Tennessee is facing charges. News reports say Jennifer Ann Amacher was indicted on five reckless endangerment charges following an incident at…

Memphis Symphony Orchestra, U of M announce partnership

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the University of Memphis have formed a partnership that organizers say will solve the music organization's financial hardships. The Commercial Appeal reports (http://bit.ly/1Ybn9fl ) officials announced the collaboration Thursday. The orchestra…

Police: Abducted girl and uncle may be in isolated area

ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee authorities say an abducted 9-year-old girl and her uncle may be in an "isolated area" such as a campground or state park. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Friday there have been no credible sightings…

Clinton voices support for UAW at Tennessee Volkswagen plant

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is taking to Twitter to voice support for the United Auto Workers union at Volkswagen's lone U.S. plant in Tennessee. Skilled-trades workers at the Chattanooga plant in December voted in favor…

Former Oak Ridge police officer accused of statutory rape

CLINTON, Tenn. (AP) - The lawyer for a former police officer who's accused of having sex with a teenage girl while he was on patrol says his client will plead not guilty. The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/24yxw4e ) reports 31-year-old…

More than 700 to graduate at Mississippi College ceremonies

CLINTON, Miss. (AP) - The leader of the Mississippi Baptist Convention will keynote Mississippi College's commencement Saturday. Jim Futral has been the executive director and treasurer of the convention board of the state's largest religious group since 1998. Mississippi College…

Lawyer says port was right to deny contractor’s $44M bid

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A lawyer for the Mississippi State Port Authority says the board acted rightfully when it denied a $44 million contract to W.C "Cotton" Fore. The Sun Herald reports that Fore took his protest to court Thursday,…

Pascagoula maritime museum starts work on interim home

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) - Work has started on building the Mississippi Maritime Museum in Pascagoula. Museum officials signed a contract Thursday with Fletcher Construction Co. The Mississippi Press reports that the first phase involves renovating the band hall of the…

Jackson detectives seize guns, cash, drugs in bust

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Jackson Police Department has seized drugs, money, guns and ammunition as a result of a tip from the community. Jackson police spokeswoman Colendula Green says in a release that detectives arrested 26-year-old Lorenzo Loggins on…

Logistics company opens new facility in northern Kentucky

FORT MITCHELL, Ky. (AP) - A logistics company has opened a new facility in northern Kentucky which will employ 30 people. Integrity Express Logistics, a Blue Ash, Ohio-based company, spent about $820,000 to renovate building in Fort Mitchell. Founded in…

Volunteers sought to clean up Cumberland Falls

CORBIN, Ky. (AP) - Officials are seeking volunteers to help clean up around Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in southern Kentucky. A statement from the Kentucky tourism cabinet says the park is looking for help during Cumberland Falls Beautification Day…

TVA contractor agrees to $2.8 million settlement

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say that a Tennessee Valley Authority contractor has agreed to a $2.8 million settlement with the government to resolve allegations involving overpayment for the company's work on a nuclear power plant project. The office…

Former Millington reserve officer pleads guilty to child porn

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a former Millington reserve police officer has pleaded guilty to child pornography charges. The U.S. attorney's office says 67-year-old Rickie Friar pleaded guilty Wednesday to producing child pornography of three female minors and…

Report raises questions about Murfreesboro arrests at school

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A police commander has been placed on administrative leave as a new report raises questions about the chain of events that led to several elementary school children in Murfreesboro being handcuffed and arrested. An internal review…

2 shot near route of Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad says two teenage boys have been taken into custody and are being questioned after a shooting near the route of the Kentucky Derby Festival Pegasus Parade that injured two other teens.…

Police: More than 800 arrested, 130 guns seized in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis police say more than 800 people have been arrested, more than 100 guns have been seized and large quantities of drugs have been recovered as part of an investigation targeting organized crime. Interim Police Director…

5 from Tennessee, Kentucky have prison sentences commuted

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Four people from Tennessee and one person from Kentucky are among the 58 prisoners included in the latest round of commutations by President Barack Obama. All five whose sentences were commuted Thursday were convicted of dealing…

Never-completed TVA nuclear plant that cost $4B for sale

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The nation's largest public utility is selling a never-completed nuclear plant that has cost more than $4 billion dollars over the past four decades. The Tennessee Valley Authority board voted Thursday at a meeting in Buchanan…

Tennessee Valley Authority votes against floating houses

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Valley Authority has voted to remove floating houses from its reservoirs, but it's giving owners 30 years to comply. The board got an earful from homeowners who opposed the move at its Thursday meeting…

Report raises questions about Murfreesboro arrests at school

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A police commander has been placed on administrative leave as a new report raises questions about the chain of events that led to several elementary school children in Murfreesboro being handcuffed and arrested. An internal review…

Deputy shoots man while attempting to make arrest

COLUMBIA, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities say a Tennessee sheriff's deputy shot a man while investigating suspected illegal activity. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that the shooting happened Wednesday evening in Columbia. The TBI says a preliminary…

Death row inmate challenges evidence to overturn conviction

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - A death row inmate is challenging bite mark evidence used to convict him of a 1992 slaying. The hearing is ongoing this week after the Mississippi Supreme Court last year instructed a lower court to determine…

Tennessee man facing new charges over Muslim assault plot

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - An eastern Tennessee man accused of planning to burn down a mosque in a small Muslim enclave in New York is now facing more federal charges. Sixty-four-year-old Robert Doggart pleaded not guilty in July to one…

Indictment: Ex-Boy Scout leader sexually abused 5 boys

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A former Boy Scout leader from Nashville has been indicted on statutory rape, sexual battery and other felony counts involving the alleged abuse of five boys. The Tennessean reports the recent indictment says the boys were…