Author: Associated Press

Zip line and rope ladder course opening in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - An adventure course built in the treetops of Jefferson Memorial Forest in Louisville is opening for its second season later this month. The Treetop Adventure Course was built by the Go Ape company. The company says…

IRS has over $17M unclaimed Tenn. tax refunds from 2012

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Internal Revenue Service says it has over $17 million in unclaimed refunds for Tennessee residents who failed to file a 2012 tax return. The law provides taxpayers with a three-year window to claim a refund,…

Gateway college foundation payout to ex-president questioned

FLORENCE, Ky. (AP) - The retired president of Northern Kentucky's state community college will soon begin receiving a $348,000 incentive that the president of the board says he was unaware of. The 2014 incentive plan was obtained by the Kentucky…

2 tax preparers plead guilty to defrauding government

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Two Tennessee men who worked for a tax preparation business in Richmond face up to eight years in prison for filing fraudulent returns. U.S. District Court records show that 35-year-old Jeremy Blanchard and 35-year-old Erik Pittman,…

Artists sought for design on Emporium Center wall

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Arts & Culture Alliance of Greater Knoxville is looking for creative people or teams to design artwork that will be featured on a wall at the Emporium Center in Downtown Knoxville. The proposed site is…

Hospital employees honored for helping subdue fleeing inmate

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (AP) - Two Kingsport hospital employees have been awarded plaques for helping subdue an inmate who tried to escape custody. The Kingsport Times-News reports Christopher Light was arrested in January on charges related to several robberies. Once in…

81-year-old time capsule discovered in American Legion post

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - Crews demolishing an old American Legion post in Owensboro have discovered an 81-year-old time capsule. Scott Jagoe is with Jagoe Homes, the company that bought the property last year. He tells the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer there were…

Jobless rate falls in 59 Kentucky counties in January 2016

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Unemployment rates fell in 59 of Kentucky's 120 counties between January 2015 and January 2016. The state Office of Employment and Training said Thursday that the jobless rate rose in 53 counties and stayed the same…

Bowling Green expands housing program for homeless

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) - The city of Bowling Green is changing its Section 8 housing voucher program to provide more housing options for the area's homeless population. The Bowling Green Daily News reports the city has been allocating some…

Simpson County deputy shot while serving warrant in Franklin

FRANKLIN, Ky. (AP) - A Simpson County deputy serving a warrant in Franklin has been shot and wounded. Kentucky State Police Trooper B.J. Eaton says the suspect fired on the deputy, striking him. The deputy was able to return fire…

100 evacuated in Mississippi as severe weather moves in

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency says about 100 people have been evacuated in the Delta because of severe weather. Lee Smithson says heavy rain Thursday has mostly passed the Delta, but the Gulf…

Proposed update to car seat rules pulled back for debate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - An effort to update Tennessee's car seat rules that had been headed for Gov. Bill Haslam's signature was pulled back for renewed debate in the House on Tuesday over questions about whether it would increase the…

Officials: Mistake leaves Chattanooga race 0.28 miles short

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - Officials say a mistake caused the Chattanooga Marathon to fall short of its full 26.2 mile course. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports race officials acknowledged Wednesday that a misplaced turnaround marker left Sunday's race course…

Charter school bill clears Senate committee

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A proposal to introduce charter schools in Kentucky on a test basis has cleared a state Senate committee, but the measure faces long odds of becoming law. The bill would allow charter schools to open during…

Kentucky Senate passes plan for judicial redistricting

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky Senate has passed a proposed constitutional amendment calling for a review of circuit and district court boundaries every decade. The measure passed the Senate on a 26-12 vote Thursday, sending it to the House.…

1 of 3 suspects in slayings at homeless camp stands trial

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Knox County jury will decide the fate of one of three suspects charged with killing three people at a homeless camp in Knoxville. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports 30-year-old Joshua Cool is standing trial this…

With budget vote looming, Democrats try to seat new members

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Democrats are trying to speed up the results of Tuesday's special House elections so the newest members can vote on a proposed state budget next week. Democrats have 50 members and Republicans have 46. It…

Morehead State to furlough faculty, staff for 5 days

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) - Morehead State University President Wayne Andrews says faculty and staff at the eastern Kentucky school will be furloughed without pay March 21-25 due to economic woes. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Andrews sent a campus-wide email Thursday…

Proposed update to car seat rules pulled back for debate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - An effort to update Tennessee's car seat rules that had been headed for Gov. Bill Haslam's signature has been pulled back for renewed debate in the House over questions about whether it would increase the age…

Investigation shows rise in assaults on prison guards

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A new investigation shows a spike in the number of reports of inmates in Tennessee's prison system assaulting guards. The Tennessean is reporting that prisoners have assaulted correctional officers with weapons 70 times since Jan. 11.…

Bills would speed up rape kit tests, add to DNA database

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky would speed up the testing of rape kits and add more DNA profiles to a national database under a pair of bills moving through the state Senate. A rape kit is a collection of physical…

City of Jackson, Miss., issues emergency restriction on water use

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The city of Jackson, Miss., has issued an emergency notice telling customers to restrict the amount of water they use because a large water-treatment facility lost power. City spokeswoman Shelia Byrd says Thursday that officials believe…

Health officials confirm first case of Zika in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky Department of Health says it has confirmed the state's first case of the Zika virus. A statement from the agency on Thursday said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported test results on…

Kentucky’s AG loses bid to take up defense of insurance law

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear has lost his bid to defend a state law designed to protect life insurance benefits. The state Supreme Court on Thursday denied Beshear's motion to allow his office to continue the…

Senate speaker wary of banning handheld phones while driving

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says he opposes an effort to make it a crime to speak on handheld phones while driving in Tennessee. The bill sponsored by Republican Rep. John Holsclaw Jr. of Elizabethton would…

Chief says dead intruder may be escaped murder suspect

VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - Police say they're investigating whether a man shot and killed by a Mississippi homeowner is an escaped murder suspect. Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong tells The Associated Press he believes the man who was killed by…

Ramsey: Security to stop scanning IDs at Legislative Plaza

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A major bottleneck at the entrances to Tennessee's legislative office complex is being eliminated this week. Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey told reporters on Thursday that state troopers have been instructed to stop scanning IDs and…

Bill to cap liquor store ownership sent back to subcommittee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal to impose limits on how many liquor stores can be owned in Tennessee has been sent back to a House subcommittee. The bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Curry Todd of Collierville has pitted Republicans…

Interstate 75 lanes back open after rock slide

CARYVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Officials in Tennessee say the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Campbell County have reopened to traffic nearly two weeks after a large rockslide closed the roadway near the Kentucky border. Media reported the lanes reopened…

State police investigating death of Boyle County inmate

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky State Police are investigating the death of a Frankfort man who was an inmate at the Boyle County Detention Center. Boyle County Jailor Barry Harmon tells The Advocate-Messenger that 32-year-old Ronald L. Hulette II died…

Lexington abortion clinic ‘taking a timeout’ until hearing

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A Lexington clinic has put off performing abortions until a judge rules on a request from Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin's administration to close the clinic. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Fayette Circuit Judge Ernesto Scorsone is…

Police: 21 dogs rescued from Nashville dog fighting ring

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Metro Nashville police have made three arrests and seized 21 dogs in connection with an illegal dog fighting operation. The Metro Nashville Police Department says in a news release that Tuesday, officers searched a house where…

Attorneys argue Johnson City liquor tax lawsuit

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) - Second Judicial District Chancellor E.G. Moody says he may need several weeks to render an opinion in a lawsuit by the Washington County Board of Education which claims it is owed $3.4 million by Johnson…

Second Harvest wins grant for sweet potato ‘rescue’

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has been awarded a $100,000 grant for a sweet potato "rescue." The Environmental Stewardship and Energy Sustainability grant comes from the Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation. According to Second Harvest,…

College students advised to make sure mumps vaccine current

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky health officials are urging parents of college students to make sure their children are up-to-date on their mumps vaccination. A statement from the Kentucky Department of Health on Wednesday says recent cases at the University…

State police investigating series of eastern Ky. fires

BOONEVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky State Police investigators are asking for help in tracking down anyone responsible for a half-dozen fires in eastern Kentucky. State police say the fires occurred in Owsley, Lee and Jackson counties between Jan. 1 and…

Fort Knox soldiers planning to deploy to Afghanistan

FORT KNOX, Ky. (AP) - A deployment ceremony is planned for about 100 Fort Knox soldiers who are being sent to Afghanistan. A statement from the central Kentucky Army post says the ceremony is planned on Thursday for soldiers with…

Alabama car dealers admit bank fraud

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities say an Alabama couple has admitted to using their used car business to defraud dozens of banks. Federal prosecutors in Nashville say Douglas Scott and Azar Ardestani, both of New Market, Alabama, pleaded guilty to…

Conservation group buys 2,050 acres on Pine Mountain

PINEVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A conservation group has purchased 2,050 acres on Pine Mountain in an effort to protect it. Media outlets report that Kentucky Natural Lands Trust announced Tuesday it had completed the purchase. The trust says the tract…

Officials find body of missing man floating on lake

KILN, Miss. (AP) - Officials have recovered the body of a Stone County man who went missing. Hancock County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Don Bass tells media outlets that officials recovered the body of 31-year-old Brody "B.J." Brown after it…

Missouri religious objection measure needs vote to advance

EFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Senate could vote Thursday on whether to send the House a proposal creating religious protections for those objecting to gay marriage. The Republican-led Senate gave initial approval early Wednesday to the proposed constitutional…

AG says Magee man charged with improperly touching patient

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The office of the state attorney general says a Magee man employed at a mental health facility has been charged with improperly touching a patient. Attorney General Jim Hood's statement Wednesday did not identify the victim…

Missouri House votes to tighten rules for minors’ abortions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Girls who want an abortion in Missouri would need to meet tighter requirements under legislation endorsed Wednesday by the House. Girls younger than 18 already must submit to an abortion provider the written consent of…

Reeves, senators renew push for $575 million in tax cuts

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and Republican senators are renewing their effort to push through a $575 million package of tax cuts, even as Mississippi officials consider a revenue shortfall and the prospect of raising other taxes…

Bill seeks to put new restrictions on abortion clinics

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Keeping up its coordinated offensive aimed at abortion providers, the Kentucky Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would put new restrictions on abortion clinics. The measure is part of a series of bills passed in recent…

Indictment: Downtown Jackson leader stole and misused money

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The head of a downtown Jackson development group is charged with misusing money in an investigation that has also led to hindering prosecution charges against two high-ranking employees of state Auditor Stacey Pickering. Ben Allen, executive…

Tennessee AG won’t divulge details of Durham investigation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee attorney general is declining to give lawmakers details about his investigation into sexual harassment allegations against state Rep. Jeremy Durham. Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell called for Herbert Slatery's office to investigate after several…

Haslam lauds defeat of pemitless handgun carry bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam on Wednesday lauded a Senate committee for defeating a proposal to get rid of Tennessee's requirement to obtain a state-issued permit to carry handguns in public. Supporters of annual efforts to loosen handgun…

Jury clears Carrollton police chief, officer of charges

CARROLLTON, Ky. (AP) - Two police officers suspended from the force in the midst of misconduct allegations have been cleared of all wrongdoing. Media outlets report that on Tuesday, a Carroll County jury acquitted Carrollton Chief of Police Mike Willhoite…