Author: Associated Press

Man dies, deputy injured after police chase ends in crash

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) - An Auburn man has died and a sheriff's deputy has been injured after a police chase ended in a crash in Bowling Green. The Bowling Green Daily News reports the crashed happened Tuesday. Kentucky State…

Bill would put 1-year moratorium on executions

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A group of senators are seeking to start a state commission to review innocence claims by convicted felons. The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday will hold a public hearing on the bill Wednesday. The legislation sponsored…

Judge delays sentencing of former state Sen. Tommy Robertson

PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) - The sentencing of former state Sen. Tommy Robertson for embezzling $379,000 has been delayed. The Sun Herald reports Special Judge Richard McKenzie was scheduled to sentence Robertson on Tuesday, but the hearing was cancelled due to…

Page sworn in to Tennessee Supreme Court in secret ceremony

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - After a joint convention of the Tennessee General Assembly completed its first ever confirmation vote for new state Supreme Court Justice Roger A. Page, the jurist told a reporter he expected it would be a few…

Sneedville man charged with killing his mom during car theft

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities say a Sneedville man has been charged with killing his mother while trying to steal her car. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says 31-year-old Larry Holt Jr. was indicted Monday on charges of first-degree…

Gift to Speed Art Museum to provide free Sunday admission

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A gift from Brown-Forman Corp. will enable visitors to see the renovated Speed Art Museum at no charge on Sundays for the next five years. The museum said in a news release Tuesday that the program…

Wildlife center opening for season in Frankfort

 FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort will be opening for the season next week. The center features native species of Kentucky, including exhibits of snakes, turtles, frogs and fish. It opens March 1. An outdoor…

Bill to end newspaper notice requirement fails in Senate

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A proposal to allow legal notices to be published online instead of in printed newspapers has failed in a Senate committee. The measure sponsored by Republican Sen. Todd Gardenhire of Chattanooga did not receive a motion…

Anti-same-sex marriage resolution fails in Washington Co.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) - The Washington County Commission has voted down a proposed resolution opposing same-sex marriage. Media outlets report that commissioners voted 12-11 to approve the resolution Tuesday. However, the resolution failed because 13 votes were needed to…

Supermarket wine bill derailed over liquor store cap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A legislative disagreement over protecting liquor stores from competition means Tennesseans looking to buy wine at their local supermarket will likely have to wait a little longer for the shelves to be stocked. Rep. Curry Todd,…

Bentley seeks $800 million to build 4 new prisons

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Gov. Robert Bentley said Tuesday that he will ask lawmakers to approve an $800 million bond issue to build four large prisons to replace the state's aging and crowded correctional facilities. Bentley said the state has…

Lexmark releases 4Q earnings, says it’s cutting 550 jobs

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Lexmark says it will cut 550 jobs over the next year, with some of the positions being moved out of the country. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports Lexmark spokesman Jerry Grasso declined to comment on how many…

Trial begins in school district’s lawsuit against Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - State lawmakers have ignored their duty to students by disregarding financing laws that are supposed to guarantee that each child gets a chance at adequate education, attorneys for a rural school district in northwest Arkansas…

Birmingham leaders vote to expedite minimum wage increase

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - The Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to expedite a minimum wage increase as state lawmakers consider legislation to strip local officials of control over employee compensation and other benefits. The council voted 6-2, with one member…

Horse park director defends his stewardship of attraction

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky Horse Park's executive director has defended his stewardship of the tourist attraction in an appearance before state lawmakers. Jamie Link made his comments before a Senate committee that voted Tuesday to revamp the commission…

Mississippi lawmakers not erasing Confederate emblem on flag

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi legislators this year won't attempt to redesign the last state flag that features the Confederate battle emblem because leaders say they can't reach consensus on removing the symbol. Tuesday was the deadline for legislative committees…

2 Fort Campbell soldiers accused of impersonating police

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Two Fort Campbell soldiers have been arrested after Clarksville police say they were impersonating police officers. The Clarksville Police Department says in a Facebook post that Brett Jewell and William Jones were arrested Tuesday on three…

Deported immigrant admits firearm violation in Mississippi

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A deported immigrant has pleaded guilty to a firearm violation. The Sun Herald reports 27-year-old Carlos Efrain Chavez-Alas, from El Salvador, pleaded guilty Monday to possession of a firearm by a person unlawfully present in the…

Mississippi vaccine requirements could be eased under bill

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A bill that would let physicians exempt children from Mississippi's vaccination requirements is advancing in the state House. A split Education Committee voted Tuesday to push House Bill 938 (http://bit.ly/1S02JWj ) to the full chamber for…

Slain Mississippi narcotics agent saluted at funeral

GRENADA, Miss. (AP) - Three wounded Mississippi state troopers described dead state narcotics agent Lee Tartt as a "hero" in videos broadcast at Tartt's funeral. More than a thousand people, including Gov. Phil Bryant, attended Tuesday's services held at Grenada's…

Man arrested in Waveland admits human smuggling

GULFORT, Miss. (AP) - A Mexican national arrested in Waveland has admitted smuggling people into the United States though he knew they did not have permission to enter the country. The Sun Herald reports 41-year-old Roberto Esquivel-Alonso was arrested Nov.…

Country music producer accused of domestic violence

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Country music producer Tony Brown has been arrested and charged with domestic assault after being accused of beating up a female family member. The Tennessean reports that the 69-year-old was booked in to the Metro Nashville…

Tennessee wants Manning reference removed from lawsuit

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The University of Tennessee has filed a motion to strike a reference to Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning from a lawsuit that alleges the school has violated Title IX policies in its handling of sexual assault…

Senate transparency chairman bans cellphones in his meeting

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The chairman of a Mississippi Senate committee on government transparency is telling the public not to use cellphones or other electronic devices while his committee meets. Tuesday is the first big deadline of the legislative session,…

Sportscaster’s lawyer describes shock over nude photos

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A lawyer for Erin Andrews says the sportscaster was shocked, humiliated and traumatized when she discovered that someone had secretly filmed her nude and posted the video on the Internet. Andrews has filed a $75 million…

Kentucky nonprofit attacks Beshear’s ‘sad Obamacare move’

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - A nonprofit group that spent millions of dollars to support Sen. Mitch McConnell's 2014 re-election has paid for a statewide TV ad to criticize former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear's efforts to save his health care reforms.…

GOP leaders mum on endorsements in Tennessee primary

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's Republican leaders are keeping any presidential primary endorsements to themselves as the state wraps up the final day of early voting on Tuesday. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam told reporters that there's a "good chance" he…

Ex-candidate found guilty of not reporting child sex abuse

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) - A former Democratic state House candidate has been found guilty of failing to report child abuse in a case involving students at an education program run by the Kentucky National Guard. Multiple media outlets report that…

Tennessee head coaches hold rare joint press conference

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Rick Barnes says Tennessee coaches says head coaches at the university do not "want the stereotype out there that there's something there that isn't true." Barnes, the men's basketball coach, and the 15 other Tennessee head…

3 killed in crash on Interstate 65, lanes closed

MILLERSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Highway Patrol says three people have died in a crash on Interstate 65. THP spokesman Bill Miller told media that two vehicles crashed head-on about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Middle Tennessee after one vehicle…

Jefferson County Head Start jobs in limbo over grant

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - With the funding of its early childhood education program uncertain, Jefferson County Public Schools is warning more than 500 Head Start staff members that their positions could be gone this fall. News outlets report that the…

Haslam takes issue with lawmakers ordering refugee lawsuit

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam is taking issue with a move by fellow Republicans in the Legislature to order the state attorney to sue the federal government over the refugee resettlement program in Tennessee. The governor told reporters…

TBI: Sneedville officials indicted in vote buying case

SNEEDVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has obtained indictments for the mayor of Sneedville and his associate in an ongoing vote-buying investigation. The TBI says in a news release that agents began investigating Mayor Wayland Dean Rhea…

Mississippi schools prepare for Tuesday’s severe weather

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - School districts around the Hattiesburg area are preparing for and keeping an eye on severe weather that is likely to hit the area Tuesday afternoon. The Hattiesburg American reports Hattiesburg, Forrest County and Petal school districts…

Investigation ongoing into racial graffiti at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - University of Southern Mississippi police officials say an investigation is ongoing into who wrote a racist note on a Cook Library bathroom stall sometime over the weekend of Feb. 12-14. The Hattiesburg American reports University Police…

Grenada officer escorting fallen agent involved in wreck

GRENADA, Miss. (AP) - A Grenada reserve officer is in critical condition after he was involved in a wreck while escorting the motorcade of a fallen agent. Police Chief Garrett Hartley said Monday that Kenny Engle is currently at a…

Grand jury indicts 16 in Harrison Co. as habitual offenders

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) - A Harrison County grand jury has indicted 16 criminal defendants as habitual offenders and decided 13 qualify for prosecution with enhanced penalties. The Sun Herald reports the recommendations were listed in the final report for the…

New sheriff: Salaries, protection among biggest concerns

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Salaries, jail maintenance and civil service issues are among Troy Peterson's top concerns in his second month as Harrison County's sheriff. Peterson told The Sun Herald Monday deputies will continue to leave the county for higher…

Police: Biloxi officer assaulted by man with meth, dagger

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) - A 30-year-old man faces multiple felony charges after allegedly assaulting a police officer during a traffic stop. Biloxi police officers booked James Michael Magnusen Jr., of Biloxi, Monday on charges of assault on a police officer,…

Affidavit: Postal carrier shot over drug dispute

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - An affidavit filed in federal court says the shooting of a U.S. postal worker in Louisville was the result of a drug deal. According to court documents made public Monday, investigators suspect the Feb. 10 shooting…

Kentucky recommends more restrictions on fish consumption

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - State officials are recommending more restrictions on fish consumption. The Courier-Journal reports the recommendations come after state officials found mercury in more fish from more waterways across the state. Officials now say everyone should limit how…

Application period opens for Tennessee Educator Fellowship

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The State Collaborative on Reforming Education says it is accepting applications for the Tennessee Educator Fellowship class of 2016-2017. The collaborative, known as SCORE, said Monday it is taking applications for the program through April 8.…

Tuesday is last day of early voting for Tennessee primary

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tuesday is the last day of early voting for Tennessee's presidential primary on March 1. More than 214,000 people voted through Saturday, with about two out of three ballots cast in the Republican primary. Tennessee's ballot…

State regulators give Lamar County a $30k waste tire grant

PURVIS, Miss. (AP) - Lamar County has been awarded a $30,000 two-year waste tire grant by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. According to a press release Monday, the tire grant will be used to "continue the local waste tire…

Tennessee head coaches will hold rare joint press conference

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee head coaches will hold a rare joint press conference Tuesday morning, two weeks after a group of unidentified women sued the school over its handling of sexual assault complaints made against student-athletes. Athletic department spokesman…

Gunn: Let Mississippi voters decide on Confederate emblem

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi House speaker says that because voters kept the Confederate battle emblem on the state flag 15 years ago, they should get to choose again if the design is reconsidered. Republican Speaker Philip Gunn also…

Special school district could take over faltering schools

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A new statewide school district could take control of faltering local school districts and keep them indefinitely in hopes of improving academic performance, under a bill advancing in the Mississippi House. The House Education Committee approved…