Author: Associated Press

Student pleads guilty to misdemeanor in stadium drone case

AP-FBC--Kentucky-Drone Crash Student pleads guilty to misdemeanor in stadium drone case Eds: APNewsNow. LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A University of Kentucky student who operated a drone that crashed inside a stadium before a football game has pleaded guilty to a…

Report finds Mississippi foster care system still worsening

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A new report finds that Mississippi's child welfare system continues to deteriorate, raising the stakes for state government's effort to stave off a federal judge from taking over the system. It's the second straight report to…

Another $4M in donations sought for Mississippi museums

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Companies and other private donors have given $13 million to help pay for two Mississippi history museums that are set to open in 2017. Now, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO Haley Fisackerly says another $4 million…

Titans interview 2 more candidates in search for new GM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Titans have interviewed Giants executive Marc Ross and former Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist in their search for a new general manager. The Titans confirmed they completed interviews with both men Thursday. Ross is…

Man who crashed SUV into truck claims it was self-defense

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The lawyer for a western Kentucky man facing two murder counts for his role in a fatal crash says his client acted in self-defense. The Kentucky New Era reports that defense attorney William G. Deatherage Jr.…

Chancellor Morgan to retire amid Board of Regents shakeup

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Chancellor John Morgan is stepping down as head of the Tennessee Board of Regents following Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's announcement that he wants to grant more autonomy to the six four-year universities in the system. Haslam…

Hattiesburg City Council overrides mayor’s wastewater veto

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Hattiesburg City Council members have voted to override the mayor's veto of the council's decision to implement land application as the solution to its wastewater issues. Media outlets report the council made the 4-1 vote Wednesday…

Memphis, Shelby County debate over $1B liability

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis and Shelby County officials are debating over who is responsible for paying the dissolved Memphis City Schools system's $1.1 billion liability for retiree health benefits. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports county commissioners said Wednesday the…

Inmate found dead inside correctional facility

BRANDON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Department of Corrections is investigating the death of an inmate. The Clarion-Ledger reports 27-year-old Deonte Bennett was found unresponsive inside his cell at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Rankin County Tuesday morning. He…

Mississippi schools ranked second-to-last in national rating

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - An evaluation of school performance finds that Mississippi's academic achievement gains have outstripped gains nationwide from 2003 to 2015, but gives the state's public schools a "D'' overall, ranking it second-to-last. The evaluation by Education Week's…

Senate president’s wife hired as deputy cabinet secretary

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Gov. Matt Bevin's administration says the wife of Senate President Robert Stivers has been hired as a deputy cabinet secretary. Bevin spokeswoman Jessica Ditto said Thursday that Regina Stivers will serve as deputy secretary of the…

Officials: Man shot by US marshals after brandishing knife

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities say deputy U.S. marshals shot and killed a man on railroad tracks in Johnson City after they tried to serve a warrant. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation spokesman Josh DeVine said in a statement that…

Letcher County teenager pleads guilty to killing baby

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A 17-year-old Letcher County boy has entered a plea deal in which he admitted to killing an infant. WYMT-TV (http://bit.ly/1mFClV2 ) reports that Keaston Taylor pleaded guilty Tuesday in Pike County Circuit Court to an amended…

Columbus City Council creates public relations position

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - The Columbus City Council has officially approved the creation of a public relations director position for the city. The Commercial Dispatch reports councilmen voted unanimously on the matter Tuesday evening, after a brief discussion. Mayor Robert…

Tail cone of military aircraft lands in Mississippi

PEARL, Miss. (AP) - The tail cone of a Mississippi Army National Guard aircraft fell off during a training mission, landing in the yard of a home in Pearl. Officials say no one on the ground was injured and the…

Head Start resumes classes in Harrison County

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Seven Head Start centers in Harrison County previously run by the Gulf Coast Community Action Agency are reopening Thursday, two days after students were scheduled to return to Head Start classes after winter break. The centers…

Gulfport bar owner sentenced for selling cocaine, heroin

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A Gulfport bar owner will serve seven years and three months in prison for buying and selling cocaine and China White heroin out of the Ice Daiquiri Lounge. The Sun Herald reports Chief U.S. District Judge…

Investigation into Columbus officer’s fatal shooting ongoing

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - Officials say the state investigation into the shooting death of a 26-year-old man by Columbus police is making progress. The Commercial Dispatch reports Columbus Police Department Interim Chief Fred Shelton provided an update on Ricky Ball's…

Officials: Fire set by 3-year-old destroys Long Beach home

LONG BEACH, Miss. (AP) - Officials say a fire that destroyed a home in Long Beach was accidentally caused by a 3-year-old child. Harrison County Fire Chief Pat Sullivan tells The Sun Herald that the child was playing with lighter…

High school cancels season for team in assault investigation

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee high school has canceled its basketball season after three players were charged with raping a teammate in an apparent hazing incident. Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith said Wednesday he was taking this "very…

Former Lafayette County employee sentenced

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A former Lafayette County worker will serve two years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzlement. State Auditor Stacey Pickering, in a news release Wednesday, said Heather Thomas Peters, of Oxford, had five years of her…

Juan Williams set to speak at MLK event in Mississippi

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - National political analyst Juan Williams is scheduled to speak at a civil-rights event in Mississippi's capital city. The Jan. 15 convocation at Jackson State University is to mark the birthday of the late Rev. Martin Luther…

Boy’s death gives sick toddler new chance at life

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee family's tragedy has given an Illinois toddler a chance at life. WKRN-TV reports that 2-year-old William Heard of Brentwood died in December after choking on food. His parents, Jamie and Daniel Heard, made the…

No hoverboards allowed at University of Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Students, faculty and staff returning to the University of Kentucky for the spring semester can leave the hoverboards they got over the holidays at home. The university says it has temporarily banned the use, possession or…

Byrdstown man charged with stealing from veterans fund

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Authorities say a Byrdstown man has been charged with stealing thousands of dollars from a Disabled American Veterans fund. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says 65-year-old Glen Williams has been indicted by a Pickett County grand…

2015 featured fewest Tennessee tornadoes since 2007

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The National Weather Service says 2015 featured the worst Cumberland Plateau ice storm in state history and the fewest Tennessee tornadoes since 2007. Thousands of trees and power lines were knocked down in the February storms,…

Titans confirm former Lions GM Martin Mayhew interviewed

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Titans have wrapped up an interview with former Lions general manager Martin Mayhew in their search for a new GM. The Titans said Wednesday night the interview had concluded. Mayhew had been executive vice…

Dresden native son traded to Columbia

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Nashville Predators traded defenseman Seth Jones to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Ryan Johansen on Wednesday. Nashville general manager David Poile said in a statement that Johansen is a big, young center whot can…

Thunder’s Kevin Durant to return; Conley out for Grizzlies

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Thunder forward Kevin Durant will play Wednesday night against Memphis after sitting out Oklahoma City's game Monday night against Sacramento with a sprained right big toe. Thunder coach Billy Donovan said Durant was injured when he…

Season canceled for team at center of assault investigation

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee high school has called off the rest of its basketball season after three of its players were arrested on charges of raping a teammate in an apparent hazing incident. Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick…

John Jancek out as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - John Jancek won't be back as Tennessee's defensive coordinator next season. Tennessee coach Butch Jones announced Wednesday that he and Jancek "have mutually agreed to part ways."…

Man pleads not guilty in Kentucky boy’s stabbing death

  VERSAILLES, Ky. (AP) - An Indiana man has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Kentucky boy during a burglary. Media outlets report that Ronald Exantus waived formal arraignment and entered…

State flag to no longer fly on Washington County properties

GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) - The state flag of Mississippi will no longer fly on Washington County properties. The Delta Democrat-Times reports the Washington County Board of Supervisors voted Monday 3-2 in favor of removing the flag, which features a Confederate…

Awnings, marquees may be classified as signage in Oxford

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) - Oxford planning officials have been tweaking the city's sign ordinance, and more tweaks could be coming. The Oxford Eagle reports the Oxford planning department presented proposed changes to the sign ordinance to the Courthouse Square Historic…

2 die in fire at eastern Kentucky home

WEST LIBERTY, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky State Police say two people have died in a residential blaze in eastern Kentucky. A statement from police says first responders were called to the scene in West Liberty on Tuesday afternoon. The identities…

Man jailed after shouting racial epithet at judge in court

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A man has been jailed after he shouted a racial slur at a judge as he was being taken into custody. The Courier-Journal reports that Jefferson Circuit Juge Olu Stevens sentenced Adam Satterly to 60 days…

Hattiesburg police to auction seized, surplus items

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - The Hattiesburg Police Department will be allowed to auction off several seized and abandoned surplus items, including 761 weapons in the evidence department. During Tuesday's meeting of Hattiesburg City Council, council members voted 4-1 to allow…

State looking for other agencies to pay energy bills

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Department of Human Services pulled funding from the Gulf Coast Community Action Agency because, by Dec. 17, it had spent only 63 percent of the money it received this year to help poor people…

Health agency moves some services from Biloxi to Gulfport

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Some services at the state Health Department's County Health Department clinic in Biloxi have been moved to the clinic in Gulfport. Liz Sharlot, director of the department's Office of Communications, tells The Sun Herald the Biloxi…

Mississippi storm survivors urged to register for aid

PEARL, Miss. (AP) - Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in Mississippi are urged to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for disaster assistance. A presidential disaster declaration for the severe weather…

Morris to serve as chairman of distiller’s association

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Master distiller Chris Morris of Brown-Forman has been selected as chairman of the Kentucky Distillers' Association - the 136-year-old group that promotes the state's bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Morris is marking his 40th year in…

‘Gold Star’ license plates now available for siblings

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky now has a special license plate for siblings of people who died while serving in the military. The addition came as a result of legislation passed last year. Previously, only parents and spouses of the…

GOP challenge planned to embattled Tennessee representative

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) - A Franklin man is planning a Republican primary challenge to embattled state Rep. Jeremy Durham. Retired Army Col. Sam Whitson tells The Tennessean newspaper that he has assembled a team for the planned challenge. Whitson says…

Louisville Slugger Museum has record attendance in 2015

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory says it is celebrating a record number of visitors. In a statement, museum officials said 314,149 people visited the museum and factory in 2015. That number eclipsed the former record…

Assessment of broadband access and usage in Tennessee begins

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A state official is announcing the launch of an assessment of broadband access and usage in Tennessee. Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd said the assessment is an impartial survey of broadband access,…

Former college administrator admits trafficking meth

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A former Mississippi college administrator has pleaded guilty to a meth-trafficking charge that carries a penalty range of 10 years to life in prison. The Sun Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1IQjHUP) 41-year-old Morris Etheredge, former academic dean of…