Author: Associated Press

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…

Officials visit homes, businesses amid Memphis flood threat

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Emergency responders have visited about 110 homes and businesses in the Memphis area to warn people about rising water in the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Authorities in Shelby County have closely monitored water levels in…

Tennessee prison to be split into male, female facilities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - One of Tennessee's most troubled prisons is due to be split into a male facility and female facility. According to a Tuesday memo by Department of Correction Commissioner Derrick Schofield obtained by The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/1RaoNxH ),…

Texan admits to theft of checks from Mississippi mailboxes

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A 36-year-old Texas man is facing up to three years in prison for failing to report to authorities his knowledge of a conspiracy to steal checks from mailboxes in Mississippi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Golden says…

Company accused of charging for dead patients’ meds settles

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A Nashville company will pay as much as $7.8 million in a settlement related to accusations that it charged Medicare and TennCare for medications for dead patients. The Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/1MSqyYO ) reports U.S. Attorney for the…

Officials quiet so far about Ooltewah basketball player rape

OOLTEWAH, Tenn. (AP) - Pressure is mounting for Hamilton County school officials to publicly show action is underway to handle the assault of a 15-year-old student. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports an Ooltewah High School freshman was hospitalized on…

Man sentenced to serve 30 years in connection with murder

PAINTSVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A man has been sentenced to 30 years behind bars in connection with a murder case involving of two people. WYMT-TV reports Orie Spence Jr. was sentenced Monday morning following the 2013 killings of Edger and…

State legislature convenes as parties fight for power

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky state legislature has gaveled in to begin work on a two-year state spending plan under a new Republican governor. The state House and Senate both convened about noon Tuesday. It will likely be a…

Adjustments to Tennessee Senate schedule cause grumbling

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - An effort to have state Senate committees meet on an additional day is leading to grumbling among some Republicans in the upper chamber who say the change would allow less time for legislative receptions and to…

Ocean Springs Fire Department losing staff to better pay

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (AP) - Ocean Springs city aldermen have accepted the resignation of three of the city's firefighters. Fire Chief Jeff Ponson tells the Mississippi Press the resignations are effective Friday, and says all three firefighters left for higher…

Rest area on Interstate 65 closed after fire

MUNFORDVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says an overnight blaze has caused major damage to a rest area along southbound Interstate 65. Cabinet spokesman Chris Jessie said in a statement that the fire was reported about 2 a.m.…

Hinds County joins Jackson in fight for airport control

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Hinds County supervisors say they will join Jackson officials in fighting off any attempt by the state to take control of the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. The Clarion-Ledger reports the city of Jackson currently has…

Mississippi lawmakers beginning 4-month session

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi lawmakers are beginning their four-month session, and they will spend the first few days getting organized. This is the first year of a four-year term, and about one-fourth of the legislators are new. The session…

Bonds sets in 2 Hattiesburg slaying over New Year’s weekend

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Bond has been set for two suspects charged in connection with the unrelated deaths of two Hattiesburg women over the New Year's weekend. During a court appearance Monday, The Hattiesburg American reports (http://hatne.ws/1mycjn6) Municipal Court Judge…

Hattiesburg police seek to auction seized, surplus items

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - The Hattiesburg Police Department is requesting city council's permission to auction off several seized and abandoned surplus items including 761 weapons in their evidence locker. Evidence technician Eric Proulx tells The Hattiesburg American (http://hatne.ws/1SwL4oS) the department…

DHS has no immediate successor to manage programs for poor

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Clients of the Gulf Coast Community Action Agency are wondering how they are supposed to keep the lights and heat on now that the state has yanked the agency's funding. But the Department of Human Services…

Biloxi casinos, businesses will pay more for utilities

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) - Proposed water and sewer rates for casinos and other top users in the city will jump 54 percent over the next five years under a plan proposed by Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich. The Sun Herald reports…

Police: Man charged with attempted murder in teen shooting

GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) - A 24-year-old Greenville man has been arrested after authorities say he shot a teenager in the back of the head. Greenville Assistant Police Chief Michael Merchant tells the Delta Democrat-Times that Jamarcus Davis was arrested Sunday.…

Police: Suspect arrested in shooting death of Columbus man

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - Authorities say a person has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of a Columbus man on Sunday. Local media outlets report that the Columbus police arrested 24-year-old Leronn Klayshay Gregory on Monday. According to…

Thompson: Grenada County gets $2M grant

BOLTON, Miss. (AP) - The Grenada County Board of Supervisors is in line to receive a $2.4 million grant from the Economic Development Administration. U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson says the money will be used for infrastructure improvements for the…

Legislative Research Commission launches YouTube channel

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - As the Kentucky General Assembly convenes in Frankfort on Tuesday, the Legislative Research Commission is launching its own YouTube channel, "LRC Capitol Connection." The channel provides videos about the legislature, legislative issues and state lawmakers. It…

Ohio River bridge likely to be closed another couple days

WICKLIFFE, Ky. (AP) - It will likely be a couple more days before the Ohio River "Cairo" Bridge between Kentucky and Illinois can be reopened. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the bridge remains closed where floodwaters have covered the bridge…

Swiney elected chief judge of Tennessee Court of Appeals

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The 12-member Tennessee Court of Appeals has elected D. Michael Swiney of Knoxville as chief judge. The chief judge is responsible for assigning cases, ensuring that legal proceedings advance in a timely manner and other administrative…

Tennessee lawmakers propose honorary title of general

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Two state lawmakers are proposing a promotion in honorary titles in Tennessee. The governor under current law can bestow the honorary title of Colonel Aide de Camp at the request of a member of the Tennessee…

New conference scheduled for Tennessee’s farmers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A new conference for Tennessee farmers is scheduled for next month in Knoxville. State officials say the Pick TN Conference is a collaborative effort of Tennessee producer organizations and agriculture agencies. Scheduled for Feb. 11-13 at…

Lexington tickets paid with 5 tons of food for hungry

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A program that allows Lexington parking ticket recipients to cover their fines with canned goods for the hungry has collected 5 tons of food during the holidays. The Lexington Herald-Leader says the Lexington Parking Authority collected…

Former Miami interim coach Larry Scott joins Tennessee staff

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Larry Scott, who served as Miami's interim head coach for the final six games this season, has agreed in principle to become Tennessee's tight ends coach. Tennessee announced the addition of Scott on Monday. Scott replaces…

Tennessee Girls Basketball Prep Poll

The Associated Press' Top 10 teams in each of Tennessee's three Division I non-financial aid classifications and in the combined Division II financial aid classification as selected by Tennessee AP-member sportswriters…

Tennessee Boys Basketball Prep Poll

The Associated Press' Top 10 teams in each of Tennessee's three Division I non-financial aid classifications and in the combined Division II financial aid classification as selected by Tennessee AP-member sportswriters…

Body of missing country singer recovered from Oklahoma lake

PONCA CITY, Okla. (AP) - The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the body of a missing country singer from Arkansas who disappeared during a severe storm has been recovered from an Oklahoma lake. The patrol says its Marine Enforcement Division recovered…

Kentucky’s new leaders, among youngest in US, take office

  FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Five of Kentucky's six statewide elected officers officially took office on Monday, giving the state some of the youngest elected leaders in the country. Four of the five officers are under 40. Two of them,…

Hundreds gather to remember high school football player

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Hundreds gathered in Knoxville to pray for peace following the death of a high school football player. The Knoxville News Sentinel reports Sunday's gathering at Fulton High School was the latest public response weeks after Zaevion…

Ex-congressman forms group in favor of medical marijuana

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A former Kentucky congressman has formed a group that will push to legalize medical marijuana in the state. Mike Ward said Monday that people should not be treated as criminals for using marijuana to relieve pain…

Project aims to provide housing for struggling LGBT youth

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center wants to provide transitional housing for homeless or struggling youth in the LGBT community by using refurbished shipping containers. The center's Youth Services Manager Stephanie Reyes tells the Commercial…

Warm weather keeping ladybugs more active than usual

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - Warm December temperatures have kept ladybugs more active than usual around Daviess County. The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reports ladybugs normally look for warmer spots to spend the winter. Annette Meyer Heisdorffer, the extension agent for horticulture with…

Officials identify body of man found dead in home fire

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky fire investigators have identified the body of a man who died in a house fire in Danville. Boyle County Emergency Management Director Mike Wilder tells the Advocate-Messenger the Danville Fire Department discovered the body of…

Greenwood city attorney Don Brock Jr. to take on another job

GREENWOOD, Miss. (AP) - Greenwood attorney Don Brock Jr. wears a lot of hats these days. The Greenwood Commonwealth reports Brock is a private practice attorney, Greenwood city attorney, GreenwoodLeflore Airport attorney, GreenwoodLeflore Industrial Board and attorney for the Greenwood…

Mississippi River reaches flood stage at Natchez

NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi River at Natchez reached flood stage Saturday evening and is expected to continue to rise. Forecaster Anna Wolverton with the Jackson office of the National Weather Service tells The Natchez Democrat the river level…

Milton Kuykendall ends 12 year run as DeSoto school head

HERNANDO, Miss. (AP) - Milton Kuykendall has retired as superintendent of the DeSoto County School System. With DeSoto County being one of about 60 out of 148 Mississippi school districts with elected superintendents, the 68-year-old Kuykendall fulfilled his desire to…

Highway patrol: No fatal accident during New Year’s holiday

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Highway Patrol says the new year started with no fatal accidents over the New Year's holiday. The New Year's enforcement period began Thursday and ended Friday at midnight. Capt. Johnny Poulos said in a…

Twelfth Night: Carnival commences with kings

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) - Christmas and New Year's may have passed, but the holidays are just beginning for 2016. Tuesday marks the Christian celebration of Twelfth Night, a festive occasion on the eve of Epiphany to recognize the three kings…

Police: Woman said she wanted to blow up community services

HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A woman has been charged after police say she told investigators that she wanted to blow up the Department for Community Based Services. The Kentucky New Era reports police were called to a residence Saturday morning,…

Stylish beach cottages on the comeback along Coast

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Stylish beach cottages are on the comeback along the Gulf Coast when a Gulfport couple took a chance when they incorporated Tidewater Homes in 2011. Michelle and Jeff Stanfill believed they could make their business work…

Report: ‘Substantial’ need to expand $10M college program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Tennessee Higher Education Commission is asking lawmakers to expand a $10 million grant program that paired employers with colleges to develop academic programs tailored to the needs of local job markets. According to The Tennessean,…

Wayward ‘weather balloon’ confiscated by Y-12 security

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (AP) - Security police at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant confiscated what was described as a "weather balloon" that landed near the national-security installation. National Nuclear Security Administration spokesman Steven Wyatt tells the Knoxville News Sentinel that…

Authorities investigating after Hattiesburg woman found dead

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - A Hattiesburg man has been arrested after his girlfriend was found dead in a home. Local media outlets report that 37-year-old Kelly Ladner of Hattiesburg was found dead Saturday. Forrest County Deputy Coroner Lisa Klem says…

Officials: 34-year-old pedestrian struck, killed in Leland

LELAND, Miss. (AP) - Officials say a 34-year-old Greenville man has died after being struck by a motorist in Leland. The Delta Democrat-Times reports the incident happened Sunday morning on U.S. Route 82. Cpl. Tony Dunn with the Mississippi Highway…