Author: Associated Press

19 tornadoes touch down in Tennessee in 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Weather officials say 19 tornadoes touched down in Tennessee last year, marking the state's lowest total since 2007. The National Weather Service said Saturday that one tornado struck the state in April and two touched down…

Man’s body found in burning home in Danville

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Authorities say a man's body has been found in a burned house in Danville. According to media reports, emergency officials in Boyle County say the fire started at about 8 a.m. Saturday. Firefighters arrived to find…

Mississippi still lags country in doctors but making gains

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A study on doctors says Mississippi remains in last place when it comes to the number of doctors per capita but has seen a sizeable increase in student enrollment. The Clarion-Ledger reported Friday that the Association…

Soldiers often marry young, and for good reasons

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The military forces people to grow up fast - especially when it comes to marriage. That's what military wife Wesley Ann Wade said when talking about marrying young in the military. Wade and other military couples…

Alabama lawmaker threatens: Local school tax could go away

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A south Alabama lawmaker threatened to make a Baldwin County school tax that pays for additional teachers and school employees "go away" after he was criticized over education budget language. Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, fired off…

Florida man jailed after crash injuries Mississippi officer

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A 28-year-old Florida man has been arrested on suspicion of DUI after police say he caused an accident that sent a Mississippi police officer and another driver to the hospital. Gulfport Police Sgt. Damon McDaniel tells…

Saucier man killed in New Year’s Eve accident

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - The Harrison County Coroner's Office has released new details on a New Year's Eve accident that killed a 45-year-old Saucier man. Authorities tell WLOX TV Donald Robertson Jr. died when his car veered off the road,…

33 Thoroughbreds rescued after owner abandons them

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - The Lexington Humane Society is caring for 23 Thoroughbreds that were abandoned at a Fayette County boarding stable while another 10 have been placed in homes. The society's Ashley Hammond told the Lexington Herald-Leader the man…

WA State pair busted for meth in Mercedes engine

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) - Two people from Washington State are jailed in the Texas Panhandle after police found more than $300,000 in methamphetamine inside a false compartment of the engine of their 1999 Mercedes. The Texas Department of Public Safety…

Mother ordered to appear in court in abduction case

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A federal judge in Knoxville has issued a temporary restraining order against a mother accused of parental abduction. The Knoxville New Sentinel reports Alma Soto Soto is from Mexico. She is accused of fleeing to the…

Reservist tracks down USS Chattanooga deck bell

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - The deck bell of the World War I-era USS Chattanooga will become part of a memorial to the five servicemen killed in an attack on the Naval and Marine Reserve Center this summer. The Chattanooga Times…

Some flooding in Ky., Tenn. as agencies try to control water

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Western Tennessee and Kentucky are still facing flood threats as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Tennessee Valley Authority work to control water levels. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for the Cumberland…

Man wanted in 3 counties stopped by flood barricade

PADUCAH, Ky. (AP) - A flooded road in McCraken County aided in the arrest of a man wanted in three counties after he got stuck attempting to drive around a barricade. McCracken deputies told WPSD-TV Jacob Bailey gave them a…

Alabama lawmakers could debate increase in gasoline tax

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama lawmakers might soon debate a potential increase in the state's gasoline tax to pay for road and bridge construction. If enacted, it would be the first raise in the state gas tax since 1992. The…

Mental health settlement talks founder on enforcement issues

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Talks over a deal to improve mental health care for Mississippi children broke down because the state didn't want a federal judge to oversee its implementation. That's according to a transcript of what lawyers for state…

Former Mississippi college dean to plead in meth case

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A former college administrator has notified federal court officials of his intent to plead guilty in a meth distribution case in which his co-defendant faces trial. The Sun Herald reports Morris Etheredge, former academic dean at…

Man set to enter plea in crack cocaine conspiracy

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - A 38-year-old Biloxi man accused in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in Harrison County is set to enter a plea Monday in U.S. District Court. The Sun Herald reports the plea hearing for Willie Eugene…

Workshop focus: Creative writing in teaching core subjects

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - The Hattiesburg Arts Council is planning a workshop to help Mississippi teachers use creative writing to augment their core curriculum. The workshop, set for Monday, is called "Writing the Way." It will be taught by author…

Recreational harvest of gag grouper closes Jan. 1

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries reminds anglers that the recreational harvest of gag grouper is closed from Jan. 1 through June 30 of each year. Additionally, the recreational harvest of black, red, yellowfin…

Town, long ago annexed into Brookhaven, unveils marker

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) - A newly unveiled marker in Brookhaven commemorates the history of the city's Pearlhaven area. The Daily Leader reports that the historical marker unveiled Wednesday notes that Pearl Haven was a mill town founded in 1899 by…

Arrest reported in theft of Salvation Army kettles

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - A man arrested for being in a stolen vehicle in early December now faces charges in connection with the thefts of several Salvation Army kettles in Hattiesburg. The suspect was arrested in connection with the stolen…

Weather hampering work on Tupelo police building

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - Bad weather has been hampering work on the Tupelo Police Department's new headquarters. The same storms that brought weeks of rain to the area have also created delays in completing the $10 million, 34,000-square-foot building. West…

Tupelo High School band director resigns after drug arrest

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - A high school band director in Tupelo has resigned following his arrest on a drug charge. Tim Matlock had been arrested on Dec. 21 for possession of crystal methamphetamine. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that…

Ferry over Ohio River closes in western Kentucky

MARION, Ky. (AP) - A ferry between Kentucky and Illinois has closed due to rising floodwaters on the Ohio River. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the Cave-In-Rock Ferry closed at 2 p.m. CST Thursday when floodwaters went over Kentucky 91.…

Teen charged with murder in death of 6-year-old in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis police say a 14-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 6-year-old girl who was left in his care. Police said in a news release Thursday that the charge was…

Coast Guard issues high water advisory for lower Mississippi

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Coast Guard has issued a high water safety advisory for a section of the lower Mississippi River and is asking the general public to stay off the fast-moving, rising waters. Thursday's advisory by Capt. Timothy…

Medal of Honor recipient charged in misdemeanor hit-and-run

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Police in South Carolina say a Medal of Honor recipient faces a hit-and-run charge. In a news release, Columbia police said 26-year-old Kyle Carpenter appeared in court Thursday with an attorney on misdemeanor charges of hit-and-run…

Sooners lose to Clemson 37-17 in Orange Bowl semifinal game

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - The Oklahoma Sooners were fooled by a fake punt, and stuffed on fourth down when they tried some trickery of their own. And in the second half, Clemson was simply the stronger team. High-scoring Oklahoma…

Memphis QB Paxton Lynch to skip senior year, enter NFL draft

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Memphis Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch has announced he's bypassing his senior year to enter the 2016 NFL Draft. Lynch announced his decision Thursday morning, calling it the best decision for him and his family. The redshirt…

Officials alert residents of rise in river, lake levels

DOVER, Tenn. (AP) - Officials are alerting communities along the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers that river levels will rise over the next few days. The Leaf-Chronicle reports the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers will begin to…

Kentucky malls impose chaperone rules after disturbance

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Two malls in Kentucky have imposed new chaperone rules following a weekend disturbance involving unruly teens. The Courier-Journal reports new restrictions at Mall St. Matthews and Oxmoor Center will require adult supervision of anyone under the…

Allegiant Air flight makes emergency landing in Tennessee

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - An Allegiant Air flight has made a safe emergency landing at a Tennessee airport. Chattanooga Airport spokesman Albert Waterhouse said Allegiant Air Flight 760 landed around 8:30 a.m. Thursday after reporting a problem with one of…

Miss. gets new laws: Hospital finances, judges, trooper pay

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A new law taking effect in the new year is designed to bring more transparency to financial operations of publicly owned hospitals in Mississippi. Senate Bill 2407 was filed in response to problems at Singing River…

Highway in western Kentucky closed due to flooding

WICKLIFFE, Ky. (AP) - The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has closed U.S. 51 at two locations in western Kentucky in response to rising floodwaters. The cabinet said the Ohio River was rising more quickly than anticipated and so both the U.S.…

Measure increasing seat belt fines among new Tenn. laws

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A measure aimed at getting more people to buckle up, or pay up, is one of many new Tennessee laws taking effect Friday. The tougher seat belt law increases the fine for first-time offenders from $10…

What to look for in Kentucky’s 2016 legislative session

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky state lawmakers will return for a 60-day legislative session with a new Republican governor, a bare-knuckle battle for control of the state House and a massive pension shortfall. The issue sure to dominate the session…

Van hits horse-drawn buggy crash; teen girl is killed

BENTON, Tenn. (AP) - Police say a van hit a horse-drawn buggy on a Tennessee road, killing a teenage girl. Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. John Harmon told WRCB-TV that the 13-year-old girl died Wednesday after being airlifted on Tuesday from…

Mississippi pot legalization initiative falls far short

HERNANDO, Miss. (AP) - A DeSoto County woman's push for a ballot initiative legalizing marijuana in Mississippi has fallen far short of the required number of petition signatures. But Kelly Jacobs tells The Commercial Appeal she considers the effort a…

Jackson vows to fight attempt to take airport control

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Jackson officials are vowing to fight any attempt by the state to take away control of the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. The Clarion-Ledger reports a bill will be filed in the 2016 Legislature, which begins…

Coroner identifies Hattiesburg murder victim

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) - Hattiesburg officials have identified the victim in a Tuesday night murder as 43-year-old Richard DeShawn Barnes. Forrest County deputy coroner Jonathan Nobles tells The Hattiesburg American an autopsy is being conducted at the state crime lab…

Lumberton mayoral election may see challenge

LUMBERTON, Miss. (AP) - The mayoral election in Lumberton has taken yet another turn, as the city will have to wait at least a week to declare its next permanent mayor. After Tuesday's runoff election, Kent Crider ended the night…

Columbus mayor IDs 5 finalist for police chief

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) - Columbus Mayor Robert Smith has released the names of the five finalists for the Mississippi city's police chief opening. Smith told The Commercial Dispatch Wednesday the city council will interview the finalists on Jan. 19. The…

State stops funding to nonprofit that serve the poor

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Operations are winding down at the troubled Gulf Coast Community Action Agency, a nonprofit organization that has served the poor for 46 years and managed Harrison County's Head Start program. The Sun Herald reports the state…

‘Voice’ winner singing at Kentucky game this week

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - The latest winner of NBC's "The Voice," Jordan Smith of Harlan, says he will sing the national anthem at the Kentucky men's basketball game on Saturday. Media report Smith posted the news on Facebook, adding that…

2 dead in Kemper County fatality

DE KALB, Miss. (AP) - Two Louisville (LOO-iss-vihl) women have died as the result of an automobile accident in Kemper County. The Mississippi Highway Patrol told WTOK-TV that the crash happened Wednesday near the Winston County line. The victims were…

Legs bashed from marble horses in mall statue

RIDGELAND, Miss. (AP) - Ridgeland police say a 30-year-old man is accused of taking a sledgehammer to a marble fountain and whacking the front legs off of four statues of horses. WAPT-TV reports that this is the second time Charles…

Barbourville voters approve alcohol sales

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Voters in Barbourville have decided to allow alcohol sales in the city. WYMT-TV reports a petition began in October to turn the city from "dry" to "wet." On Tuesday, residents voted 498 to 433 in favor…

Boy, 14, charged in assault on 3 children, 1 of whom died

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Police say a 14-year-old boy attacked three children, one of whom died, and has been charged with attempted murder and child abuse. Memphis police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said Wednesday that the teenager assaulted two girls, ages…