Senator McConnell Wants To Prevent Russia From Invading Ukraine
Senator Mitch McConnell wants to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine. While speaking in Frankfort yesterday, Senator McConnell said “Once the Russians have grabbed a piece of Ukraine, or try to overthrow the government, it’s really too late.” McConnell says he approves of deploying Stinger missiles and ground troops in eastern Europe and has told the White House how he feels about the situation.
Louisville Officer’s Lawyers Want Media Blocked From Jury Selection Process
The only officer charged in connection to the deadly raid on Breonna Taylor’s home wants to prevent the media from attending jury selection. Former Louisville Officer Brett Hankinson is charged with wanton endangerment for allegedly shooting into neighboring apartments. Hankison’s defense team says if the media is present, some potential jurors may be concerned that their identities will be disclosed. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s says it recognizes competing interest between the right to an impartial jury and the right to public and media access, and that the balance in this situation favors access.
Kentucky Updates COVID Numbers
Kentucky is updating its COVID numbers. Governor Andy Beshear reported over 15-thousand new cases yesterday. The current positivity rate is 33 percent. There are also nearly 24-hundred people hospitalized with COVID in the Commonwealth.
Calloway County Health Department Announces 369 Cases of COVID19
The weekend covid numbers are in for Calloway County. The Calloway County Health Department has received notification of 369 cases of COVID19 for the period Friday through Sunday. As of 1/23, the total case count is 7,899. Currently, there are with 18 hospitalized and 74 deaths. The majority of hospitalized cases are unvaccinated.
Kentucky State News Brief
UK Updates COVID Numbers
(Lexington, KY) – The University of Kentucky is updating its COVID-19 numbers. UK said yesterday there are 277 active cases. The university has mitigation policies in place, including an indoor mask mandate in all campus buildings. Nearly 90-percent of the campus is considered fully vaccinated and another two percent are partially vaccinated.
GRDHD Updates COVID-19 Numbers
(Owensboro, KY) – The Green River District Health Department is updating its COVID-19 numbers. The GRDHD reported nearly 48-hundred new confirmed cases yesterday. There were nearly 25-hundred cases in Daviess County alone. There have been over 55-thousand-630 cases in the seven county district since the start of the outbreak. During that time there have been more than 740 COVID-19-related deaths.
UK’s Kinnard Announces He’s Leaving For NFL
(Lexington, KY) – The UK football team will have to replace its consensus All-American offensive tackle next season. Darian Kinnard announced yesterday that he’s declared for the 2022 NFL Draft. Kinnard will play in the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl on February 5th. He’s expected to be an early-round pick in the draft.
Kentucky Man Accused Of Being Panty Thief
(Frankfort, KY) – A Kentucky man is accused of being a panty thief. Franklin County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested John Hawkins the Third on Saturday. They had been investigating burglaries dating back to last summer in which only women’s bras and underwear were stolen. When he was arrested in his Harrodsburg home, Hawkins was in possession of about 100 pairs of bras and underwear.
JCPS Open To In-Person Learning Today
(Louisville, KY) – Jefferson County Public Schools will be open for in-person learning for all students today. JCPS made the announcement yesterday afternoon. On Monday, Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said decisions on whether to remain in school will be made daily based on the number of staff members available. JCPS families will get a text message every afternoon about whether or not students will be in classrooms the next day.
Jefferson Co. BOE To Consider School Security Administrators, Officers
(Louisville, KY) – A special meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Education is set for today. The BOE will consider major components of a more than seven-million-dollar plan to increase security at the district’s schools. Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio wants to create and fund school safety administrators and officers. JCPS hasn’t had law enforcement officers in its schools for nearly three years.
Tennessee State News Brief
Murdered Robertson Co. Sheriff’s Deputy Was Shot Multiple Times
(Springfield, TN) – The Robertson County Sheriff’s Office deputy found dead in her home was shot multiple times. Savanna Puckett was found with gunshot wounds to her head and torso inside her burning Springfield-area home on Sunday night. A Smyrna man described as an “acquaintance” has been charged with her murder. An arrest affidavit for James Conn says his fingerprints were found on empty lighter fluid bottles inside the home.
Billions Needed For Infrastructure In Shelby Co.
(Nashville, TN) – The Tennessee Department of Transportation says it needs nearly 62-billion-dollars over the next five years to address public infrastructure. The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations presented an inventory report on the state’s infrastructure needs to the Senate Finance Committee yesterday. The report shows that transportation and utilities are the areas that need the biggest improvements, costing over 34-billion. The state hopes to cover some of the cost with eight-billion the state is expecting from President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Dolly Parton Gets Into The Baking Business
(Undated) – Country music legend and Sevier County-native Dolly Parton is getting into a new line of work. She’s partnering with Duncan Hines on a Southern-inspired line of cake mixes and frostings. The Dolly Parton x Duncan Hines line will hit store shelves in March. But if you can’t stand the wait, special baking kits are available to purchase on the Duncan Hines website starting today.
Ole Smoky Distilleries World’s Most Visited
(GSMNP) – The most visited distilleries in the world are in East Tennessee. Nearly six-million people visited the four Ole Smoky Tennessee distilleries last year. That is over one-million more than in 2020. It’s also more visitors that all of Scotland’s distilleries welcomed combined.
Services Set For Murdered Robertson Co. Sheriff’s Office Deputy
(Springfield, TN) – Funeral services are set for a Robertson County Sheriff’s Office deputy found dead in her home. Visitation for Savanna Puckett will be held from 4 o’clock Friday afternoon until 8 in the evening and again from 11 o’clock Saturday morning until 2 in the afternoon. Puckett’s celebration of life will follow immediately after Saturday’s visitation with all three events to be held at South Haven Baptist Church in Springfield and livestreamed on the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Puckett was found dead in her burning Springfield-area home on Sunday night with multiple gunshot wounds.
Murdered Robertson Co. Sheriff’s Deputy Was Shot Multiple Times
(Springfield, TN) – The Robertson County Sheriff’s Office deputy found dead in her home was shot multiple times. Savanna Puckett was found with gunshot wounds to her head and torso inside her burning Springfield-area home on Sunday night. A Smyrna man described as an “acquaintance” has been charged with her murder. An arrest affidavit for James Conn says his fingerprints were found on empty lighter fluid bottles inside the home.
TDOT To Start Emergency Repair Work On Briley Parkway Today
(Nashville, TN) – Emergency work to repair a section of Briley Parkway will start today. The Tennessee Department of Transportation says the work on Briley Parkway, near Gallatin Pike will cause alternating lane closures each day from 9 o’clock in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. The repair work is expected to last at least five days.
National/World Headlines
The Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate for large businesses is no more. The mandate was withdrawn Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to allow it to be implemented. Had the rule gone into effect, businesses with 100 or more workers would’ve been forced to have their employees vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested each week.
President Biden says he’s considering personal sanctions against Vladimir Putin if Russia invades Ukraine. Biden was asked on Tuesday if he would consider imposing sanctions on Putin directly if Russia invaded Ukraine. Biden said yes, he would.
San Jose, California, is now the first city in the U.S. to require gun owners to carry liability insurance. The measure was passed by the City Council last night. Gun owners will now need to have insurance and pay a yearly “gun violence reduction fee,” which will go toward education programs for gun owners and their families.
The child actor who was the original voice of Charlie Brown has killed himself after a lifelong struggle with mental illness. Peter Robbins was 65 when he committed suicide last week. His family confirmed his passing yesterday.
The Federal Reserve is expected to signal an interest rate hike as soon as March. The central bank wraps up its first meeting of the year today. Fed observers see policy-tightening on the way, reversing the easy policies put in place to fight the economic effects of the pandemic.
Dolly Parton has a new venture. The country music legend is partnering with Duncan Hines on a Southern-inspired line of cake mixes and frostings. The Dolly Parton – Duncan Hines line will hit store shelves in March.
