Author: Associated Press

Daniel Boone National Forest has new supervisor

WINCHESTER, Ky. (AP) — The Forest Service has named a new supervisor for the Daniel Boone National Forest. Officials said in a statement that H. Scott Ray will oversee 709,000 acres of forest in 21 eastern Kentucky counties. He has been the acting forest supervisor since December and served as deputy forest supervisor for four years before that. The statement…

Kentucky governor vetoes bills shifting executive powers

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s Democratic governor has vetoed Republican-backed bills seeking to shift authority from his office. Gov. Andy Beshear summed it up Monday as an attempt at “playing switcheroo with executive powers.” House Speaker David Osborne says Kentuckians elected Republican supermajorities to serve as a check on the governor’s authority. Two vetoed bills would shift authority to Agriculture…

Federal mine funds send millions to Ky. Appalachian region

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Millions in federal funds are going to Kentucky’s Appalachian region for projects to improve water supply, modernize businesses and train workers. Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers announced the $14 million in funding on Monday. The money comes from federal Abandoned Mine Lands grants. The money is typically steered to economic…

Woodford Reserve to double production capacity at distillery

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Spirits giant Brown-Forman says it plans to expand its Woodford Reserve Distillery in Kentucky. The expansion will double production capacity for the brand’s bourbon and other American whiskeys. The company didn’t disclose the cost but says the expansion is in response to growing demand. The expansion will include adding three new copper pot stills at the…

Mother charged with murder after toddler ingests fentanyl

COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky mother has been charged with murder after her 2-year-old son consumed the drug fentanyl. Lauren Ashley Baker told police she “took a shot” of fentanyl Thursday prior to taking a nap with her son. A Ludlow Police report said the boy got into her purse and found the fentanyl. When she woke up, the…

Aluminum producer setting up facility in Kentucky

FRANKLIN, Ky. (AP) — An aluminum manufacturer is spending $53 million to set up a plant in a vacant facility in south central Kentucky. Matalco says the plant will create 60 full-time jobs in the coming years. The company will convert a 461,000-square-foot facility in Simpson County into a plant that produces ingots from recycled aluminum. It is expected to…

Prosecutor: Police justified in fatally shooting armed man

ERLANGER, Ky. (AP) — A prosecutor says the fatal shooting of an armed man by police in northern Kentucky was justified. News outlets cited Kenton County Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Sanders on Friday in reporting that Villa Hills Police officers Sean Dooley and Jacob Bolton did not violate any laws based upon a review of the Kentucky State Police investigation. Randall…

Kentucky extends state tax filing deadline to May 17

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has directed the Revenue Department to extend the deadline for residents to file their state income taxes. A statement from the Finance and Administration Cabinet says the date was extended from April 15 to May 17. The move comes after the federal tax filing deadline also was moved to the same date…

Man who killed 2 at supermarket pleads guilty to hate crimes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man already serving a life prison sentence for fatally shooting two shoppers at a grocery store has pleaded guilty to federal hate crimes. Federal prosecutors say the October 2018 shootings at a Kroger outlet in Louisville were racially motivated. Gregory A. Bush pleaded guilty but mentally ill in December to two counts of murder….