Whitney Jones

Three counties in our region are under a winter weather advisory from noon today until 6 tomorrow morning. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials say Union, Henderson and Daviess counties could face ice and up to 2 inches of snow followed by sleet and freezing rain. Sleet has been reported sleet on I-24 between Calvert City and Grand Rivers.

Murray city officials say they won't extend the time for serving or consuming alcohol past midnight for tonight's New Year’s Eve celebrations. The last time that was allowed was New Year's Eve in 2008 when a now-closed restaurant asked for a brief extension.

A 2011 settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Tennessee Valley Authority means 13 Kentucky organizations will receive a total of $11.2 million dollars in grants over five years. The settlement covers allegations that TVA violated the Clean Air Act.

From NPR: A language specialist speculates about 2012’s word of the year. Will it be malarkey? Or Frankenstorm? Or – gasp – YOLO?

An Illinois Department of Children and Family Services report shows a 6 percent increase of child sex abuse across the state, but most of the southern counties have a much higher rate. The report compared sex abuse allegations from July 1 to Nov. 30 of this year to the same time period last year. Massac, Hardin, Johnson and Saline counties all had more than twice the state average of reported child sex abuse.

Tennessee law enforcement will be using the new "no refusal" law over the weekend before New Year's Eve that allows police to get blood samples of suspected drunken drivers. Previously drivers in Tennessee could refuse a blood alcohol content test but they would face losing their licenses for violating the "implied consent" law. The law passed this year allows police to seek search warrants for blood samples. Police have held "no refusal" enforcement periods during several holidays this year.

A newly created data center will link education and workforce data in Kentucky to try to improve training for students at all levels. Gov. Steve Beshear issued an executive order earlier this month creating the Kentucky Center for Education and Workforce Statistics. He says data from individual agencies only gives one part of the picture and that policymakers, parents, students and educators will all benefit from the combined information.

A new survey of retail tobacco outlets in Kentucky shows more than 94 percent are compliant with the law barring tobacco sales to people younger than 18. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services says Kentucky's average since the program began in 1997 is 9.5 percent violation, which was below the national average of 15.8 percent in that time.

A $10 million federal grant is allowing the Tennessee Department of Transportation to assist a number of transit agencies across the state. The "State of Good Repair Grant" will be used to replace transit vehicles that have exceeded their use based on years in service or mileage.

From NPR: Inventors are on a quest for the perfect toothbrush. As of Christmas Day 138 patents had been submitted for an improved version of the twice daily tool. Surprisingly getting your teeth clean is a complicated ordeal.