News Archive

By Gary Pitts/Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle

Fort Campbell, KY – 138 Fort Campbell soldiers of the 101st Airborne 159th Combat Aviation Brigade returned home yesterday to a hero's welcome. Family and friends gathered as the plane touched down around 2:00 am at Campbell Army Airfield. The Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle reports the return marked the end of a year-long combat tour in Afghanistan.

By Associated Press

Frankfort, KY – Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are the only two candidates to officially enter Kentucky's May 22 primary election so far. Gingrich made the ballot Wednesday. Romney filed last week. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum are also expected to meet the state's Tuesday deadline. Because of the timing of Kentucky's primary, presidential nominees typically are decided before Kentucky voters have their say. But the Commonwealth could be important in an especially close race.

By Shelly Baskin

Paducah, KY – McCracken County's Government Merger Committee is holding the third of four public information meetings tonight in Paducah. The committee will present the proposed plan for the merger of the Paducah City and McCracken County governments and answer questions from the public on the merger. The meeting is at the Paducah Tilghman Highschool Cafeteria tonight from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

By Gary Pitts/Shelly Baskin

Paducah, KY – The pair accused of embezzling more than $230,000 from Paducah's Expo and Convention Centers plead not guilty to the charges this morning. J. Patrick Kerr and Susan Wilson entered the pleas in federal court in Owensboro. Officials dropped state charges last week, deferring to the federal case. The federal counts carry a maximum 10 year prison sentence and $250 fine. Kerr and Wilson are set to appear in court for trial on March 21st in Paducah.

By Associated Press

By Associated Press

By Kenneth Colston

Frankfort, KY – A proposal to allow more safety options for religious groups that operate buggies is making its way through the General Assembly.

Senate Bill 75 unanimously passed committee today. It allows for one-inch reflective tape to be placed on buggies instead of a state-mandated reflective triangle.

By Chad Lampe

Murray, KY – The Kentucky Highway Department reports that a barge hit the US 68/KY 80 Eggner's Ferry Bridge at the western entrance to Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. The bridge is partially collapsed. KYTC Spokesman Keith Todd says no vehicles were on the bridge at the time. Coast Guard reports say no-one on the barge was injured. The area around the bridge is currently closed to boat traffic.

By Gary Pitts

Murray, KY – With the collapse of the US68/KY80 Eggner Ferry Bridge spanning Kentucky Lake, the only way around is either north at the I-24 crossing, or south in Tennessee at the Hwy 79 crossing. Western Kentucky residents heading east who live closer to the Tennessee border would be served best heading down to Hwy 79 either on Hwy 121 south or US 641, then taking 79 east towards Clarksville intersecting with I-24. Those who are north of Mayfield or Benton would need to head north on the Purchase Parkway intersecting with I-24 there.

By Kenny Colston

Frankfort, KY – Governor Steve Beshear's proposal for a constitutional amendment to expand gaming could get a big boost soon. State Senator Damon Thayer, a Republican, says its very likely he will sponsor Beshear's amendment this session. Thayer has been working with Beshear on the gambling issue this session, giving the amendment leverage it hasn't had before.

"I think that's something I'm considering strongly and has a high probability,' Thayer says."But there'll be a time and a place we announce that once I make that decision."