AP-KY-SCHOOL BUS FIRE
Scott County school bus catches fire on interstate
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — School officials say a Scott County bus carrying students coming back from a football game caught fire in Lexington on Interstate 75. According to news reports, the fire on Friday was caused by a malfunction in the back of the bus. Everyone on board was able to safely exit before the fire engulfed the entire bus and no injuries have been reported. An estimated 100 gallons of fuel leaked from the bus. Scott County School officials say the bus was one of three carrying students back from a Friday night football game against Fredrick Douglass High School in Lexington
KENTUCKY STATE FINANCES
Official: Kentucky State University needs funds to stay open
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State University’s vice president for finance has told lawmakers at a budget hearing in Frankfort that the school will need emergency funding to stay open through the end of the year. Kentucky’s only public historically Black university announced in August that it owes about $13 million, which includes $3 million in vendor invoices and about $5 million to clear construction invoices. The report came after several KSU officials resigned. KSU has said it will use coronavirus relief funds to clear tuition and fee balances owed to the institution.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-KENTUCKY
Kentucky governor asks state to remember teen lost to virus
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is calling on the state’s residents to honor a 15-year-old Fayette County student lost to COVID-19 by lighting porches with green lights. In a statement posted to social media Friday, Beshear also urged Kentuckians to “encourage vaccinations among friends and family and to mask up indoors.” Fayette County Superintendent Demetrus Liggins confirmed Thursday that sophomore Christopher “C.J.” Gordon Jr. passed away from the virus. Kentucky reported 3,941 new COVID-19 cases and 26 more virus-related deaths Friday.
JAIL OVERDOSES
Officials: Several inmates overdose at Louisville jail
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Officials at Louisville’s jail have responded to a series of overdoses that sent five inmates to the hospital. WDRB-TV reports officers were called to a women’s dorm at Louisville Metro Corrections around 5 a.m. Friday. They found three women unresponsive. Officials did not comment on what drugs the women consumed or how they got into the jail. Five inmates were sent to the hospital for suspected overdoses. Three have been released and two more were expected to return to the jail later Friday. Corrections officers are searching dorms, and Louisville Metro Police also have dogs searching the jail.
HIGHWAY SHOOTING
Man killed as gunfire breaks out on Kentucky highway
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police say a man died in Kentucky after gunfire broke out involving two vehicles on a Louisville highway. Louisville police spokesperson Dwight Mitchell told news outlets shots were fired on Interstate 264 around 5:40 a.m. Friday, and one of the vehicles crashed into a wall. It wasn’t clear whether the man died as a result of the shooting or the wreck. Police have not identified any suspects. Eastbound lanes of the highway at Taylor Boulevard near the Manslick Road overpass were closed for several hours.
TOURISM-KENTUCKY
Horse Soldier Bourbon to build $200 million site in Kentucky
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says Horse Soldier Bourbon plans to create more than 50 jobs with a new $200 million tourism project in Pulaski County. The site will contain a 27,585-square-foot distillery visitor center; 5,000-person amphitheater; 500-person outdoor event space; 3,200-square-foot wedding chapel; and an activity center, shops and more. Horse Soldier Bourbon was founded by retired members of the U.S. Special Forces who were among the first to enter Afghanistan following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The company has been approved by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority for $29.9 million in incentives for the project.
