Dylan Lovan

Personal belongings of KFC founder Harland Sanders, including his pressure cooker, black bow tie, watches, cash register and a 1964 planner containing a handwritten recipe, are being auctioned. The sale also includes Sanders' former Shelbyville, Kentucky, headquarters, his 5,000-square-foot home known as Blackwood Hall, and the Claudia Sanders Dinner House. Sanders sold KFC in 1964 but remained a brand ambassador; the auction has attracted international interest, and one of his bow ties had already received bids above $2,000. Sealed bids for the properties close Friday, while the memorabilia auction concludes with an in-person event Tuesday evening.

A Kentucky jury ordered Husky Armory LLC to pay $104.2 million to the family of 18-year-old Henry Willis, who died by suicide six days after buying and assembling a Glock-style pistol kit from the company’s website. The award includes $4.2 million in economic damages and $100 million in punitive damages, reportedly the largest verdict against a gun seller. The family and Everytown Law argued that Husky Armory sold the kit in violation of federal age-verification, background-check and serialization requirements. The company and its owner, Cody Yurk, did not appear at trial, and a court had previously entered a default judgment against the vendor.

Former Louisville police officer Nathan A. Stotts was indicted on second-degree manslaughter and reckless homicide charges for fatally shooting 27-year-old Martin Nitzken Jr., who was naked and unarmed during a May 30 police response. Body-camera footage shows Nitzken advancing toward Stotts before the officer fired one shot. Police Chief Paul Humphrey criticized the use of lethal force, while a grand jury declined to charge Stotts with murder. Stotts resigned after the department indicated he would be fired, and the case remains subject to criminal and internal investigations.

Muhammad Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali, reflects on the boxer’s enduring influence ahead of the 10th anniversary of his death. She emphasizes his humanitarian values, kindness and commitment to service, while the Muhammad Ali Center marks the anniversary with a Day of Compassion promoting volunteering. Lonnie Ali also criticizes political polarization and the weakening of voting rights, urging leaders to uplift communities and protect equal representation. Ali’s global legacy is underscored by the millions who watched his 2016 funeral and by his appearance on a U.S. Postal Service stamp a decade later.

A damaged, overheated storage tank containing roughly 22,713–26,498 litres of methyl methacrylate at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, California, prompted evacuation orders for more than 50,000 residents. Firefighters sprayed the tank with water to keep its temperature below 85°F and prevent a major spill or explosion. The flammable chemical can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory system and may cause serious health effects at high or prolonged exposure levels, although air monitoring remained within normal limits. Officials later detected a possible crack that could reduce pressure and lower the explosion risk, while the EPA said a controlled, low-volume release was the likeliest outcome.

The final stone gargoyle has been installed atop Covington, Kentucky’s Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, completing the main work in a nearly $8 million, two-year restoration. The project repaired deteriorated limestone, metal and glass and recreated 32 gargoyles, after cathedral rector Ryan Maher initiated an investigation following a piece of stone falling in 2018. Smaller facade and roofline tasks remain, but contractor Trisco Systems says the major restoration work is complete. Donations funded most of the project.

Federal prosecutors asked a judge to dismiss charges against former Louisville police Detective Joshua Jaynes and former Sgt. Kyle Meany, who were accused of falsifying information used to obtain the warrant for the raid that killed Breonna Taylor. The request followed judges' decisions to reduce the felony charges to misdemeanors and rule that the false warrant information was not directly linked to Taylor's death. Taylor's mother condemned the Justice Department's decision under President Donald Trump, while the officers' attorneys welcomed it. Former officer Brett Hankison remains the only officer serving prison time connected to Taylor's death, although the Justice Department has sought his release during an appeal. The two officers who fired the shots that killed Taylor were never charged, and Louisville previously paid her family a $12 million wrongful-death settlement.

A Kentucky family rescued a newborn calf found suffering in single-digit temperatures after being born outdoors. Macey and Tanner Sorrell brought the calf inside, removed the ice and afterbirth, and warmed her with a blow dryer before she cuddled with their children on the couch. Their three-year-old son named her Sally after a character from Cars. The calf was reunited with her mother the following morning and is doing well.

UPS has retired its entire fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo aircraft following the fatal 4 November crash in Louisville, Kentucky, which killed the three-person crew and 12 people on the ground. Investigators found cracks in components securing the engine to the wing, while the FAA continues to assess whether MD-11s should be allowed to fly. The retirement affected about 9% of UPS’s fleet and generated a $137 million after-tax charge. UPS plans to receive 18 Boeing 767s over the next 15 months and used additional aircraft and ground transportation to handle peak-season demand.

The United States Postal Service unveiled a commemorative Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp in Louisville, Kentucky, Ali’s hometown. The stamp uses a 1974 Associated Press photograph of Ali in his boxing prime, while the accompanying sheet recognizes his work as an activist and humanitarian. Twenty-two million stamps were printed, and Ali’s widow Lonnie Ali and longtime broadcaster Bob Costas joined friends and family at the event. The stamp celebrates Ali’s boxing career, philanthropy, human-rights advocacy and lasting cultural legacy.

A federal judge dismissed Louisville’s proposed police reform consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice after the department withdrew its support. The agreement followed a multiyear investigation that alleged the Louisville Metro Police Department discriminated against Black people, used excessive force and relied on invalid warrants. Judge Benjamin Beaton said responsibility for compliance should remain with Louisville’s elected officials and residents, while noting that the ruling does not prevent voluntary reform. Mayor Craig Greenberg said the city will continue its local reform plan, which includes an independent monitor, greater transparency, faster release of police body-camera footage and other measures adopted after Breonna Taylor’s 2020 killing. Former detective Brett Hankison’s imprisonment for excessive force and the city’s $12 million settlement with Taylor’s family remain significant consequences of the case.

The U.S. Department of Justice is asking the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to release former Louisville detective Brett Hankison from prison while he appeals his conviction for using excessive force during the 2020 raid that killed Breonna Taylor. Hankison was sentenced to 33 months after firing 10 shots through Taylor’s apartment windows and into a neighboring unit. The DOJ had also sought no prison time at sentencing, but Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings rejected that request, saying it minimized the seriousness of Hankison’s conduct. The filing represents a reversal by Trump administration prosecutors, who took over after the DOJ had pursued Hankison through two federal trials.

A UPS cargo plane crashed while taking off from Louisville’s Worldport for Honolulu, triggering fires and explosions that devastated Grade A Auto Parts & Recycling and damaged nearby Kentucky Petroleum Recycling. Scrapyard workers Adam Bowman and Joey Garber described helping colleagues and customers escape the destruction, including rescuing Matthew Sweets, who later died. Fourteen people were killed, including three Grade A employees, three pilots, customers and a child. The scrapyard’s owner, Sean Garber, said the business’s physical center was destroyed and remains uncertain about whether it can rebuild at the site, while surviving workers mourn their colleagues and seek answers from the National Transportation Safety Board investigation.

Authorities identified all 14 people killed in the fiery UPS cargo-plane crash near Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. The victims included three crew members and 11 people on the ground, among them a grandfather and his young granddaughter, an electrician, and people at a scrap-recycling business. The National Transportation Safety Board continues investigating the crash, while the coroner’s office reported that remains had been recovered, identified and matched with relatives eight days after the accident.

Authorities continued searching a charred area near Louisville’s UPS Worldport after a UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 caught fire on takeoff, lost an engine and crashed outside Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. At least 12 people, including a child, were killed, while two people remained in critical condition and officials expected the death toll to rise. The cockpit voice and flight data recorders were recovered, but investigators said determining why the fire began and the engine separated could take more than a year. Possible causes include a fuel leak, damaged fuel lines or maintenance-related problems; investigators are also comparing the crash with the 1979 American Airlines accident involving a similar aircraft and engine configuration.

A UPS McDonnell Douglas MD-11 cargo plane crashed and exploded shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport while bound for Honolulu. At least seven people were killed, including four people on the ground, and 11 were injured; Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear warned that the death toll could rise. The crash damaged nearby businesses, forced the airport to close and halted package sorting at UPS Worldport. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, while preliminary video-based analysis suggested a fire near the aircraft’s left engine and the large fuel load contributed to the explosion.

The government shutdown interrupted SNAP payments serving roughly 42 million Americans, prompting unusually long lines at food pantries and food giveaways across the country. Recipients and pantry workers reported fear, confusion and heightened demand ahead of Thanksgiving, while two federal judges ordered the administration to restore funding and required a plan for replenishing benefits. Food-assistance organizations in New York, Georgia, Kentucky and Connecticut expanded distributions, volunteers and services as families faced uncertainty over when their debit cards would be reloaded.

The Kentucky Supreme Court overturned Kevon Lawless’s 2022 convictions for murdering Brandon Waddles and his 3-year-old daughter, Trinity Randolph, and for burglary. The court ruled that the trial judge should have declared a mistrial after jurors learned that a prosecution witness had been arrested for alleged perjury during the trial. Prosecutors, including Attorney General Russell Coleman, said they intend to retry Lawless, who remains imprisoned and was originally sentenced to life without parole.

A federal judge denied former Louisville detective Brett Hankison’s request to remain free on bond while appealing his 33-month sentence for using excessive force during the 2020 raid on Breonna Taylor’s apartment. Hankison fired 10 shots through the apartment’s windows, with some entering a neighboring unit, though no one was hit. He is scheduled to report to prison Thursday. His first federal trial ended in a mistrial, and he was acquitted of state charges, while the Justice Department’s request for no prison time drew criticism from the sentencing judge.

A U.S. government shutdown has paused sports practices, games and other extracurricular activities at schools serving military families on Fort Campbell and Fort Knox in Kentucky, as well as at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, while regular instruction continues. Fort Campbell football and volleyball events were postponed, disrupting a volleyball team’s successful season and affecting students and furloughed parents. Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to classify school athletics as activities permitted during the funding lapse, while the Department of Defense Education Activity said such activities must remain suspended.

Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, charged with murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins, was reportedly in an active state of psychosis days after the shooting and had combative episodes in jail that required pepper spray. Newly filed documents include a social worker’s observations and state police detective Clayton Stamper’s grand jury testimony, which describes surveillance footage and the shooting sequence. Stines has pleaded not guilty and is seeking to unseal his state mental evaluation, while prosecutors seek to move the trial out of the county because both men were prominent local figures. No trial date has been set.

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison is scheduled for sentencing after being convicted federally of using excessive force during the 2020 raid on Breonna Taylor’s apartment. Although a probation report recommended 135 to 168 months in prison, the Justice Department under President Donald Trump recommended time served—one day—and three years of supervised probation, arguing that Hankison’s shots injured no one. The recommendation has drawn strong criticism from Taylor’s family’s attorney and civil rights advocates, while the other officers involved in the raid faced no charges for Taylor’s death.

The U.S. Justice Department is asking a federal judge to sentence former Louisville officer Brett Hankison to time served—one day—and three years of probation for using excessive force during the 2020 raid that resulted in Breonna Taylor’s death. The recommendation reverses the department’s earlier aggressive prosecution and contrasts with a probation-office recommendation of 135 to 168 months. Taylor family attorney Ben Crump, activist Shameka Parrish-Wright and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg condemned the request, while prosecutors cited Hankison’s lack of injuries to victims and his acquittals or mistrials in other proceedings. The judge is due to rule at a July 21 hearing; three other former officers remain charged over an allegedly falsified warrant.

Tornadoes and severe storms struck Kansas and Texas while recovery continued after deadly weather across Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia and other parts of the Midwest and South. At least 19 people were killed in Kentucky, with additional deaths and injuries elsewhere, while hundreds of homes were damaged and thousands affected in St. Louis. Forecasters warned of several more days of heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. The report also highlighted research showing a shift in deadly tornado activity toward the mid-South and concerns that staffing cuts at National Weather Service offices could weaken disaster warnings.

Tornadoes and severe storms killed at least 27 people across Kentucky, Missouri and northern Virginia, with Kentucky suffering the greatest losses. At least 18 people died in southeastern Laurel County, while St. Louis reported five deaths, 38 injuries and damage to more than 5,000 homes. Residents cleared debris as officials arranged emergency housing, assessed damage for federal disaster assistance and worked to reopen blocked roads. The storms also affected Wisconsin, Texas and Illinois. The report raises concerns that staffing cuts under the Trump administration have left several National Weather Service offices critically understaffed, potentially affecting disaster warnings.

Severe storms and tornadoes killed at least 27 people across Kentucky, Missouri and northern Virginia, including 18 in Kentucky and seven in Missouri. Laurel County, Kentucky, suffered the greatest loss of life, while St. Louis reported five deaths, 38 injuries and damage to more than 5,000 homes. Rescue operations, shelters and road closures continued as officials warned that the death toll could rise. Additional severe weather, including large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes, was forecast for the Plains. The report also highlights concerns that staffing cuts and vacancies at National Weather Service offices could undermine future warnings.

Eight new Chevrolet Corvettes valued at $1.2 million were stolen after thieves cut through a fence at General Motors’ Bowling Green, Kentucky, assembly plant. Police recovered all eight vehicles, including three 2025 models found at a suspected transport location. A 21-year-old man was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property, fleeing arrest and engaging with organized crime; another suspect escaped in a Jeep with Ohio plates. Police said no further arrests had been made.

Prosecutors have asked for a state mental health evaluation of former Kentucky sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines, who is charged with killing District Judge Kevin Mullins at the courthouse in Whitesburg on Sept. 19. Stines’ attorneys plan to argue that he was insane or under extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the shooting, while explicitly declining to challenge his fitness to stand trial. Investigators have not announced a motive. Stines has pleaded not guilty to murder of a public official, remains jailed without bond and resigned shortly after the killing.

Trump’s shifting tariff policy is disrupting Kentucky bourbon makers’ plans to expand into Canada and Europe. Small distillers including Brough Brothers and The Bard Distillery have placed orders and investment decisions on hold, while Canadian retailers and provinces have removed some American spirits from shelves. Industry representatives warn that a potential 50% European Union tariff could cause severe losses, following an earlier tariff that cut U.S. whiskey exports to the EU by 20%. Larger companies may better absorb the impact, but producers across Kentucky say the uncertainty itself makes long-term planning and inventory decisions nearly impossible.

Three people—18-year-old Leslye M. Harbin Jr. and two women, Antwanette Chillers and Raysa Pacios Valdes—were killed in a shooting outside a busy Kentucky driver’s license office in Louisville. Witnesses reported that masked assailants shot Harbin multiple times before fleeing in a vehicle, while police continued reviewing surveillance footage and searching for suspects. The building was quickly locked down, employees were unharmed, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear condemned the attack.

Severe weather threatened much of the United States, with flooding expected in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Arkansas, heavy snow and ice forecast for the Northeast, and strong winds raising tornado risks in the Mississippi Valley. A polar vortex was projected to bring the season’s coldest outbreak to the northern Rockies and Plains, prompting Denver to expand shelters for people experiencing homelessness. Southern California continued to face mudslide risks after heavy rain, while an avalanche at Mammoth Mountain injured two ski patrol workers, one seriously.

Kentucky priest Jim Sichko organized an auction of two Willett bourbon bottles signed by Pope Francis, along with a bottle autographed by Tom Brady, raising about $30,000 through Sotheby’s. The proceeds are being distributed to groups supporting animal rescue, hospice care, immigrant legal assistance and people in need. A $7,375 donation went to Lexington’s Paws 4 the Cause, while Sichko hopes the unusual fundraiser will inspire further acts of kindness.

A fatal mid-air collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Washington has renewed scrutiny of U.S. military helicopter training. Former pilots and aviation professors said the training is exceptionally rigorous but requires pilots to manage instruments, radios, night-vision equipment and visual navigation simultaneously. They highlighted the hazards of light pollution, visual illusions and restricted airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The Army had already responded to a recent spike in helicopter accidents with a safety stand-down and additional training, while officials identified spatial disorientation as a recurring concern. Since 2014, 12 Army Black Hawk training crashes have killed 47 service members.

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 became the first independently funded jet to break the sound barrier, reaching Mach 1.05 over California. The test is presented as a step toward reviving commercial supersonic travel, with Boom planning its 80-passenger Overture aircraft and holding orders or pre-orders for 130 jets from airlines including American and United. Future services will face major challenges, including fuel efficiency, emissions, operating costs and restrictions on sonic booms over land. Concorde’s history—its limited fleet, economics, route restrictions and the fatal 2000 Air France crash—illustrates the obstacles that new supersonic aircraft must overcome.

Quintez Brown was sentenced to 17 years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for shooting at Craig Greenberg during Greenberg’s 2022 Louisville mayoral campaign. One of six shots grazed Greenberg’s sweater, while other staff members were present. Brown pleaded guilty to interfering with a federally protected activity and using a firearm during a violent crime. The judge called the attack premeditated and a threat to the political system. Brown apologized, while his lawyers argued that the shooting resulted from a mental-health episode and was his first offense. He still faces state charges of attempted murder and wanton endangerment.

The U.S. Justice Department and Louisville agreed to a court-supervised consent decree requiring reforms to the city’s police force after a federal investigation found patterns of unconstitutional conduct, excessive force, invalid searches and discrimination against Black residents. The agreement follows the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor and includes federal monitoring, while Louisville officials point to reforms such as a ban on no-knock warrants. The deal is the first consent decree resulting from a civil-rights investigation opened by the Biden administration. Memphis has resisted committing to a similar binding agreement, and the future of such federal police-reform efforts is uncertain as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House.

Residents Edward Roberts and Ana Carolina Gomez Bridge sued Givaudan Flavors Corporation and parent company Givaudan U.S. over a Nov. 12 explosion at the company’s Louisville plant. The blast killed two workers, destroyed the building, damaged nearby homes and allegedly caused physical and emotional trauma. The lawsuit claims employees warned Givaudan that a cooking vessel was overheating but the company failed to take corrective action. Givaudan has acknowledged potential liability for damage to surrounding homes, while its president said the plant may be relocated and rebuilt elsewhere. Additional legal action is being considered or pursued by a deceased worker’s family and a delivery driver who says the blast triggered post-traumatic stress.

Louisville police officer Robinson Desroches, who was seriously wounded during 2020 protests over Breonna Taylor’s death, is suing the Louisville Metro Police Department for alleged racial discrimination and retaliation. He claims superiors tried to push him out after he criticized the department and said Taylor’s killing led to his shooting, including by seeking to use his story for recruitment and publicity. LMPD denied specific comment but said it takes harassment and discrimination allegations seriously and provides accommodations for injured officers. Desroches remains on workers’ compensation leave and is seeking punitive and compensatory damages.

Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines pleaded not guilty to murdering District Judge Kevin Mullins during a hearing at the Whitesburg courthouse where the shooting occurred. The judge denied bond because of community safety concerns and the severity of the charge, leaving Stines jailed in another county. Prosecutors could seek the death penalty if he is convicted. Investigators have disclosed video of the shooting and testimony that Stines contacted his daughter using Mullins’ phone shortly beforehand, but police have not identified a motive.

Kevens Dawson Jr.’s family hired attorneys after his body was found hours after an explosion at Givaudan’s Color Sense plant in Louisville, despite initial assurances that all workers were accounted for. The blast killed two workers, injured 11 and damaged nearby homes. Attorney Ben Crump said the investigation will examine the cause of the explosion and the delay in locating Dawson. Federal investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said preliminary findings indicate an industrial accident, with no hazardous materials or intentional wrongdoing involved. The company has accepted responsibility and said it will pay damages to affected residents, but no cause has been identified.

Givaudan Sense Colour president Ann Leonard said the company is accountable for damages caused by a Louisville plant explosion that killed two workers and injured 11 others. The blast damaged nearby homes, and the company has established a crisis line and pledged to compensate affected residents while continuing to pay its roughly 55 employees. Investigators have not identified a cause and are examining the site; officials and some neighbors are also considering whether the plant should be relocated, particularly because it experienced another deadly explosion in 2003.

A federal jury acquitted former Kentucky detective Brett Hankison of using excessive force against Breonna Taylor’s neighbors during the 2020 raid that resulted in Taylor’s death, while remaining deadlocked on the charge involving Taylor herself. Hankison fired 10 shots through Taylor’s glass door and windows, including into a neighboring apartment, but hit no one. His defense argued that he acted to protect fellow officers after Kenneth Walker shot and wounded Sgt. John Mattingly, while prosecutors said Hankison recklessly fired without seeing a target. The case follows a prior deadlocked jury and Hankison’s 2022 acquittal on state charges; the officers who shot Taylor were not charged.

Federal prosecutors argued that former Louisville detective Brett Hankison recklessly fired 10 bullets into Breonna Taylor’s apartment without being able to see a target, likening the conduct to a drive-by shooting. Hankison’s defense maintained that he was responding to a chaotic gunfight and believed an officer was under fire from a person carrying an AR-15. His shots did not hit anyone but entered a neighboring apartment. The jury began deliberating on two federal civil-rights charges carrying a potential life sentence after a previous federal trial ended in a mistrial and a 2022 state trial resulted in acquittal.

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison testified at his federal civil rights retrial that he believed officers were under sustained gunfire during the 2020 raid in which Breonna Taylor was killed. He said he fired 10 shots into Taylor’s apartment to protect fellow officers after Sgt. John Mattingly was wounded, though none of his bullets hit people and some entered a neighboring apartment. Prosecutors and several witnesses contend that Hankison violated police policy by firing without identifying a target. Mattingly testified that he would have acted similarly, while Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker said he believed the officers were intruders. Hankison is the only officer to face a jury trial over Taylor’s death; his earlier trials ended in acquittal and a hung jury.

Detective Mike Nobles testified on the fourth day of Brett Hankison’s federal civil rights retrial that the gunfire during the 2020 raid on Breonna Taylor’s home was the loudest he had ever heard. Nobles said Taylor’s boyfriend Kenneth Walker fired once after officers broke down the door, prompting police to return fire with 32 rounds, including 10 shots Hankison fired into windows and a sliding door after moving around the apartment. Prosecutors argue Hankison fired blindly and endangered Taylor’s neighbors and fellow officers, while the defense maintains he reacted to a perceived rifle attack. Nobles acknowledged he would not have fired into the windows and said the case damaged his policing career. Hankison is expected to testify Monday.

Federal prosecutors argue that former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison recklessly fired 10 shots into Breonna Taylor’s darkened apartment during the 2020 raid, endangering Taylor’s neighbors and nearly hitting fellow officer Myles Cosgrove. The defense says Hankison believed he saw an armed person and fired to protect officers after gunfire erupted. Cosgrove testified that Hankison’s bullets came close to him, while neighbor Chelsey Napper described bullets entering her apartment near her sleeping five-year-old son and the post-traumatic stress she later experienced. Hankison’s first federal trial ended in a mistrial after a deadlocked jury, and he faces up to life in prison if convicted.

Former Louisville officer Brett Hankison is set to face a third trial on federal civil rights charges stemming from his firing 10 shots into Breonna Taylor’s apartment during the 2020 raid. His previous federal trial ended in a deadlocked jury and mistrial, while he was acquitted in 2022 of state wanton-endangerment charges. Prosecutors argue that his gunfire endangered Taylor, her boyfriend and neighboring residents, although Hankison says he believed he saw an armed figure. The case is the only jury trial so far involving an officer in Taylor’s death; related federal charges against former officers Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany were recently reduced after a judge ruled that Kenneth Walker’s gunfire, rather than the flawed warrant, legally caused Taylor’s death.

Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines was charged with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins multiple times in the judge’s courthouse chambers. The shooting followed an argument whose cause remains unclear. Stines had also been accused in a federal lawsuit of failing to investigate allegations that former deputy Ben Fields sexually abused a woman in Mullins’ chambers while she was on home incarceration; Fields later pleaded guilty to rape and related offenses. Local prosecutors recused themselves because of family ties to Mullins, while Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office and a regional prosecutor took over the case. The courthouse was closed, and state and judicial officials expressed shock and pledged to pursue justice.

Retired couple Fred and Sheila McCoy spent a week searching wooded areas near London, Kentucky, for Joseph Couch, the suspect in a September 7 Interstate 75 shooting that wounded five people. They found human remains near the highway and were offered a $25,000 reward, though authorities said DNA testing was needed for definitive identification. Couch’s vehicle and an AR-15 were also found nearby. The discovery eased fear and disruption in the surrounding community after an extensive law-enforcement search and temporary school closures.

Retired couple Fred and Sheila McCoy spent a week searching rugged Kentucky terrain and found remains believed to be those of Joseph Couch, the suspect in a Sept. 7 attack on vehicles along Interstate 75 that wounded five people. Kentucky State Police said the couple would receive a $25,000 reward, while Gov. Andy Beshear cautioned that DNA testing was still needed for definitive identification. The discovery, made near Couch’s abandoned vehicle and AR-15 rifle, eased fears in the London-area community after more than a week of searches, school closures and heightened vigilance.

Residents near London, Kentucky, are locking their doors, turning off lights and keeping children indoors while authorities search rugged wooded terrain for Joseph Couch, the suspect in a shooting that wounded five people and struck 12 vehicles on Interstate 75. An arrest warrant says Couch texted threats to kill people and himself shortly before the attack. Investigators found his vehicle, ammunition, shell casings and an AR-15 rifle nearby, while a gun store employee said Couch bought the rifle and 1,000 rounds of ammunition hours earlier. Schools remained closed or shifted to remote learning as Kentucky State Police and local authorities continued the search.

A federal judge ruled that Kenneth Walker's gunfire at officers during the 2020 raid was the legal cause of Breonna Taylor's death, rather than the allegedly falsified warrant that brought police to her apartment. The decision reduced major civil-rights charges against former officers Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany to misdemeanors, while leaving conspiracy and false-statements charges intact. Taylor's family criticized the ruling and said prosecutors plan to appeal. Former officer Kelly Goodlett has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify, while Brett Hankison faces a retrial on federal charges related to firing into Taylor's apartment.

Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel resigned after being suspended for mishandling Maj. Shannon Lauder’s sexual harassment complaint, including allowing the accused officer to be promoted during the same command meeting. Mayor Craig Greenberg appointed Paul Humphrey as interim chief and said the department would improve harassment training and provide reporting options outside officers’ chains of command. The resignation adds to continued leadership instability following the 2020 police killing of Breonna Taylor.

Louisville Police Maj. Shannon Lauder reported that another male major sexually harassed and attacked her during a command-staff meeting. According to her attorney, Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel did not address the allegation and promoted the accused officer later in the same meeting. Mayor Craig Greenberg suspended Gwinn-Villaroel and ordered an internal investigation, against the backdrop of a Justice Department finding that the department had deficiencies in responding to sexual misconduct and domestic violence allegations.

Jefferson County prosecutors dropped the charges against golfer Scottie Scheffler after concluding that his account of a May 17 traffic encounter outside Valhalla Golf Club was corroborated by the evidence. Detective Bryan Gillis, who arrested Scheffler and said he suffered knee and wrist injuries, said he bears the golfer no ill will but criticized attorney Steve Romines for calling the arrest false. Newly released body-camera footage shows Scheffler acknowledging that he should have stopped and explaining that he did not realize Gillis was a police officer. Gillis was disciplined for failing to activate his body camera, and additional case materials are expected to be released later.

Criminal charges against golfer Scottie Scheffler were dismissed at the request of Jefferson County prosecutor Mike O’Connell, ending the case arising from Scheffler’s arrest outside Louisville’s Valhalla Golf Course during the PGA Championship. Police officer Bryan Gillis alleged that Scheffler accelerated his vehicle and dragged him, while Scheffler said he misunderstood traffic instructions. Released surveillance footage showed the subsequent arrest but not the initial contact, and Gillis was disciplined for failing to activate his body camera. Scheffler briefly spent time in jail, returned to the tournament and finished tied for eighth.

A Kentucky judge postponed Scottie Scheffler’s arraignment from May 21 to June 3 after his arrest outside Valhalla Golf Club during the PGA Championship. Scheffler faces four charges, including felony assault, following an encounter in which police allege he accelerated forward and dragged an officer to the ground while officers investigated the death of a tournament volunteer. His attorney, Steve Romines, says the incident was a misunderstanding and that Scheffler did not disobey police orders. Scheffler was released in time to compete and finished tied for eighth in the tournament.

World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested outside Louisville's Valhalla Golf Club after police alleged that his vehicle dragged and injured an officer while he was being directed around a fatal traffic accident. He was released on his own recognizance within hours and played in the PGA Championship, prompting criticism that his fame brought preferential treatment. The incident revived scrutiny of Louisville's police department, which a Justice Department report found had used excessive force, invalid warrants and discriminatory search practices, while the city continues negotiating a federal consent decree. Scheffler and his lawyer say he misunderstood police instructions and did not intentionally do anything wrong.

The U.S. Justice Department is opening a statewide civil-rights investigation into Kentucky’s juvenile detention system, focusing on excessive force, prolonged isolation, violence, sexual abuse, mental health care and special-education services. The inquiry follows a state auditor’s report and a federal lawsuit alleging that two teenage girls endured weeks of unsanitary isolation, including one being held in a padded cell without a toilet. The investigation will cover eight detention centers and one youth development center. Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky would cooperate while protecting staff, while state officials noted that federal investigators had not yet interviewed department leadership. The system has faced riots, assaults, escapes and abuse allegations despite state reforms, increased funding and new security measures.

As federal pandemic-era child care relief winds down, states are creating their own ways to make care more affordable and sustain the child care workforce. New Mexico uses oil and gas leasing revenue to provide free care to nearly all families meeting its income threshold, while Washington is expanding preschool and subsidized care through a tax on investment profits, though voters may repeal the tax. Kentucky covers or reduces care costs for child care workers, helping recruit staff into an industry facing shortages. Families interviewed say the programs have enabled parents to work and improved children’s development, but advocates warn that funding uncertainty could reverse the gains.

The Kentucky House passed House Bill 85 by a 75-18 vote, sending it to the Senate. The measure would reduce the number of mine emergency technicians required on shifts with 15 or fewer underground miners from two to one. Supporters, including Republican lawmakers, say the change would help small coal operations avoid canceling shifts when too few trained workers are available. Critics, including Democratic Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty and mine-safety attorney Tony Oppegard, argue that it would weaken a safeguard adopted after a 2005 miner’s death and offer little meaningful financial benefit. The debate comes as Kentucky’s coal workforce has fallen sharply amid declining demand, cheaper natural gas and tougher environmental regulations.

The Kentucky Senate unanimously approved legislation to establish a Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority and a related resolution directing the Public Service Commission to prepare for future nuclear reactor licensing. The authority, attached to the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research, would study suitable reactor sites, designate nuclear-ready communities and help develop the workforce and infrastructure needed for a nuclear energy sector. Supporters, including Republican Sen. Danny Carroll and Democratic Sen. Robin Webb, presented nuclear power as part of a diversified energy strategy rather than a replacement for coal, natural gas or renewables. The bill now goes to the House, as Kentucky seeks new energy options while coal production and coal-fired generation continue to decline.

Survivors and relatives of victims killed in the April 2023 Old National Bank shooting sued Louisville gun dealer River City Firearms, alleging it should have recognized warning signs when Connor Sturgeon purchased a Radical Firearms RF-15 six days before the attack. The lawsuit argues that federally licensed dealers have a duty to refuse sales to buyers who may pose a danger. Sturgeon killed five co-workers, wounded several others and was fatally shot by police; the gun shop had not responded to requests for comment.

A federal class-action lawsuit alleges that two teenage girls held at Kentucky’s Adair County Youth Detention Center in late 2022 endured weeks or months of isolation, limited showers and unsanitary conditions, including time in a padded cell without a toilet. The complaint also describes alleged abuse and neglect of other detainees and claims that the facility failed to train staff and violated juveniles’ civil rights. It names state officials Kerry Harvey and former Juvenile Justice Commissioner Vicki Reed as defendants and seeks damages and additional plaintiffs. The allegations follow a 2022 riot and other violent incidents that led Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration to reorganize the state’s juvenile detention system in 2023.

Attorneys for a Kentucky woman withdrew a lawsuit seeking the right to an abortion after learning that the embryo no longer had cardiac activity. The ACLU of Kentucky said a state Supreme Court ruling preventing abortion providers from suing on behalf of patients has forced individuals to pursue time-sensitive legal challenges themselves. The case was modeled in part on Kate Cox’s Texas challenge and reflects broader litigation against abortion bans enacted after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Kentucky’s law generally prohibits abortion except to save the patient’s life or prevent disabling injury, without rape or incest exceptions.

A federal judge declared a mistrial after jurors deadlocked on civil-rights charges against former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison, who was accused of firing 10 shots into Breonna Taylor’s apartment and a neighboring unit during the 2020 raid that killed Taylor. Prosecutors argued Hankison knowingly used excessive force by firing without a clear target, while his defense said he reacted reasonably while believing fellow officers were under deadly attack. Hankison had previously been acquitted on state wanton-endangerment charges. Federal prosecutors will decide whether to retry him.

A federal jury began deliberating in former Louisville detective Brett Hankison’s civil rights trial over his role in the 2020 police raid that killed Breonna Taylor. Prosecutors argued that Hankison recklessly fired into Taylor’s apartment and a neighboring unit without seeing a shooter, while the defense maintained that he was responding reasonably to a perceived threat and protecting fellow officers. Hankison faces two civil rights counts carrying a potential life sentence; he was previously acquitted of state wanton-endangerment charges.

Former Louisville officer Brett Hankison testified that he fired 10 shots into Breonna Taylor’s apartment during the 2020 raid because he believed a fellow officer was under automatic-gunfire attack and had no time to consider police-use-of-force policy. Prosecutors allege he fired without identifying a target, endangered Taylor’s neighbors and acted recklessly; none of his shots struck anyone, but bullets entered a neighboring apartment. Hankison was previously acquitted on state wanton-endangerment charges and now faces federal civil rights charges carrying a possible life sentence. Former officer Jonathan Mattingly also testified about the initial gunfire, while related federal proceedings continue against officers involved in obtaining the search warrant.

Former Louisville officer Myles Cosgrove testified that Brett Hankison fired haphazardly into Breonna Taylor’s apartment and through its windows during the 2020 raid, sending bullets into a neighboring unit. Cosgrove said he fired 16 rounds, including the fatal shot that struck Taylor, but federal prosecutors did not charge him or Jonathan Mattingly because they deemed their return fire justified. Hankison faces federal civil rights charges in a second trial after his acquittal in state court; prosecutors argue he could not see through Taylor’s blackout curtains and acted recklessly. Taylor’s sister described extensive bullet damage to the apartment, while Hankison’s lawyers contend his movement and gunfire were a tactical response.

Chelsey Napper testified that bullets fired by former Louisville officer Brett Hankison during the 2020 raid on Breonna Taylor’s home came within 1 to 2 feet of her sleeping son. Federal prosecutors allege Hankison fired 10 shots into Taylor’s apartment and the neighboring unit after other gunfire had stopped, while his defense argues he made a tactical move to stop a perceived threat and that none of his rounds struck anyone. Hankison was acquitted in a 2022 state trial but now faces two federal civil rights charges, each carrying a possible life sentence.

Former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison is scheduled to face a second trial, this time in federal court, over his conduct during the 2020 raid that killed Breonna Taylor. Hankison fired 10 rounds through Taylor’s glass door and bedroom window, though none struck anyone; the bullets entered neighboring apartments. He was acquitted of state wanton-endangerment charges in 2022, while federal prosecutors allege he violated Taylor’s civil rights. Three other officers were also charged in the federal case: Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty, and Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany are set to be tried together next year.

Carroll County Deputy Myles Cosgrove, a former Louisville officer fired over his role in the fatal 2020 raid that killed Breonna Taylor, collided with a suspect’s truck during a Monday arrest and pointed his gun at the suspect and others. Sheriff Ryan Gosser said the crash was accidental and Cosgrove’s response was justified, while witnesses said Cosgrove deliberately rammed the truck. Three people were arrested, including the truck driver. Cosgrove’s hiring had previously drawn protests, and an FBI investigation and state grand jury had cleared him of criminal wrongdoing in Taylor’s death, although Louisville police fired him for violating use-of-force policies.

Former Kentucky Gov. Brereton C. Jones, who died at an unstated age, is remembered for pursuing expanded health care access and stronger ethics laws during his 1991–1995 term. His attempt to establish near-universal health insurance in Kentucky failed after insurers withdrew, premiums surged and lawmakers later dismantled the reforms. Jones also helped create ethics commissions for executive and legislative officials and supported allowing governors to seek a second term, though the constitutional change initially exempted him. A former West Virginia Republican who became a Kentucky Democrat, Jones later returned to Airdrie Stud, his central Kentucky horse farm.

Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville plans to resume classes after canceling school for more than a week because redesigned bus routes caused missed pickups and drop-offs as late as 10 p.m. Elementary and middle school students are scheduled to return Friday, followed by high school students Monday. The district apologized, warned that delays may continue and announced measures including real-time bus tracking, additional staff, and more buses and vans. Contractor AlphaRoute has been blamed in part for the routing problems.