Kentucky officer fatally shoots woman after checking on man

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky police officer has fatally shot a woman while performing a welfare check on another person.

St. Matthews Police Department spokesman Troy Armstrong told WDRB-TV that the agency asked Shelbyville police to check on a man after being warned that a woman he’d been in a relationship with was unstable and might harm him.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Bernis Napier told media that as part of the Monday night welfare check, officers were also looking for a particular car. He said the person at the home was OK, but the officers also found the car nearby and an officer shot the woman in the vehicle.

Shelby County Deputy Coroner Jeff Ivers identified the woman as 31-year-old Ashleigh Bertucci of Louisville.

It’s unclear what prompted the unidentified officer to fire. The races of the two haven’t been released.

Alpha transfers mining properties to Lexington Coal

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Alpha Natural Resources has announced the transfer of mostly idle mining properties in West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee to Lexington Coal Co., related ongoing royalty payments and reclamation equipment.

Alpha, based in Kingsport, Tennessee, says that eliminates self-bonding in West Virginia nine years early.

The company emerged from bankruptcy reorganization last year.

Lexington Coal CEO Steven Poe says the transfer includes some 250 permits, five active mines in West Virginia and Kentucky and bonding representing $192 million.

The companies say Kentucky-based Lexington will receive $199 million in cash and $126 million in installments toward bonding, reclamation, water treatment and other obligations.

Alpha will continue operating 20 mines and 9 prep plants in West Virginia, and the company still expects to produce 14 million tons of metallurgical and thermal coal in 2017.

Principal’s trial on child porn charges postponed

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A judge has postponed the trial of a former Kentucky high school principal facing dozens of child pornography counts stemming from allegations that he uploaded nude images from students’ confiscated cellphones.

Hardin County assistant prosecutor Teresa Logsdon told The News-Enterprise that the trial for Stephen Kyle Goodlett, which had been set to start on Monday, is on hold. A new date hasn’t been set.

Logsdon said the trial was delayed after Goodlett’s attorney filed a motion to dismiss earlier this month alleging double jeopardy since he was charged in federal and state court.

Goodlett pleaded guilty in August to federal charges of transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography. He had been scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 20, but that has been pushed back until Nov. 9, according to a court order.

Juvenile justice agency launches community supervision fund

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Juvenile justice officials in Kentucky are launching an incentive fund for local programs that supervise young offenders in the community.

Officials say the program is aimed at cutting taxpayer costs and reserving secure juvenile justice facilities for only the most serious offenders.

The incentive fund is an outgrowth of the overhaul of Kentucky’s juvenile justice system that took effect in 2015. The legislation called for better use of community interventions to protect public safety and hold offenders accountable.

As a result, the state Department of Juvenile will award up to $1 million in grants this year to local judicial districts that provide community-based services, treatment programs or alternatives to out-of-home placement.

Programs may include family and community reintegration and prevention services, community work projects and job skills and employment training.

Councilman says he will subpoena reporter in removal trial

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A councilman in Kentucky’s largest city says he will subpoena a reporter to testify during a trial to decide whether to remove him from office.

Five members of the Louisville Metro City Council filed a complaint to remove Councilman Dan Johnson from office following a series of sexual misconduct allegations. The council will hold a trial next month to decide Johnson’s fate.

The Courier-Journal reports Johnson’s list of 19 witnesses includes reporter Phillip M. Bailey, who has covered the story for the media company.

Johnson’s attorney Thomas McAdam says Bailey has information “important to the hearing” and says he will seek to hold Bailey in contempt if he does not cooperate.

Courier-Journal Executive Editor Joel Christopher said the media company will not provide information about confidential sources to third parties.