News Around the State

Published 10:43 am Monday, January 28, 2019

Edelen files for governor ahead of Tuesday’s deadline

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democrat Adam Edelen has filed to run for governor of Kentucky, promising an issues-based campaign that does not accept money from political action committees.

Edelen filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office on Monday morning. He was joined by his running mate, Louisville businessman Gill Holland.

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Edelen is the fourth Democrat to file for the office. Attorney General Andy Beshear, state House Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins and former state employee Geoff Young are also running. The deadline to file for statewide office in Kentucky is 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Republican Gov. Matt Bevin filed for re-election on Friday. He faces three challengers in the GOP primary. Republican U.S. Rep. James Comer, who has criticized Bevin’s leadership, announced Sunday he would not run for governor in 2019.

Deputy injured after rock thrown through windshield

DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky say a sheriff’s deputy was injured when a rock thrown from a moving vehicle went through his windshield and struck him in the face.

The Boyle County Sheriff’s Office says in a news release the deputy lost control of his vehicle and it rolled over several times early Sunday. He was treated at a hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the sheriff’s office identified the deputy as Philip Dean. He was traveling to investigate reports that rocks were being thrown at trucks just outside of Danville.

The statement says the rock was thrown at the cruiser from a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. The vehicle was described as a dark-colored passenger car.

Trial set to begin in Paul’s lawsuit against attacker

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is going to court in his civil suit against the neighbor who broke his ribs with a hard tackle while he was doing yard work at his Kentucky home.

Jury selection began Monday in Paul’s lawsuit against Rene Boucher for the 2017 attack that left the senator with multiple broken ribs. Paul is seeking up to $500,000 in compensatory damages and up to $1 million in punitive damages. Both men were in the courtroom.

Boucher pleaded guilty to assaulting a member of Congress and was sentenced to 30 days in prison. Federal prosecutors have appealed the sentence, saying it’s too lenient.

Boucher has said that he “lost his temper” after Paul stacked debris near their property line in Bowling Green.

Small plane crashed near Lexington, no one hurt

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A small airplane crashed on a Lexington horse farm, but the people aboard suffered only minor injuries.

The Lexington Fire Department and police responded to Calumet Farm Saturday afternoon, after a small craft went down.

The Herald-Leader reports two people were on board the plane and appeared to have only minor injuries, according to Lexington Police.

The plane was forced to land because of engine failure, police said.

The plane had been approaching Blue Grass Airport to land when the incident occurred at 3:45 p.m., said airport marketing coordinator Tiffany Hart. She did not know where the plane’s flight originated.

The plane is a Beechcraft Bonanza, which apparently seats up to six people.

Trooper shoots suspect after chase

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky say a trooper shot and wounded a suspect who crashed his vehicle into a restaurant following a chase.

Kentucky State Police said in a news release troopers responding to a report of an armed robbery followed the suspect’s vehicle until it struck the front of the restaurant early Saturday.

The statement says a trooper shot 36-year-old Justin Robert Hardin in the leg after the suspect failed to obey officers’ commands.

Hardin was treated at a hospital and released Saturday. He was being held Sunday in the Hardin County Detention Center on multiple charges, including reckless driving, evading police and operating a vehicle under the influence.

The statement says the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the armed robbery report.

Mammoth Cave National Park reopens to public

CAVE CITY, Ky. (AP) — Mammoth Cave National Park has reopened to the public following the end of the partial federal government shutdown.

The Daily News reports the park in south-central Kentucky reopened for visitors on Sunday after President Donald Trump signed a temporary deal Friday to end the shutdown.

Parts of the park had remained accessible to visitors during the shutdown that started in December over funding for Trump’s promised U.S.-Mexico border wall, but there were no services available that required staffing including cave access, tours and restrooms.

Officials said in a statement that all park services were resuming as normal.

Woman fatally shot outside nightclub

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky are investigating the fatal shooting of a woman outside a nightclub.

Lexington police say in a news release officers saw several people fighting outside The Fox Club and 27-year-old Iesha Edwards lying on the ground early Saturday. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.

The statement says a fight between several people started inside the club and moved outside the building just before the shooting. Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect in the shooting.

Bison auction next month at Land Between the Lakes

GOLDEN POND, Ky. (AP) — A bison auction is being held next month at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area.

A statement from the Friends of Land Between the Lakes says the auction will be held Feb. 2 at Land Between the Lakes Elk & Bison Prairie Corral. Plans call for about 40 bison to be sold including a mature bison bull, up to four mature cows, two young bulls, eight yearling bulls, eight to 10 yearling heifers and 17 calves.

The statement say managers are trying to keep the herd size appropriate and maintain the health of the animals.

A veterinarian will be on site for inspections and buyers are required to use closed-topped trailers or vehicles to transport the animals.

Land Between the Lakes encompasses more than 170,000 acres in western Kentucky and Tennessee.