Officials report heroin overdose surge in Jessamine Co.
NICHOLASVILLE (AP) — Emergency officials say there has been a surge of heroin overdoses in Jessamine County this week.
Aaron Stamper, chief of the county’s emergency services, says there were five overdoses beginning early Tuesday morning to the afternoon, and nine total since Monday. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports none of the overdoses were fatal, though the county reported one overdose death on Saturday.
Stamper says “it’s a mess right now” and called the overdoses “unsettling.”
He says it’s possible there is a dangerous batch of heroin that has made its way into the county.
All but two of the overdoses were within the Nicholasville city limits. The victims were typically in their 20s through 40s.
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Man sentenced for driving through Memorial Day crosses
HENDERSON (AP) — A man has been sentenced to three years in jail for driving through a Memorial Day cross display in western Kentucky.
The Gleaner reports 28-year-old Anthony Burrus of Henderson was sentenced Monday on charges of criminal mischief and leaving the scene of an accident.
Burrus was arrested on May 28 after police said he knocked down about 150 crosses and destroyed another 20 with his vehicle. The crosses were placed at a park in May in honor of Memorial Day. Each cross had the name of a deceased veteran.
Henderson police said security footage showed a 1979 Ford Thunderbird driving through the crosses. Police eventually located the car, which was driven by Burrus, and arrested him later that day.
Police say Burrus told officers he was intoxicated at the time the display was hit.
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Allegiant Airlines to offer Louisville flights
LOUISVILLE (AP) — Allegiant Airlines says it will start flying out of Louisville International Airport in May.
The Courier-Journal reports that the Las Vegas-based carrier will offer nonstop service from Louisville to five Florida locations and seasonal nonstop flights to Hilton Head International in Georgia.
The Florida airports include Orlando-Sanford International, Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International, St. Pete-Clearwater, and Punta Gorda.
Allegiant Airlines officials announced 17 new routes and a new base of operations on Tuesday, in addition to the new service to Louisville.
Allegiant already offers flights out of nearby Blue Grass Airport in Lexington and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Louisville International Airport currently houses five airlines — American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, OneJet, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
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Bevin makes second trip to Detroit auto show
FRANKFORT (AP) — Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is in Detroit to attend the North American International Auto Show.
Bevin’s office says the governor and Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Terry Gill are speaking with automotive industry leaders and promoting the state. This is Bevin’s second trip to the show since he took office in December 2015.
The Kentucky Automotive Industry Association says the auto industry employs more than 90,000 people in Kentucky. Last year, the industry announced 70 new location or expansion projects in Kentucky. The governor’s office says if those come to fruition, they could add nearly 3,200 full time jobs.
Bevin’s trip comes days after he signed a law outlawing mandatory union dues. Bevin says the bill will attract more companies, while opponents say it will weaken unions’ bargaining power.
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McConnell Center events to focus on US presidency
LOUISVILLE (AP) — The McConnell Center at the University of Louisville is hosting four free public events as part of its upcoming lecture series titled “Promises and Perils of the American Presidency.”
The Jan. 23 topic is titled “President Trump: Challenges and Opportunities.” It will be a discussion with director of the McConnell Center Gary Gregg; political science professors Jasmine Farrier and Laura Moyer and the director of the John H. Schnatter Center for Free Enterprise, Stephan Gohmann.
The April 12 lecture will be a lecture by Peter Zeihan, geopolitical strategist and global energy, demographic and security expert.
The events will be monthly beginning in January and ending in April.