Whitney Jones

Flags at Half Staff for Two Fort Campbell Soldiers

Whitney Jones — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:39:26 +0000

Two Fort Campbell soldiers who died earlier this month are being honored tomorrow with flags flying half-staff.

Second Lt. Justin Sisson of Phoenix and Spc. Robert Pierce of Huntingdon, Arkansas, died June 3 in Tsamkani, Afghanistan. Both were wounded when their unit was attacked by a suicide bomber.

Western Kentucky Coal Mine Discrimination Suit Close to Resolution

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:35:22 +0000

A lawsuit against a Union County coal mine accused of discriminating against black job applicants appears to be nearing a settlement. River View Coal is a subsidiary of Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Alliance Resource Partners. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the coal mine in 2011.

An attorney for the EEOC, Aime McFerren, said today that a settlement has not yet been reached and attorneys continue to work on a resolution. Court records indicated the parties reached an "amicable resolution" in late May, and it has been removed from the active docket.

Man Robs First National Bank in Paducah

Whitney Jones — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:31:03 +0000

Paducah police are looking for a man who robbed First National Bank in Paducah this afternoon.

Bank employees told police a man came to the bank at about 2:20 p.m., went behind the counter and demanded money. They gave him an undetermined amount of cash and he fled on foot. The approximately 6 foot, 200 pound white man was last seen running west on Jefferson Street.

400 Mile Yard Sale Leads to Several Marshall County Traffic Accidents

Whitney Jones — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:25:09 +0000

Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Byars says last weekend’s 400 Mile Yard Sale caused an uptick in traffic accidents in his jurisdiction.

Tennessee Speakers Seek Review of No-Bid Outsourcing Deal

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:26:35 +0000

The Tennessee House and Senate speakers say they will seek a review of a no-bid contract with a real estate firm because it once counted Governor Bill Haslam among its investors.

The Haslam administration hired Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle for a $1 million contract to consult on office space issues. That deal has since evolved into a five-year, $38 million contract to manage all state-owned and leased properties outside of higher education.

Hinkleville Road Zoning Changes

Whitney Jones — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:20:29 +0000

Three parcels of land off Hinkleville Road in Paducah housing an elementary school and two churches could undergo a zoning change that would make their operations easier.

City Planning Director Steve Ervin says the city’s planning department initiated the switch from Residential 1 to Highway Business District for Concord Elementary School, Olivet Baptist Church and Concord United Methodist Church.

Mayfield City Council Passes Smoking Ban Ordinance First Reading

Whitney Jones — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:09:48 +0000

The Mayfield City Council has passed the first reading of a city-wide smoking ban ordinance with a 6-4 vote. Mayor Teresa Cantrell says yesterday’s vote is the first step to ban smoking in public places like restaurants and other businesses.

“We’ve been working on this for a little over a year and we did a community poll and it was overwhelmingly in support,” she says.

Hopkins County Board of Health Names New Director, Approves Budget

Whitney Jones — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:57:29 +0000

The Hopkins County Board of Health has named Denise Beach as its new public health director. Her appointment awaits approval from the state, but she says her tentative start date is June 24.

Beach is taking the position after Jack Morris, who announced his retirement in April.

“Because I’m waiting on appointment from the state we haven’t really started doing much yet in transitioning,” Beach says. “But he and I have worked closely together for the 12 years that I’ve been director of nursing.”

Metropolis Honeywell Plant Receives Bomb Threat

Rob Canning and Whitney Jones — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:37:45 +0000

The Honeywell Uranium Processing Facility is allowing some plant workers to leave while law enforcement and plant management continue investigating a report of an explosive device in the plant.

Honeywell went on lockdown after receiving the report this afternoon. Honeywell spokesman Peter Dalpe said law enforcement and members of the state bomb squad are on scene.

Quinn Calls Special Session on Pensions

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:57:13 +0000

Illinois lawmakers will return to Springfield June 19 for a special session to solve the state's nearly $100 billion pension crisis.

Gov. Pat Quinn's announcement of the special session comes as Moody’s Investor Service lowered the state's credit rating from A3 to A2. That’s just three levels above junk status.