Todd Hatton

Organizers of a southwest Louisiana drive to help tornado-stricken Harrisburg, Illinois, says four pickup-and-trailer loads of goods delivered over the weekend are just a partial return for help after Hurricane Rita in 2005.  Phil Thibodeaux of Lake Arthur says a tractor-trailer load of supplies will probably leave nearby Lake Charles about midweek, and Lafayette-area residents are also collecting a lot of goods.  Strong storms and a tornado hit Harrisburg Wednesday, killing six people and injuring about 100.  Thibodeaux says the relationship between the two communities began when Lake Arth

(1.) BILL CALL 2-WAY -- As severe weather struck our region this week many of you might have had weather radios alerting you of warnings to your county or the loud outdoor sirens you might be used to. This week, though as a Tornado Warning was issued for northern Calloway County residents in the storm’s path heard no out-door sirens, because there aren’t any.  WKMS’s Shelly Baskin speaks with Calloway County Emergency Management Director Bill Call to find out why. 

On February 21st, reports emerged American soldiers had burned copies of the Koran, the Moslem holy book, at an airbase in Afghanistan. The riots and violence that followed in that country resulted in several deaths, including U.S. military personnel.  This incident and its repercussions highlight the lack of understanding on both sides and the necessity of promoting that understanding.  The same day the Koran-burning story broke, Dr. Ossama Bahloul was at Murray State to address that very issue.  Dr.

Islam is the world’s second largest religion, but Moslems only comprise less than one percent of the U.S. population, meaning many Americans aren’t that familiar with the faith.  This lack of familiarity has fostered misconceptions, misunderstandings, and, in some cases, prejudice.  We spoke with a Tennessee imam working to change that.

AP Report...

AP Report...

AP Report...

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will visit Fort Campbell Friday to observe training and meet with soldiers and others.  He will watch predeployment training and medical response training and have a question-and-answer session. Panetta will also speak to 400 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division.  This is Panetta's first visit to Fort Campbell since taking office last July 1.

AP Report...

A report published in the Lexington Herald Leader finds child safety in Kentucky is sometimes overlooked by social workers in domestic violence cases.  The newspaper based its findings on 85 internal Cabinet for Health and Family Services reviews from 2009 and 2010.  The agency performed these reviews when children with whom they had contact either died or received serious injuries.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn wants to eliminate the state's contributions toward health insurance benefits for retired school teachers and community college professors across the state.  Those cuts are part of the budget proposal he unveiled last week. They target two insurance programs and would save the state about $92 million.  About 77,000 retired teachers and their dependents are covered under the Teachers Retirement Insurance Program and the Community College Insurance Program.  If Quinn's plan is approved, retirees could be forced to pay higher premiums.