Louisville Metro Police Department, Kentucky State Police and the U.S. Army bomb squads joined together at Fort Knox with other cities' squads in a week-long training session. Their goal is to enhance techniques and tactics to dismantle explosive devices and rescue hostages in various scenarios. These things many city and state bomb squads can't train on because they may not have the resources or the capabilities like mock villages that are set up at Fort Knox. Sgt. Robert Kaelin, commander of the LMPD Bomb Squad, said it's a unique opportunity for the bomb squads to get together with the military and to learn things they’ve done overseas, the techniques, as well as, the things they've encountered. In turn, state and city squads can show how they operate because while the situations will be the same for both responding squads sometimes the equipment isn’t. A learning curve one can't afford when seconds count. … [Read more...]
Bomb Squads Train At Ft. Knox
Three Arrested For Arson
Three men are facing arson charges after investigators say they intentionally set fire to a storage shed. William "Trey" Conley, 18; Isaac Clark, 18, and Derek Emerson, 18, were arrested by the Louisville Metro Arson Bureau on September 16. Arson investigators say the three set fire to the shed in the 4200 block of Narcissus Drive on the morning of September 14. The arrest report states the shed belonged to Emerson's mother. … [Read more...]
Officials Considering Roadside Drug Tests
State officials are evaluating a roadside drug test that could help police counter the growing number of drivers who are high behind the wheel. State Office of Highway Safety is partnering with authorities in Louisville, Paducah and Madison County to test portable kits that police officers could eventually carry into the field to test drivers for controlled substances. If the tests prove reliable, lawmakers say they will consider legislation next year to expand their use. Louisville defense attorney Larry Forman says the tests could lead to invasive searches or give officers false pretense for arrests. According to Kentucky State Police, authorities suspected that drugs were a factor in nearly 1,600 traffic collisions across the state last year, resulting in 939 injuries and 214 deaths. … [Read more...]
Students Encouraged To Apply For Grants
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan's message for students thinking about college is simple: You can do it, and the federal government can help pay for it. Duncan visited Louisville on Thursday as part of a back-to-school bus tour with stops in 10 cities. He told a group of prospective college students during a discussion at the University of Louisville that too many of them never fill out federal financial aid forms. He said they miss out on about $150 billion in grants and loans made available by the federal government every year. Duncan said he worries that many students with the grades to go to college believe that it will be too expensive. Those skeptical students have a point: nationally, student debt is near $1.3 trillion dollars and the average price for in-state students at public four-year universities is 42 percent higher than it was a decade ago, according to the College Board. … [Read more...]
Vandals Spray Painted Islamic Center
Vandals have spray-painted multiple anti-Islamic messages on the outside of the Louisville Islamic Center in Kentucky. Center spokesman Muhammad Babar says members found the graffiti Wednesday evening when they arrived for a prayer service. Vandals left phrases like "this is for France" and "Nazis speak Arabic." Babar said he filed a police report and has spoken to the FBI about the incident. Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer responded by asking the community to help the center paint over the graffiti on Friday. Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad told reporters Thursday that the FBI is investigating the incident as a hate crime. … [Read more...]
Hand Sanitizer Can Be Dangerous
The hand sanitizer used for getting rid of those nasty germs and bacteria can be dangerous and even deadly. Just swallowing two to three squirts of hand sanitizer can be extremely dangerous. In fact, it can make people, especially children and teens, drunk and give them alcohol poisoning, according to the Kentucky Regional Poison Center at Kosair Children's Hospital. Dr. Ashley Webb from Kentucky Regional Poison Control Center at Kosair Children's Hospital says they get about 100 calls each year regarding hand sanitizer. The cases they receive regarding children swallowing hand sanitizer under six is usually accidental. Cases involving children ages 7 to 18 often involve abuse of the product. Dr. Webb said if you have older children in the home and seem to be going through an abnormal amount of hand sanitizer, that could be a red flag and you should start asking questions. For children, exposure to the hand sanitizers that are scented can be appealing. With scents like strawberry, grape, orange and pumpkin spice, children often mistake them for candy. In November 2013, Jefferson County Public Schools banned hand sanitizer except for temporary or emergency use for a number of reasons including the fact that students were drinking it and some young children were licking their hands after using it with some ending up with alcohol poisoning. If your child has swallowed hand sanitizer call poison control at 1 (800) 222-1222. … [Read more...]
Coal Miner Dies When Machinery Falls
A coal miner died after a heavy piece of mining machinery fell on him in an underground mine in western Kentucky. Rickey Thorpe of Dawson Springs was working on a continuous mining machine early Wednesday morning in the Sebree Mine in Webster County when he was crushed. The mining machine is a broad, flat vehicle that uses cutting teeth to quickly dig into a coal seam. Officials with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet say the 29-year-old Thorpe was working on the equipment when the accident occurred at 2:20 a.m. CDT. No one else was hurt. The mine, owned by Alliance Resource Partners, has been closed while officials investigate the incident. It was the second mine-related death in Kentucky this year. … [Read more...]