Ford is recalling some older Windstar minivans because a previous rear-axle recall repair might not work. The recall covers about 342,000 vans from 1998 through 2003. The company said Wednesday the Windstars were recalled in 2010 due to axle cracks that could grow and lead to complete failure and a crash. They're being recalled again because a reinforcement bracket from the first recall could have been installed incorrectly. The bracket was designed to mitigate problems if the axle failed. The company says it has reports of a small number of accidents but no injuries. The exact number of wrecks was not available. Dealers will inspect the vans, and if the brackets weren't installed right, replace the axles. If they were correctly installed, customers will be offered a $300 discount on the price of an axle replacement. The recall is taking place in the U.S. and Canada. Also Wednesday, Ford said it was recalling 37,000 F-150 pickups from the 2015 model year in the U.S. and Canada to fix a problem with the adaptive cruise control system that automatically brakes the trucks to avoid a crash. The company said that when passing a large truck, the radar could incorrectly determine that it's in the F-150's travel lane when it is not. The system could apply the brakes until it senses that the truck is no longer in the way. Ford says it has a report of one crash caused by the problem but no injuries. Dealers will update software to fix the problem. Source: AP … [Read more...]

Fire crews were called to Ben Johnson Elementary School around 8:20 A.M. CDT Thursday (10/01) after staff noticed a smell of smoke in the cafeteria area of the building. Upon investigation of school staff, it was determined that an electric oven was where the smell was coming from. The sprinkler and fire alarms active, when the staff opened the door of the oven. Students were evacuated about fifteen minutes as fire crews evaluated the situation, according to Breckinridge County Superintendent Janet Meeks. She said all classes and activities returned to normal within a half hour of the fire alarm. McDaniels Fire Department Fire Chief David Poole said that an electric motor in the oven shorted out causing the smoke. Fire crews worked with school staff to clean up water and air out the building. No injuries were reported. … [Read more...]

A former KSP trooper charged with having sex with a 15 year-old girl has taken a plea deal to avoid jail time. Young pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful transaction with a minor. The prosecutor is recommending a sentence of two years on each charge running at the same time with five years probation, meaning Young will not spend any time in jail. The judge still has to approve the plea deal at a hearing in November. In March of 2014, a Meade County grand jury indicted Young and former Brandenburg Officer Todd Matti for rape and sodomy of the same girl. Matti's trial is set for April. Two other former police officers, Chris Woosley and Jerry Clanton lost their jobs but has not had charges brought against them in the wake of the allegations in this case. The prosecutor says this plea deal should have no bearing on Matti's case because they are different types of cases and that's why they couldn't be tried together. … [Read more...]

Century Aluminum is planning to keep at least a portion of its Hawesville Smelter in western Kentucky open after announcing plans to close the plant in August. In a statement Wednesday, the company said that the plant will continue operating at about 40 percent capacity after October 24. Company officials had originally planned to shut down the smelter on that date, citing a stagnant aluminum market and low prices for Chinese aluminum. The company now says it will keep two pot lines operating at the plant. There are about 565 employees at the Hawesville plant. The company didn't say how many workers would be retained for the two pot lines. Source: AP … [Read more...]