BURGLARY-BOY KILLED

Prosecutor will seek death penalty in Kentucky boy's death

VERSAILLES, Ky. (AP) — An Indiana man has been indicted for murder after police say he fatally stabbed a 6-year-old Kentucky boy in the head during a burglary. A prosecutor says he plans to seek the death penalty.

A Woodford County grand jury charged 32-year-old Ronald Exantus on Wednesday with murder, first-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree assault. He's accused of fatally stabbing Logan Dean Tipton early Monday in the boy's home while the child was sleeping.

Commonwealth's Attorney Gordie Shaw told the Lexington Herald-Leader that because the slaying was committed during the course of a first-degree burglary, it's a capital case. He declined to elaborate, and gave no information about why Exantus went to the boy's home.

Exantus is being held on $1 million bond. Arraignment is Jan. 6.

POLICE SHOOTING-KENTUCKY

Police: Suspect fatally shot by law enforcement officer

LEITCHFIELD, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police are investigating the death of a suspect shot by an officer from the sheriff's department who was responding to a domestic disturbance.

Police said in a news release that a male with a gun advanced toward officers from the Grayson County Sheriff's Department who arrived at the residence Wednesday afternoon. The release says one of the officers fired multiple times, hitting the suspect, who died.

No names or additional details have been released.

GM-CORVETTE PLANT

GM plans another expansion at Corvette plant in Kentucky

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — General Motors says it will spend $44 million to increase engine-building capacity at the Kentucky plant that makes Corvette sports cars.

The automaker said Wednesday that it will add 36 jobs as part of the investment to expand capacity in the Performance Build Center at the Bowling Green Assembly plant. It says construction and tool rearrangement is scheduled to start next month.

GM says the increased capacity is fueled by the success of the Corvette Z06, which accounts for nearly one-third of all Corvettes produced at the plant in south-central Kentucky.

Plant manager Kai Spande says GM has committed $483 million to the Bowling Green plant this year.

In May, the company said it was spending $439 million for a new paint shop and facility upgrades.

2016 LEGISLATURE

GOP state Rep. Bob DeWeese not seeking re-election

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican state Rep. Bob DeWeese says he will not run for re-election in 2016.

The vice chairman of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee has been in the House for 22 years. In a news release, he said it was time for him to leave Frankfort and spend more time with his family.

DeWeese leaves as Republicans are four seats shy of winning control of the House for the first time since 1920. But DeWeese likely will not leave Republicans in the lurch as his House district 48 is considered to be a safe Republican seat.

When he first took office in 1993 there were just 29 Republicans in the state House. Now they make up 47 of the 100 seats. DeWeese said he is excited about the party's future.

OFFICIAL APOLOGIZES

Grant County official apologizes for crass comments

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A Grant County official has apologized for making comments that members of the public decried as sexist.

The Kentucky Enquirer reports judge-executive Stephen Wood and his top assistant, Scott Kimmich, apologized Monday for the comments, which were videotaped during a meeting earlier this year.

In February, Wood, Kimmich and two others met to discuss the county jail's budget and payroll. The group also discussed the political ramifications of terminating a longtime county employee, Connie McClure-Ellington. At the end of the meeting, Wood used crude language to say how he would like a younger, more attractive replacement.

McClure-Ellington is seeking $750,000 in damages from the county over the comments.

County officials have declined to say whether they are considering asking Wood to resign. Wood has said he isn't stepping down.

BODY FOUND-BOX

Body found in Bell County may be connected to homicide

PINEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police have found a body that is believed to be connected to a Wisconsin homicide inside a box alongside a Bell County road.

Media outlets report that authorities in Wisconsin and Georgia called state police about the homicide on Tuesday and told them where the body was thought to be. State police went to the location on Industrial Road and found two big boxes over an embankment. The body was found in one of the boxes.

Bell County Coroner Jay Steele says the body is of a man and hasn't been identified. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

State police say they don't have any information about the homicide in Wisconsin.

RUPP ARENA SECURITY

University of Kentucky to increase Rupp Arena security

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Officials are increasing security measures during basketball games at Rupp Arena.

Local media outlets report that University of Kentucky fans coming to the arena will see some security changes, starting with Wednesday's game against Eastern Kentucky University.

The university's chief of police Joe Monroe says the increase in security stems from recent attacks by extremists overseas.

The changes, which will run throughout the 2015-16 season, include asking fans to remove their coats before approaching security. Anyone in baggy or bulky clothes may be subjected to additional screening.

All bags can be inspected. Backpacks are prohibited as well as flasks, selfie sticks, e-cigarettes and artificial noise makers.

Monroe says officials are asking people to be patient and arrive early as new procedures are put in place.

 

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.

 

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