Kentucky News Now – October 7th 2015

LOUISVILLE-ESCORTS

Louisville campus police reviewing escort allegations

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville campus police say they are reviewing allegations that a former men's basketball staffer hired escorts to dance and have sex with recruits and players in a dormitory.

Katina Powell has alleged in a book released online over the weekend that former Cardinals director of basketball operation Andre McGee paid her $10,000 for dancers to perform 22 shows from 2010-14 at the players' Billy Minardi Hall dormitory. The school reported those allegations to the NCAA and has launched an investigation.

University police chief Wayne Hall said Tuesday in a brief statement his department is also working with Louisville Metro Police and the Commonwealth Attorney's Office to review Powell's allegations against the program.

Cardinals coach Rick Pitino has said that McGee denied Powell's allegations.

McGee is currently an assistant at Missouri-Kansas City, which has put him on paid leave.

PYTHON ATTACK-KENTUCKY

Police Officers rescue store owner being crushed by 125-pound python

NEWPORT, Ky. (AP) — The owner of a northern Kentucky reptile store is recovering after police officers pried off a 20-foot python that was crushing the man.

Newport police tell local news outlets that owner Terry Wilkens was feeding the snake Monday morning when the 125-pound python attacked.

Police Chief Tom Collins says Wilkens wasn't breathing when officers were trying to free him, but he did resume breathing before he was taken to a hospital. Collins says Wilkens' health appears to improving and he's even talking.

Collins says one of the two responding officers, Lt. Gregory Ripberger, knew to uncurl the snake by grabbing it from its head, eventually freeing Wilkens.

Police were working with animal control to determine if the python would need to be removed from the shop.

EDUCATION COMMISSIONER

Kentucky Board of Education approves commissioner contract

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Board of Education has approved a contract with the new state education commissioner, Stephen Pruitt.

The board voted Tuesday to approve a four-year contract for Pruitt with an annual salary of $240,000.

Pruitt made a brief statement, saying he was humbled by the appointment and excited to help improve educational opportunities in the state.

The board voted last month to hire Pruitt to succeed Terry Holliday, who retired in August. Associate Commissioner Kevin Brown has been serving as interim commissioner.

Pruitt has been an educator in Georgia and most recently senior vice president of an independent education reform organization, Achieve Inc., where he has been since 2010.

He is expected to begin work in Kentucky later this month.

SHERIFF ARRESTED

Breckinridge County sheriff jailed on charges including DUI

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — A central Kentucky sheriff has been jailed on charges including drunken driving and terroristic threatening.

Kentucky State Police Sgt. Michael Webb said Breckinridge County Sheriff Todd Pate was arrested Monday night in Warren County. He said officers began looking for Pate after his wife swore out a warrant against him on charges of terroristic threatening.

Webb said when officers found Pate, he was also charged with drunken driving, reckless driving, possession of an open alcoholic beverage, improper signal and failure to wear seat belt.

It wasn't immediately clear whether he has an attorney. A woman who answered the phone Tuesday at the sheriff's office referred calls to state police.

According to jail records, a court date has been set on Friday.

FORT CAMPBELL DEATH

Fort Campbell soldier shot, killed during training exercise

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — A Fort Campbell soldier has been fatally shot during a training exercise.

Post spokesman Bob Jenkins says the soldier died aTuesday at the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital. The shooting happened on the sprawling base on the Kentucky-Tennessee line. No one else was injured.

Jenkins said they are withholding the soldier's name because next of kin have not been notified. The incident is still under investigation.

TRAIL TOWN-MANCHESTER

Manchester is state's latest 'Trail town'

MANCHESTER, Ky. (AP) — The community of Manchester in eastern Kentucky has been designated Kentucky's ninth "Trail Town," designed to help connect communities to trail systems and develop them as tourist destinations.

The Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet announced the designation Tuesday and said it helps communities improve their tourism economy.

Other Trail Towns in Kentucky are Dawson Springs, Livingston, Morehead, Olive Hill, London, Stearns, Elkhorn City and Jamestown.

Located in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Manchester is near Goose Creek, the Redbird River and the South Fork of the Kentucky River, streams that provide paddling and fishing opportunities.

There are also hiking, camping, ATV trails, horseback trails and cycling routes in the area, as well as swinging bridges.

The state helps promote Trail Towns and services being offered. More than 30 communities have started the application process.

TRAIN DEATH

Train hits, kills man on tracks in La Grange

LA GRANGE, Ky. (AP) — Police say a man has been killed after being hit by a train in central Kentucky.

Oldham County Police said in a statement that 41-year-old Daniel Waterhouse of La Grange was hit Monday afternoon by a train along tracks near Kentucky 146. The statement said officers responded to a report of a pedestrian hit and found Waterhouse dead on the tracks.

Police said the cause of the incident is under investigation.

HALLOWEEN MOVED-LEXINGTON

Residents of Kentucky city petition to move Halloween

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Hundreds of Lexington, Kentucky, residents have urged county officials to move Halloween trick-or-treating to Oct. 30 this year.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that residents are concerned a University of Kentucky home football game and the Breeders' Cup will strain the city's resources, since both are being held Oct. 31 in Lexington. As of Monday night, more than 400 people had signed the petition in favor of celebrating Halloween a day early.

City spokeswoman Susan Straub says Halloween will continue to be celebrated on Oct. 31, but several events are being organized by businesses that will allow families to celebrate Halloween on another date if they wish.

Luther Andal posted the petition Sept. 29. He plans to forward the petition to the Fayette County council if he gets 1,000 signatures.