Wake Up to Kentucky News – AP

STORM DEATHS-KENTUCKY

Flooding claims 4 lives in Kentucky

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say four people have been killed by flooding caused by a strong storm system that swept through most of Kentucky.

State Emergency Management spokesman Buddy Rogers told The Associated Press that the bodies of three people were pulled from Rolling Fork River in central Kentucky Sunday morning.

Rogers says the victims had been in a vehicle that was swept away by the flooded river. Two people managed to escape. He says authorities are still investigating how the vehicle ended up in the river.

In Carroll County, Rogers says a person drowned after a four-wheeler attempting to cross a flooded waterway overturned, trapping the victim. That body was also retrieved Sunday morning.

None of the victims has been identified.

Flood advisories remain in effect for parts of the state.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL-WEATHER

A wild winter weather mix includes record warmth

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The first full day of winter is delivering a wild mix of weather across the U.S., from ice and power outages in Michigan, New York and parts of northern New England, to snow in sections of the Midwest, to fatal flooding in southern states and even record-setting warm temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic.

Nearly 300,000 homes and businesses are without power in Michigan on Sunday, and another 100,000 are without electricity in upstate New York and into New England due to a storm packing ice and high wind.

A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain is making travel tough from the upper Midwest to northern New England.

In central Kentucky, three bodies were pulled from a river Sunday morning after a vehicle was swept away by flood waters, and a fourth person drowned after a four-wheeler overturned while trying to cross a flooded waterway.

But in the Mid-Atlantic, temperatures are soaring into the 60s and 70s, with records falling from Georgetown north to New York City.

T25-DUKE-KENTUCKY

No. 2 Duke beats No. 5 Kentucky, 69-61

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Tricia Liston scored a season-high 28 points to help No. 2 Duke beat No. 5 Kentucky 69-61 victory before 23,706 fans at Rupp Arena on Sunday.

Five days after defending champion and No. 1 Connecticut soundly dealt the Blue Devils their first loss, they used their size and length to hand the Wildcats their first defeat before the largest crowd to see a women's game in Kentucky.

The 6-foot-1 Liston thrived on mismatches to shoot 10 of 19 from the field, including two 3-pointers, falling a point short of her career best. Duke's 6-3 center, Elizabeth Williams, was 6 of 10 to chip in 17 points and had eight rebounds.

The Blue Devils (12-1) stifled Kentucky (11-1) around the basket, limiting the Wildcats to 25-of-75 shooting (33 percent) and 3 of 15 from long range. Poor free throw shooting also doomed Kentucky, which made just 8 of 19 from the line.

T25-LOUISVILLE-STAYING THE COURSE

No. 18 Louisville prepares for bowl against Miami

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Louisville's plan for its bowl game against Miami doesn't include a bunch of changes.

Sure, the offensive falloff was obvious down the stretch as the No. 18 Cardinals. Even quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looked flat at times and Louisville had to work hard to score points in the second half of the season. But the Cardinals (11-1) averaged 453 yards per game this year.

So as Louisville begins practice on Monday in Orlando, Fla., in preparation for Saturday's Russell Athletic Bowl against Miami (9-3), the focus is on executing the same gameplan that has yielded a 22-3 record the past two seasons.

Having had time to recharge after the regular season and re-examine issues that led to their late-season offensive struggles, the Cardinals are eager to execute better against the Hurricanes.

SAFETY NET ALLIANCE

Safety Net Alliances helps low-income families

NEWPORT, Ky. (AP) — When the Safety Net Alliance first met in June 2007, representatives of five nonprofits discussed ways they could work together to avoid duplication of services and better serve Northern Kentucky families in need.

Today, the Safety Net Alliance has grown from a handful of social service agencies, churches, educational institutions, government entities and other groups to a collaborative representing more than 100 organizations and nearly 250 individuals. Safety net services are considered those that meet basic human needs, including food and shelter.

Northern Kentucky's Safety Net Alliance has become so successful that it inspired Clermont County's social service agencies and other nonprofits to form a similar group.

Founded in 2010, the Clermont County Safety Net Alliance has nearly 50 member partners. And like Northern Kentucky's Safety Net Alliance, it's constantly growing.

PILL GUARD

New pill container designed to battle drug abuse

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Louisville company has created a secure pill dispenser with the aim of combating prescription drug abuse.

The Pill Guard is designed to ensure patients get the prescribed dose of medicine at the right time, and it prevents a user from taking too many pills at one time.

Pill Guard president Roger Hayes says the device is a step up from the child-resistant caps that came out in the 1970s. He says this device makes the drugs "adult-resistant."

The company launched the product as a pilot effort in late October, and it has become part of a small but growing market of smarter pill dispensers. The idea came from a local orthopedic surgeon who lost a patient to a drug overdose.

The device can hold 60 pills.

AQUEDUCT

Flipcup wins Big A's East View Stakes

NEW YORK (AP) — Flipcup beat Champagne Ruby by 4½ lengths Sunday at Aqueduct in the $98,000 East View Stakes for New York bred 2-year-old fillies.

Making her first start outside Canada for new trainer George Weaver, Flipcup — ridden by Rajiv Maragh — closely stalked the leaders before pulling clear in the stretch for her third win in four starts. Flipcup ran a mile and 70 yards in 1:45.64 on the track rated good.

Flipcup paid $4.10, $2.80 and $2.30. Champagne Ruby returned $4.20 and $3.20, and Mlle. Minuit paid $4.90.