News Around the State
Published 9:47 am Monday, October 29, 2018
Auto supplier to set up plant in Ky.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky officials say an automotive supplier plans to set up a manufacturing operation in Owen County that will create dozens of jobs.
Gov. Matt Bevin’s office says the company, Pounds of Plastic Inc., will invest more than $4.1 million in the Owenton operation. The investment is expected to create 54 full-time jobs.
The Canadian-based company will place its Kentucky operation in an existing warehouse. The governor’s office says the previous tenant closed its Owenton operations this spring, resulting in about 400 workers being laid off.
Pound of Plastics is a supplier to the auto and general manufacturing industries. At the Owenton plan, the company will manufacture custom polymers and thermoplastics for automotive customers.
Man, son’s Nazi Halloween costumes cause backlash
OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man posted online that he and his 5-year-old son were mistreated while dressed as Nazis for a Halloween event and is now facing even more backlash.
News outlets report Bryant Goldbach posted online a picture of him and his son Friday, saying they attended a “Trail of Treats” event where they were threatened over their costumes. The post says Goldbach dressed as a Nazi officer and his son as Adolf Hitler because of the family’s love of history.
It says “we had the displeasure of dealing with the fruits of the so called ‘Tolerant Left.’ ” Goldbach has since said the costumes were in poor taste and apologized.
Screenshots of his Facebook prior to his apology show slogans such as “White pride doesn’t mean hate.”
Speaker Paul Ryan to campaign for Andy Barr in Ky.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Andy Barr says House Speaker Paul Ryan will campaign with him in Kentucky.
Barr is running for re-election in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District. He faces Democrat Amy McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot who has raised and spent more money than he has.
Barr spokeswoman Jodi Whitaker confirmed Ryan will campaign with Barr in Kentucky this week. She declined to say when or where the event will take place, promising more details later. In a news release, Barr said he looked forward to introducing Ryan to Kentucky’s signature industries and discussing what he called the “positive impacts” of changes to the tax code.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump campaigned for Barr at a rally in Richmond, Kentucky. Former Vice President Joe Biden has campaigned for McGrath.
Man accused of confronting officer at home
HARRODSBURG, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky say a man has been charged in an armed confrontation with an officer who went to his home following a report of a domestic dispute.
State Police Trooper Robert Purdy says in a news release 32-year-old John Michael Peach of Harrodsburg was charged Sunday with domestic violence and attempted murder of a police officer.
The statement says after Harrodsburg police were called to the home, Peach confronted an officer and shots were fired. Peach was injured and was treated and released from a hospital before being arrested. The statement gave no details of his injuries.
Peach is being held in the Boyle County Detention Center. Jail records didn’t indicate whether he has an attorney.
Candidate wins court fight to stay on ballot
BURLINGTON, Ky. (AP) — An independent state legislative candidate backed by Kentucky’s Republican governor has won a court fight to keep her name on the ballot in next month’s election.
Stacie Earl needed 100 petition signatures to become a candidate in a state House district in northern Kentucky. Earl turned in 156. Her Republican opponent, Ed Massey, filed a lawsuit arguing enough of the signatures were invalid to remove her name from the ballot.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Boone County Circuit Court Judge James Schrand scrutinized the questionable signatures Friday.
The newspaper reports the final tally, after the judge’s review, was 102 valid signatures.
Forty-three signatures were nullified because they came from people living outside the proper jurisdiction.
Earl has been endorsed by Gov. Matt Bevin. The House race also includes Democrat Roberto Henriquez.
Police: Shooting of man by state trooper was justified
OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky authorities have determined the fatal shooting of a Frankfort man by a state trooper was justified.
The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer reports the shooting of 24-year-old Rueben T. Ruffin Jr. was reviewed by Kentucky State Police’s critical response team, and the results were presented to a prosecutor.
KSP Public Affairs Officer Corey King says the investigation determined it was a justified shooting. Commonwealth’s Attorney Bruce Kuegel said Friday he will not take the case to a grand jury for possible charges against KSP Trooper Blake Owens.
Ruffin was shot in a western Kentucky field in March. The incident began as a suspicious person call.
King said Owens came upon Ruffin, who was brandishing a handgun, and ordered him to drop it. Ruffin raised the handgun and began walking toward Owens. Reports say Owens shot Ruffin twice.