Grimes predicts at least 46 percent voter turnout

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s chief election officer is predicting at least 46 percent of registered voters will cast ballots on Tuesday.

Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes said the projected turnout for Tuesday’s elections is in line with previous midterm election cycles. She noted absentee ballots cast and issued are slightly ahead of ballots cast and issued at this point in the previous midterm election in 2014.

Statewide, 1.6 percent of registered voters have either cast or been issued an absentee ballot. That’s up 0.23 percentage points from this time in 2014.

Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District is the highest profile race. The district spans 19 counties in central Kentucky, including Lexington and Frankfort. Republican incumbent Andy Barr faces Democrat Amy McGrath in a race that could help determine which party controls Congress.

Officer: Man wanted to be ‘next school shooter’

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky say a man arrested in connection with school shooting threats had written a manifesto outlining his plan to be “the next school shooter.”

Media outlets are reporting new details about Dylan Jarrell disclosed Thursday in court.

Kentucky State Police Trooper Josh Satterly said Jarrell had an assault-style weapon in his car and was “moving the attack up” when authorities stopped him last month. Satterly says police searched Jarrell’s home and car and found a “threatening manifesto” detailing a planned school attack. He says it included contact information for news outlets Jarrell planned on sharing his manifesto with.

Jarrell’s attorney says there’s no proof Jarrell was going to carry out an attack, calling it a “thought crime.”

Jarrell has pleaded not guilty to terroristic threatening and harassing communications charges.

Bevin announces funding for bypass in Georgetown

GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) — Republican Gov. Matt Bevin says Kentucky will complete the U.S. 460 bypass in Georgetown next year.

Bevin announced the project on Thursday at the Scott County Courthouse.

The $26.1 million project will add a two-lane bypass with paved shoulders from Long Lick Pike to I-75. Transportation officials estimate the road will have about 8,000 vehicles per day, increasing to 12,000 vehicles per day by 2036.

Republican State Sen. Damon Thayer said the road will ease traffic congestion in Georgetown, which includes workers at the nearby Toyota plant and its suppliers. Bevin said about $10 million of the project has already been spent on engineering. Construction on the first section of the bypass was completed in July 2014. Construction on the final section is scheduled to begin in the spring.

Depp relists Ky. horse farm at lower asking price

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Johnny Depp has relisted his Kentucky horse farm with a lower asking price after his portfolio managers rejected an offer for the 42-acre (17-hectare) property.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the property — named “Betty Sue’s Family Farm” in honor of Depp’s late mother, is now listed for $1.6 million. That’s well below the $2.9 million Depp wanted when it was up for auction in August 2017.

The top bid at last year’s auction was $1.4 million from radio personality Rick Dees.

The farm near Keeneland racetrack is equipped with a 6,635-square-foot home with six bedrooms, six full bathrooms and a four-car garage. It has two barns with 12 stalls and five paddocks.

Depp, an Owensboro, Kentucky, native and star of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, first brought the property in 1995 for $950,000.

Man says he fought Kroger shooting suspect to protect wife

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man says he was protecting his family when he confronted the man charged in the Louisville-area Kroger shooting.

The Courier Journal reports Dominiic and Kiera Rozier were gathering supplies for their son’s birthday when they encountered Gregory Bush in the parking lot.

Bush, a white man, is charged with murder in the deaths of 69-year-old Maurice Stallard and 67-year-old Vicki Lee Jones, who were black.

The Roziers are black as well, and Dominiic Rozier is a concealed carry permit holder.

Kiera Rozier says they heard gunfire and were warned to get away when Bush suddenly walked out, “kind of grinned” and killed a woman.

Dominiic Rozier then exchanged gunfire with Bush. Nobody was injured by those bullets, and police quickly captured Bush as he fled the scene.

Kentucky Derby Museum completes expansion

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Derby Museum has completed its largest expansion since opening in 1985.

Officials say they spent $6.5 million to add 11,000 square feet and renovate another section of the facility. Crews broke ground on the project at the historic Louisville racetrack in March. It officials opened to the public on Thursday. The highlight of the expansion is new exhibit space that features thoroughbred trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Bill Shoemaker.

Museum President and CEO Patrick Armstrong says the additions and renovations will help elevate the experiences of an increasing number of visitors.

Last year, the museum attracted 230,000 visitors. Officials said the new exhibit space is included with general admission.

GE Appliances teaming with schools for new work program

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — GE Appliances says it’s teaming with Kentucky’s largest school district for an initiative that offers work experience and college tuition for students.

The Louisville-based appliances maker predicts the partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools will become a national model.

The company says one program will allow high school seniors to join a new, weekly two-day workforce that provides $14-per-hour wages and up to $6,000 in college tuition per year. Student participants will work on Mondays and Fridays.

GE says the program will help fill staffing needs when full-time workers use vacation and discretionary days.

The company says another program will offer virtual classroom experiences for students in the Academies of Louisville manufacturing program at Doss High School in Louisville. Students will be able ask GE employees about career opportunities.