Police: Newborn delivered after pregnant mom killed

LONDON, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky say a newborn girl has been delivered following the fatal shooting of her pregnant mother.

Kentucky State Police said in a news release Sunday that 29-year-old Geri D. Johnson of Williamsburg was pronounced dead Saturday at Baptist Health Corbin Hospital. The pregnant woman had been brought to the emergency room with a gunshot wound.

The statement says the infant was delivered and transferred to the University of Kentucky Medical Center in critical condition.

Police say an autopsy on Johnson’s body is planned and the shooting remains under investigation.

Court overturns judgement in Kentucky helicopter crash case

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Court of Appeals has overturned a $21.7 million judgment against a helicopter company regarding a crash that killed three people.

Three people died in June 2013 when an air ambulance crashed as it was returning from a trip to an eastern Kentucky hospital. Pilot Eddy Sizemore, flight paramedic Herman “Lee” Dobbs and flight nurse Jesse Jones were killed.

A federal investigation blamed the crash on pilot error. But eight family members of the victims blamed the crash on a defect in the main rotor blade of the helicopter. A Clay County jury sided with the victims’ families, ordering Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. to pay them $21.7 million.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the appeals court overturned that judgment, saying the judge assigned to the case improperly barred some evidence.

Unvaccinated student sues over being benched during outbreak

WALTON, Ky. (AP) — An unvaccinated student at a school trying to contain a chickenpox outbreak is suing because he’s been barred from extracurricular activities.

News outlets report 18-year-old student Jerome Kunkle is accusing the Northern Kentucky Health Department of violating his First Amendment rights.

More than 30 Our Lady of Assumption Academy students have fallen ill since February. The department said Friday that students without proof of vaccination or immunity against chickenpox can’t attend school or its activities until 21 days after the last infection.

Kunkle and his father, Bill, say vaccines violate their religious beliefs because cell lines derived from aborted fetuses are involved in their production.

The National Catholic Bioethics Center says these vaccines don’t actually contain aborted cells, so Catholics are “morally free” to use them to protect human life.

Judge grants dismissal of case after charges set aside

RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A judge has dismissed the case against a Kentucky man whose conviction in a fire that killed his young son was set aside.

The Courier Journal reports Logan County Circuit Judge Tyler Gill dismissed the indictment against Robert Yell last week.

Yell served 12 years behind bars before Gill ruled in 2016 to set aside his conviction on charges of manslaughter, arson and other counts in connection to the 2004 fire in Russellville. His 2-year-old son, Cameron Yell, died of smoke inhalation. Gill determined the jury’s verdict was based on faulty testimony. He said prosecution witnesses used investigative methods that are now considered outdated and unreliable.

A newly elected prosecutor also moved for the dismissal, saying there was no evidence to convict Yell of intentionally setting the fire.

School bus driver charged with DUI after wreck

CRESTWOOD, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky have charged a bus driver with drunken driving after a bus with 33 elementary school students on board crashed. No one was injured.

News outlets report 54-year-old Lesley Harvey was charged Friday with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene of an accident, and 33 counts of wanton endangerment.

The Oldham County police department says in a news release the bus carrying Crestwood Elementary School students hit a security barrier near a subdivision. Harvey reported the accident to her supervisor but said there was no damage and continued on her route.

Police say school officials then ordered Harvey to stop. She was transported to a hospital for a breath test. School officials then contacted police.

New charges for man accused of spying on family’s bathroom

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man accused of installing a video camera in a family’s bathroom is now facing additional felony charges.

The Messenger-Inquirer reports 41-year-old Ryan C. Lloyd was charged with video voyeurism in December. He is now charged with promoting a sexual performance by a minor and three counts of misdemeanor voyeurism.

Police say a family hired Lloyd to fix a light fixture. A few days later, the family discovered a camera with an SD card had been wired to the light fixture. Police found 87 recordings on the card, including two images of a naked juvenile and images of two partially nude adults.

Lloyd was released from jail on Thursday after posting a $50,000 cash bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for April

Kentucky Ag Department sponsoring contest for FFA members

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Agriculture Department is sponsoring a contest for Kentucky FFA members who are involved in producing and selling farm commodities or products.

Participants have to produce and market fruits, vegetables, flowers, eggs, meat, fish, poultry, dairy or value-added products through farmers’ markets, roadside markets or on-farm markets.

To participate, a written marketing plan is required, as well as a portfolio with photos of the farm operation, products in the field, promotional materials and market displays.

Regional winners will receive $50 and advance to statewide competition. The overall state winner will receive $300, while the runner-up will receive $100.

Applications are due May 15. More information is available online .