Bevin, Beshear to square off at Fancy Farm picnic

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s governor and attorney general have fired insults at each other for years. Soon they’ll do it while facing off at the state’s premier political event — the Fancy Farm picnic.

Mark Wilson organizes the political speaking event and said on Thursday that Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has confirmed he’ll participate this year.

Democrat Andy Beshear later tweeted that he’ll attend. Aiming his message at Bevin, Beshear wrote: “See you there.”

Beshear, the state’s attorney general, is challenging Bevin in the November election.

Bevin is returning after skipping the last two Fancy Farm picnics.

This year’s picnic is set for Aug. 3.

The western Kentucky event is the traditional start of the general-election campaign season. The tradition features politicians trading insults on statewide television while enduring heckling from hundreds of partisans.

Judge returns ‘sickout’ subpoenas lawsuit to state court

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A lawsuit challenging the use of Kentucky labor law to obtain the names of teachers who participated in “sickouts” has been sent back to state court.

U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves on Thursday returned the case to Franklin Circuit Court.

The suit claims Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration unlawfully used labor law to seek the names and records of teachers. It stems from protests at Kentucky’s Capitol that forced some schools to close.

Attorney General Andy Beshear says he’ll press the case to ensure no teacher is fined as a result of sickouts. Beshear is challenging Bevin in this year’s gubernatorial election.

Bevin spokeswoman Elizabeth Kuhn said the ruling doesn’t address the merits of the case and “simply moves the case to state court.”

The case was shifted to federal court after a filing by Labor Cabinet attorneys. The cabinet says it’s disappointed with the latest ruling and says it expects a “fair and impartial review” in circuit court.

Coroner: Woman fatally shoots younger sister

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) — An official says a Kentucky woman has fatally shot her younger sister.

Pike County Deputy Coroner Zeb Hamilton told WKYT-TV that 16-year-old Gabrielle May McCoy died Wednesday night from a gunshot wound. Hamilton says she was accidentally shot by her 18-year-old sister at her home in the Kimper community.

Kentucky State Police said in a statement that the shooting happened while the firearm was being examined.

Police said an investigation continues but no foul play is suspected and no charges have been filed.

Kentucky man is accused of stealing car with teen inside

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky police were in pursuit of a stolen car with a 14-year-old girl inside when the driver crossed a median and crashed into a guardrail.

News outlets report 33-year-old Thomas Oxendine had been arguing with the teen’s stepmother Thursday when she pulled into a gas station. He then drove away with her car.

Lexington police Sgt. Donnell Gordon says police pursued Oxendine until he crashed and tried to run away. Officers caught him on foot. The teenager wasn’t injured.

Oxendine is charged with kidnapping, wanton endangerment and evading police.

WTVQ reports Oxendine also was arrested for wanton endangerment last year, after allegedly driving his car toward officers during a traffic stop.

Fort Campbell soldiers new commander

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — Fort Campbell soldiers assigned to 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, are welcoming a new commander.

A statement from the post on the Kentucky-Tennessee line says Col. Joseph Escandon passed the command to Col. Michael Kovacevic in a ceremony Friday on the division parade field.

Escandon says it has been “an honor and privilege” to command the unit for the last two years.

The brigade has a global mission and currently has soldiers serving in Europe and Africa in addition to those at Fort Campbell.

Health officials urge testing after Indiana wrestling event

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (AP) — Health officials are warning attendees at a recent wrestling event in southern Indiana to get tested for HIV and hepatitis C due to possible exposure to blood-borne pathogens.

The Floyd County Health Department says those at last Sunday’s “Welcome to the Wreckroom” event in New Albany may have been exposed to blood or bodily fluids.

Floyd County Health Officer Tom Harris tells the News and Tribune the warning was triggered by a complaint from someone who attended. He says it’s “a risk for all concerned.”

The event’s co-promoter John Glenn told The Courier-Journal all wrestlers are “tested regularly” for the “safety of the people who come to our shows and for the guys in the ring as well.”

New Albany is located across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky.

Police: Man in Kentucky shot after refusing to drop gun

CAMPTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky State Police say a trooper fatally shot a man who refused to drop a gun.

A statement from police says officers were serving a warrant at a home in Wolfe County when a confrontation occurred with a man in the residence.

Police say the man retrieved a gun and refused “loud verbal commands” to drop the weapon. Troopers fired, striking him.

The man’s name wasn’t immediately released. Police say Wolfe County Coroner Frankie Porter declared him dead at the scene.

News outlets report it isn’t clear whether the man shot was the subject of the initial investigation.

The shooting remains under investigation.

New leader chosen for National Corvette Museum

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky museum dedicated to the Corvette will soon have a new leader.

The National Corvette Museum’s board of directors has selected Sean Preston to serve as the museum’s president and CEO. He will succeed the museum’s longtime top executive, Wendell Strode, who announced his retirement last year.

Preston has served as president of a nonprofit independent school in Oregon.

Preston will assume full CEO duties on Monday at the museum. Museum officials say Strode will remain with the museum through Jan. 3 of next year.

Officials say Preston is a Corvette enthusiast and has a 1954 Corvette and a 1972 Corvette in his car collection.

The museum is in Bowling Green, Kentucky.