12.15.25

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the reading of the Courier Journal from Monday,
December fifteenth, twenty twenty five, which is brought to our
Louville listeners via Louisville Public Media. As a reminder, Radio
I is a reading service intended for people who are
blind or have other disabilities that make it difficult to
read printed material. Your reader to day is Cindy Fraser.

(00:21):
We'll start with a five day forecast brought to you
by w h a S. Today, high thirty five, mostly
sunny and cold. Tonight, low twenty five, mainly clear and cold.
Tuesday high forty four, love thirty eight, partly sunny, not

(00:41):
as cold. Wednesday high fifty one, low forty four, considerable cloudiness,
Thursday high sixty, low twenty nine, cloudy, showers, breezy. Friday
high forty two, low thirty six, mosty, sunny and cooler. Saturday,

(01:05):
high fifty nine, low forty seven, clouds and sunshine. The
local forecast mosty, sunny and cold. Monday. Extreme cold can
be dangerous for outdoor activities. Tuesday partly sunny, it's not
as cold. Wednesday, considerable cloudiness. Thursday, cloudy, breezy, wish showers.

(01:29):
Friday cooler with sunshine and a few clouds. The Almanac
for Louisville on Friday, temperature high thirty seven, low thirty
normal high forty eight normal, low thirty three. The record
high was seventy three and twenty fifteen. The record low

(01:50):
ninus three in nineteen sixty two. Precipitation Friday zero point
one three inches months today one point zero one inches
normal month today one point six five inches year today
fifty three point three one inches normal year today forty

(02:11):
five point eight six inches. Air Quality was moderate Sunday
and will be moderate today. Sun and moon Monday sunrise
seven fifty two am, sunset five twenty four pm, moon
rise three fifty four am, moonset two twenty pm. Tuesday

(02:36):
sunrise seven fifty three am, sunset five twenty four pm,
moon rise four fifty four am, moonset two forty nine pm.
The new moon will be December nineteenth, the first quarter
December twenty seventh, the full moon January three, and the

(02:58):
last quarter January tenth. Weather history. On December fifteenth, nineteen
sixty nine, in Los Angeles, California, a chain reaction car
crash involved more than one hundred vehicles on a twelve
mile stretch of the fog cloaked Santa Anna Freeway. Weather

(03:19):
trivia question, who said, if you don't like the weather,
just wait a minute? Answer Mark Twain about New England weather.
Now we will read the front page headlines from today's edition.
First headline, State Senate candidates make their case. Election for

(03:39):
District thirty seventh seat is set for December sixteenth. Next,
ford esq to end Evy Battery partnership or to take
full ownership of plants in Glendale. And the final headline
from today's front page, National Guard controversy persists Supreme Court
ruling on us could set precedent. Now for our first

(04:03):
signing from today's front page entitled State Senate candidates make
their case. Election for District thirty seven seat is set
for December sixteenth by Hannapinsky and Lucas Albach. This month,
voters in southwest Louisville will determine who will represent the
region in the state Senate in twenty twenty six and beyond.

(04:25):
Three candidates will be on the ballot Democrat Harry Clemens,
Libertarian Wendy Higdon, and Republican Calvin Leech. The winner of
the Senate District thirty seven special election set for December sixteenth,
or replaced former Senator David Yates, a Democrat who now
serves as interim Jefferson County Clerk. The district has just

(04:47):
over seventy five thousand eligible voters, with about fifty eight
percent registered as Democrats and thirty percent registered as Republicans.
It's been a blue district for decades, though the GOP
has pi up wins in several nearby metro council districts
in recent years. Eight polling locations will be open in
the district ahead of election day. In person excused absentee

(05:11):
voting began December third and will continue December eighth through tenth.
In person no excuse early voting will be opened December
eleventh through thirteenth. More information for voters is available through
the Jefferson County Clerks Special Elections Online portal. We spoke
with the three candidates ahead of the election to discuss

(05:32):
their priorities and what they view as the biggest issues
facing Kentucky. Below are their answers, some of which have
been edited for length. Why are you the best candidate
for this seat? Clemmons with my Union and Blue collar values,
working class values. I believe I would be the best

(05:52):
candidate for the simple reason of known day to day
kitchen table issues with the high prices of everything, and
just dealing with a day to day working class I've
been there, luckily, I've been successful for the last thirty
years working in a union chop and negotiating better wages
and better benefits for my members, and right now watching

(06:15):
that fall behind in the community. I'm hoping to be
that voice for the people who doesn't have a seat
at the table. Higdon. I don't know if I'm the
best candidate. That will be up to the voters, but
I believe that I could be the best candidate because
I'm moderate. There's a lot of politics happening both statewide

(06:35):
and national levels. Just being able to be that person
in the middle gives me a different perspective. I'm not
necessarily beholden to party lines. I'm not voting based on
whoever's ahead of me telling me what to vote for.
I would actually be reading the bills, putting it out
to the community, asking public opinion, and voting based on

(06:57):
what the community actually needs and has spoken for. I
think I could do that without wrestling party lines or
getting in the games that's happening in frankfort Leach. For
too long, we've had people in office that I don't
think represent the views of the people on this end
of town. They are more representative of the status qu

(07:17):
which has been failing people for years decades, if you
want to be completely honest, and we have been stuck
dealing with the same issues that have been in front
of us for a long time. With this special election,
we now have an opportunity to get a normal person
in office that is actually in tune with the issues
that are in front of us and serious about fixing

(07:38):
those issues. What are the biggest issues facing your district
and how would you address them? Clemens? The biggest issue
I see is the lack of high paying shops or
livable paying jobs. I would love to work and try
to bring more jobs of the community. I think we
need some help out there for people in need. He

(08:00):
needs more day to day help. I'm hoping to work
with some companies and some contacts to help the community
and help get lower prices of groceries, gas, things like that,
Hi did. Number One on my list is education JCPS.
I believe that Jefferson County public schools is far too large,
is almost unaccountable, and not very transparent to the parent level. Obviously,

(08:24):
that includes the busing issues and the economic issues that
we're facing as a school district. So overall Jefferson County
public school systems and just the public education system in general.
Leach number one is taxation, which is intertwined with the
outrageous cost of living. Second on the list would be

(08:45):
the criminal element, which is the gift that keeps on
getting around here. Not far behind those two would be
the dysfunctionality within the public education system. I'm in favor
of phasing out the state income text. I like what's
happening in the General Assembly right now. I think they're
doing very well with meeting those trigger mechanisms, and I

(09:05):
would like to explore the possibility of doing something similar
with property tax on crime. I heard people float the
idea of awarding tax breaks for police officers to reside
in the communities that they serve. I'm not opposed to that,
but I think it goes beyond those kinds of things.
If we're going to increase pay and offer more benefits,

(09:26):
we need to also put an emphasis on eliminating this
culture that we've created over the years that demonizes law enforcement.
The LMD right now is shorthanded, and they've been shorthanded
for a long time, and it's ultimately because we fail
to incentivize recruitment. So until we can resolve that, we're
going to have to explore other approaches like temporary assistance

(09:49):
from the Kentucky State Police or possibly even the National Guard.
How will you work to address Kentucky's budget challenges this
session as the safe faces losses federal funding. Clemens, that
is one thing that I'm going to have to lean
on my soon to be colleagues, hopefully soon to be colleagues,
learning from them, asking questions, listening more than I'm speaking.

(10:12):
That is something I will have to learn as we
go and ask a ton of questions and start looking
into it as we get there. Hendon, I definitely think
there is room in the budget for things that we're
doing that are not necessary for the community. I mean,
I think that's clear across government. The budget deficits what
we're spending on the higher up salaries that we're paying
that maybe could go down doing prevailing weights on contracts

(10:36):
instead of getting the best money for our contract I
don't know the actual specifics of what is going to
be best, but just overall going through and streamlining things,
making it more efficient, hitting the community in the correct way,
and then putting the rest where it should go. Leitch
the journalism. We did manage to hit that next trigger
mechanism to continue reducing the state income tax. That's a

(10:59):
start of the year, it will be at three point
five percent, so that's good. Income tax and sales tax
are contributors. They account for roughly seventy percent of the
general fund, and even though they had a nearly half
a billion dollars shortfall the previous fiscal year, we still
saw a revenue increase of about one hundred and thirty
two million dollars, so we're doing something right. I think

(11:22):
sensible decision making within the legislative chamber will continue to
pay a robust economic pathway for the state. The budget
should also prioritize infrastructure, affordable housing, and possibly airport expansion,
specifically with the construction of an international terminal and customs facility.
Do you support breaking up JCPS and do you think

(11:45):
the legislature should take an active role in addressing the
district's budget deficit. Clemens. I don't see any reason why
I would like to support splitting jcps up for the
district's budget deficit. I don't know. I think we can help,
but as far as getting involved, somebody needs to get
involved somehow. I don't know how they're in the deficit,

(12:07):
but that is somewhere I don't know enough about to
say one way or another. Hig then I am absolutely
a proponent for that, and I think that's the only
way that we get back to a manageable level. It
literally is unmanageable. Besides that, it is it would give
us more representation for the school boards for the budget deficit.

(12:27):
I don't know if the state legislatures should necessarily get involved,
and honestly, that might punish some of the school districts
that have kept their budgets on track if it becomes
a state issue. We've done this to ourselves. They included
things in the budget that they knew were not going
to last long term. So I don't know if I
necessarily support that. On the fiscal conservative, fiscally responsible government,

(12:48):
taking over people's debts that they've created is not necessarily
something I'm a proponent of. Leitch. The first order of
business when it comes to the school system is a
thorough independent of four or five years ago, they required
approximately six thousand dollars to adequately accommodate each student. Now,
all of a sudden, their operational costs have ballooned to

(13:09):
I think twenty three thousand dollars per student at least
that's what they're claiming, and currently they are steering down
a one hundred and eighty eight million dollar budget shortfall.
There's not a whole lot of transparency on their end
in terms of how we got here. So we need
to dissect exactly what the problems are with ACPs before
we can create a roadway to a solution. What do

(13:31):
you think is the biggest issue facing Kentucky that is
not being talked about? Clemens? Probably the job markets. We're
losing more jobs than we're bringing in, and how can
we offset that. You see a lot of layoffs right now.
You see a lot of shutting down right now. Speaking
from my background, I'm the president over twelve companies, and

(13:53):
eleven of the twelve are either one shutting down, but
they're all laying off right now. We have to figure
how to help these companies because these companies don't know.
It's teariffs on tear us off. Tear IFFs on tariff's off.
To me, I don't think we're talking about it enough
right now because there's a lot of people that now

(14:13):
are getting laid off and they're getting government assistance. So
we need to figure out a way to get the
jobs back up and going back here now, Higden, I
still think public education is number one just statewide. Our
testing scores, our rankings across the country are very low.
We're kind of teaching to take a standardized test instead

(14:35):
of real education. Just overall, I think that's one of
our biggest issues, especially moving forward in the future. If
we're going to have, you know, a profitable, successful state, economy, community, whatever,
we have to have good people and education coming out
of it from the get go. Leitch. That's a tough question.

(14:58):
In Louisville, we deal with a different set of challenges
than the rest of the state, and that's what I'm
more accustomed to. But I would say healthcare and food
in security are neck to neck. One in seven Kentuckians
suffer from food insecurity. If we could find a way
to get a handle on that, that would certainly be great,
as far as policy proposals that could focus on it,

(15:21):
I don't have anything in mind off the top of
my head. When it comes to healthcare, that's something a
president and Congress need to take action on. But I
would say those two are probably at the top of
the list when we talk about the state as a whole.
The next time from today's front page is entitled Ford
esk to end ev battery partnership. Ford to take full

(15:44):
ownership of plants in Glendale by Olivia Evans. Ford Motor
Company and South Korean conglomerate Eskon have parted ways on
their joint electric vehicle battery endeavors, including on the massive
five point eight billion dollar Blue Oval sk battery park
in Glendale. The battery park in Hardin County, which was

(16:05):
announced in twenty twenty one and promised to bring five
thousand jobs to Kentucky, has faced delays, workers' safety concerns,
union organizing, and most recently, lawsuits. Now the future of
the battery plant appears to be in the sole hands
of Ford. This is at least good news for Kentucky.

(16:26):
Ford has been committed to Kentucky and their commitment to
our state and our workforce. Remained strong, Governor Andybysheer said
during the December eleventh press conference. According to a statement
from s k ON provided to USA Today Company, the
two entities mutually agreed to restructure the U S battery
manufacturing joint centure Blue k Obel s k This restructuring

(16:50):
leaves a Ford subsidiary to take full ownership of the
twin plants in Glendale, and s k OM will take
ownership of the plants in Tennesseeing. Of this separation is
expected to be completed by the first quarter of twenty
twenty six. In a statement, s k Ollm said taking
ownership and control of the Tennessee plant will also further

(17:12):
strengthen esk Ollen's battery innovation and manufacturing leadership. S KON
also plans to focus on profitable and sustainable growth in
the US by supplying electric vehicle batteries to Ford and
various customers, as well as energy storage systems from its
Tennessee plant. SKom greatly values the local communities in which

(17:34):
it invests and our team members where it operates across
the United States. SKON is committed to establishing the Tennessee
facility as a cornerstone of its expanding US advanced battery
manufacturing capabilities and production. Escon will also maintain a solid
strategic relationship with Ford going forward, as the Tennessee plant

(17:56):
is located within the automaker's Blue Oval City campus. In
response to disclosure of separation of the two companies, Ford said,
we are aware of SK's disclosure and we have nothing
further to share at this time what to know about
the Blue Oval SK Battery Park in Kentucky. The nearly
six billion dollar battery park has been a hallmark of

(18:19):
Basher's tenure as governor, with him pointing to the facility
as bringing the future of the EV industry to Kentucky,
leading the Saint to be dubbed the e V Capital
of the U s. As of December eleventh, the plan,
which is now in the sole ownership of Ford, is
believed to still be in operation. Basheer said his administration

(18:40):
is in communication with Ford to understand the impact of
this announcement and the direction of the company intends to take.
I remain optimistic about the future of these facilities, but
there is no question that actions taken out of Washington,
d C. By this current administration and Congress has made
it much more complicated and may make it take longer

(19:02):
to achieve the desired results that we have in those
two factories, the cheer said. Since the announcement of the
project four years ago, the plant has been behind a
large spurre of growth in Hardin County, just south of Louisville.
The Blue oval Sk Battery Park, at one thousand, five
hundred acres, was considered the largest evy battery facility in

(19:24):
the world at the time of its announcement. Each of
the two twin battery plants is expected to employ two thousand,
five hundred workers. Additionally, the facility is home to the
twenty five million dollar Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Blue
ovel Sk Training Center, the lone co branded learning center

(19:44):
within the state community college system that opened in May
twenty twenty four. The governor previously granted ten million dollars
to the plan to support the training and development of
its employees. Challenges facing the Blue ovel Sk Baude Park
in Glendale. Since the plan started hiring workers in twenty

(20:05):
twenty three, it has faced a myriad of issues, including
challenges from the consumer market for eeds and worker issues.
In October twenty twenty three, the plant delayed the start
of production at Kentucky two, one of its twin battery
plants at the Massive Battery Park facility. At the time,
a Ford spokesperson attributed this delay to the slower that

(20:27):
anticipated consumer demand for eedes. In January, workers at the
plant filed to join the United Auto Workers, the union
representing workers at four workers largely attributed this union push
due to ongoing health and safety concerns. A Courier general
investigation and review of thousands of public records found dozens

(20:49):
of workplace injuries, hospitalizations related to respiratory issues, unshakable mold contamination,
a bat infested training facility, block emergence the exitdors, and
chemical exposure risks. After facing delays for a union election,
workers voted in August to join the UAW. However, the

(21:10):
results are currently being contested by Blue ovel Sk with
the National Labor Relations Board. It remains to be seen
how the dissolution of Blue ovel Sk as a company
will impact to the ongoing union dispute, but most Ford
plans across the u S that are solely owned by
Ford are unionized. Since September, at least two lawsuits have

(21:32):
been filed by current and or former workers at Blue
Oval sk Battery Park, alleging the company fail to properly
pay workers for time worked. It is still too early
to know what the full impacts of this transition will be.
As with any major economic development initiative, many moving parts
must align for continued growth, said Senator Matt Deneen, Republican

(21:55):
from Elizabethtown, who represents the area where the plant is located.
The Kentucky General Assembly remains committed to being responsible stewards
of your tax dollars. I value my strong working relationships
with foreign representatives and the many stakeholders who may be
affected by this development. USA Today Company reporters Connor Giffen, Hannapinsky,

(22:17):
and Corey Davis contributed to this report. And now for
the final item from today's front page, which is entitled
National Guard Controversy persists Supreme Court ruling on use could
set precedent, but indeed a ym C. Bragg of USA Today,
a month's long effort by the Trump administration to deploy

(22:38):
National Guard troops under federal control in U. S Cities
keeps evolving amid a barrage of legal challenges. The deployments
have ramped up and down. The administration has often cited
crime and protests as reasons for the deployments, over the
legal objections of local leaders. The status of the Guard
deployments has been constantly in flux. Trial courts around the

(23:03):
country have ruled they are illegal and unwarranted, but the
Trump administration has challenged these rulings and appeals courts, often
resulting in orders that blocked the deployments being put on hold.
The US Supreme Court is expected to weigh in on
whether Trump can deploy the National Guard in Chicago. A

(23:23):
decision could come any day, said Joseph Nunn, a legal
expert on National Guard deployments, but the Brennan Center's Liberty
and National Security Program it likely won't put an end
to the litigation, but could have implications for other cities.
Los Angeles. In June, Los Angeles became one of the

(23:43):
first locations for Trump's National Guard deployments. The administration sent
about four thousand California Guard members and seven hundred marines
to Los Angeles to protect federal personnel and property admit
demonstrations against immigration raids, some times termed violent. As immigration
protests dwindled, the Pentagon withdrew a majority of the troops,

(24:07):
but the administration issued new orders federalizing the remaining three
hundred California National Guard troops, first through November, then through February.
As of December eleventh, one hundred federalized California National Guard
members remained in LA, according to court documents. Governor Davin
Newsom swiftly sued the administration after the deployment, arguing Trump

(24:31):
had overstepped his authority. US District Judge Charles Brayer ruled
that Trump had deployed the Guard unlawfully, but a federal
appeals court let Trump retain control of the state's National
Guard while the lawsuit proceeded. California challenged the new orders
federalizing troops through February, and Briar sided with the state again.

(24:53):
On December tenth, Chicago, Trump deployed three hundred Illinois National
Guard troops to Chicago and our October to support immigration
enforcement officers. Facing fierce pushback from protesters, State and local
leaders immediately sued the Trump administration. A federal judge temporarily
blocked the deployment, saying it is likely to lead to

(25:15):
civil unrest. An appeals court largely upheld that decision, but
said that Trump could still federalize the National Guard, and
troops already deployed don't need to return home yet. The
three hundred Illinois National Guard members remain federalized but are
not engaging in Federal Protection Mission operational activities, according to

(25:37):
NORAD and US Northern Command. Portland, Oregon. Trump announced in
September he was sending Oregon and California Guard members to Portland, Oregon,
a liberal stronghold he described as war ravaged and burning
to the ground. The deployment was immediately challenged in court

(25:57):
by city and state officials. U S. District Court Judge
Karen Immigrant, a Trump appointee, issued temporary restraining orders blocking
the federalization and deployment of the National Guard troops from
Oregon and any other state. After a three day trial
in November, Emmigrant rule troops could not be deployed in Portland.

(26:18):
The Trump administration has appealed that decision to the ninth
U S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where previously received a
favorable ruling in the Los Angeles case. Oregon Governor Tina
Kotek said on November nineteenth that one hundred of the
two hundred Oregon National Guard members who were put under
federal control on September twenty eighth would remain federalized. The

(26:39):
announcement was prompted by temporary order from the Ninth Circuit.
Newsom's office said the Pentagon told the state that its
National Guard members would start returning from Oregon orders reported
in November, Washington, d c. Trump sent thousands of federal
agents and National Guard troops into the nation's cap after

(27:00):
declaring a quote crime emergency. On August eleventh, the administration
announced it would deploy five hundred more troops in response
to a deadly November ambush on two Guard members. Approximately
two thousand, seven hundred eighty one National Guard members are
on the ground in Washington, according to the Joint Task
Force District of Columbia. The city sued the Trump administration

(27:25):
in September, arguing the deployment is unconstitutional and violates federal law.
A district judge sided with the city, temporarily blocking the
administration from deploying troops to enforce the law without mayoral approval.
An appeals court temporarily lifted that injunction in a decision
that does not address the merits of the case. Trump's

(27:47):
authority to use the Guard in Washington, d C. Is
unique because it is the seat of the federal government
that limits the broader impact of the lawsuit, None said Memphis, Tennessee.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, welcomed the president's September
announcement that he would deploy troops to Memphis, despite objections

(28:08):
for Mayor Paul Young. The number of National Guard troops
in Memphis increased to about two hundred forty five, a
spokesperson with the Memphis Police Department confirmed on December fourth.
Several elected officials sued Lee over the deployment. On November seventeenth,
a Tennessee judge temporarily blocked the deployment, aligning with state

(28:30):
and local lawmakers who said the use of troops for
law enforcement violates the state constitution. The injunction blocking the
deployment is not in effect while an appeal is pending.
Memphis is a whole other barrel of fish because it's
a state court case, not a federal one. According to None,

(28:51):
contributing bar Jansen, Mark Ramirez USA to Day, an Astasia Mason,
Salem Statesman Journal Jack Armstrong on Memphis Commercial Appeal Reuters.
Our next AEM is from the Metro page and is
entitled is it Legal to Drive with Snow on car roof?
By Marina Johnson. As a winter season approaches and cold

(29:14):
temperatures continue to impact the commonwealth, Kentuckians may be curious
if they can drive around with snow on top of
their vehicles. Here's what to know. Is it legal to
drive with snow on your car in Kentucky? Although there
is no law in Kentucky that explicitly requires drivers to
remove snow and ice from their vehicles, there are several

(29:36):
that imply or require drivers to have an unobstructed view
of the roads. Kentucky Revised Statutes one eight nine dot
one one zero, for example, discusses window tins and the
importance of unobstructed wooden shields. It states that, with a
few exceptions, a person shall not operate a motor vehicle

(29:56):
on a public highway, road or street with any sign,
sun screening, material, product, or covering attached to or located
in or upon the windshield. K r s one eight
nine two nine zero also requires vehicles to maintain the
safety and convenience of pedestrians and other vehicles upon the

(30:17):
highway contributing Shahid Nagan, Gillian Shavshinsky, and Casey's phone. Now
it is time to read the obituaries. We read only
the name, age and location. If you would like further
information on any of the obituaries, please call us during
the week days at eight five nine four two two
six three nine zero, and we will be glad to

(30:39):
read the entire obituary for you. I will repeat that
number at the end of the listings. Ernest W. Biben,
ninety four of Louisville. If you would like further information
about any of the listings to day, call us on
week days at eight five nine four two two six
three nine zero, and we will be glad to read

(31:01):
the entire item to you. Now let's return to the
metro page where next item is entitled j cso forty
year old missing person's cold case solved by Caroline Neil.
A forty year old missing persons case and custodial kidnapping
investigation has been solved. According to a December eighths news

(31:21):
release from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. Michelle Newton was
found in another state after she disappeared with her mother,
Deborah Lee Curry Newton, when she was three. Spokesperson Stephen
Johnson said Curry Newton was charged with custodo interference, which
carries no statute implementations. She pleaded not guilty during her

(31:41):
first appearance hearing December eighth. Chief Deputy Colonel Steve Healy
said the resolution was extraordinary. This is the kind of
case you see once in a law enforcement career. Healey said,
detectives refused to let the trail go cold their work
and the courage of a crime stopper's tipster brought a

(32:02):
daughter home to her family after four decades. The investigation
began April second, nineteen eighty three, when Newton disappeared with
Curry Newton, who she said was relocating to Georgia for
a new job. Both disappeared after a final phone call
with Michelle's father, Joseph Newton, sometime in nineteen eighty five.

(32:23):
According to the release, Curry Newton was indicted for custodial
interference and the Federal Bureau of Investigation filed a warrant
for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, but the case was
dismissed in two thousand after the Commonwealth could not reach
Joseph Newton. Michel Newton was removed from the National Center
for Missing and Exploited Children databases in two thousand and five.

(32:47):
After a family member requested help from j CSO. That
apartment began investigating again in twenty fifteen, and the case
was revived in twenty sixteen. A twenty twenty five crime
Stoppers tip in Marion County, Florida, identified a possible match
for a sixty six year old woman using a different name.

(33:08):
Investigators were able to confirm Curry Newton's identity through photographs
and DNA testing. After they were notified of the warrant,
a family member came to Kentucky and posted Curry Newton's bond.
JCSO official said. Curry Newton later voluntarily appeared in Louisville Court. Newton,
who was living under a different identity in another state,

(33:31):
contacted the Sheriff's office, which arranged a reunification with her
father and extended relatives. People think culling and tips is snitching,
It isn't, Healy said. You're helping victims, You're helping families.
This case proves that one phone call can change a life.

(33:51):
Curry Newton is next scheduled to appear in court January
twenty third, twenty twenty six. Next still from the Metro
page is A and I'd been titled seven of the
top twenty whiskies in the World are from Kentucky by
Maggie Mandirsky. Kentucky based family owned heaven Hill has been
named the twenty twenty five Whiskey of the Year by

(34:14):
Whiskey Advocate, while six other Kentucky distilleries made the publication's
annual Top twenty list, meaning seven of the best whiskies
in the world are made right here in Kentucky. Elijah
craig twelve year, three month old barrel Proof Batch A
nine two five came out on top after the Whisky

(34:34):
magazine conducted hundreds of blind tastings of spirits from around
the globe, which range from rare and extremely limited releases
to new and emerging labels. The selection process for the
Top twenty factors in accessible, pricing, availability, as well as
having a wow factor. Kentucky won more accolades than any

(34:56):
other region in the competition, creating seven of the the
United States eleven ranking whiskies. Scotland was the second most
winning region, with six whiskeys named on the list. The
twenty twenty five Whiskey of the Year is a barrel
proof rye bottled at fifty four percent ABV with a
mash bill comprised at fifty one percent rye. The spirit

(35:18):
has a big, robust profile and is a beautifully mature
rye aged just over twelve years, intensely flavored and with
plenty of heat and spicy complexity. According to a news
release from Whiskey Advocate, the winning whiskey retails for seventy
five dollars. Heaven Hill is the largest family owned bourbon

(35:39):
distillery in the world, and it is celebrating its ninetieth
birthday this year. To have Elijah Craig barrelproof Rye recognized
as Whiskey of the Year during our ninetieth anniversary year
is profoundly meaningful, Back Shapiro, the executive chairman of heaven
Hill Brands, said in the release. For nine decades, our

(35:59):
family has remained committed to elevating American whisky with patients, integrity,
and deep respect for tradition. This award is a remarkable
tribute to the generations of craftspeople who have shaped heaven
Hill and to the bright future of American whiskey that
we continue to build together. The Elijah Craig brand has

(36:20):
a history of success in this competition. Its barrel Proof
Bourbon earned Whiskey of the Year in twenty seventeen. This
year also marks the first time that a Rye whisky
has ever topped Whisky Advocates annual rankings. Here are the
six other Kentucky whiskies that were named to the twenty
twenty five Whisky Advocate Top twenty list. Number three Makers

(36:43):
Mark Seller Aged twenty twenty five release one hundred seventy
five dollars Number four, New Riff Bottled in Bond, Bubo
or Rye twenty twenty five Relies fifty five dollars, Number six,
Jefferson's Reserve Limited Edition Cask Strength seventy dollars, Number eleven,
Barge Down Bourbon Company's collaborative series farren I Conia Cask

(37:08):
Finished twenty twenty five one hundred forty dollars, Number fifteen,
Yellowstone ten Year Old Limited Edition twenty twenty five release
one hundred dollars, Number seventeen. Lux Row Small Batch PX
Sherry cask finished sixty dollars. Rounding out the top five
were Albam fifteen year old Lolroso and Palo Cortado Cask

(37:31):
Finished Cask Strength and Compass Box Flaming Heart twenty fifth
anniversary edition Belf from Scotland, which clocked in at number
two and number five respectively. To see the fullest of winners,
visit top twenty dot Whisky Advocate dot com. That's t
op the number twenty dot Whisky Advocate dot com and

(37:56):
the final item from today's Metro page is entitled fifteen
plus local Christmas Events pop up bars by Herbiatos. Tis
the season when our city decks the halls and dazzles
with twinkling festive cheer for those who are too big
to sit on Santa's lap. Downtown Louisville is brooming with
a collection of holiday activities, entertainment, and holiday pop up

(38:19):
bars for the over twenty one crowd. If you're looking
to fill your social calendar for the twelve days of Christmas,
here are more than a dozen downtown entertainment options to
add a little Hollydelly to your season. Christmas holiday pop
up bars in Downtown Louisville with whimsical decor, festive drinkwear,

(38:40):
and merry concoctions. Here are seven holiday pop up bars
where you can partake in a yule Tide libation. Blitzen's
Bar open now through Sunday, January fourth at Pin plus
Proof Omni Louisville, four hundred South Second Street, The Lodge
Open now through Saturday, January third. At Pursuit Spirits seven

(39:02):
twenty two West Main Street, Mary at the Marriotte open
now through Saturday, January third, twenty twenty sixth at Louisville
Marriott Downtown two eighty West Jefferson Street. Miracle on Market
open now through Sunday, December twenty eighth at Galaxy Bar
seven thirty two East Market Street. Sipen Santa open now

(39:26):
through Wednesday, December thirty first at one fourteen Bar one
fourteen West Main Street. Tinsel Tavern open now through Tuesday,
December thirtieth at Pizza Bar Fourth Street Live four eleven
South Forth Street. Fuel Tied at hell Or high Water
open through Saturday, January third at Heller high Water one

(39:47):
twelve West Washington Street. Christmas Shows concerts in downtown Louisville.
There are numerous shows and concerts taking place at venues
all over downtown Louisville, including A Christmas Carol now through Sunday,
December twenty first, at Actors Theater three sixteen West main Street.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever now through Sunday, December twenty

(40:11):
first at Kentucky Performing Arts five O one West main Street.
The Brown Foreman Nutcracker now through Monday, December twenty second
at Kentucky Performing Arts five O one West main Street.
An Evening with Peter Billingsley and a Christmas Story Wednesday,
December seventeenth at Brown Theater three fifteen West Broadway. Christmas

(40:35):
Movie in the Conservatory Friday, December nineteenth at the Conservatory
Gault House, one forty North fourth Street. Lindsay Sterling The
Snow Waltz Tour Friday December nineteenth at KFC Young Center,
one Arena Plaza. Christmas Time with Trisha Yearwood, Twelve Days
of Christmas Tour Saturday, December twentieth at the Louisville Palace

(40:58):
six twenty five South fourth fourth Street. Vienna Light Orchestra
Christmas Tour twenty twenty five Saturday December twentieth at Louisville
Memorial Auditorium nine seventy South fourth Street. Where to celebrate
New Year's Eve in downtown Louisville. There are numerous places
to celebrate New Year's Eve and downtown Louisville this year,

(41:20):
including New Year's Eve Celebration with Louisville Public Media Wednesday,
December thirty first at the Louisville Palace. Six twenty five
South fourth Street. New Year's Eve twenty twenty sixth at
How at the Moon Wednesday December thirty first at Hall
of the Moon four thirty four South fourth Street, New

(41:40):
Year's Eve Live, Fourth Street Live, Wednesday December thirty first,
four eleven South fourth Street, New Year's fash Abroad, Mary M.
Miller Wednesday, December thirty first, four o one West River Road.
Next is an item entitled person held in Brown University
shooting at least two students killed during final exams by

(42:02):
Katy Mulvaney, Aaron Dion, Katy Landeck, and Will Richmond of
the Providence Journal, USA Today Network from Providence, Rhode Island.
Authorities in Providence, Rhode Island confirmed that police have a
person of interest in custody after at least two students
were killed and nine others were injured in a mass
shooting at Brown University. The people of Providence can breathe

(42:26):
a little easier this morning. Mayor Brett Smiley told reporters
at a news conference in the New England City early
December fourteenth. Seven people injured at the university are in
stable condition, one remains in a critical but stable condition,
and another has been discharged. Smiley added the shooting at
the Ivy Lake University have been shortly before four or

(42:49):
five p m. On December thirteenth, in an engineering building
with unlocked doors as final exams were under way. Law
enforcement worked well into the night to clear ava, acuate
school buildings, and bring students to an established reunification center,
reported The Providence Journal, part of the USA Today Network.
Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that the two people

(43:13):
who died are students, as are at least eight of
the nine injured. Paxon said authorities and university leaders had
been in touch with the families of the students who
were killed. Colonel Oscar Perez, chief of the Providence Police,
during the December fourteenth news conference, said the person detained
within their twenties. He said authorities were not looking for

(43:34):
anyone else in connection with the case. Officials, Perez added,
were not yet ready to publicly name the person of
interest or in the process of collecting evidence and seizing
items that we need to seize, search locations that we
need to search. Perez said Pares could not initially provide
many details during the press conference, but he said that

(43:55):
law enforcement would coordinate with prosecutors, collect evidence and n
conduct interviews with witnesses. Police initially described the suspect as
a man, possibly in his thirties, wearing all black. Ted
Box of the FBI Boston Field Office commanded local law enforcement,
adding that collaboration was integral to identifying his suspect and

(44:17):
taking him into custody within twenty four hours. Police in Coventry,
Rhode Island, confirmed that he was detained at around three
forty five a m. On a hotel on Center of
New England Boulevard, but would not pinpoint which hotel. The
Center of New England is a large commercial and residential
development with several hotels, as well as a Walmart, home

(44:38):
depot and BJS. In a December fourteenth social media post,
FBI Director Cash Patel said law enforcement used cellular dearlocation
data to track the person of interest to the hotel
room in Coventry. Patel said the agency is continuing to
work with local officials to investigate images and videos related

(44:58):
to the shooting, in including by reconstructing the crime scene.
The FBI will continue an all out twenty four to
seven campaign until justice is fully served. Betel wrote on
x thanks to the men and women of the FBI
and our partners for their continued teamwork. Please continue praying
for the victims and their families, as well as those

(45:19):
at Brown University. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills were staying at
a hotel in Providence, less than two miles away from
the shooting, as they prepared to play the New England
Patriots in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Bills players and staff remained safe
inside the hotel before the game December fourteenth. The team
had sheltered in place overnight while the manhunt was underwigh

(45:42):
in Providence, about twenty five miles southwest of Foxborough. After
the shooting at Brown University, President Donald Trump asked people
to pray for the victims. What a terrible thing it is,
he told reporters while leaving the Army Navy football game
in Baltimore, and all we can do right now is
pray for the victims and for those that were very

(46:03):
badly hurt. It looks like earlier in the day, Trump
posted on Truth's social about the shooting, saying he had
been briefed and FBI officials were on the scene. God
bless the victims and the families of the victims, the
president wrote. Brown University announced in a five forty two
a m. Alert December fourteenth that the Providence Police advised

(46:25):
the university that the shelter and play's order had ended
for the entire campus. However, police activity would continue in
the areas that are still considered an active crime scene.
Be advised that access to these areas of campus continues
to be limited. The alert stated, although the order was lifted,
a number of area businesses announced they would be closed.

(46:47):
December fourteenth, out of an abundance of caution, Brown University
announced it is canceled all remaining undergraduate, graduate and medical classes, exams,
and papers, or price PROCs for the fall semester after
the shooting. This choice was made out of our profound
concern for all students, faculty, and staff on our campus.

(47:10):
Brown Provost Francis J. Doyle, the third said in an
allurt issued by the university. In the immediate aftermath of
these devastating events, we recognize that learning and assessment are
significantly hindered in the short term, and that many students
and others will wish to depart campus. Students are free
to leave if they are able. Students who remain will

(47:32):
have access to on campus services and support. Doyle said
more information will be released in the coming days regarding
the academic concerns about the implications of not upholding classes
and exams as scheduled. A petition from change dot org
has begun circulating through social media asking Brown University to

(47:53):
require IDs wipes to enter all buildings regardless of time
of day going forward. Authorities have said that at the
time of the shooting, the building was unlocked and opened
to students preparing for final exams. According to Brown University,
the seven story building houses the School of Engineering as
well as a physics department. Contributing CHRISA. Waddock USA Today,

(48:17):
Bailey Allen Whitman, Littlefield, Antonia, Lurzi Farzan, and Ryan Miller
USA Today Network Reiters next eleven killed at Honaker party
in Sydney bystander hailed as hero who saved many lives
by Kim Hilgard and Catherine Palmer of USA. Today, at

(48:40):
least eleven people were killed and dozens more wounded in
a shooting at Sydney's popular Bondi Beach, where about one
thousand people were attending a Honukah celebration. December fourteenth. Police
and local officials said. New South Wales Police said two
suspects had been taken into custody in the attack that
targeted Australia's Jewish community. One of the suspects later died

(49:04):
and the other was in critical condition. The attack, on
the first day of Hanukkah was declared a terrorist act.
A bystander captured on video tackling and disarming a gunman
during the attack has been held as a hero whose
actions saved lives. Footage circulating on social media shows a
man identified by Australian media as a forty three year

(49:26):
old fruit shop owner charging in a man in a
dark shirt who is holding a rifle. He then tackles
the armed man from behind, wrenching the rifle from him
with his hands, before pointing the gun back at the van.
Broders reported. The video then shows a man in a
dark shirt backing away toward a bridge where another shooter's position,
while the bystander places the gun down on the ground.

(49:49):
There are many many people alive tonight as a result
of his bravery. Chris Mins, the Premier of New South Wales,
told writers Mens hailed the bystander as a genuine hero
and added the video was a most unbelievable scene I've
ever seen. At a Christmas reception at the White House,

(50:09):
President Donald Trump echoed that in comments about what he
acknowledged was an anti Semitic attack, A very very brave
person actually who went and attacked frontally one of the
shooters and saved a lot of lives, he said. Meanwhile,
officials in major cities including Berlin, London and New York
said they were stepping up security around Hanuka events in

(50:32):
the wake of the shooting. In Australia, which has experienced
a string of anti Semitic attacks on synagogues and sites
since the War in the Gaza Strip began here by
El Schlinger was one of the victims who died in
the shooting. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation and the BBC confirmed.
Incoming New York City mayor Zoramondami said Schlanger held deep

(50:56):
ties to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights. The mayor
let said he will work every day to keep Jewish
New Yorkers safe once he takes office on January first,
twenty twenty five. Mamdani condemns the attack as a vile
act of anti Semitic terror in a December fourteenth statement.
At least twenty nine people, including a child, were hospitalized

(51:19):
in the December fourteenth shooting. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called
the incident shocking and distressing, and described the attack as
an evil act of anti Semitism terrorism that has struck
the heart of our nation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netnyahu
condemned the shooting, saying he had told Albany's in an

(51:40):
August letter that the Australian government's policies were promoting and
encouraging antisemitism in Australia. I wrote, your call for a
Palestinian state poors fuel on the anti Semitic fire. It
rewards hamas terrorists, It emboldens those whom menace Australian Jews
and encourages the jew hatred now stock in U streets.

(52:02):
Net Ya Hu said in his speech. Albany said August
eleven that Australia would recognize the Palestinian's Day as September's
UN General Assembly, a blove that followed similar announcements by France,
Britain and Canada. In his speech, net Yahoo accused Albanese's
government of doing nothing to stop the spread of anti

(52:24):
Semitism in Australia. He let the disease spread and the
result is a horrific attack on Jews we saw to day,
he added. Bruders reported Albanese convened a meeting of the
Countries of National Security Council on December fourteenth and condemned
the attack, saying the evil that was unleashed was beyond comprehension.

(52:46):
This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the
first day of Hanukah, which should be a day of joy,
celebration and faith, he said. Australia has some of the
world's strictest gun control measures and mass shootings are relatively rare.
The shooting, nevertheless, appears to be the worst in Australian

(53:06):
history since the Port Arthur attack in nineteen ninety six,
when a long gunman killed thirty five people at a
historic site in Tasmania. That incident led the Australian government
to impose an almost total ban on all automatic and
semi automatic weapons. It's also the second incident of mass

(53:27):
violence in the region in as many years. In April
twenty twenty four, the nearby Bondi Junction neighborhood experienced a
mass stabbing at a shopping center which left six people dead.
Reactions to the latest tragedy poured in from across the
globe from lawmakers and other political figures. U s Secretary

(53:48):
of State Marco Rubio said in his statement that anti
Semitism has no place in this world, and said the
US government strongly condemns the attack. Our prayers are with
victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community and the
people of Australia, Rubio shared on social media. British Prime

(54:09):
Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles the Third also released
statements condemning the violence, as did leaders of several other nations.
They include Sweden, Norway, Spain, Poland and New Zealand. Hanuka
is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays, and
Bondi Beach is one of the world's most famous beaches.

(54:31):
On weekend evenings, it is often crowded with locals and tourists.
The beach and surrounding suburb of the same name are
a few miles east of Sydney in New South Wales.
Its Hanukah event, hosted by Chabad of Bondi and Riverley Council,
was advertised as a free beachside event near the children's playground.

(54:52):
It was to offer live entertainment and games, as well
as a menorah lighting. Australia's Jewish community was estimated at
nearly one hundred seventeen thousand people in twenty twenty one
during the nation's last census. If decisive action is not
taken now to protect Jewish communities and confront antisemitism head on,

(55:13):
this will not be the last massacre. It will simply
be another warning ignored, said Nisana Darshan Leitner, an Israeli
lawyer and human rights Affochusts in emailed comments contributing routers.
Our next atom is an analysis entitled cooler inflation won't
offset cost concerns. High prices are sorrowed consumer sentiment by

(55:38):
Howard Schneider of Reuters from Washington. Even if overall inflation
slows next year, as the US Federal Reserve anticipates, President
Donald Trump will still face political headwinds over the cost
of living, with whome mortgage rates expected to remain comparatively
high chair for later, price increases on goods seen persistently

(56:00):
through the first part of the year, and cost pressures
building around items like beef and electricity that can have
an outsized influence on consumer perceptions. FED economic projections issued
on December tenth held good news for the administration, with
policynekers expecting inflation to cool over the coming year while

(56:21):
economic growth accelerates across the broad array of services that
account for most economic activity. Disinflation appears to be continuing,
said FED chair to er Own Powell, while goods inflation
should come down in the back half of twenty twenty
six as firms finished dividing TARRAF costs among consumers, their suppliers,

(56:42):
and their own operating margins. But in the midterm election year,
Trump and Republicans face the problem all politicians share consumers
voters focus far less on the macroeconomic generalities analyzed by
economists for whom inflation is a carefully weighted average rate
of price changes across all goods and services, and more

(57:05):
on what their local grocery charges from milk, how much
the utility bill has risen, and what insurers charged to
renew their homeowner's policy. Trump, whose administration has become concerned
about low poll numbers, particularly on the economy with affordability
a central issue, can rightfully note that overall inflation has

(57:26):
been putting monest on his watch. So far, the consumer
price index from his inauguration through September is up about
one point six percent, equivalent to a roughly two point
four percent annual pace, and not far off of the
simple Banks two percent target, though that is measured slightly differently.
Food at home, the rough equivalent of grocery prices is

(57:49):
up even less, at one point four percent. The prices
haven't fallen as Trump promised during his election campaign and
early on in his administration, with consumers still struggling through
what has now become a nearly five year case of
rolling sticker shop. Due to time constraints, we will be
unable to complete this item. This concludes readings of the

(58:12):
Courier Journal from Monday, December fifteenth, twenty twenty five. Stay
tuned for more news to follow immediately. Your reader husband
Cindy Fraser,