Lisa Autry

A major employer in Simpson County is getting larger with the announcement of more than 100 new jobs.

The last day of school in one western Kentucky county has turned tragic.  Henderson police say two high school coaches were involved in a shooting early Tuesday morning. Police received a call around 2:30 a.m. from a home on Cardinal Drive.  Public Information Officer Jennifer Richmond says 39-year-old Michelle Cotter was found with a gunshot wound and her husband, 36-year-old Steve Cotter, was still inside the home.

"When officers took him into custody, he did receive some injuries.  He was transported to St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville, Indiana for treatment, " Richmond said.

After years of speculating, Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville is coming back to life.  The amusement park will reopen next spring as Bluegrass Boardwalk. The tentative opening date is exactly one year from now--May 11, 2013. Bluegrass Boardwalk will be owned by the Koch family, the current owners of Holiday World in Indiana.  President Dan Koch says incentives and financing are in place and he's confident of the park's reopening next spring.

Brent Burke has been found guilty on all charges in the killings of his estranged wife Tracy and her former mother-in-law Karen Comer.  He will receive a mandatory life sentence.

State assessment tests get underway in Kentucky this month, and what happens in the closing weeks of the school year could have major implications for students, employers, and the state economy.  Kentucky is the first state to adopt international math and language standards, raising the bar on learning.

Warren County saw a 40% jump in prescription drug abuse in 2011.  Law enforcement is responding by placing permanent drop off containers for unwanted or expired medications.Tommy Loving who heads the Bowling Green-Warren County Drug Task Force says any kind of pills can be left, no questions asked.

For Kentuckians wanting to vote in next month's primary election, the deadline to register is Monday.  April 23rd is also the last day to make address changes on voter registration forms. 

For the second year in a row, the state is offering free GED testing for those looking to boost their education and careers. 

"It's estimated that by 2018, 54% of all jobs in Kentucky, that's over 1 million jobs, will require some level of postsecondary education.  So therefore, the GED is really a stepping stone on to postsecondary education, " says Reecie Stagnolia, vice president of Adult Education in the Kentucky Council for Postsecondary Education.

More than 110,000 men, women, and children in the U.S. are awaiting organ transplants to save their lives. Thousands more are in need of tissue and cornea transplants to restore their mobility and sight. April is National Donate Life Month, and one Tennessee couple is celebrating in a big way. 

A Pulaski County man is under arrest for trafficking in prescription drugs that he stole from out of state. Detectives say 31-year-old Shannon Helton of Somerset allegedly broke into a Florida pharmacy and stole drugs to mail back to Kentucky.  He was arrested in Somerset this week after detectives found a large amount of painkillers.

The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education is issuing a consumer alert about fake GED tests.  The notice relates to fraudulent websites claiming to offer high school and GED diplomas for a fee through the internet.

A Breathitt County woman is the first in Kentucky to be convicted of causing a death by selling prescription drugs.  Judy McIntosh is headed to prison after pleading guilty to distributing Oxycodone that resulted in a death.

Bowling Green will have more options for senior care once an expansion is complete at Christian Care Communities.  Currently, the complex offers a nursing home and independent living apartments.  A $12 million expansion will add units for assisted living, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation. 

Former Army Sergeant Bryan Anderson was  just 26 when his humvee struck a roadside bomb in Iraq, amputating both of his legs and his left hand. 

Authorities have identified the pilot killed in a small plane crash Sunday night near a private airstrip in Western Kentucky. 

A group of WKU graduates has launched a smart phone application for restaurant patrons, and Bowling Green is the debut city.  Eric Littleton is CEO of WhyWait, a mobile app for iPhone and Android users that lets customers know restaurant wait times, their happy hours, menus, and deals.

State police are investigating a case of murder-suicide in southern Kentucky. Authorities say they received a call from 45-year-old Richard Smith, of Glasgow, who said a man was driving a truck around his home on Finney Road Thursday night.  Minutes later, Smith made another call to police saying that the suspect was in his driveway with a gun.

President Obama is picking North Carolina to beat Kentucky in the national title game, calling the Tar Heels a more experienced team.  The president released his NCAA tournament brackets on ESPN Wednesday. 

Age and stereotypes are often reasons adolescents and teens in foster care never find permanent homes. In the documentary Aging Out, Lisa Autry reports on the need for more foster and adoptive homes for older children and the issues they face when they turn 18 and leave state custody.

A week after devastating tornadoes hit Kentucky and other states, federal officials warn the possibility of fraud remains high.  The Justice Department has a 24 hour hotline to report suspicions of fraud. 

Kentucky’s Washington delegation is asking President Obama to issue a major disaster declaration and quickly.  All six House members signed a letter to the president, reiterating many of the things Governor Beshear said in his letter to the White House.  The congressmen write that the damage caused by the storms is beyond the capabilities of the state and local governments.

In the wake of the severe weather and tornado outbreaks across Kentucky, KSP posts and headquarters will serve as designated drop off sites for items needed in devastated communities.

The need has arisen for a reputable location that citizens feel comfortable leaving donations, knowing they will reach the people in most need. This will also limit the number of people traveling into these stricken areas (to deliver items) allowing first responders more access to people in need.

Update: A massive outbreak of severe weather Friday led to widespread thunderstorms and multiple tornadoes, resulting in dozens of deaths across Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear declared a statewide emergency to facilitate local authorities' access to state resources. 

The outbreak was also causing problems in states to the south, including Alabama and Tennessee where dozens of houses were damaged. It comes two days after an earlier round of storms killed 13 people in the Midwest and South.

In a word, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear sums up the legislative session so far as unproductive.   He spoke with Lisa Autry about the defeat of some major bills and what's left on his agenda.

The Butler County woman who pleaded guilty but mentally ill in the murder of an expectant mother showed little emotion and offered no apologies at her final sentencing Thursday. 

Leaders in Henderson County are fighting the state's plan to close the medical examiner's office in Western Kentucky.  The fiscal court has passed a resolution opposing the closure of the Madisonville office, which serves 25 counties.

A man charged in the hit-and-run death of a girl in Western Kentucky is on trial this week in Daviess County Circuit Court.  Jeffrey Kotarek of Utica admits he was in the area where the accident occurred, but did not strike 13-year-old Madalynn Matlock. 

The nation's largest protestant denomination will not be changing its name.  A panel for the Southern Baptist Convention has instead approved a new, add-on description for the denomination. 

A freshman lawmaker from Louisville has filed a bill in the Kentucky General Assembly that limits how long members can serve.  Legislation by State Representative Mike Nemes limits House and Senate lawmakers to serving no more that three consecutive terms.