Judge Says Woman Can't Sue Army

{Kentucky}...Renee Richardson, the mother of 18 year old Ezra Gerald Smith, sued the U.S. Army in October seeking $8.75 million. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III in Louisville dismissed the lawsuit on Friday that had been brought by the family of Smith who was killed during a shooting at a military post in Texas. Judge Simpson ruled that the law is designed to prevent judicial "second guessing of policy considerations" by the military, and federal laws prevent the teen's mother from pursuing damages from the government. Richardson accused the Army of negligence in diagnosing and treating the alleged shooter, Spc. Gerald Polanco.

Postal Service Carriers Indicted

{Kentucky}...Two U.S. Postal Service mail carriers have been indicted in separate cases with stealing mail packages containing prescription pills. A grand jury in Lexington has charged 40 year old James Randall Carter of Lexington with six counts and 40 year old Pamela J. Hawkins of Lawrenceburg with 12 counts of theft of mail matter by a U.S. Postal Service employee. Prosecutors say that, from August 2009 until May 2011, Hawkins took 12 drug parcels which contained Hydrocodone that were supposed to be delivered in the Anderson County area. Carter's indictment says that, on February 11th of this year, he stole drug parcels containing prescription pills intended for people in eastern Kentucky.

New Brief Sought In Sypher Appeal

• {Kentucky}...Federal prosecutors said Thursday they have asked the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to require 51 year old Karen Cunagin Sypher's lawyers to file a new appellate brief because her last filing lacks factual and legal grounding. Assistant U.S. Attorney Candace Hill says the brief filed by attorney David Brian Nolan doesn't include legal citations or references to the trial record to back up her claims that her attorney was ineffective and contains repeated errors. In 2010, a jury convicted Sypher of extortion, lying to the FBI and retaliation against a witness. Prosecutors said she sought millions in cash, cars and a house from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino to stay quiet about a tryst in a Louisville restaurant. She is serving a seven-year sentence at a federal prison in Marianna, Florida. In her appeal, Sypher claims a broad conspiracy involving Pitino, the federal trial judge and Sypher's former attorney to ensure she would be found guilty.

Environmental Activists Intervene In Coal Settlement

• {Kentucky}...Environmental activists were in a Franklin County courtroom Thursday to argue that a $660,000 settlement between the state and ICG and Frasure Creek Mining should be costlier for water violations at eastern Kentucky mining sites. The groups, including Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and North Carolina-based Appalachian Voices, say the companies owe millions of dollars in fines for the violations. They allege the coal companies falsified water discharge permits at the mine sites or duplicated information from previous reports. ICG has said the reporting errors were not intentional.

Man Shoots At Boyd County Deputies

• {Kentucky}...Boyd County Sheriff's Deputies say five people were arrested following a drug bust at a home on State Route 5 about 11:30 P.M. Wednesday night. Deputies say 49 year old Howard Rutherford came outside the home with a gun in his hand and started firing at deputies after being instructed several times to to put down the weapon. Rutherford was arrested and charged with four counts of attempted murder and trafficking of a controlled substance after deputies found pills and cash. Also arrested on charges of trafficking in a controlled substance were Mickie Rutherford, 44, of Boyd County, and Lennon McGee, Jr., Jevon Thomas, and Ruth Roberson, all of Detroit, Michigan.

Kentucky Gets National Emergency Grant

{Kentucky}...Kentucky is getting a $291,440 National Emergency Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to aide in cleanup efforts stemming from storms that caused flash flooding in June. Governor Steve Beshear said Thursday the money will create about 25 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers in Bell and Knox counties. The grant was awarded to the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. Beshear said it will fund a variety of services, including providing temporary employment on projects to
assist with repair, renovation and reconstruction of roads and waterways damaged by the floods.

Louisville Iraq War Veteran Walks Across Country

{Kentucky}...Troy Yocum, an Iraq War veteran is scheduled to arrive back in Louisville on Saturday after walking more than 7,000 miles across the country to raise money for former soldiers who have fallen on hard times. Yocum, who walking more than 30 million steps over 16 months, raising more than $500,000 along the way, says he got the idea after a friend who also fought in Iraq lost his job and home and became very depressed.