2023 Gateway to Greatness Awards Luncheon

Leaning on faith, Louisville mourns victims of mass shooting

the Ohio border. The order went out Tuesday, April 11, after a major fire at a site where plastics are stockpiled. Thick black smoke darkened the sky. Richmond Mayor Dave Snow described it as a “serious, largescale fire” that apparently started in a tractor-trailer onsite and spread quickly.

He said the fire was contained on three sides by early evening. No injuries were reported. The former factory site was used to store plastics and other materials for recycling or resale. The mayor says local officials had been concerned about possible fire hazards.

Sports betting law sparks talk of launch, use of revenues

years of failure. Beshear quickly signed the bill.

As shootings hit close to home, govs wrestle with next steps

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Two weeks after one of his wife’s closest friends was killed in a Nashville school shooting, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Tuesday, April 11, called for legislation that would keep firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others.

Lee, a Republican, is the latest public official to experience personal loss in a mass shooting. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, also lost one of his best friends when a gunman killed five people at a Louisville bank on Monday, April 10.

But Lee’s appeal comes as Republicans maintain supermajority control in both the Kentucky and Tennessee statehouses, where GOP lawmakers have long resisted limiting gun access. And as mass shootings continue across the U.S., resistance to make significant changes to gun restrictions remains high.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Many in Louisville turned to their faith for impromptu church services hours after a gunman killed five of his co-workers at Old National Bank downtown and wounded eight others. It was the day after Easter, and many went to cry and light candles. They asked God why, on this holiday of rebirth, they must mourn so much death.

Hundreds gathered at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, where victim Joshua Barrick was an active member. His family sat in the front pews. Fellow congregants hugged them and wept. Police say the 25-yearold gunman opened fire around 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 10, while livestreaming on Instagram. Barrick and four of his co-workers were killed: 63-year-old Tommy Elliott, 64-year-old Jim Tutt Jr., 45-year-old Juliana Farmer, and 57-year-old Deana Eckert.

Industrial fire prompts evacuation order in Indiana city

RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — People have been urged to evacuate if they live near a large industrial fire in Richmond, Indiana, near

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Andy Beshear is promising an expedited push to get legal sports wagering started in Kentucky. The governor didn’t offer specific dates Friday, April 7, for the launch. But he says he’d like to see the system set up in time for the upcoming NFL season if possible.

Meanwhile, a Republican seeking his job is talking about what he’d like to do with tax money collected from sports wagers. Gubernatorial candidate Alan Keck has proposed redirecting most of it to bolster school safety. The bill legalizing sports betting won final passage this session after

Umpire hospitalized after getting hit in head by relay throw

CLEVELAND (AP) — Umpire Larry Vanover is being evaluated for a concussion and other injuries at a hospital after being struck in the head with a relay throw during the April 12 game between the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians.

The 67-year-old Vanover was knocked down by the throw from Guardians AllStar second baseman Andrés Giménez. Vanover was positioned on the infield grass between second and the mound. MaJor League Baseball said Vanover is being checked for a head injury “and other potential medical issues. The timeline on his return is to be determined.” He's expected to be hospitalized overnight. Plate umpire Chris Cuccione told a pool reporter Vanover had a large knot on his head.

KSO raffling off rare bourbons to fundraise for schools, summer shows

raffle; A Woodford Reserve Baccarat Edition raffle; and the 20 bourbons/20 winners raffle. Each raffle has a set limit of tickets to assure better odds for rafflers.

Last year, the KSO received ticket orders from 37 states. The drawing is Saturday, May 20, from 9 to 9:30 p.m. The drawing can be viewed via Facebook Live or the KSO website, kyso.org. Tickets can be purchased at kyso.org/raffle.

Get a wee tree for free

The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Rare Bourbon Raffle helps fund the KSO’s free concerts for schools and Summer concerts in Devou and Tower Parks. In partnership with The Party Source, the orchestra’s raffle provides a chance to win some really unique bourbons, while keeping quality music playing in our schools and parks.

The orchestra is hosting three raffles: A six-bottle Pappy Van Winkle vertical flight

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, or on April 29, when Covington is hosting a free sapling giveaway in honor of Arbor Day.

A free Arbor Day-themed community event, Linden Day, will be held in downtown Covington at Historic Linden Grove Cemetery & Arboretum on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will feature free tree seedlings; guided tours of the arboretum, focused on tree species and the history of notable individuals buried at Linden Grove; a tree planting for Arbor Day; free giveaways; plant sales; music; and more.

The event is part of the arboretum’s mission of conservation, and is a partnership with both Bartlett Tree Experts and the Covington Urban Forestry Board.

Simon Kenton grad earns MSC Women’s Tennis Player Of The Week

Simon Kenton alumna and Independence native Cassie Saner was recently named the Mid-South Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week.

A student-athlete at Thomas More, Saner earned the honor for the first time in her career and joins Alexis Covington, of Walnut Hills, Ohio, in being named player of the week this season.

Saner won all four of her matches this weekend, against Freed-Hardeman University and Bethel University, both Saints victories. She teamed up with Kimberly Sabga to win in No. 3 doubles 6-2 against Delfina Rodriguez-Molina and Hannah Pearce of Freed-Hardeman. The duo also defeated Marina Zotelli and Tijana Svitlica of Bethel 6-4 in the No. 3 doubles position.

At No. 5 singles, Saner swept the Lions Morgan Brown, 6-0, 6-0 before beating Bethel’s Sophia Vasconcellos in a three-set battle (3-6, 6-3, 6-2). Saner is now 4-2 with Sabga at No. 3 doubles this season and is 3-9 overall in singles play and 3-5 in the No. 5 position.