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Fort Mitchell donates unused police equipment to Williamsburg

Fort Mitchell is taking a community-minded approach to the “reduce, reuse, recycle” slogan with one of City Council’s latest decisions. In the process, it is also helping another Kentucky city police department.

This all started around when Fort Mitchell Police Chief Rob Nader was on vacation earlier this month and instructed his department to clean up the garage in his absence. While tidying, the officers found a large amount of police equipment that wasn’t in use. Some of this equipment was old and no longer compatible with the city’s current fleet of police vehicles, Nader said.

So, the Fort Mitchell Police Department thought of who they could help with this equipment surplus.

“Our own Officer (Matt) Arlinghaus was in training recently with the Assistant Chief of Police of the Williamsburg Police Department, who said they were in need of any older or spare police vehicles and or equipment,” Chief Nader wrote in an email to LINK. “Officer Arlinghaus sent a list of our older equipment that was no longer in use, including a vehicle, and that we were going to surplus, and they responded back that they were in need of such items.”

According to Surplus Property Resolution 2023-12, which council passed unanimously during the July 17, 2023, council meeting, many valuable items were included on that list. Some of the equipment the Williamsburg Police Department will receive includes multiple shotgun mounts, lights, a siren, lens covers, and even a 2012 Dodge Charger with installed police equipment.

“This equipment is going to be useful to our department,” said Williamsburg Chief of Police Jason Caddell. “Law enforcement agencies across the commonwealth operate on budgets. Sometimes these budgets allow for certain projects, but others may have to wait. This is an example of networking to accomplish budget goals.”

Apparently, exchanges like these are common among law enforcement agencies within Kentucky. More often than not, police departments try to help each other out.

“Oftentimes when an agency updates their inventory, the used equipment can be useful to other agencies,” Caddell said. “Law enforcement officers network to help each other with budget issues as well as getting the most out of the life of the equipment.”

Fort Mitchell is proud to have taken part in this trend, Nader said.

“This was an opportunity to assist a fellow Kentucky law enforcement agency, and our Mayor and City Council happily agreed to help them out,” Nader said.

In kind, Williamsburg is thankful for the equipment that will help their continued service.

“We want to extend our gratitude to the Fort Mitchell Police Department,” Caddell said. “Chief Nader and his staff have been amazing to work with, and Fort Mitchell Police Department is a very professional department which sets the example for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Man who struck, killed cyclist Gloria San Miguel in

2022 pleads guilty

Mark Phipps has pleaded guilty to charges related to the August 2022 death of cyclist Gloria San Miguel, according to court documents.

San Miguel was killed after she was struck while riding her bicycle on the 11th Street Bridge between Newport and Covington on Aug. 20, 2022.

Phipps, 60, pled guilty July 24 to second-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, leaving the scene of an accident and driving on a suspended license.

Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5.

San Miguel, who worked at Roebling Point Books & Coffee, became the face of a movement to create infrastructure in Northern Kentucky that better supports cyclists and pedestrians.

First Black woman named chief of Louisville’s embattled police force

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)

— Louisville interim police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel has been named the city’s new chief. She is the first Black woman to lead the embattled department in a full-time role. The city has gone through several chiefs and interim chiefs since the fatal police shooting of a Black woman, Breonna Taylor, during a raid in 2020.

Gwinn-Villaroel inherits a department that is under a consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice after a yearslong investigation that alleged racial bias and a pattern of excessive force.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said that, in addition to Gwinn-Villaroel’s other qualifications, the new chief also showed leadership during a mass shooting at a downtown bank in April.

Senate GOP leader McConnell briefly leaves news conference after freezing up midsentence

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks midsentence and staring off into space for several seconds.

McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with “good bipartisan cooperation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out “uh.”

The Kentucky senator then appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.

He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. After sitting down in his office for several minutes, McConnell later returned to the press conference and answered questions from the press.

McConnell, 81, was out of the Senate for almost six weeks earlier this year after falling and hitting his head after a dinner event at a hotel. He was hospitalized for several days, and his office later said he suffered a concussion and fractured a rib. His speech has sounded more halting in recent weeks, prompting questions among some of his colleagues about his health.

When he returned to answer questions, McConnell said he was “fine.” Asked if he is still able to do his job, he said, “Yeah.”

Bronny James, son of LeBron, stable after cardiac arrest at USC basketball practice

Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, was hospitalized in stable condition a day after going into cardiac arrest while participating in a basketball practice at the University of Southern California.

A family spokesman said USC medical staff treated the 18-year-old James on Monday at Galen Center after he went into cardiac arrest, and he was transported to a hospital. The spokesman said James was in stable condition after leaving the intensive care unit. James was one of the nation's top high school prospects and is an incoming freshman with the Trojans.

1 year old, U.S. climate law is already turbocharging clean energy technology

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Excessive heat continues to bear down on sections of the United States, a reminder of the impetus for the the Inflation Reduction Ac (IRA), the significant climate legislation that turns 1 year old on Aug. 16.

Since passage, it has boosted the U.S. transition to renewable energy, accelerated green domestic manufacturing, and made it more affordable for consumers to make climate-friendly purchases, such as installing solar panels on their roofs.

After decades of U.S. inaction, the IRA has finally supplied the economic incentives that many long said were required to fight climate change. However, experts say that the IRA is not enough to guarantee the U.S. will reach its emissions reduction targets outlined in the Paris Agreement to prevent the most severe impacts of climate change.

Fire damages building that houses office of Kentucky

Sen. Rand Paul

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Officials say a fire has caused heavy damage to a building that houses the Bowling Green office of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul as well as a local law firm.

Bowling Green Fire Department spokeswoman Katie McKee told the Daily News that crews worked for hours to extinguish the flames, which caused a roof collapse. McKee says no injuries were reported.

The cause and origin of the fire are under investigation. Paul said in a statement that he was thankful for the quick response and that his office is working with authorities to assess damages and determine a cause and will continue to operate for constituents.

Indoor farming company backed by Martha Stewart files for bankruptcy

MOREHEAD, Ky. (AP) — Officials say a Kentucky-based indoor farming company that was backed by Martha Stewart when it began shipping tomatoes in early 2021 has filed for bankruptcy.

News outlets report AppHarvest filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy following several months of financial difficulties, including the potential foreclosure of its greenhouse in Richmond and concerns about cash flow.

In addition, AppHarvest founder Jonathan Webb was replaced in July as chief executive officer and chairman of the board. AppHarvest said in a statement that it is looking to restructure while business operations continue at its four farms.

Boone County Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 1961 Patrick Drive, Burlington

Cram-A-Cruiser, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Bellevue Kroger, 53 Donnermeyer Drive, Bellevue

Ohio River Paddlefest, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Schmidt Recreation Complex, 2944 Humbert Ave., Cincinnati

Campbell County Farmers Market, 9 a.m.-noon, 709 Monmouth St., Newport