Officials warn drivers to watch for deer along roadways

MADISONVILLE (AP) — Kentucky officials are urging motorists to watch for deer along roadways, especially over the next couple of months.

A statement from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the fall harvest and mating season trigger an increase in deer movement which leads to more accidents. Engineer Wade Clements says more than half of all crashes involving deer occur from October through December.

Officials say drivers should slow down and be extra alert, especially in the early morning and early evening hours, when visibility is low and deer are most active.

If a deer is sighted, officials say don’t swerve. Instead, stay straight, keep your hands on the wheel and apply your brakes until stopped.

Last year, police recorded nearly 3,100 collisions involving deer.

Toyota to unveil North American engineering HQ in Ky.

GEORGETOWN (AP) — Toyota Motor Corp. is set to show off its new North American engineering headquarters in Kentucky.

The Japanese automaker says in a news release the unveiling of the $80 million engineering headquarters will take place Monday in Georgetown.

Among those scheduled to attend are Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin and Toyota Motor North America CEO Jim Lentz.

Last month Toyota announced a $121 million expansion of a 2.5-liter engine capacity at its Georgetown plant.

Lexington breaks homicide record with 2 months still to go

LEXINGTON (AP) — With two months still left in the year, homicides in Lexington have already reached an all-time high.

Authorities say that a 51-year-old man was fatally shot and a 37-year-old woman was strangled in separate incidents Thursday night, marking the city’s 27th and 28th homicides of the year.

News outlets report that the city’s record had previously been 27, which occurred in both 1999 and 2001.

Lexington police spokeswoman Brenna Angel says 18 of this year’s homicides have been solved so far.

Lexington Mayor Jim Gray has pointed to the drug epidemic and the city’s growing population as being contributing factors for the rise in slayings.

Pharmacist gets 8 years for distributing painkillers

LEXINGTON (AP) — A Central Kentucky pharmacist has been sentenced to eight years behind bars after he admitted to filling forged prescriptions for highly addictive painkillers.

The U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release that 37-year-old Michael Ingram of Cynthiana was sentenced on Friday after pleading guilty to money laundering and conspiracy to distribute Oxycodone. He must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence.

Ingram had owned and operated Hometown Pharmacy of Georgetown. He pleaded guilty in July, admitting that his distribution of the painkillers was not for a legitimate medical purpose.

Louisville shooting leaves 6 teens wounded

LOUISVILLE (AP) — Authorities say six teenagers have been injured in a shooting in Louisville.

Louisville police spokesman Dwight Mitchell says officers found six victims at the scene Friday evening. Each had either been shot or had suffered a graze wound.

Mitchell says all six were taken to the hospital, including two who were being treated for serious wounds. Authorities say the victims were between the ages of 13 and 17.

The shooting occurred in the city’s California neighborhood. No further details were immediately released.