BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Monday was the first day of early voting in Texas, and 5,144 people have already cast their vote in Brazos county for the current election.
Trudy Hancock, elections administrator for Brazos County, told KBTX this election is already bucking trends.
“We have hit the ground running today,” Hancock boasted. “We usually run 50/50. 50% early and 50% election day. I have a feeling this time, a lot of people are going to vote early.”
Thousands of people have already cast their vote in the Brazos Valley on day one of early voting.(kbtx)
As far as first-day jitters, Hancock said it was a smooth day of voting.
“We’ve had a few little technical issues like ballot paper getting jammed and things like that, but nothing to halt voting,” explained Hancock.
Bryan native Jeremy Zamora said he was eager to cast his vote.
“I think it’s important, as an American citizen, to do your due diligence as your right to vote and have your voice be heard,” Zamora shared.
Hancock said it was a large turnout today, and areas like Robertson County are experiencing the same influx of voters with the same amount of foot traffic in a day as it would in a week.
“Just remember, once you’re in that line, you’re within that 100-foot marker, so there is no electioneering. No shirts, buttons, hats for candidates; just be sure that you’re mindful of that,” advised Hancock.
A total of 5,144 people in Brazos county cast their ballot on day one of early voting.(kbtx)
Although lines were a little long on day one, Zamora said election workers quickly and efficiently kept voters moving.
“Do your due diligence of who you want in the office and running the country,” Zamora added.
For those not voting in person but nervous about their ballots being received due to post office issues, Hancock has a pro tip.
“If you’re worried about the post office, your ballot having to go out of town and then come back, you can go to the post office on Boonville and walk your ballot in. They will hand stamp it and put it in a box, and they deliver them to us daily,” suggested Hancock.
A mail-in ballot must be postmarked no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5 and received by 5 p.m. the following day. That may be a tight turnaround, so Hancock advises all to send out your ballot as early as possible.
Find more information on local election information with KBTX’s Election Headquarters. Early voting runs through November 1.
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WSMV) – Jay Cutler, a former quarterback in the National Football League, was arrested this week in Williamson County.
Officers with the Franklin Police Department responded to the 200 block of Bridge Street for reports of a crash involving a white Dodge Ram and a blue GMC. The driver of the GMC told officers that Cutler had rear-ended him with his Ram, then attempted to flee the scene, and offered him $2,000 to not call the police, according to the arrest affidavit.
During their conversation with Cutler, the officers reported a strong odor of alcohol coming from him, as well as slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, Franklin PD reported. Cutler also refused a field sobriety test, prompting officers to take him to Williamson Medical Center for a blood draw.
During a search of his vehicle, officers found two firearms: a rifle and a loaded Glock pistol in the center console, according to Franklin PD.
Cutler, 41, was taken into custody on Thursday just before 7 p.m. He was released around 10 p.m., according to jail records. He denied ever hitting the GMC with his truck, according to the affidavit. The officers reported observing a dent to the rear of the GMC but Cutler’s Ram has a winch attached to the front, so no damage was visible.
He faces four charges, including driving under the influence, possessing a gun while intoxicated, failure to exercise due care, and implied consent.
The driver of the GMC said he suffered an injury to his back but refused treatment at the scene, according to the affidavit. He drove himself to the hospital for treatment.
Cutler played for the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, and Miami Dolphins over his 12 years in the NFL. He also played his college ball at Vanderbilt University. The Broncos took him in the 1st round of the 2006 NFL Draft (11th overall).
Cortly Witherspoon is the community schools liaison at Winfield Elementary School in Baltimore County.
Meet Cortly Witherspoon, a community school liaison at Baltimore County’s Winfield Elementary School. He’s a longtime social and political activist and now, as a member of the Education Support Professionals of Baltimore County (ESPBC), a union activist. This year, he’s part of MSEA’s 2024-2025 Minority Leadership Training cohort, one of MSEA’s signature leadership development programs.
At Winfield Elementary, I apply the principles of humanity that have guided me my entire life to my position as CARE (Caregiver, Assistance, Resource, and Engagement) liaison. We are a community school, and I work closely with our community school coordinator as I support and encourage families and caregivers to become engaged and involved. We want to build their capacity as caregivers, encourage shared decision making about their student’s success, and find ways to help them support their student’s learning.
I’m based out of our Community Resource Cottage where we stock food, school supplies and uniforms, and household items. It’s also where we help our families find other community-based services to promote their wholeness and strengthen their quality of life.
When I started this job two years ago, I researched the union and found my building rep within the week. Even though I hadn’t been a union member before, I had worked with unions and respected the mission and core values of unionism and was ready to find my place in our local.
Social and political activism isn’t new to me. My student activism and community service dates back to middle school days, where I worked with the NAACP to advocate for programs and initiatives to uplift the African American experience. More recently, I served as president of the Baltimore City Southern Christian Leadership Conference and fought for a $15 minimum wage.
This summer, I worked with the ESP Summer Organizers to share the ESP Bill of Rights and connect one-on-one with potential members. This powerful work allowed me to meet fellow CARE liaisons, paraprofessionals, school office professionals, and others, all fighting for respect and decency on the job. Next, I attended the 2024 MSEA Summer Leadership Conference where I was blown away by the workshops and presentations of passionate and experienced union members. There I met new union brothers and sisters and built relationships with other educators starting their journey with MSEA or their local.
Most recently, I joined ESPBC’s effort to work on racial, social, and economic justice (RSEJ) issues, and am among several members of the 2024-2025 MSEA Minority Leadership Training cohort where I’ll build on my knowledge of RSEJ issues and the intersection of public education and the union movement. In my private life, I am a foster parent.
I believe that service is the rent we pay to live on the earth, and I am dedicated and committed to community service, fighting for justice, supporting the union, and helping to prepare the next generation to make their mark.
The Union County Board of County Commissioners invites residents to join the Annual Columbus Day Flag Raising event. The ceremony will take place on Friday, October 11th, at 11:00 a.m., on the steps of the Union County Courthouse, located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth.
“We take pride in celebrating the achievements and contributions of Italian Americans, who have enriched all aspects of our lives and continue to shape the fabric of our communities,” said Union County Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, who will be emceeing this year’s program. “Today, we honor their cultural heritage and recognize their hard work, dedication, and legacy here in Union County and across the nation.”
This year’s featured speaker will be Joshua G. Losardo, Mayor of Scotch Plains, a proud Italian American and long-time advocate for the Italian-American community.
In recognition of their continued contributions, the Union County Board of County Commissioners will also honor various Italian-American organizations within Union County with a formal resolution presented during the event.
“As a proud Italian-American, I am honored to continue supporting this annual tradition that celebrates our rich heritage and the countless contributions of Italian-Americans to Union County and beyond,” said Commissioner Alexander Mirabella. “The values of hard work, community, and service are deeply rooted in our culture, and it is a privilege to stand with Italian-American organizations like UNICO and others, who embody these principles through their dedication to education, philanthropy, and cultural preservation.”
Italian-style refreshments and pastries will be served following the program on the courthouse grounds.
For more information, please contact Judith Guest, Community Engagement & Diversity Coordinator at (908) 527-4388 or via email at Judith.Guest@ucnj.org.
CPR covered each day of the Peters’ trial. You can read our explainer of the case here, and catch up on individual days here.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.
Tina Peters is headed to prison.
The former Mesa County Clerk was sentenced to nine years of incarceration, most of which will be served in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
Peters’ attorneys indicated they plan to appeal.
21st Judicial District Judge Matthew Barrett preceded his sentence with a blistering critique of her actions and attitude, calling Peters an attention-seeking former official who only thinks about herself.
“You are no hero,” Barrett told Peters. “You’re a charlatan who used, and is still using, your prior position in office to peddle a snake oil that’s been proven to be junk time and time again.”
Barrett handed down the sentence in front of a packed courtroom that included supporters of Peters, several uniformed sheriff’s deputies and local elected officials. An overflow crowd gathered just outside the courtroom, streaming the proceedings on their phones from feet away.
In August, Peters was found guilty by a jury of Mesa County residents on seven counts, including four felonies, after she helped facilitate unauthorized access to county voting equipment that she was supposed to safeguard in search of voter fraud. Her supporters have never shown that the machines were involved in any sort of election manipulation.
During Thursday’s hearing, the prosecution argued that Peters should face the maximum penalty for most, if not all, of the charges.
“I don’t think anybody in this room would make a straight-faced argument that Mrs. Peters has demonstrated any respect for the law,” 21st Judicial District Attorney Dan Rubinstein said. He noted that she continues to argue she never did anything wrong.
“Ms. Peters has made this community a joke. She’s made respecting law enforcement a joke, made respecting court orders a joke. She’s not accepted any responsibility and considers this a badge of honor,” said Rubinstein.
Courtesy of Larry Robinson/The Grand Junction Daily SentinelTina Peters walks down the hallway at the Mesa County Justice Center Monday after closing arguments on the final day of her criminal trial. The former Mesa County clerk was found guilty on 7 of 10 charges.
Ahead of sentencing, Peters asked for probation. She said she recognized the jury’s decision to find her guilty on most of the counts, but that the jury wasn’t allowed to hear other evidence she wanted to present. That evidence was largely tied to conspiracies about the county’s Dominion Voting Machines, which were ruled inadmissible.
“I’m not a criminal and I don’t deserve to go into a prison where other people have committed heinous crimes,” Peters told the judge tearfully. She showed the judge pictures of her deceased husband and her son, a Navy Seal who died in the line of duty. She asked for probation in part to be able to keep visiting her 95-year-old mother in Virginia.
“I’m remorseful. Yes sir, I really am,” said Peters. “I never expected that just doing an image which was completely legal, before and after the trusted build would’ve landed me here. I thought it was going to come out quietly.”
But Barrett said his sentence was not just about punishment and the acceptance of responsibility but also deterrence. A stiff sentence, Barrett said, would ensure other elected officials respect the responsibilities of their office.
“I’m convinced you would do it all over again if you could,” Barrett said. “You’re as defiant a defendant as this court has ever seen.”
Impact statements present dueling views of Peters
The prosecution and defense were each given an hour to make their case ahead of Barrett’s sentencing decision.
Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis said the estimated cost of Peters’ actions to Mesa County taxpayers was $1.4 million. That includes Peters’s salary while she was barred from the elections office, as well as numerous recounts the county paid for to prove their elections were accurate.
While Davis explained the efforts to convince the public that Peters’ claims were untrue, Barrett interjected to ask what the hand count and other recounts showed.
“I want to know, what was the difference?” Barrett asked.
“They were identical,” Davis said, of the votes, noting that a hand count as well as a tabulation by a different voting machine company confirmed the election tallies were accurate. “No material difference.”
“No material difference whatsoever,” Barrett echoed.
Davis also said Peters’ damage to the county went beyond the budget, to its broader reputation.
“People from across Colorado and other states now associate Mesa County, not with our natural beauty or agriculture, but with the infamous actions of Ms. Peters. Her behavior has made this county a national laughing stock, overshadowing our accomplishments and our values,” Davis concluded.
Tom Hesse/CPR NewsThe Mesa County Justice Center at 125 N. Spruce Street in Grand Junction is the site of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ criminal trial.
Former Republican Mesa County Commissioner Scott McInnis called for Peters to face the consequences of her actions; he referred to her as a disgrace and said all of her allegations of fraudulent votes amount to nothing.
“They have never produced not one fraudulent vote, your Honor, not one fraudulent vote in Mesa County. Despite all these allegations, despite all these studies,” said McInnis.
Peters’ defense presented character witnesses from her life, one who spoke tearfully about her as a friend and a gold-star mother who lost her son in a military accident.
“She is not a threat to the community, she’s not a threat to the state,” said California pastor Dave Bryan, who asked Barrett not to sentence Peters to prison time, but instead to order her to serve probation at his church in California. “She’s never been a threat to any other human being and (a prison sentence) could only smack of political vindication.”
Former Republican Elbert County Clerk Dallas Schroeder also testified in support of Peters; he implored the judge not to incarcerate her for “searching for the truth.”
“That is tyranny at its worst when people are afraid to be able to stand up and say what they truly believe and to investigate things,” said Shroeder. Schroeder was sued by the state over copies he made of Elbert County’s election machine hard drives around the same time as Peters.
Screenshot from KREX livestreamFormer Elbert County Clerk Dallas Schroeder testifies Friday, Aug. 9, in Grand Junction. It was the eighth day of the trial of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters.
Barrett questioned Schroeder on why Peters needed to do more than audit and count the ballots.
“You want to evaluate it in a clearer way than actually going back and looking at what the machine told you the results were and then counting the ballots yourself?” Barrett asked.
Schroeder said it still makes sense for clerks to have the opportunity to see everything that’s going on within the elections system.
The sentence is the culmination of a multi-year investigation and legal fight
Peters was found guilty of three felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant and one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation. She was also convicted of first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty, and failure to comply with an order from the Secretary of State, all misdemeanors.
The investigation began a little more than three years ago when images taken during a secure update of Mesa County’s voting equipment surfaced online. At the same time, a copy of Mesa County’s hard drive was displayed and discussed at a “cyber symposium” hosted by Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO who has been at the center of false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.
Kevin J. Beaty/DenveriteMyPillow CEO Mike Lindell speaks to the press during a rally for Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters on the Colorado Capitol steps. April 5, 2022.
Over the course of a lengthy trial, prosecutors laid out a timeline demonstrating that Peters had begun meeting with election conspiracy theorists in early 2021 about assumed “irregularities” in voting totals. In response, Peters and others hatched a plan to bring in an unauthorized person to observe a software update of Dominion Voting Machines. The plot involved creating security credentials for a local man named Gerald Wood and using those credentials to help another man gain access to voting equipment.
That man was retired surfer Conan Hayes, who clandestinely joined the software update and made copies of sensitive information that ended up online. That deceit was what the jury found Peters guilty of.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described Scott McInnis as a former Mesa County Clerk. He’s a former county commissioner who was in office at the time the election security breach came to light.
County of Sonoma Health Officer Dr. Tanya Phares has extended a health advisory in response to the National Weather Service’s Excessive Heat Warning for much of the county through 11 p.m. Thursday.
The Excessive Heat Warning was extended through 11 p.m. Thursday for Sonoma County Interior and Coastal Ranges. Interior temperatures will range from the mid-90s to low 100s, regions close to the coast will range from the upper 70s to mid 80s, and regions directly along the coast will range from the upper 60s to mid-70s.
For more information about keeping cool during the heat or available cooling centers, visit the county emergency information website, www.socoemergency.org/heat, or call 211. Updates on heat conditions are available from the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov.
### Media Contact: Gilbert Martinez, Communications Specialist publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org (707) 565-3040 575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Des Moines, Iowa — FEMA is providing free information about how to make your home stronger and safer – whether it was damaged by this summer’s severe storms or not.
FEMA will be in O’Brien County at the Downtown Hardware Hank store, 816 Third Ave., Sheldon Iowa 51201 on Oct. 1-4 from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
You can speak directly with FEMA specialists at local home improvement stores. The public can get answers to questions and discuss:
Proven methods for preventing damage from future disasters.
Techniques for rebuilding homes.
Tips for reducing your disaster risk – whether you own or rent your home.
Help is available to all homeowners, not only those affected by the recent storms.
If you have questions about how to make your home safer, call the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Helpline at 833-336-2487.
If you had flood related damage or storm-caused expenses and live or own a business in Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Humboldt, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pottawattamie, Scott, Sioux and Woodbury counties, FEMA assistance can provide grants to help cover temporary housing, home repairs and other disaster related needs.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency, or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 833-285-7448. For Spanish, press 2. If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
During a press conference on Wednesday night, officials reported the body found near Exit 49 is likely Joseph Couch after items “associated” with him were found in the area.
Officials said that they are “very confident this brings the closure in the search for Joseph Couch.”
According to officials, a weapon was found at the site of the body, and vultures were a clue in finding the body.
The McCoys will also receive $25,000 for their role in helping find the body, an official said during the press conference.
Further, detectives are reportedly still on the scene working on the investigation.
KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr., said, ” The people of Laurel County can rest easier” and that “this was a collaborative effort.”
Laurel County Sheriff John Root said, “Since day one, my concern has been the residents of Laurel County—it’s our number one priority.”
The Sheriff also said that Couch’s family has worked with law enforcement and added, “Let’s have a prayer for Joe Couch’s family.”
Sheriff Root also added, “he’s a human being, and I wish we had took him alive,” saying, “I would rather him be alive, and he can pay for what he’s done.”
DNA testing is currently being rushed to identify the body found in Laurel County Wednesday afternoon, authorities report.
Fred McCoy told LEX 18 that he was the individual to find the body near Exit 49 in Laurel County. He was drawn to the area was the presence of about 50 vultures, he said.
“The community needed some relief,” McCoy said. “It’s just not us, there’s several people out here that’s been looking…but we just kept coming back.”
Today is the 12th day of the search for Joseph Couch, a suspect in the Sept. 7 I-75 shooting in Laurel County.
“It’s important because everybody has been disrupted,” McCoy said. “You have a coward here that shot five people out here on a cliff for no reason whatsoever.”
McCoy said that the community is in need of relief, and applauded KSP and the Laurel County Sheriff’s Department.
UPDATE: Sept. 18 at 4:25 p.m.
According to Kentucky State Police via X, a body has been discovered in the area of Exit 49 in Laurel County. Detectives are working to confirm the identity of the individual, the post states.
UPDATE: Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
Gov. Andy Beshear posted a thread on X saying that law enforcement will transition from a manhunt to a “larger presence in the community to ensure safety.”
UPDATE: Sept. 17 at 12 p.m.
During a press conference on Tuesday regarding the manhunt for the Laurel County shooting suspect, Joseph Couch, Governor Andy Beshear and officials provided an update on the shooting.
Officials reported that extra security will be provided to area schools as a safety precaution, along with extra patrol in day cares and businesses.
“The number one goal is public safety,” Beshear expressed.
UPDATE: Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.
As the manhunt continues for Joseph Couch, the man suspected of injuring five people during a shooting in Laurel County on Sept. 7, authorities reported that Kentucky State Police searched a residence on Monday, however, Couch was not located in the home.
UPDATE: Sept. 12 at 8 a.m.
Governor Andy Beshear held a press conference on Thursday morning with law enforcement to address the Laurel County shooting as the manhunt for the suspect, Joseph Crouch, continues.
“Everyone’s goal is the same, to protect the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Beshear expressed. “Your Commonwealth is here for you. We’ll stand with you. We will heal from this incident.”
Beshear also highlighted the search efforts and the law enforcement personnel who are working to find Couch.
Further, four out of the five shooting victims have been released from the hospital, with the fifth expected to survive as well, Beshear noted.
UPDATE: Sept. 10 at 3 p.m.
Kentucky State Police held a press conference at the London Community Center at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. KSP Trooper Scottie Pennington and Laurel County Sheriff John Root gave brief updates on the extensive search for Joseph Couch as agencies hit the 72-hour mark.
Pennington says several more aircraft are in the sky, and more technology to locate Couch has been brought in. He encourages residents to check on neighbors and the elderly, and their ring cameras and turn on their lights outside.
Officers ask people to “limit their activities,” especially if you’re a hunter in the Northern Laurel County forests. They promise that if they need to broaden the search and bring in more technology, they will, but they do not believe he has left the woods or is working with someone else.
Crews are also looking in the rivers that run through the forests, making sure every area, detail, or item found is checked and collected before determining its significance in the case.”I hope he doesn’t have water, food and hopefully he will walk out of the woods and everyone goes home safely to families,” said Pennington.
Pennington says all agencies will stay in the forest until they find him.
UPDATE: Sept. 10 at 2 p.m.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office reported that the reward for information that leads to the arrest of Laurel County shooting suspect Joseph Couch, has increased to a total of $35,000.
The total includes $10,000 from an anonymous donor, $10,000 from another unnamed source, 10,000 from the United Way of Laurel County, and $5,000 from the Laurel County Crime Stoppers.
UPDATE: Sept. 9 at 2 p.m.
As search efforts continue for the Laurel County shooting suspect Joseph Couch, a recently released affidavit detailed a timeline of event that occurred leading up to and after the shooting.
The full details, which includes Couch allegedly calling police before the shooting and telling them he was “going to kill a lot of people,” can be found here.
UPDATE: Sept. 8 at 9 p.m.
New information has emerged regarding the health status of three individuals who were shot during the Laurel Co. shooting on Saturday, while the manhunt for the alleged suspect, Joseph Couch, continues.
UK Spokesperson Jay Blanton reported that of the three wounded who were taken to UK Hospital, one has been discharged and the other two are listed as in “good condition.”
Five people in total were reportedly injured in the shooting.
UPDATE: Sept. 8 at 9 p.m.
Additional information was provided by authorities on Sunday night regarding the shooting in Laurel County on Saturday, as the suspect is still at large.
Authorities reported during a 9 p.m. livestream that the shooting suspect, Joseph Couch, has a military background.
Further, authorities said that they “don’t want to leave any stones unturned” amid the search efforts.
Officials added that Couch obtained a firearm legally in London on Saturday. They say that the paperwork that Couch had on the firearm shows that. Officials said that they believe the firearm uses around 1,000 rounds of ammo, and most of the ammo has been recovered.
Law enforcement searched Couch’s home Sunday.
Officials are searching thousands of acres of land that they described as “rough terrain.”
An official with the FBI stated that law enforcement is doing “everything they can” to find the suspect and that they will not stop until Couch is found.
Law Enforcement has said that there will be increased patrols in the area, and they are getting assistance from a number of different agencies.
UPDATE: Sept. 8 at 5 p.m.
According to Public Affairs Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the Saturday afternoon shooting in Laurel County is not believed to have been targeted.
In a press conference at 5 p.m., Acciardo confirmed that although the shooting had been planned, the victims had been not. Search efforts are still underway, but the rough terrain and lessening daylight are a hindrance, he said.
Along with a gun and vehicle, a cell phone has also been recovered with its battery removed, preventing any effort at pinging it.
Although tips about Joseph Couch’s location have come in from multiple counties, Acciardo believes those to be inaccurate and that Couch is still in the area. However, he encourages the public to continue contacting authorities with information and potential sightings.
Acciardo said that one victim was shot in the face, and another had received serious injury to their arm.
The priority of authorities, Acciardo said, remains arresting Couch safely. He remains optimistic about the search.
“He’s out there. He’s behind a tree or under a rock cliff or something. We just need to stumble upon him, safely,” he said.
London Mayor Randall Weddle said that of the five victims, none were from Laurel County. Weddle emphasized the need to “address the growing crisis of mental health issues in this country.”
“My heart is to see that my community is whole again. That people understand that this travesty, this act of violence, doesn’t define us as a community,” he said.
Both Weddle and Acciardo urged the public to avoid the area and refrain from taking matters into their own hands.
UPDATE: Sept. 8 at 1:46 p.m.
According to Laurel County Public Affairs Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the Saturday afternoon shooting is not believed to be a road rage incident. Joseph Couch’s vehicle was recovered last night on a forest service road, where they identified him as a person of interest, Acciardo said.
The AR-15 was recovered this morning from the woods near the interstate.
Authorities currently believe that Couch could be in the area near Exit 49, but unsure of an exact location.
Multiple motives are being looked in to, but according to Acciardo, their main priority is keeping first responders safe and arresting Couch safely.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshal Service, and ATF are currently on scene processing evidence, Acciardo said.
UPDATE: Sept. 8 at 12:54 p.m.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office encourages those interested in donating food and water as the search for Joseph Couch continues to drop them off at the emergency operation center located at 165 Substation Road in London.
These will be transported to emergency personnel at Exit 49, the agency wrote in a Facebook post.
UPDATE: Sept. 8 at 9:37 a.m.
Ground search resumed at exit 49 on I-75.
Laurel County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by several other law enforcement agencies, including London Laurel Rescue Squad providing drone support.
UPDATE: Sept. 8 at 2:23 a.m.
According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, nine vehicles had been shot into through both the northbound and southbound lanes of I-75.
The five people shot are described to have serious injuries, law enforcement says.
The scene of the shooting was contained overnight in the area of the shootings, and an active search for Joseph Couch will continue at daybreak Sunday morning.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 11 p.m.
London Mayor Randall Weddle provided an update via a live video on Facebook regarding the Laurel County active shooter situation, stating that five people were shot while two were injured due to the wreck.
Further, Weddle noted that the shooting victims are stable while authorities continue to search for the person of interest, 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 9:52 p.m.
In a statement to LEX 18, Saint Joseph London confirmed they had received multiple patients with minor injuries following the shooting in Laurel County.
“We are devastated by the events that occurred along Interstate 75 in Laurel County, Kentucky Saturday night,” the statement said. “We’re thinking of our friends and neighbors during this difficult time and praying for those who have been impacted. Saint Joseph London received multiple patients and is treating them for minor injuries. We continue to coordinate with local law enforcement and first responders.”
According to Kentucky State Police Spokesperson Paul Blanton, two individuals have been transported to UK Hospital following the shooting.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 9:26 p.m.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office reports that both north and southbound directions of I-75 is now open as the search for person of interest 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch continues.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 9 p.m.
According to London Police, 32-year-old Joseph A. Couch is a person of interest in the shooting.
In a Facebook post, the department encourages people to contact 911 or 606-878-7000.
Couch is 5’10, approximately weighing 154 pounds. He is believed to be armed and dangerous.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 8 p.m.
I-75 and US 25 remain shut down, the Mount Vernon Fire Department reports.
In a post to Facebook, the agency reports that they are actively working to divert traffic off the interstate at Exit 62 and Exit 59.
Significant delays are still expected.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 7:29 p.m.
According to an X post made by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, he is receiving reports from the Office of Homeland Security and Kentucky State Police.
“Together, we are actively monitoring the situation and offering support in any way possible,” the governor wrote.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 7:18 p.m.
According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 11, I-75 is currently closed from Exit 41 to Exit 59, both north and southbound.
Other road closures include KY-909/US 25.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 7:00 p.m.
According to the Mount Vernon Fire Department, traffic from I-75 southbound is now being diverted off at Exit 59. In a Facebook post, they encouraged drivers to expect congestion and delays.
UPDATE: Sept. 7 at 6:48 pm.
According to the Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, the roadway remains closed due to an active shooter situation nine miles north of London.
Numerous people have been shot near the interstate, the agency reports via Facebook.
Posted September 11, 2024 | By Andy Fillmore/Special To The Ocala Gazette
Photos By Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette
Speakers and guests recall terrorist attacks, sacrifices, during annual 9/11 Memorial Service. Diane and Philip Rosler are glad to see annual events like the 9/11 Memorial Service that took place at the Ocala-Marion County Veterans Memorial Park on Sept. 11 and marked the 23rd anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The couple was working in […]
A brush fire that broke out near the site of a radio-control flying club in an in unincorporated area of Trabuco Canyon and burned 5,432 acres by late Monday, Sept. 9, was unintentionally caused by heavy equipment used by an Orange County public works crew, authorities said.
The fire prompted officials to issue evacuation orders and warnings for nearby residents in Rancho Santa Margarita, though by late Monday the fire was reported to be moving away from an evacuated Orange County community. However, new evacuation warnings spread into Riverside County in the Santa Ana Mountains east as far as the 15 Freeway.
The blaze began about 1 p.m. along the 32200 block of Trabuco Creek Road, near the Trabuco Flyers Club, according to Orange County Fire Authority Deputy Chief TJ McGovern.
“When initial crews arrived on scene, they recorded a half-acre vegetation fire on both sides of the road and that there was a potential for a large, major incident right off the get go,” McGovern said. “Crews immediately requested multiple additional resources to help from outside of our county, to our neighboring counties and to our region.”
The Airport fire had charred about 7 acres by around 2 p.m., and jumped to around 1,900 acres within three hours. By around 9:30 p.m. it was mapped at 5,432 acres with no containment.
Simon Turner, a member of the Trabuco Flyers Club and a former board member, said the club’s vice president got a call shortly after the fire was spotted. He headed over to the property, which was locked and no one was there.
There was no one flying the radio-controlled planes at the time, Turner said.
The club has a good relationship with local fire authorities, Turner emphasized, offering use of its parking lot and runway when needed for staging areas. The club shuts down on red flag days and keeps vegetation trimmed back on the property and has the proper equipment on site, he said.
Smoke from the Airport Fire rises behind Meander Lane in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Aidan Thomas wears a Smokey Bear t-shirt as he watches smoke from the Airport Fire rise behind Meander Lane in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A woman takes horses to safety past a police barricade on Traduce Canyon Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. Firefighters were battling the Airport Fire. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
An airplane drops retardent on the Airport Fire in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Sherry Fankhauser chats with a firefighter as smoke from the Airport Fire rises behind Meander Lane in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Steve Sergi prepares to evacuate his house on Vista Drive in Trabuco Canyon, CA on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 as firefighters battled the Airport Fire in the hills near his house. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Frank Choi sits in front of his house as smoke from the Airport Fire rises behind Meander Lane in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A dead mouse lays in the dirt as firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jake Spillane, left, his father, Jim Spillane, center, and mother, Lori Spillane, sit in their garage with suitcases, ready to evacuate, as they watch smoke from the Airport Fire rise behind Meander Lane in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire along Trabuco Creek Road in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Firefighters battle the Airport Fire in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Airport Fire heads across Santiago Peak in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Smoke from the Airport Fire rises behind Meander Lane in Trabuco Canyon, CA, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
During a Monday night news conference, McGovern said Orange County Public Works crews began working in the area near Trabuco Creek Road around 7 a.m., using heavy equipment to place boulders meant to replace barriers used to restrict access to the vegetation.
“The fire is classified as unintentional. The cause of the fire was a spark from heavy equipment,” McGovern said. “After placing a load of boulders, the operators began seeing smoke coming from the area of the loader’s basket.”
“The operator and the supervisor used multiple fire extinguishers and the loaders to attempt to extinguish the fire while 911 was being called,” he said.
Around 2:45 p.m., residents in the areas near Rose Canyon Road, Trabuco Creek Road, Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Oaks Drive, Joplin Loop and Cook’s Corner were under an evacuation warning.
Residents along Meander Lane were ordered to evacuate around 3 p.m., with residents in the Robinson Ranch community, along Robinson Ranch Road and Shadow Rock Lane, ordered to evacuate soon after, officials said. The O’Neill Regional Park campgrounds were also closed to the public.
Another evacuation warning was issued by the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department for an area in the Santa Ana Mountains in Riverside County east of the fire.
That warning is for an area east of the Orange County line, west of the 15 Freeway, south of Bedford Motor Way and north of Ortega Highway.
And Monday evening, the Lake Elsinore Unified School District said all schools would be closed Tuesday “in light of the current local fire conditions.”
The Corona Norco Unified School District announced that because of the Airport fire, three elementary schools would be closed Tuesday. They are Wilson, Temescal Valley and Todd elementary schools.
“I want to start off with good news: the Airport fire is burning away from the community of Robinson Ranch,” OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said Monday evening.
Authorities attributed the success of keeping the fire away from the neighborhood to the natural buffer zones the ridges behind Robinson Ranch provide. Radio towers, TV towers and other infrastructure atop Santiago Peak had also been threatened by the fire, but the threat was halted thanks to fixed-wing aircraft dropping fire retardant near the peak.
“I’d like to remind the residents that the incident can change at a moment’s notice. It’s important if you live in the area to be prepared to evacuate, and I want to thank again the community for their support and patience,” said Orange County Assistant Sheriff John McCulloch.
Residents under evacuation who opted to remain in their homes were instructed by Orange County Sheriff’s deputies to sign a “refusal to evacuate” notice, telling them that failure to evacuate after enforcement from authorities is a misdemeanor and resources might not be available to them in the future should they choose to evacuate later.
School districts in Orange County said they are monitoring the fire, and two elementary schools announced closures for Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Robinson and Trabuco elementary schools canceled all instruction, before and after school care, and other activities, Saddleback Valley Unified School District said in a message on its website. The two schools plan to resume normal operations on Wednesday “contingent on further guidance” from the Sheriff’s Department and the OCFA.
Meanwhile, schools in the nearby Capistrano Unified and Irvine Unified districts — on either side of Saddleback Valley Unified — plan to remain open, as of Monday evening. IUSD spokesperson Annie Brown said Irvine schools will adjust outdoor activities based on air quality standards to ensure student safety.
Around 6 p.m., authorities announced road closures for intersections including: Plano Trabuco Road and Joshua Drive, Plano Trabuco Road and Robinson Ranch Road, Antonio Parkway and Alas de Paz, Trabuco Canyon and Trabuco Creek roads, Santa Margarita and Antonio parkways, and Avenida Empresa and Santa Margarita Parkway.
At about 8 p.m., Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road was closed to traffic.
Vehicles trying to get to homes in Robinson Ranch were being turned around on Plano Trabuco Road. A Smart & Final parking lot was full of cars and several people were lined up craning their necks to see the fire as it burned on a ridge in the distance.
Lake Forest residents Lizeth Juarez and Javier Campos were at the Lake Forest Sports Park sitting with their dog watching the fire.
Juarez examined a line of flames crawl northwest up the hills with a large pair of binoculars.
“We are not capable to imagine the impact that it has on the nature, so it’s horrible,” Juarez said.
Roxana Subiran and Ivette Puente watched on as well.
Puente said they saw the same flames earlier but they were no longer visible by 5 p.m.
“(The flames) were pretty aggressive,” Subiran said. She said her best friend lived at one of the homes in the evacuation area and was deciding what to take.
“What do you grab, what do you do?” Subiran said.
“Nothing, just run,” Puente replied.
A reception shelter was established for evacuated residents at the Rancho Santa Margarita Bell Tour Regional Community Center, at 22232 El Paseo, in Rancho Santa Margarita
Two animal shelters were also set up: one for large animals at the Orange County Fair Grounds, at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, and another at a Ralphs parking lot, located at 31481 Santa Margarita Parkway.
Sherry Fankhauser, who lives along Meander Lane, said her and her family had their bags packed and ready to go on Monday.
“Things keep changing as time goes on,” she said. “It got really scary for awhile with the fire moving across the ridge behind the water towers in Robinson Ranch.”
Fankhauser said around 4 p.m. that the fire appeared to be turning eastward down the ridge and away from the neighborhood.
“The firefighters are here going door to door helping residents stow away their propane tanks,” Fankhauser said. “There’s lots of black and brown smoke coming over the ridge but we can’t see the flames, which makes it harder for us to see where it is in location to us.”
Brandon Smith and his family had just returned home Monday afternoon after vacationing at Lake Havasu. While his family was unpacking, he saw his neighbors on Millstream Road starting to pack up.
At 5:15 p.m., he was sitting atop his truck bed watching firefighters drop retardant on flames visible from his front yard.
“We’re gonna head out on our e-bikes to go grab dinner,” he said, “‘Because we can’t drive our truck back in here if we leave.”
Smith wasn’t worried about evacuating immediately, but said if the wind changed they would consider going. Several other neighbors nearby watched the fire from Millstream Road as a sheriff’s deputy walked door to door advising residents about the ongoing evacuation order.
Engine strike teams, hand crews, bulldozers, helicopters, and fixed-wing aircraft were assigned to the fire, including the OCFA’s new Firehawk helicopters.
Two hikers were evacuated in the afternoon near Holy Jim Canyon and were uninjured, according to Cleveland National Forest District Ranger Darrell Vance
Two firefighters suffered minor heat-related injuries and were taken to a hospital, along with one resident with smoke inhalation, McGovern said. No structures had been damaged by the fire on Monday.
“By the morning, I would anticipate we will have a small percentage, its not going to be a big number, on the containment,” McGovern said.
Staff photographer Jeff Gritchen contributed to this story.
