WQXE News
The jury trial date for Crystal Rogers investigation suspect Steven Lawson has been moved.
During a hearing in Nelson Circuit Court Thursday morning, Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III granted a motion for a continuance filed by Lawson’s defense to delay the start of his trial on Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Tampering with Physical Evidence charges. The trial was moved from February 11 to May 27.
Lawson’s attorney Darren Wolff told Simms that he had concerns when assigned to the case on August 22 that he and co-counsel Zack Buckler would not have enough time to review the large amount of discovery to review in the case in time for a February trial. Wolff asked for the trial to be moved to late summer so that they would have enough time to look through the more than 10 terabytes of data in the case and in order to ensure Lawson received proper counsel.
Special Prosecutor Shane Young said moving the trial back would have multiple impacts including on the witnesses that have been subpoenaed in the case, the Warren County Justice Center where the trial is to take place, and Young’s cases in Hardin County that have been scheduled around the Rogers case trials. Young also said while Lawson has trial rights, so does the victim and her family, and delaying the trial impacts that.
Simms said he was also concerned that not giving the defense enough time to prepare would give potential support for an ineffective counsel claim should Lawson be successfully prosecuted, but said he would not delay the case to late summer and settled on the May 27 date. A pretrial conference for status review was scheduled for February 27.
On the heels of Winter Storm Blair and a week of subfreezing temperatures, more snow looks to be on its way to the area.
The National Weather Service in Louisville says another winter system looks to be arriving Friday into Friday night with accumulating snow likely in the forecast. This system is expected to sweep further south than what was seen this past weekend.
Hardin, Meade, Breckinridge, Nelson, Bullitt, and LaRue counties could see 3 to 4 inches of snow between Thursday morning and Saturday night. Parts of Grayson and Hart counties could see 4 to 6 inches of snow during that time frame.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says ice is not part of the forecast at this time, but with the previous weekend’s snow and ice still melting and temperatures remaining as cold as they are, the snow this weekend is likely to create hazardous driving conditions such as slick roads and bridges. Drivers are reminded to avoid traveling in the winter weather if possible, but if you must make sure you leave prepared. Take an emergency kit, give extra time for travel and extra distance for braking, slow down, and give extra space for highway crews and emergency responders.
KYTC crews will be plowing and treating roads as necessary and as possible. The KYTC says more than 2,300 highway crew workers have plowed approximately 28,000 miles of roadway and applied nearly 150,000 tons of salt since Sunday’s weather.
During his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday evening, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the state of the commonwealth is “strong, and it’s growing stronger.”
“Every day, we’re welcoming more businesses, more families, and more visitors to our new Kentucky home,” Beshear said. “We’re making progress like we’ve never seen before, and the rest of the country is noticing. Right now, all eyes are on Kentucky.”
The governor touted successes in economic development, including over $35 billion in private investment and 59,800 new jobs over the last five years, along with new records for exports and tourism.
Beshear said it is time to reintroduce Kentucky to the world, calling back to the “New Kentucky Home” Initiative introduced in November as he highlighted that Kentucky is 11 percent below the national average for cost of living, ranks third for utility affordability, and ranks in the top ten for affordable child care.
“Our new Kentucky home is a place where we’re focused on our people,” Beshear said. “At a time when things cost too much, we’ve lowered the income tax and we’ve lowered property taxes for four years in a row. We froze the gas tax when times were tough and we’ve capped the price of insulin.”
The governor highlighted business projects such as the opening of Whiskey House and the ECTC BlueOval SK training facility in Hardin County, infrastructure projects including new bridges and drinking water developments, and the certification of more Recovery Ready Communities.
Beshear closed by encouraging Kentuckians to “push out all the toxic noise we hear on TV and social media” and come together.
“So to everyone out there tonight, remember: life’s short, so do good things and be kind to each other,” Beshear said. “Show each other compassion, love, generosity, even patience.”
Beshear’s complete address is available on the governor’s website and YouTube channel.
President Joe Biden has declared January 9 a national day of mourning in memory of Former President Jimmy Carter, and federal facilities including Fort Knox will have closings as a result.
According to the U.S. Army Fort Knox Facebook page, the installation will treat the day of mourning like any other federal holiday.
The Brandenburg and Wilson gates, along with the Chaffee Avenue on-ramps to U.S. 31W, will be closed Thursday, while the Chaffee Gate at Bullion Boulevard will remain open 24/7.
The Fort Knox Post Office will be closed and delivery suspended, and all DFMRW facilities including those for children will be closed. The Gammon and Otto physical fitness centers will be open for those with pre-registered access, and the Houston Bowling Center will open at 4 p.m. The commissary will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and all AAFES facilities will maintain normal operating hours.
Carter died on December 29 at the age of 100. After lying in state at the U.S. Capitol, the 39th president’s funeral will be held at the Washington National Cathedral. Following a private family service at Maranatha Baptist Church, Carter will be buried next to his wife Rosalynn in front of their home in Plains, Georgia.