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Rineyville man found guilty of Manslaughter for shooting death of wife

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A Hardin County man was convicted for the shooting death of his wife Thursday.

The Hardin County Circuit Court jury found Jordan Henning of Rineyville guilty of First Degree Manslaughter. Henning was arrested in June 2023 after police say he shot his wife Ashley Henning five times following a birthday party at their home. Both Jordan and Ashley Henning were active duty service members stationed at Fort Knox at the time of the shooting.

Henning’s attorneys argued in their closing arguments Thursday that the shooting took place while he was under “extreme emotional disturbance” and after multiple issues had festered for some time he had snapped after multiple triggers. The prosecution argued in their closing arguments that the evidence in the case, including home surveillance video, shows Henning acted with malicious purpose.

The jury recommended a sentence of 20 years. A date for sentencing was not immediately set. Henning remains incarcerated at the Hardin County Detention Center.

(Photo Credit: Hardin County Detention Center)

State officials kick off Ad Education Week at Creekside Elementary School

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Kentucky state officials joined students and staff at Creekside Elementary School Monday to kick off the inaugural Ag Education Week, which runs now through March 21.

According to the Kentucky Department of agriculture, Ag Education Week “delivers an all-encompassing learning experience for students, equips educators with ready-to-use resources and lessons, and fosters community involvement to create dynamic, hands-on learning focused on the diverse world of Kentucky agriculture.”

Hardin County Schools says Creekside’s Agstream initiative, which launched in 2021, is one of the first, if not the first, elementary agriculture curriculum programs in the state, so Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman said it was appropriate to launch Ag Education Week there.

“We’ve got a public school system that has been underfunded and undervalued for far too long and we have a farming population that feels the same way, and so knowing how dependent we are on education for the future of Kentucky and knowing how dependent the entire world is on agriculture and growing this sector, there’s no better way to make sure that we value both by bringing them together and highlighting them and the work that’s being done,” Coleman said.

Creekside Elementary School Principal Brooke Custis said the Agstream initiative was born out of conversations with parents, staff, and students following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“After listening to all those things from families and staff and the community, it seemed that what seemed to resonate the most was that they wanted their children to have less screen time and more social interaction,” Custis said. “They wanted them to have fresh air and sunshine and feel their hands in the dirt and the sun on their face.”

Kentucky Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher said the Agstream initiative fits well into the three main pillars of the Department of Education’s decision making: innovation, collaboration with community, and vibrant learning.

“How much more relevant can your learning in the classroom be than if you’re going straight out of your classroom into your community and applying what you’re learning in the classroom?” Fletcher said. “And that’s what you’re doing with agriculture. There is so much learning that’s going on day to day that is vibrant, that is relevant as it relates to agriculture.”

Learn more about resources being promoted during Ag Education Week at kyagr.com.

E-Town council holds first reading on outdoor music venue bond ordinance

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The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Monday.

The first reading was held on an ordinance approving a general obligations bond for the Buffalo Lake outdoor music venue. The bond is not to exceed $47 million to be paid over a term not to exceed 30 years. Elizabethtown Mayor Jeff Gregory asked City Attorney Ken Howard to clarify that no additional taxes are being created to pay for the bond.

“It is not anticipated that any additional taxes will have to be imposed,” Howard said. “We’ve done the analysis, your financial advisors are here today as well and believe that the current sources of revenue available to the city and to tourism will be sufficient to pay the bonds.”

An ordinance establishing new sewer rates for the city also had its first reading. In addition to establishing new connection, industrial, and commercial fees, the ordinance sets gradual increases in the minimum residential bill, with a rate for the first 2,000 gallons beginning at $14.46 in 2025 and increasing to $19.52 by 2028. Gregory said the city is very careful when considering any increases to fees or taxes, and the fees and rates are still among the lowest in the state.

“We are very cognizant of the fact that with inflation and the economy the way it is right now that people don’t have a ton of extra money and we still want to keep our fees as low as we possibly can, but like I said we have not changed since 2012 on the rate change, and the connection fee since 1999,” Gregory said.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet March 24.

KSP accepting applications for youth academy

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The Kentucky State Police will once again be hosting an opportunity for area youth to learn more about a career in law enforcement.

Registration is now available for the second-annual KSP Youth Academy Program, which will be held at the Trooper Island Camp on Dale Hollow Lake from July 21 through 25. The KSP says the weeklong camp “allows Kentucky’s future officers the chance to interact with state police troopers while developing leadership skills, physical fitness, and an understanding of law enforcement principles.”

Participants will take part in a variety of activities including participating in team-building exercises to foster collaboration and teamwork, learning forensic techniques through demonstrations by the KSP Crime Lab, and understanding criminal investigations and crime scene analysis. Last year’s program saw 23 participants from 17 counties across the commonwealth.

The program is open to 16 and 17-year-old Kentuckians. There is no cost to participate. Find more information and the application on the KSP’s website.

Kentucky unemployment sees small increase in January

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Unemployment in Kentucky in January came in slightly higher than where it was the year prior. 

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for January was 5.3 percent. That is an increase from January 2024 when the rate was reported at 4.7 percent, but the rate is unchanged from December 2024.

Kentucky’s unemployment average also came in higher in January than the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor reported at 4 percent.

The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw an increase of about 3,900 people from December to January, bringing the civilian labor force to about 2,109,000.

The Education and Labor Cabinet says the Business and Professional Services sector saw an increase from December to January, while numbers in the Manufacturing sector were unchanged. Decreases were seen in the Mining and Logging, Educational and Health Services, Information Services, Financial Activities, Government, Construction, Leisure and Hospitality,  and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities sectors.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website to learn more about labor market information.