By Graham ShelbyKentucky State Police are going to be out in greater numbers than usual over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, watching for impaired drivers, speeders and other unsafe motorists on the highways. Kentucky State Trooper Jerry Wise says he and his colleagues on the force are hoping those extra hours they’re working turn out to be uneventful. “We don’t want to write anybody a citation, but if that’s something that has to be done, then that’s what we’ll do. And if we have to take somebody to jail, then so be it. That’s our duty out here is to protect the commonwealth. We want to prevent a tragedy out here and we want to minimize the fatalities as much as possible,” he said. According to the State Police, at least 737 people have died on Kentucky roads so far this year.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.