Kentucky News Digest

The news editor is Teresa Wasson and the photographer is Ed Reinke. The Louisville bureau can be reached at (800) 292-3560 or (502) 583-7718 or via e-mail at aplouisville(at)ap.org. Please send your story contributions by e-mail (plain text only, no attachments) to loue(at)ap.org with a cc to aplouisville(at)ap.org. Those without e-mail may fax stories to (502) 589-4831.

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DEVELOPING:

— GE-APPLIANCE JOBS, developing from 2 p.m. news conference.

— TVA-ENVIRONMENTAL LETTER, story moving from 1:30 p.m. telephone news conference.

GE-APPLIANCE JOBS

LOUISVILLE — General Electric Co. on Monday selected Louisville to produce a new line of energy-efficient washers and dryers in a venture expected to deliver more than 400 jobs to its sprawling Appliance Park operation, whose future seemed in jeopardy just a year and a half ago. The announcement builds on momentum for the 900-acre Appliance Park, which found out earlier this year that it will produce hybrid electric water heaters starting in mid-2011. By Bruce Schreiner.

AP Photo.

CHILD ABUSE

LOUISVILLE — A newspaper report says state social workers are confirming far fewer allegations of child abuse than they did a decade ago. Advocates say that could be a sign that social workers are carrying too many cases, causing them to miss dangerous situations.

COUPLE SLAIN

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The last person facing trial in the carjacking and slaying of a Knoxville couple is waiting to hear if the state's highest court will take up her appeal before her scheduled trial in May. Attorneys for Vanessa Coleman of Lebanon, Ky., told The Knoxville News Sentinel they plan to ask the Tennessee Supreme Court to look at an appeal that a lower appellate court refused to consider before Coleman is tried.

TVA-ENVIRONMENTAL LETTER

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Environmental groups have told President Obama in a letter that the Tennessee Valley Authority should be prosecuted for the huge coal ash spill in Tennessee and should not have immunity from federal penalties. Representatives of the Environmental Integrity Project, Sierra Club and other groups said a report by TVA's own inspector general shows the December 22, 2008 coal ash spill at the Kingston plant is "only the latest and most dramatic example of environmental mismanagement." By Bill Poovey.

Also:

— TVA Rates.

ALSO:

— TODDLER SHOT — State police are investigating the fatal shooting of a toddler in south-central Kentucky.

— FEMALE VETERANS-FINDING A PLACE — Nobody wants to buy them a beer. By Kimberly Hefling. AP Photos WXSC301, WXSC302.

— HEAD SHOT — A Kentucky man was able to drive himself to the hospital after being shot in the head.

— STOLEN STASH — Several police departments are working to connect a stash of stolen goods to recent break-ins in northern Kentucky.

— FAMILY DEATHS — Authorities in the bluegrass region say a father and his teenage daughter have died in an apparent murder-suicide.

— RICHARDS-HONORARY DEGREE — State Rep. Jody Richards is being honored by his hometown university.

— ANTI-SMOKING SPENDING — A report by anti-smoking groups is ranking Kentucky 40th among states in the amount of money spent to persuade people to quit or never start smoking.

— BEAR HUNT — The first bear hunt in modern times in Kentucky is set for this coming Saturday in Harlan, Letcher and Pike counties.

— H1N1 CAMPAIGN — Health officials are unveiling a new H1N1 vaccination public service announcement featuring Gov. Steve Beshear and a popular PBS cartoon character.