Latest news with #Lexington-based
NBC News
14-07-2025
- NBC News
Suspected Kentucky church shooter had a domestic violence hearing the next day
The man accused of killing two women in a shooting rampage at a Kentucky church after wounding a state trooper had been expected in court for a domestic violence hearing on Monday, a local official said. In a chilling account of Sunday's attack, Star Rutherford, a relative of the two slain women, said Guy House went to the Lexington-area church looking for one of her sisters but was told she wasn't there. He declared: 'Well I guess someone's going to have to die then,' and shot her mother, 72-year-old Beverly Gumm, in the chest. Rutherford spoke to the Lexington-based broadcaster WKYT-TV. House later killed Christina Combs, who media reports said was another of Rutherford's sisters. Two men were also critically wounded, police said Monday. House went to Richmond Road Baptist Church seeking the mother of his children but his domestic violence hearing did not involve her, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported, citing Rachael Barnes. She identified Gumm and Combs, 34, as her mother and sister. Matt Ball, a deputy clerk for family court in Fayette County, confirmed to The Associated Press that House had been scheduled for the domestic violence hearing on Monday. Authorities have offered no motive and the investigation was ongoing. Officers confronted House, 47, in a rear parking lot after the shootings at the close-knit rural church where many members are related or close friends. At least three Lexington police officers fired, striking House and resulting in his death, authorities said. The trooper is in stable condition, and authorities have not identified the wounded. Sunday's violence began when House shot the trooper during a traffic stop near Lexington's airport, police said. House then fled, forcibly stole a vehicle and opened fire at the church about an hour later, police said. The trooper stopped House after receiving a 'license plate reader alert,' police said. House had active arrest warrants and he shot the trooper as the officer interacted with people in the vehicle, Kentucky State Police Sgt. Matt Sudduth said Monday. The others in the vehicle were not involved in the shooting, did not flee and have cooperated with investigators, he said. A woman who witnessed that shooting said it initially appeared to be a routine traffic stop, with the trooper talking through an open window. 'And as we were driving by, I heard, 'pop, pop' and I knew it was gunshots,' Larissa McLaughlin told WLEX-TV in Lexington. Police credited several people for coming to the trooper's aid immediately. 'Without the assistance of several Good Samaritans, this likely could have been a very life-threatening injury,' Sudduth said. He didn't offer details on what aid was provided and said police were working to identify them. Officers tracked the stolen vehicle to the church about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from where the trooper was shot, police said. 'Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence,' Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday, 'and let's give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police.' State Attorney General Russell Coleman said Sunday that detectives with his office were ready to support local and state agencies, saying, 'Today, violence invaded the Lord's House.'
Hamilton Spectator
14-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Suspected Kentucky church shooter had a domestic violence hearing the next day
The man accused of killing two women in a shooting rampage at a Kentucky church after wounding a state trooper had been expected in court for a domestic violence hearing on Monday, a local official said. In a chilling account of Sunday's attack, Star Rutherford, a relative of the two slain women, said Guy House went to the Lexington-area church looking for one of her sisters but was told she wasn't there. He declared: 'Well I guess someone's going to have to die then,' and shot her mother, 72-year-old Beverly Gumm, in the chest. Rutherford spoke to the Lexington-based broadcaster WKYT-TV. House later killed Christina Combs, who media reports said was another of Rutherford's sisters. Two men were also critically wounded, police said Monday. House went to Richmond Road Baptist Church seeking the mother of his children but his domestic violence hearing did not involve her, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported, citing Rachael Barnes. She identified Gumm and Combs, 34, as her mother and sister. Matt Ball, a deputy clerk for family court in Fayette County, confirmed to The Associated Press that House had been scheduled for the domestic violence hearing on Monday. Authorities have offered no motive and the investigation was ongoing. Officers confronted House, 47, in a rear parking lot after the shootings at the close-knit rural church where many members are related or close friends. At least three Lexington police officers fired, striking House and resulting in his death, authorities said. The trooper is in stable condition, and authorities have not identified the wounded. Sunday's violence began when House shot the trooper during a traffic stop near Lexington's airport, police said. House then fled, forcibly stole a vehicle and opened fire at the church about an hour later, police said. The trooper stopped House after receiving a 'license plate reader alert,' police said. House had active arrest warrants and he shot the trooper as the officer interacted with people in the vehicle, Kentucky State Police Sgt. Matt Sudduth said Monday. The others in the vehicle were not involved in the shooting, did not flee and have cooperated with investigators, he said. A woman who witnessed that shooting said it initially appeared to be a routine traffic stop, with the trooper talking through an open window. 'And as we were driving by, I heard, 'pop, pop' and I knew it was gunshots,' Larissa McLaughlin told WLEX-TV in Lexington. Police credited several people for coming to the trooper's aid immediately. 'Without the assistance of several Good Samaritans, this likely could have been a very life-threatening injury,' Sudduth said. He didn't offer details on what aid was provided and said police were working to identify them. Officers tracked the stolen vehicle to the church about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from where the trooper was shot, police said. 'Please pray for everyone affected by these senseless acts of violence,' Gov. Andy Beshear said Sunday, 'and let's give thanks for the swift response by the Lexington Police Department and Kentucky State Police.' State Attorney General Russell Coleman said Sunday that detectives with his office were ready to support local and state agencies, saying, 'Today, violence invaded the Lord's House.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr makes it official. Lexington Republican seeks McConell's Senate seat.
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, announced his U.S. Senate run in a video released Tuesday. (Screenshot) Railing against the 'woke left' and embracing President Donald Trump, Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr confirmed his run for U.S. Senate by unveiling a video Tuesday. Barr's announcement comes as no surprise after weeks of speculation following Sen. Mitch McConnell's announcement in February that he would not seek reelection. McConnell has held the seat since 1984. In the video, Barr denounces 'insane DEI initiatives,' referring to diversity, equity and inclusion programs that Trump has banned in the federal government and is moving to end elsewhere. Barr echoes also Trump's presidential campaign's emphasis on transgender issues, vowing to 'lock up the sickos who allow biological men to share locker rooms with our daughters.' Republican Daniel Cameron, a former Kentucky attorney general, announced his candidacy on social media as soon as McConnell ended his announcement that he would not run. It's Cameron's first foray back into Kentucky politics after losing the 2023 gubernatorial election to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Cameron reported having raised $508,000 for his Senate run as of March 31. Meanwhile, Barr raised $1.8 million in the same period and has $5.3 million on hand, according to federal campaign finance reports. Barr, of Lexington, was first elected to the House in 2013. Currently, he is a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee and chairman of the Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Subcommittee. He also serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Barr in December lost a Republican caucus vote to be chairman of the powerful Financial Services Committee, which oversees U.S. banking and monetary policy. He had earlier said a House committee chairmanship would preclude his running for the Senate, McClatchy reported. In the weeks leading up to Barr's announcement, the congressman was among Republicans facing pressure from their constituents to have an in-person town hall over growing frustrations with President Donald Trump's agenda. Last month, more than 900 people gathered for a town hall at the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington, but Barr declined to attend. He did have a telephone town hall days later. The Republican primary looks to be contentious between Barr and Cameron, particularly as they seek a coveted endorsement from Trump. Cameron had Trump's backing for his failed 2023 race. Barr has recently emphasized his support for the president's agenda and for his billionaire adviser Elon Musk. At a White House event earlier this month, Trump said while acknowledging Barr's attendance: 'Good luck with everything. I hear good things.' A possible third candidate, Lexington-based businessman Nate Morris, has also been mulling a run for Senate but has not made a formal announcement. Morris has gained the eye of Trump world allies, including the president's son, Donald Trump Jr. Morris' support for the president's tariff plans was also included in a recent White House press release. On the Democratic side, House Minority Floor Leader Rep. Pamela Stevenson, of Louisville, has announced her candidacy for the race. Like Cameron, she was a statewide candidate in 2023, losing the attorney general race to Republican Russell Coleman. Rocky Adkins, a senior adviser to Beshear and former state House Democratic floor leader, has not ruled out a Senate run himself. Barr's Senate candidacy now opens the race for Kentucky's 6th Congressional District — a seat in central Kentucky that Democrats are hoping to flip. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee previously listed Barr's current seat as one of the districts it views as in play heading into midterm elections in 2026.
Boston Globe
20-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Steward paid them a fraction of what it owed. Now it's suing them to get the money back.
Now, Steward is suing Brewster to get that money back. The lawsuit is one of over 170 the bankrupt health system filed since April 11, seeking to claw back millions of dollars over others before the bankruptcy, and that payments to those groups over other creditors was a preferential treatment. To those companies, it's one last kick from a former business partner. 'In my eyes, you not only took advantage of me for a number of years and I hung in to make sure the patients we care for weren't affected by your lack of payment,' said Mark Brewster, chief executive of Brewster Ambulance. 'Now you want to claw back the little bit you did give me? I'm furious.' The lawsuits against vendors stand in contrast to what the company so far hasn't done: claw back money from its top executives or others who profited handsomely while Steward failed. In just the year prior to bankruptcy, bankruptcy documents show that chief executive Dr. Ralph de la Torre collected $5.2 million, Armin Ernst, who lead Steward's international entity, received over $900,000, and the construction company CREF, in which Advertisement Meanwhile, several vendors that were sued are still owed money by Steward. Brewster in particular has yet to be paid more than $500,000 by Steward for services before the bankruptcy, and is also waiting to be paid for ambulance rides it continued to provide since the bankruptcy case began. Those services were critical, as Brewster said the ambulance company provided 70 percent of the rides shuttling patients between or home from Steward's Massachusetts hospitals. Advertisement 'When you take the footprint south of Boston, there weren't many other providers,' Brewster said. 'That's why we hung in. If I didn't transport those patients, they wouldn't have found (alternatives). I couldn't have let their poor business decisions affect a patient who needed services ... I never thought it would be in a bankruptcy and folding up shop and clawing back what you did pay me.' A Brewster Ambulance Service ambulance in 2021. Barry Chin/Globe Staff While they might feel outrageous to vendors, such lawsuits are relatively common in bankruptcy proceedings, said Jim Erving, a restructuring, insolvency and bankruptcy partner at Dentons Bingham Greenebaum LLP in Louisville. The US Bankruptcy code permits debtors or trustees to recover payments made to vendors within 90 days of the filing of a case. That recovered money is usually redistributed to creditors waiting in line for the company to pay its debts, said Erving, whose firm is representing clients involved in the Steward bankruptcy. And Steward has targeted a wide range of vendors from which to pull money back. Related : In Massachusetts alone, the bankrupt health care system is trying to claw back more than $2.8 million. Targets include Lexington-based Eliot Community Human Services, which provides behavioral health services to adults and children, for nearly $300,000; and Baystate Interpreters, in Garner, for $151,000. Though the bills to Baystate were paid from February to April 2024, they were for invoices dating as far back as 2020. Advertisement Steward had wracked up hundreds of thousands of bills to Milton CAT, which provides Caterpillar machines, engines, generators, technology, parts and services. Invoices went as far back as 2021, and weren't paid until early 2024. But now, Steward is seeking to claw back $840,000. According to claims filed with the court, Milton CAT says it is still owed more than $100,000 by Steward. Over 170 of these suits have been filed so far. There will likely be more, said Ethan Jeffrey, an attorney with Murphy & King who has experience in health care insolvencies, but they are often filed piecemeal as not to overwhelm the court. Vendors can push back. Those that kept working with Steward after being paid can argue they provided even more value to the organization, and seek to reduce Steward's claims by that amount, said Jeffrey, who is representing several Steward vendors who have been sued for such clawbacks. If the payments also happened within the ordinary course of business, vendors can also argue they didn't receive preferential treatment. The theory behind such clawbacks is that certain vendors received preferential treatment because they were paid before others. By recovering those payments, the court can re-allocate the funds to all creditors, treating them all the same, Jeffrey said. But that theory is hard to swallow for the targeted firms that are still owed money from Steward and now find the health system is demanding they return some funds. The hallway to the emergency department at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton in 2024. Good Samaritan, previously operated by Steward Health Care, was taken over by Boston Medical Center last year. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff 'It's adding insult to injury,' Jeffrey said. 'It's another nice piece of this mess we call Steward.' Advertisement The 90-day window for recoupments is generally for vendors or other groups such as banks who had been paid for an outstanding debt. But the debtor or a trustee can go back even further to recoup money According to Roe, the clawbacks are generally in cases where the company did not get enough in return for what was paid, while the company was insolvent. Alternatively, clawbacks can come when payments were to intentionally hinder, delay, or defraud the company's other creditors. Any such clawbacks would also have to go before the bankruptcy court, as they have in other major cases. 'These things were at the core of the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy,' Roe said, referring to the company that marketed and dispensed opioids that contributed to the nation's opioid crisis. 'A huge amount of money (had been paid) to the Sacklers. The fraudulent transfer action was — return all the money.' Roe said sometimes new management at a company or a trustee can file a claim against former executives. It is unclear who might bring such an action at Steward. Many executives have departed the company and Steward is now being run by its attorneys. Neither a spokesperson for Steward or its attorneys returned calls for comment. The funding delay has already impacted affected businesses. Ambulance companies work on thin margins, Brewster said, and the organization has had to cut back on staffing and other things because of Steward's unpaid bills. Another $170,000 would hurt, Brewster said. Advertisement 'The way I look at it, I've been chasing them for years for money they owe me,' Brewster said. 'If they want to claw it back, you can chase me now.' Jessica Bartlett can be reached at
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Andy Barr to launch Senate bid to succeed Mitch McConnell
Rep. Andy Barr plans to announce next week that he is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by former GOP leader Mitch McConnell, according to two people familiar with his plans and granted anonymity to discuss them. One of those people, a Republican in Kentucky, provided an invitation to a "special campaign announcement" on Tuesday evening in Richmond. Barr, a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, had been considering a run to succeed McConnell since even before McConnell officially announced in February that he would not seek reelection next year. The Lexington Herald-Leader first reported Barr's plans. First elected in 2012 to a Lexington-based seat, Barr will enter a contested primary to succeed the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history. Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who announced his campaign in February, had been viewed by many as the heir apparent to McConnell, before a failed bid for governor dented his reputation. Barr, too, is already facing some challenges in the state. The anti-tax group Club for Growthreleased a TV ad in February attacking Barr for his vote to raise the debt ceiling and casting him as working on behalf of 'woke Wall Street' banks. Barr won a challenging campaign against former Marine Corps pilot Amy McGrath in 2018, solidifying his control over his central Kentucky seat. A Senate run will mark his first statewide campaign, testing whether his appeal stretches to some of the more conservative areas in the eastern and western parts of the state. Barrraised $1.8 million in the first three months of the year, according to financial disclosures filed this week, and ended the quarter with $5.3 million in the bank. Cameron raised $508,000. Barr's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
