Kentucky
Hoax bomb threats at four Kentucky schools prompt evacuations; police suspect Valentine’s Day prank
At least four Kentucky schools were hit by phony bomb threat under a 24-hour span, which police believe was a nasty Valentine’s Day-themed social media prank. Similar threats were given to two other southern states.
According to WLWT5, the threats were first made at a suicide hotline around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The calls claimed there was an explosion in Boone County High School, prompting a lockdown as bomb squads were rushed to search the facility.
It was ultimately confirmed that there was no threat at the school.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Boone County School District said, “The safety and security of all students is of the utmost importance to us, and we will continue to work with law enforcement agencies in these types of situations to continue to ensure the safety of all.”
Also Read: Washington D.C. schools on lockdown after 200 bomb threat emails spark chaos
Police placed temporarily lockdown to start search operation
Next day, other threats were made through Suicide Prevention Hotline to Connor High School, St. Henry High School and Beechwood Independent School District.
While police placed temporarily lockdown, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Police Bomb Unit searched the school grounds but did not discover any explosive devices.
According to officials, each call to the hotlines appeared to be made using a pre-recorded or artificially manufactured voice.
Investigators also discovered social media posts with recordings of similar threats with titles and hashtags such as “I don’t want to buy you flowers, that’s too basic, I’ll call in a bomb threat instead,” implying that the calls were part of a bizarre Valentine’s Day prank.
Despite their suspicions of a bogus threat, the Boone County Sheriff’s Office stated that they treat every tip they receive as if it were genuine until they can secure the safety of all concerned parties.
While the suspect in the bomb hoax is still unknown, authorities are still investigating.
According to media reports, Harrisburg received one similar bomb threat on Thursday, while Shelby received one the previous week.
Also Read: Florida man found with notes detailing plans to ‘kill everyone’ at his former school, arrested
Kentucky received similar threats in past
It wasn’t the first time Kentucky had to deal with harmful social media pranks aimed at TikTok users in its schools.
In August, four Kentucky teenagers were arrested in Oldham County and charged with terrorism and harassment for reportedly filming themselves to alert their teachers they had bombs or firearms in their bags.
Kentucky
Top Kentucky Football transfer Lance Heard had minor spring procedure
There is an old saying that there is no such thing as a minor procedure when it happens to you. But that’s exactly what happened over the spring football season as top transfer Lance Heard had surgery on an undisclosed injury that was deemed “minor.”
While Kentucky did not release what exactly the big left tackle had surgery on, anytime you are down your starting left tackle over Spring is not ideal. The good news is Heard has plenty of SEC experience, starting at LSU before transferring to Tennessee.
The biggest thing for an offensive line is reps, but offensive coordinator Joe Sloan told KSR he was happy with what he was seeing.
“You’re starting to see them work really well together, and they have an opportunity to be a strength of our team.” If that comes to fruition, Kentucky will have a really good year. As for the fans, expect a different style this year in Kroger Field.
Kentucky’s offense will be different
Under Mark Stoops, the calling card became a physical offensive line, a punishing run scheme, and a ball control style. That offense will be very different this year, not because of a shift away from the run game, but because there will be a lot more chances taken.
Sometimes, that is a good thing, and other times it causes turnovers. Will Stein said he never called a play he didn’t think would score a touchdown. That aggressive style is what will define Stein’s time in Lexington. He chose a defensive coordinator known for dialing up the blitz. He has gone after nearly all the top recruits, and he isn’t backing down from saying he expects to be the best head coach in the country.
Will it work? I don’t know, but I do know it will look different than what Mark Stoops was putting out. But it all depends on the health of the key players Stein brought in, and that starts with a healthy offensive line.
Kentucky
Kentucky Colonels executive to speak at Florence Rotary Club on Monday, public welcome to register
Kentucky
Tornado ripped through Florence area during storms, NWS confirms
Ohio tornado warnings: what residents should know
Severe storms June 17 in Ohio: know tornado watch vs. warning, safety steps, shelters and alerts.
A tornado was confirmed to have ripped through the Florence area during the overnight storms June 18.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington released a statement June 20 saying a tornado traveled eastward 6.2 miles across the Northern Kentucky city, 10 miles south of Cincinnati. It had estimated peak winds of 100 mph, which classifies it as an EF1 “moderate” tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.
The tornado’s path goes mostly through residential areas, and the first evidence was found on Landings Way where several trees were snapped at their trunks, the weather service reported.
The tornado progressed east, crossing Interstate 71/75 and then seemingly dissipating on Tallwood Circle where multiple large branches were downed, the final known instance of damage.
Along the way, the tornado uprooted multiple trees and snapped branches, damaged several buildings and businesses, and snapped a large power pole near the intersection of U.S. 42 and Dream Street, according to the weather service.
How many tornadoes have been confirmed in Greater Cincinnati, beyond?
As of 1 p.m. June 20, the weather service has confirmed that apart from the one in Florence, two other tornadoes touched down in Greater Cincinnati on June 18:
- An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled about 9 miles from Dearborn County, Indiana, to Boone County, Kentucky.
- An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled just over 5 miles from Franklin County, Indiana, to Butler County, Ohio.
A few other tornadoes have been confirmed outside the Greater Cincinnati region, including an EF2 that traveled 23.6 miles from Scott County, Indiana, to Trimble County, Kentucky; an EF2 that traveled 9 miles across Pike County, Ohio; and one in Grant County, Kentucky, just north of Williamstown.
The weather service said details on the Grant County tornado will be released later on June 20.
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