Kentucky
These 10 plants are among Kentucky’s most notorious invasives. How to identify them
Madison parks uses goats to help control invasive plant species
Goats are used by Madison Parks to reduce invasive species. Here Landscape Architect Sarah Close explains the program.
A slew of invasive plant species have grown roots in Kentucky soil and more are migrating into the state, shouldering out native biodiversity.
Invasive plants are non-native, causing ecological or economic harm, and are usually introduced by human actions. Not all non-native plants are invasive.
Agriculture, forestry and other prized Kentucky industries are at risk because of invasive plant species. They typically spread quickly, outcompeting and displacing important native species.
“Biological invasions” in the U.S., spanning thousands of species of invasive plants, pests, mammals and other life, have incurred “at least” $1.22 trillion in costs from 1960-2020, according to a recent study.
That estimate includes only “observed, highly reliable costs,” according to the study, and damages have risen in recent years — in the 2010s, invasive species cost the U.S. about $21 billion each year.
As climate change makes Kentucky warmer and wetter, invasive species comfortable in warmer climates to the south could move north into Kentucky.
“These milder winters fail to destroy imported insects and plants,” according to a government report on Kentucky’s emerging forest threats. “This may result in habitat destruction (or) fragmentation and loss of aesthetic value in recreational areas.”
Here are 10 invasive plant species afflicting Kentucky’s forests and natural resources:
Tree of heaven
Deemed a “devilish invader” by The Nature Conservancy, tree of heaven grows rapidly and can take over a forest with its prolific seed production.
“It forms these dense thickets that aren’t going to allow for the growth of the diversity of other tree species,” said Ellen Crocker, a professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources.
A forest without a diversity of plant species cannot support a diversity of insects, birds and wildlife, causing ripple effects throughout an ecosystem.
Tree of heaven is also “a favorite host” of the spotted lanternfly, Crocker said.
The spotted lanternfly is an invasive pest ravaging the eastern U.S. and reported in Kentucky last year. Entomologists say its spread would cause extensive damage to the state’s forests and agricultural operations.
Tree of heaven can grow up to 80 feet, and is identifiable by its compound leaves, composed of many narrow leaflets, and “bark resembling the skin of a cantaloupe,” according to Penn State Extension. When crushed, the leaves produce a pungent odor comparable “to cat urine or burnt peanut butter.”
Bush honeysuckle
Bush honeysuckle has grown ubiquitously in Kentucky’s natural areas, identified by its opposite leaves, striped bark, shiny, round berries and sets of flowers that turn from white to yellow.
It blankets a forest’s understory, blotting out the sun for other, native plant life. Its leaves also come out earlier and stick around later in the year, shading native plants.
Since the plant’s understory dominance can prevent the growth of other species, it can contribute to erosion and water quality problems, Crocker said.
Bush honeysuckle can also release chemicals into the soil through a biological process called allelopathy, which can inhibit the growth of other plants.
The shrub is “found in abundance in Cherokee and Seneca Park,” according to the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, and “threatens native plants and park ecosystems.”
Research has also tied invasive honeysuckle to abundant tick populations, Crocker added, potentially helping the spread of tick-borne diseases.
Kudzu
Notorious as “the vine that ate the South,” kudzu has swallowed up wide swaths of rural Kentucky, snaking up telephone poles and carpeting hillsides.
It can grow up to 2 inches per day in the right conditions, according to the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. The vine’s alternating, compound leaves with three leaflets help identify it.
Kudzu is native to China, but was found to have useful applications in the U.S. as nutritious feed for livestock and as a soil stabilizer.
But it grew out of control across the South and beyond, and “its rapid growth can choke out trees and rapidly overrun fields and pastures,” according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Consistent livestock grazing of cattle, goats and other ruminants is one method of controlling kudzu’s spread, research has shown.
Callery pear
Callery pears were planted as ornamental trees in Kentucky and across the U.S., noted for their blooming white flowers and pungent smell.
Bradford pears, a cultivar of the Callery, are found across Louisville. All Callery pears are a “prohibited species” according to Metro ordinances, along with numerous other invasive species.
As the fruit of the Callery pear softens, birds eat it, helping their abundant spread, according to the Southern Group of State Foresters.
Callery pear “is not known for being a species that supports high biodiversity,” Crocker said, as the tree instead creates uniformity in a landscape and pushes out important native species.
To identify the tree, look for “alternately arranged teardrop shape rippled leaves with finely toothed margins,” according to Penn State Extension. “The bark is gray brown and becomes scaly with age.”
Autumn olive
This shrub, introduced to North America nearly 200 years ago from Asia, is comfortable in unforgiving soil, and it’s commonly found growing on former mine lands.
A single plant can create 200,000 seeds each year, according to The Nature Conservancy, helping it spread. Birds take the fruit, and the seeds are distributed “far and wide throughout pastures, along roadsides and near fences.”
Like bush honeysuckle, autumn olive uses allelopathy to change soil chemistry, further displacing native plant species.
Autumn olive grows up to 20 feet tall, and can be identified by the silver-gray color in its foliage, small, alternating leaves and cream-colored flowers.
Burning bush
Named for its bright red fall foliage, burning bush is an invasive shrub popular for ornamental and landscape uses.
“Despite its demonstrated invasiveness, it remains one of the most popular landscaping shrubs sold by nurseries and retailers throughout many parts of the U.S.,” according to Purdue Extension.
Burning bush has been widely reported across the eastern U.S., and is known to leave its original cultivation area and invade natural areas, where it can spread quickly and crowd out native species.
To identify burning bush, look for “football-shaped, oppositely arranged, finely toothed or serrated leaves that are between one and two inches long,” according to Penn State Extension. “The leaves turn a brilliant purplish red to scarlet before senescing, or dying, in the fall.”
Wintercreeper
An evergreen vine used as an ornamental ground cover, wintercreeper is considered invasive for its ability to carpet an area, impeding native wildflowers, shrubs and trees.
It may also climb dozens of feet up into trees, Crocker said, and can make the trees more vulnerable to damage from strong winds or storms in the winter.
The vine can be identified by its “slightly toothed” and “glossy evergreen leaves with prominent silvery-white” veins, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Conservation.
Wintercreeper produces berries and fruit only when growing upward as a vine, making it more likely to spread widely in this form, Crocker said, since birds will eat the berries and carry the seeds into other areas.
It’s also one of several vines found in Louisville’s Olmsted parks, and takes advantage of the winter months to spread outward and up into trees.
Left unmanaged, wintercreeper could crowd out native spring ephemerals in parks and natural areas, including Dutchman’s breeches and wood poppy, according to the Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
Paulownia
Paulownia, also known as princess tree, is another species considered invasive for its fast growth and ability to outcompete native species.
“It tolerates high soil acidity, drought, and low soil fertility enabling it to survive, grow, and reproduce on harsh, exposed sites,” according to the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council. “… Its ability to sprout prolifically from adventitious buds on stems and roots allows it to survive fire, cutting, and even bulldozing in construction areas.”
Despite its overall resilience, the tree is not very cold tolerant, Crocker said, and warmer conditions in Kentucky could make the species more problematic.
Paulownia trees can be identified by their large, heart-shaped leaves, rough, gray-brown bark and fuzzy leaves that grow opposite each other along the stem.
Paulownias are not to be confused with the native northern catalpa, a similar-looking species whose leaves grow in a whorled pattern instead of opposite pairs, and lacks the same fuzz on its leaves as the Paulownia.
Porcelain berry
Porcelain berry is another invasive vine in Kentucky, somewhat resembling wild grapevine. It’s known to overtake native vegetation and can wrap around trees, stealing resources and strangling them.
The vine grows well in many different environments and soil types, and birds and other animals eat its berries, helping it spread.
It’s also among numerous invasive species threatening Louisville’s parks.
“Like all invasive plants, Porcelain-Berry grows rapidly because it did not evolve here with the checks and balances of competition from the plants and animals that live here,” according to the Olmsted Parks Conservancy. “Instead it takes the place of the plants that supply the resources our native wildlife needs.”
The plant has small flowers and alternating leaves, and its “distinctive speckled berry” comes in different colors — including blue, pink, purple, and cream, according to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Porcelain berry can be distinguished from wild grape by its white pith (the center of its stem) and small spots on its bark.
Garlic mustard
First introduced to the U.S. from Europe in the 19th century as a medicinal herb, garlic mustard quickly spread throughout American fields and forests.
Like some other invasives, garlic mustard emerges earlier in the spring, blocking native plants from sunlight, water and nutrients.
One plant’s thousands of seeds may be transported by the wind or wildlife, and they can grow “almost anywhere,” according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
Garlic mustard typically grows to 2 to 3.5 feet tall, and produces four-petaled white flowers in the spring and summer.
Unsurprisingly, garlic mustard tastes like garlic and mustard — and “all parts of the plant are edible and nutritious,” according to Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, although the plant should be cooked to remove trace amounts of toxins.
How to combat Kentucky’s invasive plant scourge
A vast majority of Kentucky’s forests and natural areas are privately owned, meaning it’s mostly private landowners who are faced with the incursion of invasive plants.
The easiest opportunity to prevent the spread of invasive species is before they’ve gained a foothold, Crocker said, and there are a variety of resources available to landowners around the state looking for help in managing natural areas and combating invasive species.
Some resources include:
“There’s a lot that we can be doing to promote the health of natural areas, to help our native communities deal with these invasive issues,” Crocker said.
“I don’t want people to feel discouraged. I want them to feel empowered that they can play a big role in promoting the health of natural areas.”
Connor Giffin is an environmental reporter for The Courier Journal. Reach him directly at cgiffin@gannett.com or on X @byconnorgiffin.
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Kentucky
Kentucky man gets prison for hacking state systems to fake own death and avoid paying child support
![Kentucky man gets prison for hacking state systems to fake own death and avoid paying child support Kentucky man gets prison for hacking state systems to fake own death and avoid paying child support](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/04/Jesse-Kipf.jpg)
A Somerset, Kentucky, man was sentenced to prison after hacking state registry systems to fake his own death in order to avoid paying child support.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said 39-year-old Jesse Kipf was sentenced to 81 months on Monday for computer fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Kipf is accused of hacking state systems in Hawaii, Arizona and Vermont, in addition to two private companies, GuestTek Interactive Entertainment, which provides internet access at hotels, and Milestone Inc., a marketing company, according to federal court documents.
In January 2023, when Kipf owed his California ex over six-figures, federal prosecutors say Kipf obtained the credentials of a doctor, logged into the Hawaii Death Registry System and created a case file for his own premature end.
KENTUCKY DAD HACKS HAWAII TO FAKE DEATH RATHER THAN PAY 6-FIGURE CHILD SUPPORT DEBT
Jesse Kipf, 38, is expected to plead guilty to federal hacking and identity theft charges after prosecutors say he faked his own death, partly to escape having to pay more than $116,000 in child support to his ex in California. (Grayson County Detention Center)
He then filled out a death certificate while posing as the doctor and submitted it — which made him appear dead across several government databases, court filings say.
Prosecutors said he also hacked other death registries and broke into private business networks, selling access on the dark web.
Additionally, after faking his death, he is accused of opening credit cards with false Social Security numbers in an attempt to live a new life.
ROMANIAN MOB IS COMING FOR YOUR DEBIT CARDS, WITH ATM-STYLE SKIMMERS NOW AT SELF-CHECKOUTS, AUTHORITIES WARN
The DOJ said Kipf pleaded guilty to the crimes, which he committed for his own private gain.
“This scheme was a cynical and destructive effort, based in part on the inexcusable goal of avoiding his child support obligations,” Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky said. “This case is a stark reminder of how damaging criminals with computers can be, and how critically important computer and online security is to us all.
“Fortunately, through the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, this case will serve as a warning to other cyber criminals, and he will face the consequences of his disgraceful conduct.”
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Kipf is required under federal law to serve 85% of his prison sentence. Once released, he will be on supervised release for three years.
The DOJ added that the damage to governmental and corporate computer systems and Kipf’s failure to pay his child support obligations amounted to a total of $195,759.
Fox News Digital’s Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.
Kentucky
Suspect in shooting outside a Kentucky courthouse has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A man accused of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend and her mother outside a Kentucky courthouse has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after leading police on a highway pursuit that ended in a church parking lot, authorities said Tuesday.
The suspect, Christopher Elder, 46, died Monday evening at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was airlifted earlier in the day.
Elder was accused of opening fire Monday morning in a parking lot outside the Hardin County Justice Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Killed were Erica Riley, 37, and her mother, 71-year-old Janet Riley. A third victim, a man who has not been identified but is related to both women, is hospitalized in stable condition, police said. They had shown up for a court hearing regarding a protective order against Elder.
Elder’s vehicle was located on a highway by authorities in western Kentucky and the suspect at times pointed a rifle at officers during the pursuit, Hopkinsville police said on social media. Elder fled into a church parking lot in the Fruit Hill community in Christian County, Kentucky, where he pointed the weapon at himself and officers, police said. During the standoff, police negotiators spoke with Elder for about 90 minutes before the suspect shot himself in the head, police said.
Elizabethtown is about 45 miles (72.4 kilometers) south of Louisville, and the Fruit Hill community is about 108 miles (173.8 kilometers) southwest of Elizabethtown.
Kentucky
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks at DNC
![Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks at DNC Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear speaks at DNC](https://gray-wsmv-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X6KDGZRCMJDJLCVXHWZVGUP7CQ.bmp?auth=800a22cfc3fc9b44e761fada6177b6521b19e035f305c25b53bc8b8b835b452e&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
CHICAGO, IL. (WSMV) – Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear spoke on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Governor Beshear’s address to the crowd of democrats inside the United Center focused on women’s reproductive rights and leading America with compassion and empathy.
“Elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to protect reproductive freedom,” Beshear declared to the crowd inside the United Center.
Beshear drew contrast between Harris’ and former President Donald Trump’s polices on reproductive rights noting that Trump’s three nominations to the Supreme Court, voted to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Beshear said Trump’s project 2025 goes even further.
“Trump and Vance simply don’t believe in your freedom,” Beshear said “Their policies give rapists more rights than their victims.”
Project 2025 is a blueprint of conservative policy proposals for a future Republican administration. It was developed in 2022 by The Heritage Foundation and like-minded conservative groups.
While a ban on abortion isn’t detailed in the plan, restricting access to abortion is included. Project 2025 proposes a reverse to the approval of chemical abortion drugs by the Food and Drug Administration. Blocking the mailing of abortion pills is also in the plan.
Trump has been distancing himself from Project 2025, stating on social media that he knew nothing about it but also didn’t agree with parts of the plan. He didn’t specify which part that was.
The two-time Kentucky Governor made a plea to end “anger politics” and move beyond “us vs. them” and to “remember we are all Americans.” He said that’s how President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris lead.
“Biden and Harris called to ask how they could help Kentucky recover from natural disasters, they helped us improve our roads, our bridges and invested in our people,” Beshear shared, “They didn’t ask me who Kentuckians voted for, they asked what Kentuckians needed and they delivered.”
Beshear said Harris “gets it,” and that she can move America past “anger, extremism and division.”
The Democratic National Convention goes through Thursday, August 22.
Beshear was on the list of Harris’ potential VP picks. He said he was honored to be considered.
Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.
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