Kentucky News Now – July 28th 2014

FIREFIGHTERS INJURED

3 firefighters receive minor injuries in fire

(Information in the following story is from: WAVE-TV, http://www.wave3.com)

EMINENCE, Ky. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the cause of a Henry County fire that injured three firefighters.

Officials say the blaze started in a mixed-use residential and commercial building in downtown Eminence before spreading to a second building on Sunday.

According to WAVE-TV, close to 90 firefighters battled the blaze.

Eminence Volunteer Fire Chief Gary Lucas said three firefighters were injured when pressure built up inside the buildings, causing an explosion that knocked them off ladders on the outside of the structures. They suffered minor injuries.

Authorities say families who lived in the apartment portion of one of the buildings were able to get out safely.

VETERAN DEATH

Authorities investigating death of veteran

(Information in the following story is from: WKYT-TV, http://www.wkyt.com)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the death of a 48-year-old Mercer County veteran whose body was discovered in his home not long after he was dropped off by a taxi.

According to WKYT-TV, James Price had health issues, but investigators are suspicious about his death.

Deputies say he was alive when he left a local hospital on Friday, but he was found dead not long after he was dropped off at home by a taxi.

A neighbor told authorities that Price seemed to fall out of the taxi. He said the cab driver dragged him into the house then left. A deputy stopped by to check on Price and discovered he was dead.

Officials say the taxi driver is cooperating in the investigation. He said Price was still alive when he dropped him off.

BABY CAM

Kentucky hospital live streaming video from NICU

(Information in the following story is from: Daily News, http://www.bgdailynews.com)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — A southern Kentucky hospital has begun live streaming video of newborns in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, allowing parents and staff to keep an eye on the babies.

The Medical Center's NICVIEW program cost $35,000 and has been in place for nearly three weeks.

There are 10 cameras mainly used for the NICU, but some are used in cases such as when a father is in the military and stationed overseas.

Dr. Aspasia Fissikoudi told The Daily News that because some babies stay in the NICU for extended periods, the cameras allow families to stay connected and get a sense of the child.

Parents are given a secure username and password that they can share with anyone they want to see the baby.

PANTHERS-WHARTON

Former Panthers lineman Travelle Wharton to retire

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Former Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Travelle Wharton is retiring after 10 NFL seasons.

There will be a retirement news conference Tuesday at Wofford College, where the Panthers are training. He is the fourth Panthers offensive lineman to retire this offseason, joining Jordan Gross, Geoff Hangartner and Jeff Byers.

The 33-year-old Wharton played in 115 games and started 111.

A third-round pick out of South Carolina in 2004, Wharton played with the Panthers until 2011 before signing as a free agent with the Bengals. He returned to Carolina last season following a slew of injuries.

Wharton tells The Associated Press that "it's time. He adds: "I thought it might have been time last year. It's just hard to just say it."