Manhunt for I-75 shooter, weird insect behavior among most-read Herald-Leader stories of 2024
The manhunt for a shooter who opened fire on motorists on Interstate 75 near London was the most-read story at the Lexington Herald-Leader in 2024.
The body of Joseph Couch, 32, was found several days after he opened fire on Sept. 7 on a busy section of I-75 near Exit 49, about nine miles north of London. Couch injured five people in the shooting. Police believe Couch took his own life.
It took six days to find Couch’s body in the heavily wooded area around the interstate.
But it wasn’t police or other search and rescue teams who ultimately found Couch. It was a couple who once ran a Hatfield and McCoy museum in Eastern Kentucky.
Another story that received significant readership was the Sept. 19 murder of a Letcher County judge in his chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse. The startling murder generated national headlines and shook the legal community and the town of Whitesburg. Former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines has been charged in the murder of Judge Kevin Mullins, which was caught on court video cameras.
Other stories that captured readers’ interest include strange behavior by insects, shake-ups and questions surrounding University of Kentucky basketball and a disappointing Kentucky tourist attraction.
Here are the most-read stories in 2024:
1. Body of Joseph Couch, who shot drivers on I-75 in Kentucky, found in nearby woods
Couch fired at and injured five passengers driving on I-75 on Sept. 7. Couch hit at least 12 vehicles near Exit 49 near London and about 65 miles south of Lexington. The shooting prompted a six-day manhunt and national media attention. Six days after the shooting, Couch’s body was eventually found by Fred and Shelia McCoy, who said they followed buzzards in the area and located Couch’s body.
2. Eastern Kentucky sheriff charged with shooting, killing district judge inside judge’s chambers
The murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins inside his Letcher County judge’s chambers was notable not only for the setting but also the man accused of killing him — now-former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines. Stines turned himself in shortly after killing Mullins. Stines has been charged with murder in Mullins’ death. A motive for the murder is still not clear.
3. Yellowjackets behaving strangely in Eastern Kentucky. An insect scientist explains why.
The strange and stinging behavior of yellowjackets was the third most-read story on kentucky.com in 2024. Reports of a large increase in the number of yellowjackets in the fall in Eastern Kentucky began circulating in September. But the uptick still seems to be a mystery, said University of Kentucky entomologist Jonathan Larson.
4. ‘World of regret awaits’ at this letdown of a national park, Kentucky officials brag
Bad reviews can be a bummer in an increasingly online world.
The folks at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky’s best-known U.S. National Park, turned those negative reviews into a selling point in August.
“Come experience what has disappointed millions of people for over 225 years!” Mammoth Cave National Park said in an Aug. 23 post on Facebook.
5. At least five tornadoes confirmed across Kentucky. Storm cleanup underway
Kentucky’s tradition of unpredictable weather continued in 2024. A spate of tornadoes hit Central Kentucky April 2, knocking out power to thousands of customers and damaging homes and businesses.
6. Billy Donovan might be interested in the Kentucky basketball job. But there’s a problem
UK basketball had a turbulent year. Stories about UK’s basketball program and its fate were some of the most well-read stories of the year. John Calipari, who coached UK for 15 years, announced in April he would be stepping down after UK was ousted in the first round of the NCAA tournament by 14-seed Oakland. Calipari’s exit led to rampant speculation about who would take over the storied program. Coaches in the mix included Baylor’s Scott Drew and UConn’s Dan Hurley, and Billy Donovan, head coach of the Chicago Bulls, was also mentioned as a possible replacement. Kentucky eventually hired former UK player Mark Pope.
7. Kentucky’s basketball season is over. Here’s who’s leaving the team and who might return
UK’s startling defeat in the first round of the NCAA Tournament meant a lot of personnel changes on UK’s basketball team.
8. Kentucky loses first player to the transfer portal in major blow for Calipari’s next roster
Sophomore guard Adou Thiero entered the portal March 28. The 6-foot-8 player from Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, went to the University of Arkansas, where Calipari now coaches.
9. Who is next for Kentucky basketball? The list of potential replacements for John Calipari
UK basketball has not been to the Final Four since 2015. Its last NCAA championship was in 2012. Who could steer UK’s program back to its former glory? The list of potential candidates for one of the most coveted coaching jobs in college sports was long in early April.
10. Live Kentucky Derby odds: Fierceness 7-2 favorite one hour before race
An hour before the 150th Kentucky Derby, Florida Derby winner Fierceness was the 7-2 favorite. But it was Mystik Dan, trained by Lexington’s own Kenny McPeek, who ultimately won the race. It was a great year for McPeek, whose horse Thorpedo Anna won the Kentucky Oaks the day before.
This story was originally published December 31, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
