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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AFNS) --

The Kentucky Air National Guard deployed 11 Airmen to North Carolina this morning to assist local authorities with the humane recovery of flood casualties in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

The Airmen, all from the 123rd Airlift Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team here, will work with coroners and health officials in the western part of the state, said 1st Lt. Zachary Endicott, the team’s officer in charge.

“We’re deploying to Hickory, North Carolina, to assist local authorities in recovering flood casualties,” Endicott said. “We’re bringing all-terrain vehicles, refrigeration trailers for transport and storage, as well as generators, environmental control units and tents so we can sustain the mission as long as needed.”

North Carolina experienced unprecedented flooding last week as the remnants of Hurricane Helene swept over the state, dumping up to 30 inches of rain in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. More than 200 miles of roads remain impassable, including portions of Interstate 40 that were completely washed away. The storm has claimed more than 130 lives.

Gov. Andy Beshear praised the Airmen’s dedication to doing what is needed despite difficult circumstances.

“Over the past several years, Kentucky has seen its share of natural disasters, and our National Guard has always been at the forefront in our response,” he said. “Our Guard members are the best of Team Kentucky, and now they are stepping up once again, this time to help our fellow Americans in North Carolina who are reeling from Hurricane Helene. I know they will make us proud.”

Endicott said the team is well-prepared for the mission, which requires operating in an environment marked by downed power lines, potentially toxic flood waters and numerous other hazards.

“There are certain risks following the aftermath of a hurricane, but the team has been briefed and we are trained to operate in austere environments to avoid and mitigate these as best as possible.

“The nature of the work is demanding, but absolutely the best part of the job is the closure we are able to bring families,” he added. “That’s what makes this work so important. We are not, unfortunately, in the business of rescuing. However, to be able to deliver somebody back home to their family and their loved ones so that they can say their final goodbyes is something that really drives this team to complete the mission.”

The Kentucky Air Guard’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team also was mobilized in response to a devastating tornado that hit Mayfield, Kentucky, in 2021, and for massive flooding across Eastern Kentucky in 2022.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Some of the world's fastest speed cubers were in Louisville this weekend for a regional competition.

Speedcubing is the act of solving twisty puzzles, like the Rubik's Cube, as quickly as possible. The skills in speedcubing are directly applicable to abstract math and are useful traits for science and engineering, according to CubingUSA.

The Cubing USA Great Lakes Cubing Championship was held at the Kentucky International Convention Center from Friday to Sunday. It's the first time Louisville has hosted the event.

Andrew Park is a fifth grader in Louisville. The 10-year-old has competed in more than a dozen speed cubing competitions in the past two years.

"I've gotten a PR in all of them," Park said.

He can complete some of the cubes in just three seconds.

"I practice a lot," Park said. "It's just fun to compete against yourself and others sometimes."

He keeps hand warmers in his pockets to stay ready.

"If your hands are cold, you hesitate a bit," Park said.

He was first introduced to a speed cube several years ago. He now knows the algorithm and the combinations to use.

"I use a specific method," Park said. "I solve the cross, the first two layers."

Park was one of more than 300 competitors who participated in the regional tournament.

Javier Gonzalez-Napoleoni, an organizer and CubingUSA delegate from Louisville, said it's the largest competition Kentucky has ever had. He said people from around the world competed.

"The community is super supportive, this area is really competitive. Kentucky has one of the fastest cubers in North America, Indiana does as well," Gonzalez-Napoleoni said. "These are high-class folks in the area. That's what brings in a lot of talent from Europe, Canada, Australia."

There were competitors as young as six years old, along with people in their 60s, according to Gonzalez-Napoleoni.

There were 17 different events, including a blindfolded competition.

"I've made a lot of friends, I've done really well," Park said.

To learn more about CubingUSA, click here.

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Louisville has become a transfer portal program under alum Jeff Brohm. The roster-building strategy on Floyd Street is crystal clear. Under that type operation, there will be some high-way two-way traffic. We saw that play out in the spring when Tyler Baron (Tennessee-Louisville-Miami), Wesley Walker (Georgia Tech-Tennessee-Louisville-Michigan), and Peny Boone (Maryland-Toledo-Louisville-UCF) all became double-digit transfers.

Another move was made this week before Louisville’s home loss to SMU as a touchdown favorite. Starting safety Devin Neal left the Louisville team this week and plans to enter the transfer portal after playing in only four games. Louisville’s defense allowed 34 points and nearly 500 yards of offense after the news broke.

The Lexington (Ky.) Fredrick Douglass product was a three-star recruit in the class of 2020 who signed with Baylor. Neal spent three seasons in the Big 12 and recorded 41 tackles with two interceptions as a true junior. The defensive back entered the transfer portal after the 2022 season and landed at Louisville.

After Louisville lost starting safety MJ Griffin to injury, Devin Neal stepped into the starting lineup. As a true senior, Neal recorded 74 tackles, six pass breakups, four interceptions, three tackles for loss, and two pressures in 662 snaps.

In the offseason, Griffin returned from injury and Tennessee transfer Tamarion McDonald was added to the roster. Devin Neal play 70 total snaps the first two weeks but started to see his playing time decrease as both Griffin and McDonald out-snapped Neal in games against Georgia Tech and Notre Dame. Following the loss in South Bend, Neal left the program and will preserve his redshirt to return to college football for his sixth year in 2025.

Will Kentucky get involved in Devin Neal’s third recruitment after Zion Childress and Kristian Story leave the program following the season? That is to be determined but the new college football world has created non-stop player movement.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Four men from Louisville are facing federal gun charges after prosecutors say they purchased guns and tried to illegally ship them to Iraq.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky, Haitham Al-Dulaimi, 30, Haider Lazem, 41, Hasan Wasak, 27, and Abdullah Alsajee, 30, all of Louisville, were arrested Friday after a federal indictment was unsealed.

The men were charged with conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license, conspiracy to make false statements in the purchase of firearms, and conspiracy to defraud the United States government.

Alsajee, Lazem, and Wasak are also charged with making false statements in the purchase of firearms.

The indictment says the illegal activity went on between February 2023 and September 2024 and involved Glocks, Rugers, Sig Sauers and Smith & Wessons from the United States.

According to the indictment, the men tried to ship the guns to Iraq without obtaining the required export licenses.

Prosecutors say Wasak, Alsajee and Lazem would buy the guns from federal firearm licensees and at gun shows in the Louisville area. The three men would then allegedly deliver the guns to Al-Dulaimi, who arranged them for export to Iraq.

In total, 38 guns were seized by law enforcement from a shipment sent by Al-Dulaimi to Iraq.

If convicted, all four men face decades in prison. Al-Dulaimi, Lazem, Alsajee and Wasak face a maximum of 20 years in prison for violations of export control laws and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Lazem, Alsajee, and Wasak face an additional 10 years in prison for false statements during the purchase of a firearm.

Al-Dulaimi faces an additional 10 years in prison for smuggling and five years in prison for dealing in firearms without a license.

According to the release, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

The ATF, HSI, and FBI are investigating the case.

If the men are convicted and sentenced, they will not be eligible for parole, as there is no parole in the federal system.

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