A Pike County woman accused of child sex trafficking now appears ready to enter a guilty plea. Attorneys for 28 year 0ld Kena Reed filed a motion on Wednesday asking to set a re-arraignment hearing so she can enter a binding plea in the case. A judge allowed the request and scheduled a hearing for Friday afternoon. Reed is charged with sex trafficking of a minor, production and distribution of child exploitation matter, interstate transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Her trial was set to begin June 7. She is accused of trading sexual images of herself and a minor to 33 year old Jacob West in exchange for pills. West is accused of stealing 5,000 pills from the South Williamson Food City. Both were originally charged with human trafficking and other charges in Pike Circuit Court back in 2019, but Reed’s case was picked up by federal authorities last August. West’s case remains pending in Pike Circuit Court. He is next scheduled to appear in c
A $44.8 million bond proposal that would have brought an arts academy to Battle Creek failed by a margin of fewer than 40 votes, according to unofficial election results.
With all 13 precincts reporting, the Battle Creek Public Schools bond failed with 975 votes no to 937 votes yes, according to unofficial election results.
The bond, which allowed the district a millage of up to 2.20, would have transformed Northwestern Middle School into a K-8 visual and performing arts academy and funded renovations at Springfield Middle School.
Gena Reed, a Battle Creek Public Schools voter, said she wanted to see the district improve its test scores before approving funds for facilities improvements.
By Beth Miller
May 5, 2021 SHARE Megan Flake is the laboratory safety and protocol manager at the McKelvey School of Engineering. (Photo: Whitney Curtis)
Megan Flake has seemingly limitless energy and passion for her job.
She is the laboratory safety and protocol manager at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Flake is responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly and safely in the school’s labs. But what happens when all research shuts down due to a global pandemic?
“Our buildings are living beings,” Flake said. “We have cells that are alive and equipment that needs to be maintained. There were a lot of things that needed to continue to happen.”