Gene Birk
Main Anchor
Bowling Green, KY
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Gene Birk first came to WBKO-TV as Sports Director in 1986. He left in 1993, then returned in 1994 as the primary News Anchor.
Gene graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Radio-TV from Southern Illinois University in 1972. He worked in radio in Beloit, Wisconsin and Crystal Lake, Illinois; and in television in Dubuque, Iowa; Mobile, Alabama; Amarillo, Texas and here.
Gene was a Theater Minor in college, and appeared in Close Encounters of the Third Kind which was filmed in Mobile when he worked there. He has also appeared in several area amateur theater productions, including The Lion in Winter, The Rainmaker, 1776, Annie Get Your Gun, and The Pirates of Penzance.
Gene has served on and been past chairman of the Advisory Council of the Foster Grandparent Program.
He has also volunteered, supported, or served on numerous other boards in the community, including Special Olympics, the American Cancer Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Diabetes Association, the Capitol Arts Alliance, and Court Appointed Special Advocate.
He has also served on and been past president of the board of the Kentucky Associated Press.
Gene enjoys playing golf, going horseback riding, acting, and singing. He is married to Sandy Birk and has a daughter, Abigail. They have three dogs: Wrigley, Whiskey, and Javy.
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The Bowling Green Police Department is investigating thefts from vehicles. These thefts were committed between midnight and 4:00 a.m. the night of May 28, 2023, in the 1500 block of Kenilwood Way.
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Bowling Green Police say someone vandalized Bowling Green Ballpark around 11:30 p.m. May 13, 2023.
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Bowling Green Police say a thief stole a victim’s wallet from his vehicle in the 1700 block of Scottsville Road on May 6, 2023. The suspect then used the victim’s debit card to make fraudulent purchases at a local business.
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Community members joined officers from the Bowling Green Police Department, Warren County Sheriff’s Office and the Warren County Jail to enjoy food from three food trucks.
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Bowling Green Police say a suspect was observed on video surveillance taking mail from a victim’s mailbox on Tuesday, May 2.
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Bowling Green Police are looking for two men and a woman they say stole beer from Kroger.
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The suspect can be seen spinning his wheels as he speeds away from the business. The skid marks lead right to the house that was struck.
The Bowling Green Police Department is investigating the theft of a travel trailer from a local business that happened on April 3.
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The call to North 3rd Street came in around 1:20 a.m., according to reports.
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Police say 22-year-old Bryson Cook of Tennessee tried to throw seven grams of suspected meth under the guard rail on the road.
In the surveillance footage, the suspects can be seen pulling into the parking lot. One gets out and goes to the targeted vehicles.
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Bowling Green Police are investigating the theft and damage to air conditioning units belonging to a local church.
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While in the store, she concealed multiple items of merchandise in the bag she was carrying.
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Bowling Green Police are investigating the theft of a 'rigid video pipe camera' from a local rental company. They're looking for a man wearing khaki pants, a yellow shirt, and a Black knot cap.
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The thief stole a construction trailer and everything on it, including a yellow Gehl Z-17 mini-excavator.
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An unknown suspect is seen removing the ATM with a forklift and placing it in the back of a U-Haul.
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One suspect exited the SUV with a battery powered saw, and tried to access the catalytic converter under one of the vehicles in the parking lot.
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The suspect was able to access the victim’s account and charge over $2500.
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The Bowling Green City Commission has awarded Hope House Ministries $150,000 to provide the transportation service to the Kentucky Transpark and the South Industrial Park.
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The male suspect was captured on camera approaching and leaving the residence on foot.
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The victim observed the theft, after being notified by an alert from his doorbell camera.
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The suspect is seen taking the wallet from the victim while she is distracted.
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Quarles intends to file in the Secretary of State’s Office at 700 Capital Avenue in Frankfort.
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Bowling Green Police say on November 26, 2022, an unknown white woman entered a store and tried to take more than $5,000 in merchandise. She was only able to steal approximately $1,000 worth of merchandise... before fleeing in a white SUV. That day she was wore a black shirt, blue jeans, and a tan knit cap with a puff ball. Four days later, she returned to the store with an unidentified African-American woman with a young child. This time the suspect tried to leave the store with over $2,000 in merchandise. But she was confronted by a Loss Prevention employee, and ran to a white SUV driven by the other woman. In this incident, the suspect can be seen wearing a red long sleeve shirt and that same knit cap.
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Bowling Green Police say there have been numerous thefts from cars in the neighborhoods near Preston Miller Park.
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Bowling Green Police say between Nov. 11-16, 2022, they responded to multiple reports of HVAC systems being stolen or damaged.
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Despite the trials both Jennifer Gammon and Jeff Sweeney have gone through, they are both grateful for the help they have received.
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One year later, WBKO News takes a look at the progress and recovery since a deadly and devastating night in western and south-central Kentucky.
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The message was directed toward the protesters taking part in the Justice for Emmett Till Rally on Saturday December 3, 2022.
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Bowling Green Police say around 10:15 a.m. on Monday November 28, 2022, an unknown suspect entered the Limestone Bank on Campbell Lane.
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On November 1st, 2022 credit cards and cash were stolen from a vehicle in Bowling Green.
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Charles ‘Chuck’ Coates was Bowling Green’s city manager from 1977 through 2005.
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Police say two women entered a Bowling Green electronics store on October 13, 2022 and stole items.
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The suspect can be seen making two separate purchases at Best Buy at different times during the day.
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"I’ve worked hard across the aisle to build relationships that have given people from South Central Kentucky, a seat at the table, and even more importantly, a voice that they had never had before."
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In the race for second district U-S Representative, incumbent Republican Brett Guthrie from Bowling Green is facing a challenge from Grayson County Democrat, Hank Linderman.
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Kevin Jackson, Republican candidate for 20th District State Representative
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Guthrie was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009
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Surveillance video showed at the time she was speaking with the woman, two other suspects took the victim’s wallet.
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When police arrived, they found 40-year-old Marcus McCathern with a gunshot wound.
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Kentucky State Police say 36-year-old Joshua Wolford of Hodgenville killed his wife, Chasidy, in a house fire on June 12, 2019.
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A man had his credit cards stolen from his wallet while he was working out at a local fitness facility.
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A woman entered a local Dollar General store, approached the cashier, displayed a handgun, and demanded the cashier fill her sack with cash.
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Rick Kelley died of a heart attack this weekend at the age of 68, leaving behind a legacy of doing what he thought was best for Bowling Green and the people who live here.
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Bowling Green Police say in the early morning hours of Tuesday September 20th, 2022 an unknown suspect is seen peering into and trying to open a window of a home near WKU’s campus.
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Surveillance shows one suspect smash the front door glass with what appears to be a firearm.
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WKU Police are asking for your help identifying a person they believe committed a theft on campus.
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In surveillance video, a man and a woman are seen purchasing a drone and an Apple MacBook at Best Buy in Bowling Green.
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Joe Moore, 63, of Cave City was pronounced dead at the scene by the Barren County Coroner.
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