Kentucky News & Current Events | Public News Service

The U.S. Census Bureau's supplemental poverty measure rose to just under 13% in 2023, up from 12.4% in 2022, despite an increase in median household incomes nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Census shows more Kentucky families struggle to meet basic needs

More Kentucky households struggled to meet their basic needs last year, according to new Census data. Kentucky has the sixth-highest children's …

Around 2,250 adults with serious mental illness each year, on average, receive psychiatric treatment at the University of Louisville Hospital. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

DOJ report finds Louisville overuses its psychiatric hospitals

A U.S. Department of Justice investigation has found Kentucky is failing to provide access to community-based mental health services for people who …

In Kentucky, federal investments are spurring job growth in construction, creating opportunities in clean energy and setting the stage for a potential upswing in manufacturing, according to a new report by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Kentucky construction jobs, union membership on rise

More jobs are available now in Kentucky compared with the past couple of years and many are better-paying union jobs driven by federal investments…

Sheep graze on a solar field in Garrard County owned by Silicon Ranch Corp. (Silicon Ranch)

KY communities consider solar zoning ordinances

As Fayette County considers approving industrial-scale solar operations on farmland, more communities in the Commonwealth are considering special …

More than half of Kentucky's 120 counties lack an OB-GYN, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians recognized for efforts to improve maternal health

The Commonwealth has the second-highest maternal mortality rate in the nation, and within the state maternal deaths are twice as high among Black …

Beginning in January, new federal changes will cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 annually for 56 million Americans with Medicare drug plans. (Adobe Stock)

Some older Kentuckians will save on prescription drugs next year

Around 60,000 Kentucky seniors will save more money on their medications in the New Year, according to a new AARP report. Under the federal …

Local grocery stores like Long's Pic Pac in Pineville, Kentucky, run on a razor-thin profit margin, making them among the least profitable industries in the U.S. (Mountain Association)

What an extra $15,000 a year means for a rural Kentucky grocer

This article was produced by Resource Rural.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Resource Rural-Public N…

The number of Kentuckians who had their power disconnected increased by 228% in 2022, compared to a 29% increase nationwide, according to a new study by the Energy and Policy Institute and Center for Biological Diversity. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Utility disconnections in extreme weather harm communities

Housing advocates said they are seeing more Kentuckians affected by electricity shut-offs. In 2022, the number of Kentuckians who had their power …

Communications Workers of America members across the country will hold up signs at work today to show their solidarity with workers on strike. (Adobe Stock)

Unionized Kentucky AT&T workers continue strike amid safety concerns

Unionized AT&T workers in Kentucky are continuing their strike against the company over bargaining delays. Across the country today, Communications …

Community Action Kentucky workers helping deliver food. (Community Action Kentucky/Facebook)

The Economic Opportunity Act: 60 years of service to Kentuckians

This week marks the 60th anniversary of landmark anti-poverty legislation. The Economic Opportunity Act created a network of Community Action …

The latest version of the Farm Bill would incorporate precision agriculture technologies into water conservation and irrigation efficiency practices, incentive contracts, and conservation innovation grants, according to the National Agriculture Law Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Stalled Farm Bill could see Conservation Title changes

Progress on the new Farm Bill remains stalled as members of Congress argue over price increases for commodity crops and proposed cuts to the Supplemen…

Major juvenile justice legislation has recently gone into effect in Kentucky, contained in 2024's Senate Bill 20 and a delayed provision in House Bill 3 from 2023. Experts say both will make criminal penalties for children harsher. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: New laws will put more KY kids in troubled detention facilities

Two Kentucky laws recently went into effect are expected to increase the number of incarcerated children in the state, according to a new report from …

A yurt Airbnb rental in Berea, Ky. owned by HomeGrown HideAways. (Facebook/HomeGrown HideAways)<br />

As KY short-term rentals thrive, housing affordability concerns persist

Eastern Kentucky communities are grappling with a ballooning short-term rental market. This year, the town of Stanton in the Red River Gorge was …

Nationwide, more than 2.8 million children received a lunch through the Summer Nutrition Programs on an average day in July 2023, a decrease of 170,926 children from July 2022, according to the Food Research and Action Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: More Kentucky kids participating in summer meal programs

The number of Kentucky kids who ate free breakfast and lunch through Summer Nutrition Programs jumped by 65% between the summers of 2022 and 2023…

On March 31, 2023, Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law, legalizing medical cannabis for Kentuckians beginning next Jan. 1. (Adobe Stock)

KY’s medical cannabis law application window ends Aug. 31

The window to apply for a medical cannabis business license in Kentucky closes at the end of this month. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family …

There are more than 850 poultry farms and 3,200 poultry houses in Kentucky, according to the Kentucky Poultry Industry. (Andrea Gantz/Flickr)

A Tyson exec wrote Kentucky’s 'ag-gag' law. What could go wrong?

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

The average household income of families already sending their children to private schools in Kentucky, who are the likely primary beneficiaries of universal voucher legislation, is 54% higher than public school families, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

KY ballot measure would divert public money to private schools

Kentuckians casting a vote on Amendment 2 this November will decide whether to change the state Constitution to allow public funding of private school…

President Joe Biden, joined by Gov. Andy Beshear, participated in a briefing with local leaders on the flood response in Eastern Kentucky on Aug. 8, 2022, at Marie Roberts-Caney Elementary School in Lost Creek, Ky. (Official White House Photo by Erin Scott/Wikimedia Commons)

Spotlight on Kentucky, Beshear, as Dems weigh VP pick

Gov. Andy Beshear is among a small group being considered by Vice President Kamala Harris's team as a potential running mate. There are reports …

A mural mock-up by artist Lacy Hale is seen in Jenkins, Ky. (Adobe Stock)

Eastern KY town plans mural to commemorate 2022 flood

A $20,000 grant from AARP Kentucky will help rebuild sidewalks in Jenkins damaged by the deadly 2022 flood that took the lives of 45 residents…

Nearly 60% of Kentucky Medicaid beneficiaries reported a lack of reliable and affordable transportation as a barrier to receiving health care services, according to data from the University of Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

New KY Medicaid changes expand medical transportation access

Kentucky has made some changes to expand access to free transportation for people who need help getting to medical, dental and mental health …

Older adults, very young children and people with chronic diseases are at highest risk for heat-related illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock/Generated with AI)

KY experts: Children, babies at higher risk for heat illness

Health experts are urging residents to stay hydrated and stay out of the sun during peak periods, especially during the heat wave that is gripping …

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. Both short- and long-term particle pollution exposure is associated with increased mortality from heart disease, lung disease and lung cancer according to the American Lung Association. (Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Critics: KY regional haze plan doesn’t protect environmental, public health

Under the federal Clean Air Act, Kentucky is required to keep haze air pollution under control in Mammoth Cave National Park. Critics said the …

Around 600 million people are released from state and federal prisons annually, with another 9 million people cycled through local jails. Many do not have access to health care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky to provide health coverage for people leaving incarceration

Kentucky is one of a handful of states recently approved to provide health insurance coverage to soon-to-be released incarcerated individuals…

Hunger Free America's 2023 Annual Hunger Survey found more than 400,000 people in Kentucky are food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky clinic receives grant to battle poverty, food insecurity

A Kentucky community health center is one of eight facilities nationwide to participate in a program addressing food scarcity. The National …

In 2017, mental-health and substance-use disorder emergency department visits in the United States cost more than $5.6 billion, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Most of KY’s 988 crisis hotline calls answered locally

More households, workplaces and schools are struggling with mental-health crises, and a new report by the mental-health advocacy group Inseparable …

Kentucky has among the highest rates of incarceration in the 50 states, imprisoning 889 out of every 100,000 people. (Adobe Stock)

Billion-dollar proposal aimed at reducing KY, other state prison populations

In Kentucky, about 37,000 people are behind bars, one of the highest rates of incarceration anywhere in the country. A new proposal has been made to …

Efficiency and conservation measures can help to directly lower consumers' energy bills and potentially reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Advocates: Kentucky Power needs a more robust energy-efficiency proposal

Kentucky Power, one of eastern Kentucky's largest utilities, has a new energy efficiency and conservation proposal for its customers. The state's …

Solar farms are leasing land at prices ranging from $400 to $1,200 an acre. These rents are higher than the current cash rents Kentucky farmers are receiving for cropland and tobacco, according to one University of Kentucky study. (Adobe Stock)

East Kentucky Power Cooperative invests in two large solar farms

Two new solar farms will soon be under construction in the Lexington and Lebanon areas to bring affordable and clean energy to eastern Kentuckians…

In 2021, an estimated 352,000 children and adolescents younger than 20, or 35 per 10,000 U.S. youths, had diagnosed diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Childhood diabetes becoming more common in Kentucky

Experts say sedentary lifestyles, food insecurity, and other factors are driving an increase in childhood diabetes in Kentucky. Research shows …

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated a total of $16 billion to address legacy pollution, including $11.3 billion in abandoned mine land funding over 15 years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky receives $74 million for abandoned mine land cleanup

Kentucky will receive $74 million to clean up legacy pollution in regions decimated by decades of coal mining. The money is part of $725 million in …

More than 80% of 65-to-69-year-olds are internet users, and two-thirds say they have broadband internet connections at home, according to data from The Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY to use $12M to boost internet access in underserved communities

Kentucky is set to spend $12 million over the next three years to boost internet access in communities across the state. The funding will go toward …

Chronic absence from school may be driving learning loss. Thirty percent of all students (14.7 million students) were chronically absent in 2021-2022, nearly double pre-pandemic rates, according to new data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Kentucky faces education crisis

New data shows most Kentucky kids are not academically prepared for a successful future. The latest Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey …

In the last decade, floods wreaked havoc across multiple states, resulting in billions of dollars spent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and hundreds of lives lost. (Adobe Stock)

New recommendations could enhance flood resilience in Appalachia

Flooding disasters in the Appalachian region have raised the urgency for better flood risk management. The nonprofit ReImagine Appalachia and …

The National Association of Broadcasters said more than 82 million individuals tune in to AM radio. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Kentucky debates AM radios in cars amid electric vehicle shift

The "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" now in Congress would mandate all new cars in the U.S. be equipped with AM radios, and it is stirring a debate …

More than half of parents feel social media is affecting their children's development, from body image to self-perception, according to a recent CVS Health survey. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: 70% of parents report concern over child’s mental health

Across the nation, 70% of parents say they're now more concerned about their child's mental health than physical health, according to a new survey by …

The ballot amendment would add language to the Kentucky Constitution saying,

KY education activists campaign against public funds for private schools

A coalition of public education advocates has formed to oppose Amendment 2 on the November ballot, which would allow Kentucky public school funds to …

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of young people held in juvenile justice facilities fell from 109,000 to 25,000, a 77% decline. But racial disparities persist, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Justice Department launches investigation into KY youth detention centers

The U.S. Justice Department is launching an investigation into reports of physical and sexual abuse at Kentucky's eight youth detention centers - …

AARP polling data show nationwide, most 50+ voters said candidates' stances on Social Security and Medicare are very important factors affecting their vote in November. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians 50+ expected to head to polls for early voting on May 16

Early voting begins on Thursday for Kentucky's Primary Election and runs through May 18. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day…

Community Health Workers provide critical services for communities, including home visits, health education, and communicable disease control, according to WebMD. (Adobe Stock)

Thrive Roadshow aims to boost regional advocacy in KY communities

Experts are traveling across the Commonwealth to help community professionals better understand and advocate for policies that help Kentuckians needin…

Children need regular well-child and dental visits to track their development and find health problems early, when they're usually easier to treat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY keeps most kids enrolled in Medicaid coverage, post-pandemic

Nationwide, children are losing their Medicaid and CHIP coverage but Kentucky has kept the majority of its youngest residents enrolled, according to …

Downtown Hazard, Kentucky, is shown with one of several colorful murals added in recent years. (Austin Anthony for The Hechinger Report)<br />

As some rural states cut higher education, Kentucky does the opposite

By Kelly Field for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public New…

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed modern-day coal miners are at greater risk of respiratory disease than their predecessors, likely driven by inhalation of silica coal mine dust. (AI-generated Adobe Stock)

Advocates: New silica dust rule 'missed opportunities' to curb black lung

After the Biden administration released a new rule setting standards to limit exposure to silica dust, advocates in Kentucky and around Appalachia …

More than 70 million Americans have a criminal record that can create significant barriers to employment, according to the White House. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New KY website offers 'Second Chance' job, recovery resources

A new website aims to help Kentuckians just out of prison re-enter their communities and find job training, employment and recovery services…

In 2023, 331 adults and children received nonresidential supportive services related to transportation, housing advocacy, legal support, therapy and more, according to the National Network to End Domestic Violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky determined to support its domestic violence shelters amid federal cuts

As federal Victims of Crime Act funding continues to impact Kentucky's domestic violence shelters, advocates say they are applauding lawmakers …

More than two million Kentuckians showed up at the polls during the last presidential election in 2020, according to the Kentucky State Board of Elections. (Adobe Stock)

KY primary voter registration deadline approaches

Kentuckians have less than a week to register to vote in next month's primary election. If folks miss the April 22 deadline, residents can still …

Kentucky parents are worried about their kids' educational and social development as well as the safety of their children if they are forced into using lower-cost, lower-quality care, according to a March 2024 survey from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

As KY child care crisis worsens, advocates highlight career pathways

The shrinking supply of child-care workers continues to impact Kentucky, and advocates say helping more people receive a Child Development Associate …

Kentucky certified lactation consultant and birth doula Bonnie Logsdon has been vocal in her support for House Bill 10. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan KY bill would expand maternal care access

In the final days of the legislative session, Kentucky Senate lawmakers could consider the "Momnibus" bill, which would increase access to critical …

Solarize Frankfort helped 27 Frankfort homeowners install solar in 2023, spurring the investment of over $600,000 in our local economy, according to the Kentucky Solar Energy Society. (Andy McDonald)<br />

Solarize campaign vets KY solar companies for consumers

As out-of-state, and sometimes disreputable companies offering solar installations crowd the market, a local effort called Solarize aims to connect …

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