Kentucky News & Current Events | Public News Service

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 />

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

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 />

Monday, May 6, 2024

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 …

Across the country, states and counties are advancing reforms to expand and improve youth diversion programs, according to a report from The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Youth detention on the decline in Kentucky

A new report showed a decade after being passed, Kentucky's juvenile justice reform law is getting results. It found 60% of juvenile cases were …

First Day Forward staff offer free Narcan and program pamphlets. (Northeastern Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition via Facebook)

Reentry program for people incarcerated offers a model for others

By Taylor Sisk for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabor…

At least two thirds of plastics plants examined in a new Environmental Integrity Project report (32 of 50) that have been built or expanded over the last decade have received tax breaks or subsidies from state and local governments worth a total of nearly $9 billion. (Adobe Stock)

KY plastics plant ranks in nation's top ten emitters of chlorine

A western Kentucky plastics plant is among the top 10 emitters of chlorine air pollution, according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity …

Pandemic-era federal funding sustained about 2,000 child-care providers since 2020, according to the Kentucky Center on Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

KY parents say reliable, affordable child-care linked to better mental health

More parents in Kentucky are switching jobs, delaying major purchases, cutting back on essential needs, and going into debt in order to afford child …

A Kentucky bill to ban Broad Based Categorical Eligibility for the federal SNAP program would result in at least 21,400 children losing SNAP statewide and would threaten funding for meals at schools and child care centers, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY School districts say SNAP Cuts legislation could worsen student hunger

Kentucky school districts say a proposed bill to tighten restrictions on SNAP participation will lead to an uptick in student hunger. House Bill 367 …

In 2023, operators plan to retire 15.6 gigawatts (GW) of electric-generating capacity in the United States, mostly gas-fired (6.2 GW) and coal-fired (8.9 GW) power plants, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY bill would limit renewables, keep aging power plants longer

Kentucky House lawmakers are considering a bill that could make it harder to close aging coal-fired power plants. At the Kentucky Resources Council…

The group Appalachian Voices has partnered with 16 community groups and two universities to deploy around 80 monitoring devices to track air quality in communities throughout Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA clean air rules to help strengthen air monitoring in KY

Groups working to improve air quality in Appalachia are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to strengthen ambient air quality st…

According to the Kentucky Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 15% of Kentucky high school students reported having seriously considered suicide within a 12-month period. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY bill would strengthen trauma-informed resources in schools

Suicide rates among young Kentuckians are rising and proposed legislation would strengthen trauma-informed care in schools and boost youth suicide pre…

The overall college enrollment rate for 18- to 24-year-olds decreased from 41% in 2010 to 38% in 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

KY wants colleges to redesign admissions with focus on low-income, first-generation students

Kentucky is one of a handful of states that's been awarded a $150,000 grant from Lumina Foundation to test changes to the college admissions process…

A study by Wallethub ranked Kentucky 43rd in the nation for residents' dental health. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky dentists expect more child tooth decay if "opt out" fluoride bill passes

A bill moving through the Kentucky Legislature would make fluoride treatment in drinking water optional for local municipalities. House Bill 141 …

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, in Nov. 2023, nationwide utility companies saw a 2% average revenue increase per kilowatt-hour compared to the previous year. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky Power rate hike: What eastern KY residents, businesses should know

Many eastern Kenuckians will see their monthly energy bills increase by around $8 per month, after a ruling last month by the state's utility …

Kentucky now ranks 14th in the nation in child victims of maltreatment, according to the latest Child Maltreatment report from the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Child abuse in Kentucky declines slightly; most victims younger than 4

Kentucky saw a 48% reduction in child victims of maltreatment from 2018 to 2022, according to the latest federal data. However, child abuse and …

Nearly 700 Kentuckians died by gun violence in 2019, an average of nearly two people every day. Suicides made up 65% of gun deaths, according to the Kentucky Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.(Adobe Stock)<br />

KY crisis aversion bill would help decrease gun violence, advocates say

New legislation under consideration by Kentucky lawmakers would allow police to confiscate guns from people whose family members are concerned about t…

In 2023, the USDA Forest Service and AmeriCorps signed a five-year agreement to establish the Forest Corps, which aims to create job opportunities to reduce wildfire risk, support reforestation and make national forests and grasslands healthier and more resilient. (Adobe Stock)

Climate Corps initiative could speed up reforestation of abandoned mine lands

A Biden administration program called the American Climate Corps aims to hire and train 20,000 people in conservation, climate and clean energy jobs…

Research by the Vera Institute shows that harsher sentences don't deter crime, can even make communities less safe, and are costly. (Adobe Stock)

KY lawmakers consider bill that would expand felony offenses

Under proposed legislation being considered by Republican lawmakers, Kentucky renters would face harsher criminal penalties for property damage…

Around $330 million in annual federal funding for child care in Kentucky is slated to expire in September, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky child-care providers face uncertain future when federal funding expires

Child-care providers in Kentucky are bracing for severe funding cuts when $330 million in annual federal funding expires in September. A recent …

Older adults make up a growing share of Kentucky's population, according to census data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY seniors push for family caregiving, equitable housing reforms

Kentuckians age 50 and older say increased support for family caregivers, affordable housing and lower prescription drug costs would help improve …

Kentucky's First Lady Britainy Beshear and others speak at the kick-off event for Shop and Share. According to ZeroV, 34% of Kentucky women and 14% of Kentucky men have experienced sexual violence, physical violence and/or stalking. (Angela Conway)

One-day grocery donation drive helps survivors of domestic violence

As Kentuckians prepare for the Super Bowl this weekend, they can also help survivors of domestic violence. At "Shop and Share," a one-day event this …

According to the health-care advocacy group KFF, health centers served more than 30 million patients in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Despite funding limbo, more Kentuckians rely on Community Health Centers

The bulk of federal funding for Community Health Centers expires next month, and health advocates say they're worried about the impact on Kentucky …

Kentucky has more miles of running water than any other state except Alaska, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: KY’s drinking water, wetlands at risk

Kentucky has rapidly lost its wetlands over the past few decades, and advocates say the recent gutting of federal protections for marshes and other …

More than half (59%) of Kentucky residents have experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience or ACE, according to data from the Kentucky Department for Public Health. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY communities address ACEs to prevent substance-use disorders

Communities across the Commonwealth want to minimize traumatic experiences for the state's youngest residents - as a way to help stem the drug epidemi…

The Blueprint for Kentucky's Children is a coalition of groups focused on health, child welfare, juvenile justice, education, family supports and other issues that affect the Commonwealth's youngest residents. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY youth speak to lawmakers on mental health, drug epidemic, more

Protecting, supporting and listening to Kentucky's kids is the focus of Children's Advocacy Week. As events at the Capitol in Frankfort wrap up…

Electric cooperatives distribute profits back to the individual consumers who paid the money on their monthly service bills, or are put back into operational costs. (Adobe Stock)

Rural electric co-ops in Kentucky poised to receive federal funds

Rural electric co-ops in Kentucky have submitted more than 60 proposed projects to a federal grant program called Empowering Rural America, which is …

The National Rural Education Foundation flagged Kentucky's educational outcomes as

Appalachian teachers say 'intense' challenges ahead for education in region

Educators in Appalachian Kentucky said significant school disruption and remote learning during the COVID pandemic combined with the devastating flood…

Research shows that among deaf adults, rates of diagnosed depression or anxiety disorder are significantly higher, and occur at an earlier age, compared to hearing adults. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Peer support specialists help deaf Kentuckians access mental health care

Kentuckians who are deaf or hard-of-hearing face many challenges in accessing mental healthcare, and a new program aims to address the problem…

Appalachia is home to 26.3 million people and covers 206,000 square miles, encompassing 423 counties in 13 states, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. (Adobe Stock)

In Eastern KY, a vision for sustainable manufacturing

Manufacturers in Kentucky employ around 13% of the state's workforce, and advocates said the state's Appalachian region could bolster its economy by …

By 2022, 32% of bills that passed the Kentucky House and 24% that passed the Senate were fast-tracked in ways that cut out the public, according to a new League of Women Voters of Kentucky report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: KY lawmakers increasingly fast-track bills, reducing transparency

Kentucky lawmakers convene this week for the 2024 legislative session, and a new report finds state representatives are increasingly fast-tracking …

By the end of 2023, an estimated 13,960 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,310 will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky leads nation in advanced cervical cancer fatalities

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and health experts said they are concerned about the growing number of cervical cancer diagnoses nationwide…

Kentucky teachers, bus drivers and food-service staff are leaving their jobs at record rates, largely driven by low pay, according to the Kentucky Legislature's Office of Education Accountability. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: KY has billions in rainy-day funds that could benefit communities

In less than a month, lawmakers will convene for the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly. Advocates said they want fewer dollars stockpiled in the …

State data show in Kentucky, more than 45% of women and around 35% of men have experienced intimate partner violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY domestic violence data project aims to improve services

An effort is underway in Kentucky to better collect and analyze domestic violence data, with the goal of improving the lives of survivors and their …

A survey by Jobs for the Future found most high school graduates not attending college said they would have considered programs such as apprenticeships if they had more information. (Adobe Stock)

KY Apprenticeships offer a debt-free career path

The number of registered active apprentices more than doubled in Kentucky between 2013 and 2021, including carpenters, cement masons, construction …

An analysis of government data by the health policy group KFF estimates that nearly one in 10 adults, or roughly 23 million people nationwide, owe significant medical debt. (Adobe Stock)

KY advocates: It's time to bury medical debt

It's estimated that one in three Kentuckians struggles to pay medical bills, and the issue continues to be a driving factor in personal bankruptcy …

Gov. Andy Beshear speaks at an economic development event in Henderson in 2022. (Tkayne/Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Kentucky’s gubernatorial race breaks records, exceeds $44 million

By Anna Massoglia and Jimmy Cloutier for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the OpenSecrets-Pu…

Eleven nonprofit organizations have been selected to receive funding from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky's Funding for Recovery Equity and Expansion program. (Ally Wells)

KY substance abuse groups focus on recovery equity and expansion

A new statewide program in Kentucky is providing addiction advocacy groups and recovery centers with flexible funding to focus on resource equity and …

Global natural gas markets remain tight as uncertainty persists around demand and further supply cuts by Russia, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY utility regulators' 'mixed' decision on LG&E proposal

Critics say the latest decision from state regulators on Louisville Gas and Electric's proposal to build two new gas plants and cycle out two aging co…

Panelists discuss the 33rd edition of Kentucky Youth Advocates County Data Book, which looks at how Kentucky kids are faring in terms of economic security, education, health, family and community. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY faces workforce crisis in sectors that support children

New county-level data show Kentucky is facing a severe shortage of workers in sectors supporting children, including teachers, counselors, child care …

Research shows Black women have a maternal mortality rate nearly three times that of white women in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Report finds Kentucky maternal deaths extend into postpartum period

Maternal mortality has increased in Kentucky, and the latest data from the United Health Foundation show more moms - especially those of color - are …

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers resources for caregivers of veterans enrolled in VA health care through the VA Caregiver Support Program. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky Veterans' caregivers financially overburdened

Veterans Day happens once a year, but all year round, Kentuckians provide care for the veterans they love. According to data from AARP, they spend on …

More than two million Kentuckians voted in 2020, an all-time high, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

Nonpartisan election resources available for Kentucky voters

As Kentucky voters head to the polls to choose the state's next governor, attorney general, secretary of state and other state officials, VOTE411.org …

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