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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 …

Kentuckianos reconocidos por sus esfuerzos para mejorar la salud maternal

La Commonwealth tiene la segunda tasa de mortalidad materna más alta del país, y dentro del estado las muertes maternas son el doble entre …

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 …

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 …

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…

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 …

Casi el 60% de los beneficiarios de Medicaid de Kentucky informan que la falta de transporte confiable y asequible es una barrera para recibir servicios de atenci�n m�dica, seg�n datos de la Universidad de Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

Nuevos cambios en Medicaid KY amplían acceso al transporte médico

Kentucky ha realizado algunos cambios que amplían el acceso al transporte gratuito para las personas que necesitan ayuda para llegar a citas m…

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…

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 …

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 …

Los ni�os necesitan visitas peri�dicas de control y al dentista para realizar un seguimiento de su desarrollo y detectar problemas de salud en una etapa temprana, cuando normalmente son m�s f�ciles de tratar, seg�n los Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

KY mantiene a mayoría de niños inscritos en Medicaid, después de la pandemia

A nivel nacional, los niños están perdiendo su cobertura de Medicaid y CHIP, pero Kentucky ha mantenido inscritos a la mayoría de sus …

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…

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…

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 …

Medicaid coverage during early life stages- even before birth - is linked to improved health outcomes for the next generation, according to a study published in American Economic Review. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Kids Often Eligible for Medicaid, Even if Their Parents Aren’t

Kentucky begins its eligibility review of kids' Medicaid coverage this month - and experts say it's vital the process goes seamlessly, so kids aren't …

La cobertura de Medicaid durante las primeras etapas de la vida -incluso antes del nacimiento- est� vinculada a mejores resultados de salud para la siguiente generaci�n, seg�n un estudio publicado en American Economic Review. (Adobe Stock)

Expertos: Niños suelen ser elegibles para Medicaid, incluso si sus padres no lo son

Kentucky comienza su revisión de elegibilidad de la cobertura de Medicaid para niños este mes, y los expertos dicen que es vital que el …

As grocery prices and cost-of-living expenses continue to rise, experts say more Kentuckians will rely on food banks. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentuckians Kick-Off Hunger Action Month

As anti-hunger advocates gather today at the state Capitol to launch Feeding Kentucky's Hunger Action Month kickoff, experts say the next Farm Bill --…

According to the latest data, around 4,000 Kentuckians experience homelessness on a given night in January each year. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid Renewal Process a Barrier for Kentuckians Struggling with Housing

Medicaid benefits can help people stay housed or get connected to resources that can help them find housing. And experts say the state's Medicaid …

In 2021, some 53% of working adults ages 25 to 54 were parents, and more than a third of those parents had young children, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe stock)

New Data Shows Well-Being of Kentucky Kids Worsens

The latest Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book shows Kentucky, along with other Appalachian and Southeastern states, ranks in the bottom …

Kentucky children attend one of the robotics camps organized by Save the Children. (Alissa Taylor)

Summer Break Brings Uncertainty for Many Rural Kentucky Kids

In eastern Kentucky, advocacy groups are expanding summer learning opportunities for families. Isolation and learning loss plague many rural …

According to AARP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program likely played a role in keeping the percentage of food-insecure Americans ages 50 and older stagnant during the pandemic, at around 9.5 million people nationwide. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Some Kentuckians Risk Losing SNAP Benefits in Debt-Ceiling Talks

More than 17,000 Kentuckians could lose food assistance when pre-pandemic SNAP work requirements go back into effect this summer, for adults between …

According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, as of February around 12% of Kentuckians rely on SNAP benefits for food assistance. (Adobe Stock)

KY Road Show Highlights Programs that Improve Community Well-Being

A traveling roadshow highlighting changes to Medicaid, Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program (KCHIP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance …

Seg�n el Centro de Pol�tica Econ�mica de Kentucky, en febrero alrededor del 12% de los habitantes de Kentucky depend�an de las prestaciones del SNAP para recibir ayuda alimentaria. (Adobe Stock)

KY Road Show destaca programas para el bienestar de la comunidad

Una gira itinerante que destaca los cambios en Medicaid, KCHIP, SNAP y otros programas de asistencia pública llega a Owensboro el próximo …

More than 84 million Americans were enrolled in Medicaid in 2021, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Adobe Stock)

KY Communities Brace for Medicaid Renewals

Around 250,000 Kentuckians will soon need to submit new documentation to stay on Medicaid, and health advocates say they're working to prevent …

M�s de 84 millones de estadounidenses se inscribieron en Medicaid en 2021, seg�n los Centros de Servicios de Medicare y Medicaid. (Adobe Stock)

Comunidades de KY se preparan para renovaciones de Medicaid

Alrededor de 250 000 habitantes de Kentucky pronto deberán presentar nueva documentación para permanecer en Medicaid, y los defensores de …

More than 1 in 7 households nationwide paid over half of their income on housing in 2020, according to a report by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. (Adobe Stock)

KY's Housing Shortage Worsened by Natural Disasters

Kentucky is facing a serious housing shortage, and the past few years of deadly floods and tornadoes have worsened the situation. Advocates want …

El presidente Joe Biden anunci� recientemente el objetivo de acabar con el hambre y aumentar la alimentaci�n saludable y la actividad f�sica para 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Estrategia de Casa Blanca 'Food As Medicine' expandirá esfuerzos en KY

La Casa Blanca recomienda "Food As Medicine" (Alimentos como Medicina) como parte de una nueva estrategia nacional para aumentar la alimentación …

According to Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap report, nine out of 10 counties with the highest food insecurity rates are rural. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Innovation Lab Aims to Spur Creative Solutions to End Child Hunger

A new initiative is providing funding to individuals and grassroots groups across the Commonwealth with creative solutions to reduce hunger among rura…

Forty percent of older Americans rely solely on Social Security for retirement income, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Squeezes Fixed-Income Kentuckians; Benefits Assistance Can Help

As inflation drives up the cost of living, Kentuckians on fixed incomes are especially vulnerable. More than 2,000 federal, state and local benefits …

Save the Children staff at an elementary school in Perry County, preparing to distribute bottled water and supplies to residents. (Save the Children)

As Flood Recovery Continues, KY Kids Face Uncertain Start of School Year

Despite numerous challenges, eastern Kentucky schools and advocacy groups are working to make the upcoming school year as normal as possible and get …

An estimated one in five Americans relies on food banks for groceries, according to a 2020 analysis by Consumer Reports. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Food Bank Demand Rises Amid Inflation, Fuel Costs

Food banks are struggling to keep up operations as they contend with rising fuel costs, inflation and an uptick in demand driven by the end of …

Americans owe nearly $1.75 trillion in student-loan debt, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians Under “Crippling” Financial Stress from Student Loan Debt

Kentuckians collectively owe more than $20 million in student loan debt, and a new informal survey sheds light on how hefty student-loan payments …

More than 14 million people could lose Medicaid coverage when the public health emergency ends in July, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Experts say text messages could help notify more people about upcoming changes. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Texts Could Help Shrink Post-COVID Health-Coverage Gap

The COVID-19 public health emergency mandating continuous coverage for Medicaid enrollees is expected to expire later this year, and experts say …

As of February 2022, all 50 states and the District of Columbia had jobless rate decreases from a year earlier. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Lawmakers Move to Cut Unemployment Benefits

The number of weeks Kentuckians can receive unemployment benefits will soon be cut by more than half. Last week, state lawmakers overrode Gov…

According to data from the Food Research and Action Center, more than 14 million kids received breakfast during the 2020-2021 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Statewide Push to Update Laws, Remove “Barriers to Breakfast” for KY Kids

Senate lawmakers are considering updating existing legislation to allow kids to eat breakfast at school 15 minutes after the bell. During National …

More than 300 Kentucky farmers participated in the Farms to Food Banks programs last year. (Adobe Stock)

KY Officials Urge Expanding 'Farms to Food Banks', Upgrading Pantries

More than 300 Kentucky farmers participated in the state's Farms to Food Banks program last year, and at a recent virtual rally, state officials said …

Around 40% of kids ages 12-17 and 10% of those ages 5-11 have been vaccinated, according to the Mayo Clinic's U.S. COVID Vaccine Tracker. (Adobe Stock)

KY Parents Urged to Make "Game Plan” for Kids’ COVID Shots

The Food and Drug Administration this week has authorized Pfizer booster shots for kids ages 12 to 15, as well as a third shot for younger children …

Black women in the Commonwealth are three to four times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related complication than are non-Hispanic White women, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Lack of Coverage, Child Care, School Funding Affect Health Outcomes

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- In a few weeks, Kentucky lawmakers will convene the General Assembly, and health advocates are calling for new policies to address …

The Build Back Better Act focuses on investing in childcare, preschool, paid family leave and maintaining the expanded child tax credit. (Adam Schultz/Biden for President)

Congress Urged to Center Women with Build Back Better Act

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

The number of children in foster care in Kentucky increased to more than 53,000 between 2018-2020, according to the 2021 Kids Count County Data Book released by Kentucky Youth Advocates. (Adobe Stock)

Report: How Racial Disparities Impact KY Kids’ Well-Being

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A new analysis of county-level data sheds light on how systemic racial disparities are affecting the wellbeing of kids in the …

Demand has skyrocketed for high-protein foods such as meat and poultry, foods least available to food-insecure individuals. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Inflation, Food Banks See Increased Demand for Protein-Rich Foods

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. - Anti-hunger advocates say inflation, supply-chain issues and a labor shortage are driving up the demand for protein, as the …

In April 2020, SNAP enrollment in Kentucky increased by 16% due to coronavirus pandemic-related layoffs. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Pandemic EBT Grocery Money for Families Will Boost KY Economy

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- September is Hunger Action Month, and advocates say the latest round of federal Pandemic EBT and Summer EBT will give Kentucky's …

The expanded child tax credit is expected to send $1.8 billion to Kentucky families. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts Call Child Tax Credit a Game Changer for KY Families

FRANKFORT, KY. - Starting July 15, nearly a million Kentucky kids and their families could get extra income support through the federal child tax …

The newest edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book explores how America's child population fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY Kids' Well-Being has Stalled, But Tax Credits Could Help

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - New survey data taken during the pandemic offers a clear picture of how Kentucky kids and families are faring. The Commonwealth …

The federal government plans to step up support for families facing hard times during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Families Plan, Pandemic EBT Could Bring Relief for More KY Families

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Expanding child care, creating paid family and medical leave, and boosting health-care coverage affordability are just some of the …

The group Feeding America estimates this year, one in six children could experience food insecurity, meaning they're in families that don't always have enough food. (Adobe Stock)

SNAP Benefits Hike Will Help Feed More KY Kids

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky will soon receive an extra $12.8 million per month for its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits program…

Nationwide, more kids tell researchers they are struggling with loneliness and isolation one year into the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report Highlights Deepening Crises for Many KY Kids

PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Kentucky families are facing greater levels of food insecurity and economic instability one year into the coronavirus pandemic…

Currently, family child-care operators are eligible to apply for up to $2,500 in start-up funds from the Kentucky Division of Child Care. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Crisis Puts Spotlight on Home-Based Child Care

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Community advocates say home-based family child care could play a major role in closing gaps in access across Kentucky during the …

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KY: Poverty Issues