Kentucky News & Current Events | Public News Service

According to federal data, drug overdose deaths declined by 14.5% yer-over-year in the 12-months ending June 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Kentucky works to reduce overdose deaths in Black and brown communities

Groups across the state are working to reduce overdose deaths among minority populations. According to state data, overdose deaths are on the …

During 2024, 71,864 Kentucky residents enrolled in a health plan through the insurance marketplace, according to the health advocacy group KFF. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentuckians’ health insurance tax credits set to expire at end of 2025

This Wednesday is the deadline to enroll in Affordable Care Act marketplace health coverage. Advocates say this year is even more critical for …

More than 30 million people live in the Ohio River Basin, according to the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio River Basin would get federal protection under new legislation

The Environmental Protection Agency would be in charge of protecting and restoring the Ohio River Basin under recently proposed legislation by Reps…

In 2023, more than 525,000 career employees worked for USPS, according to the agency. (Wikimedia Commons)

Privatizing USPS could have devastating effect on rural KY

The Trump administration and some House Republicans, including Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., have floated the idea of privatizing the United States Postal …

PFAS exposure can cause developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone changes and behavioral changes, according to the EPA. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New data show millions more people exposed to 'forever' chemicals

The latest Environmental Protection Agency data show over 11 million more people than in earlier estimates have the chemicals known as PFAS in their d…

Symptoms of black lung disease can take years to develop. In early stages, the most common symptoms are cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New rule cracks down on companies' abandonment of black lung liabilities

A new federal rule aims to close a loophole allowing coal companies to walk away from their obligations to pay disability benefits and health insuranc…

As of August, enrollment in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System had reached 66,114 students, representing an increase of 8.4%, according to state data. (Adobe Stock/AI generated image)

KY Community and Technical College System plans major changes

Nearly a dozen changes could be made to the Kentucky Community and Technical College system, under Senate Joint Resolution 179, passed by lawmakers …

Kentucky public schools serve 634,424 students, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

KY public schools: Large employers who help meet community needs

On the heels of voters' overwhelming rejection of Amendment 2 in November, Kentucky public school employees are urging lawmakers to double down on …

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have laws providing paid family and medical leave programs for eligible workers, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Push for paid parental leave for KY state employees

Kentucky's 33,000 state employees face challenges taking time off from work after giving birth to a child or adopting, and many are forced to use …

Aerial view of solar arrays on the Franklin County Extension Office in Frankfort. (Franklin County Extension Office)

KY county extension offices increasing climate resilience

A solar battery storage project at the Franklin County Extension Office is expected to save taxpayers $10,000 a year on utility bills, and provide …

Tooth decay affects nearly half of U.S. children, according to research from the National Institutes of Health. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky sees soaring child dental decay rates

Dental decay rates for Kentucky children age 2-5 are far higher than the national average, according to new data from the University of Kentucky's …

More than 25,672 dry-cleaning businesses operate in the United States in 2023, slightly down from 2022, according to the website IBISWorld. (Adobe Stock)

Dry-cleaning workers better protected under EPA chemical ban

The Environmental Protection Agency this week banned a toxic chemical commonly used in dry cleaning and other consumer products. Trichloroethylene …

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that up to 9 million homes across the country get drinking water through lead pipes. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky gears up to replace lead pipes

Kentucky residents are being notified about their lead water pipes that could be posing a health danger. According to an EPA report, around 40,000 …

According to a 2024 survey by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, 54% of survey respondents report that their apprenticeship programs are

Kentucky sees growth in registered apprenticeship programs

Kentucky is expanding its registered apprenticeship program to reach more businesses and employers, and to offer new programs in the early childhood …

Jobs in community and social services fields are expected to grow by nearly 8% over the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Continuing education opportunities for KY’s social and health workers

Medicaid renewals and steps the state is taking to improve maternal health are all topics experts will cover at the upcoming Kentucky Voices for Healt…

Around 131 million people in the U.S. live in communities regularly exposed to unhealthy levels of air pollution, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New KY air monitoring project to address health effects of air pollution

A new air monitoring project aims to study the health effects of air pollution in west Louisville's Rubbertown neighborhood. More than two decades …

According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers spend an average of $902 on gifts and other holiday items each Christmas. (Adobe Stock)

Rising consumer interest drives push for USA-made holiday gifts

When surveyed, 77% of Americans prefer to buy goods made in the United States, especially during holidays, and 82% said they would buy more if …

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Tips on spotting climate change misinformation and bias

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Col…

In 2022, flash floods hit the hills of eastern Kentucky, leaving in their wake millions of dollars of devastation. (Adobe Stock)

Study looks at what causes flash floods in the Appalachian mountains

By Liz Carey for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Daily Yonder-Public News Service Collaborat…

The 2024 Kids Count County Data Book focuses on the disproportionate impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Kentucky kids. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Many KY kids lead fragmented and traumatic lives

Nearly one in four Kentucky kids has experienced at least two Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, including abuse, neglect or household …

Only about one in four high school students gets the recommended one hour a day of physical activity, according to the American Heart Association. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Obesity rates skyrocket among KY kids

More than one in three children is now overweight or obese, according to new research published in the Lancet medical journal. The study found while …

Kentucky ranks 48 of 50 in the nation for rate of new lung cancer cases at 84.8 per 100,000. The national rate is 54.6 per 100,000, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Cancer education program sheds light on Appalachian disparities

Some Kentuckians are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and more likely to die from the disease than others. Dr. Nathan Vanderford, associate …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends states monitor biosolids, which can end up being used as farm fertilizer, for PFAS contamination and identify industrial discharges of PFAS. (Adobe Stock) <br />

KY farmers should think twice about using ‘biosludge’ as fertilizer

Kentucky farmers are using biosolids or "biosludge" from city sewage as cheap fertilizer but the price tag is high in terms of health, from toxic …

FBI and BJS data show dramatic declines in U.S. violent and property crime rates since the early 1990s. (Generated with AI/Adobe Stock)<br />

New FBI data show no evidence of violent crime wave in Kentucky

New federal data show aggravated assaults are up in Kentucky by 7.2%, but other types of violent crime have gone down. Overall, violent crime in …

Research shows Kentucky ranks number one in the country in residential treatment beds per capita, with 70.34 beds per 100,000 population. (Adobe Stock)

New KY program aims to turn recovery into career pathway

A statewide program in Kentucky aims to provide credentialing and pathways to a career in social work for people in substance use disorder recovery…

People eligible for a Dual Special Needs Plan are a diverse group, as nearly half are people of color and nearly 40% are under age 65, according to the health care advocacy group KFF. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Many Kentuckians qualify for dual-needs health coverage

Nearly 13 million people nationwide, including the around 2 million peoplein Kentucky enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid, may qualify for coverage …

The federal Scams Against Older Adults Advisory Group, formed in 2022, works to better identify and stop scams affecting older adults. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY's older adults now losing millions to fraud

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission found older adults nationwide lost nearly $2 billion to fraud. The combined median loss reported by …

The addition of more than 750 megawatts of renewable energy for rural portions of Kentucky significantly reduces the amount of greenhouse gases developed by natural gas and coal-fired generators. (Adobe Stock)

Power co-op to add renewable solar energy to KY rural transmission grid

New funding from the federal Empowering Rural America program will allow the East Kentucky Power Cooperative to add more than 750 megawatts of solar e…

In 2024, seven in 10 Americans approve of labor unions, near a 60-year high, according to a recent Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY labor unions want next administration to support PRO Act

Labor groups in Kentucky and across the nation are pushing for the next administration to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize, or PRO, Act…

From 2019 to 2020, the percentage of children ages 1 through 17 who had a dental examination or cleaning in the past 12 months decreased from 83.8% to 80.9%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

On National Brush Day, new resources in KY to boost oral health

Today is National Brush Day and experts across Kentucky are reminding residents to brush their teeth twice a day, floss, avoid smoking, and …

The nonprofit Step By Step in Lexington said a major barrier to participation is a lack of understanding among grocery stores about how WIC works and what products are covered under the program. (Honeysage Photo Co.)

WIC program updates to expand nutrition access for KY moms, babies

A federal nutrition program for low-income moms and babies now includes canned fish and beans, whole grains such as quinoa and cornmeal, and more …

The 2022 National Survey of Children's Health revealed 44% of children in Kentucky had experienced one or more adverse childhood experiences. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Most high school students say they have had a traumatic experience

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show three of every four high school students nationwide said they have experienced at le…

Nearly 50 million Americans have been covered through the Affordable Care Act's health insurance marketplaces over the last decade, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock/fictional person generated by AI)

Experts offer tips for Kentuckians during open enrollment

Kentuckians seeking quality, affordable marketplace health coverage can now preview plans for 2025 on kynect.ky.gov - and have from November 1 …

Some 73% of rural Democrats report feeling

Poll: KY rural voters want policies to protect workers

Most rural voters and more than 60% of rural young people said they support raising incomes for working people and lowering the cost of living…

According to a 2022 Pew survey, kids spend on average more than 91 minutes a day on TikTok. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky sues TikTok over child harm, consumer protection violations

An analysis of court documents by Kentucky Public Radio revealed the social media company TikTok knew users can become addicted to the platform in und…

Lead pipes were banned in Kentucky in 1998, according to the Northern Kentucky Water District. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA: Kentucky lead pipes on the way out

Utilities in Kentucky will soon begin replacing lead pipes that supply drinking water to homes, after the Environmental Protection agency announced …

Suzanne Craig receives her award from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. In 2020, more than 42% of U.S. adults reported not visiting a dentist or dental clinic in the past year, according to the CDC.(Adobe Stock)

Western KY dental clinic a lifeline for many unable to access care

A community dental clinic in Owensboro has helped more than 25,000 low-income residents access dental care. Suzanne Craig - the public health …

Solar panels are highly reliable throughout their lifetime, within the 80% to 90% range, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Solar resources reliable during extreme weather events

As parts of the country brace for and continue to recover from hurricanes, flooding and a new normal, research shows wind and solar resources tend to …

Jared Williams, president of student government at The College of New Jersey, and Aria Chalileh, vice president.

Voting: The new hot thing on campus

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News…

Wendolyn Gray of Louisville, Ky., said she is committed to helping other vote, after she lost the right to vote due to a past nonviolent felony offense. (Adobe Stock)<br />

This Louisville resident cannot vote but is devoted to helping others do so

Today is the last day Kentuckians can register to vote in next month's presidential election. The ballot will also include two constitutional …

Kentucky's rate of child abuse decreased in 2022, but the number of reported child abuse and neglect cases in the state still surpasses the national average, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

On 10/4, raising awareness of TEN-4 Rule to spot signs of child abuse

A screening tool developed by medical providers is an effective way to spot signs of child abuse, and experts are raising awareness about it today…

Kentuckians will vote this November on Amendment 2, a proposed amendment to the Kentucky Constitution that would allow the allocation of public funds to school choice options beyond traditional public schools. (Adobe Stock)

KY school superintendents voice opposition to Amendment 2

Kentuckians head to the polls in a few weeks and on the ballot is Amendment 2, a proposed change to the state Constitution to allow public funds for …

Research shows job skills training can, in some cases, increase a person's earnings by nearly 70%. (Adobe Stock)

Eastern KY receives $40 million for job training in coal communities

A dozen Eastern Kentucky counties will receive a total of around $40 million in federal funding to connect working-age residents to resources and trai…

The federal Rural Energy for America Program provides loan guarantees and grants to farmers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. (Adobe Stock)

Report: USDA program helped hundreds of KY businesses become energy efficient

In Kentucky, 462 businesses, farms and schools have received $77 million in federal funding to boost energy efficiency through the U.S. Department of …

Nationwide, more than 2.5 million children are being raised in kinship-care settings, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Survey: Kentucky kinship caregivers need help with basic needs

September has been National Kinship Care Month, and more than 80% of Kentucky kinship families say they need help with groceries, followed by …

In both 2021 and 2022, age-adjusted rates of drug-overdose deaths were highest for American Indian and Alaska Native non-Hispanic people (56.6 deaths per 100,000 standard population and 65.2, respectively), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Local efforts increase to curb surge in overdose deaths among Black Kentuckians

While overdose deaths in the Commonwealth have declined, deaths among Black Kentuckians have increased by 5%, according to data from the latest …

Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows about one in eight women with a recent live birth reported symptoms of postpartum depression. (Adobe Stock)

Resources available for Kentucky moms struggling with postpartum depression

About one in eight new mothers report having symptoms of postpartum depression and the rate of women diagnosed at delivery was seven times higher in 2…

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)

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 …

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