Kentucky News & Current Events | Public News Service

Master Gardeners Nate Picken and Frank Amaro along with Pembroke Mayor Judy Peterson help Avery Grace select trees to be planted at Pembroke School. (Photo courtesy Toni Riley)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Trees Bring Hope, Healing for Western Kentucky Tornado Victims

By Toni Riley for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

In 2021, U.S. supermarket and grocery stores made more than $800 billion in profits, more than double the amount generated two decades ago, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Food Banks Say Kroger-Albertson’s Merger Could Increase Demand

Kentucky food banks say the proposed merger of Kroger and Albertsons, currently under review by the Federal Trade Commission, could trigger an …

In 2022, the average annual premium for employer-sponsored family health insurance is $22,463, while the average cost of self-only coverage is $7,911, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, January 30, 2023

Fix Opens Options for Households with Costly Employer Health Coverage

Many Kentuckians who have affordable employer health coverage for themselves but not for their dependents and spouses now qualify for financial assist…

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 …

Nearly 60 percent of Americans say they are bothered

KY Lawmaker Says Graduated Income Tax Offers “Some Relief to Function as a State”

An Oxfam report released this week shows the richest 1% of individuals have gotten richer since the pandemic, capturing almost two-thirds of all new …

Medication abortion has been available in the United States since 2000, when the Food and Drug Administration <a href=

greenlighted the use of mifepristone for early nonsurgical abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)">

OTC Birth Control Urged as CVS, Walgreens Plan to Sell Abortion Pill

CVS and Walgreens have announced they will sell abortion medication at pharmacies, after the FDA announced it is allowing mifepristone to be bought …

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear unveiled his 2023 legislative proposals in the State of the Commonwealth Address on Wednesday. (Office of Gov. Andy Beshear/YouTube)

KY Governor Touts Teacher Pay, Remains Silent on Tax Cuts in State-of-State

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced a 5% pay raise for teachers in his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night. His Education First Plan …

Kentucky's permanent income tax reduction went into effect Jan. 1, 2023. According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, the tax cuts were made possible by large revenue surpluses from federal pandemic aid. (Adobe Stock).<br />

Kentuckians Worry About Impact of New Income-Tax Cuts

Permanent income tax reductions went into effect in Kentucky on Jan. 1. Some residents said they are concerned about the effects the cuts will have …

More than 40 people across six eastern Kentucky counties lost their lives during devastating flooding in the region this past summer. (Office of Governor Andy Beshear) More than 40 people across six eastern Kentucky counties lost their lives during devastating flooding in the region this past summer. (Office of Governor Andy Beshear)

Eastern KY Communities Aim to 'Get Recovery Right' After Floods

Infrastructure problems continue to plague eastern Kentucky months after severe flooding left thousand of residents without housing. According to …

Public opinion polls in 2022 showed support for capital punishment remained near historic lows, even amid rising perceptions of crime, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

In 2022, KY Became 2nd State to Pass Death-Penalty Mental-Illness Exemption

Kentucky became the second state in the nation this year to pass an exemption to the death penalty for people with a serious mental illness. Signed …

Research has shown gatherings where people are eating and drinking can increase the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 among people who are not fully vaccinated. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: COVID Not Stopping Kentuckians' Holiday Plans

The majority of Kentucky families say they'll be gathering as usual for the holidays, according to a new poll. More than eight in 10 Kentuckians …

Rural electric co-ops returned more than $1.5 billion in capital credits to their consumer-members in 2020, according to the <a href=

National Rural Electric Coop Association. (Adobe Stock)">

Call for KY’s Rural Electric Co-ops: Increase Energy Efficiency

Kentucky's two dozen rural electric co-ops could do more to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy, according to a recent ranking of …

Nationwide, total household debt rose by $351 billion, or 2.2%, to reach more than $16 trillion in the third quarter of 2022, according to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Appalachians: More Debt, Worse Credit than Other Rural Regions

Kentucky's rural Appalachian households are grappling with financial stress which is disproportionate compared to households in other rural parts of t…

In 2020, more than 8,000 Kentucky children were placed in foster care. (Adobe Stock)

KY Foster Kids Say They Want Stability and Better Care

According to a new report, a significant number of the state's youths are institutionalized, not because of a need for intensive supervision but …

Each year in the United States, an estimated 58,000 to 80,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized due to RSV infection, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

RSV, Flu, COVID: KY Faces "Triple Threat" This Winter

The flu, COVID and RSV are rapidly spreading in Kentucky, and health experts say that's a problem for hospitals, schools and the state's vulnerable …

As of 2017, the United States had 48,697 producers who identified as Black, either alone or in combination with another race. They accounted for 1.4% of the country's 3.4 million producers, according to the USDA. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Black Farmers Work to Reduce Barriers to Food Programs

Black farmers in Kentucky said they have benefited from participating in Farms to Food Banks, an agricultural program funneling leftover produce from …

Around one in five Kentucky children have experienced at least one type of ACE, according to data from the National Survey of Children's Health. (Adobe Stock)

Rural KY Schools Tackle Childhood Trauma

Russell County teachers, staff, counselors, and bus drivers have received intensive training on the effects of childhood trauma on kids' mental and …

More Kentucky kids are considering their safety at school. According to the latest Kentucky Kids Count County Data Book, published by Kentucky Youth Advocates, more than 90% of the state's high school students think adults at their school work hard to make sure students are safe. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Mental Health, Gun Prevalence Top Concerns for Kentucky Kids

Across the state, kids say they want more resources for mental health - according to the recently released 2022 Kentucky Kids Count County data book…

Kentucky's energy rates jumped by more than 16% between June 2021 and July 2022, according to data released by Vault Electricity. (Adobe Stock)

More Kentuckians Behind on Utility Bills as Rates Soar

One out of six American families is behind on their utility bills, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Part of the …

The Rev. Dr. James Thurman, a retired U.S. Army veteran, was the first Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame Inductee. (Photo courtesy of Thurman)

Kentucky Veterans Honored for "Still Serving"

Two military veterans were honored this week for their community service at the Kentucky Veterans of the Year annual banquet, hosted by the Epilepsy …

Kentucky is among around a dozen states with trigger laws that went into effect after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this summer, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

After Voters Reject Amendment 2, KY Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on Abortion Ban

Kentucky voters rejected a ballot measure that would have changed language in the state's constitution to permanently deny the right to an abortion…

Thirty-five states have laws requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. (Adobe Stock)

KY Voter ID Law in Effect for Midterm Election

Kentuckians casting their ballots at the polls on Tuesday will now have to show a photo ID in order to vote. Kentucky is one of around a dozen …

People with seasonal affective disorder often feel excessively sleepy during the day and sleep longer than usual at night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Faces Another Risk from Natural Disasters: Seasonal Depression

Mental health experts say this winter may be especially difficult for people who have lost homes or loved ones in the eastern Kentucky floods…

In a Sept. NPR/Marist Poll, 58% of Americans said the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has made them more likely to vote in this November's midterm elections. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Abortion Measures on Ballots the 'Most on Record'

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

According to Feeding Kentucky, 70% of Kentucky households that are receiving SNAP have children, and 40% of them have an elderly person or someone living with a disability. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Boost SNAP Purchasing Power in Next Farm Bill

Families are being forced to stretch their SNAP dollars due to inflation, and advocates say they want Congress to tackle the issue in the 2023 farm …

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky named Denise Hall recipient of its 2022 Gil Friedell Award for her career spent serving youths in Trimble County through substance-use prevention efforts. (Adobe Stock)

KY School District Takes Lead on Mental Health, Drug-Use Prevention

In Trimble County, school staff are expanding services for students and families aimed at curbing vaping, marijuana and opioid use, and increasing …

One in 10 children in Kentucky has experienced the trauma and hardship of having his or her mom or dad locked up, according to Kentucky Youth Advocates. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY County Jails Can Help Keep Kids Connected to Incarcerated Parents

Some county jails in the Commonwealth are creating or expanding parent-child visitation policies, but experts argued more work needs to be done to …

Black people are still more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, including in those states that have legalized marijuana use. (Adobe Stock)

Push to Pardon KY Residents Convicted of Marijuana Possession

Criminal justice reform advocates in the Commonwealth are asking Gov. Andy Beshear to decriminalize marijuana possession. The request follows …

In order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, utilities must transition to at least 80% clean energy sources by 2030, according to a Sierra Club report. (Adobe Stock)

East KY Power CoOp Receives Failing Grade for Climate Pledges

Utilities in the Commonwealth are delaying actions which could help put the brakes on climate change and ease the burden of rising fuel costs on ratep…

It's estimated that the family glitch affects about one million Americans, more than half of whom are children, according to the Commonwealth Fund. (Adobe Stock)<br />

End of 'Family Glitch' Means Affordable Coverage for More KY Families

This week the Internal Revenue Service announced it is fixing the Affordable Care Act's so-called family glitch, which calculated affordability for …

President Joe Biden recently announced a goal of ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030. (Adobe Stock)<br />

White House 'Food As Medicine' Strategy Will Help Expand Local Efforts in KY

The White House is recommending "food as medicine" as part of a new nationwide strategy to increase healthy eating and reduce the number of Americans …

Kentucky has received $45 billion over the past several years in the form of stimulus checks, expanded unemployment benefits, a monthly child tax credit, state and local aid and more, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Say KY Should Hit Pause on Tax Cuts Amid Recession Fears

The amount of income tax Kentucky residents pay is slated to decrease slightly beginning next year, but experts say the Federal Reserve's decision to …

Rates of child abuse and neglect are five times higher for children in families with low socioeconomic status, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Trust Your Gut, Know the Signs to Spot, Prevent Child Abuse

Child abuse cases in the state dropped between 2019 and 2020, but Kentucky still ranks fifth among states for incidents of child maltreatment…

According to the Kentucky Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in seven Kentucky high school students reported having seriously considered suicide within a 12-month period. (Adobe Stock)

Some KY Schools Offering Mental-Health Services Amid Youth Crisis

A pilot program launched by the Todd County School District and the county's local health department offers free mental-health case-management service…

Research from 2015 revealed a federal estimate of more than 48,000 abandoned coal mine sites across the nation, but exact numbers remain unclear. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Possible Link Between Flood Risk, Abandoned Mine Land Brings Urgency to Reclamation Efforts

The impact of abandoned mine land on flood risk is receiving new scrutiny after devastating floods in the eastern part of the state left 40 people dea…

Around 68% of Kentucky's total population has received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Boosters, Seasonal Flu Shots Can Prevent Illness this Winter

State health experts are warning the flu and COVID season could be severe, and are urging Kentuckians to stay on guard. With COVID restrictions …

Research shows economic insecurity, unreliable transportation and other challenges outside the classroom pose major barriers for two-year college students. (Adobe Stock)

KY College Boards Focus on Role of Equity in Student Success

Colleges and universities in Kentucky are looking at new ways to address the equity gap among their students, through specialized training for their …

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…

More than 75% of democratic voters say the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade makes them more likely to vote, according to an NPR/Marist Poll. (Adobe Stock)

KY Voter Registration Deadline is Oct. 11, Abortion Amendment on Ballot

With only four weeks left before the state's voter-registration deadline, advocacy groups say they are sounding the alarm on a ballot initiative …

Increased awareness of the dangers of unlocked medication has led to a 33% drop in emergency-room visits for suspected accidental poisonings in children younger than age 6 between 2012 and 2020 worldwide, according to research by Safe Kids Worldwide.(Adobe Stock)

Medicine Storage Campaign Aims to Reduce Accidental Poisonings Among Kids

Small children are landing in the hospital because of accidental poisoning from ingesting medication meant for adults. Experts are working to give …

Dr. Jamestta Ferguson, founder of Molo Community Development Corp., says grassroots organizations are working to address decades of disinvestment in Louisville's historically Black neighborhoods. (AARP KY)

Neighborhood Org Pushes for Economic Development in West Louisville

A pastor and community leader in Louisville is working to boost economic development and raise the quality of life on Louisville's West end. …

More than 53 million people turned to food banks, food pantries and community programs for help putting food on the table in 2021, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Inflation Pushes More Kentuckians to Rely on Food Pantries

September is Hunger Action Month, and experts say the issue of putting food on the table has never been more important, as families search for ways …

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 …

The state where a child is born, in addition to family and community characteristics, ultimately affects their chance of thriving, according to research from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Natural Disasters Compound Mental Health Issues for KY Kids

Housing displacement and emotional trauma from natural disasters in the past year are likely worsening kids' mental health in the Commonwealth…

In the past week, there were more than 707,000 new confirmed U.S. coronavirus cases, and more than 4,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. (chaddavis.photography/CC BY-SA 2.0.)

Poll: Half of Kentuckians Say Pandemic is Over in Their Own Lives

Around half of Kentucky adults believe the pandemic is over in their personal lives, according to a new poll released by the Foundation for a Healthy …

Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available through the Small Business Administration for Eastern Kentucky businesses that experienced flood damage. (Adobe Stock)

Nonprofits Band Together to Help Small Business Flood Recovery

Small businesses that suffered damage or destruction from the recent historic flooding in Eastern Kentucky can get one-on-one assistance as they try t…

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 …

It's estimated more than 4 million children younger than age 19 lacked health insurance coverage in 2020, according to U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Continuous CHIP Eligibility Could Keep More KY Kids Covered

The federal health insurance program for children helps keep more than 620,000 Kentucky kids insured. A new report finds that CHIP, which marks its 2…

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