Kentucky News & Current Events | Public News Service

Gov. Andy Beshear outlines his budget priorities in a speech to a joint session of the Kentucky State Senate and House of Representatives on January 13th. (Office of Gov. Beshear)

Friday, January 14, 2022

Education Focus of Governor’s 2022 Budget Address

Acknowledging the pandemic's toll on Kentucky students, teachers and families, Gov. Andy Beshear announced last night a state budget which would make …

Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, presents House Bill 179, the Kentucky Supreme Court redistricting bill, in the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on Jan. 5. (LRC Public Information)<br /> — Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, presents House Bill 179, the Kentucky Supreme Court redistricting bill, in the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on Jan. 5. (LRC Public Information)

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Filing Deadline, Redistricting, Tornado Relief Dominate New Legislative Session

The legislative session has just begun, but lawmakers already have greenlighted redistricting maps and moved the filing deadline for candidates in …

Gov. Andy Beshear delivers his State of the Commonwealth address to a joint session of the Kentucky State Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday. (Office of Gov. Andy Beshear)

Gov. Beshear Touts Economic Gains, Community Resiliency in State of State

Gov. Andy Beshear spoke before a joint session of the Kentucky House and Senate last night, in his third Commonwealth address. After a year of …

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 …

The share of Appalachian households with a computer device is five percentage points below the national average, <a href= — The share of Appalachian households with a computer device is five percentage points below the national average, according to the Appalachian Regional Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Device Ownership Critical to Improving Rural Broadband

The now-stalled Build Back Better Act means $475 million in grant money is also stalled - money that would go to communities for laptops, tablets and …

Tornado damage in western Kentucky continues to affect the operations of domestic-violence shelters in the region. (Tori Henninger)

Experts: Natural Disasters Increase Risk of Domestic Violence, Abuse

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Shelters in western Kentucky face ongoing challenges helping domestic-violence survivors as communities continue to clean up …

Research from Yale University has shown the chemicals in vaping products can reach a teen's brain in about 10 seconds, and that frequent use among young people can lead to problems related to focus and memory. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /> — Research from Yale University has shown the chemicals in vaping products can reach a teen's brain in about 10 seconds, and that frequent use among young people can lead to problems related to focus and memory. (Adobe Stock)

KY Communities Continue Push for Local Tobacco Control

State lawmakers are expected to file a tobacco-control bill next year. Healthcare advocacy groups and local elected officials say communities must …

Kentucky National Guard members search for tornado survivors in West Liberty, Ky. (U.S. Army/Flickr)<br /> — Kentucky National Guard members search for tornado survivors in West Liberty, Ky. (U.S. Army/Flickr)

Biden in Kentucky to Survey Tornado Damage

MAYFIELD, Ky. -- President Joe Biden visits Fort Campbell, Mayfield and Dawson Springs today to survey tornado damage, and federal disaster …

Radar imagery of tornadoes moving across several states on Friday and Saturday. (TheAustinMan/Wikimedia Commons)

Western KY Communities Band Together in Tornadoes’ Aftermath

LIVERMORE, Ky. - Communities in Western Kentucky are grappling with the destruction and loss of life from deadly tornadoes that ripped through the …

The American Rescue Plan Act allocated $195 billion in economic-recovery funds directly to states, with a portion of the funding expected to compensate low-wage essential workers for the risks they faced during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Who Gets Essential-Worker Bonus Pay? Hearings Focus on Federal Funds

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky lawmakers heard from the state's nurses, firefighters, truck drivers, grocery store employees and other essential workers …

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 /> — 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)

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 …

According to Planned Parenthood, currently, one in three women of reproductive age lives in a state where abortion could be illegal if the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision is overturned. (Wikimedia Commons/Larissa Puro)

SCOTUS Rulings Could Further Restrict KY Abortion Access

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling related to the Texas six-week abortion ban this week, and hears arguments Dec…

In an AARP survey this fall, 81% of military members or veterans said they have not placed a security freeze on their credit reports that would help protect them from financial fraud. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Heightened Scam Risks for KY Veterans, Servicemembers

FRANKFORT, Ky. - A new survey by AARP finds veterans, military service members and their families are nearly 40% more likely to lose money to scams …

Marketplace Enrollment Opens Through State-Based Kynect

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentuckians have until Jan. 15 to enroll in marketplace health coverage through the state's recently relaunched Kynect website…

Flu season most often peaks in January or February or later, so getting a flu shot in late fall or winter can help stave off illness, according to the Kentucky Dept. for Public Health. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Flu season most often peaks in January or February or later, so getting a flu shot in late fall or winter can help stave off illness, according to the Kentucky Dept. for Public Health. (Adobe Stock)

Flu Shots, COVID-19 Boosters go Hand-in-Hand, Experts Say

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentuckians are being urged to check with their healthcare providers about getting a flu shot, to help protect them from illness …

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 …

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Kentuckians have installed enough solar-energy capacity to power more than 6,000 homes. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, Kentuckians have installed enough solar-energy capacity to power more than 6,000 homes. (Adobe Stock)

Solar-Power Advocates: KY Net-Metering Decision "Fair, Equitable"

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky's Public Service Commission has rejected a proposal by two utilities that would have drastically reduced the value of solar …

Kentucky incarcerates 40% more people per capita than the United States' average, which is more than five times larger than other wealthy countries. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Kentucky incarcerates 40% more people per capita than the United States' average, which is more than five times larger than other wealthy countries. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Financial Incentives Drive KY Jail Overcrowding, Expansion

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky counties are caught in a cycle of trying to cover the costs of incarceration by locking up more people and building bigger …

More than 74% of military veterans living in Kentucky are over age 50, according to data from AARP. (Adobe Stock)

New Online Tool Helps Veterans Navigate Benefits

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A new tool from AARP is designed to help veterans navigate the complex system of figuring out which benefits they may qualify for…

Kentucky resident Ethan Koeler spent two weeks in the hospital after contracting the coronavirus. (ETHAN KOELER/FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY)

Kentuckian, 29, Hospitalized with COVID-19 Speaks Out on Vaccine

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Marshall County resident Ethan Koeler said he was skeptical of the COVID-19 vaccine. Then the 29-year-old contracted the novel …

In 2017, 99% of Kentucky counties lacked a clinic that would perform an abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on KY Abortion Law

FRANKFORT, Ky. - U.S. Supreme Court justices heard oral arguments Tuesday in a case involving a 2018 Kentucky abortion law that bans a medical …

As many as one in four U.S. women and one in nine men are domestic violence victims, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

Statewide Survey Seeks Input from KY Domestic Violence Survivors

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence has launched a statewide survey for Domestic Violence Awareness Month to better …

Kentucky has a backlog of more than 1,000 abandoned mine land sites that qualify for federal assistance for cleanup. (Adobe Stock)

Looming Uncertainty Over Future of Abandoned Mine Land Cleanup

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- Congress has allowed the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program to expire, and advocates said nationwide on both state and tribal …

One in four women and one in 10 men in the United States experience intimate-partner violence. (Adobe Stock)

KY Bill Would Allow Domestic-Violence Survivors to Claim Unemployment

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky lawmakers and state advocates want to expand the state's unemployment system to include survivors of domestic violence…

According to the CDC, around 181 million Americans have received COVID-19 vaccinations. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: 1 in 5 Unvaccinated Kentuckians Open to Getting COVID-19 Vaccine

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- One in five unvaccinated Kentuckians say they are open to getting the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new poll from the …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food, citing specific risks to children and farmworkers. (Adobe Stock)

EPA’s Chlorpyrifos Ban Spotlights Future of Agricultural Pesticide Use

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Experts say most agriculture producers in Kentucky won't be affected by the Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision to ban …

COVID-19 infection during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of severe maternal illness, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and death, says the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (Adobe Stock)

Pregnant? Medical Experts Urge Getting COVID-19 Vaccine

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. -- Health professionals are concerned misinformation may be leading some people who are pregnant to choose not to get the COVID-…

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 …

According to the U.S. Defense Department, more than 17,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan by American troops. (Adobe Stock)

KY Legislators Ask State to Help Relocate Afghan Refugees

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- State Democratic leaders are urging Gov. Andy Beshear to offer a permanent home to Afghan refugees in Kentucky. At least a dozen …

Driving on deteriorating roads costs Louisville drivers more than $1,700 a year, according to a 2020 report from TRIP, a transportation research nonprofit. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Driving on deteriorating roads costs Louisville drivers more than $1,700 a year, according to a 2020 report from TRIP, a transportation research nonprofit. (Adobe Stock)

KY Groups Rally for Infrastructure, Climate, Jobs Investments

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - When U.S. House lawmakers return to Washington this week, they're expected to vote on advancing President Joe Biden's $1.2 trillion …

Experts say a historic state surplus combined with federal relief monies provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvest in a better economy and improved quality of life for Kentuckians. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Experts say a historic state surplus combined with federal relief monies provide a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvest in a better economy and improved quality of life for Kentuckians. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: KY Budget Surplus Should Be Invested in Communities

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Experts say the state should use a portion of its almost $2 billion rainy-day fund surplus to invest in resources that will help …

Save the Children worker Alissa Taylor packs school supplies for needy families in rural Kentucky. (Shawn Millsaps/Save The Children)

Study: Children Returning to School 4-5 Months Behind

FRANKFORT, Ky. - A new study from the consulting firm McKinsey finds that American kids are returning to school on average 4 to 5 months behind in …

Kentuckians have less than a week to purchase health insurance during the ACA's COVID-related special enrollment window. (Adobe Stock)

ACA Open Enrollment Deadline is Sunday

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentuckians have until Sunday to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. The Biden administration …

Early life trauma can undermine learning and is linked to a range of school-related problems. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Launch New Statewide Effort to Reduce KY Childhood Adversity

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A new initiative called Bloom Kentucky is focused on statewide policy change to prevent and mitigate the impact of childhood …

For Kentuckians on Medicaid, between March and June 2020, immunization rates declined 46% for children ages 4-6 and 57% for adolescents compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Kentucky Dept. for Medicaid Services. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — For Kentuckians on Medicaid, between March and June 2020, immunization rates declined 46% for children ages 4-6 and 57% for adolescents compared to the same period in 2019, according to the Kentucky Dept. for Medicaid Services. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Wellness Visits More Urgent as Kids Head Back to School

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. -- A new report by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, urged parents to get …

It's estimated that more than 241,000 DACA-eligible students are enrolled in college, according to the Migration Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)

After DACA Court Ruling, Advocates Call on Congress for Immigration Overhaul

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- In a recent ruling, a federal judge in Texas blocked new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program…

Private companies that supply goods to prison commissaries or provide communication services rake in $2.9 billion a year, almost as much money as governments pay private companies to operate private prisons, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

KY County Jails' Profits from Phone Calls Soar During Pandemic

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A new report finds county jails made more than $9 million from payments made for phone calls by incarcerated people, the year …

LG&E and Kentucky Utilities serve more than 1.3 million customers across more than 90 counties. (Adobe Stock)

KY Regulators Rein In Utilities' Proposed Rate Hikes

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The Kentucky Public Service Commission has rejected proposed rate hikes by Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky …

With more than 630,000 employees nationwide, the U.S. Postal Service is one of the largest civilian employers in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Lawmakers May Ask USPS to Delay Rate Hike Until Next Year

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Some lawmakers say they want the Postal Service to delay until next year a mail price hike slated for the end of this summer…

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

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 …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

As COVID-19 spread last year, prison facilities across the country suspended visits, not only from family members, but from attorneys. (Adobe Stock)

KY Families Can Soon Visit Relatives in Prison

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky families soon will be able to visit loved ones in some prison facilities. Gov. Andy Beshear said prison visitations and …

Some state leaders are pushing for Kentucky to follow and Tennessee and Ohio's lead and opt out of the extra $300 a week from the federal government. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Some state leaders are pushing for Kentucky to follow and Tennessee and Ohio's lead and opt out of the extra $300 a week from the federal government. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Say Prematurely Ending Federal UI Could Harm KY Economy

FRANKFORT, Ky. - More than twenty states are voluntarily ending their participation in a federal unemployment program, but Gov. Andy Beshear says …

According to the FCC, at least 18 million Americans lack fast and reliable internet. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — According to the FCC, at least 18 million Americans lack fast and reliable internet. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Relief Program Offers $50 a Month Toward Internet Bills

WHITESBURG, Ky. - The Federal Communications Commission says it's providing $50 a month direct payments toward internet bills to those who sign up …

Data from the Pew Research Center showed about one third of veterans had trouble paying the bills after leaving the military, yet only 12% indicated they received food assistance from the government. (Adobe Stock)

Hunger Crisis Continues to Take Toll on Military Families, Vets

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- As the nation observes Memorial Day, advocates for military families and veterans said many are going hungry. A report by the …

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