Kentucky News & Current Events | Public News Service

P.J. Brock, a 5th grader at Middlesboro Middle School, with his family and teacher, Sandy Evans, alongside Kentucky Retired Teachers Association and AARP Kentucky representatives. (AARP Kentucky)<br />

Friday, May 9, 2025

Ahead of Mother’s Day, Kentucky student pays tribute to grandmother

Ahead of Mother's Day, one Kentucky middle-school student has received recognition for honoring his grandmother in a "Grandparent of the Year" essay …

As of May 1, 2025, a total of 935 confirmed measles cases were reported by 30 jurisdictions nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY confirms second measles case, doctors urge vaccination

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services is reporting a second confirmed measles case in March, in a child who was traveling through the …

Eleven states and Washington D.C., serve at least half of 4-year-olds in state-funded preschool, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky’s federal preschool funding faces uncertain future

The number of Kentucky children enrolled in preschool increased in 2024, along with state spending per child, according to new data from the National …

Misdemeanor charges place 13 million Americans in the criminal justice system each year, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

KY jails may be shrinking, but nationwide rural counties increase incarceration

CORRECTION: This story has been revised to make it clear that Kentucky has not followed the national trend of building more rural jails, as seen in …

From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received more than 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors, according to the FBI. (Adobe Stock)

New Kentucky law aims to protect children from digital abuse or ‘sextortion’

Online extortion cases involving children have been rapidly increasing in Kentucky and nationwide, and legislation signed into law by Gov. Andy …

In the state and local government sector in Kentucky, 6,400 injury and illness cases were reported in 2023, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Unions: NIOSH cuts will harm Kentucky workers

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to cut a cut a majority of jobs at the federal agency responsible for worker …

The Trump administration is considering closing seven offices in Kentucky as part of a larger cut to federal mine safety field offices across the country. (Adobe Stock/AI-generated)

Coal miners could pay if inspectors lose offices on DOGE list

Dozens of mine safety field offices in Kentucky and across the country would close under a proposal by the federal Department of Government Efficiency…

Murray State University in Murray, Ky., is seeking approval to begin training veterinarians. (Murray State University)

New KY law could mean more advanced degrees

Kentucky lawmakers have opened a path for more public universities to offer professional and advanced degree programs. Senate Bill 77, which …

Seasonal or year-round allergies, depending on the allergen, affect up to 60 million people each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Spring brings seasonal allergies for many Kentuckians

Kentucky ranks among the worst states for seasonal allergies from early spring through late fall, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of …

In 2025, an average of almost 69 million Americans per month will receive a Social Security benefit, according to the Social Security Administration. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Older Kentuckians: We've worked hard for our Social Security benefits

The Social Security Administration backtracked on a new plan, set to take effect today, that would have required more people to apply for benefits in …

Flooding in Frankfort almost reaches a basketball net Sunday as the Kentucky River is expected to keep rising. (Liam Niemeyer/Kentucky Lantern)<br />

Flooding inundates Kentucky communities

Frankfort is one of a number of communities across Kentucky grappling with a deluge of flash flooding from torrential rainfall over the past several d…

More than 73,000 wind turbines across the U.S. are generating reliable power, according to the American Clean Power Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Wind could be Appalachian Kentucky’s next economic driver

Appalachian communities in Kentucky are poised to become manufacturing hubs for the wind energy industry, experts say. The region's workforce…

More than 42 million people relied on SNAP benefits to purchase food, as of March 15 2025, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Proposed changes to SNAP funding structure could hurt Kentuckians

As federal funding cuts for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program loom, Kentucky experts said proposed changes to shift funding onto states …

Kyan Higgins Jr, a 10-year-old boy and victim of child abuse who lived in Louisville, Ky. Animal Control officers visited his home 24 times in the 18 months leading up to his death. (Kentucky Youth Advocates)<br />

KY bill would equip animal control officers to spot signs of child abuse

A proposed Kentucky law would require animal control officers statewide to undergo training on identifying and reporting child abuse. Kyan's Law is …

The Second Chance Act has invested $1.2 billion into states to help improve outcomes for people leaving prison and jail with unprecedented resources and energy. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky re-entry services programs struggle to secure funding

April is National Second Chance Month but across the Commonwealth, resources to help people leaving prison find gainful employment are dwindling…

According to 2024 DEA laboratory testing, five of 10 pills tested contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY advocates: HALT Fentanyl Act won’t address root causes of substance use

The federal HALT Fentanyl Act advancing through Congress would increase prison time for fentanyl traffickers. Kentuckians convicted on distribution …

House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, presents House Bill 90, which was amended to make changes in Kentucky's abortion law, March 13, 2025. (LRC Public Information)

KY doctors: GOP lawmakers’ attempt to clarify abortion ban confuses instead

With a few days left in the 2025 legislative session, Republican lawmakers pushed through a bill they say should reassure doctors they can rely on …

Nationwide, 1.63 million students used e-cigarettes, according to data from the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Beshear signs licensing of nicotine retailers bill into law

Kentucky will soon begin licensing retailers who sell nicotine, which advocates have said will help regulate an industry and protect minors from …

The National School Lunch Program, created in 1946 as part of the National School Lunch Act, provides federal dollars to schools for food purchases. (Adobe Stock)

Co-ops help more KY school districts participate in local produce bidding

School staffing shortages can affect nutrition in Kentucky school districts, as many districts across the state rely on frozen, processed breakfast …

One in five Americans, or more than 70 million people, rely on Medicaid for health coverage, according to the American Hospital Association. (Adobe Stock)

KY Medicaid work requirement changes could further depress communities

Some Kentucky lawmakers want to make it mandatory for some Medicaid participants in Kentucky to work, but experts say that would disproportionately …

As of November 2024, the U.S. Postal Service employed more than 7,000 people in Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

Postal workers push back against DOGE, proposed USPS cuts

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is joining forces with the so-called Department of Government Efficiency to cut costs at the Postal Service, this week …

More than 15 million buprenorphine prescriptions were issued in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky proposes changes to buprenorphine prescribing, dispensing rules

The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure recently proposed new changes to regulations around the prescribing and dispensing of buprenorphine, also …

There were 5,283 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2023, a 3.7% decrease from 5,486 in 2022, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Data.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky lawmakers push to weaken worker safety protections

Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban the state from enforcing existing worker safety laws that are above and beyond federal standa…

Advocacy groups said they lack confidence in Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vision for reforming the nation's food and agriculture system. (Adobe Stock)

MAHA commission poised to extend RFK’s reach

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

The U.S. Energy Information said Kentucky's largest utility-scale solar photovoltaic generating facility is a 55-megawatt solar farm that came online in mid-2024, about 40 miles east of Bowling Green. (Adobe Stock)

KY animal shelter expects to save money, energy with new solar panels

This article was produced by Resource Rural.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Resource Rural-Public News S…

According to the Federal Trade Commission, at least $217 million was stolen through gift cards in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky looks to crack down on gift-card scams

As National Consumer Protection Week continues, watchdogs remind policymakers about the alarming presence of scams targeting the general public…

In Kentucky, several correctional facilities have faced significant challenges related to extreme heat and inadequate cooling systems. (Adobe Stock)

Faith leaders: heat conditions in U.S. prisons are "inhumane"

Faith leaders and criminal justice advocates are sounding the alarm about extreme heat in U.S. prisons, warning life-threatening temperatures put …

The 2023 Kentucky Early Learners Survey found rates of cavities and untreated tooth decay among children ages 2-5 at rates considerably higher than the national average. (Adobe Stock)

Bill would expand reach of dental hygienists across rural Kentucky

A recent study showed high rates of tooth decay among young children in Kentucky, particularly in rural areas, and dental health advocates are …

Some 36% of S&P 500 companies participate in carbon offsetting, according to the website CarbonNeutral.com. (Adobe Stock/generated with AI)<br />

Why carbon offsets often don’t work, explained

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

Nearly 30 million children received a school lunch on an average day during the 2021-2022 school year - an increase of 1.6 million compared to the prior academic year, according to the Food Research & Action Center.

New Kentucky program aims to boost local farm to schools partnerships

Kentucky is launching a new program aimed at rewarding school districts that buy food directly from farmers in the Commonwealth. Three schools will …

Laws in 48 U.S. states ban an estimated 4 million people with felony convictions from voting, according to the Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Kentucky falls behind in voting rights restoration

More than 153,000 Kentuckians are still being denied the right to vote because of a past felony conviction, according to recent data from the League …

Around 65% of Kentucky's 79,752 miles of streams and rivers are ephemeral or intermittent, according to Environmental Protection Agency data. (Adobe Stock)

Critics: Senate bill could undermine Kentucky water quality

Some Kentucky lawmakers want to weaken protections for waterways many residents depend on for drinking water. Senate Bill 89, that would narrow the …

According to state data, as of February 2025 there were 8,262 children in Kentucky's foster care system. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky foster kids with nowhere to go are sleeping in DCBS offices

Foster children with nowhere to go are spending up to a week or more in Kentucky office buildings, according to a preliminary report from the state…

A panel reviewing child fatalities in Kentucky wants the legislature to explore ways to encourage safe storage of firearms. The panel also recommended an aggressive public education campaign aimed at protecting kids from accidental ingestion of drugs. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY could do more to protect kids from accidental drug ingestion, shootings

By Sarah Ladd for the Kentucky Lantern, part of States Newsroom.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the …

About 12,000 acres of former mining sites in Kentucky could be reclaimed to reduce environmental and safety hazards, according to a 2024 report by the Appalachian Citizen's Law Center. (Adobe Stock)

Abandoned Mine Land program frozen as Appalachia faces severe flooding

The Trump administration has frozen funds used for abandoned mine land cleanup. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress invested around $…

According to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, rural children under 5 years old make up 24% of children eligible for child care services in the country, yet 55% of the children live in a child care desert. (Adobe Stock)<br />

In rural east KY, communities find ways to boost kids early learning

Kentucky's Appalachian counties are expanding efforts to help ensure kids are off to the right start educationally. Research shows attending a high-…

In a given year, around 10 million Americans experience seasonal depression, according to Mental Health America. (Adobe Stock)

KY mental health experts on how to beat the winter blues

Shorter days and less sunlight have many Kentuckians feeling the winter blues. One recent study found 40% of Americans report their mood declines …

Nearly all states are implementing plans to distribute at least $50 billion awarded to states and localities from opioid-related lawsuits, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY counties make decisions on how to spend opioid settlement payments

As opioid settlement money continues to flow into Kentucky, counties are having to make major decisions on how to spend it. Half of it goes to the …

A map shows a community land purchase in Letcher County, Kentucky. (qPublic.net/Institute to End Mass Incarceration)

63-acre land purchase puts damper on proposed east KY prison project

A 63-acre purchase by a local land restoration group in eastern Kentucky could potentially delay the building of a proposed $500 million federal priso…

There are around 1.5 million children, or 1 in 49, living with a parent in prison, according to the advocacy group Prison Fellowship. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY lawmakers propose alternatives to incarceration for primary caregivers

A bill introduced by Kentucky lawmakers would increase alternatives to prison or jail for parents convicted of nonviolent offenses. Most of the …

The number of of working-age adults with degrees or credentials continues to grow, according to new data from Lumina Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

More than half of Kentuckians have a college degree or credential

Kentucky is inching closer to its goal of having 60% of residents equipped with a college degree or credential by 2030. The latest data from Lumina …

A quarter of low-income households in the United States spend more than 15% of their income on energy bills, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Power proposes new energy efficiency programs

Eastern Kentucky's largest utility, Kentucky Power, is proposing to expand its energy efficiency programs for residential and commercial customers…

2023 research shows U.S. maternal mortality rates are on the rise. (Adobe Stock)

Will Kentucky lift restrictions on freestanding birth centers?

Next week, Kentucky lawmakers are expected to consider a bill that would lift legal red tape that backers say makes it difficult to open up …

According to the Kentucky Center for Statistics, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2% as of January 2025, slightly higher than the national rate. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Most Kentuckians unsatisfied with their jobs, wages

Kentucky's unemployment rate is higher than the national average and workers who are employed said they are unsatisfied with their pay, according to …

In 2000, immigrants were 2% of Kentucky's population, 2% of its workforce and 2% of its business owners. In 2022, those numbers were all up, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Wasiul Bahar/Wikimedia Commons)

Immigrant workers, business owners help grow Kentucky's economy

Kentucky's immigrant workers and business owners generate $14 billion of economic input, according to new data from the Kentucky Center for Economic …

Factory farms are responsible for between 11% and 20% of global greenhouse emissions, according to the group World Animal Protection. (By Larry Rana-USDA, Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons)<br />

UN Green Climate Fund invests in KY factory farming, report finds

By Sophie Kevany for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

The United States makes up roughly 4% of the world's population but holds an estimated 40% of the world's life-sentenced population, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky sees increase in life without parole sentences

Kentucky has seen one of the largest percent increases in its incarcerated population serving life without parole sentences. According to a new …

Around 22% of people in Kentucky are covered by Medicaid, according to the health advocacy group KFF. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Medicaid changes would hit KY and other rural states hard

Nearly one-third of Medicaid funding could be on the chopping block as lawmakers look for ways to reduce the national deficit. A new report found …

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