Oh, Kentucky

"While in the audience of that open meeting, Mayor Perros made a joke about Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Jennifer Kirchner not wearing socks as she gave a presentation, which Magistrate Phil Sammons took to another level by commenting on the attractiveness of her legs." Bobbie Curd, in Danville's Advocate-Messenger, delivers another example of contemporary American journalism's typically stellar meeting coverage.

Even if the grid fails, Fort Knox reportedly--by the garrison commander, to the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce, via Mary Alford in Elizabethtown's News-Enterprise--can power itself back up within 11 minutes.

Deborah Fallows in The Atlantic:

Reporting from those who live or spend time in Kentucky, be that in newsletters or rural press, adds a nuance of understanding that delivers insistent stories of a contaminated water supply, leaky and crumbling pipes, wastewater pipe shortages, industrial leaks and spills, a declining tax base from mine closures, rising water costs, and all the humanly compelling drama that ensues. 

Then the cascade begins. The women bathe the babies, who then develop rashes. The women drive them long distances to see doctors, which is costly and time-consuming. Researching medical counsel or the alternatives of telemedicine often demand broadband connections, which are scarce, spotty, or thin in poor, rural America. Navigating coverage of telehealth from insurance companies is, as you’d imagine, complicated. And of course, all these steps require technology, transportation, and bill-paying, not to mention the wherewithal to accomplish them.

Hiring in Barbourville, Booneville, Frenchburg and Prestonsburg.

Silver Grove Independent School is no more.

Turning to sports, Sunday's your day for (free) ice skating in Corbin; Emma Talley looks back on "the hardest year of my golf career" (and reflects on Jeremiah 29:11), and WKU's Ty Storey is your Manning Award Quarterback of the Week!

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Louisville, Nov. 29; Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs and Murray, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville and Monticello, Dec. 6; Berea, Bowling Green, Calvert City, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Paducah, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Trenton, Versailles and Whitley City, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10, and Burnside, Elkton and Williamsburg, Dec. 14.

Oh, Kentucky

.@covingtonkygov Piece by piece, the Covington floodgate takes shape https://t.co/91Eslz9elp pic.twitter.com/F20Gkwd7Nk

— The Lane Report (@TheLaneReport) February 12, 2019

Lexington homelessness reportedly is down 55 percent since 2014, and a $1.8 federal grant is intended to accelerate the trend.

A "Mobile Grocery Store" is coming to parts of Bowling Green where bricks-and-mortar versions do not exist.

"You can come one day a week, you can come every day if you want to. But seven days a week we are going to try to feed our community as long as we possibly can. We just want to show you the love of God." Erin Cox in the Corbin Times-Tribune delivers an inspiring feature on Lily's new New Day Cafe.

Guns, guns, guns: Pikeville.

On the specter of police cuts in Louisville.

Toward boosting Fort Knox's civilian workforce.

Toward stricter dog control in Clarkson.

Toward a less-shabby Paintsville.

Toward what is said to be the state's first "outdoor bodyweight circuit-training system," in Mount Washington.

Toward marketing "Our Paducah."

Good jobs news from Wurtland.

Turning to sports, I am thankful that Kacie Goode's reporting in The Kentucky Standard gives me reason to launch the HP's #khsabowl label.

And, finally, happy Saint Valentine's Day tomorrow: The eastern golden eagle that Bernheim Forest officials have been tracking over the last four years appears to have found a mate.

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 17; Ashland, Nov. 20; Brownsville, Nov. 24; Cumberland and Fredonia, Nov. 30; Arlington, Berea, Cadiz, Calvert City, Clinton, Columbia, Hawesville, Jenkins, Lawrenceburg, Leitchfield ("A Very Candy Christmas"), Lewisport, Madisonville, Marion, Murray ("there will be no marked detour; however, motorists may self-detour around this section of KY 94 via KY 2594/Industrial Road, US 641-Business/Chestnut Street, and US 641/12th Street"), Paducah, Somerset and Whitley City, Dec. 1; Bowling Green, Dawson Springs, Glasgow and Salyersville (rescheduled because of expected bad weather), Dec. 2; Lexington, Dec. 4; Greenup, Dec. 6; Frankfort, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 7; Benton, Elkton, Eubank, Harlan ("after consulting with meteorologists and officials, we feel like this is the best choice for our celebration"), Hopkinsville, Horse Cave, Louisa, Munfordville and Stamping Ground, Dec. 8; Whitesburg, Dec. 14; Burnside, La Center and Neon, Dec. 15.

I (heart) expungement fairs.

10 years and about 400 students and counting for the exchange program between Bowling Green's Warren Central High and the Anne Frank School in Werne, Germany.

"In this era of extreme political division in our nation, we reflect on the promise of our democracy, as well as the ongoing struggle to live up to its unrealized potential. We honor the long history of social justice work through small networks, largely unseen and unrecognized, often led by women of color, to secure voting rights for women and access to full participation in our democracy.  We also recognize that this struggle is far from over. This moment provides an opportunity for feminist artists to use an intersectional lens to imagine a world where all women and girls and gender-nonconforming people can engage equitably. With this grant, we invite you to imagine how your art (visual, performing, media or literary) can inspire action towards building power for women and girls, sharing power among and within your communities and wielding power towards fulfilling the promise of an equitable democracy. Individual artists and nonprofit organizations based in Kentucky who are using arts-based activities to address democracy and power for women and girls may apply.  Deadline to apply is March 1, 2019."

"The first-ever, peer-to-peer site for handcrafted hunting, fishing, and camping gear, as well other outdoor apparel and accessories."

Oh, Kentucky

Free clothes ... 9-1 Central next Saturday at First Christian on South Green in Henderson.

Forum with the governor ... 2 Eastern today at the American Legion on West Broadway in Lawrenceburg.

It’s never too late to return an overdue book. This was just received by the Tates Creek Branch by mail from Georgia. #lexpublib #loveyourlibrary #livelex #librariesofinstagram #overduebook #betterlatethannever #1968wasagoodyear pic.twitter.com/6o9RioNP5M

— Lex Public Library (@lexpublib) September 5, 2018

Kacie Goode arrays an interesting anecdotal survey of teen-age employment around Nelson County (including a dry cleaner's son) for Bardstown's Kentucky Standard.

It's a wrap for The Gold Standard at Fort Knox.

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Hazard.

Newport is getting a "SkyWheel."

Mitch Barnhart, coaches Calipari and Stoops and the rest of the "Big Blue Caravan" head to western Kentucky.

Oh, Kentucky

Paragraph 2 and the rest of the story behind the Bardstown Kentucky Standard subscriber-login portal must be a doozy.

OK, no conclusions drawn.

None.

#SellOutDiddle campaign in full swing as @WKUBasketball takes over @wbkotv today.

Special pricing of $99 begins now! Call 1-800-5-BIGRED! pic.twitter.com/nqxtCsgfMV

— WKU Sports (@WKUSports) September 27, 2017

More bars for Lake Barkley.

More park for Technology Park, in honor of the CSI guy.

The editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure in Paducah, per WKMS: “What we see with our travelers is that they have been to so many of their bucket list destinations that increasingly what they do when they’re thinking about planning their trip is they say to themselves, 'What do I want to do?' and then they say, 'Where should I go to do that?' And I think that’s a very important mindset shift that we’re seeing with this kind of traveler."

If what you wanted to do was eat country ham, well, it's just too bad/so sad for you, bub--you missed the Marion County Country Ham Days Festival.

The menu at Friday's Farm to Fork to Film in Woodstock includes Wildcat Mountain cheese; kale, cucumber and apple salad, and Wendell Berry.

Island is sharpening its game.

Georgetown got the largest share of investment in its U.S. manufacturing facilities that Toyota announced yesterday.

Hiring in Benton ($13.50 per hour).

Oh, Kentucky

Here's the terrorist's history teacher from Union Randall K. Cooper High.

Here's the clueless Shively cop.

Here's the governor who apparently in the last two years has decided it's very crucial that we maintain on government property these monuments celebrating Confederate soldiers.

Here's the Republican state representative calling for removal of Confederate-related holidays from the state's books.

Here come the white nationalists to Lexington.

Oh, Kentucky

NEWS || #BBN does it again. @KentuckyMBB led the nation in avg. home attendance for 19th time in past 22 seasons. https://t.co/zj0IUXJOVY pic.twitter.com/A4nHJCBDIb

— CoachCal.com (@CoachCalDotCom) August 8, 2017

Forrest Berkshire in Bardstown's Kentucky Standard: "He was similar in many ways to most other Nelson County residents who go to work each day to pursue the American Dream of raising a family and making a better life for their children. But there was one difference. Cortez entered the United States without authorization 20 years ago, when he was 15 years old. Late last month, U.S. Immigration enforcement deported him, leaving him at a Mexico City airport with no identification or money and only a bag of cookies, some chips and a water bottle."

Economywise, things are getting worse in eastern Kentucky, per the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Bad jobs news from Lexington.

Paducah's Paxtons have purchased Russellville's twice-weekly News-Democrat & Leader.

Gov. Bevin's posse has discovered a big black book of donors left behind by Gov. Beshear in Frankfort.

You can recycle in Elkton now--next door to the Dairy Queen.

Princeton City Council throws its support behind a new home for the Caldwell County Farmers Market.

Rest in peace, Mrs. Saltsman, itinerant southcentral-Kentucky drycleaners inspector (and welcome to the HP, Summer Shade).

Oh, Kentucky

Save the Children says childhood "ends" latest in New Hampshire (No. 1) and earliest in Louisiana (No. 50) among the 50 states. Kentucky comes in No. 33 on the list.

Williamsburg has its first liquor store.

The state's community lakes are stocked and loaded for this weekend's children's derbies and other free fishing.

Labor Cabinet secretary Derrick Ramsey--quarterback of the 1976 SEC- and Peach Bowl-champion UK Wildcat football team, walk-on with the '76 basketball 'Cats and my all-time-favorite Oakland Raider and New England Patriot--and Gov. Bevin visited Heaven Hill to celebrate the distillery's workplace-safety performance.

Improvements at Fleming County, Robertson County and Caverna schools might be bringing an end to state oversight of the districts.

NKU is offering a workshop on teaching about climate and environment in middle and high schools.

The Franklin County Humane Society rescued about 200 animals from an apparently abandoned Frankfort pet store.

Good jobs news from Louisville.

NASA reportedly says all of us out here in western Kentucky are greatly underestimating the coming eclipse crowd.

Oh, Kentucky

I'm disappointed I got only five of nine correct.

Good jobs news from Calvert City, Ghent and Russellville.

Help wanted in advanced manufacturing, business/information technology, construction trades, healthcare and transportation/logistics.

The northbound I-65 rest area in Hart County returns to action this weekend.

Greg Thompson in The News-Enterprise: The Radcliff City Council learns it is "not in the tourism business."

Angela Turner in the Times-Tribune: "Yet another meeting" of the Corbin and Whitley County libraries, trying to get it together.

Sam Neace in The Hazard Herald: "Folks in the Hazard area are already familiar with the work McDonald’s and Future Farmers of America have done individually to help the community. Now, both entities are teaming up ..."

You can keep right on voting through May 31 for Madisonville to win a bunch of playground equipment.

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky needs you… to run for office!! From School Board to U.S. Congress and every office in between, we need you!! 2018 is your year!

— New Kentucky Project (@newkyproject) May 9, 2017

It appears no one wants Frankfort's Capital Plaza Tower.

Madisonville's new bus system is set to debut May 22.

Good jobs news from Lawrenceburg and Louisville. Bad from Erlanger.

Gov. Bevin's in Hoptown today; Rep. Comer, Benton.

Oh, Kentucky

The guy who wrote about high-school sports in The Courier-Journal for years and years, Bob White, fell into some misfortune, so some people set up a "GoFundMe" account on his behalf. By the end of the KHSAA boys' basketball tournament on Sunday, the initial goal had been exceeded by contributions. "Always enjoyed and appreciated your covering the women's amateur golf tournaments years ago … I remember you well from high school cross country and track meets … Called games into him in the 60s from Campbellsville and followed him many years … He has done more for high school athletics in Louisville than any person I know … Scott County Sports supports Bob! … This is one way to say thanks for all he's done for all of us who call our selves coaches … May your increase swallow your need." 

Kentucky maps were hot stuff back in 1796, too.

Gov. Bevin is raising juvenile-justice workers' pay in a bid to keep them.

Hearings are set for Lexington, Louisville and Madisonville to address proposed utility-rate increases offsetting costs for smart meters (smart grid!), dam and power-plant repairs, etc.

A West Liberty man and two businesses he owned have filed for bankruptcy after being fined heavily for allegedly dumping radioactive oil-drilling/-fracking waste in Estill and Greenup counties. So now what?

Kentucky is second in the country in aerospace exports, and aerospace is now Kentucky's top export.

It's not every day you read about a high-speed dump-truck chase.

Barkley Regional on the president's budget proposal.

Trump Rally Expected To Draw Thousands In Louisville Monday https://t.co/eRGCwChhub pic.twitter.com/BX7KQEp3ee

— 89.3 WFPL News (@WFPLNews) March 20, 2017

A few recent spotted-skunk sightings in eastern Kentucky have some folks excited. A couple of earthquakes near Bardwell last week have me terrified. Then there was another one Sunday.

A Madisonville man is taking his award-winning short to Cannes ...

Rest in peace, Mrs. Chipps, a West Paducah native and former Heath teacher who helped "women apply modern principles to managing West Kentucky homes,” who water-skied before it was cool, who took up watercolor painting late in life, whose "house was perched grandly on the banks of Bayou Creek” until a devestating flood of 2011 and who finally relocated back to Paducah "with resilience and remarkably good spirits."

Oh, Kentucky

620am update: pic.twitter.com/2ymfPWtBMZ

— NWS Paducah (@NWSPaducah) March 1, 2017

Here's Ed Kilgore in New York about former Gov. Beshear of Dawson Springs on President Trump before Congress. 

President Trump's team has an "Ah, Paducah" influence.

U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-Tompkinsville) was back home in the First Congressional District last week, where Comer said Trump fared better in the presidential voting than he did in all but three other districts nationally, and talked trade agreements, regulatory restrictions, healthcare and tax reform. Here's the thorough play by play from Larry Rowell in The Casey County News.

Good jobs news from London and Redox.

Remember that military vehicle flying the Trump flag on I-65 north of Fort Knox? It turned out to be a U.S. Navy SEALs unit, and Fernando Alfonso III reports in the Lexington Herald-Leader that they were punished.

He never rose above the rank of private, but people called him "Major"--interesting character profile from Chuck Keller in Fort Thomas Matters.

In the wake of discussion yesterday of Madisonville's population on First Podcast, there appeared at the "You know you're from Madisonville if ..." Facebook page a fantastic brochure on the city that appears to have been published in 1937:

Assessing Kentucky's workforce needs.

A Muhlenberg County broadband provider is bringing his game to Corbin.

Here's a fine Q&A from Helen Gibson in the Talisman about how WKU became involved in UK's intramural legal flap about public records and sexual-misconduct claims.

Bardstown's Kentucky Standard says nay to HB 249: "Idaho’s guns on campus law, passed in 2014, is costing universities millions of dollars. According to an article in the Times-News out of Twin Falls, Idaho, in Feb. 2015, five schools — Boise State University, Idaho State University, the University of Idaho, the College of Western Idaho and North Idaho College — turned to the state for more than $3.7 million for personnel, training and equipment within the first year of the legislation passing." 

Oh, Kentucky

Live ... from Dawson Springs ... it's Tuesday night!

The CEO of Humana is reportedly on President Trump's schedule today.

The League of Women Voters plans to drop some charter-schools 411 on Hoptown next month.

"The fight, drive and determination that cleared the dense forests of this region and turned them into beautiful meadows where thoroughbreds graze, remains an integral part of our culture. The work ethic that ventured deep underground to provide coal that energized a nation, is woven into our people’s DNA."

Mining classes in Hazard.

Good jobs news from Hebron.

Managing the business boom at Paducah's old Coke plant.

In Catlettsburg, logos for a comic-book vigilante murderer have been removed from the (real-world) police cars.

In Franklin, First Baptist Church went back to the grind one week after people interrupted Sunday-morning worship with an angry demand for money.

Almost 400 farmers from 67 Kentucky counties took part in Farms to Food Banks last year, and calls are coming in for the 2017 season.

The KY Wonder Pole Bean is just one of 50+ varieties we'll have at our Heirloom Seed Sale - here are some tips on getting them started: pic.twitter.com/M2zeY9iTWr

— GleanKY (@gleanKY) February 27, 2017

Oh, Kentucky

Welcome to Kentucky, Canada. #CanadaWeekKY17 @DouglasGeorgeCG @CanCGDetroit pic.twitter.com/MPIhsjM0ro

— Governor Matt Bevin (@GovMattBevin) February 13, 2017

From Lexington: "Roe v. Wade — it doesn’t matter if they overturn it or not."

A Cadiz man in Louisville, as reported in Hazard: "What I saw outside the abortion clinic."

Per the University of Virginia (FiveThirtyEight.com), cancer incidence has been falling overall--but not in places like Owsley County.

Fifty-two overdose calls in 32 hours in Louisville.

Paducah's old El Chico is turning into a Starbucks.

Good jobs news from Owensboro.

The Kentucky high-school affiliate of @Rivals, @KentuckyPreps, is back up and running.

Will NKU go the way of Georgetown College by selling its radio station?

Kentucky for sale:

Oh, Kentucky

Sen. Paul in The Hazard Herald: "One of the first things I learned as a physician was ‘do no harm.’ When I was elected to the Senate, I took an oath to defend your constitutional rights. As such, I believe it is both our moral and constitutional duty to protect the unborn, and it is time we restore America’s respect for life."

Anmar Abbas's mom and brother of Louisville, stuck back in Iraq: "She doesn't know what to do."

Military vehicle (possibly civilian-owned surplus) convoy with Trump flag rolls through Louisville KY https://t.co/Df3zSybEVg

— компроматолог (@spnbmb) January 31, 2017

Meanwhile, at The Islamic Center of Paducah, per Channel 6: "That's what we've gotten from the local community--love and support from people locally."

The Ark Encounter has reportedly been boosting demand for overnight lodging in Grant County.

Ideas for the New Kentucky, Feb. 4 in Lexington.

Oh, Kentucky

#WelcomeWednesdays: Our employment team is always hard at work to ensure that our refugee … https://t.co/OIQBfMCJNf pic.twitter.com/qO4WQmayph

— KRM Lexington (@KRMlex) January 25, 2017

Toward keeping Kentucky welcoming.

First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Louisville this Sunday is hosting the Rev. Sandhya Rani Sandhya, founder and director of a collective of 40 organizations creating access, equity and dignity for all in the Oakland, California, area and author of Pre-Post Racial America: Spiritual Stories from the Front Lines.

From WKMS, MSU’s NPR station: "Overcrowded jails in Louisville and across the state aren’t a new issue facing law enforcement and prosecutors in Kentucky. State officials made a push last year to reopen three private prisons that were previously closed amid allegations of mismanagement and reports of sexual abuse. …"

Is AmeriCorps assuming operation of the hospital in Pineville?

From The Hazard Herald: "In 2015, Cornett and his wife moved from Jeremiah, Ky., to Georgetown, Ky., in hopes that an opportunity to work with the Toyota plant would help get their life started. Unfortunately, not all prospects work out the way we want them to."

The Manchester Enterprise has been crowdsourcing the best of Clay County (coffee shop, EKU professor, etc.)

"Santa" this past Christmas went to work on helping offset eventual college expenses for children of Calloway County deputies.

Per the previously reported darkness on the edge of Bardstown, ... a bunch of followers of The Kentucky Standard Facebook page seem to feel a new local whistleblower law will cast a little disinfecting sunlight on the situation. Also, Captain D's is coming.

Metcalfe County has a new animal shelter.

Oh, Kentucky

Happy Inauguration Day, America! 🇺🇸🎈💥🎉🎊🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/9j69M2v14n

— Matt Bevin (@MattBevin) January 20, 2017

The good news is that Kentucky's unemployment rate has ticked down almost another point during Gov. Bevin's first year in office. The bad news is that, with the reduction from 51 to 20 of the offices handling unemployment claims around the state, it means, for example, having to find a way to get to Elizabethtown if you turn up out of a job in Bardstown.

There's a new wealth-management firm in Hazard's Black Gold Shopping Center.

What's the deal with the backlog in testing DNA sample kits from sexual-assault cases?

Burgin's mayor has fired Burgin's only police officer.

Rest in peace, passed volunteers and employees of Baptist Health Corbin hospital.

For the third straight season, Boston's Barktown is sending a team to the Puppy Bowl.

Yet another sign of the apocalypse? pic.twitter.com/gJRU76AnS1

— Joe Gerth (@Joe_Gerth) January 20, 2017

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas music begins on Lite Rock 98.7 https://t.co/RMP3VCTu05 pic.twitter.com/ERhwsnQVjm

— WHOP AM/FM (@WHOPradio) November 21, 2016

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 19; Ashland, Nov. 22; Sebree, Nov. 26; Bardstown, Dec. 1; Maysville, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 2; Berea, Bowling Green, Glasgow, Harlan (or Dec. 4), Henderson (North Middle students, wear 2016 band shirts, jeans and tennis shoes), Madisonville, Paris, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 3; Boyce and Owenton, Dec. 4, and Cave City, Elkton, Hopkinsville and Pikeville, Dec. 10.

Bad and good jobs news from Auburn. Hiring in Prestonsburg. Closing in Louisville.

A 1977 Madisonville-North Hopkins High School grad is reportedly under consideration to be the nation's top trade official.

Gov. Bevin has restocked and reorganized the Kentucky Arts Council.

Churchill Downs is growing.

Middlesboro's soon-to-open laser-tag arena says it will have more than seven times the typical number of "Elements/Targets that interact with players."

Oh, Kentucky

I worked hard with Bill Ford to keep the Lincoln plant in Kentucky. I owed it to the great State of Kentucky for their confidence in me!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2016

You decide.

Good jobs news from London ("yet another") and Louisville.

The Middlesboro Daily News and Harlan Daily Enterprise have a new publisher, and he's "from the area." The Courier-Journal has a new executive editor, and he's from Wisconsin.

Christmas parades: Owensboro (here's the route), Nov. 19; Ashland, Nov. 22; Sebree, Nov. 26; Bardstown, Dec. 1; Maysville, Monticello and Richmond, Dec. 2; Berea, Bowling Green, Glasgow, Madisonville, Paris, Somerset and Winchester, Dec. 3; Boyce and Owenton, Dec. 4, and Cave City, Elkton, Hopkinsville and Pikeville, Dec. 10.

New life at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Owensboro.

"In what ways do you currently connect with fellow feminist social change artists? (Check all that apply)."

Fifty years of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act (and the Bardstown/Nelson County human-rights ordinance).

Kentucky for sale: "Daniel Boone becomes a Colonel of Kentucky," courtesy of Vice President Barkley.

Remember "Grayson's Inn?" Or "Buckskin Bev's"? How about "Guys & Dolls" or "Reflections on the Lake?" Well, all of them are becoming a Cracker Barrel.

An alert Facebook user in New York tipped off the Bank of Edmonson County and The Edmonson Voice to unwitting role in a scam.

Rest in peace, Vonda Robinson, whose "dying words to me was to make sure we got the building checked out;" prayers for the employees of the Floyd County courthouse, and well done, Mary Meadows of the Floyd County Chronicle.