A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Many Eastern Kyians will see increase in monthly power bills following PSC approval of rate increase

By Nadia Ramlagan Public News Service Many Eastern Kentuckians will see their monthly energy bills increase by around $8 per month, after a ruling last month by the state’s utility regulator greenlighting rate hikes for homeowners and businesses in the region. The Public Service Commission struck down an initial request for an 18% rate hike for homeowners. Seth Long, executive director of the...

Campbellsville University student found dead in dorm room; another student arrested and charged

By Mark Maynard Kentucky Today A student was found dead in his Campbellsville University dorm room early Saturday morning, and another student was arrested and charged with his murder. Campbellsville police identified the deceased student as Josiah Malachi Kilman, 18. Police arrested Charles E. Escalara, 21, on a charge of murder, the University said Saturday evening. After the arrest, a lockdown...

Americans haven’t spent this much of their money on food in decades; no relief anytime soon

The Rural Blog If you feel like your grocery bill is gobbling up more of your paycheck, it’s not your imagination. “The last time Americans spent this much of their money on food, George H.W. Bush was in office and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” was in theaters,” report Jesse Newman and Heather Haddon of The Wall Street Journal. “Eating continues to cost more, even...

Award-winning photographer Barbara Livingston gifts Jim Raftery’s collection to Keeneland Library

Keeneland Library announced a history-making gift from six-time Eclipse Award-winning photographer Barbara Livingston, who has donated an estimated 2 million photographic negatives from the collection of famed Turf photographer Jim Raftery. Raftery’s Turfotos Collection is the most comprehensive photographic collection of Thoroughbred racing in 20th century North America, chronicling the sport’s...

Art Lander’s Outdoors: Late winter, early spring offers some of KY’s best largemouth bass fishing

March is the beginning of some of the best fishing of the year for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). When water temperatures climb into the 40s and low 50s, bass begin to travel from their winter, deepwater haunts, to flats at the backs of bays, and areas where creek or river channels are close to the banks. Telephone a marina on the lake you want to fish for information on current lake levels,...

Kentucky Derby shines spotlight on Commonwealth’s proud equine and agriculture traditions

On the first Saturday in May, all eyes around the world will be on Kentucky for the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby – the longest continually held sporting event in the country. While the Kentucky Derby, set for May 4 this year, is known for thoroughbreds, mint juleps, and fashion, those fastest two minutes in sports mean more to Kentucky and Kentucky agriculture than just a day of pageantry. “The...

Re-enactment of 1964 Freedom March on Frankfort to take place March 5; gather at Capital City Museum

Focus on Race Relations (FORR) will reenact the 1964 Freedom March on Frankfort which was attended by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jackie Robinson, Peter Paul and Mary, and 10,000 Kentuckians. The Freedom March led to the passage of the Kentucky Civil Rights Act of 1966. Kentucky was the first state south of the Mason-Dixon Line to pass its own state-level Civil Rights Act. On Tuesday, March 5, the...

Secretary of State reports Kentucky voter registration increased for 10th consecutive month in January

Secretary of State Michael Adams on Monday announced voter registration continued to increase in January, for the tenth month in a row. “These numbers suggest that this November we could have the highest voter turnout in decades,” said Adams. “It is critical that the General Assembly leave early voting days and our election integrity measures intact.” Voter registration has increase in Kentucky...

Kentucky completely drought free for first time since May, 2023; expect near-normal precipitation ahead

The precipitation of last week means Kentucky is drought free, according to the weekly U.S Drought Monitor that was issued last Thursday, based on precipitation that accumulated through Tuesday morning. It was just one week ago that the Drought Monitor reported there was still 22.18 percent of the state that was considered “Abnormally Dry,” or D0 on the scale that goes up to D4 indicating “Exceptional...

Climate Corps initiative could speed up reforestation of abandoned Appalachian mine lands

By Nadia Ramlagan Public News Service A Biden administration program called the American Climate Corps aims to hire and train 20,000 people in conservation, climate, and clean energy jobs. Still in the early stages of development, groups in Appalachia say the program could potentially steer a significant number of young people in the region into well-paying jobs. In 2023, the USDA Forest Service and...

KDFWR now selling Kentucky fishing and hunting licenses for 2024-25 license year

Licenses and permits to fish, hunt and trap in Kentucky in the coming license year are on sale now. The commonwealth offers some of the finest outdoor opportunities available anywhere. The 2024-2025 license year starts March 1 and runs through Feb 28 of next year. License and permit fees for Kentucky residents and nonresidents are unchanged from the 2023-2024 license year. Both license years are available...

Art Lander’s Outdoors: News and updates for the 2024-25 fishing license year set to begin March 1

The new license year begins March 1st and continues through the last day of February the following year (2025). Here’s some points to consider before wetting a line: Who needs a fishing license? New licenses and permits are required annually for everyone except resident and non-resident boys and girls ages 15 and younger, resident landowners, their spouses and dependent children, and tenants, their...

KDLA, Dollywood Foundation announce JC Morgan as state director, Libby Suttles as engagement head

The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives and The Dollywood Foundation officially announced the hiring of JC Morgan as state director of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky and Libby Suttles as its community engagement director. JC Morgan (Image Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library) “Education has been a top priority for my administration since day one, so I am really excited...

New report chronicles community concerns, priorities for local waters in Ohio River basin

Toxic pollution. Sewage contamination. Flooding. These are some of the concerns people in the 14-state Ohio River region have about local waters, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Ohio River Basin Alliance and the National Wildlife Federation. The report’s findings stem from 31 community listening sessions held in 2022 and 2023 for residents in the 14-state Ohio River Basin that...

Kentucky Afield Outdoors: February’s longer days, occasional warm fronts, revive hope for anglers

By Lee McClellan Kentucky Afield Not long ago, wind chills bottomed out at 15 degrees below zero. After this arctic wave passed, Kentuckians endured monsoon rains that prompted rivers and streams to jump up quickly and run high for weeks. It is enough to give outdoors enthusiasts the blues. January came in like a lamb, then roared out like a lion. February, with its gradually longer days and an occasional...