‘A shame,’ says sponsor Sen. Danny Carroll, but $300m Horizons Act supporting child care is ‘dead’
By Sarah Ladd
Kentucky Lantern
The $300 million child care bill called the Horizons Act is “dead,” its sponsor said Wednesday.
The state budget approved by the Senate failed to allocate all the money the Horizons Act called for — and the final budget that will emerge from a House-Senate conference is also unlikely to do so.
The bill’s death — with three days left in the session — is “a...
Legislation sent to Governor’s desk allows foster parents to quality for child care benefits for work
By Sarah Ladd
Kentucky Lantern
The House unanimously passed a Louisville Democrat’s bill aimed at enabling more Kentuckians to become foster parents.
The Monday move means Senate Bill 240, sponsored by Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, is nearly law. It heads now to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk for a signature or veto.
The bill will allow foster parents in Kentucky to qualify for child care benefits...
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Don’t overlook KY’s small and paddlecraft-friendly lakes when fishing crappie
Every spring, anglers pursuing crappie during April’s spawn flock to large reservoirs such as Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley, Barren River Lake or even Green River Lake. However, crappie fishing in the big lakes is tough if you don’t have a good-sized power boat.
The good news is Kentucky offers several smaller state-owned lakes with excellent crappie fishing. These lakes, some of which are under...
McConnell provides summary of what the $528 million defense funding means to Kentucky
U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell announced the U.S. Senate passed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which contains significant resources to support programs in Kentucky critical to our national defense.
McConnell secured over $528 million in defense funding for Kentucky priorities and its servicemembers across the FY 2024 Defense and MilCon/VA (Military Construction,...
Officials reminding Kyians to plan ahead as influx of travelers expected during April 8 total eclipse
Kentucky state and local agencies urge residents, tourists and truckers to prepare for heavy traffic when the moon’s shadow sweeps across the commonwealth’s western counties and a dozen other states during the afternoon of Monday, April 8. Travelers planning to view the total solar eclipse should expect congested highways and limited parking at rest stops, and pack essentials to ensure a safe and...
Seven new inductees added to state Capitol’s Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit
In honor of Women’s History Month, Gov. Andy Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, and members of the Kentucky Commission on Women unveiled the portraits of seven new inductees to the Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit.
This is the first time in 10 years new inductees have been added to the exhibit, which is a portrait gallery located in the West Wing of the state Capitol.
“It has been far too long...
Art Lander’s Outdoors: Kentucky’s so-called rough fish species are taken by wide range of methods
Many anglers are familiar with the sport fish species in Kentucky’s lakes, rivers and streams.
But Kentucky waters also support a number of fish species that can grow to enormous size, that anglers may not be as familiar with, because they are not actively fished for, are of low food value, or restricted to specific habitats.
Kentucky is home to a total of 248 native fish species with an additional...
KDFWR seeking conservation officer candidates; applications accepted online through April 17
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is currently accepting applications to fill conservation officer positions in multiple counties.
Applications will be accepted through April 17. Applicants must be 21 years old and possess a valid driver’s license. The online application must be completed to be considered. To apply, visit the Conservation Officer Recruit posting at personnel.ky.gov.
Those...
The U.S. has 100,000 fewer polling locations, which can change who votes and who wins elections
The Rural Blog
A lack of places for Americans to cast their votes adds a new wrinkle to an already challenging U.S. election year. “During the 2022 midterms, voters cast their ballots at just under 95,000 polling places across the country — half the number of locations available four years prior,” reports Chris Teale of Route 50.
The downward trend began after the Supreme Court’s...
Simple spring cleaning steps can help keep backyard birds healthy, prevent the spread of disease
Spring has arrived and with the warm weather and longer days, many Kentuckians will begin sprucing up their yards and gardens. Whatever your other spring tidying plans may include, be sure to clean your bird feeders.
As spring migration gets in full spring, feeders around the yard provide a great way to attract and view migrating songbirds. However, it’s important they are cleaned on a regular basis...
Out-of-pocket costs for internet to rise in Kenton Co. because federal program is running out of money
By Tim Marema
Daily Yonder
One out of every five of Kenton County households may have to pay more for internet access by the end of April because a federal program that supports affordable broadband for lower-income families is running out of money.
About 13,500 of Kenton County’s 67,400 households are currently receiving $30 a month from the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), according...
Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence releases ’24 Groundswell Community Profiles
The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence has released their 2024 Groundswell Community Profiles, which provide an overview of the state of education in each Kentucky school district. The profiles include indicators of learning progress, from preschool through postsecondary, and show how a local school district compares to state averages on a variety of key education measures.
To support community...
Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Spring wild turkey season opens in April; officials expect strong 2024 harvest
Spring is coming, and we’re all picturing it: trekking under budding trees, brushing past blooming daffodils, eyes and ears on hyperalert through the morning fog. The gear on your back becomes weightless and you forget about the predawn chill, or maybe even welcome it.
After all, hunting is a sensory experience, and spring turkey season is a perfect call to the field. When you hear a gobble in the...
Art Lander’s Outdoors: Shelbyville’s Clear Creek Park Greenway offers natural escape from urban backdrop
Trails through green spaces in urban areas provide a welcome escape, an opportunity to stretch your legs, walk the dog, go for a bike ride, or engage in other active or passive outdoor recreational pursuits.
One such area in central Kentucky is the Clear Creek Park Greenway, in Shelbyville, designated as Heritage Land on the State Nature Preserves website.
Clear Creek Park Greenway (Map from Shelby...
KCTCS President Ryan Quarles to tour all 16 of school’s campuses; will visit Gateway April 1
By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) President Ryan Quarles has kicked off his Focus on the Future statewide tour, with stops being planned at all 16 community colleges.
“With current workforce shortages and an enrollment cliff looming, it’s imperative that KCTCS lives up to its promise of being the biggest workforce development tool in Kentucky’s...
