Kentucky News & Current Events | Public News Service

An analysis of government data by the health policy group KFF estimates that nearly one in 10 adults, or roughly 23 million people nationwide, owe significant medical debt. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

KY advocates: It's time to bury medical debt

It's estimated that one in three Kentuckians struggles to pay medical bills, and the issue continues to be a driving factor in personal bankruptcy …

Gov. Andy Beshear speaks at an economic development event in Henderson in 2022. (Tkayne/Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Kentucky’s gubernatorial race breaks records, exceeds $44 million

By Anna Massoglia and Jimmy Cloutier for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the OpenSecrets-Pu…

Eleven nonprofit organizations have been selected to receive funding from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky's Funding for Recovery Equity and Expansion program. (Ally Wells)

KY substance abuse groups focus on recovery equity and expansion

A new statewide program in Kentucky is providing addiction advocacy groups and recovery centers with flexible funding to focus on resource equity and …

Global natural gas markets remain tight as uncertainty persists around demand and further supply cuts by Russia, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY utility regulators' 'mixed' decision on LG&E proposal

Critics say the latest decision from state regulators on Louisville Gas and Electric's proposal to build two new gas plants and cycle out two aging co…

Panelists discuss the 33rd edition of Kentucky Youth Advocates County Data Book, which looks at how Kentucky kids are faring in terms of economic security, education, health, family and community. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY faces workforce crisis in sectors that support children

New county-level data show Kentucky is facing a severe shortage of workers in sectors supporting children, including teachers, counselors, child care …

Research shows Black women have a maternal mortality rate nearly three times that of white women in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Report finds Kentucky maternal deaths extend into postpartum period

Maternal mortality has increased in Kentucky, and the latest data from the United Health Foundation show more moms - especially those of color - are …

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers resources for caregivers of veterans enrolled in VA health care through the VA Caregiver Support Program. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky Veterans' caregivers financially overburdened

Veterans Day happens once a year, but all year round, Kentuckians provide care for the veterans they love. According to data from AARP, they spend on …

More than two million Kentuckians voted in 2020, an all-time high, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

Nonpartisan election resources available for Kentucky voters

As Kentucky voters head to the polls to choose the state's next governor, attorney general, secretary of state and other state officials, VOTE411.org …

More than two dozen over-the-counter eyedrop products could be contaminated and should not be used by consumers, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Eye experts urge caution after FDA recalls dozens of eyedrop brands

As the Food and Drug Administration warned more than two dozen over-the-counter eyedrops could potentially cause infection, partial vision loss and …

Over the past few years, the number of retirees 55 and older nationwide have grown by 3.5 million, according to data from the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky Public Retirees advocate for payments to reflect cost of living

Many retired Kentuckians are facing great personal stress over their finances, according to Kentucky Public Retirees. Larry Totten, president of the …

More than third of the people held in jails in Kentucky are held for federal or state agencies, primarily the state prison system, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Black Kentuckians continue to be incarcerated at high rates

A new study of incarceration trends shows Black people in the Commonwealth are jailed at a rate nearly three times higher than their white peers…

Incumbent Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has raised more than three times as much as his Republican rival in the general election, Attorney General Daniel Cameron. (Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Kentucky governor’s race on track for new fundraising record

By Anna Massoglia for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the OpenSecrets-Public News Service C…

Timeliness of care is critical for veterans, and delays in health-care access contribute to poorer physical and mental health and can exacerbate these conditions, according to research from the U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians recognized for work to improve community health

In communities across the state, Kentucky residents are coming up with innovative ways to improve community health. Jeremy Harrell is the founder …

In the first quarter of 2022, more than half of households nationwide earning less than $25,000 a year reported cutting back on basic necessities such as food or medicine in order to pay an energy bill, according to Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Eastern KY residents could see hefty energy-bill increase

Eastern Kentucky's largest utility, Kentucky Power, wants to raise its residential and commercial rates. The state's Public Service Commission is …

Firearm fatalities have now surpassed car accidents as the number one killer of U.S. children, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. (Adobe Stock)

Report ranks guns top killer of American children, teens

Gun deaths among children nationwide have increased by 87% over the past decade, while injuries and deaths from car accidents have decreased by …

According to the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky, the city of Louisville currently has around 1,600 people who are experiencing homelessness, and only 750 beds are available in shelters. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Proposed KY law criminalizing homeless camping 'will make our work harder,' advocates say

A lengthy proposal aimed at reducing crime recently unveiled by Kentucky lawmakers has housing advocacy groups concerned about the impact on the homel…

Within the next decade, adults ages 65 and older are projected to outnumber children younger than 18, meaning the number of potential caregivers will not keep pace with the number of older adults at risk for needing long-term care, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Caregiving, rising cost of living top concerns for older Kentucky voters

Kentuckians will cast ballots for governor on Nov. 7, and many of the state's older voters said lack of support for caregiving, retirement savings…

Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky's emergency shelter staff. (Jesse Jones)

KY domestic violence programs struggle to meet demand

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and state data show in Kentucky, more than 45% and around 35% of men have experienced intimate …

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 64% of the nation's teens feel the world is more stressful now than when parents were their age. (Adobe stock)

This school season, know warning signs of youth mental distress

Data from last year show a growing percentage of Kentucky children and teens report struggling with depression or anxiety, largely driven by social …

According to a 2022 report by the Kentucky Hospital Association, hospitals statewide are struggling with more than 13,000 vacancies. (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky continues to face health care workforce shortages

More than 20% of nursing positions in the Commonwealth remain vacant, according to the Kentucky Hospital Association - and combined with workforce …

Cynthia, Tatum and Damareus, with other members of the True Up Peer Network. (Kentucky Youth Advocates)

Preventing homelessness among KY foster youth

A lack of housing options, mental-health challenges and a lack of connections and support have combined to drive an uptick in the number of foster …

More than thirty states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized low-level cannabis possession offenses, according to The Marijuana Policy Project. (Adobe Stock)<br />

More than 300,000 Kentuckians charged for cannabis over past two decades

Kentuckians continue to be charged, jailed and fined for cannabis-related offenses at high rates, despite dramatic shifts in public opinion, …

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, about one in five young people held in juvenile facilities is awaiting trial and has not been found guilty or delinquent. (Adobe Stock)

A call for greater focus on youth justice in Kentucky

The number of children behind bars in Kentucky has declined significantly in recent years, but their advocates said more work could be done to create …

Nearly 85% of youth who vape report using flavored e-cigarettes and more than half said they use disposable e-cigarettes, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Local KY Communities Tackle Youth Vaping Crisis

Widespread vaping among young Kentuckians continues to be a public health concern - and some local communities are coming up with innovative ways to t…

Between now and 2030, a net 78% of new workers in the country - people entering the labor market minus the people retiring from the labor market - will be Latino, according to a forecast from the U.S. Department of Labor. (Adobe Stock)

As Latino Workforce Grows, 'Urgent Need’ to Improve Access to Digital Economy

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News …

Nine thousand homes in 13 counties were destroyed or significantly damaged in the July 2022 eastern Kentucky floods, in which 40 people died. (Wikimedia Commons)<br />

KY’s Rural Housing Trust Fund Plays Critical Role in Disaster Recovery

The Kentucky Housing Corporation has received applications for housing funding from the state's Rural Housing Trust Fund requesting more than $18 mill…

An estimated 68.5 million U.S. adults do not have dental insurance, according to new data by CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY to Finalize Expanded Medicaid Dental, Vision, Hearing Benefits

Kentucky lawmakers next week are expected to finalize regulations that have expanded dental, vision and hearing benefits for Medicaid beneficiaries …

Foreign-owned crytomining companies are staking out Eastern Kentucky for cheap electricity, and major utilities in the region want to give them discounted rates on their electric bills. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky Denies Energy Subsidies for Proposed Cryptomining Facility

China-based company Ebon International will not be getting discounted energy prices for its proposed cryptomining facility in eastern Kentucky…

Medicaid coverage during early life stages- even before birth - is linked to improved health outcomes for the next generation, according to a study published in American Economic Review. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Kids Often Eligible for Medicaid, Even if Their Parents Aren’t

Kentucky begins its eligibility review of kids' Medicaid coverage this month - and experts say it's vital the process goes seamlessly, so kids aren't …

Ninety three percent of U.S. kindergartners were vaccinated against measles in 2021, according to a CDC study. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Catch Up on Kids’ Immunizations During Back-to-School Season

Health experts are urging parents to check on the status of their child's vaccinations, amid pertussis and COVID-19 outbreaks among children that …

Elementary and high schools nationally cut capital spending by $23 billion or 31% between fiscal years 2008 and 2015, the latest year available, after adjusting for inflation, according to the Center for Budget Policy and Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: KY School Funding Gap Wider Than Levels Declared Unconstitutional

The funding gap between the state's poorest and wealthiest school districts is widening, with potentially dire consequences for students and …

In 2020 alone, drug overdose deaths in Kentucky increased by nearly 50%, according to the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General. (Adobe Stock)

More Resources for KY Nonprofits Working to Reduce Overdose Deaths

More than 615,000 dollars is going to nonprofit groups in Kentucky working to end opioid addiction. According to state data, more than 2,100 …

As grocery prices and cost-of-living expenses continue to rise, experts say more Kentuckians will rely on food banks. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentuckians Kick-Off Hunger Action Month

As anti-hunger advocates gather today at the state Capitol to launch Feeding Kentucky's Hunger Action Month kickoff, experts say the next Farm Bill --…

Research suggests that non-parental child care, particularly center-based care, may attenuate the negative influences of some forms of intimate-partner violence on young children's behavioral outcomes. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Lack of Child-Care Options Impacts KY Domestic-Violence Survivors

Kentucky's child-care crisis could get worse when federal assistance for child-care centers runs out, and that could increase barriers for survivors …

Natural-gas emissions from stationary sources led to more deaths than coal in at least 19 states, according to research from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (Adobe Stock)

Utility Proposes Building Two New $1.4B Natural-Gas Plants in Kentucky

Kentucky's major utilities, Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities, are asking the state's Public Service Commission to approve a plan to …

According to a report by Invest Appalachia, the Appalachian region compares favorably to the Great Lakes region and parts of New England in terms of anticipated weather impacts and status as a climate haven. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Central Appalachia Could Be Safe Haven for Climate-Change Migrants

By Janie Ekere for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabor…

According to the latest data, around 4,000 Kentuckians experience homelessness on a given night in January each year. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid Renewal Process a Barrier for Kentuckians Struggling with Housing

Medicaid benefits can help people stay housed or get connected to resources that can help them find housing. And experts say the state's Medicaid …

The Congressional Budget Office puts the 2018-2023 Farm Bill price tag at around $428 billion. (Adobe Stock)

A KY Push for Regenerative Farming in Next Farm Bill

People's wallets continue to feel the impact of high food prices, and local environmental groups say sustainable food systems and regenerative …

An attempt to build a $500 million federal prison in Letcher County was defeated in 2019 because of strong local opposition. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed East KY Federal Prison Would Have Devastating Environmental Impacts

After Republican Congressman Hal Rogers inserted language into the latest House appropriations bill which would bypass environmental regulatory proces…

An earlier attempt to build a $500 million federal prison in Letcher County was defeated in 2019 because of strong local opposition. (Adobe Stock)

KY Rep. Pushes to Fast-Track Federal Prison Project, Despite Local Opposition

A more than $500 million proposed federal prison project, which would sit on a former coal mine site in Letcher County, is receiving a renewed push …

In 2015, 86% of psychologists in the U.S. workforce were white, 5% were Asian, 5% were Hispanic, 4% were Black/African American and 1% were multiracial or from other racial and ethnic groups, according to the American Psychological Association. (Adobe Stock)

BIPOC Mental Health Month Shines Light on Race-Based Stress, Trauma

Research shows Kentuckians of color are at higher risk of experiencing traumatic stressful events, which sometimes can result in symptoms related to …

Every year, about 1,000 miners die from coal workers' pneumoconiosis or

New Silica Dust Rule Aims to Protect Miners from Black Lung

The federal government is strengthening rules aimed at protecting miners from silica dust exposure, the toxic dust driving the resurgence of black …

Child care prices for a single child ranged from $4,810 for school-age home-based care in small counties, to $15,417 for infant center-based care in very large counties, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY Child Care Providers Face Uncertain Future as Federal Funding Runs Out

New federal data show child care expenses are out of reach for most families, and in Kentucky, providers are struggling to keep their doors open…

In a 6-3 decision, U.S. Supreme Court justices said the Biden administration does not have the authority to forgive student loans. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Student Loan Decision Will Impact Hundreds of Thousands of Kentuckians

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to block President Biden's one-time, $400 billion student debt relief plan will affect hundreds of thousands of …

According to researchers at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, legalizing accessory dwelling units is on the rise as states take action to expand access to lower-cost housing. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Louisville Works to Expand Accessory Dwelling Unit Resources

The City of Louisville wants to streamline the process for property owners seeking to build Accessory Dwelling Units, also known as carriage houses …

Aggressive door-to-door solar sales tactics are a telltale sign of a solar scam, according to Solar United Neighbors. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Groups Urge KY Residents to Beware of Solar Scams

After a company known as Solar Titan USA was recently banned from doing business in Kentucky, advocacy groups are working to raise awareness of the …

Losing Medicaid coverage is a Qualifying Life Event, which allows recipients to enroll in a kynect plan or Employer Sponsored Health Insurance plan outside of the open-enrollment period. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Safeguarding Medicaid and Insurance Coverage for Kentucky Families

Thousands of Kentucky residents and children face the threat of losing Medicaid and Kentucky Children's Health Insurance as pandemic renewal regulatio…

In 2021, some 53% of working adults ages 25 to 54 were parents, and more than a third of those parents had young children, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe stock)

New Data Shows Well-Being of Kentucky Kids Worsens

The latest Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book shows Kentucky, along with other Appalachian and Southeastern states, ranks in the bottom …

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