Free, AI-powered local news for Lexington, Kentucky
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Social Security Trust Funds will run out of money by 2034 unless Congress acts, threatening benefits for over 1 million Kentuckians who received $20 billion in payments in 2023.
Kentucky cities and counties are implementing data center moratoriums and stricter zoning rules over concerns about energy consumption, water use and limited job creation, with Lexington, Daviess County and Cave City among those taking action.
A new Annie E. Casey Foundation report shows Kentucky has reduced childhood poverty slightly, but pandemic-related learning challenges persist with 67% of fourth graders not proficient in reading and 76% of eighth graders lacking math proficiency.
Federal Medicaid cuts and administrative barriers are reducing health coverage for Kentucky's youngest children, with uninsured rates for children under 6 hitting their highest point in a decade despite the state's temporary protections during the pandemic.
A federal judge ordered FEMA to restart its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program after the Trump administration attempted to cancel it, leaving Kentucky communities uncertain about disaster preparedness funding as the agency contends with significant staff losses.
The Kentucky Thrive Roadshow will educate community professionals about federal changes to safety-net programs, with events scheduled across the state starting in June.
Kentucky's college tuition waiver program for foster and adopted youth is seeing increased participation, with graduation rates now around 40 percent, up from 8 percent a decade ago. The program waives tuition at public colleges and technical schools.
Wind energy advocates say a Kentucky law capping turbines at 350 feet could hinder the industry, as modern turbines typically reach 600-700 feet. Despite the restrictions, a major project is moving forward in Henderson County.
A Kentucky Center for Economic Policy report warns that mass deportations could eliminate 112,700 workers from the state's labor force, causing severe shortages in restaurants, agriculture, and other industries while driving up consumer costs.
Save the Children announced an $8 million grant to build the childcare workforce in Appalachian Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, addressing critical shortages in rural communities where childcare deserts persist.
The University of Kentucky launched a storytelling engagement project bringing together health departments, Extension services and community organizations across Kentucky to strengthen communities and improve public health outcomes through photography and narrative techniques.
Federal funding through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is spurring a boom in abandoned coal mine cleanup across Kentucky, creating an estimated 450 to 550 jobs and directing millions in contracts to local construction firms.
Rural Kentuckians face severe financial strain from soaring gas prices, with workers in counties like Elliott, Hickman, Martin and Fulton enduring the longest commutes. The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy reports gas prices have surged 42.5% in a year, costing the state $175 million monthly.
Kentucky's House Bill 253, signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear, prohibits schools from using non-disclosure agreements to cover up educator sexual misconduct and requires documentation of abuse accusations, addressing what advocates say are critical gaps in student protection.
Floyd County is building economic and climate resilience through housing development, industrial park expansion, and community disaster response facilities following the devastating 2022 flooding that killed 45 people.
Rising electricity and gas prices are straining Kentucky households as advocates push for utility disconnection protections during extreme weather. House Bill 377, which would prevent shutoffs during dangerous temperatures, stalled in the legislature despite an 87% increase in disconnections last year.
Kentucky advocates are raising awareness about technology-enabled sexual violence during April's Sexual Assault Prevention Month, highlighting how artificial intelligence and social media are increasingly being used to exploit victims.
The Kentucky House unanimously passed House Bill 338 to protect minors from being named on eviction filings and automatically expunge dismissed eviction cases, with strong support from Lexington advocates.
More Kentucky families are seeking doula services as insurance companies expand coverage, driven by research showing benefits like reduced cesarean sections and lower preterm birth rates. The trend comes as Kentucky addresses high maternal mortality and morbidity rates.
Kentucky House lawmakers approved legislation strengthening consumer protections for cryptocurrency kiosks, sending House Bill 380 to the Senate. The bill requires operator licensing, ID verification, and daily transaction limits to combat fraud that has cost state residents over $1 million in reported losses.
Kentucky legislation would create a state trust fund for youth development programs using future social media lawsuit settlement funds as evidence mounts about the mental health impact of platforms on young people.
Community leaders from Martin County, Kentucky are advocating for increased federal funding to address the region's declining water infrastructure, which has created both quality and affordability crises for residents.