Constance Alexander

Between 1989 and 2023, Constance Alexander’s newspaper column Main Street was recognized for excellence five times by the Kentucky Press Association. She is an award-winning columnist, poet and playwright, and she received the Governor’s Award in the Arts for Media in 2014. A Murray resident, she now writes Left on Main, an occasional column. She is a Hoptown Chronicle board member.

Helen LaFrance: Enduring artist and Western Kentucky memory keeper

Four years after a devastating tornado damaged her work, a new exhibition at Murray State University’s Wrather Museum honors Helen LaFrance as a vivid chronicler of Black life and memory in West Kentucky.

By Constance Alexander

Commentary: In times of conflict, embrace kindness, not partisanship

The best response in times of conflict, writes Constance Alexander, is to keep showing up and participating in community.

By Constance Alexander

Commentary: What’s fake, what’s real, what’s censorship?

Censorship cannot hide history, writes columnist Constance Alexander.

By Constance Alexander

‘Our Town’ asks a timeless question: ‘Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it — every, every minute?’

The play is being performance in August at Murray.

By Constance Alexander

Opinion: Why hasn’t the Kentucky General Assembly repealed the ‘Pink Tax’?

More than half the U.S. states have deleted the tampon tax from their rolls because they realize these items are necessities, not taxable luxuries.

By Constance Alexander

Writer names God in twelve ways and invites readers to add their own

The University Press of Kentucky published Karen Salyer McElmurray’s book of essays.

By Constance Alexander

Resurrecting an Appalachian tragedy with poetry, prose and photography

Constance Alexander's last column in a National Poetry Month series looks at creative techniques applied in the book "Appalachian Ghosts."

By Constance Alexander

Poetry collection ‘Feeding the Ghosts’ celebrates promise of mornings

Rahul Mehta's collection convinced Alexander to "seek sustenance in the dawning day."

By Constance Alexander

Willie Carver Jr.’s book ‘Gay Poems for Red States’ is a must read

Carver taught successfully for more than a decade and was named Kentucky Teacher of the Year in 2022 before a small contingent in his community ended his career.

By Constance Alexander

Poet explores survival through ‘small things’

Columnist Constance Alexander, who provides opportunities to observe National Poetry Month, recommends a new collection by teacher, poet and fiber artist Jane Hicks.

By Constance Alexander

Constance Alexander: Welcoming the new year, and the beginning of life’s next chapter

With a new year approaching, Constance Alexander has decided to take a break from the weekly column she has been writing for the last 35 years.

By Constance Alexander

Constance Alexander: Move from New Jersey to Kentucky 36 years ago delivers life’s happiest years

When Constance Alexander moved to Kentucky, she learned a lot about southern routines and etiquette — and came to love her new home.

By Constance Alexander