Regional & State Archives

McConnell suggests another stimulus bill is coming, but not right away

by Lisa Autry
May 28, 2020

The Republican leader said a Democratic "grab bag" that passed the House last week has no chance of passing in the Senate. That legislation would have given more aid to state and local governments, extended unemployment insurance, and funded another round of stimulus checks to individuals.

Beshear confronts the politics of masks and resistance of some local officials to testing

by Melissa Patrick
May 27, 2020

Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack urged all Kentuckians to wear a mask and encouraged those with divergent views to be respectful of each other, asking those who choose to not wear a mask to not ridicule those who do. Those who do wear one to protect themselves should give a wide berth to those who don't, he said.

State official: Workers receiving unemployment benefits must return to jobs when employers recall them

by Liam Niemeyer
May 27, 2020

An employee who refuses to work while still collecting unemployment benefits could be investigated for unemployment insurance fraud.

Beshear responds to hanging in effigy on Capitol grounds: ‘I will not be afraid’

by WKMS
May 27, 2020

The governor said the group is attempting to bully everyone else into doing what “they want us to do.” He said the group “didn’t get there alone” and were “embraced and emboldened by elected leaders that rallied with them weeks before.”

Amid Kentucky budget struggles, McConnell wants restrictions on federal assistance to states

by Ryland Barton
May 26, 2020

Kentucky is bracing for budget cuts after the official estimate for how much money the state is going to bring in by the end of June was revised downward by $457 million, and state officials predict revenue will drop another 10 to 17 percent over the six months after that.

Pediatrician offers facts about serious syndrome that can attack children who were otherwise unaffected by the coronavirus

by Dr. Sean McTigue
May 26, 2020

Pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome closely mimics Kawasaki Disease, a rare inflammatory condition that is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in infants and children.

Why wear a mask when you go out in public? Because you may have the virus and not know it, and it’s very contagious

by The Rural Blog
May 25, 2020

Science supporting mask wearing is so strong that more than 100 prominent health experts have asked governors to require them. They write that the research "strongly suggests that requiring fabric mask use in public places could be amongst the most powerful tools to stop the community spread of COVID-19."

Protesters hang Beshear in effigy and attempt to hand-deliver demand for his resignation at the governor’s mansion

by Kentucky Health News
May 24, 2020

State Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Crofton, was among several lawmakers of both parties who condemned the protesters' actions.

KET features several programs to commemorate Memorial Day

by Jennifer P. Brown
May 24, 2020

A new film, about a Kentucky war hero and Medal of Honor recipient, is set for 7 p.m. Monday, while several on-demand programs are available on the KET website.

No deaths from COVID-19 in Kentucky for the first time in 1½ months

by Kentucky Health News
May 24, 2020

The state had 148 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 8,571.

As food goes to waste in pandemic, agricultural economists offer USDA unorthodox solution: buy it, pack it, distribute it

by The Rural Blog
May 23, 2020

The USDA set aside $3 billion to buy ag products but didn't begin making purchases until a month after aid was promised.

Pandemic could make food insecurity worse among older adults in region

by Liam Niemeyer
May 23, 2020

Food insecurity rates could increase by at least 35% in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia — totaling about 941,000 new people — if unemployment rates were to increase by at least 7.6% in each state, according to a Feeding America analysis.