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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

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White House says Elon Musk isn't in charge at DOGE, but 'advising' the president; CA schools brace for harmful cuts to Medi-Cal; Report says AR students still struggle with COVID-19 learning loss; and UT enacts controversial labor union law.

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The SAVE Act, requiring proof of citizenship to vote, is moving in the U.S. House. Environmental groups want the U.S. Senate to kill a bill they say falsely claims to slow climate change, and the agriculture industry is concerned about mass migrant deportations.

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Rural America struggles with opioids and homelessness in unexpected ways, Colorado's Lariat Ditch could help spur local recreation, and book deliveries revive rural communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

Kentucky

A panel reviewing child fatalities in Kentucky wants the legislature to explore ways to encourage safe storage of firearms. The panel also recommended an aggressive public education campaign aimed at protecting kids from accidental ingestion of drugs. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

KY could do more to protect kids from accidental drug ingestion, shootings

By Sarah Ladd for the Kentucky Lantern, part of States Newsroom.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the …

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About 12,000 acres of former mining sites in Kentucky could be reclaimed to reduce environmental and safety hazards, according to a 2024 report by the Appalachian Citizen's Law Center. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 17, 2025

Abandoned Mine Land program frozen as Appalachia faces severe flooding

The Trump administration has frozen funds used for abandoned mine land cleanup. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress invested around $…

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According to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, rural children under 5 years old make up 24% of children eligible for child care services in the country, yet 55% of the children live in a child care desert. (Adobe Stock)<br />
In rural east KY, communities find ways to boost kids early learning

Kentucky's Appalachian counties are expanding efforts to help ensure kids are off to the right start educationally. Research shows attending a high-…

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In a given year, around 10 million Americans experience seasonal depression, according to Mental Health America. (Adobe Stock)
KY mental health experts on how to beat the winter blues

Shorter days and less sunlight have many Kentuckians feeling the winter blues. One recent study found 40% of Americans report their mood declines …

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Nearly all states are implementing plans to distribute at least $50 billion awarded to states and localities from opioid-related lawsuits, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />
KY counties make decisions on how to spend opioid settlement payments

As opioid settlement money continues to flow into Kentucky, counties are having to make major decisions on how to spend it. Half of it goes to the …

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A map shows a community land purchase in Letcher County, Kentucky. (qPublic.net/Institute to End Mass Incarceration)
63-acre land purchase puts damper on proposed east KY prison project

A 63-acre purchase by a local land restoration group in eastern Kentucky could potentially delay the building of a proposed $500 million federal priso…

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There are around 1.5 million children, or 1 in 49, living with a parent in prison, according to the advocacy group Prison Fellowship. (Adobe Stock)<br />
KY lawmakers propose alternatives to incarceration for primary caregivers

A bill introduced by Kentucky lawmakers would increase alternatives to prison or jail for parents convicted of nonviolent offenses. Most of the …

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The number of of working-age adults with degrees or credentials continues to grow, according to new data from Lumina Foundation. (Adobe Stock)<br />
More than half of Kentuckians have a college degree or credential

Kentucky is inching closer to its goal of having 60% of residents equipped with a college degree or credential by 2030. The latest data from Lumina …

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A quarter of low-income households in the United States spend more than 15% of their income on energy bills, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. (Adobe Stock)<br />
KY Power proposes new energy efficiency programs

Eastern Kentucky's largest utility, Kentucky Power, is proposing to expand its energy efficiency programs for residential and commercial customers…

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2023 research shows U.S. maternal mortality rates are on the rise. (Adobe Stock)
Will Kentucky lift restrictions on freestanding birth centers?

Next week, Kentucky lawmakers are expected to consider a bill that would lift legal red tape that backers say makes it difficult to open up …

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According to the Kentucky Center for Statistics, the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.2% as of January 2025, slightly higher than the national rate. (Adobe Stock)<br />
Report: Most Kentuckians unsatisfied with their jobs, wages

Kentucky's unemployment rate is higher than the national average and workers who are employed said they are unsatisfied with their pay, according to …

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In 2000, immigrants were 2% of Kentucky's population, 2% of its workforce and 2% of its business owners. In 2022, those numbers were all up, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Wasiul Bahar/Wikimedia Commons)
Immigrant workers, business owners help grow Kentucky's economy

Kentucky's immigrant workers and business owners generate $14 billion of economic input, according to new data from the Kentucky Center for Economic …

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