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Major disaster declaration for 13 counties affected by April floods, storms and landslides
FRANKFORT — President Donald J. Trump approved a major disaster declaration for 13 Kentucky counties, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Friday. The declaration unlocks federal aid for residents affected by historic flooding, severe storms, landslides and more in early April. Residents and business owners in the following counties can apply for federal disaster assistance: Anderson, Butler,
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FEMA extends deadline for February floods
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT INEZ — Kentucky residents whose homes and property were damaged during the severe storms and flooding in February now have until May 25 to apply for federal disaster assistance, FEMA announced in a recent press release. The original deadline was April 25. Assistance is available to both homeowners and renters who experienced
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Document April storm damage, KY EM says
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT Kentucky Emergency Management advises homeowners and renters who suffered damage or losses caused by the severe storms, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred April 2-7 to document damages before cleaning up in order to be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance if it becomes available. On April 11, the Gov. Andy Beshear
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KY education commissioner sounds alarm about sudden halt in federal COVID payments to schools
by McKenna Horsley, Kentucky LanternApril 1, 2025 Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher on Tuesday urged school superintendents to contact their lawmakers in Congress about a sudden halt in payments from federal pandemic relief funds. His call to action comes after U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon notified state education departments on March 28 that they
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Call to Action: USED will harm schools and districts
BY DR. ROBBIE FLETCHER COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION On Friday evening, March 28, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent an email to all state education agencies notifying us that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) is changing the deadline it previously provided to liquidate COVID relief funds to end at 5 p.m., this past Friday,
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Starting April 5: Driver licensing offices open one Saturday each month
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) announced that driver licensing regional offices will now be open one Saturday per month, beginning this Saturday, April 5. Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. KYTC notes that driver and permit testing services will not be available during Saturday hours. Vision screening As a
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15-year-old driver’s permit applicants must start at KSP website
FRANKFORT — With the new state law, House Bill 15, allowing 15-year-olds to earn their driver’s permits, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) advises applicants that they must start at the Kentucky State Police (KSP) website — not the KYTC Driver Licensing Regional Offices. Any 15-year-old who scheduled an appointment with the KYTC should cancel and
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Governor Beshear will challenge Trump’s funding cuts to Kentucky health departments, health programs
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS Kentucky’s health departments are set to lose nearly $150 million in health-related grants after the Trump administration announced it would cancel the state’s COVID-19 health care grants, Sylvia Goodman reports for Kentucky Public Radio. The grant money is used for childhood vaccines, suicide prevention, community health workers and addiction
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Mom who used stimulus check to buy fentanyl loses appeal in toddler’s overdose death
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — A Northern Kentucky woman convicted of murder after her toddler son ingested her fentanyl in 2021 will remain in prison. The Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld her 33-year sentence, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced Friday. A Kenton County jury in 2023 convicted Lauren Baker, 37, of Ludlow,
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UK research uncovers hidden health effects of disrupted sleep, circadian rhythms
BY ERIN WICKEY UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY The University of Kentucky’s Julie Pendergast and a team of researchers are exploring how disruptions to the body’s natural circadian rhythms and sleep impact health. “Overwhelming evidence suggests that irregular circadian and sleep patterns, such as inconsistent bedtimes, wake times and eating schedules, are linked to increased risks of
