A committee established by the governor says Kentucky should phase in expanded access to pre-K over several years. The executive director for the program says children are not ready for kindergarten and about 27 percent have access to pre-K. Pre-K for All in Kentucky would be an optional program, not a mandatory requirement. It is a voluntary initiative aimed at providing free, accessible preschool to all 4-year-olds to support kindergarten readiness and working families.
The southern Hopkins County town of Dawson Springs has been in a serious building program since the tornado in late 2021. Closely monitoring the construction is the mayor, Jenny Sewell. She says housing has never been a larger concern.
Sewell says Marketplace Commons will include quality, affordable apartments for families.
There’s a movement in Frankfort to remake the state’s utility regulator. Senate Bill 8 would expand the Public Service Commission board from three to five members, and give the auditor the authority to make two of the appointments. Critics say the bill could make it harder for independent groups to intervene in utility rate cases and ask questions before the commission.
Health officials are excited about the big changes in Kentucky’s Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC program, that are are meant to help improve the products. They include new packages, and more flexibility in choices. New options include canned fish and more whole grain options. They say the changes are being made to make sure WIC is not one size fits all.
A Nortonville man is accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor. In November, the victim’s mother contacted authorities. Arrested was 24-year-old Joseph Walker. Walker is being held in the Hopkins County Jail without bond.
A traffic stop for a driver not wearing his seat belt is what led to an arrest on five charges. The officer could smell marijuana in Derrick Stanley’s Honda Accord. Not only was he in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Stanley’s driver’s license had been suspended.
In Hopkins County, railroad repairs are being made this week on Kentucky 85. The affected area is at the one-mile point near the airport in Anton. The detour will include KY 70 and KY 181 between Anton and Sacramento.
Webster County now has a deputy judge-executive. Ryan Hammack was sworn into the post by County Judge-Executive, Steve Henry. Earlier this year, Hammack filed to challenge Henry in that office’s Republican primary in May. He lives in Providence with his wife, Cameron, and their daughters, Addi and Aubree.
The state is learning about House Bill 1. It will allow K through 12 students to collect scholarships for private school tuition and other educational needs. The money for those grants will come through donations under the Education Freedom Tax Credit. In order to be eligible, students cannot come from a household whose income is more than 300 percent of the area’s median income. More than 20 other states have already opted into the Education Freedom Tax Credit, including Indiana.
The annual supersized Hopkins County Job Expo and Career Fair is almost here. It will be at the Ballard on Tuesday, April 14th from 9:30 until 2:30.
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