INMATE CAPTURED
A Calloway County inmate who left a work release program in Graves County early Monday morning has been captured. Kentucky State Police, Post 1 was notified early yesterday afternoon that Brian Ferryman was taken into custody. Ferryman was located and arrested by officers in Newburn, Tennessee. He is awaiting extradition back to Kentucky to face charges.
TWO LOCALS NAMED TO KCAE
A group of 48 Kentuckians representing various facets of the state’s education community have been accepted to serve on the Kentucky Coalition for Advancing Education. The Kentucky Department of Education, the Center for Innovation in Education, and the Kentucky Board of Education will partner with the coalition to create a vision for public education in the Commonwealth. Members of the Kentucky Coalition for Advancing Education include Jack Jones, a student at Murray High School and Noraa Ransey, a teacher at North Calloway Elementary School.
KSP TO UTILIZED TRAFFIC SAFETY CHECKPOINTS
The Kentucky State Police will be conducting traffic safety checkpoints throughout the Post 1 district. KSP utilizes traffic safety checkpoints to promote safety for motorists using the public roadways and to provide a deterrent for those who violate state laws. The intent of a traffic safety checkpoint is to provide for a high visibility, public safety service, focusing on vehicular equipment deficiencies, confirming appropriate registration and insurance of vehicles, and the valid licensing of drivers. Violations of law or other public safety issues that arise shall be addressed.
CALLOWAY COVID UPDATE
The Calloway County Health Department reported 4 new cases of COVID-19 from Saturday through Tuesday, bringing the county total during the pandemic to 3,521. Of that total, 3,463 have recovered, 9 are isolated at home, and none are hospitalized. There have been 49 deaths, but none reported since April 15. As of yesterday, 34% of Calloway County residents have been fully vaccinated including 68.9% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of Tuesday was .89%, which is lower than Monday’s rate of 1.06%.
KENTUCKY COVID UPDATE
At Tuesday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 137 new cases and 1 new death was reported, raising the total to 7,067 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Tuesday, there have been over 6.63 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 2.5%, which is lower than last Tuesday’s rate of 2.52%. There are 324 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 29 less than last Tuesday, including 111 in ICU, which is 3 more than one week ago. At least 52,805 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus. As of Tuesday, 2,058,029 Kentuckians have been vaccinated for a 46% total, including 81% of those 65 and older. Also yesterday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that due to increased vaccinations, senior centers will reopen at full capacity on June 11.
AUSTIN PEAY RETURNS TO NORMAL
Austin Peay’s mask order is over. Face masks and social distancing requirements at APSU came to an end yesterday. The school is now operating under a “normal” risk level. The school says it still strongly encourages everyone to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
GAS PRICES HIGHER
Gas prices in West Central Kentucky are five cents higher this week at $2.85 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. At $3.04 per gallon, the national gas price average only increased one penny leading up to Memorial Day weekend. Most states saw no change to pump prices or a decline on the week. However, prices may not stay this way for long. For the week ending May 21, demand jumped to 9.4 million barrels a day. This is the highest reported number since March 2020 and up nearly 30% over the same week last year, indicating motorists are filling up more frequently. The increasing demand and decreasing supply combined with more expensive crude oil prices mean gas prices are likely to fluctuate throughout June.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—More uninsured Kentuckians are eligible for reduced-cost health care coverage under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. More than 35,000 uninsured Kentuckians with incomes greater than 400% of the federal poverty level can sign up for a recently launched health insurance marketplace subsidy. Uninsured Kentuckians with incomes between 150% and 400% of the federal poverty level potentially qualify for additional financial support to reduce out-of-pocket costs for Marketplace premiums. Though savings will vary on an individual basis, premiums will decrease on average by $50 per person per month, or by $85 per policy per month. To take advantage of reduced and no-cost plans, eligible Kentuckians, including both uninsured and current enrollees, must be properly enrolled through the health insurance marketplace at healthcare.gov. The deadline to enroll is August 15.
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear yesterday announced a Better Kentucky Plan that will help Kentucky create 14,500 jobs and help build better schools, expand the internet and deliver clean drinking water and quality sewer systems across Kentucky. The plan’s $250 million Cleaner Water Program is the first program to accept applications since Gov. Beshear and Kentucky lawmakers reached a bi-partisan agreement at the close of the 2021 General Assembly to invest nearly $700 million in federal relief funds for infrastructure initiatives. Water Resource coordinators may submit project profiles through the Water Resource Information System portal to indicate interest in funding from the Cleaner Water Program. Eligible government agencies may collaborate with a coordinator and council to submit a project. There are 713 public drinking water and wastewater utilities in Kentucky.
UNDATED—Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is standing by his opposition to an independent commission to investigate the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Republicans blocked a bill that would create the bipartisan commission last week. Talking with reporters in his home state of Kentucky, McConnell said he would not reiterate what he has already said about the Capitol attack and the commission. He again noted the sweeping investigation being conducted by the Justice Department and said no one involved in the assault is going to get away with anything.
OWENSBORO—Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is spreading the word about a federal anti-drug program. The Kentucky Republican was in Owensboro yesterday morning to talk about the state’s recent inclusion in the Appalachia High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program. The initiative is targeted at decreasing drug trafficking in the area. Community leaders, along with federal, state and law enforcement officials, joined him in making the announcement.
FRANKFORT—Governor Andy Beshear says he hopes to incentivize Kentuckians to get vaccinated for COVID-19. During a press briefing yesterday, Governor Beshear said he hopes he’ll be able to announce state incentives later this week. Last week, Beshear said his team was looking at incentives around the country to see what was working. Ohio’s one-million-dollar lottery was one idea that was mentioned.
FRANKFORT—The governor’s regular COVID-19 updates will be coming to an end soon. Kentucky’s major coronavirus mandates will come to an end on June 11th. Governor Andy Beshear said yesterday when the mandates end, so will his regular updates on how the outbreak is impacting the state. The major mandates ending are capacity limits and mask requirements.
FRANKFORT—Flags are flying at half staff outside state buildings today. Governor Andy Beshear ordered the flags lowered in honor of a Manchester, Kentucky sailor who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. Navy Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Shelby Treadway was 25 when he and hundreds of others were killed on the USS Oklahoma, which capsized when hit by multiple torpedoes. Treadway’s remains were identified in September of last year and he’ll be buried at the National Memorial of the Pacific in Honolulu today.
DAVIESS COUNTY—Authorities say a Henderson Schools employee is dead after a Daviess County crash. Police say 35-year-old Brett Hawkins was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-car crash on the Glover Cary Bridge. Hawkins was a teacher at Henderson’s Central Academy. The district’s mental health team is being made available to provide support for students and staff.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly 120 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 863-thousand. An additional ten COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths standing at nearly 12-thousand-460. There are about 470 people with COVID-19 hospitalized in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—Work is being done to remove the pedestal that once supported a statue of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. The work at a public park in Memphis started yesterday. The project is being overseen by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Once the pedestal is removed, the early Ku Klux Klan leader’s body, as well as his wife’s will be removed and taken to a Confederate museum in Columbia, Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says the body of a missing 19-year-old woman has been found. The TBI said yesterday Patti Hathcock’s body was found in the Madison County town of Jackson. The TBI had issued an Endangered Adult alert for the Gibson County woman over the weekend. Hathcock’s boyfriend has been charged with murder and kidnapping.
ILLINOIS—The state of Illinois is “on track” to relax most COVID-19 restrictions. Governor J.B. Pritzker announced the upcoming changes yesterday. Pritzker had previously discussed making the shift in May, but is confirming the state will move into Phase Five June 11th. Illinois is the latest state to announce the end of their COVID-19 measures.
