MSU RANKS HIGH IN NICHE REPORT
Murray State University continues to be ranked highly by niche.com based on multiple factors. The data ranks the University as the highest among public regional comprehensive universities in Kentucky in overall ranking, academics, value and campus quality, and ties for first place with professor engagement, student life and safety. Additionally, in comparison with other regional, public universities in a multi-state region, Murray State leads the rankings in overall score.
SLICK ROADS ALTERS SCHOOL SCHEDULES
Snow melt yesterday afternoon resulted in wet roads and standing water developing in some areas. With temperatures falling into the single digits overnight, the potential exists for the possibility of black ice developing along area roads. Many back roads and secondary streets remain snow covered, but should see significant improvement today. As a result, Calloway County Schools are closed today with no NTI scheduled and a make-up day set for May 14. The Murray Independent School District will have an NTI day today for all students. In-Person instruction and online learning will resume on Monday. Schools in Graves County, and Marshall County will use NTI today. Murray State University and WKCTC are both operating remotely the remainder of the week.
ONE INJURED IN TWO-VEHICLE ACCIDENT
At 10:25 yesterday morning, Murray Police responded to a two-vehicle injury collision at Main Street and 8th Street. According to police, 47-year old Denise Baker of Murray temporarily parked a vehicle in the eastbound lane on Main Street and said a vehicle driving west on Main Street entered the eastbound lane and struck her vehicle. 76-year old James Carrico of Murray was driving the other vehicle, and told police he did not recall what occurred. Carrico was transported by EMS to the emergency room for treatment of possible injuries.
KENTUCKY REVEALS 28 NEW VACCINATION SITES
Governor Andy Beshear announced yesterday that the state is opening an additional 28 vaccination sites, bringing the total to 291 sites across Kentucky. The Governor said there are some areas where you might have to drive just a little bit further, but more sites are being added for greater convenience. The state’s ability to provide shots is far ahead of the vaccine supply at this point, but the Governor says they want to be ready when supplies increase. More than 555,000 Kentuckians have received at least their first dose of vaccine
CALLOWAY INCIDENCE RATE FALLS
The Marshall County Health Department reported 0 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. There were no reports yesterday from Health Departments in Calloway County or Graves County. The Purchase District Health Department reported 7 new cases in McCracken County, and 2 each in Ballard County, Carlisle County, and Hickman County. Calloway County’s Incidence Rate per 100,000 on Thursday was 3.7% which is down slightly from Wednesday’s rate of 4%. Of the 11 counties in far west Kentucky, only Livingston County and Hickman County are in the red zone for COVID cases per 100,000. There have been no new COVID cases reported by either local school system this week. Murray State University has reported 1 faculty case.
STATE POSITIVITY RATE HOLDS STEADY
At Thursday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 963 new cases and 37 deaths were reported, raising the total to 4,373 Kentuckians who are listed as covid deaths. As of Thursday, there have been over 4.33 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 7.07%, which is lower than last Thursday’s rate of 7.08%. There are 934 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 208 less than last Thursday, including 259 in ICU, which is 19 less than one week ago. At least 46,254 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
CALLOWAY TEAM CLAIMS MATHCOUNTS EVENT TITLE
The Calloway County Middle School MathCOUNTS team competed on Saturday at the first “virtual” Kentucky Lake Chapter regional competition, capturing 7 of the 10 highest scores in the region including the top three spots in the tournament. Amber Wu was named the chapter champion, followed by Aubrey Naber as runner-up, and Connor Pile in third place. The three students are now invited to compete in an invitational tournament and hope to place high enough to qualify for the state tournament. The Laker MathCOUNTS team is composed of Madison Morris, Zach Akin, Tommy Gomez, Connor Pile, Amber Wu, Aubrey Naber, Dmitri Williams, Elizabeth Lanier and Gary Rogers. The coaches are Dan Thompson and Scott Pile.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Winter storms are continuing to impact Kentuckians. Governor Andy Beshear said yesterday that Kentucky Transportation Cabinet crews are working around the clock to keep critical routes clear. The governor also reported that over half the 154-thousand Eastern Kentucky customers impacted by outages have had their power restored. KYTC Secretary Jim Gray extended an order yesterday that suspends some restrictions on commercial vehicles involved in relief efforts.
LEXINGTON—The organization Hood to the Holler is putting together efforts to ensure Kentuckians without power are okay. The group will be using phone banks today and tomorrow to call people without power and connect them with needed resources. Over 100 shifts have been set up, and the group is still looking for volunteers.
HOPKINS COUNTY—Kentucky State Police are looking for a commercial vehicle and driver believed to have been involved in a pedestrian hit-and-run. KSP wants to find the driver or company of a white 2018 to 2022 Freightliner Cascadia they suspect to have hit Michael “Andrew” Dowd between February 4th and February 7th. Authorities say evidence from the scene indicates the truck may have damage to the front passenger headlight assembly and hood. Dowd was found dead earlier this month on the southbound side of I-69 near the 103 mile marker outside Nortonville. Troopers say the driver may not have realized they hit a pedestrian, but may have suspected an animal or object strike.
LOUISVILLE—Officials with the state’s largest school district are answering questions about how they plan to safely return to in-person learning. During last night’s virtual town hall meeting, members of the Jefferson County Public Schools Board of Education took questions from families, students and employees. Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio talked about a hybrid model staggering two groups of students with one in classrooms on Mondays and Tuesdays and another group attending in person on Thursdays and Fridays. JCPS says it will ask parents to agree not to send their kids to school if they’re sick.
WASHINGTON—Senator Mitch McConnell would rather focus on the midterm elections than fight with former President Trump. The Washington Post spoke with ten GOP operatives close to McConnell and Trump, and said McConnell blames Trump for Republicans losing the Senate, while Trump is still angry about McConnell holding him responsible for the Capitol riot. Trump on Tuesday released a long statement trashing McConnell, and calling him a political hack. The Post report says McConnell is not interested in going back and forth with Trump, and would rather focus on finding strong Republican candidates for 2022.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly one-thousand new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported 998 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 761-thousand-300. It’s just the third time since October that the daily increase of new cases was below one-thousand. Many testing sites have been closed this week due to winter storms.
TENNESSEE—The worst of this week’s winter storms across Tennessee is over. However, the storms have been deadly. The Tennessee Department of Health says six Tennesseans died as a result of the storms. The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reported yesterday over 12-thousand people across the state are without power and it could be days before power is fully restored in some areas.
TENNESSEE—State offices in Middle and West Tennessee are closed today. Governor Bill Lee announced the offices are closed due to continued hazardous weather and travel conditions. Governor Lee asked all Tennesseans to continue to monitor road and weather conditions. It’s the fourth straight day of closures in Mid-State and West Tennessee counties.
TENNESSEE—The National Civil Rights Museum At The Lorraine Motel in Memphis is planning to reopen to visitors on March 1st. NCRM held a reopening over the summer but closed again in December due to increasing cases of COVID-19 in Shelby County. Staff and visitors will still be required to wear masks and capacity and social distancing guidelines will be in place. Tickets can be purchased online at civilrightsmuseum.org.
ILLINOIS—Former long-time Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is resigning his seat. Madigan announced his resignation in a statement yesterday, which will be effective immediately. Madigan says he initially chose to run for office because he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives, and he leaves office knowing he made a difference. Madigan has been in hot water recently after four utility officials have been federally charged with conspiring to solicit favor from the former Speaker for legislation benefiting their utility. Madigan has not been charged and has denied wrongdoing, but the scandal has led to him losing the speakership and now his House seat.
