MSU BOARD OF REGENTS MEET TODAY
The Murray State University Board of Regents and Board of Regents Committees will meet in quarterly session today in Heritage Hall, Hall of Benefactors. Among items on the agenda is a summary report regarding the evaluation of MSU President, Dr. Bob Jackson and the authorization to execute an amended contract of employment. The Board will also announce Teaching Excellence Awards and Professor Emeritus Designations, and will hear a preliminary Enrollment and Retention Update for Summer 2021 and Fall 2021 enrollment. Today’s meeting begins at 8:30 this morning and will be streamed at murraystate.edu/streaming.
SIREN TEST THIS MORNING
The tornado warning sirens in Murray, Hazel, and on the Murray State University campus will be tested just after 9 this morning. The MSU systems will be tested first. These produce a tone and a spoken announcement. The City sirens will be tested next. The first sounding will be a wavering siren, which is the “alert” or “warning” sound. It will be followed by a steady tone which means “all clear”. The warning sirens are designed to warn persons who are outside that they should seek shelter and tune into a news source.
HOUSTON NAMED MCCH EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
Shelly Houston has been named the 2019 Employee of the Year at Murray-Calloway County Hospital. A 30-year employee, Houston is a Registered Nurse in Pre-Anesthesia Testing. Houston screens patients prior to surgical procedures in the Outpatient Surgery Department. Although she is new to this role, she has many years of experience and service at the hospital in Nursing. Houston was nominated by her peers and chosen by the MCCH executive team as the Employee of the Month in February 2019. She was named Employee of the Year out of all twelve monthly award winners.
MAYFIELD HIGH SCHOOL GETS $10.5 MILLION IN BKP FUNDS
Yesterday, Governor Andy Beshear announced $127 million is headed to local school districts to fund construction and renovation projects as part of his Better Kentucky Plan, which will direct $1.3 billion to schools. One local school was among the projects recommended for funding by the Kentucky School Facilities Construction Commission. Mayfield High School will receive $10,478,018 for renovations. The money is being allocated as gap funding. The state education commissioner needs to approve the offers which the local school districts must accept or decline.
CALLOWAY COVID UPDATE
The Calloway County Health Department reported no new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, leaving the case total during the pandemic at 3,524. Of that total, 3,466 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, 34.2% of Calloway County residents have been fully vaccinated including 69.2% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of Thursday was .68%, which is lower than Wednesday’s rate of .97%.
KENTUCKY COVID UPDATE
At Thursday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 429 new cases and 6 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 7,077 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Thursday, there have been over 6.65 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 2.52%, which is slightly higher than last Thursday’s rate of 2.51%. There are 307 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 21 less than last Thursday, including 91 in ICU, which is 5 less than one week ago. At least 52,880 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus. As of Thursday, 2,061,664 Kentuckians have been vaccinated for a 46% total, including 81% of those 65 and older.
CULVERT REPLACEMENT ON KY 1124 BEGINS MONDAY
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans an extended closure of KY 1124 in Graves County starting at 8 am Monday at mile point 6.3 to allow the Minnow Creek Culvert to be replaced. This is along the north-south section of KY 1124 where it parallels the Graves-Calloway County Line between Samuel Drive and Patterson Lane. The culvert replacement project is expected to take about 3 weeks to complete, weather permitting. There will be no marked detour. However, motorists may self-detour via KY 564 and KY 80.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
POWELL COUNTY—FEMA is setting up mobile support centers in three Kentucky counties to assist flood victims. The centers will open Saturday in Breathitt, Johnson, and Powell counties. Officials will be available to answer questions from residents in any of the 31 counties that fall under the disaster declaration. FEMA’s Kentucky spokesperson Jack Heesch says the centers are valuable resources for checking the status of claims or asking questions if claims have been rejected. Representatives can also correct errors made during the application process.
FRANKFORT—A Juneteenth state holiday is not being recognized in Kentucky this year because legislators failed to introduce a bill in the 2021 session to back the effort. Governor Andy Beshear urged the passage of such a bill as racial protests raged in the state. State Senators Robert Stivers, Damon Thayer, and Morgan Mcgarvey pledged to back such a bill, but none was ever filed. Thayer says lawmakers weren’t focused on ceremonial-type bills this year, but that the legislation could likely move forward next session. Juneteenth is the day that signifies the end to slavery in the United States.
PRESTONSBURG—Kentucky State Police troopers are asking for help finding a missing woman. KSP says 36-year-old Kandi Gonzalez hasn’t been seen since Tuesday. Gonzalez was last seen on Abbott Creek Road in Prestonsburg. KSP says Gonzalez is five-eight, 110 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes and was last seen wearing a pink one-piece romper outfit.
LEXINGTON—The Lexington-Fayette metro area is 89th on a national list of over 180 cities for a “staycation” this summer. The WalletHub report says while the country will be more open this year than it was last year due to coronavirus concerns, many people may not be ready to go too far from home. Metrics include cities with the most recreational facilities and entertainment options per capita, the cost of entertainment, food and rest and relaxation options. The number of people vaccinated against COVID-19 is also a factor.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly 300 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to nearly 863-thousand-620. An additional seven COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths standing at over 12-thousand-470. There are about 440 people with COVID-19 hospitalized in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—Dollywood is announcing a new resort as part of a 500-million-dollar expansion. The Dollywood Parks and Resorts group said yesterday the HeartSong Lodge and Resort is expected to open in 2023. The five-story resort will have over 300 rooms with 26-thousand square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. It will be located next to Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa in Pigeon Forge.
TENNESSEE—U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg says Memphis is “vital” to the nation and world’s transportation. Buttigieg attended a roundtable discussion yesterday with political, transportation and commerce leaders about the closure of the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. Trucking industry leaders said closure of the bridge is costing them two-million dollars a day due to re-routing and traffic delays. Buttigieg also toured the damaged bridge after attending the meeting hosted by FedEx.
TENNESSEE—Elvis’ love for martial arts is the focus of an exhibit at Graceland Archives Experience. It documents the King’s passion for karate, which started in 1958 during his time in the army. The exhibit includes Elvis’ personal karate gis. The exhibition opens Monday.
TENNESSEE—Governor Bill Lee is celebrating Tennessee’s 225 years of statehood with visits across the state this week. Governor Lee was in Fayette County yesterday where he announced three-million dollars in funding to restore the historic Fayette County Courthouse. Lee called the courthouse a landmark and said it’s important to preserve the state’s history so the next generation can see what’s unique about Tennessee. Tennessee became a state on June 1st, 1796.
ILLINOIS—Illinois state Representative Tim Butler is responding to a tweet by state Senator Doris Turner comparing one of his policies to “plantation mentality.” Turner tweeted the comment Wednesday in response to a tweet by Butler about the efficient administration of Township funds in Sangamon County. Butler addressed Turner’s tweet yesterday, saying she was equating many of his constituents with enslavers and such name calling “is beneath the title of state senator.” Turner hasn’t spoken about Butler’s response.
