…well I’m glad that was clarified.

After more than a decade of expansion, the latest report from the Kentucky Distillers’ Association says decreases in demand for bourbon and other spirits brought on by trade policies and shifting consumer tastes could slow growth in one of the Bluegrass State’s signature industries.

A United Campus Workers of Kentucky board member says a bill now under consideration in the state House that would let public universities lay off educators – including those with tenure – for financial reasons could be “devastating” for the commonwealth’s academic community.

For the second consecutive year, the Kentucky House passed a bill that would make water fluoridation optional for local utility providers. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social #kyga26

Kentucky’s Council on Postsecondary Education on Friday approved Murray State University’s proposal to offer a doctorate of veterinary medicine program – which would be the first degree of its kind offered in the Bluegrass State.

Kentucky GOP lawmakers are making another attempt to get rid of a state law requiring most water systems to add fluoride – a practice that has been widely recognized as a successful public health campaign for decades. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social #kyga26

Kentucky GOP lawmakers are making another attempt to get rid of a state statute that requires most water systems to add fluoride to their supplies – a practice that has been widely recognized as a successful public health campaign for decades.

Kentucky school employees and volunteers have to use traceable forms of communications when they contact students outside the classroom. But now, a state senator wants to fix some unintended consequences that teachers and education advocacy groups have brought to her attention.

Don’t be surprised when a lot of down-ballot races in November elections in western Kentucky have only one name - or sometimes no names - on the ballot. I spent some time tallying candidates for county offices, and figuring out who’s running with no competition (or only primary competition):

Our student reporter Shelby Bloomer spent weeks reseaching, interviewing and traveling out to different hemp businesses in western Kentucky to put this piece together, and I think she did a pretty dang good job exploring this issue. Check out the results of her labor:

Friday marks the 40th anniversary of the crash in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada that took the lives of 248 Fort Campbell soldiers who were on their way home from a deployment to Egypt.

A GOP state legislator has proposed a bill to force Kentucky police departments to work with an ICE task force program. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social

A Republican state representative plans to file legislation that would require all Kentucky police agencies to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a program that gives local officers some power to enforce federal immigration law. www.wkms.org/government-p...

Per the Weakley County Examiner, Martin Mayor Randy Brundige and the city’s head of economic development Brad Thompson just…went back to work like normal on Wednesday after they were arrested on Tuesday?? theweakleycountyexaminer.com/2025/11/12/i...

From @hannahsaad.bsky.social: The leader of a far western Kentucky firefighters union chapter is suing city officials in Paducah, claiming they violated his rights under the 1st and 14th Amendments – as well as federal and state labor laws – by terminating his job with the Paducah Fire Department.

New program employs Paducah domestic violence survivors to make chef-crafted spice blend. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social

A new line of spice blends cooked up by a celebrity chef is benefiting a western Kentucky domestic crisis center, employing survivors of domestic violence while also raising funds for the nonprofit.

From @hannahsaad.bsky.social: An elementary school that serves children of military families at Fort Campbell must put books that the Department of Defense ordered to be removed from its library shelves back, per a Virginia federal judge’s ruling issued Monday.

Paducah City Commission axes fire captain who heads local union. He claims it was retaliation. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social

The Paducah City Commission unanimously voted during a marathon-length special called meeting Friday to fire a captain in the Paducah Fire Department who also leads the local firefighters union. His attorneys suggested the hearing on whether to terminate his employment was motivated by retaliation.

Kentucky's state budget director says they'll need to set aside > $115 million more than previous years on food assistance benefits and (because of the BBB passed by Congress this summer) potentially hundreds of millions of dollars more. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social #kyga25

For Kentucky’s next biennial budget, the state budget director says it will need to set aside over $115 million more than in previous years to keep giving residents in need food stamps and – because of the federal reconciliation bill – potentially hundreds of millions of dollars on top of that.

From @doperle.bsky.social: A lease to build the first U.S.-owned, privately developed uranium enrichment facility in the country was signed in western Kentucky on Tuesday against a backdrop of containers holding depleted tails of uranium hexafluoride.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office says a new law requiring educators and school volunteers to use traceable forms of communication with students does not appear to violate their First Amendment rights.

With only one Democrat speaking at the western Kentucky political event, the jabs and jeers of Fancy Farm turned inwards as the GOP candidates jockeyed for the opportunity to replace U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. via @sylviaruthg.lpm.org @hannahsaad.bsky.social

Big News! Some generous friends have stepped up with matching money for tomorrow. We can make a big dent in the federal funds that were lost. Can you help share this today to get people ready? Phone: 1-800-599-4737 Web: donate.nprstations.org/wkms/wkms-gi... Let's do this! 💪

Kentucky lawmakers passed a bill this year to help prevent teachers from having inappropriate digital conversations with students. But now, some educators are concerned that the new law’s impacts stretch far beyond its intentions. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social. #kyga25

From @hannahsaad.bsky.social: Some Kentucky educators are worried that the impacts of a new law mandating school districts to use traceable communications systems to reach students stretch far beyond its original intentions.

From @hannahsaad.bsky.social: The country’s largest public power provider is building a large-scale solar field on a closed coal ash site at its Shawnee Fossil Plant site in McCracken County. Tennessee Valley Authority officials say it’s the world’s first.

Murray State’s heading to its first ever Men’s College World Series after a bit of a nail-biter against Duke last night:

Racers!

Murray State University’s board of regents signaled compliance Friday with a Kentucky law passed earlier this year that requires public colleges to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social #kyga25

Murray State baseball notched another historic milestone this season with a 12-11 win Monday over Ole Miss: advancing to its first NCAA super regional in program history. Today, over 200 members of Racer Nation welcomed the team back to Murray before they play Duke this weekend.

Do Calvert City's chemical plants impact surrounding communities' health? A new study aims to see. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social

Researchers from the University of Louisville and Murray State University are looking into the potential impact emissions from chemical plants in Calvert City could have on the health of people and wildlife in area communities.

The Tennessee Valley Authority had previously stated its intentions to retire its four coal plants in Kentucky and Tennessee by 2035. But now, the utility’s CEO said some of the plants – including one in West Paducah – could be operating “for the foreseeable future.” by @hannahsaad.bsky.social

Days of near-constant rain and threats of severe weather across western Kentucky have caused widespread flooding – with the threat of more on the horizon as waterways crest.

Several Kentucky communities were hit with flash flooding on Friday and are prepping for yet another round of storms – with the potential for more widespread flooding – to hit this weekend. via @hannahsaad.bsky.social

The sanctuary at Christ Community Church in McCracken County was heavily damaged during a tornado outbreak Wednesday night. Beyond that, some parts of far western Kentucky saw some tree damage and downed power lines.

Tennessee state troopers carried 80-year-old Lynne McFarland, a Nashville psychologist, from a legislative committee room Tuesday after she refused to leave while lawmakers discussed a bill that would allow public schools to deny education to some immigrant children. Photos by John Partipilo.

House Bill 16, which would make water fluoridation optional for Kentucky water providers, passed the House on Wednesday with a 68-29 vote.

Bill to make water fluoridation in Kentucky optional passes out of House committee for the second consecutive year. From @hannahsaad.bsky.social of @wkmsfm.bsky.social #kyga25

Most of Kentucky’s water utilities are currently statutorily required to add fluoride to their drinking water supplies, but a bill making its way through the state legislature could change that. via @hannahsaad.bsky.social

Discussion is starting up now on House Bill 16, which would make it optional for Kentucky water systems to fluoridate their supplies. Watch discussion here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LZn...

Sen. Mitch McConnell announcing today that he will not seek reelection next year.

Kentucky is one of 14 states that requires most water utilities to fluoridate their water supplies. A bill that would make it *optional* for systems to add fluoride to their water is getting heard in a House committee Thursday.

Kentucky officials and foster care leaders gave testimony this week before members of the state senate to explain why some kids in the Commonwealth’s custody are still being housed in agency office buildings, and what steps are being taken to get them into better situations. @hannahsaad.bsky.social

A Kentucky senator has tried to limit when governors can issue pardons or commute sentences in a gubernatorial election year during five of the last six legislative sessions. This year’s attempt gained committee approval on Wednesday. @hannahsaad.bsky.social