Latest news with #BluegrassState
The Independent
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear steps up campaign to ensure preschool for every Kentucky 4-year-old
Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear stepped up his efforts Wednesday to guarantee preschool access for every 4-year-old in the state, offering assurances his plan would reap widespread benefits — improving student performance while bolstering employment and family incomes. Having been stymied by the state's GOP-supermajority legislature in recent years when he pitched his universal pre-K plan, Beshear kicked off a campaign in hopes of building grassroots support. It comes about seven months before lawmakers convene in January for their 2026 session, which could be the term-limited governor's last realistic chance to turn his ambitious preschool plan into law. The 2026 session will be highlighted by work to pass the state's next two-year budget. Beshear, a two-term governor seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, said every child 'deserves a good start' by ensuring they are prepared for kindergarten. The Bluegrass State is falling short of that goal, he said, pointing to statistics showing more than half of Kentucky children are unprepared for their first day of kindergarten, creating an achievement gap that's difficult to overcome. 'Scripture tells us that children are a gift from God," Beshear said during his campaign-style stop in Louisville. "And I believe that we have a responsibility as adults to build a better state for every single one of them. We all know that we can do this with pre-K for all. Let's finally get this done.' Nearly two-thirds of Kentucky's 120 counties lack sufficient child care to serve every family that needs it, the governor said. Workforce participation rates tend to be lower in counties with fewer childcare options, Beshear's administration said. 'Kentucky will never reach its potential if our children's zip code determines their place in the world by the first day of kindergarten,' said Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, a former public school teacher and administrator. 'The time for pre-K is now.' The benefits of his pre-K proposal would be much broader and would include increasing the state's workforce by enabling more parents to go back to work, Beshear said. And it would help ease the financial burden on parents with young children, he said. 'American families right now are struggling, struggling to pay the bills, and child care is a big part of that," Beshear said. "Pre-K for all could ease the financial burden facing our hardworking families and make paying those bills not just a little but a lot easier.' Beshear on Wednesday did not delve into how much state-funded preschool would cost, but he pointed to a study indicating every $1 invested in pre-K generates $10 cycling through the state economy. Leading up to the 2024 legislative session, Beshear's budget plan included $172 million each year of the following two-year budget cycle to provide preschool for 4-year-olds. Beshear has said the expense is 'more than affordable,' amounting to a fraction of the massive surplus in the state's budget reserve trust fund. That preschool proposal and others like it have made no headway with GOP lawmakers. Guaranteeing preschool access should be nonpartisan, Beshear said Wednesday. He said that some 18 states — including some run by Republicans — offer pre-K access for all 4-year-olds. Beshear and other top members of his administration planned events in Kentucky's biggest media markets over the coming days to promote the preschool plan. In another sign he's stepping up the public campaign for his pre-K proposal, Beshear issued an executive order creating an advisory committee that will hold statewide public meetings on the issue. The committee — made up of people with backgrounds in education, workforce development and business — will make a written report to the governor this fall detailing its findings and recommendations.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kentucky football recruiting 2026: Texas WR Davis McCray commits to Mark Stoops
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football's 2026 recruiting class has taken time to come together. UK and coach Mark Stoops didn't receive their first commitment from a 2026 prospect until March 30, when in-state offensive lineman Jarvis Strickland elected to stay home. Two more months passed until the Wildcats landed their second pledge: Wide receiver Davis McCray joined the class June 3. Advertisement As of June 3, Kentucky's class sits 81st nationally — last among the 16 teams in the SEC — in the 247Sports Composite rankings. Here's a look at the Wildcats' 2026 recruiting class so far: Kentucky football recruiting 2026 commitments Davis McCray, WR High school: Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio) 247Sports Composite rating: 3 stars Commitment status: Verbally committed June 3 What to know: The Texas native played on offense and defense last season for Cornerstone Christian. On offense, McCray had 32 receptions for 639 yards and 10 touchdowns and added 38 tackles and a a forced fumble defensively. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound McCray also was part of the school's track and field team, competing in the 100 meters and long jump. Jarvis Strickland, OL High school: Paducah Tilghman (Paducah) Advertisement 247Sports Composite rating: 4 stars Commitment status: Verbally committed March 30 What to know: A 6-6, 294-pound offensive lineman, Strickland decided to stay in the Bluegrass State, becoming the first member of UK's 2026 class when he committed March 30. He also had offers from Louisville, SEC rivals Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vanderbilt as well as Big Ten schools Indiana, Maryland, Michigan and Michigan State. Strickland's high school teammate, Martels Carter Jr., is a member of the Wildcats' 2025 signing class. Reach Kentucky men's basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@ and follow him on X at @RyanABlack. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky football recruiting 2026 commits, class ranking: Mark Stoops
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sunday Headlines: Prayers for Kentucky Tornado Victims
It seems like the last few years have brought more than a fair share of tragedy to Kentucky. With floods and tornadoes, it has been a tough four years for residents of the Bluegrass State, and this weekend, another disaster has struck the commonwealth. A tornado made its way through the southern and eastern portion of the state, with Governor Andy Beshear confirming 18 deaths along with several others injured and many, many more losing their homes and businesses. The damage was particularly bad in London, where multiple deaths have been reported. The damage across the path of the storm is awful, and we should definitely remember all of those affected in our thoughts and prayers. As cleanup efforts begin, we've seen Kentuckians come together to help their neighbors in a time of need. Yesterday, one notable Kentuckian was captured helping out with the cleanup effort. Laurel County's own Reed Sheppard was in town helping out. It's really neat to see Reed back in his hometown helping out when disaster strikes. The story told in the post by Joshua Maxey gives a little glimpse of the kind of person Reed is. Definitely worth the read, and I hope the BBN will reach out to Reed and let him know how much he's appreciated. Prayers for Kentucky. UK Softball earns spot in Clemson Regional Final - UK Athletics Two big wins for the Wildcats yesterday. Kentucky will be 13-seed in SEC Tournament - KSR The Cats will face an uphill battle. Maxwell Hairston is a big fan of Jalen Ramsey - Vaughts Views Really rooting for Maxwell to succeed. Journalism mounts comeback to win Preakness - NBC Sports A big-time comeback. Jaylen Brown played with partially torn meniscus in playoffs - SI Pretty impressive. Wishing a speedy recovery! Twins win 13th game in a row - ESPN Don't look now, but Minnesota is the hottest team in baseball right now. Giannis, Bucks will meet to discuss future - Bleacher Report Will Giannis be in Milwaukee next season? Will Nuggets or Thunder take Game 7? - Yahoo Will Jamal Murray or SGA advance to the WCF? Scheffler holds lead in PGA Championship - CBS Sports Will he hang onto the lead today? More from John Calipari recaps another successful NBA Draft for Kentucky Basketball Derek Willis joining Miami Heat in NBA Summer League Friday Quickies: NBA Dreams Realized Edition Isaiah Briscoe joining 76ers for NBA Summer League Bam Adebayo to Miami Heat in 2017 NBA Draft 2 Kentucky Wildcats and 4 recruits make John Calipari's U19 team Trey Lyles traded from Jazz to Nuggets, teaming up with Jamal Murray
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornado Alley shifting into Kentucky? A meteorologist says it's too soon to tell
An unconfirmed tornado touched down late Friday in Southeastern Kentucky, leaving at least 18 people dead in the region. The damage, including flattened buildings, twisted power lines and smashed cars, may remind some Kentuckians of the Western Kentucky tornado outbreak of December 2021, though these latest storms are much smaller in scope. For fatigued Kentuckians, it marks yet another disaster after rounds of flooding in February and early April killed 29 people in the state, including two children. It brings the total death toll for punishing storms to at least 43 in Kentucky this year. Given the frequency of tornadoes in recent years, some Kentuckians may be wondering if Tornado Alley is shifting eastward into the Bluegrass State. The system that spawned in Missouri Friday and brought destruction to Kentucky was what one meteorologist described as the 'perfect storm' for producing tornadoes. To get at that question, we spoke with National Weather Service meteorologist Mark Jarvis, of the agency's Louisville office. As is often the case with science, things are more complicated than they seem on the surface. Here's what to understand about recent tornado activity in Kentucky. No. The region is often loosely defined, but the core of Tornado Alley encompasses Midwestern states such as South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. It's worth noting Tornado Alley as a concept can often be misleading. As the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration explains, U.S. tornado threats shift between regions with the changing of the seasons. Tornadoes can occur in all 50 states and violent ones happen outside of what we think of as 'Tornado Alley' every year. According to Jarvis, the answer is no. There simply isn't enough evidence yet to suggest that's definitively happening. More research is needed, Jarvis told the Herald-Leader in a Saturday morning call. 'Tornado Alley really hasn't shifted east at all,' Jarvis said. 'It's still a region in the central United States where you have tornadoes that are more frequent and more intense, and that's because of the geographic location.' Jarvis said there has been some uptick in tornadoes across the Deep South in places like Mississippi and Alabama, states that are typically grouped into the colloquial 'Dixie Alley' for frequent and strong tornado activity. That said, Kentucky isn't among the states included in Dixie Alley. Storms and severe weather are not uncommon for Kentucky during the spring and fall months, particularly between March and late May in the spring and October to November in the fall, Jarvis said. In Kentucky, the counties that tend to see the most tornadoes are in the western half of the state, particularly west of Interstate 165, formerly named the Natcher Parkway, Jarvis said. That's not to say there aren't 'hot spots' for tornado activity outside of Western Kentucky. Tornadoes can occur in any place where conditions are favorable to their formation, particularly areas that see supercell thunderstorms, which are strong thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and the most powerful tornadoes. Do you have a question about weather or climate for our service journalism team? We'd like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@
