Latest news with #CarolynCallahan
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New KY law limits communication between teachers and students. Here's what to know
A new law intended to prevent child sexual abuse will go into effect later this month, changing the way Kentucky public school employees and volunteers can communicate with students. Senate Bill 181 aims to eliminate untraceable communication between students and school staff by prohibiting district employees and volunteers from texting students or using third-party apps to communicate with them. Additionally, teachers, coaches and volunteers will not be allowed to send messages to students' personal emails or contact them on social media. The law follows a Courier Journal investigation into child sexual abuse by middle- and high-school coaches in the commonwealth, which found abuse can be exacerbated by inappropriate communications between coaches and students. Though Kentucky schools have until Aug. 15 to adopt a new policy that meets requirements of the law, Jefferson County Public Schools spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said the district is getting a head start on enforcing it. Callahan said that until Aug. 1, district employees and volunteers should contact students using "only JCPS email or communicating through the parents." After that, the district will use a more standardized method of traceable communication. More: What to know about new laws taking effect in Kentucky in June Jeff Davis, a JCPS parent, said he wasn't pleased with the "abrupt" nature of the change. He said with the shift to email communication, his son is missing important updates from his coach. "Kids don't email," Davis said. "They don't. That's not how they communicate." Davis is also an assistant soccer coach within JCPS. He expressed concern that not all JCPS coaches have email accounts, meaning some will have no traceable way to communicate with student athletes remotely. He added that he believes people who want to abuse children will continue to do so regardless of legislation, saying the new law is "managing the exception, not the rule." "Let's just be honest here, the bad actors are still going to find another way," he said. Republican state Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, who sponsored SB 181, said the law is meant to inhibit unauthorized communication and protect children. In a press release, she said SB 181 "strengthens parental involvement, sets clear expectations for school-related communication, and ensures accountability." The Jefferson County Board of Education will discuss the law at its next meeting at 6 p.m. June 24 at 3332 Newburg Road. Reach reporter Molly Gregory at msgregory@ This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: New KY law changes how teachers, coaches can communicate with students
USA Today
09-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Daily briefing: Thousands in Louisville live close to plants handling risky chemicals
Daily briefing: Thousands in Louisville live close to plants handling risky chemicals Good morning, Louisville! Happy Super Bowl Sunday! (You can read today's version of the eNewspaper here.) Today we can expect it to be mostly cloudy with a high near 42. Here are the top headlines: Thousands of Louisville residents live close to industrial facilities handling high quantities of hazardous chemicals, The Courier Journal found in an analysis of local and federal data. This development pattern — a relic of Louisville's industrial heritage — leaves only a few hundred feet and a chain link fence between homes and some of the city's most high-risk industrial operations. About 1 in 50 Louisville residents, more than 16,000 people, live in the same census block group as Risk Management Program facilities, which are designated by federal regulations for handling 'flammable or extremely hazardous chemicals.' Read more from Courier Journal reporter Connor Giffin. In other news: JCPS: Jefferson County Public Schools will implement a nontraditional instruction day Monday due to rising absences from illness, district spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said in a statement. Learn more here. Jefferson County Public Schools will implement a nontraditional instruction day Monday due to rising absences from illness, district spokesperson Carolyn Callahan said in a statement. Learn more here. Politics: The Kentucky legislature passed — and Gov. Andy Beshear signed — House Bill 1, which reduces the state's individual income tax from 4% to 3.5%. Find out more. The Kentucky legislature passed — and Gov. Andy Beshear signed — House Bill 1, which reduces the state's individual income tax from 4% to 3.5%. Find out more. McConnell: Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell is "fine" after reportedly falling Wednesday in the Senate in Washington, D.C., a spokesperson said. Read more here. From the Sports Desk Don't forget to check out this year's Super Bowl commercials ahead of time with USA TODAY's Ad Meter. Here's how to see the ads before they air and grade each on a scale of 1 to 5 to determine this year's winner. Featured Gallery A 'Stop Elon Musk' rally featuring Congressman Morgan McGarvey, community leaders, and local organizations was held Saturday to raise alarm about President Donald Trump and Musk's agenda. See our gallery created by Courier Journal photographer Scott Utterback. We'll be back tomorrow with more headlines. Have a great week ahead, Stephanie
