Latest news with #EasternKentucky
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Longtime Eastern Kentucky Democrat joins the Republican Party
Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, speaks on her floor amendments to Senate Bill 3. The logo on the cap says National Assembly of Sportsmen's Caucuses. Webb's amendments were defeated and she voted against the bill. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) A long time Eastern Kentucky Democrat has announced she is joining the Republican Party. Sen. Robin Webb, a Carter County state lawmaker who has served in the state legislature since 1999, was one of two Democrats left in the statehouse representing parts of Eastern Kentucky. The region was once a Democratic stronghold, turning to a Republican area over the last couple of decades. She and other Republicans said it was a sign that the Democratic Party isn't what it once was. In a press release from the Republican Party of Kentucky, Webb said that she didn't leave the Democratic Party, but 'the party left me.' She added that her core values have not changed, just 'the letter next to my name' and she will continue to focus on issues in rural Kentucky. 'The Kentucky Democratic Party has increasingly alienated lifelong rural Democrats like myself by failing to support the issues that matter most to rural Kentuckians,' Webb said. 'First and foremost, I'm a mother, a rancher, and a lawyer with deep personal and professional roots in Kentucky's coal country. As the Democratic party continues its lurch to the left and its hyperfocus on policies that hurt workforce and economic development in my region, I no longer feel it represents my values. It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat.' Webb thanked Republican Senate President Robert Stivers, other colleagues in the General Assembly and RPK for 'the warm welcome.' She said she looks 'forward to continuing to focus on sound policy with rural Kentucky's best interests in mind.' Webb was elected to the state Senate in 2009 after serving in the House for a decade, making her one of the current longest serving members of the General Assembly. Her district includes the northeastern Kentucky counties of Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lewis. With Webb's switch, Democrats' superminority in the Senate dwindles to six members. Republicans now have 32 seats in the chamber. She was often seen as the caucus' more conservative member, sometimes voting with Republicans on culture war issues, like this year's bill to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in public Kentucky universities. Webb was also recently appointed by Stivers as the Senate co-chair of the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force, which will meet during the interim session. She sponsored a resolution to establish the panel. Webb also often worked across the aisle to get legislation she supported past, particularly on agriculture and rural policies. Earlier this year, one of her bills gained passage in both the Republican-controlled Senate and House. Signed into law by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, the bill established new allied animal health professional licenses for equine dentistry and animal chiropractic practice. Rep. Patrick Flannery, an Olive Hill Republican who represents Webb's home county in the House, said in the press release that the party switch makes sense for Webb and her constituents. 'Robin and I have always had an excellent working relationship,' Flannery said. 'She has served as a mentor to me and many others. We represent the same constituency, and she's making the same decision that many of our people have already made by changing her registration. Other Kentucky Republican leaders praised Webb for joining the party. RPK Chairman Robert J. Benvenuti III said in a statement that he met Webb when he was a state representative. 'I always respected that she approached issues in a very thoughtful and commonsense manner, and that she never failed to keenly focus on what was best for her constituents. It is my pleasure to welcome Sen. Robin Webb to the Republican Party,' he said. 'Like countless other Kentuckians, she has recognized that the policies and objectives of today's Democratic Party are simply not what they once were, and do not align with the vast majority of Kentuckians.' Kentucky's Republican National Committeeman John McCarthy and RNC Co-chair KC Crobsie, of Kentucky, also welcome Webb to the party's ranks. In the statehouse, the lone Democrat in the mountains left is Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty, of Martin. Webb can seek election again in 2026. She had no opponents in the 2022 election. This story may be updated.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee announces addition of Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year
Tennessee announces addition of Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year Tennessee softball will play in its ninth College World Series all time in 2025. The Lady Vols will open World Series play against Oklahoma on Thursday in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN. Ahead of Thursday's opening game, Tennessee announced the addition of Eastern Kentucky transfer Maddi Rutan. "We are excited to welcome Maddi to the Lady Vol Softball family," Tennessee head coach Karen Weekly said. "She is incredibly versatile and has had success on both sides of the ball at the college level. Maddi brings toughness and a competitive fire to the field every day. She is a great fit for our culture." During her sophomore 2025 season at Eastern Kentucky, the 5-foot-5 pitcher appeared in 33 games, including 28 starts, as a pitcher. She recorded a 2.91 ERA and 227 strikeouts in 176.0 innings. Rutan also appeared in 54 games, including 54 starts, offensively for the Colonels. She recorded a .413 batting average, 13 home runs, 61 RBIs, 44 runs and five stolen bases in 2025. Rutan earned 2024 Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Did staffing cuts at weather service affect Kentucky's tornado response?
In our Reality Check stories, Herald-Leader journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@ National Weather Service officials said an Eastern Kentucky weather service office was fully staffed Friday when severe weather and at least one tornado hit the state, killing at least 19 people. The National Weather Service is dealing with staffing shortages across the country after more than 600 staffers were either terminated or took early retirement since January amid federal spending cuts by President Donald Trump's administration, according to a union that represents weather service staffers. As a result, some offices, including the Jackson office, no longer have an overnight staff from roughly midnight to 7 a.m. The Jackson office is short seven staff members, and the other two offices in Kentucky — Paducah and Louisville — are short-staffed too. There is no meteorologist in charge at any of the three offices. Acting meteorologists in charge, who often have other job duties, are now running those offices. However, National Weather Service and state officials said the Jackson office, which covers hard-hit Laurel and Pulaski counties, was staffed overnight on Friday when strong winds and likely tornadoes barreled through much of southern Kentucky. Other offices have stepped up to help when extreme weather is predicted, a spokesperson for the National Weather Service said. 'The National Weather Service offices in Louisville, Jackson and Paducah provided forecast information, timely warnings and decision support in the days and hours leading up to the severe weather on May 16,' said Erica Cei, a spokeswoman for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, which oversees the weather service. 'As planned in advance, neighboring offices provided staffing support to the office in Jackson, KY,' CEI said. 'Additionally, the Jackson office remained fully staffed through the duration of the event using surge staffing. Weather forecast offices in the Central Region continue to evaluate storm damage and other impacts from this tragic event.' At a Saturday news conference in Laurel County, Gov Andy Beshear said he had not been alerted to any problems with weather alerts Friday night. 'I have big concerns with cuts to the National Weather Service. I don't see any evidence that it impacted this one,' said Beshear, a Democrat. Kentucky Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson echoed Beshear's comments. During a Saturday press conference, Gibson said the weather service provided a staffer to help the emergency management agency prepare for and predict the severity of Friday night's storms. Jackson is not the only office that no longer has enough staff to cover midnight to early morning shifts. According to the union that represents weather service employees, other National Weather Service offices that no longer have 24-hour staffing include: Goodland, Kans., Northwestern Kansas .Sacramento, Calif., North Central California. Hanford, Calif., South Central California. Cheyenne Wyo. (starting 5/18) Southeast Wyoming. Marquette, Mich. (starting 5/18) Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Pendleton Ore. (TBD) Northeast Oregon and South-Central Washington State. Fairbanks, Alaska (starting 6/1/25) – Central and Northern Alaska. From 2010 to the end of 2024, about 600 people left the National Weather Service, which has roughly 4,200 employees. This year alone, amid cuts to federal spending, another 600 people have left amid staffing reductions and early retirements, said Tom Fahy, legislative director of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, the union that represents weather service staff. 'For the first time in several decades, not all NWS Weather Forecast Offices will not be 24/7,' Fahy said. The move is part of a much broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to slash the federal workforce. In addition, Trump signed an executive order in January freezing all new hires across the government. That means the understaffed National Weather Service can't hire new people to plug staffing shortages. The service is giving existing personnel bonuses to move to understaffed areas, Fahy said. But that plan is untenable long term, he said. The tasks of the National Weather Service are complex and can take months and years to master. The staff is essential for modeling all types of weather events and outcomes, including flooding, Fahy said. 'Transferring employees is not enough. The National Weather Service must be allowed to recruit new employees to fill critical positions — most especially meteorologist and hydrologist positions,' Fahy said. 'The administration and Congress must provide authorization to bring back probationary employees and employees hired under special hiring authorities,' Fahy said. 'These former NWS employees are already trained and prepared to meet the mission. There would be no learning curve for these employees, and it would contribute to the efficiency of the agency.'
Malay Mail
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Storms kill 25 in central and south US, flatten homes, cut power to hundreds of thousands
LONDON (United States), May 18 — Severe storms that swept through the US states of Missouri, Kentucky and Virginia left more than 25 people dead, laying waste to local communities and cutting off electricity to nearly 200,000, authorities said Saturday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said on X at least 18 people had died in the storms Friday night, while local officials in Missouri said another seven were dead there. Two people were also killed by falling trees in Virginia, local media reported. Jamie Burns, 38, who lives with her husband and son in a trailer home in the town of London, Kentucky, had to seek shelter in the basement of her sister's brick house while the storm destroyed 100 to 200 houses in the area. 'Things that have been here longer than I have, things that have been here for 30-plus years are just flat,' Burns told AFP in a phone interview, her voice quavering. 'It's wild, because you'll look at one area and it's just smashed... totally flattened, like, not there anymore.' Drone footage published by local media showed scenes of devastation in London, with houses leveled and reduced to splinters and tree trunks standing bare, completely shorn of branches. Beshear added that more than 100,000 people have been left without power in the state, and five counties have declared a state of emergency. Eastern Kentucky, an area historically known for its coal mines, is one of the poorest regions in the country. 'A lot of us live in manufactured homes that aren't safe for tornado weather,' said Burns. 'One of the worst storms' In Missouri, five people were killed in the major city of St. Louis, in what authorities said was one of the worst storms in its history, and two in Scott County, the State Highway Patrol said in a statement to AFP. More than 80,000 people were left without power and three shelters were opened in the area, the statement added. More severe weather was forecast for Sunday night and Monday. Asked Saturday by a reporter whether it was the worst storm ever to hit St. Louis, Mayor Cara Spencer replied: 'I would describe this as one of the worst storms – absolutely. The devastation is truly heartbreaking.' She said 38 people in the city were injured and some 5,000 buildings damaged. In one St. Louis neighborhood, a church was heavily damaged, according to CBS footage, and rescue workers continued to treat victims near the building Saturday morning. 'It's horrific for a tornado to come through here and cause this much damage to the residents and also to the church,' Derrick Perkins, a pastor at the Centennial Christian Church, told CBS. 'Our hearts are broken.' Bruce Madison, who also works at the church, said the community was coming together in the face of the tragedy. 'Right now, we're just praying for... everybody that they're trying to find right now.' While there were warnings ahead of the severe weather – Beshear had protectively declared a state of emergency Friday – the death toll may raise questions about whether sharp cuts by the Trump administration have left National Weather Service forecasting teams dangerously understaffed. An estimated 500 of the 4,200 NWS employees have been fired or taken early retirement this year, according to the Washington Post. The United States saw the second-highest number of tornadoes on record last year with nearly 1,800, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), trailing only 2004. — AFP
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tornadoes kill more than 20 in south-central US
More than 20 people have died after severe storms swept through the US states of Missouri and Kentucky, laying waste to local communities and cutting off electricity to nearly 200,000 people, authorities said. Kentucky governor Andy Beshear said on X that at least 14 people had died in the storms Friday night and another seven were dead in Missouri, according to local officials. "Kentucky, we're starting today with the tough news that we lost at least 14 of our people to last night's storms, but sadly, this number is expected to grow as we receive more information," Beshear said Saturday. "Please pray for all of our affected families." Drone footage published by local media showed scenes of devastation in the town of London, Kentucky, with houses leveled and reduced to splinters and tree trunks standing bare, completely shorn of branches. Beshear added that more than 100,000 people have been left without power in the state, and five counties have declared a state of emergency. Eastern Kentucky, an area historically known for its coal mines, is one of the poorest regions in the country. In Missouri, five people were killed in the large city of St. Louis and two in Scott County, Missouri State Highway Patrol said in a statement to AFP. More than 80,000 people were left without power and three shelters were set up in the area, the statement added. More severe weather was forecast for Missouri Sunday night and Monday. "Our city is grieving tonight," St. Louis mayor Cara Spencer told reporters Friday night. "The loss of life and the destruction is truly horrendous." Derrick Perkins, a pastor at the Centennial Christian Church in St. Louis, said the city was devastated by tornadoes, which are spinning columns of air that touch the ground from massive cumulonimbus thunderstorm clouds. "It's horrific for a tornado to come through here and cause this much damage to the residents and also to the church," Perkins told CBS. "Our hearts are broken." Bruce Madison, who also works at the church, said the community was coming together in the face of the tragedy. "Right now, we're just praying for... everybody that they're trying to find right now." While there were warnings ahead of the severe weather -- Beshear had protectively declared a state of emergency Friday -- the latest outburst may raise questions about whether sharp cuts by the Trump administration have left National Weather Service forecasting teams dangerously understaffed, forcing some offices to curtail operations. An estimated 500 of the 4,200 NWS employees have been fired or taken early retirements this year, according to the Washington Post. The United States saw the second-highest number of tornadoes on record last year with nearly 1,800, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), trailing only 2004. md/bbk
