Stu Johnson

Thousands of Kentuckians are coping with snow, sleet, and ice and no electricity this morning. A second winter storm brought down power lines across large sections of southeast and eastern Kentucky. WEKU's Stu Johnson spoke with Joe Arnold of Kentucky Electric Cooperatives Tuesday morning. Listen here.

Longtime Kentucky political observer Al Cross gives a slight edge to Gov.Matt Bevin in Tuesday’s contest against Attorney General Andy Beshear. 

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said she will recommend additional funding to address ongoing concerns at the Fayette County jail. 

Gorton updated council members this week on her fact-finding examination at the detention center. Gorton said she had made unannounced visits to the jail and had talked with staff.

“We have had difficulties for a long time out there, so what we’ve done in the past hasn’t worked.  So, we need to think creatively about other ways to fix these problems,” said Gorton.

Teams of nurses in Kentucky are providing the hepatitis A vaccine to jails, homeless shelters, and treatment centers in an effort to reach the people most at risk of becoming infected with the disease.

According to the Kentucky Department of Public Health, the teams have provided about 2,100 doses of the vaccine since April.

Eastern Kentucky University celebrated National Farmers Market Week Thursday with three local groups joining together to offer fresh produce to the Richmond community.  The weekly summertime market at Eastern has grown just like the fruits and vegetables on display.

Bluegrass music sets the stage as shoppers make their way through the marketplace for National Farmers Market Week .

An early morning explosion at a Lexington UPS maintenance facility Wednesday sent eight people to the hospital and caused substantial damage to the building.  Authorities are working to pin down the cause of the blast.

Kentucky lawmakers return to Frankfort later this morning to act on remaining bills including a possible vote on a two year spending plan.  Legislators from the House and Senate have been trying to reach consensus on the biennial budget.

When this discussion between House and Senate conferees began over a week ago there were some significant differences.  The House plan included calls for a 50 cent cigarette tax and a 25 cent levy on prescription opioids at the distribution level.  The senate backed plan didn’t include any tax increases.  

Residents of Lexington and Fayette County will soon have a new option for cable television, Internet and even telephone service.

Mayor Jim Gray announced Tuesday that the community will soon be one of the nation’s only “Gigabit Cities.”    

Kentucky House Speaker Jeff Hoover has reached a confidential settlement over sexual harassment allegations made by a woman who works on his staff.

That's according to a report from the Louisville Courier Journal. The report claims the agreement was made last week after the leader of the House received a demand letter from the woman’s lawyer over allegations dating back to 2016. 

In keeping with tradition, the spring meet at Keeneland opens this weekend with the running of the Toyota Bluegrass Stakes. Seven three-year-olds are in the field for the Kentucky Derby prep race.

The state Department of Alcohol Beverage Control is implementing monthly alcohol serving classes across the state aimed at creating a consistent training schedule as the number of wet counties grows.

The Server Training in Alcohol Regulations or STAR classes are for ABC licensees and their employees.  Classes are intended for people who serve or sell alcoholic beverages.  They'll be held monthly at state park venues.  Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner Christine Trout said the training is not state mandated.

A controversial bill affecting the operation of the state attorney general's office won approval in the Kentucky House today and is expected to get a favorable reception as it moves to a vote in the Senate.

In addition to requiring the attorney general to explain why outside counsel is needed, the bill sets a cap at $20 million dollars that an attorney can recover in any given case. 

Providence Representative Jim Gooch said that can mean more dollars for taxpayers in large civil cases, “The more you have to pay one of these attorneys, the less money you’re going to get.”

A Kentucky Senate panel voted Thursday for a bill supporting an effort to gather statistics on how minorities are treated in schools, juvenile courts and other institutions.

The Kentucky House Judiciary Committee has overwhelmingly approved legislation focused on reducing gang-related violence in the state.  

The bill makes recruitment of gang members a felony and defines a gang for criminal purposes as three or more people.  Current law sets the standard at five or more.  Louisville Assistant Police Chief Kim Kraeszig said last year 40 percent of a record number of homicides were under 26.  “Last year we had over 400 shootings.  We are losing so many lives in our community,” he said. “It’s ridiculous.”