Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Report: Kentucky jails contracting with ICE have 659% increase in detainees this year

1

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 15h

Data from the @kypolicy.bsky.social study shows one county jail in Kentucky had contracted with ICE to hold roughly 120 detainees in January. By August, nine county jails held more than 900.

Data from the study shows one county jail in Kentucky had contracted with ICE to hold roughly 120 detainees in January. By August, nine county jails held more than 900.

Kentucky Attorney General pushing for EPA to repeal federal carbon emission regulations

2 3

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 20h

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman pushing for EPA to repeal federal carbon emission regulations. From WKU:

In an 88-page letter to the EPA, Attorney General Russell Coleman is encouraging the agency to move forward with a proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding.

Ex-officer convicted of violating Breonna Taylor’s rights ordered to report to prison

1

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 20h

Former Louisville Metro Police Detective Brett Hankison has been ordered to report to prison on Thursday. He was sentenced to 33 months in prison for his role in the raid on Breonna Taylor's apartment. From @byrobertor.lpm.org at @lpm.org

Brett Hankison was sentenced to 33 months in prison for his role in the raid on Breonna Taylor's apartment.

Utility bills for northern Kentuckians expected to rise following Duke Energy rate increase

7 25

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 1d

The Public Service Commission approved a $40 million rate increase for Duke Energy's northern Kentucky customers in an order last week. From @weku.bsky.social

Utility bills for northern Kentuckians in five counties are expected to go up.

www.weku.org

Daviess County Public Library’s newest board appointment splits community as officials call for ‘healing’

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 1d

Kline said concerns about certain adolescent and young adult books discussing sexuality and diversity have some merit, but did not express the belief that books containing LGBTQ+ themes are inherently harmful to children in Daviess County. From WKU:

Tim Kline is an attorney with 15 years of experience and a pastor at the Christ the Redeemer parish, associated with the Anglican Church of North America. His appointment may prove pivotal in an ongoi...

Paducah City Commission axes fire captain who heads local union. He claims it was retaliation.

2 5

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 1d

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. Durin...

www.wkms.org

Budget shortfalls for meal programs could leave many Kentucky seniors hungry

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 1d

Senior centers across Kentucky are now facing a budgetary shortfalls, with many cutting programs and reducing meal delivery services that employees say do more than just keep enrollees fed. From @doperle.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social

Senior centers across the Bluegrass State are now facing a budgetary shortfall that has many cutting programs and reducing meal delivery services that employees say do more than just keep enrollees fe...

www.wkms.org

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 1d

Democrat Amy McGrath, who has lost two high-profile races for Congress, announced another bid for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open seat Monday. From @sylviaruthg.lpm.org #kysen

Amy McGrath announces another bid for US Senate in Kentucky

Democrat Amy McGrath, who has lost two high-profile races for Congress, announced a bid for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open seat Monday.

Jury finds Roebling protest journalist guilty of 1 misdemeanor, not guilty of 3 others

2 2 4

Reposted by Kentucky Public Radio

Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 4d

Covington Police arrested CityBeat photo intern Lucas Griffith during a march on the Roebling Bridge in July. The case has made national headlines and drawn protest from press freedom groups. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...

Covington Police arrested CityBeat photo intern Lucas Griffith during a march on the Roebling Bridge in July. The case has made national headlines and drawn protest from press freedom groups.

Wind turbines are slowly emerging in Kentucky’s energy scene, but some communities are hesitant

5 2

Reposted by Kentucky Public Radio

Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 4d

Wind turbines are slowly emerging in Kentucky’s energy scene, but some communities are hesitant www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...

As more renewable energy sources come onto the grid, Kentucky is trying to find its role in this emerging economy.

Digging In: Trump admin tries to deport longtime Indiana businessman suffering from a brain tumor

1 2

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 5d

The Trump administration is trying
to deport longtime Indiana businessman with a green card who is suffering from a brain tumor. He has been kept in custody at a northern Kentucky jail after a judge said he could be released on bond. From @morganwatkins.lpm.org & @divyakrthk.bsky.social

Federal authorities want to deport an Indiana resident who has a green card, which grants permanent residency in the U.S. They kept him in custody after a judge said he could be released on bond.

In Trump country, a Democrat critiques Trump — and talks of succeeding him

4 4

Reposted by Kentucky Public Radio

Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 5d

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear about his cross-party appeal in a state that has always overwhelmingly voted for Trump. bit.ly/4nZLeHS

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear about his cross-party appeal in a state that has always overwhelmingly voted for Trump.

bit.ly

2 4

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 7d

With food insecurity rising, Kentucky continues to aggressively investigate individuals on fraud allegations, with some legal experts claiming they rely too much on faulty evidence. An investigation from @sylviaruthg.lpm.org

Kentucky has kicked people off of food benefits using data that doesn’t tell the full story

With food insecurity rising, Kentucky continues to aggressively investigate individuals on fraud allegations, with some legal experts claiming they rely too much on faulty evidence.

Fight to control Kentucky's most contentious library reaches 'tipping point' amid new appointment

1 7 9

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 8d

Fight to control Kentucky library under scrutiny from Christian conservatives reaches 'tipping point' amid new appointment. From WKU:

Daviess County Public Library is facing an ongoing campaign from local Christian conservatives and Christian Nationalists seeking changes in how it handles certain materials. Some of the more vocal ac...

Kentucky Congressmen ask House leadership to leave hemp ‘loophole’ open

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 8d

Several Kentucky congressmen called on U.S. House leadership to block budget language that would ban certain hemp-derived products, joining hemp farmers. From @sylviaruthg.lpm.org

Several Kentucky Congressmen called on U.S. House leadership to block budget language that would ban certain hemp-derived products, joining hemp farmers.

Targeted by Trump, Rep. Thomas Massie teams up with Rand Paul for district tour

3 5

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 8d

Kentucky GOP Congressman Thomas Massie is facing attacks from President Donald Trump, but was lent a hand by Sen. Rand Paul in a six-stop tour through his district.

Kentucky GOP Congressman Thomas Massie is facing attacks from President Donald Trump, but was lent a hand by Sen. Rand Paul in a six-stop tour through his district.

Kentucky school districts consider ‘moral instruction’ programs as the attorney general weighs in

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 11d

As an Ohio-based religious education group works to implement “moral instruction” in Kentucky public schools under a new law, the state’s attorney general offered guidance this week to districts considering the program. From @sylviaruthg.lpm.org #kyga26

As an Ohio-based religious education group works to implement “moral instruction” in Kentucky public schools under a new law, the state’s attorney general offered guidance this week to districts consi...

Kentucky teacher turns invasive carp into food for injured birds of prey

4 5 8

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 11d

Carp have increasingly become a nuisance in waterways across the country. A southern Kentucky high school teacher and his students are using the invasive fish to feed injured raptors, like bald eagles, vultures and hawks. From @weku.bsky.social

Carp have increasingly become a nuisance in waterways across the country. A southern Kentucky high school teacher and his students are using the invasive fish to feed injured raptors, like bald eagles...

www.weku.org

1 6

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 12d

Kentucky Department of Education finalizes switch to SAT for college entrance exam. From WKU:

Kentucky Department of Education finalizes switch to SAT for college entrance exam

Kentucky high school students will take the SAT instead of the ACT as their college admissions exam starting this school year.

Charles Booker leaves Kentucky government, says ‘work is far from done’

2

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 12d

Charles Booker resigned as head of the Beshear administration's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, but says his "work is far from done." From @justinhicks.lpm.org at KPR:

Politician Charles Booker resigned as head of the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Booker ran unsuccessfully for both of Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seats before Gov. Andy Beshea...

Kentucky higher education group reaches proposed settlement with DOJ

3

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 14d

The DOJ has entered a tentative settlement in its lawsuit against the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education over its policy to grant in-state tuition undocumented immigrants. Under the settlement, CPE acknowledged its tuition policy is unlawful & agreed to terminate it immediately. From WKU:

A tentative settlement has been reached between the Kentucky Council on PostsecondaryEducation and the U.S. Department of Justice over the state’s tuition policy on undocumented immigrants.

Pulitzer-winning journalist’s latest podcast looks at murder of Mayfield mother Jessica Currin

Reposted by Kentucky Public Radio

WKMS @wkmsfm.bsky.social · 14d

After the body of Jessica Currin was found beaten and burned near Mayfield Middle School in 2000, it took years for the community to get answers. Now, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and podcaster Maggie Freleng thinks the ones they got were wrong.
www.wkms.org/criminal-jus...

After the body of Jessica Currin was found beaten and burned near Mayfield Middle School in 2000, it took years for the community to get answers. And, now, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and…

www.wkms.org

1

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 14d

58 Kentucky hemp farmers sent a letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell urging him not to insert language into a bill to ban certain hemp-derived products. McConnell tried to attached such a provision in a July spending bill, and Congress is now trying to pass a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.

Kentucky hemp farmers urge McConnell in letter to not ‘criminalize’ their harvest

Kentucky hemp farmers sent a letter to Sen. Mitch McConnell asking him for a meeting and to not again try to insert language into a bill banning certain hemp-derived products.

7 11

Reposted by Kentucky Public Radio

WKMS @wkmsfm.bsky.social · 15d

Power to the Public shirts are here! Get yours now at wkms.org/donate.