Appalachia's black lung rates highest in nearly 50 years as miners' protections stall

Rates are now as bad as the 1970s, with thousands of miners sick and dying. Mining experts blame toxic silica dust, now more common in mines.

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McConnell’s absence hangs over Fancy Farm, Kentucky’s annual political event

In between servings of the annual Fancy Farm political picnic’s signature mutton barbecue, Kentucky voters wonder if their senior senator will be able to finish out his term.

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Butchertown slaughterhouse prompts hundreds of complaints, but no penalties

Louisville’s Air Pollution Control District has not recently cited Swift for violating rules, despite 530 complaints and dozens of “strong” odors this year.

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Fancy Farm picnic politicking focuses on fall's US Senate race, 2027 gubernatorial primary

Republicans and Democrats shared the stage at this year's annual Fancy Farm political picnic in western Kentucky Saturday, with the open U.S. Senate seat top of mind and next year's gubernatorial prim...

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Woman detained by ICE at Louisville airport says she isn’t receiving needed medical care

After being detained at the Louisville Airport, friends and family say a local jail is holding Sarafinah Bukirwa for federal immigration charges and isn’t giving her proper care – now she’s in a healt...

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Regional newsroom expands collaboration in eastern Kentucky

“The Appalachia News Exchange is all about creating a healthy news ecosystem,” said Ryan Van Velzer, managing editor of the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom.

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Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin skips child support hearing as his son, ex-wife testify

Despite an active bench warrant and a requirement to appear in person, former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin was absent from a hearing in his child support case.

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Addiction Recovery Care enters $16M settlement with DOJ on Medicaid fraud allegations

Addiction Recovery Care, once Kentucky’s largest treatment provider, agreed to pay $16.2 million to settle whistleblower claims of Medicaid billing fraud.

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Hemp industry leaders, Kentucky congressmen seek to delay upcoming product restrictions

With just over 100 days until federal restrictions on hemp products goes into effect, a Kentucky congressman proposed a set of regulations.

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Mitch McConnell’s office releases new photo, statement that he’s still recovering

A statement from Mitch McConnell released by his office says he’s still undergoing “intense physical therapy” and will miss the Fancy Farm political event this Saturday.

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Traditional Appalachian ballads are reimagined in new audio drama, podcast series

A podcast series takes traditional Appalachian ballads about train wrecks and murder and transforms them into radio plays.

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Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking Kentucky voter data

In another loss for the U.S. Department of Justice, a federal judge dismissed their lawsuit attempting to gain access to sensitive Kentucky voter registration information.

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Kentucky Gov. Beshear says he’s found funds to again offset Medicaid cuts

For the third time in as many months, Gov. Andy Beshear said he is undoing a cut to healthcare services using alternate funds.

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Louisville voters got wrong ballots. Kentucky officials say statewide accuracy will take money

Election officials from Kentucky counties and the state say they need more money to increase the technical capacity for voter data verification. After an LPM News investigation, lawmakers say they’re ...

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Former Beshear advisor Rocky Adkins joins 2027 Kentucky governor’s race

Democrat Rocky Adkins, a former state representative and advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, announced he would run for Kentucky governor next year.

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Measles detected in Louisville wastewater, no reported cases

Louisville public health officials say measles was detected in the city’s untreated wastewater between July 6 and July 14, although no cases have yet been reported.

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Renee Shaw, veteran KET public policy journalist, to retire this month

Longtime public policy reporter, producer and moderator Renee Shaw will retire from KET at the end of July.

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A record-shattering $37M was spent on Kentucky’s Massie-Gallrein race. Here’s who funded it

Most of the $37 million spent in the contentious GOP primary between Congressman Thomas Massie and Ed Gallrein was by PACs funded by pro-Trump billionaires, pro-Israel groups and dark money.

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Ghost gun company ordered to pay $104 million in Kentucky case, ‘largest in U.S. history’

After an online ghost gun company failed to appear at its own trial, a Louisville jury awarded a mother $104.2 million in damages.

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Public schools across Kentucky will see changes starting Wednesday

Kentucky’s Republican-controlled General Assembly placed a heavy focus on education this year as they sought to add new student safety measures and target administrators.

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New Kentucky laws take effect today. Here’s 8 you should know about

Lawmakers passed about 200 news laws and resolutions this year. Many of them go into effect Wednesday. Kentucky Public Radio breaks down a few that could have big implications for the state.

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Beshear announces Kentucky budget surplus after projecting shortfall

Gov. Andy Beshear says state tax revenues modestly increased over the last fiscal year, leading the state to pull in $320 million more than projected.

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Kentucky congressman ‘absolutely opposed’ to in-state hyperscale data centers

U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey said he opposes all hyperscale data center construction in the state, including one planned in west Louisville, at a public forum organized by Democratic state lawmakers in L...

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Atomic nightclub on Bardstown Road to reopen Friday with enhanced safety measures

After Louisville officials shut down Atomic in June citing dangerous conditions, the Bardstown Road venue says it will reopen Friday enacting new steps for safety.

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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wants McConnell health update amid questions and rumors

As Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospital stay extends into its fourth week, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear requested an update on the 84-year-old senator’s health.

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Kentucky awarded $1.3B of single-bid asphalt contracts in past 3 years, report shows

A free market think tank found Kentucky awarded $1.3 billion of single-bid road contracts from 2023 to 2025, calling for competitive bidding reform to avoid monopolies.

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