KENTUCKY TO END BUSINESS CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS ON JUNE 11
Governor Andy Beshear on Friday said Kentucky’s emerging economy is set for liftoff as final capacity restrictions related to COVID-19 will end on June 11. Beshear said the proven effectiveness of vaccinations and expanded vaccine eligibility to include 12 to 15-year-olds is allowing the commonwealth to ease restrictions. The Governor said everyone who is eligible should be able to get the vaccine ahead of June 11. The Governor said a review of COVID-19 data proves the effectiveness of vaccines. Over a two month period, total cases declined 18%, hospitalizations declined 19%, and deaths declined 48%.
CALLOWAY COUNTY COVID REPORT
The Calloway County Health Department reported 1 new case of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the county case total during the pandemic to 3,498. Of that total, 3,434 have recovered, 14 are isolated at home, and 1 is hospitalized. There have been 49 COVID-19 related deaths in the county. As of yesterday, 28.7 percent of Calloway County residents have been fully vaccinated including 65.5% of those 65 and older. As of Sunday, 1,916,501 Kentuckians have been vaccinated for a 43% total, including 80% of those 65 and older. Calloway County’s COVID-19 positivity rate as of Sunday was 1.19%, which is lower than Thursday’s rate of 1.21%.
KENTUCKY COVID REPORT
At Sunday’s COVID-19 update for Kentucky, 287 new cases and 8 new deaths were reported, raising the total to 6,656 Kentuckians who are listed as Covid deaths. As of Sunday, there have been over 6.44 million coronavirus tests performed in Kentucky with a positivity rate of 2.79%, which is lower than last Sunday’s rate of 3.28%. There are 381 Kentuckians hospitalized which is 15 less than last Sunday, including 112 in ICU, which is 2 less than one week ago. At least 52,215 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus.
MAYFIELD MAN ARRESTED AFTER TRAFFIC STOP
A Graves County man with multiple outstanding warrants was arrested Saturday in Mayfield. 33-year-old Christopher Evans was arrested after a traffic stop when it was discovered that he had three active bench warrants out of Warren County. Two of the warrants were for failure to appear on juvenile cases. The third warrant was for failure to appear on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and hitchhiking on limited access facilities. Evans was lodged in the Marshall County Detention Center.
FUGITIVE CAPTURED IN MAYFIELD
Friday afternoon a Mayfield Police officer observed 48-year-old Regina Hayden of Mayfield as a passenger in a vehicle. She was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants. A traffic stop was conducted, and Hayden was taken into custody. Hayden was transported to the Ballard County Jail for three indictment warrants out of Graves County, two bail jumping warrants out of Graves County, and five failure to appear warrants out of Graves County.
WKCTC RECOGNIZES HONORS STUDENTS
West Kentucky Community and Technical College recognized its 2020-2021 honors students during a virtual tribute on Saturday. There were multiple honorees from Calloway County. Pamela Chesser received the Outstanding Nursing Assistant Award, Layla Collier claimed the Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education Academic Excellence Award, Kaylee McCoy received the Secondary Education Award, and Ashley York was the winner of the Practical Nursing Academic Achievement Award. The college produced a tribute video to help recognize the accomplishments of this year’s honors students, as an in-person celebration could not be held due to COVID-19 restrictions.
COMER PUSHES SMALL BUSINESS BILL
On Friday, First District Congressman James Comer and Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas introduced the Save Local Business Act which clarifies the joint employer standard to provide clarity and certainty for small business owners and workers. According to Comer, the actions of unelected bureaucrats on the National Labor Relations Board in recent years has resulted in a dramatic expansion in the definition of a “joint employer,” creating confusing regulations for small businesses across the country. As a result, employers have seen increases in operational and legal costs, less compliance assistance, and fewer opportunities to create jobs. 54 members of the House of Representatives have signed onto Comer’s bill, which will empower job creators to prosper by reducing regulatory headaches. The legislation is supported by numerous groups advocating for small businesses, as a way to ensure economic stability and a swift recovery from COVID-19.
KSP LAUNCHES COVER THE CRUISER FUNDRAISER
Kentucky State Police once again is showing their support of Special Olympics Kentucky by hosting the ‘Cover the Cruiser’ fundraising event at locations across the commonwealth. Starting today, KSP will park cruisers at a variety of public locations and encourages Kentuckians to cover the cruisers with custom SOKY stickers for a minimum donation of one dollar, which will go directly to Special Olympics Kentucky.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
KNOTT COUNTY—Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman is helping raise money for a Kentucky State Police program. She visited Knott County on Saturday. That’s where she participated in KSP’s Shop With a Cop ATV Ride. The money raised will go towards a shopping spree for children in need.
OWENSBORO—An Owensboro family is mourning the death of a toddler. The two year-old girl drowned at Falls of Rough Resort and Golf Course on Friday. The body of Serenity Mansfield was found by a farmer about six-miles downstream from where she’s believed to have fallen into Rough River Lake.
LEXINGTON—The University of Kentucky is celebrating the accomplishments of about 44-hundred graduates. UK grads from the 2020 and 2021 classes participated in ten commencement ceremonies over the weekend. About one-thousand of them participated after having their in-person ceremonies canceled last year over coronavirus concerns. Videos of each of the ceremonies will be posted to the school’s YouTube channel soon.
LOUISVILLE—Hall of fame thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert says he’s sorry for the way he handled the announcement of Medina Spirit’s positive drug test after the Kentucky Derby. Last Sunday, Baffert announced Medina Spirit’s failed drug test but said the colt had never been treated with the drug identified. However, two days later, Baffert said Medina Spirit’s hind end was treated for a skin problem with an ointment that contained a drug that reduces inflammation. In the statement released on Saturday, Baffert said he’s not perfect and called news of the failed drug test a “gut punch.”
TENNESSEE—U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty is asking President Biden to have more urgency in addressing the damaged I-40 bridge in Memphis. Tennessee’s freshman Republican Senator sent a letter to the Biden administration on Saturday saying the shutdown of the bridge over the Mississippi River is having a negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of real people. Senator Hagerty said the situation “demands an urgent, all-hands approach to address the public safety and economic emergency” that’s mounting on the state’s western border.
TENNESSEE—Hamilton County Republican state Representative Mike Carter is being mourned. The 67-year-old died from pancreatic cancer on Saturday night. News of Carter’s death was announced on his Twitter account yesterday morning. The post said Carter died while surrounded by family members.
TENNESSEE—The mask mandate for one Middle Tennessee school district is coming to an end. Leaders for Williamson County Schools said last week that masks will be optional for summer school students. They also said the mask mandate likely won’t be renewed in the fall. They added the number of new COVID-19 cases are falling and more students will be vaccinated by the fall.
TENNESSEE—A country pop singer’s latest video is a shout out to her hometown and high school alma mater. Knoxville native Kelsea Ballerini released the music video for her song half of my hometown late last week. In the video the Central High School grad appears on a football field with the letters CHS at the 50-yard line and she’s seen wearing a cheerleader uniform outside a football stadium with a Central High School Bobcats sign. A Visit Knoxville commercial is also seen playing in the background during the video.
ILLINOIS—It’s tax day in Illinois. Today is the deadline for Illinois’ Earned Income Tax Credit. The Illinois Department of Revenue reports that more than 13-thousand Illinoisans claimed the federal tax credit last year, but failed to claim the state’s version.
