STATE SCHOOLS WEIGHING CDC MASK RECOMMENDATIONS
Kentucky schools reopen in about a month, and many districts are still weighing their options about students, teachers, and staff wearing masks. CDC recommendations say those who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 do not need to wear masks, but those who aren’t fully vaccinated should wear masks indoors. COVID vaccines aren’t approved for children under 12-years-old. The Kentucky Department of Education is encouraging unvaccinated students to wear face masks when school starts this fall. The state says it encourages school districts to follow this guidance. Some parents say they should be making the decision about whether their child should have to mask up. The ultimate decision will lie with officials in each district.
TENNESSEE COVID NUMBERS INCREASE
Health officials yesterday said Tennessee has the largest increase of new COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks of any state in the country. The highly contagious, but at this point less deadly Delta variant is to blame for Tennessee taking the top spot in infections. The state’s vaccination rate is just 38-percent, while over the last two weeks there has been a 400 percent spike in new coronavirus cases. Nearly 670 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Kentucky yesterday along with five additional deaths. Almost 240 people in the commonwealth are hospitalized for COVID-19-related illnesses.
LIBRARY OFFERS BOOK DISCUSSION OPPORTUNITIES
The Calloway County Public Library will offer two Summer After-Hours small group book discussion opportunities featuring Mary Kay Andrew’s new book, “The Newcomer.” The first will be held at 6 pm this coming Monday and the following Monday, July 26, in the main library. The groups will be limited to 10 in each session. Registration is required and is available on the library website. A copy of the title will be placed on hold for registered participants and will be available to pick up 24 hours after registration.
MSU RECEIVES GIFT TO CONTINUE TREVATHAN SCHOLARSHIP
In 1985, Robbie Irvin Trevathan established the Joe Pat and Robbie Trevathan Accounting Scholarship in honor and memory of her late husband, Joe Pat Trevathan, CPA, to assist deserving students pursuing an accounting or accounting and computer science degree at Murray State University. She continued making donations to the fund for nearly 30 years to support students in memory of her husband. In January, she died and left a posthumous gift of $20,000 for the Joe Pat and Robbie Trevathan Accounting Scholarship which is available for students majoring in accounting or accounting and computer science. To make a gift in support of this scholarship, visit murraystate.edu/givenow or call 270-809-3001.
CARROLL TO SEEK ANOTHER TERM
According to the Tribune Courier, Senator Danny Carroll announced his candidacy on Tuesday for re-election to the Kentucky State Senate’s 2nd District which includes Ballard, Carlisle, Marshall and McCracken Counties. He has served in the senate since 2015. Carroll served for 24 years in the Paducah Police Department retiring as Assistant Chief of Police in 2010. He currently serves as President and CEO of Easterseals West Kentucky.
RED CROSS NEEDS BLOOD
The American Red Cross is still experiencing a severe blood shortage. Donors of all blood types, especially type O, and those giving platelets are urged to make an appointment to give. The Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations every day to meet current demand as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas, emergency room visits, organ transplants, and elective surgeries. All who give through July 31 will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and the chance to win gas for a year. Red Cross Blood Drives in Murray are scheduled from 11 am to 4 pm on July 21 at MSU’s Baurenfeind Rec Center and July 23 at Lowes.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
FRANKFORT—Kentucky is seeing a large increase in overdose deaths and national numbers hit record levels. The commonwealth experienced a 50-percent increase in 2020 deaths over 2019. The deaths happened widely across the commonwealth and were not limited to a specific demographic. Nationally, overdose deaths hit a record high 93-thousand in 2020.
WOLFE COUNTY—A Wolfe County deputy is recovering after being shot by his own gun during a struggle with a suspect. Kentucky State Police say Deputy Jacob Holland was pursuing Christopher Whisman when the suspect turned and charged him. Authorities say the two struggled for Holland’s gun when the deputy was shot. Whisman is in custody, and Holland is expected to be okay.
OWENSBORO—Owensboro Family YMCA is shutting down their summer camp temporarily because of a COVID-19 exposure. Camp leaders announced yesterday that the program is closed starting today and will reopen July 24th. Organizers say they are partnering with the Green River Health Department in taking needed safety precautions. Officials say the most frequented areas will undergo a deep cleaning.
STURGIS—The Kentucky bike rally is returning to Sturgis. Gates open this morning for early birds, who can catch Opry Kraw on stage tonight. The rally officially opens tomorrow morning. Last year’s event was canceled because of the pandemic.
FORT CAMPBELL—There are new federal grand jury indictments against three Fort Campbell soldiers accused of operating a gun pipeline from the base to Chicago. In the indictment, prosecutors allege that one of the guns in the pipeline was bought at the Fort Campbell on-base Exchange before being illegally provided to someone else. A trio of soldiers are charged with filing fraudulent federal paperwork to buy guns while claiming they were for their own use. They later allegedly sold the guns in Chicago.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly 820 new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 872-thousand-360. An additional nine COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number of coronavirus-attributed deaths standing at nearly 12-thousand-630. There are over 300 people with COVID-19 hospitalized in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—Employees of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis face termination if they’re not vaccinated against COVID-19. President and CEO Dr. James Downing sent a letter to all employees yesterday outlining the new mandatory vaccine policy. St. Jude employees must be vaccinated by Thursday, September 9th unless exempted by a medical condition or religion.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is warning Tennesseans to keep an eye out for bobcats. Sightings are being reported across the state. The TWRA says mother bobcats are busy this time of year catching food for their new litters. Officials say as long as you keep your distance from the bobcats they shouldn’t bother you.
TENNESSEE—A pair of Tennessee cities are among the 50 most stressed cities in the country. Wallethub says Memphis is the tenth most stressed city in the nation. The report used four key metrics, including work stress, financial stress, family stress, and health and safety stress. Chattanooga was the only other Tennessee city in the top 50 coming in at number 45.
ILLINOIS—The state of Illinois is continuing to offer rental assistance as an eviction moratorium draws to an end. The Illinois Rental Payment Program is accepting applications for its current round of assistance until the end of day Sunday. The state has 500-million dollars available, and applications can be submitted online. Governor J.B. Pritzker’s office announced earlier this year that the moratorium would be phased out during the summer and be lifted in August.
