Covid Update
Over 22-hundred new COVID-19 cases are being reported in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear announced the new cases yesterday, along with four additional deaths. Nearly 940 people in the commonwealth are hospitalized for COVID-19-related illnesses, with almost 110 on ventilators. Over 492-thousand Kentuckians have tested positive for the virus and more than 73-hundred have died since the pandemic began.
More Kentucky Hospitals requiring shots
More than ten Kentucky hospital systems are set to require their workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Governor Andy Beshear said yesterday in his Team Kentucky Update that the facilities’ executives are pledging to require the vaccine for workers as a way of being “committed to the health and safety” of patients and employees. Beshear announced that cases in children under 18 and under 12 are rising quickly across the nation. The commonwealth’s positivity rate is currently above ten-percent.
New Cancer Center Groundbreaking
Murray-Calloway County Hospital recently held the Groundbreaking for the new Regional Cancer Center. Many gathered including cancer survivors, donors, and community members. An official ribbon cutting was held in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce.
The building project will take approximately 18 months and is expected to begin in September. The Center represents a major investment in technology-offering the very latest in cancer treatments. If chemotherapy is required, specialized oncology nurses- under the direction of a medical oncologist- administer treatments in a comfortable, soothing environment. The Cancer Program at Murray-Calloway County Hospital was recently granted a three-year accreditation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).
McConnell/GOP Not Working With Dems on Infrastructure
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says his party will not participate in raising the debt ceiling with Democrats’ “reckless” infrastructure plan. Speaking on the floor, the Kentucky Republican said the Democrats’ plan to push through a separate infrastructure measure is “willfully partisan.” He said if they don’t need Republican input, then McConnell says they won’t get any help pushing through these reckless plans. McConnell said they can raise the debt ceiling, but if it is raised they must own it.
Infrastructure Bill includes New Car Safety Provisions
The 27-hundred page bipartisan infrastructure bill being considered by the Senate currently includes some car safety-related provisions. Among the provisions is a requirement for “advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology” to be standard on all new passenger motor vehicles. That mandate would have a window of five to six years to go into place. It would also require all new cars to have a system that would alert the driver if a child or pet is left in the back seat. This is to prevent deaths from heatstroke, which according to NHTSA data hit a record of 53 per year in 2018 and 2019.
Murray Street Closure
Murray Street Department is closing Princeton Drive between Harvard Drive and Vassar Drive until 3:30pm Friday, Aug. 6, 2021 for repair work
Farmers Market Week
During Farmers’ Markets Week, Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles joined leaders of the Community Farm Alliance (CFA) and other partners to raise awareness of a state program that makes more fresh, local produce available to low-income Kentuckians.
Kentucky Double Dollars doubles federal SNAP, WIC, and senior nutrition benefits at 43 participating farmers’ markets in the commonwealth. This program is a collective effort of CFA, Bluegrass Farm to Table, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), Passport Health Plans, and WellCare Health Plans.
“The Kentucky Double Dollars Program helps achieve one of the key goals of our Hunger Initiative – to make fresh local foods accessible to more Kentucky families,” Commissioner Quarles said. “It also increases sales at Kentucky farmers’ markets, creating new income for producers. During the pandemic, this program was a lifesaver for our farmers and low-income Kentuckians. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
Commissioner Quarles and representatives of the other partner organizations had a news conferences in Versailles Wednesday to talk about the Double Dollars program and the impact of farmers’ markets in urban as well as rural communities.
“When Kentuckians use the Double Dollars program at their local farmers’ markets, they can double the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables for their families. The program provides better, fresher food — and more of it — while supporting our local communities,” said Joshua Sloop, President and CEO for WellCare of Kentucky. “Making nutritious food more accessible is an important step in supporting Kentucky families with healthier options, which can lead to a healthier lifestyle and better health outcomes.”
“To be the healthiest version of themselves, our members and neighbors in Kentucky need easy access to fresh, healthy food,” said Ryan Sadler, plan president of Passport Health Plan by Molina Healthcare. “Passport is proud to sponsor this program as part of 2021 National Farmers’ Market Week. We greatly appreciate our local farmers and all they do to assist families by offering healthy food options for citizens across the commonwealth.”
“Farmers’ Markets are important because they are a place of local food access, economic development and community connection,” said Jann Knappage, farmer and CFA Board Chair. “They are the meeting point of all things that make a county/city vibrant and a truly wonderful place to live.”
Commissioner Quarles launched the Hunger Initiative in 2016 to bring together farmers, charitable organizations, faith groups, community leaders, educators, and government entities to look for ways to reduce hunger in Kentucky. To find out more about the Hunger Initiative, go to kyagr.com/hunger.
