AG CAMERON CHALLENGES MASK MANDATE
Attorney General Daniel Cameron is challenging Governor Andy Beshear’s executive order mandating masks in all Kentucky schools. Cameron released a statement yesterday saying the governor had ignored the law when issuing the order. The attorney general has filed a response to the governor’s mandate with the Kentucky Supreme Court, arguing that Beshear overstepped his authority. The state Supreme Court is scheduled to meet on August 26, but it is unknown whether or not that will address the issue at that time.
CCHD REVISES COVID NUMBERS; ONE NEW DEATH REPORTED
The Calloway County Health Department yesterday corrected the reported 67 new cases COVID-19 from Saturday through Tuesday. The correct number was 69 cases during the period. Due to a scheduling conflict, there were no new case numbers released yesterday, but one additional covid-related death was reported. The county currently has 160 cases isolated at home and 11 are hospitalized. Calloway County’s current positivity rate is 13.3% which is higher than the state rate of 11.2%. Yesterday, the state reported 2,961 new cases and 14 new deaths. There were 1,327 hospitalized as of yesterday, which is 437 more than last Monday, including 363 in ICU, which is 88 higher than a week ago.
CITY COUNCIL TO HEAR COVID UPDATE FROM MAYOR
The Murray City Council will meet in regular session tonight. The Council will get a Covid Update from Mayor Bob Rogers and a Wayfinding Signage Update from Dannetta Clayton. The Council will also consider a Cross Street bid and a Vacuum Excavator Trailer bid. Also on the agenda is a Municipal Order reappointing a member to the Electric Plant Board and a Municipal Order for an Appointment to the Senior Citizens Board. The Council will enter Executive Session for the purpose of deliberations on the future acquisition or sale of real property. Tonight’s meeting begins at 6:30 in the Council Chambers of Murray City Hall.
CALLOWAY SCHOOL BOARD MEETS TONIGHT
The Calloway County School Board will meet tonight in regular session. The board will recognize KASA District Administrator of the Year, Tawnya Hunter. Among the many items on the agenda, the Board will also review fees for the Auxiliary Gym Project, an HVAC Project, invoices for football and basketball scoreboards, and the school district back to school plan. The meeting begins at 6 this evening at the board office on College Farm Road.
PADUCAH MAYOR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY
A rise in COVID cases has prompted Paducah’s mayor to declare a state of emergency in the city. That order will require everyone regardless of vaccination status to wear masks in city office buildings as of yesterday. McCracken County has 278 active COVID cases. Mayor George Bray says employees will be allowed to remove their masks at their workstations but must maintain appropriate social distancing.
IN AND AROUND KENTUCKY
LEXINGTON—Fayette County Public Schools is starting off the school year with bus route cancellations. A spokesperson for the district says several bus drivers called in sick yesterday, leading officials to cancel four bus routes for today. The district is facing a bus driver shortage with at least 25 openings ahead of the first day of school. District officials are suggesting families have arrangements in place in case routes are canceled.
MUHLENBERG COUNTY—A trio of new sculptures will greet visitors to Muhlenberg County’s Lake Malone State Park. The Big Twig statues were unveiled yesterday morning in a ceremony. Happy Malone is placed at a campsite, Bobber Malone oversees lakeside fishing, while Oakley Malone is located on the park’s hiking trail. The sculptures were created by artist Steve Brauch of Brainchild Creative, and funded by a grant from the Felix E. Martin Jr. Foundation and other area contributors.
LOUISVILLE—Kentucky’s law enforcement community is coming together in a show of support for a murdered Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy. Law enforcement formed a sea of blue, escorting Deputy Brandon Shirley from his funeral at Southeast Christian Church to Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville yesterday. Thousands of people attended the service, many waiting with flags and signs of gratitude for his service. Louisville police say Deputy Shirley was killed in a targeted ambush while he was working an off-duty security job at a used car lot last Thursday morning.
FORT CAMPBELL—Fort Campbell is being honored. Fort Campbell received the 2021 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence yesterday at the 101st Airborne Division headquarters. It’s the highest honor among Army garrisons. Department of Defense officials awarded the honor virtually.
OWENSBORO—The Glover Cary “Blue” Bridge over the Ohio River in Owensboro is closing to traffic this week. Today through Sunday the bridge will close for hours at a time for the Owensboro Air Show and practice sessions. Today’s five-hour closure will run from Noon to 5 o’clock.
OWENSBORO—The Owensboro Air Show starts tomorrow. The performance lineup for the show includes a number of war planes. The F-22 Demo Team and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are both expected to perform. The air show will wrap up on Sunday.
TENNESSEE—There are nearly 41-hundred new coronavirus cases in Tennessee. The Tennessee Department of Health reported the new cases yesterday, bringing the total since the outbreak began to over 931-thousand-100. An additional seven COVID-19-related deaths were also reported, with the total number standing at nearly 12-thousand-900. There are over 19-hundred COVID-19 hospitalizations in Tennessee.
TENNESSEE—Tennessee’s House Speaker is calling for a special session of the General Assembly. Republican Cameron Sexton sent a letter to Governor Bill Lee yesterday asking him to convene the special session. The letter says a special session is needed so state representatives can address “misdirected and mandated responses to COVID-19 by local entities and officials.” Over 70 legislative leaders have signed the request for a special session.
TENNESSEE—The mayor of a Mid-State county is offering religious exemptions to a school board’s mask mandate in a neighboring county. The Williamson County school board issued a mask requirement for elementary schools on Tuesday night. In a post to social media, Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles told Williamson County parents he would “gladly sign” their children’s religious exemption for mandatory masks in school. Ogles says mask and vaccine requirements are a violation of religious rights and he’s had some pastors tell him they’re willing to meet with anyone who needs them to sign off on their beliefs.
TENNESSEE—Tyson Foods employees in Tennessee are fighting back against the company’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Some protested across the street from the Newbern plant in West Tennessee yesterday. Earlier this month, Tyson Foods said all employees across the country must be fully vaccinated by November 1st. Employees say they shouldn’t have to decide between their beliefs and their jobs, though Tyson says some exemptions will be made for religious and medical reasons.
TENNESSEE—The Tennessee State Fair looks different this year. The Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair is being held at the James E. Ward Agricultural Center in Lebanon. The partnership was needed due to the redevelopment of The Fairgrounds Nashville. The fair starts today and will be held through August 21st.
ILLINOIS— The Illinois Department fo Public Health is launching a COVID-19 vaccination verification portal. The portal will allow Illinois residents 18-years old and up to access their COVID-19 vaccination records. Officials say the system follows best practices to protect confidential health information. Those accessing the Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange must verify their identity first. Only the individual will be able to access their vaccination status.
