It’s hotter than blue blazes and it’s not gonna cool off enough to feel good for a while. It might storm, it might not. All we know is air conditioning is the most important invention ever. Amen. No, we’re not joking. It’s so good it’s worth praying for and in a non-ironic way. [YouTube]
What are you doing tonight in this sticky devil heat? You’re going to The Capitol downtown to see Jaws at 7:00 P.M. You should also go see Blade Runner (2:00 & 6:30!) on Monday, Zathura on Tuesday and Event Horizon on Thursday. They’re free. If your kids are old enough to handle Shark Week, they’re gonna love Jaws. [The Capitol]
Contrary to the narrative being pushed by a certain someone in Frankfort, things aren’t so rosy at the moment and unemployment rose in 95 of Kentucky’s 120 counties from May 2025 to May 2026. It fell in 17 counties and remained the same in eight. The highs: Martin 9.8%, Wolfe 8.5%, Lewis 8.1%, Magoffin 7.9%, Elliott 7.8%, Jackson 7.6%, Lawrence and Pike 6.9%, Carter and Wayne 6.8%. The lows: Woodford 3.7%; Fayette, Scott and Todd 4%; Boone, Campbell, Cumberland, Franklin, Kenton and Oldham 4.1%. [Press Release]
Can you imagine how nice it would be if Gray Media employees actually wrote their stories instead of relying upon AI to slop things up for stories this important? First responders at the Med Center are urging people to take extreme heat conditions seriously, warning that heat-related illness can come on quickly — especially for children, the elderly, and those who work outdoors. Casey McCoy, a clinical educator with Med Center EMS, said there are key signs to watch for. [WBKO]
Yeah, they’re set to pay millions… instead of the literal billions they owe Kentuckians and Kentucky retirees. While lawsuits pushing for action over failed investments by hedge funds entrusted with Kentucky pension funds continue, one investor is set to pay millions to the commonwealth to settle its claims with the state. [Courier-Journal]
To join in the commemoration of the country’s 250th birthday, the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center will host a “Star-Spangled Spectacular: Celebrating 250 Years of America” concert during Independence Day weekend. The approximately 90-minute patriotic concert, which is sponsored by the Natcher family, will feature Orchestra Kentucky and the Orchestra Kentucky Chorale, along with guest vocalist Steve Amerson. [BG Daily News]
On July 3, the sky over Ephram White Park will be lit with fireworks from the annual Hayward Minton Thunderfest Fireworks Show and Music Festival. In its 55th year, Thunderfest has gone beyond being one of South Central Kentucky’s premier fireworks shows. Alongside providing family-friendly fun, it serves as the biggest fundraiser for its organizer, the Kiwanis Club. [WKU Herald]
Imagine being governor and consistently having one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation while hemorrhaging thousands of jobs month after month. Extreme brain drain, major companies fleeing, Medicaid collapse, SNAP nightmare, massive school districts fracturing into financial ruin. Now imagine you’re trying to run for president and need to convince people you’re a legendary job creator when you’re nothing of the sort. What do you do? You issue daily press releases claiming everything is stellar with your state’s economy. Here’s an opener from a recent press release from the governor’s office: “The commonwealth continues to make waves for its record economic momentum as Gov. Andy Beshear announced [June 23] that industry publication Area Development has issued Kentucky its Silver Shovel Award for the second year in a row…” See what we mean? They must be using that silver shovel to bury everything that’s actually happening. It works because people think he’s just a nice guy on television and the leadership bar is so unbelievably low. [Press Release]
As Kentucky continues to grapple with opioid overdoses and addiction treatment, more than 90% of opioid abatement grant funds awarded to combat the drug epidemic and support recovery remain unused, according to a new report from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. As of June 2025, more than $94.5 million in opioid settlement funds were granted across Kentucky’s 120 counties, and another $28 million to 149 cities, according to the report released Tuesday by the Berea-based research and advocacy group. [Herald-Leader]
It was a big day for a big landmark here in south-central Kentucky. Mammoth Cave National Park celebrated its 85th anniversary as a national park Wednesday with a birthday cake and a look back at its rich history. Visitors not only escaped the summer heat inside the cave but also experienced living history demonstrations showcasing what life was like when Mammoth Cave became a popular tourist destination in the 1800s. [WNKY]
Well, that’s one way to report what happened while ignoring the impact this is about to have on the most vulnerable Kentuckians. It’s what we call lazy journalism or stenography, if we’re being honest. A new hire using AI to turn a press release into news. The real story: The people most in need of Medicaid coverage are losing it and it’s going to be exponentially harder to access it. People will die. This isn’t a liberal or conservative issue, it’s a humanity issue. [WKYT]
If you want fireworks this weekend, you should stick to organized events so your neighbors don’t hate you. So get thee to Thunderfest! Fireworks and music? And it’s just $25 per carload? Sign us up. [Visit BG]
If that’s not enough, you could also go check out what the BG Hot Rods have going on with tons of fireworks and food. It’s $15 for general admission and $25 for something called “Performance Club Access” – no clue if that involves air conditioning. [More Visit BG]
The reporter behind this has quite a history with law enforcement but the series is probably still worth a watch – especially with KSP being all over BG lately, chasing children from house parties. The six-part series, “The Gray Gods,” documents a series of violent encounters between Kentucky State Troopers and civilians. Utilizing previously unreleased videos and exclusive interviews, the series explores allegations of excessive force and misconduct by specific Kentucky State Police Troopers. [WAVE3]
Want to hear from the champions of the 2026 Pickens Amateur Championship? Following an exciting weekend at Crosswinds Golf Course, we caught up with some of the winners to hear about their performances, key moments, and what the victory means to them. [YouTube]