Here’s all you need to know about the weather: It’s gonna be dry all weekend, even if it’s a little warm and a little humid, so you should get outside to do stuff. We can’t even ruin this with meemaw or wig jokes this week because we’re so excited about it all. There’s also a passing front coming on Saturday that could mean a few storms but that should be easy to deal with. [WxOrNot]
There is a special place just down I-65 in Horse Cave, Kentucky, that’s a wonder; it’s Kentucky Down Under. It’s a place where you can get up close, feed, and pet many of the animals. KDU is the perfect place for a family to go for a fun, educational summer day trip where you can learn a little bit about the animals you’ll find in Australia. [WBKO]
The 2026 Friends of the Library Used Book Sale is coming soon! That’s right, meemaw (guys can be meemaws, too, we don’t discriminate), the WCFOL used book sale is nigh. Takes place at the Bob Kirby branch at 175 Iron Skillet Ct. The members-only preview will take place Thursday, September 17 from 4-8. Then the members sale will take place from 9-5 on Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19. Bag Day (meaning you can take a bag with you for large purchases) is Sunday, September 20 — 1-2 for members only, 2-5 for the general public. [WCPL]
More than 17,000 entries make up the 2026 Kentucky State Fair – from giant pumpkins to miniatures. The 122nd annual Kentucky State Fair, which runs Aug. 20-30, offers no shortage of things to see and do, from a ride-packed midway and a lineup of free concerts to halls full of livestock, handicrafts, foods and more. [Courier-Journal]
State government released it’s July 2026 “seasonally adjusted” (sugar-coated) unemployment data and the rate sat at 4.7%. Kentucky’s labor force was 2,103,837 in July, up 6,183 from June. The number of people employed was 2,004,231, up 4,760 from June. 99,606 people were unemployed, up 1,423 from June. Nonfarm employment dropped 2,600. Manufacturing down 3,000. Educational services down 300. Wholesale trade down 300. Trade, transportation and utilities down 1,600. Professional and business services down 2,600. Construction down 500. Leisure and hospitality down 2,700 from last year. [Press Release]
See? You’ve absolutely gotta pay attention to local government. Bowling Green city commissioners will vote on a first reading of the city’s 2026 property tax rate on Sept. 1, after a proposed rate of $0.203 per $100 for real property was presented to officials Tuesday night. If the proposed rate is approved, property taxes paid by residents in the city would remain at the same $203 per $100,000 of assessed value that was set last year. [BG Daily News]
WKU faculty and staff celebrated the university’s accomplishments and future goals at the annual Convocation Monday morning in Van Meter Hall — including plans for implementing WKU’s first doctoral program. WKU President Timothy Caboni said WKU continues to make significant progress toward becoming Kentucky’s first Carnegie Classified Research 2 Institution — with the university’s first proposed doctoral program targeted to launch in fall 2027. Despite federal funding cuts, Caboni said he is confident WKU will remain above the requirements for its R2 status. [WKU Herald]
Life gets tough and everybody needs a laugh on a regular basis. So check out these two funny events this week. Saturday at One Roof, two showtimes, go see Greg Hall, a musical comic at an event hosted by Drew Davis. If you check out that early show, you’ll be able to stop by Bluegrass Vineyard for Comedy Night featuring headliner Mike Fields. [Visit BG & More Visit BG]
Just when you think WKU leadership can’t step in something else, they fall into a sinkhole. Western Kentucky University said it froze a privately-funded scholarship honoring a beloved former professor in 2025 because the university believed it violated a state law targeting diversity, equity and inclusion at universities. WKU froze the Ed Bohlander Scholarship Fund last year, named for late professor Ed Bohlander, because officials believed it violated House Bill 4 (DEI bill) but it didn’t. [Herald-Leader]
Here’s looking at you, Bowling Green and Warren County. An Ohio County city is ending a partnership with Flock Safety. According to a social media announcement, the City of Hartford and the Hartford Police Department have ended their partnership with Flock Safety. [WNKY]
We write about it all the time but here’s a big round-up of several great movies you should check out. Bowling Green’s oldest (to our knowledge) theater is on the square, it’s free, and it’s about to have the best end of summer run it’s had in years. [BLBG]
Everybody loves some good copaganda, right? Here’s what got pumped out during the initial Flock freakout in Kentucky media this past week. After a multi-agency investigation, stolen vehicles were recovered in Hardin County following a fraud scheme targeting a Lexington car dealership. According to Elizabethtown Police Department Public Affairs Officer Chris Denham, the incident began on the evening of Friday, August 14, when automated Flock license plate readers flagged several stolen vehicles. [WAVE3]
As severe storms and a confirmed tornado moved through western Kentucky early Thursday morning, another natural phenomenon was detected nearby: an earthquake. A magnitude 2.3 earthquake was detected in the region as a line of severe thunderstorms moved through western Kentucky, according to FOX 17 News Meteorologist Greg Bobos. [FOX17]
Yep, it’s us telling you to do your best to stay informed about what’s happening with your local government at all times. Here’s your next best chance: watch or listen to the August 18, 2026 Board of Commissioners meeting. Just turn it on and let it play in the background while you work. [YouTube]