Okay, maybe we got too big for our britches last week when we were sharing positive vibes about the weather. Because we could experience some windy rain and storms this weekend as whatever is left of Hurricane Isaias pushes through the region. Temperatures will be nice, at least. [WxOrNot]
Thousands of local students will get a chance to explore Mammoth Cave National Park up close, thanks to a new grant. The Friends of Mammoth Cave National Park has been awarded a grant from the National Park Foundation. The funding will support in-park field trips, as well as in-classroom and virtual ranger-led programs through the park’s Environmental Education Department. [WBKO]
Earlier this week the Kentucky Office of Education Accountability presented a report to the legislature that reading performance in kindergarten through third grade remained low in 25 school districts. Third grade proficiency declined by more than 5% in about 25% of districts. 53% of teachers said student misbehavior and 51% said lack of parental support were major challenges. Bowling Green Independent had a proficient and distinguished rate in third grade reading of 41%, a decrease of 4%. Warren County had a rate of 49%, a 10% improvement. [PDF Link]
Former State Auditor Mike Harmon has entered the Republican primary for Secretary of State in 2027. Mike Harmon confirmed Oct. 7 he plans to run for the office, currently held by term-limited Republican Michael Adams. Harmon touted his “proven conservative track record” in a release announcing his candidacy, noting he’s served in several elected roles over the years in Kentucky, including auditor, an office he held for two terms between 2016 and 2024. Harmon, you may recall, beat Democrat Adam Edelen by more than 36,000 votes in 2015 and did so as a relative unknown statewide. [Courier-Journal]
Surprise, the Kentucky filming tax credit is essentially a waste of time. Kentucky film credits boost the economy (they do not), officials and film experts say. Not everyone is convinced. Because it’s only a handful of rich people getting sweet tax write-offs that effectively allow them to gamble. This industry isn’t creating permanent work for more than a handful. More people work at your local Walmart than are employed in the industry. [Kentucky Lantern]
Bowling Green’s first ever memorial walk honoring the victims of the AIDS epidemic is coming to Preston Miller Park later this month. Matthew 25 AIDS Services is organizing the walk, a nonprofit organziation that runs clinics and provides support for those affected by HIV and other illnesses. It will take place at Preston Miller on Oct. 31. [BG Daily News]
More than 12,000 Kentuckians registered to vote during the month of September. Net registration increased by 7,323 with 5,057 voters removed from the rolls. 3,626 died, 876 were convicted of felonies, 420 moved away from Kentucky, 39 were ruled “mentally incompetent”, 61 were duplicate registrations and 35 voluntarily de-registered. Republican voters make up 48% of the electorate with 1,626,732. Repubs grew by 2,227 voters, a 0.14% increase. Democratic voters make up 41% with 1,373,500. Dems increased — a major rarity — by 2,486, a 0.18% increase. This is (we think) the first time in years that Dems have outpaced Repubs, as the KDP is consistently losing thousands of voters per month. Independents and “others” constitute 11% of the electorate with 388,992 voters. They jumped 2,610, a 0.68% increase. [Press Release]
From Civil War soldiers walking along the rifle trench to a woman draped in white stalking the Cravens Library, children got to hear about all the paranormal activity on the Hill. Paranormal historian Tamela Smith hosted a Kids Spooky Tales from the Hill night where she told stories of “unexplainable things” on WKU campus at the Lisa Rice Library. Smith was a sergeant with the WKU Police Department where she encountered the paranormal on campus firsthand. [WKU Herald]
Here’s another reminder that the 2026 Fall Fiesta at the Harvest Fest takes place on October 17. Everything goes down at Fountain Square Park from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and it will be the highlight of your month, so you absolutely have to show up. There will be free pumpkins, a gigantic skeleton, a Catrina contest with cool prizes, face painting, food, music and more. This year’s event logo is available on a great t-shirt, FYI, and they’ll have stickers available at the event. And if you’re a vendor or community fixture, you should consider supporting the 501(c)3 non-profit organization behind the event, the Bowling Green Community Development Initiative, started by Jose Gonzalez of Mercadito Hispano. Contributions are tax-deductible. Pro-tip: You can snag a t-shirt before the event. [Fall Fiesta Bowling Green]
It will probably come as a surprise to many of you reading this but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of homeless college students in Kentucky because there is no social safety net in the Commonwealth. If the General Assembly gave a flip, it wouldn’t have made it essentially illegal to sleep in a vehicle in Kentucky. Some college students might be living in cars or on friends’ couches, and homelessness in Kentucky is an issue that deserves the attention of the 2027 General Assembly, House Minority Whip Rep. Joshua Watkins told lawmakers Tuesday. Housing instability can prevent students from enrolling in and completing college, Watkins said. [Herald-Leader]
Fall wildfire hazard season started October 1 and outdoor burning restrictions are in place across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Division of Forestry responds to 850 to 1,000 wildfires annually and nobody wants to deal with that. Kentucky’s outdoor burning law prohibits burning between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time, if the fire is within 150 feet of any woodland, brushland, or fields containing dry grass or other flammable materials. These restrictions are in effect every fall (Oct. 1 – Dec. 15) and spring (Feb. 15 – April 30) to help prevent wildfires. [Press Release]
Lost River Cave’s Scare Crow Trail is open and as creative as always! Katie Cielinski, the director of philanthropy at the cave, says the trail is lined with exhibits that creators spent a lot of time putting together. This yearly event is open to the public until Oct. 25 during normal park hours. [WNKY]
October is has been proclaimed City Government Week in Kentucky. Which makes sense, really, as more than 56% of Kentuckians live within a city and depend upon their city government to provide a variety of services. And since we’re talking city government? Now’s a good reminder to pay attention to everything that’s occurring within your own local government. [Proclamation – PDF Link]
Kentucky Medicaid leaders say it is getting more expensive to run the program, including a small piece of the overall budget: administrative costs. Officials from the Department for Medicaid Services told lawmakers that administrative spending covers staff, major IT systems and basic operations. It accounts for only about one-and-a-half to two percent of total Medicaid dollars. [WKYT]
It’s fair to be skeptical but not doing anything just isn’t an option. Gov. Andy Beshear announced a state of emergency that will allow Kentucky farmers and truck drivers to utilize untaxed or dyed diesel fuel on public roadways. This would provide both industries needed relief as President Donald Trump’s war with Iran drags on. [WDRB-WAVE]
We shared last week that The Capitol Theater downtown is screening Halloween from 1978 and the version from 2018 tonight. The first one runs at 6:30 P.M. and the second runs at 9:00 P.M. But if you need something more kid-friendly and less scary, there’s something cool on Sunday. WKU Public Media presents What’s the Story, Wishbone? at 6:00 P.M. It’s a behind-the-scenes journey into the Emmy-winning PBS series that introduced a generation to classic literature. It’s all free, so go check it all out. [Capitol BG & Sunday Fun]
Did you know the Sky Arts Film Festival is returning for the fifth year? It’s Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th. Tickets are $12.70 for day passes to $18.55 for a weekend pass. The entire event will be a full celebration of everything film in Southern Kentucky. [SAFF]