Shepherd Snyder

2 days ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

Kentucky is in the middle of a heat wave as summer begins. Kentucky Utilities is letting people know to conserve energy amid high demand. KU spokesperson Daniel Lowry says the utility is having no problems meeting capacity as its customers use more power. “The system is performing like it should. But obviously we encourage customers to take the steps to reduce their energy usage and help prevent that extra drain and strain on the grid,” Lowry said.

3 days ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

The Lexington city council’s budget committee heard ideas on how to boost the city’s tech industry during a Tuesday meeting. A study from consultant company TEConomy presented to council members says Lexington has a significant talent pipeline from local universities. But, a lot of the city’s biggest tech initiatives are isolated from each other. The study says there’s not much local growth in traditional sectors like IT and computing, but there is a demand for more specialized work.

4 days ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state’s Kentucky’s reported unemployment rate last month has kept stable at 5%. That’s about the same as both last month and around a year ago. Mike Clark is the Director of the University of Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research. He says the state is seeing both more people employed and more people actively looking for jobs, though growth is slowing.

4 days ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

The chemical weapons destruction plant at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond has been slowly scaling back its workforce as it ends operations. More than 900 workers are still on the project, with around half having been hired locally. Depot officials hope they can bring in more jobs after it closes. The U.S. Army has been searching for ways to reuse the land and facilities used for weapons demolition for other means. Some of those proposals have been part of an Army feasibility study.

5 days ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

Around 80 migrant workers were arrested by ICE earlier this week at Louisiana’s Delta Downs racetrack. Members of the horseracing industry say those raids could leave tracks with massive workforce shortages. Those in the horseracing industry say around 75% of people who work on the “backside” of tracks are immigrants. Peter Ecabert is the general legal council for the national Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, a trade association that represents racehorse owners and trainers.