Shepherd Snyder

1 week ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he thinks the contents of a sweeping House budget bill are a “moving target” during an event in Lexington Friday. He thinks much of what’s included could change when it goes to the Senate. The legislation, also known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” includes restrictions to Medicaid and food stamp benefits, scaling back tax credits to clean energy projects and more than $40 billion to fund a wall at the southern border.

1 week ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

The Kentucky Geological Survey is researching how to predict floods and landslides amid more extreme weather statewide. That includes how and why the state’s rivers flood, where flood waters go and how that could affect people and communities. Much of the work is through its CLIMBS project, which works with Kentucky universities. Michael McGlue is the survey’s director. He says much of its work involves creating models and predictions based on past weather events.

1 week ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

The Associated Press reports the U.S. General Services Administration is reversing its decision to not renew leases on more than 30 U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration offices nationwide. The decision to effectively close those offices was directed by the Department of Government Efficiency in an effort to cut federal spending. It would have shut down seven such offices in Kentucky. Bloomberg Law reports offices in Prestonsburg and Beaver Dam are still up for closure.

1 week ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

Fayette County now has a new riverside park open to the public. Lexington purchased the 30-acre area three years ago and has worked to make it usable for public access since. City officials cut the ribbon on Kelley’s Landing Wednesday morning. It’s the county’s first such park with access to the Kentucky River. The city plans to develop the park further based on a community survey. Noa Gimelli is co-chair of the Fund for Greater Lexington, which is investing $175,000 in the park’s master plan.

1 week ago | weku.org | Shepherd Snyder

FEMA is expanding their presence in southern Kentucky following last weekend’s federal disaster declaration. Three disaster recovery centers are now open in the region, including in Laurel, Pulaski and Russell Counties. Tornados killed at least 19 in the towns of London and Somerset earlier this month. The agency has also opened mobile registration intake centers, which are vans or trucks that operate similarly to a full site.