At right, Marion Mayor D'Anna Browning adds a pinwheel to a row placed by representatives
during the annual April event.
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Copyright 2024
The Crittenden Press
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By Sen. Jason Howell
Collaborating closely with our colleagues in the House of Representatives, we’ve successfully crafted and passed a comprehensive biennial budget that places vital investments in education, public safety, and economic development at the forefront of our priorities.
A notable addition by the Senate to House Bill (HB) 1 leveraged Kentucky’s $3.7 billion budget reserve trust fund to fuel infrastructure enhancements and ignite economic growth. This legislation proposes injecting over $2.7 billion from the trust fund into Kentucky’s infrastructure over three fiscal years. Notably, it authorizes the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to allocate $250 million in 2024 and $200 million in 2025 from the trust fund to the road fund, bolstering projects aimed at fostering industrial growth, economic development, and enhancing quality of life, particularly in counties poised for significant population growth.
In our commitment to enhancing education, we have significantly boosted funding through the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) formula. By doing so, we are ensuring that every child in Kentucky has access to a quality education, regardless of their ZIP code. Specifically, we have increased the SEEK per-pupil base guarantee to $4,326 in FY 25 and to $4,586 in FY 26, representing a 3 percent increase from the FY 24 base amount of $4,200 and a 6 percent increase from the FY 25 amount of $4,326.
We are also making important strides in improving public safety. Through measures like HB 5, the “Safer Kentucky Act,” and Senate Bill (SB) 2, we are taking concrete steps to better protect our communities and support our youth.
SB 2 aims to fortify safety measures, promote trauma-informed care, and enhance mental health support in Kentucky schools through the introduction of the Kentucky Guardian program. Meanwhile, HB 5, targets repeat violent offenders, cracking down on crime at various levels and modernizing outdated criminal statutes. This comprehensive approach seeks to bolster public safety and strengthen community resilience.
Among the bills supporting our transportation infrastructure are HB 265, HB 266, and House Joint Resolution (HJR) 92.
HB 265, the Transportation Operating Budget, allocates $7.2 billion across FY 25 and 26, including
For the third time in his tenure, Kentucky athletics director Mitch Barnhart will be looking for a men’s basketball coach.
John Calipari resigned Tuesday after 15 seasons as coach of the Wildcats and a likely head coaching position at Arkansas. The move comes 39 years after the late Eddie Sutton left Arkansas to replace late Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall.
Now that Arkansas has its likely replacement for Eric Musselman, who left for USC last Friday, the search is on at Kentucky and what will Mitch Barnhart be looking for in his next basketball coach? It’s the same qualities he has in the coaches in all sports at Kentucky.
“My expectations are high for everybody,” Barnhart said recently. “If you know me long enough, have I ever not wanted to win something? No. I'm pretty stinkin' competitive guy. I want to win and I want (our student-athletes) to compete and (get an education).”
He also is high on academics and the success of Kentucky’s student-athletes in the classroom.
FOR THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE Visit Kentucky Today.
Grand Ole Opry legend Jeannie Seely, a CMA and GRAMMY® award-winning artist and on-air personality on Sirius XM Willie’s Roadhouse is the producer on their new music project. She first saw the young boys when they were in the front row of one of her Opry performances in 2018, Years later meeting them at the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree. Seely since befriended them and has been working with them
Crittenden County High School's Site based council will hold a special meeting at 3:30 p.m., Wednesday in the Rocket Arena conference room for the purpose of principal selection training.
The regular monthly meeting of the SBDM will be at 3:30 p.m., Thursday in the school library.A job fair conducted by representatives of the West Kentucky Investment Board will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday, April 12 at the Crittenden County Public Library.
Companies actively seeking employees will be present or provide information and/or training information. Representatives from Marion, Madisonville, Salem as well as the Kentucky Division of Forestry and U.S. Coast Guardwill be present.
Material from businesses unable to attend the event will be left at the library.
Anyone who cannot attend April 12 event can pick it up at the library in days following.
Local companies unable to attend but want to supply information can contact Fred Stubblefield at (270) 832-5730.
A couple hundred people were present to watch the eclipse.
People from various states were there, including Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina.
Crittenden County Chamber of Commerce is having an Eclipse Viewing Party today at Marion-Crittenden County Park.
The solar eclipse will reach its peak darkness here around 2 p.m. The Chamber has marketed the event on social media, particularly aiming toward non-residents. However, it’s open to everyone. Vendors are welcome to participate by contacting the chamber. This is a free event.
The eclipse will pass over North America with almost 32 million Americans living in its path. It marks the last total solar eclipse visible in the US for the next 20 years.
Onlookers are urged to wear eclipse glasses, which are at least 1,000 times darker than sunglasses, to protect their eyesight.
National news organizations are reporting that Coach John Calipari is in negotiations with Arkansas and will be leaving Kentucky.
Reports began surfacing on Sunday that Arkansas has been in discussions with Calipari about its opening. ESPN is among the sports news agencies citing anonymous sources that Calipari is finalizing a five-year deal with the SEC school.
Calipari, 65, has spent the last 15 seasons at Kentucky.
Despite its No. 3 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats had an early exit with an 80-76 loss to No. 14 Oakland in the first round. Two years ago, UK was upset as a No. 2 seed by No. 15 Saint Peters in an NCAA opener. For those and other reasons, many Wildcats fans have been calling for a change.
A public meeting will be held at 12:30 p..m., Wednesday, April 10 at city hall for the purpose of providing general information on the project. The public is invited to attend and comment on issues such as economic and environmental impacts and alternatives to the project or any other pertinent issues. Additionally, anyone wishing to submit comments may also do so by emailing Layten Croft at lcroft@marionky.gov up until the time of the hearing.
Kentucky Family Caregiver Program (KFCP) provides resources and support to grandparents raising grandchildren in the Pennyrile region. The Kentucky Caregiver program does have a low-income requirement and an age maximum of 18 for the grandchildren served.
There are over 51,000 grandparents raising grandchildren in the state of Kentucky. The KFCP can provide assistance up to $500 per grandchild per fiscal year to assist with items such as clothing, personal care items, school supplies and furniture for the grandchild.
This program also assists grandparents who are looking for help with educational needs, legal services, medical/dental services and/or respite for grandchildren. If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more about the Kentucky Family Caregiver Program or would like to apply, contact the Pennyrile Area Development District office at 866-844-4396 or email program coordinators Christi Combs at Christi.combs@ky.gov or Miranda White at Miranda.white@ky.gov.
A special election was necessitated when Livingston County's judge-executive resigned in January. An interim judge was appointed weeks later.
In this week's Crittenden Press, see who will be on the ballot for judge-executive in Livingston County on Nov. 5.