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Five cases of Legionnaire’s disease reported by Lexington health department
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says it’s seeing an increase in? cases of Legionnaire’s disease, which can be fatal if left untreated.?? An LFCHD spokesperson said the department is reporting five cases, an increase from the normal: zero.? Legionnaire’s is a pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which survives in soil and water, according to the […]
Breaking the stigma: PTSD is complicated — and isolating
This story discusses suicidal ideation and sexual assault. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. If you’ve been sexually assaulted, you can call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network helpline at 800-656-4673 or chat with someone from RAINN online at https://hotline.rainn.org/online.? […]
State moves to help survivors of domestic violence hide addresses
Reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.? Kentucky domestic violence survivors just got a little extra help from the state in staying safe from abusers.? Republican-sponsored Senate Bill 79 passed the General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session and Gov. Andy Beshear signed it into law. ? Called the […]
New Kentucky law decriminalizes HIV self-test distribution
Thanks to a new law that passed this legislative session and went into effect Thursday, a Kentucky coalition began legally distributing HIV self-tests.? The bipartisan House Bill 349 decriminalized the distribution of HIV self tests. It also rendered moot a former rule that made it a felony for people living with HIV to donate organs […]
Federal judge blocks ban on gender-affirming care for Kentucky’s trans kids
A federal judge sided with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Wednesday, temporarily blocking a section of a recently-passed state law that seeks to ban gender-affirming health care for transgender minors.? In his ruling, Judge David J. Hale said, “Based on the evidence submitted, the Court finds that the treatments barred by SB 150 […]
‘Unhealthy’ air from Canadian wildfires blankets Kentucky
Kentucky is under an air quality alert from the Energy and Environment Cabinet as Canadian wildfires left the commonwealth’s skies hazy with smoke.? The Air Quality Index shows much of Kentucky is in the “red” — basically, unhealthy.? The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet says people who have heart or lung disease, older adults and […]
Kentucky sign language interpreters embody others’ words, are servants at heart
Sign language interpreters aren’t quite used to celebrity. The job is usually more behind-the-scenes. Translating a diagnosis at the doctor’s office, standing off to the side of a stage. But the COVID-19 pandemic thrust the late Virginia Moore — and her office, the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) — into […]
Kentucky farmers deal with uncontrollable stressors. This mental health coalition helps.?
This story discusses suicide and mental health among farmers. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also text “KY” to 741741.? A thousand hungry mouths must be fed before farmer Sarah Jones can eat.? Seven days a week — sometimes […]
Kentucky lost hundreds of physicians when it most needed them
The commonwealth lost nearly 600 physicians from 2019 to 2022, Kentucky Medical Association Executive Vice President Patrick Padgett told legislators in Frankfort on Wednesday.? The loss of 590 physicians represents a $1 billion economic loss, Padgett said. It also means?a hit to patient services.? And it happened during the deadly coronavirus pandemic that killed nearly […]
Disparities persist among Kentucky youth in juvenile justice system
Black and multiracial youth in Kentucky are more likely to have complaints brought against them – essentially, police reports – and are disproportionately detained, Kentucky Youth Advocates staff told legislators in Frankfort Tuesday.? Cortney Downs, the chief equity officer for Kentucky Youth Advocates, said to the Juvenile Justice Oversight Council and the Commission on Race […]
University of Kentucky’s $6.8 billion budget is largest ever, driven by health care
The University of Kentucky’s largest ever budget, approved Friday at $6.8 billion, includes a huge chunk dedicated to health care expansion.? Of the budget, almost $4 billion will go back into the university’s health care system. Part of that, UK said, is because of its 2022 acquisition of King’s Daughters hospital in Ashland.? Additionally, UK […]
Kentucky’s juvenile detention system still struggling with ‘critical staffing issues’
FRANKFORT — Despite salary increases, persistent understaffing is forcing a shuffling of Kentucky juveniles being held in detention. The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice plans to move girls from a detention center in Campbell County to one in Boyd County for an estimated 90 days in response to staffing difficulties.? The boys being held in […]