Economy
VP Kamala Harris unveils new wage rule for federal projects
Construction workers who work on federal projects are poised to receive better wages and worker protections under a Department of Labor rule touted by Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday. Speaking at a union hall in Philadelphia, Harris praised the Biden administration’s economic agenda and pointed out that the new rule would be the first […]
Kentucky’s ‘rainy day’ fund reaches new heights due to tax revenue surplus
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s budget reserve trust fund, commonly known as the “rainy day” fund, now sits at more than $3.7 billion in large part due to record tax revenues brought in by the state during the last fiscal year.? State Budget Director John Hicks told state lawmakers at an interim committee meeting Wednesday the budget […]
Segregated Lexington: Then and what now?
LEXINGTON — On Friday, May 17, 1907, the Lexington Leader ran an ad promoting a new subdivision. “Mentelle Park is the only perfectly appointed and finished residence park ever attempted in Lexington,” it proclaimed.? The joys of the park were extolled: ?“model macadam roads … streets curbed with Bedford stone … splendid forest and shade […]
$1 billion solar project planned on former Starfire coal mine in Eastern Kentucky
KNOTT COUNTY — It was a little over five years ago when Philip Marsh looked over the thousands of acres of reclaimed strip mine land he owned near the Knott County line and wouldn’t have a clue what would come of it. The Eastern Kentucky mountaintops that Marsh owned, now pastures after decades of coal […]
Teamsters-UPS reach ‘game-changing’ labor deal to avert strike
UPS and its workers, represented by the Teamsters, reached a tentative deal on Tuesday to prevent an Aug. 1 strike of 340,000 union members at the package carrier. A work stoppage could have cost the U.S. economy billions by disrupting supply chains and upending distribution to both large and small businesses, hospitals and homes. Representatives […]
More help for undergrads’ basic, child care needs could up Kentuckians’ earning power
Kentuckians need better access to child care and basic needs like food and housing to ensure higher postsecondary degree attainment, a statewide report released Monday says.? The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, with funding support from the Lumina Foundation, released the 2023 Strategies and Recommendations to Address Students’ Basic Needs. The report is the result […]
AppHarvest files for bankruptcy, will seek to transfer Berea operations to business partner
Kentucky-based agricultural technology company AppHarvest filed for bankruptcy amid doubts about the business’ future.?? The company, which has built some of the world’s largest indoor farms, announced plans Monday morning for “a financial and operational transition” that includes filing for bankruptcy. Recent media reports have highlighted turmoil associated with the company, such as a lease […]
A ‘she-cession’ no more: After COVID dip, women’s employment hits all-time high
After fears of a “she-cession” during the pandemic, women have returned to the workforce at unprecedented rates. Much of the gain reflects a boom in jobs traditionally held by women, including nursing and teaching.? Many good-paying jobs in fields such as construction and tech management are still dominated by men, a continuing challenge for states […]
More than 11,000 Kentuckians eligible for student debt relief
More than 11,000 student loan borrowers in Kentucky are eligible for automatic relief from almost a half-billion in debt under a plan announced last week by the Biden administration.? A news release from the U.S. Department of Education says the debt discharges are part of a “commitment to address historical failures in the administration” of […]
Heavy rainfall inundates West Kentucky, spurring flood ’emergencies’ and water rescues
Several counties in West Kentucky are under flash flood emergencies after at least four to eight inches of rain — some areas seeing higher amounts — have fallen in the region in the past 24 hours.? The National Weather Service in Paducah said Wednesday morning water rescues were taking place in some areas due to […]
At UPS Worldport, union members rally — and worry — ahead of threatened strike
LOUISVILLE — It’s been more than 25 years since Gilbert Pendleton, 62, was on the picket line with his local Teamsters union in Louisville, a time before online commerce and deliveries had changed the world.? In 1997, when some 185,000 Teamsters went on strike in a fight to make more full-time jobs available and keep […]
Kentucky awards more than $1 million in matching grants to nine tech companies
Kentucky has awarded almost $1.1 million in grants to nine tech businesses. The state funding will match, in part, $7.45 million in federal grants the businesses will collectively receive, according to a release from Gov. Andy Beshear’s office. The funding comes through Kentucky’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Matching […]