Menu Close

WQXE News

Unemployment rates across Lincoln Trail district see declines

WQXE News 0 Comments

Unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District saw declines in August. 

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says unemployment rates decreased in 119 counties and increased in one when comparing August 2025 with August 2024.

The state unemployment average for August was 4.3 percent. That’s down from both the 5.6 percent average in July as well as the 5.3 percent average reported in August of 2024.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for August was just above the state average at 4.6 percent. That is down from the 5.9 percent rate reported in July and from the 5.4 percent rate from August 2024.

Grayson County posted the highest August unemployment rate in the district at 5.4 percent, followed by Breckinridge County at 5.1 percent. Washington County posted the lowest unemployment rate in the district, and tied for the tenth lowest rate in the state, for August at 3.8 percent, followed by Nelson County at 4 percent.

Learn more about how the unemployment rate is calculated and find more labor market information by visiting kystats.ky.gov.

Drought conditions remain but last week’s rain helped

WQXE News 0 Comments

A rainy week brought some relief to the area, but the National Weather Service says drought conditions remain mostly where they were at the beginning of last week.

According to the NWS, the most recent U.S. Drought Monitor data for the area still has much of the area in either D0 (Abnormally Dry) or D1 (Moderate Drought). Some portions of LaRue and Nelson counties were downgraded to D2 (Severe Drought).

The weather service says below normal rainfall has been experienced across much of the area over the last 30 days, while the area saw above average temperatures for an extended period of time over the last two weeks. Mostly dry weather is in the forecast the rest of this week, although the possible arrival of tropical storms from the Atlantic could bring some moisture mid-week. Rain in the area last week will likely see improved statistics on the drought monitor this week.

Several counties that declared burn bans lifted those bans after the past week. The burn ban in LaRue County remains in effect. Check with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet for more information.

Grant funding for targeting drug trafficking includes local law enforcement

WQXE News 0 Comments

Area law enforcement was included in the latest round of federal funding aimed at fighting drug crimes in the commonwealth.

Governor Andy Beshear on Thursday announced more than $1.4 million had been awarded through the Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. The program allows “Kentucky’s law enforcement agencies, drug task forces, and nonprofit organizations to purchase critical resources, provide drug prevention programming to community residents, offer counseling to crime victims, ensure officers receive specialized training, and work with individuals leaving incarceration for successful reentry skills.”

“Each of these organizations is receiving over $100,000,” said Governor Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. “Thank you to these groups for all they’re doing. With three straight years of declines in overdose deaths, we can finally see real hope, especially after last year where we saw a 30 percent decline. We’re still losing too many people. Each one, a child of God, loved by their family and their friends. Let’s keep working until we end this epidemic that arose in our lifetime, and I think we have an obligation not to leave it to our kids or to our grandkids.”

Included in the latest funding recipients are the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force, which received $196,307, and the Kentucky State Police, which received $333,595.

Learn more about the grant program on the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s website.

Juvenile driver dead after I-65 crash

WQXE News 0 Comments

A collision on Interstate 65 in Hart County Thursday resulted in the death of a driver.

Kentucky State Police Post Three says at approximately 11 a.m. CDT troopers were called to the scene of an accident at the 65.8 mile marker of I-65. The KSP says the preliminary investigation indicates a minivan with a juvenile driver was traveling north on I-65 when the vehicle collided with the rear end of a stopped commercial vehicle. The juvenile driver was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hart County Coroner’s Office.

The KSP’s investigation is ongoing. The collision was part of traffic impacts on I-65 which lasted nearly seven hours.