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Voter registration for independent or other continues to increase

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Voter registration in Kentucky in May saw continued growth for the number of independent or other voters. 

The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says for the third straight month new registration for independent or other voters outpaced registration for Republican and Democratic voters.

Independent or other party registration increased by 1,352 voters in May. Republican registration increased by 1,026 voters, while Democratic registration fell by 838. Republican registration makes up 47 percent of the state electorate, Democratic registration makes up 42 percent, and independent or other party registration makes up 11 percent.

The Secretary of State’s Office says 4,157 voters were removed from the rolls in May. 3,173 were deceased, 440 moved out of state, and 402 were convicted felons.

Kentuckians can register to vote or check their registration status by visiting govote.ky.gov, or by contacting their county clerk’s office.

Summer Reading Program under way at Hardin County Public Library

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The Hardin County Public Library invites kids, teens, and adults alike to participate in their 2025 Summer Reading Program, which runs now through July 26.

The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program is “Color Our World”, which focuses on the arts.

“I’m offering on Mondays a lot of artistic programs,” said HCPL Children’s Librarian Amy Rivera. “Some of them are going to use paint sticks, and so we’re going to paint a birch forest with a lot of colorful leaves. The following week we’ll be painting. It’s called Paint Like Monet. We’re going to paint one of his sunsets with a silhouette of a lot of buildings.”

That’s HCPL Children’s Librarian Amy Rivera. These activities supplement the goal of the Summer Reading Program, which Rivera says is “to encourage literacy and to keep kids thinking, to keep their minds thinking about subjects so that they don’t go back to school having at least completely forgotten everything they learned.”

Families can stop by the library to pick up reading logs for the program.

“They will complete sections of their reading log to get tickets for the weekly prize, which each week we’re having a giveaway of a nice big art set, so eight different art sets over the course of the summer,” Rivera said.

Kids who complete the reading log will be entered for the grand prize drawing. Separate logs are available for teens and adults, with prizes and entries in the grand prize drawing for those programs available.

Stop by the library, located at 100 Jim Owen Drive in Elizabethtown, or visit hcpl.info for more information.

Be safe around the grill when cooking out this summer

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Summertime is in full swing, so as the temperature gets hot make sure things don’t get too hot as you take steps to practice summer fire safety.

Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane said make sure to take precautions when you bring out the grill for a cookout.

“If you are going to use your grill, make sure you’re at least 10 feet away from your house, your overhangs, anything like that,” Crane said. “Do not use your grill in a garage or an enclosed area, whether it’s a gas or charcoal grill, because it will build up carbon monoxide.”

Similar to cooking in the kitchen, keep a safety area around your grill, and be mindful of children and pets.

Make sure everything is in working order before getting started.

“If it’s a gas grill, check for gas leaks,” Crane said. “You can take a soapy water solution and spray around the connections and the hoses. Make sure the hoses haven’t dried out. Make sure your connections are good. If you turn it on and you hear a loud hissing sound or any loud strange noises, go ahead and turn it off and just check and see what’s going on.”

And make sure you take the proper precautions when you are done.

“When you’re getting ready to put it up, just make sure that everything’s turned off, everything’s good,” Crane said. “Make sure you clean your grill periodically. Grease can build up on your grill and has the potential for a flash fire there.”

With charcoal grills, make sure you are using proper materials, and make sure you are disposing of ashes properly when they are fully cooled.

Deadline for Disaster Unemployment Assistance extended

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The deadline for Kentuckians impacted by April storms and flooding to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance has been extended. 

The registration deadline for disaster survivors in all counties designated for Individual Assistance has been extended to until July 25. This includes Kentuckians living or working in Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, LaRue, Meade, and Nelson counties.

According to a release from the governor’s office, “In order to qualify for DUA benefits, claimants in eligible counties must show that their employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted as a direct result of the disaster and that they are not otherwise eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits under state or federal law.” Farmers and self-employed individuals who are usually not eligible for unemployment may qualify for DUA benefits.

Affected individuals should visit the Kentucky Career Center’s website at kcc.ky.gov or call the career center at 502-564-2900 to file their initial claim. Benefits are available for up to 29 weeks, between April 6 and October 25.

The governor’s office said in the release that the state is still waiting for approval from the White House on its request for Public Assistance, which would make funding available for repairs to public infrastructure damaged by the storms and flooding such as roads and bridges.