WQXE News

Voter registration in Kentucky in April was described as “flat.”

The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says 5,423 new voter registrations were logged in April, while 4,824 voters were removed, a net gain of only 599 voters.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, of the registrations that were removed from the rolls 3,279 were for deceased voters, 620 were for felony convicts, and 487 moved out of state.

Republican registration increased by 740 voters in April. Independent or other registrations increased by 1,324, while Democratic registrations decreased by 1,465 voters. Republican registration makes up 47 percent of the electorate, Democratic registration makes up 42 percent, and independent or other makes up 11 percent.

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

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their first meeting of the month Monday.

The first reading was held on an ordinance that amends the zoning for 1377 Hutcherson Lane from Future Development Holding to Agribusiness, and on an ordinance that amends the zoning of 110 East Memorial Drive from High-Density Residential (R-6) to Neighborhood Office (C-1). The council also approved a municipal order that adopts the Elizabethtown Planning Commission’s recommendation to deny a zoning amendment for 707 Saint John Road from Suburban Residential (R-1) to High-Density Residential and Regional Commercial (C-3).

“The Elizabethtown Planning Commission received public testimony, and determined that the request to amend the official zoning map was not in agreement with the adopted comprehensive plan,” read Elizabethtown City Attorney Ken Howard from the municipal order.

Several other municipal orders were approved including the acceptance of a $467,500 bid from Dirt Works Unlimited for improvements at University Drive Park that will include new basketball courts and a professional services contract with Palmer Engineering “for the design of the Commerce Drive extension from Springfield Road to East Dixie Avenue in an amount not to exceed $304,000. The road should be designed to meet all Kentucky Transportation Cabinet standards for potential funding by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”

Also meeting for their first meeting of the month Monday was the Radcliff City Council. Radcliff/Fort Knox Tourism and Convention Commission Treasurer/Secretary Bob Moore presented the organization’s upcoming budget. Moore noted that Saunders Springs continues to generate the most website traffic, and the commission will be expanding advertising at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. 

Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall presented a recognition award to the soldiers from the Fort Knox BOSS Program.

“The City of Radcliff would like to recognize soldiers in the Fort Knox BOSS Program for volunteering their time, in coordination with Project HOPE, to organize and distribute supplies to families affected during the April floods in Kentucky,” Radcliff City Attorney Mike Pike read from the text of the award. “We thank you for supporting the citizens of Radcliff and our surrounding communities in recovery efforts.”

The Radcliff City Council will next meet May 20, while the Elizabethtown City Council will next meet May 27.

Kentucky lawmakers last week introduced a bill to expand Mammoth Cave National Park. 

Kentucky Second District Congressman Brett Guthrie and Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell on Thursday introduced the Mammoth Cave National Park Boundary Adjustment Act, which would allow the park to acquire an additional 551 acres of land from the Nature Conservancy.

According to a release from Guthrie’s office, the park, which covers nearly 53,000 acres across Edmonson, Barren, and Hart counties, would be taking over management of additional land in Edmonson and Barren counties. The lawmakers say the expansion would “enhance protections in the Green River watershed, further conserving the area’s wildlife and cultural heritage while generating additional tourism to Kentucky’s second district.”

Guthrie’s office says visitors to Mammoth Cave generate nearly $90 million annually for the local economy. The park welcomed more than 650,000 visitors in 2023.

Mammoth Cave National Park was established in 1941. It contains the world’s largest known cave system, with 426 miles of the caverns mapped to date.

You can find the full text of the act and a map of the proposed expansion on Guthrie’s website.