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KSP made more than 5,000 drug-related arrests in 2025 as part of state efforts aimed at reducing overdose deaths

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Overdose deaths in Kentucky have seen a reduction for three straight years, something Governor Andy Beshear attributes to expanding access to treatment resources and the efforts of law enforcement to get dangerous drugs off the street.

“In 2025, the Kentucky State Police made 5,141 drug-related arrests, holding accountable those who are selling dangerous drugs,” said Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. “The state police also removed more than $18.9 million worth of drugs off our streets last year. That included $277,000 worth of fentanyl, over $2.1 million worth of cocaine, and nearly $4.4 million worth of methamphetamine.”

The governor says the KSP’s efforts go beyond drug enforcement.

“The Angel Initiative is a program operated by KSP that helps those that are struggling with addiction, and gives them a way to connect to recovery resources with no questions asked,” Beshear said. “Last year, the agency was able to help 15 Kentuckians through the program.”

The Angel Initiative is available at all 16 KSP posts across the commonwealth.

Beshear says if you or somebody you know is struggling with addiction, know you are not alone.

“35 counties are now certified as Recovery Ready Communities,” Beshear said. “That covers 1.9 million Kentuckians, and that means people are trained and ready. They have the state of the art techniques. They want to help you. So I know it might feel like you’re alone, but people care about you. You’re loved, and we are ready to help you.”

Visit www.FindHelpNowKY.org or call 1-833-8KY-HELP to find recovery resources near you.

Kentucky college students seeing less debt

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More Kentucky college students are graduating free of debt.

The Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education says a new report indicates six out of 10 undergraduate students in Kentucky are graduating debt-free, up from four out of 10 students during the 2019-2020 academic year.

According to the CPE, 74 percent of community and technical college graduates are debt-free, along with 46 percent of public university graduates. The CPE says: “Significant increases in state and institutional grants and scholarships over the last five years made college affordable for thousands of Kentuckians, to the extent that many avoided student loans altogether.”

The CPE says students who are carrying debt are seeing decreasing average loan balances. The average KCTCS borrower owed $13,739 at graduation, down about $400 from five years ago, while the average public university borrower owed $32,564, down about $3,000.

In addition to increased access to financial aid, the CPE says more dual credit opportunities and increased financial literacy efforts have helped families borrow responsibly. One such financial literacy effort is the CPE’s website futuriti.org.

The full debt report can be found at cpe.ky.gov.

One dead after fire in Upton

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The cause of a fatal fire in Upton Saturday morning is under investigation.

Upton Fire and Rescue says units were dispatched following the report of a residential camper fire in the 14700 block of South Dixie Highway in Upton at approximately 8:45 a.m. on January 31.

According to a release from the fire department, units were advised while enroute that one occupant was possibly still inside the camper. Units arrived on scene at 8:50 a.m. and immediately initiated fire suppression efforts. The fire was brought under control at 9:06 a.m. One victim was found dead during subsequent operations, and the Kentucky Fire Marshal’s office and the Hardin County Coroner’s Office were requested.

All units cleared the scene at 11:15 a.m. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the state fire marshal’s office. The name of the victim is being withheld at this time.

Helping Hand of Hope in need of support

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As area residents continue to deal with the impact of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, Helping Hand of Hope is asking for donations for their transient/homeless program, which executive director Hope Burke says is almost out of funding.

“As we all know, with the weather, temperatures, and things like that, there have been a lot of people that we have had to work with like the police department and Room in the Inn,” Burke said. “We put people in hotels that are displaced, and with that it’s not a cheap thing to do.”

Support is also needed for the Client Select Food Pantry after a busy week.

“There’s a lot of our neighbors that are stuck inside of their house because their apartment complexes are still covered with a lot of ice, and so we ended up doing 65 food boxes in one day just for families that were either senior citizens or had kids and different things like that, so it depleted a lot of our items that we have,” Burke said.

Burke says at a time where many residents are in vulnerable situations, any support is appreciated.

“We know that a lot of people, they’re just one paycheck from something happening, and now with these colder temperatures it could be even with your electric bill,” Burke said.

Non-perishable food items can be taken to the organization’s office, located at 6796 South Wilson Road in Elizabethtown. Visit www.helpinghandofhope.org to find the link to donate or an address to mail a donation.