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Students encouraged to submit for Central Kentucky Community Foundation’s Scholarship Central

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Area students are encouraged to get their applications in for the Central Kentucky Community Foundation’s wide range of scholarships available on Scholarship Central.

“These are not federally or state-funded scholarships,” said CKCF Communications Coordinator Erin Hahn. “These are scholarships that donors who just have a passion for education, wanting to pay it forward to our local students. Graduating high school seniors, or current college students, or even those nontraditional students, we have scholarships for all of them.”

More than 150 scholarships worth a combined $350,000 are available to students, all of them accessible by completing one application.

“Based on those answers, you’ll get a list of scholarships that you’re eligible for, and at that point, you may need to do an additional essay or maybe a letter of recommendation, something of that nature, so even though the deadline is 11.59 p.m. on March 1, make sure to do it a little bit beforehand,” Hahn said.

Scholarships are available for students in all of the nine counties in the Community Foundation’s service area.

“Those graduating high school seniors, do not feel like you have to be in the top two percentile academically in your class,” Hahn said. “A lot of these scholarships are merit-based. Your community involvement, what you’ve done while you’ve been in school, you know, so many of these kiddos have achieved so much. This is your time to showcase it.”

Start your application by clicking on the Scholarship Central Login link in the top left corner of the homepage at www.ckcf4people.org. Contact the Community Foundation at 270-737-8393 for more information and assistance.

Joint board hopes new toll service provider will offer improved customer service for RiverLink bridges

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Drivers using Louisville’s Ohio River bridges will see a new toll service provider taking over soon.

The Joint Board of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges has announced the designation of TransCore as the new toll service provider for the RiverLink tolling system.

According to a release from RiverLink, TransCore is the current roadside provider for the tolling system and will now also oversee back-office services including image review, invoicing, and customer service centers. The joint board approved a resolution destinating TransCore as the next toll service provider in order to “ensure a seamless transition to a new TSP before the contract expires with the current provider.”

The joint board approved the negotiated termination of the contract with the current TSP, Electronic Transaction Consultants, in September of 2025. Both Kentucky and Indiana then began investing additional money to provide for customer service during the transition to TransCore.

TransCore was awarded a nearly six-year, $146 million contract which is expected to take effect next month. The company is expected to deliver improved and consistent services for the tolled bridges, which are used by about 100,000 drivers daily. Visit the RiverLink website for more information.

Applications open for LIHEAP Winter Crisis program

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Eligible households are encouraged to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Winter Crisis Component.

“The LIHEAP Winter Crisis Program is specifically designed to assist Kentucky households facing home heating emergencies such as imminent loss of heat, low fuel supply, or the threat of eviction due to unpaid heating costs,” said Central Kentucky Community Action Council Executive Director Bryan Conover. “We want our community to know that these resources are here to help them before the extreme cold arrives. If you are struggling with your heating costs or worried about your fuel supply, or know someone who is, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local Community Action office to learn if you are eligible for LIHEAP support.”

Applications for LIHEAP are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Benefits are paid directly to the household’s heating vendor. Receiving assistance through other LIHEAP cycles does not affect eligibility.

When applying, all applicants must provide all required documentation which includes proof of Social Security number or a permanent residence card for each household member, proof of income for all household members from the preceding month, your most current electric bill, the account number and the name on the account for the electric bill, and a disconnect/past due notice or a statement showing 10 or fewer days of pre-paid electricity remaining.

Visit your local Community Action office to begin an application. Call 270-692-2136 or visit www.ckcac.org to find your nearest office.

KDPH confirms state’s first measles case of 2026

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The Kentucky Department for Public Health on Thursday announced the first confirmed case of measles in the state since July 2025.

According to the KDPH, the subject is an unvaccinated Jessamine County resident who was exposed when an out-of-state traveler who was infectious with measles visited Fayette County between December 31 and January 2. Public health officials are investigating additional community exposures as a result. The case is unrelated to the December community exposures in Grant County, which were linked to a different out-of-state visitor.

The KDPH says measles “is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause serious health complications, especially in young children.” Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack says the best defense against measles is a simple one.

“Two doses of vaccine 97 percent guarantees you will not get measles,” Stack said. “Not just that it’s mild measles. You just will not even get measles if you have two doses of childhood measles vaccine, so it’s really, really important that parents have their child get the MMR immunization as a child along with their other routine immunizations.”

Health officials also encourage good health habits to prevent the transmission of measles and other contagious diseases including washing hands often with soap and warm water, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home from work or school when sick. 

Contact your local health department or healthcare provider for more information on vaccination. More information on the disease can be found on the KDPH measles webpage.