WQXE News

College undergraduate enrollment is up across the commonwealth. 

According to a report from the Council on Postsecondary Education, from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024 undergraduate enrollment at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System increased by 6.8 percent, public universities saw a 3.9 percent increase, and private institutions affiliated with the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities saw a 3.7 percent increase. 

The CPE says enrollment also increased among targeted populations. Enrollment among underrepresented minority students increased 13.3 percent at KCTCS campuses and 7.9 percent at public universities. Enrollment for low-income students increased 7.5 percent at KCTCS schools and 7 percent at public universities, the first gains in four years.

High school dual credit enrollment increased, which the CPE says is associated with higher college-going rates and better academic performance. A rise in non-traditional student enrollment, meaning students ages 25 to 64, saw a 9.7 percent increase at KCTCS schools and 8.4 percent at public universities, which the CPE says is critical for meeting Kentucky’s educational attainment goal of 60 percent by 2030.

The full report is available on the CPE website.

The Elizabethtown City Council met for their second meeting of the month Tuesday.

The council approved an ordinance on second reading approving the annexation of about 154 acres at Gaither Station Road and South Ring Road. As read from the ordinance by City Attorney Ken Howard, “the property will be zoned General Industrial or I-1 and Suburban Residential Limited R-1 upon annexation based on the Planning Commission’s recommendation.” The Elizabethtown Hardin County Industrial Foundation purchased the property in 2024 for the establishment of a new industrial park.

Elizabethtown Stormwater Management Director Rita Davis gave an update on the city’s stormwater system following weekend rain that measured more than 4.5 inches. Davis said a storm like this 15 or 20 years ago would likely have been more damaging.

“While our creeks were out of their banks and we did see some localized flooding in areas, I think we handled that much rain pretty well with all the improvements that we’ve done, the basins that we have, the lakes that we have invested in,” Davis said. “I think the proof is in the pudding, all the work that we’ve done.”

Davis also said the city’s application for Tree City USA recognition was recently approved.

“We will have some tree ordinances to further regulate some of the tree removals and have some offsetting, as far as if a tree of a certain size is removed we would want additional at a ratio to be replaced based on the size of that tree,” Davis said.

The Elizabethtown City Council will next meet February 24.

A Nelson County man was charged with animal cruelty following an investigation by the Kentucky State Police.

The KSP says Aaron John Thompson of Bardstown on Monday was charged with second degree Cruelty to Animals. The charge was cited to Nelson County District Court.

According to the KSP, at 11 a.m. on February 17 troopers responded to a call from an individual who said an organized chicken-fighting event was taking place at a residence on the 1900 block of Pottershop Road. Troopers and detectives made contact with the property owner, identified as Thompson, and other individuals present. Thompson was charged as a result of the investigation.

The KSP says the investigation remains ongoing, and the KSP has active investigations into chicken-fighting operations in Bethelridge, Blackberry, and Dunnville.