WQXE News

Breckinridge County Schools Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter said the 2025-2026 school year was a year of progress at BCS.

“We’ve seen a lot of increases in our student achievement with some of our NWEA MAP assessments, and I’m just super proud of the work that’s taken place academically this year as we, you know, we’re continuing to get further out away from the pandemic and addressing the learning loss component from those years, and there’s just been amazing work taking place, so I’m really excited about that work and want to thank all of our teachers and staff that’ve had such a hand in that,” Carter said.

Carter says the progress can also be seen in the district’s facilities, most notably the start of work on the new Breckinridge County Middle School building.

“That was six years in the making, and so it’s exciting to see dirt being moved for that project and really thinking about what that campus is going to look like in August of 2028, but it’s just been an amazing year and truly one of the best in my career,” Carter said.

Carter says the goal in the 2026-2027 school year is to maintain the progress and keep the district moving forward.

“Obviously in every school district, you welcome back current staff and you welcome new staff into your district, and so I’m always looking forward to welcoming our new staff into the district and getting to know them and really just making them feel welcome in our Tiger Nation family,” Carter said.

Follow the Breckinridge County School District Facebook page or visit the district website for more information and updates.

The annual unemployment rate in the Lincoln Trail District trended slightly higher than the statewide average in 2025.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the statewide annual unemployment rate in 2025 was 4.6 percent. The annual rate was higher than the state rate in 75 counties, the same in five, and lower in 40. 95 counties had an annual unemployment rate higher than the national average of 4.3 percent, with six counties at that rate and 19 below it.

The annual unemployment rate for the Lincoln Trail District was 4.8 percent. Grayson County had the highest annual rate in the district at 5.9 percent followed by Breckinridge County at 5.3 percent. Washington County had the lowest annual rate at 4 percent followed by Nelson County at 4.4 percent. The annual unemployment rate for Hardin County in 2025 was 4.9 percent.

The annual unemployment rate for 2025 is based on 11 months of data, as the federal government shutdown in October of 2025 prevented the collection of unemployment data. The center for statistics says the 2025 rate therefore is not strictly comparable to rates from prior years.

Learn more about how the unemployment rate is calculated and find more labor market information by visiting kystats.ky.gov.

More than 860,000 people across Kentucky went to the polls, voted early, or voted absentee for Tuesday’s primary election, setting the ballot for the general election this fall.

“We had over 15,000 people vote during this election, and nearly 12,000 of them voted today,” said Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith Tuesday. “We are excited to see an increase in turnout. While that’s only about 18.5 percent of our registered voters, that is significantly higher than we’ve had in the last two primary cycles, so we’re appreciative of our poll workers, we’re appreciative of our voters who showed up, and we wish the best to all the candidates.”

In Hardin County, Willie Oden defeated Brian C. Sankey in the Republican primary for sheriff, Casey Overstreet won the Republican primary for property valuation administrator, and incumbent magistrates Fred Clem Jr., Aaron Pennington, Larry Hicks, and Kenny Muse won their respective Republican primaries, with Muse defeating Jon Breeding in the Eighth District race by just two votes. William Jason Buckles won the Republican primary for Sixth District magistrate, Toshie Murrell and Terry Owens won the primary for Radcliff mayor, and Pamela Ogden and Selena Hudson won the primary for Vine Grove mayor.

In Breckinridge County, incumbent Judge/Executive Maurice Lucas was defeated by Shane Beavin in the Republican primary 1,627 to 1,360, with Kevin Drane collecting 998 votes. Other races in Breckinridge County saw incumbent Sheriff Billy Richardson defeat former sheriff Todd Pate 2,336 to 1,804 in the Republican primary.

In Grayson County, Tonya Kessinger defeated Stephanie Brooks in the Republican primary for county clerk 2,736 to 2,079. A measure permitting the sale of alcohol at golf courses was approved 119 to 79, while a measure approving the sale of alcohol in Clarkson city limits failed 105 to 87.

In Meade County, incumbent Judge/Executive Troy Kok won the Republican primary over Daniel Weick 1,849 to 1,147. Incumbent Sheriff Phillip Wimpee defeated Bric Pace in the Republican primary 1,998 to 1,059. Incumbent Jailer J.J. Scarborough defeated Stephen Gibbs in the Republican primary 1,374 to 1,060.

In LaRue County, incumbent Judge/Executive Blake Durrett won the four-person Republican primary with 1,412 votes, with Farrah Pruitt placing second with 422. Incumbent sheriff Brian Smith won the Republican primary over Kevin Bennett 1,455 to 1,015. 

On the statewide level, Andy Barr defeated Daniel Cameron for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator 287,703 to 144,548. Charles Booker won the Democratic nomination in that race after defeating Amy McGrath 155,487 to 119,234.

You can find complete election results at govote.ky.gov.