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Progress on I-65 Louisville work allows two miles of roadway to reopen early

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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says significant progress has been made on work on Interstate 65 through downtown Louisville, and a two-mile section of the interstate is scheduled to reopen to traffic today.

The KYTC says Southbound I-65 from University Boulevard to I-264/Watterson Expressway is expected to reopen to two lanes of traffic. Four ramps will also be reopening with this section: both on- and off-ramps at Crittenden Drive and the on-ramps from Eastern Parkway and University Boulevard.

I-65 south will remain closed between Jefferson Street and University Boulevard as construction work continues. Through traffic should still use the official signed detour to I-264 west and I-64.

I-65 closed through downtown Louisville on June 1, and the KYTC says crews have been working around the clock to accelerate work on the replacement of three critical bridges. Crews completed demolition work last week, and beams to support the new bridge decks are currently being installed.

The KYTC says the summer closure saved at least a year of additional restrictions on I-65. Learn more about the project at I65CentralCorridor.com and follow KYTC District Five on social media for updates.

Use fireworks safely this Fourth of July weekend

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Independence Day will be celebrated this Saturday, July 4, and if fireworks are part of your celebration, make sure you are using them safely.

Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says the safest, and cheapest, way to enjoy fireworks is to attend a city or organization’s fireworks display.

“There are a lot of them, and I’m sure this year there are probably going to be even more bigger displays and bigger events, so take your family out and enjoy those events, enjoy that time with your family, and let the professionals do it,” Crane said.

If you are purchasing fireworks to light off on your own, make sure kids are kept at a safe distance and only adults are handling the lighting. Check on your state and local laws for fireworks use.

“State law says at a minimum you have to be at least 200 feet away from structures, vehicles, groups of people, and also wooded areas,” Crane said. “Make sure you’re staying away from wooded areas, especially because it could be dry that time of year.”

Check your surroundings, and make sure anything that launches in the air takes off from a flat, stable surface. Always have methods of extinguishment nearby.

“It could be a fire extinguisher, water hose, or even a bucket of water,” Crane said. “The other thing is to make sure that, just like we talked about charcoal, make sure that your fireworks are completely cool before you dispose of them.”

Find more fireworks safety tips on the National Safety Council’s website.

Unemployment in Lincoln Trail District sees slight uptick in May

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Unemployment rates in the Lincoln Trail District in May were higher than the previous month and a year prior.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says unemployment rates increased in 95 counties, decreased in 17, and stayed the same in eight when comparing May 2026 with May 2025.

The state unemployment average for May was 4.8 percent. That’s up from the 4.2 percent average reported in April and the May 2025 average of 4.4 percent.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for May came in above the state average at 5.6 percent. That is an increase from the April rate of 5.1 percent and an increase from May 2025 when the rate was reported at 4.6 percent.

The unemployment average for the Lincoln Trail District in May was 5.3 percent. Grayson County posted the highest unemployment rate in the district at 6.2 percent. Washington County posted the lowest unemployment rate in the district at 4.2 percent followed by Nelson County at 4.8 percent.

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

KFW says black bear sightings normal this time of year

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Black bear sightings have seen a recent uptick in Kentucky neighborhoods, backyards, and urban areas that are not part of the state’s typical bear range.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Bear Program Coordinator John Hast says while a bear sighting may be surprising, it is not that uncommon.

““It’s just kind of the evolutionary plan of bear populations,” Hast said. “They send their young males out. So right now is the start of the breeding season in the bear range in the mountains of Kentucky, and really this is the point where those year and a half old males kind of get the boot, and when that happens they go in search of new habitat and mates and let’s call it one out of every 100 or one out of every 200 just ends up walking out of the mountains.”

KFW says bears can travel 20 miles or more in a day if left undisturbed, meaning they can reach as far away as Missouri as they wander for several weeks before instinctively returning to the mountains in the fall.

Black bears have a natural fear of people and dogs, so adverse encounters are extremely rare. Hast says if you happen to spot a bear, use common sense, but enjoy the moment.

“Honestly, I tell people, especially folks in E-Town and outside the typical bear range, consider yourself lucky that you saw one, and just take it for what it is,” Hast said. “Get a quick video on the cell phone or something. Obviously, don’t approach.”

If a black bear sighting is reported in your area, for a few weeks secure garbage in a garage or other building, don’t leave pet food outside, and clean and securely store barbecue grills. This helps keep wild bears wild, and it is a violation of Kentucky law to feed bears or knowingly leave unsecured food available for them.

Learn more about bear safety at www.bearwise.org, and learn more about the Kentucky black bear population on the Black Bear webpage at fw.ky.gov. Report bear sightings to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Information Center at info.center@ky.gov or by calling 1-800-858-1549.

Beshear says strong work by law enforcement led to second consecutive drop in serious crime

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Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s office on Thursday released the 2025 Crime in Kentucky report, and the governor said during his Team Kentucky Update Thursday that for the second year in a row a drop was seen in serious crime.

“The report, compiled by the Kentucky State Police, shows an 8.14 percent decrease in reports of serious crime compared to 2024,” Beshear said. “Those include decreases in homicide offenses, drug narcotic offenses, robbery offenses, and more.”

Beshear said the report also showed increases in arrests for homicides, human trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, and more. Serious crime is down nearly 22 percent from numbers reported in 2019.

The governor attributed the decrease to the hard work of law enforcement officers and public safety officials.

“Because of their partnership, we’ve now recorded two consecutive years of decreases in serious crime, four straight years of declines in overdose deaths, and we’ve reduced recidivism rates for two years in a row,” Beshear said.

The full report can be found on the Kentucky State Police’s website.