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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.
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.
Unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District in November are down from where they were the year prior.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says unemployment rates decreased in 119 counties and increased in one when comparing November 2025 with November 2024.
The state unemployment average for November was 4.5 percent. That’s down from the 5 percent average reported in November 2024 and equal to the September 2025 state average.
Hardin County’s unemployment rate for November came in above the state average at 5 percent. That is an increase from the September rate of 4.7 percent but is down from November 2024 when the rate was reported at 5.3 percent.
Grayson County posted the highest November unemployment rate in the district at 5.6 percent, followed by Breckinridge and Marion counties at 5.2 percent. Washington County posted the lowest unemployment rate in the district, and tied for the fifth-lowest rate in the state, for November at 3.8 percent, followed by Nelson County at 4.2 percent.
Learn more about how the unemployment rate is calculated and find more labor market information by visiting kystats.ky.gov.