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April unemployment in Lincoln Trail District up slightly from last year

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Unemployment rates in the Lincoln Trail District in April saw decreases from the previous month but trended slightly higher than where they were the year prior.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says unemployment rates decreased in 66 counties, increased in 41, and stayed the same in 13 when comparing April 2026 with April 2025.

The state unemployment average for April was 4.2 percent. That’s down from the 4.6 percent average reported in March and is even with the April 2025 average.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for April came in above the state average at 5 percent. That is a decrease from the March rate of 5.5 percent but is an increase from April 2025 when the rate was reported at 4.5 percent.

The unemployment average for the Lincoln Trail District in April was 4.7 percent. Grayson County posted the highest unemployment rate in the district at 5.5 percent followed by Hardin County. Washington County posted the lowest unemployment rate in the district at 3.7 percent followed by Nelson County at 4.3 percent.

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

Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson set to resign

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The City of Hodgenville will be looking for a new police chief soon.

Current Hodgenville Police Chief James Richardson submitted a letter of resignation to Hodgenville Mayor Jim Phelps Thursday. Richardson’s resignation is effective at midnight on June 8.

“My family and I decided that with the current status of the county, with the recent election and how all that turned out, it’s just the arguments and the fights and the things that we have to put up with on a daily basis behind the scenes,” Richardson said. “It’s just no longer worth it to my family and I. We sat down and talked about it, so I am leaving on my own accord. The mayor and I discussed it. He said he understood.”

Richardson said in his resignation letter: “I am not willing to compromise my morals to ‘get along’ with LaRue County officials.”

Richardson had high praise for the employees and officers of the HPD.

“The city has been great to us,” Richardson said. “The city has been good to me. The mayor, the council, I want to thank them for all the support that they’ve given us over the years. The police department’s in a good spot. We’ve got some good officers, so I’m leaving it better than I found it, and that’s the way I always intended.”

Richardson said he has taken a position with another agency as a patrolman.

Phelps said during a special called Hodgenville City Council meeting Thursday that he had accepted Richardson’s resignation. Phelps said he would recommend an interim chief for approval at the next city council meeting, and the city would begin the search for a permanent replacement.

Hardin County Extension Office invites community to learn more at Porch Party events

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The Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service invites the community to come learn more about what the Extension Office has to offer during their summer Porch Parties, the first of which will be held next week.

“Last year, this idea kind of came to fruition,” said Hardin County Extension Family and Consumer Science Program Assistant Cassie Richardson. “I just want to bring people out to our office to kind of learn what we do, and so we have four total days and they’re going to spotlight one of the core program areas in our office.”

All are welcome to attend each event.

“They are fun days,” said Richardson. “They’re free days, and everybody can come out. We have tables set up with hands-on activities for both youth and adults. We will have food trucks available. The first one is actually from our Cattleman’s Association that meets here at our office.”

The porch parties will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 2, 16, and 30, and on July 14.

“The theme of the very first one is actually “Udderly Amazing Agriculture’, so it’s going to be all about Ag,” Richardson said. “Our second one is about our horticulture, then we have our 4-H Day and we have our FCS day.”

The extension office is located at 111 Opportunity Way in Elizabethtown. Visit the Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service Facebook page for more information.