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Unemployment rates in Lincoln Trail counties trends slightly higher in July

Unemployment rates across much of the Lincoln Trail District ticked slightly higher in July. 

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says unemployment rates decreased in 73 counties, rose in 35 counties, and stayed the same in 12 counties when comparing July 2025 with July 2024.

The state unemployment average for July was 5.6 percent. That’s an increase from the 4.9 percent average in June, but it is down slightly from the 5.8 percent average reported in July of 2024.

Hardin County’s unemployment average for July was just above the state average at 5.9 percent. That is up from the 5.1 percent rate reported in June but is down from the 6 percent rate from July 2024.

Grayson County posted the highest July unemployment rate in the district at 6.8 percent, followed by Marion County at 6.7 percent. Washington County posted the lowest unemployment rate in the district for July at 5 percent, followed by Nelson and LaRue counties at 5.4 percent.

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

Joint effort lands Kansas man in jail on charges out of Kentucky

A joint investigation between Kentucky and Kansas law enforcement agencies has landed a man in jail on child sex crime charges.

Justin R. Bevitt of Topeka, Kansas, is currently incarcerated in Shawnee County, Kansas, pending extradition to Kentucky.

According to Kentucky State Police Post Three, troopers received a call from a family reporting that a juvenile had left their home with a 41-year-old male. Troopers began investigating and found that Bevitt had several previous encounters with the juvenile. A search warrant was obtained for Bevitt’s property, which was served by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Friday.

While executing the search warrant, KBI agents placed Bevitt under arrest on charges out of Kentucky including Procuring or Promoting the Use of a Minor, Unlawful Transaction with a Minor, and Distribution of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor.

Additional charges against Bevitt out of Kansas are pending. The investigation by the KBI and KSP is ongoing.

Sunday marks five years since Rosalyn Velazquez disappearance

This Sunday marks the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of Radcliff teenager Rosalyn Velazquez.

“She went missing on August 24, 2020,” said Detective Kenneth Mattingly with the Radcliff Police Department. “There was an extensive search done. Search warrants were filed, phone records were received, and a lot of Facebook activity, stuff like that, which the social media stuff is something that we still actively monitor and still follow up on on a regular basis.”

Mattingly says the RPD is still committed to the case.

“It is still very much an active investigation, and any lead that we receive is being followed up on appropriately,” Mattingly said.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children continues to support the investigation, and the most recent age-enhanced photo of Velazquez can be found on the RPD’s Facebook page.

“If anybody has information, they can contact the Radcliff Police Department at 270-351-4477, or if they want to leave an anonymous tip or anonymous information, they can contact our anonymous tip line at 270-351-TIPS,” Mattingly said.

More information can also be found on the Bring Rosalyn Home Facebook page.