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Kentucky’s unemployment rate in June was very slightly down from where it was the year prior.
The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for June was 4.9 percent. That is down a tick from both May of this year and June of 2024 when the average was reported at 5 percent.
Kentucky’s unemployment average came in higher in June than the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor reported at 4.1 percent.
The Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet says the state’s civilian labor force, which includes people currently employed and people actively searching for work, saw a decrease of 702 people from May to June, bringing the civilian labor force to about 2,190,000.
The Education and Labor Cabinet says the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, Educational and Health Services, Other Services, and Financial Activities sectors saw increases in June. No change was seen in the Information Services and Leisure and Hospitality sectors. Decreases were seen in the Mining and Logging, Government, Professional and Business Services, Manufacturing, and Construction sectors.
Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website for more about unemployment figures and labor market information.
American Legion Post 113 invites the public to help raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention during their Be the One Walk, which will be taking place this Saturday in Elizabethtown.
“The distance of the walk is 2.2 miles,” said Tom Folsom with the Legion post.” We’ll leave the Southeast Christian Church and we’ll walk to the traffic circle and back, and it comes out to be 2.2 miles which represents the 22 veterans a day who commit suicide.”
Daniel O’Dell with the Legion post says all are welcome to participate in the walk and help spread the message.
“We can’t have enough attention to the mental health of our military and veterans,” O’Dell said. “It’s just something that a lot of times during that transition, we don’t take care of enough, so when we raise awareness like this, it lets not just our military and veterans know that we are there for them, but the public let them know that, ‘hey, we’re going to support you no matter what you are going through.’”
No registration is required. Participants should get to the Southeast Christian Church, located at 600 North Dixie Highway in Elizabethtown, by 7:45 a.m. Saturday, with the walk beginning at 8.
“Even if you can’t walk the whole route and you can just show up to show your support, that’s very important to do that,” Folsom said. “Even if you can’t get around and get down to the two miles, please just show up and show your support to bring awareness to veteran suicide.”
Contact Folsom at the Legion post or visit the American Legion Hardin Post 113 Facebook page for more information.
The American Red Cross is in need of donations of all types of blood, with an emergency need for Type O donations.
According to the Red Cross, someone in the United States needs blood and/or platelets every two seconds, with approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells needed every day. Red Cross Account Manager Tammy Ritchie says the summer months tend to see a strain on the blood supply as a dip in donations is seen.
“ “People are traveling, so people aren’t donating,” Ritchie said. “Our high school and college donors are between 25 and 30 percent of our blood supply. Most of them are not in, so we will see a dip here very soon.”
Area residents looking to support the blood supply have several opportunities over the next week. American Legion Hardin Post 113 is hosting drives from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Monday, the LaRue County Public Library is hosting a drive on Thursday, July 24, and blood drives will be held at the Colvin Community Center in Radcliff and the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown on Friday, July 25.
Donors who donate between now and July 31 will receive a Fandango movie reward. Learn more and schedule an appointment by visiting www.redcrossblood.org.