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KYTC reminds residents to keep signs out of state right of way areas, alerts E-Town drivers to newly-instituted Public Square roundabout

With the primary election in Kentucky just over a month away, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is reminding residents of regulations in place to keep state right of way areas free of signs and other items.

“We find out a lot of times when people call to ask about putting signs up that they simply don’t know the rules or regulations with regard to what is and what isn’t allowed on right away, and it’s simply nothing is allowed on right of way unless it’s done by permit through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District Four office here in Hardin County,” said KYTC District Four Public Information Officer Chris Jessie.

The KYTC says non-permitted signs can create additional hazards by blocking sight lines and distracting drivers. It is also illegal to attach signs or items such as flyers, posters, balloons, or streamers to stop signs, highway markers, other road signs, and utility poles.

“If you’re going to put up a yard sale sign or a political sign, it must be beyond the right-of-way onto the personal property side of that line,” Jessie said. “If you have a specific location in mind and you’re unsure, you are welcome to call our office and you can ask for our Permits and Right-of-Way Section at 270-766-5066.”

KYTC District Four has received requests to clear non-permitted signs across the district. Removed items will be taken to each county’s KYTC maintenance facility and held for a short period of time before being trashed or recycled.

Meanwhile, KYTC District Four is also alerting drivers heading through downtown Elizabethtown of a new traffic pattern related to permitted work being implemented by the developers of the former Hardin County Courthouse. The KYTC says the intersection around the Public Square is now functioning as a roundabout, therefore all drivers entering the roundabout must now look and yield to the left. The change is particularly significant for the southbound U.S. 31W approach. Drivers should also pay close attention for pedestrians navigating the intersection.

January unemployment in Kentucky sees decline

January unemployment in Kentucky is down slightly from the previous month and year.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for January was 4.3 percent. That is down from the 4.5 percent average reported in December, and down .5 percent from the January 2025 average of 4.8 percent.

Kentucky’s unemployment average for January came in tied with the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor says at 4.3 percent is up from the 4 percent rate reported in January 2025.

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 5,476 people from December to January, bringing the total civilian labor force to 2,114,515 people.

The Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Educational and Health Services, Manufacturing, Professional and Business Services, Financial Activities, Government, and Other Services sectors made gains from December into January. The Information Services, Mining and Logging, Construction, and Leisure and Hospitality sectors saw decreases.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website, kystats.ky.gov, for more about unemployment figures and labor market information.