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Terms of change of venue in Nicholas Houck case approved

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Nicholas Houck was back in Nelson Circuit Court Friday for a pre-trial conference in his Class D Felony Perjury case.

Nelson Circuit Judge Charles Simms III approved the tendered agreement between the defense and the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for a change of venue in the case. Under that agreement, the November 9 trial will be held in Owen County, but all pre-trial motions will continue to be heard in Nelson County.

The judge heard arguments regarding the defense’s motion on a bill of particulars requesting the judge order the commonwealth to identify evidence that will be offered at trial to prove “that there is: a material false statement made by the defendant, and also that the defendant does not believe.” The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office submitted a response to the court Friday morning prior to the hearing which Houck’s defense attorney Michael Ferguson asked for time to review. Ferguson said he was asking the commonwealth to directly point to where in their submitted evidence they believe a false statement was made.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Kyle Williamson said Houck gave conflicting testimony in grand jury testimony given on July 15 and 22, 2015, and August 16, 2023. Simms asked the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to provide a more specific response to the defense’s questions within seven days.

A pre-trial conference was scheduled for September 16.

Report details compliance of public schools with safety standards

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The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet has published the 2025-2026 School Safety Risk Assessment Report, which compiles statistics on school compliance with state-mandated security measures.

According to a release from the cabinet, the report is based on annual unannounced visits to all public schools in the commonwealth. This year’s report “shows that schools are complying with statutorily mandated access control requirements regarding electronic-locking front doors, surveillance, locked classroom doors, classroom window coverings, and a threat-assessment team.”

The report found that 98.4 percent of all Kentucky schools were in compliance with specific practices to control access to school buildings, such as requirements that access is only granted through the main entrance and all visitors must present ID. Similar numbers were seen for safety and security processes, such as the implementation of an emergency plan. The report also shows that 937 school resource officers are now employed across Kentucky’s public schools, an increase of nearly 100 from the previous school year. 

The full report can be found on the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s website. Kentuckians can report any school safety concerns via the STOP! Tipline at 1-866-393-6659 or at safeschools.ky.gov.

Overdose Awareness Day being observed Monday

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Flags at state office buildings in Kentucky are at half-staff today in observance of Overdose Awareness Day.

“Addiction has devastated communities across our nation, and in Kentucky we probably got hit hardest,” said Governor Andy Beshear during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. “We’ve lost a lot of mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, friends, even sons and daughters, all children of God taken far too soon.”

According to the Governor’s Office, Overdose Awareness Day is an acknowledgment of the grief of family and friends impacted by losses from overdose while also serving as an effort to reduce the stigma for people currently struggling with addiction.

Beshear highlighted efforts in Kentucky aimed at reducing overdose deaths including Recovery Ready Communities, increased access to naloxone, and increased law enforcement efforts to get drugs off the street. He said those efforts have led to four straight years of decreases in overdose deaths.

“In 2025, we saw a 22.9 percent decrease as compared to previous years,” Beshear said. “That means that last year we saw the lowest number of overdose deaths since we started compiling this information, I believe in 2014, and we’re committed to continuing this progress until that number gets to zero.”

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, visit www.findhelpnowky.org, call the Crisis Lifeline at 988, or call 1-833-8KY-HELP(4357).

Kentuckians reminded of the importance of vaccination as measles outbreak continues

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Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack says despite the state seeing more confirmed cases of measles in any year since 1991, the message from health officials remains a simple one.

“We urge everyone to get vaccinated,” Stack said. “These vaccines are safe, they are proven, and in fact they led to the United States in the year 2000 being declared as a measles elimination country.”

Stack provided an update on the ongoing measles outbreak in the commonwealth during Thursday’s Team Kentucky Update. 25 cases have been confirmed, including five in Washington County. All cases in the outbreak have been in individuals who were not vaccinated against measles.

Stack said vaccination not only protects you, it protects others around you.

“The disease is incredibly contagious, as we’ve said before,” Stack said. “One person in an unvaccinated community would spread it to about 18 other people.”

If you believe you are infected with measles, avoid others to protect them from exposure and contact your medical provider. Find more information on the outbreak at CHFS.ky.gov.

Lincoln Trail District unemployment for July consistent with previous year

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Unemployment rates in the Lincoln Trail District in July trended mostly in line with where they were the year prior.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says unemployment rates decreased in 87 counties, increased in 18, and stayed the same in 15 when comparing July 2026 with July 2025.

The state unemployment average for July was 5.1 percent. That’s down from the 5.6 percent average reported in June and the July 2025 average of 5.3 percent.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for July came in above the state average at 5.8 percent. That is a decrease from the June rate of 6.3 percent but is up from July 2025 when the rate was reported at 5.4 percent.

Breckinridge County’s unemployment rate for July came in above the state average at 5.6 percent. That is down from both the June rate of 6.2 percent and the July 2025 rate of 6 percent.

The unemployment average for the Lincoln Trail District in July was 5.5 percent. Grayson County posted the highest unemployment rate in the district at 6.6 percent. Washington County posted the lowest unemployment rate in the district at 4.6 percent.

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