WQXE NEWS

Elizabethtown Police Chief Jeremy Thompson says he is proud of the growth of the EPD, which during his time as chief is best evidenced by personnel.

“We were right around 52 when Chief Land on his last day, my first day, requested five additional personnel, which was granted, and that was the beginning of the growth, and our current authorized strength is 90 officers,” Thompson said.

Thompson’s leadership of the department was recognized last week when he was presented with the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police Chief of the Year Award.

Thompson credited his team and community for the honor.

“I guess, in one word, it’s just very humbling, and I think it’s more of a testament of all of the teamwork that goes into making this position successful, whether that’s at the EPD, or the mayor, and City Hall, and I think it’s just to me validation that we’re doing things correctly, and that other people are recognizing that,” Thompson said.

Thompson says the EPD is aiming for more growth, beginning with expansions and renovations at 300 South Mulberry Street.

“From a structural standpoint, we’re really looking forward to getting the growth of the building and the additional building out back for these new personnel, and then what we’re going to be doing here in the very near future is sitting down with the leadership team at the EPD and begin working on our next five year plan,” Thompson said.

The EPD said in a post on their Facebook page: “Since joining us in 2019, Chief Thompson has led with remarkable leadership, courage, and wisdom during one of the greatest periods of growth in our department’s and city’s history. We are blessed to have him, and we’re proud of all the work he has done for our community.”

The unemployment rate in Kentucky continues to trend slightly lower.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says the state unemployment average for July was 4.9 percent. That is unchanged from the month of June, and down slightly from the July 2024 average of 5.1 percent.

Kentucky’s unemployment average for July came in higher than the national unemployment rate, which the U.S. Department of Labor reported at 4.2 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 1,385 people from June to July, bringing the civilian labor force to about 2,118,000.

The Education and Labor Cabinet says the Trade, Transportation, and Utilities, Other Services, Construction, Professional and Business Services, Financial Activities, and Information Services sectors saw increases from June to July. Numbers in the Mining and Logging sector were unchanged. The Leisure and Hospitality, Educational and Health Services, Government, and Manufacturing sectors saw decreases.

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

During his Team Kentucky Update Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear provided an update on the state’s Pre-K for All Initiative, with the governor stating that support for preschoolers means support for Kentucky families.

“In Kentucky, Pre-K for All would boost take home pay for families $9,000 a year for six straight years, meaning $54,000 more for the average Kentucky family,” Beshear said. “It saves $7,000 per year in costs and it could grow Kentucky’s workforce by 70,000 people, and of course, it could increase kindergarten readiness in a state where over half of our kids show up not ready for kindergarten.”

Beshear discussed the work of the 28-member Pre-K for All Advisory Committee, which has been tasked with collecting input from businesses, parents, and community leaders. The governor said more than 21,000 emails have been sent to legislators since the launch of the initiative.

“We’ve hosted four town halls in Frankfort, Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green, and Moorhead, and next week we have one at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville,” Beshear said. “We’ve also had multiple committee meetings. We just held a meeting in the capitol with childcare providers from across the state. I got to attend that one and it was clear everyone is focused on trying to get the very best for our kids.”

Beshear said other nearby states have already implemented similar programs, so Kentucky has to step up now.

“If we don’t make this happen, we’re going to be left behind,” Beshear said. “That next company looking at where to locate or where to expand is going to hear from a different governor that their employees in their state have access to pre-K and thus make a better living.”

Learn more about the initiative at www.prek4all.KY.gov.