WQXE NEWS

The first of two license lotteries for medical cannabis dispensaries in Kentucky was held at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation in Louisville Monday.

Four applicants each were drawn from nine of the 13 dispensary regions through a random number generator.

“In total, 4,075 applications were submitted for dispensary licenses,” said Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis Executive Director Sam Flynn during a simulcast event at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort. “2,840, about 60 percent of the total, were submitted for the 36 licenses in the regions we will be drawing for today. Of those, 2,551 or 88 percent of the applications were approved to be in today’s lottery and 329 were denied.”

Flynn said all applicants were given one opportunity to review and correct any discrepancies that were found in their initial application.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the license process helps fulfill the goal of the Kentucky General Assembly to make medical cannabis available in a controlled manner, and his goal of extending healthcare options for Kentuckians.

“Since taking office, my administration has been committed to providing access to health care and creating safer communities for all Kentuckians,” Beshear said. “It’s been a priority to ensure those among us who have serious medical conditions like cancer or PTSD have access to safe, affordable medical cannabis.”

The applicants selected from Region Nine, which includes the counties in the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, are: Barrio Capital Partners LLC and Wynn Win LLC in Elizabethtown, Thoroughtrek LLC in Radcliff, and NGHKC in Eastview. The selected applicants have 15 days to pay required fees to obtain their license.

Licenses for the remaining regions (Bluegrass, Kentuckiana, Fayette County, and Jefferson County) will be awarded in a lottery on December 16. 

Visit kymedcan.ky.gov for more information on the state’s medical cannabis program.

As you begin preparing for your Thanksgiving meal this Thursday, remember to take some basic precautions to protect yourself and your family while working in the kitchen.

Radcliff Deputy Fire Marshal Tommy Crane says never leave anything cooking on your stove or in your oven unattended, and be mindful of how you are using smaller appliances on the counter top.

“Try to plug everything in the outlet if you can,” Crane said. “If you do have to use an extension cord for a short period of time, make sure that it’s going to be a high enough amperage for those devices so that you don’t have that risk of fire there, and make sure all those cords and everything are away from the edge of the counter as well.”

If you plan on frying your turkey this year, please plan accordingly.

“Treat it kind of like we tell you with a grill,” Crane said. “Keep it about 10 feet away from your house and any overhangs. Don’t have it in the garage or on the back porch, especially with a roof on it. Make sure those turkeys are fully thawed and that they’re not cold. You’re putting it in  hot oil. Don’t overfill your fryer.”

Crane says the general rule of thumb is to keep a three-foot buffer between the cooking area and kids and pets.

“Give the younger kids something to do,” Crane said. “Maybe let them help set the table, maybe have some coloring pages printed off, or let the older kids kind of keep them busy, that kind of thing.”

Make sure things such as paper towels or dishcloths are away from stovetops, and don’t forget to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District were up in October from where they were the year prior. 

The Kentucky Center for Labor Statistics says unemployment rates increased in 118 of the state’s counties in October.

The state unemployment average for October was reported at 4.7 percent. While that is a decrease from the 4.9 percent average seen in September, it is up from the 3.9 percent average that was reported in October of 2023. Five counties in the Lincoln Trail District had unemployment rates higher than the state average, with two counties below the state average and one tied.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for October 2024 was slightly above the state average at 4.8 percent. That’s a slight decrease from the 4.9 percent rate reported in September but is an increase from the 3.9 percent rate reported in October 2023.

Grayson County posted the highest unemployment rate in the district for October at 5.9 percent. Nelson County had the lowest rate in the district at 4.1 percent.

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