WQXE NEWS

Voter registration in Kentucky saw another decline in March amid ongoing voter roll maintenance. 

The Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office says more than 7,000 voters were removed from the voter rolls in March. Of the voters that were removed, about 4,600 were deceased, about 400 were felony convicts, about 200 moved out of state, and about 1,700 registrations were duplicates.

The Secretary of State’s Office credited the drop in registration to vigorous maintenance of the voter rolls. In a release, Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams says federal oversight of the voter rolls that has been in place since 2018 was recently lifted due to the state’s work on election integrity.

Republican registration grew by 157 voters and independent or other registration grew by 1,181 voters in March, while Democratic registration fell by 248 voters. Republican registration makes up 47 percent of the state electorate, Democratic registration makes up 42 percent, and independent or other makes up 11 percent.

Kentuckians can register to vote or check their registration status by visiting govote.ky.gov, or by contacting their county clerk’s office.

Springhaven Inc. Assistant Director Shonna Sheckles says the organization’s partnership with Friends of Hardin County Animal Shelter over the past year has provided peace of mind for domestic violence survivors as they are faced with a difficult choice.

“Our survivors, when they come to us, they have pets, and a lot of people look at their pets as their children and they don’t want to leave, but due to our partnership with FOHCAS, now people are able to know that they can bring their pets and their pets be safe and they be safe as well,” Sheckles said.

Sheckles says 13 survivors with a total of 24 pets were able to leave their abusers and get their animals out of dangerous situations in 2024 through the partnership.

“FOHCAS is able to board the animals while the survivor is at the shelter,” Sheckles said. “The pet owner can have visitation with their pet, so it’s not like you’re handing your pet off to a stranger.”

FOHCAS is able to get the pets up to date on their shots while under their care. Springhaven is able to offer services to survivors without fear of financial burden.

“There is no cost for anyone to come to Springhaven,and there is no cost for anyone that has a pet for FOHCAS to board and take care of their pet during the time that they’re at the shelter,” Sheckles said.

The partnership is limited to cats and dogs. Organizations and individuals can support the program financially by visiting www.fohcas.org.

A Hardin County man is in custody on child sexual abuse charges.

Joseph Blake Bowling of Elizabethtown faces 10 counts of Class C Felony Distribution of Matter Portraying a Sexual Performance by a Minor Under 12-Years-Old following his arrest Thursday.

According to the Kentucky State Police, Bowling was arrested as the result of an undercover Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigation. The KSP Electronic Crime Branch began an investigation of Bowling after it was discovered he was allegedly sharing images of child sexual exploitation online. Bowling was interviewed by investigators on April 10, and equipment used to facilitate the crime was seized and taken to a forensic laboratory for examination. Bowling was placed under arrest following the interview.

Bowling was lodged in the Hardin County Detention Center, where he is being held on a $250,000 cash bond. He is due to appear for a video arraignment Monday morning. The KSP’s investigation is ongoing.