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Applications open for LIHEAP Winter Crisis program

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Eligible households are encouraged to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Winter Crisis Component.

“The LIHEAP Winter Crisis Program is specifically designed to assist Kentucky households facing home heating emergencies such as imminent loss of heat, low fuel supply, or the threat of eviction due to unpaid heating costs,” said Central Kentucky Community Action Council Executive Director Bryan Conover. “We want our community to know that these resources are here to help them before the extreme cold arrives. If you are struggling with your heating costs or worried about your fuel supply, or know someone who is, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local Community Action office to learn if you are eligible for LIHEAP support.”

Applications for LIHEAP are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Benefits are paid directly to the household’s heating vendor. Receiving assistance through other LIHEAP cycles does not affect eligibility.

When applying, all applicants must provide all required documentation which includes proof of Social Security number or a permanent residence card for each household member, proof of income for all household members from the preceding month, your most current electric bill, the account number and the name on the account for the electric bill, and a disconnect/past due notice or a statement showing 10 or fewer days of pre-paid electricity remaining.

Visit your local Community Action office to begin an application. Call 270-692-2136 or visit www.ckcac.org to find your nearest office.

KDPH confirms state’s first measles case of 2026

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The Kentucky Department for Public Health on Thursday announced the first confirmed case of measles in the state since July 2025.

According to the KDPH, the subject is an unvaccinated Jessamine County resident who was exposed when an out-of-state traveler who was infectious with measles visited Fayette County between December 31 and January 2. Public health officials are investigating additional community exposures as a result. The case is unrelated to the December community exposures in Grant County, which were linked to a different out-of-state visitor.

The KDPH says measles “is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause serious health complications, especially in young children.” Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Dr. Steven Stack says the best defense against measles is a simple one.

“Two doses of vaccine 97 percent guarantees you will not get measles,” Stack said. “Not just that it’s mild measles. You just will not even get measles if you have two doses of childhood measles vaccine, so it’s really, really important that parents have their child get the MMR immunization as a child along with their other routine immunizations.”

Health officials also encourage good health habits to prevent the transmission of measles and other contagious diseases including washing hands often with soap and warm water, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home from work or school when sick. 

Contact your local health department or healthcare provider for more information on vaccination. More information on the disease can be found on the KDPH measles webpage.

November unemployment in Lincoln Trail counties sees decreases

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Unemployment rates across the Lincoln Trail District in November are down from where they were the year prior.

The Kentucky Center for Statistics says unemployment rates decreased in 119 counties and increased in one when comparing November 2025 with November 2024.

The state unemployment average for November was 4.5 percent. That’s down from the 5 percent average reported in November 2024 and equal to the September 2025 state average.

Hardin County’s unemployment rate for November came in above the state average at 5 percent. That is an increase from the September rate of 4.7 percent but is down from November 2024 when the rate was reported at 5.3 percent.

Grayson County posted the highest November unemployment rate in the district at 5.6 percent, followed by Breckinridge and Marion counties at 5.2 percent. Washington County posted the lowest unemployment rate in the district, and tied for the fifth-lowest rate in the state, for November at 3.8 percent, followed by Nelson County at 4.2 percent.

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

Hardin County Board of Elections meets, draws primary election ballot order

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The Hardin County Board of Elections met for their first meeting of the year Thursday.

The board approved the county’s election contingency and security plans, which concern the proper storing of election equipment and the tracking of paper ballots. The board also approved the county elections calendar, including training dates for poll workers.

Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith said he is keeping an eye on Senate Bill 7, which would return drivers licensing to counties rather than the regional offices. 

“I will tell you that if you speak to any of the legislators, Eastern Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Northern Kentucky, anywhere, they will all tell you that for the last two years, the number one complaint they have received has been about the drivers licensing offices,” Smith said. “Whatever number two is, it’s a distant number two. We get constant complaints about it here.”

Smith said the bill as written does not concern Hardin County because a regional licensing office is located in Elizabethtown. Smith said a house bill similar to Senate Bill 7 has been written, and a house bill that would return licensing to the circuit court clerk’s offices has also been proposed.

Smith also said he is waiting to see more clarifications from the state on the new Mobile IDs now available through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. While the main promoted use from the Transportation Cabinet is for air travel, Smith said he is anticipating possible confusion if somebody attempts to use a Mobile ID to vote.

“Right now, we are seeking legal opinion on how this is going to impact our role,” Smith said. “What I have instructed my staff downstairs is we need a hard copy of the driver’s license because even the Transportation Cabinet that is promoting this says you still must carry your hard copy driver’s license with you.”

Following the meeting, the Board of Elections conducted the ballot position draw for candidates running in the May primary election. The updated ballot can be found on the Hardin County Clerk’s Office’s website, and more election information is available at govote.ky.gov.

Duvall says Radcliff continues to see progress

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Radcliff Mayor JJ Duvall says the numbers in the budget show the growth the city has seen since he first served as mayor.

“Looking back over my first budget when I became mayor, we had about an $11 million operational budget, and now currently, with stormwater, we have about an $18 million operational budget,” Duvall said. “My reserve fund balance back then, when I first became mayor, was $3 million, and today we’re at nearly $14 million in reserves.”

Duvall was one of the speakers during the Hardin County Chamber of Commerce’s January Membership Luncheon Wednesday.

Duvall talked about the city’s commitment to public safety, including about $600,000 in renovations at the police department, about $350,000 to add female living quarters at Fire Station No. Two, and nearly $4 million that went towards the purchase of new fire trucks and communications upgrades, among other city upgrades.

“We did $50,000 in upgrades to the Colvin Community Center in air conditioners,” Duvall said. “We’re also upgrading our pool and our area around the pool to provide turf so people can lay out where there’s some grass areas now. We did over $130,000 in playground equipment upgrades in our city parks, and we currently are working on grants to provide an all-inclusive playground, similar to what they have in Vine Grove, and we did about $650,000 last year in paving.”

Duvall said increases in business licenses and housing construction continue to show the progress the city is making.

“When you think about progress, I want you to think about some of the numbers I mentioned,” Duvall said. “When you hear people say Radcliff isn’t growing, I disagree. We’re growing, we’re just growing at a slower, steadier pace than maybe what some of the other people do.”

Follow the City of Radcliff Government Facebook page for updates.