wkms

Beshear names education and workforce secretary

Todd Hatton and The Associated Press — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:30:53 +0000

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has tapped longtime auto executive Thomas Zawacki to serve as the new secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. He will succeed the retiring Joseph Meyer July 1^st.

KY education department OKs new K-12 science standards

Todd Hatton — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 16:33:40 +0000

The Kentucky Board of Education has approved new science standards for grades K through 12. They must now move through the regulatory process. The Commonwealth is among a coalition of twenty-six states that developed the standards that identify science and engineering content that all students through 12^th grade must master to be prepared for college.

KY Tea Party Asks Judge to Decide Health Care Lawsuit

Todd Hatton and The Associated Press — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 21:47:27 +0000

Kentucky tea party activists have asked a judge to resolve a lawsuit over the legality of the state’s health benefit exchange by granting a summary judgment. Attorney Michael Dean filed a motion today (Thursday) asking Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepard to rule in favor of the activists. They also want a permanent injunction shutting down the exchange, which is a product of the Affordable Care Act intended to help the uninsured find health coverage. Attorneys for the state asked last month that the suit be dismissed, but Shepard refused.

Three Western Kentucky Teachers Named Fellows

Todd Hatton — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:38:14 +0000

A national non-profit educational advocacy group has named three western Kentucky teachers among twenty-one in the Commonwealth as state teacher fellows. Hope Street Group says the fellows will be part of community outreach efforts, policy discussions and professional development. The educators from our region are Lone Oak Middle School Writing teacher Lea Ann Atherton, Hopkinsville District Instructional Coach Lindsey Childers and Owensboro District Math Coach Jana Bryant. State Education Commissioner Dr.

Media Release: WKMS News presents Kentucky Dam Power for the People

Jenni Todd — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:00:26 +0000

Murray State’s NPR station, 91.3 WKMS presents the second program in its “Sounds Good Documentary Series” with a re-airing of Kentucky Dam Power for the People on Tuesday, June 25 at noon, during the second hour of Sounds Good with Tracy Ross. The special hour-long documentary underwritten, in part, by Hunter Marine of Nashville and Paducah, first aired Sunday, June 3, and chronicles the Dam’s inception, construction, and impact on the region through human stories. A soundtrack of music and archival newsreels help set the scene for the documentary.

Click here for the documentary's program page.

Mississippi River dropping, but problems remain

Todd Hatton and The Associated Press — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:25:07 +0000

National Weather Service meteorologists say the flood-swollen Mississippi River is going down, but it will be some time before things dry out. The waterway has crested from Iowa through southern Missouri and Illinois but remains above flood stage at many spots. Hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland are under water and hundreds of roads remain closed. The river is still 10 feet above technical flood stage at Cape Girardeau, Missouri and Grafton, Illinois.

Media Release: WKMS Fundraiser Exceeds Spring Goal

Jenni Todd — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:17:18 +0000

Murray, KY- Dedicated WKMS listeners and underwriters from western Kentucky, northwest Tennessee, and southernmost Illinois raised $131,177 in community support this spring to maintain Murray State’s NPR Station.

Rollins Resigns Legislative Seat, Takes Top KHEAA Job

Todd Hatton and The Associated Press — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:32:12 +0000

Democratic state representative and Kentucky House Education Committee chair Carl Rollins is leaving his seat to accept the top job at the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority. Legislative Research Commission Executive Director Bobby Sherman says the resignation would be effective at the close of business today. Rollins says the new job will require his full attention. In addition to the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority, Rollins also will oversee the Kentucky Higher Education Loan Corporation.

Dunn to Interview for Illinois State Presidency Wednesday

Todd Hatton — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:49:46 +0000

Murray State President Dr.

Farmer Indicted on Felony Fraud Charges

Todd Hatton, The Associated Press and Brenna Angel (KPR) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:18:21 +0000

A federal grand jury has indicted former Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer on four felony counts of misappropriating state funds and one of solicitation. The indictment, unsealed today in Lexington, charges Farmer with using his state position to obtain thousands of dollars' worth of gifts, hotel rooms, clothing and computers. It also charges him with hiring friends who did little or no work for the state. The indictment says that throughout his tenure as agriculture commissioner from 2004 to 2012, Farmer wrongfully used public funds and state resources to obtain goods and services for himself and his family.