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Good morning, I’m Todd Hatton.  It’s Sunday, October 21st.  This past week, WKMS News brought you the latest in our series of live candidate forums focusing on Kentucky’s 3rd District State House race.  Democratic candidate Gerald Watkins and Republican Jason Crockett discussed their respective approaches to dealing with the issues facing both the district and the Commonwealth at large.  And in case you missed it Friday, we’re bringing you a re-broadcast of the forum on today’s program.  Also, Kate Lochte speaks with one of the team who crafted Woodford Reserve and Angel’s Envy Bourbon, Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson.  Henderson is the featured guest at this year’s upcoming Distiller’s Dinner at the Carson Center in Paducah.  We’ll also hear about the endangered Kentucky barber shop as well as the Purchase birthplace of a Southern pastry icon.

For many, the phrase “barber shop” brings back memories of a time when men gathered to talk sports or politics in places where the air was thick with snips, buzzes, and the peppery aroma of aftershave.  Kentucky has close to 3,000 licensed barbers, many of whom have been in the business their whole life. But their popularity is decreasing as many consumers pick hair salons and chain stores over barber shops.  It doesn’t help that a barbering education is getting more difficult to find. As Angela Hatton reports, to become a barber in western Kentucky these days, you’ve got to really want it.

Paducah sits a little more than two hours from the nearest Krispy Kreme donut shop, and local fans of the brand’s glazed treats can only find them here and there in local gas stations. Yet, Paducah is where Krispy Kreme creator Vernon Rudolph discovered the recipe for his famous yeast-raised doughnuts and where he worked at his uncle’s store, selling the pastries from a box on his bicycle. Casey Northcutt has more on Rudolph’s impressive and somewhat disputed transformation from humble doughnut peddler into bakery mogul.

WKMS News’ regional political coverage continues with two forums originally aired last week.  First, Paducah and McCracken County residents decide next month whether or not to combine their two governments.  It’s a contentious issue, and we’ll sort out the pros and cons with Paducah businessman John Williams, Jr. and McCracken County Judge-Executive Van Newberry on today’s program.

Kate Lochte sits down with Maestro Raffaele Ponti for a preview of this weekend’s concert of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, our region’s only professional orchestra. Ponti is Artistic Director and Conductor of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra.  He previews the next concert:  Saturday, October 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Carson Center.  Winners of this year’s Young Artist Competition solo in Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D Major and Liszt’s Hungarian Fantasy for piano and orchestra.  Works by Beethoven and Dvorak complete the program.  Tickets are available at 270-444-0065.

Facebook is a great way to get, and stay, in touch with friends and family, old or new.  It’s also a great way for anyone to access things you may only want a few people to see.  And on Front Page Sunday from WKMS News, we’ll look into ways you can get a better handle on what makes it onto the social media landscape. We’ll also get some perspective on the lawsuit filed by some national textbook publishers against a Murray businessman and speak with the new executive director of Paducah’s Yeiser Art Center.  Then, we find out how a ham sandwich centuries ago helped inspire a modern art form.

Prints have been the subject of the most recent exhibition at Clara M. Eagle Gallery at Murray State University. The show’s titled “Global Matrix III: An International Print Exhibition” with artists from the U. S., Finland and Canada. Colin Nesbit is the Director of Murray State University Galleries, and he’s also an artist himself. Nesbit holds an MFA in Printmaking and Drawing from Bringham Young University.

The Yeiser Art Center gallery has been a visual arts gallery staple in Paducah since the 1950's. YAC has made a name for itself by offering donation-based admission, and with popular annual exhibits like Paducah Photo, Fantastic Fibers, Teen Spirit, and the Yeiser Members Show. The YAC’s goal is to provide access to professional and amateur visual art, and art education programs for people of all ages. With the addition of a new executive director, YAC is renewing its focus on reaching the community.

Benton Kentucky’s Charles Hatchett ran against Ed Whitfield in 2010 for Kentucky’s 1st District seat in the House of Representatives. After only receiving 29 percent of the vote in that contest, he’s challenging the Congressman again, believing that the district needs a blue-collar representative to voice the concerns of the people. But, beating an incumbent isn’t easy—especially one that has held a Congressional seat since 1994. Casey Northcutt explores the difficulties Hatchett and other challengers like him face in political races.

How does a small college in central Kentucky get noticed by millions of people across the nation and world? Host a debate. Centre College in Danville is preparing to host the Vice-Presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan. Lisa Autry recently traveled there to get a look at all the preparations and has this report.