Environment

Murray resident Roy Helton divides his time between teaching in the English Department at Murray State University and indulging his passion for gardening.  In this week's "From the Garden Gate" commentary, the topic is white gardens. Similar in design to the English cottage garden, white gardens feature flowers that are white or silvery, with the intent to overwhelm the viewer with a single color. 

Prospects of a mine workers' strike involving Patriot Coal are intensifying after a bankruptcy judge signed off on the company's push to abandon its labor agreement with the United Mine Workers of America.

Patriot operates two mines in Union and Henderson counties in Kentucky.

Kentucky wheat farmers are expected to harvest a larger crop this year. Winter wheat production in the state is forecast at 39.2 million bushels, up 35% from last year's harvest. The forecast comes from the National Agricultural Statistics Service's field office in Kentucky.

The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has tweaked changes to the bear hunting season. At a specially called teleconference on Monday, the commission changed a proclamation to prevent conflicts between user groups, including bear hunters taking part in scheduled bear dog hunts.