Crittenden County

The Cave-In-Rock Ferry, which has connected western Kentucky and southern Illinois across the Ohio River for decades, has been closed for over two months as state officials continue to negotiate with the private company that provides the service. But a local official says the closure could drag on – and potentially require legislative action to resolve.

Funding is currently being negotiated to keep the long-running Cave-in-Rock Ferry operational for the next two years, but disagreements between the state and ferry operators are putting this year’s talks on the rocks. If a deal is not met before the current contract’s June 30 expiration date, the ferry serving parts of far western Kentucky and southern Illinois would shut down – leaving some community members high and dry.

Three candidates are facing off in this month’s Republican primary to be the next leader of Crittenden County.

The largest known deposit of the critical mineral fluorspar in the United States is underneath parts of far western Kentucky and southern Illinois. Some say its applications in artificial intelligence could reawaken the region’s mining industry.

Dam leak in Crittenden County caught officials without a plan. Dam safety legislation had always died in earlier sessions.

A newly elected western Kentucky mayor recently announced plans to repair the levee of its primary water source.

Elected officials in a small western Kentucky town that has faced an ongoing water shortage voiced support this week for rebuilding a dam for a local lake that previously served as its main water source.

The small western Kentucky city of Marion has been facing an ongoing water shortage for months, and now local officials in recent weeks have been dealing with reports of discolored tap water coming out of residents’ faucets.

Some free wireless hotspot lending programs launched last year in western Kentucky public libraries to help connect students and library patrons to the internet are in high demand.

The western Kentucky town of Marion has been facing an ongoing water shortage for months and is now weighing whether or not to build an emergency water line that would allow more supply to flow from other utilities. But another small town about nine miles away from the Crittenden County seat is wanting to take advantage of the situation.