Lisa Autry

Warren County Public schools will continue with a hybrid schedule of classes through the end of the calendar year. 

The decision is based, in part, on the state’s new system that tracks the number of coronavirus cases in K-12 schools. 

Under the state’s new metric for reopening schools to in-person classes, Warren County is in the Red category, meaning a daily rate of 25 individuals per 100,000 have a confirmed case of COVID-19. 

Gov. Andy Beshear is recommending any county in the Red category postpone all in-person learning until it reaches Yellow status, meaning less than ten confirmed cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 individuals. 

As the nation pauses to remember the 19th anniversary of the nine-eleven terrorist attacks on Friday, Daviess County residents will honor first responders close to home. 

The First Responders Memorial was erected on the lawn of the Daviess County Courthouse in the spring, but COVID-19 delayed its dedication.  The marker has been covered since then and will be unveiled during a ceremony at noon on Friday. 

Sergeant Adam Johnston with Owensboro Police says it’s been decades since Owensboro and Daviess County have had a first responder die in the line of duty.

“Unfortunately we won’t go without having another one.  It’s just a matter of time, but with training and safe habits, we’ve been able to go this long without a line of duty death.”

Kentucky has now eclipsed 1,000 deaths since the coronavirus outbreak began six months ago.

Governor Andy Beshear called it a tough and unfortunate milestone in announcing on Wednesday that 1,004 Kentuckians have now died from COVID-19 since March.

“They’re one of us, and no matter how old they were, they deserved time," Beshear said. "No matter what other complicating health factors they had, this played a part in it, and we owe it to them to work hard to limit the future casualties we have.”

New research shows the number of Kentucky high school students enrolling in dual credit courses has increased more than 75 percent in recent years. Higher education leaders see dual credit as an effective gateway into college.

The dual credit program allows high school students to enroll in college courses at their high school, nearby college, or online, and receive credit that counts toward high school and college completion.

A report from the Council on Postsecondary Education measured the impact of dual credit on student success at public, four-year universities.  It's the first comprehensive study since Kentucky launched a statewide dual credit policy and scholarship program in 2016 to improve participation.

The American Red Cross has deployed some Kentuckians to Texas and Louisiana to assist with relief efforts following Hurricane Laura, which hit the Gulf Coast last week. 

The Category 4 hurricane made landfall last Thursday just south of Lake Charles, Louisiana, packing 150-mph winds and a storm surge that officials said was as high as 15 feet in some areas. At least 18 people were killed.

The coronavirus pandemic is changing how the Red Cross responds to disasters. While COVID-19 hasn't changed the agency's mission, it has changed how missions are carried out. For instance, instead of mass shelters, the displaced are being housed in hotels and dormitories.

Ahead of Monday’s reopening, leaders at Western Kentucky University have their fingers on the launch button for what’s being called the Big Red Restart.  The campus is coming back to life after in-person learning was canceled due to the coronavirus.

"Did you guys get everything out of the car?," asks Anna Tranter. "The refrigerator? What about the microwave? Oh, it's right there."

Tranter is moving into a residence hall at WKU, a rite of passage for thousands of incoming freshmen.  She’s from the northern Kentucky town of Edgewood, and plans to major in fashion merchandising.  Her family is helping her move into her room on the 6th floor of Minton Hall.

The Warren County Board of Education has affirmed Superintendent Rob Clayton’s decision to resume classes in-person next week. 

School board members voted 3-2 Monday night on a reopening plan that includes both in-person and online instruction. 

Students who chose to participate in the virtual academy will see no changes, but students who prefer in-person classes will be separated into two groups.  Each group will attend in-person classes two days a week and be home three days a week for virtual instruction.

For the first time since the coronavirus hit in March, Western Kentucky University will reopen to in-person learning next Monday.

During his annual convocation to faculty and staff on Monday, President Timothy Caboni acknowledged the difficulty of the past five months while sharing some of the school’s milestones. 

In a departure from a packed auditorium at Van Meter Hall, President Caboni delivered his speech virtually to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines.  While acknowledging the coronavirus as the largest challenge in WKU history, Caboni highlighted some successes in recruitment, retention, and graduation.