An Indepth Analysis of News and Trends Affecting West Kentucky 

National Imagery and Mapping Agency /

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Ky National Guard responded during the 2009 ice storm

Temporal Intelligence and Kentucky

 "...State planning in Kentucky has all but collapsed from any serious attempt to link state budget forces to local or regional realities of urban and rural problem solving. Kentucky planning has become bankrupt of its ability to engage futurists in preparing for temporal intelligence...

During the last actions of the Kentucky General Assembly, the members saw fit to kill its own forecasting agency, the Long Term Policy Research Center, for fear of having facts be delivered to them as they spent money to protect special interests...

.

Disasters like 2009 ice storm are coming more often.

Kentucky Power Politics and Regional Disasters

Power politics follows the money in Kentucky. And now in 2010, a whole lot of money is being directed toward disaster recovery and disaster planning. During the past four years, there have been seven Presidential Disaster Declarations for Kentucky. The latest being the last week of July:  President declares disaster in Pike Co.flooding Nasty business! Having a Presidential statement naming your state as ground zero for major disasters is something you, as a state or local leader, would really just as well pass the honor to someone else.

Ky Emergency Director General John Heltzel

Heltzel was at Murray State University today to launch the program.

Dr. Rand Paul at Cayce United Methodist Church

Candidate for US Senate Dr. Rand Paul showed up at the Cayce United Methodist Church BBQ Picnic not to make a speech or raise campaign money, but to meet regular people.  And meet regular people he did...

...Standing beside the dinner line, Paul kept one eye on the media, taking questions. The other eye watched folks moving slowly past. Paul kept reaching past reporters to stick his hand out and say over and over, “Hi, I’m Rand Paul. I’m running for Jim Bunning’s seat.”

All at once, from all directions, Paul is surrounded by the media. In their herd instincts, the media moves as one animal, in a pack.

The air was heavy. The weight of sweat, dryness of breath and feeling of clothing clinging to the body all lent themselves to help frame the event. This was the annual Cayce United Methodist barbecue picnic fund raising event. 

As Mary and I left Clinton for the ten mile drive to Cayce, I noticed that the temperature reading on First Community Bank read 97 degrees at 4:30 p.m. That meant that the heat index was more like 105 degrees.  No matter. We were on our way to a political happening. Rand Paul was going to appear at the First Methodist Church in Cayce for dinner on the grounds.   

Aug. 5
2010 MSU Agri-Energy Field Day: Agri-Energy, A New Era in Agriculture
Murray State University, Pullen Farm, Murray (Noon – 4 p.m. CDT):  This event is a joint educational program for agriculture producers, agribusinesses and MSU agriculture students.  The event is focused on providing an update on cutting edge information for rapidly evolving Agri-Energy initiatives.  Lunch will be served at 12:30 p.m. and program to begin at 1:30 p.m.  Cost: Free.  Call (270) 809-3556 to reserve your spot.  For more information, contact Rhea Wright at rhea.wright@murraystate.edu or visit www.murraystate.edu/agr.

Gov. Beshear has appointed Jonathan B. Hayden to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council to serve for a term expiring July 1, 2014.

 Jonathan B. Hayden, of West Paducah, is sheriff of McCracken County.  He represents sheriffs.  The appointment replaces Steven W. Sparrow, whose term has expired.

New proposed rules for those serving in the State Capitol.

The Legislative Ethics Commission has recommendations for changing the ethics rules for legislators. Among the best: No publicly funded mail-outs by legislators within 60 days of an election.

May we also suggest that articles submitted to newspapers within 60 days on an election be clearly labeled and charged as political advertising? All the recommendations at the jump.

Gov. Steve Beshear today announced 19 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) awarded to communities across the Commonwealth in support of energy efficiency programs.

Among the grants awarded: Paducah, McCracken County,  Recycle Now Materials Conservation Program, EECBG amount: $50,000;  Bardwell, Carlisle County, City Hall Energy Upgrades
 EECBG amount: $35,000;  Daviess Co. Energy Efficiency Retrofits,  EECBG amount: $58,800; Fulton, City Energy Efficiency and Conservation Retrofit  EECBG amount: $99,044 and Fulton Co., County Office Building Retrofit #1  EECBG amount: $65,155

For the full list, click on the link.

AG Conway - office didn't sign off on KU/LG&E rate increase

The PSC says that customer base electric bills will only increase by $7 in its order that takes effect today. The "stipulation" agreed to by all parties but Attorney General Jack Conway, denied the AG's motion to dismiss the rate increase because both companies are up for sale, allows the companies to charge more to cable television providers who use their poles and will change the span of meter reading to make bills more even.

Because of hundreds of consumer complaints regarding the rate increase, the companies' billing and collection practices will be reviewed.

The full press release is after the jump.

WICKLIFFE, Ky. -- Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site will be hosting a special exhibit about the Chickasaw Nation’s history from Aug. 1-March 31, 2011. 

The exhibit, called “Hina Lawa Linoatok: We Have Walked Many Roads,” consists of interpretive panels and details on the history of the Chickasaw people from their creation to the contemporary life of the Chickasaw Nation.   

The battering rams of debt and military/homeland security

spending are on a collision course.

Can the Left and Right even talk about it?