777 Tadhana casino.Claim Your Free 999 Pesos Bonus Today

Free weather alert radios available for hard of hearing Kentuckians?

Sarah Ladd — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 18:51:35 +0000

Virginia Moore’s widow, Row Holloway, tears up as she taps a Virginia bobblehead sitting on Gov. Andy Beshear’s lectern. (Screenshot)

Kentuckians who are deaf or hard of hearing can get free radios designed to alert other senses about dangerous weather through a new program named after the late Virginia Moore.?

These weather alert radios have been adjusted for the hard of hearing community. (Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)

Moore died on Derby Day in 2023 at 61. Before that, she interpreted? in American Sign Language news of many deaths and announcements about COVID-19’s hold on Kentucky for Gov. Andy Beshear during the worst of the pandemic.?

Moore served as executive director of the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. People who knew her have described her as a fierce advocate for the hard of hearing community.?

Now, an emergency preparedness program called “Moore Safe Nights” will honor that legacy.?

The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KYEM) used federal grant money to buy 700 radios that have vibrating and bright spotlight attachments specifically for people with hearing impairments.?

The vibrating attachment can go under a person’s pillow and shake them during an alarm. The other can be attached to a bed frame and it will brightly flash in the dark. They will also display text of alerts from the National Weather Service.?

“As Kentuckians know all too well, severe weather can strike at any hour; the most dangerous time is when people are sleeping,” Beshear said during a Thursday press conference. “The deaf and hard of hearing community is particularly vulnerable during this time, since they cannot hear the various alarms and severe weather sirens upon which most of us rely.”?

Anita Dowd, who serves as the executive director for the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, called the radios a “game changer.”?

“As one of the 700,000 Kentuckians with hearing loss, and mama to two daughters with hearing loss, I can personally attest to how profound the impact will be from this program,” Dowd said. “For people like myself who can’t access information through auditory channels, we often depend on our other senses to keep us aware. In a way, our eyes become our ears, and when we close our eyes and go to sleep, that access to awareness is gone.”?

Kentucky sign language interpreters embody others’ words, are servants at heart

Moore’s widow, Row Holloway, teared up as she tapped a Virginia bobblehead sitting on Beshear’s lectern.?

“I’m glad that her memory is still alive as she continues to serve people in Kentucky,” Holloway said.?

How to get a free radio?

You must live in Kentucky and be hard of hearing to qualify for this program.?

Eligible Kentuckians can go to https://www.kcdhh.ky.gov/msn/ or call 800-372-2907 or 502-416-0607 to apply for a radio. They will be distributed on a first come, first served basis, Beshear said.?

To watch a video in American Sign Language about this program, visit this site.?

Funding for the initial 700 radios came from an emergency preparedness grant and Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program funds, Beshear said.

“While only 700 radios are available under this initial funding, KYEM and all of us will seek additional funds to try to make sure one of these is available for absolutely everyone who needs them,” Beshear said. “I hope we get all 700 out very quickly.”?

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Kentucky Republican seeks to add coercive control to protective order statute

Sarah Ladd — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:05:02 +0000

Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, will propose expanding protective orders to also cover coercive control. (LRC Public Information)

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.?

You can also contact any of Kentucky’s 15 domestic violence programs.?

A Northern Kentucky Republican intends to file a bill that would add coercive control to Kentucky’s protective order legislation.?

Rep. Stephanie Dietz, R-Edgewood, presented a draft of her bill to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary Friday in Frankfort.?

“We’re all aware of the devastating effects of domestic violence on individuals, families and communities,” she said. “There is a significant gap in our current laws that we can address, and that is coercive control.”

Currently, someone in Kentucky can get a protective order if they’ve experienced physical violence or face immediate threat of physical violence. But some survivors face a more nuanced abuse, Dietz explained.?

“It involves a pattern of behavior aimed at undermining a victim’s autonomy and freedom,” she said of coercive control. “This can include manipulation, isolation, financial control and threats, none of which necessarily involve physical violence, but are equally devastating.”?

Coercive control is “consistent” and “repetitive” behavior in which one person exerts control over another through isolation, threats, surveillance, loss of financial freedom and medical access and more, explained Christy Burch, the CEO of the ION Center for violence prevention in Northern Kentucky.?

The ION Center provides free services, including emergency shelter, pet boarding and court advocacy to survivors of intimate partner violence in a 13-county area.?

Through “complete domination,” Burch explained, people in these situations can experience “a loss of total self.”?

Such control doesn’t always include physical violence, Burch said, though it can. People in these situations might lose access to money, not be allowed to drive or seek medical care and more, she said. They might be encouraged to quit their job, not hang out with their friends or be threatened with separation from their children.?

“Coercive control is utter control,” she told lawmakers. “We worked with (a) survivor who had three children. The kids were never allowed to play outside. Mom was not allowed to potty train kids. The abuser withheld soap, hygiene products, hygiene time, controlled food, controlled whether the children were allowed to school.”??

Allowing victims of coercive control to get protective orders, Burch said, would put Kentucky in line with eight other states that have coercive control language in their statutes. Another eight states, including Illinois, have similar language.?

Eight states have coercive control language in their statutes. Another eight states, including Illinois, have similar language.?(Screenshot)

Kentucky lawmakers hear about efforts to resolve dispute over access to abuse, neglect records

Sarah Ladd — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 22:53:49 +0000

Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball, center, spoke to lawmakers on July 30 about access to computerized records of child and elder abuse cases. Ombudsman Jonathan Grate is at left and Alexander Magera, general counsel in the auditor's office, is at right. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the state auditor’s office said Tuesday they are open to entering a memorandum of understanding to ensure the office of the ombudsman has the access it needs to a computer system that stores information about abuse and neglect cases.?

The two parties are still hashing out the language of such an agreement, though.?

This comes after some back-and-forth between the cabinet and state Auditor Allison Ball, whose office now oversees the ombudsman. That move happened on July 1 thanks to a new law enacted last? year by the legislature — Senate Bill 48 — that moved the office from the cabinet to the Auditor of Public Accounts.?

Welcome move to boost child protection in Kentucky trips over conflicting views of the law

The ombudsman, whose job it is to investigate and resolve complaints about cabinet agencies including protective services for children and elderly Kentuckians,, can’t do that job without access to iTWIST, (the Workers Information System), Ball testified before the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children.?

“I don’t think that there’s any issue about, any disagreement about, whether or not … we need the access,” she said. “It’s totally clear, we need the access. But right now, we’re being prevented from the access.”??

The database includes suspected child or elderly abuse and neglect case reports, investigations and findings records and other medically sensitive information.?

The cabinet believes access to the computer system iTWIST is limited by state law to cabinet social service officials under Kentucky Revised Statute 620.050, with some exceptions for certain parties within the cabinet, law enforcement and prosecutors, outside medical or social service officials and the parent or guardian of the child in question, the Lantern has reported.?

The state auditor’s office believes the ombudsman is covered under that statute.?

Eric Friedlander, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, left, and the cabinet’s general counsel Wesley Duke, testify to an interim legislative committee, July 30, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)

Eric Friedlander, Cabinet for Health and Family Services secretary, said SB 48, which reorganized several government operations, “was a big bill” and that all of its provisions have been carried with resoling access to the database being the only remaining stumbing block.?

“Everything has been done and completed — we have one issue,” he said. “And this is where we have a disagreement, but we will continue to try to work through it.”??

No need to further victimize children through legislative ineptitude or gubernatorial stubbornness

The auditor wants to make sure no language in a memorandum of understanding limits her access to the court system should she need it, she said.?

“We’re not trying to shut off their avenue to any court,” said Wesley Duke, the cabinet’s general counsel.?

Meanwhile, Ball said confidentiality is important to her and the new ombudsman, Jonathan Grate.?

“Of course, we’re going to comply with the law. Of course, we’re going to keep confidentiality,” Ball said. “Our goal is making sure the public is served, vulnerable communities are served, children are served, the elderly who are in positions of being possibly abused, these people are protected. So that is our goal. I believe them when they say that they want to do that, too.”??

Several lawmakers said they will pass legislation in 2025 to clarify the ombudsman should have access to the iTWIST system.?

Meanwhile, Ball said, complaints from the public continue to pour in.?

“It needs to be resolved very, very quickly,” she said. “We’ve had almost a month providing almost no services to these people who are being impacted by this.”?

IT glitch causing delays in flights, business operations globally

Paige Gross — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 15:31:55 +0000

Long queues of passengers form at the check-in counters at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, amid a global IT disruption caused by a Microsoft outage and a Crowdstrike IT problem, on July 19, 2024 in Manila, Philippines. A significant Microsoft outage impacted users globally, leading to widespread disruptions, including cancelled flights and disruptions at retailers globally. Airlines like American Airlines and Southwest Airlines reported difficulties with their systems, which rely on Microsoft services for operations. The outage affected check-in processes and other essential functions, causing frustration among travellers and lines to back up at many affected airports worldwide. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Editor’s note: The global glitch also delayed delivery of the Morning Lantern, our daily emailed newsletter, by 19 minutes. Not getting our free newsletter? Subscribe here

Air travel, banking, media and hospital systems are just some of the industries affected by a bug in a software update that has scrambled business operations for many globally Friday morning.

Many of those who use Microsoft Windows are likely experiencing a “blue screen of death” or an error page. The issue is due to a single bug in a software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, which provides antivirus software for Microsoft users.

The company pushed out an update to the software overnight, and at 1:30 a.m. EST, CrowdStrike said its “Falcon Sensor” software was causing Microsoft Windows to crash and display a blue screen, Reuters reported.

CrowdStrike President and CEO George Kurtz released a statement early Friday morning on X, saying that the incident was not a security concern or a cyberattack. He added that the issue has been identified and that the company has been deploying a fix.

“We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website,” Kurtz said.

The bug was causing major delays and cancellations at airports across the globe. Flight tracking data site FlightAware noted nearly 24,000 delays and 2,300 cancellations globally by 9:30 a.m. Friday. While some airlines have been able to resume operation of their digital systems, others are finding analogue solutions in the meantime.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said it was monitoring the situation and suggested those experiencing travel delays and cancellations to use its FlightRights.gov website to help navigate their delays in travel.

Some states’ 911 and non-emergency lines were experiencing issues, including Alaska, Virginia and New Jersey.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy released a statement early Friday morning saying that the state had activated its State Emergency Operations Center in response to the disruptions and has provided guidance to other agencies about how to work through the situation.

“We are also engaging county and local governments, 911 call centers, and utilities to assess the impact and offer our assistance.,” he said.

Microsoft released a trouble shooting guide on X early Friday morning.

By 10 a.m. Friday, some global companies were seeing relief in their outages. Downdetector, which tracks real-time outages, showed companies like Visa, Zoom, UPS and Southwest Airlines gaining more normal operations than they were experiencing in the early morning hours.

Speaking to the hosts of Today this morning, Kurtz said he was “deeply sorry for the impact we’ve caused to customers, to travelers, to anyone affected.” He said some customers have been able to reboot and are seeing progress getting online, and that trend will likely continue throughout the day.

Effects from the global IT outage Friday continued to be felt throughout the day, especially by government systems and transportation hubs.

Courts in Massachusetts and New York experienced disrupted service, as court transcription recording systems were not operational in some Massachusetts courthouses, the Associated Press reported.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, which runs its driver’s license offices, also closed their offices for the day, with “no current estimate” on when they will reopen.

Around 4 p.m. EST, Kurtz released more statements on X, reiterating that the outage was not a security breach.

“We understand the gravity of the situation and are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disruption,” he said. “We are working with all impacted customers to ensure that systems are back up and they can deliver the services their customers are counting on.”

Kurtz said the company is working on a “technical update and root cause analysis” that they will share with customers, and shared a letter that was sent to customers and partners.

“We know that adversaries and bad actors will try to exploit events like this. I encourage everyone to remain vigilant and ensure that you’re engaging with official CrowdStrike representatives. Our blog and technical support will continue to be the official channels for the latest updates,” it said.

“Nothing is more important to me than the trust and confidence that our customers and partners have put into CrowdStrike. As we resolve this incident, you have my commitment to provide full transparency on how this occurred and steps we’re taking to prevent anything like this from happening again,” it continued.

YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.

School ‘guardians’ bill advances despite GOP lawmaker’s call for more input from law enforcement

McKenna Horsley — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:22:35 +0000

A child crosses under caution tape at Robb Elementary School on May 25, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and 2 adults were killed. Dozens of officers from various agencies stood in the hallways for over an hour, reportedly confused about chain of command. If a school district has guardians, writes Teri Carter, what is the chain of command with SROs, the police, etc.? (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

FRANKFORT — A Republican bill aimed at increasing school security by enlisting armed “guardians” was approved by a Senate committee Thursday, despite concerns raised by Republican Sen. Danny Carroll, a former police officer, who called for more input from law enforcement.

Kentucky senator wants to expand school safety law with ‘guardians’ and mental health reports

The sponsor, Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, says Senate Bill 2 expands on the School Safety and Resiliency Act that he successfully carried in 2019. That bill was introduced in response to a mass shooting at Marshall County High School in 2018 that killed two students and injured others.

The portion of the bill that has gained the most attention would allow certified “guardians” to fill in for law enforcement officers in schools that do not currently have officers. Those eligible — including honorably discharged military veterans and retired or former law enforcement officers — would undergo special training.

Wise told the Senate Education Committee Thursday that his legislation has a “layered approach” to increasing school security while supporting mental health resources.?

“This bill is in no way replacing or removing any of the protective safeguards that we have in place when it comes to the security of our school campuses or the services provided to our students and our staff,” he said.?

The armed guardians would not have the authority to make arrests, unlike school resource officers, or SROs. Wise previously said 600 campuses do not have SROs for various reasons, primarily lack of funding and workforce participation.?

Danny Carroll (LRC Public Information)

Ten members of the committee voted in favor of the bill. Democratic Senate Floor Leader Gerald Neal, of Louisville, passed.?

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, voted against the bill. Carroll represents Marshall County and is a former police officer. “I have some concerns about the amount of input that law enforcement has had in this bill, in developing this, because this affects them directly,” Carroll said before adding that SROs could work directly with a guardian and their lives could depend on their response.?

Carroll also stressed that military training, mission and experience are different from that of trained law enforcement officers.

Wise replied that he had reached out to the Department of Justice and police officers, who have also reviewed versions of the bill. He said his door is open to supporters and opponents and changes can be made before his legislation would be implemented in 2026.?

While explaining his yes vote, Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas, of Lexington, said that lawmakers should be cognizant that such legislation could lead to schools becoming “fortresses” in the future and could instill fear in Kentucky’s students.?

“They’re going to see more and more people with more and more guns and that’s going to have? a real impact on how they view school and their ability to learn,” he said.?

Cathy Hobart, a volunteer with the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action, was the only member of the public who spoke against the bill. She said Wise’s provisions surrounding mental health in the legislation would have a positive effect, but the sections for using armed guards are problematic and would not stop violence.?

“Safe schools are built on trusting relationships among students, staff and administrators,” she said. “The most important thing that a school can do to prevent active shooter incidents and gun violence overall is to intervene before a person commits an act of violence.”?

Other states have similar programs. After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Florida established a school guardian program.?

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.

Lexington leaders appeal for peace in Mideast, mutual respect at home

Lantern staff — Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:48:22 +0000

An Israeli tank near the border with Gaza, Nov. 28, 2023. Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton on Tuesday released a joint statement with religious, civic and business leaders in Kentucky’s second-largest city appealing for peace in Gaza and Israel and respect for a diversity of views at home.

Gorton, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers and a group of Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian leaders in Lexington have been working on the statement since October, according to a release from Gorton’s office.

In addition to calling for peace in Gaza and Israel, the statement expresses “a united stance” to “keep Lexington peaceful, and all of its residents safe “at a time when there have been extremist attacks on Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities around the country.”

“Lexington is saying ‘not here’,” Gorton said.

Ten members of the Urban County Council have signed the statement. Business, faith, education, and civic leaders have also voiced their support, said the release.

Lexington residents are invited to sign he statement by sending their name and address to [email protected]. Residents are welcome to include the organization they represent.

The statement follows:

Harvey to retire as Justice and Public Safety Cabinet secretary

McKenna Horsley — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 21:27:48 +0000

Kerry Harvey (KETscreenshot)

Kerry Harvey, the secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, will retire at the end of January.?

Gov. Andy Beshear, who was recently reelected, made the announcement during his weekly press conference Thursday. The governor thanked Harvey for his service and added that Harvey’s decision was “his choice and his choice alone.”?

“He has been a tremendous asset to our team, and he has taken every challenge head on,” Beshear said. “He has been a true public servant in so many different roles, and he’s made Kentucky a better place to call home during his career. No one deserves retirement more than someone who from Day One has worked for our people. It’s always difficult to lose someone on your team who brings creative solutions.”

In a statement, Harvey called it an honor to serve Kentucky as the secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.?

“I have been blessed to work with an executive team comprised of talented, mission-oriented people who work hard every day for the people of Kentucky and who are tasked with meeting some of the most difficult challenges facing our society,” Harvey said. “It has been a special privilege to serve with the more than 7,000 men and women of the cabinet and I’m proud to be associated with their work.”

Harvey added that the commonwealth “has made great advances under the leadership of Governor Beshear and Lt. Governor Coleman, and I’m sure the best is yet to come.” He said working with the Beshear administration was a career highlight for him.

Harvey was appointed by Beshear in 2021, along with Vicki Reed, the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice commissioner. Reed recently announced her resignation, which is effective Jan. 1.?

Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly have been critical of both Harvey and Reed, calling for a “change in leadership” during the 2023 regular session. Before that, reports of violence in Kentucky’s juvenile justice system regularly made headlines, including a riot in Adair County during which a girl in state custody was allegedly sexually assaulted and employees were attacked at a youth detention center in Warren County. The Department of Juvenile Justice has also faced persistent staffing issues.?

Harvey was the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky between 2010 and 2017. In that role, Harvey created the Overdose Prosecution Initiative to combat the opioid epidemic in Kentucky.

Morgan Hall, the communications director of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, said Harvey’s retirement will be effective Feb. 1.

“His leadership has been instrumental in expanding reentry services, advocating for raises for public safety officers, implementing positive changes to the juvenile justice system, supporting law enforcement and creating more secure facilities for those in state custody.”

One arts gathering flees, another cancels after confrontation in Harlan County

Jamie Lucke — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 09:50:36 +0000

Pine Mountain Settlement School's Charlotte F. Hedges Memorial Chapel, designed by architect Mary Rockwell Hook was built 1922-24. Italian immigrant Luigi Zande, a stonemason, worked on the building. (Photo from Pine Mountain Settlement School Collections)

This story has been updated with a statement released Wednesday by Pine Mountain Settlement School.

An Appalachian arts nonprofit’s gathering at Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County ended abruptly last weekend after local residents objected to the group’s presence in the chapel, raising concerns among attendees about their safety.

A statement issued by the Waymakers Collective says participants decided to end their annual assembly a day early “for the safety of everyone in attendance,” including the school’s staff.

The decision to leave came after “a group of white men and women in trucks and on ATVs from the surrounding” area blocked exit roads and paths and demanded that conference participants leave the chapel.

“We were shocked by this as we had rented out the entire campus of PMSS for our event and were treating the entire property with respect and in the manner we had communicated to PMSS prior to the event,” the Waymakers statement said.

Statement from Harlan County Sheriff Chris Brewer:

“On Saturday August 19th, the Harlan County Sheriff’s Office received a call that a group who had rented the PMSS were in the chapel which was not part of the rental agreement. The staff requested assistance from HCSO just to be present and keep the peace as they asked the group to vacate the chapel. Upon the arrival of HCSO Deputies, KSP was already on scene and the group stated that the chapel was included in their rental agreement but they would voluntarily vacate the chapel. HCSO Deputies remained at PMSS for several hours out of precaution to keep the peace. At this time there is no criminal investigation being conducted by HCSO.“

Kentucky State Police and the Harlan County sheriff’s office were called to the scene Saturday but no charges or arrests were made.

Harlan County Sheriff Chris Brewer said deputies remained at the campus “for several hours out of precaution to keep the peace.” He also said his office is not conducting an investigation.

The? confrontation has already cost the school one event. Nicole Garneau, organizer of the Rebellious Performance Retreat, said she is moving the five-day immersive theater workshop from Pine Mountain Settlement School, where it had been scheduled to be held over Labor Day weekend.

“I cannot host a retreat dedicated to supporting artists working on challenging material in a place where we do not feel safe,” Garneau told the Lantern in an email.?“I will be sharing the new location of the retreat only with people who are registered.”?

A statement released Wednesday by the Pine Mountain Settlement School said that photos of the conference posted on social media, especially of the chapel, “upset some members of the local community, who interpreted this as non-Christian.” They reached out to interim director Jason Brashear and board of trustees chair James Greene who asked the Waymakers to vacate the chapel.

“The Collective agreed they would relocate the space at their next class break. However, some community members decided on their own to come to campus, entering the chapel, and blocking access to buildings and roads,” says the PMSS statement.

The statement, printed below, says the school “is reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure that this type of misunderstanding does not occur in the future and to ensure the safety of all guests, visitors, and staff. Pine Mountain will continue its tradition of being open and welcoming to all as well as to promote mutual understanding among all those it serves.”

Founded in 1913 and set on 800 acres, the Pine Mountain Settlement School is a national historic landmark. It once served as a boarding school for young Kentuckians; its residence and dining halls and other buildings still host visitors and events throughout the year, including wildflower and fall color weekends.

Brashear, the interim director, said 5,000 students visited last year to hike, study nature and learn square dancing and crafts.

The Kentucky Arts Council provides operating support to the school “from state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts,” according to the PMSS website.

The Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, which raises money to preserve Kentucky forests and natural habitats, has held artists weekends at the campus. The land trust, Kentucky songwriter Daniel Martin Moore and 40 musicians teamed up in 2019 to produce a double album titled “Pine Mountain Sessions” recorded in the school’s chapel which benefited KNLT and the school.

The Waymakers Collective, which says it has distributed more than $1 million in grants to Appalachian artists and arts organizations, describes itself as “a multiracial group that is also inclusive of queer and trans people.”?

The Waymakers’ statement said that for its annual gathering the chapel had been set up as space “for rest and quiet reflection” and “healing.”

“The set up of the room included pillows, meditation cushions, soothing lights, plants, crystals, and some artwork including a painting that included an ‘Om’ symbol,” the statement said.

“It was a spa-like environment to help facilitate restorativeness, rest, and reflection.”?

“Our coordinator specifically asked if there were any special instructions that should be honored in the chapel,” the statement says. “The only instructions given were not to move the pews as the floors were recently resurfaced. Our team requested two tables in the chapel to display aromatherapy oils and other items for the participants, and upon our arrival, the tables were set up?by the PMSS staff.”

On Saturday, a few conference participants were “gathered in the chapel to rest: taking naps or sitting in quiet reflection or prayer” when two men and a woman who were not part of the group entered and sat apart watching, said the statement.

More people arrived, said the statement, and conference attendees were told that they were “desecrating a Christian space” amid demands that they leave, according to the statement, which also said the local residents used “their vehicles to block the roads and paths to exit.”

The settlement school staff intervened and separated the two groups, said the statement.

“The group of people who entered the chapel stayed for over an hour, often lingering on the outside of where we were gathered as though to tell us we were not welcome and were being watched,” the statement said.

The statement says they later learned that Facebook posts had accused the group of “desecrating the chapel and other horrible allegations that simply are not true.”

The weekly Tri-City News, also of Harlan County, in an article posted on its Facebook page, reported that Bledsoe resident Tate Napier said that he was part of a group of “eight or nine” who entered the chapel “because we wanted to make sure the House of The Lord wasn’t being disrespected.”?

Napier is quoted as saying, “The people in the chapel said they were doing nothing wrong, and I asked if they were in there to worship Jesus, and a few started raising their voices at me, so I told them to just get their stuff — that we weren’t there to argue, and I even helped them gather their things and pack them to their cars. After that all happened, the state police and sheriff deputies showed up, and they agreed to stay out of the chapel, but then, ultimately, they decided to leave because they said they felt unsafe.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Napier posted on his Facebook page that he had received a lot of requests from reporters and journalists — the Lantern sent him a direct message via Facebook — seeking interviews but that he had decided to “leave it” with the interview he gave “a local journalist” on Saturday.

“The news and social media are tools the devil uses the most to stir up division, and I don’t want to partake in anymore,” he said.

Garneau, an actor who has performed at the settlement school, said the decision to cancel the Labor Day weekend performance retreat had left her angry and sad.

“I have attended many wonderful gatherings at Pine Mountain Settlement School, many of which were dedicated to social and racial justice. Rural Eastern Kentucky needs a place like PMSS where people can come together to make Kentucky, and the world, a better place,” she said.?

“I am angry and sad that some members of the Harlan community decided to violate a sacred space for healing, and in so doing, traumatize an entire community of folks gathered at PMSS. I fear this will have repercussions for years to come.”?

The Waymakers Collective statement ended with an invitation to the settlement school staff and leadership to “think, with us, about how to ensure Pine Mountain Settlement School continues to be the inclusive, beautiful, and hospitable place it has historically been for many of us — including how best to communicate with potential guests what your boundaries are for the use of your campus.”

Pine Mountain Settlement School statement on events of Aug. 19, 2023

On the weekend of August 18th, the Waymakers Collective, an Appalachian Arts and Culture Assembly, rented the facilities and grounds of Pine Mountain Settlement School for their annual retreat. While this group was engaged in their meeting, several images were posted on the Waymakers’ social media, depicting their classes and events. The images, particularly those showing a healing space set up in the chapel, upset some members of the local community, who interpreted this as non-Christian. They reached out to the School’s Interim Director and, later, the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

To address these concerns and avoid misunderstanding, the Interim Director and Chair of the Board asked the Waymakers Collective to relocate their healing space to another building. The Collective agreed they would relocate the space at their next class break. However, some community members decided on their own to come to campus, entering the chapel, and blocking access to buildings and roads. The Waymakers Collective felt threatened and called law enforcement.

The Interim Director was out of town but in communication with all parties throughout the afternoon. The School’s program lead came to campus to help defuse the situation. She arrived before law enforcement and isolated each group, listened to each group’s concerns, and communicated those to the Interim Director. It was decided that the chapel would remain vacant and be locked to avoid further conflict. Most community members had left by the time the authorities arrived. Afterwards, the Waymakers Collective ended their retreat early and left campus.

This incident happened at a private function on the Pine Mountain Settlement School campus.? The Waymakers Collective was responsible for the planning and content of their retreat. The School prepared meals and offered lodging and meeting space.

Pine Mountain was founded upon principles of the social settlement movement, which stressed building bridges between people of diverse backgrounds and circumstances, promoting mutual respect and understanding, and coming together to promote the common good. ? The School, across its hundred and ten years, has operated in keeping with this tradition. In 2016, the Board of Trustees adopted the following set of core values reflective of Pine Mountain’s settlement heritage, developed collaboratively by staff, trustees and community members.

CORE VALUES

Education
We provide immersive and practical educational experiences for all ages because education changes lives.

Fellowship
We strive to build bridges between people of diverse backgrounds promoting an exchange of culture, ideas and history to generate mutual respect and learning.

Community
We collaborate with our communities on common goals fostering self-respect and neighborliness and building leadership capacity.

Stewardship
We steward our natural and built environment, providing inspiration and tools for others to join with us to protect life on earth.

Spirituality
We draw on our historically inclusive Christian spirit to create a place where bodies, hearts and minds can grow.

Pine Mountain Settlement School will always be an inclusive space for those who strive to explore, learn, or break bread together. We have not—and will never—share the values of those who oppress, endanger, or silence others, and we will continue to welcome everyone to our historic campus in a manner consistent with our mission and tradition. The School is reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure that this type of misunderstanding does not occur in the future and to ensure the safety of all guests, visitors, and staff.? Pine Mountain will continue its tradition of being open and welcoming to all as well as to promote mutual understanding among all those it serves.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife gives safety tips about black bear sightings

Lantern staff — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 19:58:49 +0000

As the summer season begins, wildlife officials are advising Kentuckians about possible black bear sightings.?

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife says that sightings of black bears are common across the state. Encounters with the animals are possible, too, especially in early summer.?

Recent sightings have been reported in eastern, southeastern and southcentral Kentucky, the department said in a press release.?

Bears may be spotted in places like rural farms, residential areas, and occasionally in a town or city as “young males disperse from their primary range in eastern Kentucky to establish new home ranges for themselves and search for mates,” the department said.?

John Hast, wildlife biologist and bear specialist with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, said in a statement that young male black bears can go to a more populated area unintentionally.

“They are on their own for the first time and just discovering humans,” Hast said. “They are generally wary of people and will keep moving to exit a populated area on their own, usually at night when humans are less active.”

Young male bears are pushed out of areas where they were raised by older, dominant males. In a day, bears can travel 20 miles or more if undisturbed. The department said the bears “may wander up to several weeks or more into unfamiliar territory” looking for a suitable habitat and mates before returning to a mountainous area. Eastern Kentucky and the Ozarks region of Missouri have burgeoning bear populations.?

Hast said that if bears are afraid of an unfamiliar sight, sound or location, they may “easily get lost and wander further into a town or city instead of away.” If people see a bear, they should not engage with it and remove potential food sources. That can encourage bears to keep moving.?

Adverse encounters are extremely rare. Black bears have a natural fear of people and dogs.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife truck (Photo provided)

“Kentucky Fish and Wildlife advises the public to never approach or feed a bear, which can result in a negative encounter,” the press release said. “If you ever encounter a bear, keep a safe distance and never approach it. If you feel a bear is posing an immediate danger, call local law enforcement immediately.”

If a bear is spotted near your home, secure your garbage in a garage or other building, do not leave pet food outside and clean and securely store barbecue grills. This can also be applicable to prevent wildlife problems in general. Additionally, do not feed birds in bear range or near where a bear has been spotted recently.?

Intentionally feeding bears violates Kentucky law. Hunting bears is also regulated in the state and is limited to defined seasons within established bear zones in the eastern part of the state to sustain the animals’ population.?

For more information about black bears visit www.bearwise.org or go to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s website, fw.ky.gov, and search keywords “black bear.”

University of Kentucky safety researchers urge more training for delivery truck drivers

Jamie Lucke — Fri, 12 May 2023 15:00:14 +0000

UPS is a microcosm of what’s happened to workers across the state and country in recent decades. In 1982 and again in 2018, the company established new compensation tiers that meant much lower wages for newly-hired and part-time workers, the latter of whom are now 60% of the UPS workforce. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Terry Bunn

LEXINGTON — A University of Kentucky researcher is recommending more training for drivers of medium- and light-weight trucks based on a study of injury reports.

Terry Bunn, director of the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, said drivers of smaller trucks who were injured in crashes lost more work time than drivers of heavy trucks injured in crashes.

Also, drivers who were injured in smaller trucks tended to be younger than those injured in crashes involving heavy trucks.

“Heavy-truck drivers have to undergo mandatory training. They have to have the certified driver’s license. They’re under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations. The light- and medium-truck drivers are not,” Bunn said.?

“And that’s pretty much what I’ve recommended out of this study: Companies need to establish mandatory driver training for their drivers.”

Bunn and three other researchers studied 11,790 first-reports-of-injury filed from 2010 to 2019 with the workers compensation program in Kentucky. Their study?was published in December in the Journal of Safety Research.?

Drivers younger than 25 accounted for 12% of reported injuries in light- and medium weight trucks compared with 4% in heavy trucks.

The workers comp reports also revealed a significantly higher percentage of light- and medium-truck drivers with lost work time due to injuries compared to heavy-truck drivers.?

The period under study was before the COVID-19 pandemic produced a surge in e-commerce and deliveries.?

To ensure valid results, Bunn said, at least five years of data would be needed before updating the study to see what effects, if any, increased e-commerce and deliveries had on injury trends.?

Heavy trucks refer to those weighing more than 26,001 pounds, including semis, coal trucks and dump trucks.?

“Medium” refers to trucks weighing 10,000 pounds to 26,000 pounds; “light” refers to trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or less such as utility vans.?

The most common light and medium trucks in Bunn’s data were delivering retail and wholesale goods.?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has also recommended training for light-truck drivers, said Bunn, although little research has been done on accidents involving smaller trucks, in contrast to a large body of research on heavy truck safety.

Driving a truck is a risky job. The occupational fatality rate was 27.2 deaths per 100,000 truck drivers in 2019 compared to the overall U.S. rate of 3.5 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers. That year, 471 truck drivers suffered on-the-job fatal injuries.?

One of the UK study’s limitations, Bunn said, was not being able to determine from the workers comp data who had been at fault in a crash. “The next study that needs to be done” would include data showing who was at fault, she said.

The analysis showed that rear-end crashes, running redlights and turning in front of other vehicles were the most common reasons cited for injury crashes involving light and medium trucks.?

The researchers recommend that employers of light and medium trucks provide targeted training to drivers who have been in crashes to address distracted driving and preventing rear-end crashes. “In-vehicle monitoring systems, which help identify risky driving behaviors, might be considered as effective in increasing driver safety,” said Bunn.

Among heavy truck drivers, collision, sideswipe, rollover, jackknife, vehicle upset and unclassified crashes involving sudden stops or starts were the most common causes of injuries. The researchers recommended enhanced driver safety training on speeding on narrow roadways, nearing intersections and downshifting on hills for heavy truck drivers.?