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Tag: Kentucky

  • Multiple States Investigating TikTok’s Impact on Children

    Multiple States Investigating TikTok’s Impact on Children

    TikTok is the latest social media platform in the crosshairs, as multiple states are investigating its impact on children.

    TikTok is one of the fastest growing social media platforms, and has taken off during the pandemic. Despite its popularity, the platform has not been without controversy, especially in regard to minors.

    According to ABC News, TikTok is drawing all new scrutiny, with attorneys general for California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont joining forces to investigate the platform.

    “Our children are growing up in the age of social media — and many feel like they need to measure up to the filtered versions of reality that they see on their screens,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release. “We know this takes a devastating toll on children’s mental health and well-being.”

    TikTok has repeatedly been under fire over privacy concerns and how the platforms handles information about minors. The company settled a privacy suit in the US for some $92 million, while the EU has warned it about its data practices. TikTok has repeatedly been accused of violating the privacy of children, or failing to protect it. The company was also accused of telling moderators to “suppress uploads from users with flaws both congenital and inevitable,” including “‘abnormal body shape,’ ‘ugly facial looks,’ dwarfism, and ‘obvious beer belly,’ ‘too many wrinkles,’ ‘eye disorders,’ and many other ‘low quality’ traits.”

    With that kind of history, combined with its popularity, it’s no wonder so many AGs want to better understand the impact the platform is having on minors.

  • T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Expands Coverage in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio

    T-Mobile 5G Home Internet Expands Coverage in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio

    T-Mobile is continuing to expand its 5G Home Internet across the US, adding coverage in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

    T-Mobile has been offering 5G Home Internet, and we reviewed the service in late 2021. Overall, we found the service to be an excellent option, consistently delivering speeds above 120 Mbps. The service is a game-changer for customers who live in the rurals where traditional high-speed internet is not available. Even in urban areas, T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet often provides excellent speeds at a price that is highly competitive. Unlike many providers, which charge add-on fees and equipment rentals, T-Mobile charges a flat $50, with taxes and fees included.

    The company has announced it is expanding its service even more, adding coverage for 62 cities and towns across Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.

    “Thousands more households now have access to fast, unlimited high-speed internet, thanks to T-Mobile,” said Kentucky State Representative Mary Beth Imes, of Murray. “T-Mobile Home Internet has expanded access in Kentucky, bringing our state a real competitive option for broadband where many households are still left without any option or any good option. T-Mobile’s investment in our communities is helping thousands of customers stay connected at a time when it matters most.”

    Here’s the full list of new coverage areas:

    Indiana

    • Angola
    • Auburn
    • Bloomington
    • Bluffton
    • Columbus
    • Crawfordsville
    • Elkhart-Goshen
    • Fort Wayne
    • Frankfort
    • Greensburg
    • Huntington
    • Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson
    • Kendallville
    • Kokomo
    • Lafayette-West Lafayette
    • Logansport
    • Marion
    • Michigan City-La Porte
    • Muncie
    • New Castle
    • Richmond
    • South Bend-Mishawaka

    Kentucky

    • Bardstown
    • Bowling Green
    • Campbellsville
    • Danville
    • Elizabethtown-Fort Knox
    • Frankfort
    • Glasgow
    • Lexington-Fayette
    • Louisville/Jefferson County
    • Madisonville
    • Mayfield
    • Middlesborough
    • Murray
    • Owensboro
    • Richmond-Berea
    • Somerset

    Ohio

    • Akron
    • Athens
    • Cambridge
    • Canton-Massillon
    • Chillicothe
    • Cincinnati
    • Cleveland-Elyria
    • Columbus
    • Coshocton
    • Dayton-Kettering
    • Fremont
    • Jackson
    • Lima
    • Mansfield
    • Marietta
    • Salem
    • Sidney
    • Springfield
    • Steubenville
    • Toledo
    • Washington Court House
    • Wooster
    • Youngstown-Warren-Boardman
    • Zanesville
  • Kentucky Is at the Center of the ‘Great Resignation’

    Kentucky Is at the Center of the ‘Great Resignation’

    The Bluegrass State is at the center of the Great Resignation, as pandemic-fueled changes disrupt the workplace.

    When employers sent their workers home in the early days of the pandemic, few could have imagined the long-term impacts that move would have on the workplace. With return-to-office dates being pushed back time and again in the face of new COVID surges, many employees have no desire to return to the status quo. There is also near-unprecedented demand for workers as many are quitting jobs that no longer serve their needs.

    As reported by WAVE 3 News, Kentucky is leading this “Great Resignation,” with a ‘quit rate’ of 4.5%, double that of New York or Pennsylvania.

    While some politicians are quick to blame COVID unemployment benefits, others are not convinced.

    “The challenges in our labor market are complex,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “Some people wanted to say it was unemployment and the unemployment pay; you can’t get unemployment if you quit.”

    As WAVE 3 News points out, Kentucky has one of the highest hiring rates in the nation, which would seem to indicate many people are leaving jobs they’re not happy with in favor of jobs that suit them better.

    “I’m not going to stay somewhere that treats me badly just because it’s a consistent job. I’m not going to do it,” Cory Bosemer told WAVE 3 News. “I think a lot of people now, Kentucky or not, are starting to realize that.”

  • Livability Rates Lexington, KY a Top 100 Place to Live

    Livability Rates Lexington, KY a Top 100 Place to Live

    Lexington, KY may be known for bluegrass, bourbon, thoroughbreds and UK sports, but it is also in the top 100 best places to live.

    Livability, in partnership with Ipsos, conducted a survey of 1,000 adults across the US to determine what makes up the most desirable traits in a community. The company then ranked over 1,000 cities, ranging from 20,000 to 1,000,000 inhabitants, using 50 different data points.

    Lexington, KY came in at 57 on the list, driven by its dynamic nature and strong entrepreneurial ecosystem. Another major factor is Lexington’s central location, being within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the US population.

    “This year’s list is a testament to loving where you live, in a time where more of us than ever can live anywhere we want,” says Cara Sanders, Livability.com managing editor. “These past two years have shown us how important it is that the places we live meet our needs and offer up affordability, opportunity and plenty of amenities. If we can work from anywhere, then these 100 cities are places you would want to live and make remote workers’ needs a top priority.”

  • Ford Building EV Plants in Kentucky and Tennessee, Creating 11,000 Jobs

    Ford Building EV Plants in Kentucky and Tennessee, Creating 11,000 Jobs

    Ford has announced it is investing $11.4 billion to create four plants in Kentucky and Tennessee, bringing 11,000 jobs to the region.

    Like most auto makers, Ford is racing to transition its lineup to electric vehicles. The company is set on leading the industry, building on the success it’s had with the Mach-E.

    As part of its plans, Ford, along with partner SK Innovation, is investing $11.4 billion to build a truck factory in Tennessee, as well as three battery plans, one in Tennessee and two in Kentucky. The investment will create 11,000 new jobs, 6,000 in Tennessee and 5,000 in Kentucky.

    “This is a transformative moment where Ford will lead America’s transition to electric vehicles and usher in a new era of clean, carbon-neutral manufacturing,” said Ford Executive Chair Bill Ford. “With this investment and a spirit of innovation, we can achieve goals once thought mutually exclusive – protect our planet, build great electric vehicles Americans will love and contribute to our nation’s prosperity.”

    “This is our moment – our biggest investment ever – to help build a better future for America,” said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. “We are moving now to deliver breakthrough electric vehicles for the many rather than the few. It’s about creating good jobs that support American families, an ultra-efficient, carbon-neutral manufacturing system, and a growing business that delivers value for communities, dealers and shareholders.”

  • States Sue Google For Antitrust Violations

    States Sue Google For Antitrust Violations

    As predicted, a coalition of 10 states have sued Google for alleged monopolistic behavior in digital advertising.

    The DOJ filed a lawsuit against Google in October, accusing the company of abusing its monopoly in the search business. Shortly after, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned that state lawsuits would likely follow.

    The first of those lawsuits has now been filed, according to NPR, with 10 states accusing the search giant of similarly abusing its monopoly in online advertising. The states involved are Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Utah.

    “These actions harm every person in America,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a video announcing the lawsuit. “If the free market were a baseball game, Google positioned itself as the pitcher, the batter and the umpire.”

    Google has said the claims are “meritless” and vowed to vigorously defend itself in court.

  • Verizon Purchasing Kentucky-Based Bluegrass Cellular

    Verizon Purchasing Kentucky-Based Bluegrass Cellular

    Verizon has announced its intention to purchase Bluegrass Cellular, the oldest wireless carrier in Kentucky.

    Bluegrass Cellular serves rural areas in central Kentucky, and has approximately 210,000 subscribers in 34 counties. The acquisition of Bluegrass Cellular will help Verizon improve its coverage in the state.

    In many rural areas, Verizon has licensing agreements with local and regional carriers. In some areas, as a result of the licensing fees, Verizon has ended those agreements, leaving their own customers stranded. It appears Verizon is choose a different route with central Kentucky.

    “We are excited to acquire certain assets of Bluegrass Cellular and expand our footprint in Kentucky,” said Ronan Dunne, Executive Vice President and Group CEO, Verizon Consumer Group. “We look forward to welcoming Bluegrass customers and employees into the Verizon family and providing them with reliable wireless service alongside a best-in-class customer experience.”

    “We launched the first wireless company in central Kentucky 29 years ago,” said Ron Smith, President of Bluegrass Cellular. “We’ve always known that our customers were the most important part of our business, and we pride ourselves on playing an important role in connecting our community. I’m confident that Verizon will continue to be the same good neighbor that we’ve been and will provide crucial and reliable wireless connectivity to our rural communities.”

    The deal is subject to FCC approval. If it goes through, however, Bluegrass Cellular customers will not need to take any further action. Verizon will inform customers at a later date of what services are available to them.

  • Apple Donating Millions of Masks to Medical Personnel

    Apple Donating Millions of Masks to Medical Personnel

    Apple is donating millions of masks to medical personnel across the U.S. and Europe as health professionals grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

    As the pandemic continues to spread across the U.S., officials have been calling on other industries to help create or provide medical products. Kentucky bourbon makers are making hand sanitizer and auto makers have been called on to help make ventilators.

    In an announcement on Twitter, Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company is donating millions of masks to health professionals.

    Our teams at Apple have been working to help source supplies for healthcare providers fighting COVID-19. We’re donating millions of masks for health professionals in the US and Europe. To every one of the heroes on the front lines, we thank you.

    — Tim Cook (@tim_cook) 3/21/20

    Cook doesn’t elaborate on how the company acquired the masks, but Apple’s donation is sure to be appreciated by medical staff on both continents.

  • Kentucky Wins Facebook’s NCAA Bracket, Obama’s Too

    If you’re having trouble finishing your NCAA tournament bracket, you could turn to the largest social network in the world or the leader of the free world for help.

    Facebook mined all the posts and comments about all the teams in the field and filled out a bracket based on which teams garnered the most attention. Facebook’s Final Four is Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio St., and Duke, with UK playing Duke for the title.

    According to number of mentions, Kentucky is crowned national champion.

    Post by Sports on Facebook.

    Admittedly, this isn’t a very good way to make tournament picks. People could be talking a lot about a team, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to win. But in the case of Kentucky, it doesn’t seem like a bad bet.

    Over in the oval office, President Obama has completed his bracket as well. His Final Four looks a bit different, with Kentucky, Duke, Villanova, and Arizona advancing. Obama has UK facing Nova in the finals, with UK coming out on top.

    We wouldn’t exactly call this a bold prediction, but Obama isn’t known for his bold tournament picks. You kind of have to be diplomatic when you’re the President – can’t go knocking out a #1 seed in the second round or anything.

    Image via Kentucky Wildcats, Facebook

  • Obamacare: Mitch McConnell Wants It Gone

    Obamacare: Mitch McConnell Wants It Gone

    Republican Senator Mitch McConnell is in the midst of a fiercely competitive re-election campaign in his home state of Kentucky against Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes. However, the 72-year-old Minority Leader of the Senate is already talking about the future of Obamacare should he win in the upcoming election.

    McConnell recently told Fox News this week that taking aim at the Affordable Care Act is at the top of his list of priorities for next year, although he knows that getting rid of the law isn’t going to happen as long as President Obama is in office.

    “Obviously, he’s not going to sign a full repeal,” McConnell said.

    McConnell also knows that it would take 60 votes in the Senate to make it happen. “No one thinks we’re going to have 60 Republicans. And it would take a presidential signature. No one thinks we’re going to get that,” McConnell told Fox News.

    But Brian Gottlief, a Republican strategist for Purple Strategies, says that he thinks the GOP will bring up enough controversial pieces of Obamacare to force Democrats to take tough votes. “Issues like the employer mandate,” he said, “and the medical device tax will certainly come up for votes.”

    McConnell agrees.

    “There are pieces of [the law] that are extremely unpopular with the American public that the Senate ought to have a chance to vote on,” he said, mentioning that a number of Democratic senators already support the repeal on Obamacare’s tax on medical devices.

    “I’d like to put the Senate Democrats in the position of voting on the most unpopular parts of this law, and see if we can put it on the president’s desk and make him take real ownership of this highly destructive Obamacare,” he said.

    However there are some that no longer believe what Senator McConnell says.

    “He says he wants to rip Obamacare out ‘root and branch,’ but then flips days before his election and says he plans to surrender,” said Mary Vought, spokeswoman for the Senate Conservatives Fund, a group that has pushed Tea Party candidates in GOP primaries against establishment incumbents.

    But despite what McConnell’s hopes are, should Republicans take control of the Senate with the 114th Congress, his margin of control is likely to be much smaller than what Democrat Harry Reid currently holds. In addition, some of the new GOP senators will be replacing red-state Democrats who had already been voting with Republicans on many issues. This means that McConnell will get fewer votes on many bills than the numbers suggest.

    Republican Steve King (Iowa) still believes that the GOP should continue to vote to completely repeal the law to set an agenda for 2016.

    “It’s not so much about what could be passed but setting the agenda and debate for the next presidential race,” he said.

    President Obama still has two years in office and will most likely block any major changes to the law. After that, questions rise as to who will take his seat. If Hillary Clinton runs and wins, many of these arguments will be moot.

    In the meantime, many residents in McConnell’s home state of Kentucky are taking advantage of Kynect, Kentucky’s healthcare connection that is currently providing Medicaid and private insurance to more than 400,000 state residents.

  • John Wayne’s Family Sues Duke Univ; UK Fans Drink

    John Wayne is The Duke. Even though he died in 1979, he is still known to fans as The Duke, a nickname he had since childhood.

    Now John Wayne’s heirs are in a legal battle with Duke University over use of the word “Duke” in a product they want to market — a bourbon with John Wayne’s picture on the bottle.

    Apparently, both John Wayne Enterprises and the university hold trademarks to the name “Duke” — as does jazz legend Duke Ellington. On three occasions since 2005, when the Wayne family wanted to license a product, they have had to face the gauntlet from the Blue Devil lawyers.

    “Duke University does not own the word ‘Duke’ in all contexts for all purposes,” the Wayne lawsuit says. “Duke is a common word that has been used for centuries in a wide array of commercial and other applications wholly independent of Duke University. Yet by the actions alleged herein, Duke University seems to think it owns the word ‘Duke’ for all purposes and applications.”

    The family argues that Duke University has never been in the business of selling alcohol. They want a judge to agree that both parties can use the name without having to endure a barrage of legal maneuvering from the other every time they do.

    Duke University responded by saying, “While we admire and respect John Wayne’s contributions to American culture, we are also committed to protecting the integrity of Duke University’s trademarks. As Mr. Wayne himself said, ‘Words are what men live by; words they say and mean.’”

    The bourbon the Wayne’s want to license the Duke likeness and name to is a small batch Kentucky straight bourbon. Had Duke University never said a word against the bourbon, and given the long-standing rivalry between Kentucky and Duke on the basketball court, it is questionable as to whether UK fans would have bought a bottle of anything that said “DUKE” on the label. But now the enemy of my enemy may become my friend. Perhaps we can expect to see support from Wildcat fans and bourbon lovers.

    Image via YouTube

  • John Calipari Turns Down $60 Million Deal From Cavs

    Before signing a new contract with the University of Kentucky, John Calipari reportedly met with the Cleveland Cavaliers to discuss a $60 million contract.

    According to Yahoo Sports, Calipari and the Cavs had lengthy discussions about a possible contract before Calipari accepted the new 7-year, $52 million deal, from Kentucky.

    Had Calipari accepted their offer, it would have made him the president and coach of the team, and would have allowed him to have final say over any roster moves over general manager David Griffin.

    Dan Gilbert, the Cavaliers’ owner, was persistent in getting Calipari to accept the deal that would have guaranteed him $8 million per year.

    Rumors were circulating that Calipari would have taken the offer from the Cavaliers had the Harrison twins, Aaron and Andrew, decided not to return to play for Kentucky. Along with the Harrison twins, Willie Cauley-Stein, Alex Poythress, and Dakari Johnson will be returning to play for the Wildcats.

    The last time that Calipari coached in the NBA was in 2000 for the New Jersey Jets.

    The Cavaliers won last month’s lottery draft, making them the NBA draft’s number one pick. Along with Calipari, the Cavaliers have also met with the Clippers assistants Alvin Gentry and Tyronn Lue, the former Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro, the former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, Tom Izzo from Michigan State, and Billy Donovan from Florida. Lue and Hollins are said to have second interviews coming up, and Donovan has been keeping in touch with the Cavaliers about a possible position.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Alison Lundergan Grimes Releases Her First General Election TV Ad

    Allison Lundergan Grimes locked-in the Democratic nomination for Kentucky’s senate seat on Tuesday. Now the candidate is starting her media blitz in earnest.

    Grimes’ campaign this week released the candidate’s first general election TV ad. Titled “A Moment” the ad does not feature the hand-shaking and flag-waving that characterizes many early campaign commercials. Instead, Grimes directly addresses voters, distancing herself from President Obama and pledging bipartisanship.

    “And no matter who the president is, I won’t answer to them, I’ll only answer to you,” said Grimes.

    Grimes will have a hard fight ahead of her against Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican senator well-known for his fundraising and campaigning abilities. Grimes’ website announcement of the new ad shows that her campaign is taking McConnell seriously, with a Grimes spokesperson calling out McConnell directly as having “no intention of offering a plan for Kentucky’s future.”

    Voters in Kentucky are in for many (many) more ads throughout the summer and fall, as both Grimes and McConnell are amassing large campaign funds. With Grimes polling competitively with McConnell, the Democratic Party and its donors are smelling blood. Grimes is receiving massive support for her campaign in the hopes that she can topple one of the most well-placed and well-funded senators in office today.

    McConnell this week also won his primary race to become the Republican nominee for Kentucky’s senate seat. McConnell notched a solid win over his Tea Party-backed opponent, Matt Bevin, though the senator’s campaign did not take the challenger lightly.

    With the nomination safely in-hand, McConnell’s seasoned campaign staff can now focus on Grimes and the general election. McConnell’s campaign also released a new TV ad this week, one that is altogether more bombastic than Grimes’.

    Though the ad was directed toward primary voters, the ad does feature a pointed attack against Grimes. Around halfway through the ad a t-shirt depicting Grimes with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (and slyly associating her with the Reid quote “Coal makes us sick”) is shown. This demonstrates how McConnel’s campaign intends to portray Grimes to Kentuckians and is an early shot in a campaign war that is bound to get dirtier as election day approaches.

    Image via Youtube

  • Samantha Ramsey, 19, Shot Dead by Kentucky Deputy

    The Boone County, Kentucky Sheriff’s Department is investigating the fatal shooting of a teenage driver over the weekend by a deputy who claims the deceased was attempting to run him over.

    Deputy Tyler Brockman shot Samantha Ramsey, 19, of Covington, Kentucky, just after 2 a.m. Saturday, as she was leaving a bonfire party in a field along the Ohio River. A dash cam video recorded from Brockman’s cruiser depicts the deputy approaching Ramsey’s car, but didn’t capture the shooting. Brockman stated that after ordering Ramsey to stop her car, the teen accelerated, causing the deputy to roll over her hood and hit the windshield. One of Ramsey’s passengers, Chelsey Pendleton, claims that Brockman had willingly jumped onto the hood of the car from the side of the vehicle.

    Boone County Sheriff’s Department Spokesman Tom Scheben commented that deputies are trained to “protect themselves first” when suspects approach them with vehicles. Scheben adds that the investigation will be turned over to Commonwealth’s Attorney Linda Tally Smith, who will ultimately decide whether to refer the case to a grand jury. Statements will be taken from Ramsey’s passengers, as well as from witnesses who were at the party.

    Here is the full dash cam footage from Brockman’s cruiser:

    Pendleton’s mother Donna said that as her daughter was sitting in the back seat behind Ramsey, “She heard pop, pop, and she ducked. Then she heard pop, pop, and there was a bullet right where she (had been). If she had not have ducked, it would have been worse for her.”

    Ramsey had been convicted of drunk driving in Kenton County, Kentucky in August, and her license was suspended for 120 days. Kentucky considers anyone under 21 with a blood-alcohol level of 0.02 or greater to be legally drunk.

    Brockman was treated for a leg injury the morning of the shooting, which will be considered in the investigation, which is still pending lab results.

    Image via Facebook

  • Kentucky Mailman Jailed for Stashing 45K Letters

    Former Western Kentucky postal worker William “Brent” Morse has been sentenced to 6 months in a federal prison for hiding almost 45,000 pieces of mail he didn’t feel like delivering. According to David J. Hale, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, Morse is guilty of “destroying, hiding and delaying the delivery of at least 44,900 pieces of mail.”

    Morse, a mailman for five years, stored stacks of letters in his deceased mother’s home and in storage lockers he’d rented near his mail route in Dawson Springs, Kentucky. The hoarded mail was meant to be delivered to approximately 250 households in the Dawson Springs area between March, 2011 and March 2013. City police Capt. Craig Patterson commented, “He wanted to speed up his route. I think he was lazy.”

    Adel Valdes, a U.S. Postal Inspector in Louisville, stated that Morse’s reasoning was that “he wanted to pick up his kids from school every day at a certain time.” Morse, 34, was found out after he’d left the door to one of his storage facilities open, to where the owner of the locker noticed a large amount of undelivered mail and USPS equipment. The owner of the storage facility then alerted authorities.

    Morse wasn’t charged with theft of the mail, though he must pay almost $15,000 in restitution for losses incurred by two businesses that send out commercial circulars. The USPS has since delivered the wayward mail.

    Morse appears to be cut from the same cloth as Jerry Seinfeld’s oft-nemisis Newman:

    Image via Facebook

  • KFC Corsage: Put a Wing on it for Prom

    KFC Corsage: Put a Wing on it for Prom

    One fast food restaurant is taking prom wardrobe ideas to a whole new level.

    KFC recently teamed up with Kentucky florist company, Nanz & Kraft, to debut a fashionable, but yet irresistible corsage.

    The chicken franchise is now selling prom corsages embellished with baby’s breath flowers and an attached chicken drumstick.

    (Yea, I know. I’m thinking the same thing you are right about now.)

    Surprisingly, the $20 corsage is already attracting buzz online-specifically on Twitter.

    According to People, the KFC corsage is definitely a memorable piece to invest in:

    “Prom is about making memories, and what’s more memorable than being presented with this in front of your parents, and trying not to get chicken grease on your date’s rental tux?”

    The corsage doesn’t come with a piece of chicken, but instead a $5 gift card to any restaurant location. However, you could always make your way to KFC right before prom, buy your favorite styled chicken of choice, and place it on the tiny flower arrangement.

    One high school kid has already experienced how beneficial the KFC corsage is for a prom proposal:

    In KFC’s rather funny advertisement for the corsage, you can tell that the company is enjoying this idea a little too much.

    The advertisement reads:

    “Love can be awkward. Make it less awkward by surprising your date with a corsage that will make her eyes light up and her mouth water.”

    Clearly, they aren’t taking this too serious because the commercial is quite strange, but super funny-especially the kissing scene:

    KFC says that they only have an inventory of 100 corsages and 20 have already been sold, including an order for a wedding ceremony in Kentucky.

    So, if you’re interested in making a tasty fashion statement, move quickly because they are running out fast.

     Click here to buy a KFC corsage.

     Image via YouTube

  • Obamacare Paradox in Kentucky Could Affect Midterms

    The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, common called the ACA or “Obamacare”, is the hottest political topic in years. Even now, four years after it took effect, there are still regular battles to repeal it, weaken it, defund it, and disparage it.

    Everyone agrees that it did not end up being a piece of legislation that anyone was happy with. No one seemed to really get what they wanted out of it, despite months of carving up and dealmaking. It became the focus of the 2008 Presidential election. And any politician running for anything above dog catcher is asked where they stand on Obamacare. And some dog catchers are even ready with a non-answer answer.

    Commonly, Obamacare is unpopular in red states – those states that typically end up going for Republican candidates in Presidential races. But therein lies the curiosity. Red states tend to also be the poorest, with the most people on the rolls of Medicaid, Food Stamps and other such government programs. Those states actually stand to most benefit from the provisions of Obamacare, especially the expanded Medicaid provisions.

    Some say that this benefit is short-lived. They say that such spending will come home to roost when those Medicaid costs are handed back to the states in a few years. Others say that the overall savings due to having healthier citizens, fewer emergency room visits for non-emergency issues, as well as good preventive care will offset those expenses, putting things on the plus side in the end.

    No matter which set of numbers you believe, there is a fight brewing. Midterm elections are coming up. People like Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky are touting their opposition to Obamacare. His Tea Party opponent out-Herods him by saying McConnell doesn’t do enough to oppose Obamacare, painting McConnell as semi-buddies with Obama.

    But the portions of Kentucky that tend to vote for either of these men are racking up some of the biggest numbers in ACA enrollment in the nation. The Courier-Journal reports that more than 370,000 people have enrolled in the expanded Medicaid program or the public exchanges provided by the law. That is one out of every 12 Kentuckians. Kentucky’s ACA website has been the talk of the nation, with its two-term Democrat governor championing it as a way to pull his state out of poverty.

    According to the Secretary of State’s website, Kentucky has about 2.8 Million registered voters, though only about 1.7 Million seem to consistently vote. It has about half a million more Democrats registered than Republicans. It went for Bill Clinton both times, but since then the Dems seem to stay home or swing Republican on Presidential election day. On the other hand, It has had only 1 Republican governor in over 40 years, and he was only single-term. Its Secretary of State, Alison Grimes, is Democrat, and she is the presumptive candidate to challenge Mitch McConnell in the mid-terms.

    This mix of factors is making some people wonder where things might swing in the mid-terms. Might folks who have voted for Mitch McConnell over and over since the Reagan years end up either voting for Grimes – who already holds a higher office in the state? Or might they even stay home, choosing to sit this one out rather than vote in opposition to their own newly-acquired health care packages?

    It is a closely watched race, to be sure. And how this all will play out should make for some classic political theatre.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Mitch McConnell Ad Hits YouTube with Duke Championship Footage

    A new ad for Senator Mitch McConnell’s reelection campaign hit YouTube today, and it features one of the most egregious errors that a politician can make in the state of Kentucky: glorifying Duke basketball.

    For about a second, the new ad shows Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Lance Thomas embracing after winning the 2010 National Championship. If you remember, that’s when Duke knocked off the number 8-seeded Butler.

    Here’s the ad:

    UPDATE: Removed, of course. Joe Sonka grabbed it though. Thanks, Joe:

    UPDATE 2: The ad is back up, but with an edit–a still of Julius Randle where the Duke clip used to be. Also, comments have been turned off for this video. Comments aren’t turned off on Team Mitch’s previous ads. I guess they’re fearing the wrath of Big Blue Nation?

    And since it’s bound to come down once Team Mitch realizes their grievous error, here’s a screenshot:

    That’s not UK, Senator.

    It’s clear that Team Mitch simply mistook the blue & white of Duke for the blue & white of Kentucky-considering the frame right before the offending one featured a Louisville slam dunk (we see where they were going with it).

    But holy hell, what a mistake! And during Tournament time?

    UPDATE 3: A Team Mitch spokesperson has commented on the ad, according to WFPL (Louisville)’s Phillip M. Bailey:

    UPDATE 4: Mitch McConnell’s campaign team has pulled the revised ad featuring Julius Randle as well.

    [h/t Joe Sonka]

  • NCAA Tournament 2014: Sweet 16 Match-Ups Are Set

    After what could be called one of the most exciting first weekends in the history of the NCAA tournament, the Sweet 16 match-ups have been set. The first weekend was filled with upsets, and overtimes, and a No.1 seed even lost.

    Virginia, Florida, and Arizona all made it to the Sweet 16 fairly easily, but the Kentucky Wildcats were simply too much for the Wichita State Shockers, and the Shockers received their first loss of the season, keeping a No.1 seed from entering the round of 16.

    Several top seeded, and reputable teams such as Duke, Kansas and Syracuse all lost in the first weekend, and after Warren Buffet’s $1 billion bracket challenge started, no entry was perfect after the first round. Click here for a full look at the updated bracket, featuring all of the match-ups that will be seen on Thursday and Friday.

    Many people have had their brackets completely busted after the losses by the 2 and 3 seeds, but perhaps President Obama made some good picks, since his Final Four of Florida, Arizona, Michigan State, and Louisville, is still intact. He has Michigan State beating Louisville in the final, but Louisville has struggled in their first two games.

    A handful of incredibly exciting match-ups exist in the the round of 16, including in-state rivals Kentucky and Louisville, who both have something to play for. Louisville is the defending champion, and looks to do it again, while Kentucky was ranked No.1 to start the season, and has struggled since then.

    Three No.1 seeds will be playing the No.4 seed in the planned out scenarios, but there are a few wild match-ups as well, such as the No.10/No.11 game between Dayton and Stanford. One of the big No.1 vs. No.4 games to watch for is the Michigan State/Virginia game, following Michigan State’s Big Ten tournament victory, and Virginia’s ACC tournament win.

    One of the biggest surprises of the Sweet 16 could be the fact that all three SEC teams are still alive, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee and Florida, the only team that most people had predicted to get this far.

    The SEC had been perhaps the worst of the powerhouse conferences this season, and Tennessee barely made it in the tournament, but the Volunteers have made a huge statement with their past two games, and will face No.2 seed Michigan next.

    Post by NCAA Men's Basketball March Madness.

    The Sweet 16 round of the NCAA tournament begins on Thursday, and will tip-off with Dayton and Stanford at 7:15. Louisville and MSU, the two teams that President Obama, and many others have in their Final Four, will each be seen in action on Friday, in two of the best match-ups of the round of 16.

    Image via Facebook

  • Kentucky Fans Still the Most Basketball Obsessed, Twitter Data Shows

    When it comes to loyal and devoted college basketball fandom, there’s simply no place like my old Kentucky home.

    The University of Kentucky Wildcats have the most wins in the history of college basketball, and they also have the highest winning percentage. They’ve appeared in the NCAA tournament more times than any other team, and have won more games in said tournament than every other school in existence. Add all of this to the eight national titles under their belt and it’s undebatable that the Wildcats are the most storied team in history.

    These stats are impressive, but they don’t quite get to the number one reason why Kentucky basketball is basketball.

    What really makes Kentucky Basketball what it is are the fans. Not only do UK fans love Kentucky-they just love basketball on the whole. This year, Twitter data proves that when it comes to March Madness, nobody’s watching as closely as the Bluegrass State.

    According to Twitter, Kentucky is the #1 state in per capita mentions of “March Madness” or “#marchmadness.” Kentucky is followed by Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin–in that order.

    UK, an 8 seed, will face Kansas State, a 9 seed, tonight in the NCAA second (first) round. Tip off is set for 9:40 pm EST.

    Image via University of Kentucky, Facebook

  • Pastor Exposes Himself To Teenage Girl, Facebook Shares Lead To His Arrest

    As a frequent shopper of Kentucky’s many outlet and grocery stores, it’s not all uncommon to run into an odd character or two. It might be a heavyset middle-aged dude rocking a mullet and a shirt that looks like it’s not been washed since the 70s or it’s one of those families that make the Honey Boo Boo clan look normal. What I never expect to see is anything weird from the numerous pastors in the community, but there’s always an exception, right?

    WBKO reports that Kevin Lohse, the pastor at Woodlawn Baptist Church in Russellville, KY, was arrested after a woman reported that a man had exposed himself to her daughter in a local outlet store. Bizarrely, not only did this take place during the day, but he had his son with him at the time as well.

    What makes this story particularly interesting is that Lohse might have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for that pesky Facebook. After receiving the report, the police combed through surveillance footage and found a grainy image of the man. They posted the image on Facebook asking for any leads, and Lohse turned himself in after the image had been shared 645 times.

    After the arrest, the police department shared the following in the comments of the original post:

    This is a prime example of community policing. Due to an overwhelming number of people who have shared this photo, we now have charges pending against the perpetrator in this case. You are our most valuable resource…Thank you!

    This isn’t the first time, nor will it be the last, that Facebook has been used to catch criminals. More often than not, however, these criminals are the kind who publicly provoke and taunt police officers on Facebook themselves. While Lohse didn’t provoke police or share his own “wanted poster”, he would have been caught sooner or later as it’s hard to hide in a small town of 6,900 people when your face has been shared over 600 times on Facebook.

    Image via Russellville Police Department/Facebook