John Walker

The McCracken County school board says walk through metal detectors are not a feasible safety measure for the community's new high school. Supervising Student Resource Officer Larry Zacheretti researched the option when a when a school board member inquired into the possibility of using the metal detectors. Zacheretti said an efficient metal detector screens 350 people every hour. He said screening 1,800 people every morning is not feasible. But he is confident in the district's safety measures already in place.

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is awarding nine counties across the region almost $3 million for asphalt rehabilitation projects. The funding progresses a number of road paving projects, including a section of U.S. 45 in Fulton County and U.S. 62 in Hopkins County. In all, nearly 60 asphalt rehab contracts were awarded throughout the state in April, totaling more than $27 million.

Kentucky's Council on Postsecondary Education approved a 3% ceiling for tuition increases for the 2013-14 academic year for in-state undergraduate students at Kentucky’s public colleges and universities. It is the smallest average tuition increase for Kentucky public institutions in 15 years. Last year the Council allowed up to a 5% increase.

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell will deliver Murray State's Spring commencement address on May 11th at MSU's CFSB Center.  Around 1,400 Murray State students  are expected to graduate. McConnell’s will be one of two nationally known political figures giving commencement speeches in Kentucky this May. Last week Eastern Kentucky University announced it will host First Lady Michelle Obama.

Murray State Faculty selected Math and Statistics Professor Renee Fister to serve as the Faculty representative on Murray State's Board of Regents. Fister beat Pat Williams with an overwhelming majority of the vote. Fister says she wants to work for faculty raises and increase morale. She says she wants to see the board be more cohesive.

Honeywell officials project lower employment levels when work resumes at the Metropolis plant this summer. The company announced in a letter to employees yesterday it plans restarting production by June.

The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office says the Hopkins County-Madisonville Public Library board subverted the Open Records Act by not producing renovation project documents requested two months ago by a local newspaper.

Politicians and Anglers are teaming up to stop the U-S Army Corps of Engineers from installing barriers next to its dams on the Cumberland River which will keep boats from accessing the dam’s tail waters. Senators Mitch McConnell, Lamar Alexander and Rand Paul, and Congressman Ed Whitfield took part in a “Freedom to Fish Rally” this weekend at Barkley Dam to protest to Corps’ plan.

Politicians and anglers are teaming up to stop the US Army Corps of Engineers from installing barriers next to its dams to keep boats from getting too close.

Sens. Mitch McConnell, Lamar Alexander, Rand Paul and Congressman Ed Whitfield took part in a “Freedom to Fish Rally” this weekend at Barkley Dam to protest to Corps’ plan.

Whitfield has introduced a bill in Congress called “The Freedom to Fish Act,” but he says the effort doesn’t stop there. 

President Barack Obama's proposed 2014 federal budget would give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ $163 million dollars for the Olmsted Locks and Dam project. The budget still needs to be authorized by congress. Corps of Engineers spokesman Jon Fleshman said finishing the projects as soon as possible is a priority.