Environment

A commission that watches over the Ohio River's health across six states may give up setting pollution standards for the waterway, raising concerns it would weaken protections for a source of drinking water for 5 million people.

The Kentucky Emergency Management says severe storms producing heavy rainfall and tornadoes Saturday night caused flash flooding and property damage to homes and businesses. Some areas in the region were hit more directly than others. 

Update 10:30 p.m.

Sheriff's offices in several counties in the region are reporting trees, utility poles and lines down in the wake of Saturday's storms. Flooding issues are being reported region wide. Some structure damages and injuries have been reported.

The National Weather Service in Paducah says showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop Friday night. Heavy rainfall and worsening flood conditions can be expected.

1.5 to 2 inches of rainfall is expected between this evening and Saturday night. It will include a chance of thunderstorms and could increase flooding potential after the 4 to 6 inches of rain that fell this week.

Kentucky wildlife officials are proposing to allow hunters to kill hundreds more sandhill cranes in the state each year.

The Kentucky Division of Water is offering funding for projects protecting water resources. Projects can include cleaning up polluted streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater.

Emergency management officials in west Kentucky say people should be mindful of quick-flooding during two storms this week.

The National Weather Service is expecting between five to seven inches of rain through Sunday.

The west Kentucky region is expected to get two rounds of heavy rainfall this week.