SPECTRUM NEWS 1 CORONAVIRUS BLOG

KENTUCKY — This week, the Small Business Administration released loan-level data on businesses that received Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or more. Included in the data is roughly 6,400 Kentucky-owned businesses.

The data includes information such as business names, addresses, business type and more; however, it doesn't provide exactly how much money each business received. Rather, it provides ranges that each business falls into:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Meat and dairy farmer Kenya Abraham of Slak Market Farm says the pandemic and social distancing measures that led to economic distress have made the challenges of small farmers more pronounced.

"If I have a cow and I want to process my bull, it’s illegal for me to go to a custom slaughterhouse and this is a facility where these animals are butchered professionally, package that meat, now I’ve got 400 pounds of hamburger and some steaks. I cannot sell to you if you came to my farm store for a package of hamburger," said Abraham over Skype from her farm in Lexington, Kentucky.

KENTUCKY – In-person unemployment insurance (UI) services are headed to Covington and Prestonburg next week.

People in need of assistance can make appointments online for both locations. The Covington event will go from July 13 to 14 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. while the Prestonburg event will go from July 14 to 15 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced Thursday that Kentuckians must wear face coverings in many situations if the state is going to stop the increase of COVID-19 cases and continue to reopen the economy safely.

“The No. 1 thing a mask can do is protect the health and the life of yourself and those around you,” said Beshear. “It can make sure we don’t lose more people than we should, it can keep our cases down and it can help us continue to reopen our economy.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Norton Healthcare’s Dr. Mona Lisa Tailor says wearing a face covering is still one of these best ways to reduce the spread of the coronavirus and debunks the myth asymptomatic people are incapable of spreading the illness.

“The virus with an asymptomatic person, it has more opportunity to find new hosts so that’s where this risk comes in. That’s why everyone needs to be wearing a mask because if you’re asymptomatic, you don’t know you have it,” Dr. Tailor said.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington Fayette County Health Department reported that in the last week, they have seen an increase in the number of positive cases in the community. A new testing center in Lexington is now open in the east end of downtown to expand their testing in different neighborhoods.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville's athletics schedule is forced to adjust after the Atlantic Coast Conference announced each of its fall Olympic Sports will delay competition until at least Sept. 1.

"The decision allows each campus to further focus on ensuring return to competition protocols are in place to facilitate the resocialization process," said a press release from the ACC.

LORETTO, Ky. ⁠— The Maker's Mark distillery has reopened to visitors and resumed tours.

Similar to other distilleries in the state, Maker's Mark is implementing new health and safety measures. For instance, masks are required and tour groups are limited to eight people.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington's Mobile Neighborhood Testing program will be arriving in the East End of downtown this week.

The program, meant to increase testing in areas with disproportionate increases in cases, offers free drive-up and walk-up testing.

RICHMOND, Ky. – An email to students from Eastern Kentucky University interim president Dr. David McFaddin on behalf of the school’s Fall Contingency Planning Task Force outlines preparations for the fall 2020 semester amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

COVINGTON, Ky. — Testing for COVID-19 is expanding.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ky. ⁠— A Franklin County lawsuit filed Tuesday calls on Kentucky's election officials to extend no-excuse absentee voting to the November general election.

The Fair Elections Center, along with the Kentucky Equal Justice Center and Kaplan Johnson Abate & Bird LLP, filed the lawsuit.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky is joining the national fight against coronavirus.

The university is now part of the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C), a partnership of clinical institutions affiliated with the National Center for Advancing Translational Science (NCATS) to use data against COVID-19. NC3 includes clinicians, informaticians and biomedical researchers who are turning data from COVID-19 patients' medical records into treatments and predictive analytical tools.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Foremost Group, a shipping company run by Transporation Secretary Elaine Chao's family, received at least $350,000, but potentially up to $1 million, in possibly forgivable loans as part of the coronavirus relief Paycheck Protection Program. Chao is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

"Neither my wife nor I have anything to do with that business and didn't know anything about it," McConnell said when asked by Spectrum News 1 at an event in Simpson County Tuesday.

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. — Parents will have an additional role as public schools are scheduled to reopen in Kentucky next month.

It's part of the guidelines released by the Kentucky Department of Education.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Community Action Agencies across Kentucky are accepting applications for the new Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Cooling Program.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Universities around the country have begun announcing plans for the 2020-2021 school year, many taking advantage of online opportunities. The study abroad program at Western Kentucky University is planning to do the same.

Due to COVID-19, students can no longer fly to their abroad experience, but WKU plans to bring a global experience to students virtually.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two hotels situated in downtown Louisville are extending employee furloughs, a move that will impact 235 jobs.

The Marriott and Hotel Distil, run by White Lodging, announced in March they would furlough employees for less than six months. Now, given the economic impact brought on by the pandemic, furloughs will be extended past the six month mark.

HARDIN COUNTY, Ky. — Parents in Hardin County have a big decision to make over the next month.

The school district released its plan that gives two options: either fully commit to class in an actual classroom or stay home and learn online.

UK President Eli Capilouto announced the school’s plan for the fall 2020 semester in a June 16 email. The 187-page plan, officially called the “Playbook for Fall 2020,” is a collaborative effort describing the protocols being implemented to have classes while protecting the “health, safety and well-being” of students, faculty and staff, according to the email.

Senior Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Development and Associate Professor of Health, Behavior and Society Kathryn Cardarelli, Ph.D., said the safety of the faculty, staff and students is always the top priority of the institution.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Parks and Recreation is opening three outdoor pools this week, Algonquin, Fairdale, and Sun Valley.

Beginning Tuesday, July 7, Fairdale's pool will open at 11 a.m. Sun Valley's pool will open Wednesday followed by Algonquin on Thursday. Each pool will be open two days a week from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Faith leaders from across the country are urging Congress to maintain their support for international aid even as the coronavirus is putting an unprecedented strain on the American economy.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — LinkedIn recently launched a new feature that helps job seekers identify in-demand skills and apply for jobs.

“I’m really glad to see them roll something like this out because obviously with the pandemic, a lot of people have been furloughed, been laid off, or their companies have gone out of business,” said Dave Hatter, a cybersecurity consultant with IntrustIT. “The timing is really excellent for folks who are looking for a job.”

LEXINGTON, Ky. — There are usually pride events all over the country this time of year, but due to coronavirus concerns, many were canceled. For the Faulkner Morgan Archive, an organization dedicated to sharing LGBTQ history in Kentucky, a newly released self-guided walking tour called "Pride of Place" is helping fill part of that void.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Health experts fear that children will fall behind on vaccines due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A decline in pediatric visits during the COVID-19 pandemic has put many children behind the curve on routine vaccinations, a trend that could put the community at risk.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This holiday weekend marks a time worth celebrating at the Kentucky Science Center. After months of closure because of the coronavirus, the Kentucky Science Center reopened to members on July 4.

It will remain open to members through July 5, officially reopening to the public July 11 and 12.

RICHMOND, Ky. — Three student athletes and three athletics staff members from Eastern Kentucky University have tested positive for COVID-19.

EKU did not say which sport the students and staff belong to.

VERSAILLES, Ky. — It's a favorite activity on hot days, marking the unofficial start to summer: swimming pools.

While many pools remain closed this season due to COVID-19, one outdoor pool at Falling Springs in Versailles is open for business. It's one of the only public pools in the metro Lexington area to open up to swimmers of all ages.

WALTON, Ky. — Fans have returned to racing in Northern Kentucky.

Earlier this week, a Boone County judge issued a temporary restraining order against several of Gov. Andy Beshear's (D) executive orders, allowing Florence Speedway to increase its capacity.

BOONE COUNTY, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear (D) is filing paperwork to move a Boone County lawsuit against some of his COVID-19 executive orders to the Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court.

This week a Boone County judge issued a temporary restraining order against several of Beshear's executive orders, allowing Florence Speedway to increase its capacity. The judge also plans on allowing a childcare center to host more children. Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) joined the Northern Kentucky lawsuit filed by local businesses.

KENTUCKY — Gov. Andy Beshear (D) issued several orders, one allowing circuit court clerks to continue providing certain driver's licenses services remotely until Sept. 30 and ending the 90-day expiration date extension July 7.

Under the orders, driver's licenses, permits and IDs that expire or are lost on or after July 7, 2020 will not have a 90-day renewal extension. Residents must use the remote application process by the Office of Circuit Court Clerk in the county they live.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Dezaray Belanger is not your ordinary college student. She is an undergraduate nursing student at Western Kentucky University and also a certified Emergency Medical Technician.

Starting the EMT program in her sophomore year of high school, she graduated with a certification along with her high school diploma.

COVINGTON, Ky. — Using CARES Act funding, Covington is helping out families and landlords.

Money from the CARES Act is now offered as an incentive to landlords through the city's Housing Choice Voucher Program.

STATEWIDE, Ky - Louisville and Lexington health officials are both analyzing new coronavirus data they say is troubling.

Louisville’s health department says there has been a spike in cases among people ages 20 thru 44. Dr. Sarah Moyer, director of the city's health department says increased social gatherings are a likely cause, and encourages those celebrating the holiday weekend to limit the number of events they attend.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville's COVID-19 fundraising effort is coming to an end with over $11 million raised.

Mayor Greg Fischer (D) announced the end of One Louisville: COVID-19 Response Fund and said fundraising by the effort will be frozen.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Even as Kentucky is reporting a relative plateauing of new coronavirus cases, the commonwealth is in a precarious situation as the July 4 holiday approaches.

“Really want to emphasize to the people of Louisville this pandemic is still out there,” Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer told reporters Wednesday. “Our numbers have been holding pretty steady here so we have been fortunate but this can change in like 5 days,” Fischer added.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — While it may not look exactly the same, summer may feel more normal for children in Lexington.

Playgrounds, spraygrounds and basketball courts will open this summer with new guidelines in place. Playgrounds and individual basketball courts are first to open Fourth of July. Larger banks of courts, for example those at Douglass, Shillito and Constitution parks, will remain closed in the short-term

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Firework sales are seeing a boom as many local shows have canceled due to the coronavirus, but many have taken it upon themselves to celebrate the fourth with firecrackers of their own.

A football coach for the Westmoreland Eagles in Tennessee, Chad Perry has worked with Mid America Distributors for the past seven years. Working to sell and distribute fireworks in Bowling Green in his offseason, Perry says this year has been the busiest yet.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Monday marked a milestone in Kentucky's phased reopening when the state gave the green light for long-term care centers to allow visitors again. However, not all facilities are welcoming guests back so soon. Sayre Christian Village's Friendship Towers in Lexington will continue to only host visits virtually or through windows.

"The physical well-being and health of our residents to me is equally important as their mental health," Saye Christian Village CEO Karen Venis said. "We've found very creative ways to be able to meet their mental health needs and to have those socialization opportunities to still exist."

COVINGTON, Ky. — For more than 20 years, the Mainstrasse Village Pub has been a staple in Covington.

Owner Curt Zinga has been counting down the time until reopening.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It is one of the highlights of the Louisville art scene, the St. James Court Art Show held the first weekend in October every year in Old Louisville.

Monday, Executive Director Howard Rosenberg announced the show would not go on this year because of the coronavirus.

FOSTER CITY, Ca. — The maker of a drug shown to shorten recovery time for severely ill COVID-19 patients says it will charge $2,340 for a typical treatment course for people covered by government health programs in the United States and other developed countries.

VERSAILLES, Ky. — Despite the economic impact of coronavirus, there's hope for small businesses trying to recover.

A new grant program, established by the Versailles Economic Recovery Act, will support local businesses impacted by the pandemic and have continued to pay fixed costs while revenue declines.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Wednesday, a federal judge struck down Governor Andy Beshear’s executive order banning mass gatherings that he implemented March 19, 2020.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Research by the Better Business Bureau shows employment scams are affecting those already suffering financially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

In the wake of COVID-19 business shutdowns, the Better Business Bureau study shows employment scams continue to be the No.1 riskiest scam to job seekers, but scams overall have increased as con artists attempt to take advantage of unemployed workers and struggling businesses.

WASHINGTON — As new cases of coronavirus surge, the White House coronavirus task force, led by Vice President Pence, held its first briefing in nearly two months, signaling a recognition that the administration can’t ignore the alarming increases.

President Trump did not lead the task force briefing as he had done in previous briefings.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Archdiocese of Louisville Catholic Schools will be open for in-person instruction come this August.

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz made the announcement yesterday in a letter sent to pastors, principals and presidents of the 48 Catholic PK-12 schools in seven counties of central Kentucky. Instruction will begin on the previously announced first day of school, which is on or around Aug. 12 for Jefferson County.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — According to the University of Washington, wearing a face mask could save as many as 33,000 lives.

Medical professionals want to clear up misinformation you may have heard about wearing one.

CDC officials say the number of Americans who have actually been infected with coronavirus may be 10 times higher than the number of confirmed cases on record. Director Robert Redfield, during a briefing Thursday, stressed the need for the public to remain vigilant; by continuing to social distance, frequently wash hands and to wear face coverings when out. It’s a very different tone and message from what was recommended in late February and early March of this year, when coronavirus cases were just emerging.

Initially the message from health officials was; don’t wear masks, save them for the frontline health care workers. As it became clear that SAR-CoV-2 was often spread through close contact, before a person started experiencing symptoms, and by those who were asymptomatic, or never showing symptoms, health officials changed the recommendation- advising the public to wear cloth or homemade face coverings. The mixed messaging may have left some lingering confusion and potentially even skepticism over the need to wear face coverings.

NATIONWIDE — Chuck E. Cheese - where kids could be kids while parents nursed headaches - is filing for bankruptcy protection.

The 43-year-old chain, which drew kids in with pizza, video games, and a singing mouse mascot, was struggling even before the coronavirus pandemic. But it said the prolonged closure of many outlets due to coronavirus restrictions led to Thursday’s Chapter 11 filing.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – More than 60 cars and a hundred people had been swabbed just two hours into a free walk-up and drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic Thursday, June 25, at Cardinal Valley Elementary School.

LOUSVILLE, Ky. — Normally the first weekend in August is hot and humid and thousands come out to Fancy Farm to eat some mutton and listen to the state's political heavyweights battle it out on stage.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky students will be back in classrooms this fall, but it won't be the same as years past.

Governor Andy Beshear (D) said, "It is critical for everyone to do their part as good neighbors and good Americans to follow this guidance to protect our children, teachers and school personnel, and stop coronavirus outbreaks that would spread the disease, cost us more Kentuckians and further damage our economy."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Add Waterfront Wednesday to the list of long-running events now canceled due to the coronavirus.

91.9 WFPK and Waterfront park made the announcement June 24 but plan to resume the series in spring 2021. The decision takes into account current travel restrictions, challenges for national touring musical acts and logistical and economic challenges caused by the pandemic.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Free drive-up and walk-up coronavirus testing will be offered in neighborhoods around Lexington. Mayor Linda Gorton (R) announced Tuesday it will help deal with the disproportionate increase of cases in the city's Hispanic and Black communities.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ⁠— After releasing a draft of its fall plans earlier this month, the University of Louisville released its finalized "Pivot to Fall" plan. In-person classes will begin Aug. 17 and go until Nov. 25, at which point all classes will be completed online for the semester's final week and final exams.

"I understand your anxiety about 'reopening' campus, even as I ask your patience as we present our 'final' plan for keeping us safe on campus while delivering our academic programs this fall. We have been planning for several scenarios in the face of what is still unknown about the virus’ path," said UofL's Provost Beth Boehm in the plan. "We do know, however, that some things in the “final” plan could still change—and we will be prepared to be agile and pivot again if need be."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Federal grant money is on its way to Louisville to help families struggling to pay for rent due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Louisville is one of ten cities selected by the “Accelerator for America,” program.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky has completed its initial screening process for the football team and they are now participating in voluntary workouts.

KENTUCKY — The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) released a public service announcement to remind Kentuckians that most hospitals have resumed non-urgent elective surgeries, procedures and clinic visits, following the state’s loosening of coronavirus restrictions.

"Kentucky has done a great job of managing the disease, you know, we're not a hotspot like a lot of other places, and our hospitals are safe,” explained Nancy Galvagni, president of KHA.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A researcher at the University of Kentucky believes he may have found the secret weapon to fighting against coronavirus: alpacas.

According to UK professor Sidney Whiteheart, alpacas may be the answer scientists have been searching for as a coronavirus treatment.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ⁠— The number of people who have sought out stroke treatment has dropped. Health experts attribute the dip to people ignoring symptoms because they are worried about being infected with coronavirus if they go to the hospital.

“This is something that is widespread, all around the country,” said Dr. Shervin Dashti, a neurosurgeon with the Norton Neuroscience Institute. “All the hospital systems are reporting the same thing a significant downtick in stroke admissions.”

NEWPORT, Ky. ⁠— Newport Aquarium is set to begin its phased reopening tomorrow June 22, starting with three appreciation days for annual passholders. Beginning June 25, all guests will be welcomed.

Annual passholders can reserve their tickets online for a specific date and time.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ⁠— Results from the first phase of the University of Louisville’s project to track COVID-19 in Metro Louisville show that precautionary measures worked in preventing the disease’s transmission among health care workers.

Throughout May, Phase 1 of the Co-Immunity Project tested 1,372 health care workers at hospitals in the UofL Health system. Samples were collected by UofL’s Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute and tested at UofL’s Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) at the Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases (CPM).

ERLANGER, Ky. -- A Japanese university had help from a Northern Kentucky company on research connected to the coronavirus. This study now shows that ultraviolet led lamps can make a big difference in the virus.

For the past several months, there was a long-standing theory that ultraviolet light could help kill the coronavirus.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Reopenings may reveal more about just how minorities have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus, and the great need for childcare and student activities there is in Louisville's West End. That's what Shawnee Boys & Girls Club Unit Director Clanesha Coleman tells Spectrum News 1.

The section of Louisville where residents often go overlooked, has a great service in the Boys & Girls Club, says Coleman: "Boys & Girls Club is here to serve those who as you said 'may be overlooked.'"

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Norton Healthcare has begun additional clinical trials seeking potential coronavirus treatments, making it the first in the world to enroll patients in three trials. This comes after Norton was also first to participate in a randomized Phase 2 clinical study in April using low-dose selinexor, a cancer drug, for treating coronavirus.

Many of the medications Norton is using have been previously used to treat cancer, but other therapies and drugs are emerging as potential treatments.

NEWPORT, Ky. — A Northern Kentucky lab is joining the battle to fight COVID-19.

Ethos Laboratories has created its own antibody test which is like a virus radar.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Plans have been announced for a return to school, so now it is time to talk about high school sports.

Fayette CountyPublic Schools will begin a phased return for outdoor sports and extra-curricular activities beginning June 29.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer (D) is listening to protesters and talking about systematic racism. Fischer held a Facebook Town Hall meeting Wednesday to discuss the issue the city is currently facing and his vision for the future.

Fischer said, "So it' about creating a city that truly serves as a platform for human potential to flourish. That's how we define compassion in our city, respect for every citizen so their potential is flourishing. I think that's what these protests and marches are about. They're basically saying my full human potential is not flourishing and it hasn't been for a long time. If you're African American it's because of systemic racism. Everybody deserves their full human potential to flourish."

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After an abrupt end to their spring semesters, universities across the commonwealth are releasing their plans for reopening while the upcoming fall semester approaches. Preparing to welcome back roughly 22,000 students, the University of Louisville released a preliminary draft of its own plans which feature a variety of new health and safety requirements.

"We've requested input from faculty, staff and students. We had a forum to discuss the plan to return and had about 140 submitted questions during that forum. We've had questions submitted online," said John Karman, UofL's director of media relations. "So, yeah, there's a lot of input, there's a lot of questions, a lot of steps that we're taking before this is a final product."

HENDERSON, Ky. — Horse racing is starting up at another Kentucky racetrack. Ellis Park in Henderson received approval to begin its summer meet Thursday, July 2 rather than the previously approved Sunday, June 28 opening day.

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission approved the change which also includes Churchill Downs extending its spring meet by a day to close on June 28.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Katie King of Hopkinsville came to the Kentucky Capitol Tuesday, just hoping for answers about her unemployment claim.

LEXINGTON, Ky. ⁠— Wildcats will be back on campus this August. The University of Kentucky released its restart plan for the fall semester which includes in-person classes and open student housing.

The semester will get an early start on Aug. 17 and an early end at Thanksgiving while finals week will be done remotely.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department says COVID-19 continues to spread in Kentucky’s second-largest city, with cases increasing among the city’s Hispanic population.

NATIONWIDE (SPECTRUM NEWS) — Rural health expert explains what coronavirus looks like in rural communities across the US.

Coronavirus is still present throughout communities across the US. That includes those rural communities which weren’t seeing the effects of this pandemic right off the bat.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear (D) has asked protesters to get tested for the coronavirus. With chants, crowds and limited face masks, COVID-19 could easily spread.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Northern Kentucky University released its plan for returning to campus in an email sent out by the university's president Ashish Vaidya. The plan, titled NKU Moving Forward, says classes will resume Aug. 17 and student housing will be available this fall.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Railbird Festival won't be taking the stage in Lexington this year as the coronavirus pandemic cancels gatherings of all kinds. The annual music festival, however, plans to return next year.

SHELBY COUNTY, Ky. — Seven women from the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women (KCIW) filed a lawsuit June 15 asking to be released due to pre-existing conditions which put them at a higher risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19. Three staff members and 11 inmates at KCIW have tested positive for the coronavirus, and as of last week, the Shelby County facility is locked down by dormitory.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky State Police's (KSP) Trooper Island Kid's Camp will look a little different for its 55th year. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the camp will be turned into a free virtual camp that kids of all ages can attend by watching online.

VERSAILLES, Ky. — Child care centers are one of a myriad of businesses forced to close their doors because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, as of June 15, they're allowed to repen.

Hugz 'N' Hissy Fits in one such child care center welcoming back children after closing for three months.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Transylvania University in Lexington is preparing to welcome back students for the fall.

Friday, President John N. Williams and President-Designate Brien Lewis announced the new plan, Healthy at Transy.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Many students this summer lost internships due to the coronavirus. That is why the University of Kentucky created an online platform to help students earn their credits.

UK started a program a few weeks ago that allows for students to earn their school credits by finding virtual internship opportunities to participate in.

LOUISVILLE, Ky — The coronavirus pandemic has changed how we live our lives. Children also have had to learn to adapt.

“I always make sure my child and other parents should make heir children have accurate information,” said Dr. Felissa Goldstein, a pediatric psychiatrist with Norton Children’s.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Earlier this week, Governor Andy Beshear (D) announced a plan to provide health insurance for all African Americans in Kentucky in response to seeing a disproportionate amount of COVID-19 cases in the black community.

African Americans makeup around 8 percent of the Louisville population, but are responsible for 19 percent of positive cases.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. —The number of COVID-19 tests available in Kentucky is increasing each day but some are saying the tests need to be more accessible to all Kentuckians.

WASHINGTON, DC — Kentucky has had more unemployment claims in the last nine weeks than in the eighty-one weeks of the Great Recession.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s top health department doctor addressed recent statements by a member of the World Health Organization and urged Kentuckians to listen to more than one voice.

VERSAILLES, Ky. —While the pandemic restricts large gatherings, virtual funerals are becoming the new normal for those mourning the loss of a loved one.

"Once we kind of found out that, to start, we were going to have to have private family services and limit those services to 10 immediate family members, that was really hard on us, because that came upon us to have to tell these families who have lost someone that this is what we can do," said Leigh Ann Lewis, funeral director of Blackburn and Ward in Versailles.

LOUISVILLE, Ky — Sunday saw plenty of people take to the streets of downtown Louisville for day 11 of protests.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — After the NCAA and Southeastern Conference voted in favor of a return to activity, UK Athletics announced its plans for the phased return of student athletes beginning June 8.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ⁠— It’s been nearly three months since some Kentucky businesses closed down because of the coronavirus pandemic. This week, some of those places will be able to welcome back customers. This comes as the state slowly continues its reopening process.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Protesters who are in downtown Louisville Saturda will now get the chance to also get tested for the coronavirus.

Mayor Greg Fischer (D) announced Bluewater Diagnostic Laboratories will provide the free, walk-up testing Saturday and Sunday

LEXINGTON, Ky. ⁠— As the economy cautiously reopens, testing for COVID-19 has never been more important.

Pool testing, a method dating back 80 years, is one quick, cost-effective and underutilized strategy employers can use for mass medical testing as they welcome back employees.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. ⁠— Following recent protests which have amassed large crowds, Norton Healthcare is offering free COVID-19 testing this weekend to anyone who believes they may have been exposed to the virus.