WKU Public Radio

08/03/2025

With only one Democrat speaking at the western Kentucky political event, the jabs and jeers of Fancy Farm turned inwards as the GOP candidates jockeyed for the opportunity to replace U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

With only one Democrat speaking at the western Kentucky political event, the jabs and jeers of Fancy Farm turned inwards as the GOP candidates jockeyed for the opportunity to replace U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.

07/30/2025

WKU Public Media has been your source for trusted news, education, and emergency alerts. But now, all federal funding is gone.

We need your help to stay on the air. Please donate to our Community Matching Fund at wkyufm.org/donate

07/29/2025

*Advisory--this post and story discusses the issue of su***de*

“If you would like to build a gun with a kit shipped directly to your door that does not include unconstitutional checks and waiting periods, Husky Armory has you covered,” the website said as of July 29.

A Kentucky teenager bought a gun from the company and used it to take his life. His mother is now suing.

Her son killed himself after buying a ghost gun online. Lawyers say he shouldn’t have been able to buy it in the first place.

07/28/2025

WKU Journalism Professor Becca Andrews is helping retrace the blood legacy of the "Olympic Park Bomber," Eric Rudolph.

“Rudolph was really motivated by this belief that as civilization modernizes, we’re becoming more inclusive, more accepting of people from different backgrounds — moving into what Rudolph called the ‘New World Order,’” Andrews said.

She teamed up with award-winning journalist John Archibald to look into the numerous bombings committed by Rudolph, a member of the far-right Christian extremist group known as the "Army of God."

The duo’s upcoming podcast, “American Shrapnel: The Weaponization of Eric Rudolph” will be released on Wednesday, July 30.

Andrews spoke with WKU Public Radio's Michael Collins about why she wanted to explore Rudolph and his lingering impact on the nation:

Award-winning journalist John Archibald covered the arrest as it happened. Now, he joins Western Kentucky University journalism professor Becca Andrews to retrace Rudolph’s bloody legacy.

07/25/2025

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07/24/2025

What's the future for WKU Public Media after the Congressional defunding of public broadcasters?

"I don’t know. That is the most honest answer I can give you,” said Jordan Basham, interim executive director of WKU Public Media. “It is such a range. We’re at risk of shutting down, and that’s the truth. We’re at risk of losing people who are in jobs today. We’re at risk of losing one of my favorite things about our operation, and that’s the time we get to spend preparing the next generation of professionals, the students we work with."

Despite the loss of federal support, Basham says WKU Public Radio and PBS aren't giving up. You can read more about what happens next here:

Following the recent vote by Congress to end federal funding for CPB, the leaders of public media organizations are now working to figure out what the future holds. One of them is Jordan Basham, the interim executive director of WKU Public Media.

07/24/2025

“I think too often we talk in terms of cost. To me, pre-K is an investment and the return on that investment is going to be significant,” said Jamie Link, Secretary of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet. "I don’t think we can afford not to invest in pre-K.”

He spoke Wednesday night at a town hall forum at Western Kentucky University.

Gov. Andy Beshear maintains universal pre-k is imperative to boost kindergarten readiness. State data from the 2024-2025 school year shows only 46% of Kentucky kindergartners were prepared when they showed up on the first day of school.

Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, Gov. Andy Beshear is working to sell his proposal for expanding preschool access. The Democrat's “Pre-K for All” campaign came to Bowling Green Wednesday evening for a town hall at Western Kentucky University.

07/22/2025

Without certain bee species, some of the plants that are unique to Kentucky could lose their primary pollinator. For example, the office found during a May survey that one of Kentucky’s unique orchid species, the “Kentucky lady’s slipper,” relies on a specific native bee for pollination and reproduction.

Learn more about the hundreds of bee species that call Kentucky home:

The Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves says they’ve already found hundreds of wild bee species midway through a multi-year project to inventory and protect the pollinators native to the state.

07/18/2025

The vote of 216-to-213 included all but two Republicans in favor of the cuts. The bill goes next to President Trump for his signature.

Immediately after the vote, NPR CEO Katherine Maher issued a statement calling the cut an "irreversible loss" to the public radio system. She said the effect would be "an unwarranted dismantling of beloved local civic institutions, and an act of Congress that disregards the public will."

The House approved a Trump administration plan to rescind $9 billion in previously allocated funds, including $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

07/15/2025

A Jewish Kentuckian is moving forward with a challenge to the state’s near-total abortion ban after a lower court previously dismissed a lawsuit from her and two other women who argue the state ban violates their religious freedom, and could endanger their ability to undergo in vitro fertilization procedures.

The Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled that Jessica Kalb has the standing to sue over the state’s abortion ban and sent her case back to the lower court.

More from our capitol reporter Sylvia Goodman:

The Kentucky Court of Appeals partially reversed a lower court's decision, finding a Jewish woman is allowed to sue over Kentucky’s near-total abortion ban.

07/14/2025

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07/12/2025

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