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Corbin Times-Tribune - 2.3.26 · Eastern Kentucky Newspapers

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Speaker 1: Now we turn to the reading of the Times Tribune
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for the news in Corbin Laurel Whitley in Knox Counties.
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Your reader today is Janice. As a reminder, Radio I
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is reading service intended for people who are blind or
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have other disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material.
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We will begin with the addition dated Thursday, January twenty ninth,
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twenty twenty six. Our first article is Lexington man arrested
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after vehicle crashes into Knox County home and there is
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a picture of a vehicle it is has crashed into
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a home a mobile home Knox County. A Lexington man
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was arrested Saturday after a vehicle crashed into an occupied
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home in the Heydrich community. According to the Knox County
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Sheriff Department, deputies were called to a residence at approximately
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eleven thirty four and just prior to the onset of
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the winter storm Fern after receiving a report of a
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vehicle crashing into a home along Kentucky eleven North Knox
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Kentucky eleven North, Knox County Deputy David Dunn responded to
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the scene along with Barberville Police Department officers. Braden Isisam
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and Jalen Adams. Upon arrival, authorities found a twenty eighteen
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Nissan road partially lodged inside a trailer. According to the
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Sheriff's Department, the driver, identified as fifty three year old
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Paul Cox of Lexington, had left the roadway, traveled through
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a yard, and crashed the vehicle into the trailer, leaving
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it halfway inside the residence. The vehicle was reported to
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be smoking following the crash. The Richland Fire Department responded
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and extinguished the smoke, and the vehicle was later removed
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from the home. Officials said the residents were occupied at
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the time of the crash, so no injuries were reported.
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Deputy Done stated that he detected a strong odor of
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alcohol coming from Cox at the scene. Authorities also reported
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that Cox refused multiple standard field sobriety tests, as well
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as a blood draw requested by law enforcement. Shortly after
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the incident, another individual came forward and told deputies that
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Cox had struck their vehicle prior to leaving the roadway
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and crashing into their home. Cox was arrested and lodged
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in Knox County Detention Center. He was charged with operating
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a motor vehicle under the influence of a substance, first offense,
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first degree possession of a control substance, first offense cocaine,
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and first degree wanton endangerment. Knox County E M S
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and Riley Towings also responded to the scene. Our next
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article is Whitley County jury convicts man involved in fatal
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DUI crash Whitley County. A Whitley County County jury has
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convicted Matthew Crowley in connection with a fatal drunk driving
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crash that claimed the life of a toddler and left
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the child's mother permanently injured. The charges against a thirty
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six year old Williamsburg man stemmed from a fatal crash
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that occurred just after midnight on January thirty first, twenty
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twenty four, near mile marker seventeen on Interstate seventy five
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between Williamsburg and Corbin. According to the Kentucky State Police
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and The Time Tribune's previous report from twenty twenty four,
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troopers said Crowley, who was driving southbound on I seventy five,
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struck the rear of Aeen nineteen ninety six maroon g
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tracker driven by a woman. A flat lick. The impact
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calls to crush into the left side cables while the
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geo tracker was forced over the guardrail on the right
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side of the roadway, overturning and injecting a two year
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old child from the vehicle. The child later died from
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the injury sustained in the crash. The woman was reportedly
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trapped inside her vehicle, extradited by first responders, and flown
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to a Tennessee hospital with severe injuries. Late last week,
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the jury found Crowley guilty of wanton murder, first degree assault,
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and wanton endangement following deliberations Thursday in Whitley County Circuit Court.
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The case was prosecuted by the Commonwealth Attorney Ronnie Bowling.
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The investigation into the crash was led by Trooper Corey
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Jones with the Kentucky State Police. Authorities said Jones was
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assisted by Troopers Donnie Jones, Rob Mitchell, Michael Hamblin, and
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Sergeant Zach Owslip. Additional assistance was provided by Sergeant Shane Bowling,
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Sergeant Jerry Jones, and Sergeant Chad Foley with the Williamsburg
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Police Department. Official described the incident as a tragic and
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preventable crash caused by impairent driving, emphasizing the lasting impact
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on the victim's family. Final sentencing in the case is
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scheduled to take place before Judge Dan Below next month.
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The case against Crowley's co defendant, twenty four year old
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Janael for work of Williamsburg, remains pending, with a bond
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scheduled for February second in Whitley Circuit Court. Our next
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article is Kentucky twelve to fifty nine bridge over I
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seventy five in Whitley County scheduled for demolition, and there
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is a picture of the county or the area and
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it has is I seventy five going through it Manchester.
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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet the KYTC advises motorists of the
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upcoming bridge demolition work on Kentucky twelve fifty nine over
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Interstate seventy five in Whitley County. This work is part
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of the ongoing I seventy five widening project between Exit
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twenty five and Exit twenty nine in Laurel and Whitley Counties,
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which is designed to improve safety and traffic flow along
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this heavily traveled corridor. The existing Kentucky twelve to fifty
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nine bridge must be removed because it does not provide
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the necessary width and clearance to accommodate the additional travel
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lanes in improved roadway geometry associated with the interstate widening.
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The structure is being replaced to meet current design standards
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and allow for construction of the widening Interstate. Interstate seventy
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five detour temporary staff I'm sorry. Temporary traffic impacts will
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occur on I seventy five during the demolition the southbound
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lane I seventy five Monday February the ninth, from eight
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pm to six am, northbound I seventy five Tuesday February tenth,
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from eight pm to six am. Both During both closures,
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I seventy five, traffic will be detoured via Exit twenty
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nine or Exit twenty five with assistance from the law enforcement.
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Kentucky twelve fifty nine closure and is the next article
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twelve fifty nine over I seventy five will be closed
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to through traffic beginning Monday February ninth. Message boards will
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be placed in advance to notify a motorists of the closures.
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The detour signage for Kentucky twelve to fifty nine will
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be installed prior to the closure. Motorists are encouraged to
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plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and follow all posted
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detour routes and traffic controlled devices while crews safely complete
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this phase of I seventy five widening project. Motorists are
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advised to expect delays, use caution during this period, and
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be aware of signage, road crews and other drive drivers.
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The date, time, and duration of the work may be
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adjusted if in clement weather and other unforeseen delays occur.
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Motorists can access travel and travel conditions at the website
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of Kentucky's Transportation or contribute their own reports to Wwwways
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dot com or via Ways mobile application. You can also
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get traffic information for District eleven counties on the Facebook
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page of the Kentucky Department of Transportation or on on
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Twitter courtesy of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District eleven. Our
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next article is resurfacing project on Kentucky Avenue Main Street
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moves forward for twenty twenty six Corbin. Good news on
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the horizon for Corbyn drivers who have long awaited updates
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on the reservicing of Kentucky Street and Main Street. Chris Jones,
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Chief District engineer for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District eleven,
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recently shared promising news regarding the highly discussed project. In
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an email to Corbin City Manager Scott Williamson, Jones wrote,
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I want to follow up with you regarding your inquiry
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about reservicing US twenty five West Kentucky Avenue and Main Street.
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This route is included in our FD five Federal Funds
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reservicing program and ranked as a top of the list
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for twenty twenty six. I am confident the project will
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move forward for resurfacing sometime in twenty twenty six. Jones
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noted that the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has already conducted preliminary
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meetings and submitted cost estimates to prepare the project for
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the bidding phase. The bid process is expected to take
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place either toward the end of the year or early
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next year, with construction anticipated to begin in twenty twenty six.
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The reservicing has been a topic of discussion for more
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than a year and has progressed since then. Williamson said
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state paving for this year is mostly complete, with a
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few cities still scheduled if the weather permits. This is
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great news said Williamson. We also want to prepare everybody.
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It's going to be a big disruption, but it's going
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to be worth it. It's going to happen this spring
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or maybe early summer. He added that the city of
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five officials had considered moving the project forward this fall,
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but ongoing work on the ICE seventy five widening and
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other local improvements made that timeline unfeasible. We're extremely pleased,
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Williamson said, while also noting that the rugged conditions of
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the road that had been due for an upgrade. It's
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such a disruption. It's rough, the whole thing. It's going
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to be a big project. Williamson also expressed gratitude toward
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the city commissioners for their patients and to the Kentucky
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Department of Transportation Cabinet for its continued cooperation with the project.
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Now on top of the state's resurfacing list, Corbyn residents
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can finally look forward to smoother drives through the city
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once the construction begins in twenty twenty six. Our next
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article is speed enforcement cameras coming to I seventy five
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work zone near Corbun Drivers traveling through the work zones
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in Laurel and Whitley Counties will soon see new speed
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enforcement technology aimed at improving safety for motorists and road
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crews alike. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet announced in a press
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release that automated speed enforcement cameras are being installed in
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active high in active highway construction areas across the Strait Estate,
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including a section of I seventy five near Corbin. These
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devices will not be actively immediately, giving drivers time to
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adjust before enforcement begins this month. Every Kentucky in deserves
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to make it home safely, said State at the Kentucky
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Pardon Me Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray in the release.
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We're hopeful this initiative will inspire drivers to be more
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aware of their speeds in every work zone to avoid
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preventable crashes save lines. The program follows the passage of
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House Bill six' sixty, four known as The Jared Helton,
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act which allows automated speed enforcement in active work. Zones that,
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act signed earlier this year By Andy Governor Andy, basheer
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honors The kentucky highway worker who lost his life in
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a work zone crash The corbyn stretch OF is seventy
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five between mile markers twenty three point two hundred and
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twenty eight point nine hundred is one of the first
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areas selected for. Installation additional sites INCLUDE us twenty five In,
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kentucky four eighteen In Fayette, COUNTY i sixty four In Shelby,
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county AND us twenty three In lawrence And Martin. Counties every,
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day our crews head into work zones knowing they're exposed
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to real risk from speeding, traffic Said Chad, LaRue executive
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director of The Kentucky association Of Highway, contractors and the press.
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Release this effort is a great step to ensure our
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contractors and crews have safe working conditions just like anyone.
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Else tickets will only be issued by law enforcement officers
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based on a detector, data with fines up to five hundred.
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Dollars when workers are. Present warning signs and flashing lights
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will alert travels as they approach an enforced. Area The
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Kentucky State police will oversee the program's enforcement at The
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corbin site and other initial locations for the rest of the.
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Year according To Last, dixon public information officer for The
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Kentucky Transportation Cabinet district, eleven the cameras are not intended
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to be permanent and will only be there for construction.
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Period this is about saving, lives not writing, tickets said
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The Kentucky State Trooper Major Eric walker in the. Release
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by slowing down and staying, alert drivers can protect, themselves their,
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families and the workers improving our. Roads these cameras can
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give us another tool to stop dangerous diet driving before
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it costs. Lives our next article IS eku host forum
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at capital to address physicians shortages Across. Kentucky, Richmond Kentucky
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Eastern KENTUCKY U university hosted a healthcare forum On october
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fifteenth At Kentucky State capital to discuss eku's Proposed college
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Of Osteopathic medicine and how it can help Address kentucky's physician.
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Shortage according to The Kentucky Physician report from The center
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Of excellence In Rural, health ninety four percent of the
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state counties are experiencing a primary care, shortage with The
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commonwealth ranking fortieth nationally for primary care. Workforce eight counties
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have no physics at, all while forty eight counties have
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no pediatricians according to The American board Of. Pediatrics the
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Health Care forum featured a panel of health care leaders
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Including nick Bed Jannero president AND ceo Advent Health, manchester
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Doctor Patty sweeney of The Kentucky academy Of Family, physicians
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and Doctor Selena, raynes president of The Kentucky Osteopathic Medical,
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association Doctor Justin, devers a family medicine physician With Baptist Health,
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richmond AND Eku President david. McFadden panelists discuss the importance
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of osteopathic physicians and challenges of recruiting physicians in rural,
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areas and the need for affordable medical. EDUCATION eku is
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proud that ninety two percent of our students are From
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kentucky and our graduate stay and work here are one
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of the highest rates in the, nation said. McFadden with
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plans to establish the state's first public osteopathic medical program AT,
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eku McFadden said this is a general generational moment that
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can Shape kentucky's future for decades to. Come eku's Proposed
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college Of Osteopathic medicine aims to, recruit change and retain
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physicians and the commonwealth and rural, areas improving access to
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both medical education and healthcare For. Kentuckians we have one
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hundred and twenty designated healthcare professional shortage areas In. Kentucky
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that gives us two, million sixty nine Thousand kentuckians who
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are underserved, medically Said. Sweeney there are currently one, thousand
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three hundred seventy family physicians in the state Of, kentucky
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but there is actually a need for two, thousand two,
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hundred so you can already see we're. BEHIND eku announced
18:01
plans for a Proposed college Of Osteopathic medicine in early
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twenty twenty. FOUR a feasible study indicated a need for
18:10
additional medical program In, kentucky AND eku will request the
18:15
program approval from The Kentucky council on Post Secondary education this.
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Fall if you look at how many students that graduate
18:24
from medical schools here in the state Of, kentucky there's
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not enough to actually feel the void of physicians that
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are retiring, already said But, gennaro if you look at
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statistics throughout the, state there's anywhere from four hundred to two,
18:39
thousand five hundred job postings for physicians just this year.
18:44
Alone if you can't imagine what that looks like in
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rural community like, mine is actually. Exaggerated eku's next step
18:53
to the Proposed college Of Osteopathic medicine includes SECURING escro,
18:58
funds as well as funding for The University center For
19:01
Health innovation as e KU's top capital priority for the
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twenty twenty six legislative. Session the news center will promote interdisciplinary, learning,
19:14
simulation and, collaboration preparing graduates to Serve kentucky's health care.
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Needs our next article is sickest patients face insurance did
19:27
not denial despite policy, Fixes pardon, Me, Henrico. Virginia Sheldon
19:37
eldrick spent a lot of time on hold with her
19:40
health insurance, Company sometimes as minutes tick by and her frustration,
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Mounts eric thirty holes of meditation app on her. Phone
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it was recommended by her psychologists to help with depression
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associated with stressful and painful medical. Disorder in twenty twenty,
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Three eric was diagnosed with a small fiber in, europathy
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a condition that makes her limbs and muscles feel as
20:08
if they're on. Fire, now she takes more than a
20:11
dozen prescriptions to manage chronic pain and other, symptoms including.
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INSOMNIA i don't feel Like i'm the PERSON i was
20:20
a year and a half, ago Said. Eric who was
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at the cusp of launching her law career before getting,
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Sick like my body isn't my, Own eric. Said specialists
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have suggested that series of infusions made from blood, plasma
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called intravenious immune gob goblin IV ig for, short could
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erase or potentially eradicate her near constant, pain But ackrich
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insurance company has repeatedly denied coverage for the. Treatment according
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to the documents provided by the, patients patients With eric's
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condition don't always respond TO, ivig but she said she
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deserves to try, it even though it could cost more
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than one hundred thousand. Dollars i'm paying a lot of
21:14
money for health insurance That, eric who pays more than
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six hundred dollars a month in. PREMIUMS i don't understand
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why they won't help, me why my life means so
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little to. Them for patient advocates and health, economists cases
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Like eric's. Illustrate while prior authorization has become such a
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chronic paying point for patients and, doctors for fifty, years
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insurers have employed prior, authorization they, say to reduce wasteful
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health care, spending prevent unnecessary, treatment and guard against potential.
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Harm the practice differs by insurance company and, plan but
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the rules often require patients or their doctors to request
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permission from their patient's health insurance company before seeding with a,
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drug treatment or medical. Procedure the insurance industry provides little
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information about how often prior authorization is. Used transparency requirements
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established by the federal government to shed light on the
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use of prior authorization by private insurers haven't been broadly,
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enforced Said Justin, lowe a senior researcher at The program
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On Patient Consumer protection AT, kff a health information nonprofit
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that INCLUDES Kff Health. News yet it is widely acknowledged
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that prior authorization tends to disportionately impact some of the
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six sickest people the most expensive, care and despite bipartisan
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support to reform the, system as well as recent attempts
22:51
by health insurance companies to ease the burden for patients and,
22:55
doctors some tactics have met. Skepticism some insurance efforts to
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improve prior authorization practices aren't as helpful as they would,
23:07
seem Said Justin, IVY ceo Of Ensemble Health, partners a
23:12
revenue cycle management. Company when you're really dive Deep he,
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said these improvements don't seem to touch the services and
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procedures such AS ct scans that get caught up in
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prior authorization so frequently when we start looking into, it
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it's almost a pr. Stunt the tipping point When Erman
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shahrar's father was diagnosed with a follicued lymphoma in twenty twenty,
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three his father's oncologist ordered a whole BODY pet scan
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to determine the cancer. Stage the scan was denied by
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a company called evicoor By Evan, north a signa subsidiary
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that makes prior authorization. Decisions shahara And Internal Medicine, residence
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said he spent hours on the phone with his father's,
24:05
insurer arguing that the latest medical guidelines supported the. Scan
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the imaging request was eventually, proved but his father's scan
24:15
was delayed several, weeks and multiple appointments were scheduled then
24:19
canceled during the time consuming, process while the family feared
24:24
the cancer would continue to. Spread at a corps by
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Ever north Spokesman Madeline zomac wrote in an email statement
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that incomplete clinical information provided by physicians is a leading
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cause of such. Denials the company is actively developing new
24:45
ways to make the submission process simpler and fasters for,
24:50
Physicians zomac. Said in the, Meantime, shahhar who often struggles
24:57
to navigate prior authorization for his, patient accused the confusing
25:02
system of artificially creating problems in people's lives at the wrong.
25:07
Time if families with physicians are struggling through, this how
25:12
do other people navigate? It and the short answer is they,
25:15
can't Said, sharrar who wrote about his father's case in
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an essay published last year BY Jamma. Oncology we're kind
25:25
of reaching a tipping point where we're realizing collectively something
25:29
needs to be. Done the fatal shooting of The United
25:33
HEALTHCARE Ceo Brian thompson On New York city sidewalk In
25:37
december prompted an outpouring grief among those who knew, him
25:41
but it also became a platform for public outage about
25:44
methods health methods insurance companies used to deny. Treatment An
25:50
Emerson college poll conducted in Mid december found that forty
25:54
one percent of eighteen to twenty nine year olds thought
25:58
the actions Of thompson's killer were at least somewhat acceptable
26:02
in A norock survey at from The university Of chicago
26:06
conducted In, december two thirds of respondents indicated that insurance
26:11
company profits and their denials for healthcare coverage contributed a
26:16
great deal of moderate amount to the. Killing instagram accounts
26:21
established in support Of Mugenie, mangione the twenty six year
26:26
Old maryland suspect accused of murder and, terrorism have attracted
26:30
thousands of. Followers the past several weeks have further challenged
26:35
us even more intensely listened to the public narrative about our,
26:39
INDUSTRY Signa GROUP Ceo David cordana said during an earnings
26:46
call On january, THIRTIETH signa is forced to make prior
26:50
authorizations faster and. Simpler the first To trump administration and
26:55
The biden administration put forth policies designed to improveation for
27:02
some patients by mandating that insurers set up electronics systems
27:08
and shortening the time companies make to make the, decision
27:13
among other. Fixes hundreds Of house Of democrats And republicans
27:17
signed on to co sponsor a bill last year that
27:20
would establish new prior authorization rules For medicare advantage. Plans In,
27:26
January Republican Congressman Jefferson vanrew Of New jersey introduced a
27:31
federal bill to abolish the use of prior authorization to
27:35
get all. Together this concludes the reading of The Time.
27:39
Tribunes please stay tuned for further. Programming thank you for
27:43
joining me on behalf of everyone here At. Radiois this Is,
27:48
jannis wishing you a very good. Day