The Murray Board of Zoning Adjustments will meet at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall, 500 Main Street.
Murray Planning Commission Regular Meeting
The Murray Planning Commission will meet at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Murray Board of Education Regular Meeting
The Murray Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. at the Carter Administration Building.
KYTC issues Antler Alert as deer activity increases (Press Release)
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Peak season has arrived for deer activity on Kentucky roadways, and motorists are reminded to stay alert for wildlife to keep safe as state transportation officials’ issue their annual Antler Alert. Nearly half of wildlife collisions occur during the last three months of the year.
“We see deer-related crashes rise sharply this time of year,” said State Highway Engineer James Ballinger. “Last November we had more than 700 wildlife collisions – the highest of any month. Drivers should be extra alert, especially at dawn and dusk, and slow down in areas where deer are likely to cross. A moment of caution can prevent a serious crash.”
According to Joe McDermott, deer program coordinator with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), deer movement is near peak activity this year when the rut, otherwise known as mating season, begins at the end of October and continues through December.
“Deer activity peaks in the fall not only because of the rut, but also because their food sources and cover change as the seasons shift,” McDermott said. “As foliage disappears and crops are harvested, deer are more likely to travel greater distances and cross roadways in search of food and shelter. That means drivers should expect to encounter deer almost anywhere, anytime this season.”
In Kentucky, there were 3,406 highway crashes in 2024 that reported a vehicle striking a deer, up nearly 180 over the previous year and the highest recorded in the last five years. As a result of those collisions, six people were killed – three more than the previous year – and 22 were seriously injured, which was a decrease from last year.
Hopkins County saw the highest number of reported crashes last year – 133. Half of the top 10 counties with the most crashes were in western Kentucky.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. issues a yearly report of collisions involving deer and other wildlife based on insurance claims. Despite a national decrease in wildlife involved collisions, for the year ending June 30, 2025, State Farm reported more than 1.7 million animal collision claims in the United States, of which more than 1.1 million involved deer.
The Transportation Cabinet offers these driving tips to stay safe:
- Stay Aware: Be vigilant, especially in forested terrain, and during dusk and dawn when deer are most active.
- Be Prepared: Always wear a seat belt (it’s the law) and eliminate distractions (phones down!).
- Turn On Headlights: Keep them on bright unless other vehicles are approaching.
- Slow Down: Take your foot off the gas immediately if you spot a deer crossing the roadway; they tend to travel in groups.
- Don’t Swerve: Trying to avoid a deer can result in a more serious crash with an oncoming vehicle or roadside object.
- If There’s a Crash: Keep both hands on the wheel and apply brakes steadily until stopped.
Kentuckians should drive safely and scan the roadside, especially at sunrise and sunset when deer are most active. Motorists are asked to report all deer-vehicle collisions to police. KYTC traffic engineers use the crash data to aid in placing deer-crossing warning signs and other safety measures.
Kentucky was one of 17 states to receive a federal grant aimed at making roadways safer for people and wildlife. The $1.2 million award funded a wildlife-vehicle collision reduction plan and a pilot study in central Kentucky that was completed this year. Analysts examined vehicle collisions along the U.S.60/Interstate 64 corridor in Jefferson, Shelby and Franklin Counties where white-tailed deer are involved in a high number of collisions. Data was collected to understand deer habitat and behavior patterns using drones, GPS collars, trail cameras and field surveys. Countermeasures like adding fencing, managing vegetation and lighting expansion are some considerations being considered.
You took one; we rise as thousands: ‘We got this, Charlie’ (Opinion)
Since the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, these words have been prominently displayed on a sign in Murray. The first time I drove past it, I figured I read it wrong, so I pulled a U-turn and went back. As I pulled out my phone to take a picture, I looked to see if anyone was watching. Given the tone of the message, I would not have been surprised if someone leaped out of the bushes to snap a shot of me for some weird “Wanted, Dead or Alive” poster.
To me, the meaning of the message was clear: “Thousands” were ready and waiting to rise up against non-believers in the name of Mr. Kirk.
Founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, Kirk promoted conservative views among young people, including free-market and limited government principles. Just shy of his thirty-second birthday when he was gunned down, he left behind a young wife and two small children. His ending was violent and tragic, a demise no one should suffer.
Charlie, however, might have remarked it was all in a day’s work.
Advocating for the Second Amendment on April 5, 2023, Mr. Kirk said, “I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”
At Kirk’s memorial service, his wife’s eloquent and moving eulogy vowed forgiveness for her husband’s assassin. Her words were a reminder of the power of absolution and its role in a civil society with spiritual values.
Despite her decorum, minutes later – in uncouth and unpresidential remarks – the President of the United Stated bragged, “I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them.”
The audience actually chuckled and cheered. At a funeral! Since then, rhetoric has gotten worse.
Retribution, saith the Lord.
On Oct. 4, Mr. Trump declared Democrats, “the party of hate, evil, and Satan. There is something wrong with them,” he said in a rare in-studio “Fox and Friends” interview, right before the government shutdown. “Don’t even bother dealing with them,” he added.
Kentucky, a super-majority Red State with a popular Democrat governor who might be running for president in 2028, could get caught in the crossfire, as could Calloway County, with these statistics:
- 11,828 registered Democrats
- 12,370 registered Republicans
- 1,845 Other
- 1,459 Independents
- 144 Libertarians
In Murray, we are not likely to see armed and masked ICE agents snatching farm workers off the streets, shoving them into vans, and detaining them unlawfully. Thankfully, Murray State University is not being dragged in DEI controversy that will result in hefty lawsuits brought against the institution by the feds. The National Guard from Kentucky, or any other state, will probably stay out of Murray too, as there is no need to quell “local crime,” real or imagined.
With a minimum of federal jobs in the county, unemployment lines should not increase significantly because of federal cuts, although regional tourism dollars may be impacted by reduction of services at Land Between the Lakes.
Some people (my mother) would suggest that we just keep our heads down, our mouths shut, and let it all pass without comment, hoping that the light at the end of this tunnel is not thousands of angry men with torches, ready to burn down the houses of “satanic” Democrats.
Nevertheless, some important losses are impending for our community. In the face of a $300,000 cut, Meals on Wheels will deliver twice a week instead of the usual five times. Programs that provide transportation, education, and exercise opportunities for seniors are also impacted. According to Senior Citizen Center Executive Director, Dacia Barger, the budget reduction of $25,000 per month will lead to staff layoffs too.
WKMS-FM, the local NPR affiliate, recently posted an open letter to public and private supporters about the station’s upcoming budget cut of $215,000 – nearly 15% of its annual budget. Station Manager Asia Burnett wrote that “money can be taken, but this mission cannot.”
Spirited fundraising efforts aimed at filling the gap have been launched. Maintaining that level over time seems impossible, however, when more cuts are coming, too many to keep track of.
Right now, the government is closed for business, while the president is open to using the shutdown to make deep cuts in federal agencies and essential programs. If these plans are implemented, hundreds of thousands of federal workers in offices all over the country will be on unemployment lines, with inevitable consequences.
What happens when unemployment rises and jobs are hard to find? Consumer spending decreases, inflation rises, prices too. With loss of health insurance, medical issues are on the back burner. Stress associated with all the uncertainty leads to suicide, alcoholism, partner abuse, depression, and other emotional ills that affect individuals and families.
In the midst of the mess, there is a need for kindness, for words that comfort and encourage, not threats against those whose words we despise. The Constitution gives us the right to Freedom of Speech, whether you like what is said or not. Nowhere is it written that violence is a form of free speech.
According to Rand McNally/USA Today/Destination Marketing Association International, Murray is the friendliest small town in America. The designation does not mean we keep controversial political opinions to ourselves. It does mean, however, that those who have the courage to state their opinions should not be subject to name calling, threats, or any kind of physical or emotional violence.
The words of Whitney Kimball Coe, former director of the National Rural Assembly, offers meaningful insights to all on this topic:
“We can’t control the systemic barriers and disparities that hunt us and haunt us… But we can control our response to these forces. And usually that means we just keep participating. We keep showing up. At funerals and potlucks. At PTA meetings and choir practice. At football games and city council meetings. We keep checking out library books and performing in community theater productions. We make our plans ‘for here and about here,’ as writer Jo Carson says. And that regular practice of participation is what characterizes our relationships, and that gives us the ability to live and work and worship together in spite of disagreements. It helps us withstand the tangles of partisanship, too. It’s hard to dismiss someone when you expect to see them the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that.”
Calloway County awarded $550,000 for bridge replacement
CALLOWAY COUNTY – The Calloway County Fiscal Court was among 16 recipients in the latest round of funding from Kentucky’s County-City Bridge Improvement Project (CCBIP). The county was awarded $550,000 to replace a bridge on Graham Road. Gov. Andy Beshear announced last week that $7.75 million was awarded to 13 counties and three cities to fund 17 critical bridge projects.
The CCBIP, established by the 2024 state legislature, designates $25 million annually in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to help counties and cities repair, replace or preserve bridges that are closed, weight-restricted or otherwise in need of attention. FY25 funds were disbursed in three phases between February and June, and last week’s announcement marks the beginning of the FY26 grant cycle.
The latest round of awards will fund 12 bridge replacements and five repair projects, according to a press release from Beshear’s office. All 17 bridges are currently closed or weight-restricted, including the Graham Road span, which was closed by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) in June.
“Kentucky’s bridges don’t just connect roads, they connect our families to their jobs, schools and communities,” Beshear said. “While construction may seem like a hassle, these projects will mean safer travel, fewer traffic delays, and more potholes getting fixed. These are good things for Kentuckians.”
Since February, CCBIP has awarded $32.6 million to local governments, funding 75 bridge repair or replacement projects – 67 county and eight city – starting with $10.2 million in Phase 1, funding 23 projects requested by 19 local governments across the commonwealth. Calloway County received $935,000 that round – $430,000 to replace a bridge on Clayton Road and $505,000 to replace a bridge on Furches Trail.
In Phase 2, $8.2 million went to three cities and 15 counties to fund 22 projects, including 12 replacements and 10 repair/preservation projects. Calloway County received $410,000 in that round to repair a bridge on Clayton Town Road.
In June, $6.5 million was awarded to Phase 3 recipients, and Calloway County was one of 13 local governments to receive funding in that final disbursement of the FY25 funds. Among the 10 bridge replacements and three preservation projects awarded, $490,000 was allocated for the replacement of the bridge on Charlie Miller Road.
In total, the Calloway County Fiscal Court has secured $2,358,000 in funding through CCBIP, which has covered five bridge projects. Only Graves has received more funding through the program – $3,237,000 across seven projects.
KYTC engineers review each application and validate whether projects reflect effective solutions.
“With these awards, we’re addressing the structures that most urgently need attention, so Kentuckians can travel safely and with confidence,” said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. “Replacing closed bridges and restoring access for school buses and large vehicles makes a big difference not only in time savings but in the quality of life for residents.”
KYTC encourages local governments interested in future funding opportunities to contact the Department of Rural and Municipal Aid or their local Department of Highways district office for more information.
AG Coleman: ‘Our children are not safe on Roblox’ (Press Release)
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today a major lawsuit against Roblox – a popular gaming and social media platform with more than 380 million monthly users – for creating a hunting ground for child predators. Since its launch in 2006, Roblox has knowingly permitted an online environment for exploitation, directly contributing to the widespread victimization of minor children in Kentucky.
General Coleman announced the lawsuit at a press conference in Frankfort.
Roblox is easily accessible, and children as young as six can create an account in a matter of minutes without the knowledge or consent of a parent. Nearly two-thirds of all kids in the United States between the ages of 9-12 play games on the Roblox platform. The company was valued at $41 billion when it went public in 2021.
The Attorney General’s complaint, filed in Madison Circuit Court, alleges Roblox:
- Created a playground for predators and international organizations with links to terrorist organizations to distribute child sexual abuse material;
- Became a facilitator for predators to target and groom young victims online before escalating to real-world sexual violence;
- Deliberately failed to implement effective safety measures to protect children from well-documented predatory threats; and
- Knowingly and intentionally failed to inform parents of the dangers lurking on the platform.
“Our children are not safe on Roblox. Predators and criminals aren’t just lurking in the platform’s shadows; they’ve been allowed to commit their crimes out in the open,” said Attorney General Coleman. “For years, Roblox has ignored this crisis so it could continue turning a profit. Our responsibility is to protect Kentucky children from online exploitation by these predators and the companies like Roblox that knowingly facilitate it.”
Despite claims from Roblox of increased safety protocols, predators and bad actors continue to run amok on the platform.
“Like many parents, I thought Roblox is a “safe” choice, like a fenced-in backyard for kids gaming. That is the genius, and danger, I found of Roblox – the illusion of safety it gives parents like me,” said Jefferson County mom of three Courtney Norris. “The reality is, Roblox makes it nearly impossible to police as a parent. It takes constant vigilance. Parents are doing their part, now it’s time for platforms like Roblox to do theirs.”
According to media reports cited in the complaint, so-called “assassination simulators” began popping up on Roblox shortly after the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Children as young as five years old were able to access animated bloody depictions of the shooting.
Earlier this year, a 25-year-old Kentucky man with ties to an extremist sextortion group called “764” pleaded guilty as part of a plot to groom, extort, threaten, and even conspire to kill children as young as eight years old using various online platforms. The group 764 is known to utilize Roblox among other platforms for its sextortion schemes.
The Attorney General’s Complaint alleges violations of Kentucky’s Consumer Protection Act, unjust enrichment, negligence, and a failure to warn parents and kids of the platform’s dangers. General Coleman asked the court to permanently block Roblox from continuing its unlawful conduct in Kentucky and to be penalized up to $2,000 for each willful violation, in addition to other applicable fines and penalties.
Kentucky is represented by the Attorney General’s Civil Chief Justin Clark, Division Chief for Consumer and Senior Protection Chris Lewis, Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection Philip Heleringer, Deputy Director Jonathan Farmer and Assistant Attorney General Alex Scutchfield.
Expanded program offers $25,000 in assistance to qualifying first-time homebuyers (Press Release)
BEREA, Ky. – The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati (FHLB) and Fahe have announced the expansion of the Rise Up Program throughout Kentucky. The Rise Up Program, funded by FHLB Cincinnati, will offer $25,000 grants to be used for down payment, closing costs or principal reduction assistance for households that qualify. A total of up to $3 million in funding is available in Kentucky.
“Expanding the Rise Up downpayment assistance program into Kentucky means families throughout the Commonwealth will get the support they need to become homeowners for the first-time. By focusing on first-time, first-generation home ownership, we look to help those who have previously encountered barriers that excluded them from the opportunity to own a home,” said Andy Howell, President and CEO, FHLB Cincinnati.
“At Fahe, we’re proud to expand access to homeownership and bring new resources to qualifying first-time, first-generation homebuyers. Through our partnership with FHLB Cincinnati, we’re able to offer $25,000 in down payment assistance—helping individuals and families who might otherwise have no path to purchase a home. Serving as administrator for the FHLB of Cincinnati’s Rise Up Program is a privilege, and we’re honored to play such an integral role in opening doors for more first-generation homebuyers in our region,” said Jim King, CEO, Fahe.
To be eligible for funding, homebuyers must:
- Have at least one borrower certify as a first-generation and first-time homebuyer
- Participate in homeownership education through a HUD-approved counseling agency
- Have a household income less than or equal to 120 percent of the HUD-defined Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project Income Limit (MTSP) for the county in which the home is being purchased.
In Calloway County, the income limits below apply:
- 1-person household – $69,360
- 2-person household – $79,200
- 3-person household – $89,160
- 4-person household – $99,000
Eligible properties must be:
- A single-family home (1- to 4-family units)
- Located within Kentucky
- Manufactured homes taxed and titled as real estate and attached to a permanent foundation
- Used as a primary residence by the homebuyer
Homebuyers in central and eastern Tennessee are also eligible for the program through Fahe and western Tennessee can access the program through United Housing, Inc. Funds used for the program are voluntary contributions approved by the FHLB’s Board of Directors. These funds are in addition to the FHLB’s required 10 percent of net earnings set-aside to fund the organization’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP). Since the inception of the AHP in 1990, the FHLB has disbursed over $697 million in subsidies towards the creation or preservation of affordable housing.
About the FHLB: The FHLB is a AA+ rated wholesale cooperative bank owned by 603 member financial institutions, including commercial banks, thrifts, credit unions, insurance companies and community development financial institutions in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. The FHLB provides members access to products and services (primarily Advances, which are a readily available, low-cost source of funds, purchases of certain mortgage loans from members, and issuance of Letters of Credit to members) and a competitive return through quarterly dividends on their capital investment in the FHLB. The FHLB funds these products and services by raising private-sector capital from member-stockholders and, with the other Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) in the FHLBank System, issuing high-quality debt in the global capital markets. The FHLB also funds community investment programs that help its members create affordable housing and promote community economic development.
About Fahe: Fahe unites people, organizations, and resources to build and rehabilitate homes, deliver community services, and create a thriving Appalachia by expanding economic opportunity for all. Since 1980 Fahe and our 50+ Members have invested close to $5 billion, changing the lives of more than 1 million people. We are reshaping the future of Appalachia through our Housing Can’t Wait® initiative and the ongoing commitment of our Members and supporters. Learn more at www.fahe.org.
NPR Correspondent Don Gonyea to give 2025 McGaughey Lecture (Press Release)
MURRAY – The 2025 McGaughey Lecture on Press Freedom and Responsibility will feature NPR National Political Correspondent Don Gonyea in Lovett Auditorium on Murray State’s campus on Oct. 22 at 7:00 p.m.
The lecture is free to the public.
Since 2010, Don Gonyea has served as NPR’s National Political Correspondent, known for his immersive, on-the-ground reporting from across the United States during elections. He began covering politics full-time for NPR during the 2000 presidential campaign, serving as White House Correspondent throughout George W. Bush’s presidency and reporting live on events such as the aftermath of September 11.
Gonyea has covered multiple presidential campaigns, traveled internationally to report on diplomacy and global events, and filed stories from locations including Moscow, Beijing, London, and Hanoi.
He began his career at NPR in 1986 reporting on labor unions, the automobile industry, and local Michigan issues, earning numerous awards, including contributing to NPR’s 2000 Peabody Award. In addition to reporting, he occasionally hosts NPR news programs, contributes to other media outlets, and teaches journalism, and he is an honors graduate of Michigan State University from Monroe, Michigan.
The event was created by the McGaughey Fund for Excellence in Journalism and Mass Communication which was established in 2020 through a generous bequest from the late Robert H. “Doc” McGaughey.
“Doc McGaughey was a devout believer in press freedom,” said long-time colleague Robert Valentine. “He was equally devoted to the concept of press responsibility to public service. As a leader of the faculty at Murray State University, he devoted his life to those principles in teaching and in practice.”
McGaughey began his professional career at Murray State as an advisor to The MSU News. In 1974, he became chairman of the newly formed Department of Journalism and Radio/TV.
His legacy continues with student journalism on campus – and the training of the next generation with the principles and ethics of responsible and accurate reporting. The event also highlights and benefits the work of WKMS – Murray State University’s NPR station, and The Murray State News.
Law enforcement confirms ex-principal not under arrest or investigation
MURRAY – When Bobby Love resigned from his position as principal at Calloway County High School for personal reasons Tuesday evening, rumors alleging inappropriate interactions with students were already circulating. On Wednesday, claims that he had been arrested were pervasive on social media.
However, despite the claims, the Calloway County Detention Center confirmed that Love has not been booked into the facility at any point in the past week. In addition, representatives from Kentucky State Police Post 1, the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office and the Murray Police Department confirmed that Love is not under investigation by their agencies.
The Sentinel reached out to the Calloway County School District for more information, but district spokesperson Ryan Marchetti said the only details that could be released at this time are in the email Superintendent Tres Settle sent to parents Wednesday afternoon.
Settle advised that Love would not return to the school this year. Until an interim principal is appointed, Patrick Keeney and Lynsey Smith will serve as co-principals.
“The expectations at CCHS will not change with the departure of Mr. Love,” Settle wrote. “We expect the best for our faculty, staff, and students in our classrooms and our extracurricular programs. Please continue to encourage your students to do their best during this administrative transition.”
Love began his tenure as principal on July 1 of this year, following the retirement of Steve Smith. Prior to that, he served as assistant principal for three years.
