Oh, Kentucky

In light of the intentionally-exposed-his-kids-to-chickenpox news from the New Hampshire vice-presidential hopeful who has been campaigning in Kentucky since 2013, Lisa Gillespie with WFPL whipped up a terrific overview of the vaccination sitch here. It turns out that, while Kentucky kindergarteners are required to be vaccinated for chickenpox, it's up to the local school districts to enforce that. And, so, for example, only 68 percent of the kids in Garrard County are vaccinated. County-by-county maps of Kentucky showing rates of most anything today tend not to be interesting (though still always beautiful) because they generally just provide a same-song-different-verse amplification of what we already know about the culture wars we find ourselves in. But I found WFPL's map about the vaccinations to be genuinely eye-opening. Take neighboring Daviess (with city Owensboro) and McLean (rural, more western) counties, for example; OK, go ahead, and take a guess which one has a higher rate ... WRONG! Daviess's rate is 69 percent, per WFPL and the Kentucky Department of Public Health; McLean's, 99 percent.

Back to the culture wars, here's another guessing game for you: Which three among the City of Martin, Kentucky Attorney General's Office, an informal Martin citizens group called "We the People" and the Floyd County Chronicle and Times are aligned against the fourth? ... OK, yeah, you got that one right.

Rebuttal from McKee:

With the Martin County Sheriff's Department short-staffed, Lexington-based Compliant Technologies has donated four of its glove products that sends electrical charges to suspects. "The protection of our citizenry is becoming more dangerous and demanding. As more and more people are demonizing our men and women in uniform through political agenda, social media and one-sided video we want to help change public perception. Compliant Technologies, with its tools like The G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitter) enables our public servants in many instances to rapidly, effectively and, at times, unassumingly bring individuals into compliance or restrain them from further violence. We believe this technology can help lower liability, lessen risk, and create a more amiable atmosphere between the general population and those who protect and serve us. We look forward to providing you with non-lethal alternatives that will help you to accomplish your mission more safely and effectively as well as improve community relations."

Richmond's, like the rest of the Lifeway Christian Resources bookstores. is closing.

"She noticed a need a few years ago for women to receive housing, training, and counseling after leaving the Christian County Jail," and now, WKDZ reports, the director of Hoptown's Grace and Mercy Center, Joanna Mack, is the 2019 Fannie Bronson Postell Woman Of the Year.

Central City Elementary benefits from First Kentucky Bank's computer upgrade.

Madisonville is became an international center of hydroponics R&D and production, and some of us were so busy thinking about the 1973 final episodes of The Doris Day Show and the 1954 Rose Bowl (stand by at HP!) that we hardly even noticed.

Rest in peace, Todd Reisz, 50-year-old Owensboro native, "history and geography buff," music and Cowboys lover, barbershop favorite and sweet and familiar face of customer service for 28 years at the Wesleyan Park Plaza Kroger. (And prayers for his mom and other loved ones.)