Election raises questions about mayor pro tem

Thomas earns most city commission votes; Wilson marks longest-serving female commissioner. Paducah City Commissioner Dujuan Thomas received the most votes in Tuesday’s city commission election, putting him in a position to potentially become the city’s next mayor pro tem. The city commission must still formally select someone for the position.

Williamson County social worker pleads not guilty

New traffic pattern begins on I-24 westbound in Lyon County

LYON COUNTY, Ky., (KBSI) — Drivers traveling on Interstate 24 westbound in Lyon County will encounter a new traffic pattern beginning Thursday, Nov. 5, as part of an ongoing road improvement project. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, traffic has shifted onto both westbound lanes between mile markers 45.1...

Martin Receives Grant to Remove Soybean Water Tower

The City of Martin has been approved for a Brownfield Redevelopment Area Grant to help fund the demolition of its soybean water tower. Interim City Manager Brittany Newton announced the grant approval during this month’s informal city board meeting. The grant program, administered by TDEC supports the redevelopment of...

This Kentucky Town Has The World’s Largest Quilting Needle, And Its Thread Weaves Right In And Out Of The Ground

A 22-foot stainless steel needle stands on a street corner, and its thread dives straight into the grass. Then the thread pops back up and turns into benches you can sit on. I love that someone looked at a sewing kit and thought, bigger. The steel thread stretches more than 40 feet, looping in and out of the ground like a giant mid-stitch.

Missouri to pay $150,000 to settle lawsuit over prisoner’s death by suicide

Missouri must pay $150,000 to the mother of a man who committed suicide in a Southeast Missouri prison, a Mississippi County judge ruled Friday. Jahi Hynes was 27 when died April 4, 2021, at the Southeast Missouri Correctional Center in Charleston. His mother, Willa Hynes, sued the Department of Corrections, three of the agency’s corporate […]

McCracken Commissioner Jones renews push for railroad overpass improvement

PADUCAH — McCracken County Commissioner Eddie Jones is renewing conversation about the potential for city and county collaboration to rejuvenate privately owned railway overpasses in the city of Paducah. Jones initially brought up the prospect of collaborating with the city to beautify the railroad overpass located at Broadway Street...

USDA rolls out new SNAP cost-of-living adjustments; Advocates say more needs to be done

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s new cost-of-living adjustments began at the beginning of October. Advocates say the change isn’t enough to address the ongoing need for food in Kentucky communities. The United States Department of Agriculture rolled out the changes for this fiscal year, providing a nearly 3%...

Four city council newcomers elected to help shape Mayfield’s future

MAYFIELD, Ky. — Local voters elected four new members to Mayfield City Council this week — twice the number in 2024’s general election. Newcomers cited the importance of fresh perspectives in collaboration with current members on the 10-person body, as they work to advance Mayfield to the next phase of recovery from the December 2021 tornado.

Crews repairing broken water main in Fulton, Ky.

FULTON, Ky. (Heartland News) - Crews with the city of Fulton are fixing a water main break on Friday afternoon, November 6. According to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the water main break is at the intersection of KY 116/W. State Line Street and KY 129/E. State Line Street. There is...

Judge executive elect prepares for Graves County's future

MAYFIELD, Ky. — The City of Mayfield isn’t the only local government with a newly elected leader — Graves County commissioner Todd Hayden will take over as judge executive from incumbent Jesse Perry next year. After serving in the role for 12 years, Perry did not run...

Paducah's Washington Street Warming Center to open Friday night

PADUCAH — With a frost advisory in effect for Friday night and Saturday morning for much of Western Kentucky, the Washington Street Community Warming Center will open Friday night, Nov. 6, the center announced. The warming center is located at 739 Washington Street. The center opens when WPSD-TV meteorologists...

The Place Where a Candidate Promising to Do Less on Data Centers Actually Won

1. McCracken County, Kentucky – A rare bright spot for the data center sector quietly occurred in deep red Kentucky in a race defined by what’ll likely be the first project built on federal land. As I previously reported , a large data center project became the primary point of conflict in the race for McCracken County’s judge-executive. The incumbent Republican Craig Clymer had welcomed the project, and faced a challenge from independent George Bray, mayor of the county’s largest city of Paducah. Bray also supported the data center but said his city, which is adjacent to the project, should’ve received more demarcated benefits. Bray called for a community benefit agreement. Turns out voters in McCracken County didn’t care enough about this issue to make a change and wanted to keep Clymer in office. He won handily, netting more than 12,000 votes to Bray’s roughly 7,600. It’s one of the few races across the country that went in favor of the candidate promising to do less when it came to data centers. 2. Pulaski County, Arkansas – After a blue wave election in Little Rock, this county government is on a collision course with data center development. We’ve been covering

Downtown Cape Girardeau announces holiday events, 34th annual Parade of Lights

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Old Town Cape Inc. is preparing for the holiday season with several events planned in downtown Cape Girardeau, including a Christmas tree lighting, Small Business Saturday and the 34th annual Parade of Lights. The holiday festivities will begin Friday, Nov. 27, with the downtown...

Cape Girardeau prepares for more road work and street improvements

The City of Cape Girardeau boasts plenty of fun activities, a lively downtown and multiple subdivisions, but all of that traffic can cause more stress on the roadways. While it might cause more delays and longer travel times, the City of Cape Girardeau is planning more construction projects and improvements to the roads around town.

Jackson Veterans Day parade set for Nov. 11

JACKSON, Mo., (KBSI) — The city of Jackson will honor military veterans with a Veterans Day parade Wednesday, Nov. 11. According to the Jackson Police Department, the parade will begin at 4 p.m. and travel through uptown Jackson. The parade will start at the Frozen Food Locker on South...

Giant City School earns Illinois’ highest school rating

JACKSON COUNTY, Ill. (Heartland News) - A Jackson County, Illinois school earned a major achievement this year. Giant City School received an exemplary designation by the Illinois State Board of Education, the highest ranking under its guidelines. In order to receive it, the school had to reach certain levels of...

MoDOT Awards Bridge Painting Contract in Ste. Genevieve County

Ste. Genevieve Co., Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded a contract totaling more than $850,000 for bridge painting work on four bridges over Interstate 55 in Ste. Genevieve County. During its regular meeting on November 5, 2026, the Commission awarded an $852,987 contract to International...

Orange Barrel Report November 4

SIKESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — Route M in Iron County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction lane as contractor crews perform shoulder repairs. This section of roadway is located from Boulder Drive and Longwood Drive near Ironton, Missouri. Weather permitting, work will take place from...

Sikeston VA Clinic hosts Veterans Resource Fair

SIKESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — The Sikeston VA Clinic hosted a Veterans Resource Fair on Thursday, Nov. 5, providing an opportunity for local veterans to connect with available resources. An event connecting local veterans to valuable resources took place in Sikeston. A resource fair for veterans and their families to...