(LEX 18) — Internet connectivity can be an issue in many parts of the Commonwealth. In Somerset, the Center for Rural Development is hoping to change that.

The center services 45 counties in rural Kentucky, equating to about 1 million people getting connected.

“Why can’t our kids in Eastern Kentucky, these rural parts of America, not have what kids in New York City or Los Angeles have? Why is that?” said Richard Taylor, who works on the broadband projects at the center.

Center director Lonnie Lawson says their goal is equal opportunity.

“Many times the rural areas get forgotten, all of the loud voices come from the urban areas where all the population centers are, but if you look at all the tragedies that have happened in this country over the years, the majority of them are in rural areas,” said Lawson. “Your emergency responders have to be just as trained, your leaders have to be just as trained.”

The center has been pushing for more internet access since 2005, but Lawson said it’s really taken off in the last couple of years.

In April in Rockcastle County, they were able to get 120 homes online, but they have their sights set much bigger. They’re currently working on a plan for 16 fringe counties in Eastern Kentucky to get connected; about 25,000-30,000 homes.

“They take medical appointments, there are public safety aspects to it, there’s education, there’s work from home, all of those come off the table if you don’t have a good broadband connection,” said Taylor.

Taylor said one of the challenges of getting broadband out into rural areas is Kentucky’s limestone. It’s hard to drill through and very costly, which creates a barrier.

He said they’re still full steam ahead, though, via their two programs, Move The Needle and Broadband Is A Service.

“Making certain that no one gets left out, internet for all is what we are calling it, internet for all,” said Lawson.

To learn more about the Center for Rural Development, click here.

A woman is dead, and a man is seriously injured following a motor vehicle collision in Bardstown early June 21, Kentucky State Police spokesperson Scotty Sharp said in a news release.

Around 4:40 a.m., troopers responded to a request from the Bardstown Police Department to investigate a crash near the 800 block of West Stephen Foster Avenue, Sharp reported.

The driver of the vehicle, Jason Wurts, 25, of Taylorsville, was flown to the University of Louisville Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries, Sharp said. A passenger in the vehicle, Morgan Williamson, 27, also of Taylorsville, was transported to Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown, where she was later pronounced dead.

A preliminary investigation shows Wurts’ vehicle, a 2022 Hyundai Elantra, struck a tree and an unoccupied vehicle after exiting the roadway. Trooper Jesse Harp’s investigation of the collision continues, Sharp said.

Troopers were assisted at the scene by Bardstown Police, the Nelson County Coroner’s Office and Nelson County EMS.

Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

There are a myriad of concerns surrounding the Kentucky football program this offseason. A lot of them are in the form of optics. Public relations matters for fans, but they don’t make a significant difference in what you will see on fall Saturdays.

The Kentucky football program was happy to share a bit of positive PR on Friday, although it actually highlights the biggest flaw in the Wildcats’ 2025 roster.

Phil Steele named four Kentucky football players to his preseason All-SEC roster. Punter Aidan Laros was a second-team selection, Josh Braun and Alex Wollschlaeger made the third-team, and Alex Afari made an appearance on the fourth-team.

This is not to diminish what any of those four players can accomplish for Kentucky this fall. After all, it’s just one mustachioed man’s opinion. However, it does highlight what the Cats should be the best at this fall: blocking and punting.

Mark Stoops had a massive roster-building undertaking following a 4-8 season. The Wildcats only have 14 returning scholarship players on offense. They had to almost completely rebuild the offensive line. That comes at a cost.

Kentucky lacks star power at skill positions.

Zach Calzada put up gaudy numbers at the FCS level after recording some big wins at Texas A&M. Dante Dowdell is an exceptional short-yardage back who led the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns. Seth McGowan should provide explosiveness at the position. Ja’Mori Maclin proved he can create big plays as an outside receiver. Outside of that, there aren’t many guys in the wide receiver room you can point to and say, “That guy is going to be a difference-maker in the SEC.”

Mark Stoops built a roster that can run the football. Kentucky can drag teams into the mud. If they take care of pigskin and play clean football, there are opportunities to win in the margins. That’s significantly harder to do without top-tier SEC skill talent. It will be the Wildcats’ greatest challenge in the 2025 season.

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