Kentucky
Here’s where, when, and for how long you can see the total solar eclipse in Kentucky

Eyes to the sky! Why April’s total solar eclipse is must-see moment.
April 8, 2024 will be the last total solar eclipse visible in the contiguous United States for the next forty years.
Kentuckians, it’s time to start preparing for the 2024 solar eclipse, taking place this April. Some won’t even have to leave their home city to get a good view of the rare, celestial occurrence, as part of the state is located along the path of totality.
Here’s what we know about the upcoming event:
When is the 2024 solar eclipse?
The solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8. According to NASA, Mexico’s Pacific coast will first experience the eclipse around 11:07 a.m. PDT. The eclipse path will then enter the U.S. in Texas, traveling through the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Main. Some parts of Michigan and Tennessee will also experience the phenomenon.
From there, the eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, traveling through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton before exiting North America on the Atlantic coast around 5:16 p.m. NDT in Newfoundland, Canada.
Where will the 2024 solar eclipse be visible in Kentucky?
According to a news release from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, the total eclipse will last around one to three minutes in the state, with major cities on the path including Paducah, Morganfield and Henderson.
Areas more directly located in the path of totality, like Indiana, Ohio and Illinois, will see about four minutes of totality.
When, and where is the solar eclipse visible in Kentucky? How long is the total eclipse visible in Kentucky?
See the eclipse in Paducah
According to the City of Paducah, the city will see around two minutes of totality, as Paducah sits on the edge of the path. The eclipse begins at 12:42 p.m. with totality starting at 2 p.m. Totality will end at 2:02 p.m. and the eclipse will end at 3:18 p.m.
The city is also hosting an “X Marks the Spot: Paducah Eclipse Festival” on April 7-8, with a street fair featuring vendors, programming, etc. in the downtown area. It will go from noon until 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, April 8.
Recommended and free viewing spots in the area include:
- Bob Noble Park
- Kolb Park
- Ohio River Boat Launch
- Pat & Jim Brockenborough Rotary Health Park
- Riverfront and Schultz Park
- Stuart Nelson Park
See the eclipse in Morganfield
According to Eclipse2024.org, Morganfield will experience over two and a half minutes of totality. The eclipse begins at 12:44 p.m., with totality starting at 2:01 p.m. and lasting two minutes and 42 seconds.
See the eclipse in Henderson
In Henderson, the eclipse will begin at 12:45 p.m., according to Eclipse2024.org. The city will see two and a half minutes of totality, beginning between 2:02 and 2:03 p.m.
Kentucky prepares for increased traffic during upcoming total solar eclipse
What is a solar eclipse?
According to National Geographic, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, creating a shadow on our planet called an umbra.
There are also different kinds of eclipses. A total eclipse occurs when the moon blocks out the entire sun and a partial eclipse occurs when the moon only blocks part of the sun.
Total solar eclipse 2024 Where to get eclipse glasses to experience the eclipse safely in Kentucky
What is a total solar eclipse?
According to the IU official website, a total eclipse takes place when the moon passes directly between the sun and Earth, placing the Earth in its shadow. The time it takes place, as well as the duration, are influenced by factors like the distances between the sun, moon and Earth, the moon’s phase and the axial tilt of the Earth and moon.
How often do solar eclipses occur?
Solar eclipses take place pretty frequently, occurring two to five times per year, according to the Natural History Museum. However, a total solar eclipse typically takes place every 18 months, around a year and a half apart.
How can viewers stay safe during the solar eclipse?
Transportation officials recommend the following safety precautions for eclipse watching:
- Get eclipse-viewing glasses early. Regular sunglasses are not safe.
- Fill up your gas tank before traveling in the event of traffic delays.
- Do not stop along highways or emergency shoulders.
- Do not take pictures while driving. Exit the highway to view or photograph the event.
- Turn on headlights.
- Drive alert and watch for pedestrians.
- Come early, stay late. This will help minimize major traffic delays.
- Plan ahead. Book accommodations early and select a viewing destination before you travel. Locations with restrooms and food will be in high demand.
- Travel with enough food and water for everyone in your vehicle. Expect lines at restaurants, convenience stores and grocery stores.
- Check the local weather.
When is the next solar eclipse?
According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse visible in the U.S. following the April occurrence won’t be until Aug. 23, 2044.

Kentucky
Three people killed, including gunman, in Kentucky shootings – UPI.com

July 13 (UPI) — Three people are dead, including the gunman, following Sunday’s shootings at a Kentucky airport and church, police said.
Kentucky State Police said in a statement that the first shooting at Blue Grass Airport, located about 6 miles west of downtown Lexington, began at about 11:36 a.m. The suspect then fled the scene, ending up at the Richmond Baptist Church on the other side of the city, where there are “multiple victims,” according to police.
Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said that the gunman shot a Kentucky State Trooper on a terminal road at the airport after the officer pulled the shooter over, prompted by a license plate alert.
“The trooper was shot and the suspect fled,” Weathers said, adding that the officer was stabilized and being treated at the hospital.
Police chased the suspect for about 16 miles before catching up to him near the Richmond Road Baptist Church, where the gunman also opened fire, striking four people, killing two. The officers then fatally wounded the gunman.
Local media reported that the shooter was identified as Guy House, who had a lengthy criminal history.
A statement from the Lexington Police Department said the suspect carjacked a vehicle after shooting the trooper and before reaching the church.
“Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to individuals at the church,” the statement said.
The deceased parishioners were identified as Beverly Gumm, 72, and Christina Combs, 32, according to Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn. Weathers said the two victims were “possibly” related.
The two other victims who were shot at the church remained hospitalized and in stable condition.
In a social media post, Gov. Andy Beshear acknowledged the shootings and said the surviving victims and the trooper were being treated at a nearby hospital.
Kentucky State Police later said on Facebook that “good samaritans” had provided life-saving measures to the trooper who had been shot.
Blue Grass Airport confirmed the shooting and later said all roadways had been reopened.
Kentucky
Indiana Reacts Results: Fans want North Carolina, Kentucky on men’s basketball schedule

Indiana men’s basketball’s non-conference schedule is official. The Hoosiers will take on the likes of Marquette, Kansas State, Louisville and Kentucky in between a slew of buy games:
It’s not exactly the beefiest schedule, but it’s probably appropriate for a group that’ll have to form chemistry on the fly given the roster is entirely new to the program.
It’s hard to say that Indiana’s matchup with Kentucky pops off the screen given it’s been on the schedule for well over a year now, but the first regular season matchup between two of the most historically significant programs to the sport who previously played every single season is worth noting.
With that in mind, we ran a fan poll with the help of our friends at SB Nation to see if fans want to see the Cats on the schedule more consistently moving forward. The results are overwhelming:
It’s fair to say the interest from Indiana’s side is strong, at least among the fanbase. It’s an important rivalry to the program’s history and the seasons since have lost something without Kentucky on the roster.
That’s the verdict on adding Kentucky to the schedule, but what about other historic, name-brand programs? We put together a list of a few others and North Carolina came out as the narrow favorite to be on future Indiana schedules:
This also makes sense. Indiana and North Carolina have played enough in the regular season and tournament for fans to have developed pretty concrete feelings for the Tar Heels. Duke speaks for itself and there’s already been a home-and-home with Kansas recently. UCLA would’ve been on this list, but that’s a conference game now, so.
Indiana currently sits at +6000 to win the 2026 national championship, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Kentucky
Worth the Drive: East Kentucky museum preserves the legacy of country music legends

Country music is a way of life for many in Kentucky, and one Eastern Kentucky museum embodies the spirit of the music and Bluegrass State musicians like none other.
In Paintsville, the county seat of Johnson County in far-east Kentucky, the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum highlights the lives and careers of dozens of Kentucky-born stars whose contributions to the country music genre landed them a spot on the Country Music Highway — a stretch of U.S. 23 that winds through Kentucky and is designated as a national scenic byway.
Paintsville is located at the “heart” of the Country Music Highway, making it an apt location for the museum, said Jeremiah Parsons, executive director for Paintsville Tourism, which operates the museum.
“The museum was opened in April of 2005 as a way to encapsulate and forever enshrine those country music artists from the Country Music Highway,” Parsons said. “It’s a way to show the legacy and to continue on their music.”
How the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum honors musicians
The U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum has no shortage of artists from the areas surrounding the highway to honor.
“We have more country music artists per capita than anywhere else in the world from this section of highway,” Parsons said.
The museum includes items from the careers of star musicians like Chris Stapleton, Loretta Lynn, Billy Ray Cyrus and many more. All items on display are donated by the artists or their families to ensure authenticity, Parsons said.
A few standout items include Stapleton’s boots, Lynn’s guitars, Tom T. Hall’s upright bass and Ricky Skaggs’ family photos.
While not every artist recognized along the Country Music Highway is represented in the museum, Parsons hopes to change that. The museum has reached its space capacity but is hoping to expand in the coming years to allow space for artists without exhibits, Parsons said.
“The Country Music Highway is very dynamic. We always have rising stars,” he said. “We want to give them their proper space, as well.”
What else to know about the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum
Throughout the year on Thursdays, the museum hosts “Front Porch Pickin’” events where musicians can play for a live crowd.
Admission to the museum is $5, which includes the weekly jam sessions for those who come on Thursday evenings.
For Parsons, commemorating country music in Eastern Kentucky bigger than saluting individuals — it’s about paying homage to the Appalachian region and its people.
“It’s an awesome responsibility because you’ve got a lot that you have to manage,” Parsons said. “It’s also a burden, because you’re making sure that you continue to tell the story of the mountains, of the people and of the legacy of these artists.”
Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@gannett.com or @bkillian72 on X.
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