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Home ownership out of reach for many in northern Kentucky

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Home ownership out of reach for many in northern Kentucky


HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Housing affordability is a critical issue in northern Kentucky where home prices continue to outpace wage growth. Many of the essential workers the region depends on are struggling to achieve the “American Dream” of homeownership, according to a study.


What You Need To Know

  • There is a large swath of what used to be considered “very solid middle class families,” but those occupations are no longer middle class, according to a new study
  • A household must earn at least $69,920 annually to afford a median-priced home in Northern Kentucky, which is currently $291,720
  • This follows the rule that no more than 30% of income should go toward housing costs, with those exceeding considered “house burdened”
  • Of the 630 detailed occupations in the study, just 177 or 28% can comfortably afford a median-priced home


“The narrative has been for many years that we need affordable housing, which is kind of a euphemism for: we need subsidized housing. And we absolutely do need that. But there’s a whole other set of people that work full-time jobs, they’re not on welfare, they’re not on public assistance, but they can’t afford a home either. Because housing prices have risen so much faster than wages,” said Janet Harrah, senior director of the Center for Economic Analysis and Development in the Haile College of Business at Northern Kentucky University. 

She said there is a large swath of what used to be considered “very solid middle-class families,” but “those occupations are no longer middle class. Things like teachers, LPNs, firefighters, police officers, they can no longer afford a median price home in northern Kentucky.”

Harrah put together a study showing the disparity between median home prices and household income in northern Kentucky, which is further broken down by occupation.

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A household must earn at least $69,920 annually to afford a median-priced home in Northern Kentucky, which is currently $291,720. This follows the rule that no more than 30% of income should go toward housing costs, with those exceeding considered “house burdened.”

“The bad news is we have lots of people that live and work here that really can’t afford to get into the housing market,” Harrah said. “The good news is that compared to other markets, Cincinnati is still very affordable. Not just northern Kentucky, but the whole metro area.”

Of the 630 detailed occupations in the study, just 177 or 28% can comfortably afford a median-priced home. Harrah said if current trends continue, northern Kentucky risks becoming unaffordable for the very workers who keep the region running.

“We need teachers, we need nurses, we need fire and police,” she said. “So we as a community need to figure out how do we make that job pay enough that they can still have a good quality of life and live in our community?”

Harrah said she doesn’t expect housing prices to decrease anytime soon. However, she said if people can wait another six to 12 months, she expects interest rates to go down, making it easier for people to buy a home.

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Kentucky woman, 35, charged with homicide after using abortion pills then burying fetus in backyard

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Kentucky woman, 35, charged with homicide after using abortion pills then burying fetus in  backyard


A Kentucky woman was charged with fetal homicide after allegedly using abortion pills and burying the fetus in a Christmas-wrapped lightbulb box in her backyard — when she got pregnant following an affair.

Melinda Spencer, 35, was arrested Wednesday after going to a Campton health care clinic, where she told staff members she used medication purchased online to end her pregnancy, which is illegal in the state, according to Kentucky State Police, FOX 56 reported.

Police said Spencer allegedly admitted to taking the pills on Dec. 26 and burying the fetus — described as a “developed male infant” — two days later in a shallow grave at her Flat Mary Road home.

Melinda Spencer, 35, was charged with fetal homicide after taking abortion pills to end her pregnancy in Kentucky, where that is illegal. Kentucky State Police

After obtaining a search warrant, cops found the remains wrapped in a white rag and stuffed in the holiday-decorated box inside a plastic bag, court documents showed.

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Spencer later confessed that she allegedly ordered the pregnancy-ending drugs after conceiving with a man who was not her boyfriend, claiming she didn’t want him to find out, police said, per the outlet.

Authorities said she wanted to “abort the fetus on her own.”

Cops found the remains wrapped in a white rag and stuffed in the holiday-decorated box inside a plastic bag in her backyard. AP

It’s unclear how long she was pregnant before taking the pills.

An autopsy has reportedly been scheduled to establish how developed the fetus was.

In Kentucky, nearly all abortions are illegal, with a doctor only authorized to perform one to prevent death or serious injury to the mother.

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The deadly offense makes her eligible for the death penalty. Getty Images

There are no exceptions for rape or incest.

State law also bars the distribution of abortion medication.

Spencer was charged with first-degree fetal homicide, abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence, and first-degree promoting contraband, the outlet reported.

The homicide offense makes her eligible for the death penalty. She also faces life behind bars if convicted.

Spencer is being held at Three Forks Regional Jail in Beattyville.

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Lancaster resident describes Kentucky earthquake experience

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Lancaster resident describes Kentucky earthquake experience


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A 3.1 magnitude earthquake hit Kentucky Sunday afternoon with an epicenter between Richmond and Lancaster, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The USGS “Did You Feel It” survey received reports from people in Richmond, Danville, Stanford, Lancaster and Lexington.

Caroline Boyd, a retired nurse from Lancaster, was reading at home when the earthquake began at 12:47 p.m.

“I wouldn’t necessarily say shaking but it felt like a rumbling in my basement or even outside,” Boyd said.

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Boyd said she felt and heard the ground beneath her rumble followed by a loud boom.

“I thought to myself what on earth is that? Because there is no trains or train station nearby, so I knew it was not a train. So, I just sat there and listened. I would say it lasted about 10 to 15 seconds,” Boyd said.

After the tremor, Boyd called her neighbors and then the sheriff’s office. Dispatchers told her there had been an earthquake.

Dustin Price, deputy director and public information officer for Garrad County Emergency Management Agency, said the agency first heard from Bluegrass 911 about reports of a loud boom and shaking.

“Approximately we were able to confirm through the state that there was a confirmed 3.1 magnitude earthquake that hit through Garrad County,” Price said.

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No injuries or property damage were reported, according to Price.

Boyd said she was thankful the earthquake did not cause more serious problems.

“Even if I would’ve had to relocate if there was a problem. I have two pets, so it could’ve been really bad,” Boyd said.

Garrad County EMA said they are thankful for all the agencies who helped respond to the incident.

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3.2 magnitude earthquake with no immediate reports of damage confirmed in Garrard County

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3.2 magnitude earthquake with no immediate reports of damage confirmed in Garrard County


GARRARD COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Governor Andy Beshear reports that a 3.2 magnitude earthquake has been reported in Garrard County.

“This range does not typically produce sizable damage – just shaking – and thankfully, that is all that’s been reported so far,” Beshear said on social media Sunday.

According to the Lincoln County EMA, the earthquake happened around 12:47 p.m. with a shallow depth of 8 kilometers.

NWS Louisville reports the location of the quake to have been near the Garrard/Madison County line.

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Multiple agencies are also reporting no immediate reports of damage.





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