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Kentucky Health Commissioner stresses importance of measles vaccine

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Kentucky Health Commissioner stresses importance of measles vaccine


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – We are seeing more reports of measles in the U.S.

Just last month a case was confirmed close to Kentucky, in Ohio.

The state’s health department put a warning out that people may have been exposed at the Cincinnati–Northern Kentucky Airport.

While no cases are confirmed in Kentucky, Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack says the risk is there.

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“In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S., and the only way you could get it was to go to another country that still had it,” Dr. Stack said.

That is no longer the case in the U.S. The country is beginning to see more cases.

So far this year, the CDC has confirmed 45 measles cases in 17 states, including Ohio and Virginia.

In 2023, the CDC confirmed 58 cases for the whole year in 20 states. In 2022, 121 cases in just six states.

“Unfortunately now our vaccination rates have dipped. In Kentucky, they’re about 90% of kindergarteners who have been fully vaccinated for measles,” said Dr. Stack.

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Dr.Stack believes the pandemic has further slowed vaccination rates.

“I think it’s all gotten caught up in the COVID pandemic in the narrative and the ideologies that have been associated with public health and medical science,” said Dr. Stack.

Dr. Stack says two doses of the measles vaccine are 97% effective. He also says getting the vaccine protects those who cannot.

“It’s not simple enough to say it is just individual risk because if you have a child that’s six months old and can’t be immunized and they get measles and get severely ill and have seizures for the rest of their life, that’s a really big deal,” said Dr. Stack.

WKYT will have more with Dr. Stack on this Sunday’s edition of Kentucky Newsmakers at 10 a.m. on the CW Lexington and at 11:30 on WKYT.

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2026 top-50 recruit Chris Washington Jr. drawing interest from Kentucky Basketball

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2026 top-50 recruit Chris Washington Jr. drawing interest from Kentucky Basketball


Even in the era of the transfer portal and NIL, fans of a team will still focus on and care about recruiting. That’s especially the case with the Kentucky Wildcats. Fans are already up in arms about Kentucky’s recruiting for the class of 2026, or, in their case, lack thereof.

Only one player is signed for the class of 2026, after 4-star point guard Mason Williams announced his commitment to play for the Cats on Friday. On the board. Still work to do.

Chris Washington Jr., an Alabama decommit and top-35 senior prospect, is a new target for Mark Pope and UK ahead of the spring signing period in mid-April. The staff reached out to his AAU coach, Bobby Maze, to gauge the athletic wing’s potential interest. This is all according to Kentucky Sports Radio.

Washington is a 6-9, 195-pound forward who originally committed to Alabama, but decommitted in November. Kentucky is now included among the likes of Tennessee, Oregon, Oklahoma State, USC, and SMU that are interested in Washington.

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“It’s a good program,” Washington said of Kentucky while adding, “Honestly, I just want to go where I’m wanted — and the play style. I got to go where I fit in and where the coaches really want me. (My recruitment is) open. Whenever the time is right.”

Only four players ranked ahead of him remain available in 2026, including No. 1 Tyran Stokes. That tells you just how big of a prospect Washington will be in the spring signing period.

Kentucky has swung and missed in recruiting a lot recently. But there is still time to get things moving in the right direction this spring on both the high school front and in the transfer portal.



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Kentucky man arrested after police said he was riding horse while intoxicated

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Kentucky man arrested after police said he was riding horse while intoxicated


BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WKRC) — A Kentucky man was arrested Thursday after police said he was riding a horse while intoxicated, reports WBKO.

Bowling Green police said they found 48-year-old Jorge Luis Hernandez on a horse, partially slumped over, as it walked along a road. He and the horse then began traveling on a sidewalk, according to an arrest record.

Police said Hernandez had a “strong odor of alcoholic beverage” and had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and delayed movements. Hernandez said he had just left the liquor store and had a liquor store bag tied to the horse’s saddle.

Hernandez was arrested and charged with operating a non-motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicants.

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Kentucky Newsmakers 3/29: Senate Candidate Charles Booker; Kentucky League of Cities Pres. Mayor Paul Sandefur

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Kentucky Newsmakers 3/29: Senate Candidate Charles Booker; Kentucky League of Cities Pres. Mayor Paul Sandefur


LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – On the latest edition of Kentucky Newsmakers, WKYT’s Bill Bryant talks with Kentucky Senate candidate Charles Booker and Beaver Dam Mayor and Kentucky League of Cities President Paul Sandefur.



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