Kentucky
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.
“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.
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.
Copyright 2024 WKYT. All rights reserved.
Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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