FORT KNOX, Ky. —Kentucky First Lady Britainy Beshear visited Fort Knox April 19 to meet with children and tour some of the installation’s schools and childcare facilities.

Welcomed by the Commanding General of U.S. Army Recruiting Command and Fort Knox, Maj. Gen. Johnny Davis, as well as the Garrison Command Team, Beshear said she feels it’s important to touch base with the post’s children each year.

“It’s Month of the Military Child, so I think it’s important that the children hear from the people in Frankfort…

that their leaders here care about them, and that what they have to say matters.”

Along her visit, Beshear read to the Pre-K students at the Child Development Center and visited multiple classes at the current Van Voorhis Elementary School. Beshear then went to Scott Intermediate School where she was given a student-guided tour of the school and their robotics classroom.

One of the students who lead the school tour, Kaleesi Crawford, said that she was nervous to meet the first lady at first but once she met her, she said Beshear was, “sweet and smiley, and [leading the tour was] kind of like you’re just showing a new student around.”

The children in the robotics classroom showed her projects that they are currently working on and presented her with two 3D-printed bulldogs, the school’s mascot, for her and her husband. Beshear said she was very impressed by the class.

“The excitement that that room has in it – the buzz and the creativity and the intelligence – it blows my mind how sharp these kids are,” she said.

Beshear’s last stop was a pep rally at Kingsolver Elementary School, where the North Hardin High School JROTC program performed a drill demonstration, and the grades presented different Month of the Military Child chants for a ‘friendly competition’.

Beshear shared her appreciation for the post’s educational environment and culture.

“Every time I come to a school on a military base, the things that I really find exceptional are the maturity and the kindness of the kids who are here,” said Beshear.  “And the caring of the staff that go above and beyond to help these children not only acclimate to new surroundings, but to give them their all in educating them to have the futures that these children deserve to have.”

PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers landed in the top five schools for a Kentucky transfer with local ties.

Jeff Borzello of ESPN reported that Kentucky transfer forward Adou Thiero placed Pitt in his final five schools, joining a list that includes Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana and North Carolina.

Thiero played high school basketball for Quaker Valley in Leetsdale, Pa., about 18 miles northwest of Pitt’s campus on the Ohio river.

He excelled throughout high school, but especially as a senior in 2022, where he scored 23.3 points, grabbed 10.3 rebounds, dished out 5.9 assists, forced 3.9 steals and made 2.3 blocks per game, respectively, en route to a WPIAL Class 4A Championship and finishing runners-up in the PIAA Playoffs.

Thiero, who ranked as a four-star in the Class of 2022, committed to Kentucky to join head coach John Calipari, who is from Western Pennsylvania himself.

He averaged 9.5 minutes, 2.3 points and 1.9 rebounds per game over 20 appearances as a freshman. Thiero took improved this past season as a sophomore, appearing in 25 games, starting 19 and averaging 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks per game, respectively, while shooting 49.2% from the field and 80.0% from the foul line.

Thiero entered the transfer portal prior to Calipari resigning from Kentucky and then taking the job at Arkansas, both of whom are in his final five schools. He could also go to the ACC, but join powerhouse North Carolina or go to the midwest and join Indiana.

Pitt lost a few of their forwards from last season, as First Team All-ACC star Blake Hinson graduated and both Federiko Federiko and Will Jeffress entered the transfer portal.

They did land Florida State transfer Cameron Corhen and will bring in freshman Amdy Ndiaye, as well as a heathly return for Papa Amadou Kante, who suffered a season-ending injury prior to last season and redshirted.

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt

Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary March 2024 unemployment rate was 4.5%, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KYSTATS).

The preliminary March 2024 jobless rate was up 0.1 percentage points from February 2024 and up 0.5 percentage point from one year ago.

The U.S. seasonally adjusted jobless rate for March 2024 was 3.8%, which was down from the 3.9% recorded for February 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, are based upon estimates from the Current Population Survey of households. The survey is designed to measure trends in the number of people working and includes jobs in agriculture and individuals who are self-employed.

Kentucky’s civilian labor force was 2,027,717 in March 2024, an increase of 3,147 individuals from February 2024. The number of people employed in March increased by 1,145 to 1,937,129 while the number unemployed increased by 2,002 to 90,588.

“Kentucky’s unemployment rate increased to 4.5% in March as workers returned to the labor force,” said University of Kentucky’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) Director Mike Clark, Ph.D. “The increase in the labor force represents only one month but does reverse the gradual decline Kentucky has experienced over the past few months.”

In a separate federal survey of business establishments that excludes jobs in agriculture and people who are self-employed, Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 9,400 jobs to 2,036,900 in March 2024 compared to February 2024. Kentucky’s nonfarm employment was up 25,000 jobs or 1.2% compared to March 2023.

“In March, Kentucky posted its strongest month to month employment gains since early 2023,” said Clark. “While the professional and business services saw the largest increase in employment, the gains were widespread with most of Kentucky’s major sectors reporting higher levels of employment.”

Nonfarm data is provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Statistics program. According to the survey, employment increased for nine of Kentucky’s major nonfarm North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) job sectors in March 2024, decreased for one, and was unchanged for one.

Employment in Kentucky’s professional and business services sector jumped by 2,600 jobs or 1.1% in March 2024. From February to March, employment increased by 600 jobs in the professional, scientific and technical services subsector; 100 jobs in the management of companies subsector; and by 1,900 jobs in the administrative, support and waste management subsector. The sector has decreased by 100 positions since March 2023.

(Click for larger graphic)

The educational and health services sector grew by 1,800 positions in March 2024. Employment in the health care and social assistance subsector increased by 1,500 jobs from February to March. The educational services subsector gained 300 jobs. Since last March, this sector has grown by 12,300 jobs or 4.1%.

The leisure and hospitality sector bounced back in March, adding 1,800 positions. This represents a gain of 0.9%. This sector reported 3,800 more jobs in March than one year ago. The accommodations and food services subsector was up by 1,200 positions in March. The arts, entertainment and recreation subsector gained 600 jobs from February to March.

Construction employment was up 1,200 jobs or 1.3% from February 2024 to March 2024 and up 3,900 positions or 4.4% from one year ago.

“Kentucky’s construction firms continued to add workers in March, suggesting Kentucky is experiencing strong demand for construction projects,” said Clark.

Kentucky’s financial activities sector increased by 700 positions from February 2024 to March 2024 but was down 1,300 jobs from March 2023. The finance and insurance subsector added 400 jobs while the real estate, rental and leasing subsector added 300 positions.

Employment in the trade, transportation and utilities sector rose by 600 positions from February to March but was down 1,200 jobs or 0.3% compared to a year ago. Among the subsectors, wholesale trade lost 100 jobs and transportation, warehousing and utilities lost 700 jobs. These losses were more than offset by a gain of 1,400 jobs in the retail trade subsector.

Kentucky’s manufacturing sector expanded by 500 jobs from February 2024 to March 2024. The durable goods manufacturing subsector increased by 200 positions and the non-durable goods subsector added 300 jobs. Kentucky’s manufacturing employment was down 700 positions or 0.3% compared to March 2023.

Employment in the government sector increased by 300 jobs from February 2024 to March 2024. The number of jobs rose by 200 in federal government; was unchanged in state government; and increased by 100 in local government. The total number of government jobs rose by 7,500 positions or 2.5% compared to March 2023.

The other services sector was up by 200 jobs from February to March. This sector had 1,300 more positions in March 2024 compared to March 2023. This sector includes repairs and maintenance, personal care services and religious organizations.

The number of jobs in the state’s mining and logging sector was unchanged from February to March. This sector had 200 more jobs in March 2024 compared to March 2023.

Employment in Kentucky’s information services sector fell by 300 jobs from February to March. The industries in this sector include traditional publishing as well as software publishing; motion pictures and broadcasting; and telecommunications. The number of jobs in this sector was down 700 from one year ago.

Civilian labor force statistics include nonmilitary workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks.

Kentucky’s statewide unemployment rate and employment levels are seasonally adjusted. Employment statistics undergo sharp fluctuations due to seasonal events, such as weather changes, harvests, holidays, and school openings and closings. Seasonal adjustments eliminate these influences and make it easier to observe statistical trends. However, due to the small sample size, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Visit the Kentucky Center for Statistics website to learn more about Kentucky labor market information.

Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet