Originally published by WEKU. The word “diverse” might well describe many a college athletic team in 2024. As one example, the Eastern Kentucky University men’s and women’s track teams have members from around ten different countries. Some of those student-athletes were challenged on and off the track in a different way this spring. It might be characterized as “challenging-in a good way.” The intersection of religious faith and conviction and the drive to succeed athletically. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calender, is one of the most sacred times for those of...

Originally published by WEKU. Kentucky has a high percentage when it comes to cancers caused by human papillomavirus or H-P-V. Representatives of cancer centers from across the U.S. gathered in Lexington this week to discuss ways to raise vaccination rates. Just over half of young people in Kentucky are fully vaccinated when it comes to HPV. So says Pam Hull with the UK Markey Cancer Center. She says it can prevent some six cancers including cervical, head and neck and penile cancers. Hull says the goal is to get HPV vaccination up to...

Republished from WEKU. Several businesses that sell vapes, as well as the Kentucky Hemp Association and Kentucky Vaping Retailers Association, are suing the state government over House Bill 11, which will restrict vape sales starting in 2025. Among other policy changes, HB 11 will bar businesses from selling vapes that either aren’t authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or aren’t in the midst of the approval process. Thousands of nicotine vaping products featuring a dizzying array of flavors are sold across the country, but only 23 have the FDA’s signoff. HB...

Republished from WEKU. The biggest lobbying spenders in Frankfort last month were electric utility companies on opposing sides of a bill that would make it harder to transition away from coal-fired power plants in Kentucky. Monday was the deadline for the hundreds of businesses and organizations lobbying the Kentucky General Assembly to file reports documenting their spending to influence legislation. The 3-month total of the session reached nearly $9 million, just shy of last year’s record. The largest spender in March was the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, a collection of two dozen...

Originally published by WEKU. Lexington’s Veterans Affairs Health Care is taking a “whole health” approach for the veterans they serve. Cassie Graham is a psychologist and the VA’s Whole Health program manager. She said when vets have appointments, they’re greeted by questions beyond “What’s wrong with you today?” “Our goal is to change the language to, ‘What matters to you?’ So it really goes deeper into, ‘Why are you even present for your health care today,’ like, ‘What even motivates you to come in to receive care today?’ Graham said some veterans are...