• Kentucky saw a huge amount of rainfall in the span of a few days in early April, which experts say is in line with the region's shift toward more intense rainfall. • Heavier rainfall is driving flood risk in Kentucky, adding pressure to the state's aging and underfunded infrastructure. • As climate change amplifies risks of disaster in Kentucky, the Trump administration is slashing federal funding for climate science and disaster resilience. A vast body of scientific research suggests the region's climate is trending toward more of these events....

• Ark Encounter, a Noah's Ark replica and theme park in Williamstown, Kentucky, offers a variety of attractions including a zoo, auditorium and virtual reality experiences. • The Ark itself is a multi-story museum with exhibits and videos depicting life on the Ark during the biblical flood. In north Kentucky's Williamstown, a huge wooden structure replicating Noah’s Ark as depicted in the Bible stretches hundreds of feet long — or "a football field and a half" as Chief Communications Officer for Answers in Genesis Mark Looy puts it. The gigantic...

• The Stephen Foster Restaurant in Bardstown is closing permanently. • The closure is due to unforeseen circumstances. • Gift card holders can mail them in for reimbursement. A popular buffet-style restaurant in Bardstown is closing after decades of business. Stephen Foster Restaurant — located at 503 W Stephen Foster Ave. in Bardstown — is shutting down permanently due to "unforeseen circumstances." The business posted to Facebook saying they are thankful for their involvement in the community, and those with gift cards who need reimbursements should mail them to the...

Easter isn't the only holiday to be celebrated this Sunday. Annually, April 20 (4/20) is the day to celebrate cannabis culture, playing off 420, the code for marijuana consumption. For many, that means having the appropriate lifestyle products and accessories on hand, along with snacks and entertainment. Businesses lean into the theme with foods and items nodding to the culture. Here are deals and activities to help observe the counterculture 420 Day holiday, also called National Munchies Day. Liquid Marijuana Shots start at $6 all day and cocktails are on...

• Louisville chef Damaris Phillips will compete on season two of Food Network's "24 in 24: Last Chef Standing." Louisville celebrity chef Damaris Phillips is back in the hot seat this month when she will compete on the Food Network's new season of "24 in 24: Last Chef Standing." The culinary world’s most ambitious and grueling competition is back for a second season with hosts Michael Symon and Esther Choi. Shot in real time, the hosts have gathered a group of 24 talented chefs, including Phillips, for 24 challenges over...

• Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball is investigating the Office of Medical Cannabis due to complaints about licensing procedures. • The investigation will focus on the application and award processes for medical cannabis business licenses. • Gov. Andy Beshear maintains his commitment to a safe and effective medical marijuana program.

When an outbreak of deadly tornadoes tore through the small town of Mayfield, Kentucky, in December 2021, one family was slow to act, not because they didn’t know what to do. They didn’t know that they should do anything. The family of Guatemalan immigrants only spoke Spanish, so they didn’t understand the tornado alert that appeared on their cell phones in English. “I was not looking at [an information source] that told me it was going to get ugly,” Rosa, identified only by her first name, told researchers for a...

• Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, has begun cleanup after historic flooding. • The distillery is inspecting buildings and barrels for damage, but expects minimal losses. • The visitor center is closed for repairs, but a modified retail hub will open soon. With historic flood waters receded, an iconic Kentucky bourbon brand is starting to work its way back to normal. Buffalo Trace Distillery has started the clean-up process at its Frankfort campus after near record-breaking widespread flooding covered the area. The Kentucky River crested at 48.27 feet on...

• Oddbird Bakery, a concept from Quills Coffee, is closing after less than six months of operation. • The bakery, located on Bardstown Road, opened in November 2024. • The final day of service will be Sunday, April 13. Less than six months after opening in the Highlands, Oddbird Bakery will soon close its doors. The bakery at 1021 Bardstown Road opened in November 2024 as a new concept from Quills Coffee, the popular Louisville-based roaster with eight locations. But now, Oddbird is closing this weekend, according to a post...

Parents are in an uproar over a coloring book created by Planned Parenthood, which was reportedly distributed to children on a field trip at the Kentucky Science Center. The museum hosted five local schools for an event called Health and Wellness Days, with students ranging from 8 to 13 years old. Groups present included the University of Louisville, Louisville Metro EMT, Norton Pediatric Neurology, the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), and more. The museum said Planned Parenthood requested to be a vendor at the event, and was given permission...