Eastern Standard

Sue Fox spent more than three decades struggling with addiction before finding recovery in 2016 while in prison.

Should political appointees instead of scientists vet applications for federal scientific research grants? The White House Office of Management and Budget is proposing the change. Raising concerns is Kumble Subbaswamy, former University of Kentucky Provost.

This week on Eastern Standard: Episode 30 of our series, “Democracy Optimist,” hosted by University of Kentucky election law and voting rights research professor Joshua Douglas.

The Kentucky Resources Council is offering model Data Center ordinances for communities debating whether to allow data centers. KRC executive director Ashley Wilmes provides details.

In response to economic, public policy, and societal pressures, Kentucky’s flagship public institution of higher learning, the University of Kentucky, is undergoing systemic, campus-wide restructuring and privatization of services.

Many Lexington streets have been bumpy for months while Kentucky American Water Co. has worked to replace antiquated cast-iron pipes.

What are the practical considerations to take into account as Artificial Intelligence arrives in the workplace, displacing human employees?

Democracy Optimist is hosted by Joshua Douglas, an election law and voting rights and research professor at the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law.

ICE detainments and deportations may seem to have faded, but the actions against immigrants, illegal and legal, continue in Kentucky. Nima Kulkarni, a state representative, immigration employment attorney and founder of the New Americans Initiative, brings us up to date.

This week on Eastern Standard:The term “affordability” is tossed around a lot these days. What does it look like for Kentuckians?

Data Journalist and pollster G. Elliot Morris is the guest of Carolyn Dupont, host of our series, “Civics and Civility, the Path to a Shared American Future.”

Imagine being assigned to divine the future consequences and outcomes of economic decisions made today — especially in light of the uncertainties of war in the Middle East and what many experience as a “crisis of affordability” here at home.

Many people can name the Kentucky Governor, but what about Kentucky’s Lieutenant Governor? Do you know what she does and how her work impacts your daily life?

The many ways nonprofits touch our lives, the fulfillment and reward of volunteerism, and the most pressing challenges confronting these organizations in uncertain times.

How to push the civility reset button. A thoughtful conversation between two leaders of “Braver Angels,” a nationwide movement with a Kentucky chapter that is working to help people overcome loss of friends and family estrangements to the divisiveness of our times.

Why AI makes rural access to broadband internet all the more essential. Education contributor Brigitte Blom, in conversation with EKU Artificial Intelligence strategist Lisa Blue.

What are the consequences of environmental deregulation? The Trump administration has done away with the “endangerment finding,” an EPA process that had identified six greenhouse gases as dangerous to human health under the Clean Air Act.

Episode 27 of our series, “Democracy Optimist,” hosted by University of Kentucky election law and voting rights research professor Joshua Douglas.

Accounts of March 9 and March 11, 1976, when the Scotia coal mine in Letcher County exploded, killing 26 miners. On the 50th anniversaries of the explosions, our guests, Bill Bishop and Brian McKnight, recall these back-to-back disasters.

The public is generally unaware that Social Security is projected to fall into insolvency in 2032, according to an extensive national survey. Our guest: Mike Murphy, policy analyst with the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget in Washington, discusses likely consequences and potential solutions.

Nick Jacobs, co-author of “The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America,” is Carolyn Dupont’s guest for the latest episode of her Eastern Standard series, “Civics, Civility and the path to a Shared American Future.”

What are the implications of Artificial Intelligence in elections? Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams is Art Shechet’s guest for this latest episode of our series “The AI Revolution: Promises and Perils.”

Our series, “The AI Revolution: Promise and Peril” continues with guest Lisa Blue, Director of AI Strategies at Eastern Kentucky University.

“The Future Would Like A Word”- Episode 26 of our series, “Democracy Optimist,” hosted by UK election law and voting rights research professor Joshua Douglas.

This week on Eastern Standard we present two views that in many ways defy what we have been taught about American racial and indigenous history.

We continue our new series, “Artificial Intelligence: Promise and Peril.”

15 with UK AI and machine learning researcher, Dr. Brent Harrison taking us under the hood to better understand how the technology works. From there, we’ll explore its rapidly expanding presence in our lives.

From strict voter ID laws that don’t recognize tribal IDs, to limits on allowing others to deliver their ballots, many Native Americans face voter suppression.

At one time, an admired national leader in education, Kentucky has fallen behind.

Part One Guest: Carly Muetterties, chair of the Kentucky Civic Education Coalition, promoting civic education in public schools.

Not only did it happen, but there were thousands of spectators and often a carnival atmosphere as lynchings were carried out in Kentucky well into the 20th century.

Ben Sheehan, host, writer, and producer of “Civics Made Easy,” a series on PBS that empowers viewers with the knowledge necessary to participate in democracy.

In a time when federal environmental programs and funding are being scaled back or cut altogether, what are the future prospects for students aspiring to careers in environmental fields?

“Eschatology” is the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul, and of humankind.

Carolyn Dupont hosts a conversation providing thoughtful perspectives from right and left concerning the national mood.

Part One - Guest: Denise LiebermanPart Two - Guest: Kentucky State Representative Anne Donworth

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental condition that can affect social skills, communication, and behavior.

What the polls indicate about voter attitudes concerning political violence is explored by ES contributor Carolyn Dupont in a conversation with Elliot Morris, former data/polling analyst for The Economist and FiveThirtyEight.

“A Way With Words” co-hosts Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett will be in Lexington for the 2025 Kentucky Book Festival.

Weather forecasting. Meteorology. Why it’s critical to our well-being, and what has been happening to weather forecasting on the national level.

The Social Security Trust Fund is projected to become insolvent in 2032.

People hear the phrase “civics education,” and they often think of K-12 classes in government.

Lisa McKinney of the non-partisan, non-profit Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence raises concerns about the Trump administration clawback of federal education funding and its proposal to make further cuts in the coming year.

Happenings in the Kentucky literary scene. We’re joined by Jennifer Mattox, executive director of the Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning, discussing the immediate impacts of the Trump administration’s cuts in funding of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Eastern Standard Education Contributor Brigitte Blom and guest, RofL professor Roman Yompolskiy, on what to anticipate as AI becomes ever more present in the educational experiences of Kentucky’s youth.

Under the Trump administration, the EPA is moving to relax anti-pollution controls and is dismantling its scientific research arm. We invited Kentucky Resources Council executive director Ashley Wilmes, an environmental attorney, to help us distill these actions down to local consequences.

Tori Votaw developed an interest in helping people overcome opioid addiction. She had seen it happen to too many friends and fellow students while in high school in Georgetown, Ky.

Episode 21 of our series, Democracy Optimist, with constitutional, election law, and voting rights scholar Joshua Douglas.

As ICE continues to sign support agreements with Kentucky law enforcement agencies we get an update on the atmosphere among international communities across the Commonwealth from Nima Kulkarni, state representative, immigration employment attorney and founder of the New Americans Initiative.