Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

9 15

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · 3d

spooky season in full effect

First privately funded uranium enrichment plant in U.S. to be built in Kentucky

Reposted by Derek Operle

WKMS @wkmsfm.bsky.social · 8d

ICYMI it on @npr.org's Morning Edition, WKMS news director @doperle.bsky.social's feature takes a look at California-based General Matter's privately developed uranium enrichment plant in western Kentucky and what it means in the grand scheme of things when it comes to nuclear energy in the U.S.

A California-based firm plans to build the first privately funded uranium enrichment plant in Kentucky amid efforts to bolster the country's domestic uranium enrichment.

www.npr.org

6 3

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Sep 3

So happy for @rylandky.bsky.social! NPR is so lucky to have in him not only a top-tier journalist, an editor who always makes people’s writing sing, and a Kentuckian with a calm voice in a storm, but also just a damn good person. Here’s to many years in our ears!
www.npr.org/2025/09/03/g...

Ryland Barton Named NPR Newscast Anchor

NPR announced today that Ryland Barton will be joining the Newscast team as a PM anchor.

www.npr.org

3

Reposted by Derek Operle

WKMS @wkmsfm.bsky.social · Aug 23

The annual Battle of the Birds football game between Mayfield High School and Graves County High School ended in tragedy Friday, after a shooting in a parking lot near War Memorial Stadium left one adult injured.
www.wkms.org/criminal-jus...

Shooting at Graves-Mayfield high school football game leaves one adult injured

The annual Battle of the Birds football game between Mayfield High School and Graves County High School ended in tragedy Friday, after a shooting in a parking lot near War Memorial Stadium left one…

SNAP costs shift are expected to run Kentucky at least an extra $100 million a year

Reposted by Derek Operle

WKMS @wkmsfm.bsky.social · Aug 21

For Kentucky’s next biennial budget, the state budget director says it will need to set aside over $115 million more than in previous years to keep giving residents in need food stamps and – because of the federal reconciliation bill – potentially hundreds of millions of dollars on top of that.

As lawmakers prepare Kentucky’s biennial budget for the 2026 legislative session, the state budget director says the Commonwealth will need to set aside over $115 million more than in previous years…

3 3

Reposted by Derek Operle

Appalshop @appalshop.bsky.social · Aug 8

Today in 1974, Richard Nixon resigned. Four years later, his first public appearance was in Leslie Co, KY.

See footage of his visit—plus local politics, family debates, and more—in our 1982 film "The Big Lever: Party Politics in Leslie County, KY" by Frances Morton.

https://loom.ly/YNSpum0

1 2 4

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Aug 3

Sign my petition to re-edit I Still Know What You Did Last Summer so that when Jennifer Love Hewitt thinks she sees the killer at the club it’s then revealed to be actually a silhouette of the dude from Jamiroquai in his “Virtual Insanity” get-up.

Republicans spar over chance at McConnell’s seat at 145th annual Fancy Farm picnic

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Aug 3

Pork and politics. A classic western Kentucky combo. Read @sylviaruthg.lpm.org + @hannahsaad.bsky.social’s report from the ground in Fancy Farm, where GOP candidates jockeyed yesterday at the St. Jerome Picnic for the opportunity to replace U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell.
www.wkms.org/government-p...

With only one Democrat speaking at the western Kentucky political event, the jabs and jeers of Fancy Farm turned inwards as the GOP candidates jockeyed for the opportunity to replace U.S. Sen. Mitch M...

Billionaire Peter Thiel backing first privately developed US uranium enrichment facility in Paducah

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Jul 25

For @wkmsfm.bsky.social: A company with ties to billionaire investor Peter Thiel is backing the first privately developed, US-owned uranium enrichment facility — and it’s happening in Paducah, Kentucky. More details are expected to come at an Aug. 5 event hosted by the company.

A California-based company with ties to billionaire investor and Trump Ally Peter Thiel announced plans Friday to build America’s first U.S.-owned, privately developed facility to enrich uranium in fa...

3 15 14

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Jul 25

What a stellar summer of Kentucky albums. Just today, Tyler Childers put out Snipe Hunter and Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band put out New Threats From The Soul. Plus, S.G. Goodman’s Planting By The Signs, Kelsey Waldon’s Every Ghost, and Grace Rogers’s Mad Dogs. The Bluegrass State is eating good.

1 5

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Jul 23

WKMS has $215K (annually!) in funding to make up in the wake of the cuts to public media nationwide. Help us preserve our programming and our (already quite small) staff the way they are now by calling in or giving online tomorrow. We need every penny you can give. It all makes a difference.

WKMS @wkmsfm.bsky.social · Jul 23

Big News! Some generous friends have stepped up with matching money for tomorrow. We can make a big dent in the federal funds that were lost. Can you help share this today to get people ready?
Phone: 1-800-599-4737
Web: donate.nprstations.org/wkms/wkms-gi...

Let's do this! 💪

[Audio] WKMS Documentary "I Am John Scopes"

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Jul 10

Earlier on, you can also tune into @wkmsfm.bsky.social for Sounds Good to hear Todd Hatton’s audio documentary on the educator, who was born and buried in Paducah, called “I Am John Scopes.” It’s also streamable here:
www.wkms.org/society/2015...

What makes a person voluntarily step into the middle of one of the most controversial and contentious issues of modern times? And what makes them…

West Kentucky Film Commission aims to get region cast in starring role of movie, TV productions

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Jul 10

In the evening, I’ll be hosting the Paducah Film Society screening of “Inherit the Wind,” a 1960 film that fictionalizes the events of the trial, at Maiden Alley Cinema. That starts at 7 and retired Kentucky Supreme Court Judge Bill Cunningham will speak about the case’s history beforehand.

1 1

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Jul 10

Anyone who wants to learn a bit about John Scopes, the Paducah native and central figure of the “Monkey Trial” over teaching evolution in schools, has multiple opportunities in west KY tomorrow on the 100th anniversary of the start of the trial!

1 1 2

Reposted by Derek Operle

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · Jun 2

West Kentucky Film Commission aims to get region cast in starring role of movie, TV productions. From @doperle.bsky.social of @wkmsfm.bsky.social

Officials, business leaders and filmmakers traveled to Madisonville Wednesday to tout a new initiative to get the Bluegrass State on the world’s silver and small screens: the West Kentucky Film Commis...

Coleman joins other GOP attorneys general at U.S.-Mexico border to support increased security efforts

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · Jun 1

Fave film discoveries/first watches for May 2025:
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Brewster’s Millions (1985)
Sherman’s March (1985)
A Brighter Summer Day (1991)
Ghost In The Shell (1995)

Reposted by Derek Operle

The Hedonic Adjustments of J. Alfred Prufrock, CFA @bkmacd.bsky.social · May 30

"To understand who is in control, observe who you are not allowed to criticize." -Voltaire

66 1.4K 7.3K

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · May 28

recency bias has me wanting to plug in fail safe, the incredible shrinking man, and in cold blood big time.

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · May 28

five fave black and white films
cat people
the hustler
the night of the hunter
park row
sweet smell of success

Corey Atad @coreyatad.com · May 28

five favourite black and white films (with emphasis on the black and white)

The Apartment
Lucky Star
Brief Encounter
The Third Man
The 400 Blows

Sexy Andrew Hickey Costume @andrewhickey.500songs.com · May 27

Five favourite black and white films:
Duck Soup
Dr Strangelove
Arsenic and Old Lace
Double Indemnity
Some Like It Hot

Yes, I am utterly basic in my tastes. Classics are often classics for a reason.

1 1 1

Reposted by Derek Operle

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · May 23

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman joined other GOP attorneys general in Arizona on Wednesday at the U.S. border with Mexico in a show of support for Trump administration efforts to increase border security. From @doperle.bsky.social

Kentucky’s Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman joined other GOP attorneys general in Arizona on Wednesday at the U.S. border with Mexico in a show of support for Trump administration efforts t...

Paducah protestors speak out as Congress eyes major cuts to Medicaid, SNAP

Reposted by Derek Operle

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · May 14

Paducah protestors speak out as Congress eyes major cuts to Medicaid, SNAP. From @doperle.bsky.social at @wkmsfm.bsky.social

Around two dozen western Kentucky protestors spoke out against proposed cuts to federal Medicaid support on Tuesday, rallying outside of Republican Congressman James Comer’s office in downtown Paducah...

Do Calvert City's chemical plants impact surrounding communities' health? A new study aims to see.

3 4

Reposted by Derek Operle

WKMS @wkmsfm.bsky.social · May 9

Researchers from the University of Louisville and Murray State University are looking into the potential impact emissions from chemical plants in Calvert City could have on the health of people and wildlife in area communities.

Researchers from the University of Louisville and Murray State University are looking into the potential impact emissions from chemical plants in Calvert City could have on the health of people and…

Derek Operle @doperle.bsky.social · May 6

The emcee for the 145th St. Jerome Picnic in Fancy Farm will be Kentucky Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Ashli Watts, the picnic planners announced today.