Good morning, Hopkinsville.

Jeffers Bend Environmental Center will host Naturefest in Hopkinsville on Sept.

19 from 1-4 p.m. The $10-per-car event offers vendor booths, nature activities and a poster contest for kids (active-duty military and first responders enter free) with door prize drawings at 3:45 p.m.

Gov. Beshear joined local officials on Tuesday in Hopkinsville to break ground on a new U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. facility that will replace its Nashville operations and create over 200 high-paying jobs with a $250 million investment.

Gas prices in West Central Kentucky jumped 13 cents last week — reaching an average of $3.76 per gallon, with prices ranging from $3.70 in Hopkins to $3.78 in Trigg and nearby areas.

The rise comes as crude oil prices stay high due to volatility in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Kentucky Lottery set record numbers in fiscal year 2026 by surpassing $8B in lifetime earnings since 1989 and transferring $419M in cash dividends to fund scholarships and grants (lottery sales reached $2.38B and players earned $1.78B).

More than 1.1M students benefited.

Christian County Fiscal Court disbursed its annual opioid settlement funds Tuesday morning, awarding $96,250 to Grace & Mercy for hiring, $131,250 to Restored for facility expansion, and $12,800 to CASA By The Lakes for volunteer recruitment.

County officials require updates & quarterly progress reports from funding recipients.

Tuesday morning, the Christian County Fiscal Court unanimously approved a $627,583 bid from Gilliland Construction Inc. to improve the campus of the Christian County Regional Animal Shelter with planned two-phase upgrades that will enhance animal isolation and off-hours drop-off access while keeping the facility open during construction.

Christian County Fiscal Court distributed opioid settlement funds Tuesday morning by awarding $96,250 to Grace & Mercy for hiring a full-time social worker, $131,250 to Restored to expand a treatment facility with plans for a new clinic, and $12,800 to CASA By The Lakes to recruit volunteers in Hopkinsville.

The Fort Campbell Lady Falcons won the team competition at the McCracken County Invitational on September 8 — five runners finished in the top ten, with Linden Pickler winning the girls’ race and Lilly Ketterl coming in second.