The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has formed a committee to look into ways to reduce fatalities on the commonwealth's roadways.Spokesperson Robin Jenkins says the panel will look at statistical data from the University of Kentucky's Transportation Center, the state police and others to come up with ways to improve safety."(They'll look at factors such as) lack of seat belt usage, if it's highway related, it it's an intersection, if it's a two lane road in eastern Kentucky or a multi-lane highway in Jefferson County, just to look at those common factors).Jenkins says the panel will issue recommendations to the governor's office and state lawmakers.Highway fatalities in Kentucky declined in 2008 for the fourth consecutive year, but officials say 822 people lost their lives in traffic crashes last year.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.