By Stu Johnson, Kentucky Public RadioNewly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows an increase in the poverty rate across Kentucky, as was the case nationally.Kentucky’s overall poverty rate went up from 16.2 percent to 17 percent over a one year period. It puts Kentucky at fifth highest in the country. Jim Ziliak, University of Kentucky Center on Poverty Research director, says the Commonwealth was closing in on the lower national average in the late 90’s. He says over the last decade the state’s been going in the wrong direction.“I think a lot of it was the hit to manufacturing in the early part of the decade and just not adequate job creation in the second half of the decade,” he said.Ziliak says adopting a state earned income tax credit would help address poverty issues, along with improvements at all levels of education.Indiana's poverty rate is 16.1 percent.The national poverty rate is 14.3 percent.
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.