From the Associated Press:Kentucky officials say the federal government has ended oversight of Oakwood, a state-run residential center for adults with mental disabilities. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services cited ``substantial improvements'' at the facility as the reason the U.S. Justice Department stopped its court ordered oversight. The cabinet has been involved in operating Oakwood since 2001. The oversight came as part of a 2006 settlement between the Justice Department and the state. Oakwood, located in Somerset, had a long history of abuse, neglect and poor treatment of residents. The cabinet in 2006 hired Bluegrass Mental Health-Mental Retardation Board, the Lexington area community mental health agency, to run Oakwood. State officials and advocates credit Bluegrass with turning it around.
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.