Will Darnall

As hellbender salamander populations continue to decline, university researchers have new ideas on how to find them in Kentucky.

For thousands of years, pearls have been a prized gemstone used to craft jewelry and other adornments. But North America has just one freshwater pearl farm that cultivates the shiny objects, located at Kentucky Lake in western Tennessee.

The sounds of beating drums and bells adorning Native American dancers could be heard throughout Hopkinsville's Trail of Tears Commemorative Park this past weekend as thousands gathered for an annual celebration of Indigenous culture.

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce says the state could help more residents enter the workforce — and boost one of the nation's lowest workforce participation rates — by addressing ballooning costs for child care and access to those services.