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Grant Cline’s first Boston Marathon on Monday became unforgettable and tragic when three people were killed and more than 170 were injured in explosions at the 117-year-old event. “There is evil in this world,” said Cline, 56, of Bowling Green, who qualified for Monday’s 26.2-mile run a year ago. “If I’m 25 minutes later, I’d been in the middle of that,” he said of the blasts.

Kentucky ranks 39th in the U.S. for the state of its child care centers—earning high marks for posting complaint records online but poor marks for not  requiring center directors to have bachelor's degrees, says a new report. The report, from Child Care Aware of America, said Kentucky could improve its child care center's regulations by requiring state and federal fingerprints for checking criminal backgrounds and changing its educational requirements for lead teachers.

A new nanotechnology to clean up contaminated water will soon be tested in Louisville. It will use two precious metals—gold and palladium—to remove chloroform from contaminated groundwater at the DuPont plant in Rubbertown. Nanotechnology is a term that refers to materials made in a lab that manipulate chemicals at an atomic level. They’re smaller than a red blood cell, hence “nano.”

Dr. Ronald Dubin was about five miles from finishing the Boston Marathon on Monday when police began telling runners to get off the course and onto the sidewalks. Dubin, an orthopedic surgeon with offices in Middlesboro and Corbin, said he saw police cars driving fast down the road and then buses carrying military people. Soon after, he learned about the explosions at the finish line through calls from family members and friends wanting to check on him. His first reaction was disbelief.

The Next Generation Science Standards are coming to Kentucky's public schools in the 2014-15 school year. The new standards meet the benchmarks set in Senate Bill 1 adopted in 2009. The standards fall in line with the current emphasis on STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering and mat

Curtis Morrison, one of two Democratic activists implicated in recording a campaign strategy session of U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, is starting a legal defense fund.  Morrison tweeted out a link to the gofundme.com page Monday afternoon. The website lists a $10,000 goal.

Nearly 300 turn out to attend the second annual Bully Breed Awareness Walk in downtown Lexington. The event, presented by PAWS: Promoting Animal Welfare and Services, a student-run organization from the University of Kentucky's Center for Community Outreach, is designed to raise awareness of breeds such as pit bulls and bulldogs, which organizers said are often mischaracterized as dangerous.

Spring-cleaning season has arrived, and for many Kentuckians that means burning unwanted debris. The Kentucky Division for Air Quality reminds residents to learn before you burn. Illegal burning could result in fines of as much as $25,000 per day per violation. Many people may not realize that burning trash is illegal in Kentucky. State law prohibits the burning of many materials including plastic, tires, cans, coated wire, carpeting and food waste. In addition, the burning of trailers, buildings, and construction and demolition debris such as shingles, drywall and insulation is prohibited.

A survey conducted by Public Policy Polling shows Kentucky voters still overwhelmingly oppose same-sex marriage despite national trends. The poll was taken in early April, and it finds 65 percent think it should remain illegal and only 27 percent support marriage equality for gay, lesbian and transgendered couples.

The Kentucky Foundation for Women has awarded $100,000 in grants to Kentucky artists. The grants are awarded to feminist artists and organizations to develop their artistic skills, explore new techniques or create new works.  Small grants ranging from $1,000 to $7,500 will support projects ranging from a Lexington music series focused on African American female composers to a nonfiction book and website about life as an active-duty military wife. Of the 36 artist enrichment grants awarded this month, 12 totaling $34,000 will fund Louisville-based artists and their projects.

A new study estimates that 65 percent of current coal-fired power plants won’t be economical to run in the near future. It’s been a common refrain when reporting on the coal industry: the fuel isn’t as competitive as it used to be because of low natural gas prices and increased environmental regulations. But the new study by researchers at Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment quantifies the effects of natural gas and government regulations on the coal industry.

Kentucky business leaders and education advocates are teaming up to start a new funding source for innovation in education. The Fund for Transforming Education in Kentucky—also known as the The Fund—is being launched to help with grants and extra fundraising for the Kentucky Department of Education.

It’s tax day and a busy one at the Kentucky Revenue Department.

“I noticed, I’ve been watching our phone board and evidently we’re getting a lot of questions today. So, a lot of phone calls coming in already.”

State Division of Individual Income Director Bruce Nix says some one- point-three million state tax returns have already been filed, but another 400-thousand could arrive today.  For taxpayers who need more time, Nix says filing for an extension with the I-R-S is all that’s required in Kentucky.

Exercising your mind can help in coping with the stress at the workplace and at school.   A pair of consultants in central Kentucky say ‘brain training’ techniques can help.  A lack of sleep, little exercise, and poor diet can all negatively impact memory.  But, an education consultant believes people can slow their mental decline. Carol Brown and her husband provide private tutoring services to students and professional.  Brown with the for-profit Academic Success Center of Kentucky, says games can help.

Layoffs were announced today at the Bluegrass Army Depot near Richmond.  Within a few months, at least 74 workers will lose their jobs, but another hundred are likely.  In a sense, Colonel Brian Rogers is returning his command to a peace time footing.  As America’s military commitment to Iraq and Afghanistan has shrunk, so has its need for munitions.   The combat veteran says laying off workers is the hardest thing he’s ever done.

The owner of a two-story home on Lexington's West Third Street died in January 2008 without heirs to assume responsibility for the property. The house remained empty for years, and Faith Harders, who lived next door, watched with concern as the house deteriorated. "My greatest fear was a homeless person would break in, start a fire to keep warm and burn the house down," Harders said of the house at 543 West Third. That happened a few years earlier to a vacant house across the street, she said. Harders called LexCall 311 to notify the city's code enforcement office about the house. That's how the city learns about most run-down and abandoned property.

Prescribed doses of opiate pain medication have dropped significantly since Kentucky House Bill 1 went into effect last summer. Lawmakers passed the bill during the 2012 legislative session in response to Kentucky’s prescription pill problem, which was blamed for about 80 drug overdose deaths a month.

FRANKFORT – Gov. Steve Beshear Friday announced that Larry L. Roberts, of Frankfort, will become secretary of the Labor Cabinet effective May 16 with the resignation of acting Secretary Mark S. Brown. Brown, of Brandenburg, is resigning effective May 15 to pursue other opportunities. He is a former state representative and Meade County judge-executive and served as deputy secretary of the Labor Cabinet prior to assuming the role of acting secretary in December 2010.

There’s additional confirmation today the liberal Super Pac called Progress Kentucky was behind a secret recording of a meeting between Senator Mitch McConnell and his re-election team.  It’s the second time Progress Kentucky has drawn national attention. As Kentucky Public Radio's Gabe Bullard reports, neither incident has enhanced the group’s reputation.

A group of nine young adults is blazing a trail through parts of eastern Kentucky.  The Americorps team is improving trails in Letcher County and at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park.   Kentucky Tourism Spokesman Gil Lawson says hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders will all benefit.  “Most folks can put on a pair of either hiking shoes or tennis shoes and get out on a trail.  Some people like to do things with bicycles and horses.  But, we are fortunate in Kentucky that we have trails in a lot of places, not just one area.  We’ve got trails in urban areas and rural areas,” said Lawson.

Private dollars will fund more study into Lexington’s Town Branch Commons Project.  The feasibility study’s part of a proposal that resurrects Town Branch Creek and creates a waterfront attraction in downtown Lexington. Downtown Development Authority President Jeff Fugate says they’ll soon make their ideas public.   “Don’t have a hard feasibility date.  What I will say is coming in later in the spring and through the summer we will have public presentations of the project, opportunities for the public to engage with the designers and the planners,” said Fugate.

A liberal advocacy group is launching a controversial new ad targeting Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and his opposition to gun control measure that uses an al-Qaeda recruitment video. Americans United for Change is behind the 30-second spot, which features American-born al-Qaeda spokesman Adam Gadahn explaining how lax U.S. laws do not require background checks to obtain firearms.

As several fires continue to burn in wooded areas across Pike County on Thursday, forestry officials said the fires are now under control. According to Tad Norris, the district forester for the Kentucky Division of Forestry’s Eastern District, three woodland fires were burning in Pike County Thursday in areas near Grapevine, Dorton and Elkhorn City. Norris said the fires have been brought under control and have been contained.

Organizers of the Tough Mudder obstacle course event have decided to return to Mason County after a successful event in 2012. Scheduled for Oct. 19 and 20, the event drew 8,400 participants and 3,000 spectators to the Big Rock Off-Road Park in 2012. Maysville officials said the event had a significant economic impact, with hotels booked for the weekend, as well as restaurants and local retailers also benefiting from competitors and visitors to the area.

It seems earning a place in the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame takes a while.  It’s probably because the Commonwealth possesses a deep pool of musical talent.  The Hall has its induction ceremony tonight at the Lexington Center.  Here with a preview of it and the weekend’s other events is Rich Copley, who covers culture for the Lexington Herald Leader. 

First Lady Michelle Obama comes to Eastern Kentucky University in May to participate in the spring commencement ceremony.    EKU President Doug Whitlock says his office got a call from a member of the First Lady’s staff almost a week ago.  Eastern is receiving national attention for the help it gives Veterans working to further their education.  Whitlock says it caught the eye of Mrs. Obama.  A White House staff member asked if she could attend the University’s graduation ceremony.  Saying it was more than okay, Whitlock says the school was seeking a speaker for the third exercise. In fact, he says it was the only one her schedule would permit.

CORBIN – Nine young people from across the country are spending several weeks this spring working on trails in Eastern Kentucky to help communities and state parks. The AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team has worked in Letcher County and at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park near Corbin and is scheduled to do more work at Stearns and Natural Bridge State Resort Park at Slade during April and May, according to a state park system news release.

A recent statewide survey shows health-care costs are a burden for many Kentuckians, especially for those who are poor and don't have insurance and put off getting care they need because they can't afford it. More than 60 percent of Kentucky adults in the poll said high costs forced them or a family member living in their home to delay getting care in the past year. Not surprisingly, almost 90 percent of uninsured respondents reported going completely without care in the past year.

  First Lady Michelle Obama will join former University of Kentucky President Dr. Charles Wethington and Kentucky author Silas House as speakers at Eastern Kentucky University’s spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 11. Three ceremonies, all in Alumni Coliseum, will recognize a total of 2,428 degree candidates.

A bill has already been pre-filed for the Kentucky General Assembly's 2014 session—and it deals with the use of drones in the state. Republican state Rep. Diane St. Onge bill limits how unmanned aircraft can be used. It allows U.S. military personnel to use drones in Kentucky for practice purposes. And it also allows drones to be used by law enforcement agencies if they have a specific warrant to do so.