Section

The Long Read

Editorials, analysis, and guest essays on the issues defining Kentucky's future.

Featured

Kentucky Can't Grow Its Way Out of an Aging Water System

New economic development announcements keep making headlines, but none of it matters if the water systems beneath our towns keep failing.

By Thomas Wren · Jul 21, 2026

The Long ReadRural Kentucky

Rural Kentucky Deserves a Seat at the Housing Policy Table

Most of the state's housing policy conversation focuses on Louisville and Lexington. Rural counties have a housing crisis too, and it looks different.

Dana Fugate · Jul 11, 2026 · 2 min read

The Long ReadStatewide

What Local Beauty Businesses Get Right About Trust

The best local salons and spas understand something a lot of larger businesses forget: trust is built one honest interaction at a time, not one marketing campaign.

Renee Slone · Jul 1, 2026 · 2 min read

The Long ReadAppalachian Kentucky

Appalachian Kentucky's Economic Transition Needs Patience, Not Slogans

Every new agritourism farm or small tech job in Appalachian Kentucky gets treated as proof of transformation. Real transition takes longer than a press release.

J. Marcum Wells · Jun 21, 2026 · 2 min read