I reached out to our Region 5 Project Manager, Mr. Knuckles, last night via email for an update on the Singing Bridge.
Here’s what he shared:
The Singing Bridge is still scheduled for replacement, and the preliminary design phase is nearly complete.
A community public hearing is planned, with a tentative date toward the end of October (subject to change).
Several important studies (environmental, structural engineering, right of way, and others) have been completed to help determine the best path forward.
Mr. Knuckles also noted, “KYTC does understand the hardships of the closure to the residents of Frankfort, which is why we are moving this project at such an accelerated rate. Our goal is to restore the river crossing access as quickly as possible.”
Old post below:
I appreciate the updates and the hard work being put into this project. There’s a lot of work that goes into designing a bridge that will keep our community safe for decades to come. I’ll continue to share information with you as it becomes available.
In March 2025, I submitted an open records request to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) regarding the future of our beloved Singing Bridge. It took several days to receive the documents. Not long after, KYTC closed the bridge indefinitely.
The timeline they posted in April 2025 still hasn’t changed—now nearly 10 months later, as of September 15th.
I held off on sharing what I found, trusting KYTC to communicate transparently with the public. That trust has not been rewarded. Every attempt to get more information has been met with silence.
Let’s rewind.
📆 2005: KYTC released a bridge inspection report on March 22. The inspection, conducted by Mr. Stephen Smith in November 2004, revealed concerning structural issues. That was 20 years ago.
📆 2015: Another inspection, this time by Mr. Terry King. The bridge was deemed in poor condition. The deck scored a 5 (fair), the superstructure a 4 (poor), and the overall structure evaluation a 2—intolerable, needing replacement. The bridge was closed.
📆 2024: The bridge is closed again, indefinitely.
Ms. Marcella Kennedy’s inspection on August 28 confirmed the same: poor condition.
We’ve known about this bridge’s decline for two decades. Why hasn’t anything been done to prepare for this?
We deserve better. We deserve transparency, accountability, and infrastructure that reflects our values—not neglect.
We also need to be asking tough questions of Senator Gex Williams. The Singing Bridge falls within District 20, which he represents. As we look ahead to 2026, he should be leading the charge to secure safe, reliable infrastructure for our community—not standing by data centers while our roads crumble.
This isn’t just about a bridge. It’s about leadership. It’s about priorities. It’s about us.
I’m Stella, and I hope you’ll consider voting for me.
I grew up in a rural corner of Southeastern Kentucky, just outside of Hazard. My mother worked as a union employee at Hazard Appalachian Regional Hospital, and my daddy was a coal miner until his health forced him onto Social Security Disability when I was just five. With four older sisters and a family income of around $30,000 a year, we made do the way so many Kentucky families do, stretching every dollar.
We heated our home with coal, relied on well water, and I can still remember the sulfur stains on my teeth. Our house was passed down through family, a reminder of the roots that held us together even when times were tough. I didn’t realize then that I was living in poverty, but I knew what it meant to work hard, to make sacrifices, and to look out for each other. That’s why I’ve never been afraid to stand up for our people, because I am one of our people.
Those early experiences shaped the way I see Kentucky’s future. I know firsthand what it’s like when families work hard yet still struggle to make ends meet, when healthcare feels out of reach, and when rural communities are left out of the conversation.
“That’s why I’m running, not to speak for rural Kentuckians, but to make sure our voices are finally heard in Frankfort.”
-Stella Pollard KY Senate District 20 Candidate
The Overlooked Reality For too long, politicians have treated rural Kentucky like an afterthought. We know the struggles: unreliable internet, crumbling roads, schools fighting to do more with less, and families who can’t afford to see a doctor. These are not abstract issues. They’re everyday challenges for people across Carroll, Owen, Gallatin, Franklin, Boone, and Kenton counties.
What I’m Hearing When I sit on front porches, walk county fairs, or talk with folks at events, the message is always the same. We want opportunity without having to leave our hometowns. People are tired of politicians who show up for photo ops and disappear when it’s time to actually deliver. We are tired of politicans who do not have the guts to show up for town hall meetings. Rural Kentuckians are the voice of this district- not a politician.
My Vision I believe rural Kentucky deserves more than hand-me-down promises. We deserve strong schools, good-paying jobs that keep our families here at home, access to reliable healthcare, and investments in infrastructure that connect us to the rest of the state. We deserve leaders who know what it means to live here, work here, and raise a family here.
Why I’m Different I don’t come from privilege or wealth. I come from the same hard-working roots as the people I hope to represent. I know what it means to stretch a paycheck, to fight for healthcare, and to wonder if anyone in power is listening. I’m not afraid to talk about rural Kentucky’s needs, because they’re my needs too.
Join Me This campaign isn’t about me. It’s about us. It’s about making sure that every rural community has a seat at the table in Frankfort. That’s why I’m hosting Front Porch Fridays and One-Minute Message Mondays on social media, so you can hear directly from me and share your stories. Together, we can make sure rural Kentucky isn’t ignored any longer.
I would love to meet with you in person as well. If you would like to have me attend an event, please email me! Stella@StellaRPollard.com
I’m working hard to get the word out about our campaign, but I can’t do it alone. Every dollar helps us print flyers, reach voters online, and keep traveling across our district to meet people where they are. If you’re able, even $5 makes a real difference in helping us share our message. I’d be truly grateful for your support. 🩵Stella Pollard https://secure.actblue.com/donate/stella-pollard-1
Kentucky families deserve homes. Where I come from, we have people living in homes that are barely standing. The homes have holes in the walls, on the floors, and barely any insulation to keep them safe during strong weather conditions. Fortunately, we live in a nation that takes care of those who are in need- or so I thought…
The White House just released a budget proposal that cuts the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. This is the largest federal block grant for affordable housing, and since the 1990s it has helped create and preserve more than 1.3 million homes nationwide. Over half a million of those were built in rural and small-town communities like ours.
For Kentucky, this is not an abstract policy fight in Washington. It is a kitchen-table issue.
In Boone, Carroll, and Franklin counties, housing shortages are already severe. One out of every five families who need a home cannot find one they can afford. Even in Owen, Gallatin, and Kenton counties, families depend on regional housing programs and development districts to fill the gap. Without HOME, those lifelines will disappear.
Affordable housing is about more than bricks and mortar. It is about keeping young families here instead of watching them move away. It is about making sure seniors can stay in their hometowns with dignity. It is about giving working parents a fair shot at homeownership instead of being locked into skyrocketing rents.
Housing leaders are already sounding the alarm. One told the Associated Press, “Maybe they don’t realize how far-reaching these programs are.” That is the truth. HOME is a quiet program with a massive impact. (Source)
Kentucky cannot afford to lose this support. Eliminating HOME funding would push our communities backward at a time when we need every tool to strengthen rural and small-town life.
It is time to raise our voices and remind lawmakers: strong communities start with strong homes.
TLDR: The federal budget proposal cuts the HOME program, which has built over 1.3 million affordable homes nationwide. If it’s eliminated, rural Kentucky counties like Boone, Carroll, Franklin, Owen, Gallatin, and Kenton will lose critical funding for housing, making it even harder for families, seniors, and workers to find a place to call home.
I grew up in a union home. As a child, I stood alongside my mother on the picket line, fighting for fair wages and safe working conditions. My family was part of the United Steelworkers, and that meant stability, dignity, and the chance to build a better future.
My mother’s name badge card from ARH
Later, as an educator, I carried those lessons with me through my proud membership in the Kentucky Education Association (KEA) and in KASA. Those experiences taught me that when workers stand together, they can create real change.
Picture credit: KEA’s Facebook page
In 2017, I marched alongside our unions at the right-to-work rally. I stood with working families while Governor Bevin and the GOP pushed legislation that tried to weaken unions and silence workers. That law, House Bill 1, became Kentucky’s right-to-work law in 2017. It banned requiring employees to join a union or pay union dues to keep their jobs, even though workers could still choose to join voluntarily. It passed fast—House approval, Senate approval, and Bevin’s signature all in just a few days—and it fundamentally changed how unions operate in our state.
Here in Franklin, Owen, Carroll, Gallatin, Boone, and Kenton counties, unions are part of our story. Steelworkers, teachers, nurses, and public employees have all helped build and protect our communities. Even if you’ve never carried a union card, you’ve benefited from their work—from the 40-hour week, to safer workplaces, to stronger schools.
Picture credit: Canva stock images
So this Labor Day, I just want to say: thank you, unions. You inspire me. You’ve shaped my life, my values, and my commitment to fighting for working families. I’ll carry your fight with me every step of the way.
At a Families and Children committee meeting, Senator Gex Williams let us all know Gex Doesn’t Get It—But Voters Do
At an LRC Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children (see above) meeting on August 27th, 2025, Senator Gex Williams revealed his priorities: he insisted that some highly educated women in his “unique” district (especially those in Southern Baptist and Roman Catholic churches) prefer to stay home with four or five kids and dismissed the need for childcare funding, saying he wouldn’t know “how to explain it” to those women and families. The truth is, he’s trying to paint a Kentucky that does not exist. That’s not leadership—it’s willful detachment. Take a look at Carroll Countians– they’re paying roughly $10,412 (median) for childcare on an annual basis, according to the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, which is 15.4% of the median income for a family there.
Kentucky Families Don’t Fit a Narrow Narrative
The average family size in Kentucky is three people, not four or five. (source)
36% of Kentucky children live in single-parent families. (source)
Over 103,000 households are led by grandparents. (source)
Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the state live with a disability—making accessible childcare essential. (source)
Childcare Is Unaffordable—and Providers Are Vanishing
Almost 25–30 counties in Kentucky are full-blown “childcare deserts,” where there are over 3 children per slot—and some counties face even worse ratios. Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Running childcare is expensive—infant care in centers averages $48.96/day, toddlers around $46.32, and preschoolers $40.69 in the Northern Bluegrass region (which includes Boone, Carroll, Gallatin, Kenton, and Owen counties). ChildCare Aware KY
County-by-County Reality Check
Using the accepted “childcare desert” measure (>3 children per slot):
The average cost of full-time daycare here is about $494 per month. CareLuLu
Providers range from large centers like Creation Kingdom to family-run homes. (CHFS)
Yet, Franklin County is still at risk, with just enough slots to stay within “safe” thresholds—but that’s not enough when costs are skyrocketing and demand is growing.
Senator Williams’ remarks dismiss the families he’s supposed to serve: single moms, grandparents raising kids, families with disabilities, working parents, and parents in counties where care is nearly impossible to find.
The bottom line
Parents are drowning under childcare costs. Providers are vanishing. Some counties, like Owen, are already in crisis, while others are precariously balanced.
Kentucky deserves representation that reflects the realities, not romanticized myths.
Senator Williams’ remarks dismiss the families he’s supposed to serve: single moms, grandparents raising kids, families with disabilities, working parents, and parents in counties where care is nearly impossible to find.
Childcare is not a luxury. It’s a fundamental economic necessity.
Kentucky Deserves Better
Senator Williams’ remarks aren’t just out of touch—they dismiss the very families he is supposed to serve: single moms, grandparents raising kids, families with disabilities, working parents, or parents in counties where care is nearly impossible to find.
Kentucky needs leaders who see that childcare is not a luxury, but a fundamental economic necessity, especially in areas where providers are disappearing, and parents can’t afford daycare.
Let’s fund child care.
For Boone, Gallatin, Carroll, and Owen—stop the decline in supply and protect struggling providers.
For Franklin and Kenton—boost capacity and financial support so families can work and thrive.
For all of Kentucky—fund childcare like a public good, not a boutique preference.
Gex doesn’t get it. Voters do.
If you believe Kentuckians deserve affordable childcare… If you believe investing in families strengthens our economy… Then vote for me.
I’m Stella Pollard, running against Gex Williams because Kentucky belongs in the 21st century, not the 19th.
If you have the desire and means to do so, please consider donating $5 to the campaign. Your $5 can make a difference. It helps us reach more voters, run digital ads, and support volunteers talking to neighbors about the future of Kentucky. Every dollar counts—chip in today and help us fight for families.
I’m honored to be a member of the Kentucky Women’s History Alliance, a nonpartisan group that celebrates the strength and resilience of women who fought to earn—and keep—the right to vote. Together, we share songs and stories of the trailblazers who paved the way before us. It’s both an honor and a blessing to learn from these incredible women.
Today was the day we celebrated, however the National Women’s Equality Day is this coming Tuesday, August 26th.
Many of us are realizing something painful: our justice system often doesn’t work for victims.
It was built to protect those in power and keep the system unchanged. Too often, people who have been hurt are left alone. They don’t get support, healing, or the accountability they deserve.
There are resources that can help, and I’ve listed some at the end of this post.
Why This Matters
We grow up being told that justice is about fairness, righting wrongs, and balance. But when victims speak up, too often they face:
Silence
Disbelief
A system that values rules over people
If the system can’t protect victims, we must demand better. We must change the way justice works so it truly:
Protects victims
Supports healing
Holds those who cause harm accountable
Because justice that does not serve victims is not justice at all.
How You Can Help
Don’t stay silent. You can:
Share this conversation
Support organizations that stand with survivors
Call, write, or press your leaders to prioritize victims’ rights
Start conversations in your community about the changes needed
The system will only change if we refuse to accept a broken one.
Resources for Victims of Crime
Statewide Legal & Info
KY Attorney General – Victim Resources Online toolkits, VINE, and compensation resources Click here
Trauma-informed Advocacy
Office of Victims Advocacy (OVA) Support, guidance, and referrals Click here
Kenton County Women’s Crisis Center Hotline: 859-491-3335 / 24-hour line: 800-928-3335 Website
Local Support
Carroll County Victim Assistance Program Carroll Co. Legal Aid Services: (330)-627-5148 Website
Legal Aid & Domestic Violence
KY Legal Aid + Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
National Support
VictimConnect – National Center for Victims of Crime Phone/text available, multi-language support
Vote Stella Pollard — Strong Leadership for Kentucky’s 20th Senate District
If you want a candidate who believes justice truly means justice for all—especially for victims—you should consider voting for Stella Pollard for Kentucky’s 20th Senate District. This district includes parts of Boone, Carroll, Franklin, Gallatin, and Owen counties, as well as part of Kenton County.
Stella for KY 