Daily editionFriday, October 30th, 2026
Good morning, Paducah.
The 5AM Paducah Team
Here’s your local news at a glance for Friday, the 30th of October.
Community
Paducah Parks completed the Noble Park centennial tree project this week, planting the final of 100 new trees after spring plantings, $12,500 in community donations + a local tree farmer's donation; 62 trees were installed this week, including replacements for spring losses.
West Kentucky StarRead more
Economy
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepted General Matter’s initial application Thursday for a uranium enrichment production facility on the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant site, and CEO Scott Nolan says construction would begin in 2027 with operations possible in 2029 (pending NRC licensing).
West Kentucky StarRead more
On Oct. 29 Kentucky approved Opportunity Zone 2.0 status for a Graves County tract and for Ballard, Calloway, Fulton, Hickman, Marshall and McCracken counties (McCracken received two); the tracts will become active Jan. 1, 2027, and specific locations haven't been released.
WPSD Local 6Read more
Caldwell County will receive more than $350,000 in state funding to prep a nearly 20-acre Build-Ready tract in the Princeton industrial park, with plans to support construction of an up to 100,000 sqft industrial facility (per the Oct. 29 announcement).
WPSD Local 6Read more
Education
Paducah Middle students learned about a Studebaker in a hands-on history lesson at the school that highlighted the car's design and historical significance.
Paducah SunRead more
Health
Experts at Murray State University's Paducah campus met Wednesday for the SPARK Summit and said Kentucky's overdose deaths fell about 23% in 2025 while warning new drug threats require stepped-up prevention strategies + coordination among local providers.
Paducah SunRead more