NewsBreak Original

Kentucky is often known for its fried chicken and bourbon, but there is so much more to the state than that. For one thing, it's home to the world's longest cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park. There are also plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and fishing. And of course, there's the Kentucky Derby, one of the most prestigious horse races in the world.

Carload of coal in Harlan County, KYPhoto by U.S. National Archives and Records Administration; Wikimedia Commons; Public Domain Image. A coal burst is a sudden, destructive, and violent collapse of the coal walls in underground mines. The collapse involves a loud noise, violent explosion, and ground vibration resulting in the deaths and injuries of miners. Fragments of coal are ejected from the walls at high speed.

Buc-ee's is a gas station known as the "home of the world's cleanest bathrooms," and with 120 pumps on the more than 53,000-square-foot property, it's easy to see why people are falling in love with it.

When nine-year-old Jensen Huang first stepped foot in the Oneida Baptist Institute, he would never have imagined becoming a billionaire one day. Huang is now worth a remarkable $16.2 billion and credits some of his success to that tiny boarding school in Eastern Kentucky.

Rebecca Ruth Chocolates has been a Kentucky favorite since 1919 and is most known for their original “Bourbon Ball”, which is still their most favorite candy to this day.

Black Mountain in Kentucky is the tallest point in the state. Its summit elevation is 4,145 feet. The mountain peak is located in Harlan County in southeastern Kentucky. The peak is about 500 feet taller than any other mountain in Kentucky. The summit lies above the towns of Lynch, Kentucky and Applachia, Virgina.

When I was six years old, my priority was watching TV. Six-year-old Ranier Crawford of Bellevue, Kentucky, seems to prefer to run marathons. At least, that is what his parents claim.

Photo by Arne-Kaiser; Wikimedia Commons; CC-BY-SA-4.0 A moonbow or a lunar rainbow is a rainbow that is formed by moonlight. It is an optical phenomenon that is formed when the light from the moon is refracted through water droplets in the air.

A teacher who lives in Louisville, Kentucky, has decided to focus on showing kids how much it matters to be kind. And she didn't do it by just telling them about it. Practicing kindness in action is a lot more effective for students, so the teacher set out to offer them a creative way to practice being helpful and supportive every day.

Picture by S. MacMillen: Wikimedia Commons; Public Domain Image. Every year, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife holds an elk lottery. Those who are selected in the lottery will be permitted to hunt elk.

The US began expanding westward after the Revolutionary War. Kentucky pioneers forged through wildlife to expand its new society. Search and expansion led to the clearing of land and eventually the trading of Kentucky salt, to Tennessee, Virginia, and Illinois.

Nodule of agatePicture by James St. John; Wikimedia Commons: CC-BY-SA-2.0 Agate was officially designated as Kentucky's State Rock on July 14, 2000. Agate is described as a rock formation that is primarily composed of chalcedony and quartz. However, according to the Kentucky Geological Survey, the agate is actually not a rock. It is a microscopically crystalline variety of the mineral quartz while chalcedony is also a type of quartz. Thus, Kentucky's State Rock is a mineral and not a rock.

View from Pine Mountain State Resort ParkPicture by J654567; Wikimedia Commons; CC-BY-SA-3.0 According to the Kentucky Geological Survey, Pine Mountain in Kentucky has actually moved from its original position.

Kentucky coffee treePic by Leonora (Ellie) Enking from East Preston, United Kingdom; CC-BY-SA-2.0 Kentucky has its own coffee tree. The coffee tree was actually Kentucky's official plant for 20 years before it was taken over by the tulip poplar.

Kentucky is a Commonwealth that boats food, charming towns, and world-class art. The trifecta? When a community encapsulates all three and that’s exactly the case for Shelby County, Kentucky. On a recent trip to the Saddlebred Capital of the World, I had the chance to experience the Shelby County Kentucky Sculpture Walk. If you like charming downtowns + the arts, this is an activity for you.

Picture by John Rusk from Berkeley, CA; Wikimedia Commons; CC-BY-SA-2.0 Mistletoe is culturally associated with Christmas tradition but as a plant, it is found worldwide and there are more than a thousand species in existence. It grows on every continent except Antarctica.

As summer is getting closer, we want to share time with friends and family. The Bardstown-Nelson Chamber of Commerce hosts 91 member business organizations in their searchable directory. Bardstonians looking for wholesome things to do should look into visiting these 3 places this summer.

High pressure over the Great Lakes will allow for dry weather today, while low-level moisture trapped behind a subsidence inversion will keep us generally gloomy for the rest of the day and evening.

Picture from U.S. Geological Survey; Wikimedia Commons; Public Domain Image. Kentucky is geographically unique and different from other states in the U.S. One of its strengths is the abundance of natural resources such as its many water bodies.

Innovation is rewarded. The ideas that you have, actually can push industries and companies forwards. The Vogt Invention and Innovation Awards awards program rewards just that.