Culture

Kentucky's health commissioner says the typical smoker in Kentucky spent $2,237 to buy 468 packs of cigarettes last year. Dr. Stephanie Mayfield told lawmakers yesterday nearly 962,000 Kentucky smokers over age 18 last year who purchased 450 million packs of cigarettes. Mayfield, speaking to the Program Review and Investigations Committee, said 28.4% of Kentucky adults smoked last year. She says 24.4% of pregnant women smoked as did 24.1%of minors.

LBL's Pickin' Party, an old-time music festival, returns to Land Between the Lakes' Homeplace for its 15th year, June 15 and 16. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nathan Blake Lynn emcees with performances by the Dixie Volunteers, Thomas Maupin & Daniel Rothwell, Roan Mountain Hilltoppers, Mark Dvorak, and more. Bring your own musical instruments to jam and perform, also bring your own chairs and blankets. See more at LBL's event calendar.

Madisonville is hosting the 1st Annual MAD Flavor Fest this Saturday, celebrating artists of all medias in the Western Kentucky region The MAD Flavor Fest will feature over 20 arts and crafts makers, 24 local musicians, 12 independent film, and food venders from The Crowded House to Patterson's Tru Blu BBQ. All profits from this festival will go to the Western Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross. Kate Lochte speaks with Jessica Dockrey about the event. See more at the Mad Flavor Fest website.

Against a backdrop of the Progressive Era, including presidential elections, campaigns for equal suffrage, war in Europe and opening the Panama Canal, Daughters of the American Revolution in North Carolina initiated a project to mark the trail of Daniel Boone that enabled America's Western Movement. Daniel Boone Scholar, Randell Jones, wrote "Trailing Daniel Boone - Marking Daniel Boone's Trail 1912 to 1915." The Captain Wendell Oury Chapter of the DAR invited Mr. Jones to Murray to learn more about his book. Mr. Jones speaks with Kate Lochte.