What the numbers say about Kentucky hospitals worker shortage.

And how is the flu looking in Kentucky so far this flu season?

Our Toby begins has some answers to those questions.

And this look at headlines around Kentucky.

Kentucky's Department for Public Health's weekly Respiratory Illness report shows emergency department visits for respiratory illnesses in the state increased for the sixth week in a row, according to the Commonwealth Journal.

The report shows those visits increased to 3160 for the week that ended November 12th.

There were 1336 flu cases and 669 RSV cases reported.

COVID 19 cases decreased to 1155 from 1209, the report said.

In that same week, Kentucky reported 3053 laboratory confirmed tests for COVID 19 and 424 laboratory confirmed tests for the flu.

The Kentucky Hospital Association's annual Workforce Survey report says Kentucky had about 13,000 job vacancies in hospitals at the end of 2022.

The Kentucky Lantern reports that President Nancy Galbani said in a news release the shortage has hit Kentucky, quote, especially hard.

The report also found that the non-physician hospital workforce had a 15% vacancy rate in 2022.

It said the level of vacancies means a longer wait times for patients.

Two environmental advocacy groups have raised concerns about Kentucky's carbon footprint from crypto mines, which use large amounts of electricity to compute math equations for validating crypto a digital currency.

WKMG reports.

A nonprofit that litigated environmental issues released a report that found Kentucky to be the top producer of carbon dioxide from crypto mines in the country.

Earthjustice estimated the state's carbon production totals 3.3 megatonnes per year.

A report from the Kentucky Conservation Committee found that Kentucky produced 20% of the nation's crypto mining computing power in 2022.

Some crypto mines draw most of their energy from coal mines, which contributes to greenhouse gases.

12 Kentucky counties have been selected for post-election audits following the general election to ensure proper protocols were followed.

The Richmond Register reports The attorney general's office drew the names last week.

Deputy Attorney General Vic Maddox says this is the first time previously selected counties were included in the drawing following a law passed last year.

The counties selected were Fayette Webster, Perry Fleming, MI Greenup, Mercer, Hancock, Johnson, Martin Oldham and Grayson.

It's not clear when the audits will be completed.

With headlines around Kentucky, I'm Toby Gibson.