The Crossroads Suncast

This week on the Crossroads Suncast, Murray State University President Ron Patterson and University of Tennessee at Martin Chancellor Yancy Freeman discuss their journeys in higher education and the future for students in our region. They dig into the role of artificial intelligence, the importance of affordability, and how their experiences as first-generation students have shaped their leadershi...

From the Great Depression to the Great Society and today's crisis- this week's episode of the Crossroads Suncast explores the past, present, and future of federal food aid. It's everything you need to know about the government shutdown and the ongoing fight over SNAP benefits.

From Kentucky ghost stories to southern Illinois' legendary cryptid and an alleged UFO crash- this week's episode of the Crossroads Suncast is all about the myths and legends of our region. Listen to learn how a pastor ended up performing last rites on something truly inhuman- and why these stories stick with us over the years.

More than 25 years after Jessica Currin went missing, questions still surround her case. The man once convicted of her murder could soon get a new trial. This episode looks back at the past, examines the present, and considers what may come next - while exploring the ethics of true crime and the justice system itself. Featuring interviews with defendants, attorneys, and journalists who’ve followed...

In the wake of the Civil War, democrats controlled the South, while republicans were largely based in the North. This episode explores the titanic shifts that reshaped American politics and built our current electoral map.

This week, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new test for ruling out Alzheimer's as a cause of cognitive decline. It's just one of a series of major jumps forward in treatment. This episode digs into the history of the condition, its impact on families and communities, and why there's a lot of good news moving forward.

The Crossroads Suncast returns for a third season on Thursday. Tune in as we dive into historical shifts in Kentucky politics, new developments in the death of Jessica Currin, and how local universities are looking to the future.

For this bonus miniseries in the leadup to season three of the Crossroads Suncast, we're taking a look behind the scenes at the people who bring you your news- and the ways that they connect to your community.

For this bonus miniseries in the leadup to season three of the Crossroads Suncast, we're taking a look behind the scenes at the people who bring you your news- and the ways that they connect to your community.

For this bonus miniseries in the leadup to season three of the Crossroads Suncast, we're taking a look behind the scenes at the people who bring you your news- and the ways that they connect to your community.

From rising rents to the increased cost of childcare and the Covid-19 pandemic, a range of factors have increased pressure on families in recent years. This week's episode explores the ways that changing economic and social tides particularly impact moms and grandmothers- and the potential impact of state and federal policy proposals.

LifeWise Academy offers bible classes off campus during the school day that impact tens of thousands of students across the United States. This week's episode of the Crossroads Suncast explores the legal underpinnings of the program and the backlash it has received in some communities.

This week's episode of the Crossroads Suncast focuses on a period of civil unrest and violence at the turn of the 20th century. Tobacco farmers in west Kentucky and Tennessee fought back against corporate control of the industry, with raids on farms and towns across the region. 

Jasmine Youngblood has covered hundreds of stories since joining the WPSD Local 6 team. This week on the Crossroads Suncast, she reflects on the importance of storytelling in journalism- and her trial by fire entering TV news in the immediate wake of the December 10th, 2021 tornadoes.

Less than a month away from the 2025 St Jude Dream Home Giveaway, WPSD Local 6 anchor Mike Mallory joins the Crossroads Suncast to reflect on twenty years worth of stories. This episode explores St Jude's lifechanging impact on families in west Kentucky and the importance of community support for kids battling illness.

In 1956, Paducah Tilghman admitted its first six African American students- one year before the Little Rock Nine broke the color barrier in Arkansas. This week on the Crossroads Suncast, one of those students shares her story growing up in segregated Paducah, and her experience as a trailblazer at the University of Kentucky after graduation.

This week’s episode of the Crossroads Suncast explores the history and legacy of the St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic—and how the historic fundraiser and political event has been shaped by partisan division.  The episode is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and at WPSDLocal6.com and PaducahSun.com. New for season two, episodes are available on YouTube: @WPSD-TV. 

Happy's Chili has been a Paducah staple since the Great Depression. Third-generation owner Eugene Thomas reflects on the triumphs and tragedies it's taken to get to this point- and the ongoing legacy of the restaurant.

Born into poverty in Marshall County, Kentucky, Joe Fulks became one of the first superstars in the sport of basketball- then vanished into obscurity before his murder in 1976. This week's episode explores Fulks' roots and his role in evolving and defining the modern basketball landscape.

WPSD news director Perry Boxx says his work as a journalist is a product of the Watergate Era, Vietnam, and the Civil Rights movement. The intensity of that era is fundamental to his search for truth today. In this week's episode, he reflects on the decades worth of changes he's observed in his career- and the future of journalism.

In this week's episode, writer Sharon Roggenkamp explores the legacy of a crusading journalist-turned-civil servant who radically changed the face of Kentucky. This episode moves from his roots as a reporter in west Kentucky through his work revitalizing the state's park system and his run for governor.

This week's episode of the Crossroads Suncast explores the abortion landscape three years after the overturning of Roe V Wade- and how that Supreme Court decision brought a small college town in Illinois to the center of debates over abortion care.

This week on the Crossroads Suncast, leaders with Kentucky Educational Television discuss the role of public media- and the range of programs facing cuts.

From Louis Armstrong to Ella Fitzgerald; Satchel Paige to Billie Holiday and Thurgood Marshall, the Hotel Metropolitan has housed a huge number of iconic figures in American culture. This week's episode explores the Hotel's role as a bastion of equality during the Jim Crow era. A video version of this episode is available on YouTube: @WPSD-TV

After a massive drop in overdose deaths nationwide in 2024, experts say changes in federal policy risk losing those gains.