This report provides Kentucky policymakers with information on economic, educational, demographic, and environmental trends and issues with implications for policy decisions. Following an introduction, "Past as Prologue" (James C. Klotter), the 28 chapters are presented in 5 sections: "The White Picket Fence: Trends Affecting the Quality of Life in Kentucky Communities"; "Our Emerging Culture of Learning"; "Our Changing Economy"; "Environmental Trends and Futures"; and "Government and Civic Participation." Chapters are: "Migration in Kentucky: Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" (Michael Price); "Growing Old in Kentucky: The Approaching Age of Age" (Graham D. Rowles, John F. Watkins); "Families and Children: The Common Wealth of Kentucky" (Stephan M. Wilson); "Poverty in Kentucky" (Miriam Fordham, Dan Jacovitch); "Assessing the Future of Housing in Kentucky" (F. Lynn Luallen); "The View from the Heart of the Health Care Revolution" (Forrest Calico); "The Contours of Crime" (John Curra); "Kentucky and the State of Human Rights" (Saundra C. Ardrey); "The Earnings of Dropouts and High School Enrollments: Evidence from the Coal Boom and Bust" (Dan Black, Kermit Daniel, Seth Sanders); "Trends and Issues Affecting Primary and Secondary Education" (Robert F. Sexton, Stephen K. Clements); "The Ivory Tower Under Siege" (Michal Smith-Mello); "Workforce Training Issues" (Stephan J. Goetz); "Industry Trends: Jobs and Earnings" (Stephan J. Goetz, Peter Schirmer); "Occupational Trends: Education, Technology, Trade, and Corporate Restructuring" (Peter Schirmer, Stephan J. Goetz);"Kentucky's Coal Industry: Historical Trends and Future Opportunities" (Gerald A. Weisenfluh, James C. Cobb, John C. Ferm, Carol L. Ruthven); "The Volatile and Uncertain Outlook for Tobacco in Kentucky" (William M. Snell); "Negotiating the New Social Contract" (Michal Smith-Mello); "Income Inequality in Kentucky" (Amitabh Chandra); "Trends and Future Values in Technology" (Dick Dedic); "Ready or Not: Kentucky in the Global Economy" (Chris Sauer); "Agricultural Exports: Opportunities for Kentucky's Farmers" (Michael Reed); "Kentucky's Transportation System: Current Trends and Future Issues" (Ted Grossardt); "Information Technology: Perspectives and Trends" (Doug Robinson); "Kentucky's Environmental Trends: Progress and Problems" (Leslie Cole); "Kentucky's Economic Trends and Environmental Futures" (Peter B. Meyer); "Trends in Kentucky Taxes and Their Implications for Future Tax Policy" (William H. Hoyt); "$5.8 Billion and Change: An Exploration of Long-Term Budgetary Trends" (Peter Schirmer, Michael T. Childress, Charles C. Nett); and "Trends in Civic Participation" (Paul Blanchard). (Contains references in each chapter, approximately 125 figures and data tables, a glossary, and author profiles.) (SV)