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J. Batt, Michigan State’s former VP and AD, is set to take the reins as UK’s new AD and CEO of Champions Blue LLC, starting July 28th — a move that follows Mitch Barnhart’s 24-year legacy of six national titles. Batt’s resume is stacked: he landed a $400M donation at MSU — the largest in college sports history — boosted student-athlete GPAs, and led eight teams to NCAA tournaments. His prior roles...

Ron Mercer, the electrifying Kentucky guard who led the Wildcats to the 1996 national title as a freshman and the 1997 Final Four as a sophomore, was officially enshrined in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame — a fitting honor for the Nashville native and two-time Tennessee “Mr. Basketball.” A two-time consensus All-American and SEC Player of the Year, Mercer scored over 1,000 points in just two co...

Kentucky football is shaking things up with four big hires as head coach Will Stein gears up for the 2026 season—Dillon Sanders returns to coach inside linebackers, Rob Snyder joins as assistant defensive line coach, Leah Barnard climbs to assistant director of recruiting, and veteran John “Hova” Herron steps in as acquisition coordinator. With Herron’s 30 years of coaching and talent ID experienc...

Fayette County’s superintendent Demetrus Liggins is locked in a tense standoff with the school board, facing paid administrative leave amid claims of illegal suspension and a legal battle over a separation agreement he initially requested then backed out of. His legal team argues the board’s refusal to negotiate and pursuit of a drawn-out court fight violates open meetings laws and drains vital di...

Fayette County’s Urban County Planning Commission just voted down another solar farm proposal — the second time in two years they’ve blocked large-scale solar installations over five acres on farmland. Despite council members pushing for change to meet net-zero goals, the commission stayed firm, citing protection of agricultural land. While they did approve solar on brownfields and clarified prime...

DartPoints just dropped $29 million on a former Lexmark campus in Lexington, eyeing a $1 billion AI data center boom — with $300M for infrastructure and up to $750M more as power demands grow. The company’s already got cooling, power, and a substation in place, and is seeking city and utility partnerships for incentives. But here’s the twist: the city council just slapped a moratorium on new data...

In a shocking twist of justice, Mia White, charged with murder in 2025, walked away with a 10-year sentence—but only after pleading guilty to lesser charges, thanks to proving she was a victim of domestic violence. The court granted her five years of strict probation, complete with drug tests, alcohol abstinence, and no contact with the victim’s family. But her ordeal isn’t over—she’s being transf...

Richmond Road Night Work Starts Soon | Lexington News

Newport Central Catholic’s new head coach Terry Brown has just six weeks to turn around a rebuilding team, all while preparing for the historic home opener at their brand-new $10 million stadium—set for August 21st against Lloyd. Brown, a former player and defensive coordinator at Covington Catholic, returns to his alma mater with a fresh offense and defense, prioritizing talent over grade level....

The Licking River Link bus is getting a major upgrade—new stops in Newport, ditching old ones in Covington, and running seven days a week with bike racks and wheelchair access—all to keep folks moving while the new bridge gets built. Starting July 11th, this free, frequent service is your lifeline across town until summer 2028. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow....

Get ready for the 12th Annual Villa Hills Car & Truck Show — July 18th, 8 AM to 4 PM at 729 Rogers Rd. Featuring killer rides, live music, food, games, and a silent auction — plus drinks (no outside alcohol!). All proceeds support The Point ARC, helping folks with disabilities. Volunteers needed — judge cars or help with beer sales. Hit their Facebook page to join the fun. Listen in comfort: Get a...

Kentucky’s teen drivers are facing a deadly crisis, with fatal crash rates more than double the national average—researchers are diving deep to uncover why, tackling everything from brain development to the state’s lack of mandatory driver education, all to save lives and steer toward safer roads. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on...

ArtsWave just unleashed nearly $9 million in grants to 46 local arts groups, launching a new three-year funding cycle from 2027 to 2029 fueled by a massive community campaign. These Sustaining Impact grants provide critical operating funds to keep cultural hubs alive and thriving, forming the backbone of ArtsWave’s mission to keep the region vibrant. A rigorous selection process, led by 58 communi...

Stewart Iron Works, founded in 1862 and now based in Erlanger, is America’s premier maker of ornamental ironwork — from Central Park benches to U.S. Capitol fixtures and even Alcatraz. With a legacy of handcrafted excellence, the company was acquired by the Huseman Group in 2019 and has since thrived locally, blending historic craftsmanship with modern innovation to shape landscapes across the nat...

Mike Odom, a seasoned college athletics leader with a 24-year track record of turning around programs and generating revenue, has been named VP and Director of Athletics at Northern Kentucky University. President Cady Short-Thompson praised the hire as a testament to her talent in finding top-tier leadership. Odom brings a clear vision: win championships, ensure student-athlete graduation, and dee...

Megan Minton, a counselor at Beechwood High School, just earned the Kentucky Community and Technical College System Pathfinder of the Year award for transforming how students plan for college and careers. In just five years, she’s boosted dual credit enrollment by 64%, helping students save money and get a head start on degrees or training. Beyond academics, she guides students through financial a...

Mitch McConnell’s recent hospitalization has sparked widespread speculation, but credible sources including Senate GOP leaders confirm he’s doing fine. The 82-year-old senator, already battling a history of health issues including polio, falls, and a recent flu-related hospital stay, now faces questions about his ability to continue serving. A new Kentucky law complicates his potential departure,...

Newport Primary School is launching a groundbreaking full-day, year-round childcare program starting in 2026-2027, partnering with Learning Grove and EducateNKY to create a seamless early learning ecosystem. Running Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the initiative prioritizes Newport preschoolers and integrates public preschool, quality childcare, family support, and community res...

Kentucky’s Chandler Hospital is getting a massive $3 billion upgrade — including 1,400 new beds — forcing the shutdown of the University Drive Garage and Cooper Drive underpass starting July 13. Everything must be cleared by 10 PM that night. Employees can park at Kroger Field, North Red Lot, or Gluck Lot, with shuttle access starting at 5 AM. Avoid University Drive between Complex and Cooper to k...

Burgin, Kentucky, is in uproar as residents fight a controversial plan to turn ten historic farms into a massive data center—threatening the town’s rural charm, utilities, and heritage. Frustrated locals accuse city leaders of secrecy and ignoring community concerns, with some council members admitting they’ve never seen the full proposal. Longtime residents fear losing their forever home to tech...

Mitch Barnhart, former UK Athletics Director, is stepping into a part-time advisory role starting July 1, 2026, reporting directly to President Eli Capilouto with a $40K salary and focus on fundraising — a far cry from the $950K post-retirement offer he declined amid public backlash, including from Governor Beshear. He’ll receive a $3.06M severance paid in installments from private funds, stripped...

Starting in fall 2027, states face a new financial burden: paying a chunk of SNAP benefits if their error rates exceed six percent. With potential liabilities hitting billions—Michigan $300M, Texas $725M, New York over $1 billion—advocates warn this could slash access or even force states to abandon the program. The USDA argues states had ample time to fix errors, citing $10 billion in improper pa...

Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee are sounding the alarm over federal counterterrorism grants, warning that new funding requirements—like forcing states to use the SAVE system to verify voter citizenship—may be illegal and politically motivated. With over $200 million at stake, lawmakers argue these demands, tied to the Homeland Security and Nonprofit Security Grant Programs, thre...

Kentucky’s specialty crop farmers are scrambling to survive record-breaking heat, shifting harvests to dawn and dusk to keep produce from wilting, while boosting irrigation, mulching, and installing shade cloths—showing how climate change is forcing a total rethink of farming practices for high-value, heat-sensitive crops. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/d...

Fayette County Public Schools in Kentucky is teetering on a budget cliff, facing a likely shortfall after aiming for a clean slate with zero starting balance. Revenue shortfalls and unexpected spending pressures—compounded by enrollment shifts and rising staff costs—are forcing the district to scramble. With a $300 million annual budget serving 39,000 students, even small financial missteps ripple...