Lexington, Ky. — On Tuesday, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council will hear a crucial update on the city’s affordable housing needs, as rising rent prices and a growing housing shortage continue to impact low- and middle-income residents. The analysis, conducted by EHI Consultants at a contract cost of $188,000, outlines several pressing concerns and…
Make no mistake: the proposed Park Tax on Lexington’s ballot this November, called the “Parks Funding Ballot Initiative” by its supporters, is not about improving parks for everyone. It’s being sold as a public good, but the reality behind it reveals a troubling pattern of secrecy, elitism, and misplaced priorities. It’s being driven by…
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) Board is slated to approve a $58.4 million contract on Thursday for the construction of the new RISE STEM Academy for Girls, a significant investment in the district’s educational infrastructure. The project, set to begin in September 2024, will result in a state-of-the-art facility located…
UPDATE: As of 12:42 p.m. Monday, Beshear’s chances of being Harris’s VP pick had dropped to less than 1%, according to PolyMarket. LEXINGTON, Ky.–Despite widespread speculation and discussions around Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear as a potential vice-presidential pick for Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 election, predictive markets are not bullish on his chances.…
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) appears to be negotiating a significant agreement with a private apartment complex being developed by Scott Shapiro, the former Chief Innovation Officer for ex-Mayor Jim Gray. The project, known as Midland Station, is set to transform a key downtown area. Details of the “Midland Station Pilot Agreement”…
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Paula Singer, a long-time resident of the Versailles Road corridor, recently sent a scathing email to city officials, decrying the state of 26 dead and dying trees along the roadway. Singer says the trees, planted in 2021 as part of the Cardinal Valley Small Area Plan and the Versailles Road Streetscape…
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington police officer has resigned following an extensive internal investigation that uncovered numerous policy violations, including unauthorized trips to his residence while on duty, delayed response times, and repeated deactivation of his body-worn camera. Officer Ronald Sims, who had been with the department since 2020, faced allegations of misconduct that…
LEXINGTON, Ky.–Republican State Rep. Matt Lockett, who represents Nicholasville and a portion of southern Fayette County, has criticized the Fayette County Board of Education for allocating significant additional funds to administrators, a move he says diverts resources meant for teachers. “This move by Fayette County Public Schools is extremely frustrating and disappointing. We’ve provided…
Lexington, KY – On Tuesday, the General Government and Planning Committee will review new proposed restrictions on public comments during Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government meetings. These proposed changes by the Urban County Council’s Public Input Subcommittee aim to streamline the public input process but have sparked concerns over potential First Amendment violations. Context and…
LEXINGTON, Ky. – As Lexington continues to evolve, the city’s vice mayor recently attributed much of its success to a collaborative spirit and nonpartisan governance structure that he says fosters innovation and inclusivity. These insights were shared on a recent episode of the Next City podcast, a show that says it aims to highlight…