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LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s Planning Commission Zoning Committee approved four zoning map amendments Thursday, advancing projects that will reshape commercial and residential development across the city. The committee unanimously approved three zoning changes: LCD Acquisitions, LLC’s conversion of industrial property at Chair Avenue and Hayman Avenue to a Corridor Node…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington’s Planning Commission Subdivision Committee approved three development projects Thursday while postponing action on five others, including a controversial Two Keys property plan that drew strong neighborhood opposition. The committee, which met May 7, gave the green light to the Hazen Property Montmolan Street Subdivision, the J4B and Sons and Hayman…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fifty-six high school students from 28 schools across 24 Kentucky counties recently spent a day at the University of Kentucky, meeting and learning from cancer researchers, physicians and health care professionals. According to a University of Kentucky News report, the inaugural Kentucky NextGen Cancer Summit, organized by the UK Markey Cancer…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — City Code Enforcement officials are turning to artificial intelligence to more efficiently identify and address problem neighborhoods, moving beyond traditional complaint-driven enforcement methods to a more proactive, data-driven approach. During a May 5 presentation to the Social Services and Public Safety Committee, Code Enforcement Director Oliver Lee Steele outlined plans to…

By McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern · May 7, 2026 There were 11.4 million bourbon barrels in Kentucky as of 2021, and the bourbon industry paid just shy of $40 million in local and state taxes on those barrels in 2022. (Getty Images) A Kentucky bourbon is at the center of a national political scandal. …

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Environmental Quality and Public Works Committee is scheduled to consider updates to several key city policies affecting roads, parking and street design during a meeting set for Tuesday, May 12, according to the committee agenda. The committee is scheduled to review an update to Lexington’s Pavement Management Plan, which guides…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky’s Office of Undergraduate Research has recognized four outstanding students as Excellent Undergraduate Research Ambassadors, honoring their contributions to promoting undergraduate research opportunities across campus during the 2025-26 academic year. Austin Trotter, a neuroscience and psychology senior from the College of Arts and Sciences; Addison Witucki, a neuroscience…

Mental health professionals, advocates and community leaders across Kentucky are invited to join a statewide roundtable discussion on Tuesday focused on strengthening suicide prevention efforts and breaking down barriers to mental health support. The virtual roundtable convenes from 10:30 a.m. to noon on May 12, hosted by the University of Kentucky’s Building Bridges to…

By Lantern staff, Kentucky Lantern · May 7, 2026 Jane Stephenson, founder of the New Opportunity School for Women (photo provided) Jane Stephenson, founder of the New Opportunity School for Women and the longtime First Lady of Berea College, died on May 2, 2026 after a brief illness, according to her family. She was…

By McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern · May 7, 2026 Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during and interview with MS NOW’s Ali Vitali. (Photo provided by MS NOW) Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he’s “comfortable” with being among the names of potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential election.  In a recent interview with MS NOW’s…