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LEXINGTON, Ky. — House Bill 257, legislation aimed at restructuring Kentucky’s state assessment and accountability systems, has cleared both chambers of the Kentucky General Assembly and awaits the governor’s signature, according to Kentucky Teacher. The bill, which focuses on reimagining how the state evaluates student performance and holds schools accountable, received approval from lawmakers…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The fatal police shooting of a 28-year-old Louisville woman during a mental health crisis is sparking a broader examination of how law enforcement responds to psychiatric emergencies, a challenge that extends beyond Kentucky’s largest city. Katelyn Hall died March 27 after Louisville Metro Police officers shot her as she exited a…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Thirty-six randomly selected residents have concluded Kentucky’s first civic assembly, an experiment in citizen-led governance that aims to reshape how Lexington’s local government operates through deliberative democracy. The participants met over seven sessions at Transylvania University to develop policy recommendations for revising Lexington’s charter, according to CivicLex, the local nonprofit that…

This story was produced as part of a joint Equitable Cities Reporting Fellowship for Rural-Urban Issues between CivicLex and Next City. Public trust in government is near historic lows. But Americans’ trust in their local government far outweighs trust in the federal government. It’s been this way since the mid-2000s, when the State of the Nation…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kathleen Driskell, the 2025-26 Kentucky Poet Laureate, will conduct a writing workshop at Pine Mountain State Resort Park from May 8-10, according to the Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet. The workshop, titled “Postcards from Pine Mountain,” will be led by Driskell, who was recently named to serve as the state’s…

The Lexington‑Fayette Urban County Government Environmental Commission is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Environmental Commission Environmental Awards, honoring individuals, organizations, businesses and projects that have made significant contributions to improving Lexington’s environment. The Environmental Awards celebrate outstanding efforts that protect natural resources, promote sustainability, and advance environmental awareness across the community. Eligible projects…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — At 16, Precious Clark maintains the full schedule of a typical high school junior: choir practice, voice lessons, theater performances and time with friends. What makes her story remarkable is that she manages this busy life while living with sickle cell anemia, a genetic blood disorder that affects about 100,000 Americans.…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear signed legislation Thursday establishing Kentucky’s first reentry campus as part of a broader effort to enhance public safety and support formerly incarcerated individuals returning to their communities, according to an announcement from the Governor’s Office. The governor signed House Bills 5 and 7 and Senate Bill 102, which…

House Bills 5 and 7, Senate Bill 102   FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 9, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 5 into law, serving as the first step toward creating Kentucky’s first reentry campus in partnership with the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS). The Governor also signed House Bill 7…

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky’s $8.6 billion budget may sound like a single, flexible pool of resources, but the reality is far more complex, according to a new podcast series examining the institution’s finances. In an episode of “Behind the Blue” released this week, Eric Monday, UK’s executive vice president for finance…