News

This Week at the State Capitol (2-13-26) February 13, 2026 The gavel for House Speaker David W. Osborne rests on the striking block in the House chamber, where lawmakers were busy this week moving bills closer to passage in the 2026 legislative session. A high-res version can be found here. FRANKFORT — During another…

by Olivia Krauth, Queer Kentucky | Kentucky’s Only LGBTQ+ Newsroom February 13, 2026 Kentucky lawmakers are again trying to allow health care providers a way out of performing procedures or services that “violate their conscience” — potentially impacting thousands of Kentuckians, particularly those who are LGBTQ+.  Senate Bill 72 (SB 72) — sponsored by…

A Lexington city councilmember who voted to create a new senior government position later accepted that same job, interviewing for it during the same week she cast the decisive vote to advance the administration’s $152 million City Hall project. Hannah LeGris, who represented the city’s 3rd District, voted in October to create the Access…

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2026) — What does it mean to design with artificial intelligence without surrendering authorship, intuition or humanity?  That question anchored a recent architecture studio led by Jesse Voigt, instructor in the University of Kentucky College of Design. The course examined how emerging technologies are reshaping architectural practice, while reinforcing the fundamental roles of narrative, research and human judgment in design.  In this joint undergraduate…

LEXINGTON, Ky.- A Cincinnati, Ohio, man was convicted on Thursday by a federal jury in Lexington of possession with intent to distribute a fentanyl analogue and fentanyl. After 2 hours of deliberation following a two-day trial, the jury convicted 32-year-old Daquan Gatling of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of a fentanyl…

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Keith Lamont Stallworth, 41, was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 65 years in prison after previously being convicted of multiple firearms charges and pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges.  In August 2025, Stallworth was convicted of carrying and using a firearm during a…

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington, Ky., man, Michael Smitha, 52, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 140 months for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine.  According to his plea agreement, in December 2023, law enforcement received information that Smitha was distributing quantities…

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Georgetown, Ky., man, Jamon Ritter, 35, was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove to 132 months for possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of fluorofentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of…

Committee advances bill on high-acuity juvenile offenders February 12, 2026 Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, speaks on Senate Bill 125 before the Senate Judiciary Committee. A high-res version can be found here. FRANKFORT — Legislation that would establish a comprehensive framework for identifying and treating high-acuity youth in Kentucky’s juvenile justice system and create a…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear hosted the American Red Cross “Team Kentucky Saves Lives” blood drive to help address the national blood shortage. They encouraged all Kentuckians to sign up to donate at a blood drive near them by visiting Governor.ky.gov/GiveBlood. “When times feel…