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Evidence-based literacy bill green-lit by House committee February 4, 2026 Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, explains why Kentucky needs to end the three-cuing system teaching model of reading in schools through House Bill 253. The discussion was part of Wednesday’s House Primary and Secondary Education meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here. FRANKFORT —…

It is time to nominate people for the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department’s Dr. Rice C. Leach Public Health Hero Award. The award, now in its 23rd year, is for individuals who have demonstrated their dedication to improving the health of Lexington residents. Criteria for the selection of the award include: • Exemplary leadership and…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (February 4, 2026) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) Post 12 in Frankfort, which provides coverage for Shelby, Spencer, Franklin, Anderson, Scott, Woodford, and Fayette counties, will be conducting periodic traffic safety checkpoints at approved locations in accordance with Kentucky State Police Policy and Procedures Manual. These checkpoints will be conducted in an…

House approves cigar bar bill February 3, 2026 Rep. Chris Lewis, R-Louisville, speaks on House Bill 194, which would allow cigar bars in Kentucky, on the House floor. A high-resolution photo can be found here. FRANKFORT — A bill that would allow certain businesses to operate as a cigar bar advanced off the House…

“This wasn’t charged as a human trafficking case, but probably could have been, given the facts.” U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove at Serafin Bayona‘s May 2025 sentencing hearing For at least two years, a forced labor operation ran out of ordinary-looking homes in Lexington neighborhoods—a brick ranch on Ascot Park, a townhouse on…

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 4, 2026) — Select University of Kentucky students will soon see an email inviting them to take part in the 2026 Health and Wellness Kentucky (HAWK) Student Assessment — a short, anonymous statewide survey designed to better understand student health and well-being. “The HAWK survey gives us a data-informed picture of UK student behaviors and…

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (Feb. 4, 2026) — Yesterday, federal scientists, academic researchers and community leaders officially opened the East Palestine Train Derailment Health Research Program Office, establishing a permanent local hub for long-term health studies following the Feb. 3, 2023, Norfolk Southern train derailment. The office, located at The Way Station in downtown East…

Video produced by UK Research Communications. To view captions for this video, push play and click on the CC icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. If using a mobile device, click on the “thought bubble” in the same area LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 4, 2026) — Today’s most powerful supercomputers can answer big scientific questions. However,…

The Mayor’s Office of Lexington is calling a local media outlet’s reporting “gutter-level journalism” following a story that examined online questions about snow removal on a residential street where Linda Gorton owns a home. The dispute stems from an article examining online speculation about why Beechmont Road, a neighborhood street designated as Priority 4…

Three Lexington Police officers were involved in an on-duty shooting this afternoon on Alumni Drive.    On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, around 2:29 pm, officers received a license plate reader alert for a vehicle associated with an individual who had outstanding felony warrants from North Carolina.