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In Lexington, a decline in gun violence raises questions about police staffing

Commentary, Crime & Justice, Featured, Lexington Meta, Local Government

Sat, September 30, 2023

In Lexington, a decline in gun violence raises questions about police staffing

By Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a city grappling with the intricacies of public safety and the role of law enforcement, a curious data point has emerged: Despite a police force that is “over 20% understaffed,” according to a September 17 Facebook post by Fraternal Order of Police Bluegrass Lodge 4 President Jeremy Russell, the incidence of gun violence has seen a notable decline this year. This raises an intriguing question: In an era of burgeoning technology, could Lexington reconsider the size of its authorized police force? A Tale...

Young transgender activists in Lexington

Crime & Justice, Education, Health, KY Legislature, Local Government, News

Fri, September 29, 2023

Class action lawsuit seeks to halt enforcement of anti-trans law in Lexington public schools

by Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern A class action lawsuit against Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron and the Fayette County Board of Education argues that students’ constitutional and privacy rights are violated by a new anti-trans Kentucky law and asks the court to block its enforcement in Lexington schools. Senate Bill 150, enacted by the legislature earlier this year over Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto, requires local school boards to implement policies keeping youngsters from using bathrooms, locker rooms or showers that “are reserved for students of a different biological sex.” The law also...

Lexington Council approves $1.07 Million for winter warming shelters on West Loudon

Equality, Featured, Housing, Local Government, News

Fri, September 29, 2023

Lexington Council approves $1.07 Million for winter warming shelters on West Loudon

LEXINGTON, Ky. — In a move to address the city’s growing homelessness crisis, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council passed a resolution on Thursday allocating $1,072,000 in funding for temporary warming shelters this winter. The resolution received two readings and was approved the same meeting. The resolution authorizes the Mayor, on behalf of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, to execute an agreement with the Hope Center, Inc. and YMCA. The funding, awarded under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will be used to provide temporary warming shelters at the North Lexington YMCA property on...

Local Business Owners Raise Concerns Over House Bill 544 Regulating Hemp Products

Featured, Health, Hemp, KY Legislature, News

Thu, September 28, 2023

Local Business Owners Raise Concerns Over House Bill 544 Regulating Hemp Products

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Earlier this week, an emergency regulations meeting was convened to discuss public concerns over House Bill 544, which aims to regulate the sale of delta-8 and other hemp-derived products. Local business owners, including Joe Boese, owner of CBD Time in Woodhill, have raised concerns that the regulations stipulated could significantly affect small businesses. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Raymer, R-Morgantown, intends to restrict the sale of intoxicating hemp products like delta-8, delta-9, and delta-10 to minors, while also implementing mandatory product testing. Boese’s chief concern is the requirement for...

Lexington Council considering a major boost in money for homelessness prevention and intervention

Equality, Housing, Local Government, News

Wed, September 27, 2023

Lexington Council considering a major boost in money for homelessness prevention and intervention

WEKU | By Stu Johnson Lexington’s City Council is considering a substantial boost in funding for addressing homelessness-related issues. A change in the funding mechanism passed out of committee this week. Currently, funding for the City’s Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention registers $750,000. The modification, sent on to the full Council, bases support at a percentage of revenues. That would roughly double funding to $1.5 million. Council Member Jennifer Reynolds supports the change. “Over the past year especially it has become very clear to me that we are actually severely underfunding our prevention...

'Picture of Homelessness in Lexington' a stark reality amidst claims of prosperity

Education, Equality, Featured, Housing, Local Government, News

Tue, September 26, 2023

‘Picture of Homelessness in Lexington’ a stark reality amidst claims of prosperity

by Paul Oliva LEXINGTON, Ky. — A press conference held Tuesday at Northside Library by “Picture of Homelessness in Lexington” revealed alarming statistics about the city’s homeless population. A comprehensive survey conducted by Catholic Action Center (CAC), Central KY Housing and Homeless Initiative (CKHHI), and Street Voice Council, found that Lexington is home to 2,410 homeless individuals, including 453 children. District 1 Councilmember Tayna Fogle expressed her dismay at the numbers, contrasting them with the often optimistic portrayal of Lexington by city officials. “We speak about, in City Council, how we are thriving...

California woman enters guilty plea in Lexington drug trafficking and money laundering case

Crime & Justice

Mon, September 25, 2023

California woman enters guilty plea in Lexington drug trafficking and money laundering case

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A California resident, Maria Rubi Ortiz-Lopez, entered a guilty plea on Monday to charges of federal possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Her co-defendant, Esteban Aguilar-Medina, was sentenced on April 25 to 190 months on each count to run consecutively, along with five years of supervised release. According to the plea agreement filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Ortiz-Lopez will plead guilty to two counts of the indictment. The United States will move to dismiss the remaining counts....

Lexington Council to consider $1.2M contract for Cardinal Run Park bathrooms, funded by ARPA

Equality, Local Government, News

Mon, September 25, 2023

Lexington Council to consider $1.2M contract for Cardinal Run Park bathrooms, funded by ARPA

Lexington, KY — The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council is set to discuss a $1.2 million contract for construction of restroom and maintenance buildings at the new Cardinal Run Park North during its Thursday meeting. The contract, which is on the agenda for its first reading, could be fast-tracked by suspending the rules, a tactic recently employed for a controversial welcome sign contract to the same company. The Contract Details The proposed contract involves a bid from Tekton Construction LLC for $1,222,158.52. The project aims to construct restroom and maintenance buildings at Cardinal Run...

A shopping cart sits "across the tracks" from Fayette Mall. (The Lexington Times)

Commentary, Equality, Featured, Housing, Local Government

Sun, September 24, 2023

Lexington’s spending priorities are misaligned: The urgent need to fund Housing First and related programs

By Paul Oliva According to the most recent independent street survey, Lexington has approximately 2,410 homeless individuals, a number almost three times higher than the city’s most recent count of 815. These diverging figures highlight a systemic issue: the disconnection between Lexington’s spending choices and the reality faced by its most vulnerable citizens. LEX18 investigative reporter Christiana Ford recently reported that in 2021, Lexington paid a contractor, Untold Content, a jaw-dropping $233,763 for an outreach campaign for a fund aimed to “permanently end homelessness.” Ironically, that fund, Lex End Homelessness, raised a mere...

Lexington Corridors Commission discusses beautification, budget, and new ZOTAs

Environment, Featured, Local Government, News, Observer Report

Sat, September 23, 2023

Lexington Corridors Commission discusses beautification, budget, and new ZOTAs

This staff report was created from notes taken by Max Puchalsky for The Lexington Times Observer Program Lexington, KY — The Corridors Commission of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government met on Thursday to tackle a variety of issues, including the Commission’s FY2024 budget, maintenance contracts, the North Broadway Greening initiative, and community development projects on Manchester Street. The purpose of the Corridors Commission is to assess the major roads of Lexington-Fayette County, especially the major and minor arterials, regarding but not limited to aesthetic qualities, viewsheds, landscaping, fencing, signage, litter control, bike and...

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