Kentucky news

• Guest columnist: Be present, listen to teens

  17-09-2026 05:05 via state-journal.com
  
  Back-to-school season can present challenges and opportunities as a parent. Relaxed summer schedules are replaced with classes, homework, and extracurriculars, and the transition to a new semester can be both exciting and stressful.
  Fortunately, the school year is full of everyday moments parents and caregivers can use to check in on their kids. Whether it’s an early breakfast before school, the commute home, or an after-school FaceTime call from work, these small moments can let kids know
  
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• Student of the Week: Second Street’s McDonald is dedicated to succeed

  18-09-2026 19:49 via state-journal.com
  
  Alex McDonald’s work ethic in academics has led to success, and she has been named the Student of the Week.
  Alex, an eighth-grader at Second Street School, has always put her academics first, according to Tami Stone-Stroble, an English Language Arts teacher at the school.
  “She excels in all her classes because of her hard work and attention to detail,” Stone-Stroble wrote in her nomination. “She asks questions for clarification and self-advocates. Her writing skills are f
  
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• I-64 collision leaves Versailles woman dead

  18-09-2026 19:48 via state-journal.com
  
  Kentucky State Police Post 12 in Frankfort is currently investigating a two-vehicle fatal collision that occurred at 9:46 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 64.The preliminary investigation indicates traffic on I-64 in the westbound lanes was heavy. The collision occurred near the 61-mile marker in the westbound lanes of I-64 in Woodford County. The investigation indicates a white GMC Yukon SUV was traveling westbound in the right lane of travel. There was slow moving traffic due to construction in the
  
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• Fiscal court pays respects to two former leaders

  18-09-2026 19:47 via state-journal.com
  
  The fiscal court on Wednesday unanimously approved the hiring of new Franklin County Fire Chief Raymond Canafax. He will take on his new role in November.
  The court began its scheduled session with a moment of silence for former Franklin County 4th District Magistrate Allen “Harold” Robinson and former Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Roger Crittenden.
  “They will both be missed — they were huge people in this community,” Judge-Executive Michael Mueller told the c
  
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• Franklin County’s boys golf team wins Hilen Cup

  18-09-2026 19:45 via state-journal.com
  
  Franklin County’s boys golf team captured the Hilen Cup Wednesday at Juniper Hill.
  The Flyers finished the event with a score of 302, and Frankfort was runner-up with a score of 312. Western Hills didn’t have a team score.
  The Hilen Cup is an annual event among FCHS, FHS and WHHS. The teams played nine holes Tuesday and Wednesday.
  FCHS’ Myles Williams took medalist honors with a two-day total of one-over par 71. Rounding out the all-tournament team were the Flyers’ Noah C
  
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• Police, fire blotter (Sept. 17)

  18-09-2026 19:43 via state-journal.com
  
  The following calls were received by the Frankfort Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Frankfort Fire and EMS, and Franklin County Fire Department on Thursday:
  • At 8:26 a.m., officers took a vandalism complaint on Fairview Avenue. A caller reported a Toyota 4Runner was vandalized and a tire was stabbed two nights before.
  • At 8:28 a.m., deputies took a theft report on Highwood Drive. A caller reported a Ford F150 extended cab had been stolen.
  • At 8:49 a.m.
  
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• Franklin County’s girls golf team finishes second in Kentucky 2A State Championship

  18-09-2026 19:43 via state-journal.com
  
  After 18 holes Monday at the Kentucky 2A State Championship, Franklin County’s girls golf team found itself in a tie with Taylor County.
  Both teams shot 330 at the Owensboro Country Club, and Taylor County won on a scoreboard playoff.
  FCHS’ Emerson Bowling was runner-up with a three-over-par 75. Corbin’s Makena Myatt won the tournament with an even-par 72.
  The Lady Flyers received a pep talk after the first nine holes.
  “We told them, ‘don’t quit, give 100%,&rs
  
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• ‘My time has come’: Family speaks about late daughter’s mental health struggles

  18-09-2026 19:40 via state-journal.com
  
  Taliyah LaShae Thomas was born Nov. 30, 2006, to Troy and Tracy Thomas. Arriving at just 28 weeks, she only weighed 2.2 pounds and became the youngest of three. Her older brothers are Trey and Tavion Thomas.
  Her first year was filled with appointments and challenges that she faced due to being born prematurely. By the time Taliyah turned 14, she had already faced more battles than most adults. But her last battle, no one could stop.
  “Taliyah was such a loving child,” Tracy said.
  She
  
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• Marguerite Elaine Wordell

  18-09-2026 14:38 via state-journal.com
  
  Marguerite Elaine Wordell, 80, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Frankfort, Kentucky, on September 12, 2026, surrounded by those who loved her.
  Marguerite was born on June 24, 1946, in East Providence, Rhode Island, the daughter of the late Charles Franklin Wordell Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Perry Wordell. She graduated from St. Gertrude High School in Richmond, Virginia, in 1964 and went on to earn her B.A. in Economics from Trinity University in Washington, D.C.She later obtained
  
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• East Todd residents advocate for lower speed limit after recent crashes

  18-09-2026 04:43 via state-journal.com
  
  Pointing to two recent motor vehicle accidents, three South Frankfort residents raised safety concerns about the East Todd and Logan Street intersection at Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting.
  Shortly after noon on Tuesday, Aug. 19, a two-vehicle crash between a motorcycle and a truck injured the biker.
  Tara Bissell, who, along with her husband, owns Andy’s Artisan Bread at that intersection, recounted the “very intense” accident.
  “We all heard the entire thing
  
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• Local softball players compete in Premier Girls Fastpitch Super Select Fall Championships in Indianapolis

  17-09-2026 23:59 via state-journal.com
  
  Local softball players competed in the Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) Super Select Fall Championships Sept. 12-14 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  TN Mojo 2034 — coached by Morgan Gilbert, Megan Gabbard, Joe Hyatt and Sammy Trainor — played in its first fall tournament, the USSSA Labor Day Classic, in Georgetown Sept. 5-6. After going 4-1 in pool play on Sept. 5, they earned a two seed heading into the bracket. After three back-to-back games, they fell short in the championship game to KY Ch
  
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• FPB sees an increase in assets

  17-09-2026 23:54 via state-journal.com
  
  On Tuesday, the Frankfort Plant Board Chief Financial Officer David Denton discussed August’s financial statements at Tuesday’s meeting. The plant board gained $259.8 million in assets, a figure that has been up 6.2% year after year.
  “You’ll notice the story we talk about over and over — the main driver of increase in assets year to year is our investment in property and equipment,” Denton explained to the board of directors. “If you look at just the fir
  
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• Police, fire blotter (Sept. 16)

  17-09-2026 23:53 via state-journal.com
  
  The following calls were received by the Frankfort Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Frankfort Fire and EMS, and Franklin County Fire Department on Wednesday:
  • At 6:39 a.m., officers, city fire, and EMS were called to a stabbing at KOI Auto Parts on East Main Street. A caller reported a 45-year-old male was stabbed in the leg.
  • At 8:30 a.m., officers, city fire, and EMS responded to a non-injury motor vehicle accident on Diagnostic Drive.
  • At 8:45 a.m.,
  
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• CARTOON: Trump removes climate pollution limits on power plants

  17-09-2026 23:06 via state-journal.com
  
  CARTOON: Trump removes climate pollution limits on power plants
  
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• Kentuckians for the Commonwealth to host Hoedown Throwdown Friday

  17-09-2026 22:38 via state-journal.com
  
  Kentuckians for the Commonwealth will host Hoedown Throwdown: People-powered Music and Arts Festival from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at West Sixth Farm, 4495 Shadrick Ferry Road.
  Kentucky musicians, artists, poets and speakers will take the stage to show off their creativity.The lineup includes Anna Kline, Cait Justice, Ekknowledge, Jaret Ellis, Jeri Katherine Howell, Joan Brannon, Kill Devil Hillbillies, Shannon Vetter, Tia Woods and more.
  Enjoy an afternoon to sing, boogie and two-step with fa
  
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• ‘Raising hope’ for couple battling cancer together

  17-09-2026 05:13 via state-journal.com
  
  Melissa and Eric Rogers have been together since 2011. As the pair each fights their respective cancer diagnosis there’s a belief that it has strengthened their love.
  “He’s always been my rock. (When we got his diagnosis) I was scared of losing my best friend, my husband,” Melissa noted. “But I firmly believe this experience has deepened my bond, and my love for him.”
  Melissa was first diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2019. Then five years later, her
  
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• Guest columnist: The real value of journalism

  17-09-2026 05:01 via state-journal.com
  
  The news earlier this month that 13 skilled journalists in Lexington were laid off was heartbreaking but also frightening.
  The suggestion that AI can replace reporters who are trained to observe, interpret, and ask the tough questions is unrealistic. AI is a tool and a resource, but it cannot replace a human reporter.
  The real danger here is the declining number of journalists in the field. It is not just newspapers. We have witnessed veteran broadcast journalists who have been sidelined as TV g
  
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• Guest columnist: Enrollment cliff can create pathways for working Kentuckians

  17-09-2026 05:01 via state-journal.com
  
  For years, higher education leaders in Kentucky have been discussing and preparing for the “enrollment cliff,” the long-anticipated decline in the number of traditional college-age students following the Great Recession. That moment has arrived. The number of U.S. high school graduates peaked in 2025 and is projected to decline in the years ahead, prompting institutions everywhere to rethink enrollment strategies and long-term sustainability.
  The demographic challenge is clear. But t
  
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• Tommy Druen: That’s how we’ve always done it

  17-09-2026 05:00 via state-journal.com
  Every August, a man in the small Scottish town of South Queensferry gets covered head to toe in burrs. Yes, burrs, those prickly little nuisances that stick to your socks. Thousands of them. His neighbors weave flowers into the mass, press a decorated staff into each of his hands, and parade him through town for seven miles and nine hours.
  He stops at pubs along the way. This is Scotland, after all. Since his face is completely covered, he drinks the free whiskey offered him through a straw.
  It
  
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• Police, fire blotter (Sept. 15)

  17-09-2026 05:00 via state-journal.com
  
  The following calls were received by the Frankfort Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Frankfort Fire and EMS and Franklin County Fire Department on Tuesday:
  • At 5:43 a.m., officers took a theft report on East Main Street. A caller reported the driver’s door of a Nissan Versa was wide open.
  • At 9:53 a.m., deputies at the sheriff’s office on River Bend Road took a fraud complaint.
  • At 1:20 p.m., deputies took a theft report at Shell Five Star o
  
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• Letter: Comer should release unredacted Epstein files

  17-09-2026 05:00 via state-journal.com
  Dear editor,
  In the course of human events there comes a time for people to rise up against the injustice committed against them.
  As citizens, we know there are certain crimes which cannot be excused or forgiven — crimes attacking our children. Therefore, we must act and compel those who can to act.
  We must force Rep. James Comer, representing the 1st Congressional District of Kentucky, to act. As chairman of the House Oversight Committee, with one wave of his pen he can force the Departme
  
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• Carl Pryse Williams Jr.

  16-09-2026 23:31 via state-journal.com
  LAWRENCEBURG — Services for Carl Pryse Williams Jr., 94, will be 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at First Baptist Church, 111 N. Main St., Lawrenceburg. Burial will follow in Lawrenceburg Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be noon until the time of service Friday at the church. Williams died Sunday, Sept. 13.
  
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• Janice Johnson

  16-09-2026 14:49 via state-journal.com
  
  Janice Carol Montfort Johnson, age 76, passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2026. Services will be held at Harrod Brothers Funeral Home on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Lee Meadows officiating. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held at Harrod Brothers Funeral Home from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Thursday.Janice was born in Frankfort on September 17, 1949, to the late Dallas Clarence Montfort and Edna Mae Hammond Whisman. She retired from Gene
  
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• Bondurant’s girls basketball team honors Cook during ‘More Than a Jersey’ awareness game

  15-09-2026 21:25 via state-journal.com
  
  Going into her second year as the head coach of Bondurant’s girls basketball team, Ashli Mayes wanted to show how basketball teaches life lessons that impact the rest of your life.To that end, the Lady Braves basketball program hosted its first “More Than a Jersey” awareness game Thursday.
  September is Suicide Prevention Month, and World Suicide Prevention Day is Sept. 10. Bondurant’s basketball and cheer programs spent last week during lunch doing activities that centere
  
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• Traditional Bank Athlete of the Week: Chavez scores 11 goals in three games

  15-09-2026 21:24 via state-journal.com
  
  The Western Hills High School boys soccer team have enjoyed arguably their best season so far in quite some time. The Wolverines’ current record is 10-1, as they currently sit first in the district.
  Much of that success could be attributed to senior striker Elias Chavez who’s been in stellar goal scoring form coming off the back of four goals against Grant County, three against TFCA and four against J-town. For his performances he has been named Traditional Bank Athlete of the Week.
  
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• FCCTC offering new media arts program

  15-09-2026 21:23 via state-journal.com
  The Franklin County Career and Technical Center (FCCTC) has launched an expansive new media arts program for the 2026-2027 school year, open to high school students at Western Hills and Franklin County High Schools. A total of 51 students are enrolled in the program’s inaugural year.
  The program features two courses designed to prepare students for creative and technical careers. In Introduction to Media, students will dive into the world of media to learn and create across multiple discip
  
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• Franklin Circuit Court indictments (Sept. 15)

  15-09-2026 21:20 via state-journal.com
  
  The following people were indicted by a Franklin Circuit Court grand jury on Tuesday:
  • Eric Anthony Collings, 39, of Frankfort, second-degree burglary, a Class C felony; second-degree criminal attempt burglary and first-degree disorderly conduct, both Class A misdemeanors; menacing and public intoxication controlled substance (excludes alcohol), both Class B misdemeanors; and first-degree persistent felony offender.
  • Raymond Karl Ake Gronvall, 54, of Wooster, Ohio, operating a motor
  
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• Two candidate forums planned next month

  15-09-2026 21:19 via state-journal.com
  
  Two candidate forums featuring the county’s only contested local offices are being hosted by two community organizations next month.
  Together Frankfort and Development Interest Group Frankfort (DIG) are partnering with Kentucky State University and Cable 10 for the forums to be held at KSU’s main auditorium, 400 E. Main St.
  The Frankfort Board of Commissioners forum will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5. The sheriff and magistrate candidate forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19. B
  
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• Local sports calendar — Sept. 16-22, 2026

  15-09-2026 21:19 via state-journal.com
  BOYS GOLF: The final round of the Hilen Cup between Frankfort and Franklin County will be today at Juniper Hill. The Region 9 tournament will be Tuesday at the University Club at Arlington in Richmond.
  GIRLS GOLF: Franklin County and Frankfort will play in the Region 9 tournament Monday at the Woodford Club in Versailles.
  GIRLS SOCCER: Franklin County hosts Harrison County today at 6:30 p.m. Frankfort plays at Marion County today and hosts Tates Creek Monday. Both matches start at 7 p.m. The Fra
  
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• Police, fire blotter (Sept. 14)

  15-09-2026 21:18 via state-journal.com
  
  The following calls were received by the Frankfort Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Frankfort Fire and EMS, and Franklin County Fire Department on Monday:
  • At 1:23 a.m., officers and deputies responded to a non-injury motor vehicle accident on Holmes Street.
  • At 2:13 a.m., officers and deputies were called to a possible assault at Lyons Lumber on Holmes Street. One male was detained.
  • At 6:50 a.m., officers, city fire and EMS were called to an injury m
  
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