Kentucky news

• Jeffrey Hopper

  16-10-2026 18:12 via state-journal.com
  
  LAWRENCEBURG — Jeffrey Hopper, age 61, husband of Donna Fain Hopper, passed away on Wednesday. Service is 7 p.m. Monday at Ritchie & Peach Funeral Home. Visitation is Monday from 5 p.m. until the time of service at 7 p.m.
  
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• FCS recognizes National School Bus Safety Week

  20-10-2026 04:59 via state-journal.com
  
  In recognition of National School Bus Safety Week from October 19-23, Franklin County Schools (FCS) is reminding parents, students, and local motorists to prioritize transportation safety and to follow Kentucky’s updated bus law that was put into effect this year.
  Under new state legislation, motorists traveling in both directions on any undivided roadway, regardless of the number of lanes, are legally required to come to a complete stop when a school bus has its stop arm extended and red
  
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• Franklin County’s football team closes out district play with 57-7 win over Western Hills

  20-10-2026 04:58 via state-journal.com
  
  Franklin County’s football team beat Western Hills 57-7 Friday at WHHS to finish the district portion of its schedule at 3-1.
  FCHS quarterback Knox Barrett went 17-for-25 for 281 yards and two touchdowns.
  Porter Peale caught both of Barrett’s touchdown passes and led the Flyer receivers with 89 yards.
  Chris Stallings rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns, and Lane Block also ran for a touchdown.
  Aaron Jones and Corieon Tabbs both returned punts for touchdowns, and Jevauri Jones retu
  
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• Alumna joins former Kentucky State professor as a fellow poet at Frankfort writers’ event

  20-10-2026 04:54 via state-journal.com
  
  Staci Schoenfeld once honed her writing in Dr. Richard Taylor’s English classes at Kentucky State University. Years later, the teacher and his former student met at Frankfort’s Gathering of Authors as fellow poets, each with books to share.
  Schoenfeld, a 2010 graduate who now teaches English at Kentucky State, joined writers from across Kentucky at the Aug. 22 event at Paul Sawyier Public Library to share her poetry and meet readers.
  “I was so excited to be one of the authors a
  
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• Frankfort’s cross country teams win County Championships

  20-10-2026 04:53 via state-journal.com
  
  Frankfort’s Jamie Bessinger and Franklin County’s Gannon Gortney won the County Championships varsity cross country meet Tuesday at the Department of Libraries and Archives.
  Bessinger won the girls’ race in 13 minutes, 13.41 seconds, and Gortney won the boys’ race with a time of 10:24.35.
  Both races covered 3,000 meters.
  Frankfort won both team titles. The Panthers scored 33 points to edge FCHS, which had 39 points, in the boys’ race. Frankfort was the only school t
  
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• Letter: New rule will threaten imported prescription meds

  20-10-2026 04:52 via state-journal.com
  Dear editor,
  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a dangerous new rule beginning Thursday, Oct. 22, that will threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. The rule, “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments,” will effectively end Americans’ ability to personally import their prescription medicines.
  Importing prescription drugs from licensed international pharmacies is the only lifeline for seniors on limited incomes, people with high-ded
  
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• Letter: Barr ‘pointed out that he is white’

  20-10-2026 04:52 via state-journal.com
  Dear editor,
  United we stand, divided we fall!
  Do those words mean anything to you? It is Kentucky’s motto. What do they mean? Is this the type of unity that brought this country together in World War II? The ideals that these words convey were quite relevant then as I believe they are today.
  WWII was a war of ideologies, the U.S. and other free countries of the world united to stand against the fascist and dictatorial direction of the Hitler regime.
  Thankfully the Hitler regime was defeat
  
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• Correction: Governor’s Open

  20-10-2026 04:52 via state-journal.com
  Editor’s note: Because of a reporter’s error, the incorrect title sponsor was listed for the Governor’s Open in the tournament results that appeared in the Oct. 10 edition.
  WesBanco was the title sponsor of the Governor’s Open.
  
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• Accessible bird blind to open at Leslie Morris Park at Fort Hill

  20-10-2026 04:52 via state-journal.com
  In celebration of Birdability Week, Oct. 19-25, the Frankfort Audubon Society, in partnership with Frankfort Parks, Recreation & Historic Sites, is proud to announce the official opening of a newly constructed accessible bird blind in Leslie Morris Park at Fort Hill.The new bird blind replaces an older structure that had become inaccessible and was in disrepair. Designed to be light, airy, and visually harmonious with its natural surroundings, the blind offers an inviting space for birdwatch
  
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• Kentucky State’s football team rolls past Lane 55-22

  20-10-2026 04:26 via state-journal.com
  
  Kentucky State University delivered an explosive offensive performance Saturday afternoon, defeating Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) opponent Lane College 55-22 at Alumni Stadium during the Thorobreds’ Military Appreciation and Frankfort Day celebration.
  Kentucky State (6-2, 5-1 SIAC) erupted for 28 first-quarter points and carried a commanding 45-8 advantage into halftime, scoring seven touchdowns while generating 419 yards of total offense.
  Senior wide receiver Darius
  
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• Frankfort’s girls soccer team loses to Great Crossing in district final

  19-10-2026 19:19 via state-journal.com
  
  When Frankfort’s girls soccer team lost to Great Crossing in the regular season, the Lady Panthers didn’t score and Great Crossing won 8-0 with the game ending on the mercy rule.
  Things went a little better for FHS Friday in the 41st District tournament final. Frankfort scored a goal, and the full 80 minutes were played, but the Lady Warhawks won 8-1 to capture their sixth straight district crown.
  “We got a goal, everyone got to get in,” FHS coach Chris Douglas said. &ldq
  
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• Frankfort’s boys soccer team loses 1-0 to Great Crossing in district final

  19-10-2026 19:17 via state-journal.com
  
  Less than four minutes into the 41st District tournament championship match, Great Crossing’s boys soccer team took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Ramon Hernandez Chairez.
  That was the only goal of the game as the Warhawks beat Frankfort Friday at Capitol View Park.
  “If I’m being honest, we didn’t really seem like ourselves tonight,” FHS coach Austin Farmer said. “I know there’s a lot better soccer that that team can put together, and unfortunately we just didn
  
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• George Harmon

  19-10-2026 15:28 via state-journal.com
  
  George Randall Harmon (GR, Randy), beloved husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, businessman, and friend, passed away on October 13, 2026, at the age of 93. Born on June 8, 1933, in Mackville, Kentucky, to Mary Alice and Roy Harmon, he was known for his compassion, generosity, strength, and creativity.
  George was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Alice and Roy Harmon; his first wife of 47 years, Mary Alice Cunningham Harmon; his sister, Dorothy DeMarsh; and his
  
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• Say ‘I do’ to your boo this Halloween

  18-10-2026 14:03 via state-journal.com
  
  On Oct. 31, couples can make their relationships official with Halloween unions for just $31.Held at the Corner Chapel at 649 Chamberlin Ave., the package includes a declaration of intent, a pronouncement, signing of marriage licenses, and an atmospheric-themed backdrop with seating for up to a dozen individuals.Additional optional add-ons include a “til death” mini cake, keepsake florals, professional photos on-site, and an upgrade to a short-plus-sweet ceremony for only $66.06.The
  
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• FHS Drama Club opening season with ‘One Stoplight Town’

  18-10-2026 14:02 via state-journal.com
  
  The Frankfort High School Drama Club proudly presents “One Stoplight Town” by Tracy Wells as the first show of the 2026-2027 season.
  This production will open on Thursday at 7 p.m. The show continues on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. It will conclude with two performances on Sunday, Oct. 24 with a matinee at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and are now available on the GoFan platform at www.frankfortdrama.com.The speci
  
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• Paul Sawyier Public Library News — Oct. 18-24, 2026

  18-10-2026 13:41 via state-journal.com
  
  Monday
  5:30 p.m.: Let’s Talk About It (Adults) — Join Focus on Race Relations (FORR), Frankfort Anti-Racism Advocates (FARA) and Paul Sawyier Public Library (PSPL) for a community discussion of race-related issues in Frankfort and beyond. In October, we will discuss Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the narrative of discovery.
  5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.: Parent Café (All Ages) — Parent Café is a welcoming space for parents and caregivers to connect, share experiences and ta
  
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• Sheriff, magistrate candidate forum scheduled Monday

  16-10-2026 18:13 via state-journal.com
  A candidate forum featuring the county’s only contested local offices is being hosted by two community organizations later this 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 sheriff and magistrate candidate forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday and is free and open to the public. It will be televised on Cable 10.
  “The purpo
  
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• Guest columnist: Hemp: Regulate, tax, reinvest

  16-10-2026 18:13 via state-journal.com
  
  Farmers are reeling from tariffs, rising fuel and fertilizer costs, soaring insurance premiums, and rising debt costs. Now, more than ever, America’s agricultural community needs diversification. Agricultural hemp is part of that solution.
  As Alice Peterson, President of Kentucky Heritage Hemp and whose family owns Peterson Farms, LLC, says, “We farm 25,000 acres of soybeans, wheat, and corn, and to be an enduring enterprise we, like most farmers, need meaningful diversification. We
  
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• Police, fire blotter (Oct. 15)

  16-10-2026 18:12 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 11:34 a.m., officers at the police station on West Second Street took an assault report.
  • At 12:23 p.m., officers were called to a non-injury motor vehicle accident on Hudson Street.
  • At 1:08 p.m., deputies at the sheriff’s office on River Bend Road took an abuse complaint.
  • At 1:54
  
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• Guest columnist: Quiet confidence, not loud cockiness

  16-10-2026 18:12 via state-journal.com
  
  My home county was never affluent by any stretch of the imagination. When I was in high school, over a quarter of our people lived below the poverty line, and that figure climbed past a third among kids under eighteen. In 2001, the federal government officially added us to the Appalachian Regional Commission’s coverage area. I never considered us truly part of Appalachia, nor do many people. Whenever anyone questioned our inclusion, I always told them that we lacked mountains, but we more
  
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• WesBanco Student of the Week: Franklin County’s Bowling excels on and off the golf course

  16-10-2026 18:11 via state-journal.com
  
  Franklin County’s Emerson Bowling has made a name for herself in golf. She’s also making a difference off the golf course, and she has been named the WesBanco Student of the Week.
  Bowling, a junior, was named the Franklin County Schools’ Student Champion of the Month for October at the school board meeting Monday.
  “Emerson is the consummate student-athlete at Franklin County High School,” said FCS Superintendent Mark Kopp, reading from Bowling’s nomination at
  
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• Frankfort’s boys soccer team beats Western Hills in overtime to reach district title game

  16-10-2026 18:11 via state-journal.com
  
  Frankfort High boys soccer coach Austin Farmer knew his team would be in a battle Wednesday, facing Western Hills in the semifinals of the 41st District tournament at Capitol View Park.
  He was right.
  FHS won 2-1 in overtime, sending the Panthers to the district final Friday against Great Crossing.
  “I do want to say first thing, I want people to know that Western Hills is building a program and doing great things, and anybody who had to step on this field tonight, it was a little unfair if
  
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• Concert to benefit accessible playground at Lakeview Park

  16-10-2026 18:10 via state-journal.com
  
  Music is a powerful tool to inspire, educate, and even raise awareness and support for virtuous causes. On Friday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m the fiscal court will debut its benefit concert at the Grand Theatre. The concert will celebrate the sounds of 1976 and showcase chosen local musicians, with proceeds going towards a new accessible playground at Lakeview Park.
  “A lot of our local musicians never get a chance to play. This is our opportunity to give a chance not just anywhere, but at the Grand
  
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• Guest columnist: Millions missing breast cancer screenings due to red tape

  16-10-2026 17:24 via state-journal.com
  
  More than 8 million American women between 45 and 64 are overdue for breast cancer screening. That’s a staggering number for a disease expected to kill more than 40,000 women this year.
  The consequences of finding breast cancer late can be devastating. Five years after diagnosis, women whose cancer remains confined to the breast have a relative survival rate approaching 100%. Once the disease has spread to distant parts of the body, that figure falls to 33.8%.
  Early detection can save live
  
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• Fiscal court set to create 911 emergency board with the city

  16-10-2026 17:24 via state-journal.com
  
  With unanimous approval Wednesday evening, the fiscal court has established a joint city and county 911 emergency communication service board, with members of the county and the city, as well as one neutral member of the public joining the board.The aim is to help inform, advise and make recommendations of how that operation can be improved. The board will feature the judge-executive and mayor as ex officio, one magistrate, one city commissioner, one fire chief for the county, one sheriff for th
  
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• Frankfort’s girls soccer team reaches district final with win over Frankfort Christian

  16-10-2026 17:18 via state-journal.com
  
  In the Capital City Classic in August, Frankfort’s girls soccer team lost 3-1 to The Frankfort Christian Academy.
  The Lady Panthers used some lessons learned from that match to defeat TFCA 3-2 Wednesday in the semifinals of the 41st District tournament at Capitol View Park.
  “We got beat a lot on the outside with some give-and-goes,” FHS coach Chris Douglas said of teams’ first meeting, “so after that game happened we basically went back into the lab all the rest of
  
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• Bald Knob store owner saves friend’s life

  16-10-2026 17:17 via state-journal.com
  
  Disaster can strike at any moment. That rings true for Rhett’s Country Market owner Bill Murray, who was called into action when his lifelong friend, Willard Meade, suffered a heart attack right outside his store.
  It’s a daily occurrence when Meade joins Murray 20 minutes after 6 a.m. for a morning cup of coffee at the market, but things seemed a bit off. As Murray helped a customer, he noticed an oddity outside the window — seeing Meade’s head lean back, which to him was
  
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• James Kevin Woodrum

  16-10-2026 16:53 via state-journal.com
  
  James Kevin Woodrum, of Midway, passed away peacefully at home on October 13, 2026, at the age of 51 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born on September 11, 1975, in Frankfort, KY. He attended Good Shepherd School and Church and after graduating from Franklin County High School, he joined the military serving in the National Guard. His last place of employment was with Kentucky state government but his most prominent and rewarding career was with Dairy Queen, where he dedicated many
  
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• CARTOON: Midterm scares

  16-10-2026 16:48 via state-journal.com
  
  CARTOON: Midterm scares
  
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• District soccer finals postponed until Friday

  15-10-2026 21:58 via state-journal.com
  The championship matches for the 41st District soccer tournament have been pushed back to Friday at Capitol View Park.
  The matches were originally scheduled to be played tonight, but heavy rain on Wednesday left the field in unplayable condition.
  On Friday, Frankfort and Great Crossing will meet in the girls’ championship match at 6 p.m., followed by the boys’ title match between Frankfort and Great Crossing at 8 p.m.
  
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