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Newly created Ky. Antisemitism Task Force meets for first time

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Newly created Ky. Antisemitism Task Force meets for first time


FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – Lawmakers, law enforcement, and religious leaders were among those gathered in the capital city on Wednesday with their collective sights set on creating change.

Kentucky’s Antisemitism Task Force is made up of 18 members, who were joined by Governor Andy Beshear as they started to tackle the topic of hate crimes in the commonwealth.

“We are making a statement that admits that hate does exist in the world, that antisemitism is real and that we acknowledge it,” said Gov. Beshear.

The Anti-Defamation League presented to the group, bringing data which shows that instances of antisemitism have risen significantly in Kentucky since the Hamas-led attack on Israel.

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“In 2023, there were two incidents of antisemitism before October 7th, and 14 after October 7th,” said Fishman, who serves as a regional director for the ADL, overseeing Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania in addition to Kentucky.

The force is tasked with several objectives, which include reviewing those threats and addressing the issue at all levels of Kentucky’s education system – particularly on college campuses.

“We want our kids to go to college to learn how to have conversations with people who are different than they are,” Fishman said. “We’re not all the same in this room, and yet we’ve come together for a shared goal. How do we teach our kids that?”

They also want to develop training programs for law enforcement – programs which the governor says were not well developed, even within his state government.

“When I became Governor, we found that we had some training materials across state government that weren’t right, that weren’t teaching our folks to recognize biases…and in fact had some things in them that didn’t belong whatsoever,” Gov. Beshear said.

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Gov. Beshear says this force ultimately is about making people of the Jewish faith, and of all faiths, feel safe and valued.

“For too long, we have let the loud minority yell at school board meetings and yell at legislators…we have to start being the louder ones,” said Fishman.

The task force is required by its executive order to meet quarterly. But the group intends to convene more frequently, planning to do so every other month. They also say a ‘ky.gov’ email address will soon be set up, so that the public can send in their own ideas and resources.



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Top Kentucky Football transfer Lance Heard had minor spring procedure

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Top Kentucky Football transfer Lance Heard had minor spring procedure


There is an old saying that there is no such thing as a minor procedure when it happens to you. But that’s exactly what happened over the spring football season as top transfer Lance Heard had surgery on an undisclosed injury that was deemed “minor.”

While Kentucky did not release what exactly the big left tackle had surgery on, anytime you are down your starting left tackle over Spring is not ideal. The good news is Heard has plenty of SEC experience, starting at LSU before transferring to Tennessee.

The biggest thing for an offensive line is reps, but offensive coordinator Joe Sloan told KSR he was happy with what he was seeing.

“You’re starting to see them work really well together, and they have an opportunity to be a strength of our team.” If that comes to fruition, Kentucky will have a really good year. As for the fans, expect a different style this year in Kroger Field.

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Kentucky’s offense will be different

Under Mark Stoops, the calling card became a physical offensive line, a punishing run scheme, and a ball control style. That offense will be very different this year, not because of a shift away from the run game, but because there will be a lot more chances taken.

Sometimes, that is a good thing, and other times it causes turnovers. Will Stein said he never called a play he didn’t think would score a touchdown. That aggressive style is what will define Stein’s time in Lexington. He chose a defensive coordinator known for dialing up the blitz. He has gone after nearly all the top recruits, and he isn’t backing down from saying he expects to be the best head coach in the country.

Will it work? I don’t know, but I do know it will look different than what Mark Stoops was putting out. But it all depends on the health of the key players Stein brought in, and that starts with a healthy offensive line.



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Kentucky Colonels executive to speak at Florence Rotary Club on Monday, public welcome to register

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Kentucky Colonels executive to speak at Florence Rotary Club on Monday, public welcome to register


Kentucky Colonels Executive Director Sherry Crose will speak to the Florence Rotary Club on Monday. Crose will be speaking about the history and traditions of the Kentucky Colonels, one of Kentucky’s highest honors, recognizing individuals for service, leadership, and goodwill. Behind the organization is a mission of charitable giving and community impact that seeks to…



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Tornado ripped through Florence area during storms, NWS confirms

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Tornado ripped through Florence area during storms, NWS confirms


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A tornado was confirmed to have ripped through the Florence area during the overnight storms June 18.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington released a statement June 20 saying a tornado traveled eastward 6.2 miles across the Northern Kentucky city, 10 miles south of Cincinnati. It had estimated peak winds of 100 mph, which classifies it as an EF1 “moderate” tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

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The tornado’s path goes mostly through residential areas, and the first evidence was found on Landings Way where several trees were snapped at their trunks, the weather service reported.

The tornado progressed east, crossing Interstate 71/75 and then seemingly dissipating on Tallwood Circle where multiple large branches were downed, the final known instance of damage.

Along the way, the tornado uprooted multiple trees and snapped branches, damaged several buildings and businesses, and snapped a large power pole near the intersection of U.S. 42 and Dream Street, according to the weather service.

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How many tornadoes have been confirmed in Greater Cincinnati, beyond?

As of 1 p.m. June 20, the weather service has confirmed that apart from the one in Florence, two other tornadoes touched down in Greater Cincinnati on June 18:

  • An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled about 9 miles from Dearborn County, Indiana, to Boone County, Kentucky.
  • An EF2 “significant” tornado that traveled just over 5 miles from Franklin County, Indiana, to Butler County, Ohio.

A few other tornadoes have been confirmed outside the Greater Cincinnati region, including an EF2 that traveled 23.6 miles from Scott County, Indiana, to Trimble County, Kentucky; an EF2 that traveled 9 miles across Pike County, Ohio; and one in Grant County, Kentucky, just north of Williamstown.

The weather service said details on the Grant County tornado will be released later on June 20.



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