Kentucky
Woodford County junior starts role as student representative on the Kentucky Board of Education
FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18 — While most students at Woodford County High School started their first day of school, junior Preston Graham had an excused absence – for good reason. Graham traded the classroom for a meeting room as he joined the Kentucky Board of Education’s first planning session of the school year.
“My job is to represent all of the students, be the student voice that is so crucial to making the best policy decisions possible,” Graham said.
Throughout this school year, Graham will offer insight to the board with his unique, student-minded perspective.
Board member Holly Bloodworth said, “It really gives us an opportunity to hear firsthand information from a student, ‘how might this impact you in your placement? What are other students saying about this?’”
Graham is just the fourth student to take this representative role, and he’s the first from central Kentucky to do so.
“I’m pretty much a board member in every way except voting on policy,” Graham said of his duties. “They don’t necessarily let a 16-year-old vote on decisions that could affect the entirety of the state.”
When Graham speaks, however, the board listens.
“One big surprise was just how much the board is looking to me for advice,” he shared. “They truly care about this position and they’re truly trying to get the most out of this position just like I am.”
Bloodworth added, “When our student representative talks, we all stop, we listen, because we want that to inform what we are doing.”
Sure, Graham skipped his first day of school to be here today, missing classes like AP Calculus and Literature. However, he hopes his position on the board can ultimately lead to positive change for his current classmates and future students.
“I want to help as many people I can in any way that I can,” Graham said, “whether that be through creating new policy, changing old policy, amending it, or just providing my insight.”
“I look at him and I know why I’m on this board of education,” said Bloodworth. “It’s because I want to make education better for students like him.”
Graham goes back to class on Friday, but he will serve out his term on the board through June 30, 2025.
A wide receiver from Belle Glade, Florida, Gilmore totaled 28 receptions for 313 yards and one touchdown for the Wildcats during the 2025 season. The 6-foot-1 sophomore has had a very interesting offseason as he entered the portal, flipped a commitment, and is now back in Lexington.
After the 2025 season, Gilmore committed to Louisville when he entered the transfer portal, then flipped his commitment to Baylor, and ultimately signed with the Bears. To end Gilmore’s portal saga, he’s now back in a familiar place with the Wildcats.
When the 2026 season begins, Gilmore will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Gilmore had a solid sophomore campaign with the Wildcats, appearing in all 12 games. His best game of the season came in the late-season loss against Vanderbilt. He tallied six catches for 55 yards in the game.
With Kentucky losing most of its wide receiver production from last season, this is a significant pickup, and it won’t be surprising if Gilmore is back in the starting lineup this fall.
As for the Aggies, the only name on the report is Mackenzie Mgbako, a one-time Kentucky target who remains out for the season after undergoing foot surgery. Texas A&M head coach Bucky McMilan said today that Mgbako will return next season, which would be a big boost for the Aggies before the offseason begins.
Kentucky vs. Texas A&M Injury Report
COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – The Licking River Bridge was demolished Monday morning in a controlled blast, clearing the way for a replacement structure.
Authorities established a 1,000-foot safety perimeter, closed nearby roads and asked residents to shelter in place before the demolition. The bridge collapsed within seconds of the blast.
“Today we say goodbye to a bridge that has served Kentuckians for nearly a century and we make room for something new. A signature bridge that is safer, stronger and we make room for something new,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “This region, like the rest of the commonwealth, is evolving, it is booming, it’s economy growing every day. What we’re doing together is building our new Kentucky home.”
The Licking River Bridge is now history after crews brought it down with a controlled demolition Monday morning. (WKRC)
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Crews will begin construction on the new bridge after debris removal is complete. The replacement bridge is expected to open in the summer of 2028.
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