Kentucky
Adou Thiero shares goodbye message with Kentucky and BBN
Adou Thiero didn’t know what he wanted once his sophomore season at Kentucky wrapped up with a first-round loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament. John Calipari‘s departure to Arkansas hadn’t happened yet, but he knew a fresh start could be ideal for all parties involved — particularly for himself. He hit the portal on March 28, the first Wildcat to make a decision on his future. Calipari entered the coaching portal just over a week later on April 7.
Thiero calls that spring period a lonely time, one that had him fighting off the clutter while figuring out what was best for his future. He didn’t know who he could trust with so many people pulling him in different directions.
“It was real — I don’t know. I don’t want it to actually mean lonely, but it was kind of like that,” he told KSR at SEC Media Day. “I was trying to figure everything out with a whole bunch of outside noise. I was trying to cut that out, just trying to do what’s best for me.”
It took a week for the portal earthquake he was living in to calm down with potential options starting to emerge. He cut his list down to five schools: North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Indiana and, yes, Arkansas and Kentucky. The athletic forward, now listed at 6-8, 220 pounds, spoke with first-year coach Mark Pope to discuss a potential return to Lexington. Then Coach Cal set up a meeting in Kentucky, hoping to get back on the same page with his former three-star diamond in the rough.
Then Calipari met with him back home in Pennsylvania, followed by an official visit to Fayetteville. And a commitment.
“I talked to him while I was in Kentucky, went home, had a conversation when I was at home, and he talked to my parents too. That made them more comfortable,” he said, adding that the follow-up trip sealed the deal.
But how does one go from wanting to explore his options away from Coach Cal at Kentucky before joining him at Arkansas? Thiero felt the grass wasn’t always greener on the other side.
“I had to realize he helped me become the player I was from my freshman to sophomore year,” he said. “He helped me make that big jump and I was already comfortable with the whole staff and everything. It was like, why go somewhere new with people you don’t know rather than being with someone you’ve known your whole life? And they’re a Hall of Fame coach on top of it.”
Then came the next steps, getting used to his new home where “everything was just grinding from there, getting in the gym, getting better, getting to know everybody on the team with the facility, the university, just everything. It was about meeting new people and just being comfortable with the area.”
How quickly did he get used to wearing red?
“When I first got there, everything was different, seeing a whole bunch of red going from seeing a whole bunch of blue,” Thiero said. “But I like the color red, too [laughs].”
It was certainly an adjustment, but having two former teammates — beyond the handful of coaches and staffers — with him in Fayetteville helped soften the landing. Zvonimir Ivisic and DJ Wagner are navigating the same things he is, just as the rookies who originally committed to play for Calipari at Kentucky are, to a lesser extent.
“That makes it better because whenever I ask questions, we’re all in the same boat,” Thiero said. “We’re all confused together. We’re all figuring it out together and that helps us grow as a team, figuring out everything we have to do.”
How are the familiar faces doing in Fayetteville?
“Z, he’s getting a lot more comfortable. Last season, he wasn’t able to start until midway through the season. Now he has the same amount of time as everyone else in the country. That’s gonna be really good for him, I’m pushing him every day,” the former Wildcat added. “DJ, he’s getting better. He’s already a phenomenal player and a leader for us on the floor. That’s our point guard, he talks, everything. Defensively, he’s helped Boogie (Fland) out a lot.”
That’s the next chapter in his life and basketball career, turning the page on his two years in Lexington as a Wildcat. When reflecting on that part of his journey and the impact that time made on who he is today, Thiero struggled through his words, choked up as the memories came flooding back. He picked the Alabama home win where the Cats beat the Tide at their own game en route to a 117-95 blowout as his favorite.
“That was a good game, very energetic,” he said. “Crowd was into it, our whole team was into it. It was a great game.”
That’s one of many, though. It’s a period of his life he’ll always cherish.
“It was a great experience. It was something I wanted to do ever since I was a kid, playing at the University of Kentucky,” he told KSR. “Being able to live out that dream was a real blessing. I’m just grateful for it, grateful for all of BBN. Thank you for all of your support. It was… dang. It’s real — man, I forgot the word. I appreciate it. Thank you.”
What will it be like being on the opposing bench on February 1? He actually feels he has an advantage coming into the road matchup, but the emotions are going to get to him either way.
“For me, I don’t think it’s gonna be like enemy territory. I’ve got a lot of home games on there,” he added. “I’ll probably have the most home games on that court, so I’ll just be out there letting my game do the talking for me. The emotions will definitely come out for that game, for sure.”
13 things more likely to happen than winning the Powerball jackpot
Hoping to win the Powerball jackpot? Here are 13 things more likely to happen than becoming an instant millionaire.
The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Wednesday, June 3, 2026 winning numbers for each game.
Cash Ball
06-07-14-21, Cash Ball: 11
Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
Evening: 7-0-9
Midday: 8-9-3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 4
Evening: 2-2-9-3
Midday: 7-8-6-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball
14-16-38-55-64, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Powerball Double Play
26-28-31-56-64, Powerball: 13
Millionaire for Life
04-13-32-51-55, Bonus: 04
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.
Kentucky
Fayette County school board chair, KEA sue to block Kentucky law that would oust current members
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX NEWS) — Fayette County Board of Education Chair Tyler Murphy and the Kentucky Education Association have filed a lawsuit challenging a newly enacted Kentucky law that would overhaul the governance structure of Fayette County Public Schools and force all current board members out of office at the end of 2026.
The lawsuit names the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Fayette County Board of Elections and Fayette County election officials as defendants.
At the center of the legal challenge is Senate Bill 4, which lawmakers passed over Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto earlier this year.
Under the law, the seven-member Fayette County Board of Education would be reduced to five district-based seats, the lawsuit reads. The terms of all current board members would end Dec. 31, 2026, and new elections would be held for the restructured board.
The lawsuit argues the law is unconstitutional and asks the court to block its implementation, including any election-related actions tied to the measure.
Court filings contend the legislation unlawfully targets a single school district and interferes with the terms of duly elected local officials. Plaintiffs also argue the law violates provisions of the Kentucky Constitution governing local elections and public officeholders.
Attorneys included exhibits detailing criticism of Murphy and Fayette County Public Schools leadership from state lawmakers, including a petition seeking Murphy’s removal and a letter from state Sen. Chris McDaniel calling for the resignations of Murphy and Superintendent Demetrus Liggins.
The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the law is invalid and requests expedited review from the court due to upcoming election deadlines.
No hearing date had been announced as of Wednesday.
The lawsuit comes as Fayette County Public Schools continues to face scrutiny over budgeting decisions, district spending and governance issues that have drawn attention from state lawmakers over the past year.
In a statement, Representative Matt Lockett criticized Murphy as he highlighted what he stated are district failures under Murphy.
“This lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the disaster that Fayette County Public Schools is under Tyler Murphy’s leadership as board chair. Under his watch, the district has spiraled into a financial crisis so severe that it is now seeking to borrow up to $110 million simply to keep the lights on and make it through the school year. Students have been failed. Families have been failed. Teachers and staff have been failed. Taxpayers have been failed. And the Lexington community has been left paying the price for years of mismanagement and poor oversight.
Rather than taking responsibility for the district’s financial failures and focusing on what is best for students, he has chosen to file a lawsuit challenging a law that was duly passed by the General Assembly and enacted through the constitutional process. He may be emboldened by recent rulings by activist judges, but there are no legitimate grounds for overturning a duly enacted statute simply because you can’t do the right thing by this community. The General Assembly has both the authority and the responsibility to establish standards for public offices and governance structures across the Commonwealth.
At a time when Fayette County schools are facing unprecedented financial turmoil, the focus should be on accountability, transparency, and fixing the problems that have brought the district to this point. The only filing Fayette County taxpayers should be expecting from Mr. Murphy is his resignation.”
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has been causing fear around the world, and a Lexington doctor is preparing in the event a case is found in Kentucky.
According to the CDC, there have been 49 deaths and over 300 confirmed cases across the two countries, with more suspected cases still being investigated.
UK Healthcare is working to become a Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Center through the National Special Pathogen System, which would allow the facility to treat Ebola patients in-house.
Dr. Nicholas Van Sickels, an infectious disease physician at UK Healthcare, said the current outbreak is serious, but Kentucky residents are not at significant risk.
“Ebola scares people just because of the mortality, the death rate, associated with it and some of the long term consequences when you do survive. Fortunately, the strain that we’re seeing in Eastern (Democratic Republic of Congo) is thought to be not as deadly, but either way it’s a very serious disease. It carries a lot of stigma and fear,” Van Sickels said.
Here in Kentucky, however, is a very safe environment, Dr. Van Sickels said.
Currently, Dr. Van Sickels says UK Healthcare operates as an assessment hospital, meaning it can evaluate patients with symptoms who have traveled to regions with active outbreaks, coordinate testing with the state, and transfer patients to higher-level care centers if needed.
Once the Level 2 designation is complete, UK Healthcare will be the only facility in Kentucky with that capability.
“We’re the only facility in Kentucky that is able to have a level 2 designation once we finish this grant award and get approved,” Dr. Van Sickels said.
In January 2026, UK Healthcare received a grant from the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC), the governing body of the National Special Pathogen System.
“It’s approximately half a million dollars to transform our institution,” Van Sickels said.
The funding has been used to run simulation drills in coordination with Lexington Fire, EMS, and the state health department. The grant also enabled UK Healthcare to upgrade its protective outerwear, with all seam points covered to provide additional protection. Ebola is transmitted through bodily fluids.
During a recent site visit and simulation, evaluators identified vulnerabilities in the facility’s previous protective suits.
“When we had our site visit and had our stimulation, for example, they said that the seams that we had on our old suits, you could pull and stretch, and that they were rather porous,” Van Sickels said.
Van Sickels had been working on the preparedness project since the beginning of the year.
Citing lessons learned from the 2014 West Africa Ebola epidemic, which spread to the U.S. and resulted in 4 cases and 1 death.
“Ebola 2014 taught a lot of hospitals in the US about high consequence infections, established what is now NETEC, the educating body for our country, uh, about high consequence pathogens,” Van Sickels said.
“We’re constantly wanting to push preparedness, uh, because that is the key to success in evading further outbreaks,” Van Sickels said.
UK Healthcare expects to complete its Level 2 Special Pathogen Treatment Center designation by the end of summer.
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