Kentucky

FCPS student becomes one of the youngest pilots in Kentucky

Published

1 month ago

May 30, 2025

Press Room

FCPS student becomes one of the youngest pilots in Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – A Lexington teenager is taking to the skies this summer as a licensed pilot.

Bryan Station High School rising senior, Griffin Humfleet, is one of the youngest licensed pilots in the state.

He says he never even thought about being a pilot until boredom struck during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I just kind of picked it up and I started loving it,” said Humfleet. “I started buying models and flying in simulators.”

Humfleet spent about a year doubling down on studying, studying for high school classes and flying.

“It can take a few weeks to a few years,” he said.

Humfleet spent about 10 months in flight school at Kentucky Airmotive in Mount Sterling.

“You get something called the flying bug.”

Humfleet says that bug is here to stay now, but believe it or not, he was once scared of flying.

“I’ve been like ‘pilots, I don’t know how they do that. They’re so high up in the air,” said Humfleet.

By facing his fear and hitting 40 hours of flight time, Humfleet passed his private pilot flight test in May.

“There’s definitely points where you feel like giving up, and there’s definitely points where you feel like you’re on top of the world. It was just kind of like ‘I can’t believe I’ve done this. I’m a pilot.’”

Humfleet says he flies a Cessna 172 single-engine airplane that actually weighs less than his car.

“You’ll just get random people coming up to you in the hall saying, ‘When are you taking me up for a flight?’ Or ‘hey, when can we go fly?’”

His focus for the summer and senior year, he said, is to build up flight hours with the goal of one day becoming a commercial pilot.

“I’ll need to fly to my college visits instead of driving to them. It just feels like so free, very free.”

Griffin says his next planned trip is on Sunday. He and his father are going to go out to London to get an aerial view of the tornado damage.

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Kentucky

Kentucky State Police arrest hundreds in Operation Summer Heat 2.0

Published

7 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Press Room

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A statewide drug operation has led to hundreds of arrests, targeting suspected drug networks operating in the commonwealth.

What You Need To Know

Kentucky State Police arrested nearly 200 people and confiscated about $640,000 worth of drugs during Operation Summer Heat 2.0

All 16 KSP posts participated in the operation

The investigation remains active, and more arrests are expected in the coming weeks

Last year, Operation Summer Heat saw 206 people arrested and nearly $685,000 worth of drugs removed from Kentucky streets

On Friday, a news release from Kentucky State Police said the agency’s Operation Summer Heat 2.0 was successful.

“Every Kentuckian should be safe and feel safe, and no Kentucky family should feel the pain of losing a loved one to addiction,” Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said. “Because of the Kentucky State Police, we are accomplishing both of these goals, and we are thankful for the agency’s dedication to every single one of our commonwealth’s communities.”

All 16 KSP posts participated in the operation.

Here’s a look at preliminary results outlined in the news release:

197 arrests and 490 charges issued
The estimated street value of the drugs collected exceeds $640,000
KSP also confiscated 82 firearms, $181,381 in cash, $200,000 worth of stolen property and also recovered a stolen vehicle

Operation Summer Heat 2.0 led to 197 arrests and $640,000 worth of drugs removed from Kentucky streets. All 16 KSP posts participated in the operation. (Kentucky State Police)

“This mission was about more than making arrests, it was about disrupting the criminal enterprises that threatens the safety and health of Kentuckians,” KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said. “I am proud of our personnel, who worked tirelessly to take these dangerous drugs off the streets and who will continue working to keep every community safe.”

The investigation remains active, and more arrests are expected in the coming weeks.

Last year, Operation Summer Heat saw 206 people arrested and nearly $685,000 worth of drugs removed from Kentucky streets.

KSP urges anyone with information about drug activity to contact one of its 16 posts, or submit an anonymous tip on the agency’s website.

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Kentucky

Obituary for Rev. Wayne Mahoney at Madison Chapel

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2025

Press Room

Obituary for Rev. Wayne Mahoney at Madison Chapel

Rev. Gerald Wayne Mahoney, age 87, of Milton, Kentucky entered this life on November 19, 1937 in Trimble County, Kentucky. He was the loving son of the late George Carroll and Sylvia Mae Williams Mahoney. He was a 1956 graduate of Trimble County High School and attended Gods Bible College.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame 2025: Former UK basketball star who won NBA title in class

Published

3 days ago

July 8, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame 2025: Former UK basketball star who won NBA title in class

Two athletes who starred for the Kentucky Wildcats and had lengthy pro careers are part of the 2025 Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame class.

Former UK All-Americans Randall Cobb (football) and Tayshaun Prince (basketball) headline the four-person class that was announced Tuesday by the Louisville Sports Commission.

Louisville native Carole Liedtke — a former University of Louisville gymnast and coach — and Nora Martin Ross, one of the most accomplished female trap shooters in U.S. history, round out the class.

“The KSHOF Class of 2025 honors four exceptional individuals who represent a wide range of sports and occupations — each having made a major impact on sports in the Commonwealth and nationally,” said Greg Fante, president and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission, in a statement. “This year’s inductees have worked diligently to make a difference in their respective areas. And we are proud to celebrate their achievements in Freedom Hall, home of the KSHOF’s official enshrinement gallery.”

The 47th Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame class will be honored on Sept. 23 at Freedom Hall.

Cobb is the SEC and Kentucky football record holder for all-purpose yards in a single season. He also holds the school record for touchdowns (37). He went on to play in the NFL for 13 years, accumulating over 7,600 receiving yards and 54 touchdowns throughout his career.

Liedtke dedicated the majority of her life to gymnastics, with six decades committed to the sport as an athlete, official and coach. She coached three state championship teams at Moore High School. At U of L, she guided the gymnastics program to six collegiate regional championships and appearances in six AIAW Nationals. As a judge at the highest level for 57 years, she earned Brevet status.

In his four-year career with UK, Prince led the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 three times and was named the SEC Player of the Year in 2001. The Detroit Pistons selected the two-time All-American in the 2002 NBA Draft. Prince’s resume includes an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal. He played 14 years in the NBA, accumulating over 11,000 points. Prince is now the vice president of basketball affairs for the Memphis Grizzlies.

In 1991, Ross became the first woman to win a Grand American Championship title. She has won over 230 trapshooting titles in Kentucky, as well as hundreds of regional and national titles. Born in Paris, Ross holds the record for the highest all-around average ever attained by a female shooter.

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.

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