Kentucky
Forum with former USPTO director to explore ‘blueprints for innovation’ in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 2, 2025) — UK Innovate, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) and the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA) — an initiative of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corp. — will host a forum focused on the critical role of intellectual property (IP) in fostering innovation and regional economic development.
The event, Blueprints for Innovation: Intellectual Property in the Bluegrass State, will be 3-5:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at UK’s Gatton Student Center in Ballroom 212A.
The afternoon will feature a range of engaging discussions and presentations, providing valuable insights into the national innovation landscape and the importance of IP.
“For decades, innovative businesses including many in Kentucky have developed and maintained competitive advantage through protection of their technology with IP rights,” said Ian McClure, J.D., UK HealthCare vice president for innovation and UK Research associate vice president for research, innovation and economic impact. “Our ability to compete in fast-evolving technology markets as a region, and globally as a nation, relies significantly in the strength of our IP system, and I look forward to the insights that will be shared by local and national leaders on these important matters right here on our campus.”
The event will include a fireside chat featuring U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who has sponsored bills in Congress to reform the patent system for stronger IP rights, and Andrei Iancu, board co-chair of C4IP, former undersecretary of commerce for intellectual property and the former director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Attendees will hear a national innovation perspective from Frank Cullen, executive director of C4IP.
“We’re excited to join UK Innovate and KYIPA to highlight how IP drives Kentucky’s growing innovation economy — from its thriving manufacturing sector to cutting-edge research at its universities — and supports entrepreneurship and job creation throughout the Bluegrass State,” said Cullen.
The key panel discussion of the event will bring together a group of experts, moderated by McClure, including:
- Mandy Decker, chair of KYIPA and patent attorney with Stites & Harbison
- Jeffery Langer, general counsel of Zoeller Co.
- Terry Samuel, president of Kentucky Science and Technology Corp.
- Raechelle Smalls, director, Invest Blue
- Michael Murray, Spears-Gilbert Associate Professor of Law at the UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law
The forum will conclude with a Q&A session followed by a reception. You can register for the forum and find the full agenda online.
This event is free and open to anyone interested in the intersection of innovation and IP in Kentucky.
About the Council for Innovation Promotion
The Council for Innovation Promotion is a bipartisan coalition dedicated to promoting strong and effective intellectual property rights that drive innovation, boost economic competitiveness and improve lives everywhere.
About Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance
KYIPA, an initiative of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and affiliated with the United States Intellectual Property Alliance, fosters an effective ecosystem and marketplace to facilitate the creation, protection and advancement of intellectual property in Kentucky. By serving as a connecting organization for statewide companies, organizations and innovators, KYIPA helps Kentuckians access, learn about and benefit from IP. Learn more at kyipa.org.
About UK Innovate
UK Innovate at the University of Kentucky drives economic, societal and entrepreneurial growth from research discoveries. Through technology commercialization, healthcare innovations, corporate partnerships, social innovation and economic development, UK Innovate helps researchers and employees across UK Research and UK HealthCare accelerate their ideas into use. By connecting talent, research, corporate partners and community resources, UK Innovate works to move ideas into the world faster, where they can make the greatest societal and economic impact possible. Learn more: www.research.uky.edu/ukinnovate.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Recent heavy rainfall has left soil across the state completely soaked, contributing to localized flooding in some areas.
When rain falls, some water soaks into the ground through a process called percolation.
Soil can only hold a limited amount of water. Once the small air spaces within the soil fill with water, the ground becomes saturated and additional rainfall has nowhere to go.
Soil type plays a role in how quickly water drains.
Much of Kentucky has clay-heavy soil, which is made up of very small, flat particles packed tightly together.
That composition makes it harder for water to move through. In clay soil, water may drain at a rate of only 0.02 to 0.17 inches per hour.
When rainfall comes down faster than the ground can absorb it and water cannot drain into a stream or storm drain quickly enough, it begins to build up.
That buildup is what leads to localized flooding.
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – Cyclosporiasis is a microscopic parasite that can contaminate food and water — is making people sick across several states, including Kentucky.
Dr. Patricia Tellez-Watson said, the illness is caused by Cyclospora cayetanensis and spreads when someone ingests contaminated food or water. “It is an intestinal infection caused by this water-borne, food-borne microscopic parasite,” she said.
Symptoms can include diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.
Tellez-Watson said, cases are often sporadic, but outbreaks can happen — especially during hot, wet months, when the parasite can survive in the environment long enough to become infectious.
Health experts recommend taking extra precautions with food and water. Washing hands and thoroughly rinsing produce before eating or cooking can reduce risk.
Watson also urged people to be cautious with fresh produce, particularly pre-packaged items, and to consider using bottled water.
Officials have confirmed cases in Bowling Green, though it’s unclear how many.
Copyright 2026 WBKO. All rights reserved.
What will Moeller’s Matt Ponatoski bring to Kentucky football, baseball?
Hear what Moeller senior had to say about signing to play football and baseball at the University of Kentucky.
Dual-sport star and Moeller alum Matt Ponatoski’s final decision still awaits, but signs are pointing towards Lexington, KY.
After committing to the University of Kentucky as both a quarterback and pitcher, Ponatoski was selected in the 18th round (No. 542 overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft by the hometown Cincinnati Reds. While Ponatoski was ranked No. 208 on the MLB’s draft board and expected to be selected higher, doubts around whether he intended to go pro this year caused his stock to fall.
Ponatoksi has until the MLB’s signing deadline on July 27 to make a final decision, but the Moeller product has seemingly signaled his intention to stick with the University of Kentucky. He enrolled at the University of Kentucky on Wednesday, July 15, per a Kentucky Sports Radio report, indicating he will join the Wildcats football team in the fall.
The Man of Moeller was just the third player in the history of the Gatorade Player of the Year award to win for two different sports in the same season. Doing so in his junior year, he joined Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss and National Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Joe Mauer.
For Wildcats football, Ponatoski would come in as a four-star quarterback prospect and helped give new head coach Will Stein a top-25 recruiting class in the nation. He threw just one interception in his senior season for the Moeller Crusaders, completing 66% of his passes for 2,395 yards and 28 touchdowns.
For Kentucky baseball, Ponatoski would join up with fellow freshman and former Louisville Trinity pitcher Grayson Willoughby, who won Kentucky Mr. Baseball and withdrew his name from the draft. Willoughby, a top-rated pitching prospect, felt MLB teams were attempting to low-ball him and thus chose to stick with the Wildcats. Ponatoski is fresh from a season leading Moeller to the state championship game, recording a 1.37 ERA on the year.
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