Kentucky

John Calipari is rooting for Mark Pope and Kentucky: “They hired the perfect guy.”

Published

2 years ago

October 15, 2024

John Calipari is rooting for Mark Pope and Kentucky: “They hired the perfect guy.”

Mark Pope has refused to let the transition of power in Lexington be anything but peaceful, raving about the job John Calipari did at Kentucky and embracing the Hall of Fame-sized shoes he has to fill with the Wildcats. His predecessor’s departure to Arkansas may have been polarizing for those on the outside looking in, but for the new guy taking over, he’s happy to admit he’s rooting for Calipari’s success.

Well, outside of their head-to-head battle inside Rupp Arena on February 1, of course.

“You’ll never hear me say a negative word about Coach Cal, because there’s not a lot to say,” Pope said in his first-ever SEC Media Day on Tuesday. “He’s a Hall of Fame coach. As a diehard Kentucky fan and alumnus and former player, I’m grateful for everything, all the incredible things that Cal accomplished at the University of Kentucky.

“And he’s also been a good friend, he’s been a terrific mentor. … We’ll be cheering for him every day like crazy, except for February 1.”

No controversy there. And there won’t be any from Coach Cal, either — no matter the clicks and headlines that’d pull.

When asked about his unique relationship with Pope and his thoughts on the new head coach’s first six months on the job, Calipari said there is no better person to replace him in Lexington than the guy Mitch Barnhart hired back in April. It’s a perfect fit, someone who understands the magnitude of the job.

“I think they hired the perfect guy for that job,” Calipari told KSR at SEC Media Day. “Part of it is because he played there, graduated from there, has a heart for the place and has an idea of what that is. When I walked in, I had Coach (Joe. B) Hall. I had Coach (Tubby) Smith too, but it was Coach Hall. It’s a different place if you’re just walking in, but he’s been there and understands it.”

Calipari hasn’t obsessed over Pope’s every move and the day-to-day at Kentucky since he left — he’s got a lot on his plate, he says — but there is nothing but love in his heart for the place he called home for 15 years.

“He and I have talked. I am fully immersed in what I’m doing. I’m like — you won’t believe this. I’m doing a lot of stuff, and I don’t have time for any of the other stuff, any of the things out there,” Calipari told KSR. “I’ll be rooting for ’em. I want Kentucky (to do well). Come on, man. 15 years. I gave them my heart and soul.”

Like Pope, Calipari will be rooting for his former program to do well — again, on most days.

“You think I want — I want them to do well. Except on what date? (February 1.) OK, that date,” he joked.

Coach Cal has always said he wanted Kentucky to be left in good hands the day he walked away. Looking back six months later, the Hall of Fame coach is confident it is with Mark Pope leading the way.

“He’s a good man and a terrific basketball coach,” Calipari said. “They hired the right guy. They really did.”

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Kentucky

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 3, 2026

Published

20 minutes ago

June 4, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 3, 2026

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.

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Kentucky

Fayette County school board chair, KEA sue to block Kentucky law that would oust current members

Published

11 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

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.”

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Kentucky

UK Healthcare prepares to become Kentucky’s only Level 2 special pathogen treatment center

Published

21 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

UK Healthcare prepares to become Kentucky’s only Level 2 special pathogen treatment center

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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