Kentucky
Kentucky lawmakers advance stricter version of anti-DEI bill. Here’s what it would ban
FRANKFORT — Savannah Fernandez Searcy, a senior at the University of Louisville, said part of the reason why she studied abroad is because of a scholarship specifically for the Latino population.
She’s worried those scholarships could now be in jeopardy as Kentucky lawmakers push a bill that would limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at colleges and universities.
Senate Bill 6, also known one of the “anti-DEI” bills in this year’s session, passed out of the House Education Committee Thursday afternoon after over an hour of testimony.
The bill almost unrecognizable from the Senate version of the bill, though, after a House committee substitute.
The Senate’s version of the bill prohibits colleges and universities from requiring students and faculty to “describe the attitude or actions in support of or in opposition to specific ideologies or beliefs” to receive admission, employment, promotions or graduation.
But the House’s committee substitute is a condensed version of House Bill 9, which comes down harder on DEI polices.
The committee substitute, which has not yet been posted online, bans race-based scholarships and defunds DEI offices and officer positions. It also prohibits the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary education from approving degrees that require courses containing “discriminatory concepts.”
The bill could be heard by the full House of Representatives as early as Friday.
As of Thursday morning, Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, said SB 6 sponsor Sen. Mike Wilson didn’t know the changes that had been made to his bill.
Supporters of the bill said it is supposed to promote critical thinking and constructive dialogue and promote intellectual and viewpoint diversity.
Rep. Jennifer Decker, R-Waddy, said that the bill is supposed to hold colleges and universities accountable.
“It would ensure the post-secondary system in Kentucky is held accountable to dismantle systems in Kentucky that have misguided DEI bureaucracies that have cost Kentucky taxpayers an unknown amount, but at least tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars, over the past 13 years — a time period in which our campuses have also experienced a dramatic drop in overall enrollment in students,” Decker said.
Gavin Cooper, a community and leadership development student at the University of Kentucky, said he supported the bill because he believes it will protect academic freedom.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have professors that truly push the bounds of debate in our classrooms, but I know from students and professors with which I’ve talked that is not the case across campus” Cooper said. “No one on campus should feel fear that they will be punished for their thoughts in the classroom.”
Kentucky is following a part of a larger trend of conservative states striking down DEI policies at colleges and universities. More recently, Florida banned its colleges and universities from using state and federal funds for the programs.
In an opinion issued on Thursday, the Kentucky Attorney General said public universities that have certain DEI policies violate the U.S. Constitution and the Civil Rights Act.
Attorney General Russell Coleman said in the opinion that it’s unconstitutional to use underrepresented minorities as a metric for funding college.
The legislation lacks support, though, from some Kentucky colleges and universities.
University of Kentucky’s president took a rare step and spoke out against the bills that curb DEI inclusion efforts on campus. Meanwhile, the University of Louisville released a statement in support of DEI programs. Both institutions have a dedicated office for DEI initiatives and program offerings.
Fernandez Searcy said supporters of the bill misunderstand DEI.
“It’s both upsetting and also infuriating to me personally, because I think DEI, especially in Kentucky, has become synonymous with discriminatory, and this idea of whatever people think reverse racism may be,” Fernandez Searcy said. “But, in actuality, it’s about lifting up these underrepresented groups, empowering them and making sure that they have access to the same opportunities that the entire student body has.”
During the education committee hearing, other critics of the bill said it will bring unintended consequences for minority students.
Travis Powell, vice president and general counsel for the Council of Postsecondary Education, said the council opposes the bill because it could potentially hurt recruitment and support of underrepresented students at colleges and universities.
“We simply can’t afford to leave anybody behind at any of our campuses, and we’ll do everything we can in order to help them be successful,” Powell said. “We fear that this legislation may limit that in some form or fashion, even if those resource centers still exist.”
Felicia Nu’Man, director of public policy for policy and justice for the Louisville Urban League, said the bill will claw back on progress that’s been made in Kentucky and make students less educated and competitive compared to peers at other universities.
The bill passed out of committee on a 13-3 vote. Jackson and Rep. Scott Lewis, R-Hartford, passed on voting.
Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski.
Top headlines of the week, May 8 2026
Here are some stories you may have missed this week in central Ohio.
Authorities said a body recovered May 4 from the Ohio River in northeast Kentucky has been identified as a Columbus man, Dispatch news partner NBC4/WMCH-TV reported.
Lewis County Sheriff Johnny Bivens said the body has been identified as Jason D. Frisbie, 38, of Columbus. Bivens said authorities in Kentucky worked with Ohio officials to identify Frisbie this week.
Bivens said Lewis County took a call around 4:30 p.m. May 4 about a body in the river in Vanceburg, Kentucky, a few miles south of Ohio’s Shawnee State Park. Bivens said responding agencies took the body to the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office.
Lewis County authorities asked for public help identifying the body. On May 9, Bivens confirmed Frisbie’s identity after working with Ohio officials and local responders.
Bivens said the death remains under investigation, and authorities did not offer information about a suspected cause.
Kentucky
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped Friday evening from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt, police said.
The Morehead Police Department warned the surrounding community that two inmates had “walked away” from the Rowan County Detention Center.
Investigators said multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for the escapees, with Kentucky State Police leading the investigation.
“These inmates should be considered dangerous,” police said, warning the community not to approach anyone suspicious or unfamiliar.
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Two inmates described as “dangerous” escaped from a Kentucky detention center, prompting a multi-agency manhunt. (Morehead Police Department)
One of the inmates was identified as Michael Fogleman, 29, who is described as 6 feet tall and 188 pounds.
He has short or closely shaved hair and a short beard along his jawline and chin, according to police.
The second inmate was identified as James Smallwood, 52, who is listed at 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 215 pounds.
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Michael Fogleman, 29, is one of two inmates who escaped from a Kentucky detention center, police said. (Morehead Police Department)
He is described as having a medium to stocky build with gray facial hair around the mouth and chin area.
Smallwood was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans and possibly a hat, police said.
James Smallwood, 52, is one of two inmates on the run after escaping from a Kentucky jail, authorities said. (Morehead Police Department)
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and call 911 immediately if they see anything suspicious or have information about the escapees.
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Law enforcement agencies are searching for two escaped inmates in Kentucky, authorities said. (Silas Walker/Lexington Herald-Leader/Tribune News Service)
Investigators said they will provide more information as it becomes available.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Kentucky State Police and Rowan County Detention Center for comment.
The Kentucky high school 2026 outdoor track and field season has been exceptional, especially the girls competition.
In particular, the sprints and horizontal jumps.
Long Jump Leaders Set the Pace
First, the long jump.
Christian Educational Consortium’s Jade Hartlage, a rising superstar of track and field in its totality, has the state’s leading jump, 19feet, 9 inches, set March 26. She is partially homeschooled and not eligible for in KHSAA postseason.
Hartlage’s mark is followed by Simon Kenton’s Alexis Howard (19-0, March 26). Howard is another standout athlete. She was selected as a 2025 All-State Honorable Mention in soccer. Howard won the 3A indoor title in early March, recording a mark of 18-7 1/4.
Howard, Svidal Among Top Contenders
Walden School senior Natalie Svidal sailed to an 18-4 1/2 mark at the Walden Small School Championships May 5. That ties her for third in the state with Taleigha Nash of Great Crossing High School.
Triple Jump Competition Tightens
In the triple jump, Howard is atop the performance list. She leapt 40-5, April 25.
However, Svidal is close. She recorded 40-2 1/4 this past week.
Multi-Sport Stars Making Impact
Teigh Yeast, yet another standout athlete, who helped George Rogers Clark win a state basketball title in March and is a Robert Morris University basketball commit, logged a 40-0 1/2 jump April 21. Yeast was last season’s 3A champion at 39-5.25.
How Kentucky Stacks Up Nationally
Perspective and context need to be applied here. Here’s how Kentucky compares nationally.
National Benchmarks Set the Bar
Parker Coes of Morton Ranch High School (Katy, Texas) has surpassed 21 feet twice in 2026. Abigail Mecklenburg of Linn-Mar High School (Marion, Iowa) is approaching the 21-foot threshold.
Coes’ marks were achieved in the early indoor season. The Texan has jumped 20-10 1/2 outdoors (April 3) but her last mark was 18-11 3/4, May 2.
Mecklenburg is yet to replicate her indoor marks outdoors.
The top outdoor jump so far in 2026 is 42-7.5, set by Daniela Hughes of Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California).
A significant challenge for the Bluegrass jumpers to surpass. But if there is a season for top-10 national rankings or records.
State Records Within Reach
With that said, the Kentucky state records are potentially breakable in the next two weeks. The current records are 20-4 (Maxine Graham, Fleming County High School, 1975) and 41-7 (Sophie Galloway, Marshall County High School, 2021).
Each has the speed and explosiveness to challenge those marks.
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