Kentucky
Kentucky Senate Bill proposes major changes to school board structure
FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) -A new bill in the Kentucky legislature would fundamentally change how school boards are structured across the state, tying the number of board members directly to student enrollment numbers.
Senate Bill 202, proposed by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, (R) of Smithfield would require the Kentucky Board of Education to determine the necessary number of members for each school board based on average daily enrollment over the previous three years. The changes would take effect beginning in 2033.
Board sizes would vary by enrollment
Under the proposed legislation, districts would have different numbers of board members based on their size:
- Districts with 15,000 students or fewer would have five board members
- Districts with 15,001 to 30,000 students would have seven members
- Districts with 30,001 to 45,000 students would have nine members
- Districts with 45,001 to 60,000 students would have 11 members
- Districts with 60,001 to 75,000 students would have 13 members
- Districts with more than 75,001 students would have 15 members
The Kentucky Board of Education would make these determinations in the first four months of 2033 and every 10 years thereafter.
According to the Ky. Department of Education, Fayette County Public Schools had 40,792 students in the 2024-25 school year, so under this bill, the Fayette County Board of Education would increase from five to nine members.
Implementation timeline and process
The bill includes provisions for how the changes would be implemented. If a regular election occurs in the same year the determination is made, additional members would be selected during that election. If no regular election occurs, the additional positions would be considered vacancies and filled at the next regularly scheduled election.
For districts that need to reduce their board size, the reduction would happen by decreasing the number of members up for election at the next scheduled election.
Division requirements remain
County school districts would still need to divide into divisions for election purposes, with members elected from specific geographic areas. Independent school districts would continue electing members at-large.
The legislation requires county school boards to redraw their divisions within 30 days of receiving notice from the state board. The divisions must contain integral voting precincts and be as equal in population as practicable.
Immediate implementation provision
While the regular timeline calls for changes beginning in 2033, the bill includes a provision requiring the Kentucky Board of Education to make initial determinations by December 31, 2026. Districts required to add members would need to make division changes within 30 days, with new positions filled as appointed vacancies until the next regular election.
The bill also removes specific references to Jefferson County’s seven-member board structure that was established after the merger of Louisville city and county school systems.
Copyright 2026 WKYT. All rights reserved.
Kentucky
Body found in Ohio River in northeast Kentucky ID’d as Columbus man
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.
Kentucky
Kentucky Girls Jumpers Surge as State Records Come Into Range
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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