Kentucky
Kentucky Summer Food Service Program increases meals provided in 2024 and celebrates Summer Hunger Hero
Cathy Gallagher (middle) was celebrated as one of the 2024 Summer Hunger Heroes during an event July 18 at Frankfort High School (Frankfort Independent). From left to right: John Cain, director of Feeding Kentucky; Ashley Roudebush with No Kid Hungry; Cathy Callagher, KDE Summer Food Service Program manager; Melissa McDonald, executive director for Feeding Kentucky; and Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher. Photo by Crystal Sicard, Kentucky Department of Education, July 18, 2024
(FRANKFORT, KY) –The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), No Kid Hungry and Feeding Kentucky came together to recognize the work of the Summer Hunger Heroes and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) at Frankfort High School (Frankfort Independent) on July 18.
In June, No Kid Hungry announced 10 Summer Hunger Heroes for their outstanding commitment to children’s summer hunger relief. This includes expanding summer meals in rural communities and helping set the new Summer EBT program in motion.
One of the honorees was Cathy Gallagher, manager of the Summer Food Service Program at KDE. She works to provide support and resources for the staff behind the scenes who make the summer meals happen for Kentucky students.
“I’m very honored to receive this award from No Kid Hungry. In Kentucky, our goal is to ensure that a summer meal opportunity is provided for every child in Kentucky in need of one,” said Gallagher.
SFSP, administered through the KDE, has served more than 3.9 million meals in May and June of 2024, a 51.65% increase in meals served compared to the same two months in 2023. KDE works closely with these programs as they are an advocacy organization working to combat food insecurity.
“Cathy and her team have created a culture of ‘yes’ for Kentucky summer sponsors and the positive ripple effects are felt across the Commonwealth,” said Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher.
Gallagher was nominated by Feeding Kentucky, who said she is an unwavering supporter of Kentucky kids and their families and is the ultimate cheerleader for the people behind the scenes who make summer meals happen for kids.
“We know we can’t end hunger alone and are grateful to partner with Cathy Gallagher and her team at the Kentucky Department of Education,” said Melissa McDonald, executive director of Feeding Kentucky. “Dedicated folks like this help ensure that every child’s summer is filled with the nourishment they deserve.”
Chuck Scofield, executive vice president of No Kid Hungry, said the organization is proud to honor Gallagher.
“It is through the energy and commitment of heroes like Cathy Gallagher that the promise of No Kid Hungry can become a reality. Hunger is a solvable problem, but it is through action that transformation takes place – and Cathy is making that happen,” said Chuck Scofield. “Her efforts to ensure that Kentucky’s kids get the food they need to grow up healthy and thrive are exceptional. Kentucky’s children couldn’t ask for a better champion.”
Summer Food Service Program sites like the one at Frankfort High School (Frankfort Independent) provide thousands of meals to Kentucky children in the summer. Photo by Crystal Sicard, Kentucky Department of Education, July 18, 2024
KDE partners with more than 170 school districts and community organizations to offer nutritious meals, recreational fun and educational activities while school is out of session at more than 2,000 sites across the Commonwealth. Meals are provided to children 18 and under.
“Unfortunately, some students may find it difficult to get a nutritious and healthy meal during the summer months,” said Fletcher. “Having these programs in place is highly important to connect children with the meals they need while school is out.”
Frankfort High School serves about 14,000 meals weekly with the Summer Food Service Program.
With recent congressional changes to the SFSP, Kentucky’s program operators are offering more ways than ever before to reach kids through group meal sites for children and to-go and delivered meals in rural communities.
The average daily attendance at feeding sites also increased: more than 25,000 people were served daily in May and more than 121,000 people were served per day in June, marking increases of 33.67% in May and 27.14% in June. The number of sites offering meals also has increased by nearly 7% from 2023. The meals include breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
“Recent federal program regulation changes provided an opportunity to reach more children with summer meals,” said Lauren Moore, director of the Division of School and Community Nutrition at KDE. “Cathy has led our summer team and dedicated sponsors across the state to maximize this opportunity for Kentucky’s children.”
See Triple Crown winners in Kentucky Derby history
Take a look at the 13 elite thoroughbreds who have claimed the ultimate prize in horse racing: the Triple Crown.
Intrepido is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2026 Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September.
The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 25. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 2.
Intrepido will enter the Kentucky Derby off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4. He currently ranks 17th on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 38.
Buy tickets here for Kentucky Derby 152
Color: Bay.
Bred in: Kentucky.
Sire: Maximus Mischief.
Dam: Overly Indulgent, by Pleasantly Perfect.
Price tag: $385,000 at 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Owners: Dutch Girl Holdings (Michele Arthur); Irving Ventures (Ruben Isla). First Derby for both.
Trainer: Jeff Mullins. He’s 0 for 4 in the Derby, best finish with Buzzards Bay (fifth) in 2005.
Jockey: Hector Berrios. First Derby.
Record: 2-1-0 in six starts.
Career earnings: $342,800.
Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 38 (No. 17).
Last race: Fourth in Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
Running style: Has displayed early speed but raced off pace in Santa Anita Derby.
Notes: Intrepido has done all of his racing in California, winning as a 2-year old at Del Mar and Santa Anita. This year, he finished second in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis before heading to the Santa Anita Derby. … Mullins is in the Derby for the first time since 2005 but had the morning-line favorite in 2009 with I Want Revenge. He was scratched the morning of the race because of an ankle injury. … Intrepido is a ridgling, which means he has at least one undescended testicle.
What they’re saying: “I didn’t (expect that),” Mullins said after Intrepido worked a quick 47.4 seconds for four furlongs on April 19 at Santa Anita Park. “But we often get what we don’t expect.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
Kentucky
Northern Kentucky Education Council honors NKY educators with 2026 Excellence in Education Awards
Sadiqa Reynolds was removed from the University of Louisville board of trustees last week, as the Kentucky Senate did not confirm her appointment before they adjourned the 2026 legislative session.
Reynolds, the former president of the Louisville Urban League, was appointed to a six-year term on the board last April by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.
Under state law, gubernatorial appointees to boards must be confirmed by the state Senate during the subsequent legislative session in order to stay in that position. While the Republican supermajority filed and passed more than 50 resolutions to confirm appointees, none were filed to confirm Reynolds.
Reynolds told Kentucky Public Radio this week that she was not given any reason for why the Senate failed to confirm her, but suspected Republicans wanted her out due to her open criticism of the attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in education by President Donald Trump and the legislature.
“Attacks on education are attacks on our democracy,” Reynolds said. “There is no honor in following the lead of Kentucky Republicans when they are hellbent on destroying any gains we have made in this country.”
Reynolds added that it was “a badge of honor” to be rejected by Senate Republicans.
“Fascists refused to confirm me,” she said. “One little woman with one voice. I have never felt more powerful.”
Asked why Republican leadership did not confirm Reynolds, a Senate GOP spokesperson replied that “there was no resolution filed by a Democrat or Republican for the Senate to consider.”
Republican senators — who make up 84% of the chamber — filed all of the 50-plus resolutions to confirm Beshear appointees. Only one Senate bill filed by a Democrat was passed into law this session.
Senate Democrats did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the chamber not confirming Reynolds.
Scottie Ellis, the spokesperson for Gov. Beshear, replied in a statement that Reynolds “is an accomplished leader and University of Louisville alumna who cares about the direction of the school and served on its Board of Trustees with pride and integrity. Her removal is the latest politically motivated move by the Republican-led General Assembly, who are ultimately hurting UofL and its students with this baseless action.”
Asked to comment on Reynolds’ removal from the board of trustees, U of L spokesman John Karman said it was “not our decision,” adding that “the university is appreciative of Trustee Reynolds for her service and grateful for her contributions as a member of the Board of Trustees.”
Reynolds was critical not just of the Trump administration’s actions targeting DEI initiatives, but legislation passed into law by the Kentucky General Assembly in 2025 to ban all DEI initiatives at public colleges. She added that she pushed the university not to “overcomply” with such efforts and challenge them legally, or “at least explain the impact of compliance to the legislators and to the public.”
“People are so afraid to ask questions and challenge them, and I was not afraid,” she said. “Republicans have heard what I said and didn’t like it.”
Reynolds was not the only Beshear appointee to not be confirmed by the Senate. Though Republicans filed a resolution to confirm Michael Abell to the Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission, they did not vote on it before the legislature adjourned.
Responding to Abell’s removal last week, Ellis said the Senate GOP “once again refused to confirm a commissioner nominated by the Kentucky sportsmen and appointed by the Governor. This is now the eighth time they have done so. Kentuckians should be very worried about the operations at Fish & Wildlife.”
Reynolds was formerly a judge and top aide to former Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, until she was named CEO of the Louisville Urban League in 2015. She left that position in 2022 to become CEO of the Perception Institute, a New York City think tank that counters bias and discrimination. Reynolds stepped down from that position last fall to focus fully on the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, a West End sports complex she pushed for while at the Urban League.
The Louisville Urban League president that succeeded Reynolds in 2022 was fired after four months, then filed a lawsuit against the nonprofit alleging she was wrongfully terminated for airing concerns about its finances and allegations of conflicts of interest involving the sports complex. A mistrial was declared in that case, and a new trial was granted last month.
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