Kentucky
Local police warn of flyers urging immigrants to ‘leave now’ and ‘avoid deportation’
A Ku Klux Klan group – advertising a Maysville, Kentucky, “national office” and chapters in Ohio, Kentucky and three other states – is distributing election-themed literature in Northern Kentucky.
The Ludlow Police Department posted a copy of a flyer on its Facebook page on Monday afternoon, with the headline “Leave Now. Avoid Deportation.”
“We are aware and have already taken one report for this disturbing and disgusting propaganda that is being passed around our community,” the police post reads. “This hateful garbage has been turning up in other cities as well.”
Officials in Fort Wright and Bellevue said in social media posts on Monday that such flyers have also been located in their communities.
“While other communities have also been targeted with this type of material in the past, to our knowledge, this is the first time our community has had this type of disgusting material distributed,” Fort Wright Mayor Dave Hatter said in a statement.
“Council, Staff, and I are outraged and dismayed that this has occurred in our community. It is especially appalling that it happened on Dr. Martin Luther King Day,” Hatter added.
The flyers hit just as Donald Trump took office on Monday, having earlier promised “mass deportations” of persons in the United States without legal immigration status.
Police to seek criminal charges for ‘despicable flyers’
According to Ludlow Police Lt. Greg Eastham, the Ludlow Police Department received a call from a Deverill Street resident just after 10 a.m. Monday about what he called “these despicable flyers.”
In a press release, Ludlow officials called the flyers “racist propaganda” adding that they “do not support nor condone this hateful garbage.”
“If we can identify the responsible parties, we will seek criminal charges against them,” the press release said. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, has identified 1,430 such groups across the country, including several dozen in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
The police release also acknowledged that unless the flyers cross “the threshold of a criminal matter, they are still protected under the First Amendment.”
‘Report them all,’ flyer advises
The flyer features an image of Uncle Sam, kicking a retreating family of four. In his hand, the Uncle Sam figure holds a “proclamation” with the words “mass deportation in 2025” and “report them all.”
Under the image, the Trinity White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan offers applications and memberships for $1. It lists “realms” in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Tennessee, with individual phone numbers and an invitation to “call the nearest realm for more information.”
The Ohio number goes directly to voice mail. A recording, in a male voice, says “In January, the world’s going to change for a lot of people, especially the immigrants in Springfield, Ohio.” (Springfield found itself in the national spotlight last fall as false rumors spread that residents of Haitian descent were eating pets.)
“But nothing’s going to change for the Ku Klux Klan and the Trinity White Knights,” the recording continues. “We will always secure the existence of our people and future for white children.”
The Kentucky number also goes to voice mail.
“Come stand with us and help fight against illegal immigration, homosexuality and every other form of wickedness and lawlessness,” the recording on that line says. “We hope to hear from you soon. You have a great white day of white power.”
The same flyer has turned up in several Indiana communities, according to multiple news outlets.
Ludlow police ask residents with information about who is disseminating the flyers to call the department at 859-261-8186.
Power forward has been one of the positions that Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats have to fill with Andrija Jelavic and Mo Dioubate gone. The two players that Pope has had on campus at the power forward position are Syracuse’s Donnie Freeman and Colorado’s Sebastian Rancik. Both are really good players, but Freeman is better by a wide margin.
It has felt that entire time that Kentucky wanted Rancik as the backup to Freeman or a backup plan if they weren’t able to land Freeman. Well, Rancik just picked Florida State, so perhaps this is a sign that the Wildcats will land Freeman.
Big Blue Nation was torn on Rancik, but I do believe he would have been a really solid backup power forward. I personally didn’t want him to be the starting four for this team. It is clear that he wanted to go somewhere where he could be the guy at the four, so he will be heading to the ACC to play for FSU.
Now that Kentucky has missed on Rancik, it is very important that the Wildcats land Freeman soon. The problem with waiting on some of these players is the fact that the portal isn’t slowing down. If Pope targets two power forwards and misses on both of them, most of the good fours in the portal will be gone.
There will be some panic in Lexington if the Wildcats are not able to land Freeman, but I do believe the Wildcats are in a good spot to land the elite power forward. From the beginning, Freeman has been my top player for Kentucky in the portal, as he, plus Malachi Moreno, will give the Wildcats an elite frontcourt.
If Pope is able to land Freeman and Tyran Stokes to pair with Zoom Diallo, Alex Wilkins, Moreno, and Kam Williams, this could be the start of a really good team in Lexington. Hopefully, an announcement for where Freeman will transfer comes soon, and hopefully, this will be to play for Pope at Kentucky.
Fans of rival teams will say Pope “whiffed” on Rancik, but if this whiff was because the Wildcats are set to land Freeman soon, then it was more than worth it for Kentucky. If the Wildcats are able to land Freeman, it will officially be time for Big Blue Nation to start getting excited about the 2026-27 season. I expect a decision from Freeman to come within the next day or two.
Rancik would have been a solid backup four in Lexington but Freeman has been the guy from the beggining for this staff so if Kentucky lands him all is well. If the staff misses on Freeman not landing Rancik will look bad.
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Kentucky
Kentucky is poised to land either Donnie Freeman or Sebastian Rancik this weekend, per report
Jones posted on Twitter that “Kentucky will have (absent a major change) either Freeman or Rancik by tomorrow,” while also noting the Wildcats still need to add another shooter and another big to round out the roster.
One of the top targets is Donnie Freeman, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound sophomore forward transferring from Syracuse. Freeman arrived in Lexington on Tuesday night and began his visit on Wednesday before leaving without a commitment. While there was concern he could land at UConn, that visit has since been canceled, leaving Kentucky and St. John’s as the top teams.
Freeman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game last season, while adding nearly a block and a steal per contest. He shot 47.4% from the field but 30.2% from 3-point range across 23 games.
The other option is Sebastian Rancik, a 6-foot-11, 220-pound sophomore forward transferring from Colorado. Rancik visited Kentucky starting Wednesday through Thursday and brings a versatile skill set, averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 33.1% from 3.
Either Freeman or Rancik would provide a significant boost at the power forward position for head coach Mark Pope. Kentucky has already added guards Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins in the portal.
Kentucky football coach Will Stein reflects on new position
Will Stein was officially introduced to fans and media as the head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats, replacing Mark Stoops.
LEXINGTON — Kentucky football had its first spring game under new coach Will Stein at Kroger Field on Saturday.
The offense, in blue jerseys, had its moments. So too the defense, donning white uniforms.
Ultimately, the blue squad earned a 23-18 victory in a game called just after noon because of inclement weather.
Stein admitted he “got emotional” as he charged onto the field prior to kickoff.
“I know it wasn’t a real game, but when I ran on the field, I definitely — man, I felt it,” he said. “It was like a wave running over me. And very, very, just cool.”
While it doesn’t count in the standings, Stein walked away pleased.
“I think we got a lot of really good work,” he said. “That’s the goal of spring is to improve with fundamentals and technique, learn how to practice, learn what winning edges that we need throughout spring to go into summer and fall and prepare the team for play. And we came out of the scrimmage clean. There (were) no injuries, which to me, that’s the biggest win of the day. I could (not) care less about the score.
“If we come out clean, that’s good. The Wildcats won.”
New starting QB Kenny Minchey looked about as expected, with sharp passes evened out by moments of inconsistency. Martels Carter Jr., a defensive back who is lining up at running back this spring, scored a touchdown and had several nice runs.
And the defense forced multiple three-and-outs and also picked off one Minchey pass on a two-point conversion.
This story will be updated.
Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.
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