Kentucky
Louisville officials stress safety precautions for Derby festivities
Kentucky Derby Week 2026’s updated schedule
Churchill Downs announced significant changes for the 152nd Kentucky Derby Week, including the return of Sunday racing and new Opening Day schedule.
Louisville residents and tourists are encouraged to take safety precautions while celebrating the 152nd Kentucky Derby May 2.
During an April 28 news conference, Mayor Craig Greenberg, joined by multiple city officials and Churchill Downs leadership, discussed safety, security, traffic planning and parking ahead of the event. First responding agencies, including Louisville Metro Police and the Louisville Fire Department, will be at the track.
“We have partners from local, state and federal agencies that come together to make the greatest two minutes in sports possible,” Churchill Downs Senior Director of Safety, Security and First Aid Dustin Clem said. “We want everyone to have a safe time while they’re at the track.”
Ahead of the event, Clem encouraged people to look at the Kentucky Derby website for information on parking and routes and download the Churchill Downs app to receive updates throughout the day.
LMPD Assistant Chief Bryan Edelen said officers will be “high visible” as they work across the city to ensure safety and keep traffic moving. Though the department wants residents to have fun, Edelen also emphasized the necessity of following the law and warned against street racing.
“While Churchill Downs is certainly the centerpiece, Derby is in every single neighborhood across this community. So are we,” he said. “If you choose to be reckless, the consequences will be real.”
Following reports of fighting at Kroger’s Fest-a-Ville, Greenberg said the city has “zero-tolerance” for teenagers looking to disrupt the event, and law enforcement is “prepared.”
“All of the Kentucky Derby Festival events [and] all of the events at Churchill Downs are intended to be safe, fun, family-friendly events, and we will not tolerate this type of behavior,” he said. “You will continue to see this, whether it’s a Kentucky Derby Festival event or otherwise. Our entire city deserves to be able to celebrate to enjoy these wonderful events safely.”
LFD will also have first responders throughout the city as well as during Thurby, the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby. Firefighters are tasked with responding to fire alarms and fires, assisting with crowd control and medical emergencies, and identifying hazardous materials.
Fire Chief Brian O’Neill said that the number of responders at the track represents the third largest fire department in Kentucky on those days.
“If you think about 150,000 plus people in one place, if there is an event that happens, we’re not going to be able to get resources in, so we pre-stage everything,” he said.
Louisville Metro Emergency Services Deputy Director Kelly Jones encouraged residents to sign up for LENSAlert to receive emergency notifications. Visitors from out of town can text “Derby” to 67283 to receive notifications during Derby week.
Jones also suggested residents write down where they park their car, understand the prohibited items at the track and bring an extra phone charger.
Though Jones said crime at the track is “very minimal,” he encouraged people to take precautions, including keeping bags zipped to prevent theft. He also said people should “look for things that look out of place” to help prevent human trafficking.
“A young girl that could be inappropriately dressed for her age, someone who looks like they’re being led around by an older person, [or] someone who can’t speak for themselves in a conversation,” Jones said. “If it doesn’t look right to you, there’s a good chance that maybe it’s just not right, so find a first responder.”
Kentucky
Starting professional baseball journey now is ‘Option 1A’ for Kentucky signee Matt Ponatoski
The MLB Draft is just a month away. Numerous Kentucky players will be selected. Shortstop Tyler Bell will likely come off the board in the first round. However, there is one prospect that both Will Stein and Nick Mingione will be watching closely. What will Matt Ponatoski decide? No one really knows.
The Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller quarterback and pitcher sat down with Over-Slot’s Joe Doyle over the weekend to discuss his upcoming draft decision. This two-sport star wants it known that his top goal is to become a professional baseball player sooner rather than later.
“The goal has always been how do I get drafted…It’s what I want to do. I want to be a professional baseball player,” Ponatoski said. “And I don’t know who I need to sell myself to, but I want to be a professional baseball player. That’s been my dream since I was a little kid.’
Matt Ponatoski called his commitment to Kentucky last July “a baseball first decision” with the plan always being to become a Major League Baseball player. Ponatoski said he fell in love with baseball when he was a t-ball player and that passion has not gone away. The football opportunity presented itself late. While a great option, Ponatoski plans on making a baseball-first decision.
“I came on late with the recruiting in football, and now I think it portrays that I want to be a football player. And yes, that’s a great option if I don’t go to the draft,” said Ponatoski. “But I want to be a professional baseball player as fast as possible. That’s where my heart’s been and where it’s always been.”
“Option 1A is to go be a draft pick.”
Matt Ponatoski has been sitting between 92-95 while reaching 96 mph with his fastball this baseball season. Ponatoski says this was accomplished without ever having full-individual instruction from a pitching coach. Ponatoski believes he has a ton of room to improve as a pitcher and that upside will be met once he begin a professional baseball journey.
This has been a long waiting game for Ponatoski, Kentucky football, and Kentucky baseball. A final decision will be made once the draft arrives in July. If Ponatoski likes where he’s drafted and what an organization is financially offering, it sounds like he will jump at the opportunity to begin a minor league career. If that doesn’t occur, there is the fallback option of playing two sports at Kentucky.
Ponatoski currently sounds like a prospect that is ready to make the jump to professional baseball this summer.
The momentum from Ryan Hampton’s commitment on Sunday morning didn’t slow down for Mark Pope!
Later that day, 4-star 2027 point guard Jaxson Davis announced on Instagram that he had received an offer from Kentucky. The 6-foot-1 guard out of Warren Township in Gurnee, Illinois, is ranked No. 42 overall in the 2027 recruiting cycle by 247 Sports and is considered the top prospect in the state of Illinois.
Davis isn’t just some name on a list. He took home his second consecutive Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year award after a standout junior season, and he’s backed it up on the EYBL circuit this spring with MeanStreets, averaging 14.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting nearly 39 percent from three. Some of that production came with Kentucky coaches in the building.
The offer list is crowded: Missouri, Iowa, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and more are all involved, so this one will take time. But one detail worth noting: Among the players Davis says he models his game after is former Kentucky guard Tyrese Maxey.
With Hampton already on board, the Cats are building something in the 2027 class, perhaps the best class Pope has had in Lexington.
LONDON, Ky. (FOX 56) — Three people in Kentucky were killed in a reported murder-suicide Saturday night after a police chase through Knox and Laurel counties.
According to a news release, the Barbourville City Police had been chasing a vehicle around 10:45 p.m. June 6 regarding a report of a possible domestic violence complaint.
Knox County authorities had received the complaint after three people had reportedly left a residence in Barbourville to get something to eat.
Parents of one of the people were concerned and called Knox County dispatch, and police located the vehicle, which allegedly did not stop. Barbourville police chased the vehicle through Knox County into Laurel County. It ended on KY-312 when the vehicle struck another vehicle.
When authorities caught up to the vehicle, officers found the bodies of three people inside the vehicle. They were identified as 21-year-old James Priddy of Bimble, 18-year-old Jadence Ann Marie Hale, and 19-year-old Kira Lila Hope Asher of Lily.
A preliminary investigation suggests Priddy allegedly shot and killed Hale and Asher, then reportedly killed himself.
The Laurel County Sheriff’s Office advised Saturday night that the area on KY-312 between Mill Creek Drive and Hood Road would be closed during the investigation.
The roadway has since reopened.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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