Kentucky

Standout players from Kentucky’s blowout win against Kentucky Wesleyan

Published

1 year ago

October 24, 2024

Standout players from Kentucky’s blowout win against Kentucky Wesleyan

Kentucky basketball had their first exhibition of the season on Wednesday night, and for the vast majority of fans, it was their first look at the all-new Wildcats squad. There was plenty to like including the incredible ball movement, a lot of threes put up, and a defensive intensity that held Kentucky Wesleyan to just 33% shooting overall and 15% from three-point range.

On offense, Kentucky’s numbers were impressive, and very much so for an offense that emphases a fast pace and non-stop ball movement. The Wildcats shot 63% overall and 50% from three point range. Kentucky shot 21-42 from deep. They also assisted on 32 of their 48 made shots, and just committed 5 turnovers on the night, so they really took care of the ball for how much they passed it.

There were some standouts from the 71-point victory. Here are three players who stood out on Wednesday night.

One of the more exciting storylines from the night, Butler was everywhere, but so much so on the defensive end. It’s crazy to think about, but the fiery guard actually had more steals himself than Kentucky as a team had turnovers. Butler had 6 steals, while the Wildcats had 5 turnovers on the night. Pope was very impressed by it after the game, saying he doesn’t remember a time he has seen that happen with a player. He also added 2 blocks to go along with all of those steals. He’s dangerous on the defensive end, but he was also very effective on offense. He had 11 points and 6 assists to go along with 6 rebounds. A very impressive performance to say the least.

There has been a lot of talk about Oweh’s energy, but you saw that on Wednesday night. He can shoot when he needs to, but the bulky guard has an unmatched knack of attacking the rim on offense, and he showed that skill off to the Big Blue Nation. He did go 2-2 from deep, but it was the paint where he was most effective. He had 18 points on 7-9 overall, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal. He is known for his intense energy, and he put that on display, especially offensively. As a guy known for his defense, it was good to see the encouraging offensive performance from him. Oweh’s energy will provide a huge boost this season.

Robinson is expected to be a star for Kentucky this season, and arguably their best player. He showed signs of a player who is determined to show his skills in the spotlight at a place like Kentucky, someone looking to make the jump to the NBA after this season. He had 19 points and contributed well to Kentucky’s success from deep. He shot 7-12 overall and even 5-9 from three-point range. He also added 3 rebounds to the stat sheet on the night. Robinson will certainly be one of Kentucky’s top go-to scorers when they need a bucket.

There was a lot to like for Kentucky fans in Wednesday’s exhibition, and it was fun to watch Mark Pope’s style of play in full effect with the players together against an actual opponenet and not just against each other. It’s pretty encouraging when thinking about the fact that the Wildcats were without Kerr Kriisa (hamstring), who will provide a swagger and get his teammates involved on the offensive end, while being a really good shooter. Kentucky fans will see them back in action next Tuesday against Minnesota State Mankato in their final exhibition.

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Kentucky

Lexington veteran’s remains found in Indiana park

Published

7 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Lexington veteran’s remains found in Indiana park

CLARKSVILLE, In. (WKYT) — The remains of a Kentucky veteran who was the subject of a Green Alert were found in a park.

The remains of Jyronna Dione Parker, 54, were found March 22 by officers from the Clarksville Police Department. His body was found in Ashland Park on the river’s shoreline.

Jyronna Dione Parker, 54.(Lexington Police Dept.)

In late 2025, a Green Alert was issued for Parker. This alert was cancelled by the Lexington Police department after they determined he was not at risk.

Despite the cancellation of the alert, Parker had been reported missing from Lexington since Oct 17.

What is a Green Alert?

Under Kentucky law, a Green Alert is issued when a veteran at risk goes missing. It’s designed to help first responders and the public locate missing veterans who may be in danger by quickly notifying emergency management agencies, search and rescue teams, and local media outlets.

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Kentucky

Kentucky legislature passes bill shrinking JCPS board to 5 members

Published

19 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky legislature passes bill shrinking JCPS board to 5 members

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A revamped bill unveiled late on the final day to pass legislation in the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly with the ability to later override a veto would significantly alter the makeup of Louisville’s public school board.

The new Senate Bill 4 would cut the number of seats on the Jefferson County Board of Education from seven to five. It includes an emergency clause, meaning it would go into effect immediately if passed — Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, who introduced the new bill in the House, said the legislation includes new district maps to be used when voters head to the ballot box this year but added JCPS would be able to redraw its own maps after that.

The bill passed in the House on a 72-21 vote mostly along party lines, with three Republicans (Rep. Vanessa Grossl, R-Georgetown, Rep. Patrick Flannery, R-Olive Hill, and Rep. Kim Holloway, R-Mayfield) joining Democrats in opposition.

It quickly passed 25-7 in the Senate a few minutes later, with Sen. Brandon Smith, R-Hazard, and Sen. Robin Webb, R-Grayson, joining Democrats in voting no.

A copy of the bill was not immediately available.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris, originally aimed to create a principal leadership and mentorship program. But after changes in the House, new provisions were added that would affect the makeup of boards for large school districts, including Jefferson County Public Schools and Fayette County Public Schools.

SB 4 is one of many education bills introduced this session, several of which have specifically targeted JCPS. Senate Bill 1, also passed on April 1, gives more power to JCPS’s superintendent while requiring the board to focus on long-term strategies.

The bills come as JCPS navigates an ongoing financial crisis, with a $188 million shortfall expected in the next budget. Prior to the revisions, the SB 4 would have required two new members with “expertise in finance” to be appointed by the state treasurer, Republican Mark Metcalf. That provision was removed during deliberations between the House and Senate.

In an interview after the votes, board Vice-Chair James Craig told The Courier Journal a five-member board “has made sense to me for a number of reasons.” It’s in line with every other district in the state, he said, and it can be difficult to find qualified candidates who have the bandwidth in their lives to devote enough effort to do the job right.

“I think given the realities of what the legislature could have done, how other districts are governed and the challenges that we’ve faced, Senate Bill 4 reflects a compromise that should be workable,” Craig said. “… But I have significant concerns about Senate Bill 1 and the way it interacts with Senate Bill 4.”

Lawmakers have listened to concerns he and other education advocates have raised, he said, removing some of the “problematic provisions” that had been floated as ones that could be included in SB 1. But the bill takes power from the elected board, he noted, and gives it to an unelected superintendent — in Louisville’s case, he added, someone who is “new to the city of Louisville in the last year.” JCPS Superintendent Brian Yearwood testified against SB 1 earlier this session in Frankfort.

“In my opinion, voters in the city of Louisville do not want a super-empowered superintendent. They want a democratically elected Board of Education that is accountable to them,” Craig added.

Board members will have a discussion with their attorney about potentially challenging SB 1 in court, he said. A similar bill passed in 2022 was struck down late last year by the state Supreme Court after previously being upheld by the high court.

JCPS leaders and board members have raised concerns about the earlier iteration of SB 4 and the removal of two board positions. Three members of JCPS board — Craig, Chair Corrie Shull and Linda Duncan — are scheduled to be up for reelection in November.

Craig does not plan to run again this year, he added.

“Eight years of intense, uncompensated public service have been fulfilling,” he wrote in a text message. “It is time for me to return to the full time practice of law.”

This story will be updated.

Reach Lucas Aulbach at laulbach@courier-journal.com. Reach reporter Keely Doll at kdoll@courierjournal.com or follow her on X at @keely_doll.

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Kentucky

Final gargoyle returned to its perch atop rehabbed Kentucky cathedral modeled after Notre Dame

Published

1 day ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Final gargoyle returned to its perch atop rehabbed Kentucky cathedral modeled after Notre Dame

COVINGTON, Ky. (AP) — The last stone gargoyle has been returned to its perch as part of a two-year restoration of a Kentucky cathedral with a facade modeled after Notre Dame in Paris.

The rehab project at the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption was sorely needed to repair deteriorated stone, metal and glass that adorns the limestone exterior. The project included 32 recreated gargoyles along with repairs of deteriorated finials, arches and balustrades.

The 125-year-old church, in Covington just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, offers the experience of a European gothic cathedral in the Midwest, said the Very Rev. Ryan Maher, the cathedral’s rector. The cathedral has an “intimate connection to what is really the most popular and most well-known cathedral outside of Rome itself,” he said.

“I think it’s very special and very unique,” said Maher, who watched from the sidewalk as the last gargoyle was raised to top of the facade on Monday.

The renovation price tag was nearly $8 million, and most came from donations, Maher said.

Brian Walter, CEO of Trisco Systems, the contractor, said the final gargoyle going in was “a symbol of the accomplishment of all our facade work.”

“That’s a big, monumental occasion for not only people here, but for us. That kind of symbolized the last stone we’re putting in,” Walter said.

Restoration plans grew out of Maher’s discovery in 2018 of a large piece of stone that fell from the exterior.

“We realized at that time that we needed to investigate not only the source of that one piece of stone that had fallen, but to take a look at the overall facade of the cathedral,” Maher said.

Workers will continue with smaller tasks around the facade, including the installation of chimeras that sit on the roofline, but the heavy lifting has been completed, Walter said.

“This is kind of a once or twice in a lifetime project,” Walter said.

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