Kentucky
The Courier Journal wins big at Kentucky Press Association awards. Here are the winners
The Courier Journal won 22 awards in the Kentucky Press Association awards Friday night.
The newspaper staff won awards in the Daily 2 category, including second place in the General Excellence category. The category applies to newspapers that publish four days per week or more with a certified circulation of 10,001 and above, according to the Kentucky Press association awards.
“It’s always great for The Courier Journal journalists to be recognized for their work,” Courier Journal Editor Mary Irby-Jones said. “We really strive to do journalism that has an impact on our community, and that changes the lives and hold people accountable.”
Enterprise reporter Stephanie Kuzydym won the 2023 Jon Fleischaker Freedom of Information Award, presented by the Associated Press, in the Daily Division, for her Safer Sidelines project, which investigated “sudden death in high school sports.” Her work also won first place in the Best Investigative Story or Series.
“It is also an honor for us to win the Jon Fleischaker award for the second year in a row,” Irby-Jones said. “We will continue to do work that seeks to have open government and seeks to provide a way for the public to access public information.”
First place
- Best editorial writer, 1st place — Courier Journal editorial board
- Best breaking news coverage, 1st place — Krista Johnson, “Bus delays, overcrowding mark first day of school at JCPS”
- Best columnist, 1st place — Maggie Menderski
- Best investigative story or series, 1st place — Stephanie Kuzydym, Safer Sidelines
- Best editorial page, 1st place —Bonnie Feldkamp
- Best headline writer, 1st place—Veda Morgan
- Best feature picture, 1st place— Sam Upshaw Jr.
Second place
- Best breaking news coverage, 2nd place —Courier Journal Staff
- Best general news story, 2nd place — Olivia Krauth
- Best columnist, 2nd place — Joe Gerth
- Best business/agribusiness story, 2nd place — Matt Glowicki
- Best headline writer, 2nd place — Nick Hollkamp
- Best general news picture, 2nd place— Jeff Faughender
- Best picture essay, 2nd place tie— Michael Clevenger
- General Excellence (Daily 2 division), 2nd place — The Courier Journal
Third place
More: What’s going in the Shops of Forest Springs in Middletown? Here’s what we know
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.
Time is of the essence if you’re Mark Pope and the Kentucky Wildcats right now. With the transfer portal set to close in just a few days, chaos reigns as programs and players scramble to secure their next opportunities. Among the fray is Kentucky, which finds itself navigating a tumultuous landscape in search of elite talent. With many of the Top 25 players already committed, the urgency for the Wildcats to land a game-changing recruit has never been more at the forefront following this season.
One of Pope’s primary targets is Syracuse transfer Donnie Freeman. The 6-foot-9 rising junior made waves during his time at Syracuse, averaging 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 47.4 percent from the field last season. His potential is undeniable; many experts predict Freeman will be a future first-round NBA draft pick, making him a coveted asset for any program.
Freeman’s recent visit to Kentucky has sparked much-needed hope. However, despite positive feedback from his trip, he left without making a commitment to join one of college basketball’s blue bloods. The competition is fierce. The question looms: Can Kentucky outmaneuver these schools and secure his commitment?
Advertisement
Well, Friday morning, the Cats were able to outlast one of their deepest competitions for now in Connecticut. Freeman was set to make his way to see the Huskies, but he has since cancelled his Friday visit, per UConn Report (subscription required). Now it appears the Huskies officially have bowed out of the race. That’s one down, and just the Alabama Crimson Tide, it appears, stands in the way for Mark Pope and Kentucky.
Mark Pope faces additional pressure following the return of Rob Wright to BYU, leaving the Wildcats in a precarious position when it comes to key portal targets. They need to act swiftly to avoid being left without significant talent as the portal closes. Freeman’s skill set would not only bolster their roster but would also complement rising star Malachi Moreno, as Freeman would be the ideal fit for the power forward.
As the clock ticks down, all eyes are on Mark Pope and his ability to close this deal. The stakes are high, and for Kentucky, landing Donnie Freeman could be the key to turning chaos into triumph, but will they be able to close perhaps the deal amidst the age of transfer portal madness? Well, they are one step closer now, it appears.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball closing in on a Donnie Freeman commitment?
-
Massachusetts3 minutes agoPolice shoot and kill man armed with knife in Lexington, DA says
-
Minnesota9 minutes agoBoldy, Eriksson Ek help Wild cruise past Stars in Game 1 of Western 1st Round | NHL.com
-
Mississippi15 minutes agoGeorge County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says
-
Missouri21 minutes ago
Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for April 18, 2026
-
Montana27 minutes ago
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for April 18, 2026
-
Nebraska33 minutes agoGallery: Huskers Run-Rule No. 12 USC to Take Series
-
Nevada39 minutes agoIN RESPONSE: Cortez Masto lands bill would keep the proceeds in Nevada
-
New Hampshire45 minutes agoNew Hampshire grapples with nuclear waste storage – Valley News