Kentucky
Three-day early voting period set to begin in Kentucky
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/THV2JIGQKJFLHBPFEHJM33BJXM.jpg "Three-day early voting period set to begin in Kentucky")
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Lexington is getting ready for 3 days of early voting, beginning Thursday.
Whereas the Fayette County clerk expects small crowds for the first, he does have a number of considerations looking forward to November.
That is the primary time we’ll see early voting in Kentucky.
“The legislature allowed early voting in a invoice that handed final 12 months, 2021,” Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins mentioned.
Whilst you have the subsequent three days to vote early, Blevins mentioned they don’t count on a crowd.
“In different states which have tried early voting, it actually hasn’t achieved something for voter turnout. In actual fact, prove has gone down barely after early voting was instituted. It’s actually extra of a comfort for individuals who had been already going to vote early anyway,” Blevins mentioned.
Blevins says voter turnout throughout a main election cycle is often solely about 27% in any case. They’re ready in case they do see a crowd this week, however it’s the upcoming November election that’s elevating essentially the most considerations.
“They handed a legislation this 12 months that claims throughout early voting we will’t use absentee ballots. We’ve got to make use of precinct particular ballots. That sounds innocuous, however what which means is had they handed that previous to the poll deadline for this spring, as a substitute of preprinting 28 totally different poll mixtures, I’d have needed to preprint 858 totally different mixtures after which have these laid out on tables at Kroger Discipline,” Blevins mentioned.
Blevins’ group should have this achieved for November, whereas additionally working with an elections officer scarcity.
“Individuals are uncomfortable with the pandemic nonetheless lingering round. Individuals are additionally uncomfortable with the acrimony surrounding politics proper now. They’re scared of serving. And lastly, one other uncommon facet impact of the pandemic is lots of people are getting elective surgical procedures this 12 months that weren’t in a position to do it the final two years,” Blevins mentioned.
You may vote early Thursday by means of Saturday at Gate 11 at Kroger Discipline. It’ll be open from 8:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m.
Copyright 2022 WKYT. All rights reserved.
Kentucky
Pamela Stevenson, the top Democrat in the Kentucky House, launches campaign for the US Senate
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky lawmaker Pamela Stevenson, the top-ranking Democrat in the GOP-led state House, launched her U.S. Senate campaign on Monday, vowing to help “stop the recklessness” in Washington if elected. The seat has long been held by Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is not seeking reelection in 2026.
Stevenson, an attorney and minister, ran for state attorney general in 2023 but lost by a wide margin to Republican Russell Coleman. The only Kentucky Democrats to win statewide that year were Gov. Andy Beshear and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, who won reelection to second terms.
Known for a fiery speaking style at the Kentucky Capitol, Stevenson pledged to continue fighting for health care access and public education, noting in an introductory digital profile that her legislative colleagues “know they only have a problem with me if they go after” her causes.
Her Senate announcement came days after Kentucky lawmakers ended their 2025 session.
In the digital profile, Stevenson didn’t mention by name Republican President Donald Trump — who has dominated the political landscape in GOP-trending Kentucky since first winning the White House in 2016 — but the Democrat signaled her disapproval with the country’s direction since Trump started his second term.
“We need someone to stop the recklessness in Washington,” said, Stevenson, the minority floor leader in the Kentucky House. “Someone to restore the balance of power.”
Stevenson is the first Black woman to lead a legislative caucus in the Kentucky General Assembly. In her digital biographical sketch, the Louisville, Kentucky, native says her father was a union welder and her mother was a clerk. Stevenson says they lived down the street from her grandparents’ church, where Stevenson serves as a minister, and she talks about her military service as a judge advocate general in the U.S. Air Force.
McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, announced in February that he won’t seek reelection next year but will retire when his current term ends. Kentucky hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992.
On the Republican side, former state Attorney General Daniel Cameron has entered the Senate race, while U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and businessman Nate Morris are considering Senate runs. All three speak glowingly of Trump, hoping to land his endorsement. Beshear defeated Cameron in the 2023 governor’s race, and speculation continues to build over whether the term-limited Beshear will run for president in 2028.
One potential wild card in Kentucky’s Senate race next year is Democrat Rocky Adkins, a former longtime state lawmaker who has deep political connections statewide. Adkins lost to Beshear in the 2019 Democratic gubernatorial primary and now serves as Beshear’s senior adviser in the governor’s office.
“While Rocky continues to receive tremendous encouragement from across Kentucky, he has not made any decisions on any race,” said Emily Ferguson, a spokesperson for Adkins.
Lightning flashed and hail pounded down in Fancy Farm, Kentucky, as severe weather swept through the state on Sunday, March 30.
The National Weather Service warned of severe storms on Sunday, predicting large hail, damaging winds, and possible tornadoes.
Footage from Graves County Sheriff’s Office shows hail hammering the ground on Sunday evening, as lightning flashed. Credit: Graves County Sheriff’s Office via Storyful
What’s With That? Betting superstitions at the Kentucky Derby
Courier Journal reporter Kirby Adams talks with Churchill Downs publicity manager Kevin Kerstein to answer your biggest Kentucky Derby questions.
- Trainer Todd Pletcher has saddled a horse in every Kentucky Derby since 2004
- Bob Baffert trainee Rodriguez is a top contender in the Wood Memorial
Todd Pletcher has saddled at least one horse in the Kentucky Derby every year since 2004, but he’s running out of time to find a qualifier in 2025.
His best chance may come in Saturday’s $750,000, Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
The Pletcher-trained Grande will be among the top contenders despite a light racing resume.
A son of Curlin, Grande is 2 for 2 in his career, with both races coming at Gulfstream Park. He most recently won a 1 1/8-mile allowance optional claiming race Feb. 27.
A $300,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Grande drew the No. 7 post position in a field of 12 for the Wood.
The Wood will offer 200 qualifying points toward the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, including 100 to the winner.
Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice — 2010 with Super Saver and 2017 with Always Dreaming. He’s saddled a record 65 horses in the Derby since his first appearance in 2000.
Currently, Pletcher’s top horse on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, River Thames, ranks No. 28. River Thames is expected to run in Saturday’s Blue Grass at Keeneland.
Another top contender in the Wood will be Bob Baffert trainee Rodriguez, who enters off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 1 at Santa Anita Park.
The morning line for the Wood has not yet been announced.
This story will be updated.
Post time: TBA Saturday at Aqueduct in South Ozone Park, N.Y. Purse: $750,000. Grade: 2. Distance: 1 1/8 miles. TV: FOX. Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100 for first place, 50 for second place, 25 for third place, 15 for fourth place, 10 for fifth place.
PP Horse, jockey, trainer, odds TBA
1. Rodriguez, Mike Smith, Bob Baffert
2. Captain Cook, Manny Franco, Rick Dutrow Jr.
3. Tiger Twenty Four, Javier Castellano, Bill Mott
4. My Mitole, Luis Rivera Jr., Carlos Martin
5. Sand Devil, Jose Lezcano, Linda Rice
6. Hill Road, Joel Rosario, Chad Brown
7. Grande, Dylan Davis, Todd Pletcher
8. Passion Rules, Kendrick Carmouche, Brad Cox
9. Bear Claw Necklace, Romero Maragh, Saffie Joseph Jr.
10. Mcafee, Eric Cancel, Rick Dutrow Jr.
11. Statesman, Samuel Marin, Shug McGaughey
12. Omaha Omaha, Raul Mena, Michael Gorham
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms.
You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.
While not yet official, the post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby will be about 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
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