Lexington Brief

Local news, organized by what happened.

Government 1 outlet · Spectrum News 1

Early voting begins Thursday in Kentucky

Early voting in Kentucky begins Thursday, giving voters three days to cast ballots before Election Day on Tuesday.

Schools 1 outlet · LEX18

Kentucky high school student helps organize and moderate the 6th Congressional District debate

Sixteen-year-old Lincoln Wilburn, part of the Y Club’s government program, helped organize and moderate a debate for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District in Estill County. Students spent months preparing questions and inviting candidates, Wilburn said, to bring young people’s concerns into the discussion. Candidates Zach Dembo and Ralph Alvarado differed on Medicaid, taxes and education, including whether education funding is a federal or state responsibility. They

General 1 outlet · WKYT

Madison County family shares organ safety concerns after Kentucky OPO decertificationSister says doctor stopped organ harvesting after brother woke

A Madison County, Kentucky, family held a community discussion on safe organ procurement, citing concerns after Donna Rhorer’s brother, TJ Hoover, woke up before an attempted organ donation in 2021. Stephanie Humkey said her brother died in 2024 after what she described as a wrongful donation by Network for Hope. The Kentucky organ procurement organization was decertified in August and has until Nov. 4 to appeal; Rhorer urged it not to appeal and wants safeguards for a successor.

Government 1 outlet · WUKY

UK defends housing efforts as at-large council candidates criticize private developments

At a Lexington forum, Vice Mayor Dan Wu and other candidates for at-large City Council seats criticized the University of Kentucky’s role in the growth of privately developed student housing and said it should take more responsibility. UK spokesman Jay Blanton said the university has invested more than $500 million in campus housing over the past 15 years, adding more than 7,500 rooms. He said the city’s broader housing shortage is separate from UK’s actions.

Schools 1 outlet · WKYT

Kentucky 6th District candidates Alvarado, Dembo debate costs, health care in Estill County

Republican Dr. Ralph Alvarado and Democrat Zach Dembo debated Tuesday in Estill County in the race for Kentucky’s 6th District, answering student questions on inflation, Medicaid, housing and education. Alvarado called for tax relief, spending cuts and an all-of-the-above energy policy, while Dembo said he would restore Medicaid cuts and proposed restrictions on congressional stock trading and lobbying. Both backed the bipartisan Road to Housing Act, which would limit large firms’ purchases of

Health 1 outlet · WKYT

DaVita settles ADA complaint with Lexington patient

DaVita Inc. reached an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky to resolve an ADA complaint involving a patient at a Lexington dialysis center. The complaint alleged the patient was not provided an American Sign Language interpreter during years of treatment. DaVita will pay the patient $125,000 and a $50,000 penalty, update its policies, train staff and report future complaints.

Government 1 outlet · WKYT

Lexington mayor proposes shared appreciation loans for first-time home buyers

Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton proposed shared appreciation loans to help lower-income households buy homes with smaller monthly mortgage payments. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council supported the plan and set aside $1 million, enough to assist an estimated 15 to 20 first-time buyers. Loans would cover up to 25% of a home’s purchase price, with no interest or monthly payments; borrowers would repay the principal plus a share of appreciation when certain loan or property events occur. Applicants must

Load more stories