Local news, organized by what happened.
Somerset Community College and the Geothermal Drillers Association will launch an 80-hour geothermal drilling training program Jan. 11-23, 2027, at SCC’s Valley Oak Center in Somerset, Ky. The intensive combines classroom and field instruction in drilling operations, safety, boreholes and loop fields. Graduates may have access to paid apprenticeships and be added to the association’s database of trained candidates.
The University of Pikeville in Pikeville, Ky., has raised $40.2 million toward its $50 million Reaching New Heights capital campaign, announced Oct. 30, leaving $9.8 million to reach its goal. Donations will support the Tanner College of Dental Medicine and Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, including construction, expanded learning space and scholarships. The campaign also backs the Bear Mountain Athletic Complex and endowed student scholarships.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said he will not support Republican efforts to reduce Amy Acton’s authority.
Kentucky has opened Will Stein’s tenure 7-1, drawing national attention as first-year starting quarterback Kenny Minchey leads the Wildcats’ rise. Kentucky is ranked No. 6 in the first College Football Playoff rankings after wins over top-10 LSU and Texas A&M, and averages 5.144 million viewers per game, according to On3. The Wildcats visit No. 13 Tennessee this weekend in a matchup with playoff implications.
The Kentucky Chamber and Thrive by 5 Louisville, with the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation, launched Kentucky Employers Leading on Child Care statewide on Oct. 29. The initiative offers businesses one-on-one help assessing workforce needs and implementing child care options, including state-matched employee assistance and federal tax incentives. A 2025 Kentucky Chamber report estimated affordable child care could enable 16,000 to 28,000 Kentucky parents to enter or return to the workforce.
Lexington-based BACK Construction won the 2026 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics in the medium business category. The award recognizes ethical leadership and business practices; the category covers companies with 51 to 175 employees. The 100% employee-owned remodeling company, which has served Central Kentucky since 1981, will be honored Nov. 12 at a ceremony at The Olmsted in Louisville.
Western Kentucky University has received a $2 million award, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy, to build a microgrid at its Innovation Campus in Bowling Green. The system will combine solar power, batteries, backup generators and controls to support critical facilities, including WKU’s Disaster Science Operations Center, during outages. Students and researchers will study energy management and tools linking weather forecasts to emergency operations; the project runs through June 2028.
Jackson County High School and McKee Elementary School in Kentucky briefly went on soft lockdown Thursday after a report of someone in safety orange entering woods near the high school and a suspicious vehicle. Deputies found the vehicle had broken down and been parked there for days; the reported hunter was leaves on a hillside. The schools are no longer on lockdown, and officials said there was no active threat.
Lexington has launched a public database that lets residents search property code violations by address or owner. The tool provides three years of enforcement records, updated every 15 days, including violation details and whether cases remain open or have been closed. Renters, homebuyers and neighborhood groups can use it to review property histories. The launch followed advocacy by BUILD, and Mayor Linda Gorton said the database is intended to improve transparency and accountability.
Berea College has appointed Joshua “Josh” Shannon as its first chief investment officer, creating a dedicated role to oversee the endowment that supports its fully funded education model. Shannon has more than 25 years of investment experience and most recently served as deputy chief investment officer at Hershey Trust Co. The college and Hirtle & Co. will make a phased transition in investment management. Shannon will be based in the greater New York City area.
Kentucky, 7-1 and ranked No. 6 in the College Football Playoff poll and No. 8 by the AP, had a bye while its upcoming opponents played or rested. Tennessee, next up for the Wildcats on Nov. 7, also had a bye and is 6-2. Florida lost to Georgia 27-8, while Missouri beat Arkansas 34-10 and Louisville defeated Stanford 52-24. Kentucky is scheduled to face Florida on Nov. 14, Missouri on Nov. 21 and Louisville on Nov. 28.
Democrats won control of the House and Senate in Tuesday’s elections and are set to take over Congress in January for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, expected to become House speaker, said he would consider bipartisan deals as Democrats pursue priorities including affordability, the Iran war and corruption. Sen. Chuck Schumer, expected to lead the Senate, said Trump’s nominees would face close scrutiny.
Former Kentucky Wildcats made an impact in Week 8 NFL games. Tennessee Titans receiver Wan’Dale Robinson caught six passes for 56 yards and scored in a 43-36 overtime loss to Cincinnati. Jacksonville’s Chris Rodriguez Jr. ran for a 28-yard touchdown in a 42-7 win over Indianapolis, while teammate Josh Hines-Allen recorded four tackles
ClearFlow Metalworks plans to invest $28 million in an aluminum plant at Shelton Lane Industrial Park in Russellville, creating 50 full-time jobs in Logan County. The first phase will cast recycled aluminum into billets, with annual capacity of about 100,000 tons, for use in extrusion and other manufacturing. The operation will occupy a newly built speculative facility; construction and hiring timelines were not announced.
DePaul is entering its matchup against South Florida with confidence boosted by its newcomers.
Michael Edward West, 80, died peacefully at his home in Frankfort on Oct. 31. A U.S. Army veteran, musician and educator, he contributed to several bands and drum corps, co-directed the ASK/SAIL program and later worked as historian and groundskeeper at Fort Hill. West is survived by his wife of 57 years, Cathleen, two children, nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild. A Celebration of Life will be held Nov. 21 from noon to 4 p.m. at Kentucky Hug Bourbon Bar in Frankfort.
A partner of the University of Kentucky is investing $124 million in a new program with the university, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. The headline does not identify the partner or describe the program.
Monticello police said Kayla Barrett, 36, of East Bernstadt, was arrested in connection with an alleged attack on a Wayne County high school football player during the Oct. 30 game against North Laurel in Wayne County. Police said the player was allegedly choked from behind and taken to Wayne County Emergency Room for evaluation. Barrett was charged with second-degree strangulation and taken to the Laurel County Detention Center.
SMU will face VMI after describing its season opener as a “good test.” The Mustangs are seeking a smoother performance in the matchup.
Franklin County Clerk Jeff Hancock released unofficial 2026 general election results showing Ann Marie Miklavcic and Elisabeth McNicol Wilson elected to the Frankfort Independent Schools Board. Miklavcic led the three-candidate race with 831 votes, or 40%, followed by Wilson with 676 votes (32%). Margaret Ann Till
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