Girls' Sweet Sixteen, Friday

Today's quarterfinals in Rupp Arena with KHSAA RPI rankings:

-- No. 34 Owensboro Catholic vs. No. 4 Louisville Sacred Heart at 10 a.m. Central
-- No. 9 Winchester George Rogers Clark vs. No. 7 London North Laurel at 12:30 p.m.

-- No. 19 Ashland Paul Blazer vs. No. 3 McCracken County at 5 p.m.

-- No. 24 Louisville Mercy vs. No. 14 Henderson County at 7:30 p.m.

Comments flow ...

Oh, Kentucky

Oh, Kentucky

Catching up ...

Oh, Kentucky

There's a lot of stuff going on--wars and refugees, churches and cities, the 1970s and Vietnam, the 1980s and Japan, etc.--in this fascinating Georgetown News-Graphic article by Jackie Anders on the sale of the Cardome to the Catholic Diocese of Lexington. I had to read it a couple of times to take it all in, and I'm glad I did.

Bath County High has a (beautiful) new fine-arts wing. 

The NWSL is coming to Louisville.

"With forward-thinking public officials and involved volunteer groups, the rebirth of downtown Winchester will continue unabated."

"The report brings up many good questions for Danville and Boyle County. How are we doing on being a rural development hub? Are we setting our community up to succeed long-term in a world where everyone thinks rural communities are dying? How are we doing on improving quality of life, particularly for our most vulnerable populations? Are we resisting changes that could have huge impacts because we are risk-averse? Are we putting too much emphasis on old economic development methods and measuring sticks? How well are we working regionally?"

"Too big of a challenge to focus on our differences."

Free Thanksgiving dinner, in Ashland. (And Whitesburg.) (And Wurtland.)

Free Christmas trees, at LBL.

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Central City, Nov. 24; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29; Brownsville, Greensburg, Guthrie, Mayfield and Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs and Murray, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Fredonia, Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville, London, Monticello, Pineville, Richmond and Trenton, Dec. 6; Barbourville, Berea, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Calvert City, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Grayson, Hawesville, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Marion, Middlesboro, Morgantown, Murray, Owingsville, Paducah, Rabbit Hash, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Somerset, Trenton, Versailles, Whitley City and Winchester, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10; Burkesville, Burnside, Elkton, Providence, Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Not the old, old Whaler's Catch, but Paducah's old Whaler's Catch appears headed for new life next year.

Hiring in Dawson Springs, Dixon, Graham, Madisonville, Sebree, etc. Closed for good in Lawrenceburg, Radcliff and Winchester.

Hail to the bus-driver woman, Miss J.

The Kentucky Teachers' Retirement System was in better position again in fiscal 2019, says the state auditor.

It appears it'll be back to biz for Kentucky's apparently former New Hampshire vice-presidential hopeful.

Turning to sports, in Murray, it's rodeo time again. In Elkton, they had "the annual Meet the Rebels. YSE was there and got some of the first pics of the season of this year's team." And rest in peace, Mr. Terrell--he "loved the City of Corbin, he loved the Redhounds and most of all he loved people."

Christmas parades: Sharpsburg, Nov. 9; Owensboro, Nov. 23; Lebanon and Louisville, Nov. 29; Pikeville, Nov. 30; Boyce, Dawson Springs and Murray, Dec. 1; Bardstown, Dec. 5; Fredonia, Harrodsburg, Hopkinsville, London, Monticello and Pineville, Dec. 6; Barbourville, Berea, Bowling Green, Cadiz, Calvert City, Columbia, Corbin, Cynthiana, Danville, Frankfort, Glasgow, Henderson, Lawrenceburg, Lexington, Madisonville, Owingsville, Paducah, Scottsville, Shelbyville, Trenton, Versailles and Whitley City, Dec. 7; Georgetown, Dec. 8; Cave City, Dec. 10; Burnside, Elkton and Williamsburg, Dec. 14, and Tollesboro, Dec. 15.

Oh, Kentucky

Bill Straub in the Northern Kentucky Tribune: "Once you work your way through the briars, brambles, and bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go in Kentucky politics, you’ll discover that elections often come down to just two issues – abortion and guns."

So let's imagine you're in western Kentucky from out of state and trying to figure out how where to take the fam to eat tonight to kick off your #freakinweekend in style. Well, here's some (270) foodie 411 for you:

-- Tapas have come to Owensboro.

-- Tacoholics is expanding again in Henderson.

-- Patti's is not quite back yet in Grand Rivers, but they do now have that new grill named after the town's founder.

Loretto is getting sidewalks!

This interactive map, from Frankfort's Kentucky Center for Statistics, looks like so much fun, and I can't wait to find out what it is that it's teaching me.

Oh, Kentucky

WKMS also has the full text of the House resolution, which passed despite the "no" vote of U.S. Rep. Comer of Tompkinsville.

"Obviously, I want you to read all of bell hooks books. I mean, I want to read all of her writing. She does it with passion and grace that leaves me in an awe that is difficult to describe. Recently, she has released a string of children’s books that I hope you’ll also read. I hope that this will give you a little teaser into what she is capable of.  Her writing is so important right now. She writes with a grace and love that is difficult to come by. Whew, are we really hurting for some real love right now." Brandie Derusha enrolls us in bell hooks, at Book Riot.

A native western Kentuckian comes home, and he's focused on re-introducing Mayfield's YMCA to the region. Eric Walker has an interesting report in the local Messenger.

Pine Mountain Settlement School drops the soup-to-nuts farming 411--"from seed to table and even marketing"--on the kids.

There's a name change, but Wyatt's--a locally owned grocery in Falmouth for more than 70 years--rolls on.

Ingram Barge of Paducah, Louisville Metro Corrections and The Entrepreneur Source of Simpsonville are among the employers to be represented at today's hiring/networking event hosted by Fort Campbell's Soldier for Life Transition Assistance Program.

Stories about retail development are among contemporary journalism's hottest click properties, and, for sure, I quickly clicked on this Channel 6 survey of new stuff coming to Kentucky Oaks Mall.

A nonprofit that runs homes for people with disabilities--with reported revenue growth of $70 million over the last three years--is pulling out of Kentucky because it says it is having funding problems with the state. I found this (fantastic) Leah Shields/Justin Jones report for WPSD was considerably less fun to digest.

The eastern Kentucky miners whose pay was reportedly taken back from a bankrupt coal operator got a boost from a Harlan priest this week.

Oh, Kentucky

And now Nelson County has received a giant gift, too.

Restoring the African American cemeteries in and around Boyle County.

Taking the first step toward safer parks in Middlesboro.

Glasgow has hired its first female police chief.

Bringing Hazard together at GameStop.

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky's local "Lights for Liberty" vigils to end family separation and human concentration camps are scheduled to take place Friday at 9 p.m. locally in Danville, Florence, Frankfort, Lexington, Louisville and Paris so far.

$477 million in federal grant money for airport infrastructure is rolling in to Campbellsville, Falmouth, Greenville, London, Owensboro and Sparta, announced U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao (McConnell).

Spoiler alert: Probably not, surmises FiveThirtyEight.

At the Northpoint Training Center in Burgin, the state is piloting a program designed to help inmates not return to using illegal drugs after their release.

Shelby County's volunteer fire departments are shorthanded.

Southern Living is all about the free Kentucky River water-quality knowledge that Kentucky State University is dropping on us this summer.

I think the Chemical Coaters Association Intl. (CCAI) of Independence made an outstanding choice for its James F. & David J. Wright Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

A man shot and killed Monday in southwest Louisville is being remembered as a "great" youth football coach: https://t.co/WqtZSZ2WcQ | @FallonGlick pic.twitter.com/tNZAJpd1Ls

— WDRB News (@WDRBNews) July 10, 2019

Rest in peace, ex-UK Wildcat Jared Lorenzen, and way to go, former U of L Cardinals Deion Branch, Jamon Brown and Chris Redman.

Oh, Kentucky

Home sales are up in Kentucky.

Is Lexington's Helix Garage the country's coolest parking lot?

Public libraries are the best. At Glasgow's, you could be learning American Sign Language this summer.

Both the state's governor and its attorney general--opponents in the governor's race--are chasing miners' unpaid wages from a bankrupt Harlan County operator.

Plenty of law-enforcement opportunities in Elkton.

Bridge is out, in northern Crittenden County.

I'm so happy for Brenda Powers with the Big Sandy Area Development District and the other involved federal-, state- and local-agency personnel that the third phase of the more-than-a-decade-old "Pride on the River" sewer project is complete. (And I loved the level of detail on the saga that Mary Meadows delivered in her reporting for the Floyd County Chronicle.)

Oh, Kentucky

4.0 at 83.

"Justice by geography:" 99 percent of defendants in Hopkins County have the money to post bail; 17 percent do so in Wolfe County. Eye-opening Kentucky Center for Economic Policy study--as recapped by Danielle Grady in LEO Weekly.

The great-great-great-grandson of Hopkinsville's founder is investing anew in the town's future.

"'Is that a threat?,' Stapleton asked. 'It's a promise,' Malone retorted." More fantastic meeting coverage--this time from the Carter County Emergency Management Services board, by Jeremy D. Wells in the Grayson Journal-Enquirer.

Oh, Kentucky

Update from Madisonville: Ferrell's Snappy Service is on track to be back by Flag Day!

Update from Paducah: SRO at the city commission, and 4-1 in favor of an amended fairness ordinance.

Update from Betsy Layne:

Closing of Boyle County's largest child-care provider has spurred a long, hard look at the problem, its ramifications and possible solutions among community members in and around Danville. Solid meeting coverage from Robin Hart in The-Advocate Messenger.

Thanks, Feds, for the dough to train aviation maintenance technicians at and around EKU.

The first signee to John Prine's Oh Boy Records in 15 years is from Monkey's Eyebrow.

Oh, Kentucky

Maybe one of the alternatives for the folks in Louisville could be bus trips to the state parks (except Levi Jackson Wilderness Road, of course), Henderson, Morganfield or Louisa. I love bus trips, public pools and all those places, so I think that would be great.

Owensboro will be home to Kentucky's first "Family Place Library," delivering "early literacy, parent education, family support and connection to the local community."

Jefferson Mall introducing new 'Youth Escort Policy' in June https://t.co/ltBf9bIFio pic.twitter.com/4CUgtgECnz

— WDRB News (@WDRBNews) May 23, 2019

An Australian community seeks to memorialize a Webbville man and his fellow aviation-safety game changers.

The American Doughboy statue is back--the one in Jamestown.

"Transitioning soldiers and veterans into Kentucky’s workforce at a faster rate," in Louisville and Somerset so far.

Oh, Kentucky

He turned 100, and he wanted to mow.

Trump, Bevin, coal, renewables, TVA, the DoE, John Prine, U of L, newspapers ... this story by WFPL's Ryan Van Velzer has everything.

There's a big U.S./China economic and cultural event going down in Lexington this week, and the National Governors Association hails "the exclusive deal-making opportunity." Indeed, here's a deal struck having to do with Chinese-mined magnesium.

Kentucky is considering whether to ban tattoos on scarred skin, and you can weigh in with emailed comments.

A new bar/pizza place in Covington closes; an old restaurant in Franklin is expanding to offer coffees and breakfast.

The Gleaner's Douglas White delivers his typically outstanding 411 on the purchase of a 50-year-old Henderson Ford dealership by a Bowling Green Toyota outfit.

Untethered from presses, the Kentucky New Era has moved back to downtown Hopkinsville. Interesting trend observed by Al Cross at his always-great Rural Blog.

Booming Beaver Dam--it is about a sixth more populous since 1980--has hired its first full-time fire chief.

Corbin's tourism director says the season's first movies-in-the-park event drew about 175 to (Col.) Sanders Park.

The Paducah area's Women in Maritime Operations are (formally) getting it together.

The elementary teacher of the year is from London, and the local Sentinel-Echo is hosting a virtual celebration.

Turning to sports, a globetrotting volleyballer from Erlanger is thinking about turning away.

Oh, Kentucky

The 72-student 2019 class for the Governor's School for Entrepreneurs is out. It starts next month at Northern Kentucky U, and, per Corbin's Times-Tribune, "students learn firsthand about the opportunities, benefits and pitfalls of beginning a business. Teams of high school students develop business models, design prototypes, and pitch startup ideas to a large audience and panel of judges."

Meanwhile, starting in the fall, one no longer needs to leave Pulaski County to attain a four-year degree from Eastern, Morehead, Western or UK.

Working out a 98k salary with her, Frankfort reeled in its new finance director from Boise, Idaho. Thorough city 411 from Zack McDonald in The State Journal.

Houchens Industries of Bowling Green has taken its Crossroads IGA game to Lexington.

Oh, Kentucky

Kentucky for sale:

Rock on, Hospice of Western Kentucky and Horse Haven, for Camp Courage for grieving children.

Here are the nine teachers vying for Kentucky's 2020 teachers of the year for elementary, middle and high school.

Kentucky's 2019 teacher of the year was not there for a ceremony in her and other teachers' honor at the White House.

No. 1 Louisville duPont Manual, No. 2 Louisville Brown, No. 3 Fort Thomas Highlands, No. 4 Murray, No. 5 Pikeville, ...

iPads for everyone (in the incoming freshmen at the University of Kentucky).

Hiring in Madisonville (at the old Rosenwald school next month).

Mellow out in Saint Matthews (and of Louisville altogether).

Counterpoint to the racists in Paducah.

Oh, Kentucky

Just a fantastic and inspiring feature in the Lexington Herald-Leader from Will Wright of Report for America: The People, Yes.

More Yes: Lashana Harney has a good one in The Winchester Sun on a retiring Bluegrass Community and Technical College professor and her enjoyment of "the application and then thinking critically, mastering concepts."

Astronomy Day is coming up next month, and the West Kentucky Amateur Astronomers have a full day of interesting free programming planned at LBL, and I'm invited, and so are you. Yes! Yes! YES!

Metcalfe County does not have a jail, but it does have a jailer, and now the jailer has newly approved direction on compensation and responsibilities.

The Section 8 waiting list is being reopened in Lawrence County.

Kentucky for sale:

Oh, Kentucky

"Rights," "heritage," "taxation" ... blah, blah, blah.

March 2019 marked the best "Scratch-off" month for the Kentucky Lottery Corporation since April 1989.

"I want to continue to raise our educator voice so that we’re boldly and bravely speaking the truth about public education and what it means for our students, for the educators who serve those students." Interesting Q&A from WFPL's Liz Schlemmer with the new KEA president, who is on loan from Knox County  Public Schools.

The Kentucky Green Living Fair draws about 1,200 in Year 6, reports Christopher Harris in Somerset's Commonwealth Journal.

London's old Kmart is going to be a Kohl's.

Oh, Kentucky

Good jobs news from Campbellsville, Hebron, Independence, Lebanon, Lexington and Louisville.

The proposed aluminum mill for South Shore ... still not yet.

Kentucky has a new poet laureate, and he's "very eager to spread the gospel of poetry around the state."

New roofs are in the mix for Greenbo Lake, Jenny Wiley, Lake Barkley and several other state resort parks.

Guns, guns, guns: Manchester edition.

Turns out Kentucky is having a hay shortage.

Turning to sports, it appears as though you can still get tickets for tomorrow night's South Regional championship in Louisville for from $200.03 to $4,602 apiece.

Oh, Kentucky

Welcome to Greenville (coming soon).

Hiring in Princeton (for jobs there and in Eddyville, Grand Rivers, Marion, etc.)

If you're planning to get your Chik-fil-A on in Ashland, you better get it going. But chill: "It is temporarily a bad thing but it is long term a good thing."

Some in Louisville City FC Nation are not about to chill.

Wonderful Nita Johnson feature in London's Sentinel Echo on Laurel County's new teacher of the year: "I always tell them, Te Amo Mucho - I love you a lot," she said. "I always want that to be the last words they hear."


The equivalent of about half of Kentucky's old tires reportedly are being converted into energy at East Kentucky Power Cooperative’s Spurlock Station in Maysville.

Why are people getting sick in the mail room of the federal prison in Manchester?