46 Teams Left

Personally, I don't think they should play high school basketball on Sunday.  But we have four big games today:

First Region Final (at Murray St. U.):

McCracken Co. (26-7) v. Marshall Co. (24-7)

Fifth Region Final (at Green Co.):

Adair Co. (27-7) v. Bethlehem (16-14)

Ninth Region Semi-Finals (at No. Kentucky U.):

Lloyd Memorial (25-8) v. (3) Newport (30-3)

(6) Cov. Catholic (26-5) v. (14) Cooper (23-8)

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

About HB46, the effort to "Amend KRS 158.195 to require each public elementary and secondary school to display the national motto in a prominent location in the school." It received first reading in Kentucky's senate yesterday.

Good jobs news from Pike County (involving solar panels, a TEDx event and a Democrat running for governor).

Fourth "sickout" in two weeks for Jefferson County schools.

Who was your favorite teacher, in Henderson County?

Turning to sports, ...

Happy 50th, KFC in Middlesboro!

Oh, Kentucky

The state auditor announced yesterday that my share of Kentucky's debt is $12,261.58.

How much for the bison at Big Bone Lick?

A Bardstown church offered $717 for a sermon illustration Sunday.

On the bourbon boom.

On the rapidly evolving meth marketplace.

Bad jobs news from Pikeville.

Safe haven for homeless teens in Covington.

Green Book-approved accommodations in Paducah.

Madisonville's recently reopened Salvation Army overnight shelter has been hopping.

Here's the (First Baptist) church, and here's the (new) steeple.

Oh, Kentucky

So much basketball happening. Still spent from the Olympics. Hard to focus.

Western Kentucky takes the court pic.twitter.com/vNn1W2Nnek

— Chad Bishop (@MrChadBishop) March 9, 2018

 

Meanwhile, things were pretty lively in and around Frankfort earlier today ...

Teachers rallying in the capitol prior to Senate vote on SB 1. The pension reform bill. pic.twitter.com/J3jW9zmDDC

— Don Weber (@DonWeber_) March 9, 2018

 

Our staff stands unified against Senate Bill 1!! pic.twitter.com/htAibt5Hw5

— Summit Wildcats (@SummitWildcats) March 9, 2018

 

.@DustiMoore, a teacher in the Bath Co. Ky. school system shouts toward the Ky Senate chamber in protest of Kentucky SB 1, a bill that proposes changes to the state funded pension system for teachers, Friday, Mar 9, 2018, in Frankfort, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) pic.twitter.com/5ZskEHuHqB

— Timothy D. Easley (@TD_Easley) March 9, 2018

 

Attorney General Andy Beshear addressing teachers protesting the pension bill—Senate Bill 1—at the Kentucky State Capitol this morning: “If this bill passes, I’m going to see them in court.” #kyga18 pic.twitter.com/WMpqMtvjQw

— KY Attorney General (@kyoag) March 9, 2018

 

Senate recommits SB 1 to STate and local govt committee - no vote on pensions today - this spells trouble for the bill folks

— Ronnie Ellis (@cnhifrankfort) March 9, 2018

 

"What kind of business would you like to see come to Cadiz for families?" asks The Cadiz Record at Facebook, and the responses so far include a bowling alley; theater; indoor gun range; “some type of sports center that would include indoor & outdoor pool, rock climbing, repelling, etc;” "a nice motel in the Ham town area;” Jack In The Box; putt-putt golf; Walmart; Dollar Tree; shaking rink; drive-in theater; "Store for Women;” "more chain resturants like Long John Silvers, Arbys & Burger King,” and amusement park.

Monroe County is getting a new water plant.

The Paducah Chiefs (and their beautiful logo) are planning to return to Brooks Stadium this summer.

The trade association for Kentucky's distillers weighs in on the president's proposed tariffs.

Oh, Kentucky

Day 2 in Highland Heights ...

Good jobs news from Burlington and Louisville. Bad from Bowling Green.

Corbin's effort to keep its Carnegie Library lurches forward.

One-hundred thirty complaints of sexual harassment by state employees since 2012 (not counting the corrections or juvenile-justice departments, which have not yet fulfilled November records requests from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Journalism).

About the shooter at Marshall County High.

Oh, Kentucky

It's really cold inside Louisville's jail.

It's even colder outside Barren County's.

"We say yes to everything," in Corbin.

Crime in Hoptown is down 23 percent since 2013, say the police.

If I'm understanding this correctly, there were 300 Kentuckians whose homes were foreclosed upon 2009-12 by a New Jersey-based company subsequently charged with a host of improprieties--"included, but were not limited to, failing to timely and accurately apply payments made by borrowers; charging unauthorized fees for default-related services; and failing to properly process borrowers’ applications for loan modifications." So Kentucky and a bunch of other states reached a settlement with the company, and those 300 Kentuckians who lost homes are getting payments of (thankfully) a minimum of $840 apiece.

A happy mystery is unfolding in downtown Tompkinsville.

Richmond is getting its own beer.

Dippin' Dots is taking its cryogenics game to the nutraceutical, pharmacy, agriculture, aquaculture and animal-feed industries.

James Patterson is huge in Boone County.

Good jobs news in Bardwell. Hiring in Owensboro.

Oh, Kentucky

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 18; Barbourville, Fordsville, Georgetown, Madisonville, Murray and Winchester, Dec. 2; Lexington, Dec. 6, and Hopkinsville, Dec. 9.

Except for an uptick in 2006, donations to Paducah's Telethon of Stars have been on the slide since their peak in 1997, per a Channel 6 graph. Last year's total of $228,410 in gifts appears to be about on par with 1971 giving.

Continuing a fantastic but chilling series, Elizabeth Klibanoff with the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting surveys Kentucky's hate-group landscape.

"Hero."

Rest in peace, Mr. Atwell, "Caverna's most successful man."

Oh, Kentucky

Mark your calendars for this free family-friendly Oktoberfest! pic.twitter.com/xfVX3psdNk

— Boone County Library (@boonelibrary) September 12, 2017

Christmas parades: Owensboro, Nov. 18; Barbourville, Georgetown, Madisonville and Winchester, Dec. 2; Lexington, Dec. 6, and Hopkinsville, Dec. 9.

Thomas George came home to Paducah to promote his latest book, and it turns out that he's in a bit of a tiff with Mike Martz.

Good jobs news from Jamestown and Madisonville.

Fiber to the home in Bowling Green.

Shaun King is almost certainly getting my vote for Kentuckian of the Year, but mad props to Rachel Ritchie, too.

Gov. Bevin suggests to post-secondary educators that Kentucky's colleges should cut departments not producing graduates who are in high demand among industry.

Rest in peace, Mr. Leach of Fordsville, Marines rifleman, truck driver and widower/father/grandfather.

Uni

Oh, Kentucky

Rest in peace, Jim McDaniels (1948-2017). We are amid a hard season.

And they're off! Just some of the nearly 50 members of the @PaducahChamber delegation in Washington, D.C. pushing for local projects #wpsd pic.twitter.com/cFF0jjtGaT

— Todd Faulkner (@TFaulknerWPSD) September 6, 2017

Against infrastructure decline.

WBKO's Kelly Dean delivers a moving feature on a family of Harvey refugees resettling in Bowling Green.

Kate Howard of the Kentucky Center for Investigative Journalism reports on the Louisville police's compassionate assistance to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

Oopsy daisy.

Individual health-insurance plans will be offered in all of Kentucky's 120 counties next year--but Blue Cross Blue Shield is getting out of 61 of them.

Kroger's got a new idea cooking in Union, and they're hiring.

Getting off the beaten path in Boyle County.

Oh, Kentucky

Here's the terrorist's history teacher from Union Randall K. Cooper High.

Here's the clueless Shively cop.

Here's the governor who apparently in the last two years has decided it's very crucial that we maintain on government property these monuments celebrating Confederate soldiers.

Here's the Republican state representative calling for removal of Confederate-related holidays from the state's books.

Here come the white nationalists to Lexington.

Oh, Kentucky

Drama cast offer free concert at state park rotunda Aug. 4 https://t.co/DRyMtpkhve pic.twitter.com/6Mld6fvtB8

— Nelson Co. Gazette (@NCGBreakingNews) July 25, 2017

"Ground zero for the abortion debate."

"They called the jail Ricky s world .he ran that whole little town for such a long time not just the jail he had alot of influence over everyone in the town .He was like the mafia boss of Hickman or Fulton County whatever they call it ."

"'Love thy neighbor as thy self' is how I live my life and how I serve others. I have been a recipient of love and giving by many people that have crossed my path. I would not be on this same journey if it were not for the people that modeled being a servant leader. Their actions might have been small in their eyes, but were beyond generous and unforgettable to me."

How might "eHealth" help Kentuckians?

An annual Kentucky State University summer program for rising high-school juniors and seniors from around the country wrapped last month, as participants finished projects with mentors in "aquaculture nutrition, molecular biology, biotechnology, behavioral science, gaming development, histology, microscopy, produce safety, apiculture and agricultural sciences."

"Mr. Science" and the "Junior Engineers" at the Laurel County Public Library.

#MadCityPride 2017 is Aug. 12.

Paducah is scheduled to host the UNESCO Creative Cities Network on Sept. 23.

And have you heard about the big eclipse next month?

Oh, Kentucky

Live in the @WFPLNews newsroom: Comey and kittens. pic.twitter.com/3qywIjkQuL

— Erica Peterson (@ericampeterson) June 8, 2017

Here are the proper nouns in Sen. McConnell's love letter to his state on its 225th birthday: Commonwealth of Kentucky, Union, Virginia, Kentucky County, Native American Wyandot, Kentuckian, Daniel Boone, Cumberland Gap, Ephraim McDowell, Tori Murden McClure, Atlantic Ocean, American, Colonel Harland Sanders, Diane Sawyer, Glasgow, Louisville, Muhammad Ali, Henry Clay, Abraham Lincoln, Alben Barkley, Georgia Powers, African American, Kentucky Senate, Jesse Stuart, Pulitzer Prize, Robert Penn Warren, National Quilt Museum, Paducah, Grammy Award, Loretta Lynn, Chris Stapleton, Jennifer Lawrence, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Derby, United States Senate and Bluegrass State. It would be fascinating to see to see the Microsoft Word document with tracked changes turned on.

5 Stars, Highly Recommended ...

NKU ranks No. 31 for LGBTQ inclusion.

Nice feature by Don Sergeant in the Glasgow Daily Times on an 89-year-old instructor in the free golf-instruction program for kids at the local country club. And his picture of the guy is great, too!

Good jobs news in Madisonville.

Kentucky High-school Boys' Basketball, Two Teams Left

2 p.m. Eastern today: Bowling Green Purples (36-2) vs. Union Cooper Jaguars (32-4)

1918 Lexington (Henry Clay)
1919 Lexington (Henry Clay)
1920 Lexington (Henry Clay)
1921 Louisville duPont Manual
1922 Lexington
1923 Louisville duPont Manual
1924 Lexington
1925 Louisville duPont Manual
1926 Louisville Saint Xavier
1927 Millersburg Military Institute
1928 Ashland (Blazer)
1929 West Paducah Heath!
1930 Corinth
1931 Louisville duPont Manual
1932 Hazard
1933 Ashland (Blazer)
1934 Ashland (Blazer)
1935 Louisville Saint Xavier
1936 Corbin
1937 Midway
1938 Sharpe
1939 Brooksville

78 years ago today, the Polar Bears won their first and only basketball state championship in 1939. pic.twitter.com/SGiY2xcymS

— Polar Bears (@brackencounty) March 20, 2017

1940 Hazel Green
1941 Inez

Lester West, center, won a state championship with Inez in 1941, killed in action near Truk Island (Pacific Theater) on April 16, 1944. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1ABQeS7oYq

— Mountain Sports HOF (@MtnSportsHoF) March 30, 2017

1942 Lexington Lafayette
1943 Hindman
1944 Harlan
1945 Louisville Male
1946 Breckinridge Training
1947 Marysville

70 years ago tonight, the Maysville Bulldogs beat Brewers 54-50 in the championship game of the 1947 state tournament pic.twitter.com/Ti4JwW8G87

— Danny Weddle (@DannyEWeddle) March 23, 2017

1948 Brewers
1949 Owensboro
1950 Lexington Lafayette
1951 Clark County
1952 Cuba

1953 Lexington Lafayette

Opening game of the boys state tourney in Memorial Coliseum March 1953. 2017 @KHSAA Boys Sweet 16 opens today in Rupp Arena. pic.twitter.com/0RNNCh7dOt

— KY Photo Archive (@KYPhotoArchive) March 15, 2017

1954 Inez

What a headline from 1954!#MountainSportsHOF pic.twitter.com/v0BnDBjcFE

— Mountain Sports HOF (@MtnSportsHoF) March 30, 2017

1955 Hazard
1956 Carr Creek
1957 Lexington Lafayette
1958 Louisville Saint Xavier
1959 Calvert City North Marshall

1960 Louisville Flaget
1961 Ashland (Blazer)

Ashland Tomcats bench erupts after quarter-final match with Seneca, 1961, Memorial Coliseum. 2017 @KHSAA semifinals tonight in Rupp Arena. pic.twitter.com/n4REOkEOeC

— KY Photo Archive (@KYPhotoArchive) March 18, 2017

1962 Louisville Saint Xavier
1963 Louisville Seneca

1963 @KHSAA Sweet 16 All Tourney team included Taylor Co.’s Clem Haskins, whose Cardinals play Ballard today at 1:30pm in Rupp Arena pic.twitter.com/6qIDZeClR8

— KY Photo Archive (@KYPhotoArchive) March 16, 2017

1964 Louisville Seneca
1965 Breckinridge County
1966 Shelby County
1967 Earlington

50 years ago today Tyrone Hopson's rebound basket with :01 left gave Earlington a 54-53 win over CovCath in state finals in Freedom Hall. pic.twitter.com/mlYYiSr1lw

— Mike Fields (@MikeFieldsKHSAA) March 18, 2017

Great Day Celetbrating the 50th Anniversary of the 1967 Earlington Yellowjackets State Championship! pic.twitter.com/2EYF3Xq02g

— Jay Burgett (@MNHCoachBurgett) March 19, 2017

1968 Glasgow
1969 Louisville Central
1970 Louisville Male
1971 Louisville Male
1972 Owensboro
1973 Louisville Shawnee
1974 Louisville Central
1975 Louisville Male
1976 Edmonson County
1977 Louisville Ballard

Sweet 16 program cover from 1977. Ballard, led by Jeff Lamp's 43 pts, beat Valley in finals in Freedom Hall. #MyReasonWhy pic.twitter.com/tWKsihRfsZ

— Mike Fields (@MikeFieldsKHSAA) March 16, 2017

1978 Shelby County
1979 Lexington Lafayette

Lafayette wins state title defeating Christian Co 62-52 in 1979. 2017 @KHSAA championship game this afternoon in Rupp Arena. pic.twitter.com/UCHm91ykTc

— KY Photo Archive (@KYPhotoArchive) March 19, 2017

1980 Owensboro
1981 Independence Simon Kenton
1982 Laurel County

Virgie’s Todd May in action, 1982 state tournament. May was named tourney MVP. Action continues today @KHSAA Sweet 16 in Rupp Arena pic.twitter.com/c8AeuzeW22

— KY Photo Archive (@KYPhotoArchive) March 17, 2017

1983 Lexington Henry Clay
1984 Logan County
1985 Hopkinsville
1986 Pulaski County
1987 Clay County
1988 Louisville Ballard
1989 Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park
1990 Louisville Fairdale
1991 Louisville Fairdale
1992 Hopkinsville University Heights
1993 Marion County
1994 Louisville Fairdale 59
1995 Breckinridge County
1996 Paintsville
1997 Middletown Eastern
1998 Scott County
1999 Louisville Ballard
2000 Elizabethtown
2001 Lexington Lafayette
2002 Lexington Catholic 83
2003 Mason County
2004 Bowling Green Warren Central
2005 London South Laurel
2006 Jeffersontown
2007 Scott County
2008 Mason County
2009 Covington Holmes
2010 Pikeville Shelby Valley
2011 Christian County
2012 Louisville Trinity
2013 Richmond Madison Central
2014 Covington Catholic
2015 Owensboro
2016 Lexington Paul L. Dunbar

Kentucky High-school Boys' Basketball, Four Teams Left

Semifinals! I'm for BG and Creek.

6:30 p.m. Eastern, Bowling Green Purples (35-2) vs. Taylor Mill Scott Eagles (24-12) 

8 p.m., Union Cooper Jaguars (31-4) vs. Louisville Fern Creek Tigers (36-2)

Kentucky High-school Boys' Basketball, Eight Teams Left

Hundredth Sweet 16 quarterfinals today ...

Noon Eastern, Scott County Cardinals (32-5) vs. Bowling Green Purples (34-2)

1:30 p.m., Taylor Mill Scott Eagles (23-12) vs. Hazard Perry County Central Commodores (29-7)

6:30 p.m., Shelbyville Martha Layne Collins Titans (25-12) vs. Union Cooper Jaguars (30-4)

8 p.m., Louisville Ballard Bruins (30-6) vs. Louisville Fern Creek Tigers (35-2)

Kentucky High-school Boys' Basketball, 12 Teams Left

Twelve teams remain in play for the 100th Kentucky High School Athletic Association boys' basketball championship, with four more first-round games on tap today ...

Noon Eastern, Louisville Fern Creek Tigers (33-2) vs. Hopkinsville Tigers (28-6)

1:3o p.m., Louisville Ballard Bruins (28-6) vs. Taylor County Cardinals (20-14)

6:30 p.m., Elliott County Lions (26-3) vs. Shelbyville Martha Layne Collins Titans (23-12)

8 p.m., Union Cooper Jaguars (28-4) vs. Meade County Green Wave (13-21)

Hoptown's WHOP 1230 AM says it will begin coverage from Rupp Arena starting at 10:35 Central. Right now, we've got the Matt Jones show.

Kentucky High-school Boys' Basketball, 16 Teams Left

Here are Kentucky's 99 high-school boys' basketball champions so far:

1918 Lexington (Henry Clay)
1919 Lexington (Henry Clay)
1920 Lexington (Henry Clay)
1921 Louisville duPont Manual
1922 Lexington
1923 Louisville duPont Manual
1924 Lexington
1925 Louisville duPont Manual
1926 Louisville Saint Xavier
1927 Millersburg Military Institute
1928 Ashland (Blazer)
1929 West Paducah Heath!
1930 Corinth
1931 Louisville duPont Manual
1932 Hazard
1933 Ashland (Blazer)
1934 Ashland (Blazer)
1935 Louisville Saint Xavier
1936 Corbin
1937 Midway
1938 Sharpe
1939 Brooksville
1940 Hazel Green
1941 Inez
1942 Lexington Lafayette
1943 Hindman
1944 Harlan
1945 Louisville Male
1946 Breckinridge Training
1947 Maysville
1948 Brewers
1949 Owensboro
1950 Lexington Lafayette
1951 Clark County
1952 Cuba
1953 Lexington Lafayette
1954 Inez
1955 Hazard
1956 Carr Creek
1957 Lexington Lafayette
1958 Louisville Saint Xavier
1959 Calvert City North Marshall
1960 Louisville Flaget
1961 Ashland (Blazer)
1962 Louisville Saint Xavier
1963 Louisville Seneca
1964 Louisville Seneca
1965 Breckinridge County
1966 Shelby County
1967 Earlington
1968 Glasgow
1969 Louisville Central
1970 Louisville Male
1971 Louisville Male
1972 Owensboro
1973 Louisville Shawnee
1974 Louisville Central
1975 Louisville Male
1976 Edmonson County
1977 Louisville Ballard
1978 Shelby County
1979 Lexington Lafayette
1980 Owensboro
1981 Independence Simon Kenton
1982 Laurel County
1983 Lexington Henry Clay
1984 Logan County
1985 Hopkinsville
1986 Pulaski County
1987 Clay County
1988 Louisville Ballard
1989 Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park
1990 Louisville Fairdale
1991 Louisville Fairdale
1992 Hopkinsville University Heights
1993 Marion County
1994 Louisville Fairdale 59
1995 Breckinridge County
1996 Paintsville
1997 Middletown Eastern
1998 Scott County
1999 Louisville Ballard
2000 Elizabethtown
2001 Lexington Lafayette
2002 Lexington Catholic 83
2003 Mason County
2004 Bowling Green Warren Central
2005 London South Laurel
2006 Jeffersontown
2007 Scott County
2008 Mason County
2009 Covington Holmes
2010 Pikeville Shelby Valley
2011 Christian County
2012 Louisville Trinity
2013 Richmond Madison Central
2014 Covington Catholic
2015 Owensboro
2016 Lexington Paul L. Dunbar

Here are the 16 teams that begin competing today at Lexington's Rupp Arena for the 2017 title:

Noon Eastern, Bowling Green Purples (32-2) vs. Graves County Eagles (27-7)

1:30 p.m., Pikeville Panthers (23-8) vs. Hazard Perry County Central Commodores (27-7)

6:30 p.m., Taylor Mill Scott Eagles (21-12) vs. Harlan County Black Bears (31-3)

8 p.m., Scott County Cardinals (30-5) vs. Pulaski County Maroons (27-7)

Here's a bracket for the tournament, and here's the KHSAA program for this week.