A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

KCTCS board receives updates on Huron Study, presidential search, workforce and technology

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System Board of Regents received updates on several key reports at its meeting last week. Acting President Larry Ferguson shared a progress report on the Huron Study, which is a comprehensive assessment of the system’s physical resources, programs and administrative support structures. The study’s purpose is to maximize system resources by improving...

Summer is gone and fall is here — and that’s the way the Earth spins; winter must be on the way

By Tom Latek Kentucky Today It’s fall. It came officially at 2:50 a.m. Saturday at what is known as the Autumnal Equinox or the first day of fall, because that is when day and night at the Equator are each 12 hours long, caused by the Earth’s spin as it orbits the sun. That spin is not exactly vertical, instead the Earth has a spin axis of 23 ½ degrees, which produces not only night and day,...

Attention Earthlings: Clive, the alien and public art creation, has come to Covington (he’ll be watching)

By Judy Clabes NKyTribune editor Attention Mere Earthlings: meetNKY, AlloyFX, and the City of Covington joined forces to roll out the red carpet for a friendly alien named “Clive.” Clive, a special creation of Covington’s AlloyFX, headed by Marc Phelps. (Photo by Judy Clabes/NKyTribune) Clive, otherwise an out-of-this-world art installation, was introduced in a first encounter between...

Former Gov. Brereton Jones, 84, who died Monday, will lie in state in Capitol rotunda on Monday

Former Governor Brereton C. Jones, 84, died Monday at home after a lengthy illness. Jones served as the Commonwealth’s 58th governor from 1991-95 and as Lt. Governor from 1987-1991. With his wife, Libby, he founded Airdrie Stud in Midway, Kentucky and built it into an internationally renowned thoroughbred horse farm. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Lloyd Jones; his children, Lucy Simms Jones...

Family-owned and operated Drees Homes named a 2023 Great Place to Work — staying true to the legacy

Staff report Drees Homes has ranked eighth on the 2023 Great Place To Work and Fortune Best Workplaces in Construction list. This is the first time the homegrown company, now celebrating its 95th year, has been named to this prestigious list. It is no stranger to prestigious lists, however. Drees Homes employees at NKY headquarters. (Drees Homes photo) The Best Workplaces in Construction ranking...

Flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Governor Brereton Jones — and NKyians pay tribute

Staff report Gov. Beshear has directed that flags at all state office buildings be lowered to half-staff until sunset on the day of interment in honor of former Governor Brereton Jones who died Monday after a long illness. The former Governor will lie in state in the rotunda of the Kentucky State Capitol. Additional arrangements will be forthcoming. Individuals, businesses and organizations throughout...

NKYian John A. Stephenson enters Alford plea in bilking life savings of elderly Vietnam veteran

By Jack Brammer NKyTribune reporter   John A. Stephenson, the last person to serve as Kentucky’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, has entered an Alford plea in Boone Circuit Court related to stealing the life savings of an elderly Vietnam veteran. Stephenson was accused in 2022 of manipulating Darris Beach, 78, into giving him access to his finances so he could steal $60,000 from Beach’s...

Two multi-sport athletes for Highlands are among latest inductees to N.Ky. Sports Hall of Fame

By Terry Boehmker NKyTribune sports reporter Two multi-sport athletes at Highlands High School are among the latest group to be inducted into the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday at The Gardens of Park Hills. Herb Hilgeman is a 1968 Highlands graduate who participated in basketball, baseball and track. Megan Arnzen-Krieg is a 1994 graduate who earned a total...

Kentucky Supreme Court to consider question of gerrymandered voting maps this week

By Michael Li 
Brennan Center for Justice On September 19, the Kentucky Supreme Court will become the latest state high court to consider the question of whether legal challenges to gerrymandered voting maps are justiciable under its state constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court controversially ruled in 2019 that partisan gerrymandering claims were non-justiciable “political questions” under the...

Governor lauds grand opening of 80 Acres Farm in Boone County — a vertical, high tech operation

Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted further momentum within Kentucky’s agritech sector as he congratulated 80 Acres Farms on the grand opening of the company’s new vertical farming facility in Boone County, which will create 125 well-paying jobs with an investment of up to $95 million. “Kentucky’s growth in the agritech sector is a key part of our Commonwealth’s surging and versatile economy, which...

NKU welcomes new president, Dr. Cady Short-Thompson, ‘back home’ with a standing ovation

By Jack Brammer NKyTribune reporter   When an ebullient Dr. Cady Short-Thompson was introduced Wednesday as Northern Kentucky University’s new president, she said the scene for her was like “a beautiful full-circle moment.” She asked to savor it. The first woman to become a permanent, not interim, president of NKU was referring back to her days as a communications professor and department chair...

Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles is among the three finalists for the presidency of KCTCS

Staff report The Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) has named three finalists for their new president — and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles is among them. KCTCS Board Chair Barry Martin announced the finalists Tuesday. “We are overwhelmingly thrilled with candidates received in this search,” said Martin, “and we are excited to announce these extraordinary...

Northern Kentucky University regents plan to name university’s 7th president on Wednesday

By Judy Clabes NKyTribune editor Northern Kentucky University’s Board of Regents plans to name the university’s 7th president on Wednesday. The announcement is scheduled for 10 a.m. and a live stream will be available. The Board of Regents will be meeting Tuesday evening and will be continuing the meeting Wednesday morning, culminating in an expected announcement of the new president. Bonita...

A reminder: Chamber annual dinner is Thursday for ‘Moving Forward as One’ and presentation of awards

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce celebrates “Moving Forward as One” at its Annual Dinner on Thursday, September 14, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. This is a reminder to register. The region’s business community is invited to celebrate the past year’s successes, look to what’s ahead, and honor the people and organizations helping to lead the way – moving the region...