LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 2, Issue 34 - July 26, 2024

KENTON

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 34 — JULY 26, 2024

THE VOICE OF NKY

linknky.com

New laws in limbo without funding

By Liam Niemeyer | Kentucky Lantern

K

entucky legislators enacted more than 200 laws this year, most of which took effect July 15.

At least 20 new laws, though, are in limbo.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear says the Republican-controlled General Assembly failed to fund them – to the tune of $153 million – even after he informed lawmakers of the problem on April 10.

On April 15, the session’s final day, the legislature passed Senate Bill 91, a budget cleanup bill that the administration says made $372 million in appropriations.

“None of those appropriations addressed the unfunded mandates outlined in the governor’s letter,” said Crystal Staley, a spokesperson for Beshear, in a statement to the Lantern.

“We have consistently said – even if some of these bills represent good public policy – if the legislature does not provide the funding, it does not intend for the executive branch to perform those services.”

Continues on page 3

More than 200 bills cleared the Kentucky General Assembly in 2024, but about 20 were passed with no money directed to enact them. File photo | LINK nky

NKU president testifies in Frankfort on DEI

By Rebecca Hanchett

leges, known as SACSCOC.

orthern Kentucky University president Cady Short-Thompson told a Republican-led state legislative committee July 16 that the university’s regional accreditation is tied to “expectations” of diversity, equity and inclusion.

“It’s important for us to make sure that we adhere to and comply with (those) credentials and expectations,” Short-Thompson told the committee during a two-hour meeting. Her testimony underscored tension caused by postsecondary education’s reliance on DEI programs and a growing push among conservatives to eliminate DEI following a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down affirmative action based on race in higher education.

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The panel, the Interim Joint Committee on Education, is investigating DEI in postsecondary education

NKU President Cady Short-Thompson testified July 16 in Frankfort on the school’s DEI programs.

Provided | NKU

Accreditation indicates that a college or university meets specific education standards and is usually necessary to compete for federal funding. Regional and national nonprofit organizations oversee accreditation in most cases. NKU’s regional accrediting agency is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Col-

Two anti-DEI bills, one sponsored in the state Senate and the other in the House, failed to pass in Frankfort during the 2024 legislative session. Another attempt is expected in 2025.

Short-Thompson

told

lawmakers

the

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Advocates: Students need more summer programs p7 Covington takes steps toward medical cannabis law p10 Focus on golf tees up summer of change for Bellevue’s Sorrell p17

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Republican lawmakers are unconvinced.

Dustin Issacs, a spokesperson for the Republican supermajority in the Kentucky Senate, in a statement said the governor’s “constitutional responsibility is to execute the law.”

“The administration’s excuse for not implementing bills enacted by the General Assembly during the previous legislative session rests on their flawed interpretation and application of a Supreme Court case dating back to Gov. Fletcher’s administration,” Issacs said.

The bills in limbo range from House Bill 271 – which mandates creation of a statewide system for reporting child abuse 24/7 that the administration estimates would cost $43 million – to a school safety bill, Senate Bill 2, which authorizes school guardians with a price tag estimated by the administration at $220,000.

Rep. Nick Wilson, R-Williamsburg, primary sponsor of the child abuse reporting bill, said he was unaware of any funding problems until being contacted last week by the Lantern. He also was unaware of the governor’s April 10 letter.

Stephanie French, a spokesperson for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, in a statement said the cabinet sent a fiscal impact statement on March 15 saying Wilson's HB 271 had an estimated annual cost of $43 million to implement.​​However, no fiscal impact statement is attached to the bill on the legislature’s website.

Of the 22 bills and two resolutions that the governor warned were unfunded, only two have fiscal impact statements published on the legislature’s website. Beshear said a request was made for a fiscal impact analysis on most of the bills that he says ended up as unfunded mandates.

‘Not allocated the funding’ The fiscal impact of a bill has traditionally been estimated by nonpartisan Legislative Research Commission staff in consultation with the executive branch agency that would be responsible for implementing the new law. Any lawmaker may ask for a fiscal impact statement.

French, the CHFS spokesperson, said, “Team Kentucky is 100% focused on the children who rely on us for their safety and well-being,” adding that the cabinet was supportive of the bill. “We were not allocated the funding to be able to implement, therefore there is a fiscal impact that must be addressed before implementation can occur.”

This dispute spilled into public last month over Senate Bill 151, which is intended to provide financial relief to grandparents and other kinship caregivers raising children in Kentucky. Beshear in his letter said he supported the law, which he signed, but that it lacked approximately $20 million in funding to implement.

The law’s primary sponsor, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, pushed back against the administration’s reasoning and argued

implementation of the law is not negotiable.

Michelle Sanborn, president of the Children’s Alliance, an advocacy group supporting at-risk children and families, lobbied for HB 271 and the law providing relief for kinship care. She wondered why fiscal impact statements weren’t attached publicly to those bills.

“I don’t know where the breakdown was, whether it was one side or the other, or both,” Sanborn said.

Children most important The dispute will be revisited July 30 when the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children plans to seek more information on what’s holding up implementation of the kinship care bill.

Wilson, an attorney who’s worked in family courts, questioned the $43 million price tag on the bill creating a new statewide child abuse reporting system. He said children’s lives and well-being are at risk when investigations do not proceed in a timely manner. The bill had bipartisan support and was signed by Beshear.

“I don’t see how it could cost that much,” Wilson said. “The children are the most important thing in Kentucky. If any law is going to get implemented, I think it should be this one. It’s pretty upsetting to me. I mean, it’s heartbreaking.”

French, the CHFS spokesperson, didn’t Continues on page 4

JULY 26, 2024 3

Continued from page 3

respond to an emailed Lantern question asking for more specifics about the costs associated with the $43 million. In the previous state budget, Kentucky lawmakers allocated $19.6 million to support a different hotline to help Kentuckians in mental health crises.

Other Republican lawmakers have been skeptical of fiscal impact statements associated with past bills, and a member of Re-

publican leadership in the Kentucky House passed a bill this session requiring more documentation from state agencies for fiscal impact statements.

Generally, fiscal impact statements are requested by a bill’s sponsor or a legislative committee chair asking about a bill’s costs and financial impact on state government.

Money is available to lawmakers. The dispute is unfolding as state tax revenues remain robust; the state budget office anticipates Kentucky’s budget surplus will top $1 billion for the fourth consecutive year.

Bipartisan effort stuck

In his April 10 letter, the governor cited a Kentucky Supreme Court decision from 2005, during Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s administration, as legal reasoning, saying that, if the legislature doesn’t provide funding to implement a policy, then it “does not intend for the executive branch to perform those services over the biennium.”

Beshear in the letter enumerated $153 million in new costs to implement the 20 bills and two resolutions that he listed.

The Lantern previously reported that a constitutional law expert and past president of the Kentucky Bar Association agreed with the Beshear administration’s interpretation of the 2005 state Supreme Court decision, saying the executive branch can’t spend money that hasn’t been appropriated.

Rep. Nick Wilson sponsored HB 271, which establishes a statewide system for reporting child abuse but includes no funding to pay for it.

visions in the questioned laws that don’t require new funding.

Wilson said he wants to make sure that at least a new child abuse reporting system is funded in a future legislative session.

“I think everyone wants this,” Wilson said.

“I’ll do whatever I can. I’m willing to work with anybody.”

In the 2024 session, it took weeks of family court judges testifying, forming a working group and deliberations among cabinet officials, lawmakers and other stakeholders before a version of HB 271, the child abuse reporting bill, passed a Kentucky House committee on its way to eventual final passage. HB 271 passed unanimously in both chambers. Beshear signed it April 9.

Other laws described as unfunded mandates in Beshear’s April 10 letter to the legislature cover a wide range of topics and policies.

“It’s been a true bipartisan effort, and I think that’s something that we sometimes miss in Frankfort,” said Rep. Samara Heavrin, R-Leitchfield, chair of the House Families and Children Committee, when the bill passed. “We had several late nights and several hard conversations.”

Staley, the governor’s spokesperson, said the executive branch will implement pro-

For Wilson, passage of the bill came down to ensuring the safety and welfare of Ken-

tucky’s children.

“The wait times were so bad that it made it hard to report, and it was actually pretty hard to just receive a phone narrative or a written complaint and decide whether or not a social worker should investigate,” Wilson said. “The sad result is that there’s just not enough investigations from social workers on child abuse cases.”

Laws in Limbo • A GOP-sponsored law passed unanimously requiring school officials to report truancy to a county attorney after a certain period of time.

• A Democratic-sponsored law allowing foster parents who work outside the home or teleworking inside the home to receive child care benefits.

• A bill and joint resolution sponsored by Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, creating a nuclear energy research authority and directing the state utility regulator to prepare for siting nuclear energy facilities.

• A bill prohibiting the sale of kratom to those under age 21 and ordering the Kentucky Department for Public Health to regulate it.

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Continued from page 1

agency adheres to a DEI statement that encourages the promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion in postsecondary education.

The statement reads: “Promoting diversity, equity and inclusion is an opportunity for institutions to recruit students of all backgrounds, identities and abilities; to support them, adapt teaching methods, and use technology to meet their needs and break down barriers to learning; and to successfully guide, mentor, retain and graduate them.”

In the case of SACSCOC, adhering to expectations like those spelled out in the statement allows the university to compete for federal funding, secure student financial aid, and confer valuable postsecondary credentials, Short-Thompson told lawmakers. “We work hard to be compliant with our regional accreditor,” Short-Thompson said.

NKU also has DEI requirements for outside accreditation of dozens of academic programs that cover engineering technology, education, nursing, public administration, social work and more, she said.

Where DEI does not come into play at NKU is institutionally funded scholarships, admissions, or use of diversity statements as a condition of employment, promotion or other benefits, according to Short-Thompson. NKU also does not have a bias incident report team – a service used by many universities to investigate actions potentially motivated by bias against a particular group.

By definition, Short-Thompson said DEI at the university is “diversity, variety or differences; equity, the process of ensuring freedom from bias or favoritism such that all individuals can achieve full potential and a measure of achievement, fairness and opportunity for all in education; and inclusion, the process of improving success for all.

“I would argue that to admit folks, we have to make sure that we support them to be successful,” she told the committee. “It’s not fair to admit folks who can’t be successful. So we try really hard to ensure their success.”

letics, profession and many more – that she said “enhance belonging and support.”

Students pay fees to support many clubs and activities on campus, she told lawmakers.

‘I don’t see white anything’ It was DEI spending by the university, though, that grabbed the attention of Rep. Emily Callaway, R-Louisville, a member of the interim committee. Callaway referred to a budget sheet requested by the committee that showed NKU’s actual annual spending totaling over $100,000 each for initiatives geared toward African American students, Latino students, LGBTQ+ students and the Center for Student Inclusiveness. An additional $324,000 was budgeted for NKU’s chief diversity officer.

Similar data had been requested by the committee from the state’s other public universities to ascertain just how much public universities are spending on DEI officers, offices, programs and events, training, etc.

“You mention you want to make sure everyone feels welcome there. I see Black graduate celebrations, I see Black student welcomes, I see Black achiever, there’s African American alumni who come to participate. I see Black student unions. I don’t see white anything,” said Callaway. “How is this inclusive? And how is it promoting unity while you segregate Black, white – well, we’re assuming there are some whites who go there; we don’t know because there’s no mention of any activities for whites.”

NKU has 223 student organizations and groups – including those geared toward women, men, Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ persons; religion, athletics, professions and more – supported by student fees, not the university. Provided | NKU

ent programs are offered.”

DEI ‘bureaucracies’ criticized

Eighty-five percent of NKU students are white, Short-Thompson replied, and all students are welcome to attend activities of any of the hundreds of groups. She compared the specificity of the names of some of the groups to the names of state legislative caucuses to which members of the Kentucky General Assembly themselves belong.

“If you think about legislative caucuses having a Black caucus, or a women’s caucus, or a sportsmen’s caucus, not everyone, I imagine, attends all of those things, but some of you may find value in them,” The university currently has 223 student Short-Thompson said. “When it comes to organizations and groups – including the social and support wraparound serthose geared toward women, men, Black, vices that we offer to make sure people see 7047065_100_sehada_print_ad_womens_ob_10.375x3.389V1.pdf 1 10/25/23 12:37 PM Latino and LGBTQ+ persons, religion, ath- themselves there, (that is) why these differ-

Also at the July 16 meeting, the committee heard testimony about DEI at Morehead State University and heard about the evolution of diversity programming in Kentucky public universities from the Council on Postsecondary Education. The remainder of Kentucky’s public colleges and universities are expected to testify on their DEI programs before the panel in September, according to committee co-chair Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris.

The final speaker was Tim Minella, a senior fellow at the Arizona-based conservative Goldwater Institute. The institute defines itself as “the nation’s preeminent liberty organization working to defend our freedoms nationwide.” Minella asked lawmak-

ers to consider Goldwater’s recommendation to abolish DEI “bureaucracies” and prohibit state universities from requiring any courses related to diversity, equity or inclusion for graduation.

No action was taken on the recommendations at the meeting Tuesday.

“This is the subject matter we felt was appropriate to bring at this time. There were a couple of DEI bills filed in the last session.

We felt that if we were going to broach the subject, that this subject was going to be addressed again, and that we should have all the information available to us and we should have a thorough understanding of what our postsecondary institutions are doing as it pertains to DEI,” West said Tuesday, “This will be part one, and our September meeting will be part two.”

JULY 26, 2024 5

NKY’s GOP delegates back Trump-Vance

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump appears July 15 with vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Photo by Julia Nikhinson | AP

By Rebecca Hanchett

N

orthern Kentucky delegates in Milwaukee for the 2024 Republican National Convention said there is “excitement” about U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance’s being named former President Trump’s running mate. The announcement followed months of speculation about who would be the party’s vice presidential pick.

Shane Noem, chairman of the Kenton County Republican Party, is one of 46 Kentucky delegates selected to represent the commonwealth at the convention that formally nominated Trump on July 15. He told LINK in a text, “The crowd in Milwaukee is energized, unified and optimistic about November’s election.

“There is a lot of excitement about having a vice president who knows how to find Kenton County on a map! Sen. Vance is a great addition to the ticket,” said Noem.

Vance, 39, was selected as Trump’s running mate just hours before the pick was

announced on the convention floor July 15.

Other potential picks had included Florida Sen. Marc Rubio and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Vance, the Middletown, Ohio-born junior senator from the Buckeye State, has Kentucky ties that he wrote about in his bestselling 2016 book, “Hillbilly Elegy.” Noem told LINK that the Trump-Vance ticket is “a strong, unified ticket that will win in November.”

The former president received a total of 2,388 delegate votes out of an estimated total of 2,429, putting him well over the estimated count of 1,215 needed to win the party’s nomination. All 46 Kentucky Republican delegates voted July 15 to nominate Trump as the party’s 2024 presidential nominee.

All 79 of Ohio’s RNC delegates also voted to nominate Trump. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine told NBC News July 15 that, without a doubt, his state – once a longtime presidential swing state – “will go for Trump.”

“This is a great thing for Ohio,” DeWine told NBC. “The real question is the Senate,” he said, referring to this year’s election battle between Democratic incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican nominee Bernie Moreno. “It will be a real battle,” said DeWine.

Trump was at the convention July 17 but did not speak to the crowd. He formally accepted the party nomination on July 18, the convention’s last day. Vance gave the convention’s keynote address the same day.

The convention began less than 48 hours after an assassination attempt on the former president at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 that injured Trump’s right ear. One person was killed in the shooting, and two others were critically injured.

No motive for the shooting has been announced.

Speakers on the convention’s first day included U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, from Louisiana, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, of Tennessee, and party firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, of Georgia.

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While their speeches differed in tone, the overall theme was unity and a call for return to Republican party rule.

The Democratic National Convention is set for Aug. 19-22 in Chicago. President Joe Biden is the Democratic party’s presumptive nominee. However, debate has continued among some prominent party supporters and others about whether the 81-year-old incumbent should step away amid questions about his mental sharpness following his June debate performance.

Biden has repeatedly said he will not drop out of the 2024 race. In a letter distributed by his campaign after the debate, the president said it is time for speculation about him leaving the race “to end.” In the letter, Biden said, “Any weakening of resolve or lack of clarity about the task ahead only helps Trump and hurts us. It’s time to come together, move forward as a unified party, and defeat Donald Trump.”

The 2024 U.S. presidential election takes place Nov. 5.

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Students need more summer programs, advocates say

By Rebecca Hanchett

C

amp Covington is a summer camp offered by Covington Independent Public Schools in cooperation with Covington Partners. It gives students a chance to keep learning when school’s out.

What’s more, it’s offered free of charge to Covington Independent students, thanks largely to federal grants through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative and private support.

The goal of out-of-school-time programs like Camp Covington: “Academic enrichment and skill development opportunities during nonschool hours for students, families and neighbors,” according to the Covington Partners website.

“We are able to provide wraparound support services by transforming each school into a community learning center that has the potential to be the hub of the community and the foundation for each student,” according to the Covington Partners 20202025 strategic plan. “When we commit to transform our school buildings into CLCs, we envision a place where a coordination of services is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., all year long.”

Demand for out of school-time programs is outpacing supply in the state and region.

Only 20% of Kentucky schoolchildren that need an afterschool program are enrolled in one, according to the Kentucky Out-ofSchool Alliance, an organization that advocates for and tracks out of school opportunities in the state.

Cheye Calvo, incoming CEO of the regional nonprofit EducateNKY, told LINK that outof-school time as well as positive exposure to new experiences is a critical need in the region and a priority for EducateNKY as it writes a strategic plan for learning in the river cities. That plan is expected to be released late this year.

“Out of school time and exposure is critically important for the healthy development of young people,” said Calvo. “It is very important that all students, regardless of where they live, have experiences that expand their minds and bring joy to learning.

This is a case where the education community needs strong nonprofit partners to create the infrastructure that allows every child to find those opportunities that are

Federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers, regulated school-age child care providers, permitted youth camps and other afterschool and summer program sites that receive annual support from state appropriations for each county in Kentucky. Provided | Kentucky Out of School Alliance

going to excite and animate their learning.”

There are currently fee-based and non-fee based out of school-time programs across the region. Covington-based Learning Grove, for example, offers fee-based programs, funding-assisted programming and more. Learning Grove is also a partner in the SHINE program, an out of schooltime program free to Ludlow Independent Schools students in grades K-6.

The program, at Mary A. Goetz Elementary, is so popular that it often has a wait list.

Children are enrolled on a first-come, firstserved basis.

“Over the past decade, demand for these [OST] programs has skyrocketed while opportunity has shrunk,” Stephanie Barker told LINK nky. She’s interim lead of KYOSA, the Out of School Alliance. “According to America After 3PM [a national survey of parents or guardians of school children], more than 280,000 children in Kentucky would be enrolled in an afterschool program if one were available to them.”

Cost is an issue. Approximately 56% of Kentucky families say out of school-time programs are too expensive, according to the last America After 3PM survey in 2020.

A lack of dedicated state funding is among the barriers to participation.

“Most OST programs operate on a fee-forservice model,” Barker told LINK. Parents paid an average of nearly $118 per child per week for afterschool programs, about $153 for voluntary summer programs and $240 for specialty summer camps or programs for out-of-school time, according to America After 3PM.

Advocates for out-of-school time and exposure to new experiences say still more opportunities are needed – especially in areas like the river cities. Examples of positive exposure may include career day, a hiking trip, a day at a museum or something as simple as reading to a child, EducateNKY officials told LINK.

“The bottom line is this: Afterschool and summer programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and support working families. But too many kids, families and communities across our state don’t have access despite widespread public support for increased funding for afterschool,” Barker told LINK.

“The goal should be to build capacity of one or more nonprofit organizations to serve and incentivize river city districts and others with a significant share of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to enhance extra-time programming, activate hands-on learning, expand exposure and enrichments, and help students see the larger world while imagining what is possible for them in it,” according to EducateNKY’s landscape assessment, released this spring.

Fee-based out-of-school time varies across NKY. Boone County had 39 licensed afterschool programs as of 2021, according to county-specific data provided by KYOSA. All Boone County sites were fee-based at that time, according to KYOSA. In Kenton County there were 89 afterschool programs in 2021 reported by KYOSA. Of those, just 14.6% were not fee based.

Afterschool program information specific to Campbell County was not available on the KYOSA website, although a graphic on the KYOSA site showed at least 50 out of school-time programs in Campbell County in 2023.

What that will ultimately look like depends on NKY, says EducateNKY – with plenty of room for collaboration.

“Learning does not end with the school day,” EducateNKY wrote in its assessment.

“Exposure and out of school time is an area that is ripe for partnership and collaboration across schools and districts to ensure all students receive extra time afterschool, on weekends and during the summer to enrich their learning experiences.”

JULY 26, 2024 7

nky in photos From bluegrass to country to indie rock, there are live music venues in Northern Kentucky for music enthusiasts of all stripes.

Here are some of the best hotspots around the area.

Molly Malone’s is an authentic, Irish-owned and operated restaurant and pub in Covington’s Roebling Point District. Photo by Haley Roden | LINK nky

Molly Malone’s offers live music every Thursday evening from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and a bluegrass jam session each Sunday from 7-9 p.m. Provided | Molly Malone’s

Tucked away on Washington Avenue in Newport sits Mansion Hill Tavern. The historic blues bar, with nightly live music, was erected in 1875, and it originally served as an inn for railroad and steamboat workers traveling the Ohio River. Photo by Haley Roden | LINK nky

Florence is home to the second Blind Squirrel location. The first opened in Louisville in 2017. The venue offers both indoor and outdoor spaces, and guests can listen to live bands on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Photo by Haley Roden | LINK nky

8 JULY 26, 2024

nky in photos

Built in a 19th-century church, the Southgate House Revival in Newport has open mic nights, live music and events of all sorts nearly every day. Photo by Haley Roden | LINK nky

For those looking for more of a hip-hop scene, the Thompson House in Newport is the place to be.

While it does not have live music every week, it hosts several larger shows. Photo by Haley Roden | LINK nky

Tower Park amphitheater in Fort Thomas hosts performances including the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s free summer series. The KSO’s next show there is Aug. 4. Provided | City of Fort Thomas on Facebook

The Devou Park Band Shell is home to a variety of concerts through the summer, including the annual DevouGrass Festival, seen above, and performances in the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s summer series (next show Aug. 3). Provided | exploredevoupark.org

JULY 26, 2024 9

Covington crafts medical cannabis law

By Nathan Granger

C

ovington took its first steps toward allowing medical cannabis facilities in the city July 16 after the Board of Commissioners gave first reading to an ordinance that would regulate such businesses in the city. The commission will give a second reading and vote on the regulations in August.

The ordinance was not on the agenda; it followed a presentation from City Manager Ken Smith, who went over the areas in the city where such businesses could potentially set up shop. At the end of his presentation, Smith recommended the commission begin the process of regulating cannabis businesses, and the motion to add the ordinance to the agenda and perform a first reading passed unanimously.

The process of legalizing medical cannabis in Kentucky started March 31, 2023, when Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, enabled the regulation of medical marijuana statewide and established the administration of such regulation under the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the newly-established Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program.

The law established five kinds of allowable facilities: cultivating centers where cannabis would be grown, processing facilities where the plants are refined for medical use, hybrid facilities where both cultivation and processing could take place, dispensaries, and safety facilities where products are tested to ensure they’re safe to use.

Types of cannabis-related businesses permitted under state law. Provided | City of Florence and Joshua Hunt

The first round of licensing will see the issuance of 11 processing licenses and 48 dispensary licenses across Kentucky, numbers that will increase in coming years as the state gets more used to regulating the businesses. Those licenses will be distributed across the commonwealth’s 11 area development districts. No more than one dispensary license per county will be issued in this first round.

Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties have already banned the establishment of medical cannabis businesses countywide, but regulations at the city level can over-

NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS OF DUKE ENERGY KENTUCKY, INC. RECOVERY BY ENVIRONMENTAL SURCHARGE OF DUKE ENERGY KENTUCKY, INC.’S AMENDMENT TO ITS 2021 AMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE PLAN PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Duke Energy Kentucky, Inc. (“Duke Energy Kentucky” or “Company”) is filing with the Kentucky Public Service Commission (“Commission”) on or about July 19, 2024 in Case No. 2024-00152, an Application pursuant to Kentucky Revised Statute 278.183 for approval of the construction of the Limestone Conversion Project (Project) located at its East Bend Generating Station (“East Bend”) and an amendment of the Company’s Environmental Compliance Plan to include the Project for the purpose of recovering the capital and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs associated with the Project through an increase in the environmental surcharge on customers’ bills beginning March 1, 2025 under the Company’s existing Rider ESM, also known as the environmental surcharge mechanism. The total capital cost of the Limestone Conversion Project in the Company’s Amended Environmental Compliance Plan is estimated to be $125.8 million.

Federal and state environmental regulations require Duke Energy Kentucky to build and upgrade equipment and facilities that produce energy from coal to operate in an environmentally sound manner. Specifically, the Company is seeking Commission approval of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the construction and operation of the Project. This construction project requires an amendment of Duke Energy Kentucky’s Amended Environmental Compliance Plan that was approved by the Commission in 2022.

Additionally, Duke Energy Kentucky is seeking an order approving the recovery of the costs of the Project through its Environmental Surcharge tariff.

The Project is required for the Company to continue to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s federal Clean Air Act, and other environmental requirements that apply to Duke Energy Kentucky facilities used in the production of energy from coal. The total capital cost of the Project for which the Company is seeking recovery at this time is estimated to be $125.8 million. O&M costs related to the Project will be similar to O&M costs incurred today and are not distinguishable.

The impact on Duke Energy Kentucky’s customers is estimated to be an increase of 1.0% for residential customers and 1.0% on average for nonresidential customers in 2025, 2.8% for residential customers and 2.7% on average for non-residential customers in 2026, 2.1% for residential customers and 2.1% on average for non-residential customers in 2027, 1.8% for residential customers and 1.7% on average for non-residential customers in 2028, and 1.8% for residential customers and 1.8% on average for non-residential customers in 2029. For a Duke Energy Kentucky residential customer using 1000 kilowatt hours per month (kWh/mo.), the initial monthly increase is expected to be $1.32 during 2025, $3.63 in 2026, $2.72 in 2027, $2.25 in 2028, and $2.33 in 2029.

The rates contained in this notice are the rates proposed by Duke Energy Kentucky; however, the Kentucky Public Service Commission may order rates to be charged that differ from the proposed rates contained in this notice. Such action may result in rates for consumers other than the rates in this notice.

Any corporation, association, body politic or person with a substantial interest in the matter may, by written request within thirty (30) days after publication of this notice of the proposed rate changes, request leave to intervene; intervention may be granted beyond the thirty (30) day period for good cause shown. Such motion shall be submitted to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 615, 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky 40602-0615, and shall set forth the grounds for the request including the status and interest of the party. If the Commission does not receive a written request for intervention within thirty (30) days of the initial publication the Commission may take final action on the application.

Intervenors may obtain copies of the application and other filings made by the Company by requesting same through email at DEKInquiries@dukeenergy.com or by telephone at (513) 287-4366. A copy of the application and other filings made by the Company are available for public inspection through the Commission’s website at http://psc.ky.gov, at the Commission’s office at 211 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and at the following Company office: Erlanger Ops Center, 1262 Cox Road, Erlanger, Kentucky 41018. Comments regarding the application may be submitted to the Public Service Commission through its website, or by mail at the following Commission address.

For further information contact: PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY P.O. BOX 615 211 SOWER BOULEVARD FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY 40602-0615 (502) 564-3940

10 JULY 26, 2024

DUKE ENERGY KENTUCKY 1262 COX ROAD ERLANGER, KENTUCKY 41018 (513) 287-4366

ride the prohibition.

ry can locate,” Smith said.

“This will allow cities to proactively opt in, but this will also allow everyone else to stay out if they choose to,” Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann said during the Kenton County Fiscal Court meeting on July 9, at which the county’s ban was passed.

At the commission meeting, he projected a series of maps that highlighted different areas where a dispensary might go. The maps, he said, were preliminary and not exhaustive – there may have been some daycares and schools he missed – but they gave a broad picture of where a business might be permissable.

Knochelmann explained that the county’s rationale was to give each city ample time to make its own judgments.

If a city decides to send the issue to the ballot this November, it has to file the necessary paperwork by Aug. 13. Zoning regulations must be established by Jan. 1, when businesses are legally allowed to begin operating, or else the county ban will apply.

Several cities in the region, such as Independence, Bellevue and Florence, have already voted to put the issue on the November ballot. Erlanger and Dayton are in the process of establishing zoning to regulate the businesses, while Union has voted to prohibit them. Decisions vary across other cities in the region.

Although Covington is in the county’s urban core and intuitively the most likely place the county would have a dispensary, Smith contended that there actually weren’t that many spaces in the city where a dispensary could go.

He recommended folding the different business types into the city’s existing business categories as established by ordinance rather than making new categories.

Under this suggestion, the city would categorize a dispensary as a pharmacy, meaning one could open wherever a pharmacy could also open. The issue, Smith said, is that dispensaries cannot open within 1,000 feet of a school or a daycare. This limited the number of spaces where one could conceivably appear.

“I guess the takeaway is that there aren’t a lot of spots in Covington where a dispensa-

“I wanted to make sure that you all [commissioners] and the public at large understands that, if medical cannabis is approved, we’re not going to have corner medical cannabis dispensaries throughout the city,” Smith said.

This point was affirmed by commission member Steve Hayden.

“It’s not like it’s a head shop or something,” Hayden said. “It’s behind closed doors, and they cannot sell anything else at all, not even a pack of chewing gum.”

Smith argued that regulation was a good idea for two reasons. First, if put to a vote, he thought residents would likely vote to allow it anyway. Second, he argued that waiting for a ballot initiative could leave prospective businesses “in limbo.”

“It would be exceedingly difficult for someone to be up and running [by Jan. 1],” Smith said. “They would have to invest money in a business that may not be legal after November’s election.”

There was some discussion among commissioners about the details, and some thought that the commission might need to tweak the city’s existing zoning regulations. Decisions on that matter were put off to future meetings.

Covington’s commission next meets at 6 p.m. Aug. 6 at Covington City Hall.

LINK nky staff reporter Kenton Hornbeck contributed to this story.

kenton county briefs Kenton joins Boone, Campbell counties, bars cannabis businesses Kenton County is prohibiting cannabis businesses countywide following similar moves from neighboring Campbell and Boone counties.

At a meeting July 9, Kenton County Fiscal Court gave second reading to an ordinance that would prohibit cannabis businesses within the county. The first reading took place June 11.

“This will allow cities to proactively opt in, but this will also allow everyone else to stay out if they choose to,” Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann said during the meeting.

If a county opts not to let businesses operate, but a city within that county opts in, the bill allows businesses to operate within that city’s jurisdictional boundaries. Kentucky state law requires each individual city to create zoning regulations to allow or prohibit those types of businesses from operating.

Local governments have until Jan. 1 to decide whether to allow businesses to operate in their cities and counties. If they want to allow residents enough time to petition their decision and get it on the November ballot. The petition must be certified by the county clerk by Aug. 13 in order to go on the November ballot.

GOAT Bar opens in Latonia, bringing a new neighborhood hangout

Knochelmann explained that the county’s rationale was to give each city ample time to make its own judgment.

So far, Crescent Springs and Independence have put the issue on the November ballot, while Taylor Mill moved to prohibit medical cannabis businesses from opening in the city. Erlanger and Independence are also in the process of establishing zoning regulations for medical cannabis businesses, and Covington has started the process (see story, page 10).

“It will be on the ballot,” Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman said during a meeting on July 1. “In preparation for it, if it passes, we wanted to go ahead and get the ball rolling on the zoning.”

Campbell County was first in Northern Kentucky to opt out of the legislation during a fiscal court meeting on June 5.

Boone County followed not long after, opting out during a fiscal court meeting on June 21.

The legalization of medical cannabis in Kentucky came about on March 31, 2023, when Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law. The law enabled the regulation of medical marijuana statewide and established the administration of such regulation.

Johnson and his business partner purchased the building in June for $200,000, according to Kenton County property records. The space had been home to Mic’s Pub, an Irish bar that operated from 2012 until 2022. Johnson said he chose Latonia because of its neighborliness, and, aesthetically, he liked the building for its brick exterior.

“I love Latonia,” Johnson said. “I think the people here are great. They have a great sense of community and are just really, really down-to-earth great people, and I love the idea of being a neighborhood bar that just brings people together.”

The bar’s name, The GOAT, is a reference to the acronym for “Greatest Of All Time” coupled with Johnson’s affinity for the animal, which he said is good to use for marketing and branding. The bar features traditional elements inside, including a small live music space, three dart boards, several televisions, charity machines, a Golden Tee machine and KENO. For Johnson, the bar’s opening is the culmination of years of investment. Johnson explained that the previous owner helped rehab the bar’s interior before he bought the property. The prior work made it easier for Johnson to pull the trigger on the transaction.

Co-owner Matt Johnson cut the ribbon to The GOAT Bar in Latonia. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

The GOAT Bar, nestled at the corner of Huntington and East Southern avenues in Latonia, is co-founder Matt Johnson’s take on the neighborhood bar.

The corner bar hosted a grand opening ceremony July 11 in conjunction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, courtesy of the city of Covington. Vice Mayor Ron Washington spoke at the event, thanking Johnson for taking a chance on Latonia, and touting the neighborhood’s walkability and sense of community.

“We want you to succeed because, if you succeed, our city succeeds, so it’s extremely, extremely important,” Washington said.

“It feels like a very casual place to hang out and have affordable drinks and a snack like a hot dog and nachos,” he said.

At the moment, managing the bar will be a side project as he continues his full-time career as a real estate appraiser.

“It’s a part-time gig for both of us [partners],” he said. “It’s something we’re doing that was a side project that we think would be fun and interesting. We’ll be working here as our time allows.”

Starting out, the bar will open Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to midnight.

Johnson said the hours will adjust accordingly as the business becomes more established.

Startup hub SparkHaus lands $750K funding from Haile, Drees foundations

The SparkHaus startup hub is at 727 Madison Ave. in Covington. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

SparkHaus, a new hub for the Northern Kentucky startup community, has received a big financial boost from the Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation and the Drees Homes Foundation.

The Haile Foundation is pledging $500,000, while the Drees Homes Foundation is pledging $250,000.

SparkHaus aims to create a centralized office hub for Northern Kentucky-based startups, investment firms and entrepreneurial support organizations. It will be based in the former Sims Furniture building at 727 Madison Ave. in Covington’s central business district. Amenities will include meeting spaces, classrooms and presentation rooms.

The Northern Kentucky Port Authority owns the property. The building is 47,000 square feet, 39,000 of which can accommodate rent-paying office space.

“SparkHaus fills a gap in our game plan to diversify our economy with new, innovative businesses,” Kenton County Judge-Executive Kris Knochelmann said in a release.

“Whether it’s our partners in the General Assembly or local business leaders, we’re grateful they share our vision for what this space can be and recognize the power of putting together all the pieces of the puzzle to give our entrepreneurs the greatest chance of success.”

Continues on page 12

Encounter Applications are now open for this new, immersive leadership program that helps new and emerging professionals form deeper connections to our region.

Learn more at NKYChamber.com/EncounterNKY

JULY 26, 2024 11

kenton county briefs These funds follow the $6 million committed to the project by the Kentucky General Assembly in its most recent budget and $3 million the Port Authority allocated from Kenton County’s state-backed site development fund in 2023.

Other key sources of funding for SparkHaus are $2.04 million in Kentucky historic rehabilitation tax credits from the Kentucky Heritage Council and $2.5 million from the Catalytic Fund toward the project’s construction.

In total, SparkHaus is anticipated to cost $16.4 million, according to a release from Kenton County.

Kenton schools chief named to state’s local superintendents council Henry Webb, superintendent of the Kenton County School District, has been appointed to the Kentucky Local Superintendents Advisory Council, pending ratificaKenton County School Distion by the Legtrict Superintendent Henry islative Research Webb. Provided | Kenton Commission. If County School District

affirmed, his term will begin Aug. 1.

viously a Class A misdemeanor on first offense and Class D felony after that.

The advisory council comprises 11 appointed local school district superintendents.

It advises the Kentucky Department of Education on policy matters. Seven members represent each of the Supreme Court districts, and four members represent the state at large. Members serve staggered four-year terms. Webb will serve as an atlarge member.

“Henry Webb’s appointment to the LSAC is a testament to his unwavering dedication to advancing education in Kentucky,” said Kentucky Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, in a state news release. “His extensive experience and passion for fostering educational excellence will be invaluable to the council.”

Animal torture now a felony for first offense Legislators and advocates who pushed for years to make dog and cat torture a felony on first offense gathered July 16 in the Capitol rotunda in Frankfort to celebrate a new Kentucky law that does just that.

House Bill 258, also called Ethan’s Law, allows people to be charged with a Class D felony starting the first time they are convicted of torturing a dog or cat. It was pre-

The law’s namesake, Ethan, won hearts as he recovered from severe neglect in 2021.

During the session, Ethan, primarily a brindle Presa Canario, came several times to Frankfort to testify in favor of it.

It passed the legislature this year with bipartisan support, and Gov Andy Beshear signed it into law in April. It went into effect July 15.

A Valentine meet-and-greet benefit with Ethan in 2022 sold out. Provided | Kentucky Humane Society

The new law defines torture as the “intentional infliction of or subjection to extreme physical pain or serious injury or death to a dog or cat, motivated by intent or wanton disregard that causes, increases, or prolongs the pain or suffering of the dog or cat, including serious physical injury or infirmity.”

That’s because, she and others pointed out, research suggests people who harm animals are more likely to hurt people.

Ethan’s owner, Jeff Callaway, has said that, after being sold as a puppy, Ethan was traded for drugs and endured a “hellish” chapter of his life that ultimately led to his being abandoned in the Kentucky Humane Society parking lot. Veterinarians nursed him back to health, which included helping him gain around 50 pounds and learn to walk again.

place to live – not just for dogs and cats that we love but for every community, for every person in our community.”

“It’s unimaginable the pain our furry friends can go through when they’re left helpless (in) restraints,” Secretary of State Michael Adams said. “These animals suffer broken bones, starvation, even impalement.”

He praised the legislative move to “keep our best friends safe, and punish those who hurt them.”

Louisville Republican Susan Witten, who sponsored Ethan’s Law, said at the Frankfort rally that it “makes Kentucky a better

Kentucky now allows for Public Notices to be published digitally on LINK nky’s website.

You can find public notices for the following organizations on our site at https://linkreader.column.us/search

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF UNION INVITATION TO BID: Sidewalk (Grade, Drain and Sidewalk) KYTC Item No. 06-03029 ADVERTISEMENT DATE: July 21, 2024 BID OPENING: August 12, 2024 Sealed Bids will be received until 10:00 AM EASTERN STANDARD TIME August 12, 2024. Bids will be publicly opened and announced at 10:00 AM EASTERN STANDARD TIME. REQUEST BID DOCUMENT: Qk4 : 9920 Corporate Campus Drive, Suite 1200 Louisville, KY 40223 (azimmerman@qk4.com) A copy of the bid document is available via email only. REQUIRED BID PROPOSAL GUARANTY: All bids shall be accompanied by a bid guarantee of not less than 5% of the total bid. DBE CERTIFICATION REQUIRED: 0% The City of Union will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors for the furnishing of all labor, materials and the performance of all work required for the construction of a sidewalk on Sweet Harmony Lane at US42. Prime and DBE Contractors submitting a bid must be pre-qualified by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prior to the public reading of the bid on August 12, 2024 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time at the Union City Building. Subcontractors must be pre-qualified prior to working on the project. Prime Contractor must be pre-qualified in Sidewalk.

Please see federal requirements for Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) for additional information. A list of pre-qualified Contractors and information on the pre-qualification of Contractors is located at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Construction Procurement website as follows: http://transportation.ky.gov/ contract/pqbook.pdf. There is no pre-bid conference. Prospective Contractors may contact Albert Zimmerman at Qk4 at 502-719-7891 (azimmerman@qk4.com). PRE-BID QUESTIONS: All questions should be submitted in writing no later than August 6, 2024 4:30 PM EST via email to Albert Zimmerman, P.E. (azimmerman@qk4.com).

Responses will be provided by August 8, 2024 12:00 PM EST. SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GO TO OUR DIGITAL PUBLIC NOTICE PAGE

12 JULY 26, 2024

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calendar

July

Friday

Saturday 26

Crosstown Comedy Festival: Ossia Dwyer, 7-8:30 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Rookies and veterans of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky comedy scene compete to win coveted paid spots on shows at Commonwealth Sanctuary and Bomb’s Away Comedy in the fall.

Admission $10. Information: programming@ commonwealthsanctuary.com or commonwealthsanctuary.com.

Sunday 27

Monday 28

Tuesday 29

Wednesday 30

Garrett Titlebaum’s Greatest Comedian in the World, 9:30-11 p.m., Commonwealth Sanctuary, 522 Fifth Ave., Dayton. Comedy game show hosted by Titlebaum. Comedians compete in a series of funny games to determine the Greatest Comedian in the World.

Admission $10. Information: programming@ commonwealthsanctuary.com or commonwealthsanctuary.com.

August

Thursday

31 Illusionist Reed Masterson, 3-11 p.m., Main Boone County Public Library, 1786 Burlington Pike, Burlington. Celebrate Harry Potter’s birthday with fun activities at the Fort Thomas Farmers Market from 3-7 p.m. followed by showing of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” in the Tower Park Amphitheatre. There will be fun crafts to show off your Hogwarts spirit with the Campbell County Public Library and food trucks on site. Information: fortthomasky.org/event/ magical-movie-marathon.

01 Alexandria City Council meeting, 7-8 p.m., Alexandria City Building, 8236 W. Main St., Alexandria.

For more events, scan the QR code or visit: https://linknky.com/events/

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JULY 26, 2024 13

real estate

Updated Victorian home in Old Seminary Square neighborhood Address: 1041 Russell St., Covington Price: $679,000 Bedrooms: Four Bathrooms: Two (plus one half-bath) Square footage: 3,040 School district: Covington Independent County: Kenton Special features: This historic Victorian-era Harriet Albro house in Covington’s Old Seminary Square neighborhood was built in 1875. The home features tons of original details like molding, hardwood floors and exposed brick. Modern upgrades include a newly updated kitchen, a second-floor laundry and a primary bedroom with private sitting room and walk-in closet. Outside features a paver-covered yard, a pergola and a private entertainment room.

This historic home features plenty of original details.

An exterior view of this Victorian-era Covington home. Photos provided | Trina Ellis with Coldwell Banker

This home’s backyard features a pergola and a private entertainment room.

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14 JULY 26, 2024

streetscapes

Taking a bite along Covington’s Main Street

By Maria Hehman

T

his Streetscapes, we take a look at more of the many eateries on Main Street in Covington. We'll sample three cuisines, all a stone’s throw from one another. Join us as we visit Lisse, Kealoha’s Kitchen and Nagomi Japanese Restaurant.

Lisse’s intimate interior is perfect for date night, while its rooftop is great for a fun night out with friends. End the evening with a tiramisu martini and chocolate bread pudding.

Kealoha’s aloha plate is the best option for sampling a little of everything: You get a choice of protein and salad with rice and a lumpia, a fried Filipino-style egg roll with turkey, cabbage and noodles.

Lisse For upscale ambiance with views of the Cincinnati skyline, Lisse is one of the best spots in all of Covington. Lisse’s rooftop bar matches the atmosphere of the restaurant itself – very classy with a sit-and-sip cocktail lounge vibe. The rooftop wraps around the majority of the upper level. Start with charcuterie and a Kentucky Sunset cocktail with Four Roses bourbon, lemon juice, blackberry syrup and citrus soda before indulging in an entree.

Lisse is best known for mouthwatering steaks and Dutch-influenced dinner options. There are seven options for steaks, plus chicken, salmon and lobster for entrees. Sides include Dutch mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts and frites to give diners a wide variety of combinations.

In addition to lunch and dinner choices, Kealoha’s offers weekend brunch. Hawaiian French toast for a sweet start features Hawaiian sweet bread soaked in burned cream, pan fried and topped with coconut or maple syrup and powdered sugar. For something savory, opt for the cheesy potato casserole or a plate meal with choices of spam, Portuguese sausage or kalua pig.

Guests can dine in the revamped space, carry out or even order catering for large events.

A glass of wine and a Lisse menu. Photo provided | Lisse on Facebook

Kealoha’s Kitchen Kealoha’s Kitchen joined the Mainstrasse strip after taking over the space of Dee Felice Cafe, the beloved longtime staple.

As sad as many patrons were about Dee Felice’s closure, the site is a family-owned and operated Hawaiian restaurant that’s ready to embrace the Mainstrasse community.

After a few successful years in Latonia, Kealoha’s Kitchen moved to the north side of the city a year ago. Its food, inspired by Hawaiian classics, can be ordered a la carte, with protein and side choices, or as combo deals. Spam Musubi – spam with white rice wrapped in seaweed – is a great starter before delving into other delicious choices.

Lisse's rooftop is the perfect spot for dinner and drinks on summer nights. Photos by Maria Hehman | LINK nky contributor

baked ginger salmon, to name a few. Sides include white rice, spicy papaya salad, cucumber-tomato salad and potato-mac salad.

Protein choices include pineapple-teriyaki short rib, kalua pig, garlic shrimp and

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant With its bubblegum-pink exterior, Nagomi Japanese Restaurant is hard to miss in the Mainstrasse strip. The bulk of the authentic Japanese menu consists of sushi options in both nigiri and maki options. Nigiri features two pieces pressed onto rice, while maki comes in six-piece rolls.

There are ample options in everything under the sea: salmon, eel, squid, crab, tuna.

You name it, Nagomi's got it. Not a fan of fish? There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, too. Appetizers are broken into vegan and nonvegan options, including favorites of dumplings, tempura and edamame.

Nagom's dinner options include pot dishes, box dinners and platters. Box dinners are served in bento boxes with a choice of protein and come with miso soup and salad.

An exterior of Kealoha's Kitchen in Covington.

Photo provided | Kealoha's Kitchen

What to Know If You Go Lisse Location: 530 Main St., Covington Hours: Sunday-Monday, closed; Tuesday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 5-11 p.m.

Website: lisse.restaurant Phone: 859-360- 7008

Kealoha’s Kitchen Location: 529 Main St.,, Covington Hours: Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Monday-Tuesday, closed; Wednesday-Thursday, 1-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Website: kealohaskitchen.com Phone: 808-217-3070

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant Location: 526 Main St., Covington Hours: Monday, closed; Tuesday-Sunday, 5-9 p.m.

Website: nagomijapaneserestaurant. com Phone: 859-919-1900

JULY 26, 2024 15

16 JULY 26, 2024

Golf focus tees up summer of change for Bellevue’s Sorrell

By Marc Hardin

L

ast summer, T.J. Sorrell sat in the dugout with his teammates on the J.B. Yeager 16-under baseball team.

He can’t recall the exact game or opponent, but he remembers moments of reflection while sitting in a dirty uniform, contemplating his future.

During his more serious moments, Sorrell would squeeze a bat handle or pop a baseball into his glove between at-bats and field appearances. Sometimes, his thoughts drifted to golf – a curious intrusion of one sport into another for the focused Sorrell, who is known for being present in the moment.

Sorrell paid attention to these fleeting thoughts, which gradually became more permanent.

“I decided it would be my last year playing summer baseball,” Sorrell said. “I’m still playing baseball at Bellevue my senior year, and I can’t wait. But for college, it’s probably better to pursue a golf path instead of baseball.”

It was a difficult decision for a uniquely talented athlete at a young age. At the time, Sorrell had just completed his sophomore year at Bellevue.

“That’s a big decision for a young kid,” said his father, Tommy Sorrell, the longtime Bellevue girls basketball coach. “He made it, and I think it’s the right idea.”

T.J. first picked up a golf club as a preschooler, tagging along with his father to golf courses. The elder Sorrell, a 1995 Bellevue graduate, is also the assistant boys golf coach at the high school. He played baseball at Bellevue but eventually golfed at Northern Kentucky University and continues to play competitively.

T.J. began playing youth baseball shortly after starting golf. For years, he balanced both sports, making sacrifices elsewhere.

He eventually played both at Bellevue and earned all-area recognition in each. Sorrell hit .353 for the baseball team last season primarily as a shortstop. He added a 3-1 record and a 3.16 ERA as a pitcher. He hit .368 his sophomore year.

Sorrell carries a 3.1-handicap in golf and has been a top-10 finisher at the KHSAA Region 8 tournament two years running.

For Sorrell, baseball and golf were equals until this year.

“He’s been playing summer baseball practically his whole life while golfing,” coach Sorrell said. “This summer, he decided to focus on improving his golf game and hopefully earn a golf scholarship. He’s been taking golf very seriously, and you can see his growth on the course. I think he’ll have college options in golf.”

T.J. appreciates having options. Not many prep athletes have the ability, discipline

and determination to excel in both baseball and golf. His vocational goal to become a nurse also influences his decisions. There’s a lot that’s still up in the air, but one thing is certain: T.J. will have more college options than golf teammates this year.

“He’s a team of one at Bellevue,” coach Sorrell said.

In fact, there are more Bellevue golf coaches than golfers. The Tigers’ head boys golf coach is former longtime Newport Central Catholic girls basketball coach Christie McDonald. Bellevue doesn’t have a girls golf team.

“It’s kind of weird having no teammates, but I’m used to it,” T.J. said. “It’s been that way since I joined in the eighth grade. I was hoping someone younger would come along, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen before I graduate.”

Ever the optimist, T.J. remains hopeful. He’s also a realist.

“Not many people at Bellevue are interested in golf,” he said. “Who knows, I could be the last golfer. But I’m hoping something happens.”

Bellevue High School golfer T.J. Sorrell in mid-swing on the golf course. Photo provided

Regardless of the program’s fate, Sorrell will go down in school history as one of its best golfers. He placed fifth at the regional tournament as a sophomore. Sorrell finished 10th last year. He qualified for the state tournament the past two seasons and missed a second-round appearance by two shots last year.

Emboldened by his improvements, he went all-in with golf. Where there used to be baseball games on his schedule, there are now golf tournaments. Through mid-July, he had competed in four events since the end of the school year, finishing runner-up at a Kentucky Junior Tour event. T.J. and his father finished third at the Kentucky Adult-Child Scramble. He placed 11th at the Bluegrass Golf Tour Championship.

Whether it’s with a baseball bat or a golf club, T.J. Sorrell is steady with a stick while playing two sports at Bellevue High School. Provided | T.J. Sorrell X account

Where there used to be a void in his schedule, there are now two golf-related parttime jobs. He began as a caddie at Coldstream Country Club in March. In June, he added responsibilities at Pendleton Hills, where he and his father are members.

T.J. is mentored outside of high school by University of Cincinnati men’s golf coach Doug Martin, who helps with his short game, among other elements. T.J. hits the driving range more often, aiming to lengthen his game.

“I miss summer baseball, but I think it’s been worth it to golf,” Sorrell said. “I’ve seen the differences. My bad rounds are dropping into the 70s. My good rounds are going lower. I hope it continues.”

T.J. Sorrell readies himself for a putt at a recent golf tournament. Provided | T.J. Sorrell X account

JULY 26, 2024 17

sports Henry Thole to join Xavier basketball team as preferred walk-on

Thomas More edges closer to full NCAA Division II membership Thomas More University is moving into its third year of provisional membership with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The announcement on July 11 puts the Saints one step further in the reclassification process as full members of Division II.

Villa Madonna grad Henry Thole will be a preferred walk-on at Xavier. Photo provided

Villa Madonna graduate Henry Thole is headed to Xavier University to be a preferred walk-on for the men’s basketball team.

Thole, the Vikings all-time leading scorer, made the announcement July 15 on Instagram.

The 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward finished his Villa Madonna career with 1,576 points and 1,029 rebounds, both all-time highs for the program. In his senior season, he was third in the state in rebounds per game with 15.4. During his junior season, he was a top 50 scorer in the state with 22.2 points per game and was in the top 10 in rebounds with 11.6 per game. He was named the NKAC Division III Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season.

Thole finished high school with a 3.96 weighted GPA and was a National Honor Society member.

In the 2023-24 school year, the Saints began competition in the G-MAC with provisional Division II membership and were eligible to compete for conference championships and tournaments. During this transition year, the Saints continued to strive for athletic excellence. Individual Saints efforts saw 25 athletes named All-Conference, 38 student-athletes named to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District, and 180 named G-MAC Academic All-Conference. Five Saints were named G-MAC Freshmen of the Year.

Following the mandatory three-year transition period, the Saints beginning with the 2025-26 school year will become eligible to compete for NCAA DII championships.

Prior to the 2023-24 academic year, the Saints competed in the NAIA as a member of the Mid-South Conference for four years. Before entering the NAIA in fall 2019, the Saints were highly competitive as an independent and as a member of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in NCAA Division III. During their decades in Division III,

In fall 2021, Thomas More University introduced the Second Century Campaign, a major comprehensive fundraising campaign which supports its five-year strategic plan, dubbed Lighting the Way. Its goals include enhancing athletic facilities for many Saints intercollegiate sports teams.

As part of that journey, March 29 marked the first home game at the Saints’ newly renovated softball complex. January 2023 saw the announcement of acquisition of the Northern Kentucky Racquet Club (better known as Five Seasons Family Sports Club). Five Seasons provides additional training and workout facilities, and is the permanent home for the men’s and women’s tennis teams. It also provides employment and co-op opportunities for Thomas More students.

In March 2022, Thomas More and the Florence Y’alls announced a partnership that resulted in renaming the home of the Florence Y’alls to Thomas More Stadium. As part of the agreement, the stadium also became the home of the Thomas More Saints baseball team.

Renovations at Republic Bank Field and the surrounding track, home to the football, soccer, rugby, lacrosse, cross country, and track and field teams, were completed in 2021.

With $1M renovation, Lassing Pointe hopes to regain No. 1 ranking Golfweek Magazine recently published its yearly golf course rankings for each state.

Once again, Lassing Pointe Golf Course in Union was recognized as one of the best in Kentucky. The good news for Lassing Pointe: It’s still considered among the best public golf courses in Kentucky by the experts. The less-than-good news: Lassing Pointe was knocked out of the top spot by a technicality — it's undergoing improvement.

A preferred walk-on is the highest status a recruit can get without receiving an athletic scholarship. Such players are guaranteed a spot on the roster, but not necessarily on the traveling squad. Athletic aid is not offered, but Thole will receive a uniform and have a strong chance of competing for playing time his first year.

Preferred walk-ons who perform well and contribute to the team may have a better chance of earning a scholarship in future seasons.

the Saints earned championships both at the conference and national level.

Thomas More is starting the last year of a threeyear transition to NCAA Division II athletics.

Provided | Thomas More University

In June, Golfweek ranked the best public-access and privately owned golf courses in all 50 states. Lassing Pointe is No. 3 in the

Lassing Point Golf Course in Union. Photo provided

Kentucky public course rankings. The new No. 1 is Park Mammoth Golf Club in Park City. Nevel Meade Golf Club in Prospect is No. 2. Golfweek ranks Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville as the No. 1 private course in Kentucky. Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington is No. 2.

In 2023, Lassing ranked No. 1 for the fourth straight year and seventh time in eight years. The venue features a 6,724-yard, par-71 course at 2266 Double Eagle Drive in Union. It opened in 1994. Course architect is Michael Hurdzan. Russ Gartner is the PGA director of golf operations, and Justin Pack is the director of golf course maintenance.

Lassing Pointe underwent a $1 million renovation to enhance its golfing experience.

According to Golfweek, the timing of those improvements wasn’t ideal.

Known for its links-style design with large fairways and huge greens, Lassing Pointe has been a fixture at the top of Golfweek’s public list for more than 20 years. It’s home to a variety of enthusiasts, offering enough difficulty to challenge any golfer while being playable for casuals and beginners alike due to its forgiving fairways and elevated, makeable greens.

Lassing Pointe, along with its sister course at Boone Links, has hosted many high-profile events. They include the Kentucky Open, NCAA Regional Championships and KHSAA events. Also played at Lassing has been the U.S. Kids Fall Tour Championship and the Northern Kentucky Amateur.

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education

Boone student robotics group fights to keep facilities access

By Nathan Granger

S

tudents, adult leaders and alumni of PiBotics FRC 3814, a robotics competition team that operates out of Ignite Institute, packed the Boone County Schools Board of Education meeting July 11. They were there to advocate for continued use of the facility in the face of a program reevaluation by the school district – something many team members feared could spell doom for the program.

“We take charge of everything – designing, building and managing ourselves, which teaches us leadership, teamwork and problem-solving,” said Emma Wilson, a team member and Ignite Institute junior. “We learn to handle real-world engineering challenges, manage our time and communicate effectively. This hands-on experience gives us competence and prepares us for future careers, and, more importantly, it instills a passion for innovation and collaboration.”

Wilson was one of several people associated with the team who pleaded their case before the school board.

The team is a branch of the First Robotics Competition, a program founded in 1989 to encourage youth education in science and

engineering. The program has participants all over the world who come together in competitions to design, build and program robots that then compete in field challenges. The Boone County program is self-funded, and it’s open to both students at the Ignite Institute and the county school district. Even though the team is independent, it relies upon access to Ignite to store and use the equipment necessary to perform the team’s builds.

Ignite Institute was founded in partnership with Boone County Schools and Kenton County Schools after Toyota donated the building where the institute now operates.

It’s governed by policies from the Boone County School Board.

Two adults associated with the program, Stephanie Wilson and Kathy Allen, told LINK nky that the issue arose at the end of June when the team’s coach, Elizabeth Koch, announced her retirement. According to them, following Koch’s announcement, the team received an email from James Detwiler, Boone County Schools deputy superintendent, stating that the district was reconsidering the program due to financial and safety concerns.

Detwiler did not confirm the details of the email when asked, saying instead the dis-

PiBotics team members work on a project. Provided | PiBotics FRC 3814

trict was simply reevaluating the program.

Team members shared the email with LINK nky after the meeting; in it Detwiler states the district was considering three things: if similar programs might fill the same niche as PiBotics; if the program is the most optimal use of resources; and if any safety risks should be mitigated.

Comments from speakers at the meeting focused heavily on the team’s commitment to safety, pointing out there were whole subteams dedicated to ensuring safety around the builds. The team earlier in the year won an award for its safety protocols.

Speakers also addressed how the team cultivated students’ skills not only in engineering and science but also critical thinking, teamwork and communication.

Additionally, students described an environment in which they made friends easily and found a sense of belonging.

PiBotics team members fill rows of seats at the July 11 board meeting. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

“Being surrounded by peers who share values and interests has given me a new sense of belonging, a feeling of acceptance and sanctuary I haven’t had in a while,” one student said.

The board members and district staff, including Detwiler, were complimentary of the team’s advocacy.

Superintendent Jeff Hauswald, who was hired in May and was sitting in his first meeting in the role, addressed the speakers after their comments. He said he was familiar with the program, having encountered other branches of it earlier in his career. He said he recognized its value.

“It’s not just engineering,” Hauswald said.

“The safety coordinators, the marketing, the business, and when you attend the open houses and the competitions – you realize all the skill sets that are developed.”

He also complimented the team for coming to advocate for themselves, saying the district was listening throughout. “I know they were taking notes, and I know they heard every single word you said,” Hauswald told the speakers.

When asked when the district would make its decision, Detwiler responded, “Very soon.”

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