LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 4, Edition 26 - May 22, 2026

KENTON

VOLUME 4, ISSUE 26 — MAY 22, 2026

THE VOICE OF NKY

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Brent Spence Corridor project officially breaks ground

By Nathan Granger

T

he Brent Spence Corridor project has officially broken ground, marking the latest development in the roughly $4 billion interstate infrastructure project. “[This project] belongs to the millions of commuters and their communities on both sides of the river,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, or KYTC, Secretary Rebecca Goodman on May 8, “to engineers and administrators, technicians and accountants, to public servants at KYTC and ODOT [the Ohio Department of Transportation], to the consulting and the contracting teams… to more than 50 subcontractors who are all ready to start building.”

The groundbreaking took place at the Duke Energy West End Substation in Cincinnati on May 8 and was attended by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Sen. Mitch McConnell, former Sen. Rob Portman and numerous elected officials and bureaucrats from around Kentucky and Ohio.

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Kentucky and Ohio officials at the Brent Spence Corridor project groundbreaking on May 8, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Parking worries dominate public facility review of biomedical center

By Nathan Granger

parking in their motion.

arking and traffic have emerged as a dominant concern around the relocation of Northern Kentucky University’s Chase Law School and the local branch of the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine to Covington.

The land on which the center will sit is owned by the Northern Kentucky Port Authority. The Port Authority is a state agency and thus is exempt from zoning laws and historical preservation standards. Still, it has to go through a public review process with the planning commission to see how well the development plan conforms with comprehensive planning and land use and give the public time to leave comments.

School districts must go through the same process.

P A rendering for the new Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence at the Covington RiverCenter. Rendering provided | MSA Design

These concerns were on full display at the May 7 meeting of the Kenton County Planning Commission, which was set to vote on a public facility review of the land on East Rivercenter Boulevard, which has been dubbed the “Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence,” where the relocation will occur. Although the commission eventually approved the public facility review, they explicitly acknowledged the gap in knowledge about the project’s effect on

Public facility review votes from the planning commission are not binding.

The land itself is a 1.9-acre parcel located on East Rivercenter Boulevard, near the

Newport weighs crime-fighting cameras amid privacy concerns p6 BE NKY budget expects higher expenses, reserves to support p7 Opinion: Let’s not convert our farmland p13

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A rendering of the Brent Spence Bridge companion bridge. Rendering provided | Ohio Department of Transportation Continued from page 1

The project includes the construction of a new double-decker companion bridge, which is expected to be completed by 2031.

The existing bridge will be re-stripped and will continue to serve traffic between Cincinnati and Covington. Regional interstate thru traffic on Interstate 75/71 will use the new bridge. The $4 billion figure does not include the rehab work on the existing bridge.

“If you look at the rendering, it’s going to look nice,” said DeWine. “It’ going to be something you can be proud of.”

More than $1 billion worth of freight travels down the I-71/75 corridor each day, according to the project. The current bridge is old, built in the 1960s, and while it’s still functional, it’s not built to modern standards.

“The Brent Spence Bridge carries far more traffic than it was ever designed to handle,” said Beshear. “This project is, first and foremost, helping the people of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati by resolving traffic delays and safety issues, but the importance of it stretches beyond this region and beyond our states’ borders. This I-75/I-71 corridor is among the most im-

The project also includes highway renovations on both sides of the Ohio. KYTC and ODOT are working to carry out the project.

The most recent projections put the completion time for the entire project in 2033.

Speakers at the event touted the bi-partisan nature of the project: Federal funding for the bridge came from the passing of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2021, which McConnell and Portman, both Republicans, voted for, and former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, ultimately signed into law. $1.6 billion in federal grant money has gone toward the project.

“This project, which is famous nationally as well as in Ohio and Kentucky, is going to be built without tolls and make a huge difference for both Ohio and Kentucky and the nation,” said McConnell.

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portant stretches for commercial traffic anywhere east of the Mississippi River.”

Numerous long-term closures began on May 20, affecting entrance and exit ramps to I-71/75 for northbound and southbound traffic. Travelers are encouraged to plan ahead.

Information about the closures and their detours is below: • I-71/75 southbound on-ramp from Bullock Avenue/MLK Jr. Boulevard and Bullock Avenue from Pike Street to MLK Jr. Boulevard Simon Kenton Way Gov. Andy Beshear speaks at the groundbreaking on May 8, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

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was reconfigured to two-way traffic on May 20. ° Detour: Pike Street/Dixie Highway to Kyles Lane, to I-71/75 southbound. ° Expected reopening: The southbound on-ramp and Bullock Avenue is expected to reopen in late October.

• The I-71/75 northbound (exit 191) ramp to 12th Street/MLK Jr. Boulevard/Pike Street closed for ramp construction on May 20. ° Detour: I-71/75 northbound Fifth Street exit ramp, turn left on Philadelphia Street, then left on Fourth Street west to the I-71/75 southbound ramp to Pike Street, then right on Simon Kenton Way, then left on to MLK Jr. Boulevard. ° Expected reopening: The northbound exit off-ramp is expected to reopen in summer 2027.

• I-71/75 southbound ramp to West Fifth Street will close either on or after

Tuesday, May 26. The portion of exit 192 onto West Fifth Street will close permanently so a new ramp can be constructed later during the project.

West Fifth Street itself will be closed from Crescent Avenue to the I-71/75 northbound exit off-ramp on Fifth Street. ° Detour: Getting off the exit you’ll turn right on to Crescent Avenue and utilize West Third Street in Covington.

Consult the maps below to get a visual representation of the closures and detours.

Click the maps for larger images.

You can learn more about the project and stay up to date with road closures at brentspencebridgecorridor.com.

Kenton Hornbeck contributed reporting to this story.

Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks at the groundbreaking on May 8, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Maps provided | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6

what's going on across the river?

4 MAY 26, 2026

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Northern Kentucky Convention Center. It’s currently a 180-space parking lot.

The area around which the center is slated to sit is already well-developed, containing numerous big landmarks. Besides the Convention Center, there’s also the Kenton County Justice Center, the Kenton County Garage, a Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky depot and multiple hotels. It’s also near the Central Riverfront Development site.

Covington ordinance requires a parking study for university construction, and the Port Authority contracted with Fort Mitchell-based Compass Infrastructure Group to perform one.

It came away with several conclusions: There were an average of 1,045 available parking spaces in the surrounding area at any point throughout the day. Peak parking demand was projected at 621 spaces with a peak demand of 451 for the center itself. Patrick Denbow, senior planner with Kenton County Planning and Development Services, stated the peak demand calculation was based on activity at the facility itself, not the surrounding properties.

Port Authority Executive Director Christine Russell acknowledged the parking issue early in the discussion, saying, “I know that’s a very important topic for this project.” The issue quickly absorbed much of the remaining discussion.

No members of the community spoke during the public comment section, but two people — who did not attend the meeting — submitted written statements for the record.

The first was former Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, who characterized the Compass parking study as “inadequate” and encouraged the planning commission to table its vote until a more thorough study could take place.

The second was an email from Northern Kentucky Tribune Editor and former Scripps executive Judith Clabes, who attached an agreement between the Port Authority and Technology Towers, a Corporex LLC subsidiary, that guarantees 70 parking spaces in the new parking garage for businesses in Corporex-owned properties who have used the current parking lot for at least 100 years. Clabes points out a “no recording” clause in the agreement, which she suspects was “to keep the details from becoming public.” Corporex owns several buildings in that district.

Russell briefly made mention of the agreement in her address to the commission:

A map of the land where the Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence is slated to go. Map provided | Kenton County Planning and Development Services

“We want those businesses to thrive… Us basically earning no money on those spots is our way of contributing to the local economy.”

One planning commissioner, Covington Rep. Sarah Flem, expressed similar concerns as the ones in Meyer’s letter.

“The utilization study was done in February,” Flem said. “February, to my knowledge, is not a peak time for the Convention Center. I think that a one-month utilization review is probably not enough in order to fully understand the true parking needs of the community.”

Other commissioners had questions about building materials and pedestrian safety, as well as parking.

Convention Center Executive Director Center Gretchen Landrum also spoke before the commission, and while she seemed appreciative of working with the Port Authority, she admitted that no broader traffic study had been completed, which meant the amount of data everyone was working with was limited.

“We just want to make sure there’s a lot of opportunity in this area right now, and that people aren’t working off their own individual data that pertains to just their portion,” Landrum said, “that that data is a collective group of data that we can all share to make sure that we’re doing what’s best for this community.”

The Convention Center itself is undergoing a $45 million modernization and expansion, which Landrum said would increase its hotel-room-night capacity from its current 35,000 per year to 60,000 per year.

The Convention Center is expected to close

in July 2027 to begin the work and will likely purchase a block of the CCR site to expand its outdoor space.

The commissioners seemed to be on the same page that the proposal conformed with county comprehensive planning in the strictest sense. Commission Chair Brian Dunham emphasized that, really, that was where the commission’s role began and ended.

“From our perspective, we have a pretty narrow role here,” said Dunham. “Simply, is it consistent with the comprehensive plan, or not.”

Much to his chagrin, this did little to stall discussions about the parking issue.

“The information that’s presented [in the study], I don’t think is a picture of what it is,” said Covington Rep. Kareem Simpson.

“What my issue is, once you see what that complete picture is, then you can make a better judgment on how to move forward.”

ty records, to purchase the land from the Butler Foundation, a grant-making organization created by Corporex Founder Bill Butler.

Development plans submitted to the Planning Commission prior to the May 7 meeting include a public plaza, a seven-story building for the schools themselves and a parking garage with 170 spaces. Nestor Melnyk, an architect with MSA Design, the firm contracted to head up designing the facility, also informed the commission that there had been preliminary talks of possibly adding an eighth floor.

The Commonwealth Center itself has received much fanfare for the purported economic and educational benefits it will bring to the city and region. Once completed, the center will return Chase Law School to Covington, its original location from 1972 to 1981. Moreover, the additional space will enable the UK College of Medicine to expand its NKY campus enrollment by 40%, according to a press release from the Port Authority earlier this year.

Park Hills Rep. Phil Ryan agreed.

“In my opinion, this warrants a suggestion,” Ryan said.

The commissioners then debated whether or not it was in their purview to offer suggestions in a public facility review. Simpson eventually made a motion to approve the review, and — after more discussion to tease out the nuances of his motion — acknowledged the gap in information about traffic and parking. Ryan seconded his motion, and then the commission cast a 15-2 vote.

When asked if the Port Authority had any plans to perform additional studies on parking and traffic, following the commission’s vote, Russell said, “They are obviously all very passionate about having the best possible development, and we will take their recommendations under advisement.”

Kenton Hornbeck contributed reporting to this story.

The Port Authority recently spent $3.8 million, according to Kenton County proper-

A table showing the current parking availability around the Center for Biomedical Excellence site. Table produced by Compass Infrastructure Group. Table provided | Kenton County Planning and Development Services.

MAY 26, 2026 5

Flock camera benefits touted in Newport; some residents express unease

By Haley Parnell

“unreasonable searches and seizures” by the government.

T

he Newport Board of Commissioners discussed the potential use of Flock license plate reader cameras during a May 11 meeting, where police officials highlighted public safety benefits and residents raised privacy concerns.

“​ Once the data is out there, there’s no getting it back, no getting rid of it, no deleting it; it is housed and stored even if it’s no longer accessible to the general public,” Curtis said. “We teach our children to be careful what they share on the interweb, but now we’re being forced, mandated, unwillingly, to become part of a machine by simply existing.”

​ he board heard a presentation by the poT lice department on its technology updates on May 11; Flock cameras drew the most attention. Though the city did not sign any contracts to purchase the cameras, it did discuss the possibility of buying six in the future.

These cameras are specialized, solar-powered automated license plate readers designed by Flock Safety to capture images of license plates and vehicle characteristics in real time, such as make, model, color and unique features. ​ he cameras capture still images rather T than video, and the city is not using the system’s available facial recognition capabilities. Data collected by the cameras is retained for 30 days, which falls within the limits set by House Bill 58, requiring that such data not be stored for more than 90 days.

The city has piloted 34 cameras for the past three months. Should the city go through with the decision to purchase the cameras, they are $3,000 per camera, per year.

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​ ewport resident Kyle Randall started his N comments by thanking the city for holding the discussion on the cameras publicly, even though it was not required.

Flock camera. Photo provided | Mother Flocker via Unsplash

​ ewport Police Chief Chris Fangman said N an example when Flock camera technology would have been useful in the past was in the death of Gloria San Miguel, who was hit by a car on her bike and killed on the 11th Street Bridge in 2022. The suspect had fled the scene, and back then the department didn’t have the technology it has today, such as the Flock cameras.

“We were able to find Miguel’s killer, but it took good old-fashioned police work and a little bit of luck,” Fangman said. “It was a needle in a haystack. It was a Chevy Trailblazer. We found out there were 400 in the area. We found that vehicle in the backyard, up in Hawaiian Terrace. That was before we were using any type of automated license plate reader, Flock. We could have found that so much more efficiently.” ​ angman said the department also has a F very restrictive police pursuit policy. While he said the department will not engage in a police pursuit unless it’s a serious crime, they still need a tool to catch people. ​ ven if the city only bought six cameras, E Fangman said Newport would gain access to a nationwide network of cameras useful for tracking suspects across jurisdictions and for cases like abductions. ​ ewport City Manager John Hayden said N the city can also limit who it shares the information with and which topics it wishes to share or not.

terms, we’re going to know who that individual is, and proper action will be taken.” ​ uring the meeting, Newport Police CapD tain Kevin Drohan displayed the Flock camera system settings, showing that data sharing with federal agencies is disabled.

He also demonstrated that searches related to immigration or reproductive health are restricted, with filters in place to prevent those results from appearing. Additionally, Drohan said the department has signed a memorandum of understanding aligned with Illinois policy affirming that it will not use the system to search for data connected to reproductive health. ​ he police department said that officers T must select a crime type before searching the data, and the system is not passive surveillance — it requires a reason to query.

Fangman said that in today’s age, a department can’t go to court without some form of surveillance. ​ side from concerns raised by residents A prior to the meeting and addressed by city officials, six people spoke during public comment. The discussion highlighted ongoing unease between public safety benefits and residents’ privacy concerns. ​ ewport resident Mike Curtis said that N Flock cameras violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals against

​ ne of Randall’s questions was why the O city could not utilize its own cameras rather than using a third party’s equipment.

Drohan said during the meeting that the city utilizes over 100 cameras that capture video rather than the still images the Flock cameras take. “​ Clearly, we have some of our own cameras, and I think with our own cameras, there’s no doubt at all about who controls that data or who has access to it, and I think there’s always going to be an open question or doubt about who has access to data when there’s a third party involved,” Randall said. ​ angman said the department attempted F to create its own prototype in the past and put it on the Fourth Street Bridge; however, the cameras cannot accurately capture a fast-moving vehicle like a Flock camera. “​ Flocks are getting the attention, because I think they developed it quicker than everybody else,” Fangman said. “This might change. We are not above pulling out if we find anything wrong with a company that we’re ever associated with. It’s not the right fit moving forward; it’s just always a balance for us of how you all feel [residents] and the crimes we’re expected to solve. It’s a huge balance of just trying to do what’s best.” ​ ewport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said any N future contract that needs to be signed, should the city decide to purchase the Flock cameras, will be presented at another public meeting.

​ or example, Hayden said he heard comF munity concerns about immigration enforcement and that the city has opted not to share the Flock reader with the federal government. He did say they would comply with any court order. ​ ayden said the city also received an email H from a concerned individual about how the Flock camera was abused in a Texas case.

An individual had sought an abortion and had been tracked by an officer through Flock technology. Hayden said the cameras have a strong audit trail and cities have the ability to look into that, which he said is how the officer in Texas was caught abusing the system. “​ There are audit materials in place,” he said. “They will happen. Officers have an individual sign-in sheet. They have to sign in individually. So if someone violates the

A picture of a license plate caught by a Flock camera in Newport. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

BE NKY budget expects higher expenses, reserves to support

By Nathan Granger

T

he projected expenses of BE NKY Growth Partnership, the region’s nonprofit economic development company, are expected to increase in fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1.

The company’s board of directors approved the new budget at its May 12 meeting, and although the company will have to draw on its cash reserves to close the gap, its leadership was optimistic that the spending would be worthwhile.

Presentations from BE NKY’s Administrative Project Manager Rachelle Creager and other staff indicated the expenses will take several forms over the next fiscal year, especially increases in marketing, training and the paying of a consultant to aid in the company’s succession planning, which CEO Lee Crume hopes to have hammered out in the six months or so.

This will be the second year the company has had to draw upon its cash reserves. The company projects a rough reserve balance of about $6.5 million at the end of the current fiscal year, on June 30. The company deliberately withholds about $4.2 million in reserves to ensure financial stability and dedicates about $3 million in reserves to fund its various economic development projects.

Although the company does get some money from investors, most of its funding

The finished exterior of the OneNKY Center in downtown Covington. Photo by Kenton Hornbeck | LINK nky

comes from fees charged on motor vehicle rentals in the region. Kentucky law allows for counties to use such fee collections for economic development by disbursing them to a nonprofit. Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties all have laws on the books to collect a 3% tax on gross rental fees for both conventional car rental com-

panies and ride sharing companies like Uber and Lyft, plus similar commercial programs, and pay it to BE NKY. Crume admitted that the budget process for fiscal year 2027 had been an “emotional journey.”

“When we first saw $7 million [in expenses] go up on the board there, that felt like a big number,” Crume said, but the point of having such expenditures was to aid in the economic development of the community, he added.

Part of that includes grant pay outs to companies and organizations that support workforce development and other economic initiatives. Grants are paid out on a two-year basis, with fiscal year 2026 serving as the second year in the current cycle. Recipients include education organizations like TradesNKY, Adopt-A-Class and Learning Grove, among others.

Data provided by BE NKY Growth Partnership. Charts by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

placeholder for a [to-be-determined] recipient that could come up during the year,” Creager said.

There was some inquiry among the directors about how the company’s staff determined a return on investment on the expenses and the justifications for how funding was allocated.

“The two big drivers are the target industry studies that we did last year, and reshaping our business development and our marketing communications to support that so that we can be more aggressive and more targeted in who we’re trying to attract,” Crume said, as well as how to redesign the company for future conditions.

The budget passed unanimously.

“We’ve also, per guidance from the executive committee, allocated a $250,000

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7

kenton county briefs NKY Rep appointed to National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council

from Matt Baker, who is retiring from the role at the end of the school year.

Shelley Funke Frommeyer and Sen. Steve Rawlings were two of the bill’s co-sponsors.

The union contract approved May 4 will remain in effect until June 30, 2030.

Smith will officially become superintendent on July 1.

Leann Lewis, a representative from the Kenton County Education Association, addressed the superintendent and Board of Education at their May 4 meeting.

Dr. Dylan Smith.

Photo provided | Oldham County Schools

Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, looks over a bill on the floor of the House. Photo provided | LRC Public Information

Kentucky Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, who represents the Kentucky House’s 78th District, which includes a chunk of southern Boone and Kenton counties, has been appointed to the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.

The council serves as an advisory body for the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services; it provides recommendations on policies related to emergency medical services.

Smith currently serves as the assistant superintendent for student learning at Oldham County Schools. Previously, he served as the principal of North Oldham Middle School, the director of data and intervention at ReNEW Schools in New Orleans and the director of professional development at Kent Schools.

He has a roughly 20-year career in education.

Smith has a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Washington. He lives with his family in Goshen, Kentucky, in Oldham County.

Kenton County Schools approves paid maternity leave for teachers

“I am honored to have been appointed to this position with [the committee],” said Hart. “I have worked more than 30 years in the EMS and emergency response fields and have served 10 years in the Kentucky Legislature. I look forward to using my experience in my work with the council to improve EMS nationwide.”

Hart has a professional background in fire and EMS. He is a retired fire lieutenant of the Lexington Fire Department and a retired captain of Pendleton County EMS. Additionally, he’s a former member of the Kentucky National Guard. He is the current director of Owen County EMS.

Walton-Verona Schools name Dylan Smith as new superintendent Walton-Verona Independent School District has named Dr. Dylan Smith as its new superintendent. Smith will take the reins

“Your commitment to quality staff, safe and secure work environments and competitive wages are just a few of the qualities that make the Kenton County School District a place where teachers can learn and grow and build a career,” she said.

The move coincided with a district pay raise of 3.4% for the next school year.

“We’re very excited to bring that forward in the contract,” Superintendent Henry Webb said.

Playground equipment at Father Hanses Park in Lewisburg. Photo provided | Google Maps

Father Hanses Park, located at the intersections of Hermes Avenue and West 11th Street in Covington’s Lewisburg neighborhood, will officially be getting new playground equipment.

The Covington Board of Commissioners approved the roughly $63,000 purchase of new equipment on May 12. The money will come from federal Community Develop-

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The work will include all new playground and basketball equipment.

Brent Spence project closures coming to Covington: Plan ahead, be patient

Road closure sign. Photo provided | LINK nky photo archives

While state leaders on both sides of the Ohio River have been talking about how construction of the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project will affect drivers, Covington is about to feel it in a very real way.

Numerous long-term closures began on May 20, affecting entrance and exit ramps onto Interstate 71/75 for north- and southbound traffic.

A baby placed on their back. Photo provided | Pisces via Unsplash

The move follows the passage of Kentucky Senate Bill 9 last year, which mandated that Kentucky school districts enact a maternity leave policy by 2030, making Kenton County among the first districts to conform with the law. Northern Kentucky Sen.

The park is named after Monsignor Henry Hanses, who was a pastor at St. John Catholic Church. Much of the current equipment is outdated, and the new equipment will be provided by Tennessee-based company Gametime, which has also done work at parks in Louisville, Paducah and Cincinnati.

The maternity leave will be granted to all teachers who give birth and will not count against other forms of leave. Teachers who take leave will be paid their normal salaries during the allotted 30 days. Teachers who wish to take more time are allowed to use up to 15 days of paid sick leave. Any maternity leave that remains unused after six weeks of a child’s birth dissolves.

Covington’s Father Hanses Park to get new playground equipment

The Kenton County School District Board of Education approved 30 days of paid maternity leave for teachers as part of the district’s contract negotiations with the Kenton County Education Association, the union that represents Kenton County teachers.

ment Block Grant dollars, which are awarded to the city every year.

Long story short: Plan ahead for at least the next year if you need to get on or off the highway in Covington.

“It cannot be understated how important planning ahead, leaving early and using GPS before you leave will be in the coming years in Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati,” the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet said in a social media announcement.

Information about long-term closures and

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kenton county briefs their detours is below: • I-71/75 southbound on-ramp from Bullock Avenue/MLK Jr. Boulevard and Bullock Avenue from Pike Street to MLK Jr. Boulevard. Simon Kenton Way will be reconfigured to two-way traffic starting May 20. ° Detour: Pike Street/Dixie Highway to Kyles Lane, to I-71/75 southbound.

Expected reopening: The south° bound on-ramp and Bullock Avenue is expected to reopen in late October.

• The I-71/75 northbound (exit 191) ramp to 12th Street/MLK Jr. Boulevard/Pike St. closed for ramp construction on May 20. ° Detour: I-71/75 northbound Fifth Street exit ramp, turn left on Philadelphia Street, then left on Fourth Street west to the I-71/75 southbound ramp to Pike Street, then right on Simon Kenton Way, then left on to MLK Jr. Boulevard.

Expected reopening: The north° bound exit off-ramp is expected to reopen in summer 2027.

• I-71/75 southbound ramp to West Fifth Street will close either on or after Tuesday, May 26. The portion of exit 192 onto West Fifth Street will close permanently so a new ramp can be constructed later during the project.

West Fifth Street itself will be closed from Crescent Avenue to the I-71/75 northbound exit off-ramp on Fifth Street. ° Detour: Getting off the exit you’ll turn right on to Crescent Avenue

and utilize West Third Street in Covington.

Jessica Pass named new principal of Beechwood High School

al generations of my family have walked these halls, and Fort Mitchell has been a meaningful part of my life growing up in Northern Kentucky.”

In addition to serving as an assistant principal, Pass has worked as an English teacher, librarian and volleyball coach. She also served as the vice principal at Ryle High School, principal at Erpenbeck Elementary School and director of learning and empowerment at the regional educational cooperative Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services, which provides various ancillary services to districts.

“My commitment is to listen first, learn deeply and lead boldly,” Pass said. “In the months ahead, I will prioritize hearing from our families, students, staff and community partners because the strongest path forward is one shaped together.”

Jessica Pass. Graphic provided | BIPS

Jessica Pass has been named the new principal of Beechwood High School. Pass currently serves as the assistant principal at Camp Ernst Middle School in Boone County. She will assume the role of principal at Beechwood High on July 1.

“For me, this opportunity is both professionally humbling and personally meaningful,” Pass said. “Beechwood is a school defined by excellence, integrity, pride and tradition — values that permeate every classroom, every athletic field, every performance stage and every hallway. Sever-

‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ comes to Kona Ice this summer, fall “Gabby’s Dollhouse,” a popular kids’ streaming series from DreamWorks Animation, is now at all Kona Ice locations nationwide with the unveiling of a new flavor: “Gabby’s Rainbow Kitty Magic,” which is itself a combination of the company’s Blue Raspberry, Ninja Cherry and Lucky Lime flavors.The move coincides with the debut of “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” on Netflix on Saturday, May 23 and the release of

Kona Ice truck. Photo provided | Kona Ice

the new season of the show in August. Customers can also get a special “Gabby’s Dollhouse” cup during the promotion.

“Our partnership with DreamWorks is more than just a specialty cup and flavor.

It’s about bringing a beloved character to life at every event we serve,” said Tony Lamb, CEO and founder of Kona Ice. “‘Gabby’s Dollhouse’ represents positivity, and it has been a natural fit for the Kona Ice brand. When kids see Gabby on the cups and taste that rainbow flavor, we’re creating a memorable moment.”

You can find the flavor now at all trucks nationwide. The promotion is expected to last into October.

Kona Ice is a Florence-based company founded in 2007. The organization also operates two additional food truck brands including Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck and Beverly Ann’s, a cookie truck.

­­

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MAY 26, 2026

9

Big Brothers Big Sisters program prepares Newport student for life beyond high school “​ MassMutual Ascend is proud to support Big Brothers Big Sisters as part of our commitment to strengthening the communities where we live and work, investing in the next generation, and fostering a culture of service and purpose,” Landfried said. “Our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters creates a meaningful, lasting impact in our surrounding communities by providing children with consistent mentorship and trusted support as they build confidence, life skills and create a plan that helps meet their educational and professional goals.”

By Staff Report

O

nce unsure of her path after high school, Newport student Patience now has a career direction and a renewed sense of confidence, thanks to a mentorship experience through Big Brothers Big Sisters. ​ igh school students in the region are H stepping beyond the classroom and into the workplace through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati’s Beyond School Walls program. The program is designed to expose students to real-world careers by pairing high school juniors and seniors with professionals in the workforce.

​ atience, who had no college plan prior to P her Beyond School Walls experience, has received scholarship offers from several colleges and has decided to attend Gateway Community and Technical College for two years and then transfer to Northern Kentucky University.

​ hrough monthly workplace visits, stuT dents meet one-on-one with mentors, build professional skills and gain firsthand insight into potential career paths.

I​ n the Beyond School Walls program, Little Sister Patience is paired with her Big Sister Tammy Landfried, assistant vice president and head of financial reporting at MassMutual Ascend Life Insurance Company.

“I decided to be part of Beyond School Walls because I didn’t know what I wanted to do for my future and wanted guidance on what path was right for me,” Patience said in a press release. “From being in the program these past two years, I have learned far more than what I expected going in. Not only did I find a career path I enjoy, I found out what it’s like to be in a work setting and how to act and present myself. Before Beyond School Walls, I was clueless about that.”

​ he said she appreciates Big Brothers Big S Sisters and MassMutual Ascend for the experience.

Big Sister Tammy Landfried and Little Sister Patience at the Beyond School Walls program’s cord ceremony. Photo provided | Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati

​ s Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Director of SpeA cial Programs Jackie Graves explains, the program supports students throughout their junior and senior years of high school. “​ Monthly visits to the company’s office allow students to explore career opportunities, develop essential professional skills and build confidence as they engage with mentors in a real-world work environment,” Graves said in the release. “The Beyond School Walls program has more than

doubled in size over the past two years, with plans to continue expansion, ensuring more young people have access to supportive mentors and meaningful pathways to their future.” ​ ig Brothers Big Sisters of Greater CinB cinnati currently has eight Beyond School Walls programs and plans to continue growing by partnering with additional companies and high schools.

“​ The leaders at MassMutual Ascend go above and beyond to make sure everyone has everything they need,” Patience said.

“They take their time to get to know their Littles and truly care. I would say thank you for everything and continue to impact others. I highly recommend more businesses to do Beyond School Walls because the program teaches young adults how to succeed after high school. The more businesses and people that get involved, the more impact young adults will have on the world.”

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DIVISION III

DIVISION I

CASE NO.: 26-CI-00027

CASE NO.: 25-CI-02341

KAR TAX LIEN PORTFOLIO, LLC

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NA VERSUS}

VERSUS}

KRISTINA J. MORELAND, ET AL.

G. JOYCE SHAW, ET AL.

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 23, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered MAY 4, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 9270 RIVER ROAD, HEBRON, KENTUCKY 41048

ADDRESS: 10416 VINEYARD COURT, FLORENCE, KENTUCKY 41042

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 023.00-00-00612

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 074.00-15-080.00

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $8,764.45 GROUP NO.: 2001

DIVISION I CASE NO.: 26-CI-00245

MASTER COMMISSIONER’S SALE BOONE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $50,894.02 GROUP NO.: 3876

DIVISION III CASE NO.: 26-CI-00146

HERITAGE BANK, INC.

CHECKERED WHEELS, LLC

VERSUS}

VERSUS}

BOONE MAINTENANCE LLC, ET AL.

POTENZA INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC, ET AL.

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered MAY 5, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 28, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit:

ADDRESS: 5716 IDLEWILD ROAD, BURLINGTON, KENTUCKY 41005

DIVISION I CASE NO.: 26-CI-00297 TRIPLE CROWN HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION, INC.

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 037.00-00-051.02

VERSUS}

AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $262,611.38 GROUP NO.: 166

DIVISION I CASE NO.: 26-CI-00024

SCOTT R. ROSS, ET AL. By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 21, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 1117 SAMUEL COURT, UNION, KENTUCKY 41091

GUARANTEED RATE, INC. VERSUS} GILBERT T. GARRETT, ET AL. By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 21, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 10258 CARDIGAN DRIVE, UNION, KENTUCKY 41091 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 063.00-15-013.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $321,935.70 GROUP NO.: 3289

PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 064.04-07057.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $9,354.43 GROUP NO.: 3114 The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.

THIS SALE IS SUBJECT TO THE MORTGAGE OF UNION SAVINGS BANK, RECORDED ON june 24, 2021 IN MORTGAGE BOOK m4479, pAGES 346-361, OF THE BOONE COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED TO UNION SAVINGS BANK, IS THE PRINCIPAL SUM OF $157,034.16, MORE OR LESS, PLUS INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES ALLOWED BY THE MORTGAGE AND THE PROMISSORY NOTE IT SECURES, AND KENTUCKY LAW.

ADDRESS: 643 ELYSE WAY, FLORENCE, KENTUCKY 41042 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 063.00-13-036.00 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $4,339.98 GROUP NO.: 3160

DIVISION I CASE NO.: 25-CI-00318 ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC, S/B/M NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC VERSUS} DANIEL LESLIE OGLESBEE, ET AL. By virtue of a judgment and order of sale of the Boone Circuit Court rendered APRIL 21, 2026 the above case, I shall proceed to offer for sale at the Justice Center Building in Burlington, Kentucky, to the highest bidder, at public auction on THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 at the hour of 9:00 a.m. or thereabouts, the following described property to-wit: ADDRESS: 12241 DIXIE HIGHWAY, WALTON, KENTUCKY 41094 PVA PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: 077.00-00008.02 AMOUNT OF JUDGMENT: $381,503.27 GROUP NO.: 209

The complete legal description is particularly set out in the Judgment and Order of Sale entered in this case.

TERMS OF SALE: The property shall be sold as a whole. The purchaser may pay all or part of the purchase price in cash, and may pay the balance of the purchase price on a credit of 30 days after date of sale; said credit shall be granted only upon the execution by the purchaser of bond, with surety thereon, and said surety shall be a lending institution authorized and doing business in Kentucky, or a reputable fidelity or surety company, authorized and doing business in Kentucky, and only if said surety be acceptable to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court; and an authorized officer of the surety must be present at the sale or must have given the Commissioner adequate assurance of its intent to be surety prior to or at the sale; and said Bond shall be, and shall remain, a lien on the property sold as additional security for the payment of the full purchase price, and shall have the full force and effect of a Judgment; and said Bond shall bear interest at the rate provided by the Judgment up to Twelve (12%) Percent per annum until paid. The purchaser shall be required to pay the sum of 10% of the bid amount in cash or certified check on the purchase at the time of sale.

The successful bidder at the sale shall, at bidder’s own expense, carry fire and extended insurance coverage on any improvements from the date of sale until the purchase price is fully paid, with a loss payable clause to the Commissioner of the Boone Circuit Court. Failure of the purchaser to effect such insurance shall not affect the validity of the sale or the purchaser’s liability thereunder, but shall entitle, but not require, a lien holder herein, after giving notice to the Commissioner, to effect said insurance and furnish the policy or evidence thereof to the Commissioner, and the premium thereon or the proper portion thereof shall be charged to the purchaser as purchaser’s cost.

The property shall be sold subject to ad valorem taxes for the year 2026 and all subsequent years thereafter; easements, restrictions and stipulations of record; assessments for public improvements levied against the property, if any; existing zoning ordinances, statutes, laws, or regulations; and any facts which an inspection and accurate survey of the property may disclose. BIDDERS SHALL BE PREPARED TO COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS. All sales are “as is” and the Plaintiff, the Master Commissioner, and the Court shall not be deemed to have warranted title of the real estate to the purchaser.

FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THESE SALES AND OTHER UPCOMING SALES CAN BE FOUND AT www.boonecountyky.org (Link to Department/Agencies to Master Commissioner) PROSPECTIVE BIDDERS ARE ADVISED AND ENCOURAGED TO REFER TO THAT WEBSITE FOR ANSWERS TO ANY QUESTIONS.

MAY 26, 2026

11

sports Cooper promotes Begley to lead football program

Elleman upsets Johnson in girls 9th Region tennis finals

nament by reaching the semifinals.

Dixie Heights boys, Cooper girls win district lacrosse titles

The second set turned into more of a battle, with neither side able to create separation early. Tied late, Ryle responded with an 8-2 run to break things open and take full control at 25-17.

In the third, Oldham County again struck first, but Ryle answered quickly and gradually wore the Colonels down, using another late surge, fueled by energy from the bench and student section, to close out the sweep 25-19.

Adam Begley (left) was named the Cooper High School football coach on May 8, 2026. Photo provided

For the first time in program history, Cooper football is undergoing a head coaching change.

After Randy Borchers resigned in April, the lone coach in the 18-year history of the program, Cooper announced the hiring of Adam Begley to head football coach on May 8.

Conner High School’s Natalie Elleman won the 9th Region girls singles title on May 11, 2026. File photo | Bob Jackson

“Coach Begley brings a strong background in leadership, player development and community involvement having coached at the youth, middle school, freshman and varsity levels since 2014,” Cooper High School released in a statement.

Ryle’s Avery Love and Niveditha Salvaraju were all able to pull off a three-peat in doubles, taking down Notre Dame’s Isabella McElweee and Malia Christiansen, 6-0, 6-0.

“He has been instrumental in helping build continuity throughout the Cooper football pipeline,” the release said.

Begley has served as a firefighter with 25 years of service. He takes over a program coming off its best four-year run in program history that came with 40 wins in that stretch and back-to-back state runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024. They’ve had several players go on to play college football.

He’ll inherit a team that is set to have 24 players graduate in late May, including the program’s all-time leading passer (Cam O’Hara), all-time leading rusher (Keagan Maher) and all-time interceptions leader (Ryker Campbell). Cooper’s top passer, top three leading rushers, four of the top five leading receivers and top five tacklers are all graduating.

Love and Salvaraju’s dominance was on full display in the region tournament, dropping just five games in four matches. The two along with the Notre Dame pair of McElweee and Christiansen, Dixie Heights’ Cassidy Derry and Isabella Norvell and Conner’s Bethany Arnett and Aurora Sandfoss have all advanced to the state tournament later this month by each reaching the region semifinals.

The state tournament began May 20 at Sayre High School in Lexington.

In the girls 10th Region singles final at Mason County, a pair of Scott teammates went up against each other as Beatrice Chiessi took down Kaylin Lovell, 6-3, 6-0. Those two along with Campbell County’s Isabella Jayasuriya and Bourbon County’s Aysha Garza advanced to the state tournament by reaching the semifinals.

Cooper High School defeated Ryle High School for the second time in eight days. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

The Dixie Heights boys lacrosse team and Cooper girls lacrosse team won district titles recently in advancing to the state tournament.

Dixie Heights took down Ryle, 9-7 on May 11. The Colonels scored three goals in the final 4:24 to seal the victory and win backto-back titles.

Aiden Wood was named Tournament MVP while Eli Lawson and Cole Grimes made the All-Tournament team. Ryle’s Charlie Park and Carter Aslip were also named to the All-Tournament team.

Cooper got five goals from Emily Forbes on their way to their first district championship with a 9-6 victory over Ryle.

Forbes was later named Tournament MVP while teammates Maddy Reinert and Claira Kemper made the All-Tournament team.

Ryle’s Meagahn Bailey and Paisha Parks also made the All-Tournament team.

Ryle claims back-to-back region volleyball titles

Campbell County’s Izzy Hardin and Grace Heidelburg also advanced to the state tour-

CAMPBELL COUNTY GIRLS TRACK

Ryle High School wins its second straight 6th Region championship. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

In just the second season of Kentucky High School Athletic Association-sanctioned boys volleyball, Ryle once again stood alone at the top of the region, defending their crown with a 3-0 sweep of Oldham County (25-16, 25-17, 25-19) on May 9 at The Joe at Simon Kenton High School.

Sponsored by

The Campbell County High School girls track and field team won LINK nky Team of the Week honors for the week of April 27 to May 3, 2026. Photo provided | Campbell County High School

12 MAY 26, 2026

CovCath’s Scroggins, Berling finish 5th at KHSAA state bass fishing tournament

In a three-set battle, Elleman took down Johnson, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 11-9.

Elleman entered as the No. 3 seed and defeated Notre Dame’s Lilliana Berling, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the semifinals. Elleman, Johnson, Berling and Beechwood’s Emma Ahlers all advance to the state tournament in singles later this month.

Drew Stropko led Ryle with 12 kills, while Ryota Kondo and Eddie Rieffer also earned all-tournament team honors.

Leading the way was junior Max Kidd, who delivered a complete performance with five kills, an ace, three digs and two blocks en route to tournament MVP honors.

Conner’s Natalie Elleman denied Cooper’s Kay Johnson a three-peat in Monday’s 9th Region girls tennis finals at Boone Woods Park.

Begley was the freshman coach for the Jaguars and the assistant varsity offensive line coach previously. He’s been involved with the program since 2014.

Begley was the founder and former director for the youth football organization.

Dixie Heights High School won the 5th District lacrosse title with a 9-7 victory over Ryle High School. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

Ryle set the tone early and never let it go.

The Raiders never trailed in the opening set, pulling away with a 25-16 win behind steady serving and controlled pressure at the net.

Drew Berling and Eli Scroggins of Covington Catholic High School finished fifth in the boys KHSAA Bass Fishing State Championships. Photo provided | Covington Catholic High School

The KHSAA Bass Fishing State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare was held on May 8-9 at Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley in Calvert City.

A total of 81 boys teams and 20 girls teams participated in the tournament.

Covington Catholic’s Eli Scroggins and Drew Berling finished fifth in the two-day event. They caught five bass on day one, three on day two. Their day one weight total was 13 pounds, 13 ounces, which put them in fourth place after the first day. Their day two total was eight pounds, five ounces, giving them a two-day total weight of 22 pounds, two ounces. Their biggest bass caught was four pounds, two ounces, the fourth biggest bass caught in the tournament.

It’s quite the improvement from last season when Scroggins and Berling finished 49th with six bass for 10 pounds, three ounces.

Muhlenberg County’s Karson Stone and Levi Simms won the championship with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 14 ounces. Trigg County’s Gavin Schrock and Cash King were runner up with 26 pounds, five ounces worth of bass.

Bishop Brossart’s Cooper Lackey and Paxton Litmer were the only other Northern Kentucky competitors in the event, placing 48th with a two-day total of seven pounds, four ounces.

Montgomery County’s Kenleigh French and Emma Branham won the girls title with a two-day bass total of 12 pounds, 13 ounces. No Northern Kentucky girls teams competed in the event.

Letters to the Editor: Let’s not convert our farmland of statewide importance to industry

By John Robbins

O

nce dominated by farming, Kenton County in 2026 is split between its very developed, crowded northern half and its sparsely populated southern half, which still has plenty of farmland, greenspace and nature.

Current fiscal court leaders, all living in the county’s developed northern half, seem hell-bent on forcing their plan for industrial development on the county’s rural southern half. But a majority of residents in the rural southern half don’t like or want it, and now they are making a big effort to inform voters about it as the 2026 elections get closer. How did we get here?

Let’s start by reading a portion of Kenton County’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan: “Kenton County consists of some soils which are considered Prime Farmland soils or Farmland of Statewide Importance as shown in Figure 4. Prime Farmland is land which consists of soil that has the best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for the production of crops. It has the soil quality, growing season and moisture supply needed to produce sustained high yields of crops when treated and managed, including water management, according to current farming methods. Areas of Kenton County listed as Farmland of Statewide Importance indicates land other than Prime Farmland which has a good combination of physical and chemical characteristics for the production of crops.”

Most of the map’s depicted areas of prime farmland (shaded in green) and farmland of statewide importance (shaded in yellow) in the county’s northern half are already built on or paved over. Most of the remaining best soil and farmland are in the southern half of the county, mostly in the county’s southwest corner. I added the purple oval outline in the lower left corner to show where county leaders want to implement their plan, called the Site Readiness Initiative or SRI, to prepare the land for industries and factories to move in. If the SRI gets implemented, over 5,000 acres of farmland of statewide importance will be converted to industry and factories!

The southern half of Kenton County not only has farmers, but many others like me who moved there to be closer to farms, greenspace and nature. Regardless of why we live there, we were shocked when county leaders announced their SRI plan early in 2025 at public hearings in Piner and Independence. We heard how the SRI would prepare two areas for industrialization by creating wider, heavier-duty roads and installing new water, natural gas, sewage and electric power infrastructures. Focus Area 1 would go from Maher Road on the north to State Route 16 on the south between Banklick Road and Boone County. Focus Area 2 would go from Walton to Grant County between the U.S. Route 25 corridor and Boone County. Area residents were not

Farmland in south Kenton County. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

consulted in advance about the SRI plan.

And despite both focus areas being where the 2024 Comprehensive Plan located much of the county’s best remaining farmland of statewide importance, that wasn’t even mentioned. So at a fiscal court session in summer 2025, I asked why the county’s best remaining farmland of statewide importance should be converted to industry.

No county leaders replied.

Southern Kenton County residents began to organize. Some began regularly attending and speaking at Fiscal Court sessions about their opposition to the SRI. Some tried to schedule a negotiation with county leaders last winter to get the SRI cancelled.

That got blocked by county leaders, so we began working to make opposing the SRI a 2026 campaign issue. We interviewed candidates and hosted a public forum to hear their positions and perspectives on the SRI. Then we produced recommendations based on which candidates expressed the clearest anti-SRI positions. It became clear that most voters in the northern half of the county were unaware of the SRI, so we also began trying to inform northern county voters about it and to persuade them to vote for our recommended anti-SRI candidates. Our recommended candidates included members of both political parties.

We didn’t care about their political parties, only their anti-SRI positions.

commissioner district has one or two candidates who publicly oppose the SRI. Only District 1 isn’t on the primary ballot because neither party’s candidate has an opponent.

Remember, voters can vote for candidates in all three districts. All the commissioners vote on issues which affect the county, including the SRI.

Kenton County is a beautiful place, including the remaining farmland, greenspaces and nature that are still abundant in its southern half. These are county assets, not just undeveloped areas waiting to be developed, built on or paved over. Let’s not allow the conversion of Kenton County’s best remaining farmland, nature and greenspaces to industrial use! Help us block the SRI!

THE WEEKLY COMIC

by Andrew Buchanan

Kenton County’s current leaders and some 2026 candidates for the fiscal court still don’t talk publicly about the SRI, as if it’s not an important issue for the county or at least the southern half of the county. And there continues to be no acknowledgement by current leaders and some 2026 commissioner candidates that the SRI plan to convert over 5,000 acres of rural and agriculture land in southern Kenton County to industrial uses is inconsistent with the county’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan which identified the county’s best remaining “farmland of statewide importance” exactly where the SRI’s two focus areas are.

So please vote for the Kenton County Fiscal Court candidates who publicly oppose the SRI. If you don’t know a candidate’s position on it, ask about it. Each Fiscal Court MAY 26, 2026

13

real estate

Covington condo with a view Address: 1 Roebling Way, Unit 504, Covington Price: $714,900 Bedrooms: Two Bathrooms: Two (plus one half bath) Square footage: 2,191 School district: Covington Independent Public Schools County: Kenton The kitchen inside this Covington home.

Special features: A luxury condo in Covington’s iconic Ascent tower, this renovated two-bedroom residence features floorto-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the Roebling Suspension Bridge, the Ohio River and the Cincinnati skyline, along with a chef’s kitchen, flex office space, spalike baths and access to upscale amenities including a concierge, pool, fitness center and wine room.

The exterior of this Covington condo highrise. Photo provided | Lee Robinson of Robinson Sotheby’s Int. Realty

The view from this Covington condo.

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

NOTICE TO BOONE COUNTY TAXPAYERS I, Justin Crigler, Boone County Clerk, pursuant to KRS 424.130, announce that the 2025 Delinquent Real Property Tax Bills (Certificates of Delinquency) will be published on the Boone County Clerk’s website: boonecountyclerk.ky.gov on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, as well as a full list of current certificates of delinquency.

The list of certificates of delinquency are also available for public inspection during the hours of 8:30 am – 4:30 pm at Boone County Clerk’s Office located at 2950 Washington Street Burlington KY 41005.

The Tax Sale will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Some delinquencies – although they have been advertised – will be excluded from the tax sale in accordance with provisions of KRS 134.504(10)(b).

If you have any questions, please contact the Boone County Clerk’s Office Real Estate at 859-334-3624.

SCAN THIS QR CODE TO GO TO OUR DIGITAL PUBLIC NOTICE PAGE

14 MAY 26, 2026

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SUDOKU

The Weekly Crossword Edited

by Margie E. Burke

Difficulty: Easy

3 7 8

5

4 8 /16/26 -73/22/26

9 6 2 1 9 7 6 5 8 1 9 6 2 5 1 1 7Edited by Margie 3 E. Burke

Copyright 2026 by The Puzzle Syndicate

HOW TO SOLVE:

6 2 1 9 7 6 5

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Answer to Previous Sudoku:

5 1 7 6 4 8 2 3 9 8 9 6 1 2 3 5 7 4 2 3 4 5 9 7 1 8 6 9 2 3 8 7 4 6 5 1 7 4 1 3 6 5 8 9 2 6 5 8 9 1 2 7 4 3 4 7 9 2 8 6 3 1 5 1 6 5 7 3 9 4 2 8 3 8 2 4 5 1 9 6 7

by Margie E. Burke

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ACROSS 1 Melville HOWcaptain TO SOLVE: 15 16 14 5Each Crumbly cheese row must contain the 18 19 17 9 West1 Indies numbers to 9; each column must native contain the numbers201 to 9; and 22 21 14 Hitset theof bottle each 3 by 3 boxes must 23 1 to 9.

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