LINK Kenton Reader - Volume 4, Edition 42 - September 18, 2026 by LINK nky

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VOLUME 4, ISSUE 42 — SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

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Campbell County piece of KY 536 advances. Why it matters for all of NKY By Haley Parnell

or roughly three decades, Northern Kentucky leaders have envisioned a second major east-west route across the region that would allow drivers to travel between Campbell, Kenton and Boone counties without heading to Interstate 275. After years of planning, funding requests and gradual construction, officials say one of the most important missing pieces of state Route 536 is beginning to move forward in Campbell County. The larger vision is to create a continuous, improved Route 536 corridor stretching from the AA Highway in Campbell County west through Kenton County and ultimately to Interstate 71/75 in Boone County. Portions of that route already exist or have been improved, but a roughly four-mile stretch between U.S. Route 27 and the AA Highway in Campbell County has never Continues on page 3

State Route 536 in Campbell County. Provided | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6 website

School ‘spirits’ run high at Dayton Independent Schools’ Paranormal Club By Lia Salvatierra

n a darkened room, Trinity Tillett pulls on a cat-shaped eye mask and headphones plugged into a small black device.

The device, called a spirit box, jumps around, scanning different radio frequencies and producing words and fragmented phrases.

Trinity Tillett listens to a spirit box device which relays words and phrases from radio frequencies, meant to offer messages and meaning from ghosts or other spirits. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

Tillett relays what she hears back to a huddle of other Dayton Independent Schools students, who write the language down and spout back questions, trying to decode messages or meaning from ghosts or other spirits. This is a weekly practice at Dayton High

School, where members of the Paranormal Club gather in the library to hunt and research paranormal beings, from ghosts to Bigfoot. For Tillett and her peers, those things aren’t scary. They’re actually the foundation of the safest and most inclusive community they’ve found on campus. “Everyone that has weird interests and gets bullied for it, we’ll just come here talk about it … and no one here will judge us for it,” Tillett said. Despite what it may sound like, Dayton’s Paranormal Club isn’t a just handful of maverick teenage ghost hunters, but rath-

Meet your superintendent: Diocese of Covington p6 Covington approves Axon contract with caveats p7 Hottest Septembers in Kentucky since 1895 p11

Continues on page 5

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been built. “This is a 30-year-old thing, and the only major east-west corridor in Northern Kentucky right now is I-275,” Campbell County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery said.

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Kentucky lawmakers allocated $14.8 million this year toward right-of-way acquisition for the first phase of the Campbell County extension, from U.S. 27 to Persimmon Grove Road. A second phase would continue from Persimmon Grove Road east to the AA Highway, according to Representative Mike Clines, a Republican from Alexandria. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, or KYTC, also recently held public meetings for feedback as work on the corridor moves forward. For Pendery and other regional leaders who have advocated for the project for decades, the Campbell County connection represents more than a new road. They argue it could change how people move throughout NKY, relieve pressure on some of the region’s busiest roads and give workers in rural counties better access to the region’s largest employment areas.

agency conducted a scoping study of Route 536 in 2015, including expert analysis and community participation. To Policinski, the need for the road becomes clearer by looking at how NKY has changed since I-275 was planned roughly six decades ago.

“It’s the most important new infrastructure project, not only in Northern Kentucky but in this entire OKI region,” said Mark Policinski, CEO of the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, also known as OKI.

“The reason it’s so close to the river is because it was handling most of the population that close to the river,” Policinski said. “Sixty years later, obviously Northern Kentucky has gone through an economic boom.”

A 30-year effort

As development has moved farther south, he said, the region’s transportation network hasn’t fully followed it.

When planning for Route 536 began decades ago, Pendery said the existing road was nowhere close to functioning as a regional east-west corridor. The route contained sharp turns, curves, hills and other limitations through Kenton County, while the connection east of U.S. 27 in Campbell County simply didn’t exist. On the western end, Route 536 connected with I-71/75 at what Pendery described as a dysfunctional interchange. Over time, pieces of that puzzle have been addressed.

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Road work signs. Photo provided | Jamie Street via Unsplash

Pendery said the three NKY county judges/ executive traveled to Washington, D.C., and met personally with the U.S. transportation secretary three times in an effort to secure federal funding. Two of those trips resulted in tens of millions of dollars, he said, including funding that helped improve the Boone County interchange and a section of the corridor in Kenton County. Still, completing the entire corridor has proved expensive. Pendery estimated completing the remaining improvements could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, particularly if officials ultimately determine a new crossing of the Licking River is needed. Whether that bridge is necessary still needs further study, he said. OKI’s involvement also stretches back years. Policinski said the regional planning

“536 is the east-west connection that Northern Kentucky needs,” Policinski said. President and CEO of BE NKY Growth Partnership Lee Crume said a look at a map highlights the problem. He said many of NKY’s major routes including state Route 9, U.S. 27, state Route 17 and I-71/75 primarily move traffic north and south. “When you step below [I-275], we’re really missing that infrastructure that moves our community from east to west,” Crume said. “I think this idea of getting 536 built out all the way across Campbell County is just a no-brainer.”

County toward U.S. 27 and Route 536. Completing the missing link, he said, could give some of that traffic a more direct route west and reduce the number of trucks traveling through Alexandria. Clines, who grew up in southern Campbell County and now represents Alexandria and surrounding areas in the Kentucky House of Representatives, describes the project as an “Alexandria bypass.” He pointed specifically to traffic generated by Campbell County High School and Campbell County Middle School. A completed connection could allow some drivers who currently travel through Alexandria to instead move around the city. “That Alexandria bypass will be instrumental on many levels for the quality of life of those living in Campbell County, specifically southern Campbell County,” Clines said. The benefits wouldn’t necessarily stop at Alexandria. Representative Matt Lehman, a Democrat from Newport, represents northern Campbell County, where the new roadway would not be built, but he said congestion generated farther south eventually feeds into U.S. 27, I-275 and I-471. “There has to be some relief in the northern parts of the county,” Lehman said.

What it could mean for Campbell County Connecting workers with jobs For Campbell County residents, the most immediate impact could be fewer trips north just to travel west. Someone living in southern Campbell County who wants to travel toward Boone County currently may have to head north on U.S. 27, reach I-275 and then travel west. A completed Route 536 would create another option farther south. The effect could also be felt on U.S. 27. Pendery pointed to growing truck traffic coming from the AA Highway as one contributor to congestion. Trucks trying to reach the interstate can travel north toward I-275 or find other routes across Campbell

While easing traffic may be the most visible benefit for drivers, Pendery said he believes the project’s largest economic payoff could come from putting more workers within a reasonable commute of NKY jobs. Major employment centers, including Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, more commonly known as CVG, and the industrial and logistics development surrounding it, are concentrated farther west. A faster east-west route could put those jobs within easier reach of residents of southern Campbell County and neighborSEPTEMBER 18, 2026 3

Continued from page 3

that kind of gets lost in the conversation sometimes,” Cooper said.

source of funding as the project progresses.

“The big payoff of this road, so far as our economy goes, is probably not going to be the benefit to local traffic,” Pendery said. “It’s going to be facilitating travel such that workers can get back and forth to jobs.”

Campbell County’s next step

Policinski sees that connection as central to the project’s importance regionally.

Clines said Route 536 has been one of his priorities since he was elected in 2023. Lawmakers initially secured $5 million for the project in the 2024 budget cycle. This year, Clines said the House initially sought $38 million for right-of-way acquisition for both Campbell County phases before the final allocation was reduced to $14.8 million for the first phase.

Policinski said KYTC already has more than $100 million worth of Route 536-related projects included in OKI’s transportation plan. Separately, OKI distributes roughly $50 million to $80 million annually through its own competitive funding process.

ing Pendleton, Bracken and other counties.

“The world is coming to NKY’s doorstep,” Policinski said. “There’s going to be a tremendous need for jobs and what does every business tell you? The biggest problem is ‘How do I get people?’ ‘How do I keep people?’ Well, you can’t keep people if you’re forcing them to be in a car for two hours each way.” Transportation infrastructure can also influence where companies choose to locate. Crume said transportation comes up “every single time” in site-selection discussions, particularly for industrial companies that need easy access to interstates and don’t want trucks navigating winding two-lane roads through small communities. “Every mile you drive from the interstate is a mile you have to drive back,” Crume said. “That adds cost.” President and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Brent Cooper, said the benefits aren’t limited to large manufacturers, logistics companies or truckers. Electricians, plumbers, HVAC contractors, IT companies and other service businesses also depend on the ability to move efficiently around the region. “There’s a lot of service businesses and small businesses in our region that will benefit tremendously from this, and I think

Before those potential benefits will be seen, however, the missing Campbell County road has to be built.

“You can’t get finished unless you get started,” Clines said. “What works in our favor is that the Commonwealth has decided to get started, which is the purchase of the property.” Lehman said Kentucky’s road-funding process makes continued advocacy important.

LINK nky reached out to KYTC on multiple occasions for comment but did not hear back. Campbell County or a city could submit an application seeking OKI funding for future Route 536 work. Policinski said OKI has not received such an application for the Campbell County extension and stressed that he could not guarantee funding for a competitive application. But, he added, “we would be happy and anxious to receive an application involving the expansion and improvement of 536.”

ognize that in this situation.” Crume similarly acknowledged that completing the corridor will require land acquisition and will affect individual property owners, even as he believes the broader transportation benefits outweigh the drawbacks. “Changes can be really scary for a lot of people,” Crume said. “I don’t want to be insensitive to that. I do just think the net positives of having good, safe, efficient access going east-west in this community can outweigh any potential negatives that are out there.” For Pendery, those competing considerations are part of a project NKY has now spent decades debating, studying, redesigning and funding piece by piece. When the idea emerged roughly 30 years ago, he said, officials knew its size and price meant it wouldn’t happen quickly. What has changed, in his view, is the urgency.

Growth comes with impacts The state develops a six-year road plan, but the General Assembly actually appropriates funding two years at a time. That means a project can appear in the longer-term road plan without necessarily having the money required to move ahead. “The truth is, any road plan or road planning in this state is, you need your legislators to stay on top of it,” Lehman said. “We can make all sorts of plans. There can be all sorts of things in the plan, but until that money is allocated, it doesn’t happen.” Lehman expects Route 536 to remain a priority when lawmakers return to the transportation budget in 2028. OKI could potentially become another

Building a new road through Campbell County will also affect people who already live along its proposed path. Pendery said that was a source of opposition when the project was initially discussed decades ago. Unlike sections where an existing road could be widened or reconstructed, the Campbell County extension requires building a road where one doesn’t currently exist. Clines said he wants those property owners considered as the project advances. “Where there is growth, there’s often challenges, discomfort and uncertainty,” he said. “And I want them to know that we rec-

“As the years have gone by, it becomes more and more clear that we not only need this, we pretty much got to have it,” Pendery said. “It’s things like safety, jobs. You could say convenience. Those are important things.” Policinski is similarly emphatic about the significance of finishing the eastern end of the corridor. “If you look at all of it, it (Campbell County piece) may be the most important thing on 536,” Policinski said. “And 536 is the most important infrastructure project in this region, so the world is waiting for Campbell County to move.”

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er one of the district’s largest clubs in history — reaching 136 members when it first launched five years ago. Since then, the club’s founding advisor Jon Taylor has had to rein in membership to around 45 students spanning seventh to 12th grade. But even so, word of the club has spread off campus to the professional paranormal community in Kentucky and beyond. A club is born Dayton’s Paranormal Club was born during detention. While supervising the period, Taylor talked to students trying to understand why they landed there. One of them, he found, was struggling with reading. So when he learned the student was also into local Dayton folklore, he arranged for them to meet after school to practice reading literature on the topic. To keep his reading struggles under wraps and protect himself from any embarrassment, his student started calling their tutoring sessions the “Paranormal Club,” Taylor said. Taylor, a first-year teacher at the time, also needed an after-school club to lead as part of his teaching duties.

A group of Dayton High School Paranormal Club members hang out in the library after school. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

When he saw his tutee improving, he decided to try it out with a larger group, having no clue how many students he’d reach. “I saw the student I was meeting with growing and I was trying to catch lightning in a jar,” Taylor said. “And honestly, I think I have.”

after school.

To entertain an overflowing library of students that first year, Taylor tapped a science teacher to coach students on using the scientific method to research paranormal activity.

“It’s literally the most positive environment I’ve ever been in,” Taylor said.

Taylor then began personally purchasing thousands of dollars’ worth of ghost-finding gear, like spirit boxes and electromagnetic field meters, for students to use. During club meetings, members split into groups to use the equipment to collect data, which they then try to contextualize with historical records and literature. Taylor has also invested in the club’s origin — building an entire library of ghost and folklore books to lend to interested students. “At least they’re reading,” he said.

Dayton Independent Schools’ Paranormal Club is one of the largest in the district’s history with more than 100 students, who’ve found community and belonging while hunting and researching ghosts, spirits and other supernatural beings. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

He’s also noticed a positive impact on attendance, with students eager to continue their paranormal explorations

Kalli Coomer, a 10th grade club member, shared the same sentiment.

If making attendance, research, history and reading fun wasn’t enough, Taylor said he’s most touched by the club’s ability to bring together students across all grade levels.

Groups of mixed-age students have registered for library cards and carpooled to the Campbell County Library to research their paranormal findings together, he said. “When I was in school, we wouldn’t even talk to people in the grade below us.” Whatever interest in ghosts or goblins brought members to Paranormal Club in the first place, it’s the humans that made them stay. Tillett originally joined because her sister had introduced her to crystals and ghost hunting and she wanted to keep busy after school. One ninth grader, Eric Radcliff, joined when he started middle school because his grandma was a Kentucky ghost hunter. Another student joined because of firsthand experiences with the ghosts of family members, but stayed because they found belonging. “Growing up, I’ve always felt like I’ve been out of place, like I don’t belong here. And this is probably where I feel like I most belong,” Neveah “Ozzie” York said.

“It’s a great opportunity for community, especially in your teenage years, which is when it’s most important to find a community that you can feel safe and confident in,” Coomer said. Spirits booming Dayton’s Paranormal Club is becoming a known quantity in the professional paranormal community, as Taylor works to increase exposure for students. He’s invited professionals to club meetings, and helped plan two club trips this year to the Kentucky Bigfoot Conference in Lawrenceburg and GoblinCon, a paranormal expo in Hopkinsville, in August. On Sept. 1, members proudly sported purple and green T-shirts reading “abductee” from the event. Taylor said he’s hopeful the club can also participate in three other events they’ve been invited to this year, including the Red River Gorge Bigfoot Festival. Taylor said growing energy around the student club is because it’s possibly the only one of its kind in the country, according to paranormal professionals he’s met over the years. “They’ve never heard of anything like what we’ve done, and they travel the country,” he said.

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 5

Meet your superintendent: Diocese of Covington have turned families away for lack of resources and training, but that’s changing this year.

By Lia Salvatierra

uperintendent Kendra McGuire believes Diocese of Covington schools should serve all students, regardless of additional barriers or needs.

With the help of a parent group, McGuire has secured outside funding from a local foundation dedicated to supporting students of varying abilities in Catholic schools.

McGuire, starting her seventh year as superintendent and 26th year at the Diocese, has made that her mission heading the Diocese’s academic arm.

The foundation’s funding is now supporting six diocesan schools.

“I don’t care who comes through our doors; I want to be able to serve them, provide them a great education and give them the resources to do so,” she said. When McGuire first became superintendent in 2020, she focused on carrying out that mission by supporting principals facing limited resources. She wanted to help them manage the challenges she encountered as assistant principal of St. Pius X and principal of St. Cecilia School. She said she especially wanted to help leaders of the district’s five Alliance for Catholic Urban Education schools, or ACUE schools, which aim to keep tuition accessible to low-income students. While serving as assistant superintendent, she was tapped to fill in as principal at an ACUE school after its principal died suddenly, which opened her eyes to the limitations those schools face because of funding constraints.

“When you look at Scripture, Jesus says, ‘Let the children come to me,’ and we were saying, ‘No,’” McGuire said.

Diocese of Covington Schools Superintendent Kendra McGuire. Photo by Lia Salvatierra | LINK nky

“It was frustrating for me as a suburban Catholic school principal to come in and see the lack of what every school should have,” McGuire said. “That’s kind of been on my mind ever since I got here.” Once becoming superintendent, she was determined to secure better resources for the Diocese’s underserved students, including those with disabilities and other learning needs.

“We’re wanting to get to the point where if you want a faith-based education where you’re learning about Jesus, you should be able to come here, and we just have to figure out how to make that work,” she said. McGuire said she became an educator in the first place because she never really liked school herself. A product of diocesan schools, McGuire decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in elementary education once graduating from St. Henry District High School, wanting to bring school to life for students.

Unlike public school districts, diocesan schools don’t receive state funding to support special education needs.

During her early years in the classroom at St. Joseph, she recalled teaching her second graders about weather by following an active hurricane.

Historically, that’s meant schools typically

The students were clustered around the

computer, following its shape as it changed in real time. Though she ended up spending the majority of her career in administration, she’s been able to maintain an understanding of how school feels on the day-to-day, both as a leader and a parent. She and her husband are high school sweethearts and parents to six children, ranging in age from elementary school to college graduate. All six are either attending or have graduated from the diocesan district. McGuire said that her role as a parent has been especially helpful for understanding how administrative decisions really impact families — such as during the pandemic, while she was serving as superintendent. But ultimately, she’s guided by the diocesan schools’ twofold mission. “We are trying to teach people and help them get to heaven, and we’re also trying to teach them and prepare them for the world that they’re going to be living in on Earth,” McGuire said. “At the end of the day, we want people to be able to walk out of our schools, and we want them to hopefully have what they need to get through the ups and downs of life.” When McGuire isn’t helping fulfill the diocesan mission through its schools, she’s spending time outside with her family, often at Norris Lake in Tennessee.

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6 SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

Covington approves Axon contract with caveats

By Nathan Granger

ovington approved a contract with Axon Enterprise for police tech on Sept. 8.

The contract was approved with caveats against using automatic license plate readers and added restrictions on how the police department could use AI technology, among other amendments to the initial contract. An initial version, introduced in August, proved unpopular with many city residents. That version included four combination mobile license plate readers and dash cam devices for squad cars, a new police drone, tasers, new AI-integrated tech and other equipment for the department. The city had set aside money for this tech as part of its budgeting process earlier this year. The contract was originally set to be voted on at the end of last month, but members of the public came out to the meeting where the contract appeared on the board’s consent agenda to speak against it. The board eventually moved to hold an extended public comments section at this meeting to allow people to speak at length about the technology. In a meeting that lasted over four hours Sept. 8, people spoke. The commission chambers were packed, and the city had to set up a viewing monitor in the City Hall lobby for overflow attendees to follow what was going on. “A 10-year, $6 million commitment to a single vendor bundling hardware, artificial intelligence, cloud data storage and an autonomous drone program deserves more than a rubber stamp,” said former City Commissioner and current Covington Human Rights Commissioner Pam Mullins. Most speakers at the meeting opposed

the technology or had reservations about it. Many called for deeper auditing procedures or external oversight. Others criticized Axon’s business connections, namely with Carbyne, an Israeli company Axon acquired earlier this year that had ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Another concern involved the AI drafting assistance tech and how long that data would be stored, which eventually led to the change mentioned above. Still others had concerns about warrantless searches and general surveillance and said they felt the police department had lost trust with the community. “I don’t think that there’s a real level of trust there, and then to be given more tools to further survey us, I think that that sits wrong with a lot of folks,” said Mainstrasse resident Bill Stone. A handful of speakers supported the technology, notably Adam Uhl and Brian Powers, a Covington detective and former detective, respectively. They had employed license plate readers to solve the murder of a man named Virgil Stewart in 2022. They were later honored for their investigation by the Northern Kentucky Police Chiefs Association. The president of the Covington Fraternal Order of the Police, Mark Richardson, also spoke out in favor of the contract. “Technology, when it is properly governed, properly trained, and properly used [can] save lives,” Richardson said. “It can help us find missing people. It can help us communicate with people that don’t speak English. It can help our police officers go home to their families at the end of their shift. That matters.” Following public comments and numerous motions, voice votes and directions to city staff members by the commissioners Sept. 8, the version that was approved unani-

Motorola Vigilant license plate reader mounted on the top of a Covington Police car outside of City Hall on Sept. 8, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

mously had the following changes: • The complete removal of the squad car license plate reader/dash cameras. • The banning of future automatic license readers mounted on poles under city jurisdiction. • Changing the term of the contract from 10 years to a single year with an option to renew it for the subsequent nine years. • A new requirement for the police department to submit a report to the city manager and board of commissioners every 30 days on the use of the technology.

• Opting out of automatic software upgrades to prevent the tech from being altered without the city’s control. • Mandating keeping drafts of any police reporting that employs AI assistance so as to discern between AI-drafted reports and human-drafted reports in the public record. • Opting out of any sharing of data with Axon to train AI models. • The creation of an online transparency portal, where members of the public could follow how the new drone was used, where it went and when.

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The crowd at the Covington Board of Commissioners meeting Sept. 8, 2026. Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

kenton county briefs Kenton County approves $14.4M first construction phase for Fox Ridge Park

Fox Ridge Park rendering. Rendering provided | Kenton County

The Kenton County Fiscal Court voted unanimously on Sept. 8 to approve a $14,452,795 first-phase contract with Prus Construction, clearing the way for site work to begin on what officials are calling Fox Ridge Park. Crews are expected to mobilize on the 225acre site, formerly Fox Run Golf Course, off Independence Station Road, on Sept. 14. The park will close to the public that day as demolition, invasive species removal and earthwork begin. “Honestly, we’re ahead of schedule by about two weeks,” Prus Construction President Michael Prus told the court, noting his team had originally targeted an Oct. 1 start. “The team is working extremely hard to get this coordinated and get this moving.” Assistant Kenton County Administrator Scott Gunning unveiled the park’s new identity during the Sept. 8 meeting. The park name nods to the property’s history as Fox Run Golf Course while referencing its hilly topography, three ridges that will each anchor a different zone of the park, themed around discovery, adventure and nature. The county closed Fox Run at the end of 2019 after determining the course was no longer financially sustainable, averaging around 10,000 rounds a year against a roughly 30,000-round benchmark for a sustainable operation. Multiple advisors, including a National Golf Foundation study, recommended the closure. An early study of redevelopment options

found that most of the property had been purchased with federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars, which restrict it to recreational use. From there, the county hired landscape architecture firm Human Nature to build a master plan, drawing on feedback from more than 600 community survey respondents.

remain fully closed to visitors for the duration of construction, with signage posted at the entrance to alert residents ahead of time.

time, LaFontaine said he spoke with Mayor Marty Lenhof and Public Works Director Chris Zerhusen about buying a live webcam to place near the crossing.

Elsmere Fire Chief explains new camera at Main Street railroad crossing

The webcam footage is transmitted directly to the fire trucks, allowing firefighters to check whether a train is inbound and plan their route accordingly without further delays.

Human Nature co-founder Gary Wolnitzek walked the court through renderings of the park’s major features, which will include a themed children’s play area called Fox Den, a splash pad and stream, two climbing towers reaching up to 35 feet, mountain bike trails, a Go Ape aerial adventure/zip-line course, an accessible tree canopy walk, a dog park, large event shelters and more than 20 miles of trails. Kenton County Commissioner Beth Sewell highlighted the accessibility built into the park’s design, noting more than five miles of the trail network will be ADA accessible. “I’m also pleased that the park is being designed for every age, fitness level and need,” Sewell said. Despite the scale of the development, officials said roughly 70% of the property will remain in a natural state, with construction concentrated on about 30% of the land. “It’s going to be a destination,” Kenton County Commissioner Joe Nienaber said. “People aren’t going to drive by and say, ‘Let’s pop in this park.’ They’re going to plan to go here. I hope that we pull it off, and I hope that I’m alive to see it.” Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann, who has championed the project since the golf course’s closure roughly seven years ago, said he expects the park to open to the public in about two years. The $14.4 million approved on Sept. 8 covers the project’s first phase, including general site requirements, demolition, earthwork and site utilities. The county will host a public groundbreaking celebration for Fox Ridge Park on Monday, Sept. 21, at 9:30 a.m. The park will

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“Thank you for doing that for our citizens,” said Council Member Joanne Barnett Smith.

Elsmere Fire Chief Paul LaFontaine speaking at city council. Photo by Astrid Coste | LINK Contributor

Earlier this year, Garvey Bridge’s weight capacity was reduced from 27 tons to 13 tons. On Aug. 24, Norfolk Southern announced their partnership with the city of Elsmere to assess and create a plan to restore the bridge.

Kenton County Planning Commission honors retired treasurer

Elsmere firefighters will soon have a new tool to avoid delays caused by trains blocking a key crossing: a live webcam that lets crews check the tracks before choosing their route to an emergency. Fire Chief Paul LaFontaine told city council on Sept. 8 that the webcam is intended to help crews navigate around delays caused by the recently reduced weight limit on Garvey Bridge, which prevents some Elsmere fire trucks from crossing. “We don’t know that the crossing is blocked until we’ve committed there,” said LaFontaine at the meeting. Because some fire trucks can no longer cross Garvey Bridge, crews have been using Main Street to reach certain residential areas. However, trains blocking the Main Street crossing have already caused emergency responders to reach scenes more slowly than normal. “We’ve had numerous occasions where Main Street crossing is blocked for extended periods of time,” said LaFontaine. “More than an hour, sometimes three days at a time.” To prevent further disruption in response

Phil Ryan (left) holds a plaque honoring his time on the Kenton County Planning Commission. Also pictured: Planning Commission Chair Brian Dunham (right) and other members of the planning commission (behind). Photo by Nathan Granger | LINK nky

Former Kenton County Planning Commissioner and Treasurer Phil Ryan was honored for his service on Sept. 3. Ryan retired earlier this year after serving on the commission since 2003. “He attended 209 Kenton County Planning Commission meetings, plus countless committee meetings,” said Planning

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kenton county briefs Commission Chair Brian Dunham. “On top of all of that, he served on the subdivision plat review committee, on our executive committee, served as our treasurer for well over a decade and also served as chair of our social media committee for many, many years.” The planning commission honored him with a plaque to commemorate his service. “It’s been a joy and a pleasure serving with everybody,” said Ryan. “It’s a very professional group of people. I like the diversity of the commission — engineers, attorneys and common lay people. It’s just been a real pleasure throughout the years. And to see where the commission was in 2003 to where it is now, I think it’s in a far better place.” Ryan served as the appointee for Park Hills while on the commission. Park Hills’ new commissioner is Mike Conway.

Ludlow seeks certified status from the Kentucky Heritage Council

been tabled twice, first last month when Corn presented the idea to the planning commissioners. It was tabled again recently when it came before the planning commissioners a second time. Attempts to take a more active approach to historical preservation in the city date back to the late 2010s. The city established a board to review preservation projects, created a historical preservation overlay zone and adopted various ordinances laying out historical preservation guidelines in 2025. These measures carried over when Ludlow updated its city zoning ordinance last year. In August, some of the planning commissioners were concerned about some of the language in the proposed regulation amendment. “I didn’t see anything that said you have to have the owner’s approval,” said Planning Commission Vice Chair Paul Darpel in August. As a result, the commission voted to table a recommendation allowing the city to clean up the language. The text amendment came back before the planning commission on Sept. 3, this time presented by two of the city’s attorneys. They requested to table it again to allow more time to get the ordinance right. “We want some additional time to review it and make any changes that are needed, just to make sure it is in the correct format,” said Michelle Eviston, one of the attorneys.

The current interior state of the Ludlow Railyard Storehouse. Photo by Haley Parnell | LINK nky

Ludlow has begun the process of getting certified local government status from the Kentucky Heritage Council, which will open up more resources for the city to carry out historical preservation projects. “We want to be a [certified local government], so we have the opportunity for grants that Covington has [and] Newport has,” said Andy Corn, a resident who’s acting as a liaison between the heritage council and the city. “We just want to get in the race.” Getting the local government certification will make the city eligible for certain matching grants to help bankroll preservation projects. It will also give the city access to expert consultations from both the Kentucky State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service. Finally, it will give the city a formal role in National Register of Historic Places nomination review processes, enable its input in establishing regional and state historic preservation objectives and create partnerships with various national historic organizations.

The organization also flew a banner over the Kentucky State Fair with the words “abortion pills by mail” and the organization’s website. “Mayday’s website does more than simply provide information — it facilitates, encourages and is even integral to the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs into Kentucky through the mail, a criminal act and class D felony,” Coleman’s lawsuit states. “Mayday’s website and its advertisements constitute speech that is integral to criminal conduct.” A 2022 law passed by the Kentucky General Assembly says abortion medication can only be provided by a physician who is “a nonsurgical abortion provider.” “It shall be unlawful for any manufacturer, distributor, physician, qualified physician, pharmacy or any other person to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly dispense, prescribe or distribute any abortion-inducing drug … to a pregnant person via courier, delivery or mail service,” that 2022 law says. Abortion is illegal in Kentucky in most cases, and there is no exception for rape or incest, though both Republicans and Democrats have unsuccessfully tried to add

Mayday Health banner over Kentucky State Fair. Photo provided | Kentucky Attorney General’s Office

those exceptions in recent years. “Mayday’s advertisements in Kentucky are a clear attempt to help women terminate their pregnancies by facilitating the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs through the mail,” the lawsuit states. Coleman is asking that a judge block Mayday from such advertisements in the future and make the organization pay $2,000 for each alleged violation of the law. “These out of state activists are not only breaking Kentucky law, they seem to delight in rubbing our faces in it.” Coleman said in a statement. “The State Fair is a beloved Kentucky tradition for families and children to celebrate our Commonwealth. We refuse to allow Mayday to taint our values and put our people at risk.”

THE WEEKLY COMIC by Andrew Buchanan

“Exactly,” said the other attorney, Zach S. Smith. “Just making sure that when we’re here, we get it done the next time.”

Kentucky AG sues national nonprofit over abortion access advertisements Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman filed a lawsuit on Sept. 3 against Mayday Health, alleging the national nonprofit broke state law by advertising abortion services in the state, and in one case, flying a banner over the Kentucky State Fair. The lawsuit, filed in Logan County Circuit Court, accuses Mayday of “engaging in unfair, false, misleading or deceptive business practices in violation of the Kentucky Consumer Protection Act.” Leo Raisner, the executive director of Mayday Health, said in a statement that “abortion pills are safe, effective and FDA-approved, and everyone deserves access to that information. “We look forward to defending our First Amendment protected work in court — and winning, like we have against similar efforts to suppress our speech,” Raisner said.

Yet, the city has hit a snag. To get the certification, the city will need to amend its regulations for establishing historic landmarks. Before it can do that, it has to get a recommendation from the Kenton County Planning Commission. The amendment recommendation has

Coleman previously subpoenaed the nonprofit over advertising at gas stations in Christian, Logan and Simpson counties with the words “Pregnant? Don’t want to be?” and a link to the organization’s website, which then connects people with abortion pills, Plan B, birth control and gender-affirming care. SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

State tax revenues miss target by over $1B to allow another income tax cut By Liam Niemeyer | Kentucky Lantern

entucky has missed key fiscal targets within the state budget to allow for another future cut to the state’s income tax rate in 2028 — the second year in a row and the third time in four years that such targets have been missed. That’s according to a Sept. 4 letter by State Budget Director John Hicks to the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue, obtained through a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. In his letter, Hicks presented data that showed the amount of tax receipts going into the state’s General Fund missed a target to allow for a half percentage point reduction to the state’s income tax rate by more than $1 billion. The letter was first reported by Louisville Public Media. The GOP-controlled state legislature in 2022 established an intricate system of fiscal triggers that, if met, allow lawmakers to lower the state’s income tax rate. The triggers are intended to prevent state revenues from rapidly plunging and creating a financial crisis, akin to what happened in Kansas when lawmakers there slashed income taxes, and allow for a more gradual decrease in the income tax rate. The key fiscal trigger in question that was not met is a requirement that General Fund receipts for the fiscal year exceed spending by the amount of funding it would take to cut the income tax rate by one percentage point. Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, the co-chair of the Interim Appropriations and Revenue Committee, told the Lantern that despite the fiscal triggers not being met, “it shows the General Assembly is being exceptionally responsible with our spending and exceptionally good stewards of taxpayer dollars.” “While there still is work that remains to be

The Kentucky State Capitol on April 14, 2026. Photo by Sarah Ladd | Kentucky Lantern

done, we’re committed to doing that hard work,” McDaniel said. GOP state lawmakers have already decreased the income tax rate from 5% to 3.5% with the eventual goal, supported by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, to eventually eliminate it. Under the current system of fiscal triggers, the soonest the state legislature could vote to reduce the income tax rate would be in 2029. In 2025, state lawmakers also made changes to the system of fiscal triggers to allow for a smaller cut to the income tax rate with a smaller tax receipts threshold to meet within the state budget. Hicks wrote in his letter that the smaller fiscal trigger had also not been met. Jason Bailey, the executive director of the progressive think tank Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, said in a provided statement the state legislature “has hit the wall in its effort to eliminate what was once Kentucky’s largest revenue source.”

He criticized efforts to reduce the state income tax as primarily benefiting wealthy Kentuckians while costing the state billions of dollars in needed funds for Medicaid, public education and meals for seniors. “It’s time to shift the focus away from tax cuts skewed to the wealthy and toward the public investments Kentuckians need to build a stronger economy and thriving communities in every corner of the state,” Bailey said. Some Republican state lawmakers have called to more quickly cut the income tax rate despite fiscal triggers not being met, and a member of Kentucky House leadership had argued last year the state had actually met the requirements to lower the income tax rate. Beshear has had a mixed history of supporting and opposing cuts to the income tax rate at different times. When state receipts didn’t meet fiscal triggers last year, he warned against lawmakers disregarding

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the fiscal “guardrails” put in place and moving ahead with an income tax rate cut anyway. Lawmakers did not approve an income tax rate cut last year. In response to a question about some GOP lawmakers wanting quicker income tax cuts, McDaniel said it is “nice when things are quick, but it’s important that they’re responsible.” “We don’t always like the outcomes that we get, but if we trust in the overall structure we’ll continue to move in the right direction in a responsible manner,” McDaniel said. He also criticized the governor over “explosive costs” within the executive branch, particularly on Medicaid spending, echoing critiques from lawmakers earlier this year during the state budget-crafting process. Earlier this year, a spokesperson for the governor had called efforts to control executive branch spending on travel and other expenditures as unfounded and politically motivated.

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10 SEPTEMBER 18, 2026

Hottest Septembers in Kentucky since 1895

obituary

Thomas W. Cahill

homas William Cahill, 87, passed away peacefully on Aug. 30, 2026, in hospice care surrounded by his devoted family, fulfilling his wish to be held in the love of those closest to him. Facing advanced prostate cancer with remarkable resilience, Tom continued to pour his full energy and charm into his family, his active social life and his steadfast participation in his Catholic faith. Tom’s gift of the Blarney also remained completely intact.

Fall leaves. Photo provided | Katie Moum via Unsplash

By Stacker

n 2022, the continental United States experienced its third-hottest July since 1895, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their 10 hottest days in the same month. The year prior, July marked the hottest month on record worldwide. Climate change is driving rising temperatures and more record heat. The Earth’s temperature has climbed each decade since 1880 by about 0.14 degrees Fahrenheit, or roughly 2 degrees Fahrenheit total. Stacker compiled a ranking of the hottest Septembers in Kentucky since 1895 using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information. Rankings are based on the highest average temperature in each month. For each of the hottest months listed below, we’ve included the average state temperature, state-wide highs and lows for the month, and the total precipitation. #10. September 2018 - Average temperature: 73.1°F - Monthly high temperature: 82.3°F - Monthly low temperature: 63.9°F - Total precipitation: 8.06” #9. September 1936 - Average temperature: 73.2°F - Monthly high temperature: 85.3°F - Monthly low temperature: 61°F - Total precipitation: 3.67” #8. September 1900 - Average temperature: 73.5°F - Monthly high temperature: 85°F

- Monthly low temperature: 62°F - Total precipitation: 2.11” #7. September 1911 - Average temperature: 73.6°F - Monthly high temperature: 84.8°F - Monthly low temperature: 62.4°F - Total precipitation: 3.94” #6. September 1933 - Average temperature: 73.7°F - Monthly high temperature: 85.7°F - Monthly low temperature: 61.7°F - Total precipitation: 4.71” #5. September 1939 - Average temperature: 73.8°F - Monthly high temperature: 89°F - Monthly low temperature: 58.6°F - Total precipitation: 1.23” #4. September 1931 - Average temperature: 74°F - Monthly high temperature: 86.8°F - Monthly low temperature: 61.2°F - Total precipitation: 2.69” #3. September 1921 - Average temperature: 74.1°F - Monthly high temperature: 84.5°F - Monthly low temperature: 63.6°F - Total precipitation: 5.25” #2. September 2019 - Average temperature: 74.8°F - Monthly high temperature: 88.8°F - Monthly low temperature: 60.8°F - Total precipitation: 0.22” #1. September 1925 - Average temperature: 76°F - Monthly high temperature: 88.8°F - Monthly low temperature: 63.2°F - Total precipitation: 3.14”

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 63 years, Claire Arling Cahill. He was devoted to his children, Brian Thomas Cahill, Daniel James Cahill (Jill), Kathleen Cahill Kammerer (Jonathan), Sean Patrick Cahill (Cristyn), Timothy Jude Cahill (Pia), and Kevin Joseph Cahill (Laura); and his 13 grandchildren, Katelyn Claire Kammerer, Jonathan Francis Kammerer, Annalese Marie Cahill, Emily Elizabeth Kammerer, Patrick Thomas Cahill, Ainsley Mae Cahill, Theodore James Cahill, Quinlan James Cahill, Caroline Cahill Kammerer, Kiersten Brit Cahill, Benjamin Jude Cahill, Iago Sebastian Cahill Salvadó, and Nicolas Thomas Cahill Salvadó; his sister-in-law, Dianne Gray Cahill; his nieces and nephew, Therese Cahill Bower (Philip), James Fenton Cahill (Beth), and Laura Gray Cahill; and his cousins, Nancy Welsh Sorg (Thomas) and Mary Welsh Wolking (Edward). On Dec. 10, 1938, Tom was born to his parents, James Charles Cahill and Matilda “Mae” Fenton Cahill, both of whom preceded him in death. He was raised in Hyde Park with his loving brother, the late James Fenton Cahill. Tom graduated from St. Xavier High School and Xavier University, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He worked for the Norwood City Schools for 40 years as an English teacher, counselor and administrator. Tom was a man of impeccable wit, enduring warmth and timeless style. Dapper, gentlemanly and always ready with a song for every occasion, Tom lived a life defined by devotion to his family, his faith and the simple joy of a well-turned phrase. A proud member of the "Long Blue Line" of St. Xavier High School, Tom dedicated his career to education within Norwood Public Schools. Whether serving as an English teacher, guidance counselor or administrator, he shaped generations of students — and took distinct pleasure in diagramming even the most formidable sentences. His commitment to others extended well beyond the school walls, including 25 years of faithful service to the St. Vincent de Paul Society and decades as a dedicated Democrat who proudly worked the election polls until age 80. Throughout every chapter of his life, Tom created a large and vibrant community of enduring friendships, effortlessly drawing people together with his gregarious spirit and genuine interest in their lives. He held deep affection for his extended family as well, sharing a cherished, lifelong bond

with his Arling and Brinkman in-laws and the residents of Bayley Village. Tom’s lifelong love of theater began in college when he was cast opposite his wife of nearly 63 years, Claire, in a play called The Far Off Hills. It launched an extraordinary lifelong romance and partnership. Together, Tom and his favorite co-star and card-making co-conspirator, Claire, crafted witty, personalized notes for every milestone. Tom embraced every holiday with theatrical flair: elaborate costumes, talking and singing decorations, and an expansive Christmas collection that always celebrated the humor of a "dumb gift." Deeply proud of his Irish heritage, he never once made it through the introduction of "Danny Boy" without crying. Tom was an encyclopedic font of family history, a patient gardener who could bring any ailing plant back from the brink, and a thoughtful curator who kept dedicated piles of clipped articles to hand to loved ones. He was remarkably unsinkable — bouncing back with quiet grit even after breaking his hip and neck (on separate occasions) — and insisted on carrying the heaviest grocery bag from the car every single time. His 5 p.m. Manhattan was so punctual one could set the clock by it, and as a dedicated reader of the daily obituaries, he would take comfort in knowing this final note reached all the friends he couldn't say goodbye to in person. In his final days, prayer and show tunes continued to bring him light and comfort. Tom’s greatest sadness was having to leave his beloved wife, children and grandchildren, who will forever carry forward his humor, generosity, and heart into their own families. Visitation was held at Radel Funeral Home, 650 Neeb Road, Cincinnati, OH 45233, on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Victory Church, 810 Neeb Road, Cincinnati, OH 45233, was held on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026; followed by a celebration of life at Western Hills Country Club, 5780 Cleves Warsaw Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45233. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Xavier High School, James F. Cahill Scholarship Fund, 600 West North Bend Road, Cincinnati, OH 45224; or St. Vincent de Paul Society, Our Lady of Victory Church, 810 Need Road, Cincinnati, OH 45233. SEPTEMBER 18, 2026 11

sports 10 takeaways from Week 3 of the HS football season

ing on the final drive. — Talk about spreading the wealth. In Highlands’ 55-14 victory over Campbell County, they had three different quarterbacks throw for a touchdown, eight different ball carriers and 11 different receivers catch a pass.

Cooper High School’s defense forced five turnovers and had nine tackles for loss in the win over Ryle High School. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

The KHSAA football season is three weeks in — let’s take a look at what happened. — After nearly pulling off a victory at Boone County the week prior, St. Henry was involved in another wild one, this time coming out on the winning end of a 43-40 victory over Bishop Brossart for their first win of the season. The Crusaders rallied from a 12-point fourth quarter deficit and recovered a fumble late to seal it. Game ball goes to Lucas Pate, who rushed for 239 yards and three touchdowns, had a receiving touchdown and recovered the fumble late to win it. — Newport Central Catholic was looking at a 21-7 deficit to Boone County and an 0-3 start right before halftime in Florence. They then went on to score 48 unanswered and get the first win in the Terry Brown era. Whatever the halftime speech was, bottle that one up, Coach Brown! The ‘Breds ran for 362 yards and five touchdowns in the victory, Vander Hundemer and Gary Rowland combining for 303 yards and four touchdowns.

— Newport ran for 300 yards and five touchdowns in their 50-0 win over Gallatin County, the Wildcats first win of the season. I know it’s been NewCath’s district since it aligned in 2022, but this year seems like a year where the Wildcats or Dayton could create a potential threat to end their run. — Despite the loss to St. Henry, Bishop Brossart had some big performances in the 43-40 loss. Landon Spaulding threw for 295 yards and ran for 137 more, totaling five touchdowns, two passing, three rushing. Quinten Tischner had 131 yards receiving and a touchdown to go with 10 tackles and a tackle for loss on defense. — We’re down to just four unbeatens left in NKY: Dayton (3-0), Holy Cross (3-0), Lloyd Memorial (3-0) and Beechwood (2-0). — There’s not one, not two, but three Yutze’s to worry about for Walton-Verona. The three combined for 24 tackles, six tackles for loss and a sack in their 33-0 victory over Ludlow. — There’s over 30 NKY HS football alumni playing Division I football this year!

CovCath’s Myrick commits to Cal State Fullerton

— Beechwood has now opened each game with a kickoff return for a touchdown. In their first game it was Nathan Pabst, the second one Tyler Fryman. Will teams continue to kick it deep or just let a potent offense start at the 35 every time? Pick your poison. — Cooper’s final defensive tally in their 11-0 shutout victory of Ryle: nine tackles for loss, four sacks, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries. Ryle ended with 113 yards of offense, nearly half of them com-

headed west next year. The Colonels senior basketball standout recently committed to Cal State Fullerton. After spending his freshman and sophomore year at Mason County, Myrick transferred north to Park Hills to suit up for the Colonels his junior year. The sharpshooter showed everyone in Northern Kentucky what his game was about. Unlimited range with a microwave mindset where he could heat up at any given time. Myrick averaged 17 points a game and shot 45% from the 3-point line last season. He enters his senior year with 1,413 career points. He’ll be one of two starters to return from a 31-3 Covington Catholic team that won the 9th Region title before being ousted by runner-up St. Xavier in the first round of the Sweet 16 state tournament. Myrick was the lone NKY representative for the juniors in the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star game. Myrick will be one of the leaders of the Colonels, who should enter the 2026-27 season as one of the favorites to come out of the 9th Region. Myrick will potentially pair with Scott transfer Benjamin Brown, who enrolled at Covington Catholic prior to the school year after spending his freshman season at Scott. Reserves John Brecount and Dylan Courtney are expected to take big steps up this season and Teegan Stava also returns as he started the majority of the season last year and averaged 4.1 points per game, mostly relied upon to guard the opponent’s best player in a lot of games. Myrick received an offer from Fullerton in June. The Titans play in the Big West Conference and are coached by Dedrique Taylor. They last made the NCAA Tournament in 2022. They went 18-16 last season. Myrick’s uncle Shawn played for University of Cincinnati from 1997-99 after graduating from Mason County. He played in 58 career games for the Bearcats.

Covington Catholic High School’s Braeden Myrick recently committed to Cal State Fullerton. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

From a Royal to a Colonel to a Titan.

NKY golfers battling for spots on All-State

Covington Catholic’s Braeden Myrick is

CALVARY CHRISTIAN BOYS SOCCER