LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 2, 2024) — The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky at the University of Kentucky has announced Scott Smith as the acting director effective Aug. 1. Smith has been connected to The Arboretum for more than four decades. When he moved to Lexington in 1978, he consistently walked the area that is now home to the 100-acre public garden. During his tenure as dean of the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) from 2001 to 2013, Smith oversaw tremendous growth of The Arboretum through the legacy campaign including opening of the Kentucky Children’s Garden. After retiring from…

(LEX 18) — After buying fast food, people are often asked to donate a dollar or two. They don’t mind hitting the donation button, and that is especially the case for Arby’s customers in Eastern and Central Kentucky.Arby’s around the area have collected over $26,000 for God’s Pantry Food Bank.“How cool is it that a customer can get a roast beef sandwich, and can click on the donate button?” Michael Halligan said. “And help someone else get nourished food too,” added the CEO of the Food Pantry.The check the non-profit received will be used for their BackPack Program. In this…

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Kentuckians, check your produce!The FDA says a potential listeria contamination in one neighboring distributor is leading them to expand a once-smaller recall.The FDA is recalling bulk produce distributed from Wiers Farm located in Ohio. Some of the items that they are telling us to look out for are cilantro, cucumbers, green bell peppers and many more on this list.This is a nationwide recall, but the stores that they’re telling you to look out for when buying from are Walmart and Kroger.A few weeks ago, the FDA recalled only cucumbers from Wiers Farm, which’s since been updated…

Gov. Andy Beshear criticized Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance during a visit to Eastern Kentucky for not supporting the region after 2022’s deadly floods, but one area resident says the controversial candidate did give money privately.Vance has drawn criticism for referencing his Appalachian roots in Breathitt County in recent campaign appearances, which were also outlined in his 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.”Though Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, he wrote he visited family in Jackson, Kentucky each summer.Beshear has repeatedly called Vance out on the references, saying Vance has taken an opportunistic stance with tenuous ties or support for the…

One of Kentucky’s most anticipated day of politics and food is just around the corner.On Saturday, federal and state elected officials and candidates will be among the crowd to gather at a church picnic to informally kick off Kentucky’s general election cycle.The event is Fancy Farm, and it’s arriving in less than a week. Here’s what to know about the annual gathering:What is Fancy Farm?Fancy Farm is a town in west Kentucky and home to the annual church fundraising picnic held by St. Jerome’s Catholic Church. This year’s picnic will be the 144th.There’s more to the picnic than just massive…

Willie Cauley-Stein was an all-time character in Lexington — a vicious defender and poster specialist on the court, but an artist and big personality away from it. Kerr Kriisa? Well, he’s a character, too. Erratic, but electric as a player, someone toes the line between confidence and cockiness. That’s how he became college basketball’s ultimate villain, a guy you loved if he was on your side, but hated if he wasn’t. And he likes having fun when he’s not playing, as well. In a crossover of generations, the Kentucky basketball of then sat down with the Kentucky basketball of now…