Water Damage Restoration in Lexington, KY

Posted 10:00 PM, Jun 12, 2025

LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Laura Hartke has helped organize several rallies and protests in recent years, but this one coming up on Saturday might be the most significant given the stakes and considering what’s been happening lately around the nation.

“Due process is the basis of freedom in this nation, otherwise you can take anybody with no reason,” Laura Hartke said of the Trump administration’s policy on immigrant deportations.

She also has a legitimate concern about the use of military forces on demonstrators that we’ve seen in Los Angeles over the last week.

“I feel that the military, hopefully, would say we are here to protect and defend, not attack, our citizens,” Hartke said. “But these are scary times because we should not have to ask ourselves that,” she added.

Hartke was speaking from the Fayette County Courthouse square, where protesters are scheduled to gather on Saturday from 12-3 p.m., opposite the President’s military parade. The gathering Hartke is organizing will be one of the thousands of planned protests around the nation.

“Come out, be ready to be peaceful, be ready to use your voice on what you feel is important. Be ready to show you're a patriot. If somebody shows up with an opposing view, that's okay that's their right too because we believe that's what democracy is,” Hartke stressed.

Hartke talked about the time she taught at a Cardinal Valley School as being a big reason why she is so passionate about this cause.

“(It’s) a school full of immigrants, and I know those families are beautiful people who love this country as much as anyone can ask, so I do fear for what we've seen happen across the United States to immigrants,” she said.

Hartke is expecting a couple of thousand or more attendees on Saturday and has a strong lineup of speakers for the event.

“Democracy is definitely on the line and not being practiced. The 1^st Amendment is the 1^st Amendment for a reason. It is our duty to peacefully protect. I think we’re at a tipping point,” she said.

For a list of Saturday’s No Kings Rally speakers and more click here: No Kings Rally! | Facebook

Copyright 2025 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Almost 10 years after closing, a national chain restaurant is eyeing a return to the Lexington dining market.

As part of a recent expansion, fondue-themed Melting Pot says it has identified Lexington as one of its top markets.

The restaurant, which is celebrating its 50th year in 2025, closed its Lexington location at 152 West Tiverton Way in July 2015 after seven years for financial reasons.

But now with strong demand, the success of the Louisville restaurant — the only other location in Kentucky — and advanced market analysis, the company says they can make a comeback in Lexington.

Melting Pot Franchise Growth Strategist Collin Benyo says the goal is to have a franchise agreement signed this year with someone in Lexington.

“We have a lot of data points that make it essentially a reality in our mind that we need to be there,” Benyo said. “We know with the right person, we can make Lexington a success, and that’s why it’s in the top 10 for me to pursue in finding new franchisees to build the brand, and Lexington is a perfect place to do it.”

Benyo says they have already identified parts of town where they feel they could be successful.

“The market is great. I just have to find the right person,” Benyo said.

Identifying Lexington as a top franchise location is part of a recent expansion targeting steady growth in several states. Benyo said there are six Melting Pot locations in development, and recent reopenings include St. Petersburg, Fla., New Haven, Conn. and Syracuse, N.Y.

There are 92 Melting Pot restaurants in 30 states and one Canadian location.

The premium but casual dining franchise is known for its fondue, where diners can cook their own meal at the table. In addition to a traditional cheese or chocolate fondue, the menu includes chicken, steak, shrimp and more that can be prepared tableside.

“The people that we’ve dealt with the last four or five groups that we’ve signed for franchises have no hospitality background whatsoever because of the simplicity of what we do,” Benyo said, noting there is no other fondue franchise in the US, making it stand out from other franchise options like chicken and pizza.

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Kentucky managed to sneak the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit to Lexington for an official visit — Mark Pope proving real Gs move in silence like lasagna. The Wildcats hosted Tyran Stokes on campus this week, the five-star wing arriving June 8 to be a part of move-in and early workouts for the 2025-26 squad as we prepare for year two of the new era.

Stokes previously took official visits to Louisville and Kansas — arguably Adidas’ top basketball brands — and now, one of Nike’s top programs is throwing its hat in the ring.

We have the photos to prove it, the Louisville native sporting blue and white threads rocking No. 4 for the very first time as a major Kentucky target. Pope and his staff hope it’s the first of many to come.

“BBN how we feel ¿?” Stokes wrote on social media.

I speak on behalf of BBN when I say we’re doing pretty darn good seeing the most dominant player in high school basketball wearing Kentucky across his chest. We’ll feel even better if he puts pen to paper with the Wildcats as Pope’s biggest addition to date.

Fellow Kentucky target Jason Crowe Jr. commented on the post, as well, sharing a simple covering-eyes emoji. The Lynwood, CA native is rated as the No. 6 overall prospect in the latest 2026 On3 Industry Ranking.

What could the Wildcats be getting in Stokes, who was a no-brainer at No. 1 overall in On3’s latest update — and the likely No. 1 pick in the 2027 NBA Draft?

“Stokes’ flashes of dominant outputs are too much to ignore at this point in the cycle,” On3’s Jamie Shaw wrote. “… When Stokes gets downhill, he is a load to deal with. Whether in the half-court or in transition, Stokes has a strong base, with explosive burst, and gets downhill with a purpose.”

Stokes told KSR last July that Kentucky was among the schools pushing hardest for him — certainly when it comes to head coaches, Mark Pope joining Kansas’ Bill Self at the top of the list.

“I mean, it’s still close to home and still a great, great program with a great coach,” Stokes told KSR. “Coach Mark (Pope), he’s a great dude. He’s always texting me, catching up and telling me congratulations on the games and stuff like that. For the most part, I’m talking to Coach Mark.”

What will he be looking for when it comes time for a decision?

“Just somewhere I’m comfortable, somewhere that feels like home and somewhere I can play my game,” he said.

We know Louisville is his hometown, but we’ll see if Lexington truly feels like home for the top-ranked senior.

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A Mayfield woman’s first instinct when she won a cash prize of $10,000 from Kentucky Lottery was not to spend it on herself, but her three daughters.

Bridgett Guthrie won a Kentucky distillery tour package worth $1,350, as well as the cash, after her name was drawn for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail’s online game second-chance promotion, a June 10 press release said.

“The first thing she said wasn’t about wanting something for herself but what she is getting her kids,” Guthrie’s mom, who wasn’t identified by name in the release, told Kentucky Lottery officials. “She said she was getting the girls a waterslide for their backyard. She never said, ‘oh, I’m going out to get this and this.’ No, it was all about the kids.”

Alongside the cash, Guthrie said she’s looking forward to some time for herself during the distillery tour.

“I needed a break, and this is a good break,” Guthrie said. “I’m so excited about this. I’m ready for some ‘me time.’ I’ve been on distillery tours before but I’m really looking forward to this one.”

There are different ways to play Kentucky Bourbon Trail lottery games — scratch-off, fast play or instant play. The online option has a jackpot of $250,000. Players win by combining three or more matching symbols. Players can also enter their their scratch-off and fast-play tickets, winning or not, into a drawing to win the tour package and cash prize. Guthrie’s was one of more than 100,000 entered.

While this is the biggest prize she’s won through Kentucky Lottery’s Bourbon Trail, this isn’t the Mayfield woman’s first.

“I have hit a couple of $250 wins, and every Friday as a Fun Club Member I check if I have any bonus bucks. So, when the Bourbon Trail game came out, I was like, well, I’m going to play this one and I just enjoy the game. It’s a good game,” she said.

Guthrie used to work at Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, which, was destroyed by a tornado in 2021. The Kentucky Lottery press release says Guthrie is still working to rebuild.

“Having been a 70-hour working mom at the candle factory, I might look into using some of the money to start a small business,” she said. “So, we are going to scale it down. I’m going to use some of this prize money to watch for something where I can be more present for my kids and look for a small business type of situation.”

If you or someone you know has a problem gambling, help is available at 1-800-522-4700.

Do you have a question about the Kentucky Lottery for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear form you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

This story was originally published June 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM.

Lexington Rescue Mission has moved into a new space ten times larger than its old one, and it is joined there by two other community organizations that will work together to help meet the physical, mental and spiritual needs of people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Lexington.

“We’re creating a place that really is one of a kind here in Lexington,” Lexington Rescue Mission Executive Director Laura Carr said.

The mission held a grand opening Saturday for its new space at 535 West Second St., which is at the corner of Second and Jefferson streets.

Lexington Rescue Mission offers food, clothing, housing assistance, case management, mentoring, help for people reentering the community after incarceration, spiritual guidance, a place where people can simply spend time during the day and more. Carr said the mission had outgrown its old 5,112-square-foot space off Glen Arvin Avenue.

The 52,806-square-foot building the mission bought near downtown has enough room for it to meet the growing needs of the community, Carr said.

“God has brought more and more people through our doors, and we want to welcome each one with the care they deserve. This building allows us to do that in a powerful way,” Carr said in a news release.

The mission has been in its new home since April.

In addition to Lexington Rescue Mission, the building is also home to Jubilee Jobs, which moved in a year ago and helps people find stable employment, and Isaiah House Community Health Center, which has been open at the Second Street property since last fall and includes a primary care clinic, as well as behavioral health services.

Soon, the Isaiah House Community Health Center will also offer dental and pharmacy services, said Brian Privett, general counsel for Isaiah House.

“What’s happening here, it’s the real deal,” Mason King, CEO of Jubilee Jobs, said.

Having all three organizations in one place has really enhanced the services they provide, he continued.

For example, someone living in their car may come in for the job program, and if they haven’t had a hot meal in a while, he can take them downstairs to Lexington Rescue Mission for lunch or upstairs to find some “job-ready clothing” in the mission’s clothing closet.

All three organizations take a Christian approach to their services.

Cody Wooton, a resident of Lexington Rescue Mission’s transitional housing, told those in attendance at Saturday’s event he learned about the mission while in prison, and opted to come there rather than go home after his release.

“It turned out to be everything I needed,” Wooton said. “They helped me find structure, purpose and healing. The people here didn’t treat me like a project. They treated me like a brother.”

Wooton said he’s since bought a car and started college.

“I now have peace, I have purpose, and I have Jesus,” he said. “I have real friends. I have community.”

Though Lexington Rescue Mission does not operate an overnight shelter, the opening of the building comes at a time when the city is seeing a growing need for services aimed at helping the unhoused population.

A new report by commissioned by the city found Lexington needs more emergency shelter beds, and it was suggested a hub for services like transitional housing assistance and mental health care be offered on-site. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton created a task force last week to consider how to address the needs.

Lexington Rescue Mission has raised $6.1 million of what it needed to buy and renovate the Second Street building, which had previously housed multiple offices. Carr said another $1.8 million is needed for the organization to be debt-free.

Carr, whose parents founded the mission 24 years ago, said one guest who visited recently proclaimed, “This place is like heaven!”

She said she overheard two other women telling each other, “It’s just so beautiful here.”

Carr said that was the vision: “A beautiful place for hurting people to come and get a taste of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.”