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Partnership with UnitedHealthcare and Kentucky Primary Care Association expands access to rural and urban communities

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A mobile mammography unit is traveling across central and eastern Kentucky this month to increase access to breast cancer screening for women throughout the Commonwealth.

The partnership between UnitedHealthcare and the Kentucky Primary Care Association aims to break down barriers that prevent women from getting mammograms by bringing the screening directly to local health centers.

“We heard a ton of feedback throughout the Commonwealth that there is a barrier for women getting their mammogram, just access to the mammography unit. So, what better way then get it on wheels bring it right to the parking lot of local health centers here,” said Krista Hensel, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Planner of Kentucky.

The mobile unit is visiting both urban and rural areas, using the Kentucky Primary Care Association’s network of community health providers. Health centers volunteer parking spaces and contact their patients about the screening opportunity.

“So they were able to link us with clinics throughout the commonwealth who are willing to raise their hand and say yes I can give up four parking spots of my parking and make calls to our patients,” Hensel said.

The unit stopped at Bluegrass Community Health Center in Lexington on Tuesday. The partnership places mammography services at locations where women already receive care from trusted providers.

“What we’ve loved about this partnership when we heard about the difficulty getting people scheduled is put it at a place that people are already comfortable going with a care team they already have a close relationship with,” Hensel said.

Women can receive screenings regardless of their insurance status. Hensel said the partnership aims to eliminate barriers and make it easier for Kentucky women to prioritize their health.

To find out if there is a stop in your area call your local community health center.

The mobile unit will be at HealthFirst Bluegrass-Southland Drive

496 Southland Drive, Lexington, KY 40503

Wednesday Nov. 12 and Thursday Nov 13-9 a.m.-4 p.m.

For this location call Call 859-288-2425

No cost for screening

Upcoming mobile mammogram stops

The unit will continue visiting locations through November:

Click below for more of the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com’s coverage of Tuesday’s Kentucky-Louisville men’s basketball game at the KFC Yum Center in Louisville.

The biggest game in the Yum Center in years didn’t go well for Kentucky.

No. 12 Louisville nearly landed a knockout punch in the first half before finishing off the ninth-ranked Wildcats in the second. The Cards ended up surviving a scare in the final minutes before claiming a 96-88 victory over UK on Tuesday night in the Yum Center.

The Louisville fans were rocking for this one — the official attendance was 22,586, with only a smattering of blue in the crowd — as the Cardinals declared their return in a rivalry that has been dominated by UK for most of the past two decades.

Now in season two under head coach Pat Kelsey, the Cards were ranked for a game against Kentucky for the first time in six years. Mark Pope, who is also in his second season as UK’s head coach, led the Cats to a 93-85 win in Rupp Arena last December, but round two was all Louisville.

The Cardinals nearly put Kentucky away in the first half before settling for a seven-point halftime lead. They rebuilt their advantage right out of the gate in the second half.

Ryan Conwell and Isaac McKneely — two of Kelsey’s major acquisitions out of the transfer portal this past offseason — started the second half with 3-pointers on U of L’s first two possessions, and that seven-point lead had grown to 11 a little more than a minute in.

By the second TV timeout of the half, the Cards led 78-58 — their biggest advantage of the night — and the Cats looked like they were cooked with 12:24 still left on the clock. But it wasn’t quite over there either.

A flurry of 3-pointers — two from Collin Chandler, and one each from Jaland Lowe and Kam Williams — helped the Cats narrow the Cards’ advantage, but U of L still led by double digits with under six minutes left on the clock.

That’s when Kentucky struck again.

A couple of free throws from Denzel Aberdeen and a dunk by freshman center Malachi Moreno cut Louisville’s lead to 87-81 with 4:53 left. Another 3-pointer from Chandler made it an 88-84 game with 4:02 remaining. And that was the score as the two teams huddled up for the final TV timeout of the night.

But that’s as close as the Cats would get.

Freshman sensation Mikel Brown Jr. converted a three-point play for the first score out of that TV timeout, and the Cards managed to hold off Kentucky in the final two minutes.

Brown led Louisville with 29 points and five assists. He was 10-for-11 on free throws.

The Cats struggled defensively, giving up open looks all night long and failing to put much pressure on the ball for long stretches. Louisville didn’t commit its first turnover until only 3:15 remained in the first half, and the Cards had just six turnovers for the game.

Aberdeen scored a career-high 26 points to lead Kentucky, adding a team-high seven rebounds.

UK had won 14 of the past 17 meetings in this rivalry, dating back to John Calipari’s first season as the Wildcats’ head coach. Louisville’s last victory in the series came on Dec. 26, 2020 — a 62-59 win in a game between two unranked teams in the Yum Center.

The first half Tuesday night was defined by a major Louisville run.

Kentucky led 22-19 — its biggest advantage of the night — with 11:35 left in the period, following a four-point play from Lowe, but a game that had been relatively back and forth up to that point turned quickly.

It started with a layup by Sananda Fru, who kickstarted a 13-0 run that gave the Cardinals a 32-22 lead. The run took fewer than four minutes to materialize and accompanied the start of a terrible shooting stretch for the Cats, who missed 12 of their next 13 shots after Lowe’s four-point play.

Before Aberdeen ended that 1-for-13 skid, Louisville’s lead had ballooned to 46-28, and it appeared the Cards might run the Cats out of the Yum Center before halftime. But Kentucky showed some fight down the stretch of the first half.

Aberdeen’s bucket ignited a UK run in which the Cats made six consecutive shots. A 3-pointer from Aberdeen with around 30 seconds left in the half cut Louisville’s lead to five points, and the Cards took a 53-46 advantage into the halftime locker room.

Otega Oweh, who scored 17 points in UK’s victory over Louisville last season, got off to a horrendous start to this game.

The SEC preseason player of the year turned the ball over on the Wildcats’ first possession and committed a foul on U of L’s first possession. He ended up with three turnovers in the first 5:20 of the game and was subbed out by Pope after that.

After spending more than four minutes on the Kentucky bench, Oweh reentered the game and was called for his second foul not long after that. He stayed in the game, however, to hit a 3-pointer and finish a coast-to-coast layup on consecutive possessions as part of the Wildcats’ run late in the first half.

Oweh fouled out with 17.9 seconds left and UK trailing 95-88. He finished with 12 points and five rebounds. He also had five turnovers on the night.

Kentucky (2-1) will return home for its next game, a date with Eastern Illinois (1-2) at 7 p.m. EST Friday in Rupp Arena. That game will stream on SEC Network+.

The first large, regional park to be built in Lexington in more than 25 years is now open to the public.

Officials gathered at Cardinal Run Park North, at 2075 Parkers Mill Road, Thursday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the city’s newest park. It includes 2 miles of natural hiking trails, a mile of paved shared-use trail, six pickleball courts, a basketball court, a large playground, dog park, two picnic shelters and other amenities.

There are also four multipurpose fields the city plans to open this spring.

“This is all about quality of life for people in Lexington,” Mayor Linda Gorton said at the ceremony. “Our parks are filled with opportunities for residents and visitors alike to get outside, to enjoy the beauty of Lexington and be active.”

The park, located in Lexington’s 12th District, covers 137.6 acres and borders Cardinal Run Park South, which is in the 10th District and has been open since the early 2000s. The two parks are connected by a crosswalk across Parkers Mill Road.

“Free open spaces are really what residents want to connect with nature, with their friends, with family, with their pets,” Councilmember David Sevigny, who represents the 10th District, said Thursday.

The nearly 140 acres was donated to the city in 1997, but due to a lack of funding, remained untouched for decades. That changed in 2022 when the city received $121 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding and allocated $10 million for the first phase of Cardinal Run Park North.

Brandstetter Carroll developed the park plans using feedback from 900 residents and Lexington park users. The survey showed high interest in nature trails, a playground, various sports courts and fields and a dog park. Construction began in October 2023.

“We reached this milestone thanks to the hard work of our dedicated parks team, the commitment of Mayor Gorton and the support from current and previous Urban County Councils,” 12th District Councilmember Hil Boone said. “Crucially, we owe the deepest gratitude to our community members and stakeholders, many of whom live right here in the 12th District, whose input shaped every element of this special design.”

Gorton also praised Monica Conrad, director of parks and recreation, for her work.

“Leadership means everything, especially in a division like this that is constantly working to open new facilities and put on all those programs that we talked about earlier and just in general make this a better place for people who live here,” Gorton said.

Cardinal Run Park North is the third park to open in Lexington within the last few months. In August, Gatton Park on Town Branch opened after years of planning and construction. About a month later, Phoenix Park reopened in downtown Lexington after a $4.6 million renovation.

Parks and recreation officials will host a grand opening party at Cardinal Run Park North Friday, Oct. 17. There will be food and drink trucks at the playground and dog park, live music, a nature program and more.

Combined with Cardinal Run Park South, which totals 54.6 acres, the two parks provide 192.2 acres of public space, making the combo the fifth-largest regional park in the city. Filling out the top five are Masterson, Veterans, Jacobson and Coldstream parks.

“Cardinal Run Park North is far more than just adding acreage to our system of parks; it’s a vital investment in the quality of life for the entire community,” Boone said. “The park directly addressed the need for active recreation, providing a fantastic new regional hub that will bring neighbors together and encourage healthy activities for families, residents and visitors alike.”

While they may be a headache for commuters, several ongoing state road projects in and around Fayette County could ultimately ease the area’s growing pains by improving traffic capacity, safety and even some pedestrian infrastructure.

That’s the chief takeaway from state officials who recently spoke to the Herald-Leader about construction progress on portions of Interstate 75, New Circle and Leestown roads, along with Newtown Pike.

“Reducing the congestion on these highways is going to increase safety and help people get to where they need to go,” said Allen Blair, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s deputy director of public affairs.

Here’s what to know about each project, including scope and when state officials expect them will be complete.

Construction on I-75 expected to continue until late 2026

Work on a two-phase project to widen Fayette County segments of I-75 from six to eight lanes will likely not conclude until fall 2026, Logan Murphy, a state engineer supervising the project told the Herald-Leader in a recent interview.

The first phase of the project targets a 2-mile stretch of the interstate extending from the Newtown Pike to Paris Pike interchanges. The second phase is for the segment that continues from the Paris Pike interchange down to the I-64/I-75 split.

Phase one work began in September 2022, according to a project description on the KYTC’s website. It was originally expected to be complete by November 2024.

State officials now say the northern section of the I-75 project will remain an active construction zone until the second phase is complete. For logistical and safety reasons, both portions will be opened at the same time, which means the reduced speed limit of 55 mph will remain in effect.

Other traffic controls include shifted or narrowed lanes and barrels or temporary barriers, but neither phase involves lane closures, state officials said. The existing three lanes will remain open in both directions.

While most of the work has been completed for phase one, Murphy said there are some smaller jobs workers still need to complete.

“There’s still some ongoing construction that still keeps it a construction zone,” Murphy said, adding workers aren’t keeping that segment an active work zone for no good reason. “We’re still working through some new additions to that project.”

“We still ask people to slow down, be careful,” Blair said.

Along with the additional lanes, the scope of the I-75 project also includes ramp improvements and noise reducing walls along the corridor.

New Circle/Leestown Road project will eventually bring major traffic shift

Targeted for completion in summer 2027, state officials say this project is part of a larger push to boost traffic capacity on New Circle Road between Versailles Road and Newtown Pike, converting it to three lanes in both directions.

The scope of the project includes the following:

Converting the Leestown/New Circle Road interchange into a double crossover diamond is a major change. As explained by the KYTC, a double crossover diamond, or DCD, is an interchange with two signalized intersections where traffic between the intersections crosses over to the left side of the roadway then back over to the right as it exits.

“It’s going to be a double diamond intersection like what we have at Harrodsburg Road, underneath New Circle there,” Murphy said.

According to KYTC, these types of interchanges offer several benefits, including fewer delays because the traffic signals they use operate with fewer phases. They’re also known to improve safety. DCD’s decrease potential crash points, prevent wrong way ramp entries and reduce speeds to minimize the severity of crashes that do occur.

Newtown Pike project includes pedestrian underpass, other upgrades

According to KYTC, approximately 44,000 vehicles use Newtown Pike daily, and by 2030, that number is expected to rise to 70,500.

The Newtown Pike widening project will add an additional lane in each direction from New Circle Road to I-75.

“It’s going to go from a two-lane stretch to a three-lane stretch of road from New Circle to the interstate,” Murphy said.

He said workers have been out at night because there are limited hours for lane closures. The latest progress on the project includes drainage and sewer work.

“The plan is to still maintain two lanes in each direction through every phase of the project as they continue to work through it,” Murphy added.

Along with the widening, this project also includes several improvements for those passing through the area on foot.

That includes 1,200 feet of new trail connecting Newtown Court to Legacy Trail, which will route bike traffic off Newtown Pike at Newtown Court. New sidewalk and trail improvements will also provide accessible and safe connections, according to the project’s description.

Additionally, the work includes a new underpass to allow pedestrians and runners to avoid the busy Newtown Pike.

“It’s an underpass for the Legacy Trail to get underneath Newtown Pike,” Murphy said.

The Newtown Pike project is expected to be complete in spring 2027.

Do you have a question about Lexington for the Herald-Leader? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.

For the second year in a row, Lexington has been recognized by a national travel magazine as one of the best small cities in the U.S.

VisitLEX, the city’s convention and visitors bureau, announced in a news release Oct. 7 that Lexington has once again been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler.

“To be named one of the top small cities in the U.S. two years running is a tremendous affirmation of what we already know — Lexington offers an unforgettable experience,” Mary Quinn Ramer, president of VisitLEX, said in the release.

For its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, Condé Nast Traveler surveyed its readers, who cast more than 757,000 votes for their favorite hotels, resorts, spas, cruise lines, cities, countries and more. It’s the 38th edition of the awards.

For the best small cities category, Lexington snagged the No. 8 spot among the magazine’s top 10 destinations.

“Despite its Horse Capital of the World moniker, equines are only a small part of Lexington’s appeal,” the magazine’s editors said, in part. “Thanks to its location on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, the city is a treasure trove of distilleries ... Lexington’s spirits scene is matched only by its culinary scene: Be sure to stop by Doodles for loaded breakfast sandwiches, Bourbon on Rye for burgers topped with beer cheese, and Crank & Boom for an ice cream flight to write home about.”

Last year, Lexington received similar recognition from Condé Nast Traveler, though it ranked higher among the magazine’s top 10 small cities in the U.S.

“This repeated honor highlights the sustained excellence in our hospitality sector and the magnetic appeal of our unique local attractions. We are incredibly proud and look forward to welcoming even more travelers to explore the Horse Capital of the World,” Ramer said.

Lexington regularly earns national nods as a popular destination for tourists, and not just for bourbon and horses. Earlier this year, as part of its 2025 Restaurant Awards, Wine Spectator honored two Lexington-area restaurants.

Late last year, as the city was preparing a year’s worth of events to celebrate its 250th birthday, Bloomberg recommended it as a top travel destination in 2025.

Condé Nast Traveler’s ‘The Best Cities in the United States: 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards’

This year’s list of the top 10 best small cities in the U.S. includes the following:

10. Pensacola, Fla.

9. Honolulu, Hawaii

8. Lexington

7. Oakland, Calif.

6. Savannah, Ga.

5. San Juan, P.R.

4. St. Augustine, Fla.

3. Alexandria, Va.

2. Santa Fe, N.M.

1. Charleston, S.C.

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