John Cheves

1 week ago | kentucky.com | John Cheves

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroomUK suspended assistant coach Hakon DeVries pending conduct investigation. 2023 probe substantiated harassment claims from two UK student-athletes. DeVries remains on paid leave as Equal Opportunity Office reviews case.

1 week ago | kentucky.com | John Cheves

Allegations of abuse and neglect in Kentucky daycare facilities are investigated by the Kentucky Division of Regulated Child Care working with the Kentucky Department of Community Based Services. To get a better understanding of problems these agencies uncover inside child care, the Lexington Herald-Leader used the Kentucky Open Records Act to examine some of their files from the first eight months of 2024, plus local police reports and court records.

1 week ago | kentucky.com | John Cheves

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroomState data shows 73% rise in child care abuse cases in Kentucky since 2022Low wages and inexperience fuel staffing crisis, driving incidents in centersDespite serious violations, over half of revoked daycares remain operationalOn a spring afternoon two years ago, Barbara Martin pulled on the front door of the Louisville daycare where her 8-month-old granddaughter had been dropped off earlier that day. The door didn’t move. It was locked.

1 week ago | kentucky.com | John Cheves

Ryker Charles Smith was just three months old when he died in an unlicensed Frankfort daycare in July 2022. His tragic death triggered a still-pending murder charge and negligence lawsuit against the center’s owner, Gina Palmer, and a warning for Kentucky families. The Kentucky Division of Regulated Child Care now promotes a 10-point checklist of “Ryker’s Requests” that it says parents and guardians should consult before they choose a daycare for their own children.

2 weeks ago | courant.com | John Cheves |Lexington Herald-Leader

By John Cheves, Lexington Herald-LeaderLEXINGTON, Ky. — One of Kentucky’s most controversial juvenile detention centers flunked an annual inspection in May, as state officials cited its filthy conditions, broken equipment, youths languishing in cells for extended periods and poor documentation about the staff’s use of pepper spray and physical force.