I usually save my book updates for the end of the month, but I need everyone to check out No Ghosts by Max Lury immediately. Instant classic. So disturbing, so creative, so genuinely moving. I am completely floored by it.

Skipping the likes to just answer the Qs I was interested in. Sue me!

Been in a big reading slump all year long, but these three certified bangers pulled me out of it. Two Hearts, Two Mouths and Returns and Exchanges also both happen to be by authors from Kentucky and are both set in Lexington!

Locked and loaded for two-term Mayor Linda Gorton's election night press conference at the *check notes* Zandale Ramsey's parking lot.

About a week after this mailer came out, Gorton now has an ad on Facebook where the first sentence is: "Lexington mayor is a non-partisan position."

Also: the worst DJ'ing I have ever heard in my entire life.

I had a simply deranged time at the Derby infield, a place which answers the question, "What would it look like if Tin Roof put on a music festival every year?" Featuring: a mysterious Zyn-branded building, a White Claw patio, boat shoes, and an absurd amount of Vineyard Vines logos.

Mayor Gorton: "No one expected ice this morning... it was surprise all-around." Chris Bailey:

A full term in office.

Big fan of this bill-progress checkbox my pals @kentuckylantern.com have been attaching to their stories on moving legislation.

Lexington Mayoral candidate Raquel Carter is dubbing her supporters "Raqstars." No word yet on a name for the Gorton voters. "Gorton Gang"? "Linda Winnas"?

Normal things are happening on the City of London's official government Facebook page.

It looks like TJ Roberts has filed a bill prohibiting the use of license plate reader cameras - typically called Flock cameras, after the name of the primary company that builds them - in KY. Many police depts. in Kentucky use these, as well as universities and private businesses. #kyga26

Bothered that you can't ever find homegrown, Kentucky Proud tallow-based make-up? Fear not! SB 73 would allow KY producers to take tallow make-up products throughout the Commonwealth.

To cock-a-doodle-do or cocka-doodle-don't? That is the question. I'm keeping an eye on state bills that seem targeted at Lex or would have a particularly strong effect here. The only one I see so far would ... override Lex's recent limit to 1 rooster per house. www.kentucky.com/news/local/c...

Former Lex Councilmember Brenda Monarrez, who lost her 2024 reelection bid after having a restraining order placed against her by then-Councilmember Denise Gray over sexual assault allegations, has filed paperwork with KREF to win back her former seat this year.

My favorite reads of 2025. Thankfully I loved most everything I read this so there's a lot of good stuff not here, but these were the ones I really loved.

It was a fun surprise to see that Friday's print edition featured my first front-page story!

May the discourse be with you.

Janet Patton writing about Lexington Blue:

President Donald J. Trump is unpopular in a mid-term year. The Russo Brothers are releasing another Avengers movie. The State Legislature is arguing about charter schools. Andy Barr and Amy McGrath are on the ballot.

The Work Group ranked these recommendations, which are in order from most supported to least supported. As expected, reducing the contingency fund *or* pulling $16 mill. from the fund are the most popular. The third is to, well, *freeze all non-contractually obligated spending.*

Tonight's the last meeting of the FCPS Budget Solutions Work Group, which was created (after the occupational tax fiasco) to recommend ways FCPS can improve their budget. Houston Barber is kicking it off by stressing the need for new revenue and giving a refresher on what the occupational tax is.

I forgot to post an update that our Regal Greg recovered! He was in the hospital 2.5 days but his liver is largely back to normal and he is mostly acting like his extremely extroverted self again.

Our sweet boy Greg has an inflamed kidney and liver and it could be worse than that. He had a few vet tests but we have to have him hospitalized at an emergency vet in Richmond tonight. Please send prayers or love to the little boy who turned me into a cat person.