Local

Readers' favorites: 10 of the Herald-Leader's most-read stories from the last month

Stories by Lexington Herald-Leader journalists, with AI summarization

Some of the Herald-Leader's most-read stories cover a range of topics, from local issues like EBT card mishaps to cultural and economic stories such as tourism and the bourbon industry.

Catch up with the stories below.

A front view of the Zeigler House, located at 509 Shelby Street in Frankfort. It is the only Kentucky home known to be designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and it’s now up for sale.

NO. 1: KENTUCKY’S ONLY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT HOME IS NOW UP FOR SALE. TAKE A LOOK INSIDE

The only Kentucky home known to be designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is up for sale, and it can be yours to the tune of $775,000. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Chuk Trisko’s parrot, Charlie, went missing Thursday in Lexington. He’s offering a reward for anyone who finds the bird, which he’s owned for about 20 years. By Carla Trisko

NO. 2: CHARLIE THE PARROT RETURNS TO LEXINGTON HOME. ‘I GOT MY BIRD BACK’

Charlie, the African Grey parrot that went missing from her Lexington home Aug. | Published August 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Valarie Honeycutt Spears

Publix Liquors, adjacent to Publix Super Market, shown during a sneak peek of Lexington’s first Publix grocery store, March 3, 2025 in Lexington, Ky. The 3,200-square-foot liquor store will offer beer, wine, and spirits such as Kentucky-made bourbons. By Brian Simms

NO. 3: BLAME CANADA? THE PARTY’S OVER FOR KENTUCKY BOURBON. AT LEAST FOR NOW

Bourbon’s biggest annual party, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, roars into Bardstown the first weekend in September, with samples to taste, master distillers to meet and rare bottles to line up for. | Published September 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

A lookout near East Pinnacle in the Berea College Forest is photographed at dawn. By Ryan C. Hermens

NO. 4: SMITHSONIAN SAYS KENTUCKY HAS ONE OF THE 15 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN 2025

If you’re searching for the perfect weekend day trip in Kentucky this fall, Berea may be tough to beat. | Published August 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

An exterior shot of the Kentucky Department of Education at 300 Sower Boulevard in Frankfort, Kentucky, on February 7, 2025. By Tasha Poullard

NO. 5: KY FAMILIES WERE ACCIDENTALLY SENT EBT CARDS LOADED WITH CASH. HERE’S HOW IT HAPPENED.

An error by the Kentucky Department of Education led to 1,462 families in four school districts, including Scott County, getting food assistance cards, even though they did not qualify for the program under federal law, officials told the Herald-Leader. | Published August 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Valarie Honeycutt Spears

Emery Building on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, at Berea College in Berea, Ky. By Christian Kantosky

NO. 6: A KENTUCKY COLLEGE WAS JUST NAMED BEST IN THE US FOR ‘TUITION AND TAX DOLLARS’

A small Kentucky college that doesn’t charge its students tuition has been named the No. | Published August 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks with a Herald-Leader reporter during an interview at the McConnell Center located at the University of Louisville Ekstrom Library in Louisville, Ky., Friday, Aug. 29, 2025. By Timothy D. Easley

NO. 7: MCCONNELL GETS CANDID ON TRUMP, SAYS A 2028 RUN WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Sen. | Published August 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Austin Horn

Employees and Kate Latts, president of Heaven Hill (holding sciscors) cut the ribbon at the opening of the Kentucky bourbon maker’s new $200 million distillery, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 in Bardstown, Ky. The new distillery will open in three stages and is designed to expand in 150,000-barrel increments until it reaches a 450,000-barrel capacity, doubling Heaven Hill’s output. By Brian Simms

NO. 8: HEAVEN HILL OPENS NEW $200 MILLION BOURBON DISTILLERY IN BARDSTOWN

Heaven Hill, the largest privately held distillery in the world, has welcomed a new $200 million jewel to its crown. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Janet Patton

The Blue Grass Regional Airport in Lexington, Ky, Thursday, August 3, 2023. By Silas Walker

NO. 9: LEXINGTON AIRPORT ADDS FLIGHT TO POPULAR CITY. ANOTHER RETURNS LATER THIS YEAR

A new daily, direct flight is coming to Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport this month. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Gov. Andy Beshear speaks out against Amendment 2 at Consolidated Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. (Photo by James Crisp)

NO. 10: SEN. ANDY BESHEAR? THANKS, BUT NO THANKS, HE SAYS TO PROMINENT DEM SUPPORTERS

Kentucky Politics Insider offers an analysis of Kentucky politics and the conversations that drive decisions. | Published September 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Austin Horn

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.