Lexington Student Killed, City's Economic Outlook, and More | Lexington Local Pulse

Good morning, this is Lexington Local Pulse for March 11, 2025. We're starting with some breaking news from overnight. Lexington Police are investigating a homicide after a 16-year-old Fayette County Public Schools student was found dead on Rambling Creek Drive just before 2 a.m. The victim has been identified as Arsenio Jackson Jr., a junior at Henry Clay High School. This tragic incident has sparked renewed calls for action on gun violence in our community. In city news, the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee met last week to discuss Lexington's economic outlook. The city is currently showing a $41 million deficit for the fiscal year, but this is largely due to planned Fund Balance allocations. Without those, we'd actually be running a $14 million surplus. Looking ahead, economic growth is expected to continue but at a slower pace than recent years. On the job front, Lexington's employment scene is evolving. The healthcare and education sectors are leading the way with about 54,000 jobs, followed by transportation, trade, and utilities with around 35,800 positions. The University of Kentucky is also offering new sustainability internships and leadership roles for students, with applications due later this month. In real estate, the market remains competitive. We're seeing average home prices hovering around $300,000, with particularly hot neighborhoods including Chevy Chase and Hamburg. Turning to culture, the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention just wrapped up at the Central Bank Center. Fans got to meet celebrities like Danny Trejo and William Shatner, and the event was praised for bringing diverse communities together. Sports fans, mark your calendars. The Transylvania University baseball team has a busy week ahead with home games against Maryville College today and Westminster College starting Friday. Looking at today's weather, we're expecting a mix of sun and clouds with highs near 65. It's a perfect day to get outside and enjoy our city's parks. In community news, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is gearing up for spring visitors. They're offering new hands-on workshops and outdoor adventures that showcase the area's rich history. On the business front, we're sad to report that Walgreens has agreed to be acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. It's unclear yet how this might affect our local stores. Finally, a reminder that Daylight Saving Time is now in effect. Most Lexingtonians we spoke with are enjoying the extra evening daylight, though opinions remain mixed on the time change itself. In today's crime report, police are investigating after a man with a gunshot wound arrived at a local hospital around 2:20 a.m. Thursday. The victim is expected to recover, but authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward. This has been Lexington Local Pulse. We'll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.