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$787.7M Entertainment Complex Planned for Boone County by 2030
Liberty Forge Adventures LLC is planning a $787.7 million hotel, museum, and entertainment complex in Boone County, designed by a team with Walt Disney Imagineering experience. Developer Brian Berger confirmed the project targets a national audience and will create 900 full-time and 1,000 part-time jobs. Construction begins May 2027 with a spring 2030 opening. Kentucky has preliminarily approved up to $195.7 million in sales-tax incentives over 10 years.
Read more → https://www.wvlt.tv/2026/09/10/7877-million-entertainment-project-planned-northern-kentucky/

Florence Suspends Flock Safety Plate Readers Pending Privacy Review
Florence Mayor Julie Aubuchon suspended the city's Flock Safety automated license plate reader (ALPR) system Thursday after residents raised privacy concerns. All readers are deactivated pending a review by a joint task force with Boone County Sheriff Les Hill, which will examine constitutional implications, data retention, and cybersecurity. "Residents have raised legitimate questions and they deserve more than assurances," Aubuchon said. Findings go to City Council for public discussion.
Read more → https://florence-ky.gov/city-of-florence-suspends-use-of-flock-safety-system-pending-comprehensive-review/

O'Charley's Closes Florence and Cold Spring Locations
The Florence O'Charley's at 7414 Turfway Road and the Cold Spring location at 100 Crossroads Blvd permanently closed Wednesday as the national casual dining chain shut down its remaining 52 restaurants. An O'Charley's representative confirmed all locations would close simultaneously; the chain had previously shuttered 51 restaurants in 2023. The company also deactivated its social media accounts.
Read more → https://linknky.com/business/2026/09/09/ocharleys-closing-florence-cold-spring-restaurants/

Rebels Host Walton-Verona Tonight in Varsity Football at 7 PM
Boone County High School football hosts Walton-Verona (2-1) tonight at 7 p.m. The Rebels enter Week 4 after a tough 55-48 loss to Newport Central Catholic last week, despite holding a 21-7 halftime lead. Defensive standouts in Week 3 included Elijah Applegate (12 tackles, fumble recovery) and Malik Johnson (139 rushing yards, TD on offense). Tickets available on GoFan.
Read more → https://www.maxpreps.com/ky/florence/boone-county-rebels/

Dixie Highway Resurfacing Complete; Striping Still Ahead
Milling and paving on Dixie Highway (U.S. 25) in Boone and Kenton counties is complete, with permanent lane striping — and brief single-lane closures — still to come. The U.S. 42 resurfacing from Ewing Boulevard to Main Street in Boone County is also finished. Planned interstate bridge maintenance was postponed Wednesday, Sept. 9; KYTC will provide a new schedule.
Read more → https://transportation.ky.gov/DistrictSix/Pages/District-6-Roadshow.aspx

$130.6 Million Is Coming to Boone County Roads
State legislators handed Boone County a big win at Tuesday's Fiscal Court meeting — a $77.6 million check for road funding, part of a total $130.6 million package for the county. The money covers road projects, $45 million for Boone County Water Rescue, and $602,000 in local road priorities through the LARP program. Sen. Jay Williams and Rep. TJ Roberts both credited years of coordination with Fiscal Court for landing the dollars. One note of patience: the Walton Interchange got $7.5 million for right-of-way, but the full project is still 8–10 years out.

Boone County Residents Push Back on SD1 Sewer Route
More than a dozen residents showed up to Tuesday's Boone County Fiscal Court meeting to challenge Sanitation District 1's plan to run a sewer line through a private conservation property along Woolper Creek. SD1's own 2017 engineering study rated the chosen route, B2, as having the highest environmental impact and greatest risk of cost overruns, while recommending a different route with fewer easements and fewer affected property owners. Over 2,000 people have signed a petition asking SD1 to reconsider, and Rep. TJ Roberts announced plans to file legislation in January to give Boone County more representation on SD1's board.

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⛅ Friday — 82° / 68° · Partly Sunny
⛈ Saturday — 84° / 68° · Showers And Thunderstorms
🌤 Sunday — 86° / 65° · Mostly Sunny
📍 Source: weather.gov — Florence, KY 41042

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📍Movie Night - Inside Out 2
https://florence-ky.gov/spend-your-friday-night-with-us-at-neighborhood-night-out-movie-night/

📍Time: September 11 | 5:00 pm

📍 Where: South Fork Park, 9200 S. Fork Park Dr.

🎟 Admission: Free

📍 Glow Night in the Park Returns to England Idlewild Park Sept. 11
Boone County Parks is hosting Glow Night in the Park on Thursday, September 11 from 6:30–8 p.m. at England Idlewild Park, Shelter 2. The all-ages event features glow-in-the-dark games and activities for $10 per person. Registration is required at boonecountyky.org/parks.
Read more → https://boonecountyky.org/parks

📍 Free Community Shred Day Coming To Florence Sept. 12
The 11th Annual Free Community Shred Day comes to 60 Cavalier Blvd. in Florence on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Residents can bring sensitive documents for secure, on-site shredding at no cost.
Read more → https://allevents.in/florence/shred-day-free/200030249410013

📍 Dog And Cat Adoption Event At Florence PetSmart Sept. 12
Looking to add a furry family member? A pet adoption event comes to PetSmart at 1060 Hansel Ave. in Florence on Saturday, September 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Animals available range from puppies and kittens to senior pets.
Read more → https://allevents.in/florence/dog-and-cat-adoption-event-florence-petsmart/200030664535532

📍 3rd Annual Cops & Joggers 5K Returns to England-Idlewild Park Sept. 12
The Boone County Sheriff's Office hosts its 3rd Annual Cops & Joggers 5K/Fun Run on Friday, September 12, starting at England-Idlewild Park. The event includes a 5K run and a kids fun run. Registration is still open at the link below.
Read more → https://bit.ly/CopsJoggers2026

📍 Florence Marks 34th Year as Tree City USA at Arbor Day Celebration
The City of Florence hosts its Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to noon at Kentaboo Park (418 Kentaboo Ave.). The free event marks Florence's 34th consecutive year of Tree City USA recognition and features tree-planting activities, a reading of the city's Arbor Day Proclamation, and a free lunch. All ages welcome. For more info, call 859-647-5416.
Read more → https://florence-ky.gov

📍 T.I., Ginuwine, Trina And More Headline Tacos & Tequila Fest Sept. 19
The Tacos and Tequila Festival brings 2000s-era hip-hop to Thomas More Stadium on Saturday, September 19, with a headlining lineup of T.I., Ginuwine, Trina, Chingy, Ying Yang Twins, Yung Joc, Bubba Sparxxx, and Murphy Lee. Beyond the music, the 21+ event features craft margaritas, tequila tastings, locally crafted tacos, lucha libre wrestling, and a chihuahua beauty pageant. VIP gates open at 1:30 p.m., general admission at 2:00 p.m. Tickets start at $84.
Read more → https://tacosandtequilafestival.com/market/cincinnati/

📍Classic Cars And Music At Legacy Living Florence Car Show Sept. 20
The 5th Annual Legacy Living Florence Car Show rolls into 8520 Gunpowder Road on Sunday, September 20, featuring classic vehicles and live music from Velvet Soul.
Read more → https://allevents.in/florence/5th-annual-legacy-living-florence-car-show/200030665155449

📍Boone County 4-H Open House at Florence Extension Office
Boone County 4-H hosts a free Open House on Sunday, September 20 from 1–3 p.m. at the Boone County Extension Florence office, 7111 Dixie Highway. Families with kids ages 5–18 can meet club leaders, explore year-long programs — including Animal Clubs, Horse Clubs, Sharpshooters, Art & Design, Teen Club, and Disc Golf — and enroll on the spot at no cost. Attendees can also enter to win a week of 4-H camp, a Teen Conference, or a Cloverbud gift bag. Call 859-586-6101 or visit extension.mgcafe.uky.edu/boone.
Read more → https://extension.mgcafe.uky.edu/boone

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Y'alls Face Elimination Tonight in Game 2 at Washington
The Florence Y'alls dropped Game 1 of their Frontier League first-round playoff series 8-3 to the Washington Wild Things Wednesday night and must win tonight's Game 2 on the road to stay alive. A win would force a decisive Game 3 at Washington. Florence (55-47) reached the postseason for the first time since 2021 with a dramatic final-day wild card clinch.

⚽🏐🏈 BCHS Varsity Games Schedule — Sept. 8–12

Friday, Sept. 11 Varsity Boys Football vs. Walton-Verona High School — 7:00 p.m. | Home

Saturday, Sept. 12 Varsity Boys Soccer at Tribe Shootout vs. Collins — 11:00 a.m. | Away (Madison Central HS, Richmond)
Varsity Boys Soccer at Tribe Shootout vs. Montgomery County — 5:00 p.m. | Away (Madison Central HS, Richmond)

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Churchill Downs purchased Turfway Park in 2019 and did not wait long to act. The grandstand that had stood since the Latonia Race Course days came down in 2020. In its place, Churchill Downs invested $240 million into a new facility with 800 historical horse racing machines, two restaurants, and a gaming floor built to compete with casinos across the state line.

Turfway Park Racing and Gaming opened on September 1, 2022. Live thoroughbred racing resumed three months later. The track that once ran three or four nights a week was now open every day.

It started as a name borrowed from a Covington racetrack that had been gone for 20 years. It is now a $240 million destination in Florence, Kentucky.