Good morning, Bowling Green.

Meijer Topper Fest returns on Aug.

21 at 5:30 p.m. on South Lawn and is open to WKU students, faculty, staff and the Bowling Green community. The family-friendly event will feature food trucks, local vendors, autographs with the Hilltoppers, live music, and fireworks — a festive night for all ages.

Farmers RECC donated $7,000 to local programs fighting food insecurity by giving $2,000 each to backpack initiatives in Barren, Hart, and Metcalfe counties (including $1,000 to the Barren County Reads and Feeds program) so students can access nutritious weekend meals.

Curated Closet held its grand opening last Friday, partnering with the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce in a ribbon-cutting at its high-end consignment store on U.S. 31-W Bypass.

Owner Rylee Peterson said the new store offers affordable, sustainable fashion options to the community (a dream realized after months of hard work).

On Friday, Ashlee Wilson introduced Joseph Trafton as the new Music Director for Orchestra Kentucky during Sunrise Spotlight.

Trafton will bring fresh creative energy to the group & support local arts development.

Camryn Holder, a SKYCTC nursing student, received a refurbished vehicle on Thursday, Aug.

6, via the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program — ensuring reliable transportation for classes, work and clinical assignments. Local partners Allstate and Gerber Collision and Glass completed the donation effort.

Warren County Public Schools will roll out wearable panic buttons for staff as the new school year begins to improve emergency response in classrooms.

Bowling Green Independent Schools are fully using AI in classrooms to boost reading and writing skills, with teachers using pre-vetted AI (approved by the digital coach) to guide lessons from early grades to high school.

They review assignments carefully to keep the focus on clear learning goals.

After a severe drought stressed lawns and crops earlier this summer, recent storms and localized flooding have rendered Bowling Green drought-free as of Aug.

6 — gardens and topsoil have recovered while deeper groundwater still needs more rainfall.

Western Kentucky women’s golf head coach Adam Gary announced a 10-tournament slate for the 2026-27 season—opening at the Boilermaker Classic Aug.

31-Sept. 1, then playing in Madison Sept. 13-15, competing in Bowling Green on April 5-6, and heading to the Conference USA Championship later in April.

WKU defensive back Jaylen Lewis returned to lead the Tops despite key players transferring, and he earned CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors last season + he is on several preseason watch lists ahead of games at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

Four native Kentuckians have been named to the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026, with honorees Tyson Gay + Lisa Mattingly + Rajon Rondo + Brandon Webb set to be celebrated on Oct.

29 at Freedom Hall in Louisville.

Three Western Kentucky women’s soccer players were named to the Conference USA 2026 Preseason All-Conference Team on Aug.

6, and the Hilltoppers—picked fourth in the preseason poll—will open the season against SEC foe Missouri at 7 p.m. Thursday at the WKU Soccer Complex.

Due to a conflict, Western Kentucky Volleyball rescheduled its Aug.

22 lineup. The scrimmage starts at noon at E.A. Diddle Arena while the Clinic and youth session begin at 1 p.m. at the Paul Just Media Center (parking is in Structure 2, levels 2–5).