Good morning, Bowling Green.

On Saturday, local firefighters partnered with Toys for Tots at Walmart on Morgantown Road for the third annual drive, with Walmart providing a $2,000 grant.

The event focused on children in challenging age groups (0–2 and 10–12), including foster kids.

Aviation Heritage Park & Museum will hold a September 11 remembrance ceremony at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept.

11 to honor nearly 3,000 lives lost and those who served after the 9/11 attacks. Brigadier General Todd Wiles, a local graduate, will lead prayers and play Taps during the free event.

Fancy Jordan Fall Festival will run today from 12PM to 2PM — featuring local band Kentucky Breeze, pony rides, face painting, a bounce house, an inflatable slide, games, and food trucks.

Admission is free and proceeds support retired horses at Double J Stables.

The Commons at Helm Library now closes at 8 p.m. and Raymond Cravens Library at 4:30 p.m. on Fridays after data from the library access services showed rising student needs (the change starts this semester).

News reporter Maha Salem covers WKU matters including a football controversy around Victory Vaka, the appointment of new Associate Professor and Journalism Program Coordinator Jim Rodenbush (report noting the elimination of bus route 3), and upcoming faculty regent elections as part of Welcome Back WKU.

Royalty Rock Farm School returns for its fourth year at Royalty Rock Farm — where children experience hands-on farming lessons and learn about local food production — with fall sessions open for registration and parents invited to join.

Kentucky’s Teachers’ Retirement System posted double-digit gains for the year ended June 30 with the Retirement Annuity Trust up 15.04% and the Health Insurance Trust up 16.06%—marking a turnaround from past funding crises.

A 3.75% payroll deduction remains while legislators and educators debate future changes.

Meredith Wilson—who spent 13 years with the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce—is set to become the new Executive Director of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority on September 28.

She will lead efforts to recruit new industries and support job growth across Franklin and Simpson counties.

Bowling Green’s Salvation Army is activating its white flag shelter as a heat wave is predicted to push temperatures over 90° this week, and the public library will open cooling centers at two branches from Sept.

2 to Sept. 4 — residents are urged to donate water and stay cool.