AGP Executive Report

Energy Costs & Policy: Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner Jonathan Shell urged Gov. Andy Beshear to declare an energy emergency and temporarily allow untaxed, red-dyed diesel on public roads for the 2026 fall harvest, arguing it would cut transportation costs for farmers and consumers. Fuel Price Pressure Nationwide: Across the U.S., states are moving to curb high gasoline and diesel prices, including suspending fuel taxes or easing rules tied to red-dyed diesel. Flood Insurance Gap: A new look at the 2022 Kentucky floods finds only 2.1% of properties in the hardest-hit areas had federal flood insurance—far below the national average—highlighting a major coverage shortfall as premiums rise. Public Safety & Health: Lexington and partners announced a HEARTSafe push to map more than 1,000 AEDs across Lexington and Fayette County so devices show up to 911 dispatchers via PulsePoint. Maternal Health Funding: Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies America awarded $10 million in grants for maternal health initiatives in Kentucky over five years. Local Business & Jobs: Bomag Americas hired service-industry veteran David Madden as vice president of service & solutions, aiming to improve parts, training, and uptime.

Food & Health: Sierra Nevada Cheese Company recalled Graziers raw-milk cheeses after a multistate E. coli O26 outbreak tied to 13 illnesses, including cases in Kentucky, prompting a nationwide precautionary pull of Monterey Jack, Jalapeño Jack, Medium Cheddar and Sharp Cheddar. Public Policy: At a Frankfort listening session, Kentuckians pressed lawmakers to regulate or pause hyperscale data centers, citing electricity and water use, farmland and environmental impacts, and concerns about tax incentives and ratepayer protections. Economy & Growth: Kentucky State Data Center projections show south-central Kentucky continuing to grow through 2050, with Logan County rising modestly while nearby counties diverge—Warren County surges, while some others decline. Local Business: Bowling Green-area employers and workers were recognized at the Chamber’s Targeted Business Awards, highlighting $178 million in capital investment and 740 new jobs tied to 29 honored businesses. Legal/Consumer Costs: Kentucky’s AG Raoul joined a coalition seeking court approval of a $400 million settlement with Sandoz over alleged generic-drug price-fixing and reduced competition. Community Needs: Feeding America’s latest data shows food insecurity rising in Kentucky’s Heartland, with Logan County at 18.8% and 25.9% of children affected.

Data Centers & Power Planning: Kentucky’s data-center boom is colliding with politics and infrastructure reality, with lawmakers and utilities arguing the state must set rules early to protect ratepayers as proposals test the grid. Local Governance: Frankfort is moving ahead on DataOne’s proposed $7 billion data center, while other communities weigh moratoriums and ordinances to manage growth. Energy & Investment: Korea’s U.S. energy push—Alaska LNG plus nuclear—keeps shifting in public messaging, with Seoul disputing how far Washington’s announcement goes. Bourbon Expansion: Jackson Purchase Bourbon is expanding beyond Kentucky into seven new states, signaling continued growth for Western Kentucky distilling brands. Healthcare Costs: Michigan AG Dana Nessel urges consumers to file for compensation tied to multistate settlements over inflated generic drug prices. Elections & Business Climate: Kentucky Democrats are eyeing a Senate flip, but funding and turnout remain the big question as the midterm map tightens. Public Safety Tech: Flock camera vandalism has triggered arrests in Lawrenceburg, highlighting the business and policing stakes of surveillance systems.

Manufacturing Jobs: Gov. Andy Beshear highlighted Speed Kentucky’s $1.47 million UTV manufacturing and distribution facility in Owsley County, expected to create 60 full-time jobs and support final assembly and distribution of multiple Speed UTV models. Data Center Politics: Frankfort voted 5-2 to approve DataOne’s proposed $7 billion data center, though the project still faces additional steps tied to stipulations in a community enhancement agreement. Local Growth & Infrastructure: Sycamore residents can apply to split costs for city-backed tree plantings, with 30 trees available and a one-tree-per-resident limit recommended through Oct. 8. Weather & Business Planning: Kentucky Mesonet expanded with its 87th site near Owensboro, adding more real-time local weather data for the region. Energy Costs Watch: GasBuddy price reports showed pockets of lower fuel costs across Kentucky in the week ending Sept. 19, including midgrade at $4.69 in Estill County and diesel as low as $5.89 in Whitley County. Education Rankings: U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 college rankings put UK, UofL and NKU at the top nationally among Kentucky schools, with nursing cited as a standout UK program.

State Consumer Protection: Kentucky officials are warning residents about health insurance enrollment scams during fall sign-ups, urging people to “Pause, Check, Protect” and use official sites like HealthCare.gov and Medicare.gov. Music & Tourism Economy: Gov. Andy Beshear created a Governor’s Office of Music and launched kymusic.ky.gov to connect artists, venues, and music businesses—aimed at boosting the state’s entertainment economy. Local Business & Travel: Lake Barkley Tourism is gearing up for its first “Beast Fest” Nov. 13-14 in Eddyville, betting on a cryptid-themed event to drive more year-round visitors. Healthcare Politics: A new AP-KFF poll finds rural MAHA supporters largely say Trump health policies haven’t improved their communities, highlighting a disconnect between federal messaging and local impact. Banking Deal: Peoples Bancorp and Capital Bancorp announced an all-stock merger valued at about $728.1 million, expanding a multi-state banking footprint. Housing Policy: Reporting on the federal shift away from “Housing First” toward “Treatment First” and shorter transitional housing raises concerns for Kentucky-area homelessness providers. Education Costs: Diesel price spikes are squeezing Letcher County school finances, while the district also awaits FEMA flood reimbursements. Energy Planning: Letcher Fiscal Court voted to study small nuclear power plants as a potential economic development tool for future data centers. Elections: Kentucky voters have until Oct. 5 to register for the Nov. 3 election.

Public Safety & Community: Gov. Andy Beshear ordered flags at all Kentucky state buildings lowered Sunday (Oct. 4) from sunrise to sunset to honor Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips, killed Sept. 28 during a traffic stop near Bowling Green; services are set for noon at WKU’s E.A. Diddle Arena, with interment in Glasgow. Agribusiness & Land Values: Farm Credit Mid-America’s farmland value study finds Kentucky land values up 10.9% over the past year, while Indiana is the only state in its territory to decline (down 1.9% annually), underscoring how local demand and land quality drive prices. Transportation & Economic Development: U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers announced an $85 million INFRA grant for Somerset’s Northern Bypass, bringing total federal support to $167 million and clearing the way for the next phase of the 8-mile project. Local Education: Warren County Public Schools named Dr. Pauletha Butts principal of Summit View Elementary, citing more than 18 years of leadership experience. Business & Policy: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour stopped at Forcht Bank in Lexington to hear local business concerns, including affordability. Film & Tourism: A new serial-killer thriller, “The Spiral Down,” began filming in Louisville and Bedford, adding to Kentucky’s growing screen-production footprint.

Kentucky Business & Economy: Real Estate & Housing: Flagship Communities REIT is expanding in Kentucky with a $2.0M deal to buy a 125-lot manufactured housing community in Frankfort, aiming to lift occupancy and add amenities. Healthcare Costs: AG Alan Wilson is urging consumers to file claims tied to multistate settlements over alleged generic drug price-fixing. Business Growth & Industry: Louisville is hosting the 2026 Global Polymer Summit Expo, a three-day gathering built around polymer and rubber innovation and industry networking. Local Public Services: Scott County Schools says its summer feeding program distributed 323,000+ meals, with federal reimbursements helping the district’s nutrition budget. Workforce & Community: A Kentucky nonprofit, Pets4Life Louisville, is expanding low-cost veterinary access with a minor medical clinic to address ongoing pet-care affordability gaps. Food Safety: Federal health officials warn consumers not to eat recalled Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheeses after an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people, including cases reported in Kentucky. Tech & Policy: Scott County extended a data center moratorium through March 13, 2027, as residents push for tighter rules. Consumer & Finance: Kentucky’s Unclaimed Property Week continues, reminding residents to check the state treasury database for dormant assets. Sports Business: The Charlotte Hornets waived former Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham after acquiring him from the Bulls in a recent trade.

State Economic Development & Talent: Gov. Andy Beshear opened the Governor’s Office of Music at Bourbon & Beyond, aiming to support Kentucky artists, venues, festivals and music businesses and launching a statewide Kentucky Music Industry Directory. Local Government & Resilience: The Kentucky League of Cities named Mayfield City Government of the Year, citing the city’s rebuilding after the 2021 EF4 tornado that destroyed municipal buildings and much of downtown. Immigration Policy & Workforce Impact: A proposed federal rule on international students would cap post-graduation stays at four years and cut the grace period to 30 days, raising concerns about Kentucky graduates starting businesses and careers here. Consumer Safety: Sierra Nevada Cheese Company recalled raw-milk cheeses after an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people across nine states, including Kentucky. Fraud & Consumer Protection: Attorney General Tim Griffin kicked off his Fraud and Consumer Protection Summit with 800+ registrants, focusing on scams, benefit fraud, cryptocurrency fraud and AI deepfakes. Transportation & Public Safety: Covington launched a study on e-bike and e-scooter safety near schools, weighing “walk your wheels” style rules. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported Clinton County’s lowest regular price at $4.09/gal for the week ending Sept. 19, with Kentucky’s statewide average at $4.11.

SBA Funding Boost: The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded more than $8M in FAST Partnership Program grants to 50 organizations nationwide, including support for tech startups to tap SBIR/STTR-style non-dilutive funding. Education & Workforce: Ford is funding six Ford Future Builders Labs at Kentucky high schools (Jefferson, Hardin and Elizabethtown), modeled after MIT’s FAB Lab, aiming to train up to 7,000 students in skills like coding, robotics and 3D printing. Public Safety Grants: FEMA announced nearly $900,000 for the Lawrenceburg Fire Department as part of $72M in Region 4 fire and first-responder grants. Local Business & Jobs: GE Appliances (Haier) will invest $1B in Louisville’s Appliance Park, including bringing dryer manufacturing back from Mexico, with production expected to ramp in late 2027. Finance Watch: Churchill Downs Incorporated closed an amended credit facility and a new $500M Term Loan B due 2033 to refinance debt and fund general purposes. Data Center Politics: Carroll County residents and officials are filing ethics complaints tied to hyperscale data center votes and potential conflicts involving utility-linked income. Food Access: The Berry Center and Feed Louisville are partnering to bring locally produced beef to families facing food insecurity while supporting Kentucky cattle farmers.

Auto Supply Chain & Energy Security: GM is developing next-gen sodium-ion battery cells with Denver’s Peak Energy, aiming to build a more domestic supply chain in 2–3 years as Washington pressures automakers on China-linked battery tech. Manufacturing Disruption: Ford halted F-150 production at its Dearborn plant for about a week due to a supplier problem, not demand. Local Growth & Land Use: Hopkinsville will hold a public hearing on zoning amendments for commercial data centers, setting definitions, siting rules, and districts before City Council review. State Finance & Consumer Relief: Kentucky Treasurer Mark Metcalf is expanding in-person unclaimed property outreach, saying the program has returned more than $123 million in two years and totals about $1.2 billion. Housing Watch: Zillow data shows Robertson County’s typical home value rose 7.3% to $204,451 in August 2026, while Clinton County fell 8.9% to $151,907. Workforce & Visas: USCIS reports Kentucky approved 2,268 H-2B worker petitions tied to Kentucky worksites in fiscal 2026 through June 30, 2026. Energy Costs: GasBuddy price checks show Kentucky regular gas averaging $4.11 for the week ending Sept. 19, with notable low points like $3.89 in Monroe County and $3.94 in Kenton County. Business Tech: Northern Kentucky web firm Upforge opened a downtown Cincinnati office and launched “The Forge,” a free publication on building websites, apps, and AI for businesses. Legal/Finance: A federal judge ordered Kentucky-based ARC to pay about $18.4 million to creditors in a case tied to prior Medicaid billing allegations.

Kentucky Politics & National Ambition: Gov. Andy Beshear’s book-tour appearances with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore are fueling fresh 2028 White House speculation, with Beshear’s language turning less dismissive even as he stops short of committing. Healthcare & Cost Pressures: Former Kentucky Rep. Charles Booker is tying his U.S. Senate bid to making healthcare affordable for everyone, pointing to insulin and medication affordability struggles. Cybersecurity & Consumer Impact: Maryland AG Anthony Brown announced a $2.3 million multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 data breach tied to its debt collector, affecting 451,558 Maryland residents—another reminder for businesses to tighten vendor oversight. Public Safety & Regulation: A federal push to ban high-concentration 7-OH is prompting Illinois retailers and treatment providers to prepare for product removals and a potential patient surge. Surveillance Debate: U.S. senators raised constitutional concerns about Flock Safety cameras, warning about privacy and false-arrest risks. Local Business Spotlight: KFC opened a radically redesigned “Open House” restaurant in McKinney, testing new menu items and a more experience-driven format.

Childhood Cancer Funding: Gov. Andy Beshear and First Lady Britainy Beshear highlighted Kentucky’s $45.5 million in state-backed pediatric cancer research and family support, noting the KPCRTF has backed 62 projects since 2015. Safety-Net Access: Central Kentucky Community Action Council rolled out an upgraded 24/7 phone system to make it easier for residents to reach the right housing, utility, and family services across its eight-county area. State Politics & Oversight: House Democrats are laying plans for sweeping oversight of the Trump administration, with impeachment on the table if they win control. Social Media Regulation: Alabama reached a settlement with TikTok requiring at least $100 million in payments and new teen limits, including a two-hour daily cap and stronger age checks—part of a broader wave of state lawsuits. Public Health & Drugs: A Nashville forensic lab says it has detected a new synthetic opioid, cychlorphine, in 18 states, including Kentucky, tied to dozens of deaths in East Tennessee. Local Tourism Dollars: Bardstown-Nelson County Tourism awarded $145,135 in grants to 15 nonprofits, including major support for Stephen Foster Story and airport-related efforts.

TikTok Trial: Alabama’s first-in-the-nation case over claims TikTok is addictive to teens and misled users is set to begin Monday in Montgomery, with other states watching closely. Kentucky Agriculture: High diesel prices are squeezing Kentucky farmers during harvest, with one Shelby County producer saying fuel costs have more than doubled year over year. State Revenue: Kentucky tobacco sales tax collections fell to $313.1 million in 2024, down from $342.3 million the year before. Public Safety Tech: In central Kentucky, Flock camera vandalism has led to arrests, raising questions about privacy, costs, and accountability. Local Business & Growth: Bluegrass Hospitality Group is expanding in Richmond with a standalone Harry’s American Bar & Grill. Workforce & Regionalism: A West Kentucky workforce leader received a regionalism award for building cross-county partnerships. Banking: The Federal Reserve approved Peoples Bancorp’s merger plans that would indirectly acquire Citizens Bank of Kentucky. Lottery/Industry: Toyota parts-center employees in Boone County won $50,000 via an office Powerball pool.

AI Infrastructure & Finance: Anthropic and OpenAI keep pushing the AI data-center buildout, but financing and the full “power-to-capacity” chain are getting harder as competition shifts from GPUs to megawatts. Regulatory & Consumer Protection: Montana AG Austin Knudsen urged the SEC to scrutinize Moody’s ESG credit-rating methods after claims of extreme, outdated assumptions. Public Health & Tech: An FDA advisory panel backed Grail’s blood test for signals tied to 50+ cancers, while experts warned about false results and whether it truly improves outcomes. Kentucky Business & Community: UK’s Arboretum added a Little Free Library stocked with health resources, and UK journalism will host Marisa Kwiatkowski’s Joe Creason Lecture. Local Economy & Events: Christian County 4-H is bringing back the Bale Trail (Oct. 11–31) and organizers are seeking community entries. Culture & Giving: Knocked Loose donated $8,000 to a Louder Than Life attendee left paralyzed after a fall.

Energy & Infrastructure: Indiana won $175M in federal funding to relieve a regional electricity “choke point” at the Midcontinent-PJM seam, aiming to unlock 2,000–4,000 MW of transfer capacity and cut congestion costs for ratepayers. Kentucky Housing: Zillow data shows Green County’s typical home value rose 2.5% to $188,258 in August 2026, while Lawrence County climbed 6% to $150,810. Local Business & Jobs: A Bowling Green man launched kyhssports.com to make Kentucky high school sports scores and stats easier to find, using AI-assisted design. Workforce & Education: Glasgow automotive student Kesha Collins received a $500 scholarship from Plaza Tire Service and the Southcentral Kentucky CTC Foundation. Public Safety Funding: FEMA awarded more than $72M across Region 4 for fire departments and first responders, including Kentucky. Consumer & Health: A multistate settlement targets Labcorp over the AMCA data breach, and an FDA panel endorsed Grail’s Galleri blood test for early signs of 50+ cancers. Civic Leadership: Bowling Green Commissioner Sue Parrigin was elected to the Kentucky League of Cities Executive Board. Community & Culture: Bourbon and Beyond kicked off in Louisville, expected to deliver a major local economic boost.

Kentucky Politics & Economy: Gov. Andy Beshear is pushing to flip a Republican-friendly House seat, while a separate push highlights how a revenue forecast could help close Kentucky’s Medicaid funding gap. Consumer & Finance: Kentucky consumers are set to receive more than $10 million in relief from an auto-loan settlement tied to Credit Acceptance, as multistate actions target predatory lending practices. Energy & Infrastructure: Texas Gas is proposing a major 450-mile natural gas transmission line through parts of Kentucky, with residents weighing potential benefits against property and route concerns. Health & Regulation: An FDA advisory panel backed Grail’s multi-cancer blood test for people 50+, though experts warned about uncertainty and the risk of false alarms. Business & Travel: British Airways is increasing service between Heathrow and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG) to daily flights in 2027, signaling continued demand for international connectivity. Local Business Pulse: A Kentucky Chamber initiative aims to strengthen entrepreneurship and the state’s economy, while shelters and local groups continue adoption and community-drive efforts.