AGP Executive Report

Road Infrastructure: A new analysis flags that Kentucky’s major roadways still need urgent repair, warning that expiring federal road funding could slow safety and shipping-cost improvements. Energy & Consumer Costs: GasBuddy data shows diesel and regular gas prices varied across Kentucky in the week ending May 30, with Union County’s lowest diesel at $4.89 and Casey County’s lowest regular at $3.99—another reminder of how fast fuel costs can swing. Economic Development: Gov. Beshear kept up the state’s speed-to-market push with multiple site, workforce, and expansion announcements, including a $43 million E. Hofmann Packaging facility in Hopkins County (164 jobs) and new investments tied to manufacturing and logistics across several counties. Workforce & Training: Bluegrass State Skills Corp approvals would support nearly 2,300 Kentuckians with industry-specific training. Public Safety & Health: A Kentucky addiction treatment CEO faces federal wire fraud and money laundering charges tied to alleged misuse of COVID-era IRS tax credits. Policy Watch: Kentucky’s data-center debate continues as a state energy planning report warns that electric customers could absorb infrastructure costs without clear rules.

Logistics & Jobs: Averitt will invest about $113 million to build a new regional campus in Bullitt County, adding 64 associates over four years and consolidating its regional operations near the Brooks Road/I-65 interchange. Infrastructure Funding: Sen. Mike Nemes secured more than $22 million for Bullitt County road and utility projects, including wastewater expansion in Pioneer Village and water line/fire hydrant upgrades. Local Government & Services: Mount Washington is putting trash collection back out to bid after Republic Services took over Green River Waste and residents complained about service and rates. Data Centers & Community Pushback: Boyd County residents questioned proposed TeraWulf data center plans, including concerns about NDAs and whether environmental and ratepayer protections are real; Gov. Beshear says Kentucky will be skeptical and require data centers to cover their own energy costs. Opioid Response: RiverValley Behavioral Health received $253,169 over two years to expand services for children and families affected by substance use in Western Kentucky. Healthcare Performance: CMS reports mixed nursing home results across Kentucky, including a 1-star rating for Henson Park Health & Rehabilitation and 5-star performance for Lee County Care and Rehabilitation Center. Business Recognition: ENCON Equipment president Jordan Mitchell was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year East Central finalist. State Operations: Kentucky’s driver licensing offices will close June 4-5 for a new system rollout, with services shifting to myDrive.

Education & Governance Fight: Fayette County Board of Education chair Tyler Murphy and the Kentucky Education Association sued to block Senate Bill 4, arguing the law unlawfully targets Fayette/Jefferson and would shrink the board from seven to five while ending current members’ terms by Dec. 31, 2026. Public Safety & Recovery: FEMA approved public assistance for 18 Kentucky counties hit by January’s Winter Storm Fern, supporting local recovery after widespread snow and ice. Agriculture Investment: Kentucky lawmakers approved a stronger agriculture package, including $20.9M (FY26) and $22.9M (FY27) for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture plus new funding for agricultural economic development and grants. Health Policy: Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order adding 15 qualifying conditions to Kentucky’s medical cannabis program, expanding access beyond the original six. Local Business & Permitting: Covington launched an online special event permit system starting June 1, replacing paper applications, while the Covington Economic Development Authority canceled its June 4 meeting. Workforce & Entrepreneurship: A Northern Kentucky teen turned freeze-dried candy into a full-time business with 22 employees and a new Disney Parks distribution push. Energy & Infrastructure: LG&E and KU highlighted grid expansion plans and reliability investments as demand grows.

Data Centers & Energy Costs: Bowling Green rejected a six-month data center development moratorium but moved ahead with new regulations, as officials and residents weigh grid capacity, water use, and ratepayer impacts. Policy & Courts: Kentucky’s Judicial Branch is reorganizing specialty, family/juvenile, and pretrial services under HB 504 to better match funding and streamline oversight. Medical Cannabis Access: Gov. Beshear expanded Kentucky’s medical marijuana qualifying conditions by 15 more. Nursing Home Watch: CMS reported mixed results across Kentucky for-profit nursing homes in Q1 2026, including a 3-star rating for Fordsville and Salem Springlake, but a 1-star rating for Sunrise Manor and Mountain Ridge, with Mountain Ridge also reporting fines. Public Safety & Fraud Prevention: A Lexington “Lunch & Learn” with state regulators and Kentucky State Police targets scam awareness for seniors. Transportation Funding Debate: Kentucky’s gas tax freeze is sparking debate over road maintenance tradeoffs as lawmakers review the impact. Wildlife & Utilities: LG&E and KU partnered with Fish and Wildlife to band three peregrine falcon chicks at Mill Creek.

Data Center Policy: Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky won’t approve data centers that try to shift energy costs to residents, requiring projects to cover 100% of their own power and meet environmental rules as communities in Boyd and Greenup question impacts. Local Business & Growth: Slim Chickens opened a drive-thru-only Kentucky location as it expands its “Fly-Thru” footprint, while a Northern Kentucky teen entrepreneur turned freeze-dried candy into a full-time operation now selling treats through major theme-park retail. Bourbon & Legal Pressure: Kentucky Castle distillery faces more than $1.5 million in lawsuits over unpaid bills tied to a planned project at the Versailles property. Healthcare Recognition: Vaughan Regional Medical Center earned a ScionHealth Gold Award for clinical excellence. Public Finance Help: The Kentucky State Treasurer’s Office brought unclaimed property outreach to Laurel County, helping residents search and file claims. Tech & Safety: Railserve launched YardGUARD™, a real-time railyard safety system aimed at reducing switching incidents.

Judicial Restructuring: Kentucky’s Chief Justice Debra Lambert says the Judicial Branch is reorganizing its Office of Statewide Programs to boost frontline staffing and streamline oversight after HB 504, reshaping Specialty Courts, Family & Juvenile Services, and Pretrial Services into a more regional model. Reshoring Watch: GE Appliances is preparing to bring back a manufacturing line to Louisville—about 800 jobs—aimed at producing washer/dryer units previously made in China, a rare Kentucky-friendly “jobs home” story amid tariff pressure. Data Center Tensions: Neighbors in Catlettsburg held a town hall over TeraWulf’s proposed Muskie Data Campus, raising concerns about water, noise, and utilities even as county leaders say the project can be done safely and bring investment. Local Policy & Costs: A guest column warns that extending Kentucky’s short-term gas tax relief could cost local governments roughly $250 million if prolonged, squeezing road and bridge maintenance budgets. School & Social Media: Kentucky’s school district social media settlement continues to ripple, with reports of major payments tied to claims about online harms. Community & Growth: Louisville announced free July 4 events for America’s 250th birthday, while local leaders tout recent legislative wins tied to economic development and infrastructure.

Manufacturing & Jobs: GE Appliances is moving washing machine production from China to a revamped Louisville facility, a $490 million investment expected to employ about 800 workers as tariff and supply-chain pressures push more makers to build closer to U.S. customers. Politics & Governance: Gov. Andy Beshear sued to block a GOP-backed House Bill 10 that would shift executive-branch oversight powers to the attorney general and treasurer ahead of inaugurations. Education & Consumer Tech: Meta is reportedly set to pay about $27 million to settle a Kentucky school district lawsuit over alleged social media addiction harms, following broader school-related settlements. Public Health Incentives: Beshear launched “Shot At A Million,” offering a $1 million sweepstakes for vaccinated adults and scholarships for vaccinated teens. Local Business & Growth: Louisville’s ISCO Championship returns July 9-12 with organizers touting momentum from its first year at Hurstbourne and about $1.2 million raised for Kentucky charities. Regulation Watch: The FTC opened an industrywide fertilizer price probe as growers face tight margins and higher input costs. Aviation Leadership: Beshear named Todd Case commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Aviation.

Social Media Settlement: Meta and other major platforms will pay about $27M to settle a Kentucky school district lawsuit alleging addictive design worsened student mental health, with terms reported by Bloomberg/Reuters and no admission of wrongdoing. Infrastructure Disruptions: Louisville’s I-65 closure begins after midnight June 1, with detours and ramp shutdowns expected to reshape commutes and raise towing demand. Regional Bridge Buildout: Pieces for the Brent Spence companion bridge have arrived on the Ohio River, with in-water work expected to start soon as the $4.4B project targets openings in the early 2030s. State Services Update: Kentucky’s driver licensing offices close June 4-5 for a new system rollout, with expanded online pre-application via myDrive starting June 8. Local Business & Housing Maintenance: Acculevel expanded foundation repair and waterproofing services in Lexington and Bowling Green, targeting crawl space and settlement issues in older homes. Workforce & Community: A Cynthiana program places a licensed social worker with police to connect residents to mental health and substance-use treatment and reduce repeat crises.

Social Media Settlement: Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube agreed to pay about $27 million to settle a Kentucky school district lawsuit over claims their platforms were designed to be addictive and harmful to teens, with YouTube also offering teacher training. Politics & Governance: Gov. Andy Beshear kept the door open to a 2028 run while arguing Democrats need a “Southern revival” focused on kitchen-table issues and a push to curb partisan redistricting. State Economy & Infrastructure: Kentucky’s 2026-2028 highway plan includes major Southcentral projects, including a $18.7 million widening of U.S. 31-W in Warren County to five lanes. Workforce & Agriculture: Lincoln University named John Kessell associate extension administrator, expanding research-based programs across agriculture, family and community development. Business & Growth: Kentucky’s Film Office got its first executive director, Meg Fister, aiming to accelerate the state’s film production pipeline. Public Safety: A commercial bus driver in a Virginia crash faces involuntary manslaughter charges after officials said he couldn’t speak English.

Congressional Turnover: More than a dozen lawmakers have already confirmed they won’t return for the 120th Congress, including Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, setting up a major reshuffle in Washington. Education & Tech Accountability: Kentucky’s Breathitt County settlement details show Meta paying $9M, Snap and TikTok $8M each, and YouTube just over $2M plus teacher training—part of a wave of school social media lawsuits nationwide. Agriculture Finance: Farm Credit Mid-America is returning $34.4M to Kentucky farmers through patronage, with $280M total net earnings paid to eligible customer-owners. Rural Land Management: UK’s “Every Acre Counts” program is building a one-stop network to connect woodland owners with forestry and wildlife help across Kentucky. Housing Costs Pressure: A new report highlights how housing costs are reshaping Kentucky families’ budgets and community hiring, with supply and affordability challenges driving the squeeze. Veterans Housing: VA data shows 1,023 VA home purchases in Kentucky in Q1 FY2026 totaling $309.5M, down from Q4 FY2025. Data Center Debate: Utilities and lawmakers are weighing the impact of data centers on Kentucky power grids and household costs as more projects are discussed. Local Giving: A Louisville restaurant says it donated 100% of profits—over $100K in its first year—to local nonprofits.

Data Center Demand: Kentucky utilities say they’re fielding up to 29 potential data center projects, with demand that could reach about 12 gigawatts—far beyond what the state’s grid has recently handled—while communities worry about strain on power and water. Local Planning & Zoning: Logan County officials are weighing ways to slow data center growth, warning that without countywide zoning, landowners have limited say before large industrial builds. AI Power Rates: TVA is considering a new rate classification for AI data centers, aiming to keep costs from being pushed onto other customers as AI load rises. School District Lawsuits: A Kentucky district reached about $27 million in settlements with social media companies over alleged student mental-health harms, led by Meta’s $9 million. Transportation Disruption: Louisville-area commuters are bracing for major changes as an I-65 closure forces detours and could ripple into local business traffic. Local Government Budgets: Paducah finance leaders outlined a more future-focused 2027 budget process, while Grant County fiscal court advanced its 2026-27 budget with CPI-based raises and vehicle/road funding plans. Business & Finance: American Express sued London, Ky., officials over roughly $713,900 in unpaid credit card debt. Economic Opportunity: God’s Pantry Food Bank named an interim CEO after a leadership change, keeping focus on hunger relief across central and eastern Kentucky.

College Sports Policy: U.S. senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell unveiled a bipartisan bill to overhaul how college athletes are compensated, aiming to bring order after NIL and transfer-portal chaos. Kentucky Business & Courts: American Express National Bank sued London Mayor Randall Weddle and BC Recycling for about $713,900 in unpaid credit card balances. Public Safety & Local Growth: Campbellsburg moved toward annexing roughly 211 acres for an I-71 light-industrial development after zoning approval. Healthcare Deals: UnitedHealthcare will expand Synapse Health management of durable medical equipment orders in multiple states starting Sept. 1, 2026. State Services: Kentucky driver licensing regional offices close June 4-5 for a new system rollout, with online services launching June 8. Community & Workforce: Kentucky’s foster youth college tuition waiver use is rising, with graduation rates around 40% versus about 8% a decade ago. Food & Tourism: Paris Baguette opens its first Louisville location with a community and culinary mentorship focus, while Paintsville’s tourism commission approved funding for a July 3-4 Independence Day event.

Retail & Culture: A retro VHS boom is bringing people back to physical media, with stores like Muskegon’s Static Tape Video reporting tapes “flying off the shelf” as customers look for tangible experiences amid rising streaming costs. Bourbon Industry: Heaven Hill is releasing an ultra-limited 13-year bourbon aged entirely at its historic Deatsville rickhouse campus, as the site is gradually retired. Agriculture & Competition: The FTC is probing fertiliser price spikes tied to war-driven supply shocks, as farmers face a fourth straight year of shrinking margins; Kentucky Farm Bureau says some fertiliser prices are up sharply and many growers can’t afford what they need. Food Retail Expansion: Publix has signed a lease for a new nearly 55,000-square-foot store (plus Publix Liquors) in Nicholasville, with more Kentucky openings planned. Local Government & Public Safety: Covington’s ABC board revoked a sports bar’s liquor license after a shooting, citing a history of incidents and the bar’s decision to cancel a required police detail. Health & Access: A new medical marijuana dispensary is set to open in Bowling Green in June, expanding local access for registered patients. Transportation Services: Kentucky’s regional driver licensing offices will close June 4-5 to roll out a new licensing system and the myDrive portal. Economic Development: Glasgow advanced a first reading of an incentive ordinance tied to Sharp Carts under the Kentucky Business Investment program.

Food & Health Tech: Sifter Solutions and Attane Health announced a merger to build an end-to-end “food-is-medicine” platform connecting consumers, health plans, retailers and CPG brands. Public Health: SKS Copack recalled specialty beverages in 25 states, including Kentucky, due to possible Salmonella contamination. Healthcare & Justice: AppalReD Legal Aid won an appeal in a black lung case, strengthening miners’ access to attorneys’ fees when companies challenge medical treatment. Workforce & Education: UK researchers found rural Appalachians face far higher insomnia rates, tied to steep socioeconomic gaps. Retail & Commerce: K-VA-T Food Stores (Food City) selected Homesome to roll out retailer-owned digital commerce across 140 locations in Kentucky and surrounding states. Local Growth & Manufacturing: Carlson Software, based in Maysville, said it will expand into drone and UAV design and manufacturing, aiming to create new technical jobs. Infrastructure & Logistics: Averitt plans major Louisville warehousing and cross-dock expansion, adding jobs and capacity for freight growth. Energy & Data Centers: TeraWulf outlined plans for a large EastPark data center in northeastern Kentucky, projecting major power needs starting in 2028. Business & Community: Goodwill reopened a remodeled Shively store in Louisville after a 2023 fire, part of its push for 100 new stores this year.

Nonprofit Leadership & Community Services: The Salvation Army in Hopkinsville is in transition as Lt. David and Lt. Brittney Donegan prepare to leave for new roles in Anderson, S.C., with Major Jason Swain set to take over June 22 after two years expanding outreach for homelessness, food insecurity and financial hardship in Christian County. Arts Education: Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts announced its 2026 class—276 students from 59 counties—running June 7-27 at Northern Kentucky University, with Madisonville-North Hopkins represented by Anne Pham (graphic design) and Lily Blades (musical theatre). Affordable Housing: Heath Duncan, executive director of Pennyrile Region Habitat for Humanity, has been tapped to lead Kentucky Habitat for Humanity statewide as Mary Shearer steps down at month’s end. Public Safety Fundraising: The Kentucky State Police Foundation launched its “250 for $250” campaign to recruit 250 supporters by July 5 to support troopers and their families. Local Business & Regulation: A look at Owensboro’s Dispo Smoke highlights how Kentucky-area hemp retailers are navigating shifting THC rules and uncertainty for small operators. Education & Workforce Impact: Oakland City University’s undergrad suspension for 2026-27 is rippling through the community as layoffs loom and nearby universities offer help to displaced students. Sports Betting Policy: Ohio AG Dave Yost and other state attorneys general urged the CFTC to recognize state authority over sports-related prediction markets, arguing they function like unregulated sportsbooks. Infrastructure & Growth: Mason County residents are weighing a proposed natural gas pipeline after landowners raised concerns about construction impacts and future risks.

AI & Data Centers: TeraWulf jumped on plans to expand Kentucky AI/HPC capacity, including a new Muskie Data Campus acquisition targeting 1 GW over time, underscoring how power and transmission are now the bottleneck for growth. Healthcare & Research: UK’s Chandler Hospital is advancing a $580 million utilities infrastructure upgrade to support major campus expansion, while Cincinnati’s GE HealthCare and UC partners opened an Imaging R&D Center aimed at accelerating next-gen MRI development. Education & Workforce: WKU’s teacher-education program awarded its first scholarships from the $1M Forsythe Scholars Endowment, and Kentucky State Police Foundation launched a “250 for $250” campaign to fund public-safety programs. Housing & Local Economy: Brighton Properties is building June Gardens, a 12-unit Newport development for working families earning $15–$25 an hour, with wrap-around services. Business Moves: Good Faith Homes hit its 100th Northern Kentucky property purchase in Covington, and KSBar and Grille in Lexington will close as a full-time sports bar due to rising costs, shifting to game-day operations. Public Safety/Policy: Kentucky ICE detention cases saw releases on bond after court wins, highlighting ongoing legal pressure on detention practices.