Medicaid Relief: Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky will use a $255M budget surplus to stop a planned 4% Medicaid reimbursement cut, plus fund senior meals and Michelle P. Waiver slots—after providers warned of impacts starting Aug. 1. Data Center Fight: Bell County residents’ pressure helped drive a two-year data center moratorium, while Mercer County approved its own one-year pause; Burgin’s annexation attempt for a hyperscale project is still sparking local backlash over power demand and land use. Local Governance & Democracy: Kentucky’s counties are also wrestling with how to zone data centers, with advocates pushing clearer rules for noise, water impacts, and ratepayer effects. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show spotty but notable low prices across the state, including E15 at $4.56 in Scott County and diesel at $4.84 in Pendleton County for the week ending Aug. 8. Public Safety & Health: A frozen raw dog food recall tied to salmonella risk includes Kentucky among 11 states. Community Notes: Ashe County elementary schools will receive a Daniel Boone children’s book, funded through local tourism and Duke Energy Foundation grants. Auto Manufacturing: Ford’s Louisville plant overhaul for the Fathom EV truck continues as the site shifts away from decades of gas vehicle production. Legal/Industry: A coal company tied to Sen. Jim Justice has appealed a federal order in a long-running Kentucky royalty dispute. Politics: Kentucky Democrats’ dinner in Lexington put the governor’s primary front and center, with Beshear urging voters to back one of two Democratic candidates.