AGP Executive Report

Data Centers & Local Control: Boyd County residents grilled officials over NDAs tied to a proposed TeraWulf data center, while Gov. Andy Beshear reiterated that any project must cover 100% of its own energy costs. Logistics & Jobs: Averitt is set to invest $113 million in a Bullitt County terminal and training campus, adding dozens of jobs. Roads & Infrastructure: Sen. Mike Nemes secured $22M+ for Bullitt County road and utility upgrades, including wastewater and water-line expansions. Construction Safety: Kentucky’s work-zone speed cameras are showing early results, with officials citing about a 20% drop in speeding. Manufacturing & Energy Storage: Ford is reshaping its battery strategy after the SK On venture collapse, repurposing Kentucky battery assets for energy storage using CATL tech. Workforce & Industry Downturn: Whiskey House of Kentucky laid off about 30% of staff in Elizabethtown amid continued bourbon demand softness. Medical Cannabis: Beshear issued an order to clarify qualifying conditions, aiming to expand access where symptoms map to serious underlying diseases. Sports Business: Purdue athletics director Mike Bobinski announced plans to retire at year-end as the school begins a new leadership search.

Kentucky Agriculture Funding: Kentucky lawmakers approved agriculture investments after a strong 2026 session, boosting the Kentucky Department of Agriculture with $20.9M in general fund dollars for FY26 and $22.9M for FY27, plus new support for programs like Raising Hope, Farms to Food Banks, and county fair grants. Swine Research: University of Kentucky researchers won a $650,000 USDA grant to study why modern sows are producing more piglets than their uteruses can support, with the project running through 2030. Medical Cannabis Expansion: Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order to clarify and expand Kentucky’s medical marijuana qualifying conditions, adding 15 conditions to the state’s list. Local Food Systems: Barren County Schools nutrition director CheyAnne Fant received the 2026 Kentucky Farm and Food Champion Innovator Award for strengthening ties between local agriculture and school nutrition programs. AI Governance in Kentucky: Lexington-Fayette is rolling out specific rules for how city employees can use AI, including limits on sensitive data and requirements for human review. Infrastructure & Training: Trine University ASCE students brought home multiple awards at the Indiana-Kentucky symposium hosted by UK, highlighting ongoing engineering talent in the region.

Data Centers & Energy Costs: Bowling Green rejected a six-month data center development pause but moved forward with new regulations, as officials weigh grid capacity, water use, and ratepayer impacts. Northeast KY Transparency: A proposed data center near Ashland drew tough questions at a town hall, with residents pressing for clarity on jobs, power demand, and decision-making. Rural Industry & Agriculture: Franklin County’s Farm City Field Day returns July 9, bringing high school FFA students and UK extension programming to a working farm. Food Supply Safety: A salmonella investigation tied to imported moringa supplements has been reopened after additional illnesses, prompting fresh consumer warnings and recalls. Workforce & Logistics: A federal fertilizer hauling waiver expands driving hours for commercial farming shipments across 34 states, aiming to ease tight supply pressures. College Sports NIL: Senators unveiled a bipartisan push to overhaul college athlete compensation rules, adding another layer to Kentucky’s NIL and transfer-portal fallout. Public Health Policy: Gov. Beshear expanded Kentucky’s medical marijuana qualifying conditions via executive action, signaling broader access ahead of any legislative changes.

Food Distribution Expansion: Louisville’s What Chefs Want is continuing to build new distribution facilities to support its specialty wholesale food delivery growth, showing how Kentucky’s food supply chain keeps scaling. Fast-Casual Growth: Slim Chickens opened a new drive-thru-only Fly-Thru location in Ashland, adding to its 11 Kentucky restaurants and leaning into off-premise demand. Industrial Rail Safety: Railserve launched YardGUARD™ to improve railyard switching safety with real-time engineered controls—aimed at reducing misalignment and fouling incidents. Local Infrastructure & Public Works: Fort Thomas is renovating the Highland Hills Park playground with new equipment and a pour-in-place surface funded by the Kentucky Waste Tire Trust Fund. Bourbon Industry Legal Pressure: Kentucky Castle distillery project faces more than $1.5 million in lawsuits over unpaid bills tied to the Versailles-area development. Spirits Production Adjustment: Brown-Forman is pausing production at its Slane Irish Whiskey distillery to match market demand, while noting it has maturing inventory to cover supply. Transportation Impact: I-65 in Louisville is closed in both directions until Aug. 1 for bridge replacement, with major detours affecting airport and expo access. Industrial Development Watch: Henry County approved zoning for two large industrial warehouses on a 217-acre farm, with traffic and stormwater conditions attached. Healthcare Services Deal: Strata Critical Medical completed its acquisition of Louisville Perfusion Services, expanding perfusion and blood management coverage in Kentucky and Ohio. Data Center Tensions: Boyd County residents questioned NDAs and protections at a town hall tied to a proposed hyperscale data center by TeraWulf.

Reshoring & Manufacturing: GE Appliances is preparing to bring about 800 U.S. jobs back to Louisville, restarting washer production after a long run in China—part of a $6.5B push to rebuild domestic manufacturing. Transportation & Construction: KYTC kicked off major I-65 work through Louisville, closing a five-mile stretch for about two months and prompting signage tweaks as drivers adjust; separate KYTC projects also began in Oldham County (Highways 393/146 and Allen Lane) with rail-over-road bridge work. Energy & Data Centers: Neighbors in Catlettsburg grilled officials at a data center town hall over land, water, and health concerns tied to TeraWulf’s Muskie Data Campus, while lawmakers elsewhere are debating how to keep ratepayers from footing the bill for power upgrades. Agriculture & Costs: A fertilizer-cost debate is heating up as farmers warn that spikes are squeezing margins and pushing policy discussions on supply, pricing, and who should absorb the hit. Workforce & Education: The University of Pikeville launched its Tanner College of Dental Medicine with its first class, aiming to expand access in central Appalachia. Local Governance: Christian County leaders tout state funding wins, including a $17M Commerce Park II allocation, as a way to protect taxpayers and keep economic development moving.

Manufacturing & Trade: GE Appliances plans to move washing machine production from China to a revamped Louisville facility, a $490M investment aimed at reducing tariff and supply-chain risk while adding about 800 jobs. Regulatory & Agriculture: The FTC opened an industrywide probe into fertilizer price spikes as farm margins tighten, with Kentucky Farm Bureau testimony cited. Health & Compliance: HVACR contractors are watching fast-changing PFAS rules and A2L building-code updates tied to refrigerants. State Politics: Gov. Andy Beshear sued to block GOP-backed House Bill 10, arguing it shifts executive power in ways that violate Kentucky’s constitution. Senior Living Development: Cedarhurst Senior Living says it’s pushing multiple Midwest projects while preparing for boomer-driven demand. Local Business & Growth: Uniti Group launched a large fiber-network notes offering secured by assets including Kentucky. Community & Workforce: UK’s Land-grant Engagement Bus Tour highlighted partnerships across Western Kentucky, from agriculture research to engineering workforce efforts. Education & Tech: Reuters reports Meta is paying about $27M to settle a Kentucky school district social media addiction case. Energy Costs: A new map shows where residential electricity prices jumped most nationwide, with Kentucky readers likely watching regional grid-investment pressures.

I-65 Disruption: Louisville’s long I-65 closure starts June 1, shutting a five-mile stretch downtown and rerouting drivers via I-264/I-64 and other crossings through Aug. 1, with KYTC urging early planning. Brent Spence Bridge Buildout: Major companion-bridge materials are arriving on the Ohio River, with work in the water expected to begin soon, as the $4.4B project targets opening by 2031. Industrial Infrastructure & Safety: KYTC bridge replacement plans highlight aging structures along the I-65 Central Corridor, while local roadwork continues across the state, including KY 90 passing-lane upgrades in Barren County. Manufacturing/Materials: ANDRITZ will supply a Wetlace hybrid nonwovens line for Kruger Nonwovens in Canada, aiming for plastic-free, chemical-free sustainable wipes production starting in 2028. Housing Maintenance: Acculevel expanded foundation repair and waterproofing services in Lexington and crawl space repair in Bowling Green as homeowners face settlement and moisture issues. Retail/Consumer Watch: A new column alleges Walmart “dynamic” pricing and mislabeled weights have led to shoppers paying for less than advertised.

Local Transportation & Infrastructure: Southcentral Kentucky is set for a busy stretch of road work under the state’s $4.6B 2026-2028 highway plan, including a major $18.7M widening of U.S. 31-W in Warren County to five lanes. Education & Workforce Pipeline: Lexington’s Run for the Robots at the Kentucky Horse Park drew 70+ FIRST Tech Challenge teams, showing how engineering and programming are being built into middle- and high-school career paths. Agriculture & Food Supply Chain: Daviess County farm markets earned Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market status, highlighting locally grown meats, produce, baked goods, and agritourism. Public Sector Leadership: Lincoln University named John Kessell associate extension administrator, expanding research-based programs across agriculture, family/consumer science, community development, and 4-H. Community & Culture: Louisville’s summer concert calendar is heating up, with venues like Zanzabar reporting stronger ticket sales and a resurgence in live-music demand. Industry Spotlight (Kentucky ties): Churchill Downs hosted a key turf prep where Sweet Treasure won the Stephen Foster Preview Day turf stakes.

Kentucky Housing Pressure: A new push to tackle affordable housing is getting louder as Kentuckians feel rent and mortgage costs squeeze everything else, from hiring to family planning. Data Centers & Power Costs: Kentucky lawmakers and utilities are wrestling with the real bill behind the data-center boom—rate impacts, grid upgrades, and water demands—while other states tighten rules or demand more cost coverage. Social Media Settlements: Breathitt County’s school district disclosed a $27M settlement split (Meta $9M, Snap $8M, TikTok $8M, YouTube just over $2M), adding fuel to a national wave of lawsuits tied to student mental health. Woodland Owner Support: UK is rolling out a one-stop website through “Every Acre Counts” to connect Kentucky woodland owners with forestry help and management partners. Bourbon & Spirits Industry: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond (Heaven Hill, Bardstown) earned Double Gold at the International Spirits Challenge, and Michter’s announced the return of its 10-Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye. Local Business/Industry: Larrikin Bourbon Co. launched Koala Bare gin in the U.S., distilled in Kentucky with Australian native botanicals.

Data Centers & Power Demand: Kentucky utilities say they’re fielding a surge of hyperscale data center interest, with LG&E and KU reporting up to 29 potential projects and as much as ~12 GW of prospective load—enough to power millions of homes—while communities weigh impacts. Local Governance & Zoning: Henry County planners approved industrial warehouses on a 217-acre farm after binding conditions like traffic and stormwater studies; Logan County officials are also exploring ways to slow data center growth amid concerns about weak countywide zoning. Energy Rates: TVA is considering a rate-classification shift for AI data centers, aiming to keep the burden off other customers as AI load rises. Public Works: KYTC announced an extended U.S. 45 closure in Graves County starting June 8 for a new Jackson Creek bridge, plus other KYTC traffic-impact updates across District 3. Health & Workforce: BRADD approved a $51.4M budget driven by a regional mental health crisis intake and substance use recovery “Anchor Project” in Bowling Green. Education & Skills: Frankfort High’s FBLA student Hannah Hayes earned a national conference spot in San Antonio.

Industrial Expansion: Campbellsburg is moving to annex about 210.67 acres for Flint Development’s large light-industrial warehouses near I-71 after a zoning change from agricultural to light industrial cleared the Planning and Zoning Commission. Workforce & Services: Kentucky driver licensing offices will temporarily close June 4-5 for the myDrive portal and KINDL rollout, with services shifting online and limited walk-in hours resuming June 8. Food & Safety: A CSB final report says a Louisville food-color plant explosion was “catastrophe waiting to happen,” citing major safety gaps in how the reactor was modified and how blast protection was handled. Healthcare Costs: New data shows Kentucky’s Obamacare cancellations are about three times higher than last year, with affordability driving disenrollment. Energy & Industry: FTC is investigating a fertilizer-price spike tied to the war-driven surge, putting more pressure on farmers’ margins. Utilities & Growth: Kentucky American Water’s new president, Rob Burton, is stepping in as the utility navigates major system upgrades and rate requests. Cannabis Access: Green Releaf Dispensary opens June 1 in Elizabethtown, expanding medical cannabis access for Hardin County patients. Tech & Infrastructure: Utilities report as many as 30 data centers are under discussion in Kentucky, while local concerns keep surfacing around power and water strain.

FTC & Ag Costs: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission opened a major investigation into surging fertilizer prices after the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupted global supply, with Kentucky Farm Bureau citing sharp jumps (including urea up 55% since late February) that are squeezing farmers’ margins. State Policy & Agriculture: Kentucky lawmakers are pushing solutions such as the Homegrown Fertilizer Act to expand U.S. production and reduce price volatility. Local Infrastructure: KYTC plans an extended U.S. 45 closure in Hickman County for a $2.9M bridge replacement, with work starting June 8 if weather allows. County Incentives: Graves County will receive $45,727 through the County Agricultural Incentive Program, funded by the tobacco settlement, to support farm investments. Economic Development: Glasgow City Council advanced a Sharp Carts incentive ordinance tied to the Kentucky Business Investment program. Community & Culture: Frankfort opened its new Islamic Center, and the city also plans to open renovated pickleball and tennis courts at East Frankfort Park. Business/Industry: Publix announced its next Kentucky store in Nicholasville (near Brannon Road), continuing expansion.

Food & Beverage Manufacturing: ADM is expanding its Erlanger reformulation and innovation capabilities, investing $26M to boost capacity by 40% as brands race to cut sugar and add “better-for-you” nutrients. Aerospace & Defense Supply Chain: Maysville-based Carlson Software says it’s moving into in-house drone and UAV design and manufacturing, aiming to create new engineering and assembly jobs and serve surveying, mapping, mining, and defense. Logistics & Warehousing: Averitt plans major Louisville-area growth, including a cross-dock terminal and large warehouse footprint, as trucking and 3PLs bet on long-term freight demand. Energy & Data Centers: TeraWulf is pushing a large AI data center plan in northeastern Kentucky, while community questions and pushback are already shaping local planning. Public Health: Kentucky is among 25 states affected by a Salmonella recall of specialty beverages, prompting consumers and businesses to check product lots. Workforce: Kentucky Career Center is hosting a Paducah job fair June 2 with openings across construction, warehousing, logistics, and manufacturing.

White Oak & Bourbon Supply Chain: UK researcher Sybil Gotsch is tackling Kentucky’s “white oak problem,” where seedlings thrive but mid-sized trees keep disappearing—an issue that could ripple into bourbon’s legally required new charred white oak barrels. Arts Education Pipeline: Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts named its 2026 class—276 students from 59 counties—running June 7-27 at NKU, with graphic design added this year. Local Talent in STEM: Morehead State’s Craft Academy for Excellence in Science & Mathematics held its Class of 2026 graduation, recognizing nearly 100 students, including Bullitt County graduates. Regulatory & Gambling Oversight: A bipartisan AG coalition led by Ohio’s Dave Yost urged the CFTC to recognize state authority over sports-related prediction markets, arguing they function like unregulated sportsbooks. Energy & Infrastructure: TC Energy’s proposed Mason-to-Rowan natural gas pipeline is drawing scrutiny from rural landowners in Mason County. Community & Industry Growth: Kenton County approved Prus Construction as construction manager for its new flagship park in Independence. Bourbon Business Risk: A Garrard County distillery tied to a nearly $27.9M judgment is headed to auction, raising fresh questions about financing and production restart plans.

Aerospace & Workforce Spotlight: The Aviation Museum of Kentucky at the Kentucky Aerospace Education Center opened its “Kentucky Women in Aviation” exhibit, featuring stories and artifacts from pilots, engineers, educators and leaders, with a ribbon-cutting sponsored by Signature Aviation. Energy & Grid Buildout: East Kentucky Power Cooperative broke ground on the new Liberty Station, a natural gas plant in Casey County, marking the first greenfield power-plant site for EKPC since the 1980s. AI Infrastructure: TeraWulf surged on plans for the Muskie Data Campus in eastern Kentucky, targeting more than 1 gigawatt of AI/HPC capacity over time. Transportation Disruption: KYTC warned Louisville drivers to prepare for the June 1 start of a major I-65 closure for overpass repairs, with detours adding 15–20 minutes and heavy traffic expected early. Healthcare Capacity: UK announced a $580 million Chandler Hospital utilities infrastructure upgrade to support major campus growth. Summer Meals Access: Kentucky’s Summer Food Service Program (Sun Meals) is expanding to 2,000+ meal sites statewide, offering free meals to kids 18 and under during summer break. Local Housing Market: Good Faith Homes hit its 100th Northern Kentucky property purchase in Covington, continuing its direct, as-is home-buying model.

Nuclear Education Push: McCracken County is hosting two public meetings June 11-12 at the Paducah-McCracken County Convention and Expo Center as part of its “Nuclear-Ready Community” push, with nuclear safety and waste expert Dr. Patrick White leading the discussion on advanced nuclear tech, siting, regulation, and what the designation could mean for the region. Power & Infrastructure: Casey County’s Liberty Station natural gas plant is breaking ground near KY 49, while Princeton City Council reviewed airport runway rehab plans plus water meter conversion and sidewalk work. Data Centers Go Big: TeraWulf’s Muskie Data Campus in northeastern Kentucky is drawing major attention after the company announced a hyperscale AI/HPC site expected to support more than 1 GW, with power delivery timelines now in focus. Agriculture Pressure: Fertilizer costs are still rattling farm economics, even as Kentucky research highlights how manure and compost can affect soil health and nitrate movement. Campus Growth: UK opened its $60M Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building, adding new classrooms and student success space for agriculture and related programs.