AGP Executive Report

Fuel Relief Push: Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner Jonathan Shell is urging Gov. Andy Beshear to declare an energy emergency and temporarily allow untaxed, dyed diesel on public roads to protect the 2026 fall harvest as diesel prices squeeze farmers. Data Center Backlash: At a Frankfort listening session, Kentuckians demanded limits and protections as lawmakers weigh the impact of hyperscale data centers, including electricity and water concerns and long tax breaks under HB 775. Flood Insurance Gap: A new report highlights how only 2.1% of properties in the 2022 Kentucky flood areas had federal flood insurance, far below the risk level—underscoring a major coverage gap. Aviation Safety/Utilities: Georgetown-Scott County Regional Airport won $1.75M for water supply expansion and fire hydrants, plus safety upgrades tied to planned infrastructure work. Manufacturing Demand Matching: Reshore Technologies launched a platform to connect U.S. import demand with domestic manufacturers using real import data and production capabilities. Nuclear Education: Lewis County will host a come-and-go nuclear energy education fair Saturday for residents to meet experts and learn about safety and economic opportunities. Health/Drugs: Kentucky is part of a multistate push for court approval of a $400M Sandoz settlement over alleged generic drug price-fixing.

Energy & Investment: Kentucky is watching a major South Korea–U.S. energy push as Trump touts up to $200B for eight nuclear plants, a Texas gas project, and an Alaska LNG pipeline—while Seoul says the LNG decision still isn’t final. Data Centers & Power Planning: Kentucky lawmakers and local officials are wrestling with how to site and regulate hyperscale data centers without overloading the grid or shifting costs to existing ratepayers; Mercer County rejected data-center zoning near a coal plant, and Frankfort backed a $7B data center plan. Local Land-Use Fight: Lexington residents pushed back on a proposed 10-story student housing complex near UK, citing affordability and neighborhood disruption. Workforce & Industry Growth: Owensboro named Emily Lester director of marketing and special projects, and Lexington highlighted pharma/life-sciences growth with a new BCTC advisory council. Food Safety: Raw milk cheese recalls expanded after an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people. Agriculture & Education: UK students collected eclipse data for NASA, and Farm Bureau Ag Day brought rural/ag learning to Trimble County fourth graders.

Energy & Investment: Trump unveiled South Korea’s U.S. investment plans tied to lower tariffs, including a Texas gas-fired power plant, eight nuclear plants, and an Alaska LNG project—moves that could reshape Kentucky’s power and construction pipeline. Freight & Safety: Kentucky ranked 8th for fatal interstate large-truck crashes (2020-2024), underscoring ongoing pressure on logistics safety along major corridors like I-65. Public Health & Food Supply: A nationwide recall hit raw milk cheese after an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people across nine states, including Kentucky—another reminder of risk management for dairy producers and retailers. Weather & Infrastructure: Kentucky Mesonet added its 87th site near Owensboro, expanding real-time weather and soil monitoring for farmers and emergency planning. Manufacturing Jobs: Speed Kentucky will open a $1.47M UTV facility in Owsley County, creating 60 full-time jobs. Consumer Pressure: Consumer confidence fell to a 12-year low as prices squeeze households ahead of midterms, while gas prices stayed volatile in Kentucky counties. Agriculture: USDA reported a big weekly rise in broiler sets, pointing to higher production ahead. Policy & Data Centers: Mercer County officials rejected a data-center zoning amendment, adding to the fight over how hyperscale projects affect rural infrastructure.

Defense & Manufacturing: Raytheon won a $247.1M sole-source contract to produce, upgrade and overhaul Phalanx close-in weapon systems for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, with about a third of the work in Louisville through 2030. Weather & Agriculture Tech: Daviess County cut the ribbon on a new Kentucky Mesonet station, adding real-time weather and soil data for farmers, emergency managers and the public. Veterans & Healthcare Facilities: Bowling Green opened the Robert E. Spiller Veterans Center, a new 80,000-square-foot skilled nursing facility with 60 beds and 152 jobs. Food Safety: Graziers raw milk cheeses were recalled nationwide after an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people, including Kentucky cases. Housing & Consumer Finance: Kentucky Realtors reported August 2026 sales volume of $1.33B (down 14.9% YoY) while median price rose to $285,000. Public Policy & Elections: A new AP-KFF poll finds most rural voters say Trump’s healthcare policies haven’t helped their communities, even among MAHA supporters. Community & Local Economy: Kentucky’s Ag Tag Program raised $941,630 in 2026, topping $2.8M since 2024.

Transportation Funding: U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers announced an $85M INFRA grant for Somerset’s Northern Bypass, bringing total federal support to $167M and clearing the way for the next development phase on the 8-mile route. Public Works: Louisville’s KY 864 Beulah Church Road widening will expand from two to five lanes in phases, with detours and at least one long closure expected to last about 18 months. Ag & Community Safety: Kentucky’s Ag Education Week and National Farm Safety and Health Week highlighted year-round farm safety, including grain-bin prevention after a Ballard County death. Local Agriculture Innovation: Kentucky State University rolled out pawpaw outreach across Kentucky and Ohio, drawing thousands and sharing growing, processing, and marketing guidance. Education Leadership: Warren County Public Schools named Dr. Pauletha Butts principal of Summit View Elementary, citing past instructional and culture gains at Alvaton Elementary. Energy Workforce: The National Gas Rodeo & Expo crowned overall champions from PG&E and Fabick Cat at Turfway Park in Florence. Food Safety: FDA/CDC investigations continue into a multistate E. coli outbreak tied to raw milk cheese, prompting nationwide recalls. State Economic Signals: Kentucky State also showcased Ag Roundup programming for about 1,600 students across seven counties.

Data Centers & Local Control: Scott County Fiscal Court extended a moratorium on new data centers through March 13, 2027, giving residents more time to weigh a draft ordinance after public pushback. Public Health & Food Safety: The FDA issued a nationwide recall of Sierra Nevada Graziers raw-milk cheeses tied to a multistate E. coli outbreak that sickened 13 people and hospitalized eight, including Kentucky. Agriculture & Distribution: Scott County Schools’ summer feeding program distributed 323,000+ meals, with USDA Sun Meals reimbursements totaling about $1.4 million. Energy Costs: States moved to blunt high gas and diesel prices as AAA reported national averages around $4.48 regular and $6.45 diesel, with Kentucky drivers still feeling the squeeze. Fraud Prevention: Kentucky AG Griffin’s Fraud and Consumer Protection Summit kicked off with 800+ registrants, focusing on scams, benefit fraud, crypto fraud, and robocalls. Music Economy: Gov. Beshear created a Governor’s Office of Music to support Kentucky artists, venues, and festivals, including a new Kentucky Music Industry Directory. Healthcare Policy Debate: A Kentucky-focused discussion highlighted proposed 2027 health insurance rate increases and the push for Medicare for All.

Road & Construction: KYTC crews are working on KY 90 and U.S. 31-E in Barren County, with temporary lane closures starting Sept. 30 for a culvert replacement and a longer closure planned Oct. 5, plus daytime lane impacts on U.S. 31-E for drainage, minor widening, and a new turn lane at Windy Hills Road. Food Safety: Sierra Nevada Cheese Company is recalling Graziers raw-milk cheeses (medium cheddar, sharp cheddar, jalapeño Jack, Monterey Jack) after an E. coli outbreak sickened 13 people across nine states, including Kentucky. Auto Safety: About 880,000 SUVs and trucks have a factory-coated rear subframe paint defect that can strip to bare steel, accelerate corrosion, and potentially fracture rear suspension mounting areas. State Economic Development: Gov. Andy Beshear opened the Governor’s Office of Music to support Kentucky artists, venues, festivals, and music businesses, including a new kymusic.ky.gov directory. Workforce & Education: Ford is launching “Future Builders Labs” in Kentucky high schools with 3D printing, laser cutting, coding, and robotics to build skilled-trades pipelines. Local Government: Mayfield won the Kentucky League of Cities City Government of the Year award for rebuilding after the 2021 tornado destroyed municipal buildings. Retail/Logistics: BJ’s is reportedly seeking nearly $30M to expand an Orlando distribution facility into a logistics headquarters, adding jobs over five years.

Data Centers & Ethics: Carroll County residents are filing ethics complaints over a hyperscale data center deal, alleging council members voted despite conflicts tied to LG&E-KU income. Manufacturing Investment: GE Appliances is investing $1B in Louisville’s Appliance Park, expanding washer and dryer production and bringing dryer manufacturing back from Mexico, with no layoffs expected. Energy Infrastructure: Indiana received $175M in federal funding to ease a regional electricity “choke point” that spans into Kentucky, aiming to cut congestion and lower ratepayer costs. Surveillance Debate: Kentucky-linked national pushback continues over Flock-style traffic camera surveillance, with critics calling it too intrusive and supporters citing public safety. Film & Tourism: Kentucky’s film incentives are drawing more productions, including a new thriller (“The Spiral Down”) filming in Louisville and beyond. Ag Education: State officials highlighted “All In for Ag Education” in Murray, expanding access to agriculture learning. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports Kentucky regular prices averaging about $4.11 for the week ending Sept. 19, with notable low points like $3.79 in Laurel County.

Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show Kentucky drivers still see uneven costs: Shelby County’s lowest premium hit $4.54/gal (week ending Sept. 19), Boone County’s lone E15 station was $4.79, Kenton County’s lowest regular was $3.94, and Lincoln County’s lowest diesel was $5.69. Workforce & Visas: USCIS data shows Kentucky approved 2,268 H-2B workers tied to Kentucky worksites in fiscal 2026 through June 30, 2026, with a 100% approval rate in the reported dataset. State Economic Development: Gov. Andy Beshear launched a new Kentucky Office of Music to support musicians, venues, and festivals, including a new kymusic.ky.gov directory and a “Kentucky: Sounds Like Home” specialty license plate. Local Governance: Grant County’s fiscal court held a first reading on repealing the 1993 ordinance that created the solid waste board/109 Board, with board leadership pushing back on the proposed dissolution process. Transportation Updates: KYTC District 3 published its road work schedule through Oct. 2, warning of lane closures, detours, and speed reductions across south-central Kentucky. Industry & Business: Furniture Fair is moving into the former Burke Furniture site in Lexington, planning an 82,000-square-foot showroom with a December ribbon cutting.

Kentucky Music Industry: Gov. Andy Beshear announced a new Governor’s Office of Music to back musicians, venues, festivals, and related businesses, citing a $6.9B arts-and-music impact and 51,000+ jobs statewide. Energy & Waste: Rumpke opened the Estill County landfill to the public after taking over in February, aiming to address odor and trash complaints and show residents the landfill gas-to-energy and monitoring upgrades. Transportation Infrastructure: Indiana Gov. Mike Braun marked completion of I-69 Ohio River Crossing Section 3, clearing the way for the bi-state bridge work connecting Evansville to Henderson, KY. Food Safety: FDA/CDC reported an E. coli outbreak tied to raw milk cheese, with 13 illnesses and eight hospitalizations, prompting recalls and consumer warnings. Workforce/Health Policy: Kentucky’s broader labor-health concerns echoed as black lung enforcement delays drew renewed attention, while Kentucky’s own policy push continues around public health and safety.

State Economic Development: Gov. Andy Beshear announced Kentucky’s new Governor’s Office of Music, aiming to support musicians, venues, festivals, and related businesses, with reported $6.9B in arts/music economic impact and 51,000+ jobs statewide. Energy & Infrastructure: Kentucky’s fuel market stayed volatile in late September, with GasBuddy reporting the lowest regular gas at $3.43 in Daviess County and $3.54 in Muhlenberg County (week ending Sept. 19), while diesel remained higher—like $5.69 in Boyd County. Agriculture & Logistics: Superior Ag broke ground on a new Ohio River fertilizer terminal in Indiana, built to serve farmers across southwestern Indiana and northern/central Kentucky, targeting late-2026 operations. Public Safety & Policy: TikTok agreed to pay Alabama at least $100M and adopt teen time limits and other restrictions, echoing similar safety terms tied to state settlements. Business & Compliance: Ex-Kentucky Derby trainer Mick Ruis was indicted in a San Diego Navy scaffolding fraud case involving alleged small-business eligibility and contract schemes. Sports (Local Interest): Kentucky football beat South Alabama 45-21 after a second-half surge.

Social Media & Youth Safety: Alabama reached a settlement with TikTok/ByteDance, requiring at least $100M to the state and teen-focused limits like a two-hour daily cap, pauses after 15 minutes, midnight-to-6 a.m. restrictions, stronger age checks, and a less personalized feed—avoiding a first-in-the-nation trial that could have exposed platform practices. Public Health: The FDA and CDC are investigating an E. coli O26:H11 outbreak tied to Sierra Nevada Graziers raw milk cheese; 13 people in nine states are sick, including Kentucky, with hospitalizations and hemolytic uremic syndrome reported. Energy & Agriculture: Diesel prices are hitting record highs in Kentucky (AAA cites about $6.35), squeezing farmers and the food supply chain as higher fuel costs ripple from field work to trucking. Local Industry & Community: Kentucky Wesleyan College named Scott D. Sims senior director of development and alumni relations, a move aimed at strengthening fundraising and alumni engagement. Civic Recognition: Mayfield won the Kentucky League of Cities “City Government of the Year” award for its rebuilding after the 2021 tornado.

Energy & Grid Infrastructure: Indiana won $175M in federal funding to relieve a regional electricity “choke point” that runs through the grid seam shared by Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky—expected to unlock 2,000 to 4,000 MW of transfer capacity and cut congestion costs. Agriculture Costs: Kentucky farmers say high diesel prices are crushing harvest budgets, with one Shelby County producer estimating he burns about 10,000 gallons during peak work. Public Safety & Consumer Protection: Kentucky AG Russell Coleman says phone/text scams cost Kentuckians nearly $6.5M in 2025, citing robocall volume and caller ID spoofing. Local Governance & Data Centers: State Rep. Adam Moore set an Oct. 1 Frankfort listening session on data centers, focusing on electricity demand, utility bills, water use, noise, land use and infrastructure impacts. Workforce & Education: UK trustees approved a new Pigman College of Engineering building to expand hands-on manufacturing and prototyping; Kentucky State Extension launched urban aquaponics/hydroponics education through a leadership fellowship. Business & Growth: Bluegrass Hospitality Group is opening a standalone Harry’s in Richmond. Finance: The Fed approved Peoples Bancorp’s merger that would indirectly acquire Citizens Bank of Kentucky.

Data Centers & Local Rules: Scott County extended its data center regulations moratorium until March, aiming to finalize clearer rules after public concerns and to avoid a regulatory vacuum if a court challenge hits. Energy & Grid Reliability: A Paducah-area D.C. fly-in delegation met federal agencies about the Paducah American Energy Hub and other DOE work, while Indiana also won major federal support to relieve a regional electricity “choke point” that affects Kentucky-area grid flows. Power & Environment: A new state-by-state look at electricity carbon intensity puts Kentucky among the dirtiest power generators, underscoring the stakes for cleaner generation. Consumer & Health Tech: FDA advisers backed a blood test that can flag signals tied to 50+ cancers, though experts warned about false results and whether it truly improves outcomes. Agriculture & Food Industry: Kentucky’s sawmills face mounting pressure, and separate coverage highlights how crop insurance pricing is being studied for “optimum” rates. Business & Finance: Kentucky construction groups are working to fill thousands of open jobs, while a Kentucky-focused UK Invests spotlight shows students using engineering pathways to build financial literacy.

Kentucky Politics & Defense: The U.S. Senate rejected a War Powers Resolution to end the Iran war effort, 49-50, with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul joining three other Republicans (Collins, Murkowski, Tillis) and Democrats in support—leaving Trump’s troop authority unchanged. Energy & Costs: Gas prices in Kentucky stayed volatile but eased from spring highs, with multiple counties reporting low regular-gas deals around the high $3s to low $4s for the week ending Sept. 19, while diesel remained higher. Agriculture: UK researchers are studying an “optimum” crop insurance premium rate by comparing farm yield history to county yields, aiming to simplify choices for farmers facing complex coverage options. Business & Consumer Tech: Lemonade is expanding pet insurance in a market where fewer than 5% of U.S. dogs and cats are insured, as vet costs rise. Education & Workforce: Tennessee Tech extended in-state tuition to select Alabama counties and transfer students from Somerset Community College in Kentucky to boost recruitment tied to Huntsville’s aerospace demand.

School Safety: Kentucky’s 2025-26 School Safety Risk Assessment shows most public schools are meeting state security requirements, including electronic-locking doors, surveillance, and threat-assessment teams, with nearly 100 more school resource officers since last year. Energy & Infrastructure: Texas Gas is proposing the 450-mile “Borealis” natural gas transmission line through parts of Western Kentucky, with residents packed into a Trimble County info session as property surveys and approvals begin. Public Health: A federal advisory panel endorsed the Galleri blood test as a potential cancer screening tool for people 50+, while stressing more research is needed to understand benefits and false alarms. Manufacturing: Ford announced a $1 billion Kentucky Truck Plant paint shop investment as it faces pressure to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains. Local Development: Lexington preservationists are criticizing demolition in the Aylesford neighborhood tied to a student housing push near UK. Business & Community: Dump Masters expanded its commercial dumpster rental partner program, offering entrepreneurs an asset-backed launch model.