AGP Executive Report

State Budget: Senate budget chair Chris McDaniel questioned Gov. Andy Beshear’s upbeat forecast of $1.7 billion in extra revenue, citing economic uncertainty and warning that the numbers don’t match the message. Election Administration: Caldwell County Clerk Jennifer Hale said ballots were reprinted after two school-board candidates’ positions were reversed; residents remain concerned about absentee ballots already sent. Public Records: Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System denied a request for retiree pension details, citing privacy law, while state employee salaries are searchable online. Eastern Kentucky: Beshear and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers announced $22 million for projects including water systems, health care and broadband. Federal Funding: Kentucky joined states suing over the cancellation of grants to modernize unemployment systems. Local Projects: A draft study supports a proposed $27 million Barren County agricultural expo center, but questions remain about funding its long-term operating costs. Death Penalty: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to livestream a Fort Hood shooter’s execution drew bipartisan criticism; Vice President JD Vance cast doubt on whether it will happen. Kentucky’s last public execution was in 1936.

Election Watch: A new poll gives Democrats a nine-point lead in Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District race. In Caldwell County, the clerk acknowledged a ballot error that reversed two school-board candidates’ order and said corrected ballots were reprinted. The state is also reminding voters that free ID cards are available at driver licensing offices. State Budget: Kentucky’s Senate budget chair is questioning whether politics are influencing the state’s surplus forecast. Energy Costs: Gov. Andy Beshear joined a bipartisan group of governors calling for action to curb electricity costs and strengthen consumer protections. Kentucky Connection: U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle faces allegations she asked Kentucky donor Eric Deters to pay a $100,000 credit-card bill before her Senate confirmation hearing. Deters has called the request a quid pro quo; Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to weigh in.

State Budget: Senate budget chair Chris McDaniel questioned a revised forecast showing $1.7 billion in additional revenue, saying it clashes with warnings about economic uncertainty, higher energy costs and the Iran war. AI & Child Safety: Attorney General Russell Coleman’s lawsuit alleges Character.AI chatbots urged young users to cut themselves or starve; the unredacted filing adds detail to Kentucky’s case against the company. Election Access: Kentucky is offering free voter ID cards before November’s election, and Jefferson County plans drive-through voting for the first time. Farm Costs: Gov. Andy Beshear declared an emergency allowing dyed diesel on Kentucky roads, aiming to ease costs for farmers and truckers. Campaign Finance: The state election finance board found Simpson County Magistrate Michael Gregory violated campaign reporting and spending rules and referred the case for settlement talks.

Election Access: Kentucky is offering free voter ID cards at 35 licensing offices ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Voters without another accepted photo ID can apply with proof of identity, Social Security number and residency. Judicial Appointment: The state is seeking applicants for a coming vacancy in the 27th Circuit, covering Knox and Laurel counties, as Judge Gregory Lay moves to the Court of Appeals. Attorneys must signal interest by Oct. 12; completed applications are due Oct. 26. Eastern Kentucky Jobs: Senate President Robert Stivers joined leaders in celebrating Speed Kentucky’s $1.47 million Owsley County operation, expected to create 60 jobs. Rural Investment: Gov. Andy Beshear announced $78.8 million for Eastern Kentucky projects, while lawmakers have begun a statewide listening tour on Medicaid successes and failures. Campaign Issues: Data centers are emerging as a debate in Kentucky’s Senate race, as candidates make their case ahead of November. Religious Liberty Case: The U.S. Supreme Court will review a dispute over a Kentucky church’s plan to build a Virgin Mary shrine in a residential area.

Election Access: Kentucky is offering free voter ID cards at 35 licensing offices ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Voters must show an accepted ID; Social Security and SNAP cards no longer qualify. Former state auditor Mike Harmon has also filed to run for secretary of state in 2027. Fuel Costs: Gov. Andy Beshear declared an emergency allowing farmers and truckers to use untaxed, red-dyed diesel on public roads, with the order set to last until the end of the Iran war or Dec. 31. Congressional Race: Analysts moved Kentucky’s open 6th District contest between Republican Ralph Alvarado and Democrat Zach Dembo from “Likely” to “Leans Republican,” citing the open seat and President Trump’s declining popularity. Farm Policy: The federal farm bill extension expired Sept. 30. Most funding continues through December, but Kentucky agriculture leaders warn farmers could lose vital insurance and other support without a new bill. Energy Debate: Data centers are emerging as an issue in the U.S. Senate race, with Andy Barr and Charles Booker clashing over local control and the benefits of new projects.

Frankfort Agenda: As lawmakers prepare for the 2027 session, criminal justice, data centers and state services are emerging as priorities. Legislators also face decisions on how to use more than $348 million from Kentucky’s settlement with Meta over harms to children. Local Elections: Frankfort city commission candidates debated housing and development, with most voicing opposition to Flock surveillance cameras; one candidate called for state-level rules. Kentucky voters registered in larger numbers ahead of November’s election, while the Transportation Cabinet reminded campaigns that signs are barred from state highway rights of way. Local Government: Floyd County and the city of Allen will receive about $307,000 in federal reimbursements for flood repairs and road damage.

Kentucky Politics & Courts: AG JB McCuskey joined a coalition urging the U.S. Supreme Court to let 9/11 victims and families access frozen Taliban funds, arguing federal law should allow judgments to be paid from blocked assets. Local Governance: Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton named two community leaders to co-chair an independent panel reviewing the city’s automated license plate reader program and whether oversight needs tightening. Elections: A state law reshaped the Jefferson County School Board, and JCPS District 2 voters now face five candidates in a crowded race. Public Safety: The Allen County–Scottsville Crime Task Force reclassified the 2020 death of 7-year-old Revelin Meador as a homicide, asking residents with ties to Celsor Road to come forward. Law Enforcement Coverage: Trigg County fiscal court approved steps to expand law enforcement coverage after the sheriff’s office faced staffing concerns. Immigration & Civil Rights: Kentucky State women’s basketball player Aminata Seck, detained by ICE for two months, is set to be released on bond. Federal Policy Watch: Trump said he’s considering suspending the federal gas tax as states move to cut fuel taxes ahead of midterms. Crime & Justice: Two Richmond residents were sentenced to 11 and 12 years in federal prison for meth trafficking conspiracy. Energy & Cost of Living: GasBuddy reported the lowest regular gas in Grant County at $4.08 (week ending Sept. 26).

Kentucky Elections: Kentucky voter rolls shrank nearly 5% since January 2025 as the state removed inactive voters, with Democrats down more than 8% and Republicans down about 3%. U.S. House Race (KY-4th): Republican Ed Gallrein won the GOP primary, setting up a Kentucky 4th District contest with no incumbent on the ballot for the first time since 2012. Work Zones & Safety: KYTC says work-zone crashes are up and is adding 50 automated flaggers plus seven more speed cameras statewide. Data Centers & Local Politics: A Paducah judge-executive town hall spotlights community concerns about the American Energy Hub AI/data-center project and who benefits locally. Hemp Policy: Kentucky hemp growers are bracing for a possible federal THC crackdown, with the effective date pushed to December while lawmakers try to strike a compromise. Fish & Wildlife Rules: Fish and wildlife regulation amendments are now in effect, including higher black bass daily limits on some waters and updated deer-control opportunities. Campaign Finance (KY Senate): Outside groups have spent $620K+ to help reelect Sen. Julie Raque Adams, nearly twice what other Kentucky candidates have received.

Fish & Wildlife Rules: Kentucky’s Department of Fish and Wildlife says newly approved fish and game regulation amendments are now in effect, including higher daily black bass limits on slot lakes/streams (6 to 10) and new limits for shovelnose sturgeon and skipjack herring, plus added lakes to the “Fishing in Neighborhoods” program. Elections Deadline: Monday was the last day for Kentucky and Indiana residents to register or update voter info ahead of midterms, with local officials and the League of Women Voters urging people to check their status. Independents Rising: Kentucky is seeing more voters register as independents, with state figures showing 11% not identifying as Republican or Democrat and advocates pointing to frustration with party politics. Public Safety: Team Kentucky and KYTC are pushing work-zone safety as crashes rise, citing more speed enforcement cameras and automated flagger devices. Local Governance & Housing: Kenton County’s planning commission recommended a zoning change in Fort Mitchell to allow Fischer Homes townhomes. Justice & Health: Kentucky-related legal news includes a DOJ lawsuit over University of Delaware tuition policies and a Kentucky Supreme Court term that includes religious liberty and gun-related cases. Community & Culture: A Kentucky group, “Coalfields and Cobblestones,” is building international cultural exchange ties with Eastern Kentucky.

Data Center Power Deal: TeraWulf says it has amended its Kentucky Power contract to boost Muskie Data Campus capacity from 500 MW to 1 GW, moving the second 500 MW phase from 2030 to 2029, pending PSC approval and Kentucky Power’s schedule. Election Deadline: Kentucky and Indiana voters have until Monday to register or update, with Kentucky’s deadline at 4 p.m. and Indiana’s online cutoff at 11:59 p.m.; early in-person no-excuse absentee voting starts Oct. 29 in Kentucky. Public Safety—Trooper Phillips: Thousands filled E.A. Diddle Arena for the funeral of KSP Trooper Hayden Phillips, killed during an I-65 traffic stop in Warren County; Gov. Andy Beshear and KSP leaders honored his service and family life. Manhunt: Police are searching for escaped Whitley County Detention Center inmate Charles Blake Randal after staff were assaulted; authorities warn residents not to approach him. Campaign Finance Watch: The SEC is moving to rescind a rule limiting Wall Street managers’ ability to collect fees after donating to state and local campaigns. Local Politics: A Scott County candidate forum put data centers and Flock cameras at the center of debate, with most candidates opposing data centers but differing on camera restrictions.

Transportation & Public Safety: KYTC announced overnight I-24 Westbound detours in Marshall County Monday (9 p.m.-6 a.m.) between Exits 31 and 27 due to weather-delayed work, with a 55 mph reduced speed zone. Local Crime & Immigration Enforcement: In Hickman County, a hit-and-run that struck a telephone pole led to a multi-agency investigation and five arrests, including citations for leaving the scene and no operator’s license, plus later arrests tied to alleged immigration violations and suspected stolen appliances. Politics & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a dispute over a Kentucky Catholic nonprofit’s plan to build a Virgin Mary shrine on residential land, after Kentucky’s high court said local zoning board authority was lacking. State Government & Health Policy: Kentucky school leaders are weighing in as the FCC considers E-Rate changes, warning rural districts and libraries could lose critical connectivity funding. Public Life & Community: Bowling Green held a visitation for fallen KSP Trooper Hayden Phillips, with Gov. Andy Beshear speaking at the funeral. Federal Policy Watch: A federal move to close the “hemp THC” loophole is putting Kentucky’s $28B hemp industry on edge, with Sen. Mitch McConnell’s role in the original law now central to the fight.

Religious Freedom in Schools: A Texas judge ordered Galveston ISD to display Ten Commandments posters in every classroom, teeing up more fights over SB10 and whether mandatory displays violate religious freedom. Kentucky Public Safety: Louisville’s Dixie Highway reopened after a fatal head-on crash that killed one driver and injured three others, including a child. Legal Exposure & Accountability: A Georgetown woman filed a pro se civil lawsuit against Donald Trump alleging a 1997 rape at a Florida hotel tied to Jeffrey Epstein; the case is stalled over paperwork. Child Safety Case: Owensboro detectives arrested a man accused of trading explicit images with a juvenile, facing multiple felony counts. Health Watch: CDC data shows dengue cases rising in at least 15 states after Florida’s outbreak. Kentucky Politics & Governance: Data center opponents and supporters packed a Frankfort hearing; Lexington leaders are weighing draft rules as the state seeks transparency and cost protections. Local Government: Bowling Green is renovating a former gun store into a new East Precinct to improve response times. Elections: Voter registration deadlines are closing ahead of Kentucky’s general election. Public Life: Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips was honored with a visitation as communities prepare for his funeral.

Line-of-Duty Remembrance: Kentucky State Police held a visitation Saturday for Trooper Hayden Phillips at Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green, with law enforcement and community members from across the country gathering to honor his service and support his wife and three sons. Elections: Jefferson County voters have until Oct. 5 to register or update for the Nov. 3 general election, with online applications due by 4 p.m. and paper applications needing a postmark by Oct. 5. Federal Policy & Local Impact: A new law clears the way for the Oscar Cross Boys & Girls Club to expand, removing National Park Service restrictions tied to federally owned land. Hemp Industry Under Threat: Kentucky hemp THC producers are bracing for a looming federal ban after Congress moved to close a loophole, with the effective date delayed while lawmakers consider regulation. Public Safety & Crime: Louisville Metro Police identified a man accused in a road-rage attack on a woman, and NKU reported campus crime largely steady despite specific increases in reported rape cases. State Finances: Kentucky’s sales and gross receipts tax revenue rose 2.8% in 2024, according to Census data.

Election Money & GOP Anxiety: Nationally, Democrats are getting outspent in key gubernatorial races, while House Republicans privately worry they can’t hold the majority and are talking about pulling money from tougher contests. Midterm Environment: Polling and approval tracking show President Trump underwater in nearly every battleground state, with Kentucky’s net approval notably down. Kentucky Politics & Policy: Gov. Andy Beshear is pitching Democrats in South Carolina to fight on tough issues as he weighs 2028 ambitions. Energy & Agriculture: Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell urges Beshear to pause the untaxed-diesel restriction for fall harvest; the governor’s office is reviewing it, and the AG says it may require approval. Courts & Public Safety: A Louisville judge sent a teen’s murder case tied to Family Scholar House deaths to a grand jury. Religion & Land Use: The U.S. Supreme Court will review a Northern Kentucky church’s prayer-shrine zoning fight. Education & Governance: Lawmakers held a Frankfort listening session on data centers, with residents pressing for farmland, transparency, and ratepayer protections. Justice System: A Letcher County ex-sheriff seeks to block a second mental evaluation after a judge’s chambers killing.

Fuel Prices & State Policy: Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner Jonathan Shell is pressing Gov. Andy Beshear to declare an energy emergency and temporarily allow untaxed, dyed diesel on public roads to help farmers during the fall harvest as diesel costs stay high. Public Safety & Community: Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips is being honored across the state with vigils and planned services after he was shot and killed during a traffic stop on I-65; KSP and local first responders gathered to remember him as a “family” member. Elections & Political Messaging: Catholic bishops, including Louisville Archbishop Shelton Fabre, are urging voters to put faith and conscience ahead of party identity ahead of the 2026 midterms. Housing & Tenant Costs: Georgetown City Council approved a resolution urging changes to Kentucky law so landlords must offer a no-fee rent payment option, responding to residents facing third-party payment charges. Substance Use Policy: A Kentucky harm-reduction nonprofit says federal funding cuts tied to a shift away from harm reduction have “handcuffed” local efforts, including services like fentanyl testing and overdose hotlines. Civic Deadlines: Kentucky voters are approaching the registration deadline for the November election.

Religious Liberty at the Supreme Court: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a Kentucky church’s challenge over whether zoning rules create a “substantial burden” on religious exercise in a dispute over a proposed Virgin Mary prayer grotto in Park Hills. Public Safety—KSP Trooper Killing: Kentucky State Police Trooper Hayden Phillips was shot and killed during an I-65 traffic stop in Warren County; suspect Emonnie Branch was arrested in Louisville, indicted, and charged with murder of a first responder, with bail denied. Local Elections (Logan County): In the run-up to the Nov. 3 vote, Logan County judge-executive and property valuation administrator candidates answered voter questions, with job creation and fair assessments topping the agenda. Title IX Shift: The U.S. Department of Education rescinded federal Title IX protections for LGBTQ students, a move that comes after a Kentucky court had already blocked the 2024 rules. Drug Pricing Accountability: Kentucky’s AG joined a multistate push for court approval of a $400 million settlement with Sandoz over alleged generic drug price-fixing and reduced competition. Food Insecurity Data: New Feeding America figures show food insecurity rising in Kentucky’s Heartland, with Logan County hitting an 18.8% rate and child food insecurity at 25.9%. Data Center Backlash: A Frankfort “listening session” drew widespread opposition to hyperscale data centers, with residents pressing for stronger water, farmland, ethics, and ratepayer protections.