AGP Executive Report

Black Lung Benefits: A new U.S. House bill would raise black lung disability payments for coal miners and index stipends to inflation, with Kentucky’s Morgan McGarvey among the sponsors. Manufacturing & Labor: Dana and Magna Seating workers face renewed contract fights as UAW bargaining resumes July 7 in Cincinnati, after rejected terms kept tier pay and capped senior wages. Energy & Nuclear Supply Chain: DOE is moving to restore U.S. uranium enrichment for defense, with ORNL’s DUECE pilot plant advancing via a BWXT partnership. Food Safety: Publix is recalling GreenWise frozen blueberries (lot 60401; best-by Feb. 9, 2028) after 12 E. coli O145-linked illness reports across eight states including Kentucky. Tech & Local Impacts: Bell County residents packed a courthouse meeting to push for a moratorium on a proposed data center, citing water, noise, and road strain. STEM Workforce: WKU launched INSIGHT, a five-day STEM camp for K-12 teachers funded by a $100,000 grant. Auto Industry: Toyota’s Kluger nameplate is set to continue in Australia, with BEV production shifting to Georgetown, Kentucky for the next generation. Veterans Facilities: AMVETS Post 75 is building a $3 million, 3,000-square-foot expansion to support growth.

Auction & Heritage: The historic Claudia Sanders Dinner House in Shelbyville—plus Colonel Harland Sanders’ personal collection—heads to auction after years on the market, with items including handwritten recipes, letters, and a working planner. Ag Diversification: Triple D Ranch in Jackson County is leaning harder into hay production to strengthen farm income, alongside cattle, freezer beef sales, and non-GMO corn and wheat. Fuel Watch (Kentucky): GasBuddy price reports for the week ending June 27 show diesel lows like Woodford County at $4.19/gal and E85 lows like Pike County at $2.82/gal, with other county-by-county spot checks highlighting how uneven pump prices can be. Local Food Access: A new “Farm Stand Trail” map is connecting Jackson Purchase shoppers to nearby farm stands and growers. Food Safety: Publix is recalling GreenWise frozen organic blueberries (lot 60401; best-by Feb. 9, 2028) tied to E. coli O145 illnesses, including distribution to Kentucky stores. Energy Materials: ACP Technologies and ORNL are scaling synthetic graphite and carbon fiber supply, with a new Ashland pilot facility producing pitch materials.

New-Car Pricing Squeeze: Edmunds reports the “under $20,000” new-car category is effectively gone, with the cheapest 2026 model starting around $20,550 and only 17 models under $25,000—part of a broader shift toward pricier vehicles. Trade & Gifts: A Belgian diamond consortium tied to tariff relief presented a lavish ring to Trump ahead of America’s 250th. Kentucky Agriculture Retail: LaRue County adds two more certified stops—Hinton’s Orchard & Farm Market and Locke Ridge Farm—into the Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market program. Food Safety: Publix recalled frozen GreenWise organic whole blueberries in multiple states, including Kentucky, after E. coli O145:H28 illness reports. Energy & Manufacturing: Ford is repurposing a Kentucky EV facility to build battery energy storage systems for data centers and utilities; separately, a Cincinnati distributor joined the YCM Alliance to expand CNC machining sales and service across Kentucky and the region. Local Gas Watch: GasBuddy price checks show Kentucky regular averaging about $3.51 per gallon for the week ending June 27, with notable low points in several counties. Heat & Access: Census estimates highlight how uneven air-conditioning access is across the U.S., with major gaps affecting heat-risk planning.

Agriculture Spotlight: May is Beef Month in Kentucky, highlighting nearly 1 million beef cows, about 32,000 cattle farms, and cattle’s major role in local economies like LaRue County. Energy & Industry: Ford is repurposing its Kentucky EV facility to build battery energy storage systems for utilities and data centers, aiming to help power-hungry AI operations. Manufacturing Growth: Technical Equipment Sales Company has joined the YCM Alliance, expanding sales and service for CNC machining solutions across Kentucky and nearby states. Workforce Development: The Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board won a three-year National Dislocated Worker Grant to retrain nearly 300 workers affected by layoffs tied to regional manufacturers. Public Safety in Heat: Kentucky is pushing cooling-center resources and urging residents to hydrate and avoid peak outdoor activity as extreme heat continues. Food Safety: Publix is recalling frozen GreenWise organic IQF blueberries in multiple states, including Kentucky, due to possible E. coli contamination. Local Business Pulse: GasBuddy reports show Kentucky fuel prices easing in the week ending June 27, with notable lows like E85 at $2.89 in Madison County and regular gas at $3.16 in Garrard County.

Nuclear Fuel Supply: The U.S. Department of Energy locked in a $1B+ Centrus HALEU deal, aiming to end reliance on Russian enrichment and speed up next-gen reactor and AI data-center timelines. Power & Grid Resilience: A heat wave is already causing major outages, and Kentucky utilities are responding with conservation and disconnection suspensions as grid stress rises. Kentucky Tourism & Jobs: Gov. Beshear says Kentucky State Parks generated $1.1B in economic impact in 2024, supporting about 8,600 jobs, with 9.3M visitors. Workforce & Training: Kentucky Career Center is running a Paducah job fair July 7 with employers across healthcare, manufacturing, marine, and tech. Local Infrastructure: KYTC traffic updates include a Main Street closure in Murray for the Freedom Fest parade and planned road work statewide. Food Safety: USDA flagged a Kroger/Fred Meyer raw chicken product in nine states for misbranding/undeclared egg allergens, including Kentucky. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports Kentucky regular and diesel prices easing in late June, with county-by-county lows tracked for drivers.

Workforce & Training: Illinois Valley Community College approved purchases of two EVs (a Prius plug-in and a Ford Lightning) plus electrical trainer systems and zSpace robotics stations, funded through statewide workforce grants, to boost hands-on automotive and robotics skills. Education Outcomes: Kentucky ranked 8th in academic growth in math and 5th in reading in the 2026 Education Scorecard, with Marion County highlighted as a “District on the Rise.” Agriculture Careers: Hopkins County’s Ben Prevette was named 2026 Kentucky Agriculture Educator of the Year for expanding hands-on ag learning and securing classroom grants. Energy & Grid Pressure: A heat wave is straining U.S. power demand, while Kentucky sits in the PJM footprint where grid alerts include load management for data centers. Public Safety (Boating): Kentucky Fish and Wildlife urged safe summer boating during National Safe Boating Week, emphasizing life jackets, engine cut-off switches, and avoiding alcohol. Consumer Watch: WalletHub data puts Kentucky at 42nd for consumer debt burden, with credit card balances rising in late 2025. Local Economy/Infrastructure: Kentucky’s transportation cabinet announced road work for July 5–11, and the state continues bridge-grant awards for counties. Air Quality: An Air Quality Alert covered parts of the Tri-State over the Fourth of July weekend due to elevated PM2.5 and ozone, with fireworks cited as a factor.

Medical Cannabis Rules: Kentucky’s July 1 change ends out-of-state purchasing protections for cardholders, tightening access to in-state products as the regulated market ramps up. Energy & Utilities: With extreme heat stressing grids and equipment, Kentucky Utilities suspended disconnections, while lawmakers debate LIHEAP funding and a proposed Trump budget could cut cooling help for Kentuckians. Infrastructure & Construction: KYTC is rolling out multiple road work plans, including intersection changes in Muhlenberg County and ongoing bridge repairs funded through Team Kentucky, with Daviess and Calloway counties each receiving major bridge grants. Local Safety & Services: Calloway County Sheriff’s Office lists planned traffic safety checkpoints, and West Kentucky Allied Services teamed with Atmos Energy for natural gas utility assistance to restore service for customers facing disconnects. Workforce & Education: Simpson County Schools earned national recognition across all campuses, and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet updates show continued maintenance and construction impacts for the July 5–11 week. Business & Growth: A new $5M Purple Toad Winery & Distillery location opens in Bowling Green, adding a hospitality venue for weddings and events. Agriculture & Rural Tech: Kentucky’s agriculture education gets a boost as an FFA advisor wins the Golden Owl Award, while the state’s broader farm economy faces ongoing uncertainty. Public Safety in Heat: Horse racing at Ellis Park was postponed due to heat-index rules aimed at protecting horses.

Transportation & Bridges: KYTC is posting fresh traffic impacts for July 2-10, including I-165 bridge work in Butler County with a new traffic pattern and 55 mph limit, plus KY 90 corridor improvements in Barren County and resurfacing lane closures on KY 2068 in Logan County. Local Infrastructure Funding: Gov. Beshear announced $5.5M for bridge repairs/replacements across eight counties and two cities, including a Grant County Fords Mills Road bridge replacement. Energy & Data Centers: A heat dome is pushing the grid to emergency levels; federal orders authorize PJM to require data centers and other large users to switch to backup power if needed. State Parks Tourism: Kentucky State Parks generated $1.1B in economic impact in 2024, supporting 8,600 jobs, with 9.3M visitors. Manufacturing & Packaging: Ineos Styrolution, International Paper, and Smurfit Westrock are among firms planning shutdowns, including a Richwood, KY facility closure. Food Safety: FDA classified a Zapp’s/Dirty potato chip recall as Class I for salmonella risk, and separate recalls hit fresh-cut melons and peaches sold in Kentucky. Politics & Governance: After a Kentucky Supreme Court ruling, the Kentucky State Fair Board removed Kentucky Venues CEO David Beck and named Mike Berry interim CEO. Workforce & Training: Kentucky State University won a $2M ARC POWER grant to build a restoration workforce center in Eastern Kentucky.

Energy Assistance: West Kentucky Allied Services teamed with Atmos Energy for a natural gas bill help event in Paducah, offering first-come help for customers facing disconnections or notices. Workforce & Training: Elizabethtown Community and Technical College is launching an advanced manufacturing program, AIRT, built around automation, industrial robotics, mechatronics, and instrumentation—aimed at employer-driven skills. Manufacturing Growth: Endries International is expanding in Kentucky via its acquisition of Blue Chip Engineered Products, a custom fasteners and components provider in Erlanger. Infrastructure & Shipping: Rep. James Comer announced a $24M BUILD grant to extend Paducah’s Riverport West project, boosting shipment capacity for manufactured goods and agriculture. Transportation: I-64 East paving starts next week with overnight alternating lane closures in Franklin County through July 21. Agriculture Economy: Lawmakers heard interim updates on Kentucky agriculture—steady cash receipts but pressure from costs, weak grain prices, and liquidity concerns. Utilities & Affordability: Kentucky ranked 25th for electricity costs, with projected increases into 2026.

EV Charging Expansion: Kempower and PowerUp America opened a new high-performance EV charging site in Manchester, KY, with four Flex Satellites offering both NACS and CCS1 plugs and up to 800 kW. Appalachian Workforce & Industry: SOAR is bringing back TenTalks for its 2026 summit in Corbin (Oct. 7–9), with short, practical talks aimed at issues like industrial recruitment, workforce training, broadband, tourism, and entrepreneurship. Urban Agriculture Training: Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension launched a free urban horticulture program—workshops and hands-on training on production and market risk management for small-scale and home growers. Heat & Livestock: Kentucky producers are being warned that summer heat stress can cut feed intake and weight gains in beef cattle; guidance includes shade, clean water, cooler feeding times, and avoiding handling during peak heat. Healthcare Operations: Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center earned CIHQ disease-specific certification in joint replacement and spine surgery. Grocery Deal: Kroger agreed to buy Giant Eagle in a $1.65B deal, expanding its footprint across Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic markets. Solar Trade Scrutiny: Waaree responded after U.S. Customs and Border Protection flagged potential AD/CVD duty evasion tied to certain solar imports, saying CBP’s determination is limited and not final. Construction & Community Investment: House Bill 900 directs $10M to build a new Lebanon elementary school in Marion County. Agriculture Research Event: UK will host a Fragipan Field Day (July 29) to show how annual ryegrass cover crops can help break down Kentucky’s restrictive fragipan soils.

College & Workforce: UK opened its $60M Martin-Gatton Agricultural Sciences Building, adding classrooms and student support for ag, biotech, natural resources and companion animal programs. Sports & Talent Pipeline: WKU won its first-ever national concrete canoe championship, with an Owensboro native co-captaining the winning team. Energy Costs & Utility Policy: Consumer and clean-energy groups urged the Kentucky Public Service Commission to study what’s driving rising utility bills, including impacts from data centers and fossil fuels. Rural Business Support: REAP continues to back rural upgrades and renewable projects, with Amteck celebrating a large REAP graduation class. Infrastructure & Water: Liberty (Casey County) secured $12.5M to double wastewater treatment capacity, while Liberty also advanced a plan to pump water from the Green River to stabilize drought-strained Lake Liberty. Transportation: I-65 bridge work in Louisville is progressing, with a two-mile southbound section reopening ahead of schedule. Economic Development Sites: Liberty-Casey EDA is exploring repurposing land once planned for an airport to attract new employers and create about 150 jobs. Data Centers & Local Control: U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie says Kentucky communities should protect residents but avoid a blanket data-center moratorium that could hurt AI competitiveness.

Energy & Jobs: East Kentucky Power Cooperative broke ground on Liberty Station, a 214-megawatt natural gas plant in Casey County, aiming to start up in late 2028 and hire 23 full-time workers. Transportation & Construction: KYTC says work at the Slate Branch/Ky. 914 intersection is still on track for a July 31 completion, even with rain delays pushing past July 4. Rural Agriculture Tech: USDA’s Farm Service Agency is rolling out an acreage reporting modernization pilot to move producers off paper maps and cut paperwork, with July 15 a key deadline for many crops. Workforce Development: The Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board won a three-year National Dislocated Worker Grant to retrain nearly 300 laid-off workers, including from BlueOval SK Battery Park and Akebono. Local Business & Retail: Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee, a Northern Kentucky mobile franchise, landed on Entrepreneur’s 2026 list of New and Emerging Franchises, with plans to top 400 trucks nationwide this year. Community & Culture: Paducah installed the sixth Quilt City USA Murals piece—“Nautical Stars”—marking America250 on the Floodwall. Policy Watch: The Trump administration sued Kentucky and other states seeking SNAP eligibility and benefit records, arguing it could reveal billions tied to overpayments and fraud.

Renewables & Manufacturing: Waaree Solar Americas says it won a 236.22 MW utility-scale solar module supply contract for a Flemingsburg, Kentucky project, with modules made in its Brookshire, Texas facility—another sign of growing demand for domestically built solar gear. Food Safety: USDA FSIS issued a public health alert for Private Selection Honey Dijon Boneless and Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat sold at Kroger and Fred Meyer in multiple states, including Kentucky, due to an undeclared egg allergen tied to mislabeling; consumers are told to discard or return affected lots. Public Health & Work: UK experts on “Behind the Blue” share a summer travel and family safety survival guide, including vaccine planning and practical steps for ticks, sun, and injuries. Legal & Social Services: The DOJ sued Kentucky and three other states to force release of SNAP applicant data, arguing it’s needed to detect fraud and waste—setting up a major fight over state control of sensitive records. Infrastructure & Industry: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet work continues on the I-65 Central Corridor Project in Louisville, with a southbound stretch reopening ahead of schedule.

Data Centers & Local Control: A developer is challenging Cave City’s 12-month data center moratorium in court, seeking to lift the ban over a proposed gigawatt-scale campus tied to plans for 380 acres in Barren County. Manufacturing & Jobs: International Paper says it will close or convert four U.S. facilities, including ceasing preprint operations at a Richwood, Kentucky site, affecting 20 workers there. Food Safety: USDA issued a public health alert for mislabeled raw chicken breast products shipped to Kroger and Fred Meyer stores, including in Kentucky, warning consumers to throw away or return the affected Private Selection Honey Dijon chicken. Energy & Consumer Tech: Duke Energy is rolling out an AI “Bill Insights” tool in its app to explain what’s driving summer power costs. Flood Risk & Resilience: Neptune Insurance doubled flood policy limits on many products, raising caps up to $15 million, as Kentucky continues to deal with deadly flooding. Transportation & Construction: Brent Spence Corridor work is triggering a series of ramp closures and detours affecting Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati-area traffic. Workforce & Industry Growth: 502 Film is taking applications for its 10-day Front Porch Film Lab in Louisville to help Kentucky filmmakers build short-form projects and careers. Governance: Kentucky Supreme Court backed Gov. Beshear against GOP lawmakers’ efforts to shift executive powers.

Severe Flood Response: Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky flooding has killed four people, with up to 8 inches of rain in some areas, more than 63 rescues/evacuations, and 18 local emergency declarations; he’s moving to request federal public and individual assistance and signed an order for emergency pharmacy refills. Public Safety & Infrastructure: KYTC reports two lanes of I-65 South in Louisville reopened ahead of schedule (University Blvd to I-264), plus several ramps, as crews continue work on the remaining closure. Search & Recovery: The search for missing 19-year-old Marly Kinney ended with her body recovered near Grayson Lake; authorities say the case remains under investigation, while a boat captain arrested on a BUI charge is being handled separately. Emergency Preparedness: Ham radio operators demonstrated emergency communications at Murray State University’s Amateur Radio Club Field Day event, emphasizing decentralized backup when other systems fail. Industrial/Workplace Conditions: A report highlights a federal repair backlog—leaks, broken elevators, and other hazards—driven by slow approvals and maintenance funding bottlenecks.

Severe Weather & Public Safety: Gov. Andy Beshear declared a statewide emergency after flash flooding killed four people in Kentucky, with up to 8 inches of rain reported in some areas; officials say dozens of rescues and evacuations are underway, local governments across multiple counties activated emergency measures, and an order allows emergency pharmacy refills while price-gouging complaints route to the attorney general. Manufacturing & Packaging: International Paper says it will close its Aurora, Illinois sheet plant, wind down converting in Elk Grove, California and Barrington, New Jersey, and end preprint work in Richwood, Kentucky—targeting completion by the end of Q3 2026 as it streamlines its North America packaging footprint. Food Industry Compliance: USDA issued a public health alert for Private Selection raw chicken breasts in Kentucky and other states due to an undeclared egg allergen, urging consumers to check “best if used by” June 28, 2026 products. Energy & Industrial Tech: Space Tango announced a $7.4 million Lexington HQ expansion tied to 25 new high-wage jobs, adding to Kentucky’s momentum in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Infrastructure & Transportation: KYTC updates point to ongoing I-65 lane reopening progress and other roadwork changes as crews respond to damage and keep traffic moving.