AGP Executive Report

Big Tech & Youth Safety: Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1B (Kentucky included) to settle a landmark child-safety lawsuit, ending a federal trial and forcing major changes to Facebook and Instagram for teens—default two-hour daily limits, overnight blocks, reduced notifications during school, and limits on addictive features like extended scrolling. Defense Energy: The U.S. Army awarded up to $2.2B to five firms to build and operate nuclear microreactors at military bases, including BWXT Advanced Technologies at Fort Campbell (KY), aiming for a first reactor by Sept. 2028. Local Governance & Transparency: In McCracken County, officials removed public comment from planning meetings tied to the DOE Paducah Site AI data center, prompting debate over transparency and how residents can weigh in. Utilities & Compliance: The FCC cleared four Kentucky radio stations for sale via a consent decree, requiring a multi-year compliance plan after licensing and operating violations. Transportation Planning: KYTC outlined a multi-year roundabout rollout on U.S. 68 near I-24 in Western Kentucky, with construction phasing designed to keep business access. Public Health & Care Access: UofL received $11.6M to expand nutrition and metabolic health research, targeting chronic disease burdens in Kentucky.

Meta Settlement for Kentucky Teens: Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman says the state will receive $358 million from Meta’s proposed $17.1B multistate deal over claims Facebook and Instagram were designed to addict children, with court approval still pending; Meta also agreed to major child-safety changes like daily time limits and nighttime blocks. Nuclear Power Push at Kentucky’s Fort Campbell: The U.S. Army’s Janus program selected BWXT Advanced Technologies for Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as part of a $2.2B effort to build more than 20 on-base nuclear microreactors for resilient power. Utility Affordability Scrutiny: Kentucky’s Public Service Commission opened a case into whether electric and natural gas service is affordable for residents, citing higher average electricity prices from 2020 to 2025 and setting up a technical conference in 2027. Workforce-to-Job Pipeline: Goodwill Kentucky’s Construction and Skilled Trades Pathway graduates moved from training into employer interviews, earning OSHA-10 or Procore credentials. Local Business Spotlight: Mr. Handyman of Northern Kentucky and West Cincinnati marked five years in Florence with a strong review record and continued demand for home repair services.

Teen Social Media Trial: Meta and state attorneys general, including Kentucky, are reportedly discussing a mid-trial settlement in the case accusing Facebook/Instagram of being designed to hook teens, with potential penalties cited up to $200B and Meta estimating exposure as high as $1.4T. UofL Health Traffic Disruptions: Louisville’s I-65 bridge work is causing major gridlock near UofL Health, with planned Broadway under-I-65 closures delayed, adding pressure on hospital access and parking. Kentucky Agriculture—Beef Imports: Kentucky cattle groups are reacting sharply to Trump’s plan to allow large discounted beef imports, warning it could hit cattle prices “immediately” and slow herd rebuilding. Retail/Consumer Costs: Malls are rolling out paid “preferred” parking, including at Mall St. Matthews in Louisville, and shoppers aren’t happy about the new fees. Energy/Data Centers: TVA’s new data-center rate structure is expected to shift infrastructure costs to data centers rather than residential customers, a key issue for Kentucky utilities and planning. Local Infrastructure: Liberty City approved a CDBG grant to replace residential water meters and add an SRO position, aiming to improve leak detection and billing accuracy.

USDA Water Infrastructure: USDA Rural Development Kentucky State Director Travis Burton announced a $2.437M Water and Waste Disposal loan for Harrison County Water Association to replace an asbestos-cement main on US 27, extend KY 353 lines, and create a loop connecting 15 homes to eliminate stagnant water. Local Governance & Roads: The Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber’s annual city/county update highlighted city staffing raises and multiple Local Assistance Road Program paving projects, plus ongoing coordination with the state at key intersections. Social Media Regulation in Court: Kentucky is among states suing Meta over claims Instagram was built to addict kids and mishandle minors’ data; Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified about teen “Take a Break” uptake and default changes. Energy & Fuel Costs: GasBuddy data showed spotty lowest prices across Kentucky counties, with Union County midgrade hitting $4.09 and Woodford County E85 as low as $2.97. Agriculture & Training: Kentucky State University set a Aug. 26 forestry and agroforestry training in Lovely, and an FFA team from Madisonville-North Hopkins won state gold and heads to nationals. Construction Impacts: Lexington’s New Circle Road widening will bring overnight lane closures Aug. 26 for bridge approach work.

Data Centers & Local Power: Kentucky’s utility regulator approved a power agreement for TeraWulf’s 482 MW data campus in Hancock County, with the deal pegged at about a $4.5B investment—another sign hyperscale projects are moving from talk to build. Affordable Housing: Georgetown and Scott County officials heard a proposal for a $17M, 60-unit workforce housing project from Woda Cooper, seeking Kentucky Housing Corporation tax credits ahead of a Sept. 11 deadline. Ag & Youth Funding: Kentucky drivers pushed Ag Tag donations to $941,630 for 2026, topping $2.8M since 2024 and splitting funds between 4-H, FFA, and the state agriculture department. Legal Watch: Kentucky’s high court ruled on employer attorney fees and subrogation recovery in a workers’ comp dispute, and a lawsuit challenging the state’s tax on period products can proceed. Public Safety & Industry: Valvoline will move its global headquarters from Lexington to Cincinnati in 2027, keeping 400 Lexington jobs and adding about 120 new roles in Ohio. Food Safety: A multistate Salmonella Javiana investigation tied to imported jalapeños has reached 431 illnesses across many states, including Kentucky.

Data Center Policy Clash: Shelbyville approved a temporary moratorium on new data center applications, pausing zoning, permits, utilities and other approvals while a planning commission reviews infrastructure, water/electric impacts, and emergency services. Local Legal Fight: Kentucky Industrial Alliance’s lawsuits against Cave City are set to move forward together after a judge agreed to consolidate challenges tied to a data center moratorium. Energy & Ratepayer Focus: A coalition discussion on “data center opportunity” emphasized Kentucky’s dependable generation and urged careful planning to protect ratepayers as demand grows. Healthcare + Food Access: Louisville-area “Food Is Medicine” prescription pantries are connecting thousands of patients to groceries, reporting measurable improvements in food and nutrition security. Agriculture + Safety: Kentucky State Fair’s commodity breakfast honored Dale Dobson for farm safety work that helped cut fatalities, while corn conditions slipped in USDA reporting. Trade Pressure on Kentucky Cattle: Kentucky Farm Bureau pushed back on a Trump plan to lower beef prices via tariff-free imports, warning of long-term harm to producers and prices. Public Safety: South-Central Kentucky Drug Task Force seized 44 pounds of crystal meth in a controlled delivery, arresting two people. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker shows Louisa and other Kentucky cities logged scam reports in July, with online purchase schemes leading losses.

Northern Kentucky Manufacturing: ADM is pouring $16M into its Boone County, KY “Colours from Nature” natural colors site, adding 14,000 sq. ft. and boosting liquid and dry-blended capacity, with early-2027 completion. Higher Ed & Immigration: A new DHS visa rule ends “duration of status,” limiting F-1 students to fixed terms (up to four years), a change that could disrupt Kentucky universities’ ability to staff science and engineering labs. Road Building Slowdown: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet summer road-project listings fell to 16 bids this year versus 161 in summer 2025, as the agency prioritizes paying for existing work before new contracts. Data Center Tensions: Neighbors in Carroll County, KY pressed for transparency over a proposed hyperscale data campus, questioning job and tax claims and asking how energy and water needs will be handled. Public Safety Funding: Daviess County advanced nearly $9.8M in state money for a multi-use Public Safety Facility, including backup 911 dispatch and emergency operations space. Food & Pet Safety: Fromm recalled wet dog food nationwide for possible metal contamination, and Oma’s Pride also issued a related recall. Fraud Watch: A “ghost jobs” report highlights fake postings that waste applicants’ time, while local scam-tracker updates show ongoing online purchase fraud risks.

College Sports Eligibility: The NCAA won a court fight to pause an extra-year eligibility ruling tied to the 2022-23 freshmen class, ending Denzel Aberdeen’s path to a fifth season after the 10th Circuit stayed the Colorado injunction. Kentucky Cannabis Industry: Lexington’s first medical cannabis cultivator/processor, Holler Cannabis Company, is gearing up to package its first harvest, aiming to expand access to Kentucky-grown products for the state’s regulated medical market. Agriculture & Workforce Training: Russell County’s SEED Academy AgTech center held a ribbon cutting, building local hands-on training plans with partners like Somerset Community College and KCTCS. Local Infrastructure Funding: U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers announced $30M for infrastructure projects across nine counties, including $1.5M for Hazard waterline upgrades and a new storage tank. Food Safety: Fromm recalled wet dog food over potential metal contamination, and Oma’s Pride also issued a recall tied to dog illnesses—owners are urged to check lot codes and stop feeding affected products. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported the lowest regular gas in Warren County at $3.24 (week ending Aug. 15), while premium and diesel prices varied across Kentucky counties.

Homelessness Policy: A billionaire-backed Cicero Institute helped push Indiana’s street-sleeping ban, mirroring a tougher Trump homelessness approach and shifting debate toward arrests and treatment. College Sports & Talent Pipelines: Kentucky landed Mark Mitchell for a fifth season after a court fight, adding another frontcourt piece as the NCAA eligibility landscape stays in flux. Energy Costs & Home Services: Kentucky opened a limited-time LIHEAP Summer cooling help window (applications through Sept. 11, if funds last) for electricity costs, with possible repair/replacement support. Trade & Local Economics: Canada ended U.S. trade talks and is set to retaliate as 50% tariffs hit Canadian imports—Kentucky’s Sixth District race is already framing the impact on Central Kentuckians. Food Safety: Two dog food recalls hit Kentucky-linked distribution—Salmonella in Oma’s Pride and possible metal contamination in Fromm wet canned products. Water Infrastructure: A Williamstown water update says a copper-based treatment is helping control zebra mussels, but cleanup and hauling remain ongoing. Healthcare Leadership: Humana named Shantanu Nundy as chief medical officer, aiming to blend clinical leadership with tech and AI strategy. Agriculture & Innovation: A Kentucky State Fair giant pumpkin set a new record at 1,882.4 pounds, underscoring how ag events keep drawing investment and attention.

Healthcare Leadership: Humana tapped Kentucky-based executive Shantanu Nundy as its new chief medical officer, aiming to blend clinical expertise with tech and AI strategy. Energy & Manufacturing: Anthro Energy broke ground on a $13M Kentucky Transpark facility in Louisville to make advanced polymer electrolytes for safer lithium-ion batteries, targeting late-2027 output tied to up to 25 GWh of cell production. Local Infrastructure: Lawrence County Fiscal Court approved funding to patch three roads, keeping small-project momentum alive amid tighter budgets. Historic Preservation: Danville’s Architectural Heritage Board asked Ephraim McDowell Health for more details before considering demolition and staging-area requests tied to the original hospital campus. Agriculture & Food: A Grayson County grower set a new Kentucky State Fair record with a 1,882.4-pound pumpkin, while a Hancock County farmer won the watermelon category with a 245.7-pound fruit. Public Safety & Consumer Watch: BBB Scam Tracker flagged Kentucky cities including Louisville and Lexington for high scam counts in July, underscoring ongoing fraud risk for residents. Trade & Jobs Pressure: Canada walked away from US trade talks and signaled retaliatory tariffs, a move that could ripple into Kentucky’s bourbon and broader cross-border supply chains.

Bourbon Industry: Sazerac is buying the shuttered Garrard County Distilling facility in Lancaster for $20M and plans to restart production, adding distilling capacity and jobs to its growing Kentucky footprint. Workforce & Training: Lloyd Memorial HS in Erlanger and local partners will pilot a supply chain pre-apprenticeship program starting in October, aiming to route seniors into logistics and manufacturing careers with paid work-based learning. Manufacturing & Jobs: Air Hydro Power broke ground on a $13M motor repair and remanufacturing facility at the Kentucky Transpark, targeting dozens of skilled jobs in Warren County. Food Safety: Publix frozen blueberry recalls expanded after FDA upgraded risk levels tied to E. coli concerns, including products sold in Kentucky. Tech & Data Centers: Kentucky’s utility regulator approved an electricity contract for TeraWulf’s Hancock County data center, while the company says it’s committing to Beshear’s requirements. Child Safety Lawsuit: A landmark US trial over whether Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to hook kids is underway, with Kentucky among the lead states. Local Sports/Community: Lloyd Memorial’s logistics pipeline and the Empress Theatre’s temporary closure after structural damage both highlight how Kentucky communities are investing in people—and managing risks.

Data Centers & Local Impact: A data center developer says it’s committing to Gov. Beshear’s requirements, while Northern Kentucky leaders warn a new state law (HB 542) could delay KYTC and federally funded public projects and balloon costs. Manufacturing & Jobs: Sazerac is expanding in Kentucky, buying the Garrard County Distilling facility for $20M after bankruptcy, adding production capacity and more staff. Energy/Environment: TeraWulf filed an “energy plan” tied to Beshear’s data center executive order for its Hancock County project at an idled aluminum smelter. Public Works & Transportation: KYTC released road-impact updates through Aug. 28, including lane closures and bridge work. Agriculture & Food: Kentucky State Fair agriculture programming highlights hands-on research and outreach, and a statewide ag funding update notes over $2.5M approved for agricultural projects. Health & Safety: Black lung advocates push for action after new reporting shows the highest rates since the 1970s. Community & Workforce: Kentucky Career Center job fairs are set for Aug. 25 in Paducah, with multiple employers hiring. Local Culture: Empty Bowls returns to Paducah this weekend to fight hunger with community-made art. Sports Betting/College Football: DraftKings says transfer portal and NIL make roster pricing harder, pushing bettors toward a wait-and-see approach.

Food Safety: Publix GreenWise frozen blueberry recall has been upgraded to the FDA’s highest-risk Class I after an E. coli outbreak linked to 12 illnesses and four hospitalizations, with investigations still pointing to frozen berries as a leading food of interest. Data Centers & Local Economy: Hancock County’s idled Century Aluminum site is back in the spotlight as TeraWulf tells Kentucky regulators it will follow Gov. Beshear’s data center requirements on taxes, environmental rules, and community ties while pursuing a 482-megawatt hyperscale project. Tech & Kids Online: A landmark federal trial in Oakland has opened with 29 states suing Meta over claims Facebook and Instagram were designed to hook children and mishandle personal data, with Kentucky among the coalition. Public Works & Growth: Cities are turning to AI to speed housing permitting by catching incomplete applications earlier, supported by new federal funding for automated code permitting systems. Kentucky Agriculture & Turf: UK researchers are studying the annual bluegrass weevil to protect Kentucky golf course turf, focusing on seasonal activity so managers can time control efforts. Education Funding: Graves County and Logan County school boards set upcoming tax rates, with both districts weighing inflation, operations, and community trust as they plan for the next fiscal year.

Medicaid Funding Reversal: Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky will use a $255M budget surplus to stop a planned 4% cut to Medicaid reimbursement rates, plus fund senior meals and Michelle P. Waiver slots—after providers warned the Aug. 1 reductions would hit care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Data Center Policy: Beshear’s executive order adds new statewide expectations for data center developers, requiring clearer accounting for utility, environmental, tax, and community impacts before permits—fueling an ongoing debate over jobs versus local burdens. Agriculture Research Dollars: USDA reappropriated $37M to fully fund a Nebraska precision ag facility, with Kentucky also set to receive $26.7M for a new lab at the Agricultural Research Service Forage-Animal Production Research Unit in Lexington. Hemp Product Ban Fight: A federal law set to take effect Nov. 12 would reclassify many legal hemp products as Schedule I, and Kentucky’s lawmakers are pushing competing fixes—Rand Paul backs state control, while Rep. Andy Barr wants a federal regulatory framework. Kentucky State Fair Safety & Food: The fair opened with the annual Commodity Breakfast, but an investigation is underway after a horse was electrocuted in a temporary barn; meanwhile, FDA upgraded Publix frozen blueberry recall risk levels to the highest category over E. coli concerns. Tech & Youth Safety Trial: Kentucky is named in a landmark federal case accusing Meta of designing Instagram and Facebook to addict children, with states seeking major penalties and product changes. Public Safety on I-471: Newport plans speed humps, lane separation, and new signage after crash history near the I-471 Exit 5 ramp raised concerns about speeding and pedestrian safety. Live Events Hiring: K-LOVE hired venue executive Brian Sipe as vice president of live events, tapping Lexington-area arena leadership experience to expand Christian live programming.

Medicaid Relief in Frankfort: Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky will use a $255 million budget surplus to stop a planned 4% cut to Medicaid reimbursement rates, and to fund senior meals plus Michelle P. Waiver slots after hundreds of residents packed the Capitol to protest the Aug. 1 changes. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded a Publix GreenWise frozen blueberry recall to its highest risk level, Class I, after E. coli concerns tied to 12 illnesses and four hospitalizations; shoppers are urged to check freezers. Tech & Youth Safety: In a landmark federal trial, former Meta engineer Arturo Béjar testified that Instagram used a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach for kids under 13, prioritizing engagement over safety, as states seek penalties up to $1.4 trillion. Workforce & Education: TVA and Bicentennial Volunteers awarded $700,000 for robotics education across seven states, including 11 Kentucky recipients. Veterans Care Expansion: The VA signed a lease for a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in LaGrange, targeting expanded primary, mental health, and specialty services starting in spring 2028. Recycling & Batteries: Kentucky received a $736,666 EPA grant to improve metals recycling and battery disposal education ahead of stricter battery rules. Local Business/Community: Farmers RECC and other Touchstone Energy co-ops collected more than $19,000 for Ronald McDonald Houses in Lexington and Louisville. State Fair Spotlight: The Kentucky State Fair opens Aug. 20–30 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, with a 250th-birthday exhibit and the World Championship Horse Show.

Medicaid Funding: 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 were warned of an Aug. 1 reduction. Opioid Settlement Rollout: Barren County Fiscal Court is holding and planning distribution of federal opioid settlement funds via the state’s abatement commission, with applications opening in September and awards in November. Advanced Manufacturing: Anthro Energy broke ground on a $40M Louisville electrolyte manufacturing facility expected to create 110 jobs plus hundreds of construction roles. Food Safety: Publix expanded a GreenWise frozen berry recall after the FDA upgraded E. coli risk to its highest level, with affected products pulled and tied to hospitalizations. Tech & Health Policy: Trump picked Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the FDA, setting up Senate confirmation amid unfinished public-health priorities. Digital Safety Lawsuit: A whistleblower testified that Meta culture pushed growth over child safety as Kentucky joins a multistate trial seeking major changes and damages. Local Industry & Community: Morgan Smith Industries won national small-business recognition tied to state capitol woodwork work, while the Kentucky State Fair opens with major facility upgrades and new attractions.