Piper Hansen
@piperjhansen.bsky.social
đ€ 343
đ„ 263
đ 131
Kentuckian. Reporter
@kentucky.com
. Beep me:
[email protected]
. she/her
hey y'all, i'll be in frankfort this session aiding in coverage
@kentucky.com
of
#kyga26
, budget talks and daily goings on at the capitol. i'm eager to take on the task. send tips, advice, say hi, add me to your press list:
[email protected]
1 day ago
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Piper Hansen
Austin Horn
2 days ago
In November, I submitted an open records request for Gov. Andy Beshear's past schedule. Today, the H-L sued over their denial (citing an old appellate ruling classifying gov schedule as "preliminary") of that request. Read the full lawsuit & story here.
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
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Herald-Leader sues Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his schedule
The lawsuit also seeks the calendars of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Beshearâs senior adviser Rocky Adkins.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article314119173.html
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Piper Hansen
Tessa Duvall
2 days ago
We're suing Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his calendar.
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Herald-Leader sues Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his schedule
The lawsuit also seeks the calendars of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Beshearâs senior adviser Rocky Adkins.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article314119173.html
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The joint ventureâs end means BlueOval SK will cease operations at the Hardin County plant and all employees will be terminated on or shortly after Feb. 14.
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Mass layoffs of more than 1,500 workers at BlueOval SK to start February 2026
The joint ventureâs end means BlueOval SK will cease operations at the Hardin County plant and all employees will be terminated.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article313893876.html#storylink=cpy
16 days ago
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attempted to summarize whatâs happened to/at/with blueoval in the past week. hope itâs helpful:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Whatâs next for KY Ford plants, employees after end of BlueOval partnership?
Mass layoffs are anticipated at Kentuckyâs BlueOval SK plant as Ford Motor Co. takes over and repurposes the EV battery facility.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article313745343.html
21 days ago
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major job loss incoming at blueoval sk in kentucky as ford announces a pivot to ... using the facilities in glendale for battery energy storage systems instead of ev batteries. 'tis developing, i may have more soon but for now, new from moi:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Ford to lay off 1,600 as it repurposes BlueOval SK for energy storage in KY
Ford Motor Co. is planning to repurpose its battery manufacturing capacity and facilities in Kentucky.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article313723819.html
23 days ago
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Piper Hansen
Tessa Duvall
27 days ago
The South Korean battery maker SK On that had partnered with Ford Motor Co. for U.S. production of parts for electric vehicles, including in Kentucky, is ending the joint venture. New from
@piperjhansen.bsky.social
:
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Companies behind BlueOval SK end joint venture to make EV batteries in KY
South Korean battery maker SK On said it will end its joint venture with Ford Motor Co. for United States-based battery production.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article313615213.html#storylink=cpy
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South Korea-based SK On and Ford Motor Co. said Dec. 11 the businesses will break apart their agreement to collaborate and will instead run their BlueOval SK battery plants separately.
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Companies behind BlueOval SK end joint venture to make EV batteries in KY
South Korean battery maker SK On said it will end its joint venture with Ford Motor Co. for United States-based battery production.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article313615213.html#storylink=cpy
27 days ago
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Ryan Van Velzer
27 days ago
We've got a new audience editor at The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. Andrew Henderson, formerly of McClatchy, will lead audience strategy, ensuring our reporting is not only excellent but also accessible, engaging and trusted.
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5 questions with Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroomâs new audience editor
The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroomâs latest hire will lead audience strategy, ensuring our reporting is not only excellent but also accessible, engaging and trusted.
https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-12-11/5-questions-with-appalachia-mid-south-newsrooms-new-audience-editor
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The investment is part of a larger $912 million announcement across five of the automakerâs American manufacturing plants that will add a total 252 jobs in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri and Mississippi, to increase hybrid vehicle capacity.
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Toyota adds $200M, 80+ local jobs to its largest global plant in KY
As part of a long-term investment in manufacturing hybrid cars, Toyota is putting more than $204 million and 82 new jobs in Kentucky.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article312962788.html#storylink=cpy
about 2 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Adrian Paul Bryant
about 2 months ago
I'm happy to share that I've joined
@kentucky.com
as their new Lexington Government Reporter! It's a big change, but familiar territory - I am way too committed to this beat to go too far. If you have any news tips, story ideas, or just want to chat, please reach out at
[email protected]
.
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The tenured full professor in UKâs J. David Rosenberg College of Law, told the Herald-Leader Friday this instance of his speech comes from research conclusions about Israel and colonization.
www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
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UK professor sues school for violating free speech rights over Israel comments
A University of Kentucky professor is suing the school after it reassigned him in July following comments he made related to Israel.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article312915574.html#storylink=cpy
about 2 months ago
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âI think we did hit the triggers in Kentucky, and even if we didnât â but we did â we should, we need to reduce the taxes anyway.â
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
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âCollision course to zero.â GOP starts early back-and-forth on income tax cut
Reducing individual income tax to 0% in Kentucky has been a priority for the stateâs Chamber of Commerce and the GOP-led legislature.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article312875758.html#storylink=cpy
about 2 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Tessa Duvall
2 months ago
Everyone will be shocked to know Grok is spreading misinformation.
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UPS plane crash: No, Grok, Gov. Andy Beshearâs photo isnât from 2021 tornadoes
The AI-powered chatbot amplified an inaccurate claim that a recent photo post by the Kentucky governor was from a previous disaster.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article312807350.html
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kentucky's largest power company can move forward with a plan to spend $3 billion on two gas plants for future data centers, the state's regulators said in a more than 200-page order i read so you don't have to
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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LG&E and KU can build power plants for KY data centers, regulatory board says
The pair of power plants will support an influx of high-energy demand customers, namely data centers for artificial intelligence.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article312676579.html
2 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Tessa Duvall
3 months ago
Journalists of Bluesky: The Lexington Herald-Leader is looking for a new Kentucky government and politics reporter to join our team. This person will be our lead reporter on all things General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear. Interested? Drop me a line. Listing:
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https://mcclatchy.rec.pro.ukg.net/MCC1008MCLTC/JobBoard/ff11d963-22db-4278-a2b7-709f3b882262/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=078ded65-a116-41b8-83ce-0361e42419d4
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Piper Hansen
Sylvia Goodman
3 months ago
Latest from me: The Jefferson County Republican party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisvilleâs South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epithets.
www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
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GOP candidate for Kentucky Senate defends, then deletes ârantâ against millennial âskanksâ
The Jefferson County Republican Party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisvilleâs South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epith...
https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-10-24/gop-candidate-for-kentucky-senate-defends-then-deletes-rant-against-millennial-skanks
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âIn a current world economy when people donât know what the trade policy of the US is going to look like tomorrow ..., (itâs important to) be a governor that can sit across the table from an international CEO and say, âWe will make sure that you are successful.'"
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
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Beshear calls economic development trip to Europe âone of the most effectiveâ
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and his administration met with business leaders and trade officials in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article312600004.html#storylink=cpy
3 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Tessa Duvall
3 months ago
One of Kentuckyâs largest for-profit residential addiction care treatment providers, which has been the subject of an FBI investigation for more than a year, is being sold, administrators confirmed Wednesday. New from
@aacquisto.bsky.social
&
@taylorsixhl.bsky.social
:
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Embattled Kentucky addiction treatment provider to be sold to Ethema Health
ARC and Ethema Health signed an initial intent to sell on Wednesday. It is unclear how much Ethema paid.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article312603298.html#storylink=cpy
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Piper Hansen
The Rev. Col. Kirsten
3 months ago
I just parallel parked SO WELL a stranger unrolled his window to holler his admiration Thatâs that DuPont Manual education for you, baby.
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my latest is a 700 word story about how kentucky and peanut butter and jelly are the center of the universe and a recent legal dispute over crimped edges and product packaging
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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PB&J maker with KY facility sues popular grocery chain over sandwich dupe
The parent company of Lexingtonâs peanut butter factory is suing Trader Joeâs for violating trademark on a product made in Kentucky.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article312542112.html
3 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Bluegrass Politics
3 months ago
The Lexington Herald-Leader has been chosen for a competitive partnership with an award-winning national publication.
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Herald-Leader chosen by ProPublica for Local Reporting Network partnership
Reporter Alex Acquisto will spend the next year on a statewide investigative project that will have wide ramifications for Kentuckians.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article312306022.html
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girl formerly afraid of space writes again about local company designing very cool science experiments to study the very thing she used to be scared of. incredibly cool stuff, hope you think so, too:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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What happens to our bodies in space? A KY-based experiment wants to know
Automated systems made by a Lexington-based company are collecting data from miles above earthâs surface.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article312229264.html
3 months ago
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half a billion dollars' worth of thoroughbred horses were sold at keeneland's recent auction. i delved into why that matters, how it happened and what's likely to come next
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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New record set at Keenelandâs two-week auction of young thoroughbreds
In a two-week-long auction at Lexingtonâs Keeneland September Yearling Sale, more than 3,000 horses sold, totaling more than $530 million.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article312257064.html
3 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Joe Sonka đ
3 months ago
Reminder for who needs reminding: Government officials only answering one question from you, once a week, in person, is not transparency.
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it was an 11-vote margin, and some ballots are being challenged but the uaw is claiming victory in kentucky's growing electric vehicle battery industry. the labor union says it was a hard fought win to represent workers at blueoval. more/to be updated:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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UAW claims BlueOval battery plant victory. Some ballots are being challenged
One of the countryâs largest labor unions is claiming a narrow victory in Kentuckyâs growing electric vehicle battery industry.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article311883057.html
4 months ago
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School district officials would not say Wednesday afternoon why they were waiting a day to share the fund balance with the public. Liggins told the Herald-Leader in an interview earlier this month that he needed to be a better communicator. Read more at:
www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
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FCPS delaying release of updated figures that show extent of budget problems
The beleaguered districtâs superintendent and his finance team did not immediately release updated budget figures Wednesday.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article311869417.html#storylink=cpy
4 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Bluegrass Politics
5 months ago
KY Politics Insider: Rand Paul for president in 2028? Kentucky's GOP Senate candidates hit Fox News & more
www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311763601.html#storylink=cpy
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KY Politics Insider: Rand Paul 2028? GOP Senate candidates hit Fox News & more
Sen. Rand Paul: âIâm definitely going to run for reelection. The presidential thing? We havenât decided.â
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311763601.html#storylink=cpy
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some interesting bits and bobs from andys beshear and barr toward the end of my latest about electric vehicle battery production starting at blueoval yesterday in glendale:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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One of Kentuckyâs largest electric vehicle battery plants begins production
Commercial production of electric vehicle batteries is underway at the BlueOval SK plant in Kentuckyâs Hardin County.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article311759608.html
5 months ago
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in the past week, three global companies have made high dollar investments, btwn ~$500m and ~$3b, to reshore some of their manufacturing operations in kentucky. the latest is ge appliances which is moving some of its washing machine production lines to louisville
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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GE Appliancesâ $3B manufacturing investment includes KY. Hereâs where, how much
The appliance maker is investing in US manufacturing across five states, creating 1,000 jobs by 2030, company officials said Wednesday.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article311687588.html
5 months ago
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ford, the automaker that employs about 12,000 people in kentucky, released its electric vehicle strategy today. the ceo called it a model t moment and a huge bet on itself. made a final round of updates on this, nowâs a good time to read:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Ford puts $2B into Louisville Assembly Plant for new, midsize, electric truck
The automaker said Monday it was investing $5 billion total in its new electric vehicle platform, assembly process and new midsize truck.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article311657770.html
5 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Aura Bogado
5 months ago
Local reporting uncovered Amazon was behind the water-guzzling data center slated for the desert. Residents fought against the data center. Today, the city council unanimously voted against Project Blue. If you care about local journalism that drives impact, consider donating to
@azluminaria.org
!
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recent announcements from the feds and private investors along with local support in paducah send a strong signal to data center companies and utility providers the western kentucky city is keen to welcome nuclear again
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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âAtomic city of the futureâ: Uranium enrichment facility signs lease in Paducah
Once complete, it will be the first U.S.-owned, privately developed uranium enrichment facility in the country.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article311595946.html
5 months ago
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employees at kentucky's blueoval sk battery plant will vote aug 26 and 27 to join the united auto workers union, according to a thursday labor board announcement. workers there are going to make batteries for ford's electric vehicles. here's how we got here:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Whatever happened to the effort by workers to unionize KYâs EV battery plant?
Workers at the under-construction plant are committed to having a free and fair union vote despite recent stalls in the process.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article310211245.html
5 months ago
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linda gorton is the first mayor in the history of the merged urban county government, which recently celebrated its 50th birthday, to run for a third term
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
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Lexington Mayor Gorton will seek a third term. Why itâs historic
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton won her second term by a landslide in November 2022.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311519041.html#storylink=cpy
5 months ago
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eight months after the state programâs launch, medical marijuana sales still havenât begun in kentucky. lots of really great detail and data here:
www.kentucky.com/news/state/k...
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KYâs medical marijuana program is 8 months old. But patients are still waiting
More than 11,500 Kentuckians are medical cannabis card holders. But they canât purchase products here.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/state/kentucky/article311334050.html#storylink=cpy
5 months ago
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lexington's business leaders and the university of kentucky say fayette county public schools should work to close a $16m deficit without increasing the occupational license tax:
www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
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UK, Keeneland, business leaders urge Fayette Schools: Donât raise taxes
Fayette County Public Schools got a stern message from local business leaders and University of Kentucky officials Wednesday: You cannot tax your way out of a financial crisis.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/education/article311518772.html
5 months ago
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a $150 million shopping center along i64 and us127 in frankfort will have a new-to-market members-only warehouse grocery chain next to a previously announced target. the project is expected to be complete in 2030 with this full roster of stores, restaurants, more:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Whatever happened to Frankfortâs Target, shopping center development?
The under-construction outdoor shopping center west of Lexington in Frankfort is along Interstate 64 and U.S. 127.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article311491083.html
5 months ago
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a ky site has been tapped by the feds as a prime location to carry out the trump admin's plan to build ai infrastructure including the energy sources necessary to power it. more from the dept of energy and local leaders:
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
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Kentucky site picked for Trump administrationâs AI, energy infrastructure plan
The U.S. Department of Energy said four pieces of federal land, including one in Kentucky, could be utilized to lower energy costs and power AI.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311443035.html
6 months ago
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last month i put on a hard hat and walked through what was lexington's festival market. a developer has launched into a top-to-bottom renovation of the three-story downtown attraction. plans for the corner spot include an all-day diner, some retail and offices. more:
www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
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Downtown Lexington makeover: 325 Main to be redeveloped into restaurants, offices
It likely wonât be until next fall when the public can get inside 325 Main again where a developer is renovating the building for restaurants and offices.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/business/article308761460.html
6 months ago
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haven't blueskied (?) in a bit. new stories/posts incoming
6 months ago
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Piper Hansen
Joe Sonka đ
6 months ago
Will TVA be privatized? Trumpâs efforts to control the utility, fire CEO spark speculation
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Will TVA be privatized? Trumpâs efforts to control the utility, fire CEO spark speculation
TVA tensions have culminated in a cancelled gas project, a threat to fire TVAâs new CEO, and speculations that President Donald Trump may privatize â or seize control of â the nationâs oldest and larg...
https://www.wkms.org/energy/2025-07-24/will-tva-be-privatized-trumps-efforts-to-control-the-utility-fire-ceo-spark-speculation
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Piper Hansen
Tessa Duvall
6 months ago
add a skeleton here at some point
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Piper Hansen
Bluegrass Politics
6 months ago
Meet the Lexington Herald-Leaderâs new Kentucky politics and government reporter
www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article310925815.html?tbref=hp
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Meet the Herald-Leaderâs new Kentucky politics and government reporter
Amancai Biraben, a California native, is the newest member of the Bluegrass Politics team. Biraben will cover state government, the General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article310925815.html?tbref=hp
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Piper Hansen
Joe Sonka đ
6 months ago
We at Louisville Public Media just lost $376,000 due to Congress passing the rescission bill last night to claw back funds from public media across America. Today weâre asking those who value our work to help make up those funds in an emergency drive so we can maintain the staff/services we provide:
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Louisville Public Media
Donate now and help Louisville Public Media educate, connect, engage, entertain and inform our community. Support local, independent media. Become a member today with a gift of $15 per month or any am...
https://donate.lpm.org/membership?registrants.appeal=rescissions+progress_meter&utm_source=progress-meter®istrants.referringUrl=/&_gl=1*ghrfri*_gcl_au*OTkyNzYwODU5LjE3NTIyMzU3MzE.*_ga*Mzk4MDE1NjcyLjE3NTIyMzU3MzE.*_ga_9QHZPVVRXH*czE3NTI4MzMzNDIkbzEyJGcxJHQxNzUyODM0NDQ2JGo2MCRsMCRoMA.
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Piper Hansen
Clay Wallace
6 months ago
âWe are taking an even bigger risk, however, in not living fully our humanity, with all of the lessons it has to teach all the other humans around us. This is the greatest loss, our honest humanity, and that loss leads all those others around us to lose that little bit of their humanity as well.â
add a skeleton here at some point
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Piper Hansen
Dave Weigel
6 months ago
My report from the Beshear trail
www.semafor.com/article/07/1...
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Andy Beshear introduces himself to South Carolina as the normal Democrat
The Kentucky governor urged his party to drop âadvocacy languageâ as visits to early presidential primary states begin to pile up even before the midterms.
https://www.semafor.com/article/07/17/2025/andy-beshear-introduces-himself-to-south-carolina-as-the-normal-democrat
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Piper Hansen
Oliver Darcy
6 months ago
Scoop: The Wall Street Journal is working on a story highlighting Donald Trumpâs relationship with Jeffrey Epsteinâbut is said to be facing pressure from the White House, with Trump himself calling Editor-In-Chief Emma Tucker to object. Details in
@status.news
:
www.status.news/p/wall-stree...
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Trump's WSJ Epstein Fury
The Wall Street Journal is said to be working on a story highlighting Donald Trumpâs relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, prompting protest from the White House.
https://www.status.news/p/wall-street-journal-trump-epstein-emma-tucker
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Piper Hansen
Kentucky Public Radio
6 months ago
Former LMPD detective Brett Hankison was convicted of violating Breonna Taylorâs civil rights by firing blindly into her apartment. The U.S. Probation Office recommended a sentence of 11 to 14 years, but the Trump DOJ is now recommending a one-day sentence.
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Trump DOJ recommends one-day sentence for LMPD officer from Breonna Taylor raid
Former Louisville Metro Police Department detective Brett Hankison was convicted of violating Breonna Taylorâs civil rights in a federal trial last year.
https://www.lpm.org/news/2025-07-17/trump-doj-recommends-one-day-sentence-for-lmpd-officer-from-breonna-taylor-raid
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Piper Hansen
Bluegrass Politics
6 months ago
Revenues for Kentuckyâs state government increased by less than 1% during the most recent fiscal year ending June 30.
www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article310725150.html#storylink=cpy
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Kentuckyâs General Fund tops $15B, an increase of less than 1%
Itâs the lowest rate of growth since the state lost revenue in the years following the recession and is a significant drop since recent record-setting years of double-digit growth.
https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article310725150.html#storylink=cpy
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