$1 for a dream? Louisville program selling homes for cheap sparks new life — and debate

Upheaval at the CDC has plunged Kentucky's public health infrastructure into a state of confusion and uncertainty, officials said. Some local departments are beginning to question the credibility of the agency's guidance. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

A slice of Meade County farmland could see Kentucky's next data center proposal, according to the landowner and a rezoning proposal filed in late September. Neighbors told me they're worried about utility rates, infrastructure, and quality of life. Story: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

The Trump administration is reportedly considering cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for Kentucky energy projects. If enacted, the cuts could be a death blow to one of the state's largest ongoing economic development projects. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Comments to the EPA led by KY Attorney General Russell Coleman made a series of false or unsupported claims about the science of climate change, including suggestions that higher carbon dioxide levels would bring "net benefits" for "millions of Americans." www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

This fall, #Kentucky farmers will harvest soybeans, the state's top crop, from an area twice the size of Rhode Island. China, the world's largest soybean buyer, isn't buying. "It's a critical time for Kentucky agriculture right now," one economist said. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

As Louisville's top climate official exits, are the city's energy goals still in reach? www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

The UAW claimed a narrow, contested victory in a union election at the BlueOval SK Battery Park, in what would be a historic outcome for organized labor in KY's budding battery industry. But more than 40 challenged ballots could still swing the result. www.courier-journal.com/story/money/...

Kentucky wildlife officials euthanized more than 20 deer at a Meade County wildlife sanctuary yesterday, pointing to violations of chronic wasting disease rules. What we know so far on a very sad story: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Trump's budget proposal would completely defund the Chemical Safety Board, which still has an open investigation on the Givaudan explosion in #Louisville last year. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Even as the Trump administration pulls federal support for electric vehicles, #Ford is doubling down on its #EV investments in Kentucky. "The training wheels are coming off," says Cox Automotive. With Lucas Aulbach: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/p...

Chemours "has a history of violating its permit, knows it is violating its permit, and intends to continue violating its permit," a federal judge wrote. "This is unacceptable under the Clean Water Act." A big court order on Ohio River PFAS pollution: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Secret Service agents searched and read through Cincinnati Enquirer reporter @eringlynn.bsky.social’s notebook, which included unpublished work product, during a security screening ahead of an event with Vice President @jd-vance-1.bsky.social in Lima, Ohio, on June 24.

NEW: General Matter plans to build a $1.5 billion uranium enrichment facility in Paducah - "the largest economic development project in Western Kentucky history," @govandybeshear.bsky.social says. More on the plans: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Wide-ranging plans for Kentucky's old Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant have been thrown around lately, including #nuclear power and #AI data centers. A Peter Thiel-linked uranium enrichment company is expected to share more info today. Here's what we know so far:

In July, Trump gave a Louisville formaldehyde plant two extra years to comply with Biden-era pollution control requirements. Homes sit 500 feet from the plant. Nearly 2,000 people, including hundreds of children, live within a mile. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Big news for labor in the #batterybelt: A union election date is set for BlueOval SK in #Kentucky ― a plant facing an uncertain #EV market + ongoing tensions between workers and the company over safety concerns. What we know so far, w/ reporter Olivia Evans: www.courier-journal.com/story/money/...

Kentucky's largest utility is moving to extend the life of a coal-fired generating unit, citing demand from data centers and other economic development. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Kentucky recently expanded tax incentives for data centers, with little public debate. The provisions lack job creation and wage requirements, and contain no cap on tax abatements. Critics say such programs can mean "a huge loss" for state and local coffers. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Trump plan to slash Appalachian economic development agency’s funding raises concerns across states kentuckylantern.com/briefs/trump...

In today's Courier Journal, an explainer on the function and history of one of the most underrated pieces of infrastructure in #Louisville: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Incredibly important reporting from @connorgiffin.bsky.social on schools being built on contaminated land in JCPS. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Louisville will use artificial intelligence to inventory trees in public spaces through a new contract, according to @loukyparks.bsky.social. The project will reduce "the time and costs associated with a city-wide tree inventory," the city says. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

The EPA is proposing to repeal all greenhouse gas emissions standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, in addition to some restrictions on toxic emissions like mercury. What does that mean in fossil fuel-dominated #Kentucky? www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

After Kentucky lost at least 20 people to tornadoes in recent months, @stephkuzy.bsky.social and @connorgiffin.bsky.social take an in-depth look at the dangers tornadoes pose to Kentucky while tracking the significant devastation of the latest ones. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

In one of many incidents we reviewed at the BlueOval SK plant, a hazardous chemical “rushed out” of an open pipe, traveling “roughly 2 meters in all directions,” until an employee plugged it with their hand. From a months-long investigation with reporter Olivia Evans:

"If you want to stay employed, you do what you're told." For months, my colleagues Olivia Evans & @connorgiffin.bsky.social looked into complaints of safety concerns at the $5.8bn BlueOval SK Battery Park. Workers feared termination if they spoke up. www.courier-journal.com/story/money/...

The Courier Journal is hiring for THREE newsroom positions right now. Join our hardworking, Pulitzer-winning paper as a... - Public safety reporter: jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/gannet... - Breaking news reporter: jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/gannet... - Editor: jobs.dayforcehcm.com/en-US/gannet...

President Trump offered to cut coal plants a break on a significant air pollution rule. Two Kentucky utilities sought the pollution exemption, but others didn’t. @morganwatkins.lpm.org of KyCIR explains why:

"When it comes to a data center," said David Spenard, a KY attorney w/ @southernrenewable.bsky.social, "it is about making sure that they are paying their fair share associated with what requirements they are placing on the system." www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l... @connorgiffin.bsky.social

The new normal www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Kentucky's early April flooding was relentless, record-breaking, deadly and destructive. A vast body of scientific research suggests the region's #climate is trending toward more of these events. "The problem is not going to go away," one scientist said. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Kentucky is set to lose millions of dollars in federal disaster mitigation funding as a result of #FEMA ending its BRIC program. The cuts were announced the same day a disaster declaration was issued for all 120 Kentucky counties amid deadly flooding. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Approaching storms are about to dump an unfathomable amount of water into the Ohio River valley. #Louisville is expected to double its average April rainfall in the span of a few days. Major flooding is likely across Kentucky. Here's the latest: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Many thanks to @connorgiffin.bsky.social for this awesome, clear, and detailed piece about our new report that examines the economic impact of new tariffs on Kentucky’s economy. www.courier-journal.com/story/money/...

I spoke with farmers and economists about how Trump's #tariffs could affect Kentucky farms. Without adequate federal relief to offset losses, a sustained trade war "would be detrimental to Kentucky agriculture," one expert told me. Story: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Kentucky lawmakers passed SB 89, weakening state protections of groundwater, wetlands, streams, lakes and springs from pollution. Regulatory officials took a remarkably firm stance against the bill, saying it leaves "no protection" for groundwater users. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/p...

DOGE terminated the leases of a majority of Kentucky's federal mine safety offices — six in total, more than any other state so far. "It's callous, it's cruel, and it will endanger and destroy the lives of coal miners," one advocate said. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

NEW: Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg says he will not sign either of the ordinances passed by Metro Council last week regarding the lead and rental registries. The ordinances will still go into law, just without Greenberg’s signature.

Union reps have counted at least nine U.S. Forest Service layoffs so far in Daniel Boone National Forest. That doesn't include two staff who were fired then reinstated when the agency found their roles essential, the union says. What we know so far: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Louisville's protections against childhood lead poisoning were eroded by the Metro Council last night — along with some other protections for tenants — amid pressure from Republicans in the state legislature. With @eleanormccrary.bsky.social: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/p...

President Trump said yesterday that EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is aiming to cut 65% of the agency’s workforce. Read more in this morning’s climate briefing.

I wrote this in the early stages of a medicine-resistant migraine, so please read it. ____ If the 31 sponsors of House Bill 16 are successful, Kentucky will let local water systems’ governing bodies decide whether or not to have fluoridated water. kentuckylantern.com/2025/02/20/w...

The Ohio River is swollen in Louisville right now, but this isn't even close to a record flood for the city. How does this week's crest measure up to history? www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Kentucky's top environmental official said a fast-moving bill to drastically weaken water pollution regulations "is overly broad and applies a machete to an issue that needs a scalpel, at a cost to Kentuckians." The latest on SB 89: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/p...

Under pressure from state GOP, Metro Council considers loosening lead paint protections From me and @connorgiffin.bsky.social. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

In Daniel Boone National Forest, NFFE tells me a large portion of U.S. Forest Service staff received probation notices — indicating risk of immediate termination — amid the Trump administration's blitz to cut the size of the federal government. www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

Kentucky's largest utility asked Trump's EPA to retreat on two areas of Biden-era regulation: coal ash contamination and greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Advocates call it "a cynical and calculated effort to continue avoiding accountability." www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...

A creek near Louisville turned red yesterday, as nearby residents reported an intense chemical smell in the area. Officials are investigating. Here's what we know so far: www.courier-journal.com/story/news/l...