Kentucky tops $10B mark in record year for economic development growth

New-location and expansion projects include 15,200 full-time jobs FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky’s private-sector new-location and expansion projects have exceeded $10 billion in new investments in a calendar year for the first time in the commonwealth’s history with more than 15,200 full-time jobs announced, creating unprecedented economic momentum, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday. “This is a monumental achievement…

State worker sues Gov. Andy Beshear over mask mandate

By Lexington Herald-Leader Staff FRANKFORT, Ky. (Lexington Herald-Leader/WYMT) – A staff attorney who works in the state’s executive branch is filing suit against Governor Andy Beshear over his mask mandate in state office buildings. According to a report from the Lexington Herald-Leader, Dana Simmons, who works for the state’s Public Protection Cabinet, filed the lawsuit on Friday.…

Study finds electronic smoking devices don’t help smokers stay off combustable cigarettes

By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Switching to electronic cigarettes doesn’t help smokers stay off traditional cigarettes, according to a recent study. “Our findings suggest that individuals who quit smoking and switched to e-cigarettes or other tobacco products actually increased their risk of a relapse back to smoking over the next year by 8.5 percentage…

State leaders, education advocates launch initiative to boost graduation rates, close equity gaps

State leaders and education advocates gathered virtually on Monday to launch the Kentucky Student Success Collaborative. The collaborative is the first statewide center in the country to link two- and four-year higher education institutions with policy and industry leaders to increase graduation rates, close equity gaps and strengthen workforce readiness. Funded by a $2.1 million grant from the…