On Thursday, Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) held his weekly briefing to provide updates on his administration.
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00:00:00Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Andy, and welcome to this week's Teen Kentucky Update.
00:00:04If it looks a little different, it's because we're in the Capitol Rotunda,
00:00:07because today's update is exciting, and we've got a whole lot of people that are a part of it
00:00:13that you're going to be hearing from today. But we're going to start where we always start,
00:00:17with a red-hot economy providing more opportunity for Kentuckians than we've ever seen.
00:00:23Since I became governor, we've now announced over 1,100 new location or expansion projects
00:00:29for a record $35 billion of new investment in us in Kentucky. Those investments have created
00:00:37more than 60,500 new jobs that have the best three-year average for wages that the state has
00:00:44ever seen. And three companies that have contributed to that momentum just celebrated some exciting news
00:00:50this week. On Monday, I joined local officials from Bakery Express Midwest to cut the ribbon
00:00:57on the new Boone County location. This project included a more than $20 million investment,
00:01:04and it's going to create over 225 full-time jobs in the region. Bakery Express is a commercial bakery
00:01:11manufacturer that makes and distributes fresh products to over 4,000 retailers across the country.
00:01:17You'll find their baked goods in many places, including Wawa convenience stores that are going
00:01:22to be opening across Kentucky in the coming years. I want to thank the company's leadership for allowing
00:01:28me to join them, because the ribbon-cutting is truly the best one of those events. The announcement
00:01:34is the hope, the groundbreaking is the progress, but the ribbon-cutting is when lives are changed,
00:01:39people are employed, and it means a better future for the region.
00:01:43So again, thank you to Bakery Express Midwest. This is also their Midwest headquarters,
00:01:50and excited that their Midwest CEO moved his family to Kentucky, truly making this his new
00:01:57Kentucky home. I also got to join another exciting company in Boone County this week to celebrate
00:02:03its grand opening of a $12.2 million facility, creating 250 new jobs. Its new facility is located
00:02:13located in a freshly remodeled office and production facility at CVG Airport. The investment is
00:02:19from L2 Aviation, and it's yet another example of a company believing in what this great state
00:02:25has to offer. If you're on a commercial airplane and you have Wi-Fi, it is probably because L2
00:02:31installed it, put it together, and now that work is going to be done out of Northern Kentucky. I'm happy to have
00:02:38gotten to celebrate this exciting next step for the company and the Northern Kentucky region. I want to thank L2's
00:02:44leadership and their commitment to Kentucky and congratulate them on yesterday's grand opening.
00:02:50Also on Wednesday, I had an opportunity to join L'Oreal to celebrate their accomplishment in being
00:02:56certified as an OSHA VPP star site, a significant achievement that only 19 sites in Kentucky hold.
00:03:04The company has a significant presence in Kentucky, with Florence being the home to the largest L'Oreal
00:03:10manufacturing facility in the U.S., and it has a distribution facility just down the road in Walton
00:03:16and Hebron. The company employs about 480 Kentuckians. I was proud to recognize them as Kentucky's
00:03:23Governor's Safety and Health Awards last year, and this is yet another award on top of that. So many products
00:03:30that you see in the beauty sector aren't just made by L'Oreal, they're made here in Kentucky, including
00:03:36CeraVe, the lotion, as well as a number of hair care products. If you turn around their bottles and
00:03:44it has 48 on the back as the start of that serial number, it means it was made right here in Kentucky,
00:03:49and it's pretty exciting to see Kentucky-made products on the shelves all over the world.
00:03:54And finally, back in February, we kicked off the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Kentucky Tournament.
00:04:02This is an annual contest with our great partners at the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers to put a
00:04:08spotlight on all amazing things being made in the Commonwealth. I am proud to recognize Lion First Responder
00:04:15PPE as the latest winner of the Coolest Things Made in Kentucky contest. This is a company that continues to
00:04:23grow in eastern Kentucky and highlighted by the opening of its Lee County facility just over three
00:04:29years ago. I had the opportunity to visit two of their facilities, including the Lee County one
00:04:35that created 75 jobs for families in that community. The company's V Force turnout gear for firefighters
00:04:43is manufactured by our great people of eastern Kentucky in Beattyville, West Liberty, and Hazel Green.
00:04:49And that means firefighters all over the country are protected when they go into that burning house
00:04:55or burning building by something done and made right here in Kentucky. Not only is it one of the coolest
00:05:01products we make, but it's one to keep our amazing first responders safe. I want to thank Lion for
00:05:07continuing to make great products in the Commonwealth and for believing and trusting in us to get it done.
00:05:13With that, I'm going to turn it over to our First Lady to recognize the month of the military child
00:05:19and our proclamation.
00:05:27Good afternoon, everyone.
00:05:30Today, Andy and I are honored to recognize April as month of the military child with some of our Team
00:05:36Kentucky heroes, military children whose parents serve at Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, and in our Kentucky
00:05:43National Guard. Thank you to Karen Lamberton, spouse of the Adjutant General of Kentucky, for joining us
00:05:49today as well, and thanks for all you do to support our Guard members and their families.
00:05:56Kentucky is fortunate to have the best National Guard in the country, as well as two major military bases
00:06:02within our Commonwealth. Our soldiers work tirelessly to keep our state and country safe, and while they
00:06:08serve their families serve too. To each of the kids here today, I want you to know that while you might not
00:06:16wear the uniform, we know that you make sacrifices well beyond your years that help protect millions of
00:06:24people, including other kids just like you across our country. It does not go unnoticed, and we are really
00:06:31proud of you. Next week, I get to visit Fort Campbell to celebrate Month of the Military Child with students on base.
00:06:39I've been able to meet families on both bases during my time as First Lady, as well as Family's International
00:06:45Guard. I am always amazed by their resilience and flexibility, especially during times of crisis.
00:06:53I want to make sure you also get to hear some of their stories directly from them. So first, I would like to
00:07:00bring up Carly Collins, Corbin Collins, Kinsley Collins, and Kyler Matos from Christian County.
00:07:06Their dad is here with us too, Master Sergeant Christopher Collins of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell.
00:07:12I know Carly's going to say some words.
00:07:31What it means for me to be a military child is to always be strong and look forward to the positive
00:07:36things. Having a parent in the military has always come with hardships, constantly moving and never
00:07:41being able to stay in one school or neighborhood, or the fears and sadness that come with deployments.
00:07:46But after you get past the thorns, you will always find the rose. Constant moving just provides more
00:07:51opportunities to meet new people or see new places, and watching them get off the airplane when they get
00:07:56back is always a moment of joy and relief. Having a father in the military means living with both pride and
00:08:03sacrifice. It means knowing your dad as a hero, not just to you, but to the country. It means missed
00:08:09birthdays, holidays, or even just a good night hug. But it also means learning strength, courage, and
00:08:15resilience from the person you look up to the most. It's hard, yes, but it's also inspiring, because
00:08:21every day you're reminded of what it means to serve something greater than yourself. It's a great honor for
00:08:26me to have a father willing to risk his life for this great nation.
00:08:42I think we're done with the Team Kentucky update now.
00:08:44Thank you. Powerful and well-spoken.
00:08:53We also have three students with us from Fort Knox. They are Ariana Leon, Fort Knox Youth of the Year,
00:09:00Haley Bagley, Fort Knox Junior Youth of the Year, and Charlie Pegues, I'm going to say it so wrong,
00:09:06I'm sorry, Charlie Pegues, Pegues, from Fort Knox, who's the Emerging Youth of the Year, and I, um,
00:09:13Pegues, I got it. Okay.
00:09:17Are you, would you like to say a few words? Yes.
00:09:21Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, fellow civilians and fellow family, military family. I am Ariana Leon.
00:09:30Unlike other military children, I have not always been a military child. I grew up a civilian
00:09:35lifestyle my whole entire life until about two years ago. But in those two years, I have not only
00:09:41seen a lot, but I've learned a lot. I've learned about the struggles that military youth have,
00:09:47but also the advantages. When I was welcomed into the military lifestyle, I found it eye-opening,
00:09:55life-changing, and very exciting. Being a military youth is not only freedom and adventure,
00:10:01but it's becoming new beginnings. Us military kids move around, but I want you guys to remember,
00:10:09we are not only the military, but we are one big family all together.
00:10:13That was the second mic drop of the day. Thank you so much.
00:10:35Finally, we have Madison Wurtzler, Ethan Stallard, Isaiah Thomas, and Alexander Cross with us,
00:10:42whose parents serve in our own Kentucky National Guard. So, Madison.
00:10:54Thank you, Governor Brashear, for issuing the proclamation that states,
00:10:57April is the month of the military child. Less than one percent of Americans serve in the military
00:11:02today. So, 99 percent of Americans truly don't understand what it's like to have a parent in the
00:11:06military. They don't understand that it's more than missing holidays, sports games, graduations,
00:11:11and many other special events. It's also backlash from your peers, lonely nights, and fear for your
00:11:15parents' safety. It is not our choice for them to serve, but we have to adjust and live an adaptive
00:11:20lifestyle to meet the needs and to keep this country safe. This month should help military
00:11:25children all over Kentucky know that no matter if your parent is in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or
00:11:30Marines, or whether they're active duty, National Guard, or Reserves. We are all united in that our
00:11:36parents chose to risk their lives to serve this country. This month should help show children that
00:11:41our adaptive lifestyle is ultimately the reason that we are still the land of the free and the home
00:11:45of the brave. Thank you.
00:12:00Well spoken. I think we can all see why our military children are so amazing.
00:12:06Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and for sharing your families with us as well.
00:12:15Because you all are so amazing, today you are our Team Kentucky All-Stars. I can't get that out.
00:12:23I'm going to try it again. You are our Team Kentucky All-Stars. So thank you again.
00:12:36Okay. And with that, Andy is going to sign the proclamation recognizing April 2025 as month of
00:12:43the military child. So if all of our military families would like to come join us.
00:12:57Yeah.
00:13:15Yeah.
00:13:17Yeah.
00:13:19Yeah.
00:13:20Yeah.
00:13:20Are you looking forward?
00:13:30All right, congratulations.
00:13:50Thank you very much.
00:14:20How about Kentucky's First Lady?
00:14:31All right, now I've got a quick update on our recovery from this most recent flooding, the 14th federally declared disaster that Kentucky has pushed through in the last five and a half years.
00:14:43First, Brittany and I ask you to join us in continuing to pray for the families of the seven Kentuckians we lost in this flooding.
00:14:52We've now reached out, and thanks to that Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund, we'll be paying for each of those seven funerals to make sure that's just one less burden on those families during their time of grief.
00:15:04I also want to share that on Friday, I requested a major disaster declaration from President Trump, and we're waiting to hear if it has been approved.
00:15:13The declaration is important because state agencies, local governments, and Kentucky citizens have been significantly impacted by this event.
00:15:22The greatest impact has been felt by families who had their homes flooded.
00:15:26Significant costs will be associated with the loss of property and home repair.
00:15:31And unfortunately, this storm struck many areas that have been flooded time and time and time again.
00:15:38In this request, we first ask for individual assistance.
00:15:41That can help individuals impacted in the select counties to have immediate needs dollars, dollars for cleaning supplies, and up to a little over $40,000 to rebuild their lives depending on their application.
00:15:57We also ask for public assistance to help our counties and cities recover, as well as direct federal assistance.
00:16:04The first request for that group of three was for Anderson, Butler, Carroll, Christian, Clark, Franklin, Hardin, Hopkins, Jessamine, McCracken, Mercer, Owen, and Woodford counties.
00:16:22We've also requested public assistance and direct federal assistance for a number of additional counties, including Barron, Gallatin, LaRue, Owsley, Campbell, Green, Lawrence, Pendleton, Elliott, Greenup, Lee, Spencer, Estill, Hickman, Logan, Union, Floyd, Johnson, Muhlenberg, and Washington.
00:16:51And we have also requested hazard mitigation for the entire Commonwealth.
00:16:55Now we know that more counties than just those, especially that first batch have been impacted.
00:17:01But what we've learned is the disaster declarations are typically issued faster.
00:17:06And it's a better process to take some of the most heavily impacted that we have the most information on right now and go ahead and get the disaster declaration.
00:17:15And then we add other counties and other areas to it.
00:17:18It's how we've done each of the past five or six declarations.
00:17:23So if your county is not listed on that first group, we're still working for you.
00:17:27This is just the process we've worked through each and every time.
00:17:31I've already had conversations with FEMA's leadership and provided this is signed.
00:17:36They know this is going to be a very large endeavor where we're going to have disaster recovery centers in dozens of counties.
00:17:42They understand the way that we're doing it and they have the expectation that if the president signs off on the declaration that we will be adding more counties as we go.
00:17:53In other updates, we still have about 3,035 meters without power.
00:17:57Most of that goes on and off as people are making different repairs.
00:18:01Sometimes you have to turn off that power to do it safely and then you turn it back on.
00:18:06Incredible work on our water systems.
00:18:08We only have one system in the entire state that's not operational and one with limited operations.
00:18:13We only have 854 households under boiled water advisory after a major flood.
00:18:19For that to happen that quickly is pretty incredible.
00:18:22To give you an update on our boat crews, we call them urban search and rescue teams.
00:18:27We pre-positioned around the Commonwealth knowing that this flooding was going to happen.
00:18:32They saved 142 lives that we can currently document and they made 293 evacuations.
00:18:40All teams have now been demobilized, meaning they're back with their families.
00:18:44A special thank you to Georgia Task Force 6, Vermont Task Force 1, Maryland Task Force 1, North Carolina's Task Force, Virginia's Task Force
00:18:54and everybody else who came in to help us during our time of need will be there for you, too.
00:19:00Public Health has also received shipments of tetanus and hepatitis A vaccines.
00:19:04Remember, during flood cleanup, it's important to have your tetanus vaccinations up to date.
00:19:11Floodwaters can be contaminated with sewage.
00:19:13Therefore, the hepatitis A vaccination should also be considered for anyone doing this work.
00:19:19We still have 25 shelters open across the Commonwealth and 402 individuals are being sheltered in them.
00:19:27We also have a call center.
00:19:29If you call center number, if you still have needs from the flood, that number is 502-607-6665.
00:19:39Grateful that our Transportation Cabinet has been working as hard as they can to get all of these state highways and roads open.
00:19:47At the height, we had more than 500 just state roads that were impassable.
00:19:54It's now down to under 200.
00:19:56We have 166 that are still closed by flooding and 9 by mudslides.
00:20:02Remember, if there is water over the road, do not drive through it.
00:20:07Never go around barriers and never move barriers.
00:20:11In our February flooding, we lost a number of people that should still be here with us because they tried to drive through water or because barriers were moved.
00:20:19Let's all look out for each other.
00:20:21We don't want to lose anybody else as we do this cleanup, so please be careful.
00:20:26Transportation Cabinet staff are also continuing bridge inspections and damage surveys.
00:20:32We have 51 areas of damaged roadways so far.
00:20:35We've done 258 bridge inspections.
00:20:3811 are what we call with findings.
00:20:42They're safe, but there's still some work that we need to do.
00:20:45Three are closed.
00:20:46Those are in Marshall, Graves, and Trigg counties.
00:20:49And 50 that have debris on them but remain open that we are working through.
00:20:54It looks like there will be more damage to uncover.
00:20:57But thank you to those that have been working nonstop since this started to open up the ways we get to our work, our schools, our churches.
00:21:06And once again, do not drive through water.
00:21:10You can check goky.ky.gov to keep up with road closures.
00:21:15Kentucky State Parks are continuing to shelter 73 people at two state parks.
00:21:21Additionally, from previous floods, we have 89 people at three state parks.
00:21:26The Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund is still open.
00:21:29The fund has now raised just over a million dollars.
00:21:31Again, that starts with paying for every funeral, both from the February flooding and the most recent,
00:21:38and then helping people in their time of need.
00:21:41I want to thank some new donors, Keeneland, for donating $10,000.
00:21:45Also to South Elkhorn Christian Church in Lexington, Winchester's AL-81, and American Legion Post 20,
00:21:52the Boone County Extension Homemakers, and the Allen L. Lightchart Endowment Fund in Frankfort.
00:22:00If I mispronounce that, I'll say it again next week and get it right.
00:22:05But thank you to everybody.
00:22:07You know, these floods can wipe people out.
00:22:10And I've seen so many people staring at what used to be their home saying, where do I start?
00:22:16But the amazing part is about 10 people show up, and they always say, why don't you start with me?
00:22:21It's amazing to see the humanity of Kentuckians, the kindness and the love, and you never see it more than at times of great difficulty.
00:22:29And the way a lot of people help is through giving to that fund.
00:22:32100% of it helps Kentuckians.
00:22:36It is zero administrative fees other than the credit card processing, 100% transparency.
00:22:42Okay, now I've got an update on our county-city bridge program.
00:22:46Kentuckians deserve those safe, modern roadways when they're driving to work, taking their kids to school, or going to church.
00:22:53So today, I'm excited to announce new opportunities for cities and counties to upgrade that critical infrastructure.
00:22:59We're awarding $8.2 million in the second round of the county-city bridge improvement program.
00:23:05This is a program we recommended and the legislature authorized in the 2024 budget session through the Transportation Cabinet's budget.
00:23:13This is one of several important programs operated by our Department of Rural and Municipal Aid.
00:23:19Our people deserve the best, and this is another program that makes sure upgrades are happening at the local and regional level.
00:23:27So today, 15 counties and three cities will receive a combined $8.2 million for 22 projects.
00:23:34The funding will build 12 new bridges and repair 10 bridges.
00:23:39And once the construction is complete, they'll reopen eight bridges that have otherwise had to be closed.
00:23:45Remember, with Kentucky's geography, bridges are a vital link to so many of our people,
00:23:51so we invited some local officials to talk about why this is so important to them.
00:23:56First up, a word from Judge Executive Phil Baker of Logan County.
00:24:00His community will receive $600,000 to replace a bridge on Liberty Church Road.
00:24:15Okay.
00:24:16He is appreciative of the $600,000 to replace a bridge on Liberty Church Road.
00:24:22Next, we have Judge Executive Jim Martin of Fulton County, who video also isn't going to play,
00:24:29but he is receiving $980,000 for two projects to replace and reopen bridges,
00:24:35one on Sawmill Road and one on Crutchfield Road.
00:24:38To those judges, we're going to make sure that we get those videos out on social media.
00:24:42It's important that people recognize the importance of infrastructure,
00:24:47and these judges took their time to put together a special message of why these are so important to their citizens.
00:24:53But with us here in person, so this one's going to work,
00:24:56we have Scott County Judge Executive Joe Pat Covington and Georgetown Mayor Bernie Jenkins.
00:25:01Together, we're awarding $1.3 million.
00:25:05$969,000 will replace and reopen two county bridges,
00:25:10one on Mount Horeb Road and one on North Rays Fork Road,
00:25:15and $342,000 will repair a weight-limited city bridge on Clubhouse Drive.
00:25:22Congratulations.
00:25:24This one's for you.
00:25:29And, Mayor, we're not going to let you leave empty-handed.
00:25:33This one's for you.
00:25:35You all want to say a word about the projects?
00:25:47Oh, the judge will hold the money.
00:25:52Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.
00:25:56Thank you, Governor, very much.
00:25:58Give me a minute to get this back, put this back up for us.
00:26:02The Clubhouse Bridge Project consists of a new steel support,
00:26:14structural beam with protective coating, sandblasting, and painting.
00:26:20While this bridge is not currently at risk for critical failure,
00:26:25the funding awarded will allow the city of Georgetown to proactively address deficiencies.
00:26:31We anticipate heavy growth in this area of our community in the coming years,
00:26:37and I'm thankful for this funding providing us the opportunity to address infrastructure needs
00:26:43on the front end of this growth.
00:26:45Governor, thank you all very much.
00:26:47Thank you. Judge?
00:26:49Governor, thank you for having me here today and the mayor as well.
00:26:53And on behalf of the Scott County Physical Court and the citizens of Scott County and Georgetown,
00:26:58we're very, very grateful for these funds.
00:27:01Georgetown, Scott County has over 70 bridges and culverts throughout Scott County that run on 300 miles of county roads.
00:27:11And the city-county bridge improvement program will provide the funds to repair,
00:27:17and in our case, replace two bridges that have been closed.
00:27:21And it's very, very critical funding, very timely with the recent floods and bad weather, extreme weather.
00:27:27This program couldn't be any more timely.
00:27:30So very grateful for the program, Governor, and your leadership.
00:27:33Very grateful for the State Senate and the House and their leadership for allocating these funds.
00:27:40And then also great communication from Secretary Gray, Commissioner Bobby Joe Lewis and their office,
00:27:47and then as well as Kelly Baker at District 7.
00:27:50I also want to recognize one gentleman that's here with me today, J.R. Brandenburg.
00:27:55One of the people that are on the front lines all the time, working with KYTC,
00:28:01out in the middle of the night, making sure bridges are safe, roads are safe.
00:28:05And J.R., we thank you for all you do for Scott County.
00:28:10So with that said, you know, this means, these funds mean real progress for Scott County and Georgetown,
00:28:17and the timeliness of them also.
00:28:21Getting these back open will help our community move forward.
00:28:25School buses run on these roads.
00:28:28First responders and farmers as well.
00:28:31So thank you so much, Governor, and appreciate the opportunity to be here at the Rotunda with you today.
00:28:37All right. Thank you.
00:28:43Leadership, Scott County happens to be in the Capitol as well today.
00:28:47Got a chance to meet with them.
00:28:48And, Judge, what I told them is I'm always for Scott County, unless Will's playing them in baseball.
00:28:54Just split a couple of games with Great Crossing over the last two nights.
00:28:59Other projects will take place in Calloway, Carlisle, Graves, Trigg, Hickman, Marshall, Montgomery, Butler, Nelson, Washington, Kenton, Mercer, Elliott, and Mason counties.
00:29:16Next, we've got some exciting news that took place earlier this week in our medical cannabis program.
00:29:25Team Kentucky is dedicated to ensuring that every Kentuckian that has a qualifying condition has access to medical cannabis.
00:29:32And we're committed to ensuring that every new business from cultivators to dispensaries can thrive in their new Kentucky home.
00:29:39That's why I'm happy to announce on Monday Team Kentucky broke ground on the first medical cannabis cultivator in the state.
00:29:46Centaurus Farms is a Tier 2 cultivator that will employ dozens of Kentuckians.
00:29:52A year ago today, I signed a bill to move up the timeline for medical cannabis licensing by about six months.
00:29:58That gave us the runway to get these businesses up and running faster.
00:30:05So with us today is John Paola of Centaurus Farms to talk about this facility and what this historic groundbreaking means.
00:30:13Good afternoon, everyone.
00:30:25First off, I want to thank Governor Beshear for his leadership and opportunity to join you today.
00:30:31It's an honor to speak directly to the people of Kentucky about a project that's incredibly personal to me and my family.
00:30:36My name is John Paola and I'm the founder and CEO of Centaurus Farms.
00:30:40For the past 15 years, I've been building and operating cannabis and real estate projects in complex and highly regulated environments.
00:30:47I have helped launch operations that focus on quality, consistency, and patient-centered care.
00:30:53On Monday, alongside state and local officials, as said before, we had the privilege of breaking ground in Kentucky's first medical cannabis facility.
00:31:01We planned every part of this new facility in Monticello with the same values in mind.
00:31:05Well, what makes this project truly special to me is Kentucky itself.
00:31:09My mom is a special education teacher in Berea and she attended EKU.
00:31:14And this state and the people in it have been a second home to our family for a long time.
00:31:18That personal connection is a big reason why this work matters to me.
00:31:21It's not just a project, it's a chance to build something meaningful in a place we care deeply about and a home away from home.
00:31:28That's why we chose Monticello.
00:31:30For the first time we visited, we saw a community that was ready to grow and that shared our commitment to the quality and care.
00:31:36We're proud to be investing here and excited to build lasting partnerships with the people of Wayne County.
00:31:41Our goal is simple, to bring safe, secure, and consistent medical cannabis to the patients across Kentucky.
00:31:46We're not cutting corners, we're building a state-of-the-art facility that harvests every single week,
00:31:51delivers tested and trusted medicine, and creates meaningful jobs for our local residents.
00:31:56We're already planning more than 100 local positions from entry-level cultivation to advanced laboratory technicians and extraction specialists.
00:32:05We're building a workforce, not just a facility.
00:32:07Many of those roles will be specialized with opportunities for training, advancement, and long-term growth.
00:32:12We're excited to grow that team right here in Monticello and to make this place a place where people can build lasting careers.
00:32:20We're also looking forward to working closely with regulators to help set the standard for high-quality medicine in Kentucky.
00:32:26This is a new industry here, and together we can build it the right way from the ground up with safety, compassion, and community at its core.
00:32:33So again, thank you, Governor Beshear, for your vision in bringing medical cannabis to Kentucky.
00:32:37We're honored to be part of this moment, and we can't wait to get to work.
00:32:41I think it's just a good example of how we have been working to very carefully build this industry out with safety and the patients first.
00:32:58At that groundbreaking, we had a county judge, we had the mayor, we had the sheriff.
00:33:03I mean, this is everybody coming together to make sure we get it right, and that's the goal,
00:33:09making sure that we get it right.
00:33:11We're not the first.
00:33:12Actually, we're pretty close to the last state that is implementing a medical cannabis program,
00:33:18and what that means is we've been able to learn the best practices and avoid some of the mistakes that we've seen out there.
00:33:25So, grateful that we've got an experienced operator that's helping us do this,
00:33:30but his operation here is a Kentucky business that's going to be employing Kentuckians
00:33:35and providing access to folks that this can really help, that otherwise might be taking opioids,
00:33:42that might help them as they're going through their cancer treatments.
00:33:45So, we appreciate this big step.
00:33:48We're also happy to announce that since January, a little more than four months ago,
00:33:52more than 12,000 Kentuckians have received a written certification,
00:33:56and more than 8,000 have successfully applied for and received a medical cannabis card.
00:34:03All right.
00:34:04This next segment I've been looking forward to, but also has me thinking about these last couple of years,
00:34:13because we have had an amazing poet laureate in Silas House these last couple of years.
00:34:18Kentucky is blessed to have a wealth of great literary voices,
00:34:27and every two years I look forward to recognizing one of those talented voices to represent Team Kentucky as our poet laureate.
00:34:34In 2023, I had the pleasure of appointing nationally acclaimed best-selling author Silas House to serve as our poet laureate.
00:34:42Silas has represented Kentucky well in that role.
00:34:45He's conducted numerous workshops, appearances, and lectures.
00:34:49He has been busy.
00:34:50Silas worked with our Kentucky State Parks to host writing workshops around the Commonwealth.
00:34:55He teamed up with the Kentucky Arts Council to create the Oral History Project,
00:34:59encouraging the collecting, preserving, and sharing of personal stories and experiences from past generations.
00:35:06And getting to know Silas well, I can tell you he's brought compassion,
00:35:14and humanity at a time when we've really needed it both in this state and in this country.
00:35:20He's done this job about as well as anybody could.
00:35:23So we're thrilled to have Silas with us today to share his experiences as our poet laureate.
00:35:29It has been such an honor to serve as poet laureate for the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the past two years.
00:35:45In that time, this work has made my love for the state only deepen.
00:35:50I've had the opportunity to meet so many who are doing their best to be great neighbors and to make our world a better place.
00:35:58I have been especially moved by the children and young folks I've had the chance to visit with.
00:36:03I've gone to dozens of schools, libraries, universities, community meetings, and other gatherings that have renewed my faith in the heart of our state.
00:36:13I am thankful to everyone who has welcomed me with such hospitality into their spaces.
00:36:19I've also been fortunate to represent our state's literary arts across the nation.
00:36:24My number one goal has always been to make more people aware of how rich our literature is here in Kentucky,
00:36:31and to make writing instruction more accessible.
00:36:34As the Governor said, one of the ways we did this is through workshops I conducted at some of our state parks.
00:36:41This enabled us to offer writing lessons in areas that don't always have the easiest access to this kind of programming,
00:36:48and in these classes I was moved by the quality and beauty of the writing that was created there.
00:36:55One of my main projects as Poet Laureate was to create the curriculum that can be used in any school, K-12, or even at the college level.
00:37:04I found that some of our public libraries are using it too, and this is the Listen Now oral history project.
00:37:11And even after my tenure is up, all of the instructions on how to implement this curriculum will remain on the website.
00:37:18of the Kentucky Arts Council.
00:37:20The goal of the Listen Now project is to get our young people to talk and to listen to their elders.
00:37:27The curriculum gives detailed explanation on how they can take oral histories from the older people,
00:37:33and their families and communities, including directions on how to record it, transcribe it, and preserve it.
00:37:40I hope every teacher and librarian out there listening will look for the Listen Now project
00:37:45and implement it in their classrooms and libraries.
00:37:49I am always happy to zoom in with classes that are using it, and I am going to ask that my email address be shared on the Kentucky Arts Council website
00:37:57after my tenure is done to make me accessible beyond my time as Poet Laureate for these classes.
00:38:04I wanted to make sure that people had access to completely free writing instruction during my time as Poet Laureate.
00:38:12So I created a podcast called Writing Lessons.
00:38:16In each episode, I am in conversation with a different writer to give those listening insights into the creative process.
00:38:24Each episode focuses on a different topic, including poetry, short stories, plot, characterization, even the daily life of a writer.
00:38:33The podcast is being listened to in classrooms and by anyone who wants to learn more about the craft of writing.
00:38:40And again, that's called Writing Lessons, and you can find it on any podcast platform.
00:38:46I want to thank Governor Beshear for this honor and to say that it has been a particular pleasure to serve in this role under an administration that seeks to serve everyone.
00:38:58He is a governor who cares deeply about the arts, especially the written word.
00:39:03He is also a governor who leads with empathy, and I have learned how to be more empathetic because of his leadership.
00:39:10The First Lady is a voracious reader who always celebrates the power and importance of books.
00:39:17Every single person I have worked with in this administration has renewed my faith in government.
00:39:23They have all gone above and beyond, making my job so much easier because they care so deeply about serving the people of the Commonwealth.
00:39:32Chief among them has been the Kentucky Arts Council.
00:39:36I want Kentuckians to know what good hands we are in with this administration, and I want all of them to know how grateful I am to them for their work.
00:39:45And everyone will be in especially good hands with the new poet laureate, so I will hush so we can all find out who that is.
00:39:53But first, thank you, Kentucky. I love you, and it has been my privilege to serve you.
00:39:59Now, Team Kentucky is proud to announce that Kathleen Driscoll will be our next poet laureate, representing the Commonwealth in 2025 and 2026.
00:40:24An Oldham County native, Kathleen is the author of six acclaimed poetry collections, with her most recent work, Goat-Footed Gods, published by Carnegie Mellon University Press.
00:40:35Her other collections include the award-nominated Blue Etiquette Poems, a finalist for the Weatherford Award, and Next Door to the Dead, which not only received recognition as a Kentucky Voices selection from the University Press of Kentucky, but also won the Judy Gaines Young Book Award.
00:40:53In addition, her collection Seed Across Snow became a national bestseller. Kathleen has made a real impact on the Commonwealth's rich literary community through her poetry and passion for teaching.
00:41:05We are fortunate to have her as a guiding voice, encouraging future writers and supporting Kentuckians in pursuing their dreams right here in their new Kentucky home.
00:41:14Now, if everybody will join us in congratulating Kathleen Driscoll.
00:41:19Congratulations. The podium is yours.
00:41:22Oh, my goodness.
00:41:31Thank you, Governor Brashear, for this honor, but also, and more importantly, for your consistent and genuine support for Kentucky writers and every artist across the Commonwealth.
00:41:43I also want to thank the Kentucky Arts Council for their ongoing efforts to keep the arts, all arts, but particularly writing,
00:41:51alive and available for all fellow Kentuckians.
00:41:56My writing has deep Kentucky roots, and I'm honored to be given this opportunity to serve Kentucky as the next State Poet Laureate.
00:42:04Of course, Silas House is a pretty hard act to follow. As a Kentucky writer, I've taken immense pride in his tenure as Poet Laureate.
00:42:15I'm grateful to have the examples of his talent, compassion, and generosity to rely upon as I crisscross the Commonwealth and do my best to help others find and deepen their own writing lives.
00:42:30Thank you so much, Silas, for being a friend, for being a friend to Kentucky, for being a friend to me, for being a friend to so many writers across the state.
00:42:39All genres of art are important, but there's something particularly humane about the work writers bring us.
00:42:47Language and creativity at the end are largely qualities that make us human, and so it's not surprising that for so many of us, when we find our writing lives, we find our authentic lives.
00:43:01We deepen our own ability to practice compassion, and we make lasting connections with our loved ones, our communities, and we carry our history forward.
00:43:12All Kentucky writers are working out of a long and meaningful tradition that we admire and we hold dear, but right now, right here in the Commonwealth,
00:43:23writing is flourishing in a way that can rival any other state in America.
00:43:29And that flourishing is not only happening by those teaching in universities and colleges, but I have to say that our universities and colleges are incredible greenhouses for emerging writers.
00:43:41Nor is that great work of Kentucky writers being done only by professionals.
00:43:47In communities small and large, cities small and large, writers and readers are working every day across the state to support and amplify what it means to be a Kentuckian in all our shapes and colors.
00:44:02The world of Kentucky letters is as various as our state's landscapes and beautifully diverse Kentuckians who populate those hills, hollers, glades, plateaus, and prairie.
00:44:17I do consider myself a writer of place, but my work for the last three decades has been focused largely on about a square mile around where I live outside Louisville.
00:44:27What I've learned through that deep investigation of place is that we can write about anything we want, even if we choose to stay close to home.
00:44:36When I walk in a nearby park or when I walk in a nearby park or when I look out my window onto the small, humble graveyard that I live next to, through my imagination, I can find a whole world of things that I can write about and those subjects are meaningful.
00:44:52I believe that when we engage our creativity, we are seeing evidence of the divine, the sacred.
00:45:00When we activate our imaginations, we are activating our capacity to love ourselves and to love one another.
00:45:07We create a world that demonstrates our shared humanity is strengthened through, paradoxically, writing about the differences among us.
00:45:18Writing has given me a life I could never have imagined as a working class kid growing up in the farmlands and tobacco fields of Oldham County, and that was before Oldham County was cool.
00:45:32I might say I've been lucky, but for the realization that every good thing that has happened to me has happened through a connection with another writer willing to share what they knew with me and to point out opportunities for my work.
00:45:47I want to pay that forward and bring all those teachers with me in spirit during my poet laureateship.
00:45:54Again, I thank you, Governor Beshear and the Kentucky Arts Council for this incredible honor and the opportunity to share what I know and what I love about writing and the writing life with others and to learn from others in the Commonwealth.
00:46:09Thank you so much.
00:46:16We will officially induct Kathleen on Thursday, April 24th at 10 a.m. here in the Capitol Rotunda during Kentucky Writer's Day.
00:46:25The ceremonial event will feature readings from Kathleen and Silas and the 2024 Kentucky Youth Poet Laureate, Myra Fossil, who is currently a junior at Northern Kentucky University.
00:46:40After Writer's Day, everyone is invited to the Paul Sawyer Public Library at 2.30.
00:46:46That's here in Frankfurt for a special reading from both present and past poet laureates.
00:46:52You know what's kind of special about that?
00:46:54When Frankfurt got hit with the most recent flood, that's our library.
00:46:58And it was in the basement, all through the parking lot, almost up to the first floor.
00:47:03But it's going to be open, welcoming our poet laureates as the special place that it is.
00:47:09Both events are free and open to the public.
00:47:12I hope to see everyone there and really exciting that we have such talent in the rotunda today.
00:47:18Getting one book published is tough enough.
00:47:21And between the two of these, they've had so many writings that bring so much honor and recognition to the Commonwealth.
00:47:29So, from one set of artists to another.
00:47:33We are racing towards one of the most important times in the calendar here in the Commonwealth, the Kentucky Derby.
00:47:39This year, we will celebrate the 151st running of the Derby, a signature event in sports, culture, and our Kentucky economy.
00:47:47Every year in early May, the world turns their attention to Churchill Downs for the most exciting two minutes in sports.
00:47:54And every year, Kentuckians share hospitality with hundreds of thousands of visitors welcoming them to our new Kentucky home.
00:48:03Here in Kentucky, we know the Derby is much more than a two-minute race.
00:48:07It's a whole season of great events celebrating the best that Kentucky has to offer.
00:48:12Throughout our history, our thriving horse racing industry has been a source of inspiration for artists.
00:48:18Whether it's the dedication of the jockeys, the power of the thoroughbreds, or the grandness of the crowds,
00:48:24the Derby is something we as Kentuckians take great pride in.
00:48:28Today, we get to come together for another time-honored tradition, the presentation of the Governor's Celebration Derby poster.
00:48:36And I'm glad the First Lady and Lieutenant Governor are joining me today for these great announcements.
00:48:52First, we're announcing that the artist for this year's Governor's Celebration Derby poster is Humberto Lajera.
00:48:58Humberto Lajera Gonzalez is an accomplished artist and advocate for cultural expression through art.
00:49:11By blending traditional Cuban artistry with Kentucky's rich heritage, he highlights the power of storytelling in visual mediums.
00:49:19This year's Derby poster, titled Unleashed at the Finish, captures the dynamic energy and challenges of the Kentucky Derby,
00:49:27symbolizing the obstacles faced in the pursuit of victory.
00:49:31Lajera was also selected as the artist for the Woodford Reserve Bottle for this year's Kentucky Derby.
00:49:37This guy has lived in Kentucky for two years, and he has scored both of these amazing opportunities
00:49:43because he is so good at what he does.
00:49:47Lajera's story encompasses what makes our new Kentucky home so special.
00:49:52His talent truly enriches our cultural landscape, and he is another reminder that the diversity of our backgrounds,
00:50:00of our thoughts, and of our experiences is always a strength and should never be considered a weakness.
00:50:07And regardless of what the federal government is talking about in terms of diversity on any given day,
00:50:12we're going to celebrate it, say it's a good thing, and we embrace it here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
00:50:23But this is about Umberto, and his artistry beautifully captures the spirit of the Derby, inspiring us all to appreciate the traditions and the stories that define this iconic event.
00:50:33So I'm going to invite him along with Kentucky Derby festival president and CEO Matt Gibson to come up here and join us as we unveil the governor's celebration Derby poster.
00:50:46All right, are we ready?
00:50:48All right, are we ready?
00:50:49Let's get what's going on.
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00:50:51Would you like to discuss it?
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00:51:17Hello, everyone.
00:51:18Thank you very much for the invitation.
00:51:21Thank you, Governor Bashir.
00:51:23It is an honor for me to be here today.
00:51:27Two years ago, I made the decision to emigrate to the United States, which turned out to be a major change in my life, both culturally and emotionally.
00:51:39Being exposed to an entire new culture and set of tradition
00:51:43was reflected not only in me as a person,
00:51:47but also in my artistic work.
00:51:50The culture of Kentucky had a strong influence on me.
00:51:54I am an artist who is constantly seeking to grow
00:51:57through new ideas and the exploration of different styles.
00:52:04That influence led me to begin experimenting
00:52:06with various materials and techniques,
00:52:10blending my own culture with American culture,
00:52:14especially with that of Kentucky.
00:52:20With my painting tightly unleashed at the finish,
00:52:23I wanted to capture an epic moment in the derby race,
00:52:27showing how beautiful, vibrant, and full of life it can be,
00:52:32but also how challenging and full of obstacles it is.
00:52:37The Kentucky Derby carries a unique energy and joy,
00:52:42something I try to reflect in the vivid color of the painting,
00:52:47filled with symbols like the red roses
00:52:50and the twin spires of Churchill dance.
00:52:52The jockey fighting through the race symbolizes sacrifice,
00:52:57and the horse pushing forward represents strength.
00:53:00One brings physical energy, the other mental focus and direction.
00:53:07It's perfect combination we all need to succeed.
00:53:11Strength, energy, and clarity of mind.
00:53:16The peace reflect the pursuit of our dreams and how along the way challenges appeared
00:53:24that turned the path to victory into a real test.
00:53:28But all of that is part of the process.
00:53:31This year has brought me very good things to my career.
00:53:38I was selected as the official artist of Derby 151 for the Wolf Reserve Bottle,
00:53:45and today I'm also honored to be the official artist for the Governor's Derby poster.
00:53:50I feel proud to be part of something that is meaningful
00:53:54and to contribute my art to the culture of Kentucky and the United States.
00:53:59And we are proud that Umberto is a Kentuckian who's making his art right here in the Commonwealth.
00:54:12So beginning in 1956 as a single event, the Kentucky Derby Festival has expanded
00:54:18into a month-long celebration of all things Kentucky Derby.
00:54:22Some of those fantastic events include the Great Balloon Race.
00:54:26We're going to have a Team Kentucky Balloon, I think, this year, as well as – or we have
00:54:31a State Parks.
00:54:34We have a New Kentucky Home Balloon this year, as well as the Great Steamboat Race
00:54:40and, of course, the Pegasus Parade.
00:54:42A major part of the economic success in the run for the roses can be attributed to the state's
00:54:47tourism industry, including the extraordinary work done by the Kentucky Derby Festival.
00:54:53Today we're honored to have Matt Gibson as well as a lot of his team.
00:54:58We're proud to have them here.
00:55:00They're here in the most amazing blazers that shows how much they love the Derby.
00:55:07And let me tell you, they really do an incredible job in showing so much of the world over a month
00:55:14what the Derby is all about, but more importantly what Kentucky is all about.
00:55:18The Kentucky Derby Festival also highlights the arts with a yearly poster.
00:55:22So I'd like to invite Matt to provide brief remarks and then unveil the 2025 Kentucky Derby
00:55:28Festival poster.
00:55:30Thank you, everybody, for having us here today.
00:55:37And what amazing announcements today for Team Kentucky.
00:55:42It's an honor to be here.
00:55:43While we know the past few weeks have been challenging to the entire state, it is always
00:55:47a sense of pride for the Kentucky Derby Festival to really celebrate not only our community but
00:55:52the 120 states of this great commonwealth.
00:55:55Over recent research, we found that over 98% of those communities attend all of our events,
00:56:00which is fantastic, which really does spout that Team Kentucky mentality.
00:56:05And that's what Derby season is all about, bringing the community and this entire state together
00:56:09in celebration.
00:56:11The Derby Festival orchestrates the state's awards-winning celebration for more than 70
00:56:15events, and we're really just getting started.
00:56:17We're proud to be the leading community celebration in the world.
00:56:20We're one of the largest in the world, and it comes with resounding support from the state
00:56:24and our partners.
00:56:26We have turned a two-minute horse race into a month-long celebration and tourism attraction,
00:56:30and through recent numbers, our numbers continue to go up year after year.
00:56:34One of the first signs of spring is us unveiling the poster, and it's always in great partnership
00:56:38with the Governor's Choice, and you did a phenomenal job.
00:56:41You could feel the emotion and the creativity and what you brought to that.
00:56:44It is extraordinary.
00:56:45Our 2025 design was created by Louisville artist Kim Perry, who is joining me today, and captures
00:56:51the vibrant energy and excitement of the festival through bold colors, unique artistry, and showcases
00:56:56some of our favorite traditions.
00:56:58Kim is known for her original Kentucky-inspired pieces and describes her paintings as a love
00:57:03letter to the Commonwealth, and it really shows in all of her artwork as she continues to work.
00:57:08She has created the 45th poster in our series, which launched in 1981.
00:57:16This year's poster is called A Season of Love.
00:57:19As you'll see momentarily, she said the inspiration for her creation was to spotlight the joy and
00:57:24tradition that defined the Derby Festival, as well as the incredible sense of togetherness
00:57:30the festival brings to life, and that means more now than it has in a very, very long time.
00:57:36Now, I'd like to invite Kim Perry and Al Cornish, our 2025 board chair, to actually unveil the
00:57:54poster.
00:57:59As you'll see, it encapsulates just a few of our events, but many of those that the governor
00:58:03announced.
00:58:06At this time, too, another tradition that we love to share is the iconic symbol of the
00:58:10Derby Festival that we want to leave you guys with today.
00:58:14Governor, today we brought the gold Pegasus pins for both of you, the First Lady and Lieutenant
00:58:18Governor, and we wish you and everyone who joins us a very happy Derby.
00:58:24One of the favorite ways of sharing the Derby Festival each year is with the Pegasus pins.
00:58:28It helps us generate significant dollars and fundraising to invest in all of the events,
00:58:33events, and the season that we bring to you.
00:58:35So, it's our pleasure to present those to you and tell you how much we appreciate the
00:58:39partnership and everything you do for this great Commonwealth.
00:58:44Thank you so much.
00:58:45Thank you so much.
00:58:46Thank you so much.
00:58:47Thank you, sir.
00:58:48I just got one thing more.
00:58:53Thank you to these amazing artists.
00:58:55It's just another example of how much talent we have here in Kentucky.
00:58:59I finally want to remind Kentuckians to join us on Saturday, April 26, for the Team Kentucky
00:59:05Derby Week Kickoff and Common Fest.
00:59:09This event is our way of starting the Derby festivities that week here in Frankfort.
00:59:14It all happens on the south lawn of the capital from noon to 5 p.m. We're going to have live
00:59:19music, artisan vendors, food trucks, breweries, wineries, and craft distillers, artists, a
00:59:24farmer's market, games, activities, balloon artists, and so much more.
00:59:30We love seeing Kentuckians gather and make good experiences at their capital, and we're
00:59:34looking forward to seeing people there.
00:59:37Since we've named our Team Kentucky All-Stars, we'll open it up to questions.
00:59:40We have two journalists because we don't have a virtual option today.
00:59:44We'll start with Karen Czar.
00:59:57I haven't seen the figures on the economic impact of canceling Thunder.
01:00:02It's 800,000-plus people in many years, so it's going to be significant.
01:00:06With that said, it was the right decision.
01:00:08It would not have been safe.
01:00:10There was still debris everywhere.
01:00:12Current was still high in the Ohio River, and I think our mayor of Louisville, Mayor Greenberg
01:00:18showed that he puts the lives and well-being and safety of the people of his city first,
01:00:24and I fully supported that decision.
01:00:27The cleanup that's going on in Louisville right now is astounding.
01:00:30I mean, people coming out and volunteering to clean up in public spaces because they want
01:00:34to put on the very best Derby.
01:00:37I think we're going to have everything up and running and ready more than in time to welcome
01:00:43several hundred thousand of our closest friends just on Derby and Oaks, much less the rest of
01:00:49the week.
01:00:50Carolina.
01:00:51Governor, I want to just check in on that thing that I want to talk about.
01:00:56From what I understand, there's another major player that's going to be an announcement.
01:01:02We are working as fast as we can to get safe, reliable medical cannabis on the shelves for those who qualify for a card.
01:01:17I think as as your visit to Ohio showed, these are massive facilities.
01:01:22You just heard about a hundred plus new potential jobs in Kentucky from a cultivator, but you look at the processors and the rest.
01:01:28This is millions of dollars of equipment.
01:01:29It is a lot of science and a lot of technology that goes into it.
01:01:35Right now, we are hoping for late summer and the fall to potentially have a great opportunity for those who qualify for a card.
01:01:40I think as as your visit to Ohio showed, these are massive facilities.
01:01:44These are massive facilities.
01:01:45These are massive facilities.
01:01:46The big issue is the biggest thing to see.
01:01:47Some of these are massive facilities that are massive.
01:01:48Lots of dollars of equipment.
01:01:49It is a lot of science and a lot of technology that goes into it.
01:01:53Right now, we are hoping for late summer and the fall to potentially have product that's out there.
01:01:59But that is an estimate.
01:02:01What I can say is because of the way we set up our process, because of the way we did our lottery, we're moving faster.
01:02:08Than just about any other state.
01:02:09We're one of the only states that hasn't had the courts and join or any other state.
01:02:13join or enter an order stopping the ramp up of all of those businesses. In other states we saw that
01:02:20so we attempted to design a system that put the patient first and that assured we wouldn't have
01:02:25those legal impediments or the court slowing us down. So this is one of our longest team
01:02:31Kentucky updates in a while here in the rotunda. Thrilled we had so many people join us really
01:02:37excited about the Derby. We got to see four incredible artists that were here. We named
01:02:42the new poet laureate. We were reminded of welcoming people to this commonwealth and the incredible
01:02:48talents that they can bring. So looking forward to future team Kentucky updates though I hope
01:02:54I can do them shorter. Thank you.