AGP Executive Report

McConnell Health Transparency Fight: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear escalated calls for Sen. Mitch McConnell to “end the crazy speculation” and provide a clear public health update, after McConnell’s office said he “continues his recovery in the hospital.” Local Government & Services: Williamstown residents will get one week of free garbage collection after trash delays tied to an interlocal agreement; Grant County fiscal court approved road funding for multiple county roads. MLB Draft (Kentucky Connections): The White Sox took UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky No. 1, and the Rockies selected Kentucky shortstop Tyler Bell No. 10; Kentucky’s Bell spoke about betting on himself and learning to win in college. Sports in Kentucky: Lucas Glover leads the ISCO Championship in Louisville heading into the final round. Community Spotlight: A Corbin 5K fundraiser rallied behind 6-year-old Millee Kate Daugherty as she battles DIPG brain cancer. Weather & Safety: Flash flooding in Missouri triggered major rescues, including at a summer camp with 200+ children; Kentucky-area forecasts show fewer rain chances for Cincinnati this weekend.

Mitch McConnell Health Mystery: Kentucky’s senior senator remains hospitalized and out of public view nearly four weeks after his June 14 admission, with his office offering only vague updates while new reports and video footage keep fueling questions about what happened and when he’ll return. Elections Oversight Shakeup: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission is effectively frozen after commissioners were removed, leaving the agency unable to take official action as the 2026 cycle ramps up. CashApp Settlement for Kentucky: Kentucky is set to receive about $372,819 to the state general fund from a $45 million multistate CashApp/Block settlement tied to alleged deceptive practices. Flood Watch & Storm Threats: Heavy rain and thunderstorms are again raising flash-flood concerns across parts of the region, with Kentucky under watch as storms move through. Sports & Local Life: Lucas Glover surged with a 6-under 64 to take the lead at the ISCO Championship in Hurstbourne; and Louisville’s Run 4 the Roses fills the Expo Center with thousands of youth teams and college scouts.

Mitch McConnell health scrutiny: New CNN video shows the Kentucky senator being loaded into an ambulance outside his Washington home in mid-June, adding to calls for more transparency as his office still hasn’t detailed the hospitalization. Flooding and road impacts: KYTC issued updated high-water closures, including U.S. 62 in Carlisle County and KY 123 in Hickman County, while officials also flagged major bridge repair plans for the U.S. 51 “Cairo” Bridge with a possible July 22 reopening. Public safety and health: Kentucky reported 100 cyclosporiasis cases since May, and Publix recalled GreenWise frozen blueberries in multiple states, including Kentucky, tied to E. coli illness. Local business and community: Paducah’s Chamber highlighted the arts at its “Salute to the Arts” breakfast, while the Lexington Legends’ ballpark renamed CommonSpirit Ballpark. Sports: Lucas Glover surged at the ISCO Championship in Louisville, and the NCAA approved a new age-based eligibility model starting 2026-27.

Mitch McConnell health transparency: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear renewed calls for a full public update on Sen. Mitch McConnell’s condition as questions swirl after weeks of hospitalization and limited information. Flooding and road closures: Kentucky remains under flood watch through Saturday with heavy rain risks; KYTC reported high-water closures including KY 1949/Wadesboro Road at the I-69 Tunnel. Opioid settlement spending tracker: Kentucky launched a public dashboard to show where opioid settlement money is going, amid concerns that funds remain unspent. AI data center push: TeraWulf is reportedly seeking a $3.5B debt raise tied to its Kentucky data campus leased to Anthropic, underscoring the state’s growing role in AI infrastructure. Local education leadership: Knox County named James Scott Prewitt as principal of Knox Alternative Programs. Sports recruiting: Marcus Spears Jr. reclassified to 2027 and committed to Texas over LSU, Arizona and Kentucky. Local sports spotlight: Nathan Sutherlin was named 2026 Putnam County Baseball Player of the Year after a dominant season at the plate and on the mound.

College Sports & Recruiting: Five-star forward Marcus Spears Jr. (No. 1 in the 2027 class) is reclassifying and committing to Texas for the 2026-27 season, choosing the Longhorns over Arizona, LSU and Kentucky. Local Government & Public Safety: Kentucky schools are tightening discipline under a new law requiring at least a one-year expulsion for students in grades 6-12 who intentionally injure school staff, with immediate board action and mandatory law enforcement reporting. Infrastructure: Gov. Andy Beshear announced $73 million in federal grants for Kentucky transportation upgrades, including more truck parking at rest areas, replacing Frankfort’s Singing Bridge, and expanding the Paducah riverport. Health: Norton Healthcare is seeing a rise in cyclospora cases, with 16 diagnoses in three weeks, and health officials are urging careful food and hand hygiene. Public Health Alert: Publix is recalling frozen GreenWise Organic blueberries after an E. coli outbreak sickened 12 people across multiple states, including Kentucky. Weather: Louisville-area residents face a flood watch July 9-12 as multiple storm rounds bring 1-2 inches of rain, with locally higher amounts and a severe weather risk. Politics: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is again pressing Sen. Mitch McConnell for a public health update amid weeks-long hospitalization and growing questions about Senate business. Arts & Community: Elizabethtown’s Steel Grove Amphitheater reached a major milestone with final steel beam placement, setting up a major new concert venue opening in about a year. Business & Labor: A Louisville Trader Joe’s location won union recognition, becoming the first unionized Trader Joe’s in Illinois. Sports (Pro/Local): Warren County parks approved nearly $4.4 million in upgrades, including synthetic turf for 10 ballfields and new playground and seating improvements.

McConnell Health Transparency: Gov. Andy Beshear has sent Sen. Mitch McConnell a formal letter demanding a public update on his health after nearly three weeks of silence following his June 14 hospitalization, saying Kentuckians shouldn’t have to rely on rumors about whether he can still do the job. Robocall Crackdown: Kentucky’s AG joined a multistate push urging the FCC to tighten rules that would block scammers from buying access to legitimate phone numbers, after Americans lost nearly $2 billion to scam calls and texts. Opioid Funds Tracker: Kentucky is rolling out public tools to show where opioid settlement money is going, as reporting highlights that a large share of funds still hasn’t been spent. Road Safety & Crashes: New reports point to ongoing safety concerns on major interstates after recent semi-truck crashes across Kentucky. Healthcare Costs: Analysis says ACA Marketplace premiums in Kentucky and other states are likely to rise again next year, with insurers citing higher costs and subsidy changes.

McConnell Health Transparency: Gov. Andy Beshear has sent a fresh letter pressing Sen. Mitch McConnell to publicly update Kentuckians on his condition after weeks of silence following his June hospitalization, as speculation grows about his ability to return to office. Robocall Crackdown: Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office joined a multistate push urging the FCC to strengthen rules that block scammers from using real phone numbers, after Americans lost nearly $2 billion last year to scam calls and texts. Opioid Funds Accountability: Kentucky’s AG office unveiled a new online dashboard letting residents track how opioid abatement money is distributed by county and city, aiming to boost transparency on “blood money” spending. Public Safety on Roads: State officials and law enforcement are promoting speed-limit compliance through a “Not So Fast, Kentucky” campaign, warning that even small speeding increases crash severity. Local Water Relief: Construction is underway on a river-to-lake pipeline in Casey County to help Liberty keep Lake Liberty’s water levels up during drought conditions. State Fair Entries: The Kentucky State Fair is now taking entries for Aug. 20–30, with a July 9 deadline and an America250 theme running through competitions.

Public Health: Kentucky is among states seeing more cyclosporiasis cases, with the CDC tracking clusters and investigating possible sources like onions, cucumbers and cilantro. Food Safety: Publix recalled frozen GreenWise organic blueberries in multiple states including Kentucky after E. coli illness reports; officials urge shoppers to throw out or return affected bags. Domestic Violence: First Lady Britainy Beshear announced a new interactive Team Kentucky dashboard that lets the public compare domestic violence data by county and find shelter and offender information. Energy & Cost of Living: Gas prices in Kentucky fell about 7.6 cents per gallon over the past week, averaging $3.35 today, according to GasBuddy. Broadband: Conexon says some Kentucky network builds will slow at least until 2027 due to constrained fiber supply and BEAD-related changes. Local Government: Lebanon City Council nominated Katherine Hawthorne to fill Darin Spaldings’ spot as city administrator. Health Care: Ephraim McDowell Health expanded lab automation and diagnostic systems across its central Kentucky hospitals. Agriculture: Kentucky blueberry growers are seeing more twig blight and stem canker, with guidance focused on pruning infected growth and using resistant varieties. Politics: Senate Republicans say they’ve spoken with Mitch McConnell while he remains hospitalized, but details on his condition stay scarce. Business/Tech: Anthropic signed a major 20-year lease tied to a Kentucky AI data center campus in Hancock County.

Mitch McConnell health transparency: Senate GOP leaders say they’ve spoken with Sen. Mitch McConnell by phone as he remains hospitalized, but Kentucky voters are still pressing for clearer updates on his condition. Kentucky AI investment: Anthropic has signed a 20-year lease for a major AI data center campus in Hawesville, expected to bring about $19 billion in contracted revenue and 401 megawatts of power. Transportation disruptions: The Cave-in-Rock ferry and the U.S. 51 Cairo Bridge are closed, forcing longer detours between Illinois and Kentucky; locally, Kennedy Bridge work is nearing completion with one final short closure expected after Aug. 1. Public safety and health: Kentucky Supreme Court upheld a 30-year sentence in a fatal London police sergeant DUI crash; meanwhile, declining kindergarten vaccination rates are raising measles/MMR concerns. Consumer alert: Publix GreenWise frozen organic blueberries are recalled due to an E. coli outbreak tied to a specific lot code. Local government and services: A new WKU Mesonet station opened in Laurel County to expand real-time weather monitoring statewide.

Flood Recovery: Gov. Andy Beshear confirmed two more flood-related deaths in Kentucky, raising the statewide toll to 6, with victims reported in Hardin and Jefferson counties. Public Safety & Infrastructure: KYTC closed the U.S. 51 Ohio River “Cairo” Bridge for repairs after a deck change was reported; engineers say work could take 2–4 weeks, with detours via the I-24 bridge. Food Safety Recall: Publix is recalling GreenWise frozen organic IQF blueberries in Kentucky and seven other states due to possible E. coli contamination linked to 12 illnesses; affected lot 60401 (best-by Feb. 9, 2028) should be discarded or returned. Civic Project for America’s 250th: Kentucky’s Secretary of State launched a Kentucky Time Capsule Project, collecting stories, photos, and messages for a bourbon-barrel capsule sealed until 2051. Local Crime: A man was charged with murder after a July 6 shooting in Berea that left a 64-year-old dead. Business/Tech: Ethos Laboratories announced a national launch of CNSDose™ after a MolDX technical assessment. Health & Work: The EEOC sued Toyota Boshoku Jackson Tennessee over alleged sexual harassment.

AI & Industry: TeraWulf says Anthropic signed a 20-year, roughly $19 billion lease for a purpose-built AI campus at its Hawesville site, targeting up to 401 megawatts of computing load with initial capacity expected in late 2027 and full buildout by early 2028. Courts & Public Safety: Former Kentucky guard Kerr Kriisa was arrested and indicted on a $2.2 million wire fraud scheme, with prosecutors alleging he used false identities and fabricated family emergencies to obtain money from multiple victims. Politics & Health Watch: Questions continue to swirl around Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization as his daughter Porter McConnell deactivated her X account amid the lack of new details from his office. Local Governance: Kentucky lawmakers urged penalties for geoengineering, pushing a proposal that would make intentional climate-modification a Class D felony. Community & Wildlife: Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is asking the public to report turkey sightings for the Summer Turkey Brood Survey. Sports & Culture: SKYPAC in Bowling Green earned a Pollstar ranking among the world’s top-grossing theatres, while Kentucky State Fair hiring is underway for temporary roles.

Officer-Involved Shooting: Boone County deputies shot and killed off-duty Florence police officer Dustin Zink after a domestic violence call July 3; KSP says Zink fired first and four deputies returned fire, with no deputy injuries reported. Education Accountability: A Kentucky state auditor’s report on Jefferson County Public Schools criticized administrators for hiding financial information and flagged achievement gaps, sparking renewed debate over how the district is run. UK Governance: Gov. Andy Beshear appointed Ruth Cecelia Day and Mitchel Denham to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees, moves tied to his push to steer the university’s direction. Public Safety Collaboration: CriticalArc and the University of Kentucky convened higher education, healthcare, and public safety leaders to advance a “safer Kentucky” approach through shared coordination. Infrastructure & Traffic: Louisville’s Main Remade project enters a new phase converting Main Street to a two-way road, with lane shifts, temporary four-way stops, and ongoing signal work expected through late July. Climate Watch: New reporting says Kentucky summers are getting hotter, with more frequent, longer, and more damaging extreme heat tied to climate trends. FBI Fraud Case: Former Kentucky guard Kerr Kriisa was arrested by the FBI in Lexington in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme tied to his time at West Virginia, with extradition to West Virginia planned. Lottery: Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball and Pick 3 evening numbers were published for July 5, 2026.

Housing & Faith-Based Development: HB 333, backed by Rep. Sarge Pollock, becomes law in Kentucky, easing zoning barriers so churches and other faith groups can build affordable housing, warming centers, and shelters on property they owned before Jan. 1, 2026, with affordability protections for at least 15 years. Roads: KYTC says two southbound left-turn lanes at U.S. 127 and U.S. 127B in Mercer County will close starting July 6 at 5 a.m., weather permitting, through July 11. Public Safety: A Fourth of July boating collision on Herrington Lake left four injured and one person missing; dive teams and boats are searching. Health & Care: WHAS Crusade for Children awarded a grant to the Family Enrichment Center to expand therapy and screenings for young kids at its Wee Care Child Care Center. Sports & Recruiting: Kentucky coach Mark Pope was in Istanbul watching U17 action as Serbian wing Nikola Kusturica scored 37 points in a loss; UK is reportedly making a final push for the prospect. Local Economy: ECTC in Elizabethtown was named a 2026 Best Place to Work in Kentucky. Auction Watch: The historic Claudia Sanders Dinner House and Colonel Sanders collection are headed to auction later this month. Sports Crime: Former UK and WVU player Kerr Kriisa was arrested in Lexington and faces federal charges tied to an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.

FBI Arrests Former Kentucky Player: Kerr Kriisa, a former Kentucky guard and recent Cincinnati player, was arrested by the FBI on a reported multimillion-dollar fraud scheme tied to his West Virginia days and is headed for extradition to West Virginia. World Cup Spotlight: France beat Paraguay 1-0 in stifling heat, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the winner on a penalty and setting up a quarterfinal vs. Morocco. Fourth of July Safety & Local News: U.S. 45/Jackson Street in Paducah reopened after high water receded, and Kentucky Lake saw a drowning reported at Gray’s Landing in Stewart County. Kentucky 250 Celebrations: The Frazier History Museum opened a new exhibit, “I Too Am A Kentuckian,” tying Kentucky stories to America’s founding ideals. Community & Culture: Fort Knox held Freedom Fest 250 with a parade of state flags and fireworks, while a senior fiddler from Bowling Green won the Smithville Jamboree’s grand fiddle-off title.

America 250 in Kentucky and beyond: The U.S. marked its 250th birthday amid extreme heat and storm disruptions, with some events paused or evacuated as thunderstorms moved in. Local celebrations: Lexington kept the holiday rolling with the 50th annual Bluegrass 10,000 and a downtown Fourth of July parade, followed by fireworks. Food prices: A national survey put the average cost of a Fourth of July cookout for 10 people at $73.82, up 4% from last year, driven by higher beef, chicken, and pork chop prices. Public safety: Kentucky Kingdom crews responded to a possible near drowning, sending a victim to the hospital. Health alert: Publix recalled frozen GreenWise organic whole blueberries in multiple states, including Kentucky, after reports of E. coli illnesses. Sports and local life: A Lexington-area Fourth of July race drew thousands, and Kentucky’s KHSAA dead period begins Thursday, pausing school sports activities. Crime and courts: Former UK guard Kerr Kriisa was arrested by the FBI in a fraud case and is expected to be extradited.

Warrantless Surveillance Fight: The 119th Congress is pushing to reauthorize FISA Section 702, a warrantless spying tool that lets the government collect and search Americans’ data tied to foreign targets, reigniting Fourth Amendment concerns. Boone County Shooting: Police say one person was shot and killed outside a Florence home involving Boone County Sheriff’s deputies; Kentucky State Police are investigating. Extreme Heat Watch: A major heat wave has put about 70% of Americans under heat alerts, including Kentucky, with dangerous humidity and record-challenging temperatures through the holiday. Grid Strain From AI: The federal government used emergency power to force AI data centers onto diesel backup generators after repeated grid emergencies, raising alarms about air quality and reliability. Pride Month in Kentucky: Gov. Beshear proclaimed June 2026 as Pride Month, pledging to fight discrimination and protect LGBTQ+ Kentuckians’ rights. Local 4th of July Plans: Louisville and other Kentucky communities are rolling out America’s 250th celebrations and fireworks, even as officials urge heat safety and responsible driving.