Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 4, 2026) - Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided updates on economic development, work to remove dangerous drugs from Kentucky communities, technology updates to enhance 911 services, funding for local water infrastructure and housing, funding for student mental health, medical cannabis, and federal public assistance for the January winter storms. The Governor was joined by Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), who provided updates on the impacts at CHFS resulting from cuts by the General Assembly, as well as the Our Healthy Kentucky Home initiative. The Governor named Kentucky students selected as semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program as this week's Team Kentucky All-Stars.

Economic Development
Gov. Beshear highlighted his announcement that U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co., one of the leading producers and marketers of moist smokeless tobacco, plans to build a new facility in Hopkinsville, where it would create over 200 new Kentucky jobs once operational.

The Governor highlighted continued momentum within the state's distribution and logistics sector, as Abastos Wholesale, a specialized distributor and supply chain partner, will expand its Louisville operation with a $10.3 million investment, creating 20 new Kentucky jobs.

Today, Gov. Beshear announced continued momentum within the state's speed-to-market and site development initiatives, as $750,000 was approved to support future job growth and investment in Floyd County through the state's Kentucky Product Development Initiative.

Counterdrug Program and Drug Interdiction Plan
Today, Gov. Beshear was joined by members of the Kentucky National Guard and Kentucky State Police (KSP) to sign the annual drug interdiction plan for the Counterdrug Program. This plan serves as the blueprint for operations across all agencies involved in the Counterdrug Program, which works to remove dangerous drugs from Kentucky communities. The Counterdrug Program includes multiple federal, state and local agencies, including the Kentucky National Guard, KSP, the Homeland Security Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

During the federal fiscal year of 2025, this team seized more than 202 pounds of fentanyl, more than 3.6 million fentanyl pills, 4,136 pounds of methamphetamine, 1,750 pounds of cocaine and 43.9 pounds of heroin.

"The Counterdrug Program provides additional manpower, helicopter and communications support, investigative case analysis and prevention resources to our law enforcement partners and our community-based organizations. The program currently supports 13 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies," said Brig. Gen. Bruce Bancroft, assistant adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard. "The integration and partnerships created with the Kentucky State Police and our federal agencies have bolstered law enforcement capabilities and enhanced critical relationships across the entire commonwealth. We look forward to continuing to build upon these successes as we work together in making Kentucky a safer place for all of us."

"Our message is clear: While recovery is possible here in Kentucky, those who seek to prolong this devastating epidemic will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," KSP Deputy Commissioner Col. Chad White said. "We promise to continue finding innovative ways to save lives and remove drugs from our streets so future generations have a safer Kentucky to call home, one free from the pain of addiction."

Next Generation 911
Gov. Beshear announced that Team Kentucky is upgrading public safety technology with the statewide transition to Next Generation 911. This will modernize how emergency calls are handled, improving speed, accuracy and inter-agency collaboration across the 117 call centers in Kentucky. Benefits include allowing voice, text, photos and video calls from any compatible device; leveraging mapping technologies to route calls based on the precise physical location of the caller's device; and allowing hearing- and speech-impaired individuals to have live text conversations and share media directly with dispatchers.

Team Kentucky has already successfully implemented this new technology at 19 call centers. Full implementation across all Kentucky counties is expected by the end of 2027. Amy Hess, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, joined the Governor for the announcement.

"This project's mission is to improve the speed and accuracy of our emergency response for all Kentuckians and, in turn, save more lives," said Hess. "Call centers that have already migrated to Next Generation 911 are already reporting benefits, including fewer spoofed calls, better location accuracy, higher call quality and faster data delivery. These efforts are all aimed at our ultimate priority, which is to keep Kentucky families safe."

Funding for Water and Housing Infrastructure
The Governor announced three projects totaling $14.1 million that will improve water and housing infrastructure in the commonwealth.

• Cynthiana will receive over $12.3 million in loans through Team Kentucky's Infrastructure Authority to help more effectively filter the city's water. Nearly $7.5 million of these loans will be forgiven.
• Oldham County will receive $1 million through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to support a 72-unit apartment complex, Choice Landing Apartments in Crestwood. The complex will serve Kentuckians with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Down Syndrome of Southern Kentucky, in partnership with the Warren County Fiscal Court, will receive $850,000 through the CDBG program to build a new facility offering health, educational and social services to individuals with disabilities in Bowling Green.

Funding for Student Mental Health
The Governor announced that Kentucky Medicaid is awarding grants to improve mental health and wellness services for students in eight school districts through the SHINE KY local grant initiative. School districts receiving funding are in Bullitt, Clark, Henry, Jessamine, Johnson, Perry, Warren and Wolfe counties. This initiative is part of Expanded Access School Based Health Services, which allows schools to provide health services onsite to all students at no cost to families, regardless of insurance coverage.

General Assembly Cuts to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Dr. Stack provided an update on impacts to CHFS resulting from budget cuts made by the General Assembly. The Governor and his administration repeatedly warned the General Assembly about the painful impacts that would be felt by the cruel and senseless budget cuts, yet no action was taken by the legislature. Now, the state is forced to bear the outcome of these shortsighted decisions and the chronic defunding from the federal government, which is resulting in cuts across Team Kentucky's departments of Community Based Services; Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities; and Medicaid Services. These are services that provide healthcare, foster care, support for food and more to our most vulnerable Kentuckians.

"These are services that we should be supporting. These are families that need help. We'll do our best to provide every service that we can, but unfortunately, we can't provide dollars that don't exist," said Gov. Beshear. "Members of my administration repeatedly warned the General Assembly about painful impacts that would be felt from their budget cuts or failure to increase funding for services that cost more every year as more families qualify. Action was not taken to correct the most concerning areas. Now our families are forced to bear the outcome of these shortsighted decisions."

"No one in the commonwealth of Kentucky should go hungry," said Dr. Stack. "No one in the commonwealth of Kentucky should go without needed healthcare or without the social services they need to help thrive in their lives. Healthier people make for healthier communities, make for people who are invested in their jobs, able to work and support their communities, and have a full and rich life. These are painful reductions that will have to be made. They're going to hit some of our most vulnerable in our society. It breaks my heart to have to announce these things."

Medical Cannabis
Tuesday, Gov. Beshear signed an executive order directing the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis to issue an emergency regulation further clarifying qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Kentucky law. With the clarification, 15 additional conditions are recognized, including sickle cell anemia, ALS, Crohn's disease, Parkinson's and terminal illness.

Public Assistance Approved for Communities Affected by January Storm
Gov. Beshear recapped his announcement that President Donald Trump and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have approved Public Assistance for at least 18 counties affected by the winter storm in January of this year. The severe weather event caused significant ice accumulation across the state, up to nine inches of snow in some areas and dangerously cold temperatures.

Our Healthy Kentucky Home
Dr. Stack provided an update on Our Healthy Kentucky Home, an initiative to promote simple, positive and attainable goals to inspire and motivate Kentuckians on a journey to health and wellness. This month, the initiative focuses on men's health. Dr. Stack discussed important aspects of men's health, including preventative care, highlighting kdphcancerinky.ky.gov as a resource for cancer screenings; healthy eating; regular physical activity; and mental health, highlighting the National Institute of Mental Health as a good resource to help start your mental health journey.

Team Kentucky All-Stars
The Governor named Kentucky students selected as semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program as this week's Team Kentucky All-Stars. Twelve graduating high school seniors have been selected, see the full list here.

"I'm proud that these students are from all over Kentucky," said Gov. Beshear. "Congratulations to these seniors and thank you to all our educators. Congratulations on being this week's Team Kentucky All-Stars."

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