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Piper Hansen

@piperjhansen.bsky.social
381 followers 264 following 147 posts

Kentuckian. Reporter @kentucky.com. Beep me: phansen@herald-leader.com. she/her

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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
i was one of the H-L journalists laid off today. working in my home state for a paper i respected for years was an honor and a privilege. i got to work with some of the industry's best who were also let go and this community is worse off for it
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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 10/09/2026
Unfortunately, very crappy news today from me, on the McClatchy hedge fund gutting Kentucky's second-largest paper 👇
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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 04/09/2026
Matt Bevin booked in Louisville Metro jail
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
The council member said in her conversations with planning and legal staff, since the Lexmark property changed owners through the sale, DartPoints still needs to apply for a zoning compliance permit, something the moratorium council passed puts a pause on issuing. www.kentucky.com/news/local/c...
kentucky.com
Data centers likely to be a bigger topic than expected at Lexington Planning Commission
While not anticipated as part of the Planning Commission’s June 11 meeting, it’s likely questions may still be asked about data centers
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council won’t consider development plans, give approvals or any other authorizations — including zone changes — for data centers in Fayette County through Oct. 31, the body decided unanimously today. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
Lexington council temporarily pauses data center approvals in Fayette County
Two walk-on resolutions — a moratorium and another that initiates a zoning amendment — passed at the less than 15-minute June 9 meeting.
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Sarah Ladd @sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
The 2026 Frankfort Press Corps + Women’s Press Corps* *Minus a few people who couldn’t make it
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Novelty Cistern @noveltycistern.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Just had a full body matrix-style memory of what it Feels Like to be in Louisville Kentucky. people who have not lived in Louisville Kentucky cannot understand this
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
maybe the real sine die was the friends we made along the way #kyga26
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Adrian Paul Bryant @adrianpbryant.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Over time, we've gotten a lot of reader questions about the big bonuses, big salaries, and big restaurant bills under VisitLEX, the city's tourism bureau. Here's what they had to say about their finances and work, with our hero, oir savior @piperjhansen.bsky.social. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
Lexington’s tourism agency spends big on bonuses, expenses. Does it pay off?
VisitLEX’s funding largely comes from people visiting Lexington, rather than those living here. Here’s how.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
the bill, filed monday, gives local governments the ability to use bonds and other incentive tools in order to support large residential developments in their communities as well as their infrastructure and utility needs www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
KY cities could have more options to incentivize affordable housing under new bill
The bill is a byproduct of the Kentucky Housing Task Force that identified practical solutions to the state’s housing shortage.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
the ky house formed an impeachment committee and met for the first time yesterday to discuss rules to review petitions filed against elected officials for their removal. it's having its second meeting right now and has been in closed session for over an hour www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
Impeachment petitions for Supreme Court justice, others under review by KY House
In the committee’s first meeting, it accepted petitions, including one against Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
we have the first bill from the ky senate to be sent to the house of representatives for consideration: a proposal allowing counties without a regional licensing office the option to run driver’s license renewal and duplication services. more from today's vote: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
KY Senate hits the gas on sending driver’s licensing services to local offices
The Kentucky Senate passed its first bill of session, proposing driver’s license renewal services be returned to localities.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
though carrying out immigration law typically falls to federal officers, some kentucky lawmakers want to see local law enforcement enter agreements in order to aid ICE. updated with comments from gov. andy beshear: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
Kentucky police would be required to work with ICE under GOP-backed bills
Several bills filed in the early days of the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly aim to require local participation in immigration enforcement.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
wrote about a proposed policy that would allow the state to award eligible applicants enough money to cover one-third of the cost of applying for federal permits for a kentucky nuclear site: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
Proposed KY grant program would pay for nuclear permitting, application fees
The Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Program could curb the cost of applications and permitting for nuclear energy facilities in Kentucky.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
i am finally back to writing about housing policy. three still-to-be-filed bills aim to close the state’s affordable housing gap, improve access, continue economic development. more on each, who is sponsoring, etc. watch this space, as they say: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
Three bills expected to be filed by GOP lawmakers to address KY’s housing needs
The slate of still-to-be-filed bills aim to close the state’s affordable housing gap, improve access and jumpstart economic development.
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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
A couple hundred folks out in Louisville tonight to protest the ICE killing of 37-year-old Renee Good, who was shot while trying to drive away from authorities in Minneapolis last night.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
in his first team kentucky update of the year, ky gov. andy beshear took a stance on ice and described the fatal shooting of a minnesota woman by on of the agency’s officers yesterday “foreseeable,” “preventable” and “tragic.” more: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
also new from me: a bill to protect medical privacy and prevent criminalization of those who seek reproductive care outside the commonwealth was filed this week the same day a kentucky woman was indicted for fetal homicide after taking abortion medication www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
Democrat’s bill would prevent prosecution of Kentuckians who seek abortions
A Democratic Kentucky state representative filed a bill to protect medical privacy and prevent criminalization of reproductive health care.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
ky gov. andy beshear’s state of the commonwealth speech doubled as his final budget address, which sounded a lot like the governor - now half way through his second term - already has his eyes on what’s next. some key takeaways from last night: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
Andy Beshear teases his political future during State of the Commonwealth speech
KY Gov. Andy Beshear gave his seventh State of the Commonwealth and last budget address. He joked it’s the last budget address “in this job”
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
hey y'all, i'll be in frankfort this session aiding in coverage @kentucky.com of #kyga26, budget talks and daily goings on at the capitol. i'm eager to take on the task. send tips, advice, say hi, add me to your press list: phansen@herald-leader.com
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Austin Horn @austin-horn.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
In November, I submitted an open records request for Gov. Andy Beshear's past schedule. Today, the H-L sued over their denial (citing an old appellate ruling classifying gov schedule as "preliminary") of that request. Read the full lawsuit & story here. www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
Herald-Leader sues Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his schedule
The lawsuit also seeks the calendars of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Beshear’s senior adviser Rocky Adkins.
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Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
We're suing Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his calendar.
kentucky.com
Herald-Leader sues Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his schedule
The lawsuit also seeks the calendars of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Beshear’s senior adviser Rocky Adkins.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 22/12/2025
The joint venture’s end means BlueOval SK will cease operations at the Hardin County plant and all employees will be terminated on or shortly after Feb. 14. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
Mass layoffs of more than 1,500 workers at BlueOval SK to start February 2026
The joint venture’s end means BlueOval SK will cease operations at the Hardin County plant and all employees will be terminated.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
attempted to summarize what’s happened to/at/with blueoval in the past week. hope it’s helpful: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
What’s next for KY Ford plants, employees after end of BlueOval partnership?
Mass layoffs are anticipated at Kentucky’s BlueOval SK plant as Ford Motor Co. takes over and repurposes the EV battery facility.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
major job loss incoming at blueoval sk in kentucky as ford announces a pivot to ... using the facilities in glendale for battery energy storage systems instead of ev batteries. 'tis developing, i may have more soon but for now, new from moi: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
Ford to lay off 1,600 as it repurposes BlueOval SK for energy storage in KY
Ford Motor Co. is planning to repurpose its battery manufacturing capacity and facilities in Kentucky.
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Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
The South Korean battery maker SK On that had partnered with Ford Motor Co. for U.S. production of parts for electric vehicles, including in Kentucky, is ending the joint venture. New from @piperjhansen.bsky.social:
kentucky.com
Companies behind BlueOval SK end joint venture to make EV batteries in KY
South Korean battery maker SK On said it will end its joint venture with Ford Motor Co. for United States-based battery production.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
South Korea-based SK On and Ford Motor Co. said Dec. 11 the businesses will break apart their agreement to collaborate and will instead run their BlueOval SK battery plants separately. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
Companies behind BlueOval SK end joint venture to make EV batteries in KY
South Korean battery maker SK On said it will end its joint venture with Ford Motor Co. for United States-based battery production.
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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
We've got a new audience editor at The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. Andrew Henderson, formerly of McClatchy, will lead audience strategy, ensuring our reporting is not only excellent but also accessible, engaging and trusted.
lpm.org
5 questions with Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s new audience editor
The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s latest hire will lead audience strategy, ensuring our reporting is not only excellent but also accessible, engaging and trusted.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
The investment is part of a larger $912 million announcement across five of the automaker’s American manufacturing plants that will add a total 252 jobs in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri and Mississippi, to increase hybrid vehicle capacity. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
Toyota adds $200M, 80+ local jobs to its largest global plant in KY
As part of a long-term investment in manufacturing hybrid cars, Toyota is putting more than $204 million and 82 new jobs in Kentucky.
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Adrian Paul Bryant @adrianpbryant.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
I'm happy to share that I've joined @kentucky.com as their new Lexington Government Reporter! It's a big change, but familiar territory - I am way too committed to this beat to go too far. If you have any news tips, story ideas, or just want to chat, please reach out at abryant@herald-leader.com.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
The tenured full professor in UK’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law, told the Herald-Leader Friday this instance of his speech comes from research conclusions about Israel and colonization. www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
kentucky.com
UK professor sues school for violating free speech rights over Israel comments
A University of Kentucky professor is suing the school after it reassigned him in July following comments he made related to Israel.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
“I think we did hit the triggers in Kentucky, and even if we didn’t — but we did — we should, we need to reduce the taxes anyway.” www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
‘Collision course to zero.’ GOP starts early back-and-forth on income tax cut
Reducing individual income tax to 0% in Kentucky has been a priority for the state’s Chamber of Commerce and the GOP-led legislature.
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Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Everyone will be shocked to know Grok is spreading misinformation.
kentucky.com
UPS plane crash: No, Grok, Gov. Andy Beshear’s photo isn’t from 2021 tornadoes
The AI-powered chatbot amplified an inaccurate claim that a recent photo post by the Kentucky governor was from a previous disaster.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
kentucky's largest power company can move forward with a plan to spend $3 billion on two gas plants for future data centers, the state's regulators said in a more than 200-page order i read so you don't have to www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
LG&E and KU can build power plants for KY data centers, regulatory board says
The pair of power plants will support an influx of high-energy demand customers, namely data centers for artificial intelligence.
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Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Journalists of Bluesky: The Lexington Herald-Leader is looking for a new Kentucky government and politics reporter to join our team. This person will be our lead reporter on all things General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear. Interested? Drop me a line. Listing:
mcclatchy.rec.pro.ukg.net
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Sylvia Goodman @sylviaruthg.lpm.org · 24/10/2025
Latest from me: The Jefferson County Republican party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epithets. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
lpm.org
GOP candidate for Kentucky Senate defends, then deletes ‘rant’ against millennial ‘skanks’
The Jefferson County Republican Party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epith...
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
“In a current world economy when people don’t know what the trade policy of the US is going to look like tomorrow ..., (it’s important to) be a governor that can sit across the table from an international CEO and say, ‘We will make sure that you are successful.'" www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
kentucky.com
Beshear calls economic development trip to Europe ‘one of the most effective’
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and his administration met with business leaders and trade officials in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland.
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Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
One of Kentucky’s largest for-profit residential addiction care treatment providers, which has been the subject of an FBI investigation for more than a year, is being sold, administrators confirmed Wednesday. New from @aacquisto.bsky.social & @taylorsixhl.bsky.social:
kentucky.com
Embattled Kentucky addiction treatment provider to be sold to Ethema Health
ARC and Ethema Health signed an initial intent to sell on Wednesday. It is unclear how much Ethema paid.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
my latest is a 700 word story about how kentucky and peanut butter and jelly are the center of the universe and a recent legal dispute over crimped edges and product packaging www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
PB&J maker with KY facility sues popular grocery chain over sandwich dupe
The parent company of Lexington’s peanut butter factory is suing Trader Joe’s for violating trademark on a product made in Kentucky.
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Bluegrass Politics @bluegrasspolitics.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
The Lexington Herald-Leader has been chosen for a competitive partnership with an award-winning national publication.
kentucky.com
Herald-Leader chosen by ProPublica for Local Reporting Network partnership
Reporter Alex Acquisto will spend the next year on a statewide investigative project that will have wide ramifications for Kentuckians.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
girl formerly afraid of space writes again about local company designing very cool science experiments to study the very thing she used to be scared of. incredibly cool stuff, hope you think so, too: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
What happens to our bodies in space? A KY-based experiment wants to know
Automated systems made by a Lexington-based company are collecting data from miles above earth’s surface.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
half a billion dollars' worth of thoroughbred horses were sold at keeneland's recent auction. i delved into why that matters, how it happened and what's likely to come next www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
New record set at Keeneland’s two-week auction of young thoroughbreds
In a two-week-long auction at Lexington’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, more than 3,000 horses sold, totaling more than $530 million.
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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 25/09/2025
Reminder for who needs reminding: Government officials only answering one question from you, once a week, in person, is not transparency.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
it was an 11-vote margin, and some ballots are being challenged but the uaw is claiming victory in kentucky's growing electric vehicle battery industry. the labor union says it was a hard fought win to represent workers at blueoval. more/to be updated: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
UAW claims BlueOval battery plant victory. Some ballots are being challenged
One of the country’s largest labor unions is claiming a narrow victory in Kentucky’s growing electric vehicle battery industry.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
School district officials would not say Wednesday afternoon why they were waiting a day to share the fund balance with the public. Liggins told the Herald-Leader in an interview earlier this month that he needed to be a better communicator. Read more at: www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
kentucky.com
FCPS delaying release of updated figures that show extent of budget problems
The beleaguered district’s superintendent and his finance team did not immediately release updated budget figures Wednesday.
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Bluegrass Politics @bluegrasspolitics.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
KY Politics Insider: Rand Paul for president in 2028? Kentucky's GOP Senate candidates hit Fox News & more www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311763601.html#storylink=cpy
kentucky.com
KY Politics Insider: Rand Paul 2028? GOP Senate candidates hit Fox News & more
Sen. Rand Paul: “I’m definitely going to run for reelection. The presidential thing? We haven’t decided.”
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
some interesting bits and bobs from andys beshear and barr toward the end of my latest about electric vehicle battery production starting at blueoval yesterday in glendale: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
One of Kentucky’s largest electric vehicle battery plants begins production
Commercial production of electric vehicle batteries is underway at the BlueOval SK plant in Kentucky’s Hardin County.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
in the past week, three global companies have made high dollar investments, btwn ~$500m and ~$3b, to reshore some of their manufacturing operations in kentucky. the latest is ge appliances which is moving some of its washing machine production lines to louisville www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
GE Appliances’ $3B manufacturing investment includes KY. Here’s where, how much
The appliance maker is investing in US manufacturing across five states, creating 1,000 jobs by 2030, company officials said Wednesday.
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Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
ford, the automaker that employs about 12,000 people in kentucky, released its electric vehicle strategy today. the ceo called it a model t moment and a huge bet on itself. made a final round of updates on this, now’s a good time to read: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
kentucky.com
Ford puts $2B into Louisville Assembly Plant for new, midsize, electric truck
The automaker said Monday it was investing $5 billion total in its new electric vehicle platform, assembly process and new midsize truck.
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