Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026i 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 53610
Reposted by Piper HansenJoe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 10/09/2026Unfortunately, very crappy news today from me, on the McClatchy hedge fund gutting Kentucky's second-largest paper 👇 14249121
Reposted by Piper HansenJoe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 04/09/2026Matt Bevin booked in Louisville Metro jail 46415
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 10/06/2026The 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.comData centers likely to be a bigger topic than expected at Lexington Planning CommissionWhile not anticipated as part of the Planning Commission’s June 11 meeting, it’s likely questions may still be asked about data centers 010
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 09/06/2026The 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.comLexington council temporarily pauses data center approvals in Fayette CountyTwo walk-on resolutions — a moratorium and another that initiates a zoning amendment — passed at the less than 15-minute June 9 meeting. 010
Reposted by Piper HansenSarah Ladd @sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social · 17/04/2026The 2026 Frankfort Press Corps + Women’s Press Corps* *Minus a few people who couldn’t make it 2253
Reposted by Piper HansenNovelty Cistern @noveltycistern.bsky.social · 16/04/2026Just 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 4537
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 16/04/2026maybe the real sine die was the friends we made along the way #kyga26 030
Reposted by Piper HansenAdrian Paul Bryant @adrianpbryant.bsky.social · 13/04/2026Over 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.comLexington’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. 021
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 03/02/2026the 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.comKY cities could have more options to incentivize affordable housing under new billThe bill is a byproduct of the Kentucky Housing Task Force that identified practical solutions to the state’s housing shortage. 001
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 22/01/2026the 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.comImpeachment petitions for Supreme Court justice, others under review by KY HouseIn the committee’s first meeting, it accepted petitions, including one against Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine. 131
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 16/01/2026we 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.comKY Senate hits the gas on sending driver’s licensing services to local officesThe Kentucky Senate passed its first bill of session, proposing driver’s license renewal services be returned to localities. 021
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 15/01/2026though 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.comKentucky police would be required to work with ICE under GOP-backed billsSeveral bills filed in the early days of the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly aim to require local participation in immigration enforcement. 021
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 15/01/2026wrote 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.comProposed KY grant program would pay for nuclear permitting, application feesThe Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Program could curb the cost of applications and permitting for nuclear energy facilities in Kentucky. 000
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 14/01/2026i 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.comThree bills expected to be filed by GOP lawmakers to address KY’s housing needsThe slate of still-to-be-filed bills aim to close the state’s affordable housing gap, improve access and jumpstart economic development. 000
Reposted by Piper HansenRyan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 08/01/2026A 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. 223864
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 08/01/2026in 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... 000
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 08/01/2026also 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.comDemocrat’s bill would prevent prosecution of Kentuckians who seek abortionsA Democratic Kentucky state representative filed a bill to protect medical privacy and prevent criminalization of reproductive health care. 010
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 08/01/2026ky 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.comAndy Beshear teases his political future during State of the Commonwealth speechKY 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” 222
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 06/01/2026hey 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 031
Reposted by Piper HansenAustin Horn @austin-horn.bsky.social · 05/01/2026In 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.comHerald-Leader sues Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his scheduleThe lawsuit also seeks the calendars of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Beshear’s senior adviser Rocky Adkins. 054
Reposted by Piper HansenTessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 05/01/2026We're suing Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his calendar.kentucky.comHerald-Leader sues Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his scheduleThe lawsuit also seeks the calendars of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Beshear’s senior adviser Rocky Adkins. 2126
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 22/12/2025The 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.comMass layoffs of more than 1,500 workers at BlueOval SK to start February 2026The joint venture’s end means BlueOval SK will cease operations at the Hardin County plant and all employees will be terminated. 011
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 17/12/2025attempted to summarize what’s happened to/at/with blueoval in the past week. hope it’s helpful: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...kentucky.comWhat’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. 010
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 15/12/2025major 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.comFord to lay off 1,600 as it repurposes BlueOval SK for energy storage in KYFord Motor Co. is planning to repurpose its battery manufacturing capacity and facilities in Kentucky. 121
Reposted by Piper HansenTessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 11/12/2025The 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.comCompanies behind BlueOval SK end joint venture to make EV batteries in KYSouth Korean battery maker SK On said it will end its joint venture with Ford Motor Co. for United States-based battery production. 042
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 11/12/2025South 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.comCompanies behind BlueOval SK end joint venture to make EV batteries in KYSouth Korean battery maker SK On said it will end its joint venture with Ford Motor Co. for United States-based battery production. 020
Reposted by Piper HansenRyan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 11/12/2025We'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.org5 questions with Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s new audience editorThe Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s latest hire will lead audience strategy, ensuring our reporting is not only excellent but also accessible, engaging and trusted. 053
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 19/11/2025The 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.comToyota adds $200M, 80+ local jobs to its largest global plant in KYAs part of a long-term investment in manufacturing hybrid cars, Toyota is putting more than $204 million and 82 new jobs in Kentucky. 010
Reposted by Piper HansenAdrian Paul Bryant @adrianpbryant.bsky.social · 17/11/2025I'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. 3152
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 14/11/2025The 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.comUK professor sues school for violating free speech rights over Israel commentsA University of Kentucky professor is suing the school after it reassigned him in July following comments he made related to Israel. 010
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 cutReducing individual income tax to 0% in Kentucky has been a priority for the state’s Chamber of Commerce and the GOP-led legislature. 010
Reposted by Piper HansenTessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 06/11/2025Everyone will be shocked to know Grok is spreading misinformation.kentucky.comUPS plane crash: No, Grok, Gov. Andy Beshear’s photo isn’t from 2021 tornadoesThe AI-powered chatbot amplified an inaccurate claim that a recent photo post by the Kentucky governor was from a previous disaster. 01912
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 29/10/2025kentucky'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.comLG&E and KU can build power plants for KY data centers, regulatory board saysThe pair of power plants will support an influx of high-energy demand customers, namely data centers for artificial intelligence. 010
Reposted by Piper HansenTessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 24/10/2025Journalists 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 01110
Reposted by Piper HansenSylvia Goodman @sylviaruthg.lpm.org · 24/10/2025Latest 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.orgGOP 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... 55431
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.comBeshear 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. 000
Reposted by Piper HansenTessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 22/10/2025One 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.comEmbattled Kentucky addiction treatment provider to be sold to Ethema HealthARC and Ethema Health signed an initial intent to sell on Wednesday. It is unclear how much Ethema paid. 043
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 17/10/2025my 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.comPB&J maker with KY facility sues popular grocery chain over sandwich dupeThe parent company of Lexington’s peanut butter factory is suing Trader Joe’s for violating trademark on a product made in Kentucky. 110
Reposted by Piper HansenBluegrass Politics @bluegrasspolitics.bsky.social · 01/10/2025The Lexington Herald-Leader has been chosen for a competitive partnership with an award-winning national publication.kentucky.comHerald-Leader chosen by ProPublica for Local Reporting Network partnershipReporter Alex Acquisto will spend the next year on a statewide investigative project that will have wide ramifications for Kentuckians. 052
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 29/09/2025girl 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.comWhat happens to our bodies in space? A KY-based experiment wants to knowAutomated systems made by a Lexington-based company are collecting data from miles above earth’s surface. 020
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 26/09/2025half 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.comNew record set at Keeneland’s two-week auction of young thoroughbredsIn a two-week-long auction at Lexington’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, more than 3,000 horses sold, totaling more than $530 million. 011
Reposted by Piper HansenJoe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 25/09/2025Reminder for who needs reminding: Government officials only answering one question from you, once a week, in person, is not transparency. 0242
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 28/08/2025it 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.comUAW claims BlueOval battery plant victory. Some ballots are being challengedOne of the country’s largest labor unions is claiming a narrow victory in Kentucky’s growing electric vehicle battery industry. 011
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 27/08/2025School 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.comFCPS delaying release of updated figures that show extent of budget problemsThe beleaguered district’s superintendent and his finance team did not immediately release updated budget figures Wednesday. 000
Reposted by Piper HansenBluegrass Politics @bluegrasspolitics.bsky.social · 20/08/2025KY 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=cpykentucky.comKY Politics Insider: Rand Paul 2028? GOP Senate candidates hit Fox News & moreSen. Rand Paul: “I’m definitely going to run for reelection. The presidential thing? We haven’t decided.” 103
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 20/08/2025some 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.comOne of Kentucky’s largest electric vehicle battery plants begins productionCommercial production of electric vehicle batteries is underway at the BlueOval SK plant in Kentucky’s Hardin County. 000
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 14/08/2025in 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.comGE Appliances’ $3B manufacturing investment includes KY. Here’s where, how muchThe appliance maker is investing in US manufacturing across five states, creating 1,000 jobs by 2030, company officials said Wednesday. 000
Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 12/08/2025ford, 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.comFord puts $2B into Louisville Assembly Plant for new, midsize, electric truckThe automaker said Monday it was investing $5 billion total in its new electric vehicle platform, assembly process and new midsize truck. 010