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On Tuesday, industry leaders reassembled with a bipartisan group of Kentucky leaders to toast the bourbon sector's record growth. Kentucky's bourbon industry pumps $9 billion into the Bluegrass State's economy each year, creating more jobs and attracting more tourists than ever before, according to a study released Tuesday. Kentucky distillers produce 95% of the global bourbon supply, according to the Kentucky Distillers' Association. Producers had a record inventory of 12.6 million bourbon barrels aging in warehouses at the start of 2023, it said. Bourbon tourism has flourished, with attendance surpassing 2.5 million visitors last year along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, which showcases smaller distilleries.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Bill Samuels Jr, Maker's Mark, Samuels, “, ”, David Osborne, Eric Gregory, ” Samuels Organizations: Kentucky Capitol, Democratic, Kentucky distillers, Kentucky Distillers ' Association, Maker's, statehouse, distillers, Producers, Bourbon, Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Distillers, Republican, Bluegrass State, Capitol, Ivy League Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, Kentucky

A near-total abortion ban has been in place in Kentucky since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. “Repealing the current abortion ban in Kentucky is not about promoting one choice over another," she said. Andy Beshear that attacked his Republican challenger’s longstanding support for the state's abortion ban. Kentucky's Supreme Court last year refused to strike down the near-total abortion ban. In Kentucky, Burke revealed two other bills Wednesday.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Lindsey Burke, Republican supermajorities, “, ” Burke, Kentuckians, ”, Addia Wuchner, Burke, Jackie McGranahan, Hadley Duvall, Duvall, Andy Beshear, Beshear Organizations: —, Democratic, Republican, Supreme, Democratic Rep, Republicans, GOP, ”, Capitol, American Civil Liberties Union of, Kentucky, Democratic Gov, Kentucky's, Bluegrass State Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, Kentucky, U.S, Kentucky's, American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky

In comments to a Kentucky House panel, Adams bluntly urged lawmakers to “not go backwards” as he defended the law allowing three days of no-excuse, in-person early voting. Adams' remarks were aimed at a Senate bill that would end the early voting days. “I’m keeping an open mind because I never was a big fan of early voting to begin with,” he said Friday. “There’s nothing bad and everything good with the way Kentucky adopted and implemented early voting,” University of Kentucky law professor Joshua A. Douglas said in an email Friday. Adams' office said that would draw just a tiny fraction of the electorate, making it no substitution for the current three days of no-excuse, in-person early voting.

Persons: Michael Adams, Adams, “, Kentuckians, ” Adams, Donald Trump, Republican Sen, John Schickel, Schickel, ”, it's, Damon Thayer, cosponsors, Andy Beshear, Beshear, Joshua A, Douglas, — “, — Organizations: —, Bluegrass State, Kentucky House, Republican, GOP, Senate, Democratic, ” University of Kentucky Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, — Kentucky, Kentucky, Trump, “ Kentucky, ” “ Kentucky

Beshear's national profile rose after his convincing reelection win over GOP challenger Daniel Cameron last November. The newly formed 501(c)(4) group called “Heckbent” will promote key Beshear proposals by supporting grassroots advocacy, said Eric Hyers, his chief political strategist. There was no such group to promote Beshear's agenda during his first term, when his notable legislative successes often were overshadowed by his many policy disputes with GOP lawmakers. The governor's record of legislative achievements is more checkered — something the new group will try to change with messaging that could focus on areas represented by GOP lawmakers. He's so far failed to persuade lawmakers to appropriate state funds to provide preschool for every Kentucky 4-year-old.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Beshear, Eric Hyers, ” Hyers, Donald Trump, He's, David Osborne Organizations: —, Gov, Republican, State, GOP, supermajorities, GOP House Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, Kentucky

☆ Biden’s ‘Up-Ticket’ Ballot Strategy
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Susan Milligan | Lauren Camera | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Is the 80-year-old Biden (who turns 81 on Nov. 20) uniquely vulnerable because of his age and other issues? We'll get you copies of all those other polls," Biden said as he prepared to leave for a speech before United Auto Workers in Illinois. A lot of Biden's policies are toxic," O'Connell adds, ticking off the border and inflation along with the president's age. Democrats, meanwhile, believe they can benefit not just from the abortion issue but discontent toward Trump, whose favorability numbers with the general electorate are on par with Biden's . With stubbornly low approval ratings a year out from the election, Biden will need all the help he can get.

Persons: Joe Biden, –, Biden, ”, Jason Cabel Roe, Roe, Cook, Jessica Taylor, Donald Trump, I'm, We'll, Barack Obama, David Axelrod –, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Kamala Harris, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron's, Beshear, A’shanti Gholar, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, Sen, Tim Kaine, “, Trump, Wade, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott of, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, Haley, Ford O'Connell, O'Connell, State Jena Griswold, Gholar Organizations: Democratic, Republicans, Democratic Party, Michigan Republican Party, Kentucky, New York Times, Siena, CNN, United Auto Workers, Biden, Jackson, Health Organization, Kentucky GOP, Bluegrass State, GOP, Republican, Supreme, Louisiana Republican, Democrats, South Carolina Gov, Florida Gov, New, New Jersey Gov, Colorado, State Locations: Ohio, Virginia, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Illinois, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada , Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Dobbs v, Kentucky, Southern, Louisiana, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Florida

But this year, abortion is on the ballot, with party control of the closely divided chambers of the legislature determining whether Virginia will lose its status as the last Southern state where abortion is mostly legal and accessible. Democrats, meanwhile, see the races as critical not only to sustaining abortion rights in swing-state Virginia but as a test of how powerful the issue remains nationally. Predicting winners is always difficult in state legislative races, but especially hard in Virginia. Where Democrats have an edge, experts say, is on the motivating factor of abortion rights. Since Dobbs, pro-abortion rights voters have become more energized, Rackaway says, since they're trying to regain something they lost in the Supreme Court ruling.

Persons: Danica Roem, Danny Diggs, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin's, Chapman Rackaway, Youngkin –, Zack Roday, Dobbs, Steven Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington, Ohioans, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Jaime Harrison, Harrison, Kyle Kondick, Biden, Youngkin, Farnsworth, –, Rackaway, you've, Diggs, Roday doesn't, they've, Roday, Heather Williams Organizations: Senate, Republican, Gov, Old Dominion, Republicans, Radford University, U.S . Senate, GOP, Youngkin's PAC, Jackson, Health Organization, University of Mary, Democratic, Bluegrass State, Democratic National Committee, Center, Politics, University of Virginia, Virginia, Democrats, The Washington Post, –, National Democrats, Democratic Legislative, Republican National Committee, Republican Party of Virginia, Campaign Locations: Northern Virginia, Virginia, Southern, Old, Dobbs – California , Kansas , Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Kentucky

Andy Beshear downplayed party labels while campaigning Monday for a second term in Republican-leaning Kentucky, touting his role in creating jobs, improving roads and leading recovery from a series of disasters as rising above partisan politics. In urging Kentuckians to stick with him, Beshear said there's a "better chance to build that better Kentucky for our kids and our grandkids. And a chance to leave a collective legacy of more opportunity for the next generation than we ever thought was possible.”Former two-term Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, the current governor’s father, joined the incumbent Monday, quipping: “I used to be somebody. We could not have had a better governor.”The pandemic gave Beshear an unprecedented platform as governor.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Beshear, we've, ” Beshear, “, Cameron, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, “ You’ve, Kentuckians, there's, Steve Beshear, I’m, ” Steve Beshear, Steve, he’s, haven’t, ” Cameron, Janet Quigg Organizations: — Democratic, Republican, GOP, Bluegrass State, Democratic, Democrat, Kentucky Gov Locations: RICHMOND, Ky, Kentucky, Richmond, Kentucky's, Appalachia, Ohio, Indiana, COVID

Andy Beshear and GOP Attorney General Daniel Cameron staked out their stands on gun policy during a recent debate in Louisville. Statewide politicians tread cautiously on gun issues in the Bluegrass State, where support for gun rights is seen as “almost the third rail of Kentucky politics," said longtime political commentator Al Cross. Political Cartoons View All 1223 ImagesDuring the recent televised debate, Beshear and Cameron declared their support for the Second Amendment. Law enforcement officials had received numerous complaints about the gunman’s threatening statements. A Kentucky law sends guns confiscated by police to auction, with the proceeds used to buy law enforcement equipment.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Muhammad Ali, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, Tommy Elliott, Beshear, Al Cross, Cameron, ” Beshear, I’ve, ” Cameron, ”, —, Marjory Stoneman, ” Cameron nudged, Craig Greenberg, Greenberg, Cameron sidestepped, Dylan Lovan Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Gov, GOP, Bank, Bluegrass State, Old National Bank, Kentucky's Republican, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Police, Louisville, Associated Locations: LOUISVILLE, Ky, Louisville, Kentucky's, Kentucky, Maine, Florida, Parkland

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) — Republican voter Mark Cook stuck with his party in Kentucky's last election for governor. Once again, Warren County, which includes the leafy, fast-growing college town of Bowling Green, looms as a potential swing area. Those undecided voters included Carol Martin of Bowling Green, who wanted to hear more from both candidates. “I believe him," the retiree said while strolling through a downtown Bowling Green park. "And what you see is what you get.”A Republican lawmaker from Bowling Green had a different view.

Persons: Mark Cook, Andy Beshear, Cook, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Beshear, “ He's, ” Cook, “ I’ve, I’m, Daniel Cameron, Kentuckians, Matt Bevin, Trump, Cameron, ”, Scott Lasley, “, Carol Martin, Martin, “ I’m, Bevin, Dale Chaffin, Chaffin, Still, what's, Donald Kubeny, Roe, Wade, he’s, Linda King's, ” King, Gary Jolly, Susann Davis, ” Davis, Olivia Thomas, Patti Minter, it’s, Minter, Sen, Mike Wilson, Daniel Organizations: — Republican, Republican, Democratic, Bluegrass State, ”, Beshear, Western Kentucky University, National Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, Northern Kentucky University, “, Democrat, Cameron, Supreme, Bowling, GOP, reined, Former, Bowling Green Democrat Locations: Ky, Kentucky's, Kentucky, Bowling, Appalachia, Mississippi, Warren County, It's, Louisville, Western Kentucky, Fayette County, Lexington, ”, Highland Heights, bologna, U.S, Bowling Green

☆ Free daycare for teachers' kids could help fix the crisis for all parents
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US is in a childcare crisis due to cost and lack of available teachers. The state now gives free tuition to the children of childcare teachers. However, one potential solution appears to be working, but only if governments are willing to step in and help. AdvertisementAdvertisementNPR found one example of a center offering free tuition to employees without state assistance in West Virginia. Many childcare centers may be forced to close.

Persons: —, Kentucky Daniel Light, Sinead, ZipRecruiter, Luis Alvarez, Clive R Organizations: Service, Census Bureau, Center for American Progress, Bluegrass State, NPR, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economic, Institute, Walmart, View, National Association for, Education of Young Locations: Kentucky, West Virginia, NPR , Kentucky

GOP nominees in both states — Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and first-term Mississippi Gov. '”In 2020, then-President Donald Trump won 62% of the vote in Kentucky and 58% in Mississippi in his loss to Biden. In Mississippi, Reeves put aside anti-Biden rhetoric when he appeared with the president to survey tornado damage in March. “Well, I say a vote for him is a vote for the corrupt system in place,” Presley said of Reeves. A vote for Brandon Presley is a vote for Brandon Presley.”___Emily Wagster Pettus reported from Jackson, Mississippi.

Persons: Joe Biden, Daniel Cameron, Tate Reeves —, Carrie Archie Russell, Donald Trump, Biden, ” Russell, there's, Andy Beshear, He's, Steve Beshear, Matt Bevin, Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley —, Reeves, ” Beshear, Beshear, Cameron, “, ” Cameron, Presley, you’ve, ” Reeves, “ You’ve, You’ve, Bennie, Brandon, ” Bennie, Bennie Thompson, —, Thompson, ” Presley, ”, Emily Wagster Pettus Organizations: Republican, Democratic, Vanderbilt University, Republican Party, Democrat, Biden, Trump, Beshear, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Democrats, Democratic U.S . Rep, U.S . Capitol, of Human Services Locations: LOUISVILLE, Ky, Kentucky, Mississippi, it's, nationalize, In Mississippi, U.S, ” In Mississippi, Mississippi’s, America, Jackson , Mississippi

Andy Beshear has seized a commanding fundraising lead over Republican challenger Daniel Cameron in their marquee matchup in Kentucky, their latest campaign finance reports showed. Heading into the fall campaign, Beshear had the advantage of a noncompetitive spring primary campaign, while Cameron exhausted most of his funds during a crowded GOP primary. Cameron’s campaign reported raising about $2.3 million in contributions since May. Cameron's campaign contends their grassroots support is deeper, given the state's GOP strength, especially across the vast rural stretches of the Bluegrass State. We are confident that with our conservative message, robust fundraising and extensive travel schedule, Daniel Cameron will defeat Andy Beshear,” Sean Southard, a Cameron campaign spokesman, said in a statement.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Beshear —, Cameron, Beshear, Al Cross, ” Cross, ”, Democratic Party —, Eric Hyers, Cameron's, Andy, ” Sean Southard Organizations: — Democratic, Republican, GOP, —, “, Kentucky, NFL, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Bluegrass State Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, Kentucky, Churchill

Beshear's campaign released a TV ad featuring a prosecutor denouncing the law's lack of exceptions for rape or incest. Matt Bevin played up his opposition to abortion while Beshear focused on education and other issues. Since then, Kentucky's “trigger law” abortion ban — passed in 2019 — took effect when Roe v. Wade was struck down. In Kentucky, Cameron’s office has gone to court to defend the trigger law ban and another anti-abortion state law that outlaws abortion after the sixth week of pregnancy. During a GOP primary debate in March, Cameron expressed support for the near-total abortion ban.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Beshear, Erin White, Nobody, ”, Cameron, Beshear “, Joe Biden, Cameron “, Matt Bevin, —, Roe, Wade, ” Cameron, it’s, ” Beshear, ” Addia Wuchner, ” Wuchner, Tamarra Wieder, ” Wieder, “ Cameron, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Emily Wagster Pettus, Sara Cline Organizations: — Democratic, Republican, Republicans, Supreme, Louisville Courier, Democrat Party, Democratic, U.S . Senate, Bluegrass State, U.S, Alliance, Republican Gov, Associated Press Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, U.S, Kentucky's, Kentucky, ” Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Jackson, Miss, Baton Rouge, La

☆ After Mitch McConnell's 2nd freezing episode, a Kentucky GOP county chair says he's 'disappointed' that the senator didn't relinquish his leadership role in 2022: 'That would've been a wise decision'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

After Mitch McConnell froze again, a Kentucky GOP leader said the senator should have left last year. Bob Barney, the GOP chair in Jessamine County, told The Post he was "disappointed" in the situation. But McConnell's Republican Senate colleagues have, by and large, rallied around him. Barney told the newspaper he feels as though McConnell won't be selected as the GOP leader once again, which will eventually push him to leave office. "We're all very disappointed that he didn't let someone else take over as leader in 2022," Barney told The Post.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Bob Barney, Sen, John Cornyn of, McConnell, Cornyn, didn't, Barney, Rick Scott of, Barney —, Joe Biden, —, Mitch, he'd, Scott Jennings, Jim Banks, Jennings Organizations: Kentucky GOP, GOP, Republican, Service, Kentucky Republican, Washington Post, Safer Communities, Post, Kentucky Republicans, Indiana Rep, Democratic, Bluegrass State Locations: Kentucky, Jessamine County, Wall, Silicon, John Cornyn of Texas, Rick Scott of Florida

☆ Abortion rights keep winning on the ballot in conservative states — Florida and Arizona could be next
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ohio voters have rejected a proposal that would've made it more difficult for voters to amend the state constitution, including one measure set for the November ballot that would guarantee abortion rights in the state. For the third time in a year, voters in a conservative state have shot down an attempt by Republicans to make constitutional changes that target abortion. As of Wednesday afternoon, the people of Ohio had rejected Issue 1 by a 14-point margin. Less than two months after the fall of Roe, voters in the Sunflower State rejected an amendment that would have stripped state constitutional protections for abortion by an 18-point margin. And the following November, voters in deeply conservative Kentucky narrowly rejected a state constitutional amendment that said there is no right to an abortion in the Bluegrass State.

Persons: Ohioans, resoundingly, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Joe Biden's, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, Roe Organizations: Columbus Fire Fighters, Buckeye State, Republicans, Ohio, State's, NBC, Republican, Sunflower State, Bluegrass State Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Ohio, Buckeye, Kansas, Sunflower, Kentucky

☆ Mitch McConnell was heckled with chants of 'retire' at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky days after he froze during a Capitol Hill press conference
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mitch McConnell was heckled at the annual Fancy Farm picnic in Kentucky this past weekend. Booing is not unusual at Fancy Farm, but McConnell spoke after a much publicized health scare. The veteran GOP leader has committed to serving in his leadership role through the 2024 elections. And the reception is definitely not unusual at the Fancy Farm picnic, where Democrats and Republicans have their most fervent supporters cheer and boo candidates from opposing parties during the oft-raucous event. But during McConnell's speech at Fancy Farm, he went into attack mode against Democratic Gov.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, McConnell, jeers, Andy Beshear, who's, Daniel Cameron, haven't, Joe Biden —, Sen, Dianne Feinstein —, Biden, Gray Organizations: GOP, Service, Republicans, Republican, Hill, Senate, Democratic Gov, Republican Party, Democratic, Beshear, Bluegrass State, California Democrat Locations: Kentucky, Wall, Silicon, Georgia, Frankfort, …, California, Insider's

☆ Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who led the campaign arm to elect GOP senators, called the 2022 midterms a 'complete disappointment'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Rick Scott on Friday called the 2022 midterm results a "complete disappointment" for the GOP. Scott said GOP'ers didn't offer a positive vision to counteract their critiques of President Biden. The Florida lawmaker told Fox News host Sean Hannity that GOP voters simply did not turn out in sufficient numbers on Election Day to counteract Democratic voters across the country. Election Day ... our voters didn't show up. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Mike Lee of Utah — issued a letter this week asking for colleagues to delay a Senate GOP leadership vote on Wednesday.

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