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☆ Ford, SK joint venture set to receive $9.2 billion US government loan for battery plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department on Thursday said it intends to loan a joint venture of Ford Motor (F.N) and South Korean battery maker SK On up to $9.2 billion to help finance construction of three new battery manufacturing plants in Tennessee and Kentucky. The conditional commitment for the low-cost government loan for the Blue Oval SK joint venture comes from the government's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program. SK On is a unit of South Korea's SK Innovation (096770.KS). The joint venture is building battery manufacturing facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee capable of collectively producing more than 80 gigawatt hours annually. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: David Shepardson, Toby Chopra Organizations: U.S . Energy Department, Ford Motor, SK, Blue Oval SK, Technology Vehicles Manufacturing, South Korea's SK Innovation, Thomson Locations: Korean, Tennessee, Kentucky, South

☆ Ford’s Battery Joint Venture to Get $9.2 Billion Government Loan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Jack Ewing | Clifford Krauss | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ford Motor and its battery manufacturing partner will receive a $9.2 billion loan to build three battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee, the Department of Energy said Thursday. The loan is the single biggest financial commitment the Biden administration has made in its effort to build an electric vehicle manufacturing network in the United States. The loan will go to a joint venture created by Ford and its partner SK On called BlueOval SK that will supply batteries for electric Ford and Lincoln cars and trucks. By helping to finance battery factories, the administration hopes to ensure that the United States does not become dependent on China for batteries and their components. The other two factories are in Glendale, Ky., south of Louisville, and will employ more people than Kentucky’s coal industry.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Ford Motor, Department of Energy, Ford, SK, BlueOval SK, Lincoln Locations: Kentucky, Tennessee, United States, Southern, China, Stanton, Tenn, Memphis, Glendale, Ky, Louisville

☆ Ford-SK venture to get $9.2 billion US loan for battery plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, June 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Energy Department plans to lend up to $9.2 billion to a joint venture of Ford Motor (F.N) and South Korea's SK On to help it build three battery plants in Tennessee and Kentucky. The conditional commitment for the low-cost government loan for the BlueOval SK joint venture comes from the government's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program. The joint venture is building three battery manufacturing facilities in Kentucky and Tennessee capable of collectively producing more than 120 gigawatt hours annually, the Energy Department said. This is the sixth loan for battery supply chain projects from the ATVM program. Last year, the department awarded a joint venture of General Motors (GM.N) and LG Energy Solution (373220.KS) $2.5 billion to help finance construction of new lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facilities.

Persons: Jigar Shah, Dave Webb, Robert Rhee, Ford, Jim Farley, Tesla, David Shepardson, Toby Chopra, David Evans, Alexander Smith Organizations: U.S . Energy Department, Ford Motor, Korea's SK, BlueOval SK, Technology Vehicles Manufacturing, SK, South Korea's SK Innovation, Energy Department, Energy, Ford, Lincoln, Republican, Republicans, Biden, General Motors, LG Energy, Ultium Cells, Thomson Locations: Tennessee, Kentucky, South, United States, KS, Ohio , Tennessee, Michigan, Fremont , California

☆ Ford agrees to $9.2 billion US government loan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Ford and SK’s joint venture, BlueOval SK, would use the funds to build three electric vehicle battery plants, two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee. Also, the loan amount is up to $9.2 billion, but Ford could use less than that. The loan would be part of the DoE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program, a $25 billion program to reduce US dependence on oil and reduce carbon emissions. Ford previously took out a $5.9 billion loan under the program in 2009. General Motors agreed to a $2.5 billion loan under the program last year.

Persons: New York CNN —, Joe Biden’s, Ford, DoE, General Motors Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Ford, SK, US Department of Energy, BlueOval SK, Ford, Department of Energy, Technology Vehicles Manufacturing, General Locations: New York, United States, Kentucky, Tennessee

☆ This U.S. stock has risen 10% every year for the past decade — and analysts see more upside ahead
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. health insurance firm Humana is the only major stock from around the world to have risen by more than 10% every year for the past decade. Here's what some are saying: Deutsche Bank Equity analyst George Hill bumped up the bank's price target to $568 (10% upside) on April 26. RBC Capital Markets Ben Hendrix retired the bank's outperform rating and price target of $637 on April 27. The investment bank maintains an "in-line" or hold rating on the stock with a price target of $637. Jefferies' analysts raised their price target to $614 with a buy-rating on April 27.

Persons: —, Humana's, George Hill, JP Morgan Lisa Gill, HUM, UBS Kevin Caliendo, Ben Hendrix, Morgan Stanley's, Jefferies Organizations: Humana, CNBC Pro, Affordable, NYSE, Deutsche Bank Equity, MLR, UBS, Swiss, Medicare, RBC Locations: Kentucky, U.S

☆ Opinion: How I talk to my kids about climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Opinion Laura Schifter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Editor’s Note: Laura Schifter is a senior fellow with the Aspen Institute and leads This Is Planet Ed, the institute’s initiative on climate change information. We won’t know for sure what it will be or where, but we can predict that these extreme weather events are becoming more common. Katharine Hayhoe, a leading climate scientist suggests one of the most important things we can do about climate change: talk about it. My second grader added, “And we can get power from the sun, compost and walk instead of drive!” We haven’t thought about this as a singular “climate change talk,” but rather as part of how we talk — how we try to help them make sense of the world. For all our kids, it’s time we prioritize their future and help ensure they can thrive in a changing climate.

Persons: Laura Schifter, Ed, There’s, Alexa, I’ve, Katharine Hayhoe, Taylor Organizations: Aspen Institute, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, Twitter, Facebook, Infrastructure Investment, Jobs, America, National Parent, Association Locations: Arlington , Virginia, Washington , DC, Canada, Pacific, Kentucky, California, Europe, Pakistan

One is about the possibility that we’re going to have this super intelligent AI that’s capable of great destruction. casey newtonI think that’s right. But it’s just like — I don’t think — I don’t think about to do these things in the moment like Dan. I don’t think that there’s an ethical issue with doing what he wants to do. And yeah, I just think it’s going into an area that’s going to be uncomfortable for the friend.

Persons: kevin roose, casey newton, we’re, ” casey newton I’ve, kevin roose It’s, Kevin Roose, ” casey newton, Casey Newton, clowned, New York Times ’, Kate Conger, Casey, Ajeya Cotra, kevin roose Totally, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei, Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak, They’re, Kevin, Dan Hendricks who’s, “, “ I’m, don’t, you’re, I’m, — casey newton, it’s, ChatGPT, casey newton I’m, I’ve, Martinez, Varghese, kevin roose Tyler, —, Steven A, Schwartz, ”, they’re, it’ll, there’s, Mr, Bean, We’ve, James Vincent, It’s, Jensen Huang, Harry Potter, Harry Potter of, kevin roose —, casey newton Parallelelizable, Parallelizable, — casey newton Let’s, that’s, who’s, NVIDIA —, casey newton Well, doesn’t, katie cogner, Kate Conger who’s, katie cogner Hi, katie cogner I’m, Dan, what’s, Getty, casey newton Kate, let’s, John, Here’s John, john, kevin roose That’s, Kate, he’s, He’s, he’ll, casey newton That’s, There’s, we’ve, “ I’ve, ” Kate, cogner, Prince Harry, katie cogner Doesn’t, Harry, casey newton We’re, We’re, kevin roose Kate, they’ve, Joni Mitchell, Chris Vecchio, Chris, kevin roose I’m, You’d, casey newton “, you’ll, casey newton Oh, ” kevin roose Organizations: The New York Times, NVIDIA, New York Times, Safety, Google, AI, ChatGPT, Avianca Airlines, Delta Airlines, China Southern Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Royal Dutch Airlines, “, Bar Association, Texas, M University Commerce, Apple, Microsoft, Netflix, Harry Potter of Kentucky Christian, Facebook, eBay, “ New York Times, Boston, Garden, MetLife, TED, AIs Locations: British, Avianca, Durden, ChatGPT, Taiwan, Kentucky, Hogwarts, Harry Potter of Kentucky, California, Madison, —

☆ Horse racing-Churchill Downs announces measures to improve horse safety
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] May 5, 2023; Louisville, KY, USA; The field for the 149th Running of the Kentucky Oak makes their way past the grandstands at Churchill Downs on May 5, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Michael Clevenger and Christopher Granger-USA TODAY SportsJune 1 (Reuters) - Churchill Downs Racetrack unveiled a number of safety initiatives and precautionary measures on Thursday following a recent series of horse deaths at the home of the Kentucky Derby. In addition, the number of starts per horse during a rolling eight-week period will be restricted to four. At the summit, the Churchill Downs, Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and HISA veterinary teams reviewed all veterinary information available in the hope of better understanding the events surrounding the recent fatalities. Since the Churchill Downs stable reopened for training on March 30, there have been 12 equine fatalities at Churchill Downs, which the racetrack previously described as a "highly unusual statistic."

Persons: Michael Clevenger, Christopher Granger, Downs, Frank Pingue, Ken Ferris Organizations: Kentucky Oak, USA, Kentucky Derby, Safety Authority, Churchill Downs , Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, Churchill, racing's Triple Crown, Thomson Locations: Louisville , KY, USA, Kentucky, Churchill Downs, Churchill, Churchill Downs ,, Toronto

☆ Some Amazon workers got a paid day off after reporting a possible bed bug in a delivery van
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Some Amazon workers got a full paid day off after they said they found a bed bug in a delivery van. The Amazon air hub in Northern Kentucky is at the center of a union organizing push. Some Amazon workers received a full paid day off on Monday after they claimed to have discovered a bed bug in one of the company's delivery vans at its largest air hub in Kentucky. Experts have since confirmed the insect in question was not a bed bug." It's not the first time Amazon workers have reported bed bug concerns.

Persons: Steven Kelley, Mary Kate Paradis, Northern Kentucky KCVG, they've, It's Organizations: Amazon, Guardian, Northern Kentucky KCVG, Amazon Labor Union Locations: Northern Kentucky, Kentucky, Staten, Texas

☆ Biden and McCarthy's bumpy journey to a debt ceiling deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

During months of tense exchanges over the U.S. debt ceiling, McCarthy has also taken some swipes at Biden. Arguing that Biden should meet him to discuss his demands for lifting the debt ceiling in March, McCarthy made fun of the 80-year-old president's advanced age. "I would bring lunch to the White House. But it also preserves much of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and punts the next debt ceiling showdown into 2025, which Republicans hate. Although he initially called for the debt ceiling to be raised without negotiations, he ended up making compromises.

Raoul Sreenivasan, who joined Amazon in 2016 and currently oversees planning, performance and cargo for Amazon Global Air, will take over most of Rhoads' Amazon Air responsibilities, Felton said. As part of an effort to handle and deliver more of its own packages, Amazon launched an air cargo business. Rhoads joined Amazon Air in its early days and has overseen much of the unit's growth, including the opening of a $1.5 billion air hub in Kentucky. Air cargo rates have plunged from record highs hit during late 2021, when port snarls and a dearth of international flights pinched capacity and drove up prices. Correction: Sarah Rhoads joined Amazon in 2011.

Persons: Mark Makela Sarah Rhoads, John Felton, Amazon's, Rhoads, Felton, Raoul Sreenivasan, Sreenivasan, Andy Jassy, Becky Gansert, Heather MacDougall, Pam Greer, Sarah Rhoads Organizations: Lehigh Valley International, Amazon, CNBC, Amazon Global Air, Amazon Global, DHL, TNT Express, FedEx, U.S . Navy, UPS, Amazon Air, Atlas, Boeing, Hawaiian Airlines, Airbus, Air, U.S, Bloomberg ., Amazon Logistics Locations: Allentown , Pennsylvania, U.S, Kentucky

☆ A family went viral 3 years ago for building a tiny-house village. Their college-age kids live on the property in their own tiny houses.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Ashley Abramson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Brinks went viral three years ago for building a tiny-house village. Ryan Brinks' kids are in college now, but they still live in their own tiny houses on the property. Regardless of public perception, the Brinks family remained confident in their decision — and their kids never got into any trouble. The pair plans to live at Lennox's original tiny house as their new one is built. They've added to the tiny-house village in the past 3 yearsSince 2020, Ryan and Keli have transformed the tiny-house village.

☆ Popeyes shut down a store after teenage workers said they were asked to skip school and do late weeknight shifts
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Teenage workers at a Popeyes in Oakland, California filed complaints with the state labor department. One former employee said she had to skip school after being asked to cover a weekday shift. Popeyes shut down the franchisee-operated store and opened an investigation into the claims Thursday. Following the claims, Popeyes closed the store and opened an investigation into the complaints filed with the California labor department. Other fast food chains have also fallen foul of child labor laws in recent months.

Art of Craft is a series about specialists whose work rises to the level of art. Are blacksmiths going extinct in America? Not according to Craig Kaviar, a prominent practitioner of the craft who is based in Louisville, Ky. If anything, he said, “there’s been a revival.”The industrial revolution rendered a lot of traditional blacksmith work — making hammers, nails, axes, shovels and more — obsolete. But blacksmiths like Mr. Kaviar, 69, have found success creating so-called “functional art.” Mr. Kaviar, for instance, is regionally known for making handrails forged with leaves and birds that have a rough-hewed, borderline macabre design evocative of the work of sculptors like Louise Bourgeois.

☆ Trump's candidate for Kentucky governor trounced DeSantis' last-minute endorsement, so Trump gloated 'Ron's magic is GONE!'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Katie Balevic | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ron DeSantis' endorsement came in third. Kentucky Attorney General secured a comfortable win in the Republican primary on Tuesday, far outpacing a competitor endorsed by Florida Gov. "Congratulations to a 'star' in Kentucky, Daniel Cameron, who easily won the Republican Nomination for Governor. He had my Complete and Total Endorsement," Trump posted on Truth Social. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron speaks to supporters following his victory in the Republican primary in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023.

On top of the GOP gubernatorial primary in Kentucky, there are other contests taking place on Tuesday that could provide some clues about 2024 — even though it’s hard to draw too many lessons from individual races. Voters are also heading to the polls in Pennsylvania, which is hosting a crowded Democratic primary for Philadelphia mayor. Two races will also provide some insight into voter attitudes in two key counties in two crucial battlegrounds. In other Pence news, he will attend Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst’s “Roast and Ride” event next month, per Fox News (former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is also attending). Jumping in: Former state Rep. Leslie Love jumped into the Democratic Senate primary in Michigan on Monday.

☆ Kentucky Republicans to choose challenger to Democratic Governor Beshear
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Joseph Ax | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

May 16 (Reuters) - Republican voters in Kentucky were casting ballots on Tuesday to choose their party's challenger to Democratic Governor Andy Beshear, setting up one of the most closely watched elections of the year. The winner will face Beshear, who enjoys high approval ratings despite being a Democrat in a strongly Republican state, in the November general election. Trump won Kentucky in the 2020 election against Democrat Joe Biden by more than 25 percentage points. While Cameron has Trump's official endorsement, other candidates have sought to claim the mantle of Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement. One Republican challenger, Stephen Knipper, has echoed Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was rigged and endorsed conspiracy theories about voting machines.

☆ Ozempic Is Hard to Find. Some Pharmacies Are Offering Unauthorized Alternatives.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Dani Blum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ms. Davis, 55, did not have diabetes, but had gained 50 pounds during menopause and developed hypothyroidism, she said, and was eager to lose weight. After seeing someone claiming to be a doctor on TikTok saying he could help patients obtain a generic version of the medication, she reached out. After a few days and a brief video consultation with someone who introduced herself as a nurse practitioner, Ms. Davis had a prescription in hand. “It was really fast,” Ms. Davis said. In the scramble to find Ozempic, patients are seeking out telehealth platforms, medical spas and compounding pharmacies for what some tout as “generic” versions of the drug.

☆ Kentucky and Philadelphia Hold Crucial Elections: What to Watch
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | Katie Glueck | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Though 2023 is an off year for American politics, largely dominated by the emerging Republican presidential primary race and a series of scandals and controversies, there are still critical elections this year, offering an early window into the mood of voters in both parties before 2024. In Kentucky, a divisive Republican primary for governor will come to a close on Tuesday. Two pillars of the state’s Republican apparatus have escalated attacks on each other as they seek to challenge Gov. Andy Beshear, a rare Democratic leader of a red state who also happens to be one of the most popular governors in the country. And two special elections in the state could determine control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, where Democrats have a slim majority.

☆ Ally of Mitch McConnell Wins G.O.P. Primary for Kentucky Governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Craft, who belongs to one of the biggest Republican megadonor families in the country, was well behind Mr. Cameron. Republicans have long viewed Mr. Cameron as a potential political star who could join the next generation of the party’s leaders. Mr. Cameron turned to the general election in his victory speech. The party holds supermajorities in the Legislature, making it difficult for the governor to wield much power without a veto. Yet that dynamic has allowed Mr. Beshear to avoid contentious showdowns with Republicans on hot-button issues and has let him focus on using state resources to help repair infrastructure and improve the economy.

May 10 (Reuters) - Republican vulnerabilities on abortion policy are on display in Ohio, with the party playing defense against a surge in abortion rights activism that could help President Joe Biden and his Democratic Party in next year's elections. Abortion rights advocates have racked up electoral victories, lifting Democrats along the way, since the Supreme Court struck down the national right to abortion last year. Ohio Republicans passed a six-week state abortion ban in 2019, but that law is blocked while litigation proceeds. In Republican-leaning Kentucky, abortion rights activists are already knocking on doors ahead of November's gubernatorial election, when Democrat Andy Beshear is seeking another term. Senate President Matt Huffman has made clear the measure is aimed at the abortion rights amendment.

☆ Einride: 2023 CNBC Disruptor 50
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Cnbc.Com Staff | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Swedish startup Einride is among those looking to swap out the diesel engines that currently dominate the industry in favor of fleets of autonomous electric vehicles . Just as electric vehicles are gaining popularity among consumers, so too are they catching on in the commercial trucking realm. Before Tesla, Renault Trucks, owned by Volvo, and Daimler, also produced and delivered electric heavy-duty trucks. Only 0.1% of heavy-duty trucks sold in Europe were zero-emission in 2021, according to BloombergNEF estimates. Electric trucks are also facing competition from hydrogen-powered vehicles, which boast quick refueling and a longer driving range, unlike electric vehicles.

☆ 10-year-old children were found working at a Louisville McDonald’s until 2 a.m.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Michelle Watson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Two 10-year-old children were found working at a Louisville McDonald’s restaurant — sometimes until 2 a.m. — the US Department of Labor said Tuesday. The revelation was part of an investigation into the child labor law violations in the Southeast. “Investigators from the department’s Wage and Hour Division found two 10-year-old workers at a Louisville McDonald’s restaurant among many violations of federal labor laws committed by three Kentucky McDonald’s franchise operators,” the release said. “Investigators also determined two 10-year-old children were employed – but not paid – and sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m.”The three franchisees face a combined $212,754 in civil money penalties for the child labor violations, the release said. “Under no circumstances should there ever be a 10-year-old child working in a fast-food kitchen around hot grills, ovens and deep fryers.”

☆ McDonald's franchisees fined after 305 minors, including 10-year-olds, found working illegally
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

More than 300 minors — including two 10-year-olds who were unpaid — were found to be working in violation of federal labor laws at McDonald's franchise restaurants across Kentucky and other states, the U.S. Labor Department said this week. The news comes as Republican lawmakers have targeted child labor laws nationwide. Labor Department investigators discovered two 10-year-olds working unpaid as late as 2 a.m. at a McDonald's location in Louisville, Kentucky, operated by Louisville-based Bauer Food LLC, according to a Tuesday release. Last year, the Labor Department division found that 688 minors were employed illegally in hazardous positions in fiscal year 2022, the highest annual count since fiscal year 2011. Child labor laws exist to ensure that when young people work, the job does not jeopardize their health, well-being or education," said Garnett-Civils.

☆ A Hostile, Under-the-Radar Primary Splinters Republicans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“A celebrity versus the resources versus old school,” said Scott Jennings, a Republican operative in the state, summing up the contest between the three top contenders. “Cameron is the front-runner, but there’s no doubt this race has gotten close and remains fluid,” added Mr. Jennings, who like many other Republicans has remained neutral. Indeed, many of the major forces in Kentucky Republican politics are staying on the sidelines. For Republicans, part of the challenge of defeating Mr. Beshear has to do with the G.O.P. Yet that has kept Mr. Beshear from contentious showdowns with Republicans on hot-button issues, and has let him focus on using state resources to help repair infrastructure and improve the economy.

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