Coleman highlights youth drug prevention at national summit
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman highlighted a new youth-focused drug prevention campaign during his keynote address at the 14th annual Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Nashville this week.
The summit, launched by Operation UNITE and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., draws thousands of policymakers, treatment professionals and law enforcement officials from across the country to share strategies for combating the drug epidemic, according to a news release from Coleman's office.
During his remarks, Coleman outlined a new statewide initiative titled 'Better Without It,' which aims to steer Kentucky youth away from substance use by promoting healthy lifestyles through relatable role models. According to the release, the two-year, $3.6 million campaign is funded by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission and features student-athletes and social media influencers to engage young people between the ages of 13 and 26.
'This message is going out to where young people are—on social media, podcasts, and around college campuses,' Coleman said in the release. 'We're able to speak directly to kids...in a way that the data says will actually break through the noise and have a lifesaving impact.'
The 'Better Without It' campaign was officially launched earlier this year in partnership with coaches and players from the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University. The initiative leverages name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements to amplify its message across the state.
Kentucky lawmakers including U.S. Reps. James Comer and Brett Guthrie also took part in the summit, joining Rogers for a panel moderated by Rogers' Chief of Staff, Karen Kelly. Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Lambert, Commonwealth's Attorney Jackie Steele, and Lt. Col. Jonathon Wesely of the Kentucky National Guard were among other state leaders presenting at the event.
More than a million lives have been lost nationwide since the start of the drug crisis. Events like the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, Coleman noted, are helping equip states with the tools needed to drive meaningful change.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Riley Gaines and Simone Biles Beef Online Amid Trans Athlete Debate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and former collegiate swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines have exchanged barbs on social media amid a debate over transgender athletes in sports. Newsweek reached out to press representatives for Biles and Gaines via email on Saturday. Why It Matters A national debate about transgender athletes escalated during the 2024 presidential election cycle, as President Donald Trump pledged to minimize transgender athletes' participation in sports that don't match their biological sex. One of his first executive orders mandated that the government only recognize the existence of two sexes—male and female—which he said are "not changeable." Biles, 28, is the most decorated American gymnast in Olympic history, with 11 medals, including seven gold. She has also earned dozens of world championship medals and complex gymnastic moves have been named after her. She is a prominent voice in both sports and mental health. Gaines, 25, a former collegiate swimmer for the University of Kentucky, has been outspoken in her opposition to transgender policies in sports and is the host of the Gaines for Girls podcast. What To Know On Friday, Riley Gaines reposted a message from the Minnesota State High School League on X, formerly Twitter, of the Champlin Park High School's championship win, writing "comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy." Her comment follows reports that Marissa Rothenberger, a 17-year-old member of the team, is transgender. Newsweek has reached out to the school for comment via email on Saturday. Biles reshared Gaines' post, calling her "truly sick." @Riley_Gaines_ You're truly sick, all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender... — Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) June 6, 2025 The post continued: "all of this campaigning because you lost a race. Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category IN ALL sports!! But instead... You bully them... One things for sure is no one in sports is safe with you around!!!!!" In 2022, Gaines tied for fifth place in a competition with swimmer Lia Thomas, a transgender athlete during a collegiate competition. In another post Biles said to Gaines "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male." Gaines wrote in response: "This is actually so disappointing. It's not my job or the job of any woman to figure out how to include men in our spaces. You can uplift men stealing championships in women's sports with YOUR platform. Men don't belong in women's sports and I say that with my full chest." (L): Simone Biles, of the United States, holds up her medals after the women's artistic gymnastics individual apparatus finals Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (R):Former collegiate... (L): Simone Biles, of the United States, holds up her medals after the women's artistic gymnastics individual apparatus finals Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (R):Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines stands following a news conference after the House passed a measure that would ban transgender women and girls from school sports programs aimed at female students on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, in Washington. More AP Photo/Charlie Riedel/Mark Schiefelbein In a separate post she added, "My take is the least controversial take on the planet. Simone Biles being a male-apologist at the expense of young girls' dreams? Didn't have that on my bingo card. Maybe she could compete in pommel horse and rings in 2028." In a third post, Gaines wrote, "And the subtle hint at "body-shaming" ???? Plzzzz I'm 5'5." Early into Saturday, Gaines began posting about Biles and the sexual abuse of former Team USA doctor Larry Nassar. Nassar was sentenced to 60 years in federal prison in 2017 over child pornography charges, and in 2018 plead guilty to criminal sexual conduct in Michigan. Gaines shared a clip of Biles testifying about Nassar's actions next to her X post to Gaines, with the caption: "Simone Biles when she had to endure a predatory man Vs Simone Biles when other girls have to endure predatory men." Gaines has continued to share various generated images jabbing at Biles. What People Are Saying Alex Cole, an influencer on X with over 300,000 followers, wrote on X: "Simone Biles has 11 Olympic medals. Riley Gaines has 11 Fox News appearances complaining about people who actually win medals." Payton McNabb, former high school volleyball player and sports ambassador at Independent Women, told Newsweek in an email Saturday: "Female athletes train hard, sacrifice, and compete with heart. They deserve a level playing field, not a rigged system that favors male strength and biology." Brandon Wolf, press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign, said in an X post: "Simone Biles is the GOAT. Riley Gaines is the poster child for turning failure into grift. And that's that on that." President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post earlier this week: "A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so. As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!!!" White House spokesperson Harrison Fields told Newsweek on Tuesday: "President Trump is protecting women in sports and restoring common sense. Those who choose to violate federal law will be held accountable." What Happens Next The Trump administration has launched multiple investigations into whether sports governing bodies and educational institutions have violated federal antidiscrimination laws, particularly under Title IX.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
KY judge freezes Lexington Blue owner's assets. He insists he's being ‘vilified'
A Kentucky judge on Monday froze the assets of the owner of the failed roofing company Lexington Blue, days after the owner said he was being 'demonized and vilified.' Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, who described the company as a Ponzi scheme, sued Lexington Blue and owner Brad Pagel on May 30. The suit came days after the Herald-Leader reported on homeowners who had paid thousands for roofing repairs that never happened before Pagel shuttered his company and disappeared. Fayette Circuit Court Judge Diane Minnifield granted a temporary restraining order against Pagel, freezing his assets, as well as those belonging to Lexington Blue, various shell companies and Pagel's business partner, Alex Southwell. 'We are constantly on guard against predatory organizations that try to take advantage of Kentuckians, and we will hold these bad actors accountable,' Coleman said in a statement. 'We're sending a strong message to scammers that they will face serious consequences when they operate within our commonwealth.' Pagel, who has not responded to numerous Herald-Leader requests for an interview, posted on his Facebook page, with a link to Frank Sinatra's 'My Way,' over the weekend that he has 'spent the last 10 years of my life caring for others in ways no one ever cared for me, save for a select few who saw me. 'Being Demonized and Vilified is my only worldly reward.' Pagel said he had 'I sacrificed everything at the alter (sic) of a stupid company, trying my best to be everything to everyone I saw in need. ... The sad part is that a lot of these people have been going out of their way to destroy my entire life, anything or anyone associated with me, and crippling my ability to make things right for the very same customers they had a hand in accumulating. 'Please stop all of this! It's causing me so much more harm than you can possibly imagine!' Former employees of Lexington Blue told the Herald-Leader that he ran the company as 'a cult' with intimidation and threats. He also went after a job applicant who posted online about his unusual encounter with Pagel during his interview. In a now-deleted post, Pagel seemed to say that a pending bankruptcy would resolve issues for hundreds of roofing clients who said that they paid thousands for work that was never done. 'I already gave everything I had to keep everyone afloat for as long as I could and my net worth WAS the company,' Pagel wrote. 'Bankruptcy became my only option. The courts will assign the backlog and LB (Lexington Blue) will be dissolved shortly after.' But Pagel has not filed for bankruptcy protection for himself or his businesses. Now, under the court's order, Coleman's office is allowed to enter Lexington Blue's offices at 287 Pasadena Drive to copy records, including any electronic files. Pagel and Lexington Blue are restrained from soliciting any new roofing business or requesting additional money from current customers. According to documents filed Friday by Coleman's office, 'Lexington Blue may have accepted deposits from between 300 and 429 consumers without delivering services. In 2024 alone, it accepted $4.8 million in consumer payments for 329 projects, the majority of which appear unfulfilled.' Coleman's office said the actions 'go beyond poor management — they appear more like a coordinated scheme to defraud. ... Additionally, the company's financial practices are more akin to a Ponzi scheme: new consumer deposits were used to refund or partially complete older contracts, while substantial funds were diverted for personal gain. 'As with any Ponzi scheme, this practice eventually led to the fraud's escalation and Lexington Blue's collapse.' Attorney General Coleman said in a news release he encourages anyone who needs assistance with Lexington Blue to contact his office at 888-432-9257. Lexington roofer, under investigation by Kentucky Attorney General, shuts down
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
KY attorney general says Fayette school board didn't give public notice before tax vote
(Fayette County Public Schools) Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman's office says the Fayette County Public Schools board failed to give proper public notice before voting to increase occupational taxes within the district. The opinion released Wednesday said the board violated state open meetings laws, which says school districts must publish a notice about tax proposals in a local newspaper at least a week before meeting to vote on the proposal. The attorney general's office also refuted a recent claim by the school district to local media outlets that the state law doesn't apply to the tax increase because it is a 'county-level tax' also needing approval from the Fayette County Fiscal Court. The opinion said state law 'expressly recognizes that levying an occupational license tax is a power shared jointly by the School Board and the Fiscal Court.' It adds that a fiscal court vote could not happen unless the school board 'certified' the new tax rate. 'Accordingly, when the School Board properly certifies a new rate, the Fiscal Court's role is ministerial; the discretion and decision-making power lies with the School Board — which is why it is the body that must give public notice prior to voting on whether to impose the additional tax,' the opinion said. 'Therefore, it is the opinion of this Office that the Fayette County School Board's May 27 vote to increase the occupational license tax was unlawful.' The board voted 3-2 to approve the tax increase of 0.25% about a week ago. The tax rate would have taken effect in January. The board approved a $848 million proposed budget with the tax increase that would cost residents an average of $13 more per month, local media outlets reported. However, Coleman's office wrote the resolution for the tax increase 'is void and of no effect.' 'Tax and spend government is a danger to Kentucky's future, especially when officials who should be accountable to Fayette County voters try to ignore the rules to raise taxes,' Coleman said in a statement. 'If the Fayette County School Board members believe they need more of Kentuckians' hard-earned dollars, they should clearly and publicly make their case before their own constituents.' Based in Lexington, Fayette County Public Schools is the second largest school district in the state with more than 41,000 students. Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, a Lexington Republican, requested Coleman's office review the legality of the school board's vote. 'This validates what so many in our community, including myself, felt: Taxpayers were shut out of a huge decision about their own tax dollars,' Bledsoe said. 'I'm calling on the Fiscal Court to take no action today and for the school board to remedy this misuse of its authority. The board should table any further discussion of a tax increase until trust can be restored.' Consideration of the school board's tax increase request is on the agenda for the fiscal court's Thursday meeting. An FCPS representative did not immediately return an emailed request for comment Wednesday.
