Gov. Beshear announces children's hospital plans, storm recovery and more
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Governor Andy Beshear provided an update on economic development, steps taken to fight federal cuts to AmeriCorps and SNAP, severe weather recovery and more.
Officials note Gov. Beshear acknowledged Women Veterans Recognition Day and named women veterans as this week's Team Kentucky All-Stars.
Economic development
Gov. Beshear joined Norton Healthcare in Louisville to announce its plans to build a new pediatric care campus that will include a full-service hospital for children with complex medical needs, research facilities and expanded specialty services. The project marks a major expansion for the Louisville-based health care system and will feature its second free-standing, dedicated children's hospital. The new hospital is expected to employ more than 1,000 people.
On June 13, Gov. Beshear says he plans to join local officials and company leadership from BE&E, which is a material handling equipment supplier, to break ground on the company's new $16.2 million facility. The Muhlenberg County operation, which will be located in the Paradise Regional Industrial Park, will create 250 new Kentucky jobs.
FEMA continues sending aid to Kentuckians impacted by April storms
Juneteenth
Gov. Beshear said there will be no Team Kentucky update on June 19, as the commonwealth will be recognizing Juneteenth as an executive branch holiday. Following the Governor's executive order last year, Kentucky is officially marking Juneteenth as an executive branch holiday for the second time.
'This is an important day in our history as Americans. A day where we stand united in acknowledging our past, and our nation's greatest injustice. A day where we honor the collective courage of African Americans who paved the way for real, meaningful change. And a day where we give thanks that the moral arc – at long last – bent toward justice,' said Gov. Beshear. 'I hope everyone will join me in spending Juneteenth as a day of reflection, remembering how far we've come and acknowledging that the fight for progress marches on.'
Pritzker defends Illinois' sanctuary laws, blasts Trump administration 'abuses of power'
Text message scam alert
Gov. Beshear warned Kentuckians of a popular scam consisting of fraudulent text messages impersonating state agencies. The scam messages warn customers of unpaid traffic tickets and say that a 'DMV violation' will be reported and 'driving privileges' will be suspended if payment is not sent immediately.
Officials say if anyone receives one of these texts, they should not not click the link. Even if the web address looks like it belongs to a government agency, the text is a scam. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet does not collect traffic ticket fees or notify customers of violations, and Team Kentucky is taking steps to have the fraudulent websites taken down.
FEMA assistance extended for Kentuckians affected by April storms
Driver Licensing
Gov. Beshear shared that currently, over 39% of Kentuckians have REAL IDs, compared to 33% at the end of last year. TSA reports that 93% of those going through checkpoints at Kentucky-based airports are REAL ID compliant. To learn more about getting a REAL ID, please go here. Remember, a passport, passport card, global entry card, military ID and Veteran Health Identification Card are among the several forms of REAL ID compliant identification.
Officials say since House Bill 15 went into effect, which lowered the age at which Kentuckians can obtain a drivers permit from 16 to 15 years old, 15,403 15-year-olds have successfully passed the written test and obtained their driving permit.
AmeriCorps and SNAP
Gov. Beshear updated Kentuckians on steps his administration is taking to fight cuts from the federal government. Last week, Gov. Beshear, along with several state attorneys general and another governor, secured a preliminary injunction in a legal challenge against President Trump's attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps, the nation's public service agency. This means the federal government must restore funding for AmeriCorps programs.
Officials say this week, Gov. Beshear sent a letter to Kentucky's Congressional delegation outlining his concerns with proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). More than 600,000 Kentuckians rely on SNAP to supplement their food budgets every month. This represents 13% of the commonwealth's population, or roughly 1 in every 8 Kentuckians. Gov. Beshear said cuts to the program would leave Kentuckians hungry. He urged Kentucky's federal delegation to consider the impact cuts would have on Kentucky's children, seniors, individuals with medical conditions, disabilities and those still recovering from disasters.
Webster County dispatch centers officially consolidate
Severe Weather Recovery
Gov. Beshear provided an update on severe weather recovery in the commonwealth. Since the commonwealth received approval, FEMA has disbursed over $1.4 million in assistance. The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is July 23.
Officials say for the May event, there currently are still five injured people at the University of Kentucky Hospital: one in critical condition, one in serious condition and three in good condition. At Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, 93 households are being housed in travel trailers.
In terms of the Tri-State, Gov. Beshear says for residents in Union County who were affected by severe weather on May 16, June 12 is the last day they can apply for Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) benefits. If anyone from Union County has yet to apply, they should call 1-855-306-8959 before 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. As of June 10, 186 households had been approved for benefits totaling over $131,000.
Officials say for the April floods, so far, more than $22 million in Individual and Households Assistance has been disbursed. The deadline to apply has been extended to July 25. For February severe weather, more than $47 million in federal assistance has been disbursed. The deadline to apply was May 25.
Gov. Beshear reminded Kentuckians and anyone else who would like to help that the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund is open for monetary donations. Funds will help to support recovery including paying for funeral expenses for those lost in disasters. To donate, go here. So far, the fund has raised more than $1.9 million in donations from 7,128 donors, including a generous $150,000 donation from Shop Local Kentucky.
FOS has beds available for women needing substance abuse help
Team Kentucky All-Stars
Gov. Beshear acknowledged Women Veterans Recognition Day and named women veterans as this week's Team Kentucky All-Stars.
'We recognize and celebrate the incredible women who sacrificed their time and their health, and often faced danger to protect us,' said Gov. Beshear. 'Women have proudly served this country for generations. But it was not until after World War II that women were able to serve as permanent members of the armed forces and officially be recognized as veterans. We are committed to telling their stories and ensuring they are never forgotten.'
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Is it legal to run over protesters in Florida? How to stay safe at 'No Kings' protests
Anyone protesting in Florida may want to keep an eye on traffic. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Floridians have the right to hit protesters with their car if they felt threatened, and state and local officials said "rioting" could bring jail time, or even death. The governor's comments came ahead of "No Kings" protests planned in nearly 80 cities in Florida on June 14, part of almost 2,000 to be held across the country for Americans objecting to President Donald Trump's policies and the escalating immigration raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The protests are scheduled to counter Trump's planned massive military parade in Washington, D.C. "We also have a policy that if you're driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety," DeSantis said on The Rubin Report on June 11, "and so if you drive off, and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you. "You don't have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets. You have a right to defend yourself in Florida," he said. In a Fox News interview, DeSantis said local police, county sheriffs, Highway Patrol and even the National Guard will be ready to stop any violence or 'unrest' at the statewide protests. 'It's a bad decision to try to pull that nonsense in Florida,' DeSantis said. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey was even more direct. "If you throw a brick, a fire bomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains, because we will kill you, graveyard dead," he said at a press conference with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and other lawmakers. If you plan to attend or participate in a protest in Florida, here's what you should know. Florida law does not specifically say people can drive into crowds. But it does provide civil (not criminal) immunity by allowing anyone charged with causing property damage, personal injury or even death to plead self-defense because their actions "arose from" someone "acting in furtherance of a riot." Self-defense is what James Alex Fields Jr. claimed when he was found guilty of murder in 2017 for driving into a protest, hitting and killing civil rights activist Heather Heyer while she was counterprotesting the white nationalist Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville. Between May and October 2020, there were over 100 incidents of drivers driving into crowds of protesters, and at least eight of them were in Florida, reported. In May 2020, a Georgia man drove his pickup into a crowd of marchers protesting the death of George Floyd. No criminal charges were filed. DeSantis signed a sweeping "anti-riot" bill in 2021 in the wake of the George Floyd protests to increase punishments for people who violently riot, loot and destroy properties and add several new crimes including "mob intimidation" and "aggravated rioting," calling it the "strongest anti-rioting, most pro-law enforcement piece of legislation in the country." HB 1 was blocked in the courts for being potentially unconstitutional, chilling against free speech, and overly vague about what defines a "riot." The Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of the new law in 2024, clarifying peaceful protesters should not be arrested if involved in a protest where violence occurs, and an appeals court allowed the state to enforce it. Protesters are not permitted to willfully obstruct the "free, convenient, and normal use" of any public street, highway, or road. Gatherings of three or more people to commit a break of the peace or commit unlawful acts are considered unlawful assemblies, a second-degree misdemeanor. Knowingly protesting within 500 feet of a residence, cemetery, funeral home, house of worship, or other location when a funeral or burial has just occurred, will occur soon, or is occurring is a first-degree midemeanor. A riot is defined as a violent public disturbance involving three or more people acting to assist each other in violent and disorderly conduct. It is a third-degree felony. Aggravated rioting, a second-degree felony, is a riot consisting of 25 or more people where great bodily harm or property damage is caused, someone displays or uses a deadly weapon, or blocks safe movement of a vehicle by force or threat of force. Inciting a riot is a third-degree felony. Aggravated inciting a riot, a second-degree felony, occurs if the suspect incites a riot resulting in great bodily harm to a non-participant, property damage in excess of $5,000, or supplies a deadly weapon to another person or teaches them how to prepare one for use in a riot. Committing assault in furtherance of a riot is a first-degree misdemeanor; an aggravated assault is a third-degree felony. Burglary during a riot is a first-degree felony. Any group of three or more who act with common intent to use force or threaten to in order to compel someone else into changing a personal viewpoint against their will commits "mob intimidation," a first-degree misdemeanor. Battery against a law enforcement officer in a riot means a minimum term of six months in jail. Defacing or damaging a memorial or historical property worth more than $200 is a third-degree felony. Destroying one is a second-degree felony. Defendants who cause personal injury, wrongful death or property damage to protesters in a riot may claim self-defense. The law "does not prohibit constitutionally protected activity, such as a peaceful protest," according to Florida statutes. First and foremost, the "No Kings" website tells participants not to bring any weapons, act in accordance with local laws, and de-escalate any potential confrontation with law enforcement or anti-protesters. Public protests are protected in the United States by the First Amendment and are legal in public areas providing you are not blocking car or pedestrian traffic or blocking access to government buildings. That said, law enforcement may interpret your intentions differently and some may act with force. The Human Rights Campaign advises protesters to scope out the area of the protest ahead of time and identify multiple routes out of the area. An offline-accessible map can help. During the protest, remain aware of your surroundings and what's happening around you. Protest signs and sunscreen are just the beginning. Experts at Physicians for Human Rights suggest bringing the following: Backpack or string bag: You won't want anything bulky and you'll want your hands free. Face mask or bandanna, hat and sunglasses: Useful for helping to shield your eyes from pepper spray or tear gas, can also protect you from identification by law enforcement or online doxxing if that's a concern. Water: Stay hydrated. Bring as big a bottle as you can, with a squirt top in case you need to quickly wash off your skin or eyes. Glasses: Avoid wearing contact lenses, which can trap irritating chemicals. If you must wear contacts, wear shatter-resistant goggles with a tight seal. Avoid wearing makeup. Comfortable clothes, closed shoes: Pick neutral colors without obvious slogans or easily identifiable markings. Consider bringing a spare change of clothes in case what you're wearing gets sprayed. Identification, contact information: Make sure you can identify yourself (and your citizen status). Write your emergency contact info on your skin. If you have a lawyer, write that number, too. A few days of any vital medication: Ideally, they should be in a labeled prescription bottle. Cash: In case you need bail. Snacks: High energy, high protein munchies are preferred. Many organizations advise protesters to leave their phones at home to protect their privacy as they can easily be tracked. If you must take your phone, keep it turned off until you need it and, before you go, disable Face ID or fingerprint security and stick with the 6-digit passcode instead. You may also consider buying a cheap secondary phone to use. According to the No Kings website, more than 75 protests (including several in some cities) are planned across Florida as of June 10. ➤ Find an event near you Apalachicola Apopka Boca Raton Boynton Beach Bronson Casselberry Clermont Center Lake Park Clermont City Hall Clermont Town Cocoa Coral Springs Davenport Daytona Beach DeLand Delray Beach Ellenton Englewood Fernandina Beach Fort Lauderdale Fort Myers Fort Walton Beach Gainesville Hollywood Inverness Jacksonville Duval County Courthouse Beach Boulevard and Hodges Boulevard Key Largo Key West Kissimmee Lakeland Lake Mary Lake Worth Beach Largo Leesburg Marathon Miami Miami Beach Mount Dora Naples New Port Richey New Smyrna Beach Ocala Orlando Orange City Orange Park Palatka Palm Bay Palm Beach/Mar-a-Largo Palm Beach Gardens Palm Coast Palm Harbor Panama City Pensacola Ninth Avenue/Airport Boulevard The Graffiti Bridge Plant City Poinciana Port Charlotte Port St. Joe Port St. Lucie Riverview Sarasota University Parkway J.D. Hamel Park Sebastian Sebring Spring Hill St. Augustine St. Johns County St. Petersburg Tallahassee Tampa The Villages Venice Vero Beach West Palm Beach According to the ACLU of Florida, the First Amendment generally prohibits restrictions based on speech content; however, this does not mean that the Constitution completely protects all types of speech in every circumstance. Threatening someone with violence is not protected, and government official can place "reasonable" restrictions on the time, place and manner. Your rights are strongest in "traditional public forms" such as streets, sidewalks and parks, but you can be asked to disperse if you are blocking car or pedestrian traffic. You may also protest at government buildings as long as you don't block access to them or interfere with the purpose of it. When you are lawfully present in a public space, you have the right to photograph or video anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police, the ACLU said. Law enforcement may not confiscate your photos or video without a warrant and may not demand you delete anything, but they can order you to stop if you're interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations. In Florida, that can be a wide definition. The "HALO" law – Honoring and Listening to Our Officers – went into effect in January. Under the law, if a first responder such as law enforcement, firefighters and medical personnel ask you to back off in the course of their duties, you must move 25 feet away or face a second-degree misdemeanor charge punishable by up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine. (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Fla Gov. DeSantis OKs running over No Kings protesters if threatened
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Nova Scotia's offshore wind transmission line could cost $10 billion: premier
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