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a day ago
- Business
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A medical marijuana dispensary could soon be opening at this Lexington location
In our In the Spotlight stories, Herald-Leader journalists bring you continuing coverage of news and events important to our Central Kentucky community. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@ A former Frisch's Big Boy in Lexington's popular Hamburg shopping district could soon be the site of a medical marijuana dispensary complete with a drive-thru and knowledgeable budtenders ready to answer questions. That's according to Casey Flippo and Sean Clarkson, the two Arkansas entrepreneurs behind the project, who spoke to the Herald-Leader in a June 3 interview. In 2021, the two founded Dark Horse Cannabis, where Flippo is the CEO, and Clarkson, the chief financial officer. The establishment comes as the private sector mobilizes following Kentucky's launch of a medical marijuana program earlier this year. The state's Office of Medical Cannabis has awarded limited but transferable licenses for production and sales, and as of Jan. 1, qualifying Kentuckians can apply for a medical cannabis card. Recreational marijuana use remains illegal in Kentucky. Flippo said the process for demolishing the interior of the former restaurant, situated in a shopping center between Sir Barton Way and Man O' War Boulevard, has already begun. It's located at 1849 Alysheba Way. 'We have been seeking permitting approval with the city of Lexington,' Flippo told the Herald-Leader, adding the plan is to 'open the doors mid-November at that facility.' The 5,500-square-foot dispensary wants to offer 'compassionate care' discounts to qualifying patients, Flippo said. There's also potential to accept online orders for pick up via the drive-thru, so patients 'never have to get out of the car,' Clarkson added. 'It's a quick and easy process for our patients, especially those that are handicapped in some way, or elderly,' Clarkson said. Clarkson anticipates patients will likely want to meet with dispensary staff in-store at least initially after its opening for questions about products and their use. 'As they're getting familiar with the product availability, they're going to want to talk to budtenders,' Clarkson said. 'I believe that we will probably end up employing somewhere between 30 and 40 individuals,' at the site, Flippo added. The idea is for staff to be 'extremely knowledgeable about the medicinal applications and appropriate use of the cannabis that's being dispensed,' Flippo said. That said, there will likely be many obstacles to clear before the business can open its doors to the public. 'It's historically pretty challenging to prop up cannabis markets' quickly, Flippo said. Chief among the obstacles: finding a supplier who can stock the dispensary's shelves with products. Kentucky's medical cannabis program only allows for edibles, oils, tinctures, vapes and raw plant material. State law requires the plant material, which must be produced and tested in the commonwealth, to be vaped — not smoked. Raw plant material packaged in Kentucky must be labeled 'not intended for consumption by smoking.' State rules also require medical marijuana cultivators to stand up secure, indoor facilities for growing, cultivating and harvesting the plants. The state's first medical cannabis cultivator broke ground on a facility in Monticello this spring. In Winchester, Cresco Labs cut the ribbon in April on a cultivation facility that promises to be the one of the state's largest. Phase one construction on that facility, which includes a 5,000-foot plant canopy, is expected to be completed by the fall. 'We believe … that the market should be set to open sometime in late Q4 of this year,' Flippo said, adding his dispensary is targeting an opening during that window. KYLX Acquisition Company LLC now holds the state license for the dispensary planned at 1849 Alysheba Way in Lexington. KYLX recently acquired it from ZenLeaf LLC, which was the original licensee awarded via a state lottery held last year. Kentucky held series of state-run lotteries last fall to award medical cannabis business licenses. The lottery to award Fayette County's two dispensary licenses was held in December. In April, Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball announced a probe into the lottery process amid ongoing concerns out-of-state companies with deep pockets were able to flood it with applications, thus tilting it in their favor. Dark Horse was identified as one of those companies in a series by Louisville Public Media, which also found Clarkson had ties to 350 of the new businesses created in the month leading up to the application deadline. Asked for his response to concerns about too few Kentucky hemp farmers being awarded licenses, Flippo said he was 'very sympathetic' to those who did not win, especially given the application fees were thousands of dollars and were not refundable. Ultimately though, Flippo defended the process for awarding the business licenses. 'Our experience with the [Office of Medical Cannabis] and the governor's office was nothing short of spectacular. I think that they put a phenomenal program together,' Flippo said. In working with the Office of Medical Cannabis, Flippo said, 'I would argue that it's probably one of the most successful cannabis market launches in the U.S.' Herald-Leader reporter Janet Patton contributed to this story. Do you have a question about Lexington or Kentucky for our service journalism team? We'd like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KY Politics Insider: A legitimate Democratic challenger for Rep. Hal Rogers?
Kentucky Politics Insider offers an analysis of Kentucky politics and the conversations that drive decisions. Email reporter Austin Horn at ahorn@ or ping him on social media sites with tips or comments. Rep. Hal Rogers is accustomed to landslide victories. Only once in 23 congressional elections has an opponent even come within single digits: The late state Sen. John Doug Hays lost to Rogers by about nine percentage points in 1992. Rogers, whose 5th Congressional District covers most of Eastern Kentucky and parts of Southern Kentucky, has dominated every other general election contest by 30 points or more. Despite this, it sure sounds like someone with a legitimate background in politics and public service will give it a try in 2026. Ned Pillersdorf is a Prestonsburg attorney known for his involvement in several high-profile cases and the campaigns of his wife, former Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Janet Stumbo. 'The Democratic Party is certainly encouraging me to run. I'm seriously considering it, and I'll have an announcement on the Fourth of July,' Pillersdorf said. Pillersdorf, 70, is known in Eastern Kentucky for several reasons. Perhaps most notably, he led an effort to recruit lawyers to represent people who faced losing Social Security disability benefits as a result of the biggest disability scam in U.S. history, the long-running, massive fraud perpetrated by Eric C. Conn. For that effort, Pillersdorf won a 'Pro Bono Publico Award' in 2023, being one of just four American Bar Association members earning the honor. He also litigated on behalf of coal miners who went on strike at the Blackjewel mine site in Harlan County. The Pillersdorf name has also stayed in the news throughout the region, whether that be in his legal capacity, helping run political campaigns for his wife, or speaking out in support of the animal shelter he helped found, the Dewey Dam Dog and Cat Protection Society. Pillersdorf framed his potential candidacy as a reaction to Rogers' vote in favor of the House bill extending Trump-backed tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthy and cuts spending on Medicaid and food stamps. Rogers has defended his vote as 'strengthening' Medicaid by targeting fraud and abuse. But Pillersdorf has insisted it amounts to political 'treason' for the vulnerable in the district, which is one of the most Medicaid-reliant out of all 435 districts in the country. 'If there's one Congressional district where the Medicaid cuts resonate in the country, this is it,' he said. 'I am clear-eyed, I know what the Republican votes were in the last election… but if Rogers runs again, and I assume he is, he needs a viable, well-financed opponent.' Rogers has previously told the Herald-Leader he has 'every intention of running for reelection.' At 87, he is the oldest member of the House. Age, a hot topic in Washington as the fallout over former President Joe Biden's deterioration continues to reverberate, could become an issue. Additionally, three members of Congress, all in their 70s, have died so far this year. Biden is currently 82 years old. Rogers, at 87, would be 89 if he wins reelection to start his 24th term in Congress. 'I'm 70, and I'm in excellent health,' Pillersdorf added. It's no secret that President Donald Trump wants 4th Congressional District Rep. Thomas Massie gone. Multiple times during the early days of his term, most recently over the Northern Kentucky congressman's vote against the president's budget bill, Trump has said that Massie should be primaried. Last week, national news outlet Axios reported that two Kentucky Republicans in the district were being discussed as GOP opponents for the seven-term congressman. One of them, state Sen. Aaron Reed, responded quickly on social media: 'Fake news,' he wrote. The other, state Rep. Kim Moser, did not respond to a Herald-Leader inquiry about her future plans. Moser, a powerful committee chair in Frankfort, survived a close primary in 2024 to an opponent far less-funded than she was. It's worth pointing out point blank: Previous efforts to oust Massie have failed tremendously. The difference this time could be money. We know that outside groups like MAGA Inc., the pro-Trump $500 million group, and the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee seem willing to chip in some. But how much would it take to unseat the House's most famous GOP contrarian? Probably a lot. Massie seems to think nobody could beat him. 'Any serious person considering running should spend money on an independent poll before letting swampy consultants take them for an embarrassing ride,' Massie wrote in a comment provided to the Herald-Leader. Rep. Andy Barr unveiled a list of county judge-executive endorsements for his 2026 Senate bid last week that spanned basically the entirety of his Central Kentucky based district — only a couple GOP judge-executives, those over Anderson County and Clark County, didn't endorse him. As a reminder, judge-executives matter. A lot. Unless a county has a member of legislative leadership, or its one of the two consolidated local governments in Jefferson and Fayette counties, it's a safe bet that the judge-executive is the most important elected official there. They act as the head of the executive and legislative branches of county government. But how much do their endorsements matter? Potentially a lot, but in big GOP races like this one there's a wrinkle: They pale in comparison to the endorsement of Trump. Just ask former commissioner of agriculture Ryan Quarles, who earned the support of dozens of them across the state in his 2023 run for governor but finished in a distant second to the Trump-backed former attorney general, Daniel Cameron, who is now running against Barr for Senate. On the Democratic side of the aisle, former state representative Cherlynn Stevenson announced several local official and ex-local official endorsements. Some big names on there include Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, who previously ran for the seat and whose Senate district covers most of Lexington inside New Circle Road; former judge and legislator Ernesto Scorsone; most of her old Lexington House colleagues; Lexington city Councilwoman Emma Curtis and more. If it wasn't clear already, these endorsements provide another sign that the state party's two biggest stars below Gov. Andy Beshear — Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and senior adviser Rocky Adkins — will not jump in this race. All signs point to the continued interest of both former Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilman David Kloiber and federal prosecutor Zach Dembo for the Democratic nomination to the district, which the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee put on a target list to potentially flip blue. Currently, state Rep. Ryan Dotson is the only Republican with significant name ID to have announced a bid to fill Barr's shoes in the 6th Congressional District. But a couple others certainly appear to be making moves. State Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe, R-Lexington, visited Israel in an eight-day trip that concluded this weekend, according to several social media posts. The trip was made with a number of politically influential Republicans, including a Fox News personality once floated as a potential replacement for Vice President J.D. Vance's Senate seat and another state legislator. Sponsored trips like these often take place with groups of influential people seen as a rising crop of political leaders. Though Bledsoe did not offer comment on the sponsor of the trip, the most common host for U.S. political trips to Israel is the American Israel Education Foundation, a nonprofit linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Bledsoe wasn't the only busy one last week. State Rep. Deanna Gordon, R-Richmond, spent part of the week in political meetings with Republicans in Washington, someone affiliated with Gordon confirmed to the Herald-Leader. The primary comes at a time when Trump has incentive to weigh in on House primaries, specifically. Holding a majority there means avoiding investigations and potentially a third impeachment inquiry into him. Axios reported this week that the White House is particularly 'worried about retaining the Central Kentucky seat' given Barr's departure. That could signal an increased willingness for Trump to put his thumb on the scale for his favored candidate, or the one his team sees as the most likely to win.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kentucky Politics Insider: A Grimes comeback? Vibes at Barr launch & Beshear latest
Spring is the time for new things. For us at the Herald-Leader, one of those new things is what you're reading now: The Kentucky Politics Insider. This will be a new feature from me, senior politics reporter Austin Horn, published at least every two weeks. You want to know more about Kentucky's political scene? I aim to bring an insider's perspective. Expect analysis on the biggest political stories in our commonwealth, under-the-radar news items that drive decisions, in-depth on-scene reporting and a synthesis of the insider political conversation brought directly to you. You'll learn a lot, I promise. And I hope it sparks a statewide conversation — or even just a conversation with your co-workers. This endeavor will work a little differently than what readers are used to from me. The tone will read more conversational, and that's on purpose because much of what I'm presenting is, indeed, the product of conversation. The form fits the content. But what I'll promise to you is this: Nothing short of my best and a clear-eyed analysis of the fast-moving developments that define Kentucky politics. So let's strike up that conversation. Tell me what you like, dislike or what I missed. Any of your thoughts on Kentucky politics — local, state or federal — I'm all ears. Please email me at ahorn@ or ping me on any one of the various social media sites. Onto the latest from this Kentucky Politics Insider: Things are bustling behind-the-scenes as it relates to Kentucky's 6th District. The prospective field in the Congressional district now that Rep. Andy Barr is going for the Senate seat to be abandoned by Mitch McConnell in 2026 has been much-discussed in Kentucky political circles and in the Herald-Leader. Here's an update on the Democratic side of things. Speculation has abounded about Rocky Adkins, the senior political adviser to Beshear, and former state representative Cherlynn Stevenson, in particular. Stevenson, the Lexington Democrat, now seems the more likely of those two to jump in. Some new names to watch: Zach Dembo, David Kloiber and Alison Lundergan Grimes. Kloiber was the only one to confirm interest directly to me. He said he's 'seriously considering and looking into it.' As a member of Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, Kloiber ran a 2022 campaign in an attempt to unseat Mayor Linda Gorton. He made it to the primary, but fell short with just 29% of the vote to Gorton's 71%. Kloiber has the potential to tap into a large family fortune for a run. He spent more than $630,000 of his own money on the run against Gorton. Dembo is a federal prosecutor in Lexington who worked a stint in Beshear's office during the governor's first term. He declined to comment for this story. You might have heard of that final name before. Grimes was once one of the most prominent Democrats in the state, and at 46, she's got plenty of time to become one again. A two-term Kentucky Secretary of State, Grimes ran to unseat McConnell in 2014. She's the daughter of Jerry Lundergan, a titan of Democratic politics who's continued to make headlines through his legal battles. Lundergan was convicted in 2018 for contributions made through a corporation to his daughter's Senate bid. Former President Joe Biden pardoned him in one of his final acts as president in January. Grimes was no stranger to controversy herself. In a saga that ended with her being cleared of all charges and fines, the Executive Branch Ethics Commission had charged her with violation of state ethics code for ordering the downloading and distribution of voter registration data from her public office as secretary of state. Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd reversed the commission's decision in a ruling last year. His ruling was later affirmed by a Court of Appeals opinion in March. The commission did not appeal the opinion to the Kentucky Supreme Court, ending the legal battle between the two parties. Grimes, a Lexington resident whose name ID is likely still high in the district, did not respond to my messages or calls on this topic. Nonetheless, her name is being floated by some in political circles as a potential candidate. It is worth noting that U.S. Rep. Andy Barr's event last week launching his 2026 candidacy for U.S. Senate was, by all traditional measures of success, well done. More than 200 people crowded the Richmond event venue where it was held. Energy, from the crowd and the candidate himself, was high. The staging was put together neatly. And in the crowd were quite a few elected officials. Of course, the big endorsement news of Barr's launch was someone who wasn't there: longtime Southern and Eastern Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers. Rogers, who's earned the Dean of the U.S. House designation for being the longest continuously serving member of the House, has represented the 5th Congressional District for more than 40 years. But Rogers wasn't the only prominent person, elected or not, to endorse Barr. Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, was one of more than 200 people on scene at Barr's campaign launch, donning a freshly-printed 'Barr for Senate' hat. Wheeler has known Barr since he first got to Transylvania University as an 18-year-old. Barr was, at the time, the Fayette County Young Republicans chair. 'He's just a really good guy, and somebody who doesn't forget you, even from way back,' Wheeler said. 'That counts for me. He's a good man to stick with you, so I'm sticking with that.' That personal element permeated other Republican state lawmakers, current and former, who backed Barr at the event. They included, but weren't limited to, Rep. Kim King of Harrodsburg, Sen. Scott Madon of Hazard, former Nicholasville representative Killian Timoney and several more. King thought Barr's relationship-building across the state would pay dividends. 'He has a lot of friends all across the state that are just itching to get him in their doors and in their neighborhoods to introduce him to their people,' King said. Braden Lacefield, a Woodford County High School senior who serves as co-chair of the High School Republican National Federation, made another practical argument for Barr: Central Kentucky is where you win the state. 'You've got to look at an election from the general election aspect through the primary, and Andy Barr is overall the best candidate to win for Republicans,' Lacefield said. 'He's clearly over-performed in central Kentucky compared to most other Republicans, and that's really where this race is going to be won.' The question with Barr's local endorsements is this: Do they even matter anymore? Former commissioner of agriculture Ryan Quarles, who came in second to former attorney general Daniel Cameron for the 2023 GOP gubernatorial nomination, locked in 235-plus endorsements from state representatives and local electeds — far more than Cameron. But Cameron had the endorsement of then-former President Donald Trump, and that proved the most important by far in his 48% rout over the crowded and well-funded field. In this latest statewide primary, Cameron, who was the first to announce a bid to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, doesn't have Trump's endorsement. Nobody does — at least not yet. Trump, however, posted to Truth Social, his own social media platform, a link to a recent Barr op-ed praising him after 100 days in office. The president had posted a handful of similar works by GOP members of Congress. It's worth keeping in mind that in other recent contests, Trump has endorsed multiple candidates at once — something many Kentucky Republicans could see happening in this race. Vice President JD Vance, however, recently shared a social media post Nate Morris wrote about McConnell. Morris, a Lexington tech entrepreneur widely seen as a potential candidate surveying the race, is friends with the vice president. But beyond local support, Barr got some early help from national GOP figures. Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who has gained prominence in the party for her crusade against transgender women participating in women's sports, gave Barr her full endorsement one day after his campaign launch. Markwayne Mullin, a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, also gave Barr the nod 'to get our MAGA agenda across the finish line' in a video endorsement posted the same day. While some Republicans still seemed convinced Beshear is a possibility for U.S. Senate in 2026, all words from the governor and his team point to an easy answer to that question: No. His actions are continuing to speak loud on that front. All signs continue to point to Beshear running for president in 2028. He's gracing the pages of Washington media, launched a podcast, is on television frequently pushing back on Trump, is raising money for his own personal political action committee — all of these things signal an interest in running for higher office once his term as governor is finished. The latest splash: Hosting U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, on his podcast. In 2020, Klobuchar was a presidential candidate herself. She was once one of several front-runners, but dropped out and supported former president Biden just before Super Tuesday. Beshear's interview with her centered around her reason for getting into politics, which began when she advocated for mothers like herself who were temporarily separated from their newborns due to the child's disability. Klobuchar seemed to appreciate the opportunity, reposting segments of the interview on her own social media. Meanwhile, some other prominent Democrats are finding their own way to gin up presidential talk. Though he's said he doesn't plan to run in 2028, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore recently got high marks from Kentucky actor George Clooney in a CNN interview. Clooney added, though, that he also likes the prospect of a Beshear candidacy. 'I like him. He's a good guy… He's won in a red state,' Clooney said. Additionally, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker scored coverage from much of the political press for a speech in early primary state New Hampshire, though he played coy about the 2028 implications. Beshear has worked to build something of a base of support New Hampshire, using his In This Together PAC to spend $255,000 supporting a gubernatorial candidate there. That candidate, Joyce Craig, lost the race to former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte by about 10 percentage points.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A climber with cancer whose life was saved by UK HealthCare? Not exactly.
In our Reality Check stories, Herald-Leader journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@ A sheer rock cliff above a river. Sweeping violins. A climber's sinewy body, her hands and feet clinging to gaps as she makes her perilous ascent. 'I shouldn't be here.' The unidentified climber then explains in voiceover about her dire cancer diagnosis by three doctors who told her she'd never climb again. 'I wanted a different answer,' the voice continues. 'And I got it at UK HealthCare. It took a drug nobody else had yet. Twelve rounds of chemo, A 10-hour surgery a, 16-person team and eight months of rehab. 'But here I am, right where I was never supposed to be.' It's a dramatic, stirring ad, so good that the University of Kentucky's health care arm showed it during both the Super Bowl and the NCAA tournament. But the woman, professional climber Amity Warme, is not a UK patient. According to her Instagram page, she recently suffered a finger injury, but not a terrible cancer diagnosis. And nowhere does the ad say that Warme is an actor or that the story is a dramatization. The one-minute ad — created by UK's longtime advertising partner, Cornett — has raised some eyebrows from both fans and critics, who wonder why UK would bother to use an actor when they have so many real patients whose lives were actually saved by UK doctors. It caught the attention of Lily Saman, a climber who recognized Warme, who is famous in part for five free climbs of El Capitan in Yosemite. 'When I first saw the commercial during the Super Bowl, it really spoke to me on multiple levels,' Saman said in an email. 'I was immediately drawn by the beautiful landscape. As a Red River Gorge climber, I could quickly tell this was not filmed in Kentucky, but I still appreciated that my sport was getting exposure and hoped everyone felt as drawn to it as I was.' Saman's father was diagnosed with cancer that same week. 'When I saw the commercial, I felt hopeful and was inspired by her story,' she said. 'Learning that it was completely fabricated left me feeling very deceived — that I was tricked during a vulnerable time in my life and that I fell for it.' Judging from the comments on YouTube and other social media posts, others agreed. 'Yo! Instead of using a pro climber to tell a bogus story, you could've used a normal native-born Kentucky climber, who miraculously survived a near-fatal accident and was actually treated by UK, and now climbs harder than they ever did before,' said one commenter. 'Hit me up! I'll take pennies on the dollar compared to any desperate pro athlete who is willing to peddle bs for you.' Geoffrey Blair is the director of Marketing and Brand Strategy for the executive vice president of health affairs at UK, a role shared by Eric Monday, the executive VP for finance and administration, and Robert DiPaola, who is also the provost. Blair said that UK HealthCare has run a series of ad campaigns designed to heighten awareness of its advanced medical services for the future, when people might need them. UK's Markey Cancer Center is the state's only National Cancer Institute Designated Cancer Center and treats thousands of patients from the state. 'Amity Warme is not one of our patients, but the character's story dramatized in the TV commercial represents dozens of real UK HealthCare patient journeys each year – someone hit with an unexpected diagnosis who is able to get back to doing the things they love thanks to UK HealthCare,' he said. 'The 'drug no one else had yet' was a nod to treatments available through our clinical trials offerings rather than a specific medication.' Blair said UK always uses 'talent' in broadcast TV commercials because of 'the time commitment needed, the stamina required, and the ability to convey a range of physical actions and emotions as necessary to tell the story.' But they do feature real patients in other ads, like the story of Joshua Taylor, whose heart failure led to 180 days in the hospital, a medically induced coma, months of rehab and a 12-hour transplant surgery to save his life. Blair also said they had hoped to film the ad in Kentucky, but bad weather meant moving to Tennessee, where leaves were still on trees. UK's 2025 contract with Cornett is $696,600. The Super Bowl buy cost almost $50,000, while the NCAA Tournament cost about $64,000. Blair said so far, the 'I shouldn't be here' campaign has lifted awareness of UK HealthCare by more than 320%. 'Metrics for emotional power, emotional activation and positivity have more than doubled,' he said. 'The story in the ad is representative of the types of stories we hear frequently from our doctors and patients: 'I went elsewhere and was told I had no options. I came to UK and underwent extensive treatment that included something only UK was able to give me. Now I'm back to living my life.' ' But experts in ethics in advertising say UK should have been more transparent about what was represented. Andrew Susman, executive director of the Institute for Advertising Ethics in New York City, watched the UK ad and said it violated numerous principles his group uses to train advertising professionals. 'The ad appears to present a first-person account, yet it's unclear whether the narrator is recounting her own experience,' he said. 'If dramatized, that must be clearly disclosed.' He said Federal Trade Commission guidelines require that testimonials reflect real experiences or clearly state otherwise. In addition, Susman said, dramatizing a life-or-death narrative without transparency 'risks manipulating vulnerable viewers —particularly in health care.' All these problems could have been avoided with a simple disclaimer such as 'dramatization based on a true story.' 'Using the real patient—or clearly labeling the dramatization—would honor audience trust while maintaining emotional resonance,' Susman said. Other experts agree. Dr. Gillian Oakenfull, a Professor of Marketing at the Farmer School of Business at Miami University of Ohio, said transparency in health care advertising is critical. 'Without it, there's a real risk of misleading viewers, which could be considered deceptive under most advertising ethics codes,' Oakenfull said in an email. 'Second, the claim of exclusive access to a particular medicine carries weight. While UK's Markey Cancer Center does have an extensive clinical trial program, implying exclusivity without explanation or substantiation can mislead audiences. These types of claims should always be backed up, ideally with clear context around trial participation or partnerships.' Third, she said, the use of a young cancer survivor paired with the rock climbing taps into deep emotional currents. 'That's understandable from a creative standpoint, but when patient representation becomes blurred or dramatized, it opens the door to backlash,' she said. 'The audience is not just watching a brand message—they're engaging with what they believe is a lived experience.' Oakenfull believes that health care advertising has a higher ethical bar. 'Marketing should elevate clarity, truthfulness and respect for the patient journey—not stretch the truth in pursuit of a powerful message,' she said. This will become more important as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated in our lives, and it becomes harder to discern what is real and what is fake. 'When it gets harder to tell the real from the unreal, we need more transparency,' said John Ferre, a professor of communication at the University of Louisville. 'It's a beautifully done ad. It's a terrific ad. But it's not transparent. 'UK HealthCare represents something really, really good,' he said. 'They should stay consistent with that and be clear this is a dramatization.'
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A drag queen, ‘genital police' & a House floor ban: What happened in KY Capitol incident?
In our Reality Check stories, Herald-Leader journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@ A Kentucky Republican legislator chastised a transgender woman, calling her a 'pervert' and summoning a police officer on her Thursday after she used a women's restroom in the Frankfort Capitol. 'Men who try to use women's restrooms are perverts,' Rep. Bill Wesley, posted to X following the interaction. Democratic Sen. Karen Berg then confronted the Ravenna Republican on the House floor about it, exchanging words and touching his shoulder in a way that Wesley characterized as a 'slap.' Allies of the senator referred to it as a 'firm pat.' In response, House GOP leadership Friday permanently banned Berg, a Louisville Democrat, from returning to the House floor. Berg's transgender son took his own life in 2022. The chain of events began on Thursday when Wesley summoned the Capitol police on Carma Bell Marshall, a drag queen who is transgender, for using a restroom on the first floor of the Capitol. The interaction was captured in photos and later shared by other Republicans on social media, thanking Wesley for 'keeping girls and women safe.' Berg confronted Wesley later that day and touched his shoulder on her way out of the chamber. One of Wesley's colleagues, joined by other conservatives on social media, called it a 'slap.' Berg told the Herald-Leader she apologized to Wesley for touching him. But on Friday, Berg was officially sanctioned by House leadership and barred permanently from entering the chamber over that exchange, House Speaker David Osborne told the Herald-Leader. 'She's no longer allowed on the House floor anymore,' Osborne, a Prospect Republican, said after the House adjourned sine die on Friday. 'She'll be receiving a letter if she hasn't already. Passions run high this time of year. You've got to be able to check those things.' Emma Curtis, a Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman who is transgender and was at the Capitol Thursday, said that Wesley and Republicans are overreacting to Berg's 'firm pat.' 'Rep. Wesley likes to act tough for the camera but is so sensitive to a colleague giving him a firm pat on the back that he has her banned from the House floor? Give me a break,' Curtis said. Marshall, a trans woman, had arrived at the Capitol in drag, wearing heels and a cream fitted sequined dress. She was set to address a crowd of a few dozen fellow LGBTQ advocates and allies celebrating 'trans joy' and to push back against House Bill 495. Now law, the bill blocks transgender adults on Medicaid in Kentucky from accessing gender-affirming health care. Republicans, including Wesley, voted Thursday to override Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's veto of that bill. It also protects the practice of conversion therapy, a discredited form of counseling aiming to change a person's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Marshall has not responded to multiple requests for comment. The interaction was captured in pictures and posted to social media by another Republican, Rep. TJ Roberts of Burlington. He and Wesley both misgendered Marshall and invalidated trans people's identities in their social media posts, which are public. 'A man pretending to be a woman tried to gain access to the girl's bathroom at the Capitol today. (Kentucky State Police) stopped him, but (Wesley) confronted him,' Roberts posted. 'My colleague stood up to this madness, reminded the man that he is a man, and he has no place in women and girl's spaces, especially the bathroom. This is the truth. Men are men, and can never become women.' Wesley later posted, 'Men do not belong in girls' bathrooms, period!' These posts triggered a social media firestorm, drawing input from some prominent conservatives, including Utah U.S. Sen. Mike Lee and Riley Gaines, the former University of Kentucky swimmer-turned pundit for her outspoken opposition to trans women competing in women's sports. Gaines thanked Wesley on X for 'defending women and girls.' In 2023, Wesley was the primary sponsor of a bill banning transgender students from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. Portions of that bill became law via Senate Bill 150. Wesley's interaction with Marshall occurred midday Thursday. By late afternoon, Berg had confronted Wesley on the House floor about it — the tense exchange caught on video that caused House leadership to sanction her. After this face-to-face interaction, during a Senate floor debate on a GOP bill to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Kentucky's public colleges and universities, Berg brought up the incident. Berg said Wesley 'accosted' Marshall, telling her 'she can never use the restroom again in this building.' 'This is the type of hate that we are fomenting in this body,' Berg said. 'It's almost as if you don't want people in this state to get along. You don't want them to be included and accepted and feel comfortable in their schools and feel comfortable in their spaces and feel comfortable peeing somewhere.' She added, 'You all really need to stop and think what you are doing and why, because from the outside looking in, it looks really, really unhealthy.' Curtis questioned why Wesley was there in the first place. 'Standing around outside of Capitol bathrooms trying to play genital police is a waste of any legislator's time and every taxpayer's money,' Curtis said. After Berg's confrontation with Wesley was posted on social media, conservatives resurfaced comments she made on pedophilia and child sex dolls in the 2023 session Marshall ran for office in 2024. She filed to run for House District 31 in Louisville, a seat currently held by Republican Rep. Susan Witten. Marshall lost in the Democratic primary to Colleen Davis, who fell narrowly to Witten's reelection effort. When approached on the House floor Thursday night, Wesley told the Herald-Leader he would not take any questions and deferred comment to House leadership. He did offer a brief statement, however. 'I will always protect little girls going to a women's bathroom from any man that claims to be a woman,' Wesley said. Later, he called Marshall a 'pervert' on social media. Outside of confirming that she'd been sanctioned, House leadership did not comment further on the incident. Senate leadership also declined to comment.
