AGP Executive Report

NCAA Softball Super Regionals: The road to the Women’s College World Series is underway, with 13 of the top 16 seeds moving on. Mississippi State stunned Oklahoma 11-9 after a late surge, Texas Tech knocked off Florida 10-8 and is one win from OKC, and Tennessee grabbed the first ticket with a 2-1 win over Georgia—its 10th WCWS trip. Kentucky Derby Buzz: Golden Tempo, the Derby winner, breezed five furlongs at Keeneland in 1:00.20 as he keeps building toward the Belmont Stakes June 6 at Saratoga. Louisville Museums: The Frazier Kentucky History Museum and three other Louisville spots are rolling out fresh exhibits tied to America250, including a hands-on “Pursuit of Happiness” experience. Public Safety: Kentucky State Police arrested an Alabama man after an I-24 road-rage incident that allegedly involved a passenger waving a handgun; charges include wanton endangerment and menacing. Health & Community: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital is leaning on full-time facility dogs to help kids during stressful care.

Corrections Scandal: Kentucky State Police say an Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex officer, Joe A. Cress, was fired and charged after officials found alleged narcotics inside the prison; troopers charged him with promoting contraband and trafficking. Federal Court: A Berea bank robbery suspect, Brailen Weaver, was indicted by a federal grand jury, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty if convicted. Public Health Funding: Gov. Andy Beshear announced more than $105 million in FEMA COVID-19 reimbursements for six Kentucky hospitals and Kentucky Emergency Management. Environment: Kentucky could feel impacts as the EPA proposes weakening wastewater limits tied to coal-ash sites. Mental Health Court: Hopkins County celebrated the first graduates of its new Mental Health Court program, marking a shift toward treatment over incarceration. Online Safety Lawsuits: Meta settled a major youth mental health case with Breathitt County School District, with details kept confidential. Weather/Travel: Memorial Day weekend brings a Flood Watch for Greater Cincinnati as heavy rain lingers, with conditions improving later.

Meta Settles Kentucky School Suit: Meta, along with TikTok, Snap and YouTube, has reached settlements in a landmark case accusing platforms of fueling “addiction” harms to students; in Kentucky, Breathitt County School District’s bellwether case was set for trial next month, but the deal now ends that fight while other districts’ lawsuits continue. Politics in the Spotlight: In Washington, Trump is defending a $1.8B “anti-weaponization” fund as Senate Republicans push back over legality and who could benefit, while Kentucky’s own Thomas Massie has already lost his GOP primary to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein. Public Safety & Accountability: Kentucky State Police charged an Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex officer with bringing narcotics into the prison; the Department of Corrections fired him. Disaster Relief: Gov. Andy Beshear announced $105M in FEMA reimbursements for Kentucky hospitals and emergency management tied to COVID-19 costs. Local Life: Louisville Slugger Field is hosting “Purr at the Park” for cat lovers May 26, with proceeds benefiting the Kentucky Humane Society.

Softball Heartbreaker: Franklin-Simpson’s Lady Cats dropped a 7-6, 10-inning decision to Warren East on May 14, pushing the game to an international tiebreaker before falling short. Scholarship Spotlight: Murray State named Franklin-Simpson senior Arabella Robertson a 2026 Presidential Fellowship winner, covering full tuition, housing and meals. Local Crime Case: A Franklin County man is charged after police say a bad check was used to buy a nearly $160,000 boat in Kentucky—leading to a multi-state chase and recovery in Illinois. Business & Jobs: Ford idled its Dearborn F-150 plant for repairs tied to a nearby stamping issue, with workers potentially back as early as Sunday. Community Focus: United Way of Western Kentucky launched a McCracken County Impact Opportunity Task Force to map barriers and set an action plan for 2027. Health & Safety: Norton experts kicked off summer injury warnings ahead of the “100 deadliest days of summer.” Politics & Israel: A new flare-up over Israel politics followed Massie’s “Tel Aviv” remark, keeping the midterm fight hot. Youth Mental Health Lawsuits: Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube agreed to settle a Kentucky school district’s mental health claims, avoiding a looming California trial.

Kentucky Politics: The GOP’s Trump-led purge keeps reshaping Kentucky’s map: Rep. Thomas Massie is out after losing his primary to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, a race that drew record spending and national attention. U.S. Politics: Trump also escalated his Cuba posture, saying it “looks like I’ll be the one” to intervene after federal charges against Raúl Castro. Health & Policy: Planned Parenthood is rolling out “Just In Case” advance abortion pills in two states, while a new study finds only about 1 in 4 eligible adults are up to date on lung cancer screening. Economy & Daily Life: A doxo report shows household bill costs vary wildly by state, with the priciest places hitting far higher monthly totals than the most affordable. Sports & Local Interest: UK athletics is searching for a CEO-style athletics director role as Mitch Barnhart nears the end of his tenure, and Louisville’s Zoo is celebrating a new colobus monkey birth. Public Safety: Two people face charges in a 1994 Boyle County cold case tied to Anna Manning’s disappearance.

Invasive Species Alert: Kentucky Fish and Wildlife confirmed Alabama bass/spotted bass hybrids in Lake Linville for the first time in the state, and biologists are now expanding genetic testing to figure out how far the hybrids have spread and whether they could squeeze out native smallmouth and spotted bass. Politics—Trump’s Primary Sweep: In Kentucky’s most-watched GOP fight, President Donald Trump-backed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein defeated Rep. Thomas Massie in the 4th District, a loss that capped Massie’s long, independent streak and further underscored Trump’s grip on the party. Local Government: Mayfield’s mayoral primary narrowed to two nonpartisan finalists—city councilman Derrick Parrott and civil engineer Tim Choate—after incumbent Kathy O’Nan fell behind. Sports: Kentucky and Gonzaga agreed to end their men’s basketball series early, canceling the final two games; and Auburn baseball beat LSU 3-1 in the SEC Tournament to end LSU’s season.

Kentucky Politics: President Trump’s endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein has been projected to defeat longtime Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s 4th District GOP primary, a blow that’s already reshaping the party’s internal power struggle and setting up fresh attention on who could try to replace Massie’s anti-Trump streak. College Basketball: Gonzaga and Kentucky say they’re ending their six-game men’s series early, freeing both programs to reshuffle future nonconference schedules. Public Health: Sugar Foods is recalling specific Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons in multiple states, including Kentucky, after salmonella concerns tied to a milk-powder ingredient. Sports: Mississippi State rolled past Missouri 12-2 in the SEC Tournament, while college baseball tournament action continues across the Power 4. Community & Safety: An expungement fair is set for June 11 in Madisonville, offering eligible Kentuckians free help with record-expungement paperwork and related second-chance resources. Weather/Ag: Drought and higher fuel and fertilizer costs are squeezing Plains farmers, with some wheat crops near total loss.

Kentucky GOP Shakeup: U.S. Rep. Andy Barr won Kentucky’s Republican Senate primary to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, beating Daniel Cameron and setting up a November matchup with Democrat Charles Booker. Trump’s Purge Continues: In the biggest local upset, Rep. Thomas Massie lost his GOP House primary to Trump-backed Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, in what multiple reports call one of the most expensive House primaries ever—another sign Trump’s endorsement is still a deciding force in GOP contests. Statehouse Fallout: Louisville Democrats saw Rep. Daniel Grossberg fall in his primary amid allegations, while other Kentucky legislative races also shifted as voters picked new nominees. National Politics Watch: In Washington, the Senate advanced a measure aimed at forcing Trump to end the Iran war—after Sen. Bill Cassidy flipped following his own primary loss. Food Safety: Kroger recalled certain seasoned croutons sold in multiple states, including Kentucky, due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Kentucky Politics: Primary day is here, and the biggest test is in the 4th District: Rep. Thomas Massie faces Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein in what national coverage calls the most expensive House primary in U.S. history, with Trump flooding social media and even sending top officials into the fight. Election Watch: Across Kentucky and other states, voters are also weighing major GOP and Democratic races, with national attention on whether Trump’s endorsement keeps swaying Republican primary voters. SEC Baseball: In Hoover, Alabama, the SEC Tournament is rolling out MLB-style ABS strike challenges in every game, starting with Florida’s opener Wednesday. Public Safety/Weather: Kentucky voters head to polls as storm chances linger late, and severe weather headlines continue from elsewhere in the region. Local Sports/Community: South Oldham is running a youth basketball camp next month, while Kentucky sports coverage also keeps an eye on SEC tournament matchups and draft-season buzz.

Kentucky Primary Showdown: In northern Kentucky, voters head to Tuesday’s House GOP primary choosing U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie or Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein—another high-stakes test of how far Trump’s influence reaches, with Massie calling the race a loyalty trap and Gallrein leaning on support from top Republicans including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Massie’s New Fight: Massie also introduced a bill aimed at forcing AIPAC to register under FARA, escalating his long-running clash with pro-Israel political groups. Public Safety & Health: Leapfrog’s latest patient-safety grades show Kentucky hospitals earning As/Bs/Cs at similar rates, while Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville received a “B.” Local Life: Kentucky Sports Factory is holding in-person summer camp registration, and a Leitchfield firefighter memorial park upgrade plan has been paused indefinitely. Business & Industry: Ford’s stationary battery storage arm landed its first customer deal, with systems tied to Kentucky manufacturing.

Kentucky Politics: President Trump ratcheted up pressure on Rep. Thomas Massie ahead of Tuesday’s GOP primary, calling him “third rate” and demanding he be “thrown out,” while Massie’s challenger Ed Gallrein—backed by Trump—keeps drawing national attention and money to the 4th District. Local Business & Jobs: Averitt Express says it will expand its Louisville footprint with a new regional logistics campus, aiming to consolidate operations and add 64 jobs over the next four years. Energy & Industry: Ford’s new energy arm, Ford Energy, landed its first deal— a five-year framework with EDF to build battery storage systems, with deliveries starting in 2028. Courts & Safety: Lawsuits tied to the deadly UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville continue to pile up as cases begin moving through Jefferson County court. Media: Gray Media named Jay Hiett general manager for WDRB, WAVE and WBKI in Louisville.

Kentucky Primary Showdown: With Tuesday’s GOP vote looming, President Trump is ratcheting up pressure on Rep. Thomas Massie, backing challenger Ed Gallrein and pouring in outside money and attacks as the race tightens. Tech & Schools: YouTube, Snap, and TikTok have settled Kentucky school-district claims over alleged youth addiction harms, leaving Meta as the lone defendant heading to a June trial. Public Safety: In Owensboro, Kentucky State Police say a 3-year-old was hospitalized in critical condition after meth exposure; the child’s father faces multiple charges, including allegations he tried to alter a drug test. Sports—Local & Regional: Chattanooga FC rolled to a 3-1 road win over FC Cincinnati 2, while Tennessee punched its ticket to another Super Regional with a 5-1 win over Virginia. Weather: Expect hot conditions Monday, then a better chance for strong storms Tuesday, with damaging wind and hail possible.

Louisiana GOP Fallout: Sen. Bill Cassidy’s primary loss is now the latest proof of Trump’s hold on the party—Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump after Jan. 6, finished about 25% behind Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow (about 45%) and state Treasurer John Fleming (about 28%), setting up a June 27 runoff. Kentucky Primary Pressure: The fight is spilling into Kentucky’s Tuesday GOP contest, where Trump is attacking Rep. Thomas Massie as “the bum” and “worst” Republican, while Massie says the attacks are “desperate” help for his Trump-backed opponent, Ed Gallrein. Local Watch: Kentucky’s school data shows Graves County had 496 ninth graders in 2024-25, down 8.7% from the year before. Sports & Culture: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a former Kentucky star, was named NBA MVP again; and the Cleveland Marathon crowned Ashton Swinford for a fifth straight women’s title.

Preakness Stakes: Napoleon Solo won the 151st Preakness at Laurel Park, holding off Iron Honor after a late surge—his first Triple Crown-race win and a big rebound after earlier struggles. Kentucky Politics: Jefferson County logged a record early-voting turnout ahead of Kentucky’s May 19 primary, with more than 23,000 ballots cast during the three-day in-person period. MAGA Fallout: President Trump escalated his feud with Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s allies by attacking Lauren Boebert as “Weak Minded” and hinting he could back a challenger. Louisiana GOP Test: Sen. Bill Cassidy lost his Louisiana Senate primary to Trump-backed Julia Letlow and John Fleming, setting up a June 27 runoff. Local Sports: Kentucky softball’s season ended with a 4-3 SEC Tournament loss to Mississippi State, while Kentucky baseball notched a mercy-rule win over Tennessee. Weather: Storms moved out, but another round of severe weather hit the region, including a warning for Jefferson County.

Preakness Stakes: Golden Tempo is skipping the second leg of the Triple Crown, leaving a wide-open 151st Preakness at Laurel Park (7:01 p.m. ET) with Iron Honor the 9-2 favorite and Incredibolt, Taj Mahal and Chip Honcho close behind. Weather Watch: Louisville and parts of southern Indiana face a Saturday storm risk, with the main threats gusty winds and hail. Local Crime & Courts: A former Kentucky FOP official, Ryan Straw, pleaded guilty to wire fraud tied to schemes involving Louisville-area police fraternal lodges. State Funding: Louisville announced it secured more than $1 billion in state money for projects including downtown revitalization, road work, airport expansion and Kentucky Exposition Center redevelopment. Health Care: Appalachian Regional Healthcare says Kristen Jones earned an orthopedic nurse practitioner certification, one of only nine in Kentucky. Sports: Tennessee softball advanced in its NCAA regional after beating Northern Kentucky, setting up a matchup with Virginia.

Local Politics: Three candidates are vying to fill the vacant Madisonville City Council Ward 6 seat in the May 19 primary, with incumbent Kim Jones, Devi Thorp and Rik Woosley all pitching their plans to voters. Public Safety: In Tennessee, two men convicted in the nearly fatal shooting of a state trooper were sentenced to life without parole, underscoring the high stakes for attacks on law enforcement. Health & Immigration: The U.S. lifted a hold on immigration applications for doctors, a potential boost for foreign-trained physicians facing long delays. Sports: Arkansas beat Kentucky 5-4 to tie the baseball series, while Tennessee opened its NCAA softball regional with a 3-1 win over Northern Kentucky behind a one-hitter from Erin Nuwer and a game-winning homer by Elsa Morrison. Community: Butler County first responders trained on autism response tactics to help them de-escalate and communicate better during emergencies.