Governor Andy Beshear

They've announced the closure and hazard and a couple other areas. And you can tell they just looked at a map and that they don't know how long it takes driving in Appalachia to get somewhere. But then they shut down the call center.

So what they are trying to make happen is that senior, who in my state probably voted for Donald Trump, drives two hours and then doesn't have the documents that he or she needs. and thus don't get the next check that they paid into the system and that they should get.

So what they are trying to make happen is that senior, who in my state probably voted for Donald Trump, drives two hours and then doesn't have the documents that he or she needs. and thus don't get the next check that they paid into the system and that they should get.

This is an area where if you are going to speak out against the Trump administration when they do wrong, you've got to give them credit when they're doing right. FEMA, in response to especially our February flooding, is doing some of the best I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot, 14 federally declared disasters since I became governor.

This is an area where if you are going to speak out against the Trump administration when they do wrong, you've got to give them credit when they're doing right. FEMA, in response to especially our February flooding, is doing some of the best I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot, 14 federally declared disasters since I became governor.

Which is ironic, because again, it's operating well. I think the Biden administration made a lot of these changes, but the current administrator came in, made commitments to us that he kept. Secretary Noem pushed through our request for individual assistance because the president signed off on it. A number of people in Kentucky are getting help.

Which is ironic, because again, it's operating well. I think the Biden administration made a lot of these changes, but the current administrator came in, made commitments to us that he kept. Secretary Noem pushed through our request for individual assistance because the president signed off on it. A number of people in Kentucky are getting help.

So I think it's important, even when you're a Democratic governor, that we have the credibility to say good job when administration does well, But then we stand up and speak out and sometimes file suit when they're doing wrong.

So I think it's important, even when you're a Democratic governor, that we have the credibility to say good job when administration does well, But then we stand up and speak out and sometimes file suit when they're doing wrong.

Well, we're making a lot of progress that I want to discuss, but let me start by saying Eastern Kentuckians and Appalachians helped build this country. They mined the coal that powered the industrial revolution. They powered us through two world wars. Yet when the energy economy started to change, The new jobs didn't go where the old jobs were.

Well, we're making a lot of progress that I want to discuss, but let me start by saying Eastern Kentuckians and Appalachians helped build this country. They mined the coal that powered the industrial revolution. They powered us through two world wars. Yet when the energy economy started to change, The new jobs didn't go where the old jobs were.

The idea of environmental justice came along a lot earlier than economic justice. And so you have an area that rightfully feels that the country that they helped build has turned its back on them and not invested what's needed. And the biggest challenge is infrastructure. You're in the mountains because that's where the coal was.

The idea of environmental justice came along a lot earlier than economic justice. And so you have an area that rightfully feels that the country that they helped build has turned its back on them and not invested what's needed. And the biggest challenge is infrastructure. You're in the mountains because that's where the coal was.

Well, to build an extra lane on a road many places may cost a couple million dollars. It costs a billion dollars if you're cutting into the side of a mountain. So take our mountain parkway project, which I believe is transformational. We're building the first four-lane highway into the heart of Appalachia.

Well, to build an extra lane on a road many places may cost a couple million dollars. It costs a billion dollars if you're cutting into the side of a mountain. So take our mountain parkway project, which I believe is transformational. We're building the first four-lane highway into the heart of Appalachia.

In Kentucky history, four lanes are important because a factory won't locate unless there are four lanes because they've got to be able to bring the trucks in and out.

In Kentucky history, four lanes are important because a factory won't locate unless there are four lanes because they've got to be able to bring the trucks in and out.

And the water and sewer, but we've been using these federal dollars and other investments really targeted to move the needle in exciting ways. And now is the right time because for the first time I can remember, business is coming to people instead of expecting people to drive a couple hours to business.

And the water and sewer, but we've been using these federal dollars and other investments really targeted to move the needle in exciting ways. And now is the right time because for the first time I can remember, business is coming to people instead of expecting people to drive a couple hours to business.

Yeah, they're looking at the available workforce. So this is an exciting time where we can really change things. At the same time, we're building what are called high ground communities. We're taking people who live in the floodplain who've been hit over and over and over. We're building entire neighborhoods on top of abandoned coal mines.