If you’re like us, you’re barely holding on in this heat and hot mess is an understatement. But we’ve got a bit of a cold front approaching and that means we’ve got strong-to-severe storm potential today and again Saturday evening. The heat and humidity will linger throughout. But it might cool down with the storms, so we’re holding our breath. [WxOrNot on YouTube]
Voter registration in Kentucky jumped in June after the May primary slump and the Kentucky Democratic Party continued its collapse.. Net registration rose by 6,770, with 4,670 voters removed. Republicans constitute 48% of the electorate with 1,620,173 voters. That’s up by 5,516 voters, a 0.34% increase. Democrats make up 41% of the electorate with 1,370,786 voters. That’s a loss of 446 voters, a 0.03% decrease. There are 381,359 people registered as “other” (Independent) and they account for 11% of voters. “Other” registration rose by 1,700, a 0.44% increase. [Press Release]
We know what you should do with your entire evening, mamaws and papaws. Pack up the grandkids and hop on over to the Capitol Theater for some free movies. Shrek is at 5:00 P.M. and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is at 7:00. You cannot beat free and both of these movies are great. [The Capitol]
Everything feels terrible lately but stuff like this is legitimately exciting. Going to the movies without having to leave your car? Sign us up. Plans for a proposed drive-in theater and amphitheater in northern Barren County are continuing to move forward as officials work toward putting the project out for construction bids and identifying potential private investors. [WBKO]
A Kentucky jury sent a message to a ghost gun company that ghosted its own trial — never responding to a lawsuit, never appearing in court and never defending itself — by ordering it to pay more than $100 million in damages. That total is believed to be the highest damage amount ever awarded by a jury against a gun dealer, according to lawyers in the case. [Courier-Journal]
Last Friday, the governor released an excited video claiming Kentucky’s economy is growing like gangbusters and that everything is better than expected. Reality paints a different picture, unfortunately, as his own office issued a press release that same day revealing that the General Fund only increased by 1.7%, mostly due to sales tax increases pushed by Republicans and cuts to life-saving aid poor people need that the governor didn’t fight. The Road Fund dropped a whopping 2.2%, in part due to Beshear’s temporary suspension of gas taxes and mismanagement at the Transportation Cabinet. Let’s get into the weeds: Sales taxes increased 6.4%; Business taxes cratered 12.9%; Property taxes rose 1.6%; Cancer stick taxes rose 1.1%; Coal severance taxes jumped 12.3%; Lottery revenue jumped 5.5% because everyone is broke; General Fund investment income lost another $78.9 million. Road Fund receipts were $41.6 million lower. You also paid more in motor vehicle use, license, operations and weight distance taxes by $19.4 million. So remember – even if it’s your favorite politician? They’re probably not telling you everything. Kentucky’s economy is, like KDP voter registration, slowly collapsing. [Press Release]
Here’s your chance to do something nice for your neighborhood that could make a real impact. Residents looking to take on projects for their neighborhoods now have the chance to apply for funding as the fall cycle of Bowling Green city government’s Strategic Neighborhood Grants program is now accepting applications. The program provides $30,000 in funding for the fall and another $30,000 in the spring. [BG Daily News]
WKU’s football team finds itself in the middle of a controversy following the dismissal and loss of scholarship of senior defensive lineman Victory Vaka. According to the CBS Sports article by Chris Hummer, Vaka was removed from the team after a leave of absence due to the death of his mother, Sarah Mataele, on April 2. [WKU Herald & CBS Sports]
Of all the “days” to announce, Frankfort has let us know that July 23, 2026 is Healthy and Resilient Buildings Day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Wonder if the fine folks over at Western Kentucky University are aware? Y’all think they’re gonna celebrate? You know, on account of having to tear down brand new buildings due to rank incompetence. [PDF Link]
Rocky Adkins left his role in the Beshear Administration because he’s running for governor. What media won’t tell you is Beshear supports Adkins instead of his own Lieutenant Governor, Jacqueline Coleman, in the race. Coleman can win a primary but can’t win the general. Adkins will struggle to win the cities but could theoretically win in a general. Neither will be able to make it unless they separate themselves from the Beshear world and throw out most of the Kentucky Democratic Party in Frankfort. As it stands today, an unnamed Republican will likely be your next governor. You can write that down. [Herald-Leader]
Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted (this means cooked) preliminary June 2026 unemployment rate was 4.7%. So no, the economy isn’t booming, as that’s up from 4.5% in May and it’s even up from a year ago. For perspective, the national rate was 4.2%, down 4.3% in May. The governor’s hyping up a myth because there were allegedly just 100 jobs created in June and nonfarm employment is down a whopping 6,600 jobs – and that’s with the cooked numbers. Information services down 400; financial activities down 100; real estate down 400; government jobs down 1,600; construction down 200; manufacturing down 6,000; educational and health services down 600; professional and business services down 1,300; administrative support down 1,700; waste management down 1,600. Bread and circuses leadership means we’re due for a new distraction. [Press Release]
Coming on Monday, July 20 at 5:00 P.M.: Teen Comedy Camp at The Capitol is the place to be this summer to learn and create comedy in all of its forms. Whether you’re interested in stand up comedy, sketch comedy, improvisation or comedic acting this camp will take a deeper dive into all areas of comedy creation and performance! [The Capitol]
Area employers are getting a chance to learn about a growing source of employees in south central Kentucky. UnDesked, an international, multilingual software company headquartered here in Bowling Green, partnered with the South Central Workforce Development Board to bring employers and service agencies together to learn more about the immigrant community here. [WNKY]
Your writer is a raging liberal and agrees with these Republicans that there’s some serious corruption afoot and this needs to be reversed. Your writer also thinks this publication needs to take a chill pill with its obvious partisan bent – just look how they write. Kentucky’s constitutional officers are asking the state’s highest court to reconsider a case that clarified Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s appointment power over the State Fair Board. Attorney General Russell Coleman, Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, Auditor Allison Ball, Treasurer Mark Metcalf and Secretary of State Michael Adams are asking the Kentucky Supreme Court to rehear their arguments. [Kentucky Lantern]
We can’t think of a worse event to attend but the 146th Annual St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2026. So far, a bunch of political hotheads are lined up to speak and they’re likely to make your eyes cross. If you’re a politician, the modern version of the event is legitimately a risk and a waste of your time. But if you’re not a politician and just want to see people be insane, here’s your chance. [WKYT]
The Outlaw Diesel Super Series is returning with the Bluegrass Truck Jam to Beech Bend Raceway! Featuring ODSS drag racing, burnout pit chaos, show & shine, vendors, food trucks, and more. [Visit BG & Beech Bend]