The Official Web Site of the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky

  • First Lady Jane Beshear with Jim Davis at the Powell County Library

    Recognizing Generosity

    November 16, 2009

    First Lady Beshear celebrated the phenomenal successes of a man whose selflessness and concern for others proves the undeniable power of one to make a difference.

    [Read more...]

  • Gov. Beshear with Hitachi officials announces expansion at Harrodsburg plant

    Seeking, Delivering Jobs

    November 10, 2009

    Gov. Beshear announced that Hitachi will expand its Harrodsburg operation, adding a new advanced fuel system production line; the expansion could also result in an additional product line.

    [Read more...]

  • Gov. Beshear marks one-year anniversary of the Beshear Plan

    Covering Kentucky's Kids

    November 2, 2009

    Gov. Beshear announced that the state is projected to enroll an additional 35,000 children in the KCHIP or Medicaid programs by the end of 2009, six months ahead of schedule.

    [Read more...]

  • Gov. Beshear examines an artist's rendering of the new Eastern State Hospital

    Renewing Mental Health Care

    October 29, 2009

    Gov. Beshear unveiled plans and artist renderings of a new Eastern State Hospital facility, to be built on a site at UK's Coldstream Research Campus in Lexington.

    [Read more...]

  • Gov. Beshear announces smoking cessation initiative

    Providing Tools for Change

    October 26, 2009

    Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky is joining forces with an innovative national effort to curb smoking by providing smokers with resources designed to help those struggling to quit.

    [Read more...]

  • Gov. Beshear announces Transforming Education in Kentucky

    Re-energizing Our Schools

    October 19, 2009

    Gov. Beshear launched his new education initiative to create a unified vision of what schools in the Commonwealth need to offer in order to better serve students today and tomorrow.

    [Read more...]

  • Gov. Beshear with children at ABCD press conference

    Something to Smile About

    October 13, 2009

    Gov. Beshear announced that his administration will embark on an aggressive, potentially ground-breaking initiative to improve dental health among children throughout Eastern Kentucky.

    [Read more...]

  • ARRA / Kentucky at Work

    Maintaining Priorities

    October 12, 2009

    Gov. Beshear: The federal stimulus program is doing exactly what it is intended to do and is delivering on its promise of maintaining jobs and programs in education and health care.

    [Read more...]

  • Georgetown Toyota Plant courtesy of Fast Company

    Pursuing Investment

    October 1, 2009

    In the past two decades, the Far East has become a source of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment for Kentucky. Gov. Beshear departs Saturday for Japan and China.

    [Read more...]

  • Products from Berry Plastics

    Keeping Jobs in Kentucky

    September 29, 2009

    Gov. Beshear and Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Larry Hayes joined company and community officials in Franklin to announce the retention of 460 Kentucky jobs at Berry Plastics.

    [Read more...]

  • Veterans Cemetery in Hopkinsville, Kentucky

    Honoring Those Who Served

    September 18, 2009

    Governor Steve Beshear ceremonially broke ground today on the Commonwealth’s fourth state veterans cemetery in Greenup County, which should open in 2010.

    [Read more...]

  • Gov. Beshear installs insulation at the Green Build Kentucky kick-off in 2008

    Energy Works for Kentucky

    September 15, 2009

    Energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy sources in Kentucky got a substantial boost this week with more than $10M in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.

    [Read more...]

  • Lt. Gov. Mongiardo administers influenza vaccine to Gov. Beshear

    Promoting Healthy Choices

    September 10, 2009

    With influenza season just around the corner, the governor and first lady received their seasonal flu vaccinations from Dr. Daniel Mongiardo, Kentucky’s lieutenant governor.

    [Read more...]

  • Switchgrass grown for biofuel

    Securing Our Future

    September 2, 2009

    Gov. Beshear has formed the Kentucky Biomass and Biofuels Development Task Force. The group will work to develop a sustainable biomass and biofuels industry in Kentucky.

    [Read more...]

  • Governor Beshear with historical reenactors.

    Preserving Our History

    September 2, 2009

    Governor Steve Beshear today signed an executive order establishing a commission that will recognize and celebrate the pivotal role Kentucky played in the Civil War.

    [Read more...]

  • Kentucky Bourbon

    Celebrating Our Heritage

    August 25, 2009

    Gov. Beshear honored Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry for its tremendous economic and tourism impact by declaring September “Bourbon Heritage Month” in the Commonwealth.

    [Read more...]

  • Crime Scene Vehicle

    Modernizing Police Work

    August 19, 2009

    Gov. Beshear today unveiled the Kentucky State Police's new
    Crime Scene Response Vehicle,
    a 2009 Ford Super Duty Truck equipped with everything needed for on-scene crime analysis.

    [Read more...]

  • Governor Beshear recognizes High-Tech Award recipients

    Rewarding Innovation

    August 17, 2009

    Gov. Steve Beshear today recognized more than 50 Kentucky researchers and high-tech entrepreneurs who have recently received funding from the Commonwealth.

    [Read more...]

  • Secretary Prather resigns

    High Standards, Results

    August 11, 2009

    Gov. Beshear announced that Joe Prather, who has implemented important reforms as secretary of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, will be leaving his post on Sept. 30.

    [Read more...]

  • Flooding in Louisville. AP Photo by Ed Reinke.

    Disaster Assistance

    August 11, 2009

    Gov. Beshear declared a state of emergency and asked President Obama to declare a major disaster for the Commonwealth as a result of the severe storms and flooding that struck on August 4.

    [Read more...]

  • Car Credit Becomes Law

    July 16, 2009

    A new car trade-in allowance that goes into effect this fall could make buying a new car a little easier. The measure was passed by the legislature during the 2009 Special Session.

    [Read more...]

  • Helping Local Governments

    July 16, 2009

    Gov. Steve Beshear today announced a further action to help hard-pressed local governments bear the cost of necessary public services.

    [Read more...]

  • Attracting Investment

    July 7, 2009

    Gov. Steve Beshear today ceremoniously signed House Bill 3, which includes incentives designed to attract movie productions and other film industry opportunities to the Commonwealth.

    [Read more...]

  • Goals Met, Promises Kept

    June 24, 2009

    Gov. Beshear said the Special Session's accomplishments will save and create thousands of jobs and stimulate hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and economic growth.

    [Read more...]

  • Preserving Commitments

    June 3, 2009

    Gov. Beshear's proposed budget for next year does not raise taxes on working families while preserving basic funding for classroom instruction, health care, and key areas of public safety.

    [Read more...]

  • Delivering for Kentucky

    April 13, 2009

    Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky has been selected as the site for a proposed domestic battery manufacturing and headquarters facility which would bring investment and jobs.

    [Read more...]

  • Bringing Industry to KY

    April 8, 2009

    The Commonwealth of Kentucky, UK, and U of L are partnering with Argonne National Laboratory to establish a national Battery Manufacturing Research and Development Center.

    [Read more...]

  • Honoring Sacrifice

    March 13, 2009

    Governor Beshear presented 38 Kentucky Medals for Freedom today to the families of 15 Kentucky military members who died in combat.

    [Read more...]

  • Photo by Matt Stone, The Courier-Journal

    Stimulating the Economy

    February 25, 2009

    Gov. Beshear unveiled the “Kentucky at Work” initiative – the details of an estimated $3 billion in stimulus funding from the federal government that will be invested in Kentucky.

    [Read more...]

  • Supporting Kentucky's Kids

    February 19, 2009

    Recognizing the significant role a child’s younger years play in future achievements, Gov. Beshear has created the Task Force on Early Childhood Development and Education.

    [Read more...]

  • Cooperative Leadership

    February 13, 2008

    Hailing a spirit of bipartisanship and cooperation, Gov. Steve Beshear today signed a budget package that he said protects funding for basic education, health care and public safety.

    [Read more...]

  • Restocking the Pantries

    January 30, 2009

    Today, in conjunction with universities and community organizations, Gov. Beshear launched a statewide campaign to “Restock the Pantries” at Kentucky’s dwindling food banks.

    [Read more...]

  • Tax Prep Resources

    January 5, 2009

    Gov. Beshear encourages more Kentuckians to apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable federal tax credit for low- and middle-income working individuals and families.

    [Read more...]

  • Protecting Our Values

    December 11, 2008

    Gov. Beshear today proposed a plan to address the state’s budget crisis that would protect funding for education as well as the state’s most vulnerable populations through vital state services.

    [Read more...]

  • Photo by Michael Clevenger, The Courier-Journal

    Protecting Kentucky Jobs

    December 4, 2008

    Joined by Ford executives at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, Governor Beshear and Mayor Abramson said the two Ford plants in Louisville are too important to the economy to fail.

    [Read more...]

  • Photo by Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images

    Advocating for Kentuckians

    December 2, 2008

    Governor Beshear joined governors from across the nation in Philadelphia today for a meeting with President-Elect Barack Obama to discuss the country’s current economic crisis.

    [Read more...]

  • Comprehensive Energy Plan

    November 20, 2008

    Governor Beshear unveiled the state’s first-ever comprehensive energy plan, which calls for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while creating some 40,000 jobs.

    [Read more...]

  • Prescription Assistance

    October 31, 2008

    Governor Beshear unveiled the Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP), a new program to aid eligible Kentuckians in locating free or reduced cost prescription drugs.

    [Read more...]

  • Protecting Kentucky Jobs

    October 30, 2008

    Governor Beshear announced an amended incentive package giving Ford Motor Company the green light to invest an additional $200 million at its two Louisville manufacturing plants.

    [Read more...]

  • New Assistance Web Site

    October 23, 2008

    Governor Beshear today unveiled a new Web site, assistance.ky.gov, a one-stop-shop providing readily accessible links to critical resources in tough economic times.

    [Read more...]

  • Leading on the Economy

    October 9, 2008

    Governor Beshear announced steps to continue building Kentucky's economy and ensure that basic services and financial institutions are protected in these challenging economic times.

    [Read more...]

  • Public Safety First

    September 23, 2008

    Governor Beshear plans to elevate the oversight and fiscal management of several key public safety technology programs under a single umbrella of protection known as “Public Safety First.”

    [Read more...]

  • Ensuring Our Safety

    September 14, 2008

    Governor Beshear declared a state of emergency, providing the necessary authorization to take a broad range of steps to ensure safety in the wake of storms that hit the state.

    [Read more...]

  • Insuring Our Children

    September 3, 2008

    Governor Beshear announced a plan to get more eligible children into the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP).

    [Read more...]

  • Protecting Our Industry

    August 25, 2008

    Governor Beshear announced his support for a ban on steroids in horse racing, and deemed the issue an emergency so a ban could take immediate effect.

    [Read more...]

  • Creating New Jobs

    August 25, 2008

    Governor Beshear announced 4,000 new jobs and a low-speed electric vehicle manufacturing plant coming to Simpson County with the help of state incentives to Integrity Automotive, LLC.

    [Read more...]

  • Making Education Affordable

    August 15, 2008

    Governor Beshear unveiled an innovative financing solution to ensure student loans remain available to Kentuckians from the state’s only public, nonprofit student loan provider during the 2008-2009 school year.

    [Read more...]

  • Practical Solutions

    August 4, 2008

    Governor Beshear announced “Practical Solutions,” an initiative aimed at ensuring continued excellence and safety in highway design and construction while stretching limited transportation funds.

    [Read more...]

Putting Kentucky First

Affordable and Accessible Health Care

Governor Beshear is committed to providing affordable accessible health care to all Kentuckians, especially our children. That is why he has a plan to get all eligible children enrolled in the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program, a state and federally funded program providing coverage to children of low income families. [Read more...]   Also, Governor Beshear signed legislation expanding health care coverage to unmarried, dependent children up to the age of twenty-six, if they are in school.

Governor Beshear signed legislation (HB 316) requiring that mammograms be included in basic insurance plans offered in the Commonwealth, thereby providing women in Kentucky with an additional safeguard against a frequent, and too often deadly, disease.

In signing SB 98, the Governor ensured that the Commonwealth's program to offer coverage and benefits for women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer would have stability and continue to be available for women who are eligible. As a result, this access to treatment will help save lives.

Energy Independence

Governor Beshear believes Kentucky must work toward energy independence not only for the security of our state and nation, but also that the energy sector offers tremendous economic opportunities for the state. To learn more about his strategy, read the plan, the fact sheet and the press release, or view the PowerPoint presentation.

Clean and Ethical State Government

Governor Beshear is committed to bringing integrity and accountability to state government. He has done that with an executive order that gives Kentucky some of the strongest executive ethics laws in the nation. [Read more…]

Transportation

Governor Beshear is working hard to create a culture of integrity at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. This means holding employees to a higher standard and includes “Practical Solutions,” an initiative aimed at ensuring continued excellence and safety in highway design and construction while stretching limited transportation funds. [Read more…]

Quality Education

Governor Beshear believes a good education is critical to the success of our Commonwealth. He is working hard to ensure every child in Kentucky has access to quality care from early childhood education though higher education. He recently announced an innovative financing initiative to ensure student loans remain available to Kentuckians from the state’s only public, nonprofit student loan provider. [Read more…]

A 21st Century Economy

Governor Beshear is working hard to bring high-wage jobs to all parts of Kentucky. This means focusing on Kentucky’s strengths – including the energy sector and adventure tourism. In addition he has worked hard to protect the jobs we already have, including helping to save jobs at the Ford plant in Louisville. [Read more…]

Governor's Spotlight

Stimulus Dollars at Work

Want to know more about how your state government is putting President Obama's stimulus money to work? Find out at www.kentuckyatwork.ky.gov


Assistance in Tough Times

Your one-stop guide to available resources for Kentuckians in these tough economic times... www.assistance.ky.gov

 Find photos of Governor Beshear on flickr Follow Governor Beshear's tweets on twitter Watch videos of Governor Beshear on YouTube


'About Kentucky' Weekly Commentary

11.20.2009: Hunger & Homelessness
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