AGP Executive Report

Kentucky Politics: With Tuesday’s GOP primary looming, President Trump and allies are turning up the pressure on Rep. Thomas Massie—posting that voters should “put him out of business,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth makes a rare campaign stop in Hebron to back Trump-endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein and attack Massie as disloyal. Local Business & Jobs: Hazard Community & Technical College helped celebrate the TJ Maxx grand opening in Hazard, with the new store expected to create about 80 jobs. Media Shake-Up: Gray Media finalized its $80M acquisition of WDRB-TV, bringing it under the same ownership as WAVE-TV and naming Jay Hiett as general manager for both. Arts & Culture: Savoy Automobile Museum in Georgia wins its third straight USA Today 10Best title for car lovers. Sports: LSU’s baseball season ends with SEC Tournament stakes in Hoover, while Kentucky voters also head to the polls amid a record-breaking primary spending fight.

Kentucky Politics: The spotlight is on Tuesday’s Kentucky 4th District GOP primary, where Rep. Thomas Massie is fighting for his political life as Donald Trump escalates attacks and outside money pours in—one report says the race is now the most expensive House primary ever, with AIPAC-linked groups and other PACs funding the push against Massie. Sports & Culture: In the background of all that, Kentucky’s sports calendar is getting louder: TBT’s revamped 2026 format puts Louisville alumni vs. Kentucky alumni in a best-of-three starting July 18 in Lexington, with the winner-take-all prize now doubled to $2 million. Local Life: Northern Kentucky’s RC car scene is leveling up too—an upgraded track at England Idlewild Park is drawing racers from across the Tri-State.

Kentucky Politics: Rep. Thomas Massie’s GOP primary fight is heating up as Trump targets him again, while a Trump-aligned group says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will rally for Massie’s challenger Ed Gallrein in Hebron Monday—another sign of how hard the White House is pushing inside the party. Public Safety: Owensboro police say a 43-year-old father was arrested after a 3-year-old was hospitalized for meth exposure; investigators also found meth and alleged attempts to tamper with a drug test. Sports—Softball: Tennessee punched its ticket to a fourth straight NCAA Super Regional, sweeping Virginia and setting up a home series vs. Georgia. Sports—NBA: Lexington’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named NBA MVP for a second straight season, joining an elite list of back-to-back winners. Sports—Horse Racing: Napoleon Solo rebounded to win the Preakness at Laurel Park, with Golden Tempo notably absent.

Louisville Community Care: For Lady’s Sake opened a new free period-products pantry in Smoketown, aiming to cut period poverty and shame while expanding distribution into schools and government buildings. Tech & Schools: Snap, YouTube, and TikTok agreed to settle a social media addiction lawsuit brought by a Kentucky school district, while Meta still faces a trial next month. Politics in the Trump Orbit: Trump escalated his pushback against GOP critics, celebrating Sen. Bill Cassidy’s Louisiana primary loss and turning the spotlight on Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s race, with Kentucky voters heading into a high-stakes primary. Sports Spotlight: Napoleon Solo won the Preakness at Laurel Park, and Kentucky’s own Dominy is back on the marathon track—winning her first marathon in the UK. Softball Shock: Indiana’s season ended after a second straight elimination-round loss to Virginia in the Knoxville Regional.

Preakness Shockwave: Napoleon Solo surged past Taj Mahal and held off Iron Honor to win the 151st Preakness at Laurel Park, paying $17.80—after a shaky start to the year and with Golden Tempo skipping the race. Louisiana Politics: In a Trump-backed shakeup, Sen. Bill Cassidy lost the GOP Senate primary; Rep. Julia Letlow advanced to a June 27 runoff, setting up another test of Trump’s grip on the party. Weather Watch: Storms moved out, but Sunday heating up follows a round of severe thunderstorm warnings and fast-moving cells across parts of Kentucky and southern Indiana. SEC Baseball Focus: Florida’s regular-season surge sets up its SEC Tournament opener Wednesday, with Kentucky and Vanderbilt in the mix for matchups. Local Spotlight: Louisville City FC and Special Olympics Kentucky launched a new Unified Soccer team, giving athletes a shared, competitive pitch.

Triple Crown Buzz: Golden Tempo is skipping the Preakness, so Saturday’s 151st race at Laurel Park (post around 6:50 p.m. ET) is wide open—Iron Honor is the early favorite, with Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt close behind, and the whole event happening away from Pimlico while renovations reshape the tradition. Courtroom Fallout (KY ties): YouTube, TikTok, and Snap have settled a youth social-media addiction lawsuit brought by Breathitt County School District in eastern Kentucky, leaving Meta as the lone defendant headed to trial next month. Public Safety: Prosecutors filed amended murder charges in the death of a Moberly teen, and Kentucky police arrested a suspect in the shooting of Mizzou running back Ahmad Hardy. Local Governance: Boone County commissioners will hold a public hearing on a proposed jail sales tax to fund a new, larger jail—an issue driven by rising out-of-county housing costs. Sports: Auburn’s SEC series loss to Georgia continues the weekend’s shakeups, while NCAA softball regional action keeps rolling across the region.

Local Government & Public Safety: Eminence City Council kicked off its 2027 budget talk with big-ticket plans like a $101,000 police vehicle/tech package and $90,000 in parks upgrades, including a cheaper fix for aging rubber mulch at Coach D Park after a grant request was denied. Traffic & Crashes: Louisville drivers are stuck in major delays crossing the 2nd Street (Clark Memorial) Bridge as downtown roadwork and signal changes ramp up, while Bardstown police are investigating a fatal Highway 245 crash that left one dead and multiple injured. Education & Tech: A Kentucky school district’s social-media addiction lawsuit is already reshaping the national fight—YouTube and Snap have settled ahead of trial, with Meta and TikTok still headed to court. Sports & Community: Kentucky baseball saw a scary basepath collision injury, and the Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday at Laurel Park (Pimlico renovations), with Golden Tempo skipping and Iron Honor listed as the early favorite.

Preakness Stakes Shake-Up: The field for Saturday’s Preakness at Laurel Park is unusually big—14 horses—after Golden Tempo skipped, Silent Tactic was scratched hours before the draw, and Incredibolt was added on a last-minute hunch. Betting Buzz: Iron Honor is the 9-2 morning-line favorite, with Taj Mahal, Chip Honcho, and Incredibolt bunched at 5-1, and post time set for 6:50 p.m. ET. Education Pressure: A new national report says the U.S. is stuck in a “learning recession,” with reading and math still below average in most states. Local Arts & Culture: In Louisville, a multimedia project spotlights immigrant families who keep Kentucky’s horse racing industry running. Misinformation Watch: Ohio’s “aimless driving” law letter is fake—House Bill 626 is about electronic court notifications, not driving. Politics in Motion: Kentucky Republicans are racing to replace Mitch McConnell while trying to stay at arm’s length from him.

Preakness Stakes: Golden Tempo won’t run—trainer Cherie DeVaux says the horse “is not a machine” and the decision was made with owners, leaving the 151st Preakness at Laurel Park (Sat., 6:50 p.m. ET) wide open with Iron Honor the 9-2 morning-line favorite. Triple Crown shake-up: With the Derby winner skipping the middle jewel, talk is heating up about tweaking the Triple Crown calendar to give horses more recovery time. Local sports pulse: Kentucky baseball closed out a big week with a 4-3 win over Arkansas, highlighted by ace Jaxon Jelkin’s late-game work. Community & courts: A Kentucky court found state officials discriminated against a disabled police recruit; the case settled for $250,000. Crime watch: A Louisville recycling firm says used cooking-oil thieves are draining thousands of gallons, costing it nearly $500,000 a year. Arts spotlight: Zimbabwean artist Roseline Marikasi is drawing fresh attention for her layered contemporary work on womanhood and migration.

Public Health Alarm: Kentucky health officials are investigating a possible cluster of DIPG, a rare, nearly always fatal childhood brain cancer, in Southeastern Kentucky’s tri-county Whitley–Knox–Laurel area after multiple recent diagnoses and deaths sparked calls for transparency and an environmental probe. Sports Spotlight: The 151st Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday, May 16, at Laurel Park (Pimlico renovations mean a smaller crowd and a different race-day setup), with Golden Tempo skipping—so no Triple Crown winner this year—while Iron Honor is the early betting favorite. Community & Culture: Richmond’s Shakespeare in the Park returns with “The Tempest” tonight, and Five Iron Golf is launching real-money indoor tournaments across multiple markets. Education Watch: A national “reading recession” story is back in focus as test scores keep sliding, even as some places show improvement.

Public Health Alarm: Kentucky health officials are investigating a possible cluster of DIPG, a rare and nearly always fatal childhood brain cancer, in Southeastern Kentucky after multiple local cases and deaths reported from the Whitley/Knox/Laurel area—residents are demanding transparency while the Kentucky Cancer Registry checks whether it’s more than coincidence. Education Watch: A new national report flags a “reading recession,” with most states showing little to no meaningful gains since 2022 and students still far behind pre-pandemic reading levels. Sports & Culture: Appalachian State’s 29th student research showcase drew a record 240 innovators, while the Preakness is set for May 16 at Laurel Park (post time 6:50 p.m. ET) with Iron Honor listed as the early favorite. Local Life: Louisville’s Roots 101 African-American Museum is expected to receive a $1M city grant to secure a permanent home.

Public Health Alarm: Kentucky health officials are investigating a possible cluster of DIPG, a rare and nearly always fatal childhood brain cancer, in Southeastern Kentucky after reports of multiple cases and community demands for transparency. Sports Spotlight: The Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday at Laurel Park (Pimlico is under renovation), with Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo skipping the race—leaving Iron Honor as the 9-2 morning-line favorite and making the field feel wide open. Cancer & Politics: Kentucky cancer survivors are pushing federal candidates to sign the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Promise, urging action on cures, prevention, and early detection. Education Pressure: A new national report warns the U.S. is in a “reading recession” that predates COVID, with students still nearly half a grade behind in reading. Local Growth: Kinetic says it added fiber to 12,600 more Kentucky homes in early 2026, expanding high-speed access across dozens of communities. Culture/Politics: Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s Nike tracksuit on Air Force One sparked a wave of social media chatter.

Public Health Alarm: Kentucky health officials are investigating a possible cluster of DIPG, a rare and nearly always fatal childhood brain cancer, in Southeastern Kentucky after reports of multiple cases and deaths in the Whitley–Knox–Laurel area, with residents demanding transparency and the Kentucky Cancer Registry brought in to check whether it’s more than coincidence. Child Safety/Justice: In Owensboro, a former Chase Matthew bassist, Carsen Richards, was arrested on child sex abuse charges tied to allegations involving a minor with autism, after police say he was taken into custody right after performing. River Recreation: The Ohio River Way is launching a 488-mile volunteer paddle from Huntington to Evansville starting May 10, aiming to spotlight restoration and river culture. Local Politics: Louisville’s mayoral debate is set for May 12, one week before Kentucky’s May 19 primary. Energy Costs: President Trump is proposing a pause on the federal gas tax, but it would still need Congress to act.

Public Health Alarm: Kentucky health officials are investigating a possible cluster of DIPG, a rare and nearly always fatal childhood brain cancer, in Southeastern Kentucky after reports of multiple recent cases and deaths from Whitley, Knox, and Laurel counties, with residents demanding transparency and the Kentucky Cancer Registry brought in to check whether it’s more than coincidence. Local Safety: A woman died after a pickup truck hit the back of a horse-drawn carriage in Hart County, and Kentucky State Police say the crash is under investigation. Sports Scheduling: Kentucky baseball canceled a midweek game against Northern Kentucky, citing travel delays and recovery ahead of a key Arkansas series. Politics & Outdoors: The Trump administration is easing hunting and fishing rules across federal lands, affecting dozens of sites. Arts & Community: Kentucky’s Bradley Awards are set to spotlight high school musical theater talent ahead of the Jimmy Awards.

Public Health Alarm: Kentucky health officials are investigating a possible spike in DIPG, a rare, nearly always fatal childhood brain cancer, in Southeastern Kentucky after reports of multiple recent cases and deaths from the Whitley/Knox/Laurel area, with residents demanding transparency and an environmental-cause review. High School Sports: Ryle’s duo of Avery Love and Niveditha Selvaraju won the Ninth Region doubles title for a third straight year, while Conner’s Natalie Elleman took the Ninth Region girls’ singles crown. Local Government: Hillview denied a rezoning request tied to expanding a Sober Living facility, rejecting plans for two additional residential structures while leaving the existing setup intact. Sports Spotlight: North Bullitt captured the regional volleyball title, and Alabama’s NCAA softball bracket is set—its regional draw is tough but not a cakewalk. Arts & Community: Louisville honored Derby trailblazer Cherie DeVaux and broadcaster Donna Barton Brothers at Metro Hall. Business/Tech Buzz: Wall Street closed higher again as AI optimism kept semiconductors leading.

Public Health Alarm: Kentucky health officials are investigating a possible cluster of DIPG, a rare and nearly always fatal childhood brain cancer, in Southeastern Kentucky after multiple recent diagnoses and deaths in the Whitley/Knox/Laurel area—residents are demanding transparency while the state works with the Kentucky Cancer Registry. Local Politics & Power: In the 6th Congressional District, Trump endorsements are energizing GOP primary races as candidates try to define what “national” politics means for Lexington and the surrounding rural counties. Environment & Growth: A Mercer County resident is pushing back on data-center expansion, arguing it could strain electricity, fire readiness, and local resources—an issue now moving through county zoning discussions. Arts & Community: Louisville’s Speed Art Museum spotlights women in Abstract Expressionism, adding another stop to the city’s growing push for bigger, broader art stories. Sports Spotlight: The NCAA softball regionals are set, with Indiana heading to Knoxville for a double-elimination bracket featuring Tennessee, Virginia, and Northern Kentucky.