Andy Beshear

On July 1, Kentucky’s gas tax would have increased from 26 cents to 28 cents, but Gov. Andy Beshear last week took action to freeze the current rate. "Put simply, it's the right thing to do,” he said.

The $2 billion is only 60% of what the multi-state project — including a companion bridge and road improvements — would cost.

“Last year the general assembly passed an act that, if this [Supreme Court] draft opinion goes through, will create a total ban in Kentucky,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “And that means victims of rape or incest, even the youngest of Kentuckians will have no options. Being a former prosecutor who fought for justice for those individuals, they should have those options, and I think most Kentuckians would agree with that.”

That’s 5% higher than a poll taken last year by the same organization. The poll by Mason-Dixon Polling and Strategy also focused on the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Sen. Rand Paul and former State Rep. Charles Booker, a Democrat.

While in Newport Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear also talked about the future of the Brent Spence companion bridge project.

Devastating tornadoes briefly united Republican and Democratic politicians in Kentucky last month, but the feud between legislators and Gov. Andy Beshear has resumed as attention turns to writing a new state budget.

Of course, the governor has mourned with every town, every county ravaged by the storms. But the tragedy in one Western Kentucky town hit very close to home for the first-term governor.

The president will visit the state Wednesday. "We will welcome him here, we will thank him for his help, and sadly we'll show him the worst damage imaginable, certainly the worst in our history," Gov. Andy Beshear said.

Gov. Beshear says his administration will provide more information on the Omicron coronavirus variant as it comes in. He also addressed the economic progress Kentucky has made this year in light of the pandemic.

This week, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear reported the state had surpassed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths, saying it was the third leading cause of death last year and so far this year.