Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 27, 2026) - Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided updates on economic development, medical cannabis, school safety, a new water rescue boat for the Kentucky State Police, Overdose Awareness Day and national recognition received by the Kentucky Air National Guard. Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, provided an update on a measles outbreak, and First Lady Britainy Beshear provided an update on the Crime Victims Compensation Fund. The Governor named Kentucky State Trooper Blaine Miller, who performed a heroic rescue, as this week's Team Kentucky All-Star.

Economic Development
The Governor highlighted continued momentum in the state's food and beverage industry as MegaFit Meals announced plans to expand its Marshall County operations. The $9.25 million investment will create 40 new jobs for Kentuckians.

Gov. Beshear announced continued momentum within the state's manufacturing industry as Freeman Automation, a producer of electrical control panels for industrial machinery, will be expanding its operation with a $1 million investment to establish a new facility in Graves County, creating 20 full-time, Kentucky jobs.

Measles Outbreak
Dr. Stack provided an update on a measles outbreak in Kentucky and stressed the importance of vaccines. There are currently 25 confirmed cases of measles in the commonwealth, primarily in communities with low vaccination coverage. Including current cases, Kentucky has seen 29 measles cases in 2026 - more confirmed cases than in any year since 1991. All cases have been in individuals who were not vaccinated against measles.

"Although this outbreak raises concerns about the spread of serious illness, public messaging emphasizing the importance and effectiveness of vaccinations appears to be working," said Dr. Stack. "Since Aug. 16, over 250 doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine have been administered in the Kentucky counties with current cases of measles."

Dr. Stack emphasized that two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles. He encouraged Kentuckians to call their healthcare provider or local health department and get vaccinated if they are not already. In the United States, the first dose is routinely administered to children starting at age 12 months through 15 months and should be given at the earliest opportunity. If you are infected with measles, stay away from others to protect them from exposure and call your healthcare provider. Visit CHFS.ky.gov for more.

More Survivors of Crime Receiving Assistance
The First Lady joined the Governor to highlight positive data showing that more survivors are aware of and are receiving assistance from the Crime Victims Compensation Board, which supports survivors of violent crime with medical and dental costs, mental health counseling, sexual assault examinations and more. To learn more, visit kycc.ky.gov.

Medical Cannabis
Last week, the Governor celebrated another step forward in his administration's commitment to deliver safe medical cannabis to eligible Kentuckians as he joined local leaders and company leadership to cut the ribbon on Holler Cannabis, a Tier I medical cannabis cultivator owned by Fayette County natives.

To date, 11 cultivators, two safety compliance facilities, five processors and 23 dispensaries are approved to operate in the commonwealth. More than 25,000 Kentuckians have been approved for medical cannabis cards, and more than 490 practitioners are registered to issue certifications.

School Safety
The Governor announced that, as the 2026-2027 school year begins, Kentucky has 937 school resource officers protecting public school campuses - an increase of nearly 100 compared to the previous school year. This is according to the newly released School Safety Risk Assessment Report. The report also highlights that nearly all of Kentucky's public schools are now in compliance with mandated security measures. These requirements include electronic-locking front doors, surveillance, locked classroom doors, classroom window coverings and a threat assessment team.

In 2022, Gov. Beshear signed legislation requiring every public school campus to employ a school resource officer to protect children. Since the Governor took office, Kentucky has seen a 130% increase in school resource officers assigned to protecting schools.

New Kentucky State Police Boat
Gov. Beshear announced that the Kentucky State Police (KSP) has obtained a new state-of-the-art patrol boat, allowing the agency to better respond to emergencies and natural disasters on Kentucky's waterways. The agency recently purchased a 23-foot patrol boat, the Metal Shark 23 Relentless, which is specifically designed for first responders and allows for exceptional maneuverability across all types of waterways. The boat was purchased with grant funding from the FEMA Port Security Program and will allow the agency to respond quickly to water-based critical incidents and perform operations on land, on water and in the air.

Overdose Awareness Day
The Governor recognized Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day. Under Gov. Beshear's leadership, Kentucky has seen four straight years of decreases in overdose deaths. In 2025, Kentucky saw a 22.9% decrease compared with the previous year, representing the lowest number of overdose deaths recorded in the commonwealth since 2014. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, call 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357) or visit FindHelpNowKy.org.

"Addiction has devastated communities all across our commonwealth and country. We've lost too many mothers, fathers, sons and daughters - all children of God, taken too soon," said Gov. Beshear. "This has been our past, but we are not accepting it as our future. We're leading the way in Kentucky by letting folks know it's OK to ask for help, by increasing recovery resources, and by working to get dangerous drugs off our streets. And we're committed to continuing this progress until that overdose death number gets to zero."

National Recognition for the Kentucky Air National Guard
Gov. Beshear announced that the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Medical Group has been named Air National Guard (ANG) Medical Unit of the Year, and two of its officers have been recognized for individual excellence in the 2025 Air National Guard Medical Service Awards. The 123rd Medical Group was honored for overall readiness, innovation and excellence. Lt. Col. Lauren Lwanga was selected as ANG biomedical specialist officer of the year, and Capt. Leigha Bowyer-Jones was selected as ANG privileged advanced practice nurse of the year.

"Kentucky has the best National Guard in the country, and these awards just further highlight their continued dedication and excellence," said Gov. Beshear. "Thank you again to every member of our Guard. You are heroes serving our commonwealth and country - taking care of your neighbors every day and representing the best of Team Kentucky. We are proud of you, and Kentuckians are so grateful for your service."

Team Kentucky All-Star
The Governor named KSP Trooper Blaine Miller as this week's Team Kentucky All-Star. This month, Trooper Miller responded to a vehicle collision near Elizabethtown where he found an overturned vehicle with four people trapped inside. The vehicle was smoking and beginning to catch fire. Trooper Miller broke the vehicle's front windshield and pulled the family to safety.

"Thank you, Trooper Miller, for stepping in. Your work continues to make our commonwealth safer," said Gov. Beshear. "We're proud to have you on our team, and I'm proud to name you this week's Team Kentucky All-Star."

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