Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 7, 2025) - Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update on Winter Storm Blair. The commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Dr. Steven Stack, joined the news conference to discuss the Our Healthy Kentucky Home initiative and kynect open enrollment. The Governor also provided an update on economic development, previewed his upcoming State of the Commonwealth Address, announced awards to support tourism in the commonwealth, announced the second winner of the New Kentucky Home giveaway, paid tribute to the late former President Jimmy Carter, provided an update on high-ground homes in Eastern Kentucky and updated Kentuckians on medical cannabis. The Governor also named road and utility crews and emergency personnel working to keep Kentuckians safe during the storm as this week's Team Kentucky All-Stars.

Weather Update
The Governor provided an update on weather as the commonwealth continues to deal with the aftereffects of Winter Storm Blair. Thankfully, there are still no known reports of significant injuries or loss of life-related to the storm. However, there are multiple reports of motor vehicle and traffic related incidents.

Kentucky Emergency Management is currently activated at Level 3 and is evaluating next steps. Regions of the commonwealth should expect single-digit temperatures along with sub-zero wind chills beginning today through the rest of the week. Later in the week, the commonwealth is also expecting another blast of wintry weather, with the potential for snow across the entire state.

Icy conditions are causing power outages, with recent outage numbers fluctuating around 30,000 customers without power statewide. Warming centers are open in counties with more than 1,000 outages, which at last report included Henderson, Johnson, Morgan and Spencer counties. Find a warming center on the Kentucky Emergency Management website.

Our Healthy Kentucky Home and kynect Open Enrollment
Dr. Stack provided an update on Our Healthy Kentucky Home, a one-year initiative to promote simple, positive and attainable goals to inspire and motivate Kentuckians on a journey to health and wellness. For January, the initiative is highlighting diabetes prevention, and Dr. Stack provided diet and exercise tips and more for Kentuckians to manage their blood sugar and prevent diabetes.

Dr. Stack also provided an update on kynect, the state-based marketplace for quality, affordable health coverage. Dr. Stack said that over 93,000 Kentuckians have already enrolled in a plan, which greatly exceeds last year's total of 75,000. This is by far the strongest open enrollment numbers since kynect relaunched in November 2021. The deadline to enroll is Jan. 15. If you need assistance, or if you are ready to enroll, please go to kynect.ky.gov or call 855-459-6328.

Economic Development
The Governor recapped his announcement that he has accepted an invitation to speak Jan. 20-24 at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, a global event that brings together business, government and academic leaders to improve the state of the world. The Governor and a delegation from Team Kentucky will travel for the event and also visit with business leaders in Spain to promote our New Kentucky Home and encourage future investment and job-creation in the commonwealth.

Upcoming State of the Commonwealth Address
On Jan. 8, the Governor will deliver the fifth State of the Commonwealth Address of his administration. The Governor will speak before a joint session of the Kentucky General Assembly, highlighting the incredible progress Kentucky made last year - and across the five years of his administration - as well as the road ahead. The Governor will deliver the address at 7 p.m. EST in the House Chambers, and it will be streamed live on KET as well as on his official Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Awards To Boost Tourism
Building on the New Kentucky Home initiative, Gov. Beshear announced today that 87 tourism marketing organizations across 80 counties are receiving $2 million through the Regional Marketing and Matching Funds Program.

New Kentucky Home Giveaway
As part of the New Kentucky Home initiative, everyone who shares positive Kentucky photos or videos on social media using the hashtag #NewKYHome will be entered to win a free, two-night stay at a Kentucky State Park. Today, the Governor announced that the second winner is Daniel Hunt, who shared several photos of a hike with friends at Raven's Run Nature Sanctuary in Lexington. Team Kentucky will continue drawing one name per month through April 2025.

Tribute to President Carter
Gov. Beshear took a moment to acknowledge the life and work of former President Jimmy Carter, who died just over a week ago, on Dec. 29, at age 100. The Governor highlighted the former president's long service to the American people, particularly his work with Habitat for Humanity, and his deep faith in God. Gov. Beshear invited Kentuckians to join him in celebrating Carter and his worthy legacy.

High-Ground Homes in Eastern Kentucky
Gov. Beshear recapped his visit to Eastern Kentucky last week and provided an update on progress building high-ground homes for flood survivors. The Governor encouraged Eastern Kentucky flood survivors to apply for recovery housing support through a newly launched online form at HousingCantWait.Org.

Medical Cannabis
The Governor provided an update on medical cannabis in the commonwealth. At 12:01 a.m. Jan. 1, 2025, the Office of Medical Cannabis launched the portal for patient medical cannabis card applications. To apply, Kentuckians will need to obtain an electronic written certification from an authorized practitioner. Once they have their certification, they can submit an application and, if approved, receive a digital registry ID card.

There are currently over 267 authorized, registered practitioners in the commonwealth located in 68 counties across Kentucky. Since Dec. 1, 2024, over 3,359 Kentuckians have seen a practitioner and received their electronic written certification. As of Jan. 6, 2025, over 760 Kentuckians have applied for a medical cannabis card. Under Kentucky law, the Office of Medical Cannabis has 30 days to review each application for a medical cannabis card. Those applications submitted are currently under review.

The program has also launched a hotline for Kentuckians needing assistance with applying for a card: 833-727-2828. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, the Office of Medical Cannabis will be holding monthly webinars for Kentucky patients. Visit KYMedCan.ky.gov and register for one of the available webinars to learn more about this program.

Team Kentucky All-Stars
The Governor named road and utility crews, law enforcement, National Guard members, emergency personnel and all those working to keep communities safe during this storm as this week's Team Kentucky All-Stars.

"Your work to clear roads, restore power and keep people safe is truly heroic," said Gov. Beshear. "You all represent the best of Team Kentucky. Thank you for helping us get through this storm."

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Editor's note: To view the Governor's Team Kentucky Update, click here.

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