Gov. Beshear Donates Nearly $16K from Inaugural Fund to Feeding Kentucky

  

Governor also signs proclamation declaring today Hunger Free Day in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 28, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear signed a proclamation declaring Jan. 28, 2021, as Hunger Free Day in Kentucky and made a surprise donation to the group Feeding Kentucky of nearly $16,000 left over from the Beshear-Coleman inaugural fund.

During a virtual event Thursday morning, the Governor praised the advocates and workers on the front line helping to make sure Kentucky families stay fed, work made tougher by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the best of times, your work is daunting. During COVID, it has been nothing short of heroic,” Gov. Beshear said. “The entire commonwealth owes you all a debt of gratitude but also – crucially – more than just words of thanks. Your efforts deserve our full support.”

Gov. Beshear made a surprise announcement during Thursday’s event with hunger organizations and advocates that he was donating $15,673 leftover from the Beshear-Coleman inaugural fund to Feeding Kentucky, an organization that helps feed Kentuckians in need. Remaining inaugural funds can only be donated to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations.

“This donation is another sign of my commitment to fighting hunger and my administration’s belief in you, our indispensable Team Kentucky partners,” the Governor said.

“We are grateful for Gov. Beshear’s continued support of Feeding KY and the one in 5 Kentuckians we serve,” said Karena Cash, advocacy coordinator for Feeding Kentucky. “The Governor’s generous donation today will help ensure that no family in Kentucky has to go to bed hungry tonight, or any night.”

“Gov. Beshear’s generous donation comes at a challenging time for our Feeding KY network of food banks and the Kentuckians we serve,” said Kurt Reiber, CEO of the Freestore Foodbank and board chair of Feeding Kentucky. “We hope that the Governor’s gift will inspire others to support Feeding Kentucky and the work we do.”

Gov. Beshear said that the work of Feeding Kentucky and other groups is crucial, with 600,000 Kentuckians relying on food from such organizations. In addition, he also noted that one in six Kentucky households with children experiences food insecurity. Kentucky also has the highest rate of food insecurity among adults ages 50 to 59.

Gov. Beshear highlighted the help his administration has worked to provide during the pandemic. P-EBT benefits have been provided to over 640,000 students. Those benefits totaled $288 million to provide meals to children who depend on school meals for their daily nutrition.

At the same time, Gov. Beshear’s administration provided SNAP benefits to an average of 100,000 more individuals each month compared with the previous year. SNAP is the first line of defense in Kentucky, and almost 70% of SNAP participants in Kentucky are in families with children. More than a third are in families with a senior or someone with a disability.

The benefits paid out over the final eight months of the last year were double the amount in 2019. In all, over $1 billion of SNAP benefits were provided to families, helping keep food on their tables while also helping local groceries stay open.

In addition, as of Jan. 11, more than 3 million meals had been served to Kentucky’s seniors since the start of the pandemic.

Gov. Beshear Celebrates Kentucky Heroes in Fight Against COVID-19

Health care, front-line and everyday heroes protect fellow Kentuckians
Visit the Governor’s Facebook page to watch today’s news conference

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 19, 2020) – Gov. Andy Beshear today highlighted the work and sacrifices of a range of Kentuckians who are winning the fight against the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

“Remember in this crisis, what everybody does matters,” the Governor said. “And everybody who makes a good decision, does something heroic.”

Gov. Beshear identified three areas where

Gov. Beshear: Long-Term Care Task Force Working to Protect Kentuckians

Visit the Governor’s Facebook page to watch today’s news conference

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 18, 2020) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the state’s new Long-Term Care Task Force and provided key updates on how the commonwealth and Kentuckians are working to fight the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

“I know it feels like we’ve been at this a while, but we’ve got to do what it takes to win and you are doing an amazing job,” Gov. Beshear said when speaking to Kentuckians during his 5 p.m. daily, online briefing. “We will get back to a new normal and eventually we’ll get back to just normal.”

Gov. Beshear said the Long-Term Care Task Force is

Gov. Beshear Outlines 7 Benchmarks to Reopen Commonwealth’s Economy

Governor urges cautious optimism, reminds Kentuckians to remain flexible and patient

FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 17, 2020) – On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear discussed benchmarks that the commonwealth must meet in order to start reopening the state’s economy while keeping Kentuckians safe from the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). The steps reflect federal guidance announced Thursday by the White House.

“We believe our approach is very much in line with the White House. The plan put out by the White House has certain thresholds that states should meet before we start taking certain steps,” Gov. Beshear said. “The benchmarks are being driven by public health. We are all on the same page about what keeps people safe.”

The Governor acknowledged Kentuckians’ sacrifices

7 Day Weather Forecast

Today

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. South wind 3 to 6 mph.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of rain after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 43. East wind 3 to 6 mph.

Tuesday

A 50 percent chance of rain before 2pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 62. South wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west in the afternoon. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday

A slight chance of rain between 8am and 2pm, then a chance of rain and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday Night

A chance of rain and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of rain between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 47.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Friday

Rain likely, mainly after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday Night

Rain. Low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday

Rain. High near 54. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday Night

A 50 percent chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 36.

REAL ID licenses available to Warren County Residents during trial phase of regional licensing office in Bowling Green

New, full capacity office expected to open this spring, residents encouraged to gather required documents now

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2020) – Warren County residents now have one more option to maintain U.S. air travel and military base entry thanks to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) expansion of REAL ID-compliant card access during a soft launch of the state’s first regional driver’s license office outside of Frankfort.

The office will initially offer two stations to

Governor Beshear Restores Board in Support of Workplace Safety

12-member panel committed to protecting Kentuckians in the workplace

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 10, 2020) – In an effort to strengthen workplace and worker safety, Gov. Andy Beshear today announced he is reestablishing a state board that sets workplace safety regulations.

“Every Kentuckian should be safe at their place of employment,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “We have worked with industry leaders to reestablish the board and ensure we have professionals from across the Commonwealth who are committed to helping strengthen our workplace safety standards.”

“We’re excited that Gov. Beshear is putting the hard-working men and women of Kentucky first,” said Bill Londrigan, president of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO. “Our people deserve to be safe on the job, and they deserve a government that’s going to have their back.”

The 12-member Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is comprised of the following