Latest / Kentucky Business News / 10.16.25

Transcript

10.16.25 · Kentucky Business News

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Speaker 1: Hello. Today, I'll be reading from business sources in Lexington
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and Louisville, including The Lane Report and others from around
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the Commonwealth. Your reader today is Julia Shane. As a reminder,
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RADIOI is a reading service intended for people who are
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blind or who have other disabilities that make it difficult
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to read printed material. Our first article comes from the
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October fourteenth, twenty twenty five edition of The Lane Report
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and is titled Amazon hiring two hundred and fifty thousand
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this holiday season, including three thousand in Kentucky. Seasonal jobs
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pay over nineteen dollars an hour. Regular employees average twenty
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three dollars with benefits. Written by Sandy Gordon, VP of
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Employee Experience and Relations. The holidays are one of the
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most exciting times at Amazon, both because of the joy
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customers feel and because it's when the company welcomes thousands
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of new teammates into its network. This year, Amazon is
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hiring for two one hundred and fifty thousand full time,
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part time and seasonal positions throughout our fulfillment and transportation
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network across the United States. Regular full and part time
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employees earn an average of twenty three dollars per hour
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with benefits, and seasonal employees can earn an average wage
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of over nineteen dollars per hour. Roles will be posted
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weekly from October through December. We are creating three thousand
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jobs in Kentucky. These roles offer flexible scheduling options with
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an average wage of more than nineteen dollars per hour.
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Interested candidates can visit Amazon dot com slash local jobs
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for weekly job postings through December. Note open roles are
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posted throughout the holiday season and fill quickly, so candidates
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should check back often. We find that our seasonal roles
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are really popular, often filling up within minutes of being posted,
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because they meet different needs for so many different people.
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For some, it's a few months of extra income to
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see support their families during the holidays. For others, it's
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the first step in building a new career path. Every year,
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we meet employees who started as seasonal hires and go
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on to become managers, trainers, or leaders across our buildings,
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and we love that people everywhere can make these jobs
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what they want them to be. Seasonal roles offer good pay,
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flexible schedules, and the chance to be part of a
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team that makes a real difference during the holidays. For
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those who then stay on in full time roles, the
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opportunities expand even further with access to a range of benefits,
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including healthcare and education programs like Career Choice, where we'll
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pre pay tuition for our teammates to earn college degrees
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or certificates, helping them build their careers for the long term,
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whether with us or another company. Seasonal employees also see
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their pay go up significantly as they grow with us.
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Someone who's been with us for three years has already
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seen their pay go up an average of eighteen percent.
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Having built my own career from the frontline in environments
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where people invested in one another, I know the power
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of opening doors, and it's a privilege to see that
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play out here across our network. As we prepare for
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the busy holiday season, we look forward to welcoming two
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hundred and fifty thousand new teammates to our operations network. Together,
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we will continue building a workplace where today's opportunities can
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grow into tomorrow's careers. The next article from the Lane
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Report is titled Humana Foundation targets better senior emotional health
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with expanded grant effort. The Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm
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of Humana Incorporated for the last forty four years, today
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announced its ambition, via aggressive grant making, to become a
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national leader in addressing senior's emotional health. More than one
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in four seniors twenty nine percent report being socially isolated,
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increase their risk of dementia by fifty percent, and self harm.
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The Foundation's twenty twenty five program and research grants, totaling
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over twelve million dollars, tackle loneliness, illness, and other community
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and cultural drivers of poor emotional health, with interventions tested
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regionally and deployed nationwide. We want every senior to feel seen, supported,
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and connected to live not just longer, but better, said
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Tiffany Benjamin, CEO of the Humanifoundation. Too many of our
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nation's seniors live alone and with depression, PTSD or chronic
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illness that limits their mobility and socialization. We're expanding proven
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interventions and investing in data and technology solutions to help
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more people improve their lives. The Humanifoundation's twenty twenty five
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grants also supports veterans, emotional health, and nutrition among school
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aged children. National investments in seniors Emotional health three national
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grants address four proven interventions screening, social engagement, community solutions,
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and narrative advancement. The National Council on Aging two and
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a half million dollars will equip its network of senior
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centers to recognize and respond to signs of mental health struggles.
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Volunteers of America one point four to six million dollars
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will plot a new program in affordable senior housing to
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assist and address depression and substance abuse issues. The Elizabeth
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Dole Foundation three million dollars will test a new caregiver
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mental wellness workshop for underserved veterans across generations. With this
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extraordinary three million dollar grant, the Humana Foundation is demonstrating
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leadership and action, said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth
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Dole Foundation. Their commitment will strengthen and accelerate mental and
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emotional health support for million military and veteran caregivers, ensuring
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these hidden heroes and the loved ones they care for
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are seen, supported, and never alone. Regional investments in emotional
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health and nutrition in the Humana Foundation's hometown of Louisville,
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where over forty thousand seniors live alone, the Louisville Orchestra
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seven hundred fifty thousand dollars will embark on a tour
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of senior and community centers in surrounding counties and measure
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its impact on emotional health. A similar effort by the
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New Orleans Musician Clinic and Assistance Foundation two hundred thousand
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dollars will support elder musicians playing together and performing for
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their over twenty three thousand peers living in isolation in
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New Orleans. Also in Louisville, the Muhammad Ali Museum and
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Education Center three hundred seventy five thousand dollars will measure
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the effects of self compassion and combating loneliness with support
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from a new Senior Advisory Committee. In Florida, where about
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one point one million seniors live alone and over two
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hundred thirty thousand Humana Incorporated members live with depression, Alliance
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for Aging two hundred seventy thousand dollars will provide cultural,
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tailored social engagement for underserved seniors in the Miami Dade County.
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Conversations to Remember will train college students as virtual companions
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to seniors across the state. Texas is home to another
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nine hundred thirty seven thousand seniors living alone. National Volunteer
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Caregiving Network two hundred fifty two thousand dollars will deploy
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volunteers to engage home bound seniors in structured activities. Texas
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Native Health three hundred thousand dollars will offer programming for
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reducing depression and isolation and improving nutrition among Indigenous populations.
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Regional grants focused on improving nutrition for seniors and school
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aged children include Emerald Lagassi Foundation's Culinary Garden and Teaching Kitchen.
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Florida and Louisiana will continue its nutritional literacy programming for
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K through twelve students in Louisiana, while also expanding to Florida.
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Dare To Care Food Bank in Kentucky will strengthen its
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food distribution and nutrition education for seniors, piloting grocery memberships
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and frozen meals. Louisville Urban League Kentucky will design a
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new nutrition education curriculum for seniors. Legal Aid Society of
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Louisville in Kentucky will advance its Food Justice project, providing
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information and legal representation to seniors eligible for the Supplemental
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Nutrition Assistance program SNAP in Louisville. Sustainable Food Center in
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Texas will continue to provide East Texas seniors with cooking
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and nutrition education, advancing community solutions to emotional health and nutrition.
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Four research grants totaling one point one million dollars will
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test the effectiveness of new solutions for improving seniors emotional
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health and nutrition and enhance public understanding of related research.
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The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will test
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a behavioral economics digital health tool for diabetes prevention among
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underserved seniors. The University of Kentucky will generate for the
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first time, county level estimates of senior food and security.
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Harvard Medical School will evaluate a new AI platform for
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training medical students and residents to reduce implicit bias and
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increase emotional connection with senior patients as a collaboration between
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the Center for Surgery and Public Health and Medically Engineer
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Near Solutions in Healthcare at mass General Brigham Academy Health
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will enhance understanding and uptake of fellow grantees research. Emotional
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health is a critical, yet often overlooked factor in aging well,
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said Sue john Conover, principal researcher at the Humanifoundation. Through
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our strategic research funding, we're able to explore thoughtful, evidence
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based solutions that can help seniors feel more connected, not
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just in clinical settings, but in their personal lives and
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within the communities they call home. The Humanifoundation reviews proposals
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on an ongoing basis as submitted through its granting portal.
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Organizations interested in discussing invitation only research opportunities should visit
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Humanifoundation dot org and complete its form. The Humani Foundation
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was established in nineteen eighty one as the philanthropic arm
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of Humana Incorporated, and is focused on health equity, working
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to eliminate unjust, unavoidable, and unnecessary barriers in health and healthcare.
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It fosters evidence based collaborations and investments that help people
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in underserved communities live connected, healthy lives. The next article
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from the Lane Report is titled Airheads unveils Decoy Boy,
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a robot child adults can use to trick or treat
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for themselves. Halloween isn't just for kids anymore. This year,
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Airheads is crashing the candy barrier with Decoy Boy, the
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world's first robotic tricker treating sidekick. Disguised as a costumed kid,
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Decoy Boy gives grown ups the perfect social cover to
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go door to door, score candy, and relive their favorite
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Halloween tradition without the awkwardness of trick or treating solo.
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For many adults, trick or treating was a highlight of
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their childhood, but then, at no fault of their own,
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they got older. A recent one Pulse survey showed that
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while virtually all adults loved trick or treating as kids,
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eighty seven percent of adults say it's weird to trick
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or treat alone. These cherished childhood memories, and this stat
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was all the motivation Airheads needed to launch a fully
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functional tricker treating robot in a wagon disguised as a
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costumed kid, designed to be pooled from house to house.
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Decoy Boy is programmed to say trick or treat, has
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a persuasion dial for those looking to get more than
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one piece, and a tantrum mode for serious airhead fans.
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Halloween should be fun for everyone, no matter your age
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or background, said Chris Borges, brand director non Chocolate Portfolio
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at Perfetti Van Mel, the maker of Airheads. So we
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built the decoy Boy to give anyone a way to
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embrace the spooky season and stock up on airheads with
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a little ex flare and fun. The decoy boy is
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built to resemble a seven to eight year old child
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and comes in three classic Halloween costumes, a Ghost, a Wizard,
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or Frankenstein. Each unit is battery powered, rides in a
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rugged all terrain wagon and can carry up to fifteen
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pounds of airheads. The robot speaks pre recorded Halloween phrases
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and adds just the right amount of eerie charm to
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pass for the real thing, especially from the front porch.
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Airheads is a brand long loved by people of all
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ages for its chewy texture, tangy fruit flavors, and bright colors.
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Invented in Erlinger, Kentucky, Airheads are available in original bar
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form as well as chewy and intense bite sized pieces
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called airhead bites. For a sweetly sour candy that packs
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a punch, Airheads Extremes, belts, and bites are available. Airheads
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are perfect for a quick treat, social gatherings, and for
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sharing with others. Purfetti van Mel PVM is a privately
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owned company that manufactures and distributes confectionery and chewing gum
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in more than one hundred and fifty countries. PVM is
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a global leader in the confectionery industry thanks to delighting
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customers around the world with its innovative, diverse, and most
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loved products. The company boasts a diverse portfolio of iconic,
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local and internationally recognized brands cherished by generations such as Mentos, Chupa, Choops, ALPMB,
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Airheads Center, Frutella, Big Babbel, Vivident, Golia, Vigorsol, Smint and Frisk.
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In addition Trident, Hollywood, Denteen, Stimatrol, V six and Bubblicious
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in the United States, Canada and Europe. In Perfeti Van
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Mell Group reported net sales above four billion dollars US.
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Operations are based in Erlinger, Kentucky, with factories in Erlinger
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and Rockford, Illinois. Our next article comes from the October eighth,
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twenty twenty five edition of Business Lexington and is titled
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UK Beam Institute Test Hydrogen Energy and Bourbon Distilling. The
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University of Kentucky's James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits
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JBBI has completed a key phase in a project demonstrating
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hydrogen as a potential domestic energy source for the distilled
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spirits industry. The initiative titled Kentucky Distilled Spirits Industrial Decarbonization
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and Sustainability, launched in November of twenty twenty four and
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is funded by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. Led
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by JBBI Director Seth de Bolt, the research team evaluated
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the distiller process using a blend of hydrogen and natural
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gases to fuel the boilers that generate steam for production.
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De Bolt collaborated with researchers from UK Center for Applied
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Energy Research, a leader in energy innovation. We are pleased
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with the early results from this research collaboration, said Rodney Andrews,
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the Center for Applied Energy Research director. Co Firing natural
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gas and hydrogen in bourbon production is a novel concept
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and we are thrilled to see some promising data coming
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from the project. We look forward to seeing what happens next.
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Over three months, De Bolt and JBBI head distiller Glenna
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Joyce Welscow monitored the production process, ultimately filling twenty barrels,
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ten using hydrogen natural gas blend and ten using only
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natural gas. The barrels are now aging in the independent
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Stave company Boswell Family Barrel Warehouse, where they will mature
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over the next four years. Hydrogen as a form of
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energy in the US could be great for distilleries and
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the applied food industry. De Bolt, said Kenya Stump, executive
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director at the EZ Office of Energy Policy, thought to
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connect the two in a large scale demonstration. Our distillery
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at the Institute provides the unique capability to conduct this
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test while tracking key information on production quality and safety.
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The project also highlighted the safety and compliance protocols required
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when introducing new energy sources into production. Early data suggests
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that hydrogen used did not negatively affect the spirit's quality,
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a finding that will be confirmed once the whiskey has
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aged and can be evaluated for flavor. Today's news is
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another great step for Team Kentucky's All of the Above
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energy strategy, which aims to unleash our economy while meeting
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the energy needs of tomorrow, said EEC Secretary Rebecca Goodman.
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We are excited to partner with UK Center for Applied
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Energy Research and the Beam Institute to boost the use
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of hydrogen energy and support Kentucky's signature industry in achieving
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its energy goals. The successful blending of hydrogen in the
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distilling process is a great example of innovation and teamwork
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and action. If hydrogen proves to be a viable energy
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source for distilleries without altering product quality, researchers say the
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project could position Kentucky at the forefront of industrial decarbonization
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in the spirit sector. Our next article comes from the
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October fourteenth to twenty twenty five edition of Here Lexington
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and is titled Governor Basheer's European Trade Mission for Investment.
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Kentucky Governor Andy Basheer is currently on a trade focused
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trip in Europe, with notable visits planned in the United Kingdom, France,
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and Ireland. This initiative aims to foster investment opportunities for
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the state as it faces challenges from recent tariff policies
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that have impacted crucial industries such as bourbon manufacturing. Prior
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to his departure, Bashir shared a photo on Facebook after
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arriving in London, signaling the beginning of a week that
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involves meetings with business leaders and trade officials. His office
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highlighted that Kentucky ranks fifth nationally in direct foreign investment,
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underlining the significance of this mission. The backdrop of this
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trade mission includes ongoing challenges faced by Kentucky's economy, particularly
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in the Bourbon and manufacturing sectors, due to tariffs imposed
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by the previous federal administration. Governor Basheer has been vocal
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about these tariff policies, criticizing them as unpredictable and problematic.
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He stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue with international trade
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partners to support Kentucky's products in export markets amid these challenges. Currently,
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Kentucky hosts over five hundred thirty internationally owned facilities which
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provide jobs to more than one hundred fifteen thousand Kentuckians.
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Out of these facilities, two hundred and thirty eight belonged
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to European companies, emphasizing the critical nature of foreign investment
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in the local economy. Basheer's administration believes that focusing on
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vital export markets is essential for sustaining and enhancing Kentucky's
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economic growth. The Governor's trade mission comes after previous international engagements,
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most notably his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland,
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earlier this year. This visit receives scrutiny regarding the costs
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associated with international travel. Critics, particularly from the Republican Party,
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have pointed to the fiscal implications of the state budget
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allocated for such activities. During his time at the World
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Economic Forum, Basher actively promoted Kentucky while interacting with global
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leaders and discussing the impacts of tariffs on consumer prices.
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He also touched on the transitions toward electric vehicles and
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sustainable business practices, essential factors he perceives for Kentucky's future. Furthermore,
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he presented differing perspectives on policies concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion,
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along with considerations surrounding capitalism. Basher's overarching message throughout these
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international interactions combines a pragmatic approach to governance with a
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steadfast focus on fostering economic growth in Kentucky. His administration
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aims to navigate the complexities posed by tariffs and advocate
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for stronger ties with international partners to ensure the resilience
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of the state's key industries. The next article comes from
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the October thirteenth, twenty twenty five edition of Louisville Business
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First and is titled High Wire Brewing Closing Louisville tap Room,
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written by Shay Van Hoy, the first out of state
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brewery to open a tap room in Louisville is closing
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its doors this weekend. High Wire Brewing, which is based
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in Asheville, North Carolina, announced in a Facebook post that
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it will be closing its tap room, located at six
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four to two Baxter Avenue, after close of business October eighteenth.
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The post reads, Louisville, we have some very difficult news
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to share. Effective this Saturday, October eighteenth, we will be
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closing our High Wire Brewing Louisville tap room. This space
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has meant everything to us. It's been a gathering place
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where our team built genuine connections with the community, hosted
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unforgettable events, and shared our passion for great beer. Our
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bar staff poured their hearts into creating something special here
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and were forever greatful to everyone who walked through that door.
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While we're saying goodbye to Louisville, high Wire isn't going anywhere.
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We're doubling down on what we do best across our
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seven other tap rooms in North Carolina and Tennessee. Come
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celebrate with us one last time. All week long, we'll
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have two dollars draft pints, five dollars packaged beer to go,
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and fifty percent off merchandise plus, we're offering deals on
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furniture and bar equipment, so make us an offer. Saturday
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from twelve pm to twelve am is our final day open.
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Thank you, Louisville, You'll always have a place in our story.
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High Wire opened the tap room in early twenty twenty one.
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As we reported at the time, the tap room is
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located in a five five hundred square foot space in
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the Back Store Apartments development in Phoenix Hill. It offers
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twenty four taps, twenty of which are taken up by
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high Wire's own brews. Prior to the opening of the
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tap room, high Wire had distributed its beer in the
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Louisville area for four years, and fans can still buy
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it in retail in the area today. High Wire was
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founded in twenty thirteen and is the fifth largest craft
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brewery in North Carolina, with twenty two thousand, five hundred
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fifteen barrels produced in twenty twenty four. By comparison, Goodwood Brewing,
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Louisville's largest craft brewery, made six thousand, five hundred barrels
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last year. In other high Wire news, our sister publication,
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The Cincinnati Business Courier, reported that the brewery closed its
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suburban location. There after it was acquired by Braxton Brewing Company.
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The next article from Louisville Business First is titled Ford
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Halt's suv production at Kentucky plant due to supplier fire,
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written by Zach Owens. Ford Motor Company is temporarily pausing
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production of several large suv models at its Kentucky truck
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plant following a fire at one of its key suppliers.
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The Dearborn, Michigan based automaker will halp production of the
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Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator at its Louisville facility this week,
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according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, A United
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Auto Worker's official told employees about the decision late last week.
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The pause, expected to last about a week, stems from
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a fire last month at a Novelist plant, which supplies
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about forty percent of the aluminum sheet used in the
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US auto industry. Ford is considered one of Novelist's largest customers.
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The plant is not expected to resume operations until sometime
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next year, while the Kentucky truck plant will continue producing
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F series super duty pickups. WDRB News reports that a
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UAW representative said the facility may run short on aluminum
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over the next few shifts. Ford's Louisville Assembly plant, which
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produces the Escape and Lincoln Corsair, also briefly halted production,
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but resumed this week with one of its two shifts.
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The disruption comes less than two weeks after Ford completed
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a forty one point two eight million dollar land acquisition
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adjacent to the Kentucky Truck Plant as part of its
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long term investment strategy in the region. That deal added
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sixty five point two acres at three three zero six
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Collins Lane to the company's Springhurst campus footprint. Ford has
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pledged to invest nearly two billion dollars in its two
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Louisville plants, seven hundred and fifty million dollars at Kentucky
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Truck Plant and one point two billion dollars at Louisville
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Assembly Plant under a twenty twenty three labour deal with
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the United Auto Workers. Those investments are expected to support
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production of both gas and hybrid models of the Expedition
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and Navigator. Earlier this year, Ford also announced a five
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billion dollar electric vehicle initiative centered in Louisville, including a
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new mid size EV truck that will be built at
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the Louisville Assembly plant starting in twenty twenty six. The project,
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powered by Ford's new Universal EV platform, will convert existing
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escape production lines to EV manufacturing and add fifty two
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thousand square feet to the facility. The company has said
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the initiative will secure roughly four thousand jobs between Kentucky
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and Michigan. Ford employees about twelve thousand, five hundred workers
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across its two Louisville facilities, making it one of the
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region's largest employers and a critical piece of Kentucky's automotive
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manufacturing sector, which supports nearly ninety five thousand jobs statewide.
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This concludes the reading of the most recent business news
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in Lexington, Louisville and around the state. Your reader to
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day has been Julia Shane. If you have any questions
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or comments about this program, please give our Lexington Studios
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a call at eight five nine four two two six
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three nine zero. Thanks for listening, and now please stay
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tuned for readings from the Kentucky series here on Radio
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