Latest / Kentucky Business News / 10.1.26

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10.1.26 · Kentucky Business News

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  Speaker 1: Hello, today I'll be reading from business sources in Lexington
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  Speaker 1: and Louisville, including the Lane Report and others from around
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  Speaker 1: the Commonwealth. Your reader today is Julia Shane. As a reminder,
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  Speaker 1: Radio Eye is a reading service intended for people who
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  Speaker 1: are blind or who have other disabilities that make it
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  Speaker 1: difficult to read printed material. Our first article comes from
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  Speaker 1: the September 28th, 2026 edition of the Lane Report and
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  Speaker 1: is titled Keeneland September Sales Sets World Record. with $ 536. 7
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  Speaker 1: million in sales. Keeneland's 2026 September yearling sale has become
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  Speaker 1: the most successful thoroughbred auction in history, generating a record $ 536. 7
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  Speaker 1: million in through-the-ring sales during its 12-day run. This year's sale,
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  Speaker 1: held September 14th through the 26th, surpassed the worldwide record
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  Speaker 1: Keeneland established just last year. A total of 2,856 horses
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  Speaker 1: sold through the ring for $ 536, 737, 900, up 5.14% from $ 510, 517, 900
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  Speaker 1: for 2,903 yearlings in 2025, including $ 21. 6 million in post-sale
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  Speaker 1: transactions reported to date Total sales reached $ 558. 3 million. The
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  Speaker 1: sale also produced a record 70 yearlings that sold for
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  Speaker 1: $ 1 million or more, topping last year's record of 56.
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  Speaker 1: The highest priced horse was a $ 3. 7 million Intimishef Colt
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  Speaker 1: purchased by MV Maingear and Peter Brandt's White Birch Farm.
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  Speaker 1: The average sale price climbed 6.87%, to a record $ 187, 933,
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  Speaker 1: compared with $ 175, 859 last year. The median increase, 6.25%, from $ 80, 000
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  Speaker 1: to a record $ 85, 000. It's incredible to think that we
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  Speaker 1: set a world record for a thoroughbred auction just one
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  Speaker 1: year ago, and now we've surpassed it, Keeneland President and
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  Speaker 1: CEO Shannon Arvin said. That speaks to the extraordinary quality
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  Speaker 1: of the horses, the strength of the global buying bench,
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  Speaker 1: and most importantly, the people who make the September sale
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  Speaker 1: what it is. Several additional records were established during the sale.
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  Speaker 1: 23 horses sold for at least $ 1 million during the
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  Speaker 1: second day, the most ever in a single session. Opening
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  Speaker 1: day produced a record session average of $ 739, 897, and median
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  Speaker 1: of $ 625, 000, while the cumulative average established a record for
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  Speaker 1: the sixth consecutive year. Momentum was particularly strong during the
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  Speaker 1: opening week. Books 1 and 2 generated $ 318. 1 million in sales,
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  Speaker 1: with 65 horses bringing at least $ 1 million. The four-day
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  Speaker 1: gross increased 3.4% from 2025. Demand remained strong into the
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  Speaker 1: second week, By Session 9, cumulative through-the-ring sales had reached $ 511. 7 million,
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  Speaker 1: already exceeding the total generated during the entire 12-day 2025 auction.
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  Speaker 1: Buyers came from 30 countries. The partnership of St. Elias,
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  Speaker 1: West Point, Land's End Racing, and Belladonna was the sales
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  Speaker 1: leading buyer, spending $ 16. 2 million on 20 horses. TaylorMade Sales
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  Speaker 1: Agency led consignors during its 50th year in business, selling
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  Speaker 1: 338 yearlings for an all-time consigner record of $ 68. 6 million,
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  Speaker 1: including post-sale transactions reported to date. The Nicholasville-based operation sold
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  Speaker 1: $ 9 million horses and has been Keeneland's September leading consigner
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  Speaker 1: 27 times since 1988. Gunrunner was the sales leading sire,
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  Speaker 1: by both total sales and average for the second time.
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  Speaker 1: 57 of his yearlings brought $ 43. 7 million, averaging $ 776, 176, including
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  Speaker 1: 15 that sold for $ 1 million or more. Even the
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  Speaker 1: final session showed continued growth. Saturday's 261 yearlings generated $ 4. 75
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  Speaker 1: million over nearly 32% more than the comparable session last year.
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  Speaker 1: The session median jumped 55.6% to $ 14, 000. The September sale
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  Speaker 1: launches Keeneland into October and November with these events. October
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  Speaker 1: 2nd through the 24th, 17-day fall meet, 22 stakes worth $ 10. 7
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  Speaker 1: million will be run. October 2nd through the 4th, 25th
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  Speaker 1: Fall Stars Weekend, Each stakes are Breeders' Cup Challenge Win
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  Speaker 1: and You're In races, which award each winner an automatic
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  Speaker 1: and free entry into the World Championships. October 15th. Keeneland
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  Speaker 1: celebrates its 90th birthday. Keeneland opened October 15th, 1936. October 28th.
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  Speaker 1: Third championship sale at Historic Castleton. Invitation only. October 30th
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  Speaker 1: through the 31st. Keeneland hosts the Breeders' Cup for the
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  Speaker 1: fourth time following 2015, 2020, and 2022. November 3rd through
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  Speaker 1: the 11th, November Breeding Stock Sale. November 12th, November Horses
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  Speaker 1: of Racing Age Sale. November 13th through the 14th, Sporting
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  Speaker 1: Art Auction. Since its first race meet 90 years ago,
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  Speaker 1: The Keeneland Association has devoted itself to the health and
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  Speaker 1: vibrancy of the thoroughbred industry. The world's largest thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland,
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  Speaker 1: conducts six sales a year in January, April, September, October,
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  Speaker 1: and November. Graduates of Keeneland's sale dominate racing across the
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  Speaker 1: globe at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers
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  Speaker 1: some of the highest caliber and richest thoroughbred racing in
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  Speaker 1: the world. On October 30th through the 31st, Keeneland will
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  Speaker 1: host the Breeders' Cup World Championship for the fourth time
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  Speaker 1: following 2015, 2020, and 2022. Uniquely structured, Keeneland is a
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  Speaker 1: privately held company with a not-for-profit mission that returns its
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  Speaker 1: earnings to the industry and the community in the form
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  Speaker 1: of higher purses and millions of dollars donated in support
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  Speaker 1: of horse industry initiatives and charitable contributions for education, research,
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  Speaker 1: and health and human services throughout Central Kentucky. Keeneland also
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  Speaker 1: maintains Keeneland Library, a world-renowned public research institution with the
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  Speaker 1: mission of preserving information about the thoroughbred industry. The next
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  Speaker 1: article from the Lane Report is titled, Lexington Shoppers Get
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  Speaker 1: Early Chance to Buy Shady Rays and Pappy and Company
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  Speaker 1: Collector's Sunglasses. Ten shoppers at Shady Rays Lexington store We'll
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  Speaker 1: have a chance Tuesday to purchase a limited edition pair
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  Speaker 1: of Pappy and Company's Special Reserve sunglasses ahead of the
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  Speaker 1: collaboration's nationwide online launch on Wednesday. Raffle tickets will be
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  Speaker 1: available at the Shady Ray store in the Summit at
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  Speaker 1: Fritz Farm beginning at 11 a.m. on September 29th. The
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  Speaker 1: store will draw 10 winners at 6 p.m. Participants must
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  Speaker 1: be present to win, and each winner will have the
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  Speaker 1: opportunity to buy one pair for $ 250. Shady Rays and
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  Speaker 1: Pappy and Company, both Kentucky-born brands, created an original frame
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  Speaker 1: inspired by the Van Winkle family's history. Its details include
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  Speaker 1: filigree based on the Pappy Van Winkle 20-year label, brass-inspired
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  Speaker 1: hardware referencing keys from the Stiltser Weller Distillery, and a
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  Speaker 1: hidden Pappy and Company mark visible when the temple opens.
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  Speaker 1: The companies say they will produce 999 individually numbered pairs
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  Speaker 1: with no additional production run planned. The sunglasses will launch
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  Speaker 1: on September 30th at ShadyRays.com and PappyCo.com. Purchasers will also
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  Speaker 1: be entered into a separate drawing for a bottle of
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  Speaker 1: Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20-year. Entrance must be at
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  Speaker 1: least 21 and free entry methods are available. The next
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  Speaker 1: article from the Lane Report is titled, Publix Opens Elizabethtown
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  Speaker 1: Store at the Shops at Pear Orchard. Publix opened a 50,325
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  Speaker 1: square foot grocery store Wednesday, September 23rd at the Shops
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  Speaker 1: at Pear Orchard at 1311 Pear Orchard Road. We are
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  Speaker 1: excited to bring the Publix difference to the Elizabethtown community,
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  Speaker 1: said Jared Glover, Publix Media Relations Manager. We look forward
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  Speaker 1: to serving our new neighbors with the quality food, exceptional
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  Speaker 1: customer service, and community involvement that Publix is known for.
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  Speaker 1: The store has a full-service deli with meats, cheeses, olives,
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  Speaker 1: and hummus, as well as a selection of more than
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  Speaker 1: 150 artisan cheeses. Its produce department carries conventional and organic
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  Speaker 1: fruits and vegetables, including locally grown options alongside a floral department.
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  Speaker 1: Publix's bakery offers cakes, cookies, and pies, including custom wedding cakes.
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  Speaker 1: Breads and rolls are baked throughout the day. day. The
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  Speaker 1: meat department offers custom cuts, green wise chicken, and ready-to-cook
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  Speaker 1: meals prepared daily. The seafood department carries fish and shellfish
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  Speaker 1: delivered throughout the week. Sushi chefs are also preparing hand-rolled
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  Speaker 1: selections daily. A full-service pharmacy stocks vitamins and supplements and
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  Speaker 1: offers a drive-thru for prescription pickup. An adjacent Publix Liquors
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  Speaker 1: sells beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks, and accessories. Grocery delivery
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  Speaker 1: is available through Instacart. To celebrate the opening and recognize
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  Speaker 1: Hunger Action Month, Publix supermarket charities contributed a total of $ 151, 000
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  Speaker 1: to three Elizabethtown-area organizations. $ 131, 000 to Feeding America, Kentucky's Heartland, $ 10, 000
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  Speaker 1: to Warm Blessings, and $ 10, 000 to Helping Hand of Hope.
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  Speaker 1: The next article comes from the September 28, 2026 edition
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  Speaker 1: of the Louisville Courier-Journal and is titled, How Jack Daniels,
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  Speaker 1: Jim Beam Are Racing to Capture Formula One Fans, written
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  Speaker 1: by Olivia Evans. As Formula One racing continues growing in
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  Speaker 1: global popularity, American whiskey companies are racing onto the track
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  Speaker 1: with team sponsorships, putting their brand in front of millions
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  Speaker 1: of fans. The motorsport, which originated in Europe, has boomed
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  Speaker 1: in recent years, drawing in a swath of new generation
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  Speaker 1: fans thanks to pop culture movements like F1 the Movie,
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  Speaker 1: the Netflix series Drive to Survive, and recent U.S. expansion
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  Speaker 1: with races now held in Miami and Las Vegas. Since 2018,
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  Speaker 1: F1' s fan base has increased 63%, climbing to 827 million fans.
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  Speaker 1: And as whiskey makers like Jack Daniels and Jim Beam
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  Speaker 1: continue to look for new ways to engage fans and
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  Speaker 1: draw in younger and newly legal age drinkers to its products,
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  Speaker 1: F1' s fan base is an ideal landscape. Ultimately, this partnership
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  Speaker 1: is about bringing together two iconic brands with a shared
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  Speaker 1: commitment to craftsmanship, Authenticity and Pushing Boundaries. William Dinger, Chief
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  Speaker 1: Partnership Officer of the Cadillac Formula One team, which is
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  Speaker 1: sponsored by Jim Beam, told the Courier-Journal. Here's a look
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  Speaker 1: at how two American whiskey legends, Jim Beam and Jack Daniels,
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  Speaker 1: are turning F1 sponsorships of Cadillac and McLaren racing teams
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  Speaker 1: into consumers. Jim Beam and Cadillac Formula One team. What
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  Speaker 1: started as a family legacy of Jim Beam driving his
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  Speaker 1: Cadillac home from the distillery every day has turned into
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  Speaker 1: a multi-year partnership on the racetrack, bringing together two iconic
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  Speaker 1: American brands with a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and teamwork,
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  Speaker 1: Dinger said. Generations after the founder relied on a Cadillac
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  Speaker 1: to get him and his legendary yeast home each day
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  Speaker 1: from the distillery, current seventh-generation master distiller Fred Noe still
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  Speaker 1: drives a Cadillac. Now, Jim Beam sponsors the Cadillac F1 team,
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  Speaker 1: with the 2026 season being both brands' first ride chasing
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  Speaker 1: the checkered flags. And as Jim Beam, which is owned
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  Speaker 1: by Suntory Global Spirits, looks to continue its global growth,
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  Speaker 1: Rashidi Haddari, managing director for the James B. Beam Distilling Company,
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  Speaker 1: told the Courier-Journal that F1 presented the types of audiences
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  Speaker 1: we wanted to grow with the markets we want to
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  Speaker 1: grow with. We were looking for a global platform that
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  Speaker 1: allowed us to engage consumers throughout the year in things
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  Speaker 1: that they were passionate about, things that they were engaged about,
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  Speaker 1: things that brought people together. A Jim Beam spokesperson said
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  Speaker 1: the brand's sales have risen about 4% annually worldwide over
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  Speaker 1: the past 10 years, with strong growth in India, making
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  Speaker 1: the international reach of F1 an attractive marketing platform. For
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  Speaker 1: fans that are on site, the Bourbon Maker brings a
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  Speaker 1: variety of activations to fans. Gym Beam is all about
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  Speaker 1: bringing people together, and that's something that translates naturally into
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  Speaker 1: Formula One, Dinger said. For us, fandom is about those
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  Speaker 1: shared moments, the community and connections that form around something
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  Speaker 1: people are passionate about. Activations have included the Gym Beam Roadhouse,
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  Speaker 1: where fans have a place to enjoy a drink, soak
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  Speaker 1: up the atmosphere, and connect with others, the Jim Beam
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  Speaker 1: Bar in the Paddock Club Suite, where a Jim Beam
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  Speaker 1: mixologist creates signature cocktails and shares more about the brand's
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  Speaker 1: bourbon and a barbecue party for fans at the legendary
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  Speaker 1: Silverstone Track in Europe. The activations feature specialty cocktails like
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  Speaker 1: the Golden Mullet, which features Jim Beam pineapple, and the
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  Speaker 1: Jalisco Highball, which features Jim Beam black, and is in
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  Speaker 1: honor of Sergio Perez Checo, a Mexican driver for the
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  Speaker 1: Cadillac team. We bring a taste of Kentucky to the
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  Speaker 1: local market, Hadari said. For Hadari, as the beverage space
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  Speaker 1: becomes increasingly competitive and consumer desires continue to shift, F1
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  Speaker 1: offers a unique ability to operate in multiple markets and
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  Speaker 1: bring some fans their first interaction with Jim Beam bourbon.
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  Speaker 1: While it's early for Jim Beam and Cadillac, Adari believes
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  Speaker 1: the partnership will be successful in the long run. For now,
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  Speaker 1: the focus will be on its first season, which runs
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  Speaker 1: March to December and includes 24 scheduled races and introducing
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  Speaker 1: the global fans to the American brands. This partnership brings
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  Speaker 1: together two American originals on a truly global stage, Dinger said.
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  Speaker 1: Formula One gives us an incredible opportunity to share that
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  Speaker 1: heritage and connect Jim Beam with fans around the world.
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  Speaker 1: Jack Daniels and McLaren Formula One team. Jack Daniels is
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  Speaker 1: no newbie in the F1 world. Since the 2023 racing season,
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  Speaker 1: the Tennessee Whiskey brand, owned by Louisville-based Brown Foreman, has
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  Speaker 1: seen its logo zip around tracks from Miami to Monaco
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  Speaker 1: on the widely popular McLaren F1 team car. In that time,
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  Speaker 1: the racing team has seen immense success, winning two consecutive
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  Speaker 1: World Constructors Championships, in 2024 and 2025, the 2025 World
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  Speaker 1: Drivers' Championship with team driver Lando Norris, and 22 Grand
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  Speaker 1: Prix victories across the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons. We
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  Speaker 1: hope in particular to engage with McLaren and F1 fans
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  Speaker 1: of legal drinking ages who are fans of whiskey, said
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  Speaker 1: Jeremy Schoonz, Jack Daniels' senior manager of Global Partnerships. For
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  Speaker 1: the brand often associated with the American South, Jack Daniels
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  Speaker 1: went after F1 because of its increasing cultural relevance for
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  Speaker 1: younger fans and its global platform. The U.S. is obviously
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  Speaker 1: a key market, but we also wanted something which would
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  Speaker 1: work for our European and Asian markets as well, Schoonz said.
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  Speaker 1: F1 ticks those boxes, whereas global sports like World Cup
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  Speaker 1: soccer and Olympics take place every four years, F1 takes
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  Speaker 1: place every year for 10 months per year, 24 times
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  Speaker 1: per year, making it the most popular always-on sporting competition
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  Speaker 1: in the world. Now in the fourth year of the partnership,
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  Speaker 1: Jack's Garage, an innovative experience that fuses the world of
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  Speaker 1: music with motorsports, has become a popular F1 fan interaction.
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  Speaker 1: The space boasts a bar where fans can order signature cocktails,
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  Speaker 1: such as the Last Lap Lemonade, featuring old No. 7
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  Speaker 1: Jack Daniels whiskey. In addition to the on-site activations at
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  Speaker 1: the racetrack, Jack Daniels partners with McLaren to release a
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  Speaker 1: limited edition bottle of whiskey. The 2026 release is a
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  Speaker 1: medium-bodied blended with caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak notes. This year,
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  Speaker 1: also brought a second collectible whiskey from McLaren and Jack
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  Speaker 1: Daniels collab with its Halo MK1 Tennessee whiskey, bringing a
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  Speaker 1: chocolatey and caramel expression with notes of tobacco to drinkers.
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  Speaker 1: And while the financial terms of the sponsorship haven't been
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  Speaker 1: publicly disclosed, Schoon said it is proving successful for the distiller.
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  Speaker 1: Jack Daniels has seen incremental sales with its specialty collab whiskeys,
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  Speaker 1: and more favorable brand perception, according to consumer surveys. For
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  Speaker 1: whiskey makers, Formula One isn't about what happens on the track,
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  Speaker 1: but rather gaining a spot in front of one of
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  Speaker 1: the fastest-growing audiences in sports, while hoping some fans will
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  Speaker 1: raise a glass. Formula One gives Jack Daniels a unique
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  Speaker 1: global platform to connect with fans through memorable experiences, innovative collaborations,
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  Speaker 1: and storytelling that extends far beyond the race day. Scone said.
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  Speaker 1: As both McLaren and Formula One continue to grow around
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  Speaker 1: the world, we are excited to keep creating new ways
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  Speaker 1: for fans of legal drinking age to engage with the
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  Speaker 1: Jack Daniels brand responsibly. Our next article comes from the
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  Speaker 1: September 25, 2026 edition of Louisville Business First and is titled,
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  Speaker 1: Saraga Opens in the East End, written by Joel Stennett.
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  Speaker 1: Saraga International Grocery was scheduled to open its first Louisville
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  Speaker 1: location on September 24, at 200 North Hurstbourne Parkway inside
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  Speaker 1: the Forum Center. The 34,000-square-foot store will feature a broad
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  Speaker 1: selection of international and fresh grocery items, according to a
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  Speaker 1: news release. Business First reported in October of 2024 that
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  Speaker 1: the Indianapolis-based grocer planned to invest approximately $ 4 million to
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  Speaker 1: renovate the store. At the time, Suraga General Manager Brad
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  Speaker 1: Nahm said he expected the store to be open in
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  Speaker 1: about one year. Miranda Construction was the contractor. The space
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  Speaker 1: was previously home to Lucky's Market, which closed its only
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  Speaker 1: Louisville location in 2020. Founded in 1994 by two brothers
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  Speaker 1: of Korean descent, Suriga sells more than 10,000 different foods
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  Speaker 1: and goods from across the globe, including African, Chinese, European, Filipino, Mediterranean, Mexican, Korean, Japanese,
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  Speaker 1: and Thai cuisines. In addition to fresh produce, meats, and seafood,
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  Speaker 1: the grocer's store also features a food court. In October
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  Speaker 1: of 2024, Nam said the Louisville store's food court would
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  Speaker 1: include a Korean bakery and a restaurant serving Korean food,
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  Speaker 1: among other concepts. Other Suraga food courts feature restaurants such
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  Speaker 1: as Korn's, a Korean-style corndog and bubble tea restaurant, K-Kitchen,
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  Speaker 1: which specializes in Korean side dishes, and El Chavo Mexican Restaurant,
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  Speaker 1: which serves food inspired by street vendors of Mexico City
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  Speaker 1: and Guadalajara, according to the website. Suraga, which means living
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  Speaker 1: in Korean, currently operates three stores in Indianapolis and three
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  Speaker 1: more in Columbus, Ohio. NAMM said this Louisville store will
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  Speaker 1: employ about 70 people. The next article from Louisville Business
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  Speaker 1: First is titled, LDP Seeks to Activate Sidewalks, Streets, and Lots,
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  Speaker 1: written by Michael Jones. The Louisville Downtown Partnership wants to
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  Speaker 1: expand outdoor dining, encourage redevelopment of surface parking lots, and
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  Speaker 1: continue efforts to attract residents and businesses downtown with its
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  Speaker 1: 2027 Economic Improvement Plan. The plan, which was expected to
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  Speaker 1: go before the Louisville Metro Council for approval on September 24th,
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  Speaker 1: outlines how the organization would spend its $ 4. 66 million budget
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  Speaker 1: while continuing initiatives focused on economic development, placemaking, beautification, and
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  Speaker 1: public safety. About 85% of the budget would go directly
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  Speaker 1: towards street-level services, including ambassadors, beautification, and placemaking efforts, according
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  Speaker 1: to Rebecca Fleischacker, executive director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership.
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  Speaker 1: LDP plans to explore potential incentives and other strategies to
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  Speaker 1: help businesses overcome barriers to outdoor seating and sidewalk activation.
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  Speaker 1: A large part of what makes an area vibrant and
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  Speaker 1: exciting is people, Fleischacker said. We are trying to figure
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  Speaker 1: out on the sidewalks where it can still give you
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  Speaker 1: space for right-of-way, how we can get more tables and
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  Speaker 1: chairs and umbrellas and color on the sidewalk. The effort
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  Speaker 1: aligned with the partnership's broader placemaking strategy, which includes expanding
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  Speaker 1: its CitySpot network, adding public art, and improving downtown streets.
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: LDP launched the CitySpot program in 2023. The concept was
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  Speaker 1: conceived by the 2022 Bingham Fellows class to help enhance
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  Speaker 1: the public's enjoyment of downtown Louisville. In 2026, the organization
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  Speaker 1: expanded public art initiatives. added murals, and began work on
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  Speaker 1: a new city spot at the West Plaza of the
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  Speaker 1: 500 West Building. The partnership is also advocating for redevelopment
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  Speaker 1: of surface parking lots, which it views as opportunities for
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  Speaker 1: new residential and commercial projects. We want to see less
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  Speaker 1: surface parking lots. We want to see more development at
• 24:21
  Speaker 1: the street, Fleischacker said, adding that the organization will continue
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: pursuing policy tools, and incentives that could encourage property owners
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: to develop those sites or sell them to developers. Increasing
• 24:35
  Speaker 1: downtown's residential population remains a central goal. Downtown is home
• 24:40
  Speaker 1: to more than 10,000 residents and 67,000 workers, while attracting
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: more than 35 million visits annually, according to the plan.
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: The next article from Louisville Business First is titled, Meta's
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: $ 17 Billion Settlement and shows the cost of delaying on accountability.
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: Written by Tom Ferry, CEO of Connected Nation, a national
• 25:04
  Speaker 1: nonprofit founded in Kentucky 25 years ago with a mission
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: to expand access, adoption, and use of broadband and its
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: related technologies to all people. Meta's settlement of up to $ 17. 1
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: billion with state attorneys general, $ 358 million of it coming
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: to Kentucky, is the largest consumer protection settlement since Big Tobacco.
• 25:29
  Speaker 1: Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman's office was one of four
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: states that led the case to trial in federal court.
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: The states alleged that Meta, through Facebook and Instagram, engineered
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: addictive features for children and teens, improperly collected data from minors,
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: and misrepresented risks to youth's mental health. Meta admitted no wrongdoing.
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: The settlement resolves claims by 51 attorneys general nationwide. Most
• 25:58
  Speaker 1: of us have seen the ill effects of these technologies
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: in our own lives or in the lives of people
• 26:03
  Speaker 1: we love. The harms range from distraction and isolation to
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: self-harm and worse, and they fall hardest on young people.
• 26:12
  Speaker 1: The settlement is accountability after the fact, imposed by a court,
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: years after the harm, at a cost measured in billions.
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: Technology companies have obligations to the people and communities they affect,
• 26:26
  Speaker 1: and those obligations are far cheaper to honor up front
• 26:29
  Speaker 1: than to litigate later. That matters now because public confidence
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: has cratered. A Gallup poll released in July found that
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: only 20% of Americans have confidence in large technology companies,
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: a record low, while 41% have very little or none.
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: That distrust is spilling into every technology debate. including artificial
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: intelligence and the data centers that power it. Data Center
• 26:55
  Speaker 1: Watch counted at least 75 U.S. projects worth roughly $ 130
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: billion blocked or delayed by local opposition in the first
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: three months of 2026 alone. Closer to home, Kentucky-based Commonwealth
• 27:10
  Speaker 1: Economics reports our own state's benefit closer to $ 290 million
• 27:14
  Speaker 1: to $ 435 million today. and local tax revenue from a
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: single hyperscale data center, including $ 167 million to $ 222 million
• 27:27
  Speaker 1: flowing directly to local public schools. When every proposal becomes
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: a standoff, communities lose investment and developers lose years. Nobody wins.
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: The lesson of meta-settlement should not be that technology is
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: something to fear or reject. It should be that powerful
• 27:45
  Speaker 1: tools require public purpose responsible leadership, and institutions strong enough
• 27:50
  Speaker 1: to keep innovation focused on people. Kentucky and communities across
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: the country should choose accountability without paralysis and optimism without naivete.
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: This concludes the reading of the most recent business news
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: in Lexington, Louisville, and around the state. Your reader today
• 28:06
  Speaker 1: has been Julia Shane. If you have any questions or
• 28:09
  Speaker 1: comments about this program, please give our Lexington studios a
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: call at 859-422-6390. Thanks for listening, and now please stay
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: tuned for readings from the Kentucky Series here on Radio Eye.