Latest / Kentucky Business News / 9.18.25

Transcript

9.18.25 · 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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September seventeenth, twenty twenty five edition of The Lane Report
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and is titled Jim Beam Cadillac Formula One Team partner
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to grow audiences. Jim Beam, the world's number one Bourbon,
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and the Cadillac Formula One Team announce a multi year
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global partnership that brings together two of the most iconic
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names in American culture, now united on the world's fastest stage,
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Formula One. In twenty twenty six, the Cadillac Formula One
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Team will enter the FIA Formula One World Championship as
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the first new edition to the grid since twenty six sixteen,
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with Jim Beam as its proud official Spirit's partner. This
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partnership represents two American originals driving forward together on a
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mission to usher in a new era by welcoming even
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more people into Formula One formed by TWG Motorsports and
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General Motors. The Cadillac Formula One team brings together a
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legacy of engineering excellence and a shared commitment to innovation
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and performance, representing a bold new chapter in American participation
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on the global Formula One stage. More than a sponsorship,
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the story has been ninety years in the making. Every evening,
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Jim Beam, the brand's legendary founder, would place a mason
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jar of his proprietary yeast, the living heart of his
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protected recipe, in the front seat of his Cadillac and
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drive it home to protect it from fire and prohibition.
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This daily ritual preserved the essential ingredient that still defines
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Jim Beam's unmatched flavor enjoy today around the world. Today,
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Fred Noe, Jim Beam's seventh generation Master Distiller, still drives
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the Cadillac, a quiet tribute to the car that helps
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safeguard his family's legacy. We are excited to bring the
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soul of Kentucky to the global stage of Formula One
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with Cadillac, a brand that's been part of the Beam
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family story through the ages, said Rashidi Hadori, Managing director
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of James Beam Distilling Company. Both car racing and making
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Jim Beam Bourbon requires every individual and moving part to
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come together to create a positive collective outcome. The pit
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crew and our distillery workers both rely on the power
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of their communities to win. It's a common understanding and
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the importance of connection with the next generation of Formula
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One fans that inspires us with a vision to help
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the sport reach new audiences. The official Partnership will come
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to life both on and off the track through immersive
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fan experiences, with a focus on alcohol responsibility, retail and
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trade activations, and most importantly, a desire to bring people together.
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This partnership brings together two icons of American heritage to
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create something truly special, said Cadillac Formula One team and
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TWG Motorsports Chief executive Officer Dan Torus. Formula one is
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a global stage, and we want to take our fans
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on this journey with us every step of the way.
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Our vision goes beyond racing. We're building a team that
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lives where sport, technology and culture collide. With Jim Bean
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joining our family of partners, the momentum behind this project
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grows stronger every day as we gear up for our
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debut next year. With the core value of connection uniting
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fans across the world. Sport and music have always played
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a role in the Jim Beam brands heritage, from sponsoring
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the National Football League's nfls Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys,
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the Major League Baseball's MLB LA Dodgers, and the United
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States Soccer Federation USSF, to car racing including the Indianapolis
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five hundred and NASCAR in the US and Dick Johnson
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Racing DJR, Australia's oldest racing team. The brand has also
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brought fans together through local music festivals and underground shows
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around the world, and with global musical acts such as
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News and lesesprem Our. Next article from the Lane Report
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is titled Princeton Review Annual Guide ranks Transylvania among nations
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best Colleges. The Princeton Reviews recently published Best Colleges Guide
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ranks Transylvania University among the nation's top schools. The annual
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guide highlights Transylvania's academics, welcoming student body, campus life, and
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ideal location. It also ranks the university among the best
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in the South. The colleges we profile in our Best
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College's Book are a truly select group, said Rob Frannik,
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editor in chief of The Princeton Review and lead author
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of the Best three hundred and ninety one Colleges twenty
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twenty six edition. They constitute only about fifteen percent of
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America's nearly twenty four hundred four year institutions. Transylvania students
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surveyed by the publication highlight a love for downtown Lexington, which,
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in addition to being a great place to find internships,
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offers a ton of neat places within walking distance. Academically,
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pioneers are encouraged to participate in classroom discussions with dedicated
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faculty who require deep critical thinking and take an interest
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in their lives and learning. It is a one of
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a kind situation that I wouldn't trade for the world,
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one student reported. The Princeton Review noted Transylvania's high professional
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school acceptance rate, as well as ninety five percent of
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students recommended to medical school and one hundred percent of
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those recommended to law school are accepted. Pioneers interviewed also
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highlighted the wide availability of experiential learning opportunities such as
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the one hundred Doors to Success mentorship program and alumni
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on location trips. The Center for Academic and Professional Enrichment
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and the Center for Entrepreneurship also facilitate hands on career
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development opportunities in the thriving Lexington business scene. From the
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community to the classroom, Transylvanian students are making the most
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out of their college experience. President Brian Lewis said The
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Princeton Review's consistent recognition of our school on the national
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level helped spread the word about our amazing campus city
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students and caring faculty, who are supported by initiatives like
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the Bingham Fund for Excellence in Teaching. Students also get
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immersive experiences during the unique May term, which often involves
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international travel and interdisciplinary team taught courses. While academics are
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a major focus at Transylvania, Pioneers have plenty of campus
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activities to get involved in, from fascinating guest speakers to
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movie nights. Athletics is another big draw for students. With
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programs known for their success at the highest level, it
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is pretty easy to lead a fun and robust life
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at Transylvania, the Princeton Review said. Additionally, the publication ranks
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the university number nine for having an active fraternity and
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sorority life. The Princeton Review's rankings are based on surveys
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of one hundred seventy thousand students at the three hundred
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ninety one schools in the book. The next article from
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the Lane report is titled Total Employment grew in Kentucky's
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largest Counties. Employment increased in two of the three largest
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counties in Kentucky from March of twenty twenty four to
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March of twenty twenty five, the US Bureau of Labor
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Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that
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Boone County had the larger over the year increase in employment,
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with a gain of one point three percent. Among the
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three largest counties in Kentucky, employment was highest in Jefferson
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County at four hundred seventy eight thousand, one hundred in
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March of twenty twenty five. Together, the three largest counties
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accounted for thirty nine point six percent of total covered
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employment within the state. Nationwide, the three hundred seventy two
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largest counties comprise seventy three point four percent of total
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covered employment in the United States. Large counties and county
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equivalents are those within annual average employment levels of seventy
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five thousand or more in twenty twenty four large county
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average weekly wages. In one Q two five, all three
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large Kentucky counties reported average weekly wage increases over the year.
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Fayette had the largest increase at three point one percent,
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followed by Boone at two point six percent, and Jefferson
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at two point four percent. Weekly wages and all large
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counties in Kentucky were below the national average of one thousand,
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five hundred eighty nine dollars. Jefferson had the highest average
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weekly wage at one thousand, four hundred eighty five dollars,
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followed by Fayette County at one thousand, three hundred dollars
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and Boone at one thousand, one hundred fifty six dollars.
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Smaller county average weekly wages in the first quarter of
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twenty twenty five. Employment and wage levels, but not over
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the year changes are also available for the one PA
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one hundred seventeen small counties in Kentucky defined as having
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employment below seventy five thousand, and twenty twenty four wage
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levels in one hundred sixteen of one hundred seventeen smaller
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counties were below the national average. Hancock reported the highest
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average weekly wage at one thousand, seven hundred fifty dollars.
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Nicholas County reported the lowest average weekly wage at six
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hundred ninety nine dollars in the state. Among all one
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hundred twenty Kentucky counties, sixteen reported average weekly wages of
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less than eight hundred dollars. Thirty four had wages from
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eight hundred to eight hundred ninety nine, twenty seven had
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wages from nine hundred to nine hundred ninety nine, nineteen
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had wages from one thousand to one thousand ninety nine,
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and twenty four had average weekly wages of eleven hundred
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dollars or higher. Our next article comes from the September seventeenth,
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twenty twenty five edition of Here Lexington and as tiled
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Southern cook House and Bar set to open in Lexington.
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Lexington is preparing for the grand opening of Southern Cookhouse
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and Bar on September eighteenth. This new establishment, located at
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eight four to four Hays Boulevard within the Clubhouse of
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the Boulevard Apartments, takes over the former Boulevard grill space,
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providing a fresh dining option in the popular Charlesbourgen and
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Over neighborhoods. With easy access from Richmond Road I seventy
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five and man O War Boulevard, locals can look forward
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to a combination of Southern comfort, food and sports. Viewing
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partners Troy Thayer and Brian Henderson bring over thirty years
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of restaurant experience to the venue. They are reviving Henderson's
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Southern Delhi and Tavern, which closed in twenty twenty three
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due to the COVID nineteen pandemic. The restaurant aims to
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create a neighborhood gathering spot where community members can enjoy
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good food, drinks, and sports. The menu at Southern Cookows
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and Bar is rich with Southern comfort dishes, including Kentucky
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proud burghers and selections inspired by various Southern cities. Notably,
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a high percentage of the menu is made from scratch,
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using local ingredients like the beef sourced from Critchfield Meats
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and Family Market. Signature dishes include bourbon glazed filet tips
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served over creamy cheddar grits with green beans priced at
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twenty two dollars and fifty cents. A dinner menu features
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five entrees such as grilled whitefish, roasted chicken, Cajun pasta,
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and chicken pop pie. The burger selection includes seven items,
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all made with locally sourced Kentucky Proud beef. Highlighting the
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burger menu is the Southern Burgher, which boasts three beef patties,
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barbecue sauce, smoked cheddar, cheese, apple with bacon, fried onions,
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pomeno cheese, and coalslaw. In addition to burgers, the sandwich
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menu offers six options, bringing back popular choices from Southern deli,
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including the San Clement and Decatur. Side dishes accompanying the
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burgers and sandwiches consist of French fries, sweet potato fries,
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potato salad, green beans, and cheesy grits. The appetizer's list
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features items like chicken wings, doubled eggs, and four salad options,
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while the pizza menu includes four varieties of boone featuring
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housemade beer, cheese, brisket, and applewood bacon. Interior design plans
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include a separation between the bar and dining area to
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cultivate a family friendly atmosphere. The bar section is outfitted
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with eight beers on tap, six of which are sourced
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from local breweries, and feature multiple large TVs for sports viewing.
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Southern cook hows and Bar plans to operate from Tuesday
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to Friday three pm to midnight and Saturday to Sunday
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eleven am to midnight. There are intentions to expand these
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hours in the future. With a strong commitment to fostering
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a welcoming environment, Southern cook House and Bar looks to
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attract locals with its inviting atmosphere. Guests can keep up
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with their offerings and updates through their online presence at
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Southerncookhousebar dot com. The next article from here Lexington is
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titled Apple CEO Tim Cook visits Kentucky amid air quality alert.
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Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, visited Kentucky last week as
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the company prepares for the launch of its latest iPhone models.
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Cook toured the Corning Plant in Harrisburg, which is set
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to serve as the exclusive manufacturer of cover glass for
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the iPhone and Apple Watch. This visit aligns with Apple's
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broader investment initiatives aimed at enhancing America and manufacturing capabilities.
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During his trip, Cook also stopped at the Apple store
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at Fritz Farm in Lexington, where he engaged with a
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retail employee and customers. His visit was strategically timed with
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the commencement of pre orders for the latest iPhones, which
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began on September twelfth and are slated for official release
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on September nineteen. Cook expressed his appreciation for the interactions
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he had with the staff during this pivotal week for Apple.
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Air quality concerns in the region, complicating the excitement surrounding
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the new product launches. A Code Orange air quality alert
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has been issued for the Louisville metro area, which includes
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parts of Jefferson, Oldham, and Bullet counties in Kentucky, as
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well as several counties in Indiana. This alert signifies that
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air quality may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, which include
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the elderly, children, and individuals with pre existing respiratory conditions
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such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. Local health officials have
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indicated that this air quality issue is linked to stagnant
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atmospheric conditions that have resulted in rising ground level ozone levels.
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With temperatures in the louisvill expected to remain in the mid
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to upper eighties for the next ten days. Residents are
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cautioned to limit outdoor activities, particularly during peak afternoon hours,
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when ozone concentrations are at the highest recommendations for residents.
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To mitigate exposure to poor air quality, local health authorities
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have advised various preventative measures. These include encouraging residents to
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carpool bike when possible and avoid idling vehicles to reduce emissions.
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Following these guidelines can help lessen the impact of elevated
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ozone levels on community health. Background on Apple's manufacturing efforts,
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the visit to the Corning plant highlights Apple's commitment to
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bolstering domestic manufacturing capabilities. Over the years, Apple has announced
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various initiatives to partner with American manufacturers, contributing to employment opportunities,
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in economic growth and local communities. The integration of Corning's
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manufacturing process into Apple's supply chain signifies an ongoing effort
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to ensure quality and control over its product components as
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the company prepares for the highly anticipated iPhone release. The
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intersection of product launches with environmental concerns adds the unexpected
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layer of complexity for both Apple and Kentucky residents. With
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an emphasis on innovation and community engagement, the hopes for
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new products coincide with the need for awareness regarding environmental
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health conclusion. Tim Cook's visit affirms Apple's dedication to supporting
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American workers and strengthening its supply chain, while the Code
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Orange air quality alert emphasizes the importance of public health
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awareness as residents navigate the challenges of fluctuating air quality.
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The next article from here Lexington is titled Historic Church
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in Lexington to become Affordable Housing. Lexington, Kentucky, is set
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to witness a significant transformation as work begins on a
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historic church which has been vacant for over twenty years,
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to convert it into twenty two affordable housing units. The
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groundbreaking ceremony took place recently at the church, located at
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five three zero North Martin Luther King Boulevard. Local and
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state leaders, including Senator Reggie Thomas and Lexington Vice Mayor
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Dan Wu, attended the event, expressing their support for the
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project that aims to address the urgent need for affordable
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housing in the area. With Lexington currently facing a shortfall
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of twenty three hundred housing units, the focus is particularly
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on affordable options to meet community needs. Vice Mayor Dan
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Wu highlighted the critical housing shortage, noting that the majority
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of demand lies in affordable housing. This endeavor not only
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seeks to provide housing, but also to revitalize a significant
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local landmark. The project is being spearheaded by the Kyirshe
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Development Group, which is led by Humza Kirshe, a Lexington native.
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Unlike many developers, Kirshe's family has a background in medicine
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rather than real estate. This unique perspective informs their approach
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to housing. Acknowledging the profound connection between housing stability and
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health issues, Humza Kyirshe established the importance of affordable housing
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in enhancing patient care and follow up. The renovation plan
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aims to retain the church's historic elements, including its stained
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glass windows, while transforming the interior into functional living spaces
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suitable for families and need. The projected completion date for
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the housing units aligns with this time next year, with
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the developers committed to preserving the church's historical significance throughout
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the renovation process. Aksa Kirshi, another member of the Kirshi
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Development Group, underlined the church's rich history and its original
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purpose in serving a bustling congregation. Community members have voiced
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their excitement about the project, looking forward to seeing the
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repurposed building contribute to an enhanced community spirit and create
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additional neighbours in the area. The development mirrors the Kirshe
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family's previous efforts and community enhancement, having converted their mosque
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into a resource center focused on job placement and rehabilitation
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for ex felons. As Lexington prepares for this new chapter,
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stakeholders are hopeful that the transformation of the historic church
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will not only provide much needed affordable housing, but also
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inspire community engagement and growth. The next article comes from
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the September sixteenth, twenty twenty five edition of Louisville Business
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First and is titled Louisville company makes name in international
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digital lottery space, written by Stephen Schmidt. When asked to
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sum up his summer, Brad Cummings said the following a
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whirlwind in all the right ways. Cummings is the founder
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and CEO of eq L Games, a Louisville based lottery
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and gaming solutions company. In June, e q L Games
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launched a multi year partnership with the Lottery System of
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the United Arab Emeritus UAE, in which the company will
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produce both in house games as a part of its
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New I Lottery marketplace, as well as offered games from
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affiliated third party vendors. Eq L Games has been working
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in tandem with a company called The Game LLC, an
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entertainment company that is part of the UAE based Momentum Group.
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Bishop Woolsey serves as the director of lottery Operations for
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the Game. Before that, though he had worked for more
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than ten years at the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, where he
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had been acquainted with Cummings. He was looking for somebody
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who could deliver a product quickly. Cummings said, it's a
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very nimble technology and that's probably one of our greatest
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assets right now. We are the only non legacy tech
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stack in the lottery industry, so we can move a
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lot faster than most. Eq L Games was able to
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have a product up and running within one hundred days
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when the contract was signed with the UAE Lottery. The
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games are accessible online for UAE residents. Now. Cummings and
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his team are about to head to Detroit for an
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Endeavor National Selection panel event where the company will attempt
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to earn national status with the organization. As of last check,
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the last Louisville based company to do so was dan
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O's Seasoning back in November. As coincidence would have it,
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the Michigan Lottery is one of two states where EQL
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Games has an eye Lottery contract, the other being Virginia.
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It first entered the market in twenty twenty three via
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Washington d C. Note only fifteen states have passed legislation
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to allow ee lottery games, Commings said, including Kentucky. In May,
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EQL Games launched its first in house game, Detroit Tiger's
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Grand Slam, in a full circle moment given its history
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in the e instant game, made exclusively for the Michigan Lottery,
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patrons have to get at least three matching symbols to
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win prizes. A similar game has also been created for
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the National Football League's Detroit Lyons. Although Cummings declined to
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mention specifics, he said the company will enter the markets
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of Canada and of some of European countries in the
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next twelve to eighteen months. In addition, the company plans
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to add five more markets in total to its clientele
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by next year. The company's revenue has grown twenty seven
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times from twenty twenty three to twenty twenty four. It
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anticipates to grow fivefold in twenty twenty five. Shifting away
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from sports, EQL Games first entered the international scene in
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twenty twenty three by launching a similar product in Peru.
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It was the first live lottery launch since the company
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pivoted away from products connected to live sports in twenty
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twenty one when it rebranded to its current name. Cummings
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technically founded the company in twenty ten, known back then
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as Equi Lottery LLC, but did not start working on
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the company in earnest until twenty fourteen, when Business first
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spoke with Cummings. In twenty fifteen, he had developed a
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game that blended the lottery with betting on horse racing,
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later to be called Win Place Show. In twenty nineteen,
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the company had licenses from Major League Baseball, the National
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Basketball Association, National Hockey League, NASCAR, and Team USA. It
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was poised to start constructing what Cummings referred to as
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a game of chance sportsbook concept by essentially offering quick
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pick parlays picking the correct series of games of live
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sporting events. The pandemic forced a pivot to something else,
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and then I realized I had the technology and the
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rolodex of industry leaders that few others had, and at
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that time, the digital lottery space was starting to grow
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in the United States. Eqol Games has a headcount of
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twenty one employees, approximately a quarter of whom live in
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the Louisville metro area, including Cummings, Michelle Boyce COO, and
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Austin Mayberry CTO. The company has an office at eight
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two five East Market Street in the New lou neighborhood.
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The next article from Louisville Business First is titled Hosperu's
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Health breaks ground on twenty million dollars standalone hospice center
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in Louisville, written by Zach Owens. Hosper's Health broke ground
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on a new twenty million dollar in patient hospice care
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center in Louisville on Tuesday, marking the region's first standalone
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facility dedicated solely to end of life care. The center,
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which will be located on Hosperus Health's campus at three
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five three two Ephrem McDowell Drive, is expected to open
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in twenty twenty seven. The thirty thousand square foot facility
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will feature twenty one edit patient suites, a chapel, gardens,
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a kitchen, and gathering spaces for families. It is being
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built next to the Harshaw Family Grief Counseling Center which
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opened in twenty twenty four, creating a comprehensive campus designed
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to meet patient's medical, emotional, and spiritual needs. When families
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can no longer care for a loved one at home,
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this center will provide supportive space that blends expert care
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with dignity and comfort, said David Cook, President and CEO
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of Hospericus Health, in the news release. We're grateful to
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our community for making this vision a reality. Founded in
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nineteen seventy eight, Hosperus Health is Louisville's largest traditional nonprofit
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with one hundred twenty two point three million dollars in
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annual revenue and one hundred ten point six million dollars
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in assets. The organization provides hospice, palliative care, and counseling
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services across forty one counties in Kentucky in Indiana. This
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concludes the reading of the most recent business news in Lexington,
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Louisville and around the state. Your reader to day has
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been Julia Shane. If you have any questions or comments
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about this program, please give our Lexington Studios a call
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at eight five nine four two two six three nine zero.
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Thanks for listening, and now please stay tuned for readings
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from the Kentucky series here on Radio I