Piper Hansen
@piperjhansen.bsky.social
Kentuckian. Reporter @kentucky.com covering business, economic development and state politics. Beep me: phansen@herald-leader.com. she/her
The investment is part of a larger $912 million announcement across five of the automaker’s American manufacturing plants that will add a total 252 jobs in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri and Mississippi, to increase hybrid vehicle capacity. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Toyota adds $200M, 80+ local jobs to its largest global plant in KY
As part of a long-term investment in manufacturing hybrid cars, Toyota is putting more than $204 million and 82 new jobs in Kentucky.
www.kentucky.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:09 PM
The investment is part of a larger $912 million announcement across five of the automaker’s American manufacturing plants that will add a total 252 jobs in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri and Mississippi, to increase hybrid vehicle capacity. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Piper Hansen
I'm happy to share that I've joined @kentucky.com as their new Lexington Government Reporter! It's a big change, but familiar territory - I am way too committed to this beat to go too far.
If you have any news tips, story ideas, or just want to chat, please reach out at abryant@herald-leader.com.
If you have any news tips, story ideas, or just want to chat, please reach out at abryant@herald-leader.com.
November 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I'm happy to share that I've joined @kentucky.com as their new Lexington Government Reporter! It's a big change, but familiar territory - I am way too committed to this beat to go too far.
If you have any news tips, story ideas, or just want to chat, please reach out at abryant@herald-leader.com.
If you have any news tips, story ideas, or just want to chat, please reach out at abryant@herald-leader.com.
The tenured full professor in UK’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law, told the Herald-Leader Friday this instance of his speech comes from research conclusions about Israel and colonization. www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
UK professor sues school for violating free speech rights over Israel comments
A University of Kentucky professor is suing the school after it reassigned him in July following comments he made related to Israel.
www.kentucky.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:07 PM
The tenured full professor in UK’s J. David Rosenberg College of Law, told the Herald-Leader Friday this instance of his speech comes from research conclusions about Israel and colonization. www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
“I think we did hit the triggers in Kentucky, and even if we didn’t — but we did — we should, we need to reduce the taxes anyway.” www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
‘Collision course to zero.’ GOP starts early back-and-forth on income tax cut
Reducing individual income tax to 0% in Kentucky has been a priority for the state’s Chamber of Commerce and the GOP-led legislature.
www.kentucky.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:03 PM
“I think we did hit the triggers in Kentucky, and even if we didn’t — but we did — we should, we need to reduce the taxes anyway.” www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Piper Hansen
Everyone will be shocked to know Grok is spreading misinformation.
UPS plane crash: No, Grok, Gov. Andy Beshear’s photo isn’t from 2021 tornadoes
The AI-powered chatbot amplified an inaccurate claim that a recent photo post by the Kentucky governor was from a previous disaster.
www.kentucky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Everyone will be shocked to know Grok is spreading misinformation.
kentucky's largest power company can move forward with a plan to spend $3 billion on two gas plants for future data centers, the state's regulators said in a more than 200-page order i read so you don't have to www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
LG&E and KU can build power plants for KY data centers, regulatory board says
The pair of power plants will support an influx of high-energy demand customers, namely data centers for artificial intelligence.
www.kentucky.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
kentucky's largest power company can move forward with a plan to spend $3 billion on two gas plants for future data centers, the state's regulators said in a more than 200-page order i read so you don't have to www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Piper Hansen
Journalists of Bluesky: The Lexington Herald-Leader is looking for a new Kentucky government and politics reporter to join our team.
This person will be our lead reporter on all things General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear.
Interested? Drop me a line.
Listing:
This person will be our lead reporter on all things General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear.
Interested? Drop me a line.
Listing:
mcclatchy.rec.pro.ukg.net
October 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Journalists of Bluesky: The Lexington Herald-Leader is looking for a new Kentucky government and politics reporter to join our team.
This person will be our lead reporter on all things General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear.
Interested? Drop me a line.
Listing:
This person will be our lead reporter on all things General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear.
Interested? Drop me a line.
Listing:
Reposted by Piper Hansen
Latest from me: The Jefferson County Republican party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epithets. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
GOP candidate for Kentucky Senate defends, then deletes ‘rant’ against millennial ‘skanks’
The Jefferson County Republican Party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epith...
www.lpm.org
October 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Latest from me: The Jefferson County Republican party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epithets. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
“In a current world economy when people don’t know what the trade policy of the US is going to look like tomorrow ..., (it’s important to) be a governor that can sit across the table from an international CEO and say, ‘We will make sure that you are successful.'"
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Beshear calls economic development trip to Europe ‘one of the most effective’
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and his administration met with business leaders and trade officials in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland.
www.kentucky.com
October 23, 2025 at 1:47 PM
“In a current world economy when people don’t know what the trade policy of the US is going to look like tomorrow ..., (it’s important to) be a governor that can sit across the table from an international CEO and say, ‘We will make sure that you are successful.'"
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Piper Hansen
One of Kentucky’s largest for-profit residential addiction care treatment providers, which has been the subject of an FBI investigation for more than a year, is being sold, administrators confirmed Wednesday.
New from @aacquisto.bsky.social & @taylorsixhl.bsky.social:
New from @aacquisto.bsky.social & @taylorsixhl.bsky.social:
Embattled Kentucky addiction treatment provider to be sold to Ethema Health
ARC and Ethema Health signed an initial intent to sell on Wednesday. It is unclear how much Ethema paid.
www.kentucky.com
October 22, 2025 at 9:02 PM
One of Kentucky’s largest for-profit residential addiction care treatment providers, which has been the subject of an FBI investigation for more than a year, is being sold, administrators confirmed Wednesday.
New from @aacquisto.bsky.social & @taylorsixhl.bsky.social:
New from @aacquisto.bsky.social & @taylorsixhl.bsky.social:
Reposted by Piper Hansen
I just parallel parked SO WELL a stranger unrolled his window to holler his admiration
That’s that DuPont Manual education for you, baby.
That’s that DuPont Manual education for you, baby.
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I just parallel parked SO WELL a stranger unrolled his window to holler his admiration
That’s that DuPont Manual education for you, baby.
That’s that DuPont Manual education for you, baby.
my latest is a 700 word story about how kentucky and peanut butter and jelly are the center of the universe and a recent legal dispute over crimped edges and product packaging www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
PB&J maker with KY facility sues popular grocery chain over sandwich dupe
The parent company of Lexington’s peanut butter factory is suing Trader Joe’s for violating trademark on a product made in Kentucky.
www.kentucky.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:13 PM
my latest is a 700 word story about how kentucky and peanut butter and jelly are the center of the universe and a recent legal dispute over crimped edges and product packaging www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Piper Hansen
The Lexington Herald-Leader has been chosen for a competitive partnership with an award-winning national publication.
Herald-Leader chosen by ProPublica for Local Reporting Network partnership
Reporter Alex Acquisto will spend the next year on a statewide investigative project that will have wide ramifications for Kentuckians.
www.kentucky.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The Lexington Herald-Leader has been chosen for a competitive partnership with an award-winning national publication.
girl formerly afraid of space writes again about local company designing very cool science experiments to study the very thing she used to be scared of. incredibly cool stuff, hope you think so, too: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
What happens to our bodies in space? A KY-based experiment wants to know
Automated systems made by a Lexington-based company are collecting data from miles above earth’s surface.
www.kentucky.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:31 PM
girl formerly afraid of space writes again about local company designing very cool science experiments to study the very thing she used to be scared of. incredibly cool stuff, hope you think so, too: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
half a billion dollars' worth of thoroughbred horses were sold at keeneland's recent auction. i delved into why that matters, how it happened and what's likely to come next www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
New record set at Keeneland’s two-week auction of young thoroughbreds
In a two-week-long auction at Lexington’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale, more than 3,000 horses sold, totaling more than $530 million.
www.kentucky.com
September 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
half a billion dollars' worth of thoroughbred horses were sold at keeneland's recent auction. i delved into why that matters, how it happened and what's likely to come next www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Piper Hansen
Reminder for who needs reminding: Government officials only answering one question from you, once a week, in person, is not transparency.
September 25, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Reminder for who needs reminding: Government officials only answering one question from you, once a week, in person, is not transparency.
it was an 11-vote margin, and some ballots are being challenged but the uaw is claiming victory in kentucky's growing electric vehicle battery industry. the labor union says it was a hard fought win to represent workers at blueoval. more/to be updated: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
UAW claims BlueOval battery plant victory. Some ballots are being challenged
One of the country’s largest labor unions is claiming a narrow victory in Kentucky’s growing electric vehicle battery industry.
www.kentucky.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:08 PM
it was an 11-vote margin, and some ballots are being challenged but the uaw is claiming victory in kentucky's growing electric vehicle battery industry. the labor union says it was a hard fought win to represent workers at blueoval. more/to be updated: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
School district officials would not say Wednesday afternoon why they were waiting a day to share the fund balance with the public. Liggins told the Herald-Leader in an interview earlier this month that he needed to be a better communicator.
Read more at: www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
Read more at: www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
FCPS delaying release of updated figures that show extent of budget problems
The beleaguered district’s superintendent and his finance team did not immediately release updated budget figures Wednesday.
www.kentucky.com
August 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
School district officials would not say Wednesday afternoon why they were waiting a day to share the fund balance with the public. Liggins told the Herald-Leader in an interview earlier this month that he needed to be a better communicator.
Read more at: www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
Read more at: www.kentucky.com/news/local/e...
Reposted by Piper Hansen
KY Politics Insider: Rand Paul for president in 2028? Kentucky's GOP Senate candidates hit Fox News & more
www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311763601.html#storylink=cpy
www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311763601.html#storylink=cpy
KY Politics Insider: Rand Paul 2028? GOP Senate candidates hit Fox News & more
Sen. Rand Paul: “I’m definitely going to run for reelection. The presidential thing? We haven’t decided.”
www.kentucky.com
August 20, 2025 at 12:04 PM
KY Politics Insider: Rand Paul for president in 2028? Kentucky's GOP Senate candidates hit Fox News & more
www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311763601.html#storylink=cpy
www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article311763601.html#storylink=cpy
some interesting bits and bobs from andys beshear and barr toward the end of my latest about electric vehicle battery production starting at blueoval yesterday in glendale: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
One of Kentucky’s largest electric vehicle battery plants begins production
Commercial production of electric vehicle batteries is underway at the BlueOval SK plant in Kentucky’s Hardin County.
www.kentucky.com
August 20, 2025 at 1:19 PM
some interesting bits and bobs from andys beshear and barr toward the end of my latest about electric vehicle battery production starting at blueoval yesterday in glendale: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
in the past week, three global companies have made high dollar investments, btwn ~$500m and ~$3b, to reshore some of their manufacturing operations in kentucky. the latest is ge appliances which is moving some of its washing machine production lines to louisville www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
GE Appliances’ $3B manufacturing investment includes KY. Here’s where, how much
The appliance maker is investing in US manufacturing across five states, creating 1,000 jobs by 2030, company officials said Wednesday.
www.kentucky.com
August 14, 2025 at 3:39 PM
in the past week, three global companies have made high dollar investments, btwn ~$500m and ~$3b, to reshore some of their manufacturing operations in kentucky. the latest is ge appliances which is moving some of its washing machine production lines to louisville www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
ford, the automaker that employs about 12,000 people in kentucky, released its electric vehicle strategy today. the ceo called it a model t moment and a huge bet on itself. made a final round of updates on this, now’s a good time to read: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Ford puts $2B into Louisville Assembly Plant for new, midsize, electric truck
The automaker said Monday it was investing $5 billion total in its new electric vehicle platform, assembly process and new midsize truck.
www.kentucky.com
August 11, 2025 at 11:00 PM
ford, the automaker that employs about 12,000 people in kentucky, released its electric vehicle strategy today. the ceo called it a model t moment and a huge bet on itself. made a final round of updates on this, now’s a good time to read: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Reposted by Piper Hansen
Local reporting uncovered Amazon was behind the water-guzzling data center slated for the desert. Residents fought against the data center. Today, the city council unanimously voted against Project Blue.
If you care about local journalism that drives impact, consider donating to @azluminaria.org!
If you care about local journalism that drives impact, consider donating to @azluminaria.org!
BREAKING: Tucson City Council unanimously rejects Project Blue
Tucson City Council rejects Project Blue amid intense community pressure - AZ Luminaria
The Tucson city council voted unanimously Wednesday against bringing the massive and water-devouring Project Blue data center into city limits. That vote directing the city manager and staff to end n...
azluminaria.org
August 6, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Local reporting uncovered Amazon was behind the water-guzzling data center slated for the desert. Residents fought against the data center. Today, the city council unanimously voted against Project Blue.
If you care about local journalism that drives impact, consider donating to @azluminaria.org!
If you care about local journalism that drives impact, consider donating to @azluminaria.org!
recent announcements from the feds and private investors along with local support in paducah send a strong signal to data center companies and utility providers the western kentucky city is keen to welcome nuclear again www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
‘Atomic city of the future’: Uranium enrichment facility signs lease in Paducah
Once complete, it will be the first U.S.-owned, privately developed uranium enrichment facility in the country.
www.kentucky.com
August 6, 2025 at 5:51 PM
recent announcements from the feds and private investors along with local support in paducah send a strong signal to data center companies and utility providers the western kentucky city is keen to welcome nuclear again www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
employees at kentucky's blueoval sk battery plant will vote aug 26 and 27 to join the united auto workers union, according to a thursday labor board announcement. workers there are going to make batteries for ford's electric vehicles. here's how we got here: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...
Whatever happened to the effort by workers to unionize KY’s EV battery plant?
Workers at the under-construction plant are committed to having a free and fair union vote despite recent stalls in the process.
www.kentucky.com
August 1, 2025 at 1:50 PM
employees at kentucky's blueoval sk battery plant will vote aug 26 and 27 to join the united auto workers union, according to a thursday labor board announcement. workers there are going to make batteries for ford's electric vehicles. here's how we got here: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...