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Piper Hansen

@piperjhansen.bsky.social

Kentuckian. Reporter @kentucky.com. Beep me: phansen@herald-leader.com. she/her

146 Posts370 Follower264 Folgt
Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The council member said in her conversations with planning and legal staff, since the Lexmark property changed owners through the sale, DartPoints still needs to apply for a zoning compliance permit, something the moratorium council passed puts a pause on issuing. www.kentucky.com/news/local/c...

Data centers likely to be a bigger topic than expected at Lexington Planning Commission

While not anticipated as part of the Planning Commission’s June 11 meeting, it’s likely questions may still be asked about data centers

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council won’t consider development plans, give approvals or any other authorizations — including zone changes — for data centers in Fayette County through Oct. 31, the body decided unanimously today. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...

Lexington council temporarily pauses data center approvals in Fayette County

Two walk-on resolutions — a moratorium and another that initiates a zoning amendment — passed at the less than 15-minute June 9 meeting.

kentucky.com

Adrian Paul Bryant@adrianpbryant.bsky.social · 4mo ago

Over time, we've gotten a lot of reader questions about the big bonuses, big salaries, and big restaurant bills under VisitLEX, the city's tourism bureau. Here's what they had to say about their finances and work, with our hero, oir savior @piperjhansen.bsky.social. www.kentucky.com/news/busines...

Lexington’s tourism agency spends big on bonuses, expenses. Does it pay off?

VisitLEX’s funding largely comes from people visiting Lexington, rather than those living here. Here’s how.

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 6mo ago

the bill, filed monday, gives local governments the ability to use bonds and other incentive tools in order to support large residential developments in their communities as well as their infrastructure and utility needs www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

KY cities could have more options to incentivize affordable housing under new bill

The bill is a byproduct of the Kentucky Housing Task Force that identified practical solutions to the state’s housing shortage.

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

the ky house formed an impeachment committee and met for the first time yesterday to discuss rules to review petitions filed against elected officials for their removal. it's having its second meeting right now and has been in closed session for over an hour www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

Impeachment petitions for Supreme Court justice, others under review by KY House

In the committee’s first meeting, it accepted petitions, including one against Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine.

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

we have the first bill from the ky senate to be sent to the house of representatives for consideration: a proposal allowing counties without a regional licensing office the option to run driver’s license renewal and duplication services. more from today's vote: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

KY Senate hits the gas on sending driver’s licensing services to local offices

The Kentucky Senate passed its first bill of session, proposing driver’s license renewal services be returned to localities.

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

though carrying out immigration law typically falls to federal officers, some kentucky lawmakers want to see local law enforcement enter agreements in order to aid ICE. updated with comments from gov. andy beshear: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

Kentucky police would be required to work with ICE under GOP-backed bills

Several bills filed in the early days of the 2026 Kentucky General Assembly aim to require local participation in immigration enforcement.

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

i am finally back to writing about housing policy. three still-to-be-filed bills aim to close the state’s affordable housing gap, improve access, continue economic development. more on each, who is sponsoring, etc. watch this space, as they say: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

Three bills expected to be filed by GOP lawmakers to address KY’s housing needs

The slate of still-to-be-filed bills aim to close the state’s affordable housing gap, improve access and jumpstart economic development.

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

also new from me: a bill to protect medical privacy and prevent criminalization of those who seek reproductive care outside the commonwealth was filed this week the same day a kentucky woman was indicted for fetal homicide after taking abortion medication www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

Democrat’s bill would prevent prosecution of Kentuckians who seek abortions

A Democratic Kentucky state representative filed a bill to protect medical privacy and prevent criminalization of reproductive health care.

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 7mo ago

ky gov. andy beshear’s state of the commonwealth speech doubled as his final budget address, which sounded a lot like the governor - now half way through his second term - already has his eyes on what’s next. some key takeaways from last night: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

Andy Beshear teases his political future during State of the Commonwealth speech

KY Gov. Andy Beshear gave his seventh State of the Commonwealth and last budget address. He joked it’s the last budget address “in this job”

kentucky.com

Austin Horn@austin-horn.bsky.social · 7mo ago

In November, I submitted an open records request for Gov. Andy Beshear's past schedule. Today, the H-L sued over their denial (citing an old appellate ruling classifying gov schedule as "preliminary") of that request. Read the full lawsuit & story here. www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

Herald-Leader sues Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear for access to his schedule

The lawsuit also seeks the calendars of Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and Beshear’s senior adviser Rocky Adkins.

kentucky.com

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 8mo ago

major job loss incoming at blueoval sk in kentucky as ford announces a pivot to ... using the facilities in glendale for battery energy storage systems instead of ev batteries. 'tis developing, i may have more soon but for now, new from moi: www.kentucky.com/news/busines...

Ford to lay off 1,600 as it repurposes BlueOval SK for energy storage in KY

Ford Motor Co. is planning to repurpose its battery manufacturing capacity and facilities in Kentucky.

kentucky.com

Ryan Van Velzer@ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 8mo ago

We've got a new audience editor at The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom. Andrew Henderson, formerly of McClatchy, will lead audience strategy, ensuring our reporting is not only excellent but also accessible, engaging and trusted.

5 questions with Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s new audience editor

The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s latest hire will lead audience strategy, ensuring our reporting is not only excellent but also accessible, engaging and trusted.

lpm.org

Piper Hansen@piperjhansen.bsky.social · 9mo ago

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.

kentucky.com

Adrian Paul Bryant@adrianpbryant.bsky.social · 9mo ago

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.