Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 15, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided updates on medical cannabis, tourism, law enforcement basic training, justice in a decades-old cold case, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, joined the Governor to provide an update on the Our Healthy Kentucky Home initiative. The Governor named Lexington’s and Louisville’s respective tourism and film communities as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars, following Lexington being voted the No. 1 Most Tourist-Friendly City in the U.S in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, and Louisville being recognized by Movie Maker Magazine as one of the best places to live and work as a movie maker.
Medical Cannabis
Yesterday, Gov. Beshear helped cut the ribbon on Natural State GreenGrass CannaCo, a tier 3 cultivator in Madison County, and Speakeasy Dispensary, a medical cannabis dispensary in Lexington. As of 10 a.m. today, eligible Kentuckians are now able to purchase medical cannabis at this Lexington dispensary. Speakeasy is the second dispensary to open, following the Post Dispensary in Beaver Dam, which opened in December.
Today, the ribbon is being cut on the first medical cannabis processer in the commonwealth, Bison Infused in Dayton. This will result in multiple products being available in coming weeks for eligible Kentuckians.
“Medical cannabis will help people in need live fuller lives with less pain. It will help our economy. It will help create more jobs. It’s truly a win-win for everyone,” said Gov. Beshear. “We kept our promise to deliver safe medical cannabis to eligible Kentuckians – and Team Kentucky is going to keep seeing through that commitment.”
Tourism
After three record-breaking years for Kentucky Tourism, the Governor announced more good news for this important industry. The Governor recapped five new tourism development projects announced in 2025 generating an estimated $118 million in economic investment. These projects are expected to create approximately 298 jobs when operational.
The Governor announced that Barren River Lake State Resort Park will receive $9.5 million in upgrades to enhance the visitor experience and attract new travelers.
The Governor also announced that 112 nonprofit arts organizations across the commonwealth will benefit from more than $1.2 million in funding in the 2026 fiscal year through the Kentucky Arts Council’s Kentucky Arts Partnership grant.
Finally, the Governor unveiled the 2026 Official Kentucky Visitor’s Guide. The publication is the official visitor’s guide for travel across our New Kentucky Home and serves as the state’s primary tourism advertising and promotional piece.
Second Class of Officers Graduate From Western Kentucky Basic Training Academy
Gov. Beshear announced that 16 law enforcement officers from agencies across the commonwealth graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s (DOCJT) basic training academy in Madisonville on Jan. 8. These law enforcement officers have returned home to serve, protect and create a safer New Kentucky Home.
Class 564 is the second to graduate from the Western Kentucky Law Enforcement Training Facility since it opened last February. DOCJT is training officers in a building provided by the Madisonville Police Department while Team Kentucky constructs a $50 million multipurpose training facility in Madisonville. The Governor is also requesting $64.8 million in his final budget proposal to get this project completed.
Administration Secures Justice in Cold Case
The Governor announced that his administration has obtained justice in a cold case investigation dating back to 1991. Thanks to the Office of the State Medical Examiner, Kentucky State Police detectives and the forensic lab, an arrest has been made in a case relating to the death of an unidentified female infant.
Because of the nearly 3,000 examinations the Office of the State Medical Examiner conducts each year, Kentucky is safer, and more families have the closure they deserve.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The Governor highlighted that Monday, Jan. 19, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“After a year of division and unimaginable challenges, it’s so important that we remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and reflect on his impact. I believe it’s our job to never stop standing up for what’s right, especially when others are intent on spreading hate,” said Gov. Beshear. “To do that, we must end the racial injustice that continues to hurt our people and that holds our society back from its full potential. When we are intentional, we can make a difference. I’m proud to say that this governor will stand up with you, walk beside you and do the work needed to move forward together.”
Kentucky state government offices will be closed Monday in recognition.
Our Health Kentucky Home
Dr. Stack provided an update on Our Healthy Kentucky Home, an initiative to promote simple, positive and attainable goals to inspire and motivate Kentuckians on a journey to health and wellness. For January, the initiative is focusing on children with special health-care needs, including neurologic diseases, autism, orthopedic conditions, hearing loss and more.
Dr. Stack highlighted important resources: the Office for Children with Special Health Care Needs, which helps families schedule appointments, connect with specialists, and coordinate with local providers; the Kentucky Early Intervention System, which provides early intervention and developmental services focused on communication, functional skills, and healthy development; and Kentucky’s Early Hearing Detection and Intervention program, which ensures newborns receive hearing screenings, timely follow-up testing, and early intervention services when needed.
Team Kentucky All-Stars
The Governor named Lexington and Louisville as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars. Lexington was recently voted the No. 1 Most Tourist-Friendly City in the U.S in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. The city was also recognized as the 6th Best Food City in the U.S. and ranked 8th Best Small City in the U.S. Louisville was recently recognized by Movie Maker Magazine as one of the best places to live and work as a movie maker.
“Any Kentuckian can tell you about the warmth and kindness of our people, but now, the rest of the world knows it too,” said Gov. Beshear. “These are incredible accomplishments, and I want to congratulate the cities of Lexington and Louisville. Kentucky is no longer a flyover state – we are the destination. And all these efforts make a difference.”
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