Following his Wednesday afternoon visit to Christian County, Governor Andy Beshear spent time with local journalists — answering questions about education, south western Kentucky economic development, the possible widening of I-24, and his memories of September 11, 2001.
Beshear said he was proud of the progress that’s been made for schools across the Commonwealth, which includes historic investments in career and technical education centers, and a compromise of transportation spending increases that allowed districts to pivot pay raises back to teachers.
However, Beshear also noted teacher pay needs to increase even more over the next two years — specifically to keep up with the landmark changes that have happened in Tennessee — and he believes the state’s next biggest investment in learning must be universal pre-kindergarten.
Beshear confirmed this measure would require state funding, and not just him continuing to make the case to the Kentucky General Assembly, but members of the business community continuing their lobbying efforts.
Speaking of jobs, Beshear said he is aware a pair of speculative buildings — one in Christian County, and one in Trigg County — have sold.
He also said announcements are not ready at this time, but pre-planning has gone well.
As this area continues to be a “hot-bed” for industrial and economic development, so, too, does the need grow for officials to review and implement an expansion of I-24 — particularly from Lyon County, all the way down to the Kentucky-Tennessee line and into the Volunteer State.
Those conversations are being had, Beshear said, and it’s a project that could eventually be in the 2-, 4- or 6-year plan.
The governor’s visit to west Kentucky, which also involved a stop in Dawson Springs, also happened to sync up with Patriot’s Day, and America’s 23rd Anniversary of 9/11.
More than 90% of Americans 30 years or older remember where they were when news broke that day, and Beshear is no different.
Beshear said he had recently visited The National September 11 Memorial & Museum at “Ground Zero,” and he hoped Patriot’s Day served as reminder not only of the brave first responders who entered the wreckage of the Twin Towers and Pentagon in the aftermath, but of unity the country has previously experienced.
