By Linda Blackford | Editor
Good morning. We’re starting today with a sad story about a mom who lost her son. But she and other parents are fighting back in court with a huge case against Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. Reporter McKenna Horsley has the story.
In other news, contributor Tom Loftus went digging through more campaign finance documents and found some interesting numbers. Turns out Gov. Beshear’s PAC has been getting lots of donations from the union that supports data centers.
And speaking of data centers, as we seem to do nearly every day, a huge project in Hancock County got the first nod of approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
In Commentary, kinship care expert Norma Hatfield urges our state to do much more to take care of our children.
Thanks for reading and have a great Tuesday!
Shannon Heacock holds a photo of her son, 16-year-old Elijah, who allegedly died from impacts of social media, outside the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on August 18, 2026 in Oakland, California. State attorneys general are alleging that Meta attempted to deceive the public by allowing features on their platforms, Facebook and Instagram, that harm children’s mental health and are intended to be addictive. (Photo by Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)
By McKenna Horsley
A Kentucky mom is closely watching a court case against Meta that could determine if the social media company knowingly designed addictive products that are harmful to children.
Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order on Aug. 6 directing the Kentucky Public Service Commission and the Energy and Environment Cabinet to take specific actions to limit data center impacts. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)
By Tom Loftus
A national labor union that supports building data centers has been pouring contributions into Gov. Andy Beshear’s super PAC this summer.
Century Aluminum is selling its idled Hawesville smelter in Western Kentucky to a data center company after choosing Oklahoma as the site for a new smelter, the first built in the U.S. since 1980. (Century Aluminum photo)
By Liam Niemeyer
Kentucky’s utility regulator has approved an electricity service contract for a hyperscale data center wanting to set up shop at a former Hancock County aluminum smelter that shuttered years ago, a key step forward before the power-intensive data center can begin operating.
Pinwheels blow in the wind outside Family & Children’s Place in Louisville on April 2, 2026. Pinwheels are used to symbolize a carefree world where no child is abused. Blue, a color associated with bruising, is often used to bring awareness to child abuse. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Sarah Ladd)
COMMENTARY
By Norma Hatfield
Stay with the child. It sounds simple, but it may be the most important principle Kentucky can bring to serving vulnerable children and families.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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