By McKenna Horsley | Politics reporter

Some Kentuckians, including Gov. Andy Beshear, have questions about U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s health. One Louisvillian told the Lantern this week “many people like me are wondering what his condition is.”

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have questions about State Fair Board contracts. During a legislative meeting Wednesday, legislators deferred review of a contract with a president and CEO of the Kentucky State Fair. However, Beshear officials said a recent Supreme Court ruling voided the contract with the former president and CEO so “no such contract exists” at the moment.

Plus, Kentucky is getting some money as part of a settlement between states and CashApp.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell at the Fancy Farm Picnic on Saturday, Aug 2, 2025. (Photo by Austin Anthony for the Kentucky Lantern)

By McKenna Horsley

As U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hospitalization nears one month, people in his home state of Kentucky are raising questions about the seven-term senator’s condition and his fitness to serve.

People wait in line for rides at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville in August 2025. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

By McKenna Horsley
Republicans on a legislative committee on Wednesday deferred review of a contract with a president and CEO of the Kentucky State Fair after an interim was installed by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s latest appointees to the fair board last week. The governor’s adminstration says a Supreme Court ruling voided a contract with the former president.

Holding his cell phone in the air, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said that the digital device is “one of the most dangerous items in your home.” April 2, 2026, in Louisville to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month. (Kentucky Lantern Photo by Sarah Ladd)

By Sarah Ladd

Kentucky’s General Fund is getting a nearly $400,000 deposit thanks to a national $45 million CashApp/Block settlement. Republican Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman was part of a multi-state coalition to sue Block, alleging it “misrepresented CashApp’s safety and insurance coverage, failed to honor refund protections and wrongfully froze innocent users’ accounts.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Thanks so much for reading Morning Lantern. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.