Governor Beshear Questions University of Kentucky Leadership Decisions | JQJO

Lexington, Ky. Gov. Andy Beshear said this week he is "losing confidence" in University of Kentucky leadership after the school announced a post-retirement role for Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart and a law-dean appointment reportedly at odds with faculty recommendations; Barnhart will step down June 30 and the new role is scheduled to begin July 1.

This week Beshear's social-media statement, posted April 21, cited concerns about an undefined, near-$1 million executive-in-residence contract and warned of donor influence; the announcement has prompted prominent supporters to ask the university to reverse the offer and increased scrutiny of university governance, contracts, and faculty involvement in hiring decisions.

Pennsylvania’s health department issued a health alert Monday after measles cases in pregnancy rose sharply, leading to an increase in congenital measles. The alert detailed clinical guidance for managing exposures during pregnancy and newborn care. As of October nineteenth, the state reported one thousand two hundred eighty‑six measles cases across forty‑two counties, with two hundred forty‑seven hospitalizations and six deaths. The first death in the outbreak was a newborn boy who died immediately after birth. The alert follows a decade‑long absence of congenital measles in the United States.

A new report shows the United States is constructing more fossil‑fuel power infrastructure than it has in a decade, even as renewable‑energy growth slows down.

Week 6 of the NFL season is very nearly a wrap, with the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers scheduled to face off on Monday Night Football to close the week.

Xiaomi announced the Redmi K100, a flagship phone with a battery capacity in the neighborhood of ten thousand milli‑ampere hours. The device will launch on October twenty‑seven at seven p.m. China time. The K100 is the first Redmi K series phone to include a dedicated gaming chip in its base SKU. Earlier this year, Honor released the Power2 with a battery slightly over ten thousand milli‑ampere hours, and the Realme P4 Power also crossed the ten thousand milli‑ampere hour threshold. The trend reflects a focus on mobile gaming and extended battery life in Chinese smartphones.

IGN recently announced a wave of layoffs, letting go of longtime hosts Brian Altano and Seth Macy. The two, along with Max Scoville, have launched an independent gaming podcast network called X Button on Patreon. The new network hosts two shows: X Button, a general gaming podcast, and Ninfriendo 64, focused on Nintendo. The move follows IGN’s decision to retreat from its well‑known gaming podcasts, citing insufficient revenue for weekly production.

Federal immigration agents broke the arm of Ricardo Gonzalez, a US citizen, during a confrontation with protesters in Long Beach. Video shows Gonzalez handcuffed and face down, ICE officers kneeling on his back. He was tased twice, pinned to the ground, and taken to a hospital for serious injuries. Long Beach mayor Rex Richardson said Gonzalez had called emergency responders. Congressman Robert Garcia condemned the attack and called for the abolition of ICE.

The City Council plans to vote on the airport use and lease agreement during its Nov. 9 meeting after the mayor vetoed a longer timeline.

Netflix announced that Dan Lin has been relieved of his duties as head of film. The decision follows a wave of layoffs that saw 1,000 employees—about 6 % of the global workforce—cut last week. Lin, who joined Netflix in 2024, will meet with his feature staff for a post‑mortem. A successor will not be named until Peter Rice takes over as Chief Content Officer from Bela Bajaria on October 26. Co‑CEO Ted Sarandos praised Lin’s “dedication to quality filmmaking” and “collaborative spirit.” The move comes as Netflix’s stock trades near $70, down 1 % from the day’s close. A company‑wide town hall with Sarandos and Greg Peters is scheduled for Wednesday.

Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute broke ground Monday on a 300‑bed, 450,000‑square‑foot cancer hospital that will open in 2031 on the former Joslin Diabetes Center site on Brookline Avenue. The new facility will create about 2,400 jobs over the next four years and will feature a bridge to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, replacing the existing bridge to Mass General Brigham. The move follows Dana‑Farber’s 2023 decision to end its long‑standing partnership with Mass General Brigham and begin a new collaboration with Beth Israel Lahey Health, the state’s second‑largest health system. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu called the groundbreaking “a significant moment in history.” Dana‑Farber will house hospitalized cancer patients at Beth Israel Deaconess until the new hospital opens, with a staged transition of patients and outpatient services beginning this week. The partnership shift is expected to be completed by 2028.

French officials considered declaring a state of emergency and local curfews after widespread riots. Anti‑government protests in major cities turned violent, damaging historic sites and leading to more than two thousand arrests. In Marseille, large gatherings were banned following the unrest. The town hall in Limoges was burned by masked rioters. President Emmanuel Macron vowed to hold those who sought to undermine the republic accountable. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu blamed an ultra‑left movement for orchestrating disorder and called for regional curfews.