Bruce Schreiner | AP

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell is announcing on Thursday that he won’t seek reelection next year, ending a decadeslong tenure as a power broker who championed conservative causes but ultimately ceded ground to the fierce GOP populism of President Donald Trump.

Dozens of foster children in Kentucky ranging from teens to toddlers spent nights sleeping in social services buildings while awaiting placement by a state agency, according to a preliminary review that has spurred the state auditor to order a broader investigation.

The preliminary investigation indicates Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. Stines shot District Judge Kevin Mullins multiple times following an argument inside the courthouse, according to Kentucky State Police. Mullins, who held the judgeship for 15 years, died at the scene, and Stines surrendered without incident.

A day after Beshear and a few other prominent Democrats were bypassed in favor of the affable Minnesotan as Harris' running mate, the Kentucky governor said he's still part of the team. He indicated that Harris had asked him to make campaign pitches for the ticket.

Kentucky's Republican auditor is embroiled in a dispute with Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's administration over access to a database that tracks the state's efforts to assist its most vulnerable citizens.

The new tourism and marketing strategy was unveiled in Louisville — the gateway to bourbon tourism. They also announced a new logo and a new digital marketing campaign to help tourists plan bourbon trips to the state.

Beshear — who campaigned against his state's near-total abortion ban in winning reelection last year — will speak next month at an event called “Championing Reproductive Freedom.”

Kentucky lawmakers will convene again in January, and state Sen. Mike Wilson said he hopes lawmakers use the coming months to craft another version of DEI legislation for the 30-day session in 2025.

Kentucky's next juvenile justice commissioner vowed Thursday to focus on efforts to reduce youth detention rates as he prepares to take the helm of an agency that has been plagued by problems.

Teachers, union members and abortion-rights supporters have staged massive demonstrations, but it was a protest against anti-transgender legislation — which resulted in the arrests of some demonstrators on criminal trespassing charges last year — that prompted the Kentucky House this week to approve new criminal offenses for interfering with legislative proceedings.