Adam Strong

Today, I hosted a roundtable discussion in Hazard with the @NashvilleCorps, @HuntingtonCorps & the Louisville Corps for our local elected leaders who serve Eastern Kentucky counties that have been impacted by recent flooding. We discussed stream cleaning, the permitting process, dredging, structural solutions, as well as river gages and sensors to protect our communities from future floods. We reviewed successful Army Corps projects that have helped save communities along the Cumberland River from catastrophic flooding, and the work that is still needed on the Cumberland, and additional flood control projects that are necessary on the Kentucky River and the Big Sandy River. On-going projects include a Kentucky River Flood Control Study and flood prevention in Beattyville, Coal Run and Paintsville, among others.

Our KCTCS campus in Breathitt County is currently being used as a shelter facility as we battle the floods. Please send some prayers to our brothers and sisters in eastern Kentucky. Our colleges stand ready to help across the region.

🚨 Interest Costs Just Surpassed Defense and Medicare 🚨 In the first seven months of FY 2024, spending on net interest has reached $514 billion. That's more than what we spent on both national defense ($498 billion) and Medicare ($465 billion). Spending on interest is now the second largest line item in the budget – second only to Social Security. ➡️crfb.org/blogs/interest….

The interest on the debt alone is exploding, up 37% from a year ago. It already costs over $1 trillion a year and will cost $3 trillion annually in less than a decade. It's already bigger than military spending and will soon be the largest item in the whole budget. The Fed will be forced to print money to pay for it, and inflation will go to the moon.

Lactate, produced by muscles during intense exertion, transitions from a mere energy byproduct to a neuro-enhancing elixir, fueling both our physical and cognitive engines during and after a workout. The brain starts soaking up lactate, utilizing it as a crucial fuel source during workouts. But lactate's role extends beyond mere energy supply. Lactate signals to the brain and increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein essential for the survival and growth of neurons. BDNF plays a pivotal role in memory, learning, and higher thinking. Remarkably, a study showed a short, six-minute bout of intense cycling induced a four to five-fold increase in BDNF. Why This Matters: Enhanced Cognitive Function: BDNF plays a vital role in learning and memory. Increasing its levels through exercise can lead to improved cognitive abilities, helping in both the short and long term. Neuroprotection: Higher BDNF levels can offer protection against cognitive decline, especially relevant in an aging population and those at risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Mental Health Benefits: BDNF has been linked to reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety, making exercise a valuable tool for mental well-being.

This morning I got my ballot and my I Voted bracelet, and thanked our poll workers for their service. *There was no line.* Take advantage of our early voting today, tomorrow or Saturday. Find your voting location(s) at govote.ky.gov.

20 yr study shows “the presence of books in the home has a greater influence on a child’s level of education than does the parents’ income, nationality, or level of education.” educationworld.com/a_issues/chat/… theguardian.com/books/2018/oct…

Here's just another reason to make sure to supplement your vitamin D this winter! Brand new research shows vitamin D purportedly protects against cognitive decline and dementia. It's the first study ever examining levels of vit D in brain tissue. Very cool!

Funniest law I've ever seen. Hit um where it hurts 🤣😂🤣😅 "The law blocks anyone from obtaining a hunting or fishing license if they are past due more than $2,500 in child support for a year." I'll be following to see if it works. Might be worth considering in #KY 🤣😂🤣😂

“It’s really kind of stunning” - @ruralhealth’s @BSLABACH told me on the phone this a.m. @CMSgov’s freshly proposed rule includes an unexpected gift for #rural hospitals. Check out the wordsmithing on pg #174 below. "2 or more lanes each way" - that's four-lane highways. 1/4

Lawmakers like @LTgovDelgado & @RepStefanik in NY had taken it up because of the number of #rural hospitals that faced losing $ just because of nearby two-lane highways. Stefanik listed 6 hospitals in her district alone. 3/4 suncommunitynews.com/news/98082/ste…

most detailed image of a human cell to date

BREAKING: Russia suspends gas supplies to Poland

Russia and China are openly challenging the West. We must accept this reality, and act accordingly: 1. Achieve global energy dominance - especially in oil, gas, nuclear, and rare earth mining. Leverage is gained when we are not dependent on Russian energy or Chinese minerals.

Banning fracking and canceling new drilling and leases sure look really stupid right about now

Who defines hate? Precisely those people you'd least want to have that power.

Gas isn't $5/gallon in California because of Ukraine. It was there WELL before Ukraine got to this point. The Biden administration made the conscious decision to drive gas prices this high and now they want to pretend it's Ukraine's fault. Just outrageous.

We import 595,000 barrels of oil per day from Russia. The Keystone XL pipeline would have produced 830,000 barrels per day. Relying on Russian oil is a choice. And it’s a stupid one.

Alberta will launch a Court challenge of the Trudeau government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act, because it is: - unnecessary - disproportionate - violates natural justice - intrudes into provincial jurisdiction - creates a dangerous precedent. edmontonsun.com/opinion/column…

The Trudeau government’s invocation of the Emergencies Act is unnecessary, disproportionate, violates natural justice, intrudes into provincial jurisdiction, and creates a dangerous precedent. Alberta will challenge it in court.