Beech Tree News Network

U.S. employers added a substantial 4.8 million jobs in June, and the unemployment rate fell to 11.1%, as the job market improved for a second straight month yet still remained far short of regaining the colossal losses it suffered this spring. * * * Kentucky House Republican leaders are backing two recent lawsuits filed against the use of executive orders by Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration during the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement issued Wednesday, they said, “We applaud Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and the owners of Evans Orchard and Cider Mill for giving a voice to the men and women who are the backbone of our state’s economy and our local communities. * * * Top Kentucky officials of both parties are saying the recent primary election, which was perhaps the most unusual in Kentucky history due to changes made because of the coronavirus outbreak, was a success. According to figures from the state Board of Elections, 29.2 percent of the registered voters participated, compared to 20.1 percent in 2016. 744,507 voters cast absentee ballots and another 274,363 voted in person, either early or on Election Day itself, making the voter total 1,018, 870.