KENTUCKY — Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., joined this week's "In Focus Kentucky" program to discuss a wide range of topics and issues affecting the commonwealth.

During this segment, Beshear shared details about 2024 being the fourth-best year in Kentucky's history for economic investment, with 170 private sector new-location and expansion announcements and a total of more than $6.9 billion in new investments. Beshear added the record economic growth helped bring 9,425 new full-time jobs to the area.

"For the third year in a row, the average incentivized wages are over $26 an hour, so very exciting," Beshear said. "But when I look back on whether it's the 'veepstakes' or some of the other opportunities, getting to tell our story, getting to tell Kentucky's story, leaving stereotypes in the past and reintroducing Kentucky to the world has been pretty special. To talk about our amazing growth, to talk about the great things that are going on here and what a special place it is to live."

"We've had economic development, potential investments come here and talk about that they weren't looking at Kentucky until that moment. So what I hope is that I've told our story well and that we'll continue to see benefits of having somebody on the national stage and what it can mean for us and our people." 

Also during this segment, Beshear reflected on late July and the early days of Aug. 2024, as he was getting some buzz as a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, after President Joe Biden made the historic decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. Harris eventually selected Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., as her running mate.

You can watch the full 'In Focus Kentucky' segment in the player above.