This conversation is lively because Berea native and candidate for the state's 81st District, Andrew Simpson (R), has a thorough grasp of land use issues that are most pressing to Madison County, and it was good fun to banter the policymaking possibilities for slowing growth, developing according to community needs not zones, supporting agriculture, and respecting property rights.

Simpson is a life-long conservative who came to farming through his wife's family, and who is now a leader in the state's agricultural community, formerly serving as the chair of the Kentucky Farm Bureau's Young Farmers District 8 (farmers age 35 and younger). In this role, Simpson said he learned about the land use pressures facing farmers across the Commonwealth, but especially here in Madison County where two of the nation's fastest growing communities--Richmond and Berea--are located. 

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

Inventor, entrepreneur, and sportsman Jay Bowman says it's time for Congress to do its job. And even though he'd rather go fishing and hunting, he believes he can go to Washington to get things done. An admitted poor student, Bowman is a skilled and accomplished inventor and holder of dozens of patents who says he has a demonstrated record of accomplishments done with cost efficiency. His priorities include addressing corporate subsidies to Amazon, Walmart, and others, who pay little taxes, receive various subsidies, but don't pay their employees a living wage. 

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

Greg Plucinski is a successful entrepreneur who says that on an annual basis, he contributes $20 million to the state's economy with his pharmaceutical manufacturing business. The Jessamine County resident is a fan of Andy Barr, President Trump, and anyone who cuts taxes, especially on businesses. Plucinski says if he's elected, his first priority will be to lower the steep drug review fees placed on small drugmakers, which he says drives up the costs of new life-saving medicines. Candidate Plucinksi also says he would lend urgency to formalizing aspects of Trump's agenda, something he said Congress is failing to do. 

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

Anthony Looney (D), candidate for State District 81, is On the Edge. 

Originally from Pike County, Looney describes the hardships he faced in order to go to and finish college, raise his standard of living, and move to Richmond where he says he loves living. In the interview, we discuss the political divisions in the state, and whether they are real or imposed. We also address smart growth--what does it mean? We also talk about Looney's platform: more funding for healthcare, higher education, primary education, and inspiring people to want to lead by volunteering and running for office. 

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

Donna Agee makes her first bid for elected office as she runs for Madison County Judge Executive. A former healthcare industry executive, County Department of Health administrator, and visiting nurse, Agee says she can apply her experiences from each of her previous roles to helping create a better life of the citizens of Madison County. 

In this podcast interview, Agee and I discuss traffic, the county animal shelter, and her view of how the Fiscal Court should be run. 

Visit theedgebereaky dot com for more information. 

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

Incumbent Reagan Taylor is in his 12th year as the judge executive of Madison County. In this podcast, he shares what he believes are his accomplishments so far, as well as spars with me about over a traffic remedy for Barnes Mill Rd. and exit 87 off I-75. We also discuss how 911 is run, and whether a new fire station is necessary in northern end of the County. 

I want to thank Reagan for coming on the podcast and taking the heat from my questions. He promised some data, and I will share it when I get it. 

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

Ryan Dotson (R) is a former Kentucky state representative whose number one goal when in office was to impeach Gov. Andy Beshear. That initiative failed, but Dotson's other mission, to forbid mixed-sex athletics in the Commonwealth is now state law. Building on these and other experiences in Frankfort, Dotson is now seeking to represent Kentucky in the US House of Representatives by winning the 6th District seat now up for grabs as the current occupant, Andy Barr (R), runs for the Senate, hoping to replace the outgoing Mitch McConnell (R).

In this episode of On the Edge, Dotson discusses what led him away from his roots in Eastern Kentucky, why he became an Evangelical-Pentecostal pastor, what he thinks might happen before the actualization of a popular American Evangelical perspective that a war in Iran is among the final steps preceding the second coming of Christ, and what matters most to him about US relations with Israel. Plus, he counters a current controversy that has been attached to his name. 

It's a conversation you won't want to miss.  

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

Cherlynn Stevenson (D) is running on the 'Mountain Democrat' platform, as she explains in this episode of On the Edge with Whitney McKnight. A former state representative in Kentucky (2019-2024), Stevenson says it's time for Congress to flip from Red to Blue, and she believes that if a Democrat wins Kentucky's 6th District then, Congress will indeed be Blue. 

In this episode, Stevenson also discusses her own bad experience with healthcare in the US, and how fear of costs nearly took her husband's life. What does she see happening to change how Americans access healthcare?

Thank you for listening to On the Edge!

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

Join host and producer Whitney McKnight as she speaks with Kentucky's 6 Congressional District candidate, David Kloiber, a Lexington "New Democrat", physicist, and software entrepreneur who previously served as a Councilman in Lexington. 

Listen as Kloiber describes his innovative ideas for how to immediately reform our healthcare system, bring about housing affordability, and considers whether our current slate of Congressional members are too old to understand how AI has and will continue to change our world. Also, do we need to start discussing an universal income as AI increasingly puts people out of work?

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.

What is Madison County's position on data centers? Judge Executive Regan Taylor has gone on the record saying that Madison County doesn't welcome them. But, The Edge has argued that if there are no ordinances in place, then not wanting them and still getting them is possible. Magistrate Brian Combs disagrees, and says that the County is ready should the situation arise. 

In this episode, Combs and host and producer, Whitney McKnight, discuss County land use generally, with Combs saying that even though he is opposed to sprawl, it is permissible by the Constitution. For more on that, see The Edge's op-ed, "What if we tax land more, buildings less?"

Thanks to Magistrate Combs for taking the time to be On the Edge.

For more information, comments, or suggestions, contact The Edge at

editor at theedgebereaky dot com

Reporting from The Edge of Appalachia in Berea, Kentucky.