Wednesday News & Notes

We’re working on some longer stories about candidate filings and fund-raising, so those aren’t in today’s N&N.

Mitch McConnell sets record as US Senate's longest-serving party leader

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has broken another record with his decades-long career in Congress when he became the longest-serving party leader in Senate history.

That record had been held by Democratic Sen. Mike Mansfield of Montana, but McConnell pulled ahead when Congress convened at noon Tuesday. He has led the Senate Republicans for 16 years and counting − a powerful role he first assumed on Jan. 3, 2007. (Courier-Journal)

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to give State of the Commonwealth address tonight

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will give his annual State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday evening before an audience of Kentucky lawmakers in Frankfort, where he's sure to talk about Kentucky's teacher shortage as one of his top issues for 2023.

Beshear recently told The Courier Journal that the nearly 11,000 vacant teaching jobs in public schools, as well as students' difficulties within and outside the classroom, are top challenges he wants to tackle in the new year. He'll need the cooperation of the Republican-dominated state legislature to accomplish key goals on that front, though. (Courier-Journal)

Matt Bevin Watch: Will the former governor file to run again?

Just days remain to file for governor before the deadline will elapse, and the talk of Frankfort is whether or not former Gov. Matt Bevin will file to run this year.

Bevin has remained tight-lipped on his candidacy, but over the last year, he has made public appearances that have stoked the flames of the idea of a return. (KY Fried Politics)

And from the Twitterverse ...