Tagged: Fancy Farm Picnic

While the humidity is running high, a smaller slate of candidates hasn't dampened the crowd at the 2012 Fancy Farm Picnic. The event draws thousands each year, and its stump speaking is the traditional kickoff of the general election campaign season in Kentucky. Speakers start at 2 p.m. Central time.

Most of Kentucky's elected Democrats will skip this weekend's annual Fancy Farm picnic.

As of Wednesday, House Speaker Greg Stumbo is the only high profile Democrat scheduled to speak. Stumbo is filling in for the governor, who'’s on an economic development trip in Europe. Lieutenant Governor Jerry Abramson and the four remaining statewide elected Democratic officials are opting not to speak.

Today on NPR: A mile-deep mine in South Dakota was closed a decade ago. Now, it's been cleaned up and revamped as an underground science laboratory.

Kentucky’s senior U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell said he’ll speak on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at Saturday’s annual Fancy Farm picnic.  Picnic political speaking chair Mark Wilson had initially told Kentucky Public Radio Romney would send a surrogate speaker, but he later confirmed McConnell will fill in instead.

Advocates of a statewide smoking ban are taking their issue on a five day tour before this weekend's Fancy Farm political picnic.  The Smoke Free Kentucky Coalition has pushed a statewide smoking ban law in the General Assembly for the last two years. And they are making next year's legislative session a key moment in their fight.