Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday the memorial stands as a lasting tribute to those who died and to health care workers who displayed courage and selflessness while treating COVID patients.

The art will be part of an exhibit that rotates every six months, as well as for the Team Kentucky Digital Art Gallery.

They were in Frankfort protesting a bill related to the most intimate parts of a transgender youth's life, including access to gender-affirming medical care, using the bathroom at school, and what name their teacher calls them.

It's the first statue of a woman to ever be placed in the Capitol building.

The Crown Act stands for "create a respectful and open workplace for natural hair."

Feeding Kentucky is working with lawmakers to support two bills "to ensure more students on free and reduced meals can eat breakfast."

Most of his budget was announced earlier in the week, after the Republican-led House of Representatives released its own budget plan Friday.

Another big early priority is helping communities hit by the recent tornadoes.

Beshear took to Twitter to denounce the demonstration, saying "We will not be intimidated. We will not be bullied."