COVINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's budget proposal includes a major investment in the City of Covington. In a news release, the governor requested that $10 million be put into creating a new life sciences research lab.

The goal of the lab is to boost Covington’s economy through adding jobs and making the city more attractive for life sciences research. The lab has already been in the works through a collaboration with the city, local companies and Northern Kentucky University. However, officials say that executing on big investments in Covington like this one will be difficult if state government redistricts the area.

“Normally, if you have a person that is part of our community, they become more readily aware of and understand the totality of the environment in which these requests are made and therefore can be a more effective advocate,” Mayor Joe Meyer said. “With the changes, we’re going to have to a broader job to reach out to legislators who are not as familiar with our community.”

Meyer said Covington officials will be working closely with northern Kentucky legislators to make sure the lab’s investment plan stays in the budget as it moves through the Kentucky House and Senate.

The governor's budget also notes infrastructure projects like the Brent Spence companion bridge project.

“We are charting the path to building the Brent Spence companion bridge without tolls,” Beshear said.

For more information on Beshear's proposals for economic development, click here.

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FORT THOMAS, Ky. — St. Elizabeth Healthcare is requiring all its workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 1.

The health care facility joins a list of hospitals and health systems in Kentucky, Ohio and across the nation requiring the vaccine for employees.

RELATED: Nearly a dozen Kentucky healthcare providers will require COVID-19 vaccine for workers

In recent weeks, St. Elizabeth has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases and said 100% of their ICU COVID cases are people who are unvaccinated. In addition, cases state-wide have quadrupled from June to July in children who are too young to be vaccinated.

During Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s press conference Thursday, St. Elizabeth CEO Gary Blank talked about the importance of the mandate.

"Our first priority at St. Elizabeth, and I know all the health systems, is the safety of our patients, our visitors and our employees as well as our community,” Blank said. “And vaccines are the best way for us to ensure that at this time. Obviously tough times require tough decisions, and this is one of those."

Beshear also called on private businesses to step up and praised Northern Kentucky University for requiring masks campus-wide.

The governor took another step to incentivize state workers by offering a vacation day if they show proof of vaccination.

Beshear said he won’t rule out another mask mandate if hospitalizations continue to rise.

“If we are going to defeat and not just delay COVID-19, there is one and only one answer,” Beshear said. “That answer is vaccinations. So each decision that we make has to gauge the impact on getting the unvaccinated to take that shot.”