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Awaiting Supreme Court hearing, ‘random’ change of venue law on hold, putting other cases on hold
A new law allowing some court cases to be randomly moved across the state is on hold as the Kentucky Supreme Court plans to hear arguments about its constitutionality. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Senate Bill 126 on Aug. 16, after Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd in April requested the state’s highest […]
Money for broadband is here. The work of connecting Kentuckians could take years.
LOUISVILLE — With more than $1 billion on its way to connect Kentuckians who have poor or nonexistent internet access, a roundtable of government leaders and telecommunications executives on Tuesday gave a window into the years of work that lie ahead to make broadband a reality throughout the state. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear joined the […]
How Kentucky generates electricity — and emits tons of greenhouse gasses
A recent state analysis found that, unlike a number of states that have pivoted to other fuel sources, Kentucky utilities still burn coal to generate the large majority of electricity in the state. The latest Kentucky Energy Profile report published this week by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet provides a snapshot of how major […]
As Kentucky’s largest coal producer mines Bitcoin, its power discounts draw scrutiny
Union County in Western Kentucky has been the state’s top coal-producer for years, mining more than 10 million tons in 2022. Something else is being mined in Union County: Bitcoin. In both cases, the mining is done by Alliance Resource Partners (ARP) headed by Joseph Craft III, whose wife Kelly Craft, just lost an expensive […]
More than 100 ‘orphan’ wells in Daniel Boone National Forest to be plugged, remediated with federal money
A new influx of federal money is planned to plug and remediate more than 100 abandoned oil and gas well sites in the Daniel Boone National Forest, a part of a broader effort to address so-called “orphan” wells on federal lands and waters across the country.? A release Thursday from the U.S. Department of the […]
‘Something has to change’: Kentucky’s utility regulator faces more work with fewer staff
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s utility regulator is responsible for managing a larger, more complex caseload despite having a diminished and less experienced staff than in the past, its chairman told lawmakers Wednesday.? The Kentucky Public Service Commission regulates the rates and services of more than 1,100 utilities, ranging from massive investor-owned electric providers like Kentucky Power […]
Toyota’s first electric vehicle factory in the US will be in Kentucky at its Georgetown plant
In what Gov. Andy Beshear called an “enormous” economic development announcement for Kentucky, Toyota plans to establish its first electric car manufacturing facility in the United States at its plant in Scott County.? The Georgetown factory, which has manufactured millions of cars since 1988, plans to retain nearly 9,000 employees to manufacture electric SUVs as […]
Kentucky judge recuses himself from KEA case after Cameron questioned his impartiality
A Kentucky judge has recused himself from a court case after Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron questioned the judge’s impartiality based on ?political contributions supporting the judge’s recent reelection. Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd in an order Tuesday directed a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Education Association be transferred to the other circuit judge […]
Toyota to buy power from planned Martin County solar installation on former surface coal mine
Japanese car manufacturer Toyota says it plans to purchase 100 megawatts of power from a 200-megawatt solar installation in Martin County being built on a former surface coal mine and brownfield site.?? Toyota in a Wednesday news release stated the multi-billion-dollar company would use the solar power to offset some of its carbon emissions. Toyota […]
ACLU asks federal judge to block Kentucky’s ban on transgender medical care for minors
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky and other plaintiffs are asking a federal judge to block part of a law they have said is the worst anti-trans bill in the United States.? The ACLU of Kentucky filed for a preliminary injunction Monday to block a section of Senate Bill 150, due to be implemented […]
Cameron points to campaign contributions to question a Kentucky judge’s ‘impartiality’
Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron is questioning the impartiality of a Kentucky judge — whose past court decisions have sparked GOP ire — in an ongoing court case by pointing to campaign contributions made to the judge’s recent reelection campaign.? Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd responded on Monday by issuing an order asking both […]
Ethics commission fines former SOS Alison Grimes $10,000 for improper use of voter data
The state ethics commission for Kentucky’s executive branch has fined former Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes $10,000 for ethics violations over the improper use of voter data that the commission states gave a benefit to herself and others. The Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission in its order Friday said the former chief election […]