Author

Liam Niemeyer

Liam Niemeyer

Liam covers government and policy in Kentucky and its impacts throughout the Commonwealth for the Kentucky Lantern. He most recently spent four years reporting award-winning stories for WKMS Public Radio in Murray.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Kentucky Republicans override Beshear vetoes

By: and - April 12, 2024

FRANKFORT —?The GOP-dominated Kentucky legislature easily overrode nearly all of Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes Friday on the next to last day of this year’s legislative session, cementing a number of Republican priorities into state law.? In total, Republican supermajorities in both legislative chambers overrode two dozen vetoes of bills and a resolution, including […]

Beshear vetoes sweeping anti-crime bill along with parts of state budget

By: - April 9, 2024

Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued a number of vetoes Tuesday including rejecting a sweeping anti-crime bill pushed by Jefferson County Republicans and strongly opposed by Democrats, arguing House Bill 5 is a costly and “unwieldy” bill.? HB 5, primarily sponsored by Rep. Jared Bauman, had received opposition across a broad political spectrum with conservative […]

Government transparency decisions await Kentucky lawmakers when they reconvene Friday

By: , and - April 8, 2024

FRANKFORT — A bill that open government advocates warn would introduce loopholes into Kentucky’s open records law could make its way to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk when lawmakers return to Frankfort later this week.? The final two days of the 60-day regular session — Friday and Monday — are set aside to consider gubernatorial […]

Beshear issues some vetoes, signs dozens of bills

By: - April 4, 2024

FRANKFORT — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed bills creating a nuclear energy authority and outlawing “discriminatory treatment” of filling stations. He also vetoed a measure similar to one the state Supreme Court overturned last year but that Republicans say is different enough to withstand judicial scrutiny. It allows a change of judicial venue for […]

U.S. judge sides with Kentucky attorney general in ruling against highway emissions rule

By: - April 3, 2024

A federal judge has sided with Kentucky’s Republican attorney general in ruling that the Biden administration overstepped by requiring states to set goals for reducing heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from vehicle tailpipes and other sources on federal highways.? U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton, of Kentucky’s Western District, in a Monday order said the Federal Highway […]

Beshear confirms one weather-related death, renews criticism of GOP limits on emergency spending

By: - April 3, 2024

Gov. Andy Beshear said a Kenton County resident died in a car accident as a result of the severe storms and tornadoes that swept Kentucky Tuesday, while emergency management officials have reported no other major injuries or deaths. Beshear in a Wednesday news conference praised emergency management officials, first responders and utility workers for their […]

Group alleges ‘hidden-camera’ video reveals ‘cruelty’ in chicken production in Kentucky?

By: - April 1, 2024

An animal protection advocacy group released footage from a “hidden-camera investigation” Monday of what it says is cruel treatment of chickens being transported from poultry operations in Kentucky — an investigation the group says would be criminalized under a bill recently approved by the Kentucky legislature. Mercy For Animals, a California-based nonprofit which describes its […]

Kentucky lawmakers break for veto period leaving anti-diversity bill dead in the water

By: , and - March 29, 2024

FRANKFORT — This year’s banner culture war crusade fizzled out in the Kentucky Senate in the final days of the General Assembly. The Senate took no action on a House overhaul of Senate Bill 6, a Republican-backed bill aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in Kentucky’s public universities and colleges. Lawmakers could revive […]

Kentucky legislature sends state budget bills to governor, including billions in one-time spending

By: - March 29, 2024

FRANKFORT — Bills funding the state executive branch to the tune of more than $128 billion and allocating billions of dollars in one-time investments received final passage through the legislature Thursday in one of the final days of this year’s legislative session. Republicans in the GOP-dominated legislature hailed the spending plan as making strong, necessary […]

Politics swirl around who will oversee Kentucky Fish and Wildlife

By: - March 27, 2024

FRANKFORT — Thomas Ballinger, an Army veteran and Butler County beekeeper, wanted to make sure veterans have a voice on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, so he threw his hat in the ring for one of the nine seats. Anyone who holds a hunting or fishing license is eligible to vote at meetings in […]

A graphic showing how the storage facility could be potentially built into a mountain in Bell County.

$1.3 billion investment to turn Eastern Kentucky coal mine into hydropower ‘battery’

By: - March 21, 2024

FRANKFORT — An Eastern Kentucky coal mining site set to become a giant hydropower battery is getting a significant boost from the federal government.? Florida-based Rye Development is in line for an $81 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for its Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project.? The funding is provided through the Bipartisan […]

As legislature heads into home stretch, here’s some of what remains to be done

By: , and - March 21, 2024

FRANKFORT — With eight days left in this session and a slew of decisions pending, the Kentucky House and Senate reconvene Thursday afternoon after a three-day break. High on lawmakers’ to-do list will be finalizing the next two-year state budget. The Senate also must consider changes to the tax code approved with little public notice […]