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Kentucky Senate joins House in urging Beshear to back Texas governor at the border
FRANKFORT — Joining its House colleagues, the Kentucky Senate approved Tuesday its own resolution urging Gov. Andy Beshear to support Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s immigration crackdown at the Mexican border.? Several Republicans spoke in favor of Resolution 123 before it was adopted by a voice vote. Democrats and GOP Sen. Whitney Westerfield, of Fruit Hill, […]
No cell phones in class for Kentucky public school students if advancing bill becomes law
FRANKFORT — Legislation prohibiting Kentucky public school students from using their cell phones during class is a step closer to becoming law.? The House Education Committee gave bipartisan approval Tuesday to House Bill 383, which would require local school boards to adopt policies banning students from using cell phones during “instructional time.” A few committee […]
Beshear appoints former justice cabinet secretary to cosmetology board
After retiring from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, former Secretary Kerry Harvey will serve on the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology.? Gov. Andy Beshear appointed Harvey to fill an expired term left by Margaret Meredith. Harvey, of Lexington, will represent citizens at-large. Harvey’s appointment was announced in a list of appointments from the governor’s office […]
Beshear underscores support for DEI during Black History Month celebration
FRANKFORT — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear reaffirmed his support for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives during a Black History Month celebration Thursday at the Kentucky Capitol.? Amid a flurry of anti-DEI legislation in the Republican-controlled General Assembly, Beshear told the crowd in the Capitol Rotunda that “diversity is an asset” and makes Kentucky “more […]
Auditor says juvenile justice review shows ‘lack of leadership’ from Beshear administration
FRANKFORT — A review of Kentucky’s Department of Juvenile Justice found “??disorganization across facilities” and a “lack of leadership from the Beshear Administration,” Republican Auditor Allison Ball said Wednesday. However, an administration spokesperson said neither the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) nor the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet was given the opportunity to review the […]
Kentucky Senate votes to bar college ID as a primary form of voter identification
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians could no longer use university-issued identification cards as their primary voter ID under a bill that cleared the Republican-controlled Senate Tuesday along party lines.? Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams decried the legislation, Senate Bill 80, in a Tuesday interview with the Kentucky Lantern ahead of the Senate vote. Looking to the […]
Kentucky Republicans lining up with Texas governor in border fight with Biden
FRANKFORT — The controversy over control of the U.S. border has invaded the Kentucky Capitol as Attorney General Russell Coleman and other Republicans voice solidarity with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in his showdown with the Biden administration.? Coleman joined 25 other Republican attorneys general on Monday in sending a letter to President Joe Biden similar […]
Kentucky Senate, again: Reopen Capital Avenue
FRANKFORT — A Republican senator is once again pushing to reopen Capital Avenue near the Kentucky Capitol to traffic. The stretch of road, which passes by the Governor’s Mansion, was closed to vehicles in 2021 for security reasons.? Senate Bill 75 from Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, easily passed the Senate Monday in a vote of […]
Constitutional amendment to use public money for non-public schools proposed in KY House
FRANKFORT — Priority GOP legislation that would allow public funding to non-public schools was filed in the Kentucky House Friday.? The primary sponsor of House Bill 2 is Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, R-Owensboro. The legislation seeks to amend the state Constitution to give the General Assembly the ability to give dollars to “the education […]
Kentucky Democratic Party announces new executive director
Morgan Eaves, a former member of Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration, will become the executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party next week.? Eaves will replace current Executive Director Sebastian Kitchen effective Feb. 1, a party press release said. Kitchen will return to the Beshear administration.? “I was honored to serve in the Beshear administration, which […]
Sweeping GOP bill increasing criminal penalties, outlawing ‘street camping’ clears Kentucky House
FRANKFORT — A sweeping anti-crime bill pushed by Louisville Republicans won approval Thursday in the Kentucky House after much debate and a few changes to the legislation.? In a 74-22 vote, the House approved House Bill 5. The bill already had 50 Republican co-sponsors before the House voted on the measure. The only Democrat to […]
Citing a Bevin commutation, Republican lawmaker wants to limit Kentucky governor’s pardon powers
FRANKFORT — A Kentucky Republican lawmaker wants to limit pardoning and sentence commuting powers for Kentucky governors after learning a convicted murderer and rapist is now up for parole after outgoing Republican Gov. Matt Bevin commuted his death sentence.?? Sen. Chris McDaniel, of Ryland Heights, is proposing a constitutional amendment that would suspend the governor’s […]