Author

McKenna Horsley

McKenna Horsley

McKenna Horsley covers state politics for the Kentucky Lantern. She previously worked for newspapers in Huntington, West Virginia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is from northeastern Kentucky.

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

House Republicans removed from committees last year have assignments restored

By: - January 9, 2024

FRANKFORT — After they were removed from their committees for seemingly bucking GOP House leadership last session, five House Republicans received either new committee assignments or were reassigned to their former committees Monday.? The removal prompted Republican Rep. Felicia Rabourn, of Pendleton, to lead an effort to change House rules that would lessen leadership’s control […]

Massie draws two Republican challengers in Kentucky congressional race as candidate filing ends

By: - January 5, 2024

FRANKFORT — After a slew of candidates dropped off their paperwork, the door to the secretary of state’s office promptly closed at 4 p.m. Friday — marking the deadline for Kentucky’s 2024 election filings. Voters across the commonwealth have much to decide this year — races for Congress, General Assembly, Kentucky Supreme Court and most […]

Kentucky Senate leader files bill to curb ‘divisive concepts’ in public higher education

By: - January 4, 2024

FRANKFORT — Employees and students could sue public universities and colleges in Kentucky on grounds they were discriminated against for rejecting “divisive concepts”?defined in a new bill introduced in the Kentucky legislature. Senate Bill 6 says students and employees whose claims are successful could be awarded up to $100,000.? The sponsor, Senate Majority Whip Mike […]

Beshear puts human faces to his budget proposals in State of the Commonwealth address

By: - January 3, 2024

FRANKFORT — While Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has long brought attention to health care, education and rebuilding after natural disasters, he put human faces to those issues in the first State of the Commonwealth address of his second term Wednesday night.? In his speech to a joint-session of the Republican-controlled Kentucky House and Senate, Beshear […]

Daniel Cameron joins anti-ESG group after leaving office

By: - January 3, 2024

Former Republican governor candidate and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is now an executive with a group that aims to “steer public companies back to neutral on divisive, ideological issues.” The 1792 Exchange announced Cameron would join the not-for-profit organization as its chief executive officer in a press release Wednesday morning. He will lead the […]

Kentucky State Police say all clear after Capitol was evacuated for bomb threat

By: - January 3, 2024

The Kentucky Capitol was evacuated Wednesday morning after Kentucky’s secretary of state, like other state offices around the country, received a bomb threat. After searching the Capitol and grounds, Kentucky State Police allowed people to return to the building in early afternoon. Michon Lindstrom, a spokesperson for the office, said the Capitol was evacuated after […]

Kentucky House leaves its rules unchanged, despite calls for less control, more transparency

By: - January 2, 2024

FRANKFORT — Despite recent calls by several Republicans to loosen House leadership’s control of the legislative process, the House voted Tuesday to make no changes in its rules. Four Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the rules resolution, which was sponsored by House Speaker David Osborne and adopted by a vote of? 72-23. The only […]

McConnell applauds Kentucky Republicans’ rise at public swearing-in of constitutional officers

By: - January 2, 2024

FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s most prominent Republican, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, applauded his party’s continued hold on most of Kentucky’s constitutional offices as newly elected or reelected officials took their public oaths of office on Tuesday in the Capitol Rotunda.? “I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to be here today in this most improbable […]

Budget, charter schools and abortion: What to watch for as Kentucky legislature convenes

By: - December 29, 2023

Lawmakers will gather in Frankfort Jan. 2? to begin work on a state budget in a year when they will face voters at the polls. The 60-day session will see the Republican-led General Assembly consider constitutional amendments to put on the November ballot, as well as pass a two-year state spending plan. It will also […]

Candidates continue to file for 2024 elections ahead of January deadline

By: - December 21, 2023

As the Jan. 5 deadline approaches, more candidates are filing to run in Kentucky’s 2024 elections.? The Secretary of State’s website lists filings for many elections, including those in the General Assembly, U.S. congressional races, and the Kentucky Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.? Americans will also select a president next year. Kentucky’s primary election […]

Beshear creates antisemitism task force

By: - December 21, 2023

Citing a rise in antisemitism and threats at synagogues across Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear announced he is establishing a task force in response.? The task force will be under the Governor’s Office of Faith Based & Community Initiatives and will have duties such as reviewing the state of antisemitism in Kentucky, assessing Holocaust education and […]

Lexington Democrat Palumbo not seeking reelection to state House. Son plans to run for her seat.

By: - December 21, 2023

A longtime Democratic Lexington legislator will not seek reelection to the Kentucky House of Representatives but her son has indicated he’s running to succeed her.? State Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo said in a Thursday statement that she would not run for an 18th term. She thanked her constituents for their trust and her family and […]