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.

Former Kentucky Gov. Julian Carroll dies at 92

By: and - December 10, 2023

Former Kentucky Gov. Julian Morton Carroll, who focused as the state’s 54th governor from 1974 to 1979 on providing more money to education, initiating judicial reforms and promoting the coal industry, died at 4:46 a.m Sunday at the Frankfort Regional Medical Center.? He was 92. Carroll, a Democrat, died at the center after falling at […]

Beshear’s inauguration is next week. Here’s the schedule.

By: - December 8, 2023

Last month, voters gave Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman a second term. Next week, they’ll be inaugurated again at the State Capitol in Frankfort.? The 62nd inauguration on Tuesday, Dec. 12, will feature Kentuckians to celebrate a theme of “Forward, Together.” The festivities include an inaugural ball, a parade, performances and […]

Kentucky lawmakers are pre-filing bills ahead of the 2024 session, but they’re not easy to find

By: - December 8, 2023

Typically by this time of the year, less than a month from the start of the January legislative session, drafts of dozens of bills that lawmakers planned to introduce would be readily available on the legislature’s website for the public to read. Not so this year. Legislation passed in 2022, which became law without Gov. […]

Harvey to retire as Justice and Public Safety Cabinet secretary

By: - December 7, 2023

Kerry Harvey, the secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, will retire at the end of January.? Gov. Andy Beshear, who was recently reelected, made the announcement during his weekly press conference Thursday. The governor thanked Harvey for his service and added that Harvey’s decision was “his choice and his choice alone.”? “He has […]

Feeny named president of Lexington’s BCTC

By: - December 7, 2023

Greg J. Feeney has been named the president and CEO of Bluegrass Community and Technical College in Lexington.? Feeney, who has been serving as interim president since July, is the former provost and a? 25-year employee of BCTC, a press release said. As provost, he was chief academic officer, chief student affairs officer and oversaw […]

Kentucky Board of Education names firm for education commissioner search

By: - December 7, 2023

The Kentucky Board of Education has selected McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, as the firm to conduct the search for the Commonwealth’s next commissioner of education.? The board met with representatives of the search firm during its Thursday meeting. However, the selection was made during a Nov. 28 meeting, though the vendor’s name was not public […]

Kentucky’s worsening teacher shortage requires an ‘across the pipeline’ approach, officials say

By: - December 7, 2023

As more new teachers leave the profession, Kentucky’s teacher shortage is worsening, according to a report to the General Assembly which convenes Jan. 2.?? The Office of Education Accountability (OEA) recently reported that ramifications of personnel shortages in Kentucky schools are growing. State officials and educators say addressing the shortage means supporting teachers “across the […]

Louisville’s Harper Angel will not seek reelection to Kentucky Senate

By: - December 5, 2023

A longtime member of Kentucky’s General Assembly, state Sen. Denise Harper Angel, D-Louisville, announced she will not seek reelection at the end of her current term.? In a Tuesday press release, Harper Angel said it “has been a profound honor” to serve Kentucky. Harper Angel has represented District 35, which includes part of Jefferson County, […]

More candidates file to run for Kentucky’s congressional seats and General Assembly

By: - November 30, 2023

FRANKFORT — With little? more than a month before the election filing deadline, a few more candidates have signed papers seeking election to the Kentucky General Assembly and U.S. Congress. The deadline is Jan. 5, 2024 to file to appear on the primary election ballot. Next year, Kentucky voters will decide who will represent them […]

Louisville’s Bratcher to not seek reelection to Kentucky House, will run for Metro Council

By: - November 30, 2023

Republican state Rep. Kevin Bratcher of Louisville announced he will not seek reelection to his seat in the General Assembly and plans to run for Louisville Metro Council.? The news comes after Republican Council Member Robin Engel announced he will not seek reelection to the city council. WDRB first reported Bratcher’s plans.? “CM Engel announced […]

Study: Kentuckians increasingly excluded from lawmaking process by fast-track maneuvers

By: - November 29, 2023

FRANKFORT — The League of Women Voters of Kentucky released a report Wednesday that found the General Assembly has increasingly fast-tracked bills in a manner that makes citizen participation nearly impossible —?about a month before lawmakers return to Frankfort in January.? The League’s analysis found that fewer than 5% of bills that became law 25 […]

How can Kentucky tackle veterinarian shortage? Working group presents its ideas.

By: - November 28, 2023

Kentucky’s Veterinary Shortage Working Group met Tuesday to finalize a report 18 months in the making.? The report includes ways Kentucky can bring more veterinarians, especially those who practice on large animals, into the profession and give them further support to practice in Kentucky. The group, which is under the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, has […]