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.

Jefferson County Public Schools superintendent to retire next summer amid district scrutiny

By: - September 27, 2024

Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Marty Pollio plans to retire from his post effective next summer.? Pollio, who has led Kentucky’s largest public school district since 2017, sent a letter to JCPS employees announcing his plans to retire Friday. In recent years, Pollio’s tenure at the school district has been beset by increasing oversight from […]

Kentucky Senate Democrats join call for Grossberg to resign amid inappropriate behavior allegations

By: - September 25, 2024

Leadership of the Kentucky Senate Democratic Caucus joined fellow party members in calling on Louisville Democrat Rep. Daniel Grossberg to resign amid allegations of inappropriate behavior towards women.? The leaders said in a Wednesday statement that the Senate caucus “remains committed to the principles of respect, accountability, and justice in our efforts.”? “As public officials, […]

Voters in eight Central Kentucky counties must choose a new Supreme Court justice

By: - September 25, 2024

Two women are vying in Central Kentucky for a seat on the state Supreme Court after the chief justice chose not to seek another term. The candidates are Pamela Goodwine, deputy chief Kentucky Court of Appeals judge, and Erin Izzo, a partner at Lexington law firm Landrum and Shouse. While judicial elections are nonpartisan in […]

Lambert to become first woman chief justice of Kentucky Supreme Court

By: - September 23, 2024

State Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Debra Hembree Lambert will become the first woman to be Kentucky’s chief justice starting next year.? Justices on the court selected Lambert to serve as the next chief justice on Monday. She will serve a four-year term starting Jan. 6, 2025, according to an announcement from the Administrative Office […]

Kulkarni’s path to November ballot is cleared again by Court of Appeals

By: - September 20, 2024

A three-judge Kentucky Court of Appeals panel denied a motion that sought to disqualify Louisville Rep. Nima Kulkarni from seeking election this fall.? Kulkarni’s primary challenger, William Zeitz, and previous opponent, former Rep. Dennis Horlander, appealed a ruling out of Franklin County Circuit Court last week that allowed a vacancy in the 40th House District […]

Grossberg says he’s seeking treatment for ‘impulsive behavior’ after Beshear calls on him to resign

By: - September 20, 2024

Prominent Kentucky Democrats, including Gov. Andy Beshear and House Democratic Caucus members, are calling for the resignation of Louisville Democratic Rep. Daniel Grossberg following new allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women. The caucus also voted to permanently expel Grossberg.?? Grossberg issued a statement late Friday afternoon saying he was seeking treatment “to reduce my impulsive […]

Teamsters Local 89 endorses Harris after national union doesn’t make a presidential pick

By: - September 19, 2024

Union workers from Kentucky and Southern Indiana announced Thursday they were endorsing Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.? The announcement from the Teamsters Local 89 Executive Board comes a day after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse a candidate for president. The Teamsters Local 89 executive board said their unanimous decision to endorse Harris […]

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to address West Virginia Democrats later in September

By: - September 18, 2024

Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear will be the keynote speaker at an annual West Virginia Democratic Party dinner later this month.? Beshear, a two-term governor in a red state, will speak at the party’s Roosevelt Kennedy Dinner at the Charleston Civic Center on Sept. 27.? West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin called Beshear “a […]

Kentucky university presidents say they welcome everyone, GOP lawmakers renew criticism of DEI

By: - September 17, 2024

FRANKFORT — Five of Kentucky’s university presidents told state lawmakers that their campuses are focused on inclusivity for all students as an interim committee sought information about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education. The discussion, which lasted a couple of hours, in front of the Interim Joint Committee on Education on Tuesday […]

Kentucky state senator from Harlan injured in lawn mower accident

By: - September 16, 2024

Sen. Johnnie Turner, a Republican from Harlan, has been hospitalized following an accident involving a riding lawn mower Sunday afternoon.? In a statement Monday morning, Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said Turner was “in critical but stable condition” and had been admitted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.? “I’ve been in touch […]

Tradition falls to suspicion as GOP candidates spurn forums hosted by League of Women Voters

By: - September 15, 2024

The League of Women Voters has a history of organizing debates and forums from elections for U.S. president to Kentucky governor to local school boards. But this year Republicans in Kentucky’s largest city are not accepting a local chapter’s invitations to appear on stage with their opponents. Some of the candidates aren’t replying to inquiries […]

Kentucky’s two-year college system latest to reassess diversity policies under political heat

By: - September 13, 2024

Under scrutiny from Republican lawmakers pushing to end diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education, Kentucky’s two-year college system on Friday announced it is launching an internal review.? The goal is “to make sure that our offices and titles correctly reflect our mission of student success for all students,” said Ryan Quarles, president […]