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House joins Senate in putting TikTok ban for Kentucky employees into law
FRANKFORT — With time running out for the 2023 General Assembly to pass bills, House members approved a measure to codify an executive and legislative branch ban on using TikTok. The House voted 96-3 on Senate Bill 20 Wednesday. Those who voted no were Democratic Reps. Cherlynn Stevenson, Lisa Willner and Sarah Stalker.? The bill’s […]
Bill subjecting Kentucky education commissioner to Senate confirmation has cleared both chambers
FRANKFORT — A bill that the head of the Kentucky Board of Education said would reverse decades of progress on education passed the House Tuesday.? Representatives voted 80-20 in favor of? Senate Bill 107, a measure that would make the Kentucky education commissioner subject to confirmation by the Senate. Earlier this session, the Senate approved […]
House committee OKs 2024 vote on school choice constitutional amendment
FRANKFORT — A House committee voted 8-5 Tuesday to forward a bill that would let Kentucky voters decide in 2024 on a constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to provide funding for non-public schools.? Rep. Josh Calloway, R-Irvington, the sponsor of House Bill 174, told the House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs […]
What’s ‘woke?’ Here’s what some Kentucky politicians say
LOUISVILLE — At the end of Kentucky’s first gubernatorial debate on March 7, four Republican candidates were asked a lightning round question — define “woke.” A lot of Americans have wondered about that definition. “Woke” was a contender for Merriam-Webster’s most looked-up word of 2021 when “vaccine” generated the most dictionary searches.? In 2023, Kentucky […]
Bill subjecting state education commissioner to Senate confirmation advances from House committee
FRANKFORT — The chair of the Kentucky Board of Education is criticizing a bill that would subject the state education commissioner to Senate confirmation, saying it would turn back 30 years of progress in education.? Senate Bill 107 would also limit the state’s top school officer to a four-year contract that could be renewed. The […]
Misconduct allegations would follow teachers under bill moving through Kentucky legislature
FRANKFORT — A Senate committee advanced two House education bills that would affect processes for hiring school district employees.? Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, presented House Bill 288 Thursday, which would make it more difficult for teachers found responsible of sexual misconduct to begin working in a different school district. The Senate Education Committee voted 11-0 […]
Senate approves studying feasibility of four-year public university in Southeastern Kentucky
FRANKFORT — Citing higher education’s potential for spurring economic development in the wake of the coal industry’s decline, a resolution calling for a comprehensive review of Kentucky’s higher education system received Senate approval Wednesday.? The vote for Senate Joint Resolution 98 was 35-0. It now goes to the House for consideration.? The resolution, sponsored by […]
Few differences emerge among top Republicans in first debate of Kentucky governor’s race
LOUISVILLE —? Four top Republican governor candidates agreed on school choice and lowering the state income tax, but differed on abortion and legalizing medical marijuana Tuesday night.? The debate at The Henry Clay in Louisville was the first ahead of the May 16 primary election.? Five of the 12 Republicans seeking their party’s nomination for […]
Bill could pave way for online news outlets to publish legally-required public notices
FRANKFORT — Without a daily or weekly printed newspaper of record in Northern Kentucky, local leaders are seeking a way to get public notices out to readers digitally.? The House Local Government Committee on March 3 gave its favor to House Bill 534, which would create qualifications for a digital news publication to be considered […]
KCTCS supports Stivers’ proposed review of Kentucky’s higher education system
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s two-year college system supports Senate President Robert Stivers’ call for? a comprehensive review of higher education, says the system’s acting president. Among the ideas Stivers wants considered: Leave technical education with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, while moving traditional academic subjects from the two-year colleges to regional four-year public universities. […]
CROWN Act stalls in legislature
FRANKFORT — Supporters gathered on the Capitol steps Wednesday to cheer on a bill that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of braids, locks and twist hairstyles in Kentucky. Hours later the Senate passed over the bill for the fourth time.? Senate Bill 63, also known as the CROWN Act, appears to have stalled in […]
Cameron wants increased teacher pay, ‘far-left’ out of classroom
Kentucky Republican candidate for governor Daniel Cameron released his plans for Kentucky’s education system if elected in November. They include raising starting pay for teachers and keeping “far-left” policies at bay.? In a Wednesday press release, his campaign said his framework aims to “keep the far-left from indoctrinating our students” and that the attorney general […]