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UofL Health opens $78 million hospital in Bullitt County
LOUISVILLE — UofL Health has opened a new hospital in Bullitt County that it says will help improve access to health care in Kentucky, which suffers from a shortage of medical providers.?? UofL Health’s $78 million South Hospital, which is located off Interstate 65 at Brooks exit 121 has 40 inpatient beds and room for […]
Child labor, food assistance bills stall in Kentucky Senate committee but could get another chance
FRANKFORT — A Senate committee on Thursday blocked House bills that would loosen state restrictions on child labor and tighten eligibility for food assistance, but the measures are not necessarily dead. The committee could consider both bills again at a specially-called meeting Friday, said Sen. Max Wise, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Economic […]
Bill making animal torture a felony on first offense advances
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill Thursday that would make it a Class D felony to torture a dog or cat on the first offense? Doing so is already a felony on subsequent offenses, according to the sponsor, Rep. Susan Witten, R-Louisville.? She spoke alongside Kentucky Humane Society celebrity rescue Ethan, […]
Bill qualifying more foster parents for child care benefits advances
FRANKFORT — A Louisville Democrat’s bill aimed at getting more foster care parents in Kentucky passed a House committee, placing it two steps from law.? Senate Bill 240 would allow foster parents in Kentucky to qualify for child care benefits while working outside the home or working remotely in the home. Currently they must work […]
Kentucky Senate budget short of what child care advocates say is needed
FRANKFORT — Child care advocates applauded elements of the Kentucky Senate’s budget, unveiled Wednesday, but said lawmakers have not gone far enough to save the struggling industry.? The proposed child care spending is a “monumental investment,” said Sarah Vanover, a policy and research director for Kentucky Youth Advocates.? “We appreciate the fact that this is […]
Kentucky Senate includes UofL Health request for $25 million cancer center in budget proposal?
FRANKFORT — In its newly-released budget proposals, the Kentucky Senate has included a $25 million allocation to UofL Health after the Louisville system asked for help in building a rural cancer center in Bullitt County.? Sen. Chris McDaniel presented the Senate’s edits to the House budget Wednesday in the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, which he […]
Kentucky pharmacists could continue vaccinating children under bill advancing from committee
FRANKFORT — A House bill aimed at addressing what the sponsor says is a “public health crisis” when it comes to routine, childhood vaccines, passed a Senate committee Wednesday 9-2.? House Bill 274 would allow Kentucky pharmacies to continue administering vaccines to children ages 5-17 with parental or guardian consent, continuing a COVID-19-era federal permission […]
Bill to get home blood test kits covered by Medicaid clears Senate committee
FRANKFORT — A House bill that would require Kentucky Medicaid to cover at-home blood test kits has passed a Senate committee and faces two more hurdles before becoming law.? House Bill 31 would make life easier for Medicaid patients who take blood thinners for their mechanical heart valves, the Lantern previously reported. Some patients need […]
Louisville launching five-year plan for universal preschool
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s largest city took steps Tuesday to implement universal, free and optional preschool for its 3- and 4-year-old citizens.? Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg announced that a new nonprofit called Thrive by 5 Louisville will work over the next five years with both public and private dollars to get children in the city better […]
Kentucky Republican pitches $165 million to improve care, safety of juveniles in state detention
FRANKFORT — Kentucky would spend $22 million to build a special mental health juvenile detention facility as well as create a process to test and treat such children under a sweeping bill being discussed in the legislature.? Sen. Danny Carroll, a West Kentucky Republican, filed Senate Bill 242 as a shell bill on the last […]
House bill encouraging local governments to meet child care challenges moves to full Senate
FRANKFORT — A Kentucky House bill that encourages local governments to examine available zoning for child care centers received unanimous approval by a Senate committee Tuesday.? House Bill 561 cleared the House in late February. Now that it cleared the Senate Families and Children Committee 9-0, it can go to the Senate floor.? “A lot […]
Senate approves making it easier for foster parents to qualify for child care assistance
FRANKFORT — A Democrat’s bill aimed at making it easier for Kentuckians to become foster parents unanimously passed the Senate Thursday — after some friendly hazing aimed at the sponsor upon passing her first bill.? Senate Bill 240 would allow foster parents in Kentucky to qualify for? child care benefits while working outside the home […]