Briefs
Bill limiting Kentucky governor’s pardon power near elections wins bipartisan approval in Senate
FRANKFORT —?With bipartisan support, the Kentucky Senate took another step toward limiting pardon and sentence commutation powers of the governor.? Republican-backed Senate Bill 126 proposes a constitutional amendment to suspend the governor’s power to issue pardons or sentence commutations from 30 days before a gubernatorial election until the fifth Tuesday after the election, the day […]
$300 million to help rebuild from flood is closer to reaching Eastern Kentucky with plan’s approval
Almost $300 million in federal aid is a step closer to reaching Eastern Kentucky to help rebuild from devastating floods, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has approved Kentucky’s 2022 Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CBDG-DR) action plan, McConnell announced. The ?plan determines how $297,994,000 […]
UAW, Ford reach agreement in Louisville averting possible strike
The United Auto Workers and Ford have reached a tentative local agreement in Louisville, the UAW announced Wednesday. “After months of negotiations over local issues, UAW Local 862 has reached a tentative local agreement with Ford Motor Co., averting a potential strike this week” at the Kentucky Truck Plant, the union said in a release. […]
Senate passes another bill critics say would override Lexington’s new tenant protections
FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate approved a House bill Tuesday that critics say would override protections for tenants against discrimination based on their source of income in Kentucky’s two largest cities. The Senate approved a similar bill of its own last month, and the debate Tuesday on House Bill 18, sponsored by Rep. Ryan Dotson, […]
University of Kentucky president says he opposes anti-diversity legislation moving in General Assembly
University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto is publicly opposing proposed restrictions on higher education that are pending in the General Assembly, including a Senate-approved bill aimed at curbing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). “As the University of Kentucky’s president, let me be clear: I am opposed to the legislation regarding both DEI and tenure,” Capilouto […]
Kentucky Senate advances bill that would require Medicaid to cover some midwife services
FRANKFORT — Kentucky Medicaid would begin covering licensed certified professional midwife (LCPM) services under a bill approved Thursday by the state Senate. Senate Bill 89 passed 34-3 after little discussion.? Primary sponsor Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, said the legislation is a chance to “innovate” in Kentucky.? Under her bill, she said, a Medicaid-insured patient […]
House approves easing educational requirements for substitute teachers in Kentucky
FRANKFORT — A proposal to lower the educational requirements to be a substitute teacher in Kentucky easily cleared the House Wednesday. Before voting in favor of House Bill 387, Democratic Rep. Sarah Stalker of Louisville warned that the need for the bill is a symptom of a larger problem: the state’s shortage of teachers and […]
House plan would create ‘a hole’ in Kentucky Medicaid budget, Senate committee told
FRANKFORT — The state Senate began its review of the House two-year budget proposal Wednesday, starting with Medicaid, a $15 billion a year program that provides health coverage and other services to about 1.5 million low income, disabled or other Kentuckians. The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee heard from Eric Friedlander, secretary of the Cabinet […]
Bill to limit governor pardons, commutations around elections passes Senate committee?
FRANKFORT —?A bill that would limit Kentucky governors’ power to issue pardons or commute sentences was approved by the Senate State and Local Government Committee Wednesday.? Senate Bill 126 proposes a constitutional amendment to suspend the governor’s power to issue pardons or sentence commutations from 30 days before a gubernatorial election until the fifth Tuesday […]
Poll finds majority of Kentucky voters think DEI should be left up to businesses, institutions
A majority of Kentucky voters believe businesses and institutions should make their own decisions regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs without politicians’ input, a new poll found.? According to results released Tuesday by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, a poll of 625 registered Kentucky voters found 71% believe businesses and institutions should be […]
Bill would save Kentucky consumers money, help independent pharmacies survive, says sponsor
Four years after leading the effort to cut corporate middlemen out of the prescription drug business for Kentucky’s Medicaid program, Sen. Max Wise now is taking aim at those same companies’ role in private health insurance. Noting his Senate Bill 50, enacted in 2020, resulted in millions of dollars in savings to Kentucky Medicaid, Wise, […]
Stivers wants to further explore a four-year university in Hazard, endow collaborative research
Senate President Robert Stivers wants another study on how to expand higher education opportunities in Southeastern Kentucky.? This time, the Manchester Republican is sponsoring Senate Joint Resolution 132 calling on the Council on Postsecondary Education to study turning the Hazard Community and Technical College into a four-year residential university.? Study: Building a new public university […]