Briefs
Bill helping ‘kinship care’ families wins unanimous Senate support
FRANKFORT — A bill aimed at giving more financial help to “kinship care” Kentuckians who are raising a minor relative — such as a grandchild or niece — passed unanimously out of the Senate on Thursday.? Senate Bill 151 would allow kinship caregivers to change their placement status from temporary custody to a child-specific foster […]
‘Momnibus’ maternal health bill moves forward in Kentucky legislature?
FRANKFORT — The maternal health bill dubbed “Momnibus” passed out of the House Committee on Health Services Thursday and can move to the floor for a full vote.? Momnibus — or House Bill 10 — came out of a bipartisan summer working group of female lawmakers who looked into Kentucky’s dismal maternal mortality and how […]
Toyota boosts investment in Georgetown EV plant to $1.3 billion
Toyota announced an additional expansion to its manufacturing plant in Georgetown, bringing planned new investment in the Kentucky facility to $1.3 billion, as the Japanese automaker steps up production of electric SUVs for U.S. customers. The automaker announced last year it was putting $591 million into the Scott County plant’s conversion and retaining 9,000 employees […]
Kentucky Senate joins House in urging Beshear to back Texas governor at the border
FRANKFORT — Joining its House colleagues, the Kentucky Senate approved Tuesday its own resolution urging Gov. Andy Beshear to support Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s immigration crackdown at the Mexican border.? Several Republicans spoke in favor of Resolution 123 before it was adopted by a voice vote. Democrats and GOP Sen. Whitney Westerfield, of Fruit Hill, […]
House approves bill to improve tracking of data on sudden deaths related to epilepsy
Kentucky data could aid research into deaths related to epilepsy under bill headed for House FRANKFORT — A bill that could help Kentucky gather better data on sudden unexpected death of someone with epilepsy — called SUDEP — passed 95-0 out of the House on Tuesday.? House Bill 166 would require that autopsies determine, at […]
Kentucky House advances two preventive, diagnostic health bills?
The Kentucky House unanimously passed two health bills on Monday that are aimed at making childhood vaccines more accessible and detecting cancer early.? House Bill 115 would get rid of insurance copays and cost sharing for diagnostic cancer screenings like mammograms. It passed 93-0 with no debate.? Sponsor and former nurse Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, […]
People who were in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport Jan. 27-29 could have measles exposure
Kentuckians who traveled through Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport between Jan. 27 and Jan. 29 may have been exposed to measles, the state’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services said Monday.? Kentucky has had no confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease this year. But an Ohio resident with a confirmed case traveled through the Cincinnati/Northern […]
Knowingly owning child sex dolls one step closer to being a felony in Kentucky
In a move that Edgewood Republican Rep. Stephanie Dietz said will help “protect our children from predators and exploitation,” the Kentucky House on Monday passed her bill to ban child sex dolls. House Bill 207 would make it a Class D felony to knowingly own or sell a child sex doll — defined as a […]
Beshear appoints former justice cabinet secretary to cosmetology board
After retiring from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, former Secretary Kerry Harvey will serve on the Kentucky Board of Cosmetology.? Gov. Andy Beshear appointed Harvey to fill an expired term left by Margaret Meredith. Harvey, of Lexington, will represent citizens at-large. Harvey’s appointment was announced in a list of appointments from the governor’s office […]
Lexington seeking public artwork to commemorate its 250th birthday next year
In honor of the 250th anniversary of its founding next year, Lexington is seeking proposals for an outdoor work of art to be placed in the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza. “Lexington has a long history with the arts, and a new work of art in the heart of downtown for our city’s 250th anniversary […]
Kentucky data could aid research into deaths related to epilepsy under bill headed for House
FRANKFORT —? Angie Nieters lost her 14-year-old daughter, Jami Smith, in September 2019 quite suddenly.? Jami, who had epilepsy with generalized tonic clonic seizures, lay down to take a nap after school, Nieters told members of the House Committee on Health Services Thursday.? “After 45 minutes, we went in there to check on her and […]
Kentucky pharmacies could continue vaccinating children under bill headed to full House
FRANKFORT — A House bill that would allow Kentucky pharmacies to continue administering vaccines to children ages 5-17 with parental or guardian consent passed unanimously out of a committee Thursday.? House Bill 274 is “not a mandate” to get vaccinated at a pharmacy, sponsor and pharmacist Rep. Danny Bentley, R-Russell, told members of the House […]