Briefs
Citing a Bevin commutation, Republican lawmaker wants to limit Kentucky governor’s pardon powers
FRANKFORT — A Kentucky Republican lawmaker wants to limit pardoning and sentence commuting powers for Kentucky governors after learning a convicted murderer and rapist is now up for parole after outgoing Republican Gov. Matt Bevin commuted his death sentence.?? Sen. Chris McDaniel, of Ryland Heights, is proposing a constitutional amendment that would suspend the governor’s […]
Bill criminalizing child sex dolls, deep fake child porn advances in Kentucky legislature?
FRANKFORT — Knowingly owning or selling? child sex dolls would become a felony in Kentucky under a Republican bill that unanimously passed a House committee Wednesday.? The bill also criminalizes the use of artificial intelligence to create child pornography or to create fake images that use real children as the source, said the sponsor, Rep. […]
Senate OKs expanding KEES eligibility to homeschool students, including those who take alternative entrance exam
FRANKFORT — Kentucky senators approved a bill that would make homeschool students eligible for a state-funded scholarship, but some raised concerns over the inclusion of a Christian-backed alternative college entrance exam as an equivalent test.? The Senate passed Senate Bill 7 with a vote of 33-4 on Tuesday. The GOP legislation would make students from […]
EKU plans to study feasibility of training osteopathic physicians
Eastern Kentucky University is seeking vendors to study the feasibility of opening a public college of osteopathic medicine. The private University of Pikeville has been training osteopathic physicians at its Kentucky College of Osteopathy since 1997. In a release, EKU President David McFaddin said: “It is our commitment to our students and the Commonwealth to […]
‘Moment of silence’ would be mandatory in Kentucky public schools under bill moved by House committee
Kentucky public schools would be required to begin each day with a moment of silence or reflection under a bill that was advanced Tuesday by the House Education Committee. Rep. Tina Bojanowski, a Louisville Democrat and public school teacher, opposed House Bill 96, saying it “reads as a bill that requires prayer during the school […]
New online help available to Kentuckians handling legal affairs without an attorney
Kentuckians handling legal affairs without an attorney have a new online resource. A Legal Self-Help Portal has been added to the Kentucky court system’s website. An interactive program helps users complete forms for common legal situations including uncontested divorce, probate, child support, small claims, name change, expungement and more, says a news release from the […]
Kentucky to get a new nursing school
FRANKFORT — The Tennessee-based Lincoln Memorial University is launching a School of Nursing site in partnership with CHI Saint Joseph Health in Lexington later in 2024, it announced Wednesday.? Students will be able to enroll for the fall 2024 semester at the new Caylor School of Nursing campus, LMU said in a statement. The school, […]
CPE ‘not aware’ of bill that would dissolve it before the legislation was filed
FRANKFORT — The group that oversees the state’s public universities and community colleges were unaware a Northern Kentucky Republican planned to file a bill that would dissolve the council.?? Officials with the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) officials said in a statement to the Kentucky Lantern they were reviewing the legislation Wednesday morning. Rep. Steven […]
House Republicans unveil two-year state budget with over $1.7 billion in one-time spending
Republican leadership in the Kentucky House of Representatives filed bills representing a much anticipated two-year state budget Tuesday with over $1.7 billion in one-time expenditures, legislation that lawmakers in the GOP-controlled legislature will discuss and craft over the coming weeks.? House Bill 1, filed by House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair Jason Petrie, R-Elkton, lays […]
Kentucky children dead from flu, COVID-19
A Kentucky child has died from COVID-19 and another from flu, the first deaths of minors for each illness this season, the Kentucky Department of Public Health announced Thursday.? Both children were unvaccinated against their respective viruses, according to the department. It’s unclear how old they were or where in the state they were located.? […]
Eastern Kentucky city restoring water service amid ongoing water shortage
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says all customers of an Eastern Kentucky city’s water system should have water service restored as of Thursday as the city has faced an ongoing water shortage spurred by drought.? Beshear in a Thursday press conference said some customers in higher elevations of Fleming-Neon’s water utility in Letcher County could still […]
Open enrollment for federally subsidized health insurance ends Jan. 16. Kentucky enrollment already ahead of last year’s.
Kentuckians can still shop for and enroll in federally subsidized health insurance coverage on the state-based marketplace, Kynect, though Jan. 16 for coverage starting Feb. 1. That will be the end of open enrollment for 2024. To sign up, Kentuckians can visit?kynect.ky.gov?or call 855-459-6328. They can also get help at a local Department for Community-Based […]