Briefs
McConnell says he’s ‘fine’ after freezing up during GOP press conference
U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he’s “fine” after stopping mid-sentence during a Wednesday press conference and being escorted away from the lectern by colleagues.? A McConnell aide later said Kentucky’s Republican senator became lightheaded before stepping away.? C-Span video shows McConnell trailed off while delivering opening remarks to journalists and then stood silent […]
AppHarvest files for bankruptcy, will seek to transfer Berea operations to business partner
Kentucky-based agricultural technology company AppHarvest filed for bankruptcy amid doubts about the business’ future.?? The company, which has built some of the world’s largest indoor farms, announced plans Monday morning for “a financial and operational transition” that includes filing for bankruptcy. Recent media reports have highlighted turmoil associated with the company, such as a lease […]
Navy Seaman 1st Class Elmer P. Lawrence comes home from Pearl Harbor
For decades, Elmer P. Lawrence was unaccounted for after dying at Pearl Harbor. Now, he’ll be buried this weekend 13 minutes from his hometown.? The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which works to identify soldiers lost, announced in June that its scientists had identified Lawrence in 2021 and would send him home for burial.? Navy Seaman […]
Kentucky Medicaid gets OK to provide mobile behavioral health care
Kentucky will join five other states in providing mobile Medicaid crisis intervention teams later this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Thursday.? CMS approved Kentucky’s proposals for these services alongside California.? Mobile teams allow behavioral health professionals to de-escalate people in need in the field as well as perform on-the-ground assessments and […]
More than 11,000 Kentuckians eligible for student debt relief
More than 11,000 student loan borrowers in Kentucky are eligible for automatic relief from almost a half-billion in debt under a plan announced last week by the Biden administration.? A news release from the U.S. Department of Education says the debt discharges are part of a “commitment to address historical failures in the administration” of […]
Kentucky’s annual crime report shows drop in serious offenses
Incidents of violent crime decreased across Kentucky in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to an annual state report released Wednesday.? The 2022 Crime in Kentucky Report showed about a 9.2% drop in the number of reported Group A offenses — which include the state’s most serious offenses including arson, homicide, bribery, burglary, and […]
Heavy rainfall inundates West Kentucky, spurring flood ’emergencies’ and water rescues
Several counties in West Kentucky are under flash flood emergencies after at least four to eight inches of rain — some areas seeing higher amounts — have fallen in the region in the past 24 hours.? The National Weather Service in Paducah said Wednesday morning water rescues were taking place in some areas due to […]
ACLU asks appeals court to let trans minors get gender-affirming care
Citing potential “irreparable harm” to the transgender minors it represents, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky has asked the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to allow them to access gender-affirming care once again.? The request for?emergency relief came days after a federal judge stayed a temporary block on part of a new law. […]
Legislative task force starts review of Kentucky school safety laws
FRANKFORT — Kentucky lawmakers on Tuesday launched a review of recent laws aimed at making schools safer as a special Task Force on School and Campus Security met for the first time.? In response to a 2018 school shooting at Marshall County High School, in which two students were killed and more than a dozen […]
Coleman formally joins Beshear ticket while Cameron sets running mate announcement for Wednesday
FRANKFORT — Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman formally filed to join Gov. Andy Beshear on his reelection ticket Tuesday morning.? Republican gubernatorial nominee Daniel Cameron, Kentucky’s attorney general, is set to announce his choice for lieutenant governor in a Wednesday morning news conference.? This year, for the first time, lieutenant governor candidates must file separately […]
Kentucky awards more than $1 million in matching grants to nine tech companies
Kentucky has awarded almost $1.1 million in grants to nine tech businesses. The state funding will match, in part, $7.45 million in federal grants the businesses will collectively receive, according to a release from Gov. Andy Beshear’s office. The funding comes through Kentucky’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Matching […]
Legislative hearing on Medicaid dental expansion canceled
A public hearing on Gov. Andy Beshear’s plan to have Medicaid cover more dental, vision and hearing services for adults scheduled Friday, July 14, has been canceled. The hearing by the Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee was to have been held at 1 p.m. in Frankfort for comments on Beshear’s plan that expands Medicaid to pay […]