Briefs

Trump says he’s willing to debate Harris, more than once

BY: - July 23, 2024

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a Tuesday call with reporters committed to a debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, the likely Democratic presidential candidate. “I would be willing to do more than one debate,” Trump said. Harris, who says she is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, won pledges from enough Democratic delegates […]

Coleman will not attend Fancy Farm, conflicts with event supporting cancer survivors

BY: - July 22, 2024

Democratic Lt. Gov. Jaqueline Coleman will not be attending the Fancy Farm Picnic because she will be attending an event to support cancer survivors — a cause she says is personal to her because of a recent medical diagnosis.? The Graves County church picnic has become a Kentucky politics highlight over its decades-long history. Gov. […]

Jacqueline Coleman says she’s ‘ready’ to become governor should Beshear get vice president nod

BY: - July 22, 2024

LOUISVILLE — Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman told reporters Monday that her job is to be ready to lead Kentucky should Gov. Andy Beshear ascend to a higher office.? Beshear is being floated as a possible running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, who is now seeking the Democratic nomination after President Joe Biden ended […]

At request of Beshear, Kentucky Democratic delegates ‘overwhelmingly’ endorse Harris for president

BY: - July 22, 2024

Democratic convention delegates from Kentucky have “overwhelmingly voted” to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee following a request from Gov. Andy Beshear to do so.? The endorsement, announced in a Monday morning press release, follows Beshear’s national TV appearance earlier the same morning in which he personally endorsed Harris […]

DNC panel to meet in public to set ‘transparent, fair’ framework to pick presidential nominee?

BY: - July 22, 2024

WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Committee will move forward with the process to formally nominate a presidential candidate Wednesday when one of its committees meets in public amid ongoing efforts to set up a virtual roll call vote ahead of the convention, States Newsroom has been told. The nomination process has been playing out for […]

Journalist Tom Loftus wins Green Eyeshade award for investigative reporting in Kentucky Lantern

BY: - July 22, 2024

The Society of Professional Journalists has recognized Tom Loftus with a Green Eyeshade Award for his investigative reporting in the Kentucky Lantern. The Green Eyeshades, begun in 1950 and the oldest regional journalism competition, recognize outstanding work by journalists in 11 southeastern states in print, television, radio and digital. Loftus was awarded second place in […]

Kentucky seeing higher rates of whooping cough than in previous years

BY: - July 19, 2024

Kentucky is seeing higher numbers of pertussis (better known as whooping cough) this year than the past few years, though no deaths have been reported by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.? As of June 17, Kentucky had 130 cases, which the cabinet said “indicate that the state is experiencing an elevated rate of […]

Beshear will not attend Aug. 3 Fancy Farm Picnic, annual West Kentucky political tradition

BY: - July 19, 2024

Organizers of the annual church fundraiser held in Graves County said in a Friday afternoon email that the governor had said he is not attending the August event and “no reason was given.”? Fancy Farm organizers added that Republican State Auditor Allison Ball will not attend due to a conflict with a wedding that weekend.? […]

Democratic U.S. senator from New Mexico calls on Biden to drop out

BY: - July 19, 2024

New Mexico’s senior senator is calling on President Joe Biden to “pass the torch” to give Democrats a better chance of defeating former President Donald Trump in November. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich is the third Senate Democrat to publicly call on Biden to step aside as Democrats’ presidential nominee, following Sens. Jon Tester of Montana […]

Seeking ‘healing justice’ for Black women who have substance use disorder

BY: - July 18, 2024

LOUISVILLE — The Volunteers of America chapter that includes Kentucky will spend $123,000 over the next nine months to make sure more Black women get access to treatment for substance use disorder.? Volunteers of America Mid-States is using this grant money, which came from the Kentucky Association of Health Plans, to fund a new initiative […]

Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters Monday that his being mentioned as a possible presidential contender is a positive reflection on Kentucky. The governor had just spoken at a celebration of Kentucky State Parks' 100th anniversary. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

Beshear says federal government should reclassify marijuana to recognize its medical uses

BY: - July 17, 2024

In a Wednesday letter sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he supports reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to Schedule III.? That would move marijuana from a DEA designation that says it has “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse” to having “a moderate […]

In a win for dogs like Ethan, first offense animal torture now a felony in Kentucky

BY: - July 16, 2024

Legislators and advocates who pushed for years to make dog and cat torture a felony on first offense gathered in the Capitol Rotunda Tuesday to celebrate a new Kentucky law that does just that.? House Bill 258, also called Ethan’s Law, allows a person to be charged with a Class D felony the first and […]