Government

Have cello, will pedal: Brainstorming a walkable, bike-friendly Kentucky

BY: - July 12, 2024

Acclaimed cellist and native Kentuckian Ben Sollee said he gained a sense of freedom growing up in Lexington on his bicycle. He would hop on it to ride around the neighborhood, no cell phone and little worries with him, not having to be home until dark.? But as he grew into adulthood and a career […]

Auditor’s office calls Beshear’s ‘hope’ to ‘work through’ database dispute ‘disingenuous’

BY: - July 11, 2024

Gov. Andy Beshear said he hopes his administration and state Auditor Allison Ball’s office “can work through” access issues around a database in a Thursday press conference.? Earlier this week, Ball, a Republican, sent a “demand letter” to Beshear, a Democrat, and Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander over access to the […]

Beshear gives update on how Kentuckians can get assistance for severe weather damage

BY: - July 11, 2024

Gov. Andy Beshear gave updates on how Kentuckians affected by recent severe weather can receive assistance and how damages are being assessed.? In his weekly press conference, Beshear said Louisville Metro Emergency Services is working with local government officials and first responders to assess damage and assist victims of an EF-1 tornado that hit Jefferson […]

GOP plan to reverse final Title IX rule passes U.S. House, but Biden says he’d veto

BY: - July 11, 2024

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Thursday passed?a measure to reverse an Education Department rule seeking to extend federal discrimination protections for LGBTQ students, though President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the legislation should it land on his desk. House passage of the resolution on a party-line vote,?210-205, is part of a barrage of […]

Biden camp works to stem growing Democratic unease over reelection prospects

BY: - July 11, 2024

President Joe Biden faced perhaps the most consequential day yet for his ailing reelection campaign Thursday, with a press conference at the NATO annual meeting scheduled for late afternoon, as private talks among Democrats on Capitol Hill about his fitness for office extended and calls for him to withdraw from the race spread. Biden’s solo […]

U.S. House fails to pass measure to hold attorney general in ‘inherent contempt’

BY: - July 11, 2024

WASHINGTON — In the latest U.S. House Republican attempt to secure audio tapes from the U.S. Justice Department special counsel’s interview with President Joe Biden, the U.S. House on Thursday rejected Florida Republican?Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s resolution to fine Attorney General Merrick Garland for withholding them.? The measure — which was turned down?204-210?— would have?levied […]

Citizen members of JCPS task force announced ahead of first meeting

BY: - July 11, 2024

Five citizens have been selected to join a legislative task force that will examine Jefferson County Public Schools’ governance.? The General Assembly passed House Concurrent Resolution 81 to create the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force during the last legislative session. The task force will review school districts with enrollment above 75,000 students. […]

Kentuckians nearing release from prison or juvenile detention in line for Medicaid coverage

BY: - July 11, 2024

Kentucky is one of five additional states that will soon provide Medicaid health coverage for people nearing release from prison or juvenile detention, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.? “We’ve been eagerly anticipating CMS’s approval of Kentucky’s healthy re-entry demonstration for years now,” said Emily Beauregard, executive director of Kentucky Voices […]

Help biologists monitor, conserve Kentucky’s wild turkey population by reporting sightings online

BY: - July 10, 2024

State fish and wildlife agencies are conducting scientific research to shed more light on the status of turkey populations — and need the public’s help, according to a news release from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The department is encouraging anyone who observes wild turkeys in Kentucky during July or August to […]

Kentucky lawmakers hear how other states are regulating, using artificial intelligence

BY: - July 9, 2024

Kentucky lawmakers on the General Assembly’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force learned Tuesday about how states are using artificial intelligence and possible legal frameworks for the technology. During the task force’s first meeting, lawmakers heard presentations from technology and government experts about the history of artificial intelligence (AI), ways state governments use it and legislation in […]

Kentucky auditor, cabinet clash over access to child abuse database as new law takes effect

BY: - July 9, 2024

FRANKFORT — The legislature last year moved responsibility for a watchdog office and child support enforcement from the Beshear administration to Republican officeholders.? Barely out of the gate, one of the transitions is stumbling over a disagreement about access to a child abuse database.? Republican Auditor of Public Accounts Allison Ball on Tuesday sent what […]

Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients

BY: - July 9, 2024

The federal trade watchdog has released an interim report Tuesday saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen […]