Government
With GOP opposed, U.S. Senate panel advances bills to combat AI in elections
Members of the U.S. Senate are sounding the alarm about the threat that artificial intelligence poses to elections through its ability to deceive voters. But the prospects for legislation that can meaningfully address the problem appear uncertain. In a Wednesday hearing, the Senate Rules Committee advanced three bills designed to counter the AI threat. But […]
Hazard, some other Kentucky towns may enact restaurant tax, judge rules
A Franklin Circuit judge has given a legal victory to Hazard and several other Kentucky cities interested in imposing a restaurant tax. The tax, created by the legislature in 1980, is levied in about 50 of Kentucky’s 418 cities on retail sales of food and beverages in all restaurants in the city. The tax rate […]
Louisville Democratic Rep. Nima Kulkarni ruled off ballot by Court of Appeals
LOUISVILLE — A sitting Democratic state representative has been disqualified as a primary candidate after the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversed a recent Jefferson County Circuit Court decision.? Rep. Nima Kulkarni, who filed to run for a fourth term in the 40th House District, is not a bona fide candidate, according to the panel of […]
New federal rule will overhaul transmission planning as electric grid strains
A divided Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday issued a long-awaited overhaul of how regional electric transmission lines are planned and paid for, a move cheered by clean power groups but blasted by a conservative commissioner who said it was driven by “special interests” and exceeds the commission’s authority. The commission’s final rule on transmission […]
Kentucky American Water rates going up, but not by as much as company sought
FRANKFORT — Kentucky American Water customers are due a refund after the state utility regulator rejected part of a rate increase the company began charging in February and chastised it for not doing more to stem water loss from its system. Kentucky American Water, serving more than 138,000 customers in Lexington and more than a […]
Louisville judge hears arguments in Jewish women’s challenge of Kentucky’s abortion ban
LOUISVILLE — Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Brian Edwards heard oral arguments Monday in the case of? three Jewish women who argue their religious freedom is violated by Kentucky’s abortion ban.? Much of the arguments focused on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the extent to which it overlaps with the state’s abortion ban. Several lawmakers […]
Retailer Warby Parker penalized for letting Kentuckians take online vision test
Warby Parker, an online retailer of prescription glasses, contact lenses and sunglasses, has agreed to pay at least $55,200 to Kentucky for allowing 69 Kentuckians to take its online vision test, contrary to state law, Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office said in a news release Friday. Coleman’s office alleged that from July to October 2021, […]
Kentucky voters have some choices to make in legislative contests
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians going to the polls for the May 21 primary have choices to make about who will represent them in Frankfort, even if there’s no suspense about who the nominees for U.S. president will be. GOP control of the legislature is not at risk this year; Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers. But […]
USDA rubber-stamped Tyson’s ‘climate friendly’ beef, but no one has seen the data
This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. It is republished with permission. Sign up for their newsletter here.? About five miles south of Broken Bow, in the heart of central Nebraska, thousands of cattle stand in feedlots at Adams Land & Cattle […]
10 homes dedicated in Mayfield for tornado survivors
Ten families who survived the 2021 tornadoes in Mayfield received keys to new homes on Friday thanks to $1 million from the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, Gov. Andy Beshear’s office announced.? The Hope Initiative, a coalition of local pastors and businesses, partnered to build these homes and others — a total of 42 […]
Kentucky’s Coleman joins other GOP attorneys general in challenging Biden power plant rules
Kentucky’s chief law enforcement officer has joined Republican attorneys general from 24 other states in challenging new federal rules aimed at curbing water pollution and nearly all greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired power plants and newly constructed gas-fired power plants. A news release from Kentucky Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman on Thursday said the […]
Unopposed, Stivers dips into stuffed war chest to boost Republicans, entertain supporters
FRANKFORT — Since no one challenged him for reelection this year, Senate President Robert Stivers has used his overstuffed campaign fund as a sort of personal political action committee that makes political contributions of its own and has paid other expenses including nearly $10,000 for a dinner party to thank his donors and supporters at […]