Government
Say, whatever happened to that bill?
FRANKFORT — Kentucky lawmakers filed more than 1,200 bills this session — the most in more than 20 years? — and passed about 215 of them before adjourning Monday, according to a news release from the Legislative Research Commission.? That’s a lot of legislating to keep up with. So we put together a scorecard of […]
Decision in eligibility challenge against Democratic lawmaker could come next week
LOUISVILLE — A Jefferson County Circuit Court judge could make a ruling as early as next week about whether or not a sitting member of the Kentucky House of Representatives can appear on the May primary ballot.? Rep. Nima Kulkarni, a Louisville Democrat who represents the 40th House District, filed earlier this year to seek […]
George Atkins, former Kentucky auditor and Hopkinsville mayor, dies
George L. Atkins Jr., 82, a Hopkinsville native and former mayor, died Sunday, April 14. Atkins was born July 10, 1941, the son of George L. Atkins Sr. and Frances Shaver Atkins. His family owned and ran Atkins Dairy next door to their Walnut Street residence and across the street from the old Hopkinsville High […]
Kentucky’s new anti-vaping law ignites constitutional challenge
Four vape shops, the Kentucky Vaping Retailers Association and the Kentucky Hemp Association have filed suit in Franklin Circuit Court seeking to strike down a new state law outlawing the sale of some of their products.? Greg Troutman, a lawyer for the Kentucky Smoke Free Association, which represents vape retailers, said he’s “hoping that we […]
Kentucky Senate confirms four of Beshear’s five appointees to Fish and Wildlife board
FRANKFORT — The GOP-dominated Kentucky Senate confirmed nearly all of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s appointments to a board governing the state’s wildlife management department following pushback from sportsmen’s groups over the Senate failing to do so in past years. Senators in the final hours of this year’s legislative session Monday confirmed four of the five […]
Kentucky Republicans and Democrats prepare to face off on ‘school choice’ amendment
FRANKFORT — As the dust settled on the General Assembly’s 2024 session, Republican and Democratic lawmakers began gearing up for a fierce fight on a constitutional amendment to allow public dollars to go to private schools. The amendment will be on the ballot this November.? Putting the question to voters had been a GOP priority […]
Open records loopholes die in Kentucky Senate. Attempt to revive anti-DEI bill also fails.
FRANKFORT — A controversial rewriting of the Kentucky Open Records Act died in the Senate as the 2024 regular session ended Monday, but Republican leaders said lawmakers will revisit the issue during the interim before next year’s session. An attempt to revive Republican legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education also failed […]
Kentucky Senate avoids vote on abortion exceptions
FRANKFORT — With about five hours left in the 2024 legislative session, a Louisville Democrat tried to force a Senate vote on a stalled bill that would have added exceptions for rape and incest to Kentucky’s strict abortion ban.? Senate Floor Leader Damon Thayer called the move “a political stunt on the last day of […]
Senate confirms Robbie Fletcher as next Kentucky education commissioner
FRANKFORT —?The Kentucky Senate has confirmed the next commissioner of education after giving him a warm reception in the Senate Education Committee last week.? Robbie Fletcher, who is now the superintendent of Lawrence County Schools in Eastern Kentucky, was confirmed to become Kentucky’s top education official in a vote of 36-1 on Monday. He is […]
Stripped of controversial amendment, ‘Momnibus’ piggybacks on another bill, wins legislature OK
FRANKFORT — The maternal health legislation known as “Momnibus” was approved by the Kentucky legislature after it piggybacked onto another bill on the final day of the 2024 legislative session.?? ‘Momnibus’ bill to help Kentucky maternal health introduced in House Senate Bill 74 became the vehicle for the maternal health bill. It passed the Senate […]
Trump on trial: Former president faces criminal charges of falsifying business records
NEW YORK — The trial of former President Donald Trump kicked off Monday in a lower Manhattan courtroom, marking the first time in U.S. history that an ex-president has been tried on criminal charges. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, appeared in the state of New York courtroom, where he is charged with falsifying […]
April 22 deadline to register to vote in Kentucky primary election
To vote in Kentucky’s primary election next month you must be registered by 4 p.m. Monday, April 22. In the May 21 primary, Kentuckians will be nominating candidates for U.S. Congress, state legislature and many local offices, as well as casting ballots in primaries for U.S. president. You can register online by clicking here. Read […]