Government
Health care giant sues to stop antitrust probe of pharmacy drug middlemen
The owner of one of the three largest pharmacy middlemen in the United States last week filed suit to quash an attempt by the Federal Trade Commission to investigate industry practices. However, the suit relies on research that the health conglomerate helped pay for and was conducted by an economist who’s become wealthy arguing in […]
Kentucky’s chief medical examiner confirms body is suspect in Interstate 75 shootings
Kentucky’s chief medical examiner and state crime lab staff have confirmed through a DNA analysis the body found near the site of the Interstate 75 shootings in Laurel County is the shooting suspect Joseph Couch.? Chief Medical Examiner Bill Ralston in a Friday statement said DNA testing of the body’s soft tissue was inconclusive because […]
Overdose alert in Lexington
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has issued an overdose alert for Lexington. The health department reports a spike in suspected nonfatal drug overdoses with 24 reported in four days, Sept 17-20, according to information from the Overdose Detection Mapping Application System (ODMAP). “This is an important time to carry naloxone, used to reverse opioid overdoses, […]
Planned battery recycling plant in Western Kentucky receives $125 million federal boost
The company behind a planned battery recycling plant in Western Kentucky is receiving another $125 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as a part of a broader federal effort to boost battery production and recycling for electric vehicles (EVs) and the electric grid.? Massachusetts-based Ascend Elements is receiving the federal award […]
Kulkarni’s path to November ballot is cleared again by Court of Appeals
A three-judge Kentucky Court of Appeals panel denied a motion that sought to disqualify Louisville Rep. Nima Kulkarni from seeking election this fall.? Kulkarni’s primary challenger, William Zeitz, and previous opponent, former Rep. Dennis Horlander, appealed a ruling out of Franklin County Circuit Court last week that allowed a vacancy in the 40th House District […]
Grossberg says he’s seeking treatment for ‘impulsive behavior’ after Beshear calls on him to resign
Prominent Kentucky Democrats, including Gov. Andy Beshear and House Democratic Caucus members, are calling for the resignation of Louisville Democratic Rep. Daniel Grossberg following new allegations of inappropriate behavior toward women. The caucus also voted to permanently expel Grossberg.?? Grossberg issued a statement late Friday afternoon saying he was seeking treatment “to reduce my impulsive […]
Eight Kentucky community health centers to expand mental health care with federal money
Eight community health centers in Kentucky have received nearly $5 million in federal funds to launch and expand mental health and substance use disorder treatments across the state.? The $4.7 million in grant money comes from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), housed within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).? Centers […]
Addiction care provider sues managed care company for cutting Medicaid payments
An Eastern Kentucky provider of addiction services has filed a lawsuit challenging cuts in Medicaid payments that it says threaten its business. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Jefferson Circuit Court by Frontier Behavioral Health Center, is against Wellcare of Kentucky Inc. — one of six private insurance companies that handle most of the state’s Medicaid […]
Eastern Kentucky sheriff charged with murder in shooting death of judge at courthouse in Whitesburg
A sheriff in Eastern Kentucky has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting a district court judge Thursday at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg.? Kentucky State Police said District Judge Kevin Mullins, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds. Letcher County Sheriff Shawn M. “Mickey” Stines, 43, was charged with […]
2 generations split by incarceration say sentencing should consider those left behind
When Jayden Spence was 5 years old, he watched police take his mother, Amanda Hall, away in handcuffs.? The experience “terrified” him, he told Kentucky lawmakers. It also left him a lingering “mistrust” of the justice system.? Spence and Hall lent their stories to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary Thursday and asked members to […]
Judge inks ceasefire in state government battle over new ombudsman’s access to information
Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services must give the office of the ombudsman read-only access to a computer system, iTWIST, that stores information about abuse and neglect cases, according to an agreement approved by Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd. The access must be granted by the end of day Thursday, Sept. 19, Shepherd said […]
Beshear signs order banning conversion therapy on Kentucky minors
This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.? Calling it a “dangerous practice,” Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order Wednesday that bans conversion therapy on minors in Kentucky.? Speaking in Frankfort, Beshear said such attempts to alter a […]