Government
Kentucky issues first statewide report of domestic violence data
If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.? You can also contact any of Kentucky’s 15 domestic violence programs.? Almost half of Kentucky women — 45% — and around 36% of men in the state say […]
More than half of Kentucky’s counties now have harm reduction programs for IV drug users
Kentucky has added two new syringe-service programs for intravenous drug users this year, bringing the total to 84 SSPs, in 65 of the state’s 120 counties. Hart County opened its program in January and Estill County reopened its program in April. SSPs are part of what health departments call “harm reduction”? — programs that offer […]
Donated site in Letcher County to house survivors of Eastern Kentucky floods
Local, state and federal groups are working together to secure housing for flood survivors in Letcher County.? The fiscal court of the Eastern Kentucky county previously voted to transfer about four acres of property to develop a small housing site near Whitesburg. The land has space for 10 housing units.? According to a recent news […]
Microvast confirms it won’t develop battery technology plant in Hopkinsville
Microvast Holdings Inc.?has announced it won’t proceed with plans for a battery technology plant in Hopkinsville — a project that would have brought a $504 million investment and more than 500 jobs to Commerce Park II. A press release issued Friday from the Texas-based company says the project is off “at least for now.” The […]
Judge limits Biden administration contact with social media platforms in censorship case
A federal judge on Tuesday prohibited Biden administration officials from communicating with social media platforms about “protected speech,” a ruling emerging from litigation originally filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. The ruling, by Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, granted a temporary injunction barring […]
Indiana Supreme Court upholds abortion ban, but leaves door open for other legal challenges
Indiana’s near-total abortion ban, which prohibits the procedure with only narrow exceptions, will go back into effect after the Indiana Supreme Court upheld the law last week. But justices left open the possibility for other challenges in the future. Plaintiffs have 30 days to seek a rehearing before the decision is certified, meaning the ban […]
Methane from underground coal mines upends rural West Virginians’ lives, livelihoods
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. THORNTON, WEST VIRGINIA.—Month-old kittens scamper around, tumbling into one another on the grass. A black-and-white border collie, Maggie, nestles against the side of a […]
States, cities turn to community organizations to battle wage theft?
About five years ago, most of Minneapolis’ Subway, Little Caesars and McDonald’s franchise restaurants did not comply with city wage standards. Now workers at each of the locations that violated the law receive the required minimum wage and time off when they’re sick. This is all thanks to a co-enforcement program, where the city’s labor […]
State regulator threatens Kentucky Power with fines for 2022 winter storm performance
Kentucky’s utility regulator is asking Kentucky Power why it shouldn’t face fines for failing to prepare for a power supply shortfall ahead of the December 2022 winter storm. The Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) in a June 23 order alleged Kentucky Power had violated a state law that requires utilities to “furnish adequate, efficient and […]
Kentucky loses more than 100 veterans to suicide each year. Lawmakers hear a plea for help.
This story deals with suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Organizations advocating for resources to prevent veteran suicide in Kentucky recently made their case to the legislature’s Interim Joint Committee on Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection. “We owe […]
US Supreme Court rules against Biden administration student loan debt relief plan
Editor’s note: This story was updated Friday afternoon. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the Biden administration does not have the legal authority to enact a one-time student debt relief program, dealing a blow to the 40 million Americans who would have qualified. Last year, the Biden Administration rolled out a […]
New Kentucky laws take effect: Health, education, sports wagering and more
Many of the laws passed by the General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session will go into effect Thursday, but not all of them.? For a bill to become a law in Kentucky, both the state Senate and House of Representatives must give a majority vote in favor of the bill. The governor may sign […]