Government
Judge asks Supreme Court to weigh in on Kentucky’s new right to ‘random’ change of venue
A Kentucky judge has asked the state’s highest court to weigh in on the constitutionality of a new law that entitles lawsuit participants, in cases challenging state laws and decisions, to have the case moved to another circuit court chosen at random.? In a 12-page order Monday, Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd said Senate […]
Kentucky one of four states passing up federal money to plan for climate change
Kentucky’s state government will be unable to compete for $4.6 billion from the federal government to reduce heat-trapping greenhouse gasses because it is one of only four states that did not apply for up to $3 million to create a climate action plan through a new grant program.? A spokesperson for Kentucky’s environmental agency said […]
Black Legislative Caucus calls on Kentucky Republicans to tackle ‘epidemic of gun violence’
Members of Kentucky’s Black Legislative Caucus on Monday implored their colleagues in the General Assembly to address what Rep. George Brown called “an epidemic of gun violence.”? On the heels of mass shootings in Louisville and Nashville, caucus chair Brown, D-Lexington, said, “We call on our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to […]
Beshear releases tax returns
Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday released his federal and state income tax returns, showing he and wife Britainy had $194,094 in gross income in 2023. Of that amount, $150,835 came from his salary as governor. The rest was mainly from dividends and interest. A news release from the governor’s office said: “For the seventh consecutive […]
Some surprising new players in Kentucky politics are filling Beshear’s campaign war chest
FRANKFORT – The largest batch of contributions fueling the reelection ambition of Gov. Andy Beshear does not come from a personal injury law firm, a highway contractor or other traditional sources of money given to an incumbent Democratic governor of Kentucky. It comes from newcomers to the world of political giving and from a traditionally […]
Long COVID is hurting business; workplace accommodations could help
Three years after the start of the pandemic, millions of working age people still suffer from long COVID-19 and some lawmakers and advocates, including people with long COVID, say not enough is being done to protect their well-being and ensure they can continue to be employed. Proposed federal legislation, better workplace accommodations, and more federal […]
Top contributors to Beshear and Kentucky Democratic Party
This article has been updated with information from the most recent campaign finance reports filed last week. ?FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Democratic Party held a big early fundraising lead over Republicans at the outset of this year when Beshear stands for reelection. Beshear’s campaign manager Eric Hyers said that, because […]
Calls for action on gun violence meet silence from Kentucky’s Republican legislative leaders
As Louisville’s mayor and Democratic legislators have pleaded for gun reforms, Republican leaders in the GOP-dominated Kentucky legislature have remained silent on what, if any, actions addressing gun violence they’ll consider following a mass shooting Monday at a downtown Louisville bank. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg has been forceful in his calls to action, pointing to […]
‘Spin the wheel of fortune’: Kentucky judge asked to block ‘random’ change of venue law
FRANKFORT — A Kentucky judge is considering whether to follow along or block a new state law that allows the attorney general and lawsuit participants, in cases challenging state laws and decisions, to move a case to a random circuit court across the state. Pace-O-Matic and other plaintiffs representing manufacturers and operators of what they […]
Louisville mayor calls on legislature to free city to deal with gun violence
LOUISVILLE — Louisville’s mayor and congressman and a physician treating victims of a mass shooting pleaded Tuesday for action on gun violence. The day after a gunman killed five people in a downtown bank, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called on state lawmakers to let the city make its own policy choices about reducing gun violence.? […]
Kentucky’s new ‘random’ change of venue law challenged by game-machines industry
FRANKFORT — Plaintiffs challenging a new Kentucky law banning video game machines that pay cash prizes are asking a judge to halt another new Kentucky law that could send their lawsuit to a random circuit court across the state. Pace-O-Matic — a large manufacturer of what the company and other proponents call “skill-based” game machines […]
IRS slated to hire thousands of workers, boost audits of wealthy taxpayers
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service on Thursday detailed its plan to spend $80 billion in additional funding that Democrats approved last year as part of their climate change and health care package. The plan says the agency will boost tax enforcement by increasing its “focus on segments of taxpayers with complex issues and complex […]