Government
Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus joins call condemning potential expulsion of Tennessee lawmakers?
Kentucky’s Black Legislative Caucus joined the National Black Caucus of State Legislators in? condemning the potential expulsion of? three Tennessee state lawmakers after days of turmoil at the Capitol in Nashville.? Last week, three Tennessee Democrats?—?Rep. Gloria Johnson, Justin J. Pearson and Justin Jones — led an impromptu protest on the House floor against gun […]
Sex, gender, parents’ rights: A roundup of Kentucky education legislation
FRANKFORT — The recently-ended legislative session brought education to the forefront of Kentucky politics in an election year for statewide offices.? Lawmakers approved legislation aimed at tackling a shortage of teachers, though the Republican-controlled General Assembly never considered Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s proposal to provide school employees with 5% pay raises. The education debates that […]
Hazardous dams in Kentucky will now be required to have emergency plans, thanks to new law
FRANKFORT — Kentucky dam safety officials faced a potentially dire situation last year: A sinkhole was rapidly growing in the slope of a dam in Crittenden County. A failure could have sent 180 million gallons of water cascading toward private developments and the local hospital.? And there was no emergency plan. That’s because until last […]
Craft’s GOP rivals have little to say about her absenteeism as U.S. ambassador to Canada
Kelly Craft’s four major rivals for governor in the May 16 Republican primary were mostly mum when asked about reports that she had a high absenteeism rate as U.S. ambassador to Canada. In 2019, the Democratic staff of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee issued a critical minority report on Craft’s nomination by then-President Donald […]
Students in Lexington lead protest of new anti-trans law
LEXINGTON?— Hundreds of Kentuckians on Friday gathered for a LGBTQ+ youth visibility march in downtown Lexington. The event, led by local high school students, was organized in response to Senate Bill 150, a sweeping anti-trans measure that the Republican-controlled Kentucky legislature enacted into law this week over Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto.? On Wednesday, protests against […]
Bipartisanship abounds as Beshear signs bills legalizing medical marijuana and sports betting
FRANKFORT — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear called Friday an “amazing” day as he signed two pieces of legislation — legalizing medical marijuana and sports betting — that were passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly.? With legislative sponsors and advocates gathered around him in the Capitol Rotunda, Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 and House Bill 551. […]
Beshear signs phase out of tax on aging bourbon, despite local officials’ pleas
FRANKFORT — Without fanfare, Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday signed a bill giving ?Kentucky’s bourbon industry a property tax break on barrels of aging whiskey. Unlike bills legalizing sports gambling and medical marijuana, Beshear held no signing ceremony for House Bill 5. Distillers had been asking for the tax’s repeal for some time, while local […]
Kentucky governor signs bill decriminalizing fentanyl test strips
FRANKFORT – Fentanyl test strips will no longer be considered drug paraphernalia in Kentucky.? Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday signed a bipartisan bill?decriminalizing fentanyl test strips in Kentucky after it easily passed both chambers.? The Kentucky Senate passed House Bill 353 Thursday night. The House concurred unanimously in the final hours of the 2023 legislative […]
Sports gambling makes it across the finish line
FRANKFORT — A bill to legalize sports betting in Kentucky overcame a hurdle that’s stopped it in the past with the Kentucky Senate approving the measurel in the final hours of this year’s legislative session.? The bill has full passage from the GOP-controlled Kentucky legislature and would just need to be signed by Democratic Gov. […]
Medical marijuana will be legal in Kentucky, but not until 2025
FRANKFORT — On the last day of the legislative session, the Kentucky General Assembly has passed a bill that legalizes medical marijuana for some Kentuckians who suffer from chronic illnesses.? The House voted 66-33 to approve Senate Bill 47. Representatives have passed similar measures in previous years, but this year marked the first time legislation […]
Kentucky Senate convicts former prosecutor in first impeachment trial in more than a century
FRANKFORT — In the first Kentucky Senate impeachment trial in more than a century, senators on Thursday unanimously convicted a former prosecutor who asked a defendant for nude images in exchange for prosecutorial favors.? The Kentucky Supreme Court suspended Ronnie Goldy — the former commonwealth’s attorney for the 21st Judicial Circuit serving Rowan, Menifee, Bath […]
Nine military service members die when Black Hawk helicopters based at Fort Campbell crash
FRANKFORT — ?Nine U.S. service members died when two Black Hawk helicopters based at Fort Campbell crashed Wednesday night, the Army announced Thursday morning. One helicopter had five soldiers aboard, the other four. The crews were flying with night vision as part of a training exercise. There were no survivors. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke […]