Justice
Beshear issues some vetoes, signs dozens of bills
FRANKFORT — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed bills creating a nuclear energy authority and outlawing “discriminatory treatment” of filling stations. He also vetoed a measure similar to one the state Supreme Court overturned last year but that Republicans say is different enough to withstand judicial scrutiny. It allows a change of judicial venue for […]
U.S. judge sides with Kentucky attorney general in ruling against highway emissions rule
A federal judge has sided with Kentucky’s Republican attorney general in ruling that the Biden administration overstepped by requiring states to set goals for reducing heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions from vehicle tailpipes and other sources on federal highways.? U.S. District Judge Benjamin Beaton, of Kentucky’s Western District, in a Monday order said the Federal Highway […]
Hundreds protest outside the U.S. Supreme Court to keep abortion medication accessible
WASHINGTON—As the enormous yellow banner unfurled in front of the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday morning, Laura Clime-Coates turned to her 9-year-old daughter and said, “Those are the names of people who agree with us.” On the sign, titled “We the People Support Medication Abortion,” were what activists estimated to be half-a-million signatures […]
Automatic transfer of kids accused of some gun crimes to adult court has cleared both chambers
More Kentucky juveniles would be tried as adults under a bill that has now been approved by both chambers of the legislature.? ‘Victims before perpetrators:’ Senate passes bill to try certain juveniles as adults? The House on Tuesday approved Senate Bill 20 which mandates that juveniles 15 or older would be transferred to circuit court […]
Kentucky’s new juvenile justice chief is veteran of managing adult corrections
A? longtime adult corrections official will head the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday.? The new commissioner, Randy White, worked in the Kentucky prison system for 27 years in multiple roles, including correctional officer, warden and most recently more than five years as deputy corrections commissioner, according to a release from […]
Taxpayers were overcharged for patient meds. Then came the lawyers.
Shalina Chatlani examined the health care system in Mississippi as a part of The New York Times’s Local Investigations Fellowship. This story cannot be republished. In 2018, when Mike DeWine was Ohio’s attorney general, he began investigating an obscure corner of the health care industry. He believed that insurers were inflating prescription drug prices through […]
Sweeping GOP crime bill clears Kentucky Senate despite judiciary chairman’s opposition
FRANKFORT — A GOP-backed omnibus crime bill won state Senate approval Friday over the objections of the Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Long after I’m gone, we are going to be paying for it — figuratively and literally,” warned Sen. Whitney Westerfield in an impassioned speech that did not dissuade his colleagues from […]
Kentucky Supreme Court tie vote leaves Medicaid managed care contracts in place
In a quick turnaround, the Kentucky Supreme Court has upheld a lower court ruling that five insurance companies will retain the right to oversee most of the state’s $15 billion annual Medicaid business, appearing to end a long-running court fight. Anthem Kentucky, which had challenged the contract award, will be excluded, according to a Supreme […]
Senate Judiciary Committee forwards omnibus Kentucky crime bill without chairman’s vote
FRANKFORT — Chairman Whitney Westerfield, a Republican, joined two Democrats in voting against a sweeping crime bill Thursday as the Senate Judiciary Committee approved its version of the controversial measure. Westerfield, who had proposed a rewrite of House Bill 5, said he preferred his version but “I don’t have the votes.”? Instead the committee approved […]
Kentucky attorney general among those warning Maine not to enact medical shield law
Kentucky’s Russell Coleman is among 16 state attorneys general threatening legal action if Maine enacts a law shielding its medical providers from penalties for providing reproductive and gender-affirming care to residents of other states. The Republican attorneys general assert such a law would be “extraterritorial bullying” and “could also trigger a rapid tit-for-tat escalation that […]
Opponents from across the political spectrum?testify against sweeping crime bill
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday heard a slew of testimony from across the political spectrum opposing an omnibus crime bill.? Senate Judicial Committee Chair Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, said that while House Bill 5 was up only for discussion Tuesday, he expects a committee vote on the legislation Thursday. The bill […]
Kentucky Republican pitches $165 million to improve care, safety of juveniles in state detention
FRANKFORT — Kentucky would spend $22 million to build a special mental health juvenile detention facility as well as create a process to test and treat such children under a sweeping bill being discussed in the legislature.? Sen. Danny Carroll, a West Kentucky Republican, filed Senate Bill 242 as a shell bill on the last […]