Politics
Hotline logs one report of Election Day vote buying or selling. More Kentuckians voted early.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said his office’s Election Integrity Command Center received one possible report of vote buying or selling among calls it took Tuesday morning.? What you need to know about voting in Kentucky’s primary election today Coleman reported that in the first few hours of voting in Tuesday’s primary, the center received […]
Power plant debate helps push lobby spending to new high for Kentucky legislature
FRANKFORT — Legislation affecting power plant retirements helped drive spending to lobby the Kentucky legislature to a new high of $12.4 million during the 2024 session. A bill that created new hurdles for utilities that want to retire power plants fired by fossil fuels spurred investor-owned utilities and power cooperatives to spend much more than […]
Kentucky Supreme Court allows Kulkarni to stand in Tuesday primary, despite challenge
LOUISVILLE —?The Kentucky Supreme Court will allow Louisville Democratic Rep. Nima Kulkarni to stand as a candidate in Tuesday’s primary election after she has faced legal challenges to her candidacy paperwork.? The Supreme Court granted the representative’s motion to remain in the 40th House District Democratic primary, reversing a decision from the Kentucky Court of […]
As early voting begins, use it or risk losing it, says Kentucky’s chief elections officer
As early voting began Thursday, one of the first to cast a ballot — and to show his support for the process — was Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams. In a recent interview with the Lantern, Adams applauded the defeat of a recent legislative proposal to repeal early voting. “I do encourage voters to […]
With GOP opposed, U.S. Senate panel advances bills to combat AI in elections
Members of the U.S. Senate are sounding the alarm about the threat that artificial intelligence poses to elections through its ability to deceive voters. But the prospects for legislation that can meaningfully address the problem appear uncertain. In a Wednesday hearing, the Senate Rules Committee advanced three bills designed to counter the AI threat. But […]
Louisville Democratic Rep. Nima Kulkarni ruled off ballot by Court of Appeals
LOUISVILLE — A sitting Democratic state representative has been disqualified as a primary candidate after the Kentucky Court of Appeals reversed a recent Jefferson County Circuit Court decision.? Rep. Nima Kulkarni, who filed to run for a fourth term in the 40th House District, is not a bona fide candidate, according to the panel of […]
Kentucky voters have some choices to make in legislative contests
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians going to the polls for the May 21 primary have choices to make about who will represent them in Frankfort, even if there’s no suspense about who the nominees for U.S. president will be. GOP control of the legislature is not at risk this year; Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers. But […]
Unopposed, Stivers dips into stuffed war chest to boost Republicans, entertain supporters
FRANKFORT — Since no one challenged him for reelection this year, Senate President Robert Stivers has used his overstuffed campaign fund as a sort of personal political action committee that makes political contributions of its own and has paid other expenses including nearly $10,000 for a dinner party to thank his donors and supporters at […]
Religious views on abortion more diverse than they may appear in U.S. political debate
Lawmakers who oppose abortion often invoke their faith — many identify as Christian — while debating policy. The anti-abortion movement’s use of Christianity in arguments might create the impression that broad swaths of religious Americans don’t support abortion rights. But a recent report shows that Americans of various faiths and denominations believe abortion should be […]
Though noncitizens can vote in few local elections, GOP goes big to make it illegal
Preventing people who are not United States citizens from casting a ballot has reemerged as a focal point in the ongoing Republican drive to safeguard “election integrity,” even though noncitizens are rarely involved in voter fraud. Ahead of November’s presidential election, congressional and state Republican lawmakers are aiming to keep noncitizens away from the polls. […]
Kentucky falls to 41st in average teacher pay
New reports highlighted by the Kentucky Education Association show that Kentucky educators’ salaries are losing ground to those in other states.? According to the annual reports released by the National Education Association looking at 2022-23 numbers, Kentucky dropped from 40th to 41st nationally in average teacher salary at $56,296 compared with the national average of […]
Governor’s Derby guests?
FRANKFORT —? Unlike his predecessors, Gov. Andy Beshear has declined to identify friends and political supporters who buy prime tickets to the Kentucky Derby made available by Churchill Downs each year for the governor’s guests. The Louisville racetrack sets aside large numbers of Derby tickets for sale at face value to Kentucky elected officials, including […]