Politics
‘Or’ ignites latest conflict over what Kentucky schools may teach about sex, gender
Editor’s note: This story was updated with comments from Gov. Andy Beshear Thursday afternoon. A disagreement over the meaning of “or” in a controversial anti-trans law has ignited the latest conflict between a prominent Republican lawmaker and the Kentucky Department of Education. Sen. Max Wise criticized the new KDE guidance as “a feeble attempt to […]
Higher salaries helping Kentucky State Police recruit and retain officers, commissioner says
FRANKFORT — Kentucky State Police Commissioner Phillip J. Burnett Jr. told lawmakers recent pay increases backed by the General Assembly and Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration have supported the agency’s recruitment efforts.? Burnett said in a Wednesday meeting of the Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary that he does foresee other challenges when it comes […]
GOP-led states plan new voter data systems to replace one they rejected. Good luck with that.
So far this year, seven states, all Republican-led, have left the Electronic Registration Information Center, an interstate compact for sharing voter registration data, and more could follow. Amid the exodus, some states, including Texas and Virginia, have said they plan to create their own data-sharing networks to replace ERIC. Pledging to build a new system […]
Lexington Democrat kicks off campaign to become Kentucky’s first transgender lawmaker
LEXINGTON — Democrat Emma Curtis on Thursday kicked off her campaign to succeed the late Rep. Lamin Swann as state representative from a south Lexington district. Curtis, who would be Kentucky’s first transgender legislator, said she wants to be a voice for transgender youth but is equally committed to working for the 93rd District to […]
Kentucky judge recuses himself from KEA case after Cameron questioned his impartiality
A Kentucky judge has recused himself from a court case after Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron questioned the judge’s impartiality based on ?political contributions supporting the judge’s recent reelection. Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd in an order Tuesday directed a lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Education Association be transferred to the other circuit judge […]
Beshear says he will interview candidate for state school board as Republicans criticize delay?
Facing criticism from Republicans, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said he anticipates making an appointment to the Kentucky Board of Education “in the short term.” The remarks come after a Tuesday Courier-Journal report that showed the terms of two state school board members expired more than a year ago. The Republican Party of Kentucky is calling […]
Path on Kentucky gun laws unclear weeks after Louisville shooting
More than a month after two mass shootings in Louisville in a single week left seven victims dead, political leaders in Frankfort are saying little about what changes may be made to Kentucky’s gun laws.? In April, five victims died after a 25-year-old man entered Louisville’s Old National Bank and opened fire on his coworkers […]
Cameron points to campaign contributions to question a Kentucky judge’s ‘impartiality’
Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron is questioning the impartiality of a Kentucky judge — whose past court decisions have sparked GOP ire — in an ongoing court case by pointing to campaign contributions made to the judge’s recent reelection campaign.? Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd responded on Monday by issuing an order asking both […]
London, Ky., receives nearly $1.4M state grant. Mayor’s family donors to Beshear, Democratic Party
FRANKFORT – London Mayor Randall Weddle, whose family and associates contributed more than $300,000 to the Kentucky Democratic Party and Gov. Andy Beshear’s re-election campaign, traveled to the State Capitol on Thursday to join Beshear in announcing a nearly $1.4 million grant to the City of London to pay for new sidewalks along Main Street […]
Ethics commission fines former SOS Alison Grimes $10,000 for improper use of voter data
The state ethics commission for Kentucky’s executive branch has fined former Democratic Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes $10,000 for ethics violations over the improper use of voter data that the commission states gave a benefit to herself and others. The Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission in its order Friday said the former chief election […]
Kentucky’s primary election is Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know before you go to the polls
The primary election in Kentucky is Tuesday, May 16. Statewide, voters will choose party nominees for the general election.? On Tuesday polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Kentucky is split between Eastern and Central Daylight time zones.? Most voters’ ballots will only have elections for constitutional officers: governor,?attorney general, […]
Rep. Lamin Swann dies after ‘significant medical emergency’
Rep. Lamin Swann, D-Lexington, died Sunday four days after his mother said he had a “significant medical emergency requiring hospitalization.” Swann’s mother, Pamela Dixon, in a statement said “there are no words to fully describe the grief and impossible loss that others and I feel right now.” Dixon did not provide information on the cause […]