News
A ‘shell’ bill to regulate Delta-8 THC rushes through Kentucky House
FRANKFORT — After a court decision last year legalized an intoxicating compound derived from hemp, a bill to regulate Delta-8 THC sped through the House of Representatives on Thursday.? Delta-8 THC can get a user “high” similar to the Delta-9 THC compound found in marijuana. Some hemp farmers have been trying to find a market […]
Misconduct allegations would follow teachers under bill moving through Kentucky legislature
FRANKFORT — A Senate committee advanced two House education bills that would affect processes for hiring school district employees.? Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, presented House Bill 288 Thursday, which would make it more difficult for teachers found responsible of sexual misconduct to begin working in a different school district. The Senate Education Committee voted 11-0 […]
More than a third of Kentucky hospitals at risk, warns Kentucky Hospital Association report
Citing “inflation, record-high operating costs, and lower volumes,” a new report released this month says 38% of Kentucky’s hospitals are at risk of closure thanks to “the unsustainability of operations.” Health-care consulting firm Kaufman Hall prepared the report at the request of the Kentucky Hospital Association. The report shows that the state’s hospitals spent much […]
Bill to ban state help with federal gun laws, regulations advances from Senate committee
A bill that would ban state and local law enforcement, governments and their employees from enforcing federal gun laws or regulations in Kentucky advanced from a Senate committee Thursday morning.? House Bill 153, sponsored by Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, would prevent local law enforcement, employees of public agencies and local governments from assisting or […]
‘Gray machines’ ban, sports betting legalization advance in Kentucky House
FRANKFORT ?— Two gambling-related bills — one to legalize betting on sports contests and another to ban so-called ‘gray machines’ — advanced in the Kentucky legislature Wednesday.? House Bill 551, sponsored by Rep. Michael Meredith, R-Oakland, would legalize sports gambling in Kentucky and advanced out of the House Licensing, Occupations, & Administrative Regulations Committee.? “I’m […]
Powell signals higher interest rates. Here’s why Friday’s jobs report will affect Fed’s decision.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said this week that interest rate increases could be higher and come faster if Friday’s unemployment data shows the nation’s labor market isn’t cooling off. Stock indexes fell after his comments. That’s been a familiar pattern over the past year as the federal bank has tried to combat inflation.? A […]
Senate approves studying feasibility of four-year public university in Southeastern Kentucky
FRANKFORT — Citing higher education’s potential for spurring economic development in the wake of the coal industry’s decline, a resolution calling for a comprehensive review of Kentucky’s higher education system received Senate approval Wednesday.? The vote for Senate Joint Resolution 98 was 35-0. It now goes to the House for consideration.? The resolution, sponsored by […]
Bill addressing Kentucky’s health-care workforce shortages clears House?
A Kentucky bill aimed at addressing Kentucky’s health-care workforce shortages passed the House Wednesday 92-1.? House Bill 200 would create a health-care workforce fund through a private-public partnership administered by the Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), the Lantern previously reported. Most of the money in the fund – 65% – would be reserved for educational […]
U.S. Senate panel probes how crypto mining increases energy consumption
WASHINGTON — The so-called mining for digital assets, or cryptocurrency, consumes as much electricity as some entire nations, and U.S. senators explored the issue Tuesday in what they said was their first-ever hearing focused on the energy implications of digital currency. Crypto mining in both Nebraska and Pennsylvania was discussed in particular by the members […]
Lawmakers hear theories on COVID-19 origins in U.S. House hearing
WASHINGTON — Democrats and Republicans mostly agreed Wednesday that scientists and the intelligence community should fully investigate the origins of COVID-19 without political interference over whether the virus emerged from nature or through a lab leak. Members from both political parties said throughout the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing that determining […]
Bipartisan Kentucky bill decriminalizing fentanyl test strips clears House
FRANKFORT — A bipartisan Kentucky bill that would pave the way for fentanyl strips to not be considered illegal drug paraphernalia passed the House unanimously 93-0 on Wednesday.? House Bill 353 is sponsored by Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill and has three Democratic co-sponsors.? Fentanyl test strips, according to the Centers for Disease Control […]
This International Women’s Day, U.S. anti-abortion laws violate human rights, groups say
Ahead of International Women’s Day, hundreds of U.S. and global human rights groups, doctors, and attorneys have asked the United Nations to intervene on behalf of the millions of women in the U.S. who have been left without access to legal abortion and vital forms of reproductive health care in the wake of last summer’s […]