News

Kentucky counties and cities get first installment of money from national opioid settlements

BY: - January 10, 2023

This article is republished from Kentucky Health News, a publication of the?Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues?at the?University of Kentucky. Kentucky’s cities and counties have received their first installment of the state’s money from the national opioid settlement, most of which must be used to combat the opioid epidemic. Knox County Judge-Executive Mike Mitchell […]

U.S. House GOP backs rules plan without disclosing deals made with hard-right members

BY: - January 9, 2023

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House adopted rules for the 118th Congress on Monday, though several of the concessions Speaker Kevin McCarthy made with more conservative members of the Republican Party to secure the gavel weren’t included in the document, or publicly circulated ahead of the vote. The 55-page rules package the House voted nearly party-line […]

Western Kentucky prosecutor Boling to resign instead of facing impeachment committee

BY: - January 9, 2023

A Western Kentucky prosecutor has decided to resign instead of facing a state legislature-led impeachment committee that recently convened.? House Majority Floor Whip Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, in an email Monday evening said that Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling would resign Feb. 28. Boling is the elected commonwealth’s attorney for the 3rd Judicial Circuit representing Christian County.? […]

Pfizer gives $1 million to Republican Party of Kentucky to expand its headquarters

BY: - January 9, 2023

FRANKFORT, Ky. – In what may be the largest political contribution ever given to a political party in Kentucky, the drug maker Pfizer Inc. gave $1 million last month to the building fund of the Republican Party of Kentucky. A report filed by Republican Party of Kentucky Building Fund last week with the Kentucky Registry […]

Here’s what you need to know about new workplace protections for pregnant, nursing workers

BY: - January 9, 2023

The $1.7 trillion federal spending bill President Joe Biden signed last month ushers in expanded protections for workers who are pregnant or nursing. Proponents of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act — both included as amendments to the spending bill — say the measures clarify rights for these workers, […]

UK names Danelle Stevens-Watkins interim dean of the College of Education

BY: - January 9, 2023

University of Kentucky Provost Robert S. DiPaola has named Danelle Stevens-Watkins acting dean of the?College of Education, effective?Jan. 4. She succeeds Julian Vasquez Heilig who became the provost of Western Michigan University. Stevens-Watkins is a professor in the Department of Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology, as well as the university’s associate vice president for research, […]

Public health agencies try to restore trust as they fight misinformation

BY: - January 9, 2023

This story is republished from Kaiser Health News. OKLAHOMA CITY — By the summer of 2021, Phil Maytubby, deputy CEO of the health department here, was concerned to see the numbers of people getting vaccinated against covid-19 slipping after an initially robust response. With doubt, fear, and misinformation running rampant nationwide — both online and […]

Danville farm will expand beef marketing with USDA value-added grant

BY: - January 9, 2023

In an ongoing effort to diversify the country’s meat processing and create new markets for smaller livestock producers, the federal government is distributing about $3.9 million of grant money and guaranteeing loans that total $5.7 million for more than two dozen projects in 15 states, including Kentucky. Danville farmer Dennis Spencer Guinn was awarded a […]

U.S. House GOP backs McCarthy as speaker after tense and chaotic late-night session

BY: and - January 7, 2023

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House elected Kevin McCarthy speaker early Saturday after most of the chamber’s Republicans finally gathered behind him, ending a four-day stalemate that led to the most rounds of voting for a speaker since before the Civil War.? The California Republican was able to clinch the gavel on the 15th ballot by […]

Ballot set for May 16 primary election in Kentucky

BY: - January 6, 2023

FRANKFORT — Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams closed the door to the elections office at 4 p.m. Friday, signaling an end for candidates to file for Kentucky’s 2023 elections.? No big surprises emerged in the 12-candidate Republican race for governor, although former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin created some suspense by hinting on Twitter that […]

VOA Mid States CEO Jennifer Hancock

$1.3 million in donations will bring expansion, study of substance use recovery program

BY: - January 6, 2023

FRANKFORT –Volunteers of America Mid-States on Friday announced an expansion of its substance abuse recovery program and a long term study to look at its effects and success thanks to $1.3 million in donations.? The five-year study is being called Project Strong. Through it, researchers will follow graduates of the Freedom House program for five […]

McCarthy flips GOP holdouts as his campaign for U.S. House speaker gathers speed

BY: and - January 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — Kevin McCarthy’s campaign to become speaker of the U.S. House will stretch into at least Friday night, as the California Republican inched ahead in his struggle to unite his divided party around his candidacy and an overhaul of rules under which the chamber will operate. “We’ll come back tonight, and I believe at […]