News
Fiscal path clear for another cut in Kentucky’s income tax, lawmakers hear
Kentucky’s state budget director told lawmakers Wednesday that fiscal thresholds established by the GOP-dominated legislature before the state income tax can be lowered have been met at the end of this fiscal year.? That means Kentucky lawmakers are likely to vote to reduce the state’s income tax rate by another half-percentage point to 3.5% during […]
Kentucky hospital workforce is rebounding, but still has too many vacancies??
Kentucky’s non-doctor health care workforce is on the mend, though state hospitals still have thousands of unfilled positions.? That’s according to an August report released by the Kentucky Hospital Association that shows 12% of positions in the state’s hospitals were empty in 2023, with nurses being the most in-demand. The data comes from 94% of […]
Democrats celebrate with boisterous state-by-state roll call vote for Harris
The Democratic National Convention held a ceremonial roll call of the states Tuesday, giving delegates on the floor of the United Center in Chicago a chance to show their support for Kamala Harris complete with corncob hats, DJ’d music, a surprise appearance from Atlanta rapper Lil Jon and enthusiastic cheers. The tradition, which has long […]
‘Hope is making a comeback’: The Obamas make the case for Kamala Harris
CHICAGO — As he did in his first speech to a Democratic National Convention 20 years ago, former President Barack Obama emphasized the connections binding Americans together and called for a more positive national atmosphere on the second night of this year’s convention Tuesday, while rallying Democrats to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris. At […]
Democrats trying to reverse election losses in rural America urge focus on economy
CHICAGO –– Democrats should focus on pocketbook issues to win back rural voters, speakers including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at a Rural Council meeting at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday. Beshear urged the group of rural Democrats to reject social issues and a left-right ideological framing. Most voters, he said, were not worried about […]
UAW’s Shawn Fain predicts working-class support for Harris-Walz ticket
CHICAGO — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain told reporters Tuesday that working-class people can see themselves in the new Democratic presidential ticket. “There’s a very distinct difference in these two people and where they stand with working-class people,” Fain said of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. […]
U.S. House Dems ask OSHA to respond to reports that state agencies tipped off employers
WASHINGTON — Leading Democrats on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and its Workforce Protection Subcommittee demanded answers on Tuesday from Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su regarding allegations that certain state Occupational Safety and Health Administration agencies possibly misused federal funds and gave advance notice to employers of workplace safety inspections. The letter […]
Lexington middle school’s restroom design draws ire of Republican lawmakers in Frankfort
Republican state lawmakers grilled the Fayette County Public Schools superintendent Tuesday over the design of restrooms in a new middle school, suggesting the district is trying to circumvent the anti-transgender law enacted by the GOP-controlled legislature last year.? However, Superintendent Demetrus Liggins told the Interim Joint Committee on Education that restrooms in the new Mary […]
Women imperiled by abortion bans take center stage at the DNC
Most major party leaders who took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, mentioned that Vice President Kamala Harris would work to restore federal abortion rights if elected president. But the most poignant remarks about the issue on the DNC’s first day came from Southern women who had traumatic pregnancies and spoke […]
University of Kentucky disbanding its diversity office, president announces
The University of Kentucky is disbanding its Office for Institutional Diversity effective immediately, President Eli Capilouto announced Tuesday.? No one will lose their job, Capilouto said in a Tuesday afternoon email sent to staff. Other offices will absorb people and services. That includes a new office called the Office for Community Relations.? “We share the […]
Republicans blast Beshear for national TV interview attacking Vance on abortion
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is facing backlash from Republicans after targeting U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance’s position on abortion in a national TV interview Tuesday morning.? Following his speech to the Democratic National Convention the night before, Beshear appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe to further discuss abortion rights and criticize positions taken by former Republican President […]
Biden delivers late-night farewell to Democrats as he passes the torch to Harris
CHICAGO – After waiting nearly an hour to deliver a scheduled-for-prime-time speech that was pushed to nearly 11:30 p.m. Eastern time, President Joe Biden waited an extra three minutes at the lectern on the first night of the Democratic National Convention as chants from party faithful drowned out his attempts to begin. When planning for […]