Kentuckians voice conflicting opinions on new rule to protect streams near coal mines

By Angela Reighard | HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT/AP) – The Obama administration has finalized rules designed to reduce the environmental impact of coal mining on the nation’s streams. The Interior Department announced last week the rule will protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests, preventing debris from coal mining from being dumped into nearby waters. With coal production…

Frank Lassiter resisting Bevin investigators

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A former Beshear administration official said on Wednesday that Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration lacks legal authority to force him to cooperate with Bevin’s investigation into what Bevin has said was significant corruption during his predecessor’s years in office. Frank Lassiter said the investigation overseen by Bevin’s Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary does not have the authority…

Economist, big donor Laffer to meet with Bevin

by Tom Loftus , @TomLoftus_CJ – FRANKFORT, Ky. – Supply-side economist Arthur Laffer, who with five close associates gave at least $228,500 toward the successful effort to elect Republicans to the Kentucky House this fall, is scheduled to meet with Gov. Matt Bevin on Friday. State Budget Director John Chilton said in a telephone interview early Friday that Laffer…

Massie sees 2017 as a time to act for the GOP

by Don Weber, @DonWeber_cn2 – U.S. Congressman Thomas Massie believes that the time to act for the GOP in Congress to take action is now that Republicans have control of the White House, House and Senate. Massie looks at the partisan control as “once in a lifetime opportunity” for Republicans to push a conservative agenda without the Democratic lawmakers being…