Stumbo files lawsuit questioning Bevin vetoes

by Tom Loftus, @TomLoftus_CJ – Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he has filed a lawsuit questioning the process and validity of Gov. Matt Bevin’s vetoes. Last month, Stumbo raised questions about the validity of Bevin‘s vetoes and mentioned he could take the matter to court. Stumbo, a Prestonsburg Democrat, told the Lexington Herald-Leader in an interview last month that one concern he has…

Senate candidates debate gun issues on KET

by Joseph Gerth, @Joe_Gerth – All but one Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate on Monday endorsed what some of them characterized has “common sense” gun laws during a debate on Kentucky Educational Television Monday night.. Ron Leach, a former Army Green Beret, said he favors “pragmatic, reasonable steps” to deal with gun violence, including requiring safety…

Kentucky Democrats criticize influence of money in politics

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Several underfunded candidates have piled on Democratic front-runner Jim Gray for putting his own money into his campaign for a Republican-held U.S. Senate seat. Six Democratic candidates met in a forum shown statewide on Kentucky Educational Television on Monday night, days ahead of the state’s May 17 primary. Candidate Ron Leach called the reliance on big campaign…

Graham’s son: Put God back in government

by Deborah Yetter, @d_yetter – FRANKFORT, Ky. – Calling on Christians to get God back in government, Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham and successor to his international ministry, held a rally on the steps of the state Capitol Wednesday, urging the faithful to elect more people of God to public office. “We need Christian men and…

Beshear examining validity of Bevin vetoes, other cuts

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear says he is looking into the validity of Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s budget vetoes and his mid-year reductions of several state agencies. Beshear argued before a state judge on Wednesday that Bevin’s mid-year cuts to colleges and universities without getting the approval of the state legislature violated…

JCPS planning staff cuts at central office

by Allison Ross, @allisonSross – Jefferson County Public Schools will soon be notifying some of its central office staff that their jobs are being eliminated as different departments work to meet a district-imposed reduction of $2.4 million in central office position spending. It’s unclear exactly how many people will be laid off as part of the…

Andy Beshear says he’ll charge Tim Longmeyer

by Tom Loftus, @TomLoftus_CJ – FRANKFORT, Ky. – Attorney General Andy Beshear said Wednesday he will file state criminal charges against his former top deputy Tim Longmeyer, who last month pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge. “Last week my office started gathering information to prepare to charge Tim Longmeyer with state crimes,” Beshear said at an…