Medicaid Reform Bill Passes Senate

BY MICHON LINDSTROM | KENTUCKY FRANKFORT, Ky- A bill to limit the number of Medicaid Managed Care Organizations in Kentucky has passed the Senate. Senate Bill 30 would lower the number of MCOs from five to three. Bill sponsor Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, says this will help save hospitals money and allow them to care for patients instead…

The Bottom Line: Lawmakers discuss Kentucky’s transportation funding needs

By Jacqueline Pitts, The Bottom Line FRANKFORT, Ky. — Executive branch officials testified before lawmakers Monday on the current transportation needs facing Kentucky and on the two-year Road Fund budget proposed by the Beshear administration. Robin Brewer, executive director of the Office of Budget and Fiscal Management, said Kentucky has seen a decline in Road Fund…

Kentucky House Passes Criminal Justice Measures

BY JOE RAGUSA | KENTUCKY FRANKFORT, Ky. – The House passed two criminal justice measures unanimously Monday. House Bill 284 creates a probation credit program for anyone serving probation, probation with an alternate sentence, or conditions discharge. The bill gives those people the opportunity to reduce their sentence by completing some level of school work, participating in a…

Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky: Major gap in new FDA regulations governing flavored e-cigarettes

A partial ban on flavored e-cigarettes that went into effect nationwide last week has a major loophole that keeps kid-friendly flavored products on the market, according to the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. The Food and Drug Administration policy bans most flavors of cartridge-based e-cigarettes, but doesn’t apply to disposable devices. Following is a statement from Ben…

Animal Abuse Reporting Bill Moves Forward

By STU JOHNSON Under current Kentucky law, veterinarians are prohibited from reporting cases of suspected animal abuse.  A Western Kentucky lawmaker is seeking to give veterinarians the latitude to register such a concern. Listen here. Morgantown Senator C.B Embry’s bill allows veterinarians to report the abuse of animals under their care.  Jim Weber is with the…

Wedding hearing date is Monday to determine eligibility to run in House District 67 Special Election

NKyTribune staff A hearing to determine the eligibility of Kentucky House District 67 candidate Mary Jo Wedding will take place Monday, Feb. 10, at the Campbell County Courthouse. James P. Coles, a voter in Kentucky House District 67, filed a legal action, claiming Wedding does not live in the district. If the challenge is successful, Wedding would…