Supreme Court extends restrictions on jury trials, grand juries and other business until April 1

The Supreme Court entered two new Administrative Orders that further extend restrictions on jury trials, grand juries, show cause dockets, judicial sales and in-person meetings of Kentucky Court of Justice committees, commissions, task forces and boards. This action was necessary to address the continued surge of COVID-19 cases across the Commonwealth. The orders: • Postpone…

Health equity expert Lasley-Bibbs elected chair of Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Vivian Lasley-Bibbs, director of the Office of Health Equity (OHE) in the Kentucky Department for Public Health, has been elected 2021 chair of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s Board of Directors. Lasley-Bibbs has more than 25 years of public health experience. At OHE, she works to increase awareness of health disparities, enhance patient-provider…

Pennyrile Health Department prepares to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to people 70 and older

Jack Kane, rbarnes EDDYVILLE, KY — Starting Wednesday, the Pennyrile Health Department will have COVID-19 vaccine doses available for people aged 70 and older in Caldwell, Crittenden, Lyon, and Livingston counties. The plan is to distribute the vaccines on a first come, first served basis. There is no requirement to make an appointment beforehand, and the it’s free…

Erika Shields, Atlanta chief during Rayshard Brooks shooting, to lead Louisville police

Darcy Costello Louisville Courier Journal Erika Shields, the former Atlanta police chief who stepped down after one of her officers fatally shot a Black man, will take over as the leader of Louisville’s embattled police force, Mayor Greg Fischer announced Wednesday. Shields will face an immediate challenge stepping into her new role following a record-breaking year…

Even With More Funding Sources, Model Continues To Face Financial Pressure

By STU JOHNSON Kentucky’s well known laboratory school is working to navigate through a change in mission while facing some financial challenges and the pandemic.  Eastern Kentucky University’s Board of Regents got an update last week. Through action of the Kentucky General Assembly earlier this year, Model in Richmond became the Commonwealth’s designated laboratory school.  Model…

‘Why is this city not mad as hell?’ US attorney targets Louisville’s record violence

Beth Warren Louisville Courier Journal With 2021 on the horizon, The Courier Journal asked seven influential people in the Louisville region about what they see as priorities, opportunities and challenges in the new year. This article is one piece of the seven-part series. We asked Russell Coleman, appointed by President Donald Trump as U.S. Attorney for the…

20 state coalition files brief supporting Kentucky AG’s efforts to defend abortion ban law

FILE – The sun rises behind the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, in Washington.(AP Photo/Alex Brandon) By Brandon Robinson FRANKFORT, Ky. (WYMT) – Attorneys general from 20 states are backing Kentucky’s top law enforcement official’s efforts to defend House Bill 454, which bans live dismemberment abortions, before the U.S. Supreme Court. The General…

Kentucky Senate Education Committee Chair Sees In-Person Classes Possible In 2021

By STU JOHNSON The chair of the Senate Education Committee says safety measures are available to make a return to consistent in-person learning viable in 2021. Campbellsville Senator Max Wise said weeks of virtual learning have lots of people across Kentucky exhausted. “I’m talking those folks in the educational system.  I’m talking about families, students, guardians,…

Hospitalizations Going Up In The Commonwealth

BY KHYATI PATEL KENTUCKY LEXINGTON, Ky. — New data shows hospital beds across the Commonwealth are filling up.   What You Need To Know New data says hospital beds are filling up in Kentucky Lexington seeing highest total of hospitalizations since March University of Minnesota analyzed datea to create database to track hospitalizations Rural hospitals are filling…