BY BILL ESTEP bestep@herald-leader.com – A national coal group is opposing a bill sponsored by Eastern Kentucky’s Republican congressman that would accelerate the release of $1 billion for reclamation projects on abandoned mine lands.The bill, known by the acronym RECLAIM and sponsored by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers of Somerset, is scheduled for a hearing Tuesday at…
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – Kentucky’s Republican governor said he reluctantly supports the Senate’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act and blamed its shaky prospects for passage on “mushy moderates” who “don’t have enough spine” to pass the bill. Kentucky was one of 31 states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It did…
By: Tom Loftus , @TomLoftus_CJ – FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Bevin administration budget office is advertising for a law firm to assist it in the development of its tax reform proposal. And the solicitation posted on state government’s procurement website seeks a “final report of possible taxation options available at both local and state levels” by Sept.…
BY BETH MUSGRAVE bmusgrave@herald-leader.com – Gov. Matt Bevin’s proposed reorganization of dozens of medical and professional boards that oversee licensing of more than 100,000 professionals in Kentucky has been delayed, state officials told boards this week. Officials with the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet had previously told leaders of 39 boards that Bevin planned to sign an executive…
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – A new analysis of election results by The Associated Press indicates Republicans could have benefited slightly during the 2016 election from the way Kentucky state House districts were drawn. The analysis measuring the “efficiency gap” shows Kentucky Republicans won about three more seats than they should have given their share…
By Kevin Wheatley – A new program helping early childhood educators and administrators learn the skills they need to improve daycares, preschools and kindergartens across the state is halfway through its first year, and an official with the Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative says she hopes the state will find the necessary funding to keep it going.…
By LISA GILLESPIE (KPR) – Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear announced on Wednesday that he is working with attorneys general from across the country to investigate whether drug manufacturers contributed to the opioid epidemic “by illegally marketing and selling opioids,” according to his office. The action follows a suit filed in May by Ohio’s attorney general. In Kentucky,…
By DANIELLE KURTZLEBEN – Senate Republicans unveiled their long-awaited health care overhaul proposal on Thursday. The Senate bill, called the “Better Care Reconciliation Act,” would repeal major parts of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The broad outlines of it look a lot like the House bill, the American Health Care Act, which was…
Rev. Alan Hoyle, a spokesman for a group of Amish people from Bath Co., defends Amish salve maker Samuel A Girod, who faces federal prison time for selling improperly labeled salve on June 20, 2017, in Frankfort, Ky. Hoyle is not a member of the Amish faith. Jack Brammer jbrammer@herald-leader.com BY JACK BRAMMER, jbrammer@herald-leader.com – FRANKFORT — About 50…
by LISA GILLESPIE (KPR) – Republican Senator Rand Paul is slamming the effort by his Kentucky colleague, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Paul said he won’t know how he will vote until the bill is released to legislators later this week. Paul doesn’t believe McConnell will have the votes…