by JOSH JAMES – Analysts predict health insurance premiums could go up by as much as $8000 a year for people age 50 and older under the American Health Care Act in its current form. In addition to removing protections for people with pre-existing conditions, the bill would allow insurers to charge as much as five times…
by JACK BRAMMER, jbrammer@herald-leader.com – FRANKFORT — Mike Biagi, executive director of the Kentucky Republican Party since Aug. 1, 2015, who helped the GOP capture the state House last year for the first time in 95 years, is leaving the position to join a lobbying group. Biagi will be joining the Louisville-based The Rotunda Group in June. It is a…
by Erica Peterson – Capturing carbon dioxide from power plants is, at least theoretically, a good way to reduce one of the top gases that contributes to climate change. But in reality, it’s hard – and so far, inefficient. Carbon capture pilot projects across the country have come and gone. But even though it’s technically over, the…
by MORGAN EADS, meads@herald-leader.com – Attorney General Andy Beshear is taking action against fitness centers in four Kentucky cities for not registering with the state to protect members. Fitness centers with prepaid memberships are required to file annual registration with the attorney general’s office and to post bond. The registration requirement helps ensure that fitness centers don’t collect…
by MATT MARKGRAF – The Republican-crafted American Health Care Act and concern over pre-existing conditions dominated U.S. Congressman James Comer’s town hall in Marshall County on Wednesday afternoon. Comer faced dissent from a vocal crowd who appeared to largely disagree with the bill. He defended his vote favoring of the measure while explaining certain aspects with which…
by Phillip M. Bailey , The Courier-Journal – Metro Corrections Director Mark Bolton is closing the overflow jail above Louisville police headquarters after moving more than 300 state inmates out of the city’s facilities. The 1950s era space has remained open almost continuously since May 2016 to deal with inmate overcrowding, which has drowned Bolton’s leadership in scrutiny including…
by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS – Students from across the U.S. are expected to arrive in Kentucky this week to participate in a national archery competition. A statement from the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville says the National Archery in the Schools Program Nationals is being held there May 11-13 and expects to attract about 14,000 students from…
by Matthew Glowicki , The Courier-Journal – The commissioner of the state’s department of corrections has abruptly resigned after a little more than a year in the position. Rodney Ballard, commissioner since March 2016, left to pursue a “private sector venture,” according to a statement by the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, which includes the Department of…
by KEVIN WILLIS – The Kentucky School Boards Association says its members will be watching with interest as charter schools open their doors as early as this fall. A bill signed into law by Governor Bevin this year will allow charter schools in the commonwealth for the first time. Charter schools receive public funding and are exempt…
by Andrew Adkins | The Daily Independent – ASHLAND A new strain of deadly fentanyl could have the power to resist an overdose-reversing drug, and overworked first responders are worried more potent opioids might be charging toward northeastern Kentucky. Acrylfentanyl, a new fentanyl analogue, was found at the scenes of two fatal overdoses in western Pennsylvania over the…