Beshear: “Next Few Weeks Will Be Critical”

By KARYN CZAR Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday tightened restrictions on businesses and banned residential evictions under a state of emergency declaration aimed at addressing the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.The Governor offered details about the new executive order as he warned against complacency in Kentucky’s fight against the COVID-19 outbreak. “The next two to three weeks are going…

Read more

Kentucky lawmakers agree to fully fund teachers’ pensions without caveats in budget talks

by Kevin Wheatley LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Kentucky lawmakers negotiating the state’s next two-year budget agreed Wednesday to fully fund the Kentucky Teachers Retirement System (KTRS), rejecting the Senate’s proposal to withhold more than $1 billion in funding in exchange for structural reforms to the pension program. Lawmakers on the budget conference committee are working to put…

Read more

UK Healthcare, Baptist Health say no visitors except in these cases

LEXINGTON, Ky. — To protect patients, families, employees and the community during the outbreak of COVID-19, UK HealthCare is implementing a no visitation policy beginning midnight tonight in its hospitals and clinics until the threat of COVID-19 transmission has decreased significantly. “These are extraordinary times and we ask for your cooperation and assistance in complying…

Read more

Feds OK Kentucky’s testing and accountability waivers as schools close during pandemic

by Kevin Wheatley LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – Kentucky public schools will not be administering standardized tests for the 2019-20 school year after the U.S. Department of Education approved its waivers to skip the accountability exams during the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Kentucky Department of Education submitted the waiver request Friday, the same day officials with…

Read more

Secretary of State says counties using electronic ballot machines should move to paper ballots

Secretary of State Michael Adams, acting on his promise to ensure ballot integrity and enhance public confidence in our election system, told the House Standing Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs that counties using electronic ballot machines should move to using only paper ballots as soon as fiscally possible. Adams spoke in favor…

Read more

FDA Approves First Rapid COVID-19 Test

By VANESSA ROMO Originally published on March 21, 2020 5:38 pm The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first rapid point-of-care COVID-19 test, that can deliver results in less than an hour. Cepheid, a Silicon Valley diagnostics company, made the announcement on Saturday, saying it has received emergency authorization from the government to use the test. While…

Read more