By Gil Corsey – LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — They pollute public water, abandon failing sewage plants and stick taxpayers with the bill — and it’s all legal. Kentucky established statutes for a utility company to abandon sewage plants decades ago as the state’s population moved into suburbs and towns where infrastructure and services had not been established. But old…
by Joseph Gerth , @Joe_Gerth – Dan Johnson, the Bullitt County preacher who had photos on his Facebook page depicting President Barack Obama as an ape, defiantly said on Tuesday that he would not follow the wishes of his Republican Party and end his campaign for the state legislature. Instead, standing outside the Bullitt County Courthouse,…
By Tanner Hesterberg | HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) – Kentucky’s two U.S. senators visited the eastern part of the state Tuesday to herald the recent opioid bill. Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul made a stop at Kentucky River Community Care in Hazard for a discussion on how the legislation they helped pass could help stop…
by Tom Loftus and Morgan Watkins , The Courier-Journal – House Speaker Greg Stumbo announced Wednesday he is appointing a committee to investigate what he says have been threats by Gov. Matt Bevin against state lawmakers. The committee will be looking into instances where Bevin may have “forcefully” pressured lawmakers to switch to the GOP, Stumbo…
by VALARIE HONEYCUTT SPEARS, vhoneycutt@herald-leader.com – The birthday cutoff for kindergarten in Kentucky is moving up two months from Oct. 1 to Aug. 1 for the 2017-18 school year. The change means that most children will have to turn 5 by Aug. 1, 2017, in order to enter kindergarten for the 2017-18 school year. But Fayette County Public…
by Sarah Anderson | PRESTONSBURG, Ky. (WYMT) – Organizers from Kentucky Voices for Health held a community forum in Prestonsburg Monday night, to see what folks in the Big Sandy would like to see change in Governor Matt Bevin’s Medicaid proposal. Executive Director of the group, Emily Beauregard, told WYMT the meeting happened during, what they call…
by Tom Loftus , @TomLoftus_CJ – FRANKFORT, Ky. – The revelation by a federal prosecutor at Tim Longmeyer’s sentencing that the former state Personnel Cabinet secretary arranged for $100,000 or more in illegal straw campaign contributions could have significant implications for a state investigation of Longmeyer. But the special prosecutor heading the state investigation said Monday…
by The Associated Press – FRANKFORT, KY. — Baptist Health Plan says it will not sell policies in Kentucky next year, meaning about 7,000 people will have to find a new insurance provider. Kentucky’s fourth-largest insurer notified state officials in a letter. In a news release, state officials say company President James S. Fritz said Baptist Health…
by ASSOCIATED PRESS – A Kentucky state lawmaker has been appointed to a task force of female legislators from across the country focusing on mental health and substance abuse policies. The Kentucky Enquirer reports Republican state Rep. Addia Wuchner of Florence was recently appointed to the Women In Government’s National Task Force on Mental Health…
by Kevin Wheatley, @KWheatley_cn2 – The Republican State Leadership Committee is launching an advertising campaign on eastern Kentucky airwaves linking House Speaker Greg Stumbo with national Democrats. The 30-second television spot, titled “Changed,” features Stumbo expressing his support for President Barack Obama’s values and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s plan for eastern Kentucky’s economy juxtaposed with her…