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…
by Lisa Gillespie – Federal lawmakers are moving ahead with a new approach to health care that includes changing the way insurers cover pre-existing health conditions. But the American Health Care Act that House Republicans voted to advance last week could bring back a program with which some Kentuckians may be familiar: high-risk pool health insurance. Until 2013, these…
by James Bruggers , The Courier-Journal – Lawsuit uses a top Energy and Environment Cabinet official’s own words against the state’s current coal ash position. STORY HIGHLIGHTS The lawsuit claims the new regulations will conflict with other state regulations. At issue is how Kentucky chose to adopt new EPA regulations. State officials have said their new rules will…
by EBONY CLARK – The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives say the state’s public libraries recently set a record in expected funding from the federal Education Rate, or E-Rate, program. E-Rate provides eligible schools and libraries discounts on internet, phone bills and networking equipment. Kentucky has a commitment of $2,083,104 for the July 2016 to the…
(LEX 18) A state representative is accused of illegally transporting alcohol. Wesley Morgan owns several liquor stores and was elected in the State House in November. His ethics have been called into question since he proposed six alcohol-related bills that could benefit his stores. One would require wholesalers to deliver within a week. Another would…
by James Bruggers , The Courier-Journal – The states were ranked by the total number of customers potentially impacted by drinking water violations. STORY HIGHLIGHTS Indiana’s showing was much better than Kentucky’s in this report. Kentucky officials were going over the study Tuesday afternoon. Kentucky fares poorly in a new report by a big national environmental group…
This Jan. 14, 2013 file photo shows U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky. on Capitol Hill in Washington. J. Scott Applewhite AP by BILL ESTEP, bestep@herald-leader.com – The budget Congress will vote on this week would bar completion of a study that would result in charges for cities to use Lake Cumberland as a water source, U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers announced…
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin awarded a Southern Baptist professor a $240,000 contract to lead an overhaul of the state’s troubled adoption and foster care system. Bevin said Daniel S. Dumas will begin his new job on June 19. Dumas is a senior vice president at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,…