Gov. Matt Bevin has named replacement judges/executive in two Kentucky counties. Bevin named Kevin Williams, of Irvine, as Judge-Executive of Estill County, replacing Wallace Taylor, who has resigned. Williams is a lifelong resident of Estill County and previously served as a member of the Irvine City Council from 1990 to 1994. He was subsequently elected…
By STU JOHNSON – Kentucky Court of Appeals Judge Janet Stumbo retires the end of this week after 26 years of service to the state’s two appellate courts. The Floyd County native says the makeup of those courts changed significantly over the last two decades. Judge Stumbo served two times on the Kentucky Court of Appeals with…
By STU JOHNSON (KPR) – Eastern Kentucky University President Michael Benson expects to spend a great deal of time in the state capital over the next few months. That is likely to include the night Governor Bevin unveils his budget proposal for the next two years. Benson said that will begin the discussion over funding of…
During the upcoming legislative session, lawmakers will focus on making changes to the state’s pension systems and passing a two-year state budget. But legislators are also eyeing making more changes to laws governing how Kentuckians can sue doctors for malpractice — a year after passing a law that requires claims to be reviewed by a…
by Morgan Watkins, Louisville Courier Journal – The community of Ashland, Kentucky, looks forward to Braidy Industries building an aluminum plant nearby that may boost the economy. Sam Upshaw Jr./Louisville Courier Journal Braidy Industries Inc., which plans to build a state-subsidized $1.3 billion aluminum rolling mill near Ashland, on Monday publicly named several shareholders, including a…
By DEBORAH HIGHLAND dhighland@bgdailynews.com – In an order issued Tuesday, the state Judicial Conduct Commission found retired Barren and Metcalfe counties Family Court Judge Mitchell Nance guilty of misconduct and issued a public reprimand. Nance issued an order April 27 stating he would no longer hear adoption cases involving “homosexual parties” because of his belief that…
The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) is seeking additional feedback on current English/language arts (ELA) standards and current mathematics standards. Previous feedback collected through October 2017 focused on individual standards. To ensure transition- readiness for all for all students, KDE is seeking further public input regarding the cumulative grade-to-grade progression of K-12 ELA standards at…
by Kyeland Jackson – As the University of Louisville Foundation continues with reforms, donations to the school have dropped. During a Foundation board meeting Wednesday, members discussed school contributions — which have declined since fiscal year 2015. During that year, donors gave U of L $82.2 million. In fiscal year 2017, they gave just over half…
by Adam Harris, WASHINGTON – It looks like one more college might be subject to a new tax on endowments. The House of Representatives will have to revote on a bill to overhaul the nation’s tax code after a handful of provisions were found to be in violation of a key Senate rule. Among the violations: A…
By Marissa Silver | HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) – Both Pike County and Lawrence County schools have closed early for Christmas break because of low attendance due to illness. Doctors say people here in Eastern Kentucky are experiencing respiratory illnesses such as colds, sinus infections and sore throats. “Cold weather, you go from cold to hot and it just sets up…