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…
by Kevin Wheatley, @KWheatley_cn2 – Dozens of friends and family members have implored U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for leniency in letters of support for former Personnel Cabinet Secretary Tim Longmeyer ahead of his sentencing on federal bribery charges Thursday. The letters were unsealed Wednesday and include his wife, Lyn Longmeyer; parents, John and Janice Longmeyer; siblings…
by JACK BRAMMER, jbrammer@herald-leader.com – FRANKFORT – A special examination found several policy and financial problems with Kentucky’s criminal justice training program and an associated fund to provide training and incentive pay for officers. The exam of the state Department of Criminal Justice Training and the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund, both of which are housed at Eastern…
by JOSH JAMES – With less than six weeks remaining before Kentucky voters make their way to the polls, Senate candidates Rand Paul and Jim Gray have yet to debate. And the Democratic challenger has been working to make the incumbent’s still-unconfirmed schedule into a campaign issue. “I’ve agreed to do the debates and it’s regrettable…