by Antoinette Konz – LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A Kentucky lawmaker has filed a bill that would require all public high school students to pass a civics test in order to receive a regular diploma. Sen. Jared Carpenter, a Republican from Berea, filed Senate Bill 159 on Friday, which would direct the Kentucky Department of Education to “prepare…
by Jason Riley – LOUISVILLE, Ky., (WDRB) – Three Kentucky Senators have filed a bill that would repeal a law requiring sexual and workplace harassment training for General Assembly members. In addition, Senate Bill 152 would reduce the required ethics training time for lawmakers from three hours to 30 minutes. The bill, filed Friday by Senators…
BY LINDA BLACKFORD, lblackford@herald-leader.com – Some Kentucky State University faculty and alumni are pushing back after the school’s board of regents announced Friday that their $120,000 search for a new president had produced two finalists with controversial backgrounds and one with less than two years experience in higher education. Left off the list of finalists was interim…
by Phillip M. Bailey , @phillipmbailey – Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer talks Louisville’s poor neighborhoods, jobs, and Gov. Matt Bevin’s comments on gun violence in Louisville. Mayor Greg Fischer wants state lawmakers to consider giving Louisville better tools to prevent gun violence, including repealing a law that forbids police from destroying confiscated firearms. Speaking to Metro Council Democrats on Thursday,…
by Madeline Janicki – The words U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell used to end a floor speech from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, have become a rallying cry among feminists and Democrats, and now Reebok is putting the phrase on a shirt. Last Tuesday, McConnell, R-Kentucky, defended the use of rule 19, a regulation that bars…
by WUKY STAFF – An Urban County Councilwoman has run into some substantial legal troubles. The Public Information officer for the Lexington Police Department says Sasha Love Higgins, who represents the city’s Second District, has been charged with second-degree forgery, theft by deception and identity theft. Brenna Angel tells media outlets they started an investigation after…
by Scott Wartman , swartman@nky.com – With the Republicans in complete control of all branches of state government, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin painted a rosy picture of Kentucky’s future on Wednesday. It was Bevin’s first State of the Commonwealth address since Kentucky Republicans took control of the Kentucky House of Representatives this past election. That might be why…
BY JOHN CHEVES, jcheves@herald-leader.com – FRANKFORT — Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, said Wednesday that he wants to place limits on the taxing authority of local library boards by requiring their members to either be elected or appointed by an elected official, such as the county judge-executive. Staring at a hearing room full of library supporters wearing yellow…
by RYLAND BARTON – A proposal to make sweeping changes to Kentucky’s criminal code might be slowing down in response to criticism from law enforcement and local governments. The bill is part of a reform effort to reduce the state’s prison costs and keep people out of jail. Among many other things, the bill would eliminate the…
by STU JOHNSON (KPR) – General Assembly members reconvened at the state capitol Tuesday after just over a month break in this 30 day session. Senate President Robert Stivers anticipates votes on the floor this Thursday and Friday. While seven bills won final passage during the opening week in January, Stivers indicated it may be a slower…