Nate Haney, former deputy secretary of Bevin’s cabinet, joining McCarthy Strategic Solutions

by Nick Storm, @NickStorm_cn2 – Nate Haney, a high-level member of Gov. Matt Bevin’s team, is leaving his post in the executive cabinet to join the private-sector lobbying firm of McCarthy Strategic Solutions. The Louisville Republican will join McCarthy Strategic Solutions as a principal. Haney is the highest-level Bevin administration policy staffer to depart the administration for the…

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Kentucky has a Republican speaker of the House for the first time since 1921

BY JACK BRAMMER AND DANIEL DESROCHERS, [email protected] – FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House of Representatives elected its first Republican leader since 1921 Tuesday, completing the GOP’s dominance of state legislative chambers in the South. Jeff Hoover was elected speaker of the House by the 100-member chamber shortly after it convened at noon. “There is much work to be…

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State Climatologist Calls 2016 a “Roller Coaster” Year

by STU JOHNSON (KPR) – The Commonwealth’s state climatologist says predictions for the early part of 2017 indicate higher-than-normal precipitation and temperatures. Stuart Foster says that doesn’t necessarily mean snowfall. “You could have one major storm track where the temperature comes together and the precipitation ends up being frozen and you get a six, eight, ten inch…

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Kentuckians voice conflicting opinions on new rule to protect streams near coal mines

By Angela Reighard | HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT/AP) – The Obama administration has finalized rules designed to reduce the environmental impact of coal mining on the nation’s streams. The Interior Department announced last week the rule will protect 6,000 miles of streams and 52,000 acres of forests, preventing debris from coal mining from being dumped into nearby waters. With coal production…

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Frank Lassiter resisting Bevin investigators

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A former Beshear administration official said on Wednesday that Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration lacks legal authority to force him to cooperate with Bevin’s investigation into what Bevin has said was significant corruption during his predecessor’s years in office. Frank Lassiter said the investigation overseen by Bevin’s Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary does not have the authority…

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Bevin Revamps Public Defenders Office In Effort To Reduce Travel Time

By Ryland Barton – Gov. Matt Bevin has reorganized the state’s agency for public defenders — attorneys who represent those charged with crimes who can’t afford legal representation. The realignment of the Department for Public Advocacy creates three new trial offices by shifting employees and resources from existing offices in order to reduce travel time for public…

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Economist, big donor Laffer to meet with Bevin

by Tom Loftus , @TomLoftus_CJ – FRANKFORT, Ky. – Supply-side economist Arthur Laffer, who with five close associates gave at least $228,500 toward the successful effort to elect Republicans to the Kentucky House this fall, is scheduled to meet with Gov. Matt Bevin on Friday. State Budget Director John Chilton said in a telephone interview early Friday that Laffer…

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