Author

Jack Brammer
Jack Brammer, a native of Maysville, has been a news reporter in Kentucky since 1976. He worked two years for The Sentinel-News in Shelbyville and then from 1978 to 2021 in the Lexington Herald-Leader's Frankfort bureau. After retiring in December 2021 from the Herald-Leader, he became a freelance writer for various publications. Brammer has a Master's degree in communications from the University of Kentucky and is a member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.
Kentucky lame-duck lawmakers flew to Hawaii on taxpayers’ tab
By: Jack Brammer - March 24, 2023
Seven lame-duck lawmakers were among 26 members of the Kentucky General Assembly who attended a conference last December in Hawaii. The trip cost taxpayers more than $86,000. The conference of the Council of State Governments in Honolulu, which attracted more than 1,000 state legislators from across the country, offered workshops on various governmental issues. It was […]
Northern Kentucky University sets up search for new president amidst gloomy financial picture
By: Jack Brammer - March 16, 2023
The Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents took several big steps Wednesday to select a new president after its budget officials outlined financial woes that may lead to higher tuition and student services fees. The board hired at an undisclosed amount a firm to conduct a national search for a new president and appointed a […]
Bill moves to let Kentucky Horse Park hire outside merit system, share in local ‘bedroom’ tax
By: Jack Brammer - March 3, 2023
A state legislative panel unanimously approved a bill Thursday that would allow the Kentucky Horse Park to exclude its new hires from the state merit system designed to protect employees from political influence and enable the park to share in the “bedroom tax” collected by hotels, motels and other providers of overnight lodging in Fayette […]
‘Moms for Liberty’ gets three books removed from Campbell County school libraries
By: Jack Brammer - February 16, 2023
Campbell County’s public schools have removed three books from their libraries at the urging of Moms for Liberty, a group that says it is “dedicated to the survival of America” by defending parental rights. But PEN America, a national organization founded in 1923 that defends and celebrates free expression, says the efforts by Moms for […]
Kentucky legislators get pay hike after voting increase for themselves but not for teachers
By: Jack Brammer - January 19, 2023
Most state lawmakers will be getting an 8% pay raise in 2023 and a boost in other expenses. They voted for the pay hike last year for themselves and most state workers but not for teachers. That does not go over well with the Kentucky Education Association and KY 120 United, an advocacy group for […]
Biden visiting Covington Wednesday to talk infrastructure, jobs in wake of toll-free funding plan for I-75 bridge
By: Jack Brammer - January 2, 2023
This article is republished from the Northern Kentucky Tribune. President Joe Biden is to visit Covington Wednesday to tout how his economic plan is rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure, using the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project as a major example. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, U.S. Senate Republican Mitch McConnell of Louisville and […]
Kentucky Horse Park seeking to exclude new hires from merit system, share in local ‘bedroom’ tax
By: Jack Brammer - December 5, 2022
The Kentucky Horse Park wants state lawmakers to approve legislation that would exclude its new hires from the state merit system designed to protect employees from political influence. It also is seeking enabling legislation to allow the park to tap into the transient or “bedroom” tax collected by hotels, motels and other providers of overnight […]
Stivers says Senate GOP will decide soon whether to change abortion ban
By: Jack Brammer - December 1, 2022
This article is published with permission from the Northern Kentucky Tribune, a nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism. “It’s hard to tell” if Kentucky voters’ decision last month against a constitutional amendment to eliminate abortion rights from the state Constitution means the people want abortion allowed in cases involving rape and incest, the […]