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Legislature votes to phase out tax on aging bourbon despite pleas from local officials
FRANKFORT — A bill to give Kentucky’s bourbon industry a property tax break on barrels of aging whiskey — something distillers have been asking for and some local communities say will “devastate” their budgets — saw last-minute changes before passing the legislature on the last day of the session House Bill 5, primarily sponsored by […]
Sports gambling makes it across the finish line
FRANKFORT — A bill to legalize sports betting in Kentucky overcame a hurdle that’s stopped it in the past with the Kentucky Senate approving the measurel in the final hours of this year’s legislative session. The bill has full passage from the GOP-controlled Kentucky legislature and would just need to be signed by Democratic Gov. […]
Kentucky Senate convicts former prosecutor in first impeachment trial in more than a century
FRANKFORT — In the first Kentucky Senate impeachment trial in more than a century, senators on Thursday unanimously convicted a former prosecutor who asked a defendant for nude images in exchange for prosecutorial favors. The Kentucky Supreme Court suspended Ronnie Goldy — the former commonwealth’s attorney for the 21st Judicial Circuit serving Rowan, Menifee, Bath […]
Nine military service members die when Black Hawk helicopters based at Fort Campbell crash
FRANKFORT — Nine U.S. service members died when two Black Hawk helicopters based at Fort Campbell crashed Wednesday night, the Army announced Thursday morning. One helicopter had five soldiers aboard, the other four. The crews were flying at night with night vision as part of a training exercise. There were no survivors. Kentucky Gov. Andy […]
Officials say water supply is safe as barges remain stuck at Ohio River dam near Louisville
Federal and state officials say a salvage team won’t be able to remove barges pinned against an Ohio River dam in a “navigation accident,” one of them carrying about 1,400 tons of the industrial chemical methanol, until the river levels drop. Several barges were set loose in the early morning hours Tuesday, leading to three […]
Legislature overrides all Beshear vetoes, could still pass medical marijuana and sports betting
FRANKFORT — Republicans on Wednesday flexed their supermajorities to override all 15 vetoes by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, while other notable legislation still awaits final passage. The GOP-controlled legislature could give final passage to bills legalizing medical marijuana and sports gambling after failed attempts to do so in past years. The legislature also could repeal […]
Loose barges, one carrying tons of methanol, pinned against Ohio River dam in Louisville
LOUISVILLE — Officials from multiple state and federal agencies are trying to recover barges that remain pinned against an Ohio River dam near Louisville, with one carrying about 1,400 tons of the industrial chemical methanol, according to a state agency. Officials said there has not been any evidence of a chemical leak. A release earlier […]
Veto overrides and sine die: What to expect the final two days of Kentucky’s legislative session
The Kentucky General Assembly reconvenes Wednesday for the last two days of this year’s session with some closely-watched bills still to consider and a chance to override more than a dozen vetoes of Republican-backed legislation by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. Since March 17, Beshear has had a ten-day period to consider whether to veto legislation […]
Beshear vetoes bill allowing ‘random’ venue changes in cases challenging Kentucky laws, decisions
Calling it an “unconstitutional power grab,” Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a Republican-backed bill Friday that allows a court case challenging the constitutionality of Kentucky laws and orders to be moved at random to a new courtroom across the state. Senate Bill 126, sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, would give plaintiffs, defendants and the […]
Bill aiming to preserve Kentucky’s coal-fired power plants becomes law without Beshear’s signature
A bill that would make it harder for Kentucky’s utility regulator to allow utilities to retire coal plants on the state’s electricity grid became law Friday without Gov. Andy Beshear’s signature. Senate Bill 4, primarily sponsored by Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson, would create a series of prerequisites on the Kentucky Public Service Commission before it […]
Beshear vetoes solar decommissioning bill, saying it weakens local control
Renewable energy developers have surged into Kentucky in recent years, seeking to establish large-scale solar installations covering thousands of acres with panels to harvest energy from the sun. It’s what happens to these large-scale projects at the end of their lives decades from now that Republican lawmakers have tried to address with a bill that […]
Legislature approves ‘random’ venue changes for Kentuckians challenging state laws, decisions
FRANKFORT — Kentuckians challenging the constitutionality of state laws and executive branch decisions could move their lawsuits across the state at random, under a Republican-backed bill approved by the legislature last week. Lawyers representing the state also would be entitled to random changes of venue. The sponsor, Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, called Senate Bill 126 […]