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KFTC seeks investigation of surface mining’s role in deadly Kentucky floods
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 13, 2023
A Kentucky advocacy group is calling on the federal government to launch an investigation into whether a legacy of surface coal mining in Eastern Kentucky exacerbated the catastrophic, deadly flooding the region faced last July. Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC), a progressive, grassroots organization known for lobbying on environmental issues, made public Monday a letter […]
GOP lawmakers seeking oversight of disaster donations, while Beshear defends funds’ transparency
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 10, 2023
Republican lawmakers want more oversight of disaster relief funds following a report that checks from donations had been sent to people unaffected by the December 2021 tornado outbreak. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported earlier this month thousands of dollars worth of $1,000 relief checks, provided through the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund, were sent in […]
Kentucky House impeaches suspended prosecutor who reportedly traded nude images for favors
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 9, 2023
The Kentucky House of Representatives unanimously voted Thursday afternoon to impeach a suspended elected prosecutor who reportedly asked for nude photos and videos in exchange for prosecutorial favors. An impeachment committee, chaired by Rep. Daniel Elliott, R-Danville, had advanced three articles of impeachment earlier this week against Commonwealth’s Attorney Ronnie Goldy. A Louisville Courier Journal […]
Income tax cut bill passed through the Kentucky Senate, headed to governor’s desk
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 8, 2023
The GOP-controlled Kentucky Senate passed legislation Wednesday afternoon along party lines that would further cut the state’s income tax to 4%, sending the bill to the desk of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear who remains mum on whether he’ll veto the tax cut. House Bill 1, highlighted by Republican lawmakers as a priority to pass well […]
Income tax cut bill passes easily out of Kentucky Senate committee
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 8, 2023
A top priority for Republicans in the Kentucky legislature, a bill that would further cut the state’s income tax, sped out of a Senate committee easily Wednesday morning. The comments of support by GOP lawmakers for House Bill 1 and testimony critical of the bill mirrored past discussion surrounding the legislation when it sailed through […]
Kentucky House committee advances impeachment articles against suspended prosecutor
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 7, 2023
A Kentucky House impeachment committee has advanced three articles of impeachment against a suspended elected prosecutor accused of asking a defendant for nude photos and videos in exchange for prosecutorial favors. The Kentucky Supreme Court suspended Ronnie Goldy — the commonwealth’s attorney for the 21st Judicial Circuit serving Rowan, Menifee, Bath and Montgomery counties — […]
‘Black history is American history’: Lawmakers lead celebration of Black Kentucky history
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 7, 2023
Members of the Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus marked Black History Month and the arrival of lawmakers back to the state Capitol Tuesday with a celebration of Black history, being joined by the justices of the Kentucky Supreme Court, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican legislative leadership. Rep. Pamela Stevenson, D-Louisville, who’s the Democratic candidate for […]
Kentucky counties, cities increasingly adopting ordinances to regulate solar energy projects
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 7, 2023
A new interactive map shows Kentucky counties and cities that have in recent years adopted ordinances to regulate solar projects amid rising interest by solar developers in establishing installations throughout the state. The online map, created by the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, highlights county and city governments that have created ordinances to provide a […]
Millions in donations were sent for tornado relief. Survivors wonder where the money is.
By: Liam Niemeyer - February 4, 2023
MAYFIELD — Doug Irby, owner of a mold removal and home foundation repair company, sees daily reminders that Kentuckians still need help to recover from the tornadoes of December 2021. Yet most of the donations that Kentucky has set aside to help victims pay for unmet needs remain untapped, leaving survivors wondering if that help […]
Kentucky receiving an additional $182 million in federal funds for broadband
By: Liam Niemeyer - January 26, 2023
Gov. Andy Beshear joined U.S. Department of the Treasury officials to announce more than $182 million in federal funding Thursday for broadband deployment throughout Kentucky, padding onto hundreds of millions of dollars the state has already invested in expanding internet access. The federal funding, made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, is one of […]
Beshear, oil and gas leaders pitch using fossil fuels to make hydrogen fuel in Kentucky
By: Liam Niemeyer - January 25, 2023
LOUISVILLE — Gov. Andy Beshear joined the lobbying organization for Kentucky’s oil and gas industries Wednesday to pitch a new energy future for the commonwealth: creating hydrogen fuel for generating electricity, transportation and more through the use of natural gas. The Democratic governor speaking before the inaugural Kentucky Hydrogen Summit in downtown Louisville, organized by the Kentucky Oil […]
Is 16 old enough to serve on a county conservation board?
By: Liam Niemeyer - January 20, 2023
A Kentucky teenager made history last fall when he became one of the youngest people ever to win elected office in the state, gaining a spot on his county’s soil and water conservation district board. But his victory may become an electoral outlier if lawmakers pass a bill that would prevent other teenagers from doing […]