Politics

In an election year, Republicans denounce Beshear for veto of anti-trans bill 

BY: - March 24, 2023

Republicans wasted no time jumping on Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto of a bill Friday that put LGBTQ rights and public schools in the political spotlight, setting the stage for both issues to play a leading role in this year’s race for governor. Republican gubernatorial candidates Daniel Cameron, Kelly Craft and Ryan Quarles quickly issued […]

Beshear vetoes bill subjecting Kentucky’s top education official to Senate confirmation

BY: - March 24, 2023

Editor’s note: This story was updated with a statement from the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 107, Sen. Mike Wilson, R-Bowling Green. Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a bill subjecting Kentucky’s top education official to Senate confirmation.  Senate Bill 107 would require Senate confirmation of the Kentucky Board of Education’s pick for education commissioner. In […]

Transgender teen: Anti-LGBTQ bills mean Kentucky doesn’t want me here

BY: - March 22, 2023

This story discusses suicide and anti-LGBTQ attacks. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.  The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or […]

Kelly Craft, her coal exec spouse give maximum $10,000 each to Republican Party of Kentucky

BY: - March 21, 2023

FRANKFORT — Republican candidate for governor Kelly Craft and her husband Joe Craft each contributed $10,000 to the Republican Party of Kentucky last month. The two Crafts were among 12 donors who each gave $10,000 to the RPK in February, according to a report the party filed late last week with the Federal Election Commission. Five of […]

Republicans push back against education commissioner’s criticism

BY: - March 20, 2023

Two Republican office holders on Monday slammed Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass for his criticism of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation enacted by the General Assembly.   House Speaker Pro Tem David Meade, R-Stanford, said in a statement that Glass “once again makes it abundantly clear that it is not the legislature that is politicizing the state’s classrooms and […]

Legislature approves ‘random’ venue changes for Kentuckians challenging state laws, decisions

BY: - March 20, 2023

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  […]

Kentucky education commissioner says legislature put youth at risk with anti-LGBTQ bill

BY: - March 17, 2023

The day after Kentucky lawmakers rapidly changed and passed a bill to include measures banning gender-affirming care for minors, the state’s top education official decried the “sweeping and harmful” legislation. Kentucky Education Commissioner Jason Glass said the latest version of Senate Bill 150 “contains provisions that will put our young people at risk, have the […]

Kentucky legislature passes anti-trans bill 

BY: , and - March 16, 2023

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.  The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or by texting START to 678678.  FRANKFORT — […]

Kentucky House tries to revive anti-trans legislation stalled in Senate

BY: - March 16, 2023

FRANKFORT — With time running out in this session, House Republicans tried on Thursday to revive anti-trans legislation that has stalled in the Senate. In a hastily called committee meeting, provisions restricting health care for trans youth were grafted onto Senate Bill 150, described by sponsor Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, as a “parents rights” measure, […]

Shelves of library books

Kentucky House approves book challenge bill after multiple attempts to alter it fail

BY: - March 16, 2023

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky House rejected pleas of some Republicans to add a ban on  public drag shows and some parental rights provisions to a bill mandating a complaint process for parents to challenge school materials they consider “harmful to minors.” Senate Bill 5, primarily sponsored by Sen. Jason Howell, R-Murray, came onto the House […]

Anti-trans bill paused in Senate as Republicans split

BY: - March 15, 2023

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate narrowly voted to postpone consideration of House Bill 470 — after  adopting a floor amendment that loosened the controversial bill’s health-care restrictions on trans youth. The 19-17 vote came at 9:34 p.m. Wednesday after two breaks for closed-door Republican caucuses.   Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, proposed cutting about 30 pages of […]

Kentucky Education Association cries foul as legislature blocks payroll deductions for its dues

BY: - March 15, 2023

FRANKFORT – A bill that would stop automatic payroll deductions for dues of certain public employees who are part of a union or association has been passed by both the House and Senate Representatives voted 66-33 on Senate Bill 7 Wednesday evening. The bill seeks to stop government resources going to political funds. The Kentucky […]