Youth

Juvenile justice would get more money, more scrutiny under bills approved by Kentucky Senate

BY: - March 7, 2023

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Senate Tuesday unanimously passed two bills aimed at stemming what lawmakers called a crisis in Kentucky’s Department of Juvenile Justice. Senate Bill 162, sponsored by Sen.  Danny Carroll, R-Benton, would allot more than $50 million for salaries, retention, new workers and security upgrades, including $30 million for workers in the adult […]

Kentucky juvenile justice reforms have multi-million dollar price tags, state budget director says

BY: - February 14, 2023

FRANKFORT — State Budget Director and Executive Cabinet Secretary John Hicks told lawmakers Tuesday that the price tags to support executive branch reforms in the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice are $20 million in the next fiscal year’s operating budget and $26 million in the current capital budget.  Amid discussions about Kentucky’s juvenile justice system, […]

Students could use KEES to pay for certificate programs under bill clearing House Education Committee

BY: - February 14, 2023

FRANKFORT — Four bills that clarify and expand existing programs in Kentucky schools moved forward in the legislative process.  The bills, which are all sponsored by Republicans, received favorable recommendations from the House Education Committee Tuesday. Topics they address are dual credit courses, higher education scholarships, qualifications for classified school employees and insured student loans.  […]

Transgender youth face uncertain future as legislation targets their identities

BY: - February 13, 2023

In many ways, Alex Lounsbury has been lucky. He knows that. Now in his senior year at Atkins High School, a technology magnet in Winston-Salem, N.C., he’s happy, healthy and looking toward the future. But it wasn’t easy getting there. Assigned female at birth, Alex knew he was transgender by the time he was in […]

Is 16 old enough to serve on a county conservation board?

BY: - 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 […]