Posts
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 […]
Kentucky bill decriminalizing fentanyl test strips heads to governor
FRANKFORT – A bipartisan bill that would decriminalize fentanyl test strips in Kentucky has now passed both chambers and is headed to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk. The Kentucky Senate passed House Bill 353 Thursday night. The House concurred unanimously in the final hours of the 2023 legislative session. Fentanyl test strips are paper strips that […]
3 Republicans running for Kentucky governor decry Trump indictment as politically motivated
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles. FRANKFORT — Kentucky Republicans running for governor are decrying the indictment of former President Donald Trump as politics. Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who was endorsed by Trump in June 2022, called the indictment “politically motivated,” in a statement shared on social media. “Like […]
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. […]
Medical marijuana will be legal in Kentucky, but not until 2025
FRANKFORT — On the last day of the legislative session, the Kentucky General Assembly has passed a bill that legalizes medical marijuana for some Kentuckians who suffer from chronic illnesses. The House voted 66-33 to approve Senate Bill 47. Representatives have passed similar measures in previous years, but this year marked the first time legislation […]
Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury, according to reports
WASHINGTON — A New York criminal grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump, according to multiple news reports Thursday night citing persons familiar with the case. A former president has never been indicted before. Trump is also a Republican candidate in the 2024 race for the presidency. The New York Times and Washington Post […]
White House calls on financial regulators to bring back safeguards for regional banks
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration, placing blame on Trump-era rollbacks, Thursday called on federal banking regulators to reinstate safeguards for regional banks after the record-setting collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank of New York earlier this month. The White House wants the agencies to revive regular stress testing at banks in the $100- […]
U.S. House passes sweeping energy bill pushing back against Biden climate policies
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House on Thursday approved a bill packed with Republican energy priorities meant to counteract the Biden administration’s approach and boost U.S. oil and gas production. Numbered H.R. 1 as a signal that energy policy is the House majority’s top legislative priority, the bill includes a package of GOP proposals, ranging from […]
U.S. judge rules insurers don’t have to cover many free preventive health services
WASHINGTON — Health insurance companies may no longer need to cover a wide swath of preventive health care services that were required by the 2010 Affordable Care Act, under a federal judge’s ruling issued Thursday in Texas. The decision could affect millions of Americans’ access to no-cost preventive health care — including pregnancy-related care, cancer […]
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 […]
Kentucky Senate Judiciary chairman will not seek reelection in 2024
A Republican state senator from Western Kentucky has announced that he will not seek reelection. Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, released a statement about his decision on social media Thursday morning, the last day of the current legislative session. He said he was “eager to spend more time with my family” after his term ends […]
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 […]