Kenny Colston

A recent decision on drug co-pays by a statewide Medicaid operator has independent pharmacists upset -- again.

In January, complaints from a group of pharmacists drew attention to problems in Kentucky’s Medicaid managed care system.

Back then, they were angry over a lack of co-pays on drugs. Now, managed care operator Coventry Cares has reversed course, claiming it will now charge co-pays.

But in doing so, Kentucky pharmacist Jason Wallace said the managed care operators are just moving money around, not actually compensating pharmacists any better than before.

  There are no statewide races on the ballot in Kentucky this year: no Senate contests, no constitutional offices. But there are tight contests peppered throughout the commonwealth. Republicans are trying to take control of the state House this year. They need 10 seats to do so.

As the Nov. 6 election fast approaches, an outside Republican group is dropping a six figure ad buy to help the GOP in state legislative races.

The Republican State Leadership Committee is running television and radio ads in Louisville and western Kentucky and sending political mail to another 10 or so House races across the state. 

Kentucky officials are once again facing the prospect of lawsuits over efforts to expand managed health care within  Medicaid. 

This time, it's Passport Health Plan that is threatening to sue, based on what they call broken rules and promises made to them. 

(Read the letter here.)

Kentucky Senate Republicans have appointed President Pro Temp Katie Stine as the new legislative co-chair for their chamber as David Williams prepares to depart as Senate president.

The GOP cannot name a new president until lawmakers convene again in January, but current Stine will assume the duties and serve as temporary co-chair of the Legislative Research Commission.

There are competitive races this year for the U.S. House, but five of Kentucky's six races have heavy favorites the week before the election. 

The Sixth

This rematch between Democratic Rep. Ben Chandler and Republican attorney Andy Barr was suppose to be easier for Chandler than the 2010 campaign, which he won by less than 700 votes.

But the campaign has turned nasty over coal issues and independent polling has been non-existent. Both campaign claim they are ahead and will win on Nov. 6.

The campaign for control of the state House has taken a nasty turn, with radio and TV ads being pulled because of inaccuracies.

Republicans have successfully knocked radio ads attacking their candidates off the air in the Bardstown and Mayfield areas. And they are working on getting TV ads in Lexington pulled down as well.

The areas where the ads were pulled are considered hot spots for state legislative races, where either the GOP or Democrats are hoping to win seats. 

A Kentucky state representative wants to change how prisoners are allocated when it comes to Census data.  Should the Census Count Inmates Where They Live or Where They're Imprisoned?

State Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, doesn’t want prisoners counted as residents of the counties where they are imprisoned.

But that’s currently how state law works. So Owens is proposing to change the law to let inmates be counted as residents of their last home address.

Since the campaign for control of the Kentucky House started, Democrats and supportive outside groups have used outgoing Senate President David Williams as an attack on GOP candidates.

For weeks, the outside group Kentucky Family Values has sent out political mail attempting to link GOP incumbents and challengers as "votes for Williams" in Frankfort. 

But now that Williams is set to become a judge, Republicans say the attacks aren't relevant.

Kentucky veterans suffering from substance abuse who are charged with crimes will soon be able to enter a treatment program through a new statewide partnership.

The Veterans Treatment Court is starting in Louisville. It’s a partnership by the statewide drug courts, Morehead State University and the veterans’ administration.

A majority of veterans who commit crimes after ending their active duty do so because of substance abuse, District Judge David Holton said. So the state is setting up special courts to help.