Apr 20 Local News Lawmakers End Special Session by Josh James, Kentucky Public Radio The seventh straight special session in Frankfort has ended with agreements on a transportation budget and House Bill 1, dubbed the “pill mill bill.” The former survived after eleventh hour negotiations between the House and Senate produced a watered down compromise. The revised bull keeps KASPER, the state’s drug tracking […] By WFPL News Apr 20 Local News Lawmakers End Special Session WFPL News
Apr 18 Local News Local Media Criticizing Special Session In the wake of another special session after the 2012 General Assembly, the Louisville Courier-Journal is encouraging readers to add a “Kentucky Held Hostage” button to their Twitter of Facebook profile in protest. The newspaper asks residents if they are frustrated that state lawmakers have returned to Frankfort and gives them the option to post […] By WFPL News Apr 18 Local News Local Media Criticizing Special Session WFPL News
Apr 18 Local News Beshear Signs Road Plan, Vetoes Projects in Williams’s District Governor Steve Beshear signed Kentucky’s six-year road plan this afternoon and vetoed several projects in the state’s two-year road plan. According to a release from Beshear’s office, the line item vetoes in the two-year plan are only in Senate President David Williams’s district. This comes on the heels of a public feud between the two […] By Kenny Colston Apr 18 Local News Beshear Signs Road Plan, Vetoes Projects in Williams’s District Kenny Colston
Apr 18 Local News Grayson: Beshear and Williams Are Embarrassing Kentucky Former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson criticized both Governor Steve Beshear and state Senate President David Williams, saying their ongoing rivalry is embarrassing the commonwealth. “It’s a continuation of the last several years of the governor not being able to develop strong positive relationships with not just the Republican-controlled Senate, but also the Democratic-controlled […] By WFPL News Apr 18 Local News Grayson: Beshear and Williams Are Embarrassing Kentucky WFPL News
Apr 16 Local News Lawmakers Return for Special Session Kentucky lawmakers are returning to Frankfort today to begin a special session called by Governor Steve Beshear. Beshear has ordered lawmakers to take up a funding bill for the state’s road plan and one addressing prescription pill abuse. Those were the two major bills that died in the final hours of the 2012 regular session […] By Kenny Colston Apr 16 Local News Lawmakers Return for Special Session Kenny Colston
Apr 13 Local News Conway Disappointed Over Prescription Drug Bill Failure In a statement, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway expressed disappointment with state lawmakers for failing to pass legislation to combat prescription drug abuse. The initial proposal required doctors to use KASPER, which is the state’s prescription monitoring system set up to crack down on “pill mill” operators. It also required that pain management clinics be […] By WFPL News Apr 13 Local News Conway Disappointed Over Prescription Drug Bill Failure WFPL News
Apr 11 Local News Beshear Denounces Planned Neo-Nazi Demonstration Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear responded to a planned rally by a Michigan-based neo-Nazi group, which claims it will march on the state Capitol in Frankfort on April 21. The National Socialist Movement announced the demonstration will focus on “illegal immigration, rampant crime, the recession and white civil rights.” According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, […] By WFPL News Apr 11 Local News Beshear Denounces Planned Neo-Nazi Demonstration WFPL News
Mar 13 Local News Stein Calls Out Williams for SEC Tournament Trip Adding more fuel to their burning rivalry, state Sen. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, continued her criticism of state Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, over his recent trip to New Orleans for the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference basketball tournament during the legislative session. The Senate changed its schedule and did not take up any legislation last Thursday or […] By WFPL News Mar 13 Local News Stein Calls Out Williams for SEC Tournament Trip WFPL News
Mar 6 Local News House Committee Jousts Over Bill to Drug Test Welfare Recipients A bill that would allow for drug testing of adult Kentuckians who receive public assistance will receive a hearing this week, but the legislation’s sponsor and committee chairman are jousting over the proposal. The bill would set up random blood and urine testing for those who get welfare benefits, food stamps, Medicaid and other state […] By WFPL News Mar 6 Local News House Committee Jousts Over Bill to Drug Test Welfare Recipients WFPL News
Mar 5 Local News ACLU-KY to Hold Death Penalty Discussion The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky will host a discussion on the collateral consequences of the death penalty later this month. Death penalty opponents are also drawing attention to legislation in the Kentucky General Assembly that would prohibit the execution of severely mentally ill inmates and another bill that would abolish the practice altogether. […] By WFPL News Mar 5 Local News ACLU-KY to Hold Death Penalty Discussion WFPL News
Feb 27 Local News Stumbo Says Budget Modifications Will Be Minor The leader of the Kentucky House of Representatives says his chamber will make few changes to Governor Steve Beshear’s budget. Beshear released his two-year budget plan earlier this year. It calls for cuts of more than eight percent to most state agencies. And it includes roughly six percent cuts for higher education. House leadership has […] By Kenny Colston Feb 27 Local News Stumbo Says Budget Modifications Will Be Minor Kenny Colston
Feb 23 Local News Gambling Amendment Fails in Kentucky Senate The Kentucky Senate has rejected a measure that would amend the state constitution to legalize casinos in Kentucky. The issue has long been a legislative priority of Governor Steve Beshear, and this year was the first in which he attempted to expand gambling by amending the constitution. The bill cleared committee yesterday, but failed on […] By Gabe Bullard Feb 23 Local News Gambling Amendment Fails in Kentucky Senate Gabe Bullard
Feb 16 Local News Council Members Urge State Lawmakers to Support Charter Schools A bipartisan group of Louisville Metro Council members have signed a letter urging the Kentucky General Assembly to support charter schools legislation. Earlier this week, the House Education Committee held a hearing on a bill that would create charter schools in the state. Several supporters testified that Kentucky is being left behind as one of […] By WFPL News Feb 16 Local News Council Members Urge State Lawmakers to Support Charter Schools WFPL News
Feb 13 Local News Watkins Encourages HPV Vaccine for Males and Females by Dan Conti, Kentucky Public Radio After years of championing mandatory HPV vaccinations for young women, state Representative David Watkins has sponsored a resolution encouraging all Kentuckians to be vaccinated. The human pappilomavirus is linked to cervical cancer and the vaccine is recommended for young women. But males can transmit the virus and some HPV […] By Gabe Bullard Feb 13 Local News Watkins Encourages HPV Vaccine for Males and Females Gabe Bullard
Feb 13 Local News Legislative Candidates Frustrated With Limbo Status Several candidates for state legislative office are decrying the partisanship in Frankfort that has put their bids in limbo. The General Assembly approved new district maps last month, but the plans faced legal challenges and were thrown out last week by Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherds’ ruling. That’s caused candidates who are running in the […] By WFPL News Feb 13 Local News Legislative Candidates Frustrated With Limbo Status WFPL News