Jan 10 Local News Bill Tying Teacher Evaluations to Student Performance Passes House Committee Again House Education Chairman Carl Rollins, D-Midway, is once again trying to reform how Kentucky’s teachers are evaluated. The latest incarnation of Rollins’ idea is House Bill 40, which the committee passed Tuesday morning. The legislation would create a statewide teacher evaluation system run by the state Department of Education starting in the 2013 school year. Currently, […] By Kenny Colston Jan 10 Local News Bill Tying Teacher Evaluations to Student Performance Passes House Committee Again Kenny Colston
Jan 6 Local News Shaughnessy Uses Basketball to Create Discussion Over Higher Ed Graduation Rates A state Senator from Louisville has come under fire for trying to legislate that the University of Kentucky and University of Louisville play each other in basketball and football. Democratic Senator Tim Shaughnessy has filed a bill that includes language that requires UK and U of L to play each other every year. But Shaughnessy says […] By Kenny Colston Jan 6 Local News Shaughnessy Uses Basketball to Create Discussion Over Higher Ed Graduation Rates Kenny Colston
Jan 3 Local News Legislative Leaders Want to Ward Off Gridlock, Say 2012 Session Has ‘Potential’ The 2012 Kentucky General Assembly is starting its 60-day budget session with a long list of issues to work out. The highlights are obvious: gambling, the budget, and redrawing congressional districts. But lawmakers must also figure out how to shore up the state’s unemployment insurance and deal with Medicaid managed care problems. And there are […] By Kenny Colston Jan 3 Local News Legislative Leaders Want to Ward Off Gridlock, Say 2012 Session Has ‘Potential’ Kenny Colston
Jan 3 Local News Heiner Returns as Education Advocate Returning to public life, former Louisville mayoral candidate Hal Heiner is encouraging state lawmakers to adopt legislation that would create public charter schools in Kentucky. The East End Republican served on the Metro Council for two terms before making a bid for mayor and losing narrowly to Greg Fischer. Heiner is now chairman of Kentuckians […] By WFPL News Jan 3 Local News Heiner Returns as Education Advocate WFPL News
Jan 3 Local News As Kentucky Legislative Session Opens, Groups Start Stronger Push for Charter Schools The debate over charter schools is one Kentucky educators and legislators have heard and argued over for the last several years. But supporters of the education reform feel one party left out of those discussions is ready to be brought into the fold. A newly formed group called Kentuckians Advocating Reforms in Education (KARE) is […] By Kenny Colston Jan 3 Local News As Kentucky Legislative Session Opens, Groups Start Stronger Push for Charter Schools Kenny Colston
Dec 28 Local News Beshear Will Make Decision on Hospital Merger, Move Aggressively on Gaming Amendment Facing a challenging budget for the upcoming General Assembly, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is promising to lobby state lawmakers aggressively for a constitutional amendment on expanding gaming. A recent poll showed 87 percent of voters want the issue to be on the November 2012 ballot. The survey also found 64 percent of Kentuckians would favor […] By WFPL News Dec 28 Local News Beshear Will Make Decision on Hospital Merger, Move Aggressively on Gaming Amendment WFPL News
Dec 27 Local News New Poll Shows 87 Percent Want Vote on Expanded Gaming A new poll shows an overwhelming number of Kentuckians want a constitutional amendment on expanded gaming to be on the November 2012 ballot and that the measure would likely pass. The poll was conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group in Washington, D.C. for racetrack and horse racing interests. It shows 87 percent of respondents want to […] By WFPL News Dec 27 Local News New Poll Shows 87 Percent Want Vote on Expanded Gaming WFPL News
Dec 22 Local News Abramoff to Lead Ethics Session for State Lawmakers Former Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff will be a featured speaker at an ethics session for state lawmakers at the beginning of the 2012 General Assembly. The Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission invited Abramoff to lead a 90-minute session scheduled for January 4 on how his corrupt actions led to his rise in Washington and eventual imprisonment. […] By WFPL News Dec 22 Local News Abramoff to Lead Ethics Session for State Lawmakers WFPL News
Dec 15 Local News Williams Will Remain State Senate President Despite losing to Democratic Governor Steve Behsear by a whopping 20-point margin in the November 8 general election, Republican state Senate President David Williams will retain his leadership position. According to state Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, the 23-member GOP caucus met late Thursday at its annual retreat to discuss its agenda and leadership, where it […] By WFPL News Dec 15 Local News Williams Will Remain State Senate President WFPL News
Dec 15 Local News Anti-Toll Advocate Running for State Senate Louisville Democrat Shawn Reilly has announced his intention to run for the Kentucky state Senate next year to fill the vacancy left by retiring state Sen. Tim Shaughnessy. The 29-year-old liberal Democrat is a financial adviser who has been involved in several local political groups and campaigns such as the anti-Iraq War movement. But Reilly […] By WFPL News Dec 15 Local News Anti-Toll Advocate Running for State Senate WFPL News
Dec 13 Local News Beshear Favors Amendment for Expanded Gaming Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will introduce a constitutional amendment on expanded gaming during the 2012 General Assembly. The governor told reporters an amendment is a better option than changing state law through the legislature, which convenes in January. Beshear made gaming a centerpiece of his 2007 gubernatorial campaign and his administration has lobbied for it […] By WFPL News Dec 13 Local News Beshear Favors Amendment for Expanded Gaming WFPL News
Nov 29 Local News Beshear Orders Two Percent Cuts to State Spending Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear is ordering most state agencies to cut their budgets by two percent for the current fiscal year, but that will not be enough to close a $190 million budget shortfall. The decision was announced by State Budget Director Mary Lassiter at a joint budget committee meeting Tuesday. The plan will not […] By WFPL News Nov 29 Local News Beshear Orders Two Percent Cuts to State Spending WFPL News
Nov 22 Local News LRC Releases Booklet Outlining 2012 General Assembly Issues Coal ash, tourism and estate taxes are among the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission top issues for next year’s General Assembly session. The LRC released its annual booklet of issues confronting state lawmakers for the upcoming 2012 session. The compendium is compiled by the commission’s staff and discusses both sides of different issues from unemployment insurance […] By WFPL News Nov 22 Local News LRC Releases Booklet Outlining 2012 General Assembly Issues WFPL News