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
Mar 16 Local News Stumbo Rips UPIKE Report House Speaker Greg Stumbo is blasting a report that recommends the University of Pikeville not be moved into the state university system. Stumbo is a chief supporter of making UPIKE Kentucky’s ninth public university. But a report by an outside agency commissioned by Governor Steve Beshear says the measure wouldn’t do enough to help raise […] By Kenny Colston Mar 16 Local News Stumbo Rips UPIKE Report Kenny Colston
Feb 29 Local News Proposal to Repay Federal Loan Interest Could Save Kentucky Employers From Extra Fees A deal to help Kentucky repay a federal loan is officially on the table. During the recession, the commonwealth borrowed more than $900 million from the federal government to shore up the unemployment insurance fund. In 2010, the General Assembly approved a plan to repay the debt over time. But when that measure passed, lawmakers […] By Kenny Colston Feb 29 Local News Proposal to Repay Federal Loan Interest Could Save Kentucky Employers From Extra Fees Kenny Colston
Feb 10 Local News New Congressional District Map Moving Through Legislature A new map of Kentucky’s congressional districts is on the verge of becoming law. State House Speaker Greg Stumbo declared congressional redistricting dead earlier this week, since it looked like both chambers could not agree on the new districts. But with the state Senate able to find enough votes to pass a compromise, a new […] By Kenny Colston Feb 10 Local News New Congressional District Map Moving Through Legislature Kenny Colston
Feb 8 Local News Stumbo Says Congressional Redistricting Efforts Are Dead Efforts to redraw Kentucky’s U.S. House districts are dead in the General Assembly. State House Speaker Greg Stumbo made that declaration after the state Senate could not agree to the latest compromise on district maps. “I think that ship has sailed, that bell’s rung,” Stumbo said. “I think the Secretary of State will have to […] By Kenny Colston Feb 8 Local News Stumbo Says Congressional Redistricting Efforts Are Dead Kenny Colston
Feb 8 Local News Stumbo Says Lawmakers Will Appeal Redistricting Ruling Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo says an appeal is likely in the ongoing court battle over redistricting. Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd declared new district maps unconstitutional Tuesday. Stumbo says he’d like to take the ruling to the state Supreme Court. The only question is whether the Legislative Research Commission or House leadership will […] By Kenny Colston Feb 8 Local News Stumbo Says Lawmakers Will Appeal Redistricting Ruling Kenny Colston
Jan 20 Local News Lawmakers Remain ‘Far Apart’ on New Congressional Map Kentucky’s congressional delegation will have to wait a little longer to find out who exactly they’ll represent this year. Legislative leaders are trying to work out a compromise on new congressional redistricting maps, having already passed maps of their own districts and their own versions of the congressional map. The congressional map is currently in […] By Kenny Colston Jan 20 Local News Lawmakers Remain ‘Far Apart’ on New Congressional Map Kenny Colston
Jan 10 Local News State House Approves Congressional Redistricting Map The Kentucky House has approved a plan that would drastically alter the state’s current congressional districts. The plan passed 54-42, almost entirely along party lines. Only two Democrats—state Representative Ben Nelson and former House Speaker Jody Richards—voted against the new map. (Click here to see the plan.) The proposal would cut out the eastern edge […] By Kenny Colston Jan 10 Local News State House Approves Congressional Redistricting Map Kenny Colston
Jan 10 Local News House Education Chairman Could Allow Charter School Vote A vote on legislation that would allow charter schools may finally have it’s day in the Kentucky state House education committee. House Education Chairman Carl Rollins says he’s considering allowing a charter school bill to receive a hearing and a vote in his committee this session. That’s been unheard of since Rollins assumed the chair of […] By Kenny Colston Jan 10 Local News House Education Chairman Could Allow Charter School Vote Kenny Colston
Jan 9 Politics Details Slow UPIKE’s Path to Public System An attempt to add the University of Pikeville to the commonwealth’s public university system has slowed amid a flurry of technical questions. House Speaker Greg Stumbo is leading the attempt to make the private UPIKE Kentucky’s ninth state university. If UPIKE is accepted into the state system, the commonwealth would control all of the school’s assets, […] By Kenny Colston Jan 9 Politics Details Slow UPIKE’s Path to Public System Kenny Colston
Jan 4 Local News David Williams Awaits Details Following State of the Commonwealth Governor Steve Beshear’s chief legislative rival is still waiting to see the meat of the governor’s 2012 legislative agenda. After the governor’s annual State of the Commonwealth address, Republican Senate President David Williams told reporters he gives Beshear credit for delivering a “pleasent speech,” but he’s still waiting to hear the details on proposals like […] By Kenny Colston Jan 4 Local News David Williams Awaits Details Following State of the Commonwealth Kenny Colston
Jan 4 Politics Kentucky Legislative Chambers Hold Moment of Silence for Galbraith Lexington native and frequent political candidate Gatewood Galbraith never held elected office, despite his multiple attempts at landing jobs in Kentucky’s Capitol. But today, legislators in both chambers took a moment to remember Galbraith, the so-called pernennial candidate to Kentucky’s pernennial problems. Galbraith passed away last night from complications related to emphysema. Both the House […] By Kenny Colston Jan 4 Politics Kentucky Legislative Chambers Hold Moment of Silence for Galbraith 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 Politics Stumbo Signals Openness to Charter Schools Kentucky House Speaker Greg Stumbo says he’s interested in hearing more about charter schools after a new group launched TV ads in support of the reform Tuesday morning. In the past several years, Shelbyville Republican Brad Montell has introduced legislation into the house to legalize charter schools. And supporters in the state Senate have filed […] By Kenny Colston Jan 3 Politics Stumbo Signals Openness to Charter Schools Kenny Colston
Apr 19 Local News Beshear Requests Budget Meeting With Williams, Stumbo From Kentucky Public Radio’s Tony McVeigh Gov. Steve Beshear wants to meet with the top two leaders of the Kentucky General Assembly in the ongoing effort to secure a new state budget. In a letter to Senate President David Williams and House Speaker Greg Stumbo, Gov. Beshear recommends the three meet as soon as possible […] By Stephanie Crosby Apr 19 Local News Beshear Requests Budget Meeting With Williams, Stumbo Stephanie Crosby