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Lexington Man Pleads Guilty in Major Drug and Firearms Case
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington man with a history of drug trafficking and a past manslaughter conviction has pleaded guilty to federal charges involving large-scale narcotics distribution and firearms possession, according to court documents unsealed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Keenan J. McLaughlin, also known as “Chief,” entered a guilty…
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GOP State Representative denies trans woman bathroom access sparking controversy at Kentucky Capitol
A GOP state representative in Kentucky accosted a transgender woman trying to use the women’s bathroom at the state Capitol Thursday, sparking a terse exchange with another lawmaker on the House floor later in the day. Carma Bell Marshall, who leads the Trans-Wellness Coalition, tried to use the restroom before speaking at a trans…
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This Week at the State Capitol
This Week at the State Capitol March 28, 2025 The 2025 legislative session was gaveled to a close this week after lawmakers overrode a series of gubernatorial vetoes and sent another volley of bills to the governor’s desk. A high-resolution photo is available here. FRANKFORT — The gavel struck a sentimental note when it…
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Follow along with the last two days of Kentucky’s 2025 legislative session
Kentucky’s 2025 legislative session is finally almost over. Lawmakers will spend Thursday and Friday in Frankfort tying up some loose strings and mainly overriding several (if not all) of Gov. Andy Beshear’s nearly 30 vetoes. Queer Kentucky will be monitoring things so you don’t have to (but, obviously, feel free to join us in…
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Kentucky’s transgender inmates to lose access to gender-affirming health care
Transgender inmates in Kentucky will no longer have access to gender-affirming health care after Gov. Andy Beshear let a bill become law without his signature Wednesday. Senate Bill 2 — one of the Republican-dominated Senate’s top priorities during the 2025 legislative session — will now go into effect in late June. “The Governor does…
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ICE uses military contractor vetting forms to target workers without criminal records in Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Federal charges have been filed against three men accused of using counterfeit immigration documents to gain employment on a secured military installation in Frankfort, raising questions about the scope and focus of immigration enforcement in Kentucky. According to federal court filings unsealed this week, Gilbert Cazun-Arana, Yunior Omar Ventura, and Mynor…
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Beshear vetoes ‘conversion therapy’ bill, Republicans are likely to override him
As anticipated, Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed a bill that would both allow conversion therapy in Kentucky and prevent transgender Kentuckians on Medicaid from accessing gender-affirming health care. Kentucky’s overwhelmingly Republican legislature, though, is likely to override his veto of House Bill 495 during the final days of session this coming week. “Conversion therapy is…
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Who asked for this? New poll signals Kentuckians don’t want lawmakers blocking gender-affirming health care
Kentucky’s Republican-dominated legislature spent some of its final veto-proof minutes Friday prioritizing bills aimed at taking away gender-affirming health care for some transgender Kentuckians, stifling debate and rushing votes as a midnight deadline drew near. But guess what a majority of Kentucky voters don’t think is a priority? That’s right — blocking transgender Kentuckians…
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Lexington Activists Plan Andy Barr Town Hall . . . So Far, Without Andy Barr
Lexington, KY – Gathering for Democracy, a local progressive group, has invited Andy Barr to answer constituents’ questions at a town hall in Lexington. He has so far declined the invitation. Hoping he will change his mind, they will go ahead with an “empty chair” town hall, moderated by Steve Kay (former Vice Mayor…
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How Much Do You Need to Make to Afford a House in Lexington, KY in 2025?
As of early 2025, the median home price in Lexington-Fayette is approximately $329,370, reflecting a steady increase from the previous year. This price growth underscores the city’s competitive housing market, raising the question: How much does a single adult need to earn annually to afford a home in Lexington? Key Financial Factors Several factors…