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By Melissa Patrick, Kentucky Health News Kentucky has seen an uptick in Covid-19 cases, and local outbreaks, along with other illnesses, have shut down several school districts. This has also been reflected in hospital admissions, which is considered one of the most reliable indicators for tracking the virus since the end of the public-health…
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By Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times LEXINGTON, Ky. — As the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities across the United States, the allocation of settlement funds has become a contentious issue. Lexington’s newly formed Opioid Abatement Commission is at a critical juncture, facing the monumental task of deciding how to best use these funds.…
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by Kentucky Health News Staff Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday that Attorney General Daniel Cameron, his opponent in the Nov. 7 election, appears “heck-bent” on changing the Medicaid program in ways that would lead to some people losing their benefits. Cameron said at a Kentucky Farm Bureau forum July 26 that “one of the first things I would…
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By Melissa Patrick, Kentucky Health News Each year, the last day of August is observed as International Overdose Awareness Day, to raise awareness of overdoses, acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends who have lost someone to a drug overdose, and to reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths. Heather Spurlock-Venters, who is a…
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LEXINGTON, Ky. — A recent federal sentencing in the Eastern District of Kentucky has brought renewed attention to a growing national concern: the proliferation of Glock switches, small devices that can turn semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons. On Thursday, an Indiana man was sentenced to 84 months for trafficking these machine gun conversion…
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by Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern The Trevor Project, which aims to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, also has trained counselors available around the clock. Reach them at 1-866-488-7386, via chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/, or by texting START to 678678. A three-judge federal panel on Friday heard opposing arguments over Kentucky’s ban on gender-affirming medical care…
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by Paul Oliva Note: Identifying features of individuals and locations have been changed to protect the vulnerable. LEXINGTON, KY — Teams of volunteers hit the streets in Lexington on Wednesday, armed with clipboards and compassion, to administer a comprehensive survey under the aegis of local nonprofits. With winter fast approaching, this initiative is aimed…
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FRANKFORT, Ky. — In a move to commemorate the Labor Day weekend, the Kentucky House Democratic Caucus announced a comprehensive package of bills on Thursday aimed at uplifting working families. The suite of legislation seeks to re-establish pro-union and pro-worker measures, raise the minimum wage, and revamp benefits, among other things. “For more than…
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LEXINGTON, KY — In a move that has sparked both support and dissent among council members and the public, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council passed ordinances Thursday setting ad valorem tax rates for the fiscal year 2023-2024. The decision comes after extensive discussions and debates, including a notable contribution from Councilmember Dave Sevigny. Financial…
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Republicans, including Daniel Cameron, want to eliminate income tax by Liam Niemeyer, Kentucky Lantern Kentucky Republicans’ goal of gradually eliminating the state income tax has met an obstacle of their own making. State tax revenues failed to meet a fiscal requirement set by the GOP-controlled legislature in order to consider further income tax cuts during next…