What’s unconstitutional in Salyersville is just as unconstitutional in Lexington In the world of public accountability, it’s one thing to point out the rules and quite another to ensure they’re followed. This week, Kentucky State Auditor Allison Ball released a report on the Salyersville Water Works, blasting the utility for distributing bonuses paid with public…
On December 13, attorneys Michael Abate and Rick Adams filed the Combined Appellee Response Brief and Cross-Appellant Brief on behalf of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition in Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission v. Kentucky Open Government Coalition. The brief was filed in the Kentucky Supreme Court — the last step in…
Editors Note (Oct. 17, 2024) – In light of recent events, we are republishing this editorial. It was originally published on January 10, 2024. In Lexington, several incumbent councilmembers are breezing into their next term unopposed. These uncontested elections are a stark reminder of our faltering local democracy. It’s not just about the lack…
Earlier this week, The Lexington Times faced a significant cyberattack shortly after we published an article disclosing the list of wealthy donors supporting the “Vote Yes for Parks” ballot initiative. On Monday evening, we released an investigative piece that revealed the names of affluent individuals and businesses backing the campaign. While the initiative aims…
Make no mistake: the proposed Park Tax on Lexington’s ballot this November, called the “Parks Funding Ballot Initiative” by its supporters, is not about improving parks for everyone. It’s being sold as a public good, but the reality behind it reveals a troubling pattern of secrecy, elitism, and misplaced priorities. It’s being driven by…
Initially proposed as the “Lexington Public Library’s Biblioteca Hispana,” the Village Branch opened in 2004 with a modest beginning—six employees in a former auto parts store. But the vision was clear: to establish a specialized branch in Cardinal Valley that aligned with the Library’s Core Values of Diversity and Equity of Access. This vision…
The Lexington Public Library’s newest branch is losing its manager. After six years of short-term leadership and long gaps between appointments, the vibrant community once centered around the Village Library has languished. The Library’s administration has an opportunity now to reestablish the previous model of success and honor the commitments they made 20 years…
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Attorney General’s Office recently ruled in favor of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) regarding its denial of additional records requested by Herald-Leader journalist John Cheves. Cheves, a journalist noted for his recent focus on juvenile justice issues, had sought access to substantiated grievances filed by youth at specific…
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Kentucky Sunshine Law Library in celebration of the fifth year anniversary of Kentucky Open Government Coalition. Our coalition’s founding goes back to March 2019, when Kentucky’s open government community rallied in opposition to a house bill that threatened existing rights of public records access. The community that had focused its efforts to…