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via press release FRANKFORT, KY—Acknowledging the financial strain caused by taxing menstrual products and understanding the repercussions on Kentucky students who lack access to these necessities, State Representative Lisa Willner’s proposed legislation marks a noteworthy stride in advancing menstrual equity. 1 in 4 Kentucky menstruators grapple with the real struggle of affording period products.…
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via press release LEXINGTGON, Ky. – Joshua Buckman has announced his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for Kentucky State Representative for the 76th district. Buckman, 42, is a lifelong Kentuckian and medical social worker who works with patients on dialysis. Buckman expressed that, he is “running in order to bring a fresh perspective…
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by Jordan Hensley, Legislative Research Commission FRANKFORT — Legislation to temporarily remove firearms from individuals experiencing a mental health crisis may be filed during the 2024 legislative session. Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, said he’s been working on the bill for “a while.” It would focus on crisis aversion and rights retention, or CARR,…
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by McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern Kentucky’s recently redrawn congressional and legislative districts will stand for future elections. In an opinion published Thursday morning, the Kentucky Supreme Court affirmed Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate’s previous decision that the maps were a result of “partisan gerrymanders” but did not find them unconstitutional. “Regardless of how unusual or…
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by McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern A Franklin Circuit Court judge on Monday struck down a law allowing charter schools in Kentucky, ahead of an expected effort in next year’s legislature to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would allow public money to be spent on private schools. Judge Phillip Shepherd declared 2022’s House Bill 9 unconstitutional…
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by Jamie Lucke, Kentucky Lantern A million thanks to the League of Women Voters of Kentucky for running the numbers on the opaque and, oh, so arrogant way the General Assembly conducts what we still quaintly call the “people’s business.” “None of the people’s business” is more like it, considering how frequently the legislature…
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by McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern FRANKFORT — The League of Women Voters of Kentucky released a report Wednesday that found the General Assembly has increasingly fast-tracked bills in a manner that makes citizen participation nearly impossible — about a month before lawmakers return to Frankfort in January. The League’s analysis found that fewer than 5%…
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‘We’re still trying to evaluate everything,’ says Right to Life’s Wuchner by Deborah Yetter, Kentucky Lantern Standing before cheering supporters on election night, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, wrapped up his reelection celebration with a round of thanks. “First to my parents,” he said, embracing Jane and Steve Beshear — his father himself…
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by Jordan Hensley, Legislative Research Commission FRANKFORT — Kentuckians have long commutes and struggle to find an affordable place to live, according to data shared with lawmakers Thursday. Patrick Bowen, president of Bowen National Research, told the Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment that housing issues across the commonwealth are a…