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by Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service Many retired Kentuckians are facing great personal stress over their finances, according to Kentucky Public Retirees. Larry Totten, president of the group, explained the last cost-of-living or COLA adjustment to pension payments was twelve years ago. Instead of a percentage COLA increase, advocates are calling for a “13th check” option,…
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by Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service A lengthy proposal aimed at reducing crime recently unveiled by Kentucky lawmakers has housing advocacy groups concerned about the impact on the homeless. The Safer Kentucky Act, currently in draft stages, is expected to be introduced when the legislature convenes next year. The proposal includes a statewide camping ban,…
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by McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern The Kentucky Court of Appeals issued an opinion Friday morning that says messages on personal cell phones are public records when they are created or used by government officials for government business. The decision comes in a lawsuit filed by the non-profit Kentucky Open Government Coalition against the Kentucky…
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By Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern Two Kentucky legislators who have championed freestanding birth centers said Monday that they have agreed to concessions in their latest proposal, but the head of the state’s hospital association and two obstetrician-gynecologists testified that the changes are not enough to protect patients. Advocates for each side of the years-long debate spoke Monday before…
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FRANKFORT — State and federal law prohibits tobacco sales to people under the age of 21, but student advocates say this isn’t enough. Two student advocates and an internal medicine doctor testified on the issue before the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations on Monday. Information provided to lawmakers claims 23.6%…
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Kentucky Health News and the Manchester Enterprise University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto says UK needs $2 billion in borrowing authority from the state to expand its Albert B. Chandler Hospital to treat patients who are being turned away for lack of room. “We need … around $2 billion for a new hospital tower,” Capilouto said after…
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by Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times LEXINGTON, Ky.–Two Lexington recovery organizations, Recovery Cafe and Voices of Hope, were awarded a total of $1.65 million in state grants Monday. The awards were announced by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (KYOAAC) and were funded by money from the National Opioid Settlement, a multi-state litigation against…
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by McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern Gov. Andy Beshear is calling on the General Assembly to set aside millions in the next state budget for clean water, high-speed internet access and economic development. Beshear, a Democrat seeking reelection this year, said in a Tuesday morning news conference that his “Better Kentucky” plan would be an…
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by Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern A class action lawsuit against Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron and the Fayette County Board of Education argues that students’ constitutional and privacy rights are violated by a new anti-trans Kentucky law and asks the court to block its enforcement in Lexington schools. Senate Bill 150, enacted by the…
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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Earlier this week, an emergency regulations meeting was convened to discuss public concerns over House Bill 544, which aims to regulate the sale of delta-8 and other hemp-derived products. Local business owners, including Joe Boese, owner of CBD Time in Woodhill, have raised concerns that the regulations stipulated could significantly affect…