By Al Cross, Kentucky Health News For the first time in 20 years, the rate of infant mortality in the U.S. showed a statistically significant increase in 2022, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national baby-death rate rose 3 percent from 2021, but in Kentucky it dropped 6 percent. The…
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,…
by Jillian Riseman, CivicLex Weekly LEXINGTON, Ky.–On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, Councilmembers met in a Committee of the Whole (COW) to discuss $55.9 million worth of unassigned funding left over from the end of Fiscal Year 2023. Ahead of this meeting, the Mayor and Councilmembers put out a list of proposals for how they…
By Aneri PattaniKFF Health News Opioid settlement cash is not inherently political. It’s not the result of a law passed by Congress nor an edit to the state budget. It’s not taxpayer money. Rather, it’s coming from health-care companies that were sued for fueling the opioid crisis with prescription painkillers. But like most dollars…
By Al Cross, Kentucky Health News From the start, the X factor in the Kentucky governor’s race has been former president Donald Trump: Would his endorsement propel Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron past Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who has had high approval ratings and led in every public poll? Now a poll taken in…
by Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service A new study of incarceration trends shows Black people in the Commonwealth are jailed at a rate nearly three times higher than their white peers, despite making up around 8% of the state’s population. The Prison Policy Initiative research found disparities in the criminal justice system have not changed over the past decade,…
By Anna Massoglia, OpenSecrets. Update: As of October 30, 2023, Kentucky’s gubernatorial candidates have now raised in more than $44 million dollars in contributions, according to a new analysis by OpenSecrets. Incumbent Democratic Governor Andy Beshear has now raised more than $23.1 million, and over $15 million of that is for the general election. Republican…
by Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times LEXINGTON, Ky. — As the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) prepares to finalize an Economic Incentive Agreement with LSC Stadium Company, LLC, the focus on a new professional soccer stadium raises questions about the city’s priorities. The deal, set for discussion at Tuesday’s Council Work Session, comes at…
By Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington is gearing up for a series of town hall meetings to discuss the recommendations from the Commission for Racial Justice and Equality’s Housing and Gentrification Subcommittee’s 2021 report. Councilmember Shayla Lynch, who co-chaired the subcommittee, will co-host the events with Councilmember Denise Gray. A…
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…