by Jordan Hensley, Legislative Research Commission FRANKFORT — Diapers are in high demand across Kentucky, and some families struggle to pay the cost. Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville, shared her plan with the Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations and Revenue to file a bill next year that would make infant and adult diapers in…
by Nancy Royden, Legislative Research Commission FRANKFORT — The Interim Joint Committee on Education on Tuesday heard from computer science advocates about ways this multi-faceted discipline could be expanded in Kentucky’s schools. The meeting coincided with Coding at the Capitol, a full-day event in which students shared robots, displays and experiments with state legislators.…
by Jordan Hensley, Legislative Research Commission FRANKFORT — Removing the certificate of need (CON) requirement for freestanding birthing centers in Kentucky is still being studied following the 2023 Regular Session. Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer, R-Alexandria, and other stakeholders spoke to the Certificate of Need Task Force about the issue on Monday. The new task…
By Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times This article has been updated to clarify the nature of the Superintendent’s acknowledgement of AFT120. LEXINGTON, Ky. — A tumultuous saga involving Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) and labor union KY 120 United-American Federation of Teachers (AFT120) continues to play out. In a recent development, Superintendent Demetrus Liggins…
by Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times Lexington, KY — Amidst an ongoing opioid crisis, the newly established Opioid Abatement Commission convened its first special meeting on Friday. Mayor Linda Gorton, who spearheaded the creation of the commission, shared her vision for a thoughtful and sustainable strategy to use the upcoming opioid abatement funds, which…
by Paul Oliva Lexington, KY — In a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy, the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council suspended its rules to fast-track the approval of a $211,588.03 welcome sign on Athens Boonesboro Road. The decision came during the council meeting on August 31, bypassing the expected discussion in Thursday’s agenda.…
Teachers union wins a round as judge rules new law created ‘favoritism’ toward some unions exempted by legislature from its provisions by Liam Niemeyer, Kentucky Lantern A Kentucky judge has struck down a new state law that prevents some public-sector unions from collecting dues through payroll deductions. Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate in an…
by Paul Oliva, The Lexington Times LEXINGTON, Ky. — Town Branch Park, an 11-acre land reuse project in downtown Lexington, has received a $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. The grant is part of a larger initiative announced by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday, which aims to…
by Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service The Kentucky Housing Corporation has received applications for housing funding from the state’s Rural Housing Trust Fund requesting more than $18 million for rebuilding single family homes in regions of the state still recovering from catastrophic flooding and tornadoes. Wendy Smith, deputy executive director of the Kentucky Housing…
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Malabu Manor Apartments in Lexington is among the recipients of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP), receiving a $750,000 grant for energy efficiency and climate resilience improvements. The announcement was made on Wednesday, as part of an initial $18 million in grant…