When the U.S. House last month approved cutting Medicaid by $793 billion over the next 10 years, the Kentucky Hospital Association issued a surprisingly upbeat statement thanking the Kentucky Republicans who voted for the legislation, especially Rep. Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green. Guthrie had used his clout as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to protect a Medicaid funding […]
Author Archives: Kentucky Lantern
Posted inNews
More people insured, fewer kids vaccinated: What a new national report shows about Kentucky
Medicaid expansion helped Kentucky and other states get more people covered by health insurance, but proposed federal cuts could undo that, a new report found. “Fragile Progress, Continuing Disparities,” released Wednesday by the Commonwealth Fund, also shows a decline in the number of children getting routine vaccinations against such diseases as measles, mumps and rubella. Kentucky […]
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Kentucky to award grants worth $5 million for opioid research, innovation
The Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission will award $5 million in grant money for research projects and “innovative approaches to developing and implementing effective novel therapeutic interventions” for opioid use disorder and treating substance use disorder. Applications for the $5 million will open July 1 and will close Dec. 20, Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office announced Monday. Winners […]
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Kentucky Make America Healthy Again task force meets for first time
During the first meeting of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Kentucky Task Force, lawmakers said they want to address food deserts and food quality, childhood obesity, mental health and health care costs, among other things. Members and non members had a slew of ideas for what the task force should focus on — including education, diabetes, personal […]
Posted inPolitics
Kentucky lawmakers announce five legislative task forces for the 2025 interim session
Kentucky General Assembly leaders have announced five task forces that will meet ahead of the 2026 legislative session to discuss possible policy proposals. Some of the task forces, like the Artificial Intelligence Task Force, are a continuation of study by previous groups. Others, such as the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force, are new to […]
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Public education group launches listening tour to build campaign for Kentucky schools
An organization that led a statewide campaign against last year’s proposed constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to fund nonpublic schools is seeking more insight about education from communities across Kentucky. Protect Our Public Schools, which has transitioned to a wider education advocacy role following the defeat of Amendment 2 in November, was one of […]
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As tornado disrupts region’s tourism economy, Beshear asks Trump for expedited disaster declaration
An initial state assessment finds it could cost more than $59 million to clean up more than 1.5 million cubic yards of debris from buildings and vegetation damaged by a tornado that tore through Somerset and London last week. That’s according to a letter that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear sent to President Donald Trump on Tuesday, requesting […]
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KY renters, homeowners affected by February storms have just days to apply for FEMA assistance
Kentuckians who own homes or rent in 16 counties damaged by severe February storms and floods have less than a week to apply for federal disaster assistance. The deadline to apply is Sunday, May 25, according to a news release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Meanwhile, Kentuckians affected by severe April storms have until June […]
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Report shows effects of Alzheimer’s in KY, the disease ‘you can’t see’
Before Reda Harrison was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she worked 10-hour days as a surgery coordinator in Lexington. Always “an organized person,” Harrison “knew something was wrong” when, in 2018, she started feeling confused and lost at work. Waking at 5 a.m. for work, the 65-year-old Nicholasville woman said she eventually “made an index card […]
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Kentucky school officials ask to extend federal COVID relief payouts for planned projects
The Kentucky Department of Education has requested a funding extension for projects in 13 public school districts that are in jeopardy if the federal government continues to halt future payments of pandemic relief funds. In a Friday press release, Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher said KDE hopes the U.S. Department of Education approves a deadline […]
