Written by the Kentucky Lantern’s McKenna Horsley Kentucky Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher on Tuesday urged school superintendents to contact their lawmakers in Congress about a sudden halt in payments from federal pandemic relief funds. His call to action comes after U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon notified state education departments on March 28 that they no longer […]
Author Archives: Kentucky Lantern
Posted inPolitics
Beshear vetoes Medicaid changes as health advocates urge lawmakers to hold off on restrictions
Health advocates are urging the Kentucky General Assembly to reconsider Republican changes to the Medicaid program passed in the final hours before lawmakers broke for the 10-day veto period. Meanwhile, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday vetoed the changes — contained in House Bill 695 — saying they would “put up barriers to and delay health care […]
Posted inNews
KY spends $300k to send organoids to space in search of cures for Alzheimer’s
Kentucky is investing $300,000 into space research that Senate President Robert Stivers said sets the state up as “a leader in all areas.” The money — which was allocated in the 2024 legislative session’s Senate Bill 1 — is a 10% match for a $3.1 million NASA grant announced Wednesday. The money will allow the […]
Posted inPolitics
Beshear vetoes bill Ky professors say erodes academic tenure at public universities
Saying it “threatens academic freedom,” Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has issued a veto to a Republican-backed bill that some Kentucky professors warned would erode academic tenure at the state’s public universities and colleges. Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, argued House Bill 424, was not about tenure in higher education but instead “employment contracts” between universities and academic employees. If […]
Posted inPolitics
Beshear vetoes bills he says would make KY workplaces less safe, violate state Constitution
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday vetoed Republican legislation that he said would make workplaces in Kentucky more dangerous and several bills that he said were unconstitutional. The General Assembly’s Republican supermajority is expected to easily override the vetoes when lawmakers return Thursday and Friday to wrap up the 2025 regular session. Beshear in his veto […]
Posted inPolitics
Beshear signs licensing of nicotine retailers, other bills that ‘put our Kentucky families first’
Kentucky will begin licensing retailers who sell nicotine, which advocates have said will help regulate an industry and protect minors from addictive chemicals. Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 100 into law on Monday, which is aimed at curbing minors’ access to tobacco and e-cigarettes. Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death. Beshear also signed into law SB 120, which would […]
Posted inPolitics
‘Sextortion’ becomes a felony with Beshear’s signature as some hot-button bills await his action
Bills aimed at protecting Kentuckians from discrimination and sexual extortion have been signed into law by Gov. Andy Beshear. Beshear had signed the pair of bills as of Tuesday evening, but is taking his time on some high-profile legislation having to do with health and social services. Lawmakers broke on March 14 for a 10-day […]
Posted inPolitics
Kentucky lawmakers’ education changes are now on Beshear’s desk
From banning cell phones to banning DEI, the Kentucky General Assembly voted to make changes in public education before breaking last week for a 10-day veto period. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear can now weigh in on bills from the Republican-controlled legislature. However, when lawmakers return to Frankfort on March 27, they can override any vetoes […]
Posted inPolitics
Final rush of Kentucky lawmaking is on before 10-day break for vetoes
As the 2025 regular session hurtles toward a break for the 10-day veto period, lawmakers are ironing out House-Senate differences and preparing to give bills final approval Friday to ensure Republicans have time to override Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes. Lawmakers from both chambers planned to meet Thursday night to resolve their differences over House Bill […]
Posted inPolitics
Kentucky legislature approves late-breaking ‘clarification’ of state abortion law
In response to what one Republican called “a desperate need for clarity” in Kentucky abortion law, the General Assembly has approved language detailing the ban’s “life of the mother” exception and specifying some situations when doctors may end complex pregnancies. Once a bill only to pave the way for freestanding birth centers in Kentucky, House Bill […]
