President Donald Trump is threatening to “lead the charge” against U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie’s reelection because the Kentucky Republican is opposing a stopgap spending measure to keep the federal government open this week. Blasting Massie on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump on Monday night said, “Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic ‘NO’ […]
Author Archives: Kentucky Lantern
Posted inPolitics
Relief for missed school days in doubt after picking up surprise addition in KY Senate
A bill that began as relief for Kentucky schools from weather-related closings was transformed by the Senate Thursday into relief for a controversial virtual school. After the Senate overhauled House Bill 241, its sponsor, Rep. Timmy Truett, an elementary school principal, said he would recommend that the House now kill it. The Kentucky Board of Education […]
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KY senators all agree the state needs to study how it prepares for natural disasters
Kentucky senators voted unanimously to create a task force that would review how the state could become better prepared for natural disasters. Sponsored by Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, Senate Concurrent Resolution 67 would create the Disaster Prevention and Resiliency Task Force. If passed by the General Assembly this session, the task force would study disaster mitigation and […]
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KY Senate votes to regulate intoxicating hemp beverages but drops sales ban
The Kentucky Senate advanced a bill Friday that would regulate intoxicating hemp-derived beverages but without banning their sales as first proposed. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, amended Senate Bill 202 after Republicans and Democrats alike expressed skepticism about the ban when the measure was approved by a committee earlier this week. Adams’s floor amendment removed the temporary sales […]
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‘Never alone’: Kentucky marks five years since its first reported case of COVID-19
Prisha Hedau was in fourth grade when Kentucky got its first case of COVID-19. She recalls laughing with her friends at school one moment and being whisked away by her mother the next back in March 2020. “I really regret the fact that I wasn’t even able to say a proper goodbye to so many of […]
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Kentucky advocates rally for kids, urge action on vaping, kinship care
Hundreds rallied in the Capitol rotunda Wednesday for Children’s Advocacy Day, calling on lawmakers to pass youth vaping protections and other policies to improve the quality of life for Kentucky’s kids. Terry Brooks, the executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates, which organized the rally, said about 80% of KYA’s legislative priorities are on track to become law […]
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Trump has DOGE. Kentucky Senate votes to launch KOGE.
Inspired by Elon Musk’s band of young engineers tasked with finding federal funding cuts, Kentucky Republicans are hoping to replicate their efforts in the Bluegrass state. If passed in the General Assembly this session, Senate Bill 257 would establish the Kentucky Office of Government Efficiency in the auditor of public accounts’ office. The office would be known as KOGE. […]
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KY Houses passes bill canceling Beshear’s restrictions on conversion therapy
This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Correction: This story previously misstated how House Bill 495 was changed through a floor amendment. The GOP-controlled Kentucky House approved a bill Wednesday that seeks to invalidate an executive order issued […]
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Kentucky lawmakers advance ‘shell’ bill to ban sale of hemp-derived beverages
Kentucky lawmakers advanced a “shell” bill Wednesday evening to ban the sale of hemp-derived beverages in the state until summer of 2026, a move supporters say will allow time to understand how intoxicating versions of the beverages are impacting consumers. But those involved in the hemp industry decried the proposed moratorium on the sale of […]
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Kentucky house passes bill to eliminate DEI programs at public universities
After an impassioned but futile push by House Democrats to block a measure that eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives at Kentucky public universities, the House gave its approval to the bill Wednesday. House Bill 4 passed in a floor vote of 81-18, largely on party lines. The lone Democrat to vote with Republicans on […]
