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. […]
Author Archives: Kentucky Lantern
Posted inPolitics
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 […]
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As diabetes drives up Kentuckians’ use of weight-loss drugs, worries arise about unintended effects
This story discusses weight and eating disorders. If you or someone you know has an eating disorder, you can get help through the National Eating Disorder Association by calling 800-931-2237 or chatting online at nationaleatingdisorder.org. When Ruth Taylor got accepted into a trial to study semaglutide — which most people know as the brand name Ozempic […]
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Kentucky legislature moves to implement Make America Healthy Again
The Kentucky legislature is moving to incorporate the Trump administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” principles in the commonwealth. On Tuesday, members of the Senate Families and Children Committee unanimously — and with bipartisan support — passed a resolution to establish the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Kentucky Task Force. The task force would be composed of […]
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Coercive control ‘operates in the shadows’ NKY lawmaker moves to address it
If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. You can also contact any of Kentucky’s 15 domestic violence programs. A Kentucky victim of “coercive control” can’t use that alone to get a protective order against their abuser. […]
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How to help and get help in the midst of Kentucky flooding, winter storm
Kentucky is in the middle of a deadly storm sandwich of floods, snowfall and frigid temperatures that has killed 14. Below are some resources both for those who need and want to provide help. Emergency phone numbers In the middle of a life threatening emergency situation, call 911. For other emergency needs, call Kentucky Emergency Management […]
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Bill cracking down on nicotine sales to underage Kentuckians clears committee
A legislative committee unanimously advanced a bill Tuesday that the sponsor has promised will add “teeth” to Kentucky laws aimed at keeping nicotine products out of the hands of youth. Senate Bill 100, from Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, can now go to the Senate floor for a vote. Delanie Crump, a first year student at Boyd County […]
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Judge delays $228M Kentucky pension settlement
A Friday afternoon court order will delay and possibly jeopardize final approval of the recently announced settlement of a long-running lawsuit over controversial investments by Kentucky Retirement Systems in hedge funds more than a decade ago. That high profile case alleged that some former officials of the retirement systems (since restructured as the Kentucky Public […]
