In the spring of 2023, Gov. Andy Besher vetoed the controversial Senate bill 150 – which, among other things, bans gender-affirming care for those under 18 and dictates how schools and teachers can address sex education and gender identity. Just a few days later, the Legislature overrode his vetoes. And so the law went into […]
Author Archives: Mark Payne
Mark Payne is the government and politics reporter for LINK nky. Email him at mpayne@linknky.com.
Twitter.
Posted inElections
NKY is ground zero for ‘school choice’ in governor race
Outside Student Union Room 107A at Northern Kentucky University last December, public educators from around the region spoke animatedly in groups after the university’s board of regents declined to vote on whether it would become an authorizer for the region’s impending charter school. Authorizers are the institutions that can approve, deny and oversee charter schools. […]
Posted inElections
What does the secretary of state do in Kentucky?
Despite saying publicly that there are widespread election fraud issues involving a recount in Campbell County in 2022, two Northern Kentucky political candidates provided testimony that said there wasn’t. That contradiction led Campbell County Judge Daniel Zalla to point to it in a ruling certifying election results in the Senate District 24 Republican primary last […]
Posted inTop 3
The Sunday Story Podcast: KY governor race heats up with record spending, attack ads
This week on the Sunday Story Podcast, LINK nky Government and Politics Reporter Mark Payne dives in to election financing in the Kentucky Governors race. Enjoy this story two ways – listen below or read the full story here. — On a cool spring Kentucky Monday in April, an Axiom Strategies staffer stood outside Mokka Sunset […]
Posted inFeatured Story, News, Politics
KY governor race heats up with record spending, attack ads
This story originally appeared in the Sept. 15 edition of the Weekly LINK Reader. To see these stories first, subscribe here. Enjoy the Sunday Story in two ways – read below or listen here. On a cool spring Kentucky Monday in April, an Axiom Strategies staffer stood outside Mokka Sunset on Monmouth Street in Newport, […]
Posted inEducation
Families brace for change as schools enact Kentucky’s new gender-related law
This story originally appeared in the Aug. 25 edition of the Weekly LINK Reader. To see these stories first, subscribe here. When Nancy Bardgett’s daughter came out as transgender, she said she was thankful that Jordan Bardgett was able to receive the care she needed. In addition to having a supportive family, Jordan, then a […]
Posted inTop 3
The Sunday Story Podcast: Families brace for change as schools enact Kentucky’s new gender-related law
This story originally appeared in the Aug. 25 edition of the Weekly LINK Reader. To see these stories first, subscribe here | Read this story here This week on the Sunday Story podcast, Kenton County reporter Nathan Granger and Government and Politics reporter Mark Payne dive into the passing of SB150 and how kids and schools […]
Posted inFrankfort
Kentucky Supreme Court hears oral arguments over ‘venue change’ bill
This week the Kentucky Supreme Court held oral arguments over a “venue change” bill that has put major legislation, including a law banning “gray” machines, on hold this summer. Franklin Circuit Court Judge Philip Shepherd requested the state’s highest court hear arguments over Senate Bill 126 after the plaintiffs in the “gray” machines lawsuit questioned […]
Posted inFrankfort
State police union endorses Cameron for governor
The Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron for governor over incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear. In 2019, the group endorsed Beshear over incumbent Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. It also supported then-candidate Cameron for Attorney General. “Attorney General Cameron has been a friend to the FOP since the day he […]
Posted inElections
Beshear, Cameron to appear together in four debates
Republican gubernatorial candidate and Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear plan to debate in several scheduled events ahead of the general election on Nov. 7. Both candidates appeared together for the first time at the Fancy Farm picnic the first weekend in August. While the two will appear in four debates/forums together, […]