Latest Kentucky state government News

Republican-passed bill removes role of Democratic governor if Senate vacancy occurs in Kentucky

Mar. 28, 2024 10:29 AM EDT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to a bill stripping the state's Democratic governor of any role in picking someone to occupy a U.S. Senate seat if a vacancy occurred in the home state of 82-year-old Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. The...

State budget bill passed by Kentucky Senate would increase support for schools

Mar. 27, 2024 22:45 PM EDT

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Kentucky Senate delivered bipartisan support Wednesday night for a new two-year state budget that would increase funding for K-12 schools as lawmakers moved closer to accomplishing their biggest responsibility of this year's legislative session. The budget...

Kentucky governor marks civil rights event by condemning limits on diversity, equity and inclusion

Mar. 05, 2024 15:23 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear condemned efforts to limit diversity, equity and inclusion practices at public universities after marching with other Kentuckians on Tuesday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of a landmark civil-rights rally that featured Martin Luther King Jr....

Kentucky House supports special election to fill any Senate vacancy in Mitch McConnell's home state

Mar. 04, 2024 18:51 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Republican-dominated Kentucky House voted Monday to remove any role for the state's Democratic governor in deciding who would occupy a U.S. Senate seat if a vacancy occurred in the home state of 82-year-old Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. The...

Kentucky House backs giving lawmakers authority over statues in Capitol Rotunda

Mar. 01, 2024 15:06 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers would claim authority over what statues are installed or removed from the state Capitol's Rotunda under a bill passed Friday by the GOP-led House, a move the bill sponsor said has nothing to do with the removal of a statue of Confederate President...

Early childhood education bill wins support from state Senate panel

Feb. 27, 2024 13:02 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — An ambitious measure to expand early childhood education in Kentucky passed an early test Tuesday, winning broad support from a legislative panel as lawmakers look for ways to relieve parental stress by increasing access to childcare. The proposal cleared the...

A booming bourbon industry has Kentucky leaders toasting record growth

Feb. 06, 2024 17:42 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Fifteen years ago, bourbon barons poured whiskey out on the steps of the Kentucky Capitol to protest a looming tax increase on the spirits industry. On Tuesday, industry leaders reassembled with a bipartisan group of Kentucky leaders to toast the bourbon sector's record...

Kentucky House boosts school spending but leaves out guaranteed teacher raises and universal pre-K

Feb. 01, 2024 19:05 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The Republican-led Kentucky House endorsed higher spending for education in its two-year state spending plan on Thursday but left out two of the Democratic governor's top priorities — guaranteed pay raises for teachers and access to preschool for every 4-year-old. ...

Kentucky juvenile facilities have issues with force, staffing, report says

Jan. 31, 2024 17:19 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s juvenile justice system has lingering problems with the use of force and isolation techniques and has done little to implement a 2017 state audit’s suggestions for improvement, according to a report released Wednesday. The new report from...

School choice measure will reach Kentucky's November ballot, key lawmaker predicts

Jan. 25, 2024 14:04 PM EST

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers are likely to put a proposal on the November ballot allowing voters to weigh in on whether the state should offer support for enrollments in charter and private schools, a key House committee chairman predicted Thursday. Republican Rep....