Today's Political Headlines

Senator-Elect Ralph Alvarado plans to focus on healthcare issues in first year 

11/20/2014 07:00 PM Nick Storm

LEXINGTON — Dr. Ralph Alvarado will make history when he is officially sworn in as a Kentucky state Senator — the Winchester physician is the first Latino elected into Kentucky’s upper chamber — but Alvarado isn’t content to just make history on the first day. Winning his seat by 2,000 votes in a contentious race against incumbent minority floor leader Sen. R.J. Palmer, D-Winchester, Alvarado served one of the biggest political upsets of the season. However, Alvarado says it’s... Read more 

AT&T, others will continue push for modern communications infrastructure next session

11/20/2014 06:04 PM Kevin Wheatley

FRANKFORT — Deregulating Kentucky’s telecommunications industry will again be on the General Assembly’s agenda next year, and House Speaker Greg Stumbo said a vote will be held on the issue. AT&T has led the charge on the topic, and Hood Harris, president of AT&T Kentucky, told lawmakers on the Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development and Tourism Thursday that allowing the company and others to concentrate on modern infrastructure rather than spending resources on outdated technology will help keep Kentucky competitive... Read more 

Smoking ban on state property takes effect 

11/20/2014 01:00 PM Kevin Wheatley

Kentucky’s ban on tobacco and e-cigarette use on state property began Thursday, coinciding with the Great American Smokeout. Gov. Steve Beshear announced the plan in early September, citing Kentucky’s high rates of smoking and cancer deaths. In a press release Wednesday, he noted his goal to reduce the states smoking rate, which ranks highest among adults in the U.S. and sixth highest among youths, by 10 percent by 2019. “I am committed to reducing the exposure to unnecessary health risks in the... Read more 

Glenn Wilkinson, son of late Kentucky governor Wallace Wilkinson, dies at age 44
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)

Glenn Wilkinson, a son of the late Gov. Wallace Wilkinson, died Thursday afternoon at age 44 of an apparent heart attack at his home in Sarasota, Fla.Click to Continue » [...]

Fri, Nov 21, 2014 2:40:00 AM, Continue reading at the source

Kentucky Labor Cabinet's plan for office workers to shovel snow from parking lot causes stir
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)

It's not in their job descriptions, but several state Labor Cabinet office employees were in line this week to be drafted to shovel snow from sidewalks and the parking lot…Click to Continue » [...]

Thu, Nov 20, 2014 11:16:00 PM, Continue reading at the source