House sends $3.3B teachers' pension bond plan to Senate, where KTRS official will focus his efforts
02/24/2015 12:27 AM
FRANKFORT — The state House passed a $3.3 billion bonding plan for the Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System Monday despite fiscal concerns with what would be the largest debt-financed project in Kentucky’s history. Nine Republicans voted with the majority Democrats to approve House Bill 4 62-31, two votes more than the 60-vote threshold for appropriation bills. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, HB 4’s sponsor, said he previously shared misgivings about borrowing to secure funding for KTRS, which has $13.9 billion in unfunded liabilities.... Read more 
Bevin unveils his seven point economic plan for Kentucky
02/23/2015 05:55 PM
FLORENCE — Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Bevin officially kicked off his campaign for governor on Monday with a three city stop where he unveiled his seven point plan to create jobs and economic opportunity for Kentucky. Bevin, who was joined by his running mate Janean Hampton on the inaugural campaign tour unveiled his “blueprint” which calls for enacting right-to-work legislation, modernizing Kentucky’s tax code, resolving the pension crisis, reforming Kentucky government by eliminating personnel and waste, modernizing Kentucky’s education system, improving... Read more
Congressman Barr agrees with need to fight ISIS; says AUMF does not go far enough
02/23/2015 05:46 PM
U.S. Rep. Andy Barr agrees President Barack Obama is on the right course in pursuing military force against Islamic terrorists known as ISIS, but he said Obama is missing the mark when it comes to the campaign the commander-in-chief would wage. Speaking to Pure Politics by telephone last week, Barr, R-Lexington, said the “limited force with artificial timetables” is not a strategy which would produce victory against Islamic extremists. Obama’s Authorization for Use of Military Force, or AUMF, request to... Read more
GOP attorney general candidate Whitney Westerfield publishes financial disclosures
02/23/2015 04:47 PM
Republican attorney general candidate Whitney Westerfield is releasing his financial disclosures and taking a swipe at the Democratic candidate Andy Beshear. Westerfield, a Hopkinsville attorney and state senator, faces Lawrence County attorney Mike Hogan in the May primary, but Westerfield has his sights set on Beshear. In a press release, Westerfield said he is keeping his promise to increase transparency in government by releasing his legislative and campaign financial disclosures, and he issued a challenge to his opponents to do... Read more
Pensions for workers, teachers taking different routes this session with varied chances of success
02/23/2015 03:44 PM
FRANKFORT — As one Kentucky pension system crosses its fingers for a 30-year, $3.3 billion bond proposal to shore up its funding, another retirement agency is preparing for a bevy of changes that could come during this year’s legislative session. The Public Pension Oversight Board heard brief updates on 16 pieces of legislation Monday that would tweak certain practices at the Kentucky Retirement Systems, attempt to locate additional funding for the beleaguered plan for most state workers, allow an exit strategy... Read more
Freshman Sen. Will Schroder looks to use his background as a prosecutor to be an effective legislator
02/23/2015 01:38 PM
FRANKFORT — Freshman state Senator Wil Schroder, R- Wilder, has not kept a low profile in his first couple of months in the legislature. Schroder’s first bill, Senate Bill 9, was a top priority for the Senate in the 2015 session. The legislation which would have provided a prevailing wage exemption for educational buildings passed on the Senate floor before being voted down in a House committee earlier this month. Schroder is also vice-chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and... Read more
Sunday Chatter: National Democratic Party “has lost its way,” Gov. Beshear says
02/22/2015 12:59 PM
As Democrats emerge from losing the U.S. Senate, governorships and state legislatures in last year’s midterm election cycle, the national party needs to refocus its message to reach voters that can relate to its core values, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said Saturday. Beshear is one of 11 Democrats tasked with evaluating the party’s political strategy in the wake of a brutal midterm cycle for Democrats, according to reports. He unveiled the panel’s preliminary findings Saturday in Washington. “We need a cohesive,... Read more
Louisville students living in under-served neighborhoods are benefiting from a program aimed at helping them live healthier, according to a progress report released Monday. The Farm to Family Initiative at Hazelwood and Wellington elementary schools was implemented 15 months ago to prevent childhood obesity among children ages 8 to 12. The initiative is a collaboration between KentuckyOne Health and the Food Literacy Project. The report shows that 41 percent of students now eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day—compared to 23 percent of students when the program began. It also shows that 91 percent of students engage in [...]
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 1:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Louisville Metro Doesn’t Usually Fine Property Owners For Snow-Covered, Slippery Sidewalks
from Ashley Lopez
from Ashley Lopez
A week ago, a winter storm dumped several inches of snow across Louisville—and many sidewalks across the city are still covered in snow and ice. Related StoryOn Instagram: Louisville Shovels Out of the SnowHere’s one possible reason: Louisville Metro doesn’t actively fine people who don’t follow a local snow removal ordinance. According to metro ordinance 97.113: It shall be the duty of all persons and corporations owning or occupying property abutting a public street in Louisville Metro to remove within 24 hours thereafter such snow as may fall on the sidewalks in front of their property. Where the property is unimproved or unoccupied this duty [...]
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 12:12:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Republican Whitney Westerfield is posting his candidate financial disclosure information online in his race for Kentucky attorney general.Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 9:19:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Kentucky House approves plan to borrow $3.3 billion to shore up teachers' pension system
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves)
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves)
Although some Republican lawmakers warned against taking on so much debt, House Speaker Greg Stumbo — the plan's sponsor — described the vote as essentially being for or against schoolteachers.Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 2:34:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
In surprise vote, Kentucky Senate panel approves limits on transgender students' choices
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)
from jbrammer@herald-leader.com (Jack Brammer)
Without providing much notice, the Senate Education Committee on Monday night voted 8-1 to require transgender students to use the bathroom that matches their biological sex or to seek special…Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 1:52:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Commission to Consider Permit for Kentucky’s First Deep Horizontal Natural Gas Well
from Erica Peterson
from Erica Peterson
A state commission that rarely meets will hold a public hearing this week on the first potential permit for deep horizontal natural gas drilling in Kentucky. A company called Horizontal Technology Energy Company is proposing a deep horizontal well in Johnson County, Kentucky. The company is an offshoot of the Pittsburgh-based energy giant EQT, and its interest in the area suggests that more operators could soon begin arriving to drill. The permit in question would drill into the Conasauga Group, which is part of the Rogersville Shale formation. Last month, WFPL reported on increased interest and speculation in the Rogersville Shale, which [...]
Tue, Feb 24, 2015 1:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
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