House, Senate roll into day 29 passing gas tax, dating violence bills
03/25/2015 01:21 AM
FRANKFORT — With ten minutes until midnight Tuesday, the state Senate moved a compromise version of a fix to the gas tax drop with a constitutional majority. The state House wrapped their voting on the measure just as the clock rolled over on 12:30 a.m., day 29 of the legislative session. The gas tax compromise would set a new gas tax floor at 26 cents per gallon. That’s lower than the current 27.6-cents-per-gallon rate but above the expected 22.1-cent-per-gallon rate... Read more 
Landmark heroin bill clears General Assembly; Gov. Beshear promises to sign SB 192 "first thing"
03/25/2015 01:15 AM
FRANKFORT — After falling frustratingly short in recent sessions, the Kentucky General Assembly passed a comprehensive package to address the state’s burgeoning heroin epidemic. Senate Bill 192 largely mirrors a compromise bill passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday, with provisions for needle-exchange programs pending approval by city and county governments, no-charge good Samaritan protections for those who report overdoses, expanded access to the overdose-reversing drug naloxone, and $10 million in the current fiscal year and $24 million annually thereafter to... Read more
Louisville’s shrinking tree canopy has finally been quantified. Jefferson County is losing trees at a rate of about 54,000 a year, according to a comprehensive assessment of the county’s trees scheduled to be released later this morning. If the loss continues at the current rate, combined with the threat of invasive pests like the Emerald Ash Borer, Louisville could be facing a future where only 21 percent of the city is covered by tree canopy. Canopy trees have numerous environmental benefits for cities. They help shade paved surfaces, reducing the urban heat island effect. The phenomenon causes noticeable temperature variations between warmer urban cores [...]
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 11:06:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
State lawmakers worked into the early hours Wednesday to pass a series of bills before the Kentucky legislative session draws to a close. Lawmakers passed a comprehensive bill to address the state’s growing heroin problem, set a floor to the tumbling gas tax and extended protections domestic violence victims. Legislators blew past a midnight deadline as the two chambers went back and forth on the final passage of bills. House and Senate leaders said they were allowed to go late because the legislature had missed two days earlier in the session due to snow. Each legislative day is estimated to cost the state about $60,000. Heroin After months of [...]
Wed, Mar 25, 2015 10:30:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Kentucky lawmakers send Beshear a torrent of legislation before adjourning at 3:20 a.m.
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves and Jack Brammer)
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves and Jack Brammer)
State lawmakers adjourned at 3:20 a.m. Wednesday, ending the 2015 General Assembly with a torrent of legislation headed to Gov. Steve Beshear's desk.Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Mar 24, 2015 11:15:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
This story has been updated. A state Senate committee has passed two compromise bills aimed at tackling Kentucky’s heroin problem. The full Senate hopes to pass the bills and send them over to the House for final passage before the legislative session wraps Tuesday night. One bill is a “light” version of the heroin legislation that will serve as a backup in case the compromise bill fails at the last minute. That bill would increase funding for drug treatment, require increased reporting of heroin overdoses, and make the overdose-reversing drug naloxone more available. The other bill reflects what Senate leadership says is a compromise that House [...]
Tue, Mar 24, 2015 9:50:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
James Comer scrubs claim that Kentucky lost 50,000 jobs from campaign website
from syoungman@herald-leader.com (Sam Youngman)
from syoungman@herald-leader.com (Sam Youngman)
Commissioner of Agriculture James Comer's claim that Kentucky had lost 50,000 jobs has disappeared from his campaign website.Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Mar 24, 2015 8:54:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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