Thursday, November 5, 2015

Today's Political Headlines


House GOP sees fertile ground in 2016 with Bevin win

11/04/2015 05:02 PM
Their hopes buoyed by a conservative wave that carried Gov.-elect Matt Bevin to a 9-point win on Tuesday, Republicans are optimistic in their prospects to retake control of Kentucky’s House of Representatives for the first time since 1921. “I’ve been on the phone since seven o’clock this morning fielding calls from the candidates that we’ve been recruiting and looking at districts where we lacked a little bit of interest to this point,” state Rep. Jonathan Shell, chairman of the House... Read more 
Heavy-Spending Trucking Industry Pushes Congress to Relax Safety Rules
from Brian Joseph, FairWarning
This story was reported and produced by FairWarning. Big rig crashes kill nearly 4,000 Americans each year and injure more than 85,000. Since 2009, fatalities involving large trucks have increased 17 percent. Injuries have gone up 28 percent. Given these numbers, you might expect Congress to be agitating for tighter controls on big rigs. In fact, many members are pushing for the opposite — looser restrictions on the trucking industry and its drivers. The proposals represent a wish list of the trucking industry, including allowing significantly longer and heavier trucks, and younger drivers. The industry spends heavily on lobbying and campaign contributions, giving largely [...]
Thu, Nov 05, 2015 2:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Anne Braden Memorial Lecture Looks at Racial Divide
from Laura Ellis
An Emory University professor will deliver on speech today on the issues behind racial divisions during the Anne Braden Memorial Lecture at the University of Louisville. Carol Anderson, associate professor of African-American Studies and history at Emory University, will give a speech based on a piece she wrote for The Washington Post at the height of the protests in Ferguson. Her remarks are titled “White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide.” Anderson said the fixation of some of the public on looting and violence took attention away from systemic issues of police violence. That’s what prompted her to write a piece (now a [...]
Thu, Nov 05, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Why Was Polling In Kentucky Dead Wrong (Again) This Year?
from Ashley Lopez
Few saw it coming. Leading into Tuesday’s elections, political prognosticators were predicting a close race for governor of Kentucky. If anything, public polling suggested a slight edge for Democrat Jack Conway. But GOP candidate Matt Bevin defeated Conway by 9 percentage points, leading to elation for Republicans gathered in Louisville on Tuesday and deflation among Democrats watching results in Frankfort. Upsets happen. But statewide polls — most notably the Bluegrass Poll, conducted by Survey USA in partnership with four state media outlets — were way off this election cycle, just as they were in Kentucky in 2014. Less than a week before Election day, the Bluegrass Poll showed Conway up [...]
Thu, Nov 05, 2015 12:08:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Kentucky's next governor rode in on outsider status
At 48, Matt Bevin, who made his fortune founding and investing in various companies, says he is on a mission to "shrink the footprint of government."Click to Continue » [...]
Thu, Nov 05, 2015 4:02:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
How will health care in Kentucky change when Matt Bevin takes office?
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves)
Whatever Republican Matt Bevin has in mind for Kentucky's health insurance reform efforts after he's sworn in as governor Dec. 8, there are unlikely to be changes this winter while…Click to Continue » [...]
Wed, Nov 04, 2015 11:36:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
A note to readers on the Bluegrass Poll
To our readers:Click to Continue » [...]
Wed, Nov 04, 2015 11:04:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Today's Political Headlines

Alison Lundergan Grimes wins re-election 

11/04/2015 02:01 AM
Democratic incumbent Alison Lundergan Grimes will retain her seat as Secretary of State after besting Republican opponent Steve Knipper by three percentage points on Tuesday. Grimes was the lone Democratic incumbent to be re-elected, after Auditor Adam Edelen fell short to Rep. Mike Harmon. “Four-years ago on this very stage I was honored to first be elected to Kentucky’s secretary of state, and tonight it is with extreme humility that I tell you I am honored to be re-elected... Read more 

Rep. Mike Harmon upsets incumbent Adam Edelen in auditor's race

11/04/2015 01:14 AM
State Rep. Mike Harmon overcame an overwhelming cash disadvantage and a staff exodus following the indictment of his former campaign consultant to upset incumbent Auditor Adam Edelen in a 4-point win on Tuesday. Harmon’s win came amid speculation that Edelen was eyeing a run against U.S. Sen. Rand Paul in 2016, and the Democrat had been pegged as a rising star within his party by the likes of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. In August, Harmon parted ways with former Paul... Read more 

Andy Beshear edges out Whitney Westerfield to become next attorney general

11/04/2015 01:06 AM
After two years on the campaign trail and millions of dollars spent both for and against him, Democratic candidate Andy Beshear will be the state’s next attorney general. Beshear, the son of current Gov. Steve Beshear, held off a GOP wave in a nail-biter against state Sen. Whitney Westerfield of Hopkinsville. Andy Beshear bested Westerfield by 2,190 votes, according to the unofficial results. While Beshear saw other Democratic hopefuls and one incumbent go-down in flames, he pulled out the victory and... Read more 

Self-proclaimed political outsider and Republican businessman Matt Bevin elected Governor

11/03/2015 10:28 PM
Democrat Jack Conway, the state’s two-term Attorney General, took the lead with voters in the Louisville area, but it wasn’t enough. Republican Matt Bevin was victorious in every other region of the state and won with 53 percent of the vote. In his acceptance speech Bevin spoke about an area of agreement with his opponent.  Read more 

Republican candidate Allison Ball wins state treasurer race

11/03/2015 10:00 PM
Republican candidate Allison Ball will be Kentucky’s next treasurer after defeating democratic Representative Rick Nelson. The treasurer’s race was among the first races to be called on Election night and Ball says she believes her background wasn’t the only thing that resonated with voters.  Read more 

Republican Representative Ryan Quarles elected Ag Commissioner

11/03/2015 08:40 PM
Republican State Rep Ryan Quarles handily beat his opponent for Agriculture Commissioner. Quarles delivered the first acceptance speech of the night around 8pm. He started by thanking his opponent, Democrat Jean-Marie Lawson Spann, for a well-run race and then talked about how he plans to use the office.  Read more 

Trickle of complaints to the Election Fraud hotline

11/03/2015 11:50 AM
UPDATE 3:30 PM: There have now been a total of 36 calls into the Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline as of 3:00 pm Tuesday afternoon. Jefferson County leads counties with 10 calls into the hotline for instances of disrupting polls, electioneering, special or absentee ballots. A full list of calls is below. PREVIOUSLY: There have been 14 calls into the Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline as of 10:30am Tuesday morning. The complaints range from disrupting polls and electioneering in Jefferson... Read more 
Play Gauges ‘Prevailing Winds’ of Rubbertown
from Tara Anderson
Environmental issues in Louisville’s Rubbertown neighborhood are the subject of the newest play from Looking for Lilith. “Prevailing Winds” opens Friday at the MeX Theatre at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts. This is the 10th original work by Looking for Lilith, and the company used its own collaborative process for creating the play. Instead of starting with a completed script, company members interviewed neighborhood residents and others who know the area to gather personal experiences of life in Rubbertown. Those interviews were combined with scientific data about the air quality and other environmental factors to create the production. “The majority of (our work) is [...]
Wed, Nov 04, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Governor-Elect Matt Bevin Aims To Change Political ‘Tenor’ In Kentucky
from Ashley Lopez and Ryland Barton
A candidate who barely made it out of the primary ended up leading Kentucky Republicans to one of their most successful election days in recent history. Matt Bevin will be just the second Republican governor of Kentucky since 1971, a distinction he earned Tuesday with 53 percent of the vote — 9 percentage points better than Democrat Jack Conway. Independent Drew Curtis had less than 4 percent of the vote. A Bluegrass Poll released last week indicated the opposite result, showing Conway leading Bevin 45-40. With two of the four other statewide races going Republican, Bevin told supporters gathered Tuesday night at the Galt House [...]
Wed, Nov 04, 2015 12:04:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Republican victories leave Kentucky Democrats reeling
Just two years ago, Kentucky Democrats boasted a deep bench of three young stars who aligned to prove the party could still win in the conservative South with a message…Click to Continue » [...]
Wed, Nov 04, 2015 9:56:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Republicans Celebrate Night Of Wins In Kentucky
from Jacob Ryan and Ja'Nel Johnson
Kentucky Democrats expected some close races for statewide offices on Tuesday. They didn’t expect to lose this one. Incumbent state Auditor Adam Edelen lost his bid for re-election Tuesday to Republican state Rep. Mike Harmon. Edelen conceded the race just after 9 p.m. Eastern, as Republican challenger Harmon found himself with more than half the votes just a couple hours after polls closed throughout the state. “Defeat is never easy,” Edelen told supporters gathered in Frankfort. Overall, Harmon’s victory was just one part of a big election night for Kentucky Republicans. Matt Bevin will become just the second Republican governor of the state since the early 1970s. The GOP also [...]
Wed, Nov 04, 2015 3:40:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Sam Youngman: Kentucky politics moves to a deep shade of red
Tomatoes, fire engines and stop signs — they've got nothing on the state of Kentucky. Politically, this state is red. Not purple, not pink, not reddish, but red. Really red.Click to Continue » [...]
Wed, Nov 04, 2015 3:38:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Democrat Andy Beshear wins close battle for Kentucky attorney general
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves)
In a squeaker of a race, voters on Tuesday narrowly chose Democrat Andy Beshear, son of two-term Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, as Kentucky's next attorney general.Click to Continue » [...]
Wed, Nov 04, 2015 2:40:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
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Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Today's Political Headlines

Down ballot candidates make final push before Election Day

11/02/2015 09:21 PM
With mere hours left before Kentuckians head to their polling locations Democratic and Republican candidates canvassed the state one last time heading into Election Day. With most of the attention focused on the top-of-the-ticket race between Republican Matt Bevin and Democrat Jack Conway the candidates for other constitutional offices appeared at a bevy of events on Monday. Republican down ballot candidates flew along with Bevin across eight stops from Louisville, Lexington, Burlington, Hebron, Worthington, Bowling Green, Paducah and Owensboro on... Read more 

Conway "cautiously optimistic" about chances as he begins his statewide fly-around in Covington

11/02/2015 10:13 AM
COVINGTON – Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jack Conway began his “Moving Kentucky Forward Tour” statewide fly-around tour at a diner early this morning in downtown Covington with approximately 30 supporters on hand. Conway has additional stops scheduled in Lexington, Catlettsburg, Hazard, Paducah, Owensboro and Louisville. Conway, who has a slight lead in the polls, is feeling good about his chances. “I feel cautiously optimistic that we’re going to bring it home,” Conway said. “I think all of the polling looks good. I... Read more 
Former Deputy Jailers Indicted in Perry County Beating Death
from R.G. Dunlop
A federal grand jury has indicted two former deputy jailers in connection with the 2013 beating death of an inmate at the Kentucky River Regional Jail in Perry County, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday. The indictment charges Damon Hickman, 38, and William Howell, 59, with fatally beating 54-year-old Larry Trent. It also accuses Hickman of trying to cover up the crime. The indictment alleges that the two men used excessive force against Trent and then failed to provide him with necessary medical care. Hickman also faces one count of obstruction of justice for falsifying a jail log to indicate that [...]
Tue, Nov 03, 2015 1:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Appeals Court Allows Louisville Coal Ash, Whiskey Fungus Lawsuits to Proceed
from Erica Peterson
Opinions issued by a federal appeals court Monday will allow two major air pollution-related lawsuits in Louisville to move forward. The cases before the the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals involve two different pollutants: coal ash and whiskey fungus. One lawsuit was filed against utility Louisville Gas and Electric, by neighbors living close to the company’s Cane Run Power Plant. They say their property was contaminated by coal ash leaving the nearby coal-fired power plant (which has since been replaced by natural gas), and are seeking damages. The other lawsuit involves liquor giant Diageo, which operates several facilities in Louisville. In that case, [...]
Tue, Nov 03, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Will a Sleepy Campaign Season Mean Low Kentucky Voter Turnout?
from Ashley Lopez
As statewide political races go, the 2015 general election campaign in Kentucky has lacked the exciting moments or game-changing controversies that grab voters’ attention, political observers say. Republican Matt Bevin and Democrat Jack Conway spent Monday campaigning throughout the state in last-minute bids to drum up support. Some local elections officials are expecting turnout in the 40 percent range. Others are expecting much less. Nonetheless, the state’s chief elections officer is optimistic that Kentuckians will turn out to the polls on Tuesday. Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes said she sees signs that the trend of decreasing voter turnout in Kentucky gubernatorial elections may be [...]
Tue, Nov 03, 2015 12:03:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Voting officials: Precincts 'calmer than usual' as voters choose a new governor, other constitutional officers
from lblackford@herald-leader.com (Linda B. Blackford and Janet Patton)
Polls opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday in hotly contested races for Kentucky governor and other constitutional offices, including state auditor, attorney general and commissioner of agriculture. Early in the day,Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Nov 03, 2015 10:58:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Kentucky governor's race hinges on health insurance
The campaign for Kentucky's next governor ends Tuesday as voters elect someone to replace a popular two-term Democratic governor in a race that has turned on health insurance for 500,000…Click to Continue » [...]
Tue, Nov 03, 2015 9:26:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Kentucky House Republicans pre-file bill to end state funding for Planned Parenthood clinics
from jcheves@herald-leader.com (John Cheves)
A dozen Republicans in the Kentucky House have pre-filed a bill for the 2016 General Assembly to end state funding for women's health services at Planned Parenthood clinics in Lexington…Click to Continue » [...]
Mon, Nov 02, 2015 9:53:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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Monday, November 2, 2015

Today's Political Headlines

Rare political document from 1860 discovered and preserved in Boone County

11/01/2015 08:44 AM
BURLINGTON – A 155-year-old voter tally sheet from the 1860 presidential election has been discovered and preserved in Boone County. The document was recently discovered among tens of thousands of records being stored in the basement of the Boone County clerk’s office by a historian that Boone County Clerk Kenny Brown is working with to organize the vast collection. In that 1860 election, Tennessean John Bell, representing the Constitutional Union Party, carried the county with 881 votes, Kentuckian John C. Breckinridge, representing... Read more 

Matt Bevin focuses on northern Kentucky with electoral finish line in sight

10/31/2015 10:56 PM
FLORENCE — After a bruising primary against U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell last year, few would have predicted Bevin, in his second political campaign ever, would be where he is today: potentially becoming the second Republican elected governor since former Gov. Louie Nunn won the office in 1967. Bevin looked to the state’s three northernmost counties to rouse supporters on Saturday, spurring on about 50 volunteers at his Boone County headquarters before they made the door-to-door rounds or continued phone-banking. He made... Read more 

Democrats fuel party faithful as part of weekend pre-election outreach

10/31/2015 02:38 PM
LOUISVILLE — Democrats and Republicans in all corners of the state were rallying party faithful on Saturday morning in a last-minute effort to reach voters before Tuesday’s election. In the Pleasure Ridge Park section of Louisville, Democratic candidates for constitutional office and their surrogates spoke with a crowd of around 200 over biscuits and gravy at state Rep. Joni Jenkins’s, D-Shively, annual breakfast Saturday morning. As the elderly crowd fueled up for their day, Jenkins, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth and... Read more 

Republican pollster finds gubernatorial race between Conway, Bevin even at 44 percent

10/30/2015 04:22 PM
A GOP pollster has released a survey showing Kentucky’s gubernatorial race tied at 44 percent support between Democratic Attorney General Jack Conway and Republican Matt Bevin. The poll, conducted by Vox Populi Polling from Oct. 26-27, shows the 618 registered voters evenly split between the two major-party candidates, with independent candidate Drew Curtis pulling 6.3 percent support and 6.6 percent of respondents undecided. The survey has a 3.9 percent margin of error. The survey’s crosstabs can be viewed here: Vox... Read more 

Ky. Democratic Party claims Bevin violated election laws with email sent to teachers

10/30/2015 02:18 PM
UPDATED: The Kentucky Democratic Party is attempting to warn teachers in the state that Republican candidate for governor Matt Bevin is overstepping the law in his attempts to contact them via email. KDP Chairman Patrick Hughes said the Bevin campaign’s direct email to teachers is a violation of Kentucky election law. “Matt Bevin’s refusal to follow state laws in pursuit of his political ambition demonstrates yet again that he lacks the judgement, ethics or temperament to be governor,” Hughes... Read more 

Low voter turnout numbers expected in Campbell and Kenton counties, with a possible spike in Boone

10/30/2015 11:00 AM
Traditionally, Northern Kentucky has had among the smallest percentage of voters in the state who turnout to vote during gubernatorial elections. In the past couple of elections that turnout has been between 20 and 25 percent. A fact that leads candidates for statewide office to calculate how much time and money they should spend in the area in an effort to attract voters on Election Day. Campbell County Clerk Jim Luersen expects around a 23 percent turnout based on absentee... Read more 
Theatre 502 Approaches ‘Failure’ Through Collaboration
from Tara Anderson
A dark comedy that takes place in Chicago in 1928 is the next play in Theatre 502’s season. “Failure: A Love Story” by Philip Dawkins tells the tale of the three Fail sisters in the last year of their lives, and the man who falls in love with all three of them. The play uses music, dancing and shadows to illustrate the story, which takes place in the Fail family’s home and clock shop. Director Gil Reyes described it as a “fable” and said despite the heavy subject matter, it’s not just a drama. “I’ve been describing the tone as playfully macabre, so [...]
Mon, Nov 02, 2015 1:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Humane Society Urges Beshear to Suspend Kentucky’s Black Bear Hunt
from Erica Peterson
The Humane Society is calling on Gov. Steve Beshear to immediately stop the state’s black bear hunt, after the quota during the first archery portion of the season was exceeded. The fall archery/crossbow bear hunting season opened and closed on Oct. 24. The quota was 10 bears or five female bears — whichever came first — but because of the delay in Kentucky’s telecheck system, 22 bears were harvested. Ten of those were females. “The number dead can actually be quite in excess of what’s been reported,” said Humane Society Kentucky Director Kathryn Callahan. She said it’s probable that bears left behind orphaned cubs [...]
Mon, Nov 02, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Your 2015 Kentucky Voter Guide: Governor’s Race
from Ryland Barton
Kentuckians head to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots for governor, attorney general and other statewide offices — or at least we think they will. With turnout predictions ranging from bad to worse, it’s no guarantee the commonwealth’s next chief executive will be selected by anything close to a majority of his constituents. With that in mind, we’ve created a handy voter guide. It’s something to cut through the noise of negative ads blasting from your television and the spin from the campaigns that often follows. We’re focusing on the issues we believe will determine the future of our state: education, [...]
Mon, Nov 02, 2015 12:03:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Sitting judges with different types of experience seek vacant Kentucky Supreme Court post
from bestep@herald-leader.com (Bill Estep)
Janet L. Stumbo, who is on the Kentucky Court of Appeals, has served 24 years on that court and the state Supreme Court. Her opponent, Samuel T. Wright III, the…Click to Continue » [...]
Mon, Nov 02, 2015 2:48:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Sam Youngman: Five questions about a mind-numbing campaign of mind-blowing importance
We've seen the attempts to nationalize the Kentucky gubernatorial race, but the issues being debated will have a real-life, practical effect on the lives of the people who live here.Click to Continue » [...]
Sun, Nov 01, 2015 10:41:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Kentucky governor's race headlines off-year state elections
A county clerk from Kentucky jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and secretly recorded videos that reignited the debate over abortion dominated national politics this summer.Click to Continue » [...]
Sun, Nov 01, 2015 2:26:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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