After success with expungement legislation unlikely allies might look at penal code reforms next
04/08/2016 08:57 AM
After nearly a decade of trying and failing to pass legislation which would allow for the expungement of non-violent, low-level class D felonies Rep. Darryl Owens got a push from an unlikely group of allies during the legislative session. An organization which merged groups from both sides of the political spectrum engaged lawmakers in the upper chamber, and with the help of several key players inside the Senate caucus saw the issue clear both bodies of the General Assembly this... Read more 
Super PACs prepare to fight for Rand Paul in Kentucky
04/07/2016 11:42 AM
Two super PACs are prepared to dump their campaign war chests in Kentucky this fall in an effort to support U.S. Sen. Rand Paul in his first re-election race. Concerned American Voters and America’s Liberty PAC plan to spend millions of dollars in the commonwealth in support of Paul this year. Outside groups cannot coordinate with Paul’s campaign, but PACs have been beneficial to other candidates in the state in recent elections. Both of the independent expenditure groups supported Paul... Read more
When Gov. Matt Bevin called for a 9 percent cut in funding for higher education in the next biennium, the reasons seemed to make sense: There have been critical issues with the state pension system for well over a decade. These need to be corrected, and at first, it seemed like a fair tradeoff to reduce higher education funding, methodically, along with most other aspects of state government, to make up the pension shortfall. Keith Runyon However, the system of checks and balances, upon which the founders brilliantly structured the U.S. Constitution and which were integrated into Kentucky’s charter, then began to [...]
Fri, Apr 08, 2016 1:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
It’s shaping up to be another busy arts weekend here in the 502. Here are a few options for your perusal. The Louisville Orchestra is presenting the second of two concerts focusing on American music, including compositions by Aaron Copland and John Adams. The most intriguing item on the program, however, is a world premiere work by 22-year-old pianist and composer Chase Morrin. He’s a Harvard grad (with a computer science degree) who’s working toward a masters degree in jazz composition, and his piece is for “improvising piano” with orchestra. (April 8 at 11 a.m. and April 9 at 8 p.m., [...]
Fri, Apr 08, 2016 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
When they’re running for statewide office, Kentucky Democrats and Republicans usually have something in common: They embrace the state’s coal culture and attack federal regulations of the signature industry. But Sellus Wilder, a Democrat running a longshot campaign for U.S. Senate this year, wants his party to stop pandering. “We never have honest conversations on the state of the coal industry,” Wilder said. “Environmental regulation has contributed to the decline of the coal industry, but it’s hardly the most important factor.” Wilder is running in the crowded seven-person field for the Democratic Senate nomination. The winner will face Sen. Rand Paul in November. The man to beat [...]
Fri, Apr 08, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
