Thursday, May 5, 2016

today's Political Headlines

Gov. Bevin heads to Europe for industrial trade fair in Germany, other business meetings

04/26/2016 09:29 AM
Gov. Matt Bevin has flown to Europe to promote Kentucky as a business destination, his office announced Tuesday in a news release. Bevin will attend the Hannover Messe Fair in Hannover, Germany, on Tuesday, when he will meet with current businesses with locations in the state as well as others that may be looking to expand in Kentucky, according to the release. The governor is scheduled to continue traveling and meeting with executives in Germany, France and Belgium throughout the week. Bevin... Read more 

Clinton campaign opens headquarters in Louisville

04/25/2016 04:39 PM
LOUISVILLE — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will open her Kentucky campaign headquarters on Monday night in Louisville. The headquarters, located at 1357 Bardstown Road, will be used to launch phone banks and neighborhood canvasses as organizers and volunteers contact Kentuckians in Jefferson County leading up to the May 17 primary. The office is scheduled to open at 6 p.m. with a gala kickoff featuring Congressman John Yarmuth, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, state Sen. Morgan McGarvey and state Reps. Joni Jenkins,... Read more 

Rep. Leslie Combs leaving Kentucky legislature but has eye on potential return to politics

04/25/2016 01:06 PM
FRANKFORT — After a decade in the General Assembly, state Rep. Leslie Combs is heading back home to Pikeville, but she’s not counting out the possibility of a future run for office. The Democratic lawmaker said she was looking back on her last day of the legislative session with “moments of sadness,” but also “excitement” for the journey ahead. “There is a potential political office I may be looking at,” Combs said on the last day of the legislative session.... Read more  

Bevin Traveling To Germany, France, Belgium This Week
Gov. Matt Bevin is traveling to Germany, France and Belgium this week as part of his first overseas trip as governor. Bevin is scheduled to arrive in Hannover, Germany, on Tuesday to attend the Hannover Messe Fair, a trade show of industrial technology. A news release from the governor’s office says Bevin will meet with prospective businesses and companies that already have Kentucky facilities. He will spend the rest of the week meeting with executives in Germany, France and Belgium. Bevin says the trip is an “incredible opportunity” to sell the benefits of Kentucky to manufacturers. Bevin spokeswoman Jessica Ditto said the governor’s trip will [...]
Tue, Apr 26, 2016 2:14:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Charter’s Merger With Time Warner Cable Nears Regulatory Approval
Charter Communications has bid more than $88 billion to buy its larger rival, Time Warner Cable, and a smaller competitor called Bright House Networks — and it’s closing in on the required regulatory approval from federal authorities. The deal would be yet another major shakeup in the telecom industry: It would form the second-largest Internet provider, behind Comcast, and the third-largest video provider, behind Comcast and the newly merged AT&T/DirecTV. According to telecom analytics from MoffettNathanson, the so-called “New Charter” would have about 21 million broadband subscribers and 17.4 million video subscribers. Telecom mergers require approval of the antitrust regulators at the Justice [...]
Tue, Apr 26, 2016 12:04:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Louisville’s Parking Lots Could Be First Up In Heat Island Effort
Louisville legislators may soon get their first chance to craft policy around the findings of an acclaimed study on the city’s urban heat island. A Metro Council committee is in the midst of a multi-year effort to rework the city’s 800-page land development code, and one soon-to-be-discussed item deals with regulations guiding parking lot developments. Parking lots are cited in the recently released study as an element contributing to the city’s urban heat island effect. The term “urban heat island” refers to the difference in temperature between urban and rural areas. Brian Stone of Georgia Tech — one of the foremost UHI researchers in the country — conducted the study for [...]
Tue, Apr 26, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
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Today's Political Headlines

Fundraising update: How the rest of the most interesting primary races are stacking up

04/29/2016 08:22 AM

Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part breakdown of recent fundraising efforts from legislative candidates. Part one can be viewed here. We’re rounding out our fundraising updates behind the other half of the most interesting races to watch, which can be an early predictor of support and strength of a candidate’s organization. 23rd House District (open seat, Democratic and Republican primaries) Danny Basil vs. Joe Trigg in the Democratic primary. Steve Riley vs. Freddie Joe Wilkerson in the Republican primary. In... Read more 

Gov. Bevin vetoes parts of budget, other bills passed by General Assembly

04/28/2016 12:30 PM

Gov. Matt Bevin vetoed all or part of seven bills on Wednesday, delaying implementation of a program intended to provide free tuition for students in two-year programs and stopping a move to implement new federal identification standards brought about after terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, among other actions. Bevin’s vetoes can’t be overturned by the General Assembly, which adjourned sine die April 15. His veto pen touched various pieces of the $21.5 billion biennial budget, oftentimes citing the need for more... Read more 

Current and former Democratic lawmakers endorse Attica Scott in House primary against incumbent Rep. Tom Riner

04/28/2016 11:50 AM

A sitting Democratic lawmaker and former Democratic House member have endorsed Attica Scott over incumbent Democratic Rep. Tom Riner in the May 17 Democratic primary. Saying “Enough is enough,” Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, D-Louisville, and former Rep. Eleanor Jordan, D-Louisville, signed a direct-mail letter to Democratic voters in the 41st House Distict in Louisville supporting Scott, a former Louisville Metro Council member, and bashing longtime colleague Rep. Tom Riner, who has served in the House since 1982. “For too many... Read more 

Fundraising update: How the top five most interesting primary races are stacking up

04/28/2016 08:05 AM

Editor’s Note: This is part one of a two part break down of recent fundraising efforts from legislative candidates. The candidates locked in serious primary elections are digging deep into their own pockets and searching for donors to keep their Frankfort dreams alive. Pure Politics has identified the most interesting primary races to watch on May 17, and the latest round of fundraising totals are giving a new glimpse into the campaigns. 38th House District (Democratic primary) McKenzie Cantrell vs. Dan Johnson... Read more 

Ex-Gov. Beshear accuses Gov. Bevin of shaking down employees, businesses week after administration launches own inquiry

04/27/2016 06:05 PM

FRANKFORT — About a week after Gov. Matt Bevin announced an internal investigations into possible abuses by members of his predecessor’s administration, former Gov. Steve Beshear aired on Wednesday allegations that Bevin has strong-armed non-merit employees and entities that conduct business with the state to help retire a $4.1 million personal campaign debt. Beshear also accused the first-year governor of threatening to pull the plug on road projects in certain legislative districts as he tried to coax Democrats in the legislature... Read more 

Chelsea Clinton will campaign in Lexington on Friday

04/27/2016 02:42 PM

In addition to an already scheduled fundraiser in Frankfort, the Clinton campaign is announcing Chelsea Clinton will campaign for her mother in Lexington on Friday. Clinton is scheduled to host an organizing event in Lexington at a field office for the campaign ahead of the presidential primary in Kentucky. The Clinton campaign says she will join supporters and volunteers to open the Hillary for Kentucky Lexington office at 10:15 a.m. A spokesperson for the Clinton campaign in Kentucky says Chelsea... Read more 

Retiring Rep. Brad Montell says social media has turned job of a legislator into a full-time commitment

04/27/2016 01:55 PM

FRANKFORT – Rep. Brad Montell, R-Shelbyville, is wrapping up a 14-year legislative career in December, but as he leaves, he says new technology is requiring lawmakers to spend more time working than even before. Montell, says that even though the job of a legislator is technically a part-time job, the time currently required, thanks in part to social media, have contributed it be being a full- time commitment as far as he is concerned. “I do think as social media and... Read more 

Jim Gray keeps jobs message at forefront of campaign talking points, takes aim at Rand Paul ahead of primary

04/26/2016 11:11 PM

LEXINGTON — Lexington Mayor Jim Gray is already spending campaign cash in an effort to introduce himself to voters ahead of a six-way primary for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination on May 17, but he’s also taking aim at Republican junior U.S. Sen. Rand Paul in carefully laid statements of late. “I’ve got the experience and I’ve got the record to run for U.S. senator, and that’s exactly why I’m here here, because I feel like Sen. Paul has not... Read more 

Gov. Bevin heads to Europe for industrial trade fair in Germany, other business meetings

04/26/2016 09:29 AM

Gov. Matt Bevin has flown to Europe to promote Kentucky as a business destination, his office announced Tuesday in a news release. Bevin will attend the Hannover Messe Fair in Hannover, Germany, on Tuesday, when he will meet with current businesses with locations in the state as well as others that may be looking to expand in Kentucky, according to the release. The governor is scheduled to continue traveling and meeting with executives in Germany, France and Belgium throughout the week. Bevin... Read more 

Clinton campaign opens headquarters in Louisville

04/25/2016 04:39 PM

LOUISVILLE — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will open her Kentucky campaign headquarters on Monday night in Louisville. The headquarters, located at 1357 Bardstown Road, will be used to launch phone banks and neighborhood canvasses as organizers and volunteers contact Kentuckians in Jefferson County leading up to the May 17 primary. The office is scheduled to open at 6 p.m. with a gala kickoff featuring Congressman John Yarmuth, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, state Sen. Morgan McGarvey and state Reps. Joni Jenkins,... Read more 

‘Hemp Discovery Day’ At Farmington Historic Plantation
Farmington Historic Plantation celebrates Hemp Discovery Day this Saturday with food trucks, music and, of course, a discussion on the uses of hemp. Farmington has been selected to participate in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s hemp pilot program for 2016. I spoke with executive director Diane Young about the festivities and Farmington’s acre and a half of hemp. Listen to the interview in the audio player above. On what to expect at Hemp Discovery Day: “We’ll have folks selling some of their hemp seeds and oils that you can put in different types of food. We’ll also have tours of the historic house, giveaways, [...]
Fri, Apr 29, 2016 1:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Weekend Arts Roundup: Banjo, Guitar And Drums
Once again, this weekend is more than full of things to do here in Louisville — it’s the most festive season we have, after all. Among other things, there’s a hot-air balloon race on Saturday morning, followed by sweaty insane people in the streets — sorry, runners — competing in the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and Mini-marathon. If you can get around all the street closings, I’ve got a few suggestions for how to get your culture on. I’m sure there’s a Kentucky joke to be made about banjo players with the orchestra, but I’m not touching it. We’ll have one of the world’s [...]
Fri, Apr 29, 2016 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
What We Learned From The Candidates For Metro Council’s Highlands Seat
The seven Democratic candidates vying for the District 8 seat on Louisville’s Metro Council don’t disagree on much. They met for a debate Thursday night at the St. Paul Methodist Church on Douglass Boulevard in the Highlands, the neighborhood that makes up the district. The event lasted about 90 minutes and drew nearly 300 people to the church’s gymnasium. Some stood in the back due to a lack of chairs, while others shivered to fight the cool of the blasting air conditioning. This is the most crowded race for Metro Council in this primary election cycle. Longtime Councilman Tom Owen announced last year he wouldn’t [...]
Fri, Apr 29, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
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Today's Political Headlines

Judge will rule in lawsuit between Attorney General Beshear, Gov. Bevin "soon" after hearing Wednesday

05/04/2016 11:40 PM
FRANKFORT — Attorneys for Gov. Matt Bevin and Attorney General Andy Beshear gave their last arguments Wednesday before Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate renders a decision on Beshear’s lawsuit challenging current-year cuts totaling nearly $18 million to state colleges and universities. Both sides reiterated their arguments from an April 21 hearing, during which they agreed to set aside the $17.8 million in cuts until the lawsuit’s resolution. Steve Pitt, Bevin’s general counsel, argued that state law gives the governor,... Read more 

Tim Longmeyer, former deputy AG and Personnel Cabinet secretary, will face state charges in kickback scheme, Beshear says

05/04/2016 06:47 PM
FRANKFORT – Attorney General Andy Beshear will file charges against Tim Longmeyer, his former top deputy and Personnel Cabinet secretary under Gov. Steve Beshear who pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges last month. Andy Beshear announced the impending charges in Franklin Circuit Court on Wednesday, saying those will come before Longmeyer’s Aug. 18 sentencing in federal court. He faces up to 10 years in prison for his role in the kickback scheme, in which he pleaded guilty to helping steer work... Read more 

Four Republican candidates battle for open Senate seat in southcentral Kentucky

05/04/2016 01:26 PM
SOMERSET – Approximately 75 registered voters were in attendance Tuesday night as the four Republican candidates for state Senator in the 15th Senatorial District, took part in a candidate’s forum at Somerset High School, co-hosted by the Rotary Club of Somerset and the Rotary Club of Somerset-Pulaski County. The candidates are vying to succeed Sen. Chris Girdler, R-Somerset, who decided not to seek re-election after serving only one term in office. The candidates include insurance agent Rick Girdler, the uncle of the... Read more 

Down but not out, Bernie Sanders shares familiar campaign message before thousands at Waterfront Park

05/03/2016 10:53 PM
LOUISVILLE — As voters across the Kentucky River handed him a slight win over the Democratic presidential front-runner in Tuesday’s Indiana primary, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders stuck to familiar campaign themes and attacks during a rally at Louisville’s Waterfront Park. Sanders, a self-described Democratic socialist from Vermont who trails Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton by 802 delegates, gave no indication to the thousands of supporters who flocked to the riverbank, instead continuing his attacks on Clinton for her six-figure speeches to... Read more 

Democratic U.S. Senate candidates offer vision, talk policy at Boone Co. forum

05/03/2016 09:11 PM
FLORENCE — Democratic Party faithful in Northern Kentucky looked on in Boone County Monday night as Democratic candidates seeking the nomination in the May 17 primary delivered their vision for the state. Nearly 100 people filled seats in the convening center at the Boone Co. campus of Gateway Community & Technical College for the forum which remained civil, and featured many of the candidates pushing to the left after multiple statewide races for Democrats have imploded with the candidates offering... Read more 

Bill Clinton takes aim at Gov. Matt Bevin in Lexington

05/03/2016 06:09 PM
LEXINGTON — The William T. Young Library in Lexington was just one of three stops former President Bill Clinton made in the commonwealth on Tuesday supporting his wife, Hillary. Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes introduced Clinton to a large crowd that came out hear him speak on the University of Kentucky’s campus. The former president spoke about the success of the Affordable Care Act, praising Kentucky for its implementation, and taking aim at Republican Gov. Matt Bevin... Read more 

Rep. Tom Riner not fundraising for re-election, says he hasn't been attending "secret" caucus meetings

05/03/2016 12:50 PM
LOUISVILLE — Rep. Tom Riner has served in the House 34-years and now faces two Democratic challengers in the primary, even though he’s facing well-armed and savvy challengers he’s made a decision not to raise funds for his re-election campaign. The soft-spoken and mild mannered Louisville Democrat has found himself at the center of controversy in the past few years for helping bring to light a sexual harassment case against a fellow Democratic lawmaker and recruiting the Liberty Counsel... Read more 

Residency questions cloud Koenig-Seifried 69th district race

05/02/2016 05:50 PM
FLORENCE – 69th District State Rep. Adam Koenig, R-Erlanger, faces a challenger in the Republican primary as he tries to earn a sixth term in office, in 23-year-old market analyst Danny Seifried, but it is still to be determined in Boone Circuit Court whether Seifried has lived in the district long enough to be eligible to run for the seat. A suit was filed by Erlanger resident Lucy Riffle on April 19 claimed Seifried has not lived in the district... Read more 

Bernie Sanders, Hillary and Bill Clinton to campaign in Kentucky this week

05/01/2016 12:36 PM
UPDATED As his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination heads to Appalachia next week, Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will hold a rally at Louisville’s Waterfront Park on Tuesday. Sanders is scheduled to speak at 7:30 p.m. at the park’s Great Lawn in his first campaign stop in Kentucky, with doors opening at 4 p.m. Entrance will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and the campaign recommends those hoping to attend RSVP here. The event comes two weeks ahead of the... Read more 

Rep. Bob DeWeese ends 24-year legislative career at 81

04/30/2016 05:20 PM
FRANKFORT – After 24 years in the state legislature, 81-year-old Rep. Bob DeWeese, R-Louisville, has decided to call it a career. DeWeese, a retired general surgeon, had planned to serve only a couple of terms when he was first elected in 1993, before returning back to his surgery practice full-time to work with his son, but all of that changed in 1994 when he experienced temporary blindness and had to give up his job as a surgeon. “I couldn’t see anything for... Read more 

Chelsea Clinton campaigns in Lexington for her mom

04/29/2016 12:02 PM
UPDATED LEXINGTON — Sitting in a chair in the middle of the Lexington Hillary for Kentucky headquarters, a pregnant Chelsea Clinton spoke to volunteers and supporters encouraging them to reach as many Kentuckians as possible before the May 17 primary. The crowd of supporters filled the small campaign office and filled part of a parking lot off of Winchester Road. Clinton spoke for about an hour to nearly 200 people in Lexington. Clinton called the presidential election “the most important of... Read more 

Fundraising update: How the rest of the most interesting primary races are stacking up

04/29/2016 08:22 AM
Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part breakdown of recent fundraising efforts from legislative candidates. Part one can be viewed here. We’re rounding out our fundraising updates behind the other half of the most interesting races to watch, which can be an early predictor of support and strength of a candidate’s organization. 23rd House District (open seat, Democratic and Republican primaries) Danny Basil vs. Joe Trigg in the Democratic primary. Steve Riley vs. Freddie Joe Wilkerson in the Republican primary. In... Read more 
A Kentucky Farrier Talks Shop During Derby Week
from Jacob Ryan
Todd Boston spends his workdays hammering on horse hooves. The farrier fits fresh shoes on horses. And this Derby Week, he’s one of hundreds of workers — trainers, holders, cleaners — milling about in the track’s backside stables, making sure the high-priced horses are ready to race. “It’s what we do, every day,” he says. Trainers, tourists, touts and fans will flood Churchill Downs for the famed horse race on Saturday. They’ll place bets and throw parties. But very few will get access to the horses like Boston does. He’s shod some of the fastest horses to ever hit the track — Giacomo, Barbaro and even Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh. “I’ve [...]
Thu, May 05, 2016 12:00:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Tradition Of The Designer Julep Cup Lives On In Shelbyville
from Rick Howlett
One of the many traditions associated with the Kentucky Derby is the mint julep — the bourbon cocktail served at the Derby and at numerous Derby-related gatherings. These days, juleps are served in a variety of glasses or cups. But many hosts hold fast to the tradition of serving the drink in specially designed silver cups. Matt Burnett is CFO of the Wakefield-Scearce Galleries in Shelbyville, an antiques gallery that for decades has put its unique stamp on the julep cup. Burnett’s grandfather, Mark J. Scearce, owned a Shelbyville jewelry store during World War Two. Courtesy Wakefield-Scearce Galleries Mark J. Scearce “There was silver rationing [...]
Thu, May 05, 2016 10:00:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
Here Are The Post Positions For The 142nd Kentucky Derby
from Rick Howlett
The post positions are set for Saturday’s running of the 142nd Kentucky Derby. Nyquist has been made the early 3 -1 favorite for the Derby, with Exaggerator the second choice in the full field of 20 horses. Nyquist drew the No. 13 post as the colt trained by Doug O’Neill tries to win the first jewel of the Triple Crown and improve to 8-0. “You know, when you have a horse like Nyquist, he gives you so much calm and so much confidence, and the family atmosphere we have at the barn, you know, we’re just sharing this whole journey and we’re [...]
Thu, May 05, 2016 2:15:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
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