Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Today's Political Headlines

Gov. Beshear pardons 197, commutes sentences for six as his administration draws to a close

12/07/2015 09:11 PM
Hours before the end of his administration, Gov. Steve Beshear granted 197 pardons and commuted six sentences on Monday. Among those chosen for clemency are 10 women convicted of violent crimes against domestic abusers and several drug offenders, according to a news release from Beshear’s office. The outgoing governor received more than 3,400 requests for pardons during his eight years in Frankfort, the release states, noting that Beshear’s predecessor, former Gov. Ernie Fletcher, granted more than 100 pardons out of more than... Read more 

Arch Coal executive named head of Energy and Environment Cabinet by Gov.-elect Bevin

12/07/2015 05:53 PM
On the eve of his inauguration, Gov.-elect Matt Bevin appointed Arch Coal executive Charles Snavely as his next Energy and Environment Cabinet secretary. The move was announced by Bevin’s transition team in a news release on Monday. Snavely, a Prestonsburg native residing in Lexington, was president of eastern U.S. operations for Arch Coal and a former executive vice president of mining operations for International Coal Group, according to the release. He has more than 35 years in the coal-mining industry, the release... Read more 

Craft brewers continue push to double current limits for annual production

12/07/2015 02:30 PM
FRANKFORT – As the 2016 General Assembly session approaches, officials from the craft brewing industry made another pitch to lawmakers to make two revisions to state statute to help the industry grow and produce increased tax revenue for the state. Adam Watson, president of the Kentucky Guild of Brewers and co-owner of Against the Grain Brewery and Smokehouse in Louisville, along with Daniel Harrison, co-owner of Country Boy Brewing in Lexington, told members of the Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development... Read more 

Brigadier General Stephen Hogan named Adjutant General

12/07/2015 10:08 AM
Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has named Brigadier General Stephen R. Hogan Adjutant General of the commonwealth. Hogan, a Hebron native, formerly served as Assistant Adjutant General for the Kentucky Army National Guard, according to a press release from the transition team. He served as Deputy Commander of the Kentucky Army National Guard from 2011 to June of 2014 according to his LinkedIn profile. “We owe our freedom and safety to the men and women of our military,” Bevin said in a... Read more 

Decorated Army veteran will head Finance and Administration Cabinet under Gov.-elect Bevin

12/06/2015 10:57 PM
Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has named retired Col. William Landrum III as his Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary, his transition team announced in a news release Sunday. Landrum, of Greensburg, was most recently senior associate of the Booz Allen Hamilton Resource Management Consulting Support Team, according to the release. The firm provides consulting, technology and engineering services in the areas of defense, intelligence and civil markets for the federal government as well as work for private-sector clients. Landrum, a U.S. Army veteran, served... Read more 

Bevin appoints heads of tourism, parks agencies

12/05/2015 06:03 PM
Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has named a former Kentucky Fried Chicken and Yum! Brands executive as secretary of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, Bevin’s transition team announced Saturday in a press release. Don Parkinson, of Louisville, retired as senior vice president of KFC and Yum! Brands in 2005, beginning his career there in 1980, according to his LinkedIn profile. He’s a board member for the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, serving as interim president from August 2013 until February 2014,... Read more 

Scores of Kentuckians, Hoosiers trek across new Abraham Lincoln Bridge ahead of Monday opening

12/05/2015 04:40 PM
After more than two hours in temperatures hovering near 30 degrees, the more than 10,000 pedestrians who bundled up on a foggy Saturday morning were eager to take a closer look at the Abraham Lincoln Bridge connecting downtown Louisville with Jeffersonville, Ind. But given the years it took to complete the Ohio River bridge, officials were just as eager to make sure everyone who helped make the project a reality received their due. “Hey, this is a once-in-a-lifetime time, so just a... Read more 

Gov.-elect Bevin will headline fundraiser benefiting lawmaker who flipped to GOP

12/04/2015 04:44 PM
UPDATED: Gov.-elect Matt Bevin is tossing his support behind Rep. Denny Butler — a Louisville lawmaker who recently switched party affiliation from a Democrat to Republican. Bevin is headlining an invitation-only fundraiser in Louisville on Dec. 18, which will feature other prominent members of the GOP. Bevin was not immediately available for comment at the time this story was published. Mentioned in the invitation are two other Louisville GOP lawmakers, Sen. Julie Raque Adams and Rep. Bob DeWeese. Republican... Read more 

Gov.-elect Bevin appoints former rival for GOP nomination to top Education and Workforce Development Cabinet post; other appointments announced

12/04/2015 12:02 PM
Once his foe in a four-way Republican primary for the party’s gubernatorial nomination, Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has named Louisville real estate developer Hal Heiner the next secretary of the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet, Bevin’s transition team announced in a news release Friday. The incoming administration also announced that Tom Stephens, a Lexington attorney, and Steve Knipper, who unsuccessfully ran for secretary of state, will serve as Personnel Cabinet secretary and Lt. Gov.-elect Jenean Hampton’s chief of staff, respectively. Heiner, who finished... Read more 

2016 candidate filing update: GOP beginning to mount major challengers to Democratic incumbents

12/04/2015 10:07 AM
Attention is already shifting to 2016 races as candidates for state House and Senate begin the process of making their campaigns official with the Secretary of State. The latest batch of candidates to file reveals some potentially major challengers to incumbent Democrats in Paducah- and Richmond-centric House districts and the beginning of a family-oriented primary battle to replace outgoing state Sen. Chris Girdler, R-Somerset. State House: 3rd — Republican Joni Hogancamp of Paducah has officially filed her paperwork to run for the... Read more 

Organizers readying for Gov.-elect Bevin's inauguration next week

12/03/2015 11:36 PM
FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s military veterans will have a moment in the limelight during Gov.-elect Matt Bevin’s inauguration, with about 300 expected to march in the inaugural parade on Tuesday. That’s part of the overall theme of inclusivity in Bevin’s celebratory day, Kelly Knight, co-chair of Bevin’s inaugural committee, told reporters Thursday at the Capitol. “It’s very important to him to honor the veterans and also to make certain that the commonwealth knows that everyone is invited to participate,” she said. Inaugural organizers detailed... Read more 

State employee pension drops to less than 18 percent funded with lowered investment assumptions

12/03/2015 10:19 PM
FRANKFORT — Financial prospects for the Kentucky Retirement Systems grew bleaker on Thursday after the KRS Board of Trustees lowered its assumed investment returns for the state worker and police pension funds from 7.5 percent to 6.75 percent. The move drops the Kentucky Employees Retirement System non-hazardous’s pension funded ratio from 19 percent to 17.7 percent, possibly making it the worst-funded public pension in the U.S., and the State Police Retirement System’s funded status from 33.8 percent to 31.4 percent, according... Read more 

Gov.-elect Bevin names health attorney Vickie Yates Brown Glisson chief of Cabinet for Health and Family Services

12/03/2015 06:10 PM
Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has named Louisville health attorney Vickie Yates Brown Glisson as secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Bevin’s transition team announced Thursday. Glisson, a nationally recognized health and health insurance lawyer with Frost Brown Todd, will oversee an agency that was a chief focus of the incoming governor on the campaign trail. Bevin has pledged to shutter the state’s health exchange, kynect, created through the Affordable Care Act and apply for waivers from the Centers for... Read more 

Sen. Thayer joins growing list of lawmakers calling for KRS director to step down

12/03/2015 03:04 PM
Funding pensions are among the major issues facing lawmakers when they return to Frankfort on Jan. 5 for the legislative session, but complicating matters is a huge funding request for teachers’ retirement, and controversy over the head of the Kentucky Retirement Systems. KRS Executive Director Bill Thielen has caught the ire of several lawmakers after accepting a 25 percent pay increase, and postponing his retirement. Multiple lawmakers including: Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, Auditor-elect Mike Harmon, and now Senate Majority... Read more 
New HIV Cases Decline in U.S., But Kentucky Holds Steady
from Ja'Nel Johnson
A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the rate of HIV diagnoses has declined nationally, but not among all groups of people. Annual HIV diagnoses in the U.S. fell by 19 percent from 2005 to 2014, according to the federal agency. The report cites dramatic and continuing declines among several populations including heterosexuals, people who inject drugs, and African-Americans, especially among black women. But unlike the national trends, Kentucky isn’t experiencing a decline in HIV diagnoses, state epidemiologist Dr. Kraig Humbaugh said. “We’ve had a pretty stable rate of new HIV infection. If you go back 10 [...]
Tue, Dec 08, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Germans Forge ‘Socially Acceptable’ Transition From Coal
from Erica Peterson
This is the second in a five-part series. Read the others here. In Western Germany, only a 45-minute drive from the tourists milling around the iconic cathedral in Cologne, miners work in three immense lignite coal mines. Machines rumble, digging the soft, brown coal out of the ground and placing it on conveyor belts. (If you aren’t immediately taken to this story, go here.) [...]
Tue, Dec 08, 2015 12:07:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Matt Bevin Sworn in As Kentucky’s 62nd Governor 
from Associated Press
Matt Bevin has taken the oath to become the 62nd governor of Kentucky during a private ceremony just after midnight in the state Capitol. Bevin succeeds Democrat Steve Beshear, who could not seek re-election because of term limits. Bevin is only the state’s ninth Republican governor in its 223-year history and the second since 1971. A full day of events is scheduled for Tuesday, including a worship service, a parade and a public swearing-in ceremony on the Capitol steps. Related StoryMatt Bevin's Inauguration Will Stick With Tradition — For The Most PartAn investment manager from Louisville, Bevin has never held public office. He [...]
Tue, Dec 08, 2015 12:01:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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Thursday, December 3, 2015

Today's Political Headlines

UK's first African-American QB will head Labor Cabinet under Gov.-elect Bevin

12/02/2015 04:04 PM
Former University of Kentucky quarterback Derrick Ramsey has been named the next Labor Cabinet secretary, Gov.-elect Matt Bevin announced in a news release Wednesday. The first African-American quarterback at UK, Ramsey served as deputy secretary of commerce in Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s administration. “He has been successful in many arenas — both on and off the field,” Bevin said of Ramsey in a news release. “His passion for excellence and his superior management skills will be critical to his success in this... Read more 

Immigration reform unlikely with Obama in White House, but horse trainer Dale Romans says action is necessary

12/02/2015 03:29 PM
President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration policy has drawn legal challenges and ramped up the political rhetoric in the presidential race. But lost in the talking points is how Kentucky stands to benefit from changes in national immigration policy. Horse trainer Dale Romans, owner of Romans Racing Stables, employs anywhere from 40 to 80 foreign workers from places like Mexico and Guatemala on H-2B temporary visas, and he says his business and others like it depend on immigrant labor. The lower-wage jobs... Read more 

Message and structural elements need to improve for Democrats to win statewide elections, Democratic consultant says

12/02/2015 10:17 AM
With a nine point defeat in the gubernatorial election, and only retaining control of two Constitutional offices Democrats are trying to regroup before 2016 races. Part of Democrats poor 2015 performance was a “rudderless” gubernatorial campaign, said Democratic consultant Matt Wyatt. But, beyond message, Wyatt said structurally the Democratic Party needs to run statewide campaigns in all 120 of Kentucky’s counties. “We need to empower the local county parties,” Wyatt said. “We need to give them resources; give them training. Then... Read more 
Kentucky’s Outgoing Energy Secretary Says State Must Take Action on Climate Change
from Erica Peterson
Len Peters, secretary of the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, will step down from his post next week, as Gov. Steve Beshear leaves office. Peters has led the cabinet since 2008. He’s a chemical engineer by training, and before working in state government he led the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He’s also held academic and administrative positions at the University of Kentucky and Virginia Tech. In an interview, Peters reflected on his tenure in the position. Here are a few highlights: On the immediate challenges his successor and Governor-elect Matt Bevin will face: Peters said he believes the most pressing challenge is creating [...]
Thu, Dec 03, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Louisville Ex-Felons May Get Chance at Section 8 Assistance
from Jacob Ryan
Louisville residents with a history of drug or violent felony offenses may no longer be barred from receiving federal Section 8 housing assistance. The Louisville Metro Housing Authority is weighing the change at the suggestion of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said Tim Barry, the city housing authority’s director. A public comment period for the rule change is ongoing. The change would need approval from the housing authority’s board before taking effect next year. Some caveats will exist, however. Residents who’ve been convicted of manufacturing methamphetamine on public housing property or who are lifetime registered sex offenders will remain ineligible for federal [...]
Thu, Dec 03, 2015 12:02:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
WATCH: Old Water Company Building’s Facade Coming Down
from J. Tyler Franklin
After a protracted dispute between Louisville Metro officials and preservationists over historic structures at the downtown site of the proposed Omni Hotel and Residences, the facade of the old Louisville Water Company building came down on Wednesday. At least, it began to. A demolition crew started the careful process of dismantling the building’s facade and sidewalls, which will go into storage for an undetermined period of time. Over the next 12 to 18 months, city officials will begin seeking proposals to reconstruct and reuse the facade, which dates to 1910. Click on the video for more: [...]
Wed, Dec 02, 2015 10:40:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Today's Political Headlines

Philosophical divides on bonding will likely resurface next year as KTRS funding group finishes report

12/01/2015 09:13 PM
FRANKFORT — Next year’s General Assembly will have a number of options to consider in shoring up the underfunded Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System, but underlying philosophical differences in how to fix financial issues at the pension agency will likely reemerge. The 25-member Kentucky Teachers’ Retirement System Funding Work Group met for the final time Tuesday, putting the finishing touches on their report to Gov. Steve Beshear, who leaves office next week. The task will be up to lawmakers and Gov.-elect Matt... Read more 

Gov.-elect Bevin taps John Chilton as state budget director

12/01/2015 10:42 AM
UPDATED WITH REACTION FROM GOV. BESHEAR — Gov.-elect Matt Bevin announced Tuesday that John Chilton will be his state budget director. Chilton is a Certified Public Accountant with Louisville firm Mountjoy Chilton Medley LLP, a regional accounting firm with nearly 300 employees in Louisville, Lexington, Cincinnati and Jeffersonville, according to a press release. “He is a man of exceptional character, extensive financial knowledge, and proven leadership experience,” Bevin said of Chilton. “The Commonwealth of Kentucky is blessed to have a... Read more 
Decision on JBS Swift’s Butchertown Lot Delayed Yet Again
from Erica Peterson
A decision on whether pork processor JBS Swift can continue to use a Butchertown parking lot for truck staging has been pushed back once again. Swift has been using the Cabel Street lot for about a decade; it’s where refrigerated trucks sit, storing pork from the nearby slaughterhouse. But Swift’s use of the lot wasn’t considered permanent until last year, when the company bought the lot from Louisville’s Metropolitan Sewer District. Now, the company is seeking a conditional use permit from Louisville’s Board of Zoning Adjustment to continue using the lot to run its refrigeration trucks. The Butchertown Neighborhood Association is opposing [...]
Wed, Dec 02, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Here’s a Holiday Arts Roundup For Louisville
from Tara Anderson
They’re as much a part of holiday tradition as Christmas trees and stockings hung by the chimney: the holiday shows that we go to see, year after year. This is not the time of year when local arts organizations are especially concerned with innovation or challenges. It’s not a time to be provocative, or to make audiences reflect on tough issues. Instead, it’s about slipping back into familiar music and storylines, as comfortable as favorite slippers and a mug of hot chocolate. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Actor’s Theatre of Louisville is among the first to kick off the season with its annual [...]
Wed, Dec 02, 2015 12:04:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
State Leaders Talk Kentucky Teachers’ Pension Solutions, To No Avail
from Ryland Barton
If state leaders are closer to solving the crisis in the Kentucky teachers’ pension system, they’re not showing it. The system has 54 percent of the money it needs to make future payouts, a situation that has been a keen point of focus for state leaders in recent years. On Tuesday, a bipartisan task force of legislators and advocacy group leaders was supposed to present a menu of ideas for addressing the teachers’ pension problem. But few concrete solutions came out of the meeting, with a familiar line being drawn over whether to borrow money to shore up the system. House Speaker Greg Stumbo, [...]
Wed, Dec 02, 2015 1:12:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
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Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Today's Political Headlines

Rand Paul files to run for U.S. Senate and KY GOP presidential caucus

11/30/2015 06:02 PM
LOUISVILLE — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, made his dual candidacy official on Monday filing his paperwork to run for re-election and for Kentucky’s GOP presidential caucus. Kentucky’s presidential caucus comes as a route around state statute which prohibits a candidate from appearing on the ballot twice in the same election. The Kentucky GOP will hold the caucus on March 5 in an effort to keep Paul’s name on the May primary ballot for re-election. “I think what it reflects... Read more 

Agriculture Commissioner-elect Ryan Quarles names chief of staff

11/30/2015 03:34 PM
UPDATED: Incoming Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles has named Keith Rogers as his chief of staff. Rogers is the current Executive Director for the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, where he has served since 2008. Rogers is no stranger to Frankfort, he served in former Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s administration as the director of agricultural policy; he also served with former U.S. Rep. Ron Lewis as his district director and senior legislative assistant. “I’m excited to have his wisdom and years of expertise to... Read more 

New education commissioner not looking to make drastic changes to public school systems

11/30/2015 10:17 AM
FRANKFORT – New Kentucky Commissioner of Education Stephen Pruitt is not planning on making any major changes, and wants to talk with as many stakeholders as he can to get a clear picture of the positives and challenges that educators face in the state. Pruitt has spent his first month on the job meeting with superintendents, legislators, administrators and parents to get a feel for the current state of public education in the commonwealth. “I think a lot of people are happy... Read more 
Kentucky’s First Oral Health Survey Since 2001 Begins This Week
from Ja'Nel Johnson
For the first time since 2001, an oral health survey will be undertaken in Kentucky. The Making Smiles Happen Surveillance Initiative will assess the oral health of Kentucky third- and sixth-grade students. The initiative, by insurer Delta Dental of Kentucky, seeks to assess the oral health of Kentucky’s children and determine the need for additional dental programs. Dr. Cliff Maesaka, CEO of Delta Dental of Kentucky, said the survey will establish a baseline for the state. “If we’re going to move the needle on children’s oral health, we need to know where we’re starting from, because in that way we’ll be able to measure success, [...]
Tue, Dec 01, 2015 1:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Rand Paul Has Mixed Feelings About Governor’s Ex-Felon Voting Rights Order
from Ashley Lopez
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is a longtime advocate for criminal justice reform, but he’s not exactly applauding outgoing Gov. Steve Beshear’s executive order last week restoring voting rights to many non-violent ex-felons. During a news conference in Louisville on Monday, Paul said he supports rights restoration but is not too pleased with the idea of a single elected official unilaterally changing state law. He also said he wasn’t sure if it was legal for Beshear to make the change on his own. “You know, I am very supportive of giving voting rights back to non-violent felons who have served their time,” he [...]
Tue, Dec 01, 2015 12:04:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Ford Plans $1.3 Billion Investment, 2,000 New Jobs at Louisville Plant
from Rick Howlett
The Ford Motor Company will invest $1.3 billion in the Kentucky Truck Plant to support production of its new F-Series Super Duty Truck, creating 2,000 new jobs, it plans to announce later this morning. The automaker will hold a press conference in Louisville to announce the major expansion. Company executives will be joined by Gov. Steve Beshear, city officials and United Auto Workers union leaders for the 10:30 a.m. announcement at the truck plant on Chamberlain Lane. Ford officials said the expansion would include an all-new body shop, facility upgrades and retooling to build the new truck. The investment will support production of the new F-Series [...]
Tue, Dec 01, 2015 5:01:00 AM, Continue reading at the source
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Sunday, November 29, 2015

Today's Political Headlines

Medical marijuana advocates see potential partner in Gov.-elect Bevin

11/28/2015 12:00 PM
Advocacy group members with Kentuckians for Medicinal Marijuana are gearing up for another year pushing for legislation legalizing medical access to cannabis in the General Assembly, but this year they’re hoping they have momentum in the form of the new governor. For Jaime Montalvo of Kentuckians for Medicinal Marijuana, Gov.-elect Matt Bevin could be a major ally in the push for medical access. “He was the only one willing to come forward and talk about it (during the campaign). I... Read more 

Supporters of expungement legislation see glimmers of hope ahead of next year's session

11/27/2015 07:32 PM
Gov. Steve Beshear’s decision to sign an executive order restoring the rights to vote and hold office for felons convicted of nonviolent crimes earlier this week earned him praise. But advocates for low-level felony expungement say such legislation would be pivotal in removing societal barriers for those who hope to move ahead with their lives. State Reps. Darryl Owens and David Floyd have spearheaded efforts at felony expungement in recent years, with House Bill 40 passing the Democrat-led House of Representatives by... Read more 

Gov.-elect Bevin names Chad Meredith deputy general counsel 

11/27/2015 01:28 PM
Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has added another name to his roster with 10 days until he is sworn into office. Lexington attorney Chad Meredith has been named as Bevin’s deputy general counsel in the Governor’s Office. Meredith is an attorney with Ransdell and Roach in Lexington, where he practiced commercial litigation, constitutional law, banking litigation, civil rights litigation, appellate advocacy, labor and employment litigation, and tort litigation, according to the firm’s website. “Chad is an impressive lawyer with the rare distinction... Read more 

Refugees get taste of American tradition with Catholic Charities of Louisville's Thanksgiving dinner

11/25/2015 07:40 PM
For many, Wednesday’s Thanksgiving meal served at the Catholic Charities of Louisville’s campus was their first taste of traditional American holiday fare. The few hundred who gathered at the downtown Louisville church have fled terrorism and oppression en route to the U.S., some with just a single piece of luggage shared among a family of eight. As the country’s attention focuses on refugees from war-torn Syria after a passport from the country was found in the aftermath of an Islamic State attack... Read more 

Gov.-elect Bevin names senior advisor and deputy chief of staff for policy

11/25/2015 03:34 PM
Gov.-elect Matt Bevin has named two more members of his inner circle. In a press release Wednesday, Bevin named Andrew V. McNeill as his senior advisor and Adam M. Meier as his deputy chief of staff for policy. “We continue to add depth to the bench as we carefully fill key roles in the administration,” Bevin said. “Andrew McNeill has decades of experience in the public and private sector. He will be a key advisor as we make the important decisions... Read more 

Schools become the frontline for identifying homeless youth 

11/25/2015 02:00 PM
NEWPORT – While many families will get together on Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving, there is a growing number of families who have no full time residence and are classified as homeless. In Northern Kentucky, it’s estimated that 2,100 students are classified as homeless in Boone, Kenton, and Campbell counties — meaning that they have no permanent residence. Tiffany Smith, staff attorney at the Children’s Law Center, says research shows that children who are homeless are likely to have undesirable characteristics. “Any youth... Read more 

Gov. Beshear signs executive order restoring right to vote to certain non-violent felons

11/24/2015 02:34 PM
FRANKFORT – Gov. Steve Beshear signed an executive order on Tuesday setting up the automatic restoration for the right to vote and hold public office to certain offenders once all terms of their sentences have been satisfied. The order excludes individuals convicted of violent or sex crimes, bribery or treason. The issue of restoring felon voting rights has been discussed in the legislature for years with little movement on the issue. Beshear said that he felt the state was denying individuals, who... Read more 
City Seeking Input For Future Biking Infrastructure
from Jacob Ryan
The future of Louisville’s bicycling infrastructure will be the topic of discussion at a pair of public meetings set for this week. Louisville Metro planning officials and the group Bicycling For Louisville are hosting the events, each of which will have the same focus: to gauge what residents are looking for in the city’s bicycle infrastructure, said Rolf Eisinger, Metro’s bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. Despite a recent surge in new bicycle infrastructure — such as bike lanes — across the city, Eisinger said gaps still exist in the network that can discourage people from taking to the roads on a bicycle. The meetings and a correlated survey are [...]
Sun, Nov 29, 2015 2:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Beshear Administration Hasn’t Paid Legal Fees in Marriage Case
from Ryland Barton
It’s unlikely that Gov. Steve Beshear’s administration will pay the legal fees of the attorneys who sued the state over its same-sex marriage ban by Dec. 8, when Governor-elect Matt Bevin takes office. Attorneys who defeated the ban — in a case that was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court — say they should get about $2.1 million in compensation. Beshear’s administration says that amount is unreasonable, and the two parties have gone back and forth without reaching an agreement. Dan Canon, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys in the same-sex marriage lawsuit, said Beshear’s administration intends to “dump a problem they created on the incoming administration.” “The Beshear [...]
Sun, Nov 29, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
Strange Fruit: Voting Rights Restored for Kentucky Ex-Felons
from Laura Ellis
This week, outgoing Gov. Steve Beshear announced he would restore voting rights for Kentuckians convicted of most non-violent felonies. “The right to vote is one of the most intrinsically American privileges,” Beshear said, “and thousands of Kentuckians are living, working and paying taxes in the state but are denied this basic right.” Laura Ellis | wfpl.org Sean Hardy & Jaison Gardner Kentuckians for the Commonwealth’s Sean Hardy joins us this week to talk about the importance of re-enfranchising voters. He says keeping felons from voting doesn’t fit with a rehabilitation model of punishment. “You go in, you serve your time, you pay your debt to [...]
Sat, Nov 28, 2015 12:55:00 PM, Continue reading at the source
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