Ky. House Of Representatives Advances Anti-Abortion Constitutional Amendment
By Ryland Barton • Mar 11, 2020
The Kentucky House of Representatives passed a bill that would add language to the state constitution saying that it guarantees no right for women to get abortions.
Beshear: Three More Coronavirus Cases Confirmed In Kentucky
By Ryland Barton • Mar 8, 2020
Gov. Andy Beshear has announced three more confirmed cases of coronavirus in Kentucky, making four total cases in the state.
Beshear Launches Felony Voting Rights Restoration Website
Gov. Andy Beshear's administration has launched a website where Kentuckians with felony records can determine if they have had their voting rights restored.
What's Happened To Ky.'s Snowy Winters? Blame, Or Credit, Our Warming Climate
By Ryan Van Velzer (KPR) • Mar 4, 2020
James Crisp / AP
Snow is melting faster in Kentucky as warmer average winters bring about fewer days of snow cover, according to State Climatologist Stuart Foster.
Kentucky House Passes Voter ID Bill Ahead Of 2020 Elections
The Kentucky House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require voters to show a photo ID in order to cast ballots in this year's General Election, a top legislative priority for Republican leaders in the legislature.
After significant revisions, the measure provides several ways for those without photo IDs to vote, but opponents of the legislation say it will suppress voter turnout and create confusion for voters and election officials. Because of those revisions, the bill will go back to the Senate for final approval before heading to Gov. Andy Beshear.
On Tuesday, Rep. Angie Hatton, a Democrat from Whitesburg, was gaveled down by the House Speaker after accusing Republicans of pushing the bill for political reasons.
Hear Ryland's story about the Kentucky House passing a Voter ID bill.
Cat Cafe To Open In Downtown Covington
By Michael Monks • Mar 3, 2020
About four years ago, Chuck Patton sold the advertising company he founded and then went searching for his next opportunity.
On a trip to Charleston, South Carolina, the Fort Thomas native who now lives in Louisville, found it.
Boone Co. Judge/Executive Leads National County Association
Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore has led his Northern Kentucky county through unprecedented growth. It is one of the fastest-growing counties in all of Kentucky.
Survey Suggests More Kentucky Students Are Vaping and Depressed
By Lisa Autry • Feb 28, 2020
The percentage of middle school students in Kentucky using electronic cigarettes and other vaping products has doubled since 2017.
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted last spring shows the rate of vaping increased from 15.1% in 2017, to 31.4% in 2019. High school students saw a nine percent jump in the same time period.
"The Department for Public Health is really working to provide resources to schools and communities to do what we can to prevent students from using these products and to get them to quit using them," said Stephanie Bungee, a school health consultant with the Kentucky Department of Education.
Councilwoman Arrested, 7 Abortion Bills In Frankfort And More Top Stories This Week
Cincinnati City Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard was arrested this week on federal charges that allege she accept payment in exchange for votes related to riverfront development. Some local leaders are calling for her resignation.
Kentucky's First Charter School Applicant Loses Appeal
By Jess Clark • Feb 27, 2020
The state's first charter school applicant, River Cities Academy, lost its appeal to the Kentucky Board of Education. The board decided Tuesday not to overturn a decision by Newport Independent Schools to deny the group a charter.
A group of parents in Northern Kentucky wanted to open the state's first charter school, called River Cities Academy (RCA), pulling students from six districts along the river. According to the application, the school was to serve a "diverse learner population" in grades K-8, and focus on closing the achievement gap through experiential learning.
In Kentucky Schools, Hundreds Of Students Are Struck By Staff Each Year, and It's Legal
In 19 Kentucky school districts, when a student misbehaves, teachers or principals can still use a paddle to spank students on the behind. Last year, educators used paddling to discipline students at least 284 times — mostly in Eastern and South-Central Kentucky. The state keeps track of how often schools use it, and on who.
Kentucky is one of 19 states where corporal punishment is legal in public schools. That means it's legal for educators in public schools to inflict pain as a form of discipline, usually through spanking. But state lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban the practice.
Hear the audio version of this story by Jess Clark.
After Suffrage, Many Women Failed To Vote. Kentuckians Were An Exception
By Christina Wolbrecht & J. Kevin Corder • Feb 20, 2020
Over the last few decades, Kentucky's voter turnout has hovered in the 30% range. In A Century of Votes for Women, authors Christina Wolbrecht and J. Kevin Corder provide a wide range of data that shows that wasn't always the case for the Bluegrass State.
Possible Bus Cuts Under Consideration In NKY
Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons
The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky is looking at possibly consolidating or cutting a number of routes, a pending decision that has some in the region concerned about how they will get to work or school.
Kentucky Election System A Regular Target Of Hackers From Russia, North Korea
By Ryland Barton • Feb 19, 2020
A top Kentucky election official says foreign hackers scan the state's election systems looking for vulnerabilities "on a regular basis" and that lawmakers need to create a more stable funding source for election security.
Jared Dearing, executive director of the State Board of Elections, said election officials don't know if the hacking attempts are coming from foreign governments, but that they "don't have good intentions."
"We are routinely scanned by Venezuela, by North Korea, by Russia on a regular basis," Dearing said.
Medical Marijuana Bill Passes Committee, Advocates Hopeful
A bill that would legalize marijuana for medical use passed out of a Kentucky legislative committee on Wednesday.
Kentucky Flu Cases Double From A Year Ago
By Stu Johnson (KPR) • Feb 10, 2020
Case of flu are widespread across the Commonwealth. The reported influenza cases are twice what it was this time a year ago.
Covington To Digitize Property Records
By Ann Thompson • Feb 10, 2020
Ann Thompson
Following a grant for $137,000, the Covington City Commission will soon award a contract to put its property records online.
Kentucky Real ID Offices Aren't Accepting Cash or Check, Despite Federal Law
By Becca Schimmel • Feb 5, 2020
Kentucky residents can now get a REAL ID at four offices in the state, but only if they pay with a credit or debit card. Cash and check are currently not accepted at the new offices, and it's unclear if that's legal.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Attorney General's office said they could not locate a statute requiring state government offices to accept specific types of payment, such as cash.
But the United States Federal Code says cash is considered legal tender and must be accepted as payment for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues.
Hear Becca's story about how Kentucky's Real ID offices accepting payment via cash or check.
NKU Joins Fight Against Opioid Epidemic In Owen County
By Ambriehl Crutchfield • Jan 31, 2020
Ambriehl Crutchfield / WVXU
Updated 12:07 p.m.
Owen County, Ky., has one of the highest risk rates for drug overdoses in the region.
Tri-State Legislative Updates, Coronavirus Possibly In Ohio And More Top Stories
By Michael Monks • Jan 31, 2020
Fears surrounding the coronavirus arrive locally as two students at Miami University are being monitored for symptoms after visiting China.
Kentucky Lawmakers Advance Anti-Sanctuary Cities Bill
By Ryland Barton • Jan 30, 2020
A bill that would require Kentucky cities, agencies and public employees to comply with federal immigration officials has cleared the first step in the legislative process.
The anti-sanctuary cities bill passed out of the state Senate's Judiciary Committee on Thursday with a 7-2 vote. Lexington Republican Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr and Louisville Democratic Sen. Gerald Neal voted against the measure.
Opponents have decried the measure as an expansion of law enforcement powers to untrained employees, saying it would sew mistrust in the immigrant community.
'Born Alive' Abortion Bill Passes Out of Kentucky Committee
A bill that would require doctors to resuscitate infants born after failed abortion attempts has passed out of a committee in the Kentucky Senate.
The measure would make it a felony if doctors and other providers don't "take all medically appropriate and reasonable steps to preserve the life and health of a born-alive infant."
Incidents where abortions result in a live birth are extremely rare, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Kentucky is one of several states that restricts abortion during or after the 20th week of pregnancy — around the point at which a fetus could be viable outside the womb.
Duck Stamps Fund New Wildlife Refuge In West Kentucky
By Ryan Van Velzer (KPR) • Jan 22, 2020
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear approved a new funding stream Tuesday to help establish a wildlife refuge in Western Kentucky.
New Report Shows Increased Medicaid Spending in Kentucky
By Becca Schimmel • Jan 21, 2020
A new Pew Charitable Trusts report shows Kentucky's spending on Medicaid has increased since the recession, but remains below the national average. The study looked at how much Medicaid spending takes up of each state's revenue.
Pew found Medicaid consumed a greater portion of state revenue across the country from 2000 to 2017. Justin Theal, with Pew, said the organization studies the issue for a couple of reasons.
Hear the radio version of this story by clicking the play button.
MLK Day Celebration 'Just The Start' Of Building Community Across NKY Cities
By Bill Rinehart • Jan 20, 2020
Bill Rinehart / WVXU
Covington, Elsmere, Erlanger and Independence are planning on working together more often, and they're starting with a celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. The event features video testimony from local residents, live music and networking.
Study Ranks Kentucky Worst State in U.S. to Retire
By Rhonda Miller • Jan 17, 2020
A new study found that Kentucky is the worst state in the nation to retire. The study by the personal finance website WalletHub is based on factors including affordability, health care, and overall quality of life.
The survey also ranked states on whether they have an elder-friendly labor market, because many older adults continue to work at least part-time to make ends meet.
Kentucky's rank of 48 in health care, and 46 in quality of life, helped drag it to the bottom of the list.
Bill Would Require Kentucky Schools To Have Armed Officers
Off-duty police officers hired to do security at Kentucky public schools would be required to carry guns under a bill sponsored by a top Republican in the state Senate.
Bill Eliminating Odd-Year Elections In Kentucky Passes Legislative Committee
Kentuckians would no longer vote for governor during odd-numbered years under a bill that unanimously passed out of a legislative committee on Wednesday.
Kentucky is one of the few states in the nation that holds elections in odd-numbered years, which generally have low voter turnout because contests for president, U.S. Senate and Congress aren't on the ballot.
Sen. Chris McDaniel, a Republican from Latonia, said that moving the elections would save county governments — which run much of the process — about $10.5 million per election cycle.
Hear audio version of Ryland's story.
Marsy's Law Is Back For Kentucky's 2020 Legislative Session
By Lisa Autry • Jan 15, 2020
Bret Hartman / AP
A Kentucky lawmaker has reintroduced a bill that would give crime victims the same rights afforded to the accused, including a voice in the criminal justice system.
Beshear Reinstates Worker Safety Board Bevin Dissolved
By Eleanor Klibanoff • Jan 13, 2020
Gov. Andy Beshear announced Friday that he has reinstated the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board, which former Governor Matt Bevin abolished in July 2018.
"This is just one step that we are going to take to make sure that when our Kentuckians leave their family in the morning and head to work, it's in the safest environment possible and that they know that they've got a state government that is looking out for their safety," Beshear told KyCIR.