Liam Niemeyer

Liam Niemeyer covers government and policy in Kentucky and its impacts throughout the Commonwealth for the Kentucky Lantern. He most recently spent four years reporting award-winning stories for WKMS Public Radio in Murray.

Health officials urge Kentuckians to talk to their health care provider about getting the the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
By Liam Niemeyer
Skin of a patient after three days with measles rash. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | Public Domain)
The governor said his executive order would implement an array of protections against the potential impacts of data centers, though some experts have questioned how much legal “teeth” his order has without the backing of specific state laws addressing data centers.
By Liam Niemeyer
Century Aluminum is selling its idled Hawesville smelter in Western Kentucky to a data center company after choosing Oklahoma as the site for a new smelter, the first built in the U.S. since 1980. (Century Aluminum photo)
Among other things, the governor directed agencies to deny utility rate increases and prevent negative environmental impacts from data centers.
By Liam Niemeyer
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, center, said Thursday he’s signing an executive order to protect Kentuckians against the potential impacts of data centers. Kentucky Public Service Commission Chair Angie Hatton, left, and Energy and Environment Cabinet John Lyons, right, stood next to Beshear. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)
Gov. Andy Beshear is ordering Kentucky regulators to protect residents and ratepayers from potential harms tied to data centers, including higher utility bills and impacts on air and water.
By Liam Niemeyer
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, center, said Thursday he’s signing an executive order to protect Kentuckians against the potential impacts of data centers. Kentucky Public Service Commission Chair Angie Hatton, left, and Energy and Environment Cabinet John Lyons, right, stood next to Beshear. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)
State housing executive are calling on lawmakers to be much more aggressive in tackling housing crisis.
By Liam Niemeyer
A chart presented by Wendy Smith with the Kentucky Housing Corporation shows the number of buildings permits in Kentucky for housing. Building permits plummeted after the Great Recession in 2008 and haven’t recovered to pre-recession levels since. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)
One environmental attorney warned of ratepayer costs down the road.
By Liam Niemeyer
The former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in McCracken County. (U.S. Department of Energy)
Data centers are being proposed – and sometimes approved – all over.
By Liam Niemeyer
Electricity transmission lines
Gov. Andy Beshear says he will redirect $30 million from unused projects to restore some of the cuts to foster care and family assistance programs announced last week.
By Liam Niemeyer
gov. andy beshear at podium
Kentucky lawmakers failed to pass ratepayer protections with data centers this year
By Liam Niemeyer
Republican state lawmakers sit with members of the Energy Planning and Inventory Commission (from left) Jeff Brock, a vice president for coal company Alliance Resource Partners, Rodney Andrews, the executive director of the Center for Applied Energy Research at the University of Kentucky, Sen. Robby Mills, R-Henderson and Sen. Steve West, R-Paris. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)
Concerns over non-disclosure agreements, power and water dominated the town hall.
By Liam Niemeyer
David Sparrow, who said he lives near the Greenup-Carter county line, lambasted local officials for signing non-disclosure agreements. (Screenshot)
Lack of regulations, cheap energy costs make state a prime target for new industry.
By Liam Niemeyer
electric line
Gasoline prices across the country have spiked since the outbreak of the war with Iran.
By Liam Niemeyer
gas pump