Government

Hopkinsville native and retired bank president, Wendell Lynch was sworn in as Hopkinsville's first Black mayor on Feb. 23, 2021.

Wendell Lynch, who will be sworn in as interim mayor Sunday, said he and other council members received numerous calls from constituents about the tax increase.

Asset forfeiture is a common practice for police agencies across Kentucky. Under state law, law enforcement agencies keep 85 percent of what they take and the rest is distributed to prosecutors.

Lynch, a Democrat, was the Ward 6 councilman up until his appointment as interim mayor.

The council will have a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, to approve the tax ordinances on second reading.

Beshear stressed the proposed budget has more debt going off the books over the next two years than what will accumulate.

Foster served as Christian County attorney for more than 40 years until 2018.

One advocate for the bill told lawmakers he uses marijuana to ease painful symptoms he suffers as the result of a car accident more than 20 years ago.

The mill is backed with both state and federal funds. Former Gov. Matt Bevin convinced the legislature to invest $15 million in the project in 2017 and the company also received $4 million in Abandoned Mine Lands grant money.

The legislature has frozen health departments' pension contributions at 49.47% for the past two years, but on July 1 this is set to jump to 93%.

Murray State University President Bob Jackson told a legislative committee the increase would force universities to make tough financial decisions.

The expungement process would be automatic.