Government

Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill, had proposed a write of House Bill 5, the sweeping crime legislation.

The full Senate voted on the bills Wednesday afternoon before the public had access to the committee substitutes that were being approved. 

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., was among the members voting for the ban.

The three House members who represent parts of Christian County — Republican Reps. Myron Dossett, Jason Petrie and Walker Thomas — all voted in favor of HB 509.

Fewer than 7,000 people rode Kentucky’s passenger rail service in 2022. Fulton had the highest ridership, punching just over 2,500 tickets.

One lawmaker opposing the bill said it was troubling to criminalize protest when the First Amendment protects the right of " people to peaceably assemble and to petition government for a redress of grievances."

The finalists all currently work in the state and each has experience leading Kentucky school districts.

The bipartisan legislation comes four years after Louisville resident Breonna Taylor was shot to death when police entered her apartment on a no-knock warrant.

Coleman said the Beshear administration last week published an amended capital punishment regulation that would bring state “policy into full compliance” with earlier court rulings that identified constitutional and other flaws in the state’s regulations and protocols. 

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Steven Doan, R-Erlanger, cites public health concerns and the lack of early morning light when clocks switch to DST.

Lynch will serve as an at-large member of the Kentucky African American Heritage Commission.

The bill would create a new state commission stacked with representatives from fossil fuel industries to review proposed power plant retirements.