Government Archives

Students struggling during pandemic, counselors tell Ky. lawmakers

by Ryland Barton
October 6, 2021

The Kentucky Department of Education has been holding roundtables to discuss mental health issues in recent weeks, with students also reporting heightened depression and anxiety.

Why ‘rural’ is hard to define

by Thomas Gomes
October 5, 2021

Settling on one definition for rural, or "nonmetropolitan," is notoriously difficult — different agencies use different criteria and it's a challenge to keep everything straight. This article lays out the most common definitions, who uses each, and why.

Kentucky lawmakers mulling tax hike for historical racing slots

by Ryland Barton
October 5, 2021

During a legislative hearing on Monday, a University of Louisville professor said bumping up the tax on historical racing machines — like those at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel — wouldn’t be the financial windfall some have hoped for.

Madisonville passes ordinance to make mayor, city council elections nonpartisan

by Liam Niemeyer
September 21, 2021

Hopkinsville currently has a committee that is considering a move to nonpartisan local elections.

Hopkinsville League of Women Voters slates legislative redistricting forum

by Jennifer P. Brown
September 17, 2021

The virtual forum will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21.

HPD officer running for county jailer

by Jennifer P. Brown
September 13, 2021

Adam Smith, a Hopkinsville police captain, is running for jailer as a Republican.

Beshear says legislature ‘owns this pandemic’ and urges local school officials to impose mask mandates

by Al Cross
September 11, 2021

Republicans who control the legislature, and a few Democratic lawmakers, have said they trust local school officials to make the right decisions, but Beshear countered that school districts across the country have not done that.

Lawmakers pass bill that prevents statewide mask mandate until 2023

by Kentucky Health News
September 10, 2021

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear quickly line-item-vetoed the bill, and the Republican controlled legislature over-rode the veto about as quickly.

Republican-led General Assembly passes bill to eliminate universal masking in schools

by Kentucky Health News
September 9, 2021

Democrats in both chambers said some districts wouldn't impose mask mandates, raising the threat of the coronavirus not only in schools but the general population, leading to more deaths from COVID-19.

Pandemic bills advancing quickly in special legislative session

by Ryland Barton
September 9, 2021

Legislators are considering a controversial resolution that would require the state to recognize a positive COVID antibody test as the same as a COVID vaccination, even though people who naturally recover from the virus are more than twice as likely to contract it again compared to people who get vaccinated.

State lawmakers tap federal relief money to fight pandemic

by WKMS
September 8, 2021

The Beshear administration will have the ability to decide how much and what to spend the funds on.

McConnell supports eliminating state mask mandate for schools

by Liam Niemeyer
September 8, 2021

McConnell, during a visit with the Rotary Club of Paducah, said he’s spoken with leaders of the state general assembly, and believes it’s wise to put the decision of school mask mandates in the hands of school boards and those more directly educating students.