Government

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Up to 1,000 city residents can receive $100 each if they get a COVID-19 vaccination between Sept. 13 and Oct. 31.

Republicans, who had long opposed Gov. Andy Beshear's handling of the pandemic, also advanced a bill to ban nursing home lockdowns.

The proposed municipal order aims to pay $100 each to as many as 1,000 city residents who become fully vaccinated between Sept. 13 and Oct. 31.

Both the governor and Republican leaders of the legislature say they are negotiating when to call the session and what policies to propose, including whether to renew the official state of emergency for the pandemic.