In what’s already becoming a sizzling U.S. Senate primary, the top three Republican candidates plan to participate in a Kentucky tradition known for politicians’ trading jabs in front of a crowd.  Former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington businessman Nate Morris confirmed with event organizers their plans to speak at the annual Fancy Farm Picnic […]

The giant tax and spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law over the weekend includes the biggest health care spending cuts in U.S. history. In response, states are scrambling to shield their hospitals from the looming loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding. In Georgia, a key state panel late last month took […]

The commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Health and a former Kentucky state senator is considering running for Congress in a Central Kentucky district.  Dr. Ralph Alvarado, the 2019 running mate of former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, announced in a social media post that he is considering a run after Republican state Sen. Amanda Mays […]

President Donald Trump’s massive spending and tax package includes provisions that will affect Kentucky’s Thoroughbred racing and breeding industries — an incentive for horse owners and a provision that makes it harder for bettors to turn a profit.  Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr of Lexington is hailing the former, saying it will provide racing with security […]

BOWLING GREEN — When the Family Enrichment Center was established in 1977 with the goal of addressing child abuse, staff immediately set aside an open — free — seat for a child in need.  Despite tumultuous challenges facing the child care industry, that seat stays open thanks to grant funding. Staff say it’s a key […]

The U.S. Department of Education’s decision last week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services. The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding has […]

FRANKFORT — The Republican Party of Kentucky Building Fund raised another $375,000 in the past three months, bringing the total it has raised to pay for the expansion of its headquarters to more than $4 million. Nearly all the money came in a few big contributions by special interest corporations that lobby in Washington and/or […]

Prestonsburg attorney Ned Pillersdorf is hoping to unseat longtime Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers next year.  Pillersdorf was scheduled to formally announce his candidacy at the Rosenberg Square in the Floyd County seat Friday afternoon, but he spoke with the Kentucky Lantern earlier this week about his plans. Pillersdorf, a Democrat, said his decision to […]

A study published Wednesday in the medical journal JAMA Network Open found that emergency room clinicians were much less likely to refer Black opioid overdose patients for outpatient treatment compared with white patients. The researchers looked at the medical records of 1,683 opioid overdose patients from emergency rooms in nine states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, […]

Despite Kentucky hospitals’ warnings of “devastating” consequences, four of the six Kentuckians in the U.S. House voted “yes” Thursday to President Donald Trump’s tax and spending plan. Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Morgan McGarvey opposed the measure but not for the same reasons. Republican U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, whose Appalachian district is one of the […]

Kentucky’s independent pharmacies, facing ongoing financial pressure, had hoped for relief from a new law meant to give them more clout against prescription drug industry middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. “Most pharmacies were just hanging on for Senate Bill 188,” said independent pharmacist Rosemary Smith, referring to the 2024 legislation sponsored by […]

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. You can also contact any of Kentucky’s 15 domestic violence programs.  Most perpetrators and victims of domestic violence in Kentucky are between the ages of 25 and 39, […]

Louisville-based Volunteers of America Mid-States ended a health outreach and prevention program on June 30, citing holds on federal funding. The program provided HIV and hepatitis C testing, education, safe sex supplies and “linkage to care,” VOA Chief Operating Officer Anyah Hoang-Ansert said. “Funding for the program has been on indefinite hold at the federal […]

Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball announced that a special examination of the Kentucky Department of Education found “widespread improvements needed across the agency.”  Ball’s office released the examination, which is more than 550 pages, late Monday evening. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2024 directing the auditor to review the state agency that oversees public K-12 […]

At first I wasn’t sure we ought to go. It was easy to imagine several ways this thing could go off the rails. But pretty soon we got clear. If there was going to be an anti-Trump rally in Manchester, we were going to be there. We’d watched the massive protests in cities and towns […]

The plot thickened as billionaire Elon Musk waded into the drama between President Donald Trump and defiant Kentucky Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie. Musk promised Monday evening to help Massie fend off any Republican primary challenger recruited by Trump, who is vowing to unseat Massie next year. Massie most recently drew Trump’s wrath by opposing […]

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has parted ways with his long-time communications director.  Crystal Staley, the former spokesperson for the governor’s office, has been succeeded by Scottie Ellis, the governor’s office confirmed Tuesday.  “Crystal Staley has been a crucial part of Team Kentucky for years, serving during my time as Attorney General and Governor,” Beshear said […]

Kentucky health advocates are urging the U.S. House to reject Senate changes to a sweeping budget bill, warning the measure will leave many Kentuckians without access to medical care or food assistance.  The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed 51-50 thanks to a tiebreaking vote from Vice President JD Vance. It  would make deeper cuts […]

Mary Ann Tobin, who pushed for efficiency in government as state auditor from 1984 to 1988, died June 22 at her residence in Irvington. She was 83. As a Democratic state auditor, Tobin started a hotline to report fraud and set up the Economy and Efficiency Audit Division to root out waste in government. Before […]

The budget bill being debated in the U.S. Senate threatens thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of investment in Kentucky’s clean energy sector. The proposed bill would repeal numerous clean energy tax credits and programs that directly benefit Kentuckians. These tax credits are helping individuals, small businesses, farmers and corporations alike reduce their energy […]