Most new laws effective July 15; Governor has until end of week to decide fate of those on his desk
By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Gov. Andy Beshear still has until the end of the week to decide if he will sign, veto or allow to become law without his signature, legislation passed during the last two days of the General Assembly, but we now know the date most new laws will take effect.
Each year, the Reviser of Statutes for the Legislative Research Commission requests an Attorney General’s Opinion...
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to hold spring surplus item auction May 6 in Frankfort
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will host a live auction to sell surplus items and confiscated hunting and fishing equipment on Monday, May 6.
Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., and the auction of surplus property and confiscated items will begin at 10 a.m. The auction will be held outdoors, rain or shine, on the department’s headquarters campus at 1 Sportsman’s Lane in Frankfort.
This...
34th annual Law Day, celebrating rule of law, swearing in new lawyers, is Thursday in Frankfort
The Supreme Court of Kentucky’s 34th annual Law Day celebration will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday in the House of Representatives Chamber on the third floor of the state Capitol in Frankfort.
The celebration will feature Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman as the keynote speaker, with opening remarks by Supreme Court Chief Justice Laurance B. VanMeter.
Law Day last year (File photo)
Forty...
KDA gas pump inspection stickers’ remind Kyians to ‘Never leave children or pets in hot cars’
As Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s (KDA) motor fuel inspectors check the quantity and quality of fuel this year, they’ll be adding a special message to gas pumps. This year’s inspection stickers contain a message reminding drivers to not leave children or pets in an unattended hot car.
“The services we provide at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture are centered around the greater good...
Kentucky Small Business Development Center at UK to help new childcare businesses across state
By Ryan Ferguson
University of Kentucky
The Kentucky Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announced a $300,000 grant from the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA), providing coaching and specialized training to existing and new childcare small businesses across Kentucky.
The Kentucky SBDC’s Childcare Initiative seeks to provide technical assistance and training geared towards the childcare...
Governor Andy Beshear vetoes three additional bills following end of legislature’s 2024 regular session
By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
Amid the bill signings Gov. Andy Beshear has conducted since the 2024 regular session of the General Assembly adjourned on Monday, April 15, he has also vetoed three measures passed by lawmakers.
One of them was Senate Bill 28, which deals with podiatry. It would change state law to add the scope of practice for podiatric residents and podiatric assistants; add qualifications...
Kentucky determined to support its domestic violence shelters amid federal VOCA cuts
By Nadia Ramlagan
Public News Service
As federal Victims of Crime Act funding continues to impact Kentucky’s domestic violence shelters, advocates say they are applauding lawmakers decisions to include $6 million of the state budget’s general fund for shelter and program operations, alongside a one-time allocation of $7.1 million to offset the impact of VOCA cuts.
ZeroV’s CEO Angela...
Art Lander’s Outdoors: Introduced fish species have had both positive and negative effects in Kentucky
Editor’s note: This is the first article in a two-part series on fish that have been introduced into Kentucky waters.
Fish species introduced into Kentucky waters through the years have had a wide variety of impacts, some good, some bad, some ugly.
In a presentation entitled Aquatic Invasive Species in Kentucky, prepared by Jeffrey Herod, Aquatic Nuisance Species Coordinator for the Kentucky Department...
Kentuckians have less than one week remaining to register to vote before May primary election
By Nadia Ramlagan
Public News Service
Kentuckians have less than a week to register to vote in next month’s primary election.
If the April 22 deadline is missed, residents can still register to vote in the presidential election this fall.
Laura Weinstein, chair of the League of Women Voters of Kentucky, is encouraging people to take action now. Voters will need to bring photo identification to...
Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer ends 21 years in office, proud of accomplishments
By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
While several lawmakers from both the Kentucky House and Senate are retiring at the end of the year, without a doubt the most high-profile retirement is that of Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer.
The Georgetown Republican has served in the Senate since winning a special election in 2003 and has served as Majority Leader for more than a decade. His 17th Senate District...
As Kentucky’s child care crisis worsens, advocates highlight career pathways in effort to fill critical gaps
By Nadia Ramlagan
Public News Service
The shrinking supply of childcare workers continues to impact Kentucky, and advocates say helping more people receive a Child Development Associate degree could fill critical gaps in child care and early learning – especially in rural regions.
Jennifer Roe is an early-childhood coordinator with Save the Children’s Early Steps Program who’s currently...
New federal regulation closes loophole: sellers of guns at gun shows must be licensed ‘firearm dealers’
The Rural Blog
To deliver on gun control policy promises, the Biden administration has expanded the number of sellers who must register as federally licensed firearms dealers, reports Glenn Thrush and Erica L. Green of The New York Times.
“That means those sellers must run background criminal and mental health checks on potential buyers. . . . [The change] is the broadest expansion of federal...
Work Zone Awareness week begins Monday in advance of construction season across Kentucky
By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
As construction season’s orange cones and barrels spring up along Kentucky highways, state officials remind everyone to drive distraction free and slow down; safe driving practices that will reduce the dangers highway crews face in work zones and could save lives.
In 2023, Kentucky recorded 1,251 crashes in highway work zones where 247 people were injured and 17 lost their...
KDFWR’s online ‘Struttin’ in the Bluegrass’ returns with spring turkey hunting highlights April 13-17
Turkey hunting enthusiasts can experience the thrill of spring turkey hunting when “Struttin’ in the Bluegrass” returns for its fifth season, April 13 – 17.
Hosted by Kentucky native Bo McGuffey, the series will appear on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ Facebook (@kdfwr), Instagram (@kyfishwildlife) and YouTube (@FishandWildlifeKY) accounts the first five days of the...
Art Lander’s Outdoors: Lake Reba, in Madison Co., was impounded from Otter Creek in KY River Basin
Editor’s note: This is the nineteenth article in an occasional series on small lakes in central and eastern Kentucky.
Lake Reba (Photo courtesy Visit Richmond)
Lake Reba is east of Richmond, in Madison County.
Drive east on Ky-52 from Exit 90 of Interstate-75, then turn south (right) on Lake Reba Drive.
Lake Reba (Image from Apple Maps; click for larger image)
The lake has an interesting history...
