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Top Ten open government stories of 2023 (part two)
This is the second part of a two-part story. The first set of five stories is here. 6. The 490 Project settles a first-of-its-kind open records lawsuit against Louisville Metro Police Department. On April 19, a Louisville-based community organization focusing on police accountability – The 490 Project – announced the...
The KY General Assembly: where transparency goes to die
While the headline in The Kentucky Lantern, “Kentuckians increasingly excluded from lawmaking process by fast-track maneuvers,” may have come as no surprise to the Capitol Bureau press corps, and others who closely monitor legislative developments, the League of Women Voters of Kentucky has verified that which the rest of us suspected.
Top Ten open government stories of 2023 (part one)
The central theme in 2023 was the continuing role of the courts in safeguarding rights guaranteed under Kentucky’s open government laws. For nearly every public agency abuse of the open records and open meetings laws, there was an equal and opposite judicial repudiation. Whether the abuse resulted from ignorance of, or contempt for, the laws, Kentucky’s courts remained the bulwark against public agency and public official affronts to Kentuckians’ statutorily guaranteed “right to be informed what their government is doing.”
The Murray monument to white supremacy and slavery
Murray’s controversial court square Confederate monument “represents a distorted, bloody, and awful past that we cannot forget but should not celebrate,” said Murray State University historian Brian Clardy. The 1917-vintage stone memorial topped by a 5½-foot statue of Robert E. Lee, the Confederacy’s most famous general, is...
Not the usual first day of the General Assembly
On the opening day of Kentucky’s General Assembly, it usually just purrs right along at a quick clip of approving the Record from the 23 GA and the blanket approval of the usual Resolutions. But today there was a wrinkle in both the Senate and the House as the “Rules of Procedure” were proposed in their respective chambers. The Democratic caucus decided to object to the Rules of Procedure.
Today’s swearing-in ceremony – a photo gallery
We all remember the large Inauguration event and ceremony for the swearing-in of Governor Andy Beshear and Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman. Forward Kentucky covered it extensively, including a large number of photos. Today, in a much smaller but no less important event, the other constitutional officers of the Commonwealth were...
My Anti-Predictions for 2024
At the beginning of 2021, I took a page from a columnist who scanned the predictions made by astrologers, soothsayers, and the like, and wrote a column predicting that none of these predictions would come true. Instead of turning to the mystics, however, I made my anti-predictions about the brayings of right-wing pundits.
This year, the legislature has the money to pass a budget that DELIVERS for Kentuckians
What would you do if you had billions of dollars to help meet the needs of your fellow Kentuckians? Would you use the money to address the teacher and bus driver shortages, build affordable housing, or provide essential medical care to those who need it most? Or would you sit on an excessively large pile of cash, letting needs go unmet while the stockpile grows?
Time for Democrats to think about the future
An op-ed by Jerry Deaton, a retired lobbyist and former Legislative and Executive Branch employee. Kentucky Democrats are riding high on Gov. Beshear’s re-election, and rightly so. It was a hard earned and well-deserved victory. But now that the gubernatorial battle has been decided, it is time for Democrats to think about the future.
Republican lawmakers mostly mum on Beshear’s budget. Can they find common ground?
When Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear unveiled his $136.6 billion two-year budget proposal on Monday, he told reporters he had started “good conversations” with the GOP-dominated legislature and already had meetings with leadership of both chambers. His budget proposal — which calls for 11% across-the-board raises for school...
Latest polling on abortion reaffirms that voters favor access over restrictions
In 2024, the Supreme Court could yet again make a decision that restricts access to abortion for millions of Americans. In a new challenge to abortion access, the court will review a series of actions by the Food and Drug Administration that expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone, including making the drug available by mail.
Al Cross’s annual Christmas gifts to Kentucky politicians
The notion of giving fanciful but pointed presents to public figures at Christmastime is an old one, established in Kentucky in 1981-82 by the late Ed Ryan when he was chief of The Courier-Journal’s Frankfort Bureau and institutionalized by his successors, Bob Garrett and Tom Loftus. I also inherited the enterprise, and at a time when many traditions of journalism and politics are being upended, I’m sticking with it.
Agenda 47: Trump’s dystopian nightmare plan for America revealed
If Trump is re-elected, he’d be America’s 47th president, so he’s named the plans for his second term “Agenda 47.” At best, it’s a dystopian nightmare: at worst it means ending our current system of American government; aligning the US with Russia and other autocratic nations; and the USA leading the charge against democracy and in favor of authoritarian, strong-man forms of government across the world.
Numerous Dems not running in 2024
My inbox has been filling up with Dems in the General Assembly announcing they are not running for reelection in 2024. Here’s the list as of today:. Derrick Graham (is in leadership) Rachel Roberts (also in leadership) Josie Raymond (running for Metro Council in Louisville) Keturah Herron (running for...
News and Notes for Thursday
Gov. Beshear: Voter approval of public funding for private schools unlikely. Gov. Andy Beshear told LINK nky on Wednesday that he doesn’t think Kentuckians would approve a constitutional amendment to allow public funding for schools outside of the state’s current public education system. When asked about any future...
Two gifts you can give that will make an immediate difference
This is the time of year when many organizations ask for donations for their end-of-year fund drive. This is not one of those. Instead, I’m sharing two opportunities for you to donate that will make a clear and definite difference in people’s lives. Read on for more info, and click the link to donate. (I already have.)
Five things to know about 2023 – Earth’s hottest year
With less than two weeks left in the year, 2023 is virtually certain to be Earth’s hottest year on record. What does this historic year have to do with climate change? Here are five things. 1. In 2023, global temperatures surged beyond previous records. The first 11 months of...
It’s time to restore citizen participation in Kentucky’s lawmaking process
An editorial by Jennifer A. Jackson, M.D., President, League of Women Voters of Kentucky. Our representative democracy rests on a basic principle: The people have a right to participate in decisions that affect them. The League of Women Voters of Kentucky is concerned by any weakening of that principle. In...
Statement on Governor Beshear’s 2024 State Budget Address
Statement by Dr. Terry Brooks, executive director of Kentucky Youth Advocates. It's become almost a cliché and yet it is very true. A budget is really not about dollars and cents but rather a profound statement of values and priorities. So, what can we learn about Governor Beshear's vision for Kentucky's kids in his second term from tonight's state budget address?
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