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Kentucky Lantern
How we owned a mine, or a brief history of Kentucky’s coal mining cooperative
For over 100 years, Himler House stood on a hill overlooking Beauty, formerly Himlerville, in Martin County. Once the site of grand Christmas parties and banquets, the house was eventually abandoned and fell to ruins. But few of the teens, vandals, and ghost hunters who frequented the abandoned mansion knew that it had been the […] The post How we owned a mine, or a brief history of Kentucky’s coal mining cooperative appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Kentuckians nearing release from prison or juvenile detention in line for Medicaid coverage
Kentucky is one of five additional states that will soon provide Medicaid health coverage for people nearing release from prison or juvenile detention, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “We’ve been eagerly anticipating CMS’s approval of Kentucky’s healthy re-entry demonstration for years now,” said Emily Beauregard, executive director of Kentucky Voices […] The post Kentuckians nearing release from prison or juvenile detention in line for Medicaid coverage appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Help biologists monitor, conserve Kentucky’s wild turkey population by reporting sightings online
State fish and wildlife agencies are conducting scientific research to shed more light on the status of turkey populations — and need the public’s help, according to a news release from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The department is encouraging anyone who observes wild turkeys in Kentucky during July or August to […] The post Help biologists monitor, conserve Kentucky’s wild turkey population by reporting sightings online appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said NATO “is more powerful than ever” in remarks Tuesday to honor the 75th anniversary of the alliance and reaffirm allied support for Ukraine one day after Russian missile strikes on a children’s hospital killed dozens in Kyiv. Biden spoke at the annual North American Treaty Organization’s summit happening this […] The post Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats appeared to quell some inner tumult over supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, after highly anticipated internal meetings Tuesday showed the president retained considerable support from the Congressional Black Caucus and other lawmakers in public statements. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Democrats from both chambers largely declined to detail their […] The post United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Kentucky lawmakers hear how other states are regulating, using artificial intelligence
Kentucky lawmakers on the General Assembly’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force learned Tuesday about how states are using artificial intelligence and possible legal frameworks for the technology. During the task force’s first meeting, lawmakers heard presentations from technology and government experts about the history of artificial intelligence (AI), ways state governments use it and legislation in […] The post Kentucky lawmakers hear how other states are regulating, using artificial intelligence appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Kentucky auditor, cabinet clash over access to child abuse database as new law takes effect
FRANKFORT — The legislature last year moved responsibility for a watchdog office and child support enforcement from the Beshear administration to Republican officeholders. Barely out of the gate, one of the transitions is stumbling over a disagreement about access to a child abuse database. Republican Auditor of Public Accounts Allison Ball on Tuesday sent what […] The post Kentucky auditor, cabinet clash over access to child abuse database as new law takes effect appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients
The federal trade watchdog has released an interim report Tuesday saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen […] The post Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Kentuckians give blood for chance to see Taylor Swift. Ticket giveaway credited with donor surge.
FRANKFORT — A Taylor Swift ticket giveaway worth thousands of dollars and aimed at incentivizing more people to donate blood worked, Kentucky Blood Center donor numbers show. From May 28 through June 29, anyone who donated at any Kentucky Blood Center location was entered to win two Eras Tour tickets for Nov. 3 in Indianapolis. […] The post Kentuckians give blood for chance to see Taylor Swift. Ticket giveaway credited with donor surge. appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt
WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress called on President Joe Biden to prove to voters that he is up for another four years in the Oval Office, though many in interviews pledged to stick with him as the presumptive nominee as they returned to the Capitol on Monday following the Fourth of July recess. Questions over […] The post Congressional Dems urge a more robust Biden on the campaign trail, but few openly revolt appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Driving surge in demand for power, data centers eye Kentucky
LOUISVILLE — The boom in artificial intelligence is fueling a proliferation of new data centers — the computer clusters that power the internet — in “places that maybe we hadn’t thought of before,” an industry spokesman told utility regulators gathered in Louisville last month. Kentucky could be one of those places in the not-so-distant future. […] The post Driving surge in demand for power, data centers eye Kentucky appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Both candidates are old. Only one has shattered presidential norms.
As everyone opined in the aftermath of the Biden-Trump debate, our grandchildren (ages 4 and 5) were arriving to spend the Fourth of July holiday week with us, so we were careful in how we discussed the debate within their earshot. And we were certainly not tuning into TV pundits who, I later learned, spent […] The post Both candidates are old. Only one has shattered presidential norms. appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Judge hears arguments on Kentucky law banning some vaping products
FRANKFORT — Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate heard arguments Monday in a case challenging the constitutionality of a 2024 law banning the sale of some vaping products. This comes as the defendants — Allyson Taylor, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and Secretary of State Michael Adams — filed a motion to […] The post Judge hears arguments on Kentucky law banning some vaping products appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation
President Joe Biden pledged Monday to stay in his race for reelection, even after a weekend in which a growing number of Democrats asked for him to withdraw and a key U.S. House Republican called for an investigation into the president’s doctor. In a letter to congressional Democrats, Biden argued that the calls for him […] The post Biden tells congressional Dems he is staying in the race, urges end to speculation appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Kentucky State University’s rebound, one year into president’s tenure
FRANKFORT — A year into his presidency, Koffi Akakpo is optimistic that Kentucky State University will enroll significantly more students this fall. In a recent interview, Akakpo said Kentucky’s only historically black public university is on its way to overcoming problems that put KSU into crisis a few years ago. “We’re still working on it, but […] The post Kentucky State University’s rebound, one year into president’s tenure appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows
Clinic closures in the wake of the Dobbs decision and questions about the legality of emergency contraceptives, including disinformation that some are abortion drugs, may have contributed to a sharp drop in the rate of prescriptions for contraceptives in states with the most restrictive abortion bans, according to a University of California study. The decline […] The post Confusion, clinic closures may have caused big declines in contraception use, study shows appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
U.S. Supreme Court sets stage for industry lobbyists to write health, safety, environmental rules
The U.S. Supreme Court just ended something called Chevron deference, in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, Case No. 22-451. Should you worry? Alas, yes, the Supreme Court just threw our protections under the bus. Here’s how. In 1984 in a case involving Chevron, the Supreme Court decided that when an agency’s implementation of a federal […] The post U.S. Supreme Court sets stage for industry lobbyists to write health, safety, environmental rules appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Five dead after shooting at 21st birthday party in Florence, three wounded
Five people — four victims and the suspect — have died following a shooting that occurred in Florence early in the morning on Saturday, July 6. Three more people are in the hospital but are in stable condition, according to Florence Police, who are characterizing the incident as a mass shooting. Police officers were dispatched […] The post Five dead after shooting at 21st birthday party in Florence, three wounded appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday in his first televised interview since the presidential debate defended his reelection bid and rejected calls that he should step aside amid growing anxiety among some Democrats about his mental and physical state. The 22-minute interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos came as some lawmakers and other prominent […] The post Biden in first TV interview since debate denies medical condition: ‘It was a bad episode’ appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Defiant Biden tells Wisconsinites ‘I’m staying in the race!’
President Joe Biden flew to Wisconsin Friday to shore up voter confidence in this critical swing state after a stumbling debate performance last week fueled speculation that he might drop out. He told a cheering crowd of hundreds of supporters packed into the Sherman Middle School gymnasium in Madison, “I’m the nominee of the Democratic […] The post Defiant Biden tells Wisconsinites ‘I’m staying in the race!’ appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
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The Kentucky Lantern is an independent, nonpartisan, free news service. We’re based in Frankfort a short walk from the Capitol, but all of Kentucky is our beat. We focus on how decisions made in the marble halls of power ripple through the lives of Kentuckians. We bring attention to injustices and hold institutions and officials accountable. We tell the stories of Kentuckians who are making a difference and shine a light on what’s working. Our journalism is aimed at building a fairer, healthier Kentucky for all. The Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit, coast-to-coast network of journalists that works to fill gaps in state government reporting caused by the declining numbers of state and local journalists.
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