Author

Liam Niemeyer

Liam Niemeyer

Liam covers government and policy in Kentucky and its impacts throughout the Commonwealth for the Kentucky Lantern. He most recently spent four years reporting award-winning stories for WKMS Public Radio in Murray.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Louisville residents react to shooting: ‘We must change’

By: - April 11, 2023

LOUISVILLE — Just three blocks from where a lone gunman opened fire killing five people, the Rev. Dale Raines kept the large red doors of St. John United Church of Christ open to the blue sky and spring blooms as he changed the Easter greeting on the church’s sign to a more timely message. ?“WE […]

Sixth person dies following mass shooting at Louisville bank

By: - April 10, 2023

The Louisville Metro Police Department on social media announced Monday evening a sixth person has died following a mass shooting at a downtown Louisville bank.? A tweet from LMPD announced the death of 57-year-old Deana Eckert, who joins four other victims who died from the mass shooting. Law enforcement killed the lone gunman Monday morning.? […]

Six now dead in Louisville shooting, eight injured

By: - April 10, 2023

LOUISVILLE — Louisville police on Monday night announced that a sixth person has died as a result of a mass shooting Monday morning at a downtown bank. Earlier in the day, Louisville Metro Police Department Interim Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel was joined by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg to name the victims […]

Kentucky’s new ‘random’ change of venue law challenged by game-machines industry

By: - April 10, 2023

FRANKFORT — Plaintiffs challenging a new Kentucky law banning video game machines that pay cash prizes are asking a judge to halt another new Kentucky law that could send their lawsuit to a random circuit court across the state. Pace-O-Matic — a large manufacturer of what the company and other proponents call “skill-based” game machines […]

Hazardous dams in Kentucky will now be required to have emergency plans, thanks to new law

By: - April 4, 2023

FRANKFORT — Kentucky dam safety officials faced a potentially dire situation last year: A sinkhole was rapidly growing in the slope of a dam in Crittenden County. A failure could have sent 180 million gallons of water cascading toward private developments and the local hospital.? And there was no emergency plan. That’s because until last […]

Beshear signs phase out of tax on aging bourbon, despite local officials’ pleas

By: - March 30, 2023

FRANKFORT — Without fanfare, Gov. Andy Beshear on Friday signed a bill giving ?Kentucky’s bourbon industry a property tax break on barrels of aging whiskey. Unlike bills legalizing sports gambling and medical marijuana, Beshear held no signing ceremony for House Bill 5. Distillers had been asking for the tax’s repeal for some time, while local […]

Sports gambling makes it across the finish line

By: - March 30, 2023

FRANKFORT — A bill to legalize sports betting in Kentucky overcame a hurdle that’s stopped it in the past with the Kentucky Senate approving the measurel in the final hours of this year’s legislative session.? The bill has full passage from the GOP-controlled Kentucky legislature and would just need to be signed by Democratic Gov. […]

Kentucky Senate convicts former prosecutor in first impeachment trial in more than a century

By: - March 30, 2023

FRANKFORT — In the first Kentucky Senate impeachment trial in more than a century, senators on Thursday unanimously convicted a former prosecutor who asked a defendant for nude images in exchange for prosecutorial favors.? The Kentucky Supreme Court suspended Ronnie Goldy — the former commonwealth’s attorney for the 21st Judicial Circuit serving Rowan, Menifee, Bath […]

Nine military service members die when Black Hawk helicopters based at Fort Campbell crash

By: - March 30, 2023

FRANKFORT — ?Nine U.S. service members died when two Black Hawk helicopters based at Fort Campbell crashed Wednesday night, the Army announced Thursday morning. One helicopter had five soldiers aboard, the other four. The crews were flying with night vision as part of a training exercise. There were no survivors. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke […]

Officials say water supply is safe as barges remain stuck at Ohio River dam near Louisville

By: - March 29, 2023

Federal and state officials say a salvage team won’t be able to remove barges pinned against an Ohio River dam in a “navigation accident,” one of them carrying about 1,400 tons of the industrial chemical methanol, until the river levels drop.? Several barges were set loose in the early morning hours Tuesday, leading to three […]

Legislature overrides all Beshear vetoes, could still pass medical marijuana and sports betting

By: and - March 29, 2023

FRANKFORT — Republicans on Wednesday flexed their supermajorities to override all 15 vetoes by Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, while other notable legislation still awaits final passage. The GOP-controlled legislature could give final passage to bills legalizing medical marijuana and sports gambling after failed attempts to do so in past years. The legislature also could repeal […]

Loose barges, one carrying tons of methanol, pinned against Ohio River dam in Louisville

By: - March 28, 2023

LOUISVILLE — Officials from multiple state and federal agencies are trying to recover barges that remain pinned against an Ohio River dam near Louisville, with one carrying about 1,400 tons of the industrial chemical methanol, according to a state agency. Officials said there has not been any evidence of a chemical leak.? A release earlier […]