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.

Kentucky receiving an additional $182 million in federal funds for broadband?

By: - January 26, 2023

Gov. Andy Beshear joined U.S. Department of the Treasury officials to announce more than $182 million in federal funding Thursday for broadband deployment throughout Kentucky, padding onto hundreds of millions of dollars the state has already invested in expanding internet access.? The federal funding, made available through the American Rescue Plan Act, is one of […]

Beshear, oil and gas leaders pitch using fossil fuels to make hydrogen fuel in Kentucky

By: - January 25, 2023

LOUISVILLE — Gov. Andy Beshear joined the lobbying organization for?Kentucky’s oil and gas industries Wednesday to pitch a new energy future for the commonwealth: creating hydrogen fuel?for generating electricity, transportation and more?through the use of natural gas. The Democratic governor speaking before the inaugural Kentucky Hydrogen Summit in downtown Louisville, organized by the Kentucky Oil […]

Is 16 old enough to serve on a county conservation board?

By: - January 20, 2023

A Kentucky teenager made history last fall when he became one of the youngest people ever to win elected office in the state, gaining a spot on his county’s soil and water conservation district board. But his victory may become an electoral outlier if lawmakers pass a bill that would prevent other teenagers from doing […]

Western Kentucky prosecutor Boling to resign instead of facing impeachment committee

By: - January 9, 2023

A Western Kentucky prosecutor has decided to resign instead of facing a state legislature-led impeachment committee that recently convened.? House Majority Floor Whip Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, in an email Monday evening said that Commonwealth’s Attorney Rick Boling would resign Feb. 28. Boling is the elected commonwealth’s attorney for the 3rd Judicial Circuit representing Christian County.? […]

Kentucky House impeachment committee convenes to investigate scandal-plagued prosecutors

By: - January 5, 2023

A Kentucky House committee charged with investigating whether there is sufficient evidence to recommend impeachment of two prosecutors — each one facing separate scandals — convened Thursday evening.? House Majority Floor Whip Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, filed two resolutions initiating the formal impeachment process in the first days of this year’s legislative session against two […]

Income tax cut, a GOP priority, sails out of Kentucky House

By: - January 5, 2023

FRANKFORT — A bill that would continue to cut the income tax in Kentucky, a top Republican priority, sailed out of the House on a party-line 79-19 vote Thursday afternoon. The vote, which was followed by applause on the floor, took place on the third day of the session and about six hours after House […]

Biden, McConnell, governors trumpet bipartisan funding for Ohio River bridge

By: - January 4, 2023

COVINGTON — President Joe Biden, joined by senators and governors from both sides of the political aisle and the Ohio River, came to Kentucky Wednesday to celebrate the bipartisanship that’s bringing a long-awaited upgrade of the Brent Spence Bridge and other critical infrastructure around the country. “A bridge built over half a century ago, having […]

House GOP Whip Nemes seeking impeachment of Eastern Kentucky prosecutor over nude photo scandal

By: - January 3, 2023

FRANKFORT — A Kentucky Republican lawmaker filed a resolution Tuesday aimed at impeaching an Eastern Kentucky prosecutor accused of trading favors to a defendant in exchange for nude photos and videos of the defendant.? The resolution by Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, targets Ronnie Goldy, the commonwealth’s attorney for the 21st Judicial Circuit serving Rowan, Menifee, […]

Kentucky House GOP plans to pass income tax cut this week

By: and - January 3, 2023

FRANKFORT — Republican House Speaker David Osborne says his GOP supermajority in the House of Representatives plans to pass a bill this week that would continue to cut the state’s income tax, a big priority that GOP leadership telegraphed well ahead of this year’s legislative session.? Osborne on the first day of the legislative session […]

Some Kentuckians push their power supplier to prioritize greener energy over coal

By: - January 3, 2023

Bill Conn was thinking of his two children when he wrote an email in December to the Kentucky Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates more than 1,000 utilities. The Whitley County teacher counts Eastern Kentucky coal miners among his ancestors, a history that’s near and dear to his heart. As recently as 1988, […]

Kentuckians encouraged to challenge accuracy of new broadband map

By: - December 28, 2022

Gov. Andy Beshear is encouraging Kentuckians to challenge the accuracy of a new federal broadband availability map that will help determine how billions of federal dollars for broadband deployment will be allocated among states.? The Federal Communications Commission in November released a proposed online interactive map that lists available internet providers and the maximum advertised […]

‘Practice tolerance and grace’: Kentucky senator says her transgender son has died

By: - December 20, 2022

This article mentions suicide. The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988. A Kentucky state senator announced Tuesday her transgender son, who fought for LGBTQ rights, has died by suicide.? Sen. Karen Berg, D-Louisville, in a statement?shared on social media by Kentucky Senate Democrats, said 24-year-old Henry Berg-Bousseau was “a beloved son, brother, […]