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University of Kentucky board of trustees votes to change governance model?
LEXINGTON — The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees voted Friday in favor of changing how the institution is governed, paving the way for faculty to lose decision-making power over academic decisions. The 19-1 vote in favor of a proposal from President Eli Capilouto means Kentucky’s flagship university will transition its University Senate — a […]
Candidacy challenge against Louisville Democratic lawmaker dismissed
LOUISVILLE —?A Jefferson County Circuit Court judge has dismissed an eligibility challenge to sitting Democratic State Rep. Nima Kulkarni’s appearance on the primary May ballot.? Kulkarni is running for a fourth term to represent the 40th House District in Louisville.? The opinion, rendered by Judge Mitch Perry, said the challenge to Kulkarni’s eligibility “fails to […]
UK board considers changes to university’s shared governance model
LEXINGTON — The University of Kentucky Board of Trustees is likely to take another step Friday that would change the course of who has the final say over academic programs at the university.? President Eli Capilouto is proposing updates to the university’s shared governance model, arguing they would streamline decision-making processes over academic programs. The […]
Decision in eligibility challenge against Democratic lawmaker could come next week
LOUISVILLE — A Jefferson County Circuit Court judge could make a ruling as early as next week about whether or not a sitting member of the Kentucky House of Representatives can appear on the May primary ballot.? Rep. Nima Kulkarni, a Louisville Democrat who represents the 40th House District, filed earlier this year to seek […]
Kentucky Republicans and Democrats prepare to face off on ‘school choice’ amendment
FRANKFORT — As the dust settled on the General Assembly’s 2024 session, Republican and Democratic lawmakers began gearing up for a fierce fight on a constitutional amendment to allow public dollars to go to private schools. The amendment will be on the ballot this November.? Putting the question to voters had been a GOP priority […]
Open records loopholes die in Kentucky Senate. Attempt to revive anti-DEI bill also fails.
FRANKFORT — A controversial rewriting of the Kentucky Open Records Act died in the Senate as the 2024 regular session ended Monday, but Republican leaders said lawmakers will revisit the issue during the interim before next year’s session. An attempt to revive Republican legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education also failed […]
Senate confirms Robbie Fletcher as next Kentucky education commissioner
FRANKFORT —?The Kentucky Senate has confirmed the next commissioner of education after giving him a warm reception in the Senate Education Committee last week.? Robbie Fletcher, who is now the superintendent of Lawrence County Schools in Eastern Kentucky, was confirmed to become Kentucky’s top education official in a vote of 36-1 on Monday. He is […]
Kentucky Republicans override Beshear vetoes
FRANKFORT —?The GOP-dominated Kentucky legislature easily overrode nearly all of Democratic Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s vetoes Friday on the next to last day of this year’s legislative session, cementing a number of Republican priorities into state law.? In total, Republican supermajorities in both legislative chambers overrode two dozen vetoes of bills and a resolution, including […]
Fletcher tells lawmakers he wants to serve all Kentucky kids, avoid politics as ed commissioner
FRANKFORT — Robbie Fletcher, awaiting confirmation as Kentucky’s next education commissioner, told a Senate committee Friday that schools should be dedicated to serving all children and that he values strong teams and relationships.? Fletcher told the Senate Education Committee about his experience as an educator in his native Eastern Kentucky and his commitment to his […]
Democrats hope to force vote on abortion exceptions as session winds down
FRANKFORT — Democrats are hoping to force lawmakers to take a stand on loosening Kentucky’s near total ban on abortion before going home Monday. Sen. David Yates, D-Louisville, announced Thursday that he is filing a discharge petition for his Senate Bill 99, which would create exceptions in the abortion ban for rape and incest. He […]
Beshear lets school ‘guardians’ bill become law without his signature
Kentucky school districts will have the option of employing armed “guardians” to fill vacant law enforcement positions on campuses under a bill that became law Tuesday without Gov. Andy Beshear’s signature.? Senate Bill 2 is a Republican-backed measure that built upon a bipartisan school safety law that was passed in 2019 after a shooting at […]
Government transparency decisions await Kentucky lawmakers when they reconvene Friday
FRANKFORT — A bill that open government advocates warn would introduce loopholes into Kentucky’s open records law could make its way to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk when lawmakers return to Frankfort later this week.? The final two days of the 60-day regular session — Friday and Monday — are set aside to consider gubernatorial […]