Rep. Westrom optimistic for bill against smoking inside most public spaces despite tough legislative landscape

by Kevin Wheatley – FRANKFORT — Last year’s 30-day legislative session was a breakthrough for Rep. Susan Westrom’s bill that would ban indoor smoking in most public places, passing the House in its first floor vote by a 51-46 margin. House Bill 145 ultimately met its demise without a hearing in the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Protection…

Ahead of Charter Schools Debate, Hargens Says JCPS Already Offers Choices

by JACOB RYAN – Superintendent Donna Hargens says Jefferson County Public Schools is working to ensure that Louisville families are aware of its offerings in anticipation of a new push for state charter school legislation. Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is a charter school supporter. The Republican-majority state Senate has approved a bill that would authorize charter schools every year…

Attorney General Andy Beshear says Gov. Bevin’s decision to end kynect ‘bad deal’ for consumers

by Nick Storm – Attorney General Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, whose father former Gov. Steve Beshear implemented kynect and the expansion of Medicaid in Kentucky, is now watching as Republican Gov. Matt Bevin dismantles that legacy. In an interview with Pure Politics, Beshear said the move to shut down Kentucky’s health-care delivery website is bad policy and bad for…