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Former Kentucky governor and current University of Pikeville President Paul Patton told lawmakers Tuesday that numbers make the best case for why the state should absorb the college into the public university system. Patton testified before the House Education Committee armed with a host of statistics showing the gulf in educational attainment in the area surrounding the 1,100-student college. But some legislators on the panel, which did not take a vote on the proposal Tuesday, still maintain that what... Read more 

The first draft of the constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling in Kentucky makes several guarantees to racetracks, but at the end of the day, the tracks just a chance to cash in on the casino revenue. Turfway Park in Northern Kentucky has had to cut back race days and is seeing increasing competition from nearby casinos in Indiana and soon, Cincinnati. And it’s getting closer to the point in which Turfway owners might consider selling the track’s prime real... Read more 

*By limiting lawmakers to serving three terms in a chamber, it would keep a fresh rotation of perspectives while diluting the power of legislative leaders, said Rep. Mike Nemes, a Louisville Republican who is filing a term-limits bill this week. Nemes’ proposal would extend the length of the legislative terms to six years for senators (up from four) and to four years for representatives (up from two). That would allow a lawmaker to serve a maximum of 12 consecutive years in... Read more 

The proposed 131-word constitutional amendment to expand gambling in Kentucky would give the General Assembly the ability to approve up to five casinos and racetracks and two free-standing ones not with in 60 miles of tracks. Gov. Steve Beshear, a Democrat, and Republican state Sen. Damon Thayer of Georgetown unveiled the measure at a Capitol news conference flanked by lawmakers from both parties. The overwhelming theme of the morning was: it’s time to put the issue to a vote once and... Read more 

Legislation to provide tax credits for “angel investors” who provide start-up cash for small businesses in Kentucky unanimously cleared its first hurdle in the House Committee on Economic Development on Thursday. The bill is seen as way to attract investors in small businesses — those with fewer than 100 employees — that have more than 50 percent of its assets, operations, and employees located in the commonwealth. To qualify for the 50 percent tax credits, investors must put in at least $10,000... Read more 

Kentucky Chief Justice John Minton told a House budget panel Tuesday that the court system must upgrade its nearly 25-year-old computer system before it crashes for good. “I would be derelict in my duties as chief justice if I allow the limitations of today to impede our ability to carry out our constitutional duties tomorrow,” he told the House budget review subcommittee on the judiciary. At the heart of the Judicial Branch budget request is money for a new... Read more 

After a year of citing drivers for texting while driving, Kentucky police have issued just a few hundred tickets but Kentucky has seen a slight drop in accidents caused by distracted driving. The Kentucky General Assembly passed the law in 2010 and police began issuing warnings to drivers they found texting or emailing from their phones while driving on the road in July 2010. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, they began issuing tickets. Last year, police doled out 309 texting... Read more 

The governor, attorney general and lawmakers from both parties on Monday underscored their support for and Kentucky’s need for a series of reforms to drug monitoring and preventing prescription pill abuse. The press conference also featured a former nurse, Crystal Copley of Louisville, who explained how she easily got access to prescription drugs — and how some of the proposed reforms might prevent others from going down the same road. House Bill 4 (H.B. 4), sponsored by Democratic House Speaker... Read more 

Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo of Prestonsburg filed legislation today that would make it easier for law enforcement to target, then stop prescription drug abuse. House Bill 4 would move the state’s nationally recognized KASPER program, which stands for Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting, from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the Attorney General’s office. Investigators from that office, the Kentucky State Police and the state’s medical licensure boards would work closely together and share... Read more 

Attorney General Jack Conway’s office has been among the agency’s that has seen its budget slashed the most over the four years, forcing a reduction in staff and a slowing of services. Specifically, Conway said another round of 8.4 percent cuts as proposed by Gov. Steve Beshear, would likely impair his staff’s ability to pursue civil cases that could bring in money to the state, such as Medicaid fraud cases. In addition, Conway warned that some of the services, such... Read more