Government

Attorney General Sides with New Era on Open Meetings Complaint

Whitney Jones — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:13:28 +0000

Kentucky's Attorney General has sided with the Hopkinsville's newspaper over open meetings complaints it filed against the city council.

Kentucky New Era reporter Carla Jimenez says she filed the complaints after a closed meeting of an April Compensation Committee where five additional city council members attended.

The committee discussed a proposed contract for Melissa Spurr who was then a candidate for city administrative officer. Jimenez says Spurr removed herself from consideration May 7th.

Murray City Council Passes Budget With 16% Increase in Revenue

Austin Ramsey — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:16:04 +0000

The Murray City Council has approved a $44.6 million budget despite failed attempts to amend the spending plan. Discussions lasted well into the night yesterday because of what Councilman Danny Hudspeth says was his obligation to bring forward the four amendments.

Hudspeth entertained cutting a two-point-five-percent salary increase for all city employees, the hiring of a new storm water and drainage technician, money for building a scenic trail and a $50,000 allocation to Murray State University for an alcohol education program.

USEC Operations at PGPD Won't Continue

Whitney Jones — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:22:22 +0000

The United State's Enrichment Corporation is ending uranium enrichment at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant saying that there were not enough taxpayer benefits to extend enrichment.

USEC has operated the DOE's Paducah Gaseous Diffusion plant since July 1993 and will stop enriching uranium at the end of May. USEC expects to begin reducing the plant’s workforce in the coming months. However, the corporation plans to continue managing inventory and meeting customer orders in addition to transitioning the plant back to the DOE into 2014.

Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange To Air TV Ads

John Walker and The Associated Press — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:44:35 +0000

The Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange will begin an advertising campaign in mid-June to promote its work in TV spots that will run statewide. Gov. Steve Beshear ordered the creation of the exchange last year to help arrange insurance coverage for hundreds of thousands uninsured Kentuckians. It's an off-shoot of the federal Affordable Care Act.

New Pipeline Expected to Lower Rates, Risk in Clarksville

Austin Ramsey — Fri, 24 May 2013 02:59:56 +0000

Clarksville city officials are awaiting federal approval for a new natural gas pipeline that is expected to ensure service and lower rates to city residents.

Internet Sales Tax Bill Could Restore Some State Budget Cuts, Kentucky Group Says

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Thu, 23 May 2013 20:03:45 +0000

Your online purchases could alleviate some of Kentucky's budget woes.

The federal legislation that allows states to collect sales taxes from more online retailers would benefit the Kentucky state budget, argues a policy group focused on economic policy.

If such legislation passed, Kentucky could gain $130 million to $200 million in revenue per year, the state's Blue Ribbon Tax Commission has estimated. That sort of money could lead to a restoration to programs that have recently been cut, including the child care subsidy for low-incoming, working families, says Jason Bailey, director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

Hopkinsville Approves Alcohol Sales Amendment

John Null — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:11:24 +0000

The Hopkinsville City Council has unanimously approved the first reading of an amendment to the city’s alcohol beverage ordinance that will loosen restrictions on alcohol sales.

With the changes, alcohol sales will no longer be confined to the downtown area, and a provision has been reworded to allow bars to stay open until 1:30 a.m.

IL General Assembly Overrides 'Smart Grid' Veto

John Walker and The Associated Press — Thu, 23 May 2013 12:26:31 +0000

Illinois lawmakers have overridden Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of legislation that addresses so-called Smart Grid technology. The Illinois House voted yesterday to again approve the legislation, a day after the Senate approved it for a second time. Quinn vetoed it May 6, saying the proposal weakened oversight and forced automatic rate hikes. ComEd and Ameren pushed the bill to clarify legislation allowing the utilities to raise rates to fund the high-tech system.

Doctor Shortage to Worsen Under Medicaid Expansion

John Null and The Associated Press — Wed, 22 May 2013 21:18:41 +0000

A consulting firm says the planned expansion of Kentucky's Medicaid program coupled with a push to help the uninsured obtain health coverage will worsen the state's physician shortage.

Deloitte Consulting is helping to set up the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange.

Gov. Steve Beshear announced earlier this month that he will expand the state's Medicaid program to cover an additional 300,000 people, most of them the working poor without coverage.

Bridge Lawsuits Heat Up Following NTSB Hearing

Austin Ramsey — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:01:17 +0000

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is moving forward in filing against the owners of the ship responsible for collapsing a span of the Eggners Ferry Bridge last year.

Foss Maritime’s ship the Delta Mariner crashed into the bridge that spans Kentucky Lake in January 2012. Foss faces a possible $7.1 million claim from the KyTC for the cleanup and repair costs. The claim is in response to the company's initial lawsuit to avoid damages.