Kenny Colston (KPR)

Kentucky Public Radio Capital Bureau Chief

Kenny Colston is the Frankfort Bureau Chief for Kentucky Public Radio (a collaborative effort of public radio stations in Kentucky). Colston has covered Kentucky's Capitol and state government since 2010. He is a Louisville native, and a graduate of the University of Kentucky. When he's not tracking down stories about Kentucky politics, you can often find him watching college sports, particularly football.

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Government
3:03 pm
Thu May 23, 2013

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

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.

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Politics
1:19 pm
Wed May 22, 2013

Lower Tier Candidates May Cause Problems for Democrats in US Senate Race

Credit The Kentuckiana Wedding Planner

Now it's Heather French Henry's turn.

The former Miss America has joined a list of half a dozen party activists or leaders waiting for Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes to decide whether she'll run in 2014 against Mitch McConnell for his U.S. Senate seat. 

If Grimes runs, she's likely to get enough support to clear out the field. Otherwise, the Democrats have potential candidates known within political circles, but who may be not instantly recognizable with the majority of voters—former state Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gorman or environmental activist Tom FitzGerald, for example.

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Government
2:29 pm
Tue May 21, 2013

Pharmaceut​ical Company Helps Train Kentucky Law Enforcemen​t to Address Pill Abuse

Credit Wikimedia Commons

A national pharmaceutical company is helping train Kentucky law enforcement agencies this week on how to continue to address prescription pill abuse in the state.

Purdue Pharma helps produce some of the prescriptions often abused in Kentucky, including OxyContin.

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Government
2:33 pm
Mon May 20, 2013

State Tea Party Groups Plan IRS Targeting Rallies

Credit Jeff Gross

Kentucky Tea Party groups are planning rallies Tuesday to protest the IRS targeting of Tea Party and conservative groups for extra review.

Two of Kentucky's largest Tea Party groups will protests outside IRS offices in their respective areas: the Northern Kentucky Tea Party will protest in Cincinnati and Louisville's group will join southern Indiana groups to protest in Louisville.

Louisville Tea Party President Sarah Durand says the protests show that Tea Party groups won't stand by quietly while the controversy unfolds.

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Politics
8:00 am
Mon May 20, 2013

Tea Party Activist Sues Kentucky Governor Over Medicaid Expansion

Credit Insider Louisville

  Tea party activist David Adams is once again suing Governor Steve Beshear over the Affordable Care Act. 

Adams first sued Beshear to block him from implementing a state-run health insurance exchange. That suit is pending. And now, Adams is suing to stop Beshear from expanding Medicaid.

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Government
2:52 pm
Fri May 17, 2013

KY Tourism Secretary Announces Retirement

Marcheta Sparrow

  Kentucky's Tourism Secretary, Marcheta Sparrow will retire at the end of this month. Sparrow was one of Governor Steve Beshear's first cabinet appointments, taking office in 2007.

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Business
11:24 am
Fri May 17, 2013

Coalition Forms to Oppose Electricity Rate Increase in Western Kentucky from Smelter Deal

Credit Big Rivers

A coalition of western Kentucky businesses and residents has formed in hopes of minimizing the fallout of an electricity rates deal between Big Rivers Electric Co-Op and western Kentucky aluminum smelters.

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Government
2:07 pm
Thu May 16, 2013

Senator Paul Introduces Transportation Tax-Cutting Legislation

Credit Wikimedia Commons

Through a single piece of legislation, Kentucky Junior Senator Rand Paul is hoping to cut a corporate tax and get more revenue for transportation projects.

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Government
1:24 pm
Wed May 15, 2013

Kentucky's Insurance Exchange Is Named, 'Similiar to Travelocity or Expedia' Experience

Credit Wikimedia commons

   Kentucky's new exchange for people on the market for healthcare now has a name and  a website.

It'll be called Kynect—pronounced "connect." People can access it at kynect.ky.gov. A phone line will be running in August.

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Politics
4:14 pm
Tue May 14, 2013

As IRS Scandal Endures, Kentucky Tea Party Activists Split on Mitch McConnell

As the scandal surrounding the targeting of tea party groups by the IRS continues,some Kentucky tea party activists are upset with Senator Mitch McConnell's role in the process—even as the state party is asking them to support him.

In Kentucky, only the statewide 9/12 project has come forward to acknowledge that they were targeted and that they were rejecting the IRS' apology on the matter.

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