Government

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.

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.

Compensation for the head of Kentucky’s Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources would be capped at $218,000 for the next year under a new contract.   The state Legislature's Government Contract Review Committee will take a look at the contract next month. The contract sets Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett’s salary at $134,000 and adds $53,000 in benefits, pushing the total compensation package to $187,000.

Kentucky’s Interstate 24 welcome center in Christian County near the Tennessee state line will reopen today and remain open until after the Memorial Day holiday. The welcome center is for westbound I-24 travelers near Fort Campbell. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the facility will close May 28 for two more weeks to continue pavement work along the interstate between mile markers 85 and 93.

As part of the Murray-Calloway County Transit Authority’s continuing fight to keep vehicles on the roads, officials with the joint organization are now seeking funds from the Calloway County Fiscal Court.

MCTA Board member Darrel McFerron presented a $9,000 reimbursement proposal at Tuesday’s Fiscal Court meeting.