Government

Lawmakers in Frankfort have been hard at work over the past week in the Kentucky General Assembly.  A proposed state-wide indoor smoking ban cleared its first legislative hurdle and the senate has passed four constitutional amendments.  Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Bureau Chief Kenny Colston gives Rick Howlett the latest on what’s happening in Frankfort.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo is blasting a report that recommends the University of Pikeville not be moved into the state university system.

Stumbo is a chief supporter of making UPIKE Kentucky's ninth public university.

But a report by an outside agency commissioned by Governor Steve Beshear says the measure wouldn'’t do enough to help raise education levels in far eastern Kentucky.

Stumbo rejected the report’s' findings, saying the increased collaboration and creation of scholarships the report calls for isn'’t enough.

The state House of Representatives has passed two-year and four-year financial plans for building Kentucky roads and bridges. The House passed three infrastructure bills this morning, 88-4. The bills are full of projects from sidewalks to building interstate bridges across the Ohio River and widening other highways across the commonwealth.

Obion County Tennessee residents within 5 miles of South Fulton have a new subscription based fire service that helps ensure fire fighters respond to all fires. The change comes after the city faced scrutiny for not fighting fires at homes where the owner failed to pay the fee. City commissioners voted three to two Thursday night to approve the ordinance.

Gov. Steve Beshear has named Audrey Tayse  Haynes as the new Secretary for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Haynes will replace Eric Freidlander. The cabinet is responsible for overseeing Medicaid and social services, including child welfare programs. Haynes previously served 10 years as the senior vice president and chief government affairs officer of YMCA of the USA.  She also worked in the Clinton Administration as director of the White House Office of Women's Initiatives and Outreach. Haynes will begin on April 16.