Government

Lawmakers have reached a compromise on a proposal to create more educational opportunities in eastern Kentucky.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo has been advocating to move the University of Pikeville into the state university system. But that proposal doesn’'t currently have the support to become reality, which forces supporters to adopt a compromise.

Business is good for the Tennessee Lottery. It’s posting record sales and has over 360 million in a reserve fund. Despite that, some legislators are pressing ahead with a plan that make it harder for students to get Hope Scholarships, which are funded by the lottery. Capitol reporter Joe White talks about the politics of the lottery with WPLN's Bradley George. 

The House committee charged with overseeing the budget has taken its first official steps in the process.

The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee took reports from subcommittees and accepted their recommendations at a meeting today.

The House plan deviates slightly from Governor Steve Beshear's proposal. It delays the start of substance abuse programs in Medicaid and the creation of an Adult Abuse registry, saving more than two million dollars in the process.

One Central Kentucky lawmaker is spearheading an effort to create a middle school athletic association in Kentucky.

State representative Bob Damron is the sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 155, which holds the force of law if passed.

The resolution would require the Legislative Research Commission to start a task force on middle school athletics. Damron says a new athletic association is needed so as to not add pressure to already-established entities, like the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

An effort to strengthen the training alcohol support specialists receive is moving through the General Assembly.

House Bill 335 is sponsored by state Representative Joni Jenkins. It would require drug and alcohol support to receive extra training to be licensed in that field.

Jenkins told a committee last week that the extra training hours would be the equivalent of doing coursework for a master’s degree.

A new analysis from the Chicago Tribune finds caseloads for Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigators are too high.  The Tribune reports the biggest trouble spots are in southern Illinois, Cook County, and the counties around Chicago.