McKenna Horsley

KY parties could open primary elections under long-shot bills with bipartisan sponsors • Kentucky Lantern A Republican and Democrat file bills that would give Kentucky's two major political parties a chance to open their primaries to registered independents.

KY parties could open primary elections under long-shot bills with bipartisan sponsors kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/11/k...

KY elections board moves for dismissal of US Justice Department suit seeking voter data • Kentucky Lantern The Kentucky State Board of Elections asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice, which is seeking sensitive voter data.

KY elections board moves for dismissal of US Justice Department suit seeking voter data kentuckylantern.com/briefs/ky-el...

Kentucky House OKs plan to spend $801 million but doesn’t specify what for • Kentucky Lantern Seven pieces of legislation  were approved Tuesday by the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee and passed the House within a few hours.

Kentucky House OKs plan to spend $801 million but doesn’t specify what for kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/10/k...

Beshear vetoes bill remaking leadership overseeing broadband network • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear rejected an effort to remake the leadership of the state’s broadband network KentuckyWired.

Beshear vetoes bill remaking leadership overseeing Kentucky broadband network.

Democratic governor calls it “yet another unconstitutional partisan power grab” by a legislature controlled by a Republican supermajority.

@liamniemeyer.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/09/b...

‘Staggering’ health stats show KY ‘must do better’ by women, girls, say Democratic speakers • Kentucky Lantern From 2017–2021, 21% of new mothers in Kentucky were not screened for depression or anxiety, shows the report by the Kentucky Commission on Women and Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

‘Staggering’ health stats show Kentucky ‘must do better’ by its women and girls, say Democratic Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and other speakers.

Kentucky Commission on Women and Cabinet for Health and Family Services issue report.

@sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social
kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/09/s...

On behalf of voters and advocates, ACLU asks to intervene in DOJ case for Kentucky voter data • Kentucky Lantern Two Kentucky voters and voting rights groups hope to intervene in a case between the state and the DOJ over sharing sensitive voter data.

On behalf of voters and advocates, ACLU asks to intervene in DOJ case for Kentucky voter data kentuckylantern.com/briefs/on-be...

Bush-appointed federal judge named as next dean of University of Kentucky law college • Kentucky Lantern The University of Kentucky has named one of its graduates, U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, as the next dean of its law school.

Bush-appointed federal judge named as next dean of University of Kentucky law college kentuckylantern.com/briefs/bush-...

ICE detains reporter Estefany Rodríguez in Nashville - Nashville Banner Reporter Estefany Rodríguez, detained by ICE with no arrest warrant, may face deportation. Her attorneys seek immediate review of the legality of her case.

A reporter who faced death threats in her home country could now be sent back by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Estefany Rodríguez, who was in the car with her husband — a U.S. citizen — has been following all the legal steps to citizenship.
nashvillebanner.com/2026/03/05/j...

The dramatic story of a Kentucky pie that launched countless lawsuits Full of chocolate and nuts, and perhaps a splash of bourbon, it’s a slightly fancier and heartier version of pecan pie.

I would say Derby Pie as our official pie but idk how this would work with the name’s legal history www.southernkitchen.com/story/eat/20...

Beshear criticizes constitutional amendments backed by top GOP lawmakers • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky’s top Republican lawmakers have filed bills for two constitutional amendments that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear isn’t a fan of.

Beshear criticizes constitutional amendments backed by top GOP lawmakers kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/05/b...

Sweeping elections bill draws bipartisan opposition but clears Kentucky House • Kentucky Lantern A Kentucky elections bill that would allow GOP U.S. Sen. Rand Paul to run for reelection and president simultaneously cleared the House.

Sweeping elections bill draws bipartisan opposition but clears Kentucky House kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/05/s...

GOP bill would give Kentucky school boards no choice in approving religious instruction • Kentucky Lantern A House bill would require Kentucky public schools to allow outside moral instruction groups to give religious instruction to students.

GOP bill would give Kentucky school boards no choice in approving religious instruction kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/g...

Violating it would be a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to 12 months of jail or a $500 fine.

apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocume...

It was a roof leak!

Roof leak leads to fire alarm sounding in Kentucky Capitol Annex kentuckylantern.com/briefs/roof-...

Senate president asks lawmakers to fund research between Kentucky universities • Kentucky Lantern Republican Senate President Robert Stivers wants to put $150 million into research consortiums for Kentucky’s public universities.

Senate president asks lawmakers to fund research between Kentucky universities kentuckylantern.com/briefs/senat...

Kentucky Senate president wants 3 universities to work together to address doctor shortage • Kentucky Lantern Republican Senate President Robert Stivers wants three Kentucky universities to work together to find solutions to the state’s physician shortage.

Kentucky Senate president wants 3 universities to work together to address doctor shortage kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/k...

Well now someone says it’s not a false alarm so we are all exiting the building.

A fire alarm has gone off in the Capitol Annex but a staffer says it’s a false alarm. #kyga26

This has been updated to reflect that Barnhart's future role as the first executive-in-residence of the UK Sport and Workforce Initiative will receive an annual salary of $950,000 through Aug. 31, 2030.

University of Kentucky athletics director to retire in June before taking on ‘new role’ • Kentucky Lantern Mitch Barnhart is retiring as University of Kentucky athletics director after 24 years and moving into a new post at the university.

University of Kentucky athletics director to retire in June before taking on ‘new role’ kentuckylantern.com/briefs/unive...

Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie says he will push for congressional vote on Iran war • Kentucky Lantern Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky says he will work with a House Democrat to force a congressional vote on war with Iran.

Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie says he will push for congressional vote on Iran war.
kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/28/k...

Today is the last day for new bills to be filed in the Senate. #kyga26

Me and @sylviaruthg.lpm.org spent a couple weeks on this one, tracking down how illegal child marriages are still happening in Kentucky 👇 #kyga26

KY Senate sends bill to opt Kentucky into federal K-12 scholarship program to Beshear • Kentucky Lantern A Republican-backed bill opting Kentucky into a tax credit program to fund scholarships is now heading to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk.

KY Senate sends bill to opt Kentucky into federal K-12 scholarship program to Beshear kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/27/k...

Trump’s Justice Department sues Kentucky, four other states for voter data • Kentucky Lantern U.S. Department of Justice sues five additional states, including Kentucky, for not providing voter registration data, including sensitive information.

Trump’s Justice Department sues Kentucky, four other states for voter data kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/26/t...

GOP leader wants ‘summaries’ instead of full text for KY constitution amendments No longer would Kentucky voters have to see multi-page full texts of the constitutional amendments they vote on under this proposal.

Kentucky voters have rejected three of the last four constitutional amendments proposed by the GOP legislature.

Now, the Senate president wants to change how amendment questions appear on the ballot.

Voters would have to sign off on the change.

From @austin-horn.bsky.social:

Kentuckians requesting public records could be asked to show photo ID under new bill • Kentucky Lantern Public agencies would be allowed to require photo IDs from Kentucky residents who request public records under a committee-approved bill.

Kentuckians requesting public records could be asked to show photo ID under new bill kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/26/k...

Hopes pinned on Senate to kill proposed 'barrier' to free college for older Kentuckians • Kentucky Lantern A provision that opponents say would discourage older Kentuckians from taking free college classes was approved by the Republican-controlled House Wednesday — even as 17 Republicans joined 19 Democrat...

Hopes are pinned on the Kentucky Senate to kill a proposal that's been called a "barrier" to free college for older Kentuckians.

House-passed bill requires Donovan Scholars to file a FAFSA.

@jamielucke.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/26/h...

GOP sponsor says scholarships funded by US tax credit would also benefit public schools • Kentucky Lantern A bill opting Kentucky into a tax credit program promoted by the Trump administration to fund scholarships for K-12 students  is winging its way into law.

GOP sponsor says scholarships funded by US tax credit would also benefit public schools kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/26/g...

Election official: Trump DOJ has asked for Kentucky voter rolls, including sensitive data • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky has received a request from the U.S. Department of Justice for voter registration data, including sensitive information.

No, but he has said his office and DOJ have “been going back and forth a little bit on what the law says.”

kentuckylantern.com/2025/12/17/e...