Kentucky Lantern

Ad targeting ‘sharia law’ draws Muslim candidate to LG race • Georgia Recorder An incendiary campaign video drew criticism from both sides of the aisle and drew one lawmaker to make a last-minute entry into the LG race.

The race to become the next leader of the Georgia Senate heated up this week as one candidate’s incendiary campaign video drew criticism from both sides of the aisle and another lawmaker made a last-minute entry into the race.

Story by @mayahoman.bsky.social.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, on Brand X

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...

KY's Thomas Massie unsuccessfully pushes US House to restrain Trump’s war power in Iran • Kentucky Lantern House Republicans and a few Democrats follow Senate in blocking a measure to stop President Trump from furthering the war in Iran without Congress' OK.

Republicans Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Warren Davidson of Ohio broke ranks with Republicans to vote in favor of limiting Trump’s hand in Iran.
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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.

Kentucky’s top Republican lawmakers — Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne — have filed bills for two constitutional amendments that Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear isn’t a fan of.

@mckennahorsley.bsky.social

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.

An omnibus elections bill that among other changes would allow Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul to run for reelection and president at the same time cleared the House in an unusually narrow vote Thursday.

@mckennahorsley.bsky.social

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SAVE tool keeps mistakenly flagging voters as noncitizens - The Texas Tribune DHS rolled out the revamped tool while it was still adding data. That led to widespread misidentification, particularly for citizens born outside the U.S.

What Kentucky would move to under HB 534 which just passed the House.

SAVE, a federal tool to check voter citizenship keeps making mistakes. It led to confusion in Texas.

www.texastribune.org/2026/02/13/s...

NKU projects $1.9M deficit in 2027 amid enrollment declines, proposed state funding cuts • Kentucky Lantern Northern Kentucky University projects a $1.9 million deficit in fiscal 2027 due to declining enrollment, possible state funding cuts and planned raises.

NKU projects $1.9M deficit in 2027 amid enrollment declines, proposed state funding cuts
@haleyparnell.bsky.social
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BREAKING: Kristi Noem out as DHS secretary; Trump to tap Oklahoma Sen. Mullin • Kentucky Lantern President Donald Trump Thursday said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will be leaving the post for a job as a special envoy.

BREAKING: Kristi Noem out as DHS secretary; Trump to tap Oklahoma Sen. Mullin
@arianalfigueroa.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/05/r...

Blasts that killed 26 men in a Kentucky coal mine still echo 50 years later • Kentucky Lantern In March 1976, two explosions over two days rocked the Scotia coal mine in Eastern Kentucky, killing 26 men. Fifty years later, it’s worth remembering.

Scotia 50 years on

Blasts that killed 26 men in a Kentucky coal mine still echo 50 years later.

By Bill Bishop and Earl Dotter

kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/05/a...

GOP sponsor cites Russia, China for why higher bar is needed to intervene in utility cases • Kentucky Lantern A Republican committee chair defended making it harder for Kentuckians to be heard in utility regulatory cases by blaming “outside groups” for causing delays, an apparent reference to debunked claims ...

GOP sponsor cites Russia, China for why higher bar is needed to intervene in Kentucky utility cases.

Sen. Brandon Smith raises debunked claim that Russia has funded the Sierra Club.

@liamniemeyer.bsky.social
kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/g...

KY's Rand Paul only Republican voting to curb Trump's war powers as resolution is defeated • Kentucky Lantern Senate Republicans and a single Democrat block a War Powers Resolution aimed at limiting President Trump’s joint war with Israel in Iran.

KY’s Rand Paul is only Republican voting to curb Trump’s war powers as resolution is defeated in US Senate.

Hegseth vows "death and destruction" for Iran.

@ashleymurray.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/k...

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.

A House bill filed this week by a Republican lawmaker would require Kentucky public schools to allow outside moral instruction groups to give religious instruction to students during class time.

@mckennahorsley.bsky.social

kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/g...

Pitch to pay KY child care providers, certain parents for school readiness on the move • Kentucky Lantern According to 2025 data from Annie E. Casey Foundation, fewer than half of Kentucky children are kindergarten ready.

Eligible parents and child care providers who successfully prepare children for kindergarten would get a $2,000 reward under legislation that passed the Kentucky Senate on Wednesday.
@sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/p...

Proposal to expel some violent students for a year raises alarms among KY child advocates • Kentucky Lantern About 21% of Kentucky children are living in food-insecure households, 20% live below the poverty level and 44% live in low-income households.

At Children’s Advocacy Day in Frankfort, Terry Brooks of Kentucky Youth Advocates says this session has “excellent legislation when it comes to kids” as well as “anti-kid measures” he pleaded with lawmakers to reject.
@sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social
kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/p...

Roof leak leads to fire alarm sounding in Kentucky Capitol Annex • Kentucky Lantern A fire alarm sounding in the Kentucky Capitol Annex Wednesday morning led to people vacating the building and disrupted committee meetings.

A fire alarm sounding in the Capitol Annex Wednesday morning led to Kentucky lawmakers, their staff, lobbyists, reporters, state troopers and other Capitol visitors vacating the building, disrupting some committee meetings.

@mckennahorsley.bsky.social

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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.

Republican Senate President Robert Stivers wants the General Assembly to put $150 million into research consortiums to encourage Kentucky’s public universities to work together to benefit the state.

@mckennahorsley.bsky.social

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.

Stivers' resolution directs UK, UofL and EKU to “coordinate a search for actionable solutions to the physician shortages and to explore and expand health care opportunities.”
@mckennahorsley.bsky.social
kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/k...

Talarico wins Democratic primary for US Senate in Texas; Cornyn and Paxton go to GOP runoff • Kentucky Lantern In battle for U.S. Senate, The Associated Press declares James Talarico winner of the Democratic primary in Texas, while Republicans head for a runoff.

In a critical battle for control of the U.S. Senate, The Associated Press declares James Talarico winner of the Democratic primary in Texas.
Republicans Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton will compete in a runoff.
@fischler.bsky.social
kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/r...

Tillis, more Republicans unload on Noem over Minneapolis operation, FEMA delays • Kentucky Lantern Republicans on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee mount unusually blunt criticisms of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in tense five-hour hearing.

Tillis, more Republicans unload on Noem over Minneapolis operation, FEMA delays
@arianalfigueroa.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/03/r...

Pentagon IDs four US soldiers killed in Iran drone strike, all assigned to Iowa unit • Kentucky Lantern ThU.S. Defense Department names four of the six U.S. soldiers killed by an Iranian drone strike, the first U.S. casualties of the war with Iran.

Pentagon IDs four US soldiers killed in Iran drone strike, all assigned to Iowa unit kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/03/r...

Republicans stand by Trump’s war against Iran, reject war powers role for Congress • Kentucky Lantern Republican lawmakers said Tuesday after classified briefings they don’t intend to limit President Trump’s ability to continue the war in Iran.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul co-sponsors War Powers Resolution expected to get a Senate vote tomorrow.
@jennifershutt.bsky.social @ashleymurray.bsky.social
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Proposed makeover of utility regulator met with warnings consumers would lose their voice • Kentucky Lantern FRANKFORT — A GOP-sponsored bill would remake Kentucky’s utility regulator by expanding its board from three to five members and giving the GOP state auditor two of the appointments. The governor woul...

A bill to remake the KY Public Service Commission raises concerns that consumers would lose their voice in rate cases before the utility regulator.
@liamniemeyer.bsky.social
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It's open season on KY ratepayers’ pocketbooks, while their voices are being silenced • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky lawmakers consider proposals to benefit coal and nuclear industries at the expense of electrical utility ratepayers.

Commentary by Tom FitzGerald

It’s open season on KY ratepayers’ pocketbooks, while their voices are being silenced.

Legislature considers bills to benefit coal, nuclear industries at the expense of Kentucky consumers.

kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/03/i...

Billionaires and private school vouchers • Ohio Capital Journal For years, voucher programs that used taxpayer dollars for private school tuition were limited to low-income or special needs students. Now many states including Ohio have near-universal vouchers.…

For years, voucher programs that used taxpayer dollars for private school tuition were limited to low-income or special needs students. Now many states including Ohio have near-universal vouchers. Critics argue there’s not enough oversight ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/03/03/r...

UK athletics director to retire in June before taking on ‘new role’ with $950K salary • Kentucky Lantern Mitch Barnhart is retiring as University of Kentucky athletics director after 24 years and moving into a new post at the university.

UPDATED
Kentucky will pay Mitch Barnhart $950,000 a year until 2030 in his new role with the university.
@mckennahorsley.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/briefs/unive...

I had the honor of interviewing @brian-goldstone.bsky.social last year, & still think about points he raised in this conversation often. "If you can drastically limit the magnitude and scope of a crisis, or even deny the existence of a crisis, you can more easily claim that you’re tackling it."

Iran war drives gas price uncertainty ahead of busy summer season • Kentucky Lantern The national average price of a gallon of regular gasoline topped $3 Tuesday for the first time this year, and is expected to keep going up.

KY gasoline prices up a dime from yesterday - to $2.73 a gallon.
Still some of the cheapest anywhere.

kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/03/r...

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 Mitch Barnhart is retiring after 24 years in the post.

UK President Eli Capilouto said Barnhart would retire in June before taking on a new role with the university.

@mckennahorsley.bsky.social

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Midterm elections kick off, with primaries in Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas • Kentucky Lantern Voting concludes Tuesday in the first primaries of the 2026 midterm elections in Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas.

Midterm elections kick off, with primaries in Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas
@fischler.bsky.social
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