Liam Niemeyer

After pushback GOP sponsor drops hurdles to intervening in Kentucky utility cases • Kentucky Lantern The GOP sponsor of a bill reshaping the state utility regulator eliminated provisions that critics warned would silence the voices of average consumers.

After pushback GOP sponsor drops hurdles to intervening in Kentucky utility cases
@liamniemeyer.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/06/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...

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 utility cases kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/04/g... @kentuckylantern.com

Well, the KY Capitol Annex has been evacuated because of a fire alarm. Lawmakers and everyone else are sitting out in the rain for now! #kyga26

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 proposed makeover of Kentucky's utility regulator is being met with warnings that consumers would lose their voice in the regulatory process: kentuckylantern.com/2026/03/03/p... @kentuckylantern.com

‘Open for business’ or ‘body count?’ Bill would curb environmental, health protections  • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky regulators could not issue regulations to protect health and the environment until people are being harmed under a bill that moved from committee.

Kentucky regulators would have to wait until people are actively being harmed before issuing regulations to protect public health and the environment under a bill that is backed by lobbyists for manufacturers and the state Chamber of Commerce. kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/25/o... @kentuckylantern.com

This nonprofit has newsrooms in all 50 state capitals. Is it the future of state journalism? In late January, after wrapping up his annual State of the State speech, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum (R) headed out to meet the press. Only two reporters awaited him: the North Dakota Monitor’s ...

See also more info about the Kentucky Lantern's parent company @statesnewsroom.com in this Columbia Journalism Review profile: www.cjr.org/the_media_to... #JournalismJobs #JournoJobs

Editor, Kentucky Lantern • States Newsroom

The @kentuckylantern.com is looking for its next editor to lead our award-winning nonprofit newsroom, a strong team covering politics, policy and power of decisions made in the state capital of Frankfort and across KY. See below! statesnewsroom.com/staff-openin... #JournalismJobs #JournoJobs

Surge in KY utility disconnections raises alarms as federal funding falls short of need • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky electric utilities made more than 268,000 utility disconnections over a 12-month period across 2024 and 2025, according to a recent report.

A majority of KY electric utilities included in an @appcitizenslaw.bsky.social report have disconnected customers when they owed less than $100 of debt.

One utility, Nolin RECC, has disconnected customers when they’ve owed less than $25. kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/24/s... @kentuckylantern.com

Surge in KY utility disconnections raises alarms as federal funding falls short of need • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky electric utilities made more than 268,000 utility disconnections over a 12-month period across 2024 and 2025, according to a recent report.

Utility disconnections in Kentucky increased 87% over a recent 12-month period.
A new analysis calls for protections and a state relief fund.
@liamniemeyer.bsky.social
kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/24/s...

Trump EPA official comes to Louisville power plant to tout weaker pollution rules • Kentucky Lantern Republican elected officials and advocates celebrated the Trump administration’s weakening of regulatory curbs on toxic air pollution, including the neurotoxin mercury.

When the Trump admin. first proposed to rollback coal-fired air pollution limits, the American Lung Association called it a “grave mistake" that would harm brain development, trigger asthma attacks and cause cancer and premature death. kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/20/t... @kentuckylantern.com

Trump EPA official comes to Louisville power plant to tout weaker pollution rules • Kentucky Lantern Republican elected officials and advocates celebrated the Trump administration’s weakening of regulatory curbs on toxic air pollution, including the neurotoxin mercury.

Trump EPA official comes to Louisville power plant to tout weaker pollution rules kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/20/t... @liamniemeyer.bsky.social

Advancing bill would criminalize 'harassing' law enforcement, ICE agents and medics • Kentucky Lantern A GOP-sponsored bill approved by a legislative committee Thursday morning would criminalize harassing or impeding a “first responder" going about their duties including local law enforcement, medics a...

Advancing bill would criminalize ‘harassing’ law enforcement, ICE agents and medics in Kentucky.

Democrat worries it could punish people who are exercising their constitutional right to film officers.

@liamniemeyer.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/12/a...

Trump enlists military to rescue coal The Department of Energy has identified more than three dozen coal plants that could power military installations, according to one official.

Coal analyst Tony Knutson noted the cost of maintaining the aging U.S. coal fleet is a main reason power companies choose to close plants.

“If they can have the government pay for that, I can’t see why they wouldn’t keep them online longer." www.eenews.net/articles/tru... @eenews.bsky.social

Single-bid paving contracts taking a bite out of KY taxpayers? GOP lawmaker wants to know. • Kentucky Lantern A GOP lawmaker wants more scrutiny of anti-competitive practices in road paving in Kentucky in hopes of saving taxpayers money.

A GOP lawmaker wants more scrutiny of anti-competitive practices in road paving in Kentucky in hopes of saving taxpayers money.
@liamniemeyer.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/10/s...

Fish and wildlife chair can stay, no license needed to hunt on your own farmland, says AG • Kentucky Lantern In an about-face, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office says Kentuckians can legally hunt and fish on their own farmland without a license even if their residence is elsewhere in the stat...

Fish and wildlife chair can stay, no license needed to hunt on your own farmland, says AG kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/05/f... @liamniemeyer.bsky.social

Fish and wildlife chair can stay, no license needed to hunt on your own farmland, says AG • Kentucky Lantern In an about-face, Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office says Kentuckians can legally hunt and fish on their own farmland without a license even if their residence is elsewhere in the stat...

Fish and wildlife chair can stay, no license needed to hunt on your own farmland, says AG kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/05/f... @kentuckylantern.com

KY lawmaker wants EMS reimbursements increased to address shortages  • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky Emergency Response Alliance data shows 92% of counties are ambulance deserts, meaning people live more than 25 minutes from the nearest service.

Emergency responders are warning that in Kentucky’s ambulance deserts they are often overworked and underpaid and use old equipment to treat patients who may live 90 minutes from the nearest hospital.

kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/04/k...

Advancing bill would remake leadership overseeing broadband network KentuckyWired • Kentucky Lantern A committee-approved bill would remove the executive director for the state’s broadband network KentuckyWired.

KY House has passed HB 314, a bill that would remake leadership of the agency overseeing the state's "middle mile" broadband network. Vote was 80-13 with Democrats making up all of the "no" votes. #kyga26

Background on bill: kentuckylantern.com/2026/01/30/a...

Kentucky lawmakers renew push to establish statewide residential utility disconnection protections • Kentucky Lantern Some Kentucky lawmakers are renewing a push to establish stronger utility disconnection protections in the state.

Kentucky lawmakers renew push to establish statewide residential utility disconnection protections kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/02/k... @kentuckylantern.com

Kentucky lawmakers renew push to establish statewide residential utility disconnection protections • Kentucky Lantern Some Kentucky lawmakers are renewing a push to establish stronger utility disconnection protections in the state.

Republican Rep. Susan Witten of Louisville is the primary sponsor of the bill to create utility disconnection standards.

@liamniemeyer.bsky.social

kentuckylantern.com/2026/02/02/k...

Public defenders leaving for better pay reaches ‘crisis’ in KY, lawmakers are told • Kentucky Lantern State lawmakers are told low pay and limited advancement opportunities are creating a “crisis” of turnover among Kentucky’s public defenders.

Low pay and limited advancement opportunities are creating a “crisis” of turnover among Kentucky’s public defenders who are leaving for higher pay elsewhere, lawmakers were told Tuesday.
@liamniemeyer.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/2026/01/20/p...

Environmental group sues federal wildlife agency to protect Appalachian salamander • Kentucky Lantern An environmental advocacy group is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking to protect an imperiled Appalachian salamander.

Environmental group sues federal wildlife agency to protect Appalachian salamander
@liamniemeyer.bsky.social kentuckylantern.com/briefs/envir...

Kentucky AG Russell Coleman amasses mighty war chest for reelection in '27 • Kentucky Lantern Political committees supporting Republican Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman have quietly raised $1 million, most of it from out of state.

Tom Loftus w/ another @kentuckylantern.com campaign finance story, this time on Russell Coleman: "Political committees supporting Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman have quietly raised $1 million...including massive contributions from tobacco interests." kentuckylantern.com/2026/01/15/k...

GOP lawmakers, advocates tout bills tackling Kentucky's housing shortage • Kentucky Lantern Republican lawmakers joined housing advocates from across Kentucky to tout legislation addressing the state’s significant housing shortage.

GOP Kentucky lawmakers joined advocates to tout tackling the state's housing shortage as a priority, though they shared few details so far of about the bills they'd file this legislative session to do so: kentuckylantern.com/2026/01/13/g... @kentuckylantern.com

The filing deadline for candidates to run for office in Kentucky has officially passed, as Secretary of State Michael Adams closes the door to filing room. #kyga26

Do Kentuckians need license to hunt, fish on their own farmland? Senator asks for opinion. • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is no longer demanding an immediate resignation from the chair of the state’s wildlife management board.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is no longer demanding a resignation from the chair of the state’s wildlife management board while his office analyzes a provision in state law that’s key to the dispute. kentuckylantern.com/2026/01/09/d... @kentuckylantern.com

Making a Kentucky campus a better home for woodpeckers, one box at a time • Kentucky Lantern Kentucky State University staff and volunteers have been slowly reshaping woodlands on campus to supports native birds.

Leaves crunch under Kasia Bradley’s boots as she walks through the woods on Kentucky State University’s campus, listening for another sound — the knocking of a woodpecker against a tree.
@liamniemeyer.bsky.social
kentuckylantern.com/2025/12/25/m...

Kentucky attorney general's office demands resignation of fish and wildlife board chair • Kentucky Lantern The Kentucky Attorney General is demanding the resignation of the board chair overseeing the state’s wildlife management agency.

Kentucky attorney general’s office demands resignation of fish and wildlife board chair kentuckylantern.com/2025/12/22/k... @liamniemeyer.bsky.social

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.

Kentucky has received a request from the DOJ for voter registration data, including sensitive information, but so far has supplied only publicly available information, says Secretary of State Michael Adams.

@mckennahorsley.bsky.social

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