Bluegrass Politics

KY Politics Insider: What to expect when Trump comes to NKY; Barr internal poll More on Daniel Cameron embracing allies of Rep. Thomas Massie, a DC controversy centering around a Kentucky native and Andy Barr’s poll.

More on Daniel Cameron embracing allies of Rep. Thomas Massie, a DC controversy centering around a Kentucky native and Andy Barr’s poll.

Report: Guards smuggled drugs into one of Kentucky’s most notorious prisons Former correctional officers charged with drug trafficking, other offenses for alleged scheme at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex.

Former correctional officers charged with drug trafficking, other offenses for alleged scheme at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex.

Analysis: Anti-crime bill would add hundreds of millions in new KY prison costs House Bill 422, called Logan’s Law, would lengthen prison sentences, narrow the criminal insanity defense and eliminate some early releases.

The big anti-crime bill of this legislative session would “result in significant long-term increases in operational costs,” eventually adding hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses for a state that already spends more than $830M a year on its Dept. of Corrections, according to a new analysis.

‘Weird touching’ & ‘invasive’ texts: Report details complaints against former UK coach Assistant coach Hakon DeVries left University of Kentucky last year after three female students filed complaints, starting investigation

A University of Kentucky coach made several female athletes uncomfortable with late-night visits, overly physical hugs, personal comments about their bodies, frequent texts and direct messages, gifts and conversations about sex, according to a Nov. 21, 2025, investigative report the school produced.

Lexington judge facing impeachment calls attempt ‘frivolous’ The judge said the impeachment petition, filed by a former state lawmaker, lacked an affidavit, making it null.

The judge said the impeachment petition, filed by a former state lawmaker, lacked an affidavit, making it null.

Lawmakers move to strip KY human rights commissions of power to enforce law GOP sponsor of House Bill 468 says civil rights complaints should be settled in jury trials, not by state and local administrative agencies.

Kentucky lawmakers are moving a bill to strip power from the state and local human rights commissions that enforce civil rights law for the public, instead directing aggrieved people to hire lawyers and file lawsuits.

Lexington candidate facing felony charges may not live in district he’s running for February court documents show the candidate’s home address as outside the 9th Council District, which he has filed to run in.

A Lexington council candidate who was recently charged with felony assault may not live in the council district he has filed to run in, according to court records.

KY would ban ‘Glock switch’ devices on semi-automatic handguns under House bill Federal law prohibits conversion devices that allow guns to be fired more rapidly, but local police chiefs say a sate ban is also necessary.

Federal law prohibits conversion devices that allow guns to be fired more rapidly, but local police chiefs say a sate ban is also necessary.

Paid surrogacy in KY banned under bill proposed by anti-abortion lawmaker Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg, filed a bill in the state House that would ban commercial surrogacy in Kentucky.

Rep. Nancy Tate, R-Brandenburg, filed a bill in the state House that would ban commercial surrogacy in Kentucky.

Artificial intelligence couldn’t be your therapist under KY House bill A supporter said the bill was critical in “preserving the relationship between the therapist and the client.”

Under a bill passed Monday by the Kentucky House of Representatives, artificial intelligence would be banned from providing therapeutic treatment plans.

Fayette County School board calls special meeting, but won’t say why The Fayette school board met in closed session for about two hours Monday, before setting another special meeting for next week.

After meeting in closed session for nearly two hours on Monday night, the Fayette County schools board set another special meeting for next week but would not say why.

Monday’s private discussion and the announcement of a special meeting come amid discussion about the superintendent's performance.

After McConnell hospitalized with ‘flu-like symptoms,’ prognosis is ‘positive’ “His prognosis is positive and he is grateful for the excellent care he is receiving,” a McConnell spokesperson said.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, who turns 84 this month, has been hospitalized with “flu-like symptoms,” according to a spokesperson from the senator’s office.

KY juvenile justice chief says his agency is on top of staffing challenges Commissioner Randy White tells a Kentucky House subcommittee that his agency is making progress despite concerns about inadequate staffing.

The head of DJJ today:

"Well, I disagree that we can’t staff the ones that we have now."

Beshear wants more juvenile detention centers. KY can’t staff existing ones In monthly reports, Dept. of Juvenile Justice facilities say they struggle with inadequate staffing, costly overtime and safety concerns.

Yesterday's report about the KY DJJ:

Nearly all of Kentucky’s eight state-run juvenile detention centers struggled through 2025 without enough staff, a problem that has undermined the correctional facilities for years, according to public records obtained by the Herald-Leader.

Embattled KY Rep. Grossberg settles with public reprimand, waives ethics hearing Per the agreement, Grossberg accepted two $1,000 fines for two of the three instances he allegedly violated the state ethics commission.

The long saga between Rep. Daniel Grossberg and the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission came to a quiet end on Monday when the Louisville Democrat and his attorney agreed to a settlement and reprimand just before a public hearing into his conduct was set to take place.

They're out of executive session.

Grossberg is waiving the adjudicatory hearing and accepting a settlement with the commission. No public hearing.

Public reprimand coming.

Former KY GOP lawmaker seeks to impeach Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Goodman “She has undermined public confidence in the judicial process,” wrote the former Republican lawmaker.

A former KY state rep. filed a petition Wednesday to impeach Fayette Circuit Judge Julie Goodman over her handling of six different cases in Lexington.

Killian Timoney announced the impeachment petition via Facebook post. @austin-horn.bsky.social

Read more at: www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

With eye toward FCPS, school financial transparency bill gets bipartisan support “When you’re talking about public dollars... the public should know how that budget is constructed,” Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, said.

The big school district financial transparency bill gets bipartisan support in the KY legislature.

It's posted for a vote on the Senate floor Monday.

www.kentucky.com/news/politic...

KY Gov. Beshear wants judge to toss Herald-Leader lawsuit seeking his calendar Gov. Andy Beshear’s office argues the case law the Lexington newspaper seeks to overturn is “settled precedent.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s office is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Herald-Leader in an effort to access his calendar.

The administration argues the 30-year-old appellate court case used to withhold calendars is the "practical, workable, reasoned & only approach.”

Parents could stay out of prison for nonviolent felonies under KY Senate bill The Family Preservation and Accountability Act goes to the Kentucky Senate floor after a committee approved it.

Under a bill advancing in the Senate, Kentuckians convicted of certain nonviolent felonies could avoid prison if judges decide it would be better for them to remain in the community on probation while they continue to care for their dependent children.

Welcome to the resistance, Rep. Maddox. It’s nice to see you here | Opinion Linda Blackford: After the shooting of Alex Pretti, Rep. Savannah Maddox agrees that carrying a gun should not be an automatic death warrant.

An outstanding, must-read column by @lblackford.bsky.social.

www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-e...

Inaccurate post on Gov. Andy Beshear’s travel boosted by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz Beshear responds: “Sorry for missing this earlier... Been busy leading my state’s emergency response all day. From Kentucky.”

Beshear responds: “Sorry for missing this earlier... Been busy leading my state’s emergency response all day. From Kentucky.”

Abortion pill ads at KY gas stations target of attorney general investigation “Keep your illegal pills out of (Kentucky) or face the full weight of the Attorney General’s Office,” Attorney General Russell Coleman wrote.

Attorney General Russell Coleman’s office sent subpoenas to six gas stations in Western Kentucky counties — Christian, Logan and Simpson — that had advertisements for abortion medication, according to a Jan. 23 news release from his office.

Lexington Herald-Leader announces Kentucky-born journalist as new top editor The new executive editor grew up in Northern Kentucky and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University. He begins Jan. 26.

A familiar face with deep ties to Kentucky is coming back to the Herald-Leader:

🚨 There's a new John Cheves investigation out today. 🚨

Kentucky attorney general pauses effort to unseat fish & wildlife chairman Chuck Meade will remain chair while the attorney’s generals office reviews Kentucky’s hunting- and fishing-license exemption.

Chuck Meade will remain chair while the attorney’s generals office reviews Kentucky’s hunting- and fishing-license exemption.

House bill would enroll Kentucky in federal tax credit scholarship program GOP State Rep. TJ Roberts filed legislation that would require Kentucky to participate in the federal tax credit scholarship program.

GOP State Rep. TJ Roberts filed legislation that would require Kentucky to participate in the federal tax credit scholarship program.

Gov. Beshear: State of Commonwealth is strong, but we face real challenges | Opinion OpEd: We have a responsibility to reignite and re-fuel the American Dream. In Kentucky, we are showing the way forward.

OpEd: We have a responsibility to reignite and re-fuel the American Dream. In Kentucky, we are showing the way forward.

Last person left at city hall turn the lights out...

From @adrianpbryant.bsky.social:

The prosecutor who charged a Kentucky woman with fetal homicide for taking abortion medication says she sought office with "the intention of being a pro-life prosecutor."

But, the prosecutor admitted, state law prohibits prosecuting a pregnant woman in such a case.

www.kentucky.com/news/local/c...