Stateline Headlines

Kentucky hospitals face questions on Medicaid expansion

Kentucky coal jobs at lowest level since state started counting in 1950

In Concord, Rand Paul raises cash for N.H. GOP and stokes 2016 speculation

Kentucky tax reform commissioners fear Governor Beshear will shelve revenue proposals

EPA stalling on mine permits, hurting jobs

Kentucky ranks 34th in business taxes

Ky. jobless rate drops to 7.9 percent in April

Beshear introduces website for Kentucky's health insurance exchange

Child abuse review panel could have first report by September

ACLU of Kentucky sues over failed legislative redistricting attempt

Child abuse review panel could have first report by September(2)

Child abuse review panel could have first report by September

Attorneys General Seek Warning Label Cautioning Pregnant Women Against Using Pain Pills

State attorneys general are hoping to protect the littlest victims of prescription drug abuse.

Kentucky Medicaid expansion opponents weighing options to reverse decision

Medicaid health insurance to expand under Obamacare in Kentucky

Frankfort did little to help state compete

Medicaid expansion -- Critics say move too costly for Kentucky

Kentucky judge orders state to explain reasons for redacting child fatality information

Beshear says Kentucky will join Obamacare plan to expand Medicaid

Kentucky Republicans leading state Democrats in fundraising

Medicaid expansion decision expected from Gov. Steve Beshear on Thursday

John-Mark Hack files as independent for open Kentucky legislative seat

Kentucky Governor Calls for Public Smoking Ban

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has called for a ban on smoking in certain public places, an effort to improve the state’s dismal public health record and to cut down on health care costs.

Kentucky State of the Commonwealth Address 2013

FRANKFORT, Kentucky -- Feb. 6 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Steve Beshear's (D) 2013 State of the Commonwealth Address:

Seniors Are New Target for Tax Increases

Over the years, states have carved out ever more generous tax breaks for the elderly. Now, Kentucky and a few other states are beginning to question whether these policies cost too much.

States Nervous About New Common Core School Standards

Concerns about local control have make implementation of the national education standards controversial in some states.

Prescription Databases Weigh Public Health Against Patient Privacy

Prescription drug monitoring programs are a popular tool for states looking to combat prescription abuse, but not all databases are used the same way.

To Raise Revenue, Raise Tobacco Taxes, Kentucky Commission Says

Kentucky’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Tax Reform recommended the state increase its cigarette tax from 60 cents to $1 per pack, along with a proportional hike on other forms of tobacco.

Next Elections: Races for Legislative Leadership

For aspiring legislative leaders, the elections aren’t over yet. Even as the final counts from last week’s votes are still being tallied, lawmakers who hope to be house speakers or senate presidents are courting their colleagues.

Best of #StateReads: Kentucky Judges Review Child-Abuse List

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Can Digital Recordings Save Money for Courts?

Faced with crippling budget shortfalls, state courts are replacing in-person stenographers with digital recording systems. But do they really save money?

Best of #StateReads: On Further Review, Georgia Dropout Rate Doubles

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Best of #StateReads: Illinois Fails to Investigate Abuse and Neglect in Deaths of Disabled

This week’s extraordinary journalism about state government, tagged to #StateReads on Twitter.

Kentucky Debating a Tax Overhaul — Again

For at least a decade, Kentucky has been studying how to adjust its tax system. Governor Steve Beshear hopes the state is finally ready to act.

Drug Database Dilemma

No one disputes the need for more information about prescription drug abuse. But who should have access to the information is a divisive issue.

States Scrutinize For-Profit Colleges

Rhode Island is considering whether to approve a for-profit osteopathic medical school, as Kentucky leads 22 other states in investigating the for-profit education industry.

States Struggle with Prescription Drug Abuse

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Legislators are looking for ways to deal with a problem that keeps getting worse. Physicians in some states are starting to work with them.

Kentucky State of the Commonwealth Address 2012

FRANKFORT, Kentucky - Jan. 4 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Steven L. Beshear's (D) 2012 state of the commonwealth address: Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished members of the Kentucky General Assembly, Lt. Governor Abramson, Constitutional officers, honorable members of the Court

Governors Preview Their 2012 Priorities

TODAY'S TAKE: From a constitutional amendment to expand gambling in Kentucky to creation of a health insurance exchange in Idaho, some governors are not waiting until 2012 to declare their agendas.

At Inauguration, Kentucky Governor Puts Gambling on Agenda

TODAY'S TAKE: Newly reelected Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear was sworn in for a second term Tuesday (December 13), using the occasion to call for a constitutional amendment to expand gambling.

Infographic: Southern Strength

Republican dominance in the South started with presidential elections and only later came to statehouses.

Health Care Law is Bigger Challenge for Some States

TODAY'S TAKE: Eight states will face the greatest difficulties in handling the influx of new Medicaid patients expected after the federal Affordable Care Act goes into full effect in 2014, a new study says.

Alternatives to Incarceration Prevail in Some States

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Kentucky, Ohio and Oklahoma all approved bipartisan legislation to address overcrowding in their prison systems this year. But in California - the state with a crowding problem so bad it was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court- Democrats and Republicans could not agree on what to do.

Beshear to Face Williams for Kentucky Governorship

TODAY'S TAKE: Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear now knows his opponent in November's gubernatorial election: Senate President David Williams won a closer-than-expected Republican primary on Tuesday (May 17).

Kentucky Legislative Session Ends, Only to Restart

TODAY'S TAKE: Kentucky lawmakers adjourned their 2011 regular session on Wednesday (March 9) without addressing a shortfall in the Medicaid budget. Governor Steve Beshear immediately ordered them back, with harsh words for the Senate president, who is running for governor himself.

Spike in Prescription Drug Deaths Roils Kentucky

PUBLIC SAFETY BEAT: Prescription drug abuse becomes deadlier than car crashes in Kentucky … New Mexico toughens its stance toward immigrants … A South Dakota lawmaker proposes an individual mandate to purchase guns, and other public safety news.

Even in this Economy, States Struggle to Recruit IT Personnel

MANAGEMENT BEAT: Qualified IT staff remain difficult for states to recruit … Legislators eye state websites for ad revenue … A defined contribution plan may raise pension costs in Kentucky, and other government management news.

Kentucky State of the Commonwealth Address 2011

FRANKFORT, Kentucky - Feb. 1. - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Steven L. Beshear's (D) 2011 state of the commonwealth address: Click here to hear the governor's address. Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished members of the Kentucky General Assembly, Lt. Governor Mongiardo, Constitutional officers

New Year Brings Slew of New State Laws

New laws for 2011 include further state bans on the practice of texting while driving.

Did Race to the Top Help or Hurt the Push for a Common Curriculum?

States were working on a common set of education standards before the Obama administration decided to make adoption of them part of Race to the Top. The prospect of winning federal money motivated some states to pass the standards, but the administration's blessing may have turned others away.

States Aim to Cut Energy Bills

The federal economic stimulus law gave states $3.2 billion to spend on energy efficiency. States are finding creative ways to leverage those dollars to retrofit universities, hospitals, schools and prisons for energy savings.

States Limit Sweeping Tax Hikes — So Far

TODAY'S TAKE: While much of the nation may be focusing today (May 18) on key U.S. Senate primaries in Arkansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, a special statewide election in Arizona could gauge voters' temperature on the question of whether or not to raise taxes. Arizona voters will decide whether to endorse Republican Governor Jan Brewer's proposal to raise the state sales tax by a penny to 6.6 percent.

New Meth Recipe Sidesteps State Laws

TODAY'S TAKE: A new method of making methamphetamine - a highly addictive street drug that has caused law enforcement and public health problems from Oregon to Kentucky - is circumventing tough state laws that had been making headway against production of the drug. The new method uses less of a key ingredient - pseudoephedrine - that states have made much harder to acquire.

Seven States Lead in Budget Transparency

TODAY'S TAKE: A report released Tuesday (April 13) finds that seven states - Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Minnesota, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Texas - lead the nation in budget transparency, providing the public with comprehensive and easily searchable information about government spending. Eighteen states flunked the scorecard created by U.S. PIRG, a Boston-based research and public-interest advocacy group.

Amid Recall, Four Governors Defend Toyota

TODAY'S TAKE: The governors of Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky and Mississippi - all states that are home to Toyota plants -on Wednesday (Feb. 10) defended the Japanese automaker amid its worldwide recall of millions of cars.

Governors Talk Energy with Obama

TODAY'S TAKE: President Obama on Wednesday (Feb. 3) told a group of 11 governors - including those from coal-friendly states - that the United States must move aggressively toward a clean energy economy.

Summary of the Kentucky State of the Commonwealth Address

"I refuse to use this recession as an excuse not to move forward," Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) told lawmakers in the politically divided Legislature Jan. 6, as another session of difficult budget choices got under way. "I refuse to hunker down and hide, to just wait out this storm and to passively accept the economic situation that others have created for us."

Governors' Speeches Kick Off New Sessions

TODAY'S TAKE: California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) and New York Gov. David Paterson (D) will outline the state of their states today (Jan. 6), kicking off another turbulent budget year in state capitals.

Weekly Wrap: New Year Brings New Laws

New state laws that take effect across the country on New Year's Day range from affecting the way residents drive to whether they can marry or profit from snapping a celebrity's photograph. (See also:US: State lawmakers, lacking money, took up bad-behavior bans in '09 and US: New 2010 laws -- Cooking to texting)

Weekly Wrap: Report Questions States' Use of Stimulus Road Funds

States are spending too much stimulus money on new road construction and not enough on public transit projects, a national advocacy group claims in a report issued Monday (June 29). Meanwhile, Michigan and California consider teaming up to solve their prison problems and North Carolina and Rhode Island face off with Amazon.com over taxes.

Tracking the Recession: Tuition Programs in Danger

As the Obama administration addresses the rising cost of college, many of the prepaid college tuition programs that help keep prices down have been damaged by the weak economy.

Govs' Q & A: Rethinking Prison Time

With corrections costs rising and tax revenues falling, governors in a handful of states recently have sought to save millions of dollars by shortening the time some prisoners spend behind bars. Stateline.org asked two governors about their plans.

Study Finds Disparity in Corrections Spending

States spend seven times more money on prisons than on probation and parole, even though the vast majority of the 7.3 million people now under correctional supervision are not behind bars, according to a Pew Center on the States report, the first detailed survey of state corrections spending since 2002.

Kentucky State of the Commonwealth Address 2009

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Feb. 4 -- Following is the prepared text of Gov. Steven L. Beshear's (D) 2009 state of the commonwealth address: Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, distinguished members of the Kentucky General Assembly, Lt. Governor Mongiardo, Constitutional officers, honorable members of the Court of Justice, honored

Legal Woes Have Hit Other Governors

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) became the latest governor to be in trouble with the law, after federal authorities arrested him and his chief of staff Tuesday (Dec. 9). But not all scandal-tainted governors have been convicted or forced to step down.

Nasty Judicial Races Renew Complaints

Another bruising campaign season in judicial elections has spurred calls for reform from advocacy groups, lawyers and others in the legal community, but fierce debate persists over how exactly state judges should be chosen.

Shifting Economy Keeps States Guessing

A month from the start of many legislative sessions, state leaders still don't know how much money they will have to cut from budgets.

States Warned to Prep for Election Glitches

Eight years after voting irregularities marred the 2000 presidential election, most states still are not as prepared as they should be for Election Day glitches, from machine breakdowns to a shortage of emergency ballots, according to a new report by voter advocacy groups.

WORTH NOTING: Illinois Roads To Be Roadkill-Free Again

Illinois has enough money to start clearing roadkill again after months of letting the coyotes "remove" it. Kentucky and Ohio lawmakers fight over an eight-ton rock. And Vermont teenagers who trashed Robert Frost's house are punished by having to learn about the poet. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

WORTH NOTING: 'Gas Pain' Troubles for Utah Governor

Utah's chief executive gives reporters too much information. An influential Idaho politician endorses two legislative candidates - for the same House seat. And Arkansas tourism officials are taking "Clinton Country" to the next level. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

WORTH NOTING: Partying, Politicking and Parrying at Governors' Pads

Some governors can't get away from prying eyes, even in their own mansions. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter (D) is embarrassed when word leaks out of his son's birthday beer bash on the premises; California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) can barely get a GOP sign on his own yard; and Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons (R) is fighting to get the keys to his mansion from his soon-to-be ex-wife. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Credit Crunch Hits States' College Loans

The credit crisis has led some state lending agencies to suspend their federal and private student loan programs, forcing thousands of students to search elsewhere for money to pay for college.

WORTH NOTING: Let the Basketball Betting Begin!

Iowa's governor gives new meaning to the phrase "pork-barrel spending" as the NCAA men's basketball tournament begins. The next U.S. senator from Idaho literally could be "Pro-Life." And the Texas judicial system considers whether ankles really exist. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Kentucky State of the Commonwealth Address 2008

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Jan 14. - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Steve Beshear's (D) 2008 state of the commonwealth address: Click here to visit the governor's web site to view the address. Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Distinguished members of the Kentucky General Assembly, Lt. Governor Mongiardo, Constitutio

Justices Weigh Lethal Injection

The U.S. Supreme Court, hearing a case that already has halted executions nationwide, on Monday (Jan. 7) delved into the details of the three-chemical cocktail used to put prisoners to death in 36 of the 37 states that allow capital punishment.

Federal Spending Plan Slashes Anti-Crime Grants

Law enforcement officials across the country are lambasting the federal spending plan approved by President Bush on Dec. 26, warning that a 67-percent decrease in funding for targeted state and local criminal justice initiatives imperils public safety.

Governator has whale of a time

California's governor hugs a giant sea creature. Kansas' governor slams her state's wine industry. And add an asterisk to Louisiana Gov.-elect Bobby Jindal's place in the record books. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Dems win Ky. gov seat, Va. Senate

Democrats regained the Kentucky governorship, ousting the scandal-tainted incumbent Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R), and appeared to pick up enough seats to take control of the Virginia and Mississippi senates.

Odd-year elections a preview for '08?(2)

What typically is a quiet, off-year election is anything but this year. Voters in Kentucky today (Nov. 6) will decide whether to oust their sitting governor. In three states, both parties have a fighting chance to wrest control of statehouse chambers. And school vouchers and stem cells are among 34 measures on the ballot.

Odd-year elections a preview for '08?

In search of a gentler end

States are planning better ways to support dying and chronically ill children and their families who aren't always well-served by traditional hospice programs. But this specialized kind of care is still rare.

Fletcher Struggles to Overcome Hiring Probe

Kentucky's embattled governor touts his opposition to gambling and his conservative stances, but he trails a once-obscure former lieutenant governor by double digits.

States Scramble for Gambling Jackpot

States are aggressively tapping into one of the easiest ways to bring cash to their coffers: Let gamblers lose on slots, poker and roulette - and carve out a big take for state treasuries. Kansas is taking that approach one step further with a plan to own and operate its commercial casinos.

GOP Eyes Possible Gains in '07 Races

Click here to see the 2007 state elections guide Location, location, location could make all the difference in the three governors' seats in play this year. All three gubernatorial races - in Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi - are in the South, the only region where Republicans made gains in state offices as Democrats in 2006 swept into a majority of governors' mansions and more statehouses than at any time since 1994.

Toothless in Kentucky

Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) sounds off about an American Idol episode. A Florida law lets people take their pets with them to the grave. And New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine (D) pays a fine for failing to wear a seat belt. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Kids catch Iowa lawmakers goofing off

Iowa senators are caught playing computer games while their colleagues speak. YouTube spreads a Montana Republican's barrage against Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D). And budget suggestions bury an Ohio lawmaker's office in paper. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.

Gov Races in Ky., La., Are Wide Open

The 2008 battle for the White House may be grabbing the headlines and bloggers' space, but this fall's three governors' races are starting to garner attention with close races expected in Kentucky and Louisiana.

States Try GPS to Protect Social Workers

Last year, a Kentucky social worker was murdered in the line of duty. Although fatalities are rare, this case and others like it are a call to arms for state child-welfare agencies already battling high worker-turnover rates and a nationwide shortage of skilled new social workers. Two states are equipping their frontline caseworkers with Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices to boost worker safety and efficiency.

Kentucky State of the Commonwealth Address 2007

FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 6 - Following is the prepared text of Gov. Ernie Fletcher's (R) 2007 state of the commonwealth address. Click here to access audio recording of the speech. Let's start by having a moment of silence for the people who lost their lives this morning in Nelson County. First Lady, Constitu

States Break Out Gift Cards for the Holidays

Plastic, stored-value gift cards are the most popular holiday gift in America, and three states -- Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia -- are vying for a piece of the action.

Patients Key to Latest Medicaid Reforms

States hope giving Medicaid recipients a bigger stake in their health care will help keep taxpayers' costs down. Florida is one of four states - along with Idaho, Kentucky and West Virginia - moving toward putting Medicaid recipients in charge of their health care, much like policyholders with private insurance. South Carolina hopes to follow suit as soon as federal regulators sign off on its plans.

Seven States Woo Clean-Coal Power Plant

Seven states are competing with dollars and regulatory breaks to be the host for a $1 billion federal and private energy initiative being billed as the world's cleanest coal-burning power plant. The project is expected to provide 1,300 construction jobs and 150 facility positions and to generate 275 megawatts of electricity through a process that would eliminate nearly all air pollutants.

Governors' Hiring Under Fire

Governors in Kentucky, Maryland and Illinois are facing scrutiny for hiring practices that test the legal limits of the historic "spoils system" in state government -- rewarding jobs to partisan supporters. Political and legal experts say past governors of both parties have long used partisan patronage to reward allies and ensure loyalty among rank-and-file state workers, but this trio of governors may be under fire as much for their methods as their alleged abuses.

States Suing Feds Over Seniors' Rx Costs

Fifteen states want the U.S. Supreme Court to block the federal government's plan to bill them for a portion of costs for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit passed by Congress. The states call the law "an unprecedented intrusion into each state's sovereignty."

States Promote Nursing, Protect Moms

Mississippi, the state with the lowest breastfeeding rate in the country, has passed a broad new law allowing mothers to nurse at work and in public. In addition, five other states - Arizona, Kentucky, Kansas, South Carolina and Alabama - passed laws protecting mothers from charges of indecent exposure when they nurse in public places.

More states sanction deadly force

A year-old Florida law sanctioning the use of deadly force against muggers, carjackers or other assailants outside the home is rapidly being adopted by other states and already is being raised as a defense in at least three shootings in Florida.

Towns caught in clash over Net access

When rural Kentuckian Valerie Davis needed a high-speed Internet connection, it was the state that brokered the initial connection -- between her and the service provider. While Kentucky provides a model of public-private cooperation in promoting broadband access, the role of state and local governments has proven contentious elsewhere.

Md. vote may pave way for 'Wal-Mart' bills

Round two in the battle over whether states should require large employers such as Wal-Mart to spend a certain amount on employee health benefits could get under way this week in Washington state. Workers' rights advocates, bolstered by enactment of a new Maryland law, plan to push similar measures in 30 other states this year.

Kentucky State of the Commonwealth Address 2006

First Lady, Lieutenant Governor Pence, President Williams and Speaker Richards, Constitutional Officers, Legislators, Justices and my fellow Kentuckians. I am here tonight to report on the state of Kentucky to the legislature and to the people of our Commonwealth. I can tell you that the people of Kentucky are m

State AGs Fight Teen Smoking—Onscreen

More than 30 attorneys general are mounting a campaign to add anti-smoking ads to the beginning of films in which actors light up onscreen. The bid to fight teen smoking was prompted by a study that showed a marked increase in smoking among children who watch movie characters puffing away.