Latest news with #Frankfort
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Boswell, Johnson discuss interim legislative session
Kentucky lawmakers will return to Frankfort next week for the beginning of the 2025 interim legislative session. During the session, committees will meet to study policy issues, review implementation of recently passed legislation and begin evaluating proposals for the 2026 regular session. State Sen. Gary Boswell and State Rep. DJ Johnson both anticipate early budget talks being a big focus. 'With respect to the budget, I will say that I'm concerned that the funds we had available, a lot of it through federal grants and the Inflation Reduction Act — which had nothing to do with inflation reduction — but the effect of that was there were some federal funds available for one-time-only projects,' Johnson said, 'and what we did in the last budget was we absolutely focused on one-time-only funding that we thought would be of benefit, and I don't see those funds necessarily being available in this next budget. 'I think it's going to be a little bit more of an austere budget than this last one was. The conversations are going to be a lot tougher than they were before.' But Johnson doesn't believe that's going to necessitate a lot of cuts in the budget, thanks to an increase in revenue. 'There is a revenue increase we're seeing through economic development; that is a fact,' he said. 'So I don't necessarily see a bunch of cuts. There are some things that we think philosophically we should take a look at, but I don't think it's going to be because of revenue. I think it's going to be because we want to be as efficient as we possibly can while still taking care of the important things.' Boswell also noted the increase in revenue, but he believes the state can be much wiser in how it spends money. 'I think we're doing a great job of bringing in revenue; I think we're growing our revenue base, but we're also spending a lot of money,' Boswell said. 'I'm on Appropriations and Revenue, and we have a lot of good causes that need to be funded, but at the same time, I've pointed out some areas that I think we could save money.' Boswell believes it's a must that the state take action to relieve itself of property it owns that is not being utilized, including property on Highway 54, as well as ending leases for office space no longer needed. 'I have brought that up on several occasions, that we've got to sell all of this old property,' Boswell said. 'We'll do a couple of things. One, we'll get the revenue, and we should put that back in the general fund. Secondly, we'll create more tax revenue because we're not getting any revenue, and it's a terrible eyesore. 'I've talked to the chairman of Appropriations and Revenue, and if they don't do something quicker, I'm going to have to figure out a way to get a bill passed, that we need to consider getting rid of all property that we don't really need. It's somewhat like a hoarder, and in this case, it's the taxpayer's money.' Boswell also noted smaller expenditures he's seen since taking office that he feels wasted money and add up, such as offices being unnecessarily repainted and legislators receiving a new embroidered leather carry bag every two years. He also plans to continue fighting for personal property rights. Johnson wants a significant focus to be put on families and better protecting children, and he expects it will be a high priority for the Republican caucus. 'We did a lot of that last time,' Johnson said. 'We did some things as far as penalties for child pornography and that sort of thing, and there were a couple of things that I personally wanted to get through that I'll probably look at — for example stiffer penalties for child pornography. I think we need to have it where they serve 80 to 85% of their sentence, as opposed to something lesser than that. I didn't get it through last time, it was just too tight of a schedule with the short session, so I'll be taking a look at that again. 'I'm also looking at some things for child care that I was trying to do last time. It was just hard to have a conversation about something as important as child care in that short session. Those are priorities for me.' While Frankfort has appeared deeply divided by party in recent years, Johnson said what is often overlooked is how much legislation is passed with bipartisan support. 'For the really emotional issues, there's probably not going to be a lot of negotiation,' he said. 'But I will say this, if you go do a statistical check, probably 89% to 91%, somewhere in that percentage of the bills have some kind of bipartisan support, and we overlook that. The hot topics are going to make the news, the highlights, because it gets pretty boring if we look at the 100 votes we had where it was 90-4 or 94-4. Those are boring. 'But they're what makes government work, and those votes are what improves Kentucky, and there are a lot of them. We just don't talk about them.' • Boswell has been named a 2025 Kentucky Family Champion by The Family Foundation of Kentucky for 'his strong and principled support for pro-family policies' during the 2025 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly. Boswell was graded on his voting record, sponsorship of key legislation and leadership on issues such as protecting life, religious freedom, parental rights and human dignity. 'It means a lot; I went up there to represent conservative values, so I have,' said Boswell, who views the recognition as confirmation he's representing the views of his constituents. 'I do pay a lot of attention to it, because I think most of the people who voted for me, supported me, expect me to score a high score.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Service honors Kentucky's fallen as more names added to National Guard Memorial
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — In Frankfort, leaders and Gold Star families gathered to pay tribute this Memorial Day as new names were added to the state's monument honoring fallen heroes. 317 names are carved into the memorial, each one a life dedicated to service. Read more of the latest Kentucky news 'She was a major in the Air Force, and I know she put God first, and family second, and then country. So, she served 29 years in the Air Force, Major Latonia Rene Trowell,' Charles Trowell, her father, told FOX 56 News Major Trowell died from a service-connected illness in 2015. 22 more names were added to the monument this Memorial Day, ranging as far back as World War One, including Trowell's. 'That means a lot to me. And, you know, I can come up here and see her name, and it means a lot because she did a lot for her country,' Charles said. 'This is a calm and beautiful place to honor those who have faced danger and conflict. Each of them took a sacred vow to protect us. A debt we can never repay,' Gov. Andy Beshear said in his remarks. Jessamine County Memorial Day service brings in hundreds to honor the fallen Samaritan's Purse talks long-term disaster relief following southeastern Kentucky tornadoes Fallen firefighter remembered as hero: Laurel County honors tornado victim's ultimate sacrifice Leaders from both state and local government joined in the service honoring Kentucky's Gold Star families, remembering the lost with a wreath-laying and hearing sobering remarks reminding them of the harsh realities of sacrifice. 'It's been 55 years, and I still hear that poor mother's screams,' guest speaker LTC (Ret.) Dick Stoops said in his speech. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Tinley Park couple mark 40,000 miles of running together, one in a wheelchair
Jamie Parks wasn't all that interested in attending a party hosted by a friend of a friend in Crestwood 40 years ago. He was invited at the last minute. 'I wasn't much of a party guy,' he recalled. 'But I said, 'I've got nothing to do. I'll go.''' Lynn McGovern didn't have that party on her radar, either. But she had a friend who was going and the friend's boyfriend backed out at the last minute and McGovern volunteered to go with her. That party was on May 18, 1985. What followed was a wild love story with plenty of ups and downs. They met. They fell in love. They planned on getting married. Lynn was involved in a car accident that left her head and body a wreck. They married seven years later. Jamie, a fanatic runner who has logged every mile he has run, pushed her in a wheelchair during races and training during hot, cold, windy and snowy weather over the decades on a daily basis. This past Sunday, a sunny day in the 60s, they not only celebrated the 40th anniversary of the day they met but they ran a mile in their Tinley Park neighborhood to mark the 40,000th mile they ran/rode together. Their 25-year-old daughter, Annalyn, came in from the Portland, Oregon area, to help celebrate the occasion while Frankfort's Jean Reppa and Homewood's Bryan Angone, of the local Yankee Running Club, were also on hand. The Parks' story did not make the Hallmark Channel, but a documentary, 'Marathon Love' was filmed about their lives and shown on the Discovery Health channel in 2008 and, occasionally, it gets shown somewhere in the world. 'I'll get an email from someone in Scandinavia or Australia from someone who saw the documentary,' Jamie said. 'It's funny — I don't promote it but it still gets shown.' Last year, the Parks were interviewed for a TV news segment in Japan. All this would not have happened if not for the chance meeting between Jamie, who lived in Orland Park at the time, and Lynn, who lived in Flossmoor, at the Crestwood party. 'God put us together for a reason, I guess,' Jamie said after Sunday's run. Lynn remembers the meeting. 'We were playing UNO and he kept hanging around me,' Lynn said. 'She claimed I was staring at her cards, but I was enjoying how well she played,' Jamie said. 'We were getting along and having a good time.' But Lynn's friend wanted to leave, and Jamie was asked to take Lynn home when they were through. 'If someone did that with my daughter — I would kill him,' Jamie said. 'But they trusted me enough. We didn't kiss that night, but we were engaged within two months.' The car accident in 1987 changed their lives and wedding plans but not their love for each other. 'There was never a thought of us not being together — even after the worst part of her accident and the recovery,' Jamie said. 'She was in a coma for a long time after the accident and she couldn't communicate for seven months.' Lynn told Jamie that if he didn't want to stick around, he was free to break off the relationship. Many men might have taken the opportunity to leave at that point, but Jamie would not hear of it. 'I told her that God put us together for a reason and I'm not going to mess with that,' he said. 'He knows better than I do what I need.' Jamie is 63 and Lynn is 62. 'Our love has gotten stronger' over the years,' Lynn said. They have been involved in 312 races including nine marathons including four Chicago Marathons and three Boston Marathons. Annalyn has done some running with her parents and the three hope to do a marathon together. Meanwhile, the Parks' friends admire what they have done. 'There should have been 40,000 people here celebrating,' Reppa said. 'This is such a special story.' 'They are extraordinary,' Angone said. Annalyn was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune when she was 9 and said her parents were 'pretty cool.' Now at 25, she used the same phrase and added that they are inspiring parents. 'They've accomplished a lot, not only in my life but in their own lives,' she said. 'To seen them run every single day and to do what they do … my dad was a mailman and it was insane that he would walk all of those miles and end the day running 10 more miles. 'It's inspiring.'
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Unemployed due to Kentucky flooding? Deadline to apply for help extended
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that a request to extend the registration period for those impacted by February flooding was approved. Disaster survivors left unemployed by the disastrous February flooding now have until May 27 to apply for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). In a news release, state leaders encouraged those affected to file an initial claim at the Kentucky Career Center website. Unemployed due to Kentucky flooding? Deadline to apply for help extended Annual cornhole tournament held for central Kentuckians in need of healthcare access New signs unveiled in Lexington to honor bicentennial of Revolutionary War hero's visit State officials said DUA is available for people who: Worked or were self-employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment Can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to their place of employment as a direct result of a disaster, which can also include the physical inaccessibility of the place of employment due to its closure by the federal, state, or local government in immediate response to the disaster Have established that their work or self-employment, which can no longer be performed, was their primary source of income Do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state Cannot work or resume self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster As a result of the disaster, they became the breadwinner or major supporter of a household because of the death of the head of the household According to a news release, DUA is available for 28 weeks of unemployment, as long as it continues to be a direct result of the disaster. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Washington Post
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Kentucky auditor sues governor in bid to end dispute blocking kinship care law
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky's Republican auditor sued Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday, asking a judge to untangle a dispute blocking the implementation of a state law meant to support adults who step up to care for young relatives who endured suspected abuse or neglect at home. The standoff revolves around whether funds are available to carry out the law's intent — enabling relatives who take temporary custody of children to later become eligible for foster care payments. Beshear signed Senate Bill 151 in April 2024 and his administration has praised the measure for seeking to help children in bad situations be placed with relatives or close family friends. But the governor warned at the time that lawmakers had not approved the necessary funding. A year later, his administration still maintains that nearly $20 million is needed for the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to put the law into action, the lawsuit says. In her suit, Auditor Allison Ball says the state Constitution requires Beshear's administration to 'do whatever it takes' to carry out Kentucky laws. The suit asks a state judge to 'remind' the administration of that duty. 'As the policymaking body and holder of the power of the purse that determines the proper level of funding to give state agencies to carry out the commonwealth's laws, the General Assembly says that Governor Beshear and CHFS have more than enough money to carry out SB151 and must do so,' the suit says. Beshear's office said Thursday that his administration notified lawmakers on multiple occasions about the costs associated with carrying it out. 'Lawmakers had many opportunities to deliver the funding during both the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions but chose not to,' Beshear spokesperson Crystal Staley said in a statement. 'It is simple: The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled the state cannot implement programs and policies if it doesn't have the funding to do so,' she added. Kentucky lawmakers ended this year's session weeks ago and aren't scheduled to reconvene until the 2026 session begins in January. An estimated 55,000 Kentucky children are currently in what's commonly called kinship care — when a child is living with relatives or close family friends instead of their parents. The 2024 measure — which sailed through Kentucky's Republican-led legislature with overwhelming support — is meant to fix what child welfare advocates say was a flaw in the support system. The law gives relatives considerably more time to apply to become foster parents for their young relatives, and thus eligible for foster care payments to help support the children already in their care. Frustration over the dispute resurfaced Tuesday when GOP lawmakers, including state Sen. Julie Raque Adams, the measure's lead sponsor, called out Beshear's administration for not implementing the law. 'They don't even have a program model for SB151, yet they continue to insist it would cost $20 million to implement,' she said. 'You can't assign a price tag to something you haven't built. The truth is, they have the tools to get started. They just haven't.' Ball's office started an investigation last October to determine whether the health and family services cabinet has the money to carry out the law or whether lawmakers needed to appropriate more funds. The suit says the probe has stalled because of what it calls the cabinet's 'obstruction,' and it asks the judge to order Beshear's administration to provide whatever information the auditor needs to complete the review.
