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Sewer money is welcome. Clean water cannot wait.
Martin County is right to joyfully welcome the $4.8 million in federal funding announced last week to modernize the long-troubled wastewater treatment plant in Inez. After years of breakdowns, foul odors and limited capacity, the project represents real progress for public health and quality of life. Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty is correct to call it “a
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Bill would boost coroner pay
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Coroner Chris Todd and coroners across Kentucky are backing proposed legislation that would place their salaries on a scale comparable to other county constitutional offices. House Bill 138, sponsored by Rep. Deanna Frazier Gordon, would establish a new base pay structure for coroners and create four
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Jan. 15 is last day to sign up for health insurance through Kynect
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS The deadline to sign up for federally subsidized health insurance through Kynect, the state’s online portal, is Thursday, Jan. 15, for coverage that starts Feb. 1. With the expiration of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits on Dec. 31, health insurance premiums are much higher for Kentuckians
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$24M rejection: Martin County Water District threatens legal action
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Water District is weighing legal action against the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority and Big Sandy Area Development District, claiming the flawed scoring of the county’s water and sewer project applications cost one of Kentucky’s most distressed districts $24 million in critical funding. The issue centers on
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Kentucky public schools: Large employers who help meet community needs
BY NADIA RAMLAGAN KY NEWS CONNECTION On the heels of voters’ overwhelming rejection of Amendment 2 in November, Kentucky public school employees are urging lawmakers to double down on funding for public education. The constitutional amendment, which would have allowed taxpayer dollars to be used for private school vouchers, was vetoed by 65% of voters
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Is Robbie Fletcher a fat cat?
A recent flyer mailed out in support of constitutional Amendment 2 indicates that the fat cats are the ones opposing Amendment 2. Robbie Fletcher is one of the ones opposing Amendment 2. Many of us saw Robbie grow up in Martin County and advance through his career as a teacher, principal, school superintendent and now
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Lottery system will determine who gets 48 licenses for retailers and 10 for processors of medical cannabis in 11 Kentucky regions
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS Gov. Andy Beshear gave an update on the medical cannabis licensing program Thursday after signing this year’s medical cannabis bill into law the day before. “We have worked hard to create a safe system that limits or eliminates abuse while still providing relief to that veteran suffering from PTSD
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High-dollar lobbyists are moving bills in Frankfort
BY JOHN SCHAAF As the last days of the Kentucky General Assembly unfold, big-dollar lobbyists in Frankfort are pushing their most controversial bills toward passage. Lobbyists recently shoved their private school voucher amendment across the finish line to set up a massive fight this fall between Kentucky taxpayers and a handful of multi-billionaires who probably
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Whipsawed by the system, dozens of independent pharmacies closed in Kentucky last year, and more are expected to follow suit
KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS In the past year, at least 67 independent pharmacies have closed in Kentucky, and more are expected to close because of a recent change in the system that favors big pharmacy chains. So reports Alex Acquisto of the Lexington Herald-Leader in a significant story for rural Kentucky. “Pharmacists are often the first
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Beshear gets bill to regulate Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol
BY MELISSA PATRICK KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS In response to a court decision that deemed products containing Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol to be legal, a bill to regulate products with the substance has passed both houses of the General Assembly without dissent and has gone to Gov. Andy Beshear for final action. “The Kentucky hemp program is a
