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Board shows mercy to disabled veteran after imposing onerous civil fine
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Solid Waste Board extended grace to Larry Oaks, a disabled U.S. Armed Forces veteran, after levying $9,300 in fines against him at a rate of $100 per day since September. The board agreed in a December meeting to “freeze” further fines while Oaks wraps up…
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Privatizing USPS could have devastating effect on rural Kentucky
BY NADIA RAMLAGAN KY NEWS CONNECTION The Trump administration and some House Republicans, including Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., have floated the idea of privatizing the United States Postal Service. Experts said operating the agency like a private business could leave Kentucky’s rural areas without mail options for essential functions such as receiving checks or paying…
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Hal Rogers sworn in for 23rd term
CITIZEN STAFF REPORT WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Harold “Hal” Rogers (R-Ky.) took the oath of office Friday for his 23rd consecutive term representing Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District. “It is an honor to continue serving the people of Southern and Eastern Kentucky and echoing their voices on Capitol Hill,” Rogers said. “We have a lot of…
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New federal rule aims to prevent coal operators from shifting black lung liabilities to taxpayers
by Caity Coyne, Kentucky LanternDecember 30, 2024 A new final rule was issued by the federal Department of Labor earlier this month that will require coal operators who self-insure to post adequate security bonds that cover all of their black lung benefit liabilities. The rule comes as a protection for coal miners who currently or could…
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Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter dies at 100
by Ross Williams, Kentucky LanternDecember 29, 2024 President Jimmy Carter, the only Georgian to ever occupy the White House, died Sunday Dec. 29, 2024, after spending over a year in hospice care. Carter, who turned 100 on Oct. 1 and is the longest-lived president in American history, died at his home in Plains Sunday surrounded…
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Martin County secures ARPA funds, honors longtime employee
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Martin County Fiscal Court has ensured that its remaining $992,239 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will not go back to the federal government. During a meeting Thursday, magistrates voted to transfer the funds into the county’s general fund to reimburse payroll and insurance expenses. This…
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Donation is nothing to what Shell will extract from our county
When Martin County officials negotiated with Savion LLC for the construction of its first solar project, the community was promised prosperity. Hundreds of temporary local, high-paying jobs were touted—200 to 300 positions paying around $30 an hour. It was the kind of promise that sparked hope in a region yearning for economic revival. Yet, the…
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Wheeler to chair Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee
FRANKFORT — Senate Majority Leadership announced Monday that Sen. Phillip Wheeler, R-Pikeville, will serve as the new chair of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee. The committee’s jurisdiction encompasses a broad range of issues, including commerce, industry, workforce development, tourism, economic planning, labor laws, and the promotion of state parks, historic sites and…
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Pump rental drains Martin County Water District again
BY LISA STAYTON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Water District hopes to resolve an issue that has become an ongoing financial drain on its resources and patience. The district is pressing for reimbursement of the steep costs of renting and fueling a raw water intake pump—expenses MCWD says are tied to Xylem Water Solution’s…
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Trump appoints Musk, Ramaswamy to cut government waste
The Pentagon failed its seventh consecutive audit recently as the agency was unable to fully account for its massive $824 billion budget, according to a report by Fox News and other national media outlets. This seems typical of things we have heard through the years. The government spent $600 for a hammer and $700 for…
Tag: Government
