Government

A national liberal advocacy group is criticizing Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's proposed solution to the state's Medicaid crisis.  Families USA is issuing a report Wednesday estimating job losses of more than 25,000 if Illinois cuts Medicaid spending by 2 point 7 billion dollars.  That's a reaction to Governor Quinn's call for the Legislature to stop pushing unpaid Medicaid bills into future years.

The City of Paducah has received the green light from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to take bids for the next phase of the Greenway Trail project. This phase will complete a new stretch of trail that follows the floodwall earthen levee from the Expo Center in downtown Paducah to North 8th Street near the Brookport Bridge. Bids will be advertised this weekend with a bid opening scheduled in May. Construction will begin this summer with an official groundbreaking ceremony. The project is expected to take 120 days to complete.

Gov. Steve Beshear met with community leaders and students at Calloway County Middle School to celebrate the completion of two sidewalk projects meant to improve pedestrian and bicycle access for local students.

Kentucky lawmakers and Governor Steve Beshear are applauding the passage of a bill aimed at reducing prescription pill abuse.

Beshear signed the Pill Mill Bill today, inviting key legislators and law enforcement officers to take part in the ceremony.

The new law isn’t as tough as some had hoped. But House Speaker Greg Stumbo says changes can always be made later.

“And I would have obviously preferred something stronger, but it is a step in the right direction and if it doesn’t work we can always come back and do something to amend it later,” Stumbo says.

The next step in the repair project for the Eggners Ferry Bridge over Kentucky Lake is underway.