Tagged: Kentucky

Governor Steve Beshear is requesting a federal disaster declaration for parts of eastern and northern Kentucky hit by tornadoes last week.

The declaration would allow federal money to help with clean up and rebuilding. It will also help provide funds to affected businesses.

Beshear announced the move at a news conference today, saying that while monetary estimates of damages aren't yet known, he's confident the there's enough damage to meet the $5.8 million federal threshold for assistance.

A supposed compromise on a bill aimed at cracking down on meth production in Kentucky is once again making its way through the state Senate.

The bill passed committee quickly this morning. The bill's sponsor, Senator Robert Stivers, says the bill could be voted on the Senate floor as soon as this afternoon.

The compromise will allow pseudoephedrine (a key ingredient in meth) to continue to be bought over the counter, but will limit consumers to only three point six grams, which is equivalent to one box of cold medicine, a month.

While the Kentucky General Assembly considers legislation aimed at reducing the state’s prescription drug epidemic, Attorney General Jack Conway is taking his message about painkillers to Washington. Conway testified Thursday before a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He asked for federal help in creating a nationwide prescription monitoring system.

The Kentucky House Judiciary Committee has overwhelmingly passed two bills to overhaul the state's fight against drugs.

One bill deals with synthetic drugs. It would ban the manufacture of any drug that simulates an illegal substance or that contains certain chemical compounds.

The second bill is an overhaul of the KASPER system, which monitors prescription drugs. The bill puts KASPER under the Attorney General's office and requires the board of medical licensure to crack down on reports that prescriptions are being over prescribed.

Proposals to allow the Amish to use reflective tape on their buggies instead of state-mandated orange triangles have passed both Kentucky legislative chambers.

The House voted today in favor of a bill that requires the Amish to put 200 inches of red tape on their buggies. The bill passed overwhelmingly, 90-9, despite objections from lawmakers in areas where the bill would matter the most. Among the no votes was Representative Martha Jane King of Logan County.  She's heard concerns that the tape isn't as easily seen or as safe as the orange triangle that's used currently.