Author

McKenna Horsley

McKenna Horsley

McKenna Horsley covers state politics for the Kentucky Lantern. She previously worked for newspapers in Huntington, West Virginia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is from northeastern Kentucky.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.

Embattled Democrat Nima Kulkarni gains path to Kentucky House ballot in November

By: - August 22, 2024

Republican Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams has opened a path for Democratic state Rep. Nima Kulkarni to appear on the November ballot, although further legal challenges could arise. Adams declared a vacancy in the nomination process for Louisville’s 40th House District on the heels of legal challenges against Kulkarni’s candidacy. However, attorneys on both […]

Country ham nets $10.5M for charity as Kelly, Joe Craft break own record at Farm Bureau breakfast

By: - August 22, 2024

LOUISVILLE —?Two Republican megadonors once again were the highest bidders at Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Country Ham Breakfast charity auction.? Kelly Craft, a former United Nations ambassador and 2023 Republican gubernatorial candidate, and her husband, coal executive Joe Craft, bid a record $10.5 million Thursday morning for the country ham that was crowned champion of the […]

Lexington middle school’s restroom design draws ire of Republican lawmakers in Frankfort

By: - August 20, 2024

Republican state lawmakers grilled the Fayette County Public Schools superintendent Tuesday over the design of restrooms in a new middle school, suggesting the district is trying to circumvent the anti-transgender law enacted by the GOP-controlled legislature last year.? However, Superintendent Demetrus Liggins told the Interim Joint Committee on Education that restrooms in the new Mary […]

Republicans blast Beshear for national TV interview attacking Vance on abortion

By: - August 20, 2024

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is facing backlash from Republicans after targeting U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance’s position on abortion in a national TV interview Tuesday morning.? Following his speech to the Democratic National Convention the night before, Beshear appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe to further discuss abortion rights and criticize positions taken by former Republican President […]

Beshear highlights abortion rights, unity in Democratic convention speech

By: - August 19, 2024

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear took the stage at the Democratic National Convention Monday night to speak on abortion rights, how to bridge the divide created by “anger politics” and back Vice President Kamala Harris for president.? In a roughly five-minute speech, the 46-year-old governor repurposed some of the campaign trail for his 2023 re-election campaign […]

Beshear to speak at Democratic National Convention Monday night

By: - August 19, 2024

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will take the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Monday night.? In a Monday morning post on X, formerly Twitter, Beshear tweeted a short video with his son, Will, in front of the stage. He indicated his remarks will focus on “my message of hope, freedom and unity.”? “I’m […]

Gov. Andy Beshear told reporters Monday that his being mentioned as a possible presidential contender is a positive reflection on Kentucky. The governor had just spoken at a celebration of Kentucky State Parks' 100th anniversary. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

Beshear says he’s focused on Kentucky; others say his time in the national spotlight isn’t over

By: - August 19, 2024

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has said he’s keeping his focus on Kentucky for the remainder of his second term following speculation that he could join Vice President Kamala Harris’ ticket. And while he stresses that the spotlight was good for the Commonwealth, some political observers say it was also good for the governor and that […]

Kentucky Democrat seeks to dismiss ethics complaint alleging inappropriate actions

By: - August 16, 2024

A Kentucky Democratic lawmaker wants to dismiss an ethics complaint filed against him by House Democratic leadership that alleges inappropriate behavior and communications.? Rep. Daniel Grossberg, a freshman legislator from Louisville, is arguing the complaint filed with the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission is “meritless” and an “misuse of the ethics complaint system,” according to a […]

Kentucky Democrat booted from interim committees amid allegations of inappropriate actions

By: - August 15, 2024

A Kentucky Democratic lawmaker has been removed from his interim committees following allegations of inappropriate actions toward women, including behavior and text messages. Rep. Daniel Grossberg, who represents the 30th House District in Jefferson County, was suspended from the House Democratic Caucus following a vote and a request from his colleagues that the Legislative Ethics […]

Beshear says VP speculation put a positive national spotlight on Kentucky

By: - August 14, 2024

FRANKFORT —?While he was not ultimately selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said the national attention put a positive spotlight on his home state.? Beshear, 46, was among a shortlist of potential running mates for Harris shortly after she mounted her presidential campaign following President Joe Biden’s exit […]

Kentucky justices question legislative interference in JCPS case against the state

By: - August 14, 2024

FRANKFORT —?Kentucky Supreme Court Justices heard oral arguments Wednesday morning in a case that could determine if the board of the state’s largest school district is subject to a law aimed at curbing the board’s powers.? The 2022 legislation at the center of the case is aimed at changing the relationship of the Jefferson County […]

Beshear says school district speaking against Amendment 2 was ‘just being honest with people’

By: - August 14, 2024

FRANKFORT — Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, a former attorney general, said he would be “curious” to see if a recent Attorney General advisory warning school districts to not use tax dollars to advocate for or against a constitutional amendment would have been rendered in response to a lawmaker discussing the same issue.? “I’m curious […]