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.

Public school funding at risk if Kentuckians approve Amendment 2, new study says

By: - July 15, 2024

Kentucky’s public schools could take a big hit to their state funding if voters approve a constitutional amendment this fall allowing the General Assembly to begin funding private schools, a progressive think tank and several school leaders warned Monday. The new report from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy (KyPolicy) estimates that if Kentucky were […]

Auditor’s office calls Beshear’s ‘hope’ to ‘work through’ database dispute ‘disingenuous’

By: - July 11, 2024

Gov. Andy Beshear said he hopes his administration and state Auditor Allison Ball’s office “can work through” access issues around a database in a Thursday press conference.? Earlier this week, Ball, a Republican, sent a “demand letter” to Beshear, a Democrat, and Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander over access to the […]

Beshear gives update on how Kentuckians can get assistance for severe weather damage

By: - July 11, 2024

Gov. Andy Beshear gave updates on how Kentuckians affected by recent severe weather can receive assistance and how damages are being assessed.? In his weekly press conference, Beshear said Louisville Metro Emergency Services is working with local government officials and first responders to assess damage and assist victims of an EF-1 tornado that hit Jefferson […]

Citizen members of JCPS task force announced ahead of first meeting

By: - July 11, 2024

Five citizens have been selected to join a legislative task force that will examine Jefferson County Public Schools’ governance.? The General Assembly passed House Concurrent Resolution 81 to create the Efficient and Effective School District Governance Task Force during the last legislative session. The task force will review school districts with enrollment above 75,000 students. […]

Kentucky lawmakers hear how other states are regulating, using artificial intelligence

By: - July 9, 2024

Kentucky lawmakers on the General Assembly’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force learned Tuesday about how states are using artificial intelligence and possible legal frameworks for the technology. During the task force’s first meeting, lawmakers heard presentations from technology and government experts about the history of artificial intelligence (AI), ways state governments use it and legislation in […]

Kentucky State University’s rebound, one year into president’s tenure

By: - July 8, 2024

FRANKFORT —?A year into his presidency, Koffi Akakpo is optimistic that Kentucky State University will enroll significantly more students this fall. In a recent interview, Akakpo said Kentucky’s only historically black public university is on its way to overcoming problems that put KSU into crisis a few years ago. “We’re still working on it, but […]

Beshear to attend Democratic governors meeting at White House in person

By: - July 3, 2024

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will be among Democratic governors meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House Wednesday evening.? The meeting, set to take place at 6:30 p.m., according to Biden’s public schedule, comes after the Democratic governors pushed to hear more from the White House after the president’s poor debate performance last week […]

Beshear on CNN: Democratic governors want to know how Biden is doing

By: - July 2, 2024

Gov. Andy Beshear says his fellow Democratic governors want to know how President Joe Biden is doing.? In a Tuesday interview on CNN’s “The Situation Room” with correspondent Pamela Brown, Beshear said seeking clarification about the president’s health isn’t an attack on his candidacy, but something Americans would respond to positively.? Biden will meet with […]

Kentucky’s process for purging voter rolls challenged in federal court

By: - July 2, 2024

A grassroots advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against Kentucky election officials alleging the state’s process for removing voters from rolls violates federally protected voting rights.? The state’s top election official responded that undoing the law during a presidential election year would “sow chaos and doubt.”? Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC) filed the lawsuit last […]

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)

Despite ‘rough’ debate, Beshear still backs Biden in presidential election

By: - July 1, 2024

FRANKFORT — Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said that as long as President Joe Biden remains a candidate in the presidential election, Beshear will continue to support him.? Beshear, 46, a two-term governor in red-state Kentucky, has been floated as a potential Democratic nominee should Biden step aside. However, the governor on Monday pushed back at […]

‘The love of my life:’ Congressman Thomas Massie announces wife’s death

By: - June 28, 2024

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky announced his wife, Rhonda, has died.? In a Friday morning social media post on X, the congressman expressed thanks for “prayers for our family in this difficult time.”? “Yesterday my high school sweetheart, the love of my life for over 35 years, the loving mother of our 4 children, […]

Kentucky State University receives $7 million grant for agriculture research network

By: - June 27, 2024

FRANKFORT —?Kentucky State University has been awarded a $7 million grant from the National Science Foundation for an agricultural research incubator that has partners across the state. With the dollars, KSU plans to establish a statewide research network that focuses on agriculture, climate change and access to fresh food called Driving AgTech Research and Education […]