Public News Service

Between 2000 and 2020, the number of young people held in juvenile justice facilities fell from 109,000 to 25,000, a 77% decline. But racial disparities persist, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Justice Department launches investigation into KY youth detention centers

The U.S. Justice Department is launching an investigation into reports of physical and sexual abuse at Kentucky's eight youth detention centers - …

More than 70 million Americans have a criminal record that can create significant barriers to employment, according to the White House. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New KY website offers 'Second Chance' job, recovery resources

A new website aims to help Kentuckians just out of prison re-enter their communities and find job training, employment and recovery services…

First Day Forward staff offer free Narcan and program pamphlets. (Northeastern Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition via Facebook)

Reentry program for people incarcerated offers a model for others

By Taylor Sisk for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabor…

Nearly 700 Kentuckians died by gun violence in 2019, an average of nearly two people every day. Suicides made up 65% of gun deaths, according to the Kentucky Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence.(Adobe Stock)<br />

KY crisis aversion bill would help decrease gun violence, advocates say

New legislation under consideration by Kentucky lawmakers would allow police to confiscate guns from people whose family members are concerned about t…

By 2022, 32% of bills that passed the Kentucky House and 24% that passed the Senate were fast-tracked in ways that cut out the public, according to a new League of Women Voters of Kentucky report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: KY lawmakers increasingly fast-track bills, reducing transparency

Kentucky lawmakers convene this week for the 2024 legislative session, and a new report finds state representatives are increasingly fast-tracking …

Para 2022, el 32% de los proyectos de ley aprobados en la C�mara de Representantes de Kentucky y el 24% de los aprobados en el Senado fueron acelerados de manera que excluyeron al p�blico, seg�n un nuevo informe de la Liga de Mujeres Votantes de Kentucky. (Adobe Stock)

Legisladores de KY aceleran proyectos de ley, reduciendo la transparencia

Los legisladores de Kentucky se reúnen esta semana para la sesión legislativa de 2024, y un nuevo informe encuentra que los representantes …

The McElhannons enjoyed Derby Day, one year before his medically assisted death. (McElhannon)

KY Sees Growing Support for Medical-Aid-In Dying Bill

Legislation in Kentucky would give a person who has a terminal illness but is of sound mind the ability to request a medication they could self-admini…

According to state data, more than 2 million Kentuckians voted in the 2020 presidential election. (Adobe Stock)

A Push for Expanded Voting Rights Ahead of KY Midterm Elections

Advocacy groups in Kentucky say they're focused on expanding voting rights for former felons and fighting gerrymandering ahead of the May primary elec…

Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, presents House Bill 179, the Kentucky Supreme Court redistricting bill, in the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments & Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on Jan. 5. (LRC Public Information)<br />

Filing Deadline, Redistricting, Tornado Relief Dominate New Legislative Session

The legislative session has just begun, but lawmakers already have greenlighted redistricting maps and moved the filing deadline for candidates in …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

Mass protests erupted last summer over the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Chauvin Verdict “Disappointing Reminder” of Louisville's Breonna Taylor Case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In what's being described as a landmark verdict this week, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of second- …

One of six new historical markers in Shelbyville, Ky., commemorating victims of lynching incidents that occurred from 1878 to 1911. (Janice Harris)<br />

Shelby County Historical Lynching Markers Aim to Educate, Foster Healing

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. -- Six historical markers have been erected in downtown Shelbyville, the first in the state to recognize the victims of racial-…

Since the mid-1980s, Kentucky's prison population has increased by 168%. (Adobe Stock)

KY Felony Theft Charges Have Lifelong Impact, Balloon Prison Population

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky's felony theft threshold has remained unchanged for more than a decade, and critics say it's contributing to a rise in …

Supporters built a memorial in downtown Louisville, Ky. for Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot by police during a no-knock raid in March 2020. (Wikimedia Commons).

KY Lawmakers Push for Statewide Ban on No-Knock Search Warrants

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- After the killing of Breonna Taylor by Louisville police, some states have moved to ban no-knock search warrants, and Kentucky …

Los Kentuckianos que no tengan cobertura m�dica patrocinada por su empleador, o que no califiquen para Medicaid, tienen hasta el 1 de diciembre para elegir un plan de seguro m�dico mientras est�n abiertas las inscripciones. Nadia Ramlagan tiene m�s informaci�n.

Mientras se acerca la fecha límite para inscribirse, los defensores alertan sobre los Planes “Basura” de corto plazo

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Los residentes de Kentucky cuya cobertura no es patrocinada por el patrón, o quienes no califiquen para Medicaid, tienen hasta …

Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams says after counting early in-person votes and absentee ballots requested, Kentucky is already at 84% of its total voter turnout in 2016. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentuckians Urged to Check Polling Locations, Know Rights

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- State leaders and voting-rights organizations say voters should be prepared before they head out to the polls today. Jennifer …

Protesters have gathered in Louisville for more than 125 days to call for police accountability over the killing of Breonna Taylor. (Adobe Stock)

KY Clergy Urge Transparency in Breonna Taylor Case

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Faith leaders providing sanctuary for protesters under Louisville's citywide curfew, which lifted on Monday, say they're being …

Day and night, protesters have gathered in downtown Louisville over the death of Breonna Taylor. (Nadia Ramlagan)

Demands for Police Accountability Continues as Louisville Pays Taylor's Family

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Six months after Louisville police officers shot and killed 26-year-old Breonna Taylor in her home, city officials announced this …

State officials are gearing up for several general election changes this year amid the COVID-19 crisis. (Adobe Stock)

Early Voting, Mail-in Options, but Voter Outreach a Concern

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky residents concerned about possible exposure to the coronavirus will have the option to vote by mail in November's general …

Protests Highlight Frustration Over Lack of Accountability, Investigation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Protests in Louisville and Lexington over the weekend highlight growing public frustration with a system that offers little …

Since the mid-1990s, more than 20 states have passed measures to ease voting bans for people with felonies, according to the Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Say Bills Could Determine Future of KY Voting Access

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Voting-rights advocates are calling for action on legislation that would make it easier and more convenient for Kentuckians to vote…

Left to right, Dontavius Williams, Nicole Moore, and Terry James, historical reenactors at Lexington County Museum in Lexington, South Carolina. Photo from Slave Dwelling Project. (Joe McGill)<br />

Sleepovers in Slave Cabins Aim to Spark Healing Conversations

By Ruth Terry Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for the YES! Magazine-Kentucky News Connection Collaboration LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- By 1860…

Of the more than 3 million registered voters in Kentucky, 42% cast their ballots to elect Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Voter Photo-ID Bill Clears KY Senate, Heads to House

FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Senate has passed a bill that would require voters to present photo identification at the polls. Senate Bill 2…

According to the American Immigration Council, more than 150,000 Kentucky residents are immigrants. A proposal in the Legislature would mandate that state agencies work to help enforce federal immigration law. (Adobe Stock)

Immigration Bill Demands KY Public Agencies Cooperate with ICE

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill to require local police and other public agencies to actively participate in enforcing …

The Ultrasound Informed Consent Act requires Kentucky doctors to perform ultrasounds and describe the images to women seeking abortions. (Adobe Stock)

New Barrier to Abortion in KY Cited After High Court's Refusal to Hear Challenge

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Advocates for reproductive rights say women in Kentucky face yet another obstacle to receiving an abortion after the U.S…

Each year, more than 1 million people default on their student loans, according to the U.S. Department of Education. (Adobe Stock)

Early On, Student Loan System Leaves Borrowers Struggling to Repay

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Nearly 25% of federal student loan borrowers default within five years of starting the repayment process, according to a new …

Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi will hold gubernatorial elections Tuesday. (Adobe Stock)

KY Officials Watching for Voting Irregularities on Election Day

FRANKFORT, Ky. — On Tuesday, Kentuckians will cast their ballots for the next governor. And as the rest of the country will be watching for the …

More than 1.2 million people in Kentucky, or 22% of the state's population, are covered by Medicaid, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Court to Hear Oral Arguments Related to KY Medicaid Work Rules

FRANKFORT, Ky. – On Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C., will hear oral arguments in a case concerning Gov. Matt Bevin's …

A preschool classroom in Kentucky learns about Constitution Day. (Kentucky Youth Advocates)

Kentucky Educators Want All Children Counted in 2020 Census

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky school districts want to make sure their students are counted when the 2020 census begins in April. Educators are …

The agrotourism organization Black Soil: Our Better Nature aims to reconnect black Kentuckians to their legacy and heritage in agriculture. (Tehran Jewell, owner and operator of A Taste of Jewell Farm/AgZinger)

Report: Ag Lenders Still Discriminating Against Women, Farmers of Color

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Women and minority farmers are consistently denied agricultural loans, according to a report released this month by the U.S…

Kentucky spends about $10 million annually on death-penalty court proceedings, according to the state's Department of Public Advocacy. (Adobe Stock)

KY Judge Rules Death Penalty Protocol Unconstitutional

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Franklin County judge has ruled the state's protocol for carrying out the death penalty is unconstitutional. The ruling by …

New research suggests that Kentucky's cash bail policies in some counties contribute to jail overcrowding and strain county budgets. (Adobe Stock)

Report: In KY, Staying in Jail May Depend on Where You Live

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Where you live in Kentucky might determine whether you stay in jail before trial because you can't afford the cash bail…

Cast and crew of the Kentucky storytelling project

Theatric Performance Aims to Reduce Abortion Stigma for KY Women

LEXINGTON, Ky. – A grassroots storytelling production focused on women's experiences with abortion performs its final show of the season …

A 2016 poll found that about 70 percent of Kentuckians agree the capital-punishment system risks executing the innocent. (@annie29/Twenty20)

Momentum Builds Across Party Lines to Abolish Death Penalty

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Thirty lawmakers from all sides of the political spectrum are co-sponsoring a bill to abolish the death penalty in Kentucky…

The Kentucky State Penitentiary complex in Eddyville, Ky., holds more than 850 people and has been in operation since the 1880s. (Wikimedia Commons)

Life After Prison a Challenge in KY Communities

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Researchers are following 230 Kentuckians who either are incarcerated or have recently been released, as part of a national …

Death-penalty opponents say not only does capital punishment cost more than a life sentence, a wrongful execution can't be reversed. (Jason Rosenberg/Flickr)

KY Students Hear Conservative Case Against Death Penalty

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Conservatives historically are pegged as champions of the death penalty, but some say there's growing momentum to change that …

It takes a partial pardon from the governor to restore voting rights to people in Kentucky with a felony conviction in their past. (quimono/Pixabay)

Felony Voting Ban: "Double Jeopardy" in KY?

FRANKFORT, Ky. – They've paid their dues for mistakes of their past, however an estimated 300,000 Kentuckians are not allowed to cast a ballot …

Proposed new restrictions on green cards are the latest in a series of federal actions by the Trump Administration targeting the immigrant community. (Alisdare Hickson/Flickr)

Proposed Rule Could Limit Green Card Applications

FRANKFORT, Ky. – People can now officially weigh in on a proposal by the Trump administration to punish legal permanent residents who have used …

Religion, Education Clashing Again in Kentucky

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A leading civil rights group says a new effort to have the motto "In God We Trust" displayed in Kentucky's public schools is …

Dozens of advocates from Kentucky are expected to join a global social justice rally in Washington on Saturday. (Kentucky Poor People's Campaign)

Push Will Continue to Shift KY's Poverty Narrative

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A 40-day social justice blitz in Kentucky wraps up today, but advocates say their work is far from over. The Kentucky Poor …

An expert says while freedom of religion was meant to prevent government intrusion, those liberties have limits, especially when they infringe on the rights of others. (unitedchurchofchrist/Flickr)

Study Raises Concerns About Federal Religious-Exemption Protections

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Trump administration guidelines allowing for what it calls religious exemptions have opened the door for discrimination across …

2018 marks 50 years since Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. (National Park Service)

Kentuckians Remember King's Legacy

LEXINGTON, Ky. – This year marks the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr., and his life and legacy are being honored Monday …

There are three identified white nationalist groups in Kentucky, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. (Alec Perkins/Flickr)

Researcher Examines Bias Against White Americans

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- The number of white Americans who believe they are being discriminated against is rising. How is this affecting the country? …

Ray Krone was sent to death row for a murder he did not commit. Since being exonerated, he's been working to abolish capital punishment. (Witness to Innocence)

Innocent on Death Row

PIKEVILLE, Ky. – An innocent man who spent 10 years behind bars in Arizona, including three on death row, brings his story to Kentucky this …

The Lexington Fair Housing Council and the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence are offering free webinars about the new law. (Greg Stotelmyer)

Landlords Briefed on New Leasing Protections for Domestic-Violence Survivors

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Since June 29, new leasing protections have been in place in Kentucky for survivors of domestic, dating and sexual violence…

A judge in a Kentucky murder case has made a pretrial ruling that the prosecutor can not seek the death penalty because the defendant was younger than 21 at the time of the crime. (Greg Stotelmyer)

KY Judge Rules Death Penalty Unconstitutional for Those Under 21

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A Kentucky judge has issued a pretrial order in a Lexington murder case that could have an impact on the minimum age for the death …

Those who oppose the death penalty will run an information booth such as this one during Kentucky's second largest festival this week. (Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty)

Push in Rural Kentucky to Abolish Death Penalty

PIKEVILLE, Ky. - The push for multiple executions in Arkansas has shed a harsh light on the death penalty in America, especially in the South…

Big legislative wins for victims who seek and access protections through Kentucky's network of domestic violence programs, including this one in central Kentucky. (Greg Stotelmyer)

KY Lawmakers Approve Leasing Protections for Domestic Violence Victims

FRANKFORT, Ky. – A new Kentucky law removes a barrier that victims of domestic violence often face when making the difficult decision to leave …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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KY: Civil Rights