WASHINGTON, D.C. (1/24/20) — Amity Packing Co. Inc., a Chicago, Illinois establishment, is recalling approximately 2,020 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically clear, thin pliable plastic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reported today. The raw ground beef items were produced on Jan. 6, 2020. The…

KENTUCKY (1/24/20) — The pace really picked up during week three of the 2019 General Assembly, with legislation on its way to the Senate for consideration after clearing both House committees and the full House. Already almost 600 bills and resolutions have been filed for consideration in both the House and Senate, and there are still four weeks before the deadline for requesting a bill be…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/23/20) — Kentucky would develop a statewide Mental Health First Aid Training Program or similar program under legislation that advanced to the Senate today after passing the House 93-0, according to a Legislative Research Committee press release. House Bill 153 sponsor and House Health and Family Services Committee Chair Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said the bill…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/23/20) — Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced today that an investigation by the Cyber Crimes Unit within the Office of the Attorney General has led to the arrest of LaVance Rondell Anderson, 28, of Bowling Green. The arrest occurred today in Warren County with the assistance of the U.S. Secret Service, Bowling Green and Louisville Metro police departments. He was charged…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/23/20) — State Senators passed Senate Bill 2, Secretary of State Michael G. Adams’ top legislative priority, by a lopsided 29-9 margin, according to a kentucky.gov press release. The measure would for the first time require proof of identity with a Photo ID, unless the voter affirms in writing that a “reasonable impediment” prevents the voter from obtaining a Photo ID. To help…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/23/20) — On the second anniversary of the Marshall County High School shooting that catalyzed the 2019 School Safety and Resiliency Act, a Senate committee heard legislation to add to the measure, according to a Legislative Research Committee press release. “It’s my pleasure to introduce Senate Bill 8 which many people are calling the School Safety and Resiliency Act II,” Sen.…

WASHINGTON, D.C. (1/23/20) — U.S. Rep. James Comer's office reports the EPA and Army are delivering on President Trump’s promise to remove crippling regulations on American farmers by issuing the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. Today, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James announced a new definition for “waters of the United States”. This…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/23/20) — Legislation titled, the "Born-Alive Infant Protection Act," passed a Senate committee today, the Legislative Research Committee reports. The measure, known as Senate Bill 9, would require that a child born alive — under any circumstance — be given the appropriate medical care to preserve the infant’s life, said Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Crofton, who sponsored the bill…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/23/20) — Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary December 2019 unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics, an agency within the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet. The preliminary December 2019 jobless rate was down 0.1 percentage points from the 4.4 percent recorded for the state in November 2019. The U.S. seasonally adjusted…

KENTUCKY (1/23/20) — Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil is coming out soon to see or not see his shadow on his big day, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. If old' furry Phil wants to fly first class or even coach anywhere, he had better do it this year. The chances are he will be walking or riding with a friend in a car next Groundhog's day. A new rule proposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation would…

KENTUCKY (1/22/20) — Author Faye Kanouse is selling a kid’s book, with pictures, that should have been for adults entitled: “If You Give a Pig the White House.” My, my; that’s attacking Pres. Trump. I know, I know; it’s freedom of the press. It's our First Amendment right. But, religion is also mentioned, and it’s mentioned first! Faye’s using a picture book that’s not a kid’s book. It’s for…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/22/20) — Legislation that would impose stricter voter identification requirements advanced in the Kentucky General Assembly today after the Senate State and Local Government Committee passed an amended version of the measure. Known as Senate Bill 2, the legislation would require a voter to present photographic identification at the poll. Under the amended bill, an expired photo…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/22/20) — A bill that would add publicly-leased playgrounds to the list of locations off limits to registered sex offenders has passed a House committee. House Bill 204 sponsor Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, said the legislation is specifically written to ban future registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of such playgrounds and from entering those playgrounds…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/22/20) — Kentucky Board of Education request residents and stakeholders participate in a community survey on the qualities they would like to see in the state’s next education commissioner, according to a Kentucky Department of Education press release. The survey, available here, opened Jan. 21 and will close at 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 6. It takes about five minutes to complete. The…

KENTUCKY (1/22/20) — Kentuckians are rightfully known for being hard workers. I’m glad more of them, from Paducah to Pikeville, are benefitting from our country’s strong economy, which has been bolstered by Republican policies. The Republican-led Senate just gave Kentucky workers another boost in an overwhelming vote by passing President Trump’s landmark trade deal called the United…

FRANKFORT, Ky. (1/22/20) — The Kentucky House voted 70-17 Tuesday to expand options for hemp testing, while continuing to meet federal requirements for the state’s hemp program. House Bill 236 sponsor Rep. Matthew Koch, R-Paris, said the bill would allow the state to expand the number of qualified laboratories authorized to test the state’s hemp crop for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a psychoactive…