Ryan Van Velzer

Harassing an officer in Kentucky? Back up 25 feet under new GOP legislation A bill that would make it a crime to interfere with or harass first responders, creating a 25-foot buffer zone, passed a Senate committee Thursday.

A bill that would make it a crime to interfere with or harass first responders, creating a 25-foot buffer zone, passed a Senate committee Thursday.

Border Officials Are Said to Have Caused El Paso Closure by Firing Anti-Drone Laser

Life imitating art: CBP basically recreating the plot of 99 red balloons www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/u...

GOP bill seeks guardrails for new data centers to ‘pay their own way’ in Kentucky A GOP bill seeks to make new data centers cover their own utility costs in Kentucky, preventing existing electricity customers from subsidizing them.

A GOP bill seeks to make new data centers cover their own utility costs in Kentucky, preventing existing electricity customers from subsidizing them.

Kentucky GOP bill would limit license plate reader data sharing, storage A Kentucky House committee passed a bill Wednesday that would put restrictions on how law enforcement agencies use and keep data they collect from controversial license plate readers.

A Kentucky House committee passed a bill Wednesday that would put restrictions on how law enforcement agencies use and keep data they collect from controversial license plate readers.

A Kentucky town bet big on Ford's EV strategy. Then the battery plant closed Ford’s EV battery plant in Glendale was supposed to be the biggest economic development project Kentucky has ever seen. Now that the plant has shuttered, some former workers feel spurned, but communit...

Ford’s EV battery plant in Glendale was supposed to be the biggest economic development project Kentucky has ever seen. Now that the plant has shuttered, some former workers feel spurned, but community leaders remain cautiously optimistic. www.wkyufm.org/news/2026-02...

Kentucky superintendents ask lawmakers to fully fund transportation in public schools As legislators work their way through a bare bones budget, school superintendents are asking for full funding for transportation and construction.

As Kentucky legislators work their way through a bare bones budget, school superintendents are asking for full funding for transportation and construction.

‘We’ve lost our way’ Kentucky Republican senators debate immigration On the Senate floor Friday, several Kentucky lawmakers held an impromptu discussion of the federal immigration crackdown, with one GOP senator saying we need to “tone it down.”

‘Kentucky Republicans held an interesting debate on immigration on the Senate floor on Friday. GOP Sen. and retired police officer Danny Carroll kicked it off saying 'We’ve lost our way' www.lpm.org/news/2026-02...

The Kids Trump Sent to ICE’s Dilley Detention Center ProPublica went inside the immigrant detention center for families in Dilley, Texas. Children held there told us about the anguish of being ripped from their lives in the United States and the fear of...

8/ For more on what kids are experiencing inside the Dilley detention center, read the full story by reporter @micarosenberg.bsky.social:

Nine Republicans broke with their party to vote against against the bill limiting water fluoridation. The one Democrat to vote for it was Rep. Tina Bojanowski, who when voting for it in committee two years ago, suggested that water fluoridation may cause autism (there's no evidence of that.) #kyga26

In the past few years we've had two rounds of layoffs at Louisville Public Media, and we wrote stories about it both times. Management didn't necessarily like what we wrote, but we published them.

As Nashville recovers from storm, fears over immigration enforcement remain As a historic winter storm devastated Tennessee, the fight over immigration continued to play out at the statehouse and in Nashville’s streets.

Outside Nashville’s Homeland Security Office, more than 100 people braved the ice-slicked roads on a snowy Friday last week to say a prayer in honor of those killed by federal immigration agents.

Kentucky student lawsuit over ‘inadequate’ education can move forward, judge rules A Franklin County judge ruled Thursday he won’t dismiss a lawsuit brought by a group of Kentucky students alleging the state has failed to provide an adequate and equitable education.

A Franklin County judge ruled Thursday he won’t dismiss a lawsuit brought by a group of Kentucky students alleging the state has failed to provide an adequate and equitable education.

Kentucky public school leaders could get more training, limited raises under GOP bills A Kentucky Senate committee passed bills that would limit administrator pay increases to those given to teachers and require more training, as the legislature hones in on public school accountability.

A Kentucky Senate committee has passed bills that would limit administrator pay increases to those given to teachers and require more training, as the legislature hones in on public school accountability.

A statement from LPM on the growing suppression of press freedom in America Louisville Public Media's president and CEO condemns the arrests of journalists and speaks out on the escalating pattern of press suppression across the country — from federal raids on reporters' home...

I'm proud to work for local news willing to take a stand, and communicate its values. Journalism is a bedrock of democracy, and the threats are multiplying: A WaPo reporter's devices seized (also a billionaire defacing the institution), independent journalists arrested, the list goes on.

Kentucky lawmakers seek answers on $250M loan after Ford EV battery plant closure Kentucky gave Ford a $250 million upfront loan to build an EV battery plant that is now shuttered. The company is negotiating with the state ahead of scheduled repayments.

Kentucky gave Ford a $250 million upfront loan to build an EV battery plant that is now shuttered. The company is negotiating with the state ahead of scheduled repayments.

Republicans seek to ban lab-grown meat before it hits Kentucky shelves Emphasizing the unknowns of “cultured” meat grown in labs, a state House committee pushed through a bill that would ban its manufacture and sale in Kentucky.

Emphasizing the unknowns of “cultured” meat grown in labs, a state House committee pushed through a bill that would ban its manufacture and sale in Kentucky.

Indiana Republicans break with longtime state Rep. Clere, who plans to go independent Indiana Rep. Ed Clere announced last week he would not seek reelection as a Republican state lawmaker.

Longtime Indiana Republican state Rep. Ed Clere says he's leaving the party to be an independent because he “can’t in good conscience continue to run as a Republican” and that the party has become “unrecognizable” under President Donald Trump.

‘Unicorns and rainbows:’ Beshear’s pre-K plan won’t happen as is, committee chair says As Gov. Andy Beshear continues to promote his Pre-K for All plan across the state, Republican lawmakers say they are unconvinced by “its current form.”

As Gov. Andy Beshear continues to promote his Pre-K for All plan across the state, Republican lawmakers say they are unconvinced by “its current form.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s PAC rakes in $4M in 2025, as he eyes presidential run Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is term-limited, but his In This Together super PAC raised $4.3 million in 2025, as the Democrat weighs a potential 2028 run for president.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is term-limited, but his In This Together super PAC raised $4.3 million in 2025, as the Democrat weighs a potential 2028 run for president.

Cameron leads polls in Kentucky’s GOP Senate primary, though billionaires back opponent Though Daniel Cameron leads polls in Kentucky’s GOP primary race for U.S. Senate, rivals Andy Barr and Nate Morris far outpace him in fundraising, with help from billionaire-funded PACs.

Though Daniel Cameron leads polls in Kentucky’s GOP primary race for U.S. Senate, rivals Andy Barr and Nate Morris far outpace him in fundraising, with help from billionaire-funded PACs.

Charges dropped against Cincinnati journalist following protest arrest in NKY Two journalists were charged with felony rioting in July after a demonstration on the Roebling Suspension Bridge.

1. Don’t arrest journalists for doing their jobs. 2. This is not new, it may even be happening in your own backyard www.wvxu.org/local-news/2...

The judge has ordered a prompt hearing on Thursday in response to petitioners claim that ARC is violating the court order to freeze $4.7M of its bank assets & should be held in contempt of court. Order also notes that ARC attorneys said they want to withdraw because clients are ignoring their advice

UPS retiring plane model involved in fatal Louisville crash In a Tuesday morning earnings call, UPS announced it retired all of its Boeing MD-11 cargo aircrafts.

In a Tuesday morning earnings call, UPS announced it retired all of its Boeing MD-11 cargo aircrafts. www.lpm.org/news/2026-01...

Louisville’s first medical marijuana dispensary to open this weekend The first medical marijuana dispensary in Louisville plans to open Jan. 31 in the Highlands neighborhood.

The first medical marijuana dispensary in Louisville plans to open Jan. 31 in the Highlands neighborhood.

Chamber leads Kentucky legislative lobbying spending in record-breaking 2025 Groups spent more than $28 million to lobby members of the Kentucky General Assembly throughout 2025, eclipsing a record set the previous year.

Groups spent more than $28 million to lobby members of the Kentucky General Assembly throughout 2025, eclipsing a record set the previous year.

Rand Paul calls for immigration officials to testify before Congress GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has called on the country’s top three immigration enforcement officials to testify before Congress.

GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has called on the country’s top three immigration enforcement officials to testify before Congress.

Ted Cruz — of all people — trying to do this, but this pic is from last week and Beshear is in Kentucky right now as the storm hits the state.

The Kentucky General Assembly will not meet on Monday due to the winter storm affecting the whole state. #kyga26

It’s not our job to hide information. It’s our responsibility to hold people in power accountable for their words and actions. I believe that means describing the scene in full, the context, the statements of officials… and demonstrating with facts the veracity of those statements… or lack thereof

From Rep. Nima Kulkarni: Today's deadly shooting is yet another escalation of violence by militarized federal agencies who are all part of the Trump regime's state sanctioned violence. This administration has been brutalizing citizens and noncitizens all across the country, in Minnesota, in Kentucky, and right here Louisville. People are being shot in the street. Children are being kidnapped. Families are being terrorized. I again call on our Mayor to change course and stop his complicity with ICE. I call on our Governor to be prepared to call in the National Guard to protect Kentuckians. I call on our university leaders to stop aiding and abetting ICE. I call on all our public officials to stop empowering the brutality of this administration. This is not about a political talking point. This is about people's lives. Now is not the time to stay silent. Now is the time for our elected leaders to take action to protect their communities. In the next 48 hours, I will be organizing a call to action for our electeds and advocates to address how we stop this violence and destruction from tearing apart our communities. Stay tuned.

Three different reactions from Democratic elected officials in Kentucky: