Kentucky

Citizenship voting requirement sparks debate among Kentucky's representatives

Published

2 weeks ago

April 11, 2025

Citizenship voting requirement sparks debate among Kentucky's representatives

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Advocates say the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would maintain integrity in our elections. But opponents of the bill claim it might disenfranchise millions of voters across the country, including here in Kentucky.

What You Need To Know

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act would require in-person citizenship proof before voting in a federal election

The U.S. House has passed the bill and it is on its way to the Senate

Advocates claim it ensures election integrity, opponents claim it will disenfranchise millions

Kentucky’s representatives are divided on the issue

As the SAvE Act heads to the Senate, opponents of the bill express concern for what the bill could do to the millions of voters it’s supposed to protect.

The bill would amend the National Voter Registration Act so states would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.

Democrat Morgan McGarvey was the only Kentucky congressional representative to vote against the bill.

He said the bill could make it much harder for people to across Kentucky to vote.

For example, he said women who have changed their last names after their marriage would have a much harder time registering to vote, but they wouldn’t be the only group affected.

“It makes it harder for seniors to vote because you have to do it in-person now. It makes it harder for our troops and active military to vote because you have to do it in person. A military ID is not a sufficient form of identification, even if you are serving on a base in the United States military.”

The rest of Kentucky’s representatives have endorsed the bill, with Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, taking to X to post “I voted for the SAVE Act to protect the integrity of our elections. Only American citizens should have a say in America’s future.”

I voted for the SAVE Act to protect the integrity of our elections. Only American citizens should have a say in America’s future.https://t.co/FqukAYr4f5
— Congressman Andy Barr (@RepAndyBarr) April 10, 2025

But local leaders with the ACLU said the bill is looking to solve a problem that virtually doesn’t exist.

The ACLU and McGarvey both said local election officials have not had to deal with any sort of election fraud.

Amber Duke, executive director with the ACLU Kentucky, urged voters to call their senators to tell them to vote against the bill.

She also likened the bill to a poll tax because the proof needed to show citizenship often isn’t readily on-hand and can be costly for people who may need to order the necessary proof.

“Folks who are not able to obtain a birth certificate might need something like a U.S. passport. I think currently it costs $130 in order to obtain a passport. There are simply people who do not have that level of funds to secure the documentation that would be needed in order for them to register to vote.”

The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote.

The Kentucky Attorney General’s office said it received more than 700 complaints during the 2024 General Election cycle. Of the most serious complaints listed, there were nine complaints of felons voting and 11 complaints of a person voting more than once.

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Kentucky

The Wildcats are targeting another guard for more roster depth

Published

3 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Press Room

The Wildcats are targeting another guard for more roster depth

With Mark Pope eagerly awaiting to see if his starting shooting guard, Otega Oweh, will return to Lexington or declare for the NBA Draft, and the sudden departure of Travis Perry, there is an open scholarship spot on the strong Kentucky Wildcats roster.

The latest player on the Cats’ radar is North Carolina A&T guard Ryan Forrest. This past season, as a true Sophomore, he averaged 19.1 points, shooting 39.9%, and 24.7% on shots from deep. Forrest also contributed 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 32.6 minutes per game.

While Forrest has areas to improve, a move to Lexington could provide him with the opportunity to work on those weaknesses and grow as a player. At this moment, Forrest would likely serve as a utility piece for the Cats, adding depth to the team.

Hailing from Marion, Ark., Forrest who began his career at Northwestern has already garnered interest from several other schools, including Arkansas, Memphis, SMU, USC, Ole Miss, UNLV, Murray State, Dayton, Xavier, TCU, Butler, Texas A&M, Arizona State, New Mexico State, and UCF.

Go to UKWildcatsWire for further updates on this story, and follow @UKWildcatsWire on X for more Kentucky Wildcats sports coverage.

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Kentucky

Kentucky basketball’s starting lineup prediction for next season from ESPN

Published

21 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Press Room

Kentucky basketball’s starting lineup prediction for next season from ESPN

For most Kentucky Wildcats basketball fans, the 2025-26 season can’t get here fast enough. After making it to the Sweet 16 in his first year, expectations are high for Mark Pope and a new squad that is loaded with talent.

Pope has assembled a roster that many consider to be one of the nation’s best heading into the season. Jeff Borzello, an analyst for ESPN, considers them a top ten team right now, listing them at number ten in a recent top 25 article. He specifically mentioned the backcourt, saying, “Kentucky is absolutely loaded on the perimeter next season, with the arrivals of transfers Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Kam Williams (Tulane) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida) as well as five-star prospect Jasper Johnson to go with the potential return of leading scorer Otega Oweh and reserve Collin Chandler.“

Borzell also predicted the starting lineup for the Cats. He has transfer Jaland Lowe and Freshman Jasper Johnson as the guards, Otega Oweh on the wing, and Mouhamed Dioubate and Jaydan Quaintance as the starters inside. Obviously, that’s dependent on Quaintance being 100% after a knee injury in February.

This is an early prediction, and one of several different possible lineups. It’s fun to look ahead, but we’ll have a much clearer picture later in the summer.

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Kentucky

When is the Kentucky Derby? Date, time, TV and streaming info for 151st Run for the Roses

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2025

Press Room

When is the Kentucky Derby? Date, time, TV and streaming info for 151st Run for the Roses

The Kentucky Derby is nearly here, with the 151st edition of one of the great horse races once again set for Churchill Downs in Louisville.

The race, which functions as the first leg of the Triple Crown, is a cultural phenomenon in the “River City.” The Kentucky Derby has been remarkably resilient, with the event being held every single year since 1875, even during world-historic events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s edition may have an unusual feel, as Louisville is still recovering after a series of powerful storms caused catastrophic flooding earlier in April. However, the Derby itself is still set to proceed, and a full day of racing may well be an important step back to normalcy.

Here is what to know about the upcoming Kentucky Derby, including the date, post time and how to watch information for one of the biggest events in horse racing:

What time is the Kentucky Derby?

The 151st running of the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, May 3, capping off a full day of races. The official post time for the main event is 6:57 p.m. ET. Coverage on NBC, USA Network, and Peacock is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.