Editorial Roundup: Kentucky

Frankort State Journal. June 3, 2022.

Editorial: Partnership between KSU, hospital is a win-win for each events

With all of the dire information popping out of Kentucky State College in current months, final week’s announcement of a partnership between the varsity and CHI Saint Joseph Well being is a constructive step in the appropriate path for college kids on the state’s solely public HBCU (Traditionally Black Faculty and College). The Lexington hospital is investing $2.5 million within the Frankfort establishment’s nursing program.

CHI Saint Joseph Well being CEO Anthony Houston offered a test in that quantity to Ok-State’s Appearing President Clara Ross Stamps and the pair signed a memorandum of settlement at a press convention on Could 25.

“CHI Saint Joseph Well being and Kentucky State College share frequent core values — collaboration and inclusion,” Houston mentioned. “We’re enthusiastic about this chance to type a transformational and lasting relationship with Kentucky State College to assist educate the following technology of nurses throughout the commonwealth and to construct on the standard nursing workforce we now have throughout Kentucky at CHI Saint Joseph Well being.”

In line with the settlement, CHI Saint Joseph Well being will present scholarships of as much as $20,000 whole for as many as 30 college students enrolled within the KSU College of Nursing. The award for every scholar is meant to cowl the price of two years of the affiliate’s diploma or the final two years of the Bachelor of Science in nursing program.

Scholarship recipients should meet program necessities and work with a CHI Saint Joseph Well being-appointed liaison all through this system in addition to decide to working at one of many firm’s amenities as a registered nurse for 30 months.

“The dire nursing scarcity throughout the nation is anticipated to accentuate over the following few years,” Stamps defined. “This partnership with CHI Saint Joseph Well being will enable us to work collectively to develop and enhance the range of the nursing workforce in Kentucky by serving to college students obtain their aim of caring for others as we work to proceed a journey to excellence in our College of Nursing.”

Ok-State’s Bachelor of Science nursing program began in 1967 and not too long ago earned a 100% go price on the Nationwide Council Licensure Examination.

“This new partnership will create a long-lasting and constructive distinction for a lot of college students whereas tackling a essential nursing scarcity,” mentioned Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, who’s a KSU alum. “I’m invested in ensuring my alma mater succeeds because it strives to satisfy the wants of these it serves.”

We consider this partnership is a win-win for each the varsity and look ahead to what the longer term holds for each.

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Ashland Day by day Impartial. June 4, 2022.

Editorial: Making fuel costs extra reasonably priced

The dangerous information is gasoline costs have continued to rise. However the excellent news is Gov. Andy Beshear has made an effort to offer Kentuckians some aid.

Beshear’s administration filed an emergency regulation to freeze the state fuel tax and to stop a 2-cent enhance per gallon that may have taken impact July 1.

The state fuel tax is about by statute, each in its price and the way it’s calculated. The present price of 26 cents was set to extend below a set off, leading to a worth hike on each common and diesel gas. Beshear requested the Division of Income to file the emergency regulation.

“Kentuckians can not afford to pay extra, and I’m dedicated to doing every little thing I can to assist hold extra {dollars} in folks’s pockets,” Beshear mentioned. “This legislation was by no means meant to harm Kentuckians throughout powerful instances, however with rising costs and inflation, this enhance would have a adverse affect on our households and it’s time to take motion.”

The funds collected by the state fuel tax contribute to the Highway Fund, which 12 months to this point is up 2.3%. Over the primary seven months of the fiscal 12 months, this motion will scale back the budgeted Highway Fund revenues by 1.6%. To make up for the misplaced street fund revenues, the governor will suggest utilizing funds from the upcoming Basic Fund funds surplus. The funds for subsequent 12 months additionally features a 21% enhance in transportation infrastructure {dollars} from the federal authorities.

The governor additionally despatched a letter to Legal professional Basic Daniel Cameron asking for recommendation on whether or not he ought to declare a state of emergency, which might activate the value gouging statute and additional shield Kentuckians.

Along with the chief regulation filed right now, the governor signed an government order in February that instantly stopped a rise in automobile property taxes attributable to hovering used automobile values and proposed a 1% state gross sales tax minimize that the legislature didn’t act on. He additionally wrote a letter to federal management, calling on them to droop the federal fuel tax till the top of the 12 months.

It appears as if the governor is doing every little thing in his energy to assist Kentuckians endure present inflation. These strikes should not everlasting answer, however on this state of affairs, it’s all that may be achieved, for now.

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