Kentucky
Kentucky Senate budget short of what child care advocates say they need • Kentucky Lantern
FRANKFORT — Child care advocates applauded elements of the Kentucky Senate’s budget, unveiled Wednesday, but said lawmakers have not gone far enough to save the struggling industry.
The proposed child care spending is a “monumental investment,” said Sarah Vanover, a policy and research director for Kentucky Youth Advocates.
“We appreciate the fact that this is more than what the House had delegated, that we’re moving in the right direction,” she told the Lantern. “We can build off of what is in this budget, but it’s not there yet.”
The Senate’s budget bills cleared the Appropriations and Revenue Committee Wednesday morning and were approved 37-1 by the full Senate later in the day.
Kentucky’s child care industry — which some are working to rebrand under an “early childhood education” umbrella — is counting on a boost from the 2024 legislative session as federal COVID-19 dollars that helped stabilize the industry during the last few years are running out. This leaves many centers to cut pay for their workers, raise tuition for parents, cut services and even close.
Without help from the General Assembly, Kentucky could lose more than a fifth of its child care providers, the Lantern has reported.
The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy previously estimated that $300 million is needed to replace the federal aid that’s ending. The state Department for Community Based Services says the need at closer to $100 million.
With the state help that is proposed in the House budget — a $52 million a year increase — experts estimated 16,000 kids could lose access to child care in 2024.
With the Senate’s proposal, according to Vanover, that number is 14,000.
In his December budget proposal, Gov. Andy Beshear pitched spending $141 million over the next two years to stabilize the child care industry, as well as $172 million to begin funding universal preschool for Kentucky 4-year-olds.
What is the Senate proposing?
Charles Aull, executive director of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Center for Policy and Research, said “there’s some really good progress in the Senate budget proposal.”
“From my perspective, it looks like the Senate has worked really hard to identify … how much General Fund dollars from the state actually need to be kicked in in order to continue some of the important changes that were made to CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program) over the past couple of years,” Aull told the Lantern.
The Senate has outlined these budget lines for child care:
- $28 million annually – $21 million from the General Fund and $7 million in federal funds – in 2025 and 2026 for reimbursements to child care providers through the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). This is a decrease from what the House proposed: $40 million, and what Sen. Danny Carroll requested in his Horizons Act: $66 million, though he voted in favor of the proposal on the floor. Despite the decrease, “that piece is still much more than we’ve ever gotten,” Vanover said.
- $14.8 million annually to provide child care for child care providers. This is “one of the great things that the Senate had that the House did not,” Vanover said. Sen. Chris McDaniel, chair of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, said this was included because “the most effective program that we had seen and that we had heard about is the idea that if you’re a child care worker, we’re willing to pay for your child care.”
- $10.6 million for CCAP assistance for families at 160% of the federal poverty level. This is the same as what the House proposed.
- $2 million annually to award Innovations in Early Childhood Education Delivery Fund grants.
- $2 million annually for the Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership (ECCAP). This passed into law in 2022 and incentivizes employers to help employees pay for child care.
- $1.5 million annually to add a six-month adjustment period for families who are no longer eligible for CCAP. During that time period, those families would receive decreased benefits. This portion, McDaniel said, is to “eliminate the benefits cliff” for families.
- $1.3 million annually to cover the cost of background checks for new child care staff. This is a point Carroll requested in his Horizons Act. These required background checks can cost around $90 per person, Vanover said. After that expense, they may reveal the person isn’t eligible for employment.
“(The) reimbursement rate for CCAP is probably our top priority and that’s a large amount that is still dedicated to that,” Vanover said. “So that’s a win there as far as maintaining funding.”
It’s “hard to say” if the steps are enough to stabilize the industry this year, according to Aull.
“CCAP is one of those things that literally allows (families) to participate in the workforce and without it … they’re going to have to choose between … ‘can I find somewhere for my child to be while I’m working?’” Aull said. “Or they (are) just going to say ‘it’s just going to make more sense for me to sit out of the workforce until maybe the kid is … five, six years old, maybe in grade school.’”
Brigitte Blom, the president and CEO of the Prichard Committee, said many points in the budget are “steps in the right direction.” But, she said, there is “unfinished business” for lawmakers to address.
“We seek decisive action to transform access to quality, affordable child care with at least a $150 million per year above FY 2024 levels,” Blom said in a statement. This is “essential if we are to provide a strong start for our children and support for Kentucky’s workforce.”
“We also call for the necessary funding to support high-quality teaching and broaden access to higher education, crucial elements for measurable, long-term impact,” Blom said.
What is missing in the Senate budget for child care?
The Senate and House will come together to agree on a final version of the state budget. Vanover would like to see them maintain CCAP eligibility for families at 85% of the state median income.
Without that step, Vanover said, “we could potentially lose a lot of working families that need child care assistance.”
She would also like to see more dollars dedicated to CCAP based on enrollment instead of attendance.
“CCAP, in the past, has paid only when children are there,” she said. “Which is not how schools work. You still have to pay teachers, you still have building expenses, those kinds of things.”
The budget could still change, and the numbers could continue to fluctuate until it’s finalized.
“As (the budget) currently exists on the Senate side, it’s a good step forward,” Aull said. “This is arguably probably the largest investment in child care that we’ve seen in terms of general fund dollars. And I think that’s something that’s worth celebrating and worth noting.”
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GRANVILLE, W.Va. — West Virginia didn’t go down without its best fight Saturday night against Kentucky.
But resiliency wasn’t enough for the Mountaineers to overcome an abundance of mistakes that the Wildcats capitalized on enough to claim an 11-9 victory at Kendrick Family Ballpark, putting UK within one victory of winning the Morgantown Regional.
“For our team to bounce back and be able to tie that game showed real resiliency,” WVU coach Steve Sabins said. “These guys keep playing. Couldn’t be more impressed with the grit we showed. Didn’t play our best game. The effort and intensity was there, but overall, sloppy game.”
The Wildcats got to Mountaineer ace Maxx Yehl throughout the first inning before the Big 12 Conference Pitcher of the Year exited having recorded two outs across 36 pitches. Sabins confirmed Yehl left with an injury, but had no further update on the southpaw.
“Maxx left the game with an injury. We don’t know what that is,” Sabins said. “Haven’t talked to the trainer. At that point, trying to make decisions that are in the best interest of the team.”
Playing as the away team on its home field, the Mountaineers (40-15) went down in order against UK starting pitcher Nate Harris to start the contest.
The Wildcats (33-21) then worked to touch up Yehl in their first at bat, which leadoff hitter Jayce Tharnish working a walk after an eight-pitch battle.
Tyler Bell then reached on a Brodie Kresser error that likely otherwise would’ve been a double play, and with the bases loaded and one out, Ethan Hindle drove in two with a single to center, though Hudson Brown was thrown out at third on the play.
Braxton VanCleave followed with a two-run home run that easily cleared the right field fence, and after Yehl hit Carson Hansen with a pitch, his outing was over.
“I knew we’d have our hands fall. Sometimes to get an ace, you have to get him in the first,” Wildcats’ coach Nick Mingione said.
West Virginia’s Sean Smith got to third base with one out in the second, but the Mountaineers didn’t score, and their deficit grew to six runs in the bottom of that inning, which featured a run-scoring double from Luke Lawrence and Hindle’s fielder’s choice that brought Bell in with the sixth run.
WVU gained momentum in the third when Gavin Kelly belted a two-run home run to left.
A two-out rally in the fourth helped the Mountaineers draw closer, and it began with a Ben Lumsden single. Tyrus Hall split the gap in right-center with a run-scoring double to make it 6-3, and after Hall advanced to third on a wild pitch, he scored the Mountaineers’ fourth run via a balk.
Harris was lifted for Ryan Mullan during the inning, but he walked and hit the only two batters he faced.
Jack Sams relieved Mullan and walked Sean Smith to force in a run, though he induced an inning-ending fly ball to shallow left on a 2-0 offering to Matthew Graveline, enabling UK to preserve a one-run lead at that point.
“You can never underestimate the importance of one run,” Mingione said, “and that’s denying it or getting it.”
Armani Guzman’s leadoff walk in the fifth led to him eventually stealing third base, with the throw down on that play ending up in left field and allowing Guzman to cross the plate and tie the matchup at 6.
Kresser made a second error to start the home half of the fifth, and it loomed large when Owen Jenkins, the No. 9 hitter, connected for a two-out, two-run single off Reese Bassinger, who had struck out Caeden Cloud with the bases loaded in the previous at bat.
At the conclusion of that play, Guzman alertly chased down an errant throw that got away in the infield and fired home to Kelly, who applied a tag on Carson Hansen to prevent UK from leading by more than two runs.
“Nothing really catches him off guard,” Sabins said of Guzman.
Kelly then led off the sixth with his second home run of the game and 15th this season, allowing the Mountaineers to trail by one.
“A lot of ups and downs and it speaks volumes to our offense and whole team. We’re a resilient group of guys that are gritty,” Kelly said.
WVU got even for a second time in the seventh when Tyrus Hall doubled to right to score Guzman, who had reached on a double to start the frame.
With the game knotted at 8 in the eighth, UK reliever Jack Bennett retired Kelly, Paul Schoenfeld and Smith in order, setting the stage for UK to go back in front.
The Wildcats did exactly that in the bottom of the inning. Jenkins was hit by a pitch, stole second and moved to third on a Tharnish infield single, before Bell was also hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out.
Lawrence made Bassinger pay for the hit batsmen with a go-ahead single to right that drove in one, and left-handed Ben McDougal came on to pitch at that point, but Brown greeted him with a two-run single to right for an 11-8 lead.
“I couldn’t do it without this whole team and staff,” said Lawrence, who played through injury. “Our training staff did an unbelievable job last night and this morning with me. When I came out yesterday, every single guy in that dugout had my back and willed me through today.”
A two-out error from Cloud at third base allowed Graveline to score in the ninth and sent the tying run to the plate.
Sabins elected to have Zahir Barjam pinch hit for Hall, but he lifted a fly ball to left for the final out.
“Barjam has legitimate power and really good bat-to-ball skill,” Sabins said. “In those moments, trusting in the roles guys have been in. You’re kind of envisioning a two-run home run there.”
The Mountaineers will look to avoid elimination at noon Sunday against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons (39-20) topped Binghamton, 12-3, in the first game Saturday at Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Sabins noted the Mountaineer coaching staff would work late Saturday to develop a pitching plan for the elimination contest.
“It’s very difficult to line up for the future. It’s more about next man up and as you win games, you’re going to have some heroic performances,” Sabins said. “That was the message to the team at the end. If you haven’t had the ball a ton or you’ve been dying to be in the biggest games of the season, your time is coming so be ready for it.”
The winner will play Kentucky at 5 p.m. Sunday and would have to defeat the Wildcats twice, with the if necessary matchup scheduled for Monday at a time to be determined.
“Anytime you have a chance to maybe play one less game than your opponent it actually does matter,” Mingione said.
Kentucky finished with 12 hits and was hit by a pitch on six occasions.
Bennett was the last of five UK pitchers utilized and threw the final four innings, striking out three and issuing one walk. He allowed three runs on four hits over a 60-pitch performance.
“The biggest thing for me is I’m a pretty calm guy. I don’t get too caught up in the moment or try not to at least,” Bennett said. “Coming out of the bullpen, you have to have fire in your ass. Excuse my language, but that’s what you have to do.”
The Mountaineers totaled nine hits and drew six walks, but surrendered six unearned runs.
The nine runs are the most for WVU in any loss this season.
“When you do have that many free passes, those singles and doubles turns into runs,” Sabins said. “We made big pitches in big moments but they got big hits in big moments. It wasn’t our cleanest game.”
PENDLETON CO., Ky. — A woman was killed, and two juveniles were seriously injured Friday night in a two-vehicle crash in Pendleton County, Kentucky State Police said.
Police said troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash near the 2600 block of US-27 around 9 p.m. Friday.
Troopers found that 67-year-old Sandra Barker was driving a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox north on US-27 when she crossed the center line and struck a 2018 Ram truck that was being driven by a 57-year-old man.
Barker was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Two juveniles, who were passengers in the Ram truck, were transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Police did not say if the 57-year-old driver of the truck was injured or not.
Troopers said the investigation into the crash is in the early stages, and it’s being reconstructed by Kentucky State Police’s Post 6 in Dry Ridge.
Troopers were assisted by the Pendleton County Coroner’s Office, Pendleton County EMS, Pendleton County Fire Department, Southern Campbell EMS, Northern Pendleton Fire/EMS and AirCare.
Replay: WCPO 9 News at 6PM
Is the mint julep overhyped? See what was said at Kentucky Derby 2026.
Courier Journal’s Keely Doll and Olivia Evans asked racegoers at the 152nd Kentucky Derby if the mint julep, a derby-staple, live up to its hype.
It’s National Mint Julep Day, a celebration of one of Kentucky’s most recognizable cocktails.
The popular bourbon drink has long been tied to Louisville and the Kentucky Derby. According to Churchill Downs, about 127,000 mint juleps are served over the two-day Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend.
How to make a mint julep
Let’s Talk Derby: How to make a mint julep for the Kentucky Derby
It’s time for another ‘Let’s Talk Derby with Kathryn and Kirby’ video. Learn how to make the official drink of the Kentucky Derby: the mint julep.
How many mint juleps are served during Kentucky Derby weekend each year?
According to Churchill Downs, about 127,000 mint juleps are served over the two days of Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby weekend. This number of cocktails requires more than 10,000 bottles of bourbon, 2,250 pounds of freshly harvested mint and 475,000 pounds of ice.
The mint julep has been a traditional beverage of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby for nearly a century.
Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
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