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Northern Kentucky incumbents ousted in legislative primary

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Northern Kentucky incumbents ousted in legislative primary


FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Three outstanding Kentucky Home Republicans had been defeated in bruising GOP primaries that mirrored rising pains inside the state’s dominant political social gathering.

A number of different incumbent GOP lawmakers efficiently fended off robust challenges on Tuesday.

The epicenter of the Republican intraparty battles was in northern Kentucky — the place the shakeups occurred. State Rep. Adam Koenig was unseated by Steven Doan. Rep. C. Ed Massey misplaced to Steve Rawlings, whereas Rep. Sal Santoro was defeated by Marianne Proctor.

Republican Senate Majority Ground Chief Damon Thayer, in sizing up the three races, stated Wednesday {that a} “libertarian-populist narrative labored in a really, very low turnout election.”

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Koenig and Massey had been committee chairmen whereas Santoro had a key position in setting transportation spending as a funds evaluation subcommittee chairman. Koenig additionally gained prominence for main the push to legalize sports activities betting in Kentucky — an effort that got here up quick once more this yr.

Incumbent GOP lawmakers fared a lot better elsewhere within the state. State Sen. Donald Douglas defeated challenger Andrew Cooperrider in a high-spending major. Different incumbents who gained carefully watched primaries included Reps. Kim King, Brandon Reed and Samara Heavrin.

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Requested to evaluate the general major season, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday stated: “What I am seeing are nastier primaries. And we have to get past nasty elections usually. I do not want among the mailers that I noticed on anyone.”

Beshear is making ready for his personal robust reelection struggle subsequent yr.

With Republicans so dominant throughout a lot of Kentucky, profitable the GOP major in lots of districts is tantamount to securing a legislative seat. It has resulted in some hotly contested races.

“I don’t see an enormous message on this major apart from it was the primary of many the place just about all of the motion of import can be in Could GOP primaries,” stated Scott Jennings, a Kentuckian and former adviser to President George W. Bush. “We’ve change into so dominant so quick, and the GOP should reckon with these inside fights for a few years to return.”

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Republican supermajorities in Kentucky’s legislature embody lawmakers characterised as business-oriented conservatives, social conservatives and libertarians. A lot of their views overlap — on such points as gun rights, low taxes and opposition to abortion. A few of this yr’s GOP primaries pitted historically conservative incumbents towards libertarian-minded challengers.

“What you are seeing is simply rising pains as a result of the Republican Occasion is rising in Kentucky,” Reed stated in an interview Wednesday on the state Capitol.

Reed, the vice chairman of the Home Appropriations and Income Committee, gained his major with almost 70% of the vote in his rural district. Reed emphasised the first victories by lawmakers aligned with the “conventional social gathering” — which he stated has reshaped Kentucky insurance policies for the reason that GOP gained complete management of the legislature after the 2016 election.

Requested if he noticed room within the social gathering for libertarians, Reed replied: “I believe there’s room within the Republican Occasion for Republicans. If you wish to be a libertarian, you most likely must go be a part of the Libertarian Occasion and run as a libertarian.”

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Whereas the losses among the many three northern Kentucky lawmakers garnered appreciable consideration, Thayer pointed to the success of different GOP incumbents in Tuesday’s legislative primaries.

“Most incumbents had been rewarded for his or her work passing lots of precedence conservative laws during the last couple of years,” Thayer stated in a telephone interview.

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Major losses by Koenig and Massey will create openings for 2 committee chairmanships. Koenig has been chairman of the Home Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Rules Committee. Massey wielded affect as chairman of the Home Judiciary Committee.

The outcomes of GOP primaries, each this yr and in probably contested primaries in coming years, may issue into the divides that generally floor within the legislature on such points as constitution colleges and whether or not to legalize sports activities betting and medical marijuana.

With Koenig’s defeat, one other lawmaker should step up as the first sponsor of laws to legalize sports activities betting in Kentucky.

“It is essential that we elect folks to all places of work that may assist us get issues performed,” Beshear stated in an interview on the statehouse. “Which are prepared to place variations apart and push ahead on key points like sports activities betting and medical marijuana. Their time has come and we have to make it possible for we’re electing individuals who imagine in them.”

Elsewhere, GOP voters settled two incumbent-vs.-incumbent primaries — the results of a brand new Home redistricting map handed because of statewide inhabitants shifts mirrored within the 2020 U.S. census.

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In western Kentucky, Rep. Jim Gooch Jr. defeated fellow Rep. Lynn Bechler. In a newly drawn jap Kentucky district, Rep. Bobby McCool defeated Rep. Norma Kirk-McCormick.

___

Related Press Author Piper Hudspeth Blackburn in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this story.



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Kentucky

3 Transfer Portal Moves: Former Kentucky QB Gavin Wimsatt Finds New Home

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3 Transfer Portal Moves: Former Kentucky QB Gavin Wimsatt Finds New Home


The snow has slowed the Commonwealth to a crawl, but the transfer portal is still moving and grooving. The dead period ended, allowing players to hit the road for another round of visits. Kentucky got a big recruiting win over the weekend when Washington State DL David Gusta signed with the Wildcats. Now a few other chips are falling in different places.

Gavin Wimsatt started his career at Rutgers. After three seasons in Piscataway, the Owensboro native moved back to his Old Kentucky Home. Now he’ll finish his college career in Conference-USA.

Wimsatt revealed on Instagram that he will spend his final year in college at Jacksonville State. He’ll be suiting up for Charles Kelly, the former Auburn defensive coordinator who was hired this offseason to replace Rich Rodriguez. I must say, the quarterback can pull off the cowboy hat.

Join KSR Plus! With a KSR Plus membership, you get access to bonus content and KSBoard, KSR’s message board, to chat with fellow Cats fans and get exclusive scoop.

EDGE Target Commits to Auburn

Kentucky lost its top three EDGE players to the transfer portal this offseason. They’ve added a pair of players, Kameron Olds and Sam Greene, but they could use one more who could provide some pass-rush pop. Chris Murray was the first big fish on the list. He visited Kentucky and three other schools prior to the dead period. After the break, he made a few more visits before the All-C-USA performer from Sam Houston State selected Auburn.

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The Cats missed on Murray, but it won’t be considered a miss if they can reel in Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace. The FCS All-American was the Missouri Valley Defensive Player of the Year after tallying 17.0 TFLs and 9.5 sacks. He visited Kentucky on Friday. USC, Mississippi State, and Wisconsin are also in the hunt for the immediate impact EDGE. If Kentucky can seal the deal, this might be their biggest win of the entire transfer portal cycle.

Former Kentucky WR to the Big Ten

Chauncey Magwood flashed during his brief stint at Kentucky. The class of 2021 signee appeared in all but one game over his two seasons in Lexington. The mid-three-star prospect from Georgia was a physical wide receiver who could play inside or outside, catching 8 passes for 121 yards, and a touchdown.

Without much playing time on the horizon, Magwood hit the transfer portal and landed at UCF. The Gus Malzahn era was regrettable for all parties involved, including Magwood. He caught just 9 passes for 142 yards in two seasons.

Rather than lingering in Orlando limbo, Magoowd hit the transfer portal again. West Lafayette is going to look a lot different than Central Florida. He’s transferring to Purdue to help Barry Odom rebuild the dilapidated Boilermakers program.





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Kentucky State Police trooper injured in crash during winter storm

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Kentucky State Police trooper injured in crash during winter storm


HART COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – Kentucky State Police say one of their troopers was injured Sunday morning in a crash during the ongoing winter storm.

Police say the crash happened along Interstate 65 in Hart County, north of Bowling Green. Snow was falling at the time of the crash.

A Kentucky State Police vehicle is involved in a crash on I-65, Sunday, January 5, 2025.(Kentucky State Police)

State Police say the trooper is receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. No other details about the crash have been released.

Law enforcement agencies across Kentucky have been asking people to stay home Sunday, as snow and ice have made many roads around the state dangerous for travel.

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5 bills Kentucky lawmakers plan to introduce in the 2025 legislative session

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5 bills Kentucky lawmakers plan to introduce in the 2025 legislative session


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Kentucky lawmakers won’t be able to file proposed bills until the next legislative session starts Jan. 7. But that hasn’t stopped them from saying what they plan to submit.

During the 2024 interim, several legislators shared draft bills they plan to file during in the 2025 legislative session. While some are bills that have been filed in previous years, others are new ideas.

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The only way to view pre-filed bills publicly is if lawmakers share their drafts on their own social media accounts, websites or as part of meeting materials for interim committees. That’s because legislation passed in 2022 removed the process of posting pre-filed bills on the Legislative Research Commission’s website.

Here’s a look at some of the bills lawmakers have shared or said are expected to appear during session.

Requiring bathrooms by ‘biological sex’

In August, Republican Rep. Matt Lockett shared draft language of a bill that would require more than a majority of restrooms in public schools be designated for a specific biological sex.

At an Interim Joint Committee on Education meeting, Lockett said the bill is a response to Fayette County Public Schools building gender-neutral restrooms with individual private floor-to-ceiling stalls at Britton Middle School.

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His draft bill would require at least 90% of restroom facilities in school buildings that serve more than 100 students be designated for “a specific sex.”

Lockett said the bill’s goal is to protect children and provide “a facility for learning where they won’t feel threatened, embarrassed or be afraid to use the restroom.”

Prohibiting some sex offenders from Halloween activities

Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, announced in October he plans to file a bill that would prohibit many people on Kentucky’s sex offender registry from participating in Halloween activities involving minors.

In the draft copy of the bill, registrants who have committed criminal offenses against minors would be prohibited from engaging in Halloween-related activities. That would include trick-or-treating, costume parties where children are present or events involving the distribution of candy to kids.

The bill would apply to 14 days before and after Oct. 31 of each year. Violating the restrictions would result in a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class D felony for subsequent offenses.

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Making fluoridation in water optional

Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, is renewing the push to make fluoridation in water optional for local districts.

The bill Hart said he plans to file again next session would eliminate the state’s water fluoridation mandate. Last year’s legislative session was the first time Hart’s bill received a committee hearing, but it didn’t make it across the finish line.

Hart said the bill wouldn’t ban the use of fluoride but would protect the state from liability related to “risks” stemming from fluoride exposure, citing data from a report released by the National Toxicology Program.

Meanwhile, prominent health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and American Academy of Pediatrics, say adding small amounts of fluoride to public drinking water helps strengthen teeth, with research showing fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25% in children and adults.

Holding parents accountable for gun violence involving minors

Republican Rep. Kim Banta, with Democratic Rep. Tina Bojanowski as co-sponsor, plans to file a bill that would hold parents and guardians accountable for gun violence carried out by a minor in their care.

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The Kentucky Lantern reported that Banta’s bill would let individuals who are hurt or threatened by a minor using a gun sue the minor’s parents or guardians. Besides killing a person, that could also include threatening someone with a gun and shooting a neighbor’s dog.

Requiring licenses for tobacco retailers

Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, is working on a bill he believes would help keep tobacco products away from minors.

At an interim committee meeting, Higdon said his bill would require licensing for all sellers of vape or tobacco products, allowing for enforcement by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The bill also would implement stricter fines and penalties for retailers who violate the law and allow ABC officers to inspect businesses without a warrant.

Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at @hpinski@courier-journal.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. 

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