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The answer to Kentucky’s housing crisis is finding unique solutions

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Hopping from one sofa to a different with only a handful of garments on his again, John longed for someplace to name ‘house.’ Till one name modified his life without end.

Final yr, John was related to the help and sources that finally led to significant employment and stability he hadn’t skilled in years. 

He was gifted secure housing that included dwelling necessities like utilities, furnishings, and cleansing provides.

The decision that modified John’s life was to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Protect Medicaid’s Empowerment Staff, a statewide group of devoted people that connects Medicaid members to sources and packages locally, just like the Housing Flex Fund – a $300,000 funding established by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Protect that connects Kentuckians to housing options.

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Extra:How a Louisville chef is popping donated meals into frozen meals for folks in want

This essential work is on the coronary heart of all the pieces we do.

John’s story isn’t an remoted incident. He’s certainly one of numerous others who’re dwelling day-to-day, couch-by-couch. 

At a time when our cities, our state and our nation are grappling with an absence of attainable housing, we should discover workable, distinctive options to the issue. And the Housing Flex Fund is strictly that.

Within the U.S., greater than 580,000 folks will expertise homelessness on any given day. In Kentucky, the speed is simply as alarming: greater than 4,000 Kentuckians will expertise homelessness, in accordance with america Interagency Council on Homelessness.  

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No neighborhood has been spared. Cities, suburbs, and rural areas throughout the Commonwealth have all been impacted. 

To make issues worse, the Nationwide Low Revenue Housing Coalition experiences that Kentucky has a 77,000-unit scarcity of inexpensive housing, leading to over 60 % of low-income households in our state priced out of those choices. 

Everybody deserves secure, safe and secure housing. We all know that equitable entry to housing helps folks dwell more healthy lives, forestall power sickness, hold their jobs, and construct brighter monetary futures. 

Extra:Why Louisville picked this small nonprofit to function a sanctioned homeless camp

Within the six months since its launch, the Housing Flex Fund has offered practically $70,000 in monetary help to these in want. Nonetheless, greater than financial help, these funds have offered hope. 

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Secure housing is sort of actually the muse that results in more healthy, longer lives. Nonetheless, nobody individual or one program can remedy the rising housing disaster. It requires a collaborative effort, and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Protect is on the forefront of main that cost.

We’re dedicated to serving to others discover hope sooner or later by working in live performance with our neighborhood companions and investing in additional options. 

For extra data on the Housing Flex Fund, please go to anthem.com or comply with alongside at fb.com/AnthemBlueCrossBlueShield. The Housing Flex Fund builds on a number of latest neighborhood initiatives. So far, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Protect Medicaid has pledged $160,000 to enhance well being outcomes for Kentuckians experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness. 

Leon Lamoreaux is the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Protect Medicaid President in Kentucky. 



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Kentucky

La Grange woman wins $60,000 on Kentucky Lottery scratch-off ticket

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La Grange woman wins ,000 on Kentucky Lottery scratch-off ticket


(LEX 18) — The Kentucky Lottery announced that a La Grange woman recently won the top prize of $60,000 on a scratch-off ticket that was purchased at Fast Lane Liquor in La Grange on Oct. 30.

Officials detailed that Rose Richie won the prize after she purchased a $5 Mood Money Scratch-off and won on all 15 spots on the ticket. This resulted in the $60,000 top prize win.

“I kept going and saw another $4,000 and another $4,000,” Richie said. “When I saw the whole board, I knew I hit the $60,000.”

Richie went on to call her husband in excitement, officials said.

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“I was having an anxiety attack,” she said. “I told him, “Honey, please come home, I’m nervous. I’m making sure my eyes are seeing right.”

The following day, Richie headed to the lottery headquarters and received a for $43,200 after taxes while the liquor store that sold the winning ticket will receive $600.

“I’ve been praying for a little nest egg,” she said. “This will help us stay ahead.”





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Looking at the rollout of the Kentucky medical cannabis program

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Looking at the rollout of the Kentucky medical cannabis program


FRANKFORT, Ky. (WSAZ) – Voters in dozens of cities and counties across Kentucky voted in favor in November to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate in their communities.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said there’s been “an overwhelming support” behind medical cannabis.

The statewide program will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Office of Kentucky Medical Cannabis.

The issue passed in all 53 counties, and 53 cities that had medical cannabis local questions on the ballots allowed those businesses to operate in their areas, Beshear said.

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In a team Kentucky briefing, Gov. Beshear said,” We saw overwhelming support at the polls for our new system of medical cannabis … meaning every citizen in every part of Kentucky that it is time and they want to see the option in their community.”

Counties that take no action via ordinance and ballot initiative are automatically opted in to allow medical marijuana businesses, as are cities in such counties, according to the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis.

Beshear signed medical cannabis use into law for people who have certain medical conditions in 2023.

The window to apply for a medical cannabis business license was July 1 through Aug. 31. During that time, the Office of Medical Cannabis received 4,998 applications, of which 918 were cultivator and processor applicants.

In Boyd County, L&O Legacies, a tier I cultivator, and Bijal Kentucky LLC., a processor, were amongst the 26 applicants selected through a lottery basis in October for medical cannabis business licenses. Click here

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The available categories included 10 Tier I cultivator licenses, four Tier II cultivator licenses, two Tier III cultivator licenses, and 10 processor licenses.

A total of 48 dispensaries will be awarded licenses in late November and December through a lottery drawing basis.

Each county will get one dispensary except Jefferson and Fayette, which will get two each.

To qualify for a medical cannabis card starting Jan. 1, 2025, the holder must have a qualifying medical condition, which includes any type or form of cancer regardless of the stage; chronic, severe, intractable, or debilitating pain; epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder; multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity; chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome that has proven resistant to other conventional medical treatments; and post-traumatic stress disorder. For more information visit, kymedcan.ky.gov.

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Every Northern Kentucky city voted to allow medical cannabis operations this election. What happens next?

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Every Northern Kentucky city voted to allow medical cannabis operations this election. What happens next?


KENTON COUNTY, Ky. — In a strong show of support, 106 Kentucky cities and counties voted to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate where they live during this November’s election.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear made the announcement during a Nov. 7 Team Kentucky update.

The list includes 10 Northern Kentucky cities: Alexandria, Bellevue, Crestview Hills, Elsmere, Florence, Independence, Ludlow, Southgate, Union and Wilder.

“This signals what we have known for a long time, which is that the jury is no longer out on medical cannabis,” Beshear said. “Kentuckians want their families, friends and neighbors who have serious medical conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis or PTSD to have safe and affordable access.”

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The ample demand for medical marijuana business is met with a low supply of operating licenses, Bellevue Mayor Charlie Cleves said.

“I mean, we are a tiny little piece of this great big puzzle,” Cleves said. “The odds are against us getting it. We’re so tiny and we had so few applications compared to cities like Covington [and] Newport.”

Cleves said voters in his city approved the ballot measure by about three-to-one.

“I was surprised at the amount it passed in Bellevue,” he said. “Some of the residents that I speak to are dead bang against it … a lot of the younger people think of it as a good thing. So I just tell them whatever happens, happens.”

Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis

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A state-run lottery for processor and cultivator licenses has already taken place, with zero licenses issued to businesses in Boone, Kenton or Campbell counties. Kentucky has two more lotteries scheduled this year to deal out dispensary licenses.

The first dispensary lottery, scheduled for Nov. 25, will draw license winners in nine of Kentucky’s 11 medicinal cannabis regions, including the Northern Kentucky region.

Each region will be awarded four licenses, with a limit of one dispensary license per county.

The Northern Kentucky region is comprised of the following counties: Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton.

That means out of 395 businesses that applied in the Northern Kentucky region, only four will receive licenses.

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KY REGIONS

Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis

The second lottery will take place on Dec. 16 for Louisville, the Kentuckiana Region, and Lexington, the Bluegrass Region. Due to their size, the counties located within the regions, Jefferson and Fayette counties, will receive an additional two licenses each.

Before medical marijuana operations commence, cities are responsible for creating zoning regulations to make way for (or not allow) those types of businesses to run.

“I think it’s a long shot we’re going to get a business,” Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman said. “We are neither advocating nor trying to deter businesses.”

Reinersman said zoning changes are already in the works, thanks to a “model ordinance” drafted by the Planning and Development Services of Kenton County.

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He said the Independence City Council will hold a second reading of the ordinance during its Monday meeting.

“Assuming it passes, we’ll have the zoning in place Jan. 1,” he said.

Reinersman said Independence will review its employment policies too.

“For our 50-plus city employees — particularly, we have police officers and that’s a concern there — we want to make sure we have those bases covered,” he said. “We’re working with other cities and the Kentucky League of Cities [on that].”

According to the Office Of Medical Cannabis, those who apply for a medical marijuana card must be a Kentucky resident, have no disqualifying felony offenses and be diagnosed with at least one of the following medical conditions:

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  • ​Any type or form of cancer;
  • Chronic or severe pain;
  • Epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorder;
  • Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity;
  • Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome and;
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Kentucky will begin accepting applications for cards on Jan. 1, 2025. Before applying, those seeking a card must get a “written certification for medical cannabis from an authorized medical practitioner,” according to the Office Of Medical Cannabis.





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