Unemployment bill clears House -- Businesses might pay higher taxes

By Stephanie Steitzer, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

The House passed a measure Monday that would increase taxes on businesses and cut benefits for jobless workers as a way to shore up the state's unemployment insurance trust fund.
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Medicaid, while caring for more, faces big budget challenge

By Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

As the economy has worsened in the past two years, Kentucky's Medicaid rolls are rising faster than at any other time in the past decade, adding poor, disabled and low-income people at the rate of 3,400 a month.
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Bill would let schools teach Bible literacy

By Jack Brammer, Lexington Herald-Leader

Three Democratic state senators are pushing a proposal to give public schools the option of teaching the Bible as an elective social studies course. Read More

Senator seeks review of U of L health care affiliates

By Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal (Louisville)

Sen. Tim Shaughnessy has asked the state auditor to review the University of Louisville's dealings with related nonprofit entities, particularly its financial transactions with two having to do with health care. Read More

Payday lending bill hits snag in House

By Beth Musgrave, Lexington Herald-Leader

A measure that would cap interest rates on all short-term loans at 36 percent might never get a hearing in the Democratic-controlled House, despite the backing of Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear. Read More

Insight to launch Kentucky-themed channel

By Scott Sloan, Lexington Herald-Leader

Insight Communications, cable provider for Lexington and other parts of Kentucky, plans to launch a cable television channel this spring that focuses on the Bluegrass State. Read More

Witness -- Clay judge helped buy votes for his wife

By Bill Estep, Lexington Herald-Leader

The current circuit judge in Clay County put up cash to buy votes for his wife in Manchester city council races, a federal witness testified Monday. Read More

Gov. Steve Beshear (D)
Elected: November 2007
Term expires: December 2011

	State capital: Frankfort
	State nickname: The Bluegrass State
	Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo (D)
	Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R)
	Attorney General Jack Conway (D)
	Senate President: David Williams (R)
	House Speaker: Greg Stumbo (D)

The seventh annual Hal Hovey Award was presented Feb. 3 to Marc Perrusquia, an enterprise and investigative reporter for The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis Tenn. The award is made jointly by Stateline.org, which is part of the Pew Center on the States, and Governing Magazine for outstanding coverage of state and local government.

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Kentucky daily news roundup

Unemployment bill clears House -- Businesses might pay higher taxes

Medicaid, while caring for more, faces big budget challenge