Josh James / WUKY
As predicted election night in Kentucky was a good night for Republicans running for the legislature, but not so much for the Democrats. With the GOP solidly in charge of the General Assembly what does the Kentucky Democratic party do to rebound? For starters they elected Colmon Elridge the new state party chair. He s a former advisor to Governor Steve Beshear and he is the first African-American to lead the Democratic party in Kentucky. For some analysis we turn once again to Laura Cullen Glasscock, the editor and publisher of the Frankfort based Kentucky Gazette.
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Credit Josh James / WUKY
Kentucky lawmakers have given final approval to a bill to change retirement benefits for new teachers hired starting next year. Supporters say the measure would relieve some pressure on the troubled public pension plan for teachers without solving its massive unfunded liability. Opponents say the changes would become a deterrent in recruiting people into teaching. The House voted Tuesday night to send the bill to Gov. Andy Beshear. The bill would not affect teachers already enrolled in the retirement system. The bill calls for new Kentucky teachers hired starting in 2022 to be placed into a new “hybrid” pension tier.
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Recently created non-voting seats one for a public school teacher and another for a high school student are not included in the new proposed makeup of the board. The move prompted a backlash from teacher and student groups, culminating in the #SaveOurSeats campaign.
Lexington Democrat Reggie Thomas said the two groups should have a role in the decision-making process at the state level. Those constituencies ought to be represented and their voices ought to be heard because they have the most at stake when we talk about education, he said.
What the bill does mandate is proportional political and minority representation, along with generally equal gender membership, on the panel.
Credit Liam Niemeyer / WKMS
As many Kentuckians are planning to recognize the one-year mark of the death of Breonna Taylor at the hands of Louisville Metro Police Department officers, a group of Murray State University students are also working to honor her memory.
The MSU College Democrats will host a candlelight vigil Saturday at 6 p.m. in the Elizabeth Hall Amphitheater on Murray State’s campus. The group’s president, Ryan Ackermann, told WKMS the members of the College Democrats felt called to keep the spotlight on Taylor one year after her killing.
“We decided that it would be a very good thing to have a vigil for her in her memory, and honor her life,” Ackermann said.