CN|2 Politics

Facing an “uncertain” future, the Kentucky coal industry now views electricity customers in India and China as its primary market for the future, coal officials told Kentucky lawmakers at Tuesday’s Program Review and Investigations Committee. Coal production in Kentucky has steadily declined since 1990 from 173 tons of coal mined to 105 million tons in 2010, according to a report presented Tuesday by the Legislative Research Commission. The total haul in 2010 was the smallest amount mined in Kentucky since... Read more 

Western Kentucky is suffering from extreme drought conditions this summer which has all but depleted the region’s corn crop. The drought will have profound economic effects because of the importance of corn across food and energy sectors, as Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer pointed out. Tripp Furches, owner of Furches Farms in Calloway County just outside of Murray, has seen first hand what the hot weather has done. Furches, who has farmed for 30 years, said it’s the worst drought... Read more 

MAYFIELD – House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Stumbo, wasn’t shy about his support for the president Saturday, telling supporters at the annual Graves County Democratic Breakfast that he’s voting for President Barack Obama and Kentuckians should do the same. Republicans pounced on that almost immediately. Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said to Stumbo in his Fancy Farm speech four hours later that House Democratic candidates will “appreciate you being here for the president.” And House Republican Leader Jeff Hoover of Jamestown told... Read more 

While many of the big name Democrats are skipping the Fancy Farm picnic Saturday, it was the Republican roster that was thin on the Friday night pre-Fancy Farm dinner. The expected headliners — U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Hopkinsville, and Agriculture Commissioner James Comer — both got delayed and didn’t make it to the Republican chicken dinner in Calvert City. Whitfield’s plane was delayed in Washington and Comer got stuck in Graves County leaving Republican Party Chairman Steve Robertson as the... Read more 

Friends and associates of Geoff Davis expressed surprise and concern after Davis resigned from Congress yesterday — five months before his term ended. Davis, who was not seeking re-election, announced his resignation Tuesday saying that “a family health issue has developed that will demand significantly more of my time to assist. Davis added, “as a result, I cannot effectively fulfill my obligations to both my office and my family. Family must and will come first.” On Wednesday, three Northern... Read more 

The U. S. Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Republican Thomas Massie for Congress in Kentucky’s 4th district. Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said in a letter to Massie, “we believe that your election to the U.S. House of Representatives will help produce sustained economic growth, help create more jobs, and get our country back on track.” Donohue added “we will encourage the business community to vigorously support your candidacy.” This comes after Massie received... Read more 

Echoing themes from eariler public meetings of the governor’s tax reform commission, Northern Kentuckians on Tuesday night called for more tax money for education and tax credits to spur business growth. The commission, formed this year by Gov. Steve Beshear and led by Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson, listened as 44 educators, business leaders, and common citizens voiced their concerns and made suggestions at the meeting on Northern Kentucky University’s campus. This was the fourth such public meeting following sessions in Paducah,... Read more 

The Kentucky Right to Life Political Action Committee endorsed Thomas Massie for Congress in Kentucky’s 4th District. The Kentucky Right to Life Association serves as the umbrella organization for local Right to Life Chapters. David Bauscher, chairman of the Kentucky Right to Life Political Action Committee, said in a letter to Massie that the group will encourage its thousands of members in the 4th District to vote for him over Democrat Bill Adkins. “I believe every human being has an inalienable right... Read more 

President Barack Obama on Monday ripped the tax cut proposal of his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, during a speech in Cincinnati, which is as close as Kentucky will likely get to this year’s presidential campaign. The tax talk dominated most of the president’s remarks before he took questions from the audience, which even included quizzing the president about his favorite girl scout cookies — an answer that draw a boo from at least one person. (see the last video in... Read more 

Former state representative and Whitley County school teacher Dewayne Bunch has died. Bunch suffered a serious brain injury while attempting to break up a fight between two students in the Whitley County High School cafeteria on the morning of April 12, 2011. The 50-year old math and science teacher was knocked unconscious after he caught a punch and his head hit the floor . Bunch remained in critical condition and spent many months in rehabilitation facilities in Atlanta, Georgia and... Read more