As the federal government shutdown enters its fourth week, Kentucky families are growing increasingly concerned about how they’ll put food on the table.
"We can't get wrapped up in the media blowing this out of proportion," said Sen. Danny Carroll, while also acknowledging that "there is no question" it's still a problem. "Right now, until we can get this solved, the focus has got to be the offices themselves and what's happening there."
Kentucky's Republican auditor is embroiled in a dispute with Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear's administration over access to a database that tracks the state's efforts to assist its most vulnerable citizens.
Up until now, foster parents were ineligible if they didn't meet a minimum number of hours they worked "outside the home."
Senate Bill 242 would cost $165 million and include building at least three new facilities and collaboration between the Department of Juvenile Justice, judges and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in assessing where children should be housed.
Children held in lockdown for weeks at a time, defecating in their cells, having their medicine withheld, being put in illegal restraint holds as staffers falsified incident reports to hide the suffering. These are the claims made in a lawsuit against the Adair County Youth Detention facility.
People are using card skimmers to steal from Electronic Benefits Transfer cards.
Tiffanie Lucas remains behind bars on a $2 million bond.
CHFS said the kids are the most severe cases in the foster system, predominantly teenage boys.
State lawmakers passed more than 170 bills during the 2023 legislative session and many go into effect June 29.