Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

'Modest but vital’ help for low-income Kentuckians takes a hit • Kentucky Lantern

1 2

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: Data shows ICE arrests are surging in Kentucky, and local jails are playing a key role.

Between inauguration day in January and the end of July, Kentucky saw 1,293 ICE arrests. That’s a 37.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

1 7 6

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 5d

More about these cuts: kentuckylantern.com/2025/10/01/m...

Low-income Kentuckians getting assistance through the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program will get less help starting in November.

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 5d

This one-third cut to vital cash benefits for Kentucky’s poorest kids and families is unacceptable, especially in a time of spiking household costs.

'Modest but vital’ help for low-income Kentuckians takes a hit • Kentucky Lantern

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 5d

More details on these cuts here: kentuckylantern.com/2025/10/01/m...

Low-income Kentuckians getting assistance through the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program will get less help starting in November.

Congressional health care fight is about making life affordable • Kentucky Lantern

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 6d

Read about in our latest op-ed: kentuckylantern.com/2025/10/02/c...

Health care costs keep many working families awake at night. Americans want their government to solve that problem, not make it worse.

1 2

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 6d

The government shut down because Congress and the president refuse to cancel cuts that will cause insurance premiums to skyrocket for thousands of Kentuckians.

With families paying higher prices for groceries, housing and more, keeping health care costs down is essential.

1 4 7

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 8d

The extension of enhanced premium tax credits, which make health coverage more affordable for millions of Americans, are at the center of the shutdown debate.

If they're allowed to expire, costs on kynect will explode. ⬇️⬇️⬇️

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 13d

Life is expensive enough without health care costs exploding even more. Congress has a chance to stop this and it should.

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 13d

Here's the @kff.org calculator these numbers come from: kff.org/interactive/how-much-more-would-people-pay-in-premiums-if-the-acas-enhanced-subsidies-expired

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 13d

Life is expensive enough without health care costs exploding even more. Congress has a chance to stop this and it should.

Reposted by KyPolicy

Jason Bailey @jbaileyky.bsky.social · 14d

The typical KY school district increased teacher pay by only 2% this year, with 40 districts providing no raise at all. Inadequate state funding kept districts from gaining ground on eroding teacher salaries, which are 20% below inflation-adjusted 2008 levels 1/2

1 1 7

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 14d

NEW: In most Kentucky school districts, educators received little to no raise this year, despite everyone's cost of living going up.

Inadequate state funding is at the root of this problem, which is why lawmakers should reinvest in public education in the next budget.

Costs on Kentucky’s Health Insurance Marketplace Will Explode Without Quick Action From Congress - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 15d

NEW: Premium costs on kynect will skyrocket soon unless Congress acts.

Changes in the OBBBA and the failure to extend subsidies will double premiums for some Kentuckians and make marketplace coverage too expensive for 18K people. Most will become uninsured.

kypolicy.org/aca-marketpl...

For the nearly 100,000 Kentuckians who signed up for plans on kynect this year, premium costs are on track to skyrocket.

Kentucky Is Now a Casino State: Slot Machine Gambling Surpasses $10 Billion Annually, But at What Cost? - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

2 1

Reposted by KyPolicy

Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 23d

Very thorough(bred?) report on how Kentucky is now a big casino state, which are taxed very small.

Kentucky has rapidly become a casino state as legalized slot machine gambling has proliferated across the bluegrass in recent years. With 13 facilities now operating thousands of slot machines, the am...

Kentucky Is Now a Casino State: Slot Machine Gambling Surpasses $10 Billion Annually, But at What Cost? - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

5 9 27

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 23d

Read more about it: kypolicy.org/kentucky-is-...

Kentucky has rapidly become a casino state as legalized slot machine gambling has proliferated across the bluegrass in recent years. With 13 facilities now operating thousands of slot machines, the am...

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 23d

Money bet on Kentucky slots each year is now more than quadruple the amount bet through the state’s lottery.

But the lottery returns significantly more funding to the state.

1 1

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 23d

NEW: For the first time, wagering on Kentucky slot machines has topped $10 billion.

They're popping up everywhere and Churchill Downs now makes far more from slots than racing.

But the state isn't benefitting like it should due to a tax rate that's far lower than other states.

1 1

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 23d

NEW: For the first time, wagering on Kentucky slot machines has topped $10 billion.

They're popping up everywhere and Churchill Downs now makes far more from slots than racing.

But the state isn't benefitting like it should due to a tax rate that's far lower than other states.

New Census Data Shows Slight Improvement in 2024 Poverty and Incomes In Kentucky, But Recent Federal Budget Law Threatens to Move State Backward - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 26d

NEW: U.S. Census data shows slight improvements in poverty rates and median household income in Kentucky, but harmful federal legislation threatens that progress.

Our breakdown: kypolicy.org/new-census-d...

Census data shows slight improvements in poverty rates and median household income, but harmful federal legislation threatens that progress.

KY public school advocates want $718 million ‘investment,’ but Republicans are skeptical • Kentucky Lantern

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 27d

Kentuckians believe in taking care of each other, especially our kids.

One of the best ways to do that is by prioritizing our families by ensuring the success of our schools.

Kentucky Lantern @kentuckylantern.com · Sep 8

Public education advocates are asking Kentucky’s General Assembly to invest $718 million more in the state’s schools.

@mckennahorsley.bsky.social

kentuckylantern.com/2025/09/08/k...

Public education advocates are asking Kentucky’s General Assembly to invest $718 million more in the state’s schools.

For the Same Cost as a Half-Point Income Tax Cut, Kentucky Could Meaningfully Reinvest in Public Education - Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 29d

Tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit the rich are a choice.

Instead, our leaders could choose to put $718m into public education and prioritize our kids.

Read the report here: kypolicy.org/kentucky-rei...

Investing $718 million into public education would allow Kentucky to make up for years of disinvestment and improve education across the commonwealth.

Don’t listen to politicians who say Big Beautiful Bill will save Medicaid | Opinion

1 2

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · 29d

Our latest report makes the case for a new, robust commitment to public education in the next state budget.

For the same cost as income tax cuts passed 3 of the last 4 years, KY could begin making up for years of disinvestment and strengthen schools across the commonwealth.

1 2 5

Reposted by KyPolicy

National Health Law Program @nhelp.bsky.social · Sep 8

👏 Shoutout to @KyVoices4Health & @kypolicy for pushing back and making sure people know what’s at stake: our health care, our hospitals, and our communities. ✍️ Emily Beauregard @KyVoices4Health & Dustin Pugel @kypolicy.bsky.social

Read more ➡️ www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-e...

OpEd: The Big Beautiful Bill weakens Medicaid, straining our healthcare infrastructure, reducing access, and driving up costs for everyone.

www.kentucky.com

4 8

KyPolicy @kypolicy.bsky.social · Sep 5

It is time to bring an end to the wrong-headed goal of eliminating the state’s income tax, a policy that overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy.

Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · Sep 5

Kentucky tax revenues fell $7.5 million short of what was needed in the past fiscal year to trigger cutting the state's individual income tax to 3% in 2027. #kyga26

Kentucky barely misses budget trigger for income tax cut in 2027

Kentucky tax revenues fell $7.5 million short of what was needed in the past fiscal year to trigger cutting the income tax to 3% in 2027.

www.lpm.org