Jess Clark
@storiesbyjess.bsky.social
430 followers 280 following 58 posts
KyCIR education reporter, former ed reporter for WFPL, WWNO & WUNC, Louisville-grown, cat mom
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Reposted by Jess Clark
joesonka.lpm.org
Great story here from @sylviaruthg.lpm.org on Kentucky using flimsy evidence to force people off food assistance 👇
sylviaruthg.lpm.org
After searching through court and state records, a pattern is clear. Kentucky swiftly stepped up SNAP disqualifications in 2016 and a review of several cases from 2020 onward shows a heavily reliance on suspicious shopping patterns to accuse people of selling benefits

apnews.com/article/food...
Kentucky has kicked people off food benefits using data that doesn’t tell the full story
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services has brought hundreds of fraud cases in the last five years that are heavily reliant on transactional data with the goal of revoking people’s federal...
apnews.com
Reposted by Jess Clark
joesonka.lpm.org
Not only is the Beshear administration once again refusing an interview, but their response here is flatly false, as there are multiple lawsuits showing they did this and multiple court rulings chastising them for doing just that.
storiesbyjess.bsky.social
Back in 2023, CFO Cordelia Hardin and Supt. Marty Pollio warned the board that if they don't raise revenue, they will have to make "decisions" to bring the district "back in line."

www.lpm.org/news/2023-08...
storiesbyjess.bsky.social
It was very cool to speak with someone who knows as much about this as Krista does. We covered a lot of ground in 26 minutes!
Reposted by Jess Clark
sylviaruthg.lpm.org
Story out from KyCIR's @storiesbyjess.bsky.social this morning: Why and how did JCPS pay for a giant billboard to thank the outgoing superintendent? Once she started asking questions, the district’s internal auditor launched an inquiry

www.lpm.org/investigate/...
Farewell note to former JCPS superintendent sparks board inquiry
Communications chief spends funds meant for West End schools on billboard thanking outgoing superintendent.
www.lpm.org
Reposted by Jess Clark
joesonka.lpm.org
Uncovered today by @storiesbyjess.bsky.social: JCPS paid for a billboard thanking outgoing Superintendent Marty Pollio with funds from a gift that leaders previously said they would spend on low-income students in west Louisville.
Farewell note to former JCPS superintendent sparks board inquiry
Communications chief spends funds meant for West End schools on billboard thanking outgoing superintendent.
www.lpm.org
Reposted by Jess Clark
sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social
A Court of Appeals panel has ruled that one of three Jewish women suing the state has standing — the right — to challenge Kentucky’s abortion ban.

“I think what we’ve got now is a very solid chance of clearing up this ambiguity in the law."

kentuckylantern.com/2025/07/15/j...
Jewish woman’s challenge of Kentucky’s abortion ban gets green light from appeals court • Kentucky Lantern
A Court of Appeals panel has ruled that one of three Jewish women suing the state has standing — the right — to challenge Ketucky’s abortion ban.
kentuckylantern.com
Reposted by Jess Clark
andreagalliano.bsky.social
The #TravelBan Hits #Louisville 🚫✈️
Over the past month, I’ve reported on how the recent travel restriction is affecting #Iranian #students at the @univeristyoflou.bsky.social —creating deep uncertainty for their #education, future, and family ties overseas.

#Iran #USA #Immigration @npr.org
storiesbyjess.bsky.social
Ok so, we do (probably) know who the board picked now thanks to Jason Nemes, and it wasn't they guy with the most community and union support on surveys.

If contract negotiations go smoothly, and Nemes is right, H. Brian Yearwood will be the next superintendent of JCPS.

www.lpm.org/investigate/...
storiesbyjess.bsky.social
This is the most #LouisvilleMedia morning ever
storiesbyjess.bsky.social
Also striking, JCTA respondents preferred "other" over finalist Brian Yearwood.
storiesbyjess.bsky.social
We don't know who the Jefferson County Board of Ed picked last night to offer a contract to be the next JCPS Superintendent, but now we know who the teachers' union and survey respondents want: Shuldiner.

www.lpm.org/investigate/...
Surveys show teachers, community overwhelmingly favor Shuldiner for JCPS superintendent
Surveyed JCPS teachers and community members prefer superintendent finalist Ben Shuldiner over H. Brian Yearwood.
www.lpm.org
Reposted by Jess Clark
joesonka.lpm.org
Dixie Demuth's bar was shut down by Louisville officials in 1968 for breaking state laws: Having a woman bartend, and having a female customer served drinks. Her legal fight overturned the law, which is now being commemorated with a historical marker downtown. From @breyakjones.bsky.social
Dixie Demuth pushed bounds of bartending. Now, Louisville cements her legacy.
When Dixie Sherman Demuth first opened her bar, women weren’t allowed to sit at the bar, much less bartend.
www.lpm.org
Reposted by Jess Clark
sylviaruthg.lpm.org
After I published this, Audtior Allison Ball (R) sued the administration, saying they are refusing to hand over records she would need to determine if the cabinet really doesn't have the cash for SB 151. Story to be update ~soon~
sylviaruthg.lpm.org
This is one of these stories with tons of disagreements (about discretionary v budgeted funds). But really it comes down to this:

As lawmakers and the administration argue over funding, kinship caregivers remain unable to access the support they are entitled to

www.lpm.org/news/2025-05...
Kentucky bill to give more support to kinship caregivers in limbo. Who’s to blame?
The Kentucky General Assembly passed Senate Bill 151 with bipartisan support. More than a year later, it still hasn’t been implemented. While the state says they don’t have the funds to implement, law...
www.lpm.org
storiesbyjess.bsky.social
For more, please check out the story, and listen for me and the Courier Journal's Krista Johnson on 89.3 FM Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning. We'll compare what we know ahead of Tuesday's public forums.

www.lpm.org/investigate/...
What we know and don’t know about JCPS’ finalists for superintendent
The search for the next JCPS leader is down to two. Here are details.
www.lpm.org
storiesbyjess.bsky.social
Neither candidate has been superintendent of a district that had an in-house transportation fleet.

Yearwood's MO district contracted out for its 200 drivers. Shuldiner's MI district did the same for its 41 buses.

JCPS' beleaguered in-house transportation dept. buses around 50,000 students a day.