Posted by: Ondine Quinn on June 18, 2012
Today, Rodney Ballard, Director of Corrections for Lexington-Fayette County, gave a presentation to the urban county council on a proposal to raise the booking fees and medical co-pays that inmates are required to pay.
Currently, when a person is processed into the Fayette County jail they are charged a $20 booking fee. While incarcerated, if an inmate needs to see a doctor they must pay a $5 co-pay and an additional $2.50 co-pay for prescription medications. Under this proposal, fees would increase to $35 for booking, $15 to see a doctor, and $15 for all prescriptions that cost greater than $14.99.
Posted by: Erik Hungerbuhler on June 18, 2012
If you haven't done so already, be sure to make your voice heard this week in support of clean water and full enforcement of the laws that protect our health and environment from corporate polluters.
Thursday, June 21 is the last day to send written comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking the agency to affirm its earlier objections to 36 coal-related water pollution permits.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 16, 2012
Last Wednesday the U.S. Senate rejected an attempt by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul to gut the food stamp program. The vote was 65 to 33 to table what was called the Rand Paul Block Grant amendment.
Sen. Paul's amendment was to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (S. 3240, or the Farm Bill). It would have cut program funding by 45% next year, and permanently frozen future funding with no adjustment for increases in food prices or poverty, according to the Presbyterian Office of Public Witness.
Posted by: Nancy Reinhart on June 15, 2012
Have you ever wondered just how much electricity Kentuckians could generate by using small-scale renewable energy systems, such as solar hot water heaters and home geo-thermal heating and cooling? Join us to find out!
Posted by: Ondine Quinn on June 11, 2012
Last week members of the central Kentucky chapter registered voters at the Lexington transit center. The transit center is the hub of public transportation in the city with 25 routes loading and unloading riders every 30 minutes. The transit center is a great place to meet folks and to talk to them about voter empowerment.
Posted by: Jessica Hays on June 11, 2012
We're starting to learn more about the impact of the massive budget cuts proposed and passed by Kentucky's elected leaders earlier this year.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 9, 2012
A video released by the Earth System Research Laboratory, brought to our attention by Jim Bruggers and his Watchdog Earth blog, offers a visual depiction of the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide from 800,000 years ago to 2011.
This video illustrates the alarming trend in carbon dioxide emissions in the recent past. In pre-industrial society, our atmospheric CO2 was about 278 parts per million (ppm). But from 1979 to 2011 alone, carbon dioxide has gone from 336 to 391 ppm. Since the video was produced, CO2 levels have continued to climb and are now near 400 ppm on average worldwide, and have exceeded that level in the Arctic region.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 6, 2012
Essar Minerals, an India-based company that operates Frasure Creek Mining and other subsidiaries in Kentucky, illegally buried more than two miles of streams in eastern Kentucky, according to legal action taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 6, 2012
KFTC members delivered a strong message Tuesday evening that the Beshear administration needs to be accountable for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act, and that the U.S. EPA should be allowed to do its job.
By not enforcing the law, there are serious health consequences for people who live near coal mining operations and downstream, members emphasized.
"Each time a [water pollution] permit is issued, the Beshear administration is killing citizens," testified Samantha Cole of Beattyville.
Posted by: Jerry Hardt on June 5, 2012
UPDATE, 9 pm June 6th:
Seven Kentuckians protesting mountaintop mining were arrested today in Congressman Hal Rogers' office for taking part in a non-violent a day of action called Appalachia Rising. In all, 22 citizens were arrested in congressional offices from West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Kentuckians arrested included Stanley Sturgill, Teri Blanton, Tress Spencer, Mary Love, Carey Henson and Erika Skaggs. As of a few moments ago, all have been released.
Photos and more details are available on the Facebook page of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth and at appalachiarising.org.
