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Big win: Judge rejects deals between Kentucky officials and coal company

Posted by: KFTC staff on November 24, 2014

The Franklin Circuit Court on Monday issued two long-awaited orders rejecting settlement deals between the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and Frasure Creek Mining arising from the coal company’s thousands of violations of the Clean Water Act from 2008 through 2011.

In extraordinarily vigorous language, Judge Phillip Shepherd said that due to the coal company’s actions, “The inherent danger of the violations at issue here to the environment is impossible to determine based on Frasure Creek's wholesale abdication of its monitoring and reporting responsibilities, and the cabinet's inability to fully investigate the environmental harm that is likely to have occurred.”

“Since October 2010, we have been in the courts to see that the law be enforced in the state of Kentucky,” said Ted Withrow, a member of KFTC's Litigation Team. “These rulings by Judge Shepherd serve to enforce that right of the people."

In 2010, Appalachian Voices, Kentucky Waterkeeper Alliance, Kentucky Riverkeeper, KFTC and several individuals made public more than 20,000 violations of the Clean Water Act from 2008 to 2010 by Frasure Creek and a second coal company, International Coal Group (which later settled out of court). Under the law, these violations could be subject to hundreds of millions of dollars in fines. On the 57th day, the cabinet and Frasure Creek entered a proposed consent agreement that included only 1,520 violations and combined fines of just $310,000.

Building power for KFTC and for Kentucky: KFTC PowerBuilders

Posted by: George Eklund on November 18, 2014


We are our own best hope for change in Kentucky. We have a vision of the Kentucky we want to create and how to get there. Hardworking Kentuckians share their hopes and dreams every day in laundromats and coffee shops, over kitchen tables and on front porches. How do we share our visions for Kentucky in an intentional way with our friends and families?

Thanks for helping build a Healthier Democracy in Ky!

Posted by: KFTC staff on November 4, 2014

The polls in Kentucky are getting ready to close. As we await the election results we want to say THANKS for the incredible work done by KFTC members, volunteers, short-term voter empowerment organizers and staff over the past few months. With your help we are building a healthier democracy in Kentucky.

KFTC and Berea College team up for candidate forum

Posted by: KFTC Staff on October 31, 2014

Madison chapter celebrates 10 years of grassroots work

Posted by: KFTC Staff on October 30, 2014

Madison County KFTC members gathered in Berea on October 25 to celebrate the chapter’s 10th birthday, share a potluck, enjoy live music and take silly photos.

The annual Friendraiser was a chance to not only reflect on the past year’s work but also celebrate the good work of the chapter’s first 10 years.

'After Coal' forums connect mining communities across globe and bring out local candidates

Posted by: Lillian Prosperino on October 27, 2014

On October 7, KFTC’s Letcher County Chapter paired with Appalshop in Whitesburg and the After Coal project of Appalachian State University, to host a public community forum on economic transition, and a local candidate meet and greet reception.

The evening reception began with informal conversation among the 80 guests and several candidates for local office, including the mayor of Whitesburg and a few city council candidates. Mair Francis, founder of the DOVE Workshop, and Hywel Francis, a Labour Member of Parliament for Aberavon, Wales, traveled all the way to Whitesburg in order to discuss policies on sustainable community development in Wales and Appalachia. This was Mair and Hywell's first visit back to east Kentucky since sharing their experiences as the opening session of Appalachia's Bright Future conference in Harlan last year.

Be the Change: Sign up to help build power this fall

Posted by: KFTC Staff on October 24, 2014

Be the Change!

This Fall KFTC is PowerRaising: registering, educating and empowering voters; developing a statewide network of community leaders; and inviting people to invest in Kentucky’s bright future. With more voters, members, leaders, and the resources to fund these efforts, we can build the Kentucky we want to call home.  

We are Kentuckians. We are our best hope for change.  

That’s you. All of us together investing in KFTC and in Kentucky.

We CAN make a difference by (click on the link):

Getting Involved

Creating a personal fundraising (PowerBuilder) page

Donating, joining or renewing your membership

For more information, reach out to KFTC Development Associate JoAnna House at [email protected] or 502-532-1286.

Act now to cast an absentee ballot in November election

Posted by: KFTC staff on October 22, 2014

Take action NOW if you need to vote absentee in Kentucky

If you are registered to vote in Kentucky but won’t be able to get to your polling location on Tuesday, November 4, you need to act NOW to cast an absentee vote, either in person or by mail, in the upcoming election. We recommend in-person if you can manage that.

Paradise Waitin': A John Prine Hootenanny Benefitting Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Posted by: Beth Howard on October 22, 2014

For the second year in a row, folks gathered for a good, old fashioned hootenanny to the tune of John Prine at Paradise Waitin’: A John Prine Hootenanny benefitting Kentuckians For The Commonwealth on Saturday, October 11th at Willie’s Locally Known in Lexington. 

UntitledLocal bands paid tribute to folksinger and songwriter John Prine by putting their own touch to his songs all night. The event was sponsored by Willie’s Locally Known, WUKY, and West Sixth Brewing CompanyParadise Waitin' 2.

Folks packed the house and loved the event. KFTC member Katie Goldey was excited to come out again this year. “This is the kind of stuff that makes me proud to be from Kentucky . . . being able to hang out with great people who really care about one another and the community, topped off with buckets of fabulous music. It was a simply wonderful night to be a part of!”

Local musicians who performed were Pulse, Bear Medicine, Blind Corn Liquor Pickers, Burton Joyner, Egon Danielson, Carla Gover, Warren Byrom and the Fabled Canelands, Zen Highway, The Jar Flies, and the DeBraun Thomas Trio. West Sixth took over the taps and created a special Paradise Waitin’ pale ale with New Zealand hops. KFTC member and musician Ray Smith organized the bands and the event for the second year running. 

 The Central Kentucky Chapter raised more than $3,000 and recruited 23 new members at Paradise Waitin' and are already planning next year's hootenanny. 

KentuckyElection.org has been updated for the November 4 election!

Posted by: Erik Hungerbuhler on October 14, 2014

KFTC's voter guide website has been updated with new information about candidate stances, voting locations, key links and other information to help you cast an informed vote in the election on Tuesday, November 4. We've surveyed candidates running for the U.S. Senate and House, state legislative races, and local races in Louisville, Lexington, Danville, Berea, Richmond, Georgetown, Newport, Florence, Covington, Bowling Green and more!

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