DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

In comments to a Kentucky House panel, Adams bluntly urged lawmakers to “not go backwards” as he defended the law allowing three days of no-excuse, in-person early voting. Adams' remarks were aimed at a Senate bill that would end the early voting days. “I’m keeping an open mind because I never was a big fan of early voting to begin with,” he said Friday. “There’s nothing bad and everything good with the way Kentucky adopted and implemented early voting,” University of Kentucky law professor Joshua A. Douglas said in an email Friday. Adams' office said that would draw just a tiny fraction of the electorate, making it no substitution for the current three days of no-excuse, in-person early voting.

Persons: Michael Adams, Adams, “, Kentuckians, ” Adams, Donald Trump, Republican Sen, John Schickel, Schickel, ”, it's, Damon Thayer, cosponsors, Andy Beshear, Beshear, Joshua A, Douglas, — “, — Organizations: —, Bluegrass State, Kentucky House, Republican, GOP, Senate, Democratic, ” University of Kentucky Locations: FRANKFORT, Ky, — Kentucky, Kentucky, Trump, “ Kentucky, ” “ Kentucky

The lawsuit was filed in January on behalf of 13 Christian, Jewish and Unitarian Universalist leaders who support abortion rights. It seeks a permanent injunction barring the state from enforcing its abortion law, and a declaration that provisions of the law violate the Missouri Constitution. The law makes it a felony punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison to perform or induce an abortion. Their lawsuit specifically highlights the Jewish teaching that a fetus becomes a living person at birth and that Jewish law prioritizes the mother’s life and health. In Kentucky, three Jewish women sued, claiming the state’s ban violates their religious rights under the state’s constitution and religious freedom law.

Persons: Louis, Roe, Wade, Brennan, “, Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, Eric Schmitt, Mike Parson, Nick Schroer, ”, Barry Hovis, — Organizations: LOUIS, Unitarian Universalist, Brennan Center for Justice, Pro, Republican, Americans United, & State, National Women’s Law, Rep, Hoosier, Choice Locations: Missouri, ” Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Kentucky

But few outsiders are confident that the off-year wins will necessarily lead to Biden’s reelection or broader Democratic success next year. And Ohio Democrats don't expect Biden to compete in the state next year. To Biden aides, the results validated the strategy of sharpening the contrast with “MAGA Republicans” that helped Democrats outperform expectations in 2022. At the Chicago fundraiser, Biden noted that Beshear won reelection while “running on all the programs that were Biden initiatives.”Beshear kept some distance from Biden the day after he won. Jim Messina, who managed Barack Obama’s successful reelection against Republican Mitt Romney in 2012, said the Biden campaign does not need to change its tactics.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, romped, Donald Trump, Republican overreach, ”, Nina Turner, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Turner, John Yarmuth, he's, “, ” Yarmuth, Yarmuth, Biden’s, “ We’ve, ” Julie Chavez Rodriguez, they’re, “ MAGA, “ MAGA Republicans ”, Tuesday's, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Cameron, Cameron's, Beshear, ” Beshear, it’s, Dan McCaffery, Glenn Youngkin, Jim Messina, Barack Obama’s, Republican Mitt Romney, Obama, ” Messina, Nikki Haley, Romney, Messina, “ you’re, Ro Khanna, Bernie Sanders ’, ” Khanna, Ed Rendell, Rendell, ” Rendell, Zeke Miller, Emily Swanson, Bruce Schreiner Organizations: WASHINGTON, Associated Press, Democratic, Republican, Biden, Trump, “ MAGA Republicans, White, Chicago, Virginia, statehouse, Republican Gov, ” Locations: Chicago, Kentucky , Virginia , Ohio, Pennsylvania, Ohio, an Ohio, Ky, Kentucky, Kentucky’s, ”, Washington, Frankfort , Kentucky

☆ Suburbs Were Democratic Turf on Tuesday. What About in 2024?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Jonathan Weisman | More About Jonathan Weisman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Abortion was dominant; suburban voters outside Ohio’s biggest cities voted overwhelmingly to establish the right to an abortion in the state’s constitution. Kentucky’s incumbent Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, who ran hard on abortion rights and kitchen-table issues like infrastructure spending, won not only Jefferson County, home to Louisville, and Fayette County, home to Lexington. He also beat his Republican challenger, Daniel Cameron, in Kenton and Campbell Counties, once reliably Republican redoubts across the Ohio River from Cincinnati. “The Republican Party has to modernize its message on this issue if we’re going to convince Democrats and independents to cross over and vote Republican. This time, she said, some of the same parents recoiled from Republican efforts to ban books with L.G.B.T.Q.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Glenn Youngkin’s, Danica Roem, “, ”, John Whitbeck, Roe, Wade, Heather Williams, recoiled Organizations: Democratic, Republican, Campbell Counties, Democrat, Virginia General, State Senate, Democrats, Republican Party of Virginia, Republican Party, Democratic Legislative, Committee Locations: Ohio’s, Jefferson County, Louisville, Fayette County, Lexington, Kenton, Campbell, Ohio, Cincinnati, Virginia, Loudoun County, Washington, ”

Andy Beshear won reelection to Kentucky’s highest office Tuesday by improving upon the path to victory he carved in his successful 2019 bid. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesAlso key to Beshear’s victory were the seven swing counties Trump won in 2020 with less than 60% of the vote. He won 10 of the 21 counties Trump won with 60% to 70% of the vote, up from 6 counties in 2019. He also prevailed in 11 of the 89 counties Trump won with more than 70% of the vote, up from nine counties in 2019. Twenty-one of the counties Beshear carried Tuesday were ones that he not only carried in 2019 but that his father also carried twice.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Beshear, Matt Bevin, cobbling, Donald Trump, Daniel Cameron, Cameron, Jefferson, Joe Biden, Biden, Franklin, Bevin, Steven Beshear, Ernie Fletcher, Andy Beshear’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, — Democratic, Republican, Democratic, Trump, Oldham, Kentucky Democrats, Beshear Locations: Fayette, Jefferson, Lexington, Louisville, Franklin County, Frankfort, Kenton, Warren, Kentucky

The political potency of abortion rights proved more powerful than the drag of President Biden’s approval ratings in Tuesday’s off-year elections, as Ohioans enshrined a right to abortion in their state’s constitution, and Democrats took control of both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly while holding on to Kentucky’s governorship. The night’s results showed the durability of Democrats’ political momentum since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and ended the constitutional right to an abortion in 2022. It may also, at least temporarily, stem the latest round of Democratic fretting from a series of polls demonstrating Mr. Biden’s political weakness. Here are key takeaways from Tuesday:There’s nothing like abortion to aid Democrats and Biden. Democratic officials have been saying for months that the fight for abortion rights has become the issue that best motivates Democrats to vote, and is also the issue that persuades the most Republicans to vote for Democrats.

Persons: Biden’s, Roe, Wade, Biden Organizations: Virginia General, Democratic, Wisconsin Supreme, Biden Locations: Tuesday’s, Virginia, Wisconsin

Another off-year election, another good night for Democrats – a rejoinder to a spate of recent polls showing alarming 2024 prospects for President Joe Biden. In Election Day’s marquee contests – the Kentucky gubernatorial race, Virginia’s legislative elections and a pro-abortion-rights ballot measure in Ohio – Democrats notched victories. Beyond that, “the real test was Trump’s ability to move voters in a state race,” Cross says. Tate Reeves won a second term – though the race was relatively close for a deep red state. In the secretary of state race, incumbent Michael Watson, a Republican, outran Reeves by more than 8 points in defeating Democrat Ty Pinkins.

Persons: Democrats –, Joe Biden, Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Kentucky’s, Beshear, Biden, Cameron, Glenn Youngkin, ”, Roe, Wade, Beshear’s, Al Cross, Cross, “ I’m, Rich Meagher, Youngkin, “, Paul Beck, Daniel McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio, Larry Ceisler, Micah Rasmussen, Rider, –, Tate Reeves, Democrat Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Reeves, Democrat hasn’t, Presley, Jim Hood, “ Reeves, Steve Rozman, Donald Trump’s, Reeves “, ” Rozman, Republican Russell Coleman, Pamela Stevenson, Michael Adams –, Buddy Wheatley, Lynn Fitch, Democrat Greta Kemp Martin, Michael Watson, outran Reeves, Ty Pinkins, Mark Brewer Organizations: Democrats, Kentucky gubernatorial, Democratic, Republican, GOP, University of Kentucky’s Institute for Rural Journalism, Macon College, Senate, Republicans, Ohio State University, Rebovich Institute for New, Democrat, Public Service Commission, Mississippi, College, University of Maine Locations: Ohio, Kentucky, In Virginia, Letcher, Perry County, Hazard, Breathitt County, Jackson, Virginia, Randolph, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, ”, New Jersey, Jersey, Rebovich Institute for New Jersey, Mississippi, Maine

Voters in Ohio will decide on enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, as well as legalizing recreational marijuana use. Will voters in Ohio back abortion rights? Beyond abortion, the most watched initiative will be, again, in Ohio, where voters will decide whether cannabis should be legalized for recreational use. That could put pressure on Congress to move forward legislation at least to ease restrictions on interstate banking for legal cannabis businesses. Texans will also decide whether to raise the mandatory retirement age of state judges to 79, from 75.

Persons: Biden’s, Donald J, Trump, Biden, Glenn Youngkin, Youngkin, Daniel Cameron, Andy Beshear, Steve Beshear, Beshear, Roe, Wade, Frank LaRose, Thomas E, Dobbs, Jackson, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Presley’s, Brett Favre, Reeves, I’ve, Mr, Presley, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Warren of Organizations: New York Times, Democratic, Republican, State Senate, Republicans, —, Supreme, Affordable, Mississippi Public Service Commission, Texans, Liberal Locations: Ohio, Ohio , Kentucky, Virginia , Mississippi, Siena, Virginia, Kentucky, Richmond, Kansas, Mississippi, Dobbs v, Nettleton, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts

☆ Election Day 2023 Voters to Offer Clues on Abortion Politics and 2024 in Off-Year Election Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Neil Vigdor | Sarah Baird | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Voters in Ohio will decide on enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, as well as legalizing recreational marijuana use. Will voters in Ohio back abortion rights? Even in deeply Republican states like Kansas, voters have overwhelmingly supported abortion access. Beyond abortion, the most watched initiative will be, again, in Ohio, where voters will decide whether cannabis should be legalized for recreational use. If voters agree, Ohio would become the 24th state to legalize marijuana.

Steve Beshear – faces Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a protege of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In Mississippi, Republican Lynn Fitch is seeking a second term against Greta Kemp Martin, the litigation director of Disability Rights Mississippi. Democratic attorney Lindsey Cheek won the other runoff slot by taking 23% of the all-party primary vote. In Mississippi, Republican incumbent Michael Watson is seeking a second term and should easily defeat Democrat Ty Pinkins. She will face Democratic attorney, accountant, and small business owner Gwen Collins-Greenup, who finished second in the primary.

Persons: — it’s, Kentuckians, Andy Beshear, Jeff Landry, Beshear, Steve Beshear –, Daniel Cameron, Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s, He’s, Cameron, Tate Reeves, Brandon Presley, Elvis Presley, Presley, Reeves, Democrat hasn’t, Jim Hood, Glenn Youngkin’s, Winsome Sears, Youngkin, Phil Murphy, Democratic Sen, Robert Menendez, Joe Biden, Max Baer, Carolyn Carluccio, Daniel McCaffery, Donald Trump, wouldn’t, Roe, Wade, Ohio’s, Sen, Bernie Sanders of, Janet Mills, Russell Coleman, McConnell, Pamela Stevenson, Republican Lynn Fitch, Greta Kemp Martin, Fitch, Liz Murrill, Landry, Lindsey Cheek, Michael Adams, Buddy Wheatley, Adams, Michael Watson, Ty Pinkins, Shuwaski Young, Young, Kyle Ardoin, Nancy Landry, Gwen Collins, Greenup Organizations: Democratic Gov, Democratic, Republican, Gubernatorial, Gov, Lean Democratic, Republican Gov, Public Service Commission, Democrat, Mississippi, Public, Impact Research, Lean Republican, State Legislative, Virginia, GOP, Senate, Republicans, House, George Mason University, Assembly, , New Jersey Republicans, Pleas, Superior Court, Ohio, Sierra Club, AFL, of Commerce, Avangrid Inc, Trump, Air Force, Disability Rights Mississippi, State, Iraq Locations: Mississippi, Virginia, Republican . New Jersey, Garden, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, In Kentucky, Republican Mississippi, U.S, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Washington, New Jersey, , New Jersey, Montgomery County, In Ohio, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Massachusetts, Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, State Kentucky, In Mississippi

☆ Mike Johnson tests his new power with risky gambit on Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —New House Speaker Mike Johnson is already tying Washington in new partisan knots. Johnson surprises by picking Israel funding as his first test of credibilityJohnson’s hard ball play on Israel funding came as a surprise given that some of the urgency for ending the speakership impasse last week was to swiftly clear a funding package following the Hamas attacks. The Biden administration on Tuesday formally threatened to veto the House GOP’s standalone Israel aid bill. The inclusion of the offsets could indicate that Johnson needs to placate his most hardline members even to pass a measure as popular as Israel funding. Some other Senate conservatives are also at odds with their leader, backing the decoupling of Israel and Ukraine aid.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Biden’s, Mitch McConnell, McCarthy, McConnell, Johnson, ” Beth Sanner, “, Biden, ” Sanner, Johnson’s, ’, Jared Moskowitz, ”, “ I’m, Marjorie Taylor Greene of, Rashida, Greene, George Santos, McConnell –, Donald Trump, –, Vladimir Putin, don’t, Rand Paul, he’s, ” Paul, CNN’s Manu Raju, Chuck Schumer, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Putin, ‘ I’m Organizations: CNN, New, Washington, Republican, Republicans, stoke, Internal Revenue, GOP, Louisiana Republican, Democratic, Senate, National Intelligence, Central ”, White, Israel, National Republican, Extreme, Democrats, Jewish Democrat, “, GOP Rep, Democratic Rep, Democrat, New York Rep, titans, Taiwan, New York Democrat, US, NATO Locations: Israel, Louisiana, Ukraine, China, Russia, Washington, Gaza, Florida, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Palestinian American, Michigan, Kyiv, Kentucky, United States, Moscow, Iran, Tehran, Baltic

Andy Beshear defended his sweeping COVID-19 pandemic restrictions as he faced an onslaught of criticism from Republican challenger Daniel Cameron in a high-stakes debate Monday night, coming about two weeks before Kentucky's closely watched gubernatorial election. The bitter rivals sparred over the economy, education policies, abortion and transgender issues during the hourlong debate shown statewide on Kentucky Educational Television. Democrats say that was a strategic omission meant to mask his support for school choice measures they say would weaken public education. Each candidate touted his plan for public education during the debate. Beshear has proposed an 11% pay raise for teachers and other public school personnel, including bus drivers, janitors and cafeteria staff.

Persons: Andy Beshear, Daniel Cameron, Kentucky's, Cameron, sparred, Beshear, ” Cameron, overreach, Donald Trump’s coronavirus, haven't, “, ” Beshear Organizations: Republican, Kentucky Educational Television, GOP, Beshear, ” Education, Bills, Kentucky, splintering Republican Locations: Kentucky

☆ These redistricting fights could determine which party controls the House
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Fredreka Schouten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Before the court action, Alabama – which is 27% Black – had only one Black-majority congressional district out of seven seats. The case is expected to land before the all-Republican state Supreme Court, where DeSantis appointees hold most seats. A separate federal case in Georgia challenges the congressional map on constitutional grounds and is slated to go to trial next month. UtahThe state Supreme Court, in a case it heard in July, is considering whether it even has the authority to weigh in on map-drawing decisions by the GOP-controlled state legislature. Advocacy groups and a handful of voters are challenging a congressional map that further carved up Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County between four decidedly Republican districts.

Persons: “, ”, David Wasserman, Amy Walter, Wasserman, Adam Kincaid, Kincaid, it’s, Nick Seabrook, –, John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Ron DeSantis, Al Lawson, Steve Jones, Jones preliminarily, Andy Barr, Amy McGrath, Barr, Kareem Crayton, Brennan, Gabe Vasquez –, Chris Cooper, Jeff Jackson, Wiley Nickel, Kathy Manning, Don Davis, Valerie Foushee –, Davis, Roy Cooper, Nancy Mace, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Republicans, The, Republican, Black, National Republican Redistricting Trust, University of North, House, US, Gov, Black Democrat, Georgia Republicans, – Democratic, Congressional, Republican –, GOP, Louisiana Republicans, Appeals, Brennan Center for Justice . New, Brennan Center for Justice . New Mexico Republicans, New, New York Republicans, North Carolina, Democrats, Western Carolina University, Foushee, North, Democratic Gov, Supreme, Republican Rep, House GOP Locations: North Carolina, New York , Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, New York, University of North Florida, America, Louisiana, Florida, Black, North Florida, Atlanta, Peach, . Kentucky, Kentucky, Frankfort, Democratic, Brennan Center for Justice . New Mexico, New Mexico, Mexico, Empire, “, Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, state’s, Carolina, Charleston, Utah, Salt Lake County, Salt, Texas, Tennessee

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Keeneland has announced plans to build a paddock and enhance the saddling paddock to expand viewing and improve safety for horses and spectators. The project, estimated at nearly $93 million, has already received preliminary approval for incentives up to $23.2 million from the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, a Wednesday news release from the historic track stated. It will be Keeneland’s largest capital project since its 1936 opening and the first since the library was built in 2002. Construction on the three-level paddock building will begin in January after its all-ages horse sale, with completion scheduled for fall 2025. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesNew jockey quarters will allow fans to view riders walking through before each race, the release added.

Persons: Shannon Arvin, ”, ” Arvin, Andy Beshear, ” Beshear, ___ Organizations: Keeneland, Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority, Kentucky Gov, “ Locations: LEXINGTON, Ky, Kentucky

☆ What you need to know about Europe’s bedbug panic
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Blane Bachelor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“Since I am a dermatologist and I post a lot on my clinic account, I thought it would be nice to post a reel on bed bugs,” she told CNN Travel. “I was like, ‘I find that very hard to believe’,” Starkey told CNN Travel. Yet in Belgium, doctors in Antwerp are “sounding the alarm” about the spread of bedbugs from Paris, according to The Brussels Times. Colleen Oakley, a bestselling novelist in Atlanta, told CNN Travel she would “absolutely not travel” to Paris right now based on her “awful” experience with the creepy crawlies in 2006. It sounds silly to have panic attacks over bugs, but they are really invasive critters.

Persons: Zeina Nehme, bedbugs, Nehme, “, ” Cynthia Starkey, Starkey, texted Starkey, she’d, ” Starkey, Mikayla, I’m, ’ ” Starkey, ” Zach DeVries, ” DeVries, Stella McCartney, Marc Piasecki, Emmanuel Macron’s, Paris Emmanuel Grégoire, Aurélien Rousseau, bedbugs ”, hasn’t, Sadiq Khan, ”, Joe Rominiecki, I’ve, Richard Pollack, Pollack, Paris –, Apple bedbugs, “ Bedbugs, –, Naomi Campbell, “ bedbugs, Colleen Oakley, Oakley Organizations: CNN, City, CNN Travel, Paris, University of Kentucky’s, bedbugs, Fashion, French, Monde, Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance Party, French Health, France Inter, Eurostar, French Agency for Food, Occupational Health, Safety, Entomological Society of America, Harvard Campus Services, Apple, NL Times, Brussels Times, Air, World Health Organization, telltale, American Academy of Dermatology Association, Travelers, Orkin Locations: Paris, London, City of, Beirut, Lebanon, Phoenix, Europe, France, New York, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Antwerp, bedbugs, Air France, Orkin Canada, Atlanta, New, West Village

☆ Analysis: House speaker crisis is a symptom of historic Republican divisions
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Harry Enten | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But whether or not the House Republican majority elects a new speaker anytime soon is irrelevant. Much of the recent discussion over House Republican divisions tries to frame it along the right-left ideological spectrum. Those who voted against McCarthy are more conservative, on average, than the GOP at large – and this is a very conservative House majority. Are people willing to line up behind the compromises House GOP leaders have made with Democrats to keep the government going? It’s no surprise then that we’re dealing with a House GOP leadership fight that seems more fitting of an Aaron Sorkin script than the real world.

Persons: Dusty Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, It’s, McCarthy, Chip Roy, What’s, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz, Donald Trump, yearned, Trump, Kentucky’s Thomas Massie, Massie, Bill Clinton, Aaron Sorkin Organizations: CNN, Democrat, Republicans, Republican Rep, South, Republican, GOP, Voteview, Trump, NBC, Democratic Locations: South Dakota, Washington, Congress

Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron tried pushing national politics to the forefront of the governor's race in GOP-trending Kentucky, while Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear played up the state's record-setting economic growth under his leadership as the rivals squared off at a forum Thursday. But the challenger spent much of his time blasting away at Biden in hopes of eroding support for Beshear. The Republican-led legislature revamped the state’s tax code last year to gradually phase out individual income taxes while extending the state sales tax to more services. But the sharpest exchanges came as Cameron tried to nationalize the race.

Persons: Daniel Cameron, Andy Beshear, Cameron, Beshear, Joe Biden, I’ve, ” Cameron, Donald Trump's, “, ” Beshear, It's, Matt Bevin, Biden, Dylan Lovan Organizations: Democratic Gov, Democratic, Biden, Beshear, Republican, GOP, Washington , D.C, Associated Locations: Kentucky, Paducah, Mayfield, Washington ,, Louisville, Ky

Hadley Duvall, the Kentuckian shown in the ad, sounded unmoved by Cameron’s expression of empathy, responding: “It wasn’t really to share my story just with him. It should be their choice.”The ad went viral after its release last month, putting the debate about abortion exceptions at the forefront of the Kentucky governor's race. In the ad, Duvall talks about having been raped by her stepfather when she was 12 years old. Beshear has denounced the near-total abortion ban as extremist, pointing to the lack of rape and incest exceptions. Duvall said Tuesday that she sees Cameron's support of the current ban as untenable.

Persons: Daniel Cameron, Cameron, ”, Andy Beshear's, Hadley Duvall, ” “ Daniel Cameron, Roe, Wade, Joe Biden, Biden, I‘ve, ” Cameron, Beshear, Duvall, “, “ Hadley, I’ve, —, “ It’s Organizations: —, Democratic Gov, Kentucky, Supreme, Beshear, Democratic, GOP, Medicaid, Courier, Associated Press Locations: LOUISVILLE, Ky, U.S, Kentucky, “ Hadley ”, Owensboro

☆ Analysis-New anti-ESG rule in Missouri offers US Republicans another path away from 'wokeness'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

(Reuters) - A new Missouri securities rule offers a template for Republican U.S. state officials who want to advance an “anti-woke” business agenda even as such ideas struggle for legislative backing. Ashcroft acted after Republican lawmakers failed to pass a similar measure during the state’s legislative session that ended on May 12, amid infighting over which bills should be prioritized. Concerns over costs, bureaucracy and economic fallout led to bills stalling or passing in weakened form even in so-called red states, where Republicans dominate state government. Several corporate attorneys said other Republican officials may adopt Ashcroft’s playbook and act on their own. According to a spokesperson, Ashcroft initiated the rulemaking before the legislative session began, essentially as a backup plan in case lawmakers did not act on the same idea introduced in January.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, John “ Jay ” Ashcroft, Ashcroft, “, ” overreach, Ashcroft’s, ”, Beth I.Z, Boland, Lardner, Larry Fink, ’ Ashcroft, ” Ashcroft, can’t, Dan Mehan, Lance Dial, Chuck Gray, West, Ron DeSantis, Walt Disney Organizations: Reuters, Republican U.S, REUTERS, Merriam, Webster, Strategy, “, Foley, Republicans, Morningstar, BlackRock, state’s, Representatives, Republican, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, Missouri, Florida Locations: Missouri, Appleton City , Missouri, U.S, Boston, Wyoming, ESG

☆ Judge Blocks Kentucky’s Transgender Care Ban for Minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Anna Betts | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The NewsA federal judge temporarily blocked part of a Kentucky state law from taking effect that would ban the prescription and administration of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender people younger than 18. The judge said the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their challenge to the law on constitutional grounds. The preliminary injunction was issued Wednesday afternoon by Judge David J. Hale of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. It comes almost two months after the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven transgender children and their parents. Judge Hale, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama in 2014, said in his ruling that, based on the evidence, the treatments barred by the law “are medically appropriate and necessary for some transgender children” according to major medical organizations.

Persons: Judge David J, Hale, Judge Hale, Barack Obama Organizations: U.S, Western, of, American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky Locations: Kentucky, of Kentucky

☆ Ford’s Battery Joint Venture to Get $9.2 Billion Government Loan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Jack Ewing | Clifford Krauss | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ford Motor and its battery manufacturing partner will receive a $9.2 billion loan to build three battery factories in Kentucky and Tennessee, the Department of Energy said Thursday. The loan is the single biggest financial commitment the Biden administration has made in its effort to build an electric vehicle manufacturing network in the United States. The loan will go to a joint venture created by Ford and its partner SK On called BlueOval SK that will supply batteries for electric Ford and Lincoln cars and trucks. By helping to finance battery factories, the administration hopes to ensure that the United States does not become dependent on China for batteries and their components. The other two factories are in Glendale, Ky., south of Louisville, and will employ more people than Kentucky’s coal industry.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Ford Motor, Department of Energy, Ford, SK, BlueOval SK, Lincoln Locations: Kentucky, Tennessee, United States, Southern, China, Stanton, Tenn, Memphis, Glendale, Ky, Louisville

☆ Bob Huggins Resigns From West Virginia After Drunken Driving Charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Claire Fahy | Santul Nerkar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Last month, Huggins was disciplined after he used a homophobic slur twice and mocked Catholics on a local Cincinnati radio program. Huggins, who coached at the University of Cincinnati from 1989 to 2005, was charged with drunken driving in Ohio in 2004 and pleaded no contest. In 38 seasons as the head coach at Akron, Cincinnati, Kansas State and West Virginia, he led his teams to 26 N.C.A.A. But a national title has eluded Huggins, who has the most wins of any coach to never cut down the championship nets. “Coach Huggins devoted himself to his players, to our student body, to our fans and alumni and to all West Virginians,” the statement read.

Persons: Huggins, “ Columbus, “, ” Huggins, Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp, Jim Calhoun, ” Organizations: West Virginia University, University of Cincinnati, Division, Akron, Akron , Cincinnati , Kansas State, West Virginians Locations: Pittsburgh, ”, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Cincinnati, Akron , Cincinnati , Kansas, West Virginia

☆ Ally of Mitch McConnell Wins G.O.P. Primary for Kentucky Governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Craft, who belongs to one of the biggest Republican megadonor families in the country, was well behind Mr. Cameron. Republicans have long viewed Mr. Cameron as a potential political star who could join the next generation of the party’s leaders. Mr. Cameron turned to the general election in his victory speech. The party holds supermajorities in the Legislature, making it difficult for the governor to wield much power without a veto. Yet that dynamic has allowed Mr. Beshear to avoid contentious showdowns with Republicans on hot-button issues and has let him focus on using state resources to help repair infrastructure and improve the economy.

☆ A Hostile, Under-the-Radar Primary Splinters Republicans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Nick Corasaniti | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“A celebrity versus the resources versus old school,” said Scott Jennings, a Republican operative in the state, summing up the contest between the three top contenders. “Cameron is the front-runner, but there’s no doubt this race has gotten close and remains fluid,” added Mr. Jennings, who like many other Republicans has remained neutral. Indeed, many of the major forces in Kentucky Republican politics are staying on the sidelines. For Republicans, part of the challenge of defeating Mr. Beshear has to do with the G.O.P. Yet that has kept Mr. Beshear from contentious showdowns with Republicans on hot-button issues, and has let him focus on using state resources to help repair infrastructure and improve the economy.

☆ Premarket stocks: The FDIC could ask big banks to clean up $23 billion mess
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

While regional and mid-sized banks are behind the recent turmoil, it appears that large banks may be footing the bill. Ultimately, that means higher fees for bank customers and lower rates on their savings accounts. The law also gives the FDIC the authority to decide which banks shoulder the brunt of that assessment fee. Passing it on: Regardless of who’s charged, the fees will eventually get passed on to bank customers in the end, said Isaac. In 2021, Wall Street was estimated to be responsible for 16% of all economic activity in the city.

Search resuls for: "Kentucky’s"

25 mentions found