Latest news with #AndyBeshear
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration pushes states to exclude immigrant students from in-state tuition
Texas let undocumented young people qualify for in-state college tuition for 24 years. President Donald Trump convinced the state to unravel the policy in a matter of hours. Since returning to the White House, Trump's Justice Department has launched legal challenges against laws in Texas, Kentucky and Minnesota that allow undocumented students to pay the tuition rate reserved for state residents. That price can often be half of what out-of-state students are responsible for. Discounting tuition for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children has a long bipartisan history. Texas' law was signed by Republican then-Gov. Rick Perry and 23 red and blue states, plus the District of Columbia, followed, a political mood that's now reversing: Florida repealed its 2014 in-state tuition law this February. There are about 408,000 undocumented students representing less than 2 percent of those in college. The Justice Department argues these tuition laws unfairly offer a benefit to foreigners that is unavailable to U.S. citizens and legal residents living in a neighboring state. The legal offensive to roll back these laws, which is poised to spread, serves as another sign of how thoroughly the second Trump administration is going about enacting the president's promise to discourage illegal immigration and promote 'self-deportation.' 'This was something that used to not be political,' Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, said of the in-state tuition policies for undocumented students. 'It was the idea that if this is the only country you've ever known, that more than likely you will be here your entire life, and we should want you to be educated and productive.' But Kentucky's Republican attorney general, Russell Coleman, sided with Trump this summer, urging the state's council on postsecondary education to 'withdraw its regulation rather than litigate what I believe will be, and should be, a losing fight.' Texas, the first state the DOJ targeted with a lawsuit this year, ended its policy in coordination with the White House. The maneuver came after Attorney General Ken Paxton entered into a joint motion with the Justice Department, agreeing that providing in-state tuition to undocumented students wasn't constitutional. 'In-state tuition for illegal immigrants in Texas has ended,' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott wrote in a post on X last month. The policies are crumbling at a time when college enrollment — and the tuition dollars it brings in — fell about 15 percent between 2010 and 2021, according to the National Center for Education Statistics' most recent report. The math is also looking complicated for many schools because the State Department could impose restrictions on international student enrollment, and there is an overall decline in the number of high school seniors. But the Trump administration said states have created laws that favor undocumented students over U.S. citizens. 'Under federal law, schools cannot provide benefits to illegal aliens that they do not provide to U.S. citizens,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement to POLITICO. 'The Justice Department will relentlessly fight to vindicate federal law and ensure that U.S. citizens are not treated like second-class citizens anywhere in the country.' About 119,000 undocumented students are protected under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, which spurred in-state tuition laws for these students and received bipartisan support for years. Now, many Republicans are turning against such policies. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) introduced the Florida bill in December that eventually ended the tuition break while serving in the state Legislature. He said the laws Trump is challenging amount to incentives for immigrants to cross the border. 'It's immoral to give in-state tuition to someone who shouldn't even be in America,' Fine said in an interview. 'Think about it. A Georgian who wants to go to Florida State is paying more to go to a Florida institution than a foreigner. It's just not right to do and that's why we cleaned it up in Florida. It's time for illegals to go home.' The Florida repeal took effect in July, prompting concern from education advocates who say the legislation could result in Florida institutions losing nearly $15 million in tuition and fees from potential drops in enrollment. In Texas, advocates say more than $461 million annually is at stake. 'What I know for certain is that a significant number of students are living with anxiety,' said Manuel Gonzalez, vice chair of the Austin Community College Board of Trustees, which is suing over Trump's challenge against Texas. 'Not just about how they're going to afford college, but how are they going to navigate an increasingly more hostile political climate that often vilifies their existence.' The National Immigration Law Center, alongside a host of organizations including the ACLU of Texas and Democracy Forward, are seeking to defend the Texas policy, challenging both the outcome and the process that led the state to gut its law. Education advocates argue that making college more expensive is hardly a deterrent for undocumented immigrants looking for a better life for their families. 'Nobody from Guatemala or Mexico starts googling and thinking, 'What state should I move to so that after my child finishes their education, they'll be able to get in-state tuition to a college?'' said Gaby Pacheco, president of The which advocates for DACA students' college education. The policies remain alive in more than 20 states, including California, New York, Kentucky and Minnesota, but opposition from Republicans is rising. A bill to block 'undocumented noncitizens' from accessing Minnesota's North Star Promise program, which makes college tuition free for state residents whose families make less than $80,000 a year, moved through the statehouse during the previous legislative session. Roughly 500 students a year qualify for in-state tuition in Minnesota under the state's Dream Act. The Trump administration's challenges stem from the president's April executive order that directed agencies to crack down on policies that benefit undocumented people and deemed in-state tuition laws illegal. On Wednesday, the Education Department announced five new probes into University of Louisville, University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Miami, University of Michigan and Western Michigan University, arguing that their scholarships for undocumented students are discriminatory. If Kentucky and Minnesota fold alongside Texas, other states could be vulnerable to the administration's efforts, immigration experts fear. 'Just as Texas was the first state to pass a Dream Act in 2001, later inspiring 23 other states and the District of Columbia to pass similar laws, this wrongful and undemocratic repeal of the law is now being pushed as a blueprint to undemocratically end in-state tuition, militarize college campuses and persecute students in other states,' Juan Jose Martinez-Guevara, Texas advocacy manager of the nonprofit United We Dream, said at a Tuesday press conference. Immigration advocates say there is supposed to be a legal carveout specifically for DACA students that allows them to pay in-state tuition rates, but confusion over the law has some Texas colleges charging those students the out-of-state rates. A DOJ spokesperson declined to comment on whether DACA students should be considered exempt. The number of DACA students is dwindling — both because of the program's 2007 arrival cutoff and legal challenges from the first Trump administration and others seeking to end it — but the president's actions could have long-lasting consequences, political analysts say. Trump's legal challenges contradict earlier promises to 'work with the Democrats on a plan' — as he noted in December — for Dreamers. That dissonance might cost Republicans some of the votes Trump received in 2024, particularly from independents and Hispanic Americans, said Brendan Steinhauser, an Austin-based political consultant who's worked with Texas Republicans such as Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Dan Crenshaw. 'He definitely did really, really well with Hispanic Americans, especially in South Texas and other places,' Steinhauser said. 'But he's not running for reelection. So, he may just think, well, it doesn't matter what his approval numbers are.' Steinhauser also insisted the president's legal challenges are in line with his larger crackdown on immigration. 'It's symbolic, yes, but it's all real,' he said. 'And it's having an impact, I believe, in the same way that these raids are having an impact on incentives.' Elena Schneider contributed to this report. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nebraska Dems hosting Beshear, possible 2028 presidential candidate
Gov. Andy Beshear speaks to reporters in Louisville. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) LINCOLN — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is coming to Nebraska to speak to Democrats for the state party's top annual fundraising event in November. Beshear is a Democratic governor in a deeply red Republican state. He and other 2028 potential presidential hopefuls visited South Carolina in recent weeks, to test the water for their campaign messages. He was picked to lead the Democratic Governors Association into next year's midterm elections and has been touted as 'most popular Democratic governor in America.' Beshear was attorney general of Kentucky before becoming governor in 2019. His father was previously governor. National Democrats have been seeking answers as President Donald Trump made gains among working-class voters, including minority voters, last year. A trend of prominent Democratic figures making their way to the heartland has emerged, and some are crossing the Missouri River from traditionally first-in-the-nation Iowa into Nebraska. Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders launched his 'Fighting Oligarchy' nationwide tour in Omaha. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz hosted a Democratic town hall earlier this year And Former Texas U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke is having a similar town hall in Omaha next month. The events with prominent Democratic figures appear aimed at energizing the Nebraska Democratic base for the midterms and come when two federal races could be competitive. Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District has drawn national attention as its single presidential race electoral vote has swung from Republicans to Democrats in recent years, most recently to former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. Nebraska could regain the national spotlight in 2026, with an open seat race in the state's 2nd District for the U.S. House and Dan Osborn's nonpartisan Senate bid against Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts. Both races could determine which party controls what parts of Congress. But Nebraska Democrats face an uphill battle in a state where Republicans outnumber Democrats about 2 to 1, Republicans have gained a legislative supermajority, and the party last held a congressional seat with former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford in 2017. Nebraska Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nebraska Examiner maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Aaron Sanderford for questions: info@
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska Dems hosting Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, possible 2028 presidential candidate
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during the Semafor World Economy Summit 2025 at Conrad Washington on April 23, 2025 in Washington, DC. () LINCOLN — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is coming to Nebraska to speak to Democrats for the state party's top annual fundraising event in November. Beshear is a Democratic governor in a deeply red Republican state. He and other 2028 potential presidential hopefuls visited South Carolina in recent weeks, to test the water for their campaign messages. He was picked to lead the Democratic Governors Association into next year's midterm elections and has been touted as 'most popular Democratic governor in America.' Beshear was attorney general of Kentucky before becoming governor in 2019. His father was previously governor. National Democrats have been seeking answers as President Donald Trump made gains among working-class voters, including minority voters, last year. A trend of prominent Democratic figures making their way to the heartland has emerged, and some are crossing the Missouri River from traditionally first-in-the-nation Iowa into Nebraska. Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders launched his 'Fighting Oligarchy' nationwide tour in Omaha. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz hosted a Democratic town hall earlier this year And Former Texas U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke is having a similar town hall in Omaha next month. The events with prominent Democratic figures appear aimed at energizing the Nebraska Democratic base for the midterms and come when two federal races could be competitive. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District has drawn national attention as its single presidential race electoral vote has swung from Republicans to Democrats in recent years, most recently to former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. Nebraska could regain the national spotlight in 2026, with an open seat race in the state's 2nd District for the U.S. House and Dan Osborn's nonpartisan Senate bid against Republican U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts. Both races could determine which party controls what parts of Congress. But Nebraska Democrats face an uphill battle in a state where Republicans outnumber Democrats about 2 to 1, Republicans have gained a legislative supermajority, and the party last held a congressional seat with former U.S. Rep. Brad Ashford in 2017. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Kentucky Horse Racing & Gaming Releases New Logo
Kentucky Horse Racing & Gaming Releases New Logo originally appeared on Paulick Report. Kentucky Horse Racing & Gaming (KHRG), responsible for the regulation of horse racing, pari-mutuel wagering, sports wagering, breed integrity and development, and charitable gaming in the Commonwealth, is pleased to announce the launch of its first logo. The logo features a horse within the gold and black initials KHRG and the tagline: Kentucky's Safe Bet.'Horse racing is essential to Kentucky and our economy, and I'm excited to see the industry continue to grow and succeed for generations to come with the support of Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming,' said Gov. Andy Beshear. In 2024, the Kentucky General Assembly established KHRG as an independent, de jure municipal corporation and political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. KHRG, accountable to the Governor, the General Assembly, and Kentuckians, is to be managed in a manner that enables the people of the Commonwealth to benefit from its actions and to enjoy the best possible racing and gaming logo, designed by BCH Agency in Louisville with the assistance of KHRG staff leadership, Board Chair Jon Rabinowitz, and Board Member Michael Berry, honors the past and looks toward the future of KHRG. 'In designing the new Kentucky Horse Racing & Gaming logo, we wanted to capture the organization's boldness, pride and excitement for the gaming industry,' said Brian Garr, partner and creative director at BCH Agency. 'Integrating the horse within the initials pays tribute to their roots in, and continued commitment to, Kentucky horse racing – while its sleek, modern style demonstrates confidently stepping into the future of gaming opportunities. We then underscored the mark with the tagline, Kentucky's Safe Bet – a promise that integrity, safety and excellence are the everyday standard of KHRG.' In calendar year 2024, KHRG oversaw more than $13.2 billion in pari-mutuel and sports wagers. Taxes on pari-mutuel wagering and sports wagering support the Commonwealth and its horse industry with money going to breed development funds, equine drug research, higher education and training, aftercare, problem gambling assistance, the Kentucky permanent pension fund, and Kentucky's General Fund. The Office of Charitable Gaming, which joined KHRG on July 1, 2025, reported more than $1.3 billion in gross receipts for Kentucky's licensed charitable gaming organizations in calendar year 2024. This resulted in more than $93 million to their charitable purposes.'This is an exciting day as it signifies a new era for horse racing and gaming in the Commonwealth,' Berry said. 'I am grateful to Governor Beshear for the opportunity to serve on the KHRG Board, and I was delighted to participate in this process. I am proud of the results, and we look forward to continuing to serve the horse racing, breeding, and gaming communities, and the wagering public in Kentucky.' This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FOP president calls out reactions from Greenberg, Beshear on Hankison sentencing memo
The president of River City Fraternal Order of Police 614, which represents Louisville Metro Police, called out Gov. Andy Beshear and Mayor Craig Greenberg for their comments about ex-LMPD detective Brett Hankison's recommended one-day sentence from the U.S. Department of Justice. In a July 18 statement, River City FOP 614 President John Ramsey said it was "inappropriate" for politicians to comment on the matter and place "political pressure" on the federal judge overseeing the case. "Political pandering when people's lives are at stake is not leadership. The rank and file members of the Louisville Metro Police who we represent condemn this type of political gamesmanship," he said. "Our members put their lives on the line very second of every shift. They expect to be treated fairly and they deserve better." The statement follows an unexpected development in the case against Hankison, who fired several shots in the raid that killed Breonna Taylor in March 2020 and was convicted in November 2024 for violating her civil rights. In a sentencing memorandum filed July 16, the DOJ recommended a one-day prison sentence — a significant step down from the maximum sentence of life in prison he faces. His sentencing is set for July 21, court records show. Several Louisville and Kentucky politicians reacted to the news, with Beshear and Greenberg calling for Hankison to receive a fair sentence for the crime. Greenberg, who became mayor in 2023, said Hankison was "convicted of a serious crime" and his actions "warrant a serious prison sentence." Beshear told reporters, "I think it's important that they are treated like anyone else who is brought up on these charges and that the DOJ should not be playing politics in any case," NBC News reported. In his statement, Ramsey referenced a case in which two defendants were given lax punishments after a physical altercation with two LMPD officers. "Did they comment when two Louisville Metro Police Officers were strangled and the perpetrators were given probation in Jefferson County?" Ramsey wrote. The River City FOP 614 and Ramsey did not respond to requests to confirm the case in question, though Louisville couple Davion Cromartie and Daria Collins were arrested in July 2023 and charged with felonies after police responded to a domestic dispute that escalated into a brawl with police. Cromartie was accused of strangling an officer by wrapping his legs around his neck and attempting to take weapons from both of the responding officers, according to court records. Meanwhile, Collins reportedly jumped onto another officer's back and tried to take her weapons, court records show. Collins' charges — third degree assault of a police officer, obstructing governmental operations and attempted disarming of a peace officer — were conditionally discharged in October 2024 after she pleaded guilty, meaning she will avoid additional punishment if she does not violate the court's stipulations for two years. Cromartie also took a plea deal for charges including strangulation, third degree assault of a police officer, first degree wanton endangerment, disarming a peace officer, fleeing or evading police, resisting arrest and violation of a foreign protective order, according to court records. He was placed on probation for five years in December 2024. Contact reporter Killian Baarlaer at kbaarlaer@ or @bkillian72 on X. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: River City FOP 614 responds to politicians on Hankison sentencing memo Solve the daily Crossword
