Latest news with #DavidStephenson
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Kentucky GOP senators praise laws to go into effect Friday
Senate president Robert Stivers answers questions during a press conference in the new temporary Senate chambers on Wednesday. The GOP leaders addressed bills passed during the 2025 legislative session, some of which will go into effect on Friday. (Kentucky Lantern photo by David Stephenson) FRANKFORT — Celebrating the passage of a swath of GOP policies this year, Senate Republican leaders, joined by constitutional officers, on Wednesday highlighted laws that will go into effect Friday. The senators also unveiled the temporary quarters where lawmakers will convene while the Capitol undergoes renovations over the next few years. The new building stands next to the Capitol Annex in Frankfort. It is unclear at this point if the Republican-controlled General Assembly will need to reconvene before January for a special session to allocate more dollars toward Kentucky communities recovering from storm damage in recent months, the Republican senators said. In 2026, the General Assembly will deliberate the next two-year state budget. Most laws the General Assembly passed earlier this year are set to take effect Friday, as per the Kentucky Constitution. Bills that aren't general appropriates or have emergency causes go into effect 90 days after the legislature adjourns. The new laws include: Senate Bill 2, which ends hormone treatments for transgender inmates in Kentucky prisons. Senate Bill 19, which requires public schools to observe a daily moment of silence and permits off-campus 'moral instruction.' Senate Bill 84 says that Kentucky courts should interpret laws without referring to a state agency's interpretation of them, much like the U.S. Supreme Court decision to strike down the precedent of the Chevron deference at the federal level. House Bill 45 aims to limit foreign influence in Kentucky elections for ballot measures, like a constitutional amendment. House Bill 342 requires high school students to take a financial literacy course before graduating. Senate Republican Floor Leader Max Wise, of Campbellsville, said that the more than 100 new laws are 'each a product of thoughtful policy making' through the legislative process. 'Together, they reflect the core concern priorities embraced by the Kentucky General Assembly, the supermajorities, and those priorities — lowering taxes, better schools, safer communities and a government that serves the people,' he said. Legislators are in the midst of the interim session, where committees with House and Senate members meet to discuss policies and review reports ahead of the next legislative session. Some of those groups also include special task forces, like the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Kentucky Task Force. Senate President Robert Stivers pointed to the group as a way to study how to make health care more accessible at a time when Medicaid funding is in the national spotlight. A U.S. House bill approved last month included a $793 billion cut to Medicaid funding over the next decade and is now in the U.S. Senate. Stivers said that focusing on supporting farm-to-table agriculture programs could be a way to promote 'healthier lifestyles' naturally with fresh produce on Kentucky tables. 'This will help with the A1C, the blood pressure, all the other health care indices that we have that are poor in this state,' Stivers said. Weeks ago, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said he would likely call a special session of the legislature to allocate more funding to communities affected by storms earlier this year, including tornadoes. However, the Senate leaders were not sure if a session would be needed at this point. 'We're waiting to see what the governor's numbers are and the money that has been allocated for these specific events and see how the executive branch has been addressing them,' said Senate Republican Caucus Chair Robby Mills, of Henderson. 'There was quite a substantial amount of storm damage. It does take time to recover. And we've got a few months until we're back in session.' The General Assembly approved a bill to set up a state aid fund for response to floods before it adjourned this year. That included raising a cap the legislature had placed on emergency spending by the Beshear administration without lawmakers' approval. Stivers said if Beshear needs more money, lawmakers can do a one-day session to approve funds. The Senate pPresident had previously vowed that lawmakers were ready to provide any necessary funding for recovery. After this year's session adjourned, legislative furniture and items were moved into the temporary chamber, and Stivers added that the space would be functional if a special session is called before January. 'It will be ready July 1, flip the switch and have anything necessary done in it that we need to do,' Stivers said.
BBC News
09-06-2025
- BBC News
Annfield Plain speed campaign plea from crash victim aged nine
A nine-year-old boy who faced surgery and lengthy rehabilitation after being run over at a speeding blackspot is heading a campaign for traffic-calming was airlifted from West Road in Annfield Plain, County Durham, to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary in April last year, on what his dad Craig Ross described as one of the worst days of his local community has backed the campaign, called Silence the Loud, to force changes to the road where residents say they even hear cars speeding, especially at County Council said it had been in discussions about safety on West Road, but the ward's new councillors said it is time to "get on with building the thing". Dan was walking to the cricket club near his home when he was Ross said: "As he was unconscious, I didn't know if he was alive. He was in a bad state."The youngster stayed in hospital for six nights and had metal pins inserted into his then needed weeks of recovery in a wheelchair followed by rehabilitation using a walking frame. 'Am I going to die?' Mum Jess Stephenson said the crash has had a long-term impact on her."I'm so frightened to let him out my sight. I find it difficult living so close to where it happened."We've always said it's an accident waiting to happen, but we never thought it would be one of our children."Dan's grandad David Stephenson, who started the safety campaign, said: "When Dan was lying on the side of the side of the road, he said, 'Mam, am I going to die?'"No mother should have to hear that. That's the day I was determined to get something done on this road." West Road, which is known locally as The Loud, is designated a 30mph zone but campaigners say its long, straight, downhill stretch encourages speeding and children have been killed there in decades at Dan's school, Catchgate Primary, created posters which have been displayed on the aged nine, said: "There's normally a lot of cars speeding. Cars here just go too fast."Classmate Jackson said: "We have been helping, but cars have still been going over the limit and fast."Mr Ross said: "You can see people aren't doing the correct speed. "We need something put in place to slow the traffic down. It's only a matter of time before it happens again."Durham Police said it was "aware of the community concerns" and was using speed camera vans to identify drivers breaking the campaigners want permanent measures introduced which have been estimated to cost about £50,000. 'Time to deliver' So far, the local authority and Durham's Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen have pledged £33, current councillors for Annfield Plain and Tanfield, Darren Grimes and Karen Allison of Reform UK, said they were prepared to use their local budgets to meet any said the pair "have been pushing officers to get this moving"."They're finalising detailed designs and getting contractor quotes as we speak. "We're talking weeks to have firm costs and a delivery timeline, then we can get on with actually building the thing. "The residents of Annfield Plain deserve action, not more meetings. These campaigners have done the hard work, now it's time for the council to deliver."Dave Lewin, Durham County Council's strategic traffic manager, said: "A number of discussions have been held regarding speeding concerns on West Road and, as a result, we are working hard to introduce traffic-calming measures to address the issue."We will continue to work with residents, police and the police and crime commissioner on this important issue." Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
