Lisa Autry

Kentucky Education Commissioner Terry Holliday will appear before a congressional panel in Washington Thursday. The hearing is titled “No Child Left Behind: Early Lessons from State Flexibility Waivers.”

Commissioner Holliday will discuss Kentucky’s experience in applying for and implementing a waiver from certain requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. Kentucky was one of the first states granted a waiver by the U.S. Department of Education in February 2012.

A high-profile Kentucky Democrat is going on the record saying she will not run for U.S. Senate next year. Instead, Crit Luallen said Monday she was considering a run for governor in 2015. 

In an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader, the former state auditor said she was having “casual conversations” with consultants and a pollster.  Luallen said she’s also getting encouragement from her biggest supporters. 

Meanwhile, Luallen’s close friend, Attorney General Jack Conway, said recently he too was taking a serious look at running for governor. Asked if she would skip the race if Conway decided to run, Luallen said “I don’t expect we will ever have to face each other in a showdown. I think we will work this out.” 

Luallen added that she is not interested in running for lieutenant governor or U.S. Senate.

About 80 citizens gathered in Bowling Green over the weekend for a public meeting on the future of the Capitol Arts Center downtown. Tom Tomlinson is executive director of the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, which now operates the Capitol.  Asked if the historic venue can continue to compete with SKyPAC and WKU's Van Meter Hall, Tomlinson said "yes."

"I think it's a matter of size," said Tomlinson.  "There are activities that are appropriate for our (SKyPAC) 1,800 seats.  There are activities appropriate for the 1,100-seat Van Meter Hall, and then there are activities more appropriate for the 600 or so seats currently at the Capitol."

Based on community feedback, Tomlinson says there's a strong desire to see the Capitol used as an independent and/or foreign film venue, as well as an expansion of youth programs. 

Other public meetings are planned in the coming months.

Despite the end of the economic recession and a growth in state revenue, Kentucky’s budget will remain tight. Former Budget Director, now Cabinet Secretary Mary Lassiter will address a joint House and Senate budget committee Tuesday.

She is expected to say state programs and agencies should not expect cuts in recent years to be restored in the next State budget.  Lassiter tells the Courier-Journal, “There’s no money for anything.” 

Lassiter says any new revenue in the state budget passed in 2014 budget will be consumed by additional spending required for pensions, Medicaid, and replacing one-time funds being spent on recurring needs in the current budget.  She declined to say if the tight long-term revenue outlook will also be the theme of the State of the Commonwealth address Gov. Steve Beshear is to deliver Wednesday night.

A Jefferson County mother is pleading with Kentucky lawmakers to end shock probation for those convicted of killing someone while driving intoxicated.  Debbie Moskwa testified Thursday before a judiciary committee in Frankfort.  Her son was killed by a drunk driver and her husband severely injured in the accident. 

"We believed those that killed Ricky would be punished to the fullest extent of the law," said Moskwa.  "

Little did we know we would be inflicted with more pain by hearing shock probation was granted after the person served only eight months of a 13-year sentence."

Moskwa testified in support of a bill sponsored by Representative Julie Adams.  The measure would prohibit shock probation if a person is convicted of second-degree manslaughter or reckless homicide while under the influence of alcohol.  Similar bills in past session have failed to clear both the House and Senate.