Wuky In-depth News

The Kentucky General Assembly resumes its 30 day session Tuesday with a very long to-do list. Last month the GOP controlled legislature passed a flurry of bills, some of which have already been vetoed by Democrat Governor Andy Beshear. So what can we expect in the coming weeks even as the state continues to grapple with vaccine shortages, case counts and rising COVID Deaths? For some analysis on Capitol Chat we turn once again to the editor and publisher of the Kentucky Gazette Laura Cullen Glasscock.

WUKY's Karyn Czar recently spoke one on one with State Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray about Kentucky's COVID-19 vaccination program.

We are now a week into the 2021 Session and as expected Republican lawmakers have wasted no time in crafting legislation that would have a profound effect on how the state’s governor could navigate the commonwealth through an emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrat Governor Andy Beshear has also outlined his proposed spending plan for the coming year but with super majorities in both the House and Senate how much input will the current administration have in the final product? We pose that question to Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock in this week's edition of Capitol Chat.

The Kentucky General Assembly gavels into session this Tuesday. Republicans hold super majorities in both the House and Senate and have promised to look at curbing Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's emergency powers. Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock joins WUKY News Director Alan Lytle for some pre-session analysis.

In this holiday weekend edition of our podcast series 120 - Common Threads Of Kentucky History, WUKY's Alan Lytle and the Kentucky Historical Society's Stuart Sanders and Greg Hardison bring you a variety of stories surrounding the Commonwealth's signature spirit. Enjoy!

Last week on WUKY's Capitol Chat we started a discussion about the Kentucky Democratic party and where they go after major losses in the last election. They gave the task of rebuilding the brand to Colmon Elridge, the first African American to hold the post. WUKY's Alan Lytle and Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock discuss the road ahead. They also discuss growing Republican opposition to new COVID-19 restrictions enacted by Democrat Governor Andy Beshear.

As predicted election night in Kentucky was a good night for Republicans running for the legislature, but not so much for the Democrats. With the GOP solidly in charge of the General Assembly what does the Kentucky Democratic party do to rebound? For starters they elected Colmon Elridge the new state party chair. He's a former advisor to Governor Steve Beshear and he is the first African-American to lead the Democratic party in Kentucky. For some analysis we turn once again to Laura Cullen Glasscock, the editor and publisher of the Frankfort based Kentucky Gazette.

He's got three horses in the Breeders' Cup Classic and he's been commanding even more attention, scrutiny and criticism due to some serious off-track issues. WUKY's Alan Lytle talks with Paulick Report editor in chief Natalie Voss about two time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert's recent troubles and his odds for on-track success this weekend at Keeneland.

Welcome to a special WUKY News program examining the topic of voting in the age of COVID-19. H ear from election officials, voters, political observers, and others grappling with the challenge of doing their civic duty - casting and counting ballots during a global pandemic.

In our ongoing effort to clear up some misconceptions about the 2020 Elections WUKY and the LexVote coalition, a non-partisan voter information and civic participation continue our 'Misinformation Mondays' series of conversations. Alan Lytle talks one more time with LexVote Elections Fellow Matt Young. You've got questions? He's got the answers.

No. It won't be like 2015 (after all how could it be in the age of COVID-19?) but Lexington is rolling out the virtual red carpet for horse fans across the world for the 2020 Breeders' Cup Festival. WUKY's Alan Lytle talks with festival chair Kip Cornett about what will be different and what will be improved upon this time around.

The Kentucky Historical Society and ABC 36 are bringing some of the stories behind the creepiest artifacts in the KHS collection to a TV near you just in time for Halloween. ‘Haunted, Historic Kentucky’ will take viewers on a spooky deep dive into the Kentucky Historical Society to examine numerous artifacts and Kentucky treasures that are reportedly “Haunted” or cursed. WUKY's Alan Lytle talks with KHS Foundation Director, and former ABC 36 Anchor Doug High about the project.

WUKY is bringing you a series of conversations we’re calling “Misinformation Mondays" to get you the accurate information you need to know before casting that all-important ballot. Matt Young is with UK’s Martin School of Public Policy and he's the 2020 Elections Fellow for the LexVote coalition, a non-partisan voter information and civic participation organization. You've got questions? He's got the answers.

This week on Capitol Chat Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock provides a rundown of the competitive legislative races in Central Kentucky. While not on the ballot this time around Andy Beshear, the state's Democratic Governor, could be a factor in several.

For months they’ve been taking shots at each other through the media, especially with increasingly vitriolic campaign ads but tonight Democrat Amy McGrath and Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will face each other in a televised debate on WKYT TV. For a preview of the match-up we turn once again to the editor and publisher of the Kentucky Gazette, Laura Cullen Glasscock.

The first of two 6 th Congressional District debates will take place later tonight on the CW Lexington as Republican Incumbent Andy Barr and Democrat challenger Josh Hicks face each other for an hour beginning at 7 p.m. To preview the matchup we turn once again to Laura Cullen Glasscock, the editor and publisher of the Kentucky Gazette.

Millions of dollars are being spent to influence your vote in Kentucky's US Senate race between Democrat Amy McGrath and GOP incumbent Mitch McConnell. As Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock tells us much of the money comes from outside groups. One in particular says it will spend $10M on behalf of McConnell , part of an overal strategy of keeping the Senate under GOP control.

Capital Chat returns with a closer look at the three-way race in Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District pitting Republican incumbent Andy Barr against Democrat Josh Hicks and Libertarian Frank Harris. Kentucky Gazette editor and publisher Laura Cullen Glasscock and WUKY's Alan Lytle discuss the state of the race so far.

The WUKY News Team has produced a special program examining the topic of back to school. In this hour long report you hear from teachers, students, health professionals and university administrators all grappling with the challenge of education in the age of COVID-19.

It’s human nature to want to be social, even in the midst of a global pandemic. Thanks to a spike in COVID-19 cases in most of the country, including here in the Commonwealth, we’re still being asked to wear our masks and practice social distancing; but this is also the heart of the summer tourism season, especially for Kentucky’s signature bourbon industry. Distilleries were allowed to reopen to the public in late June, so WUKY's Alan Lytle recently dropped in on Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort to see how they’re handling our new normal.