First read on stories from all over; may do another one this afternoon. Enjoy!
Comer calls newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson ‘the right man at the right time’
U.S. Rep. James Comer of Kentucky’s 1st District voiced his support for fellow Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana Wednesday after Johnson was voted speaker of the House. “I just spoke with newly-elected Speaker of the House Mike Johnson,” the Kentucky senator said. (Paducah Sun)
New House Speaker Mike Johnson used to be top counsel for anti-LGBTQ hate group
On Wednesday, Republicans unanimously elected Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana for House speaker — a man with a history of vehement anti-LGBTQ advocacy, including as a former leader of an organization that has been declared a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
Johnson was the former senior spokesperson for the hate group Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), an influential group among the Christian right that has been pushing its extremist right-wing agenda across the U.S. through the courts. (Truthout)
Cameron, other attorneys general sue Meta, accusing Facebook and Instagram of purposely harming mental health of youth
Attorney General Daniel Cameron is among a large, bipartisan group of attorneys general suing Meta, the parent firm of social-media platforms Facebook and Instagram, for purposefully harming the mental health of youth in their states. Citing reports, the suit alleges that the social media giant knew the techniques negatively impacted young people’s physical and mental health, such as undermining their ability to get adequate sleep. (KY Health News)
Joe Sonka joins Louisville Public Media, Kentucky Public Radio Network, to cover state politics
The Kentucky Public Radio Network (KPR), a collaborative of public media outlets in the bluegrass state, has hired veteran political journalist Joe Sonka as its first enterprise political reporter.
Joe comes to KPR from the Louisville Courier Journal, where he was part of a team that won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news coverage of former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s controversial pardons on his way out of office in 2019. (LPM)
U.S. Senate committee advances Biden pick for Israel ambassador
The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced Wednesday the nomination of Jacob J. Lew, President Joe Biden’s choice to be U.S. ambassador to Israel.
The panel voted 12-9 to approve the nomination of Lew, a former Treasury secretary and White House chief of staff under President Barack Obama. Kentucky Republican Rand Paul was the only GOP member to vote with the panel’s 11 Democrats to approve Lew, according to Suzanne Wrasse, a spokesperson for ranking Republican Jim Risch of Idaho. (KY Lantern)
Kentucky sports betting handle nears $250M
Kentuckians wagered nearly $250 million and opened nearly 500,000 betting accounts in a little more than 10 weeks since legalized sports gambling began in the Bluegrass State. The post Kentucky sports betting handle nears $250M appeared first on Lane Report | Kentucky Business & Economic News. (Lane Report)
And from the Twitterverse ...
When we work together, we move Kentucky forward.
— Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) October 24, 2023
✅ 627 bipartisan bills signed into law
✅ $245 million to build and repair career and education centers
✅ $500 million to deliver clean water
✅ Passed sports betting
✅ Legalized medical cannabis
✅ Expanded high-speed internet
The Herald-Leader endorses Gov Andy Beshear. They contacted the Cameron campaign more than half a dozen times, asking for an interview. Cameron and his campaign refused every opportunity. This is a snub to voters. https://t.co/WY4ODGmAcU
— Teri Carter (@teri_atthepaper) October 26, 2023
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has a Kentucky connection. He successfully sued the state to regain tax incentives for the creationist Ark Encounter. https://t.co/u4Mc05Fvuq
— Kentucky Lantern (@KYLantern) October 26, 2023
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