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Nationally-Recognized Community College President Announces Retirement

PADUCAH, KY (March 11, 2016) - After more than 40 years of service in education, West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) President Dr. Barbara Veazey announced today her plans to retire, effective June 30, 2016.

FRANKFORT--A proposal to raise the state minimum wage to $8.10 an hour this August has cleared the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

The version of House Bill 278 approved by the committee today eliminated some provisions in the bill approved by another committee earlier this session that would have incrementally raised the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour between 2016 and 2018. Today's change addresses confusion about the three-year incremental increase by raising the minimum wage one time only, said the bill sponsor, House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg.

On March 5, 2016 Kentucky held its first Republican political caucus in modern times.

Donald Trump won the state. Ted Cruz made a strong penetration into the state. Governor Bevin lost power in this race as did Senator Mitch McConnell. In a strange way, Senator Rand Paul gained more national power base.

Trump won 80 counties in Eastern Kentucky and Central Kentucky. Cruz took 40 counties primarily in Northern Kentucky and Western Kentucky.

Seven of the eight counties of the Jackson Purchase went for Cruz. Only Fulton County went for Trump. Cruz won 19 counties west of I-65 or some 48 % of his total in Kentucky

FRANKFORT-- The marketing, selling or sharing of a subscriber's cell phone number for commercial reasons without the person's written consent would be illegal under a bill that has passed the Kentucky House.

Penalties would be stiff for wireless service providers, directory providers or others who violate the prohibitions in House Bill 413, sponsored by Rep. Gerald Watkins, D-Paducah,

New speculation is running through the halls of Frankfort about the increase in Governor Bevin's security. State workers, lobbyists, media, and state policy makers have noticed that a new protective circle now exists around the Governor that wasn't there when he was elected...

Getting facts and data out of the Governor's Office is becoming more and more a problem for reporters. Bevin does not like the media... This he shares with presidential candidate Donald Trump and with three earlier Kentucky governors.

FRANKFORT - The state Senate passed a proposed constitutional amendment today that would bring the most significant change to the state judiciary since 1976 reforms created a unified state court system that was a model for the nation.

Known as Senate Bill 8, the constitutional amendment passed by a 26-12 vote. It would ensure judges are assigned to courthouses with the highest volume of cases in the most populous area.

Passing a constitutional amendment won't address the issues that rural circuits face and how to pay for significant restructuring.

Senate Bill 37 would address people under the age of 18 who violate the state law by sending sexually explicit images - both photos and videos - of themselves or other minors via mobile phones.

(Clinton, KY) - Finally!!! West Kentucky Journal articles can be shared on social media - Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn.

Graves County High School's art department has had the work of five students accepted into the Kentucky Art Education Association's Regional Art Exhibit hosted at Murray State University. Two of the students' work also received awards.

FRANKFORT (March 11, 2016) -- Most Kentuckians know about Kentucky Proud, and you may be aware of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's duties and services for the state's agriculture industry. But most of the department's responsibilities are to protect consumers and regulate industries. To commemorate National Agriculture Day, I'd like to tell you about all the things the Kentucky Department of Agriculture does for you...

FRANKFORT-- The House today advanced a proposed constitutional amendment that could ultimately give cities and counties the ability to levy up to a penny in sales tax for specific local projects.

The passage of House Bill 2, sponsored by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg and House Minority Floor Leader Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown, by both the House and Senate is required to put the proposed amendment on statewide ballot this November.