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Justin Hicks

@justinhicks.lpm.org
1.4K followers 94 following 162 posts

Data Reporter with Kentucky Public Radio,Louisville Public Media,KyCIR,NPR.

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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 25/09/2026
Records uncovered by @storiesbyjess.bsky.social and @g-nizzle.bsky.social show JCPS Chief Academic Officer Nathan Balasubramanian ordered staff to cancel a student production of “Ragtime” by duPont Manual High School’s Youth Performing Arts School.
lpm.org
New JCPS chief tried to cancel Manual ‘Ragtime’ show, board member says
JCPS Chief Academic Officer Nathan Balasubramanian ordered staff to cancel a high school musical over racial slurs.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 25/09/2026
My latest on ARC, which has just been ordered to pay $18M to creditors and is down to just 8 facilities in Kentucky.
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 24/09/2026
Man it sure would be a shame if China started heavily investing in local news and then the U.S. had to race them to make more local news rooms first.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Tessa Duvall @tessaduvall.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
An editor’s farewell to Bluegrass Politics:
When I joined the Herald-Leader more than four years ago, this newsletter didn’t exist. Now, there are thousands of you who turn open this email each week for the latest government and politics headlines. It has been a privilege to bring these updates to you every Wednesday.

Friday is my last day at the Herald-Leader. I leave the newsroom with nothing but deep admiration for my incredible colleagues and fond memories of the work we did together.

One of my favorite days with this team was in January 2023 when the entire Frankfort press corps staked out the Capitol to find out if Matt Bevin was running for a second term after years out of office. Secretary of State Michael Adams put out popcorn. Someone else dropped off pizza. I brought doughnuts. And then ... we waited for Bevin to make his decision known.

Of course, Bevin didn’t run — which he only made clear after giving a very campaign-like speech — but that’s not the reason the day sticks in my mind so clearly.What I remember is how many journalists were packed into the Capitol, either outside of the Secretary of State’s office or waiting in the rotunda. One reporter even brought a folding camp chair. I was there with my colleagues and competition alike and felt such a sense of camaraderie. 

Statehouse press corps across America are not as robust as they were in years past. That’s true in Kentucky, too.

But on that Friday afternoon, local journalism felt so alive. I wish more days in Frankfort had that kind of buzz because the halls of power need a vibrant Fourth Estate to provide a watchful eye — every day, not just when there’s the potential for drama.

I will always believe in the importance of local news.

You still need to read John Cheves, who is tireless in his work holding elected leaders and government officials accountable. You still need to read Taylor Six, an incredibly talented criminal justice reporter who is always finding an interesting cases to cover. You still need to read Beth Musgrave, who can do it all, whether that’s grilling UK leaders over secretive travel or monitoring ICE’s impact in the commonwealth. And of course, there is nowhere better to get your Wildcats coverage than the Herald-Leader.

Thank you for sharing your stories with me. Thank you for giving me your trust. 

Thank you for following along, and please, don’t let this be the last Bluegrass Politics you read.

Tessa Duvall
Politics and Public Affairs Editor
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 22/09/2026
As Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear continues testing the waters for a potential presidential run in 2028, his new book “Go and Do Likewise” hit shelves Tuesday. Here are 5 new revelations we learned from his book:
lpm.org
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s new book is out. Here are 5 things we learned.
As Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear continues testing the waters for a potential presidential run in 2028, his new book “Go and Do Likewise” hit shelves Tuesday. Here are our five takeaways from the book.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 22/09/2026
JCPS allows 49 tech firms to collect or process a range of deeply personal information about students: their birthdates, ethnicity, disabilities, medical history, whether they are homeless or in foster care, their family’s economic status, and much more. From @storiesbyjess.bsky.social of KyCIR:
lpm.org
JCPS uses hundreds of ed tech products. How safe is student data?
The ed tech boom has reshaped education in JCPS and turned over a massive amount of student data to tech companies.
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 22/09/2026
Clerks office says Spencer withdrew from the race at about 4:30 pm today @kentuckypublicradio.org Following LPM investigation, one school board candidate disqualified, another withdraws www.lpm.org/investigate/...
lpm.org
Following LPM investigation, one school board candidate disqualified, another withdraws
This summer, Louisville Public Media revealed two school board candidates didn’t live in the districts they sought to represent.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Rainesford Stauffer @rainesford.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I work with some high school journalists in Kentucky. The journalists laid off from the Herald-Leader today are among those I've heard students mention by name, and whose stories they read, share, and aspire to. All those journalists deserved better than this.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 10/09/2026
McClatchy laid off 12 journalists at the Lexington Herald-Leader and eliminated a majority of its positions, as a part of its deep, nationwide layoffs. It leaves the second-largest newspaper in Kentucky with just two reporters left to cover city and state government.
lpm.org
McClatchy guts Lexington Herald-Leader newsroom, among nationwide layoffs
McClatchy laid off 12 journalists at the Lexington Herald-Leader and eliminated a majority of its positions, as a part of its deep, nationwide layoffs.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 10/09/2026
McClatchy hedge fund absolutely gutted my hometown paper, where I learned to love journalism. Devastating.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 01/09/2026
The famed Kentucky author and activist Wendell Berry died at age 92 in his hometown of Henry County.
weku.org
Kentucky's Wendell Berry, famed poet and novelist, dies at age 92
The Kentucky author, activist died in his hometown in Henry County.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Louisville Public Media @lpm.org · 21/08/2026
Hundreds of residents paying taxes to and living in neighboring counties were recently told they’re actually Louisville Metro voters. www.lpm.org/news/2026-08...
lpm.org
Louisville clerk asks judge to settle county border issues
Hundreds of residents paying taxes to and living in neighboring counties were recently told they’re actually Louisville Metro voters.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Morgan Watkins @morgreports.lpm.org · 06/08/2026
I got files from LMPD’s investigation of the death of a woman crushed by a Louisville city garbage truck’s hydraulic claw. Here’s what they tell us about the fatal accident.
lpm.org
Louisville police, prosecutors won’t seek criminal charges after trash truck death
No one will be prosecuted for the death of a woman who was crushed by the hydraulic claw of a Louisville Metro dump truck, records show.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Kentucky Lantern @kentuckylantern.com · 05/08/2026
Commentary from Jim Branscome and Bill Bishop: When the last reporter leaves: Kentucky’s spreading news desert kentuckylantern.com/2026/08/05/w...
kentuckylantern.com
When the last reporter leaves: Kentucky’s spreading news desert • Kentucky Lantern
In the late summer of 1974 somebody set fire to the Mountain Eagle in Whitesburg. It survived arson, it may not outlive the death of rural newspapers.
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 01/08/2026
Family friends have told me they are at the hospital with her now and she is frail but she is released to their / the hospital care.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 31/07/2026
UPDATE: A federal judge in Louisville just ordered the release of a Ugandan woman who says she was denied medical care for sickle cell anemia while in custody of ICE.
lpm.org
UPDATE: Louisville woman with sickle cell to be released from ICE custody
Friends and family said Wednesday a local jail was holding Sarafinah Bukirwa for federal immigration charges and wasn’t giving her proper care.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 31/07/2026
The projects do seem to stir emotions among the locals, but I wouldn't put happiness at the top of the list, per examples in Kentucky.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 30/07/2026
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright spoke at the Paducah announcement, saying “Artificial intelligence: It just makes every one of us in this room smarter … a little bit more productive. I haven't met anyone who didn't want to be smarter.”
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 29/07/2026
In response to my question, the Louisville FBI office tells me: “The criminal investigation into ARC related to Medicaid fraud is still ongoing.”
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 24/07/2026
Dallas Waterford of tiny Harrodsburg, Kentucky told me later that he can’t stand @aoc.bsky.social and thinks she’s a communist, but… he agrees with her on data centers, and doesn’t want one in his community.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 21/07/2026
I spoke with Democrat Rocky Adkins about his run for governor of Kentucky. He says he'd be a governor that would be able to find common ground of legislation with the GOP supermajority, and expects to do better in urban areas than his 2019 run. He also says he's "evolved" on abortion laws. #kyga26
lpm.org
Former Beshear advisor Rocky Adkins joins 2027 Kentucky governor’s race
Democrat Rocky Adkins, a former state representative and advisor to Gov. Andy Beshear, announced he would run for Kentucky governor next year.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 15/07/2026
Tom Loftus with a big find here: In a court filing, former London Mayor Randall Weddle’s attorney said the pre-trial discovery process revealed that Gov. Andy Beshear’s chief fundraiser deleted text messages. 👀
kentuckylantern.com
Weddle attorney says Beshear fundraiser destroyed evidence in campaign contribution case • Kentucky Lantern
The attorney for former London Mayor Randall Weddle says that in the spring of 2023 the chief fundraiser for Gov. Andy Beshear's reelection campaign "destroyed vital evidence" in a pending criminal ca...
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 14/07/2026
While some news agencies salivate over any morsel of information on a Kentucky elected official, at LPM and @kentuckypublicradio.org we’re doing basic fact checking - and found two people trying to represent districts they don’t even live in. Local. News. Matters. www.lpm.org/investigate/...
lpm.org
Two JCPS school board candidates filed in wrong districts
The candidates don’t live in the districts they seek to represent. Under state law, they’re not eligible.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Louisville Public Media @lpm.org · 01/07/2026
State officials are pushing back on claims by the Jefferson County Clerk, David Yates, that voter assignment errors identified in an LPM News investigation are not limited to Louisville. www.lpm.org/news/2026-07...
lpm.org
Jefferson County Clerk, state elections officials offer dueling takes on ballot errors
The Jefferson County Clerk’s office may need additional funding from Louisville Metro to complete an audit of precinct assignments for nearly 600,000 addresses.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Sylvia Goodman @sylviaruthg.lpm.org · 01/07/2026
Absolutely incredible piece from our @justinhicks.lpm.org and @byrobertor.lpm.org out. Voters from more than 1,800 Louisville households may have cast incorrect ballots due to a clerical error. In the case of extremely close elections, it could have made a difference
lpm.org
Voters across Louisville may have gotten the wrong ballots – for years
LPM News uncovered that voters from more than 1,800 households may have cast incorrect ballots due to an error by the Jefferson County Clerk’s office. In some instances, this affected where they voted...
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 01/07/2026
The work of @justinhicks.lpm.org to uncover this massive amounts of errors has spurred the Jefferson County Clerk’s office to conduct an audit of all 600,000 addresses in Louisville
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Liam Niemeyer @liamniemeyer.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Really great work by @justinhicks.lpm.org and @byrobertor.lpm.org on this!
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
John David Dyche @jddyche.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Outstanding journalism here. Great investigating & reporting. Excellent presentation. Yet another example of why @lpm.org deserves our support. Thank you @justinhicks.lpm.org & @byrobertor.lpm.org.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Morgan Watkins @morgreports.lpm.org · 01/07/2026
Investigative, community-driven reporting at its finest right here: @justinhicks.lpm.org and @byrobertor.lpm.org uncovered technical errors that mis-assigned some Louisville voters to the wrong precincts - which affect what races they can vote in - in the May primary election.
lpm.org
Voters across Louisville may have gotten the wrong ballots – for years
LPM News uncovered that voters from more than 1,800 households may have cast incorrect ballots due to an error by the Jefferson County Clerk’s office. In some instances, this affected where they voted...
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Willow, but not Vamp Willow @salixwrosette.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Local reporting matters! Excellent work by @justinhicks.lpm.org ! TL;DR at least 1,800 households in Louisville/JeffCo were assigned to the wrong precinct after redistricting in 2022. Superb—and actionable—data work by local public media! www.lpm.org/news/ballots
lpm.org
Voters across Louisville may have gotten the wrong ballots – for years
LPM News uncovered that voters from more than 1,800 households may have cast incorrect ballots due to an error by the Jefferson County Clerk’s office. In some instances, this affected where they voted...
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Sylvia Goodman @sylviaruthg.lpm.org · 24/06/2026
My original story —> www.lpm.org/news/2026-06...
lpm.org
LISTEN: 1,000 Kentuckians with disabilities to lose medical services, Beshear blames budget cuts
The state-owned Lee Specialty Clinic serves 1,300 patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration has slashed its budget by millions, blaming state budget...
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Sylvia Goodman @sylviaruthg.lpm.org · 24/06/2026
Here at the Medicaid oversight and advisory board meeting in Frankfort. Staff has just opened the second overflow room. Supporters of the Lee Speciality Clinic have come en masse to fight back against major cuts affecting roughly thousand disabled Kentuckians
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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
A coalition of Kentucky Power customers are calling for increased transparency and rate review ahead of a state audit of the far-eastern Kentucky utility company. www.lpm.org/news/2026-06...
lpm.org
‘Sit in the dark or be hungry’ Kentucky Power customers struggle with electric bills
A coalition of Kentucky Power customers are calling for increased transparency and rate review ahead of a state audit of the far-eastern Kentucky utility company.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
John David Dyche @jddyche.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Read this incredible investigative article by @morgreports.lpm.org & @justinhicks.lpm.org. www.lpm.org/investigate/.... Full of relevant facts. Fairly presents differing perspectives. Powerfully tells a compelling human story. What is sickening & outrageous to me in it will no doubt delight MAGA.
lpm.org
Trump’s deportation machine sends thousands of immigrants to Kentucky jails
Kentucky jails play key role as Trump looks to deport millions.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
The Onion @theonion.com · 29/05/2026
Pope Releases Encyclical On Perils Of Disney’s ‘Star Wars’ Strategy
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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 29/05/2026
Judge Johnson issued a bench warrant for Matt Bevin’s arrest for defying her order to show up in person for the sentencing hearing. She also extended her deadline for one week for Bevin to turn over all financial documents requested. Bevin can get out of the first arrest warrant if he pays a fine.
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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 29/05/2026
At former Gov. Matt Bevin’s sentencing hearing. He was ordered to appear and is instead here on Zoom. Jonah Bevin’s atty says another bench warrant should be issued for him…
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Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Today is a really hard day here at NPR. We're losing some good people, including people I'm very close to. The reasons for the layoff are complicated. We lost a lot of federal money, gained a lot of donations, but NPR isn’t sure how sustainable those donations will be in the future.
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Morgan Watkins @morgreports.lpm.org · 26/05/2026
We analyzed a lot of public data and records to make this report. Check out the interactive map by @justinhicks.lpm.org that shows how ICE shuffles people through Kentucky detention centers.
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Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 26/05/2026
With nearly $100M spent on campaign ads in federal races, including some that were competitive for the first time in years, more Kentuckians turned out to vote in this year’s primary election than recent cycles. This fueled unfounded conspiracies online, particularly around Thomas Massie’s loss:
lpm.org
Hot-ticket federal races fuel rise in Kentucky primary voter turnout
Kentuckians came out to vote in the May 19 election at relatively high rates for a primary election. It’s fueled unfounded conspiracies online.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Kentucky Public Radio @kentuckypublicradio.org · 22/05/2026
It’s been one year since a devastating tornado destroyed multiple neighborhoods in London, Kentucky, killing 17 people in Laurel County. Residents are still working to rebuild their homes, many with future disasters in mind. From @justinhicks.lpm.org
lpm.org
Kentucky is rebuilding after last year’s deadly tornado, with eyes towards the next severe storm
It’s been one year since a devastating tornado destroyed multiple neighborhoods in London, Kentucky, killing 17 people in Laurel County. Residents are still working to rebuild their homes, many with f...
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 21/05/2026
Check out the interactive tool of @lpm.org @byrobertor.lpm.org & @justinhicks.lpm.org to see who your neighborhood voted for in the Louisville mayoral primary, which advance Mayor Craig Greenberg and Shameka Parrish-Wright to the general election
lpm.org
How Louisville residents voted in the 2026 mayoral primary
Louisville residents voted for mayor, Metro Council and numerous other local offices Tuesday night. LPM’s Roberto Roldan helps break down the results.
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 20/05/2026
Kentucky House Rep. Kim Banta, who lost her primary by 13 votes, is conceding defeat and not requesting a vote recanvass or recount. #kyga26
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 20/05/2026
Daniel Cameron reach / influence apparently didn't extend very far from his home of Hardin County. With the Trump nomination, Andy Barr pretty handily swept up just about everywhere else -- even Fayette County which normally is more politically similar to Jefferson County.
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 20/05/2026
If we use registered voters in Kentucky who cast a vote for U.S. Senate as our proxy for turnout, Republicans were far more energized than Democrats for yesterday's primary election. public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
public.flourish.studio
2026 Primary: Turnout
A Flourish data visualization by Justin Hicks
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 20/05/2026
Over half (~52%) of Charles Booker's actual votes came from Louisville and Lexington alone. While McGrath won more counties, just 31% of her actual votes came from those cities. Seems she appealed to rural Democrats, but there's fewer of them.
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 20/05/2026
It would appear that Charles Booker's campaign reached the hoods but not so much the hollers... @kentuckypublicradio.org
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Justin Hicks @justinhicks.lpm.org · 20/05/2026
Check out a heatmap of where voters (both raw and as a % of the vote) selected Greenberg or Parrish-Wright, the two Louisville, KY mayor candidates who will move on to the general. public.flourish.studio/visualisatio...
public.flourish.studio
Louisville Mayor Primary 2026
A Flourish data visualization by Justin Hicks
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Reposted by Justin Hicks
ProPublica @propublica.org · 20/05/2026
Allegations against Kentucky’s largest drug rehab center claim that it knowingly falsified medical records to collect $16 million in Medicaid payments for group meetings. With @kentucky.com
propub.li
They Needed Treatment for Drug Addiction. The Company They Turned to May Have Used Them to Commit Fraud.
Kentucky’s largest drug rehab center touts a Christian message and a selfless commitment to helping others. But internally, the organization prioritized money over the well-being of its clients and…
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Louisville Public Media @lpm.org · 20/05/2026
GOP Rep. Kim Holloway of Mayfield headed off challengers in House District 2 race. www.lpm.org/news/2026-05...
lpm.org
Holloway holds off Heath, Cox to win reelection to far western Kentucky state House seat
GOP Rep. Kim Holloway of Mayfield headed off challengers in House District 2 race.
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