Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

On my final program, Kim Smith with the ONE Campaign joins the program to talk about poverty in Africa and how to fix it.

Kay Tillow of Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care also joins the program to talk about fixing America's health care crisis.

This is likely the last program to be posted to this podcast feed. Please feel free to contact the Kentucky News Network to find out where you can hear the Kentucky Focus program on radio or to request a podcast feed of the program.

A programming note (MP3 LINK)

As of July 15, 2005, I will resign as an employee of Clear Channel Radio in Louisville.

As such, I will also no longer produce the Kentucky Focus program. I've had a great time hosting the program and I hope I've had some impact toward bringing reasoned debate on important topics facing Kentucky. Thanks for listening.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

John Yarmuth of the Center for Kentucky Progress joins the program to talk about Kentucky's massive Medicaid shortfall.

Also, after the Supreme Court rules against two displays of the Ten Commandments on public property, what's next for the people fighting to display the Commandments. Martin Cothran of The Family Foundation, a group that supports those displays in McCreary and Pulaski counties, will tell us.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Tony King of the DEA joins the program to talk about the scourge of methamphetamine.

Education researcher Richard Innes talks about why Kentucky ACT scores are bucking a positive national trend.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Mark Nickolas of Bluegrassreport.org joins the program to talk about his new group, the Foundation for Kentucky's Future, an issue advocacy organization.

Jim Waters of the Bluegrass Institute joins the program to talk about why some students at public schools now have to pay tuition.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Ben Cowgill, an attorney and blogger in Lexington, joins the program. The Kentucky Bar Association is considering whether to charge Cowgill $50 per blog entry, treating each entry as a separate distinct advertisement for his law practice. Some legal blogs have leapt to Cowgill's defense.

Will Russell and Scott Shuffitt join the program to talk about the Fourth Annual Lebowskifest, a celebration of the Coen Brothers' film, which will feature a riverfront concert by They Might Be Giants and lots of bowling and white russians. They'll also talk about WHYLouisville.com, a "fan club" for the river city.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

President Bush visits Hopkinsville, Kentucky to pitch his plans for Social Security reform. We bring you a portion of his speech. Bruce Maples of the Center for Kentucky Progress will explain the merits of the state merit system and why Governor Fletcher's issues with the program are unique among governors.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher and Personnel Cabinet Secretary Erwin Roberts talk to reporters about the hirings and firings within the administration. Attorney General Greg Stumbo responds.

Kay Tillow of Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care also joins the program to talk about her her ideas for a national health care plan.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Governor Ernie Fletcher phones in from Asia to answer reporters' questions about the Attorney General's probe into claims of abuses within the state merit employment system.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Scott Bullock of the Institute for Justice joins the program. He recently argued a massive eminent domain case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ken Hines, research director for the Kentucky Education Assocation, will talk about the state budget and student testing. (REPEAT PROGRAM)

Attention Kentucky Focus Affiliates (MP3 LINK)

I have posted a rudimentary (and likely incomplete) list of radio stations that carry the Kentucky Focus program. Please contact me if you have additional information about when and where the Kentucky Focus program airs.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Jeremy Horton of Change For Kentucky joins the program, as does Kentucky Republican Party Chairman Darrell Brock, Jr.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

State Treasurer Jonathan Miller comes to talk about the embattled Kentucky Affordable Prepaid Tuition (KAPT) program. The state-run college tuition program is now the subject of a lawsuit in Frankfort.

Conservative blogger and radio host David Adams joins the program to declare the flaws in KAPT and defend the actions of legislators to end enrollment in the program.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine Chao joins the program to talk about Social Security reform.

And Richard Mitchell joins the program to promote a living wage for Lexington.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Charles Wells of the Kentucky Association of State Employees joins the program to talk about the poor record of privatization across the United States.

Rick Bell of the U.S. Marine Hospital Foundation joins the program to talk about saving one of Louisville's most historic structures, a maritime hospital designed by the first truly American-trained architect Robert Mills.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Education Researcher Richard Innes says Kentucky's CATS scores are yielding some strange results worthy of further scrutiny. State Senator Daniel Mongiardo has high hopes for his E-Health bill, signed into law in March. He's not so happy about the state budget.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Conservative blogger David Adams joins the program to talk about tax reform, the state budget and Social Security.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo joins the program to talk about prosecutors' expanding caseloads. He recently commissioned a report ( http://www.ag.ky.gov/brc.pdf ) to look into the causes of and solutions to a rapid rise in cases handled by prosecutors and public defenders alike.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Scott Bullock of the Institute for Justice joins the program. He recently argued a massive eminent domain case before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ken Hines, research director for the Kentucky Education Assocation, will talk about the state budget and student testing.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

President Bush brings his plan for Social Security reform to the Kentucky Center for the Arts in downtown Louisville.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

State Senator Daniel Mongiardo talks about the state budget and education researcher Richard Innes discusses Kentucky's disappointing high school graduation rate and why ACT scores haven't improved.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Deb Miller with Kentucky Youth Advocates talks about the state budget and spending and taxing priorities. Meanwhile, the creators of Lebowskifest, Will Russell and Scott Shuffit stop by to talk about the next Lebowskifest in Los Angeles.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

U.S. Senator Jim Bunning and Charlie Casper of Kentuckians Against Taxes

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

Ben Carter of Bluegrassroots.org talks about blogging, the Democratic Party of Kentucky and the state budget.

Kentucky Focus (MP3 LINK)

State Senator Joey Pendleton and Aaron Morris of the Bluegrass Institute join the program.