From Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeighA bill that would make radical changes to the Kentucky Education Reform Act of 1990 is now awaiting a Senate floor vote. The measure, sponsored by Senate Republican leaders, cleared the Senate Education Committee 9-5 Thursday. Among its opponents is Louisville Senator Gerald Neal. "I do think that it’s not prudent to go headlong into change that has all kinds of implications unless we clearly understand what the basis is in a way that we can reasonably calculate success in reaching those objectives," Neal said.Supporters say Senate Bill 1 would reduce student testing time and costs and provide more classroom hours for participation in the performance arts. Governor Steve Beshear has promised to veto the measure if it wins legislative approval.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.