Governor readies for Medicaid legal challenge

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s Republican governor says he will shut down the state’s expanded Medicaid program, denying its coverage to more than 400,000 people, if the courts stop his plan for some people to work to keep their health benefits.

Friday, the federal government approved Gov. Matt Bevin’s plan to impose work requirements on some Medicaid recipients. Bevin also issued an executive order directing his administration to end the program should any part of his plan be struck down by the courts.

Kentucky expanded its Medicaid program in 2014 to include able-bodied adults of certain income levels. Bevin says it’s too expensive to continue without his changes.

State attorneys general sue to block net-neutrality repeal

NEW YORK (AP) — A group of attorneys general for 21 states and the District of Columbia has sued to block the Federal Communications Commission’s repeal of net-neutrality rules .

These rules barred companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from interfering with internet traffic and favoring their own sites and apps. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s push to undo them inspired both street and online protests in defense of the Obama-era rules.

New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman, who is leading the suit, said Tuesday that the end of the net neutrality rules would hurt consumers and businesses.

Tech companies and public-interest groups are also expected to file suit or help with litigation against the repeal.

Ky. attorney general touts new office website

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s attorney general says his office has a new website to enhance access for people seeking information and services from the office.

Andy Beshear says the new website will help Kentuckians interact with his office on such issues as combating drug addiction and child abuse and protecting older people from scams.

Beshear says the revised ag.ky.gov also offers information on his office’s contracts and instructions on how to submit open records requests electronically.

He says the Fighting Drug Abuse portion of the website helps Kentuckians learn how the AG’s office is working to help tackle drug addiction problems in the state.

State’s ag commissioner to discuss anti-hunger efforts

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The McConnell Center at the University of Louisville is starting its latest lecture series with a discussion about hunger in Kentucky.

The center says state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles will give a free, public talk on the subject on Jan. 24 at the Ekstrom Library’s Chao Auditorium on the UofL campus.

Quarles’ talk will cover a range of public policy issues, including the role of health care and education in rural and urban parts of Kentucky.

Quarles formed the Kentucky Hunger Initiative, which is an effort to bring together farmers, charitable organizations, faith groups, community leaders and government officials to help reduce hunger in the state.

According to a 2016 study by Feeding America, 17 percent of Kentuckians struggle with hunger.

Officials: Small earthquake felt in Missouri, Tennessee

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey says a 3.6 magnitude earthquake has been recorded in southeastern Missouri.

The survey says the earthquake struck Tuesday more than 2 miles (4 kilometers) southwest of Caruthersville, Missouri.

No damage has been reported, but the survey reports the quake also was felt in parts of West Tennessee, northeast Arkansas and western Kentucky.

Caruthersville is in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, where a series of large earthquakes took place from December 1811 to February 1812.