News Analysis: Ukraine vote draws lines for Senate race between Thomas Massie, Andy Barr
By Al Cross Special to NKyTribune Kentucky’s congressional Republicans were deeply divided on aid to Ukraine, setting the stage for…
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Opinion – Al Cross: The political life and lessons of George Atkins, who died April 14 at age 82
George L. Atkins Jr., who died April 14 at age 82, was a politician for barely a decade. But he…
Opinion – Al Cross: Do Kentucky legislators serve our well-being?
In a republic, the form of government that the U.S. Constitution prescribes for states, the will of the people is…
Opinion – Al Cross: A trial balance on the legislature — Political agendas prevail
When the legendary Allan Trout was chief of The Courier-Journal’s Frankfort Bureau, he liked to work up “trial balances” on…
Opinion — Al Cross: Why is McConnell supporting Trump? It’s business.
Are you trying to understand why Mitch McConnell would endorse Donald Trump for president, after blaming Trump for provoking the…
Opinion – Al Cross: McConnell gives way to Trump, but will he still endorse him?
When Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday that he would not run again for Senate Republican leader, he tacitly acknowledged that he…
Opinion – Al Cross: On Ukraine aid, McConnell acted on principle, not politics
When the Senate voted 70-29 Tuesday to send more aid to Ukraine, Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was in the majority…
Opinion – Al Cross: McConnell meets another legacy moment
When Mitch McConnell kept the Supreme Court from going liberal, then worked with Donald Trump to remake it and other…
Opinion – Al Cross: Republicans, it’s time to stop sniveling about 2020 election, follow the right leaders
The tableau in the rotunda of the state Capitol on the year’s first day of business was, for a moment,…
Incoming AG Russell Coleman appoints new head of opioid abatement commission, Christopher Evans
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News The main proponent of using state opioid-settlement money to fund research into a psychdelic…
Op-Ed – Al Cross: The tradition continues — fanciful, pointed Christmas presents for Kentucky politicians
The notion of giving fanciful but pointed presents to public figures at Christmastime is an old one, established in Kentucky…
Op-Ed – Al Cross: Former Kentucky Governor Julian Carroll’s life traced decades of Kentucky politics
Every life has lessons. The life of former Gov. Julian Carroll, which ended Sunday, had plenty of lessons in its…
Steven Stack serves as master of ceremonies for private Beshear swearing-in, praises pandemic work
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News State Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack was master of ceremonies for Gov. Andy Beshear’s…
Op-Ed – Al Cross: Where do Beshear and Cameron go from here?
Kentucky voters gave Andy Beshear another four-year term as governor. What will he do with it? The answers may conflict…
Op-Ed – Al Cross: Among all the candidates, who will get the most votes?
Perhaps the most telling TV commercial of this year’s campaigns comes from Secretary of State Michael Adams, the only Republican…
Al Cross: Can Cameron get voters to pay attention? Will he play the Trump card?
As it nears its final fortnight, the Kentucky governor’s race might seem one of the biggest wastes of money in…
Al Cross: Candidates try to have it both ways on abortion
Two months ago, I began gathering string to write about abortion and Attorney General Daniel Cameron, after he seemed to…
Al Cross: Brereton Jones leaves lessons for reformist politicians
Kentucky never had a governor quite like Brereton Jones, who died Monday, and it may never again. His legacy is…
Al Cross: Tell us more, Mitch and Joe
Mitch McConnell, who has a policy of saying little, is exactly nine months older than Joe Biden, who says too…
Al Cross: Do you know what your members of Congress are doing?
Republicans snubbed Hal Rogers, more than once. They treated Thomas Massie more roughly. Brett Guthrie deferred his dream. James Comer…
Benjy Hamm: New director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues ponders new role
The media world has changed significantly since Al Cross began serving as the first director of the Institute for Rural…
Al Cross: The race for governor; will culture trump politics again?
The first faceoff of the candidates for governor, at last Saturday’s Fancy Farm Picnic, brought the race into clearer focus….