Al Cross: General Assembly writes the script for the upcoming governor’s race
The end of this year’s session of the General Assembly marks the start of next year’s race for governor. Democratic…
Al Cross
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Amye Bensenhaver: The public is also at fault for allowing our lawmakers to evade accountability
Compounding the problems veteran political writer Al Cross identifies in his recent column in The NKyTribune — aptly titled, “Kentucky…
Al Cross: Kentucky legislature does a lot of big things without a lot of scrutiny
They cut taxes, big time. They agreed on the state’s basic policy document, the budget for the next two years,…
Pandemic numbers approaching levels seen before Omicron variant surge; positivity rate at 2.29 percent
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News The pandemic in Kentucky has declined to levels not seen since early last summer,…
Al Cross: This isn’t prime time for the ‘Entertainment Wing’ of the GOP
The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s annual public-affairs dinner is usually a chance for the governor and legislative leaders to have…
Al Cross: What will be final line in Mitch McConnell’s legacy? He celebrates 80th birthday on Sunday
Sunday is the 80th birthday of Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s most accomplished politician save Henry Clay. McConnell has often cited Clay…
Al Cross: Larry Forgy, who died this week at 82, showed promise, pitfalls of campaign finance reform
Larry Forgy, who died Thursday at 82, will be remembered by fellow Republicans as the one-time whiz kid who blew…
Al Cross: Kentucky officeholders use their power, official and unofficial
The use of power in American politics is a subject of much study. In the last week or so, we’ve…
Al Cross: Is our democracy in danger? Mitch McConnell doesn’t seem to think so
This is the week of Jan. 6, so we’re hearing a lot about democracy. In Kentucky, it ramped up Tuesday,…
As COVID cases surge across the country, Kentucky cases lag; threat looms and vaccinations are the key
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News As the United States sees the highest number of new cases of the coronavirus…
Al Cross: A tradition continues with Christmas gifts for Kentucky politicians
Forty years ago this week, Ed Ryan, as chief of the Courier-Journal Frankfort Bureau, began the annual tradition of bestowing…
Al Cross: Two years on, Andy Beshear has beaten expectations and the public gives him good marks
Two years ago Friday, Kentucky inaugurated the nation’s second-youngest governor, a lawyer just turned 42. Andy Beshear lacked the experience…
Al Cross: Is there any room remaining in politics for nice guys like Larry Hopkins?
The devolution of American politics, led by the Republican caucus in the U.S. House, can be told in the stories…
New cases of coronavirus keep falling in Kentucky, but state’s hospital ICUs remain near capacity
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News Fewer people are getting the coronavirus in Kentucky, and the state’s hospitals have fewer…
Al Cross: As most see democracy threatened, KY’s election chief says keep calm and listen
Millions of Americans went to the polls this week, no longer confident that their votes would be accurately counted, because…
Al Cross: McConnell must give senators go-ahead to disavow election laws built on Donald Trump’s lies
This column has never dealt at length with Donald Trump because it’s about Kentucky politics. But now, Kentuckians and our…
Al Cross: Questioning authority has become too much of a good thing, and it’s killing people
“It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.” – Benjamin Franklin Franklin may have said it first,…
Al Cross: Voting with their faces and making deadly decisions; the real issue is lack of political courage
When I was covering Kentucky politics for a living, I started a file folder labeled “Gutless Wonders.” It was about…
Stivers says legislature may allow school districts to determine mask policy, rather than follow state board
By Al Cross Kentucky Health News The Kentucky General Assembly may well let local school officials decide mask policy, rather…
Al Cross: Legislators get the power they wanted; now they must use it wisely and show courage
Permanent federal approval for one coronavirus vaccine Monday should have eliminated the arguments of some sadly misled, vaccine-hesitant Americans that…
Al Cross: Some Republicans sacrifice science on the altar of politics — and, here we are, on the brink of crisis
The pandemic has returned, perhaps stronger than ever, and the politics of it are more deadly than ever. Americans are…
Al Cross: Gov. Andy Beshear may be masking a reason for not going to Fancy Farm… masks
When Gov. Andy Beshear said he and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman wouldn’t attend the Aug. 7 Fancy Farm Picnic because…