Sylvia Goodman
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sylviaruthg.lpm.org
Sylvia Goodman
@sylviaruthg.lpm.org
Ky Capitol reporter @kentuckypublicradio.org ~ prev @chronicle.com @wbez.org @chicagotribune.com ~ she/her

send tips to sgoodman@lpm.org
Paul v. McConnell, Kentucky's two senators ... and we are on a short timeline for this CR folks! The voting margins are real tight in the Senate
Rand Paul is seeking an amendment to remove McConnell’s hemp language.

These two have had quite a roller coaster of a relationship over the past 16 years
November 10, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Latest from @justinhicks.lpm.org and @joesonka.lpm.org , a close witness to the UPS plane crash yesterday evening recounts what he saw

www.lpm.org/news/2025-11...
Louisville shop owner recounts UPS plane crashing, trapping employees on property
The owner of a truck service shop was next door to the fiery and deadly UPS crash in Louisville on Tuesday, trapped on the property for hours.
www.lpm.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
Kentucky Congressman Brett Guthrie told an audience in his district that the GOP won't blink first in government shutdown stalemate over health insurance tax credits. From WKU:
Rep. Brett Guthrie suggests GOP won't blink first in government shutdown stalemate over health care
Republican Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky says Democrats must vote for agovernment reopening before his party will negotiate Affordable Care Act tax credits.Guthrie held a round table discussio...
www.wkyufm.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
FYI we have a court update but I'm not really sure what this will mean for folks in the short term. Judge is requesting a plan/timeline on Monday and we have no sense at what point benefits will actually go out to states to distribute from those emergency funds

www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Kentucky food pantries call for community support ahead of SNAP cliff — latest from me

www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
Kentucky food pantries call for community support ahead of SNAP cliff
Kentucky Public Radio spoke with food banks across the state bracing for a surge in clients ahead of the Nov. 1 suspension of federal food assistance.
www.lpm.org
October 30, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Another killer report from @justinhicks.lpm.org. These are based on the actual estimates that Kentuckians in these circumstances are getting averaged across all 120 counties

Looks real bad if you're 60+ I'll tell you that much
October 30, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
With federal subsidies set to expire unless Congress acts quickly, Kentucky Public Radio analyzed quotes from the state’s health insurance marketplace and found premium increases ranging from 60% to 600% compared to 2025. From @justinhicks.lpm.org
Many Kentuckians to pay hundreds or even thousands more for health insurance next year
Kentucky Public Radio analyzed quotes from the state’s health insurance marketplace and found premium increases ranging from 60% to 600% compared to 2025.
www.lpm.org
October 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
Student journalists in Appalachia! 🚨 PAID writing opportunity before end of the semester: 100 Days in Appalachia is assembling a series of dispatches on the biggest issues facing campuses. Pieces are short, not as heavy a lift reporting-wise. Email rainesford.alexandra@gmail.com & I'll share info.
October 21, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Fascinating report from @joesonka.lpm.org. Petition filed to impeach Kentucky Justice Goodwine over alleged conflicts (and it cites some of Joe's previous reporting)

www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
Petition filed to impeach Kentucky Justice Goodwine over alleged conflicts
The impeachment petition alleges Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goodwine should have recused herself from an education case she granted a rehearing for.
www.lpm.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I’ve been calling food banks around the state (and I’m not just talking Louisville or Lexington) to hear about the needs of different communities and, honestly, hear the fears of people who’ve dedicated years to feeding ether hungry as Nov 1 approaches

Read below and know that there’s more TK
October 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Great story from @sarahelizabethladd.bsky.social this morning

‘Every penny counts’ for Kentucky kinship care families about to see benefits cut kentuckylantern.com/2025/10/27/e...
‘Every penny counts’ for Kentucky kinship care families about to see benefits cut • Kentucky Lantern
Life feels “scary” right now for a Hardin County grandmother raising four minor grandchildren. It could get even scarier soon.
kentuckylantern.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Latest from me: The Jefferson County Republican party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epithets. www.lpm.org/news/2025-10...
GOP candidate for Kentucky Senate defends, then deletes ‘rant’ against millennial ‘skanks’
The Jefferson County Republican Party has selected a candidate for a special election in Louisville’s South End that railed against the women of his generation through online posts, using vulgar epith...
www.lpm.org
October 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
The proposed settlement between the Kentucky attorney general and the state’s largest electric utility company would cut their proposed electricity rate increases in half.
Kentucky AG settlement with state's largest electric utility would lessen rate increases
The proposed settlement between the Kentucky attorney general and the state’s largest electric utility company would cut proposed electricity rate increases in half.
www.lpm.org
October 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Believe me, if you’re on the marketplace odds are you’re seeing an increase, even if you didn’t qualify for the subsidy. DM me or Joe — we want to hear from you!
Any Kentuckians out there have individual or family private health insurance on the kynect marketplace and are concerned about federal subsidies vanishing? Hit up my DMs.
October 21, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.

I glanced down at the message.

“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.

So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.

www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
October 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
New: a KY state rep from Louisville is serving 10 days of home incarceration this week for a 2024 DUI arrest (her 2nd offense).

She was granted work release & has some committee meetings this week.

www.kentucky.com/news/politic...
Kentucky Democratic state representative on house arrest for 2024 DUI incident
Rep. Beverly Chester-Burton was sentenced to 10 days of home incarceration with work release for her second DUI arrest in 2024.
www.kentucky.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:37 PM
This has been quite the saga to follow. We’re still missing some details here but the budget memo shows the administration moving money around to fill the gap in the senior meals program
October 17, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
The first time I saw this image, I knew I had to write about this piece of Kentucky history. Sonya Lea’s new book is a bracing, deep look into a troubling case and an invitation to think deeply about the justice system in our country.
October 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
Democrat Amy McGrath, who has lost two high-profile races for Congress, announced another bid for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open seat Monday. From @sylviaruthg.lpm.org #kysen
Amy McGrath announces another bid for US Senate in Kentucky
Democrat Amy McGrath, who has lost two high-profile races for Congress, announced a bid for Sen. Mitch McConnell’s open seat Monday.
www.lpm.org
October 6, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
Good investigation here from @sylviaruthg.lpm.org on how Kentucky state gov., under Gov. Andy Beshear, has kicked people off SNAP food benefits b/c of their pattern of shopping transactions - even though judges & legal experts say that type of evidence is not enough to prove fraud.
Kentucky has kicked people off of food benefits using data that doesn’t tell the full story
With food insecurity rising, Kentucky continues to aggressively investigate individuals on fraud allegations, with some legal experts claiming they rely too much on faulty evidence.
www.lpm.org
September 30, 2025 at 2:03 PM
After searching through court and state records, a pattern is clear. Kentucky swiftly stepped up SNAP disqualifications in 2016 and a review of several cases from 2020 onward shows a heavily reliance on suspicious shopping patterns to accuse people of selling benefits

apnews.com/article/food...
Kentucky has kicked people off food benefits using data that doesn’t tell the full story
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services has brought hundreds of fraud cases in the last five years that are heavily reliant on transactional data with the goal of revoking people’s federal...
apnews.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
Kentucky GOP Congressman Thomas Massie is facing attacks from President Donald Trump, but was lent a hand by Sen. Rand Paul in a six-stop tour through his district. www.lpm.org/news/2025-09...
Targeted by Trump, Rep. Thomas Massie teams up with Rand Paul for district tour
Kentucky GOP Congressman Thomas Massie is facing attacks from President Donald Trump, but was lent a hand by Sen. Rand Paul in a six-stop tour through his district.
www.lpm.org
September 29, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Some may be shocked to know that I ask more than one question a week as a reporter
Reminder for who needs reminding: Government officials only answering one question from you, once a week, in person, is not transparency.
September 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The senior meal delivery and congregate meal programs dramatically expanded during COVID

This is essentially a return to pre-pandemic levels… which means a lot of seniors will go back on waiting lists
Citing a budget shortfall, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration told area development districts that distribute senior nutrition support they would not be able to maintain higher funding levels. That means 1000s of seniors will likely go back on waitlists for meals. From @sylviaruthg.lpm.org
Thousands of senior Kentuckians likely to go back on the waitlist for meal support
Kentucky officials told agencies that provide senior nutrition programs that they will no longer receive a higher level of support that allowed them to eliminate waitlists.
www.lpm.org
September 19, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Sylvia Goodman
Out of Kentucky’s 120 counties, one in six has had a sheriff criminally charged or convicted since 2010.

Some of those sheriffs remain in office.

Read part one of my @courierjournal investigation:

www.courier-journal.com/story/news/i...
'Beholden to no one': Kentucky sheriffs remain in office despite criminal charges, convictions
A Courier Journal investigation found one in six Kentucky counties has had a sheriff criminally charged since 2010. Some remain in office.
www.courier-journal.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM