ICYMI: HIGDON CALLS ON BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT HEALTHCARE COVERAGE FOR STATE AND PUBLIC EDUCATION RETIREES FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 22, 2026) — Sen. Jimmy Higdon, R-Lebanon, co-chair of the Public Pension Oversight Board, issued the following statement calling on the Beshear administration to revise a 2027 enrollment policy that could leave retired Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan (KEHP) participants without coverage if they miss open enrollment. “A missed enrollment notice should not become a decision to give up health insurance for those who are retired. That is the risk that the Personnel Cabinet’s policy poses to retired state and school employees who depend on this coverage. “People have a responsibility to complete their enrollment, and I urge everyone to do so. This policy also applies to active state and school employees, but they are at work and will receive updates and notifications from human resources. “The standard isn’t the same for our retired state workers and teachers, and this policy errs in classifying them the same. “An illness, a family emergency or an overlooked notice can cause someone to miss a deadline. Losing health coverage is a serious consequence, especially for a retiree who is not eligible for Medicare. “I am asking Gov. Beshear and the Personnel Cabinet to reconsider this policy and delay implementation for one year. That is a reasonable alternative that will ensure our retirees will not lose their health insurance. “As co-chair of the Public Pension Oversight Board, I want to encourage state employees and teachers—retired or active—to please make every effort to complete your enrollment this October. Follow the instructions from your employer or retirement system and keep confirmation that your enrollment went through. Do not assume your current coverage will carry forward or that this policy will be corrected. “I will continue working to protect employees and retirees from an avoidable loss of health insurance, and am hopeful the administration will remove this unnecessary difficulty for our retirees who have earned the benefits they receive.” ___ BACKGROUND The Personnel Cabinet’s 2027 Benefits Selection Guide says participants who do not enroll or waive coverage will have no coverage or waiver Health Reimbursement Arrangement for the plan year beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The general enrollment window is Oct. 5–26, 2026. The Teachers’ Retirement System lists those dates for its KEHP retirees. Kentucky Public Pensions Authority non-Medicare retirees enroll Oct. 1–31. For 2026, participants generally could keep their existing health plan without re-enrolling. The 2027 requirement makes it important to follow the instructions for the applicable employer or retirement system. Participants who need assistance should contact their employer or retirement system. The Personnel Cabinet lists 502-564-6534 for KEHP coverage and benefits questions. The cabinet’s April 29 memo sets Dec. 15 as the deadline for signed enrollment exception requests and says requests will not be reviewed after the plan year begins. Higdon is seeking clarification of the safeguards available to affected participants. This topic was discussed during Tuesday’s Public Pension Oversight Board meeting. You can find playback of that meeting using the link in the thread below. ###

SEN. ADAMS JOINS FAMILY TO HONOR FALLEN LMPD OFFICER PETER GRIGNON AT MEMORIAL HIGHWAY Adams-sponsored designation ensures fallen officer’s service and sacrifice remain part of the community he served FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 22, 2026)—Sen. Julie Raque Adams, R-Louisville, joined the family of fallen Louisville Metro Police Officer Peter Grignon on Monday at the newly installed Officer Peter Grignon Memorial Highway sign in Louisville, marking a permanent tribute to an officer who gave his life serving the community. Adams sponsored the memorial highway designation during the 2026 Regular Session. Senate Joint Resolution 139 designated a portion of U.S. 60A in Jefferson County as the “Officer Peter Grignon Memorial Highway” and directed the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to erect signs recognizing Grignon. “Peter Grignon answered a calling he had carried with him for much of his life, and he ultimately gave his life protecting others,” Adams said. “More than 20 years have passed since we lost him, but time does not diminish his sacrifice or what his loss meant to his family, his fellow officers and this community. I was honored to stand with his family and to see his name permanently placed along a roadway in the community he served. My hope is that every person who passes this sign will have an opportunity to see Peter’s name, remember his service and understand that Kentucky has not forgotten him.” Grignon was 27 years old and had served with LMPD for two years when he was killed in the line of duty on March 23, 2005. He was responding to a call on Accasia Drive involving a vehicle that had driven through a homeowner’s yard. After locating the suspected vehicle burning nearby, Grignon encountered two individuals and was shot. He was transported to University Hospital, where he died from his injuries. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in police administration, Grignon had a lifelong ambition to become a police officer. He was assigned to LMPD’s Second Division and had celebrated his first wedding anniversary only days before his death. His loss also helped spur the establishment of the Louisville Metro Police Foundation, which has continued supporting LMPD officers and their families through equipment, training and support programs. The Officer Peter Grignon Memorial Highway designation covers U.S. 60A in Jefferson County from its intersection with Kentucky Route 61 to its intersection with Kentucky Route 864. “Road signs cannot repay a family for the person they lost, and they cannot fully capture the life behind the name,” Adams said. “But they can make sure we remember. Peter’s name will now remain visible in Louisville for generations to come, and so will the reminder that behind that name was a husband, a son, a brother and a police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice.” ###

STIVERS JOINS BOONEVILLE LEADERS FOR THE NEST BOX GRAND OPENING Farm-to-table café is the latest business to advance downtown Booneville’s revitalization FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2026) — Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, joined Booneville Mayor Nelson Bobrowski and local business owners Thursday to celebrate the continued revitalization of downtown Booneville at the grand opening and ribbon-cutting of The Nest Box. Owned by Andee and Lindsey Stevens, The Nest Box is a new farm-to-table café featuring food grown at the couple’s Happy Hens Homestead family farm and products from other local farms. The farm is rooted in generations of Lindsey’s family history in Owsley County. “Downtowns are at their best when people have a reason to live, work, shop and start a business there,” Stivers said. “The Nest Box is a great example of local entrepreneurs seeing an opportunity and investing in their hometown. That kind of commitment is what creates jobs, strengthens communities and gives people a reason to stay close to home.” Booneville leaders have made a concerted effort to revitalize the downtown area, creating opportunities for new businesses and local employment. Recent additions include Booneville Cycle, R&R Cutlery, Abdeil’s Barbershop and La Taqueria Cantina, a food truck operating on city-owned property with plans to explore a permanent location. “Our goal has been to make downtown Booneville a place where people want to come, stay and invest,” said Bobrowski. “The Nest Box is exactly the kind of local business that brings new energy downtown while showcasing what makes our community special. We’re proud to welcome Andee and Lindsey and look forward to seeing their business grow.” For Andee Stevens, opening the cafe's doors was like opening arms to a friend. “We’re excited to open The Nest Box and share food from our farm and other local farms with our community,” said Andee Stevens. “Booneville has given us the opportunity to build something here at home, and we’re grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way.” For Lindsey Stevens, The Nest Box is a dream come true for her deep Booneville and Owsley County roots. “This community and my family’s history here mean so much to me, so bringing our farm and business into downtown Booneville is especially meaningful,” said Lindsey Stevens. We hope The Nest Box becomes a place where people can gather, enjoy good food and experience what Owsley County has to offer.” ###

Before Kentucky was a state, the U.S. Constitution had already established a duty for its future lawmakers, governors and judges. The document signed Sept. 17, 1787, specifically requires state legislators to take an oath or affirmation “to support this Constitution.” That obligation appears in Article VI. Kentucky would not join the Union until 1792. The people who craft, execute and review laws must answer to a higher law themselves. The Constitution divides federal power among branches, places limits on government and provides a process for amendments. An election changes who exercises authority, but it does not erase the boundaries around that authority. Kentucky’s own Constitution makes the principle especially clear. Section 2 rejects absolute and arbitrary power over people’s lives, liberty and property, “not even in the largest majority.” On Constitution Day, we encourage Kentuckians to read beyond the familiar opening words. Look at the powers granted, the powers withheld and the obligations placed on those who serve you within their respective capacity. Happy Constitution Day!

Kentucky has lost one of its best reporters and one of its finest people. Mark Vanderhoff was a consummate professional who seemed born to do the job he did. He listened with real interest, treated people with respect and cared about telling their stories well. Our Senate Majority Caucus members and staff had the privilege of seeing those qualities in our work with him. Mark helped bring the work of the Kentucky General Assembly into Kentuckians’ homes, helping people understand the decisions that affect their lives. We appreciated the care he brought to that responsibility. Just as much, we appreciated the person we got to work with along the way. There is a particular sadness in knowing that he will no longer be here to ask the next question. We will miss him, and our hearts are with his family as they face a loss far deeper than ours. Our heartfelt condolences go to Mark’s wife, his two children, his parents and his entire family, as well as his colleagues at @WLKY and all who loved him. Thank you, Mark, for the stories, the conversations and the memories. We are grateful our work brought us together. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that you consider a contribution to one of the charities that supported them during his illness. You can find those organizations in the obituary linked in the thread below.