SUMMARY: Mayor Randall Wed of London is responding to accusations on social media amid ongoing controversies, including two recent defamation lawsuits filed against him by attorney Brandon Vulker. At a news conference, Wed expressed his determination to fight what he calls a corrupt system, asserting his character is being unjustly questioned. He and his attorney presented nearly 100 pages of documents aimed at proving the truth of his statements. They demand that the lawsuits be withdrawn by Friday, warning of potential counterclaims if not. Wed maintains these actions are distractions for the citizens of London and Laurel County.

The mayor’s appearance on True Crimecast’s “The End of Deep Corruption” has led to two defamation lawsuits being filed only a week from one another.

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SUMMARY: A bill introduced in Kentucky, House Bill 700, aims to protect wild deer and elk from chronic wasting disease (CWD). The bill outlines measures to prevent the spread of CWD, such as designating a surveillance zone around areas with CWD detections. It also restricts the movement of captive deer and deer relatives, with exceptions for parts and breeding within the facility. The bill includes provisions for a secondary fence buffer between wild and captive herds, allowing movement within the state if built before a CWD detection. The bill is awaiting a vote in the House.

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Bill advances to ensure auditor has access to information about child, elder abuse complaints

by Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern
February 27, 2025

FRANKFORT — A Kentucky bill that is expected to officially close a monthslong dispute between Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services and Auditor Allison Ball’s Office of the Ombudsman is almost law. 

The House Families and Children Committee approved Senate Bill 85, which clarifies the ombudsman gets “any software and access rights.” 

The auditor has fought in court for access to a database the ombudsman needs to investigate complaints about the cabinet. The two offices interpreted the law regarding who had access to the database differently, which led to mediation and a court order allowing read-only access. 

Lawmakers move to ensure info is available to investigate complaints against state cabinet

Several Democrats passed on the vote — Reps. Tina Bojanowski, Rachel Roarx and Sarah Stalker.

“We did reach a resolution temporarily, with the understanding that we would come back before you to make sure the language is abundantly, 100%, no-way-around-it clear that we have access to that database,” Ball said in committee. “This is cleaning up that problem.” 

The dispute that led to the bill 

Ball’s office assumed oversight of the ombudsman from the cabinet on July 1, thanks to a law enacted in 2023 by the legislature, Senate Bill 48.  

The ombudsman’s job is to investigate and resolve complaints about agencies in the cabinet, including protective services for children and elderly Kentuckians. 

Those in favor of moving the ombudsman to the auditor and out of the cabinet said it was a conflict of interest for the cabinet to investigate complaints made about themselves. 

Despite the transfer, Ball’s office did not get immediate access to a computer system called iTWIST, which stores information about abuse and neglect cases. 

The ombudsman can’t do his job without access to iTWIST, (the Workers Information System), Ball has said. 

Ball eventually filed a lawsuit for the access, and the case was mediated and eventually settled in Franklin Circuit Court in late 2024. At that time, Judge Phillip Shepherd also said the legislature and the parties would work during the 2025 session to codify any needed clarification. 

SB 85 is that clarification. Should the bill pass on the House floor, where it heads next, it can head to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk for a signature or veto. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Stephen Meredith, R-Leitchfield, has an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately upon becoming law. 

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com.

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