SUMMARY: After a sunny Saturday and stormy Sunday, the workweek started dry and mild with temperatures around 60°F. Midweek brings scattered showers, especially Tuesday morning, with highs in the upper 50s. More rain is expected Wednesday, though temperatures will remain seasonable. Thursday looks drier with some sunshine. By the weekend, rain chances increase again, with a potentially strong storm system moving in by Sunday. The Storm Prediction Center has highlighted areas for elevated risks of severe storms. Stay tuned for updates on the evolving weather pattern as weekend plans may be affected.

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by Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern
March 24, 2025

Fulfilling a promise he made at this year’s Fairness Rally, Gov. Andy Beshear has vetoed a bill that would cancel his administration’s restrictions on conversion therapy and prohibit Medicaid from covering transgender-affirming medical care. 

The Republican-controlled legislature reconvenes on Thursday for the last two days of the 2025 legislative session, at which time lawmakers can easily override Beshear’s veto. 

In his veto letter, Beshear called House Bill 495 an “unconstitutional infringement” that “promotes a dangerous and discriminatory practice that has led to the deaths of Kentucky children.” 

Conversion therapy is a discredited practice that attempts to alter gender expression and sexual attraction that diverges from heterosexual normativity “with the specific aim to promote heterosexuality as a preferable outcome,” according to the The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.” 

In 2024, Beshear signed an executive order aimed at ending the practice on Kentucky minors. 

“Conversion therapy has no basis in medicine or science and causes significant long term damage to our kids, including increased rates of suicide, anxiety and depression,” he wrote in his veto message on HB 495. “As leaders and policy makers, we should be in the business of protecting our citizens and kids from harm, not subjecting them to discredited methods that jeopardize their health, well being and safety.” 

Beshear’s veto message did not mention the bill’s ban on Medicaid covering gender-affirming medical care. 

Read Beshear’s veto message

veto

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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SUMMARY: Kentucky defeated Illinois 84-75 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to their first Sweet Sixteen since 2019. Koby Brea led the Wildcats with 23 points, including 14 in the second half. Kentucky capitalized on 14 Illinois turnovers, scoring 26 points off them, and dominated with 12 steals. Head Coach Mark Pope is now 2-0 in the tournament with Kentucky. Amari Williams added 10 rebounds and six assists, while Lamont Butler contributed 14 points and five assists. The Wildcats will face Tennessee on March 28 in Indianapolis, a team they’ve beaten twice this season.

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