Opinion

 Who could have anticipated the far-reaching consequences of the 1845 removal of a water pump from a contaminated well in Soho Square, London England, by Dr. John Snow?

With this simple intervention he halted an epidemic of cholera and proved the well to be the source of infection before the days of bacteriology. 

This was the birth of public health.

Kentucky’s own public health began in a similar manner in 1875 during a response to a yellow fever outbreak. 

 WASHINGTON – With tax season in full swing, the Justice Department urged the public today to avoid dishonest tax-return preparers who fleece their customers and illegally drain the U.S. Treasury.  Noting that every taxpayer is ultimately responsible for the contents of his or her own return, Acting Assistant Attorney General Caroline D. Ciraolo of the Tax Division also warned the public to be wary of anyone who guarantees a refund or who claims to sell a sure-fire way to reduce your taxes.

  We’re in the homestretch of the 2016 session of the Kentucky General Assembly with just a handful of days to go, but as all good horse-racing fans know, the last quarter mile can often seem the longest and most difficult.

The process is working as expected, though, as members appointed by senior leadership in both the House and Senate continue to seek a compromise on the state’s next two-year budget in a conference committee delegated to that task. At issue are the considerable differences in the two spending plans recently passed in each chamber.

 FRANKFORT- The focal point of the 2016 Legislative Session is the Executive Branch budget, which took one more step last week in the legislative process as it passed out of the Kentucky House of Representatives on a strict party line vote. 

Due to several differences from the plan proposed by our caucus earlier this week, some good and some bad, all of our members refrained from casting a vote during this initial round.

 As a school community, we have a lot to be happy about. 

We have great schools filled with bright, energetic teachers; thoughtful, dedicated leaders; well mannered, curious, and motivated students; superior support staff; and wonderful volunteers. 

Our facilities are in very good, bordering on great, shape. Our transportation fleet is safe, efficient, and effective. 

Our assessment results are on the rise - moving up 68 places in just eight years and surpassing many traditionally high performing school districts. 

 I am pleased to report that the House’s budget process is on track and on time, with a vote on our proposal for the state’s next two-year spending plan expected early next week.

While final details are still being ironed out, I can assure you that we will present a fiscally responsible plan that will take into account the considerable revenue growth the Commonwealth is experiencing -- including more than $908 million expected between now and the end of fiscal year 2018.

 See the latest scams in BBB’s March 2016 Hot Topics

1.    Local consumers are receiving postcards from the Compliance Division. The postcard says to “please call immediately” to avoid potential fees or penalties. A local consumer said he called and was told to pay $70 in order to “clear up a matter.” This is a scam. 

 As citizens of this Commonwealth, state universities play a huge role in our lives, not only through our love of college sports but also the important job of educating our children. 

Unfortunately, time and time again we hear the struggles of students who are drowning in debt because of student loans they simply cannot pay back. 

Nationally, students owe over $1.3 trillion dollars in debt.

 If you are a member of Bullitt Fiscal Court, you have a difficult decision to make on this Wednesday morning.

Do I take hold of a situation that really isn’t all my responsibility and agree to pay over $638,000 to the state of Kentucky to resolve a deficit incurred by the sheriff’s office over the past five years?

Or do I not pay the 34 monthly installments of $14,000 and a final balloon payment of nearly $163,000 and risk the loss of regular law enforcement patrol by the sheriff’s office?