News and Events

Dunn Sees Alumni As Most Effective Lobbyists

Murray State University graduates are making a difference in Washington D.C. During a visit to Capitol Hill in September, MSU president Dr. Randy Dunn, vice president of institutional advancement Jim Carter , associate vice president of institutional advancement Bob Jackson, and regents Marilyn Buchanon, Beverly Ford, Alan Stout and Bill Adams, met with several MSU alumni working in government offices and agencies. The visit brought MSU representatives, alumni and Kentucky congressional members together to update and discuss the future of Murray State University. MORE

06-17-08: Special Session to begin June 23rd

(Frankfort, KY) Governor Steve Beshear today issued the call for a special session of the General Assembly to convene on Monday, June 23, 2008, to act on the state’s public pension crisis.

"The current condition of the public employee pension systems in Kentucky puts the retirement of Kentucky’s teachers, firefighters, police officers, emergency workers and city, county and state employees at risk,” said Gov. Beshear. “These people have worked hard and earned the right to be financially secure when they retire. The reforms that the House and Senate leadership and I have agreed to will go a long way toward placing the pension systems on a sound financial footing.”

Passage of pension reform legislation is projected to save nearly $500 million annually from the state’s and local governments’ obligations to fund the pension system. It is expected to provide approximately $56 million in immediate relief to county and city governments and school districts. The proposed legislation would also stop the costly practice of double dipping by state retirees.

Gov. Beshear also issued an Executive Order on May 29th that established a working group to study ways to improve investment return for pension funds and other unresolved issues. It is made up of experts from government, the private sector, cities and counties, and employee groups.

While states across the nation are facing similar pension liabilities, Gov. Beshear has received national attention for his work to resolve Kentucky ’s pension crisis. A June 12, 2008, USA Today article  stated: “This year, Kentucky is the only state taking a stab at restoring pension finances.” 

“I am pleased that our legislative leaders have taken their work seriously and agreement on key reform issues has been reached,” said Gov. Beshear.

Click here to view the proclamation.

04-16-08: General Assembly's 2008 session adjourns (from LRC)

(Frankfort, KY) State lawmakers have adjourned "sine die," bringing the Kentucky General Assembly's 2 008 session to a close.

Over the course of this year's 60-day legislative session, lawmakers considered more than 1,000 bills. More than 150 of those bills were approved and sent to the governor, including the budget bill that will guide state spending over the next two years. MORE

04-03-08: Final budget passed, heads to governor (from LRC)

Kentucky 's $19 billion budget has been sent to the governor's office after final passage late Wednesday night by the General Assembly.

The Senate passed House Bill 406, the state's two-year spending plan, on a 35-3 vote; the House followed suit on a 74-21 vote.

The final report, the result of a weeklong House-Senate conference, includes no new taxes, but restores most of the funding the governor proposed cutting in higher education. MORE

03-26-08: Senate pushes colleges to be "Kentucky Proud"

State universities would be encouraged to buy Kentucky-grown food whenever possible under legislation passed by the Senate today.

House Bill 484, sponsored by Rep. Dwight Butler, R-Harned, promotes use of locally-grown produce and other food products by public postsecondary institutions. If colleges and universities use a vendor or food service, they would be required to use Kentucky-produced food if it meets quality, price, and other requirements.

The bill, with Senate changes, now returns to the House for its concurrence.

03-24-08: Budget bill approved by Senate (from LRC)

(Frankfort) A budget plan tighter than the House version passed the Senate on a 36-2 vote today, paving the way for a conference committee to work out a compromise measure.

The Senate version of House Bill 406 included none of the revenue measures included in House Bill 262. "The budget we're proposing raises no taxes," said Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair Charlie Borders. "I think that's extremely important." MORE

03-13-08: State budget bill, revenue package pass House

A nearly $19 billion Executive Branch budget bill and $300 million revenue bill that would help to cover costs for education, health services and other areas over the next two years passed the Kentucky House today. MORE

03-11-08: House budget bill, revenue package pass out of committee

(Frankfort, KY) The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee passed a state Executive Branch budget bill today that would rely on an $800 million revenue package to meet the state's education, health services and other needs over the next two years.

"We can't get to the budget--as we currently have it--unless we pass this revenue measure," said committee chairman Rep. Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, the sponsor of the budget bill, House Bill 406. The revenue package is part of HB 262, sponsored by Rep. Jim Wayne, D-Louisville, which also passed the committee today. MORE

03-10-08: House passes energy incentives bill, 97-0

(Frankfort, KY) A bill that would provide tax incentives for energy-efficient improvements to homes and businesses cleared the Kentucky House by a 97-0 vote today.

House Bill 2, sponsored by House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Rocky Adkins, would offer limited nonrefundable tax credits for energy improvements including, but not limited to, insulation upgrades, solar and wind systems, energy efficient lighting or HVAC systems and purchase or construction of an "Energy Star" (federal Energy Star program) dwelling. MORE

03-07-08: This week in Frankfort

(Frankfort, KY) As the House this week made final preparations to vote on a two-year state budget -- a vote that could come early next week -- Gov. Steve Beshear reversed field dramatically and proposed raising Kentucky's cigarette tax by 70 cents a pack as part of a plan to plug $800 million into a budget that without new money faces $900 million in shortfalls. MORE

03-07-08: Senate approves school accountability changes

(Frankfort, KY) Significant changes to the state's school testing system were approved by the Senate today, sending the bill to the House after lengthy debate and a 22-15 vote.

Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, would replace the state's CATS testing system, which includes both multiple choice and open response questions, with nationally-normed multiple choice tests, including the ACT college entrance exam for high school students. The one exception would be humanities courses such as music and art, where multiple choice exams would be eliminated in favor of more performance-oriented assessment. MORE

03-06-08: Senate panel approves school testing reform

(Frankfort, KY) Substantial changes in how Kentucky schoolchildren are tested were approved today by the Senate Education Committee.

Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, would replace the state's CATS testing system with national tests, including the ACT college entrance exam at the high school level. While the CATS tests involve multiple-choice and on-demand writing skills, the new testing scheme would involve only multiple-choice questions. MORE

03-05-08: Energy bill sails through House committee

(Frankfort, KY) An energy bill that would provide tax credits to Kentuckians who improve the energy efficiency of their homes or businesses was passed today by the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee. MORE

03-04-08: Senate approves career, technical education plan

(Frankfort, KY) A broad plan aimed at slashing the state's dropout rate passed overwhelmingly in the Senate today.

Senate Bill 32, sponsored by Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, would entice students to stay in school by improving schools' career and technical education options. MORE

02-28-08: Pension Bill passes in the House (from LRC)

(Frankfort, KY) A major reform of the state's public-employee and teacher retirement systems -- systems beset with unfunded liabilities totaling billions of dollars -- passed the House unanimously this week, a week that also saw a constitutional amendment on casino gambling approved by a House committee. MORE

02-19-08: Senator brings gifts to Murray (from Murray Ledger and Times)

Today may be Mitch McConnell's birthday, but the day before it was the Kentucky senator who was doling out the gifts.

Before a large gathering at the former Miller Courthouse Annex building Tuesday afternoon, Sen. McConnell made two presentations to local officials. The first was $2 million for the Murray-Calloway County Economic Development Corp., geared toward developing 137 acres of land for a new industrial park. The other was for a computer-aided dispatch system for the Murray Police Department. MORE

02-01-08: Bill to reward schools with winning teachers approved

A state fund to provide extra money to schools with state or nationally-recognized teachers would be created under legislation that passed the House today.

House Bill 10, sponsored by House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, passed the House by a vote of 86-0. Should it pass into law, schools with teachers who have received a state or national financial award for their work would receive funds equal to that award from a newly created Kentucky educator award and recognition fund. The fund would match the educator's award dollar for dollar if funding is available, or prorate the matching funds if adequate funding is not available.

Moneys in the fund could come from a variety of sources-- including contributions and appropriations--although the bill itself does not include any money for the fund.

"There is no appropriation included in the bill," House Education Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Rasche, D-Paducah, told House members today. "We are simply setting up the mechanism."

The fund would be administered by the Kentucky Department of Education.

HB 10 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

02-01-08: Bill to fill need for vet services passes House

Legislation that would give veterinary technologists and technicians increased authority to administer drugs to animals and perform other procedures under a veterinarian's indirect supervision passed the House today by a vote of 87-0.

House Bill 329, sponsored by Rep. Don Pasley, D-Winchester, now goes to the Senate for its consideration. Should the bill pass, Pasley said veterinary techs could help fill a need for services that are now lacking due to a state shortage of veterinarians who treat large and mixed animals.

"It would allow veterinary techs to act much as our nurse practitioners do now," Pasley said.

Under HB 329, "indirect supervision" means a veterinarian has either given written or verbal instructions for treatment and "is readily available by telephone or other form of communication" for assistance.

As the 8th largest beef producing state in the country, Pasley said Kentucky needs more veterinary services for cattle and other large animals.

"Last year, there were 1,405 veterinarians nationwide graduated, yet only 197 of those went into large or mixed animal practice," said Pasley.

The increased authority that would be authorized under HB 329 for veterinary techs would not apply to veterinary assistants, who would only be allowed to work under a vet's direct supervision.

01-31-08: Bill to set new dropout rate goals passes House

Legislation that would set more aggressive goals to reduce the number of school dropouts in Kentucky over the next two years passed the House today by a vote of 93-1.

House Bill 294, sponsored by Rep. Frank Rasche, would require both the statewide dropout rate and dropout rates of individual schools be lowered by 2010. The statewide annual average dropout rate would have to be reduced by 70 percent of what it was in the year 2000, while the dropout rates of each school would be limited to an annual rate of no more than 4 percent.

School districts with the highest annual dropout rates and the greatest number of dropouts would be given priority for receiving dropout prevention grants from the state under the proposal, which would require that the grant money be used to discourage students at all grade levels from dropping out.

The state's current dropout reduction goal, which HB 294 amends, would have reduced the statewide rate by 50 percent of the 2000 rate and limited each school's annual rate to no more than five percent by 2006.

HB 294 now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

01-29-08: Panel approves scholarship offer extension

Students who have to delay their college education for military or public service would have more time to use state merit-based college scholarships earned in high school under a bill passed today by the House budget committee.

House Bill 120, sponsored by Rep. Richard Henderson, D-Jeffersonville, would extend eligibility for Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarships by the number of years the student was on active duty status. Students who served in the U.S. Public Health Service, Peace Corps and Americorps would also be eligible for the extension.

Currently, students are eligible to receive KEES money for no more than eight academic terms, except in special circumstances where the scholarships are extended. Students who had to delay their education to serve in the military, Public Health Service, Peace Corps or Americorps are giving a three-year extension to use their scholarship money upon their return.

That three year extension is not enough, according to Henderson .

"A person can be serving in Iraq in harm's way and lose their scholarship the way the law is now," he said. 

HB 120 now goes to the full House for a vote.

01-29-08: Budget Address at 7 p.m.

Gov. Steve Beshear will give his Budget Address during a joint session of the Kentucky General Assembly tonight at 7 p.m. (eastern) in the House chamber. The speech will be televised live on Kentucky Educational Television.

01-25-08: University financing legislation pass House A&R (from LRC)

Legislation that would give the state's colleges and universities more flexibility to finance their own building projects is on its way to the Senate.

The House approved House Bill 111 and HB 177 today by a vote of 91-0 and 90-0 respectively. Both bills are sponsored by Rep. Bob Damron, D-Nicholasville, who has filed legislation similar to HB 111 in three previous sessions. MORE

01-23-08: Education bills find approval in Senate A&R (from LRC)

(Frankfort, KY) Two bills designed to boost math and science education, along with two others focused on the use of KEES scholarship money, were passed unanimously by the Senate today. MORE

01-17-08: Financial literacy bill passes House, 91-0

Legislation that would require public colleges and universities to provide freshman and other new undergraduates with materials on managing credit card and other debt was passed today by the House.

House Bill 51, sponsored by Rep. Jim Glenn, D-Owensboro, passed 91-0 and now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

Teaching students to better manage their finances is a life skill they need, Glenn said. "The average college student leaves college with $20,000 in debt," about $4,000 of which is credit card debt."

Public institutions would also be encouraged, but not required, to conduct informational sessions for students on debt management. Providing financial literacy materials and holding informational sessions would be voluntary for private colleges and universities.

Appropriate materials and curricula would be determined by the state Council on Postsecondary Education, which approves academic programs at all public institutions in the Commonwealth.

01-17-08: Senate panel approves math, science incentives

(Frankfort, KY) Two bills aimed at increasing the number of students taking rigorous math and science courses were passed by the Senate Education Committee today. MORE

01-15-08: Bills to allow universities to finance own projects passes A&R (from LRC)

(Frankfort, KY) Amid a budget crunch that could require state colleges and universities to lose hundreds of millions in state dollars, the House budget committee today approved two bills that would allow them to finance projects on their own. MORE

01-07-08: The Kentucky Legislature to Convene on Tuesday

The Kentucky legislature convenes in regular session on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January for 60 days of even-numbered years and for 30 days in odd-numbered years. It convenes in special sessions at the call of the governor.

The Kentucky Constitution mandates that a regular session be completed no later than April 15 in even-numbered years and March 30 in odd-numbered years.

11-10-07: Rep. Whitfield gets $200,000 for Breathitt (from Murray Ledger and Times)

(Washington) U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., has secured $200,000 for teaching and laboratory equipment at the Breathitt Veterinary Center (BVC) at Murray State University. In addition to laboratory equipment, these funds will provide communication and large animal hospital equipment. MORE

11-08-07: New "RegWatch" service launched (from LRC)

It's now easier for Kentuckians to be alerted to government regulations that may impact them as the result of a Web-based service called "RegWatch" recently launched by the state. MORE

08-24-07: Legislatvie Week in Review (from LRC)

Working quickly this week, the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation that establishes tax incentives for alternative-fuel and renewable-energy plants to locate in Kentucky , as part of a comprehensive plan to put Kentucky in the forefront of the nation's emerging energy economy. MORE

08-17-07: General Assembly to convene on Monday (from LRC )

Gov. Ernie Fletcher signed a proclamation today that calls upon the Kentucky General Assembly to convene for a special legislative session on Monday.

The governor's proclamation calls upon lawmakers to focus solely on energy issues, including the advancement of energy policy "by creating economic development and educational incentives to encourage an increase in the production and use of alternative fuels and renewable energy resources, promoting energy conservation, environmental stewardship and increased energy efficiency in Kentucky ...."

The special session begins at 4 p.m.

08-14-07: Congressional Staff Visit

Congressional Staff members from Senator McConnell’s office, Senator Jim Bunning’s office and Congressman Whitfield’s office will be on campus Tuesday to tour of Flooring Institute and Department of Occupational Safety and Health, have lunch with members of the Board of Regents, Dr. Randy Dunn, and tour the Breathitt Veterinary Center in Hopkinsville.

07-11-07: Governor Fletcher Signs Proclamation Calling General Assembly Back On July 30

(Frankfort, KY) Governor Ernie Fletcher today signed a proclamation calling the Kentucky General Assembly back into extraordinary session on July 30, 2007.

The Governor announced his intention to make the call Monday evening after the Senate completed their work, passing the session’s five bills. Members of the democrat-controlled House voted to walk out on July 5, the first day of the session. MORE

07-03-07: Governor Fletcher Signs Proclamation Calling General Assembly Into Special Session

(Frankfort, KY) Governor Fletcher today signed a proclamation calling for a special session of the Kentucky General Assembly to begin Thursday, July 5. The primary purpose of the session is to provide incentives for energy companies looking to build alternative fuels facilities. MORE

07-02-07: Whitfield Delivers USDA Support For Small Business And Emerging Technology

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) was on Murray State University ’s campus today to announce the award of two grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture totaling $229,966 to the school for its Small Business Development Center and the Western Regional Center for Emerging Technology. MORE

05-22-07: Council on Postsecondary Education Increases Minimum ACT Scores in Math and Reading

(Frankfort, KY) The Council on Postsecondary Education approved a regulation revision yesterday that raises the minimum requirements on the ACT college-entrance exam for students to be guaranteed admission to credit-bearing courses.

Effective in fall 2009, incoming freshmen will need a score of 19 in math and 21 in reading on the exam to be placed into a credit-bearing course. The current math and reading score is 18. MORE

04-23-07: Voter Registration Deadline Today

Today is the deadline to register to vote for the Kentucky primary election on May 22. For those of you that will be 18 years old on or before Nov. 6 are eligible to vote this year. You can click on the Register to Vote link on the left and download the registration form and mail it today to the Secretary of State’s Office.

04-18-07: Committee Approves Funding for Science Campus

Murray State University received the good news it was hoping for from legislators in Frankfort this afternoon. Eight members of the state’s Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee gave unanimous approval to allow the university to continue construction on the new chemistry building. “We are especially gratified by the action of the committee today,” said MSU President Randy Dunn. MORE

04-17-07: New laws will go into effect on June 26, 2007

New laws approved during the General Assembly's 2007 legislative session will go into effect on June 26, according to the Attorney General's Office. The Kentucky Constitution states that legislation approved by the General Assembly goes into effect as state law 90 days after a legislative session ends (2007 legislative session ended on March 27), unless a bill specifies a different effective date or contains an emergency clause.

04-09-07: Voter Registration Deadline Nears for Primary Election

(Frankfort, KY) With political ads announcing the beginning of the primary campaign season, Kentuckians who wish to vote in the upcoming May 22, 2007 primary only have a few more days to register to vote. The deadline to register for the upcoming May primary is Monday, April 23rd. County Clerks ’ offices throughout Kentucky will accept voter registration cards until the close of business that day. This same deadline will apply to a potential runoff election that would be scheduled for June 26, 2007. MORE

04-03-07: Secretary of State to Host Mock Primary at MSU

(Frankfort, KY) Murray students will have an early opportunity to voice their opinions about the candidates for Kentucky ’s next Governor during a “mock primary” April 12, hosted by the Office of Secretary of State Trey Grayson in collaboration with the Student Government Association (Frankfort, KY) Murray students will have an early opportunity to voice their opinions about the candidates for Kentucky ’s next Governor during a “mock primary” April 12, hosted by the Office of Secretary of State Trey Grayson in collaboration with the Student Government Association. MORE

03-31-07: MSU has role in guiding state's ag future (from Murray Ledger and Times)

Count a Murray State University professor among Kentucky's agricultural leaders who have accepted a challenge by Gov. Ernie Fletcher.

Dr. Tony Brannon, dean of MSU's School of Agriculture, is also chairman for the Kentucky Agriculture Council which will form a task force in order to develop a strategic plan for the future of farming in the commonwealth. MORE

03-28-07 : The General Assembly's 2007 session comes to a close

The Kentucky General Assembly's 2007 session came to a close last night, which lawmakers approved measures to protect coal miners, raise speed limits and raised the minimum wage. Lawmakers also approved legislation to improve job safety for the state's social workers. During this 30-day legislative session, lawmakers considered approximately 800 bills. MORE

03-26-07: Lawmakers to reconvene today

The Kentucky General Assembly's 2007 legislative session resumes Monday, March 26, for the final two days of the session. The House will be gaveled into order on Monday at 10 a.m. (eastern) and the Senate convenes at noon (eastern). The 2007 legislative session is scheduled to end on Tuesday.

03-20-07: Bills receive governor's signature (from LRC)

Bills approved by the Kentucky General Assembly to make human trafficking a felony, preserve historic rock fences and declare bluegrass as the state's official music are among the pieces of legislation Gov. Ernie Fletcher has signed into law in recent days.

As of this morning, the governor has signed into law at least 13 bills approved during the 2007 legislative session. The following bills have been signed: SB 43, HB 46, SB 56, SB 60, HB 71, SB 91, HB 108, HB 115, HB 244, HB 312, HB 316, HB 321 and HB 468 .

03-15-07: Richards juggling campaign, House work (from Murray Ledger and Times)

Jody Richards is campaigning full time these days. But he's quick to talk about the legislative session that has just two days left later this month.

The session is familiar territory. Having represented the Bowling Green area since 1976, Richards has been House speaker since 1995. Now he's hoping to become the Democratic nominee for governor and ultimately move into the governor's mansion following November's election. MORE

03-14-07: Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto speaks at Murray State University (from Murray Ledger and Times)

Benazir Bhutto didn't plan to live a political life, but despite imprisonment and exile, she continues to work for the democracy that her native Pakistan experienced briefly. MORE

03-13-07: Governor’s veto days begin today

The veto recess of the General Assembly's 2007 legislative session starts today. State lawmakers are scheduled to return to Frankfort to wrap up the session on March 26 and 27.

03-12-07: Minimum Wage Bill goes to Governor Fletcher for signature

The House today gave final legislative approval to a bill to raise Kentucky ’s minimum wage from the current $5.15 an hour to $7.25 by July 1, 2009. The vote was 93-5. The bill now goes to Gov. Ernie Fletcher. House Bill 305, will increase the minimum wage to $5.85 this summer and to $6.55 on July 1, 2008.

03-06-07: News from the LRC, Senate passes pension system funding, House Bill 418

Full funding of the state employees pension plan, and an overhaul of the plan for future workers, were key parts of a bill approved by the Senate today.

House Bill 418 sponsored by Rep. Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, originally offered state workers facing impending retirement an incentive to stay on, extending by three years the time frame they had to retire using the "high three" calculation. Those provisions were kept in the Senate plan. MORE

02-28-07: House Bill 1 advances

A bill that would restore hundreds of millions of dollars in projects vetoed from the state budget last year passed the Kentucky House today.

HB 1, sponsored by House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, restores state-funded bonds, agency bonds funded by state universities and more than 780 coal severance projects that were vetoed last spring after state lawmakers had adjourned the 2006 Regular Session. It also makes it easier for students at independent colleges and universities to receive state tuition grants.

HB 1 passed by a vote of 94-5 and now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

02-21-07: Bill would restore vetoed projects

The House Appropriations and Revenue Committee passed out a bill this
afternoon that will restore projects vetoed by the governor last year.

House Bill 1 sponsored by House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, restores both state and agency bond projects and coal severance projects approved by the General Assembly that were vetoed by the governor.Richards said most of the bonds that HB 1 restores are agency bonds that allowed mostly universities to use their own money for capital projects.

02-15-2007: President Dunn becomes a Kentucky Colonel

During a recent reception in honor of the 2007 Kentucky General Assembly, Representative Melvin Henley (R-Murray) presented Dr. Randy Dunn with a

Certificate of Membership in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels. President Dunn joins a list that includes many distinguished men and women that includes, entertainer, Fred Astaire; singer/songwriter, Jimmy Buffet; Sir Winston Churchill; actress, Ann Margret and Mae West.

02-15-2007: Murray State University President Dr. Randy Dunn will host a reception in honor of the 2007 Kentucky General Assembly on Thursday, February 15, 2007 at the Berry Hill Mansion in Frankfort, Kentucky

02-10-2007: Governor and First Lady attend Murray State basketball game against Morehead State University

Governor and First Lady Glenna Fletcher were two of the 5,389 in attendance to watch the Racers take on Morehead State University on Saturday, February, 10, 2007. The governor was presented with an autographed team ball at half-time by Director of Athletics, Allen Ward.

02-6-2007: Governor Fletcher mentions his support for the MSU’s Breathitt Veterinary Center during his “State of the Commonwealth” address

During Governor Fletcher’s “State of the Commonwealth” address on Tuesday, February 6, 2007, said he supports funding the design of the Breathitt Veterinary Center in Western Kentucky “as it has significance for homeland security and the integrity of our livestock industry.”

01-26-2007: Congressman Whitfield on Campus

On Friday, Jan. 26, 2006, U.S. Congressman Ed Whitfield, (R-Ky.), was on campus to hold a town hall forum on Friday from 11 a.m.-noon in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center. The public was invited to attend and hear Congressman Whitfield report on happenings in Washington. He also fielded questions and comments from the audience. At the Conclusion of his town hall meeting, Congressman Whitfield had lunch with President Randy Dunn, members of the Board of Regents, and university officials to hear about Murray State projects and priorities. After lunch Congressman Whitfield toured the Department of Occupational Safety & Hazard labs and classrooms.

01-03-2007: Kentucky House Leaders are selected

On Wednesday, January 3, 2007, the Kentucky House of Representatives announced their leaders.

House Leaders:
      House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green
      Speaker Pro Tem Larry Clark, D-Louisville
      Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook
      Minority Floor Leader Jeff Hoover, R-Jamestown
      Majority Caucus Chair Charlie Hoffman, D-Georgetown
      Minority Caucus Chair Bob DeWeese, R-Louisville
      Majority Whip Rob Wilkey, D-Scottsville
      Minority Whip Stan Lee, R-Lexington

01-02-2007: Kentucky Senate Leaders are selected

On Tuesday, January 2, 2007, members of the Kentucky Senate elected leaders for their chamber and announced winners of caucus elections.

Senate leaders are:
      President David Williams, R-Burkesville
      President Pro Tem Katie Stine, R-Southgate
      Majority Floor Leader Dan Kelly, R-Springfield
      Minority Floor Leader Ed Worley, D-Richmond
      Majority Caucus Chair Richie Sanders, R-Franklin
      Minority Caucus Chair Johnny Ray Turner, D-Drift
      Majority Whip Dan Seum, R-Louisville
      Minority Whip Joey Pendleton, D-Hopkinsville

01-02-2007: 2007 Kentucky Legislative Session Begins

The 2007 Kentucky Legislative session began today, January 2, 2007. Members will spend today through January 5, 2007, getting organized, holding elections of leaders and have committee selections.

12-19-2006: Legislators visit campus & cheer Racers to victory

On December 19, MSU President Randy Dunn and other university officials welcomed 14 legislators and their spouses to a reception at the Curris Center’s Commonwealth Room. The Legislators during a dinner listened to presentations made by President Randy Dunn and Associate Vice President, Bob Jackson about MSU’s legislative priorities for the upcoming 2007 session and the 2008 session. After dinner, the legislators cheered the Racers on to a thrilling overtime victory against Jacksonville State in the Regional Special Events Center.

12-15-2006: Gov. Fletcher Holds town meeting on MSU campus

Gov. Ernie Fletcher held a town hall meeting on Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, in Wrather Hall on the campus of Murray State University. The purpose of the meeting is to gather input from Kentucky residents regarding how the Commonwealth's budget. The general public was invited to the meeting. Watch the video here.