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Beshear vetoes conversion therapy bill 

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kentuckylantern.com – Sarah Ladd – 2025-03-24 14:24:00

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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News from the South - Kentucky News Feed

Inside look: Kentucky Army National Guard operations exercise

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www.youtube.com – WLKY News Louisville – 2025-09-13 22:39:12

SUMMARY: The Kentucky Army National Guard conducted a weekend training exercise in Louisville to sharpen skills for responding to natural disasters like floods and tornadoes. The exercise included helicopter simulations to ensure smooth protocol and effective communication during emergencies. Battalion S-3 Operations Officer Jacob Conner emphasized the importance of realistic, progressive training with instructor pilots to prepare members for real-world scenarios. This rigorous preparation aims to build proficiency, teamwork, and confidence, ensuring the Guard can effectively support communities throughout Kentucky during crises. The training highlights the Guard’s commitment to readiness and service to the commonwealth.

Inside look: Kentucky Army National Guard operations exercise

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Few showers possible Saturday night into Sunday

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www.youtube.com – WLKY News Louisville – 2025-09-12 21:36:24

SUMMARY: Meteorologist Eric Zernich reports mostly dry, pleasant fall weather with clear skies and temperatures dipping into the 50s and 60s overnight. Most of the weekend stays dry, though a weak upper-level disturbance may bring a slight chance of showers late Saturday into Sunday morning, mainly in southern Indiana, but rain will likely fizzle due to dry conditions. Sunday will be warmer, reaching near 90°F, continuing into next week with summer-like heat in the 90s. Events like Bourbon and Beyond and the Gaslight Festival will enjoy mostly sunny skies, but attendees should stay hydrated as warm temperatures persist.

WLKY meteorologist Eric Zernich’s Friday night forecast

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Trump says he’ll send National Guard to Memphis, escalating his use of troops in US cities

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www.wnky.com – Associated Press – 2025-09-12 18:00:00

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, to address crime concerns, claiming local officials support the move. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee welcomed the plan, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young opposed it, emphasizing community-focused solutions like rehabilitation and job support over military presence. Despite overall crime reductions and ongoing FBI operations, persistent gun violence and high-profile killings fuel concerns. Legal experts warn deploying troops for policing risks civil rights violations. Trump’s broader strategy involves sending troops to other Democratic-led cities, sparking political and legal debates over the use of military forces in domestic law enforcement.

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