Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting (https://kycir.org/category/government/page/2/)
The head of the Office of Unemployment Insurance was quietly fired on May 5, amid an unprecedented number of jobless claims, a race to overhaul an archaic computer system and a belatedly-reported data breach.
It’s unclear when the moratorium, or state of emergency, will end. But tens of thousands are at-risk of utility shut offs when it does.
There is no time frame for the audit yet, but documents show the scope of work will be significant.
The decision to start a phased reopening took place amid a confluence of economic worry, social distancing exhaustion and political pressure.
The spending data offers a glimpse into local officials’ response to the pandemic: personnel costs are ballooning, and city leaders are tapping an array of companies for supplies.
The COVID-19 pandemic lays bare the quandary of life in public housing: staying home means dealing with a crowded, antiquated high rise, plagued with maintenance issues and infestations.
City officials said fulfilling the request for about three weeks of spending records would create an “unreasonable burden” on the government agency.
Mayor Greg Fischer’s executive order declaring a state of emergency granted him significant powers — including amending or selectively enforcing public sector union contracts.
It’s the first new month since the coronavirus swept into Kentucky, and for thousands of families, that means the rent is due. Many, though, may struggle to pay that bill this month. The spreading COVID-19 pandemic has led to the shuttering of scores of business, sparking layoffs and furloughs. Renters make up about 33 percent of Kentucky’s 1.7 million households, according to data from the Metropolitan Housing Coalition. The rate is slightly higher in Jefferson County, where renters account for about 38 percent of households.
Note: This story has been updated to reflect changes since it was originally published on March 18. The coronavirus pandemic has left many in Kentucky jobless, and many more will lose their jobs in the coming weeks. Researchers at the Federal Reserve’s St. Louis district estimate the unemployment rate could hit 32 percent due to the coronavirus. But access to unemployment insurance has been greatly expanded for those who have lost their jobs to help ease the burden.
Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order on March 25, expanding unemployment eligibility to workers not typically covered by the program, including the self-employed, independent contractors, freelance workers, substitute teachers and childcare workers employed by religious groups and nonprofits.