M
THE MUR R AY STATE
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Rifle team wins OVC
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February 8, 2018 | Vol. 92, No. 17
March for Education Ashley Traylor || News Editor atraylor@murraystate.edu
College students from around Kentucky, including Murray State, took
to the steps of the capitol on Feb. 6 to stress the importance of higher education funding. The Rally for Higher Education is hosted by the Kentucky Board of Student Body Presidents and held annually in Frankfort, Kentucky. Student Government Association President Tori Wood represented Murray State, along with about 10 students. The rally is a time for state universities to unite on the steps of the capitol to voice their opinions as well as spend time one-on-one with their local legislators. The students opened the day with speeches from four of their peers, sharing stories of why higher education is important to them. Murray State student and president of the College of Republicans, J.T.... Payne, was one of the students who shared his testimony of higher education. Payne told his fellow students he knew early on in life that his parents would not be able to afford college. Because of that, he joined many clubs and organizations and held as many leadership roles as possible in addition to working part time and achieving high academic success. “I did these things because I wanted to be the first person in my family to
attend a 4-year university,” Payne said. Payne was rewarded for his hard work with a scholarship to Murray State where he has been able to continue his involvement. He posed a question to the students in attendance and the legislators they would later meet with. “How do we, as a Commonwealth, sustain a stimulated economy when the system that produces and trains our workforce is dismantled piece by piece and dollar by dollar,” Payne said. “Why is the foundation of our society, education, always the first to absorb budget cuts? The so called ‘fat’ that you are cutting simply leads to higher tuition and decreased opportunity.” Another student speaker, Hailee Waltz from Northern Kentucky University, said she lived most of her life in poverty. The first-generation college student said what kept her going through the difficult times was hope for a better future. “Without priority for higher education in our legislature, young people who grew up like I did may never see their dreams come true,” Waltz said. Following speeches on the steps of the capitol, students made their way inside to meet with legislators from their respective districts and counties to further discuss the issues facing higher education in the Commonwealth. Gov. Matt Bevin announced last month higher education will face yet another cut of about 6 percent.
Nick Bohannon/The News
Student Body Presidents across Kentucky universities host an annual Rally for Higher Education, inviting students to participate in political action outside of the capitol building.
Fire scorches Patti’s kitchen Michelle Hawks
Contributing writer mhawks@murraystate.edu
A date has not been determined for when Patti’s 1880s Settlement will reopen. The restaurant, located in Grand Rivers, was forced to close after a fire on Feb. 6 caused extensive damage to the kitchen and upstairs office areas. Some areas also received water damage. Ann Martin, the marketing director for Patti’s, said their goal is to be fully reopened by Mother’s Day in mid-May; however, a date cannot be definitively set until they can speak with a contractor. According to Facebook posts made by the restaurant following the fire, no employees were injured. The fire began just before 8 a.m., and the employees quickly sprang into action to attempt to put out the fire. When their efforts failed, they called 911. First responders arrived on the scene within seven minutes. “It was heartbreaking to watch as a Patti’s family,” Martin said. After news of the fire broke, rumors began to swarm that the establishment had burned to the ground, although Martin said this is not true.
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Martin said food – like the restaurant’s famous pork chops – can be cooked on any appliances. “The history is still intact,” Martin said. “That’s the important part.” Patti’s is a popular destination in the region, especially during holidays like Valentine’s Day and events like the annual quilt show. Martin said there were many reservations made for the upcoming months; however, because their reservation system was cloud-based, they were able to save that information. She said a team of employees
are working around the clock to contact everyone with reservations and reschedule them for a later date. Though the restaurant will be closed, Martin said they are working to open the stores as soon as they are able to get the computers and credit card machines back online. She said they hope to reopen those no later than Monday, and employees will still receive their pay. “A waitress may not be a waitress for a while – she might be a gardener,” Martin said, “but we are a team and a family, and we will rebuild together.”
Photo courtesy of Patti’s Facebook page
A fire destroyed Patti’s kitchen on Feb. 6. The restaurant hopes to reopen mid-May.
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Kentucky first state to adopt Medicaid work requirement James Turner
Contributing writer jturner34@murraystate.edu
Kentucky is the first state in the nation to be approved by federal authorities to implement a general work requirement for beneficiaries of Medicaid. During the State of the Commonwealth and Budget Address, Gov. Matt Bevin briefly discussed the approval of a section 1115 waiver that requires some beneficiaries of Medicaid to have general work requirements. Kentucky HEALTH is the Commonwealth’s new health insurance plan. Under the HEALTH system, there is a community engagement program called PATH, Partnering to Advance Training and Health. With HEALTH, lawmakers hope it will encourage people to be more active in their community and improve employability. PATH requires non-disabled Kentuckians ages 19 to 64 to work at least 80 hours per month to qualify for Medicaid. Individuals have the opportunity to get those hours from employment, volunteering or attending school. “Medicaid for able-bodied,
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working-aged men and women without dependents is going to change,” Bevin said. “The expectation and the opportunity and the incentive for the people to do for themselves is going to change.” Bevin said the new medical plan in Kentucky will be a model for the rest of the nation. Since Kentucky’s federal approval, the neighboring state of Indiana has also received the waiver approval. Eight other states have filed their applications. According to Kentucky Health’s website, the new health insurance will be available to non-disabled Medicaid members, low-income parents, caregivers, pregnant women and children. The plan is not for those who receive Medicare or on Medicaid for age or disability. U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth said the move was “dangerous and irresponsible.” Yarmuth lambasted the move saying that by approving Bevin’s waiver, the Trump Administration has agreed to end health coverage of 95,000 Kentuckians. James Clinger, professor of political science and director of the Masters of Public Admin-
istrations program, said part of the reason why reforming healthcare is so important to Kentucky is due to the aging population of the state. Clinger said senior citizens generally require a lot of high-cost healthcare, and a hefty portion of those in nursing homes are on Medicaid. He said Bevin is trying to encourage people to be more responsible for themselves and more engaged in the workforce, but there are always exceptions. “The state will have to determine who will be exempted from the work requirements,” Clinger said. “It may also have to monitor who is employed and who is not. That is why I think that the implementation costs may be significant for this proposal.” Without seeing the full plan, Clinger said it will be difficult to determine the impact this will have on Kentuckians. Clinger said should a court stop the waiver, Bevin will get rid of the Medicaid expansion. “That would be a dramatic, and I think unsuccessful, tactic,” Clinger said. Bevin said the new system will take effect in July 2018.
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