Tag: Indiana University

In Kentucky, I believe these divisions originate from the historical impropriety of the Commonwealth’s political leadership. However, Kentucky politics has an optics problem today that’s independent of its history: the perception exists that the Commonwealth is currently a corrupt state. Notably, despite much-needed ethical reforms under Gov. In 1986, the FBI arrested a former State Police Commissioner, a state judge, a former gubernatorial candidate, a county executive, a sheriff and seven others on charges including conspiracy, extortion, public corruption, insurance fraud, and federal narcotics violations. These examinations were based on historic evidence and current public perception, which were metrics strong enough to resonate with the FBI’s Louisville Division. Research suggests corruption negatively influences local economic growth. Today, media rights and the First Amendment are argued about and sometimes infringed upon, but we should actively strengthen our community knowledge bases. Local media possesses the obligation to inform communities about public servants – and their misdeeds. Relationships between politicians and the media have declined from cynicism to animosity, and communities have suffered from the lack of information. So, if local media informs constituents of corruption, and Frankfort doesn’t make concerted efforts to correct that information, then the public will naturally believe whatever chronicle dominates more.