By Linda Blackford | Editor
Tuesday was a good day because there was news about London Mayor Randall Weddle, and stories about Randall Weddle are nearly always entertaining.
A judge brought one of Weddle’s long legal sagas to an end by ruling that he could not continue his reelection campaign because his actual residence was outside of city limits. How did the judge make this determination? Well, he visited said residence and was struck by the size of the closets and the children’s playroom.
Read more about it from reporter McKenna Horsley, along with Weddle’s decision not to appeal.
We first got to know Mayor Weddle thanks to contributor Tom Loftus, who unearthed some donations from Weddle to Gov. Andy Beshear. Today, Loftus takes a look at the most recent filings from Beshear’s PAC, which again show someone who is definitely taking a look at running for president.
In other political news, senior Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell will not be on the job this week, following a recent hospitalization.
And even our Commentary is all politics today: about an affordable housing bill in the legislature that had everyone on board. Until it didn’t.
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London Mayor Randall Weddle exits the courtroom at the Laurel County Judicial Center in London, Kentucky on April 15, 2026. (Morgan Hornsby/Kentucky Lantern)
By McKenna Horsley
A Laurel County judge has ruled that embattled London Mayor Randall Weddle is ineligible to be a candidate in the town’s upcoming mayoral election.
Circuit Judge Michael Caperton wrote in a Tuesday order that Weddle does not reside within London city limits, “and thus, is not a bona fide candidate for mayor.” While Weddle does own a property on East Fifth Street in London, he primarily resides at a Keavy residence.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear spoke at a campaign event at the River Place in Des Moines June 7, 2026 in support of Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand. (Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
By Tom Loftus
The latest finance report filed by Gov. Andy Beshear’s super PAC shows all of the signs of a campaign committee of a presidential candidate. It also discloses a big contribution from a first-time Beshear donor.
U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell speaks during the Fancy Farm Picnic on Saturday, Aug 2, 2025. (Austin Anthony/Kentucky Lantern)
By McKenna Horsley
Kentucky Republican U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell will not be voting this week following a recent hospitalization. McConnell, 84, was admitted to a hospital on June 14 for an unknown reason.
Natural disasters on both ends of Kentucky have increased the demand for affordable housing and rents. Delilah Jenkins, 6, runs home after getting off the bus last month at Camp Graves in Graves County where she lives with her family in transitional housing after being displaced by the December 2021 tornado. (Julia Rendleman/Kentucky Lantern)
COMMENTARY
By Ashley Homrich
Kentucky is in a housing crisis. We know this. Our state suffers a shortage of more than 200,000 homes and the vast majority of that gap is a lack of housing for low-income households or those who can only afford to pay $500 a month in rent.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
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