Ryland Barton
Ryland is the state capitol reporter for the Kentucky Public Radio Network, a group of public radio stations including WKU Public Radio. A native of Lexington, Ryland has covered politics and state government for NPR member stations KWBU in Waco and KUT in Austin.
Always looking to put a face to big issues, Ryland's reporting has taken him to drought-weary towns in West Texas and relocated communities in rural China. He's covered breaking news like the 2014 shooting at Fort Hood Army Base and the aftermath of the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas.
Ryland has a bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in journalism from the University of Texas. He grew up in Lexington.
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Charles Booker, a Black progressive state representative, is mounting a strong challenge to Amy McGrath, the veteran recruited by top Democrats to run against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. -
Kentucky Republican Gov. Matt Bevin's campaign has asked the state for a recanvass of the votes from Tuesday's gubernatorial election, in which he trails by about 5,000 votes. -
Why do five states hold general elections in odd-numbered years, when there isn't a presidential or congressional race? Some of our political reporters in those states dug in on that question. -
Democrats criticize Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for refusing to take up election security bills. But voters in his home state of Kentucky say that won't affect their support for him. -
Senate Majority Leader McConnell says there will be a debate on bills addressing gun violence. But he's up for re-election in 2020 and his home state is fiercely pro-gun.
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A math teacher ousted one of Kentucky's top Republicans in a primary race. Forty-one current and former teachers were on the ballot and this is just one state where educators are running for office. -
The Kentucky legislature is considering arming teachers and administrators in response to a school shooting there Jan. 23. -
Last month, a shooter killed two students and injured 18 other people in a Kentucky high school. The state legislature is now considering a bill that would tap teachers or staff to be school marshals.
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Hundreds of thousands of people in Kentucky got health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, but the state is also home to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who's led efforts to kill the law. With the failure of the latest GOP attempt to replace the ACA, the state's voters weigh in.
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Nearly every year a decades-old school busing program is threatened by the Kentucky legislature in one of the state's largest — and most segregated — cities.
