FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday announced the pending departure of the state’s juvenile justice commissioner but said a series of policy actions within the past year had created a “good road map” for the troubled agency.
Juvenile Justice Commissioner Vicki Reed submitted her resignation effective at the start of next year, the governor said at a news conference. Reed became a lightning rod for criticism as the state-operated system struggled to quell violent outbursts at some juvenile detention centers. The governor on Thursday called for a coordinated effort with state lawmakers to continue dealing with the agency’s issues.
Fresh off his reelection victory last week, the Democratic governor offered an upbeat message about the Bluegrass State‘s future for additional economic gains. He began his press conference, as he typically does, by announcing the latest economic development projects landed by the state.
“This is the brightest, most optimistic opportunity that I’ve certainly seen in my lifetime for where we can go as a state,