Five Things to Know Today
Bevin, Beshear spar at Paducah Chamber’s forum
The Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a gubernatorial candidate forum Thursday at the Julian Carroll Convention Center featuring Republican Governor Matt Bevin and his Democratic challenger Attorney General Andy Beshear, where they traded barbs on issues like the opioid crisis, casino gambling, and state pensions. (Editor’s note: This is a good summary of the debate.) (West Kentucky Star)First gubernatorial debate is today in Paducah
Beshear outlines his education plan, criticizes Bevin on past actions
Saying “the war on public education will end with the defeat of Matt Bevin on Nov. 5,” Democratic rival Andy Beshear outlined Wednesday an ambitious program for education in the state but did not say how much the plan would cost or how he would pay for it.
Beshear said he would appoint a new state Board of Education “on day one that cares more about our kids than for-profit charter school companies and I would hope that that board of education has the sense to select a new commissioner on day two” to replace Wayne Lewis.
Beshear, Kentucky’s attorney general, said education will be the “highest priority” in his state budget if he is elected governor. He said he would not sign a budget bill into law unless it puts education first. (Forward Kentucky)
Trump says McConnell assured him the Ukraine call was ‘perfect’
President Donald Trump says Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has told him he sees no problem with the phone call to the Ukraine president that is the center of an impeachment inquiry.
Trump told reporters Thursday that he’s spoken with McConnell and that the Kentucky Republican considers Trump’s July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “the most innocent phone call” that he’s read. (Herald-Leader)
Blackjewel offers deal that could pay hundreds of Kentucky miners for unpaid wages
A months-long dispute over unpaid wages of hundreds of Kentucky coal miners could be nearing a close if a proposal by Blackjewel is accepted. (Forward Kentucky)
‘Lies’ are being spread about Ky’s new 5-star accountability system, commissioner says.
Lies are being spread about Kentucky’s new 5-star accountability system, Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis said Thursday at the state school board meeting, and he blamed one of them on a Fayette school board member. (Herald-Leader)
Here are two opportunities for YOU to make a difference!
KDP launches voter protection program, needs volunteers
The Kentucky Democratic Party is launching a number of measures to “ensure that all eligible voters in Kentucky are afforded a lawful opportunity to cast a ballot.” They need everyday citizens to volunteer to help at their local voting location. (learn more)
Want to help register voters? There’s an app for that.
Want to make a difference by helping people register to vote, but don’t know where to start? Just sign up with Map the Vote and get started! You can use this app to walk through your neighborhood, find people who need to register, and get them registered on the spot. The registration deadline is this Monday! (learn more)
Don’t be just a ForwardKY reader – be a ForwardKY doer!
The Forward 5 is published Monday to Friday by Forward Kentucky, an independent media organization focused on progressive news and issues in Kentucky, and is re-posted with permission. You can sign up for the email version of the newsletter on their website.
