Five Things to Know Today
Bevin has spent 80% more on plane trips than last governor
Gov. Matt Bevin’s flights aboard state-owned aircraft in the first 45 months of his term had a total billed cost 80% larger than that of his predecessor, former Gov. Steve Beshear, through the same period of his first term. (Forward Kentucky)
Beshear stresses health care, defends Medicaid expansion
Democrat Andy Beshear offered a vigorous defense of Kentucky’s Medicaid expansion, warning Monday that health care policy is at stake when voters choose between him and Republican Gov. Matt Bevin. (Herald-Leader)
Andy Beshear endorsed by Republican primary candidate
Democrat Andy Beshear has picked up an endorsement from a Republican who ran against Gov. Matt Bevin in the GOP primary. William Woods says his endorsement of Beshear in next month’s gubernatorial election is the “right thing to do.” Woods says Kentucky needs a governor who respects everyone and who supports public education. (WLKY)
Does having Repubs in charge lead to a better economy?
KY Repubs are crowing that the reason Kentucky has experienced job growth is because they are in charge. The statistics tell a different story. (Forward Kentucky)
Lexington parent files KREF complaint over school board members’ campaign texts
Lexington parent Rebekah Frazier said this week she filed a complaint with the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance that alleged Will Nash, a candidate for the first district Fayette school board seat, as well as school district officials, had violated state law.
Nash, who is running in the Nov. 5 general election to keep the seat he was appointed to last year, sent out individual, campaign-related text messages using parent contact information he received from an Open Records request filed with the district. District officials have said they should not have given that information to him. (Herald-Leader)
Did you miss any of these?
Featured Content on Forward Kentucky
([new] indicates new since last Forward Five; 🔥indicates lots of reads)
News
[new] Is Matt Bevin inviting pastors to a closed-door meeting at the governor’s mansion? – A revival preacher has posted an invitation to Kentucky pastors to meet with Governor Bevin at the official governor’s mansion at 11 AM on Monday. (read)
[new] Advocates, critics voice their views on Owensboro fairness ordinance – Members of the Daviess Fiscal Court heard testimony from community members both in favor of and in opposition to a fairness ordinance. (read)
Senate committee OKs Trump’s Kentucky judicial nominee despite claim he lacks experience – The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of U of L professor Justin Walker, whom President Trump has tapped to become a federal judge. (read)
Commentary
[new] Lexington Herald-Leader endorses Greg Stumbo for Kentucky Attorney General – The office of Attorney General is too important to be in the hands of a McConnell proxy. We endorse Greg Stumbo in this race. (read)
Cartoon
Have you seen this Pander Bear anywhere in the state? It appears that as we get closer to the election, a new creature has been observed in various location across our state. He gets around by hitching rides on state equipment, we think, and always seems to bring large amounts contracts with him, which he gives to local elected officials. Then he is whisked off to another part of the state to do it all again. (view)
Media
[podcast] Rep. Patti Minter, fundraising reports, election lawsuits, & Medicaid oral arguments – In this week’s show, we’ve got Rep. Patti Minter, talking about her campaign and her first year in Frankfort. Plus fund-raising, lawsuits, and more! (listen)
[photo gallery] UMWA prexy, entire Dem slate speak at state AFL-CIO convention – UMWA President Cecil Roberts was joined by this year’s Dem slate at the KY AFL-CIO’s recent convention in Lexington. Here are pix from the event. (view)
Posts with Most Social Media Shares in Past Fourteen Days
( 🔥indicates post with surge of recent shares)
- Trump says his border wall is ‘impenetrable.’ It took climbers in Kentucky mere seconds. (2,000 shares)
- In campaign ad, Mitch McConnell says impeachment will fail ‘with me as majority leader’ (524 shares)
- As Maine goes, so goes Kentucky? (484 shares)
- “My opponent has never even prosecuted a traffic ticket.” (404 shares)
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.