Five Things to Know Today
‘You are not KY.’ Matt Bevin ripped by Twitter users angry over pardons
Bevin posted a picture of a sunset, but Twitter users, including well-known ESPN college basketball commentator Dick Vitale, weren’t having it, and proceeded to attack the former governor for his hundreds of pardons. (Forward Kentucky)
Matt Bevin defends controversial pardons, blames outrage on ‘political opportunism’
In an interview with The Courier Journal, Bevin dismissed critics calling for investigations but said he would welcome a federal investigation. (Courier-Journal)
Beshear restores voting rights to more than 140,000 Kentuckians with felony records
Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order Thursday that will restore voting rights to more than 140,000 non-violent felons who have served their sentence. (Forward Kentucky)
Some Democrats asks McConnell to recuse himself from possible Senate impeachment trial
Over Sen. Mitch McConnell’s “total coordination” with the Trump White House, Rep. Val Demings, said the Kentucky Republican “must recuse himself.” (Courier-Journal)
Gov. Beshear dumps the charter school clown car. And Bevin showed him the way.
Beshear promised a different tone and backed it up with strong action. On Inauguration Day, he put public education at the front of his administration as he said he would, exactly where it belongs. (Forward Kentucky)
Did you miss any of these?
Featured Content on Forward Kentucky
([new] indicates new since last Forward Five; 🔥 indicates lots of reads)
News
[new] Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis resigns as new board meets for first time – Education commissioner Wayne Lewis resigned effective immediately as Gov. Andy Beshear’s newly-appointed Kentucky Board of Education met for the first time. (read)
[new] Republican lege leaders issue statements on Bevin pardons, call for investigation – The Republican leaders of the KY Senate and House issued statements today concerning the pardons issued on his last day in office by former Governor Bevin. (read)
[new] Bevin pardons include convicted killer whose brother hosted campaign fundraiser for him – An overview of some of Matt Bevin’s pardons, including one for a convict whose family held a campaign fund-raiser for Bevin. (read)
[new] In final hours, Bevin administration upholds Passport snub on Medicaid contracts – In the final hours of the Bevin administration, a top official overrode a legislative committee’s rejection of five Medicaid contracts awarded earlier. (read)
[new] Can Matt Bevin really do that? The pardon power in Kentucky explained – With Gov. Bevin’s pardons in the news, it’s important to understand the details of pardons. Emma Austin of the C-J lays it out for us. (read)
Jefferson schools to sue Juul, joining Bullitt and Fayette County schools – Kentucky’s largest school district is suing Juul over its role in a vaping epidemic impacting students, school board members decided Tuesday. (read)
Commentary
[new] 🔥Ignore the spin – he’s guilty. – Republicans and so-called conservatives are spending millions of dollars on spin ads trying to say Trump is innocent. Ignore the spin – he’s guilty. (read)
🔥In a final show of pettiness, Bevin keeps Beshear out of mansion until last minute – In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, former Gov. Matthew Griswold Bevin, who never even lived in the Governor’s Mansion, waited until the last minute to turn the stately old building over to his successor. (read)
🔥Bevin employs scorched-earth policy in classless exit from role as governor – If there’s anything to make out of Gov. Bevin’s round of interviews on conservative radio stations, it’s that 12:01 a.m. Tuesday can’t come fast enough. (read)
Posts with Most Social Media Shares in Past Fourteen Days
( 🔥indicates post with surge of recent shares)
- Bevin, still claiming election fraud, says liberals are ‘good at harvesting’ urban votes (875 shares)
- 🔥 Beshear says he will sign order Thursday restoring voting rights of 100,000+ felons (625 shares)
- Matt Bevin accuses Andy Beshear of ‘selling’ appointment to campaign contributor (574 shares)
- Bevin employs scorched-earth policy in classless exit from role as governor (423 shares)
- What did Kentucky get for Bevin’s $600,000+ contract to investigate Steve Beshear? (376 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.
