Five Things to Know Today
Two things to watch for:
One to read, one to do
- READ – A new edition of the general newsletter that goes to all ForwardKY email subscribers. Be sure to open and read it for updates about Forward Kentucky itself.
- DO – A new Reader Feedback Survey, which is your chance to weigh in on what we’re doing now and what we’re thinking about doing in 2020. When it hits your inbox, please take a few minutes to fill it out. Thanks!
Bevin’s pardon recipients could face federal prosecution, US attorney says
Former Gov. Matt Bevin’s controversial pardons are raising concerns with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Kentucky’s Western District, which said Tuesday it could seek to bring federal charges — if warranted — against any pardon recipients. (Forward Kentucky)
Beshear reverses Labor Cabinet “sickout” finding
Governor Beshear has reversed the finding of the Bevin administration’s Labor Cabinet that teachers broke the law when using “sickouts” to protest the education policies of the Bevin administration. (Forward Kentucky)
Kentucky governor pulls ‘concerning’ $8.5M no-bid contract
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration has canceled an $8.5 million no-bid contract with a nonprofit created and overseen by officials in former Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration who also approved the contract, WDRB-TV reports.
Despite concerns about awarding a no-bid contract to a private entity controlled by the government officials in charge of the contract, the General Assembly’s contracts review committee ultimately signed off on the plan in July.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Beshear called the arrangement with the Commonwealth Center for Commercialization Inc., or C3, “very concerning.” (Herald-Leader)
School board rejects Kentucky’s first charter school application
A mere two months after a group of Northern Kentucky parents became the first to apply to open a charter school in Kentucky, the same group became the first rejected charter school application in the state. (Forward Kentucky)
The difference between the parties in 3 simple charts.
Charles Gaba made charts of the racial/ethnic/gender makeup of the two parties in the U.S. House, and added a chart of overall U.S. population. Nothing in here that is new – but it’s still striking to SEE the difference. (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] The top ten Open Records stories of 2019 – As the year draws to a close, and a new decade dawns, we review the top ten open records / open government stories of 2019. (read)
[new] Beshear vows not to repeat Bevin’s controversial actions when it comes to issuing pardons – Gov. Andy Beshear promised not to repeat some of the actions his predecessor took when issuing 650 pardons and commutations during his final days in office. (read)
[new] 🔥 A teacher-activist is running to unseat Kentucky House Speaker David Osborne – After years of leading education activism efforts, Tiffany Dunn is running to unseat House speaker David Osborne, one of Kentucky’s top Republicans. (read)
[new] 🔥 Did you get a Real ID? Better check your voter registration. – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s work preparing the state for the Real ID rollout on Oct. 1, 2020 has caused a glitch in the voter registration system linked to state driver’s licenses. (read)
Commentary
[new] 🔥 These bad bills show how state lawmakers waste their time and your tax dollars – Linda Blackford is starting a “Bad Bill Watch,” and she has two bills already filed for KYGA20 that are excellent examples of legislative waste. (read)
[new] 🔥 With Ever-Trumpers, it’s not ‘the economy, stupid’ – Heading into next year’s presidential election, some of my progressive Democratic friends still think it’s worthwhile to try to convert Ever-Trumpers. This old union and NAACP-card packing Hubert Humphrey Democrat never shared their evangelical zeal. (read)
[new] 🔥 Kentucky loses an open-records champion, Rep. Chris Harris – Chris Harris championed open records and transparency even before he joined the legislature. Amye Bensenhaver shares why he will be missed. (read)
[new] Merry Christmas was once synonymous with drunkenness and debauchery! – Trump (and others) want you to say “Merry Christmas.” But did you know that years ago, Christians tried to get everyone to say “Happy Christmas” instead? (read)
Posts with Most Social Media Shares in Past Fourteen Days
(🔥 indicates post with surge of recent shares)
- 🔥 Paducah unions raise $10,000 to help brighten Christmas for 100 disadvantaged children (5,000+ shares [!!])
- Kentucky congressman snaps back: ‘Hell will be too good for’ President Donald Trump (1,000+ shares)
- Another Kentucky-born congressman voted for impeachment (677 shares)
- Beshears will call Governor’s Mansion their full-time home (635 shares)
- Kentucky loses an open-records champion, Rep. Chris Harris (541 shares)
- KY House Dems elect Joni Jenkins as minority leader, and Angie Hatton as whip (463 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.
