Five Things to Know Today
Good morning! I finally finished my fifth installment in the “Dear Kentuckians” series. It’s about what our “new normal” might look like across our nation and even the world, and it includes four negative scenarios and four positive scenarios.
It took me a long time to get to an outline, because there was so many facets of our life that I think will be different. For example, think about the impact of tele-everything in this time. People and businesses are going to figure out that not everything has to be done in person; online ordering and in-person pickup will continue to grow; distance learning will expand. If I had tried to address all of these, it would have turned into a novella.
Instead, in the end I decided to focus on scenarios involving politics and policy. They range from dystopian to pollyannaish, and of course the future may surprise us all and look nothing like any of them.
But YOU be the judge. Here’s the link to the article. Go read it for yourselves, and leave your thoughts in the comments. No matter which scenario or combination of scenarios we wind up facing –
We’re going to get through this, together. #TeamKentucky
Bruce Maples, publisher
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TODAY on “The State of Kentucky”
What are Trump and the GOP really up to?
Join us for this week’s show featuring award-winning author and analyst Teri Kanefield, as she explains the actions of the Republican party, the 50-year struggle driving those actions, and how Trump’s actions actually fit into that plan. Live at noon on Facebook and YouTube. Don’t miss this discussion – it will reframe the way you see politics.
Restaurants reopen at 1/3 capacity May 22, child care June 15 – 5/7 update
Gov. Andy Beshear moved up the date for Kentucky to begin the second phase of its reopening, announcing Thursday that Kentucky’s restaurants can reopen May 22 at one-third capacity, and a goal of limited child care on June 15. (Forward Kentucky)
IMPORTANT – Things to know and do, so you can vote in June
Here is a list of steps to take and deadlines to take them so you can vote in the June primary. In addition, we’ve got other information, and a timeline of overall events. Please share widely so we get a good “turn-out” in this first sorta-vote-by-mail election! (Forward Kentucky)
Charles Booker receives two new endorsements
Rep. Charles Booker has received new endorsements in his campaign to be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Mitch McConnell. (Forward Kentucky)
Kentucky cities facing $85 million collective shortfall
It’s not just state government that faces a massive budget shortfall because of the pandemic – Kentucky’s cities are in similar shape. (Forward Kentucky)
Rand Paul says Kentucky living under ‘dictatorship of Beshear.’ He urges reopening.
U.S. Senator Rand Paul Thursday accused Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear of being “drunk with power” and said the state is living under the “dictatorship of Beshear” while making an argument to reopen the economy in an interview with a Louisville television station.
Paul, who tested positive for the coronavirus in March, also said the state legislature “needs to go in and change those emergency statutes so all the power doesn’t go to one person.” The state’s legislative session has ended for the year and they cannot come back unless called into session by the governor. (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] KY public transit agencies awarded $23 million from CARES Act – The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has been awarded nearly $23 million in federal funding to help public transit agencies hit hard by the pandemic. (read)
[new] 🔥 Restaurant rules, limited child-care options, three clinical trials – 5/6 update – Gov. Andy Beshear hit on a range of topics that included efforts to allow some child care in the next phase of reopening the economy, an adjusted out-of-state travel ban, and his drumbeat that relaxation of restrictions to fight the coronavirus doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still strive to be “healthy at home.” (read)
[new] As expected, April state receipts paint bleak picture – General Fund receipts dropped 33% from last year, not only due to the impact of the coronavirus, but also from delaying the income tax filing deadline. (read)
🔥 Indivisible KY endorses Broihier in Senate race – Indivisible KY today announced their endorsement of Mike Broihier for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race, joining three other Indivisible groups in endorsing Broihier. (read)
🔥 Is COVID-19 actually worse in Kentucky’s rural counties? – The numbers of cases and deaths are biggest in our cities. But when it comes to rates, how are our rural counties doing? Actually, worse than the cities. (read)
—Commentary—
[new] Dear Kentuckians – Here are eight scenarios for life after COVID – In the fifth installment in the series, I lay out four bad and four good scenarios for life after the coronavirus pandemic. See which ones you agree with. (read)
[new] The LGBTQ+ community behind bars during COVID-19 – Prisons and jails are threatening and traumatic to anyone. They pose an even greater risk to the health and safety of LGBTQ+ people. (read)
🔥 A guide to vaccine wing-nuttery – The wing-nuts on the right have seized on the pandemic as a breeding ground for their, uhm, UNIQUE conspiracy theories. Here’s a guide to the latest. (read or listen)
Pulitzers don’t grow on trees – YOU have to help them grow! – The Courier-Journal won a Pulitzer. Here are THREE THINGS you need to know about that, including something you need to DO. Read on for more! (read)
— Media —
[new podcast] COVID-19 protests & lawsuits, budget shortfall, interview with Ryan Olexia – This week – the ongoing COVID-19 response, a major protest, two lawsuits, and the budget shortfall. Plus Ryan Olexia, the Dem candidate for Senate in Northern Kentucky. (listen)
Posts with Most Social Media Shares in Past Fourteen Days
(🔥 indicates post with surge of recent shares)
- Reopen churches to in-person services or face legal action, AG says (2,000+ shares)
- ‘War Against the States’ — Yarmuth on McConnell (1,000+ shares)
- Confederate flag, meet Unity Water Tower (638 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.
