Five Things to Know Today
It’$ very $imple.
Producing this newsletter costs money. Not only is there the time to create it (about 400 hours a year), there is also the cost to send it. (Mailchimp, our newsletter service, isn’t free.) And, there’s paying for some of the content that’s in it, as well.
So, if you like getting the Forward Five, become a member to help pay the costs. Basic membership starts at $3 a month, and your membership provides the money to do the work. It’s that simple.
— Publisher’s Note —
Good morning! It’s the dog days of summer, when news normally runs slow and people often take a break from following it. (BTW, if you don’t know where “dog days” comes from — I didn’t — follow the link.)
But there’s one thing I hope you never take a break from: supporting your local newspaper and news organizations.
Yes, ForwardKY is in the middle of its once-a-quarter membership drive (see above), and if you are not supporting our work by being a paying member, then you should click that link and become a member today.
But in addition, you should support your local newspaper, your local public radio station, and any other places you get news that rely on your support to survive.
I have subscriptions to both the Courier-Journal and the Herald-Leader, because I want them both to survive. I also support public radio, and subscribe to some national and international outlets as well.
Why? Why spend that money? Why should YOU spend that money?
Because a free press is critical to our democracy. Because if news outlets die, there will be no one around to hold government accountable. Because in this age of conspiracy theories on Facebook and bots on Twitter, we need fact-based reporting we can rely on.
And because of a simple truth: A free press isn’t free.
So, join, subscribe, pledge, support. You owe it to yourself, and you owe it to our country. It’s another way we get through things, together.
#WearYourMask #TeamKentucky
Bruce Maples, publisher
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Second highest case number, most patients in intensive care in one day – 7/21 update
Also – Beshear defends statewide approach, rejects county-by-county; discusses travel advisory; Stack talks about medical impacts of the virus. (Forward Kentucky)
Judge, quoting from host of historical figures, argues Andy Beshear edicts unconstitutional
In a written order referencing ancient sages, an English playwright and soldiers perishing at Valley Forge, Boone Circuit Judge Richard Brueggemann declared Gov. Andy Beshear’s emergency COVID-19 orders unconstitutional Monday night.
Despite the order granting Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s motion to strike down all of Beshear’s past and future executive orders related to the COVID-19 emergency, it will not go into effect, as the Kentucky Supreme Court preemptively stayed this order last week until the state’s high court can weigh the matter. (Courier-Journal)
Black militia plans armed march in Louisville to demand justice for Breonna Taylor
A Black militia is planning to hold an armed march in Louisville on Saturday to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, according to a video from the leader of the group.
John Fitzgerald “Jay” Johnson, the self-proclaimed grand master and founder of the NFAC, which stands for the Not F***ing Around Coalition, said in a video posted on Sunday that those wishing to march must come in a specific uniform: black boots, black pants, black button-down shirt and black mask. He added that members must come with several types of guns. (Courier-Journal)
‘It’s skyrocketing.’ Here’s what health officials say is causing KY’s COVID-19 surge.
A family barbecue. A graduation pool party. A small-town parade. A beach vacation. A church service without masks. Health department directors across Kentucky say activities like these, collective indicators that people are letting their guard down on COVID-19, are contributing to the state’s rise in cases.
“Things are open, [people] have been locked down for three months and they want to live their lives thinking they can’t get it,” said Alicia Thompson, an infection control nurse at the Graves County Health Department. Community spread in the last two weeks has caused infections to balloon in this Western Kentucky county of just over 37,000. (Herald-Leader)
Thursday – KFTC hosts virtual training on how to do voter registration
This Thursday evening, KFTC will host a virtual training session on how to do voter registration the right way. Details in the story. (Forward Kentucky)
Bonus profile
Adkins committed to Beshear, helping Ky. in role as senior advisor
For 32 years, Rocky Adkins was known as “The Gentleman from Elliott.” A longtime legislative leader in Kentucky, he’s now making an impact in the executive branch of government. (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 —
Beshear limits private gatherings to 10 people, issues travel-and-quarantine advisory – 7/20 update – Trying to tame the surging coronavirus, Gov. Beshear limited private social gatherings to 10 people, and issued a travel advisory for states with high positive-test rates. (read)
🔥 ‘The total and absolute idea of unconditional love’ – Judy Tuggle put out her American flag Saturday in honor of Congressman John Lewis. “I feel the weight of great grief at the passing of a moral giant,” said Tuggle, a Mayfield resident who will be 77 this week. (read)
— Commentary —
[new] West End ignorant – I’ve been Black since December 28, 1994. However, I didn’t learn what it was like to live in a Black community until I went to college in 2013. (read)
[new] McConnell and Gilded Age 2.0 are “déjà vu all over again” – Mitch McConnell’s smirk, his self-proclaimed moniker “the Grim Reaper,” and his well-deserved “Moscow Mitch” nickname make him a perfect “Boss Tweed” of Tammany Hall fame for this second Gilded Age. (read)
[new] The Expat Experience: Trump has turned my America into the ‘Shining Illusion on the Hill’ – I think Trump’s greatest “legacy” — along with his sheer incompetence — will be revealing an America as hollow as the Statue of Liberty. I wonder if we can return to anything like the ideal Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Hamilton, and other Founding Fathers envisioned. (read)
Betsy DeVos isn’t serious about reopening schools; here’s how we know. And what we should do anyway. – DeVos has yet to suggest any measures to open schools. Why? Because every dollar spent on schooling children is a dollar less for her corporate allies. But we know what to do. Here’s the list. (read)
Al Cross: There’s no question Cameron’s timing was bad, but Beshear’s attitude is far from perfect – Attorney General Daniel Cameron has been widely panned for his attacks on Governor Beshear, but Al Cross says Beshear needs to remember “politics is also working with people.” (read)
🔥 Cameron has begun chipping away at our open records laws – We no longer labor under the delusion that Kentucky’s open records laws are safe in the hands of Attorney General Daniel Cameron. The sound you hear is the chipping away of your rights by our Attorney General. (read)
— Policy —
🔥 Research on voting by mail says it’s safe – from fraud and disease – Voting by mail is rarely subject to fraud, does not give an advantage to one political party over another, and can in fact inspire public confidence in the voting process, if done properly. (read)
Contact tracing hampered by testing delays, unanswered phone calls — and lack of trust – Contact tracing may be our best hope to stop the spread of the coronavirus. But this time-tested method has been hobbled by testing delays, a lack of money and official support, and poor cooperation from the public. (read)
— Media —
[photo gallery] Louisville Kids’ March – A Kids’ March was held on Friday, July 17, in Louisville as part of the ongoing racial justice and Breonna Taylor protests in that city. Del Ramey was there and captured these photos of the event. (view)
[show] TSOK – Reports from the Front Lines – In this week’s The State of Kentucky, a CEO gives us updates from nurses and doctors, hospital managers, and his own high-tech firm, as they all deal with COVID-19 and its effects. (watch or listen)
[podcast] Protests in Daniel Cameron’s yard, new education commissioner, and interview with Cherlynn Stevenson – On the show: The two major stories of the year: COVID-19 (which is getting worse) and the ongoing protest movement. Also, the new education commissioner. Then, Cherlynn Stevenson joins us for the interview. (listen)
🔥 [photo gallery] “Heads Up, Phones Out!” – a rally for citizen journalists – We stand with citizen journalists! Here is a photo gallery from a rally supporting the live streamers who have been covering the protests in Louisville. (view)
Posts with Most Social Media Shares in Past Fourteen Days
(🔥 indicates post with surge of recent shares)
- AG Cameron sues to negate all Beshear orders; Dem leaders call actions ‘immoral’ (972 shares)
- Republicans propose eliminating speed limits, seat belts (686 shares)
- What Donald Trump is doing in Portland is just as big a threat to America as COVID-19 (603 shares)
- Mitch McConnell is a failed leader (535 shares)
- A tribute to Brandi Harless (507 shares)
- Cameron has begun chipping away at our open records laws (500 shares)
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