Five Things to Know Today
— Publisher’s Note —
Good morning! As I’m sure you know by now, I am not the Rude Pundit. I try to be fair, to give people the benefit of the doubt (until I no longer can). And, I rarely use vulgarities or curses in my writing.
But today, as we pass the six-month mark since Breonna Taylor was killed, I have to ask:
What the hell is taking so damn long?!?
I understand being thorough. I understand that putting together a solid timeline, interviewing everyone involved, and reconstructing the shooting all take time.
But SIX MONTHS??
Here’s another thing I understand: covering, as in covering up the event and hoping everyone will forget about it … and, covering your a__. For months, it has seemed that authorities, from LMPD through the mayor through the attorney general, hope to draw this out long enough that other things draw our attention away from a young woman being killed by police in her own apartment.
Well, we’re not forgetting. We’re still here, we’re still waiting, and we’re still watching to see what you do. So do your job, wrap it up, and deliver your decisions.
Time’s up.
Bruce Maples, publisher
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Today’s Five Things to Know
Weekend coronavirus updates
9/11 update – 948 new cases, the third most in a day, and positivity rate jumps toward 5% danger zone
Gov. Andy Beshear announced 948 new cases of the novel coronavirus Friday and a positive test rate that is inching back up toward the danger zone of 5 percent. (Forward Kentucky)
9/12 update – 721 cases, 13 deaths, 4.14% positivity rate. And, get your flu shot!
After a Thursday with the most COVID-19 deaths ever, and a Friday with a big jump in the positivity rate, Kentucky recorded 721 cases, fewer deaths, and a return to a lower positive-test rate Saturday. (Forward Kentucky)
9/13 update – State reports 536 more coronavirus cases, 3 deaths from covid-19
“Our case numbers often dip during the weekend as not all labs are reporting,” Gov. Beshear said. “We can expect higher counts during the week, but the real work we have is to get these numbers to begin really going down.” (Forward Kentucky)
Pence drops plan to go to fundraiser hosted by QAnon backers
Vice President Mike Pence has canceled plans to attend a Trump campaign fundraiser in Montana following revelations that the event’s hosts had expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory. President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign told The Associated Press on Saturday that Pence’s schedule had been changed, but the campaign did not provide a reason or say whether the fundraiser might be held at a later time. The change comes after the AP reported Wednesday that hosts Cayrn and Michael Borland in Bozeman, Montana, had shared QAnon memes and retweeted posts from QAnon accounts.
The baseless conspiracy theory alleges Trump is battling an entrenched bureaucracy and sex trafficking ring run by pedophiles. (Richmond Register)
Kentucky Democrats outpacing GOP in absentee ballot requests
Kentucky Democrats have built a big lead over Republicans in requesting absentee ballots, which their candidate for U.S. Senate interpreted as a sign of voter enthusiasm for ousting GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his campaign dismissed as merely a reflection of different voting habits. (Kentucky Today)
In five swing states, evangelicals and Catholics are moving from Trump to Biden
A new poll shows an 11-point swing among evangelicals and Catholics from President Trump to his Democratic challenger, Joe Biden, with “lack of Christian kindness” being the main driver. (Forward Kentucky)
Policy group calls McConnell’s relief bill “even weaker than inadequate”
The Senate ‘skinny’ proposal was an even weaker version of the deeply inadequate plan Senate leaders put forward earlier. Doing less when we need more is no way to address the recession of our lifetime. (Forward Kentucky)
Recent Content on Forward Kentucky
[new] indicates item not in a Forward Five before
[new] General Fund in August shows increase from 2019 – Despite the coronavirus pandemic, State Budget Director John Hicks reports General Fund receipts increased 5.9% in August compared to last year, although the Road Fund did see a drop. (News)
[new] You’re worth $2,000 – IF you complete the census – Kentuckians have a few more weeks to secure the resources they will rely on for the next decade by completing their 2020 U.S. Census form. (News)
[new] Trump and McConnell hid the truth — FDR and Barkley told the truth – FDR told the truth to the American people, and rallied them victory. Trump lied about the virus, saying he didn’t want to “panic” us, and McConnell enabled him. How will we respond in November? (Commentary)
[new] Apocalyptic Kentucky – Sometimes it’s hard to conceptualize the news we hear. So, I decided to make some maps to show what it would look like if these catastrophes had happened just in Kentucky. (News Analysis)
[new] From the Hood to the Holler – an interview with Rep. Charles Booker – We talk with Rep. Booker about the campaign, about “From the Hood to the Holler,” the organization he has formed, and if he’s going to run for office again. (Video and Podcast)
[new] Is it okay to use anonymous sources? David Hawpe weighs in. – Should journalists use unnamed sources as the basis for their stories? Former C-J editor David Hawpe weighs in, including sharing his own checklist for the practice. (Commentary)
[new] Daniel Cameron, the Breonna Taylor case, and the grand jury, explained (hypothetically) – Daniel Cameron is set to soon present his findings in the Breonna Taylor case to a grand jury. What you THINK that means and what it actually COULD mean are laid out by Anora Morton. Hypothetically, of course. (Commentary)
[new] Fact Check — Misinterpreted New York Times report leads to false claim that the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is inflated by up to 90% – A New York Times report has been misinterpreted and falsely reported more than a million times on social media. Here’s a fact check showing what it actually said. (Fact Check)
LMPD leadership change, Derby protests, and interview with Daren Neel – Jazmin welcomes attorneys E.A. Duncan and Daren Neel to talk about family courts and Daren’s run for judge. Also: this week’s COVID-19 news, Derby protests, a change in LMPD leadership, and a possible update in the Breonna Taylor investigation. (Podcast)
Amy McGrath on Wildcat Sports Talk show – When Wildcat Sports Talk did a special show on Black Lives Matter and race issues called “Conversation on Racial Inequality,” Senate candidate Amy McGrath was one of their guests. (Video)
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