Five Things to Know Today
— Publisher’s Note —
Good morning! The first (and possibly only) presidential debate is tonight. There’s actually a second debate happening earlier: my debate with myself as to whether to watch.
Besides the possible damage to my television or computer from me throwing something at the screen in frustration, there’s the damage to my brain and to my psyche from listening to our current president lie for two hours.
And that’s a real problem for Joe Biden, in a different way – how do you debate someone who lies? If you try to make a point, he deflects by lying about either the point you were making or about you.
I’m sure the Biden campaign has prepared for this problem, and I hope Joe Biden himself is prepared emotionally to handle it. It’s so tempting to get angry, but that just plays into Trump’s hands.
Perhaps Biden could resurrect a famous line from another presidential debate: “There you go again.”
We shall see. In the meantime, I think I’ll remove all sharp, heavy, and blunt objects from the room before I watch.
::
A little over 30 days. Make your plan to go vote, and get your friends and family to do the same. Deadline to register is October 5 at 4 PM.
Bruce Maples, publisher
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Today’s Five Things to Know
9/28 update — Ky. could be in third big escalation; Beshear lectures schools that are open in ‘red zones’
After Kentucky hit the highest number of weekly coronavirus cases yet, Gov. Beshear said a “third escalation” has begun, and called on Kentuckians to commit to a sense of urgency in their actions to thwart it. (Forward Kentucky)
Grand juror files suit to release transcript, permission to speak on Breonna Taylor case; Cameron agrees to release recording
An unidentified grand juror in the Breonna Taylor case is demanding the release of the grand jury’s transcript and related recordings so “the truth may prevail.”
In a motion filed late Monday afternoon, the juror also asks a judge to allow fellow jurors to give up their confidential status if they wish and speak freely about the controversial case that saw one of three Louisville police officers who fired their weapons at Taylor’s apartment indicted on felony charges.
During the arraignment of officer Brett Hankison, the one officer charged, Jefferson Circuit Judge Ann Bailey Smith also ordered “the recording of the grand jury proceedings shall be filed in the court file by noon of Wednesday this week,” she said.
In a statement late Monday, Cameron said he would comply with the judge’s orders, despite misgivings. “The grand jury is meant to be a secretive body,” he said. “It’s apparent that the public interest in this case isn’t going to allow that to happen.” (Courier-Journal)
Will McGrath and McConnell debate before election? It may depend on the moderator.
The opportunity to see U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell and his Democratic challenger Amy McGrath square off in a debate before the November election now hinges on one factor: whether a debate hosted by Gray TV will have a female moderator.
In a press release Monday, the McGrath campaign accused McConnell of refusing to participate in debates with female moderators and said they would participate in the Gray TV debate “once the gender balance of the moderators is restored.” (Herald-Leader)
Moody’s Analytics: A Democratic election sweep would be best for the economy
The myth persists that Republicans are the party of the economy. But now, a report shows that a Democratic sweep of the election would be the best for economic growth and jobs. (Forward Kentucky)
Beshear properly paid law firm $4.2 million in Purdue Pharma legal fees, KY Supreme Court says
A Louisville law firm properly was paid $4.2 million in legal fees in 2016 by Andy Beshear — then Kentucky’s Democratic attorney general — for helping the state settle a lawsuit against OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday.
The fees paid to the firm now called Dolt, Thompson, Shepherd & Conway were challenged three years ago by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, who argued that the firm’s contract with the attorney general expired in June 2015. Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron took over the case after Bevin left office last year.
However, regardless of the contract’s status, the 2016 state budget approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by Bevin clearly authorized payment of legal fees by the attorney general in the Purdue Pharma lawsuit, the Supreme Court said. (Herald-Leader)
Upcoming Events from the ForwardKY Calendar
We post about upcoming events by campaigns and organizations if we know about them in time. Post your events here. View the full calendar here.
- Today (9/29) – Forum for House District 33 Candidates (Nemes/Plattner) (Info)
- Today (9/29) – Planned Parenthood Texting Tuesdays (info)
- Today (9/29) – Virtual Reception w/ Gov. Beshear, James Taylor, & Yo-Yo Ma (Info)
- Wednesday (9/30) – Demand Safe Schools Rally and Caravan (Info)
- Thursday (10/1) – “Which Side Are You On?”: Voices for Kentucky and Beyond – Virtual Music Fest (info)
- Saturday (10/3) – KFTC Fall Gathering, Session 3 (info)
- Saturday (10/3) – 50,000 Dials for Voter Registration Phone Bank (info)
Recent Content on Forward Kentucky
[new] indicates item not in a Forward Five before
[new] McGrath releases plan to “Clean up the DC Swamp” – The Amy McGrath campaign today released her five-point plan for “Cleaning up the Washington Swamp.” We’ve got a statement by McGrath, and an outline of her plan. (News)
[new] An interview with the founders of the Northern KY League of Women Voters – Did you know there is a new northern Kentucky chapter of the League of Women Voters? Christina Conover interviewed the founders, Becky Smith Jones and Jane Page-Steiner, about their plans and goals. (News)
[new] Open records authority weighs in: Can Cameron release the Taylor investigative files? – A sanitized narrative of the fatal police shooting of Ms. Taylor on March 13, 2020, is no substitute for public review of the investigative records compiled by the Attorney General. (Commentary)
On exhaustion and door number 3 – Are you exhausted, mentally and emotionally? I am. (Note: This is yesterday’s Publisher’s Note.) (Commentary)
When it comes to Barrett, we should focus on OUR religion – Can progressive Christians support Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court? Ivonne Rovira examines the question from the light of her own faith. (Commentary)
Small boy: ‘I want to march. For justice.’ – A vignette by Mandy McLaren of the Courier-Journal, about an episode that happened during a recent evening protest. (Feature)
I’m pro-life. I’m Christian. But is that all there is to it? – As a pro-life Christian, I feel that abortion is wrong. Period. But here’s the thing. Being pro-life doesn’t necessarily mean that I support regulations that outlaw it. (Commentary)
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