— Publisher’s Note —
Good morning! In case you are just getting to your first cup of coffee and haven’t seen the news, the big story is that President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in quarantine.
The news broke about 1 AM this morning (via tweet, of course), and we don’t know much more than that. We do know that Hope Hicks, part of the administration, tested positive earlier in the week, but nevertheless went to a rally with the president.
Obviously, this throws all sorts of things up in the air: debates, campaigning, perhaps legislation and even the SCOTUS nomination. But let’s say this up front: whatever else is said and done about this, I hope they both either have no symptoms at all, or if they do, that they are mild and they recover quickly.
COVID-19 is a nasty virus with possible long-term effects, and a full-blown case of it is even more nasty. No one should wish it on anyone else. And as one commentator has already posted, “Let’s not be jerks about Trump getting COVID.”
I want Donald Trump defeated in November (as well as many others). In fact, I want him beat like a drum, with Biden winning so convincingly that Trump is left with no option but to concede and to face whatever legal and financial issues he has brought on himself.
BUT – I also wish him the best when it comes to his physical and mental health. And you should too. If we are true progressives, that’s what we do.
Bruce Maples, publisher
Today’s 5 Things To Know
Donald and Melania Trump both test positive for COVID-19
Shortly before 1 AM ET on Friday morning, Donald Trump tweeted that both he and first lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 and were quarantining. (Forward Kentucky)
10/1 update – Beshear issues Halloween guidelines; some schools flout him on fall breaks
Gov. Beshear reported 910 new cases of the coronavirus Thursday, following two straight days with more than 1,000 cases. That brought the state’s seven-day rolling average to a record 821. (Forward Kentucky)
Louisville mayor signs ban of ‘conversion therapy’: ‘LGBTQ kids need to be loved … for who they are’
The discredited practice of using “conversion therapy” on minors is now banned in Louisville. Mayor Greg Fischer, with LGBTQ-rights advocates standing behind him, on Thursday signed an ordinance banning the practice against minors in the city. “Our LGBTQ kids, they don’t need to be converted or repaired,” Fischer said. “They need to be loved, supported, and accepted for who they are.”
“Conversion therapy” tries to change one’s sexual orientation or gender identity and has been condemned by the American Psychiatric Association and the American Psychological Association. (Courier-Journal)
Kansas man indicted for threatening AG Cameron
A Kansas man was indicted Thursday in the Eastern District of Kentucky, for federal charges of sending threatening communications in interstate commerce. (Forward Kentucky)
Andy Barr’s attack ad misleads with COVID-19 lawsuit claims, Democrat Josh Hicks says
Democratic congressional candidate Josh Hicks is calling for U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Lexington) to pull an attack ad because he says it leaves viewers with the false impression that he is attempting to profit from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barr’s television commercial, “A Quick Buck,” began airing last weekend. In it, Lexington anesthesiologist Dr. George Ginter says: “Trial lawyer Josh Hicks is looking to make a quick buck, suing hospitals who are treating COVID patients. Hicks even filed a lawsuit against the company developing a vaccine for COVID-19.”
In tiny print at the bottom of the screen, the ad cites two lawsuits filed last year in U.S. District Court in Kentucky, long before the novel coronavirus pandemic struck. Hicks, a Lexington attorney with the firm of Hicks & Funfsinn, represented the plaintiffs in both suits. (Herald-Leader)
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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.
Saturday (10/3) – KFTC Fall Gathering, Session 3 (info)
Saturday (10/3) – 50,000 Dials for Voter Registration Phone Bank (info)
Saturday (10/3) – McGrath Meet-and-Greet in Frankfort(info)
Saturday (10/3) – Maria Sorolis Socially-Distanced Lit Drop (info)
Recent Content on Forward Kentucky
[new] indicates item not in a Forward Five before
[new] Will you shut up, man? – Donald Trump shouts his lies loud and proud to the delight of his crowd. When his mouth moves, he lies! Will he ever shut up? (Commentary)
[new] League of Women Voters issues statement on the decision in the death of Breonna Taylor – LWV-Kentucky president Fran Wagner and LWV-Louisville president Margie Charasika issued the following statement on the decision in the death of Breonna Taylor. (Press Release)
[new] Hicks repeats challenge to Barr to debate – Josh Hicks, Democrat for Congress in KY-6, renewed his debate challenge to Rep. Barr. Nearly a month has passed since Hicks first issued the challenge, with no response from Barr. (News)
[new] KY voter registration continues to increase prior to October 5 deadline – Secretary of State Michael Adams announced that Kentucky continues to see an uptick in voter registration, with the state’s number of registered voters increasing to 3,517,567 as of August 31. (News)
[new] Fact Check: Trump’s claim that he has the support of Portland’s sheriff is false – Trump’s claim that the sheriff of Portland supports him is false. (News)
9/30 update – “A wake-up call” – Over 1,000 cases for second day in a row; September has highest number of deaths – With more than 1,000 new cases two days in a row and the highest number of deaths of any month, Gov. Beshear said the numbers should be a “wake-up call” to every Kentuckian. (News)
CNN commentator calls out the three most important outcomes of the debate – Van Jones, commentator on CNN, righteously shared his summary of the three most important outcomes of the debate. Watch. (News)
Hang on, voters – your absentee ballots are coming! – We have had a number of emails from people concerned that they had requested an absentee ballot and hadn’t received it yet. So, we reached out to a local BOE to see how things were going. (News)
Be a “vote reporter” and make some $$ on election night – Edison Research needs people to be “on duty” on election night to report local voting results. Note that they only need certain counties covered. Info is below. (Press Release)
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. (Policy)
