The
WEEKLY WRAP
All the content from Forward Kentucky for the week ending 12/5
— Special notes for this week —
- Since we didn’t do a Weekly Wrap over the Thanksgiving weekend, we have included two weeks’ worth of stories in this one.
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— Callouts —
Things on the site we want to be sure you see,
out of everything published this week.
- The tsunami is coming – Like any tsunami, the wave started innocuously enough. Even disconcertingly calmly. Elective surgeries weren’t scheduled over the Thanksgiving holiday anyway, which meant the emergency department, for once, had a manageable caseload. (Feature)
- COVID in Appalachia: Misinformation is killing people – An NBC reporter interviewed frontline workers in hospitals in Appalachia about treating COVID patients in their area. Bottom line: Misinformation is resulting in unnecessary illness and death. (News)
- A national sense of shared sacrifice — then and now – In WW2, Americans were asked to make collective sacrifices for the greater good … and they did. But today, we selfishly flout individualism at the expense of the greater good. Even simple masking and social-distancing guidelines have been met with disdain. What happened to the descendants of the Greatest Generation? (Commentary)
— Posts in Order —
★ Most-read *Most-shared
KY Repubs in Congress won’t admit Biden won
News ● Bruce Maples ● December 5, 2020
The fear that Republicans, including our Kentucky seven, have of both Donald Trump and his cult followers is both amazing and disheartening. If they continue to refuse to accept the results, they will do even more serious damage to our democracy.
KY way behind in unemployment payments – but so is everyone else
News ● Pew Charitable Trusts ● December 5, 2020
The federal standard for UI payments is that 87% of recipients should start getting payments within three weeks. In contrast, Kentucky is hitting the payments-sent-within-three-weeks mark with only 27% of applicants – but the rest of the country isn’t doing much better.
12/4 update — Seven-day averages of new virus cases and covid-19 deaths in Kentucky reach new high
News ● Kentucky Health News ● December 5, 2020
The pandemic set no daily records in Kentucky Friday, but the seven-day rolling averages of new coronavirus cases and COVID-19 deaths hit new highs.
★ As the pandemic rages, the US (and Kentucky) could use a little bit more ‘samfundssind’
Commentary ● The Conversation ● December 4, 2020
In recent years, the English-speaking world has found two Danish concepts, “pyt” and “hygge,” useful for dealing with anxiety and stress. Now another Danish word – “samfundssind” – might help countries grapple with the pandemic.
MOKP — COVID-19 court cases and other updates
Media ● My Old Kentucky Podcast ● December 4, 2020
This week, Jazmin runs down Daniel Cameron’s lawsuit against Andy Beshear’s COVID-19 restrictions and the religious arguments he has been making. Plus, criminal justice quick hits, and talk about some pieces of journalism they’ve been reading lately.
Beshear’s education group aims to help students ‘from cradle to career’
News ● Kentucky Today ● December 4, 2020
Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday the formation of a multi-agency group to assist students as they transition through the state’s public education system.
12/3 update — COVID hospitalizations in Ky. and U.S. at new highs; positive-test rate passes 10%
News ● Kentucky Health News ● December 4, 2020
As the pandemic set more records in Kentucky and the nation, Gov. Andy Beshear announced allocations of the first doses of the first coronavirus vaccine expected to be approved.
*Repubs called out for not wearing masks at the Capitol
News ● Forward Kentucky ● December 3, 2020
If you are a Republican, wearing a mask is optional, because this whole COVID thing is a hoax. Even after being asked to put one on, most Repubs at the meeting would not. The Democrats present have called them out for it.
Rep. John Yarmuth reelected chairman of House Budget Committee
Press Release ● Forward Kentucky ● December 3, 2020
Today, Representative John Yarmuth (KY-03) was reelected Chairman of the House Budget Committee by the Democratic Caucus. This will be Chairman Yarmuth’s second term serving as leader of the Committee.
*The tsunami is coming
News ● Daily Kos ● December 3, 2020
Like any tsunami, the wave started innocuously enough. Even disconcertingly calmly. Elective surgeries weren’t scheduled over the Thanksgiving holiday anyway, which meant the emergency department, for once, had a manageable caseload.
12/2 update — Deadliest day yet, with 37 reported dead
News ● Kentucky Health News ● December 3, 2020
This week’s White House pandemic report praised Gov. Beshear’s orders to thwart the coronavirus, and said they will work “if compliance is high.” If there was ever a time for that, it would be now, Beshear said after reporting the state’s deadliest day from COVID-19 and a rapidly rising positive-test rate.
★ Abortion and Kentucky politicians
Commentary ● Berry Craig ● December 3, 2020
“We’ve been told repeatedly that Democrats can’t win because of ‘God, guns and abortion,’” said Nicole Erwin, communications manager for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana and Kentucky. “We’ve got to change the narrative.”
Danville Christian, AG Cameron asks SCOTUS to intervene in dispute over in-person classes at religious schools (updated)
News ● Guest Author ● December 2, 2020
Less than a week after the Supreme Court lifted New York’s COVID-related limits on attendance at worship services, Danville Christian school and AG Cameron asked the Supreme Court to allow in-person classes at faith-based schools.
12/1 update — Worst coronavirus day yet: more than 4,000 new cases, 35 deaths, and other record measurements of misery
News ● Kentucky Health News ● December 2, 2020
Gov. Andy Beshear announced record numbers for almost every metric the state uses to measure the coronavirus pandemic Tuesday, calling it “a terrible day.”
AG uses open records decision to undermine COVID reporting to the state
Commentary ● Amye Bensenhaver ● December 1, 2020
A headline in the Herald-Leader reads: “Reporting someone to Kentucky’s COVID-19 tip line? Don’t count on anonymity.” Or perhaps you can. It depends on which open records decision issued by the AG you prefer.
Beware the Medicare Coverage Helpline
News ● Berry Craig ● December 1, 2020
“It sounds like a public service announcement from Medicare, but it’s not,” warns Kay Tillow of Kentuckians for Single Payer Health Care. “It’s a scam to sign up for the privatized, for-profit Medicare Advantage plans.”
Right-wing org sending thousands of emails to legislators, urging them to impeach Beshear
News ● Forward Kentucky ● December 1, 2020
The American Family Association of Kentucky, a right-wing political organization, is using a web form to send thousands of emails to members of the Kentucky legislature, urging them to impeach Governor Andy Beshear when they convene in January.
Can Biden get Mitch to finally put country above party?
Commentary ● Marshall Ward ● November 30, 2020
President-elect Joe Biden will take office in January at a time of profound political division. Does he have a secret weapon that will energize Americans to work together to solve our deep-seated problems?
11/29 update — Federal appeals panel says Beshear’s ban on in-person schooling can apply to religious schools
News ● Kentucky Health News ● November 30, 2020
Gov. Andy Beshear’s ban on in-person schooling will remain in effect at all Kentucky schools while federal judges consider whether it can apply to religious schools that follow social-distancing and hygiene rules.
★ 11/28 update — Kentucky doubled its number of covid-19 patients on ventilators in the past month
News ● Kentucky Health News ● November 29, 2020
More COVID patients than ever are on ventilators in Kentucky hospitals, the number having doubled in the last month. But that was the only new record in the Saturday report, as testing was lower than normal due to the holiday.
★ *COVID in Appalachia: Misinformation is killing people
News ● Forward Kentucky ● November 29, 2020
An NBC reporter interviewed frontline workers in hospitals in Appalachia about treating COVID patients in their area. Bottom line: Misinformation is resulting in unnecessary illness and death.
Take “republic” out of “Republican”
Commentary ● Marshall Ward ● November 27, 2020
The cornerstone of a “democratic” republic is the VOTE. But now, across the country, the group most responsible for making voting harder for millions of Americans is the Republican Party.
★ *He’s grateful for the governor … and we are too.
Commentary ● Berry Craig ● November 25, 2020
Kirk Gillenwaters is counting Andy Beshear among his blessings this Thanksgiving. “Hundreds of Kentuckians are alive today because of the actions the governor has taken to fight COVID-19.”
11/24 update — Hospitalizations up 5% in one day; health-department workers are afraid to enforce orders because of threats, abuse, Beshear says
News ● Kentucky Health News ● November 25, 2020
Gov. Beshear announced a 5.4 percent jump in COVID-19 hospitalizations, making for another record high, and said that health-department workers are afraid to enforce his emergency orders because of abuse and threats.
A national sense of shared sacrifice — then and now
Commentary ● Marshall Ward ● November 24, 2020
In WW2, Americans were asked to make collective sacrifices for the greater good … and they did. But today, we selfishly flout individualism at the expense of the greater good. Even simple masking and social-distancing guidelines have been met with disdain. What happened to the descendants of the Greatest Generation?
Think it’s a hoax? Planning a big Thanksgiving? Watch this.
Commentary ● Forward Kentucky ● November 24, 2020
If you are planning to ignore the guidelines and have everyone over for Thanksgiving, or you are one of those persons who refuses to wear a mask, watch this. And consider.
11/23 update — Beshear warns hospitals at ‘tipping point’
News ● Kentucky Health News ● November 24, 2020
A new study shows that compliance with Kentucky’s new emergency orders to thwart the coronavirus could save up to 1,000 lives in the Louisville region, and presumably have similar results across Kentucky.
Biden announces first cabinet nominees
News ● Forward Kentucky ● November 23, 2020
President-elect Joe Biden has announced his first six cabinet nominees, including a new position: Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.
Ohio Valley economic outlook grim as COVID aid programs end
News ● Ohio Valley Resource ● November 23, 2020
With hundreds of thousands across the Ohio Valley struggling to make ends meet, a suite of coronavirus aid packages — including rent and utility relief funding, eviction moratoriums, and expanded unemployment benefits — is set to expire at the end of December.
Adams’ changes gain strong support from county clerks in survey
News ● Kentucky Today ● November 23, 2020
Secretary of State Michael Adams has more support in his effort to have some of the changes made to the way elections were conducted this year made permanent by the Kentucky General Assembly next year.
Cameron joins lawsuit against Beshear’s school order
News ● Kentucky Today ● November 23, 2020
Attorney General Daniel Cameron joined a Kentucky Christian school’s federal lawsuit against Gov. Andy Beshear that says the governor’s ban on in-person classes at religious schools unconstitutional.
Trump 2024
Commentary ● Ivonne Rovira ● November 23, 2020
We’re all exhausted from four years of racism, bigotry, misogyny, incoherence, incompetence, and proto-fascism. But Donald Trump ain’t going away; he’ll be campaigning from now until 2024 simply because he literally can’t afford not to.
Why Trump’s election fraud claims aren’t showing up in his lawsuits challenging the results
News ● The Conversation ● November 23, 2020
There seems to be a real disconnect between the claims of widespread fraud, a stolen election, and illegal voting made by President Trump and his allies, and the actual claims formally made by his lawyers in court.
Preemption laws block KY communities from tobacco control measures
News ● Kentucky News Connection ● November 23, 2020
Since 1996, Kentucky has barred cities and counties from enacting tobacco control measures to govern the marketing and sale of tobacco products. Advocates say such preemptive legislation is outdated and should be repealed.
As CDC warns against Thanksgiving travel, here are a dozen more things you can do to help stop COVID-19
News ● The Conversation ● November 23, 2020
As Americans prepare for the first Thanksgiving in the time of the coronavirus, here are 12+ things you can do to make the holiday safer. Spoiler alert: they don’t include having the traditional everyone-included meal.
11/22 update — Another record week of cases, and new highs for intensive care, ventilators, and positive-test percentage
News ● Kentucky Health News ● November 23, 2020
Kentucky recorded the most cases of the novel coronavirus on a Sunday, and the most in its official Monday-to-Sunday reporting week, Gov. Andy Beshear announced in a press release.
Selfish churches, selfish Christians
Commentary ● Bruce Maples ● November 22, 2020
I told a friend of mine about the churches that were ignoring the governor and having in-person services. She said with a snort, “Way to hang together and take care of your fellow human beings. Really showing the love of Jesus to others, aren’t they?” I’d say she nailed it – except for needing stronger language.
11/21 update — State tells local health departments how to enforce Beshear’s new restrictions; second highest day yet for coronavirus cases
News ● Kentucky Health News ● November 22, 2020
As Kentucky reported the second-highest daily number of coronavirus cases Saturday, state officials scrambled to get local health departments to enforce Gov. Beshear’s new restrictions on businesses.
This week’s TSOK — Let’s talk with the new KDP chair
Media ● The State of Kentucky ● November 22, 2020
The KY Democratic Party has a new chair! On this week’s The State of Kentucky, we got to interview Colmon Elridge, and learn more about his goals and plans for the KDP.
