The
WEEKLY WRAP
All the content from Forward Kentucky for the week ending 2/13
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— Callouts —
Things on the site we want to be sure you see,
out of everything published this week.
- Our daily KYGA updates – We have started a new service – providing daily summaries of what’s going on in this year’s General Assembly. Our daily KYGA21 update includes three sections: a list of actions on key legislation from yesterday, a list of actions on key legislation planned, and the calendar for the day. The first ones are in the list below; check one out to see what it covers. And if you find this valuable, look for it each morning the General Assembly is in session.
- Remember — Repubs DON’T want you to vote … but they don’t care if you get the virus – And before you think that is either hyperbole or harsh, let’s take a look at the facts. (Commentary)
- Repubs block ALL Dem bills in KYGA House – A reader pulled all the bills currently filed in the House in this year’s General Assembly, then looked up all the primary sponsors and their parties. And guess what? NOT ONE Dem bill has even been assigned to a committee. (Commentary)
— Posts in Order —
| ★ Most-read | 🔥 Most-shared |
★ 🔥 No words strong enough
Commentary ● Bruce Maples ● February 13, 2021
No matter what else happens in the future, their names will forever be stained by their vote today.
★ If no conviction, use censure to invoke the 14th Amendment
Commentary ● Marshall Ward ● February 13, 2021
If a conviction of a seditious president does not happen, House and Senate Democrats may push for a censure resolution to bar former President Donald Trump from holding future office(s) over his role in the U.S. Capitol riot.
Russian helmets, MAGA mobs, and Lincoln’s fears
Commentary ● Berry Craig ● February 13, 2021
Trump’s pal Putin may still dream of helmeted Russian soldiers seizing our Capitol. But the czar wannabe is probably content to let MAGA mobs do his bidding.
Repubs block ALL Dem bills in KYGA House
Commentary ● Bruce Maples ● February 13, 2021
A reader pulled all the bills currently filed in the House in this year’s General Assembly, then looked up all the primary sponsors and their parties. And guess what? NOT ONE Dem bill has even been assigned to a committee.
2/12 update — Major virus measures fall; deaths remain high, but 14-day average declining
News ● Kentucky Health News ● February 13, 2021
All major measures of the COVID-19 pandemic declined in Kentucky Friday, including the percentage of residents testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the last seven days, which dropped to 6.95%, the first time since Nov. 6 that it has been under 7%.
★ Sen. Rand Paul equates deadly US Capitol insurrection with Louisville’s civil unrest
Briefs ● Courier Journal ● February 12, 2021
Sen. Rand Paul told Kentucky legislators Thursday the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump was comparable to violence in Louisville last summer.
Lawmakers resurrect ‘conscience’ bill that would let doctors refuse to treat patients
Briefs ● Courier Journal ● February 12, 2021
A controversial proposal that would let medical workers and insurance companies refuse to perform or pay for health care services that violate their conscience is back before the Kentucky legislature.
★ House passes Historical Horse Racing 55-38 after contentious debate; Governor says he’ll sign
News ● KY Forward ● February 12, 2021
After months of uncertainty following an opinion by the Kentucky Supreme Court, historical horse racing in the state has gained legislative approval to continue operation.
2/11 update — State announces more vaccination locations; health chief clarifies CDC mask guidance
News ● Kentucky Health News ● February 12, 2021
MUCH news on vaccination sites (now 156 sites). Good explanation on proper masking, including double masking. Numbers continue going down, but state still a hot spot compared to other states.
★ Cameron impeachment petitioners file motion to question expert witness
News ● Forward Kentucky ● February 11, 2021
Rep. Jason Nemes, the chair of the House ad hoc impeachment committee, announced on Wednesday that there would be an “expert witness” before the committee on Thursday. The petitioners in the Cameron impeachment therefore filed the following motion.
Kentucky lawmakers advancing bills to give legal liability shield over COVID-19 infections
Briefs ● Herald-Leader ● February 11, 2021
Kentucky lawmakers are advancing two different legal liability measures intended to block lawsuits over COVID-19 infections during the pandemic.
US Capitol riots: Kentucky ranks among top states for most arrests in Jan. 6 insurrection
Briefs ● Courier Journal ● February 11, 2021
The states with the most citizens arrested for participating in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol are, naturally, states with huge populations — except for Kentucky.
Historical horse racing clears House committee; full floor vote up next
News ● Kentucky Today ● February 11, 2021
Legislation that would allow historical horse racing in Kentucky won passage in a House committee on Wednesday, just one day after the full Senate gave its approval.
House advances bill realigning felony theft threshold
News ● Kentucky Today ● February 11, 2021
A bill that would raise the threshold at which a theft becomes a felony in Kentucky was approved by the House on Wednesday.
2/10 update — Positivity rate drops again, deaths still high; CDC says two masks better than one
News ● Bruce Maples ● February 11, 2021
Despite the persistently high deaths from COVID-19 in Kentucky, Gov. Beshear sees hope in the state’s declining rate of residents testing positive for the novel coronavirus in the last seven days.
House passes open-records attack without understanding what it does
News ● Amye Bensenhaver ● February 11, 2021
The Kentucky House passed an open records bill 92-1 thinking they were doing something good. Instead, they have created a giant loophole in our open records laws.
★ QAnon, the Millerites — and delusion, lies, and hate
Commentary ● Berry Craig ● February 11, 2021
The Millerites waited for the second coming of Christ. The QAnon faithful await the second coming of Donald Trump – even as he continues to fleece them.
KYGA21 Update for Thursday, 2/11
Hard News ● Parker McGuffey ● February 11, 2021
Our daily KYGA21 update includes three sections: a list of actions on key legislation from yesterday, a list of actions on key legislation planned, and the calendar for the day.
Hey Larry, Moe, and Curly — Put up or shut up
Commentary ● Berry Craig ● February 10, 2021
Corporate stooges Cruz, Hawley, and Jordan remind me of an old Kentucky expression: “Put ’em in a barrel, roll it down a hill, and there’d be a liar on top every time it rolled over.”
KYGA21 Daily Update for Wednesday, 2/10
News ● Parker McGuffey ● February 10, 2021
Our daily KYGA21 update includes three sections: a list of actions on key legislation from yesterday, a list of actions on key legislation planned for today, and a complete calendar for today.
Ky. bill would let people with felonies access KEES scholarships
Briefs ● WFPL ● February 10, 2021
State House lawmakers are trying, again, to pass a bill allowing students with felony convictions to use their Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship, or KEES, funding.
Audit: Kentucky unemployment office ignored 400,000 emails, violated federal rules
Briefs ● Courier Journal ● February 10, 2021
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and skyrocketing joblessness, Kentucky’s unemployment office failed to read more than 400,000 emails asking for help with claims, a state audit has found.
2/9 update — KY to get 6% more vaccine doses next week; numbers continue to trend down
News ● Kentucky Health News ● February 10, 2021
Gov. Beshear praised Kentuckians for their efforts in thwarting the spread of the virus, announcing that case numbers and the positivity rate keep trending down, and the federal government is sending more vaccine.
2/8 update — As key metrics fall for 4th week in a row, Beshear says Ky. is still ‘hot’ due to strategy that kept hospitals from being overwhelmed
News ● Kentucky Health News ● February 9, 2021
For the first time in the pandemic, new cases of the novel coronavirus have dropped in Kentucky for four weeks in a row. Likewise, the state’s positive-test rate has also declined for the last four weeks.
House Democrats file resolution to declare racism a public health crisis in Kentucky
Briefs ● Courier Journal ● February 9, 2021
Two House Democrats have filed a resolution to declare systemic racism a public health and safety crisis in Kentucky, demanding redress across all branches of government in the state.
Don’t know where to get vaccinated? You’re one click away from finding out
News ● Berry Craig ● February 9, 2021
When I became eligible for my COVID vaccination, I wanted to find a place to get it soon and close. By using the KY web site, I got my shot sooner and closer than I expected. Here’s my story.
KYGA21 Update for 2/4 and 2/9
News ● Forward Kentucky ● February 8, 2021
Here’s what happened in the General Assembly on critical bills on 2/4, and what is coming up on critical bills on 2/9. Use this with the calendar post to be informed!
Senate OKs bill for refusal of mandatory vaccination in epidemic, after removing broader exemption for required school shots
News ● Kentucky Health News ● February 8, 2021
A bill that would give Kentuckians the ability to opt out of a mandatory vaccination during an epidemic passed out of its committee and the full Senate in just two days; it now heads to the House for consideration.
Mitch just wanted Greene to clam up
Commentary ● Berry Craig ● February 8, 2021
This isn’t a battle for the soul of the GOP. McConnell and the rest of the party leadership don’t want to lose the loons, they just want them to be quiet.
🔥 White supremacists target UofL campus; students fight back
News ● Ariana Velasquez ● February 8, 2021
Students at UofL have seen acts of vandalism, racially-motivated hostility, and flyers and stickers promoting the right-wing extremist group Patriot Front. But the students are fighting back.
Remember — Repubs DON’T want you to vote … but they don’t care if you get the virus
Commentary ● Bruce Maples ● February 8, 2021
And before you think that is either hyperbole or harsh, let’s take a look at the facts.
‘That’s not quite true’: Paul clashes with Fox News’ Chris Wallace over impeachment claims
Briefs ● Courier Journal ● February 8, 2021
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul sparred with Fox News host Chris Wallace over Paul’s claims about the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump during a Sunday morning interview.
Frustrations with mayor, LMPD turn ‘Community Conversation’ into shouting match
Briefs ● WFPL ● February 8, 2021
At a church in Louisville’s South End Saturday afternoon, new LMPD Chief Erika Shields got a crash course on the deep fractures of the city she now calls home.
2/7 update — Pandemic keeps waning, but Ky. new-case rate ranks 6th
News ● Kentucky Health News ● February 8, 2021
Every major measure of the pandemic in Kentucky declined Sunday, from new cases to hospital figures to deaths. But new cases are declining nationwide, so Kentucky remained among the top states in new cases per person.