News & Notes for Friday, 10/21

More stories than normal today. Remember to click through the links to read more about each story.

Also, we’ve started posting these on TikTok a few hours after they are posted on the site. So, if you are a TikTok user, follow our channel for this and other ForwardKY posts. Go here to get your News & Notes in video format!

Booker endorsed by Herald-Leader

The editorial board of the Lexington Herald-Leader has endorsed Charles Booker over Rand Paul for Kentucky’s U.S. Senate seat currently held by Paul. More in the story on Forward Kentucky. (Forward Kentucky)

Steve Bannon sentenced to four months in prison

Steve Bannon, the former Trump advisor, was sentenced today to four months in federal prison for two counts of contempt of Congress. The sentence, which District Court Judge Carl Nichols agreed to delay until Bannon’s appeal efforts are exhausted, came a year after Bannon refused to comply with a subpoena from the House committee investigating the January 6 attack requiring him to turn over records and sit for an interview. (Mother Jones)

Kentucky governor candidate charged after chasing nephew who flipped him off

Republican candidate for governor Eric Deters has been charged with menacing and harassing communications related to a truck chase after a teenage nephew flipped him off near a family farm in Northern Kentucky.

According to the criminal complaint and citation filed in the case, Deters on Oct. 3 allegedly chased the nephew with his truck throughout the Kenton County farm belonging to his brother and then sent harassing voicemails and texts to his sister-in-law. (Courier-Journal)

TARC union workers vote to authorize strike

Union members working at Transit Authority of River City (TARC) voted Thursday night to authorize a strike. ATU Local 1447, which represents the city’s bus transit employees, said 95% of TARC workers voted to authorize the strike, according to a news release from union leadership. The vote to authorize a strike comes after weeks of back and forth between union members and the system’s leadership. (WFPL)

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear to expand Medicaid coverage to dental, vision and hearing care

Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday his administration will expand Medicaid coverage for dental, vision and hearing care in Kentucky, touting it as a way to improve people's lives and boost workforce participation.

The expansion, which will go into effect Jan. 1, will apply to the nearly 900,000 adults who are enrolled in the state's Medicaid program — individuals with an annual income below $18,700 and families of four with an income under $38,200. (Courier-Journal)

Kentucky legislators seeking change in law after Henderson teen's hazing death at UK

In response to the 2021 hazing death of 18-year-old Thomas "Lofton" Hazelwood, Kentucky state legislators proposed a bill Thursday that would make fraternity hazing a Class D felony in the state.

Hazelwood grew up in Henderson and was a University of Kentucky freshman when he died of acute alcohol poisoning on Oct. 18, 2021, while pledging at the FarmHouse Fraternity, a Greek organization founded at the University of Missouri in 1905. (Courier-Journal)

Gaffe Alert: Typo in campaign text message now links to opponent’s website

The race for 14th Circuit Court Judge took an odd twist this week as candidate Rob Johnson sent out a robo-text to voters in the district with a typo in the link to his website. His opponent, Katie Gabhart, quickly took advantage of the blunder, and now the link directs to a new website created by her campaign.

“My opponent claims I can only do half the job,” part of the text message from Rob Johnson’s campaign to voters reads, before listing his accomplishments. Then comes the link to “learn more,” but if you click the link you’ll be redirected to a message from Gabhart. “Like many times in his career, Rob Johnson made an error,” the redirected website for Gabhart states. “This time, he didn’t proofread his text and it has directed you to this site. Since you’re here, let’s look at the real facts, not what Rob says in his campaign materials.” (KY Fried Politics)

And from the Twitterverse ...

--30--