‘Knocking while Black:’ Police called on political candidates in Western Kentucky
A Lawrenceburg man running for a Kentucky state representative seat said he experienced a first Saturday when the police were called on him and others door knocking for political campaigns.
Dustin Burley, a candidate for the 53rd District, was in Muhlenberg County, where he was campaigning on behalf of others as part of the Black Caucus for Kentucky Young Democrats. “In all the years I have knocked on doors, I have never gotten the police called,” Burley said. “I have heard horror stories, though, from others that have.” (Herald-Leader)
Judge temporarily blocks new Kentucky bill that limits JCPS board's authority
A Jefferson Circuit Judge has ruled that part of Senate Bill 1, which restricts the authority of Jefferson County's school board, is unconstitutional. The Kentucky state legislature passed the law earlier this year. It gives the superintendent more powers and limits the education board from meeting more than once every four weeks. Last month, the school board filed a lawsuit against State Education Commissioner Jason Glass and Attorney General Daniel Cameron, hoping to block sections of Senate Bill 1 that would limit its authority. They said the bill requires "unusual" supermajority voting standards that are not required of any other districts, so it essentially singles the district out. (WLKY)
Liberty Candidate Declares Run for KY Treasurer
A former GOP state Senate candidate who was blocked in one race by Republicans in the Senate is seeking a statewide post as Kentucky Treasurer. Republican Andrew Cooperrider, defeated in the May primary for a state Senate seat, announced that he is seeking the open seat for Kentucky Treasurer. The Lexington coffee-shop owner refused to close for in-person dining early in the pandemic and has some prominence in the Trump-portion of the GOP as he attempted to impeach Gov. Andy Beshear. He was seeking to run for the state Senate in the 12th District this year before GOP lawmakers redrew the maps for their favored candidate, placing Cooperrider in the 22nd Senate District. The Liberty-wing Republican then challenged incumbent Sen. Donald Douglas in the 22nd District. He lost to Douglas in the May primary. (KY Fried Politics)
Workers at a Kentucky Amazon facility are attempting to unionize.
Employees in the small, rural city of Campbellsville are making efforts to organize, and if they are successful, they'll be the first local chapter outside Staten Island to do so.
Matt Littrell, 22, an employee at the Campbellsville warehouse, said he is leading the efforts to organize his coworkers with the Amazon Labor Union. He said workers "need a tangible solution" to their problems.
"You have to really get down to the nitty gritty of what it is and realize that management, fundamentally, does not have the same interests you do," he said. "We have working class interests, and their interests are further up the chain of command." (Courier-Journal)
Highlands Metro Council member exploring run for state Senate seat
Louisville Metro Council Member Cassie Chambers Armstrong is preparing to run in a potential special election next year for a seat in the Kentucky Senate. The 19th Senate District, which covers parts of the Highlands and neighborhoods near Bowman Field, would become vacant if Democratic state Sen. Morgan McGarvey is successful in his bid to replace retiring U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth in November. If that happens, the governor would call a special election to fill the seat early next year. Chambers Armstrong, 35, has been the Democratic representative of a similar district on Metro Council for two years. (WFPL)
This weekend’s KY Democratic Women’s summer convention is sold out
The summer convention of the KY Democratic Women is this weekend, and the event is sold out. JoAnne Bland, the group’s president, shared the news via email to all the members and to persons planning to attend. The event begins Friday evening, then continues on Saturday with an impressive lineup of speakers, including Governor Andy Beshear. Forward Kentucky will cover the Saturday portion of the event.
--30--
