News & Notes for Friday

Top Forward Kentucky Stories

Emma Curtis announces historic bid for 93rd district House seat

Curtis is running to fill the seat of Lamin Swann, who died recently. If elected, she would be the first openly transgender state legislator in Kentucky history.

Forward KentuckyForward Kentucky

Rand Paul plans to make colleagues hate him more

Our own Senator is planning on proposing an amendment that he knows won’t pass, thus delaying everyone from going home.

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

Running against Woke

When these politicians rant about fighting “woke,” what exactly do they mean?

Forward KentuckyBruce Maples

Are we taking freedom of speech and press for granted?

We need freedom of the press everywhere – including right here in Kentucky.

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

The three Ds of Daniel Cameron

The governor’s race has barely started, but Beshear is everywhere, while Cameron is MIA. All Cameron has going for him at this point is his three Ds.

Forward KentuckyBerry Craig

Top Headlines from Other Sources

Earth is 'really quite sick now' and in danger zone in nearly all ecological ways, study says

Earth has pushed past seven out of eight scientifically established safety limits and into “the danger zone,” not just for an overheating planet that's losing its natural areas, but for well-being of people living on it, according to a new study.

The study looks not just at guardrails for the planetary ecosystem but for the first time it includes measures of “justice,” which is mostly about preventing harm for countries, ethnicities and genders.

The study by the international scientist group Earth Commission published in Wednesday’s journal Nature looks at climate, air pollution, phosphorus and nitrogen contamination of water from fertilizer overuse, groundwater supplies, fresh surface water, the unbuilt natural environment and the overall natural and human-built environment. Only air pollution wasn’t quite at the danger point globally. (WHAS)

Coal companies owe millions in unpaid fines, fees in Kentucky, other states, complaint says

Coal companies controlled by the son of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice haven’t paid fines for dozens of environmental violations at surface mines and fees to reclaim abandoned mines, including in Kentucky, federal authorities allege.

The U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) sued James C. “Jay” Justice III and 13 companies on Wednesday in federal court in Virginia, where the companies are headquartered. The complaint seeks a total of $4.3 million in fines from the companies; $190,759 for unpaid abandoned mine land fees; and $1.4 million in penalties against Justice personally. (Herald-Leader)

‘We did not back down.’ Rural Kentucky drag show will go on despite opposition

A drag show happening Saturday in Mt. Sterling has been sold out for weeks but has met some opposition in the form of accusations of immorality and online threats.

The local response to the show — part of a line up of events for the Montgomery County town’s second-ever LGBTQ+ pride event — has been “90% positive,” said Jordan Campbell, the executive director of the Gateway Regional Arts Center, the nonprofit hosting the drag show and a subsequent brunch Sunday with drag performers. (Herald-Leader)

Other headlines

Kentucky governor touts big strides in reducing recidivism rate (Herald-Leader)

United Methodist Church in Kentucky losing congregations to rift over LGBTQ inclusion (Kentucky Lantern)

Massie’s ‘yes’ vote key to passing of debt limit bill (Link NKY)

And from the Twitterverse

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