Election Central and a sale!

Hello ForwardKY members! Hope your weekend is going well – and if you have kids (or are a teacher!) that the back-to-school routine was not too much craziness.

Fancy Farm was last weekend, so that means the fall election season has officially kicked off. And to stay informed, be sure to take advantage of ForwardKY’s Election Central.

Election Central launches

We launched EC last weekend, and it’s already getting good traffic. There’s a lot of data here: it covers all the competitive races this fall for United States Senate and House, and Kentucky Senate and House. Here’s what’s in it right now at launch:

• All the fund-raising for all the candidates
• All the social media channels we could find for all the candidates
• All the mailing addresses for all the candidates
• For each race, a page with
  • Fund-raising and social media for just the candidates in the race
  • Bios of each candidate
  • Endorsements for each candidate
  • The Ballotpedia link for each candidate

We hope to add links to interviews and news stories, as well as more background information, over the next two weeks.

It was a huge undertaking, and we couldn’t have done it without the help of some amazing volunteers. So take advantage of it!

A special Election Central sale for our Friend members

EC is a perk for our paying members at the Patron and Partner levels. But never fear, Friend members – we’ve got your back! Right now you can sign up at the Patrol level for just $3 a month for the first three months.

That’s right – you can get access to all of Election Central for less than ten dollars. Once the election is over, you can drop back to the Friend level for free, or stay at the Patron level at $5 a month. Either way, you get all this good info from now to the election in November. Click this button to go to the popup and take advantage of this special offer!

Of course, even while we’ve been working to get EC ready, we’ve also continued to post stories and do the work. Your membership and support make it all worthwhile, so thank you.

Bruce

PS – I did the first “Commonwealth Conversation” this week in Hopkinsville with state Senator Whitney Westerfield. The crowd was small, but I thought the event itself was great. I didn’t write it up for the site (tough to write about yourself), so here are a couple of stories from other sources about the event.

Inaugural Commonwealth Conversation Focuses On Healthy Dialogue

The inaugural Commonwealth Conversation in Hopkinsville Thursday night featured a cordial discussion of issues ranging from growing the workforce, to tax reform, and the three biggest issues facing Kentucky. The Commonwealth Conversation was the idea of Forward

WKDZ RadioAlan Watts

First ‘Commonwealth Conversation’ held in Hoptown

On Thursday evening August 11 inside the Christian County Middle School Auditorium an inaugural “Commonwealth Conversation” was held between Bruce Maples, a publisher of a progressive online political news website

Kentucky New EraJazmine Torian New Era Staff Writer

Most-viewed post this week

Dem candidate gets endorsements from four governors – including Ernie Fletcher

Teresa Barton, the Democratic state senate candidate for district 20, has already garnered endorsements from four Kentucky governors.

Forward KentuckyForward Kentucky

Media this week

Chris Brown interview, LMPD police arrested, and Fancy Farm wrap-up

We talked w/ Chris Brown, the Dem candidate in Boone and Kenton Counties. She told of her experience organizing for social and racial justice, and her desire to bring the 69th’s concerns to Frankfort. And, Jazmin talked about the DOJ case against four LMPD officers, and Robert wrapped up Fancy Farm.

Forward KentuckyJazmin Smith

Biden’s big week – plus a visit w/ H-73 candidate Tommy Adams

The Colonels discuss the big news from DC, including big Biden wins and horrible votes from Kentucky’s Senators, then welcome KY House District 73 candidate Tommy Adams to our campaign corner, before talking youth voting with KY Young Democrats President, Stephon Moore.

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

Stories this week

Beshear displeased with response from FEMA

The governor says that FEMA is denying help to too many people, and it’s caused by something in the middle layer of the bureaucracy.

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

Friday News and Notes

N&N for Friday, 8/12 – Medical MJ; Paul and McConnell; mental health commission; barista union efforts; the Berg-Peden race

Forward KentuckyForward Kentucky

‘Basic physics’ of global warming makes rainfall more frequent and more intense; U.S. infrastructure isn’t prepared

Nearly three-quarters of locations the group examined around the country have experienced an increase in the amount of rain falling on their annual wettest day since 1950.

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

Rand Paul wants you to overpay for insulin. Can’t afford it? Tough.

Kentucky’s junior senator, who’s seeking a third term on Nov. 8, voted against a $35-per-month cap on out-of-pocket insulin costs for people not on Medicare.

Forward KentuckyBerry Craig

‘They have no way to get out until the bridges are rebuilt’

An update on the trip to EKY by Jeff Wiggins and Jerald Adkins to see how unions can help.

Forward KentuckyBerry Craig

Jessica Neal pays $57,368 to get recount in Kentucky Senate District 24 primary race lost by 3 percent

Jessica Neal, a candidate in last spring’s Republican primary election for state Senate District 24, posted $57,368 Monday with the Campbell circuit court clerk to get a recount of the election.

Forward KentuckyGuest Author

Continuous CHIP eligibility could keep more KY kids covered

The federal health insurance program for children helps keep more than 620,000 Kentucky kids insured. But the expanded coverage expires in October. Now what?

Forward KentuckyGuest Author