…another op-ed I read this morning that I thought was worth sharing:
A large number of Trump supporters make their way up Constitution Avenue en route to the U.S. Capitol after President Donald Trump gave a speech at the Ellipse and encouraged them to march on Jan. 6, 2021. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)
“…everything about what unfolded on Jan. 6, 2021, implicates the cultural leader of the Republican Party — and because pretending that a mystery exists benefits him — we approach the third anniversary of that day with renewed efforts to rewrite its history.
“What Trump is doing now, 340-odd days before the 2024 general election, is amplifying self-serving falsehoods and finding a hungry audience for them. This is also precisely what he was doing in the weeks before the Capitol riot.”
Nice little op-ed that caught my attention this morning…
Protesters against Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act protest outside the Capitol in May 2017. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images)
“And while the Obamacare brand might have been unpopular, most of Obamacare’s actual provisions were well-liked. Nearly every major plank of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — such as guaranteeing coverage to people with preexisting conditions, expanding Medicaid, and allowing children to stay on their parents’ insurance plans for longer — was and continues to be favored by the public.”
History has been made; we now have our first “presidential mugshot”.
Former President Donald Trump was arrested yesterday on multiple charges relating to alleged attempts of tampering with election results. (I say alleged, as well, he’s innocent until proven guilty. My opinion–yeah, I’d hedge a bet on guilty. But, anyway.)
Needless to say, it’s fairly big news–the picture, anyway, not so much the arrest, as we saw this coming. And, of course, this silly media frenzy surrounding the picture is giving Trump tons of publicity. The question is, how will it be spun? I dunno, nor do I really care. I am slightly curious, however, in that same sort of curiosity one might have over seeing new property developments, or car accidents, or other little “I wonder” scenarios that really don’t seem to have that great of an effect on the curious, but easily could in some small way.
Emergency order accelerates resources to communities in need
FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear has declared a state of emergency for the Commonwealth – the second such declaration in less than a month.
“Two significant winter storms nearly back-to-back are rare in Kentucky, and pose a challenge for our emergency management teams, road crews and local emergency responders. This emergency declaration will allow us to deploy any needed state assistance, including National Guard troops if necessary, without delay,” said Gov. Beshear.
Snow continues to accumulate, approaching up to 20 inches in some parts of Kentucky. Rain and sleet preceded the snow, making pre-treating roads impossible. Road crews working to clear highways and interstates were hampered by the fast-falling snow, which re-covered roads almost as quickly as they were plowed. As a result, roads across the state are in poor to treacherous condition.
The statewide declaration allows local officials immediate access to state resources to assist in public safety and recovery efforts. A separate emergency order will alleviate certain trucking restrictions so that vehicles carrying emergency supplies may travel through the state more quickly.
Gov. Beshear and state officials remind drivers that it is extremely important to avoid travel if possible so road crews can salt and plow interstates and major highways. He encouraged citizens to check on elderly neighbors.
The storm brings other dangers as well. Yesterday’s warm temperatures, snow melt and rain caused flooding in several areas before the snow began to fall. Heavy snow accumulations may also cause power outages or roof collapses.
A statewide emergency declaration does not create mandatory closings for schools or businesses. Kentuckians should monitor local media for announcements of school or work closings. Employees should consult their employers’ policies regarding inclement weather for guidance on attendance or leave time.
The Commonwealth Emergency Operations Center (CEOC), located in Frankfort, remains activated with additional staffing from Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM), KYNG, state cabinets and volunteer organizations monitoring the situation, fielding calls and responding to requests for assistance. The National Guard has been activated to several locations to support emergency response efforts.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 26, 2015) – Governor Steve Beshear has proclaimed March as “Severe Weather Awareness Month in Kentucky.”
Weather is always a threat in Kentucky: There have been a total of 13 presidential major disaster declarations during Gov. Beshear’s time in office. All of these disasters have been weather related.
As part of severe weather awareness activities, a statewide tornado drill is being conducted in conjunction with the proclamation.
At approximately 10:017 a.m. EST, Tuesday, March 3, the National Weather Service (NWS), partnering with Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM), the Kentucky Weather Preparedness Committee (KWPC) and Kentucky Broadcasters Association (KBA) will issue a tornado warning test message.
Outdoor warning sirens will sound across Kentucky communities; weather alert radios will activate; and television and radio stations and mobile devices will broadcast the alert – allowing the public the opportunity to practice tornado safety measures.
The broadcast test message will emphasize this is only a test of the alert system. During the test alert, all Kentuckians, businesses, hospitals, nursing homes, educators and government agencies are encouraged to practice their tornado safety drill and update their emergency plan.
Severe weather preparedness begins with knowing the risks:
Step 1. Understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you and your family.
Step 2. Check the weather forecast regularly. Get a NOAA Weather Radio and sign up for localized alerts from emergency management officials.
Step 3: Develop a personal emergency plan that considers all types of local hazards.
If you do not have a tornado plan in place, consider these guidelines:
Designate a tornado shelter in an interior room on the lowest level of a building, away from windows.
Basements are best, but, if there is no basement, choose an interior bathroom, closet or other enclosed space on the lowest level of a building.
Tell everyone where the designated shelter is and post the location.
To conduct a tornado drill at home or work:
Announce the start of the drill.
Participants should act as though a tornado warning has been issued for the immediate area or a tornado has been sighted nearby. They should move as quickly as possible to the designated tornado shelter.
Once people reach predesignated safe areas, they should crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down, covering their heads with their hands.
Once everyone has reached safe shelter, announce the mock tornado has passed and the drill is complete.
After the drill, perform an assessment. Determine whether the shelter you chose was large enough for everyone, easy to get to and uncluttered.
Help emergency managers and weather officials improve weather notifications and awareness campaigns by completing a short online survey, available at http://kyem.ky.gov/preparedness/Pages/default.aspx.
During severe weather, if you are caught outdoors and unable to seek indoor shelter, lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Be aware of the potential for flooding.
Remember, outdoor sirens are not designed to warn indoor inhabitants, and tornadoes also strike during the night. If you are asleep or don’t happen to have a television or radio turned on when a severe weather warning is issued; battery-backed weather alert radios are always on and ready to sound an alarm. This is the most effective way to monitor severe weather watches and warnings at any time of day or night.
Homes and businesses alike should have and should monitor weather alert radios, which automatically transmit NWS severe weather watches and warnings 24 hours a day.
KYEM is offering an online survey form that each participant is encouraged to complete and submit. The results will be used to help determine the effectiveness of the drill and to identify ways to improve readiness and alert notifications.
The survey, weather safety tips, helpful links and resources can be found on the KYEM website at: http://kyem.ky.gov where you can follow KYEMPIO on Twitter, like us on facebook and sign up for mobile alert messages. Additional information is on the National Weather Service’s website at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/severe.html.
If inclement weather is in the forecast on March 3, the Statewide Tornado Drill will be rescheduled.
On February 17, 2015, Governor Stephen L. Beshear signed a Proclamation, declaring the month of March 2015 as Severe Weather Awareness month.
A PDF of the Proclamation is available for viewing on the Kentucky Emergency Management website: http://kyem.ky.gov/.
Text of the Proclamation follows:
Proclamation
by
Stephen L. Beshear
Governor
of the
Commonwealth of Kentucky
To All To Whom These Presents Shall Come:
WHEREAS, Severe weather can strike at any time in Kentucky, causing extensive and long-lasting effects upon Kentuckians and impacting personal lives, the social structure and the economy on both the local and state levels; and
WHEREAS, Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM) is charged with the responsibility of preparing Kentucky for all forms of natural disasters, including severe weather; and
WHEREAS, KYEM cooperates with other state and federal government agencies, the National Weather Service, the Kentucky Weather Preparedness Committee, local emergency officials and private corporations to prepare the citizens of the Commonwealth for severe weather; and
WHEREAS, All Kentuckians are encouraged to participate in the 2015 Statewide Tornado Safety Drill to be held on March 3, at approximately 10:07 a.m. EST;
NOW, THEREFORE,I, STEVEN L. BESHEAR, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, do hereby proclaim March 2015 as
SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS MONTH
in Kentucky, and urge all public and private institutions, as well as residents, to note its observance and take necessary actions to prepare and protect our people and property that could be threatened as a result of severe storms.
DONE AT THE CAPITOL, in the City of Frankfort the 17th day of February, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen and in the 223rd year of the Commonwealth.
There will be no Morning News posted this morning–in fact, my Morning News posts will be taking a brief hiatus. My deepest apologies if you have grown accustomed to seeing what I think qualifies as news…
Instead, I would like to share the song that ran through my head this morning as I awoke:
We’ll have one more cold morning with wind chills well below zero. A storm system will then move in late this afternoon and remain with us through the weekend. Light snow this afternoon and evening will change to a mix overnight, with snow accumulations possible north and ice accumulations south. On Saturday a wintry mix will continue north, with rain south. Flooding could become a concern in the south by the start of the new week.
—###—
Wind Chill Advisory valid until February 21 7:00pm EST
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LOUISVILLE KY
414 AM EST FRI FEB 20 2015
...BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS THIS MORNING...
...WINTER STORM WARNING THIS EVENING THROUGH MUCH OF SATURDAY...
.FRIGID WIND CHILLS WILL PERSIST THIS MORNING. SIGNIFICANT
ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW...SLEET AND ICE ARE POSSIBLE FRIDAY EVENING
THROUGH MUCH OF SATURDAY. THE FORECASTS WILL CHANGE AS THE STORM
APPROACHES...KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION.
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST /9 AM
CST/ THIS MORNING...
...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ THIS
EVENING TO 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ SATURDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR SNOW AND ICE...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM EST
/6 PM CST/ THIS EVENING TO 7 PM EST /6 PM CST/ SATURDAY. A WIND
CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST /9 AM CST/ THIS
MORNING.
* TIMING: WIND CHILLS 10 BELOW TO 20 BELOW THROUGH MID-MORNING.
SNOW DEVELOPING THIS EVENING...POSSIBLY MIXING WITH SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN OVERNIGHT INTO SATURDAY.
* MAIN IMPACT: BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS WILL MAKE IT DANGEROUS TO
BE OUTSIDE FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME THIS MORNING.
SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATIONS OF SNOW...SLEET OR ICE ARE POSSIBLE
THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY. STAY UP TO DATE OF THE LATEST
FORECASTS AS EXACT AMOUNTS AND PRECIPITATION TYPES ARE STILL IN
QUESTION.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
DRESS IN LAYERS TO TRAP BODY HEAT AND TO INSULATE YOU FROM THE
COLD AIR. COVER AS MUCH EXPOSED SKIN AS POSSIBLE AND STAY DRY.
USE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVELING TONIGHT OR SATURDAY.
—###—
CYNTHIANA / HARRISON
The Harrison County Emergency Operations Center has been transformed into a shelter for men, women, and children. The building’s meeting rooms have been turned into sleeping areas. There were five people staying at the shelter Thursday morning. At sunrise that morning, the temperature in Cynthiana was recorded at 22 degrees below zero, the coldest in the area. The shelter is located at 313 Oddville Avenue. Residents are offered three meals a day. Officials say the shelter will remain open as long as there’s a need.
...WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST /11 AM
CST/ TODAY...
...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EST /11 AM
CST/ TODAY TO 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ FRIDAY...
A WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST /11 AM CST/
TODAY. A WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON EST
/11 AM CST/ TODAY TO 7 AM EST /6 AM CST/ FRIDAY.
* TIMING: WIND CHILL READINGS HAVE FALLEN WELL BELOW ZERO AND WILL
REMAIN BITTERLY COLD THROUGH TONIGHT.
* MAIN IMPACT: BITTERLY COLD WIND CHILLS WILL MAKE IT DANGEROUS TO
BE OUTSIDE FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME. WIND CHILL READINGS
WILL BOTTOM OUT BETWEEN 20 AND 30 DEGREES BELOW ZERO.
* OTHER IMPACTS: EXPOSED WATER PIPES WILL BE IN DANGER OF
FREEZING AND BURSTING.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
DRESS IN LAYERS TO TRAP BODY HEAT AND TO INSULATE YOU FROM THE
COLD AIR. COVER AS MUCH EXPOSED SKIN AS POSSIBLE AND STAY DRY.
—###—
CYNTHIANA / HARRISON
Harrison County Schools and Kids Club are closed for the rest of the week…
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10152572843031607&id=296254501606
—###—
KENTUCKY
Harlan City Police issued a warrant for Queen Elsa of Arendelle, yesterday afternoon. Police advise using caution in her apprehension, as the weather conditions show example of dangers she is capable of performing.
University of Kentucky agriculture specialists say the extreme low temperatures this week mean farmers must make efforts to ensure animals are protected.
UK agricultural meteorologist Matthew Dixon says below-normal temperatures expected through the next week and possibly into early March continue the risk of stress to livestock.
UK said in a news release that livestock producers should make sure animals have enough shelter, water, dry bedding and feed to get through the cold period and that pet owners should bring pets inside. Livestock specialists say animals need more energy in colder months and advise having high-quality forages and grains on hand.
UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment livestock specialist Jeff Lehmkuhler says if animals have to search for water, they may end up walking out onto ice-covered ponds, risking falling through the ice.
The Kentucky House has canceled its meetings for the rest of the week after another winter storm dumped 3 more inches of snow in the state’s capital city.
The Senate was scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon, but the House announced Wednesday afternoon it would not return until 4 p.m. Monday.
Legislative leaders canceled Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s sessions after more than 10 inches of snow fell in Frankfort in one of the worst winter storms in the past decade. The National Weather Service said more snow was possible Wednesday.
The forecast for Thursday doesn’t include snow, but temperatures are expected to drop to as low as 16 below zero.
Lawmakers are in the middle of a 30-day session. They could make up the lost days in March.
Vanilla Ice has been charged with breaking into and stealing from an abandoned home that is in foreclosure in Florida.
Police in the Palm Beach County town of Lantana say the recording artist and home-improvement-show host had been renovating a home next to the victim’s house. They said in a news release that some of the items were found at his property.
Vanilla Ice, whose real name is Robert Van Winkle, rose to fame following the 1990 release of the hit song “Ice Ice Baby.” In recent years, he has hosted “The Vanilla Ice Project” on DIY Network.
The 47-year-old Van Winkle was charged Wednesday with burglary of residence and grand theft and taken into custody.
Authorities say furniture, a pool heater, bicycles and other items were removed from the home sometime during December and February.
1807 – Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason in Wakefield, Alabama and confined to Fort Stoddert.
1819 – British explorer William Smith discovers the South Shetland Islands, and claims them in the name of King George III.
1846 – In Austin, Texas the newly formed Texas state government is officially installed. The Republic of Texas government officially transfers power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States.
1847 – The first group of rescuers reaches the Donner Party.
1859 – Daniel E. Sickles, a New York Congressman, is acquitted of murder on grounds of temporary insanity. This is the first time this defense is successfully used in the United States.
1878 – Thomas Edison patents the phonograph.
1884 – More than sixty tornadoes strike the Southern United States, one of the largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history.
1942 – World War II: United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the executive order 9066, allowing the United States military to relocate Japanese Americans to internment camps.
1945 – World War II: Battle of Iwo Jima: About 30,000 United States Marines land on the island of Iwo Jima.
1953 – Censorship: Georgia approves the first literature censorship board in the United States.
1976 – Executive Order 9066, which led to the relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps, is rescinded by President Gerald R. Ford’s Proclamation 4417
1985 – William J. Schroeder becomes the first recipient of an artificial heart to leave hospital.
2001 – The Oklahoma City bombing museum is dedicated at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
2002 – NASA’s Mars Odyssey space probe begins to map the surface of Mars using its thermal emission imaging system.
We’ll have one more cold morning with wind chills well below zero. A storm system will then move in late this afternoon and remain with us through the weekend. Light snow this afternoon and evening will change to a mix overnight, with snow accumulations possible north and ice accumulations south. On Saturday a wintry mix will continue north, with rain south. Flooding could become a concern in the south by the start of the new week.
Harlan City Police issued a warrant for Queen Elsa of Arendelle, yesterday afternoon. Police advise using caution in her apprehension, as the weather conditions show example of dangers she is capable of performing.
