U. S. Senate Democratic candidate Amy McGrath will be in Paducah Monday, August 31, 1:30 pm., at the Port of Paducah located at 300 S. 3rd Street in Paducah, Kentucky. Special guest Rex Chapman, former Kentucky Wildcat and NBA player will be at the news conference with McGrath to discuss plans to improve and expand health care.

Chapman is now an addiction recovery advocate having battled an addiction himself. The duo confirmed plans via twitter tonight. "I'll be in my old stomping ground tomorrow - western KY with my buddy Amy McGrath. Anxious to see old friends and friendly faces," tweeted Chapman. "I'll explain how Mitch McConnell has failed Kentucky on opiods. He was elected my Junior year in high school. I'm no 52. Out of touch..."

The Kentucky Wildcat legend (1986 - 1988) and 12-season NBA player was the first-ever draft pick for the Charlotte Hornets. He also played for the Washington Bullets, the Miami Heat, and the Phoenix Suns. 

After several injuries while playing basketball, Chapman was prescribed Oxycontin and thus became his addiction to pills. After Ocycontin was Vicodin. After Vicodin was Suboxone. He hit rock bottom in 2014 after an arrest for shoplifting and selling stolen goods. He checked into rehab and has been clean ever since. 

Chapman became a social media sensation after posting a tweet on Twitter in January 2019 of a dolphin leaping out of a wave and body-checking a guy on a paddle board.

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"We had more deaths announced last week than in any week since we've been battling this virus," said Governor Andy Beshear in the daily COVID-19 briefing. 

Kentucky reported 373 new cases of COVID-19 today for a total of 43,899 cases since early March. The highest positive numbers to date occurred in mid-July with almost 1,000 cases. 

Included in the numbers today, were 4 deaths for a total of 885 across the state of Kentucky. 

Beshear shared a chart that examined the number of positive cases week over week since the coronavirus outbreak. The chart shows the plateau numbers prior to the big hit in July. 

Kentucky is at another plateau...a much higher plateau. Beshear is concerned that if numbers spike again at the current plateau, Kentucky will be in serious trouble. 

He warned Kentuckians not "to let our guard down because we’re tired of being cooped up." Beshear reminded people spring and summer beach vacations appeared to be the source of some outbreaks in Kentucky when people returned. A travel advisory is still mandated. 

Kentucky's travel advisory because of high coronavirus rates include: Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Nevada and Idaho. People are advised to avoid travel to those states and if they do to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning to Kentucky. 

Beshear announced the first outbreak of COVID-19 at one of the state's four veterans nursing homes. The home is located in eastern Kentucky and reports nine residents and one staff member tested positive. 
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A new Executive Order was signed today dedicating $15 million of federal coronavirus relief funds to create a Health at Home Eviction Relief Fund. For more details, review the slide contained in this article or refer to kentucky.gov. 
 

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U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell just threw down the gauntlet. He's requested a good old-fashioned debate before the November general election with challenger Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Amy McGrath. 

In the letter, Senator McConnell says Kentuckians need the opportunity to compare both candidates in a side-by-side (virtual) debate to share their different visions for the state. 

McConnell said, "It would just be the two of us. No notes at the table, no props, and no audience." Team Mitch would like to have it broadcast across the state of Kentucky and is willing to work with a Kentucky TV station with statewide reach. 

As of yet, there's no response from McGrath's campaign. McConnell will be running for his seventh term in the Senate. He's been the GOP leader since 2007 and majority leader since 2015. 

Though McConnell is expected to win, the race is getting tighter. There's lots of money filtering into Kentucky from outside the state and most is being spent against Republicans. 

McGrath has been very vocal of her dissatisfaction with McConnell's handling of coronavirus relief for Kentuckians. She says money is being used to bailout Wallstreet with minimal relief for the average person. This should be a big talking point now through the end of the campaign. 

It's a wait and see for the McGrath teams' response.  Hold onto your hats and enjoy the ride. 

Bob Leeper Pedestrian Bridge Project