Epistle - Spring Edition 2022 by Historic St Paul AME Church

HISTORIC ST. PAUL AME CHURCH THE EPISTLE 2022 SPRING EDITION

Bishop Anne H. Byfield, Presiding Bishop, 13th Episcopal District Rev. Kenneth J. Golphin, Presiding Elder, Bluegrass District Rev. Dr. Robert A. Strode, Pastor MINISTERIAL STAFF Rev. Kenneth E. Paris, Retired Itinerant Elder Rev, Barry Frazier, Retired Itinerant Elder Rev. Fonseco M. Frazier, Itinerant Elder Rev. Kelly Roberts, Local Elder Sister Shelby G. Strode, Exhorter Sister Doris J. Coffey, Exhorter / Editor

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It Is a blessing for me to greet you. I am a living witness that God is a healer. Often, I think of the gospel song by The Williams Brothers, “I am a living testimony, I could have been dead and gone, but Lord, You let me live on!” Hallelujah!! I am grateful to God for my beautiful wife, Shelby and my loving congregation, the Historic St. Paul AME Church family for your love and encouragement. You are truly a blessing! It is most important for us to continue in the spirit of our theme this year “Be Prepared” from the Parable of the Ten Virgins. We are faced with many difficulties. The pandemic, raised cost of living, skyrocketed gas prices, and the people of Ukraine. We must prepare our hearts and minds for such a time as this. As planned, we will officially reopen indoor worship on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. Rest assured that CDC guidelines will be carefully followed. Holy Communion will be administered in a safe manner. In addition to in-house worship, we will observe hybrid worship, via Facebook Live, YouTube and Zoom. Hats off to our Tech Team for their dedication and hard work. Be strong and keep your eyes on the Prize! Blessings and love,

Pastor Robert A. Strode

Spring Clean With Clean Hands and a Pure Heart While you're cleaning out closets and sweeping under the furniture, think about this: Spring cleaning, while worth the effort, will only last for a season, but spiritual cleansing could have an enduring influence. So don't just dust behind those bookshelves. Instead, dust off that Bible and get ready for a spiritual spring cleaning. Cleanse Your Heart to Become Spiritually Healthy The Bible encourages us to draw close to God and allow our hearts and bodies to be cleansed. This is the first step in our spring cleaning project. We can't clean ourselves. Instead, we must draw near to God and ask Him to do the cleansing. • •

Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Hebrews 10:22: Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

Deep Clean Your Mouth Inside and Out Spiritual cleansing requires deep cleaning--it is housekeeping that goes beyond what others see and hear. It's a cleansing from within, inside and out. As your heart gets clean, your language should follow. This is not just talking about bad language, but also negative talk and pessimistic thoughts that contradict the Word of God and faith. This includes the challenge to stop complaining. •

•

Luke 6:45: The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks. Philippians 2:14: Do everything without complaining or arguing.

Renew Your Mind This is one of the biggest areas of struggle for most of us: removing the garbage from our minds. Garbage in equals garbage out. We must feed our minds and spirits the Word of God instead of the garbage of this world. Romans 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. • 2 Corinthians 10:5: We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Clean out Your Spiritual Closets •

Hidden sin will destroy your life, your peace, and even your health. The Bible says to confess your sin: tell someone, and reach out for help. When your spiritual closets are clean, the heaviness from hidden sin will lift. •

Psalm 32:3-5: When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night, your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Release Unforgiveness and Bitterness Any sin will weigh you down but long kept unforgiveness and bitterness is like old baggage in the attic you can't seem to part with. You are so familiar with it, you don't even realize how it is hindering your life. • •

Hebrews 12:1: Therefore ... let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. Ephesians 4:31-32: Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Involve Jesus in Your Daily Life What God wants most from you is a relationship: friendship. He wants to be involved in the big and small moments of your life. Open your life, let the light of God's presence shine into every part, and you'll have no need for a yearly spiritual cleansing. Instead, you'll experience a daily, moment to moment refreshing of your spirit. • •

1 Corinthians 1:9: God ... is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Psalm 56:13: For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.

Learn to Laugh at Yourself and at Life Some of us take life too seriously, or we take ourselves too seriously. Jesus wants you to enjoy yourself and learn to have some fun. God made you for His pleasure! • •

Psalm 28:7: The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 126:2: Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."

A Prayer for Easter Sunday - Resurrection Day Celebration: Dear God, Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for the victory and power that is in your name. Thank you that you hold the keys over death. Thank you that by your might, Jesus was raised from the grave, paving the way for us to have a new life with you. Thank you for your plan, thank you that you made a way. We praise you for your great strength, we praise you for your lavish love. We praise you that you are Conqueror, Victor, Redeemer, and Friend. We praise you that you are Deliverer, Worthy One, Everlasting Father, Great and Awesome God. We confess our need for you…fresh…new…again. We ask that you renew our hearts, minds, and lives, for the days ahead. We pray for your refreshing over us. Keep your words of truth planted firm within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to your word. And when the enemy reminds us where we have been, hissing his lies and attacks our way, we trust that your voice speaks louder and stronger, reminding us we are safe with you and that your purposes and plans will not fail. We ask that you will be our defense and rear guard, keeping our way clear, removing the obstacles, and covering the pitfalls. Lord, lead us on your level ground. Shine your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for your glory and purposes. Set you way before us. May all your plans succeed. We may reflect your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs your presence and healing. Thanks be to you God, for your indescribable gift! To you be glory and honor, on this Resurrection Day, and forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

During Easter, especially starting with Holy Thursday, there generally is a time of mourning. We see this quite often with orthodox churches. We generally celebrate Christmas with great joy and then we mourn at Easter when in actuality it should be the reverse. Think about it! At Christmas the baby Jesus was born in a manger and his sole purpose was to suffer, go the cross and die for all mankind who will receive his atonement of sin on the cross. Therefore, His birth is into pain and suffering. However, at his death and resurrection we should be joyous! Why? Because if He did not die then we would not have eternal life. This is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about. Here are some Easter Bible Verses John 11:25-26 (NIV) ~ “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Luke 24:5-7 (NIV) “In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” John 3:16-17 (NIV) ~ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) ~ “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” Isaiah 26:19b(NIV) ~ “But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise—let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy—your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead. Luke 24:34 (NIV) ~ “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Matthew 28:6 (NIV) ~ “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Read: John 19 for the entire story of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Fasting & Prayer Guide Pray for God to grant you the skill, intelligence, knowledge, craftsmanship, creativity and innovation in your daily work. – Ephesians 2:10; Exodus 31:3; 35:26; 36:1-2 Ask the father to make you skillful in your work that you may bring glory to His name. Pray for the Lord to revive the spirit of creativity in your life and for God to give you wisdom to excel in all you do. – “The righteous will be happy, and things will go well for them. They will get to enjoy what they have worked for.” – Isaiah 3:10 GNT Pray for the heavenly father to show you the good works he already predestined for you to accomplish. – “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10) Pray for an encounter with resurrection power. Ask the Lord to use you to bring healing to people. Pray for God to work miracles through you. Pray for supernatural abilities to unlock great opportunities to share the gospel. – Mark 16:11-18 Pray that God’s people will walk in holiness and obedience.“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Pray for unity in the body of Christ. “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” – John 17:23 Pray for revival among God’s people – “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6). Pray for God to send His workers into the harvest field. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Pray that God will use children and youth mightily for His glory. “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children” (Matthew 11:25). Pray for your governmental and spiritual leaders including your native country. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

There are many important lessons we can learn from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But today, I’ll focus on two lessons to encourage you about your situation and inspire your faith. No Matter How Bad Things Are, It’s Not Over Look at that story. However, notice that before this day of joy, these women were sad and hopeless. The Bible says, “And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons (Matthew 27: 55-56) They were looking from afar as He was being killed, probably thinking, “Hey, it’s all over. Everything is over. So this is how it’s all ending.” It seemed that after all the excitement, miracles and high expectations, that the end had finally come. But three days later, “They were filled with joy.” The resurrection shows us that no matter how bad things might look right now, God has the power to change us, and our circumstances. No matter what the devil and his demons do, God is in control, and as we continue to pray, praise, command, and look up to Him, we can be assured that He will arrange the end for our good. The devil thought he finally buried God’s plan. But no. He only served God’s purpose. You can boldly stand and tell the devil, “Hey, it’s not over. Today may be Friday, but Sunday’s coming.” The Bible says: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5). God Will Keep His Word No Matter What The devil thought that by killing Jesus, He could frustrate God’s plan of salvation. But in the end, his desperation fulfilled God’s plan rather than thwart it. The desperation, attacks, and obstructions the devil is perpetrating in your life and family now are not going to stop God’s promise from coming to pass. They will instead hasten His intervention in your life. So be encouraged. The resurrection of Christ is an assurance that God will always watch over His Word to bring it to pass, no matter what. No matter how desperate the devil becomes, no matter how he manipulates people and events to try to create frustration in our lives, in the end, God’s promises will stand. You will win. The Word says: Isaiah 55:11 – So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 10

Prayers to Activate the Resurrection Power in Your Life

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I thank You for keeping Your Word and frustrating the enemy, thereby bringing us Salvation, and making us Your children through the Blood of Jesus Christ. Be praised forever and ever, in Jesus name. Thank You for sending your Son to this earth as a baby so many years ago. Thank You that He paid the punishment for my sins by dying on the cross. And thank you that He rose again to prove that death was truly defeated. In Jesus name LORD Jesus Christ, how wonderful, how marvelous is Your love! To think that You were willing to go through all that for me! You arose in victory, joy, liberation, and freedom from the hands of evil men, never to have to go through that again – and You did it all to spare us the same. O LORD, as I reflect on the pain that You suffered and how it resulted in such a tremendous victory, it fills me with wonder and gives me hope and peace. Surely, Your love will see me through whatever troubles may come my way, from now till eternity! In Jesus name. LORD Jesus, as we remember and celebrate YOUR death and resurrection, I place my trust in You to be my Savior. Guide me through the dark times of my life and give me the courage to live for You all the days of my life, in Jesus name. I pray today LORD Jesus Christ, may the remembrance of Your resurrection bring new hope to my existence. May Your victory over earthly death turn my eyes away from my troubles to Thy unchanging promises. May the empty tomb help me to leave my sorrows at the foot of the cross, so that God’s hope, promises, and forgiveness reigns supreme in my life, forever and ever, in Jesus name. Heavenly Father, may Your tender love be poured in my heart so that I can pour this love out to others. May I forgive others and accept Your work in their lives. May the Holy Spirit blow through my every word, action, and thought from this day forward, and transform me on the inside so that each day I become more and more like our risen Lord and Savior, in Jesus name. I pray today, LORD, let Thy angels roll away every evil stone the enemy has rolled against me, against my family, against my relationship, and against my destiny, preventing me from experiencing Your power of manifestation, in Jesus name. From this day, O LORD, let the resurrection power begin to quicken, restore, and revive every aspect of my life that the enemy has hurt or damaged in the past, in Jesus name. Father, LORD, I present my family members, my neighbors, and my country before THEE. Cause thy Light to shine in their hearts and bring them unto salvation. I pray that YOUR Spirit will arrest our political leaders and cause them to lead according to YOUR will and purpose, in Jesus name. Today, I stand in the victory of Christ’s death and resurrection and rebuke satan over my life, family, and neighborhood. I decree that every work of satan in my life and family is destroyed henceforth, I proclaim that Jesus Christ is the LORD and Savior of my LIFE. In Jesus name. 11

Blessed By God Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. This is an encouraging promise to begin our day. You are blessed. It’s a fact. God has blessed you! He has poured out every spiritual blessing on you because of His love. As His child, He has blessed you and will continue to bless you. You don’t have to wait until you get to heaven to experience the blessing of God in your life. Right now, in Jesus Christ, you are living a blessed life! “Blessed” is a popular word these days. It’s pretty common for people to say, “Have a blessed day,” or “I am blessed.” Do we really understand what “blessed” mean? To be blessed by God is to have God bringing about good things in your life. When you are blessed by God, you walk in the favor of God. Blessings are the result of God’s mercy. He blesses you, not because you deserve it but because He loves you. The phrase “spiritual blessings” in this promise isn’t referring to the blessing we receive when we get to heaven. Spiritual blessings are the blessing brought to us through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. Everything God does in your life; He does through the Holy Spirit. God uses the Holy Spirit to bring about His blessings and to work things for good in your life. A worshiping life is the response of a blessed life. When you see all the blessings the Holy Spirit has brought into your life, your first response is that of praise and worship. Worshipping God is the natural response to what God has done in your life. • • • •

God has blessed me with every spiritual blessing. I don’t have to wait until heaven to experience the blessing of God. The Holy Spirit is blessing me today. Today, I walk in the blessing and favor of God.

In Jesus Name, Amen If you are facing a difficult week, remember you are blessed by the Lord Jesus. You walk in every spiritual blessing available. You can face the week ahead because you are blessed by God.

KNOW YOUR CHURCH Presented by The Spame Lay Organization

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah! Do you believe? This is the overarching question of the resurrection. Faith is more important than understanding details or even recognizing the resurrected corpus of Jesus. Do you believe? The query is full of implications. Believing entails a different perspective on life, death and sin. It calls for a new focus and energy with regard to behavior. It is announced with the boldness of a trumpet and has comforting expectation called hope. Do you believe? [We pray] that each of you will be fortified with faith that conquers death and defies the power of the grave. May you confront the challenges of daily existence with the hope which springs from faith in the living Lord! Let us renew our commitment to earthly justice and compassionate service as we set our faces toward eternity. Rising from the ashes of Lent, let us embrace the flames of service which are fanned on Pentecost. This is not a season to be discouraged or afraid. It is a period for boldness through faith, because He lives. [We pray for our sisters and brothers in various places around the world who have experienced illness and death due to the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and for those have who experienced persecution and injustice.] We still maintain faith in the protection and justice of the One who raised Jesus from the dead. Rising from the ashes of Lent, let us embrace the flames of service which are fanned on Pentecost. This is not a season to be discouraged or afraid. It is a period for boldness through faith, because He lives. We pray blessings for each of you during this Easter season. Reprinted in part from the 2015 Resurrection Greeting from the Council of Bishops. [Updates and emphasis added for this Lay Organization Know Your Church message]. 13

Continue to Pray for our Sick and Shut-In Lizzie Conner Joyce Dunn Rev. Barry Frazier Carolyn Jackson Marjorie Johnson Marjorie Potter Brenda Wilhite Joan White

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD Presented by The SPAME Commission on Christian Social Action in partnership with The Lay Organization

AME

Call to Social Action! “The vote is the most powerful, non-violent tool we have in a democratic society. We must not allow the power of the vote to be neutralized. We must never go back.” -- The Honorable John Lewis

KENTUCKY ELECTION DATES: 2022  Primary Election - May 17 o Last day to register for Primary Election: April 18, 2022 o Mail-in absentee portal dates: 04/02/2022 through 05/03/2022  General Election - November 8 o Last day to register for General Election: October 11, 2022 o Mail-in absentee portal dates: 09/24/2022 through 10/25/2022 15

Mail-In Absentee Voting Per KRS 117.085 - Except for covered voters as described in #6 below and medical emergencies occuring within fourteen (14) days of the primary or election, absentee mail-in ballots must be requested through the KY State Board of Elections secure online portal no later than 11:59 p.m. local time, fourteen (14) days before the primary or election in which a voter wants to vote. If you qualify to cast a mail-in ballot for one of the reasons below you may access the portal at www.govoteky.com. The absentee ballot tab will not be available until forty-five (45) days before the date of the primary or election. Kentucky state law requires voters to have a qualifying excuse in order to cast an absentee ballot by mail. The following voters qualify to apply for a mail-in ballot: 1. A voter who due to age, disability, or illness, will be unable to go to the polls on election day or during walk-in absentee voting. 2. A student who temporarily resides outside the county in which he/she is registered to vote. 3. A voter who temporarily resides outside the state but who is still eligible to vote in this state (this includes vacationers). 4. A voter who is incarcerated in jail who has been charged with a crime but has yet to be convicted of the crime. 5. A voter whose employment location requires him/her to be absent from the county on election day and all hours and days in-person absentee voting is conducted. 6. Covered Voters as defined in KRS 117A.010 - These voters are Members of the Armed Forces and their dependents who will be out of the county on election day and voters residing overseas (temporarily or permanently). 7. A voter who is a participant in the Office of the Secretary of State's address confidentiality program. 8. A voter who moved, or is moving, to a different state while the new state's registration books are closed before a Presidential Election (Presidential only ballot) The dates the absentee portal will be open for the May 2022 Primary will be April 2nd - May 3rd. All requests must be made by 11:59 p.m. on May 3rd. If you qualify for a mail-in ballot and have any problems completing and submitting your application on the portal, please call the Fayette County Clerk, Elections Department for assistance at 859-255-8683.

Kentucky Voter Identification Requirements as of 7/15/20 Voters may confirm their identity by producing a document issued by:  The state of Kentucky that contains both the voter’s name and photograph  The U.S. Government that contains both the voter’s name and photograph  The U.S. Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marines, or the KY National Guard that contains both the voter’s name and photograph  A public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the United States that contains both the voter’s name and photograph  Any city government, county government, urban-county government, charter county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government, located in KY that contains both the voter’s name and photograph Voters who do not have one of the documents above may confirm their identity by doing one of the following:  Complete an affidavit and present their Social Security Card  Complete an affidavit and present a State Board of Election approved county ID card with the voter’s name (Fayette County does not issue these)  Complete an affidavit and present any ID card that contains both the voter’s photograph and name  Complete an affidavit and present a food stamp ID card, electronic benefit transfer card, or supplemental nutrition assistance card issued by Kentucky that shows the voter’s name  Complete an affidavit and present a credit or debit card in the voter’s name An election officer who personally knows a voter may confirm the voter’s identity by completing an election officer affidavit 17.

LOCAL CANDIDATES POSITION ON BALLOT Primary May 17, 2022 Fayette County, KY Partisan Races County Judge/Executive (Republican) Daniel Luke Morgan (filed 12/21/21) Thomas J. Hern (filed 01/04/22) Jon Larson (filed 01/25/22)

2 1 3

County Judge/Executive (Democrat) Sean Mike Pickard (filed 01/04/22) Tony W. Coffey (filed 01/19/22) Mary Diane McCord Hanna (filed 01/24/22)

2 1 3

County Attorney (Democrat) Larry S. Roberts (filed 11/10/21) Angela Evans (filed 01/10/22)

2 1

Sheriff (Democrat) Thomas “Tucker” Bulleit (filed 11/04/21) Kathy H. Witt (filed 12/03/21)

1 2

Constable – District 1 (Democrat) Andrea Welker (filed 12/09/21) James “Smitty” Smith (filed 12/27/21) Wade A. McNabb (filed 01/19/22)

1 3 2

Constable – District 2 (Democrat) Jim McKenzie (filed 12/01/21) Kenneth Wayne Winburn (filed 01/05/22) Nickolas Hart (filed 01/19/22)

2 3 1

18.

Constable – District 3 (Democrat) Edward “Eddie” Sparks (filed 12/16/21) Robert Curtsinger (filed 12/17/21) Rohaun Woodard (filed 01/19/22)

2 3 1

Nonpartisan Races Urban County Mayor William Weyman (filed 12/03/21) David Kloiber (filed 12/29/21) Adrian Wallace (filed 01/03/22) Linda Gorton (filed 01/05/22)

4 3 2 1

Urban County Council At-Large Dan Wu (filed 11/09/21) James Brown (filed 11/12/21) Lillie Miller-Johnson (filed 12/01/21) Richard Moloney (filed 12/13/21) Chuck Ellinger, II (filed 12/14/21) Bill Farmer, Jr (filed 01/04/22 at 2:40 p.m.) Matt E. Miniard (filed 01/04/22 at 2:57 p.m.) Arnold Farr (filed 01/11/22)

8 6 3 5 2 4 7 1

Urban County Council – District 1 Doyle Warren (filed 12/01/21) Rahsaan Berry (filed 12/27/21) Tayna Fogle (filed 01/06/22) Michael A. Wilson (filed 01/21/22)

4 2 3 1

Urban County Council – District 4 J. “Brack” Marquette (filed 12/28/21) Brenda Monarrez (filed 01/06/22) Barry Saturday (filed 01/25/22)

3 1 2

19.

Urban County Council – District 5 Liz Sheehan (filed 12/17/21) Greg Ladd (filed 12/29/21) Ami Hillenmeyer (filed 01/21/22)

20.

3 1 2

May is National Stroke Awareness Month 2022

BE FAST — Knowing the Signs of Stroke Can Save Lives Presented by the SPAME Commission on Health, in cooperation with the Lay Organization and the Commission of Christian Social Action. Resources: Baptist Health, Avera Health, + various

A Vascular Neurologist and Hospital Stroke Medical Director says, “Time is brain.” 21

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke. Every 4 minutes, someone dies as a result. During the past 20 years, new drugs and surgical procedures have dramatically improved stroke patients’ outcomes. The proper treatment administered within 3 to hours of symptom onset may improve the chances of recovering from a stroke.

4.5

“You cannot reverse stroke symptoms after a certain amount of time, and that time is different for everybody,” “BE FAST” response can mean the difference between and death.

A life

An easy way to remember the sudden signs of stroke: Two small words — just six letters — and three numbers can be enough to save a life. The two words are BE FAST – six letters that spell out the signs of stroke: The three numbers are 9-1-1. What are the warning signs?

B – Balance. Sudden loss of balance or coordination, or a sense of vertigo, like the room is spinning E – Eyes. Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes F – Face: Sudden weakness on one side of face, or a facial and/or tongue droop • Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? Is the tongue 'crooked or droops to one side or the other A – Arm: Sudden arm or leg weakness or numbness • Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S – Speech: Sudden slurred speech or trouble speaking T – Time to call 9-1-1. F –– Facial drooping: • Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop? A –– Arm weakness” 22

• Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S –– Speech difficulty: • Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred? T –– Time to call 9-1-1, even if you are uncertain. Strokes usually happen suddenly – one of the BE FAST symptoms will pop up quickly, or someone

will quickly develop the worst headache of their life.

Ignoring these symptoms can be a Bad, Bad, or even a Fatal Mistake! “Some folks start off with mild symptoms, then they get worse. They want to wait before seeing the doctor or going to the hospital That may be a stroke that can’t be reversed. The doctor can’t open the vessel in the brain and restore what brain that has been lost.” About 1.9 million brain cells are lost every minute a stroke goes untreated. This can lead to impaired memory, speech, and even movement. That’s why even small stroke symptoms must be taken seriously. Stroke Risk Factors: • High blood pressure • Smoking • Obesity • High cholesterol levels • Narrowed arteries • Diabetes • AFIB or arrhythmia • Previous stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) • Family history of stroke • Age 65 or older • Smoking • Lack of exercise • Poor diet • Consuming more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day Stroke Facts: • • • • • • • • • • •

Strokes are the 5th leading killer and number one cause of disability in the U.S. 80% of strokes are preventable by managing risk factors 25% of all strokes occur under the age of 65 Ischemic strokes (blood clots or blockages) account for 85% of strokes. 32,000 brain cells die per second during a stroke Each hour without treatment, the brain loses as many neurons as 3.6 years of normal aging Think about it this way: If you have symptoms, but go to bed for 8 hours instead of seeking emergency help, it can be the equivalent of aging your brain 30 years overnight! Smoking quadruples your risk for stroke 800,000 Americans have a stroke each year There are 7 million stroke survivors in the U.S. 2/3 of survivors are disabled

How to prevent stroke? On the bright side, 80 percent of strokes can be prevented! Controlling modifiable risk factors is the key to avoiding a stroke. In general, this can be done by incorporating a healthy diet and exercise into your daily routine. Medication compliance for those individuals with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and atrial fibrillation can also help to reduce the risk of stroke. For those individuals who have had a stroke, medications can be used to prevent any recurrent strokes in the future. We challenge each of you to take the opportunity to educate your friends, family, co-workers, and community about stroke and “BE FAST” to save a life.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Submitted by Senator Reginald L. Thomas March 18, 2022

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE March 18, 2022 Submitted bySenator Reginald Thomas

FRANKFORT⎯ The Kentucky General Assembly paid tribute to our legislative past by holding day 48 of the 2022 Regular Session at the Old State Capitol building in Frankfort. In association with the Kentucky Historical Society, the periodically held event is a tradition that allows lawmakers to recreate a moment in history. The former seat of the Kentucky state government hosted the state legislature from 1830 to 1910 before a new structure, the present-day Capitol, was erected. Notable Kentuckians like the "Great Compromiser," Henry Clay, Isaac Shelby, and Thomas Metcalfe graced the chambers during their time in public office. It was a surreal experience providing us a moment to commemorate our past and embrace the progress of our commonwealth. 1

I attended the "Rally to Encourage Voting" in the Capitol Rotunda this week with advocates from around the state who want to expand and enhance voter access in Kentucky. This rally was well-planned and there was great attendance. As a guest speaker, I noted the significance of the right to vote and the importance of everyone having their voice heard. Kentucky has some of the most restrictive laws in the country regarding voting. We need legislation like that of Senate Bill 159, which I filed to expand voting beyond Election Day, extend polling hours to 7:00 P.M., and ease the process for citizens to engage in their civic duty.

In the Senate, our business continued with various bills being advanced by the body for further action. One measure that passed off the floor this week would clear the way for some felons and inmates to receive state financial aid for college in an effort to improve job opportunities and reduce recidivism among those with a criminal record. Senate Bill 163 (SB) would remove language in state law that has long prevented certain inmates and convicted felons from obtaining aid through the Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES). It would also allow inmates to receive funds through the College Access Program Grant, the Kentucky Tuition Grant, and the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship Program. Another section of the bill would permit students to use scholarship funds for tuition at qualified proprietary schools.

In its original form, SB 163 was a great piece of legislation. It was amended before passage to narrow the list of offenders eligible for aid. The amendment disqualifies violent offenders, many drug traffickers, and those who have committed offenses against minors. As amended, the bill would deny college student aid to individuals who got caught up in drug offenses in their youth.

All of us believe in second chances, and that’s where SB 163 was born. In its most pristine form, it was an excellent bill. However, I opposed the amended version because it sorely compromised the original intent of the measure as this Senate floor amendment essentially guts the bill. The measure advanced off the Senate floor with a 33-4 vote and now goes to the House for further action where I hope the House removes some of these harsh restrictions.

On Thursday, the Senate and House formed the Budget Conference Committee following the House decision to not concur with the Senate changes. The committee, consisting of leadership members from the majority and minority caucuses, will now deliberate on the details to devise a spending plan to which they can agree. The committee will continue meeting through early next week, at which point they will present the agreed-upon plan to the House and Senate. There will be more to come of this, so keep an eye out for details.

As an appointed member of the Budget Conference Committee, I look forward to bringing my experience and voice to the table. Over the next few days, legislators appointed to the committee will review the traditional 2year biennial spending plan and negotiate how the surplus of billions of dollars in this year's budget will be appropriated. The Budget Conference Committee meetings can be viewed on KET online at ket.org/legislature. 2

Bills passed in the Senate this week:

SB 4 establishes a procedure for the legislature to track and determine the effectiveness and validity of executive orders. Under SB 4, a governor would have to file the order with the secretary of state, and the Legislative Research Commission before passing it onto the House and Senate for review. The bill would also make executive orders automatically expire 90 days after a governor leaves office. I feel this is another bill that ties the hands of the executive branch and violates the separation of powers within the Kentucky constitution. I voted no; however, it passed the Senate along partisan lines 27-8.

HB 121 requires a 15 minute public comment period before a local school board meeting. I agree and fully support a parent's ability to interact with the administration and have input in their child's education. It is absolutely critical that parental involvement in the education of their child be protected. As a former PTA president, I strongly encouraged parent participation in schools. For these reasons, I voted yes. HB 121 passed the Senate 25-10. The amended version now returns to the House for concurrence.

HB 263, known as "Kami's Law," raises the penalty of first-degree criminal abuse from a Class C felony to a Class B felony if the victim is under 12 years of age. I supported this House measure, and it passed in the Senate 31-4. It now goes to the Governor for his signature.

SB 276, sponsored by my good friend and colleague, Sen. Gerald Neal, D-Louisville, expands the Medicaid program to individuals with sickle cell disease. The bill requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to conduct an annual review of all medications, services, and forms of treatment for enrollees diagnosed with sickle cell disease. It passed in the Senate with unanimous consent. SB 276 now goes to the House for further action.

HB 321 extends the term of temporary tags for motor vehicles from 30 to 60 days. It passed the Senate with unanimous consent. It now goes to the Governor to sign into law.

SB 321 prohibits pregnant women from receiving an abortion beyond the probable 15-week gestational age. A similar law filed in Mississippi is currently awaiting a decision to be handed down from the United States Supreme Court. I believe it would be wise to let the Supreme Court determine the matter before enacting such legislation. More importantly, this decision should be left to a woman and her physician. SB 321 passed in the Senate 31-6. I voted no. It now goes to the House for consideration.

We are now entering the final days of the session. Typically, this is the juncture when our business ramps up, bills begin churning off the floor, and legislators scramble to have their legislation considered before we break for veto days. There is one more full week remaining before we recess and allow the Governor time to review legislation, at which point he will either veto the measures or sign them into law. In addition to the surge of legislation we will hear before veto days, the conference committee will continue to deliberate budget negotiations.

For additional information on other bills passed in the Senate and measures making their way through the process, visit the legislative record online at legislature.ky.gov. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, I remain accessible by email at Reginald.Thomas@LRC.KY.GOV. You can also leave a message for me on the Legislative Message Line at (800) 372-7181. Citizens with hearing impairments can use the Kentucky Relay Service at 711.

‐END‐