LEO Weekly Jan. 20, 2021

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LOCAL POLITICIANS, ACTIVISTS, ACADEMICS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE ON THE GOVERNOR’S TIME IN OFFICE | PAGE 10

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 20210

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EDITOR’S NOTE

WHAT IF… BEVIN YEAR-5?

By Aaron Yarmuth | leo@leoweekly.com This week, LEO is taking a special look at Gov. Andy Beshear’s first year in office. You think the last year was bad? The following is a madefor-print dramatization of what Kentucky might be dealing with had former-Gov. Matt Bevin won reelection in 2019. While the following is a satirical piece, it includes actual [marked] Bevin quotes that are particularly frightening given the violence we saw at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6… violence encouraged by our “leaders.”

Special thanks to Gov. Beshear and everyone who helped him. We were only 5,000 votes away from this abyss:

KENTUCKY GOV. MATT BEVIN escalated his criticism of Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and pledged “zero freedom-suffocating masks” in a social media video over the weekend. The video was posted as the state’s COVID-19 cases surged past one million and the death toll surpassed 20,000, aligning Kentucky with much larger neighboring state, Illinois.

In the video, Bevin accuses Fauci of, “engaging in a physical and psychological

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warfare against freedom-loving patriots not seen in history’s most ruthless tyrants.”

He even repudiated fellow COVID-misinformation theorist Sen. Rand Paul for his continued support for herd immunity.

“Herd immunity,” Bevin said, “is the false narrative that there is any scientific influence driving this virus, when it is, in fact, God’s way of instructing us to return to our Judeo-Christian, founding freedoms.”

Bevin reiterated his objection to any restrictions or calls to wear masks. He did offer thoughts and prayers to small businesses that have suffered from the “liberalDemocrat elites who have conspired to undermine the unprecedented economic growth of Kentucky.”

The video was Bevin’s first since his accounts were restored, after recently being suspended by Twitter and Facebook. The suspension stemmed from several recent posts, including videos Bevin posted of his appearance at the pro-Trump rally in D.C. on Jan. 6, just before the crowd stormed the U.S. Capitol.

(Records indicate Bevin flew the stateowned private plane to D.C. and back on

Jan. 6, and was not part of the crowd that entered the Capitol.)

“I warned America years ago what would happen if we allowed the candle of American freedom to go out on our watch,” said Bevin in his remarks before introducing President Trump.

“The roots of the tree of liberty are watered by what? The blood. Of who? The tyrants, to be sure, but who else? The patriots.” [A real quote.]

“Whose blood will be shed?” Bevin exclaimed to the raucous crowd of thousands. “It might be that of our children and grandchildren. I have nine children. It breaks my heart to think that it might be their blood that is needed to redeem something, to reclaim something that we, through our apathy and our indifference, have given away.” [Also a real quote.]

Many legal experts have speculated Bevin may have potential legal liability for inciting the violence. In addition to the aforementioned quotes, Bevin is cited as saying, “America is worth fighting for ideologically … I want us to be able to fight ideologically, mentally, spiritually, economically, so that we don’t have to do it physically. But that may, in fact, be the case.”

[Also a real quote.]

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said he doesn’t see any reason to investigate, however. “The governor was

simply representing the people of Kentucky, who overwhelmingly voted for Donald Trump and have concerns the presidential election was not legitimate. And they have a right to be heard.”

The same legal experts indicated they have no idea what legal argument Cameron is making.

Another concern for Bevin might be his future on social media, now that tech industry giants have recognized their outsized role in perpetuating false and misleading information, conspiracy theories and how they’ve contributed to the overall deterioration of American society.

Bevin said in another post that he’s only concerned about the threat to the First Amendment and free speech. [Editor’s Note: This has nothing to do with the First Amendment.]

He also indicated that he’s focused on the state legislative session, from which he expects to pass a one-year budget that includes corporate tax cuts, investments in charter schools and aluminum plants, along with major cuts to public schools. Plus, new abortion laws and pension reform.

He has not indicated whether or not he will lift his work requirement on those out of work due to the global pandemic who are seeking federal COVID-relief funds. •

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Addy - Say hello to the beautiful Addy! This five-year-old

sweetheart came to the Kentucky Humane Society when her owner could no longer care for her. Addy appears to be an American Pit Bull Terrier mix, but she honestly looks like a miniature hippo. For being nearly 60 pounds, this big girl is a bit of a wallflower! Because of this, she will need to meet any residents in the home - including children. Addy has a habit of chasing cats, though, so she would not be suited for a home with felines or small animals. Addy also tolerates some dogs that are lowkey such as herself.

If you have a resident dog, bring them by for a meet and greet to see if they are friends! (Though you wouldn’t hear Addy complaining if she were the only dog.) She appears mostly housetrained and has a very mature and level-headed personality. Addy is also spayed, micro-chipped and up-todate on her shots. Head over to kyhumane.org/dogs to schedule an adoption appointment to meet Addy at our East Campus, 1000 Lyndon Lane!

Capri - Looking for a best friend to love? Meet Capri! Spunky Capri is a seven-month-old Domestic Shorthair kitty. She arrived to the Kentucky Humane Society from an overcrowded, rural shelter. Upon arriving, little Capri tested positive for Feline Leukemia or FeLV. This virus weakens a cat’s immune system and can also cause secondary infections. Although some FeLV cats can live long lives, the virus usually shortens a cat’s lifespan. KHS believes she deserves a chance at a full life even if it is a shorter life! We’ve seen firsthand how affectionate and spirited cats like Capri are; they don’t let their diagnosis hold them back in the slightest! Capri spends her days like any other kitten. She’s full of joy and is always trying to make friends with anyone she meets. Plus, she’ll gladly invite you to play with her collection of jingly toys! Her foster parents said the following about this goofy girl: “Capri is such a lover! She loves to climb right on my lap as soon as I sit on the sofa, and she’ll even lick my cheek with little kisses like a puppy! She has plenty of kitten energy and loves to play. There’s lots of purring and little kitten kisses all the time!” Since Capri is FeLV positive, she will either need to be the only kitty in the home or go home with other FeLV felines. But even if you’re looking for just one cat companion, Capri will be glad to go home with you! Could you be the one for this sweetheart? If so, please give her a chance! Capri is spayed, micro-chipped and up to-date on all vaccinations. Capri is in a foster home until her forever home comes along. If you are interested in meeting her, please first submit an online adoption application located at www.kyhumane.org/cat-app. Once we have received your adoption application, our foster team will follow up and provide you with more information.

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 20210

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POST CARD FROM WASHINGTON

THE DO NOTHING REPUBLICANS ONLY WANT POWER

By John Yarmuth | leo@leoweekly.com IN THE 1850s, there was a political movement called the Know Nothings. They were fundamentally populist, but they also were intensely xenophobic, racist (although they opposed slavery), and anti-Catholic and Irish. Their name derived not from professed ignorance, but because they were instructed to say, “I know nothing,” when asked about their organization. The Know Nothings evolved into The American Party, which had a short life as a major political party.

It would be understandable if you think I’m comparing them to today’s Republican Party. I’m not, because as questionable as their philosophy was, they believed in using government to do something. Today’s Republican Party, by contrast, is the Do Nothing Party, in Washington, in Frankfort, and throughout the country.

When I worked as a Senate staffer in the 1970s, Republicans actually wanted to do things. They wanted to protect the air and water. They wanted to protect consumers.

A lot of them aggressively worked to get us out of the Vietnam War. They believed in a limited, but strong federal government that could help make life better and safer for their constituents.

When I arrived in Congress in 2007, Republicans still cared about education and health care, and while we differed on the

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details and the urgency, most Democrats and Republicans recognized we could frequently work together to pursue a more perfect union.

Then came the Tea Party, and then came Trump, and now the Republican Party doesn’t want to do anything except to keep Democrats, and citizens, from trying to make the country better.

Let’s review the issues facing the country.

On education, the Do Nothing Republicans want to cut federal spending and undermine public education through charter schools. They don’t want to do anything about $1.7 trillion in outstanding student debt.

On health care, the Do Nothing Republicans tried for eight years to repeal the Affordable Care Act without offering an alternative, and the Trump Administration consistently sabotaged the Act, aka Obamacare, through executive action.

On infrastructure, the Do Nothings promised a major initiative and never came up with one, and in fact, opposed a Democratic measure that passed the House.

On immigration reform, the Do Nothings blocked comprehensive reform in 2013, and during the Trump years did everything they could to make immigration more difficult

and crueler, while doing nothing to fix our broken system.

On virtually everything else — the climate crisis, voting rights, housing, poverty and food security, pension reform, cybersecurity, big tech, and, of course, gun safety — you name it, the Do Nothings are, and have been, missing in action.

Their record and their attitude as legislators — their first responsibility under Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution — is not just dismal, it’s nonexistent.

I don’t think it’s unfair to conclude that the Do Nothing Republican Party cares about only three things: cutting taxes, eliminating government regulations and filling the federal courts with conservative justices.

Indeed, that’s all they’ve done when they have controlled the White House and Congress.

They could argue, as many Republicans have over the years, that the primary responsibility of the Congress is to support the military, and that the federal government has no role in any other realm of society.

But they don’t do that. They just don’t do anything.

What could be stronger evidence of their lack of interest in legislating than the fact that they did not even propose a platform at their convention last year?

And that brings me to Mitch McConnell, the leader of Do Nothingism, who refused to bring 400 House-passed bills to a Senate vote over the past two years and calls himself the legislative Grim Reaper. His raison d’être has been to fill the federal courts with young, conservative judges. The critical question is: To what end?

McConnell, the Senate’s top Republican, has built his legacy by blocking Democratic judicial nominees and filling federal court vacancies with young, conservative and sometimes woefully unqualified judges, as if that is an accomplishment in itself. And what could he possibly expect the country to get out of those judges? I would argue that he doesn’t know and doesn’t care; he simply wanted an electoral issue to motivate conservative voters. In other words, it’s just another example of how the Do Nothing Republican Party only wants to be, as in be in power, and not to do, as in do something for the American people.

Hopefully, over the next few years, President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats will demonstrate what a government looks like if the people who run it actually want to do something. If we do, I think the people will like it. •

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TITLE IX GUY

YOU MUST BE LOST: GENDER DISCRIMINATION IN STEM

By James J. Wilkerson | leo@leoweekly FROM THE MOMENT Katie stepped into her first high school chemistry class, she was in love with science. She marveled at the movement of atoms and molecules and found that she naturally understood the discipline. Upon graduation, she chose to stay in Kentucky for college, a decision no doubt aided by her full tuition Governor’s Scholars Program scholarship. Enthusiastically, she chose chemistry as her major.

One morning at the beginning of the semester, she was waiting outside of a laboratory, when she was approached by a freshman. “Are you lost?” he asked. Katie looked at the number on the door and then back at the schedule on her phone before responding, “No, I’m pretty sure this is the right room.” With a sense of bravado and gusto, the young man explained to her that this was the lab for chemistry majors.

The non-major lab was down the hall, and that certainly must be where she belonged.

After all, major-level chemistry was “hard.” Katie thanked him for his concern but said she might stick around anyway, just to see what the class was all about.

Eventually, the professor unlocked the class door and the students filed in, finding their tables. Katie walked to the front of the room and then introduced herself to the class; as the teaching assistant. She watched the color rush from the freshman’s face and by the next class, he had withdrawn from the lab.

While sexual misconduct is mostly thought of when speaking of Title IX, often overlooked is the law’s goal of equity. As the legislation states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” Despite this, women in male dominated fields such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) often find gender discrimination a regular part of their higher education experience.

A recent study published in Psychology of Women Quarterly revealed that of 685 female undergraduates enrolled in an introductory biology course, 69% had experienced gender bias and 78.1% experienced sexual harassment in their program, leading to a decrease in their motivation to pursue their STEM education. Despite Title

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IX’s purpose of preventing discrimination, gender stereotypes and biased attitudes of classmates and colleagues fly in the face of the spirit of Title IX. One such stereotype is that STEM fields are masculine. Studies have shown this stereotype emerging in childhood and persisting through adolescence by the outsized presence of male STEM teachers and imbalanced classroom gender composition.

So, it is no surprise that, by college, female students often find themselves having to prove their belonging in these programs to their male peers.

“As a woman, you constantly had to prove yourself,” Katie said. “I’ve had male classmates refuse to study with me and some even refuse to speak to me until we received our first round of grades,” she continued. Once Katie’s classmates saw her acing her exams, she states that it gave her the credibility required for her male classmates to accept that she deserved to be in the major. “Proving my intelligence gave them the green light to interact with me, and it was a process I had to repeat with every STEM course I took,” she said.

Katie isn’t alone in this process either.

In her recent research, Professor Joan C. Williams from UC Hastings College of the Law, highlighted the “Prove-it-Again” pattern as one of five biases pushing women out of STEM. Of the women she interviewed, two-thirds reported having to continuously prove themselves, with their successes being discounted and their expertise questioned regularly.

A second bias, Williams notes, is women in STEM having to walk the tightrope of needing to behave in masculine ways to be seen as competent but still being expected to act feminine. This includes the way women dress. Nicole, a biomedical imaging graduate student from Maryland, recalls the unofficial dress code she had to adopt. “There’s this stigma that if you dressed a certain way, you won’t be taken seriously,” Nicole said. “I was quite aware that I was in a boys club, so as such, I had to adapt,” she continued. This adaptation would include making sure she never wore skirts, heels or anything that even remotely showed cleavage.

Microaggressions such as these fly under Title IX’s radar, creating an environ-

James J. Wilkerson.

ment where female students face obstacles their male counterparts don’t. Created as an answer to the sexual discrimination and underrepresentation that women face in STEM programs, some institutions offer programs aimed at female students.

Lexington’s Rise STEM Academy for Girls was established in 2020 for the purpose of supporting girls in STEM in their formative years and encouraging them to pursue the field professionally. UK offers a girls-only engineering high school summer camp, a Women in Engineering Day for high school girls, a female-only program called Lunch with Society of Engineers and the Sarah Bennett Holmes Award, which annually recognizes one female faculty member and one female staff member. But of course, any time there is an initiative advancing women, someone will always be ready to stand in opposition.

Since 2016, University of MichiganFlint Professor of Business and Economics Mark Perry has made it his crusade to stop female-focused STEM programs. Perry discounts the notion of gender inequality in STEM stating, “female success in academia is so overwhelming that the notion that women face disadvantages is outdated.” As such, he has filed over 130 Title IX complaints against colleges nationwide, including UK, for female-focused STEM programs, which he claims is part of a

“gender apartheid” against men.

By the black letter of the law, a university accepting federal funding may not exclude a student from participation in an educational program based on their sex.

Would those who advocate for women’s rights and equality be up in arms if a university created a men’s only STEM program? Absolutely. But what Perry’s narrative misses, are the reasons why femalefocused STEM programs and events are needed in the first place. It is true that there has been remarkable success by women in STEM fields. Just a few of the names of women making important contributions to STEM fields are Mariana Matus, a biologist and CEO of Biobot Analytics; Candice Bridge, a professor of forensic science and chemistry; and Yamuna Krishnan, a professor at The University of Chicago’s Department of Chemistry. What Perry’s narrative neglects however, is that the “overwhelming success” he speaks of, comes in spite of the bias-riddled environment these women have studied and worked in.

Female-focused STEM programs are not examples of inequities, they are a response to inequities; which is the spirit of Title IX as a law. • James J. Wilkerson, J.D., is the director of Staff Diversity and Equity and the Deputy Title IX Coordinator at IU Southeast.

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HOPE

By Valerie F. Briones-Pryor, MD | leo@leoweekly.com

FEBRUARY 4-28, 2021

25 Days, 11 Award-Winning Films 5 Engaging Guest Speaker Events Special Guest Speaker, Shira Haas, of Unorthodox on Feb. 28 Visit JEWISHLOUISVILLE.ORG/FILMFESTIVAL for details and tickets.

The Louis Levy & Wilma Probst Levy Film and Theater Arts Fund Goldstein Leibson Cultural Arts Fund

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LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 2021

HOPE. The word “hope,” only four letters long, but packed with such big meaning. As the third person in Kentucky to receive the COVID vaccine and working on the COVID floor since March, hope is the only answer I can give when asked what the COVID vaccine means to me.

Hope that the 28 patients I have lost to COVID, or the 3,000-plus Kentuckians lost to COVID, or the 350,000-plus Americans whom we have lost to COVID, did not die in vain.

Hope that one day, there will be no need for a COVID unit or floor and that worrying whether we have enough PPE, ICU beds, ventilators or high-flow oxygen machines will be distant memories.

Hope that I will no longer worry when one of my family members, friends, colleagues or staff members start coughing that they will become a statistic.

Hope that I will no longer have to strip my COVID scrubs off before I can come into my own home just to hug my child and husband.

Hope that millions of Americans who barely can make ends meet because of the effects of COVID on their livelihood can finally return to work.

Hope that I can finally sit down at my favorite restaurant, enjoy my meal and a glass of wine without having to put a mask on just to get to my table. I am even more hopeful that I can enjoy that meal with friends whom I have not seen since before the pandemic.

Hope that I will no longer have to have difficult discussions with patients’ family members regarding end-of-life care over FaceTime or Zoom.

Hope that my son and the millions of students like him, finally get to be with their teachers, classmates and friends in-person at school.

Hope that I can venture outside my bubble without worrying where the people outside my bubble have been and if they may have COVID.

Valerie F. Briones-Pryor, MD.

Hope that, one day, I can shake someone’s hand or just smile at people passing by without having to wear a mask.

Hope that my N95 mask will not leave permanent lines on my face from wearing it almost every day since March.

Hope that the general public will be just as excited and inspired as I am as I scroll through the numerous pictures of healthcare workers all over the country who are rolling up their sleeves for the COVID vaccine.

Hope that the general public will stand beside me and my fellow healthcare workers and get the vaccine so we can defeat COVID together.

Hope that this virus that has been destroying us for the past year is finally what unites us. • Dr. Valerie F. Briones-Pryor has been running a COVID unit at UofL’s Jewish Hospital since March.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

FOUR POLITICIANS WHO FELL INTO 2020’S TRAPS

By Danielle Grady | dgrady@leoweekly.com THE YEAR 2020 really threw it all at us — a pandemic, killings by police officers that led to a racial justice movement, the further cementation of far-right conspiracy theories. These occurrences, besides stressing the hell out of us and, in some cases, bringing needed change, opened up potential pitfalls for our politicians. Even the ones, like Gov. Andy Beshear, who did well with some challenges — coronavirus— failed at others — protests in Louisville. But others were wholly swallowed by this year’s myriad traps.

Below, we describe the gaffes and hypocritical snares that three Kentucky politicians, and one Hoosier lawmaker, found themselves in.

MAYOR GREG FISCHER: WALKING AWAY FROM PUBLIC

Mayor Greg Fischer’s response to Breonna Taylor’s death at the hands of Louisville police has received criticism for not being quick enough, drastic enough or transparent enough.

This distant and delayed approach to the local racial justice movement is exemplified in a moment early on in the protests, captured in a video by former Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting fellow Jewél Jackson. It has since been viewed over 129,000 times on Twitter.

On the third day of the protests, when Fischer appeared downtown — during the day, for a press conference — a woman named Jessica Sayles approached him, asking where he had been the night before.

Fischer said he didn’t know where Sayles was. She responded by bringing up concerns about militarized police and Taylor’s killers going unpunished, her voice loud and crackling with emotion.

All Fischer offered was “thank you”s, nodding and a hand wave before he walked away.

When asked about the interaction in an end-of-the-year interview, Fischer told LEO that he did not remember it, but said,“I spent, especially in the early

days of the protests, I spent a lot of time talking with different protest groups and having private meetings with them as well.”

Visible, Fischer has not always been, however.

When he released his recent comprehensive racial equity plan, community organizers that LEO spoke to said they were not consulted.

Fischer’s office responded by saying that they had used existing sources of information to craft the plan, including the Build Back Better Together Initiative — a pandemic-recovery task force fueled by community input — and a letter submitted by local Black leaders with reforms called A Path Forward.

In his end-of-year interview, Fischer said, “I think what the important issue coming out of the protest to me is: How are we moving forward as a city? And you’ve seen our policy improvements, our police community legitimacy, our police reform, advancing racial equity initiatives, declaring racism as a public health crisis, our legislative agenda. So what’s important to me is that people feel like we’re moving forward as a city and moving beyond some of the legacy of institutional racism that’s not just here in Louisville.”

On Jan. 9, though, Fischer announced his pick for new Louisville police chief: Erika Shields, the Atlanta PD leader who resigned after the killing of Rayshard Brooks, a Black man, by a white police officer.

In an interview with the Courier Journal, a protester named Adrian

THORNS & ROSES THE WORST, BEST & MOST ABSURD ABSURD: NO ROOM FOR MCCONNELL IN KY GOP

Over 30 Republican Party county chairs and vice chairs in Kentucky are calling for a special meeting to discuss a resolution calling on Sen. Mitch McConnell — who has recently been downgraded from the Majority Leader Grim Reaper to a sad little turtle man with significantly less power — to “fully support Pres. Trump and condemn the superfluous and divisive second impeachment of Pres. Trump.” No date has been set for the meeting, but this is the type of nonsense that drove a mob of traitors and terrorists to subvert American democracy on Jan. 6. Now, not only must Mitch vote to convict an impeached Republican president, he needs to repudiate the Kentucky Republican Party.

ROSE: TOP CARD

UofL is ranked number one in the latest women’s college basketball rankings for the first time in the program’s history. Congrats and keep it up.

ROSE: REVISITING YOUR OWN HISTORY

Baker said, “They could’ve chosen anyone, and this is a decision you make?” he said. “Someone that already has that blood on their hands, and has left and has resigned because of that blood on their hands, and they come here, where there’s so much bloodshed, there’s so much anxiety, there’s so much pain, and they come here, where we need healing?”

In a tweet, CJ political cartoonist Marc Murphy said, “There will be explanations and we should listen but leadership is also about messaging.

Selecting the #RayshardBrooks police chief to be the chief of #BreonnaTaylor’s city sends a message, whether intended or not.”

Late last year, the congregation of All Peoples — formerly Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church — voted to change its name. In a release, All Peoples said that, “although Jefferson’s contributions to our country were historic, his ethics and morals were abhorrently racist…We could not continue to allow our white privilege to ignore the obvious offense to the Black community by retaining this name.”

As Karen Cox wrote in the Washington Post, “[Confederate] statues, which have represented only one point of view (a revisionist narrative of the Confederacy) throughout their existence, have never taught the first history lesson, although they have been used to reemphasize the racial status quo.” Likewise, changing the name of the church doesn’t change history, but it shows we have the power to change the racial status quo.

ROSE, ABSURD: INSURRECTION CONSEQUENCES

At least five Kentuckians will be charged with a crime connected to their role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

One of them — a UK student facing charges of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in disorderly conduct in a restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and theft of government property under $1,000 — even posted on social media: “can’t wait to tell my grandkids I was here!”

That post included a picture of her. Well, grandchild storytime will have to wait, but it seems like the FBI is interested!

A rose goes to consequences being delivered, an absurd to how many people used their phones to help incriminate themselves.

U.S. SEN. MIKE BRAUN: INSURRECTION FLIP

Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana learned what can happen when you play to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 23 LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 20210

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BESHEAR YEAR ONE

LOCAL POLITICIANS, ACTIVISTS, ACADEMICS AND BUSINESSPEOPLE ON THE GOVERNOR’S TIME IN OFFICE

By Danielle Grady and Scott Recker | leo@leoweekly.com 87 DAYS. That’s the amount of time between when Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was sworn in and the first official case of the coronavirus in the Commonwealth. Beshear’s first year in office was a time of unpredictability and on-thespot decision-making, with the pandemic causing a public health crisis and economic disaster. In Louisville, after police officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor in her home, the city saw more than 200 days of protests, becoming a leading voice in a worldwide movement for racial justice. During the protests, a heavy and aggressive police presence, and the governor’s decision to send in the National Guard, became

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controversial and deadly.

Those two major events — the pandemic and the movement — were completely intertwined with Beshear’s time in office.

Although he stepped up during one of the state’s most rocky years, helping and inspiring people to get through it, his decisions and actions didn’t escape criticism and questioning.

“I think that when you look at the response to the pandemic, I think that’s an A; he’s done an excellent job,” said state Rep. Nima Kulkarni, a Louisville Democrat. “I

think that for a lot of people, especially in the racial justice movement, his response to the protest, his discussions about or lack of discussions about what prompted them has been more tepid, more lukewarm, not as strong as some people might hope and perhaps not as much attention given to it as much as other issues.”

Shameka Parrish-Wright, a Louisville activist and the operations manager of the Louisville Bail Project, said, “I think Beshear’s first year was like our year. It was rough. It was a lot of unexpected challenges. It was a time of reflection and it was a time to be innovative and make hard deci-

Governor Andy Beshear.

sions. And that’s what I saw him doing in his decisions. Do I think everything was perfect? No.” For this story, we spoke with area politicians, activists, academics and businesspeople about the governor’s performance. As you can imagine, the conversations generally veered toward the same topics. Below, we broke the conversations into five sections that our panel spoke the most about.

COVID RESTRICTIONS AND POLICY

On March 6, the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Kentucky. As more information about the virus’ danger emerged, Beshear responded with strict measures: He closed restaurants to in-person dining, banned mass gatherings and transferred schools to online-only learning all in one month.

Since last spring, there have been more than 300,000 people contract the virus and more than 3,000 deaths.

Kentucky ranks 28 out of 50 states for number of cases per capita and 40 for deaths, below that of some of its closest neighbors, such as Indiana and Tennessee.

“Fighting the pandemic, he’s done a great job,” said activist and poet Hannah L. Drake. “You’re trying to build the car as you’re driving it. You don’t know what’s really going to work…I think a lot of people are giving him a difficult time when we’re trying to figure out something we never experienced. And it’s all to save lives. He’s not a power hungry person trying to shut down churches, schools and restaurants just because he can. He’s literally trying to save lives of Kentucky residents.”

Beshear’s orders, which also include a mask mandate, have received backlash from some in the business community and state Republicans for being too restrictive, damaging the economy in the process.

“I think he probably could have avoided a lot of political headaches and a lot of the kind of divisiveness that’s been going on with a lot of the people in the legislature right now if he had taken a few fewer steps and maybe mitigated some of the response somewhat and, you know, done some stuff that would have put a lot more people at risk,” said Robert

Healthcare professionals conducted tests in the St. Stephen Baptist Church parking lot in April. | PHOTO BY KATHRYN HARRINGTON

Kahne, co-host of the left-leaning My Old Kentucky Podcast politics show. “But instead of doing that, he really did the right thing in terms of the response by listening to the public health experts instead of other Republican politicians who I think a lot of people wanted him to respond to.”

William Woods, a self-described “non-radical conservative” who ran against Matt Bevin in the last Republican gubernatorial primary, praised Beshear for following the advice of medical experts in the face of opposition from state Republicans, including an ongoing impeachment attempt.

“The Governor, facing overwhelming opposition from my party, has shown himself to be the leader Kentuckians truly needed in the wake of the Bevin Administration,” Woods told LEO via a direct message on Twitter. “Let’s not forget, the Kentucky GOP is all-in to attempt impeachment of the one leader in this Commonwealth who has put politics aside in order to save lives. Meanwhile, they’ve not had one plan to address the situation. Their plan, the GOP plan, is simply to ignore it — no matter how many Kentuckians die.”

Kulkarni said Beshear’s initial shutdown policies were “good,” but, as cases stayed relatively low, Beshear started reopening Kentucky’s economy in May. This loosening of restrictions has proved difficult to reverse, even as cases have soared beyond what they were at the start of the pandemic. In November, Beshear shut down aspects of some businesses that he said were most responsible for the spread of the virus, including in-person dining. But, he kept most businesses open, and when his rules expired, he did not renew them.

Kulkarni said that the situation got complicated when reopening started and the state ran into trouble.

“I was a proponent, obviously, of the shutdown, and I think the more stringent a shutdown is — and this may or may not be a popular opinion among different circles — but you can look at other countries that did this and they’re kind of on the other side of the pandemic,” she said. “At least in terms of stopping the spread and the number of cases,

contract tracing, etc.”

Olivia Griffin, who owns The Limbo, Riot Cafe and The Mysterious Rack, said that she thinks Beshear is smart and is glad Bevin is no longer running the state, but that perpetually modifying the rules and regulations on restaurants and bars became difficult to deal with. Griffin, who is part of the collective Louisville Operating Venues Safely, takes the measures seriously, but she also thinks the constant changes resulted in confusion and less people following the rules.

“I wish that since the beginning there would have been a single set of regulations that remained consistent,” Griffin said. “And whether it was either more conservative or less conservative, it almost doesn’t matter as long as it stays consistent and it enforceable.”

THE PANDEMIC AND THE PUBLIC

Beshear has become known for his daily public address, where he’s used a calming and sincere approach to curb collective anxiety and frustration.

“In terms of dealing with the public, I said very early on, that he’s not all that polished in his presentation, but there’s an earnestness about him that I think came across really well,” said Al Cross, a political columnist who is also a professor and director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at UK. Beshear’s briefings also promoted “a sense of communal responsibility,” Kulkarni said.

“Here’s our governor telling us what we need to do.

We’re all listening to him at the same time every day, and we know what we need to do,” she said. “And I think that resulted in a lot of people following the guidelines, right, successfully. So, wearing masks, social distancing, not going out, not eating out, not gathering, that kind of thing. I think that really, really helped us understand the scope and the importance of individual responsibility in order to get through this and stop the spread.”

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SENDING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD

On May 30, Beshear ordered the National Guard into Louisville during the city’s Breonna Taylor protests. Beshear said the decision was in reaction to the night before, when violence and damage took place downtown — a particularly volatile night in the usually peaceful protests, with several out-of-town groups making an appearance. But, the decision to send in the National Guard proved deadly. Just after midnight on June 1, Louisville police and the National Guard stormed a parking lot on 26th Street and Broadway.

They were more than 20 blocks from where the downtown protests took place, but officials said they were there to enforce the 9 p.m. curfew that was in place. Months later, the city changed their narrative, claiming they received intelligence that a protest caravan was forming in the neighborhood. David McAtee, owner of YaYa’s BBQ, was cooking food for friends and family who frequently gathered at his restaurant on Sunday evenings. The police shot pepper balls at the group. McAtee fired a gun outside of his kitchen and then was killed by a National Guard member, who fired a rifle round. None of the officers involved had their body cameras on.

Drake, who was consistently at the protests, said that sending the military in was a big mistake by Beshear.

“I was Tweeting at him, ‘This is a bad decision,’” Drake said. “‘Somebody Black is going to die.’ I knew it before

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Protesters gathered at Sixth and Jefferson streets calling attention to the death of David McAtee, who was killed when law enforcement fired shots at 26th Street and Broadway on June 1. | PHOTO BY KATHRYN HARRINGTON

it happened, because inevitably this always happens when there’s such force against Black people simply for protesting. I was upset with that decision. That’s a misstep, but it’s a costly misstep, because someone is dead.”

Drake said that the governor could have better understood the protests, and gained more respect from the people at them, if he would have showed up at Jefferson Square Park, the epicenter of where people gathered.

“Your constituent people, who voted for you, who helped you win, who canvassed for you, are in this park hurting — come stand with the people,” Drake said. “You can wear a mask, you can stand six feet away from us. We get it. But how are you not standing with us during this time? When the nation is screaming her name.”

Griffin, who has three businesses downtown, said that when the National Guard came and set up barricades, it was an unnecessary show of force that continues to stigmatize the area.

“These are peaceful protesters, and the presence of the National Guard exacerbated the problem, and barricades completely prevented a lot of us from doing our jobs,” Griffin said. “It also created a sense of fear and trepidation about going downtown.”

BREONNA’S LAW

Louisville activists also have criticism for how Beshear has responded to Breonna’s Law.

The bill, primarily sponsored by state Rep. Attica Scott, is in direct response to Taylor’s death. It would ban noknock warrants in the state, but it would also institute other police reforms, including a requirement for Kentucky law enforcement to wear body cameras and take a drug and alcohol test if involved in a “deadly incident.”

Shameka Parrish-Wright, a regular presence at the Louisville protests and a family friend of Scott, said that she would have liked for Beshear to call a special legislative session when Scott first proposed the bill this summer. That would have allowed legislators to vote on it immediately instead of waiting until this year, when the formal session began.

“I do think he could have spoke out more for justice for Breonna Taylor,” said Parrish-Wright, who is now exploring the possibility of running for mayor of Louisville. “I do think he should be helping us make sure that that gets, that Breonna’s Law gets heard…But I think he comes out on top by continuing to be transparent, continuing to be open and ready to do whatever it takes to move our state forward.”

Drake said, “It would be great for the governor to come out and say, ‘I support this law.’ I support the right for people to be in their homes and police not banging their door and shooting them. It only benefits the people, and it benefits law enforcement. I get that COVID is going on, but I also understand and respect that Andy is a very smart man that can handle several things at one time, because we as protesters have to handle COVID and we have to fight racism.”

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Breonna Taylor’s mother Tamika Palmer spoke to protesters at a rally outside of the Kentucky Attorney General’s office. | PHOTO BY KATHRYN HARRINGTON

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

More moderate observers of the governor believe that he could have done more to reach out to Republican legislative leadership, and his decision not to might have an impact on the rest of his term.

Cross, who regularly writes about Beshear in his column, said that while he believes that the governor has done a nice job with decisions during the pandemic, he could have built better relationships with lead Republican lawmakers, especially House Speaker David Osbourne and Senate President Robert Stivers.

“When it comes to dealing with the legislature, you’ve got to give him a D,” Cross said. “He basically gave them the stiff arm, and that’s not a wise thing to do when you’re a Democratic governor facing a supermajority Republican legislature. I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why he took that sort of attitude. Yes, there were Republicans that wanted to chew on his ankle, but I do not count speaker of the House and the president of the Senate among those Republicans.

They know how to manage their wilder members, and I think if he would have occasional or regular meetings with Stivers and Osborne, things would have gone more smoothly.”

Woods, the former Republican governor candidate, said, “The governor’s team must focus on outreach to independents and true conservatives.”

Woods defined “true conservatives” as “Reagan conservatives” who do not support “violent rhetoric” against the governor, such as hanging him in effigy, which occurred outside his residence in May at a Second Amendment rally/coronavirus regulations protest.

Beshear’s current handling of relationships with Republican leadership could make the rest of his term significantly more challenging, Cross said. The pandemic and social justice movement are still going to be prominent issues in Kentucky politics, but when the Kentucky legislature returns on Feb. 2, things like passing a budget will also be focal points.

“It’s a narrow governorship — he’s been defined by the pandemic,” Cross said.

“Starting next month, he’ll begin to be defined by other things, more traditional things.”

Beyond his first year, Kulkarni said she hopes to see Beshear continuing to “stop the spread” of coronavirus but also helping the state recover.

“I know he’s trying, and I know he’s allocated a lot of funding, and I hope that continues. His budget, I thought was excellent. You know, obviously, we would always want to see more help, direct assistance to our constituents, to struggling families.

But, I hope that that’s the focus. Because it’s going to have to be, quite frankly, and the next year is making sure that we have our businesses back on track, we have our families back on track. And that will require sustained assistance and support financially.”

Kahne is looking even further into the future — to where Beshear might go next.

“His national profile has been raised significantly this year. Especially with his response to COVID. I think next to maybe [New York Gov.] Andrew Cuomo, he’s probably the most well-known governor when it comes to COVID-19 response. And, what’s going to happen with that? You know, I don’t know. He’s pretty young, and I don’t know what his ambitions are, but I think there’s a lot out there for him.” •

than fiction,” the old Twainsaying goes. Saddle up for a night of blush-inducing embarrassing, hilarious (and possibly heartbreaking) stories, while an artist captures their stories live. Comedian and co-owner of Planet of the Tapes Chris Vititoe hosts alongside comedian Mandee McKelvey. Storytellers this month include Gracie Taylor, Vidalia Unwin, Lena Beamish and Katie Dearmond. Because of COVID-19, guests at each table must remain among their own household. —LEO

THURSDAY, JAN. 21

Silent Reading Hour - Virtual Books & Brews 502 Zoom | events.lfpl.org/events | Free | 6-7 p.m.

Whether it’s going to the gym or yoga, sometimes it takes signing up for a class to make it READ happen. The same can be true of something simple, at home, such as reading. If you’ve struggled to carve out even an hour to sit and read, put this on the calendar. Professional pianist Jeannie Eberenz will provide the ambient melodies to make this a peaceful, rejuvenating hour of reading.

There will be a webcam providing the feeling of a real community gathering… but NO TALKING! Participants of the Louisville Free Public Library’s Books & Brews 502 program will receive participation points for attending this event. —LEO

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 20210

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STAFF PICKS

FRIDAY, JAN. 22

Stylin’, Pro�ılin’, Limousine Ridin’, Jet Flyin’, Kiss Stealin’, Wheelin’ and Dealin’ Fridays Mag Bar | 1398 S. Second St. | No cover | 4 p.m.

There are few things more majestic in world history than a perfectly executed flying elbow drop from Macho Man Randy Savage. RIP legend. Every Friday, OOOOOH YEEEAH! Mag Bar is picking one famous pro wrestler and playing their matches. From the pioneers to the cartoonishly big muscles/cocaine-rant era to the modern superstars, there’s so much content to choose from. It’s a great way to deep dive into beautifully outlandish nostalgia where people beat each other up with chairs. —Scott Recker

A screenshot from a Macho Man Randy Savage interview.

SATURDAY, JAN. 23

SATURDAY, JAN. 23

Shakespeare O�f The Page: Dueling Bios!

Zoom | Search Facebook | $60 | 1-4 p.m.

Some might argue there’s a bit of madness in every genius. Who was the madman, William Shakespeare, UNPRETENTIOUS whose work has continued to torture high schoolers for centuries? This question is why Kentucky Shakespeare brings us the self-described “nerdy-coolest book club” that’s “primarily a series aimed at normal, decent people, but actors are not unwelcome.” Unlike other Shakespeare studies, this event aims to reveal more about the man behind the stories.

Led by Greg Maupin, resident actor/dramaturg, participants will split up a list of Shakespeare biographies this Saturday, then reconvene next Saturday, Jan. 30, to, “compare and debunk and extol and mock and evangelize and whatever else happens.” As one participant said of a previous workshop by Maupin: “It’s the most unpretentious Shakespeare group you’ll ever be a part of, and so much better than 10th-grade English class (sorry, Mrs. Range).” —LEO

TUESDAY, JAN. 26

Witch-�lix And Chill

Raven’s Roost Boutique | 203 W. First St., New Albany, Indiana | $15-$20 | 6-8:30 p.m.

The witches in COME, WE FLY “Hocus Pocus” are portrayed as soul-sucking childhaters. The witches who shop at Raven’s Roost Boutique, a magical supply store, are more into healing and “witchcraft activism.” But, the shop is still putting on a “Hocus Pocus” watch party night with themed snacks and drinks. It’s $15 to get in, but you can pay an extra $5 to receive three drink tickets. Organizers promise lots of room for social distancing and extra masks if you forget yours. —Danielle Grady

Capitol Connection: Congressional Update With U.S. Representative John Yarmuth Zoom | greaterlouisville.com/events | 1 p.m. | $10

It’s been a chaotic year that’s raised a lot of concerns and questions. And with a new administration and a new Congress, many are left wondering about CONGRESS the way forward. So Greater Louisville Inc. is holding a wide-ranging discussion with Congressman John Yarmuth on topics that are important to the future of Louisville and our economic recovery. Go to GLI’s website for the Zoom link.—LEO

John Yarmuth.

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STAFF PICKS

TUESDAY, JAN. 26

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27

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‘A Night With The Met’ Zoom Program The social justice movement led museums and cultural institutions to reexamine themselves. As part of its “Let’s Talk/Bridging the Divide” series, the SOCIAL JUSTICE Frazier History Museum is hosting a free Zoom program with Daniel Weiss, the President/CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, America’s largest museum. The presentation will also include the leaders of several local institutions: Andy Treinen, president/CEO of the Frazier; Michelle Staggs, executive director of KMAC Museum; Lamont Collins, CEO of Roots 101; Stephen Reily, director of the Speed Art Museum; and Richard Clay, president/CEO of the Filson Historical Society. It will be moderated by Rachel Platt, Director of Community Engagement at the Frazier.

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Music Bingo

Parlour in Southern Indiana is putting a twist on a classic, taking the game out of church halls and into the world of pop culture heroes. It’s free to play with a chance BINGO! at $50 and $100 jackpots both rounds. —LEO

Daniel Weiss, president/CEO of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. | PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MET.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27

Beyond the Ballot Box

Zoom | 21cmuseumhotels.com/louisville | Free | 7-8 p.m.

You cast your vote for Joe Biden instead of a dictator-wannabe. Now what? This virtual event, held in conjunction with the BallotBox exhibit at Metro Hall, DEMOCRACY teaches “how to stay involved with the political process beyond voting” — and with art! Panelists include former U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker, Dayzaughn Graves, Daniel Martin Moore and Jaylin Monet Stewart. You must register for the event by Jan. 26 to participate. —LEO

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MUSIC

BABY STEPS: ZANZABAR OPENS ITS STAGE

By Erica Rucker | erucker@leoweekly.com

LOUISVILLE’S STAGES have gone dark.

Once the locus of mass rejoicing, elation and sometimes the collective place to release the frustrations of living, few Louisville venues have found a way to host live performances amidst the frighteningly rapid spread of COVID-19. Music halls, bar stages and arenas are gathering dust with many months of only echoes filling the walls.

One bar, a Louisville music staple over the last 12 years, hangs on the edge of a wet cliff in the midst of a rainstorm. Fighting against the deluge, Zanzabar announced two concerts.

On Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23, Mama Said String Band will perform at Zanzabar, the venues first shows since March. Both nights are currently sold out.

While it doesn’t truly mark the reopening of the stage in a large capacity, it is a necessary step to help save the business, event promoter for Zanzabar Mark Evans, told LEO: “It’s a weird time to be having a show.”

“I really feel like, unfortunately, Zanzabar’s in a position where it has to have events or it’s just not going to survive.”

On a typical night, Zanzabar can host up to 400 guests. Right now, they are allowing around 60 people in the door.

“We’ve found a pretty safe format,” Evans said. “We did a test run in October with a burlesque show.”

Zanzabar is selling tickets by the table instead of per person. Evans believes this encourages people to come in pods or households, preventing strangers from congregating together and bolstering the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“This first show is a bluegrass show which is a little easier on the production spectrum,” said Evans. “We’re just easing into this and making sure we follow all CDC guidelines and LOVS guidelines.”

LOVS is a local initiative to provide support and guidance for local venues to reopen and host events safely. The Louisville Operating Venues Safely (LOVS) group wants “to provide the safest and healthiest music-going experience.”

LOVS founding member, Scotty Haulter, told LEO in October that his goal with the organization is for the customer to feel safe and informed about visiting local venues.

“We want to be transparent with the public on what the LOVS venues are doing and offer them some comfort in attending events

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Mama Said String Band performing at Waterfront Wednesday. | PHOTO BY NIK VECHERY.

at these spaces,” he said.

LOVS guidelines include that customers must wear masks unless sitting at a table, eating or drinking; visiting artists and staff will get temperature checks; the audience will be required to social distance; and all high-touch surfaces will be sanitized, including band equipment and merchandise.

Safety precautions were also important to Mama Said String Band.

“We wanted to bring our audience together for live music in an environment where they can feel safe,” said Mama Said String Band member Katie Didit. “Zanzabar created a floor plan which only allows for 58 guests, socially-distant sitting tables and mask requirements, which we feel confident in.”

For most bands, live performance is the bread and butter of their careers. The connections built with fans and merchandising help keep the bills paid.

“Live performance has been our livelihood since the formation of this band,” said Didit. “Our hope for the upcoming year is to see decreasing numbers in COVID cases following the first few rollouts of the vaccine so that we may return to doing what we love most, making music and bringing our fans

together.”

Without open venues and with the closure of so many that couldn’t make it through the pandemic, the list of COVID casualties certainly extends beyond the human toll.

A national organization, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), took the fight to Congress, asking them to pass the Save Our Stages Act. The bill provides a $15 billion dollar lifeline for a struggling industry.

The money has yet to be distributed but it is coming and has reenergized some venues to find ways to hang on until it comes through.

The Act provides grant money “to eligible live venue operators, producers, promoters, or talent representatives to address the economic effects of the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic on certain live venues.”

Until those funds are available, venues like Zanzabar have to find ways to stay afloat. The Mama Said String Band show is a baby step in that direction.

“It’s hard to predict how things are going to go,” Evans said, recounting the fact that Zanzabar has experienced almost a year of

what he calls, “dead air.”

“The Wettig brothers have put a lot of time and money over the last 12 years into that property.”

Jon and Antz Wettig are the owners of Zanzabar and other nearby properties.

Zanzabar is unique because, in addition to its stage, it has an arcade and a restaurant.

While the arcade has been scaled down due to the pandemic, the restaurant is still operating. Anyone who’s visited Zanzabar knows that the food is noteworthy.

“It’s tragically underrated as a restaurant,” said Evans, citing that he is a vegetarian and still finds himself impressed with their food selections.

Zanzabar is a Germantown staple and for over 80 years, the club has hosted generations of patrons and musical acts.

While only one of Louisville’s many stages, Zanzabar reflects a battle that many venues are facing. They depend on the community that supports them and the way we continue to fight COVID-19. If we win, our stages, nightclubs, restaurants and all local businesses win. It’s an effort that demands all hands on deck. The “Zanzabars” of America are counting on us. •

FOOD & DRINK

RECOMMENDED

FINE ITALIAN DINING AT HOME WITH GRASSA GRAMMA

By Robin Garr | LouisvilleHotBytes.com I WONDER if you miss sitting down to a good meal in a fine local restaurant as much as I do.

It’s not just about the food. Driving through Holiday Manor the other day, I spotted Grassa Gramma and remembered how much fun it is to dine there.

Executive Chef Robert Rice’s fine Italian fare is a big part of that draw, of course, but that’s not all. There’s the attentive service provided by general manager Tarek Hamada and his team. There’s the stylish table settings. And, of course, there’s the spectacular, not quite over-thetop antique Italian decor that owner Kevin Grangier sourced from Italy and all around the Mediterranean.

I want all that again, and I want it at all of my favorite local eateries. Sure, bringing dinner home in boxes and bags is better than nothing, but it’s not the same. So, I wondered, is there some way to make the takeout experience a little more like fine dining? Maybe! Why not bring Grassa Gramma dinner home and

make our dining room feel like an Italian restaurant?

Here’s how that played out: I downloaded a Mario Lanza album of ‘60s-style Italian-American tunes. I draped a redand-white checkered towel in a wicker bread basket and got out an old souvenir Chianti bottle with its wicker basket. I set the iPad on the table displaying a photo of the Cinque Terre. Dim the lights, plate Grassa Gramma’s fine fare on our Hadley dishes, and hey! It didn’t clone Grassa Gramma, of course, but it felt like a finedining experience.

You can do this too. Or maybe you already do.

If you’re willing to dine in now, I think you can feel comfortable at Grassa Gramma. Tables are comfortably separated in the looming space that was once a suburban cinema, and the management team appears committed to keeping things safe. Outside dining remains an option even in the dead of winter, with each outdoor table covered by a clear plastic dome

Duck meatballs on a bed of whipped ricotta and black-currant mostarda: A Grassa Gramma app good enough to fill in as a light entree. | PHOTOS BY ROBIN GARR.

Cacio e pepe, a classic Roman pasta dish, is elevated with hand-made Tuscan pici pasta, pecorino, and smoked black pepper from Bourbon Barrel Foods.

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FOOD & DRINK

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502.895.3711 150 Chenoweth Ln

to keep the elements out and the heat in.

Chef Rice’s menu offers samples of Italian regional cuisine, from north to south, and Grangier pledges that it makes use of the best quality ingredients available: “If it’s fish, it’s wild. If it’s game or meat, it’s organic or prime. Produce comes from actual farmers; not simply farms.

It is local, when possible, and always… seasonal.”

If you look only at the entrees, Grassa Gramma ranks among the city’s pricey dining rooms, with main-course prices ranging up to $48 for an 8-ounce filet mignon, the center-cut tenderloin. Verlasso salmon is $32, and seafood imperial pasta with a mix of shellfish and fish is $38.

It is entirely possible to work the menu to build a good meal for a mid-range price, though. Also, be sure to check out the $19 Monday Meal Deals and daily specials, which can offer exceptional value. We put together a hearty appetizer, an excellent salad, a pasta dish and a ration of toothsome focaccia — a filling meal for two for just about the same price as that tenderloin.

A pair of duck meatballs ($13) the size of golf balls were listed and priced among the appetizers, but they were hearty enough to make a light entree. The meatballs were tender and fluffy within a crisp exterior. Inside, finely-shredded dark duck meat was gently spiced to add a piquant note to their complex flavor. They sat on a bed of whipped ricotta as rich as whipped cream with a lemony tang. The dish also included black-currant mostarda, a hotsweet-spicy Northern Italian condiment that blends candied fruit into a mustardlaced sauce. All together it was complex

yet subtle, with all the flavors working together, as you expect in the work of a skilled chef.

A grilled romaine Caesar salad ($10) held up well in the takeout box. A large chunk of very fresh romaine had been split lengthwise from the head, grilled just long enough to impart tasty char marks, and topped with earthy, grated Pecorino cheese, crunchy bread crumbs and pumpkin seeds. A tub of garlicky, faintly anchovy-laced Caesar dressing, served on the side, made it perfect, as did a couple of squares of light, crusty focaccia.

Cacio e pepe ($18), one of my favorite quick pasta dishes, is a classic Roman preparation. Its name in Italian describes the sauce ingredients: “cheese and pepper.” Grassa Gramma’s version uses house-made pici pasta, a Tuscan variation on extra-thick spaghetti that’s rolled out by hand into long, fat and slightly-chewy strands. It was tossed with earthy Pecorino Romano cheese and a generous grind of smoked black pepper from Bourbon Barrel Foods.

Dinner for two with tax came to $43.46, and we added a $10 tip. •

GRASSA GRAMMA 2210 Holiday Manor Shopping Center 333-9595 grassagramma.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

BOOMERANG: COMING BACK TO LEO

By Erica Rucker | erucker@leoweekly.com web developers decided to create a local WHEN I left LEO two years ago, it was social network called, “Louisville Mojo.” one of the hardest decisions I’d made as a I was friends with one of those developers writer. It isn’t easy to exit a platform that and he convinced me that it wasn’t a dating provides you with such openness to speak, site but a way to meet friends. It was cerbut I was tired. I’d talked to too many tainly both. Many of you reading this got people, too many politicians, right-wing the infamous “Mojo Massage” and have activists and religious zealots. I was done. children thanks to the website. I promise The level of anxiety I’d been experiencyou, albeit hilarious, this detail is relevant. ing was overwhelming. Both mentally and It was Mojo that introduced me to physically, I needed a break. the ladies who’d When the represent my final opportunity to push into the artist’s apply for the Arts life. Lisa Frye (a and Entertainment painter), Nancy editor position was Möise (a writer), shared with me, I Samantha McMafelt a remnant of hon (a photograthat past anxiety and pher) and I formed apprehension but, I an organization told myself, “THIS called Art Sanctuis your lane.” ary. We wanted It’s where I to feed our own started. I’m not sure creative urges and if I’ve ever told you to be fed by the my story so, let me cross-pollination introduce myself. of our different I came to LEO, disciplines. We held first, as a music art soirees and built writer and spent a monster network seven years writing of artists. When about everything I left the group, I from teaching kids did so to host the about music to 2008 Terrastock being stuck in traffic Music Festival, a to the failings of 4-day international local government. music festival Before all that, I held at Mellwood was a writer, a poet, a creator.

Erica Rucker. | BY BRYCE HUDSON WHO USED THIS Arts Center. In I cut my early IN HIS “HOLDING PATTERN” ART SERIES. the last two years, I’ve been working creative teeth at local on two novels, a ballet collaboration and punk shows while making ‘zines and readcompleted an arts fellowship as a Hadley ing sad, love poetry at open mics. Some Creative. years later, a few of us, pre-gallery hop Ahh I sound so busy. There were a lot years, would attend friends’ art openings of naps, too. then head to Mike Ratterman’s 953 Clay With all that said, I’ve traversed the St. warehouse to “art” and dance in the Louisville arts landscape and am back here company of other art seedlings. We didn’t with a different modus operandi but always know that Louisville’s art scene would blossom in the way that it did but we knew a critical eye on local issues.

Art is important to all of us. We aren’t that we were full with our own evolutions. put on this planet to simply eat, work We created art opportunities and, as we and die. We’re here to thrive, to create found funding and new avenues began to and connect. That’s what an A&E section open, we made sure to pull friends along should do for its readers and that’s my goal with us. It’s kind of the Louisville way. moving forward. • Sometime in 2002-2003, a couple of

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | ART

THE FINE ART OF FINANCING GRANTS, RESIDENCIES AND OTHER FUNDING FOR ARTISTS

By Natalie Weis | leo@leoweekly.com ART may feed the soul, but the artist’s stomach demands something less metaphorical, as does the landlord and the electric company. Therefore, we’ve compiled a select list of grants, fellowships, residencies and other financial resources for Louisville-area artists. As it seems the wolf is ever knocking at the studio door, we intend this to be a semi-regular column, so check back next month for new funding opportunities.

FOR KENTUCKY-BASED ARTISTS:

Named after the home of the Rev. Al Shands and his late wife, Mary Norton (co-founder of KMAC Museum), the Great Meadows Foundation was created in 2016 with the mission of strengthening the visual arts in Kentucky by providing direct support to artists and other visual arts professionals to “research, connect, and participate more actively in the broader contemporary art world.”To that end, the organization provides Artist Professional Development Grants of up to $6,000 for travel that is directly related to a specific issue of central concern to the applicant’s artistic practice. Proposals should clearly identify goals, benefits and outcomes, with preference given to those who aim not only to connect with individuals and groups outside of the region that can critically benefit their practice, but also to strengthen the level of discourse and practice among artists in the state. The application deadline is Feb. 14. For more information and to apply, visit greatmeadowsfoundation.org.

The Kentucky Foundation for Women strives to promote positive social change by furthering the artistic development of feminist artists. Its Artist Enrichment grants help fund a variety of art-making activities, including artist residencies, creative exploration of new techniques and the development of a body of work. Applicants should be able to demonstrate high artistic ability as well as a commitment to feminism and an understanding of the relationship between art and social change. The application deadline is March 5 . For more information and to apply, visit kfw. org.

Funded by Councilwoman Madonna Flood, COLLIDER is an artist-in-residence program housed in the newly constructed South Central Regional Library. Dedicated studio space allows artists to create work on site while engaging with the public during a one-month residency, which includes a stipend of $800 per month, with addi-

tional funds for program supplies. The artist will be responsible for holding scheduled studio hours and teaching at least three public classes during the residency. The application deadline is March 31. For more information and to apply, visit lfpl. org/forms/airapplication.php

RESIDENCIES:

Through its annual open call, Locust Projects gallery in Miami, Florida supports the creation of large-scale new works on site. Artists will receive curatorial guidance, a production budget, W.A.G.E. fees, travel support and up to six weeks’ residency within walking distance of the gallery. The application deadline is Feb. 6. For more information and to apply, visit locustprojects.org.

Located near Lake Erie in western New York, The Chautauqua School of Art Residency Program is a five-week experience open to visual artists who have not yet received wide recognition of their work. The multidisciplinary curriculum encourages participants to embrace a range of creative approaches and supports artists in their professional development. The application deadline is March 2. For more information and to apply, visit art.chq.org/school/apply.

EMERGENCY FUNDING:

Through a partnership with the New York Fund for the Arts, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for medical or dental emergencies. Rauschenberg Emergency Grants are available to visual artists living anywhere in the U.S. or U.S. territories and are reviewed on a rolling basis. For more information and to apply, visit nyfa.org/awards-grants/ rauschenberg-medical-emergency-grants/

When the pandemic forced the closure of museums and galleries and the postponement of countless exhibitions, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts created the Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund. Eligible artists can apply for one-time grants of up to $2,000 to make up for lost income from performances or exhibitions that were canceled due to the pandemic. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. For more information and to apply, visit foundationforcontemporaryarts.org. • LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 20210

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | ART

AHOY!

PORTLAND MUSEUM EXPLORES IMMERSIVE EXPANSION

By Erica Rucker | erucker@leoweekly.com ACCORDING to legend and the Oxford English Dictionary, how we greet each other in the English speaking world — with the word, “hello” — was a matter of happenstance.

Apparently, Thomas Edison answered the first phone call with “hello,” although Alexander Graham Bell preferred, “Ahoy,” a greeting that had been around at least 100 years longer.

Ahoy was a greeting familiar to most and used particularly amongst the nautical set. In Louisville, a similar set of nautical folk — those traveling the Ohio River — put down roots in what we now call Portland and began to grow a community that grew a city.

Now, the Portland Museum has launched a new project that pays homage to the riverine beginnings of the neighborhood, one that addresses a dire need in the neighborhood: children with nothing to do.

AHOY [Adventure House of You] is a project of the Portland Museum that has taken solid first steps toward opening an immersive, experiential children’s space. They have secured a Victorian property adjacent to the museum and are beginning the process of building stabilization.

In recent years, Portland has experienced renewed attention from investors, particularly Gill Holland, and the process to revitalize the area has been slow. Children’s activities have been the slowest to arrive. AHOY represents a move toward a remedy.

Danny Seim, the Executive Director of the Portland Museum and Katy Delahanty, chair of the AHOY committee, are hesitant to call the project a “children’s museum.”

“We’re looking for the perfect title,” said Seim. “We want to make sure that this is going to be an experience more than a place to learn about gravity and typical educational stuff.”

The project takes inspiration from other experiential “museums” like the St. Louis City Museum and the now-infamous art experience Meow Wolf, which has gained international attention and received sponsorship from popular figures like George R.R. Martin of “Game of Thrones” fame.

“We’re looking for our George R.R. Martin,” said Seim.

Delahanty adds, “It’s ever-evolving and this is the time when we’re seeking input from children, so it’s not just adults deciding what should be in the space.”

Fellow AHOY board member and Former Home of the Innocents CEO, Gordon Brown

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LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 2021

wants kids in Portland to have a big voice in the project. His suggestion, to Seim and Delahanty, is that the kids who live in Portland become the ambassadors and docents of AHOY. It’s important to the whole project that the hands that build, create or guide are locals in the neighborhood. Both Delahanty and Seim live in Portland. As Ahoy House. | PORTLAND MUSEUM much as possible, they are trying to involve 10 years now, The Louisville Children’s other neighborhood people, including builder Museum has been building interest in an Ryan Stoess, whose family owns The Table educational children’s focused space. Corestaurant on Portland Avenue. founder Emily Burrice, who’s from ChiRecently, the project added a totem-style cago and moved here with her husband sculpture by local artist Joe Autry. Autry’s work can be seen in many places in Louisville and three children from Indianapolis, lamented that the museum-type opportuand Southern Indiana, but Autry’s roots are in nities for her children were lacking.

Portland, so this piece brought him back and “Louisville doesn’t have a traditional apparently, attracted a fair amount of interestchildren’s museum,” she said. So she ing attention. started talking to anyone who would “He got people [interested] like the Loulisten. isville Outlaws Motorcycle Club and people “In the first two years, we had over who wouldn’t typically — for whatever 90 meetings with anyone in a leadership reason — set foot in the museum,” said Seim, role.” sharing that Autry spent two months in front The Louisville Children’s museum of the buildings with a chainsaw in hand, cremoved forward with programming from ating the sculpture, which captures the image of the first female steamboat captain, Mary M. a mobile museum format. They base their experiences around Kentucky history and Miller. Miller was born and when she wasn’t arts. In the years before the pandemic, working on her boat, lived in the Portland neighborhood. Autry used a painting of Miller they traveled to local schools with their museum.

by Delahanty as inspiration for the piece.

In 2020, Burrice says, “We were on track “A lot of people would stop because to have our biggest year yet when COVID they’d see a dude out there with a chainsaw,” hit.” said Seim. “Joe’s a great diplomat. He’s been This forced them to offer their programout there talking as much as he was making ming online. art.”

Likewise, the Portland museum has had Autry himself found the project profound. to adapt the way it connects to its public and “I met my whole father’s side of the family taking the initiative to work on AHOY for the that I had not met,” Autry said, describing the post-pandemic world is part of that. experience as overwhelming with emotions.

“We will be attempting to raise about $1.5 “It set the scene for me to be able to time to two million dollars for the project,” said travel to when Portland was a more industriDelahanty. ous place,” he says, hinting at the struggle Seim agreed, “We’re trying to keep things Portland has with persistent poverty and tangible and attainable,” citing other projects neglect.

The AHOY Project isn’t the first attempt at that request hundreds of millions in a shaky economic climate. a children’s museum in Louisville. Going on

Interior of AHOY house. | DEAN THOMAS

Autry’s Mary Miller. | PORTLAND MUSEUM

AHOY will be moving into more future planning soon. This will include creating a new budget that will include the full build-out of the house and grounds, which will offer an adventure style, “risky play” area.

“We have all this letterpress equipment and tactile stuff for kids to really enjoy,” said Delahanty. “Those machines kind of bridge history, fun and art at the same time.”

Portland has a rich history, both as one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Louisville, and as a diverse area with many stories to tell and gifts to share. The AHOY project seeks to add fun and a child-friendly reason for people to travel beyond the storied Ninth Street divide. •

ETC.

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Semi Stick one’s nose in Small drum Cockamamie Actress Blanchett Latch (onto) Muppet who sings in the ‘‘Try, Try Again’’ song When it’s driving, you might not want to drive Unwanted breakout Back muscle, in brief Prefix with warrior Negative conjunction

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B I G R I G S E S A M E S Y R I A N S

50 Breaking or entering, say 51 Leslie ____ Jr., member of the original ‘‘Hamilton’’ cast 56 Not joke around 58 Enjoys a home-cooked meal 59 Poison-treating plant 60 Bagel choice 63 ____ World Service 65 Digital camera memory holders 68 G-rated, say 69 You might pass on them 70 Apt surname for a mechanic 72 Palm Springs, e.g.

75 Group with the hits ‘‘Honey, Honey’’ and ‘‘Money, Money, Money’’ 79 Big brute 81 Went fast 83 Cocktail with a rhyming name 84 Tinder action that expresses strong interest 87 Other: Sp. 89 Certain pie crust flavor 90 Wok, e.g.

91 Covers of vintage music?

92 ‘‘Try it!’’

93 Sit on 94 Part of an aircraft that helps reduce drag 98 Put forward 100 H.S. class with dissections 101 Tune out

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R A D A R O P I D O U P R E M T E P E E S T O S O I L B O Y P O A T L D A M U O B E C M B C A K C A N S R I M P O R T A E R I D E A T O S C A E S A I L N E T M O R E O R T

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Discharges Hassle Genius Not be on the level Anxiously worry Title nickname in a 1984 sports movie Courses WeChat or KakaoTalk Very serious With skill Shakespeare character who cries ‘‘Then I defy you, stars!’’

Power-saving mode ‘‘____ Used to Be Mine’’ (song from ‘‘Waitress’’) Long of Hollywood ‘‘My guess is .?.?. ’’ Realm for comic-book fans, say Damascenes, e.g.

Gardener’s supply ‘‘Over here!’’ ‘‘Geaux Tigers!’’ sch.

Liquid in a first-aid kit Noodles sometimes served with tsuyu sauce Onetime sunscreen ingredient Small Jewish communities of old SoCal baseball team, on scoreboards Scintilla Secondary social media accounts, in brief Mournful sound Fiddle with a ukulele?

Woman on W.W. II-era posters Cassini who created the so-called ‘‘Jackie look’’ Simba’s father in ‘‘The Lion King’’ How detectives may act Orders from regulars

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ACROSS

Ocean motion [I expected better from you!]

Tracking systems Makes out, in Manchester Stuffed and fried cornmeal pocket, in Mexican cuisine Lizzo or Lorde ____-hole Amazon, e.g.

Title for Iran’s Ali Khamenei Tailored blouse style Pieces of pentathlon equipment Piece of biathlon equipment Outdoor wedding rental Some reusable bags Give a refill Poet Limón Yearbook sect.

Item lugged up a hill Gardener’s supply Alphabetically first member of the Baseball Hall of Fame Dull yellowish brown Subject of some teen gossip sessions Sure-footed alpine climber React to, as an online joke ‘‘I wish I could ____ that’’ (‘‘Ick’’) Document that never lacks a title Divert Solid green ball in un juego de billar It’s ground-breaking Way overcharge, so to speak Vape shop inventory Sci-fi’s Dr. Zaius, for one Even a bit Bakery item that’s often messy Lavishes love (on) Part of R.S.V.P. Business that might hold a blowout sale?

Common food drive donation ‘‘Julius Caesar’’ role Lhasa ____ Necklace components Parts of volcanoes 2007 No. 1 Alicia Keys album Not keep Caribbean capital Kind of test question Some video-making devices Rod who won four Wimbledons

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No. 0110

‘‘The very ____!’’

Yellow bills in Monopoly Lobster-catching aid?

Holiday preceder Choose to participate Award won twice by Hammerstein, fittingly Horror director ____ Saul Guerrero Contraction that omits a ‘‘v’’ 0 to 60, e.g.

Proceeds breezily What a spike goes over Not black and white Early computer ‘‘Encore!’’ ‘‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up’’ tidying method Take care of ‘‘Well, so’s your face!,’’ e.g.

The antagonist Bellwether from Disney’s ‘‘Zootopia,’’ e.g.

Ask for a treat, say

H A V E O N E

BUSTING MOVES

BY PAOLO PASCO / EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

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PHOTO BY RACHEL ROBINSON

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SAVAGE LOVE

By Dan Savage | mail@savagelove.net @fakedansavage

CASE DISCLOSED

Q: I could really use your advice. I recently found my boyfriend's HIV meds while I was house sitting for him and went into his cupboard for a multivitamin. We've been dating for a year and I had assumed he was negative. I'm negative myself and on PrEP and he is undetectable, so I know there is essentially zero risk of me getting infected, but we agreed to some degree of “openness” at the start of the relationship—having threesomes together—and I recently found a guy we'd like to invite over. I'm trying to get over the feeling of betrayal from the fact that my boyfriend hid his status from me for so long but I'm fine with continuing the relationship knowing his status now. The thing is, he told me that only five people on earth know and his mother, who he talks to almost every day, isn't one of them. He says being poz has really fucked with his self-esteem and that he has had suicidal thoughts because of his status. Is it unreasonable for me to expect him to disclose his status to guys who join us in bed? What about asking him to share with a therapist or “come out” as poz to his mother? I really love him and just want him to be happy and healthy.

Wannabe Ethical And Supportive Slut A: If you’re worrying about HIV at the moment, WEASS, you’re worrying about the wrong virus.

Unless you’re lucky enough to live in New Zealand, you and the boyfriend shouldn’t be inviting men over for threesomes right now.

Assuming you do live in New Zealand…

I don’t think your boyfriend is morally obligated to disclose that he’s HIV-positive to a casual sex partner, WEASS, but in some states he is legally obligated to disclose that fact. While rarely enforced, these HIV disclosure laws almost always have the opposite of their intended effect. Instead of creating a culture of testing and disclosure, these laws disincentivize getting tested—because someone who doesn’t know they’re HIV-positive can’t get in trouble for failing to disclose.

These laws were passed decades ago, back when contracting HIV was perceived—mostly accurately—as a death sentence. But they don’t reflect what it means to have HIV today or to sleep with someone who has HIV today. Having even unprotected sex now with someone who is HIV-positive and has an undetectable viral load is less risky than having protected sex with someone who hasn’t been tested. Condom or no condom, the HIV-positive guy with an undetectable viral load—undetectable thanks to meds like the ones your boyfriend is taking—can’t infect someone with HIV. Undetectable = untransmissible. But a guy who assumes he’s HIV-negative because

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LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 2021

he was the last time he got tested or because he’s never been tested? That guy could be HIV-positive and could infect someone with HIV—even if he does use a condom, which could leak or break.

(There are lots of other STIs out there we should be using condoms to protect ourselves from, including a nasty strain of anti-biotic-resistant gonorrhea, but we’re just talking HIV here.)

In answer to your question, WEASS, I think it would unreasonable for you to force your boyfriend to disclose his HIV status the person you want to invite over for a threesome—but, again, HIV disclosure laws might require your boyfriend to disclose.

Now if the presumably sexually-active, sexuallyadventurous gay man you’re thinking about having over to your place in Christchurch isn’t an idiot, WEASS, he’ll know your boyfriend—the guy with the undetectable viral load—presents no threat to him, at least where HIV is concerned.

And while you absolutely shouldn’t out your boyfriend, WEASS, you could raise the general subject of sexual safety and see how this guy reacts.

If he seems reasonable—particularly if he mentions being on PrEP too—he’s probably not gonna freak out about your boyfriend being HIV-positive for the exact same reason you didn’t: there’s zero chance your boyfriend could infect him with HIV. (We’re both assuming this guy isn’t HIV-positive himself, WEASS, which he might be.) If he seems reasonable you should encourage your boyfriend to disclose to him. Being told it’s no big deal from someone your boyfriend wants to fuck before he fucks him could help your boyfriend feel less insecure about his HIV status.

Finally, you can’t order your boyfriend to come out to his mom about being HIV-positive, WEASS, but you might inspire him to. He obviously worries people will judge him or shame for being HIV-positive; that’s one of the reasons he hid it from you—and, yes, he should have disclosed his HIV status to you sooner. He obviously underestimated you: you didn’t reject him when you stumbled over his meds after tearing apart the cupboards in his absence while you were searching for—what was it again? Oh, right: a multivitamin. (Sure.) Anyway, WEASS, tell your boyfriend he’s most likely underestimating his mother in the same way he underestimated you— then let him make his own decisions about who to tell and when.

Q: I’m a submissive straight guy who finally— FINALLY—met a woman who is open to my main kinks: bondage and cuckolding. I’m into handcuffs and leg irons, so the bondage part

was easy (she didn’t have to learn to do shibari), but the cuckolding part is a lot trickier to realize during a pandemic. She ended a longstanding FWB arrangement with a coworker when we began to get serious a year ago. Her former FWB is a safe choice, emotionally-speaking, since there was no romantic interest on either side, and he’s safe where COVID-19 is concerned, since they are in a “pod” at work. (And they’ll both be vaccinated soon!) She keeps saying he’s the perfect bull but he’s not right for me—which is a weird thing for me to say, since I’m not the one who’ll be sleeping with him. I don’t want to sound conceited, but I’m much better looking than he is and I’m also better hung. My cuckold fantasies revolve around my girlfriend fucking a guy who’s hotter than me and better hung than I am. I worked with a therapist for a long time—not to “cure” me of my kinks, but to better understand them. And what I came to is this: it’s both deeply threatening (in an erotic way) for my girlfriend to fuck someone who’s “better” than me and deeply reassuring (in an emotional way) when she chooses to be with me when she could be with a “better” man.

Better Example Than This Erotic Rival A: Something about this guy works for your girlfriend—there’s a reason she keeps bringing him up—and if you want to have a future with this woman and you want cuckolding to be a part of that future, BETTER, then going with someone she’s comfortable with the first time/few times she cucks you is a really good idea. And while he may not be better looking than you or have a bigger dick, BETTER, he’s gotta be “better” than you are in some other objective sense—better educated, makes better money, better at eating pussy, etc. Surely there’s something about him your girlfriend can throw in your face that tweaks your insecurities (when she heads off to fuck him) and meets your need for reassurance (when she comes back to you). And how do you know your dick is bigger than his? Because your girlfriend told you it was. You might want to ask her if she lied about his dick being smaller than yours, BETTER, because that’s definitely the kind of lie women tell new boyfriends about their exes and old FWBs. Given a chance to walk that back, BETTER, your girlfriend very well might—and it might even be true. mail@savagelove.net Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage. www.savagelovecast.com

CLASSIFIED LISTINGS LEGAL Notice is hereby given by Auto House #1 4035 Bardstown Rd Lou, KY 40218 (502) 493-8188. Owner has 14 days to respond in writing to obtain title to the following: 2014 Ram, VIN-1C6RR6FT6ES353511. Owned by Derica Green & Kendra Hardin 4313 Norbrook Dr, Louisville, Ky 40218 Lien holder as Auto Venture Acceptance 6626 Preston Hwy, Louisville, KY 40219.

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Owner has 14 days to respond in writing to obtain title to the following: 2013 Lacrosse 323RST, VIN-5ZT2LCXB4DB003923. Owned by Jeffery Edward Singleton & Lisa Jordan Singleton 108 Holly Point Rd, Yown, VA 23692.

MULTIPLE FACILITIES – MULTIPLE UNITS

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Purchases must be made with cash only and paid at the above referenced facility in order to complete the transaction. Extra Space Storage may refuse any bid and may rescind any purchase up until the winning bidder takes possession of the personal property.

Humana Inc. seeks a Senior Software Engineer in Louisville, KY to Standardize the quality assurance procedure for software. Pre-employment drug screen & background check required.Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Ref: 64501.

Humana Inc. seeks Senior Application Consultant in Louisville, KY to perform technical planning, architecture development & modification of specifications. Telecommuting permitted for business need with approval.

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Legal notification to Phil Belyew/TNC. Pendleton Trailer Service, 3820 Fitzgerald Rd, Louisville, KY. 40216. 502-778-1157 will sale Unit 53810, WAB make, Yr 2011, Model ST, Veh. Id. 1JJV532D8BL406352 for storage bill.

Notice is hereby given that AT&T Mobility, LLC, whose address is 402 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027, has filed an application with the Energy and Environment Cabinet to construct a wireless telecommunications facility to include an access/utility ease

Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to build a 43-foot Wood Pole Communications Tower. Anticipated lighting application is medium intensity dual red/white strobes. The Site location is 550 S. Jackson Street, Louisville, Jefferson County, KY 40202 [Lat. 38-14-55.393 N, Long. 85-44-42.235 W]. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Antenna Structure Registration (ASR, Form 854) filing number is [A1180154].

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS – Interested persons may review the application (www.fcc.gov/asr/applications) by entering the filing number. Environmental concerns may be raised by filing a Request for Environmental Review (www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalrequest) and online filings are strongly encouraged. The mailing address to file a paper copy is: FCC Requests for Environmental Review, Attn: Ramon Williams, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.

NEWS & ANALYSIS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

depths of your base, even when you attempt to coat your actions with a respectable sheen.

Braun was one of 11 Senate Republicans who signed a statement, saying they planned to vote against certifying Joe Biden’s election, citing “unprecedented allegations of voter fraud” and demanding an audit of results.

When supporters of President Donald Trump, frenzied by unproven claims of fraud, breached the Capitol on Jan. 6 in a failed insurrection, Braun reversed his decision not to certify, saying he “didn’t feel comfortable” with the day’s “events.”

At a Dec. 30 news conference, Braun himself told reporters that voter fraud “probably wasn’t systemic” and likely had “very little impact” on the election. But, he said, an audit would be worth it to “allay concerns and the fears of half the country that everything did work well.”

And Braun is still claiming election fraud. After the insurrection, he tweeted, “Though I will continue to push for a thorough investigation into the election irregularities many Hoosiers are concerned with as my objection was intended, I have withdrawn that objection and will vote to get this ugly day behind us.”

U.S. REP. THOMAS MASSIE: INCOMPLETE SCIENCE

Mr. MIT, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie has a masters degree in mechanical engineering. And, since coronavirus hit, he’s often taken to Twitter to explain with graphs and statistics why he prefers a more hands-off approach to COVID-19.

But, some of his arguments have holes, and, as is typical of Twitter, lack key context.

One of Massie’s favorite talking points has been herd immunity.

“When about half the population has been infected (and recovered) we have achieved herd immunity,” he tweeted on Oct. 8. “Those under 40 years of age make up over half the population, yet the virus is over 100 times less deadly to that portion of the population. Exploit this fact and defeat the virus!”

When LEO asked an epidemiologist about herd immunity back in August for a corona Q&A, Dr. Ana Bento said that, using the simplest model, 60% of Americans would have to contract COVID-19 to reach herd immunity. And the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says on its website that scientists don’t know exactly

how many people must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, either.

Massie didn’t address in his tweet how he would make sure those under the age of 40 don’t spread COVID-19 to the elderly.

We imagine that it would require restrictive measures from the government that would surely go against his Libertarian leanings.

Massie has also criticized Kentucky’s mask mandates by sharing a graph in December that didn’t account for factors beyond case numbers or compare Kentucky to other states. And, he recklessly tweeted in October without context that he wouldn’t take a vaccine. He later clarified that this is because he tested positive for COVID antibodies, which still goes against CDC recommendations.

AG DANIEL CAMERON: REPUBLICAN STAR’S FALL

Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron started his job in December. He was 34, the first African American elected on his own ticket to hold statewide office and Mitch McConnell’s protégé.

In March, Louisville police officers killed Breonna Taylor. By May, her case fell to Cameron. After months of investigation, he convened a grand jury.

Protesters and Black Lives Matter supporters were distraught when the jurors only charged one of the officers in the shooting, saddling him with misdemeanors for almost hitting white neighbors with bullets instead of the Black woman who died.

At the press conference proceeding the charges being announced, Cameron said the grand jury “agreed” that the two uncharged officers who were involved were justified in shooting at Taylor after her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired at them in what he said was self defense.

Cameron might have thought his claim would go unchecked. But, a judge allowed grand jurors to speak out about the process.

Three grand jurors did, telling media outlets anonymously that they were not presented with the option of charging the other officers with more serious crimes like homicide.

“This was all Cameron. This was up to him. We didn’t get a choice in that at all,” one grand juror told CBS This Morning.

“So, I was livid. By the time I heard what he was saying, everything that came out of his mouth, I was saying ‘liar’ — because we didn’t agree to anything.”

Now, Cameron’s reputation is forever tainted. •

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LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 20210

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A.

Literary Literary Lite CATEGORIES:

WRITING: (1) Short Fiction (up to 1,000 words) (2) Poetry (up to 48 lines)

LEO LEO LE CARTOON: (3) A single-page cartoon. Can be either a single or multiple panel cartoon.

On March 17, 2021, we’re turning LEO over to you, all of our creative readers.

B.

PHOTOGRAPHY: (4) Color Photography — a single photo (5) Black-And-White Photography — a single photo

Do not include your name or other personal identification in the file name or meta-data.

Literary Literary Liter Literary LEO is accepting submissions at leoweekly.com from Monday, Jan. 4 at noon until Monday, Feb. 8 at noon.

Submission Fee: Free!

LEO LEO LE So get to writing, shooting and drawing!

C.

Picture your picture on the cover of LEO.

Literary Imagine your fiction, poetry or cartoon published in our pages.

Winners will be published in the Literary LEO issue.

24

You may submit one entry in a single category or in all of them. Do not include your name or any personal identification on your submissions. Stories, poems or photos with names or personal identification will be disqualified.

PHOTOS: Files must be submitted as a .JPG and in a resolution of at least 200 dpi, with 300 dpi preferred.

Literary

Lite

SHORT STORIES AND POEMS: Text must be submitted in one of these formats: Word (.DOC or .DOCX) or Rich Text (.RTF). For all entries, the title on the document must match the file name. For instance, if the poem is called “Roses,” then the file name will be “Roses.” If the piece does not have a title, then use “untitled” in the file name and on the document.

LEO LEO LE Yep, here it is — the call for the 2021 Literary LEO, our annual writing and photography contest.

D.

THE RULES (please read carefully):

LEOWEEKLY.COM // JANUARY 20, 2021

CARTOONS: Must be submitted as a .JPG and in a resolution of at least 200 dpi, with 300 dpi preferred. The title on the document must match the file name.

By submitting material, authors grant LEO one-time print publishing rights, including permission to publish material on LEO’s website. LEO employees and regular freelancers are not eligible.

Winners will be published in the March 17, 2021 issue of LEO Weekly Go to leoweekly.com to find the submission form. The link will also be pinned to the top of our Facebook and Twitter pages.