As Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has rolled out more information on the modeling the state is using to plan for what it sees as a peak in the COVID-19 pandemic in the state somewhere around early May (sooner in some projections), several have written to me wondering about the math. I’m not a statistician. I’m…
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Pulling over to acknowledge the coronavirus procession
I grew up in a rural part of Kentucky. A distinct aspect of life in such places: When a funeral procession passes by, you pull to the side of the road and stop. You show some respect. You acknowledge the passing of a life, the grieving of a family. Maybe you’re in a rush to…
A grim day, as leaders point to a long ordeal
It was another grim news day. Today, the United States surpassed 3,700 dead from the fast-moving coronavirus COVID-19, more than the number killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, more than were killed at Pearl Harbor. Today, Americans were told for the first time by the Trump administration that the number of dead from…
Harnessing the challenge — and power — of the coronavirus disruption
For 25 years, at least, I’ve been hearing about disruption. The internet was a disruptive technology. Streaming video disrupted the entertainment industry. Wikipedia was disruptive. Anybody use encyclopedias anymore? In 2016, Donald Trump ran for president as the candidate of disruption. He drew support from people fed up with Washington, promised to “drain the swamp,”…
Even for skeptics, coronavirus should be no party
A coronavirus party? Really? Reluctantly, a quick word about ignoring the threat. We don’t know the identity of the new coronavirus patient in Kentucky who Gov. Andy Beshear scolded Tuesday for having taken part in a coronavirus party, a gathering held specifically to flaunt the request of public officials not to gather in large groups…
In emotional video, Karl-Anthony Towns reveals his mother is in coma with COVID-19 symptoms
Ten days ago, former University of Kentucky All-American and current Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns announced that he would give a $100,000 to the Mayo Clinic to support COVID-19 testing. Shortly after, he found out his mother, Jacqueline Cruz, was ill. Both of his parents were not feeling well, and both went to a physician….
A pandemic is not a game: Facts, stats and COVID-19
A personal observation. When you’re a sportswriter and you begin writing on a news topic, such as COVID-19, you know it is a fundamentally different enterprise from writing sports. And yet, and maybe because my audience is primarily a sports audience, many readers I encounter still treat it as a sport – which is understandable…
Coronavirus and the history happening around us
So how is everybody feeling? I have used this space to write about a great many issues surrounding this COVID-19 tsunami that has overtaken us in the past week. Today I don’t want to write about nuts and bolts, statistics or curves — though there are plenty of updates to give. Instead, consider this: Every…
You know it’s serious when the politicians start playing nice
I have spent the day writing sports news, and much of it, I’m just going to be honest with you, doesn’t matter to me, or at least, not nearly as much as it ordinarily would. I’m thrilled Teddy Bridgewater is getting a 3-year, $60 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, but honestly, I think it’s…
A new role, amid more dramatic containment measures
Today won’t be much different for me. It will be very different for many of my hard-working WDRB colleagues. Without going into specifics, I’ve never seen a workplace more dramatically and quickly transform than this television station has over the past week. A sizable portion of the WDRB newsroom, the largest TV newsroom in Kentucky,…