[♪♪] >> POORER IN LOUISVILLE.

A MASS SHOOTING CLAIMS FIVE LIVES AND LEAVES OTHERS BADLY INJURED.

PEOPLE IN THE CITY ARE STILL TRYING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH WHAT HAPPENED.

CALLS FOR ACTION AFTER IT WAS LEARNED THE GUNMAN BOUGHT THE AR-15 HE USED SIX DAYS BEFORE THE DEADLY MASSACRE.

IN THE KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S RACE, A NEW POLL IS OUT AND NEW ADS HIT THE AIR AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE PRIMARY.

IN WASHINGTON SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL IS SET TO RETURN MONDAY AFTER A FALL AND CONCUSSION.

AFTER AN EMOTIONAL WEEK IN OUR STATE, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELL YOU COME YOU TO COMMENT ON KENTUCKY A LOOK BACK AND ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS OUR PAM OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS ARE, TESSA DUVALL, FRANKFURT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER, CHRIS OTTS AND RYLAND BARTON MANAGER EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

ALSO TONIGHT KENTUCKY GETS ANOTHER MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR LAST MONTH'S HISTORIC WINDSTORM.

WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT WITH THE HORRIBLE EVENT THAT LED TO SO MUCH LOSS AND HURT IN KENTUCKY THIS WEEK THAT MASS SHOOTING RAMPAGE AT OLD NATIONAL BANK IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

A YOUNG LOUISVILLE POLICE OFFICER REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION.

THE CHILLING 911 CALLS THAT ARE HARD TO LISTEN TO AND BODY-CAM FOOTAGE MADE SENSE OF THE HORROR ON MONDAY MORNING IN KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

A WARNING FOR OUR VIEWERS SOME MAY FIND THIS VIDEO DISTURBING.

>> 911 OPERATOR DAVIS, WHAT IS THE ADDRESS OF THE EMERGENCY?

>> UM, MY GOD WHAT IS THE ADDRESS.

THERE IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTER THERE.

OH, MY GOD.

>> I AM IN THE CLOSET.

I HEAR GUNSHOTS.

>> WE'RE MAKING ENTRY FROM THE EASTSIDE AT PRESTON AND MAIN.

[GUNSHOTS] I THINK HE'S DOWN!

>> AND SO NOW IT'S HAPPENED HERE IN OUR COMMONWEALTH.

A TEST OF THE FIRST CALL CAME FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS ATTENDING A MONDAY MORNING BANK MEETING REMOTELY FROM ANOTHER BRANCH.

>> RIGHT.

THIS WAS SOMEONE ON A VIDEO CALL OF SOME SORT WHO WAS TAKING PART IN THIS MEETING FROM ANOTHER LOCATION WHEN THIS SHOOTER WHO WAS A BANK EMPLOYEE BARGED IN AND BEGAN FIRING.

SO THIS WOMAN IS HELPLESS WATCHING FROM ANOTHER LOCATION AS HER COLLEAGUES ARE BEING MURDERED IN FRONT OF HER.

AND YOU CAN HEAR FROM THE CALL THAT SHE IS JUST COMPLETELY IN SHOCK WHEN SHE CALLED.

SHE CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE ADDRESS OF WHERE TO SEND FIRST RESPONDERS AT THAT POINT.

I THINK THAT'S JUST REALLY SPEAKS TO HOW RANDOM THIS FELT.

AND THE SHOCK THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING AT THAT TIME.

AND IN A LOT OF WAYS THE COMMUNITY IS FEELING COMPLETELY SHOCKED BY THIS.

>> COMMUNITY IS A BIG WORD HERE.

AND CHRIS YOU KNOW THAT BUILDING WELL AND SO MANY IN LOUISVILLE KNOW THE PEOPLE AND KNOW THAT LOCATION.

WHAT A HORRIBLE SCENE ON MONDAY.

>> THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN OFFICE BUILDING.

IT WAS A BANK.

BUT IT IS A MULTISTOREY FOUR STOREY I BELIEVE OFFICE BUILDING IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE NEXT TO SLUGGER FIELD.

IT IS A PROMINENT AREA.

AND I, MYSELF, HAVE BEEN IN THAT BUILDING TWICE IN THE LAST MONTH FOR INTERVIEWS INCLUDING JUST A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

I WALKED THROUGH THAT LOBBY WHERE THAT SHOOTER WENT DOWN.

AND IT IS SURREAL TO THINK YOU KNOW, WHAT IF THOSE MEETINGS HAD BEEN ON DIFFERENT DAYS?

SO THIS IS A RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A PART OF TOWN THAT IS FREQUENTED AND MANY PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

WHICH MAKES IT ALL THE MORE SHOCKING.

>> AND AS WE LEARN MORE DETAILS RYLAND BARTON HAS BEEN DISTURBING AND EMOTIONAL WEEK.

>> YEAH, IT HAS BEEN.

I THINK VIEWERS JUST HEARD IT THERE IN THE 911 CALLS AND IN THAT VIDEO.

LATER IN THE 911 CALLS THE SHOOTER'S MOTHER CALLS IN TO DISPATCH TO SAY SHE HEARD FROM THE SHOOTER'S ROOMMATE WHO SAID HE FOUND A NOTE DETAILING WHAT A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT HE WAS ABOUT TO DO.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT SAID AND SHE WAS CALLING DISPATCH TO WARN THEM AND THE DISPATCHER TELLS HER DO NOT GO, THERE IS AN ACTIVE SHOOTING AND THE MOTHER WAS REALIZING AT THAT MOMENT SOMETHING VERY, VERY BAD UNFORGIVABLE IS LIKELY HAPPENING WITH HER SON.

AND IT WAS REALLY SHOCKING.

OBVIOUSLY IT'S BEEN SHOCKING FOR THE ENTIRE CITY TO SEE THIS HAPPEN.

AND STATE AND BEYOND.

AND IT'S A MOMENT WHERE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FIGURING OUT AND PROCESSING THIS AND FIGURING OUT EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.

>> AND TESSA THIS WAS LIVE STREAMED.

AND THERE WERE SOME SIGNALS THAT WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN?

>> RIGHT.

THIS WAS LIVE STREAMED OVER SOCIAL MEDIA THAT WAS VERY QUICKLY TAKEN DOWN.

BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE IN THE POSSESSION OF POLICE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW OUR ONLY GLIMPSE OF WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE COMES FROM THE 911 CALLS.

AND FROM THE BODY-CAM FOOTAGE WHICH YOU DON'T SEE A LOT INSIDE BECAUSE OF THE REFLECTIVE GLASS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT BUILDING AND THAT REALLY SHOWS THE DISADVANTAGE THAT OFFICERS WERE AT GOING INTO THIS SITUATION.

YOU SAW THEY HAD TO GO UP THOSE STAIRS SO THE SHOOTER HAD A VANTAGE POINT ELEVATED OVER THEM AND COULD SEE THROUGH THAT GLASS.

AND BOTH OF THOSE OFFICERS WERE SHOT ONE YOUNG OFFICER NICK WILT WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD AND REMAINS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT THE HOSPITAL.

HE HAD JUST GRADUATED THE POLICE ACADEMY ON MARCH 31.

THE CHIEF HAD JUST SWORN HIM IN.

THIS WAS ONLY HEUBL HIS FOURTH SHIFT AS AN OFFICER.

AND SOMETHING THAT REPRESENTATIVE McGARVEY SAID THAT THE VIGIL THE OTHER NIGHT IS HE HAD SPOKEN TO THIS YOUNG MAN'S MOTHER AND SHE COMMENTED THAT IF HE WAS SCARED YOU COULDN'T SEE IT FROM THE BODY-CAM HIS HANDS WERE STEADY HE DID NOT HESITATE.

AND HER REACTION IS THAT'S MY SON.

SO OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE ARE STILL REALLY PULLING FOR HIM.

BUT THE OTHER OFFICER WHO ULTIMATELY KILLED THE GUNMAN WAS GRAZED ON HIS SIDE.

YOU SEE FROM THE FOOTAGE HE FALLS DOWN AND HAS TO RETREAT BACK AND IT'S NOT UNTIL OTHER OFFICERS ARRIVE ON SCENE WHICH IS THREE MINUTES AFTER THOSE FIRST TWO OFFICERS GET THERE, HAVING SAT IN THAT PRESS CONFERENCE WATCHING THAT BODY-CAM AS IT WAS RELEASED, THAT FELT LIKE THE LONGEST THREE MINUTES OF MY LIFE.

>> AGONIZING TIME.

>> I WAS JUST WATCHING THE VIDEO.

IT'S LIKE YOU CAN'T BREATHE WATCHING THAT.

IT IS NOT UNTIL THE GUNMAN STARTS SHOOTING AT OTHER RESPONDING OFFICERS TRYING TO RESCUE OFFICER WILT, THAT HE BREAKS OUT THE GLASS AND THAT IS WHEN OFFICER GALLAWAY GETS A SHOT TO TAKE DOWN THE SHOOTER.

BUT IT IS JUST AGONIZING ALMOST UNDER SELLS HOW MISERABLE THOSE THREE MINUTES ARE.

>> I THINK WE CANNOT WE WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT PAUSE AND REFLECT ON THE BRAVERY OF THOSE TWO OFFICERS.

LIKE TESSA SAID, YOU WATCH THAT BODY-CAMERA VIDEO AND IT TAKES -- I MEAN, TO THINK ABOUT IT FROM THEIR -- FROM GALLAWAY'S PERSPECTIVE.

HE CANNOT SEE THROUGH THAT GLASS.

HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE ARE.

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THE SHOOTER IS.

AND HE IS COMPLETELY.

>> AT THE SAME TIME HIS COLLEAGUE IS RIGHT THERE.

>> R ON THE GROUND AND HE CAN'T HELP HIM.

>> RIGHT.

>> IT'S REMARKABLE WHAT THEY FACED.

>> AND AS YOU SEARCH FOR ANYTHING THAT WENT RIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE CALLERS WERE CLEAR AND THE DISPATCHERS WERE AMAZING IN THAT SITUATION.

>> THEY WERE.

THEY KEPT CALM.

THEY TRIED THEIR BEST TO CALM PEOPLE DOWN.

THE SECOND CALLER YOU HEARD SHE WAS IN A CLOSET AND THE DISPATCHER WAS ASSURING HER EVEN WHEN YOU COULD HEAR GUNFIRE IN THE BACKGROUND THERE AND THE WOMAN WAS DESCRIBING WHAT SHE HAD SEEN.

SHE HAD SEEN EIGHT OR NINE PEOPLE SHOT IN A MEETING THAT MORNING.

THE MOMENTS AND SHE WAS IN THIS CLOSET WITH ONE OTHER PERSON.

AND IT WAS A GLIMPSE INTO WHAT WAS GOING ON.

YES, THE PROFESSIONALISM OF THE DISPATCHERS AND THE LMPD RESPONSE WAS HEROIC.

IF THE OFFICERS HAD NOT RUN IN AT THAT TIME TO START SHOOTING TRYING TO ASSESS TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT SHOOTER TO POSSIBLY ATTACK OTHER PEOPLE.

>> THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS GUNMAN WAS WAITING AT THE DOOR FOR THEM.

THAT IS ONE THING LMPD SAID AFTER HE HAD GONE INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM HE WAS WAITING BY THE DOOR FOR POLICE TO GET THERE.

HE HAD THAT ADVANTAGE OVER THEM AS WELL.

IT'S EVERY PART OF THIS IS COMPLETELY HORRIFYING.

>> INCLUDING, OF COURSE, THE FIVE PEOPLE WHO WERE LOST AND WE WILL PUT THEIR IMAGES ON THE SCREEN HERE AND THE FUNERALS HAVE BEGUN.

AND CHRIS, YOU KNOW, LOUISVILLE IS THE LARGEST CITY IN KENTUCKY.

WHAT A SMALL TOWN IN A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WERE REALLY LIFELONG LOUISVILLIANS WELL-KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY.

ONE I BELIEVE HAD JUST MOVED HERE UNFORTUNATELY.

ONE OF THE VICTIMS TOMMY ELLIOT WAS A WELL-KNOWN PERSON IN LOCAL POLITICS.

HE WAS A FUNDRAISER, ACTIVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

I RECOGNIZED HIS NAME IMMEDIATELY WHEN WE HEARD THAT THAT'S WHO ONE OF THE VICTIMS MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

AND YOU KNOW, TO -- BUT IT WAS HARD TO FIND A PICTURE OF HIM BECAUSE HE IS REALLY A BEHIND-THE-SCENES PERSON, YET WAS SO WELL-KNOWN TO SO MANY IN THE LOCAL SCENE.

>> GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS IN LOUISVILLE MONDAY RIGHT AFTER THE SHOOTING AND HE DID SAY ONE OF THE PEOPLE KILLED DURING THE SHOOTING WAS HIS FRIEND.

>> I HAVE A VERY CLOSE FRIEND THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT TODAY.

AND I HAVE ANOTHER CLOSE FRIEND WHO DIDN'T EITHER AND ONE WHO IS AT THE HOSPITAL AND I HOPE IS GOING TO MAKE IT THROUGH.

AND I WANT TO THANK THEM AND ALL OUR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FOR RESPONDING AND DOING THEIR BEST.

TO TRY TO SAVE SOME OF MY FRIENDS AND MANY OTHERS.

THANK YOU ALL.

>> TESSA, BY THAT TIME THE GOVERNOR WAS AWARE OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED EARLIER IN THE DAY THERE WAS CONFUSION IN THE EARLY HOURS AND HE NOTIFIED THE FAMILY MEMBER?

>> RIGHT, WE SAW IN AN INTERVIEW THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR DID WITH CNN HE CALLED TOMMY ELLIOT'S WIFE AND SAID SHE DESERVED TO KNOW.

THAT IF THAT HAD TO GO THROUGH FINANCIAL CHANNELS HOW MUCH LONGER SHE COULD HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THE ANSWERS.

WE SAW IN THE CLIP AT THAT INITIAL PRESS CONFERENCE WHICH WAS 11, A COUPLE HOURS AFTER THIS SHOOTING HAPPENED, GOVERNOR BESHEAR THOUGHT HE LOST TWO FRIENDS.

THAT IS THE LEVEL OF CONFUSION AND CHAOS AND UNCERTAINTY THAT SURROUNDED IT AT THAT TIME AND WE LEARNED LATER IN THE DAY THAT THANKFULLY ONLY ONE FRIEND HAD PASSED.

BUT THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT THIS.

AND SAID THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HE SPOKE TO OFTEN.

AND WHEN THEY TALKED IT WASN'T ABOUT HIS JOB.

IT WASN'T ABOUT BEING GOVERNOR IT WAS ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES THEY HAD LIKE THIS DEEP CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.

SO THIS IS ALL VERY SINCERE.

AND I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT'S MAKES THIS SITUATION REALLY UNIQUE IS THE MAYOR ALSO KNEW TOMMY ELLIOT.

IN ADDITION TO THAT MAYOR GREENBURG SURVIVED A SHOOTING AT HIS OFFICE LAST YEAR.

YOU HAVE TWO OF THE MORE POWERFUL PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY POLITICS WHO HAVE THIS DIRECT, CLOSE, PERSONAL, ASSOCIATION WITH GUN VIOLENCE.

AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF POLITICIANS WHO CAN SAY THAT WHO HAVE THAT PERSONAL CONNECTION.

>> A LOT OF REACTION AND COMMENTS, OF COURSE, ABOUT HOW THIS MAY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

THE GUNMAN HAD BOUGHT THE AR-15 JUST SIX DAYS BEFORE THE ATTACK, CHRIS, A LOT OF TALK WHAT MIGHT HAVE PREVENTED THIS?

>> YEAH, AND I MEAN, MY TASK ON THIS CHAOTIC DAY WAS TO DO MY BEST TO FIND OUT WHO THIS PERSON WAS.

AND AS I WAS DOING THAT, I FOUND THAT HIS PUBLIC PERSONA UNTIL THE MORNING OF REALLY GAVE YOU ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNS.

HE WAS A RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE.

HE SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD PROFESSIONAL JOB.

THERE WERE LOTS OF PICTURES OF HIM WEARING A SUIT.

PICTURES OF HIM WITH PROMINENT PEOPLE.

TALKS ABOUT VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES THAT HE DID.

AND I THINK YOU CAN HEAR IT IN THE VOICE OF HIS OWN MOTHER, SHE'S CALLING 911 SHE IS FLABBERGHASTED.

SHE SAYS WE DON'T OWN GUNS I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE GUN.

SHE SEEMED TAKEN ABACK BY THAT INFORMATION.

NOW, APPARENTLY HE DID LEAVE A NOTE WE'RE TOLD BUT A LOT OF THE INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION HAS NOT COME OUT YET.

BUT THAT WAS THE MORNING OF.

AND BY THE TIME ANYONE TRIED TO RAISE A RED FLAG IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TOO LATE.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED RED FLAG AND THERE HAVE BEEN PROPOSALS FOR RED FLAG LAWS AND THERE IS ONE IN TENNESSEE THAT THE GOVERNOR DOWN THERE NOW IS GETTING BEHIND.

HE ALSO HAS TIGHTENED UP SOME OF THE BACKGROUND CHECKS IN TENNESSEE.

IS THAT A NONSTARTER HERE IN KENTUCKY?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK THIS HAS RESTARTED THE CONVERSATION AND THIS HAS COME UP BEFORE.

IT CAME UP IN 2019 THERE IS A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS WHO PROPOSED A RED FLAG LAW.

AND REALLY A RED FLAG LAW IT'S A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW AS IT'S BEEN PROPOSED BEFORE, POLICE OR FAMILY MEMBERS TO ASK A COURT TO TEMPORARILY TAKE SOMEBODY'S FIREARMS AWAY.

IF THEY FEEL LIKE -- IF THEY FEEL LIKE THAT PERSON IS IN CRISIS.

SO THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS OF DUE PROCESS TO TRY THE HURDLES THAT HAVE TO BE MET IN ORDER FOR THAT TO HAPPEN AND HURDLES ON THE OTHER SIDE TO RESTORE FIREARMS TO SOMEBODY AND PREVENT THEM FROM BUYING THEM ANYWAY.

THAT'S BEEN IN DISCUSSION RECENT YEARS.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS COME UP RECENTLY AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN McGARVEY SAID IS IMPORTANT AND LAST YEAR IN THE WAKE OF UVALDE TEXAS SHOOTING THAT CONGRESS PASSED A LAW ENCOURAGING STATES, MITCH McCONNELL VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL ENCOURAGING STATES TO PASS RED FLAG LAWS.

SO THE CONVERSATION STARTED UP AGAIN WE'LL SEE TO WHAT EXTENT THERE'S BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THIS.

THERE'S BEEN SOME VERY QUIET DISCUSSION AMONG SOME REPUBLICANS ABOUT THIS.

AND I THINK RIGHT IN THE WAKE OF THE SHOOTING, REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHITNEY WESTERFIELD, THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY SESSION HE SAID HE WANTS TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH PEOPLE AS TO WHETHER GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO PLAY A ROLE OR SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IN TRYING TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.

>> AS WE BEGIN TO TRANSITION NOW INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THERE HAS BEEN SOME TALK AMONG THE CANDIDATES, MOST HAVE SAID SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS ARE PARAMOUNT AND NO RED FLAG LAW FOR KENTUCKY.

BUT ALLEN KECK THE MAYOR OF SOMERSET MORE THAN CRACKED THE DOOR OPEN.

>> HE TOLD US THAT HE WOULD BE AT LEAST IN FAVOR OF SO LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT MAYOR GREENBURG IN LOUISVILLE, DEMOCRAT, WAS PROPOSING.

TWO THINGS.

HE WANTS TO GET RID OF THE POLICY HE SEES AS COMPLETELY ABSURD OF THE STATE HAVING TO TAKE ALL THE GUNS THAT HAVE BEEN USED IN CRIMES AND SEIZED AND THEN AUCTION THEM BACK OFF AND PUT THEM BACK OUT ON THE STREETS.

HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVING MORE AUTONOMY TO MAKE THEIR OWN GUN POLICIES.

I DON'T THINK HE MENTIONED A SPECIFIC POLICY THAT LOUISVILLE WOULD LIKE TO PURSUE BUT HE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEING A UNIQUE SITUATION IN LOUISVILLE.

AND LOUISVILLE NEEDING MORE FLEXIBILITY.

WHAT ALLEN KECK THE MAYOR OF SOMERSET TOLD US AT LEAST WITH RESPECT TO COMMUNITIES BEING ABLE TO OPT-OUT OF THE PORTION OF THE STATE PROGRAM WHERE THEY TURN IN THE GUNS AND RECEIVE THE PROCEEDS FROM THE GUN AUCTIONS, THAT HE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.

>> HE WAS STRONGEST ON THAT POINT BUT OPEN TO DISCUSSION MAYBE IN OTHER AREAS.

MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS REMIND PEOPLE THAT HELP OUT THERE IS AVAILABLE.

WE WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY, OF COURSE, OF THE 9-8-8 NUMBER THAT YOU CAN CONTACT AND COUNSEL IS AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO MAY NEED HELP OR MAYBE IN CRISIS AND THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT DURING THIS WEEK.

IN THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR, A NEW PUBLIC POLL OUT FROM FOX 56 AND EMERSON COLLEGE SHOWS DANIEL CAMERON LEADING WITH 30%.

FORMER U.S.

AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT IS NEXT AT 24% FOLLOWED BY RYAN QUARELS AT 15%.

ALL OTHERS IN SINGLE-DIGITS.

ERIC DIETERS SHOWED UP AT 6%.

900 REPUBLICANS CONSIDERED VERY LIKELY TO VOTE WERE SURVEYED.

THE POLL'S MARGIN OF ERROR IS PLUS OR MINUS 3%.

WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU?

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM THE POLL WAS HOW MUCH KELLY CRAFT HAD SURGED SINCE THE LAST TIME WE HAD A POLL IN JANUARY.

SHE WAS IN SINGLE-DIGITS BACK THEN IF I'M NOT BADLY MISTAKEN.

SAME DEAL WITH RYAN QUARELS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER.

HE HAS EMERGED OUT OF NOWHERE POLLING WISE.

AND CAMERON IS HOLDING THE LEAD HE IS THE PRESUMPTIVE FRONTRUNNER BUT HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO START PAYING ATTENTION A LITTLE BIT MORE AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN HIM START TO GO AFTER HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS A LITTLE BIT MORE PLAYING LEADER SO FAR AND JUST LOOKING AHEAD TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

BUT WITH A MONTH TO GO A LOT TO HAPPEN IN A CROWDED RACE.

>> HE IS LOOKING AT THE GENERAL ELECTION NO DOUBT.

BOTH ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON AND KELLY CRAFT ARE OUT WITH NEW ADS.

CAMERON GOES AFTER BESHEAR INCLUDING IN-PERSON CHURCH SERVICES IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> GOVERNOR BESHEAR IGNORED THE CONSTITUTION AND SHUT CHURCHES DOWN AND I TOOK HIM TO COURT AND REOPEN CHURCHES SO WE COULD COME TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP.

>> CAMERON NOTES HE SUED BESHEAR AND HE WON.

>> AND WE FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT THE GOVERNOR THE KENTUCKY TAXPAYERS WILL HAVE TO PAY LEGAL FEES FOR THAT CASE.

BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S ACTIONS DURING THAT TIME.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK CAMERON WILL CONTINUE TO HAMMER HOME THIS IS SOMETHING HE TOOK ACTION ON AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AND SOMETHING HE REALLY BEAT THE GOVERNOR AT.

>> AND THAT LOOKS LIKE AN AD THAT YOU RUN IN A GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

THERE'S NO DIGS AT OTHER OPPONENTS.

THAT IS ABOUT TAKING DOWN THE GOVERNOR AND THAT IS PROVING THAT HE HAS HELD OFFICE HE'S DONE SOMETHING AND HE CAN BEAT BESHEAR BECAUSE HE'S DONE IT BEFORE.

CONTRAST TO THE ADS WE'VE SEEN FROM KELLY CRAFT.

>> AND CRAFT DROPPED A NEW AD THAT HER CAMPAIGN CALLS WOKE IT USES ACTORS TO PORTRAY SCHOOL SETTINGS AND CRAFT HERSELF CALLS FOR THE DISMANTLING OF THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> WOKE BUREAUCRATS PARACHUTING IN TO HIJACK OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.

>> I KNOW MY CRT.

>> FORCING WOKE IDEOLOGY INTO THE CLASSROOM.

>> IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ME TODAY, CRAFT DOUBLED DOWN ON THE NOTION OF DISMANTLING THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

OF COURSE, COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS ISSUED A STATEMENT STATING SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL CRAFT THE GOVERNOR DOES NOT HAVE THE POWER TO DISMANTLE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> RIGHT AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT IT'S BEEN THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN A BIT OF A POLITICAL FOOTBALL OVER THE LAST, FIVE, SIX YEARS OR SO.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS TO DISMANTLE, WAS TO PUT IN A WHOLE NEW BOARD, KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THAT IS NOT THE SAME THING AS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WHICH IS THE BUREAUCRACY THAT RUNS THE STATE'S 138 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OR ADMINISTERS THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODES THAT END UP RUNNING KENTUCKY GOVERNMENT.

SO IT'S UNCLEAR EXACTLY WHAT SHE MEANS BY THIS.

THERE ARE A COUPLE STEPS REMOVED FROM EXACTLY THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS TO REALLY BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO LIKE DISMANTLE A MASSIVE STATE AGENCY LIKE THAT.

>> LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE DEBATES COMING UP.

AND WHO IS GOING TO BE ON WHICH ONES IS STILL KIND OF A SHUFFLE?

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS A CANDIDATE FORUM IN BOWLING GREEN WHERE MOST OF THE MAJOR CANDIDATES ARE AT THE SAME PLACE THAT IS ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES THAT IS HAPPENING NEXT WEEK.

DANIEL CAMERON IS NOT PRESENTLY ATTENDING THE KENTUCKY SPORTS RADIO DEBATE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY.

CRAFT AND KECK AND QUARELS AND HARMON WILL ALSO BE THERE.

A LOT OF CANDIDATES TO KEEP TRACK OF.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL BE HOLDING A FORUM WITH THE SAME PANEL NEXT WEEK.

THERE WILL BE A COUPLE OTHERS DOWN THE ROAD AS WELL.

>> IT IS A SPIRITED TIME.

THERE IS A LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT THAT N WASHINGTON SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL IS GOING BACK TO WORK AT THE U.S. CAPITOL IT COMES AFTER THE MINORITY LEADER FELL AT A DC HOTEL AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION IT'S SAID THAT McCONNELL IS EAGER TO GET BACK TO WORK.

HE HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIS COLLEAGUES HE HAS BEEN RECOVERING FOR FIVE WEEKS.

>> THIS HAPPENED IN EARLY MARCH HE SPENT SOMETIME IN THE HOSPITAL AND REHAB AND HE WORKED FROM HOME FOR A WHILE.

THIS WEEK, ANNOUNCED HIS RETURN AND THERE ARE PICTURES OF HIM WALKING THROUGH THE CAPITOL ON FRIDAY.

>> AND THAT PICTURE CAME OUT AFTER THERE WAS A POST OUT THERE THAT MAYBE HE IS RETIRING AND LOOKING TO REPLACE HIM.

AND NOT LONG AFTER HE TWEETED I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO WORK ON MONDAY.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DECLARED ANOTHER DISASTER DECLARATION FOR KENTUCKY AFTER THE HISTORIC MARCH THIRD WINDSTORM.

MORE COUNTIES COULD BE ADDED TO THAT.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THIS IS SO MANY COUNTIES WERE AFFECTED BY THAT MASSIVE STORM AND A LONG STREAM OF MASSIVE STORMS KENTUCKY HAS BEEN FACING.

>> CHRIS, SPORTS BETTING IS NOW LEGAL A SUBJECT YOU HAVE COVERED OVER TIME.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE FOR EVERYTHING TO GET IN POSITION BEFORE THE FIRST BETS.

>> I WOULD SAY CORRECTION IT'S NOT LEGAL YET BUT NO ONE HAS BEEN LICENSED YET AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE MY FAN DUEL APP DOESN'T WORK.

DIDN'T THEY CHANGE THAT?

BUT IT TURNS OUT THE KENTUCKY HORSERACING COMMISSION HAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO BE THE REGULATORS AND SETUP THE RULES AND TO GIVE LICENSES OUT TO THE HORSE TRACKS.

THE HORSE TRACKS HAVE TO COME TO AGREEMENTS WITH THE FAN DUELS AND DRAFT KINGS OF THE WORLD.

MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THE FALL WHICH WOULD MAKE SINCE BECAUSE FOOTBALL IS THE SPORT THAT PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY MOST INTERESTED IN BETTING ON.

AND BECAUSE WE'VE GOT, I THINK THE HORSERACING COMMISSION HAS SIX MONTHS TO SET THIS UP WITHIN THE LEGISLATION THAT IS PROBABLY A GOOD TIME-FRAME TO BE LOOKING TOWARDS.

BUT THE HEADLINES MAKE YOU THINK THAT IT'S DONE NOW AND IN FACT IT'S NOT ACTUALLY DONE YET.

BUT IT IS ON TRACK.

>> KENTUCKY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE FIGURING OUT HOW TO WIND DOWN THE COVID-19 STATE OF EMERGENCY SOME HAVE LEFTOVER FEDERAL MONEY AND MANY WILL BE ADJUSTING OPERATIONS TO MORE IN-PERSON SERVICES.

AND SOME HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE QUICK TO POINT OUT COVID IS STILL OUT THERE AND THERE COULD BE FUTURE SPIKES.

THAT IS COMMENT ON KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

[♪♪]