>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR ANNOUNCES GOALS FOR RELAXING COVID RESTRICTIONS BUT THEN COMES A SUDDEN PAUSE FOR ONE OF THE VACCINES AND A SLIGHT UPTIC IN CASE NUMBERS.

NEW EVIDENCE ABOUT WHAT'S DRIVING KENTUCKIANS TO GET VACCINATED OR TO AVOID THE SHOT.

UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD WA APPARENTLY GOING ON WITHIN STAT GOVERNMENT FROM WORKERS WHO HAV NOT LOST THEIR JOBS.

2022 ELECTION DEVELOPMENTS, CHARLES BOOKER MOVES CLOSER TO A SENATE RUN, AND LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR'S RACE GETS MORE CROWDED.

ON A CHILLY APRIL WEEKEND, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND SOME ANALYSIS.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR JOHN CHEVES, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

DEBORAH YETTER, REPORTER FOR THE CUSH j AND CHRIS OTTS, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SHRUGS OFF CRITICISM FROM FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

ANOTHER FORD PLANT SHUT DOWN IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT FIRST THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE PANDEMIC.

JUST AS THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED GOALS FOR LIFTING SOME OF THOSE RESTRICTIONS, CASE NUMBERS ARE TICKING UP.

>> AND GECHT PROTECTED FROM THIS VIRUS IS IMPORTANT.

AGAIN, WE ARE WATCHING VERY CLOSELY AS THE CASE COUNT THIS WEEK LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE MOVE LAST WEEK'S.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT COMPARES TO TWO WEEKS AGO.

AND OUR POSITIVITY RATE CONTINUES TO CREEP UP DAY AFTER DAY.

IT IS AT LEAST A WARNING THAT A FOURTH WAVE IS POSSIBLE HERE.

>> Bill: SO YOU HAVE THESE MOVING PARTS, DEBBIE, OF THE GOAL OUT THERE FOR THE REOPENINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE SO EAGER FOR, AND YET SOME CONCERNS ABOUT A POSSIBLE NEW WAVE OF CASES.

>> Deborah: THAT'S RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IF WE COULD GET TO 2.5 MILLION, THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 70% OF ALL PEOPLE 16 AND OLDER WHO CAN GET THE SHOT, VACCINATED, HE COULD START LIFTING SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE A BIT CONCERNED BY THE RISING CASE NUMBERS EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT WHAT I THINK YOU CONSIDER A FOURTH WAVE YET, ALTHOUGH SOME STATES HAVE SEEN THAT.

BUT THE POSITIVITY RATE, CHAS WHICH IS THE RATE OF POSITIVE CASES IS STARTING TO CREEP BACK UP, 3.5% TODAY AND WE HAD IT BELOW 3% FOR A WEEK OR SO.

>> Bill: AND HERE YOU HAVE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PAUSE THAT CAME OUT, WHICH INTERRUPTED THE VACCINATION PACE SOME.

IS THERE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THAT DELAY WILL CAUSE US PROBLEMS IN REACHING THE GOAL?

>> Deborah: I DON'T THINK HERE IN KENTUCKY IT WILL.

THEY HAD ONLY A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON HAD STARTED COMING IN.

THAT'S THE ONE-SHOT VACCINE INSTEAD OF THE TWO-SHOT PFIZER AND MODERNA.

BUT, YEAH, THE NEWS THAT IT WAS CAUSING BLOOD CLOTS IN A VERY TINY FRACTION OF THE NEARLY 7 MILLION PEOPLE WHO HAD RECEIVED IT SO FAR CAUSED FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO ASK THAT IT BE SUSPENDED WHILE THEY LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER.

>> Bill: AND THEN YOU HAD SOME METRICS THAT WE LOOKED AT THIS WEEK, THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY RELEASED A POLLING THIS WEEK THAT SEEMED TO SUGGEST THAT KENTUCKY COULD VERY WELL REACH HERD IMMUNITY BECAUSE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY SAW WHO WERE EITHER WILLING TO TAKE THE VACCINE OR WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD IT, IT GETS UP TO ABOUT 71%.

>> Deborah: YEAH, THAT WAS A BIT OF A SURPRISE GIVEN SOME OF THE NATIONAL POLLING THAT INDICATED MAYBE DEEPER SCEPTICISM BUT HERE AT LEAST 71% OF PEOPLE SAID THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO OR ALREADY HAD RECEIVED THE VACCINE.

29% OF THE PEOPLE SAID THEY WOULD NOT OR PROBABLY WOULD NOT GET THE VACCINE.

AND THERE WERE SOME BREAKDOWNS IN WHETHER YOU LIVED IN A CITY, PEOPLE WERE MORE LIKELY TO GET IT AS OPPOSED TO RURAL OR SUBURBAN AREAS, AND PARTY AFFILIATION, WHICH BEN CHANDLER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE FOUNDATION, SUGGESTS THAT THE VACCINE IS STILL A PARTISAN ISSUE.

>> Bill: CHRIS, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE FINDINGS IN THAT POLL.

IT HAD LONG BEEN SUSPECTED THAT THERE WAS THAT PARTISAN DIVIDE, BUT THIS POLL SORT OF FLESHED THAT OUT, AND IT IS REAL.

>> Chris: YEAH, THE COMMONALITIES AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT THEY DID NOT PLAN TO GET VACCINATED WERE MEN, REPUBLICAN, AND RURAL OR SUBURBAN AREAS AS OPPOSED TO URBAN AREAS.

SO THAT'S WHAT THE POLL SHOWED.

>> Bill: THERE ARE A LOT OF VACCINES AVAILABLE AT THIS LARGE SITE THAT IS SET TO BE OPENING UP OVER IN LOUISVILLE.

IN FACT, I THINK IT DID OPEN THIS WEEK, BUT IT'S OFF AND ROLLING NOW, BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS, RIGHT?

>> Chris: THAT'S RIGHT, BILL.

200,000 AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS AT CARDINAL STADIUM HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

IT'S A SITE RUN BY UofL HEALTH.

IT HAS 24 LANES.

YOU CAN GET IN AND OUT IN A VEHICLE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I BELIEVE.

AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPEN APPOINTMENTS.

THIS IS REALLY DIFFERENT, I THINK, FROM A MONTH OR TWO AGO WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SUPPLY OF VACCINES BEING THE ISSUE.

NOW WE HAVE PLENTY OF SUPPLY OF VACCINES, BUT IT'S HARDER TO GET PEOPLE INTO THESE APPOINTMENTS AND GET THEM THERE AND GET THEM VACCINATED, SO I GUESS THAT'S THE NEXT CHALLENGE.

>> Bill: AND THE VACCINATION ROLL-OUT HAS BEEN DIFFICULT.

JOHN, THERE WAS A HIGH DOLLAR, NO-BID VACCINATION CONTRACT THAT WAS AWARDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH THAT GOT ROUNDLY CRITICIZED BY REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATOR MEETING IN A COMMITTEE THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS IT WAS URGENT TO GET THE CONTRACT AWARDED.

HE SAYS THAT THAT COMPANY HAD SOME TRACK RECORD WITH TESTING, BUT THERE IS SOME CONTROVERSY.

>> John: THAT'S RIGHT, BILL.

SO HERE IN LEXINGTON A RELATIVELY NEW MEDICAL CLINIC WALLED CAUL WILD HEALTH IN THE SUBURBS LEXINGTON GOT A TRA FOR $23.1 MILLION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS TO RUN VACCINATION CLINICS STARTING AT KENTUCKY CLINIC STATE RESORT PARK OUT IN MARSHALL COUNTY AND ALL OVER THE PLACE, HERE IN LEXINGTON, ALL OVER THE STATE TO SUPPLEMENT OTHER VACCINATION CLINICS THAT ARE GOING ON.

THE LEGISLATURE EAST GOVERNMENT CONTRACT REVIEW COMMITTEE HAD SOME PRETTY SEVERE CRITICISM FOR IT.

THEY SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH DID NOT SEEK COMPETITIVE BIDS.

IT DIDN'T PUT OUT WHAT THEY CALL A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WHERE YOU TELL THE WHOLE WORLD, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS.

WE'D LIKE COMPANIES TO SHOW INTEREST, PUT IN THEIR BIDS FOR THIS.

THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION SAID WE'RE ACTING AN EMERGENCY BASIS.

WE HAVE TO ACT QUICKLY.

THE LAWMAKERS SAID YOU HAVE KNOWN SINCE DECEMBER YOU WOULD NEED COMPANIES TO HELP WITH THE VACCINATION.

WHY THE HURRY NOW?

23 MILLION DOLLARS A LOT OF MONEY EVEN BY STATE GOVERNMENT STANDARDS.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE'S NO CRITICISM WILD HEALTH'S PERFORMANCE.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO HAND OUT THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

>> Bill: THE CONTRACT IS INCENTIVE BASED.

>> John: $77 TO GIVE OUT 300 SHOTS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK TO GET THE MONEY.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT.

AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT, DEB, HAS AGREED AS OF TODAY TO TAKE UP TWO CASES INVOLVING GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S EXECUTIVE POWER.

WE ALL RECALL THE SUPREME COURT MADE A RULING LAST FALL, BUT THE LEGISLATURE ACTED AFTER THAT.

>> Deborah: THIS APPEARS TO BE THE ONGOING LITIGATION, SOME WOULD SAY NEVER ENDING 1 OVER THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.

THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD THAT ORDER LAST NOVEMBER BUT THEN THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED SOME OF THE HOUSE TO RESTRICT THAT POWER GIVE THEM MORE SAY IN THESE TYPES OF ORDERS.

THAT WAS APPEALED TO FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT.

THE JUDGE THERE ISSUED A STAY ENTERING AN INJUNCTION BASICALLY DEFERRING ENACTMENT OF THE LAW.

MEANWHILE, ANOTHER GROUP PURSUED A CASE IN SCOTT COUNTY COURT WHERE THEY GOT A FAVORABLE RULING LAST TIME INVOLVING RESTAURANTS AND BARS, AND THEY WON THAT.

NOW BOTH OF THOSE CASES ARE GOING UP BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT WHO IS GOING TO TRY TO DECIDE EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.

>> Bill: THEY CALLED IT JUDICIAL ECONOMY I THINK IN THE NOTICE FROM THE SUPREME COURT, SO WE'LL WATCH THAT AGAIN.

IT'S JUNE ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

WHERE DO YOU START TALKING ABOUT THE UNEMPLOYMENT SAGA WHICH, OF COURSE, IS ONGOING AND HAS BEEN FOR A YEAR HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH?

CHRIS, THE UNEMPLOYMENT WEBSITE REOPENED THIS WEEK AFTER HAVING BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR FOUR DAYS TO TRY TO GET A HANDLE ON ALL THE FRAUD GOING ON, INCLUDING MONEY BEING SHIFTED TO THE BANK ACCOUNTS OF OTHER PEOPLE, THIEVES, FRANKLY, BUT ONCE THE LINES REOPENED, THEY WERE JAMMED THIS WEEK, RIGHT?

>> Chris: THEY STILL ARE JAMMED IN A LOT OF WAYS, BILL.

I'VE JUST BEEN CALLING AND CHECKING, AND THIS PHONE LINE SAYS WE ARE TOO BUSY TO HELP YOU, AND IT SAYS "CALL BACK LATER.

TRY AGAIN LATER" AND HANGS UP.

SO WHAT THIS PHONE LINE IS IS THE GOVERNOR, WHEN HE RESET THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, HE SET 300,000 CLAIMANTS WHO STILL HAVE MONEY ON THEIR ACCOUNTS THAT WE'RE SENDING YOU A NEW PIN NUMBER, AN 8-DIGIT PIN NUMBER, AND WE'RE SENDING THAT TO YOU VEE AWES POSTAL SERVICE PHYSICAL MAIL.

AND PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK INTO THEIR ACCOUNTS, AND SO WHEN THEY DON'T GET THE LETTER IN THE MAIL, THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER OPTION, WHICH IS TO CALL THIS CALL CENTER THAT STATE GOVERNMENT HAS HASTILY SET UP, STAFFED BY 150 PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME STATE EMPLOYEES MOVED FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS, AND THEIR WHOLE JOB IS TO RESET THESE PIN NUMBERS FOR PEOPLE, BUT YET IT'S STUL HARD TO GET IN.

I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN THIS MORNING WHO CALLED THIS NUMBER 96 TIMES IN 25 MINUTES.

PEOPLE OFTEN EXAGGERATE THINGS, BILL.

SHE SHOWED ME HER CALL LOG.

IT REALLY SHOWED 96 CALLS IN 25 MINUTES, AND SHE KNEW THAT EVENTUALLY ON THE 96th CALL IT TURNS OUT SHE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE LINE WHICH THEN TOOK A HALF HOUR ON HOLD TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE TO VET HER PIN, AND THEN SHE JUST TOLD ME IN AN EMAIL BEFORE WE CAME OUT AIR THAT SHE GOT THAT LETTER IN THE MAIL AND WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO DO IT OTHERWISE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR IS SAYING BE PATIENT, WAIT ON YOUR LETTERS, BUT, BILL, THESE PEOPLE ARE DESPERATE.

AND RIGHTFULLY SO.

I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LIVING PAYCHECK-TO-PAYCHECK ON THIS UNEMPLOYMENT.

THEY DO NOT WANT TO MISS THE CHANCE TO REQUEST THEIR BENEFITS ON THE TWO-WEEK CYCLE.

>> Bill: FRUSTRATING U.

FRUSTRATION IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

JOHN, THE HERALD-LEADER REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT APPARENTLY THERE WAS SOME UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD WIN STATE GOVERNMENT AND INSIDE THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

>> John: THAT'S RIGHT, BILL.

THE GOVERNOR GOT A REPORT TWO MONTHS AGO, WHICH I JUST GOT A COPY OF THIS WEEK, IT'S REPORT FROM THE STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL, ABOUT A SCHEME SCHEME FRANKLY THAT TOOK PLACE IN APRIL OF LAST YEAR FROM A CLUSTER EMPLOYEES WITHIN THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CABINET, MANY OF THEM WERE EMPLOYEES WHO WERE ACTUALLY HANDLING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE CLAIMS.

THEY -- STATE WORKERS WHO HAD FULL-TIME JOBS, THEY EVER LOST THEIR FULL-TIME JOBS, BUT THEY DECIDED THEY WOULD TRY TO GET JOBLESS BENEFITS, AND SO THEY APPLIED BASED ON, USUALLY BASED ON PART-TIME JOBS, OFTEN WITH FICTITIOUS INFORMATION, OFTEN WITH JOBS THAT THEY HAD HAD IN THE PAST OR THEY WERE JOBS THAT THEY CLAIMED THEY LOST DUE TO THE PANDEMIC BUT THEY HADN'T REALLY LOST THEM.

>> Bill: HANG ON.

THEY'RE WORKING FOR THE STATE GOVERNMENT FULL-TIME.

>> John: THEY ARE FULL-TIME STATE I EMPLOYEES BUT THEY SAID THEY HAD PART-TIME JOBS THAT THEY LOST DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, AND EACH INSTANCE VARIED.

IN ONE CASE IT WAS A GUY THAT HAD A JOB THAT HE LEFT IN 2019, SO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO SAID SHE LOST HER JOB AT HER CHURCH BUT THE CHURCH HAD DuPONT A FEDERAL PPP LOAN SO HE WAS DEPARTMENT KEPT ON THE PAYROLL.

A GUY SAID HE LOST HIS BASKETBALL GIG DUE TO THE PANDEMIC BUT IN FACT HIS SHAKEN HAD ENDED PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC SO HE KEPT THE GIG.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER THEY ACTUALLY DIDN'T LOSE THEIR PART-TIME JOBS.

EVEN MORE TO THE POINT, MOST OF THEM ARE GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BENEFITS BASED ON THEIR FULL-TIME STATE GOVERNMENT WAGES, WHICH THEY NEVER LOST BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY REMAIN STATE EMPLOYEES.

SO IT WAS JUST FRAUDULENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

OUT OF ABOUT THREE DOZEN PEOPLE WHO ALLEGEDLY WERE TRYING TO APPLY FOR BENEFITS, 19 OF THEM SUCCESSFULLY GOT THE BENEFITS FOR ABOUT $54,200.

AROUND MAY 1st OF LAST YEAR, SUSPICIONS WERE BEING RAISED THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CABINET.

MANAGERS PUT A STOP ON MANY OF THESE CLAIMS.

BUT SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES AND THEIR COLLEAGUES WORKED THEIR WAY BACK INTO THE SYSTEM USING THEIR ACCESS CODES AND OVERRODE THE STOPS SO THAT THEIR OWN BENEFITS COULD GO THROUGH.

>> Bill: SO THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE GOT WORD OF THIS AND INITIATED THE INVESTIGATION.

>> John: HE SAID HE ORDERED THE INVESTIGATION.

HE SAID SOME PEOPLE WERE FIRED.

HE SAID PROSECUTORS HAVE MADE INQUIRYIS.

SO FAR WE HAVEN'T PUBLICALLY LEARNED ABOUT MUCH OF THAT.

WE'LL SEE IF ANY HEADS DO ROLL THAT WE CAN TELL.

>> Bill: SO IF YOU ROLL BACK THE TAPE A YEAR, BUSINESSES ARE SHUT DOWN, PEOPLE ARE IN QUARANTINE, STATE GOVERNMENT IS TRYING TO RUSH OUT THESE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO PEOPLE.

WAS IT NAIVE TO EXPECT THAT PEOPLE WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING?

>> John: MAYBE SO.

OBVIOUSLY, WE CUT SOME CORNERS WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, AND WE SHUT DOWN THE ECONOMY, AND WE ALLOWED FOR WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE TO OCCUR.

I WOULD ARGUE THAT WE HAD TO.

IT WAS A DISASTER.

WE SHUT DOWN SO MANY BUSINESSES, 1-1/2 MILLION KENTUCKIANS WERE THROWN OUT OF WORK.

WE HAD TO ALLOW WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE TO COOKER FRANKLY BECAUSE WE HAD TO THROW SO MUCH MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY TO HELP PEOPLE.

AND A YEAR LATER NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO PROPERLY LOOK AT THE DAMAGE THAT HAPPENED AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, BUT A YEAR AGO WASN'T THE TIME.

A YEAR AGO THE HOUSE WAS ON FIRE, WE HAD TO LET THE FIREMEN KICK THE FRONT DOOR IN TO PUT THE FIRE OUT.

>> Bill: CHRIS, RESTAURANTS ARE TELLING REPORTERS THEY'RE HAVING A TOUGH TIME FINDING WORKERS AS THEY TRY TO REOPEN AND THE CAPACITY LIMITS ARE NOW BEING INCREASED, AND THEY'RE HOPING FOR EVEN MORE OF THAT.

BUT THEY SAY THEY IN SOME CASES CAN'T OPERATE THE DAYS OR HOURS THEY WOULD LIKE TO BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND ENOUGH PEOPLE.

WHAT'S DRIVING THAT?

>> Chris: WELL, I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A NARRATIVE WHICH IS TYPICAL IN RECESSIONS THAT IT'S THE GENEROSITY OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT'S KEEPING PEOPLE ON THE SIDELINES, KEEPING THEM FROM COMING BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, BUT, YOU KNOW, SOME IMPORTANT CONTEXT HERE, BILL, WE STILL HAVE 84,000 FEWER JOBS IN KENTUCKY THAN A YEAR AGO WHEN THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, ABOUT 4.3% FEWER JOBS, AND FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY I TALK TO A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND FOR A LOT OF THEM IT'S FOR CHILD CARE REASONS.

IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WE STILL DON'T HAVE FULL-TIME PUBLIC SCHOOL.

SO THERE ARE STILL EVEN PANDEMIC-RELATED EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR PEOPLE OUT THERE.

SO THAT'S POSSIBLY SOME OF THE REASON FOR THAT.

>> Bill: DEB, THERE IS SOME FEDERAL HELP COMING FOR THAT, RIGHT, ON CHILD CARE?

>> Deborah: YES, THERE IS.

WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, CHILD CARE CENTERS FOR THE MOST PART SHUT DOWN ALONG WITH ALL OTHER BUSINESSES, AND WEREN'T ALLOWED TO REOPEN UNTIL JUNE, AND SUFFERED A LOT OF ECONOMIC LOSS AND LOST SOME WORKERS ALONG THE WAY.

THE FEDS ARE GIVING KENTUCKY $763 MILLION, PART OF WHICH WILL GO TO CENTERS TO HELP WITH HIRING AND POSSIBLY RAISES FOR WORKERS.

ANOTHER CHUNK WILL GO TO INCREASE ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME PARENTS TO SUBSIDIZE THE CHILD CHILD CARE THEY PAY.

>> Bill: WOULD INCREASE THAT SUBSIDY.

>> Deborah: THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR IT.

>> Bill: CHRIS, THE FORD TRUCK PLANT IN LOUISVILLE APPARENTLY NOW FACES A SHUT DOWN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS COMING UP, RIGHT?

>> Chris: YEAH, THAT WOULD START ON APRIL 26th, BILL, AND THIS IS ANOTHER CONSEQUENCE OF THIS GLOBAL ISSUE OF NOT ENOUGH LITTLE COMPUTER CHIPS, SEMI CONDUCTORS AVAILABLE TO AUTOMAKERS AND ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS, AND WE'RE SEEING HERE IS HOW EXTENSIVE THIS PROBLEM IS.

FORD HAD AVOIDED SHUTTING DOWN A KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT UP UNTIL THE POINT.

THEY MAKE BIG SUPER DUTY TRUCKS WHICH ARE HIGHLY PROFITABLE FOR THE COMPANY.

SO NOW THAT THIS IS EXTENDING TO THE TRUCK PLANT, I THINK IT JUST SHOWS THE EXTENT OF THIS SITUATION FOR A LOT OF AUTOMAKERS.

>> Bill: AND IT'S A NATIONAL ISSUE.

THE WILL THE HAS EVEN TALKED ABOUT HERE IN RECENT DAYS.

JOHN, THERE HAVE BEEN PLENTY OF POWER PLAYS IN FRANKFORT IN RECENT MONTHS.

THE STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSIONER WAS AWARDED A BRAND NEW CONTRACT AFTER THE LEGISLATURE MADE SOME RULES ABOUT WHO DOES THAT.

>> John: RIGHT.

EVERYONE IS SAYING THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS, SO YOU KNOW THIS ONE'S ABOUT POLITICS.

THE FISH AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES OVER THE YEARS HAVE HAD A LOT OF SCANDALS, A LOT OF SPENDING ISSUES AND SOME NEGATIVE AUDITS SO THE NEW COMMISSIONER RICH STORM, THE BORE ORIGINALLY WANTED TO GIVE HIM A TWO-YEAR CONTRACTOR AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID I I. I THINK YOU SHOULD GET A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT.

LET'S NOT GET AHEAD OF OURSELVES.

BACK AND FORTH THERE.

SO THE LEGISLATURE THIS WINTER SAID WE THINK THE FISH AND WILDLIFE BOARD SHOULD HAVE DISCRETION TO NAME WHO THEY WANT UNDER THE TERMS THEY WANT.

RICH STORM NOW HAS A FOUR-YEAR CONTRACT.

THAT WAS THE COMPROMISE, ONE YEAR AND TWO YEAR.

$140,000 SOON TO RISE TO 147,000 AIDS YEAR SO COMMISSIONER STORM, ENJOY YOUR NEW JOB.

>> Bill: AND GOES BEYOND THE ERM TERM OF THE GOVERNOR'S TERM.

>>> >> Joe: YES.

UNTIL THE FIRST YEAR OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

>> Bill: 2022 ELECTIONS SHOULD GET, INC. DEMOCRAT CHARMING BOOKER HELD A EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE TO RUN FOR THE SOUTHEAST RAND PAUL.

IN THE VIDEO ANNOUNCING HIS STEP, BOOKER RECALLED HIS SPIRITED RACE LAST YEAR AND MENTIONED PAUL BY NAME.

>> THAT'S WHY TODAY I'M FORMALLY ANNOUNCING ANG EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE FOR U.S. SENATE.

WE WILL TRANSFORM KENTUCKY.

AND RAND PAUL, YOU KNOW IT TOO.

>> Bill: DEBBIE, BOOK SER HOPING TO WIN THE NOMINATION AND FACE PAUL OBVIOUSLY.

CAN HE RECAPTURE THE MOMENTUM HE HAD IN THOSE CLOSING WEEKS OF THAT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY CAMPAIGN THAT HE ENDED UP LOSING TO AMY McGRATH WHO ULTIMATELY LOST TO McCONNELL, BUT HE BELIEVES THAT THINGS WERE REALLY GOING HIS WAY IN THAT PRIMARY.

>> Deborah: WELL, I THINK HE WAS AT THE TIME, AND HE WAS KIND OF RIDING THE WAVE OF THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT WHICH HAD TAKEN OFF ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AS YOU RECALL THE BARNSTORM THE STATE ON THE HOOD TO THE HOLLER SLOGAN.

HE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROGRESSIVE, AND THAT WOULD BE QUITE THE DISTINCTION RUNNING AGAINST RAND PAUL.

>> Bill: SO ARE WE HEARING OF OTHER POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES?

I THINK THE DAN DESROSIERS HAD A REPORT TONIGHT THAT MENTIONED THE NAME OF ROCKY ADKINS.

>> John: FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER AND CURRENT GUBERNATORIAL ADVISER ROCKY ADKINS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY WHO HAS ALSO RUN FOR GOVERNOR BEFORE, POSSIBLY AS A CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRAT OUT OF MOUNTAINS.

HE MIGHT RUN AS WELL.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> Bill: THAT COMPARISON WAS MADE TO JOE MANCHIN IN VIRGINIA IN THAT REGARD.

SENATOR PAUL IS INCREASING HIS VISIBILITY, SAYS HE'S PLANNING TO DO MORE OF THAT.

SO FAR KEEPING WITH HIS VERY CONSERVATIVE AND LIBERTARIAN POSITIONS THAT HAVE SERVED HIM WELL.

IS THAT HOW HE RUNS FOR RE-ELECTION?

>> John: I DON'T KNOW.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH, RIGHT?

WE'LL SEE.

JOHN, THE REPUBLICAN CONFIRMINGMAN ANDY BARR NOW THIS WEEK HAS ALREADY RAISED MORE THAN A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR HIS 2 2S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN BUT THEN THERE ARE SORT OF LOUD WHISPERS AROUND HIS CAMP AND HIS BASE OF SUPPORT THAT HE MAY BE LOOKING AT A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN OF SOME SORT >> John: THERE IS SOME SPECULATION I'VE HEARD ABOUT ANDY BARR RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

I'M HE IS NOT CONFIDE IN ME SO I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANDY BARR.

MR. BARR LOST HIS WIFE NOT TOO LONG AGO AND HAS TWO DAUGHTERS THAT HE IS VERY DEVOTED TO AND I'M SURE IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF HE COULD STAY CLOSER TO HOME.

IT'S GOING TO BE A CROWDED RACE, ALLEGEDLY.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS, AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES, CONGRESSMAN JIMMY COMB WERE KELLY CRAFT, TREASURER ALLISON BALL AND MIKE VAN TOWS.

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

IT WOULD BE EASIER TO SAY WHICH REPUBLICANS ARE NOT ALLEGEDLY RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Bill: CHRIS, WE'LL HAVE WIDE OPEN MAYORS' RACE NEXT YEAR.

GREG FISCHER IS LIMITED.

THE LIST OF CANDIDATES KEEPING GROWING.

FRED GREENBURGH, THE FORMER 21 CEO WHISKEY ROAD DEVELOPER AND PART OWNER OF OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING.

>> Chris: YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND JUST TO ADD WHAT WHAT JOHN SAID, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR MAYOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE SERIOUSLY THIS UPCOMING DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY COULD DETERMINE WHO THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE IS FOR EIGHT OR 12 YEARS TO COME, SO IT'S EXPECTED TO BE CROWDED.

CRAIG GREENBURGH IS ALSO A FORMER UofL TRUSTEE.

HE'S NOT RUN FOR ELECTED OFFICE BEFORE, BUT HAS HELD THAT PUBLIC OVERSIGHT POSITION AND WAS PART OF A GROUP THAT WAS PUSHING FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THE COMPENSATION OF UofL OFFICIALS A FEW YEARS AGO.

HE'S RUNNING ON KIND OF A BUSINESSMAN'S SAVVY ON CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ON DOING THINGS WITH EDUCATION, WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE EDUCATION IS ACTUALLY A LITTLE BIT -- MOSTLY OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR, BUT THOSE ARE THE PARTS OF HIS PLATFORM.

IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY CROWD DERBY SIZE FIELD I THINK, BILL, AND DAVID JAMES THE METRO COUNCIL PRESIDENT LOOKS TO BE THE INCH FAVORITE RIGHT NOW.

HE'S BEEN A LOUISVILLE ELECTED OFFICIAL FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL WATCH THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR'S RACE DEVELOP.

DEBBIE, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WAS ON THE RECEIVING END OF A BLISTERING CRITICISM FROM FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP OVER THE LAST WEEKEND, AND SOME OF THAT CONTINUED INTO THE WEEK.

McCONNELL'S STANCE HAS BASICALLY BEEN TO NOT ENGAGE.

>> Deborah: YEAH, HE -- THE NATIONAL PRESS HAS REPORTED THAT HE HAS NOT SPOKEN TO TRUMP SINCE BEFORE THE ELECTION AND DOESN'T INTEND TO EVER AGAIN, ACCORDING TO THEIR SOURCES, AND THIS PAST WEEKEND TRUMP WAS SPEAKING A BUNCH OF REPUBLICAN DONORS AT MAR-A-LAGO, HIS RESORT IN FLORIDA, AND HE CALLED HIM STUPID AND A STONE COLD LOSER, AMONG OTHER CRITICISMS, AND MOST PEOPLE SEE THAT AS HIS EFFORT TO TRY TRO TAIN HIS GROW IT PARTY, LEAVING McCONNELL BASICALLY IN CHARGE OF THE SENATE BUT NOT THE GOP.

>> Bill: McCONNELL ANGST ALSO OPPOSED BY A PLAN BY SOME DEMOCRATS TO EXPAND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

>> THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THE HOUSE HAVE SAID ONCE AGAIN THEY WILL THREAT JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE ON THE STEPS OF THE COURT.

THEY ARE INTRODUCING A BILL TO ADD FOUR NEW SEATS TO THE SUPREME COURT SO THAT DEMOCRATS CAN PACK THE COURT, DESTROY ITS LEGITIMACY, AND GUARANTEE THE RULINGS THAT LITTLE ROCK WANT.

>> Bill: JOHN, REFASHIONING THE COURTS HAS BEEN A LOT OF WHAT McCONNELL HAS STAKED HIS LEGACY ON.

>> John: SIMPLE MATHEMATICS SAY IF THE DEMOCRATS GET FOUR MORE JUSTICES, THAT WILL UNDO MUCH OF THE WORK THAT HE'S TRIED TO DO.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT GOING ON IN WASHINGTON.

DEP DEBBIE, ONE OF THE POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE BREONNA TAYLOR SHOOTING IS WRITING A BOOK NOW.

>> Deborah: YES, JONATHAN MATTINGLY, A SERGEANT WHO WAS WOUND IN THE RAID ON BREONNA TAYLOR'S APARTMENT, HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO WRITE A BOOK CALLED "IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND HE ANNOUNCED HE HAD A PUBLISHER IN TENNESSEE, A PUBLISHING HOUSE, BUT I THINK THAT WAS SET BACK TODAY WHEN SIMON & SCHUSTER WHO DISTRIBUTES FOR THAT PUBLISHING COMPANY SAID THEY HAD NO PLANS TO DISTRIBUTE THE BOOKS.

>> Bill: THE HERALD-LEADER ANNOUNCED A PILOT PROGRAM, JOHN, CALLED CLEAN SLATE.

LET PEOPLE CLEAR THEIR NAMES.

>> John: CLEAN SLATE WE'RE GOING TO DO THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.

PEOPLE CAN APPROACH US IF THEIR NAME WAS APPEARED IN A STORY WHERE THEY WERE ACCUSED OF OR ARRESTED FOR A CRIME THERE'S A LOT OF CONDITIONS ON THIS.

, BUT IF IT WAS A RELATIVELY MINOR CRIME OR IF THEY WERE ACQUITTED OR EXONERATED, YEARS IN THE PAST, THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE STILL PENDING, AND THEY'D LOOK THIS NOT TO BE THEIR GOOGLE SEARCH HISATELY, MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVE AND DON'T WANT TO BE HAUNTED BY THE WORST DAY THEY EVER HAD, WE'LL TALK TO THEM ABOUT REMOVING THEIR STORY OR STORIES WITH THESE CRIMINAL OFFENSES FROM OUR ARCHIVES SO IT DOESN'T HAUNT THEM AND THEY CAN MOVE ON WITH THEIR LIVES.

WE THINK IT'S TIME TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION AS A NEWS ORGANIZATION.

>> Bill: VERY INTERESTING.

UofL STILL PURSUING A LAWSUIT AGAINST ITS FORMER PRESIDENT AFTER NEARLY THREE YEARS, SO THAT IS CONTINUING, CHRIS HAS REPORTED THAT.

CHRIS, ALSO WORD LEAKED OUT ABOUT LOCATIONS FOR THE FIREWORKS FOR THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

>> Chris: I THINK THEY HAD TO HAVE PUBLIC PERMITS FOR ONE THING, BILL, BUT THE OTHER THING IS THE IDEA OF HAVING FIREWORKS EXPRESSWAY PARADE THAT ARE INTENTIONALLY HIDDEN SO THAT PEOPLE DON'T SHOW UP AND LOOK AT THEM IS AN INTERESTING THING.

HOPEFULLY WE GET BACK TO NORMAL SOON.

>> Bill: MAYBE SURPRISING THE DOWN WHERE ON KFC STARTED HAS NEVER HAD A FESTIVAL TO CELEBRATE THAT UNTIL NOW.

CORBIN DAHLING ATTENTION TO COLONEL HARLAN SANDERS AND HIS SECRET CRESS PEE IN A BIG EVENT GOING ON APRIL 24th.

ONE WILL BE A FINISHING LICKIN RACE WHERE YOU STOP AND EAT A PIECE OF CHICKEN ON THE WAY TO THE FINISH LINE.

MONDAY AT 8 EASTERN, 7 CENTRAL KENTUCKY TONIGHT'S RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ON VOTING RIGHTS AND ELECTION LAWS.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.