[♪♪] >> Bill: THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ENDS ALL DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS AND TELLS LOCAL DISTRICTS TO CERTIFY THEY HAVE DONE THE SAME.

THE STATE AUDITOR LOOKS INTO HOW MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSES WERE AWARDED.

THE MONEY CHASES ON IN KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE CONTEST AND AS FLOOD CLEAN UP CONTINUES THE RACE IS ON TO GET LOUISVILLE READY FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

HEADING INTO EASTER WEEKEND, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE.

MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN AND BILL ESTEP SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

ALSO TONIGHT THE ALMOST 300 MILLION RENOVATION OF KENTUCKY'S STATE CAPITOL IS UNDERWAY.

UP FIRST, KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER Dr. ROBBIE FLETCHER SAID THIS WEEK HIS DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLIED WITH NEW FEDERAL RULES REQUIRING AN END TO D.E.I.

PROGRAMS.

AND BY TODAY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE SUPPOSED TO CERTIFY THEY HAD TAKEN THAT ACTION AS WELL.

IT COMES A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DIRECTED SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE TO END D.E.I.

EFFORTS OR RISK LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING.

RIGHT.

THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON BETWEEN THE U.S. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOL AND STATE AGENCIES.

THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

BACK IN FEBRUARY, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SENT THAT LETTER SAYING THAT THEY COULD RISK FEDERAL FUNDING IF THEY CONTINUED TO HAVE D.E.I.

IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

AND THEN IT GOT MORE INCREASINGLY MORE SERIOUS.

SO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SENT OUT A CERTIFICATION FORM WHICH IS WHAT KDE HAS SIGNED AND DISTRIBUTED TO PUBLIC JIBBINGS IN KENTUCKY TO CERTIFY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO VIOLATE TITLE 6 OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT BY HAVING A D.E.I.

PROGRAM IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

SO KDE SIGNED IT BUT IT HAS ALSO NOT PAUSED OR SUSPENDED EXISTING PROGRAMS.

AND IN A LETTER TO SUPERINTENDENTS, FLETCHER SAID IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT TO SIGN THIS LETTER, THEY SHOULD TALK WITH THEIR BOARD ATTORNEYS AND BOARD COUNSEL.

>> Bill: WE UNDERSTAND BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY THEY COULD NOT CERTIFY KDE THAT THE LOCAL DISTRICTS COMPLIED WITH THE LETTER.

>> AND THAT WAS THE DEADLINE TODAY AT 5:00 P.M.

BUT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS, JCPS THE BIGGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE THEY ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION FROM KDE AND GOT IT.

SO THEY HAVE UNTIL USE APRIL 22 AT 5:00 P.M. YOU HAVE TO ASK THIS IS A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT CAN FUND ITSELF BETTER THAN MOST OTHERS, RIGHT, ACROSS THE STATE.

WHAT ARE THEY WAITING ON?

WHAT COULD THEY BE TALKING ABOUT?

ARE THEY NOT GOING TO SIGN THIS THE LETTER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF D.E.I.

PROGRAMS IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU COULD BE RISKING FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HARDEN COUNTY SCHOOLS WHO SIGNED THE CERTIFICATION FORM TOLD ME IN A STATEMENT THEY SAID THERE WAS MOUNTING DEBATE AND UNCERTAINTY ON THE POSSIBLE INTERRUPTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO DISTRICTS WHO DO NOT SIGN AND RETURN THE DOCUMENT.

IT IS ON THE MINDS AND A BIG REASON WHY SOME DISTRICTS SIGNED IT.

>> Bill: YOU'VE COVERED THEM FOR 40 YEARS DOES IT SIGNAL THERE COULD BE LEGAL ACTION?

>> NEARLY EVERYTHING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE AS BROUGHT A LAWSUIT.

THE PROBLEM, THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE UNDER THE GUN BECAUSE YOU GOT A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IN SOME SORT OF FEDERAL AID SOME IS FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES AND YOU HOPE THAT WOULDN'T GET TIED UP IN THIS.

FOR READING, INSTRUCTION, MATH THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY AT STAKE.

SO THEY'VE GOT TO FACTOR THAT IN AS WELL.

>> Bill: AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DOES DECIDE WHERE THAT MONEY GOES.

THIS COMES AS KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ARE DEALING WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING THREAT AND THEY ARE REVIEWING HOW TO COMPLY AS WELL WITH THE NEW STATE LAW FORBIDDING D.E.I.

INITIATIVES OR OFFICES ON THEIR CAMPUSES.

>> RIGHT.

SO THIS IS ONE VERY LARGE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING HERE AS YOU CAN SEE.

EARLIER THIS WEEK I DID A STORY WHERE I ASKED ALL OF THE KENTUCKY PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HOW THEY ARE GOING TO RESPOND TO THE PASSAGE OF THAT LAW, HOUSE BILL 4 HERE IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S FAIRLY LARGE BILL, BUT THE THESIS OF IT IS TO ELIMINATE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WITHIN HIGHER-ED.

BUT ONE OF THE KIND OF LOOMING DEADLINES IN THIS LAW NOW, IS THAT BY JUNE 30TH, THE GOVERNING BOARDS OF ALL THOSE UNIVERSITIES MUST ADOPT A POLICY THAT MEETS ALL THESE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS TO THE LAW TO ELIMINATE D.E.I.

PROGRAMS.

SO ALL OF THE UNIVERSITIES SAID THEY ARE REVIEWING IT.

SOME MAYBE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN OTHERS.

LAST YEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY ALREADY CLOSED THEIR DIVERSITY OFFICES THEY MIGHT HAVE LESS CHANGES.

BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE SHOULD SEE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE.

>> Bill: AND U.K.

TOOK A STEP ON FRIDAY?

>> YES.

SO THEY HAVE ELIMINATED CEREMONIES THAT WERE MEANT FOR MINORITY STUDENTS, LGBTQ STUDENTS AND SPECIFIC BLACK STUDENTS CEREMONIES FOR GRADUATION AND ARE FOCUSING ON THE LARGER GRADUATION AS A WHOLE.

LOUISVILLE, U OF L I TALKED TO A STUDENT McKENNA AND I WERE ON CAMPUS ONE STUDENT WHO WORKS AT THE CULTURAL AND EQUITY CENTER SHE WORKS THERE IS A JUNIOR AND SHE ASKED ME I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS GOING TO BE CALLED NEXT YEAR.

I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO BE OPEN NEXT YEAR AND QUESTIONED THE LK CENTER ON CAMPUS, THE WOMEN'S CENTER THIS IS A STUDENT RAISING QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY GOT THAT E-MAIL AND FROM A NEW U OF L PRESIDENT JUNIORRY BRADLEY WITH THE DEPARTURE RESIGNATION OF THE NAME IS SLIPPING ME.

KIM SATCHEL, THE PRESIDENT THERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND HE SAID WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR WORK GROUPS AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING FROM FINANCIAL AID AND SCHOLARSHIPS AND ATHLETICS THERE IS A LOT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.

>> Bill: YOU'VE BEEN ON A HONEYMOON.

CONGRATULATIONS.

>> I INTERVIEWED HIM THREE DAYS AFTER GETTING BACK AND IF I SAY ANYTHING THAT IS WRONG YOU KNOW WHY.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY HUMANITIES COUNCIL LEARNED IT WILL LOSE 70% OF ITS BUDGET AND THAT IS DUE TO DOGE CUTS.

>> IT WAS BILL GOODMAN A FRIEND OF KET LONG TIME CONTRIBUTOR, GREAT, AND HE ACTUALLY IN AN INTERVIEW I DID WITH HIM AS THE FLOODING WAS GETTING BAD HE SAID THAT IS WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT ABOUT 70% OF THEIR OPERATING BUDGET $850,000 HE SAYS IN FEDERAL GRANT MONEY THAT THEY GET EVERY YEAR WAS CUT.

BASICALLY DRAINED DOWN TO ZERO.

IT WAS TAKEN AWAY OVERNIGHT DEFUNDED OVERNIGHT.

SOME OF THIS MONEY GOES TO NOT JUST LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS, EDUCATION CENTERS AROUND THE STATE SPECIFICALLY THE RURAL AREAS, EASTERN KENTUCKY BEING ONE HIT WITH FLOODS A COUPLE YEARS AGO BUT IN MOMENTS WHERE THEY NEED REBUILDING, THEY NEED CLEAN UP AND RESTORATION AND THAT IS SOMETHING HE SAID STUCK OUT TO HIM.

THE PRESIDENT SAID ULTIMATELY THEY NEED TO MAKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT AND CUTTING SPENDING BACK WASTEFUL SPENDING IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.

>> Bill: WE NOTE TRUMP GOT TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTE HERE IN KENTUCKY.

DID PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WERE VOTING FOR CHANGE.

DID THEY ANTICIPATE THE CHANGES THEY ARE SEEING?

>> WELL, I THINK THE CHANGES THEY'RE SEEING SO FAR YOU MENTIONED THE DOGE CUTS DOGE SAID IT CLOSED THINGS IN KENTUCKY THAT IT HAS NOT CLOSED YET AND ALREADY COUNTED THE SAVINGS.

IT'S BEEN ERRADIC AND HAPHAZARD AND THE ROLLOUT HAS BEEN CHAOTIC FROM WASHINGTON D.C. ON DOWN IT'S BEEN CHAOTIC AND THINGS THAT TRUMP SAYS SOMETHING AND THEN THE TARIFFS THEY ARE ON THEY ARE OFF AND IT'S CREATED UNCERTAINTY IN DIFFERENT FIELDS.

I'VE -- I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTED TRUMP AND STILL GIVING HIM TIME AND THEY WANT TO SEE HOW IT ROLLS OUT.

I THINK IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY THEY'VE BACKED AWAY.

>> GOODMAN DID SAY MAYBE THEY RELY TOO MUCH ON FEDERAL FUNDING WE'VE NEEDED TO REROUTE AND NOT BE SO RELIANT FOR YEARS.

>> ONE PERSON'S WASTEFUL SPEND SOMETHING NOT ANOTHER PERSON'S WASTEFUL SPENDING THAT IS ALWAYS THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON AND FRANKFORT IN SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY.

>> Bill: A PROGRAM IS SPECIAL TO SOMEBODY.

IN FRANKFORT THE STATE AUDITOR ALLISON BALL'S OFFICE LOOKING INTO HOW THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AWARDED LICENSES FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES SHE GOT COMPLAINTS WHAT IS SHE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT?

>> THIS IS RELATED TO THE MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSING LOTTERY HELD LAST YEAR AFTER MEDICAL MARIJUANA BECAME LEGAL IN KENTUCKY.

DURING THAT APPLICATION PERIOD, THE STATE RECEIVED ABOUT 5,000 APPLICATIONS FOR THAT PROCESS.

AND THEN BALL HAS SAID THAT HER OFFICE AS CONTINUED TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS HOW THAT LOTTERY WAS HANDLED UNDER THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS.

THIS IS HER TRYING TO GET BACK AT THAT.

HOWEVER, BESHEAR HAS SPOKEN AGAINST THAT.

HIS SPOKESPERSON SAID THIS WEEK, OUR STORY, THAT NOBODY HAS FILED A LEGAL CLAIM CHALLENGING THE CANNABIS LAWS HERE IN THE STATE OR HOW THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS MONITORED THE LOTTERY.

>> Bill: MOST APPLICANTS WERE FROM OUT OF STATE?

>> WERE FROM OR HAD MOVED TO THE AREA AND WE SAW THAT MIGRATION BEFORE THIS LAW REALLY CAME INTO EFFECT.

OBVIOUSLY IT TOOK A WHILE.

THE AUDIT SPECIFICALLY THE OFFICE TOLD US TODAY THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY REPORTING FROM OUR STATION WHAS11, THE REPORTER TALKED WITH A DISPENSARY THAT IS OPENING UP IN LOUISVILLE.

AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY BASICALLY SETUP 20 DIFFERENT BUSINESSES UNDER 20 NAMES, 20LLC'S AND APPLIED THAT WAY TO TRY TO GIVE THEMSELVES BETTER ODDS THEY ADMITTED THAT.

AND THE AUDITOR SAYS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THEM LAUNCHING THIS REPORT OR LAUNCHING THE AUDIT.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT.

LOTTERY WAS ON LIVE TV IT WAS STREAMED AND HE SAID IN A STATEMENT HIS OFFICE, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COME FORWARD TO EXPRESS QUOTE CONCERNS, WENT THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS AND DID NOT COMPLAIN UNTIL AFTER NOT BEING SELECTED IN THE LOTTERY WHICH I THOUGHT WAS SIGNIFICANT.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS TRYING TO GET THINGS GOING AND TEAM KENTUCKY BRIEFING THE GOVERNOR WAS NOT ASKED ABOUT THE AUDIT BUT HE DID TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS AND INDICATED HE THOUGHT IT WAS FAIR.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE SETUP OUR PROCESS WE'RE MOVING FASTER THAN ANY OTHER STATE.

WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY STATES THAT HASN'T HAD THE COURTS ENJOINED OR ENTER AN ORDER STOPPING THE RAMP UP OF ALL OF THOSE BUSINESSES.

AND OTHER STATES WE SAW THAT.

SO WE ATTEMPTED TO DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT PUT THE PATIENT FIRST.

AND THEN ASSURED WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE LEGAL IMPEDIMENTS OR THE COURTS SLOWING US DOWN.

>> Bill: BESHEAR SAYING IT WAS ABOVEBOARD.

>> AND SAID THAT COMPARED TO OTHER STATES THESE ARE HIS WORDS, THAT HAVE RUN INTO LEGAL ISSUES RUN INTO THE COURTS SLOWING DOWN THAT RAMP UP PROCESS, HE SAYS HEY, KENTUCKY HASN'T HAD A SINGLE LAWSUIT.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS GOING AND THAT HAS BEEN HIS WAY OF SAYING IT'S BEEN KOSHER.

>> AND THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF LEGAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN BETWEEN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

LAST YEAR, THE OFFICES WENT TO COURT OVER ACCESS TO A DATABASE WITHIN THE OMBUDSMAN OFFICE WHICH WAS INITIALLY IN THE CABINET FOR FAMILY HEALTH AND SERVICES BUT IS NOW PART OF THE STATE AUDITOR AOFFICE.

SO THERE WERE ISSUES BACK THERE.

>> Bill: WE WILL SEE HOW THE AUDIT GOES AND KEEP EVERYBODY UPDATED ON THAT.

BILL, IT COMES AS THERE WAS A GROUNDBREAKING FOR A CULTIVATION AND PROCESSING FACILITY THE MAYOR INDICATED SORT OF HUMOROUS WAY THIS TIME IT'S ALL LEGAL.

>> THE MAYOR SAID THEY USED TO PRODUCE POT ILLEGALLY AND NOW LEGALLY.

THIS IS 10,000 SQUARE-FOOT FACILITY THE MAYOR SAID THERE WOULD BE 100 JOBS UP AND RUNNING THE FIRST LICENSED MEDICAL MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: YOUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF REPORTED WITH THE TARIFFS LOOMING AND SUCH AN ISSUE A STUDY SHOWS KENTUCKY IS THE MOST RELY ANSWER STATE OF ALL ON GLOBAL TRADE.

WHICH WAS EYE-OPENING.

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THIS STUDY COMES FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.

IT FOUND THAT IMPORTS INTO KENTUCKY EQUAL ABOUT 32% OF THE STATE'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST OF ANY STATE WHILE EXPORTS MAKEUP 16% OF THAT SAME NUMBER.

AND THAT IS BEHIND ONLY LOUISIANA AND TEXAS.

>> Bill: U.P.S.

HUB WOULD PLAY INTO THAT?

>> BETWEEN CARGO AIRPORT THERE AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY THESE ARE TWO OF THE TOP 15 CARGO AIRPORT AS FAR AS SIZE AND VOLUME IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS MAJOR THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON A FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL.

OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HEARD GOVERNOR BESHEAR SPEAK AGAINST THE TARIFFS AND TALK HOW THE BOURBON INDUSTRY, CANADA IS A BIG PLAYER AND THE EU.

AND YOU'VE HEARD SENATOR PAUL AND MITCH McCONNELL REPUBLICANS SAY, VERY MUCH SORT OF ALONG THOSE LINES.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE ARE A STATE THAT HAS A HUGE FORD AND TOYOTA PRESENCE.

CARS ARE ANOTHER MAJOR EXPORT.

KENTUCKY'S RELY ANSWER ON EXPORTS TO KEEP ITS ECONOMY GOING.

>> Bill: WELL, LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PLAN TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO COAL MINING.

AND USE AND THIS WEEK STATE SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS PRAISED THE ACTION.

AND BILL, STIVERS CALL TO DO A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

ROBIN WEBB INDICATED ANY IMPROVEMENT IN THE COAL ECONOMY WOULD BE GRADUAL.

>> ANALYSTS WOULD SAY EVEN WITH SOME WITH TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND I WATCHED THAT NEWS CONFERENCE THAT TRUMP HELD AND READ THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO BACK OFF ON REGULATION ON COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS WHICH A LOT CLOSED.

IN FACT THERE WERE MORE CLOSURES OF COAL PLANTS IN TRUMP'S FIRST TERM THAN IN BIDEN'S TERM.

BUT TRUMP IS TRYING TO SLOW THAT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF REASON TO BELIEVE, ANALYSTS SAY IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO CAUSE A RESURGENCE IN COAL JOBS.

>> Bill: MARKET FORCES.

>> COAL, UTILITIES SWITCHED TO NATURAL GAS TO MAKE ELECTRICITY AS OPPOSED TO COAL BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER AND CLEANER IT SATISFIES A COUPLE OF THINGS.

>> Bill: STIVERS MADE AN ATTENTION GETTING STATEMENT DURING THAT EVENT.

>> HE SAID THAT THE ISSUE OF WHETHER HUMAN ACTIVITY BURNING COAL AND FOSSIL-FUELS CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE IS UP FOR DEBATE.

AND IT'S WORTH SAYING THAT NEARLY EVERY CREDIBLE CLIMATE STUDY AND CLIMATE SCIENTIST WOULD SAY THERE IS NO QUESTION OR HAVE SAID THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT HUMAN ACTIVITY DRIVES CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT ONE OF THOSE BIG ACTIVITIES IS BURNING FOSSIL-FUELS.

>> Bill: STIVERS DID MAKE THAT POINT AND EXPRESSED HIS HOPE COAL WOULD COME BACK TO SOME EXTENT.

POLITICS TAKES NO BREAK THESE DAYS THE MONEY CHASE IS UNDERWAY IN THE FIGHT FOR THE U.S. OPEN SENATE RACE WHERE MITCH McCONNELL IS STEPPING DOWN OR STEP ASIDE AND NOT RUN NEXT YEAR.

WE KNOW THAT CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR RAISED $2 MILLION IN THE FIRST QUARTER.

BUT THAT WAS FOR A HOUSE CAMPAIGN.

NOW, HE CAN TRANSFER THAT MONEY OVER TO A SENATE CAMPAIGN AND WE'RE GETTING SIGNALS THAT THAT MAYBE IMMINENT.

>> IMMINENT AND IT COULD BE QUITE THE FIGURE WE'RE TALKING PROBABLY OVER $5 MILLION TOTAL.

AND AS FAR AS THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF, THAT IS IMMINENT LIKE YOU SAID.

I TEXTED A FORMER LAWMAKER WHO SAYS THEY RECEIVED ONE OF THE INVITES TO THIS EVENT.

OBVIOUSLY AUSTIN HORN FROM THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE LAUNCH HIS SENATE CAMPAIGN.

WE KNOW THIS WAS SORT OF IN THE WORKS FOR A WHILE.

HE'S HINTED AT IT I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH HIM A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AFTER SENATOR McCONNELL ANNOUNCED HE WOULDN'T BE RUNNING AGAIN AND AFTER DANIEL CAMERON PUT HIS NAME IN.

AND IT WAS RIGHT ABOUT THERE AND IN THE INTERVIEW HE TALKED ABOUT HIMSELF BEING THE BEST OF THE FIELD.

I WOULD BE THE BEST SENATOR OF THE FIELD HE IS GETTING A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM MAGA REPUBLICANS TO RUN.

HE IS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IT.

AND BOTTOM LINE THE TRUMP SORT OF ASPECT IN THIS, HE SAID DONALD TRUMP KNOWS I'VE BEEN WITH HIM SINCE THE BEGINNING.

AND THAT'S WHAT THEIR CALLS ARE ABOUT.

>> Bill: AND TRUMP CAMPAIGNED WITH HIM IN IN 2018 AND CAMPAIGNED WITH DANIEL CAMERON IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN 2023.

HOW DOES CAMERON ADJUST IF BARR ENTERS THE RACE?

>> THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME IN THIS SPECIFIC RACE THAT DANIEL CAMERON HAS ANOTHER REPUBLICAN OPPONENT THAT HE HAS TO DIFFERENTIATE TO GET THE REPUBLICAN VOTES IN THE PRIMARY NEXT YEAR.

AND WE'VE ALREADY ELUDED TO IT BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS OR THEMES THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE RACE SO FAR ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IS WHO IS THE MOST LOYAL TO DONALD TRUMP.

SO WE'VE SEEN CANDIDATES CAMERON, AND BARR MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW THEY SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES AND ALSO TAKING STEPS TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL, WHO WHILE HE HAS HELD THAT SEAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS IN KENTUCKY HE IS NOT AS POPULAR IN KENTUCKY GOING OUT OF HIS TERM.

IT IS A MESSAGE TO ARE HAVERS THAT WHO CAN BE THE TRUMPYEST PERSON IN THE ROOM.

>> THEY ARE QUESTIONING HOW IMPRESSIVE THAT $500,000 NUMBER IS BECAUSE HE ANNOUNCED THAT SAME DAY.

PART OF THE BENEFIT OF DOING THAT IS GETTING AHEAD ON THE FUNDRAISING, THE MORE DONORS COME IN THE FAR REACHING YOUR MESSAGE GETS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE MONEY WON'T BE AN ISSUE FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES.

>> Bill: DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE PAMELA STEVENSON RAISED OVER $70,000.

SHE AT ONE POINT INDICATED SHE WOULD NEED $20 MILLION FOR A SUCCESSFUL EFFORT?

>> THE FIGURE SHE TOLD ME AND SHE HAS QUITE A WAYS TO GO BUT SHE IS DETERMINED AND SOMEBODY WHO IS NO STRANGER TO RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND SHE IS THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE.

>> Bill: BARR GETS IN THE SENATE RACE HOW CROWDED WILL THE RATION GET TO REPRESENTATIVE CENTRAL KENTUCKY?

>> VERY.

>> THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SOME IDEA THAT IT MIGHT BE A DISTRICT THEY CAN FLIP.

THEY DO HAVE THERE'S FOLKS INTERESTED ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS SEE IT AS A POPE PICK UP FOR THEM.

>> Bill: AND EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SAY WHO DO THEY TALK ABOUT ON COMMENT ARE WE HEARING NAMES.

SENATOR MAYS BLEDSOE IS POPULAR AMONGST THE G.O.P.

AND AMONGST DEMOCRATS WE'VE HEARD ONE OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S RIGHT HAND MAN, OBVIOUSLY ROCKY ATKINS.

NOTHING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BUT HIS NAME HAS BEEN THROWN OUT.

CHERYL LYNN STEVENSON THE FORMER STATE HOUSE MEMBER.

SHE LOST HER RACE BUT HAS BEEN ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

>> Bill: REPRESENTATIVE RYAN DOTSON INDICATED HE IS IN IF THAT SEAT OPENS UP AND FRASER GORDON OUT OF RICHMOND ANOTHER NAME BUT WE KEEP HEARING THE NAMES AND WE WILL UNTIL THAT RACE FLUSHES OUT IF IT HAPPENS.

HISTORY IS MADE ON KENTUCKY'S SUPREME COURT A NEW CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE FIRST-EVER BLACK FEMALE JUSTICE WERE PUBLICLY SWORN INTO OFFICE THIS WEEK.

>> WHEN YOU GROW UP SO MODESTLY YOU DEVELOP A STRONG SENSE FOR THE NEED OF A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD AND FOR EVERYONE TO BE HEARD.

THOSE CONCEPTS ARE FOUNDATIONAL IN MY WORLD VIEW AND I HOPE YOU WILL BE SATISFIED WITH MY WORK PERFORMED AS CHIEF JUSTICE.

YOU ARE MY PEOPLE.

AND FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW DOES GIVE ME JOY AND MAKES ME FEARLESS ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD.

I HOPE TO SERVE YOU WELL.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN MY HUMBLE SERVICE.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> Bill: THAT IS KENTUCKY'S NEW CHIEF JUSTICE AND SEATED NEXT TO JUSTICE PAMELA GOODWINE.

AND SO CHIEF JUSTICE LAMBERT TALKED ABOUT BEING A COAL MINERS DAUGHTER.

>> YES, ONE OF THE THINGS I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING DURING HER SPEECH, SHE SAID SHE HAD A PIECE OF COAL COMPANY SCRIPT TUCKED IN HER SHOE FOR GOOD LUCK BECAUSE HER FATHER WAS A COAL MINER AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HER UPBRINGING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND HOW THAT SHAPED HER INTO GETTING A LAW EDUCATION AND BECOMING THE STATE SUPREME COURT AND NOW LEADING THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

>> .

>> Bill: JUSTICE GOODWINE MADE IT HER GOAL TO BE ON THE SUPREME COURT AS A YOUNG WOMAN.

>> RIGHT.

AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE PATH SHE TOOK TO GET WHERE SHE IS NOW.

SHE GAVE A FEW PARTING WORDS SHE SAID NO MATTER WHAT LIFERIES YOU KEEP DREAMING AND WORKING FOR YOUR GOALS AND SHE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

AND THIS COURT IS PARTICULARLY HISTORIC NOT ONLY DOES IT HAVE THE FIRST FEMALE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN BUT IT'S ALSO A MAJORITY OF FEMALE JUSTICES ON THE COURT AS WELL.

>> Bill: HISTORY IS MADE.

WE WANT YOU TO SEE THIS WORK BEGINS ON THE STATE CAPITOL IN THE $300 MILLION RENOVATION, THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION PUT OUT THE TIME-LAPSE VIDEO YOU ARE SEEING THERE.

THE DESKS WERE REMOVED FROM THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE CHAMBERS IT WILL TAKE THREE YEARS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT IT INCLUDES STRUCTURAL WORK AND MODERN UPGRADES TO THE CAPITOL IT WAS COMPLETED IN 1910.

FUN TO SEE THE VIDEO SPED UP BUT IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO GET IT VEN VACCINATED.

>> YES.

I'M HEARING A COUPLE TO THREE YEARS AT THIS POINT.

LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS WILL BE IN A TEMPORARY STRUCTURE THAT'S NEXT TO THE CAPITOL ANNEX.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THAT CHAMBER FOR FREQUENT TIMES.

>> Bill: RACE IS ON TO GET LOUISVILLE READY FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND TWO WEEKS AWAY.

THE MAYOR AND MITCH McCONNELL TALKED ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP THE CITY AND WELCOME THE WORLD.

>> LAST TIME OUR CITY EXPERIENCED A FLOOD OF THIS MAGNITUDE IT TOOK SIX WEEKS FOR THE CLEANUP TO HAPPEN.

WE ARE GOING TO BREAK THAT TIME BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN.

THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE WORK BY SO MANY PEOPLE.

WE ARE WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

>> I'M JUST HERE TO THANK THE MAYOR AND HIS WHOLE TEAM AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP.

THEY GAVE ME A GOOD BRIEFING BEFORE COMING OUT HERE.

IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE TEAM EFFORT TO GET KENTUCKY READY FOR THE DERBY.

THANK YOU FOR ALL THE VOLUNTEERS AND ALL THE OUTSTANDING WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

A LOT OF WORK BUT IT IS AN EXCITING TIME.

AND LOUISVILLE WANTS TO SHOW OFF ITS BEST.

>> AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE.

THEY HIRED A NATIONAL DISASTER RECOVERY CREW TO COME IN AND CLEAN UP COSTING ABOUT $5 MILLION ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR.

>> Bill: BILL, ALICE WHITAKER WHO LED ONE OF THE LAST SETTLEMENT SCHOOLS DIED AT AGE 85.

YOU DID A STORY ON HER THIS WEEK KNOWN FOR HER STRONG WILL AND ABILITY TO KEEP THAT SCHOOL GOING DESPITE THE ODDS.

>> SHE WAS THE HEAD OF THE SCHOOL IN KNOTT COUNTY ONE OF THE WOMEN WORKED FOR FOR 20 YEARS SAID SHE WAS A SPITFIRE THAT IS ACCURATE.

BUT A TINY LITTLE SCHOOL AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOTT COUNTY IN AN ISOLATED PART OF THE COUNTY.

HER AUNT STARTED IT IN 1933 SHE RAISED MONEY TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROGRAMS THAT SOME OF THE SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE.

WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT GOING FOR A LONGTIME IN THE FACE OF AN EFFORT TO CLOSE IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

>> Bill: AND THE OLDEST KNOWN SURVIVOR OF THE ATTACK ON PEARLL HARBOR WAS BURIED VAUGHAN DRAKE WAS 23.

HE SERVED WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AFTER THE WAR HE RETURNED TO KENTUCKY AND WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

VAUGHAN DRAKE WAS 106 AND BURIED IN THE WINCHESTER CEMETERY.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.