VACCINES ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE DECLINES, LIKELY DELAYING THE LIFTING OF SOME RE WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENTS SET TO RETURN FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AS TH STATE AUDITOR RELEASES A SCATHING REPORT ABOUT HOW SOME JOBLESS CLAIMS WERE HANDLED.

IN WASHINGTON THE PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO SHARPLY CUT EMISSIONS.

WHERE WILL THAT LEAVE KENTUCKY COAL?

AND KENTUCKY PREPARES FOR DERBY.

HOW NORMAL WILL IT BE?

A WARM-UP IS PROMISED AFTER AN APRIL COLD SNAP.

"COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

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 ARE: BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERA LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

AND MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA ALSO TONIGHT, A DELAY IN THE TRIAL OF THE ONLY OFFICER CHARGED IN CONNECTION TO THE NIGHT BREONNA TAYLOR DIED.

MORE POLITICAL NAME-DROPPING AS CANDIDATES LOOK AT RACES IN '22 AND '23.

AND JUST BEFORE AIR TIME, THE WE'VE LEOPARD THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION APPROVED A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR CAVS MARILYN flooding BUT FIRST, IT APPEARS SOME RESTRICTIONS WILL HAVE TO REMAIN ON OUR STATE'S BUSINESSES AND VENUES LONGER BECAUSE THE RATE OF VACCINATIONS HAS NOW SLOWED, ESPECIALLY TRUE AMONG YOUNGER KENTUCKIANS AND IN SOME RURAL AREAS.

AND BY THE WAY, WE HAVE OVER HALF A MILLION AVAILABLE VACCINE DOSES SITTING IN STORAGE RIGHT NOW.

SO, LAWRENCE, THE GOAL IS TO GET 2.5 MILLION KENTUCKIANS VACCINATED AND THEN LIFT SOME RESTRICTIONS.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER THAN WE MAY HAVE THOUGHT.

>> Lawrence: THE NUMBER IS 1.7 MILLION SO WE'RE SOME DISTANCE FROM THAT GOAL OF 2-1/2 MILLION.

AMONG OLDER KENTUCKIANS THERE'S A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, OVER 50%.

PEOPLE OVER AGE 60, 60 AND OVER.

THE ISSUE IS WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE GETTING THE VACCINE BEING MOTIVATED TO GET THAT SHOT.

ONE HEALTH EXPERT TOLD ME THAT SOMETIMES YOUNG PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE INVULNERABLE AND WON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COVID-19.

OF COURSE, WE NO DIFFERENTLY BUT IT'S A MATTER CONVINCING SOME OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE THAT IT'S TO THEIR ADVANTAGE AND TO THE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE AROUND THEM TO GET THE SHOT.

>> Bill: MORGAN, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY YOUNG KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, TAKING THE PRECAUTIONS THAT THEY CAN AND CERTAINLY GETTING VACCINATED, BUT DO YOU THINK SOME FEEL LESS VULNERABLE EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BE OUT THERE SPREADING IT?

>> WELL, SURE.

I MEAN, THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN ABOUT MANAGING RISK, RIGHT?

AND SO YOU TAKE DIFFERENT THINGS INTO ACCOUNT, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IS THAT A HIGH NUMBER OF THE FATALITIES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OF WHICH THERE HAVE BEEN STAGGERING NUMBER DO HAPPEN WITH OLDER PEOPLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I MEAN, THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s AND THEIR 30s WHO HAVE DIED AFTER CATCHING COVID-19.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE THINKING ABOUT.

IT'S OKAY, I'M YOUNG.

SO THAT IS A POSITIVE IN TERMS OF BALANCING RISK, BUT WHAT ARE MY OTHER RISK FACTORS IN TERMS OF HEALTH?

SO I THINK IT'S A MIX.

YOU DO ABSOLUTELY HAVE YOUNG PEOPLE, BUT ALSO I THINK PEOPLE OF PLENTY DIFFERENT AGES WHO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO BE FINE IF THEY GET COVID-19.

BUT I PERSONALLY KNOW PLENTY OF PEOPLE IN THEIR 20s, 30s, TEENS, WHATEVER, WHO ARE CONCERNED.

YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL LIKE I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO DIE IF I GET THIS BUT THEY DON'T FEEL INVULNERABLE TO IT, EITHER.

IT'S WEIGHING THICSLESS.

>> Bill: AND SOME IN THE INTERESTS OF HELPING OUT THEIR OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS, TOO.

>> Morgan: ABSOLUTELY.

>> Bill: BILL, THE HERALD-LEADER ASK REPORTING AT THIS RATE IT WOULD BE THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER BEFORE WE WOULD REACH THE GOAL THE GOVERNOR HAS SET TO LIFT SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS-B HE'S THE PROBLEM.

YEAH.

THE GOVERNOR SAY THE GOAL TO LIFT SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS, THAT 2.5 MILLION VACCINATIONS.

THE LONGER IT TAKES TO GET THERE OBVIOUSLY THE LONGER IT WOULD BE ABLE TO LIFT THOSE RESTRICTIONS THAT THAT HE'S PUT IN PLACE.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE LESS THAN 40% OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED.

SO, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER.

AND THAT NUMBER'S BEEN SLOWING DOWN IN RECENT DAYS AS WELL.

SO, YEAH, THE BIG QUESTION IS WHEN DO WE GET TO THAT SPOT.

>> Bill: FEMA IS COMING IN TO HELP WITH VACCINATION MASS CLINICS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO TRY TO REACH OUT WITH TRYING TO ENTICE MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOT.

>> Bill Estep: THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID -- YOU MENTIONED A HALF A MILLION, YOU KNOW, AVAILABLE DOSES OF THE KROON MEDICINE OUT THERE, THE VACCINE.

THE CORONAVIRUS -- THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T SIGNED UP AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS SAID THERE'S NO EXCUSE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ACTION IN KENTUCKY.

TO INCREASE THE ACCESS EVEN MORPHEME A IS GOING TO COME INET AND UP CLINICS IN LONDON AND HENDERSON AND INTRODUCE MOBILE CLINICS AS WELL TO TRY TO GET MORE PEOPLE SIGNED AND UP VACCINATED.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, YOU'RE IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA SEEING THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE MAY BE AT SPORTING EVENTS, THAT THERE WOULD BE COVID SHOTS AVAILABLE WHILE YOU'RE WALKING IN, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT THE KEY IS AVAILABILITY ACCESS IN MORE DIFFERENT PLACES, SO THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE THERE'S A PLACE TO GET A SHOT OR INTO A DRUGSTORE 1 YOU CAN GET A SHOT OR INTO A SPORTING EVENT THERE'S A TENT OUTSIDE WHERE YOU CAN GET A SHOT, SO THE MORE AVAILABLE IT IS, THE HOPE IS THAT MORE PEOPLE WILL TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO GET THAT SHOT.

>> Bill: AND WHILE THERE IS SO MUCH HOPE PLACED ON VACCINES, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME BREAKTHROUGH COVID CASES, BILL, AT A NURSING HOME IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WHERE THE CDC APPARENTLY HAS CONCLUDING AN UNVACCINATED WORKER APPARENTLY BROUGHT IT INTO THE FACILITY.

>> Bill Estep: RIGHT.

DR. STACK HAD MENTIONED THIS SOME TIME EARLIER, THAT THERE HAD BEEN A NEW VARIANT IDENTIFIED AT A NURSING HOME THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN KENTUCKY BEFORE, SO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DISCUSSION OF THAT.

THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED.

IT'S A SKILLED NURSING FACILITY, WE KNOW THAT.

THEY HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED WHERE IT WAS.

BUT THE CDC HAD A NEW REPORT OUT THIS WEEK THAT SAID THAT THE CDC CAME IN WITH THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND DID A STUDY THERE, REVIEWED THE INFORMATION.

THEY CONCLUDED THAT A STAFF MEMBER WHO HAD NOT BEEN VACCINATED BROUGHT IT INTO THE FACILITY.

THREE RESIDENTS DIED OF COVID-19 AFTER THAT.

TWO OF THOSE HAD NOT BEEN VACCINATED, EITHER THE RESIDENTS HAD BUT ONE HAD.

BUT ONE OF THE FINDINGS WAS THIS ONLY 52% OF THE STAFF MEMBERS AT THAT FACILITY HAD BEEN VACCINATED, AND THAT'S BEEN HAVING GO SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN ELSEWHERE.

AMONG NURSING HOMES IN CERTAIN HEALTH CARE SETTINGS.

I'VE BEEN TOLL IN HOSPITAL SETTINGS THERE'S A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF VACCINE ACCEPTANCE BUT IN SOME OTHER FACILITIES IT'S LESS.

>> Bill: AND THEY'RE NOT REITERATING.

>> Bill Estep: THEY'RE NOT REQUIRING IT.

BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IN THIS STUDY THIS LOOKED HAT WHO HAD TAKEN THE VEEN, WHETHER THEY GOT SICK OR NOT.

THE CONCLUSION WAS PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN VACCINATED WERE FAR LESS LIKELY TO HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 OR BE HOSPITALIZED.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH THOSE NUMBERS VERY CLOSECLY AND WE'LL SEE IF THAT TREND PINKS UP SOME AND MAYBE THAT DATE CAN MOVE UP A LITTLE BIT ON SOME OF THE REOPENINGS AND RELAXING OF SOME OF THE RULES.

A BIG CHANGE FOR UNEMPLOYED KENTUCKIANS, LAWRENCE, WHO ARE SEEKING BENEFITS RIGHT NOW.

WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENTS ABOUT TO BE REINSTATED, AND THAT WILL COME IN EARLY MAY.

>> Lawrence: RIGHT.

MAY 9th.

THOSE UNON UNEMPLOYMENT WILL HAVE TO START SHOWING PROOF THAT THEY HAVE MADE AT LEAST ONE CONTACT PER WEEK IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND A FULL-TIME JOB.

NOW, THIS WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENT WAS IN PLACE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

THE GOVERNOR SUSPENDED IT BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY LAYOFFS SO QUICKLY, THAT THERE WEREN'T JOBS AVAILABLE.

NOW THE ECONOMY WITH THE VACCINE BEING OUT, MORE BUSINESSES OPENING, THE ECONOMY IS TURNING AROUND, AND THE GOVERNOR AND HIS STAFF SAY THERE ARE ENOUGH JOBS OUT THERE THAT WE CAN REINSTATE THIS REQUIREMENT, THIS WORK SEARCH REQUIREMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS.

>> Bill: MORGAN, THIS ALL COMES AS REVELATIONS CONTINUE TO COME OUT ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT PAY-OUTS, COMPLAINTS FROM SOME BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE, OF COURSE, TRYING TO GET THE BENEFITS, AND SOME REVELATIONS FROM THE STATE AUDITOR AS WELL.

>> Morgan: YEAH, STATE AUTHOR MIKE HARMON HAS COME OUT WITH -- AUDITOR MIKE HARMON HAS COME OUT WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT FINDINGS BUT UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND HOW THEY HANDLED THIS HISTORIC INFLUX OF REQUESTS, AND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S FOUND WERE, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF eMAILS SEEKING HELP WITH A CLAIM THAT WENT UNOPENED, AS WELL AS SEVERAL INSTANCES OF A STATE EMPLOYEE ACCESSING THEIR OWN UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS OF CONCERN, AND THIS IS ON THE HEELS OF SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS TO TRY TO GET THEIR CLAIMS SORTED OUT.

SO, YEAH, THIS IS ALL COMING AT THAT TIME.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, IT WAS A SCATHING REPORT FROM MIKE HARMON WHO SAYS THE INTENTIONS WERE GOOD TO GET CHECKS TO PEOPLE QUICKLY, BUT THE CONTROLS WERE THROWN OUT THE WINDOW, IT OPENED THE DOOR TO THE MASSIVE FRAUD.

>> Lawrence: AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM FOR A TIME.

THEY WEREN'T CHECKING QUALIFICATIONS.

SO YOU HAD EMPLOYEES, STATE -- FULL-TIME STATE EMPLOYEES WHO WERE GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND IN HIS REPORT HE SAID THERE WERE TEN THE EMPLOYEES OF THE OFFICE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WHO HAD ACCESSED THEIR OWN ACCOUNTS, THAT HE COULDN'T TELL WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD MADE CHANGES, BUT THAT'S AGAINST THE RULES.

THAT IS AGAINST THEIR POLICY.

AND HE TURNED IT OVER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR POSSIBLE CRIMINAL PROSUT CONSTITUTION.

>> Bill: AFTER, LAWRENCE, THESE REVELATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AND IT IS KNOWN NOW THAT WE HAD SO MUCH FRAUD AND IN FOUR DAYS OR SO THE SYSTEM WAS IAN TURNED OFF TO TRY TO CLEAR THAT UP, IS IT BELIEVED THAT THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM IS ON THE RIGHT PATH NOW?

>> Lawrence: WELL, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD -- IT'S HARD TO SAY.

FOR ONE THING, THERE ARE SEVERAL PROBLEMS.

ONE, A HUGE INFLUX OF UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.

OF COURSE, AS THAT BEGINS TO EASE, IT WILL HELP, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE PRIMITIVE TECHNOLOGY THEY'RE USING, SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO FIX.

IT PROBABLY WILL BE DONE OVER TIME, BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THIS HAS BEEN A STAIN ON THE GOVERNOR.

NOT ALL HIS FAULT, BUT HE'S TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.

BUT IT'S HOPED THAT GOING FORWARD, AS THE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS GINZ TO EASE, THAT THEY CAN -- BEGINS TO EADS, THAT THEY CAN CATCH UP ON SOME OF THIS AND GET THINGS BACK IN SHAPE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE.

>> Bill: IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC KENTUCKY HAD OTHER CHALLENGES.

WE WERE HIT WITH AN ICE STORM AND THEN FLOODING IN LATE FEBRUARY GOING INTO MARCH, AND WE LEARNED JUST BEFORE AIR TIME HERE FOR "COMMENT" TONIGHT, BILL, THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS APPROVED ANOTHER FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION FOR KENTUCKY.

>> Bill Estep: RIGHT.

IT STARTED RAINING LATE FEBRUARY.

THE THE FLOODS PEAKED MARCH 1st.

THERE IS WAS SIX, 7 FEET OF WATER IN DOWNTOWN BEATTYVILLE.

JACKSON WAS FLOODED.

THE ESTELLE COUNTY.

SO SOME OF THESE COUNTIES SAW FLOOD CAN LEVELS THEY HADN'T SEEN BEFORE.

THERE WAS ANOTHER A RECORD IN BOON VILE AND ON RAVENNA ON THE KENTUCKY RIVER.

SO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION APPROVED A DISASTER DECLARATION THAT WILL ALLOW GOVERNMENTS TO GET MONEY, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND STATE GOVERNMENT TO GET MONEY FOR DEBRIS CLEANUP AND FIXING ROADS AND THAT SORT OF THING BUT IT ALSO HAS A PORTION FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS WHOSE HOMES WERE FLOODED THAT THEY CAN REPLACE FURNITURE.

THERE'S A LIMIT OF $35,000 ON THAT GRANT.

BUT IT CAN REPLACE FURNITURE, A VEHICLE, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS THAT WERE LOST IN THE FLOOD.

>> Bill: SO PEOPLE SHOULD EXPECT MORE INFORMATION FORTHCOMING NOW THAT THE DECLARATION HAS BEEN MADE.

BILL, ON EARTH DAY WHICH WAS THURSDAY, PRESIDENT BIDEN PLEDGED TO CUT AMERICA'S EMISSIONS IN HALF BY 2030.

THAT APPARENTLY MEANS LESS COAL WOULD BE BURNED.

KENTUCKY HAS SEENTH COAL PRODUCTION AND ITS JOBS PLUMMET FOR DECADES.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT HERE?

>> Bill Estep: WHAT BIDEN SAID WAS THAT HE WANTED TO CUT EMISSIONS OF UP TO 52% BY 2030, SO JUST A FEW YEARS, COMPARED TO 2005 LEVELS.

NOW THE COUNTRY'S ALREADY BELOW 2005 IN EMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AND COAL PLANTS HAVE BEEN SHUTTING DOWN, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS BUT IT'S A GOOD DISTANCE AWAY FROM 52% REDUCTION.

SO ACHIEVING THAT WOULD REQUIRE MASSIVE USE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, CLOSING DOWN PUBLIC POWER PLANTS, MUCH WIDER USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, ALL THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND THAT'S GOING TO DISADVANTAGE THE COAL INDUSTRY, AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN DISADVANTAGED TO AM IS ON EXTENT.

IT'S HAD COMPETITION FROM NATURAL GAS AND OTHER FACTORS THAT HAVE DRIVEN IT DOWN.

EMPLOYMENT IN KENTUCKY AND OTHER COAL AREAS IS FRACTION OF WHAT IT WAS IAN TEN YEARS AGO, AND THIS WOULD FURTHER EAT INTO THAT.

>> Bill: A LOT OF POLITICS AND ECONOMICS OBVIOUSLY OH ALL SIDES OF THIS.

IS IT LIKELY THERE WILL BE PROVISIONS FOR HELPING SOME OF THESE HARD-HIT COMMUNITIES?

>> Bill Estep: BIDEN SET UP A WORKING GROUP IN JANUARY TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF HOW TO HELP WHAT HE CALLED ENERGY COMMUNITIES, PLACES WHERE THEY MAKE OIL AND GAS -- PRODUCE OIL AND GAS, COAL, POWER PLANT COMMUNITIES, TO LOOK AT WAYS TO HELP THEM.

THAT GROUP ISSUED ITS FIRST REPORT TODAY AND IDENTIFIED AVAILABLE MONEY TO HELP THOSE COMMUNITIES, DIDN'T IDENTIFY ANY MONEY OR PROPOSE ANY NEW MONEY.

THAT LIKELY WILL COME LATER.

BUT IT ALSO HAS SOME OTHER THING THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

THEY'RE GOING TO COME TO KENTUCKY AND OTHER PLACES, TAKE INPUT FROM PEOPLE ON THE GROUND AND TRY TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO HELP THOSE COMMUNITIES.

>> Bill: AND THEY'VE BEEN BLAIN STORMING FOR YEARS WITH GROUPS LIKE SOAR AND SO FORTH.

>> Bill Estep: I MEAN, THE IDEAS ON WHAT TO DO -- THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF IDEAS ON HOW TO HELP COAL COUNTRY.

THERE JUST HASN'T BEEN THE RESOURCES YET TO DO THAT.

>> Bill: THE NATION WATCHED AS THE GUILTY VERDICT CAME DOWN IN MINNEAPOLIS IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF GEORGE FLOYD.

LAWRENCE, WHAT WAS THE REACTION IN LOUISVILLE AS THE VERDICTS AGAINST DEREK CHAUVIN CAME IN IN A CITY WHERE MANY ARE STILL CALLING FOR JUSTICE IN THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR?

>> Lawrence: I WOULD CALL IT SUBDUED, PERHAPS A COLLECTIVE SIGH OF RELIEF HERE.

THERE WERE A FEW PROTESTORS IN JEFFERDS SQUARE PRACTICE BUT NOT MANY.

BREONNA TAYLOR'S FAMILY EXPRESSED GRATITUDE ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT ALSO SAID THEY'RE STILL WAITING FOR JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR BECAUSE THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATION IS STILL ONGOING.

BUT OVERALL I WOULD SAY THE REACTION WAS MUTED AND A BIT SUBDUED HERE IN LOUISVILLE, NO BIG CELEBRATIONS OR NO BIG PROTESTS AS THE ALL.

>> Bill: MORGAN, WAS THAT YOUR READ ON IT AS WELL?

>> Morgan: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK RELIEF WAS A BIG EMOTION.

I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING, AND ALSO CAUTION, A SENSE OF THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY IMPORTANT CASE AND A VERY IMPORTANT RULING, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, SO MANY BLACK PEOPLE KILLED BY POLICE IN AMERICA AND VERY RARELY DO YOU SEE A CONVICTION IN A COURT OF LAW LIKE WE DID IN THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE THIS WEEK.

SO I THINK THAT THERE -- ESPECIALLY WITH BREONNA TAYLOR BEING SOMEONE FROM THIS TOWN, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF -- WAS A LOT OF CAUTION OF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A MOMENT, A RELIEF TO SEE THIS HAPPEN, TO SEE ACCOUNTABILITY, BUT ALSO, HEY, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THERE CAN BE ACCOUNTABILITY IN ALL KIND OF POLICE BRUTALITY INSTANCES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THERE WAS ANOTHER SITUATION INVOLVING A PROTESTOR.

IT WAS SIMULTANEOUS REALLY TO THE VERDICT COMING DOWN, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: YEAH, IT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND HERE.

A PROTESTOR POLICE SAY WAS BLOCKING THE STREET, AND AS POLICE ATTEMPTED TO RESTRAIN HIM, PUT HIM IN HANDCUFFS, HE -- THEY SAY HE RID OF THE, AND THEY ENDED UP PUTTING -- RESISTED AND THEY ENDED UP PUTTING HIM ON THE GROUND AND ONE POLICE OFFICER PUNCHED HIM SEVERAL TIME IN THE FACE.

THAT HAS CREATED SPARKS OF CONTROVERSY HERE, AND LMPD CHIEF ERICA SHIELD EDSHIELD SAID SHE'S CONDUCTING A INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT HAPPENED.

>> : THE TRIAL FOR THE ONLY OFFICER CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE NIGHT THAT BREONNA TAYLOR DIED HAS NOW BEEN MOVED TO NEXT YEAR, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: YEAH, HIS NAME IS BRETT HANKIE SON AND HE IS NOT CHARGED IN THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR.

HE'S CHARGED, ACCUSED OF KIND OF FIRING BLINDLY INTO NEXT DOOR APARTMENT THAT NIGHT.

BUT THERE'S SUCH A BACKLOG OF JURY TRIALS BECAUSE COVID, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HELD FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.

THEY'RE PRIORITIZING JURY TRIALS FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY IN JAIL.

SO HIS TRIAL WAS SUPPOSED TO START IN AUGUST.

IT WILL NOW NOT START UNTIL SOME TIME IN FEBRUARY BECAUSE OF THIS BACKLOG OF JURY TRIALS HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

>> Bill: AND, OF COURSE, FOR A CHANGE OF VENUE WAS NOT GRANTED, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: RIGHT.

JUNE ANN BAILEY SMITH DENIED THAT REQUEST, BUT SHE IS VERY, VERY KEEN ON HAVING A BIG JURY POOL TO CHOOSE FROM, WHICH IS ALSO IMPOSSIBLE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF FACING, SOCIAL DISTANCING.

THEY CAN'T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME AREA.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON THEY'RE HOPING THAT BY FEBRUARY SOME OF ATHLETES RESTRICTIONS WILL BE EASED.

>> Bill: MORGAN, MAYOR GREG FISCHER HAS PROPOSED A NEW CITY EMBRYOLOGY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE LOOKING AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT PORTION THAT OF.

IT DOES NOT DEFUND THE POLICE, AS SOME HAVE CALLED FOR, BUT IT DOES APPEAR TO SHIFT SOME MONEY AND PROPRIETORS AROUND.

>> Morgan: RIGHT.

THE BUDGET THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED BY MAYOR FISCHER KEEPS THE POLICE'S NEARLY $200 MILLION BUDGET INTACT.

MAYOR FISCHER SAID, LOOK, I DON'T THINK IT'S PRACTICAL, THE IDEA OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS NOT PRACTICAL.

HE ALSO SAID CONTROVERSIALLY THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE -- NOBODY HAS -- NOBODY ARGUES WITH POLICING IS WHAT HE SAID.

IT'S HOW IT'S DONE.

BUT, OF COURSE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO QUESTION NOT JUST THE MANNER OF POLICING BUT POLICE AS AN INSTITUTION.

WHAT MAYOR FISCHER DID STRESS WAS THAT HE -- EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT REMOVING ANY MONEY FROM THE POLICE BUDGET, THEY ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING MONEY TOWARD THIS NEW CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT BOARD THAT'S TASKED WITH KIND OF OVERSEEING WHAT THE POLICE ARE DOING IN LOUISVILLE, ALSO TOWARD A PILOT PROGRAM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO ESSENTIALLY PAVE THE WAY FOR MAYBE INSTEAD OF AN OFFICER BEING THE ONE TO RESPOND TO EVERY 911 CALL, YOU MIGHT SEND A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR ON OR A SOCIAL WORKER DEPENDING ON THE CALL.

AND THEN ALSO PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR GROUPS THAT ARE WORKING ON VIOLENCE PREVENTION IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Bill: OBVIOUSLY A LOT TO BE DISCUSSED BEFORE THAT BUDGET IS FINALIZED.

IN THE POLITICAL REALM, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHARLES BOOKER WHO IS NOW EXPLORING A DEMOCRATIC RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE LETTERS WEIGHED IN ON THE ALSO WEIGHTED IN ON THE DEREK CHAUVIN VERDICT, MORGAN.

>> Morgan: BOOKER STRUCK A VERY REFLECTIVE TONE, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE STRIKING IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PIVOTAL MOMENT, A PIVOTAL RULING, BUT SOMETHING THAT HE STRESSED IN HIS KIND OF PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT HE GAVE WAS, YOU KNOW, ONE, BREONNA TAYLOR AND MANY OTHER BLACK PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED BY POLICE AND THEIR FAMILIES, THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY AS WE'VE SEEN NOW IN THE GEORGE FLOYD CASE WITH A CRIMINAL CONVICTION.

SO HE SORT OF WANTED TO NOTE THAT.

HE NOTED THAT THIS DOESN'T GIVE GEORGE FLOYD BACK TO HIS FAMILY.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LIFE LOST IN THIS.

YOU CAN'T FIXED THAT.

AND HE ALSO REALLY STRESSED THAT THIS IS ABOUT KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD THAT THERE'S SO MUCH MORE WORK TO BE DONE TO MAKE THIS KIND OF JUSTICE THE NORM AND REALLY KIND OF STRESSED THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AHEAD, HOW MUCH MORE WE NEED TO DO.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, BOOKER HOPES TO TAKE ON INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN RAND PAUL WHO HAS BEEN ANIMATED AND MORE VISIBLE ILLS ITS SEEMS RECENTLY IN SENATE COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND SOME OTHER PLACES.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, HEY HAS.

HIS LATEST THING IS MASK WEARING.

HE, IN FACT, HAS CHALLENGED PRESIDENT BIDEN.

HE SAID, IF YOU WANT TO PROMOTE PEOPLE TAKING VACCINES, OUGHT TO GO ON LIVE TV AND TAKE OFF YOUR MASK AND BURN IT.

SO THAT'S HIS LATEST THING, IS CHALLENGING THE SCIENCE BEHIND WEARING A MASK AND WHETHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE ACTUALLY SPREAD THE VIRUS.

SO, YES, HE'S FLEXING HIS LIBERTARIAN TALKS ONCE AGAIN.

>> Bill: WE TALKED ABOUT THAT'S THE '22 SENATE RACE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE '23 GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WE'RE HEARING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.

INCUMBENT ANDY BESHEAR SEEKING RE-ELECTION.

IT LOOKS LIKE HE WILL HAVE AN EASY WAY TO THE DEMOCRATIC RENOMINATION.

BUT NICK STORM NOW RUNS A WEBSITE KENTUCKY FRIED POLITICS.

WE'VE ALL BEEN ENJOYING LOOKING OVER.

HE REPORTED SOME EARLY BIRD CONVERSATION ON THE GOP SIDE.

AND BILL SUM SETS ALLEN CONNECTION'S NAME IS OUT THERE BEVERAGES KECK'S IN HIS FIRST TERM AS MAYOR GOT CONTIGUITY MARKS.

HE IS A YOUNG DIE BE GUY, A BUSINESSMAN, A CONSERVATIVE.

HE GOT SOME ATTENTION LAST YEAR FOR A REOPENING PLAN THAT WAS WELL AHEAD OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED TO TRY TODAY TOO IN TERMS OF REOPENING RESTAURANTS AND DAYCARES AND THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.

HE'S IN THE OUTSAID OF AN EFFORT TO TRY TO START A PRIVATE 9:30 SUMMERSET.

HE'S GOT A LOT OF ENERGY AND HE'S WEAN TALKED ABOUT AS A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE.

>> Bill: IT'S BEEN TOUGH FOR GOVERNORS TO RUN FOR MAYOR IN BIG CITIES.

>> Bill Estep: YEAH, THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE BE THE MAYORS TRADITIONALLY HAVEN'T DONE WELL IN TERMS OF RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: HARVEST SLOAN.

>> Bill Estep: JERRY ABRAMSON WAS MENTIONED AS A CANDIDATE BUT DIDN'T RUN.

YEAH, THERE'S NOT BEEN A GREAT RECORD OF ELECTING MAYORS.

>> Bill: ANOTHER NAME BACK OUT THERE, LAWRENCE, MATT BEVIN WHO LOST TO BARREN BY ABOUT 5,000 VOTES, VERY CLOSE RACE.

WOULD REPUBLICANS GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE?

>> Lawrence: LET'S JUST SAY THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH SELL BECAUSE HE LOST A RACE THAT MANY BELIEVE HE SHOULD HAVE WON, AND THEY SAY THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE FIGHTS HE PICKED WITH PEOPLE LIKE TEACHERS, THEY WEREN'T SO MUCH UPSET WITH HIS POLICIES BUT THE PERSONALITY, PERHAPS, IS WHAT THEY WERE UPSET WITH, AND IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT HE COULD SUCCESSFULLY RUN AGAIN, HAVING LOST TO ANDY BESHEAR, A DEMOCRAT IN A RED STATE.

BUT IN A CROWDED PRIMARY, BILL, YOU CAN NEVER TELL WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT TAKES A CLEAR MARGIN TO WIN, AS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN HE FIRST WON THE PRIMARY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

SO WHO KNOWS.

IT'S UNLIKELY, BUT WHO KNOWS.

>> Bill: YOU GET YOUR FAMILY AND SOME NEIGHBORS AND MAYBE YOU'RE IN THE RISE, RIGHT?

LET'S NAME SOME NAMES.

FORMER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT, CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMB WERE AG COMMISSIONER QUARLES, AUDITOR MIKE HARMON, TREASURER ALLISON BALL, ALL INDICATING SOME LEVEL OF INTEREST IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A PRIMARY LIKE THE DEMOCRATS USED TO HAVE?

LAWRENCE.

>> Lawrence: CERTAINLY.

AND YOU'VE HEARD THIS BEFORE BUT IT'S EASIER TO NAME THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY.

SO, YES.

BUT IT SEEMS TO EXPRESS SOME LEVEL OF PERCEPTION THAT THE GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS SOME WEAKNESS.

HE'S A DEMOCRAT IN A RED STATE.

THERE'S THAT.

AND DEMOCRAT -- OR REPUBLICANS THINK THAT HE'S ALSO VULNERABLE ON SOME OF THE CORONAVIRUS MANDATES THAT HE HAS PUT DOWN OVER THE PAST YEAR, ALTHOUGH THAT COULD BE A STRENGTH OF HIS AS WELL.

THERE ARE MANY WHO LIKE THE WAY HE HANDLED THE CORONAVIRUS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO EMERGES AND WHAT ISSUES THEY USE TO TRY TO UNSEAT A SITTING GOVERNOR.

>> Bill: ANOTHER DYNAMIC OUT THERE IS THAT THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR DON'T HAVE TO NAME A RUNGE MATE BEFORE THE PRIMARY ELECTION ANYMORE, A RUNNING MATE.

SO POSSIBLY YOU COULD SEE AN ALSO-RAN, A RUNNER ON THE TICKET LATER ON.

WE'RE ABOUT DERBY TIME, LAWRENCE.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THE LOUISVILLE AREA AND HAS AN IMPACT ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

THE CROWD IS REDUCED THIS YEAR, BUT HOW NORMAL CAN IT BE?

>> Lawrence: WELL, AS NORMAL AS IT CAN BE WHEN WE'RE STILL IN A PANDEMIC.

IT WILL BE 50 TO 60 PERCENT CROWDS.

THEY'RE MORE VIRTUAL EVENTS THAN USUAL.

I THINK THERE'S ONLY ONE DERBY BOWL THIS YEAR.

AND THERE WILL BE LESS, A LOT LESS INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE COMING IN.

SO IT WILL PROBABLY BE MORE LOCAL DERBY, BUT AFTER COVID AND LAST YEAR WHEN THE DERBY WAS IN SEPTEMBER AND THERE WAS NO CROWD ALLOWED, IT'S VERY, VERY WELCOME.

>> Bill: ABSOLUTELY.

TOUGH MIXED EMOTIONS FOR KENTUCKY WILDCAT FANS.

BASKETBALL PLAYER TERRANCE CLARK DIED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN L.A. AT AGE 19.

HE WAS HEADING TO THE NBA.

AND THE WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL TEAM WILL COMPETE FOR A NATIONALITIES TITLE THIS WEEKEND.

BRIE A IS DEBATING ITS BRANDINGS ALONG WITH WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE ART CAPITOL OF KET BUT NOW AT ITS LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO EXPAND THEIR IDENTITY.

BE SURE TO TUNE IN MONDAY AT 8 EASTERN, 7 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ON MASS SHOOTINGS AND