[♪♪] >> Bill: HOUSING CHALLENGINGS COME INTO FOCUS IN KENTUCKY INCLUDING SHORTAGES, AFFORDABILITY AND A CLOSELY WATCHED CASE BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

>>> KENTUCKY GETS FEDERAL MONEY TO EXPAND SOLAR ENERGY AND THE EPA TAKES AIM AT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

>>> AN AUTO PLANT IN THE SOUTH GOES UNION AS KENTUCKY CONTINUES TO SEE MORE AUTO RELATED JOBS.

>>> IN WASHINGTON SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL IS CRITICAL OF SOME COLLEAGUES.

>>> JUST BEFORE WE HIT DERBY WEEKEND, 0 COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: 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 CHRIS OTTS REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE.

AND LIAM NIEMEYER, REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

ALSO TONIGHT A NEW STUDY SAYS AIR QUALITY IN LOUISVILLE IS GETTING WORSE AND A NEW POLL SHOWS GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR APPROVAL RATING HAS CLIMBED IN RECENT MONTHS.

WE BEGIN WITH HOUSING.

DEVELOPMENTS THIS WEEK, AS OWNING OR RENTING A HOME IS BECOMING EVEN MORE CHALLENGING, INTEREST RATES ABOVE 7%, HOME VALUES ARE CLIMBING BECAUSE OF LIMITED SUPPLY AND THAT IS LEADING TO HIGHER TAX BILLS.

CHRIS, IT IS A CONFLUENCE OF ISSUES ON HOUSING RIGHT NOW.

AND A CHALLENGE WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS AND LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO GO OR FOLKS WHO LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING NEW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO RENTS ARE UP SOME 20% SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

HOME PRICES HAVE NOT COME DOWN, DESPITE MUCH HIGHER INTEREST RATES WHICH MEANS IT'S MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO GET INTO A HOME.

AND THEN AT THE LOWER END OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC SPECTRUM IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO BUILD HOUSING THAT IS NEEDED AND TO DO SO PROFITABLY, SUSTAINABLY.

SO WE HAVE A VAST SHORTAGE IN LOUISVILLE AND REALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF HOUSING FOR PEOPLE AT THE VERY LOW-END OF THE INCOME SPECTRUM.

>> Bill: SOME CITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO OPEN UP AREAS AND MAKE FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THEN THE DEVELOPERS DON'T GO THERE.

IS THERE NO MONEY TO BE MADE ON A $200,000 HOUSE THESE DAYS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE MONEY IS TO BE MADE IN DENSITY AND LARGER PROJECTS.

BUT THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES TO DOING THAT.

THERE'S ZONING CHALLENGES.

THERE'S OPPOSITION FROM NEIGHBORS.

THERE'S FINANCING CHALLENGES.

SO THOSE ISSUES ALL SORT OF COME TOGETHER AND WE'VE SEEN LOUISVILLE TRY TO LOOSEN ZONING RESTRICTIONS JUST FOR A MORE MODEST LIKE A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSE LOT YOU COULD BUILD A DUPLEX.

BUT THEN THE LEGISLATURE CAME IN AND SAID NO WE'RE GOING TO PUT A PAUSE TO THAT.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT FOR AT LEAST A YEAR WHILE WE TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN.

SO THERE'S COMMUNITY OPPOSITION ISSUES, BUT THE MAIN ISSUE, I THINK, BILL, IS THE ECONOMICS.

THE FINANCING OF IT.

WE'VE ONLY BUILT SOMETHING LIKE 6,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS IN THE LOUISVILLE METRO AREA WHICH INCLUDES SOUTHERN INDIANA, IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

AND THAT IS ACTUALLY UP A LOT BASED ON THE PAST DECADE OR SO BUT STILL SO MUCH LESS THAN IS NEEDED.

>> Bill: I SAW A STUDY FEW HOMES ARE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY AT LESS THAN THE $200,000 MARK AND 10 YEARS AGO THAT WAS 40% OF THE MARKET.

SOMETHING HAS CHANGED AND THAT IS A SHORTAGE.

>> YEAH.

AND IT'S PARADOXICLY, YOU WOULD THINK THAT HOUSING PRICES WERE GOING UP AND INTEREST RATES BASICALLY DOUBLED OVERNIGHT.

AND SO WHAT THAT SHOULD HAVE RESULTED IN IS BUYERS BECOMING LESS MOTIVATED AND LESS ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE PRICES THAT THEY WERE PAYING.

BUT ON THE SUPPLY SIDE AS YOU HINTED AT, YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO LOCKED IN THAT LOW INTEREST RATE FOR THAT VERY GENEROUS 30-YEAR PERIOD AND THEY ARE SITTING ON THEIR HOMES.

THEY ARE NOT MOVING VOLUNTARILY.

THEY ARE ONLY MOVING IF THEY HAVE TO.

A DIVORCE OR A CHANGE IN CITIES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THE SUPPLY OF THE AVAILABLE HOMES IS LIMITED AND THAT IS KEEPING PRICES HIGH.

SO IF YOU ARE IN THE MARKET FOR A HOME TO PURCHASE RIGHT NOW IT'S EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

>> AND IT TIES INTO THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE NOT JUST LOUISVILLE BUT SO MANY CITIES ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW, BILL.

AND WE SAW A STUDY IN LOUISVILLE THAT THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED EVEN MORE PREVIOUSLY WE ESTIMATED THAT WE NEEDED ABOUT 31,000 NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS NOW IT'S 36,000.

AND THIS ALL COMES AS SOME OF THE PUBLIC HOUSING COMPLEXES IN CITIES LIKE LOUISVILLE ARE REALLY DATED.

THE BUILDINGS ARE ANCIENT.

AND THE CITY OFFICIALS SAY THAT.

EVEN FOLKS LIVING IN THERE SAY TIMES I WOULD RATHER NOT BE IN THE BUILDING AT ALL.

>> Bill: AND THE CITIES ARE TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS.

MAYOR GREENBURG'S BUDGET PROPOSAL TRIES TO TAKE A SWING AT THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE.

>> $32 MILLION, BILL, TOWARD AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOTH CREATING NEW UNITS AND PRESIFFING OLD ONES.

OBVIOUSLY SOME OF THE SPECIFICS IN THAT MONEY OR IN THE MONIES THAT HE IS PROPOSING ARE NOT REALLY SPECIFIED.

WE ARE NOT SEEING A LOT OF THAT.

HOWEVER WE KNOW THE STATE HAS INVESTED ONE-TIME FUNDING $100 MILLION OVER TWO YEARS AND SOME IS SPECIFICALLY TOWARD THE COMMUNITY CARE CAMPUS A BIG PROJECT THAT THE MAYOR HOPES WILL ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY.

>> Bill: LIAM, THE STATE ALLOCATED DOLLARS TO HELP SOME CITIES THE OUTCRY SEEMS TO BE GETTING LOUDER EVEN IN THE CITIES OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE ALLOCATED ONE-TIME FUNDING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT IN LEXINGTON.

BUT THE NEED, OF COURSE, IS ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

HOUSING ADVOCATES THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION KIND OF SWUNG FOR THE FENCE AND ASKED LAWMAKERS FOR $200 MILLION TO MEET NEEDS ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING IN AREAS WESTERN KENTUCKY, EASTERN KENTUCKY THAT ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM HOUSING SHORTAGES RELATED TO FLOODS AND TORNADOES.

AND THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING THAT WAS ALLOCATED TO STATE HOUSING TRUST FUNDS.

BUT LAWMAKERS SUCH AS SAY, PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS EXPRESSED HESITANCY IN REGARDS TO DOES THE STATE NONPROFITS, NONPROFIT HOUSING DEVELOPERS HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACTUALLY BUILD THESE THIS HOUSING IF GIVEN THE FUNDING.

WHICH THEY ARGUE THEY DO.

>> Bill: AGAIN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SET OF ISSUES THAT IS UPSCALE AND DOWN SCALE.

>> THEY ARE INTERRELATED.

>> Bill: AND WHAT YOU HAVE WITH THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY VALUES WE ARE SEEING HIGHER TAX BILLS AND THAT IS GEEZING PEOPLE WHO MAY BE COMFORTABLE HOUSED RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH, THE FOLKS SITTING ON THE LOW INTEREST RATES, YOU KNOW THEY MAY GET A HIGHER TAX BILL.

IN THEORY, YOUR ASSESSMENT WHICH IS THE SORT OF TAX VALUE OF THE PROPERTY THAT YOU OWN, IT SHOULD GO UP OVER TIME.

AND WE ARE SEEING THAT IN LOUISVILLE JUST TODAY THE COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR RELEASED NEW VALUES FOR A BIG PORTION AND PART OF THE LOUISVILLE THAT HAS HIGHER HOUSING VALUES.

SO SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF STICKER SHOCK THERE.

I SAW ONE PERSON WHO HAD A 45% INCREASE IN THAT VALUE.

SO THAT WILL RESULT IN HIGHER MORTGAGE PAYMENTS.

BUT REMEMBER, TOO, THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE FIRE DISTRICTS ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE FUNDED WITH PROPERTY TAXES THEY ALSO HAVE RISING COSTS.

THEY HAVE HIGHER PERSONNEL COSTS.

HIGHER COSTS FOR EVERYTHING AND TO KEEP UP WITH PUBLIC SERVICES THEY NEED THOSE VALUES TO RISE AS WELL.

>> I HEARD FROM FOLKS IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS WHO LIVED IN THEIR HOMES GERMANTOWN, 30, 40 YEARS, SOME TELL US THEY ARE HAPPY TO SEE THAT THEIR HOME IS WORTH QUITE A BIT MORE.

>> Bill: THE PROPERTY VALUES GO UP.

AS WE COVER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HOUSE BILL 5 THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT WE CONTINUE TO HEAR TALK ABOUT THE PIECE THAT REGARDS HOMELESSNESS.

AND WHETHER PEOPLE COULD BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED FOR AS CRITICS SAY HAVING NOWHERE TO GO.

THERE'S ALSO A SUPREME COURT CASE IN WASHINGTON THAT IS BEING CLOSELY WATCHED AND POSSIBLY TIED TO ALL OF THIS.

>> SURE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT JUNE AS BEING POTENTIALLY THE TIME WHEN JUSTICES WILL MAKE A DECISION ON THE FUNDAMENTAL ARGUMENT WHETHER BEING HOMELESS IS SOME SORT OF CONDUCT, SOMETHING YOU DO BY CHOICE.

OR IF IT IS A PART OF YOUR IDENTITY OR A CONDITION MUCH LIKE A MEDICAL SICKNESS IF YOU WILL, THAT YOU HAVE TO BE TREATED FOR, WHICH LINE DOES IT FALL IN?

AND THAT ULTIMATELY IS GOING TO LET US KNOW ON A LOCAL AND STATE LEVEL HOW THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT WILL BE ABLE TO BE PUT INTO PLAY AND WHETHER IT WILL BE A MOOT POINT.

>> Bill: LOUISVILLE WILL START INSPECTING RENTAL PROPERTIES.

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FOR?

>> JUST THE BASIC STANDARDS THAT THE STATE LAW SETS OUT FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES.

THINGS LIKE ONE EXAMPLE YOU HEAR STORIES SAD STORIES OF LIKE HEAT IN THE WINTER.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HEATING SOURCE TO RENT A PROPERTY IN THIS STATE.

AND YOU KNOW SOME PEOPLE MAYBE USE THEIR OVENS AND THAT IS NOT ALLOWED.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE IDEA IS THAT FOLKS PARTICULARLY AT THE LOWEST INCOME LEVEL WHO MAY FACE THIS SHORTAGE OF HOUSING OR POTENTIAL HOMELESSNESS, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY SPEAK UP AND SAY, HEY, MY APARTMENT UNIT DOES NOT MEET SOME KIND OF BASIC CODE OR STANDARD.

SO WHAT LOUISVILLE IS STARTING TO DO, THE METRO COUNCIL PASSED THIS THEY ARE GOING TO PICK A SMALL NUMBER OF RANDOM SUBSET OF HOUSING UNITS TO GO AND INSPECT WITHOUT HAVING A COMPLAINT COME IN FIRST.

AND THE HOPE IS THAT THEY WILL CATCH THINGS THAT PERHAPS EVEN RESIDENTS OF THESE UNITS ARE NOT ABLE TO REPORT FOR WHATEVER REASON.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

BIG SET OF ISSUES HOUSING, GOOD DISCUSSION ON THAT.

MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS IMPACTED KENTUCKY COAL POWER PLANTS COULD FACE STRICT RULES UNDER THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

LIAM NIEMEYER COAL-FIRE PLANTS WOULD HAVE TO CAPTURE CARBON EMISSIONS OR THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLOSE.

>> THE EPA FINALIZED AND THESE RULES HAVE BEEN NEARLY A YEAR IN THE MAKING.

THEY FINALIZED FOUR RULES CUTTING DOWN ON CARBON EMISSIONS, AIR POLLUTION, WATER POLLUTION, COAL ASH, ASSOCIATED WITH THE COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

UNDER THE RULES THEY WOULD HAVE TO CAPTURE 90% OF THEIR CARBON EMISSIONS THAT ARE WARMING THE GLOBE, CONTRIBUTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE, BY 2032 OR BE FORCED TO CLOSE.

KENTUCKY ACCORDING TO THE ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION KENTUCKY WAS ONE OF FOUR STATES AS OF 2021 THAT GENERATED MORE THAN 70% OF ITS ELECTRICITY BY COAL.

SO IF THESE RULES WERE TO GO INTO EFFECT, MOSTLY AS IS OR AS IS, IT WOULD BE A SEA CHANGE OF HOW KENTUCKY GETS ITS ELECTRICITY.

OF COURSE THERE WILL BE LEGAL CHALLENGES.

>> Bill: WE KNOW THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE SET ASIDE $3 MILLION FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CHALLENGE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

IT WAS ABOUT $3 MILLION GIVEN TO ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN.

COLEMAN HAS BEEN JOINING OTHER REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN OTHER LAWSUITS AGAINST THE EPA WHETHER RELATED TO SOUP POLLUTION FROM POWER PLANTS OR METHANE EMISSIONS CONNECTED TO OIL AND GAS WELLS.

YOU KNOW, AND HE HASN'T SAID WHETHER HE IS GOING TO SUE REGARDING THESE NEW POWER PLANT RULES BUT LIKELY WILL BE LEGAL CHALLENGES.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

ANOTHER ENERGY ISSUE THIS WEEK THE EP EPA AWARDED KENTUCKY A SOLAR FOR ALL GRANT FOR FAMILIES HOPING TO GET ENERGY FROM THE SUN.

>> $62 MILLION IN THE STATE'S PROPOSAL.

THIS WHOLE COMPETITION IS CALLED SOLAR FOR ALL MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S INFLATION REDUCTION ACT.

BASICALLY, THE STATE IS PROPOSING PUTTING SOLAR AND BATTERY STORAGE SYSTEMS ON HUNDREDS OF DISASTER RECOVERY HOMES.

HOMES THAT ARE BEING REBUILT IN EASTERN OR WESTERN KENTUCKY AFTER THE DISASTERS TO WHERE THE SOLAR SYSTEMS WILL BE ABLE TO SAY CUT DOWN ON ELECTRICITY BILLS FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE MOVING INTO THESE HOMES.

THERE ALSO WILL BE SCHOLARSHIPS NAT WILL GO TOWARDS TRAINING PEOPLE TO INSTALL RESIDENTIAL SOLAR.

>> Bill: CHRIS ON THE SOLAR FRONT, THE FORMER STATE AUDITOR WHO RUNS A RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY IN 13 STATES HAS MOVED INTO THE FAITH BASED COMMUNITY FOR A PARTNERSHIP?

>> YES.

I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW HOW THE DETAILS WILL WORK BUT THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF LEXINGTON HAS MADE A COMMITMENT TO CARBON NEUTRALITY AND I BELIEVE HIS FIRM WILL BE HELPING THEM PERHAPS IN A VOLUNTEER CAPACITY, I THINK, TO FIGURE OUT HOW EXACTLY THEY ARE GOING TO DO THAT.

ONE EXAMPLE IS YOU KNOW, HIS -- HE ANNOUNCED A PROJECT LAST YEAR I REMEMBER COVERING THIS WITH TOYOTA WHICH HAS THEIR LARGER AUTO PLANT IN THE WORLD HERE IN KENTUCKY AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE UNDERWRITING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR POWER OUT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY TO SORT OF COUNT THAT TOWARDS THEIR OWN NET ZERO GOALS.

THE BIG PICTURE IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES WHETHER IT'S BUSINESSES OR FAITH BASED COMMUNITIES LIKE THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE HERE THAT ARE LOOKING AT THESE NET ZERO COMMITMENTS AND SUSTAINABILITY AND THAT THAT DOES HAVE A PRESENCE IN THE STATE DESPITE THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS VERY MUCH PRO COAL.

>> Bill: WE ALSO HEARD THAT AS WE TALK RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT THERE WAS A FINDING THAT LOUISVILLE NOW HAS THE 39TH WORST OZONE POLLUTION PROBLEM IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION LIAM?

>> YES, IT'S NOT A GREAT REPORT.

THE OVERALL AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT THE REGULATOR FOR OZONE IN LOUISVILLE ASKED THE EPA LAST SUMMER IF THEY COULD CLASSIFY THE OZONE LEVELS AS BEING OF ATTAINMENT MEETING HEALTH STANDARDS.

THERE'S SOME DEBATE AMONGST THAT, AMONGST ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THAT SAY OZONE HASN'T NECESSARILY IMPROVED AS MUCH AS THIS REGULATOR IS SAYING.

BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS REPORT SHOWS THAT IT'S STILL IMPACTING HEALTH.

>> THIS COMES IN LOUISVILLE LOCALLY WHERE THE PUBLIC BUS TRANSIT SYSTEM HERE THEY ARE DEALING WITH MAJOR THEY CALL IT A FISCAL CLIFF THAT THEY ARE APPROACHING.

THEY ARE DEALING WITH CUTS AND POTENTIALLY CUTTING CERTAIN ROUTES AT CERTAIN TIMES.

YOU ARE SEEING ALSO A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT GOING ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF COUNTY RATHER THAN THE MOST WALKABLE AREAS OF THE CITY.

SO YOU ARE SEEING DEVELOPMENT GO OUT THERE, MORE PEOPLE DRIVING IN THE CITY SEEMINGLY IS ALMOST GOING IN THAT DIRECTION AS WELL.

>> Bill: A VOTE TO UNIONIZE A VOLKSWAGEN PLANT IN TENNESSEE HAS GOTTEN ATTENTION.

THE GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE CALL TO DO A MISTAKE BY WORKERS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN PRAISED THE OUTCOME OF THAT VOTE.

CHEMISTRY -- CHRIS, THIS LEADS TO TALKS OF UNION DRIVES ANOTHER SOUTHERN STATE?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

IT IS A BREAKTHROUGH AT THE VOLKSWAGEN PLANT IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

VW IS USED TO UNIONS.

THEY ARE A GERMAN COMPANY.

IN GERMANY, THEY CO-WITH THE SHAREHOLDERS.

THIS DRIVE HAS BEEN 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

MULTIPLE FITS AND STARTS AND THEN THEY HAD THIS BIG VICTORY THIS WEEK.

IT IS A SMALLER PLANT, BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE REALLY CANNOT BE OVERSTATED.

THE UAW IS MOVING TO ANOTHER VOTE IN MAY IN VANCE, ALABAMA AT A MERCEDES PLANT.

THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE THE WINS FROM THE STRIKE LAST YEAR AND ORGANIZE MORE OF THESE FOREIGN AUTO PLANTS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND WHAT I WILL BE LOOKING FOR AND A LOT OF FOLKS WILL BE LOOKING FOR IS WHEN WILL THEY MOVE TO THE JAPANESE COMPANIES LIKE TOYOTA AND HONDA.

THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO ORGANIZE THE TOYOTA PLANT IN GEORGETOWN.

HAVEN'T SEEN A WHOLE LOT COME OUT PUBLICLY ABOUT THAT EFFORT YET.

BUT WE KNOW THEY WILL BE LOOKING IN THAT DIRECTION.

IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING A FEW MONTHS AGO WE GOT AN OP-ED FROM THE PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA IN KENTUCKY THAT IT JUST NOT A USUAL THING FOR THEM TO DO.

BUT WE WERE HAPPY TO PUBLISH IT.

AND I WAS KIND OF CURIOUS AS TO WHAT WAS DRIVING IT AND TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, IT MENTIONED ALL THE GREAT THINGS THEY ARE DOING AND HOW LABOR ORGANIZATIONS DON'T MAKE THESE PROMISES.

IT MAY HAVE GOTTEN THEIR ATTENTION.

THAT REALLY IS SOMETHING TO WATCH ON THE HORIZON OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

>> THE VOLKSWAGEN HAS A BIG FOOTPRINT.

>> HIRING IS HAPPENING FOR THE BLUE SK PLANT AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL BE BUT THEY ARE BUILDING EV BATTERIES FOR FUTURE FORD VEHICLES.

FORD STILL HOPING TO TURN A PROFIT ON EV'S BUT HASN'T YET.

>> THEY'VE SAID THEY WILL LOSE 5 TO 5.5 BILLION ON EV'S.

THEY ARE A LONG WAY AWAY.

IF YOU LISTEN TO WHAT THE EXECUTIVES TELL INVESTORS ON THE ONE HAND EV'S ALLOW US BECAUSE OF EMISSION STANDARDS TO SELL MORE OF THE PROFITABLE TRUCKS BUT ON THE OTHER HAND WE KNOW THAT IN THE LONG-TERM EV'S NEED TO BE A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS ON THEIR OWN.

AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THEY ARE A LONG WAY FROM THAT.

>> Bill: WHAT IS GOING ON IN HARD DIN COUNTY?

>> THAT CONSTRUCTION THAT THAT SECOND PLANT SUPPOSED TO OPEN THAT IS PUT ON HOLD ACCORDING TO FORD GIVEN REASSESSING THE DEMAND, IF YOU WILL BUT THAT FIRST PLANT, 2025 OPENING UP FROM OUR UNDERSTANDING IS STILL A GO.

THEY ARE UP TO 700 WORKERS HIRED.

THEY'VE GOTTEN THOUSANDS OF APPLICATIONS.

SO NO SHORTAGE OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN DOING THIS KIND OF WORK.

I GUESS A BIG QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHERE WILL A LOT OF WORKERS LIVE IN THE AREA?

WE UNDERSTAND FOLKS IN GLENDALE ARE WORRIED, THEY HAVE LIVE THERE HAD FOR A LONGTIME AND HERE COMES THESE OUT OF STATE FOLKS COMING IN POTENTIALLY AND TAKING OVER.

>> Bill: WE'RE BACK TO THE FIRST TOPIC ON HOUSING.

>> RIGHT.

HARDEN COUNTY SAYS THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THIS AND THE WORKERS WILL BE TRAINED STARTING IN JUNE.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S NEXT EDUCATION COMMISSIONER WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE MEDIA THAT IS SET FOR MONDAY AFTERNOON.

AND THERE IS HIS PICTURE HE IS A LOCAL SUPERINTENDENT NOW.

HE WILL BE TAKING OVER ON JULY FIRST.

ISAIAH, HE DOESN'T WANT TO DO INTERVIEWS YET.

>> YOU CAN IMAGINE Dr. FLETCHER WANTS TO GET HIS DUCKS IN A ROW PRIOR TO ANSWERING I'M SURE AND EXPECT POINTED QUESTIONS.

WE KNOW HOW THE LAST EDUCATION COMMISSIONER LEFT.

IT WAS REALLY AWFUL RELATIONS WITH SPECIFICALLY THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

HE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

SEEMINGLY FOR NOT ALWAYS THE BEST REASONS SOME LAWMAKERS ARE CONCERNED.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH THIS SPECIFIC POSITION HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING HE SAYS IS GOING TO GO AGAINST POTENTIALLY WHAT SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO CONFIRMED HIS APPOINTMENT.

>> Bill: A NEW MORNING POLL PUTS ANDY BESHEAR'S APPROVAL RATING AT 65% UP FROM LAST YEAR.

IT PEGS HIM AS THE MOST POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN THE FUTURE.

SO BESHEAR REMAINS POPULAR GOVERNOR IN A RED STATE.

WHAT DOES HE DO WITH THAT?

>> SENATE, WHO KNOWS?

HE CAN'T RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

>> Bill: A WIDE OPEN QUESTION.

>> THE DEMOCRATS ARE THINKING WHEN CAN WILL AND LILA BE OLD ENOUGH TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> OF COURSE, BESHEAR HAS THAT SUPER PACT BACKING VARIOUS CANDIDATES SHARON BROWN, I THINK BACKING ONE OF THE CANDIDATES FOR THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT.

AND HE ALSO RECENTLY AS OF MAYBE IT WAS A FEW WEEKS AGO MADE AN APPEARANCE WITH MONTANA SENATOR JOHN TESS TRA IN TERMS OF BACKING HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

AT THE LEAST, HIS REELECTION EFFORT FROM LAST YEAR SEEMS TO BE GAINING ATTENTION FROM OTHERS.

>> Bill: HE IS MOVING AROUND.

>> THE CHIPS HAVE STARTED LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE PREDICTED GOING IN.

HE HAS TALKED ABOUT HOW HE IS TERM LIMITED.

SO YOU CAN SEE HIM BROADENING POTENTIALLY SOME OF HIS INFLUENCE NATIONWIDE.

>> Bill: SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL IS SPEAKING FREELY THIS WEEK HE HELPED PUSH THROUGH A $95 FOREIGN AID PACKAGE FOR UKRAINE, ISRAEL AND TAIWAN PASSED 79-18.

HE CHASTISED THOSE WHO OPPOSED SPENDING THAT MONEY SAYING THE COUNTRY HAS TO ASSERT A WORLD LEADERSHIP ROLE.

>> HISTORY WILL RECORD THAT AS ALLIES AND PARTNERS MAY HAVE WORRIED ABOUT THE DEPTH OF OUR RESOLVE, EVEN AS MOSCOW, BAY YING AND TEHRAN GREW MORE CONVINCED THAT OUR INFLUENCE HAD RUN ITS COURSE, AND EVEN AS LOUD VOICES HERE AT HOME INSISTED ON ABANDONING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEADERSHIP, AMERICA STEPPED UP AND THE SENATE HELD FIRM.

>> Bill: McCONNELL SAYS HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE OUTCOME AND CRITICIZED SOME IN HIS PARTY.

>> HE MADE THAT CLEAR TODAY IN LOUISVILLE THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, AGAIN, REPEATING EVEN GOING AGAINST AND SPEAKING AGAINST FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHICH HE RECENT HE WILL ENDORSED BUT HE TALKS ABOUT WORKING IN ISOLATION LIKE SOME OF THE FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS ARE IS NOT THE WAY TO DO IT.

HE HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR INTERNATIONAL AID FOR A WHILE.

>> Bill: AND PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL MAKE A TRIP TO KENTUCKY.

>> WITH THE CRAFTS WELL-KNOWN.

>> A FUNDRAISER.

>> AND KELLY CRAFT MADE A FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP A BIG PART OR A SLIVER OF HER CAMPAIGN TALKING ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP T WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THINGS ARE NOW.

BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE FORMER PRESIDENT GAVE HIS ENDORSEMENT TO DANIEL CAMERON.

>> Bill: THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT AMERICANS ARE RETURNING TO DOWNTOWNS, IN FACT THERE IS A STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO THAT INDICATES THAT LOUISVILLE IS THIRD IN THE COUNTRY IN TERMS OF THE GROWTH OF PEOPLE GOING BACK DOWNTOWN.

>> BILL, THIS SAME STUDY HAD LOUISVILLE THIRD FROM THE BOTTOM A COUPLE TIMES AND THAT ALSO GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

I HAVEN'T DONE REPORTING ON IT.

BUT IF I DID, I WOULD HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE METHODOLOGY.

APPARENTLY IT'S BASED ON CELLPHONE TRACKING DATA.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU JUST FROM A SEASONAL PERSPECTIVE WITH CONVENTIONS, HOTELS, TOURISM AND GETTING CLOSE TO DERBY, DOWNTOWN CERTAINLY FEELS MORE LIVELY THAN IT DID A FEW MONTHS AGO DURING THE WINTER.

>> Bill: U.K. MAKING CHANGES THEY BROKE GROUND ON A NEW CANCER CENTER ANNOUNCED THEY ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH ACQUIRING ALSO THE ST. CLAIRE HOSPITAL IN MOREHEAD.

>> THEY CHANGED THEIR U.K. BOARD 19-1 TO CHANGE THEIR SHARED GOVERNANCE MODEL.

SOME FACULTY THERE ARE WORRIED THAT BY TAKING SOME DECISION MAKING AWAY FROM FACULTY THAT IT COULD LEAD TO WHAT SAY WHAT HAPPENED IN WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY WHERE THERE WAS LARGE SCALE BUDGET CUTS TO DEPARTMENTS.

PROFESSORS LOSING THEIR JOBS AND OBVIOUSLY THE BACKING OF THE U.K. BOARD.

>> Bill: ALMOST UNANIMOUS VOTE.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE ABOUT TO ROLL INTO DERBY WEEK IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND EVERYBODY'S READY FOR A BUSY WEEK AHEAD.

WE PART TONIGHT A FORMER LONG TIME STATE LAWMAKER FROM SOUTHERN KENTUCKY DIED.

CHARLES SIGHLER REPRESENTED LAWYER COUNTIES IN FRANKFORT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

HE WAS A REPUBLICAN KNOWN FOR WORKING ON ISSUES ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS.

THAT WAS DONE MORE OFTEN IN THOSE DAYS.

AND HE PAID A POLITICAL PRICE FOR THAT.

HE LOST THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AFTER SUPPORTING THE KENTUCKY EDUCATION REFORM ACT IN 1990.

WHICH ALSO DID CALL FOR A TAX INCREASE.

HE WAS ALSO A DECORATED U.S. ARMY LIEUTENANT COLONEL.

HE WAS 94.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GOOD DERBY WEEK AHEAD.