EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN THE KENTUCKY PRIMARY AS CANDIDATES ARE PICKING UP THE PACE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR CLEARS THE WA FOR A CANNABIS RESEARCH CENTER AS HE LOOKS AT MEDICAL MARIJUAN IN WASHINGTON, SENATOR RAND PAU TAKES THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE TO TASK OVER THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE.

LOUISVILLE STARTS A GOVERNMENT-RUN HOMELES DESIGNED TO HELP PEOPLE GET BAC ON THEIR FEET.

HEADING INTO DERBY WEEK, "COMMENT" IS NEXT O.

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 AR MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA JOE RAGUSA, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR SPECTRUM NEWS 1.

AND AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR TH ALSO TONIGHT, THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT TOSSES OUT A CHALLENGE TO MARSY'S LAW.

AND IF YOU'RE BITTEN BY A TICK, THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WANTS YOU TO REMOVE IT AND SEND IT TO ONE THEIR LABS TO BE studied.

A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT AS THE CLOCK TICKS TOWARD THE MAY PRIM REPUBLICAN SENATOR RAND PAUL IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

AFTER SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE CLASHES WITH DR. ANTHONY FAUCI OVER CURVED POLICY, THIS WEEK PAUL TOOK ON THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANALYZES BLINK ofen PAUL SUGGESTS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PROVOKED THE RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE BY SUGGESTING UKRAINE COULD JOIN N. >> IT IS NOT ATTACKED NATO COUNTRIES FOR PROBABLY VERY GOOD REASON.

>> YOU COULD ALSO COUNTRIES THEY'VE ATTACKED WERE PART OF RUSSIA.

>> WELL -- >> THEY WERE PART OF THE SOVIET UNION.

>> I FIRMLY DISAGREE WITH THAT PROPOSITION.

IT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF THESE COUNTRIES TO DECIDE HERR OWN FUTURE AND THEIR OWN DESTINY.

>> I'M SAYING THAT THE COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BEEN ATTACKED, GEORGIA AND UKRAINE, WERE PART OF THE SOVIET UNION AND THEY WERE A PART OF THE SOVIET UNION SINCE THE 1920S.

>> BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE RUSSIA THE RIGHT TO ATTACK THEM, ON THE CONTRARY.

>> I'M NOT SAYING IT DOES BUT IT HE'LL HAS NOTHING -- >> BEING PART OF THIS EMPIRE BY FORCE.

>> Bill: AND THAT DISCUSSION WENT ON QUITE A WHILE.

MORGAN, DOES SENATOR PAUL SCORE POLITICAL POINTS BY SIMPLY CRITICIZE 10 BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, EVEN IF IT MEANS THAT THERE WERE SOME WHO PUSHED BACK SAYING THAT HE WAS ACCOMMODATE DATING PUTIN'S?

>> Morgan: BIDEN IS A POPULAR PUNCHING BAG ON THE RIGHT OBVIOUSLY AND THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED CRITICISM AMONG SOME REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS OF NATO AND AMERICA'S APPROACH TO ASPECTS OF THAT ALLIANCE.

ALTHOUGH AS YOU MENTIONED, SOME NOTABLE PEOPLE ONLINE, ON TWITTER CRITICIZED HIM SAYING THAT HE WAS ECHOING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN'S TALKING POINTS ALTHOUGH HE DID REPEATEDLY SAY IN THAT CONVERSATION WITH SECRETARY BLINKEN THAT RUSSIA WAS NO JUSTIFIED IN INVADING UKRAINE, THE FACT THAT THE PRIOR SOVIET UNION MEMBERSHIP DOES NOT JUSTIFY THAT, SO IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE STRESSED DURING THE CONVERSATION, BUT SOME PEOPLE FELT THAT IT WAS STILL INAPPROPRIATE.

>> Bill: HE WENT ON TO CLARIFY HIS REMARKS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK A COUPLE TIMES, AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU'RE EXPLAINING, THAT'S NOT THE POSITION YOU WANT TO BE IN A AFTER HIGH-PROFILE CLASH REMEMBER RIGHT?

>> Morgan: RIGHT.

IDEALLY YOU HAVE A POINT YOU WANT TO GET ACROSS AND YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE TO CLARIFY THAT.

YOU HOPE IT COMES ACROSS CLEARLY THE FIRST TIME AND IT DOESN'T GET TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT ONE OF HIS SPOKESPEOPLE FELT HAD HAPPENED WITH THIS CONVERSATION, AT A TIME WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT BY SOME.

>> Bill: HE'S SEEKING RELEASING AND HAS WHAT WOULD APPEAR TO BE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES INCLUDING FUNDRAISING, AUSTIN.

>> Austin: RAND PAUL OUTRAISED CHARLES BOOKER WHO MOST PEOPLE ASSUME IS GOING TO BE THE CANDIDATE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THINGS BY A CONSIDERABLE MARGIN, AND I MEAN PART OF THIS WHOLE KIND OF SOUNDBITE APPARATUS THAT HE'S BUILT IS PART OF THE REASON WHY, RIGHT?

HE'S GETTING DONATIONS FROM ALL OVER.

AND HE IS CONSTANTLY ON CONSERVATIVE MEDIA, CONSTANTLY ON ALL MEDIA, CRITICIZING AND NIT-PICKING THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION, PARTICULARLY DR. FAUCI IS SORT OF THE BIGGEST PUNCHING BAG, BUT HE'S GOT A VERY LARGE LEAD AND HE'S STILL POPULAR IN THIS STATE.

>> Bill: NORTH KOREAN, IT'S WIDELY EXPECTED THAT CHARLES WILL FACE DEMOCRATIC CHARLES BOOKER.

BOOKER WAS OUT WITH A BOOK, AND WHERE DOES HE TAKE READERS?

>> Morgan: STARTS TALKING ABOUT HIS CHILD, GROWING UP IN LOUISVILLE, GOING TO SCHOOL THERE, GETTING INTO GOVERNMENT, AND REALLY COVERS A LOT OF HIS EARLY POLITICAL CAREER AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE ON THROUGH HIS 2020 SENATE CAMPAIGN WHERE HE LOST IN THE PRIMARY AGAINST AMY McBRATH BUT HAD HOPED TO PACE FACE OFF WITH SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL AM THOUGH THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

HE DID GET A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION TOWARDS TENDS OF THAT PRIMARY RACE, AND CLEARLY HE'S OUT WITH A BOOK NOW.

IT HAS WORKED OUT FOR HIM, THAT GROUNDSWELL THAT HE GOT, AND HE'S PARLAYED INTO WHAT HE HOPES WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL ALTHOUGH DEFINITELY UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST SENATOR PUHL.

>> DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THE RACE?

>> Joe: IT WILL BE INTERESTING FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE RAND PAWLS' POPULARITY IS A LOT LOWER THAN IT IS IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, BUT WHETHER OR NOT THAT MEANS ANYTHING IN RELATION TO THE ACTUAL RACE HERE ITSELF IN KENTUCKY IS, LIKE MORGAN SAID, BOOKER HAS AN UPHILL BATTLE IN REGARD TO THAT RACE ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT I.

IT'S GOING TO BE UPHILL.

THE SO HE'S GOING TO NEED SOME THING TO HAPPEN AND MAYBE ON THE OTHER SIDE, TOO, TO POSSIBLY CATCH UP IN THIS RACE.

>> Morgan: SOMETHING I HEARD, YOU HEARD THIS BACK SOMEWHAT WHEN BOOKER WANTED TO RUN AGAINST AND COMBINED AGAINST McCONNELL UNTIL HE LOST THE PRIMARY THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED EVEN IF HE LOSES, AS A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPECT BECAUSE KENTUCKY IS SO RED, THEY'RE INTERESTED TO SEE US J HOW HE APPROACHES THE CAMPAIGN, LIKE THAT HE'S WILLING TO KIND OF TAKE ON ISSUES OR JUST SAY CERTAIN THINGS THAT A LOT OF OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES, PARTICULARLY ONES WHO ARE TRYING TO BE HOR IN THE CENTER, AREN'T GOING TO GO THERE.

SO I THINK JUST FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

>> Bill: I WAS INTRIGUED THAT HE MADE THE STATEWIDE RACE INSTEAD OF BACKING OUT OF THAT AND GOING INTO THE 3RD DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL RACE, WHICH IS INTERESTING IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

AS WE LOOK AT THAT RACE, DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR MORGAN McGARVEY FACING STATE REPRESENTATIVE ATTICA SCOTT.

McGARVEY HAS A LOT OF MONEY AND A LOT OF ENDORSEMENT, RIGHT?

>>> >> Morgan: NO DOUBT ME.

ANNOUNCED WITHIN TENSE MINUTES OF WHEN SENATOR JOHN YAR MONTH ANNOUNCED HE WAS RETIRING PD HE HAD GOT A DAYS HEADS UP FROM YARMOUTH AND SCRAMBLE TO PUT A QUICK CAMPAIGN OUT.

PEOPLE VOND RESPONDED.

WITHIN A DAY SENATOR McGARVEY SAID I'VE RAISED OVER $100,000.

I'VE GONE ENDORSE.

FROM LOCAL AND NOTABLE STATE AND LOCAL POLITICIANS.

AND THAT'S CONTINUED.

BY THE END OF LAST YEAR HE HAD OUTRAISED REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT BY ABOUT TEN TO ONE ASK AND HA HAS ONLY GROWN.

HE'S BEEN OUT WITH ADS LATELY, LIKE I THINK FOUR WITHIN THE LAST MONTH OR SO.

YEAH.

>> Bill: THERE'S A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, AND REPUBLICANS HAVE HELD THE 3rd DISTRICT SEAT OVER THERE, BUT IT WOULD BE UPHILL, IT APPEARS, THIS YEAR, RIGHT?

>> Morgan: NO DOUBT.

I MEAN, LOUISVILLE, YARMOUTH'S DISTRICT, HE'S BEEN THERE FOR 15 YEARS.

IT'S A SOLIDLY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.

AND THERE HAD BEEN SOME TALK ABOUT MAYBE WE MIGHT SEE A REALLY HIGH PROFILE REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER, LIKE SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS OR SENATOR JULIE RAQUE ADAMS, AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, BUT THERE WILL BE SOMEONE WHO WINS THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT OR SENATOR McGARVEY.

>> Bill: SO BECAUSE THE TWO-YEAR TERMS, REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION TO RUN BACK TO THE STATE HOUSE OR RUN FOR THE U.S. HOUSE, SHE WENT TO THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, McGARVEY WOULD BE, IF HE'S VICTORIAS, LEAVING THE STATE SENATE.

WITH THAT WOULD FRANKFORT'S DEMOCRATIC SENATE CAUCUS LOOK LIKE WITHOUT SENATOR McGARVEY, WHO HAS BEEN AN OUTSPOKEN VOICE?

>> Joe: WE'RE ALREADY EXPECTING TO IT LOOK SOMEWHAT SMALLER THAN IT ALREADY LOOKS, AND WITHOUT McGARVEY WHO HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST OUTFORTUNE WITH ONE OF THE MOST -- I THINK HIS NOTE RIGHT IN TICK TOCK AND SOCIAL MEDIA HAS HELPED HAD YOU IN THAT REGARD.

IF AND WHEN HE LEAVES, IT'S A QUESTION OF WHO ELSE IS THERE.

YOU HAVE GERALD NEAL IN LOUISVILLE WHO HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ON ISSUES.

REGGIE THOMAS HAS BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE BE ALSO REPRESENTS LEXINGTON.

BUT ALSO HAVE SOME INTERESTING VOICES AS FAR AS ROBIN WEBB WHO REPRESENTS -- SHE'S OUTSIDE THE OF THE TWO MAJOR CITIES IN KENTUCKY.

AND ONCE YOU START GETTING DOWN THE LINE, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER NAMES LEFT 1 BUT YOU'VE GOT TO WONDER EXACTLY WHO IS GOING TO WANT TO STEP UP AND TAKE SOME OF THOSE SPOTS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THAT -- HOW THAT TAKES SHAPE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE CURIOUS.

>> Austin: AND IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT, TOO, THAT THERE'S ESSENTIALLY A TWO-THIRDS VACUUM LEFT IN SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WITH McGARVEY LEAVING AND YOU HAVE DENNIS PARROT IN E'TOWN WHO IS GOING TO GET REPLACED BY A REPUBLICAN SINCE NO DEMOCRAT RAN.

THE ONLY PERSON LEFT IS SENATOR REGGIE THOMAS IN LEXINGTON.

SO YOU HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF CANDIDATES TO FILL THOSE THREE SPOTS WHICH IS GOING TO BE SENATE WHIP AND SENATE LEADER, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT COULD JUST BE THREE OF THE SEVEN LEFT INSTEAD OF EIGHT.

>> Bill: TO YOUR POINT IN THE LEGISLATIVE RACES IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR DEMOCRATS TO MAKE MUCH OF A CAN'T IN THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE STATE AND THE HOUSE -- THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CHALLENGERS WHO FILED TO RUN.

BUT THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING PRIMARIES TO WATCH.

THAT'S KIND OF WHERE THE ACTION IS.

AND WE'RE RIGHT PHONE THAT.

AUSTIN, I KNOW YOU'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON A HEART FOUGHT CENTRAL KENTUCKY SENATE RACE.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

IT'S SENATOR DONALD DOUGLAS WHO WON A SPECIAL ELECTION IN '21 VERSUS ANDREW COOPERRIDER IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, AND THAT'S THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF FAYETTE COUNTY, JEST A MUN COUNTY, AND GARRARD COUNTY.

COOPERRIDER TURNED SOME HEADS THIS PAST WEEK WHEN HE RAISED I BELIEVE IT WAS 113K, MOSTLY FROM INDIVIDUALS, TO DONALD DIETICIAN 30K, WHICH COMES FROM THE SENATE LEADERSHIP CAUCUS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.

AND COOPERRIDER HAS HAD A LEG UP IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT WAYS.

HE'S ALREADY A LOCAL CELEBRITY THAT US RUNS A COFFEE SHOP THAT FAMOUSLY TOUTED CODE OF THE RESTRICTIONS, AND HE'S ALSO GOT -- TOUTED COVID RESTRICTIONS AND HE'S GOT A LEG UP BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO START CAMPAIGNING WHEN DONALD DOUGLAS WAS IN THE SENATE SO I EXPECT THAT TO BE A REALLY HARD-FOUGHT RACE AND IT'S GOING TO INTERESTING IN TERMS OF HOW RELEVANT COVID POLITICS ARE AND HOW STRONG THIS KIND OF LIBERTY WING, THOMAS MASSEY-BANGED WING OF THE PARTY IS BECAUSE THOMAS MASSEY HAS ENDORSED COOPERRIDER.

DONALD DOUGLAS HAS THE SOFT ENDORSEMENT OF A LOT OF LEADERSHIP AND HE'S GOT THE OFFICIAL ENDORSEMENT OF ANDY BARR HERE AND DANIEL CAMERON.

>> Bill: SOS TURNING UP IN THE PRIMARY ARE OFTEN ACTIVISTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED, SO THAT'S ONE TO WATCH.

THERE ARE A FOUR-WAY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN THIS NEW DISTRICT THAT GOES FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND SWEEPS DOWN TO FRANKFORT.

>> Austin: YEAH, I BELIEVE IT'S THE 20th, AND IT'S BASICALLY COMPLETELY NEW.

YOU'VE GOT LITTLE BITS OF BOONE COUNTY AND KENTON COUNTY.

AND AT THE NORTH POLE AND KIND OF THE SOUTH POLE IS FRANKFORT WITH ALL THESE MORE RURAL COUNTIES IN BETWEEN.

AND YOU'VE GOT TWO CANDIDATES FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY RUNNING AND TWO CANDIDATES FROM FRANKFORT.

AND BASED ON THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE TALKED TO ABOUT THIS RACE, IT'S KIND OF GOING TO BE DECIDE BY THAT MIDDLE GROUND, WHICH WAY DO THEY SWING, AND IT'S -- PEOPLE ARE REALLY BEATING THE BUSHES AND HAVING TO GO OUT THERE AND EARN THOSE VOTES IN PLACES LEUKOWENT COUNTY AND CARROLL COUNTY.

>> Bill: JOE, IT'S INTERESTING TO ME TO WATCH TO WHAT EXTENT THE RACERS NATIONALIZED THESE DAYS.

EVEN DOWN TO SCHOOL BOARDS AND CITY COUNCILS, THE THEY GET QUESTIONS ABOUT WASHINGTON MATTERS.

AND THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE ON THE RADIO THIS WEEK PROMISING TO GO TO FRANKFORT AND PROTECT KENTUCKY FROM THE POLICIES OF JOE BIDEN.

IT IS INTERESTING THAT ERROR AT THAT PLACE WHERE IT'S NOT ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL.

IT'S ALL NATIONAL RIGHT NOW IT APPEARS.

>> Joe: THAT MIGHT JUST BE MORE A FACTOR JOE BIDEN'S NAME RECOGNITION AMONGST SPORTS IN KENTUCKY AND AMONGST EVERYBODY ELSE BECAUSE HE'S NOT EXACTLY THE MOST POPULAR PRESIDENT, ESPECIALLY HERE IN KENTUCKY, SO IF THE STATE LAWMAKERS, THEY WANT TO NATIONALIZE THESE RACES AND TRY TO TIE ANY OF THE DEMOCRATS OR IAN SOME OF THE MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS TO SOME OF HIS POLICIES, THE VOTERS WILL RECOGNIZE THAT AND HIS LOW APPROVAL RATINGS WILL HOPEFULLY TAKE CARE OF THEIR OPPONENTS IN WHATEVER RACE THEY'RE RUNNING IN.

>> Bill: IT PRIS OUT OTHER INTERESTING ISSUES, RIGHT?

>>>YEAH.

>> Austin: YEAH, YOU'VE GOT LOCAL AND STATE RACES THE AND VOTERS TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE IMMIGRATION AND INFLATION AND I TALKED TO SOMEBODY IN GARRET COUNTY WHO SAID THOSE ARE THE TWO OPEN ISSUES ON GARRAD COUNTY MINE.

IF YOU'RE RUNNING TO A LEGISLATIVE RACE IN KENTUCKY, YOU CAN'T REALLY DO ALL THAT MUCH ABOUT IMMIGRATION OR INFLATION.

AND OVER IN ANDERSON COUNTY THERE'S A COUNTY ATTORNEY WHO IS RUNNING ON A PROPOSAL TO BE A 2ND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY CITY WHICH ALSO RAISE THIS IS QUESTION WHAT FUNCTIONALLY CAN YOU REALLY DO ASIDE FROM USE THAT AS A POLITICAL TOOL AND PEOPLE SAY, OH, THIS PERSON IS PRO-GUN.

I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THEM.

IT'S ALL VERY CONFUSING AND LEFT IS RIGHT, AND I DON'T KNOW.

>> Bill: MORGAN, LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR'S RACE IS PARTISAN.

MOST OF OUR CITIES HAVE NON-PARTISAN RACES BUT IT'S DIFFERENT IN THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY.

FORMER CANDIDATE ARE FOR GOVERNOR AND STATE AUDITOR ADAM EDELEN ENDORSED GREENBURGH IN THE MAYOR'S RACE THIS WEEK.

>> Morgan: ANOTHER NOTABLE ENDORSEMENT FOR GREENBURGH.

HE HAS DEFINITELY HAD MOMENTUM EARLY ON ESPECIALLY WITH GETTING DONATIONS, ADDITIONS FROM NOTABLE PEOPLE LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE STATE AND IT'S JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

>> Bill: LOOKS THAT HE HAS AN ADVANTAGE GOING TOWARD THE PRIMARY?

>> Morgan: I MEAN, YEAH, FOR SURE.

IF YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT MONEY, HE'S FAR AND AWAY BEEN THE BIGG FUNDRAISER, WHICH OBVIOUSLY HELPS YOU GET -- YOU CAN GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE MORE STRONGLY.

ALTHOUGH THERE DEFINITELY IS SOME PUSHBACK, SOME VOTERS WHO YOU TALK TO SAY THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT ALSO PLENTY OF PEOPLE -- HE'S GOTTEN ENDORSEMENTS FROM NOTABLE LOCAL POLITICIANS WHO LIKE WHAT HE'S SAYING AND OFFERING.

>> Bill: AND ON THE RNC SIDE THEY HAVE A PRIMARY AS WELL.

>> Morgan: ABSOLUTELY THEY DO.

BILL -- DEFINITELY IS MOST NOTABLE NAME THERE BUT THERE'S A RANGE PEOPLE RUNNING IN THAT RACE AND WHOEVER WINS THIS, THESE TWO PRIMARIES ARE GOING TO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

BUT AGAIN, LOUISVILLE GENERALLY PRETTY DEMOCRAT FRIENDLY.

>> Austin: ALSO TO THAT POINT SPEAKING WITH THE CANDIDACY, IT SEEMS HE'S VERY MUCH TRYING TO HIT THAT MIDDLE SPOT AS FAR AS THE VOTERS CONCERNED.

HE IS REPUBLICAN BUT HE IS GOING TO RELY ON HIS LAURELS AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN THIS REGARD.

SO IF HE DOES END UP COMING OUTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, IT WILL BE -- HE'S GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT UNITY AND A LOT ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO WORK WITH PEOPLE OF PRETTY MUCH EVERY PARTY AFFILIATION.

>> Bill: IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH IN THE FALL.

AUSTIN, IT'S APE NON-PARTISAN RACE IN LEXINGTON.

CRIME HAS BECOME AN ISSUE THERE.

THERE ARE FOUR CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING.

MAYOR LINDA GORTON IS SEEKING RE-ELECTION, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH CRIME IN THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST CITY.

>> Austin: RIGHT AND EVEN LINDA GORTON I.

HAD A HOME INVASION ON HER STREET JUST A FEW DAYS AGO, SO IT'S KIND OF BECOME A PERSONAL TOPIC FOR HER, BUT HER OPPONENTS HAVE DEFINITELY HIT HER ON THIS, PARTICULARLY DAVID KLOIBER CAME OUT WITH A BUNCH ADS AND HE HAS A LOT OF MONEY IN HIS WAR CHEST.

BOTH KLOIBER AND ADRIAN WALLACE HAVE HIT HER FROM THIS ANGLE BUT WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS IN THE PRIMARY.

IT'S THE TWO TOP VOTE GERRITTS THAT GOES TO THE GENERAL.

WE'LL SEE HOW THEY ARE STRATEGY WORKS.

>> Bill: BEFORE YOU KNOW IT PEOPLE WILL BE MAGNARELLI THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND THE EARLY VOTING BEFORE THE MAY 17th PRIMARY.

JOE, GOVERNOR BESHEAR FINISHED UP HIS ACTIONS THIS WEEK ON MATTERS PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AND HE VETOED A COUPLE AND SIGNED SOME.

>>> >> Joshua: L. >> Joe: YEAH, A LOT OF THE VETOES HAD TO DEAL WITH PROVISIONS OF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL CARES OR RATHER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, SOME TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

ALSO SOME LANGUAGE DEALING WITH SEPARATION OF POWERS, SOME STUFF THAT WOULD HAVE ADMINISTERED SOME STUFF TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE ORE THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT ONE OF THE NOTABLE BILLS THAT I WAS PERSONALLY FOLLOWING WAS THE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE EXPANDED KEYS SCHOLARSHIPS TO EITHER PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY IN ININCARCERATED OR FORMERLY PARTICIPATED A LOT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCATES WANTED THIS BILL BECAUSE THEY WANTED THIS MONEY THAT HELPS A LOT OF KENTUCKY STUDENTS PAY FOR COLLEGE, THEY WANTED TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WERE STILL FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE HINDERANCES TO GETTING OUT OF THAT KIND OF LIFESTYLE IS EDUCATION.

SO ONCE THESE PEOPLE DO THEIR TIME AND ARE ABLE TO GET AN EDUCATION, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME OF THE RESOURCES.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE BILL, AS IT CAME OUT AND AS THE FINAL VERSION OF IT, IT WAS WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT BASICALLY TACKED ONTO IT THAT WOULD HAVE PROHIBITED PEOPLE FROM CERTAIN FELONY CONVICTIONS, DRUG TRAFFICKING CONVICTIONS FROM ACCESSING A WIDE SWATH OF OTHER HIGHER ED, COLLEGE AID, FINANCIAL AID SO THE ADVOCATES THAT WERE BEFORE THE BILL ACTUALLY WANTED BESHEAR TO VETO IT, AND HE DID.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, AS YOU LOOK AHEAD TO NEXT YEAR, AND THE GOVERNOR'S VASE COMING, WHAT ROLLED OUT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT WILL GENERALLY DO YOU THINK, ROLLED INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AS FAR AS ISSUES?

>> Austin: YEAH, SOMETIMES I GET BORED COVERING THESE PRIMARIES BECAUSE EVERYBODY SAYS THE SAME THING ON THE REPUBLICAN END OF THINGS.

I'M PRO-GUN, PRO-LIFE, ANTICRT AND PEOPLE ALSO SAY THE SAME THING FOR DEMOCRAT PRIMARIES I'VE GOT TO ADD.

BUT THE REPUBLICANS REALLY DID TRY TO PUT BESHEAR ON HIS HEELS ON A LOT OF THESE KIND OF BREAD AND BUTTER CONSERVATIVE SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE ABORTION, PROTECTING WOMEN'S SPORTS, TRANS ISSUES, AND ALL SORTS OF NATIONALIZED TOPICS, SO WOULD I EXPECT THOSE TO BE PUSHED UP AGAINST BESHEAR AND THOSE VETOES, DESPITE SOME NUANCE IN THE TEXT OF HIS VETOES WILL BE MADE, MADE ISSUE.

>> Bill: SO WHO WILL BE THE PLAYERS ON THE COURT IS THE QUESTION RIGHT NOW REPUBLICANS ARE BEGINNING TO STIR IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

AUDITOR MIKE HARMON IS IN THE RACE.

HE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR SOME MONTHS.

AG COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES APPARENTLY ON THE VERGE OF LETTING FOLKS KNOW HIS PLANS.

FORMER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT, STATE SENATOR RALPH ALVAREZ, MAX WISE STILL LOOKING AT A.

SAY THE THE REPRESENTATIVE SAVANNAH MADDOX.

FORMER GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN.

THE MAYOR OF SUMMER SET HAS MENTIONED INTEREST HELP AND STORM ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON IS SAYING, MORGAN, THAT WE'LL KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS TO DO SOON.

>> Morgan: YEAH, I MEAN, A LOT OF RUMORS ABOUT WHO MIGHT JUMP IN IF MORE THAN JUST ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE JUMPS IN, LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A FREE-FOR-ALL ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF PEOPLE BATTLING IT OUT FOR THE HONOR OF BATTLING BESHEAR AND TRYING TO MAKE HIM A ONE-TERM GOVERNOR.

>> Bill: AND HERE'S WHAT THEY WILL BE DEALING WITH NEXT YEAR.

ANOTHER POLL OUT THIS WEEK PEGGED BESHEAR'S APPROVAL RATING AT 59%, THE HIGHEST APPROVAL ANY DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR THE IN COUNTRY.

MOST DEMOCRATS APPARENTLY, AND APPARENTLY A SIZABLE PORTION OF REPUBLICANS BECAUSE THE NUMBERS WOULD INDICATE THAT, SEEM TO BE SAYING THEY'RE OKAY WITH BESHEAR.

>> H. >> Joe: AND THIS HAS FOLLOWED A TREND OF HIS TENURE ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT, ESPECIALLY HANDLING COVID-19, YOU'VE GOT TO WONDER HOW MUCH OF HIS POPULARITY IS STILL KIND OF A RESIDUAL EFFECT FROM HOW PEOPLE FELT HE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC EARLY ON.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A LOUD OPPOSITION TO WHAT HE DID, BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING IT SEEMED LIKE PEOPLE REALLY LIKED IT.

I WILL SAY TO ANOTHER POINT AS WELL, TALKED ABOUT IT EARLIER, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSED A LOT OF STUFF AND SOME OF THAT STUFF IS GOING TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

TWO OF THE THINGS THEY DIDN'T PASS, SPORTS BETTING, MEDICAL MARIJUANA BESHEAR HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL ABOUT AND SUPPORTIVE AND POLLS SHOW A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE SUPPORT THOSE ISSUES.

>> Bill: HE BECAME PACE CAME WITH HIS CANNABIS RESEARCH IS THERE THIS WEEK.

>> Joe: AND THE CANNABIS RESEARCH CENTER IS WHAT SENATE REPUBLICANS WANT TO PASS IN LIEU OF MEMORABILIA MARIJUANA BECAUSE EVERYONE IN SENATE LEADERSHIP WAS IN SOME WAY FOR IT, OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE A FEW THAT WEREN'T FOR IT AT ALL, BUT THE ONES THAT WERE FOR IT WANTED TO SEE MORE RESEARCH, AND THAT MARIN RESEARCH BILL WAS THE BILL THAT CAME THROUGH.

OBVIOUSLY BESHEAR WANTED TO SIGN THAT AND GET ON THAT EDGE BUT HE'S BEEN MORE VOCAL ABOUT THEIR RELATIVE FAILURE TO ACTUALLY GET A BILL THROUGH.

>> Bill: AND HE'S MAKING MORE AND MORE OF THESE JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS.

WE HAD MORE OF THOSE THIS WEEK.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE ANTICIPATE HE WILL TRY TO RUN ON, CORRECT?

>> Morgan: OH, YEAH, NO DOUBT.

JUST THE FORD ANNOUNCEMENT FROM LAST YEAR ALONE WAS A MULTI-BILLION DOLLARS ANNOUNCEMENT, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY FORMER GOVERNOR BEVIN PROMOTED HISS AND AND BARBER CAN POINT TO EVEN MORE SUCCESS HE HAD IN THAT DEPARTMENT.

THE QUESTION WILL BE WITH THE WARM WELCOME, ACCORDING TO THIS POLL THAT SOME REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY ARE FEELING TOWARD HIS POLICIES, IS THAT NOTICE ENOUGH, THOUGH, TO GET THEM TO GO AGAINST WHAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN THE TREND IN RECENT YEARS OF ALWAYS CHECKING THAT "R" BOX IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN TO GET TEM TO GO AND CHECK THE DEMOCRAT BOX IS GOING TO BE A HEAVY LIFT.

BUT BESHEAR'S TRYING.

>> Bill: MARSY'S LAW WAS CHALLENGED AGAIN.

THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT THREW OUT THAT CHALLENGE.

THIS WAS ABOUT HOW IT GOT ON THE BALLOT.

THAT HAS BEEN PASSED TWICE BY KENTUCKY VOTERS BUT IT CONTINUES TO FACE SOME CHALLENGES.

LOUISVILLE HOMELESS, WE HAVE A GROWING PROBLEM WITH THIS HOMELESSNESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

WE KNOW THAT.

BUT LOUISVILLE HAS ESTABLISHED SOMETHING CALLED HOPE VILLAGE, AND IT'S A GOVERNMENT-RUN HOMELESS CAMP.

>> Joe: YEAH, THAT'S THEY SET ASIDE $1.5 MILLION TO HELP THIS ORGANIZATION, TO HOPE BUS, RUN THIS HOMELESS CAMP WHICH IS ABOUT 48 INSULATED TENTS SET UP ON A PROPERTY THAT THE CITY BOUGHT A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

IT'S PART OF A LARGER INITIATIVE THAT LOUISVILLE IS DOING TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING ISSUES.

BUT THIS WAS AN IDEA THAT THEY THINK COUPLED WITH SERVICES THAT HELP THESE PEOPLE FIND MORE EMPLOYMENT, FIND MORE PERMANENT HOUSING, THEY'RE HOPING THAT THEY CAN GET THESE FOLKS OUT OF THESE SHELTERS AND INTO SOME MORE PERMANENT SOLUTIONS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.

THEY HAVE A FULL YEAR TO LIVE AT THE FACILITY WHICH HAS COTS, BEDDING, ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY, THE BASIC, THE VERY BASIC ESSENTIALS THAT YOU NEED TO SURVIVE ESSENTIALLY, AND THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO GET THIS PILOT PROJECT TO SUCCEED AND SEE IF -- GIVE CITY LEADERS MORE EVIDENCE TO FUND INITIATIVES LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: OWENSBORO IS TRACKING TOURISTS NOW WITH THEIR PHONES.

YOU GUYS ALL GREW UP WITH PHONES, RIGHT?

YOU CARRY THEM ALL OF YOUR LIVES.

YOU'VE CARRIED THEM ALL OF YOUR LIVES.

IS THE GATHERING THAT TYPE OF DATA LIKELY TO GET PUSHBACK OR WORK VERY WELL BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHO IS COMING.

AND WHO WOULD MAKE THE TRIP IS ON OWENSBORO?

>> Joe: I THINK ANY TIME YOU MENTION THEY'RE GOING TO TRACK YOU IT GIVES A PAUSE REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER POLITICAL ISSUE.

>> Bill: IF YOU'RE ABOUT IT.

BY A TICK RESEARCHERS A UK ANTOINETTE TO TAKE IT OUT AND SEND IT IN AND THEY'RE GOING TO -- THE ENTOMOLOGIST WILL LOOK AT IT THERE.

DERBY WEEK UNFORTUNATELY A YOUNG FEMALE HORSE EXERCISER DIED A KEENELAND ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SPRING MEET, AND THAT'S AN AWFUL START TO WHAT WE HOPE IS A WONDERFUL DERBY WEEK IN KENTUCKY WITH ALL SORTS OF EVENTS GOING ON, AND IT'S GETS BUSY IN LOUISVILLE ALREADY.

ISN'T THE PEGASUS PARADE SUNDAY?

>> Morgan: IT IS.

PEOPLE WITHOUT FOR THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE LAST WEEKEND.

YEAH, PEOPLE ARE READY TO GO.

>> Bill: THE 2022 KENTUCKY JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK AND INCLUDE THE LATE BILL MARTIS WHO WORKED MORE THAN 50 YEARS AT THE COMMONWEALTH JOURNAL IN SUMMERSET.

THE LATE JOHN B. GAINES A LONGTIME PUBLISHER.

MARK MAYNARD WHO SPENT 45 YEARS AT THE PADUCAH INDEPENDENCE.

A NATIONAL SPORTS COLUMNIST FOR THE WASHINGTON POST.

SCOTT APPLEWHITE.

A FORMER KENTUCKY RESIDENT AND AWARD WINNING PHOTOJOURNALIST WITH THE AP IN WASHINGTON.

THE LATE MELISSA FORSYTHE A PIONEERING TV ANCHOR IN LOUISVILLE.

FORM HERALD-LEADER SPORTS ERR STEWART WARNER.

AND DEBORAH YETTER, PULITZER PRIZE WINNING REPORTER FOR COURIER-JOURNAL WHO HAS BEEN A FREQUENT PANELIST ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" OVER THE YEARS.

CONGRATS TO ALL OF THEM.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.