[♪♪] THE KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S RACE SPEEDS TOWARDS THE PRIMARY.

REPUBLICAN KELLY CRAFT STARTS NOW ADS AND BRINGS GUESTS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

ANDY BESHEAR'S FUND RAISING TOPPED $6 MILLION.

THE THE EVIDENCE THE PANDEMIC MADE LONG-TERM KENTUCKY HEALTH CHALLENGES WORSE.

NOW THERE IS A CAMPAIGN TO TRY TO TURN IT AROUND.

OPENING DAY AT KEEN LAND AS WE COUNT DOWN TO DERBY TIME ON THIS 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, LIAM KNEE MEYER REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LAND EARN, MARCUS GREEN IN LOUISVILLE AND ALEX REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND HAZARDOUS DAMS IN KENTUCKY WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE EMERGENCY PLANS AND KEEPING WATCH ON THE BARGES PENNED UP AGAINST THE DAM IN LOUISVILLE.

WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THE PRIMARY 40 DAYS AWAY AND KELLY CRAFT WHO HAS FAR OUTSPEND OPPONENTS STARTED A NEW AD.

THIS DRAWING ON THEIR HER EXPERIENCE AS UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR AND THE BENEFITS SHE SAYS THAT BROUGHT TO KENTUCKY.

>> AS UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR I WORKED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP TO RIP YOU HAVE NAFTA AND IMPLEMENTED USMCA.

>> AND MARCUS, THAT ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER SAYS THAT THAT RESULTED IN 150,000 JOBS FOR KENTUCKY.

THE COMMUNICATIONS TO THE MEDIA FROM THE CRAFT CAMP WAS CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AND GOVERNOR BRASHEAR SAYING THEY HAVE NOT CREATED JOBS WHICH IS THE THRUST OF THE BRASHEAR CAMPAIGN RIGHT NOW.

THE GOVERNOR MADE JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A CONTEST WHO GETS CREDIT FOR THE JOBS IN KENTUCKY?

>> I MEAN IT COULD BE.

POLITICIANS ARE ALWAYS JOCKEYING TO TRY TO TAKE CREDIT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOB REACTION.

I REMEMBER MATT BEVIN VIRTUE OF THE TIMING OF HIS ELECTION.

IT MIGHT BE PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN.

AS YOU SAY BRASHEAR HAS HAMMERED TIME AND AGAIN HIS JOB CREATION RECORD INCLUDING THE BATTERY PLAN IN HARDEN COUNTY WHICH HE'S TAKING CREDIT WITH THE LEGISLATURE FOR THE INCENTIVE PACKAGES AND THINGS TO GET FORD TO COME TO KENTUCKY.

WE WILL HAVE TO SEE.

>> AND DEFINITELY, IT'S YOU KNOW, THE ONGOING DEBATE WITH WHO GETS CREDIT FOR THE JOBS IT ECHOS WHAT IS THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED STATE LEGISLATURE, THE GOVERNORSHIP.

BUT EVEN THEN SOME JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANYTHING INVOLVED WITH STATE DECISIONS NECESSARILY.

LET'S TAKE THE NEW BATTERY PLANT IN HOPKINSVILLE ANNOUNCED WILL TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN $500 MILLION TO CONSTRUCT IT.

BUT 200 MILLION OF THAT FUNDING IS COMING FROM THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

SO YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY A -- THERE IS NUANCE TO THIS STUFF.

>> SURE YOU HAVE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE A WAY OF MAYBE TRYING TO TAKE CREDIT OR TAKE CREDIT AWAY FROM MAYBE THE GOVERNOR.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THE LEGISLATURE WHICH, OF COURSE, SAYS THEY SET THE STAGE FOR THIS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

CRAFT IS HOLDING A LOT OF PUBLIC EVENTS SOME OF THEM CONTROLLED LIKE THE KITCHEN TABLE DISCUSSION SHE IS HAVING.

SHE IS BRINGING GUESTS ON TO THE TRAIL WITH HER NOW.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER IS ONE OF THOSE, FORMER U.K. SWIMMER REILLY GAINS WHO FACED PROTESTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO THIS WEEK.

SHE IS HOLDING A BIG NAME FUNDRAISER THIS WEEK AS WELL.

DO GUESTS OR SURROGATES MAKE A DIFFERENCE, ALEX, ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY IF THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WITH KELLY CRAFT IN PARTICULAR, MAYBE SHE MORE THAN THE OTHER CANDIDATES IS REALLY TRYING TO PUT HER FINGER ON WHAT I SEE IS WHAT SHE THINKS WILL BE A WEDGE ISSUE THAT WILL APPEAL TO VOTERS.

PARTICULARLY LIKE BRINGING REILLY GAINS IN FOR VIEWERS IS THE FORMER UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY SWIMMER WHO TIED IN I BELIEVE THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP WITH A TRANS FEMALE ATHLETE.

SORT OF BECAME A BELOVED, I GUESS, SPEAKER AMONG CONSERVATIVES FOR DECRYING THE PARTICIPATION OF TRANS WOMEN IN FEMALE SPORTS.

SORT OF THE IN THE NAME OF EQUITY.

RAND PAUL PARADED HER AROUND AND SHE IS A REGULAR ON TUCKER CARLSON.

WHEN SENATE BILL 150, BANNING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE KELLY CRAFT CAME OUT WITH A STRONG STATEMENT AND WHEN BRASHEAR VETO TO DO CALLING IT RIDICULOUS.

IT'S INTERESTING SHE IS BRINGING IN REILLY GAINS WHO RECENTLY LIKENED BEING TRANS TO WEARING BLACK FACE LIKE QUITE CONTROVERSIAL STUFF.

AND I THINK KELLY CRAFT MORE THAN ANY CANDIDATE IS TRYING TO DRUM UP SUPPORT WITHIN HER BASE POTENTIALLY BY BRINGING PEOPLE LIKE REILLY GAINS.

>> IN WITH THE HIGH NAME ID THAT JAMES COMER HAS ESPECIALLY WITH THE NATIONAL ATTENTION AND MEDIA HE GETS, BEING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, YOU KNOW, COMER ESPECIALLY IS WELL-KNOWN AND YOU KNOW, BELOVED FIGURE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY CIRCLES GIVEN HIS REPRESENTATION OUT THERE.

SO YOU KNOW, IT DEFINITELY ALLOWS CRAFT AN OPENING TO MAKE THE CONNECTIONS AND REALLY USE THOSE FOLKS AT LEAST COMER IN PARTICULAR AS AN INTERMED AREA.

>> THE SCANT PUBLIC HP POLLING WE HAVE SEEN AND THE PRIVATE CAMPAIGN POLLING WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT WOULD INDICATE THAT DANIEL CAMERON IS THE FRONTRUNNER.

IS HE RUNNING AS A FRONTRUNNER GIVING THAT HE CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHERE HE GOES, WHAT EVENTS TO ATTEND AND THINGS THAT HE CAN WRITE OFF?

>> I THINK YOU COULD MAKE THAT ARGUMENT.

THIS DECISION NOT TO ATTEND THE KENTUCKY SPORTS RADIO DEBATE IS ONE EXAMPLE.

HE SAYS HE HAD A CONFLICT THE SAME DAY.

AND AS ATTORNEY GENERAL HE HAS THE ABILITY ESPECIALLY AS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH CONSTANT LITIGATION AND COULDN'TTANT LEGAL ACTIONS TO ALWAYS BE IN THE NEWS CYCLE.

EVERYDAY HE IS ATTENDING A OPIOID EVENT, HE'S FILING LAWSUITS AGAINST PEOPLE.

HE'S FILING LAWSUITS AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, JOINING IN ACTION AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S RULES AND ACTIONS.

HE IS STAYING IN THE NEWS CYCLE THOUGH HE MAY NOT BE DOING EVENTS.

>> AND THINGS HE CAN DO IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY?

>> EXACTLY.

ONE RECENT EXAMPLE IT WAS HE JOINED OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERALS OPPOSING A NEW PROPOSED FEDERAL REGULATION ON GAS STOVES.

YOU KNOW THERE WAS EARLIER THIS YEAR THERE WAS A CONVERSATION REGARDING YOU KNOW, WHETHER GAS STOVES COULD BE BANNED ON TAKEN AWAY AND WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IS THAT THIS NEW FEDERAL REGULATION IT WOULD PUT MORE -- IT WOULD REQUIRE MORE EFFICIENT GAS STOVES TO BE PUT ON THE MARKETPLACE.

THERE IS A BIG CONCERN REGARDING INDOOR AIR POLLUTION THE GAS STOVES CAUSE ESPECIALLY HEALTH EFFECTS FOR CHILDREN.

AND JUST BEING ABLE TO JOIN FEDERAL LAWSUITS, FEDERAL ACTION LIKE THAT, IT IS AN EVENT FOR CAMERON.

>> HERE WE ARE DOING WHAT MANY ARE TALKING ABOUT THOSE TWO, BECAUSE THAT IS WHO PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

YET YOU HAVE SEVERAL OTHER CANDIDATES WORKING HARD SAYING NOT ONLY WHAT ABOUT US BUT DON'T FORGET US AND WE MAY SURPRISE YOU ON MAY 16.

QUARREL SAYS HE IS ORGANIZED AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL.

AND THAT THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON PRIMARY ELECTION DAY.

>> YOU KNOW, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

YOU CAN NEVER SAY NEVER IN TERMS OF THE FULL SLATE OF CANDIDATES OUT THERE.

OF COURSE, LIKE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, THE MOST RECENT POLL THE MASON DIXON POLL FROM JANUARY IT SHOWS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF GROUND TO MAKEUP THERE.

YOU KNOW THERE'S NOT DOUBTING THAT THERE IS SOME BENEFIT TO HAVING LOCAL JUDGE EXECUTIVES, LOCAL OFFICIALS IN YOUR CAMP, CAMPAIGNING FOR YOU.

BUT YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF WHAT VOTES HOW THAT LOOKS LIKE IN CHANGING VOTES, IT JUST HARD TO SAY.

>> SOME OF THE PEOPLE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS DO THEY HAVE A POINT OF PRIDE IN DELIVERING THEIR COUNTY IF THEY HAVE SAID THEY ARE ENDORSING A CANDIDATE?

>> EXACTLY.

AND WHETHER OR NOT AND I THINK WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, WHETHER OR NOT QUARREL'S PAST LEGISLATIVE INVOLVE; AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER AND KNOWING RURAL COUNTIES IS GOING TO PAY OFF IS TO BE DETERMINED.

HE IS TRYING TO PUT POLICIES OUT THERE, FOUR ITERATIONS OF THIS COMMON SENSE PLAN HE PUT FORTH.

YOU SOMEONE LIKE SOMERSET MAYORAL LAND KICK TRYING TO GET OPENINGS BY COMING OUT FORCEFULLY WHEN IT APPEARED THE SENATE WAS NOT GOING TO TAKE UP THE SPORTS BETTING BILL.

SOME OF THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE PERHAPS LESS KNOWN ARE TRYING TO MAKEUP THAT GROUND.

THE QUESTION REMAINS: WILL THE EFFORTS BE ENOUGH TO CLOSE THE GAP.

>> AND KICK TRIED TO FOLLOW-UP ON THE SPORTS BETTING SAYING NOW IT'S BEEN PASSED LET'S SPEND IT ON SCHOOL SAFETY AND PROPOSED BULLET-PROOF GLASS, MORE TRAINING AND MORE VIDEO USE.

LIAM, ALL THE MAJOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO BOWLING GREEN WHEN A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR AS SA HUTCHISON IS COMING TO DOWN.

DOES HAVING A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THERE TAKE AWAY FROM THE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES BEING ABLE TO MAKEUP GROUND?

>> YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE SOME OF THE INTERACTIONS AT THAT EVENT JUST IN THE FACT THAT HUTCHINSON IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT CRITICAL OF TRUMP.

IN ANNOUNCING HIS CANDIDACY, HE CALLED TRUMP TO STEP DOWN FROM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT SAYING THAT THE RECENT INDICTMENT IN NEW YORK IS GOING TO BECOME SUCH A SIDE SHOW THAT IT'S GOING -- IT'S JUST GOING TO BE TOO MUCH OF A DISTRACTION.

AND WHEN THE LEADING CANDIDATE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR HERE DANIEL CAMERON ENDORSED BY TRUMP IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT INTERACTIONS ARE LIKE BETWEEN A MORE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE MORE CRITICAL OF TRUMP AND ONE WHO IS PROUDLY TOUTING THAT ENDORSEMENT.

>> AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF KENTUCKY COMES TO AGAIN BE A PLAYER IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

IN THE 80s AND 90s CANDIDATES WERE HERE QUITE OFTEN.

GOVERNOR BRASHEAR'S CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCED HE RAISED ANOTHER MILLION DOLLARS THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO $6.2 MILLION SO HE IS ABLE TO KEEP PILING UP MONEY FOR THE FALL.

HOW MUCH OF AN ADVANTAGE IS THAT?

>> I MEAN IT'S NEVER NOT AN ADVANTAGE OR IT'S NEVER NOT PREFERABLE TO HAVE A GOOD WAR CHEST.

BUT WE NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS LIKE WHAT WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY.

A GROUP AFFILIATED WITH THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCING IT WILL BE DROPPING A NEW AD IN KENTUCKY NEXT WEEK.

AND OUR COLLEAGUE FROM THE COURIER MADE A GOOD POINT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAN GOVERNOR BRASHEAR WITHSTAND AS THE REPUBLICANS ARE FIGHTING IN THE PRIMARY CAN THE GOVERNOR WITHSTAND A CONSTANT BARRAGE OF NEGATIVE ADS IN A DEEP RED STATE.

>> HE WAS ON SPRING BREAK AND RETURNED TO KENTUCKY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY VISITING HOPKINSVILLE HIT BY STORMS AS WELL RECENTLY.

THE FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY KENTUCKY STARTED AN INITIATIVE THIS WEEK TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

IT SAYS KENTUCKY IS NOT ONE IN THE COUNTRY IN CANCER MORTALITY AND ALSO SAID THE PANDEMIC HAS MADE THE SITUATION WORSE.

>> WE LEAD THE ENTIRE NATION IN CANCER.

SOME OF THOSE CANCERS ARE PREVENTIBLE.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST DIABETES RATES.

OUR RATES FOR OBESITY ARE HIGH.

WE'RE ONE OF THE TOP STATES FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.

>> THAT IS BEN CHANDLER WHO HEADS UP THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY.

AND ALEX, THEY ARE STARTING ON THE NATION CALLED RAISE YOUR GUARD URGING KENTUCKIANS TO DO BETTER.

AND SOME DOCTORS SAY YOU KNOW, IF WE JUST DO A FEW THINGS A LITTLE BETTER WE CAN IMPROVE THINGS.

>> THE THINGS THAT FOUNDATION FOR HEALTHY KENTUCKY ARE PINPOINTING IS BASIC.

DRINK WATER, ENVASIONS, HEAT HEALTH THIGHER AND GET EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP.

HIGHLIGHTING THINGS THAT EVERYBODY COULD SERVE TO DO BETTER WITH AN EYE TOWARD KENTUCKY WAS REALLY HARD HIT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AS IN WE WERE OUR POPULATION WAS VERY IMPACTED BY COVID.

AND THAT EXACERBATED ALREADY POOR HEALTH DETERM TPHAPBTS.

HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, SO I THINK THEY ARE COMING OFF OF THAT, PREEMPTIVELY SAYING LET'S IMPROVE THESE THINGS IN SMALL WAYS CAN HELP US ENDURE A LOT AND ALSO OUR CANCER RATES ARE REALLY BAD AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOR A LONGTIME.

SO SMALL THINGS LIKE THAT, CAN HELP.

>> COVID LEVELS ARE NOW LOW.

THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY WILL BE WINDING DOWN NEXT MONTH.

AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS RIGHT NOW FOR A STUDY ON NEW COVID VACCINES.

>> RIGHT IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH THE TRAJECTORY OF THE VACCINE AND COVID STUDIES THAT U.K. HAS DONE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

THIS IS AIMED AT LODGER TERM.

SO THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ANYBODY OVER 18 WHO HAS HAD THREE DOSES OF VACCINE CANNOT BE PREGNANT THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH COMBINATION OF DOSES HOLDS UP BEST AGAINST FUTURE VARIANTS.

THEY ARE DOING IT WITH AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE.

COVID WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US THE WAY THE FLU IS WITH US AND IT'S HAPPENING WHILE COVID RATES ARE STABLE.

BRASHEAR SAID THAT THEY REMAIN STABLE.

I WAS LOOKING AT A MAP UPDATED YESTERDAY EVERY COUNTY IS IN THE GREEN AND TWO YELLOW.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT PHASE THAT WE KNEW WE WOULD GET TO IN THE PANDEMIC AND HERE WE ARE PLANNING AHEAD.

>> IS THERE A LITTLE BIT OF CONFIDENCE THAT WE KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW?

>> I THINK SO.

I MEAN WE'VE ENDURED THE WORST OF IT.

PROBABLY IF YOU ASKED A LOT OF EPIDEMIOLOGISTS IN THE BEGINNING THEY WOULD HAVE SAID WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT.

WE HAVE A SUCCESSFUL VACCINE WE HAVE BATTED THE VIRUS DOWN THIS IS HOW WE HAVE TO ADAPT GOING FORWARD.

>> MORE SCHOOLS ARE FACING BULLYING THE TIMES TRIBUNE REPORT THE SCHOOL EDUCATION HAS RECEIVED A GRANT AND A POSITION CREATED AND DEDICATED TO THAT ISSUE AND IT WILL TARGET MIDDLE SCHOOLERS.

A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PROGRAM IN THE STATE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE IT ISN'T A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST OR A COUNSELOR.

THE WAY THE SCHOOL BOARD DESCRIBED IT IS SOMEBODY WHOSE JOB WILL BE TO PREEMPTIVELY PAY ATTENTION TO STUDENTS WELL-BEING.

THEY WILL FOCUS ON THEIR HEALTH, SENSE OF BELONGING, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

IT COMES SORT OF AMID THE BACKDROP OF IT WAS MENTIONED AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING 201 KIDS RECEIVING COUNSELING SERVICES RIGHT NOW BETWEEN TWO COUNSELORS.

I THINK IT WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT WHO SAID MOST OFTEN WHEN COUNSELORS GET INVOLVED WITH STUDENTS IT'S REACTIVE.

SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED.

BULLYING IS AN EPIDEMIC FUELED BY SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND SO THEY ARE UTILIZING THIS GRANT 0 SEE WHAT THEY CAN PREEMPTIVELY STOP.

>> AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS IS THAT, RIGHT ARE, FOR THE MOST PART AND MONITORING WHAT IS GOING ON.

IT'S BEEN OVER WEEKS SINCE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID FINAL PASSAGE OF SENATE BILL 150 THE OMNIBUS BILL ON TRANS YOUTH ISSUES.

THE A.C.L.U.

SAID THEY WOULD BE FILING LEGAL ACTION.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT?

>> IT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET THE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT BUT NOT ALL PARTS OF IT.

THE BAN ON GENDER AFFIRMING HEALTHCARE WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THE EARLY SUMMER.

THE A.C.L.U.

VOWED TO SUE QUICKLY.

IT IS NOT A SURPRISE THEY ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO FIND PLAINTIFFS.

I HAVE TALKED TO A FAMILY AGREED TO SIGN ON.

WE CAN EXPECT THE A.C.L.U.

AND PARTNER LARGER NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO TARGET DIFFERENT PORTIONINGS OF THE LAW.

AND ASK FOR IMMEDIATE INJUNCTION.

I WOULD EXPECT THAT SOMETIME IN THE SPRING.

>> I WOULD LOVE TO WATCH ON THAT.

WE SOMETIMES FORGET HOW MUCH BARGE TRAFFIC THERE IS ON THE KENTUCKY BORDER ON THE OHIO AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

AND MARCUS, WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE SITUATION ON THE OHIO RIVER AT THE McAL OPINION DAM WHERE BARGES ARE PINNED UP AGAINST THE DAM AND A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL IN ONE OF THOSE, RIGHT?

>> I THINK THE PUBLIC ATTENTION ON THIS HAS BEEN HEIGHTENED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE HAVE SEEN FROM THE OHIO TRAIN DERAILMENT AND THE CONCERN OVER CHEMICALS GETTING INTO THE OHIO RIVER AND THE DRINKING WATER FACILITIES ALONG THE RIVER INCLUDING IN LOUISVILLE.

THIS SITUATION UP AGAINST THE McAL OPINION DAM THIS AFTERNOON THE MOST CONCERNING BARGE CONTAINING METHANOL CREWS OFF LOADED ENOUGH THAT EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS SAID THEY ARE ABLE TO PULL THE BARGE OFF OF THE DAM AND SO THAT'S A GREAT RELIEF.

AT THE SAME TIME, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TESTS OF BOTH WATER AND AIR OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO IF NOT LONGER THAT HAVE SHOWN NO EPROTECTABLE AMOUNTS OF THE CHEMICAL.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING HAS GONE PRETTY WELL AND THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN AVERTED.

>> AND LIAM YOU FOLLOWED ON THAT?

>> EVEN IF OFFICIALS HAVE STATED THROUGHOUT THAT DRINKING WATER SUPPLY IN LOUISVILLE AND DOWNSTREAM WOULD BE SAFE.

AND THE FACT THAT METHANOL AS AN INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL IT IS VOLATILE.

IT DISSIPATES EASILY INTO THE WATER AND AIR.

THE NEXT WATER INTAKE ON THE OHIO RIVER AFTER LOUISVILLE WOULD HAVE BEEN HENDERSON, KENTUCKY MORE THAN 100 MILES DOWNSTREAM.

AND OFFICIALS GENERALLY WERE STATING THAT THE METHANOL IN THE WATER IF THERE WAS EVEN A RELEASE, WHICH TESTING HAS SHOWN THAT THERE LIKELY HASN'T BEEN, THAT IT WOULD HAVE DISSIPATED WELL BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE REACHED THE WATER INTAKE.

>> THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A REQUIREMENT THAT KENTUCKY DAM -- THE SAFETY OFFICIALS THERE HAVE SOME KIND OF EMERGENCY PLAN IN PLACE AS TO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF THERE IS A PROBLEM.

THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED FOR YEARS AND IT FINALLY PASSED.

>> YEAH.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT'S HASN'T QUITE MADE IT TO THE FINISH LINE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, SENATOR ROBIN WEBB DEMOCRATIC SENATOR HAS SPONSORED SIMILAR LEGISLATION IN THE PAST JUST TRYING TO REQUIRE HIGH HAZARD DAMS TO HAVE SOME SORT OF EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN.

WHICH THE PLANS CAN INCLUDE SUCH THINGS OF HAVING INUNDATION MAPS TO SHOW IF THERE WAS THE CASE OF A DAM FAILURE WHERE THE WATER WOULD GO.

IT WOULD HAVE A PRIORITY CALL LIST AS IN IF THERE WAS A LEAK OR A SINK HOLE, WHO WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PEOPLE TO CALL AND TO GO DOWN THE LINE.

AND IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND THE DAM OWNERS TO PRACTICE.

>> PROBABLY A SURPRISE TO MANY THAT THAT DIDN'T ALREADY EXIST, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> THERE WAS THE PAN BOWL DAM BREACH OR CONCERNS THERE WOULD BE ONE DURING THE FLOODING LAST SUMMER UP THERE AND A SITUATION IN LOUISVILLE RECENTLY.

>> WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD DAM IN LOUISVILLE NEAR FAIRDALE THAT BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS.

AND THE WATER LEVELS WERE DRAWN DOWN.

BUT IT DID NOT HAVE ONE OF THESE PLANS.

HAD THERE BEEN A MORE SERIOUS ISSUE THERE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE PREVENTATIVE INFORMATION FOR FIRST-RESPONDERS TO OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

I THINK AS LIAM POINTED OUT MANY PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE STUFF ADDED IN THE END.

THIS SHOULD MAKE KENTUCKY IN LINE WITH MOST OTHER STATES.

>> THERE'S BEEN A RULING IN FAVOR FOR LG AND E FOR A PIPELINE OF AN OUTLINING PORTION OF THE BURNHEIM FOREST.

THEY SAY IT'S BADLY NEEDED AND OPPONENTS SAY IT ENDANGERS WATERWAYS AND NATURAL HABITATS.

>> THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT EMERGED AT THE SAME TIME THAT A PROPOSED BYPASS WAS PLANNED FOR THAT PART SOUTH OF LOUISVILLE.

THE PROPOSED BYPASS AND THE PIPELINE CAME AT THE SAME TIME.

BURNHEIM FOUGHT THE PIPELINE WHICH WOULD GO THROUGH A CONSERVATION AREA IT IS NOT IN THE MAJOR FOREST PORTION THAT PEOPLE VISIT.

BUT BURNHEIM'S ARGUMENT HAS BEEN THE DOMAIN LAW IN KENTUCKY SHOULDN'T APPLY TO THIS.

BECAUSE THE LAND WAS BOUGHT WITH STATE FUNDS.

THAT BURNHEIM CLAIMED IT WAS PUBLIC LAND NOT PRIVATE LAND.

A JUDGE RULED IN FAVOR OF LG AND E AND IT WILL GO TO THE APPEALS COURT WHERE SIMILAR CASES ARE AWAITING ACTION.

>> AND APPARENTLY THE STORMS WERE COSTLY.

LG AND E AND KU ARE SEEKING RATE HEIGHTS.

MARCH WAS HISTORIC WIND EVENT, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POWER OUTAGES AND A LOT OF EXPENSE ON THE UTILITIES.

>> IT WAS A SUDDEN AND EXPENSIVE STORM.

LG AND E AND OTHER UTILITIES HAVE THE ABILITY IN KENTUCKYING IF TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND ASK THAT THE UNEXPECTED COSTS THE ONE-TIME COSTS CAN BE RECOVERED THROUGH FUTURE RATE INCREASES.

THE WOULDN'T HAPPEN IF IT DOES HAPPEN UNTIL 2026.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN AN EXAMPLE OF A REQUEST LIKE THIS THAT HASN'T BEEN FULFILLED BY THE COMMISSION ACCORDING TO LG AND E. ACCORDING THAT WILL HAPPEN AND HOW MUCH THAT MONEY WILL BE IS FARTHER IN THE FUTURE.

>> LIAM, THE EPA IS TIGHTENING REGULATIONS ON MERCURY AND COAL EMISSIONS AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING $450 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR SOLAR FARMS OR CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS ON-SITES OF CURRENT OR FORMER COAL MINES.

SOME ARE CALLING THAT ANOTHER ATTACK ON COAL.

WHILE SOME ARE SAYING THIS IS A POSITIVE MOVE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> YEAH, THE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR A REWORKING OF POLLUTION RULES REGARDING THESE COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS, OIL FIRED POWER PLANTS.

AND SOME EVEN SAY THAT THESE NEW REGULATIONS PROPOSED REGULATIONS COULD GO FURTHER.

OF COURSE THE OTHER END YOU HAVE COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS THAT WOULD BE TOO OUT OF DATE TO MEET UP WITH THE REGULATIONS.

THE EPA IS ESTIMATING WITH THIS PROPOSAL ABOUT 500 MEGAWATTS OF COAL-FIRED ELECTRICITY WOULD BE FORCED TO RETIRE IN THIS DECADE IF THE PROPOSAL WOULD GO INTO EFFECT.

>> ALEX TWO STATE LAWMAKERS IN TENNESSEE WERE EXPELLED FROM THE LEGISLATURE THERE THIS WEEK.

AND, OF COURSE, PEOPLE KNOW THE DETAILS OF THAT A BULL HORN USED IN A PROTEST THERE REGARDING GUN ISSUES.

THE COURIER JOURNAL REPORTS LAWMAKERS IN KENTUCKY COULD BE EXPELLED IN THE SAME WAY?

>> RIGHT.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, OUR RULES FOR WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU VIOLATE DECORUM ARE SIMILAR TO TENNESSEE'S.

YOU CENSORED AND EXPELLED TYPICALLY FOR SPEECH.

AND TYPICALLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS AROUND THE CIVIL WAR SOMETIME, USUALLY A COMMITTEE IS FORMED.

YOU HAVE A SMALL TRIAL SORT OF NOT QUITE A TRIAL WHERE YOU CAN HAVE COUNSEL AND WITNESSES AND THEN IT'S DECIDED.

THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN TENNESSEE AND IT DIDN'T.

IT'S INTERESTING THE POLICY MIRROR EACH OTHER.

>> THE REPORT FROM JOE SONKA WHO TRIED TO TAKE A FEW DAYS OFF AND HE DID A DAY OR TWO, FRIDAY OPENING DAY FOR THE SPRING MEETING IS LOUISVILLE READY FOR THE DERBY AND THE EVENTS?

>> I THINK IN LOUISVILLE WE ARE READY FOR NON-WINDY WEATHER AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

KNOCKING ON GLASS, BUT LOOKS TO BE NICE WEATHER.

>> NO DRONES AT -- NO PERSONAL DRONES?

>> KEEP OTHERS AT HOME, BILL.

>> FORMER COURIER KWRURPBL REPORTER WILSON DIED HE PRODUCED AWARD-WINNING JOURNALISM ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKED FOR THE CAPITOL.

HE WORKED FOR THE JOURNAL FOR 30 YEARS.

HE TOLD THE COURIER JOURNAL THAT WILSON SET THE STANDARD.

DICK WILSON WAS 85 AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TRANSYLVANIA UNIVERSITY OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM ON THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP AND THEY WON THE DIVISION 3 CHAMPIONSHIP LAST WEEKEND IN DALLAS A BIG CELEBRATION IN LEXINGTON THIS WEEK.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.