[♪♪] >> Bill: CANDIDATES AND SUPPORTERS SALTER ARRIVING FOR THE FANCY FARM PICNIC AND POLITICAL SPEAKINGS.

WHAT HAPPENED TO AN EVENTS THAT USED TO ENGAGE BOTH PARTIES?

THE REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATE RACE IS EXPECTED TO DRAW THE MOST ATTENTION AS CANDIDATES ELBOW FOR POSITION.

VIOLATIONS OF HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS AT KENTUCKY CHILDCARE CENTERS ARE GETTING WORSE.

HEADING INTO AUGUST WITH SOME COOLER WEATHER, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING AND WE DO HAVE MUCH MORE PLEASANT WEATHER OUT THERE I'M BILL BRYANT 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 JOHN CHEVES, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

JOINING US REMOTELY ARE DEREK OPERLE NEWS DIRECT FOR WKMS AND ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE POLITICS OF THIS WEEKEND WHEN THOUSANDS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO FANCY FARM IN GRAVES COUNTY.

THE MEAT IS COOKING AND EVENTS ARE UNDERWAY ON ST. JEROME CATHOLIC CHURCH AND OTHER LOCATIONS AND SATURDAY THE SPEECHES COULD GIVE US INDICATIONS ABOUT THE BIG RACE AS HEAD.

GIVEN THE CONFIRMED SPEAKERS LIST WE EXPECT A LARGELY REPUBLICAN CROWD ON SATURDAY?

>> AND BILL IT'S CONTINUED TO BECOME MORE AND MORE THAT WAY AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

WE SAW LAST YEAR TWO DEMOCRATS SHOWING AT FANCY FARM.

THIS YEAR, REGISTERED WE HAVE JUST ONE.

AND THAT IS JOHN WILLIAMS.

CANDIDATE FOR THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN KENTUCKY CHALLENGING U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES COMER.

AND IT'S VERY INTERESTING WE ACTUALLY HAVE CREWS HERE AT THE MARSHALL COUNTY BEAN DINNER FOR THE DEMOCRATS HERE.

AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN IS SPEAKING RIGHT NOW.

SHE IS GOING TO BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY AREN'T MORE DEMOCRATS AT THIS HISTORIC ANNUAL KICKOFF TO THE FALL ELECTION CYCLE.

BECAUSE SHE AND THE GOVERNOR THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY WHO SAID THEY ARE DISAPPOINTED IS THE WORD THEY'VE USED THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN JUST CANDIDATES, BUT FOLKS IN STATE-WIDE OFFICE RIGHT NOW SHOW UP.

OF COURSE DEMOCRATS WOULD SAY LISTEN THIS IS A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT.

THAT AREA HAS CHANGED A LOT AND WE ARE IN A DIGITAL AGE WHERE IN THEIR WORDS THE PARTY AT LEAST, THAT SORT OF THE RELEVANCE OF FANCY FARM FOR DEMOCRATS AT LEAST.

>> Bill: LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT SOMETHING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN IS THERE TONIGHT AT THAT EVENT BUT WILL NOT SPEAK ON SATURDAY?

>> YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.

SHE IS SPEAKING RIGHT NOW AT CALVERT CITY AND SHE IS ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS LIKELY I CAN ONLY ASSUME ABOUT THE CRITICISM DEMOCRATS HAVE SEEN IN RECENT DAYS ABOUT THOSE COMMENTS ON THE RELEVANCE OF FANCY FARM.

JACQUELINE COLEMAN IS HERE SPEAKING.

>> Bill: JOHN, WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT MOST DEMOCRATS THE OFFICE HOLDERS AND CANDIDATES STAY AWAY.

IS IT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE CHALLENGES IN THE RURAL AREAS?

OR DOES IT MEAN THAT EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE NOT AS RELEVANT AS THEY WERE.

>> IT CAN BE BOTH.

KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS LOST OF THE RURAL VOTERS AND LOST WESTERN KENTUCKY WHERE FANCY FARM IS.

IT CAN ALSO BE THAT FANCY FARM DOESN'T HAVE THE RELEVANCE IT ONCE DID IF ARE TRYING TO WIN VOTES WITH THE LIMITED RESOURCES WHICH THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY DOES YOU GO TO FORUMS TO CHANGE MINDS.

IT'S TRIBAL WARFARE YOU GO THERE TO SHAKE YOUR FIST AND TO SHOUT.

I HAVE'S NEVER SEEN ANYBODY WALK AWAY STROKING THEIR CHIN SAYING GEE, I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

MAYBE THE OTHER PERSON IS RIGHT.

TO DO THAT, I GUESS YOU GO ON PODCASTS AND GIVE NEWS INTERVIEWS THERE'S OTHER FORMS GO TO WIN THE HEARTS AND SOULS OF PEOPLE.

FANCY FARM IS NOT THAT.

SO THEY STAY AWAY FROM IT.

>> Bill: AND DEREK, WE KNOW THIS IS A HUGE EVENT FOR WESTERN KENTUCKY AND IT TAKES A LOT OF PLANNING AND PREPARATION.

IT IS A LOCAL POINT OF PRIDE FOR MANY THERE.

GIVE US A SENSE WHAT FANCY FARM STILL MEANS IN THE JACKSON PURCHASE AREA?

>> YEAH, OUTSIDE OF THE CHEERS, YEARS, JABS AND ZINGERS, THIS IS STILL A VERY IMPORTANT EVENT WHEN IT COMES TO PEOPLE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY CARE ABOUT IT.

I GREW UP IN GRAVES COUNTY THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EVENT THAT STARTED AS A FUNDRAISER FOR A CATHOLIC CHURCH AND OVER THE ACADEMIES PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND HAD FUN.

THERE ARE FAMILIES PARTICIPATING FOR DECADES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN EVENT THAT IS 145 YEARS OLD, OLDER THAN SOME STATES.

IT IS NO SURPRISE THIS EVENTS HAS A LOT OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR PEOPLE HERE.

>> Bill: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR HAPPY CHANDLER RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 1931 STARTED THE TRADITION OF THE POLITICAL SPEAKINGS, THE PICNIC IS OLDER THAN THAT.

DO THE DEMOCRATS MITIGATE ANY POTENTIAL POLITICAL DAMAGE FOR NOT GOING TO FANCY FARM BY MAKING THESE APPEARANCES IN THE REGION THIS WEEK, DEREK?

>> I THINK THE PRESENCE HAS BEEN FELT.

BESHEAR WAS AT THE GROUNDBREAKING IN MADISONVILLE.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR WAS AT A CHECK PRESENTATION FOR A LOCAL SENIOR CENTER IN MURRAY TODAY AND IS OBVIOUSLY AT THE BEAN DINNER RIGHT NOW.

BUT IT'S STILL FEELS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE ABANDONING THIS EVENTS THAT HAS HAD SO MUCH MEANING OVER THE YEARS.

>> Bill: ISAIAH, ON THE OTHER HAND DO REPUBLICANS FEEL THEY OWN THE FANCY FARM EVENT?

24EU6789 WELL.

>> WELL, THIS IS FOR THE CANDIDATES WHO WILL BE SPEAKING THIS FEELS LIKE PREGENERAL ELECTION NOT PREPRIMARY ELECTION.

AND ACTUALLY I LEARN THIS TODAY I DID NOT KNOW THIS I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE CHAIRMAN FOR THE FANCY FARM PICNIC AND HE TOLD ME THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IN HIS WORDS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE HAVING CANDIDATES FOR STATE OFFICE BEFORE A PRIMARY ELECTION.

WE HAVE THREE G.O.P.

CANDIDATES TO REPLACE MITCH McCONNELL WHO WILL ALL BE SPEAKING.

THAT IS VERY UNUSUAL AS TYPICALLY THEY WAIT UNTIL AFTER PRIMARY BEFORE GENERAL WHERE THEY HAVE A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN THEY DO THE COIN FLIP AND THEY BOTH SPEAK.

HISTORY BEING MADE ON ALL FRONTS HERE.

>> Bill: THE EMCEE OF THE SPEAKINGS IS KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT ASHLI WATTS WHO MADE HISTORY OF HER OWN.

SHE TOLD YOU SHE IS EXCITED AND HAS JOKES AND ZINGERS FOR BOTH SIDES.

>> YEAH, NOT ONLY IS SHE THE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD THE CHAMBER SHE THE FIRST WOMAN TO EMCEE THE POLITICAL EVENT IN THE 145 YEAR HISTORY.

SHE HAS BEEN WORKSHOPPING JABS WHEN I SPOKE WITH HER.

AND HER INVOLVEMENT AS THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER PRESIDENT WITH THIS EVENT, THAT'S DREW CONSTERNATION FROM THE CHAPTER OF THE A.F.L.-C.I.O.

TO CALL FOR MEMBERS NOT TO ATTEND THE EVENT.

IT IS NOT A BOYCOTT.

THEY SAY THAT THE CHAMBER HAS BEEN BIASED TOWARDS THE REPUBLICAN CAUSES AND THEY ARE ANTIUNION CITING LOBBYING SPENDING.

>> DREW WILLIAMS MENTIONED THAT THAT POINT IS POSSIBLY A REASON IN HIS WORDS THAT DEMOCRATS ARE NOT MAYBE SHOWING UP IN THE SAME NUMBERS IS BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE UNDERLYING CONFLICT BEHIND THE SCENES THERE.

>> Bill: DOES ASHLI WATTS SEE THIS AS A CHALLENGE?

CAN SHE GET THROUGH THIS WITH GOOD HUMOR IF IT GETS HEATED OUT THERE?

>> SHE IS GOOD AT BREAKING UP FIGHTS BETWEEN HER CHILDREN AND SHE HAS HAD A LOT OF PRACTICE.

AND SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT THAT CHALLENGE.

>> Bill: DEREK, ARE THERE ANY REGIONAL ISSUES THIS YEAR OUT AT FANCY FARM?

I REMEMBER SOME YEARS AGO THE HOG FARM ISSUE WAS HUGE.

EVERY SIGN FROM THE INTERSTATE UP TO FANCY FARM HAD TO DO WITH THAT.

ARE THERE ANY THINGS STANDING OUT IN TERMS OF REGIONAL CONCERNS THIS YEAR?

OR DO YOU EXPECT THE NATIONAL ISSUES TO DOMINATE?

>> I EXPECT THOSE TO BE THE ORDERS OF THE DAY THE NATIONAL ISSUES.

I WAS TALKING WITH STEVEN ELDER TODAY HE WAS WALKING AND LOOKING AT SIGNS AND THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE LOCAL ISSUE POPPING UP THROUGHOUT.

I EXPECT THE STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE AREA COULD BRING UP A PUSH FOR A NEW JAIL IN MAYFIELD WHO LOST THEIR FACILITY DURING THE TORNADO.

ALSO, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE EXPECT A LOT OF THE SPOTLIGHT TO BE ON THE CANDIDATES FOR SENATE THAT WE WILL BE SEEING.

WE'VE GOT GOOD WEATHER AND THAT'S ONLY GOING TO BRING OUT CROWDS AND I'VE HEARD FROM THE CHAIRMAN HE EXPECTS MORE CHARTER BUSES TO BE AT THE PICNIC.

MAYBE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF WESTERN KENTUCKY AS WELL.

>> Bill: BUSING IN SUPPORTERS.

THE RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE NOMINATION IS EXPECTED TO DRAW THE MOST ATTENTION AT FANCY FARM.

DANIEL CAMERON, CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR AND NATE MORRIS WILL ALL BE SPEAKING AT THE EVENT ON SATURDAY.

JOHN, LET'S TALK STRATEGY.

ALL THREE CANDIDATES WANT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

ALL THREE HAVE TIES TO SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WHO HAS BEEN ELECTED TO THAT SEAT SEVEN TIMES BY KENTUCKY VOTERS.

DO THEY HAVE TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM McCONNELL TO HAVE ANY HOPES OF GETTING A THUMB'S UP FROM TRUMP?

>> THEY EVIDENTLY THINK THEY DO.

MORRIS, CAMERON AND BARR, WORKED IN MITCH McCONNELL'S SENATE OFFICE AS HAVE ALMOST EVERYONE AMONG KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS OVER THE LAST TWO GENERATIONS.

IT WAS A RITE OF PASSAGE.

NOW, THEY RANGE FROM TRYING TO QUIETLY DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM MITCH McCONNELL TO OPENLY INSULTING MITCH McCONNELL IN VERY COLORFUL LANGUAGE.

TRUMP DOESN'T LIKE MITCH McCONNELL.

THEY WANT TRUMP TO ENDORSE THEM AND SUPPORTERS TO SUPPORT THEM.

THEY WANT DAYLIGHT BETWEEN THEIR FORMER MENTOR AND EMPLOYER.

KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS HAVE SENT MITCH McCONNELL TO THE SENATE SEVEN TIMES.

AS THEY COURT THE SUPPORT OF THESE VOTERS HOW FAR CAN THEY GO IN INSULTING MITCH McCONNELL AND TALKING ABOUT HOW TERRIBLE HE IS BEFORE THEY INSULT THESE VOTERS WHO DECIDE IN SEVEN TIMES IT WAS THEIR GUY.

IS THERE ANY RISK OF CRITICIZING THE PEOPLE WHO THEY NOW COURT?

OR HAVE THE VOTERS CHANGED THEIR MINDS, TOO.

>> Bill: ISAIAH WHAT WILL YOU BE WATCHING FOR ON SATURDAY?

>> MAYBE WE WILL HAVE A McCONNELL TRUMP COUNTER HOW MANY TIMES PEOPLE MENTION TRUMP AND McCONNELL.

I HAVE SEEN DISCREPANCY I THINK OTHERS HAVE TOO, AS FAR AS HOW THE THREE CANDIDATE AS APPROACHED THAT.

I DO THINK YOU HAVE DANIEL CAMERON WHO HAS WORKED IS LINKED WITH McCONNELL FOR MOST OF HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER.

HE HAS ONLY MENTIONED SENATOR McCONNELL WHEN SAYING HE DISAGREED WITH SOME OF HIS CABINET NOMINATION VOTES AND SAYING HE WOULD HAVE VOTED YES FOR AN R.F.K., JR. FOR A ACTUALSY GABBARD OR PETE HEGSETH.

AND THEN YOU HAVE CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR UNLESS HE IS ASKED DOESN'T MENTION MITCH McCONNELL A LOT.

HE STAYS FOCUSED ON HIS VOTES FOR TRUMP AND HE CAN DO THAT BECAUSE HE IS A SITTING MEMBER IN CONGRESS.

AND YOU HAVE NATE MORRIS THE LEAST NAME RECOGNITION OF ALL THREE.

HE CENTERING HIS CAMPAIGN AROUND THIS IN ALL HONESTY HE NEEDS TO.

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BUILT-IN ADVANTAGES THAT THE OTHER TWO DO OUTSIDE OF MONEY, OF COURSE.

>> Bill: DEREK WHAT INTRIGUES YOU ABOUT THESE THREE CANDIDATES ON STAGE ON SATURDAY?

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THE WAY THEY FRAME THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH TRUMP.

OBVIOUSLY YOU'VE GOT DANIEL CAMERON WHO WAS ENDORSED BY TRUMP WHERE WHEN HE RAN FOR GOV.

AND THOMAS MASSIE -- SORRY YOU'VE GOT NATE MORRIS WHO HAS BEEN ON DONALD TRUMP JR.'S PODCAST.

AND BARR WHO HERALDED THE PASSAGE OF THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL AS THE BEGINNING OF A GOLDEN AGE IN AMERICA AND PLUS THIS WASHINGTON OUTSIDER NARRATIVE THAT MORRIS IS CRAFTING IT MAKES FOR A COMPELLING RACE.

>> Bill: BY THE TIME THE SHOW AIRS SUNDAY WE WILL HAVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND WE WILL LOOK SMART OR NOT.

BUT AT THIS POINT, IS IT LIKELY THE REPUBLICANS WHO WANT McCONNELL'S JOB WILL CRITICIZE HIM TO HIS FACE IF HE IS THERE ON STAGE OR LIKELY THEY WILL GET HIM IN LATE AND OUT EARLY?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE ORDER OF THE SPEECHES.

IT WOULD BE LIKELY IF SENATOR McCONNELL DOES SHOW AND SPEAK AT FANCY FARM I'M TOLD THE EXPECTATION HE WILL BE THERE AND HE WILL SPEAK.

HOWEVER, ULTIMATEDLY, NONE OF US KNOW ONLY HE KNOWS UP UNTIL THE LAST-MINUTE WHETHER HE IS GOING TO BE PRESENT AND SPEAK AT, OF COURSE, THIS MAJOR EVENT.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE SENSE FROM MANY OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT ULTIMATELY THEY HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE SENATOR.

AND YOU GET THE SENSE THEY WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE HIM IN THE FINAL YEARS IN OFFICE BASICALLY BE BASHED IN FRONT OF 12,000 PEOPLE.

THAT IS THE SENSE I GET.

SO THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THE CANDIDATES WILL SORT OF READ THAT AND REACT ACCORDINGLY.

I CAN TELL YOU LIKELY NATE MORRIS IS GOING TO STAY CLOSE TO HIS MESSAGING TO THIS POINT.

BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY BEEN CENTRAL TO HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: THERE WILL BE A LOT TO WATCH ON THE STAGE.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR'S DECISION TO RUN FOR THE SENATE MEANS HIS HOUSE SEAT IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY WILL BE OPEN HE GOES TO THE SENATE OR GOES HOME.

JOHN THE RACE FOR CONGRESS IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY IS FORMING THREE DEMOCRATS AND THREE REPUBLICANS TRYING TO WIN IN A RACE THAT SOME BELIEVE COULD BE COMPETITIVE NEXT YEAR.

WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE THEM DISCUSS ISSUES.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, WITH A HALF DOZEN CANDIDATES SO FAR WE ARE GETTING A CONTESTED CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL CYCLES IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND THAT WILL BE INTERESTING AND MORE CANDIDATES MAY COME.

NOT A LOT THIS WEEK A COUPLE OF THE DEMOCRATS CHERLYNN STEVENSON AND ZACK ZACK MADE A POINT OF MEDICAID'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND THE CUTS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO COME SHORTLY BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN LED CONGRESS.

>> Bill: I THINK IT IS FUNDRAISING SEASON IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS A LOT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING.

KENTUCKY ELECTS THE LOCAL LEADERS NECK YEAR, INCLUDING MAYORS AND JUDGE EXECUTIVES STATE-WIDE.

AND SO JOHN IN LEXINGTON WE KNOW THAT MAYOR LINDA GORTON WHO ANNOUNCED SHE WILL SEEK A THIRD TERM.

AND LAST WEEK, AUSTIN HORN WE HERE AND CALLED HER A POLITICAL FORCE.

SHE DID WIN CONVINCINGLY HER FIRST TERM AND REELECTION IN 2022.

ANY SENSE AS TO WHETHER VOTERS WOULD HAVE ANY HESITATION ABOUT GIVING HER A THIRD TEAM?

>> I THINK IT'S LINDA GORTON'S RACE TO LOSE.

SHE BEAT TWO OPPONENTS SHE WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 16 YEARS.

EVERYONE IN LEXINGTON KNOWS HER AND PEOPLE ARE AS HAPPY AS ANYONE GETS WITH POLITICIANS.

LEXINGTON DOES HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS LIKE A LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

FOR A CHALLENGER TO MAKE HAY WITH THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME FORWARD WITH A CONCRETE SUGGESTION WHAT THEY WOULD DO AS OPPOSED TO WHAT MAYOR GORTON IS DOING.

OTHERWISE I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE COULD LOSE IT THIS TIME.

>> Bill: WE KNOW THE LEXINGTON MAYOR WILL SEEK REELECTION WHAT ABOUT LOUISVILLE MAYOR CRAIG GREENBERG.

>> IT'S HAPPENING.

HE IS SEEKING REELECTION I DON'T KNOW IF THE WEBSITE IS STILL UP, IF YOU WENT TO HIS OLD CAMPAIGN WEBSITE, CRAIG GREENBERG, IT ACTUALLY HAD CHANGED AND SAID REELECT GREENBERG FOR MAYOR.

IT'S NO SECRET.

HIS TEAM HAS SAID THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A FORM WILL AANNOUNCEMENT SOMETIME LAST YEAR AND THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN SPECIFICS.

BUT THIS MAYOR IS GOING TO RUN FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

LOUISVILLE MAYORS CANNOT GO FOR 12 YEARS.

YOU GET THE SENSE HE IS GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE AND TALKING LIKE A CANDIDATE MORE AND MORE.

HE IS FOCUSING IN ON SOME OF OUR HOMICIDE NUMBERS GOING DOWN.

HE POSTS THAT A LOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

PUBLIC SAFETY WAS HIS TOP PRIORITY HAD IN HIS WORDS GOING INTO THE FIRST TERM.

>> Bill: AND THE BIG CHANGE IN LOUISVILLE THAT RACE WILL BE NONPARTISAN, RIGHT?

>> SURE.

WHICH COULD HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT POTENTIAL EFFECTS.

YOU'VE HAD REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S GOING TO HURT REPUBLICANS AND OTHERS SAY IT WILL BE REALLY GOOD FOR SOME OF THE LOCAL RACES INCLUDING METRO COUNCIL.

CRAIG GREENBERG IS SEEN AS SOMEONE HE HAS DEMOCRAT BY HIS NAME BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO HIM SPEAK, HE CAN SOUND A LOT LIKE A MODERATE REPUBLICAN.

ESPECIALLY WITH HIS VIEWS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND YOU'VE SEEN SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE CITY GRAVITATE TOWARDS THAT.

>> Bill: ALSO THIS WEEK RAND PAUL AND VIRGINIA TIM CANE FROM OPPOSITE PARTIES LEANED INTO THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TARIFFS.

>> TARIFFS IN PARTICULAR AND THE IDEA OF TRADE, TRADE IS PROPORTIONAL TO WEALTH.

THE LAST 70 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE HAS BASKETBALL A CURVE UP WORDS AND THE LAST 70 YEARS OF PROSPERITY HAS BEEN UPWARDS ALSO.

WE ARE RICHER BECAUSE OF TRADE WITH CANADA.

AND SO IS CANADA.

THE CONSUMER WINS WHEN THE PRICE IS THE LOWEST PRICE.

TARIFFS RAISE PRICES AND A BAD IDEA FOR THE ECONOMY.

>> Bill: ISAIAH YOU SEE PAUL AND TIM BIPARTISAN CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT TARIFFS?

>> AND SENATOR RAND PAUL, BILL, HAS BEEN CONSISTENT ON THIS PRETTY MUCH FROM THE START OF THIS CONVERSATIONS.

I MEAN IT DOESN'T FOR HIM IT HEADACHES SENSE WHEN YOU HAVE COMPANIES LIKE U.P.S., AND FORD AND THIS IS SORT OF WHAT HE HAS ELUDED TO WHEN THEY ARE REPORTING REVENUE LOSSES IN QUARTER TWO, PROFIT LOSSES FROM A YEAR BEFORE, BUYOUTS HAPPENING, HE HAS PRETTY MUCH SAID AS FAR AS KENTUCKY'S MAJOR INDUSTRIES THAT THERE WILL BE LOSSES.

OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT THE GDP DID RAISE 3% THE ECONOMY HAS GROWN.

THIS IS NOT A BIPARTISAN ISSUE THAT HE HAS SORT OF COME ON TO THE SCENE WITH LATER.

THAT AND MEDICAID WE'VE SEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS GO DIFFERENT WAYS ON AND SOME WAYS FRACTURE THE PARTY.

>> Bill: WE'LL KEEP WATCH ON THAT AND HIGH PROFILE STORIES DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF HEALTH AND SAFETY VIOLATIONS OF CHILDCARE CENTERS IN KENTUCKY.

YOU'VE SEEN A STEADY CLIMB IN REPORTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

>> SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN IN 2020, IT'S BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM.

STATE HEALTH CABINET HAS TAKEN NOTE OF IT AND WE HAVE NOT SEEN SOLUTIONS PUT ON THE TABLE BY ANYONE NOT BY THE HEALTH CABINET OR THE LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK HELD A HEARING IN FRANKFORT TO AIR OUT THE NUMBERS.

WE DO KNOW THAT THE STAFF OF DAYCARE CENTERS ARE NOT PAID WELL.

THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF THEM AND THEY OVERREACT BADLY WHEN THINGS GO WRONG AT A CHILDCARE CENTER IT'S SOMETHING THAT KENTUCKY HAS TO ADDRESS SOON BEFORE THE KIDS GET HURT IN WORSE NUMBERS.

>> Bill: THEY DISCUSSED THE ISSUE -- >> DANNY CARROLL WHO HAS IN THE PAST HELPED RUN A DAYCARE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY MIGHT HAVE SOME LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE WHAT HE PUTS ON THE TABLE THIS WINTER.

>> Bill: AND IT'S BEEN EIGHT MONTHS NOW SINCE KENTUCKY'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM LAUNCHED AND SALES HAVE NOT STARTED, MORE THAN 16,000 PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED WRITTEN CERTIFICATIONS THAT THEY HAVE ONE OF THE SIX QUALIFYING CONDITIONS BUT AT THIS POINT, THE ROLLOUT IS APPEARS VERY SLOW TO SOME.

>> IT DOES.

MY HERALD-LEADER COLLEAGUE REPORTED THAT DISPENSARIES ARE TELLING HIM IT COULD BE THIS FALL, WINTER BEFORE THEY GET MEDICAL MARIJUANA INTO THE HANDS OF PATIENTS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR BLAMES THE DELAYS ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF SENATE BILL 47 THAT LEGALIZED MEDICAL CANNABIS IT REQUIRES THE CANNABIS TO BE KENTUCKY, GROWN, TESTED, PROCESSED AND RETAILED.

WE HAVE TO BUILD A SUPPLY CHAIN FROM SCRATCH WITHIN THE STATE AND THE GROWING OPERATIONS HAVE TO BE LOCATED AT SECURE INDOOR FACILITIES WITH STATE INSPECTIONS.

NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO OVERNIGHT.

>> Bill: JOE SONKA REPORTED THAT SOME CULTIVATORS ARE BRINGING IN HALF GROWN PLANTS TO GET PRODUCTS TO MARKET SOONER?

SY.

JOE REPORTED THAT ONE CULTIVATOR ARMORY KENTUCKY LLC, BROUGHT IN A COUPLE THOUSAND MATURE PLANTS FROM ANOTHER STATE AND THEY DID NOT DISCLOSE WHERE THOSE CAME FROM.

ARMORY KENTUCKY LLC IS OWNED BY A MAN NAMED JOHN POWERS WHO OWNS A CULTIVATOR, LICENSED HE OWNS A COMPANY THAT IS LICENSED TO GROW, PRODUCE AND DISPENSE MEDICAL CANNABIS IN WEST VIRGINIA.

SO A COUPLE THOUSAND OF THOSE CAME IN THEY SAY THAT HARVEST IS TWO MONTHS OUT WITH THE PRODUCT PROBABLY SHOWING UP IN DISPENSARIES SOMETIME IN OCTOBER AND IN LIMITED AMOUNTS AND THAT WILL BE THE FIRST MEDICAL CANNABIS ON KENTUCKY SHELVES LEGALLY.

>> Bill: JOHN THE STATE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS BEEN A FOCUS OF YOUR REPORTING.

YOU HAVE REPORTED ON SOME DOCUMENTS THAT SAY JUVENILE OFFENDERS IN SOME CASES ARE ASKING TO STAY IN THEIR CELLS OUT OF FEAR?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE STATE RUN JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER PROBABLY THE MOST TROUBLED OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM I GOT DOCUMENTS TO SHOW THIS YEAR OVER A THREE-MONTH PERIOD A DOZEN OR SO KIDS ASKED TO NOT LEAVE THEIR CELLS BECAUSE THEY FEARED PHYSICAL ATTACK IF THEY LEFT.

AND SOME CASES THEY HAD BEEN PHYSICALLY ATTACKED BY OTHER KIDS THE THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.

CALLED VOLUNTARY PROTECTIVE CUSTODY.

THE STATES LET THEM DO IT.

AND ADVOCATES SAY WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

IT IS A SECURED STATE FACILITY WHY CAN'T THE KIDS SET FOOT OUT OF CELL AND TAKE PART IN CLASSROOMS AND RECREATION TIME AND DINING HALL WITHOUT GETTING BEATEN UP IT IS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.

>> Bill: THEY ARE MISSING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES.

>> THEY ARE STAYING IN THE CELL THE SIZE OF A GARDEN SHED AND GETTING A VIDEO GAME OR DIVIDEND PLAYER TO WATCH MOVIES BUT IT'S HARDLY THE PLACE TO KEEP KIDS FOR A LONGTIME.

>> Bill: WE MENTIONED THE SITE AT THE FORMER PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT AND SEVERAL MORE PROJECTS YOU ARE WATCHING.

>> THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE HUGE DEVELOPMENTS HAPPENING ALL BASED AROUND THE FORMER PADUCAH GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT WHICH SHUTTERED IN 2013.

YOU HAVE FIRST OFF THE PERSPECTIVE A.I.

DATA CENTER ENERGY PROJECT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SAID IT'S IN THE RUNNING TO GET ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS.

YOU HAVE GLOBAL LASER ENRICHMENT WHICH IS POTENTIALLY THE WORLD'S FIRST COMMERCIAL LASER URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY THAT CAN BE ON A PROPERTY ADJACENT.

AND ALSO WE BROKE THE STORY LAST WEEK ABOUT A DEVELOPMENT FROM A COMPANY GENERAL MATTER THAT SAID IS TO BE THE FIRST PRIVATELY URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY AND THEY HAVE TRIES TO PETER TEAL NOT A TON IS KNOWN ABOUT WHAT METHOD THEY WILL USE TO ENRICH OR WHAT ENDS.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT IS EXPECTED TO COME EARLY NEXT WEEK.

>> Bill: WE EXPECT WE'RE HEARING THE GOVERNOR AND THE SENATORS WILL BE OUT THERE.

SOME MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT COMING NEXT WEEK, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S TRUE ON TUESDAY.

>> Bill: HOUSING WAS ADDRESSED THIS WEEK BANKS NOW PROPOSING SOME SOLUTIONS.

WE GOT AN UPDATED TIME-FRAME FROM EKU ON THE COLLEGE OF OS PAT THICK MEDICINE, DAVID McFADDEN PROPOSED IT TONIGHT IT'S LIKELY IT WILL BE 2034 BEFORE THEY GRADUATE THEIR FIRST CLASS THEY HOPE TO HAVE THE CLASS STARTED IN 2030.

>> BY 2030 KENTUCKY WILL NEED 624 PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS IN RURAL COUNTIES THAT WILL BE A NICE THING TO HAVE IF THEY CAN DELIVER IT.

>> Bill: MAYBE THEY HAVE THEIR TIMING RIGHT.

>> KET WILL PROVIDE COVERAGE FROM FANCY FARM COVERAGE WILL START AT 2:30 EASTERN TIME.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.