[♪♪] >> Bill: FANCY FARM BRINGS OUT THE HEAT IN THE STATE-WIDE CAMPAIGNS AS CULTURE ISSUES, CRIME AND JOBS TAKE CENTER STAGE.

15 MILLION DOLLARS HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT IN ADS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AS THE CANDIDATES AND THE PARTIES GO AFTER EACH OTHER.

JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CANCEL CLASSES AFTER A TRANSPORTATION MELTDOWN.

WE NOW KNOW WHEN AND HOW SPORTS BETTING WILL BE ROLLED OUT IN KENTUCKY AND IT'S COMING SOON.

THE DOGGED DAYS OF SUMMER PROVED TO BE MILD AND 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 ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND OUR GUESTS ARE OLIVIA KRAUTH, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER JOURNAL.

MONICA HARKINS, ANCHOR AND REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

AND BILL ESTEP FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND A LONG AWAITED TRIAL OVER ACCUSATIONS THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY VIOLATED TITLE IX COMPLIANCE FOR SPORTS WAS THIS WEEK AND RECORD TOURISM NUMBERS FOR KENTUCKY SINCE WE ARE SO INTERESTING TO COME VISIT.

WHEN WE ORIGINATED OUR PROGRAM FROM FANCY FARM LAST WEEKEND THE STAGE WAS BEING SET FOR LAST SATURDAY'S FIERY SPEECHES AND THE TONE AND THE TENOR DID NOT DISAPPOINT THOSE WHO MADE THE TRIP TO WESTERN KENTUCKY FOR RED MEAT POLITICS.

>> E HE FIGHTS FOR THE BIDEN AGENDA, HE DEMANDS THAT BOYS PLAY IN GIRLS SPORTS.

HE PROTECTS TRANSGENDER SURGERIES FOR KIDS.

I'VE BEEN WATCHING FRANKFORT ANDY UP CLOSE FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS AND I HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION: GOVERNOR ARE YOU AUDITIONS FOR A JOB WITH BUD LITE'S MARKETING TEAM?

ROBBY CERTAINLY IS AN INTERESTING CHOICE.

WHEN I WENT TO COURT AND SAVED THE PENSIONS OF EVERY TEACHER AND POLICE OFFICER, ROBBY WAS MAD.

ROBBY WAS BIG MAD.

ROBBY SAID IT WAS THE MOST FRUSTRATED HE'D EVER BEEN WHICH IS EXACTLY HOW DANIEL FELT WHEN THE BEST HE GOT WAS ROBBY MILLS.

>> YOU BOTH SURVIVED AND ARE HERE TONIGHT BACK IN THE AIR-CONDITIONING.

THE SPEECHES WERE LOUD AND LIVELY AND THE THEMES WERE FAMILIAR.

>> DEFINITELY.

I THINK THE BIGGEST THINGS JUST KNOWING THE DEMOCRATS HADN'T BEEN THERE IN A LARGE GROUP IN A WHILE GOVERNOR BESHEAR HADN'T ATTENDED SINCE HE WAS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN 2019 THAT WAS BROUGHT UP A LOT.

WELCOME TO WEST KENTUCKY YOU HEARD OF IT?

AND BESHEAR SAYING YES, ACTUALLY I'VE BEEN HELPING WITH TORNADO PICK UP FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THE COMMON THEME HEY YOU HAVEN'T BEEN HERE LET'S TALK ABOUT FANCY FARM.

AND OF COURSE ANOTHER THEME YOU HEARD IT IN THERE WITH DANIEL CAMERON TALKING ABOUT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE THAT WHOLE COMMUNITY BEING ATTACKED ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE THAT WAS HUGE THEME FOR THIS FANCY FARM.

>> Bill: OLIVIA DID YOU FIND SURPRISES IN THE THOOMS FROM THE STAGE?

>> NOT REALLY AND I WILL BE HONEST IT WAS MY FIRST TIME BEING THERE IN PETITION I COULD NOT HEAR MUCH OF ANYTHING.

BUT BEING ABLE TO REVIEW THE CLIPS, IT REALLY JUST FELT LIKE NORMAL SPEECHES NORMAL TALKING POINTS OUTSIDE OF A FEW ROASTS OR ATTEMPTS AT ROASTS I SHOULD SAY.

YEAH.

>> Bill: WE MAKE NOTE THAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE ZEROED IN ON CULTURAL ISSUES AND THEY SIGNALED THAT IS WHAT THEY WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AND THEY FOLLOWED THROUGH SATURDAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THAT THE WHOLE GENERAL ELECTION SEASON.

YOU CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE WHOLE YEAR AT THIS POINT AND THAT CAME UP FREQUENTLY DURING THEIR SPEECHES OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> Bill: IT SEEMS THAT SOME ARE BEING EMPHASIZE MORE THAN OTHERS AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF THOSE ISSUES?

>> OH, YEA.

TRANSGENDER SPORTS IS TOP OF MIND BUT THAT WAS WAS BANNED IN KENTUCKY FROM TRANSGENDER WOMEN PLAYING IN THE KENTUCKY SPORTS IN THE AGE GROUPS.

IT SEEMS LIKE TO ME AN OLD TALKING POINT BUT IT'S COME UP A LOT WITH ROBBY MILLS YOU HEARD GOVERNOR BESHEAR MENTIONING THAT.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] AND THAT'S WHAT THE REPUBLICANS RALLIED AROUND.

>> Bill: WE DIDN'T HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT ABORTION.

>> NO.

NO, WE DIDN'T.

I THINK THAT GOES TO SHOW I THINK REPUBLICANS WERE DEFINITELY STILL STUNG WHEN THE AMENDMENT FAILED LAST FALL.

AND I THINK THAT IS STILL VERY MUCH THE CASE AND THAT STILL HURTS.

AND YOU OBVIOUSLY WITH OHIO RECENTLY, IT'S NOT SUPER POPULAR THE CONCEPT.

SO BRINGING UP OUTSIDE OF THE PASSING I'M PRO-LIFE TYPE OF MENTION LIKE IT'S NOT REALLY HAPPENING.

>> Bill: BILL ARE THESE ISSUES TAKING HOLD IN THE RACE?

>> BOTH SIDES ARE TRYING TO EMPHASIZE WHAT THEY THINK WILL MOTIVATE THE VOTERS.

DANIEL CAMERON IS EMPHASIZING SOME OF THE CULTURAL ISSUES, ANDY BESHEAR IS EMPHASIZING THE ECONOMY THAT HAS DONE WELL UNDER HIM.

IF YOU LOOK AT RECENT POLLING YOU MIGHT ARGUE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON IS NOT GETTING A LOT OF HEADWAY JUST YET WITH THAT KIND OF A CAMPAIGN THEME.

THERE WAS A RECENT POLL POLL OUT SPONSORED BY BESHEAR AND DONE BY DEMOCRATIC LEANING FIRM BUT IT HAD HIM UP 48-41 OVER CAMERON AND THAT AGAIN IT THAT MIRRORED SOME EARLIER POLLING THE FACT THAT IT WAS DEMOCRATIC POLLSTER STILL MIRRORED EARLIER POLLING THAT MIGHT INDICATE THAT THAT HAS NOT CAUGHT ON WITH VOTERS THE WAY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WOULD WANT IT TO JUST YET.

>> IT'S INTERESTING IF YOU TAKE WHAT WE LEARNED FROM AMENDMENT 2 IN KENTUCKY ABOUT THE BORINGS PART OF THIS THAT YOU HAVE YOUR BASE OF REPUBLICANS BUT THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AT EXTREME RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION MAYBE YOUR EXTREME IDEOLOGIES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MIGHT NOT BE AS EXTREME AS THEY THINK THEY ARE.

A TRANSGENDER STANDPOINT, MIGHT NOT BE THE WAY TO GO IF THAT ABORTION WAY HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT EXTREME REPUBLICAN VIEWS.

>> Bill: IT SEEMS WE WILL BE GETTING SOME DEBATES THIS FALL AND NOW THERE'S CONFIRMATION COMING FROM THE CAMPAIGNS AS TO ONES THAT THEY WILL DO.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE OTHER TOPICS THAT WILL BE DISCUSSED DURING THIS CAMPAIGN, RIGHT?

IF WE LOOK AHEAD.

YOU HOPE.

>> HOPEFULLY.

>> .

>> Bill: AND THIS IS A MAJOR ONE.

ON THIS ISSUE ABOUT GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERY IT IS A HOT TOPIC IN THE CAMPAIGN.

ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON HELD A CAMPAIGN NEWS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK INDICATING THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS NOT BEING TRUTHFUL AND SAYING THE PROCEDURES ARE NOT DONE HERE IN THE STATE.

IT COMES AFTER A LETTER WAS REVEALED FROM U.K. HEALTHCARE TO A REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE THAT SAYS ONE OF THE CLINICS PERFORMED A SMALL NUMBER OF NONGENITAL GENDER REASSIGNMENT PROCEDURES.

>> I THINK ANDY BESHEAR WENT ON TELEVISION AND LIED TO KENTUCKIANS AND SAID THE PROCEDURES ARE NOT HAPPENING HERE IN KENTUCKY AND THERE IS A REPORT A LETTER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY DIRECTLY REFUTING THAT.

AND THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH ANDY BESHEAR THERE IS A PATTERN.

>> THE FACT THAT EVERY SINGLE THING THAT COMES OUT FROM A CAMPAIGN FROM A PERSON WHO WANTS TO LEAD THE ENTIRE STATE IS OBSESSING OVER OUR KIDS' BODIES IS I MEAN, I BELIEVE WE'VE REACHED THE GROSS POINT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: BILL, REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING IN ADS THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR SUPPORTS SUCH PROCEDURES AND THE GOVERNOR SAYING EARLIER THAT THEY HAVE NOT HAPPENED IN THE STATE.

NOW THIS LETTER COMES FORTH AND BRINGS SOME OF THAT INTO QUESTION.

>> I MEAN IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A POLITICAL PROBLEM OR POLITICAL ISSUE FOR BESHEAR BECAUSE YOU COULD SEE IT AS A CONTRADICTION OF WHAT HE SAID.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACTS AND THE LETTER, BESHEAR SAID HE DOES NOT SUPPORT GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERY FOR MINORS.

THE LETTER SAYS THAT THERE WERE A VERY FEW NONGENITAL, THEY WERE MASTECTOMIES ON FEWER THAN FIVE PEOPLE.

THAT WERE SO FEW THAT THEY DIDN'T RELEASE THE NUMBER THAT MEANS THERE WERE FEWER THAN FIVE.

SO I THINK IT MAY GO TOO FAR TO SAY THAT REFUTE WHAT IS BESHEAR SAID.

BUT IT DOES BECOME ANOTHER TALKING POINT FOR CAMERON.

>> Bill: IS IT A PROBLEM THAT THE GOVERNOR IS ON THE DEFENSE ON THIS ISSUE?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHY IS THIS JUST NOW COMING OUT?

THE LETTER WAS DATED IN EARLY MARCH.

I COVERED SENATE BILL 150 EXTENSIVELY AND I WAS SHOCKED BY THE LETTER.

IT WAS MENTIONED YOU HAVE TO ASK WHY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES TIPTON WHO THE LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO WHY HE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING SOONER.

AND YOU ALSO HAVE TO WONDER OBVIOUSLY THAT THE G.O.P.

DOMINATED LEGISLATURE VERSUS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR HAVE HAD THEIR SQUABBLES ABOUT WORKING WITH EACH OTHER.

AND SO IS IT REALLY FAIR TO SAY WHY DIDN'T BESHEAR KNOW ABOUT THIS WHEN THE WHOLE TALKING POINT HAS BEEN WE ALREADY DON'T TALK TO HIM AND HE DOESN'T TALK TO US.

>> IT MIGHT BE WORTH MAKING CLEAR BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS THE LETTER DID NOT SAY THEY WERE GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERIES AND BESHEAR MADE IT CLEAR THAT HE DOES NOT SUPPORT GENDER REASSIGNMENT FOR MINORS.

THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE.

>> Bill: AS WE'VE SAID AS HE KEY FENDS HIMSELF ON THAT AND HAVING TO CLARIFY ON OTHER THINGS HE IS TRYING TO KEEP FOCUS ON THE JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND THIS DISASTER RESPONSES AND SO ON.

THIS WEEK IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS GOVERNOR HE MADE A MOVE TO BLUNT CRIME AS AN ISSUE CALLING FOR RAISES AND MORE EQUIPMENT FOR KENTUCKY STATE POLICE.

HE SAID HE'S ANNOUNCING BUDGET PRIORITIES SO EARLY, BILL, BECAUSE DURING THE LAST BUDGET CYCLE THE LEG SA SLAR -- LEGISLATURE ROLLED OUT THEIR BUDGET BEFORE THEY HEARD HIS RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> CLEARLY HE WANTS TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THE LEGISLATURE AND MAKE HIS PRIORITIES KNOWN AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN.

AND PUBLIC SAFETY IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE AT EVERY POLITICAL RACE AT THAT LEVEL.

YOU HAVE TO BE FOR IT.

SO IT'S MAYBE WORTH NOTING TODAY THAT KSP ANNOUNCED TODAY THERE WAS 51 NEW TROOPERS THAT GRADUATED BRINGING THEM TO THE HIGHEST SINCE 2006.

IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS ON THE ROAD.

SWORN OFFICERS.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE BESHEAR PROPOSED THE LEGISLATURE HAS TO APPROVE IT MAYBE THERE'S CREDIT ON BOTH SIDES FOR THAT.

>> Bill: ANY MARKET RESEARCH THE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT CRIME SO MONICA IT STANDS TO REASON BOTH SIDES ARE TRYING TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND ON THAT ISSUE.

>> ESPECIALLY IN LOUISVILLE WHERE I DO MOST OF MY REPORTING WE TALK ABOUT CRIME EVERY SINGLE DAY.

SO THERE'S NO WAY THAT YOU CAN'T IGNORE IT.

AND BILL SAID IT BEST WHEN YOU ARE IN THE LEGISLATURE THE GOVERNOR DOESN'T HAVE A SAY ON SOME OF THE THINGS LIKE PAY RAISES THAT DID HAPPEN.

HE IS GOING TO HONE IN ON THAT LOOK AT WHAT I'VE DONE EVEN IF THE LEGISLATURE DID PASS THAT.

HE CAN'T NOT TALK ABOUT CRIME IN HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S TAX REVENUE EXCEEDED A BILLION DOLLARS IN JULY.

BESHEAR IS MAKING AN EARLY PUSH FOR SOME SPENDING OF THAT SURPLUS MONEY.

WE'VE HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT TEACHERS RAISES AND KSP MONEY AND SO ON.

SOME WILL SAY THAT YOU HAVE NO SURPLUS WHEN YOU HAVE A PENSION LIABILITY THAT KENTUCKY HAS.

SO THERE IS THAT TALKING POINT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

WE WILL HEAR MORE LIKELY PROPOSALS FROM THE GOVERNOR AS TO HOW TO SPEND THE SURPLUS MONEY.

>> RIGHT.

THIS WEEK'S BUDGET PROPOSAL IDEA WAS THE FIRST OF A ROLLING SERIES FROM THE GOVERNOR ABOUT VARIOUS TOPICS AND HOW HE WANTS TO SPEND THE MONEY, HOW KENTUCKY SHOULD ALLOCATE THE MONEY THAT IS NOT PART OF THE SURPLUS.

SO WE'LL SEE.

OBVIOUSLY AT SOME POINT THE PENSION ISSUE IS GOING TO COME UP AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> Bill: IN HIS FANCY FARM SPEECH AND WE HEARD IN THAT CLIP, BESHEAR SPENT TIME CRITICIZING THE VOTING RECORD OF ROBBY MILLS WHO IS A STATE SENATOR.

MON DA, MILLS IS ON RECORD THAT HE HAS HAD TO VOTE ON THAT CAMERA HAS NOT HAD TO TAKE A STANCE ON.

>> WE TALK ABOUT WHO IS ROBBY MILLS.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING HE HAS BEEN VOTING ON THAT GOT HIM ATTENTION FROM DANIEL CAMERON, WE ALSO HEARD JABS AT FANCY FARM THAT ROBBY MILLS WAS NOT DANIEL CAMERON'S FIRST CHOICE THAT WAS BROUGHT UP, TOO.

THE BIGGEST THING I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HONED IN ON THAT GOES ALONG WITH THE CAMPAIGNING, BAN ON TRAN WOMEN IN GIRLS SPORTS AT FANCY FARM HOLDING UP A PHOTO OF REILLY GAINS IN THE CROWD TO GET THAT HONING IN ON THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY AND HIS VOTING RECORD ON THAT POINT.

>> Bill: IF YOU THINK YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF AFDS THIS MUMMER IS YOU HAVE.

THE CANDIDATES AND THE POLITICAL PARTIES THE ARMS OF THE PARTIES THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF THE CAMPAIGNS HAVE SPENT $15 MILLION IN THE RACE.

NOT ALL BUT MOST OF THAT IS NEGATIVE.

AND THE NEGATIVE ADS WORK IS THAT WHY THEY RUN SO MANY OF THEM?

>> YOU KNOW I'M NOT THE RIGHT PERSON TO ASK.

BUT I WILL SAY THIS... KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THREE STATES WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE THIS YEAR.

AND KENTUCKY'S LARGELY CONSIDERED TO BE THE RACE OF THOSE THREE.

YOU'RE WORKING WITH VERY POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

SO YOU CAN'T NECESSARILY BE A REPUBLICAN WIN BY BEING HAPPY AND SMILEY ALL THE TIME.

>> IT USED TO BE CONVENTIONAL POLITICAL WISDOM THAT NEGATIVE ADS DRAGGED DOWN BOTH CANDIDATES.

BUT YOU HOPE THAT YOUR NEGATIVE AD DRAGS THE OTHER PERSON MORE THAN IT DID YOU AND MAYBE THAT DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE WITH ALL THE CULTURAL ISSUES OUT THERE AND THE EMPHASIS OF THE RACES.

BUT I MEAN THEY RUN THOSE BECAUSE THEY THINK IS IT WORKS.

AND VOTERS WILL SAY THEY DON'T LIKE NEGATIVE ADS THEY WOULD RATHER HEAR A POSITIVE MESSAGE BUT IF IT DIDN'T WORK THEY WOULDN'T KEEP DOING IT.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT IS NOT GETTING ATTENTION.

AGAIN THERE ARE A FEW ISSUES THAT THE CAMPAIGNS KEEP SPARRING OVER BUT KENTUCKY HAS A HIGH POVERTY RATE AND WE KNOW THAT, PROFOUND HEALTH ISSUES LIKE HIGH CANCER AND HEART DISEASE RATES.

KIDS ARE REALLY BEHIND AFTER THE COVID DISRUPTION AND CHILDCARE CHALLENGES ARE DISRUPTING THE WORKFORCE AND WE HAVE THIS WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY.

BILL, LITTLE DISCUSSION OF THOSE THINGS?

>> I WAS TALKING WITH AN OFFICIAL FROM THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT THE CHILDCARE ISSUE AND WHAT INDUSTRIES ARE DEALING WITH THAT HE SAYS THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE THAT CAN'T TAKE JOBS IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE CHILDCARE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.

THAT AND YEAH, WE HAVE A STATE PARTS WITH REAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

WE'VE GOT A STATE THAT HAS ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND NONE OF THAT IS BEING TALKED ABOUT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SENATOR McCONNELL ALSO ATTENDED FANCY FARM.

AND SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT BE HIS LAST TRIP OUT THERE.

HE GAVE A BIG SPEECH AT THE BREAKFAST THAT MORNING THAT A LOT OF FOLKS SAID WAS A STRONG SPEECH.

AND THEN SPOKE TO THE CROWD THAT AFTERNOON.

>> AND HE TRIED TO HOLD THAT CROWD.

I DO THINK THAT THE SPEECHWRITER WHO WROTE THIS FOR HIM DID MAKE A GOOD FANCY FARM SPEECH.

BUT WITH THE FANCY FARM JABS, HIS VOCALS HE WAS NOT AS LOUD.

THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOT OF PEOPLE THAT COULDN'T HEAR WHAT HE WAS SAYING.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IS SIGNIFICANT IS BECAUSE THE INCIDENT IN WASHINGTON WITH CONCERNS ABOUT HIS HEALTH THIS WAS HIS FIRST PUBLIC SPEECH SINCE THEN I TALKED TO AUSTIN HORN AND HE SAID HIS SPEECH WAS REALLY GOOD.

>> IT HAD TO BE OR WE ALL WOULD BE SAYING IS MITCH McCONNELL OK?

>> Bill: AND HE WAS CONVINCING A CROWD HERE AT HOME AND IN WASHINGTON HE IS FINE TO GO FORWARD.

>> EYES WERE ON IT.

>> Bill: ON TO OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK AND WE'LL KEEP WATCHING THESE CAMPAIGNS.

A TRANSPORTATION MELTDOWN FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CLASSES WERE CANCELED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE INTO NEXT WEEK AFTER KIDS DID NOT GET HOME FROM SCHOOLAL 10:00 P.M. WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OWNED THE SITUATION AND SAYS HE IS WORKING TO FIX IT.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO WITHOUT A DOUBT IS WHEN WE COME BACK, YES, THERE ARE STILL GOING TO BE CHALLENGES, DELAYS WE ARE WORKING IN THE SAME SYSTEM BUT IT WILL BE MUCH MORE EFFICIENT AND OUR COMMUNICATION WILL BE MUCH BETTER WITH FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THAT RIGHT BEFORE WE PUT THE KIDS BACK ON THE SCHOOL BUS AGAIN.

>> Bill: MONICA UNDERSTANDABLY FRUSTRATED PARENTS WEDNESDAY.

>> NOT JUST FRUSTRATED, SCARED AND FEARFUL FOR THEIR CHILD'S SAFETY WHEN IT'S DARK OUTSIDE AND YOUR CHILD HAS NOT RETURNED HOME.

THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK HERE.

BUT I THINK A BIG THING PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REALIZE THESE BUS DRIVERS DO NOT HAVE GPS.

WE USE ONE OF THESE TO GET TO OUR LOCATION I USED IT TO COME HERE.

THESE BUS DRIVERS ARE USING PAPER ROUTES THEY HAD TWO WEEKS NOTICE FROM AN AI GENERATED BUS ROUTE SYSTEM.

THIS PROBABLY WAS NOT GOING TO WORK WELL.

AND IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE WE SAW THIS DISASTER, SUPERINTENDENT POLIO CALLING IT DISASTROUS AND TO CANCEL SCHOOL?

YOU ARE MAKING MATTERS WORSE IF YOU ARE ADMITTING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE PARENTS WEREN'T EXPECTING A WAY FOR THEIR KIDS TO NOT GO TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE.

>> Bill: OLIVIA YOU'VE COVERED JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS A LOT OF TIME WHAT HAPPENED?

>> LISTEN, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND I'VE SEEN A LOT COME OUT OF JCPS.

GENERALLY A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.

JCPS MARTY POLIO WANTED TO CHANGE START TIMES FOR SCHOOL.

HE WANTS TO HAVE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLERS START EARLIER.

OR SORRY LATER.

SO THAT THEY CAN SLEEP IN MORE.

AND THEN IS THAT SPIRALED INTO NOW WE ARE FACING A SEVERE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE.

WE NEED TO CHANGE SOMETHING UP.

AND SO THEY BROUGHT IN ALPHA ROUTE AND USED AI AND M.I.T.

TECHNOLOGY AND WHATNOT TO CREATE SOME SORT OF NEW ROUTE SYSTEM.

OBVIOUSLY IT HASN'T GONE OVER SUPER WELL.

AND WE'RE LOOKING NOW I BELIEVE HE SAID MOST LIKELY STARTING BACK MIDWEEK NEXT WEEK.

WHICH IS -- >> CRAZY.

>> Bill: IT WILL BE FOUR OR FIVE DAYS.

>> SUMMER IS NOT OVER YOU GET TO HANGOUT LONGER MOM AND DAD GOOD LUCK.

>> Bill: AND SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ARE SUGGESTING THERE BE A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THEY WOULD LIKE SEVERAL PROPOSALS TO BE CONSIDERED IN SUCH A SESSION.

INCLUDING SAYING THAT THE DISTRICT IS JUST SO BIG IT CAN'T BE MANAGED EFFECTIVELY AND IT NEEDS TO BE SPLIT.

THAT'S COME UP BEFORE.

>> THAT HAS.

THEY TRIED TO TACK THAT ON TO A READING BILL IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND IT HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE SNUCK IT IN AND EVEN THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE WHICH IS YOU KNOW, PRETTY BIPARTISAN LEANS REPUBLICAN, EVEN THEY WERE JUST LIKE ABSOLUTELY NOT WE ARE NOT DOING THIS RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS IF YOU EVER WANT TO SPLIT JEFFERSON COUNTY IN MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, THE COUNTY IS JUST SO SEGREGATED BASED OFF OF RACE AND BASED OFF OF HOUSING PATTERNS AND BASED OFF OF ECONOMIC STATUS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO REALLY STRUGGLE TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM WHERE ALL KIDS ARE ABLE TO GET THE SAME LEVEL OF EDUCATION AS EACH OTHER AND OF COURSE WE HAVE POPULAR MAGNET PROGRAMS AND I BELIEVE POLIO POINTED OUT THIS OUT EARLIER TODAY, MANUAL HIGH SCHOOL SOMEBODY SOME DISTRICT IS GOING TO GET MANUAL HIGH SCHOOL AND THE REST OF THE COUNTY WILL NOT GET TO GO TO THE SCHOOL AND SAME THING FOR MAYO AND THE POPULAR SCHOOLS.

>> HE MENTIONED THIS IS GENERATIONS IN THE MAKING AND YOU CAN'T UNFOLD IT.

HE SAID I CHALLENGE YOU TO TAKE A MAP AND TO SPLIT IT INTO ANK WITNESSABLE DIVIDE.

SUPERINTENDENT POLIO VISIBLY GETS FRUSTRATED WHEN LAWMAKERS SAY THIS TO HIM.

YOU CAN SEE HIM HOLDING BACK BECAUSE IT REALLY INFURIATES HIM.

>> Bill: IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL AND IN THE MEANTIME THEY PRACTICE THE ROUTES AND TRY TO PERFECT GETTING GETS TO SCHOOL AND BACK HOME.

ALL RIGHT.

BILL, KENTUCKY TOURISM SET NEW RECORDS FOR VISITS AND MONEY SPENT.

STATE SA SAYS 75 MILLION TRAVELS CAME IN 2022 ARE TA WE THAT INTERESTING?

>> YES.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

THE TOTAL ECONOMIC IMPACT 12.9 BILLION.

BUT SORT OF GOES TO THE ECONOMY.

91,000 JOBS.

ONE OF THE KEY THINGS ABOUT THAT REPORT WAS THAT THE LEVELS WERE FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOVE PRECOVID LEVELS.

2019 WAS THE LAST RECORD YEAR AND YOU HAD SEVERAL DOWN YEARS BECAUSE OF COVID AND NOW WE'RE BACK ABOVE THE PRECOVID LEVELS.

>> Bill: THURSDAY THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED SEVEN RACETRACKS FILED FOR SPORTS GAMBLING LICENSES HE EXPECTS MORE MOBILE GAMBLING APPLICATIONS FILED AND THOSE WILL ROLL OUT IN SEPTEMBER, RIGHT?

>> SEPTEMBER 7 FOR THE ON SIGHT BETTING.

STARTS NFL FOOTBALL SEASON.

SEPTEMBER 28 FOR THE ON-LINE APPLICATIONS.

GOT NINE TRACKS W TRACKS WITH LS THEY CAN PARTNER UP TO THREE ON-LINE SERVICES YOU COULD HAVE 27 APPS TO BET ON.

THIS IS SOMETHING 37 OTHER STATES HAVE THIS EVERY STATE AROUND KENTUCKY EXCEPT MISSOURI HAD GONE TO IT IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT KENTUCKY WOULD GET TO THE POINT BECAUSE OF THE MONEY LOST TO OTHER PLACES.

>> Bill: A FEDERAL TRIAL ON TITLE IX ISSUES WAS HELD.

TWO PLAINTIFFS BOTH FORMER U.K. STUDENTS BILL, SAY THAT U.K.

DOES NOT OFFER ENOUGH AT ELECT PARTICULAR OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN.

IT REQUIRES EEL ACCESS FOR FEMALE ATHLETES WHO SAID U.K. HAD NOT DONE ENOUGH TO CREATE THAT.

AND CREATE PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN.

U.K.

ARGUED THAT THEY HAVE IMPROVED AND THAT THEY ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

IT WAS A BENCH TRIAL BEFORE THE FEDERAL JUDGE KAREN CALDWELL SO THERE WAS NOT A JURY AND THE JUDGE WILL MAKE A DECISION WHO IS RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

>> Bill: AND THAT WILL COME ON HER TIME-FRAME.

>> YES.

>> Bill: A TRAGEDY IN YOUR AREA IN EASTERN KENTUCKY A TWO-YEAR-OLD ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIMSELF WITH A PISTOL.

IT COMES WEEKS AFTER A 12-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT WHILE PLAYING WITH A GUN WITH A FRIEND.

>> IT WAS ALSO IN LURL COUNTY I THINK A 15-YEAR-OLD KID AND A 12-YEAR-OLD PLAYING WITH A GUN WENT OFF AND KILLED THE 12-YEAR-OLD.

A TWO-YEAR-OLD BOY FOUND A GUN IN HIS HOME AND SHOT HIMSELF AND DIED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THAT EXCEPT PUT YOUR GUNS AWAY SO KIDS CAN'T FIND THEM.

>> Bill: AND PEOPLE ON ALL SIDES OF THAT ISSUE ARE IN AGREEMENT WITH THAT THERE'S VARYING DEGREES HOW TO GET THAT.

BACK TO SCHOOL PARENTS ARE BUYING SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

MONICA, YOU KNOW AND TRYING TO GET THE BEDTIMES DOWN PAT RIGHT NOW.

AND IN LOUISVILLE UNTIL THE BUS SITUATION THEY ARE IN MOTION.

>> THEY GET MORE TIME IN LOUISVILLE SPECIFICALLY.

I KNOW PARENTS ARE FEELING THE PINCH OF THE WALLET FOR THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR BEGINS NEXT WEEK ANOTHER CHANCE FOR POLITICIANS TO BE SEEN AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO COME FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND MAYBE TRY TO WIN A RIBBON AND TURNIP OF THE YEAR.

BUT IT IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY AND IT IS A CHANCE FOR THOSE POLITICIANS TO SEE AND BE SEEN?

>> YEAH, I PERSONALLY AM EXCITED FOR MY FIRST EVER KENTUCKY COUNTRY HAM BREAKFAST.

I WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE EXCITED BEFORE I FOUND OUT IT STARTED AT 7:30 IN THE MORNING.

BUT YES, THAT WILL BE ONE OF MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLITICIANS TO SHOW UP.

>> Bill: AND QUICK BILL, YOU'VE COVERED COVID FRAUD CASES?

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COVID FRAUD ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

CONGRESS STRETCHED THAT PROGRAM THROUGH WITHOUT OVERSIGHT ON THE BACK END OF IT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CASES A COUPLE MORE IN KENTUCKY OF PEOPLE WHO GOT LOANS AND SPENT THEM FOR THE WRONG THINGS.

>> Bill: A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES IF YOU WANT TO BE HEARD THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE WANTS TO KNOW HOW IT'S DOING IT LAUNCHED A SURVEY TO GET FEEDBACK AND PLAN THE PROGRAMS FOR THE FUTURE.

YOU CAN FIND THAT ON U.K.'S WEBSITE AND THE BRIDGE PROJECT TEAM INVITING THE PUBLIC TO AN OPEN HOUSE TO LEARN ABOUT THE FROM 3.6 BILLION DOLLAR UNDERTAKING THERE WILL BE I OBJECT TO EXHIBITS AND PEOPLE TO TAKE QUESTIONS.

THE KENTUCKY SIDE EVENT IS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23 FROM 4-7:00 P.M. AT THE RADDISON HOTEL IN COVINGTON.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.