[♪♪] >> Bill: FORD BETS ON EV'S WITH A MAJOR KENTUCKY INVESTMENT IN LOUISVILLE AND GE MAKES A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

A REPUBLICAN DINNER SHEDS LIGHT ON KENTUCKY'S OPEN U.S. SENATE RACE.

A DRIVER'S LICENSE SCANDAL BRINGS QUESTIONS AND FIRINGS.

KENTUCKY SCHOOLS REOPEN WITH LOTS OF NEW RULES TO FOLLOW.

ON A HOT AUGUST WEEKEND, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING, I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK, AND SOME ANALYSIS, OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND OUR THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE MARCUS GREEN REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

TESSA DUVALL PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER AND PHILLIP BAILEY LOUISVILLE BASED CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "USA TODAY".

FOR THE SECOND WEEK IN A ROW MAJOR BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN KENTUCKY.

FORD WILL INVEST $2 BILLION TO CONVERT ITS LOUISVILLE PLANT TO MAKE AFFORDABLE ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> TO CREATE AN AFFORDABLE VEHICLE THAT DELIGHTS CUSTOMERS IN EVERY WAY THAT MATTERS; DESIGN AND INNOVATION, FLEXIBILITY, INTERIOR SPACE, DRIVING PLEASURE, AND LOWER COST OF OWNERSHIP.

BUT WE NEED TO DO IT AND BE SUSTAINABLE AND MAKE MONEY.

AND WE NEED TO DO IT WITH AMERICAN WORKERS.

>> Bill: MARK DISCUSS, THIS IS A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT IT WILL KEEP OR BOOST JOBS IN KENTUCKY IN THE LONG-RUN AND SHOWS THAT FORD SEES KENTUCKY AS A BIG PART OF ITS FUTURE?

>> IT CERTAINLY DOES SHOW FORD'S COMMITMENT TO THE STATE AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT IT SHOWS FORD'S COMMITMENT TO LOUISVILLE.

THE LOUISVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT HAS BEEN THE CENTER OF SPECULATION FOR SOMETIME ABOUT ITS OWN FUTURE.

AND THIS INVESTMENT CEMENTS A COMMITMENT TO THAT PLANT.

I THINK WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE BECAUSE OF THE EMERGING TECHNOLOGY AND THE CHANGE IN THIS FACTORY, THERE'S GOING TO BE CHANGES TO THE NUMBER OF JOBS.

THERE WILL BE A 10-MONTH CLOSURE TO RETOOL THE PLANT.

AND THERE WILL BE 600 FEWER WORKERS THERE.

JIM FARLEY AND EXECUTIVES TRIED TO DOWN-PLAY THAT.

JIM SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE ORPHANING ANYBODY WE HAVE JOBS IN GLENDALE AND THE KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT.

WHILE IT'S GREAT NEWS THERE IS A JOB IMPACT THAT CAN'T BE IGNORED AND SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT ONCE IT REOPENS.

>> Bill: AND THE BATTERIES FOR WHAT FORD IS CALLING THE AFFORDABLE VEHICLES WILL BE COMING OUT OF MICHIGAN AND NOT FROM THOSE HARDEN COUNTY BATTERY PLANTS.

>> AND LEADER AND EXECUTIVES TRIED TO DOWN-PLAY OR BRUSH OFF THAT CONCERN THIS IS JUST SCALE THE TYPES OF BATTERIES PRODUCE MILLION DOLLAR MICHIGAN ARE A BETTER FIT THAN LOUISVILLE AND IT'S NOT MEANT TO REPLACE BATTERY PRODUCTION ELSEWHERE.

>> Bill: AND THIS IS DESPITE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAYING THE MARKETPLACE SHOULD DECIDE WHAT TYPES OF VEHICLES ARE MADE?

>> WE DID LEARN AT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AGREED TO UNFREEZE MONEY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS ACROSS THE NATION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ALSO ROLLED BACK TAX CREDITS THAT WILL BE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT WILL BE PHASED OUT I BELIEVE AT THE END OF NEXT MONTH.

FOR THAT REASON, FOR BUYERS REALLY TRYING TO GET IN AND GET THAT CREDIT BEFORE IT GOES AWAY EV'S SALES ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE STRONG THIS QUARTER BUT WHAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD WITHOUT THAT INCENTIVE TO PURCHASE THEM AND WHAT THAT DOES TO THE MARKET REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> WHEN WE LOOK AT THE 7.5 BILLION BIDEN AR RAHMAN TO BUILD EV CHARGING STATIONS WAS BLOCKED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND EV FOLKS THAT IS A BIG DEAL LEAVING YOUR HOUSE AND WONDERING WHERE IS THE EV STATION AT.

KENTUCKY IS BECOMING A HOTBED FOR EV BATTERY PRODUCTION.

BUT IT RANKS 39TH IN TERMS OF EV CONSUMPTION.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR SUED THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER THE PULLBACKS SAYING THIS IS NOT THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE FUTURE IT IS THE TECHNOLOGY OF RIGHT NOW.

NORTH CAROLINA OR ANY OTHER STATE YOU SEE EV CHARGING STATIONS AT GAS STATIONS.

>> Bill: THE GE ANNOUNCEMENT IS ALSO ATTENTION GETTING, AGAIN, UNDERSCORES A COMMITMENT BY A MAJOR MANUFACTURER?

>> IT IS AND THIS WEEK GE APPLIANCES ANNOUNCED REINVESTMENT IN AMERICAN FACTORIES AND RESHORING PRODUCTS MADE OVERSEAS.

THE LOUISVILLE COMMITMENT THAT WAS $490 MILLION INVESTMENT ANNOUNCED IS NOT NEW.

BUT WHAT IS NEW, IS JUST PUTTING THAT LOUISVILLE PROJECT IN THE BROADER CONTEXT.

AND IN THAT SENSE IN TERMS OF A HEADLINE GRABBING WEEK IT WAS A GOOD WEEK FOR LOUISVILLE AND THE POLITICIANS TOUTING THE ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHOWING THEY ARE BRINGING JOBS TO LOUISVILLE AND KENTUCKY AND PRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURING TO THE STATE.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHO GETS CREDIT FOR THINGS IN THIS DAY AND AGE WHEN THAT IS IMPORTANT IT IS AN INSTAGRAM WORLD AS WE FOR.

YOU HAVE KENTUCKY GETTING THE MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HARRODSBURG WITH THE iPHONE GLASS AND PADUCAH WITH THE YOUR RAIN YUM!

ENRICHMENT FACILITY WHAT IS SETTING THE STAGE FAVORABLE FOR KENTUCKY?

>> ONE IS RELATIONSHIPS.

LET'S REMEMBER THE FIRST IPHONE EVER GLASS WAS BUILT 18 YEARS AGO IN HARRODSBURG, KENTUCKY.

THE BUSINESSES ALREADY HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR PEOPLE.

AND THE OTHER IS THE TAX PACKAGES THE STATE PUT IN 1.13 MILLION AND THE CITY $4 MILLION AND IT'S GOOD COP BAD COP HERE.

DONALD TRUMP LOVE LANGUAGE IS FLAHERTY.

TIM COOK WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE COMPLIMENTING THE PRESIDENT AND GAVE HIM A GIFT AND TALKED ABOUT INVESTING IN KENTUCKY AND THE PRO BUSINESSMEN AT THAT TIME OF THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.

AND, YES, ANDY BESHEAR'S BOY SCOUT STYLE, THAT IS ALSO AN INCENTIVE FOR BUSINESS LEADERS TO COME TO THE STATE.

THEY LOVE WORKING WITH ANDY BESHEAR.

THERE'S OTHER ISSUES, KENTUCKY'S LOCATION.

OUR LOW UTILITY COSTS.

CNBC IS NUMBER ONE OF UTILITY COSTS KENTUCKY IS A GREAT PLACE TO DO BUSINESS.

THIS IS I AWIN FOR WORKERS.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE WE'RE SEEING THIS WITH THE DATA CENTER CONVERSATION, KENTUCKY IS POSITIONED WELL IN THE SENSE IT'S SOMETIMES LAGGING BEHIND THE NEIGHBORS BUT NOW THAT IS A GOOD THING BUT THERE IS THE AVAILABLE LAND, RESOURCES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TAPPED IN KENTUCKY AND SOME OF THE BIG INDUSTRIES ARE RECOGNIZING KENTUCKY IS A PLACE THAT FITS INTO THE DOUGHNUT HOLE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REST.

>> AND THE LOGISTICS, U.P.S., AMAZON WE ARE WITHIN HOW MANY DRIVING DISTANCE OF THE COUNTRY.

KENTUCKY'S WELL POSITIONED AND THAT PLUS THE RELATIONSHIPS POLITICALLY GIVE KENTUCKY A PUNCH ABOVE THE WAKE.

>> Bill: MAYBE OUR TIMING WAS RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT WE'LL FOLLOW THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTS.

>>> NEARLY 2,000 FAKE LICENSES HAVE BEEN MADE INVALID AFTER A SCHEME WAS REVEALED AND SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND STATE AUDITOR ALLISON BALL ARE LOOKING INTO IT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR ATTEMPTED TO GET IN FRONT OF IT AT HIS TEAM KENTUCKY BRIEFING.

>> THE TRANSPORTATION CABINET REVIEWS APPLICATIONS AND DURING ONE OF THEIR REVIEWS THEY IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF IRREGULARITIES AND THEY HAVE REVOKED 1985 CREDENTIALS.

>> Bill: MARCUS, WDRB LED THE REPORTING, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>> BACK IN APRIL MY COLLEAGUE BROKE THE STORY THE CABINET WAS INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGED IRREGULARITIES THE FRAUDULENT BEHAVIOR AND WHAT I THINK IS WHAT PUSHED THE STORY FORWARD ESPECIALLY THIS WEEK, WAS SOME REPORTING WE DID THIS WEEK, FORMER EMPLOYEE OF ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS FOR KYTC TOLD US WHAT SHE OBSERVED IT WAS A SCHEME WHICH HER COWORKERS WERE SELLING TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DRIVER'S LICENSE THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE ACQUIRED FOR.

AND THE NEW REVELATIONS, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SEE WHAT PUSHEDTH IS INTO A STATE-WIDE STORY THAT FORCED BESHEAR TO HAVE TO DEFEND THE ACTIONS OF THE TRANSPORTATION CABINET AND IT'S BECOME A NATIONAL STORY SPEAKING TO THE BROADER STORY OF THE GOVERNOR'S ASPIRATIONS NATIONALLY.

>> Bill: AND ALL HAVE BEEN FIRED?

>> THEY HAVE ALL BEEN FIRED.

THEY WERE BROUGHT INTO THIS THROUGH A STAFFING AGENCY.

HE ALSO ADDED THAT ALL THE CREDENTIALS REVOKED NO LONGER WORK AT AN AIRPORT IF ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WAS PULLED OVER AT A TRAFFIC STOP AND TRIED TO SHOW ONE OF LICENSES IT WOULD BE FLAGGED IN THE SYSTEM.

TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF IT AND SAY, LOOK, THIS IS THE CHECKS HAVE WORKED AND HAVE CATCHING PEOPLE.

>> Bill: THEN YOU HAD THE CONTINUING SAY THIS -- ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYING THIS IS A JOINT AND FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AND A LOT GOING ON BEFORE THE MEDIA ATTENTION.

>> THE LEGISLATURE AND THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE EVERYONE WANTS SCRUTINY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED.

AND AS IT'S BEEN SAID WHO KNEW WHAT WHEN AND WHAT WAS DONE TO ADDRESS IT?

>> Bill: WE TALK ABOUT BESHEAR'S VISIBILITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION RESPONDING TO THIS IN A WAY THAT IS LIKELY TO PUT IT BEHIND THEM?

OR COULD IT BE ALIVE FOR A TIME?

>> ANYTHING THAT ANDY BESHEAR HE DOES HE WILL BE TWO PEOPLE, THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY AND THE SHADOW CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT.

EVERYTHING WHETHER IT'S IMMIGRATION, WHETHER IT'S CRIME, WHETHER IT'S MANUFACTURING WILL BE SEEN THROUGH THE LENS OF A POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

IT WAS ODD THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID HE HAD NOT READ THE LAWSUIT BUT MAKES THE ASIX THAT THINGS ARE NOT FACTUAL.

HE DOES HAVE AN OPINION.

EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE SEEN THROUGH THE PRISM OF ANDY BESHEAR RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> Bill: HE RAISED MORE MONEY FOR HIS PAC AND IT CAN BE DONATED TO CANDIDATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

HE MADE A VISIT TO CALIFORNIA WHERE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS REPORTEDLY LIKED HIS PUSH FOR COMMON LANGUAGE AND WHAT THEY CALLED A AUTHENTICITY FOR DEMOCRATS.

IS BESHEAR GAINING FOOTING AS A POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE?

>> WHEN I TALK TO PROGRESSIVE GROUPS, THEY MENTION ANDY BESHEAR AS A CANDIDATE THAT THEY ARE WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.

HIS IDEA OF PLAIN SPOKENNESS, AUTHENTIC GRABS THE ATTENTION FOR GRASSROOTS DEMOCRATS MORE SO THAN HIS VISIT IN CALIFORNIA THAT FUNDRAISING A BIG HOSTED BY HAKEEM JEFFERIES UP IN CONGRESS.

GOT KUDOS THERE.

A MONTH BEFORE IN JULY HIS VISIT TO GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY I DON'T KNOW IF ANDY BESHEAR WILL DO WELL IN NEW HAMPSHIRE OR IOWA.

BUT THROUGH BAM, AND YOU GO THROUGH MISSISSIPPI AND THE SOUTHERN STATES HE IS GOING TO THROW ON THAT BAPTIST PEACH ARE OF HIS FATHER HE WILL DO WELL AND GETS KUDOS THERE.

ONE THING HE SAID IN SOUTH CAROLINA TALKING ABOUT FLIPPING RED STATES THE CLAIM TO FAME THAT NATIONAL DEMOCRATS HAVE FOR HIM.

KENTUCKY DID NOT GO WELL THERE HAVE NOT BEEN COATTAILS FOR ANDY BESHEAR, WEBB WENT FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN.

THERE IS A CHARISMA GAP SOME ARE WORRIED ABOUT AND THE ISSUE OF GAZA.

8% OF DEMOCRATS BELIEVE IN THE SUPPORT OF ISRAEL.

AND HE HAS GAPS HE HAS TO FILL IN.

BUT HE IS ON FOLKS RADAR.

>> Bill: IS HE DOING TWO JOBS?

>> I THINK HE HAS BEEN FOR A LIMIT.

COULD HE OR COULDN'T HE DISCUSSION ABOUT 2028 IMMEDIATELY BEGAN IN 2023 CAME OUT IN IT WAS "THE NEW YORK TIMES" OP-ED I AM A RED STATE GOVERNOR, HERE'S A BLUE GOVERNOR IN A RED STATE AND HERE IS HOW I DID IT AND TRYING TO PLAY THE IMAGE OF BIPARTISANSHIP.

IF YOU ASK ANY REPUBLICAN IF ANDY BESHEAR IS BIPARTISAN AND YOU WILL GET A RESOUNDING NO BUT IT PLAYS WELL.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS LOOKING FOR AS IT TRIES TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE WIN BACK PEOPLE WHO HAVE VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS BEFORE BUT THEN VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.

THEY ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN HELP TRANSLATE THAT GAP.

>> Bill: WE HAVE A BIG OPEN U.S. SENATE RACE IN KENTUCKY AND THE CANDIDATES APPEARED IN LEXINGTON FOR A G.O.P.

DINNER.

FOR A SECOND WEEKEND IN A ROW.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WAS IN THEIR MIDST AND ANDY BARR AND DANIEL CAMERON AND NATE MORRIS TALKED ABOUT THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

>> I HAD THE OCCASION TO STAND UP TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHEN ESG ON D.E.I.

AND I'LL CONTINUE TO BE THAT LEADER, BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE, AGAIN, THAT OUR VALUES ARE THOSE THAT FUEL THIS COUNTRY.

>> PRO-LIFE, A RATED AND I BACK THE BLUE BUT YOU WILL GET A REPUBLICAN WHO WILL WIN AND WE HAVE TO WIN THIS FIGHT.

FELLOW REPUBLICANS, I'M BATTLE TESTED AND UNLIKE MY OPPONENTS I HAVE WON THE TOUGH ELECTIONS.

>> I DON'T WANT TO BE THE LONGEST SERVING ANYTHING IN U.S. HISTORY.

UNTHAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS I'M RUNNING.

IT'S THE CAREER POLITICIANS THAT STABBED OUR PRESIDENT IN THE BACK OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> Bill: PHILLIP IT'S FAIR TO SAY THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST HOTLY CONTESTED PRIMARIES IN THE COUNTRY.

DID FANCY FARM AND THIS G.O.P.

DINNER BRING ANY CLEARER FOCUS TO THE RACE?

>> I THINK IT DOES.

THE PRIMARY FOR SENATE WILL BE THE BEST TEST FOR THE FUTURE OF NOT ONLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BUT THE IMAGE DPA MOVEMENT.

MAGA MOVEMENT.

THE LEGACIES AND FUTURE OF DONALD TRUMP AND J.D.

VANCE AND MITCH McCONNELL WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

ALL THREE ARE VYING FOR DON -- DONALD TRUMP'S TENSION AND ENDORSEMENT.

J.D.

VANCE KNOWS NATE MORRIS HE HAS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM WHY YOU SEE NATE MORRIS OUTSIDERS OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY, YOU SEE DONALD TRUMP JUNIOR MENTIONING NATE MORRIS, CHARLIE KIRK GIVES HIM A SHOUT-OUT AND THE BASHING OF MITCH McCONNELL I DO WONDER HOW MUCH WILL BE A TURN OFF FOR KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS.

MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN A WORKHORSE HE KEPT THIS STATE PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT AND COULD IT BACKFIRE LIKE MATT BEVIN IN 2014.

ANDY BARR MIGHT BE THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS IN CONGRESS AND DANIEL CAMERON HAS THE STATE-WIDE REPUTATIONS AND THIS COULD BE A NASTY AND NEGATIVE PRIMARY BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS IN THE LENS OF A NATIONAL RACE.

LOOK AT MITCH McCONNELL'S LEGACY ON-LINE AS WELL.

>> Bill: IT IS INTERESTING THAT EACH CANDIDATE HAS A DIFFERENT WAY TO GET TO THE PRIZE.

>> THEY DO.

NATE MORRIS IS CERTAINLY STAKED OUT THIS ANTI-MITCH ANGLE.

WE SAW HIM ANNOUNCE HIS CAMPAIGN ON DON JR.'S PODCAST HE IS RUNNING AN ON-LINE CAMPAIGN.

SOME OF THE FANCY FARM SKINGSERS GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION BUT IS THAT REACHING THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN VOTER WHO IS GOING TO BE THE ONE GOING TO THE POLLS IN MAY TO CAST THEIR BALLOT?

THERE IS A REASON MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN REELECTED AS MUCH AS HE HAS.

THOUGH THERE ARE PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY WHO DO NOT LIKE THAT HE HAS BROKEN WITH DONALD TRUMP SOMETHING YOU HEAR ABOUT MITCH McCONNELL ALL THE TIME BUT HE BRINGS MONEY BACK TO KENTUCKY HE DELIVERS FOR KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: AND WE GET A SENSE THIS REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BECOMES THAT IT IS ALL PHILOSOPHICAL OR GEOGRAPHICAL, THE CITIES GO ONE WAY AND THE RURAL AREAS ANOTHER?

>> IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND THE WILDCARD IS THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

WHO KNOWS HOW THAT PLAYS OUT AND THAT IS WHY THEY ARE LEANING SO HARD INTO I'M THE TRUMP CHAMPION I'M FIGHT FOR CONGRESS IF YOU ARE ANDY BARR.

DANIEL CAMERON SAYING I FOUGHT D.E.I.

AND I'M TRUMP ENDORSED IN PREVIOUS RACES.

THEY ARE ALL TRYING CLEARLY TO ALIGN THEMSELVES AS THE TRUMPPYEST OF THEM ALL.

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT PLAY INTO THAT.

ANDY BARR AS A CONGRESSIONAL RECORD AND NAME ID.

DANIEL CAMERON HAS BEEN ON A STATE-WIDE BALLOT HE IS FAMILIAR TO REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

AT THE SAME TIME, NOT A LOT OF ROOM TO GROW NAME ID ONCE YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN ID'D.

AND NATE MORRIS HAS A LOT OF MONEY AND IS CARVING OUT THIS LANE COURTING THE MAGA MOVEMENT.

I THINK IT'S ALL IN PLAY AND REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>> Bill: PHILLIP, YOU LOOK AT ANY MAP OR PREDICTION AND IT PUTS KENTUCKY SOLIDLY RED.

IF THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY SEEMS DIVISIVE BEFORE THE JANUARY FILING DEADLINE, COULD IT TEMPT OTHER DEMOCRATS TO CONSIDER JUMPING IN THAT PRIMARY THAT PAMELA STEVENSON RIGHT NOW HAS TO HER OWN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF THIS BECOMES A REPEAT LIKE THE 2015 GUBERNATORIAL RACE THAT RACE WHERE IT GOT NEGATIVE AND YOU COULD SEE A SIMILAR SITUATION HERE.

I DO KNOW, LOOK, WHEN YOU ARE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE ANDY BARR, THE THING YOU DON'T WANT IS TO HAVE A NASTY PRIMARY WITH NATE MORRIS.

EVEN IF HE DOESN'T WIN AND ROCKY ADKINS JUMPS IN.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A TIGHT POTENTIALLY GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

THE BARR FOLKS WOULD NOT WANT THAT SCENARIO TO HAPPEN.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE NO OFFENSE TO PAMELA STEVENSON, IT SEEMS LIKE DEMOCRATS ARE WAITING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT THEY ARE NOT FILING BEHIND HER.

WHEN I LOOK AT THIS PRIMARY RACE I'M LOOKING AT PAST PRIMARY RACES AND SEE THIS AS A LITMUS TEST WHAT IS THE MAGA MOVEMENT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

THE PRESIDENT WILL STAY OUT FOR A WHILE IS LOOK THE VICE-PRESIDENT J.D.

VANCE HAS A REASON FOR THIS RACE TO MATTER.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO PICK LOOKS LIKE HE IS BEHIND NATE MORRIS.

BUT IF YOU ARE A DEMOCRAT YOU WANT A FALSITY RACE MAYBE YOU CAN HAVE SOMEONE ROCKY UP THE MIDDLE.

>> Bill: INTERESTING TO WATCH.

CLERK DAVIS LEGAL TEAM IS ASKING THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO STRIKE DOWN ITS OWN RULING THAT LEGALIZED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

DAVIS IS APPEALING A FEDERAL JUDGMENT AGAINST HER AND IN MAKING THAT APPEAL HER LAWYERS SEEK TO OVERTURN THE UNDERLYING RULING?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

KIM DAVIS IS REPRESENTED BY LIBERTY COUNCIL A CONSERVATIVE GROUP AND LONG BEEN THE AIM WITH TAKING UP THIS CASE.

KIM DAVIS WANTS THE SUPREME COURT TO FIND THAT HER FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION WAS VIOLATED.

THEY WANT TO SAY SHE IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGES STEMMING FROM ONE OF THE COUPLES SHE DENIED A MARRIAGE LICENSE TO TRYING TO GET THE DAMAGES OVERTURNED.

IN THE PROCESS WOULD LIKE TO TAKE DOWN THE SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT LEGALIZED GAY MARRIAGE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

A YEAR AGO ONE OF THE REPORTER SPOKE TO LEGAL EXPERTS IS THIS THE CASE?

DOES IT MEET THE RIGHT PARAMETERS TO BE THE CASE THAT COULD OVERTURN GAY MARRIAGE?

A YEAR AGO EXPERTS WERE SAYING IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE RIGHT ONE.

BUT A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST YEAR AND WE'VE SEEN THE COURT EAGER TO REWEIGH-IN ON SOME PAST DECISIONS.

REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> Bill: MANY KENTUCKY SCHOOLS ARE BACK IN SESSION NOW AND STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND TEACHERS TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE SWING OF THINGS AND NEW RULES PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE ONE, SENATE BILL 181 REQUIRES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL TO BE ON TRACEABLE SYSTEMS.

ROBBY FLETCHER TOLD ME THE LAW MAY REQUIRE TWEAKING BUT HAS GOOD INTENTIONS.

>> THE POINT OF THAT BILL, AS I READ THROUGH IT, IS HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE OUR STUDENTS ARE SAFE.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE PARENTS UNDERSTAND THIS IS WHO IS COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR CHILD AND YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SEE WHAT COMMUNICATIONS IS GOING TO YOUR STUDENT.

AGAIN, THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW AND THE INTENTION OF THE LAW, I THINK IS VERY GOOD.

AND MOST EDUCATORS WOULD AGREE IT'S GOOD.

DOES IT HAVE DIFFICULTIES?

ABSOLUTELY.

>> Bill: TESSA SOME OF THE CONCERN IS SOME FEAR THEY COULD VIOLATE THIS NEW LAW?

>> RIGHT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

AND AS THE COMMISSIONER NOTES THIS WAS DONE WITH THE INTENTION OF PROTECTING STUDENTS AND CHILDREN BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN UNFORTUNATELY INSTANCES OF COACHES OR TEACHERS SENDING INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES TO THEIR STUDENTS.

THE INTENT WAS TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND WE'RE SEEING UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

A COACH CAN'T SEND OUT A MESSAGE SAYING THERE IS A TORNADO WARNING PRACTICE IS CANCELED.

AND YOU CAN SEE PRACTICAL CHALLENGES.

THERE WAS A WELL DOCUMENTED REAL-LIFE EXAMPLE A FEW WEEKS BACK THERE WAS A SYSTEM THAT WENT OFF AT THE KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER DURING A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND ONE OF THE TEACHERS TEXTED A STUDENT WHO WAS AT THAT EVENT AND TOLD HER SUPERINTENDENT I KNOW I VIOLATED THIS LAW BUT I'M TELLING YOU BECAUSE, THIS WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AT THE TIME.

AND I SPOKE TO SENATOR KITCHENER SHE SPONSORED THIS LEGISLATION AND SHE RECOGNIZES FRUSTRATIONS.

SAID THE BILL WAS GOOD IN PRINCIPLE AND THERE ARE TWEAKS AHEAD SHE IS OPEN TO REVISITING IT IN THE WINTERTIME.

>> Bill: A TRAGEDY IN LOUISVILLE WHEN A WOMAN WAS SHOT AT A BUS STOP.

THAT HAS LED TO STRONG COMMUNITY REACTION?

>> THIS WAS JUST AN AWFUL SHOOTING THIS WEEK.

IT WAS MORNING TIME.

THERE WERE CHILDREN AT THE BUS STOP A WOMAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED.

THERE WAS A PREVIOUS SHOOTING A WEEK BEFORE.

AND IT HAS GENERATED A LOT OF OUTRAGE AND CONCERN AND HAS BROUGHT FRUSTRATION TO LIGHT HOW DO WE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH VIOLENCE IN LOUISVILLE AND YOUTH VIOLENCE?

THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS TO OPEN UP THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AND IS CLOSED AND REBUILT.

IT'S THE TENTACLES OF THIS SHOOTING REACHED NOT ONLY INTO THE COMMUNITIES BUT INTO THE POLICY MAKING HALLS OF FRANKFORT.

>> Bill: PHILLIP YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING THE REDISTRICTING DRAMA IN TEXAS THAT HAS OTHER STATES LOOKING ABOUT REDRAWING THEIR LINES.

IS THIS GOING TO SPREAD ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

>> YEAH, IT WILL.

WE SEE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM SAYING BOTH PARTIES ENGAGE IN GERRYMANDERING.

THE GOVERNOR SAID IF YOU DO THIS IN TEXAS I WILL DO SOMETHING WORSE IN CALIFORNIA.

THE SPECIAL SESSION DID END IN TEXAS BUT ABBOTT WILL KEEP CALLING SPECIAL SESSION AFTER SPECIAL SESSION.

YOU SAW J.D.

VANCE SAYING YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER DOING THIS IN YOUR DISTRICTS.

REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE A HARD TIME IN THE MIDTERMS AND REDRAW THE MAP MAPS.

EVERYONE IS GUILTY OF GERRYMANDERING THE PEOPLE ELECTION REFORM FOLKS WANT NONPARTISAN FOLKS DRAWING THE MAPS.

>> Bill: I-75 IS BEING WIDENED LAWMAKERS SAY IT WILL HELP WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE A BOOST.

>> IT WILL HAVE AN ECONOMIC MULTIPLIER THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS NOT SEEN IN A WHILE.

WHEN I SAY THIS COMMUNITY I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT LONDON, I'M TALKING ABOUT WILLIAMSBURG, SOMERSET, CORBIN, MAN CHEST, McKEY UP AND DOWN BECAUSE THIS RIPPLES IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES.

>> Bill: IT'S SAID THAT KENTUCKY IS GROWING ALONG THE ROADWAYS.

AND SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY GROWING WITH 75 AND IT'S ONE OF THE BUSIEST ROADS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IT IS A MAJOR FREIGHT CORRIDOR AND THAT IS ONE OF THE PARTS EMPHASIZED IS THAT YOU HAVE THIS FOUR-LANE SECTION SURROUNDED BY SIX-LANE SECTIONS AND IT EXPANDS IT AND HELPS THIS NORTH-SOUTH FREIGHT CORRIDOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST TRAVELED IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY.

WE'RE TALKING ALSO PART OF THE STATE THAT IS TOUCHING TENNESSEE.

TENNESSEE IS A FAST GROWING STATE AND TALKING TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOLKS, THEY ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE TENNESSEE LICENSE PLATES IN KENTUCKY.

ARE WE SEEING A POTENTIAL OVERFLOW INTO KENTUCKY?

THAT IS INTERESTING THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR IS UNDERWAY AND THEY MADE SECURITY CHANGES REQUIRING MINORS TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.

OVER 21 AT NIGHT AND ON WEEKENDS.

MUSIC, RIDES AND RIBBONS AND A CHANCE TO GET THE FLU SHOT AT THE FAIR THIS YEAR.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.