[♪♪] >> Bill: THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 ON SCHOOL FUNDING LEADS TO CLASHES ABOUT WHO CAN SAY WHAT ABOUT THE HEATED POLITICAL ISSUE.

THE STATE COULD HAVE A PATCHWORK OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA RULES AS SOME LOCALITIES SET ELECTIONS.

KENTUCKY'S 59 DELEGATES GET READY FOR THE NATIONAL CONVENTION.

A STATE HOUSE MEMBER IS STRIPPED OF COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS AMID AN INVESTIGATION.

THE STATE FAIR, FOOTBALL AND FESTIVALS REMIND US THAT FALL IS COMING 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 SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AUSTIN HORN POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND JOE SONKA ENTERPRISE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

ALSO TONIGHT A REPORT SAYS 13 OF KENTUCKY'S 71 OUTPATIENT HOSPITALS ARE AT RISK OF CLOSING.

AND THE MAN WHO OVERSEES KENTUCKY'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IS PUSHING PARENTS TO GET KIDS ON AN EARLY PATH TO SUCCESS.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT THE DRAMA FOR THE CAMPAIGNS FOR AND AGAINST AMENDMENT 2 IT COULD LEAD TO TAX DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THE PULASKI COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM STARTED OPPOSING THE AMENDMENT AND IT KICKED UP CONTROVERSY.

AND RUSSELL COLEMAN REMINDED SCHOOL DISTRICTS TAX DOLLARS CANNOT BE USED TO ADVOCATE FOR POLITICAL POSITIONS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR INDICATED HE DISAGREED WITH THAT AND HERE IS WHAT COLEMAN HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE SITUATION.

>> MY JOB AS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HE SHOULD REMEMBER THIS AS A FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL MY JOB IS TO CLEARLY SPELL OUT WHAT THE LAW IS.

AND THEN IF THE LAW IS VIOLATED, ENFORCE THE LAW.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE ARE AND IT'S BEEN A DRAMA ALL WEEK LONG.

McKENNA, THE PULASKI COUNTY SCHOOLS POSTED OPPOSITION AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL GOT INVOLVED AND THE GOVERNOR COMMENTED AND IT HAS BEEN A CASCADE OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

>> SO EARLY ON IN THE WEEK, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM POSTED ADVOCATING AGAINST AMENDMENT 2 THAT AMENDMENT WHERE SOME PEOPLE CALL IT SCHOOL CHOICE AND OTHER PEOPLE CALL IT THE VOUCHER AMENDMENT AND THE DISTRICT DID CALL IT THE VOUCHER AMENDMENT.

AND IT WAS ON THE FASTBALL PAGE AND THE SCHOOL'S WEBSITES.

AFTER THAT ADVISORY CAME OUT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE DISTRICT PATRICK RICHARDSON SAID IN A STATEMENT WHILE HE DISAGREES WITH THE ADVISORY, THE DISTRICT WILL COMPLY WITH THAT ADVISORY UNTIL IT'S OVERRULED AND THAT STATEMENT APPEARED IN THE PLACES WHERE THAT ORIGINAL POST HAD BEEN ON SCHOOL'S WEBSITES AND FASTBALL.

>> Bill: DID THE SCHOOL BOARD SAY IT'S MEMBERS WERE ELECTED TO PROTECT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM?

>> THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DID SAY IN AN INITIAL STATEMENT THEY FELT THAT THE BOARD AND THE SUPERINTENDENT HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT TO PROTECT ANY PUBLIC FUNDING THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY HAVE.

THAT'S BEEN THE BIG ISSUE THAT ADVOCATES AGAINST THE AMENDMENT HAVE BROUGHT UP THAT THEY THINK OPENING UP PUBLIC FUNDING FOR OTHER SCHOOLS WILL HURT PUBLIC FUNDING THAT IS ALLOCATED FOR EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> Bill: AND JOE THE GOVERNOR WONDERED ALOUD WHETHER THIS POSITION WOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED IF LAWMAKERS USING THEIR PUBLIC PLATFORMS OR THEIR SPEAKING OUT?

>> IT IS AN INTERESTING POINT.

BECAUSE WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME WHERE LEGISLATORS ON THEIR OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS WILL BE POSTING THEIR CAMPAIGN MATERIAL AND CAMPAIGN VIDEOS AND ACTIVELY TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS AND NOTHING EVER REALLY HAPPENS WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

SO I THINK IT'S THERE'S GRAY AREA HERE.

BECAUSE THE QUESTION OF NOT JUST WHO CAN SAY WHAT BUT WHERE CAN YOU SAY IT WHERE IT DOESN'T COST ANYTHING TO PUT UP A FACEBOOK POST OR A GRAPHIC ON A WEBSITE BUT IT TECHNICALLY IS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL WEBSITE OR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT, AND RUSSELL COLEMAN IS NOT QUITE AS AGGRESSIVELY IN A STATEMENT AS SOME OF THE SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATES BUT HE IS SAYING YOU CAN'T DO THAT AND NOW THEY ARE DOWN.

WE'LL SEE IF ANYTHING HAPPENS FROM HERE.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE TIME BEING.

>> Bill: THIS IS NOT THE MESSAGE HE WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK AS MUCH OBVIOUSLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WAS AN ISSUE THAT HE ADDRESSED ON FRIDAY.

BUT SO IF TEACHERS OR SCHOOL OFFICIALS, JOE, AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT, DID SPEAK OUT ON THEIR OWN USE THEIR OWN PLATFORMS AND SAID WHATEVER THEY WANT TO SAY ABOUT AN AMENDMENT IS OKAY.

>> IT'S WHO, WHAT, WHERE AND WHEN DURING SCHOOL HOURS AT A SCHOOL FACILITY WHILE YOU ARE WORKING YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

ON YOUR FREE TIME OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL YOU HAVE FREE SPEECH LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> Bill: SCHOOLS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LOBBY STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YES.

>> Bill: THEY SPEND MONEY FOR LOBBYISTS TO TAKE UP THEIR ISSUES.

>> FROM SCHOOLS TO COLLEGES.

>> Bill: INTERESTING.

THERE IS AN ADVOCACY GROUP THAT KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY THEY PUT TOGETHER SOME NUMBERS THAT REPRESENTS THE AMOUNTS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS COULD LOSE IF THE AMENDMENT PASSES AND THE LEGISLATURE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH FUNDING ON THE PRIVATE OR CARTER SCHOOLS.

IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE PEOPLE GRABBING THE GRENADES THEY CAN IN THE STREET FIGHT OVER THE AMENDMENT, RIGHT?

>> IT IS.

AND THEY CRUNCHED THE NUMBERS BASED ON BOTH BILLS THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS TRIED TO PASS AND THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON WE'VE GOT THIS AMENDMENT BATTLE RIGHT NOW.

THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN SIMILAR VOUCHERRESQUE BILLS BEFORE.

AND THEY'VE LOOKED AT WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE LIKE FLORIDA AND ARIZONA IN PARTICULAR WHERE SPENDING ON THESE PROGRAMS HAVE REALLY SKYROCKETED.

AND I BELIEVE UNLESS I'M WRONG, THAT THE PULASKI COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT POSTED SOME NUMBERS FROM THE CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY'S REPORT AS WELL.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE, I THINK, A TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX FOR THE NO SIDE ON THIS.

>> Bill: THEY ARE PUTTING NUMBERS OUT AND PER TANKS OUT.

>> THAT INITIAL POST THAT THEY REMOVED DID INCLUDE THE DATA AND THAT WAS PART OF THEIR MESSAGING THAT THEY PUT FORTH.

>> AND IT WAS 8-16% OF THEIR FUNDING WOULD BE IN JEOPARDY IF THEY FOLLOWED THE FLORIDA MODEL.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID HE WILL CAMPAIGN HARD AGAINST IT AND MAY TRAVEL TO FIGHT AGAINST IT?

>> YEAH, BESHEAR HAS LONG POSITIONED HIMSELF AS THE PRO PUBLIC EDUCATION POLITICIAN IN KENTUCKY.

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ME THIS WEEK HE SAID YES HE PLANS TO TRAVEL THE STATE TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST THIS ISSUE.

WHICH IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT ADVOCATES AGAINST THIS ISSUE DO WANT FROM HIM TO HAVE THAT NAME TIED TO THEIR CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: JOE, YOU AND I WERE TALKING IF THE AMENDMENT PASSES THE LEGISLATURE COULD STILL DECIDE TO DO NOTHING THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN 78% OF THE VOTERS IN 1998 GAVE THE LEGISLATURE THE OPTION TO DROP THE PROPERTY TAX ON CARS.

THEY DIDN'T DO IT THEN AND THEY NEVER HAVE BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A HIT TO THE STATE BUDGET.

EVEN IF THAT AMENDMENT DID PASS, THE LEGISLATURE WOULD STILL HAVE TO ACT?

>> YES, THEY STILL HAVE TO ACT.

AND REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN INTENTIONAL NOT SAYING WHAT IT IS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE ON NEXT YEAR IF THE AMENDMENT DOES PASS.

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO BE A FULL ON FLORIDA STYLE VOUCHER PROGRAM WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ONLY GOING TO FUND CERTAIN CHARTERS.

WE DON'T KNOW IF THE BILL IS ONLY GOING TO BE A LIMITED TAX CREDIT SYSTEM FOR SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL BE STATE-WIDE OR HIGH POPULATED COUNTIES AND EXEMPT THE REST OF THE STATE.

G.O.P.

HAS BEEN INTENTIONAL NOT TO TIP THEIR HAND WHAT THE ACTUAL LAW IS GOING TO BE IF THIS PASSES.

BUT, I THINK, TO A LARGE EXTENT, HONESTLY, THEY MIGHT NOT KNOW WHAT THE CAUCUS IS GOING TO VOTE FOR.

BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT IN UNANIMITY ON THE REPUBLICANS ARE.

A LOT OF THE RURAL REPUBLICANS ARE NOT KEEN ON ANY OF THE SCHOOL CHOICE STUFF AND THEY VALUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THEY MIGHT WANT SOME CARVE OUT OR THEY MIGHT WANT TO WATER DOWN WHAT OTHER REPUBLICANS WANT.

I THINK IT'S NOT A SET CERTAIN BILL THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE FROM REPUBLICANS.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF DEBATE WITHIN THE CAUCUS IF THE VOTERS ALLOW THAT.

>> Bill: AUSTIN WHO IS BEHIND THE CAMPAIGNS FOR AND AGAINST THE AMENDMENT AND DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY IS LIKELY TO BE SPENT IN THIS EFFORT?

>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT GENERALLY, DEMOCRATS ARE SUPPORTING THE NO MOVEMENT AND THAT THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GENERALLY.

ALTHOUGH THERE'S THE BIG CAVEAT THAT JOE JUST MENTIONED OF RURAL VERSUS YOUR BAUN REPUBLICANS ARE SUPPORTING THE YES SIDE.

WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ON THE MONEY FRONT, REALLY.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES OUTSIDE GROUPS PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS RACE JUST YET.

BUT WE DID HAVE TWO ISSUE GROUPS FORMED AND WE WON'T KNOW WHO'S BACKING THEM UNTIL SEPTEMBER 20, 21ST SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT WILL BE A WHILE AND TO ME THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER OR NOT WE'LL GET AN OUTSIDE SPENDING MONEY BOMB FROM A PERSON LIKE SAY, A JEFF YEAHS OR BETSEY DeVOS WEALTHY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SHOWN INTEREST IN THESE ISSUES AND IN THE PAST SPENT BIG WITH STATES WITH SCHOOL CHOICE MATTERS ON THE BALLOT.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT YET.

I'VE HEARD SKEPTICISM IF WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET WHEN IS IT COMING?

THERE'S STILL TIME.

BUT THERE'S NOT A TON OF TIME.

AND WE'VE GOT OUTSIDE GROUPS SORT OF WORKING IN THEIR OWN ATMOSPHERES LIKE AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY THE COCK GROUPS ON THE -- COKE GROUPS.

>> AND THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION AND THE OTHER SIDE WAS JEFF SPENT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

MAYBE THEY RETURN.

>> Bill: THERE WILL BE A LOT TO WATCH ON THAT I MADE REFERENCE TO THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INITIATIVE FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HE ANNOUNCED THERE IS A BOOKLET THAT WILL SPELL OUT HOW KENTUCKY WILL DEAL WITH THAT ISSUE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT HE SAYS IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR HIM.

ALSO COMING TO THE BALLOTS THIS NOVEMBER WILL BE WHETHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WILL ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES, MOST CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS MADE THE DECISION ON THEIR OWN AND SAID YES OR NO.

BUT DOZENS OF OTHERS WILL HOLD MEDICAL CANNABIS ELECTIONS.

WILL THESE BE LIKE THE WET-DRY ELECTIONS THAT WE SAW THE LOCAL OPTION ELECTIONS FOR DECADES?

>> VERY, VERY SIMILAR.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE VOTERS IN AREAS BUT IT WILL BE DIFFERENT DEPENDING WHERE YOU LIVE IN KENTUCKY.

THEY ARE CLOSE TO 50 COUNTIES WHERE IT'S DIAGNOSE TO BE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER WHETHER IT OPT INTO THIS OR OPT-OUT.

CLOSE TO 50 CITIES HAVE ARE GOING TO HAVE BALLOT AMENDMENTS TO OPT-IN OR OPT-OUT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF COUNTIES AND CITIES THAT PASSED ORDINANCES TO OPT-IN OR OUT.

I THINK ONE OF THE UNIQUE PLACES TO LOOK AT FOR THIS NOVEMBER IS GOING TO BE NORTHERN KENTUCKY THOSE COUNTIES BOON, KEN TON, AND CAMPBELL WHERE A LARGE PORTION OF KENTUCKY LIVES ALL THREE OF THOSE COUNTIES PASSED ORDINANCES TO OPT-OUT.

YET INDIVIDUAL CITIES LIKE COVINGTON AND NEWPORT PASSED ORDINANCES TO OPT-IN AND INDIVIDUAL CITIES WITHIN THOSE THREE THAT ARE GOING TO.

AND WITHIN CAMPBELL AND KEN TON THEY ARE VOTING ON THAT, TOO.

THAT IS AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN DRIVE FOR 30 MINUTES.

>> Bill: ACROSS THE RIVER FROM THE RECREATIONAL AVAILABILITY IN OHIO.

AUSTIN, THE STATE-WIDE POLLING INDICATED PEOPLE ARE OPEN TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN KENTUCKY BUT THESE ELECTIONS COULD CREATE A PATCHWORK OF AVAILABILITY IF PEOPLE SAY NOT IN MY BACKYARD.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN WE SAW THIS WITH ALCOHOL POLICY FOR A LONGTIME.

THERE ARE HOLDOUTS WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T BUY ALCOHOL IN LARGE AMOUNTS.

BUT THINKING ABOUT THE TWO PLACES WHERE I GREW UP, LIKE MARTIN COUNTY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW MEDICAL MARIJUANA ANYTIME SOON.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT RIGHT NOW.

AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE JUDGE IF HE IS WATCHING.

BUT WOODFORD COUNTY IS A PLACE THAT I COULD SEE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S ON THE BALLOT YET BUT I COULD SEE THAT COMMUNITY BEING OPEN TO IT.

SO IT'S SO REGIONAL IT DEPENDS ON SO MANY DIFFERENT FACTORS.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT IN THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES.

>> Bill: AND SOME OF THE CITIES, THE MAYORS AND COUNCILS AND JUDGES AND FISCAL COURTS SAID WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION IT'S DONE AND SETUP THE RULES.

>> YES.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS SOMETHING POLLED POPULAR IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING IN THE LOCAL LEVELS WHEN THEY WANT IT IN THEIR BACKYARD.

>> Bill: 59 DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES LED BY GOVERNOR BESHEAR ARE ABOUT TO PACK UP AND HEAD FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN CHICAGO NEXT WEEK.

AUSTIN, DONALD TRUMP GOT AROUND 62% OF HIS PRESIDENTIAL WIN IN 2016 AND THE LOSS IN 2020, 62% OF KENTUCKY WE KNOW DEMOCRATS HAVE A RENEWED SENSE OF ENTHUSIASM GIVEN THE SWITCH UP OF THEIR TICKET.

CAN THEY REASONABLY EXPECT TO MAKE KENTUCKY COMPETITIVE?

>> I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO.

AND THIS WAS A TALKING POINT WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS ONE OF SEVERAL NAMES CONSIDERED FOR VICE-PRESIDENT.

HAVING SAID THAT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IT KNTS' AFFECT KENTUCKY POLITICS IN AN INTERESTING WAY.

I'VE HEARD ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES OF HARRIS TAKING OVER FOR BIDEN ON THE BALLOT THAT IT COULD HEPNER JIZ VOTERS IN PURPLE DISTRICTS THAT ARE COMPETITIVE AND THERE ARE A FEW IN KENTUCKY.

I'VE HEARD A COUNTER ARGUMENT HER BEING PERCEIVED AS MORE LIBERAL THAN PRESIDENT BIDEN FAIRLY OR UNFAIRLY MIGHT HURT THE DEMOCRAT BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT A LOT OF VOTERS AREN'T ARMED WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT STATE REPRESENTATIVE RACES AND THEY MIGHT GO IN AND JUST VOTE THE SAME PARTY OF WHICHEVER CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT THEY ARE VOTING FOR.

>> Bill: IT CAME TO OUR ATTENTION YESTERDAY HOLLERS FOR HARRIS EFFORT CHARLES BOOKER AMONG THEM ON THAT.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THE HOLLER MOVEMENT HAS NOT QUITE WORKED IN A GENERAL ELECTION YET IN KENTUCKY.

WE'VE SEEN IT ENERGIZE IN PRIMARIES BEFORE.

BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IT CAN'T MAKE HEADWAY THIS TIME AROUND.

>> Bill: DO WE KNOW WHAT BESHEAR'S ROLE WILL BE AT THE CONVENTION.

>> I ASKED HIM IF HE WILL BE SPEAKING NEXT WEEK AND HE SAID TO STAY TUNED.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY LIKELY GIVEN THE SPECULATION AROUND HIM AS A VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR KAMALA HARRIS EVEN THOUGH SHE WENT A DIFFERENT ROUTE AND HE HAS CAMPAIGNED FOR HARRIS HE CAMPAIGNED IN ATLANTA AND DID NATIONAL PRESS INTERVIEWS WHERE HE HYPED HER UP.

>> Bill: IT'S FAIR TO SAY, JOE, THAT BESHEAR HAS TRIED TO TAMP DOWN SPECULATION THAT HE MIGHT TAKE A ROLE OF SOME OTHER KIND IN A POTENTIAL ADMINISTRATION?

>> AND IN HIS PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY HE TRIED TO TAMP IT DOWN INTERESTING WORDING HE SAID I DON'T INTEND TO ACCEPT A POSITION IN WASHINGTON D.C.

HE WAS MORE FORCEFUL EARLIER.

>> HE SAID I'M STAYING IN KENTUCKY, TO ME.

>> THOSE ARE TWO SAME ANSWERS BUT KIND OF DIFFERENT ANSWERS.

HE ALSO SAID HE WAS GOING TO SERVE OUT HIS TERM AND HE FLIRTED FOR THE VEEP STAKES FOR WEEKS.

>> Bill: STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL GROSSBURG OF JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS BEEN STRIPPED OF COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THE HERALD LEADER FIRST LED ON THAT REPORTING INITIALLY.

>> YEAH.

SO HOUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE STRIPPED HIM OF INTERIM COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY CHANGES IN THE ACTUAL COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

IT'S TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

INTERIM IS IN THE INTERIM PERIOD WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THEY HAVE SUSPENDED HIM FROM CAUCUS PENDING AN INVESTIGATION BY THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF TURNS IN THE STORY THAT KENTUCKY YOUNG DEMOCRATS CALLED ON HIM TO RESIGN.

AND GROSSBURG AND HIS ATTORNEY PUSHED BACK PRETTY HARD IN A LETTER TODAY, THEY SENT OUT TO PRESS, THEY BASICALLY NAMED ALL OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST HIM BY THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION.

AND SORT OF POINT BY POINT REBUTTED EACH OF THEM.

NOW, IT CAN GET CONFUSING.

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT INVESTIGATIONS.

THERE'S THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION AND ALSO THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION.

IT'S KIND OF HARD TO KEEP TRACK OF BOTH OF THEM.

THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION WE KNOW LESS ABOUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT RELEASED THE POINT BY POINT REBUTTAL.

AND I THINK THEY ARE AFFORDED A LITTLE MORE WIGGLE ROOM IN WHAT THEY LOOK INTO THAN THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION.

>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THIS REBUTTAL TODAY FROM HIS ATTORNEY IS THE FIRST PUBLIC IN LOOK WE HAVE HAD INTO THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE ETHICS COMMISSION.

UNDER STATE LAW THE LEGISLATIVE ETHICS COMMISSION CANNOT PUBLISH DOCUMENTS RELATED TO AN INVESTIGATION UNTIL THE COMMISSION TAKES ACTION.

AND THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED YET.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

AUSTIN, KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS HAD HOPED TO ERODE THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD YOU SAY AS YOU LOOK AT THE FALL ELECTION IT'S NOT CHALLENGING IN ENOUGH DISTRICTS TO MAKE MUCH OF A DENT, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS A COMPLAINT THAT IS FREQUENTLY LODGED AGAINST DEMOCRATS.

AND I THINK THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME FAIRNESS TO THAT.

HAVING SAID THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MAP AND YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT A LOT OF VOTERS WITH EXCEPTIONS FOR CANDIDATES WHO SORT OF PLAY THEIR HAND DIFFERENTLY, A LOT OF VOTERS REALLY JUST BASE THEIR VOTE FOR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR ON WHO THEY ARE VOTING FOR, FOR CONGRESS OR FOR PRESIDENT.

IT'S KIND OF SLIM PICKINGS OUT THERE WHEN IT COMES TO REALLY CONTESTED SEATS THAT THE DEMOCRATS CAN TAKE BACK FROM REPUBLICANS.

THERE'S ONE BIGAMIES, THOUGH, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD AGREE, PATTY MENTOR RUNNING FOR MAYOR NOW IN BOWLING GREEN WHICH IS INTERESTING, HER SEAT WHICH IS NOW CONTROLLED BY KEVIN JACKSON, THE DEMOCRATS DID NOT GET A CANDIDATE TO RUN IN THAT SEAT.

WHICH I THINK IS MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY PROBABLY THE BIGGEST WHIFF ON THEIR SIDE.

>> Bill: AND BOWLING GREEN NONPARTISAN RACE IS ONE TO WATCH.

>> IT IS.

>> Bill: THE JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE WAS SHUT DOWN FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN JULY BECAUSE OF A CYBERATTACK AND A POST ON THE DARK WEB IT SAYS RUSSIAN HACKERS WERE SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING DATA.

JOE, THE CLERK'S OFFICE SAYS THE INFORMATION PERTAINS TO EMPLOYEES AND NOT THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

>> YES, TEAR NOT 100% CLEAR WHAT THE DEBT IS BUT IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES AND THE POLL WORKERS AND NOT ALL THE VOTERS WITHIN THE COUNTY.

THE CLERK'S OFFICE SAID THEY ARE NOT GOING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE HACKERS.

BUT IT HAS ALREADY COST THEM $100,000 TO FIX AND PUT EVERYTHING BACK UP ON-LINE AND PUT IN MORE SECURITY MEASURES AND THEY MIGHT HAVE TO SPEND MORE, TOO.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN HIS RECUSED HIMSELF FROM ANY INVESTIGATION OF ADDICTION RECOVERY CARE.

>> THE TIMING ON THIS IS INTERESTING.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN TOLD STAFF IN AN E-MAIL FIVE DAYS BEFORE THE F.B.I.

PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED IT WAS INVESTIGATING ARC FOR POTENTIAL HEALTHCARE FRAUD.

HIS OFFICE WILL NOT SAY SPECIFICALLY WHY HE RECUSED AND DECIDED TO RECUSE THEN.

BUT TIM ROBINSON THE C.E.O.

OF ARC WAS A BIG POLITICAL DONOR TO COLEMAN'S ELECTION EFFORT.

HE GAVE OVER $20,000 TO A PAC THAT WAS SPENDING ON ADS FOR COLEMAN AND THE KENTUCKY LANTERN DID A PROFILE OF TIM ROBINSON THAT MONTH, ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE HE RECUSED SAYING THAT ROBINSON AND COLEMAN WERE OLD FRIENDS GOING BACK TO LAW SCHOOL.

ROBINSON IS CHILDHOOD FRIENDS WITH THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL HE RECUSED BACK IN FEBRUARY ROB DUNCAN.

HE IS ALSO HE WAS ALSO THE LEAD ATTORNEY FOR ARC IN ONE OF THE FEDERAL LAWSUITS AGAINST TWO FORMER EMPLOYEES.

AT THIS POINT WE KNOW THE F.B.I.

IS INVESTIGATING.

SINCE THEY ARE ASKING FOR INFORMATION.

IT IS NOT CLEAR WHAT IF ANY ROLE THE AG'S OFFICE.

>> Bill: AND ARC SAYS IT'S FULLY COOPERATING.

>> AND THEY TOLD EMPLOYEES IF THEY ARE APPROACHED TO ANSWER TRUTHFULLY.

>> Bill: THERE IS A REPORT THAT 13 OF KENTUCKY'S 71 RURAL HOSPITALS ARE IN DANGER OF CLOSING.

SEVERAL ARE SAID TO BE LOSING MONEY.

KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS LOOKED AT THE DATA FROM A POLICY CENTER THAT ANALYZES TRENDS.

THE STATE SET ASIDE MONEY FOR LOANS IN 2020 BECAUSE THESE ISSUES WERE ON THE HORIZON THEN, APPARENTLY CONTINUES TO WORSEN AND MANY CHALLENGES REMAIN FOR SOME OF THE HOSPITALS.

>> YES.

OF THAT FEDERAL PANDEMIC ASSISTANCE THAT HOSPITALS RECEIVED HAS RUN OUT AND THAT FUND THAT LOAN FUND THAT THE LEGISLATURE SETUP IN 2021 THEY PUT $20 MILLION INTO IT, $7 MILLION HAS BEEN USED BY EIGHT HOSPITALS.

THERE'S $13 MILLION LEFT.

WE'LL SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE GOES BACK AND TRIES TO ADD MORE TO THAT IF THEY FEEL THAT HOSPITALS ARE IN TROUBLE ONCE THEY COME BACK IN JANUARY.

>> Bill: IT IS A DIFFICULT LANDSCAPE FOR HEALTHCARE IN THE RURAL AREAS?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT LANDSCAPE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC WERE RECEIVED SOME VERY NECESSARY NEEDED FUNDS AND THAT CAN'T CONTINUE FOREVER.

THEY ARE RELATED TO CHILDCARE, TOO.

>> Bill: THE NATIONAL REPORT ON SCHOOLS THE SAME ISSUE THAT MONEY HAS NOW GONE AWAY.

Dr. THOMPSON OVERSEES KENTUCKY'S COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND HE SAYS THERE'S REAL PROGRESS IN RECRUITING AND RETAINING STUDENTS TOWARD THE STATE'S GOAL OF HAVING 60% OF KENTUCKIANS WITH A DEGREE OF SOME KIND BY 2030.

AND THOMPSON SAYS SCHOOLS AND PARENTS NEED TO NUDGE YOUNG KENTUCKIANS TOWARDS GOALS.

>> WE ARE WORKING OUR KENTUCKY OUR COUNSELORS IN HIGH SCHOOL BUT WE NEED TO DO BETTER WITH PARENTS AND HOPEFULLY PARENTS CAN GET ENGAGED THEMSELVES AND HELPING THE STUDENTS FIGURE OUT WHAT HE OR SHE HAS A PROPENSITY TO THINK ABOUT.

THEY MAY NOT KNOW THE MAJOR BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE AN IDEA WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES OF CAREER.

AND WE CAN START THIS IN 7, 8, 9, 10, GRADE THE STUDENTS CAN SEE THEMSELVES CONNECTED WITH THE FUTURE THEY WANT.

>> Bill: WE NEED TO KEEP YOUNG KENTUCKIANS ENGAGED IN THEIR FUTURE AND GET THEM ON A TRACK.

NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WHEN THEY ARE 15?

>> AND IT PLAYS INTO KENTUCKY'S GRADUATION RATES BOTH THE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LEVEL AND THAT PLAYS INTO THE AMOUNT OF THE EDUCATED AND TRAINED WORKFORCE THAT THE STATE HAS WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT POLITICIANS WANT TO HAVE WHEN THEY ARE RECRUITING BUSINESSES TO COME TO KENTUCKY.

THERE'S KIND OF A LONG TRAIN THOUGHT THERE.

>> Bill: EKU AND MURRAY STATE HAVE RECORD FRESHMEN ENROLLMENTS AND LOOK ENROLLMENT FOR SEVERAL OF THE INSTITUTIONS THAT IS ENCOURAGING, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND I MEAN TO GO BACK TO WHAT PRESIDENT THOMPSON SAID, I MEAN, THERE IS A POINT TO BE MADE OF 15-YEAR-OLDS DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO PLAN AHEAD AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

THIS MORNING I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY DAY.

LIKE, IT COULDN'T BE ME.

I EXPECT PEOPLE CAN DO THAT.

>> Bill: THAT'S YOU, AUSTIN.

>> 120TH KENTUCKY STATE FAIR KICKED OFF BIG CROWDS OUT THERE.

>> GO GET YOUR DOUGHNUT BURGER.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S TOURISM DIRECTOR IS GETTING NATIONAL RECOGNITION NAMED THE 2024 STATE TOURISM DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR BY THE U.S. TRAVEL OF THE YEAR.

IT RECOGNIZES LEADERSHIP.

KENTUCKY TOURISM A $13 BILLION ANNUAL BUSINESS.

AND KENTUCKY NATIVE FRANK SALVI WAS KNOWN OR THE CORBIN COMMENT AND HE HELD THE RECORD FOR THE MOST POINTS SCORED IN A SINGLE COLLEGE BASKETBALL GAME.

HE PLAYED FOR FUHRMAN UNIVERSITY AND KNOCKED DOWN 100 POINTS IN A GAME AGAINST NEWBURY COLLEGE IN 1954.

SOME FAMILY MADE THE TRIM FOR THE GAME AND NEVER REPEATED BY A COLLEGE PLAYER.

HE PLAYED IN THE NBA HE HE DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 91.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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