>> Bill: THE STATE SUPREME COURT KEEPS AN ABORTION BAN IN PLACE FOR NOW AND WILL HEAR CHALLENGES AFTER VOTERS DECIDE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

FEMA STARTS DIRECTLY CALLING AND TEXTING EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOOD VICTIMS TRYING TO GET MORE HELP APPROVED FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LOS THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS WITH HIG COVID NUMBERS IN MOST AREAS.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN, A FORMER TEACHER, TALK MENTAL HEALTH DAYS FOR STUDENTS A NICE SEPTEMBER FEEL IN MID-AUGUST, AND "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 AR ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

RYLAND BARTON, MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

AND STEVE HENSLEY, NEWS DIRECTO FOR WYMT IN HAZARD.

ALSO TONIGHT, MORE MONEY TO FIGHT THE DEADLY OPIOID CRISIS AS FENTANYL BECOMES THE MAIN CONCERN IN MUCH OF KENTUCKY.

LET'S START WITH THE ABORTION RULING BY THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT.

THE JUSTICES WERE SPLIT BUT DID DECIDE TO LET KENTUCKY VOTERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BEFORE THE COURT CONSIDERS CHALLENGES TO THE STATE TRIGGER LAW.

ALEX, ONE OF THE OPINIONS IN THE COURT IN MAKING THIS DECISION TO AT LEAST HOLD OFF WAS CALLED IT AN ABUSE OF DISCRETION FOR THE LOWER COURTS TO BLOCK THE LAW, SO THE SPEAKER IS KEEPING IN IT PLACE.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

WHERE ARE WE IN THIS WHOLE LANDSCAPE RIGHT NOW?

>> Alex: RIGHT.

SO THAT WAS ACTUALLY CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN MINTON.

HE CONCURRED IN PART BUT HE ALSO ISSUED A SEPARATE DISSENTING OPINION.

TO KIND OF BRING US UP TO SPEED WHEN ROE WAS OVERTURNED IN LATE JUNE THAT TRIGGER LAW TOOK EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND EMW WOMEN'S SURGICAL CENTER, THE TWO ABORTION PROVIDERS LEFT IN THE STATE, SUED SAYING THAT KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION INCLUDES A RIGHT TO PRIVACY THAT PROTECTS THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY APPROVED AN INJUNCTION AND EFFECTIVELY BLOCKED THE LAW FROM TAKING EFFECT.

DANIEL CAMERON, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO IS REPUBLICAN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, APPEALED AND HAS SORT OF MATED MISSION TO MAKE IT IS CLEAR THAT HE WILL FIGHT TO ALLOW -- TO ENFORCE THIS LAW.

HE TOOK IT TO THE COURT OF APPEALS.

THE COURT OF APPEALS ACTUALLY FULFILLED REQUEST AND OVERTURNED THE LOWER COURT'S RULING.

THIS WEEK WE HEARD FROM THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT WHO AGREED TO TAKE THE CASE.

THEY WILL HAVE ORAL ARGUMENTS, AS YOU SAID, IN MID-NOVEMBER, AND THE JUSTICES CONCURRED IN THAT THEY WERE GOING TO ALLOW THE TRIGGER LAW TO STAY IN PLACE, BUT TWO OF THE JUSTS PARTICULARLY CHIEF JUSTICE MINTON AND JUSTICE KELLER, MADE IT CLEAR THERE'LL FELT LIKE THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN ALLOWING THE TRIGGER LAW TO BE REINSTATED.

THEY SAID THERE WAS BASICALLY NO TRUE ANALYSIS FOR WHY DETHEY DIDN'T FIND THE TRIAL COURT'S VALID.

CHIEF MINTON SAID THERE WASN'T APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF REVIEW.

HE SAID THEY FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THE APPELLATE LEVEL OF REVIEW.

AND SO IT WAS INTERESTING IN READING THEIR ORDERS, THEY MADE IT CLEAR THAT NO MATTER WHAT THEY DECIDE, BECAUSE THEY WILL EFFECTIVELY DECIDE THE FATE OF THE TRIGGER LAW IN KENTUCKY, THEY KNOW THAT THERE ARE STRONG OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES.

THEY KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE DISAPPOINTED ON BOTH SIDES.

IT WAS INTERESTING CHIEF JUSTICE MINTON MENTIONED THAT IT IS THE COURT'S JOB NOW TO BE THE NATURAL DISPASSIONATE ARBITERS OF THE LAW, WHICH THEY WILL DO ON THIS.

JUSTICE KELLER, AS RYLAND AND I REPORTED THIS WEEK, NOTED THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WILL BE VOTED ON BEFORE THEY HEAR ORAL ARGUMENT ON THE CASE.

>> Bill: THAT'S THEIR DECISION TO WAIT, RIGHT?

>> Alex: RIGHT.

>> Bill: THEY WANT TO KNOW.

ARE THEY LOOKING FOR GUIDANCE FROM THE PUBLIC?

>> Alex: POTENTIALLY.

SO THIS REALLY PUTS THE OWN US ON VOTERS DID ONUS ON VOTERS TO REALLY SHOW WHAT THE DIRECTION OF THIS STATE IS SO VOTERS ALREADY HAD A LOT OF POWER TO BEGIN WITH, BUT NOW THEY HAVE ARGUABLY EVEN MORE.

>> Ryland: ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS IS ALL IN THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THE FIGHT OVER ABORTION HAS SHIFTED FROM FEDERAL COURTS TO STATE COURTS.

THIS AMENDMENT, THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION WHICH WOULD SAY THAT NOTHING IN THIS CONSTITUTION GUARANTEES THE RIGHT TO ABORTION, YOU KNOW, THAT IS BASICALLY DESIGNED FOR THIS EXACT KIND OF CHALLENGE, A CHALLENGE THAT'S TRYING TO SAY, GET A COURT TO SAY, WELL, THERE'S A RIGHT TO AN ABORTION UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

IF VOTERS VEET IN FAVOR OF THIS, THAT WILL -- VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS, THAT WILL KEEP THAT FROM BEING THE CASE.

SO THE JUSTICES ARE REALLY TRYING TO SEE WHAT VOTERS THINK ABOUT THIS.

HOWEVER, THERE'S ALSO A LOT TO CONSIDER.

THE QUESTION THAT WILL BE PRESENTED TO VOTERS IS A VERY SIMPLE ONE, AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF EXPLANATION THAT IS GOING TO BE ON THAT BALLOT ABOUT COMPATIBLE WHAT THIS AMENDMENT IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Bill: AND UNLIKE CANS WHICH REJECTED IT BECAUSE -- KANSAS BECAUSE IN KANSAS IT REALLY SPELLED IT OUT, RIGHT?

>> Ryland: IT'S A FASCINATING CASE STUDY IN POLITICS AND POLICY.

KANSAS, CONSERVATIVE STATE THAT'S ELECTED A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR PRETTY SIMILAR TO KENTUCKY'S SITUATION, THEY HAD THIS BALLOT MEASURE EARLIER THIS MONTH AND REJECTED A SIMILAR BALLOT MEASURE THAT WOULD HAVE GUARANTEED NO ACCESS TO ABORTION UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

HOWEVER, THAT -- THAT QUESTION WAS REALLY DETAILED ON THE BALLOT.

IT SAID THAT THIS WILL NOT PRECLUDE THE LEGISLATURE FROM REGULATING ABORTION EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY COULD BAN ABORTION IN CASES OF RAPE AND INCEST.

KENTUCKY'S ABORTION BAN, YOU KNOW, HAS THE SAME EFFECT.

IT'S STILL, ESPECIALLY THE TRIGGER LAW, WILL BAN ABORTIONS EVEN IN THOSE CASES.

BUT THAT IS NOT LAID OUT IN THE QUESTION.

SO I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR SOME ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO ARE LOOKING AT KANSAS AN EXAMPLE 1 WELL, THERE'S A BIG HURDLE FOR THEM AND THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE, AT LEAST, FOR KENTUCKY VOTERS WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO BE READING THAT QUESTION COME NOVEMBER.

>> Alex: IT'S HONESTLY VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE THE QUESTION THAT VOTERS ARE VOTING ON IS REALLY QUITE BIG.

IT WILL HAVE NO IMPACT ON CURRENT LAWS NECESSARILY, BUT THE WAY THAT ABORTION ADVOCATES AND SORT OF PRO-CHOICE GROUPS AND PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS, WHICH IS THE GROUP THAT'S MOBILIZING SUPPORT TO VOTE AGAINST THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, IS ALMOST ON PURPOSE CONFLATING IT WITH THE FRUSTRATION OVER THE FACT THAT THE TRIGGER LAW DOES NOT INCLUDE EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST, SO THEY'RE USING THAT OPPOSITION AND THAT FRUSTRATION TO SAY, COME OUT AND VOTE AGAINST IT BECAUSE THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, YOU KNOW, IT WON'T ACTUALLY -- REPUBLICANS WHEN THEY COME BACK TO SESSION IN JANUARY COULD STILL INCLUDE EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

THIS IS REALLY, IT'S TRULY A BELLWETHER BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW VOTERS CAST BALLOTS.

>> Bill: IS THERE ANYWAY TO KNOW WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE?

BOTH SIDES ARE ORGANIZING.

WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE SIGNS AND WE TAKE IT WE'LL PROBABLY SEE ADS AND SO FORTH AS THIS CAMPAIGN REVS UP.

>> Ryland: IT'S REALLY HARD TO TELL AT THIS POINT.

THERE HAS BEEN POLLING IN KENTUCKY OVER THE YEARS ON ABORTION ACCESS.

THERE'S BEEN POLLS RELEASED BY ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WHO SAY THE MAJORITY OF KENTUCKIANS WANT TO PROTECT SOME FORM OF ABORTION RIGHTS, AND THE SAME, THE OPPOSITE CAN BE SAID FOR THE ANTI-ABORTION MOVEMENT.

SO WE CAN'T REALLY SAY IT THAT WAY.

JUST GOING BASED ON ELECTIONS, SO IN 2019, MATT BEVIN MADE AT A HUGE PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN, THAT HE IS THE MOST PRO-LIFE GOVERNOR IN AMERICA.

THAT WAS A BIG PART OF HIS CAMPAIGN.

HE REALLY TRIED TO PIN ANDY BESHEAR ON THAT PARTICULAR ISSUE.

AND HE WASN'T REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN IT OR AT LEAST HE WASN'T SUCCESSFUL TO THE POINT IN WINNING THAT ELECTION.

IT WAS A CLOSE ONE, OBVIOUSLY.

SO I THINK THAT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME QUESTION OUT THERE THAT MAYBE, MAYBE KENTUCKY IS NOT AS ANTI-ABORTION AS ITS LEGISLATURE HAS REGULATED IT.

AND THAT'S KIND OF -- THAT'S ONE OF THE FASCINATING THINGS ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STATE LEGISLATURE WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE, THESE AREN'T ISSUES OR AT LEAST THESE CAMPAIGNS AND THESE POLITICS AREN'T REALLY FRONT OF MIND FOR A LOT OF VOTERS AT LEAST FOR MUCH YEAR.

MAYBE BUT THAT'S WHAT I BIG ATTENTION CAMPAIGN LIKE THIS, TRYING TO DRAW EYES TO THIS, IS ALL ABOUT, TRYING TO MAKE THIS FRONT OF MIND TO VOTERS, AND WE'LL SEE TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT.

>> Alex: AND I THINK LAST THING, NOW THAT THE TRIGGER LAW IS IN PLACE AND PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY CONFRONTED WITH THE REALITY THAT ABORTION IS NOT RELIABLY ACCESS NIBBLE KENTUCKY, IT WILL PROVOKE MORE PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND VOTE AS OOH POSED TO OPPOSITION TO IT, I THINK, WILL PROPEL MORE PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED AND VOTE AS OPPOSED TO DEFENDING SOMETHING AND WANTING TO KEEP THE STATUS QUO.

BUT I MEAN THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION, IS DOES THE VOTER FEELING ABOUT ABORTION ACCESS MATCH THE VERY RESTRICTIVE LAWS THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

AN ANSWER THAT WE WILL GET IN NOVEMBER FROM VOTERS, AND THEN FROM THE SUPREME COURT ONCE THEY CONSIDER IT WITH THE NEW INFORMATION THEY HAVE BASED ON WHETHER OR NOT KENTUCKIANS AMENDMENT THE CONSTITUTION SO IT'S AN INTERESTING TIME.

IT'S A TOUGH TIME OUT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY CERTAINLY WHERE THEY CONTINUE TO CLEAN UP FROM THE DEADLY HISTORIC FLOODING IN JULY, AN ISSUE THAT IS ONGOING JUST AS MUCH NOW AS IT WAS THE DAY AFTER THE FLOODS, AND STEVE HENSLEY FROM WYMT, HE'S THE NEWS DIRECTOR AND ANCHOR OF MANY OF THEIR NEWS CASTS.

STEVE, I KNOW YOU CURVED FROM THE BEGINNING AT WYMT, SO MANY STORIES OF LOSS AND RESILIENCE AS WELL.

YOU COVERED IT.

HOW ARE THINGS COMING ALONG?

>> Steve: BILL, FIRST THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

THIS HAS PROBABLY BEEN THE TOUGHEST COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR ME SINCE I'VE BEEN AT WYMT, AND THAT GOES BACK 23 YEARS, BUT IT RALLY BEGAN WITH THE OFFICERS THAT WERE KILLED IN FLOYD COUNTY ON JUNE 30th.

WE COVERED FOUR FUNERALS, INCLUDING THE K-9, AND THEN JUST A SHORT TIME LAUER THIS CATASTROPHIC FLOODING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO BUT I THINK EVERYBODY AGREES THIS IS THE WORST FLASH FLOODING THAT ANYONE HAS SEEN AROUND HE EVER IN THEIR LIFETIME AND THE SADDEST PART IS WE LOST MORE THAN 40 PEOPLE.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW THE DEATH TOLL WASN'T A LOT HIGHER BECAUSE WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THESE AMAZING RESCUE STORIES.

OF COURSE, THE NATIONAL GUARD SAVED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE, AND SO THERE'S CERTAINLY PLENTY OF HEROS TO GO AROUND HERE, BUT THREE WEEKS LATER YOU CAN SEE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS EACH DAY.

WE STILL, THOUGH, HAVE HUNDREDS WITHOUT RUNNING WATER, A LOT MORE THAN THAT UNDER A BOIL WATER ADVISORY.

WE'VE DONE STORIES OF PEOPLE STILL LIVING IN TENTS.

WE'VE GOT HUNDREDS IN SHELTERS.

SO WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO, BUMP, AND WE'RE GOING TO NEED HELP FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Bill: I KNOW THERE'S TREMENDOUS FRUSTRATION TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE CLAIMS TO FEMA, AND FEMA HAS MADE SOME MOVES NOW TO TRY TO GET MORE FLOOD VICTIMS APPROVED FOR HELP BUT WE KNOW HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN REJECTED, AND TODAY A FEMA REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT PROGRESS IS NO DOUBT BEING MADE.

>> THE THING I WANT EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER AND TAKE AWAY, ONCE YOU REGISTER, IF YOU DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM US REALLY QUICKLY, PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL US.

GO TOO A DRC.

FOLLOW UP.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET THIS RIGHT.

WE ARE TRYING TO GET THE SURVIVORS EVERY DOLLAR THAT THEY ARE LEGAL ENTITLED TO GET.

AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET THERE IS BY HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THEM CALLING US AND US BEING ABLE TO GET UP WITH THEM.

>> Bill: STEVE, TEAMS OF LAWYERS HAVE SHOWN UP TRYING TO ASSIST PEOPLE IN GETTING THEIR CLAIMS SUCCESSFULLY MADE.

FEMA IS NOW SAYING THAT $43 MILLION HAS BEEN AWARDED TO THE VICTIMS OF FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

'67.

STENCH YEAH, AND I HOPE FEMA IS DOING BETTER.

I CAN'T SAY I'VE SEEN THAT THAT IS THE CASE.

THE GOVERNOR THINKS THEY ARE.

THEY HAVE MADE AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS.

I CAN TELL YOU, THOUGH, THERE HAS BEEN'S LOT OF FRUSTRATION.

WE JUST DID A STORY YESTERDAY WITH A FAMILY IN PIKE COUNTY.

THEY SAY THEY'VE BEEN DENIED FIVE TIMES AND THEY CLEARLY HAVE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

I WAS TOLD TODAY BY FEMA THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY 11,000 APPLICATIONS FILED, SO THAT SORT OF TELLS YOU THE SCOPE OF THIS DISASTER, BUT I HOPE THE PROCESS IS IMPROVING FOR FOLKS.

WE REALLY STILL DON'T HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER ABOUT THE NUMBER OF HOMES THAT WERE LOST, BUT IT'S NOT JUST HOMES, ITEMS BUSINESSES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS.

I UNDERSTAND ABOUT 30 POST OFFICES AFFECTED.

WE HAD GOWN AREAS AFFECTED LIKE WHITESBURG AND HINDMAN.

IN SOME OF THESE PLACES IT REALLY IS JUST DEVASTATION FOR MILES LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

>> Bill: YOU TOLD ME THAT WHILE PEOPLE ARE VERY HEARTENED CERTAINLY THAT THERE'S BEEN SUCH A HUMANITARIAN EFFORT, PEOPLE FROM ACROSS KENTUCKY HAVE RUSHED IN TO HELP, PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE NATION HAVE COME IN TO HELP, BUT THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE OUTSIDERS WILL GO BACK TO THEIR LIVES AND EASTERN KENTUCKY STILL HAS A LOT TO DO.

>> Steve: YEAH, THIS REALLY HAS BEEN AN UNBELIEVABLE RELIEF EFFORT.

OF COURSE, WE KNOW KENTUCKIANS ALWAYS PULL TOGETHER WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, BUT THE SUPPORT FROM ACROSS THE STATE, FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, BUT I AM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE ALREADY HEARING CONCERNS ABOUT PEOPLE LEAVING TOO SOON, LONG AFTER THE FLOOD IS NOT MAKING HEADLINES, AND THE NATIONAL FOLKS HAVE LEFT.

PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO NEED HELP.

I'M ALREADY HEARING THAT EVERY DAY.

AND REALLY ALSO WHAT I'M HEARING IS WHAT WE NEED MORE THAN ANYTHING IS VOLUNTEERS TO CLEAN UP THESE HOMES, DO THE DIRTY WORK OR JUST TO HELP HAND OUT SUPPLIES LIKE WE HAVE A DISTRIBUTION CENTER.

I HAD AN OLD JCPENNEY HERE IN HAZARD.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR VOLUNTEERS EVERY DAY.

BUT I ALSO HAVE TO SAY PEOPLE HERE AND AWAY FROM HERE HAVE PULLED TOGETHER LIKE I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN JUST A REALLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS REMARKABLE.

>> Bill: IT'S BEEN INSPIRING TO SEE.

RYLAND, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FEDERAL FUNDING.

THE STATE LEGISLATURE WILL BE COMING TO TOWN AT SOME POINT, AND WE'RE TOLL THAT COULD BE VERY SOON, TO CONSIDER A FLOOD RELIEF PACKAGE.

WE KNOW THE STATE HAS A REPORTED $1.7 BILLION SET ASIDE IN RAINY DAY FUNDS OR SAVINGS.

THERE'S ALMOST $1 BILLION IN SURPLUS THAT CAME IN THAT WAS NOT EXPECTED FROM LAST YEAR.

SO THERE IS SOME MONEY THERE.

>> Ryland: YEAH, THERE'S MONEY, AND IT'S GOOD TO HAVE THIS MONEY READY AND IN THE RAINY DAY FUND AND IN OTHER PLACES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE EASTERN KENTUCKY IS GOING TO NEED IT, WESTERN KENTUCKY FROM THE TORNADOES STILL NEEDS IT, AND WE'LL SEE HOW LAWMAKERS GOING TO DIVVY IT UP.

BUT OBVIOUSLY A STEVE WAS MENTIONING THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE LEVEL.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOLS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CITY GOVERNMENT, CLEANUP, ROADS, BRIDGES, WATER PLANTS.

THERE IS JUST A LONG, LONG LIST OF NEEDS, AND THAT NEED TO BE -- THAT STATE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO PLAY A HAND IN FIXING.

AND THEN BEYOND THAT EVEN THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL NEED THAT WILL HAVE TO BE MET BECAUSE ONE THING THAT WE HAVE -- I THINK PEOPLE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HAVE LEARNED AND PEOPLE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY LEARNED LAST YEAR AND EARLIER THIS YEAR IS THAT FEMA IS NOT THERE TO MAKE DISASTER VICTIMS WHOLE.

THEY ARE THERE TO HELP OUT A BIT AND TRY AND GET PEOPLE BACK UP ON THEIR FEET.

THERE'S A LOT THAT WILL BE LOST THAT THE LEGISLATURE COULD BE GIVING A HAND.

>> Bill: SOMEONE REMIND ME THERE WILL BE HOUSE PAYMENTS DUE ON HOMES THAT WERE DESTROYED VERY SOON.

>> Ryland: AND THE HOUSING ISSUE THAT STEVE IS MENTIONING AS WELL.

THIS IS AN ONGOING THING AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE IN TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR A WHILE.

WE'VE GOT WINTER COMING.

THERE WILL BE A VERY SPECIFIC MOVE-OUT DAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Bill: STEVE, YOU WANT TO PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN.

IT'S CALLED THE THOUSAND YEAR FLOOD OR LONGER.

THERE'S BEEN TALK OF A FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT OR TWO.

CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS HAS MENTION THAT HAD BUT THISSIES THAT FLASH FLOOD, NOT THE INLAND KEUCHEL GENERAL FLOODING THAT HE HAS PROVIDE SO MANY PROJECTS FOR ALONGSIDE THE CUMBERLAND PROJECT.

>> AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THOSE FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE I THINK A BIG PART OF HIS LEGACY IS ALL THE FLOOD CROWELL CONTROL PROJECTS THAT HE'S BEEN INVOLVED WITH.

YES, BUT MOST OF THE INSTRUCTION HERE, ALTHOUGH WE DID HAVE SOME RIVER FLOODING, THIS WAS A FLASH FLOOD UNLIKE ANYTHING WE HAVE REALLY SEEN BEFORE, ESPECIALLY ON THIS WIDESPREAD OF A SCALE.

I KNOW CONGRESSMAN ROGERS WANTS TO DO -- HAVE THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DO A STUDY TO SEE WHAT MITIGATION EFFORTS CAN BE MADE.

OF COURSE, THAT TAKES SOME TIME 37 AND I'LL TELL YOU THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT ALL THIS DEBRIS RIGHT NOW IN THESE SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS, AND IF WE GET ANOTHER HEAVY RAIN EVENT, THAT COULD MAKE FLOODING EVEN WORSE, SO THAT'S ANOTHER BIG ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WELL, IN ADDITION TO THE CHALLENGES WITH FLOODING RIGHT NOW FOR SOME DISTRICTS, COVID STRUGGLES ARE CONTINUING AS WELL FOR SCHOOLS.

MOST OF OUR COUNTIES STILL IN THE RED ZONES WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LEVEL.

ALEX, THE COVID LANDSCAPE IS PRETTY TOUGH RIGHT NOW.

WOLF COUNTY REPORTED TODAY THEY HAD MORE THAN 20% OF THEIR STUDENTS ABSENT.

>> Alex: WHICH IS EXTREMELY HIGH.

WE HEARD GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAY THIS WEEK VERY CANDIDLY THAT PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST COVID BECAUSE IT IS STILL EVERYWHERE.

IT IS BURNING THROUGH POPULATIONS.

OUR POSITIVITY RATE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS WEEK WAS 18.5%.

AND I ADVENTURE TO SAY THAT FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE TAKING PCR OR AT HOME TESTS WHICH MEANS THAT THE STATEWIDE POSITIVITY RATE IS A DRASTIC UNDERCOUNT.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY FACING CHALLENGES OF STUDENTS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

THERE ARE DISTRICTS IN THE RED THAT ARE MAKING MASKS UNIVERSAL AGAIN.

TEACHERS HAVE TO WEAR MASKS WHILE TEACHING BECAUSE BECAUSE IT IS EVERYWHERE.

WE HAD 16,000 PLUS CASES THIS WEEK.

AND AS WE'VE HEARD BESHEAR SAY SINCE THE SPRING THROUGH THE SUMMER, IT IS NO LONGER CORRELATING WITH SEVERE SICKNESS.

PEOPLE ARE BEING OPENNIZED.

BUT ALREADY WE HAVE HAD CLOSE TO 200 DEATHS REPORT.

SO IT STILL IS MAKING PEOPLE VERY SICK.

>> Bill: AND JEFFERSON COUNTY IS ONE THAT IS REQUIRING THOSE MASKS.

INLAND RYLAND, THAT WAS QUICKLY GOTTEN MIXED UP IN POLITICIANS POLITICS WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR SAYING THEY NEED TO DROP THEIR MANDATE AND EVEN QUESTIONS WHETHER THEY SHOULD ABLE TO HAVE THAT.

>> Ryland: CAMERON DIDN'T OUT-RIGHT SAY HE WAS GOING TO SUE OVER THIS BUT HE SAID HIS OFFICE IS LOOKING INTO THE LEGALITY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS STILL ENFORCING A MASK MANDATE.

THIS IS SOMETHING WHAT THE LEGISLATURE, WHEN THEY ADJOURNED THIS SPRING, DID NOT TAKE UP.

WELL, THEY AT LEAST DIDN'T PASS A LAW OVER IT.

LAST YEAR THEY SAID THAT IT WAS UP TO LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO HAVE TO HAVE A MASK MANDATE.

THIS YEAR THE HOUSEMAIDS A BILL BANNING MASK MANDATES BUT THE SENATE NEVER TOOK IT UP.

SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE LIVING IN THE WORLD THAT REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS LEFT US IN, ALLOWING DISTRICT TO MAKE THOSE, AND I SO FAR THE JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD HAS DECIDED TO KEEP THAT IN SALT LAKE CITY I THINK IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO REMAIN IN PLACE, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, CASES ARE GOING UP RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: BEREA INDEPENDENT DELAYED THE START OF THEIR SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE THEY HAD ONGOING CONCERNS.

ALEX 1 AN INTERIM COMMITTEE HEARD FROM SOME STUDENTS AND FROM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN THIS WEEK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS AND BE COLEMAN PROPOSES THE IDEA OF LITERAL MENTAL HEALTH DAYS FOR STUDENTS.

>> Alex: RIGHT UP IF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN IS IS A FORMER EDUCATOR AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR SO SHE'S VERY IN TOUCH WITH A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT FACE -- OR THAT STUDENTS FACE, AND SHE SPOKE ALONGSIDE STUDENTS THIS WEEK, AS YOU SAID, TO A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE BASICALLY ADVOCATING FOR EXCUSED MENTAL HEALTH DAYS.

IN REASON YEARS ESPECIALLY WITH COVID WE HAVE SEEN THE NUMBER OF MENTAL HEALTH DYING DIAGNOSIS INCREASE DOUBLE DIGITS AMONG SCHOOL-AGED KIDS FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS.

THEY WERE EXTREMELY ISOLATED DURING COVID.

THEY HAD TO STOP/START SCHOOL YEAR.

AND SO I THINK SHE IS TRYING TO CALL ATTENTION TO SOMETHING TO KIND OF PUT THE ONUS OH STUDENTS THE GIVE THEM AUTONOMY TO SAY I'M STRUGGLING MENTALLY.

I NEED A BREAK.

>> Bill: POLITICS KEEPS CREEPING INTO OUR DISCUSSION IN THE THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS SPENT A LOT OF TIMES IN MOUNTAINS AFTER THIS FLOOD.

DO YOU GET A SENSE THAT THAT WILL BUT HIM IN GOOD STANDING WITH VOTERS THERE OR ARE THEY LIKELY TO DEFAULT TO THE REPUBLICAN TREND THAT HAS BEEN SO EVIDENT IN THE MOUNTAINS IN RECENT YEARS?

>> Steve: YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO EARLY TO TELL.

HE MIGHT WIN A FEW VOTES BECAUSE OF HIS RESPONSE.

HE'S CERTAINLY BEEN HERE A LOT, PROBABLY MORE THAN ANY OTHER POLITICS.

I DO THINK MOST PEOPLE DO BELIEVE HE'S HANDLED THIS SITUATION WELL AND DOES CARE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I ALSO DO NOT SEE EASTERN KENTUCKY TURNING BLUE, AND I THINK HE'S STILL GOT AN UPHILL BATTLE HERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: SO ANOTHER QUESTION OUT THERE ABOUT 2023 IS HOW MANY MORE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WILL JOIN THE CROWDED FIELD.

FORMER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT SAID TO BE GETTING READY FOR AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND SOMERSET MAYOR ALAN KECK TOLD KET THAT HE IS SILL RUNNING TO GOVERNOR.

>> I'M STILL GIVING IT STRONG CONSIDERATION.

I GET ASKED A LOT AND I'M ALWAYS FLATTERED.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS IT'S AN HONOR TO SERVE MY HOMETOWN, AND I WOULD SAY IF WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN SOMERSET WA HAPPENING ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH IT WOULD BE AN EVEN MORE SPECIAL PLACE.

>> Bill: RYLAND, KECK IS JUNG AND OBVIOUS HAS AMBITIONS.

COULD THIS, HE HAS A SLIVER SUPPORTED AND EIGHT OR NINE OR TEN OTHER CANDIDATES SEE THEIR APPLICABLE FORTUNES?

>> Ryland: EIGHT OR NINE OR TEN CANDIDATES WOULD BE A SPECTACLE.

WE DO HAVE A COUPLE WAITING THE IN WINGS BETWEEN HIM AND UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT POSSIBLY GETTING IN.

MATT BEVIN HAS CONTINUED TO BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION IN ALL THIS.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A -- THE CASE IN POINT IS THE 2015 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, WHICH WAS A FOUR-WAY PRIMARY, BUT THAT'S CROWDED BY MOST PEOPLE'S DEFINITION, AND THAT ALLOWED MATT BEVIN TO WIN BY 83 VOTES OVER NEXT PERSON IN LINE, JAIME COMER.

SO, YEAH, THE MORE PEOPLE IN A RACE, THE CRAZIER THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN.

>> Bill: THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER AUSTIN HORN SAID PEOPLE WILLABLE ABLE TO ENTER A CANDIDATE IN STATE SENATOR SEAT THAT'S LONG BEEN TOLD BY ALICE FORKY KERR.

>> Ryland: KISSICK WAS PULLED OUT OF DISTRICT AND SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO WIN THAT.

SHE ENDED UP WITHDRAWING THIS.

ALLOWS FAYETTE COUNTY DEMOCRATS TO PICK A NEW CANDIDATE.

THEY SAID THEY HAVE SOMEBODY IN MIND BUT THERE ARE NOT SAYING WHO IS THAT IS GOING TO BE YET.

THERE WILL BE A COMPETITIVE RACE THERE NOW.

>> Bill: THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JAIME HARRIS ON IS GOING TO BE COMING IN FOR CHARLES BOOKER FOR A RALLY NEXT WEEK IN LOUISVILLE.

DOES IT APPEAR THAT THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT IN THIS CASE, RAND PAUL, IS PREPARING TO BLITZ THE STATE WITH THE OVERWHELMING MONEY THAT HE HAS IN THE RACE AND THAT THAT'S KIND OF HOW THIS WILL ALL GO, THAT THEY'RE RUNNING THEIR OWN RACES SO TO SPEAK.

>> Ryland: I THINK WE CAN EXPECT A BIG AD BLITZ TO BE HAPPENING AT SOME POINT.

RIGHT NOW PAUL HAS BEEN TRAVELING THE STATE DURING THE AUGUST RECESS TRYING TO GET OUT THERE, TRYING TO GET SOME STORIES WRITTEN ABOUT HIM, AND I THINK THAT WE'RE PROBABLY ON THIS OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION, I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE SOME PEOPLE COMING INTO TOWN TO STUMP FOR CHARLES BOOKER.

HE'S GOTTEN SOME HIGH PROFILE ENDORSEMENTS IN PAST SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF, SAY, A BENDERS COMES TO OWN TOWN.

>> Bill: STEVE, MORE DOLLARS ARE COMING TO FIGHT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL MADE THAT ANNOUNCE.

LEXINGTON WILL BE ABLE TO RENEW A PROGRAM FOUR MORE YEARS.

URBAN AREAS SEEM TO HAVE A TERRIBLE OVERDOSE PROBLEM BUT IT'S THE RURAL AREAS THAT ARE REALLY SEEING THIS ISSUE WITH FENTANYL RIGHT NOW.

>> Steve: FENTANYL IS A HUGE PROBLEM.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT FOR MONTHS.

I KNOW THERE WAS SOME LEGISLATION PASSED, I BELIEVE TO STRENGTHEN PENALTIES, BUT I THINK EVERYONE AGREES THE DRUG PROBLEM HASND GOTTEN WORST SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

WE'RAL HEARING NOW THAT MATH IS BECOMING A BIGGER PROBLEM AGAIN.

THE DRUG PROBLEM -- METH IS BECOMING A BIGGER PROBLEM.

THE DRUG PROBLEM WILL PROBABLY NEVER GO BEA AWAY.

>> Bill: LEXINGTON BASED RUBICON WENT PUBLIC THIS WEEK.

VERY INTERESTING THEY DEAL WITH GARBAGE BUT THEY DON'T TOUCH IT, INLAND RYLAND.

>> Ryland: RIGHT, THEY CALL THEM THE UBER GARBAGE AND A LOGISTICS FIRM THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE WHO NEED TRASH MOVED.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR HAS KICKED OFF.

IT PROVIDE A SPOTLIGHT ARE FOR KENTUCKY AGRICULTURE AND ALL KIND OF EVENTS AND CONCERTS IN LOUISVILLE.

BIG CROWDS EXPECTED.

SO FROM COUNTRY HAM TO DOUGHNUT BURGERS TO ALL THOSE FIRST PLACE RIBBONS, THE FUN IS UNDERWAY AT THE STATE FAIR.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.