>> Bill: KENTUCKY HITS SOME O ITS HIGHEST NUMBERS YET AND THE COVID PANDEMIC.

HOSPITALS SCRAMBLE AND SOME KENTUCKIANS SQUABBLE OVER WHAT TO DO.

SCHOOLS HAVE MIXED RESULTS IN KEEPING THE DOORS OPEN WITH THE VIRUS SPREADING.

A LAWMAKER FILES A BILL THAT WOULD BLOCK EMPLOYERS FROM REQUIRING OR ASKING ABOUT VACCINATIONS.

KSU'S FINANCIAL PROBLEMS BECOME MORE CLEAR, INCLUDING A $15 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL.

IT'S A CHALLENGING TIME IN LATE AUGUST "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

KENTUCKY HITS SOME OF ITS 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 COMMO AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR TH LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR WFPL IN LOUISVILLE.

AND MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA ALSO TONIGHT, ANOTHER REPUBLICA EYES THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION AND A WESTERN KENTUCKY CITY OFFERS TO PAY PEOPLE TO MOVE THERE.

BUT FIRST, THE COVID POSITIVITY RATE IS THE HIGHEST IT'S BEEN.

HOSPITAL OCCUPANCY AND OTHER METRICS ARE KEEPING THE FIRE ALARM GOING AS KENTUCKY DEALS WITH THE DELTA VARIANT.

ALEX, AS WE GO ON THE AIR TONIGHT, WE'RE SEEING SOME VERY CONCERNING NUMBERS.

>> Alex: WE ARE, AND AS YOU MENTIONED THE POSITIVITY RATE IS HIGHER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN IT.

HIT 12.

8 TODAY.

BY ALL METRICS, IT'S WORSE, DEFINITELY AS WORSE BUT MOST METRICS SUGGEST THAT IT'S WORSE THAN THE WINTER SURGE.

THIS WEEK WE SURPASSED A RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE OCCUPYING ICU BEDS WHO ARE COVID POSITIVE.

TOMORROW WE'LL LIKELY SURPASS HOSPITALIZATIONS.

YESTERDAY'S CASE INCREASES MORE THAN 4800 CASES, WHICH IS THE THIRD HIGHEST SINGLE-DAY INCREASE IN THE ENTIRE PANDEMIC.

SO IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT AND HOW TRANSMISSIBLE IT IS, AND IT'S A TESTAMENT TO HOW TRANSMISSIBLE IT IS BECAUSE MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION AT THIS POINT IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY VACCINATED.

AND WE KEEP HEARING THAT THE POSITIVITY RATE, WHILE IT CONTINUES TO CLIMB, A LEANED INDICATOR OF HOW SEVERE COMMUNITY SPREAD IS, AND IT IS AN INDICATOR OF A PORTION OF PEOPLE WHO TEST POSITIVE NOW WILL BE SICK ENOUGH TO BE HOSPITALIZED IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HOSPITALIZATIONS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT HOSPITALS AROUND THE IS THAT IT HITTING CAPACITY RIGHT NOW.

IN WESTERN KENTUCKY A LOT OF THEM ARE HITTING CAPACITY.

IT'S SORT OF HAPPENING IN A PIECEMEAL WAY AND IT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOOK LIKE RUNNING OUT OF BEDS AS MUCH AS IT I LOOKS LIKE RUNNING OUT OF STAFFING, HAVING TO TRIAGE SERVICES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHY IT'S SO CONCERNING EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T YET HIT PEAK HOSPITALIZATION IS HOW QUICKLY IT IS HAPPENING.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE CHARTS THAT ME AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE KEPT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC TODAY, AND SINCE JULY 1st THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID HAS GROWN BY 785%, WHICH IS HUGE.

AND LAST YEAR IT TOOK US ROUGHLY EIGHT MONTHS TO EXPERIENCE GROWTH LIKE THAT.

SO IT'S ALL AT ONCE.

IT'S A PERFECT STORM OF JUST THINGS LEAGUE OVERWHELMED NOW THAT CHILDREN BACK IN SCHOOL.

IT'S LIKELY ONLY TO GET WORSE.

AND MORE PEOPLE ARE GETTING VACCINATED BUT THE PEOPLE WHO GET VACCINATED TODAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE AS MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IN SPREAD, SO LIKE IT WILL HELP BLUNT THE SPREAD BUT STILL IT'S NOT HAPPENING FAST MUFF.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE THOSE HOSPITALS DEALING WITH IN TERMS OF YOU NOTE THAT THE STAFF IS SHORT.

THEY ARE ALSO TIRED.

THOSE WHO ARE WORKING.

>> Alex: THEY'RE TIRED BECAUSE MANY KNOW NOW -- I HEARD A DOCTOR SAY THE OTHER DAY IT'S AN OPTIONAL DISEASE.

IN THE WINTER THE BEST MITIGATION TACTIC WE HAD WAS MASKS.

NOW YOU CAN GET A VACCINE.

AND SO YOU HAVE THESE VERY BELEAGUERED DOCTORS WHO HAVE -- ARE STILL TIRED FROM THE FIRST SURGE AND NOW HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN, KNOWING THAT IT'S AVOIDABLE, BUT PEOPLE AREN'T AVOIDING IT, AND ALSO THEY'RE SEEING YOUNGER PATIENTS DIE, WHICH BRINGS ITS OWN TOLL.

>> Beth: GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS THAT THE SITUATION IS TOUGH RIGHT NOW AND THAT HE IS KEEPING HIS OPTIONS OPEN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDER AND CONTINUE TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED TO BRING BACK A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

THAT AT LEAST HAS TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE IF WE RUN OUT OF BEDS FOR PEOPLE, IF WE RUN OUT OF BEDS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE INJURED OR SICK OR HAVE A HEART ATTACK, DON'T WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING?

>> Bill: MORGAN WAKE LOT OF FACTORS AT PLAY IN A DECISION THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD MAKE AT ANY TIME ON REINSTITUTING A MASK MANDATE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Morgan: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, THE ONE THAT WE HAD IN PLACE FOR MONTHS AROUND THE STATE, HE ONLY LOOKED LIFTED THAT A COUPLE MONTHS AND GO THEN THE DELTA VARIANT JUST STARTED SPREADING LIKE WILDLIFE AND HERE WE ARE, BUT WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT TO ISSUE A RULING ON HIS OLD EMERGENCY ORDERS LIKE THE MASK MANDATES AND ALSO ON BASICALLY HIS EMERGENCY POWERS WHICH WAS A BIG POINT OF CONTENTION DURING THE MOST RECENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SO THERE'S THAT TO CONSIDER.

IF HE WERE TO SET ONE UP NOW, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE SUPREME COURT COULD COME OUT WITH SOMETHING THAT THROWS A.

>>>YES IN THAT BUT THEN YOU JUST HAVE THE POLITICAL AND I THINK THE HUMAN SIDE OF IT, RIGHT?

I I MEAN, A COUPLE MONTHS AGO KENTUCKIANS WERE TOLD, HEY, OKAY, YOU CAN TAKE THE MASKS ON.

YOU DON'T NEED THEM ANYMORE IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST WE'RE AT NO REQUIRING THEM.

AND TO THEN HAVE A MANDATE COME BACK AND BE PUT INTO PLACE, I MEAN, THAT'S AN INTENSIVE THING FOR PEOPLE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REELING FROM THAT, AND THERE'S POLITICAL QUESTIONS BECAUSE CLEARLY THIS HAS ABSOLUTELY BECOME A POLITICAL ISSUE WITH A LOT OF REPUBLICANS VERY VOCALLY SAYING, NO MASK MANDATES, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC OFFICIALS SAYING, LOOK WE NEED THEM AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYING WE NEED THEM.

MASKS ARE WHAT WE NEED TO SLOW THE SPREAD.

>> Bill: WE HAD THAT VERY ENCOURAGING FEW WEEKS, DIDN'T WE IN EVERYBODY FELT WE WERE MAYBE PUTTING THIS BEHIND US.

>> Morgan: WE DID.

IT WAS JUNE AND THE GOVERNOR WAS PUTTING AN END TO HIS COVID BRIEFINGS THAT WE HAD FOR LITERALLY OVER A YEAR ON THE REGULAR THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, AND WE'RE LIFTING THE MASK MANDATE, AND IT'S BASICALLY LIKE, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

VACCINATIONS ARE HAPPENING.

THIS IS GREAT.

AND THEN NOW I MEAN IT'S LATE AUGUST AND WE'RE LOOKING AT HOSPITALS FILLING UP TO THE BRIM AND THIS VARIANT, THIS SUPER CONTAGIOUS VERSION OF THE VIRUS, IT'S UPENDED A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT WERE OKAY TO DO TWO MONTHS AGO.

>> Bill: JESS, YOU ARE VERY CLOSELY WATCHING SCHOOLS AND YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE UNDER 18 TESTING POSITIVE IS CERTAINLY INCREASING FAST.

>> Jennifer: IT IS GROWING.

SO I THINK DIFFERENT-E EVER.

>> Jess: IT IS GROWING.

TODAY AND YESTERDAY IT WAS 26%, 28%.

THAT'S A LOT HIGHER THAN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTING POSITIVE OR PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTING POSITIVE WHO ARE UNDER 18 EVEN IN THE WINTER SURGE.

IT WAS 12%, 15% SO THAT INDICATES THAT THE VIRUS IS NOT ONLY MORE CONTAGIOUS BUT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO IT.

>> Bill: AND, YOU KNOW, THERE IS SOME HESITANCY WITH VACCINATIONS AMONG ALL AGE GROUPS, BUT WE SEE A LOWER PERCENTAGE OF YOUNG FOLKS BEING VACCINATED, RIGHT?

>> Jess: YES.

THE YOUNGER YOU ARE, THE LESS LIKELY YOU ARE TO GET VACCINATED EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE 12 AND UP ARE STILL ELIGIBLE TO GET THEY COVID-19 VACCINE.

I WAS AT SHAWNEE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL LAST WEDNESDAY.

I WAS TALKING TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT ARE THEY VACCINATED.

I HEARD FROM A LOT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT THEY ARE CARED TO GET THE VACCINE, AND -- SCARED TO GET THE VACCINE, AND I DID HEAR FROM ONE YOUNG WOMAN WHO WANTED TO GET THE VACCINE BUT HER MOTHER WAS AFRAID OF HER GETTING THE VACCINE.

>> Bill: ALEX, THE SCIENCE ON THAT, AND SOME OF THAT'S BEEN DONE EVEN IN KENTUCKY WE HAD TRIALS IN LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE ON THE VACCINES EARLY.

WHAT IS THE INFORMATION OAT VACCINE FOR YOUNG FOLKS?

>> Alex: VACCINES FOR 12 AND UP THEY ARE SAFE.

THERE'S A MODERNA TRIAL GOING ON RIGHT NOW AT UK, AND I TALKING WITH ONE OF THE LEAD RESEARCH ORES THAT THE OTHER DAY.

IT'S NOT A QUESTION WHETHER VACCINES ARE SAFE.

I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS OR AT LEAST THE FODDER THAT I SEE ON SOCIAL MEDIA FROM PEOPLE THAT I KNOW IS THAT CHILDREN DON'T GET THAT SICK FROM COVID, SO WHAT BASICALLY IS THE POINT OF VACCINATION.

AND IN LARGE PART, IF YOU ARE A CHILD AND YOU GET COVID, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED WITH IT, BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT MORE KIDS ARE BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH IT, AND HERE IN KENTUCKY THERE ARE MORE PEDIATRIC INPATIENTS RIGHT NOW IN HOSPITALS WITH COVID THAN THERE EVER HAVE BEEN.

UK HAS 16 KIDS RIGHT NOW IN THE HOSPITAL.

MOST OF THEM ARE VACCINE ELIGIBLE.

NONE OF THEM ARE VACCINATED.

THAT MIGHT NOT SOUND LIKE VICTIM, 16 OUT OF A MILL -- SEVERAL MILLION PEOPLE POPULATION BUT 64% OF THEM HAVE COME IN THE LAST THREE, AND THE RESEARCHER I WAS TALKING TO WAS SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LEVEL OF UNPREDICTABILITY THAT ISN'T THERE WITH ADULTS.

ADULTS, YOU KNOW WHAT FACTORS, BOY LOGICAL FACTORS MAKE YOU AT RISK FOR HAVING A BAD COVID INFECTION.

WITH KIDS IT'S LESS CHEER, MORE UNPREDICTABLE.

HE HAD A TRACK ATHLETE WHO HAD TO BE PUTS ON OXYGEN AND RECEIVED REMDESIVIR BECAUSE HE WAS SO SICK.

SO IT'S UNPREDICTABLE.

THE BEST SOLUTION TO GET A VACCINE.

EVEN FOR KIDS THEY ARE SAFE.

>> Bill: MORGAN, BOOSTER SHOTS ARE COMING FOR THOSE WHO RECEIVED THE MODERN AND PFIZER VACCINES.

DOES KEV A PLAN AS TO HOW THOSE ARE GOING TO BE ROLLED OUT?

>> Morgan: ONE MAINTENANCE RELEASED THIS WEEK.

THIS WAS THIS WEEK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID HIS ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING TO MAKE BOOSTER SHOTS SOMETHING THAT ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE FIRST TWO DOSES.

SO, NO, I MEAN WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT WOULD WORK YET.

I'M SURE THAT'S A DISCUSSION THAT HONESTLY PROBABLY ALL THE STATE OFFICIALS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE HAVING.

>> WILL: >> Bill: WE DID IT BY PRIORITY GROUPS EARLY IN THE YEAR, AND YOU ALSO HAD PEOPLE MAKING APPOINTMENTS HALFWAY ACROSS THE STATE TO GET THEIR SHOTS.

WILL PEOPLE HAVE TO GO BACK WHERE THEY GOT THEIR ORIGINAL DOSES?

>> Morgan: I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IT DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY THINK MAKES THE MOST SENSE, BUT WOULD I IMAGINE, YEAH, THAT IT MIGHT BE ODD TO REQUIRE TO GO BACK TO WHERE YOU GOT IT.

I PERSONALLY KNOW PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO GET IT EARLY AND WHO DROVE LIKE AN HOUR TO GET SOMEPLACE WHERE IT WAS AVAILABLE BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THINGS KIND OF EVENED OUT, AND NOW ALMOST A LOT OF PLACES ARE BEGGING PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOT.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

I MEAN, WITH THIS IT'S MORE YOU HAVE TO HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED AND THEN IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT WILL BE ONCE HIT LIKE EIGHT MONTHS OUT, SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A ROLLING BASIS, LIKE I MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN IT AT THIS TIME AND SHE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN IT AT THAT TIME, SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE THE ROLLING BASIS.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY WAS ONE OF THE FEW STATES THAT GAVE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL STAFF HIGH PRIORITY TO GET THEIR SHOTS IN THE INTERESTS OF TRYING TO GET SCHOOLS OPEN.

ANY SENSE THAT THAT WOULD BE THE CASE WITH BOOSTERS AS WELL?

ARE WE HEARING INNING ANYTHING?

>> Morgan: I HAVEN'T HEARD THINKING ANYTHING.

I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT.

>> Alex: THE ONLY TIERED THIRD DOSE THAT I'VE HEARD OF BECAUSE IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY GIVE ADULTS THEIR DOSES, RIGHT NOW THEY'RE ONLY GIVING THEM -- AND DR. STACK THE YOU PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER MENTION I HAD THEY'RE GIVING TO IT RESIDENTS AND LONG-TERM CARE, THAT WAS A GROUP THEY GAVE THEM TO BECAUSE THEY'RE VULNERABLE AND OLDER AND LIVE IN CONGREGATE SETTINGS AND THEY'RE GIVING IT TO IMMUNOCOMPROMISE PEOPLE IN KEV ACCESS TO A THIRD DOSE IF THEY WANT ONE RIGHT NOW.

HERE AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN ELECTRICS SAID THEY'RE GOING TO START SCHEDULING THEM NEXT WEEK.

THAT'S THE SLIVER WE HAVE SO FAR, AND I THINK HOW THEY TIER EVERYBODY NEXT MONTH, I HAVE NO IDEA.

I THINK IT WILL HELP THAT PEOPLE ON A ROLLING BASIS BECAUSE IT WON'T BE EVERYONE FLOODING AT ONCE BUT I DON'T KNOW.

>> Bill: ALEX, IS THE RATE OF VACCINATION INCREASING WITH THE INCREASING CASES?

>> Alex: IT IS.

IT IS.

WE'RE UP TO 55% NOW.

FOR THE LOGAN TIME WE COULDN'T GET PAST 50% AND THAT 55% HAS COME IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS BUT IT'S STILL NOT FAST ENOUGH TO BLUNT HOW QUICKLY IT'S SPREADING RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S THE WHOLE TROUBLE, IS THAT EVEN IF, YOU KNOW, A MILLION PEOPLE WENT OUT AND GOT VACCINATED TOMORROW, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND POSITIVITY RATE IS STILL GOING TO CONTINUE INCREASING UNTIL IT SLOWS DOWN.

>> Bill: AND TONIGHT AT LEAST TEN FOOTBALL GAMES WERE CANCELED BECAUSE OF HIGH COVID NUMBERS.

SOME KENTUCKY SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY HAD TO CLOSE.

OTHERS HAVE LARGE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS AND STAFF IN QUARANTINE.

AND A FEDERAL JUDGE THIS WEEK ENJOINED GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S MASK MANDATE.

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MANDATE STILL APPARENTLY STANDS.

SO, JESS, THIS VOTE IS APPARENTLY GOING TO BE ONE PRIVATE SCHOOL OR ONE DAISES, BUT THAT SUN CLEAR AT THIS HOUR.

>> Jess: AT THIS POINT THAT'S UNCLEAR.

THE JUDGE RULED THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S MASK MANDATE VIOLATES LAWS PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN THE SPRING, WHICH THOSE LAWS THEMSELVES ARE BLOCKED, SO IT'S A VERY COMPLICATED RULING.

BUT BESHEAR AND THE LAWYER FOR THE PLAINTIFFS SAY THAT THEY'VE AGREED FOR THE RULING ONLY TO APPLY TO THE ASBESTOSIS OF COVINGTON WHERE THE PLAINTIFF'S KIDS ATTEND SCHOOL.

THE JUDGE HAS NOT AS SIGNED THAT AMEND ORDER.

RIGHT NOW THE ORDER THAT HE HAS SIGNED JUST FLAT OUT INJUNCTION, END JOINS BESHEAR'S ENTIRE ORDER.

>> Bill: IT WILL BE PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

>> Jess: FOR ALL SCHOOL.

THE REASON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL MASK MANDATE STANDS IS BECAUSE THERE'S A SECOND MANDATE FROM THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THAT THE RULING DID NOT ADDRESS.

>> Bill: AND THAT IS 270 DAYS DURATION.

THAT'S THE SCHOOL YEAR PRETTY MUCH.

WE'RE GETTING REPORTS OF LARGE NUMBERS OF STUDENTS IN QUARANTINE.

WE KNOW MAGOFFIN COUNTY SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED THROUGH AUGUST 29th, AND THEY HAVE NO VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.

THEY'RE CLOSED, AT HOME FOR NOW.

ARE SCHOOLS PREPARED TO SHIFT TO VIRTUAL?

>> Jess: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT VARIES BY DISTRICT.

THE THING IS, IS THAT SCHOOLS WERE NOT PREPARING TO SHIFT TO VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION BECAUSE IN THE SPRING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LIMITED THE NUMBER OF NTI DAYS, THE REMOTE LEARNING DAYS THAT WE HAD FOR THE LAST TWO SCHOOL YEARS, THEY LIMITED THOSE BACK TO TEN DAYS, SO THEY GAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS UNLIMITED NTI DAYS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS BUT THIS YEAR THEY MADE IT CLEAR WE WANT THIS TO BE A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR.

WE WANT YOU TO GO BACK.

AND SO DISTRICTS, EVEN IF THEY WANT TO PIVOT TO REMOTE LEARNING, THEY HAVE A MAX TEN DAYS TO DO THAT UNDER CURRENT STATE LAW, AND IN ORDER TO GET MORE NTI DAYS,EE THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR OR THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> Bill: HOW MANY SCHOOLS HAVE HAD TO CLOSE?

>> Jess: THERE'S THREE DISTRICTS THEY'RE ALL IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, SMALL RURAL DISTRICTS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

MAGOFFIN HAS CLOSED THE LONGEST.

NINE DAYS.

THAT'S A LONG TIME.

KNOTT COUNTY AND LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS ALSO CLOSED FOR A NUMBER OF DISPARKS WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME ABOUT THAT IS THAT THOSE DISTRICTS, I LOOKED AT THEIR QUARANTINE NUMBERS SENATOR NOT MASSIVE.

THEY'RE SMALL DISTRICTS BUT MAYBE LIKE 20 PEOPLE QUARANTINED OR SICK.

BUT THEY'RE CLOSING TO GET -- THEIR STRATEGY IS TO GET AHEAD OF IT.

CLOSE DOWN.

CONTACT TRACE.

FIND OUT WHO IS POSITIVE AND THEN HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO IP STAY OPEN LONGER.

IT'S AN INTERESTING STRATEGY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT'S GOING TO PAN OUT BUT SPREAD IS NOT JUST IN THE SCHOOL, IT'S ALSO IN THE COMMUNITY, AND AS ALEX JUST POINTED OUT, VACCINATION RATES ARE VERY LOW, ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THESE RURAL AREAS.

>> Bill: THE MASK ISSUE CONTINUES TO BE VERY CONTROVERSIAL IN SCHOOLS AS WELL.

A LEGISLATIVE PANEL THIS WEEK HEARD TESTIMONY ON THE SCHOOL MASK MANDATES.

>> I IMPLORE TO YOU UPHOLD THE MASK MANDATE IN OUR SCHOOLS.

PRIORITIZE 10 HEALTH AND SAFETY WHY YOU CAN YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ROOTED IN POLITICS.

>> IT IS NOT THE ROLE OF THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION OR THE GOVERNOR OR EVEN THE CDC TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT MY HOERTH THE HEALTH OF MY CHILDREN.

>> OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS ARE ELECTED BY PEOPLE LOCALLY, SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING MANDATES, WHETHER IT BE FOR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER.

IT SHOULD BE BY ELECTED INDIVIDUALS AND NOT BY BUREAUCRATS.

>> NOT BEING THE ULTIMATELY SAVING GRACE BUT JUST BEING A MITIGATING FACTOR, AND IF WE KNOW MITES A MITIGATING FACTOR, THEN SHOULDN'T WE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL?

>> Bill: SO AN INTERESTING HEARING WITH A LOT OF PERSPECTIVES, AND THEN MEMBERS FOUND THE MASK RULES DEFICIENT AS THEY TERMED IT.

OPPONENTS CALL ITY OVERREACH.

PROPONENTS SAY IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN.

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT'S DEFINITELY -- YOU'RE SEEING THESE DEBATES ABOUT REQUIRING MASKS IN SCHOOLS HAPPENING NOT JUST HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT THEY'RE HAPPENING IN STATES ALL OVER THE PLACE BECAUSE STATES ALL OVER THE PLACE ARE GETTING HIT HARD BY THE DELTA VARIANT RIGHT NOW.

THE DECISION THAT THE COMMITTEE MADE ISN'T BINDING LIKE IT'S KIND OF MORAL INTOIC THAN ANYTHING IT.

DUNGS ACTUALLY MEAN THAT THE MASK MANDATE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS INEFFECTIVE, BUT IT WAS STATE LAWMAKERS WHO A PARTY LINE VOTE WITH REPUBLICANS SAYING, YEAH, THIS IS DEFICIENT.

WE DISAGREE WITH THIS.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S INTENSE.

AT THE SAME TIME YOU DO HAVE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYING, LOOK, WITH KIDS UNDER 12 UNABLE TO GET VACCINATED, NOT TO MENTION AS WAS MENTIONED, THE HESITANCY THAT SOME PARENTS HAVE EVEN FOR KIDS 12 AND OVER WHO CAN GET VACCINATED AND THIS SUPER CONTAGIOUS VARIANT HAPPENING AND SCHOOLS, CLASSROOMS, PUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THERE, THAT BASICALLIMATICSES ARE A MITIGATION TOOL THAT NEEDS TO BE USED, AND IT WAS LOOKING LIKE MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOT NECESSARILY HAVE REQUIRED THEM IF THE STATE HADN'T STEPPED IN TO DO IT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

ON FRIDAY COVID CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A FORMER LONGTIME KENTUCKY LAWMAKER.

FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRENT YONTS DIED AFTER A LONG BATTLE DESPITE BEING FULLY VACCINATED.

HAD HE WITH WAS A GM HOE SERVED FROM 1997 TO 2016.

THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CONSIDERED HIM PRO BUSINESS AND AWARDED HIM SEVERAL TIMES.

YONTS WAS ALSO REMEMBERED FOR THE COLORFUL JACKETS HE WORE AROUND THE CAPITOL.

THAT MAYBE ONE OF THE CONSERVATIVE ONES HE HAD ON THERE.

BRENT YONTS WAS 72 YEARS OLD.

MORGAN, YONTS WAS POWERFUL WHEN DEMOCRATS CONTROLLED THE HOUSE.

WE HE WORKED ON PENSION BILLS AND PENSION REFORM AND MAJOR ISSUES OVER THAT 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

>> Morgan: ABSOLUTELY.

HE REPRESENTED A DISTRICT IN WESTERN KENTUCKY FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS BEFORE THE HOUSE KIND OF WENT THE WAY OF THE SENATE AND BECAME TOTALLY REPUBLICAN DOMINATED.

SOMEONE WHO WAS BELOVED BY PEOPLE ACROSS BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

YOU HAVE SEEN FOLKS MOURNING HIS LOSS.

HE ALSO WORKED AS A LAWYER AND WAS INVOLVED IN BLACK LUNG CASES FOR COALMINERS.

>> Bill: IT'S BEEN STUFF TOUGH WITH THE LEGISLATURE, WITH THE LOSS OF TOM BUFORD AND REPRESENTATIVE BAM CARNEY THIS SUMMER AS WELL.

ALEX, PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS ISSUED AS WE MENTIONED THIS MANDATE FOR NURSING HOME STAFF TO BE VACCINATED OR LOSE FEDERAL MONEY, AND SOME NURSING HOME GROUPS ARE CONCERNED THAT THEIR STAFF MAY GO ELSEWHERE IF THAT'S THE REQUIREMENT, RIGHT?

>> Alex: RIGHT.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THEIR CONCERN ISN'T THAT THEY THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA BECAUSE THEY ALL THINK THEIR STAFF SHOULD BE VACCINATED BUT THEY'RE WORRIED IT'S GOING TO BASICALLY CAUSE A MASS EXODUS OF STAFF BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY VACCINE RELUCTANT STAFF MEMBERS WHO WORK IN KENTUCKY NURSING HOMES.

RIGHT NOW OUR VACCINATION RATE IS BARELY OVER 50%.

AND SO THEY PUTS OUT A STATEMENT EARLIER THIS WEEK TRYING TO TREAD THE LINE OF, YES, WE THINK VACCINE REQUIREMENTS ARE GOOD OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING CARE OF VERY VULNERABLE RESIDENTS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THIS IS GOING TO CREATE A REALITY THAT WILL SHUT DOWN SO MANY FACILITIES BECAUSE THEY WILL LOSE THAT MANY STAFF MEMBERS.

>> Bill: AND AS MORE KENTUCKY COMPANIES ARE MAKING VACCINES MANDATORY, WE HAVE SEEN PROTESTS FROM SOME HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND SOME OTHERS, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE LYNN BECKLER, A REPUBLICAN FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY, HAS PRE-FILED A BILL THAT WOULD FORBID EMPLOYERS FROM REQUIRING VACCINATIONS OR EVEN ASKING ABOUT THEM.

THAT DEBATE IS COMING TO A STATE LEGISLATURE NEAR YOU SOON, IT APPEARS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

HE PRE-FILED TWO BILLS THIS WEEK AND ONE OF THEM WAS BASICALLY TO BAR EMPLOYERS FROM REQUIRING VACCINES OR ASKING WITH ABOUT THEM.

IT'S A WEEK AFTER A DOZEN HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE ANNOUNCED THEY ARE REQUIRING VACCINES FOR HEALTH CARE STAFF.

IF IT'S ANY INDICATION WHAT WE SAW THIS WEEK IN THE SUBCOMMITTEE OF THEN VOTING THE MANDATE FOR KIDS WHO WEAR MASKS IN CLASSROOM DEFICIENT, I DO THINK THAT THERE'S AN APPETITE FOR -- I MEAN, ALL ALONG, ESPECIALLY REPUBLICANS HAVE PUSHED BACK AT THESE MANDATES, AND I THINK THAT WHILE SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT REPRESENTATIVE BECHLER'S BILLS BASICALLY COUNTERACT ALL PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE, WHICH THEY DO, THERE'S GOING TO BE AN APPETITE FOR THEM AND I THINK THEY WILL GET SOME SUPPORT.

>> Bill: IT WILL CERTAINLY INTERESTING WHEN THE SESSION COMES IN AND TO SEE HOW MUCH BANDWIDTH THAT ISSUE CAN GET WITH WHAT WILL BE A BUSY SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY HAVE A LOT TO DO.

>> THE CENSUS NUMBERS ARE OUT SO THEY'VE GOT TO DO REDISTRICTING IN AN ELECTION YEAR, AND THEN THEY'VE GOT THE BUDGET THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHICH IS ALWAYS A HEAVY LIFT.

WITH THE WAY COVID IS I DON'T SKI ANYWAY IN WHICH THIS STUFF DOESN'T GET SOME ATTENTION.

>> Bill: MORGAN, ANOTHER EVER MAX WISE IS EYEING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

HE IS BOTH A SOCIAL AND FISCAL CONSERVATIVE.

>> Morgan: YES, HE SAID HE'S STRONGLY CONSIDERING IT.

IT'S EXPECTED TO BE A CROWDED FIELD.

A LOT OF REPUBLICANS HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST.

ONE THING HE MENTIONED IN 2 INTERVIEW HE WAS TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR WAS HE MADE IT CLEAR HE DISAGREES WITH THE COVID RESTRICTION RULES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH, AND IF YOU'RE RUNNING AGAINST ANDY'S BEAR BESHEAR AND YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU FRY TO HIT HIM ON.

>> Bill: MIKE HARMON IS THE ONLY OFFICIAL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

THE LIST WHISPERING IS KELLY IMPACT FEE, SUMMERSET MAYOR ALAN KECK, FORMER GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN.

THE LIST IS OUT THERE.

REPRESENTATIVE SARAH MADDOX.

SEVERAL ARE LOOKING AT THE RACE.

>> Morgan: IT'S GOING TO BE CROWDED FOR SURE.

YEAH, AT LEAST IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL ANYWAY.

IT'S STILL TWO YEARS AWAY.

YEAH, TWO YEARS.

BUT, HEY, YEAH, PEOPLE -- REPUBLICANS WANT TO KNOCK OFF ANDY BESHEAR OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND A LOT OF THEM THINK THEY'RE THE ONES WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO IT.

>> Bill: MORGAN, DOWN TICKET THE AGRICULTURAL RACE COULD GET CROWD.

REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD HEATH IS GOING TO TRY AGAIN.

HE LOST TO RYAN QUARLES IN THE 2015 PRIMARY.

HIS DISTRICT IS IN GRAVES AND MCCRACKEN COUNTY.

HE WILL SEEK RE-ELECTION TO HIS HOUSE SEAT NEXT YEAR BUT HE'S JUDGE IN THE AG RACE.

>> Morgan: YEAH, HE'S JUMPING IN ITS RING EARLY BECAUSE THAT'S ALSO A 2023 RACE.

WHAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IS WHETHER OR NOT HE RUNS AGAINST RYAN QUARLES AGAIN BECAUSE QUARLES IS SOMEONE WHOSE NAME HAS BEEN FLOATED AS A POTENTIAL CONTENDER TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR WHICH WOULD BE THE SAME YEAR SO WE'LL SEE ASK WHAT.

>> Bill: WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, INCLUDING A $15 MILLION SHORTFALL, BILLS LONG OVERDUE IT IS.

COMINGS AFTER A DRAMATIC STURM ON THAT CAMPUS.

>> Morgan: YEAH, THE PRESIDENT LEFT ABRUPTLY, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THIS INFORMATION ABOUT THIS MASSIVE FINANCIAL ISSUE THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

THEY BROUGHT SOMEONE NEW IN WHO IS CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS, BUT FROM WHAT WE HEAR, IT'S A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHALLENGE FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO COVER THE COSTS THAT THEY HAVE.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Bill Estep: SEVERAL IN KENTUCKY'S DELEGATION ROUTE SPOKE WITH THE JARRING EVENTS IN AFGHANISTAN THIS WEEK AND THE TALIBAN TAKEOVER.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR CALLED FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM TO STEP DOWN.

THE IMAGES RELATED A LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDING MILITARY VETERANS AND EVEN SOME WHO SUPPORT THE WITHDRAWAL.

>> Morgan: YES.

NO QUESTION WHAT'S COMING OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, I MEAN, IT'S TROUBLING, A WHAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING, AND ANDY BARR ALSO SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL BASICALLY SAID THIS WEEK WHEN HE WAS IN KENTUCKY THAT AFGHANISTAN IS LOST, AND THAT BASICALLY PRESIDENT BIDEN, IF HE WAS GOING TO WITHDRAW, SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT THE WAY THAT IT HAPPENED.

>> Bill: JESS, KIND OF A DEVELOPING STORY.

STATE REPRESENTATIVES BOBBY McCOUL AND LISA WILNER HAVE PRE-FILED A BILL THAT WOULD LET SCHOOLS CONSIDER GIVING EXCUSED ABSENCES TO STUDENTS WHO ARE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> Jess: YES.

THAT BILL IS PRE-FILED SO IT MAY BE CONSIDERED WHEN THE SESSION RETURNS IN JANUARY.

THE LAWMAKERS WHO PROPOSED THIS BILL SAY THE GOAL IS TO SEASON SHE'LL RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED FOR -- ESSENTIALLY RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE NEED FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.

THEY'RE HOPING IF THERE IS AN OPTION IN SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS TO TAKE A DAY OFF FOR MENTAL HEALTH REASONS, THAT THAT MAY OPEN UP CONVERSATIONS IN THE HOUSEHOLD ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

>> Bill: PADUCAH MAY BE WILLING TO PAY YOU TO MOVE THERE.

THE LARGEST CITY IN FAR WESTERN KENTUCKY IS OFFERING UP $6,500 IN INCENTIVES.

ONLY 25 APPLICANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THAT.

THEY'RE TARGETING REMOTE WORKERS TO MOVE THERE WHO HAVE TO BE AT LEAST 21.

AND THE PERKS ALSO INCLUDE PASSES TO THE PADUCAH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA THEATERS AND SOME OTHER AMENITIES AS WELL.

TUNE IN MONDAY AT 6:30 EVEN 5:30 CENTRAL FOR CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE.

RENEE SHAW WILL INTERVIEW 1st DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

BE SAFE AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.