SESSION, THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES A FLOOD RELIEF PACKAGE FOR AREAS OF THE MOUNTAINS HIT SO HARD LAST MONT.

BACK HOME IN KENTUCKY, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL DEALS WERE TOUGH CRITICISM FROM FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD Trump.

KENTUCKY COVID NUMBERS CLIMB AGAIN AS SCHOOLS OPEN AND THE STATE'S LIFE EXPECTANCY HAS DROPPED FASTER THAN OTHERS DURING THE P THE BOURBON INDUSTRY FACES SOME BACKLASH OVER ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER CONCERNS.

MORE SUMMER HEAT ON THE LAST WEEKEND OF AUGUST.

"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 JANET PATTON, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND JOE SONKA, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE ALSO TONIGHT, STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS SETS OFF DEBATE, AN SOME WHO ATTENDED THE KENTUCKY HAM BREAKFAST RAISE SOME EYEBRO.

JUST WHY WERE THEY THERE, A THROTT DISCUSS TONIGHT.

BUT THE HORRIBLE FLOOD 9 EASTERN KENTUCKY WAS UNDERWAY ON THIS DAY A MONTH AGO THE DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 39 WITH AT LEAST TWO PEOPLE STILL MISSING.

AND THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVED A MAJOR FLOOD RELIEF PACKAGE FOR THE HARD HIT AREA.

>> THREE DAYS AGO I ANNOUNCED A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS THE DIRE NEEDS OF OUR EASTERN KENTUCKY FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITIES, AND TODAY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS DELIVERED.

>> THE BUT.

THE BILL WE PASS TODAY TAKES A SUBSTANTIAL FIRST STEP, A VERY SUBSTANTIAL FIRST STEP IN REBUILDING EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: JOE, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT.

IT WAS A QUICK AND FOCUSED SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN IT QUITE SUCH A TIGHT SESSION.

WHAT WILL THIS PROVIDE?

>> Joe: YES, SO THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.

THIS IS $212 MILLION, $2 MILLION -- $200 MILLION OF THAT FROM THE BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND, THE RAINY DAY FUND.

SO THE MAJORITY OF THAT, ABOUT $115 MILLION, IS GOING TO ELIGIBLE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PUBLIC UTILITIES TO HELP THEM REPLACE AND RENOVATE ALL OF THE BUILDINGS THAT WERE DAMAGED, TO REIMBURSE THEM FROM A LOT OF THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE DURING THE RECOVERY EFFORT, AND TO HELP WITH PLANNING FUTURE CONSTRUCTION BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PROJECT TO REBUILD, WHERE TO REBUILD.

ALSO, SCHOOL DISTRICTS GOT ANOTHER ADDITIONAL $40 MILLION FROM THE RAINY DAY FUND.

OBVIOUSLY, SO MANY KIDS WERE DISPLACED FROM THE SCHOOLS AND NOT ONLY JUST THEIR HOMES, WERE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES.

ALSO THEIR SCHOOLS WERE COMPLETELY OR PARTIALLY DAMAGED.

SO THERE'S $50 MILLION TO HELP SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND WRAP AROUND SERVICES FOR ALL THOSE KIDS WHO WERE DISPLACED.

SO THIS IS REALLY -- IT WAS REALLY KIND OF A FIRST STEP TO GET THIS REGION THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE CAN COME BACK IN THE GENERAL, THE IN REGULAR SESSION IN 2023, AND -- BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A SHORT PROCESS.

AS PRESIDENT STIVERS SAID, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MANY, MANY YEARS OF DEDICATED FUNDING IN ORDER TO GET THAT REGION BACK.

>> Bill: SOME WANTED MORE LONG-TERM HOUSING RELIEF.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE NOT ABLE TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES AND SOME POINT EVER BE ABLE TO REBUILD IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE IN THE FLOOD ZONES.

AND THAT WAS DISCUSSED.

SENATOR BRANDON SMITH SAYS THAT HE FELT LEFT OUT OF THE DISCUSSIONS WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT SETTING UP THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND HE BROUGHT UP HIS CONCERNS DURING THE SESSION.

>> Joe: YEAH, HE'S FROM HAZARD AND HE KNOWS SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THAT REGION HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND SHELTERS AND THEY'RE STILL LIVING IN TENTS, SO HE TRIED -- ATTEMPTED A FLOOR AMENDMENT WHICH WOULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL $50 MILLION FROM THE RAINY DAY FUND TO SPECIFICALLY BE DEDICATED TO HOUSING.

THAT AMENDMENT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

IT WAS OPPOSED BY NOT JUST GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S ADMINISTRATION BUT ALSO THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE SNOOT, AND IT'S NO BECAUSE IT WASN'T A GOOD THOUGHT TO PRESERVE FUNDING FOR HOUSING.

THEY SAID THAT THAT FUNDING WOULD HAVE JEOPARDIZED KENTUCKY FROM BEING ABLE TO GET THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY FROM FEMA, AND THEY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS FUNDING AVAILABLE TO HELP WITH HOUSING ALREADY, SO FOR THOSE REASONS, THEY SET THAT ASIDE AND THEY SAID, WE JUST NEED TO GET THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR AND HEN WE CAN DO MORE.

>> Bill: MANY SCHOOLS ALSO HAVE HAD TO PUSH THEIR START DATE WAY BACK, SOME AT THIS POINT HAVE YET TO SET THE TIME TO RETURN, AND LAWMAKERS ALSO GAVE THEM SOME LEEWAY.

>> Joe: YEAH, THEY GAVE THEM A WAIVER FOR 15 INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS, ALSO GAVE THEM 20 ADOPTION DAYS OF REMOTE LEARNING BECAUSE AGAIN SO MANY KIDS, NOT ON DO THEY NOT HAVE THEIR HOME THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN BUT THEIR SCHOOL WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THEY HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE, SO THAT'S A BIG, BIG PROJECT AND A BIG MESS IN THE REGION.

>> Bill: JANET KENTUCKIANS OFTEN SEE LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR HURLING CRITICISM AT EACH OTHER.

THEY'RE USED TO THAT MOST OF THE TIME.

THIS WAS ANSWER INSTANCE WHERE GOVERNOR BESHEAR ACTUALLY CALLED IT NON-PARTISAN, CERTAINLY IT WAS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO SEE THEM GO IN AND IN THREE DAYS PASS THIS FLOOD RELIEF PACK, KNOWING THAT PEOPLE WERE WATCHING.

>> Janet: YEAH, I THINK NO ONE REALLY WANTED TO BE SEEN AS THROWING UP ROADBLOCKS TO THIS OR BEING AGAINST THIS IN ANY WAY WAY, AND THEY REALLY WANTED TO GET SOMETHING STARTED BECAUSE, AS JOE POINTS OUT, THIS IS JUST A FIRST STEP.

I MEAN, IN LEXINGTON WE JUST BUILT A HIGH SCHOOL THAT COST $80 MILLION.

WE'RE PLANTING A MIDDLE SCHOOL THAT'S GOING TO COST $100 MILLION FOR THAT'S NOT GOING TO BUILD ANYTHING.

>> Joe: THERE WAS ONE DISSENT ON THE BILL JAHR JOHN SCHICKEL FROM UNION AND HE SAID HE WASN'T AGAINST THE FUNDING WITH IT WAS JUST A PROTEST OVER THE PROCESS.

USUALLY IT TAKES A MINIMUM OF FIVE DAYS TO PASS A BILL.

THEY DID THIS IN THREE DAYS WITH APPLICABLE MENU THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE USED IN RECENT YEARS.

HE SAYS IF YOU'RE SPENDING $200 MILLION, YOU SHOULD SPEND THE FULL FIVE DAYS TO GET -- >> Bill: HIS WAS BASICALLY A PROCESS COMPLAINT.

>> Joe: YES.

>> Bill: JANET, LEGISLATOR HONORED A LOT OF PEOPLE OVER THOSE TWO OR THREE DAYS THEY WERE THERE IN FRANKFORT FOR THEIR BRAVERY DURING THE FLOODING.

THERE WAS A NATHAN DAY WHO RESCUED NINE PEOPLE, JUST AN AMAZING STORY.

HE HEARD CRIES FOR HELP.

>> Janet: RIGHT.

HE GOT A STANDING OCCASIONVATION IN THE HOUSE.

HIS HOME WAS APPARENTLY SAFE AND HE WAS OUT OF THE WATER BUT HE WENT INTO THE WATER TO RESCUE SOMETHING LIKE FIVE KIDS AND TWO MOTHERS AND TWO OF HIS FORMER TEACHERS AND GET THEM ALL TO SAFETY, AND HE'S IN HINDMAN, AND HE WAS VERY GRACIOUS ABOUT IT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T THINK HE WAS -- SHOULD BE PERCEIVED AS A HERO, BUT THAT KIND OF BRAVERY DESERVES -- DESERVES CELEBRATING.

>> Bill: HE JUST JUMPED INTO ACTION.

WE TALKED ABOUT NOW WHAT'S BEING DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL, AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, MELISSA, WHICH WILL BE THE STATE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE DETAILS OF, BUT ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR BENEFITS FOR SOME IN THE FLOODED AREAS.

>> Janet: RIGHT, SO.

>> Melissa: HEALTH SECRETARY TERRY FREE LANDER ANNOUNCED THAT E. CAN NOW QUALIFICATION FOR WHAT'S CALL DISASTER SNAP BENEFITS WHICH ARE BASICALLY DISASTER FOOD STAMPS, AND THAT HE -- FOR THE 13 COUNTIES IMPACTED BY THE FLOOD, AND HE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE IN THOSE AREAS TO CALL THIS NUMBER, 1-833-371- 1-833-371-8570 TO SEE IF THEY QUALIFY AND THAT IF THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR THEM, THEY COULD APPLY ONLINE.

I BELIEVE OUR BENEFITS PORTAL, BENEFIND, MIGHT HAVE AN ACCESS FOR THAT OR TO GO TO YOUR DCBS OFFICE IN YOUR COUNTY.

>> Bill: MELISSA, SCHOOLS STATE WIDE ARE FACING OTHER CHALLENGES.

THE FLOODING, OF COURSE, IS ONE, AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, BUT COVID NUMBERS ARE PLATEAUING BUT THEY ARE STILL HIGH IN MOST OF THE STATE I.

IN FACT, I THINK WE HAVE THE NEW STATE MAP THAT HAS JUST BEEN RELEASED AND IT SHOWS YOU JUST HOW MUCH OF THE COMMONWEALTH REMAINS IN THE RED ZONES, SO MUCH MORE OF IT IN YELLOW THAN CERTAINLY IN GREEN, SO WE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM OUT THERE.

WHAT IS THE COVID SCENARIO ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH?

>> METEOROLOGIST: THE NEW YORK TIMES EVERY DAY RANKS STATES AS DO TO THEIR INCIDENTS OR CAUSE LEVEL AND KENTUCKY IS RANKED NUMBER ONE FOR WEEKS, BUT WE'RE JUST BAROMETRIC AT NUMBER THREE NOW.

WE'RE STILL TOP IN THE NATION FOR CASES OF COVID.

AND SO AS THE GOVERNOR SAID YESTERDAY, COVID IS STILL WITH US, AND SO THE ADVICE REMAINS THE SAME FOR ALL KENTUCKIANS, YOU KNOW, GET VACCINATED, GET BOOSTED, STAY HOME IF YOU'RE SICK, SEEK TREATMENT IF YOU'RE SICK, BUT FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WEAR A MASK IF YOU'RE IN A RED ZONE, CONSIDER ANYWAY, BUT OUR SCHOOLS, JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO IS FOLLOWING CDC GUIDANCE TO REQUIRE THEIR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO WEAR MASKS AS LONG AS THEY'RE IN A RED COUNTY WHICH MEANS THAT THEY HAVE HIGH TRANSMISSION, HIGH-RISK OF TRANSMISSION, WHICH MEANS BASICALLY YOU'RE LIKELY TO CATCH IT MORE THERE HAD AN IN ANOTHER COUNTY, AND SO WE HAVE HAD ONE COUNTY, BEREA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS, POSTPONE SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH LEVELS, AND SO IT'S STILL YET TO BE SEEN HOW COVID IS GOING TO BE IMPACT OUR SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.

>> Bill: JANET, THE HERALD-LEADER DOES A SECTION WHERE YOU ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM READERS AND ONE THIS WEEK WAS ABOUT WHETHER YOU NEED TO REPORT A POSITIVE COVID TEST RESULT IF IT'S A HOME TEST.

THE ANSWER TO THAT IS NO.

>>>YES THAT'S RIGHT, YOU DON'T.

AND YOU JUST NEED TO FOLLOW THE REGULAR CDC GUIDANCE OF IDENTIFYING FOR FIVE DAYS, WEARING A MASK -- IDENTIFYING FOR FIVE DAYS WITH WEARING A MASK.

I THINK IF YOU DO TEST POSITIVE AGAIN AT THE END OF THAT, YOU NEED TO START THE CLOCK OVER.

YOU DO NOT EVEN HAVE TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND GET A REAL TEST UNLESS YOU'RE SICK, UNLESS YOU'RE SHOWING SOME SYMPTOMS, SO JUST, YOU KNOW, USE COMMON SENSE.

>> Bill: ICE TOUGH, MELISSA, TO REPORT THAT KENTUCKY'S LIFE EXPECTANCY HAS DROPPED FASTER THAN MOST OTHER STATES SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

WE KNOW WE HAVE LOST NEARLY 17,000 KENTUCKIANS TO COVID.

WE KNOW THAT HIGHWAY FATALITIES HAVE BEEN UP, GUN VIOLENCE HAS DRIVEN NUMBERS UP AND OVERDOSES IS ANOTHER FACTOR IN WHY OUR -- HOW LONG WE EXPECT TO BE AROUND IS FALLING.

>> Melissa: I KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SINCE -- BETWEEN 2019 AND 2020 THIS REPORT FOUND THAT KENTUCKY'S LIFE EXPECTANCY DECLINED TWO YEARS.

NATIONWIDE IT WAS 1.8 YEARS.

BUT DECLINE IN KENTUCKY, IT'S A TWO-YEAR DECLINE.

NOW THE AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR KENTUCKIANS NOW IS 73.5 YEARS OLD, AND WOMEN ARE LIVING ABOUT -- ALMOST SIX YEARS MORE THAN MEN, SO THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY IS 76.5.

MEN ARE AT 70.6.

SO ALL OF THOSE FACTORS THAT YOU HAVE MENTIONED HAVE LED TO THOSE NUMBERS DROPPING.

>> Bill: JOE, MEN ARE BARELY CLEARING 70.

IT SEEMS LIKE WE NEED SOME MORE CARE, RIGHT?

LET'S TALK TOM POLITICS AND THIS WILL LEAD BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE MASK ISSUE.

THE KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU HAM BREAKFAST RAISES MONEY FOR CHARITY BUT ALSO IS A APPLICABLE AFFAIR AND USD POLITICAL FARE AND U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL USED HIS TIME AT THE PODIUM TO COMMENT ORANTS MASK MANDATES INSTITUTED BEREAVERS EVER JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THEY'RE PUTTING OUR KIDS BACKS IN MASKS AGAIN.

WHO ARE THESE IMBECILES?

>> Bill: JOE, YOU KNOW, PAUL IS TRYING TO KEEP COVID AN ACTIVE APPLICABLE POLITICAL ISSUE IT SOUNDS LIKE.

>> Joe: THESE ARE THE SAME TALK POINTS WHEN WE CRISSCROSSES THE STATE WHEN THE SENATE IS IN RECESS, BASICALLY SAYING THAT MASKS DON'T WORK, DISCOURAGING PARENTS FROM GETTING THEIR CHILDREN JACKS VACCINATED, SAYING IT DOESN'T WORK, OF COURSE, GOING AFTER DR. FAUCI, RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT, SO IT CERTAINLY PLAYS WELL AMONG HIS REPUBLICAN BASE.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT HE WOULD BRING UP THE MASK ISSUE IN JCPS.

THAT'S A PRETTY DEMOCRATIC AREA BUT IT'S A DIVISIVE ISSUE WITHIN THE COUNTY, SO WE'LL SEE IF THE COUNTY STAYS TRUE WITH THE POLICY OF THE RED ZONE, IF THEY'RE IN THE RED ZONE, THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE MASK.

>> Bill: AND CHARLES FACES DEMOCRATIC CHARLES BOOKS IN NOVEMBER.

ANOTHER OBSERVATION FROM THE HAM BREAKFAST FORMER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT WAS THERE AND SHARED THE WINGING BID FOR THE CHARITY HAM.

A NEW RECORD FOR THAT.

AND FORMER GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN SHOWED UP ON THE SCENE AND THAT MADE SOME CONVERSATIONS WHEN WHEN WE WALKED IN?

>> Joe: THERE I WAS LOT OF BUZZ.

I HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY, THERE'S MATT BEVIN.

THERE'S MINH.

HAS BEEN KIND OF A GHOST FROM PUBLIC LIFE OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

YOU DON'T REALLY SEE HIM AT ANY TYPE OF YOU WILL BE.

EVENT.

OCCASIONALLY YOU'LL SEE HIM TWEET ABOUT HIS SON IN A RACE CAR IN SOME KIND OF RACE.

HE'S A RACE CAR DRIVER OR A PICTURE OF THE SUNSET AND TALK ABOUT HOW BEAUTIFUL KENTUCKY, BUT IN TERMS OF PUBLIC EVENTS WE DON'T SEE HIM ANYWHERE.

>> Bill: JOE, DID HE JUST WAKE UP HUNGRY FOR?

>> Joe: THE NIGHT BEFORE HE WAS RUNGLY BECAUSE HE WAS AT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY DIFFERENT AND WAS MAKING THE ROUNDS.

ALSO WENT TO HAM BREAKFAST AND WAS GLAD-HANDING PEOPLE WITH ALL THE OTHER REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BUZZ, I'VE HEARD SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR THAT MATT BEVIN IS LOOKING FOR A POLITICAL COMEBACK AND HE'S SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING ANOTHER RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

I WAS ABLE TO ASK HIM A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER HE'S PLANNING SUCH A RUN AND GETTING ENCOURAGE TOMATO RUN, AND HE WAS PRETTY CAGEY BUT HE CERTAINLY DIDN'T SAY NO.

SO THERE'S SOME REPUBLICANS I THINK WHO HAVE HAD HEART BURNT A BREAKFAST BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT REAL FANS OF MATT BEVIN GETTING IN THE RACE.

THERE ARE SO MANY CANDIDATES AND THE VOTE IS GOING TO BE SPLIT SO MUCH THAT SOMEBODY COULD CONCEIVABLY WIN WITH TONIGHT ARE 25 PERCENT.

THAT CERTAINLY WOULD GIVE BEVIN A PATH FOR A POLITICAL COMEBACK AND SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT HE WOULD BE ANDY BESHEAR'S -- A BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR ANDY BESHEAR BECAUSE HE WOULD GIVE THUMB A GOOD CHANCE AT RE-ELECTION.

>> Bill: KELLY CRAFT ALSO VERY MUCH MADE THE SCENE AND SPENT SOME MONEY.

>> Joe: YEAH, SO IT'S BEEN A PRETTY POORLY KEPT SECRET THAT SHE IS GOING TO GET INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE HERE IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

THERE'S NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

SHE SAID SHE'S NOT GOING TO REVEAL HER GAME PLAN, LIKE COACH CAL WHO IS HER FRIEND, A VERY GOOD FRIEND TO HAVE IN POLITICS.

I TALKED TO MAX WISE WHO IS RUMORED TO BE HER RUNNING MATE WHENEVER SHE DOES ANNOUNCE, AND I ACTUALLY ASKED HIM ABOUT MATT BEVIN BEING THERE.

AND HE SAID THAT IF MATT BEVIN DID ENTER THE RACE, THE PARTING CONTROVERSY FROM THE END OF HIS TERM WOULD BE A MAJOR FACTOR AND OTHER CANDIDATES WOULD USE IT AGAINST HIM, SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT POSSIBLY A RUNNING MATE WITH CRAFT IS ALREADY MAYBE SHARPENING THE KNIVES, AND JUST IN CASE BEVIN GETS IN THERE.

>> Bill: IT'S GOING TO AN INTERESTING FEW WEEKS AHEAD.

BOURBON HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PUBLICITY, MOST OF IT POSITIVE OVER THE YEARS CERTAINLY, AND WE'VE HAD A BOURBON BOOM HERE IN KENTUCKY.

BUT, JANET, I KNOW YOU RECENTLY DID A DEEP DIVE INTO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING THAT INDUSTRY HERE IN KENTUCKY.

YOU WROTE ABOUT WHISKEY FUNGUS WHICH THE INDUSTRY DOWN PLAYS AS NOT HARMFUL TO THE PUBLIC BUT SOME PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS.

>> Janet: YEAH, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN AT LEAST THREE KENTUCKY COUNTIES, ANDERSON, FRANKLIN AND HENRY, WHO HAVE A LOT MORE -- A LOT MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

THEY REALLY ARE OPPOSING A PLANNED EXPANSION BY ANGEL'S ENVY IN THE CASE OF HENRY COUNTY AND BUFFALO TRACE IN THE OTHER TWO THEY'RE CONCERNED THE TO FUNGUS, WHICH FEEDS OFF OF THE ETHANOL VAPOR THAT COMES OFF OF THE AGING BOURBON BARRELS, COULD DAMAGE THEIR FARMS, COULD DAMAGE -- IN ONE CASE THE GREENHOUSES, THE HIGH TUNNEL GREENHOUSES THAT THEY GROW TOMATOES IN.

SOME OF THEM ARE WORRIED ABOUT HEALTH.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND KENTUCKY HAVE SEEN THIS FUNGUS.

IT'S NOT NEW.

IT'S BEEN AROUND FOREVER.

THE INDUSTRY SAYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NATURALLY OCCURRING.

YEAH, IT IS, BUT, YOU KNOW, SO ARE A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

IT IS HARD TO GET OFF YOUR HOUSE.

PEOPLE IN FRANKFORT WHO HAD, WERE BOWL OF TRACE EXPAND A FEW YEARS AGO EXPLAINED COMPLAINED THEIR HOUSES SINCE THAT EXPANSION HAVE TURNED BLACKER AND BLACKER AND THEY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE POWER -- POWER WASH THE STUFF OFF AND IT COMES BACK EVERY YEAR.

SO IT'S A REAL CONCERN FOR THEM.

THEY'RE NOT THRILLED WITH THE IDEA.

AND WHAT I HEARD FROM ALMOST EVERYBODY IS THEY FEEL LIKE THE COUNTY LEADERS ARE BLINDED BY THE TAX REVENUE, AND THE TAX REVENUE THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT'S COMING FROM THE BARREL TAX, THE AGING WHISKEY, AND THAT COINCIDENTALLY IS WHAT LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN HAVING A TASK FORCE MEETING THIS SUMMER ABOUT, CO-CHAIRED COINCIDENTAL BY ROBERT STIVERS, WHICH IS FAIRLY UNUSUAL.

SO I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME LEGISLATION PROBABLY COMING IN TIME FOR JANUARY.

WHAT IT WILL SAY, I DON'T KNOW.

THE DISTILLERIES ARE LOBBYING TO HAVE THE BARREL TAXES REMOVED.

THEY THOUGHT THEY'D TAKEN CARE OF THIS IN 2014 WHEN THEY PASSED A TAX CREDIT, BUT SINCE THEN ALL OF THEIR CORPORATE INCOME TAXES HAVE BEEN LOWERED SO MUCH, THEY CAN'T USE THE CREDIT.

THE COUNTIES SAY THEY NEED THE MONEY BECAUSE THEY PAY FOR THING LIKE FIRE.

>> Bill: AND THEN THERE ARE BISTROS THE WAREHOUSE LOCATIONS AS WELL.

>> Janet: YES.

>> Bill: AND NUMEROUS COUNTIES ARE DEALING WITH THAT.

>> Jennifer: EVER JANKLOW THEY ARE DEALING WITH ZONING.

IT'S REALLY INTRIGUING AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO KEEP CROPPING UP.

>> Beth: MELISSA, WE KNOW THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS ARE TRYING TO ROLL OUT MONKEYPOX VACCINE.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING SOME.

>> Melissa: CLIMBING SOME.

KENTUCKY HAS 26 CASES OF MONKEYPOX RIGHT NOW IN NINE DIFFERENT COUNTIES, AND MOST OF THOSE CASES ARE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

I THINK IT'S REPORTED AROUND 15 CASES ARE FROM THERE TODAY.

AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH VACCINE FOR EVERYONE TO GET ONE, AND SO CERTAIN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE ACCESS TO IT AND OTHERS DON'T.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A VACCINE IN KENTUCKY, THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICE MONKEYPOX SITE HAS A VACCINE LOCATER AND A LINK TO THAT.

SO THAT'S WHERE EVERYONE IN KENTUCKY CAN LOOK.

AND JEFFERSON COUNTY IN PARTICULAR ON SATURDAY, NORTON HEALTH CARE IS HOSTING A VACCINE CLINIC, AND YOU HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA IN ORDER TO GET THE VACCINE.

JUST A FEW OF THOSE THINGS MIGHT BE HAVING DIRECT EXPOSURE WITH SOMEONE WITH MONKEYPOX OR HAVING A SEXUAL APART PARTON WHO HAS THE VIRUS.

AND SO JUST SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

IF YOU'RE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND WANT A VACCINE.

>> Bill: THE AGENCY THAT HANDLES MEDICAID AND MEDICARE SAYS IT WILL PROPOSE A RULE NEXT SPRING FOR MINIMUM STAFFING REQUIREMENTS FOR NURSING HOMES.

THIS WOULD BE A FEDERAL RULE.

THAT HAS FAILED AT THE STATE LEVEL HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Janet: WELL, IT HAS, AND AS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS OPENED UP COMMENTS TO THIS PROPOSAL, MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING IT ARE CARETAKERS AND ADVOCATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR OWN STORIES TO SAY HARM COMES TO PATIENTS WHEN THERE'S NOT AS ENOUGH STAFF TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

BUT BETSY JOHNSON, WHO IS PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, WHICH ENCOMPASSES NURSING HOMES, SAYS THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, THAT NO ONE REALLY OPPOSES THE IDEA OF HAVING STAFFING REQUIREMENT, BUT THE REALITY OF IT HAS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, AND -- >> Bill: THEY THEY WORRY ABOUT WHERE THEY WOULD GET THE EMPLOYEES, RIGHT?

>> Janet: NUMBER ONE.

TWO MAIN QUESTIONS ARE WHERE WILL WE FIND THE EMPLOYEES AND HOW WILL WE PAY FOR THEM.

BECAUSE AS IT IS NURSING HOMES ARE ALWAYS -- THIS GROUP IS ALWAYS WORKING TO FIND WAYS TO GET MORE EMPLOYEES, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE MCDONALD'S PAYS MORE THAN THE NURSING HOME DOES, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO WORK?

AND SO THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF STRUGGLES.

AND THEY ARE WORKING ON THEM, BUT ANOTHER CHALLENGE THAT SENATOR ALVARADO MACHININGED IS THAT IF HE IS REQUIREMENTS WERE DID MENTIONED IS THAT IF THESE REQUIREMENTS WERE PUT INTO PLACE, NURSING HOME WOULD HAVE TO POTENTIALLY TURN AWAY PATIENTS.

>> Bill: FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE HAS ORDER U.K. HEALTHCARE TO PAY BACK SOME MONEY THAT IT COLLECTED BY GOING THROUGH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND USING SOME TAX RULES, RIGHT?

>> Janet: RIGHT, AND SO THIS LAWSUIT'S BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2018, AND THIS LATEST RULING BASICALLY SAYS THAT UK HAS IMPROPERLY USED THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE TO COLLECT THIS -- THESE UNPAID BILLS, AND THAT THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE MONEY BACK TO THE PATIENTS THAT THEY COLLECTED IT FROM, AND SO IT'S NOT OVER.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE RULING AS OF TODAY, BUT U.K. HEALTHCARE HAS, OF COURSE, ASKED -- FILED A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION.

>> Bill: JOKERS MORE POLITICS.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL IS BACK THIS WEEK AND TRAVELING.

HE HAS BEEN FENDING OFF CRITICISM FROM FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AFTER TRUMP SAID THAT McCONNELL, QUOTE, OPENLY DISPARAGE HARD-WORKING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

TRUMP LAST HAS BEEN CALLING FOR McCONNELL TO BE IMMEDIATELY REPLACED A THIS IS REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE SENATE.

>> Joe: YEAH, HE JUST WON'T LET UP ON McCONNELL, AND THE STATEMENTS THAT HE RELEASED THIS WEEK, HE ALSO WENT AFTER McCONNELL'S WIFE ELAINE CHAO WHO HAPPENED TO BE HIS OWN TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY WHEN TRUMP WAS PRESIDENT, CALLING HER CRAZY AND BASICALLY SUGGESTING THAT MITCH AND ELAINE ARE C.F.L.s WHO SHOULD BE LOCKED UP, GIVING HER THE HILLARY CLINTON TREATMENT.

TO BE CRIMINALS.

THIS WEEK IN LOUISVILLE I ASKED McCONNELL IF HE WANTED TO REACT WHAT TRUMP SAID ABOUT HIM AND HIS WIFE AND HE GAVE ME A FLAT NO.

HE DIDN'T TAKE THE WILL SMITH APPROACH TO DEFENDING HIS WIFE'S HONOR THERE.

BUT IT IS INTERESTING THAT TRUMP IS GETTING A LOT OF CRIMM I.

CRITICISM OVER THE COMMENTS THAT HE WAS BASICALLY KIND OF SUGGESTED THAT SOME OF THE CANDIDATES THAT TRUMP HAD ENDORSED AND WON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR SENATE RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY WEREN'T VERY GOOD CANDIDATES.

IT'S INTERESTING BEFORE WE GOT ON THE SHOW SOMEONE TECHS DOLLARS ME AND SAID THEY HAD SEEN DR.

OWES AND HERSHEL WARMING R. WALKER AT LOUISVILLE HOTEL.

MAYBE MITCH McCONNELL IS DOING A FUNDRAISER.

>> Bill: TONIGHT?

>> Joe: YES.

THERE IS A SUPER PAC RUN BY McCONNELL ALLIES THAT HAVE GIVEN MONEY TO J.K. AND DR. OZ.

>> Bill: STUDENTS LOAN FORGIVENESS, MOM CALLED AT A SLAP IN THE FACE TO EVERY FAMILY WHO SACRIFICED TO SAVE FOR COLLEGE.

JEANNE, THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PUSHED BACK SAYING CRITIC IN CONGRESS LAST.

NOT PAID BACK PPP LOANS.

>> Janet: I THINK IT'S BEEN REPORTED THAT SOMETHING LIKE 200,000 KENTUCKIANS WOULD HAVE THEIR ENTIRE DEBT RELIEVED AND SOMETHING LIKE 400,000 WOULD GET SOME DEBT RELIEF.

I THINK MOST OF THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT MITCH McCONNELL THINKS HEIR RICH.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PAYING OFF SOMETHING FOR YEARS, AND IT'S HARD TO MAKE A DENT WHEN THE INTEREST IS ACCRUING LIKE THIS.

>> Joe: AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PUTTING UP THE HYPOCRISY OF SOME REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE CRITICIZED THIS BECAUSE THEY HAVE RECEIVED PPP LOANS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PPP LOANS THAT WERE FORGIVEN.

THERE WAS A CRITICISM TOWARDS BRETT GUTHRIE WHO HAD CRITICIZED BIDEN'S ACTION ON THIS FOR HIS FAMILY CAR PARTS COMPANY, THEY HAD $4 MILLION PPP LOANS THAT WERE FORGIVEN.

>> Bill: AND HE SAID THERE'S NO EQUIVALENCEES BECAUSE GOVERNMENT FORCED THE SHUT DOWN NOSE BUSINESSES.

INTERESTING DEBATE.

JANET QUICKLY, THE CITY OF LEXINGTON HAS REPORTED THE THEFTS OF $4 MILLION LATE FRIDAY.

COVID RELIEF MONEY.

>> Janet: ASSISTANCE MONEY THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL.

THEY DISCOVERED IT THURSDAY NIGHT, AND THEY FIGURED OUT SOME WIRE TRANSFERS DID NOT GO WHERE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GO GOING.

THE THE ACCOUNT WHERE THE MONEY HAS GONE HAS BEEN FROZEN.

WE REALLY DON'T KNOW ANY MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHO DID IT OR, YOU KNOW -- WHERE WE GOING TO GET IT BACK.

>> Bill: SO ARRESTS.

THE INVESTIGATION GOES ON.

WE WANTED TO CORRECT AN ON-SCREEN MISTAKE IN THE SHOW.

THE PHONE NUMBER FOR DISASTER SENATOR BENEFITS FOR VICTIMS EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODS IS (833)371-8570.

AS WE START SLIPPING OUT OF AUGUST, WE'RE SLIPPING INTO THE KENTUCKY FALL FESTIVAL SEASON.

RAILROAD DAYS IN WOODFORD COUNTY THIS WEEKEND REMIND US OF DAYS GONE BY.

WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING BUTTERMILK DAYS IN LOUISVILLE SATURDAY.

AND HE TELL BE PICKING AT THE J.D.

KROLL MUSIC FESTIVAL IN CLAY CITY.

ENJOY OUR STATE.