[♪♪] >> Bill: A SCHOOL SHOOTING GETS ATTENTION IN KENTUCKY AND THE GOVERNOR TALKS SCHOOL SAFETY.

A UNION VOTE AT THE BLUEOVAL SK BATTERY PLANT IN HARDIN COUNTY.

KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE RACE AND THE HOUSE RACE DRAW INTEREST AROUND THE COUNTRY.

KENTUCKY CONSIDERS STUDYING TREATING DRUG ADDICTION WITH A PSYCHEDELIC DRUG.

HEADING INTO A COMFORTABLE LABOR DAY WEEKEND, 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 ALEX ACQUISTO POLITICS AND HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

LIAM NIEMEYER, REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AND WE WELCOMING BACK RYLAND BARTON KENTUCKY BASED EDITOR FOR NPR.

WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING.

IT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA.

BUT THERE ARE KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS.

AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR ORDERED FLAGS LOWERED IN THE STATE OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE VICTIMS.

THIS WEEK BESHEAR NOTED SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN SCHOOL SECURITY.

>> YOU THINK OUR SCHOOLS ARE REALLY OLD.

TO CREATE THAT ONE ENTRANCE AND EXIT IN THE SCHOOL TO HAVE THE ELECTRONIC LOCKING DOORS SOME SCHOOLS THAT MAYBE 100 YEARS OLD IS CHALLENGING.

I THINK ALL SCHOOLS ARE WORKING THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS WORKING TO GET THERE.

I SEE EFFORTS BEING MADE ALL ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HIT 100%.

>> Bill: RYLAND, THIS STORY WAS UNFOLDING HERE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY VERY JARRING TO PARENTS AND THERE YOU HAD GOVERNOR BESHEAR ACKNOWLEDGING IT IS A CHALLENGE TO HAVE SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS.

>> IT IS.

AND EVEN WHEN YOU PASS BILLS TO FUND IT AND TRY TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENED.

THESE SAFETY MEASURES HAPPEN IS BACK IN 2018 THERE WAS THE TERRIBLE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN MARSHALL COUNTY AND LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL THAT REQUIRED THE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS MENTIONING THE HARDENING SCHOOLS, BOOSTING SECURITY.

ANOTHER THINGS REQUIRING EVERY SCHOOL TO HAVE A RESOURCE OFFICER WHICH MANY SCHOOLS HAVE MADE STRIDES TO DO BUT NOT ALL HAVE THEM.

BESHEAR IS SAYING THE LEGISLATURE NEEDING TO FURTHER AND CALLED FOR THEM TO PASS A RED FLAG LAW.

THAT WOULD REQUIRE CREATE A PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE DEEMED TO BE IN DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR OTHERS COULD HAVE THEIR FIREARMS CONFISCATED.

IT'S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL.

ALL OF THOSE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE COULD TAKE UP DURING THIS BUDGET SESSION HE IS HINTING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD COME UP WHEN IT'S ON THE MIND OF PARENTS WHAT A TERRIFYING THING TO HAPPEN.

>> AND THERE'S BEEN SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE PAST FOR SOMETHING LIKE A RED FLAG LAW FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, MOST RECENTLY.

WESTERFIELD AND SENATOR PAUL HORNBECK BUT REMAINS REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION, ESPECIALLY FROM WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS THE LIBERTY WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN SUCH A MEASURE.

>> Bill: HE DID BRING IT UP.

ALEX, WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE SHOOTER HAS KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS.

>> RIGHT.

THE SHOOTER'S MOTHER IS THE SISTER OF FORMER LONG TIME STATE REPRESENTATIVE BOB HEALTH RINGER WHO SERVED IN THE HOUSE FROM 1980 TO 2003.

BOB WAS INTERVIEWED AND SAID HE LEARNED OF IT WHEN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY DID AND HOW HORRIFYING IT WAS HE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ROBIN, THE SHOOTER VERY WELL.

THEY GREW UP IN MINNESOTA.

HE SAID HE WISHED THAT HE HAD BEEN SHOT INSTEAD OF THOSE CHILDREN.

BUT WHAT A HORRIFYING THING.

>> Bill: NATIONAL STORY THAT WAS BROUGHT TO ALL OF US AND HERE IN KENTUCKY THIS WEEK AS WE SAID THE GOVERNOR IS MARKING THIS WITH THE FLAGS BEING DOWN.

>> HE IS.

IT'S OUR STATE'S MINOR CONTRIBUTION TO HONOR THE VICTIMS.

MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE INJURED INCLUDING MANY CHILDREN IT IS A WAY TO SHOW SOLIDARITY.

>> Bill: AS THE SCHOOL YEAR IS STARTING AROUND THE COUNTRY THERE ARE SWATTING CALLS FAKE CALLS ABOUT INCIDENTS.

THIS WEEK THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY HAD A DISRUPTION AND ALEX THE PENALTIES ARE STIFF AND INCREASINGLY SO.

THERE ARE FEDERAL AND KENTUCKY MADE IT A FELONY.

HOWEVER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO INVESTIGATE THESE CALLS AND BECAUSE THEY COULD COME FROM ANYWHERE.

>> THEY ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO TRACE.

WE MADE IT A FELONY WHICH MEANS IT'S PUNISHABLE 1-5 YEARS IN PRISON AND FINE UP TO $10,000.

THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY GOT A CALL AN ACTIVE SHOOTER WAS OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY.

POLICE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.

BUT THE CALLS ARE DISRUPTIVE BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE AN IMMENSE SORT OF CONCENTRATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMS SERVICES THEY ARE COSTLY AND THE POINT IS THEY TAKE THOSE RESOURCES AWAY FROM EMERGENCIES THAT ARE HAPPENING.

IS THIS A NATIONAL TREND NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: AND THE ACTUAL GOAL OF EDUCATION THIS IS WHAT IS SO TOUGH THESE THINGS ARE GOING ON.

>> CERTAINLY.

>> Bill: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.

AS WE HEAD INTO LABOR DAY WEEKEND, WORKERS AT THE BLUEOVAL SK BATTERY PLANT IN HARDIN COUNTY HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION ABOUT WHETHER TO JOIN THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS.

AT THIS POINT, I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY.

THE UNION VOTE IS CLOSELY WATCHED ACROSS KENTUCKY AND AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> YEAH.

IT WAS TWO DAYS THIS WEEK WHEN THE HUNDREDS OF WORKERS VOTED AND IT WAS CLOSE.

THE RESULTS CAME BACK WEDNESDAY EVENING 11-VOTE MARGIN IN FAVOR OF THE UNION.

BUT THERE'S ALSO CHALLENGE BALLOTED THAT NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO COUNT THESE BALLOTS ELIGIBILITY OF THESE VOTERS.

THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS SAID THAT THEY PUT OUT A STATEMENT CALLING THE MAJORITY THAT VOTED FOR THE UNION A HARD, FOUGHT VICTORY AND SAID THAT THE CHALLENGE BALLOTS, THEY WEREN'T WORKERS WHO WERE THERE WHO BUILT UP THE UNION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

BLUEOVAL SK BLUEOVAL SK WHICH IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND SK ON THEY WANT EVERY VOTE TO BE COUNTED.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS FEDERAL AGENCY HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER THESE VOTES ARE GOING TO GO AND IT COULD, COULD, POTENTIALLY CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION NOT CERTAIN.

>> Bill: IT'S PRELIMINARY RIGHT NOW.

>> YES.

>> AND CERTIFIED AND POTENTIALLY, THE UAW COULD MOVE IN?

>> CORRECT, YES.

>> Bill: WHAT COULD THIS MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF UNIONIZATION EFFORTS IN KENTUCKY AND REALLY AROUND THE SOUTH?

>> WELL, UNION ORGANIZERS HOPE IF THIS IS SUCCESSFUL THIS WILL BE A SIGN OF MOMENTUM FOR SOME OF THE EFFORTS.

THERE'S BEEN MIXED RESULTS FOR SIMILAR EFFORTS ACROSS THE SOUTH.

WHICH WE'VE SEEN THERE IS A PUBLICIZED ONE IN CHATTANOOGA.

A VOLKSWAGEN PLANT AND ONE THAT FAILED IN A MERCEDES PLANT IN ALABAMA.

UNION IS HOPING THAT SHOWING THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WORKERS NO MATTER THEIR POLITICAL STRIPES WANT TO TRY AND PROTECT THEIR -- TRY AND GET GUARANTEES FOR UNION BENEFITS.

EVEN IF THEY ARE IN A RIGHT TO WORK STATE, LIKE KENTUCKY IS.

AND, AGAIN, IT WOULD SHOW THIS CAN STILL HAPPEN DESPITE THOSE SORTS OF LAWS.

AND THAT WOULD FLY IN THE FACE A LOT OF THE WHAT THE TREND HAS BEEN IN DECADES OF THE DECLINE IN UNION MEMBERSHIP.

>> AND THE UAW THEY HAVE HAD CHALLENGES WITH TRYING TO ORGANIZE PLANTS IN THE SOUTH, SPECIFICALLY, PLANTS THAT ARE OWNED BY FOREIGN AUTO COMPANIES.

THEY HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF SUCCESS RECENTLY SPECIFICALLY ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PLANTS IN INDIANA.

AND SO, YOU KNOW THIS CLOSE VOTE, IT SERVES AS ANOTHER TEST FOR THE UNION AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CHALLENGED BALLOTS.

>> Bill: IT'S OFTEN A TOUGH BATTLE AND THIS ONE WAS.

>> YES.

THERE WAS ALLEGATIONS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, WORKERS CONCERNED ABOUT HANDLING CHEMICALS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES.

AND THE UAW BEFORE THE ELECTION THEY CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT THEY WERE SAYING IT WAS A SCORCHED EARTH ANTIUNION CAMPAIGN DONE BY BLUEOVAL SK.

YOU KNOW, BLUEOVAL SK HAS DISMISSED CONCERNS REGARDING WORKPLACE SAFETY AND YOU KNOW, CALLED THE CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION A LEGAL TACTIC TO TRY TO DELAY THE ELECTION POTENTIALLY.

BUT, AGAIN, THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT URN TURNS OUT.

>> Bill: THE REDISTRICTING BATTLES TOUCHED OFF BY TEXAS AND CALIFORNIA LOOKING TO COUNTER THAT ARE GETTING ATTENTION AROUND THE COUNTRY.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S SUPPORT FOR GAVIN NEWSOM'S APPROACH CAUSED KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS TO SAY MAYBE THE LINES SHOULD BE REDRAWN IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE.

KENTUCKY HAS ONE DEMOCRAT IN WASHINGTON AND THAT IS MORGAN MCGARVEY HE IS FROM LOUISVILLE.

IS THIS REAPPORTION MEANT BATTLE COME TO KENTUCKY?

>> THERE ARE OTHER STATES, MISSOURI TODAY SAID THEY WILL JOIN THIS BATTLE.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT REPUBLICANS UP UNTIL BESHEAR MADE THE STATEMENT TAMPED DOWN ANY NOTION THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN HERE.

>> Bill: McGARVEY SERVED IN THE SENATE AND KNOWS EVERYBODY.

>> AND IT SEEMS THE SENATE SAID THIS WASN'T GOING TO BE A STARTER HERE.

AND BESHEAR SAID THAT GAVIN NEWSOM HIS MOVE IN CALIFORNIA HE SUPPORTS IT IF THIS IS THE NEW RULE BOOK WE BETTER ALL PLAY BY THE RULES.

THIS OPENS THE DOOR FOR OTHER REPUBLICANS TO TWITTER AND SAY GREEN LIGHT, SCOTT JENNINGS SAID THIS IS A GREEN LIGHT FOR REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY.

IF BESHEAR IS CONDONING THIS PRACTICE IN ANOTHER STATE WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR GANDER HERE.

AND OTHER REPUBLICANS ARE INTERESTED IN THIS.

THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER THIS COULD HAPPEN.

BESHEAR IS CRITICIZING IT SAYING IF REPUBLICANS DID IT THIS MIGHT BACK FAIR FOR THEM.

BUT IF THEY WERE TO BREAK APART THAT ONE DEMOCRATIC, THIRD CONGRESS AT DISTRICT IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA THEN THAT COULD CREATE TWO COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

BUT THE OTHER THING PROBABLY MORE PRESSING FOR LAWMAKERS CONSIDERING THIS IS THE TIMELINE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THEY COME IN JANUARY THIRD AND THE DEADLINE THE FILING DEADLINE IS JANUARY 6.

>> Bill: WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE SUSPENDED.

>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE DEADLINE OR SUSPEND A LOT OF RULES TO DOING THAT ALL FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

FOR KIND OF THIS NEW TREND THAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHICH IS REALLY BOLD FACE REDRAWING MAPS FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES WHICH USED TO A VEIL THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS WAY BUT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET INTO IN THE WAY OF STATES THAT DO THIS.

AND STATE SUPREME COURTS INCLUDING KENTUCKY SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET IN THE WAY OF THIS PRACTICE WE DON'T HAVE RULES AGAINST THAT POLITICAL DRAWING.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE DOWN THE LINE IN KENTUCKY BUT THAT IS THE BATTLE WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: AS YOU NOTED IF IT DOES GO TO THAT THAT THIRD DISTRICT IS LOUISVILLE CENTRIC AND, I GUESS, IT WOULD BE MOVING IN SOME OF THE SURROUNDING MORE REPUBLICAN LEANING COUNTIES?

>> YOU CAN IMAGINE DIFFERENT WAYS TO DRAW IT THAT PICK UP PARTS OF THE AREA THAT IS HELD BY THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY THE FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OR THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT PICKS IT UP.

A LOT OF THESE ARE HEAVILY REPUBLICAN.

JAMES COMER WON HIS CONGRESSIONAL RACE BY 30, 40%, 40 POINTS.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE WINNING IN LANDSLIDES THEY ARE NOT COMPETITIVE RACES.

SO MAYBE THEY HAVE LEEWAY TO GIVE.

BUT IT IS HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC SO THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS FLORIDA FLOODING INTO A REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED DISTRICT.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE PRIMARY IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST WATCHED CONTESTS DANIEL CAMERON, ANDY BARR AND NATE MORRIS ARE EACH LOOKING FOR A LANE TO WIN THE G.O.P.

NOMINATION.

WE SEE THE ADS WE KNOW THAT FANCY FARM, THE STATE FAIR, PUT THEIR RETAIL CAMPAIGN EFFORTS ON DISPLAY.

AND THEN THERE ARE MAILINGS AND MESSAGES GOING OUT ON PHONES AND SOMETIMES SOME OF THOSE HAVE TROUBLE.

>> SURE.

I MEAN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'VE TRIED TO OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL TRIED TO MAKE THEMSELVES PREVALENT, BUT, YEAH, MOST RECENTLY THERE WAS A SCREEN SHOT THAT WAS CIRCULATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA APPEARING TO SHOW U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE NATE MORRIS' FUNDRAISING E-MAIL THAT IN THE TEXT OF THE E-MAIL, ASSERTED THAT NATE MORRIS WAS TRUMP ENDORSED.

AND TRUMP HAS NOT ENDORSED ANY U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE.

NATE MORRIS' CAMPAIGN SAID IT WAS AN ERROR BY THE VENDOR OF THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN PLATFORM WHEN RED IT WAS PUT IN THERE ERRONEOUSLY.

CANDIDATES DANIEL CAMERON AND ANDY BARR STILL FOUND OPPORTUNITIES TO CRITICIZE NATE MORRIS OVER IT.

AND IT WAS ALSO THE SCREEN SHOT THIS WHOLE SITUATION WAS ALSO PROMOTED BY RIGHT-WING INFLUENCER LAURA AS WELL.

>> Bill: YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE KENTUCKY AND HAVE A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS HOW MUCH OF THIS THREE WAY REPUBLICAN CONTEST BEING WATCHED?

>> A LOT BECAUSE IT'S MITCH McCONNELL.

BUT BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT A REPUBLICAN IS GOING TO WIN THAT RACE.

I HATE TO PROGRESS NEWSCAST INDICATE A RACE THAT IS OVER A YEAR AWAY BUT THAT IS THE TREND KENTUCKY HAS BEEN GOING IN.

NO MATTER WHO WINS THAT THREE-WAY RACE WHICH CAN BE EXPENSIVE THAT IS THE THING WE'RE WATCHING AND SEEING IS UNFOLDING RIGHT NOW, BUT, McCONNELL HELD THAT SEAT AND PEOPLE ARE WONDERING ONE, THAT HAS BECOME THE ISSUE IS WHO IS THE LEAST McCONNELL CANDIDATE WHO CAN RUN AWAY FROM HIM THE QUICKEST.

EACH ONE OF THESE DO HAVE SOME TIE TO THE FORMER SENATOR AS -- THE CURRENT SENATOR.

AS DOES EVERY REPUBLICAN ELECTED REPUBLICAN IN KENTUCKY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER OWES A LOT TO HIM FOR BUILDING THIS PARTY OVER THE COURSE OF HOWEVER MANY DECADES.

I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF ATTENTION WHO IS GOING TO BE HIS SUCCESSOR IN KENTUCKY BUT IN THE END IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE MAP OF MAKING KENTUCKY A COMPETITIVE RACE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

PAMELA STEVENSON STILL HAS THE FIELD TO HERSELF ON THAT SIDE.

HOW DOES SHE GET ATTENTION WITH THE REPUBLICANS HAVING THIS BATTLE AND SHE IS OVER THERE WITHOUT -- >> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD ESPECIALLY IF THIS BECOMES SO EXPENSIVE.

THERE'S THIS IDEA OF THERE BEING A FINITE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN IN THE POLITICAL ROOM AND THESE REPUBLICANS WILL BE BURNING UP A LOT OF IT.

ONE PART IS IF ANDY BESHEAR COMES OUT AND IS STUMPING FOR HER HE IS A POPULAR FIGURE IN KENTUCKY WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS A HE IS A DEMOCRAT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BOOST HER STANDING AND PROFILE.

AND I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TOO, IF ANOTHER DEMOCRAT GETS INTO THE RACE SO THERE ARE DEBATES AHEAD OF A PRIMARY ELECTION.

OTHERWISE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE GENERAL.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN IN KENTUCKY A DEMOCRAT BEING I'M READY TO DEBATE.

AND THE REPUBLICAN JUST I THINK I'M OKAY.

AND MAYBE THERE MIGHT BE ONE ON KET.

SHORTLY BEFORE THE ELECTION.

IT'S USUALLY ONLY IN THE COMPETITIVE ONES WHERE WE SEE THOSE DEBATES MULTIPLE DEBATES HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: SENATOR RAND PAUL TRAVELED THE STATE ONE STOP WAS AN EVENT WITH LOUISVILLE BUSINESS LEADERS HE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT TARIFFS.

>> SO TARIFFS, 300 BILLION DOLLARS SO FAR, HAVE BEEN PASSED WITHOUT ANYBODY'S APPROVAL WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.

SO, I THINK THAT IS WRONG AND MANY REPUBLICANS LIKE WE LOVE THE PRESIDENT BE QUIET AND I LOOK AT MY TWITTER FEED AND IT'S OVERWHELMINGLY SAYING OBEY THE PRESIDENT DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT WANTS.

>> Bill: OKAY.

SO PAUL HAS CRITICIZED THE PRESIDENT'S TARIFF STRATEGY AND WORRIES ABOUT THEIR IMPACT ON KENTUCKY.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN PARTICULARLY WE SPOKE ABOUT BOURBON SAYING HE THOUGHT TOUGH TIMES WERE GOING TO CONTINUE.

YOU KNOW IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT RECIPROCAL TARIFFS REGARDING BOURBON HAVE BEEN DROPPED BUT THERE'S UNCERTAINTY WITH TARIFFS COMING FROM THE EU.

AND THE BOURBON INDUSTRY THEY HAVE THINGS TO DEAL WITH BEYOND JUST TARIFFS.

YOUNGER PEOPLE IN GENERAL ARE DRINKING LESS ALCOHOL.

WHICH SOMETHING THAT PAUL SPOKE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.

AND SO, YEAH, TARIFFS ARE THE WAY PAUL DESCRIBED IT THEY ARE THE NEW NORMAL RIGHT NOW.

>> I WILL MENTION TODAY THERE WAS A U.S. APPEALS COURT THAT RULED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S TARIFF SCHEME UNDER THE SAME GROUNDS SAYING THIS IS CONGRESS' POWER TO DO THIS.

TRUMP HAS BEEN PUSHING THIS EMERGENCY AUTHORITY TO ITS LIMIT AND RULED AGAINST HIM BUT THEY HAVE LEFT THE TARIFFS IN PLACE UNTIL OCTOBER WHICH LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN TO BE APPEALED TO THE SUPREME COURT WHERE IT WILL LIKELY BE DECIDED.

>> Bill: HERE IN KENTUCKY THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOT FAR AWAY AND ISSUES CONTINUE 0 EMERGE.

KENTUCKY HAS BEEN DEALING WITH THE OPIOID CRISIS FOR YEARS AND SOME ARE COMING UP WITH A PROPOSED NEW APPROACH.

REPUBLICAN SENATOR DONALD DOUGLAS WHO IS A DOCTOR TALKED ABOUT IBOGAINE AS A NEW WAY TO TREAT DRUG ABUSE.

>> I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE A DIFFERENT CLINICAL MODEL.

WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SAME CLINICAL MODEL OVER AND OVER FOR DECADES.

AND IT AIN'T WORKING FOLKS.

IT'S NOT WORKING.

>> Bill: ALEX GIVE US CONTEXT HERE ABOUT THIS PSYCHEDELIC DRUG?

>> SURE PART OF WHAT SENATOR DOUGLAS IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE SAYS THIS CLINICAL MODEL IS NOT WORKING ARE F.D.A.

APPROVED DRUGS ON THE MARKET RIGHT NOW TO TREAT A VARIETY OF ADDICTION.

NALTREXONE, SUBOXONE.

HE IS SAYING BECAUSE THOSE DO NOT WORK FOR EVERYBODY, AND THAT IS TRUE, KENTUCKY SHOULD LOOK INTO CONSIDERING RESEARCHING AND INVESTING IN THAT RESEARCH STUDYING THE PSYCHEDELIC PROLIFERATED CALLED IBOGAINE.

VIEWERS MAY REMEMBER TWO YEARS AGO WHEN A COMMISSION THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOLLING OUT OPIOID LAWSUITS SETTLEMENT MONEY CONSIDERED INVESTING THE SAME THING, BRIAN HUBBARD WAS THE CHAIR OF THAT THEY HELD PUBLIC HEARINGS AND HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT TOOK IBOGAINE AND TRIED SO MANY OTHER THINGS TO MAINTAIN THEIR SO BRIGHT AND NOTHING WORKED UNTIL THEY TOOK IBOGAINE AND SOON AFTER RUSSELL COLEMAN TOOK OFFICE AND THAT PROPOSAL WAS LEFT ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR.

FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS BRING AN HUBBARD TOOK THAT PROPOSAL TO TEXAS AND THEY AGREED TO INVEST $50 MILLION INTO RESEARCHING IBOGAINE AND NOW SENATOR DOUGLAS IS SAYING ON THE HEELS OF THIS AND OTHER STATES THAT ARE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SHOWING INTEREST IN THIS, HE MENTIONED A 15-STATE CONSORTIUM POOLING MONEY FOR THE RESEARCH SHOULD KENTUCKY CONSIDER IT HE PLANS TO FILE A BILL AND THE GOAL IS TO CONDUCT CLINICAL TRIALS TO THE POINT WHERE THE F.D.A.

CAN APPROVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IT IS A VERY INTERESTING IDEA AND IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, HOW MUCH THE FIELD HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP COMING IN FOR A SECOND TERM.

R.F.K.

JR.

BEING HHS SECRETARY REPUBLICANS BEING MORE HOSPITABLE TO THE IDEA OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND IBOGAINE FITS WITHIN THAT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING ONCE THE BILL IS FILED TO HEAR THE DISCUSSION ON IT.

IT IS A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG WHICH MEANS IT'S ILLEGAL.

WILL THE REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY CHOOSE TO DECLASSIFY IT OR LOWER THE SCHEDULE LIKE WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA OR PUSHING BACK THINKING IT'S TOO EXPERIMENTAL WHICH IS WHAT ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID.

>> Bill: HE REMAINS OPPOSED.

>> HE WAS OPPOSED TO DEVOTING SETTLEMENT MONEY TO IT.

AND THAT IS WHAT BESHEAR SAID, TOO.

BUT HIS TONE MIGHT CHANGE WITH THE NEWEST PROPOSAL.

>> Bill: INTERESTING DISCUSSION AHEAD ON THAT.

A PROPOSED KENTUCKY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD RESTORE THE VOTING RIGHTS OF CONVICTED FELONS WHO HAVE DONE THEIR TIME A PUSH FOR AN AMENDMENT WHICH IS BIPARTISAN.

>> THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE SERVED THEIR TIME, THEY NEED THAT TO GET THAT PRIVILEGE OF VOTING BACK AS LONG AS IT WASN'T A CRIME AGAINST A CHILD, ROBBERY OR THOSE LISTED IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THREE STATES THAT DOES NOT DO AUTOMATIC RESTORATION OF VOTING RIGHTS.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION AND WHERE WE ARE, AGAIN WE ARE ONE OF THREE STATES THAT IS LEFT.

SO I AM IN DEEP BELIEF THAT WE SHOULD DO THIS.

>> Bill: RYLAND THIS HAD MOMENTUM IN 2020 WHEN COVID SENT THE LEGISLATURE HOME EARLY AND THEN IT WENT AWAY UNTIL NOW.

>> SENATOR HIGDON'S VERSION PASSED OUT AT THE STATE SENATE AND THERE'S BEEN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THIS OVER THE YEARS.

SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN CONSIDERED OFF AND ON AND KENTUCKY'S IN UNDER THE SCHEME IN WHICH AS ONE OF THE FIRST ACTS IN OFFICE, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT DOES A LOT OF WHAT THIS PUSH WOULD DO.

WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN FELONIES CONVICTED OF CERTAIN FELONIES WHO FINISHED THEIR TIME ALL THAT, AND THEY ARE NONVIOLENT CRIMES TO GET THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE BACK.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT THAT IT TAKES A GOVERNOR'S PARDON TO DO ANY OF THAT.

IT WOULD BE A HIGH HURDLE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN SINCE IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

IT WOULD HAVE TO PASS A HIGHER THRESHOLD OF THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN KENTUCKIANS WOULD HAVE TO APPROVE IT IN A GENERAL ELECTION A REFERENDUM.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING THERE IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT AND THAT SENATOR HERRON AND HIGDON ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON IT.

THEY FILED THE BILLS SEPARATELY.

WE'LL SEE IF OTHERS GET BEHIND IT.

THAT PROVISION KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THREE STATES THAT REQUIRES A GOVERNOR TO BE THE FINAL PERSON TO SIGN OFF.

>> Bill: IS KENTUCKY ON THE VERGE OF A DATA CENTER BOOM THAT COULD BOOM THE ECONOMY.

LIAM YOU ARE FOLLOWING A PROPOSAL IN MASON COUNTY KEPT QUIET.

>> YEAH.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF HUB-BUB JUST ABOUT BASICALLY, THIS DEVELOPER WHO'S LOOKING TO POTENTIALLY NOT GUARANTEED, BUILD A ONE AROUND $1 BILLION INVESTMENT IN A DATA CENTER CAMPUS.

AND THIS DEVELOPER HAS SIGNED A NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS BEING LEGAL AGREEMENTS TO WHERE SPECIFIC INFORMATION IS NOT PUBLICLY DISCLOSED.

ONE OF THE KEY POINTS OF CONTENTION BEING IS THAT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT COMPANY IS GOING TO BE BRINGING IN THIS DATA CENTER.

THE LAND THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT IS A LOT OF RURAL AGRICULTURAL LAND AND PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT LAND USE.

WHETHER WHY CAN'T SUCH A DATA CENTER BE MOVED INTO AN INDUSTRIAL PARK, DATA CENTERS USE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY AND A LOT OF WATER.

AND YOU KNOW, KENTUCKY'S ELECTRIC UTILITY THEY ARE POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

THE SOAR SUMMIT WAS THIS WEEK IN CORBIN AND THEY ARE WRAPPING UP AND TALKED ABOUT RESILIENCE IN THE APPALACHIAN REGION.

KENTUCKY HAS THE MASSIVE ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

THEY ARE PAUSING THE ONE ON I-75 SOUTH OF LEXINGTON OVER THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND THAT WAS GOOD NEWS BUT MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

RYLAND YOU SAID I-65.

>> NEXT SUMMER I-65 WILL BE CLOSED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS IN LOUISVILLE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND 264 WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE BIG CHANGES.

>> MAST TON CHILDERS WAS LAID TO REST HE WAS HARD CHARGES AND SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL.

CHILDERS PUSHED FOR REFORMS AS THE SECRETARY OF THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES UNDER GOVERNOR JONES.

CHILDERS WORKED FOR GOVERNOR CARROLL AND SERVED AS CHIEF OF STAFF TO COLLINS.

HE WAS 75.

THAT'S COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.