CLIMBING ACROSS KENTUCKY.

SOME EMPLOYERS MANDATE VACCINES.

SOME SCHOOLS DECIDE TO DELAY.

UK AND OTHER STATE UNIVERSITIES GO BACK TO INDOOR MASK MANDATES.

TRADITIONAL SPEECHES RETURN TO FANCY FARM THIS WEEKEND, BUT SOME TOP DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS DECIDE TO SKIP.

KENTUCKY IS PROMISED NEARLY $5 BILLION FOR ROADS AS LOCAL LEADERS DECIDE HOW TO SPEND OTHER FEDERAL money AFTER A COOLER START, AUGUST STARTS HEATING UP 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 OF THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER WHO HAS BEEN COVERED COVID SINCE THE BEGINNI BY SKYPE FROM GILBERTSVILLE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, RYLAND BARTON CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF OF KENTUCK PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, AND LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

AND AMANDA MCLAREN, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA ALSO TONIGHT, KENTUCKY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE BUT AN ECONOMIST SAYS MANY HAVE STOPPE LOOKING FOR WORK DURING THE PAN AND LEXINGTON REMEMBERS A LEGENDARY PROSECUTOR WHO WAS KNOWN AROUND THE COUNTRY.

BUT WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE STUBBORNNESS OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE SUMMER SURGE THAT IS PUSHING UP THE NUMBERS AND CONCERNS ONCE AGAIN.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS STILL STOPPING SHORT OF SHORT OF NEW MANDATES BUT HIS FRUSTRATION WITH THE CLIMBING CASES IS EVIDENT.

>> WE WANT TO GET BACK TO NORMAL, AND IF YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN VACCINATED WISH PREVENTING US FROM GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.

TO THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN VACCINATED, TRY NOT TO GET FRUSTRATED BECAUSE THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP.

>> Bill: SO, ALEX, HERE WE ARE.

COVID NUMBERS WE HAVE NOT SEEN FOR MONTHS.

MOST OF US WERE TRYING AND HOPING WE COULD RETURN TO OUR NORMAL LIVES THIS SUMMER AND HEADING INTO THE FALL.

THAT IS APPARENTLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Alex: NO WE GOT A TASTE IT BEFORE THEY STARTED RICING I THINK WE HAVE OUR $6.00 STRAIGHT WEEK OF RICING.

TODAY WE HAD 2600 WHICH IS THE $4.00 DAY OF 2,000 CASES.

THE POSITIVITY RATE IS PAST 10%.

IT'S A 10.46% TODAY.

THAT'S A RATE THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN SINCE BASICALLY LATE JERON BEFORE VACCINES WERE WIDELY AVAILABLE.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE EFFECTS, TOO, OF HOSPITALIZATION WHICH FOLLOW HIGH CASE NUMBERS.

THERE ARE CLOSE TO 1,000 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED ACROSS THE STATE RIGHT NOW WITH COVID.

THAT'S UP FROM 200 JUST A MONTH AGO.

SO IT IS PROGRESSING QUICKLY, PRACTICALLY THE ENTIRE STATE IS IN THE RED, AND BESHEAR IN THAT PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS WEEK HAS SOUNDED MORE BELEAGUERED THAN NORMAL.

AS YOU SAID HE HAS STOPPED SHORT OF INACTIVING A VACCINE MANDATE ME.

HASN'T ENACTED A STATE FACE MASK MANDATE EITHER.

INSTEAD HE'S CALLING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ENFORCE VACCINATIONS AMONG STAFF, AND THIS WEEK A DOZEN HOSPITAL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE REQUIRING STAFF GET VACCINATED.

MOST I THINK ARE ASKING THAT STAFF GET THE FIRST SHOT BY SEPTEMBER 15th.

AND SO SOME ARE BITING AT THAT CALL, BUT STILL HE HAS STOPPED SHORT OF ENACTING A MASK MANDATE.

HE SAYS THAT HE WILL DO IT IF IT COMES TO THAT, BUT I MEAN IT'S QUITE SEVERE RIGHT NOW STATEWIDE.

>> Bill: THE POSITIVITY RATE AS YOU SAID ALMOST 10-1/2 PERCENT.

IT IS ABOUT AS BAD AS IT HAS BEEN.

>> Alex: IT IS.

IT'S REMARK ANNAL THAT IT'S THIS HIGH.

52% OF THE STATE HAS BEEN VACCINATED BEAUT BESHEAR AND I THINK SO MANY PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED BECAUSE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW IS ENTIRELY AVOID PANEL WE KNOW THAT UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ARE DRIVING INFECTIONS ACROSS THE STATE, AND IT'S ALL HAPPENING AS K-12 STUDENTS ARE ABOUT TO GO BACK INTO CLASSROOMS WHERE WE KNOW THE ENVIRONMENT IS RIPE FOR MORE SPREAD.

>> Bill: RYLAND, GOVERNOR BESHEAR KNOWS THE WRATH OF THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED TO STATE RESTRICTIONS FROM LAST YEAR, FROM THE DEMONSTRATIONS TO THE LAWSUITS TO THE CALLS FOR HIS IMPEACHMENT.

THE LOCAL LEADERS, IT THEN FALLS TO THEM TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AT THIS POINT, AND IN SOME CASES THEY DON'T WANT TO DO LOCAL MANDATES, EITHER, AT THIS POINT.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY'S IN A, REALLY IN A CRUSH POINT HERE, RIGHT?

>> Ryland: YEAH, IT'S A STATEWIDE GAME OF HOT POTATO.

I THINK SOME LOCAL LEADERS AS THE LEAST WOULD PREFER IF THE GOV STEPPED IN AND MADE THE DECISION FOR THEM SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE THE ONES TO BLAME FOR PUTTING IN SOME -- SOME RESTRICTIONS OR SOME POLICIES THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS MIGHT FIND ONEROUS.

THEY WOULD PREFER THE GOVERNOR TO DO THAT.

BUT I THINK FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PERSPECTIVE HE REALIZES THAT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T FOLLOW THE MASK MANDATE THE FIRST TIME AROUND, AND OBVIOUSLY A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GETTING VACCINATED RIGHT NOW, AND SO HE THINKS THAT THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVEN'T REALLY BEEN PRESSED TO TRY AND GET PEOPLE TO GO AND MAKE THESE SMART AND HEALTHY DECISIONS, AND NAMELY THEIR EMPLOYERS OR PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, AND I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THAT I LITTLE BIT FROM STATE LEGISLATORS, TOO, YOU'LL SEE SOME MESSAGING WHERE THEY'LL GO, DON'T LISTEN TO ME.

LISTEN -- TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THIS.

GO GET VACCINATED.

AND I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS WE DON'T NEED THE GET THE MAKES FROM A POLITICS BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF INTELLIGENT HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE WHO ARE INCOURAGING PEOPLE TO GO MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

>> Bill: APPARENTLY SOME OF THE RESENTMENT HAS BEEN TOP-DOWN DECISIONS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HEAR.

>> Ryland: SURE.

AND THAT'S BEEN CENTRAL TO THIS WHOLE DEBATE SINCE THE BEGINNING.

POLITICIANS, LEGISLATORS, BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE INVESTED AND CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THE -- HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS.

THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE FRUSTRATED WITH THIS STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT'S BEEN LONGER THAN ANY STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED IN WHICH THERE'S ONE PERSON WHO IS GIVEN A WHOLE LOT OF POWER.

SOME WOULD ARGUE FOR GOOD REASON, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH A MORE -- LONGER DELIBERATIVE PROCESS OF GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT THEN THEY'RE STARTING TO QUESTION, WELL, IS THERE A DIFFERENT WAY?

IS THERE WAY IN WHICH THERE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE FEEDBACK?

THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS.

A LOT OF THESE ARGUMENTS ARE STILL WRAPPED UP IN THE COURT SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.

THE LEGISLATURE TRIED TO PASS SOME LAWS RESTRICTING THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS.

>> Bill: DID PASS.

>> Ryland: YEAH, THEY DID PASS THEM.

THEY'VE BEEN BLOCKED AT THE MOMENT.

WE SHOULD BE GETTING A RULING ON THAT IN THE MEDICATION THE COUPLE OF MONTHS TOO.

>> Bill: AMANDA, SCHOOL IS OBVIOUSLY STARTING AND VERY SOON, AND THE CLOCK IS CERTAINLY TICKING, AND UK AND OTHER PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES, STATE UNIVERSITIES ANNOUNCED MASK MANDATES FOR THIS FALL ON THEIR CAMPUSES TODAY.

>> Mandy: YES.

SO INDOOR STUDENTS, PROFESSOR, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE PADDOCK UP AND ONE EXAMPLE OF WHY THAT MIGHT BE SO CRITICAL, WE'RE NOT SEEING YOUNG ADULTS GET VACCINATED UP.

I THINK AT THE RATES WILE EXPECTED THEM TO P UofL HAS SAID IN ITS MOST RECENTLY DATA THAT I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST THAT ONLY 30% OF ITS STUDENTS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED THUS FAR, AND THEN YOU HEAR A LOT OF CAN YOU.

-BACK HERE ABOUT THE MASK MANDATES BUT JUST RIGHT OVER THE BORDER IN INDIANA WITH, IU AND ITS AFFILIATE CAMPUSES ARE ACTUALLY REQUIRING THE STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED.

SO THERE'S QUESTIONS YET I THINK ALEX, ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT UK MIGHT LOOK INTO?

>> Alex: RIGHT.

UK ANNOUNCED TODAY, AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT THEY'RE HAVING UNIVERSAL MASKING INDOORS, AND ALSO PRESIDENT AEE LIE CAPILOUTO ANNOUNCED THAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING H. CONSIDERING VACCINE MANDATES FOR FACULTY AND STAFF.

THEY HAVEN'T I DIDN'T YET BUT THEIR CONSIDERING IT BECAUSE BEEN UK HOSPITAL WAS ONE OF THE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS THAT ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE REQUIRING ALL HEALTH CARE PESCHEL TO GET VACCINATED, SO DEFINITELY PLACES ARE ANNOUNCING THINGS, THEY'RE CONSIDERING MANDATES.

SOME ARE DOING THEM.

SOME ARE NOT.

>> Bill: ELEMENTARY RI AND SECONDARY SCHOOL LEADERS ARE MAKING THE TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT MASKS RIGHT NOW AND OTHER RULES, AND PARENTS ARE VERY VOCAL IN MANY CASES AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, FORD THE LOCAL SUPERINTENDENTS LETTING THEIR FEELINGS BE KNOWN ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE FALL.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY WANTS THE KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

THAT IS REALLY THE BOTTOM LINE, RIGHT?

>> Alex: YES, BUT IF WE'VE LEARNED NOTHING IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN IN KENTUCKY IS THAT EDUCATION CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM POLITICS, AND SO WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF BE, YOU KNOW, POINT TO THE OTHER GUY ABOUT WHO IS MAKING THE DECISIONS HERE AND I'D MUCH RATHER, IF I'M A DISTRICT IS ONE HAVE THE GOVERNOR SORT OF MANDATE SO PEOPLE DON'T GET MAD AT ME WHEN I'M MAKING THE SEDATION, BUT AGAIN YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER BACK THROUGHS YEAR WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS, YOU HEARD SOME VERY OUTSPOKEN SUPERINTENDENTS THAT WERE UPSET THAT HE TOOK AWAY THAT LOCAL DECISION, AND NOW THAT HE'S GIVEN IT BACK, WE'RE SORT OF IN THIS HOT POTATO SITUATION.

>> Bill: AMANDA, THERE WAS ALL THE TALK OF A NORMAL FALL SEMESTER.

AS THINGS STARTED TO LOOK BETTER IN THE SPRING AND CERTAINLY HEADING INTO THE SUMMER AS WELL, THE NUMBERS WERE COMING DOWN, THE EARLY VACCINATIONS SEEMED TO BE WORKING BEFORE THIS DELTA VARIANT CAME ALONG.

BUT CAN SCHOOL LEADERS NOW REALISTICALLY ASSUME THAT THERE CAN BE NORMAL HEADING INTO THIS FALL?

>> Mandy: ABSOLUTELY NOT.

LIKE ALEX SAID, THE ENTIRE STATE PRETTY MUCH NOW IS RED.

JUST A MONTH AGO IT WAS PRETTY MUCH YELLOW.

SO WE'VE SEEN SORT OF AS WE'RE CRUISING RIGHT INTO THE FIRST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THESE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE WALKING INTO LOOK DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT, AND I THINK IT'S ALL, AGAIN, GOING TO COME BACK TO MASKS BECAUSE THE BIGGEST THING THAT COULD DISRUPT LEARNING FOR KIDS THIS YEAR IS IF THEY NEED TO KEEP GOING HOME TO QUARANTINE, WHETHER THEY'VE BEEN EXPOSE TODAY A POSSIBLE CASE OR A CONFIRMED CASE.

THAT IS GOING TO DERAIL ANYTHING YOU'RE TRYING TO DO AS A TEACHER TO GIVE YOUR CADES STABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT NOT JUST FOR THEIR ACADEMICS BUT AGAIN FOR THEIR SOCIALIZATION, AND SO -- >>> AND A SO YOU HAVE SUPERINTENDENTS WHO OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT, AND SO THEY'RE IN A POSITION BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE SO THEY DON'T HAVE THAT EASY DECISION TO FALL BACK ON, SO THE OWN US IS TO MAKE A DECISION THAT IS BEST FOR THEIR DISTRICT, AND THEY HAVE PRETTY MUCH UNANIMOUS PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE SAYING ONE THING.

UNIVERSAL MASKING INDOORS IS THE SAFEST THING.

AND THEY HAVE MANY PARENTS, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL KENTUCKY DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, IN SOME CASES YELLING IN THEIR EAR OTHERWISE SAYING IF THERE IS A MASK MANDATE, WE WILL NOT SEND OUR KIDS BACK TO IN-PERSON SCHOOL, AND SO THE GOAL BEING THAT THEY WANT TO GET AS MANY STUDENTS BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM AS POSSIBLE, I MEAN, THAT IS FRONT AND CENTER WHILE ALSO KEEPING THEM SAFE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE DO YOU RISK PUSHING PARENTS AWAY TO KEEP THEIR STUDENTS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM NOW OR DO YOU PUT IN MASK RECOMMENDATIONS AND NOT REQUIREMENTS AND ACCEPT THE EVENTUALITY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO QUARANTINE BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST AN INEVITABILITY.

IF YOU PUT STUDENTS NANE ENCLOSED SPACE WITHOUT MASKS THE VIRUS WILL SPREAD.

QUARANTINES WILL HAPPEN.

IS THE & THERE'S A LOT OF FRICTION THERE.

>> Bill: IS THERE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE, IF A CHILD IS OLDER THAN 12 AND MAY HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND THOSE WHO ARE OLDER OR THOSE WHO ARE OLDER AND HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE ON THE RULES OF QUARANTINING IF THERE'S AN EXPOSURE?

>> Alex: IF YOU'RE VACCINATED YOU DO NOT TO HAVE QUARANTINE IN THE SAME WAY AS IF YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED.

THE IF YOU HAVE A MASK YOU CAN STILL GO OUT INTO PUBLIC.

IF YOU ARE NOT VACCINATED YOU HAVE TO DO THE WHOLE THING WE DID PREV PREVIOUS.

WHICH WILL MEAN ISOLATE AND QUARANTINE WHICH MEANS STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO RETURN TO VIRTUAL.

THIS FRICTION IS MORE INFLAMED NOW THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE.

>> Mandy: AND I'LL SAY STATED OFFICIALS ARE EXPECTING THERE TO BE QUARANTINES.

THEY APPROVED A REGULATION THIS WEEK THAT BASICALLY SAYS, IF A STUDENT OR A CLASS OF STUDENTS OR A WHOLE SCHOOL OF STUDENTS NEEDS TO QUARANTINE, THAT THOSE DAYS CAN STILL BE COUNTED AS BEING PRESENT AT SCHOOL IF THEY ARE DOING SOME SORT OF ACADEMIC WORK AT HOME, AND SO IF I'M A TEACHER, FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL I'M PROBABLY GIVING MY KIDS, HERE'S A PACKET OF WORK.

YOU TAKE THIS HOME, KEEP IT AT HOME BECAUSE THERE MIGHT COME A DAY WHERE WE'RE NOT ABLE TO COME BACK AND BE WITH EACH OTHER IN PERSON.

>> Bill: SO EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE THAT BACKUP PLAN, INCLUDING THE BUILDING TO ONCE AGAIN SWITCH VAIRTUAL IF IT BECOMES NECESSARY.

>> Mandy: DISTRICTS HAVE THE TEN DAYS OF NON-TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION.

I THINK MOST OF THEM -- JEFFERSON COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY HAVE SET UP A SEPARATE VIRTUAL SCHOOL FOR PARENTS THAT WANTED TO KEEP THEIR KIDS HOME.

THAT'S ALREADY SET UP.

YOU REALLY HAD TO OPT INTO THAT AS WELL.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PALETTE IN THIS SITUATION FOR SCHOOLS TO WANT TO HAVE TO MAKE THAT COMPLETE SWITCH BACK AND FORTH ALL THE TIME.

>> Bill: AND WE ALL KNOW THIS IS FRUSTRATING TO EVERYBODY, REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEEL, REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICS, REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR HEALTH STATUS OR WHATEVER.

THIS IS A FRUSTRATING SITUATION.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING PAST?

>> Alex: RIGHT.

I DON'T THINK ANY PARENT IS KEEN ON THE IDEA THAT THEIR STUDENT IS GOING TO HAVE TO SIT IN A MASK FOR SEVEN-1/2 HOURS, HOWEVER LONG THE SCHOOL DAY IS.

>> Mandy: I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, SOME PARENTS DON'T CARE AT ALL, AND MOST KIDS DON'T CARE AT ALL, EITHER, SO THAT IS DEFINITELY TRUE FOR SOME, AND THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THEM COMING OUT AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, BUT I WOULD WAGER TO IS THAT IT VAST MAJORITY OF PARENTS, THEY JUST WANT THEIR KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL.

I'VE TALKED TO CHILDREN THAT LAST YEAR WERE SEVERELY DEPRESSED THAT WERE HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE OF THE TOLL THAT IT TOOK ON NEM, SO I THINK IN GENERAL, IF MASKING IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET BACK IN SCHOOL, I BELIEVE THAT MOST PARENTS, TO KEEP THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL, ARE GOING TO BE ONBOARD FOR IT.

WE'LL SEE.

WHAT'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Alex: EINSTEIN INTERESTING, TOO, THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I AGREE AND I'M HEARING THAT, TOO, BUT THEN AGAIN I WAS LISTENING TO A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TODAY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND A MOM WAS MAKING MAKING THE ARGUMENT SAYING LAST YEAR HER MASKS, MASKS ON HER SON MADE HIM FEEL SICK.

SHE HAD TO TAKE HIM OUT OF SCHOOL EXPECT AND AGAIN IF HE'S REQUIRED TO WEAR THEM AGAIN, SHE DOESN'T CARE, SHE DOESN'T WANT HIM TO WEAR ONE, SHE'S GOING TO TAKE HIM OUT OF IN-PERSON SCHOOL.

SO YOU HAVE SUPERINTENDENTS IN SOME DISTRICTS ARE HEARING BOTH SIDES OF NA AND THEY'RE MAKING A DECISION TO BASICALLY APPEAL TO THOSE SIDES.

IT'S A DILEMMA.

>> Bill: ABSOLUTELY P. RYLAND, THIS IS ALSO STARTING TO AFFECT PLANNED EVENTS.

YOU'RE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY FOR THE FANCY FARM PICNIC WHERE THE SPEECHES ARE SET TO RESUME TOMORROW, AND WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT IN JUST A LITTLE BIT, A LONG STANDING TRADITION THERE.

WE GOT WORD TODAY FOR INSTANCE THE RAIL BIRD MUSIC FESTIVAL IN LEXINGTON IS GOING TO REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE COVID TEST.

CAN MAJOR EVENTS LIKE THIS BE PULLED OFF SAFELY EVEN OUTDOORS IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> Ryland: I MEAN, I DON'T THINK TO THAT THERE'S ANY GROUP EVENT THAT CAN BE PULLED OFF TOTALLY SAFELY RIGHT NOW BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO MITIGATE THE RISKS, AND REQUIRING THAT EVERYBODY BE VACCINATED OR PROVE THAT THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY TESTED AS BEING COVID NEGATIVE IS ONE WAY TO MINIMIZE THOSE RISKS.

THAT'S SIMILAR TO WHAT COUNTRIES ARE REQUIRING FOR PEOPLE FLYING ABROAD RIGHT NOW.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT.

I THINK WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SOMETHING LIKE THAT WITH EMPLOYERS.

INSTITUTING SOME SEMBLANCE OF VACCINE REQUIREMENTS.

AND IT'S CRAZY BECAUSE I WAS ON HERE TWO WEEKS AGO AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME SUBJECT, AND IT SEEMED LIKE KIND OF SCIENCE FICTION AT THE MOMENT.

THERE WEREN'T MANY PEOPLE DOING STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT AGAIN, FESTIVALS, THEY'VE GOT A LOT ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW.

THEY WANT THESE FESTIVALS TO GO FORWARD.

THEY WANT TO MAKE MONEY OFF OF IT.

THEY WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO STRIA IS TO INSTITUTE STUFF HIKE THIS TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GO FORWARD AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

IT'S YET TO BE SEEN IF ANY OF THESE END UP TO BE SUPER SPREADER EVENTS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DOCUMENTED CASES OF IAN OUTDOOR EVENTS OVER THE LAST MONTH OR TWO, I'M THINKING THERE'S A CONCERT IN COLORADO, COUNTRY MUSIC CONCERT WHERE THERE WERE A BUNCH PEOPLE IT WAS OUTDOORS AND THEY ENDED UP CATCHING COVID, SO I MEAN THERE'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE THE POSSIBILITY NO MATTER WHAT, BUT I THINK THAT THE -- THERE'S JUST -- THERE'S AN APPETITE TO KEEP ON HAVING SOME SORT OF EVENT RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: TRY TO PRESS ON.

ALEX, WE ARE HEARING MORE AND MORE ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH CASES.

STATE SENATOR ALEX FORGY KERR OF LEXINGTON ANNOUNCED SHE AND ASSEMBLYMEMBERS MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY HAVE TESTED POSITIVE EXCITE BEING VACCINATED.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

WE ARE HEARING ABOUT BREAKTHROUGH, AND I PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCHERS, GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS SAID THIS, TOO, WE PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE TO SEE EVEN MORE.

I KNOW PEOPLE PERSONALLY WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THOSE BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE HAPPENING, THE VACCINES ARE STILL VERY SAFE, THEY'RE EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE AT THWARTING SEVERE INFECTION AND ESPECIALLY DEATH, AND SO TESTING POSITIVE IS WAY DIFFERENT THAN BEING SICK ENOUGH TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

SO WE CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT.

WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THIS, OF COURSE, IS A TIED TO THE ECONOMY, BUT KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY IS SHOWING SOME REMARKABLE SIGNS OF REBOUNDING RIGHT NOW AS THERE'S A HISTORIC SURPLUS FOR THE STATE BUDGET, LOCAL SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENTS ARE DECIDING RIGHT NOW HOW TO SPEND THE FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THAT DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON PASSED IN THE SPRING.

THEY HAVE A CHALLENGE HERE, AMANDA.

THIS IS ONE-TIME MONEY THAT'S COMING IN.

SO HOW DO YOU INVEST THAT MONEY IN A WAY THAT THERE WON'T RECURRING COSTS?

BECAUSE THERE IS NO MORE MONEY FOR THAT, RIGHT?

>> Amanda: I THINK BOTH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE REALLY TRYING TO SORT THAT OUT RIGHT NOW N. IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THERE HAS BEEN HAD A LOT OF COYOTE REACH TO THE COMMUNITY, HOW LIKE TO SEE US SPEND THOSE FUNDS.

MY COLLEAGUE DARCY COSTELLO REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT IN LOUISVILLE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING BEING REQUESTED FROM RENTAL ASSISTANTS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAMS, BOOSTING TOURISM IN THE DOWNTOWN CORRIDOR, A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT DESERVEDLY REALLY NEED THIS MONEY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE WHEN THAT MONEY IS ALLOCATED, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IT RUNS OUT.

IS THERE SOMETHING BUILT IN AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO CONTINUE THAT REVENUE STREAM?

BECAUSE THAT'S THE WORST PART OF TRYING TO REALLY HELP PEOPLE OUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY, IS WHEN SOMETHING'S GOING GREAT BUT THEN THE MONEY RUNS OUT AND YOU HAVE TO CLOSE YOUR DOORS.

>> Bill: AND SOME LOCAL LEADERS ARE WISELY TRYING TO GET SOME PUBLIC INPUT SO THERE'S BUY-IN INTO WHAT IS GOING ON.

RYLAND, ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE ECONOMY, KENTUCKY'S WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN LOW IN RECENT YEARS, BUT YOU TALKED TO AN ECONOMIST WHO SAID THAT THIS HAS REALLY GOTTEN WORSE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> Ryland: YEAH, DURING -- SO THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE HEARING, AND LAWMAKERS WERE LISTENING TO HOW THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, AND THE LABOR FORCE IS A REALLY GLARING EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT IT'S BEEN LACKING.

SO DESPITE -- EVEN THOUGH KENTUCKY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS PRETTY LOW, AT LEAST LAST MONTH ON RECORD.

JUNE WAS 4.4% COMPARED TO THE TRI COUNTRY'S 5.

90% BUT THAT ACCOUNT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TOTAL EXITED THE LABOR FORCE, THAT IS, PEOPLE WHO AREN'T EITHER EMPLOYED OR EVEN LOOKING FOR WORK, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE IF IT HAD LABOR FORCE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT IS -- THAT NUMBER IS STILL LANG BECAUSE OF A NUMBER OF REASONS, SO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS HAVE BLAMED THIS ON THE CONTINUATION OF ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, BUT THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER FACTORS, INABILITY TO AFFORD CHILD CARE, FEAR OF CONTRACTING COVID OR HAVING AN UNSAFE WORK SITUATION ONCE GET BACK OR EVEN BEING UNABLE TO GET THE SAME TYPE OF JOB OR BE QUALIFIED FOR THE SAME TYPE OF JOB THAT YOU HAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, SO THERE'S A REAL LAG HERE, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER ONCE THE VIRUS GOES AWAY A LOT MORE.

>> Bill: RYLAND, LET'S TALK ABOUT FANCY FARM.

THAT'S WHY YOU'RE OUT IN WESTERN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GET BACK TO THE TRADITION WITH THE SPEECHES THAT WENT ON FOR DECADES UNTIL THE PANDEMIC HIT.

THEY'RE PREPARING THE GROUNDS AND GETTING READY TO GO, AND HOPING THAT IT IS NORMAL AS IT CAN BE.

BUT THERE IS A LONG LIST OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO WILL NOT BE THERE.

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING?

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

SO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BEAR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN WON'T BE THERE.

THEY SAID THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BECAUSE OF THE DELTA VARIANT SPREADING ACROSS NOT ONLY WESTERN KENTUCKY BUT THE ENTIRE STATE.

OUR SENATORS RAND PAUL AND MITCH McCONNELL WON'T BE THERE BECAUSE THEY'LL BE NEGOTIATING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

SO WHAT'S LEFT IS ONLY REPUBLICANS.

THIS WILL BE PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME IN STATE HISTORY ALL REPUBLICAN SPEAKERS AND THEY'RE ALL DOWN BALLOT REPUBLICANS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON, AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES, STATE AUDITOR MIKE HARMON, AND A FEW OTHERS WILL BE THERE.

SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP TO THIS TO SEE IT BUT ALSO TO SPEAK, AND DEMOCRATS HAVE DECIDED TO KIND OF HOLD THEIR OWN EVENT IN LOUISVILLE THAT'S ACTUALLY MORE FOCUSED ON VACCINES.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A KIND OF VACCINE EVENT.

>> Bill: YOU MENTIONED MIKE HARMON.

HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS FILED OFFICIAL PAPERS TO BE A 2023 CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR SO HE CAN LEGITIMATELY GO OUT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS TO DO IN THAT RACE.

ARE THE OTHERS JUST LEFT TO HINT AROUND AT THE FACT THAT THEY MIGHT RUN?

>> Ryland: YEAH, AND I GUESS CONTINUE HINTING AROUND AS THEY'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, EITHER THAT OR THEY ANNOUNCE RIGHT THERE AND THEYY HAVE FORMED A CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

GRANTED, WE'RE STALE STILL AS I WAYS OUT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

IT'S IN 2023.

BUT RYAN QUARLES AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER IS ANOTHER PERSON WHO IS STRONGLY BEHIND THE A RUNNING FOR GOVERNMENT.

KELLY KNIGHT CRAFT THE FORMER UN AMBASSADOR UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, ALSO A PROLIFIC REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISER IS SPEAKING AT AN EVENT TONIGHT IN MARSHALL COUNTY, AND I EXPECT SHE WILL ALSO BE AROUND TOMORROW, AND THAT'S A BUG PART OF FANCY FARM.

IT'S IS NOT JUST THE BIG SPEECH-FIING THAT'S GOING AROUND AND TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE CROWD.

>> Bill: FANCY FARM IS IN CONGRESS PMAN JAMES COMER'S DISTRICT, AND HE HAS SAID TODAY THAT IT'S UNLIKELY HE WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2023.

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

THE SOWP HAD THIS STORY, AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S ALWAYS BEEN MENTIONED THAT SOMEBODY TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

HE RAN IN 2015, LOST TO MATT BEVIN BY JUST 83 VOTES ARE, AND PEOPLE HAVE EXPECTED THAT HE WOULD MAYBE COME BACK AND RUN SOME DAY, BUT HE'S GOT A PRETTY SWEET DEAL IN CONGRESS THAT GETS ONLY SWEETER.

HE'S THE RANKING MEMBER ON THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, SO IF REPUBLICANS WERE EVER TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AGAIN, HE WOULD BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT.

AND SO HE'S GOING TO WAIT IT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

>> Bill: AMANDA, HE SEEMED TO LEAVE THAT DOOR CRACKED.

>> Amanda: ACCORDING TO THE AP REPORTING IT SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR THAT HIS FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS RETAKING THE HOUSE, BUT IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, THE GOVERNOR MIGHT BE A PLACE THAT HE WOULD BE LOOKING AT.

>> Bill: AS THE SCHOOL YEAR RESUMES UNDER THESE TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES, HOW ARE TEACHERS AND COUNSELORS PREMARRYING TO GET THINGS CAUGHT UP AND SUPPORT THEM EMOTIONALLY AND EVEN WITH OTHER UNCERTAINTY NOW?

>> Mandy: NUMBER ONE, TEACHERS WANT THEIR KIDS TO COME BACK AND FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED AND FEEL LIKE EVEN IN THE SUCKER WHERE YOU'RE STILL WEARING MASKS AT LEAST IN SOME CASES AND YOU STILL HAVE TO BE I THINK THREE FEET IS WHAT WE'RE HOPING FOR IN SCHOOLS, THAT YOU'RE STILL MAKING A HUMAN CONNECTION WITH YOUR TEACHERS AND WITH YOUR PEERS, SO I KNOW THAT'S GOING TO BE THE FIRST FOCUS, AND THEN AS FAR AS CATCHING THEM UP ACADEMICS-WISE, THIS IS NOT THE YEAR TO HIT EVERY SINGLE DETAILED STANDARD AND GRADE LEVEL OBJECTIVE IN YOUR LESSON, IN YOUR LONG PLAN.

IT IS THE TIME TO FOCUS ON, WOK WHAT ARE THE MAJOR THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BY NOW AND REALLY JUST TAKE YOUR TIME ON THOSE.

>> Bill: LITERALLY BACK TO THE BASICS P. RHODE ISLAND QUICKLY, INFRASTRUCTURE BILL LOOKS PROMISING FOR PASSAGE IN WASHINGTON.

THE BIDEN WHITE HOUSE HAS DANGLED POSSIBLE BENEFITS TO THE STATES, AND IT'S SEVERAL BILLION FOR KENTUCKY.

>> Ryland: KENTUCKY WILL GET $4.6 BILLION OUT OF IT, AND THAT'S JUST FOR HIGHWAYS.

$438MILLION ABOUT DR. OF IT WOULD GO TO BRIDGES AND SEVERAL OTHER INITIATIVES LIKE BROADBAND AND ELECTRONIC VEHICLE CHARGING, OBVIOUSLY MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF THIS, AND HE HAS INDICATED THAT HE MIGHT VOTE IN FAVOR OF IT.

HE SAID THERE'S AN EXCELLENT CHANCE IT WILL BE A SUCCESS STORY, WHICH PEOPLE WHO SPEAK COLINESEES McCONNELL- >> Bill: THIS YEAR WE REMEMBER PROSECUTOR RAY LARSON, A COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

LARSON WAS KNOWN AROUND THE COUNTRY AS A TOUGH LAW AND ORDER PROSECUTOR WHO HAND HIGH PROFILE CASES.

HE ALSO TOOK SPECIAL INTEREST IN VICTIMS CRIMES AND TRIED TO GET THEM CLOSURE.

HE WAS ALSO A CHAMPION OF SEATBELT LAWS EARLY ON.

RAY LARSON WAS 77.

AND FORMER DEMOCRATIC U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE AMY McGRATH WHO CHALLENGED SENATE REPUBLICAN MITCH McCONNELL IS OUT WITH A NEW BOOK THIS WEEK.

IT'S CALLED HONOR BOUND.

BE SURE TO JOIN US FOR COVERAGE FOR FANCY FARM COMING UP ON SATURDAY AND, OF COURSE, AS WELL