REMEMBERS FORMER GOVERNOR AND BUSINESSMAN JOHN Y.

BROWN, JR. REPUBLICANS GET YET ANOTHER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR, SOMERSET MAYOR ALAN KECK, AND NOW BOTH ARE PARTIES HAVE CANDIDATES FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL STATE SENATOR RALPH ALVARADO WH HAD HINTED AT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IS INSTEAD LEAVING THE STATE FOR A NEW JOB IN TENNESSE SCHOOLS DEAL WITH BOTH ABSENCES AND KIDS COMING TO SCHOOL SICK AS ILLNESSES GO AROUND.

ON THIS FIRST WEEKEND OF DECEMBER, "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 RYLAND BARTON, MANAGING REPORTE FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR LEXINGTON-HERALD LEADER.

ALSO TONIGHT, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE NAMES ITS NEXT PRESIDENT, AND A CHANGE IN THE WAY KENTUCKY HOUSES SOME FEMALE JUVENILE OFFENDERS.

YOU BUT FIRST, THIS WEEK KENTUCKY BUT FIRST THIS WEEK, K HAD TO SAY GOODBYE TO JOHN Y.

FORMER GOVERNOR JOHN Y.

BROWN, JR. DIED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE O HE WAS KNOWN FOR MAKING KENTUCK FRIED CHICKEN A HOUSEHOLD NAME AND A WORLDWIDE BRAND.

AND HE'S REMEMBERED FOR THE WAY HE LIVED THE COMMONWEALTH IN AN UNCONVENTIONAL WAY.

HE MODESTLY SAID THAT HIS SECRET WAS ATTRACTING PEOPLE TO WORK FOR HIM WHO WERE SMARTER THAN HE WAS.

BUT TRUTH IS PEOPLE WERE IN AWE OF HIS PRESENCE AND WERE SWEPT UP IN HIS ENTHUSIASM.

AND HIS FUNERAL THIS WEEK AND SINCE HIS DEATH, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REMARKED ON HOW MUCH THEY ENJOYED BEING AROUND HIM.

>> AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE MEASURE OF A MAN, WATCH HOW HE DIES, AND OUR FATHER DIED A BEAUTIFUL DEATH WITH ALL FIVE CHILDREN BY HIS SIDE.

LOVING ON HIM, CARING FOR HIM,.

>> I NEVER MET OR WAS AROUND ANYBODY WHO HAD A SHARPER MIND THAN HIS.

WE WOULD HAVE OPEN AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT UK AND POLITICS, STATE AND NATIONAL.

WE AGREED THAT ANY CONVERSATION WE HAD WOULD BE GRAVEYARD, WHICH MEANT THAT IF EITHER ONE OF US REPEATED THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO ANYBODY ELSE, WE WERE DEAD.

'67.

[LAUGHTER] >> Bill: MELISSA, WE ALL REMEMBER JOHN Y.

BROWN FROM THAT SMILE AND OFTEN UNRULY HAIR AND THE TWINKLE IN HIS EYE TO THAT OPTIMISM THAT DROVE HIM AND WAS SO INEFFICIENCE.

>> Melissa: IT WAS.

THEY'RE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY IN OUR GOVERNOR'S MANSION, MANSION, AND I WOULD PARTICULARLY JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE FAMILY FOR SHARING THEIR -- THE FUNERAL WITH US.

IT WAS JUST A MOST WONDERFUL SENDOFF AND JUST REALLY PAINTED A PICTURE OF HIS LIFE, AND THOSE YEARS WHEN LOVE AND KINDNESS AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER WAS SO IMPORTANT TO HIM.

>> Bill: IT WAS SUFFICIENT FOR KENTUCKY TO SAY GOODBYE, RN.

>> Ryland: IT WAS.

HE I WAS LARGER THAN LIFE FIGURE IN KENTUCKY, SOMEBODY HOE CHANGED HOUR GOVERNMENT WORKED IN KENTUCKY.

HE SAID HE WANT TO RUN THE STATE LIKE A BUSINESS.

HE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT OF THE SAME POLITICAL -- OWE A LOT OF THE SAME POLITICAL FAVORS FOR RUNNING FOR OFFICE SO WHEN WE CAME IN HE COULD APPOINT THE PEOPLE HE WANTED TO, MANY THEM BUSINESS PEOPLE TO CABINET SECRETARY POSITIONS WHICH WOULD NORMALLY BE HELD BY MORE POLITICIANS IN THE PAST SO IT HAD CHANGED THE WAY GOVERNMENT ENDED UP WORKING IN KENTUCKY FOR A LONG TIME.

ALSO HAD IMAGE OF HIS FAMILY.

THIS WEALTHY, GLAMOROUS FAMILY.

>> Bill: HE CONVINCED PEOPLE TO INTERRUPT THEIR CAREERS, SOME OF THEM VERY SUCCESSFUL AND VERY MUCH IN THEIR PRIME AND GIVE UP FOUR YEARS TO COME WORK IN FRANKFORT.

>> Ryland: RIGHT, AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE SEE THAT'S PRETTY COMMON EVERY TIME A NEW GOVERNOR COMES IN, USUALLY A COUPLE APPOINTEES ARE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND THEY TAKE A PASS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BRING THEIR PARTICULAR CONNECTIONS AND INFLUENCE AND ALSO EXPERTISE TO ONE OF THESE RELATED CABINET POSITIONS.

SO, YEAH, I THINK TO THAT A LOT OF HOW THE STATE WORKS NOW WE CAN TRACE IT BACK TO THAT PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATION.

>> Bill: SOME OF US CAN REMEMBER THAT DAY THAT HE AND PHYLLIS WALKED UP TO THE CAPITOL RIGHT BEFORE THE FILING DEADLINE IN 1979 WHEN HE JUMPED INTO THE RACE, STALE FUN FRANKFORT STORY, BECAUSE WHAT IS THIS WHIRLWIND CAMPAIGN AND THE ADMINISTRATION AFTER THAT THAT KENTUCKY TRIED TO KEEP UP WITH.

AUSTIN, HE REALLY JUST WAS A FORCE TO THAT CAMPAIGNS TODAY WOULD BE IN ENVY OF, RIGHT?

>> Austin: ABSOLUTELY.

HE REALLY APPROACHED EVERYTHING WITH A SORT OF GUSTO, I THINK, WHETHER IT'S BILLING KFC INTO THE INTERNATIONAL BRAND IT WAS OR RUNNING A CAMPAIGN, AND WHEN HE AND HIS WIFE PHYLLIS GEORGE WENT IN AND SIGNED UP TO RUN, THAT WAS A HUGE MOMENT, AND AS A COUPLE IT'S HARD TO MENTION JOHN Y.

BROWN, JR.

WITHOUT MENTIONING HIS WIFE, AND SHE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO HIS LEGACY BECAUSE SHE WAS A HUMONGOUS CELEBRITY AT THE TIME.

NOT ONLY WAS SHE MISS AMERICA BUT SHE WAS ON TV -- WHAT?

DR. EVERY SUNDAY COVERING NFL GAMES.

SO THEY WERE REALLY KIND OF THE POWER COUPLE.

AND THAT IS AN ENVY FOR A LOT OF POLITICIANS.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE HAD THAT IN SOME TIME IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: AND YOU KNOW IT REALLY WAS, AS YOU SAID, PHYLLIS WAS A NATIONAL STAR BUT SO WAS THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF, AND IT REALLY PUT KENTUCKY ON A MAP FOR THAT MOMENT IN TIME.

>> Melissa: IT DID.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S -- EVERYONE LOVES A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN POLITICS.

THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT APPEALS TO EVERYONE.

AND THEY REPRESENTED KENTUCKY WELL AND HAD A WONDERFUL NATIONAL PRESENCE, TOO, THAT I AM CERTAIN BROUGHT ATTENTION TO OUR STATE.

>> Bill: BROWN REALLY PAVED THE WAY FOR LEGISLATIVE INDEPENDENCE, RYLAND.

PREVIOUSLY GOVERNORS PRETTY MUCH HAD BEEN ABLE TO US J SORT OF DICTATE THEIR PRIORITIES WITH GET SOMEBODY TO CARRY THEIR BILL AND IT SAIL THROUGH.

HE LET THE LAWMAKERS MAKE THE LAWS.

>> Ryland: HE WAS A LOT LESS INTERESTED IN DOING THAT PART OF THE GOVERNING PROCESS.

HE FIGURED THERE'S THIS WHOLE OTHER BRANCH WE ARE WE LOOK AT THE FOLKS, WHY DON'T WE LET THEM DO THE-ELECT AND REPORT HE SPENT A SIGNIFICANT PERCENT OF OF HIS OUT OF TOWN WHERE HE LEFT MARTHA A LANE COLLINS IN CHARGE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

THAT IS REALLY THE MOMENT AGAIN WE CAN TRACE BACK THE INCREASINGLY POWERFUL LEGISLATURE TO THIS MOMENT WHERE LAWMAKERS STARTED TO REALIZE -- OR NOT REALIZE -- BUT THE POW SHIFT REALLY HAPPENED THEN WHERE THEY STARTED TO BUILD POWER TO THIS POINT NOW WHERE WE HAVE IN SOME WAYS THE LEGISLATURE IS KIND OF THE PREEMINENT BRANCH IS IN THE STATE AND IT SEEPS LIKE THEY HAVE A LOT MORE POWER THAN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR COLLINS SPOKE OUT ON HOW SHE WAS ABLE TO LEARN DURING THAT TIME AND THAT HE TURNED OVER AN ADMINISTRATION, A FRANKFORT TO HER HA WAS READY TO GO WHEN SHE BECAME GOVERNOR.

MELISSA, BROWN'S DEATH CAME AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH COMPLICATIONS FROM COVID, NOT AN UNFAMILIAR STORY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

>> Melissa: SADLY, HE'S SO TRUE.

WE'RE STILL LOSING ABOUT 40 PEOPLE A WEEK TO COVID, SO IT'S NOT GONE AWAY, AND WE'VE LOST A TOTAL OF 17,500 PEOPLE, WHICH IS JUST HARD TO BELIEVE.

AND WE KNOW THAT GOVERNOR BROWN HAD AT LEAST ONE VACCINATION BECAUSE HE WAS PART OF FIVE FORMER GOVERNORS WHO PUBLICALLY TOOK THEIR FIRST VACCINATION, SO WE KNOW HE WAS ON THAT PATH TO GET VACCINATED, BUT THE MESSAGE IS ALWAYS, IF YOU WANT THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE ILLNESS AND PROTECTIONS AGAINST DEATH, YOU NEED TO GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED.

>> Bill: HE CERTAINLY WAS AN ADVOCATE FOR VACCINE.

GOVERNOR BROWN WAS LAID TO REST AT THE LEXINGTON CEMETERY, AGAIN, HE WAS 88 YEARS OLD.

LET'S TALK SOME ABOUT NEXT YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S RACE, THE FILING DEADLINE JUST OVER A MONTH'S IN EASTERLY JANUARY, AND SINCE -- EARLY JANUARY, AND SINCE OUR LAST PROGRAM ZOOMSET MAYOR ALAN KECK JUMPED INTO THE RACE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

HE WAS JUST RE-ELECTED MAYOR BACK IN NOVEMBER.

BY MY UP ON THE COUNT, AUSTIN, THAT MAKES 13 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, A VERY PROUD CROWDED PRIMARY, AND KECK ISN'T AS WELL HAD KNOWN ASSAY DANIEL CAMERON OR EVEN MIKE HARMON.

HE DOES OF NOT PERSONAL WEALTH OF A KELLY CRAFT OR MAYBE THE DEFINED POLITICAL LANE THAT SAVANNAH MADDOX MIGHT HAVE OPEN TO HER.

SO WHAT IS KECK'S CALCULATION?

>> Austin: HE DOES NOT HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU LISTED, BUT HE IS, I WOULD SAY, AMONG ABOUT SEVEN CANDIDATES RUNNING PROFESSIONAL, AT LEAST SOMEWHAT WELL-FUNDED CAMPAIGNS OF THOSE 13, AND I THINK HIS SELLING POINT AS A CANDIDATE, THERE ARE KIND OF TWO.

ONE IS, AND HE'S GOING TO PUSH THIS HIMSELF.

HE SAID AS MUCH.

IS THAT HE IS AN EXECUTIVE, UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE FIELD.

HE'S BEEN AN EXECUTIVE BOTH IN THE PRIVATE SPHERE AND IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE.

HE RAN I BELIEVE HIS FATHER'S RECYCLING COMPANY.

AND THEN IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE HE'S BEEN AN EXECUTIVE OF A TOWN, SOMERSET, KENTUCKY, WHICH HAS SEEN SOME GROWTH OVER THE YEARS.

IF YOU GO DOWNTOWN, I THINK YOU'LL SEE SOME REVITALIZATION THERE, AND THE OTHER ARGUMENT IS THAT REGIONALISM IN A RACE LIKE THIS STILL MATTERS.

WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A DIVIDED FIELD, YOU CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT A GOP-HEAVY AREA LIKE SOMERSET, LONDON, CORBIN, THOSE KIND OF PLACES AROUND THERE MATTER A DECENT AMOUNT, AND WHEN YOU'RE IN A CROWDED PRIMARY WHERE THE FINISH LINE MIGHT BE ABOUT 20%, I MEAN, WHO KNOWS, THAT COULD GET YOU THERE IF YOU REALLY CARVE OUT THAT PART OF THE STATE.

>> Bill: IT'S A LOT OF CANDIDATES, AS YOU SAID.

AND KECK COULD ALSO LOSE AND MAYBE STILL WIN IN THE LONG RUN, RIGHT, IN TERMS OF GETTING SOME RECOGNITION FROM HAVING MADE THE RACE.

>> Austin: IT DOES NOT HURT, AS SOMEBODY WITH RELATIVELY LOW EXPECTATIONS, TO JUMP IN, BUILD P YOUR NAME ID.

HE'S 37 YEARS OLD.

HE COULD TAKE A CABINET POSITION, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, RUN FOR ANYTHING DOWN THE LOAD.

>> Bill: RN, KELLY CRAFT HAS BEEN OUT DOING FOLKSY APPEARANCES.

SHE WAS ON STAGE AND SEEN IN OTHER VENUES.

IS PART OF HER EFFORT RIGHT NOW TO BE RELATABLE?

>> Ryland: I THINK SO, AND I THINK SHOWING UP TO ALL THESE SORTS OF EVENTS WITH A LOT OF THEM REALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ESPECIALLY UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ATHLETICS, BUT, YES, SHOWING UP TO CONCERTS, THESE ARE GREAT WAYS TO GET YOUR NAME AND YOUR FACE OUT THERE.

EVEN THOUGH KELLY CRAFT HAS -- SHE HAS BEEN REALLY THE HIGHEST -- THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN THE COUNTRY IF NOT WORLD, AS THE FORMER AMBASSADOR FOR THE UNITED NATIONS, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY MIGHT NOT KNOW HER YET, SO THIS IS WHAT SHE'S TRYING TO DO TO GET HER NAME OUT THERE.

AND I WAS ACTUALLY KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THIS WEEK OR SO OF REFLECTION AFTER JOHN Y.

BROWN'S SETH REALLY, HE WAS SIMILARLY A WEALTHY CANDIDATE WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD AS WIDE NAME REC ANYTHING BEFORE THAT CAMPAIGN, AND HAD THIS DEEP CAMPAIGN TO GET HIS NAME OUT THERE AND NARROWLY WINNING THAT PRIMARY BACK IN 1979.

SO I THINK THAT KELLY CRAFT HAS A SIMILAR CHALLENGE AHEAD OF HER.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, RYAN QUARLES HAS NAMED RAND PAUL'S CAMPAIGN MANAGER TO HEAD UP HIS BID FOR GOVERNOR WITH JAKE COX.

WHAT WILL COX'S -- WHAT'S GOING TO BE JOB ONE FOR HIM IN TRYING TO STAND OUT IN THAT CROWD PRIMARY FOR QUARLES?

>> Austin: I THINK THIS IS KIND OF REFLECTIVE OF QUARLES' OVERALL STRATEGY.

HE REALLY WANTS TO BE SOMEBODY WHO KNOWS THE GROUND IN KENTUCKY THE BEST.

QUARLES HAS BEEN AROUND KENTUCKY POLITICS FOREVER AND HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN IT REVOLVER FOREVER.

AND JAKE COX, IN 2014 HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE MITCH McCONNELL CAMPAIGN AND HE'S REALLY BEEN AROUND THE BLOCK AND HE'S ALSO INNER REJECTED.

HE'S ONLY 31 YEARS OLD.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD GET FOR QUARLES.

AND IT KIND OF STANDS IN CONTRAST TO THE OTHER CAMPAIGN MANAGER THAT WE KNOW OF PUBLICALLY WITH KELLIE CEASE CAMPAIGN MANAGER BEING JONATHAN EWING WHO IS DEEPLY INVOLVED WITH THE GLENN YOUNGERIN CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA WHICH WAS A HIGHLIGHT TOUTED REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN THAT RODE THIS WAVECH PARENTS' RIGHTS I THINK IS KIND OF THE BUZZ PHRASE OF THE TIME.

SO IT'S A CONTRAST BETWEEN KENTUCKY-BASED AND MORE NATIONAL ROW NORTHBOUND.

>> Bill: RYLAND, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ANY HEARING ANYTHING OF A POSSIBLE RUNOFF?

AGAIN WITH 13 CANDIDATES.

AND SOMEBODY WINNING WITH MAYBE 15% OF THE VOTE 1 YOU GO INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION HAVING TO CONVINCE YOUR OWN PARTY TO BE FOR YOU FIRST, RIGHT?

>> Ryland: THERE ARE CERTAINLY ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE FOR IT.

I HAVEN'T BEEN HEARING THIS TALKED ABOUT VERY SERIOUSLY AMONG LAWMAKERS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING FOR ANY STATE TO CONSIDER, ALTHOUGH IT DOES KIND OF -- IT CAN OFTEN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF ELECTIONS THAT YOU HAVE OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR IF YOU END UP HAVING SO MANY CLOSE RACES AS WE HAVE SEEN IN RECENT YEARS.

>> Bill: THE 1999 REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR IS ENTERING THE RACE AS A DEMOCRAT.

>> Ryland:IT THEY'RE.

PEPPY MARTIN WHO IS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WHO LOST TO INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT AT THE TIME PAUL PATTON HAS FILED TO RUN AS A DEMOCRAT AGAINST ANDY'S BESHEAR.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER THAT ANDY HAS PULLED FOR THE 2023 RACE.

SHE SAYS THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE HER CAMPAIGN ABOUT ELIMINATE 10 SAY THE INCOME TAX, ALSO LEGALIZING MARIJUANA.

SHE SAYS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S COVID POLICIES WERE TOO STRINGENT.

SHE WAS REALLY CHALLENGE BY PATTON BACK IN THAT RACE.

THIS IS ALSO THE RACE THAT GATEWOOD GALBRAITH WAS ABLE TO GET 15% OF THE VOTE BECAUSE NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE LINING UP BEHIND MS. MARTIN.

>> Bill: SENATOR RALPH ALVARADO WAGS SENATOR IT'S MATT BEVIN'S RUNNING MATE IN 2019.

NOW HE'S LEAVING KENTUCKY TO HEAD UP PUBLIC HEALTH TO HEAD UP THE STATE OF TENNESSEE.

HE'S GOING TO BE THE ESSENTIALLY THE DR. STEVEN STACK OF THE VOLUNTEER IT'S STATE, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: YES, HE IS.

ANYONE WHO HAS FOLLOWED SENATOR ALVARADO KNOWS HE LOVES TO MAKE POLICY AND ARGUE FOR POLICY, AND IN HIS PRESS RELEASE HE SAID THIS OPPORTUNITY WILL GIVE HIM AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT ON PUBLIC POLY, SO THAT'S WHAT'S HE'S COUNTING ON.

HE ALSO HAS SAID THAT HIS -- WHAT'S THE WORD HE SAID?

-- POLICY VISION LINES UP WITH THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN TENNESSEE, AND SO THAT I'M SURE HE'S THINKING THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT AS WELL.

>> Bill: IS IT A PRICE HE WOULD DITCH HIS KENTUCKY I OBJECT POLITICAL CAREER?

?

>> Melissa: I'M SURPRISED ONLY BECAUSE HIS MISSION WAS ANN TO INSTILL TORT REFORM IN KENTUCKY, AND HE'S WORKED REALLY HARD AT THAT AND GOTTEN VERY CLOSE A FEW TIMES AND IT JUST HASN'T HAPPENED, SO I'M SURPRISED HE'S LEAVING BEFORE -- BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.

BUT I ALSO WONDER IF HE'S LOOKING AT A BIGGER PRIZE AND THAT THIS COULD BE A STEPPING STONE TO SOME SORT OF NATIONAL ROLE.

>> Bill: HE'S HAD A NATIONAL PROFILE.

>> Ryland: I THINK THAT'S I REALLY RIGHT.

HE I WAS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE 2016 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

HE'S REALLY MADE A LOT OF APPEARANCES SINCE THEN, OF COURSE, BEING MATT BEVIN'S-RUN MATE IN 2019.

HE HAD REALLY BECOME A PRETTY -- A FIGURE THAT HE WAS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT HEALTH ISSUES IN KENTUCKY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS BUT I THINK NAS RIGHT.

THIS IS A STEPPING STONE, A STEP UP FOR SEMISOFT GOVERNMENT CAREER.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT ROAD THAN THE POLITICAL SIDE OF THINGS BUT MIGHT BE A DIFFERENT SIDE OF COIN FOR HIM.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, IT OPENS A SPECIAL ELECTION EARLY NEXT YEAR.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

HE IS RESIGNING IN EARLY JANUARY AFTER THE LEGISLATURE CALLS INTO SESSION BUT BEFORE HE STARTS, OBVIOUSLY, IN TENNESSEE, WHICH IS IN MID-JANUARY, SO THAT MEANS SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS HAS THE POWER TO CALL A SPECIAL ELECTION.

I WOULD EXPECT THAT SEAT TO BE OPEN FOR MOST OF THE SESSION.

YOU CAN ONLY CALL AN ELECTION SO QUICKLY.

AND THE NOMINATING PROCESS IS KIND OF INTERESTING THERE.

IT'S NOT A NORMAL PRIMARY.

IT'S THE PARTY CHAIRS OF EACH COUNTY COME TOGETHER AND PICK A NOMINEE ON THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN SIDE AND THENAL THERE BE A GENERAL WHERE VOTERS OF THE DISTRICT GET TO DECIDE.

>> Bill: THERE WILL BE AN ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE NEXT YEAR, REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATS NOW HAVE ACTIVE CANDIDATES.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

PAM STEVENSON DECLARED, I BELIEVE, LATE LAST WEEK.

SHE IS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM LOUISVILLE.

I BELIEVE SHE TOOK OVER CHARLES BOOKER'S SEAT, CORRECT?

AND SHE'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN VERY -- AN ENERGETIC MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

SHE'S GIVEN FIERY FLOOR SPEECHES ON A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT TOPICS.

I WOULD EXPECT HER TO BRING A DECENT AMOUNT OF ENERGY TO THIS RACE.

MEANWHILE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THINGS WE HAVE RUSSELL COLEMAN WHO WAS THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY AND HE'S VERY MUCH A McCONNELL TIED KIND OF PERSON WHO HAS RAISED A BIG CHUNK OF MONEY SO FAR, SO IT'S A BIT OF AN UPHILL BATTLE BUT WE'LL SEE.

AND THERE MAY BE MORE TO COME ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THINGS.

WE NEVER KNOW.

>> Bill: FOR AG COMMISSIONER JONATHAN SCHELL FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAS OFFICIALLY ENTERED.

IT'S EXPECTED HE WILL FACE REPRESENTATIVE HEATH FOR TO GOP NOMINATION, AND THIS WEEK JOE SONKA FROM THE COURIER-JOURNAL ASKED THE GOVERNOR'S SENIOR ROCKY ADKINS IF HE WILL ENTER ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

ADD KIN SIDESTEPPED THAT AND SAID HIS JOB IS GETTING THE GOVERNOR RE-ELECTED.

MIGHT THAT INCLUDE GETTING THE GOVERNOR REELECTED?

>> Ryland: IT'S POLLEN SINCE HE SIDESTEPPED THAT BUT AS WE'VE STEAD MANY TIME HAD TO SHOW IT'S VERY MARRED FOR A DEMOCRAT TO WIN IN KENTUCKY THESE DAYS.

BUT ANDY BESHEAR HAS SHOWN THERE IS A PATH TOWARD FOR IT IN.

THERE'S MORE LIKELY SOMETHING LIKE THAT COULD HAPPEN.

ROCKY ADKINS HAS BECOME MORE OF A WELL-KNOWN COMMODITY ACROSS THE STATE AND ESPECIALLY HE'S ALREADY BEEN THERE THAT ARE YEARS AND YEARS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND NORTHEAST KENTUCKY, SO IT WOULD BE A VERY INTERESTING RACE, BUT HE'S ALSO GOT, SEEMS LEUNING HE WAS A PRETTY GOOD GIG GOING IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, YOU'RE GOING TO WATCH THIS REPUBLICAN RACE FOR OPEN STATE TREASURER'S JOB.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT ANDREW COOPERRIDER WHO HAS BEEN SORT OF A LOCAL CELEBRITY RAGING AGAINST COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS PRETTY EARLY WITH HIS COFFEE SHOP IN LEXINGTON.

AND WE'VE GOT O.J.ALAKWA, A RELATIVELY UNKNOWN FIGURE BUT HE DID WORK AS DEPUTY TREASURER UNDER CURRENT TREASURER ALLISON BALL.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE KIND OF A REAL SORT OF ESTABLISHMENT AGAINST LIBERTY SORT OF BATTLE HERE, AND COOPERRIDER HAS WHAT I ANY IS THE CURRENT NAME ID ADVANTAGE, BUT ALAKA COULD EASILY CATCH UP WITH HE RUNS A SOLID CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DR. JASON GLASS TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW FOR KWKT TV TODAY THAT IT WILL TAKE STUDENTS TIME TO CATCH UP FROM THE LOST LEARNING FROM THE COVID INTERRUPTIONS.

>> HOW DEEP IS THE HOLE?

AND IT'S WORSE IN SOME SUBJECTS THAN HORSE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

MATH.

WE JUST LOOK AT MATH AND LITERACY, BOTH OF THEM SIGNIFICANT DECLINES.

LOOKING BACK ALMOST 15 TO 20 YEARS OF GAINS IN LITERACY, NEUM RAS I WIPE OUT WITH THESE RESULTS.

BUT AGAIN I THINK THAT IT'S -- IT'S A TEMPORARY BUT SIGNIFICANT SETBACK.

I DO SEE PROGRESS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS 1 BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE WIDE--EYED AND REALISTIC THAT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE AS A COUPLE OF YEARS TO FULLY RECOVER FROM THIS.

>> Bill: AND MELISSA, WE KNOW ABOUT WE TALK ABOUT RECOVERY IT'S ACADEMICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY BY A LOT OF METRICS.

>> Melissa: IT IS.

IT IS.

AND THOSE TEST SCORES WERE TRULY DISMAL, AND THESE STUDENTS ARE SO FAR BEHIND, THEY'RE JUST HAVING TO FIGURE ON THE HOW TO CATCH THEM UP EVERY DAY, AND ON TOP OF THAT, THEY'VE GOT EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES.

A STUDY THAT JUST DROPPED RECENTLY SHOWED THAT USING BRAIN SCANS OF TEENAGERS BEFORE AND AFTER THE PANDEMIC, THAT THEY ARE SHOWING CHANGES SIMILAR TO CHILDREN WHO FACED CHRONIC STRESS AND ANXIETY, AND THAT THESE BRAIN CHANGES ALSO INCREASE THE RISK OF MORE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION, SO ON TOP OF THAT WE'VE GOT ALL THESE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.

>> Bill: STILL GOING AROUND OR THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL SICK IN SOME CASES.

>> Melissa: AND THEY'RE GOING TO SCHOOL SICK.

AND, YOU KNOW, PARENTS HAVE TO WORK.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR KIDS NOT MISSING ANY MORE SCHOOL.

AND PEOPLE ARE JUST WEARY.

EVERYBODY JUST WANTS A NORMAL -- A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR, AND WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

>> Bill: YOU WROTE ABOUT A STUDY THAT SEEMS TO SHOW A CORRELATION BETWEEN INCREASED SUICIDE RATES IN COUNTIES WITH SHORTAGES OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND RESOURCES.

>> Melissa: SO THE STUDY FOUND THAT MORE THAN TWO-THIRDS OF THE COUNTIES THAT HAD YOUTH SUICIDES WERE DESIGNATED A MENTAL HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AREAS.

AND SO THEY ALSO FOUND AN INCREASE IN FIREARM SUICIDES IN THOSE SAME COUNTIES.

SO THE MESSAGE IS THAT THAT WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO INCREASE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN THESE -- IN ALL OF KENTUCKY COUNTIES, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE IS DESIGNATED AS ONE OF THOUGH HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE AREAS.

AND WHETHER THAT'S PROVIDING SERVICES AT SCHOOL OR MAKING SURE THAT YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR IS CAPABLE AND COMPETENT IN TREATING MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, WE DO HAVE A 988 SUICIDE CRISIS NUMBER THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO 24 HOURS A DAY.

SO, YOU KNOW, PLEASE USE IT IF YOU NEED IT.

>> Bill: UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ANNOUNCED ITS NEXT PRESIDENT THIS WEEK, DR. KIM CATSEL WILL BECOME A UofL'S 19th PRESIDENT ON FEBRUARY 1st.

SHE'S COMING FROM TOWSON UNIVERSITY IN MARYLAND.

RYLAND, SHE HAS EM 235 SIDES AFFORDABILITY AND INCLUSION WHILE AT TOWSON.

>> Ryland: SHE LED TOWSON START IN 2016 SO THAT'S BEEN THERE A WHILE.

ONE OF THINGS SHE MADE CLEAR IS SHE'S GOING TO BE AROUND FOR A WHILE.

SHE SAID YOU'RE STUCK WITH ME.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE WHO WERE AGGRIEVED AFTER FORMER PRESIDENT BEN DIPUTEY WHO WAS VERY WELL LIKED LEFT AFTER TWO TO THREE YEARS AND PEOPLE FELT LIKE THAT WAS TOO SHORT A TIME.

SHE HAD SOME VERY SUCCESSFUL METRICS OF HERS IN GRADUATING BLACK STUDENTS FROM TOWSON AND ALSO THE OVERALL COLLEGE'S GRADUATION RATE IS SOMETHING THAT UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE ASPIRES TO, AND THERE ARE ALSO KIND OF SIMILARLY SIZED INSTITUTIONS.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY WILL OPEN UP IT IS ALL FIRST ALL FEE MILE JUVENILE DETENTION FILL THE A 35 BED INSTITUTION.

>> Ryland: LAST MONTH THERE WITH A RIGHT AT A FACILITATE IN ADAIR COUNTY WHERE INMATES IN THE FEMALE WING THE RIOTED AND THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION WHETHER THERE WAS A SEXUAL ASSAULT INVOLVED THAT PRECIPITATED THAT, SO THIS IS COMING IN A LITTLE BIT OF A REACTION TO THAT, BUT ALSO HAVING AN ISOLATED, FEMALES HAVING -- FEMALE JUVENILES HAVING THEY EVER OWN FACILITY IS MORE OF A SAFETY ISSUE FROM THE ADMINISTRATION'S STANDPOINT.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, WE STILL AWAIT THE ABORTION RULING FROM THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT.

WILL IT DETERMINE WHETHER THE STATE'S BAN CAN BE ENFORCED UNTIL THERE IS A TRIAL TO ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY.

>> Austin: HEIGHT.

WE DO SEE IN HEARING SOME JUSTICES POKE HOLES IN THE AJ'S ABORTION ABOUT AN.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THIS CURRENT CASE WE'RE HEARING ABOUT IS ABOUT WHETHER ABORTIONS CAN TAKE PLACE WHILE THE CASE ON ITS MERIT IS BEING DECIDED, AND THOSE THINGS ARE RELAYED BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME THING.

>> Bill: MELISSA, THE U.S. SENATE PASSED THE CAROL ACT NAMED FOR THE WIFE OF CONGRESSMAN BARR WHO DIED VERY YOUNG.

>> Melissa: SHE PASSED AWAY FROM A MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE WHICH ONLY CAUSES DEATH IN ABOUT .2%.

BUT THERE'S ALSO A BROADER CATEGORY OF WHAT THEY CALL VALVULAR HEART DISEASE, AND THIS ACT BRINGS ATTENTION TO ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS AND ALSO INCREASES RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH, AND IT'S ALREADY -- IT HAD PASSED THE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY EARLY THIS YEAR AND PASSED THE SENATE UNANIMOUSLY, AND NOW ALL THE THINGS HAVE TO PASS BACK AND FORTH BEFORE THE PRESIDENT BE SIGN IT.

>> Bill: A DROPPED A STORY ABOUT FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, AND THEY SOMETIMES GET SUED, AND YOUR STORY EXPLAINS HOW THEY HANDLE THAT.

>> Melissa: SO KAISER HEALTH NEWS EARLY THIS WEEK REVEALED THAT OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, WHICH SERVE SOME OF THE POOREST KENTUCKIANS ACROSS THE STATE, THAT WHILE THEY CAN BE SUED, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BECOMES THE DEFENDANT IN THOSE CASES AND THAT ANY PAYMENTS THAT ARE MADE COME FROM OUR TAX DOLLARS, THAT IT DOES NO BECOME THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HEALTH CENTER.

AND SO KENTUCKY HAD ABOUT NINE HOSPITALS ON THE LIST, AND WITH THE HIGH SETTLEMENT OF $5 MILLION P. >> Bill: ONE OF THE TALKERS THE WEEK SIGH PROPOSED TUNNEL THAT WOULD LINK THE KENTUCKY FAIRGROUNDS WITH DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

IT'S JUST AN IDEA FOR NOW.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.