2021 HAS BEEN A YEAR OF TRAGEDY AND SOME HIGH POINTS FOR KENTUCKY.

TONIGHT WE LOOK BACK.

NATURAL DISASTER STRUCK HARD FROM ICE STORMS AND FLOODING TO THE HORRIBLE TORNADO OUTBREAK THAT HAS TEMPERED THE JOY OF THE HOLIDAYS.

SOME KENTUCKIANS WERE CHARGED IN THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL.

COVID REFUSED TO LET GO AS OMICRON THREATENS AS WE HEAD TOWARD A NEW YEAR.

ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE, WE BRING YOU A SPECIAL EDITION OF COMMENT NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE, I'M BILL BRYANT.

WE WELCOME TO YOU COMMENT ON KENTUCKY AS WE LOOK BACK ON 2021.

AND ON THE REMARKABLE CAREERS OF TWO OF OUR LONG TIME PANELISTS WHO HAVE DECIDED IT'S TIME FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER.

WE TAPED THIS PROGRAM TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, TO GIVE OUR PANEL AND THE CREW HERE AT KET A CHANCE TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAY.

AND OUR GUESTS TONIGHT ARE LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE, DEBORAH YETTER, REPORTER FOR THE "COURIER JOURNAL" AND JACK BRAMMER, BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER."

LET'S START WHERE WE ARE BEFORE GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE DEADLY TORNADOES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY WERE TRAGIC AND YET BROUGHT THE STATE TOGETHER AND WE ARE MINDFUL OF THE MANY HARD SHIPS FOR MANY.

IT IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG ROAD BACK FOR MANY.

YOU KNOW, BILL, WE THREW AROUND THE WORD UNPRECEDENTED A LOT, BUT THIS IS TRULY UNPRECEDENTED, THE WORST NATURAL DISASTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE.

AND YOU'VE HAD THAN TIRE COMMUNITIES DEVASTATED.

THREE QUARTERS OF DAWSON SPRINGS IS GONE.

SECTIONS OF MAYFIELD, NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOWLING GREEN FLATTENED.

THERE ARE MANY DECISIONS THAT MUST BE MADE ABOUT WHAT IS REBUILD, HOW TO REBUILD IT AND HOW TO GET PEOPLE-- HOW TO GET THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER, ESSENTIALLY.

>> THERE COMES THE QUESTION, IS THERE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE THAT SUSTAINED EFFORT OVER TIME THAT IS NOT WEEKS OR MONTHS BUT MAYBE YEARS?

>> THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.

WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN, THERE IS USUALLY A LARGE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AND ATTENTION EARLY ON.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO GO ON FOR MONTHS AND YEARS AND THE QUESTION IS WILL THAT SUPPORT-- WILL THAT STRUCTURE BE THERE DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THESE FOLKS ARE STILL TRYING TO PUT THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER?

>> YOU KNOW, THE COOPERATION THAT WE'VE SEEN IN KENTUCKY HAS BEEN HEART WARMING, BOTH FROM A GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT AND EVERYDAY KENTUCKIANS WHO HELPED IN LOTS OF WAYS FROM SENDING SUPPLIES AND GOODS TO JUST GOING OUT THERE AND IN SOME CASES GOING OUT THERE AND PICKING UP A SHOVEL AND LITERALLY HELPING.

IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING TO SEE, DAN.

>> IT IS REMARKABLE.

I THINK GOVERNOR BESHEAR STARTED A FUND FOR FOLKS EARLY ON AND IT'S PICKED UP TO MORE THAN $21 MILLION LAST I HEARD, WHICH IS GOING TO BE USED INITIALLY FOR FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR THE 76 PEOPLE LOST IN THE TORNADO.

AND THEN THEY WILL START HELPING PEOPLE WHO WERE UNINSURED, REBUILDING THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE A NUMBER OF FOLKS DOWN THERE DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND I THINK FEMA PAYS A MAX OF 35,000 IN THOSE CASES SO THEY'RE CLEARLY GOING TO NEED MORE.

>> AND THE TOY DRIVE BY THE FIRST LADY.

THEY WERE INUNDATED WITH TOYS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY COMING IN BY TRUCK LOAD.

IT REMINDS OF WHAT A TOUGH TIME OF THE YEAR THIS WAS.

PEOPLE JUST WANTED TO GET INTO A TRUCK AND MOVE IN AND I UNDERSTAND THAT FEELING THAT YOU WANT TO RESPOND THAT WAY.

I THINK A RESPONSE LIKE THIS HAS TO BE ORGANIZED AND YOU CAN'T JUST GO.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU NEED RIGHT NOW AND CERTAIN THINGS YOU NEED LATER.

IT WILL BE A TRICK TO COORDINATE ALL THAT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

>> JACK, THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION THAT MAY HAVE SURPRISED SOME THAT WE COULD HAVE COME TOGETHER IN THIS WAY WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE SEE THIFNTION IN RED OR BLUE THESE DAYS.

>> THAT'S THE MOST SATISFYING ASPECTED OF THIS TRAGEDY THAT WE'VE WITNESSED.

I'VE OFTEN SAID ON THIS SHOW THAT TWO WEEKS IN POLITICS CAN BE AN ETERNITY AND IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW.

AND WE HAVE SEEN A GOVERNOR, ANDY BESHEAR, IN MY OPINION, HIS STATURE HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY.

JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY I'VE TALKED TO GIVE HIM HIGH MARKS FOR THE WAY HE HAS BEEN ADMINISTRATOR OF THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE HOOS LIVES WERE JUST TORN APART.

HE HAS BEEN ON THE SCENE, THE COUNTLESS HOURS AND EVEN HAD A REPUBLICAN FRIEND IN LOUISVILLE LAST WEEK TELL ME, WELL, I GUESS HE IS GOING TO WIN REELECTION NOW.

I SAID THAT'S FARTHER THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY.

THERE IS STILL A LOT TO HAPPEN.

BUT I THINK HE HAS-- HE DESERVES HIGH MARKS FOR THE WAY HE PERFORMED.

>> THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF WHAT HE IS JUDGED ON, PART OF HIS LEGACY SO TO SPEAK IS BEING THE CRISIS GOVERNOR, FIRST WITH COVID AND NOW WITH THIS.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN QUICKLY DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND HE WAS IN KENTUCKY AS WELL AND CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMBER, A FREQUENT CRITIC OF THE PRESIDENT WAS ON AIR FORCE 1 AND TOURED THE AREA WITH THE PRESIDENT.

>> I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY POLITICAL BICKERING THROUGHOUT THIS ORDEAL DURING THE TORNADOES.

>> THEY WERE SILENT AND PRAISE WORTHY.

A SENATE REPUBLICAN PRAISED GOVERNOR BESHEAR THAT DANNY CAROL FROM PADUCAH, WHO IS A FREQUENT CRITIC OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS PRAISING HIM FOR HIS RESPONSE IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING LAST WEEK.

>> AND GOOD FOR CONGRESSMAN COMBER TO PUT POLITICAL DISAGREEMENTS ASIDE FOR THE SAKE OF A DISPLAY OF UNITY AGAINST THE TORNADO AND SUPPORTING THE DISASTER RELIEF.

GOOD FOR HIM FOR DOING THAT.

>> WELL, OUR THOUGHTS ARE CERTAINLY WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE STILL OR DEALING WITH THAT AND HAVE A LONG ROAD BACK.

IT WAS A WILD YEAR IN WEATHER, EVEN BEFORE THE AWFUL TORNADOES.

WE HAD THREE ICE STORMS EARLY IN THE YEAR; FLOODING ISSUES BACK IN THE SUMMER, LOTS OF CHALLENGES FROM MOTHER NATURE.

AS WE LOOK BACK AT 2021, LET'S GO BACK TO THE FIRST OF THE YEAR AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EVENTS AND CHALLENGES.

FIRST OF ALL, COVID CHASED US RIGHT INTO 2021.

BUT WE WERE ALSO JUST GETTING VACCINES AVAILABLE.

AND THE ROLLOUT GAVE MANY KENTUCKIANS SOME MORE FREEDOM, AT LEAST FOR I TIME.

THEN CAME THE DELTA STRAIN AND OMICRON STRAIN IS ROLLING THROUGH.

BUT ONCE THE VACCINES WERE AVAILABLE, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO GET PEOPLE IMMUNIZED.

THERE WAS SOME RELUCTANCE AND THAT BECAME PART OF THE STORY LINE AS WELL.

>> WE ARE A YEAR AWAY FROM WHEN THE VACCINES FIRST CAME TO KENTUCKY.

AND THERE WAS GENERAL EUPHORIA THEY FIRST GOT HERE AND THE GREAT HOPE THAT IT WOULD GET US TO THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF COVID.

IT HASN'T REALLY WORKED OUT.

WE HAVE, AFTER A YEAR OF REALLY MONUMENTAL EFFORT, WE'VE GO THE ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE VACCINATED AT THIS STATE BUT IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT AND THEY'VE HAD TO FIGHT A LOT OF MISINFORMATION, THE CONTROVERSY, VACCINES HAVE BECOME POLITICAL.

THAT STILL DRAGS ON.

AND THE LONGER THAT GOES, PEOPLE SAY THE MORE CHANCES WE HAVE FOR MORE OF THESE PESKY VARIANTS THAT KEEP COMING AROUND.

>> THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WAS REALLY STRAINED AND CHALLENGED AS WELL THROUGH THE YEAR.

>> DURING A COUPLE OF THE REALLY BAD SPIKES OF LAST WINTER AND THEN AGAIN IN THE SUMMER, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITALS AND WE ARE ALREADY SUFFERING A NURSING SHORTAGE AND THEY WERE INUNDATED WITH PEOPLE DURING SOME OF THE BAD SPIKES OR SURGES OF COVID.

>> THE NATIONAL GUARD BEING DEPLOYED TO HOSPITALS, WHO THOUGHT THEY WOULD SEE THAT, RIGHT?

>> IT WAS A STARTLING IMAGE WHEN I SAW THE TROOPS AT BAPTIST HOSPITAL HEALTH SYSTEMS IN LOUISVILLE COMING IN TO PITCH IN BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL SHORT STAFFED IN ALL AREAS AND THEN THE SAME WAS TRUE THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY.

>> DEB DEBBIE, IT MADE READILY APPARENT THE NURSING SHORTAGE.

NOT ONLY IS IT ACUTE RIGHT NOW WITH WAS IS GOING ON, BUT IT'S OBVIOUS WE HAVE A LONG-TERM CHALLENGE THERE.

>> RIGHT, THE NURSING SHORTAGE HAS BEEN BUILDING UP FOR YEARS AND THIS JUST KIND OF EXPOSED IT, I THINK.

AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, THAT ACCELERATED THE DEPARTURE OF NURSES INTO OTHER FIELDS THAT MAYBE THAT PAID BETTER, MORE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST RETIRED OR LEFT FOR OTHER OCCUPATIONS BECAUSE IT WAS JUST SO INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL.

>> AND RECENTLY A COUPLE MONTHS AGO NOW ON A BRIEFING BY THE KENTUCKY NURSES ASSOCIATION, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW NURSES ARE VIEWED MORE DIFFERENTLY NOW THAN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY WERE HAILED AS HEROES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC BUT AS IT DRAGGED ON AND ESPECIALLY AS NURSES ARRIVEED AND NURSE-- MASK MANDATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THE PUBLIC OPINION HAS CHANGED.

BUT THE NURSES HAVE DONE FANTASTIC JOB UNDER IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS, THEY NEED TO BE APPLAUDED FOR THAT.

>> NO DOUBT.

>> YOU HAVE TO FEEL FOR NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT SPREADING SO QUICKLY AND WHAT ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN I THINK NEXT YEAR'S COMMENTS, THEY WILL BE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO GET VACCINATED AND GET THEIR BOOSTERS.

>> I THINK WE ARE ALSO SPEAKING TO SOME OF THE YOUNG FOLKS AND THEIR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS SAY MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT THE NURSING FIELD BECAUSE THOSE JOBS ARE GOING TO BE IN DEMAND.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> GOING FORWARD.

>> LAWRPS, AS 2020 WE REMEMBER IN TERMS OF COVID AND THE GOVERNOR'S BRIEFINGS AND THE LOCK DOWNS AND ALL OF THAT.

WHAT DO WE REMEMBER 2021 FOR IN THE FIGHT WITH COVID?

>> WELL, I THINK INITIALLY, IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE REACTION TO ALL THAT, BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS REACTING TO THE ACTIONS THE GOVERNOR TOOK AND SEVERELY RESTRICTING HIS ABILITY TO ACT UNILATERALLY TO COMBAT THE PANDEMIC, REDUCING HIS EMERGENCY POWERS.

HIM NEEDING TO GET PERMISSION TO EXTEND EMERGENCY ORDERS SO I THINK THE BIG THING IS THE REACTION TO THAT FROM REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR DID DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> AND THAT LED TO A KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT DECISION, WHERE ALL THE JUSTICES, UNANIMOUSLY AGREED WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND THEY DID CURB THE POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR THEN CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION AND HE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT SESSION, RIGHT?

>> HE DID.

>> HE DIDN'T PUT IT ON THE AGENDA TO CURTAIL HIS POWER BUT HE KNEW IT WAS COMING.

>> HE HAS SAID NOW THE RESPONSE IS ON THEM.

I'VE DONE WHAT I CAN DO.

NOW IT'S ON THE REPUBLICANS.

>> THEY DID CURTAIL HIS POWER BUT I STILL SAY HE IS FRONT AND CENTER OF THE STATE'S BATTLE AGAINST COVID, BY VIRTUE OF HIS WEEKLY NEWS CONFERENCES.

>> BIWEEKLY SOMETIMES.

>> SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR STRUGGLED WITH HOW TO WORK IN THE ERA OF COVID, MOST WERE SHUT DOWN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THEN THEY TRIED TO RETURN TO NORMAL WITH MIXED APPROACHES AND SOME MIXED SUCCESS AS WELL.

>> I THINK WE ARE STILL SEEING SOME OF THE IMPACT OF KIDS BEING OUT OF SCHOOL, LEARNING REMOTELY FOR A YEAR, BOTH IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO IN BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.

A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH STUDENTS FIGHTING AND SERIOUS AS THAT TO NOT PAYING ATTENTION AND BEING ABLE TO CATCH UP ACADEMICALLY.

WE SEE FOWLT FROM THAT A YEAR-- FAULT FROM THAT A YEAR LATER.

>> THERE WAS A REFERENCE ALONG THE WAY TO A TWINDEMIC THE COVID CRISIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO ANOTHER THING GETTING WORSE AND THAT'S THE AWFUL BATTLE WITH THE OPIOID ADDICTION WE HAVE IN KENTUCKY.

>> THAT DEFINITELY DID SPIKE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IN FACT LAST YEAR WE HIT A RECORD NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

I KNOW ONE THING, DURING THE SHUTDOWN, PEOPLE LOST ACCESS TO MEETINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST JOBS.

THEY WERE MORE ISOLATED SO IT LED TO A LOT OF THE FACTORS THAT MIGHT TRIGGER PEOPLE TO RELAPSE AND START USING SUBSTANCES AGAIN.

SO I KNOW THE STATE IS DEFINITELY FOCUSED AND THEY'RE TRYING TO GET MORE FEDERAL AND STATE MONEY INTO PREVENTION AND TREATMENT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE, I THINK, A HARD ROAD BACK.

>> YOU KNOW, THE SOCIAL WORKER SHORTAGE REALLY CAME TO BEAR.

MORE THAN 600 HAVE LEFT THIS YEAR.

>> IT WAS VERY STARTLING.

600 LEFT OUT OF THE WORKFORCE SO MAYBE AROUND 4,000 SOMETHING HAVE LEFT OVER THIS PAST YEAR, CALENDAR YEAR, JUST CITING THE INCREDIBLE STRESS.

MOST OF THEM WENT TO WORKING REMOTE.

THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MEET WITH FAMILIES, MAYBE OUTSIDE OR REMOTELY.

THAT WAS HARD.

CASES WERE PILING UP.

AND IT JUST LED TO AN EXODUS OF RETIREES OR YOUNGER WORKERS FINDING, ESPECIALLY WITH JOBS BEING OFFERED RIGHT NOW IN OTHER AREAS, THAT THEY COULD GO TO WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR HOSPITALS, FOR NURSING HOMES, FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT NEED SOCIAL WORKERS, AND MAKE MORE MONEY AND HAVE WAY LESS STRESS.

>> WE'VE SEEN IN IN A LOT OF PROFESSIONAL AND NON-PROFESSIONAL CAREERS CALLED THE GREAT RESIGNATION.

NURSES AS YOU MENTIONED.

WE SEE IT IN PUBLIC ADVOCATES.

WE'VE SEEN IT IN CORRECTIONS, JAIL, WARDENS AND IT'S A PROBLEM.

YOU GO TO ALMOST ANY RESTAURANT AND YOU ARE GOING SEE A SIGN OUT FRONT SAYING NOW HIRING.

>> CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO REHIRE SOME OF THE PEOPLE, TO HIRE NEW POLICE OFFICERS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE THE PAY, DO MORE INCENTIVES TO GET THE JOBS FILLED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE FILLED.

>> AT A TIME LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE HAVING A REAL PROBLEM WITH CRIME RATE, THE VIOLENT CRIME, RECORD HOMICIDES IN BOTH THE STATE'S TWO LARGEST CITIES.

>> RECORD HOMICIDE RATES AND POLICE SHORTAGES, A BAD COMBINATION.

>> SO IT'S KIND OF A SIDE TO THAT, RAMIFICATIONS FROM THE BREONNA TAYLOR CASE CONTINUED THIS YEAR AND NO KNOCK WARRANTS WERE ADDRESSED DURING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE TASK FORCE WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON WHEN REPORTED SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND LISTENED TO PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.

>> YEAH, THEY WERE BASICALLY EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS HAVING TO DO WITH TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS IN DOING THESE WARRANTS AND ALSO TRACKING ESSENTIALLY, HOW THESE WARRANTS ARE ISSUED, WHO ISSUES THEM, RESTRICTING WHEN THEY CAN BE ISSUED.

THOSE KINDS OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUT IT WAS ALL A RESULT OF THE BREONNA TAYLOR CASE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE WORKFORCE ISSUES AND THE CHALLENGES ARE REALLY APPARENT IN THE DAYCARE INDUSTRY, RIGHT?

WHICH IS PART OF WHY IT IS HARD TO GET SOME PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.

>> DEFINITELY.

FOR ONE THING, IT'S REALLY HARD FOR WORKERS, BEFORE VACCINES WERE AFRAID TO GET OUT AND GET EXPOSED.

BUT IT PAYS, DOESN'T PAY WELL.

WORKERS ARE FINDING THEY CAN DO OTHER THINGS AND IT'S REALLY CREATING A CRISIS IN THE FIELD BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED CHILD CARE THEY CAN AFFORD SO THEY CAN GO TO WORK AND THAT'S HURTING THE WORKFORCE ISSUES AS WELL.

>> 2021, YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACK EARLY IN THE YEAR, JANUARY 6, THE INSURRECTION OF THE U.S. CAPITOL, SEVERAL KENTUCKIANS WERE EVENTUALLY CHARGED.

>> I REMEMBER WATCHING THAT.

THE JAW DROPPED TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE CAPITOL.

BUT WHAT HAS BEEN INTERESTING NOW, ALMOST A YEAR LATER, IS TO SEE HOW THIS IS BEING FRAMED DIFFERENTLY BY DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES.

YOU HAVE TRUMP ALLIES TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THIS THING, WAS NOT REALLY AN ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL.

THERE IS OF COURSE, A COMMISSION INVESTIGATING THIS THE IN HOUSE AND LIZ CHENEY FOR ONE IS ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICANS WHO ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DIG INTO THIS.

BUT CERTAINLY A YEAR AFTER IT HAPPENED, IS STILL SHAPING POLITICS, STILL SHAPING OPINIONS AT THE CAPITOL AND BEYOND.

>> LEER IN KENTUCKY ON THAT DAY, JANUARY 6, WE REPORTERS WERE PREPARING TO HEAR ANDY BESHEAR AS GOVERNOR, GIVE HIS FIRST STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

AND BECAUSE OF THE MAYHEM IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL, THAT WAS POSTPONED A NIGHT.

>> WE SHOULD SAY THIS AS WELL, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL A FEW DAYS AGO SAID THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO.

SO HE IS SPLIT FROM FORMER PRESIDENT ON THIS.

>> WHICH WAS ALWAYS SORT OF A FRAGILE ALIGNS THERE.

>> YOU CAN SAY THAT.

>> BUT THEY REALLY FELL OUT OVER THERE,-- OVER THIS, RIGHT.

>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET SENATOR McCONNELL OUSTED AS THE MINORITY LEADER, UNSUCCESSFULLY.

HE STILL HOLDS SOLID SUPPORT AMONG REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE, BUT IT'S OBVIOUS THAT RELATIONSHIP, SUCH AS IT WAS, IS GONE.

>> WELL, HE HAD SOME OTHER, YOU KNOW, HE BOOKED REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVES ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH HE CALLED A GOD SEND FOR KENTUCKY WHEN THAT PASSED AND THE FUNDING OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT A COUPLE OF COMPROMISES THAT HE WORKED OUT ALONG THE WAY.

>> AND McCONNELL, YOU KNOW, GOT WHAT HE WANTED DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT WAS JUDGES.

HE GOT JUDGES APPOINTED INCLUDING SUPREME COURT JUDGES.

SO THAT CERTAINLY IS PART OF THE REASON THAT SENATOR McCONNELL WORKED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT THAT RELATIONSHIP AS WE KNOW HAS BEEN FRACTURED.

>> WELL, THE STATE LEGISLATURE DURING A SHORT OF SHORTENED SESSION BECAUSE OF COVID OR AT LEAST THEY HAD TO REALLY EXPEDITE THINGS, THEY DID PASS A ONE-YEAR BUDGET AND THE REVENUE HAS COME IN TO FAR EXCEED THAT PLAN.

>> THERE IS A GROUP OF ECONOMISTS THEY MEET AND FORECAST HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT TWO-YEAR BUDGET.

IT'S CALLED THE CONSENSUS FORECASTING GROUP AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT A $2 BILLION SURPLUS.

SO THERE WILL BE SOME MONEY THERE TO BE SPENT.

>> AND EXTRAORDINARY DEMAND FOR IT.

>> AND THE TORNADO SITUATION PLAY INTO THAT AS WELL.

>> I THINK THAT WILL FACTOR INTO IT.

BESHEAR SAID RECENTLY THAT THAT WILL FIGURE INTO HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR NEXT YEAR, OR AT LEAST IT IS THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD.

>> THERE WAS SO MUCH MONEY AVAILABLE IS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> WHY IS THE MONEY FLOWING IN?

>> I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FEDERAL RELIEF FROM COVID THAT HAS FLOWED INTO STATES INCLUDING KENTUCKY IN ADDITION TO A LOT OF DIRECT SUPPORT FOR STATE PROGRAMS AND BUSINESSES AND HOSPITALS AND OTHER THINGS THAT HAS GIVEN PEOPLE MORE MONEY TO SPEND THROUGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND OTHER ASSISTANCE THAT HAS HELPED THE ECONOMY KEEP GOING, I THINK.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A PROPOSAL BY ONE SECTOR TO REDUCE THE PENSION STATE THE STATE HAS, BUT I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY DEMANDS BY THE SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS, TROOPERS, OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO NEED SOME KIND OF PAY INCREASE.

>> THERE WERE SOME MAJOR BRIGHT SPOTS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE KENTUCKY ECONOMY.

FORD PICKED THE BLUEGRASS STATE FOR A MAJOR BATTERY PLANT.

TOYOTA HAD A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT.

SO REALLY KENTUCKY HAS BEEN PUT IN THE FOREFRONT OF PRODUCING WHAT LOOKS TO BE A FUTURE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, RIGHT?

>> I THINK THE ECONOMY IS ON FIRE.

CERTAINLY ALMOST $10 BILLION WORTH OF INVESTMENT THIS YEAR.

>> WELL, IF CRISES ARE ONE PART OF THE BESHEAR LEGACY, THE OTHER PART IS GOING TO BE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RECORD NUMBER OF PROJECTS LAUNCHED THIS YEAR SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT DOWN THE ROAD AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED.

AND REVENUE PRODUCED.

>> WE HAD A KENTUCKY DERBY FILLED WITH CONTROVERSY.

THE WINNER TESTED POSITIVE FOR STEROIDS, MEDINA SPIRIT DIED LATER IN THE YEAR WITH SOME QUESTIONS, MAYBE STILL UP IN THE AIR.

>> MEDINA SPIRIT HAD ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES IN HIS SYSTEM.

BOB BAFFORT SUSPENDED BY CHURCHILL DOWNS FOR TWO YEARS.

LATER IT CAME OUT IT WAS A TOPICAL APPLICATION, NOTHING INJECTED BUT THERE IS STILL NO RULING YET BY THE HORSE RACING COMMISSION AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY, WHETHER MEDINA SPIRIT'S WIN IS SUSPENDED OR PUSHED ASIDE.

THAT'S AN ONGOING CONTROVERSY.

AT THIS POINT, BOB IS OUT OF THE NEXT COUPLE KENTUCKY DERBY.

>> A BAD OUTCOME FOR THE FIRST KENTUCKY DERBY WITH FANS BACK IN THE STAND AGAIN.

>> ONE OF THE SURPRISES OF THE YEAR CAME FROM LONG TIME LOUISVILLE CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH, THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN THE COMMONWEALTH ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT AND THAT SET OFF A SCRAMBLE THAT BECAME APPARENT VERY QUICKLY.

>> ATICUS SCOTT, STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANNOUNCED SHE WAS GOING TO CHALLENGE HIM AND THEN WHEN HE STEPPED ASIDE, QUICKLY STATE SENATOR MCGARVEY GOT IN THE RACE AND HAS RAISED LOTS OF MONEY.

THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN COMBATANTS RIGHT NOW FOR THE POST.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T PUT UP A BIG NAME YET, BUT IT'S RIGHT NOW THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION IS BETWEEN SCOTT AND MCGARVEY.

>> 2021 DIDN'T HAVE THE ELECTIONS EXCEPT FOR THREE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF VARIOUS REASONS.

BUT NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE FILLED WITH ELECTIONS, CONGRESSIONAL, U.S. SENATE, LEGISLATIVE, JUDGES, LOCALS EVEN VERY BUSY.

>> TOP TO BOTTOM.

WELL, THIS IS VERY BITTERSWEET NIGHT FOR US AS WE NOTED A COUPLE OF OUR GIANTS ON THIS SET ARE LEAVING KENTUCKY JOURNALISM.

JACK AND LAWRENCE BOTH PLANNING TO TURN THE PAGE IN THEIR LIVES.

KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JOHN MINTON RECENTLY PRAISED JACK FOR HIS DECADES OF WORK.

>> IF THE MEDIA IS THE FOURTH ESTATE IN GOVERNMENT, THEN JACK BRAMMER IS ONE OF THE STATE'S FINEST STATESMEN.

HIS REPORTING HAS INFORMED THE PUBLIC AND HAS HELPED MAKE OUR INSTITUTIONS MORE ACCOUNTABLE.

MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SERVES.

JACK'S REPORTING HAS, AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER, SHAKEN UP EVERY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THIS ONE.

BUT MADE IT MORE OPEN AND MORE RESPONSIBLE.

>> JACK, YOU ANNOUNCED YOUR RETIREMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO.

WE KIND OF SAW IT COMING THROUGH THE YEAR.

YOU WERE HINTING ABOUT IT MAYBE.

BUT YOU LEAVE THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER" NEXT WEEK AFTER MORE THAN 40 YEARS COVERING FRANKFORT AND OTHER THINGS THAT CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION.

I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN AWAY ABSOLUTE PILLAR OF THIS PROGRAM FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND TIMES HAVE CHANGED, RIGHT?

>> IT HAS.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

IF THEY DIDN'T CHANGE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE NEWS.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THE CHIEF JUSTICE'S KIND COMMENTS.

I'M VERY THANKFUL TO KET, HONORED TO HAVE ME ON THIS PROGRAM FOR SO MANY YEARS WITH BRILLIANT JOURNALISTS LIKE GABBY AND LAWRENCE.

AS FOR MYSELF, I LIKE TO SAY THAT I DRANK FROM THE SAUCER OF LIFE BECAUSE GOD HAS OVERFILLED MY CUP WITH SO MANY BLESSINGS.

I'M A VERY BLESSED MAN AND TO QUOTE THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER DR. SUESS, DON'T CRY BECAUSE IT'S OVER.

SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED.

>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THIS?

>> HOPE TO BE A FREELANCE WRITER IF ANYBODY NEEDS A WRITER OUT THERE.

I WILL WRITE FOR FOOD.

SO A LITTLE PLUG THERE.

MY ONLY REGRET ON THE SHOW, BILL, IS THAT I DIDN'T MENTION ENOUGH THE TOWN OF MAYSVILLE.

>> ONE MORE TIME FOR THE GOOD TIMES.

LAWRENCE, YOU TOOK US BY SURPRISE THIS WEEK ANNOUNCING THAT YOU ARE LEAVING AND GOING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.

WE SURE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING HOSTING IT OVER THESE YEARS.

WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU BACK ONE MORE TIME BEFORE YOU LEAVE TV.

>> LET ME SAY FIRST, I CAN'T HOLD JACK BRAMMER'S PEN.

IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH HIM.

I'M LEAVING THE TELEVISION NEWS BUSINESS AND GOING TO BE THE COMMUNICATION NEWS DIRECTOR FOR THE KENTUCKY BAPTIST CONVENTION.

I WILL STALE HAVE ONE FOOT IN NEWS BECAUSE THERE IS A NEWS ARM FOR THE CONVENTION CALLED KENTUCKY TODAY AND I WILL BE EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THAT SITE.

SO I WILL STILL BE DOING SOME NEWS.

BUT OF A DIFFERENT KIND.

>> I REFUSE TO HOLD UP A MIRROR RIGHT NOW BUT WE WISH THESE GUYS WELL.

>> DEFINITELY.

THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN SOLID IN THE PRESS CORPS.

I LIKE LIKE TO CALL THEM THE GENTLEMEN JOURNALISTS.

>> WE HAVE CHRONICLED A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE YEARS AND JACK, WE WILL SEE YOU ALONG THE WAY, ALL RIGHT?

>> I HOPE SO.

AND LAWRENCE, I'M TRYING TO GET THAT COMMITMENT, ONE MORE SHOW BEFORE YOU GO, ALL RIGHT?

>> HEY, I'M GOOD.

I'M GOOD FOR IT.

>> WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE EDITION OF COMMENT ON KENTUCKY.

IT IS A TRUE HONOR TO HOST THIS PROGRAM AND TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES FACING OUR COMMONWEALTH EACH WEEK.

AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE VERY INFORMED PANELISTS WHO MAKE IT A RELEVANT DISCUSSION, INCLUDING THOSE HERE TONIGHT AND WE WISH YOU AND YOURS THE VERY BEST IN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND IN THE NEW YEAR AHEAD OF 2022.