AN ICY WINTER STORM THAT LED TO POWER OUTAGES, A STATE OF EMERGENCY, AND CLOSED SOME COVI VACCINES CENTERS FOR A TIME.

STATE AUDITOR RELEASES A TOUGH REPORT ON KENTUCKY'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE INCLUDING 400,000 UNANSWERED EM HISTORICAL RACING LEGISLATION PASSES AFTER SPIRITED DEBATE.

SCHOOLS TRY TO GET STUDENTS BAC INTO THE CLASSROOM AFTER NEARLY A YEAR OF VIRTUAL LEARNING.

IT'S ABE LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY AND VALENTINE'S DAY WEEKEND, AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT TH WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND SOME ANALYSIS.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR JOHN CHEVES, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

OLIVIA KRAUTH, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR ALSO TONIGHT, KENTUCKY'S TWO U.S.

SENATORS AGAIN VOTE TO END THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND FRESH APPROVAL NUMBERS FOR SENATORS MCCONNELL AND PAUL AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

BUT FIRST LET'S GET YOU UPDATED ON KENTUCKY'S RECOVERY FROM A MAJOR ICE storm CREWS HAVE BEEN CLEARING TREES AND ROADS AND WORKING TO RESTORE POWER.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, AND SOME VACCINE CLINICS CLOSED AS THE WINTER STORM ROLLED THROUGH.

>> I KNOW IT'S DISAPPOINTING FOR THOSE THAT MAY HAVE HAD THEIR APPOINTMENT DELAYED.

A WEEK OR TWO, BUT WE'VE GONE THROUGH TOO MUCH, WE'VE KEPT EACH OTHER TOO SAFE DURING THIS PANDEMIC TO HAVE YOU LOSE YOUR LIFE ON THE ROADWAY WHEN IT IS DANGEROUS.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THIS ROUGH WEATHER CAME AS WE'RE DEALING WITH A PANDEMIC AT THE VERY SAME TIME SENATOR WENDELL FORD USED TO REFER TO A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS AS HAVING A TOUGH HIDE, BUT THAT IS REALLY BEING TESTED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A CHALLENGING WEEK FOR MANY NOT ONLY DEALING WITH THOSE POWER OUTAGES AND NO HEAT IN MANY CASES BUT SOME ALSO FINALLY HAD THEIR CHANCE TO BE IN LINE FOR A VACCINE.

>> Lawrence: WELL, THESE RECENT DAYS HAVE CERTAINLY TESTED THE TOUGH HIDE OF KENTUCKIANS, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THE REGIONAL VACCINATION CENTERS WERE SHUT DOWN, THE ONES IN LEXINGTON, COVINGTON AND BOWLING GREEN BECAUSE OF THE STORM, AND ALSO THE MASS VACCINATION SITE HERE IN LOUISVILLE ALSO BECAUSE ICY ROADS, AND THAT IS GOING TO BECAUSE A BACKLOG LATER ON AS PEOPLE TRY TO GET VACCINATED FOR FOR COVID-19.

THESE APPOINTMENTS HAVE BEEN FILLED UP IN ADVANCE, SO IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH, REALLY TOUGH JOB TO TRY TO GET THOSE CAUGHT UP IN ADDITION TO THE ONES THAT ARE ALREADY SCHEDULED.

>> Bill: RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE'S THE DEAL.

YOU HAD PEOPLE WHO WERE ALREADY SCHEDULED TO BE THERE THIS WEEK.

THEN YOU HAVE A FULL SCHEDULE OF APPOINTMENTS NEXT WEEK.

AND THOSE FOLKS ARE GOING TO TRY TO MOVE INTO THAT, AND WE HAVE EVERY INDICATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME MORE TOUGH WINTERY WEATHER.

>> Lawrence: RIGHT.

IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH LO I JUST PARTICULARLY.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PATIENT ESPECIALLY, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S ANOTHER STORM ON THE WAY SO THAT'LL PUSH THE PROCESS BACK EVEN FURTHER.

>> Bill:ING JO, WE DO HAVE NEW VENUES THAT WILL BE OPENING UP VERY SOON FOR VACCINATIONS IF WE CAN GET ENOUGH VACCINE IN THE STATE, RIGHT?

>> John: YES, SIR.

ON THURSDAY GOVERNOR BESHEAR ANNOUNCED DOZENS OF NEW LOCATIONS WERE CONDUCTING SIGN-UP TO BE VACCINATED.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SIX FLEW KROEGER REGIONAL IMMUNIZATION SITES LIKE THE ONE AT KROGER FIELD HERE IN LEXINGTON, PLUS A BUNCH OF INDIVIDUAL KROGERS AND WALMARTS, WALGREENS, INDEPENDENT PHARMACIES.

IF PEOPLE WILL GO ONLINE ON THE WEBSITE VACCINE.KY.GOV, THEY CAN PLUG IN THEIR INFORMATION AND FIND OUT WHAT LOCATION WILL BE THE CLOSEST TO THEM.

>> Bill: AND IT'S SORT OF A PATCHWORK PROVIDERS OUT THERE AND THOSE VACCINATION CLINICS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

IT MAY BE THE PHARMACY.

IT MAY BE THE LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT IT.

MAKE THE REGIONAL CENTER THAT IS OPEN TO PEOPLE FIRST.

IS THAT CAUSING SOME CONFUSION OUT THERE?

>> John: IT IS, AND I KNOW THE GOVERNOR HAS URGED PEOPLE TO PLEASE NOT GO SIGNING UP AT MULTIPLE SITES.

I KNOW PERSONALLY I SIGNED UP AT KROGER FIELD, AND THEN I HEARD ABOUT THREE OR FOUR OTHER PLACES THAT ARE HERE IN LEXINGTON THAT WERE OPENING UP, BUT I THOUGHT MAYBE I CAN PUT MY NAME A BUNCH OF WAITING LISTS AND SEE WHO MILES FIRST, BUT THE GOVERNOR SAID DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE GOING TO GUM UP THE WORKS FOR EVERYBODY, SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE A GOOD BOY AND WAIT ARE FOR KROGER AREAS FIELD TO CALL ME FIRST AND WE'RE ALL SUPPOSED TO DO THAT.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, IF PEOPLE ARE ON MULTIPLE LISTS AND THEN THEIR NUMBER IS CALLED A ONE LOCATION AND THEY GET THEIR SHOT, SHOULD THEY THEN REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM THOSE OTHER LISTS?

>> Lawrence: SCHWAB THAT'S IDEALLY WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO HAPPEN, BUT WHO KNOWS IF THEY WILL.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY CONFUSING PROCESS SOMETIMES.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, AS JOHN SAID, MULTIPLE TIMES, PEOPLE SIGNING UP FOR DIFFERENT APPOINTMENTS.

YOU WOULD HOPE THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT BUT, OF COURSE, THERE'S NO GUARANTEE.

>> Bill: JOHN, AFTER A TOUGH YEAR AND SEVERALES ACCUMULATIONS THAT HAVE COME ALONG, OUR COVID-19 NUMBERS ARE SETTLING DOWN SOME.

POSITIVITY RATE NOW UNDER 7%, RIGHT?

>> John: IT IS, AND THAT'S GREAT.

WE'VE GONE IN THE PAST MONTH FROM A POSITIVITY RATE, THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE STATEWIDE TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID NEARLY 13% TO 6.95% TODAY, THE GOVERNOR SAID, AND THAT'S TERRIFIC.

THE DOWNSIDE IS THAT THE DEATH RATE IS STILL TRA I.

TRAGICALLY HIGH.

THE GOVERNOR IS REPORTING 40, 50 PEOPLE A DAY THIS LAST WEEK, SOME OF OUR ARE WORST DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE PANDEMIC SO FAR.

WE'VE PASSED 386,000 CASES STATEWIDE SO FAR.

AS OF TODAY WE PASSED 40,000 DEATH SO FAR TODAY.

I THINK WHAT HAPPENED IN PART WAS THE TRAGEDY THAT WE HAD FREAKED BECAUSE OF THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS, WE WERE WARNED THAT PEOPLE TRAVELING, PEOPLE GATHERING IN LARGE NUMBERS, GOING TO CAUSE A LOT OF SPREAD OF THE VIRUS, AND IT DID, AND HAPPILY I GUESS SINCE THAT'S OVER, THE HOLIDAY SEASON'S OVER, WE'RE NOW SEEING A DEESCALATION OF THAT.

AND ALSO, BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE, MORE THAN 10% OF KENTUCKIANS HAVE NOW HAD AT LEAST ONE DOSE, AND THAT'S HELPING.

THE MOST CRITICAL POPULATIONS LIKE THE N. IN THE LONG-TERM CARE CENTERS, A MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS IF NOT THE EMPLOYEES AT LEAST ARE GETTING THEIR VACCINES, SO AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE GET THE SHOT, THE SPREAD SHOULD HOPEFULLY START TO SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT, AND THAT'S ALL GOING TO BE GOOD NEWS.

>> Bill: JOHN, YOU HAVE CAREFULLY WATCHED THE VIRUS IN THE INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS, PARTICULARLY IN PRISONS, AND THAT HAS BEEN DRYING OUR NUMBERS UP FOR -- DRIVING OUR NUMBERS UP FOR THESE MANY MONTHS, RIGHT?

>> RENEE: >> John: IT HAS, AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THE GOVERNOR HAS HAD AND HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO ANSWER IS WHEN THE VACCINE WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO PRISONERS, BOTH IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL PRISONS AND IN THE LOCAL JAILS.

THE MARSHALL PROJECT, THE NON-PROFIT IN NEW YORK THIS WEEK, PUT OUT SOME NUMBERS THAT SHOWED THAT KENTUCKY'S STATE PRISONS ON A PER CAPITA BASIS HAVE HAD THE FIFTH HIGHEST INFECTION RATE IN THE COUNTRY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND IN THE LOCAL JAILS HONESTLY NO ONE'S EVEN REALLY KEEPING TRACK.

WE KNOW AT LEAST SEVERAL SEARLE THOUSAND INMATES HAVE BEEN INFECTED AND THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE DEATHS REPORTED BUT THE STATE ISN'T KEEPING TRACK CAR, AND LOT OF THE JAILS AREN'T DOING ANY GREAT TESTING.

SOAP ANY PLACE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED WENT FOUR WALLS WHERE THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE AND THEY'RE STUCK THERE, THE VIRUS IS GOING TO SPREAD, AND JUST LIKE THE NURSING HOMES.

THEY HAVE BEEN A REAL HOTBED FOR VIRAL SPREAD.

>> AND THEN THE STAFF COMPUTING RESOURCES AND GO OBVIOUSLY INTO THE COMMUNITIES.

OLIVIA, SCHOOL OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE LOCAL NUMBERS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS POSSIBLE UNDER THE RULES IN TERMS OF REOPENING.

LEXINGTON IS GETTING SET TO REOPEN TO KINDERGARTNERS THROUGH SECOND GRADERS NEXT WEEK.

THAT'S THE PLAN.

WE HAVE THIS WEATHER TO CONTEND WITH, AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES, BUT HOW ARE THE DISCUSSIONS GOING IN LOUISVILLE ABOUT A TIME FRAME FOR REOPENING SCHOOLS?

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

THE DISCUSSIONS HERE ARE DEFINITELY GOING, FOR SURE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S TAKING A LOT LONGER THAN I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS HAD ANTICIPATED AND HAVE WANTED, BUT JCPS SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLLIO IS EXPECTED TO SHARE HIS VERY MUCH ANTICIPATED FORMAL RECOMMENDATION ON HOW AND WHEN TO REOPEN CLASSROOMS NEXT TUESDAY THE SCHOOL BOARD WILL GET TO LEARN ABOUT THE DETAILS THEN AND WILL TALK ABOUT IT SOME MORE AND WILL EVENTUALLY VOTE ON HIS RECOMMENDATION AT A MEETING THAT HAS NOT BEEN SCHEDULED YET.

>> Bill: DOES THERE SEEM TO BE SOME WORKING DATE THAT YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT BEHIND THE SCENES?

>> Olivia: NOT REALLY.

I THINK THE TIME FRAME HAS ALWAYS BEEN AFTER TEACHERS GET VACS HAVE VACCINATED, AND SOME TIME MID-MARCH AT THE EARLIEST, BUT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING SOLID AT ALL.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT ACCEPT.

SO KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT HAS PRIORITIZED TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL FOR THOSE VACCINES, AND MOST HAVE GOTTEN AT LEAST THEIR FIRST SHOT.

DO YOU DETECT THAT THERE WILL BE MUCH HESITANCY AMONG SCHOOL EMPLOYEES IN GOING BACK WHEN THE SCHOOL DOORS DO REOPEN?

>> Olivia: I THINK IF ANYBODY IS HESITANT IN THE SITUATION, IT'S DEFINITELY NOT THE TEACHERS.

THEY HAVE SEEN THIS WAS A KEY TO GETTING BACK INTO SCHOOL.

THEY ALL WANT TO SEE THEIR KIDS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES -- REALLY A LARGE POPULATION OF THE TEACHERS, PARTICULARLY IN LOUISVILLE, HAVE NOT ACTUALLY MET THEIR STUDENTS BECAUSE IT'S A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

SO IF ANYTHING, THEY DO HAVE QUESTIONS, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF HESITANCY TO GET BACK.

>> Bill: AND HOW PREPARED ARE SCHOOLS TO DEAL WITH THE COLLATERAL SITUATION OF EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ASPECTS THAT KIDS ARE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH AFTER AER YAF HAVING NOT BEEN IN THE CLASSROOM?

I MEAN, EVEN THE MOST RESILIENT, YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THEY HAVEN'T KEPT A SCHEDULE, THEY HAVEN'T HAD TO GET DRESSED AND SHOW UP, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THAT WOULD CHANGE ON A DIME WHEN THE SCHOOLS REOPEN.

IT WOULD BE LIKE A COLOSSAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL EVENT, RIGHT?

>> Olivia: RIGHT, WE'RE ESSENTIALLY HAVING ANOTHER BACK-TO-SCHOOL DAY TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING, BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S REALLY PREPARED.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS THE DEPTH OF HOW MUCH NEED IS OUT THERE, PARTICULARLY WITH STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH.

I'VE HEARD FROM A LOT OF STUDENTS THIS WEEK, AND EVERYBODY'S TOLD ME, YOU KNOW, MY MENTAL HEALTH HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY NOTICEABLY WORSE SINCE I'VE BEEN IN A SCHOOL BUILDING LAST, SO I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY'S REALLY UNDERSTANDING HOW BIG OF A DEAL THIS CAN BE.

IF ANYBODY'S PREPARED, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE JCPS.

THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR A FEW YEARS, AT LEAST.

IT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT THEY'VE EMPHASIZED.

EDUCATORS AWARE.

THEY KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THEY NEED TO CARE ABOUT.

BUT ARE THEY PREPARED?

I'M NOT SURE.

>> Bill: AND DO WE KNOW THIS, WILL THERE BE STANDARDIZED TESTS GIVEN THIS YEAR OR WILL THE ASSESSMENTS HAVE TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY AFTER THIS EXTRAORDINARY YEAR?

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

AS FAR AS I KNOW, YOU KNOW, UNLESS SOMETHING'S CHANGED IN THE PAST TWO HOURS, K-PREP TESTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN THIS SPRING.

STATE OFFICIALS ARE WORKING ON GUIDANCE FOR DISTRICTS SO THAT THEY CAN SAFELY ADMINISTER THE TESTS.

THIS TEST DOES HAVE TO BE HELD IN PERSON.

IT'S REQUIRED TO BE TAKEN IN FRONT OF A PROCTOR.

THEY'RE WORKING ON POTENTIALLY SHORTENING THE TEST A LITTLE BIT TO NAVIGATE THAT IN-PERSON SITUATION, BUT KENTUCKY AS A STATE HAS NOT APPLIED FOR A FEDERAL WAIVER, WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY TO CANCEL THE TEST OR, YOU KNOW, CHANGE IT SIGNIFICANTLY, SO IT'S JUST A TEST AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY KIND OF NEGATIVE ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES TIED TO IT.

BUT SO FAR K-PREP IS A GO.

>> Bill: SO MAYBE IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE AFTER ALL OF THIS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN FRANKFORT THIS WEEK.

WE'VE ALL COVERED THE CLUSTER UNEMPLOYMENT FILINGS THAT HAVE GONE ON IN THE WAKE OF THE PANDEMIC AND HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE WAITED FOR MONTHS FOR THEIR BENEFITS OR EVEN AN ANSWER.

LAWRENCE, THE STATE AUTHOR MIKE LAR HON MON THIS WEEK RELEASED A TOUGH AUDIT ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

ONE THING THAT REALLY STOOD OUT, HE SAID 400,000 eMAILS WERE NEVER HOSPITALIZED.

>> Lawrence: THAT WAS THE STRIKING THING WHEN I SAW THAT, 400,000 UNOPENED eMAILS FOUND BY HARMON'S AUDITORS.

NOW, THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT'S 400,000 PEOPLE.

COULD BE INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE EMAILS.

BUT THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

AND THEY ALSO FOUND, THE AUDITORS ALSO FOUND POSSIBLE VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

THE OFFICE HAS WHAT'S CALLED AN AUTO PAY SYSTEM, WHICH MEANT THEY WEREN'T CHECKING THE ELIGIBILITY OF PEOPLE, WERE VERIFYING ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS, AND THAT COULD BE AGAINST FEDERAL REGULATIONS.

BOTTOM LINE, WE KNEW THESE PROBLEMS WERE THERE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THROUGH FOR MONTHS TO HAVE THEIR BENEFITS VERIFIED AND GOTTEN TO THEM, BUT TO SEE IT DOWN THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE, IT'S PRETTY STRIKING ON TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SYSTEM.

>> Bill: JOHN, IT WAS A RUSH BY DESIGN, CERTAINLY.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS CLAIMED UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT SYSTEM HAD BEEN DECIMATED IN THE YEARS BEFORE HE TOOK OFFICE AND BEEN CUT TO THE BONE AND SAID IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO RESPOND TO THE CRUSH OF CLAIMS THAT CAME AFTER THAT QUICK YOU SHUTDOWN.

>> John: THAT'S RIGHT, THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION SAYS, LOOK, WE'VE FACED MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED AND MUCH OF THE ECONOMY HAD TO SHUT DOWN VERY QUICKLY, AND WE HAD AN UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM THAT WAS -- RELIED ON DECADES-OLD TECHNOLOGY, AND THE REGIONAL OFFICES OUT AROUND THE STATE HAD BEEN SCRAPPED BY A PRIOR ADMINISTRATION, AND FRANKLY AS MANY OF THE CLAIMS ARE FRAUDULENT, WE HAD TO SORT THROUGH THEM AND THERE WAS NO WAY THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WITHOUT AT LEAST A PARTIAL COLLAPSE OF THE SYSTEM, AND THAT'S WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN.

NOT MAKING EXCUSES, BUT THERE ARE THE EXCUSES.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, IS THERE ANY LEGISLATION OR IS THERE LIKELY TO BE A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET THAT WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUES?

>> Lawrence: WELL, THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED IN HIS BUDGET FOR MORE MONEY TO FIX THE SYSTEM, HIRE MORE PEOPLE, OPEN REGIONAL CENTERS, BUY UPDATED EQUIPMENT, BUT SO FAR WE'VE NOT SEEN ANY MOVEMENT AT ALL ON THE BUDGET ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT FIXING THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM BUT SO FAR THERE'S BEEN NO REAL MOVEMENT THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO SEE.

>> Bill: IT WAS A BUSY FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK IN FOSTERED FOR LAWMAKERS ABOUT CLARIFYING RULES FOR HISTORICAL HORSE RACING MACHINES WAS PASSED BY BOTH CHAMBERS AND GOES TO THE GOVERNOR.

THERE WAS INTENSE FROM BOTH SIDES AND VIGOROUS DEBATE ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE THOSE OF CASINO-LIKE FACILITIES.

>> THESE ARE JOBS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE MY NEIGHBORS.

THIS IS A PLACE THAT MY COUSINS WORKED GROWING UP, MY UNCLES PROVIDED A LIVING BETWEEN FARMING AND RACEHORSES, TRAINING AND RACING THEM TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO COLLEGE.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING AT THESE TRACKS THAT ARE MAKING $11, $12 AN HOUR, BARELY, BARELY GETTING BY.

AND IN MY HUMBLE OPINION, I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S ABOUT THEIR JOBS.

I THINK IT IS ABOUT GREED.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THIS REALLY BECAME A DIVISIVE ISSUE, THESE SO-CALLED RACINOS AS SOME CALL THEM, BRINGING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO THE MONEY THAT COMES INTO THE COMMUNITIES BY THOSE WHO SUPPORT THEM, AND OPPONENTS ARGUE THAT THEY PREY ON PEOPLE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD TO LOSE MONEY.

>> Lawrence: THIS IS A VERY PASSIONATE DEBATE.

YOU SHOWED DAVID HALE WHO IS RECOVERING FROM ILLNESS AND HAD SOMEONE DRIVE HIM TO FRANKFORT SO HE COULD BE PART OF THIS DEBATE, HE WAS SO PASSIONATE ABOUT IT, BUT IT WAS A DEBATE THAT KIND OF SPLIT BECAUSE SUPER DUPER MAJORITY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SPLIT THEM IN HALF.

YOU HAD SOME VERY CONSERVATIVE RURAL LAWMAKERS WHO DON'T HAVE TRACKS IN THEIR DISTRICTS WHO ARE MORALLY OPPOSED TO GAMBLING, AND AS YOU HEARD CALLED CHURCHILL DOWNS ANOTHER TRACK'S GREED, VERSUS THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE WHO SAY THIS IS A -- DECIPHERABLE FOR KENTUCKY.

WE NEED TO DO THIS TO SAVE THOUSANDS OF JOBS, BIG TOURIST ATTRACTIONS, SO IN THE END IT'S A 55-38 VOTE.

IF IT'S NOT NECESSARILY NARROW BUT IT IS CERTAINLY A CLOSE VOTE, THE CLOSEST VOTE THAT THERE'S BEEN, AND THAT YOU NEW SUPER MAJORITY OVER THIS ISSUE.

>> Bill: JOHN, THERE WAS A MOVE TO TRY TO GET MORE MONEY FOR THE STATE, MORE REVENUE OUT OF THE FACILITIES.

THAT AMENDMENT DIDN'T MAKE IT.

>> John: THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF EFFORT, AND THERE HAS BEEN FOR SOME YEARS TO RAY THE TAX THAT IS COLLECTED FROM THESE HISTORICAL HORSE RANGES MACHINES, THESE SLOT MACHINE-LOOKING THINGS.

EVEN PEOPLE WHO LIKE GAMBLING ARE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH GAMBLING SAY LOOK, THE STATE'S NOT GETTING ENOUGH MONEY OFF THESE, ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO WHAT SLOT MACHINES PRODUCED FOR THE STATES AROUND US LIKE WEST VIRGINIA AND OHIO.

AND SO THEY HAVE BILLS THIS SESSION AND THEY TRIED TO AUTOMATED DURING THIS DEBATE TO RAISE IT.

I MEAN, LAST YEAR THE HISTORICAL HORSE RACE CAN MACHINES, THE HANDLE WAGER WAS NEARLY $2.5 BILLION.

THE GENERAL FUND GOT $15 MILLION OFF OF THAT.

MORE THAN HALF OF TAX THAT ACTUALLY COMES OFF THESE MACHINES GOES BACK TO THE HORSE INDUSTRY TO PURSES AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS AND PROGRAMS.

THE PEOPLE.

[INDECIPHERABLE] SOME PROMISE THAT THEY WILL STUDY IS ISSUE AND RETURN TO IT AT A FUTURE DATE, WHICH REALLY IS NO KIND OF GUARANTEE AT ALL.

>> Bill: AN ISSUE THAT'S NOT GOING AWAY.

JOHN, THERE ARE TWO BILLS UNDER CONSIDERATION THAT WOULD SHIELD BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENTS FROM LIABILITY AND LAWSUITS OVER COVID-19.

>> John: THAT'S RIGHT, AND THEY'RE BOTH IN THE POSSESSION OF THE SENATE.

SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS HAS SENATE BILL 5, WHICH IS 20 PAGES LONG AND FAIRLY COMPLICATED, AND THE SENATE ALSO HAS HOUSE BILL 10, WHICH THE HOUSE SENT OVER A MONTH AGO, AND THEY BOTH WOULD DO, IN THE BIG PICTURE, THE SAME THING, SAY IF YOU DID THE BEST YOU COULD AS A BUSINESS, A SCHOOL, A GOVERNMENT ENTITY, ANY PLACE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING THE PANDEMIC AND THERE WAS AN ALLEGED INFECTION ON YOUR PREMISES, YOU COULD NOT BE HELD LIABLE.

IF YOU DID TERRIBLE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, YOU COULD STILL BE HELD LIABLE.

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WANTS PROTECTION FROM WHAT THEY FEAR WILL BE A WAVE LITIGATION IN COMING MONTHS IF PEOPLE START FILING LAWSUITS.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY SEEN THAT YET BUT THEY FEAR IT'S COMING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHICH BILL WILL NECESSARILY PROCEED.

SEE ASSUMELY WIN OF THIS WILL.

>> Bill: THERE ARE ALSO A BILL THAT WOULD RELIGIOUS DOCTORS -- NOT PERFORM PROCEDURES.

>> John: IT WENT TO THE FULL SENATE THIS WEEK.

IF A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL HAS RELIGIOUS FOR MORAL CONCERNS A PARTICULAR MEDICAL PROCEDURE, THEY WOULDN'T NECESSARY LIVE TO DO IT.

SENATOR MEREDITH SAID THIS WAS LEGISLATION BROUGHT TO THEM BY THE CONSERVATIVE FAMILY FOUNDATION, NOT BY THE KENTUCKY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE KENTUCKY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CRITICS WHO TESTIFIED THIS COULD LEAD TO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PARTICULAR TYPE OF PATIENTS, WHETHER IT WAS A RACIAL OR RELIGIOUS MINORITY, TRANSGENDER, RAPE VICTIMS, ANYBODY THAT MADE MEDICAL PROFESSION -- [INDECIPHERABLE] SENATOR MEREDITH SAID THAT WAS NOT HIS INTENTION.

AGAIN THE BILL NOW GOES TO THE SENATE.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE MET AGAIN THIS WEEK AND DISMISSED SOME OF WHAT WAS BEFORE IT.

>> Lawrence: RIGHT.

THEY DISMISSED THETE PETITION AGAINST REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVETIVE ROBERT GOFORTH WHO IS FACING CHARGES, ALLEGATIONS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.

AFTER HEARING FROM TWO UK LAW FORESTS PROCEDURES, HE SAID THAT THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND STATE LAW REALLY HAVE NO PROCESS FOR IMPEACHING A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF THE SENATE.

THEY DON'T FALL IN THE RIGHT CATEGORY OF STATE OF OFFICERS OR GOVERNOR.

AND EARLIER THE COMMITTEE DISMISSED SOME PETITIONS THAT WERE FILED LATER AGAINST GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

THE ORANGE PETITION STILL STANDS AGAINST BOTH GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON, BUT A K OTHER PETITIONS FILED AFTERWARDS WERE DISMISSED BY THE COMMITTEE.

>> Amina: WE'RE ALL CLOSECLY WATCHING THE EFFORT TO EVENTUALLY REVAMP THE PENSION AND RETIREMENT RULES FOR FUTURE TEACHERS.

WE WILL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

THE OLIVIA, LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT A PIECE THAT YOU HAVE WORKED FOR MONTHS, BUSING GOES WAY BACK AS A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA.

THE COURIER-JOURNAL HAD YOU AND MANDY MCCLAIREN WORK ON AN IN-DEPTH PIECE ON THE LONG HISTORY.

KIND OF WHY YOU HAVE UPDATE WHERE THINGS STAND.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

WE FINALLY PUBLISHED A SIX-MONTH LONG INVESTIGATION INTO BUNGS IN LOUISVILLE WHICH, AS YOU SAID, IS -- BUSING IN LOUISVILLE, WHICH AS YOU SAID IS A VERY MAJOR ISSUE HERE.

JCPS NATIONALLY HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF ATTENTION AS THE DISTRICT THAT NEVER GAVE UP ON ITS DIVERSITY PLAN, THAT NEVER GAVE UP ON DESEGREGATION.

BUT WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT REALLY THEIR EFFORTS HAVE ERODE SIGNIFICANTLY OVER TIME, AND THEIR DIVERSITY PLAN HAS ESSENTIALLY BECOME MORE INEQUITY AND ALSO LESS EFFECTIVE, SO NOW LESS THAN 7% OF ALL STUDENTS ARE BUSSED IN THE DONTE SENSE, AND THEY'RE PREDOMINANTLY BACK.

THERE ARE SOME OF DISTRICT EAST MOST DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS.

AND THEY DO SEE SOME ACADEMIC GAINS, BUT THEY STILL NALL FALL BEHIND IN TERMS OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT GAPS.

SCHOOLS ARE MORE DIVERSE THAN THEY WOULD BE.

LOUISVILLE HAS SOME PRETTY SERIOUS HOUSING SEGREGATION, BUT AS THIS PLAN HAS ERODED, SCHOOLS HAVE STARTED TO RESEGREGATE AGAIN.

AND SO JCS IS PROPOSING A PLAN TO ESSENTIALLY ALLOW THAT 7% OF KIDS TO OPT OUT OF BUSING, MORE OR LESS.

WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

>> Bill: KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

LAWRENCE, BOTH OF KENTUCKY'S U.S.

SENATORS ARE ON RECORD OPPOSING THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

WE'LL PUT UP A NUMBER HERE AND SHOW YOU A POLL OUT INDICATES MOST SENATORS, THAT IS, MOST KENTUCKIANS HERE OPPOSE THE IDEA OF CONVICTING TRUMP.

51% SAID HE SHOULD BE ACQUITTED.

41% FAVOR HIS CONVICTION.

8% UNDECIDED.

ARE KENTUCKY SENATORS ON SOLID GROUND IF THEY DISMISS THIS?

>> Lawrence: IT WOULD CERTAINLY APPEAR THAT WAY.

INTERESTINGLY, IT RAND PAUL WHO IS TAKING THE LEAD ON THIS.

IT IS HIS CONTENTION THAT THIS IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURE, AND THE OTHER REPUBLICAN SENATORS FOR THE MOST PART ARE FOLLOWING HIS LEAD.

MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN PRETTY SILENT ON THIS SO FAR, SO IT IS RAND PAUL WHO IS RUNNING NEXT YEAR FOR RE-ELECTION WHO IS REALLY IN THE FACE OF THOSE OPPOSING THE CONVICTS FORMER PRESIDENT BECAUSE HE'S OUT OF OFFICE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: ALSO FROM THAT MASON DIXON POLL OF 625 REGISTERED KENTUCKY VOTERS, THEY DID JOB APPROVAL, SHOWED THAT MITCH McCONNELL'S APPROVAL SAT 41%, 53% APPROVAL FOR SENATOR RAND PAUL, UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR, AND GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WITH A 55% APPROVAL.

QUICKLY, LAWRENCE, YOUR TAKEAWAY.

>> Lawrence: REAL QUICK, THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR RAND PAUL TO START HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST HIM YET.

THAT'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

MITCH McCONNELL, HE ALWAYS POLLS BADLY AS FAR AS JOB PERFORMANCE.

IT IS NEVER HURTS HIM.

HE ALWAYS WIN AND JUST WOUND A SIX-YEAR TERM.

THAT'S GOT TO BE GOOD NEWS FOR THE GOVERNOR AS WELL BECAUSE.

[INDECIPHERABLE] >> Bill: THIS WAS BRAM LINCOLN'S 212th BIRTHDAY.

THERE WAS TO HAVE BEEN A COMMEMORATION OF HIS BIRTHPLACE IN LARUE COUNTY TODAY BUT THE HISTORICAL PARK HAD TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF THE ICE STORM SITUATION.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

WE DO WANT THOU FOR JOINING US.

REMIND TO YOU JOIN US FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" COMING UP MONDAY EVENINGS ON KET.