DEAL WITH TOUGH WINTER WEATHER AND STUBBORN COVID NUMBERS.

THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MAKES A BIG PUSH TO ELIMINATE THE STATE INCOME TAX.

A HOUSE BILL WOULD MAKE UTILITY RATE HIKES EASIER, AND A BILL TARGETING PORCH PIRATES SAILS THROUGH THE SENATE.

SENATOR RAND PAUL SITS ON AN $8 MILLION CAMPAIGN WAR CHEST, BUT DEMOCRAT CHARLES BOOKER SAYS DON'T COUNT HIM OUT.

THE GROUNDHOG PREDICTS WINTER, AND SO FAR HE'S RIGHT.

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 JANET PATTON, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR WFPL IN LOUISVILLE.

AND MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA ALSO TONIGHT, KENTUCKY'S CHIEF JUSTICE SAYS THE STATE'S JUDGES ARE AMONG THE LOWEST PAID IN TH.

AND THERE ARE SOME NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN KENTUCKY'S BOURBON AND RANGES INDUSTRIES.

BUT FIRST, TOUGH WEATHER AGAIN THE WINTER STORM THAT ROLLED THROUGH MOST OF COMMONWEALTH LEFT 10,000 PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER.

IT HAD TRAVEL VERY DIFFICULT.

IT HAD PEOPLE ON EDGE FOR DAYS, JANET, BUT IN THE END WE SORT OF DODGED A BULLET HERE.

>> Janet: YEAH, WE WERE LOOKING A GETS A WHOLE LOT MORE ICE THAN WE ENDED UP GETTING, AND THAT FRANKLY MEANT THAT FEWER PEOPLE IN LEXINGTON AT LEAST LOST POWER.

I THINK WESTERN KENTUCKY WAS STILL HIT PRETTY HARD.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY WAS HIT PRETTY HARD IN TERM OF ROAD TRAVEL.

BUT, YEAH, SO FAR WE'VE BEEN LUCKY.

THANK YOU FEWER THAN 1,000 PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT PYROIN OUR AREA RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WE'RE MINDFUL THERE ARE HIGHERS NUMBER IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE HIT BY TORNADOES JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO NOW DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE, SO THAT IS VERY, VERY TOUGH.

EST JESS, ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOLS THAT HAVE ONLY LIMITED NTI DAYS, AND SO MANY HAVE HAD TO USE THOSE BECAUSE OF COVID AND THEN THESE WEATHER SITUATIONS COME ALONG.

THEY'RE REALLY UP AGAINST IT THIS YEAR IN TRYING TO GET THIS SCHOOL YEAR IN, AREN'T THEY?

>> Jess: YEAH, THEY'RE REALLY IN A PICKLE.

STATE LAWMAKERS GAVE DISTRICTS TEN NTI DAYS FOR THE WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR.

THOSE ARE TEN DIES DURING WHICH THE DISTRICT CAN MOVE INTO REMOTE INSTRUCTION.

MANY DISTRICTS HAVE ALREADY USED MANY OF THEIR DAYS BECAUSE OF THE OMICRON HAVE WAIF COVID-19 WAIVE OF COVID-19 THAT'S CREATED A LOT OF STAFFING CHALLENGES.

THERE ISN'T ENOUGH ADULT TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPERATING IN PERSON SO A LOT OF DISTRICTS PIVOTED AND USED THOSE DAYS.

NOW ON TOP OF THAT, THERE IS SEVERE WEATHER THAT DISTRICTS OFTEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND THEY'RE RUNNING OUT OF NTI DAYS.

AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO START MEANING PRETTY SOON IS THAT SCHOOLS THAT NEED TO CANCEL REMOTE LEARNING WILL HAVE TO ADD THOSE DAYS ONTO THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR OR SHORTEN SPRING BREAK, THINGS THAT FAMILIES REALLY DON'T LIKE TO DO, IN ORDER TO REACH THE STATE-MANDATED INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS YOU HAVE TO HAVE IN THE SCHOOL YEAR BINGE DOES IT APPEAR THEY WILL TRY TO SEEK SO MANY RELIEF FROM THE LEGISLATURE?

>> Jess: THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR A WHILE.

YOU KNOW, LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN VERY HESITANT TO GIVE THEM MORE REMOTE LEARNING DAYS BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF, I GUESS, PUSHBACK AGAINST USING REMOTE LEARNING IN MANY CORNERS.

BUT I THINK THAT -- I THINK THAT THE WEATHER MAY, MAY BRING -- PUSH THEM ALONG TO OFFER SOP MORE RELIEF BUT IT'S HARD TO SAY.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER WAY THE WEATHER HAS PUSHED CERTAINLY ON KENTUCKY, WESTERN KENTUCKY SCHOOL LEADERS SHOWED UP IN FRANKFORT AND THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT AFTER THOSE DECEMBER TORNADOES BASS THEY -- BECAUSE THEY I. SA THEY WERE ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE INITIAL RESPONSE AND HAVE CONTINUED IN A SUSTAINED WAY TO HELP THOSE COMMUNITIES IN PART BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONLY ONE WITH THE FACILITIES CAPABLE OF HELPING, AND NOW THEY NEED MONEY, THEY SAY, TO GET BACK ON TRACK AND MAKE THEIR DISTRICTS WHOLE.

>> Jess: YEAH, THEY REALLY NEED MONEY.

DISTRICTS FUNDING FROM THE STATE IS APPLIED TO ENROLLMENT AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THEY HAVE.

AND THESE DISTRICT ARE ALL GOING TO LOSE STUDENTS.

THEY'VE ALREADY LOST STUDENTS BECAUSE THE FAMILIES' HOPES WERE DESTROYED OR THEIR WORKPLACES WERE DESTROYED AND SO THEY MOVED AWAY.

THAT MEANS LESS MONEY FROM THE STATE.

AND SO DISTRICTS ARE NOW ASKING STATE LAWMAKERS TO FREEZE THEIR CURRENT ATTENDANCE WHAT I WAS FUNDING AT CURRENT LEVELS OR EVEN GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WHILE THEY TRY TO PIECE IT BACK TOGETHER.

>> Bill: SO IT'S THE ATTENDANCE LONG ALONG WITH COST.

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES OF THE WAYS IN WHICH THOSE DISTRICTS TRIED TO HELP.

>> Jess: YEAH, SUPERINTENDENT JOE HENDERSON FROM MAYFIELD, INDEPENDENT, CAME TO FRANKFORT EARLIER THIS WEEK TO TALK ABOUT HIS REALLY INTERESTING PERSONAL AND KIND OF DEVASTATING PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE STORM.

HE GOT A CALL RIGHT AFTER THE STORM HIT FROM THE LOCAL EMF SAYING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH AMBULANCES.

CAN YOU TRANSPORTED PEOPLE ON SCHOOL BUSES.

LEE SAID YES.

HE DROVE OVER TO THE BUS COMPOUND TO GRAB SOME AND THE BUS COMPOUND WANT COMPLETELY GONE IS EVER WITH EVERYTHING IN IT.

THEY LOST ALL OF THEIR SCHOOL BUSES.

THEY THEN KIND OF PIVOTED, AND GRAVES COUNTY SCHOOLS ENDED UP SUPPLYING IF SCHOOL BUSES TO TRANSPORTED PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE HOSPITAL DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM, AND SO YOU HAD SCHOOLS IN DAWSON SPRINGS, I THINK THE HIGH SCHOOL, YOU HAD MAYFIELD INDEPENDENT HIGH SCHOOL THAT WERE ESSENTIALLY TRIAGE CENTERS WHERE PEOPLE WERE COMING IN FROM THE CANDLE FACTORY WITH BROKEN LIMBS, WITH IMPALEMENT BEING TREATED IN A HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM.

>> Bill: SO THEY REALLY PLAID A MAJOR ROLE.

ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES FOR EVERYBODY RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, JANET HAS BEEN THE COVID PANDEMIC THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH NOW ALMOST TWO YEARS, AND THE NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN SOME.

WE HAD THIS OMICRON VARIANT THAT HAS RUN THROUGH.

WE'VE HIT SOME DISTURBANCES MEWSTONES IN RECENT WEEKS.

BUT DOES IT APPEAR THINGS -- THE SURGE IS SLOWING AT LEAST.

>> Janet: YEAH, WE HAVE HAD A FALL IN POSITIVITY RATE FOR MORE THAN A WEEK NOW.

IT'S DOWN BELOW 25%.

IT HAD BEEN I THINK UP AROUND ALMOST 35% SO ANOTHER REALLY COME DOWN BUT WE'RE STILL REPORTING A LOT OF NEW CASES, MORE THAN 8,000 NEW CASES TODAY, AND 37 DEATHS.

LEXINGTON PASSED 500 DEATHS IN THE LAST -- AT THE END OF JANUARY, WHICH WAS A SAD MILESTONE.

KENTUCKY HAS MORE THAN 13,000, BUT NATIONALLY WE JUST PASSED MORE THAN 900,000 DEATHS.

IT'S A GREAT SIGN, BUT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW VARIANTS, AND IN FACT THERE IS A NEW OMICRON VARIANT THAT IS SWEEPING THROUGH EUROPE, SO IS THIS WAVE JUST GOING TO LEAD TO THE NEXT?

POSSIBLY.

>> Bill: EVEN WHEN THE NUMBERS COME DOWN, CASES REMAIN.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND THEY, IN FACT, WERE IMPACTED BY THE WEATHER THIS WEEK AS WELL WHICH IS SORT OF A SUBTEXT OF EVERYTHING GOING ON OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

THEY HAD TO CUT IT SHORT ON THURSDAY, AND THEN STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS WERE CLOSED AND THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT MEET FRIDAY, SO THEY'LL BE GOING BACK MONDAY.

MORGAN, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR, THOUGH, THAT THERE'S MORE AND MORE PRESSURE AND DISCUSSION GOING ON ABOUT TAX REFORM.

THIS WEEK IS KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PICKED UP ITS PUSH.

THEY REALLY WANT THE STATE INCOME TAX ELIMINATED.

THEY CITE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT NO INCOME TAX STATE SIMPLY GROWS FASTER THAN STATES THAT TAX EARNINGS.

>> Morgan: YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CHAMBER EMPHASIZED WAS POPULATING GROWTH, LIKE THAT THEY POINTED OUT THAT TENNESSEE HAD DOUBLE THE RATE OF POPULATION GROWTH THAT KENTUCKY HAD OVER THE LAST COUPLE DECADES, KIND OF POINTING TO THAT TO SAY, HEY, IF WE WANT TO BECOME A STATE THAT PEOPLE ARE FLOCKING TO AND ESPECIALLY THAT WORKERS ARE FLOCKING TO AND CAN HELP WITH OUR ECONOMIC SITUATION, THAT WE SHOULD GET RID OF OR KIND OF PHASE OUT THE INCOME TAX ESSENTIALLY.

BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE OR PLENTY OF ARGUMENTS THAT THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO GO.

THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS A TOTAL I DUFF TAKE THAN THE CHAMBER DOES, BASICALLY SIGHING SAYING IF WE GET RID OF THE INCOME TAX OR REDUCE THE INCOME TAX, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAP MONEY OUT OF AN ALREADY CASH-STRAPPED STATE GOVERNMENT FOR THINGS LIKE SCHOOLS AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES, AND THAT YOU'LL END UP HAVING TO INCREASE THINGS LIKE THE SALES TAX TO MAKE UP THE LOST MONEY AND THAT THAT WILL, YOU KNOW, BE A BURDEN FOR PEOPLE.

>> Bill: IF THIS IS GOING TO GET DONE IN TERMS OF TAX REFORM, WOULD THIS BE THE YEAR TO DO IT, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE THE SURPLUSES AND THE FACT THAT THE HOUSE PASSED A BUDGET AND KICKED IT HAD OVER TO THE SENATE AND THE SENATE HAS SOME TIME NOW TO THE WORK THROUGH THIS?

>> Morgan: CERTAINLY THE FACT THAT WE'RE MOVING THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW, THIS QUICKLY DEFINITELY MEANS, HEY, WE'VE GOT MORE TIME TO TALK ABOUT TAX REFORM, WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED ISSUE.

IT DOESN'T HURT TO BE ABLE TO BUGG MR. LEVERIDGE SOME OF THE HOLES SHELTER TERM WITH THE MONEY THAT WE'VE GOTTEN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER THE PAST U CAN YEARS, BUT ULTIMATELY WHATEVER DECISIONS THEY MAKE ABOUT TAX REFORM, THOSE DECISIONS, ASSUMING THEY DON'T COME BACK AND CHANGE THEM LATER, THOSE WILL HAVE IMPACTS FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME WHEN WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY GETTING THIS KIND OF INFLUX OF MONEY.

SO AGAIN YOU HAVE THE ISSUE OF THAT TENSION BETWEEN TAXES AND FUNDING FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SERVICES THAT NEED TO BE FUNDED.

>> Bill: AND MANY HAVE COME CALLING, KNOWING THAT THE STATE IS IN THIS POSITIVE CASH POSITION RIGHT NOW.

AND KENTUCKY'S CHIEF JUSTICE MINTON WHO IS RETIRING THIS YEAR IS PUSHING FOR HIGHER PAY TO JUDICIAL EMPLOYEES.

HE SAYS KENTUCKY'S JUDGES ARE ABOUT THE LOWEST PAID IN THE COUNTRY.

MOMENT OF PRETTY MUCH, YEAH.

HE SAID IT'S LOOK A QUARTER, LIKE 25% BELOW THE AVERAGE THAT YOU'D SEE AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND YOU SEE THIS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS, TOO, BASICALLY THE CASE THAT HE'S MAKING IS FOLKS IN THE JUDICIAL BRANCH HAVE BEEN UNDERPAID FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, AND HE SAID THAT THEY'VE LOST LIKE 1,000 WORKERS AROUND THERE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS ALONE, SO BASICALLY IT'S AFFECTING THE JUDICIAL BRANCH'S ABILITY TO OPERATE AT THE LEVEL THEY NEED TO OPERATE AT AND HE'S LIKE, LOOK, WE'VE GOT THIS MONEY COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SITTING THERE.

THERE'S NO EXCUSE IS THE ARGUMENT TO NOT TAKE SOME OF THAT MONEY THE FINALLY GIVE PEOPLE RAISES AND TRY TO KEEP THEM.

>> Bill: MORGAN, THE KENTUCKY SENATE HAS PASSED A BILL THAT ALSO CAMES TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE NEGLECT.

THE.

THE LEAD ON THAT IS SENATOR JULIE RAQUE ADAMS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF SUPPORT AS WELL TO INCREASE THAT.

I AM, KENTUCKY HAS SOME OF THE HIGHEST ABUSE RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Morgan: UNFORTUNATELY, YES.

MY COLLEAGUE AT THE COURIER-JOURNAL DEBORAH YETTER HAS DONE A LOT OF WORK ON THAT AND LOOKING INTO THE ISSUES WE HAVE HERE WITH HOW HIGH OUR CHILD ABUSE RATES ARE AND OUR NEGLECT RATES ARE.

THE BILL THAT'S MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE NOW, IT'S A PRETTY BIG BILL.

I WOULD DO A LOT OF STUFF.

ONE OF THEM ET CRANK A NEW MORE EXPANSIVE BOARD TO LOOK AT THESE ISSUES.

IT WOULD ALSO KIND OF HELP THE STATE IDENTIFY CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK FOR ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND TO HELP THEM EARLIER, THINGS LIKE MAKING COUNSELING AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES THAT ARE AT MODERATE RISK OF HAVING THEIR CHILDREN REMOVED BECAUSE OF ISSUES AS OPPOSED TO WAITING UNTIL IT GETS TO A SEVERE RISK POINT TO GIVE THEM THOSE KINDS OF SERVICES.

AND IT EXPAND A LOT OF FOCUS ON PREVENTION, THIS BILL, A LOT OF FOCUS ON HOW CAN WE PROVIDE MORE SERVICES TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THIS ON THE FRONT END BEFORE YOU HAVE TO TAKE KIDS OUTED OF THE HOME.

AND ALSO IT EXPANDS RATES FOR FOSTER KIDS IN TERMS OF THEIR OPTIONS.

>> Bill: SO WE'RE WATCHING THAT CERTAINLY.

JANET, THERE'S A HOUSE BILL THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER FOR UTILITY COMPANIES TO RAISE THEIR RATES BY JUMPING THROUGH FEWER HOOPS.

>> Janet: RIGHT.

IT WAS FILED BY REPRESENTATIVE JIM GUCH WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, SO IT'S GOING TO GET OUT OF COMMITTEE, OBVIOUSLY.

IT WOULD STREAMLINE THEIR SYSTEM FOR INCREASING RATES.

FOR INSTANCE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE NEWSPAPER ANYMORE THAT'S WANT A RATE INCREASE, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE ONLY WAY THAT MOST OF US FIND OUT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A RATE INCREASE.

THEY WOULD CUT THE TIME IN HALF FORE PARTIES TO INTERVENE AND SAY WE DON'T THINK THIS IS PROGRAMMED IT WOULD LIMIT COMMENTS, AND IN A LOT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION HEARINGS BASICALLY REQUIRE THEM TO DO A LOT MORE APPROVALS FOR SORT OF LIKE WRITERS ON THINGS SAYING, IF WE NEED IT, WE CAN INCREASE IT EVEN MORE.

TOM FITZGERALDS CALLED THIS A UTILITY'S DREAM AND A CUSTOMER'S NIGHTMARE.

>> Bill: BUT IT LOOKS TO BE MOVING, RIGHT?

>> Janet: YEAH.

>> Bill: THE PORCH PIRATING BILL IN THE CINCINNATI, IT PASSED THROUGH THE SENATE RATHER EASILY, AND THAT ESSENTIALLY MEANS IF SOMEBODY SWIPES A PACKAGE FROM YOUR FRONT DOOR, IT WILL NOW BE A FELONY.

>>>YES THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU COULD GET UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.

BEFOREHAND -- I MEAN, RIGHT NOW IT'S BASICALLY A MISDEMEANOR BECAUSE MOST OF THESE PACKAGES ARE WORTH UNDER $1,000.

AND THIS GOES TO A LOOPHOLE OF NOT BEING QUOTE UN," QUOTE, L. QUOTE MAIL.

THIS CLOSES THAT LOOPHOLE.

>> Bill: WE WAIT FOR HOUSE ACTION ON THAT AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

DURING THE HOLIDAYS IT CAME UP AS IT HAPPENED SO MUCH.

>> Janet: ABSOLUTELY AND EVERYBODY -- YOU'RE CAUGHT ON RING SO THESE CAMERAS THESE DAYS, THEY'RE GOING TO FIND YOU.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

EDUCATION.

JESS, A BILL IS MOVING THAT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOL BOARDS TO ALLOW PUBLIC COMMENT.

IT SEEMS TO BE BORNE OUT OF SITUATIONS OVER IN LOUISVILLE WHERE THERE WERE SOME TESTY MEETINGS BACK IN THE FALL.

THE BUT IT'S PUSHED BY THE EDUCATION CHAIR, REGINA HUFF THERE IN THE HOUSE FROM SOUTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> Jess: YEAH, THIS BILL WOULD ARE YOU 15 MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT AT EACH SCHOOL BOARD'S MONTHLY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, AND I COMES AT A TIME WHERE MANY DISTRICTS, INCLUDING JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ARE REALLY GRAPPLING WITH HOW TO HOLD MEETINGS SAFELY AND IN AN ORDERLY FASHION, AT A TIME WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF PARENTS AND ACTIVISTS WHO ARE VERY MOBILIZED BY, YOU KNOW, HOW POLITICIZED MASK MANDATES AND VACCINE MANDATES AND, YOU KNOW, CURRICULUM THAT TOUCHES ON RACE, THERE'S A LOT OF PARENTS THAT ARE COMING TO MEETINGS TO SPEAK ON THESE ISSUES.

AND SOMETIMES MEETINGS HAVE BECOME A LITTLE ROWDY.

AND IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE THERE WAS AN ALLEGED THREAT BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE WHO WERE THERE TO SPEAK, AND SO SINCE THAT TIME JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS DECIDED NOT TO HOLD PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT THAT'S MADE A LOT OF PARENTS FEEL LIKE THEY'RE JUST BEING SILENCED.

AND SO THEY ASKED REGINA HUFF TO CARRY THIS BILL.

AND HUFF SAYS IT'S NOT JUST AIMED AT JEFFERSON COUNTY BUT OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE ALSO GRAPPLING WITH THESE ISSUES OF BETRAYAL AT PUBLIC MEETINGS.

>> Bill: THIS WOULD MAKE NO QUESTION THERE WOULD BE THE 15 MINUTES OF COMMENT MINIMUM.

THERE COULD BE MORE.

YOU WONDER IF THE SCHOOL BOARDS MIGHT CONSIDER THAT TO ALSO BE A LIMIT IN SOME CASES OR USE THAT, THAT NUMBER THAT'S NAMED IN THE STATUTE.

>> Jess: THEY COULD.

I THINK ONE THING I SHOULD MENTION THAT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT WHEN THIS BILL WAS GETTING PASSED WAS THAT THE DEMOCRATS WHO WERE AGAINST IT ADDED -- TRIED TO ADD AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE 15 MINUTES OF PUBLIC COMMENT AT COMMITTEE, LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, WHICH IS -- WHICH DID NOT PASS.

YEAH.

>> Bill: THAT DIDN'T FLY.

I KNOW YOU ARE ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES TO USE THEIR KEES SCHOLARSHIP MONEY FOR FOR-PROFIT OR TRADE SCHOOLS, RIGHT N. AND THAT WOULD BE LIFTING A RESTRICTION.

>> Jess: YES.

SO KEES MONEY, THAT'S THE MONEY THAT KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES GET BASED ON THEIR GRADES, THE MORE As YOU GET WITH THE MORE MONEY YOU GET TO SPEND ON COLLEGE FROM THE STATE, AND THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR-PROFIT TRADE SCHOOLS LIKE BLUEGRASS WELDING INSTITUTE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO ACCEPT THOSE KEES FUNDS, AND THE BILL SPONSOR SAYS IT WOULD SOON SEPARATE STUDENTS EARNED THE FUNDS.

THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SPEND IT WHEREVER THEY WANT.

OPPONENTS WORRY THAT SOME OF THESE TRADE SCHOOLS HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH ALL THE SCRUTINY THAT CURRENT SCHOOLS THAT CAN ACCEPT THESE KEES FUNDS HAVE, AND SO THERE ARE JUST CONCERNS ABOUT IS THIS JUST GOING TO BE A MONEY GRAB BY FOR-PROFIT SCHOOLS.

>> Bill: THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF ANTI-CRITICAL RACE THEORY BILLS OR SO IT WOULD APPEAR THAT HAVE BEEN FILED IN THE HOUSE OVER THE RECENT MONTHS, BUT THE COURIER-JOURNAL REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT OVER IN THE SENATE THE EDUCATION CHAIRMAN HAS FILED ANOTHER BILL THIS WEEK, AND IT MAYBE TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT TACK.

>> Jess: YES.

WE REPORTED THAT TODAY AS WELL.

SENATOR MAX WISE, HE IS THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR, AND SO THAT MEANS THAT THIS BILL PROBABLY HAS A LITTLE MORE LEGS THAN SOME OF THE OTHER BILLS THAT WE'VE SEEN ON THIS ISSUE.

AND IT'S SIMILAR IN SCOPE TO A LOT OF OTHER LEGISLATION THAT YOU SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT'S REALLY AIMED AT LIMITING THE DISCUSSIONS THAT TEACHERS CAN HAVE IN THE CLASSROOM ON RACE, AND ESPECIALLY ON THE ROLE THAT RACISM PLAYS IN SHAPING AMERICAN SOCIETY.

AND SO THIS BILL, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE MOST OF THE BILLS PROHIBIT TEACHERS FROM TALKING ABOUT CERTAIN CONCEPTS.

THIS BILL ACTUALLY SAYS THAT TEACHERS HAVE TO TALK ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY IN A CERTAIN WAY.

SO THEY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT AMERICAN HISTORY IN A WAY THAT IS IN LINE WITH THE IDEA THAT ALL AMERICANS CAN SUCCEED REGARDLESS OF RACE, INCOME OR SEX IF THEY WORK HARD ENOUGH.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Bill: IT WOULD ALSO BE AN APPROVED LIST OF READINGS, RIGHT?

OR ACTUALLY REQUIRED READINGS FOR JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.

>> Jess: YEAH, THERE'S A LIST OF 24 HISTORICAL TEXTS, DOCUMENTS, THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, A LOT OF THEM ARE THINGS THAT STUDENTS ALREADY ARE REQUIRED TO READ IN THEIR HISTOY CLASSES.

MARTIN LUTHER KING'S "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH.

SOME OF THEM ARE LESS COMMON.

THERE'S A SPEECH FROM RONALD REAGAN THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN IN A LOT OF SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

AND THESE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE PUT INTO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

>> Janet: OUR EDITORIAL CONDOMINIUM COLUMN LIST LINDA BLACKFORD THIS AN INTERESTING TAKE.

SHE SAID ARE WE COMFORTABLE BASICALLY HAVING ONE PERSON, SENATOR MAX WISE, DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TEACH ALL OUR KIDS, SETTING THE CURRICULUM FOR EVERYBODY ELSE?

>> Bill: OF COURSE WE WOULD ARGUE THAT HE HAS TO CONVINCE THE LEGISLATURE, SO WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

THE MORGAN, YOU HAD AN INTERESTING TAKE ON THAT AS WELL.

>> Morgan: WELL, SOMETHING THAT'S INTERESTING I THINK TO THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SCHOOL POLICY DECISIONS, RIGHT, WHICH THERE ARE ALWAYS OR OFTEN THEY'RE VERY CONTROVERSIAL, BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE A BILL LIKE THIS THAT IS ABOUT BASICALLY THE STATE LEGISLATURE COMING IN AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT SAYING, YOU KNOW, SETTING VERY STRICT RULES, VERY SPECIFIC RULES ABOUT WHAT CAN BE TAUGHT IN THIS ARENA, WHEREAS AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE ALSO SEEN REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER IN THE LEGISLATURE PUSH FOR MORE LOCAL CONTROL BY SCHOOL BOARDS, FOR EXAMPLE, IN TERMS OF THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR NULLIFYING THE SHORT-LIVED MASK MANDATE FOR SCHOOLS IN THE STATE, INSTEAD LEAVING THAT DECISION TO SCHOOL BOARDS.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS ON THIS IN THE WEEKS AHEAD WE'LL BE COVERING.

JANET, EVERY SESSION THERE IS SUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT EXPANDED GAMBLING IN KENTUCKY IN SOME WAY.

AND YOU LOOKED INTO SOME GAMBLING MACHINES WHOSE OPERATORS APPARENTLY FOUND A PRETTY BIG LOOPHOLE IN THE LAW.

>> Janet: THAT'S RIGHT.

THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THESE MACHINES SAY THEY'RE SKILL-BASED GAMES.

THEY'RE NO GAMBLING, THEY'RE SKILL-BASED GAMES, AND IF YOU TRY HARD ENOUGH AND PATIENT ENOUGH YOU COULD THEORETICALLY WIN EVERY TIME.

THE TWO COMPANIES THAT HAVE -- THE MAIN COMPANIES HAVE PUT MACHINES IN CONVENIENCE STORES AND BARS AND RESTAURANTS, PLACES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 1,000 OF THEM ALREADY, AND I THINK MORE ARE COMING EVERY DAY.

WHAT'S INTERESTING TO ME -- YOU KNOW, THESE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SORT OF -- YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT TRADITIONAL SLOTS AND YOU KNOW THEY WERE TUCKED IN BACK ROOMS.

THESE ARE NOT.

THESE ARE RIGHT UP FRONT, AND WHEN THEY HAD A HEARING IN NOVEMBER AT THE LEGISLATURE ON THIS,REs OF THE COMPANY WERE RIGHT THERE SAYING, YES, WE'RE HERE.

YES, WE WANT YOU TO LEGISLATE US.

WE EMBRACE TAXATION.

>> Bill: NO BEAD CURTAINS TO GO THROUGH.

>> Janet: THAT'S RIGHT, WE'RE RIGHT UP FRONTER WHERE EVERYBODY CAN SEE US AND PLAY AND US PUSH THE LOTTERY MACHINES ASIDE.

IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

ONE COMPANY HAS EVEN PARTNERED THE WITH FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE, WHICH IS GETTING A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS FOR ITS SUPPORT.

>> Bill: THE FOP.

>> Janet: THE F OEMP.

>> Bill: ANOTHER INTERESTING WRINKLE IN THAT.

A REQUIRED FEDERAL ELECTION FILING THAT IS OUT THERE WEEK SHOWS DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CHARLES BOOKER SPENT MORE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2021 THAN HE RAISE PD.

THE SUMLY SHOWS THE BOOKER CAMPAIGN TOOK IN ABOUT $654,000 BUT SPENT ALMOST $765,000.

THEY HAVE $411,000 ON HAND FORTH CAMPAIGN AHEAD.

BY CONTRAST, REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT RAND PAUL HAS ABOUT $8 MILLION ON HAND AND RAISED ABOUT $3.8 MILLION DURING THE LAST PART OF 2021.

AND, MORGAN, SENATOR PAUL ALSO LEADS IN SOME RECENT POLLING, BUT CHARLES BOOKER SAYS HE STILL SEES A PATH TO VICTORY.

>> Morgan: YEAH, I MEAN, DEFINITELY GOOD NEWS FOR SENATOR PAUL'S CAMPAIGN.

THAT'S A MASSIVE FUNDRAISING READ, AND THE POLLING LOOKS GREAT FOR HIM TOO.

CHARLES BOOKER DID, HE HAD A TWEET EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT WAS SORT OF SAYING, LOOK, I'VE AMS BEEN AN UNDERDOG, POINTING OUT HER I WAS UNDERDOG IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN 2020 UNDER PITCHED McCONNELL'S SEAT WHERE THE OTHER MAJOR DEMOCRAT OUTRAISED AMY McGRATH.

SHE RAISED BUCKET LOADS MONEY AND HE ALMOST PULLED OFF AN UPSET WHICH NOBODY EXPECTED HIM TO COME WITHIN SINGLE DIGITS OF ALMOST BEATING HER, SO HE IS SORT OF -- HE'S ALWAYS ARGUED THAT THIS KNOWLEDGE ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WOULD BE A HARD RACE TO WIN IN KENTUCKY BUT HE'S SORT OF MADE THE ARGUMENT THAT, HEY, WE CAN STILL SHOCK THE WORLD, WE CAN STILL PULL THIS OFF.

A BIG PART OF HIS ARGUMENT HAS BEEN HE'S GOING TO WIN THROUGH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, BUT CERTAINLY EVEN IF YOU'RE GOING FOR GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, I MEAN, THAT KIND OF -- YOU NEED SOME FUNDING TO PULL THAT OFF AND CERTAINLY IT JUST MAKES HIS WORK THAT MUCH HARDER IF YOU'VE GOT A FUNDRAISING GAP AS BIG AS THIS ONE IS.

>> Bill: HE'S GOING TO DO WHAT HE CALLS A KENTUCKY NEW DEAL TOUR LATER THIS MONTH.

HE IS A STRONG RETAILER CAMPAIGNER SO WE'LL BE WATCHING THAT AND CERTAINLY SENATOR PAUL'S CAMPAIGNING AS WELL.

JANET, THIS KENTUCKY COURT OF APPEALS RULED THE HERALD-LEADER CAN VIEW THE RECORDS OF HARASSMENT COMPLAINTS AGAINST LAWMAKERS.

>> Jennifer: JE, WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR FOUR YEARS TO GET.

>> Janet: FOUR YEARS TO GET THE 2015 COMPLAINT FILED BY A STAFFER AGAINST FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JIM STEWART.

WE WERE APPEALED IT ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT AND BACK DOWN.

I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE IF THEY'RE GOING TO FINALLY TURN IT OVER THIS TIME.

THE THE STATE LUMBERS INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH IN 2021 REWROTE THE STATE LAW SO FROM HERE ON YOU THE ON THEY GET TO DECIDE WHAT THE TAX PAYING PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO SEE.

>> Bill: BURR BONE NEWS MOSTLY POSITIVE SINCE THE TARIFFS WERE LIFTED.

>> Janet: YEP, IT'S GOING STRONG ALL OVER THE STATE.

THE LOTS OF NEW RELEASES AND LOTS MORE BOURBON BEING MADE EVERY DAY.

>> Bill: KEENELAND HAS BROKE GROUND THIS WEEK FOR THE QUARTER HOUSE TRACK IN CORE.

EVERYTHING IS ON TRACK DOWN THERE?

>> Janet: THEY HOPE TO HAVE RACES IN CORBIN THIS YEAR.

IS IT QUARTER HORSE OR A HARNESS RACE RANGES TRACK?

HARNESS TRACK I THINK THIS FALL.

>> Bill: AND THE WIN, LAST YEAR'S DERBY HAS REALLY NOT NOT BEEN DETERMINED, BUT WE COULD KNOW THIS WEEK, RIGHT?

THERE'S A HEARING?

>> Janet: MAYBE.

FEBRUARY 7th THE STEWARDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING A HEARING ON BOB BAFFORD AND THE SPIRIT, AND IF THEY STRIKE TOWN EVER DOWN MEDINA SPIRIT AND NAME -- I FORGET WHO WAS SECOND NO -- IF THEY STRIKE TOWN MEDINA SPIRIT'S WIN THEY WILL APPEAL IT'S ALMOST CERTAIN.

>> Bill: R RICHARD WHITE COLLAPSED AT THE STATE CAPITOL THIS WEEK.

HE IS CONTINUING HIS RECOVERY IN THE HOSPITAL AND OUR THOUGHTS WITH HIS FAMILY.

THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NAMED SEAN SOUTHERN ITS NEW SPOKESPERSON.

HE'S DONE THE SAME JOCK FOR AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

A FAYETTE COUNTY CLERK BLEVINS SOUND 10 ALARM ABOUT HOW LEXINGTON AND OTHER LARGER CITIES WILL BE ABLE TO PULL OFF THREE DAYS EARLY VOTING.

HE IS MEETING WITH THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT THIS WEEK TO INFORM HIM.

THEY MAY HAVE TO CLOSE SCHOOLS FOR THOSE DAYS SO THEY CAN BE USED A POLLING PLACES.

BLEVINS WANTS THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE A CHANGE OR EVEN DELAY EARLY VOTING UNTIL 2023.

WE'LL WATCH THAT.

HOPE YOU WILL TUNE IN MONDAY NIGHT AND WATCH "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WITH RENEE SHAW, AND SHE'LL HOST A DISCUSSION ON