[♪♪] >> A SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT AND A PROPOSAL FOR PARTISAN ELECTIONS TO SELECT THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION ARE UNVEILEDD IN FRANKFORT.

A BILL GRANTING LIMITED EXCEPTIONS TO THE STATE ABORTION BAN FILED.

A MAJOR CRIME BILL PROPOSED THAT WOULD ADD THREE STRIKE RULES AND CLEAR HOMELESS CAMPS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR STARTS A NATIONAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE FUELING SPECULATION ABOUT HIS FUTURE ASPIRATIONS.

AS A COLD JANUARY WIND HOWLS OUT THERE, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS IS LOUISVILLE.

AND LIAM NIEMEYER REPORTER NOT KENTUCKY LANTERN.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATIONS ARE PLANNED AROUND THE STATE HEADING INTO THE HOLIDAY MONDAY.

WE BEGIN WITH A VERY BUSY WEEK IN FRANKFORT.

THERE WAS A CONFLUENCE OF ISSUES INVOLVING EDUCATION AND ELECTIONS AND OTHER THINGS.

THERE IS A BILL FILED FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT CALLS FOR PARTISAN ELECTIONS TO CHOOSE MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION.

TWO MEMBERS WOULD BE ELECTED FROM EACH OF THE STATE'S SUPREME COURT DISTRICTS.

LIAM THAT WOULD BE A MAJOR CHANGE FROM THE PROCESS WHERE THE GOVERNOR APPOINTS THE STATE BOARD OF ED.

>> CORRECT AND IT IS A PROCESS THAT VERY FEW STATES IN THE COUNTRY TAKE PART OF.

THERE'S LESS THAN 10 STATES THAT HAVE PARTISAN ELECTIONS FOR THE STATE BOARDS OF EDUCATION.

IN THOSE STATES WHERE THEY DO HAVE ELECTIONS, THE PARTISAN LEANINGS OF THE STATE AS A WHOLE TEND TO MAKEUP THE PARTISAN LEANINGS OF THE STATE BOARDS OF EDUCATION.

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY FOR REPUBLICANS THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN A STICKING POINT EVER SINCE BESHEAR ENTERED THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION WHEN HE REMADE THE BOARD GETTING RID OF FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN'S APPOINTMENTS.

AND LAST YEAR THEY ALSO PASSED A BILL REQUIRING G.O.P.

CONTROLLED STATE SENATE APPROVAL OF THE STATE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION.

WHICH, AGAIN, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION CHOOSES.

SO IT'S JUST THE LATEST PIECE OF LEGISLATION TARGETING THAT BODY.

>> Bill: AND THAT APPROVAL IS THE NEW STEP AS YOU SAID.

AND ISAIAH THAT COMES AS THE BOARD IS TRYING TO HIRE AN EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

WOULD NOT KNOWING THE LANDSCAPE OF HOW THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS SELECTED BE A CHALLENGE IN TRYING TO FIND SOMEBODY?

>> BILL, YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT AMIDST A LOT OF DIFFERENT CHALLENGES.

WE KNOW WHEN JASON GLASS LEFT THE POSITION AS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOARD OF EDUCATION, HE MENTIONED THE CULTURE WARS WHY HE STEPPED DOWN.

THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED HOW HARD THIS POSITION IS TO FIND APPLICANTS FOR.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE YOU TAKE THIS NEXT STEP WHEN IT COMES TO THE BOARD, AND MAKE IT PARTISAN LIKELY, WHETHER IT MAKES THE JOB EASIER OR NOT EASIER FOR THE NEXT APPLICANT THAT IS TO BE DECIDED.

NO DOUBT IT ADDS MORE TO THE PLATE OF PEOPLE COMING INTO THE POSITION.

>> Bill: SPONSORS SAY GOVERNOR'S POLITICIZED THE BOARD APPOINTMENTS AND SAY THIS HAS BEEN A SERIES OF GOVERNORS OVER THE YEARS.

NOT JUST AT THIS TIME.

>> SURE.

YEAH.

AND YOU KNOW, GETTING BACK TO WHAT WAS MENTIONED ABOUT BESHEAR'S COMMENTS OF THIS PERCEPTION THAT THIS OFFICE IS THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION THIS OFFICE IS BEING POLITICIZED.

HAVING MULTIPLE GOVERNORS AND ADMINISTRATIONS TO WHERE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE.

I WOULD ASSUME WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO FIND A NEW APPLICANT.

>> Bill: THERE'S ALSO A SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT THAT IS UP FOR CONSIDERATION.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR YEARS WITH OPPONENTS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET IT DONE.

THE COURTS SAID YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE WORDING IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION IF YOU ARE GOING TO DIRECT TAX DOLLARS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS OR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THE AMENDMENT IF IT GETS THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE IT WOULD BE UP TO THE PUBLIC TO DECIDE ON THIS.

>> CORRECT.

THIS BILL IT WAS FILED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSH CALLOWAY WHO HE IS A PART OF A SMALLER GROUP OF REPUBLICANS WHOD IN PAST HAVE CHALLENGED THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

OSBORNE MENTIONED HE EXPECTS A SEPARATE BILL CREATING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO BE FILED REGARDING FUNDING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLING.

BUT, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE ON THAT.

>> Bill: ALEX, BOIL DOWN THE SCHOOL CHOICE THAT IS A BUZZ TERM CERTAINLY THAT IS OUT THERE.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

>> ESSENTIALLY IN THE MOST GENERAL SENSE IT WOULD ALLOW PUBLIC FUNDING OF SCHOOLS TO BE DIVERTED TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THIS IS A BILL I THINK IT WAS INITIALLY PASSED IN 2021 OR 2022 AND THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT FOUND IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE THE CONSTITUTION SAYS PUBLIC SCHOOL MONIES CANNOT BE DIVERTED FOR THIS REASON.

IF YOU WANT TO PASS A BILL ALLOWING THAT, YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION WHICH IS THE EFFORT THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW ESSENTIALLY.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE, TOO, HERE WHEN IT COMES TO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, IT IS NOT A SIMPLE BILL AS A BLUE OR RED ISSUE.

REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT.

THERE ARE REPUBLICAN VOTERS TYPICALLY SAY IN SOME RURAL AREAS ACROSS THE STATE WHO THEY ONLY HAVE ONE OR TWO PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT RUN EVERYTHING FOR THEIR FAMILIES THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN FUNDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THAT IS A BIG PART OF WHETHER THESE WOULD HAVE THE VOTES IF THIS ARE WERE TO PASS AND GO TO THE VOTERS.

>> Bill: AND IS ALSO A FACTOR WHETHER THEY WOULD HAVE THE SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> THAT IS THE START.

AND YOU NEED THE VOTES IN NOVEMBER.

>> Bill: WELL THERE IS ALSO CALL FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD MOVE KENTUCKY STATE-WIDE ELECTIONS FOR OFFICES IN FRANKFORT SUCH AS GOVERNOR, ATTORNEY GENERAL AND GOVERNOR TO COINCIDE WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

IT'S PASSED A SENATE COMMITTEE IT WOULD MEAN NO MORE OFF YEAR ELECTIONS IN KENTUCKY.

THE CLASH HAS BEEN ALONG PARTY LINES WITH REPUBLICANS SAYING IT WOULD SAVE MONEY AND OPPONENTS SAYING IT WOULD DEPRIVE KENTUCKIANS ABOUT A DISCUSSION OF INSTATE ISSUES.

>> NOW DAYS WITH NATIONAL DIVISION WITH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS LASTING FOR YEARS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY HAVE SPACE TO FOCUS ON KENTUCKY ISSUES.

>> PUT THESE RACES ON THE BALLOT WHEN PROBABLY 20% MORE OF THEM ARE ALREADY COMING TO VOTE.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO GET THEM FOCUSED ON STATE ISSUES THAN PUT THE RACES IN A YEAR WHERE THEY ARE ALREADY INTERESTED AND ALREADY COMING TO VOTE.

>> Bill: WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION GOING FORWARD AS IT HAS ALREADY BEEN.

>> DEFINITELY.

IT'S SORT OF REMINDS ME A LITTLE BIT OF YOU KNOW, AGAIN THIS WOULD BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND SOMETHING THAT GOES TO THE VOTERS.

IT REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN LOUISIANA WHERE THE GOVERNOR DOWN THERE IS TRYING TO RECONFIGURE THEIR ANTIQUATED PRIMARY SYSTEM.

AND POLLING HAS SHOWN THEY CALL IT A JUNGLE PRIMARY BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE OPEN PRIMARY TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS GO ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

AND LOUISIANA VOTERS DOWN THERE POLLING HAS SHOWN THEY LIKE THE OLD SYSTEM.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER KENTUCKY VOTERS WOULD APPROVE SUCH A CHANGE OR LIKE IT THE OLD WAY.

ODD YEAR ELECTIONS.

>> Bill: AGAIN, WHETHER YOU HAVE THAT QUAINT INSTATE CONVERSATION ABOUT ISSUES OR THE BIG POLITICAL YEARS WHERE BASICALLY EVERY ISSUE IS ON TABLE.

>> AND WHAT ISSUES MATTER TO VOTERS?

IF THEY ARE SEEING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT, DO THOSE NATIONAL ISSUES THEN DICTATE WHO THEY VOTE FOR IN STATE THAT IS A CONSIDERATION.

>> Bill: A LOT OF ELECTION ISSUES HAVE COME UP HERE EARLY IN THE SESSION.

SEVERAL REPUBLICAN COSPONSORS HAVE NOW SIGNED ON TO SENATOR'S BILL TO ELIMINATE EARLY VOTING IN KENTUCKY WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN IN PLACE A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS PUSHING BACK HARD ON THAT.

HE SUGGESTS THE STATE MIGHT FACE NATIONAL BOYCOTTS IF WE DID THAT.

>> SOME OF THE QUOTES GRAB YOUR EYE.

HE SAYS THEY WILL CALL US BIGOTS THEY WILL CALL US VOTE SUPPRESSORS.

HE IS REFERRING TO THE OTHER STATES.

SENATOR WESTERFIELD STATING IT WOULD CONFUSE VOTERS WHO HAVE GOTTEN USED TO HAVING FOUR DAYS VERSUS ONE.

MANY OF US IN THE NEWS INDUSTRY HAVE GOTTEN USED TO HAVINGAL TERNE OPTIONS GIVEN THE SHIFTS WE WORK.

IT IS A BIG TOPIC THE QUESTION IS HOW FAR WILL THIS GO.

>> THE SENATOR THE SPONSOR OF THE BILL, HE'S SPOKEN ON THIS FOR DEFENDING AGAINST THE COMMENTS FROM SECRETARY ADAMS AND OTHERS SAY HE WANTS TO MAKE VOTING SPECIAL AGAIN, VOTING TO BE RESPECTED.

>> THEY CREDIT.

>> SACRED.

>> .

>> THE EXCUSES AVAILABLE TO VOTERSES TO VOTE ABSENTEE WERE ENOUGH AND THAT YEAH.

HIS OWN WORDS.

>> Bill: THIS IS THE THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY BEFORE AN ELECTION WALK IN ABSENTEE.

>> NO EXCUSE.

>> AND AS YOU SAID UNDER THE OTHER OLD WAY, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU CERTIFY YOU MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA IN ORDER TO VOTE ABSENTEE.

WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT ALL GOES.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS PUSHING BACK ON A BILL THAT WOULD LIMIT DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION DISCUSSIONS.

THERE'S TALK A BILL AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL AND TALK OF ONE K-12 LEVEL.

ALEX, THE GOVERNOR'S CALLED THAT BILL A POLITICAL BOOINGBY MAN.

>> HE DID TODAY OR YESTERDAY.

WE'VE SEEN THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN BACK TWO WEEKS WE'VE GOTTEN TWO BILLS FROM TWO DIFFERENT REPUBLICANS SEEKING TO LIMIT THE SAME THING.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION PRACTICES BUT AT TWO LEVELS OF EDUCATION.

SENATOR WILSON'S WANTS TO DO IT IN PUBLIC HIGHER-ED INSTITUTIONS.

SENATOR MEREDITH WANTS TO DO IT IN PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS.

THEY ARE BOTH IT'S -- THEY ARE BOTH DIFFERENT BUT IN INTERESTING WAYS.

WILSON'S AWANTS TO OUTLAW -- AND THEY DON'T APPLY TO CLASSROOM CURRICULUM.

AND NEITHER SEEK TO DEMANDLE DEI OFFICES HAVE.

SO WILSON'S TAKES AIM AT QUOTE-UNQUOTE DIVISIVE CONCEPTS AND SOME INCLUDE RACE OR RACE SCAPEGOATING I BELIEVE THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS ARE INHERENTLY PRIVILEGED OR SUGGESTIONS THAT AMERICANS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL.

MEREDITH'S TAKES MORE AIM AT DEI PLUS BELONGING.

MEREDITH'S INTERESTINGLY GOES SO FAR AS TO SORT OF DISMANTLE TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACHES REQUISITES.

HE TOLD MY COLLEAGUE TESSA DUVALL THIS WEEK THAT HE THINKS TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH IS A BACK DOOR TO DEI.

THESE BILLS WE HEAR THERE'S POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE THEY WILL BE PUSHED THIS SESSION BY THE G.O.P.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE IT AS A PRIORITY.

BUT WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

>> AND A PART OF THIS BEING ESPECIALLY WITH SENATOR WILSON'S BILL IT OPENS UP THE DOOR FOR LAWSUITS.

IT'S STATED IN THE BILL ITSELF YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT A THOUSAND TO 100,000 IF A FAMILY OR A STUDENT OR FACULTY THEMSELVES DECIDE TO SUE THE UNIVERSITY BECAUSE OF FEELING THEY ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THEY CAN'T CONTROL.

>> Bill: DOES THE BILL ATTEMPT TO SAY IT WOULD NOT ENDANGER FEDERAL FUNDING?

WHICH.

>> THAT IS SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS ONE OF HIS BIG CONCERNS.

HE SAID IT TO ME AND OTHERS HE DOESN'T WANT ANY DEI RELATED BILLS TO HURT SCHOOLS.

AND THE ABILITY TO OBTAIN THAT FEDERAL FUNDING AND ALIGN WITH FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS.

SO THAT IS WHY OR POSSIBLY THE REASON HE HAS NOT TAKING A FIRM STANCE ON A DEI RELATED BILL.

>> Bill: YOU WERE AMONG THE REPORTERS WHO ATTENDED A COFFEE BRIEFING WITH PRESIDENT STIVERS WHO TALKED ABOUT THIS BILL.

HE SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO FIND A BALANCE.

HERE IS SOME OF WHAT HE SAID ABOUT THE TEACHING OF HISTORY.

>> WE HAVE A DARK HISTORY AND IT NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT THE DARK SPOTS WHATEVER IT IS.

BUT DON'T TRY TO CREATE FRICTION OVER SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED 100 YEARS AGO.

BUT, YES, WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF OUR PAST BECAUSE IF WE DO WE'RE SUBJECT TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES AGAIN.

>> Bill: STIVERS SEEMS TO INDICATE SOME SUPPORT, HOWEVER FEELS THERE WILL HAVE TO BE REVISIONS AND THAT WILL HAVE TO BE A CAREFULLY CRAFTED PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> THERE IS A QUOTE THAT HE SAYS THE WAY IT'S IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER STATES CREATED MORE PROBLEMS THAN IT SOLVES.

AND THEN HE SAYS DEPENDING ON ITS LANGUAGE AND HOW IT'S WRITTEN.

IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S TRYING TO TOW THAT LINE RIGHT NOW.

YOU HEARD HIM SAY WE'RE NOT TRYING TO IGNORE THE HISTORY THE WRONGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME NOT HOLD STUDENTS AGAINST IT WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> I WILL SAY LOOKING HOW TENNESSEE IMPLEMENTED THEIR'S THEY PASSED IT IN 2022 AND REVISED IT IN 2023 AND THEY PULL FROM THE CONCEPTS THAT SENATOR WILSON'S BILL PROPOSES.

HOW IT'S ENFORCED IS SQUISHY.

AND I READ THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY OF 10 FEN PROVOST'S GUIDANCE WHAT THE BILL CALLS FOR IN TENNESSEE WAS IN PLACE AT UNIVERSITIES.

IT IS AN INTERESTING PUSH-PULL WHAT IS ENFORCEABLE, IT DOESN'T WANT TO INC.

FRINGE ON FIRST AMENDMENT SPEECH AND WHAT YOU CAN TRACK OR PROVE COMPLIANCE WITH.

>> ACCOUNTABILITY PART AS WELL.

WHERE THEY WILL BASICALLY HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND TALK TO STUDENTS AND FACULTY ON THE CLIMATE OF A SAID UNIVERSITY AND GO FROM THERE TO MAINTAIN COMPLIANCE.

>> Bill: ONE TO WATCH.

AND A BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS TO KENTUCKY'S NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN IS SPONSORED BY DAVID YATES.

THE DEBATE OF THAT BILL IS UNDERWAY.

>> THIS BILL IS ABOUT COMPASSION AND EMPATHY.

I'M HERE WITH A CLEAR MESSAGE TO SAY THAT UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS POSITION, YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT ANY WOMAN OR GIRL IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH.

>> WE THINK THAT KENTUCKY CAN BE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE LOVE THEM BOTH.

THAT WE HAVE A COMPASSIONATE CULTURE THAT COMES ALONGSIDE WOMEN.

>> Bill: ALEX THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROPOSAL THAT FAILED.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR RAN ADS FEATURING HADLEY DUVAL.

WHAT DOES THE LANDSCAPE LOOK LIKE NOW?

>> THE LANDSCAPE FOR ADDING EXCEPTIONS TO KENTUCKY'S ABORTION BANS WHICH CURRENTLY ONLY INCLUDE EXCEPTIONS IF THE LIFE OF THE PREGNANT PERSON IS THREATENED.

I WOULD SAY THE CLIMATE IS MORE HOSPITABLE THAN IT WAS A YEAR AGO WHEN THE BILL SIMILAR TO DAVID YATES' VERSE.

IT DID NOT RECEIVE A COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT PARTIALLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A CASE BEFORE THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE BANS.

LAWMAKERS SAID PUBLICLY THEY WERE SORT OF WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE COURT DECIDED.

THIS YEAR WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

BOTH OSBORNE AND STIVERS HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE'S SOME SUPPORT WITHIN THEIR CAUCUS TO INCLUDE EXCEPTIONS.

THIS IS THE FIRST BILL PROPOSED IT'S PROPOSED BY A DEMOCRAT.

SO WE WILL SEE SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS SAID IT WILL BE ASSIGNED TO A COMMITTEE BUT TO BE DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS SUPPORT.

>> AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT BILL HAS ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE WON'T STAND IN HIS CAUCUS' WAY THE MAJORITY CAUCUS' WAY IN THE SENATE IN THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT.

A POINT THAT SENATOR DAVID YATES MADE HE BELIEVES THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHO WANT THESE EXCEPTIONS.

BUT QUESTIONS WHETHER THAT WILL MATERIALIZE INTO VOTES TRULY WHEN PEN COMES TO PAPER.

>> Bill: A CRIME BILL IS ALSO BEING DEBATED IN FRANK FORWARD.

THE SPONSORS CALL IT THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT IT IS A SWEEPING BILL AND SOME AREAS ARE GETTING MORE ATTENTION THAN OTHERS EARLY ON.

A LOT OF DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW SEEMS TO BE CENTERED ON POTENTIALLY CRIMINALIZING SLEEPING IN PUBLIC AREAS.

>> YEAH.

IT'S LOTS OF HOUSING ADVOCATES HAVE COME OUT AGAINST THIS BILL BOTH IN THE URBAN AND RURAL AREAS.

THE PART OF THE BILL THAT GAINED A LOT OF ATTENTION WOULD CRIMINALIZE YOU KNOW, STREET CAMPING BASICALLY.

IT WOULD BE A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR EQUIVALENT TO A FIRST-TIME D.U.I.

BASICALLY, ANYONE THAT CAME INTO AN UNDESIGNATED AREA PRIVATE OR PUBLIC AND DECIDED TO STAY OR REMAIN THERE OVERNIGHT, COULD BE CHARGED WITH THE LAW THAT INCLUDES SLEEPING IN A CAR.

AND YOU KNOW THIS COULD BE ISSUE SAY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TOO THAT DON'T HAVE FOR EXAMPLE HOMELESS SHELTERS.

HOMELESSNESS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OFTEN LOOKS DIFFERENT IN THE FACT THERE'S MORE SPACE IT'S MAYBE LESS SEEN BUT IT'S AN ISSUE.

>> AND IN LOUISVILLE, I MEAN, THE CITY ITSELF HAS A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH.

AND THE REASON WHY THAT MATTERS IS HOUSELESS INDIVIDUALS CAN GET SHELTER, SEEK OUT PERMANENT SHELTER AND THEN WORRY ABOUT SOME OF THE TREATMENT POTENTIALLY A LITTLE LATER ON VERSUS THE REPUBLICAN SPONSORS ON THIS BILL SPECIFICALLY WANT TO REVERSE THAT ORDER.

LISTEN WE HAVE PERMANENT SHELTER AVAILABLE, HOWEVER WE WANT TO MANDATE TREATMENT COMES FIRST BEFORE ANYTHING.

>> Bill: DEAL WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT GOT THEM THERE FIRST.

>> AND THAT SAY HOLD-UP FROM THE ADVOCATES.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY LEAGUE OF CITIES IS TRACKING THIS HOMELESSNESS ISSUE STATE-WIDE AND A LOT OF SMALLER CITIES ARE DEALING WITH CHALLENGES AND IT IS A TOUGH AND GROWING ISSUE.

THEY ARE, IN FACT, ENCOURAGING SOME CITIES TO CONSIDER CHANGES TO SOME OF THE ZONING SO THAT THERE COULD BE MORE HOUSING.

AND ALSO TO PUT REAL DOLLARS INTO DEALING WITH THE ISSUE.

>> THEY ARE ENCOURAGING THAT.

I MEAN AS ISAIAH WAS SAYING IT WAS A PROBLEM THAT PUTS PEOPLE IN THIS POSITION OF BEING HOUSELESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO ACTUALLY SEE MUNICIPALITIES COME UP WITH THEIR OWN PLANS WHETHER CHANGING ZONING.

IF THEY DO SUBMIT THE PLANS, FUNDING IS ALSO A BIG ISSUE TO BE DETERMINED IF THAT ACTUALLY REACHES FRUITION.

>> Bill: THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUING TO GET A LOT OF DISCUSSION IN FRANKFORT ATTENTION.

YOU SENSE THERE IS SOMETHING LIKELY TO COME OUT OF THIS SESSION BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING YET.

>> THAT IS WHAT STRUCK ME, BILL, IS WHERE IS THE TENSION GOING TO GO PRIMARILY?

WE HEARD EARLY ON THERE MAY BE COMMISSIONS MADE ON AN EFFORT TO MAKE A COMMISSION TO LOOK INTO THE POTENTIAL OF SPLITTING UP JCPS WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

THE BUS DISASTER WAS THE PRECIPICE FOR THE LATEST EFFORT.

AND THEN IN THE MOST RECENT CONVERSATION, THE SENATE PRESIDENT BRINGING UP THE WORD GOVERNANCE AND REFERENCING THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS 2018 AT A STATE TAKEOVER UNDER GOVERNOR BEVIN'S ADMINISTRATION.

SO WE ARE STARTING TO HEAR THE RUMBLINGS OF PAST EFFORTS.

BUT, AGAIN, HE HAS SAID THESE ARE ALTERNATIVES, ROBERT STIVERS SAID ON THE PERIPHERY.

IT'S STILL UNCLEAR WHAT EXACTLY IS THE PRIMARY FOCUS HERE.

>> Bill: IS SOME FEELING THAT THERE MIGHT BE AN AGREED ORDER?

THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT LOUISVILLE IS GETTING ALONG BETTER WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THESE DAYS.

IS SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT FOR FOLKS COULD COME TO WITHOUT A BIG LEGISLATIVE CHANGE?

>> I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW, SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS SAT DOWN WITH YOU AND TALKED ABOUT JCPS EXTENSIVELY ON THE ISSUES.

AND IT SEEMS RIGHT NOW SOME OF THESE MEASURES ARE WHAT THEY BELIEVE WILL NEED TO BE THE SOLUTION.

AND FOR EVERYTHING WE'VE HEARD IT DOESN'T SEEM THEY BELIEVE IT CAN BE HANDLED INTERNALLY TO MAKE IT TO THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THE BIGGEST PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IS.

>> Bill: THAT DISCUSSION WILL CONTINUE.

SOONER OR LATER VEHICLES WILL DRIVE THEMSELVES AND A REPRESENTATIVE FILED A BILL TO ESTABLISH A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES.

LIAM YOU ARE FOLLOWING THAT.

IT IS INTERESTING FOR ONE THING IT WOULD STIPULATE THAT THE OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE.

>> CORRECT, YEAH.

IT WOULD CREATE A REGULAR STORE FRAMEWORK WHEN WE THINK OF AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES WE THINK OF TESLA THEY HAVE A PERSON BEHIND THE WHEEL TO MAKE SURE NOTHING GOES AWRY WHEN THE TESLA IS IN SO-CALLED SELF-DRIVING MODE.

AND YEAH, THIS WOULD CREATE A REGULATORY FRAME FORK FOR FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES LIKE YOU SAID NOBODY'S BEHIND THE WHEEL.

THIS THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT LEAST ANOTHER ATTEMPT BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSH BRAY TO TRY TO PASS THIS BILL.

LAST TIME, IT WAS PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE SESSION.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR VETOED IT SAID THAT HOW IT WAS GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED THE REGULATIONS WERE TOO BROAD, AMBIGUOUS AND KENTUCKY STATE POLICE WASN'T CONSULTED ON THE BILL.

THERE'S ALSO PUSHBACK ON THE BILL BY LABOR GROUPS.

SEEING THE BILL HAS POTENTIAL THREAT TO SAY JOBS FOR DRIVERS, IF YOU HAD FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES YOU WOULD NOT NEED DRIVERS.

IT'S YEAH, IT'S THE LATEST ATTEMPT AT THE BILL BY REPRESENTATIVE BRAY.

>> Bill: LIKE I SAID IT'S COMING.

ALEX, KENTUCKY THIS WEEK HAD JUVENILE DEATHS FROM COVID AND THE FLU.

AND THIS IS PROVING TO BE ONE TOUGH SEASON FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES.

>> IT IS.

WE KNEW THAT COVID AND INFLUENZA CASES WOULD SPIKE AS THEY DO DURING COLDER MONTHS.

BOTH OF THE CHILDREN WHO DIED WERE UNVACCINATED.

INFLUENZA HOSPITALIZATION RATES ARE RISING IN KENTUCKY.

I'M SURE MOST VIEWERS KNOW ONE OR TWO PEOPLE WITH COVID.

AND SO IT'S YET ANOTHER REMINDER THAT THESE ARE BOTH VIRUSES DISEASES THAT WE WILL NOT LIVE WITHOUT FOR A WHILE.

>> Bill: IT WAS ATTENTION GETTING THIS WEEK WHEN PHILLIP BAILEY BROKE THE STORY THAT "USA TODAY" THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR STARTED A NATIONAL PAC TO HELP CANDIDATES THAT WANT TO TONE DOWN THE RHETORIC.

IT WOULD BE CALLED IN THIS TOGETHER.

BESHEAR HAS BEEN CALLED A RISING STAR WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AFTER HIS VICTORY IN NOVEMBER.

IS THIS DESIGNED TO SEE WHERE IT TAKES HIM?

>> I THINK THE QUESTION RIGHT NOW WHETHER THE GOVERNOR DECIDES TO RUN FOR NATIONAL OFFICE AFTER HIS FINAL TERM HERE OR NOT, I THINK A QUESTION FROM FOLKS FROM A NATIONAL LEVEL IS CAN HE BE THE DEMOCRAT TO LEAD OTHER DEMOCRATS TO SUCCESS DESPITE THE ODDS BEING AGAINST THEM.

WE'VE HAD A SITUATION HERE IN LOUISVILLE WHERE WE HAD A REPRESENTATIVE FOR OUR LOCAL BUS UNION, THE BUS UNION PRESIDENT WHO IS NOW RUNNING SPECIFICALLY IN A DISTRICT THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD BY A REPUBLICAN.

BESHEAR HAS ENDORSED HIM.

WE LEARNED THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS THE ONE TO TELL HIM TO RUN.

HIS FORMER CAMPAIGN MANAGER NOW RUNNING THE CAMPAIGN.

IT WILL BE PUT TO THE TEST WHAT KIND OF LEGS HIS NAME HAS, HIS PRESENCE AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT THAT CAN MEAN FOR SEATS.

>> Bill: POTENTIALLY GIVES HIM A REASON TO TRAVEL THE COUNTRY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE MENTIONED HIS TRAVELING BY PLANE WAS NOT THE BEST OPTION HE IS DRIVING.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON HUNTER BIDEN THE PROBE LED BY KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER IS CONTINUING AND THERE WAS AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT THERE.

>> YES.

THERE'S CONTINUING CONFLICT BATTLE BETWEEN THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND HUNTER BIDEN HOW HUNTER BIDEN IS GOING TO GIVE HIS TESTIMONY TO THE COMMITTEE.

THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ASKED BIDEN TO GIVE TESTIMONY IN PRIVATE.

BIDEN SAID NO SAYING HE WAS AFRAID IT WOULD BE MISCONSTRUED OR CHERRY PICKED AND HE WOULD DO IT IN PUBLIC.

HE ENDED UP GOING INTO THE COMMITTEE ROOM.

THERE WAS A BLOWUP AFTER MARJORIE TAYLOR GREEN STARTED TO QUESTION HIM MORE DRAMA.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY NICK CLOONEY TURNS 90.

THE FORMER TELEVISION HOST WORKED AT WKYT BEFORE HOSTING HIS TV SHOW AT TWO CINCINNATI TV STATIONS AND ANCHORING FOR YEARS.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD OF HIS SISTER ROSEMARY CLOONEY AND HIS SON GEORGE CLOONEY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOT MEET MONDAY.

SOME GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND BUSINESSES WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY AND IT WILL BE MANY CELEBRATIONS ACROSS KENTUCKY FOR THAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

[♪♪]