REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR NO HAS ONE CANDIDATE ON AIR WITH ADS AND ANOTHER TRYING TO MAKE THE 2020 COVID SHUTDOWNS AN ISSUE IN THE RACE.

KENTUCKY CITIES AND COUNTIES START GETTING MONEY FROM A HUGE OPIOI.

WHAT WILL THOUGH BE ABLE TO DO WITH THAT MONEY?

KENTUCKY'S POLITICAL PARTIES G MONEY FROM MAJOR COMPANIES.

THE STATE GOP GETS A $1 MILLION GIFT FROM PFIZER.

A ROUGH START TO THE YEAR IN LOUISVILLE.

TEN HOMICIDES IN TEN DAYS AS THE NEW MAYOR TAKES NOTICE.

IT'S FRIDAY THE 13TH, BUT DON'T FEAR.

"COMMENT" IS NEXT O GOOD EVENING.

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 JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR LOUISVILLE PUBLIC media MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND TESSA DUVAL, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER ALSO TONIGHT, THE EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOOD FLOODING PLAYED THE LIST OF 18 WEATHER-RELATED DISASTERS THAT CAUSED MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN DAMAGE IN THE U.S.

IN 2022.

AND UTILITY COMPANIES CUSTOMERS THAT THEIR BILLS WILL BE HIGHER AFTER THE CHRISTMAS FRIGID BLAST.

FIRST LET'S DROP IN THE HARD-FOUGHT CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE GETTING UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW FOR THE STATEWIDE RACES, ESPECIALLY THAT REPUBLICAN RACE FOR TO NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.

TESSA, FORMER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT IS LEADING IN FUNDRAISING ON THE GOP SIDE.

SHE HAS ACCESS TO PERSONAL RESOURCES.

WE'RE ALL WELL AWARE.

AND SHE'S BOUGHT THROWS A HALF MILLION DOLLAR WORTH OF TV.

WEEP AREN'T TO MID-JANUARY YET.

WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> Tessa: RIGHT, THE PRIMARY IS STILL FOUR MONTHS AWAY.

KELL CRAFT UNLIKE SOME OF INNER OPPONENTS WHO CURRENTLY HOLD STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICE, THERE ARE CURRENTLY THREE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

WE HAVE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON, WE HAVE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARRELS AND WE HAVE AUDITOR MIKE HARMON.

THEY'VE BEEN ON STATEWIDE BALLOTS IN KENTUCKY BEFORE.

KELLY CRAFT HAS NOT.

SO WHILE POLITICAL INSIDERS HAVE KNOWN THAT KELLY CRAFT HAS BEEN SHOPPING THIS RUN FOR A WHILE, EVERYDAY KENTUCKIANS PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW WHO THE UN AMBASSADOR WAS OR THE AMBASSADOR TO CANADA, AND SO SHE'S GOT TO MAKE UP FOR SOME NAME RECOGNITION THAT SOME OF OTHER OPPONENTS HAVE THAT SHE DOESN'T YET AT THIS TIME, AND SO GETTING ON TV IS A REALLY GOOD WAY OF DOING THAT.

>> Bill: SO DO CANDIDATES LIKE CAMERON AND QUARLES AND HARM MON WHO HAVE THAT STATEWIDE NAME IDENTIFICATION HAVE THE LUXURY NOW OF SITTING BACK AND RAISING MONEY OR DO THEY NEED TO GET IN THE FRAY AS WELL IN A VERY CROWD RACE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE MAYBE WHO IS THE LOUDEST OR GETS THE MOST ATTENTION, RIGHT?

>> Tessa: RIGHT.

THERE ARE A DOZEN REPUBLICANS RUNNING IN THIS PRIMARY, AND GRANTED NOT ALL OF THEM HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MAKE THEMSELVES SERIOUS CONS TENDERS TO RUN PROFESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS TO GET ON TV, BUT I THINK WITH THAT MANY CANDIDATES AND KNOWING THAT IT MAY NOT TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF VOTES COMPARED TO A PRIMARY THAT MIGHT HAVE TWO OR THREE SERIOUS CONTENDERS, I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS THE LUXURY OF SITTING BACK AND ASSUMING THAT THEY WILL BE THE ONE GOING ONTO THE GENERAL ELECTION TO FACE ANDY BESHEAR.

>> Bill: WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE AN ISSUE SET, EMERGE OUT WILL, AND CRAFT TOLD FOX NEWS THIS WEEK THAT SHE'S LOOKING TO COMBAT THE FENTANYL CRISIS.

>> Tessa: YES, THAT WAS SOMETHING SHE BROUGHT UP IN HER KICKOFF SPEECH A NOW MONTHS AGO WHEN SHE WAS IN HER HOMETOWN OF GLASGOW.

SHE VERY SPECIFICALLY TIED THIS ISSUE TO CHINA, ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE TIK TOK ISSUE WHICH WE HAVE SEEN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS NOW BANNED TIK TOK ON STATE DEVICES.

SHE'S ALSO WEIGHED IN ON THAT, SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S BEEN PERSONALLY SANCTIONED BY THE CHINESE PARTY.

SO, YES, SHE HAS REALLY KIND OF HOMED IN ON THESE ISSUES AND THE CONNECTION TO CHINA.

IN REGARD TO THE OVERDOSES, SHE ACTUALLY RELEASED A VIDEO THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT THE EMPTY SEATS OR THE MISSING SEATS AT TABLES ACROSS KENTUCKY BECAUSE OF FAMILIES AFFECTED BY THE OPIOID CRISIS.

>> Bill: SHE MADE A PERSONAL REFERENCE IN THAT, RIGHT?

>> Tessa: JE YES.

SHE SAID AS A MOTHER SHE KNOWS THAT SHE LIVED IT.

SHE DID NOT SPECIFY HOW SHE WAS PERSONALLY AFFECTED, AND TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE HER CAMPAIGN HAS NOT CLARIFIED THAT, EITHER, BUT SHE'S VERY CLEARLY MAKING THIS CONNECTION TO KENTUCKIANS THATTITE I'M RIGHT THERE WITH YOU.

I ALSO KNOW WHAT THIS IS LIKE.

>> Bill: AS WE START TO AGAIN SEE THESE ISSUES, SOMERSET MAYOR ALAN KECK PUT UP A VIDEO THIS WEEK IN WHICH HE CRITICIZED GOVERNOR BESHEAR FOR THE COVID SHUTDOWNS IN 2020.

IN THAT VIDEO HE TALKED ABOUT GETTING SOME OTHER MAYORS TO SIGN OFF ON HIS EFFORTS TO REOPEN SOMERSET AND SOME OTHER CITY'S CITIES WHEN THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION HAD ORDERED CONTINUED TOUGH RESTRICTIONS.

>> AND SO I WAS SUCH AN AGGRESSIVE ADVOCATE FOR REOPENING BUT I NEVER WANTED ON DO IT RECKLESSLY, I NEVER WANTED IT TO BE A FREE-FOR-ALL BUT WE DID PUSH ARD HARD AND WE PUSHED EARLY BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE WOULD.

>> Bill: SO, TESSA, FIRST OF ALL, POLITICALLY IS THIS A LANE FOR MAYOR KECK TO TRY TO DIFFERENTIATE HIMSELF IN THIS CROWD FIELD OF IN MANY CASES BETTER-KNOWN CANDIDATES?

>> Tessa: IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE HE'S GOING TO MAKE IT ONE.

I THINK THAT THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING WE CAN SEE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON GO AFTER AND AS WELL AS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES.

THEY BOTH HAVE CHALLENGED THE GOVERNOR AND HIS RESTRICTIONS VERY EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

BUT CLEARLY, YOU KNOW, MAYOR KECK NEEDS TO FIND A LANE BECAUSE MUCH LIKE KELLY CRAFT, HE'S ALSO NOT BEEN ON A STATEWIDE BALLOT THE WAY THAT SOME OF HIS OPPONENTS HAVE.

YES, I CERTAINLY SEE HOW IT IS THAT HE'S GOING FRY TO TAKE THAT LANE AND SPEAK FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN EXECUTE OF A CITY.

>> Bill: MELISSA, THE COVID RESTRICTIONS WERE VERY CONTENTIOUS AT THE TIME, ESPECIALLY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE BUT AMONG ALL POLITICAL PERSUASIONS.

IT RESULTED IN PROTESTS AND UPHEAVAL AND ULTIMATELY THE STATE LEGISLATURE TOOK AWAY MOST OF THE EMERGENCY HOURS POWERS OF THIS AND FUTURE GOVERNORS.

ANY SURPRISE THAT THIS RETURNS AS AN ISSUE NEARLY THREE YEARS AFTER IT WAS SO CONTENTIOUS?

>> Melissa: NOT REALLY, ESPECIALLY AS TESSA SAID FOR QUARLES AND CAMERON AND MAYOR KECK BECAUSE THEY -- IT SORT OF PRESENTS THEIR RESUME WHEN THEY TELL HOW THEY PUSHED BACK AGAINST BESHEAR, AND ALSO, AS FAR AS THE REST OF IT WITH COVID IS STILL IN THE NEWS EVERY DAY.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A SUBVARIANT THAT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THAT'S HIGHLY TRANS MISSABLE BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY SURE MUCH BEYOND THAT.

SO IT'S STILL IN THE NEWS AND SO THAT MAKES IT AN ISSUE THAT LAWMAKERS -- NOT LAWMAKERS BUT THESE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES CAN RUN ON.

HOWEVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER IT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED SITUATION THAT HAPPENED, AND THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID OVER AND AGAIN THAT HE MADE DECISIONS BASED ON SAVING LIVES, AND SO IT'S EASY TO LOOK BACK AND SAY WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE DONE.

>> Bill: YEAH.

DOES THIS HAVE SHELF LIFE?

>> Tessa: WE'LL FIND OUT.

CERTAINLY CERTAINLY WE KNOW THE REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY MADE IT AN ISSUE AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO MAKE IT AN ISSUE THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR SENT STATE TROOPERS TO CHURCHES THAT DID NOT COMPLY WITH THE LOCKDOWNS, BUT AS WE JUST HEARD, COVID WAS A WEIRD TIME.

NO ONE REALLY KNEW WHAT IT WAS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

I'M SURE THAT THE EVERYDAY PERSON DIDN'T THINK THAT THREE DAYS LATER WE'D STILL BE DEALING WITH THIS.

ALSO THREE YEARS AGO FEELS LIKE A LONG TIME THAT EVERYTHING HAS HAPPENED.

I THINK IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE PEOPLE GIVE GOVERNOR BESHEAR SOME LENIENCY ON THIS.

>> Bill: THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE GIVING REPUBLICANS SOME HEARTBURN, THIS MORNING CONSULT POLL THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK THAT SHOWS GOVERNOR BESHEAR WITH A 60% APPROVAL RATING STATEWIDE.

THAT IS AMONG ALL KENTUCKIANS.

AND 46% OF REPUBLICANS APPROVE.

HE IS IN THE TOP TEN OF THE MOST POPULAR GOVERNORS IN THE TRI COUNTRY, ACCORDING TO THIS POLL THAT SAYS THAT IT HAS A 1% MARGIN OF ERROR AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE QUESTIONED, ALTHOUGH SOME, OF COURSE, QUESTION THE METHODOLOGY OF ANY POLL.

BUT WHAT DOES THAT SAY, TESSA?

>> Tessa: SO IN ADDITION TO THAT POLL ABOUT HIS POPULARITY, WE ALSO SAW TWO REPORTS COME OUT THIS WEEK THAT INDICATE THAT KENTUCKY COULD BE A LEAN DEMOCRATIC SORT OF FAVORABILITY FOR THE ELECTION THIS FALL.

THERE ARE ONLY THREE GOVERNORS' RACES IN THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR.

KENTUCKY IS LIKELY TO BE THE MOST COMPETITIVE OF THEM.

AND SO IF I'M ANDY WASHER I'VE RAISED OVER $5 MILLION.

I'VE GOT TWO REPORTS OUT THAT SAY THAT I AM LOOKING GOOD IN THIS, AND EVEN ALMOST HALF OF REPUBLICAN LIKE ME.

HE PROBABLY FEELS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT THAT RIGHTED ABOUT NOW ESPECIALLY FEELING THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TO DUKE IT OUT IN THE PRIMARY IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT POPULARITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY TRANSLATE TO WINNING AT THE BALLOT BOX.

KENTUCKY IS A VERY RED STATE.

ANDY BESHEAR IS A DEMOCRAT.

THAT'S NOT WORKING IN HIS FAVOR.

YES, THESE -- THESE, YOU KNOW, ISSUES THAT WE'VE SEEN, THESE DISASTERS HAVE GIVEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR A CHANCE TO SORT OF RISE ABOVE THE POLITICS AND PRESENT HIMSELF AS, YOU KNOW, A STATESMAN WHO IS JUST SORT OF A LEADER IN TIMES OF CRISIS, AND I THINK THAT CERTAINLY WORKS TO HIS ADVANTAGE IN POLLS, BUT AGAIN, POPULARITY DOES NOT GUARANTEE A WIN.

WE SAW THAT IN NOVATO THAT MORNING CONSULT POLL ACTUALLY SHOWED THE GOVERNOR OF NOVATO HAD FAVORABLE POPULARITY GOING INTO RE-ELECTION AND LOST, VA NARROWLY BUT LOST.

>> Bill: AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN KENTUCKY SAID BESHEAR WON'T HAVE A CAKEWALK.

THAT WAS KIND OF THEIR POWER SENTENCE OF THE WEEK THAT THEY CAME OUT WITH ON THAT.

JESS, DOES BESHEAR HAVE THE TEACHER BASE ENERGIZED THE WAY HE DID IN 2019?

>> Jess: PROBABLY NOT THE WAY HE DID IN 2019 BECAUSE 2019 WAS A VERY SPECIFIC MOMENT IN TIME WHERE HIS OPPONENT MATT BEVIN MADE HIMSELF A REAL ENEMY OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS ACROSS THE STATE WITH HIS POLICIES AND SOME OF HIS COMMENTS ABOUT TEACHERS.

AND SO IT'S -- YOU KNOW, THAT SAID, BESHEAR HAS ALSO KEPT EDUCATION KIND OF TOP OF MIND IN HIS -- THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE AND IN HIS MESSAGING, AND THAT WILL RESONATE WITH TEACHERS.

AND THEN BESHEAR ALSO, HE THAT WAS A PRO INNOCENT OF MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS AND HE WAS ALSO A PROPONENT OF SCHOOLS MOVING TO REMOTE INSTRUCTION, SO THAT WAS SOMETHING LOTS OF TEACHERS DID APPRECIATE AT A TIME WHEN WE DIDN'T REALLY KNOW A LOT ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS AND PEOPLE WERE NERVOUS ABOUT BEING IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> Bill: AS WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO GO ON AIR THIS EVENING, WE LEARNED THAT THERE'S WORD THAT BESHEAR HAS INLAND HYBRID CHARLES BOOKER, THE TWICE DEFEATED SENATE CANDIDATE FOR A POSITION IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> Tessa: YES.

JUST A FEW HOURS AGO WE LEARNED THAT CHARLES BOOKER WILL NOW HEAD UP THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FAITH-BASED INITIATIVES AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT STARTED UNDER THE FLETCHER ADMINISTRATION.

BESHEAR AND BOOKER WERE NOT NECESSARILY OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TOGETHER A LOT, SO IT IS A BIT OF AN INTERESTING MOVE, BUT DOES GOVERNOR BESHEAR SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SORT OF DRIVE UP APPEAL FOR HIMSELF IN URBAN AREAS, ESPECIALLY LOUISVILLE?

MEANWHILE, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WAS ALL OVER THIS IN ABOUT AN HOUR'S TIME PUTTING OUT A STATEMENT SAYING THAT CHARLES BOOKER HAS FLEECED NON-PROFITS, HE'S ENDORSED BY BENDERS.

HE WANTS TO DECAN DEBERNIE SANDERS AND HE WANTS TO DEFUND THE POLICE SO CLEARLY REPUBLICANS THINK THIS WILL BE A LIE ABOUT IT FOR GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

>> Bill: THAT'LL BE INTERESTING.

P JACK BRAMMER WHO SPENT SO MANY YEARS AT THE ELDERLY HEARD AND JOHN LOFTUS KEEP BRAKE BREAKING STORIES EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIM THEY'RE RETIRED.

THEY NOW.

$1MILLION WAS GIVEN TO THE KENTUCKY BUILDING PARTY BUILDING FUND.

THEY APPARENT WANT TO EXPANDED THEY ARE HEADQUARTERS, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY A CORPORATION CAN GIVE MONEY TO A POLITICAL PARTY.

>> FIRST OF ALL I WISH THESE GUYS WOULD STAY RETIRED AND LEAVE STORIES TO THE REST OF US.

YES, THAT WAS A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S BUILDING FUND BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CORPORATIONS CANNOT DONATE DIRECTLY TO PARTIES, AND SO THIS IS A WAY TO STILL YOU KNOW HAVE SOME INFLUENCE AND SHOW SOME SUPPORT.

>> Bill: JESS, THERE IS ANOTHER LEGAL CHALLENGE TO STATE-FUNDED CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THIS ONE IS COMING FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY AND FROM THE DAYTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL SYSTEM.

>> Jess: YEAH, THIS IS A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO THE CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING LAW THAT LAWMAKERS PASSED LAST YEAR.

WE'VE BEEN ANTICIPATING THIS LAWSUIT FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE SO CONTROVERSIAL.

THEY'RE ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN, BUT I WILL TRY.

A CHARTER SCHOOL IS LIKE A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THAT IT RECEIVES TAV DOLLARS AND TAXPAYER FUNDS, BUT IT IS UNLIKE A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THAT IT IS NOT RUN BY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

IT'S RUN BY PRIVATE BOARD, A GROUP.

IT ALSO HAS ALL SORTS OF WAIVERS FROM REGULATIONS FROM PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS, TO SCHEDULING, TO CURRICULUM THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, REGULAR PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE TO ABIDE BY, SO SUPPORTERS SAY IT MAKES NOIATIONVATION, MAKES THEM MORE NIMBLE TO MAKES THEM MORE AFFORDABLE FOR FAMILIES WHO CAN'T AFFORD PRIVATE EDUCATION.

OPPONENTS SAY THEY DRAIN FUNDING FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BECAUSE THE WAY LAWMAKERS HAVE SET THIS UP IS SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TO SEND STATE AND LOCAL FUNDS TO CHARTER SCHOOLS THAT POP UP WITHIN THEIR BORDERS.

AND SO THIS LAWSUIT COMES FROM OPPONENTS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO THAT.

THEY ARGUE THAT THIS LAW IS ACTUALLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL BECAUSE OF A PROVISION THAT WE HAVE IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION THAT PREVENTS SPENDING MONEY RAISED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ON PRIVATE -- GIVING TO IT PRIVATE ENTITIES.

>> Bill: BUT THERE WAS RECENTLY A STATE SUPREME COURT RULING ON THIS.

>> Tessa: IT FEELS LIKE DAGE VIEW.

THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

THIS IS CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THE LAST LAWSUIT WAS ABOUT A TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM THAT WAS FUNDING FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> Bill: MORE BROADLY, SCHOOL CHOICE.

>> Tessa: RIGHT.

SO IT'S A DIFFERENT PROGRAM.

IT'S ALSO A DIFFERENT SUPREME COURT SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY HOW MUCH THE WIN IN THAT LAST LAWSUIT TELLS US WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THIS NEXT CASE.

>> Bill: JESS, HOW MUCH IS COVID DISRUPTING SCHOOLS AT THIS POINT?

>> Jess: RIGHT NOW, NOT VERY MUCH.

IN THE FALL, EVEN IN THE FALL IT WASN'T REALLY COVID.

IT WAS MOSTLY FLU AND RSV THAT WERE REALLY DRIVING CLOSURES AND MASS ABSENCES.

RIGHT NOW THE PROBLEM IS REALLY WEATHER, WINTER WEATHER.

I MEAN, TODAY FOUR KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HAD TO CLOSE OR MOVE TO MTI BECAUSE OF WINTER WEATHER, WHICH IS VERY COMMON FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> Bill: MELISSA, WE KNOW YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYE OFF COVID, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: OH, NO.

LIKE I SAID, BECAUSE -- BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY HOME TESTS, WE REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH COVID IS OUT THERE, AND SO THE ONE THING WE KNOW IS THAT OUR COVID NUMBERS ARE KIND OF POPPING UP AND DOWN, BUT THE HOSPITAL NUMBERS ARE JUST INCHING UP A TEENY LITTLE BIT EACH WEEK, AND THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT'S REAL IMPORTANT TO MATCH BECAUSE IF WE SEE A REAL JUMP IN THOSE HOSPITAL NUMBERS, WE'LL KNOW THAT WE ALL NEED TO MAYBE STEP UP OUR PRECAUTIONS A BIT.

>> Bill: IT APPEARS THAT THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, THE FEDERAL STATE OF EMERGENCY WILL END THIS SPRING, AND WHILE THE VACCINES WILL LIKELY STILL BE FREE, THAT COULD SHIFT SOME COSTS TO PEOPLE.

>> Melissa: RIGHT, BECAUSE THE COST OF TREATMENT AT THAT POINT WILL MOVE TO EITHER PRIVATE PAY OR FOR YOUR INSURANCE TO PAY IT, AND ON TOP OF THAT, PFIZER HAS ALREADY SAID THAT THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE THEIR COSTS FOR THESE DRUGS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT IS BUYING THEM IN BULK, AND SO THAT PRICE GOES UP WHEN THEY'RE NOT BOUGHT IN SUCH LARGE QUANTITIES, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW INSURANCE RESPONDS TO THAT.

>> Bill: THE LEGISLATURE HAS GONE HOME AFTER SOME INITIAL WORK, AND THE STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH LAST WEEK.

LET'S TELL SOME OF WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS SEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED OFF THE GOVERNOR'S URN URGENT CALL FOR MONEY FOR TEACHERS' RAISES AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN AT LEAST IN THIS SESSION.

WE ALSO LEARNED THIS WEEK, THOUGH, THAT 18 WEATHER OF RELATED DISASTERS IN THE NATION RESULTED IN MORE THAN $1 BILLION WORTH OF DAMAGE IN 2022 AND KENTUCKY MADE THE LACE WITH THE EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODING.

AND THERE IS, TESSA, SOME PRESSURE ON THE LEGISLATURE TO ALLOCATE SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY TO THE EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOOD VICTIMS.

>> Tessa: YES.

SENATOR SMITH HAS BEEN ON THE RECORD OF SAYING WITHOUT SERIOUS INVESTMENT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, ESPECIALLY IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT THIS COULD BE SORT OF THE DISASTER THAT ENDS THE REGION WITHOUT PLACES TO LIVE.

THESE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE ALREADY REALLY STRUGGLING FROM LACK OF GOOD-PAYING JOBS, AND SO HOW YOU ADD TO THAT LACK OF SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WITHOUT RECTIFYING THAT, THAT COULD BE A SITUATION THAT PUSHES A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF EASTERN KENTUCKY/APPALACHIA REGION.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN LAWMAKERS, INCLUDING SENATOR SMITH, WHO FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME, THIS IS NOT A BUDGET YEAR, AND AS WE HEARD, WE DISCUSSED, LAWMAKERS AREN'T REALLY INCLINED TO OPEN UP THE BUDGET FOR THE GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION WISHES.

-- THEY REALLY 6 SIGNALED THAT THEIR NOT LOOKING TO DO A BIG OVERHAUL OF THE BUDGET THAT THEY PASSED LAST YEAR.

>> Bill: AND YET THEY ARE SHIFTING SOME MONEY AROUND.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS TO BE THIS NETWORK OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS AROUND THE STATE AND THEY SHIFTED $17 MILLION AWAY FROM THAT TO A VETERANS CENTER IN BOWLING GREEN, RIGHT?

>> Tessa: RIGHT.

THAT WAS SO THAT A FULL FEDERAL MATCH CAN BE PULLED DOWN TO PAY FOR THAT CENTER, AND SO THAT WAS JUST ESSENTIALLY SHIFTING SOME MONEY, JUST KIND OF A QUICK FIX TO GET THIS CENTER TAKEN CARE OF.

IT WAS NOT A BIG -- BIG TO-DO.

IT PASSED VERY EASILY.

>> Bill: JESS, ANY EDUCATION BILLS YOU'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON?

>> Jess: THERE'S THIS BILL FROM SENATOR DAMON THAYER THAT WOULD MAKE SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS PARTISAN IN KENTUCKY, WHICH IS PRETTY INTERESTING.

HISTORICALLY ELECTIONS, SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN NON-PARTISAN IN THE STATE.

THAT MEANS WHEN YOU RUN FOR YOUR LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION, YOU DON'T RUN AS A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN.

YOU JUST RUN.

BUT THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE CANDIDATES TO RUN ON A PARTY PLATFORM OR AS AN INDEPENDENT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE RATIONALE BEING, THE STATED RATIONALE BEING THAT IT GIVES VOTERS MORE INFORMATION WHEN THEY GO TO THOSE DOWN BALLOT RACES AND SEE WHO'S RUNNING.

OPPONENTS, INCLUDING THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION, WORRY THAT BRINGING PARTISAN POLITICS COULD BRING ALONG WITH IT ALSO THAT PARTISAN DYSFUNCTION THAT WE SEE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL DOWN INTO OUR LOCAL RACES.

>> Bill: AND THAT BILL RIGHT NOW APPLIES TO, I THINK TO CITY AS WELL MAYORS INTEL.

KENTUCKY CITIES AND TOWNS NOW OF THE FIRST CHECK IN HAND AS THEY START GETTING MONEY FROM OPIOID SETTLEMENTS WITH BIG TRUCKMAKERS.

THE STATE SPLIT $478 MILLION WITH LOM GOVERNMENTS.

MELISSA, WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN WITH THAT MONEY?

HOW IS IT GOING TO BE WATCHED SO THAT IT GOES TO THE PROPER PLACES?

>> Melissa: WELL, THERE'S BEEN -- ONE OF THE STATE LAWS THAT PASSED SAID THAT 85% OF THIS MONEY AT A LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVEL HAS TO BE SPENT ON -- ON HELPING WITH PREVENTION, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY FOR PEOPLE WITH OPIOID USE SANFORD, AND THEN ANY SUBSEQUENT SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS THEY HAVE FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND SO THERE'S A REAL CLEAR GUIDELINE ON WHERE AND HOW THIS MONEY NEEDS TO BE SPENT, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO LAW THAT HAS A VERY SPECIFIC LONG COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF HOW IT CAN BE SPENT.

IT'S VERY BROAD.

AND SO THERE'S SOME VERY GOOD GUIDELINES ON HOW IT CAN BE SPENT.

AND OUR -- OUR NEWLY ELECTED MAYORS AND JUDGE EXECUTIVES ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

BUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, EVERY LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS TO SEND IN A REPORT TO AN OPIOID ABATEMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION, WHICH IS HANDLING ALL THE STATE MONEY.

THEY HAVE -- AND THAT'LL CREATE SOME ACCOUNTABILITY.

>> Bill: AND SOME HAVE ALREADY SAID IT'S NOT ENOUGH BUT IT WILL HELP THEM SOME.

THERE IS A NEW STUDY DONETY UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY THAT INDICATES THAT COVID VACCINES CAN BENEFIT A PREGNANT MOTHER AND HER FETUS.

>> Melissa: RIGHT.

THIS STUDY FOUND TO THAT THEY LOOKED AT 120 WOMEN THROUGHOUT THEIR PREGNANCY AND AFTER BIRTH AND FOUND THAT THE MOTHERS WHO HAD HAD TWO -- THE REGULAR SERIES, TWO VENES AND THEN A BOOSTER -- VACCINES AND THEN A BOOSTER AFTER DELIVERY HAD DRAMATIC, THEY USED THE WORD DRAMATIC PROTECTIONS FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR BABIES, ESPECIALLY AT THAT POINT THROUGH THE BREAST MILK.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY HAS ITS CHALLENGES WITH CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND THERE'S NOW A NATIONAL RECOMMENDATION FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS THAT PARENTS SHOULD NOT DELAY ADDRESSING IT.

>> Melissa: RIGHT.

AND SO IT'S REALLY QUITE A DRASTIC CHANGE IN WHAT THEY'RE RECOMMENDING.

FOR YEARS IT WAS SORT OF A WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH SORT OF JUST TO KEEP CALORIES AND -- INCREASE ACTIVITY, KEEP CALORIES THE SAME, AND LET KIDS GET TALLER AND OLDER AND HOPEFULLY THINNER, BUT NOW THE MOST DRAMATIC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE FOR 12 AND OLDER CHILDREN TO BE EVALUATED FOR WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS AND FOR 13 AND OLDER CHILDREN TO BE EVALUATED FOR WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY.

>> Bill: WE REMIND ELIGIBLE KENTUCKYIANS THAT THE KYNECT DEADLINE IS THIS WEEKEND, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: IT IS.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ADVOCATE FOR GETTING ALL KENTUCKIANS HEALTH INSURANCE WILL TELL YOU THAT DON'T ASSUME THAT YOU WON'T QUALIFY, AND THERE'S A FEATURE ON THE KYNECT WHERE YOU CAN JUST TYPE IN A FEW NUMBERS AND A FEW FAMILY DEMOGRAPHICS AND WHAT HAVE YOU, AND IT WILL TELL YOU IF YOU QUALIFY FOR SUBSIDIES, FEDERAL SUBSIDIES, WHICH MAKE THE PRICE GO DOWN, AND IT ALSO WILL HELP YOU CAN YOU.

A PLAN BECAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF CHOICES.

>> Bill: JESS, LOUISVILLE HAS SEASON A SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE.

THERE WERE TEN HOMICIDES IN THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF THE YEAR.

I KNOW THE MAYOR AND THE POLICE CHIEF HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WOK WEEK.

DO WE HAVE A PLAN TO TOP IS THE VIOLENCE?

>> Jess: WOULDN'T SAY A PLAN.

GREENBERG CAMPAIGNED A PUBLIC SAFETY PLATFORM.

TEN DEATHS IN TEN DAYS, IT'S HORRIBLE, BUT IT'S NOTHING NEW.

I MEAN, LOUISVILLE HAS SEEN JUST A HUGE ESCALATION IN GUN VIOLENCE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS 500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, MORE THAN 1500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SHOT AND WOUNDED, AND SO THIS WAS REALLY JUST A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY.

HE OFFERED SOME QUICKER FIXES, BUT HIS REAL ASK WAS TO THE COMMUNITY TO ASSIST LMPD.

>> Bill: THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMPANIES IN KENTUCKY, LG&E AS WELL AS KENTUCKY UTILITIES, KENTUCKY POWER AND MANY OTHERS HAVE JUST TOLD THE CUSTOMERS EXPECT THOSE BILLS TO BE HIGH INNER JANUARY AND THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER A BUDGET PLAN SO THAT YOUR BILLS REMAIN STEADY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

TESSA, WE'RE WATCHING, THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE FORMER SENATOR RALPH ALVARADO, AND THAT'S BEEN SET TO COINCIDE WITH THE PRIMARY IN MAY.

>> Tessa: RIGHT.

OF COURSE WE KNOW THAT SENATOR ALVARADO, HIS LAST DAY WAS LAST WEEK, AND HE IS GOING TO TENNESSEE TO LEAD THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT THERE, AND, OF COURSE, WE ALSO KNOW THAT ANOTHER STATE SENATOR, SENATOR MORGAN McGARVEY WHO I SHOULD ACTUALLY SAY IS NOW U.S.

AMBASSADOR MORNING GARVEY WILL ALSO HAVE ALSO HAVE TO BE REPLACED.

>> Bill: THE 16th IS SEVERAL COUNTIES IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

NOW, WAS TOSS CHANDLER, FORMER CONGRESSMAN BEN CHANDLER'S MOTHER, PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK AND IS REMEMBERED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Melissa: SHE IS.

SHE WAS 88 YEARS OLD AND DIED FROM A LONG, LONG BALANCED WITH ALZHEIMER'S, AND -- BUT SHE'S KNOWN, I'VE LEARNED THAT SHE'S REALLY KNOWN AS A LAND PRESERVATIONIST.

SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PRESERVING FARMLAND IN WOODFORD COUNTY AND ALSO RENOWNED ARTIST WHO, ONE OF HER MOST FAMOUS COLLECTIONS WAS CALLED A 12-PIECE -- IT WAS A 12-PIECE SERIES CALLED 12 MONTHS OF TOBACCO AND IT JUST SHOWED THE LIFESPAN OF TOBACCO.

SO SHE'LL BE MISSED.

>> Bill: AND GEORGE RUSSELL IS BEING REMEMBERED A FIXTURE IN FRANKFORT AND A CHAMPION OF FARE ELECTIONS AROUND THE GLOBE.

HE OVERLAW SAW ELECTIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND WORKED IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IN KENTUCKY.

RUSSELL, WHO DIED RECENTLY AT AGE 83 WITH IS IS BEING REMEMBERED WITH A CELEBRATION OF LIFE IN WEEKEND IN FRANKFORT.

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY IS COMING UP ON MONDAY SO YOU'LL WANT TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT OBSERVANCES WILL MAY BE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" AND HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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