>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S COVID RECORDS SHATTERED YET AGAIN AS THE OMICRON VARIANT FUELS A MAJOR ESCALATION.

REDISTRICTING VETOES ARE QUICKLY OVERRIDDEN AND NOW IT IS HEADED TO COURT.

COULD IT MEAN AN AUGUST PRIMARY?

THE LEGISLATURE ZIPS ALONG TOWARD FINALIZING A STATE BUDGET.

ARE THEY ANGLING TOWARD TAX REFORM?

A BILL IS FILED THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM TO BE PLAYED BEFORE SPORTING EVENTS.

ARCTIC AIR INVADES ON THIS JANUARY WEEKEND.

"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.

THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR: AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND JOE SONKA, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

ALSO TONIGHT A HOT MIC MOMENT FOR A KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR WHO JOINED A MEETING BY ZOOM BUT MANY INDICATE THEY CAN RETHAT IT TO WHAT HAPPENED.

AND REMEMBERING JOE B.

HALL, THE BASKETBALL COACH WHO WAS ALSO AN ICONIC KENTUCKIAN.

A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT AND A WHOLE LOT HAPPENING IN STATE GOVERNMENT, BUT, MELISSA, OMICRON CONTINUES TO DISRUPT VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING FROM SCHOOLS TO EVENTS, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES HAS NOW TOPPED 1 MILLION IN KENTUCKY, AND IT WAS A VERY TOUGH REPORT OUT ON FRIDAY.

>> Melissa: YEAH, THERE WAS OVER 16,000 NEW CASES, WHICH WAS A RECORD, 1,000 MORE THAN THE LAST RECORD WHICH WAS ONLY SATURDAY, LAST WEEK, AND THE POSITIVITY RATE IS ALSO SKYROCKETING.

IT'S AT 32.1%, WHICH MEANS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT ONE IN THREE KENTUCKIANS ARE TESTING POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ALL OF THESE NUMBERS DON'T INCLUDE THE HOME TESTS WHICH ARE VERY POPULAR RIGHT NOW.

AND SO THESE NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY MUCH HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY ARE ON PAPER.

>> Bill: SO YOU HAVE THE NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS BACK AT SOME HOSPITALS.

MANY SCHOOLS HAVE GONE AGAIN TO NTI DAYS.

AND THIS IS VERY WEARING ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Melissa: IT IS WEARING.

AND THE HOSPITAL -- THE HOSPITAL NUMBERS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS ANY NUMBERS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU A REAL MEASURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY AS FAR AS THE HEALTH OF YOUR PEOPLE BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VIRUS, IF THEY'RE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED, THEY'RE HAVING MILD SYMPTOMS, BUT OUR HOSPITALS ARE IN NEED OF THE NATIONAL GUARD.

SOME OF THEM ARE EVEN STAFFING LEVELS ARE SO SHORT THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO ADJUST THE RULES AROUND WHEN A STAFF MEMBER CAN COME BACK, AND SO, YES, IT'S VERY TRYING TIMES.

AND JUST ON EVERYDAY PEOPLE IT'S TRYING BECAUSE WE THOUGHT WE WERE OVER IT, AND WE'RE NOT.

>> Bill: AND THE GUIDANCE AND THE SUGGESTIONS DO SEEM TO SHIFT AROUND A LOT, AND THAT LEADS TO SOME CONFUSION AS WELL.

>> Melissa: THEY DO, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE VERY BASIC PUBLIC HEALTH UNDERSTANDING ON HOW TO APPROACH THIS VIRUS IS TO GET VACCINATED, WEAR A MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS, STAY HOME WHEN YOU'RE SICK, AND REGARDLESS OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE RULE IS OF THE DAY OR COMING OUT OF THE CD TODAY OR TOMORROW, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN JUST SORT OF STICK TO THOSE THINGS, YOU'LL BE FOLLOWING GOOD PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE.

>> Bill: WE ARE SEEING THIS WAVE EFFECT SEVERAL EVER YOUNG TEAM, SEVERAL WERE PEOPLE IN THEIR 40s AND MORE CHILDREN ARE GETTING COVID WITH THIS OMICRON VARIANT.

>> Melissa: THEY ARE.

FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND I'M NOTE SURE EXACTLY THE TIME FRAME BUT JUST FROM MY MEMORY, ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE CASES OR MORE HAVE BEEN IN CHILDREN, PEOPLE 18 AND UNDER IS HOW IT'S WORDED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SO -- AND THAT IS INDICATIVE OF WHAT'S GOING ON ACROSS THE NATION.

AND KENTUCKY, ABOUT 50% OR LESS OF CHILDREN 17 AND UNDER AND ONLY 19% OF OUR FIVE TO 11-YEAR-OLDS ARE VACCINATED, SO THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF ROOM TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN WELL BY GETTING THEM VACCINATED.

>> AND WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME HIGH PROFILE CASES AS WELL IN POLITICAL WORLD.

REPRESENTATIVE MASSEY TESTED POSITIVE, SAID HE HAD IT EARLIER TWO YEARS AGO, IS UNVACCINATED, AS DID THE MAYOR HERE IN LEXINGTON, MAYOR GORTON AND HER HUSBAND, BOTH OF WHOM ARE EXPERIENCING MILD SYMPTOMS RIGHT NOW, THANKFULLY.

WESTERN KENTUCKY'S PRESIDENT AS WELL.

SO IT'S REALLY HITTING EVERYBODY.

>> Bill: WE MENTION THESE PUBLIC EVENTS.

THERE WAS A BALLGAME UP IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, I'M SORRY, EVEN KENTUCKY IN HARLAN COUNTY BEING CONSIDERED A SUPER SPREADER AND THE COUNTY JUDGE DAN MOSLEY CRITICIZED PEOPLE FOR GOING TO THE GAME KNOWING OR SUSPECTING THEY WERE POSITIVE.

>> WHEN WE'VE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID, WE SHOULD NOT GO AROUND LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, AND KNOWING THAT THERE WERE POSITIVE CASES RIGHT THERE AT THAT GAME ON SATURDAY NIGHT IN WHICH THERE WERE 1500 OR MORE PEOPLE AT, THAT'S ALARMING.

>> Bill: MELISSA, IT'S JUST HARD TO HOLD COMMUNITY EVENTS RIGHT NOW, ISN'T IT, WITHOUT TAKING CONSIDERABLE RISK?

>> Michael: WELL, IT IS.

AND IT'S D. >> Melissa: WELL, IT IS.

AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT THIS BASKETBALL OUTBREAK FALLS RIGHT AFTER THE CDC ISSUED NEW GUIDANCE TO BASICALLY ASK SCHOOLS TO NOT HOLD SPORTING EVENTS WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF EXPIRATION, SHOUTING, YELLING, PLAYING INSTRUMENTS.

IF THERE'S HIGH TRANSMISSION IN YOUR AREA.

AND THE WHOLE STATE IS CONSIDERED A HIGH TRANSMISSION AREA.

SO THE ADVICE SHOULD BE WELL TAKEN.

BUT IT IS HARD FOR A COMMUNITY TO PLAN AN EVENT, BUT AS FAR AS TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS AREA, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE LIVED WITH SOMEONE WHO IS VULNERABLE, IF THEY'RE OLD, IF THEY HAVE PREEXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS, IF THEY ARE VERY YOUNG, YOU KNOW, THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT WHETHER IT MAKES SENSE FOR YOU TO GO EXPOSE YOURSELF TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE INFECTED.

>> Bill: ONE OF THE KEY NUMBERS WE WATCH IS HOSPITAL CAPACITY, AND IT IS PARTICULARLY IN RURAL HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW THAT WE'RE WATCHING VERY, VERY CLOSELY.

>> Melissa: IT IS.

YOU KNOW, THE STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT KEEPS TRACK OF THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT CAPACITY IN EACH OF OUR HOSPITAL REGIONS.

THEY HAVE TEN REGIONS.

AND GENERALLY NINE OUT OF TEN THESE DAYS ARE USING AT LEAST 80% OF THEIR ICU CAPACITY.

AND MANY OF THEM EVEN USING 90%.

SO THAT'S JUST AN INDICATION THAT OUR HOSPITALS ARE STRUGGLING, THAT THEY HAVE STAFF THAT ARE TESTING POSITIVE AND HAVING TO STAY HOME, THEY ARE OVERRUN WITH PATIENT, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT ALL COMES BACK TO THIS.

THE ADVICE IS IF YOU WANT TO STAY OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND NOT HAVE COVID, THEN YOU NEED TO GET BOOSTED.

>> Bill: WITH THAT YOU WILL THIS TOUGH NEWS THE GOVERNOR AND THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER DR. STEVEN STACK ARE LOOKING AT DATA RIGHT NOW FROM SOME OTHER STATE'S AND INDICATING THERE MAY BE SOME LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

>> METEOROLOGIST: WILLIAM THAT'S BEEN THE BRIGHT LIGHT, THE HOPE IS THAT IN TWO WEEKS' TIME, IF KENTUCKY FOLLOWS WHAT'S HAPPENED IN NEW YORK OR RYLAND WHERE THE TWO STATES DR. STACK USED, IF WE ARE FOLLOWING THAT SAME PATTERN IT SHOULD BE ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE HIT OUR PEAK, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE CASES WILL JUST GO AWAY.

EL WA STILL HAVE HIGH NUMBERS OF CASES BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ON THE WAY BACK DOWN.

>> Bill: SO THERE IS THE SITUATION THIS IS THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS MEETING AND WORKING VERY HARD RIGHT NOW.

JOE, THE SESSION IS BUSY AND HISTORIC AND YET WE HAVE THE COVID SITUATION RAGING.

HOW MUCH DOES THE ONGOING PANDEMIC PLAY INTO HOW THINGS ARE BEING HANDLED IN FRANKFORT OR IS IT?

>> Joe: IT'S KIND OF BUSINESS AS USUAL, AND IT REALLY GOES ON PARTY LINES.

YOU HAVE JUST ABOUT EVERY DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATOR WEARING A MASK, AND YOU HAVE A LARGE MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS NOT WEARING A MASK ANYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

LAST WEEK THERE WAS A DAY TAKEN OFF OF THE SESSION THAT THEY TOOK OFF THE POSITIVE CASES WERE A FACTOR.

THERE WERE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T THERE EVERY DAY THAT WEEK AND THERE WERE THREE OR FOUR MORE IN THE PARKING LOT VOTING REMOTELY.

THIS WEEK THE ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN MUCH HIGHER.

SO WHATEVER HAPPENED LAST WEEK, ITACISMS TO HAVE DIED OUT, SO WE'RE NOT SURE IF THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE SESSION AND WHETHER IT'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE ABOUT PEOPLE SHOWING UP AND HAVING QUORUMS FOR COMMITTEE AND THAT KIND OF THING.

>> Austin: AID SAY WE'VE HAD A DOZEN ABSENCES THAT APPEAR TO BE COVID.

AS JOE WAS SAYING, IT REALLY IS A STARK PARTISAN DIVIDE IN TERMS OF MASK WEARING.

>> Bill: WELL, LET'S DIVE INTO WHAT HAS BEEN AN EVENTFUL WEEK OVER AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

CERTAINLY, THE BUDGET FIRST, THAT BILL HAS BEEN MOVING HISTORICALLY PASS.

WE'RE USED TO DOING STORIES, JOE, ON LAWMAKERS RUSHING THE CLOCK AT THE END AND HOPING THEY MAKE IT AND SOMETIMES THEY DO, AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, BUT WHAT IS DRIVING THE SPEEDING TRAIN, AT LEAST IN THE HOUSE, GETTING THIS NOW OVER TOTE SENATE?

>> Joe: WELL, REPUBLICANS -- IT'S PRETTY UNDENIABLE THAT PART OF THIS IS A LITTLE MUSCLE FLEXING SHOWING THAT THEY HAVE THE SUPER MAJORITY AND THEY CAN DOUGH WHAT THEY WANT, AND THEY'VE CERTAINLY PUSHED THIS THROUGH AT RECORD SPEED, FILING IT BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL AND PASSING IT THROUGH IN RECORD SPEED AND PASSING IT YESTERDAY.

AND REALLY THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR THEM, WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SPEEDING FORCED IS TAX REFORM, AND THEY WANT TO GET THEIR BUDGET OUT OF THE WAY, SEE HOW MUCH IS LEFT OVER.

THE CURRENT ONE HAS A LITTLE OVER $1 BILLION OF UNSPENT FUNDS AND THEY'RE READY TO USE FOR THAT ARE A TAX REFORM BILL.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS THIS HAS TO GO TO THE SENATE AND EVERY INDICATION WE'RE GETTING FROM THE SENATE IS THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE THEIR TIME AS THEY USUALLY DO.

WE'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GO TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE FOR A WHILE.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE GONE FAST, AND NOW THE PROCESS IS GOING TO SLOW DOWN.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, YOU LOOKED AT HOW MUCH THEY HAVE LEFT UNSPENT, AT LEAST THE WAY IT APPEARS THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT NOW.

THAT APPARENTLY GIVES THAT CUSHION OR THAT OPTION OF THE TAX REFORM, RIGHT?

>> Austin: I THINK THE NUMBER IS $1.14 BILLION LEFT UNSPENT RIGHT NOW, SO THAT'S A GOOD BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM, I'D SAY, AND, OF COURSE, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TAX REFORM THIS HAS BEEN A DISCUSSION WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WIGGLE ROOM IS FINALLY THERE FOR THEM TO DO IT, WHICH IS LIKELY GOING TO MEAN AN INCOME TAX CUT OF SOME FORM AND THEN YOU OFF-SELF IT WITH SALES TAX.

OF COURSE, THE COMMON COMPLAINT THAT IT'S REGRESSIVE AGAINST POOR PEOPLE, AND THEN PEOPLE ADVOCATING FOR IT SAY IT'S A VERY NECESSARY BUSINESS MOVE TO ATTRACT BUSINESS AND HIGH INCOME PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> Bill: LAST WEEK THE DISCUSSION WAS THEREAT HOUSE PRESENTED ITS BUDGET AND THE GOVERNOR PRESENTED THE THINGS HE WANTED.

IF YOU PUT THOSE SIDE BY SIDE, HOW DID THE GOVERNOR FARE AND HOW DOES THE HOUSE BUDGET COME OUT?

>> Austin: THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT I THINK THE GOVERNOR WISHES WERE IN THIS HOUSE BUDGET THAT DIDN'T GET PUT IN AFTER HE PRESENTED HIS, A BIG ITEM IS PRE-K. THAT'S $172 MILLION.

NOW THE REPUBLICANS BUDGET DOES FULLY FUND KINDERGARTEN, WHICH WASN'T FULLY FUNDED PREVIOUSLY.

AND THEY DID ALSO ADD A COUPLE THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT, SITE SELECTION I THINK IS RAY FUND THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TO JUICE A LITTLE BIT LIKE HE WAS, SOME HIGHER ED PROJECTS.

THERE'S EVEN ONE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THAT I REMEMBER REPRESENTATIVE TIP TOPP TALKING ABOUT TODAY REALLY EXCITEDLY BECAUSE HIS DAUGHTER GOES THERE.

SO THERE ARE SOME CONCESSIONS THAT WERE MADE IN THIS BUDGET, BUT IN TERM OF THE BIG MATERIAL THINGS, THERE ARE SOME BIG DIFFERENCES.

>> Bill: MELISSA, AUSTIN NOTES PRE-K WAS NOT PART OF THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

THAT WAS A BESHEAR PRIORITY.

KENTUCKY WOULD BE ONLY THE FOURTH STATE I THINK IN THE NATION TO DO THIS, AND YET THERE ARE MANY ADVOCATES WHO SAY IT WOULD BE A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

>> Melissa: OH, YOU KNOW, THE RESEARCH WOULD SUPPORT THAT IT WOULD BE A GOOD STEP FORWARD.

SO OFTEN BY THE TIME CHILDREN GET INTO KINDERGARTEN, BECAUSE KENTUCKY DOESN'T REQUIRE KIDSTOLOGY TO SCHOOL UNTIL THEY'RE SIX, SO BY THE TIME THEY'RE SIX, THERE'S MANY CHILDREN WHO, DEPENDING OFTENTIMES ON THEIR SOCIOECONOMICS, THERE'S ALREADY A HUGE LIEUTENANT GENERAL GAP.

AND SO THAT IS LEARNING GAP.

THAT IS NEVER MADE UP EVER FOR MANY OF THESE CHILDREN.

AND SO THE ARGUMENT FOR PRE-K WOULD BE THAT IT WOULD UPLIFT ALL OF KENTUCKY STUDENTS BY PUTTING THEM ON A BETTER EVEN PLAYING GROUND WHEN THEY HIT KINDERGARTEN.

OUR KINDERGARTEN READINESS, OUR CHILDREN ARE ONLY 50% SHOWING UP IN KINDERGARTEN READY FOR KINDERGARTEN, AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT THOSE 50% WILL SOAR VERY QUICKLY AND THE OTHER HAVE TO CATCH UP.

>> Bill: THE SENATE PRESIDENT HAS INDICATED HE IS NOT VERY INTERESTED IN THAT AT THIS TIME.

>> Melissa: NO, HE SAID ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" A WEEK OR SO AGO THAT HE IS NOT A FAN OF PRE-K AND USED AS AN EXAMPLE THAT HE DID NOT TO GO PRE-K NOR THINKS CHILDREN AND SORT OF LOOKED AT THAT TIME AS JUST NOT NECESSARY FOR THEM TO BE IN A FORMALIZED INSTRUCTION SORT OF SETTING.

>> Bill: JOE, THE BUDGET DOES HAVE MONEY FOR EACH LEGISLATOR TO SPEND ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT, AND THAT'S GIVEN VARIOUS NAMES, THAT FUND, INCLUDING CONTRADICTS CALLING IT A SLUSH FUND, BUT IT GIVES THE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE CLOSEST TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS, THE ABILITY TO DO SOME THINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, RIGHT?

>> Joe: I'VE COVERED SOMETHING FOREVERS.

THE LOUISVILLE MOTOR COUNCIL HAS NEIGHBORHOOD FUNDS AND THIS WOULD CORK LIKE.

THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY EACH COUNCILMEMBER HAS AND THEY CAN USE IT FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

THIS WOULD ALLOW THESE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS TO DEVOTE THIS TO A CERTAIN AGENCY FOR MAYBE A PROJECT THAT THE COMMUNITY REALLY NEEDS.

THE ISSUE HERE AND KIND OF A&R CHAIRMAN JASON PETRIE KIND OF ALLUDED TO THIS, IS THAT EVERYONE'S GOING TO BE WATCHING, INCLUDING THE JOURNALISTS, ABOUT WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING THOSE FUNDS, SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING AFTER YOUR FRIEND, THAT'S GOING TO BE WRITTEN ABOUT.

BUT THERE IS A CHANCE ALSO, GAIN A LOT OF FAVOR TO BE THE HERO THAT COMES IN WITH THE BIG CHECK.

>> Bill: HE ESSENTIALLY SAID BE CAREFUL IS WHAT HE WAS TELLING THE MEMBERS.

ALL RIGHT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR VETOED NEW LEGISLATIVE MAPS FOR THE STATE HOUSE, AND U.S. CONGRESS HEADS WITH NIGHT.

HE EXPLAINED THAT DECISION YESTERDAY, AND LEGISLATORS WHO OVERRODE THOSE VETOES FIRED BACK.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT IT WAS VERY CLEARLY A POLITICAL GERRYMANDER.

LOUISVILLE URBAN LEAGUE BELIEVES INNATE LESSENS MINORITY VOICES AND VOTES, AND BECAUSE OF THAT I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD DO IT AGAIN OR IN THE VERY LEAST THERE SHOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IT TO BE HEARD IN COAT.

>> IN HIS VETO MESSAGE HE SAYS THAT WE ACTED TO, QUOTE, DEPRIVE CERTAIN COMMUNITIES OF REPRESENTATION, CLOSE QUOTE.

GOVERNOR, YOU SHAMELESSLY INTENDED THAT AS A DOG WHISTLE TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS WAS LIKE A FAST TENNIS MATCH THIS WEEK.

REDISTRICTING WENT THROUGH THE WRINGER.

THERE WERE VETOES FROM THE GOVERNOR, QUICKLY OVERRIDDEN BY WEEK'S END, AND THEN CHALLENGES IN COURT BY THE TIME WE GOT TO FRIDAY.

>> Joe: NOW THE COURTS ARE THE NEW VINE FOR THE FIGHT.

SO HAVE THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SOME FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS, AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE DERRICK GRAHAM FROM FRANKFORT WHO FILED THIS, AND THEY SAY THAT IT VIOLATES THE STATE HOUSE MAP AND THE CONGRESS AM MAPS, VIOLATES SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION DUE TO WHAT THEY CALL EXCESSIVE PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING AND THE EXCESSIVE CRACKING OR SPLITTING OF COUNTIES OR URBAN AREAS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

SO THIS IS WHERE THE BATTLE IS GOING TO BE.

IT'S IN FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT RIGHT NOW BUT WE ALL KNOW IT'S GOING TO GO TO THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD ALLOW IT TO STAND OR THEY COULD POTENTIALLY BLOCK IT FROM GOING INTO EFFECT, WHICH WOULD REALLY THROW THE ELECTIONS INTO TOTAL CHAOS.

>> Bill: THIS COULD BE A VERY METICULOUS RULING, RIGHT?

DIFFERENT STATES, CONSTITUTIONAL LOOK AT ALL OF THIS DIFFERENTLY AND HERE IS THE CHANCE FOR KENTUCKY'S BOB INTERPRETED ON THIS ISSUE.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT DEALING WITH GERRYMANDERING CASES SO THIS IS REALLY A STATE-BY-STATE KIND OF THING.

AND AS JOE WAS SAYING, THE ARGUMENT IS TO STAY THAT EXTREME GERRYMANDERING IS AGAINST A SPECIFIC CLAUSE IN THE CONSTITUTION.

I THINK IT'S FREE AND EQUAL ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE SEEN SIMILAR RULINGS IN PENNSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA, AND OHIO, BUT, I MEAN, WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS.

TALKING TO DEMOCRATS AROUND THE STATE, IT'S KIND OF A COMMON THEME OF REPUBLICAN -- THE MAP SPLITTING UP CITIES.

REPUBLICANS REALLY TOUTED THAT THEY KEPT A LOT OF COUNTIES WHOLE, THIS IS TRUE, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT PLACES LIKE HOPKINSVILLE, E'TOWN, COVINGTON, RICHMOND, A LOT OF THESE PLACES THAT ARE IN COUNTIES THAT ARE RED BUT MAY BE SYMPATHETIC TO DEMOCRATS ARE SPLIT UP.

>> Bill: MAY BE SPEAKING WITH A VOICE FROM ANOTHER COUNTY AS WELL WITHIN ONE OF THOSE CITIES WITH THOSE LINES.

WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES.

REPRESENTATIVE JERRY MILLER HAS OFFERED A BILL THAT WOULD MOVE THE KENTUCKY PRIMARY FROM MAY TO AUGUST, AS IT WAS IN THE 1950S, BY THE WAY.

COLONEL SANDER DOWN IN THE CORE BINN AREA LOST AN AUGUST PRIMARY BACK IN THE 1950S.

HE WAS RUNNING FOR THE STATE SENATE.

THEN HE DECIDED HE WOULD CONCENTRATE ON HIS CHICKEN CHAIN.

BUT THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT, WOULDN'T IT, IF WE HAD THAT CAMPAIGN IN THE SUMMER AS OPPOSED TO THE SPRING.

>> Joe: YEAH, IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE DIFFERENT.

REALLY -- THIS IS REALLY A HEDGE IF THE LAWSUIT SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKS THOSE MAPS FROM GOING INTO EFFECT.

THIS MIGHT BE NECESSARY.

BUT IT DOES MOVE BACK A VERY LONG WAY, AND YOU CAN'T HELP BUT THIS MIGHT BE A MESSAGE THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, WHO KNOWS IF YOU PICK UP CHALLENGER IN THOSE EXTRA FIVE MONTHS, THE DEADLINE.

>> Bill: HOW IT WOULD AFFECT FANCY FARM.

OF COURSE, THEY HAD IT THEN BACK WHEN IT WAS IN AUGUST.

ALL RIGHT.

THE SENATE MAPS WENT THROUGH WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR TAKING ACTION.

RIGHT?

THE SENATE MAP.

>> Austin: EVER.

>> Joe: YES.

HE DID NOT SIGN THAT.

HE HAD CRITICISMS OF IT BUT IT SEEMS LIKES THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

>> Bill: MELISSA, THE HOUSE PASSED A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO GIVE EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR STUDENTS FOR METHYL.

IS THAT A MILESTONE MOMENT FOR ADDRESSING MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE?

>> Melissa: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

EVEN AMONGST PARENTS, JUST TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR A MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGE ON ANY GIVEN DAY NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED IN THE SAME WAY THAT A PHYSICAL HEALTH CHALLENGE WOULD BE, AND SO IT ALSO MOVES, MOVES US ALL ONE STEP CLOSER TO DESTIGMATIZING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND THAT'S JUST A GOOD DAY.

AND IT ALSO GIVES MAMAS PERMISSION TO LET THEIR KIDS STAY HOME WHEN THEY'RE JUST FEELING BAD.

THERE'S NO FEVER, STOMACHACHE.

YOU KNOW, IT JUST GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE SPACE WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE FEELING BAD TO STAY HOME.

>> Bill: AND SPEAKING OF MENTAL HEALTH YOU DID A REPORT THIS WEEK THAT THE CDC DATA IS SHOWING THAT KENTUCKY IS AMONG THE STATES WITH A BIG JUMP IN MENTAL HEALTH PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

>> Melissa: YEAH, USING THE CD DATA, THEY FOUND THAT THERE'S BEEN A 13% INCREASE IN PRESCRIPTION MENTAL HEALTH USE AMONG DOCUMENTS IN THE LAST YEAR, AND LARGELY A TRIBBING THAT TO ISSUES -- ATTRIBUTING THAT TO ISSUES THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD AROUND THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO TAJ TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, THEY'VE BEEN THRILLED THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEKING HEALTH CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THAT THAT THEY'VE REACHED OUT TO THEIR PROVIDERS AND TALKED ABOUT IT AND FOUND A SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEM.

AND SO IT'S -- THEY LOOK AT IT AS A GOOD THING.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, THERE'S A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE PLAYING OF NATIONAL ANTHEM BEFORE PROFESSIONAL OR SCHOOL SPORTING EVENTS ANYWHERE IN KENTUCKY.

THERE IS A SIMILAR BILL IN FLORIDA WHERE SOME CRITICS HAVE CALLED IT A SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY SAY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IS USUALLY ALREADY PLAYED.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S REPRESENTATIVE STEVE SHELDON FILED THAT BILL HERE IN KENTUCKY.

IN FLORIDA NI THERE WAS AN INSTANCE WHERE THE COSPONSOR OF THE BILL WAS ASKED IF HE KNEW OF ANY EVENTS WHERE THIS ANTHEM WASN'T PLAYED, AND HE WASN'T ABLE TO COME UP WITH ANY.

NOW, THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN ENTIRELY IN THE U.S.

I THINK THE DALLAS MAVERICKS OWNER MARK CUBAN DECIDED NOT TO PLAY THE NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR ABOUT A, AND THE STATE OF TEXAS TOOK SWIFT ACTION ONCE THEY REALIZED, BUT ME PERSONALLY, I CAN'T THINK OF AN EVENT WHERE IT'S NOT PLAYED IN KENTUCKY NOW.

IT MIGHT BE A PREVENTIVE MEASURE, BUT WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE IF THAT ROLLS.

THERE WAS A HOT MIC MOMENT IN FRANKFORT THIS WEEK, JOE 1 INVOLVING SENATOR DENISE HARPER ANGEL OF LOUISVILLE.

SHE WAS HEARD USING AN EXPLETIVE, APPARENTLY TELLING HER HUSBAND TO STOP CUSSING.

SHE ASKED FOR UNDERSTANDING AND LARGELY FOUND IT AMONG LAWMAKERS AND BEYOND, IT SEEMS, IN FRANKFORT.

>> Joe: AND I THINK THIS TURNED INTO A REALLY HUMANIZING MOMENT FOR HER.

I THINK IN THIS PANDEMIC ERA WE ALL HAVE THIS GREAT FEAR THAT ALL THOSE REMOTE MEETINGS ON ZOOM THAT WE'RE GOING TO THINK WE'RE ON MUTE AND SAY SOMETHING WE SHOULDN'T OR SOMETHING CRAZY IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH YOUR FAMILY IN THE BACKGROUND, SO I THINK EVERYONE CAN KIND OF IDENTIFY WITH HER AND BE VERY THANKFUL THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO OURSELVES.

BUT TODAY SHE KIND OF POKED FUN AT HERSELF ON THE FLOOR AND MADE A JOKE ABOUT IT, AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE ONLY WAY THAT YOU CAN DEAL WITH THAT, S. LAUGH AT YOURSELF AND GET OVER THE HUMILIATION OF IT.

>> Bill: FROM FRANKFORT TO WASHINGTON WHERE IT WAS A BUSY WEEK, PRESIDENT BIDEN HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE ON THE EVE OF HIS FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT THE WHITE HOUSE, AND WHEN HE WAS HIT WITH WHY A LOT OF THINGS ARE STAHL STALLED IN CONGRESS THAT HE WANTS RIGHT NOW, HE TOOK SOME AIM AT REPUBLICAN LEADER KENTUCKY SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL.

>> MITCH HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR.

HE WILL DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT BIDEN FROM BEING SUCCESSFUL.

AND I LIKE MITCH.

I ACTUALLY LIKE MITCH McCONNELL.

WE LIKE ONE ANOTHER.

BUT HE LAST ONE STRAIGHTFORWARD OBJECT FITCH MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING I DO THAT MAKES ME LOOK GOOD IN THE MIND -- HIS MIND.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, THE PRESIDENT WAS ASKING WHAT'S McCONNELL FOR, BUT IN HIS NEARLY 40 YEARS IN WASHINGTON McCONNELL HAS OFTEN SAID HE IS PROUD OF THINGS THAT HE KEEPS FROM HAPPENING THAT HE THINKS ARE BAD FOR THE COUNTRY.

>> Joe: RIGHT UPSTAIRS.

>> Austin: I THINK MOM HAS EMBRACED THE VILLAIN ROLE.

SOME PEOPLE CALL HIM THE DARTH VADER WASHINGTON, DC.

I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD SAY THAT STOPPING SOMETHING THAT IS BAD IS EVERY BIT A IMPORTANT AS PUSHING SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK IS GOOD.

I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN THE JUDICIARY UNDER TRUMP.

HE PUSHED THROUGH A LOT OF JUDGES, THE TRUMP TAX CUT, STUFF LIKE THAT HE'D PROBABLY CLAIM AS POSITIVE WINS.

>> Bill: AND SENATOR McCONNELL MADE A STATEMENT THIS WEEK THAT HE LATER TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT FIRST FANNED UP SOME CRITICISM.

>> WELL, THE EARN T. CONCERN IS MISPLACED BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS BE WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTERS ARE VOTING IN JUST AI AS HIGH A PERCENTAGE AS AMERICANS.

>> Bill: JOE, McCONNELL CLARIFIED HIS STATEMENT THAT HE MADE RIGHT THERE TODAY.

>> Joe: YEAH, IN LOUISVILLE HE SAID THAT HE INADVERTENTLY LEFT AT OUT THE WORD "ALLIO IN FRONT OF AMERICANS AND HE ALSO SAID THAT PEOPLE WERE USING THIS INCIDENT TO MISCHARACTERIZE HIS HISTORY AND RECORD ON RACE AND VOTING, VOTING RIGHTS, AND HE REFERRED TO LOTS OF BLACK STAFFERS THAT HE'S HIRED IN THE PAST AND SUPPORTING KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON.

>> Bill: A MAN PARDONED BY FORMER GOVERNOR MINH HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO PRISON.

>> Joe: PATRICK BAKER WAS CONVICTED IN 19 YEARS FOR THE KILLING THAT GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN PARDONED HIM ON.

TURNS OUT THE FEDERAL COURT HE'S CONVICTED.

NOW IT'S 40 YEARS.

THAT DID NOT TURN OUT WELL FOR HIM.

>> Bill: MELISSA, FLU CASES ARE NUP MOST COUNTIES.

THE ADVICE IS GET A SHOT.

>> NARRATOR: THE ADVICE IS GET A SHOT.

THAT'S THE MESSAGE OF THE DAY.

THEY'RE NOT TOO HIGH BUT THEY ARE INCREASING A BIT, AND SO YOUR PREVENTION IS TO GET A SHOT.

>> Bill: KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

COACH HALL IS BEING RAPIDS.

HALL LED THE KENTUCKY WILDCAT BASKETBALL TEAM TIE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND WAS AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE GAME AROUND WORLD.

MANY IN KENTUCKY ALSO FONDLY REMEMBER HIS FOUR DECADES AFTER THAT.

HALL NEVER REALLY LEFT THE PUBLIC SCENE.

HE HOSTED A RADIO SHOW, DABBLED IN SOME POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS, AND WAS A FRIENDLY PRESENCE A EVENTS OF ALMOST EVERY KINDS.

THURSDAY WAS DECLARED JOE B.

HALL DAY BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE COACH WAS 93.

AND THE CITY OF DAYTON IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS KNOWN AS WHO.

IN -- THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY TRIBUNE SAID THE BEN GAMS HAD THEIR FIRST SCRIMMAGE GAME IN 1937.

MONDAY NIGHT "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.