IN KENTUCKY'S CLOSELY WATCHED GOVERNOR'S RACE SHOWING WHICH CANDIDATES HAVE EARLY ADVANTAGE ONE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR GOES TO THE U.S. BORDER WITH MEXICO TO MAKE A NEW AD.

WHO INSPECTS THOSE BIG SIGNS LIKE THE ONE THAT TRAGICALLY FELL AT AN ELIZ THE STATE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY WONDERS ALOUD WHAT HAPPENS TO ROADS MAINTAINED BY GASOLINE TAX AS MORE DRIVERS GO ELECTRIC.

HEADING INTO THE LAST WEEKEND JANUARY, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON K. 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 OLIVIA KRAUTH, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA CHRIS OTTS, REPORTER FOR WDRB I AND AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERA ALSO TONIGHT, A SPECIAL ELECTIO IS SET IN THE STATE SENATE RACE IN LOUISVILLE AFTER MORE POLLIN PLACES ARE ADDED, AND SOME STUDENTS GIVE THEIR IDEAS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY.

SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WHERE THE FIRST MAJOR INDEPENDENT POLL DROPPED THIS WEEK, GIVING US SOME IDEA OF WHERE THINGS STAND EARLY IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT POLL FROM MASON DIXON, GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S APPROVAL RATING IS PEGGED AT 61%, WITH ONLY 29% DISAPPROVING.

THE REST SAID THEY WERE UNSURE.

THE POLL ALSO SHOWS ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON IS THE CLEAR EARLY FRONTRUNNER FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR WITH 39%, INDICATING THEY FAVOR CAMERON.

UNDECIDED WAS NEXT AT 28%.

AND FORMER U.N.

AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT, WHO HAS BEEN RUNNING A HEAVY SCHEDULE OF TV ADS, SHOWS UP NEXT AT 13%.

ALL OTHERS WERE IN SINGLE DIGITS.

AUSTIN, WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THIS POLL THAT CLEARLY SHOWS GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS IN A STRONG EARLY POSITION?

>> Austin: FIRST OFF, AS YOU KIND OF MENTIONED THERE, IT'S UNDENIABLY GOOD NEWS FOR THE GOVERNOR.

49 TO 40 IS THE CLOSEST CONTEST THAT THEY HAVE BETWEEN HIM AND ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON, SO THE LEAD IS REAL THERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS A POLL DONE BY THE SAME FIRM LAST CYCLE IN 2019 THAT MEASURED OUT BESHEAR VERSUS BEVIN, AND BESHEAR WAS UP ON BEVIN 9 POINTS AT THAT TIME.

NOW HE ONLY ENDED UP WINNING BY A PERCENTAGE OF 1 POINT, MAYBE .4 POINTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE OTHER KIND OF BIG TAKEAWAY FROM THIS ONE THAT I TOOK WAS CAMERON'S LEAD SEEMS REAL.

EARLIER THIS MONTH WE GOT A POLL FROM TEAM CAMERON THAT SAID, I'M UP 30 POINTS, THAT'S WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT ME OVEROVER ALL THE OTHER REPUBLICANS.

IT WASN'T QUITE THE MARGIN OF HIS OWN POLL BUT IT WAS STEAL A REALLY SIZABLE ONE.

I THINK MAYBE TWIXT POINTS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OVER KELLY CRAFT, SO HE IS CLEARLY RIGHT NOW THE CANDIDATE TO BEAT, BUT IT'S ALSO POTENTIALLY SQUISHY BECAUSE HE'S GOT VERY HIGH NAME I.D.

OVER THE OTHER CANDIDATES, AND THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE AS KELLY CRAFT GETS UP ON TV MORE, AS RYAN QUARLES GETS TO UNLOAD SOME OF HIS MONEY THAT HE'S BEEN SQUIRRELING AWAY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, SO IT COULD GET INTERESTING, BUT RIGHT NOW CAMERON IS THE GUY TO BEAT.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, YOUR TAKE AS YOU HAD A LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.

>> Olivia: YEAH, I THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY UNSURPRISING.

WE JUST IN THE MORNING CONSULT.

FOLKS SAY BESHEAR IS INCREDIBLY POPULAR.

SO THESE NUMBERS SHOWED, YES, HE IS INCREDIBLY POPULAR.

AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT CHANGES.

>> Bill: WHAT ABOUT THE FACT THAT -- AND AUSTIN, YOU MADE REFERENCE TO THIS -- THAT IN 2019 THE POLLING SHIFTED, BUT THE APPROVAL RATING FOR BESHEAR HAS HELD RELATIVELY CONSIST NOW WERE ABOUT THREE YEARS, RIGHT AROUND 60%.

IS THAT BAKE INTO THE CAKE AT THIS POINT, THAT THAT'S WHERE HE IS WITH THE ELECTORATE?

>> Austin: IT REALLY MIGHT BE.

REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO SPEND ALL TIME THEY CAN CONNECTING HIM TO BIDEN WHO HAS A 40-SOME APPROVAL RATING IN THE U.S. AND E. WHO KNOWS HOW LOW IT IS IN KENTUCKY.

IF FIRST FRAME ON KELLY CRAFT'S LATEST AD IS A PICTURE OF THE TRUMP BORDER WALL SUPER IMPOSED WITH TWO PHOTOS OF BIDEN AND BESHEAR PUTTING ON A MASK, WHICH I GUESS THAT MEANS THEY THINK MASKS DON'T WORK WELL POLITICALLY IN TERMS OF IMAGERY IN KENTUCKY.

BUT I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SORT OF THE SHARED GOAL OF ALL THESE REPUBLICANS, IS GETTING THAT 61% DOWN TO 50% OR WHATEVER THAT GOAL PERCENTAGE IS WHERE HE'S MORE BEATABLE.

>> Bill: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR GOT HIGH APPROVAL AMONG MEN AND WOMEN, AROUND 60% IN EVERY REGION OF THE STATE, 41% OF REPUBLICANS SAID THEY APPROVE OF THE JOB THAT THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IS DOING.

AND I THINK I USED THIS TERM WHEN THAT EARLIER POLL CAME OUT.

DOES THAT CREATE HEARTBURN FOR THE GOP THIS YEAR?

>> Austin: I THINK IT DOES.

ANOTHER BIG ADVANTAGE AND DIFFERENCE FROM LAST TIME IS THAT BESHEAR HAS MORE OF A NATURAL ORGANISM OCCURRIC PULPIT.

CAMERON HAS MORE.

BUT BESHEAR CAN STILL MAKE NEWS PRETTY CONSTANTLY JUST BECAUSE WHEN THE GOVERNOR SPEAKS, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO LISTEN, AND HE'S ABLE TO PUT OUT HIS MESSAGE AND HIS KIND OF MR. ROGERS AFFECT THAT HE REALLY LOVES TO KIND OF CENTER ON.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG, BIG CHALLENGE.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, IT WAS INTERESTING TO ME THAT AFTER TWO TERM IN STATE OFFICE, 57% SAID THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE NAME OF AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES, AND 61% DIDN'T RECOGNIZE STATE AUDITOR MIKE HARMON.

YOU WOULD ASSUME PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, WHO ALREADY HOLD A STATEWIDE OFFICE, HAVE SOME PRESUMPTION THAT THEY ARE WELL-KNOWN ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Olivia: I MEAN, I WOULD HOPE SO US THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ELECTED, AND LIKE YOU SAID TWICE.

IT IS QUITE PROBLEMATIC THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ELECTED, AND PEOPLE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

SO DOES BEING AN LOOK AT THE OFFICIAL ELECTED OFFICIAL CARRY WEIGHT IN THAT SITUATION IN MAYBE NOT AS MUCH AS PEOPLE HAD HOPED.

>> Bill: THIS IS MORE OR LESS A HORSE RACE POLL WHERE WE FIND OUT WHERE PEOPLE STAND.

BUT IT IS EARLY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW POLLS WE'VE SEEN.

WE KNOW THAT THE CAMPAIGNS ARE PROBABLY DOING THEIR OWN PRIVATELY POLLING.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT ISSUES AS BE, AS AUSTIN MENTIONED A MINUTE AGO, IT MAY BE THAT THEY IDENTIFIED MASKS AS AN ISSUE TO JUMP ON, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU MAKE THE POINT THAT IT'S VERY EARLY.

>> Austin: YEAH, OF COURSE, IT IS EARLY, AND WE HAVE TALKED ON THIS SHOW BEFORE, BILL, ABOUT THE LACK OF POLLING FROM TRADITIONAL SOURCES, SUCH AS NEWS MEDIA BECAUSE OF CHANGES THAT WE'VE SEEN, AND SO THERE'S PROBABLY ALSO A RISK IN OVERREADING THIS AT THIS EARLY STAGE BECAUSE WE'RE ALL LIKE, OH, WE GOT A POLL.

IT'S A REAL POLL.

IT'S NOT A CAMPAIGN POLL.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A REAL POLL, BUT IT IS ONLY ONE POLL, AND SO IT WOULD BE BETTER TO HAVE MULTIPLE DATA POINTS TO INTERPRET, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEN THE SECOND THING I'D SAY IS, AS YOU AND I KNOW VERY WELL, LOCAL TELEVISION ADVERTISING IS VERY EFFECTIVE, AND SO WE WILL SEE IF KELLY CRAFT IS ABLE TO RISE FORWARD AS SHE CONTINUES TO SPEND REALLY BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT IT 30 DAYS OUT THAT YOU'RE STILL TEN POINTS, FIVE POINTS, WHATEVER IT IS, BACK, THAT'S WHEN YOU START UNLEASHING SOME FIREPOWER ON CAMERON.

NOW, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

WE DON'T KNOW.

THE BIG CONTROVERSY OF THE CAMERON ATTORNEY GENERALLER A HAS BEEN BREONNA TAYLOR, AND IT'S A QUESTION MARK AS TO IF YOU CAN SPIN THAT STORY IN A Y THAT MAKES REPUBLICANS NOT LIKE YOU.

I THINK THAT'S AN OBVIOUS GENERAL ELECTION TOPIC.

I DON'T KNOW.

I CAN SEE MAYBE AN AD WHERE YOU MENTION THAT THE FEDS HAD TO COME IN AND CLEAN CAMERON'S MESS-UP, QUOTE/UNQUOTE, WITHOUT I.

EVEN SAYING HER NAME IN THE WAY THAT WE'VE HEARD PROTESTERS SAY OVER ANDOVER AGAIN, SAY HER NAME, BREONNA TAYLOR.

IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE IF THAT TACK IS TAKEN.

I THINK IT WILL BE, AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> Bill: EVENTUALLY, THE QUESTION IS A FIGHT AMONG SELVES, OLIVIA WORE DO THEY ALL TRY TO CONTINUE TO GO AFTER BESHEAR DURING THE COURSE OF THE PRIMARY CAMPAIGN?

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

I THINK HONESTLY THEY'RE NOT GOING AFTER BESHEAR.

THEY'RE NOT -- THEY'RE RUNNING AGAINST THEMSELVES.

BESHEAR IS NOT THEIR OPPONENT RIGHT NOW, SO THEY MIGHT BE BETTER SUITED TO LIKE TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, NEW NUMBERS ON PARTY REGISTRATION ARE IN TODAY, AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS HAVE SUR PADS 10% OF THE STATE'S ELECTORATE, AND KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS SAID THIS ABOUT THE GROWING NUMBER OF VOTERS OR CHECKING THE "OTHER" BOX.

HE SAID THAT CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE SHOULD TAKE NOTICE.

TO WIN A GENERAL ELECTION, THEY MUST REACH OUT BEYOND THEY ARE BASE AND COURT THE FASTEST GROWING BLOCK OF THE ELECTORATE.

WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT VOTERS ARE STARTING TO REGISTER "OTHER"?

>> Chris: I THINK PROBABLY JUST GENERAL DISINFECTION WITH POLITICS AND NOT FEELING LIKE YOU BELONG TO EITHER SIDE, AND THIS IS HAPPENING DESPITE THE FACT ANOTHER THING WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE ON THIS SHOW THAT KENTUCKY HAS CLOSED PRIMARIES, SO INDEPENDENTS DO GIVE THAT UP BY BEING INDEPENDENT.

AND I WOULD ADVENTURE WAS AS I'VE SAID HERE BEFORE, THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT WHEN THEY FIRST REGISTER TO VOTE AND THEY JUST SEE THEMSELVES AS AN INDEPENDENT PERSON, AND THEN MAYBE IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THEM TO REALIZED THAT YOU CAN'T VOTE IN A PRIMARY IF YOU'RE AN INDEPENDENT AND THEN THEY SWITCH.

THIS IS A GROWING SHARE OF THE ELECTORATE, AND MAYBE THERE'S A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATS WHO ARE NOW INDEPENDENTS BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN FLATLINING IN THIS STATE OR SHRINKING.

>> Bill: WILL T. CREATES AN UNPREDICTABLE SWING VOTE, DOESN'T IT?

10% CAN CERTAINLY THROW AN ELECTION.

>> Olivia: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S A VERY SERIOUS AMOUNT OF PEOPLE.

>> Bill: AND THIS TREND AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE AND WHERE IT IS STRONGEST, AUSTIN, AVOIDING THE TRADITIONAL PARTIES.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

AND I THINK TO CHRIS' POINT, THERE MAY NOT BE A FULL REALIZATION OF KENTUCKY'S CLOSED PRIMARY SYSTEM, BUT I THINK ANOTHER WAY TO READ IT IS THAT IT'S GOOD NEWS FOR ANDY BESHEAR, RIGHT, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE EXTREMELY STRONG SWING TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS MUCH IN THIS STATE AS YEARS PAST.

IT'S STILL END TRENDING THAT WAY BUT YOU GOT TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE CHOOSING TO REGISTER AS INDEPENDENCE COMPARED TO PEOPLE WHO NEWLY REGISTERED AS REPUBLICANS.

>> Bill: IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

THERE WAS A REAL TRAGEDY IN ELIZABETHTOWN LAST WEEK WHEN A LARGE SIGN FELL DURING THE HIGH WINDS AT A DENNY'S RESTAURANT, AND TWO PEOPLE DIED AFTER THAT.

THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT HAPPENED GOES ON, BUT THAT GOT REPORTERS ASKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS, LIKE WHO SPEIGHTS THESE SIGNS AND DIDN'T INSPECTS THESEY SIGNS AND WHAT ARE THE RULES.

SO WHAT ARE THE FINDING, CHRIS?

>>> >> Chris: WELL, TO BE HONEST, BILL, NOBODY INSPECTS THEM.

WHAT WE FOUND IS THE WAY THIS WORKS IS SIMILAR TO THE WAY ANY OTHER NEW CONSTRUCTION IS PERMITTED AT THE LOCAL -- AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS ALL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, SO FIRST THING, THE STATE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TOLD US, WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

WE DON'T PERMIT SIGNS.

THE STATE BUILDING CODE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH SIGNS.

SO EVERYTHING IS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

AND THAT'S THE CASE IN KENTUCKY, BUT IT'S ALSO PRETTY MUCH THE CASE N. NATIONALLY.

I TALKED WITH BELIEVE IT OR NOT THERE'S A TRADE ASSOCIATION FOR THE SIGN INDUSTRY, AND THE PERSON WHO RUNS THAT GROUP TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT WORKS PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE, THAT YOU REVIEW CONSTRUCTION PLANS, GET A BUILDING PERMIT, AND THEN AFTER THAT IT'S UP TO THE PROPERTY OWNER TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTY JUST LIKE THEY HAVE TO KEEP THE ROOF IN WORKING ORDER, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THE WINDOWS AREN'T BLOWN OUT, BUT THE ISSUE HERE IS THIS THING IS 80 FEET TALL AND THE OBJECT THAT FELL WAS 2600 POUNDS, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE ELDERLY WOMAN IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED ON SITE.

SO IT DID MAKE US SORT OF STAND UP AND WONDER, WOW, YOU SEE THESE SIGNS EVERYWHERE, OFF OF EVERY INTERSTATE EXIT, AND THAT'S WOULD BE SURE THAT THAT ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT FROM THE PEOPLE THAT I TALKED TO FOR THE STORY, YOU KNOW, THEY MENTIONED THAT THIS IS REALLY A FREAK THING, IT'S INCREDIBLY RARE, AND IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO INSTITUTE SOMETHING TO DO ABOUT IT SYSTEMICALLY LIKE REGULAR INSPECTIONS.

>> Bill: SOME OF THE FAMILY MEMBERS INDICATE THEY INTEND TO BE HEARD FROM AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE TRYING TO GET THIS TO THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION.

>> Chris: YES.

AND THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE VICTIMS IN THIS, SHE HAS BEEN TALKING.

RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS HAS JUST BEEN ON HER GRANDPARENTS AND WHAT THEY MEANT TO HER.

I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE LITIGATION RESULT FROM THIS.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, SOME STUDENT WERE IN FRANKFORT THIS WEEK TO TALK WITH THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER AND SOME LAWMAKERS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY, AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS ABOUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT.

>> Olivia: YEAH.

SO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION HAS A GROUP THAT'S A STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL.

IT'S ABOUT 30 KIDS.

AND SHORTLY AFTER UVALDE OVER THE SUMMER, THEY STARTED WORKING ON THIS SCHOOL SAFETY PROJECT.

THEY STARTED RESEARCHING, THINKING ABOUT WHAT WOULD MAKE THEM FEEL SAFER AS STUDENTS, THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN, AND THEY FINALLY SHARED SOME OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WITH THE REST OF US.

I WAS MORE SURPRISED BY WHAT WAS MISSING.

YOU KNOW, WE SO OFTEN HEAR FROM ADULTS.

HOUSE EDUCATION CHAIR WAS IN THE AUDIENCE AND HE WAS INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO FORWARD HIS RECOMMENDATIONS ONTO HIS COLLEAGUES.

>> Bill: THIS WAS NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK BUT A KENTUCKY BILL STOPPED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACCOUNTS.

THERE IS, THOUGH, POTENTIAL FOR MORE LEGISLATION ON THIS, RIGHT?

>> Olivia: THERE IS A POTENTIAL.

HAVE I HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

NO.

I THINK IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO PASS THAT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACCOUNT BILL AS-IS.

THE SAME GOES FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOL BILL THAT FOLLOWED.

AND SO SINCE ONE WAS STRUCK DOWN, ONE'S STILL HELD UP IN THE COURTS, I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN ON THAT FRONT.

>> Bill: CHRIS, ONE THING HA WE'RE WATCHING THE LEGISLATURE POTENTIALLY IS HOW KENTUCKY WILL ADDRESS THESE GRAY MACHINES AS THEY'RE CALLED, WHICH I UNDERSTAND YOU GOT TO DEMO ONE, RIGHT?

>> Chris: WE'RE RUNNING THE STORY NEXT WEEK BUT WE ACTUALLY WANTED TO GO AND SEE WHAT ARE THESE MACHINES.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT THEM.

OLIVIA'S COLLEAGUES JOE SONKA DID A NICE OVERVIEW OF THIS ISSUE IN DECEMBER.

THESE TWO SIDES ARE REALLY GEARING UP TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON ADVERTISING AND LOBBYING, AND IN FACT YOU'RE ALL RIGHT SEEING THE ADS.

SO WHAT ARE THESE?

THESE ARE GAMING MACHINES THAT SIT INSIDE OF BARS AND RESTAURANTS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENTS AND THE MAKERS OF THE MACHINES SAY THAT THEY ARE GAMES OF SKILL, AND HOW THEY ACTUALLY WORK IS, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU'LL HAVE LIKE A 9-SPOT GRID, KIND OF LOOKS LIKE SLOTS, IT'S SORT OF, AND THEN STOPS, AND THE SKILL IS YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WHERE THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO GET THREE IN A ROW, AND SOMETIMES IT EVEN WIGGLES AS ONE OF PEOPLE WHO WAS PLAYING IT TOLD ME, TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE TO PICK, BUT IT'S TIMED, AND THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY, OF COURSE, IS ADAMANTLY AGAINST THIS.

THEY OPERATE HISTORICAL RACING MACHINES, WHICH ARE THE SLOT-LIKE GAMING THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD TO LEGALIZE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND THEY WANT TO SEE THESE GAMES -- THEY SAY THIS IS ILLEGAL GAMBLING FLAT OUT, AND SO WHETHER THE LEGISLATURE BANS THEM, REGULATES THEM OR DOES NOTHING, THOSE ARE THE OPTIONS.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL SEE ON THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

KENTUCKY TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JIM GRAY TOLD ME NOON INTERVIEW THIS WEEK THAT HE HAS SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT FUNDING HIGHWAY MAINTAINS AND EVEN LOCAL STREETS AND ROADS IN THE FUTURE.

RIGHT NOW IT'S THE GAS TAX THAT FUNDS THOSE EFFORT, BUT AS WE ALL KNOW, THE PUSH IS ON FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> EVERYONE IN PUBLIC SERVICE IN KENTUCKY, IN PUBLIC OFFICE NEEDS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE THE GASOLINE TAX FUELS THE REVENUE SHARING THAT GOES TO OUR COUNTIES AND OUR CITIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE, AND THIS GENERATES SOMEWHERE IN ORDER OF MAGNITUDE OF AROUND $800 MILLION A YEAR.

>> Bill: SO IT'S AN 800 MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION GOING FORWARD.

>> Chris: THAT'S WHAT THE GAS TAX GENERATES.

THE SHARE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN THE STATE, LET'S BE CLEAR, IS STILL REALLY SMALL.

NOT ARGUING WITH THE SECRETARY, I'M SURE THIS WILL BE AN ISSUE THAT THE STATE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH, BUT I THINK THE OTHER QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN RAYED BEFORE AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ENOUGH ABOUT IT LATELY IS WHETHER THE GAS TAX SHOULD BE RAISED, AND AS YOU KNOW VEHICLES ARE GETTING MORE FUEL EFFICIENT AND WE'RE SEEING TOYOTA DO A TON WITH HYBRIDS, SO ELECTRIFICATION IS CAUSING PEOPLE TO USE LESS FUEL, SO IT'S NOT AS JUST ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

BUT THEY ARE A TINY SLICE OF THE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES IN THE STATE, AS WELL AS NATIONALLY, ONLY 5% OF NEW CAR SALES.

>> Bill: ANOTHER THIS POINT.

I THINK GRAY IS TRYING TO LOOK FORWARD ON THIS AND RAISE SOME ALARMS.

TRADER JOE'S IN ST. MATTHEWS HELD A UNION VOTE.

>> Chris: RIGHT.

THE THIRD TRADER JOE'S IN THE COUNTRY.

IN LOUISVILLE, THEY ARE UNITIZING.

IT'S PART OF THE BROADER SERVICE SECTOR PUSH WE HAVE SEEN RECENTLY TO UNIONIZE.

COFFEE SHOPS, BOOKSTORES, PLACES LIKE THAT.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, THE SPECIAL ELECTION TO REPLACE NOW DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN MORGAN McGARVEY IN THE STATE SENATE IS NOW APPARENTLY SET AFTER CONCERNS ABOUT POLLING AND A COUPLE OF CANDIDATES ARE FACING OFF.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

SO THERE IS INITIALLY THE GAME PLAN WAS TO HAVE FOUR POLLING LOCATIONS.

THAT GOT SHOT DOWN BECAUSE IT JUST WASN'T ENOUGH.

THEY BROUGHT IN MARTIO POLIO, SORTED OUT SOME THINGS WITH JCPS.

NOW THEY HAVE EIGHT SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING TO BE OPEN FOR A TOTAL OF 12.

THAT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S GOING TO BE WORKABLE AND THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE HAVE DEMOCRAT CASEY CHAMBERS ARMSTRONG WHO IS A COUNCILWOMAN IN LOUISVILLE, AND SHE'S GOING TO BE FACING OFF AGAINST REPUBLICAN MISTY GLENN WHO IS BEST KNOWN FOR RUNNING FOR JPSCAL SCHOOL BOARD OVER THE FALL.

THAT AREA IS SOLIDLY DEMOCRATIC.

BUT -- >> Chris: I THINK PROBABLY CASSIE CHAMBERS AS THE ADVANTAGE THERE.

SHE'S WELL-KNOWN.

SHE'S ALREADY ELECTED.

SO THAT ONE SEEMS LIKE A SAFE BET FOR HER.

>> Bill: ANOTHER SPECIAL LEEKS THAT WILL COME LATER IN THE YEAR, SPECIAL ELECTION.

>> Austin: TO REPLACE SENATOR RALPH ALVARADO WHO IS LEAVING FOR TENNESSEE ADMINISTRATIVE POST.

IT'S A PRETTY RED DISTRICT, AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF IT GETTING RED AGAIN WENT UP A LITTLE BIT WHEN THEY SCHEDULED THE PRIMARY OR THIS ELECTION ON THE SAME DAY AS THE PRIMARY, AND REPUBLICANS HAVE A LOT MORE INCENTIVE TO TURN OUT TO BIC THEIR GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

>> Bill: WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE NEW PROM SENSE OF CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER, AND YOU DID AN ARTICLE AND STARTED IT OFF WITH THE FACT THAT THERE'S A PHOTO OF MITCH McCONNELL IN COMER'S OFFICE.

>> Austin: THERE IS.

IT'S OF MITCH McCONNELL AND A COLLEGE-AGED JAMES COMER.

THAT'S WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE FFA IN KENTUCKY, THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA.

AND McCONNELL WROTE A LITTLE MESSAGE SAYING HE HOPES HE HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE, AND I GOT TO SIT DOWN WITH McCONNELL LATER.

AND HE SAID THAT VERY MUCH CAME TRUE WITH COMER WHO IS NOW RISEN WHO CRAZY NATIONAL PROMINENCE.

HE'S ONE OF THE TAUPE PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR REPUBLICANS WE HEAR FROM WITH HIS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

SO THERE ARE LOTS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HIS FUTURE MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

COULD HE GO FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN IN THE FUTURE?

COULD HE RUN FOR SENATE IN 2026?

OR COULD HE JUST RISE THROUGH THE RANKS AND MAYBE BECOME HOUSE LEADER AT SOME POINT?

>> Bill: 99 DAYS TELL THE KENTUCKY DERBY, AND THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO GET SOME MAJOR RENOVATIONS PARTIALLY COMPLETED.

THEY WILL BE TOTALLY COMPLETED NEXT YEAR.

THIS WEEK MARKS SIX MONTHS SINCE THE FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THE HISTORIC FLOODS TOOK 44 LIVES, DESTROYED HUNDREDS HOMES.

THE RECOVERY, OF COURSE, IS FAR FROM OVER BUT KENTUCKIANS HAVE SHOWN THEIR RESILIENCE AND COMPASSION AFTER CHALLENGES LIKE IN IN REASON YEARS.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD