>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S VACCINATION ROLL-OUT RETOOLED A VIRUS DEATHS SET A NEW DAILY RECORD, AND A NEW VARIANT SHOWS UP IN THE STATE.

SCHOOLS TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SAFELY REOPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

TWO STATE SENATORS READY TO FILE A BILL TO CLARIFY RULES ABOUT HISTORICAL HORSE RACING.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHIFTS U.S. ENERGY POLICY.

WHAT WILL THE IMPACT BE IN KENTUCKY'S COAL CO BEFORE THE GROUNDHOG GIVES US A WINTER OR SPRING PREDICTION, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT TH WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND SOME ANALYSIS.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR DANIEL DESROSIERS, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERA MANDY MCLAREN, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

AND RUSS CASSADY, REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS.

ALSO TONIGHT, BOTH of U.S.

SENATORS VOTE AGAINST holdings IMPEACHMENT TRIAL FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND A THE DERBY FESTIVAL HAS MODIFIED PLANS FOR LEADING UP TO THE RUN FOR THE ROAST.

SO A LOT TO DISCUSS PHONY FIRST UP, WITH FRUSTRATIONS GROWING WITH THE VACCINE ROLL-OUT, GOVERNOR BESHEAR ANNOUNCED DETAILS ABOUT A PLAN TO HOLD MASS VACCINATION CLINICS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND IN AN SPEW WITH ME THIS AFTERNOON FOR WKYT, THE GOVERNOR ACKNOWLEDGED SOME TOUGH CHALLENGES.

>> WE ARE IN A RACE AGAINST THESE NEW VARIANTS.

WE HAVE FOUND TWO CASES OF THE UK VARIANT IN KENTUCKY.

THAT SPREADS MORE AGGRESSIVELY.

I DON'T EVER ALL IT'S NOT DEADLY DEADLIER IN AND OF ITSELF, BUT IF MORE PEOPLE GET THE VIRUS SADLY MORE PEOPLE DIE.

>> Bill: AND THIS IS COMING AS JANUARY HAS BEEN THE DEADLIEST MONTH YET IN THE PANDEMIC BOTH IN KENTUCKY AND NATIONWIDE.

A RECORD 69 DEATHS ON THURSDAY, AND YET SOME NUMBERS APPEAR TO BE ENCOURAGING RIGHT NOW.

>> Daniel: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF -- IT'S A LITTLE DISORIENTING TO SEE TODAY WAS THE THIRD HIGHEST DAY FOR DEATHS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE'RE SEEING CASE TOTALS DECREASE.

WE'RE BASICALLY AROUND WHERE WE WERE AROUND THANKSGIVING AT THIS POINT IN TERMS OF STATEWIDE CASE TOTALS.

A LOT OF THE REASON WE SEE THE DEATH IS -- WE SAW A SPIKE TOWARD THE END OF NOVEMBER AND BEGINNING OF DECEMBER INTO JANUARY.

THOSE DEATH ARE GOING TO FOLLOW WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LAG TIME.

THERE'S ALSO THE GOVERNOR'S PANEL THAT EXAMINES DEATHS, AND THAT HAS A LITTLE DELAY IN REPORTING DEATHS.

SO SOME DAYS WE WILL SATISFY DEATHS THAT HAVE COME FROM DECEMBER THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RECORDED IN JANUARY.

AND SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMBINED LEAD TO A VERY KIND OF DEADLY MONTH FOR COVID-19.

>> Bill: AND YOU KEEP THOSE THINGS IN MIND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS.

IT WAS ATTENTION-GETTING, OF COURSE, THAT THE KENTUCKY WILDCAT BASKETBALL GAME FOR THIS WEEKEND WAS CANCELED OVER COVID CONCERNS.

THE GOVERNOR ALSO SAID THAT HE WOULD GIVE THE VACCINE ROLL-OUT EFFORT EARLY ON WITH JUST BEGINNING TO GET THESE CLINICS GOING, A B MINUS OR A C PLUS BUT HE PROMISED IT WILL GET BETTER.

HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE IS THERE OUT THERE THAT THIS IS GOING TO WORK AND THAT EVEN THOUGH IT MAY TAKE SOME I'M?

>> Daniel: I THINK THERE'S CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL WORK.

HOW QUICKLY IT WILL WORK IS REALLY WHERE TISSUE IS.

I THINK THERE'S A TON OF FRUSTRATION AMONG PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE KIND OF CARDINAL RULES OF THIS SORT OF THING IS YOU DON'T EVERY OVERPROMISE AND THEN UNDERDELIVER, AND THAT'S KIND OF EXACTLY WHAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR DID WITH THE ROLL-OUT OF THE REGIONAL CENTERS THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR ORIGINALLY SAID THAT ALL OF THE K-12 TEACHERS WOULD BE VACS UNITED BY FEBRUARY 1st AND THAT THE REGIONAL VACCINATION CENTERS WOULD BE OPEN UP TO GROUP 1C.

THEN YESTERDAY HE SAID THAT ACTUALLY THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO BE TO OPEN UP TO 1B AS THE STATE TRIES TO GET PEOPLE ON THE OTHER HAND 70 VACCINATED BECAUSE THAT IS A REALLY CRUCIAL GROUP.

75% OF THE DEATHERS PEOPLE OVER 70.

AND THAT CAUSED LOT OF CONFUSION AS PEOPLE WERE ATTEMPTING TO SIGN UP THE REGIONAL VACCINATION CENTER YESTERDAY.

I HAD PEOPLE HO WERE DING ME ON TWITTER SAYING EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE IN 1C SIGNING UP NOR CENTER.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THER SITE HANDLES THAT MOVING FORWARD.

>> Bill: SOME OF THE CONFUSION YOU SPEAK OF, AMANDA, THE PRIORITY IS IN KENTUCKY ON 70 AND OLDER.

MANY DON'T USING COMPUTERS OR THE INTERNET REGULARLY.

THERE ARE SOME PHONE NUMBERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

IN FACT, WE WILL PUT THAT UP, THE NUMBER THAT PEOPLE CAN CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION.

IN ADDITION TO THAT WEBSITE THAT YOU SEE THERE, WHICH YOU ALSO CAN CHECK OUT.

BUT THEY HEAR REPORTS FROM OTHER STATES WITH THE PEOPLE HAVING DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES AND CERTAINLY TAKE NOTE OF THAT AS WELL.

>> Mandy: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF THIS, RIGHT?

IT'S SEEING YOUR FRIENDS OVER FACEBOOK, EVEN THE OLDER SET.

THEY'RE ON FACEBOOK.

THEY'RE SEEING THEIR FRIENDS OUT THERE MAYBE HAVING A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THAN THEMSELVES.

MY MOM IS OLDER THAN 65, AND SHE LIVES IN FLORIDA, SO RIGHT NOW SHE QUALIFIES.

SHE GOT ON HER GOLF CART, DROVE DOWN TO THE LITTLE CLUBHOUSE IN HER RETIREMENT COMMUNITY AND ALREADY HAS HAD HER FIRST VACCINATION.

CERTAINLY HERE IT'S CONFUSING AND IT'S WHERE DO I START TO GET IN LINE?

AND THEN HOW LONG IS THE LINE ONCE I FIGURE THAT PART OUT?

>> Bill: MAYBE CALL ONE NUMBER AND THEY TELL YOU TO CALL ANOTHER.

WE DO UNDER THAT THERE ARE THOSE FRUSTRATIONS OUT THERE.

DAN, ALSO SOME CONFUSION, YOU KNOW, IS VACCINE SITTING ON SHELVES WAITING TO BE USED OR DO WE, IN FACT, HAVE A VACCINE SHORTAGE WHICH THE GOVERNOR SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT IT IS A SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE VACCINE.

>> Daniel: 52 LOOK AT THE NUMBERS THE STATE'S REPORTING RIGHT NOW, THERE DON'T SEEM TO BE A TON OF VACCINES THAT ARE SITTING ON SHELVES THEY'RE ACTUALLY MOVING THROUGH WHAT THEY HAVE RATHER EFFICIENTLY.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF DELAY IN THE LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAM, BUT AS GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN, THAT'S HANDLE SEPARATELY.

THAT'S HANDLED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I THINK PART OF THE REAL FRUSTRATION HERE IS OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A TON OF DEMAND FOR THE VACCINE BUT YOU'RE DEALING WITH A POPULATION WHERE IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED.

AND THIS ISN'T AN EASY PROCESS, I DON'T THINK, FOR ANYONE SIGNING UP TO GET A VACCINE.

I HAD TO HELP A FRIEND WHO WAS OVER 70 SIGN UP YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS REALLY COMPLICATED.

WE HAD TO FIND A BACK-DOORWAY INTO THE KROGER SIGN-UP SITE SO THAT WE COULD GET HIM AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE ABILITY TO GET HIS VACCINE.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT THIS RIGHT NOW, AND THE PROCESS SEEMS SO COMPLICATED THAT IT'S JUST CAUSING A LOT OF HEART AKE, A LOT OF AFRICANS, A LOT OF BITTERNESS AS -- A AFRICANS AS PEOPLE WENT A SEM PLANS OF HOPE FOR THIS PANDEMIC THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

>> Bill: AND MANY ARE ON MULTIPLE LISTS, WAITING LISTS AS WELL.

RUSS, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THE OPENING OF FOUR VACCINE CENTERS AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH.

NORTHERN IN FERON KENTUCKY THÈ ANY WORD ON POTENTIAL SITES THERE WHO ARE EVER OR HOW IT IS EXPECTED TO COUNT THERE AS IS VACCINES ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE?

>> Russ: AT THIS POINT WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY REGIONAL SITES BEING SET FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY.

I'M NOT SURE WHY THAT IS.

HOPING TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT IN COMING DAYS.

CURRENTLY THE VACCINES ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED BY MAINLY HOSPITALS AND THE NORMAL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED.

>> Bill: RUSS, COVID-19 HAS HIT THIS WHOLE STATE VERY HARD.

THRIVE3500 DEATHS THIS YEAR.

IT'S LIKE HAVING A GOOD SIZE KENTUCKY TOWN KNOCKED OUT.

WHAT'S BEEN THE IMPACT?

AND HOW ARE PEOPLE DEALING WITH THINGS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IN APPALACHIA?

>> Russ: AS IN THE REST OF THE STATE AND THE NATION WE HAVE DEALT WITH THIS POST HOLIDAY SURGE OF CASES AND ARE DEALING WITH THE HOSPITALIZATIONS RIGHT NOW.

AS OF TODAY, PIKEVILLE MEDICAL CENTER, WHICH IS A REGION HEALTH CENTER, AS REPORTED 50 HOSPITALIZATIONS DUE TO COVID WITH 20 ICU COVID PATIENTS.

WE'RE SEEING -- ALL THIS IS CONCERNING, AND THE FOUR COUNTIES THAT WE COVER IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, WE HAVE SEEN MORE THAN 100 DEATHS, AND THAT IS JUST HORRIBLE IN THESE SMALL COMMUNITIES.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT'S SOMEWHAT TEMPERED BY THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN GOING INTO THIS THAT WITH THE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AND COMORBIDITIES THAT ARE SO HIGH IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, HEART DISEASE, LUNG DISABLES THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COVID REALLY SEEMS TO ATTACK, THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN HIGHER TOTALS YET, AND WE'RE HOPING TO CONTINUE THAT, THAT TREND.

>> Bill: WHAT'S THE ECONOMIC TOLL BEEN LIKE THERE?

I MEAN, I KNOW PIKEVILLE FOR ONE IS ONE OF THE TOWNS THAT WAS REALLY PROUD OF WHAT WAS GOING ON IN ITS DOWNTOWN AREA JUST BEFORE COVID HIT.

OTHER TOWNS IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN KENTUCKY, ESPECIALLY, REALLY FELT THEY HAD THINGS GOING ON.

>> Russ: AND THEY DID, AND ESPECIALLY PSYC PACVILLE, PRESTONBURG, COMMUNITIES LIKE THAT HAD REALLY DONE TO CARAT TO THE ARTS AND TO VISITS ARE, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S BEEN -- VISITORS, AND OBVIOUSLY THAT'S BEEN HIT VERY HARD.

THESE COMMUNITIES ARE WORKING TO TRY TO MAINTAIN THESE BUSINESSES.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE SEEN SOME SMALL BUSINESSES CLOSE.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME OPENCH.

ALL THIS IS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE SEEING JUST A NOSE DIVE OF THE COAL INDUSTRY.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO UNFOLD FOR YEARS TO COME AS WE GO FORWARD.

>> Bill: MANDY, THERE IS A ROBUST EFFORT TO GET TEACHERS AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL VACCINATED HERE.

KENTUCKY HAS PRIORITIZED THAT.

NOT EVERY STATE HAS.

HOW KEY IS THAT TO GETTING SCHOOLS REOPENED?

>> Mandy: WELL, I THINK THERE'S THIS ASSUMPTION AMONG PARENTS CERTAINLY THAT, OKAY, WE'RE NOW I THINK STARTING THE THIRD WEEK, FULL WEEK NEXT WEEK OF VACCINATIONS, OF TEACHER VACCINATIONS IN THE STATE.

THAT MEANS IF MY KID'S SCHOOL HAS BEEN CLOSED DOWN FOR NEARLY A YEAR, THE REOPENING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS NECESSARILY GUARANTEED AT THIS POINT.

WE ARE SEEING IN OTHER AREAS OF THE COUNTRY TEACHERS UNIONS SAY, WELL, YES, EVEN IF WE DO GET OR TEACHERS VACCINATED, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

SO I THINK THERE IS CERTAINLY SOME WORRY HERE THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY THE IN TWO LARGER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.

BUT SO FAR KENTUCKY HAS HAD SOME POSITIVE ATTENTION BECAUSE IT HAS CHOSEN TO PRIORITIZE EDUCATORS WITH, AGAIN, THAT SORT OF IMPLICIT UNDERSTANDING THAT THAT WILL LEAD TO IN-PERSON SCHOOL, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW PER LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIRMED START DATES FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING.

>> Bill: AND THE CDC REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT SCHOOLS ARE NOT A PRIMARY SOURCE OF VIRUS SPREAD IF PROTOCOLS ARE INEPT ALSO NOTED CONCERNS ABOUT KIDS FALLING BEHIND IN SO MANY OTHER WAYS.

HOW MUCH EFFORT IS IT GOING TO TAKE ON THE PART OF SCHOOLS TO MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE WHEN SCHOOLS EVENTUALLY DO REOPEN AND DETERMINE THEIR EMOTIONAL AND ONGOING ACADEMIC NEEDS?

6.

>> Mandy: AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT REPORT, THERE WERE KEY THINGS IN THERE THAT SCHOOLS DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO SPREAD IF THERE'S THE PROPER PPE AND SOCIAL DISTANCING.

SO THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT'S STILL UP IN THE AIR.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE IS GOING TO UPDATE HIS GUIDANCE IN THE COMING WEEKS FOR WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOLS CAN REOPEN IF THEY'RE CONTINUING TO BE IN THE RED ZONE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE IS THE SIX FEET IN THE CLASSROOM STILL GOING TO BE A REQUIREMENT AS WELL.

BUT AS FAR AS WHEN KIDS DO COME BACK, I THINK THE EASIEST WAY TO THINK ABOUT THE CHALLENGE IS TESTING THE SPRING.

LET'S SAY KIDS DO COME BACK THIS SPRING.

WELL, THERE'S NO REALLY GOOD ANSWER THERE.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO PUT STANDARDIZED TESTING ONTO THESE CHILDREN, THINK ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL AND JUST EXHAUSTION TOLL THAT THAT COULD HAVE ON THEM AFTER A YEAR OF SO MUCH TRAUMA, BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF YOU DON'T TEST, THEN WHAT DATA DO YOU HAVE TO USE TO BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO FAMILIES AND TO LAWMAKERS OF HOW LARGE OF A LEARNING LOSS WE HAVE SEEN?

SO I JUST THINK THERE IS NO CLEAR, EASY ANSWER HERE, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF -- A LOT OF CAREFUL PLANNING AND THEN THE RESOURCES TO PULL IT OFF.

>> Bill: AMANDA, IS THERE ANYWAY TO GAUGE HOW MANY PARENTS IF SCHOOLS REOPEN WILL OPT FOR CONTINUE VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR THEIR CHILDREN?

>> Alex: I THINK A LOT OF DISTRICTS ARE SENDING HOME SURVEYS, A LOT OF THEM ARE VIRTUAL SURVEYS THAT SAY HERE IN DUVAL, JCS, THE MOST RECENT DATA SAY 60% OF FAMILIES THAT RESPONDED WOULD CHOOSE THE IN-PERSON OPTION.

AND THEN YOU HAVE GROUPS OUT THERE THAT ARE VERY, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF GETTING KIDS BACK INTO SCHOOL.

YOU HAVE THESE LET THEM LEARN GROUPS THAT WE SEE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND I KNOW THERE'S ONE IN FAYETTE COUNTY, ONE HERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

SO YOU HAVE PARENTS OUT THERE THAT ARE ADVOCATING, THAT ARE eMAILING SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS I THINK DAILY AT THIS POINT ABOUT WHEN WILL KIDS BE BACK IN SCHOOL.

BUT IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS?

IT'S NOT THAT CLEAR.

>> Bill: AND, RUSS, LET'S PICK UP THERE AS WELL.

THERE IS A LOT OF FLACK FOR THESE SCHOOL BOARDS, PEOPLE WHO RAN FOR OFFICE AS THEY SAW A CIVIC DUTY, AND NOW THESE TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT WHETHER TO REOPEN SCHOOLS, WHETHER TO ALLOW ATHLETIC EVENTS TO GO ON, AGONIZING THINGS THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DECIDE.

>> Russ: YEAH, THEY ARE.

AND IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IF THEY PUT THE CHILDREN INTO THE SCHOOLS, THEY'RE ACCUSED OF ENDANGERING THE CHILDREN AND THE TEACHERS.

IF THEY KEEP THE CHILDREN IN VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS, THEN THEY'RE CRITICIZED FOR POTENTIALLY PERMANENTLY HARMING THESE CHILDREN THROUGH THE LACK OF SOCIAL INTERACTION.

AND IT DOESN'T HELP THAT NONE OF THESE DISTRICTS HAS A PLAY-BY-PLAY PLAYBOOK TO TELL THEM HOW TO DEAL WITH A PANDEMIC.

THEY CAN'T GO BACK TO WHAT THEY DID TEN YEARS AGO OR FIVE YEARS AGO AND REPEAT THAT.

THIS IS ALL NEW.

FROM OUR EXPERIENCE IN COVERING SCHOOL BOARDS ACROSS EASTERN KENTUCKY, WHAT WE SEE IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF FALLOUT, A LOT OF DEBATE BEING PUT INTO THESE DECISIONS, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THEM NO MATTER WHICH WAY THEY GO.

>> Bill: AND THEN RELIABLE BROADBAND CHAS BEEN A LONG TERM ISSUE HAS REALLY COME TO THE FOREFRONT IN SITUATION AS WELL IN MANY OF OUR RURAL AREAS.

>> Russ: YEAH, IT REALLY HAS.

WE HAVE REALLY SEEN HOW IMPORTANT BROADBAND INTERNET IS TO DAILY LIFE, NOT JUST FOR EDUCATION BUT FOR WORK, AND SOCIAL INTERACTION ESPECIALLY DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, MAYBE SOME PEOPLE THAT NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHALLENGES THAT EASTERN KENTUCKY FACES AS FAR AS BROADBAND GOES.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE STILL SEE AND HEAR COMPLIANCE FROM PARENTS EVERY DAY THERE'S A VIRTUAL SCHOOL DAY THAT SOMEBODY'S INTERNET IS OUT, AND THEREFORE THEIR CHILDREN NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO LEARN THAT DAY.

SO WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE ACTION CATCH UP WITH THE TALK ON THAT MATTER.

>> Bill: LET'S GET TO SOME FRANKFORT AND WASHINGTON POLITICS NOW.

DAN, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT THE IMPEACHMENT PETITION AGAINST GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR NOW WANTS OUT OF IT.

AND THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE MET THIS WEEK.

A LOT OF ITS TIME SPENT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

>> Daniel: YEAH, THEY SPENT MORE THAN TWO HOURS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THIS WEEK.

PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE INTERESTING STUFF, THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE GOING ON HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SO WE'VE BEEN PRETTY ENOUGH IN THE DARK ON WHERE THE COMMITTEE STAND ON THIS.

BY EXTENDING A LETTER TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR SEEKING MORE INFORMATION, I THINK WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT ON MAYBE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE COMMITTEE MIGHT BE HOPING TO FOCUS ON.

THE LETTER ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HIS ORDERS ON RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION AND HIS ORDERS ON INTERSTATE TRAVEL.

AND SO THAT GIVES US A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A GUIDELINE FOR WHERE THINGS MIGHT BE HEADED.

IT'S ALWAYS POSSIBLE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RESPONDS WITH THIS, WITH THIS INFORMATION, AND THE COMMITTEE JUST CHOOSES TO DISMISS THE IMPEACHMENT CASE OUTRIGHT AS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT IS BEEN PUSHING FOR THIS WHOLE TIME.

>> Bill: WE'LL BE WATCHING THAT AS THE ENTIRE LEGISLATURE GETS READY TO COME BACK TO FRANKFORT, SENATOR JOHN SCHENKEL AND SENATE PRESIDENT STRIVERS APPARENTLY WILL FILE LEGISLATION NEXT WEEK TO ADDRESS THE HISTORICAL RACING ISSUE.

THE RED MILE EARLY THIS WEEK AND SOME OTHER VENUES ARE SHUTTING DOWN MACHINES INVOLVED IN THAT.

THE SUPREME COURT IS NOT RECONSIDERING A DIGS ON PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING THAT IT MADE BACK AT THE TIME FALL.

>> Dawn: YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S GIVEN A SENSE OF URGENCE AMONG LAWMAKERS TO ENSURE THAT RED MILE CAN REOPEN AGAIN.

MY COLLEAGUE JACK BRAMMER SPOKE TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SENATE TODAY, AND IT SEEMS HE GOT I THINK A COMMITMENT FROM SENATE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER DAMON THAYER THAT THE SENATE LABEL TO PASS THIS BILL.

THAT PUTS THE BILL IN THE YOU COURT OF THE HOUSE.

AND THE HOUSE HAS HAD SOME DIFFICULT TIME PASSING WAGERING BILLS IN THE PAST.

THAT SAID, HOUSE SUPERIOR COURT BEHAVED DAVID OSBORNE, A LOT OF HIS BASE IS THE HORSE INDUSTRY AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF -- THAT MAKES THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE TAINABLE THAN SOME OF THE OTHER IMAGERY WANG BILLS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, THINGS LIKE SPORTS BOGAERT EVEN LEGALIZING CASINO GAMBLING.

THIS SEEMS LIKE A LITTLE MORE ATTAINABLE GET FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: ONE THING HA HAS TO BE DONE THE ENACTMENT OF THE STATE BUDGET, AND THERE SEEMS TO BE GIVE-AND-TAKE BETWEEN THE VIEW POINT OF GOVERNOR AND THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL BOTH CHAMBERS IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH MONEY TO HOLD BACK IN THIS UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC SITUATION OR HOW MUCH TO SPEND BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR SAYS THIS IS THE RAINY DAY THAT YOU PLANNED FOR.

>> Daniel: YEAH.

KENTUCKY DID A LITTLE BIT BETTER THAN I THINK PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING.

THIS IS KIND OF AN AGE-OLD ARGUMENT, THOUGH, RIGHT, BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE ABOUT HOW THEY SPEND THE MONEY AND MORE MAYBE PROGRESSIVE IN HOW THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY, AND SO WE'RE SEEING THE REPUBLICAN BENT OF THE LEGISLATURE REALLY TAKE CHARGE HERE.

ONE OTHER THING TO LOOK AT IS GOVERNOR BESHEAR CALLED FOR STIMULUS MONEY FOR BUSINESSES IN HIS STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME KIND OF INDICATION THAT THERE IS INTEREST AMONG THE LEGISLATURE IN PROVIDING SOME SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THAT TAKES FORM IF THEY CHOOSE TO PASS SOMETHING BECAUSE THEIR NOT LIKELY TO WANT TO GIVE THAT POLITICAL VICTORY TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND THEY'RE GOING TO WANT THEIR OWN VERSION SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES COMING FROM THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF.

>> Bill: SOME HINTS ABOUT THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S RACE ALREADY OUT, A REPORT ABOUT KELLY DRAFT CRAFT'S POSSIBLE INTEREST, THE FORMER UN AMBASSADOR.

WE'RE HEARING QUALITIES ARE AND MIKE HARMON AND OTHERS POTENTIALLY RAISING REPUBLICANS FOR GOVERNOR.

>> Daniel: YEAH, I HAD A LITTLE SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE ON THE HERALD-LEADER ABOUT THIS TODAY SO I'LL DO A PLUG FOR THE HERALD-LEADER.

BUT THIS GOVERNOR AS A RACE IS STARTING TO HEAT UP.

THIS IS A NON-ELECTION YEAR AND SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF ANGLING SEASON.

PEOPLE ARE JOSTLING.

THEY'RE TRYING TO ELBOW FOR POSITION NEEDING 2022 AND 2023.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE KIND OF A LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN 2023 SEEM TO BE COMER, QUARLES AND CRAFT.

WHETHER OR NOT ALL OF THEM ENTER, WHETHER OR NOT ALL OF THEM JUMP IN IS ANOTHER YEP.

AUDITOR MIKE HARMON HAS MADE VISIT CLEAR THAT HE'S ALSO LOOKING AT THAT RACE CASE, LITTLE BIT OF A KIND OF A SURPRISE CANDIDATE I THINK FOR A POLITICAL ONLY LARKS IN THIS SWAYS.

THERE ARE OF COURSE ALWAYS OTHER NAMES THAT ARE TOSSED AROUND.

TREASURE ALLISON BALL IS A NAME THAT OFTEN GETS TOSSED AROUND, AND YOU MERV KNOW WHEN THERE'S THERE B.I.G.

BUSINESS PERSON THAT HAS BEEN THE THREAT WHEN TALKING ABOUT THESE PRIMARIES IN KENTUCKY POLITICS.

>> Bill: MANDY, I WANT YOU TO FLEX OFF YOUR BEAT AND TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION THE WITH LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE.

WAS THIS REVIEW OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH DECLARED TO BE IN CRISIS.

WHAT ARE THE FINDING OF THAT REPORT?

>> Mandy: WELL, THIS REPORT THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK, REMEMBER, STEMS BACK TO THE SUMMER OF PROTESTS THAT WE SAW HERE IN LOUISVILLE AFTER THE FATAL POLICE SHOOTING OF OF BREONNA TAYLOR.

SO ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THIS REPORT WAS DIRECTLY REALLY RELATED TO THAT, WAS TO NOT HAVE ANY MORE OF THESE NO-KNOCK WARRANTS SERVED AT NIGHT.

THERE WAS A SLEW OF OTHER FINDING THAT I DON'T THINK COME VERY SURPRISING TO THE COMMUNITY HERE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE DEPARTMENTS INTERACTING WITH LOUISVILLE'S BLACK POPULATION AT A DISPROPORTIONATE RATE WHEN IT COMES TO TRAFFIC STOPS, ARRESTS, FIELD CONTACT.

ANOTHER KEY FINDING THAT THE NEW SHEET -- CHIEF ERICA SHIELD THREE-QUARTERS SAID THAT SHE WAS STRUCK BY WHEN SHE GOT HERE WHAT IS THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THE DEPARTMENT AB ESPECIALLY AMONG THE UPPER RANKS, AND THAT WAS RACE TRACED IN HER REPORT TO ISSUES WITH THE WAY THAT OFFICER ARE PROMOTED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO THERE WILL BE A NEW DIVERSITY OFFICER, AT LEAST THAT'S PART OF THE RECOMMENDATION, TO HELP WORK ON THAT WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

>> Bill: BOTH OF KENTUCKY'S U.S.

SENATORS VOTED AGAINST HAVING AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

SENATOR RAND PAUL LED THE CHARGE, SAYING THE TRIAL WILL BE DIVISIVE FOR THE COUNTRY.

>> THIS IMPEACHMENT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A PARTISAN EXERCISE DESIGNED TO FURTHER DIVIDE THE COUNTRY.

DEMOCRATS CLAIM TO WANT TO UNIFY THE COUNTRY, BUT IMIMPEACHING A FORMER PRESIDENT, A PRIVATE CITIZEN, IS THE ANTITHESIS OF UNIT.

>> Bill: DAN, PAUL'S POSITION WAS CLEARLY ON, BUT SENATOR McCONNELL HAS PARTIALLY BLAMED TRUMP FOR THE JANUARY 6th CAPITOL RIOT.

HIS WIFE RESIGNED AS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY SHORTLY AFTER THAT.

BUT HE'S NOW VOTED AGAINST HAVING THE TRIAL AS WELL IN FEBRUARY.

>> Daniel: YES.

SENATOR McCONNELL WAS CERTAINLY LEAVING ROOM FOR REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND FOR THIS IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IN A WAY THAT HE DID NOT IN THE LAST IMPEACHMENT TRIAL.

THAT SAID, SENATOR McCONNELL OFTEN REFERENCES WHAT HE CALLS HIS POLITICAL MENTOR, U.S.

SENATOR JOHN SHERMAN COOPER, AND A VOTE QUOTE THAT HE SAID.

FOR POLITICIANS THERE ARE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LEAD AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU FOLLOW.

AND IT SEEMED LOOK THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MOMENT WHERE SENATOR McCONNELL WAS LEADING, BUT HE SEEMS TO HAVE FALLEN BACK TO FOLLOWING, AND IT'S NO NECESSARILY FOLLOWING THE KENTUCKY BASE.

IT SEEMS TO BE FOLLOWING HIS CAUCUS AND FOLLOWING THE THINGS THATTAL YOU HOW HIM TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONTROL OVER HIS CAUCUS AS HE MAKES HIS CALCULATIONS MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I DO THINK HE STILL WANTS TO MAINTAIN THAT MAJORITY LEADER POSITION.

THAT SAID, I DO THINK THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE TRADITIONAL McCONNELL BASE, WHO MIGHT BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID ON JANUARY 6th AND WHO ARE HOPING TO SEE A PATH FORWARD FOR REPUBLICANS THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY -- THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY BASED ON LOYALTY TO TRUMP AND MORE BASED ON PROVING THAT REPUBLICANS CAN GOVERN.

>> BILL: >> DEBORAH: >> : RUSS, THE BIND ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE QUICK MOVES ON ENERGY POLICY.

THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY EMPHASIS ON RENEWABLES AND LESS ON COAL.

THAT'S BEEN A WAY OF LIFE IN APPALACHIA.

DOES THE REGION RESIST OR TRY TO RECOOL?

>> Russ: THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME SCEPTICISM.

THE PLAN IS VERY AMBITIOUS AND IT INCLUDES A LOT OF DIFFERENT POINTS, BUT SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WILL DIRECTLY IMPACT OUR AREA, IF THEY'RE HELD TO, THE ORDERS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUED COMMIT 40% OF THE INVESTMENT IN CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES TO DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

JOHN KERRY, WHO IS ONE OF BIDEN'S CLIMATE AN AHN VOICE, HAS SAID THAT -- ENVOYS, HAS SAID IT'S TO OFFER WORKERS IN THESE DEBBIE WHO PREVIOUSLY WORKED IN THESE ENERGY FIELDS BETTER CHOICES IN CAREERS.

IT WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN WHETHER WE'LL ACTUALLY SEE THAT INVESTMENT COME ABOUT.

IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ALL THE OFFICIALS, FROM FEDERAL TO STATE TO EVEN LOCAL MAYORS OF THE SMALL TOWNS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, TO DO WHAT THEY CAN TO TRY HOLD THE THE ADMINISTRATION'S FEET TO THE FIRE ON THIS BECAUSE IF THIS CLIMATE PLAN GOES THROUGH THERE ARE GOING TO BE BIG CHANGES NOT JUST FOR EASTERN BUT OILFIELD ACROSS THE NATION.

>> Bill: THE DERBY FESTIVALS BECOMES A HUGE COLLECTION OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MARIC.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A PANDEMIC VERSION THIS YEAR WITH FEWER CROWDS OR NO CROWDS AT SOME OF THOSE EVENTS, INCLUDING THE THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE.

DR. FLOYD POOR WHO SERVED AS STATE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY UNDER GOVERNOR WALLACE WILKINSON HAS DIED.

HE RAN FOR EVER GO HIMSELF IN 1991 AND CONGRESS IN THANK YOU.

HIS DAUGHTER STATE REPRESENT LIVE EQUIPMENT HELLER POOR I.

MORE ESH-FLOYD POOR I WAS FAMILY -- DOG BEFORE HE CONCERNED VERY MUCH INTO POLITICS.

TUNE IN ON MONDAY NIGHT.