>> Bill: THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS WITH REDISTRICTING AT THE TOP OF THE THE FILING DEADLINE HAS ALREADY PUSHED BACK.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR DELIVERS HIS STATE OF THE COMMO ADDRESS, BUT HOUSE REPUBLICANS BREAK TRADITION AND PREPARE A BUDGET BEFORE HEARING HIS PROPO KENTUCKY'S COVID NUMBERS HIT AN ALL-TIME RECORD.

HOSPITALS COPE, SOME SCHOOLS CLOSE AND TRY TO FIGURE OAT HOW THE MAKE IT UP SENATOR RAND PAUL QUITS YOUTUBE AS HE BEGAN HIS R MORE EXTREME WEATHER HITS AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME TO YOU "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 ARE: FIRST OF ALL WE HAVE LAWRENCE SMITH OF WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

JOINING US MY SKYPE ALEX A QUESTIONS TO OF THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

AND BESS WES SWIETEK BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS.

ALSO TONIGHT KENTUCKY SEEKS MORE FEDERAL MONEY FOR TORNADO CLEANUP EVEN AS THE STATE IS HIT WITH FLOODING AND THEN A WINTER STORM.

THE WEATHER'S REALLY BEEN WICKED PLAYMATE AND INCARCERATES BEGINNING TO SET OUT THEIR STRATEGIES FOR THE ELECTION YEAR AHEAD.

SO WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS, BUT DESPITE ALL OF THAT, ALEX, WE'RE FORCING TODAY FOCUS OAT SPREAD OF COVID.

ROMNEY, A TOUGH SITUATION.

IT'S RAMPANT, I'M, CAUSING ALL SORTS OF CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW.

SEVERAL PANDEMIC RECORDS HAVE BEEN SET THIS WEEK, INCLUDING SOME ON FRIDAY.

>> Alex: CORRECT.

TODAY WE HIT OUR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE DAY OF NOT ONLY RECORD CASES BUT RECORD POSITIVITY RATE.

TODAY WE HAD MORE THAN 11,000 CASES, WHICH IS TREMENDOUSLY HIGH, AND OUR POSITIVITY RATE RIGHT NOW IS AT 24.5% WHICH IS ALSO EXTREMELY HIGH.

I THINK BACK WHEN I WAS ON THE SHOW BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND THE POSITIVITY RATE I THINK WAS AROUND 9%, AND WE THOUGHT THAT WAS HIGH, WHICH IT WAS AT THE TIME.

OF COURSE, THIS IS DUE TO OMICRON.

WE KNEW THAT THE SURGE WOULD COME.

WE KNEW HOW CONTAGIOUS IT WAS.

AND NOW IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR PRACTICALLY ALL CASES THAT ARE BEING DIAGNOSED, NOT ONLY IN THE STATE BUT IN THE COUNTRY.

WHAT THAT PORTENDS IS RISING HOSPITALIZATIONS, WHICH WE'VE ALSO SEEN, AND THEY'RE STARTING TO MORE MARKEDLY RISE.

OMICRON LARGELY IS BELIEVED TO BE, TO CAUSE MILDER INFECTION, THOUGH IT DOES STILL MAKE SICK ENOUGH TO BE HOSPITALIZED.

AND SO EVEN THOUGH IT IS THOUGHT TO CAUSE MILDER INFECTION THAN DELTA, THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTING POSITIVE IS GOING TO INVARIABLY STRAIN HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AS IT HAS ALREADY STARTED TO DO IN SOME STATES.

I BELIEVE SINCE SUNDAY WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN ALMOST 350 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED GO INTO A HOSPITAL, WHICH IS VERY HIGH.

SO WE ARE SEEING CASES SPREAD ILL LIKE WILDFIRE AND SO FAR THERE'S NO SIGN OF IT LETTING UP JUST YET.

>> Bill: WHAT IS THE SCIENCE TELLING US, ALEX, ABOUT WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE SURGES?

AND THERE ANYTHING ABOUT HOW LONG THIS SURGE MAY LAST?

CAN WE LEARN FROM WHERE IT HAS -- WHERE IT HAS HIT AND MAYBE PASSED ITS PEAK?

>> Alex: THE THINKING IS THAT BECAUSE IT'S SPREADING SO FAST, IT WOULD POTENTIALLY FLAME OUT SOONER.

IN OTHER WORDS, NOT HAVE AS SUSTAINED OF A PEAK AS DELTA.

WE HAVE KNOWN THAT OTHER VARIANTS DEVELOP JUST BECAUSE WHEN YOU GIVE THE VIRUS ROOM TO SPREAD, IT INVARIABLY MUTATES, WHICH IS WHAT OMICRON IS.

IT'S A MUTATION.

OF THE SARS-COV-2.

I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO SAY THAT WE CAN EXPECT MORE MUTATIONS IN THE FUTURE AS LONG AS WE HAVE A BIG CONTINGENCY OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED.

IN KENTUCKY WE HAVE ABOUT 55, I THINK 54 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED.

20% PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THEIR BOOSTERS.

SO IT'S PREDICTABLE THAT THERE WILL BE MORE STRAINS.

NOW, WHETHER OR NOT EACH SUBSEQUENT STRAIN IS MILDER IS YET TO BE SEEN, BUT I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT AS LONG AS WE HAVE A BIG SWATH OF THE POPULATION ISN'T VACCINATE, THERE WILL BE STRAINS.

NOW, SOME PEOPLE STAY IT'S HEARTENING THAT OMICRON IS MILDER, WHICH I THINK YOU CAN MAKE THAT CASE.

HOWEVER, AGAIN, THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE TESTING POSITIVE IS GOING TO PUT A STRAIN ON HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING SOME HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN KENTUCKY RUN OUT OF SUPPLEMENTAL THERAPIES, NAMELY, MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS.

TODAY ST. CLAIRE REGIONAL MEDICAL SYSTEM IN MOORHEAD WHICH IS A REGION HOSPITAL IT.

SERVES A LOT OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR SUPPLY OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT IS COMPLETELY DECOMPLETED AND THEY HAVE HAD TO SUSPEND TAKING MORE APPOINTMENTS BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CANNOT OFFER IT, WHICH POSES A THREAT TO, AGAIN, PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO GET VERY SICK FROM COVID AS IT CONTINUES TO SPREAD.

>> Bill: DOES IT APPEAR THAT THIS IS SPREAD OUT FAIRLY EVENLY STATEWIDE OR DO WE HAVE POCKETS WHERE IT IS WORSE RIGHT NOW N. STATE?

>> Alex: IT SEEMS -- I MEAN 1 IT'S ALWAYS CONCENTRATED IN CITY CENTERS BECAUSE OF MORE PEOPLE, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S SPREAD PRETTY EVENLY.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE COMMUNITY SPREAD MAP, AND I BELIEVE THERE'S ON ONE COUNTY IN ORANGE.

EVERYWHERE ELSE IS IN RED.

I MEAN, IF WE HAD A POSITIVITY RATE 24.5%, THAT MEANS ROUGHLY ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR TESTS COMING BACK IS POSITIVE.

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY IT IS EVERYWHERE.

>> Bill: AS YOU SAID, WE CERTAINLY COULDN'T SEE THIS COMING, COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED IT A YEAR AGO, THE POSITIVITY RATE BEING THIS HIGH.

LAWRENCE, WE AGAIN ARE FACING SOME SCHOOL CLOSINGS.

SOME OF THAT'S WEATHER-RELATED, SOME OF IT IS COVID-RELATED.

PEOPLE ARE RETURNING TO REMOTE WORK IN SOME CASES, SOME EVENTS BEING CANCELED OR POSTPONED.

IS THIS LIFE RIGHT NOW FOR US?

>> Lawrence: WELL, THIS IS CERTAINLY ONCE AGAIN EXPOSED THE DIVIDE BETWEEN HOW PEOPLE WANT TO HANDLE THIS VIRUS, THOSE ON ONE SIDE WHO SAY WE NEED TO GO BACK TO NTI, KEEP THE KIDS SAFE.

THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE SAYING, NTI IN SOME WAYS IS WORSE THAN THE OMICRON VIRUS, SO LET'S LET IT RUN ITS COURSE.

SO THE THING IS THAT IF ENOUGH TEACHERS ARE GETTING SICK AND HAVING TO TAKE OFF EVEN FIVE DAYS, THERE'S ALREADY A STAFFING SHORTAGE, SCHOOLS MAY BE FORCED TO TAKE NTI DAYS WHETHER THEY WANT TO OR NOT.

>> Bill: WES, THE BOWLING GREEN AREA HAS BEEN HIT WITH SO MANY CHALLENGES HERE LATELY, TORNADOES A MONTH AGO, NOW ANOTHER COVID SURGE THERE.

HOW ARE PEOPLE WEATHERING THE CHALLENGES THAT KEEP BEING SENT AT THEM?

>> Wes: YEAH, IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT, OBVIOUSLY.

DEGENERES 11, THE DEADLIEST SINGLE DAY IN WARREN COUNTY HISTORY.

ULTIMATELY 17 PEOPLE DIED AFTER THREE TORNADOES TOUCHED DOWN.

OBVIOUSLY WE DO GET TORNADOES.

WHAT MADE IT ESPECIALLY RARE IS, OF COURSE, IT WAS DECEMBER, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR TORNADO, AND THE FACT THAT THEY HIT THE CITY CENTER, ONE OF THE MAIN DISTRICTS IN BOWLING GREEN DOWN, THE BYPASS WAS DEVASTATED, ARMING SECTIONS OF IT.

AGAIN, 17 DEAD.

ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS JUST WIPED OUT.

AND THEN JUST A WEEK AGO WE HAD IS ON THE TORNADO TOUCH DOWN WHICH FORTUNATELY NO DEATHS BUT A LOT MORE DESTRUCTION ON TOP OF IT, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST, AS YOU'VE HEARD, WE'RE NOT IMMUNE TO THE COVID SPIKE AS WELL.

SO IT'S BEEN A STRESSFUL MONTH OR SO FOR BOWLING GREEN RESIDENTS AS THEY CONTINUE TO TRY TO COPE WITH THE AFTERMATH OF DECEMBER 11th.

>> Bill: SO HOW IS THE RECOVERY EFFORT GOING?

AND ARE THERE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW TO PAY FOR THE WAY FORWARD THERE?

>> Wes: SURE.

WELL, OF COURSE, THERE WAS A LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATIONS FOR THE AREA, AND WHAT REALLY THAT DOES IS IT ALLOWS FEMA TO COME IN AND RECOUP, PAY SOME OF THE COSTS FOR THE CLEANUP EFFORT THAT'S ONGOING NOW.

BUT THAT EXPIRES AFTER 30 DAYS, SO LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THAT THEY CAN HAVE THAT EMERGENCY DECLARATION EXTENDED SO THAT'LLALEL ALLOW FOR MORE OF THE MONEY TO BE RECOUPED.

EITHER WAY ON ITS GOING TO COST MILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST FOR THE CLEANUP.

THE TOTAL PROPERTY DAMAGE IS STILL BEING ASSESSED, BUT THOUSANDS OF PROPERTIES IMPACTED IMPACTED, HUNDREDS, HUNDREDS DESTROYED, HOUSES, BUSINESSES.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S STILL BEING DETERMINED IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH DAMAGE THERE WAS.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE IN THE TENS OF MILLIONS, IF NOT HUNDREDS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND BEEN IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE RIGHT NOW THE CLEANUP IS STILL GOING ON.

A LOT REMAINS UNKNOWN.

>> Bill: RIGHT.

AND WHEN BEE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN THE MAYFIELD AREA AND DAWSON SPRINGS AND CERTAINLY THERE IN BOWLING GREEN AS WELL, DO YOU GET A SENSE THAT THIS IS HOME, AND PEOPLE WANT TO TRY TO REBUILD.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ACCOMPLISH THAT?

>> Wes: DEFINITELY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED, AND I KNOW IT'S TRUE OF OTHER AREAS AS WELL THAT WERE IMPACTED, BUT THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING TO THE POINT WITHIN A DAY OR TWO AFTER THE TORNADO THEY WERE ALREADY SAYING, WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE DONATIONS.

WE DON'T NEED MORE WATER.

WE DON'T NEED, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY ANY MATERIALS.

JUST GIVE MONETARY DONATIONS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE COST IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT KEEPS RISING.

BUT THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS, AND I THINK THAT'S GIVEN A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE WHEREWITHAL TO KEEP GOING.

BG STRONG IS SOMETHING YOU SEE TRENDING EVERYWHERE.

YOU SEE THE SIGNS EVERYWHERE, THE T-SHIRTS EVERYWHERE.

IT'S MADE EVERYONE I THINK AGAIN IT'S KIND HELPED WITH THE AFTERMATH, DEALING WITH IT, AND I THINK IT HAS HELPED THE RESOLVE OF THE COMMUNITY TO REBUILD AND COME BACK EVEN BETTER.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, AS THE LEGISLATURE WAS GETTING UNDERWAY WITH A HISTORIC SESSION BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING THE STATE BUDGET, THEY'RE DOING REDISTRICTING, THERE'S A LOT OF HEAVY LIFTING TO BE DONE IN THE WEEKS AHEAD, BUT THAT FIRST DAY OR SO THE TORNADOES WERE TALKED ABOUT A LOT, AND THERE'S ALSO SOME DUST-UP AGAIN ABOUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH COVID PROTOCOLS AMONG LAWMAKERS.

>> Lawrence: CORRECT.

THERE WERE COMMENTS ON BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE FLOOR ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, AND I THINK THERE WILL BE AN EFFORT TO DO SOME KIND OF RELIEF FOR THE STORM VICTIMS AND, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S A DUST-UP OVER COVID PROTOCOLS.

REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS MADE MASS -- NOT MANDATORY BUT OPTIONAL, WHILE DEMOCRATS SAY THEY DON'T LIKE THAT -- MASK MANDATORY, BUT OPTIONAL.

DURING HIS STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE, GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID THE LEGISLATURE WAS MAKING LIFE DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE AROUND THE CAPITOL.

SO THERE'S THAT DIVIDE OVER HOW TO HANDLE THIS, BUT RIGHT AS OF THIS MOMENT MASKS ARE NOT MANDATORY BUT OPTIONAL IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR DID TALK A LOT AND GOT A LOFTY APPLAUSE ABOUT THE COOPERATION THAT WE DID SEE AMONG EVERYBODY IN THOSE DAYS AND WEEKS RIGHT AFTER THE TORNADOES.

>> Lawrence: YES, HE DID.

IF THERE HAS BEEN ONE CONSENSUS, IT'S BEEN AROUND STORM RELIEF.

IN FACT, REPUBLICAN LEADERS ON BOTH SIDES, THE HOUSE AND SENATE, HAVE MET WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND NECESSITY SEEM TO BE THEY SEEM TO BE COMING TO SOME AGREEMENT ON WHAT TO DO.

IT'S A MATTER OF HOW MUCH AND IN WHAT FORM THAT RELIEF WILL TAKE, BUT THERE WILL LIKELY BE SOME KIND OF AGREEMENT ON STORM RELIEF.

>> Bill: ALSO ANY SPEECH THE GOVERNOR GAVE AP UPBEAT ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF KENTUCKY DURING THE COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS, AND WE GAVE SOME HINTS ABOUT WHAT HE WILL CALL FOR IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS NEXT WEEK.

>> I'M CONVINCED THAT OUR ROLE IN GOVERNMENT IS NOT TO MOVE A STATE RIGHT OR LEFT BUT TO MOVE IT FORWARD.

SO THIS YEAR AND IN THIS SESSION WE HAVE A DUTY AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE INVESTMENTS THAT CAN TURN TWO YEARS OF GREAT PROGRESS INTO 20 YEARS OF REAL PROSPERITY.

>> Bill: BUT THIS IS WHERE THINGS GET VERY INTERESTING, LAWRENCE.

BY WEEK'S END, IT WAS ALL TURNED UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS WENT AHEAD AND RELEASED THEIR OWN BUDGET PROPOSAL.

>> Lawrence: UPSIDE DOWN AND SIDEWAYS.

THE NORMAL PROTOCOL IS TO CRAFT A BUDGET, OR RELEASE A BUDGET AFTER THE GOVERNOR GIVES HIS BUDGET ADDRESS, BUT HOUSE REPUBLICANS TRUMPED THAT, AS HE TAPED THIS ON ANY, THEY RELEASED THEIR OWN VERSION OF THE BUDGET TODAY, SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS SET TO ANNOUNCE HIS BUDGET.

SO IT'S AN INTERESTING GAME HERE THEY'RE PLAYING OVER WHO -- WE KNOW THAT ULTIMATELY REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL PUT THEIR OWN STAMP ON THE BUDGET, BUT THEY'VE GONE SO FAR NOW AS TO SAY, YOUR BUDGET ADDRESS REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

>> Bill: SOME OF THE ELEMENTS INCLUDE A 6% RAISES FOR EMPLOYEES.

THERE ARE SOME OTHER ITEMS THAT WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT TODAY.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S RIGHT, RAISES FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, STATE POLICE, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, EDUCATION SPENDING, BOTH K THROUGH 12 AND POST-SECONDARY.

THEY'RE PUTTING A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND AND ALSO TAKING CARE OF THE PENSION ISSUE, FULLY FUNDING THE PENSION.

SO THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN THIS BUDGET THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE CALLED FOR AND HAS CALLED FOR OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

BUT NOW, EVEN IF HE CALLS FOR IT, REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE CAN SAY, WELL, THAT WAS OUR INDIA.

WE CAN TAKE CREDIT FOR IT.

THEY THEY REALLY TRUMPED HIM OVER HIS BUDGET SPEECH.

>> Bill: HIS ADMINISTRATION MADE IT CLEAR THEY DIDN'T LIKE IT A BIT.

PRECEDENT.

THERE WAS SOME REFERENCE THAT IT MAY BE ILLEGAL FOR THERE TO BE A BUT BUDGET BEFORE HE MAKES HIS RECOMMENDING FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH.

AND DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS LEADERS, JENKINS, ANGIE HATTON SAID IT'S BEYOND PET THAT I HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE FIVE-DAY FORECAST FILED AN EXECUTIVE BRANCH BUDGET WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH.

LATER IN THAT STATEMENT IT SAYS, WE MAY AS WELL WRAP UP THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION NOW BECAUSE ALL OF THE MAJOR DECISIONS APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN MADE.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S TRUE.

THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT THIS DEFINITELY BREAKS PROTOCOL, AND SENDS A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR THAT, FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, REPUBLICANS, THAT WE'RE THE ONES REALLY IN CONTROL HERE.

>> Bill: WHAT WAS INTERESTING A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE THAT HAPPENED, YOU HAD THE SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS AND THE SPEAKER DAVID OSBORNE ON KET SAYING THEY WANTED TO COLLABORATE.

THEY THOUGHT THINGS WERE BETTER DONE WHERE THERE WAS MORE COOPERATION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

LET'S SEE THAT.

>> WE HAVE SAID FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WE WOULD BE BETTER OFF IN A COLLABORATIVE NATURE, AND ONLY AFTER THE RECENT COURT DECISION BACK THIS YEAR HAS THE GOVERNOR REALLY STARTED TO REACH OUT.

>> I THINK THAT THE TIMES WHERE WE HAVE, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, SAT DOWN IN A COLLABORATIVE MANNER WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS STREETS, AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE STOOD READY TO DO THAT.

>> Bill: THE QUESTION NOW, WILL THERE STILL BE SOME COLLABORATION WITH THIS BUDGET.

DOES THE GOVERNOR -- WHAT DOES HE DO IN HIS SPEECH NO NEXT WEEK?

>> Lawrence: GOOD QUESTION.

WILL HE ALTER IT SOMEWHAT?

WILL HE ACKNOWLEDGE PROTOCOL HAS BEEN BROKEN?

WILL HE CRITICIZE WHAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BUT PUT IN THEIR BUDGET?

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS I INFLUENCES HIS SPEECH NEXT WEEK.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR SEES THIS AS A TIME TO INVEST.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE ACCUSED HIM OF WANTING TO GO ON A SPENDING SPREE.

HOW BIG IS THAT DIVIDE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND THE THE LEGISLATURE ON WHAT TO DO WITH STATE SPENDING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, GIVEN THAT WE HAVE A SURPLUS, GIVEN THAT THERE'S FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN FOR COVID RELIEF?

>> Wes: WELL, LIKE I SAID, WE OBVIOUSLY -- SOME OF THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO SAY IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS OR HOW HE'S GOING TO ALTER IT NOW THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE KIND OF JUMPED THE GUN, AS THEY WOULD PUT IT, IN TERMS OF PRESENTING THEIR BUDGET PRIORITIES.

I WOULD THINK THAT, AGAIN, A LOT OF THE PRIORITIES SEEM TO BE THE SAME IN TERMS OF RAISES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO, WBKO AGAIN, I THINK BOTH SIDES ARE PROBABLY LOOKING TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THINGS LIKE RAISES THE FOR TEACHERS AND WHATNOT AND MORE FUNDING FOR EDUCATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE DIVIDE IS MORE, IN TERMS OF HOW THIS WAS PRESENTED AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE SOME OF THE PRIORITIES.

>> Bill: WELL, WE'LL FOLLOW, AND IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING THE DAYS AHEAD ON THE BUDGET.

LAWRENCE, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN REDISTRICTING.

THE FILING DEADLINE WAS MOVED TO JANUARY 25th.

THE GOVERNOR DID SIGN THAT.

THAT IS NOW LAW.

SO CANDIDATES NOW KNOW -- WE'LL FIND OUT WHAT DISTRICT THEY LIVE IN.

WHAT SPIKES STRIKES YOU ABOUT THE MAPS?

AND I THINK WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE HERE.

>> Lawrence: WELL, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE MAPS THAT PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT ABDOMINAL THOUGH THERE ARE SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MAPS, BUT THE PROCESS PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THE HOUSE REVEALED ITS MAPS RIGHT BEFORE NEW YEAR'S.

THE SENATE DIDN'T REVEAL ITS MAP UNTIL THIS WEEK, JUST LITERALLY HOURS BEFORE THE FIRST VOTE.

SO SOME COMPLAINED ABOUT THE LACK OF PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS.

I ASKED SENATOR ROBERT STIVERS ABOUT THAT, SENATE PRESIDENT.

HE SAID, LISTEN, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

WE SOUGHT THEIR INPUT ON THESE MAPS.

I SAID, WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE PUBLIC?

THEY CAN'T SEE THIS.

THE SENATOR SAID, IT'S BEEN HIS EXPERIENCE THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THAT.

THEY JUST CARE ABOUT WHO THEIR REPRESENTATIVE IS GOING TO BE.

IT'S MOVING THROUGH ON A RARE SATURDAY SESSION AND APPROVED THIS.

BOTTOM LINE IS THIS: THE PARTY IN POWER ALWAYS GETS TO DRAW THE LINES, AND THEY'LL DRAW IT TO THEIR BENEFIT AS LONG AS IT MEETS LEGAL MUSTER, AND THAT IS THE THRESHOLD THEY SET HERE, IS THAT IS IT LEGAL?

IS IT CONSTITUTIONAL?

AND THEY'RE MOVING AHEAD.

>> Bill: AND THE POPULATION SHIFTS WERE CLEARLY FROM -- >> Lawrence: THE POPULATION SHIFT WAS FROM EASTERN AND WESTERN, MORE THAN FROM NORTHERN AND CENTRAL COUNTIES.

IT HAS MADE FOR SOME INTERESTING-LOOKING BOUNDARY LINES.

>> Bill: THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP WE'LL LOOK A HERE, THE PROPOSAL, AND LOUISVILLE IS LEFT ALONE, BASICALLY.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S AN INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE THERE'S SOME SPECULATION WHETHER THEY WOULD TRY TO DIVIDE AND CARVE OUT SOMETHING, A 3rd DISTRICT WHICH IS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT, BUT THEY PRETTY MUCH LEFT IT ALONE.

>> Bill: AND THE ATTENTION-GETTER MAY BE THE 1st DISTRICT THAT STRETCHES NOW FROM FULTON COUNTY IN THE WEST OVER TO -- COMES UP TO FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW WHERE CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER OWNS PROPERTY IN THE FRANKFORT AREA.

HE POINTS OUT THAT HE HAD ALREADY REPRESENTED OVER TO THE MIDDLE PART OF SOUTHERN KENTUCKY AND THAT THIS JUST TAKES IN SOME MORE TERRITORY.

>> Lawrence: AND THERE'S SPECULATION ABOUT ALL THIS, YOU KNOW.

CONGRESSMAN COMER DOES HAVE A SECOND HOME IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, AND THERE'S SPECULATION THIS WAS DONE TO HELP WIM WITH THIS.

OTHERS SAY, NO, IT WAS ACTUALLY DONE TO HELP REPRESENTATIVE ANDY BARR BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY A DEMOCRATIC COUNTY, FRANKLIN COUNTY FROM HIS DISTRICT AND GIVES HIM PERHAPS AN EASIER ROAD TO RE-ELECTION.

SO THERE'S BACK-AND-FORTH ON ALL SIDES ABOUT THIS.

>> Bill: WES, WHAT STRIKES YOU ABOUT THE LEGISLATIVE LINES IN THE BOWLING GREEN AREA?

I KNOW THAT BOWLING GREEN WAS SPLIT UP IN THE IN A COUPLE OF THE MAPS.

>> Wes: YEAH, THE 20th DISTRICT IN THE HOUSE HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT THE REPUBLICANS HAVE TARGETED FOR A WHILE.

IT WAS OBVIOUSLY THE SEAT OF JODI RICHARDS FOR FOUR DECADES, AND SO THEY PUT A LOT OF MONEY IN THE LAST FEW ELECTIONS AGAINST HIM, AND THEN THE CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE PATTI MINTER, AND THEY'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THAT SEAT, AND SO, OF COURSE, WHEN THE MAPS FIRST CAME OUT, THEY WERE VERY SPECIFIC IN TERMS OF HOW OUR PRECINCTS MIGHT BE DIVIDED, EVEN ON A STREET LEVEL.

THAT'S COME OUT NOW, AND THE CURRENT, AGAIN, STATE REPRESENTATIVE PATTI MINTER, A DEMOCRAT, CAME OUT VERY FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE MAP, NOTING HOW THE CITY OF BOWLING GREEN IS BASICALLY DIVIDED INTO THREE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS NOW, AS OPPOSED TO BEING GENERALLY IN ONE DISTRICT.

OBVIOUSLY, SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS VERY SPECIFICALLY TARGETED AGAINST HER AND A WAY FOR MAYBE THE HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO GAIN THAT SEAT FINALLY AFTER AGAIN DECADES AND DECADE, I THINK IT'S BEEN AT LEAST 60 OR 70 YEARS SINCE THERE WAS A REPUBLICAN IN THAT SEAT, IF EVER, SINCE IT'S BEEN DRAWN.

SO THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT SEEMS TO STAND OUT THE MOST, IS BOWLING GREEN HAS BEEN SUBDIVIDED INTO DISTRICTS WITH A LOT MORE RURAL AREAS.

YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT CERTAINLY A CASE CAN BE MADE THAT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE THERE MIGHT BE ZERO REPRESENTATIVES WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF BOWLING GREEN IN THE STATE HOUSE, WHICH IS PRETTY INTERESTING CONSIDERING IT'S THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: CERTAINLY.

ALEX, THE SENATE IS MOVING A BILL THAT WOULD GIVE SCHOOLS TEN ADDITIONAL NTI DAYS.

DO WE HAVE A SENSE IF THAT WILL BE ENOUGH IF THEY ARE FORCED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SPREAD OF COVID AND HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION BETWEEN WHETHER YOU CLOSE THE DOORS OR GO TO NTI OR TRY TO KEEP GOING?

>> Alex: I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS WHO WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, BUT I THINK GENERALLY IT'S RECEIVED SUPPORT.

KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARD'S ASSOCIATION CAME OUT AND CALLED AT A COMMON-SENSE BILL.

IT INCLUDES MORE FLEXIBILITY, I BELIEVE, THAN SORT OF LAST YEAR'S RURAL DISTRICTS, LIKE YOU SAID, WILL BE GIVEN TEN DAYS FOR EVERY SCHOOL BUILDING.

SO IF THERE IS A COVID OUTBREAK AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN A DISTRICT, THAT BUILDING WOULD HAVE SORT OF THE WHEREWITHAL TO SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE AN NTI DAY BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS TO.

I THINK ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES FACING DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW IN KENTUCKY IS A STAFF SHORTAGE, AND SO I THINK THE FLEXIBILITY IN THIS IS A GOOD THING, AT LEAST PEOPLE SEE IT THAT WAY, BUT AS FOR WHETHER IT WILL BE ENOUGH, I MEAN, WITH OMICRON SPREADING AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, IT IS SOME WOULD SAY INEVITABLE THAT EVERYBODY WILL EVENTUALLY GET IT TO A DEGREE.

IN CLOSE CLASSROOMS THAT A LOT OF DISTRICTS WHICH STILL HAVE MASK OPTIONAL POLICIES AND MANY DO NOT SEEM TO BE BUDGING ON THAT.

IF ANYTHING, THEY'RE DIGGING IN THEIR HEELS, ZWAI SOME DISTRICTS BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

BUT I THINK MANY ARE HAPPY WITH WHAT THAT BILL IS RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WES, QUICKLY.

SENATOR RAND PAUL ANNOUNCED HE'S QUITING YOUTUBE AND MOVING HIS VIDEO CONTENT ELSEWHERE JAWS HE IS BEGINNING HIS RE-ELECTION BID.

THE INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT THERE.

>> Wes: YEAH, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S BEEN KIND OF A -- WE'VE SEEN THIS FOR THE LAST YEAR, COUPLE YEARS, ACTUALLY WHERE A LOT OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA THE PLA FORMS IN TERMS OF DOING THICK LIKE FACT CHECKING AND WHATNOT IS TAKING DOWN CON DENT THAT THEY SEE AS FALSE, WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF PROMINENT REPUBLICANS KIND OF TAKING THEM ON SAYING THAT THEY'RE TAKING DOWN -- THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN THEIR VIEWPOINT, SO FORTH, SO YOU SEE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPENING WHERE RAND PAUL SAYS, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M JUST GOING TO FORGET YOUTUBE.

I'M JUST TO GO ON MY OWN AND KEEP DELIVERING MY MESSAGE IN OTHER I WAS.

>> Bill: AND CHARLES BOOKER, THE DEMOCRAT, LOOKING FOR EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO POKE AT PAUL, AND PAUL TAKES HIS OPPORTUNITY TO PEAK BACK, LAWRENCE, WE'RE SEEING EARLY.

>> Lawrence: PAUL MOSTLY IGNORES CHARLES UNLESS HE'S ASKED ABOUT HIM BECAUSE BOOKER IS IS THE CHALLENGER.

HE'S THE MORE RA AGGRESSIVE ONE.

>> Bill: YOU'RE TURNING THE PAGE IN YOUR LIFE AFTER A LONG AND VERY SUCCESSFUL CAREER IN BROADCAST TELEVISION NEWS.

WE HAVE A LITTLE PICTURE OR TWO HERE.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO PULL THEM UP.

>> Lawrence: OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> Bill: OVER THE YEARS.

WE HAD A LITTLE HELP WITH THIS.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

AND WHAT WILL YOU MISS?

>> Lawrence: I'M GOING TO BE THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR THE KENTUCKY BAPTIST CONVENTION.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO USE MY, I GUESS, 40-PLUS YEARS COMMUNICATION INTERNS TO TELL THE STORIES OF THE 2400 CHURCHES OF KENTUCKY BAPTIST CONVENTION AND HELP THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL, SO I'LL BE DOING THAT.

I'LL MISS DOING THIS SHOW.

I'LL MISS COVERING FRANKFORT EVERY DAY AND TELLING YOU STORIES OF WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE.

I'LL MISS MY COLLEAGUES AT WDRB, AN EXCELLENT STATION WITH EXCELLENT PEOPLE.

SO THERE'S A LOT THAT I'LL MISS.

BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD WHAT IS NEXT.

>> Bill: WE'LL NIS MISS UP.

YOU ARE A CLASS ACT.

>> Lawrence: AS ARE YOU.

I'VE APPRECIATED GETTING TO KNOW YOU.

>> Bill: WE HAVE APPRECIATED AND ALL THE EFFORTS YOU HAVE DONE FOR "COMMENT."

FORMER STET REPRESENTATIVE DARRYL OWENS DIED THIS WEEK.

HE WAS ELECTED TO THE JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT WHERE HE SERVED FOR 21 YEARS.

AFTER THAT HE WAS ELECTED TO THE KENTUCKY HOUSE IN 2005 WHERE HE CAME JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN.

DARRYL OWENS WAS 84.

AND THE KENTUCKY JOURNALISM COMMUNITY IS REMEMBERING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BETTY BAREMAN WHO WAS A PIONEER FOR WOMEN.

SHE WAS PUBLISHER OF THE WINCHESTER SUM WHERE IN TOTAL SHE WORKED FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS.

BERRIY MAN WAS ALSO THE FIRST WOMAN TO BEHIND THE KENTUCKY PRESS ASSOCIATION.

SHE WAS 92.

MONDAY ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" AN UPDATE ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S WORK, INCLUDING REDISTRICTING.