EASTERN KENTUCKY WHERE OFFICERS WERE KILLED AND OTHERS INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

A JUDGE PUTS KENTUCKY'S ABORTION TRIGGER LAW ON HOLD FOR NOW.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT MAKES A RULING ON EMISSIONS, WEAKENING THE EPA'S ABILITY TO REGULATE , AND SOME THINK IT COULD HELP COAL KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS APPEA THE VERGE OF OVERTAKING DEMOCRATS IN REGISTRATION.

JULY IS HERE.

WE'RE HEADING IN INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND, AND "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.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: RYLAND BARTON, MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

ALANA WATSON, REPORTER AND HOST FOR WKU PUBLIC RADIO.

AND JOE SONKA, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE ALSO TONIGHT, IS THERE A DEAL BETWEEN PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SENATOR MCCONNELL ON FEDERAL JU AND A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THESE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES THAT ARE FACING OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

WEAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.

WE BEGIN WITH THAT TRAGEDY IN FLOYD COUNTY, AB AN APPARENT DOMESTIC DISPUTE THAT ESCALATED WHEN POLICE ARRIVED.

RYLAND, THIS WAS A VERY TOUGH SCENE OH THURSDAY NIGHT GOING INTO FRIDAY.

>> Ryland: IT SOUNDS LIKE A COMPLETELY TERRIFYING SITUATION.

POLICE SHOWED UP TO A HOME IN RURAL FLOYD COUNTY TO SERVE AN EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDER IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, AND THE TRENT OF IS THIS HOUSE, LANCE STORZ, STARTED SHOOTING AT PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOWING UP BETWEEN POLICE AND THEN FIRST RESPONDERS WHO WERE THERE TO BACK HIM UP, BACK THEM UP.

THERE WERE WERE SOME REALLY TERRIFYING ANECDOTES FROM THE LOCAL OFFICERS DESCRIBING WHAT HAPPENED FIRST OFF, TWO OFFICERS DIED, AT LEAST FIVE OTHERS INJURED.

ALSO A K-9 KILLED IN THIS ALTERCATION.

THERE IS ONE SITUATION WHERE AN OFFICER WAS REPORTEDLY TRAPPED UNDER A CAR FOR HOURS AS THE SHOOTER CONTINUED TO SHOOT AT THE CAR AND HAD TO BE TREATED FOR CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AFTERWARDS.

AN INCREDIBLY VIOLENT, TERRIFYING SITUATION.

>> Bill: THE SUSPECT IS BEING HELD I THINK UNDER A $10 MILLION BOND AFTER A COURT APPEARANCE.

AND THE NEXT APPEARANCE WILL BE APPARENTLY A WEEK FROM MONDAY.

A LOT TO INVESTIGATE THERE, VERY COMPLICATED SCENE.

NOW TO THE SHIFTING LANDSCAPE OF KENTUCKY ABORTION RULES AFTER THE U.S. SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN ROE VERSUS WADE LAST WEEK AND WE DISCUSSED THAT ON LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM.

THIS WEEK A KENTUCKY JUDGE PUT THE STATE'S ALMOST TOTAL ABORTION BAN ON HOLD, AT LEAST FOR THE MOMENT.

ALANA, SO THIS RULING IS TEMPORARY AND IT IS BEING APPEALED BY THE KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> Alana: YES.

THAT IS CORRECT.

AS OF RIGHT NOW ABORTIONS HAVE RESUMED IN KENTUCKY.

THE TWO CLINICS THAT DO PERFORM ABORTIONS IN THE STATE, WHICH IS PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND EMW, WOMEN'S SURGICAL CENTERS, THEY RESUMED ABORTION PROCEDURES TODAY.

NOW, WHEN ROE VERSUS WADE WA OVERTURNED LAST FRIDAY, PLANNED PARENTHOOD SAID THAT THEY HAD TO CANCEL I THINK NEARLY 200 APPOINTMENTS, AND THOSE WERE JUST FOR ABORTION PROCEDURES.

NOW, THOSE TWO CLINICS ARE STILL DOING OTHER PROCEDURES OR OTHER -- PROVIDING OTHER SERVICES AS WELL, I SHOULD SAY, SO CONSULTATIONS FOR BIRTH CONTROL, PREGNANCY TESTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Bill: NOW, AS WE SAID, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS APPEALED THAT AND THIS IS, AT THIS POINT, ALL PARTIES ARE TO HAVE THEIR RESPONSES IN TO THE JUDGE WHO IS HEARING THAT ON THE APPEALS COURT AND THEN APPARENTLY SOME RULING WOULD BE MADE AND WE WOULD KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE TEMPORARY STAY BY MID-WEEK NEXT WEEK, RIGHT?

>> Alana: YES, BY WEDNESDAY, THAT IS CORRECT.

>> Bill: SO WE WILL BECOLOGY FOLLOWING THAT.

RYAN, THE ACLU WANTS THE COURT TO SAY THAT THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION NORTZ A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO ABORTION.

THE SAY THE -- SUPPORTS.

THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SAID IT EXPRESSLY DOES NOT OR IS NOT MENTIONED IN ANYWAY IN THE CONSTITUTION.

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

THIS IS IF I BIG SHIFT IN ALL OF THESE LUTZ IN FEDERAL COURT GOING UP THE LADDER TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT WHICH IS NO RENDERRERED THIS BACK TO THE STATES.

SO EMW AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD ARE SUING IN STATE COURT RIGHT NOW TO BASICALLY FIND THAT OUT.

THEY ARGUE THAT THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION DOES ENSURE ABORTION, THE RIGHT TO AN ABORTION.

THIS IS WHAT IT'S GOING TO HINGE ON AND IT'S GOING TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED LATER THIS FALL BECAUSE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT FOR EVERY KENTUCKY VOTER TO WEIGH IN ON, TO WEIGH IN ON LANGUAGE TO SAY THE LANGUAGE WOULD SAY THAT THERE'S NO GUARANTEED RIGHT TO AN ABORTION UNDER THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION.

SO A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THAT WOULD BE TO SAY THAT THERE'S NO RIGHT TO AN ABORTION IN KENTUCKY.

SO IF THAT PASSES, THEN A LAWSUIT LIKE THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE DIFFICULT TO TAKE PLACE.

BUT MONTHLY, THIS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> Bill: YOU MIGHT IMAGINE HAMMING, JOE REMEMBER THERE WOULD BE CAMPAIGNS ON BOTH SIDES REGARDING THAT AMENDMENT.

>> Joe Sonka: ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK PLANNED PARENTHOOD HAS BROUGHT -- CONTRIBUTED A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY ALREADY TO POLITICAL ISSUES COMMITTEE AND YOU HAVE RIGHT TO LIFE ALSO CONTRIBUTING A LOT OF MONEY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS ISSUE, SO I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF DADS THIS FALL ON THIS ISSUE, AND IT'S REALLY THE REVERSAL OF ROE VS. WADE HA BUMPED UP THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE.

BEFORE ROE VERSUS WADE, IT DIDN'T REALLY MAKE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE, BUT NOW THAT IT'S GONE THIS IS REALLY GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT BALLOT REFERENDUM.

>> Ryland: AND A NOTABLE STATEY SUPREME COURT RACE AS WELL.

THE AUTHOR OF THIS PARTICULAR AMENDMENT FORMER PRESENT JOE FISCHER WITH, MORE STILL CURRENT R REPRESENTATIVES JOE FISCHER YOUNG RUNG FOR SUPREME COURT AGAINST INCUMBENT MICHELLE KELLER, AND REALLY THIS IS ON THE PART OF OF THIS AND A INCREASINGLY KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT THAT WILL BECOME THE FINAL ARBITER OF SOME OF THESE DECISIONS.

>> Bill: HE HAS A GOING LOWING OUT OUT APPARENTLY SAYING THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN A NON-PARTISAN RACE.

>> Ryland: A NON-PAR IS AN RACE AND TYPICALLY A RACE PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO.

PEOPLE SHOULD ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO LOCAL RACES.

THIS IS THE TIMING THAT BECOMES SO OBVIOUS HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND HOW CONNECTED TO A PARTICULAR ISSUE IT IS.

>> JULIA: >> Joe Sonka: AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THE CASE IS GOING TO GET BUMPED UP TO THE SUPREME COURT TO ULTIMATELY BE DECIDED BUT THAT'LL BE BEFORE THE THAT ELECTION TAKES PLACE MOST LIKELY.

>> Bill: A LOT OF KENTUCKY LAW, THIS LAW PASSED IN 2019, SAID THAT PROVIDER WOULD FACE CHARGES AND NOT TO WOMAN WHO IS SEEKING AN ABORTION, RIGHT?

>> Alana: YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

AND WOMEN ARE CONSIDERING THEIR OPTIONS.

A LOT OF WHELM THAT I SPOKE WITH, THEY LOOK INTO TRAVELED TO OTHER STATES.

FOR KENTUCKY'S BOARDING STATES, TENNESSEE, MISSOURI, WEST VIRGINIA AND OHIO CURRENTLY HAVE BOORS BANS IN PLACE.

VIRGINIA, INDIANA AND ILLINOIS ARE THE THREE BORDERING STATES THAT DON'T HAVE ANY ABORTION BANS AS OF RIGHT NOW.

INDIANA IS GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TOWARDS THE END OF THIS MONTH WHERE IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THEY WILL PUT A BAN IN PLACE.

VIRGINIA, IT'S KIND OF UNCERTAIN WHAT LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO DO AS OF RIGHT NOW.

ILLINOIS IS KENTUCKY'S ONLY BORDERING STATE THAT ACTUALLY HAS ABORTION PROTECTIONS IN PLACE.

NOW, AGAIN IT'S ONLY PART OF THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL OUT OF STATE.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS.

SOME PEOPLE CAN'T TAKE OFF WORK.

AND SO ANOTHER PART OF THE CONVERSATION IS LOOKING INTO ABORTION PILLS.

I HEARD FROM MULTIPLE WOMEN WHO WERE SAYING THAT THEY MAY EVEN GO AHEAD AND TRY TO GET ABORTION PILLS EARLY, NOT EVEN BEING PREGNANT, JUST AS A PRECAUTION, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE ALSO JUST LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT FORMS OF BIRTH CONTROL.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING IUD DOLLARS, LOOKING INTO DIFFERENT BIRTH CONTROL PILLS, AND YOU HEARD ONE COUPLE EVEN SAY THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING TO HAVE A VASECTOMY.

>> Bill: SO A LOT OF CONSIDERATIONS.

THERE WAS ALSO A REPORT THAT SOME EM, SEEKING OTHER PROCEDURES.

>> Ryland: I BELIEVE ALEX ACQUISTO SAID A PARTICULAR PROVIDER HAD 91 REQUESTS FOR VASECTOMIES IN JUST THE FEW DAYS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT RULING LAST WEEK.

>> Bill: SO THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ABOUT WHO WILL AND WHO WON'T ENFORCE de 'S ABORTION LAWS, AND -- KENTUCKY'S ABORTION LAWS.

JOE, IS THERE DISABILITY LEFT UP TO THE LOCAL AND STATE POLICE TO DO INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS AND THEN PROSECUTORS TO BRING CASES BEFORE A GRAN JURIES?

>> Joe Sonka: I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE OF THE GRAY ISSUES AROUND THE LAW RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO DEPEND AT THIS POINT ON WHERE YOU LIVE IN KENTUCKY.

LOUISVILLE PROSECUTORS HAVE INDICATED THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ANY -- THEY DO NOT HAVE GREAT APPETITES TO SEEK OUT AND PROSECUTE PEOPLE RELATED TO THE ABORTION TRIGGER LAW IF THAT DAYS IN EFFECT AFTER THIS LAWSUIT.

BUT DAMON PRESTON, THE CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER IN KENTUCKY, SAYS THAT HE'S CONCERNED OR FEARS THAT THERE MIGHT BE SOME CREATIVITY PROSECUTION IN SO MANY PART OF THE STATE WHERE PROSECUTORS REALLY LOOK TO SEEK OUT PEOPLE TO PROSECUTE, MAYBE TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES AS A PROSECUTOR.

SO FOR THE TIME BEING, THAT GEOGRAPHY IS A BIG THING, AND I WOULD SAY LOOK FOR NEXT YEAR'S SESSION.

YOU MAY SEE BILLS TO OUTLAW CERTAIN TYPES OF CONTRACEPTION LIKES PLAN B.

YOU COULD SEE LEGISLATION GOING AFTER GROUPS THAT FUND PEOPLE, WOMEN TO GO OUT OF STATE.

>> Bill: I WAS GOING TO ASK IS THERE A CHANCE THEY MIGHT TRY TO OUTLAW THE TRIBAL.

>> Joe Sonka: THERE'S TALK ABOUT A MODEL LEGISLATION BEING FORMED NATIONALLY.

THE NATIONAL POST HAD A STORY ON THAT THIS WEEK.

SO THAT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE THAT YOU COULD SEE BILLS LIKE THAT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU MIGHT ALSO SEE A BILL THAT IS TRYING TO GET AN EXCEPTION TOIT RAPE AND INCEST TO THE TRIGGER LAW IF THAT'S STILL IN EFFECT.

SO A LOT OF -- THAT'S ONE OF THE GRAY AREAS OF THIS, ENFORCEMENT, AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING -- IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG ISSUE ON THE UPCOMING SESSION.

>> Bill: YOU SAID PROSECUTORS IN SOME CASES MIGHT BE VERY AGGRESSIVE WITH THIS IN SOME AREAS, BUT ALSO THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO WILL FIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE, SO YOU WILL HAVE LAWYERS APPARENTLY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW WHO ARE GEARING UP FOR THESE TRIALS THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE COMING.

>> Joe Sonka: RIGHT NOW YOU SEE IN OUR COURTS THE BATTLE OVER WHAT THE LAW IS GOING TO BE, WHETHER THIS TRIGGER LAW GOES INTO EFFECT OR WHETHERRITES GOING TO TO GO TO THE WAYSIDE.

SO YOU HAVE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THE ACU, YOU HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS FIGHTING OVER THAT RIGHT NOW, BUT THE FIGHT TO COME MIGHT BE THE FIGHT OVER THOSE CRIMINAL CASES AND PROSECUTION.

>> Bill: ALANA, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NEXT IN THE ABORTION BATTLE?

WE KNOW IMMEDIATELY NEXT WEEK WE HAVE WEDNESDAY WE MIGHT GET A RULING ON THE TEMPORARY LIFTING OF BAN AND WE'LL SEE.

BUT WHERE DOES IT SEEM TO BE GOING THE IN WEEKS AHEAD?

>> Alana: WELL, I CAN SAY THIS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE FIGHT.

AGAIN, ABORTIONS ARE TEMPORARILY ALLOWED IN KENTUCKY AS OF RIGHT NOW, SO PEOPLE ARE PUTTING STEPS IN PLACE TO REALLY PROTECT THEMSELVES, FIGURING OUT WHAT THEY WOULD NEED TO DO IF THEY ARE PROPORTIONATE THEY HAVE A PREGNANCY COMPLICATION, AND SO IT'S GOING TO BEING INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS PLAYS OUT IN THE COURT SYSTEM BUT WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS PEOPLE ARE PLANNING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR THEMSELVES, AND THEN ALSO HELPING THE WOMEN AROUND THEM THAT IN A MAY NEED SOME EXTRA SUPPORT.

>> Bill: WOULD THIS HAVE BEENNER LESS POLITICALLY EXPLOSIVE IF THERE HAD BEEN MORE EXCEPTIONS IN THE 2019 LAW PASSED IN KENTUCKY?

>> Ryland: IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE LOOKED LIKE UNDER THE POLITICS WE HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THIS REALLY CAME FROM REPUBLICANS RUNNING TO RIGHT OF EACH OTHER.

AND SO WE ENDED UP WITH THIS INCREDIBLY EXTREME VERSION OF A LOT OF ABORTION LAWS WHERE THERE'S AT THIS POINT IN KENTUCKY BASICALLY AN ABSOLUTIST BAN ON -- OR AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE AN SALUTEDDIST BAN ON ABORTION WHERE YOU CAN IMAGINE IF SOME REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE HAD PROPOSED SOMETHING THAT HAD SOME SORT OF EXCEPTION, THEY COULD HAVE GOTTEN PRIMARIED BY SOMEONE A WILL IT MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THEM BUT NOW AT THIS MOMENT WE ARE FINALLY WHERE PEOPLE HAVE TO GOVERN UNDER THESE RULES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED.

SO AS JOE WAS SAYING, I'LL VERY INTERESTED TO SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE DOES DO SOME THINGS TO KIND OF PASS SOME EXCEPTIONS TO REALIZE, OKAY, THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME PRETTY COMPELLING REASONS FOR WOMEN SEEKING ABORTION ACCESS, WHETHER IT'S CASES OF RAPE AND INCEST, WHICH WE TALKED ABOUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, OR CASES -- THE CASE OF THE HEALTH OF THE MOTHER, WHICH THERE IS THAT EXCEPTION UNDER THE TRIGGER LAW, BUT THEN THERE'S ALL THESE OTHER COMPLICATED PRESENTATION SITUATIONS WHICH AGAIN I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR MORE AND MORE OF THESE STORIES OVER THE COMING MONTHS AND YEARS AS THIS BATTLE CONTINUES, AND THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS BESIDES THE LAWSUITS IS THE POLITICS OF ALL OF THIS.

THESE -- THE ABSOLUTIST MODEL, THE TOTAL BANS ON ABORTION DON'T POLL WELL AT LEAST WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MAJORITY OF WOULD-BE VOTERS IT.

DOESN'T POLL WELL.

SO IT MITE NOT BE SOMETHING THAT SWEYS ANY PARTICULAR MOVEMENTS IN KENTUCKY, BUT I THINK WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NATION AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SAY, REPUBLICANS WINNING CONTROL OF THE SENATE OR CONGRESS AGAIN, THIS IS A -- THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MOMENT WHERE -- I DON'T KNOW -- THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WRANGLE WITH SOME OF THOSE ISSUES.

>> Joe Sonka: TO THIS POINT THIS PAST SECTION WHEN HOUSE BILL 3 PASSED IN THE SENATE THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT FOR RAPE AND INCEST IN THE TRIGGER LAW, AND THERE WERE ONLY TWO REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE TO VOTE FOR THAT AMENDMENT, JULIE RAQUE ADAMS, SENATOR GAVE GIVENS.

I TALKED TO SENATOR GIVENS THIS WEEK AND HE STANDS BEHIND THAT VOTE AND HE REALLY MOPES THAT REPUBLICANS TAKE A CLOSE LOOK A SUPPORTING A BILL THAT WOULD ADD THOSE EXCEPTIONS TO THE TRIGGER LAW.

>> Bill: THOSE ELECTED, KEEP IN MIND WITH HAVE BEEN ELECTED AND THEY MADE THESE POSITIONS CLEAR WHEN THEY WERE RUNNING, SO TO WHAT EXTENT DOES IT REREFLECT THE ELECTORATE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Ryland: YEAH, THAT'S FOR SURE.

THERE ARE -- THERE'S A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THESE KIND OF ANTI-ABORTION CANDIDATES AND THERE HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

HOWEVER, 31st KIND OF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW PEOPLE CAMPAIGN ON ABORTION AND WHAT ENDS UP GETTING LEGISLATED AND WHAT ENDS UP BEING PUT INTO LAW.

I THINK THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF A -- I DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A RESETTLING HAVE BEEN THAT WILL END UP LIKELY HAPPENING ON THIS ISSUE.

>> Joe Sonka: IN THE ROE WORLD A LOT OF THIS WAS IN THEORY.

NOW WE'RE GOING SEE IN IT PRACTICE WITH ROE VERSUS WADE OVERTURNED.

>> Bill: JOE, TO THAT WIND MIXED UP IN THE ISSUE, ANDREW WILSON WROTE A STORY THIS WEEK THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN MIGHT APPOINT A KENTUCKY ATTORNEY TO A FEDERAL JUDGESHIP IN EXCHANGE FOR KENTUCKY SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL ALLOWING OTHER NOMINEES FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN TO BE APPROVED AND ABORTION IS INVOLVED IN THAT.

>> Joe Sonka: IT'S DEEPLY TIED TO IT BECAUSE THIS IS RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF ROE VERSUS WAIVED.

DEMOCRATIC PRO-CHOICE PRESIDENT WHOSE INDICATED TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR, TO CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH THAT HE PLANTS TO A POINT CHAD MEREDITH WHO IS A VERY CONSERVATIVE ANTI-ABORTION REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY.

THE WHITE HOUSE INFORMED GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S OFFICE LAST THURSDAY THAT MEREDITH WOULD BE RECEIVING THIS NOMINATION.

THEY ALSO TOLD HIM IT WOULD BE THE NEXT DAY.

OF COURSE, THE NEXT MORNING THAT WAS WHEN THE DOBBS STATION DAME ON IT.

ROE VERSUS WADE IT WAS OVERTURNED.

BY THAT AFTERNOON CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH HAD GOT WORD AND GOT HIS THE WORD TO THE WHITE HOUSE THERE'S NO WAY THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND HE WOULDN'T LET IT HAPPEN.

FAST FORWARD THAT NOMINATION DID NOT HAPPEN AFTER YARMOUTH COMPLAINED ABOUT IT.

SO BREAKING EARLIER THIS WEEK YOU HAD GOVERNOR BESHEAR AT A PRESS CONFERENCE FINALLY ADDRESSING IT AND SAID, YES, WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THIS AND IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY INDEFENSIBLE FOR BIDEN TO DO THAT.

>> Bill: WE'LL HEAR FROM THE GOVERNOR ON THAT.

I THINK WE HAVE A CLIP OF THAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW THE PRESIDENT COULD SAY HE'S FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IF HE MAKES THIS MOM NATION AND I DON'T KNOW HOW OUR CURRENTLY ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID HE IS PRO-LAY ENFORCEMENT GIVEN THAT HE HIRED AND EMPLOYED THIS INDIVIDUAL AFTER THE PARDONS, INCLUDING AFTER ALL THE INFORMATION CAME OUT FOR SO LONG.

>> Bill: SO OBVIOUSLY FRACTURE AMONG KEY DEMOCRATS ON THIS.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

BESHEAR, CHARLES BOOKER HE USED THE WORD I CAN'T SAY ON KET TO DESCRIBE THIS POSITION.

DEMOCRATS ARE ALL ON IT AGAINST THIS, AND THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

BIDEN, THE QUESTION IS WHETHER THIS NOMINATION IS ON PAUSE.

HE HAD TOLD THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AND YARMOUTH THAT THIS WAS GOING FORWARD.

BESHEAR HOPES THAT HE'S RECONSIDERING NOW AND IT'S REALLY AN OPEN QUESTION AT THIS POINT.

>> Bill: IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS DISCUSSION THERE WAS NO OPENING.

NOW WE KNOW THERE WILL BE AND THAT U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE KAREN CALDWELL INTENDS TO TAKE SENIOR STATUS AND SHE'S HAD A LONG CAREER AS A JUDGE AND BEFORE THAT A U.S. ATTORNEY.

>>> R. >> Joe Sonka: YEAH, SHE WAS THE U.S. ATTORNEY.

A LITTLE KNOWN FACT, THREE DECADE AGO SHE ACTUALLY DATED MITCH McCONNELL SO THEY HAVE A LONG HISTORY GOING BACK A LOT FURTHER THAN JUST THIS, THIS MOVE.

MITCH McCONNELL IS REALLY BEHIND -- HAS HIS HANDS IN ALL OF THIS.

HIS LEGACY IS HE'S ALWAYS SAID IS STACKING THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY WITH CONSERVATIVE JUDGES.

IN THE TRUMP ERA WHEN REPUBLICANS OWNED THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEY HAD THE MAJORITY IN THE SENATE, THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED THAT HE WOULD ACTUALLY GO AROUND TO OLDER REPUBLICAN APPOINTED JUDGES AND SAY, HEY, HOW ABOUT YOU STEP ASIDE AND LET A YOUNGER PERSON IN?

THIS IS SCULPTURE AN ODD CASE TO GIVE A DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT AND THE DEMOCRAT IS CONTROLLING THE SENATE AND HE MIGHT BE PULLING OFF THE SAME THING.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS HE GETTING OUT OF THIS?

IS THIS A COUPLE OF PROSECUTORS IN KENTUCKY IN CHANGE ASSIGNOR A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT OR IS HE PROMISING TONS AND TOMS TONS OF JUDICIAL APPOINTEES THAT BIDEN HA HELD UP IN THE SENATE?

THAT'S WHAT WE DON'T KNOW RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: THE SUPREME COURT ROUND UP ITS DRAMATIC TERM BUT NOT BEFORE MAKING A RULE THAT LIMITS THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBATION AGENCY TO REGULATE EMISSIONS.

KENTUCKY'S MITCH McCONNELL SAID IN A STATEMENT ABOUT THAT THAT THE RULING ALSO PATIENCE BACK AGAINST THE OVERBEARING ADMINISTRATIVE STATE WHICH DEMOCRATS HAVE EXPANDED DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS.

THE CONSTITUTION SAYS CLEARLY THAT THE LAWMAKING PROCESS LIES WITH THE PEOPLE AND THEIR ELECTEDREs, NOT WITH OPAQUE FEDERAL AGENCIES.

RHODE ISLAND,-INCOME CHEERING THAT.

SOME SCIENTISTS CALL AT A GUT PUNCH IN THE EFFORT TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

SOME SAY IT COULD HELP BRING BACK COAL YOU.

SAY IT MATE NOT BE AB IMPACTFUL AS IT FIRST MIGHT APPEAR.

>> Ryland: IT'S CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO BRING BACK COAL, BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS IT'S A BIG BLOW TO HOW THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT REGULATION AIR EMISSIONS OR REGULATES POWER PLANTS.

INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO DO A WIDESPREAD BLANKET APPROACH TO WE NEED TO REDUCE THE CARBON BY X AMOUNT OF BY 2035, NOW IT HAB TOWS KIND OF A PIECEMEAL APPROACH WHERE YOU HAVE TO GO AFTER PARTICULARLY BAD ACTORS, PARTICULAR PLANTS, BUT THIS ALSO DOES KIND OF OPEN THE DOOR, TOO, FOR OTHER WAYS IN WHICH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REGULATES THINGS THINGS, WHETHER IT'S WORKERS WORKER SAFETY, MINE SAFETY.

THERE'S KIND OF A PARADE OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN ONCE A RULING LIKE THIS, NOW THE THAT SUPREME COURT HAS RULED IN THIS PARTICULAR WAY, AND SO, I MEAN, ON THE OTHER SIDE THINGS AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COAL, AGAIN, TALKING TO UTILITIES, THERE'S NOT A -- THERE'S NO RUSH TO ALL OF A SUDDEN COAL IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE FEASIBLE.

THE REASON THAT A LOT OF THESE PLANTS ARE, YOU KNOW, DRAWING DOWN THE AMOUNT OF COAL THEY'RE USING OR AT LEAST PLANNING TO IS BECAUSE IT IS SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE TO USE IN COMPARISON TO NATURAL GAS AS THESE UTILITIES ARE PLANNING OUT THEIR PORTFOLIOS FOR THE COMING DECADES.

COAL IS NECESSARILY A SMALLER AND SMALLER PART OF THAT.

HOWEVER, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WANTED TO BE ABLE TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A HAND IN EITHER DOING THAT MORE QUICKLY OR BEING ABLE TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN MORE EFFECTIVELY.

>> Bill: WITH THE DYNAMIC THAT THE ABORTION RULING AND NOW THIS ENVIRONMENTAL RULING AND OTHERS HAVE BROUGHT TO THE KEEN, DO YOU THINK KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS REGRET THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CANDIDATES TO EVEN MAKE A DENT IN THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> Ryland: I'M CERTAIN THERE'S A LOT OF MOMENTS LIKE THAT WHEN KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS FEEL THAT WAY.

CERTAINLY AFTER A MOMENT LIKE THIS, NI A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE 2016 ELECTION.

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO GET ANY NUMBER OF CONSERVATIVE JUSTICES ON THE SUPREME COURT.

YEAH, SURE.

CO DEMOCRATS, I THINK THERE'S A AFTER THE FILING DEADLINE WHEN THEY FIELDED SO FOUHY CANDIDATES IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT BEEN PERFORMING WELL IN A LOT OF RACES IN KENTUCKY AND IT CAN SEEM A LITTLE HOPELESS AT TIMES, BUT REPUBLICANS WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CURVE AS WELL FOR A LONG TIME IN KENTUCKY HISTORY AND REALLY WHAT THEY ENDED UP DOING WAS FIELD AGE WHOLE LOT OF CANDIDATES IN LEGISLATIVE RACES AND THEY ENDED UP STARTING TO WIN A FEW.

AND SO IT'S ALL GOT TO GO HAND IN HAND.

>> Bill: RECRUITED CANDIDATES FOR THE REPUBLICAN.

THE TREND LINE, REPUBLICAN REGISTRATION.

THEY'RE SEPARATED NOW.

DEMOCRATS OUTNUMBER REPUBLICANS 1/10 OF 1%.

IT LOOKS LIKE THOSE WILL CRISSCROSS VERY SOON.

>> Joe Sonka: THIS THAT IS WHAS A LONG TIME COMING AND I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THE NUMBERS SHOW REPUBLICANS HAVE FINALLY TAKEN OVER DEMOCRATS.

OF COURSE, IN SECTION DEMOCRATS USED TO VOTE FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE WIDE RACES AND THOSE CONGRESSIONAL RACES, BUT WHEN IT CAME TIME FOR LOCAL RACES, COUNTY RACES, RACES FOR THE STATE HOUSE, THEY WOULD VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS, AND INCREASINGLY OVER THE PAST DECADE THAT'S JUST NOT THE NAYSMORE, SO REPUBLICANS -- SO DEMOCRATS NOW -- ANYMORE.

SO DEMOCRATS, THE WHOLE GAME WAS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO SEE WHO WOULD WIN.

NOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE SO PEOPLE ARE FIGURING I MIGHT AS WELL CHANGE MY PARTY AND VOTE IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARY SINCE I'M GOING TO TO GET FOR A REPUBLICAN ANYWAY.

>> Bill: A COUPLE MORE ISSUES.

MAYOR JOHN, KENTUCKY IS IN A REAL WATER CRISIS RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO GOING FORWARD.

>> Alana: YEAH, IT'S REALLY AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.

A LEVEE FAILURE DEPLETED THEY CITY'S MAIN WATER SUPPLY, AND THE CITY IS NOW CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE WATER SHORTAGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF NON-PROFITS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW GETTING PEOPLE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE URGING CONSERVATION, LIMITING THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SHOWERING OR WASHING CLOTHES, WASHING YOUR CAR, WATERING YOUR PLANTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

ESPECIALLY DURING THIS CRITICAL TIME WHERE IT'S EXTREMELY HOT RIGHT NOW.

THE CITY OFFICIALS SAY THAT THERE IS -- THEY'RE LOOKING INTO LONG AND SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS, BUT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOT A CLEAR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

>> Bill: AND ALANA, WE RECENTLY PASSED THE SIX-MONTH POINT SINCE THOSE WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADOES AND WE HAD A LOT OF DISCUSSION HERE ABOUT MAYFIELD AND DAWSON SPRINGS AND SOME OF THE OTHER HARD HIT AREAS, BUT HOW ARE THING GOING IN BOWLING GREEN?

>> Alana: BOWLING GREEN, THE RECOVERY IS ONGOING.

THERE ARE MANY BUSINESSES AND HOMES THAT HAVE REBUILT.

BUSINESSES ARE OPENING BACK UP.

HOWEVER, EVEN MY DRIVE COMING INTO WORK, THERE ARE STILL HOMES WITH ROOFS CAVED IN AND THÈ THEY HAVEN'T BEEN WORKED ON AT ALL SO IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS.

ONE COMMUNITY THAT IS STILL STRUGGLING IN BOWLING GREEN IS OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF LANGUAGE BARRIERS AND CITY OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE THE AID THEY NEED BECAUSE OF THOSE LANGUAGE ISSUES.

THAT'S A BIG FOCUS, TO GET PEOPLE THE FINANCIAL HELP THEY NEED AND ALSO GET PEOPLE IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

>> Bill: JOE YOU GOT TO STRAIGHT THE PULITZER PRIZE WIN FROM 2021, RITE.

>> Joe Sonka: RIGHT, THEY INVITED ME, AND ANDY WILSON TO NEW YORK CITY.

WE PARDONED ON DEVIN'S PARDON AND IT WAS DEFINITELY A TEAM WESTER A BUNCH REPORTERS IN THE NEWSROOM AND IT WAS NICE TO BE RECOGNIZED.

>> Bill: CONGRATULATIONS.

FRANK SELVY HAD A STORIED BASKETBALL CAREER AT.

HE BENT ON TO PLAY AT FURMAN WHERE HE IS REMEMBERED FOR SCORING 100 POINTS IN A GAME IN 1954.

SELVY PLAYED NINE SEASONS IN THE NBA.

HE WAS A TWO-TIME ALL-STAR.

THIS WEEK IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT SELVY WHO WILL TURN 90 THIS YEAR, WILL BE ADDED TO NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME.

AND FLORIDA IS PREDICTING 660,000 KENTUCKIANS WILL BE TRAVELING OVER THIS FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

CAN SAFE WITH YOUR CELEBRATIONS.

THAT'S "COMMENT."

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.