[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY BORN ACTOR GEORGE CLOONEY CALLS FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO STEP ASIDE AS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AS REPUBLICANS GET SET FOR THEIR NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT GOES IN EFFECT MONDAY AND LOCAL OFFICIALS FACE DECISIONS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OUTLINES WHAT IT IS LOOKING FOR IN ITS PROBE OF KENTUCKY'S JUVENILE CORRECTIONS.

PARENTS SEEK A RESTRAINING ORDER TO STOP TRANSPORTATION CUTS BY JCPS THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL SYSTEM.

BERYL BLOWS BY AND HEAT RETURNS AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GNGS 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 SYLVIA GOODMAN, CAPITAL REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

JESS CLARK INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING AND BILL ESTEP FOR THE LATINXION HERALD LEADER.

TONIGHT FRANKFORT DISCUSSION ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

AND WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE MOVING TO EASTERN KENTUCKY FROM BIG CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

A LOT TO DISCUSS THIS EVENING.

KENTUCKY KEEPS FINDING ITSELF IN THE DIALOGUE ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC RACE FOR PRESIDENT IF THERE IS A SHAKE-UP.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR CONTINUES TO BE MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE ADDITION TO THE NATIONAL TICKET.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT AND THIS WEEK, KENTUCKY BORN MOVIE STAR GEORGE CLOONEY SAID PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD LEAVE THE RACE.

BILL, INTERESTING THAT KENTUCKIANS ARE IN THE HIGH STAKES CONVERSATIONS.

CLOONEY HELPED BIDEN RAISE A RECORD AMOUNT OF MONEY NOW SAYS THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BOW OUT.

>> KENTUCKY'S HAD WITH MITCH McCONNELL IN LEADERSHIP THEY HAVE HAD A PLACE IN NATIONAL POLITICS AND THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THAT.

CLOONEY DID HAVE A FUNDRAISER AND RAISED A TON OF MONEY AND CAME OUT AND SAID BIDEN OUGHT TO DROPOUT.

BIDEN'S PEOPLE SAID CLOONEY DID NOT STAY FOR THE WHOLE THING.

AND HE DIDN'T GET A GOOD PICTURE WHAT THE PRESIDENT WAS LIKE.

BIDEN SAID HE IS HANGING TOUGH AND STAYING IN THE RACE.

>> Bill: ASHLEY JUDD MAKING A STATEMENT TODAY AS WELL.

>> I THINK CLOONEY'S STATEMENT HAS MORE RELEVANCE THAN ASHLEY JUDD'S BECAUSE OF THE MONEY HIS ROLE IN RAISING MONEY FOR DEMOCRATIC CAUSES.

>> Bill: AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S NAME KEEPS COMING UP HE IS PLANNING A TRIP TO IOWA.

A GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE HE HAS SOME EYES ON 2028.

BUT COULD CIRCUMSTANCES BE CREATING A DIFFERENT TIMETABLE FOR HIM?

>> SURELY THEY COULD.

IF IN FACT THE PRESIDENT DROPS OUT AND THEY HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER NOMINEE THERE'S TALK ABOUT VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND BESHEAR AS A POTENTIAL VP CANDIDATE THERE'S LESS TALK ABOUT HIM BEING AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

BUT I MEAN, HE'S BEEN MAKING THESE MOVES AND THERE'S BEEN ATTENTION ON HIM.

A LOT OF NATIONAL MEDIA COVERED THE GOVERNOR'S RACE BECAUSE BESHEAR AS A DEMOCRAT WON IN A DEEP RED STATE.

RUNNING ON THE ISSUE OF ABORTION AND OTHERS.

THERE WAS ALREADY ATTENTION TO HIM AND THIS HAS BUILT ON THAT.

>> Bill: AUSTIN HORN DID A STORY WHICH BESHEAR WAS CAREFUL NOT TO DISCLAIM INTEREST IN NATIONAL POLITICS AND IS CAREFUL ABOUT INDICATING HE WANTS TO CONTINUE HIS JOB HERE IN KENTUCKY.

SO YOU REALLY HAVE TO WATCH THE WORDING CAREFULLY, RIGHT?

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

AND KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU WERE SAYING IT'S NOT OUT OF THE BLUE THAT HE HAS STARTED THROWING OUT NATIONAL FLAGS AFTER HE WON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE HE STARTED TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS.

BEFORE HE WOULD NOT COMMENT ON BIDEN AND TRUMP NOT DURING THE ELECTION.

AND AFTER HE STARTED MAKING COMMENTS AND THAT SPEAKS TO HE'S BUMPING UP HIS NATIONAL IMAGE HE IS STARTING TO WEIGH-IN A LITTLE BIT MORE IN NATIONAL POLITICS AND FLEX MUSCLES MORE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE KNOWS THAT ESPECIALLY 2024 IS NOT A GIVEN BY ANY MEANS LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BIDEN IS STAYING FIRM IN THE RACE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE WANTS TO KEEP OPTIONS OPEN WE'RE SEEING THAT WITH STATEMENTS.

HE SAID SOMETHING LIKE I LOVE MY JOB HERE IN KENTUCKY BUT IF AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP THAT I COULD SERVE KENTUCKIANS IN ANOTHER SPECIAL WAY, I WOULD BE OPEN TO IT.

SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THERE'S STILL SOME WIGGLE ROOM THERE.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, 2024 IS NOT A SURE THING BY MY MEANS BUT HIS EYES ARE STILL ON 2028 TO SOME EXTENT.

>> REMEMBER HE SETUP A PACT BEFORE ALL THIS CAME UP.

SETUP A PAC IN IT TOGETHER.

>> IN THIS TOGETHER.

>> YEAH.

AND HE HAS BEEN TO DC TO MEET WITH HIGH PROFILE FUNDRAISER HE IS MAKING THESE MOVES BEFORE THIS CAME TO A HEAD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE PRESIDENT BEING CALLED ON TO STEP DOWN.

>> Bill: HE IS OFF ON AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TRIP OVERSEAS RIGHT NOW.

WHICH IS KIND OF INTERESTING TIMING IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS DISCUSSION AND SPECULATION.

>> I GUESS THAT WAS SCHEDULED BEFORE THE BAD DEBATE PERFORMANCE BY BIDEN.

>> Bill: ALL THAT IS INTERESTING AND WE'LL KEEP WATCH.

AS THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IS SET TO KICKOFF NEXT WEEK IN MILWAUKEE.

KENTUCKY IS 46 G.O.P.

DELEGATES GOING.

THEY ARE PART OF THE CONVENTION THAT WILL NOMINATE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND UNITED FRONT IT APPEARS HEADING TO MILWAUKEE.

>> TRUMP'S BASE TRUMP HAS A FIRM BASE.

X PERCENTAGE THAT WILL VOTE FOR HIM DESPITE THE FACT HE IS A CONVICTED FELON.

ALL THOSE THINGS, HE SAID SOMETHING IN THE 2016 RACE BEING ABLE TO KILL SOMEBODY AND BE ELECTED HE HAS A BASE THAT IS GOING TO PROVE THAT TRUE.

>> Bill: AND CARRIED KENTUCKY IN '16 AND '20 AND HE IS STRONG IN KENTUCKY IN POLLING.

>> NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

>> Bill: WE GOT THE CONFIRMED LIST OF SPEAKERS FOR THE FANCY FARM PICNIC AUGUST 3 IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN AND THE STATE'S TWO HIGH PROFILE SENATORS McCONNELL AND PAUL ARE LISTED AS TENTATIVE.

DON'T READ A LOT IN THAT AND THEY CONFIRM AND CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER AND STATE-WIDE OFFICE HOLDERS ARE CONFIRMED.

THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SPEECHES.

AND JESS, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NOT A CANDIDATE BUT IT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

AND SCHOOL CHOICE IS GOING TO GET ITS OWN SET OF SPEECHES, REPRESENTATIVE STEVENSON AND SUSAN MILES ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THAT ISSUE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SUSAN MILES IS THE LAWMAKER THAT SPONSORED THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THIS IS THE AMENDMENT THAT WOULD CHANGE THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION AND ALLOW THE STATE TO FUND PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION OTHER KINDS OF PRIVATE, NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.

YEAH, THERE'S THE BATTLE LINES HAVE BEEN DRAWN FOR A WHILE ON THIS ISSUE.

STEVENSON IS ON THE OPPOSED TO AMENDMENT 2 AND I'M SURE WE CAN EXPECT HER TO STICK TO THE DEMOCRAT'S LINE WHICH IS THAT IT TAKES MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT WE HAVE.

IT WILL BE AN INTERESTING VENUE FOR MILES TO NAVIGATE BECAUSE MAYFIELD, I DON'T KNOW THAT THE FOLKS IN MAYFIELD HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THINGS LIKE VOUCHERS.

THERE IS NOT A LOT OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THAT AREA.

SO SHE WILL HAVE TO NAVIGATE CAREFULLY IN THOSE AS A RURAL COMMUNITY EVEN THOUGH IT IS MORE REPUBLICAN.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WHERE SCHOOL CHOICE DOESN'T ALWAYS NECESSARILY GAIN A LOT OF TRACTION.

>> Bill: AND WE REFER TO FANCY FARM IS THE KICKOFF TO THE FALL CAMPAIGNS IN KENTUCKY AT LEAST UNOFFICIALLY.

AND THIS REALLY LOOKS TO BE OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, THE BIG ISSUE STATE-WIDE ON THE BALLOT.

>> YOU'VE STARTED SEEING THE PUSH ON BOTH SIDES FOR THAT.

YES, IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH SELL IN RURAL COUNTIES WHERE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS THE BIGGEST EMPLOYER AND THAT'S WHY YOU SAW THE CAMPAIGN START IN ONE OF THOSE AREAS.

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST IT.

OUT OF THE HAZARD AREA AND IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH SELL IN THOSE AREAS.

>> Bill: THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT TAKES EFFECT ON MONDAY AND THAT IS A COMPREHENSIVE BILL THAT INCLUDES THREE STRIKES RULE FOR VIOLENT FELONIES.

AND MOST CONTROVERSIAL PLANK MAYBE THE PART THAT MAKES SLEEPING IN MOST PUBLIC PLACES ILLEGAL.

AND COMMUNITIES ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ENFORCE THE RULE.

LEXINGTON'S POLICE CHIEF SAID THAT POLICE WILL TRY TO AVOID ARRESTING THE HOMELESS.

>> IF EVERYBODY THINKS WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE THIS ONE WAY THEY ARE MISTAKEN.

WE'VE HAD UNHOUSED PEOPLE HERE PRIOR TO THIS BILL AND PRIOR TO THIS LAW BEING PASSED.

AND WE'VE ALWAYS DEALT WITH IT IN A COMPASSIONATE WAY AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> Bill: THERE IS A MECHANISM THAT SAYS LOCALITIES CANNOT IGNORE THE NEW LAW THAT IS GOING INTO EFFECT BUT IT APPEARS MOST CITIES DO NOT INTEND TO ROUNDUP THOSE WHO HAVE NOWHERE TO GO.

>> THE CITIES WE'VE HEARD FROM SAID THEY DON'T INTEND TO CHANGE HOW THEY HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH HOMELESS POPULATIONS.

THEY TEND TO STAY THE COURSE.

LIKE YOU MENTIONED THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF THIS BILL THAT SAYS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS THE RIGHT TO ENFORCE IT.

HAS THE RIGHT TO FORCE CITIES THROUGH THE COURTS TO ENFORCE WHATEVER THE LAWMAKERS INTENDED.

AND I'VE SPOKEN WITH INTEREST GROUPS THAT PUSHED THIS LEGISLATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN EXAMPLES WHERE CITIES SAID I KNOW THE STATE WANTS THIS BUT THIS DOES NOT FIT IN HOW WE WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD THAT FROM ANY CITIES.

I WOULD NOT SAY WHAT THEY'VE SAID GOES TO THAT EXTENT.

SOME ADVOCATES SAY THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LOUISVILLE WITH HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT CLEARINGS AND CITATIONS OF HOMELESS PEOPLE IT ALREADY DOES THE SAME THING IS HOUSE BILL 5.

I'VE HEARD THAT ARGUMENT FROM ADVOCATES.

IT HAS TO DO WITH HOW MUCH APPETITE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REALLY HAS IF HE FEELS IF RUSSELL COLEMAN FEELS THIS BILL IS NOT BEING FAITHFULLY CARRIED OUT IT DEPENDS.

I WAS THINKING EARLIER I WOULD IMAGINE IT'S DIFFICULT TO PROVE IN COURT THAT CITIES AREN'T ENFORCING THIS PART OF THE BILL THAT THEY ARE NOT CHARGING PEOPLE ENOUGH OR WHAT HAVE YOU UNLESS THERE IS A POLICY ON THE BOOKS WHICH WE HAVE NOT SEEN NOT YET.

>> Bill: AND THE CITIES NOW ARE LED TO FIND SOME WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

AND THEY ARE LEANING ON CHURCHES AND PRIVATE GROUPS AND SO ON.

BUT THERE JUST IS NOT A THE LOW OF DIRECT MONEY TO DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE.

>> THERE DEFINITELY IS NOT.

WE HEAR THAT CONSTANTLY.

AT LEAST ADVOCACY GROUPS FEEL THEIR APPROACHES ARE WORKING THE PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THEIR PROGRAMS THEY ARE BENEFITING BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HELP EVERYBODY.

THIS ISSUE HOMELESSNESS HAS GROWN SINCE THE PANDEMIC.

THE NUMBERS ARE HARD TO PIN DOWN.

BUT IT IS AN INCREASING ISSUE AND BECOMING INCREASINGLY VISIBLE AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A LOT OF APPETITE FOR SOLUTIONS.

BUT LIKE YOU SAID A LOT OF ONUS IS ON PRIVATE GROUPS.

AND THE WAY THEY HANDLE IT IS VERY DIFFERENT.

AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

AND I JUST DO WONDER IS THERE PART OF THIS BILL IS THIS IDEA THAT IF YOU ARE HOMELESS ON THE STREET THAT YOU NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE TO GO.

THAT YOU CAN'T BE THERE YOU NEED TO FIND SOMEWHERE AND MOVE ALONG.

AND WHERE THEY OFTEN ARE EXPECTED TO GO IS PRIVATE SHELTERS THAT DON'T ALWAYS HAVE ROOM.

WHAT IS THE PUBLIC ROLE IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE DON'T GET ARRESTED FOR SOMETHING THEY DON'T HAVE CONTROL OVER.

>> Bill: AND SOMERSET IS STARTING AN EFFORT TO DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS AFTER HAVING LOST A SHELTER.

>> IT CLOSED AND LOST ACCESS TO THEIR BUILDING.

BUT THERE ARE GROUPS THAT STEPPED UP.

ONE GROUP THAT IS WORKING ON SHELTER FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND OTHERS ARE TRYING TO PICK UP THAT ISSUE AND MAKE A PLACE FOR FOLKS TO GO.

>> Bill: INCREASINGLY AN ISSUE IN COMMUNITIES OF ALL SIZES.

>> YOU USED TO THINK OF HOMELESSNESS AS AN URBAN PROBLEM.

THERE IS A LOT MORE I'M TOLD THERE'S MORE HOMELESSNESS IN RURAL AREAS NOW.

I I'VE TALKED TO FOOD PANTRY OPERATORS WHO SAY THEY ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE TO GET FOOD.

>> Bill: AND THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TRACKS STUDENTS WHO ARE HOMELESS THAT HAS TO BE A TERRIBLE BARRIER TO EDUCATION, RIGHT?

>> IT'S VERY HARD TO FOCUS ON SCHOOL WORK WHEN YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT.

WHERE YOUR NEXT MEAL IS GOING TO COME FROM.

THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TRACKS THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS STUDENTS.

LAST YEAR I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND OVER 20,000 KENTUCKY STUDENTS WERE HOMELESS.

AND LIKE BILL WAS SAYING THEY ARE NOT JUST IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THEY ARE SPREAD OUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THERE'S HOMELESS STUDENTS IN ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND THAT 20,000 IS LIKELY AN UNDER COUNT.

THERE WERE ACTUALLY MORE HOMELESS STUDENTS COUNTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WE KNOW THAT HOMELESSNESS HAS INCREASED SINCE THEN SO THERE'S LIKELY A LOT MORE STUDENTS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE EYES ON.

>> Bill: SO MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR THE STATE.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAID OUT ITS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK WITH ITS PROBE OF KENTUCKY'S JUVENILE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM.

AND STATE AUDITOR BALL TALKEDDED WITH ME ABOUT SEVERAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE FINDINGS IN HER AUDIT THAT PARTIALLY PROMPTED THIS DOJ PROBE.

>> SO THESE ARE KIDS USUALLY AWAITING TRIAL AGES 13 TO 17 FOR THE MOST PART.

AND EXCESSIVE USE-OF-FORCE AGAINST THESE CHILDREN.

LOTS OF USE OF PEPPER SPRAY, IT WAS ALMOST 74 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF PEPPER SPRAY USED ON ADULTS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

EXCESSIVE AND ABUSIVE USE OF PEPPER SPRAY.

EXCESSIVE USE OF PUTTING CHILDREN IN ISOLATION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED TO DEESCALATE PROBLEMS AND ALSO USED AS PUNISHMENT.

>> Bill: A LOT OF EYES ON THIS ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

THE DOJ INDICATED IT WANTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT CAN IMPROVE THE SITUATION IN KENTUCKY WITH ITS MAJOR PROBLEMS.

>> JOHN HAS DONE A LOT OF REPORTING ON THIS.

THERE WAS A CONFERENCE CALL WITH DOJ OFFICIALS AND PARENTS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THE ISSUE AND SAID IT COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR AND THEY KIND OF CAUTIONED THE PARENTS TO BE PATIENT IT MAY LOOK LIKE THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING AS THEY ARE GATHERING RECORDS BUT THEY WERE MAKING PROGRESS.

THE GOAL THEY ARE INVESTIGATING CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS LIKE THE AUDITOR TALKED ABOUT.

AND ULTIMATELY IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW IT TURNS OUT.

WHETHER THEY COME UP WITH A CONSENT DECREE, WHETHER THE STATE DEGREES.

THEY DID SAY THE STATE IS COOPERATING WITH THEIR WORK SO FAR.

SO THERE COULD BE A CONSENT DECREE.

HERE IS HOW WE CAN FIX THIS.

THERE COULD BE A LAWSUIT.

THERE ARE POTENTIAL DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.

>> Bill: OFTEN THE BLAME GAME IN FRANKFORT BUT IT SEEMS TO BE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH KNOW THERE'S WORK TO BE DONE.

>> THERE'S BLAME GAME GOING AROUND IT'S WORTH NOTING THERE IS A NEW COMMISSIONER I THINK HE HAS BEEN ON FOR A COUPLE MONTHS.

RANDY WHITE.

SO I THINK THAT WITH THAT NEW LEADERSHIP THERE'S THE IDEA THAT IT'S NOT HIS FAULT WHAT'S HAPPENED.

HE DEFINITELY HAS A LOT TO THAT HE WANTS TO MAKEUP GROUND.

AND THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT THIS DOJ INVESTIGATION COULD HELP.

I THINK THAT IS ALSO PART OF IT THAT NEW LEADERSHIP ELEMENT.

>> Bill: SUMMER IS MOVING ALONG.

SCHOOLS ARE GETTING READY FOR THE NEW YEAR.

IT WON'T BELONG.

THE STATE'S LARGEST SYSTEM IS JEFFERSON COUNTY WHERE THE CHALLENGES ARE BIG.

JESS, THERE'S RECENT DATA ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR THE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION AND NOW THERE IS A REQUEST BY PARENTS FOR A RESTRAINING ORDER.

>> RIGHT.

SO THESE ARE THE PARENTS THAT FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DISTRICT EARLIER THIS MONTH.

ACTUALLY IN JUNE.

OVER THE CUTS TO MAGNET TRANSPORTATION.

AND NOW THEY'VE ASKED THE JUDGE TO BLOCK THE DISTRICT FROM IMPLEMENTING THOSE CUTS THAT THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ENACTING AHEAD OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> Bill: AND THE DATA THAT YOU LOOKED INTO, DOES INDICATE THAT SOME THERE ARE SOME GROUPS AT RISK?

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT IS THE ARGUMENT THESE PARENTS HAVE BEEN MAKING IS THAT THE CUTS ARE DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST STUDENTS OF COLOR AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS BECAUSE STUDENTS WHO DONTSD'S HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET TO MAGNET SCHOOLS ON THEIR OWN WILL BE THE MOST IMPACTED BECAUSE OF THE WAY OUR SOCIOECONOMIC LANDSCAPE IS THAT IS STUDENTS OF COLOR.

AND SOMETHING THAT COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN WARNING SINCE WE STARTED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CUTTING MAGNET TRANSPORTATION.

I GOT DATA BACK FROM JCPS SHOWING ALL THE ABOUT A THOUSAND STUDENTS WHO ARE ALREADY SAYING I HAVE TO LEAVE MY SCHOOL AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR.

AND THE DATA SHOWS WHAT COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN WARNING THAT THE IMPACT IS FALLING MOST HEAVILY ON STUDENTS OF COLOR, BLACK STUDENTS AND LOW INCOME STUDENTS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE TO LEAVE THEIR SCHOOL.

>> Bill: THIS IS JUST AN OVERALL SHORTAGE OF BUS DRIVERS AND THE ABILITY OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO GET STUDENTS TO THEIR SCHOOLS.

>> RIGHT.

THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS THE MONEY TO HIRE MORE BUS DRIVERS TO DRIVE KIDS TO SCHOOL BUT THEY CANNOT HIRE ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS.

I THINK FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO THEY HAD A THOUSAND BUS DRIVERS AND A THOUSAND ROUTES.

RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE LIKE 570 SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND SO THEY HAVE ABOUT HALF THE DRIVERS THAT THEY HAD 10 YEARS AGO OR LESS THAN 10 YEARS AGO AND TRYING TO TRANSPORT THE SAME NUMBER OF STUDENTS.

>> Bill: THE COMMITTEE CREATED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF JCPS IS READY TO BEGIN ITS WORK NEXT WEEK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

MONDAY THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE DISTRICT GOVERNANCE TASK FORCE WILL MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THIS IS THE TASK FORCE THAT WAS CONTROVERSIAL DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

IT WAS FORMED BY REPUBLICANS STATE LAWMAKERS WHO SAY LOOK AT IN LIGHT OF THE JCPS' RECENT STRUGGLES WITH TRANSPORTATION, THIS IS THE TIME TO DO SOMETHING TO LOOK UNDER THE HOOD TO MAYBE MAKE CHANGES TO JCPS AND MAYBE CHANGE THE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE.

DEMOCRATS AND OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THIS TASK FORCE ARE WORRIED THAT IT MIGHT BE USED AS A WAY TO BREAK UP JCPS SOMETHING THAT SOME REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY SAID PUBLICLY THAT THEY WOULD SUPPORT.

SO, YEAH, THAT TASK FORCE IS GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF EYES ON IT THEY BEGIN THEIR WORK MONDAY AND THERE ARE ALREADY CONCERNS ABOUT TRANSPARENCY.

>> Bill: WELL, IS THERE ANYTHING WHY IS THAT?

>> WELL, SO THE TASK FORCE HAS FOUR CITIZEN MEMBERS.

THEY SELECTED THOSE FROM A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED BY LAWMAKERS TO BE PUT ON THE TASK FORCE.

ABOUT 40 PEOPLE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS.

FOUR PEOPLE WERE CHOSEN.

BUT LAWMAKERS WILL NOT TURNOVER THE NAMES OR THE APPLICATION MATERIALS OF EVERYONE.

AND.

>> Bill: IS A REASON GIVEN?

>> NO -- THE REASON SO KYCAR ASKED FOR THE MATERIALS AND THE LRC SAYS WE'RE CONSIDERING THEM LIKE JOB APPLICATIONS SO YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO THOSE MATERIALS.

SO IT'S JUST GIVEN SOME PAUSE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED THAT LAWMAKERS MAY BE TRYING TO STACK THE COMMITTEE AND IF WE KNEW WHO ELSE WANTED TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE WE MAY HAVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KIND OF THE APPLICANT POOL.

>> Bill: A LOT TO WATCH ON THAT.

KENTUCKY STATE AUDITOR BALL SENT A DEMAND LETTER TO THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AND SAYS THE CABINET FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IS WITHHOLDING INFORMATION THAT SHE NEEDS THAT COMES AFTER LEGISLATION MOVED THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILD ENFORCEMENT CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND TO HER OFFICE, RIGHT?

>> SURE.

IT MOVED THIS ENTIRE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE TO THE AUDITOR.

THEY DO OVERSIGHT INVESTIGATIONS OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THE CABINET DOES AND THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES DOES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOSTER CARE, LIKE YOU SAID, CHILD PROTECTION ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY TAKE CARE OF.

AND THEY SPECIFICALLY WANT ACCESS TO THIS SYSTEM THAT HAS THE DATA THEY NEED.

BESHEAR HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

AND YOU KNOW BESHEAR SAID IT HAS TO DO WITH STATUTE THERE IS A LIMIT STATION ON HIS ABILITY TO SHARE THAT ACCESS.

IT IS KIND OF THIS CONTEST BETWEEN THE TWO.

WE'LL SEE IF IT GETS RESOLVED.

>> Bill: SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE THIS WEEK IN FRANKFORT I'M NOT SURE ANYTHING WAS RESOLVED THERE ARE CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS.

>> IT IS A TASK FORCE SO IT'S JUST THE FIRST MEETING THEY ARE LAYING OUT THE FRAMEWORK.

BUT THERE IS A LOT OF ANXIETY PERHAPS RIGHTFULLY SO AROUND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND IF THERE ARE ANY BUMPERS AROUND IT KEEPING IT SOMEWHAT REGULATED.

AND NATIONALLY THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE MOVEMENT ON THAT FRONT.

SO I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF ANXIETY ON THE STATE LEVEL TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT HAPPENS HERE OR IF THEY COME TO CONCLUSIONS IN THE TASK FORCE WE ARE HAVING THE BEGINNINGS OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

>> Bill: BILL A NEW FEDERAL PRISON APPEARS CLOSER TO REALITY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> YEAH, THE BUREAU OF PRISONS ISSUED THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT WHICH CLEARED IT TO BE BUILT.

AND IT STARTS THERE IS A COMMENT PERIOD THAT STARTS TODAY.

THERE IS A LOCAL GROUP PUSHING FOR THIS FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW AS A WAY TO TRY TO BOOST THE ECONOMY BUT THERE'S OPPOSITION WITH FOLKS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND FOLKS OPPOSED TO THE HIGH INCARCERATION RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

THE NEXT THE FINAL STEP WOULD BE A DECISION BY THE BUREAU OF PRISONS.

>> Bill: YOU DID A FASCINATING STORY HOW NEW RESIDENTS ARE BEING LURED TO EASTERN KENTUCKY AND COMING FROM CITIES TAMPA AND NEW YORK AND PLACES.

>> WE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING FROM PLACES OF HIGHER TAXES, HIGHER HOUSING COSTS, CONCERNS ABOUT CRIME AND TRAFFIC TRYING TO GET TO PLACES WITH MORELLE BOW ROOM.

LOWER HOUSING COSTS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE COMING FROM CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, NEW YORK, ALL OVER AND BUYING.

I TALKED TO TWO REALTORS WHO SAID PEOPLE ARE BUYS HOUSES SIGHT UNSEEN THEY SEE A PICTURE ON THE INTERNET A GUY BOUGHT A $700,000 HOME IN PIKE COUNTY AND NEVER SEEN IT.

>> THAT WOULD BE NICE.

>> Bill: I'M SURE IT IS.

BILL, A LAWSUIT OVER A FACEBOOK POST BROUGHT BY LONDON MAYOR WAS DISMISSED THIS WEEK?

>> AN INTERESTING LAWSUIT BECAUSE YOU DON'T IN THIS AGE THERE IS A LOT OF YOU CAN GO ON FACEBOOK AND CRITICIZE YOUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

USUALLY THEY MAKE A COMMENT BACK ON FACEBOOK OR SAY SOMETHING AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING BUT RANDALL SUED THREE PEOPLE OVER FACEBOOK COMMENTS ONE COMMENTER CALLED HIM A COMMUNIST AND SO IT WAS DISMISSED THIS WEEK AND ONE OF THE THINGS THE JUDGE CITED WAS THERE IS AN ANTI-SLAP STRATEGIC LAWSUIT AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW TO DISCOURAGE THOSE KINDS OF LAWSUITS.

HE USED THAT AS PART OF THE REASONING FOR DISMISSING IT.

>> Bill: STATE POLICE MADE A STATE-WIDE DRUG BUST MORE THAN 206 ARRESTS FOLLOWING A THREE-MONTH INVESTIGATION $700,000 WORTH OF DRUGS SEIZED A MAJOR CRACKDOWN THERE.

AND SPORTS BETTING HAS EXCEEDED PROJECTIONS FOR TAX REVENUE.

>> YES, IT'S BECOME QUITE THE CASH COW.

WE'RE SEEING THIS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND YOU KNOW IT JUST ALWAYS THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES THE MONEY END UP GOING.

THE INTENTION WAS TO HELP PAY DOWN PENSIONS WE'LL SEE AS WE GET MORE AND MORE CASH.

>> Bill: AND BILL THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSES ARE BEING APPLIED FOR AND WE'RE WATCHING THAT.

>> THERE'S DEBATE SOME PLACES ARE CONSIDERING NOT ALLOWING DISPENSARIES IN THEIR JURISDICTION.

THEY HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AND I THINK THE HARLAN CITY COUNCIL DISCUSS TO DO THIS WEEK, TOO.

THERE WILL BE SOME DEVELOPMENTS GOING FORWARD IN TERMS OF WHERE THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO SETUP.

>> Bill: SOME CITY ALSO HOLD ELECTIONS FLORENCE IN CLARK COUNTY AND OTHER PLACES.

ALL RIGHT BELL MARK WILL BUILD A PACKAGING PLANT AND INVEST $99 MILLION FOR A PLANT IN ALLEN COUNTY.

THE GOVERNOR CALL TO DO A THRILLING ANNOUNCEMENT.

CONSTRUCTION IS SUPPOSED TO BEGIN NEXT SUMMER.

IT'S EXPECTED TO CREATE 160 NEW JOBS.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.