[♪♪] >> Bill: IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR DANIEL CAMERON ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN INCLUDING TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR DRUG DEALERS AND THOSE WHO KILL POLICE OFFICERS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S AD FEATURES A REPUBLICAN WHAT SAID HE DID NOT VOTE FOR BESHEAR IN 2019 BUT WILL THIS TIME.

THE RULES AND TIME-FRAMES ARE SET FOR SPORTS BETTING IN KENTUCKY.

A NEW RULING MEANS PART OF THE CONTROVERSIAL ANTI-TRANS LAW IS NOW IN EFFECT IN KENTUCKY.

HEADING INTO A STEAMY MIDSUMMER WEEKEND, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO COMMENT "T ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AND ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS AND OUR GUESTS ON THE PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS ARE AUSTIN HORN POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

SARAH LADD, HEALTH AND POLICY REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AND RYLAND BARTON MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

TONIGHT, THE █UNIVERSITY O KENTUCKY PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN A NEWLY APPROVED TREATMENT FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT LET'S START WITH BREAKING NEWS.

A FEDERAL JUDGE IS ALLOWING KENTUCKY BAN ON SOME FORMS OF MEDICAL CARE FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH TO TAKE EFFECT.

SARAH THIS RULING TAKES AWAY THE BLOCK ON PORTIONS OF THE CONTROVERSIAL SENATE BILL 150.

>> LATE LAST MONTH, A FEDERAL SIDED WITH THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF KENTUCKY AND BASICALLY THEY HAD TAKEN ISSUE WITH PART OF SENATE BILL 150 THAT BLOCKED A MEDICAL PROVIDERS FROM PRESCRIBING HORMONES, PUBERTY BLOCKERS TO TRANS KIDS AND BUT THIS RULING TODAY REVERSES THAT.

MEANING THAT TRANS KIDS NOW CANNOT ACCESS THOSE SERVICES.

THE JUDGE WHO REVERSED THIS STAYED THE INJUNCTION SEEMED TO BASE HIS DECISION ON A SIMILAR RULING OUT OF TENNESSEE LAST WEEK.

SO, YEAH, EFFECTIVE THE BILL WOULD HAVE GONE INTO EFFECT LAST MONTH BUT DID NOT BECAUSE OF THAT RULING IN FAVOR OF THE A.C.L.U.

'S REQUEST LAST MONTH AND NOW IT'S OVERRULED AND TRANS KIDS WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE SERVICES.

DANIEL CAMERON IS VERY HAPPY.

HE REQUESTED THIS REVERSAL, A.C.L.U.

IS NOT SO HAPPY AND VOWING TO KEEP FIGHTING.

FIGHTING.

>> Bill: WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT.

THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS GETTING HOTTER IN MID-JULY.

DANIEL CAMERON UNVEILEDDED A 12-POINT PLAN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AS HE IS MAKING CRIME A KEY ELEMENT OF THIS CAMPAIGN.

HE IS CALLING FOR THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THOSE WHO KILL POLICE OFFICERS.

A STATE WIRETAPPING LAW AND A LAW THAT WOULD ALLOW MURDER CHARGES AGAINST DRUG DEALERS WHEN THERE IS A DEATH LINKED TO SOMETHING THEY SOLD.

MEANWHILE BESHEAR SAYS HE HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF BLACKING LAW ENFORCEMENT INCLUDING PRESSING FOR RAISES FOR KENTUCKY STATE POLICE.

>> AS GOVERNOR, I'VE NOT JUST TALKED ABOUT SUPPORTING LAW ENFORCEMENT I'VE GOTTEN OUR KENTUCKY STATE POLICE THE LARGEST RAISE THEY'VE EVER GOTTEN.

DANIEL CAMERON WASN'T THERE DIDN'T PUSH FOR IT.

>> PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVERNMENT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE SAFE STREETS OUR ECONOMY AND OUR SCHOOLS SUFFER.

EVERY KENTUCKIAN HAS THE RIGHT TO LIVE AND MOVE FREELY AROUND THEIR COMMUNITY WITHOUT FEAR.

>> Bill: AUSTIN HERE WE ARE THIS THEME OF NONPARALLEL CAMPAIGNS SEEMS TO CONTINUE.

CAMERON RELEASING A CRIME PLAN WHILE BESHEAR WAS TALKING ABOUT JOB CREATION AND HIS ONGOING RESPONSE TO FLOODING IN THAT REGION.

SO THERE YOU SAW BESHEAR RESPONDING TO WHAT CAMERON HAD PROPOSED?

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK IT'S NOTABLE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST BIG POLICY SPLASH FOR CAMERON'S CAMPAIGN TO RELEASE THIS 12-POINT PLAN WHICH INCLUDES REVOKING SUBPOENA POWERS FROM CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS AND A BONUS FOR POLICE OFFICERS.

THE SIGNAL THAT THEY REALLY THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE THEY CAN WIN ON.

AND THEY HAVE SOME HISTORY RECENT HISTORY TO BACK THEM UP.

I THINK THIS IS AN ISSUE IN 2022 THAT REPUBLICANS THOUGHT THEY DID QUITE WELL WHEN THEY REALLY EMPHASIZED CRIME AS A HUGE DEAL.

AND IN NEW YORK STATE, A REPUBLICAN GOT KIND OF CLOSE TO BEATING A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR IN NEW YORK STATE, WHICH IS QUITE REMARKABLE.

AND I THINK CAMERON THINKS HE CAN PLAY THAT TO HIS ADVANTAGE.

MEANWHILE, BESHEAR AS YOU MENTIONED, IS FOCUSING ON THE ECONOMY WHICH IS A CLASSIC INCUMBENT GOVERNOR.

YOU SAW BEVIN DO THIS AND YOU SAW THE ELDER BESHEAR DO IT IN EARLIER TERMS AS WELL.

SO THEY ARE TALKING A LITTLE BIT PAST EACH OTHER ALTHOUGH THEY ARE RESPONDING AND POKING AT EACH OTHER'S PLANS AND STATEMENTS ALL THE WHILE.

>> Bill: RYLAND CRIME IS ALWAYS A CONCERN FOR VOTERS IN AMERICA.

IS CAMERON COUNTING ON THAT BEING AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE THRUST OF HIS CAMPAIGN?

>> I THINK SO.

HE IS TRYING TO GET THE MESSAGE ON THE FIELD.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT POLITICIANS ALWAYS TALK ABOUT.

CRIME, TALK ABOUT BUSINESS, TALK ABOUT EDUCATION, TRY TO HIT THE BIG ISSUES AND TRY TO PAINT YOUR OPPONENT AS BEING NOT THE RIGHT CANDIDATE FOR THAT.

I THINK THIS IS INTERESTING, TOO, LIKE REVERTING BACK TO SOME OF THE TRIED AND TRUE POLITICAL MESSAGING HERE.

AND WHILE THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH OTHER REPUBLICAN MESSAGING, THIS YEAR AND RECENT YEARS WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY'S HEADING AND TRYING TO DEFEAT DEMOCRATS AT THE BALLOT BOX.

THE ANTI-CRT PROPOSALS, ANTI-TRANS LAWS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, ALSO AND SOMETHING THAT DANIEL CAMERON DID THROUGHOUT 2020 ANTI-COVID POLICIES FIGHTING AGAINST BESHEAR FOR HIS HANDLING OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

HE IS SEARCHING FOR EXACTLY WHAT THE BIG MESSAGE THAT'S GOING TO RALLY REPUBLICANS TOGETHER AGAINST BESHEAR HERE.

I THINK THE CRIME ONE WE'VE SEEN OTHER DEMOCRATS BESIDES BESHEAR ATTACK GOING AFTER CAMERON, PAINTING HIM WITH THE SAME BRUSH THAT MATT BEVIN WAS PAINTED WITH FOR HIS CONTROVERSIAL PARDONS HE MADE ON HIS WAY OUT OF OFFICE FOR FOLKS WHO WERE CONVICTED OF VERY HIGH PROFILE AND DISTURBING CRIMES.

AND SOME OF WHICH WERE EVEN LATER CHARGED WITH CRIMES BY FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO I THINK THAT IF THIS ARGUMENT CONTINUES THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MUD SLINGING THAT HAPPENS OVER IT AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF DANIEL CAMERON'S JOINING THAT FRAY.

>> Bill: AND WE SEE, AUSTIN, BESHEAR VERY OVERTLY AT THIS POINT GOING AFTER REPUBLICAN VOTES.

THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IS TALKING ABOUT SUPPORT HE HAS AMONG REPUBLICANS INCLUDING A NEW AD IN WHICH A REPUBLICAN BUSINESSMAN SAYS HE DID NOT VOTE FOR BESHEAR IN 19 BUT HE WILL THIS YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK THAT'S REALLY TELLING AS A FIRST SORT OF THEME TO ADD FROM THE BESHEAR CAMP.

THEY DID THEIR INTRO, THAT HIT ALL THE THINGS YOU EXPECT IN INTRO FOR AN INCUMBENT GOVERNOR WHO'S SEEN DISASTERS AND RESPONDED TO DISASTERS DO.

BUT THIS IS THE REAL LIKE THE FIRST ONE WITH AN ANGLE, I THINK THANK YOU THEY COULD HAVE PICKED THINGS TO FOCUS ON AND THEY CHOSE REPUBLICAN SUPPORT AND THE ECONOMY.

SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY TELLING THEY NEED REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

THIS IS A STATE THAT WENT FOR RAND PAUL BY 23 POINTS IN 2022.

SO RAND PAUL VOTERS IF BESHEAR WANTS TO HAVE A SHOT AT WINNING HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO GET PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR A REPUBLICAN FOR SENATE.

AND THAT THE ECONOMY IS THE CENTRAL ISSUE THAT HE THINKS HE CAN WIN THEM OVER ON.

>> Bill: AND YET THE REGISTRATION IS SO CLOSE IN KENTUCKY IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE WHY EACH CANDIDATE WOULD BE TRYING TO DIP INTO THE OTHER STORE.

>> YEAH, WE SAW DEMOCRATS FOR DEARIVE WORK IN LOUISVILLE THAT WAS A CLOSER RACE THAN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED.

THEY MAY TRY DEMOCRATS FOR DANIEL.

GROUP.

I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THERE ISN'T ONE IN THE WORKS.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO FACTOR IN 10% OF THE KENTUCKY ELECTORATE IS INDEPENDENT OR THIRD PARTY THAT IS A GROWING PIE OF THE ELECTORATE HERE.

AND REALLY THAT BESHEAR HAS DEPENDED IN 2019 ON A LOT OF THOSE DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE BEEN REGISTERED DEMOCRAT BUT VOTING FOR REPUBLICANS FOR YEARS AND YEARS, STICKING TO VOTING DEMOCRATS OR MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF THE OTHER SIDE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS COMMERCIAL AND OTHERWISE OF SOME REPUBLICANS SUPPORTING BESHEAR.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LOT ON THIS SHOW AND ELSEWHERE OF BESHEAR TRYING TO AVOID GETTING INTO THE POLITICS OF IT, TRYING TO STAY AS NONPARTISAN AS HE CAN.

AND THAT'S WHERE ALL THE MESSAGING AROUND COVID AND THE FLOODS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, AROUND THE TORNADO IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

THOSE ARE THESE NONPARTISAN MOMENTS WHERE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER WHETHER PARTY AFFILIATION OR NOT AND HE IS TRYING TO LEAN INTO THOSE TIMES.

>> Bill: THE INDEPENDENTS HAVE TO MAKE BOTH CANDIDATES NERVOUS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SARAH, ALSO THE MIX OF ISSUES WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, ABORTION AND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS THIS WEEK, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPROVED AN OVER-THE-COUNTER CONTRACEPTIVE O PILL, CAMERON OPPOSES ABORTION, BESHEAR IS PRO-CHOICE.

WILL REPRODUCTIVE ISSUES BE A FACTOR?

>> ABORTION IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP A LOT IN SETTINGS, THE CAMPAIGN, THE LEGISLATURE AND ANYTIME GOVERNOR BESHEAR TALKS ABOUT IT IT'S USUALLY IN THE FRAMEWORK OF VICTIMS OF RAPE OR INCEST SHOULD HAVE OPTIONS AND HE LIKES TO POINT HIS TIME AS ATTORNEY GENERAL FIGHTING TO ADDRESS RAPE KIT TESTING BACK WILLING AND FIGHTING FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS.

AND THEN ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON LIKES TO HIGHLIGHT HIS WORK IN COURT FIGHTING AGAINST ABORTION AND OF COURSE, HIS OFFICE ARGUED IN FRONT OF THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT LAST YEAR BASICALLY ASKING IT NOT TO CREATE A KENTUCKY VERSION OF ROE VS. WADE WHICH IS HOW THEY PHRASED THAT.

THEY POINTED THESE THINGS AND I KNOW LIKE ADVOCATES ALWAYS GO BACK TO SAYING THAT THE FUTURE FIGHT FOR THEM AS FAR AS THE ABORTION FRONT IS CONCERNED IN KENTUCKY IS MAKING IT HEALTHIER AND SAFER TO CARRY AND BIRTH A CHILD AND ALSO MAKING CONTRACEPTION MORE AVAILABLE SO THEY WILL CELEBRATE O PILL WHICH WE SHOULD SEE IN PHARMACIES NEXT YEAR.

>> Bill: CAMERON CANCELED AN APPEARANCE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THAT CONSERVATIVES HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING HOSTED BY FORMER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR ERIC DETERS AND ERIC DETERS INDICATED THAT HE MAY RUN FOR CONGRESS IN THE FOURTH DISTRICT TAKING ON THE THOMAS MASSEY.

SO REALLY, THAT HAS AUSTIN HIGHLIGHTED SOME FACTIONAL DIVIDES IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> RIGHT.

CAMERON CANCELED AFTER PRESSURE FROM THOMAS MASSEY TO DO WITH ERIC DETERS THE HOST OF FREEDOM FEST WHICH IS BROUGHT THE TRUMP SONS AND OTHER BIG CONSERVATIVE STARS TO TOWN BEFORE.

AND INTENDS TO DO IT AGAIN AFTER THE HOST, ERIC DETERS, WAS THERE WAS A VIDEO COMPILED OF HIM SAYING RACIST THINGS AND OFFENSIVE THINGS.

AND YOU ARE RIGHT IT DOES HIGHLIGHT THE SORT OF FACTIONALISM IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

I THINK IT'S KIND OF UNIQUE TO THE REGION AMONG REPUBLICANS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THOSE VOTERS ARE A LITTLE MORE DISENGAGED AND CONSIDER THEMSELVES RESIDENTS OF THE CINCINNATI AR AS OPPOSED TO SUPER INVOLVED AND TUNED INTO KENTUCKY POLITICS.

>> Bill: YOU PRESSED CAMERON TO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM THE COMMENTS YOU REFERENCED FROM DETERS, RIGHT?

>> I ASKED CAMERON IF THE COMMENTS HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM PULLING OUT OF THAT EVENT?

OR IF HE WOULD CONDEMN THEM AND HE ESSENTIALLY DIDN'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

INSTEAD DEFLECTING SOME CRITICISM BACK ON TO BESHEAR AND HIS ASSOCIATION WITH A GROUP LIKE THE SISTERS OF PERPETUAL INDULGENCE WHICH IS ANOTHER CAN.

WORMS HERE.

IT SEEMS LIKE HE IS TRYING TO SORT OF THREAD THE NEEDLE BETWEEN THESE FACTIONS IF YOU WANT TO CONSIDER DETERS CONSTITUENCY A FACTION AND HE DID PERFORM PRETTY WELL IN THE COUNTIES NOT STATE-WIDE.

HE GOT 17% IN PLACES LIKE CANTON AND BOON.

>> AND FACTION PART OF THIS NORTHERN KENTUCKY ISSUE IS THAT BESHEAR REALLY OVERPERFORMED IN 2019 IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY PART OF THE PATH TO VICTORY FOR HIM SLIM PATH TO VICTORY OVER MATT BEVIN THAN PERFORMING WELL THERE AND IN COUNTIES WHERE THE REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES.

AND IF REPUBLICANS WANT TO BE ABLE TO UNDO THAT, LIKE START ATTACKING THAT MAP THEY WOULD DO WELL TO STAY UNITED IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND THIS IS ONE OF THE MOMENTS THAT SHOWS THERE'S FACTIONS NOT TOTALLY CLEAR.

AND WE SAW A LOT OF THAT IN 2019 WITH MATT BEVIN NOT PERFORMING WELL THERE AND ALSO IN THE DAYS BEFORE THERE WAS LAST-MINUTE DEBATE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND MATT BEVIN WAS HE HAD A OPINION THAT WAS NOT TAKEN WELL ON TOO LONGING TO FINANCE THE BRIDGE.

SO IT IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE STATE THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT HINT OF MORE TO COME LATER.

>> Bill: ANOTHER QUESTION IS WILL CAMERON HAVE A RUNNING MATE BEFORE FANCY FARM.

IT WILL NOT BE AG COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARELS.

QUARELS TOLD ME IN A KENTUCKY NEWSMAKERS INTERVIEW AIRING THIS WEEKEND, HE IS NOT INTERESTED IN BEING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> I KNOW DANIEL AS A FRIEND.

HE'S GREAT MAN.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE ON THE BALLOT WITH HIM THIS FALL.

AND HE EARNED THE NOMINATION SO HE'LL NAME A RUNNING MATE AT THIS TIME AND PREFERENCE.

>> Bill: QUARELS NOT BEING SPECIFIC ABOUT HIS OWN FUTURE BUT SAYS HE IS INTERESTED IN HIGHER EDUCATION.

>> YES, AND THIS IS BREAKING NEWS HERE.

I THINK WE'RE WONDERING IF RYAN QUARELS WILL BE THE PICK FOR DANIEL CAMERON.

HE'S SAIDS POLICE ITALY HE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE.

BUT HE'S STILL HINTING AT A POSSIBLE OTHER JOB IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

THERE IS A KTCS JOB THAT HE MIGHT BE QUALIFIED FOR AND THEY WILL BE PICKING THAT PERSON IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

HE'S QUALIFIED FOR IT I IMAGINE HE HAS A PH.D.

IN EDUCATION AMONG OTHER DEGREES STILL THE QUESTION OF WHO DANIEL CAMERON WILL PICK HAS GONE UNANSWERED.

>> AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT HIGHER-ED PRESIDENTS MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.

I THINK THE KCTS PRESIDENT MADE 350K AND HE DENIED HIMSELF A RAISE THAT THE BOARD PROPOSED.

AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S IN RECENT HISTORY HAVEN'T REALLY PERFORMED WELL AT LEAST POLITICALLY AFTER THEY'VE BEEN NAMED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> Bill: NOT THE STEPPING STONE THAT IT ONCE WAS.

>> I WOULD LOOK FOR NAMES LIKE HOUSE SPEAKER PRO-TEM, DAVID MEADE OR THERE'S LATE BUZZ AROUND SENATOR ROBBIE MILLS.

>> Bill: IT WOULD CREATE A CAMERON-MILLS TICKET REMINDS YOU OF THE BASKETBALL PLAYER.

>> MILLS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> .

>> Bill: COULD BE INTERESTING.

WE'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH.

SPORTS BETTING WILL BEGIN IN KENTUCKY SEPTEMBER 7 WITH RETAIL BETTING AND SEPTEMBER 28, KENTUCKY IS THE 37TH STATE TO LEGALIZE GAMBLING ON SPORTS.

RYLAND WE KNOW THE RULES AND THE PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

>> RIGHT.

THE RACETRACKS WILL BE HOLDERS OF THESE SPORTS BETTING LICENSES.

SO THEY THE WINDOW IS OPEN FOR THEM TO START APPLYING BUT SPORTS BETTING IN-PERSON AT THOSE RACETRACKS 14 RACETRACKS WILL BEGIN SEPTEMBER 7, THE FIRST DAY OF THE NFL SEASON.

ON-LINE SPORTS BETTING WHICH WILL BE MANAGED BY I GUESS PARTNERSHIPS WITH BETWEEN THOSE RACETRACKS AND PROBABLY NATIONAL BETTING COMPANIES WILL BEGIN LATER IN THE MONTH ON SEPTEMBER 28.

I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS EXCITED FOR THIS.

KENTUCKY IS THE 37TH STATE TO IMPLEMENT A LAW LIKE THIS.

SO BEHIND THE CURVE.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY HAS A RECORD BUDGET SURPLUS MORE THAN $15 BILLION WENT INTO STATE GOVERNMENT COFFERS TAX RECEIPTS EXCEEDED REVENUE EXPECTATIONS BY MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS.

SO THAT WILL PRESENT SOME OPTIONS OUT THERE.

KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY, LOUISVILLE, DECIDING HOW IT WILL 13E7BD TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OPIOID SETTLEMENT MONEY AND SARAH YOU'VE BEEN REPORTING SOME OF THAT MONEY IS EARMARKED BUT LOOKING FOR IDEAS.

>> YEAH, SO THEY ARE GOING TO GET $57 MILLION AND THAT'S OVER 18 YEARS.

AND THE FIRST PAYMENT OF 7 MILLION IS EXPECTED LATER THIS YEAR.

THE CITY SAID YESTERDAY THAT THEY WANT TO SPEND ABOUT 1.5 MILLION PUTTING THAT MONEY TOWARD COMMUNITY PARTNERS LIKE THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE KENTUCKY HARM REDUCTION COALITION AND OTHERS WHO ARE DOING HARM REDUCTION WORK ALREADY.

THEY WILL SPEND $250,000 CREATING A BOARD THAT CAN OVERSEE FUND DISTRIBUTION.

BUT THEY WANT PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR MONEY.

AND THAT'S LIKE A HUGE CHUNK MORE THAN $5 MILLION WILL GO TOWARD THAT.

THEY WANT PEOPLE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS AN ANNOUNCEMENT MIGHT COME IN SEPTEMBER.

AND BASICALLY, HOW THEY WOULD ADDRESS PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS HOW THEY WOULD ADDRESS THE OPIOID CRISIS THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACHES AND ALSO FORWARD LOOKING NOT JUST HELPING PEOPLE RECOVER BUT PREVENTING THEM FROM THAT.

>> Bill: MAYBE IT'S ONE BIG IDEA OR SEVERAL.

>> WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: A PROMISING ALZHEIMER'S DRUG WILL BE AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE AFTER CLINICAL TRIALS HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS TOOK PART IN ULTIMATELY THIS DRUG GETTING TO MARKET.

>> YEAH, THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WAS A CLINICAL SITE FOR THIS MUCH LARGER TRIAL.

AND THEY STUDIED AN ANTIBODY TREATMENT THAT SLOWS COGNITIVE DECLINE IN PEOPLE WITH MILD ALZHEIMER'S.

SO A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS PARTICIPATED IN THAT AND WENT THROUGH THE TRIAL.

THEY RESEARCHERS ARE CELEBRATING THIS AND THERE'S MORE RESEARCH TO BE DONE.

FOR INSTANCE A TREATMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MORE SERIOUS FORMS OF ALZHEIMER'S OR MAYBE PEOPLE AT RISK AND DON'T HAVE COGNITIVE DECLINE.

WE MAY SEE MORE ON THAT IN THE FUTURE.

I WILL SAY IT'S WORTH NOTING THE KAISER HEALTH NEWS DID PUT OUT A REPORT SAYING THERE WEREN'T MANY BLACK PARTICIPANTS NATIONWIDE.

SO THERE IS A CONCERN THERE THAT THERE MAY BE DISPARITIES IN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DRUG IN PEOPLE OF COLOR.

BUT RESEARCHERS ARE STILL EXCITED THAT THIS HAS GOTTEN THE F.D.A.

APPROVAL.

>> Bill: AND THE KENTUCKY CONNECTION HERE.

THERE IS A NEW AND EYE-OPENING REPORT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN KENTUCKY.

AND IT SHOWS IT IS WIDESPREAD.

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE VICTIMS.

AND STALKING AND VIOLENCE ARE MORE COMMON THAN EVEN SOME WHO WORK IN THE FIELD REALIZED.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS REPORT IS THE RESULT OF A BILL THAT SENATOR WHITNEY WESTERFIELD WORKED ON AND THAT DIRECTED AGENCIES IN KENTUCKY TO GATHER THIS DATA ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND COMPILE A REPORT TO SHOW US WE KNEW IT WAS BAD BUT TO SHOW US HOW BAD IT WAS.

AND SO THE REPORT SHOWS US THAT ALMOST HALF OF KENTUCKY WOMEN AND MORE THAN A THIRD OF KENTUCKY'S MEN HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF SOME KIND OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE OR THE THREAT OF IT, STALKING.

AND SO THIS REPORT SHOWED US A LOT OF INTERESTING THINGS.

THERE WERE A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO RECEIVED SERVICES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THERE WERE CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 13 WHO WERE THEMSELVES VICTIMS OF DATING VIOLENCE.

WE SAW ABOUT 900 I BELIEVE STRANGULATIONS.

AND WE ALSO GOT A BREAKDOWN OF THE NUMBER OF REPORTS THAT POLICE FILED AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO ADVOCATES WHO WORK IN THE SPACE FOUND A LOT OF THE NUMBERS SHOCKING.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THIS AS A GOOD JUMPING OFF POINT FOR ADDRESSING THE VIOLENCE.

>> Bill: THERE IS THIS NEW SAFE AT HOME PROGRAM AT LAW THAT IS IN EFFECT.

THAT MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE ADDRESSES OF VICTIMS.

>> YES, SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS SAID ABOUT THIS THAT BEFORE IT WAS ALMOST LIKE THE STATE WAS FACILITATING PREDATORS BEING ABLE TO FIND PEOPLE WHO HAD MAYBE ESCAPED A BAD SITUATION.

SO THIS SAFE AT HOME ACT LETS SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCES HIDE THEIR ADDRESS WHEN THEY REGISTER TO VOTE AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE COUNTY CLERK'S WOULD KNOW BUT IT WOULD NOT BE A PUBLIC RECORD.

THEY ARE HOPING THAT WILL KIND OF MITIGATE SOME VIOLENCE AND SAVE LIVES.

>> Bill: WE ALSO HAD NEW NUMBERS INDICATING 9-8-8 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE IS BUSY AND IT'S BUSY HERE IN KENTUCKY WHERE MOST CALLS ARE ANSWERED INSTATE.

>> A LITTLE MORE THAN INSTATE ARE -- 80% ARE ANSWERED INSTATE.

AND KENTUCKY HAS 13 CALL CENTERS THAT ANSWER THOSE CALLS.

WE SAW A 22% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER CALLS WE GOT SINCE LAUNCHING 9-8-8 WHEN COMPARED WITH THE 12 MONTH PERIOD BEFORE THAT NUMBER LAUNCHED.

SO ADVOCATES CELEBRATE THAT AS MEANING THAT THE HELP IS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT BECAUSE IT'S EASIER TO REMEMBER.

>> Bill: AND FRANCE FURTHER COMMITTEE RELEASED A REPORT ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND REPORTS OF RIOTS AND FIRES AT THE FACILITIES.

WHAT DID THAT REPORT FIND?

>> IT FOUND THAT AT LEAST THE SECRETARIES AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT SOME OF THE THINGS IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR BY THE LEGISLATURE HAD GOTTEN HELPED THE SITUATION.

THAT THE RAISES THAT THE IMPLEMENTED LED TO SOME RETENTION OF EMPLOYEES.

BUT ALSO HAD SOME RECOMMENDATIONS.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY SAYING AT THAT TIME THE STATE COULD USE TO HAVE A JUVENILE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WHICH THE STATE RIGHT NOW CONTRACTS THAT OUT TO PROVIDERS IN KENTUCKY SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS LATELY.

SO THE STATE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS STILL EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THERE'S THINGS HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED.

THERE IS A LOT MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH, WHETHER IT'S MAKING SURE STAFFING IS UP-TO-DATE AND FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS.

AND SOMETHING ONE OF THE BIG BETS THE THE LEGISLATURE MADE THIS YEAR WHICH WAS IMPROVING SETTING ASIDE FUNDING TO IMPROVE THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THAT IS ACTUALLY NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO DO WHAT THEY WANTED IT TO DO.

THERE IS MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON ANDY BARR A POINT MAN ON THE G.O.P.

PUSHBACK AGAINST CORPORATE ESG POLICIES.

BAR SON SAYS WHEN INVESTORS CONSIDER POLICIES OVER PROFITS IT COULD SHORTCHANGE INVESTORS INCLUDING RETIREES OR THOSE TRYING TO BUILD THEIR RETIREMENT.

>> IT'S BECOME A HUGE TALKING POINT ON THE RIGHT.

IF YOU TURN ON "FOX NEWS" FOR A DAY, THEY WILL TALK ABOUT THIS FOR PROBABLY A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES.

AND IT'S A TRICKY ISSUE TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND.

BUT IT IS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR REPUBLICANS.

AND I THINK IT'S TELLING THAT BARR IS THE POINT MAN ON THIS ONE.

IT'S EASY TO FORGET THAT HE HAS BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS NOW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO YOU HAVE TO WONDER WITH HIM BEING THE POINT MAN ON THIS HE PASSED THE HORSERACING SAFETY AND INTEGRITY ACT NOT THAT LONG AGO.

WHAT IS NEXT FOR ANDY BARR IF HE WILL MOVE INTO THE HOUSE OR IF HE WILL MAYBE TRY TO RUN FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

WHO KNOWS.

>> Bill: HE HAS STUDIED STATE-WIDE OFFICE BEFORE, I THINK, SORT OF LOOKED INTO IT.

RYLAND, APP HARVEST WILL HAVE A NEW C.E.O.

A CHANGE THERE?

>> AND THIS COMES AFTER THE COMPANY'S C.O.O.

WILL BECOME THE C.E.O.

AND THIS COMES AFTER A LOT OF PROBLEMS THE COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMING AS WELL AS IT HOPED OPENED UP IN 2018.

THEY STILL HAVE HOPES TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND BUT THEY ARE FACING CHALLENGES AT THE MOMENT AND TRYING TO GET THINGS STARTED.

>> Bill: AND THERE'S BEEN CONTROVERSY OVER THE RAISE GIVEN TO JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLIO.

>> HE GOT A 27% RAISE WHICH RAISES THE SALARY FROM 276,000 TO 350,000.

HE AND THE BOARD DEFENDED THAT TO SAY PART WAS TO GET IN LINE WITH FAYETTE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT'S SALARY 313,000.

REPUBLICANS POUNCED ON THIS SAYING THAT IT SHOWED THAT THEY ARE OUT OF TOUCH AND SAID IT WAS AN INSULT TO THE TEACHERS IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: THE SOLAR PROGRAM WILL HAVE SUMMIT OCTOBER 3 AND 4 AND YOU COULD BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

IT WILL FEATURE A TAN TALK SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CUMBERLANDS BILLED AS 10 MINUTES AND 10 SLIDES AND YOU AND HOW TO MOVE THE REGION FORWARD THE DEADLINE FOR POSSIBLE SPEAKERS TO APPLY IS ON THE WEBSITE, AUGUST 21.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.