[♪♪] >> Bill: FUNDRAISING REPORTS COME IN AS REPUBLICAN U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES JOCKEY FOR POSITION.

MORE CANDIDATES EMERGE FOR THE U.S. HOUSE SEAT THAT ANDY BARR IS LEAVING OPEN IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR GOES TO SOUTH CAROLINA FUELING MORE SPECULATION ABOUT HIS FUTURE PLANS.

KENTUCKY ELECTRIC PROVIDERS TALK ABOUT INCREASING NEEDS.

A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE FANCY FARM COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, LIAM NIEMEYER, REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

ALEX ACQUISTO POLITICS AND HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER AND ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO KENTUCKY POLITICS WITH KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR IS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, WHICH HELD THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IN 2024 AND MAY AGAIN IN 2028.

BESHEAR SAYS HE WILL NOT SAY IF HE IS RUBBING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE BUT HE ALSO DOES NOT DISCLAIM INTEREST.

>> KENTUCKIANS KNOW MY FOCUS IS ON THEIR DAILY LIVES.

THEIR DAILY NEEDS.

THAT EVERYDAY I'M WORKING TO CREATE NEW JOBS BECAUSE I KNOW THOSE GAINS WILL HELP MY HOME STATE.

BE A BETTER PLACE FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY FAMILIES.

AND THEY KNOW I'M GOING TO SHOW UP.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT LEADERS ACTUALLY DO.

LEADERS CAN'T BE AFRAID TO SHOW UP BECAUSE THE CONVERSATION MIGHT BE HARD OR BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS TOUGH.

AND THIS IS HOW DEMOCRATS CAN WIN AGAIN.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY POLITICS WITH WASHINGTON CONNECTIONS AND ALSO A SOUTH CAROLINA CONNECTION.

SO THE GOVERNOR'S MAKING SEVERAL STOPS AS HE WAS INVITED TO EVENTS IN THE PALMETTO STATE.

AND SAID HIS SON IN A BASEBALL TOURNAMENT BUT A LOT OF REPORTERS AND POLITICAL OBSERVERS ARE READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

>> WHAT'S THE SAYING?

COINCIDENCE IS A WORD YOU CANNOT SEE THE LEVERS AND PULLEYS?

THIS IS CLEARLY THERE IS A MESSAGE BEING SENT.

WE SEE THE GOVERNOR IN THIS CASE, GO TO SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO IS HE TALKING TO HERE?

UNION VOTERS, BLACK VOTERS, I BELIEVE ONE OF THE COUNTIES HAD VOTED FOR TRUMP THREE STRAIGHT TIMES.

THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE.

HE IS GETTING HIS MESSAGE OUT THERE AND WE DO SEE SOME COMPARISONS BETWEEN HIM AND GAVIN NEWSOM WHERE DO THEY ASSISTANT ON ISSUES AND THE GOVERNOR BROUGHT UP LATER ON IN THAT SPEECH THERE, HE BROUGHT UP J.D.

VANCE AGAIN.

HE SAID OVER IN BREATHITT COUNTY WHERE J.D.

VANCE HAS ROOTS THE COUNTY VOTED BY TRUMP MANY OF THEM AND HE SAID I WON IT BY 22 POINTS.

HE IS TRYING TO CLEARLY SHOW HIS CREDENTIALS BEYOND KENTUCKY LIAM, IS THIS BESHEAR TESTING THE WATERS?

>> IT APPEARS SO.

AS SOUTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF THE FEW KEY STATES TALKING ABOUT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.

YOU KNOW, FORMER PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HE MOVED UP SOUTH CAROLINA TO BE THE FIRST STATE IN THE DNC PRIMARY CALENDAR BECAUSE IT DELIVERED HIM A VICTORY THE FIRST TIME AROUND WHEN HE WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

SO THERE'S SMALL SIGNS THAT LEADING UP TO THE POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL RUN BY BESHEAR, THE FACT THAT HE LAUNCHED A PODCAST, CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM ALSO LAUNCHED A PODCAST.

THAT ARE JUST POINTING TOWARDS THE DIRECTION LEADING INTO 2028.

>> Bill: THESE ARE THE WAYS YOU BECOME KNOWN IN THIS ERA.

ALEX, CAN BESHEAR CONTINUE TO COUNT ON INVITATIONS CONTINUING TO ROLL IN?

CAN HE LEVERAGE HIS ROLE WHEN HE HEADS UP THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION AND CONTINUE TO MAKE TRIPS AND APPEARANCES AND TRY TO BECOME BETTER KNOWN WHILE ALSO DOING THAT ROLE?

>> RIGHT.

A LOT OF WHAT IT INVOLVES BEING THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION IS TRAVELING TO OTHER STATES AND TRYING TO HELP OTHER DEMOCRATS GET ELECTED BY ADDRESSING MASS CROWDS OF VOTERS.

SO IT IS AN ORGANIC OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO GET HIS FACE OUT IN STATES WHERE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE HIM AND GIVES HIM AN EXCUSE TO TRAVEL ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITHOUT HAVING TO RATIONALIZE BACK TO KENTUCKY WHY HE IS OUT THERE.

IT IS ANOTHER WAY THAT HE CAN NATURALLY GET HIS VOICE IN SUBTLE MESSAGE OUT THERE.

AS HE CONTINUES SORT OF STRADDLE THE FINE LINE NOT SAYING HE IS NOT RUNNING AND NOT CONFIRMING THAT HE IS RUNNING T WORKS TO HIS BENEFIT.

>> Bill: HE MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY KENTUCKY CONNECTION IN THE 2028 RACE, J.D.

VANCE'S EASTERN KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS AND U.K.

PROFESSOR STEVEN VOSS TOLD ME THAT SENATOR RAND PAUL MAY HAVE A LANE FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

>> HE WAS IN SHEPHERDSVILLE AND ASKED ABOUT A REPORT THAT NAMED HIM AMONGST OTHER REPUBLICANS AS POSSIBLE HOPEFUL CONTENDERS FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN 2028.

AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT THAT REPORT, HE DIDN'T DENY IT.

IN FACT IN THE FIRST COUPLE SENTENCES HE SAID WE NEED A PRESIDENT WE NEED A CANDIDATE AT AT THAT TIME POINT WHO VALUES INTERNATIONAL TRADE.

WHERE WE HEARD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE, OBVIOUSLY HE HAS BEEN A STARK OPPONENT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AS IT RELATES TO TARIFFS.

THAT IS A LOOK AT THE POLICIES I'VE PUSHED FOR MOMENT FOR HIM.

AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS PRIOR, J.D.

VANCE IS SEEN AS A NATURAL FRONTRUNNER IN 2028.

BUT IF THE PARTY DOES WANT A CLEAN BREAK FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP NOT SAYING THEY WILL BUT IF THEY DO, HE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE LOOPED INTO THAT VERSUS RAND PAUL AND MADE IT CLEAR IN THE VOTING HAS A MUCH DIFFERENT VIEW ON CERTAIN ISSUES AS IT RELATES TO SPENDING AND TARIFFS.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE THEM UP AGAINST EACH OTHER.

>> Bill: VICE-PRESIDENCY CAN BE A MIXED BAG.

>> IT WORKED FOR JOE BIDEN BUT IT DOESN'T WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

>> Bill: WE CONTINUE TO WATCH THE POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL INTERESTS OF KENTUCKIANS AND THE FUNDRAISING REPORTS ROLLED IN AND AND AND'S CAMPAIGN HAS $6 MILLION TO FUEL HIS CAMPAIGN.

THAT IS FAR AHEAD OF DANIEL CAMERON'S HAUL AND NATE MORRIS SIGNED UP LATE ENOUGH THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO FILE A REPORT.

SO THERE WE ARE.

ISAIAH, WHAT IS THE EARLY FUNDRAISING TELL US ABOUT THIS BID FOR THE U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION?

>> WELL, WE KNEW THAT MONEY WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE FOR ANDY BARR AND NOT AN ISSUE FOR NATE MORRIS.

THE NUMBER IS 6 MILLION FOR CONGRESSMAN BARR AND DANIEL CAMERON, THAT IS A NUMBER THAT HAS CAUGHT A LOT OF FOLKS' ATTENTION THERE WERE ARTICLES WRITTEN ON 550,000 THAT HE HAS ON HAND.

HE WAS THE FIRST TO ANNOUNCE.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT SORT OF DIFFERENCE IN MONEY RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING.

>> Bill: ALSO THERE WAS THE ABILITY TO TRANSFER THE HOUSE MONEY ON BARR'S PART.

>> THERE WAS A COUPLE MILLION THERE BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN IN THE HOUSE, 10, 12 YEARS, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING IN THIS RACE.

AND ALEX, WE KNOW THAT DANIEL CAMERON HAS NAME ID NATURALLY BECAUSE OF THE RACES HE'S WON AND BEEN IN.

>> HE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE CURRENTLY IN THIS SLATE WHO HAS RUN MULTIPLE STATE-WIDE RACES.

I HAVE PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY WHO READ THE NEWS WHO ARE WELL-INFORMED THAT KNOW WHO DANIEL CAMERON IS AND WHO DO NOT KNOW WHO ANDY BARR IS.

THAT MIGHT CHANGE WHEN TELEVISION ADDS TO HOMES IN THE STATE.

AND AT THIS EARLY POINT IT IS EXPECTED THAT BARR WOULD HAVE THE CASH THAT HE HAS.

IT'S SURPRISING DANIEL IS SO LOW BUT HE HAS THE BENEFIT OF THE NAME RECOGNITION THAT NEITHER OF THE OTHER TWO HAVE.

>> TAKE A LOOK AT WHO CONGRESSMAN BARR'S TEAM IS GOING AFTER IN ADS.

THEY ARE GOING AFTER NATE MORRIS MORE THAN DANIEL CAMERON.

AT LEAST PUBLICLY FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN.

THAT SOMETIMES GIVES YOU A SENSE WHO CAMPAIGNS SEE AS THE BIGGER OPPONENT OR THREAT POSSIBLY.

>> SURE.

AND YOU KNOW, WHEN TALKING ABOUT, I GUESS, THE JOCKEYING GOING AROUND, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW NATE MORRIS STAKES OUT A POSITION AS WELL.

HE COMES FROM, SAY, CONNECTIONS IN THE TRUMP WORLD.

HE DID ANNOUNCE HIS CAMPAIGN ON DONALD TRUMP'S JUNIOR'S PODCAST AND I BELIEVE AXIOS REPORTED ROLLED OUT A NEW AD FOR SOMEONE WHO MAYBE SIMILAR TO ANDY BARR DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH NAME RECOGNITION AS DANIEL CAMERON HE IS STAKING OUT SPECIFIC STRONG POSITIONS ON IMMIGRATION.

HE'S TRYING TO MAKE A DISTINGUISH -- TRYING TO DISTINGUISH HIMSELF AS SOMEONE ISN'T GOING TO CONTINUE MITCH McCONNELL'S LEGACY.

AXIOS REPORTED IN THAT AD NATE MORRIS SAID HE IS A TRUMP GUY NOT A McCONNELL BOY.

>> Bill: THEY ALL HAVE CONNECTIONS TO McCONNELL BUT RUNNING FROM THE CONNECTIONS.

>> THEY ARE.

I PRESSED NATE MORRIS ABOUT IT I INTERVIEWED HIM IN LOUISVILLE WHICH A LOT OF FOLKS DON'T KNOW.

HE WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL THERE, PRAYED FOOTBALL AND HAD AN INJURY.

AND I ASKED HIM, WHEN IT COMES TO MITCH McCONNELL, EVERYONE IN THE G.O.P.

SEEMINGLY HAS CONNECTIONS TO HIM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND HE QUICKLY SAID LISTEN I INTERNED FOR HIS OFFICE FOR THREE MONTHS AND HAVEN'T SPOKEN TO HIM FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

BOTTOM LINE THEY ARE ALL JOCKEYING FOR THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

NATE MORRIS TOLD ME HE SAID SYSTEMICALLY WHO THE PRESIDENT LIKES TO EMPOWER PEOPLE THAT COME FROM THE OUTSIDE, PEOPLE THAT HAVE BUSINESS BACKGROUNDS HE IS CLEARLY GOING FOR THAT HAVE NO CONNECTIONS TO POLL STICKS BEFORE THIS POINT.

POLITICS BEFORE THIS POINT.

AS PUNDITS WILL TELL YOU YOU HAVE TO HAVE MORE THAN THAT AND WE HAVE TO LISTEN FOR POLICIES.

>> Bill: ALEX AS WE KNOW ALL THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WANT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT, DO WE ALSO ANTICIPATE THAT THEIR PRIORITIES WILL BE TRUMP'S PRIORITIES, AND WILL THOSE ALIGN WITH KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE SEEING THE IMPACT OF SOME OF THE CUTS TO MEDICAID?

>> I THINK IT'S INTERESTING HOW WE'VE SEEN THEM ALL GO AT MESSAGES THAT TRUMP HAS HIMSELF REPEATED THAT THEY THINK WILL RESONATE WITH KENTUCKY VOTERS.

SO FAR, LITTLE MENTION OF MEDICAID.

SOME MENTION OF CUTTING WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE.

ANDY BARR'S FIRST AD YOU COULD DRAW MAD LIB OF ALL OF THE FIRE BRAND CONSERVATIVE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN TOP OF MIND THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

HE MENTIONED ALL IN A 45-SECOND AD.

GENDER AFFIRMING CARE, NO TRANS GIRLS IN SPORTS.

SECURING THE BORDER AND DETEETH THE WOKE AGENDA AS WE GET CLOSER THEY WILL BE PRESSED ON MORE CONCRETE ISSUES THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL HAS SEVERE CUTS TO MEDICAID IN A STATE THAT IMPACTS A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICT THEY ARE HOPEFUL DISTRICT.

THAT WILL BE A FINE NEEDLE TO THREAD.

AND WE DON'T QUITE KNOW HOW THEY WILL HANDLE IT.

I THINK IT'S MORE THEY WILL FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL ISSUES RATHER THAN LOOK THIS IS THE REASON WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING CUT FROM MEDICAID BECAUSE OF TRUMP'S BILL.

>> IT'S WORTH NOTING WE'VE SEEN THE FISCAL HAWKS LIKE RAND PAUL AND THOMAS MASSIE VOTE NO ON PROVISIONS BUT THEY BUILT UP THE CLOUT TO DO THAT.

WHOEVER IS REPLACING McCONNELL YOU START FROM SQUARE ONE YOU ARE THE JUNIOR SENATOR THEY ARE NOT LOOKING AT VOTING NO ON TRUMP'S PRIORITIES AT LEAST INITIALLY.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE?

PAMELA STEVENSON IS IN AND IS CAMPAIGNING?

>> I TALKED TO HER AND SHE WON'T TELL YOU THIS I HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT ACKNOWLEDGE AS A FINANCE PERSPECTIVE, THINGS ARE NOT GOING GREAT FOR HER ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING SHE ANNOUNCED HERE A BIT AGO, A FEW MONTHS AGO.

I AM HEARING THAT POTENTIALLY THAT THERE ARE SOME MURMURS THERE COULD BE AN OUTSIDE OF POLITICS CANDIDATE GET IN MAYBE AN ATTORNEY THAT COULD MAKE THINGS INTERESTING BUT PAMELA STEVENSON AS FAR AS MOMENTUM IN LOUISVILLE, IT HASN'T QUITE BEEN WHERE MAYBE FOLKS HAD HOPED IN LOUISVILLE.

AND I ASKED THE GOVERNOR IF HE WOULD ENDORSE HER AND CAMPAIGN FOR HER AND HE DIDN'T GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER THERE.

THAT MIGHT GIVE YOU INSIGHT.

>> Bill: STILL A WAIT-AND-SEE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> SURE THING.

>> Bill: WE ARE TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM FANCY FARM SOME CALL IT THE SUPER BOWL OF KENTUCKY POLITICS.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE DEMOCRATS ARE LARGELY STAYING AWAY.

AND KET ALSO ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT WON'T BE COVERING FANCY FARM BECAUSE OF ANTICIPATED CUTS IN FEDERAL FUNDING.

KET MANAGEMENT SAID IT WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED TO NOT BE ABLE TO BE AT FANCY FARM.

HOW WILL THAT CHANGE THE ATTENTION THAT FANCY FARM HAS GOTTEN OVER THE YEARS, WITH STATE-WIDE COVERAGE?

YOU WORKED IN THAT AREA FOR SOME YEARS?

>> SURE.

SO KET FOR ONE THING, IT PROVIDED VISIBILITY JUST FROM THE FACT THAT THEY BROADCAST THE SPEECHES LIVE.

IT PROVIDES VISIBILITY FOR THE CANDIDATES' MESSAGES.

A LITTLE BIT OF THE ACTIVITY AND THE CHANCE AND YELLING BEFOREHAND AS WELL.

FANCY FARM IS AN EVENTS AND KET IN MY OPINION ALWAYS DID A GOOD JOB OF CAPTURING THAT ENERGY.

SO WITHOUT THE COVERAGE, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BUT YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE OTHER MEDIA THERE.

BUT KET DID PROVIDE A STATE-WIDE PLATFORM, A STATE-WIDE FOCUS FOR THE COVERAGE THAT MAYBE OTHER SMALLER REGIONAL OUTLETS WON'T NECESSARILY THEIR AUDIENCES ARE MORE SPECIFIC.

>> Bill: AND THE LOCAL STORIES.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, AGAIN AS LIAM SAID KET WE WORK FOR OUTLETS WE WILL BE AT FANCY FARM BUT OUR READERS ARE BASED IN LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE.

KET WAS THE ONLY OUTLET THAT CAST WHAT IS HAPPENING AT FANCY FARM STATE-WIDE AND THE FOOT ARMING IS USED BY SMALLER STATIONS THERE WILL BE A DEFICIT OF COVERAGE BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> Bill: FANCY FARM WAS ONCE DEMOCRATIC DOMINATED AND THEN BIPARTISAN AND WE KNOW THAT LIEUTENANT JACQUELINE COLEMAN, THE SENATE CANDIDATE PAMELA STEVENSON, DO NOT PLAN TO BE AT FANCY FARM THEY ARE GOING TO ALVIN BARCLAY DINNER TWO DAYS BEFORE.

TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

>> CERTAINLY HAS.

THE THREE G.O.P.

CANDIDATES FOR THAT SENATE RACE, THEY SAID YES, QUICKLY AND YOU CAN IMAGINE IN THIS KIND OF THE YEAR BEFORE SUCH A BIG PRIMARY YOU CAN IMAGINE SOMEONE LIKE A PAMELA STEVENSON WOULD MAYBE IN DECADES PAST BE A SHOO-IN TO GO.

YOU ARE RIGHT, IT HAS AS KENTUCKY AS SORT OF SHIFTED RED MORE AND MORE RED OVER THE YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN FANCY FARM MIMIC THAT SHIFT.

>> AND YOU KNOW, SMALL THICK TO NOTE, THE POLITICAL CHAIRMAN STEVEN OTTER SENT OUT AN E-MAIL MENTIONING COLEMAN'S ATTEND DANCE AT THE BARCLAY DINNER, AND MENTIONED THE HISTORY OF THE EVENT HOW ALVIN BARCLAY A GREAT ORATOR, AND HOW OBVIOUSLY THE TWO PARTIES WOULD USE THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO FANCY FARM AS A WAY TO BUILDUP THE ENERGY OF THE EVENTS THAT IS THE FANCY FARM PICNIC.

BUT IT JUST, AGAIN, DECADES PAST.

>> Bill: SPOKE TO 8,000 PEOPLE IN THE BID FOR GOVERNOR IN 1923.

THE SIXTH DISTRICT HOUSE RACE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY IS CLOSELY WATCHED IT IS OPEN BECAUSE ANDY BARR IS LEAVING TO MAKE THIS SENATE RUN.

TWO MORE CANDIDATES JUMPED INTO THE RACE THIS WEEK.

FORMER REPUBLICAN SENATOR RALPH ALVARADO IS RUNNING FOR THE SEAT.

AND DEMOCRAT ZACH DEMBO, ALSO ANNOUNCED HE IS IN.

THERE IS AN IMAGE OF ALVARADO AND THAT IS DEMBO ON YOUR SCREEN.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THESE CANDIDATES?

ALVARADO WAS A STATE SENATOR AND MATT BEVIN'S RUNNING MATE IN 2019 AND 2020 TO TENNESSEE AS THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

>> MOST KNOW HIM BECAUSE HE WAS MATT BEVIN'S RUNNING MATE WHEN HE TRIED TO RUN FOR A SECOND TERM AND BESHEAR BEAT HIM.

'S ANNOUNCED AFTER COVID IN 2023 HE WAS GOING TO TENNESSEE TO BE THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER.

AND HE SPLIT HIS TIME BETWEEN TENNESSEE AND HIS HOME IN CLARK COUNTY AND ANNOUNCED HE'S VYING FOR THE SEAT WHICH IS INTERESTING.

>> Bill: ZACH DEMBO IS NOW IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AND WORKED IN THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AND HE HAS SAID A FEW THINGS ALREADY IN HIS TWO DAYS ON THE THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING WE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE THE SHOW ABOUT WHO IS THE GOVERNOR GOING TO ENDORSE IN THIS RACE?

HE HAS ENDORSED CHERLYNN STEVENSON IN THE PAST.

I CAN TELL YOU THEIR TEAM IS CONFIDENT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN BUT HEARING WORDS FROM SOMEBODY WORKED IN THE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE KENTUCKY LANTERN, HE SAID SOMETHING THAT I LEARNED FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS I DON'T THINK THAT KENTUCKIANS ARE WAKING UP THINKING ABOUT WHO THEY VOTE FOR OR WHAT PARTY THEY ARE REGISTERED.

THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES AND HOW THEY CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AND HAVE A GOOD-PAYING JOB AND MAKING ENDS MEET.

THAT IS EXACTLY GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S MESSAGE GOING FORWARD.

SO THAT POSSIBLY IS NOT A CO-BINS KENS -- COINCIDENCE.

>> Bill: STEVENSON RAISE THE $210 MILLION.

>> I'M TOLD ANY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THAT DISTRICT HAS RAISED IN THE INITIAL FILING IN OVER 10 YEARS.

THAT IS NO SMALL NUMBER THE BIGGEST ON BOTH SIDES AND THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT OVER $200,000.

>> Bill: WE SAW IN THE FILING THAT ANOTHER OPPONENT FORMER LEXINGTON COUNCILMAN DAVID KLOIBER GAVE HIS CAMPAIGN A $97,000 LOAN AND PUT HALF A MILLION IN RUN FOR LEXINGTON MAYOR IN 2022.

>> WHICH WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

IT IS NOT A GREAT SIGN IF YOU HAVE TO DIG INTO YOUR OWN POCKETS HE IS TRYING TO KEEP HIS NAME OUT THERE AND IT IS A TACTIC AND IT COULD WORK.

>> Bill: HE DID RAISE MONEY AS WELL.

>> HE DID.

>> Bill: RYAN DOTSON LOANED HIMSELF MONEY AND WENT TO WASHINGTON THIS WEEK AND TALKED WITH FOLKS THERE.

WE'RE WAITING TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT HE TALKED ABOUT UP THERE.

AND THEN DEANNA GORDON, DID NOT HAVE TO FILE A CAMPAIGN REPORT BECAUSE SHE ENTERED THE RACE LATE.

YOU HAVE THESE THREE CANDIDATES NOW OUT THERE.

>> YEAH, AND DEANNA GORDON HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA CERTAINLY GOTTEN THE MEDIA'S ATTENTION.

I BELIEVE SHE HAD A POST TODAY OR YESTERDAY FROM THE BLUEGRASS AIRPORT IN LEXINGTON SORT OF POKING FUN AT Mr. ALVARADO'S HISTORY NOW IN TENNESSEE OBVIOUSLY.

IS IT TENNESSEE?

YEAH, TENNESSEE AND SAYING WELL, SHOULD I GIVE HIM THE WELCOME HOME OR WELCOME TO CENTRAL KENTUCKY POINTING TO THE FACT HE HAS BEEN GONE.

THERE WAS A MESSAGE TO VOTERS SAYING WE DON'T NEED SOMEONE PARACHUTING IN.

THERE'S JABS BEING THROWN.

>> Bill: ANOTHER PRIMARY IS IN NORTHERN AREA WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TEAM WANTS TO DEFEAT THOMAS MASSIE AND RAND PAUL SAYS HE WILL ENDORSE CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE NEXT YEAR.

SO THAT ADDS TO THE FLAVOR OF THAT RACE.

>> CERTAINLY.

AND YOU SAW THAT SENATOR RAND PAUL AND REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE HAVE BOTH SORT OF BEEN IN LINE WITH ELON MUSK AS HE SPLIT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AT LEAST FOR NOW.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY DO LINEUP A LOT OF WAYS WHEN IT COMES TO POLICIES ON SPENDING THEIR BELIEFS IN CUTTING THE DEFICIT, LONG-TERM DEBT IS OF THE GREATEST CONCERN.

THOMAS MASSIE HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR OTHER REASONS, TOO.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.

>> Bill: THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT IS NOW A YEAR OLD AND IT'S ALSO HAS CRITICS REMAINING CRIMINALIZES HOMELESSNESS AND THE HOMELESS NUMBERS HAVE JUMPED AT A TIME WHEN KENTUCKY IS LIKELY TO SEE HOUSING PROGRAMS CUT.

>> YEAH, THE HOUSING STATE HOUSING CORPORATION WHICH IS A QUASI GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY THAT MANAGES FEDERAL HUD HOUSING FUNDS THAT CAN BE REB TALL ASSISTANCE OR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS GET OFF THE STREET INTO HOUSING.

BUT HOUSING CORPORATION REPORTED ABOUT ROUGHLY 11% INCREASE IN HOMELESSNESS YEAR-OVER-YEAR.

THEY ARE POINTING TO THE NUMBERS FROM THE ANNUAL COUNTS THEY DO.

AND THEY MAINLY CITE THE ONGOING HOUSING SHORTAGE AS A PRIMARY DRIVER FOR THIS.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BECOMING HOMELESS ARE BECOMING HOMELESS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO FIND HOUSING THAT IS SUITABLE TO THEM.

>> Bill: IT LOOKS LIKE KENTUCKY'S GOING TO NEED MORE POWER AND THAT IS OPENING UP SOME DISCUSSIONS.

LIAM, LG AND E AND KU SAY THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT INCREASE IN NEED TO PUT OUT ELECTRICITY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DATA CENTERS THAT WE SEE POPPING UP.

>> YEAH AND THE DATA CENTERINGS ARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE A.I.

SERVICES BETWEEN CHATGPT OR GROK OR ET CETERA, THEY ARE OFTEN POWERED BY WHAT ARE CALLED DATA CENTERS.

THE VERY, VERY ENERGY INTENSIVE COMPUTER HUBS THAT PROCESS AND BASICALLY ARE THE FOUNDATION ELECTRICAL FOUNDATION BEHIND THE SERVICES.

AND UTILITIES THEY SAY THEY NEED A LOT MORE POWER FOR THAT.

THEY ARE PROPOSING NEW GAS GENERATION AND ALSO A QUESTION AS TO WHO IS GOING TO COVER THE TRANSMISSION COSTS AND THE COST OF THESE NEW GENERATION THAT ARE MAINLY PRIMARILY SERVICING THESE DATA CENTERS.

WILL RATEPAYERS HAVE TO CARRY SOME OF THAT BURDEN AND HOW MUCH?

>> Bill: THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS STUDYING NUCLEAR POWER?

>> YES, THEY OPENED A CASE IN RECENT WEEKS ASKING STAKEHOLDERS IN THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH-IN.

NUCLEAR POWER IS YOU KNOW, IT'S A SOURCE THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN NEW NUCLEAR POWER BEING BUILT BUT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WANTS TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF KENTUCKY CAN BRING IN A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.

U.K.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE U.K. CENTER OF APPLIED ENERGY DID SAY TO LAWMAKERS, THOUGH, LAST YEAR, THAT WE SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY EXPECT NUCLEAR POWER TO BE IN KENTUCKY WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

>> Bill: THE COURT OF APPEALS SAYS A WOMAN CAN CHALLENGE KENTUCKY'S 2022 ABORTION BAN.

>> SHE INITIALLY SUED IN 2022, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT LIFE BEGINS AT BIRTH RATHER THAN CONCEPTION AND SHE SAID BECAUSE HOW KENTUCKY LAW DEFINES AN EMBRYO AS AN UNUNBORN HUMAN BEING, IF EMBRYOS ARE DISCARDED SHE IS WORRIED THAT SHE COULD BE CHARGED WITH VIOLATING THAT LAW AND RESULT IN A FELONY CHARGE.

JUDGES COURT OF APPEALS FRIDAY FOUND SHE HAD STANDING WHICH MEANS SHE IS INJURED BY THE LAW BECAUSE SHE PAYS 800 A YEAR TO HAVE HER EMBRYOS STORED BECAUSE SHE CANCELED AN IMPLANTATION BECAUSE SHE WAS NERVOUS ABOUT THE TRIGGER BAN.

NOW SHE GETS TO HAVE HER CASE HEARD BEFORE A COURT AND PLEAD THE MERITS THE FIRST TIME THAT'S HAPPENED IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: THERE WAS A SHOOTING RAMPAGE THAT LEFT THREE PEOPLE IN LEXINGTON DEAD INCLUDING THE SHOOTER.

QUESTIONS RAISED INCLUDING PROTECTIVE ORDER.

>> THE EXFILED FOR AN EMERGENCY ORDER EIGHT DAYS BEFORE THERE WAS A HEARING THE FOLLOWING DAY AND IT RAISED CONCERNS HOW QUICKLY THOSE THINGS ARE ISSUES.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN TO QUICKEN THAT PROCESS.

>> Bill: SENTENCING FOR THE MAN CONVICTED IN BREONNA TAYLOR'S RAID IS COMING UP.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED A SENTENCE.

>> THREE YEARS SUPERVISED RELEASE NO PRISON TIME.

NOT A THOUGHT A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, THE DODGE HAS DIFFERENT, DOJ HAVE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES AND THEY ARE ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THE FAMILY WAS HOPING FOR.

HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING HER CIVIL RIGHTS.

>> Bill: COVINGTON CONSIDERING ADDING A PUBLIC AREA WHERE ADULTS CAN CONSUME ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND THEY ARE CONSIDERED WHAT IT WOULD BE CALLED.

IT REQUIRES SPECIAL CITY APPROVAL TO DO THAT.

THAT MAY COME NEXT MONTH.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

[Knocking]