[♪♪] >> THERE IS A LOT OF MOISTURE IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WILL BRING RAIN FOR US.

>> Renee: LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT COULD BE A WET WEEKEND.

AREAS MOST AT RISK FOR POTENTIAL FLOODING.

>> >> BARR HAS THE MOMENTUM, AND THAT COULD ATTRACT MORE CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> WHAT CAMPAIGN CASH SAYS ABOUT THE STATE OF KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE RACE.

>> THE JOBS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE 10 YEARS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE TODAY.

>> AND WE'LL TAKE A PEEK INTO THE DRIVING FORCES BEHIND ONE REGION'S SOARING ECONOMY.

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION FOR JULY 18TH.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

IT'S DONE.

CONGRESS HAS CUT FUNDING FOR SOME FOREIGN AID PROGRAMS... AND PUBLIC TELEVISION AND RADIO.

THE FINAL VOTE IN THE U.S. HOUSE CAME EARLY THIS MORNING.

THE SO-CALLED RESCISSION BILL CUTS NINE BILLION DOLLARS ALREADY APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS.

THAT INCLUDES MONEY FOR THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

WHICH HELPS FUND KET CRITICS OF THE CUT SAY PUBLIC RADIO AND TV PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN BRINGING EMERGENCY WEATHER INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC.

HERE'S CONGRESSMAN MORGAN MCGARVEY, A DEMOCRAT FROM KENTUCKY'S THIRD DISTRICT, BEFORE THE VOTE.

>> EVERYONE IN KENTUCKY IS IMPACTED BY SEVERE WEATHER AND WE KNOW SOMEONE HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF A FLOOD OR TORNADO.

THIS WEEK THE SENATE PASSED DONALD TRUMP'S PROPOSED CUTS.

SECONDS MATTER FOR GETTING YOUR FAMILY TO SAFETY.

LOCAL TV STATIONS DON'T REACH WHERE YOU ARE.

THIS IS THE SYSTEM THAT SAVES FAMILYS' LIVES.

THE HOUSE CAN STOP IT THEY CAN STAND UP FOR OUR RURAL NEIGHBORS BY STANDING UP TO DONALD TRUMP AND VOTING NO.

MCGARVEY WAS THE ONLY KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN TO VOTE NO.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR, FROM THE SIXTH DISTRICT, POSTED THIS TODAY.

"LAST NIGHT, I VOTED FOR NINE BILLION DOLLARS IN TRUMP DOGE CUTS.

THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING -- I'M WORKING WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP TO CUT MORE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE FROM THE DC SWAMP.

WE'RE READY FOR EVEN MORE RESCISSIONS PACKAGES!"

ALREADY, A LOT OF MONEY IS FLOWING INTO CAMPAIGNS FOR NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

IN KENTUCKY'S SIXTH DISTRICT RACE, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHERLYNN STEVENSON IS OUT-PACING DAVID KLOIBER, A FORMER LEXINGTON COUNCILMEMBER.

SHE HAS ABOUT 30-THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE CASH ON HAND.

BOTH ARE DEMOCRATS.

CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE HAS ALSO STOCKPILED NEARLY TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN, DESPITE HIS PUBLIC CLASHES WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

KENTUCKY'S FOURTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN WAS ONE OF TWO HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO VOTE AGAINST TRUMP'S MASSIVE TAX BILL.

HE ALSO CRITICIZED THE PRESIDENT FOR BOMBING IRANIAN NUCLEAR SITES WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL.

MEANWHILE, A NEW POLITICAL FUNDRAISING ARM RUN BY TRUMP INSIDERS CALLED MAGA KENTUCKY IS DEVOTED TO DEFEATING MASSIE IN NEXT YEAR'S PRIMARY.

THE GROUP HAS ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS ON ADS ATTACKING MASSIE.

BUT THEY'VE YET TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE.

I'LL TALK ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE FUNDRAISING NUMBERS WITH TREY GRAYSON AND BOB BABBAGE DURING OUR 'INSIDE KENTUCKY POLITICS' SEGMENT, IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

>> THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS IT WILL RELEASE SOME OF THE SIX BILLION DOLLARS IN GRANT MONEY PREVIOUSLY WITHHELD FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IN FREEZING THE FUNDS, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAID IT WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PROGRAMS BEING FUNDED ALIGN WITH THE PRESIDENT'S PRIORITIES.

A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A REVIEW OF SOME OF THE PROGRAMS IS NOW COMPLETE.

ABOUT ONE BILLION DOLLARS WILL BE RELEASED TO THE STATES.

A REVIEW OF THE REMAINING PROGRAMS CONTINUES.

THE DECISION COMES JUST DAYS AFTER TEN REPUBLICAN SENATORS, INCLUDING MITCH MCCONNELL OF KENTUCKY, URGED THE FEDERAL BUDGET DIRECTOR TO RELEASE THE FUNDS.

THE LETTER SAID, "WE SHARE YOUR CONCERN ABOUT TAXPAYER MONEY GOING TO FUND RADICAL LEFT-WING PROGRAMS.

HOWEVER, WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS HAPPENING WITH THESE FUNDS."

CONGRESSMAN MCGARVEY ALSO SENT A LETTER THIS WEEK, CALLING THE MOVE ILLEGAL AND WRONG.

HE ADDED, "SUCH SUDDEN AND ARBITRARY FREEZES DISRUPT THE BUDGETING PROCESS FOR THE WHOLE SCHOOL YEAR.

INJECTING VOLATILITY AND UNCERTAINTY AS STUDENTS ARE SET TO RETURN TO SCHOOL IN A FEW WEEKS."

ON MONDAY, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR JOINED MORE THAN 20 STATES IN SUING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER THE FROZEN FUNDS.

ABOUT 87 MILLION DOLLARS ARE EARMARKED FOR KENTUCKY SCHOOLS.

>> THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY SAYS IT'S REMOVED SOMEONE FROM TEACHING OVER AN ONLINE PETITION.

UK SAYS THAT PETITION CAN BE INTERPRETED AS ANTI-SEMITIC, BASED ON STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES.

THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER SAYS THE PETITION CALLS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL.

THE NEWSPAPER IDENTIFIES THE PROFESSOR AS RASMI WOODCOCK.

PRESIDENT ELI CAPILOUTO SAYS AN OUTSIDE THIRD PARTY WILL REVIEW THIS INCIDENT.

>> RAIN THIS WEEKEND COULD BE MORE THAN AN INCONVENIENCE.

WITH HEAVY DOWNPOURS IN THE FORECAST, THE RISK OF FLASH FLOODING IS A MAJOR CONCERN ACROSS THE STATE.

CHRISTIE DUTTON SPOKE TO A NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST TO FIND OUT WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEKEND AND WHO IS MOST AT RISK.

>> MIKE WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE.

I SAW RAIN AND FLOODING YESTERDAY AND AS WE LOOK AT THE WEEKEND FORECAST WE COULD BE SEEING MORE OF THE SAME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A STATIONARY FRONT THAT IS HANGING AROUND TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND AND THERE IS A LOT OF MOISTURE THAT WILL BRING THE HEAVY RAIN FOR US.

>> AND WE HAVE A RISK FOR EXCESSIVE RAIN FALL THIS WEEKEND.

WHO IS UNDER THAT RISK?

WHERE DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE HAZARDS COULD BE IN OUR STATE?

>> ANY PART OF KENTUCKY, BUT ESPECIALLY THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE COULD SEE SOME OF THAT EXCESSIVE RAINFALL.

WE HAVE A RISK FOR AT LEAST 15% CHANCE FOR FLASH FLOODING TO OCCUR IN ANY ONE COUNTY.

IT IS NOT ZERO.

YOU CAN SEE THAT FLASH FLOODING RISK THERE.

THE EAST BUT, REALLY, ANYWHERE IN KENTUCKY ON SATURDAY NEEDS TO BE WEATHER AWARE.

>> AND HOW MUCH RAIN ARE WE TALKING FOR AREAS?

I KNOW IT VARIES HOW MUCH CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS, BUT WHAT IS THAT EXCESSIVE RAINFALL?

CAN YOU PUT A NUMBER TO IT?

>> AN ADDITIONAL 1-3 INCHES OF RAINFALL FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND ON TOP OF AREAS THAT RECEIVED THAT MUCH RAINFALL.

IT'S A COMPLEX SCENARIO OF HOW MUCH RAIN HAS FALLEN AND THE SOIL MOISTURE AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL COMING.

ALL THAT GOES INTO OUR FORECAST THAT WE COULD SEE THAT EXCESSIVE RAINFALL RISK AND FLASH FLOODING THAT COULD OCCUR RAPIDLY.

>> COULD WE SEE MORE FLOOD WATCHES, WARNINGS THIS WEEKEND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A WATCH MEANS IT'S POSSIBLE.

A WARNING MEANS IT'S HAPPENING.

WHEN YOU GET THAT WARNING HAVE YOUR FAVORITE APPS FROM YOUR LOCAL STATIONS OR IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON YOUR PHONE AND BE WEATHER AWARE.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE RADAR AND KNOW WHEN THE RAIN IS COMING YOUR WAY BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY.

>> IF SOMEBODY IS OUT CAMPING DOESN'T HAVE GOOD CELLPHONE RECEPTION HOW DO THEY STAY SAFE?

>> A WEATHER RADIO ALWAYS ON-LINE, BATTERY OPERATED.

WHEN YOUR CELLPHONE DOESN'T WORK, WEATHER RADIO GO TO YOUR LOCAL STORE AND PICK ONE UP.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXPERTISE.

MIKE FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, CHRISTIE DUTTON.

>> THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE TO TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN.

ACCORDING TO THE CDC, MOST FLOOD-RELATED DEATHS OCCUR WHEN A VEHICLE IS DRIVEN THROUGH A FLOODED ROAD.

>> KENTUCKY IS SUING TEMU, A CHINESE ONLINE SHOPPING PLATFORM.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN SAYS TEMU IS SELLING COUNTERFEIT ITEMS THAT APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO SOME OF KENTUCKY'S BEST-KNOWN PRODUCTS AND ICONS.

THESE INCLUDE BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY, CHURCHILL DOWNS, THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, AND THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.

THE LAWSUIT ALSO SAYS TEMU IS ILLEGALLY COLLECTING PEOPLE'S DATA WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND PERMISSION.

THE SUIT CLAIMS TEMU IS USING UNDERAGE WORKERS IN VIOLATION OF U.S. TRADE POLICIES.

IN A STATEMENT, COLEMAN SAYS TEMU CAN INFECT KENTUCKIANS' DEVICES WITH MALWARE.

IT CAN SEND KENTUCKIANS' PERSONAL DATA TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

>> THE CITY OF LEXINGTON IS PLANNING TO HOLD A VIGIL FOLLOWING A DEADLY MASS SHOOTING.

POLICE SAY GUY HOUSE INJURED A KSP TROOPER NEAR BLUE GRASS AIRPORT ON SUNDAY.

HE THEN KILLED TWO WOMEN AND INJURED TWO MEN AT RICHMOND ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH.

HOUSE WAS THEN SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE.

MAYOR LINDA GORTON'S OFFICE SAYS THE VIGIL WILL TAKE PLACE TUESDAY AT 6 P.M. AT THE COURTHOUSE PLAZA.

SHE WILL BE JOINED BY LEXINGTON'S POLICE CHIEF, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND FAITH LEADERS.

[♪♪] TIME TO GO INSIDE KENTUCKY POLITICS AND TALK ABOUT MAJOR POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS AND WE HAVE OUR FRIENDS AND KET COMMENTATORS WITH US.

TREY GRAYSON ON SCREEN LEFT AND BOB BABBAGE ON SCREEN RIGHT.

GET THE BAND BACK TOGETHER AGAIN WE HAVE HAD A HIATUS HERE.

LET'S START WITH THE U.S. SENATE RACE AND WE LEARNED TODAY THROUGH REPORTING IN THE KENTUCKY LANTERN ABOUT ANDY BARR'S FUNDRAISING MACHINE HE IS HE'S GOT 6.1 MILLION ON HAND AS OF JUNE 30TH.

DANIEL CAMERON HAS $532,000 ON HAND.

SO IS BARR JUST A FUNDRAISING MACHINE?

AND WHAT IS DANIEL CAMERON DOING?

HOW WOULD YOU CONTEXTUALIZE THIS FOR US, TREY GRAYSON?

>> BARR IS A FUND RAISING MACHINE.

OF THE RALLY OF THE RACES HE NEEDS IT.

HE IS WELL-KNOWN IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND A LITTLE BIT IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT A LOT OF THE FOLKS WATCH LEXINGTON MEDIA SO THEY WOULD HAVE PICKED UP ON ANDY BARR BUT HE IS NOT WELL-KNOWN IN THE REST OF THE STATE.

HE NEEDS MORE MONEY THAN DANIEL CAMERON FOR THIS RACE.

BUT IT SHOWS THAT BARR IS PUTTING THE MONEY IN HE HAS HIGH PROFILE DONORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THE STATE.

CAMERON WENT DOWN FROM QUARTER ONE TO QUARTER TWO THOUGH HE HAD A FULL QUARTER TO RAISE MONEY IT IS A DISAPPOINTING QUARTER.

THE RACE IS NOT OVER AND TODAY CAMERON WOULD WIN BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW HIM BETTER.

WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING IT'S CLEAR BARR HAS MOMENTUM AND IT WILL HELP HIM ATTRACT MORE CONTRIBUTIONS, MORE VOLUNTEERS, MORE ENDORSEMENTS AS HE IS CRISSCROSSING THE STATE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO PEOPLE.

>> Renee: BOB BABBAGE WHAT DOES DANIEL CAMERON NEED TO DO BETTER AT THIS JUNCTURE.

>> HE NEEDS TO RAISE A MILLION DOLLARS OVER THIS NEXT PERIOD FOR SURE.

AND MAKE AN IMPACT WITH THE MONEY EVEN THOUGH THIS POPULARITY IS SIGNIFICANT.

EVERY REPUBLICAN OF ANY STANDING ON A LOCAL COMMITTEE OR ACTIVIST MET DANIEL CAMERON OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

HE DOES HAVE THAT EDGE.

YOU STILL HAVE TO FUND THE RACE.

IT IS A SMALL BUSINESS YOU HAVE TO FUND IT AND EXECUTE THE SPENDING RIGHT.

AND REACH OTHER PLACES THAT GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO WIN.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY POLLS RIGHT NOW.

ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE NUMBERS.

WE HAVE SPENDING REPORTS POLLS HAVE LARGE ROOM FOR ERRORS AND SPENDING REPORTS WENT TO THE PENNY.

WHEN YOU SEE THE NUMBERS THEY DEFINITELY BUILD THE NOTION THAT BARR IS AHEAD.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE FOR THE WINNER AND RIGHT NOW TO HAVE A 12-1 LEAD IN FUND RAISING MONEY ON HAND IS A BIG, BIG BREAK FOR BARR.

>> Renee: I WANT TO HAVE YOU RESPOND TO SOMETHING TREY SAID ABOUT ANDY BARR NAME RECOGNITION COMPARED TO DANIEL CAMERON, DANIEL CAMERON IS NOT ON THE SCENE AND ANDY BARR IS IN THE HEADLINES AND MAKING NEWS AND PART OF PIVOTAL VOTES IN WASHINGTON COULD YOU SQUARE WHY MAYBE BARR NEEDS TO HAVE MORE NAME RECOGNITION BUILDUP NOT DANIEL CAMERON NOT IN THE POLITICAL SPACE AS ACTIVELY AS BARR IS.

>> WE TALK ABOUT POLITICAL LEADERS LIKE WE KNOW THEM BUT I DON'T KNOW BARR AS WELL AS RAND PAUL OR MITCH McCONNELL.

BECAUSE OF THE FACT THEY ARE STATE-WIDE.

HE HAS A GREAT MEDIA MARKET IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY THAT GOES BEYOND CENTRAL KENTUCKY THAT HELPS HIM GET STARTED.

BUT GO TO ALLEN COUNTY, THESE ARE PLACES WHERE DANIEL CAMERON PROBABLY MADE A STOP AND PROBABLY KNOWS PEOPLE AND HAS MADE THE PITCH BEFORE AND HIS LIKABILITY HAS COME ACROSS.

TO CATCH UP WITH THEM ON NAME YOU HAVE TO OUTSPEND HIM OR FIGURE OUT SOME WAY TO DO THAT.

TO BE IN CONGRESS AND TO RUN FOR STATE-WIDE OFFICE IS VERY CHALLENGING.

BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE ALL THE TIME.

CAMERON IS HERE.

HE CAN WORK THE CALL ALL DAY AND GO TO AN EVENT AT NIGHT.

THAT IS THE MAKEUP OF THIS.

BARR IS GETTING AROUND TALKED ABOUT HOW HE MADE THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADES AND VOTED IN WASHINGTON AND KEPT THE MOMENTUM.

>> Renee: WE HAVE ANOTHER NAME TO MENTION, TREY GRAYSON AND THAT IS NATE MORRIS, A WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN AND HE DID NOT REGISTER HIS CAMPAIGN WITH THE ELECTION COMMISSION UNTIL JULY FIRST.

SO HE DIDN'T HAVE TO REPORT.

BUT DO WE KNOW HOW MUCH HE COULD BRING TO THE TABLE WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCIAL COFFERS FOR HIS CAMPAIGN?

>> MORRIS HAS SOMETHING THE OTHER TWO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT HIS OWN MONEY INTO THE RACE.

IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW MUCH HE COULD PUT IN BUT HE COULD PUT SIX, SEVEN FIGURES OF HIS OWN MONEY IN AND HE IS CONNECTED WITH THE VICE-PRESIDENT AND DON, JR.

THE OFFICIAL ROLL OUT WE HAVE BEEN TALKING AS A CANDIDATE BUT HE HAD ELIZABETHTOWN ON BULLIT COUNTY, CHARLIE KIRK IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO FOUNDED TURNING POINT WAS THERE AND HAD A LARGE CROWD.

MORRIS WILL BE A FACTOR HE SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO COMPETE.

IF BARR HAS NAME RECOGNITION CHALLENGES, MORRIS HAS IT EVERYWHERE.

BUT THAT IS SMALL BUSINESS YOU FUND THE CAMPAIGN FOR DONORS THROUGH YOUR OWN MONEY AND THEN YOU DUKE IT OUT WITH YOUR MESSAGING.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER RACE AND THIS IS THE SIXTH DISTRICT RACE WHICH BARR IS FORFEITING THAT SEAT TO RUN FOR U.S. SENATE.

AND WE HAVE A NEW NAME THAT IS FAMILIAR TO MOST OF US.

AND THAT IS RALPH ALVARADO WHO WAS A STATE SENATOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE AND WAS UP UNTIL THIS WEEK, THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH FOR TENNESSEE.

AND WE HAD INTERVIEWED HIM A FEW WEEKS AGO THERE FOR THE RX SUMMIT IN NASHVILLE.

NOW HE'S GETTING INTO THE RACE.

ARE YOU SURPRISED BY THIS, BOB BABBAGE?

>> HEARD RUMBLINGS OF THIS BUT DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN.

IT HAS.

HE IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

THAT RACE CHANGED A LOT IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.

ALVARADO HAS NOT BEEN IN A PLACE TO RAISE MONEY BUT A CHALLENGER HAS BEEN AND PUT $60,000 OF HIS FUNDS IN AND RAISED 30, 40,000 ON TOP OF IT.

WE ONLY VOTE IN SIX ELECTIONS EVERY FOUR YEARS AND THAT IS THREE PRIMARIES AND THREE GENERALS IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE RUNNING THIS YEAR.

I HAVE PEOPLE ASKING ARE WE VOTING THIS NOVEMBER.

BUT IT FEELS LIKE IT BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEING SO MUCH AND HEARING SO MUCH.

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOU SAY, TREY?

>> I TEXTED WITH RALPH WHEN I FIRST HEARD THE NEWS LAST WEEK THAT HE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT THE RACE IT WAS CLEAR HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

I CAN DO MORE FOR HEALTHCARE IN THE CONGRESS AND HE MAINTAINS TIES IN KENTUCKY THOUGH HE HAD BEEN IN TENNESSEE.

IT IS NOT A SURPRISE YOU INTERVIEWED HIM THAT HE WANTED TO BE INTERVIEWED BY KET.

PROBABLY BEFORE HE WAS THINKING ABOUT RUNNING.

HE MAINTAINED HIS RESIDENCY AND STILL HAS A MEDICAL PRACTICE IN CLARK COUNTY.

I THINK HE IS THE FAVORITE IN THE RACE NOT AS WELL-KNOWN AS A STATE SENATOR AS A MEMBER OF GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE DISTRICT RELATIVE TO HIS DISTRICT BUT HE WAS A LEADER IN THE KENTUCKY STATE SENATE AND MATT BEVIN'S RUNNING MATE THAT ALLOWED HIM TO MEET MORE PEOPLE.

HE IS CONSIDERED A HEALTH POLICY EXPERT AND HE IMMEDIATELY SECURED THE ENDORSEMENT OF DAY MON THAYER AND YOU WILL SEE THE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS THE MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS RALLYING BEHIND HIM.

BUT RYAN DOTSON HAS A STRONG GROUP OF ENDORSEMENTS FROM HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE AND FROM THE SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE PART OF THE PARTY.

AND THEN DEANNA GORDON WENT AHEAD AND JUMPED IN THE RACE.

I DON'T ANTICIPATE MEANINGFUL REPUBLICANS GETTING IN.

BUT RALPH ALVARADO IS THE FAVORITES AND IF HE DOES EMERGE FROM THE PRIMARY HE WILL BE HARDER TO BEAT IN A GENERAL ELECTION THAN PROBABLY DOTSON OR GORDON BECAUSE HE HAD TOUGH GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE PAST.

HE BEAT PALMER TO WIN THE SEAT 10 YEARS AGO.

AND SO HE HAS HAD BATTLES IN GENERAL ELECTIONS HE HAS SHOWN THAT ELECTABILITY AND HE WILL BE A STRONG CANDIDATE IN THE FALL.

BOB, IT DOES SEEM LIKE WE'RE HAVING ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.

>> Renee: IT DOES.

AND ONE REAL QUICK POSTSCRIPT FOR ANOTHER 30 SECONDS.

WHERE WAS GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR THIS WEEK, TREY GRAYSON?

>> WELL, TREY GRAYSON WILL TELL YOU THAT.

>> Renee: SORRY ABOUT THAT, TREY.

>> SO THIS TRES CAN TELL YOU THAT OUR GOVERNOR WAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA SPEAKING AT THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GATHERING IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THAT'S NOTABLE BECAUSE SOUTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF THE EARLY PRIMARY STATES.

I WAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA A FEW WEEKS AGO ON VACATION HE WAS IN SOUTH CAROLINA RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

>> Renee: ANY COMMENT ON THAT, BOB?

>> JUST THIS IS ONE VOICE GOT BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME AFTER A MEETING BESHEAR, GOVERNOR BESHEAR IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

WHO HAS BEEN REPUBLICAN BUT HE IS MIDDLE OF THE ROAD PERSON HE SAYS I WANT TO BE IN THE LEADERSHIP DOWN HERE FOR THIS GUY FOR PRESIDENT.

THAT IS THE IMPACT HE IS MAKING.

I'VE HEARD THE SAME FROM INDIANA AND ILLINOIS.

PEOPLE WITHSTANDING IN THE PARTY THINK THAT ANDY BESHEAR IS DIFFERENT.

HE HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.

THIS IS A LONG DREDGE TO GET THROUGH THE STEPS AND GET TO THE PRIMARIES TO GET TO IOWA AND BE A FACTOR THERE.

BUT WHEN YOU GET THAT FEEDBACK IT TELLS YOU PEOPLE ARE SEEING SOMETHING THAT THEY LIKE.

>> Renee: YEAH.

WELL, TREY I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO THE WATSON FOR CONFUSING YOU TWO.

YOU KNOW I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

TREY GRAYSON AND BOB BABBAGE ALWAYS A PLEASURE, GUYS.

[♪♪] >> HOW'S BUSINESS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY?

WHICH INDUSTRIES LOOK ESPECIALLY STRONG?

OUR EMILY SISK FOUND OUT AS NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY HELD ITS THIRD ANNUAL MID-SUMMER SYMPOSIUM.

>> IT'S CALLED THE CORRIDOR OF COMMERCE A GEOGRAPHIC REGION THAT BOASTS TOP BUSINESSES AND ASSETS WITH NORTHERN KENTUCKY RIGHT AT THE CENTER.

AS JANET HARRA EXPLAINED THE CORRIDOR'S RESOURCES ALLOW GOODS AND SERVICES TO BE DELIVERED ACROSS THE GLOBE.

>> YOU CAN MOVE SERVICES BY RAIL, AIR, WATER, OVER THE ROAD.

WE HAVE ALMOST EVERY TRANSPORTATION MODE YOU CAN IMAGINE WE HAVE IN THIS PORTAL.

>> AS THE CORRIDOR OF COMMERCE CONTINUES TO DEVELOP, NORTHERN KENTUCKY LOOKS TO ATTRACT MORE WORKERS AND INDUSTRIES.

NKU'S CENTER FOR ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND DEVELOPMENT IDENTIFIED FIVE SECTORS THAT HAVE DEFINED THE REGION'S ECONOMY SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

THE FIRST IS LIFE SCIENCES WHICH INCLUDES PHARMACISTS, CHEMISTS AND MORE.

HARRIS SAID THE ANNUAL SALARY IS OVER $104,000.

>> THOSE ARE VERY HIGH PAYING JOBS BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGHLY SKILLED YOU HAVE TO KNOW A LOT ABOUT SCIENCE AND MEDICINE AND HOW THOSE WORK TOGETHER TO FUEL BETTER HEALTHCARE.

>> TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE IN LAST YEAR IN KENTUCKY WE EXPORTED 3.7 BILLION WORTH OF LIFE SCIENCES PHARMACEUTICALS AND MEDICINES.

>> THE NEXT SECTOR IS ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INCLUDING ASSEMBLERS, INSPECTORS AND TRADESPEOPLE.

WHILE THE INDUSTRY ISN'T NECESSARILY CREATING MORE JOBS IT'S STEADILY BRINGING IN MORE AND MORE MONEY FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> YOU DON'T SEEM TO SEE A LOT OF JOB GROWTH IN MANUFACTURING YET OUR OUTPUT CONTINUES TO GROW IT'S BECAUSE IF WE CAN COMPARE OUR UNITED STATES TO CHINA OUR OUTPUT HOUR IS THREE TIMES.

WE ARE DOING MORE WITH FEWER PEOPLE.

>> THE SENIOR DIRECTOR SAYS THAT IS BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY HAS BEGUN INCORPORATING MORE AUTOMATION AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS IS THE THIRD SECTOR WHICH HARRIS SAID IS HUGE FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS IS DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF THAT JOBS IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.

IT ADDS A LOT OF JOBS TO THE COMMUNITY AND ADDS A LOT OF ENTRY LEVEL JOBS AND EVERYBODY NEEDS THAT POINT INTO THE WORKFORCE.

A COUPLE THINGS CATALYZING GROWTH.

FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY IT WAS THE INTRODUCTION OF WE HAVE DHL HERE AN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPER AND INTRODUCTION OF AMAZON PRIME HERE THIS IS THEIR HUB.

WE ARE MOVING CARGO OUT OF CBG THE 6TH LARGEST IN NORTH AMERICA.

PART OF WHAT IS FUELING THAT ALL OF US LIKE TO GET ON THE COMPUTER AND GET NEXT DAY DELIVERY THAT E-COMMERCE IS FUELING THE GROWTH AND TRANSPORTATION ALOE JIS PARTICULARS.

>> AEROSPACE AND AVIATION IS THE FOURTH ECONOMY THAT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH MANY OF THE INDUSTRIES.

HARRA GAVE THE DATA HOW MUCH BUSINESS IS HAPPENING INSIDE THE CBG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.

>> WE HAD 9.2 MILLION PASSENGERS LAST YEAR.

THEY ARE CARRYING TWO MILLION TONS OF CARGO EVERY YEAR.

IT IS A STRATEGIC ASSET FOR US.

>> THE FINAL ECONOMIC SECTOR WHICH HARRIS SAID WAS MOST SURPRISING IS WHOLESALE TRADING.

>> LIKE MOST PEOPLE WHAT'S WHO WORKS IN WHOLESALE TRADING WHAT DO THEY DO?

ALL THE SALESPEOPLE AND THEY MAKE GOOD MONEY THE AVERAGE WAGE IS ALMOST $90,000 A YEAR.

BUT IT'S MOSTLY SALESPEOPLE BUYING AND SELLING GOODS ACROSS COMPANIES.

>> RESEARCH SHOWED THAT ALMOST ALL THE INDUSTRIES ARE COMPLIMENTARY TO EACH OTHER AND THEY NEED ONE ANOTHER TO SUCCEED.

HARRA EXPLAINED WHAT THE PRESENTATION MIGHT LOOK LIKE 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> THE ECONOMY IS CHANGING BECAUSE OF AUTOMATION AND A.I., THE JOBS THAT ARE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE 10 YEARS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE TODAY.

IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT CAN PREPARE THEIR TALENT FOR THOSE CHANGES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO SUCCEED LONG-TERM.

>> FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M EMILY SISK.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, EMILY.

>> LOCAL LEADERS IN ATTENDANCE FOR YESTERDAY'S SYMPOSIUM SAID THE NEXT STEP WILL BE ENSURING ADEQUATE HOUSING IS AVAILABLE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

THIS WILL ALLOW WORKERS TO RESIDE IN THE REGION RATHER THAN ACROSS THE RIVER IN CINCINNATI.

[♪♪] >> COLLEGE FOOTBALL SEASON STARTS IN A MONTH AND A HALF.

IT COULD BE A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

MORE IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AT SPORTS.

SEC MEDIA DAYS JUST CONCLUDED IN ATLANTA.

THE 2025 SEC PRESEASON MEDIA POLL IS OUT.

KENTUCKY IS PREDICTED TO FINISH 15TH OF THE 16 TEAMS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE.

MISSISSIPPI STATE WAS 16TH IN THE POLL.

THE TEXAS LONGHORNS WERE FIRST.

LOOK OUT FOR THE RAIN THIS WEEKEND.

IN BETWEEN SHOWERS, CHECK OUT SOME OF THE GREAT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES AROUND THE STATE.

OUR TOBY GIBBS HAS SOME OF THEM IN THIS LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING 'AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH.'

[♪♪] >> ANTIQUE LOVERS, THE BURLINGTON ANTIQUE SHOW IS SUNDAY THE 44TH YEAR WITH 200 ANTIQUE DEALERS YOUR FAMILY WILL FIND GOOD ITEMS.

>>> IF YOU ARE A FAN OF SANDWICHES AND WINE HEAD TO HE HAD W5RDS VINEYARDS SUNDAY AND CHECK OUT A BREAD MAKING CLASS AND LEARN HOW TO MAKE SANDWICH BREAD FROM SCRATCH AND YOU CAN TAKE THE RECIPE HOME WITH YOU.

>>> POETRY NIGHT IS SATURDAY AT CARTER DECADE STATE RESORT PARK.

IT'S FOR ALL AGES.

THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE TO SHOW YOUR WORK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A RELAXED SETTING.

BRING YOUR OWN DINNER AND SNACKS WHILE YOU BASK IN THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD.

>>> THE WESTERN KENTUCKY BEER FESTIVAL KICKS OFF SATURDAY AT MARR PARK ARBORETUM, THE THEME IS LAGGER AND FRUIT BEER AND 20 OPTIONS.

THIS IS A GREAT EVENT TO TRY NEW AND LOCAL BEERS TAKE AN UMBRELLA IN CASE YOU NEED IT.

>>> WILD SIDE WINERY IS THROWING THE BLACKBERRY HARVEST FESTIVAL SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

PICK BLACKBERRIES AND EAT FOODS AND LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT THIS FREE EVENT AND AND THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU TOBY.

>> KENTUCKY'S GOVERNOR'S SCHOLAR PROGRAM HAS A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

HER HISTORY WITH THE PROGRAM RUNS DEEP.

>> DOES FEEL VERY FULL CIRCLE FOR ME.

STARTINGS AS A COLLAR AND NOW BEING IN THIS POSITION.

AND I KEEP HAVING TO PINCH MYSELF, BECAUSE I AM SO GRATEFUL AND I NEVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED WHEN I WAS A SCHOLAR THAT THIS IS WHERE I WOULD BE.

ON MONDAY'S KENTUCKY EDITION, WE SIT DOWN WITH THE NEW DIRECTOR TO TALK ABOUT HER MISSION FOR THE PROGRAM.

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN MONDAY NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE'LL HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE'LL SEE YOU MONDAY NIGHT.