[♪♪] >> Bill: REPUBLICANS NOMINATE DONALD TRUMP AND THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITH KENTUCKY TIES AMID DRAMA ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER'S COMMITTEE WILL INVESTIGATE THE SECRET SERVICE AFTERRED AT SASS NATION ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON TRUMP.

ANTI-DEI LEGISLATION FAILED IN THE SESSION BUT THE DISCUSSION RETURNS.

THE 80s REPLACE THE 90s IN OUR WEATHER AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE SARAH LADD, HEALTH AND POLICY REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

TESSA DUVALL, POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

AND RUSS CASSADY REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS.

ALSO TONIGHT THIS MONTH MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE THE DEVASTATING FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND A DISPUTE OVER FUNDING OF NEW LAWS ARE NOW GOING ON.

THE LAWS ARE IN EFFECT BUT THEY MAY HAVE NOT BEEN PAID FOR.

A LOT TO DISCUSS AS SOME WOULD PUT IT WHAT A YEAR THIS WEEK AS BEEN, RIGHT?

THERE ARE CALLS FOR A FULL INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE FAILURE SURROUNDING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP BY THE SECRET SERVICE HE IS NOW THE NOMINEE AND THERE ARE KENTUCKY ELEMENTS TO THAT STORY.

RUSS, CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER OF KENTUCKY CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HE WILL HOLD A HEARING MONDAY WITH THE SECRET SERVICE SUBPOENAED TO TESTIFY.

>> YEAH, BILL THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF RAW INFORMATION WE ARE SEEING THE IMPACT OF EVERYBODY HAVING A CAMERA IN THEIR HANDS WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS OCCURS.

BUT WHAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN A LOT OF YET ARE ANSWERS FROM THE OFFICIALS WHO REALLY MATTER.

IT'S BEEN A SLOW AND VERY RELEASE OF INFORMATION AND IT'S FEELING A LOT OF SPECULATION.

WHETHER THIS FORUM WILL PROVIDE THOSE ANSWERS REMAINS TO BE SEEN I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

TESSA, SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH McCONNELL HAS ALSO SAID THAT THE HEAD OF THE SECRET SERVICE SHOULD STEP ASIDE.

>> HE HAS.

HE HAS SAID IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRUST WITHIN THE SECRET SERVICE AFTER A FAILURE THAT SPECTACULARLY.

AS RUSS POINTED OUT WE ARE SEEING MORE VIDEOS SURFACE THAT ARE RAISING MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW A GUNMAN WAS EVER ABLE TO GET SO CLOSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH OTHER PEOPLE POINTING OUT THIS INDIVIDUAL.

AND SO THE HOUSE SPEAKER HAS ALSO MADE COMMENTS SIMILAR TO WHAT SENATOR McCONNELL SAID SHE'S GOT TO GO.

>> Bill: IT SEEMS TO BE A BIPARTISAN CONCERN HERE AND SO THAT WILL BE THE STAGE THAT WILL BE SET WHEN THOSE HEARINGS BEGIN ON MONDAY.

THE ATTEMPT ON TRUMP CAUSED SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THOSE DELEGATES ARE HOME ARE TRYING TO RETURN HOME NOW THAT IS ANOTHER STORY WITH THE TECHNICAL ISSUES OF THE DAY WITH THE INTERNET PROBLEMS.

BUT WHILE IN MILWAUKEE, THE THEME BECAME ABOUT UNITY AS REPUBLICANS TRIED TO CRITICIZE DEMOCRATS AND KICKOFF THEIR FALL CAMPAIGN WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF A GENTLER TONE.

>> FOR THE SCRIPTED PORTION OF DONALD TRUMP'S SPEECH HE DID GO ON FOR 9,000 WORDS I THINK IT WAS.

YES, THAT WAS SORT OF THE GOAL, THIS IS PRIMETIME AND THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A BIGGER TENT TO BRING IN MORE VOTERS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE MODERATE IN PRESENTATION TO TRY TO BRING IN SOME OF THOSE FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT BE HARDLINE, BUT COULD CERTAINLY BE REACHED WITH A MESSAGE ABOUT THE BORDER OR THE ECONOMY.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, TRUMP CHOSE OHIO SENATOR J.D.

VANCE AS HIS RUNNING MADE.

VANCE HAS FAMILY TIES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HIS MOTHER IS FROM BREATH EN COUNTY AND IN HIS SPEECH HE MENTIONED BURIAL PLOT HE OWNS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND LEANED INTO THIS WORKING CLASS AND APPALACHIAN ROOTS.

>> THAT'S KENTUCKY COAL COUNTRY ONE OF THE 10 -- [CHEERING] NOW, IT'S ONE OF THE 10 POOREST COUNTIES IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THEY ARE VERY HARD-WORKING PEOPLE AND VERY GOOD PEOPLE, THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD GIVE YOU THE SHIRT OFF THEIR BACK EVEN IF THEY CANNOT AFFORD ENOUGH TO EAT.

AND OUR MEDIA CALLS THEM PRIVILEGED AND LOOKS DOWN ON THEM BUT THEY LOVE THIS COUNTRY NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

BUT BECAUSE IN THEIR BONES THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS THEIR HOME.

AND IT WILL BE THEIR CHILDREN'S HOME AND THEY WOULD DIE FIGHTING TO PROTECT IT.

[APPLAUSE] >> Bill: RUSS, IT WAS HIS TIE TO APPALACHIA THAT BROUGHT VANCE TO THE NATIONAL ATTENTION WITH THIS BOOK HILLY ELLIEGY WHICH HAS ITS FANS AND CRITICS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

IT DOES.

WHEN PEOPLE WRITE ABOUT APPALACHIA THEY ERR IN ONE OF TWO DIRECTIONS THEY PAINT THE PEOPLE AS INNOCENT VIMENTS UNABLE TO CONTROL THEIR FATE OR DO ANYTHING TO CHANGE THEIR LOT IN LIFE OR ARCHITECTS OF THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION.

IT'S LIKE WATCHING THE PEOPLE PICK THEMSELVES UP AND FIX THEMSELVES AND THE TRUTH IS MORE NUANCED THAN THAT.

THERE'S VALID CRITICISM OF THE WAY THE BOOK IS WRITTEN.

AND THE STORY IT TELLS.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A MUCH MORE INTERESTING AND NUANCED AND IMPORTANT STORY TO TELL THE NATION THAT I HOPE Mr. VANCE CAN GET AN IDEA OF AND UNDERSTANDING OF SHOULD HE BECOME THE VICE-PRESIDENT.

>> Bill: RUSS, WAS IT INTERESTING TO YOU THAT HE MENTIONED BRETHREN COUNTY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND WE TALKED WITH THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR IN JACKSON WHO SAID HE DOES COME IN AND DOES RESEARCH ON HIS FAMILY ROOTS THERE.

>> IT'S NOT SURPRISING.

I MEAN IT IS AN INTERESTING STORIED AR.

ALL OF EASTERN KENTUCKY IS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT, THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'VE BEEN TOLD AND WHAT THEY'VE SEEN IN MOVIES AND BOOKS BUT THEY DON'T KNOW THE AREA.

IT IS KIND OF GIVES AN AIR OF MYSTERY AND SOMETHING TO BE LEARNED ABOUT THE CANDIDATE.

SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY HE WOULD LEAN INTO THAT ABSOLUTELY.

>> Bill: TESS, IT'S BEEN INTERESTING AS WE SAID THERE'S BEEN PUSHBACK AS RUSS WAS SAYING.

APPALACHIAN AUTHOR HOUSE HAS BEEN AMONG THOSE CRITICAL OF VANCE'S PORTRAYAL OF APPALACHIA AND A KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SENATOR CASSIDY CHAMBERS ARMSTRONG HAD AN ART OUT SAYING WHILE HE TALKS ABOUT STRONG WOMEN FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY IN HIS BOOK THAT HIS POLICIES WOULD BE VERY BAD FOR THESE STRONG WOMEN.

WE ALSO HAVE HEARD FROM CYLUS HOUSE WHO SAYS THAT VANCE SHOULD NOT BE HELD UP AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF APPALACHIA OR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THE CONTEMPT HE SHOWS FOR THEM.

AS RUSS SAID, PEOPLE HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT HILLBILLY ELEGY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND HOW HE SHOULD BE PERCEIVED AS CONNECTED TO APPALACHIA.

>> Bill: SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL ANNOUNCED THE KENTUCKY DELEGATE VOTE WE'VE HEARD BOOS FROM THE CROWD AT THAT TIME WHICH WAS INTERESTING TO HEAR.

>> RIGHT.

I MEAN THIS IS SENATOR McCONNELL IS THE REASON THAT TRUMP HAD THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND THE FEDERAL JUDGES THAT HE DID.

THAT'S McCONNELL ORCHESTRATED THAT.

TO SEE HIM BOOED AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AFTER WIELDING AND THAT POWER AND FORMULATING THAT WAS CERTAINLY INTERESTING.

>> Bill: McCONNELL HAS ENDORSED TRUMP.

BUT SARAH, RAND PAUL HAS NOT ENDORSED THE THIS POINT AND WANTS TO HEAR SOME THINGS.

HE WANTS TO HEAR ON SUBJECTS ABOUT THE NATIONAL DEBT, AND ALSO HIS ONGOING INVESTIGATION OF THE ORIGINS OF COVID.

>> YES, AND AND THE COVID IS A HUGE STICKING POINT ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MASS LOCKDOWNS THAT WE SAW IN 2020.

WHERE A LOT OF SMALLER BUSINESSES CLOSED.

YOU HEAR TO THIS DAY CRITICISM OF THE DECISION TO HAVE SUCH SHUTDOWNS.

YOU HEAR CRITICISM FROM THE LIBERTARIAN CROWD ABOUT THE VACCINE MANDATE WHEN THE VACCINE CAME OUT AND PEOPLE WANTED TO GET BACK TO WORK A LOT OF BUSINESSES REQUIRED THAT VACCINE TO COME BACK.

YOU HEAR CRITICISM OF THAT AND OBVIOUSLY THE PUSH TO RESEARCH MORE ABOUT WHERE COVID CAME FROM.

AND I DON'T THINK HE IS ALONE IN THAT.

IF YOU READ SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL RESEARCH OFTEN THEY WILL CONCLUDE IN A SIMILAR WAY THIS IS WHAT WE KNOW AND WE ENCOURAGE MORE RESEARCH.

HE IS NOT ALONE ON THAT POINT.

>> WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME WHILE SENATOR PAUL HAS NOT COME OUT WITH THE FULL ENDORSEMENT OF DONALD TRUMP HE HAS PRAISED HIS COLLEAGUE IN THE SENATE, J.D.

VANCE AS BEING A SOLID PICK FOR VICE-PRESIDENT.

ONE THING THAT THEY SHARE IS THIS OPPOSITION TO FUNDING FOR UKRAINE.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY THAT SENATOR PAUL PRAISED SINCE VANCE WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE RUNNING MATE FOR TRUMP.

>> Bill: ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE PRESIDENT BIDEN TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID AND HAD TO CANCELED EVENTS AS MANY DEMOCRATS STILL CALL FOR HIM TO STEP ASIDE.

AND TODAY THE NUMBER INCREASED WHEN KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN McGARVEY RELEASED A STATEMENT.

TESSA, McGARVEY IS KENTUCKY'S LONE DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON.

WHY DID McGARVEY SAY HE IS CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO STEP ASIDE.

>> SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OTHER DEMOCRATS SAYING THIS ELECTION IS TOO IMPORTANT.

WHAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH PROJECT 2025 AND THE POSSE OF THOSE THINGS COMING TO FRUITION WHAT WE KNOW FROM TRUMP'S TRACK RECORD FROM HIS FIRST OFFICE.

REPRESENTATIVE McGARVEY SAID IT'S TOO IMPORTANT WE NEED TO BEAT TRUMP AND FLIP THE HOUSE AND PROTECT THE SENATE.

AND WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: BUT BIDEN SAYS HE IS STILL IN?

>> SAYS HE IS STILL IN.

DEPENDING WHICH NOOSE SOURCE YOU MIGHT READ SOME ARE SAYING MAYBE HE WILL GET OUT.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS JOE BIDEN'S DECISION TO MAKE.

AND PUBLICLY, IT HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED ONE WAY OR THE OTHER BUT HE KEEPS SAYING HE IS STAYING.

>> Bill: AND A STORY THAT COULD DEVELOP OVER THE WEEKEND.

WE KEEP THAT IN MIND.

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S NAME CONTINUES TO BE IN CONVERSATIONS USUALLY ABOUT THE VICE-PRESIDENT SLOT.

THERE'S REPORTING HE HAS BEEN VETTED.

AS OF FRIDAY, AGAIN, BIDEN SAYS HE IS NOT DROPPING OUT, TESSA, BUT BESHEAR'S NAME IS CIRCULATING.

>> RIGHT.

THERE SEEMS TO BE AN EMERGING CONSENSUS I DON'T WANT TO SAY IT'S UNANIMOUS BUT A COMMON TRAIN OF THOUGHT THAT IF PRESIDENT BIDEN STEPS BACK FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS WILL BE THE TOP OF THE TICKET AND IN THAT INSTANCE, HER RUNNING MATE WOULD PROBABLY BE A WHITE MAN.

AND OF THOSE WHITE MEN BEING TOSSED OUT, ANDY BESHEAR IS ONE OF THEM AS IS PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR SHAPIRO, NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR COOPER.

AND ALSO SENATOR KELLY FROM ARIZONA.

WHAT THOSE OTHER THREE HAVE THAT GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DOES NOT HAVE THEY ARE FROM STATES THAT COULD BE IN PLAY IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

ANDY BESHEAR DID WIN REELECTION IN A CONSERVATIVE STATE I'M NOT SURE THAT ANYBODY THINKS THAT PUTTING HIM ON THE TICKET WOULD BE ENOUGH TO FLIP KENTUCKY TO A DEMOCRATIC OUTCOME IN A PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

>> Bill: WELL, AND RUSS, YOU HAD SAID EARLIER, IT IS LIKELY, OF COURSE, THAT TRUMP WOULD CARRY REGARDLESS.

BUT IT IS NOTABLE THAT BREATH EN COUNTY WENT TWICE FOR TRUMP AND TWICE FOR BESHEAR AND THE BESHEAR DOES HAVE POPULARITY IN THE MOUNTAINS?

>> WELL, HE DOES MAINTAIN POPULARITY.

I DON'T HAVE ANY ILLUSIONS ABOUT TRUMP LOSING EASTERN KENTUCKY BECAUSE THE SHARES ON THE TICKET IT WOULD MAKE FOR INTERESTING ELECTORAL MATH.

PROBABLY IT'S BROKEN DOWN BY PEOPLE WHO LOOK AT THESE THINGS FOR YEARS AND YEARS TO COME.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD MAKE SOME DIFFERENCES BECAUSE I THINK PEOPLE THERE WOULD BE SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD CROSSOVER ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET TO GET A KENTUCKIAN THAT CLOSE TO THE WHITE HOUSE IF THAT IS THEIR LINE OF THINKING ON IT.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH HOW THE PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS LINES UP.

BESHEAR SENT A LETTER TO THE D.E.A.

IN FAVOR OF RECLASSIFYING MARIJUANA FROM A SCHEDULE ONE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TO A SCHEDULE 3 DRUG.

HIS LETTER IS IN SUPPORT OF A PROPOSAL BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO CHANGE THE WAY THE LAW LOOKS AT CANNABIS.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT PROPOSAL CAME FROM HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES LAST AUGUST, I BELIEVE IT'S ABOUT A YEAR IN THE MAKING.

AND YOU HAD THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GET INVOLVED WITH THIS PROPOSAL TO BASICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE MAYBE MEDICAL BENEFITS TO MARIJUANA.

AND SO BESHEAR WROTE TO THE D.E.A.

SAYING I SUPPORT THAT BECAUSE KENTUCKY LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS CURRENTLY ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESS LICENSES, MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO TREAT THINGS LIKE CANCER, PTSD AND ILLNESSES AND THAT LAW GOES INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1.

SO BASICALLY MARIJUANA HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED SCHEDULE ONE WHICH SAYS THERE IS NO MEDICAL BENEFITS BESHEAR AND OTHERS ARE SAYING LET'S MOVE IT TO A SCHEDULE THREE WHICH SAYS THERE ARE MEDICAL BENEFITS AND THAT IS IN LINE WITH WHAT KENTUCKY IS DOING AND OTHER PLACES AS WELL.

>> A CYNICAL PERSON MIGHT THINK THAT THE TIMING OF THIS LETTER COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT IS THE GOVERNOR A POSSIBLE CONTENDER TO BE VICE-PRESIDENT?

BECAUSE IT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION WHEN HE MADE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.

>> Bill: AND WOULD BE IN LINE WITH WHERE THE ADMINISTRATION IS HEADED ON THAT ISSUE.

RUSS, WE KNOW AS SARAH WAS MENTIONING THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND SCHOOLS ARE MAKING DECISIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND HOW IT WILL BE REGULATED SO THEY CAN DECIDE HOW TO ZONE CITIES FOR INSTANCE AS TO WHERE THERE COULD BE A DISPENSARY AND THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

DO YOU GET A SENSE THAT THE MEDICAL CANNABIS LANDSCAPE WOULD LOOK DIFFERENT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THAN IT MIGHT HAVE A FEW YEARS AGO?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE AS EASY TO GET A DISPENSARY IN AN EASTERN KENTUCKY TOWN AS IT IS IN LEXINGTON.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE'VE BEEN GROUND ZERO FOR AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC MOVED INTO A HEROIN AND METH EPIDEMIC AND NOW FENTANYL.

PEOPLE'S MINDS HAVE CHANGED ABOUT WHAT IS ALLOWABILITY AND WHAT IS NOT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER NOW THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIVE, 10 YEARS AGO.

ABSOLUTELY.

>> Bill: THAT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH AND WE'RE WATCHING STATE-WIDE.

SARAH, YOU'VE HAD A BUSY WEEK REPORTING DIFFERENT SUBJECTS.

YOU HAD A STORY ABOUT CRIME VICTIMS NOT BEING NOTIFIED WITH AUTOMATED COURT NOTIFICATIONS.

SOMETIMES THEY ARE GETTING THE NOTICES BUT IT IS NOT COMING IN AN AUTOMATED WAY.

>> EXACTLY AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN FOR THREE YEARS N2021 ONE THE SITUATION WHERE THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE COURTS HAD CONCERNS ABOUT SHARING DATA THEY FELT THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM THEY WERE USING MIGHT NOT BE PROTECTING THE DATA.

THEY DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE THAT HAPPENED.

AND THE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER MISUSED DATA.

BUT THEY STOPPED SHARING DATA IN 2021 THOSE OF THOSE CONCERNS.

WE HAVE HAD A THREE-YEAR PERIOD WHERE THE VICTIMS WERE NOT GETTING THE AUTOMATIC NOTIFICATIONS LIKE A PACKAGE DELIVERY.

SO A PROSECUTOR MIGHT BE CALLING THAT CHILDREN THEIR CLIENT OR E-MAILING THEM OR SENDING A LETTER BUT IT IS NOT AN IMMEDIATE THINGS.

WHAT OFFICIALS TOLD LAWMAKERS THURSDAY, IS THAT TO GET IT BACK UP AND RUNNING IT WOULD COST $500,000 AND THEN $360,000 AND THEN WE WOULD HAVE ANNUAL FEES.

SO LOOKING AT A LOT OF MONEY.

SO REPRESENTATIVE JASON KNEE MISS, THE MAJORITY HOUSE WHIP IS A REPUBLICAN FROM THE LOUISVILLE AREA, SAID THEY COULD HAVE REQUESTED THAT MONEY FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET CYCLE AND THE LEGISLATIVE WOULD HAVE FUNDED IT.

BUT THEY DIDN'T.

THEY HAD OTHER PRIORITIES FIXING COURTHOUSES AND GIVING PAY RAISES.

SO NOW WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT IS NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO DO IT.

LAWMAKERS ARE FRUSTRATED.

VICTIMS ADVOCATES ARE FRUSTRATED AND THERE IS NOT A CLEARANCE TO WHEN IT WILL GET FIXED BUT IT HAS A BIG PRICE TAG.

>> Bill: CAN THE VICTIMS CONTINUOUSLY CALL AND TRY TO GET UPDATES?

>> HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE A GOOD PROSECUTOR WHO TALKS TO THEM REGULARLY.

>> Bill: WELL, MANY OF KENTUCKY NEW LAWS TOOK EFFECT THIS WEEK AND SOME ARE BEING HELD UP BECAUSE THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION SAYS THERE'S NOT THE MONEY TO ENFORCE THEM AND THAT FRUSTRATED LAWMAKERS SAYING IT'S THE DUTY OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LAWS ARE ENFORCED.

TESSA, BESHEAR SAID HE INFORMED LAWMAKERS THAT SOME OF THE LEGISLATION PASSED WAS NOT PAID FOR?

>> RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT WE TOLD YOU GUYS THAT WE NEEDED ABOUT $150 MILLION FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS.

IF WE ARE GOING TO CARRY THEM OUT.

AND POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A LAST-MINUTE BUDGET FIX DONE AT THE END OF SESSION.

SO FULFILLING THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE AS WELL.

WHEREAS THE LEGISLATURE WHICH IS, OF COURSE, REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED, IS SAYING WAIT A MINUTE.

LIKE WE MAKE THE LAWS YOU CARRY THEM OUT.

SO THERE'S BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE TWO ABOUT WHO EXACTLY IS AT FAULT THIS NOT BEING DONE.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE IS SAYING THESE ARE UNFUNDED MANDATES WHAT DID YOU EXPECT AND THE LEGISLATURE SAYING IS NO THIS IS YOUR JOB.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN LIMBO HAVE TO DO WITH CHILD ABUSE REPORTING SYSTEMS, SCHOOL GUARDIANS AND KINSHIP CARE IT RUNS THE GAMUT.

>> Bill: WHICH HAS PRICE TAGS.

>> THEY DO, YES.

>> ANTI-DEI LEGISLATION FAILED IN THE 2024 SESSION AND SOME WANT TO BRING IT BACK A MEETING THIS WEEK BROUGHT UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS TO FRANKFORT WHO SAID IT DOES NOT COST MUCH AND IT BRINGS BENEFITS.

I DID AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID McMADDEN THE PRESIDENT OF EKU WHERE HE SIDESTEPPED THE POLITICS AND SAYS THE GOAL IS TO MAKE STUDENTS COMFORTABLE ON CAMPUS.

BUT THIS DEI DISCUSSION CONTINUES?

IT.

DOES.

THIS WAS A PIECE OF PRIORITY LEGISLATION IN THE 2024 GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IT DID NOT GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN LAWMAKERS ON HOW FAR THEY WANTED TO GO AND WHICH VERSION OF A BILL THEY WANTED TO PASS.

AND IT WAS QUITE SURPRISING THAT THEY DIDN'T GET IT DONE BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, RED STATES, REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURES HAVE BEEN PASSING THESE LAWS.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A GIVEN THAT KENTUCKY WOULD DO THIS AND THEN IT DIDN'T.

SO THAT WAS SURPRISING.

FOR THAT REASON, IT'S NOT UNEXPECTED THAT IT'S COMING UP BECAUSE THIS WAS A PRIORITY.

SO I EXPECT WE PROBABLY WILL SEE SOMETHING IN THE NEXT SESSION IN REGARDS TO THIS AS WELL.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY IS ABIG HIKE IN THE CIGARETTE TAX IN 2018 IS HAVING ITS EFFECT.

THE TAX WAS INCREASED TO $1.10 A PACK SIX YEARS AGO AND SMOKING RATES DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE TAX COLLECTION AS A RESULT IS ALSO DROPPING.

KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS REPORTS THE SMOKING RATE WAS 29% IN 2011 AND THE MOST RECENT FIGURES ARE 2022 SHOWING THE SMOKING RATES AT OVER 17%.

IT APPEARS TO BE AN ENCOURAGING TREND AND THAT STRATEGY IS WORKING.

>> IT DOES.

LIKE YOU SAID, INCREASED THE TAX ON CIGARETTES AND WE'RE SEEING SMOKING RATES GOING DOWN.

AN INTERESTING CAVEAT IS THIS SESSION WE GOT A BILLIKEN KEN GOT A BILL PASSED THAT IS GOING TO LIMIT THE SALE OF SOME VAPING PRODUCTS AND YOUTH ARE MORE LIKELY TO VAPE THAN SMOKE.

SO THERE'S CONVERSATIONS IN THE TOBACCO CONTROL ADVOCACY GROUPS SAYING THAT ONCE THIS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT, NEXT YEAR, WE MAY SEE AN INCREASE IN SMOKING AGAIN BECAUSE PEOPLE WON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE VAPES THAT MAYBE THEY TURNED TO INSTEAD OF SMOKING FOR SO LONG THAT LAW DOES HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGE AN ON GOING COURT CASE.

IT'S WORTH KEEPING THAT IN MIND AS WE LOOK AT THIS POSITIVE TREND FOR SMOKING.

>> Bill: WE ARE WATCHING PER TUS SES AND COVID NUMBERS.

>> WHOPPING COUGH A HIGHER NUMBER SINCE 2019 AND ON TRACK TO SEE MORE THAN WE HAVE SINCE 2017.

CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES SAYS THAT IS SORT OF TO BE EXPECTED CONSIDERING THESE SORTS OF NUMBERS IN THIS AND OTHER FLU OTHER SORTS OF ILLNESSES WENT DOWN WHEN PEOPLE WERE MASKING AND STAYING HOME DURING THE WORST OF COVID.

SO WE'RE SEEING AN UPTICK AND THEY RECOMMEND GET VACCINATED.

>> Bill: A COUPLE STORIES YOU DID THIS WEEK ABOUT AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE MORE BLACK WOMEN GET ACCESS TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER TREATMENT.

>> THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS AT PLAY.

WE KNOW KENTUCKY HAS TERRIBLE STATISTICS AROUND MATERNAL MORTALITY AND THOSE ARE MORE LIKELY TO AFFECT BLACK WOMEN THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

AND WE KNOW OVERALL OVERDOSES DECREASED THEY INCREASED AMONG BLACK KENTUCKIANS AND A LOT OF THE MATERNAL MORTALITY HAS A FACTOR OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.

WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS IN MIND VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA IS TRYING TO SPEND ABOUT $123,000 TO STUDY HOW TO GET MORE BLACK WOMEN IN TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER.

AND FIND WHERE THERE ARE GAPS IN REACHING THAT COMMUNITY AND HOPEFULLY LOWER SOME OF THOSE STATISTICS.

>> Bill: AND A STORY ON WOMEN'S HEALTH AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH.

IT IS THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND RANKING FOR KENTUCKY.

>> THEY ARE CALLING IT A SCORECARD.

AND IT DID EVERY STATE.

A LOT OF THE STUFF ISN'T SURPRISING IT SHOWED KENTUCKY HAS FEW IRMA TERM HEALTH PROVIDERS, OBGYN'S THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE T FOUND THAT STATES WITH ABORTION BANS LIKE KENTUCKY HAS TEND TO HAVE LOWER RATES.

AND WE SEE THAT KENTUCKY HAS MORE MATERNAL DEATHS AND INFANT DEATHS AND THE BAD TRENDS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

AND IT COVERS 2021 AND 2, SO THE GOAL WAS TO LAY A FOUNDATION FOR RIGHT AFTER COVID THE WORST OF COVID AND RIGHT BEFORE THE TRIGGER ABORTION BAN WENT INTO EFFECT.

AND THEN THEY WILL COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND UPDATE IT WE'LL SEE HOW THE BAN IMPACTED THE STATISTICS.

>> Bill: THIS MONTH MARKS THE TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEVASTATING FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

RUSS IT WAS AN AWFUL NATURAL DISASTER THAT BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.

HOW IS THE REGION DOING NOW?

>> WELL, IN SOME WAYS I MEAN WE'RE STILL FACING MANY OF THE SAME ISSUES.

BUT ONE OF THE BIGGER IMPACTS OF THE FLOODING WAS AND ACCORDING TO ONE REPORT I SAW, THE FLOODING AFFECTED 9,000 HOUSING UNITS AND WE WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MORE NOTABLE SUCCESSES WE'VE HAD IN RECOVERY.

A TOTAL SEVEN HIGH GROUND COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED AND IN OTHER WORDS WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS THEY ARE MOVING PEOPLE TO HIGHER GROUND JUST WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

AND SO IT'S NOT ONLY GETTING PEOPLE HOUSING BUT IT'S ALSO PREVENTING THE SAME DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIFE.

AND THAT'S HAPPENING WITH STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDING AND IT'S ALSO HAPPENING WITH VOLUNTEERS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE AND HAZARD.

IN APRIL, BESHEAR HAD NOTED IN A SPEECH IN A PRESS RELEASE THAT THE TEAM EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOOD, HAD PROVIDED MORE THAN $1.4 MILLION FOR 19 HOMES BEING BUILT WITH ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS.

IF THIS EFFORT CONTINUES IT'S REALLY GOING TO HELP THE REGION CLOSE THE GAP ON THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOT JUST IN FLOOD RECOVERY.

>> Bill: THANK YOU.

QUINN TESS BROWN PLED GILL CITY TO FEDERAL CHARGES IN THE SHOOTING AT THEN CANDIDATE FOR LOUISVILLE MAYOR CRAIG GREENBURG.

THAT IS THE LATEST ON THAT.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

[♪♪]