>> Bill: DEMOCRAT CHARLES BOOKER ENTERS THE RACE TO TRY T UNSEAT REPUBLICAN SENATOR RAND PAUL, BUT FIRST THERE WILL BE A GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS HE IS NOT ISSUING A NEW MASK MANDATE DESPITE GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT A COVID-19 variant A WITNESS SAYS A FUNDRAISER WAS CRUCIAL TO SECURING A PARDON FROM FORMER GOVERNOR BEVIN.

THE LOUISVILLE DETECTIVE THAT GOT THE WARRANT FOR BREONNA TAYLOR'S DEPARTMENT IS DENIED REINSTATEMENT BUT IS APPEALING.

HEADING INTO INDEPENDENCE DAY WEEKEND, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON K. GOOD EVENING.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR TESSA DUVALL, REPORTER FOR THE PHILLIP BAILEY, NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR USA AND JACK BRAMMER, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

ALL IN STUDIO WITH US TONIGHT.

ALSO TONIGHT, BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION PREFILED ON THE ISSUE OF COMPENSATION FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES.

AND KENTUCKY'S FIRST VACCINE LOTTERY WINNERS ARE ANNOUNCED.

BUT FIRST LET'S GET RIGHT TO THIS 2022 KENTUCKY U.S. SENATE RACE THAT IS DEVELOPING THIS WEEK RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES.

PHILLIP, WE LEARNED THIS WEEK CHARLES BOOKER IS IN THE RACE TO CHALLENGE SENATOR RAND PAUL.

HE HAS TO GET THE NOMINATION FIRST BUT HEAVAL A PRIMARY.

>> Phillip: RIGHT, RUTH A 30-YEAR-OLD MILLENNIAL CAT MOM, THAT'S HOW SHE DESCRIBES HOFERS SOCIAL MEDIA SHE'S JUMPED IN THE RACE.

>> Bill: WITH A Ph.D. >> Phillip: EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THIS IS CHARLES BACKERS RACE TO WIN.

LAST YEAR HE WAS LOSING TO AMY McGRATH IN THAT VERY CLOSE PRIMARY WHICH WASN'T EXPECTED TO BE CLOSE, BUT NOW BOOKER HAS THE BRASS RING.

HE HAS THE NATIONAL SUPPORT.

YOU SAW JAIME HARRIS ONTARIO DNC SHOUTING HIM OUT AND HE HAS THE GRASSROOTS STILL FROM HIS PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN SO THIS IS THE CAMPAIGN THAT HIS SUPPORTERS WANTED.

HE CERTAINLY IS THE FAVORITE, CERTAINLY IS THE FRONTRUNNER FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION, AND I THINK THIS IS CHARLES BOOKER'S MOMENT THAT HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR.

>> Bill: HE HAD A LIVELY CROWD IN LOUISVILLE WHEN HE ANNOUNCED.

>> Phillip: ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S ONE THING ABOUT CHARLES BOOKER.

PEOPLE LOVE HIM.

THEIR EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED TO HIP AND THE THERE'S AN AUTHENTICITY TO HIS CAMPAIGN THAT WANT BE BOUGHT.

>> Bill: A CROWD GATHER WAS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CENTER FOR LOUISVILLE ON HERITAGE ON THE WEST END FOR HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> I DON'T COME FROM POLITICS.

I DON'T TRUST POLITICIANS.

ABOUT IT KNOW THAT WE NEED TO BE IN THE SPACE OF WHERE DECISIONS ARE MADE, AND SO I'M GOING TO DO LIKE MY GRANDDAD TOLD ME.

I'M GOING TO STEP IN THERE AND CAUSE SOME GOOD TROUBLE AND I REPRESENT AND REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE KENTUCKY FROM THE HOOD TO THE HOLLER AND EVERY EVER EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.

>> Bill: HOOVED TO THE HOLLER IS OBVIOUSLY BACK AS THE THEME.

>> Phillip: RIGHT.

AGAIN, FOR CHARLES BOOKER WHAT HE DIDN'T HAVE THE WAS THE MONEY.

HE WAS GETTING THIS GRASSROOTS SUPPORT REALLY IN THE THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THAT CAMPAIGN, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE IF WE CAN MATCH THAT MONEY WITH THAT SORT OF CHARISMA AND PUT THAT TOGETHER.

THE ONE THING THAT I EVEN SENATOR McCONNELL'S PEOPLE TELLING ME AFTER McGRATH HAD WON TO PRIMARY IN 2020 WAS THE ONE THING THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT FOR CHARLES BOOKER WASN'T THAT HE WOULD BEAT SENATOR McCONNELL BUT THAT HE REPRESENTED THIS MOVEMENT THAT COULD GO FROM PIKE LITTLE V. TO PADUCAH, ANYWHERE SENATOR McCONNELL WOULD BE HE WOULD BE HOUNDING HIM, AND WE HAVE SEEN THAT IN LOUISVILLE ON LEXINGTON EVEN POSTERS EVER PARTS OF THE RURAL HOLLER AREAS.

CHARLES BOOKER HAS SUPPORTS TAMPA BAY THEY CAME OUT FOR HIM EVEN IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

>> Jack: EVEN LAST YEAR BOOKER HAD $90 MILLION AND COULDN'T BEAT McCONNELL.

I THINK BOOKER WILL HAVE MONEY FOR THIS RACE BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES THAT HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO OVERCOME, SOME ROADBLOCKS IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE STATE.

I THINK YOU ACKNOWLEDGE HE HAS A LIBERAL CANDIDATE.

>> Phillip: HE'S THE MOST LIBERAL CANDIDATE WHO HAS RUN FOR A STATEWIDE OFFICE SINCE HARVEY SLONE CHALLENGED MITCH McCONNELL BACK IN 1990.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

AND WHAT DEMOCRATS DON'T LIKE TO HEAR IS KENTUCKY IS NOT GEORGIA WHERE THE TWO DEMOCRATS WON IN THE JAN RUNOFF EARLIER THIS YEAR.

GEORGIA IS A STATE THAT THAT IS P 39%.

KENTUCKY IS AN 8% AFRICAN AMERICAN STATE.

SIX OUT OF TEIN KENTUCKIANS LIVE IN P THE A.

OFF -- >> Bill: ALSO RUNNING AGAINST HISTORY IN THAT THERE WAS NOT BEN A DEMOCRAT ELECTED TO THE SENATE SINCE WENDELL FORD'S LAST VICTORY IN 1992 AND A CHALLENGER HAS WON A VANES MITCH McCONNELL IN 1984.

>> Phillip: AND I THINK ALL THOSE FOLKS, HARVEY SLONE MAY HAVE GOTTEN THE CLOSEST, 6%.

>> Bill: THESSALONIANS THAT.

IT WAS A VERY CLOSE RACE IN 1990.

>> Jack: I THINK THE TAG WILL BE, I DON'T KNOW THAT TREAT IS THE WORD BUT ISSUES.

WE'LL SEE ISSUES DEBATED.

WE'LL SEE DIFFERENCES, AND I HOPE THAT'S WHAT COMES OUT OF THE ELECTION.

BOOKER IS TRYING LOOK A HEMA WHO ARE DISILLUSIONED WITH POLITICS AND GET THEM ON HIS SIDE, AND WHETHER THEY'LL COME OUT AND HEAR HIM AND GO ON WITH THAT.

>> Phillip: IF YOU'RE A PART OF THE LEFT IN THIS COMMUNITY, IF YOU'RE PART OF THE LEFT IN KENTUCKY, YOU FINALLY GOT YOUR CANDIDATE.

IF YOU'RE A PROGRESSIVE, A LIBERAL, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE ARICS, A SOCIALIST, WHATEVER YOU CALL YOURSELF YOU NEED COME OUT.

>> Jack: AND REPUBLICANS PAINT THEIR I DON'T KNOW THE HAS BEING LIBERAL.

>> Bill: AND IT APPEARS BOOKER WILL NOT RUN FROM THAT IN ANY WAY.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

TESSA, BUSCH'S RISE AS PHILLIP NOTED WAS BROUGHT ON BY THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT IS DRIVING HIM IN THOSE COUPLE OF WEEKS HEADING INTO THAT JUNE PRIMARY WHICH WAS UNUSUAL LAST YEAR.

WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO THAT TIME AND THEETS POSTS WERE VERY ACTIVE, THERE WAS SO MUCH GOING ON, AT THE PROTESTS WERE VERY ACTIVE, IS THERE A WAVE TO RIDE LIKE THAT THIS YEAR OR WOULD THERE BE A YEAR FROM NOW?

>> Tessa: WHEN YOU THINK OF THE PROTESTS OF LAST SUMMER NOT JUST IN LOUISVILLE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, PROTESTS WERE LIKE THE DEFINING NEWS EVENT FOR A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING IN LOUISVILLE, AND THAT IS WHERE PEOPLE REALLY LEARNED ABOUT CHARLES BOOKER AND GRAVITATED TO HIM, AND THEY FELT LIKE THIS IS SOMEONE WHO IS GENUINE, SOMEONE WHO GETS IT, SOMEONE WHO REAL ESTATE UNDERSTANDS THESE RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, AND SO I THINK THAT EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT SEEING PEOPLE IN THE STREETS, THOSE ISSUES HAVEN'T GONE AWAY, SO PEOPLE ARE CHANNELING THEIR ENERGY IN A DIFFERENT WAY, AND THEY CERTAINLY REMEMBER THAT CHARLES BOOKER WAS RIGHT OUT THERE WITH NEM, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT HE IS GENUINE AND THEY BELIEVE THAT HE REALLY CARES ABOUT THESE ISSUES, AND I THINK THOSE PEOPLE WILL STICK WITH HIM AND WILL BE EXCITED BY HIM FRANKLY.

>> Bill: JACK, HE GATHER SOME CROWDS IN APPALACHIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE AS WELL.

>> Jack: YES, HE HAD SOME GROUPS THERE LIKE KENTUCKIANS FOR EDUCATION REFORM AND A LOT OF GROUPS LIKE THAT HAVE BEEN BACKING HIP.

>> Bill: PHILLIP, TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THIS RACE GET NATIONALIZED IF PAUL AND BOOKER ARE THE NOMINEES?

OBVIOUSLY SENATOR PAUL IS KNOWN WELL BEYOND THE BORDERS.

BOOKER IT APPEARS WOULD GET A LOT OF MONEY FROM OUT OF STATE FOR HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> Phillip: ONE THING NATIONAL DEMOCRATS HAVE CRACKED THE CODE WOULD BE KENTUCKY IS UNIQUE.

BOTH OF OUR SENATORS ARE HATED AMONGST LIBERAL DEMOCRATS FROM BROOKLYN TO BERKELEY, RIGHT?

SO THAT WON'T BE A PROBLEM, RAISING THE MONEY.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE AS MUCH AS IT WAS FOR SENATOR McCONNELL BECAUSE HE'S IN LEADERSHIP.

BUT IF SENATOR McCONNELL IS THE WORK HORSE WHO ACTUALLY BRINGS RESOURCES AND THINGS BACK TO KENTUCKY, SENATOR RAND PAUL IS THE SENATOR UP THERE WHO IS THE SHOW HORSE.

HE'S THE PERSON UP THERE WHO IS MAKING A POINT.

SO THIS IS WOKE ADVICE LIBERTY.

WE'RE ALREADY SEEING IT NOW.

WE'RE IN JULY 2021, AND WE'RE ALREADY SEEING RAND PAUL REFER TO BOOKER AS A RACIAL LEFT CANDIDATE.

CHARLES BOOKER IS ALREADY SAYING THEY'RE THIS CLOSE TO CALLING ME THE N-WORD.

SO IN MANY WAYS WHILE PROGNOSTICATORS CONSIDER KENTUCKY TO BE A SAFE REPUBLICAN SEAT, AND IT IS A LOT OF WAYS, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TRUMPISM VERSUS WOKISM AT THE FRONTLINE OF THE STATE IN THIS RACE.

>> Bill: SENATOR PAUL COMMENTED WHEN SHE WAS OVER IN GEORGETOWN THIS WEEK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF A RACE WITH BOOKER.

>> WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING ROADS AND BRIDGES, IT'S IRRELEVANT RESPONSIBLE TO SAY, OH, WE'RE GOING TO PAY REPARATIONS FOR SLAVER AND CALL THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO I THINK THOSE KIND OF SUCCESS.

AND IDEAS ARE SO FAR OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM THAT I JUST DON'T KNOW WHO IN KENTUCKY WOULD SUPPORT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> Bill: IS THAT AN EARLY INDICATION OF HOW SENATOR PAUL WILL TRY TO PLAY THIS RACE?

>> Phillip: THAT'S NOT EVEN A DOG WHISTLE.

THAT IS A BULL ATTORNEY HORN.

POLLING SHOWS 75 PERCENT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS SUPPORT REPARATIONS FOR THE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVERY.

IT IS A RACIALLY DIVISIVE ISSUE CERTAINLY.

ABOUT 15% OF WHITES SUPPORT THAT.

SO WHEN SENATOR PAUL AND THE REPUBLICANS SAY KENTUCKIANS, TAXPAYERS DON'T SUPPORT REPARATIONS, THEY MEAN WHITE PEOPLE DON'T SUPPORT REPARATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT THEY MEAN BY THAT AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE HONEST ABOUT IN I GO DESCRIBE IT THAT WAY.

BUT CHARLES ISN'T GOING TO RUN FROM THAT.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING TEST HERE.

USUAL WHAT DEMOCRATS TO BE WERE REPUBLICANS LABEL THEM AS SOMETHING AND THEY WALK AWAY FROM IT.

CHARLES BOOKER NOT RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS ISSUES ON REPARATIONS.

HE'S LEANING INTO THEM.

>> Bill: HE NUANCES IT SOME.

HE TALKS ABOUT, PATRIOTS TO -- >> Fiachra: MINING AND THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT, CERTAINLY, TO CREATE THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE MORE WHITE RURAL VOTERS BUT SENATOR PAUL AND THE REPUBLICANS MACROING IT VERY CLEAR.

>> Jack: HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN ON THE RACE ISSUE PAUL IS INVITING CHRISTOPHER TEW ESSEX COMPOTOM TO 2X, SO HE SEEMS TO BE WAIVER AWARE OF SOME OF THE NEEDS.

>> Phillip: SENATOR PAUL SHOULD BE GIVEN CREDIT BECAUSE HE WAS TALKED ABOUT REBATE YOU JUSTICE IN THE CRIMINAL PART OF THAT FOR YEARS.

IF HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST ALLISON -INCOME GRATH HE WOULD HAVE.

BUT NOW HE IS RUNG AGAINST THE PERSON WHO IS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

YES, SENATOR PAUL YOU MIGHT BE WORK WITH SENATOR 84 BOOK BUT YOU ALSO BLOCKED THE TILL ACT IN THE SAME VEIN.

CHARLES BOOKER I THINK GETS THOSE VOTERS IMMEDIATELY ON HIS SIDE.

THERE'S NO IN THE MIL ANYMORE.

>> Bill: TESSA, YOU MAKE THE POINT THAT PAUL HAS NOT CEDED THAT VOTE AT ALL AND HE DOES COME INTO LOUISVILLE AND TAKES THESE ENTZ STANDS.

>> Tessa: ABSOLUTELY.

HE SPONSORED THE JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR TAIR ACT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AFTER HE WAS SHOUTED AT BY PROTESTORS.

HE EVEN MADE THE COMMENT "I SPONSORED THIS BILL.

I'M ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD ON THESE ISSUES."

BUT I THINK GIVEN THE CHOICE FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE, SOCIAL JUSTICE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, ALL OF THESE THINGS GIPP THE CHOICE BETWEEN SOMEONE WHO IS DOWN THERE AT THE PROTESTS REALLY KIND OF LIVING WITH IT PEOPLE AND SOMEONE WHO SPONSORS A BILL FROM TIME TO TIME, I DO THINK THAT CHARLES BOOKER GETS THOSE FOLKS.

>> Bill: PHILLIP, OR WE'LL TO GO JACK ON THIS BECAUSE YOU COVER FRANKFORT, GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS BY HIS POSITION THE HEAD OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

DID HE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT BOOKER'S CANDIDACY?

AS A UNDERSTAND THERE WAS NO ENDORSEMENT.

>> John: THERE WAS.

>> Jack: THERE'S NO ENDORSEMENT.

HE SAID HE CONSIDERS BOOKER A VERY STRONG CANDIDATE HE PRAISED HIS PROFESSIONAL TEAM AROUND HIM, I UNDERSTAND, THE TWO WOMEN WHO HELPED GEORGIA FLIP FROM RED TO BLUE IN 2020 WILL BE HELPING THE BOOKER CAMPAIGN.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO SEE HOW WELL BOOKER PERFORMANCE.

IF THAT'S THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, THEN YOU WOULD THINK THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WOULD SUPPORT WHOEVER THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, BUT BESHEAR IS FACING A RACE IN 2023.

>> Bill: WE MAY NOTE RUTH GOW IS IN THE RACE.

ARE THERE ANY POTENTIAL DEMOCRATS TO RUN?

>> Jack: WE HEAR RUMORS ALL THE TIME, AND I CAN'T SAY ANY NAMES AT THIS TIME, BUT WE HEAR THE NAMES.

>> Bill: PHILLIP, DO YOU WANT -- >> >> Phillip: ANDY BESHEAR, THE BESHEAR MODEL OF KENTUCKY POLITICS HAS USUALLY BEEN HIS FATHER AND TO HIM IS THOSE ARE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS, THEY'RE THERE IN WASHINGTON.

WE'RE DIFFERENT HERE IN KENTUCKY.

WELL, NOW CHARLES BOOKER IS A DIRECT THREAT TO THIS BECAUSE HE DOES TALK LIKE CORY BUSH, CONGRESSMAN OUT OF ST. LOUIS, HE DOES TALK A LOT LIKE AOC AND BERNIE SANDERS ON THEY ISSUES AND HE IS A KENTUCKY DEMOCRAT SO IT'S GOING TO BE HARD.

ANDY BESHEAR IS IN A PECULIAR SITUATION BECAUSE THE PERSON WHO IS GETTING A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IS THIS NATIONAL DEMOCRAT AND HIS FATHER SAID THAT DOESN'T REPRESENT US.

>> Bill: TIME IS TICKING BUT SITS SIT SHEARS THAT PAUL DEBTS A PRIMARY?

>> Phillip: I THINK ABANDON EVERY ANDY BARR BUYS THE WEBSITE TO MAKE SURE NOBODY RUNS ON IT.

I GUESS THERE WOULD BE SOMEONE OUT THERE POTENTIALLY ABOUT THE THANK YOU THAT'S RAND PAUL'S CASE LIKE BOOKER'S.

>> Bill: JACK, DO THE DEMOCRATS GET TO SPEAK A FANCY FARM?

>> Jack: IF YOU'RE AN OFFICE HOLDER OR YOUR CANDIDATE HAS FILED, BUT MR. BOOKER AND MS. GOW WON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO FILE TO BE CANDIDATE UNTIL NOVEMBER 3rd.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO REVIEW THANK.

MY PERSONAL ADVICE TO THE BOOKER CAMPAIGN, BE THERE FOR THE MEDIA ATTENTION.

>> YOU'RE ON THE STAGE OR NOT.

>> Bill: IT COULD BE AN INTERESTING CAMPAIGN '22.

WE'LL WATCH.

ALL RIGHT.

TO FRANKFORT, PARDONS, JACK, BILL ESTEP REPORTED FOR THE LIGHTNING HERALD-LEADER ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE PARDON OF PATRICK BAKER WHO WAS GRANTED FREEDOM BY FORMER GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN BUT WHO HAS NO BEEN REMAND TODAY CUSTODY AGAIN.

>> Jack: RIGHT.

MY COLLEAGUE REPORTED THAT THE EX-GIRLFRIEND OF BAKER, DAWN TURNER, HAD SAID THAT THE FUNDRAISER WAS, QUOTE, CRUCIAL TO GETTING BAKER RELEASED, AND WE'VE HAD REPORTS OF THE FBI INVESTIGATION, STATE INVESTIGATION, SO THAT WAS PRETTY DRAMATIC INTERVIEW BILL HAD WITH HER.

>> Bill: WOULD THE PARNES BE AN OBSTACLE IF BEVIN INTRODUCES TO CROWN FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN?

>> Phillip: THE COURIER WON THAT PULITZER FOR GOVERN GOVERNOR BEVINS' PARDONS AT THE TIME WESTBOUND A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS, PARTICULARLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LOCAL PROSECUTORS, WHO WERE FURIOUS AT THAT, AND SO I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM FOR MATT BEVIN IF HE WERE TO ENTER A PRIMARY.

THEUPS REPUBLICANS THIS KENTUCKY THAT I TALK TO SAID, LOOK, MATT BEVIN HAS ABOUT 10% OF THE REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE RIGHT NOW.

HE MAY BE CAPTAIN AT 12 TO 15 PERT BUT HE HAS THAT BASE LOOKED IN.

SO IF YOU GET A CROWDED REPUBLICAN FOR GOVERNOR.

HE COULD SNEAK THROUGH.

>> Bill: IT'S A LONG LIST.

WE KEEP HEARING IT MAY BE A CROWDED PRIMARY.

>> Jack: YOU EVER ANGER COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES, REPRESENTATIVE JAIME COMB WERE BE BEVIN, KELLY CRAFT THE FORMER UNLV AMBASSADOR, AUDITOR MARK HARMON, TREASURER ALLISON BALL, WE'VE HEARD ANDY BARR WHEN WHETHER HE MIGHT RUN FOR THIS OR RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

I THINK HE'LL STILL RUN FOR CONGRESS.

SO WE'RE HEARING A CALVARY CHARGE OF REPUBLICANS.

>> Nick: I HEAR SOMERSET MAYOR AL KECK.

WE DO HAVE '07 ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> Bill: OFFICE EXAMINATIONS HEATS TALK SOME LOUISVILLE ISSUES AND, TESSA, THE LMPD DETECTIVE WHO SECURED THE NO KNOCK SEARCH WARRANT TO LED TO THE FATAL SHOOTING O'BRIAN HAD HIS FIRING HELD UP BY A MERIT DIDN'T BREONNA TAYLOR.

>> Tessa: FORMER DETECTIVE JOSHUA JAMES IS THE OFFICER WHO OBTAINED THE SEARCH FEWER THAN BREONNA TAYLOR'S WARRANT AND ON THIS HE SAID "AFFIANT VERIFIED THROUGH A U.S.

POSTAL INSPECTOR" THAT BASICALLY BREONNA TAYLOR'S EX-BOYFRIEND WAS GETTING PACKAGES DELIVERED TO THEY ARE APARTMENT AND THEREFORE THAT'S LINKING HER TO THIS BROADER NARCOTICS INVESTIGATION.

TWO THINGS TURNED OUTED TO BE WRONG ABOUT THAT, IS THAT THE POSTAL INSPECTOR THROUGH KIND OF LIKE A GAME OF TELEPHONE, THROUGH SHIVELY OFFICERS, ANOTHER LMPD OFFICER TO JAMES SAID, NO, THERE ARE NO PACKAGES GOING TO HER APARTMENT, AND THEN TWO, JOSHUA JAMES DID NOT SPEAK TO A POSTAL INSPECTOR.

HE SPOKE TO SERGEANT JOHN MATTINGLY WHO SPOKE TO SHE WILL HAVE SHIVELY COPS WHO SPOKE TO THE POSTAL OFFICER SO THERE'S TWO UNFLUTH THAT STATEMENT.

WHAT HIS ATTORNEY TRIED TO MAKE THE POINT IS HE GOT IT FROM ONE OFFICER SO THAT IS AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER OFFICER GETTING IT.

IN LAW ENFORCEMENT YOU CAN TRUST EACH OTHER THAT THE INFORMATION YOU'RE GETTING IS GOOD.

>> Bill: DID THAT OFFICER TESTIFY IN.

>> Steve: HE DID NOT TESTIFY.

HE RETIRED AT THE END OF MAY SO HE GOT TO SIT THAT OUT.

WHAT WE SAW IS THIS EFFORT TO SAY THIS IS NOT INACCURATE.

I DIDN'T SAY THAT I DIRECTLY VERIFIED.

I JUST SAID I VERIFIED, AND ONE OFFICER'S WORD IS AS GOOD AS ANOTHER.

BUT ULTIMATELY THE MERIT BOARD DID NOT TAKE THAT STANCE.

>> Bill: NOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR THE MERD BOARD TO SIDE AGAINST AN OFFICER?

>> Tessa: SO IT'S ACTUALLY NOT THAT UNUSUAL FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.

MY COLLEAGUE DARCY COSTELLO AND I SPENT SOME TIME GOING THROUGH THE MIND FINDINGS AND ORDERS FROM ABOUT THE MAST FIFE OR SIX YEARS OF THERED M. BOARD AND WHAT WE NORTHBOUND IS MORE OFTEN THAN NOT IT IS UPHELD COMPLETELY AS IS.

I BELIEVE SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED IN THAT TIME FRAME.

NONE OF THEM GOT THEIR JOBS BACK.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT JOSH JAW JAMES HAD HIS TERMINATION UPSELD IN THIS UNANIMOUS VOTE DOES NOT MEAN THIS IS OVER YET.

>> Bill: THERE WAS TESTIMONY ABOUT MAYOR FISCHER'S INVOLVEMENT AND HE TESTIFIED HIMSELF.

>> Tessa: YEAH, MAYOR FISCHER WAS THERE WEDNESDAY MORNING SO THOMAS CLAY, A FEW PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE MADE THE POINT THAT WE'VE HEARD THAT MAY, FISCHER SED SAID BEFORE THE INVESTIGATION WAS OVER THAT ALL OF THESE OFFICER HAVE TO GO, THAT THIS IS A POLITICAL DECISION, THAT JOSHUA JAMES WAS FIRED BECAUSE OF POLITICS, AND SO HE PARADED THE MAYOR OUT AND THE MAYOR SAID, NO, I NEVER SAID IT, AND HE DID, T. CLAY DID BRING IN ANOTHER WITNESS FROM WITHIN LMPD WHO SAID, I HEARD THE MAYOR SAY THIS AND I THOUGHT WAS AN INAPPROPRIATE COMMENT, BUT ULTIMATELY WHETHER THE BOARD BELIEVED THAT OR WAS CONCERNED WITH THAT WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THEY STILL UPHELD THE DECISION.

>> Bill: TESSA, WHAT DO WE KNOW FROM THE FBI AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION OF ALL OF THIS?

>> Dr. TUCKSON: >> Tessa: THE FBI STILL HAS THE CASE.

IT'S CERTAINLY A POSSIBILITY WE COULD SEE SOME CHARGES.

WILL IT BE THE FULL MURDER CHARGES THAT EVERYONE, THE PROTESTORS, THE MOVEMENT REALLY WANTED TO SEE?

PROBABLY NOT.

BUT THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THERE COULD BE SOMETHING THAT COMES OF THAT.

AND THEN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS ALSO STILL LOOKING INTO LMPD AND THE PATTERNS AND PRACTICES INVESTIGATION, AND THOSE ARE PRETTY LENGTHY SO IT WILL BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE KNOW ABOUT THAT.

>> Bill: WHAT ABOUT OTHER OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE BREONNA TAYLOR?

>> Tessa: SERGEANT MATTINGLY RETIRED.

MILES COSGROVE HAS ALSO APPEAL TO GET HIS JOB BACK.

HIS TERMINATION HENRY HAS NOT BEEN SET YET BUT HE INTENDS TO TRYING TO GO THAT WELL.

BRETT HANK INSON HAS HIS CRIMINAL TRIAL FOR THE WANTON ENDANGERMENT THAT DO NOT STEM FROM BREONNA TAYLOR'S DEATH.

>> Bill: FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE CASE STATEWIDE, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF PROTESTS IN LOUISVILLE?

ARE THINGS SOMEWHAT NORMAL DOWNTOWN NOW?

>> Tessa: I WOULD SAY THINGS SLOWED DOWN.

WE ARE NOT SEEING THE DAILY MARCHES, THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE STREET THE WAY WE WERE THIS TIME LAST YEAR, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY STILL REMINDERS OF BREONNA TAYLOR AND THE MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE ALSO CHANNELING THEIR EFFORTS AT REFORM IN OTHER WAYS.

>> Bill: MAYOR PHISH SER TERM LIMITED SO NEXT YEAR THERE'S A WIDE OPEN MAYORS RACE AND DEMOCRAT GRAYING INCRAIG GREENBERG HAS A EARLY FUNDRAISING ADVANTAGE.

>> Tessa: $450,000.

>> Phillip:IES THAT LOT OF MONEY.

>> Bill: JACK, THE FIRST VACCINE WINNERS WERE ANNOUNCED.

PATRICIA SHORT FROM LEXINGTON WON THAT FIRST $1 MILLION PRIZE AND THERE WERE QUIDS WHO GOT SCHOLARSHIPS.

>> Jack: I DIDN'T WIN.

THAT'S WHY I'M WITH YOU TONIGHT.

I'M GOING TO BE WITH SOME FOLKS FROM MAYSVILLE.

WEEKEND.

WE'LL SEE.

MARKET SHORT 1 SHE WON AND SHE TOLD THE GOVERNOR THAT THEY HAD STRUGGLED TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE EARLIER IN THE COVID PANDEMIC.

>> Bill: IS IT TRUE THAT SHE AND HER HUSBAND IGNORED SIX CALLS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE?

>> Jack: THEY WERE BEING SCAMMED, AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT TO US OLD PEOPLE.

YOU GET THE SCAM CALLS.

BUT SHE DID WIN AND SHE WAS VERY GRACIOUS ABOUT IT AND VERY EXCITED.

IT WAS VERY COURTROOM.

ALSO THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED FIVE OF 15 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS TODAY AND THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR PARENTS WERE SUPER EXCITED.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR ALSO HELD HIS TEAM KENTUCKY UPDATE AS HE CALLS IT.

HE'S MAKING IT CLEAR THERE WILL BE NO NEW MASK MANDATE EVEN THOUGH III CONCERNS ABOUT THIS DELTA VARIANT.

>> Jack: SOME SERIOUS OF THE STATELY AND IF COUNTRY ARE BEING HIT HARD BY THE DELTA VARIANT BUT SO FAR KENTUCKY SEEMS TO BE HOLDINGS ITS OWN.

>> Brian: THERE'S PARTICIPANTS ARE EVER BARN LEGISLATION THAT'S FILED BY MAX WISE AND MORNING McGARVEY ON COMPENSATION FOR COLLEGE ATHLETES.

WE DISCUSSED THAT PRETTY EXTENSIVELY LAST WEEK WITH CHRIS OTTS BUT IT STARTED UNDER THE NCAA RULES.

THERE ARE ATHLETES WHO ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE.

WILL WAS THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, THOUGH, FROM THE GOVERNOR EARLIER TO ENABLE THAT.

>> Jack: AND THE LAWMAKERS JUST WANT TO BE SURE IT'S IN LAW THAT WOULD GUARANTEE ATHLETES THIS RIGHT.

>> Bill: YOU THINK THAT'S A KEY MOVE BY BESHEAR?

>> Phillip: I THINK THAT'S GREAT ON HIS PART GIVING CLEANING BASKETBALL IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

I DON'T THEY ANYONE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST IT AT THIS ON IT.

>> Bill: NEW LAWS NEXT YEAR.

ELECTION LAW WILL BE NEXT YEAR WHEN WE SEE THAT IN EFFECT BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS.

LL WHICH IS BEING TESTED IN FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT.

ONE OF THE BIG ONES.

>> Bill: SENATOR McCONNELL HAS AGAIN CALLED FOR KENTUCKY TO ABANDON THE $300 IN EXTRA UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT YOU ARE COMING TO KENTUCKIANS WHO DON'T HAVE JOBS, SO HE'S OUT THERE ON THAT ISSUE.

IT'S INTERESTING, IF I AM, THAT THE NATIONAL DELEGATION CONTINUES TO SPEAK OUT ON THE ISSUES IN STATE AS WELL.

>> Phillip: LOOK, GOVERNOR BESHEAR ALSO KNEW THAT HE WAS GOING TO BE GANGED UP ON POLITICAL NECESSITY THIS STATE.

HE'S THE ONLY DEMOCRAT WITH ANY POWER WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT.

CONGRESSMAN JOHN YARMOUTH HIS BUDGET CHAIR HAS A BASEBALL BAT IN WASHINGTON THAT HE CAN SWING AROUND.

BUT McCONNELL IS A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE SAYING PART OF THE REASON WHY WE'RE HAVING A LAG IN OUR ECONOMY IS WE'RE NOT GETTING PEOPLE BACK FROM THE WORKFORCE US THAT OF THESE EXTRA BENEFITS IT'S CREATING A DIVIDE IN WASHINGTON BECAUSE YOU HAVE DEMOCRATS ON THE LEFT SAYING THAT'S A CLEAR INDICATION OF OUR ECONOMY NOT WORKING, THE FACT THAT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO GO BACK TO JOBS THAT DON'T PAY A LIVING WAGE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

McCONNELL AS PART OF THE FREE MARKET IS THE DRIVER OF THAT.

>> Bill: WE'RE WATCHING PRE-FILE LEGISLATION EVEN H., EVEN THOUGH WE'RE SIX MONTHS OUT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE LEGISLATURE.

TESSA, ONE PROPOSED PIECE OF LEGISLATION WOULD MAKE KENTUCKY A SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY STATE.

>> Tessa: THAT'S COME OUT, AND THAT COMES ON THE TAILS HAVE EARLY LAST YEAR WE SAW VERY SIMILAR EFFORTS SWEEPING THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF KENTUCKY COUNTIES WHERE COUNTIES WERE DECLARING CEMENTS SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARIES AND WE SEE THAT PRETTY MUCH ANY TIME A DEMOCRAT GETS INTO OFFICE.

OBAMA AND BIDEN GOES INTO OFFICE AND WE SEE CONCERNS THAT OUR GUNS ARE GOING TO BE TAKEN AWAY SO I THINK THAT'S A PRETTY STANDARD RESPONSE WE SEE IN TIMES LIKE THIS.

>> Bill: IN WASHINGTON THERE I WAS COAT VOTE ON REMOVING CONFEDERATE STATUTES.

ALL OF KENTUCKY'S REPUBLICANS HOUSE MEMBERS VOTED AGAINST IT EXCEPT BRETT GUTHRIE AND YARMOUTH VOTED FOR IT.

PASSED.

>> Phillip: ATTORNEY GENERAL SURPRISE IS THERE WAS AROUND EXPECTATION TO SOME THAT ANDY BARR MAY VOTE IN FAIR OF THAT LEGISLATION.

PART OF THE CULTURAL ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY IS ABOUT THESE STATUES BEING UP.

WHAT DO THEY REPRESENT?

WHO DID DO THEY REPRESENT?

ARE THEY HISTORY OR ARE THEY REWRITING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CIVIL WAR?

YEATELY THERE WAS A SURPRISE WILL B.

WHO VOTED AGAINST IT.

>> Nick: REDISTRICTING IS MORE AND MORE GETTING ON THE RADAR.

WEI PEOPLE REALIZED WE ALL KNOW THE DRAMA THAT ALWAYS PROVIDES IN FRANKFORT BUT PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THIS AND WONDER WHERE THEY MIGHT BE END UP AND WHO MIGHT END UP REPRESENTING THEM.

>> Jack: ABSOLUTELY.

THE BIG QUESTION IS WHEN THE STATE LEGISLATURE MIGHT DO REDISTRICTING.

DO THEY BEGIN THE BEGINNING OF NEXTIER IN SESSION OR GET THE GOVERNOR TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO DO IT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

>> Bill: TESSA, YOU MADE A GLANCINGER MENTION OF THIS BUDGET IN LOUISVILLE.

DO WE KNOW HOW THAT WILL IMPACT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT?

>> Tessa: SO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WALKS AWAY NEARLY UNSCATHED.

THEY HAVE NEARLY $200 MILLION.

THERE'S MONEY FOR AT LEAST A FEW NEW RECRUIT CLASSES.

THEY'RE EXPANDING SHOT SPOTTER.

AND THIS COMMENTS AT A TIME THAT LOUISVILLE IS REALLY DEALING WITH RECORD HOMICIDES.

THERE HAVE BEEN 100 SO FAR THIS YEAR.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS STRUGGLING TO GET PEOPLE IN TO GET NEW RECRUITS, WOULD SAY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE POLICE CHIEF IS PROBABLY TAKING A WIN.

>> Bill: JACK, YOU HAD A COUPLE OF ITEMS TO ADD.

>> Jack: REAL IF I CAN, IN THE 4th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY IT'S A RACE TO THE RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THOMAS MASS AT THE INCUMBENT CHALLENGED BY CLARE WEATHER FROM OLD HAM COUNTY AND SHE'S TRYING TO GET HER NAME KNOWN BY OFFERING A AM .15 PISTOL TO GIVE AWAY YOU FOURTH OF JULY TO VOTERS.

>> Bill: THAT'S INTERESTING AND WE HAVE A RETIREMENT.

>> Jack: GRENOBLE, THE JUSTICE CABINET SECRETARY ON THE SUPREME COURT WILL BE RETIRING JULY 15th.

>> Bill: FORMER KENTUCKY TRACK STAR SYDNEY McLAUGHLIN BROKE THE WORLD MITRE TO MAKE THE OLYMPIC TEAM.

SHE WILL BE ONE OF SEVERAL ATHLETES WITH.

ON THIS JULY FORTH WEEKEND AMERICA CELEBRATES 205 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE.

WE HAVE ALSO SHOWN OUR RESILIENCE AFTER THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL FALLOUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT A COUNTRY.