TRIGGER LAW IS STILL ON HOLD AFTER A RULING TODAY FROM A JEFFERSON COUNTY JUDGE.

SOME TERSE WORDS BETWEEN KENTUCKY'S TWO REPUBLICAN U.S.

SENATORS AS RAND PAUL BLAMES MITCH MCCONNELL FOR A REVERSAL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

COVID NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING.

THE POSITIVITY RATE TOPS 17% 80 COUNTIES NOW IN THE RED zone THE NEW 988 MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE IS UP AND RUNNING AND GETTING HUNDREDS OF CALLS HERE A SIZZLIN' MIDSUMMER WEEKEND I GETTING UNDERWAY, AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

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 AR BILL ESTEP OF THE LEXINGTON HER.

HE COVERS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY FOR THAT PAPER AND HAS FOR MANY YEARS.

DEBORAH YETTER OF THE COURIER-.

IS HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

AND MELISSA PATRICK OF KENTUCK HEALTH NEWS.

ALSO TONIGHT, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GOFORTH PLEASED GUILTY TO domestic VIOLENCE, AND KENTUCKY'S PENSIO FUNDS TALK ABOUT WHETHER THERE MAY BE COST OF LIVING RAISES TO COMBAT INFLATION.

THE ANSWER TO THAT APPEARS SOMEWHAT COMPLICATED.

LET'S BEGIN HERE WITH THE ABORTION LANDSCAPE IN KENTUCKY NOW.

A MAJOR DECISION TODAY BY A JEFFERSONTOWN KILL, COURT JUDGE.

DEBBIE, TELL BUS THAT DECISION, THE RULING, WHAT IT MEANS.

>> Deborah: IT CAME OUT TODAY AND IT MEANS THAT ABORTION FOR NOW CONTINUES TO BE LEGAL IN KENTUCKY UP TO 15 WEEKS BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD KENTUCKY HAD A TRIGGER LAW ENACTED IN 2019 TO WALK ABORTION SHOULD THE -- BLOCK ABORTION SHOULD THE SUPREME COURT REJECT ROE V. WADE WHICH IT DID JUNE 24th AND THAT PRESUMABLY WOULD HAVE ENDED ABORTION IN KENTUCKY, BUT ABORTION RIGHTS JOKES WENT TO STATE COURT ARGUING THAT IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE BAN IS THE TRIGGER LAW VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

AND TODAY JEFFERSON CIRCUIT JUDGE MITCH PERRY RELEASED A FAIRLY DETAILED ORDER CITING THE VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH IT DOES APPEAR TO VIOLATE THE STATE CONSTITUTION, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY, THE RIGHT TO DUE PROCESS, THE RIGHT TO EQUAL PROTECTION BY A WOMAN UNDER THE LAW, AND FINALLY ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, SAYING THAT THIS LAW INCORPORATES RELIGIOUS BELIEFS THAT NOT ALL KENTUCKIANS AND ALL FAITHS SHARE.

SO THE INJUNCTION EXTENDS THE BAN ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE TRIGGER LAW AND ANOTHER BAN, ANOTHER LAW THAT BANS ABORTION STARTING AT SIX WEEKS OF PREGNANCY.

AND NOW THE CASE WILL CONTINUE TO TRIAL IN JUDGE PERRY'S COURTROOM.

>> Bill: BILL, DEB MADE REFERENCE TO THE STEFAN NATURE OF THE RULING.

AND THAT IT WAS, A LOT OF DETAIL FROM THE JUDGE.

>> Bill Estep: YEAH, THE JUDGE COULD HAVE ISSUED A RELATIVELY SHORT ORDER THAT SAID HE WAS GOING TO EXTEND, AND HE HAD ISSUED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER EARLIER.

THIS IS A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION WHICH EXTENDS THAT, AND HE -- HE HAD TO MAKE SOME 59 FINDING BUT HE WENT INTO GREAT DETAIL ON HIS FINDINGS ABOUT WHY HE FELT IT VIOLATED THE RITE TO PRIVACY UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION AND MANY OTHER THINGS DEB MENTIONED, INCLUDING THAT IT WAS AN IMPERMISSIBLE, THAT GOVERNMENT HAD ADOPTED A RELIGIOUS POINT OF VIEW THAT FAVORED ONE PARTICULAR RELIGION AND IGNORED OTHERS.

SO -- AND YOU CAN SEE THAT AT SOME LEVEL IT WAS KIND OF A REPUDIATION OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT'S DECISION, YOU KNOW, RECENTLY THAT STRUCK DOWN ROE V. WADE BECAUSE IT WAS DECIDED OCCURS OF PRIVACY AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS, AND SO A JUDGE SAID THAT THE KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED FOR HAVING A MORE EXTENSIVE RIGHT TO PRIVACY THAN THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

AND THAT THE 6-WEEK, THE FETAL HEARTBEAT LAW THAT WAS AT ISSUE IN THIS ALONG WITH THE TRIGGER LAW FLEW IN THE FACE OF THAT RIGHT TO PRIVACY.

>> Deborah: IT'S INTERESTING, EQUAL PROTECTION ARGUMENT, TOO, SAYING THAT BASICALLY THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW EFFECTS LARGELY WOMEN AND THAT THE LAW BASICALLY VIOLATES EQUAL PROTECTION RIGHTS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE LEGISLATURE BASICALLY WHOLLY EXEMPTED MEN FROM ANY KIND OF RESTRICTIONS HERE.

>> Bill: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN TERMS OF WHERE WE GO FROM HERE?

THERE WILL BE A DECISION ULTIMATELY BY THIS COURT ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE LAW ITSELF, AND WILL THAT BE A BENCH TRIAL IN THE DECISION BY THIS JUDGE AGAIN?

OR WILL THERE POSSIBLY BE JURORS INVOLVED OR DOES THIS GO ON TO A HIGHER COURT?

>> Deborah: IT WILL BE A BENCH TRIAL IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE ON A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION, BUT CLEARLY EVERYONE BELIEVES THIS IS GOING TO MAKE ITS WAY THE TO STATE SUPREME COURT PROBABLY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

>> Bill Estep: CAMERON MENTIONED, ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON RON'S STATEMENT HE SAID HE WOULD APPEAL THIS, SO I THINK IT WOULD HAVE TO BYPASS THE COURT OF APPEALS AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE SUPREME COURT.

ONE OF THE THINGS IT COULD, YOU COULD KEEP THIS INJUNCTION IN PLACE FOR MONTHS.

IT COULD EXTEND THE RIGHT TO ABORTION FOR MONTHS WHILE THIS IS RESOLVED IN THE COURT BUT THEY'LL TRY TO GET THAT NEED SPEEDED UP AND BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.

>> Bill: CHAS THE LANDSCAPE, THEN, AS OF RIGHT NOW WITH THIS RULING FROM TODAY IN TERMS OF THE TWO ABORTION PROVIDERS IN KENTUCKY ARE OPERATING, RIGHT?

>> Deborah: YES.

THEY SUSPENDED BRIEFLY FOR ABOUT SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT DECISION BUT THEN THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO ALLOW SERVICES, SO PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND EMW WOMEN'S SURGICAL CENTER, BOTH IN LOUISVILLE, HAVE RESUMED PROVIDING ABORTION SERVICES UP TO 15 WEEKS.

>> Bill: AND THAT IS PART OF THE LAW THAT THE JUDGE ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH, RIGHT?

>> Deborah: WELL -- >> Bill: GOT PUT ON HOLD.

>> Deborah: RIGHT.

>> Bill: DEBBIE, WE ALSO HAD ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON JOCKEY COLLEAGUES FROM AROUND THE NATION IN A LETTER TO GOOGLE THREATENING LEGAL ACTION OVER THAT SEARCHIN' J, RIGHT?

>> Deborah: THERE'S SOME DISPUTE ABOUT THE SEARCH ENGINE AND HOW IT WORKS, AND CRITICS, SUPPORTERS OF ABORTION RIGHTS, SAY THAT WHEN WOMEN, ANYBODY ENTERS A SEARCH FOR, SAY, AN ABORTION CLINIC OR HOW TO FIND AN ABORTION, SOMETIMES THEY WILL GET THE RESULTS THAT WILL INCLUDE THESE PREGNANCY CRISIS CENTERS WHICH OFTEN ARE SPONSORED BY RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND WHILE THEY PROVIDE TREE FREE SERVICES AND COUNSELING, THEY'RE MEANT TO PERSUADE WOMEN NOT TO GET ABORTIONS AND RATHER CARRY THE CHILD TO TERM OR MAYBE ADOPT, SEEK ADOPTION IF WARRANTED.

SO THERE'S BEEN SOME DISPUTE ABOUT HOW THOSE SEARCH ENGINES ARE SET UP AND THERE'S BEEN SOL SOME CALL FOR SOME OF THESE TECH COMPANIES TO RESTRUCTURE THEM, BUT CAMERON AND SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARE OBJECTING TO THAT, SAYING THAT IT WOULD DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THESE PREGNANCY CRISIS CENTERS.

>> Bill: MELISSA, HAS THE ABORTION LAW BEING IN LIMBO SUCH THAT IT IS EVEN NOW BECAUSE THIS IS A TEMPORARY HOLD BY THIS JUDGE, LED TO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR UNCERTAINTY ABOUT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AMONG DOCTORS AND PROVIDES HERE IN KENTUCKY?

>> Melissa: WELL, IT HAS BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THE LAW, AS IT STAND, CLEARLY ALLOWS ABORTIONS FOR WOMEN WHOSE LIFE IS IN DANGER, THAT'S TRUE, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF GRAY AREA AROUND THAT.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE MANY WOMEN -- IT'S VERY COMMON FOR WOMEN TO HAVE A MISCARRIAGE, BUT SOMETIMES THE MISCARRIAGE IS COMPLICATED, WHICH MEANS SARAH LADD AT THE COURIER-JOURNAL WROTE A GREAT ARTICLE TALKING TO DOCTORS IN LOUISVILLE ABOUT A WOMAN PRESENTING WITH HEAVY HEMORRHAGING BUT THE FETAL HEARTBEAT IS STILL THERE, AND SO THAT DELAYS CARE FOR THAT WOMAN IN A CRISIS SITUATION, AND DOCTORS ARE JUST SORT OF IN THIS UNCERTAINTY OF HOW TO HANDLE THAT.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE I'VE HEARD IS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF A WOMAN BECOMES PREGNANT WHO HAS HEART DISEASE THAT PUTS HER AT RISK DYING IF SHE CARRIES THE PREGNANCY TO TERM, YOU KNOW, IS 30% ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE ABORTION OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE 90%?

THESE ARE QUESTIONS DOCTORS ARE JUST NOT -- THEY JUST DON'T ALWAYS KNOW ANSWER TO RIGHT NOW.

IT'S JUST VAGUE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FRIED TO CLARIFY SOME OF THAT BASICALLY SAYING IF A WOMAN PRESENTS TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, FEDERAL LAW ALLOWS AN ABORTION.

THAT IS MODE OF TREATMENT TO GET THE WOMAN OUT OF THE CRISIS SITUATION, BUT -- AND THAT FEDERAL LAW SUPERSEDES STATE LAW.

BUT THERE'S STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY.

>> Bill: DEBBIE, KENTUCKY IS ONE OF SEVERAL STATES WHOSE LAW IS ON HOLD, YET THERE ARE ALSO SOME STATES WHERE THE BANS THAT WERE IN PLACE AS TRIGGER LAWS ARE IN EFFECT.

>> Deborah: AND SOME OF THOSE SITUATIONS MELISSA WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVE ARISEN IN OTHER STATES OF COMPLICATIONS THAT MIGHT BRING A PATIENT IN WHERE T. TYPICALLY THE TREATMENT WOULD BE TO TREAT THE MISCARRIAGE OR POSSIBLY DO AN EMERGENCY ABORTION, AND JUDGE PERRY NOTED THAT IN HIS RULING TODAY, THAT, IN FACT, THESE SITUATIONS WERE RISING IN OTHER STATES AND THEY'RE LEADING TO CONFUSION AND COMPLICATIONS.

>> Bill: BILL, THIS GOES TO THE VOTERS WITH A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

>> Bill Estep: THERE WILL BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER THAT THE QUESTION WILL BE -- THE VOTE WILL BE AS TO WHETHER -- YES OR NO ON AN AMENDMENTS THAT WOULD SAY THERE'S NO RIGHT TO AN ABORTION IN KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION.

>> Bill: BILL, THERE'S BEEN A DUST-UP BETWEEN SENATORS LAND PAUL AND MITCH McCONNELL AND WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THOSE OVER THE YEARS.

THIS IS OVER THE APPOINTMENT OF A FEDERAL JUDGE.

IT LOT LOUDER THIS WEEK.

SENATOR PAUL SAYS THAT HE WAS KEPT IN THE DOCTOR DARK WILL CHAD MEREDITH.

SENATOR McCONNELL SAID HE ASKED THE WHITE HOUSE FOR WHAT HE CALLS A PERSONAL FAVOR TO APPOINT MEREDITH TO THE JOB.

McCONNELL SAYS THERE WAS NO DEAL TO PUSH THROUGH PRESIDENT BIDEN'S OTHER CHOICES.

>> Bill Estep: HE AND BIDEN A LONG-TERM RELATION.

THEY WERE IN THE SENATE TOGETHER FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND HE WENT BACK TO THAT AND SAID THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS BASED ON THAT, BUT THIS, YOU KNOW, THE OCCASIONAL FLARE-UPS BETWEEN PAUL AND McCONNELL HAVE A LONG HISTORY AS WELL.

IN PAUL'S ORIGINAL RACE IN 2010 HIS PRIMARY OPPONENT WAS TRES GRAY ZOPF WHO WAS SECRETARY OF STATE AND McCONNELL BEATTY GRAYSON AND PAUL BEAT HIM, AND, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S BEEN A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM FOR A LONG TIME THAT FLARES UP OCCASIONALLY.

IT DID OVER INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, NO DIFFERENT ON THAT, AND THIS TIME.

PAUL SAID THAT HE SUPPORTED CHAD MEREDITH, WAS THE LAWYER THAT WAS GOING TO GET -- THAT McCONNELL WANTED TO GET THE NOMINATION.

HE SAID HE SUPPORTED MEREDITH.

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD JUDGE.

BUT HE OBJECTED TO THE SECRET DEAL.

SO IT REALLY SOUND LOOK A MATTER OF COURTESY.

>> Deborah: THERE WAS NO DEAL SAID McCONNELL.

>> Bill Estep: IT SOUNDED LIKE PAUL WAS LEFT OUT OF THE LOOP AND OBJECTED FOR THAT REASON.

>> Bill: CHARLES BOOKER, THE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE FROM LOUISVILLE HAS INDICATED THAT HE STRONGLY CONSIDERED LEAVING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR WOULDN'T COMMENT ON THAT.

HE CALLED IT THE PALACE INTRIGUE.

BESHEAR ALSO INDICATED THAT HE WILL PUBLICKY ENDORSE BOOKER.

BUT DID THE DEMOCRATS ALMOST LOSE THEIR U.S. SENATE NOMINEE HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER?

>> Bill Estep: WE DON'T KNOW HOW CLOSE BOOKER CAME TO ACTUALLY SWITCHING, BUT YOU AND I HAVE COVERED POLITICS IN THE STATE A LONG TIME AND IT WOULD BE UNPRECEDENTED WITHIN MY EXPERIENCE GOING BACK NEARLY 40 YEARS FOR A CANDIDATE TO WIN THE NOMINATION UNDER ONE PARTY AND THEN SWITCH PARTY REGISTRATION BEFORE THE ACTUAL ELECTION, SO I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT EVER HAVING HAPPENED, SO IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY UNUSUAL.

TO ME IT WOULD RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER HE COULD CONTINUE -- HE THAN THE WOO BE THE DEMOCRAT'S NOMINEE ANYMORE SO WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN THAT SITUATION?

>> Bill: DO WE KNOW WHY HE WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED THAT?

>> Deborah: WE DON'T REALLY KNOW AND HE HASN'T CONFIRMED IT BUT THERE WAS SPECULATION STIRRING AROUND ON TWITTER LIKE IN THE LAST WEEK THAT SOMETHING WAS IN WORKS.

BOOKER POSTED A CURIOUS RETREAT TWEET SAYING HE WAS TRYING TO MAKE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION AND HE WAS IN THE MIDST OF IT AND TALKING IT OVER THE WITH STAFF.

THAT'S THE LAST WE HEARD OF IT.

>> Bill Estep: WE DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS MIFFED WITH THE DEMOCRATS IN SOME WAY OR FELT LOOK TO GET A APPLICABLE ADVANTAGE BY DOING THAT.

HE HASN'T EXPLAINED, YOU KNOW, WHY HE WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING THAT.

>> Bill: HE DID -- IT CAME SHORTLY AFTER HE REPORTED RAISING OVER $1 MILLION, SO HE'S INTO SEVEN FIGURES.

PAUL HAS RAISE CONSIDERABLY MORE BUT BOOKER DOES HAVE MONEY TO RUN WHAT WOULD APPEAR BE THE A CREDIBLE CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill Estep: $1 MILLION AND TIME MIDWEST LEFT BEFORE THE ELECTION.

HE'LL HAVE MONEY FOR A DECENT MEDIA CAMPAIGN.

I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE THE REASON.

>> Bill: REPUBLICANS HELD AN EVENT TO BOAST ABOUT THE EVENT THAT MAY LIFTER LAST WEEK BY BYPASSING DEMOCRATIC REGISTRATION.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BESHEAR DOWN PLAYED THE NUMBERS BILL REPUBLICANS SAY THEY ARE GIVING VOTERS WHAT THEY LIKE.

>> THEY BELIEVE WE ARE PASSING GOOD POLICY, THEREFORE IT IS FOLLOWED BY GOOD POLITICS, AND WE HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN BOTH CHAMBERS J WE SHOULDN'T BE OUT THERE FLEXING TALKING ABOUT WHO IS DOMINANT.

THEY OUGHT TO BE TRYING TO GET ALONG.

I'M TIRED OF TEAM DEMOCRAT OR TEAM REPUBLICAN.

I JUST WANT TOBY A PART OF TEAM KENTUCKY, AND POLLING ON THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHEN WE SHOULD ALL BE MOVING FORWARD.

>> Bill: BILL, AS HE POINTED OUT, THE REPUBLICANS THEY DO NOW HAVE A PLURALITY OVER THE DEMOCRATS, NOT A MAJORITY, BUT IT'S A WATER MARK THEY'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR AND EDGING TOWARD.

>> Bill Estep: IT IS.

>> Beth: QUICKLY.

>> Bill Estep: AS OF LAST MONTH THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE THAT THERE ARE 2,491 MORE REGISTERED REPUBLICANS THAN DEMOCRATS OUT OF 3.2 MILLION.

THEY EACH HAVE ABOUT 1.6 MILLION.

SO IT'S STILL VERY, VERY NARROW BUT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER AS RECENTLY AS 2018 IT WAS 49.9 DEMOCRAT AND 41% REPUBLICAN.

SO YOU HAD THAT KIND OF A SWITCH JUST IN A FEW YEARS.

WHEN MITCH McCONNELL WAS ELECTED COLLEEN WAS THE JEFFERSON COUNTING JUDGE ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 1984 IT WAS 1.3 MILLION DEMOCRAT TO A LITTLE BIT UNDER 600,000 REPUBLICANS, SO MORE THAN TWO-TO-ONE.

AT THERE'S BEEN A DRAMATIC CHANGE THROUGH THE YEARS.

>> Bill: WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPENING IN VOTING, BUT WHEN THE REGISTRATION HAPPENED, WHY IS THAT TREND BEEN THE WAY IT IS?

>> Bill Estep: EVEN BACK WHEN THE DEMOCRATS HAD A TWO-TO-ONE MAJORITY, A LOT OF THOSE DEMOCRATS WERE CONSERVATIVES, CULTURALLY, RELIGIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, APPLICABLY THEY WERE CONSERVATIVES.

THERE WERE SOME LONGSTANDING REASONS THAT THEY HAD BEEN DEMOCRATS AND JUST STUCK WITH THEIR PARTY REGISTRATION, BUT THEY VOTED REPUBLICAN IN MANY WAYS.

WE HAD REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS FROM TIME TO TIME.

WE HAD REPUBLICAN U.S.

SENATORS.

AND WHAT HAPPENED I THINK IS THAT INCREASINGLY AFTER FRUMP WAS ELECTED THESE POEM WENT AHEAD AND CHANGED THEIR REGISTRATION TO MATCH THEIR BELIEFS.

>> Bill: SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS DID AS WELL.

HARLAN COUNTY ALL OF THEIR COIN.

>> Bill Estep: JUST MOSLEY, SWITCHED FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN.

THEY SWITCHED THEIR REGISTRATION TO MARK THEIR APPLICATION, THEIR BELIEFS ANYWAY, AND THERE'S A LOT OF FEELING AMONG DEMOCRATS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THAT THE NATIONAL PARTY HAS KIND OF GOTTEN AWAY FROM THEM ON ISSUES LIKE ABORTION AND INNINGS LIKE THAT.

THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS TOO FAR TO THE LEFT.

>> Bill: TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM FANCY FARM.

OTHER CANDIDATES ARE COMING FORWARD.

REPUBLICAN STATE TREASURER ALLISON BALL ANNOUNCED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ME TODAY ON WKYT HE'S RUNNING.

FOR STATE AUDITOR.

>> I HAVE ACTUALLY JUST FILED BY LETTER OF EXTENT INTENT TO UNRUN FOR AUDITOR.

I WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THAT SERVICE AS BEING A WATCH LOG OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND I THINK THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO USE MY SERVICES THAN IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

ITS AN EVEN DEEPER DIVE INTO OUR FINANCES, AND I WAS A PROSECUTOR FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS BEFORE I WAS TREASURER, SO THAT HAS A PROSECUTORIAL ASPECT DO IT, SO I'M READY TO GO AFTER BAD GUYS IF I NEED TO AND ALSO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY AT EVERY LEVEL IS READY TO DO A GOOD JOB ON THEIR FINANCES AND THAT'S TRANSPARENT.

>> Bill: DEBBIE, IS THE RACE FOR STATE AUDITOR A GOOD STEP FOR ALLISON BALL?

>> Deborah: I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT STEP.

SHE IS TERM LIMITED AS TREASURER SO THIS WOULD ALLOW HER TO RUN FOR ANOTHER STATE OFFICE AND BUILD FOR WHATEVER HER INTERESTS ARE APPLICABLY.

>> Bill: SHE CONSIDERED OTHER RACES, I THINK, INCLUDING GOVERNOR SHE SAID AT ONE POINT.

>> Deborah: I THINK MAYBE THAT AND ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I THINK SHE'S A LAWYER BY TRAINING.

>> Bill Estep: SHE IS.

THERE'S A STRONG CANDIDATE RUSSELL COLEMAN IN THE RACE ALREADY.

>> Bill: SEVERAL CANDIDATES.

ARE FOR EVER GO ARE EXPECTED TO BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK WHEN HEG TO FANCY FARM.

THERE HAVE BEEN CONFIRMATIONS FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE AG COMMISSIONER, THE AUDITOR.

OTHERS WILL LIKELY GO AND WORK THE CROWD.

WE LEARNED TODAY GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS NOT GOING TO FANCY FARMER.

DEB.

>> Deborah: THAT CAME OUT TODAY, THAT HE AND HIS WIFE BRITTNEY ARE GOING TO MAKE A TRIP TO ISRAEL WHICH THEY SAID WOULD ALLOW THEM TO DEEPEN THEIR FAITH AND VISIT THE HOLY LAND AND EXPERIENCE A TRIP TO ONE OF AMERICA'S ALLIES.

INTERESTINGLY, FANCY FARM HAS BECOME LARGELY DOMINATED BY REPUBLICANS AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, SO HE'S NOT ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, SO MAYBE IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR A TRIP TO ISRAEL.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Joe Werner: HE SKIPPED FANCY FARM LAST YEAR ALSO AND GOT BEAT UP PRETTY BAD FROM THE STAGE.

I GOH WAS DOWN THERE AND NEARLY EVERY CANDIDATE WHO SPOKE, MIKE HARMON AND OTHERS, RYAN QUARLES WAS THERE, JUST REALLY WENT AFTER HIM FOR NOT BEING THERE, AND YOU CAN JUST EXPECT MORE OF THAT THIS YEAR.

>> Bill: YOU DO NOT THINK WHERE HE'S GOING WILL INLATE HIM FROM CRITICISM OF?

>> Bill Estep: NO.

>> Deborah: OF COURSE, IF HE'S THERE THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT UP HIM WHILE HE'S THERE-B MELISSA WAS THE NEW 988 MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE WENT LIVE LAST WEEKEND BY EARLY IN THE WEEK, IT ALREADY HAD HUNDREDS OF CALLS.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT PEOPLE ARE REACHING OUT NOW THEY'VE THAT KIND OF EASIER ACCESS.

>> Meteorologist: THE NUMBER, LIKE 911, IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME PUBLICITY ABOUT IT ALTHOUGH I KNOW THE STATE, IT WILL DO A FULL ON CAMPAIGN COME EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THEY'LL START THAT.

BUT THE NEED FOR BE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN KENTUCKY IS GREAT.

IT'S EVIDENT WYE THE NUMBER WITHS BE THE THE SUICIDE NUMBERS OR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS.

IT'S THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN KENTUCKY, AND MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA, KENTUCKY'S CHAPTER OF THAT, OFFERS A VOLUNTARY MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY, AND THEY'RE FINDING JUST SEVERE LEVELS ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AMONGST KENTUCKIANS.

AND SO THERE'S GREAT NEED.

AND THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS 988 SYSTEM PREDICT THAT IN THE NEXT YEAR THE CALLS WILL DOUBLE.

RIGHT NOW ON THE TEN-DIGIT SIDE HOTLINE NUMBER THEY GET ABOUT 20,000 CALLS A YEAR, AND THEY'RE EXPECTING OVER 40,000 IN THE NEXT YEAR.

>> Bill: THEY STILL NEED A PERMANENT SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THAT, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: THEY DO, THEY DO, JUST LIKE -- WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR, AND THIS WILL BE AN ASK IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THEY ASKED FOR IT THIS YEAR AND DIDN'T GET IT BUT HOPEFULLY NECKLACE YEAR, IT'S 70 CENTS PER CELL PHONE LINE, AND THAT'S HOW WE FUND OUR 911 NUMBER, AND SO THEY ARE -- HAVE LOOKED AT HOW THAT WORKS AND IT WORKS GREAT AND THEY'RE HOPING THAT THEY CAN GET THAT 70-CENT.

THEY LIKE TO CALL IT A FEE BECAUSE A FEE MEANS THAT THE MONEY IS ALLOCATED FOR A SPECIFIC THING.

THIS MONEY CAN'T JUST DISAPPEAR INTO SOME OTHER FUND.

>> Bill: FEE IS NOT THE WORD TAX.

>> Melissa: THAT'S WHAT THEY LIKE TO SAY.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S COVID NUMBER KEEP COMING UP AND MOST OUR COUNTIES ARE NOW IN THE RED ZONE, INDICATING A HIGH LEVEL COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION, AND THAT IS THE NEW MAP, MELISSA, THAT WE'RE SEEING TONIGHT.

THERE IS REALLY A LOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW ONCE AGAIN WITH THIS NEW BA.5 VARIANT, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: RIGHT.

THAT'S THE MOST PREVALENT SUBVARIANT RIGHT NOW, THE OMICRON VARIANT THAT'S GOING AROUND, AND, YEAH, DR. STACK GAVE AN INTERESTING STATISTIC ABOUT A WEEK AGO.

THE OLD VERSIONS OF THE VIRUS, ONE PERSON WHO HAD THE VIRUS HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INFECT ABOUT THREE PEOPLE, BUT THIS NEW BA.5, HE SAID, ONE PERSON COULD INFECT UP TO 18 PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S JUST A SIGN OF HOW TRANSMISSIBILITY IS.

AND IT'S ALSO OUR HOSPITAL NUMBERS ARE GOING UP.

IT WENT UP 21% FROM LAST WEEK.

AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE STILL LOW, THEY'RE REALLY NOT HIGH LIKE THEY WERE EARLIER IN PANDEMIC.

THEY'VE BEEN CREEPING UP FOR SEVERAL WEEKS.

>> Bill: YOU WERE IN HAD LIVE WITH COVID SORT OF MENTALITY AT THIS POINT, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: WE ARE.

>> Bill: A TAMPDOWN CONCERN EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBERS ARE UP.

>> Melissa: IT IS.

WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE IMAGING OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FROM WEEK TO WEEK, IT'S SOFTENED.

IT'S A VERY GENTLE MESSAGE OF PROVIDING INFORMATION TO KENTUCKIANS, MAKING SURE THEY KNOW THAT THE VIRUS HASN'T GONE AWAY, THAT IT'S STILL KILLING PEOPLE.

IT'S KILLING ABOUT SEVEN PEOPLE A DAY.

AN AVERAGE OF THAT NUMBER.

AND THE HOSPITAL NUMBERS HASN'T GONE AWAY.

THE MESSAGE IS OUT THERE BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT PERSONAL CHOICE, WHAT INDIVIDUAL KENTUCKIANS CHOOSE TO DO WITH THAT INFORMATION.

>> Bill: -- WEB JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL REINFORCE THE MASK MANDATE.

>> Deborah: THEY BROUGHT THAT BACK BECAUSE JEFFERSON COUNTY MOVED THROUGH IF RED ZONE AND THAT'S THE STANDARD FOR REQUIRING MASKS IN SCHOOLS SO IT'S ANYONE WHO IS IN A SCHOOL OR ON SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION LIKE A SCHOOL BUS, HOWEVER, SCHOOL DOES STARTING UNTIL AUGUST AT ANY TIME SO THEY HAVE A LITTLE TIME MAYBE THE NUMBERS WILL FALL BY THEN.

>> Bill: WITH INFEDERATION SPIKING THE KENTUCKY REVIEW BOARD MET THIS WEEK AND THEY TALKED ABOUT COST OF LIVING RACES.

IT'S SORT OF AUTISM WITHIN SOCIAL SECURITY AND MAYBE THE TEACHES, AUTOMATIC WITHIN THE SOCIAL AND THE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

>> Bill Estep: UNDER THE RETIREES IT USED TO BE THERE WERE ANNUAL COST OF LIVING INCREASES, COLAS BUT THEY HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT IN A LIGHTNING TIME, AND NOW THEY ONLY GET THOSE IF MONEY IS AVAILABLE, AND THAT FUND IS MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AN UNFUNDED LIABILITY SO IT'S SOME QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

>> Bill: PROPER GOFORTH PLED GUILTY TO FEDERAL HEALTH CARE AND MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGE IN MAY.

HE'S NOW ENTERED A PLEA ON STATE CHARGES.

>> Bill Estep: HE WAS INITIAL CHARGED WITH STRANGULATION WHICH IS A FELONY.

IT WAS A FELONY THAT WAS APPROVED WHEN MR. GOFORTH WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THAT WAS AMEND DOWN TO ASSAULT 4th WHICH IS A MISDEMEANOR, PLEADED GUILTY LAST WEEK.

HIS SENTENCE OF TWO MONTHS WILL RUN CONCURRENT TO WHATEVER TIME HE GETS ON THE FEDERAL CHARGE OF HEALTH CARE FRAUD WHICH WILL BE PROBABLY MAXIMUM SOMETHING AROUND THREE YEARS.

>> Bill: DEBBIE, GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS MADE AN ISSUE OF THE LOSS OF SOME SAN ANSELMO BENEFITS FOR SOME POOR KENTUCKIANS.

>> DIVYA: >> Deborah: RIGHT.

AS LONG AS THE STATE OF EMERGENCY EXISTED IN KENTUCKY, THE FEDERAL STATE OF EMERGENCY, WHICH THEN KENTUCKY HAD TO ADOPT ITS OWN BECAUSE OF COVID LARGELY LARGELY, KENTUCKY WAS ELIGIBLE FOR INCREASED SNAP BENEFITS FOR RECIPIENTS FOR FOOD DAPS AS THEY WERE KNOWN, AND THE LEGISLATURE, ONE OF LAST THINGS THEY DID DURING THE 2022 SESSION WAS TO END THE STATE OF EMERGENCY, WHICH GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID CUT OFF ACCESS TO THESE EXTRA FOOD STAMPS, AND THE FEDS HAVE EXTENDED THE STATE OF EMERGENCY A COUPLE OF TIMES, SO I PRESUME BLY FOLKS WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE TO GET THOSE BENEFITS HAD KENTUCKY KEPT ITS STATE OF EMERGENCY.

>> Bill: MELISSA, THERE ARE THRIVING MEETINGS THEY'RE CALLED COMING UP ALL OVER KENTUCKY, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO LEARN ABOUT AND COMMENT ON h POLICY IN THE STATE.

>> Melissa: KENTUCKY VOICES FOR HEALTH AND HERR PARTNERS CALLED THRIVE KENTUCKY WHICH IS KIND OF A COALITION OF HEALTH-MINDED SERVICE-MINDY PEOPLE ARE OFFERING ABOUT 14 REGIONAL MEETINGS ALL OVER THE STATE THROUGH NOVEMBER 1st, AND, YOU KNOW, ALL I CAN SAY IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE LATEST LEGISLATION AND LAW HAS TO SAY ABOUT THESE TOPICS LIKE SNAP, THE GOVERNOR SAID MEME HAVE STARTED CALLING THE OFFICE SAYING, NOTICING THAT THEIR FOOD STAMP CHECK IS LESS, LIKE THEY WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION NECESSARILY BEFORE BUT NOW THE REALITY OF ON IT.

IF YOU'RE ANYONE WHO IS WANTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE NEW MEDICAID RULES, IT'S JUST A GREAT PLACE TO GO LEARN ABOUT THAT.

>> Bill: GASOLINE PRICES DROPPING SOME.

BILL, A LOT OF FOLKS WATCHING THAT.

YOU DISCUSS CAME BACK FROM CHICAGO.

YOU SAID YOU WERE GLAD TO GET BACK HOME.

>> Bill Estep: IT WAS 5:65.

I WAS GLAD TO GET BACK TO THE SOUTH OF THE RIVER WHERE IT WAS 3:69.

I SAW TODAY 3:64.

>> Bill: AND BUSINESS.

WE'LL SIGH LOT OF.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIBERENDS HAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT IT WILL BE FREEZING TRYING FOR THE RECORD UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

THE UNIVERSITY WHICH IS BASED IN MANY WITHBURG AND HAS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO ARE ONLINE MADE HEADLINES BACK IN 2018 WHEN IT CUT TUITION FROM $23,000 TO UNDER $10,000.

MOST OF OF THE STATE'S PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ARE ALSO TRYING TO HOLD THE LINE ON TUITION AND FEES WITH SMALL HIKES, IF ANY, TO TRY TO KEEP THOSE SEATS FILLED ON THOSE COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

BE SURE TO JOIN RENEE SHAW AND HER GUESTS MONDAY ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" AND THAT'LL BE DISCUSSING WORK, WAGES AND WELFARE.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

STAY COOL THIS HOT WEEKEND AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.