VARIANT-DRIVEN COVID CASES KEEP SOME COUNTIES REENTER THE RED Z DEMOCRATS DECIDE TO TAKE A PASS ON THE SPEAKINGS AT FANCY FARM.

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY'S PRESIDENT SUDDENLY RESIGNS.

THE GOVERNOR ORDERS AN IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL INQUIRY.

PRESIDENT BIDEN EXPRESSES A DESIRE TO FIX THE TROUBLES WITH THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

AS A CLASSIC SUMMER WEEKEND PUSHES THE WESTERN WILDFIRE SMOKE AWAY, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOM 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 ARE: : RYLAND BARTON, CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

ALSO TONIGHT, KENTUCKY COULD GET NEARLY A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS FROM A PROPOSED HUGE OPIOID SET.

AND FELLOW LAWMAKERS REMEMBER THE LIFE FORMER HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER BAM CARNN.

BUT WE BEGIN WITH MORE COVID CONCERNS.

AS THE NUMBERS OF CLIMBING AGAIN, KENTUCKY HAS MORE THAN A DOZEN COUNTIES IN THE RED ZONE WITH HIGH INFECTION RATES.

THIS WEEK GOVERNOR BESHEAR ADDRESSED THE THREAT FROM THE DELTA VARIANT.

>> ELABORATES CLEAR ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT.

IT IS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE FORM OF COVID THAT WE HAVE SEEN.

IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED, IT IS THE DEADLIEST FORM OF COVID -- AND THE SHARE OF KENTUCKIANS TENSION POSITIVE FOR VIRUS IS CLOSE TO 7% AGAIN.

AND THAT JUST WEEKS AGO WAS AROUND 1 OR 2 PERCENT.

SO BOTH OF THOSE INDICATORS ARE SIGNS THAT THIS DELTA VARIANT HAS TAKEN HOLD OF KENTUCKY AND OUR HOSPITAL NUMBERS ARE GOING UP, AND SO THAT'S ALSO ALWAYS A CONCERN.

>> Bill: THERE'S A CLUSTER THESE COUNTIES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND WESTERN KENTUCKY THAT ARE NOW IN THE RED ZONES, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: THERE ARE.

AND THAT HAS PROMPTED THE GOVERNOR TO REEVALUATE THOSE RED ZONE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND BASICALLY NUDGING COMMUNITIES IN THESE HIGH TRANSMISSION ZONES TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOLDING LARGE PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND INCOURAGING UNVACCINATED PEOPLE -- ENCOURAGING UNVACCINATED PEOPLE TO WEAR MASK AND MAKE SURE THERE'S A GOOD COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN GOING ON IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED.

>> Bill: BILL, WE HAVE SOME COUNTIES WITH LESS THAN 40% VACCINATED.

THERE ARE SOME INDICATIONS WITH THIS NEW SURGE THAT THE VACCINATION NUMBERS MAY BE COMING UP IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

ARE WE SEEING THAT IN THOSE AREAS?

>> Bill Estep: NOT YET IN KENTUCKY.

ONE OF OUR REPORTERS WHO HAD A STORY THIS WEEK ABOUT FOLKS IN LEWIS COUNTY WHERE THIS VACCINATION RATE IS 23%, BUT THERE ARE 69 COUNTIES OUT OF THE 120 THAT ARE UNDER 40%.

THERE ARE A DOZENCH THOSE UNDER 30%.

-- A DOZEN OF THOSE UNDER 30%.

AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENTS IN THOSE PLACES ARE DOING EVERYTHING, HAVING CLINICS AFIRE DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS.

ACTUALLY IN LEWIS COUNTY THEY WERE GOING TIE LADY'S HOUSE TO GIVE HER A SHOT BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T GET IN.

THEY WERE GOING INDIVIDUALLY TO HOMES IF PEOPLE NEEDED THEM TO DO THAT.

SO THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO TRY TO GET THE RATES UP, AND IT'S JUST NOT WORKING IN SOME BASES.

>> Bill: WE ARE NOTICING SOME POLITICAL CHANGE RIGHT NOW IN SOME OF THE MESSAGING GOING ON OUT THERE.

>> Bill Estep: WE'VE SEASON SOME MAJOR -- AND THIS MORE SO ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

STEVE SCALISE IN THE HOUSE AND SOME OTHERS TRES STRESSING THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS WHO HADN'T SAID A LOT OF PRIOR TO THIS, THEY WERE STRESSING THAT PEOPLE NEED TO GET VACCINATED.

EVEN SAW SEAN HANNITY TALK VERY PUBLICALLY ABOUT BELIEVING IN THE SCIENCE AND URGING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND THAT SORT OF THING, AND THAT HAD NOT HAPPENED.

>> Bill: KAY I'VE THE GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA.

>> Bill Estep: KAY I'VE SAID THE PROBLEM WITH AMONG THE UNINACTION VACCINATED AND THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR ME.

SENATOR McCONNELL HAS BEEN ON THAT MESSAGE FROM DAY ONE.

HE TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCED AS A CHILD WITH POLIO AND THE VACCINE HOW IT ERADICATED POLIO AND HE'S BEEN VERY STRONGLY URGING NEXT TO GET VACCINATED FROM THE START OF THIS.

BUT NOW YOU'RE SEEING OTHER REPUBLICAN LEADERS KIND OF PICK THAT UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> Bill: MELISSA, AS YOU KNOW GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID HE HE COULD NOT RULE OUT GOING TO RESTRICTIONS AGAIN IF THE HEALTH NUMBERS CLIMB, BUT HEALTH COMMISSIONER STEVEN STACK TOLD ME THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS SUMMER AND LAST SUMMER IN THAT NOW EVE THE TOOL FOR PREVENTION, AND THAT CHASING THE WAY PUBLIC POLICY CAN BE CONSIDERED.

>> Melissa: DR. STACK HAS BEEN VERY OPEN AND VOCAL THAT IT IS A CHOICE FOR PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED, BUT IN THESE TIMES WITH THESE CASES GOING UP AND THIS DELTA VARIANT THAT -- AND HOSPITALIZATIONS GOING UP, IT'S ALL AVOIDABLE, THAT WE HAVE A VACCINE NOW AND A VERY EFFECTIVE VACCINE THAT NOT ONLY WORKS AGAINST THE ORIGINAL STRAIN BUT ALSO IS VERY EFFECTIVE AGAINST THESE VARIANTS THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

AND SO IT IS A DIFFERENT TIME, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S CONCERN, WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT WORKS THAT CAN STOP IT, AND IT'S THE VACCINE.

>> Bill: RYLAND, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME MAJOR EVENTS THAT ARE SET TO GO.

THE ORGANIZERS OF THOSE EVENTS HAVE TO BE FULL STEAM AHEAD IN GETTING READY FOR THEM.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE MUSIC FESTIVALS AND FALL FESTIVALS AND THE STATE FAIR AND FOOTBALL GAMES.

BUT THOSE ORGANS ALSO HAVE TO REALIZED REALIZES THAT THINGS COULD CHANGE HERE.

>> Ryland: I THINK IT'S VERY HARD FOR A LOT OF THOSE ORGANIZERS BECAUSE WE'VE JUST COME OFF A MONTH OR TWO OF PEOPLE BEING REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING WAS GETTING BETTER, THE PANDEMIC WAS IN OUR REAR VIEW.

THERE WERE CERTAINLY WARNINGS ABOUT VARIANTS AND NOW A LOT OF THAT IS COMING TRUE.

SO A LOT OF PLANS WERE MADE OVER THAT PERIOD OF TIME, WHETHER IT'S BUSINESSES REOPENING OR THESE BIGGY FESTIVALS BEING PLANNED.

AND I THINK A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS AND ORGANIZEES ARE STARTING TO THINK REAL HARD ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE OR WITH THAT -- WHAT SAFETY MEASURES THEY CAN PUT IN PLACE TO TRY AND KEEP PEOPLE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

BUT I THINK ANOTHER THING THAT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO END UP CONSIDERING IS WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE GOING START ASKING PEOPLE TO SHOW THEIR VACCINATION CARDS TO GET INTO PLACES AND.

NBA CERTAINLY DID IT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN IT MUCH IN KENTUCKY, THOUGH.

BUT I THINK THAT EVERYBODY'S REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT GOING BACK INTO A FULL LOCKDOWN AGAIN, SO PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT CREATIVE WAYS TO STAY OPEN.

>> Bill: BILL, THIS IS A TIME WHEN KENTUCKY, PARTICULARLY GOING INTO THE FALL, LIKES TO SHOW OFF ITS COMMUNITIES WITH THOSE FESTIVALS AND EVENTS.

>> Bill Estep: SURE.

I MEAN, THERE'S THE WORLD CHICKEN FESTIVAL IN LONDON.

THERE'S THE AMY FESTIVAL IN CASEY COUNTY, ONE OF THE OLDER ONES.

THERE'S FESTIVALS ALL OVER KENTUCKY IN THE FALL.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF AGRIBUSINESSES, FOLKS GOING OUT TO FARMS IN THE FALL.

AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER ALL THAT, IS THERE SOME POTENTIAL FOR THE VIRUS TO BE SPREAD HAT THOSE TYPES OF EVENTS.

>> Bill: MELISSA, HOW ARE HEALTH OFFICIALS COMBATING THE MISINFORMATION ABOUT VACCINES?

IS THERE A CLEAR PATH TO CHANGING OPINIONS OR TO AT LEAST KEEP IN CHECK SOME OF THE INCORRECT INFORMATION THAT'S BEING CIRCULATED?

>> Melissa: WELL, THE RECENTIST KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION POLL HAS FOUND THAT FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND YOUR HEALTH PROVIDERS ARE HAVING THE MOST SWAY IS VACCINE HESITANT PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, AND SO WHAT THAT SAYS IS IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED TO SHARE THEIR STORY AND THEIR SUCCESS AND IN THEIR VACCINATION.

TOWARD THAT EPHEDRINE KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS THIS WEEK TRIED TO ANSWER A SLEW OF THOSE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT MANY PEOPLE STILL HAVE ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED THAT HOPEFULLY WILL BE USED BY PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE FENCE BUT ALSO BY THOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE.

>> Bill: WHERE PEOPLE GET THAT INFORMATION?

>> Melissa: THEY CAN GET THAT ON KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS, ON OUR BLOG, AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS.

>> Bill: AND HERE WE ARE WITH SCHOOLS HAVING TO MAKE BIG DECISIONS RIGHT NOW ABOUT MOVING FORWARD ON MASK MANDATES AND OTHER RULES.

THE STATE'S THIRD LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT, BOONE COUNTY, HAS DECIDED TO MAKE MASKS OPTIONAL FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF.

>> Melissa: WELL, IT JUST SEEMS TO BE A QUESTION ALL OVER THE STATE THAT HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED IN A LOT OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, BUT THE REALITY IS AND THE CHALLENGE IS THAT KIDS DO GET THE VIRUS, AND WITH THIS DELTA VARIANT SOMETIMES THEY GET VERY SICK FROM IT, AND SO AS SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO DECIDE THE BEST WAYS TO KEEP STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM AND IF BEST WAY TO KEEP SPORTING EVENTS THAT KENTUCKIANS LOVE TO GO TO IN FULL MOTION IS THIS BIG DECISION.

IT'S LIKE WITH 12 AND UNDERs NOT ABLE TO GET VACCINATED, A MASK IS THE BEST DEFENSE THAT THEY HAVE, AND SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT IN THE SCHOOLS THAT CHOOSE NOT TO REQUIRE MASKS.

>> AND AS SCHOOLS PREPARE FOR AN UNCERTAIN YEAR, THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DR. JASON GLASS TOLD ME THAT THE BIG DECISIONS ARE LOCAL BUT HE LEAVES NO DOUBT THAT HE HOPES SCHOOL LEADERS WILL FOLLOW SCIENCE OF BASED RECOMMENDATIONS.

>> BUT WE CAN'T JUST PRETEND THAT THIS VIRUS DOESN'T EXIST, AS FRUSTRATED AS WE ARE WITH IT.

OUR ENEMY IS THIS VIRUS AND IT DOESN'T REST, IT DOESN'T GET FRUSTRATED, IT DOESN'T GET FA FIND JUST WAITS FOR OPTIONS AND WAITS FOURS LET OUR GUARD DOWN AND WE CAN'T DO THAT WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND OUR KIDS.

>> Bill: MELISSA, COMMISSIONER GLASS ALSO RAISED THE SPECTER THAT SCHOOLS COULD EXPOSE THEM TO LIABILITY IF THEY HAVE AN OUTBREAK AND HAVE NOT NOT FOLLOWED RECOMMENDATIONS.

THAT'S A WHOLE NEW ELEMENT.

>> Melissa: IT IS A WHOLE NEW ELEMENT, AND IT'S ONE THAT I THINK IS UNCHARTED TERRITORY, AND I'M CURIOUS WHEN SOMETHING IS OFFERED AS A GUIDANCE, YOU KNOW, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS' GAINS IS THAT ALL STUDENTS WEAR A MASK AT SCHOOL, VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED.

THE CDC AT THIS POINT IS JUST ASKING UNVACCINATED STUDENTS IN HIGH POPULATED AREAS TO WEAR A MASK, AND THAT GUIDANCE IS PROBABLY GOING TO GET A LITTLE STRICTER, BUT -- SO IT'S JUST -- THAT'S UNCHARTED TERRITORY.

WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

>> Bill: AND, BILL, YOU KNOW OF AT LEAST ONE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT THAT TOOK DIFFERENTIATE TACK.

>> Bill Estep: THE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT IN PULASKI COUNTY HAD PARENTS SIGN WAIVERS LAST FALL WHEN THEY WERE GETTING READY TO GO BACK TO LIVE INSTRUCTION.

IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT SCHOOLS WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER AS WELL.

>> Bill: WELL, IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING WE WILL WATCH.

WE KNOW THESE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE IN PUBLIC SETTINGS IN SOCOM CASES BEFORE SCHOOL BOARDS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL WANT TO BE HEARD FROM ON ALL SIDES OF THAT.

THERE'S BEEN BEEN A STARK POLITICAL ELEMENT TO DEALING WITH THE PANDEMIC.

KENTUCKY U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL AND DR. FAUCI HAVE HAD SEVERAL ROUNDS OVER MASKS AND SUPREME COURT THIS WEEK IS TENSION REAPPEARED WHEN PAUL ACCUSED FAUCI LYING TO CONGRESS ABOUT WHETHER U.S.-FUNDED RESEARCH IN CHINA MAY HAVE LED TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE'RE SAYING THERE ARE GAIN OF FUNCTIONS VIRUSES BECAUSE THEY ARE ANIMAL VIRUSES THAT BECAME MORE TRANSMISSIBLE IN HUMAN AND YOU FUND IT AND YOU ADMIT THE TRUTH.

>> YOUR TIME HAAS EXPIRED AND I WILL ALLOW WITNESSES WHO COME BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE TO RESPOND.

>> AND YOU ARE IMPLYING THAT WHAT WE DID WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF INDIVIDUALS.

I TOTALLY RECENT THAT.

>> IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

>> IF ANYBODY IS LYING HERE, SENATOR, IT IS YOU.

>> Bill: RYLAND, DO THESE SCUFFLES SEEM TO BE GETTING MORE AND MORE TERSE?

>> Ryland: THEY DEFINITELY DO AND ESPECIALLY ANTHONY OFF.

'S RESPONSE AS HE SEEMS TO BE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE FRUSTRATED I.L.

FLUSTERED I THINK PROBABLY BECAUSE HE KNOWS IT'S COMING SOMETIMES.

RAND PAUL IS REALLY RELISHING THE POT SPOTLIGHT IN THESE COMMITTEE MEETING HEARINGS.

I THINK ONE THING THAT IS VERY INTERESTING 2 THIS IS HOW THE RESPONSE TO THESE COMMITTEE HEARINGS POLITICAL WEB HOW PEOPLE ARE INTERPRETING THEM.

I THINK YOU COULD REALLY SEE JUST PEOPLEY CELEBRATING RAND PAUL FOR QUESTIONING ANTHONY FAUCI AND THEN FAUCI SUPPORTERS, IF YOU WILL, SAYING THAT RAND PAUL MISTAKING A FOOL OF HIMSELF IN THIS CASE, AND REALLY NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET.

AND IT'S JUST A SIGN OF THE APPLICABLE TIMES THAT WE'RE IN RIGHT NOW, AND THERE WAS A REALLY GOOD ARTICLE THIS WEEK DONE BY DAVID THAT SAID THAT THERE WAS NO POLITICAL -- THERE'S NO POLITICAL DOWNSIDE TO RAND PAUL KIND OF -- OR THERE'S ONLY POLITICAL UPSIDE TO RAND PAUL GRILLING OFF.

NECESSITY THIS AREA, AND HE'S REALLY TAKING PRIDE IN HIS >> Bill Estep: BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATION.

HIS PRIOR BOSS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN AGREEMENT WITH PAUL, AND NOW HIS CURRENT BOSS IS NOT.

>> Bill: HERE IN KENTUCKY THERE WAS A FRANKFORT POLITICAL ELEMENT AS WELL.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE, REPUBLICAN REGINA HUFF WHO CHAIRS THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE, TWEETED AND THEN DELETED A POST THIS WEEK THAT SHE ENDED UP TRYING TO EXPLAIN FOR A THE PICTURE OF JIM JONES, I GOT OVER A MILLION PEOPLE TO DRINK MY KOOL-AID, AND THEN ANTHONY OFF.

'S IMAGE SAYING "AMATEUR."

SHE QUICKLY DELETED THIS POST, AND TRIED TO CLARIFY HER STATEMENT SAYING THAT REALLY WHAT SHE WAS SAYING IS THAT SHE'S AGAIN VACCINE MANDATES.

SHE'S THE HOUSE EDUCATION CHAIR.

SHE SAID ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS, SHE DOESN'T WANT THEM TO GET MANDATED TO GET THE VACCINE.

BUT THIS LETS TO THE LEVEL OF THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THE WAYS THIS OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS TALKING ABOUT CORONAVIRUS OR TALKING ABOUT THE VACCINE, AND A LOT OF IT'S LEADING TO SOME PRETTY INTENSE SCEPTICISM FROM CONSTITUENTS, AND THIS IS CERTAINLY A BIG EXAMPLE.

>> Bill: WELL, AND I THINK ONE OF HER PREVIOUS TWEETS HAD SHOWN HER GETTING THE VACCINE, RIGHT?

>> Ryland: YEAH, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE SEEN A LOT WITH OUR POLITICIANS, IS THERE'S A LOT OF VACCINATED POLITICIANS WHO ARE -- YOU KNOW, THEY WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT -- TO NOT HAVE TO GET THE VACCINE, BUT THERE IS LIKE A BIT OF A DISCONNECT THERE AT SOME POINT.

AT WHAT POINT ARE WE LOOKING OUT FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS.

>> Bill: MELISSA, WE'RE NOT AT A POINT OF MANDATING, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: IT DOESN'T APPEAR SO.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF HE WOULD BE INTERESTED OR CONSIDER MANDATING VACCINES, ESPECIALLY IN LONG-TERM CARE AND HEALTH CARE SETTINGS BECAUSE THOSE ARE SUCH HIGH, VULNERABLE POPULATIONS THAT ARE BEING CARED FOR, AND HE SAYS NO.

EVERY TIME HE'S BEEN ASKED, HE SAID, NO, THAT'S NOT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO, AND THEN HE HAS SUPPORTED BUSINESSES THAT HAVE MADE THAT DECISION, BUT HE HASN'T GONE THAT DIRECTION.

SO IT DOESN'T SEEM AS IF THAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: AS IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN TALKING ABOUT POLITICS ALREADY, LET'S TALK SOME PURE APPLICATION AND WE'LL GET INTO SOME OTHER ISSUES HERE.

THE DEMOCRATS DECIDED TO TAKE A PASS ON FANCY FARM AS FAR AS THE POLITICAL SPEAKINGS THIS YEAR.

ORGANIZERS OF THAT EVENT EXPRESSING A DISAPPOINTMENT.

THE STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS THERE ARE NO ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.

>> Ryland: AND REALLY THE ONLY TWO DEMOCRATS WHO WERE SLATED TO BE INVITED UNDER THE OFFICIAL FANCY FARM RULES WERE GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN.

GENERALLY HOW THAT WORKS IS IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS FOR EITHER THE REGION OR FOR STATEWIDE OR PEOPLE WHO ARE UP FOR ELECTION IN THE COMING YEAR.

SO I THINK ONE PRETTY INTERESTING QUESTION IS EVERYBODY'S WONDERING IF DEMOCRATIC SENATE CANDIDATE CHARLES BOOKER WAS GOING TO BE THERE BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING FOR SENATE NEXT YEAR AGAINST RAND PAUL.

HE WILL NOT BE THERE.

I DIDN'T TALK TO THE ORGANIZER AND HE SAID, WELL, IT'S BECAUSE THERE'S NO ELECTIONS THIS YEAR.

I TALKED TO.

HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME PRECEDENT FOR IT.

MATT BEVIN BACK IN 2013 WHEN HE WAS PRIMARYING MITCH McCONNELL, HE WAS AT A VERY RAUCOUS FANCY FARM WITH LOTS OF PEOPLE RINGING BELLS, AND SO ANYWAY IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S JUST GOING TO BE REPUBLICANS THIS YEAR AT FANCY FARM.

THE LIST IS STILL BEING FINALIZED, BUT SOME POTENTIAL GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WILL BE SHOWING UP.

>> Bill: AND THERE IS ONE OFFICIAL CANDIDATE.

>> Ryland: AUDITOR MIKE HARMON WHO THE FINISHING OUT OR IN THE MISTLED HIS SECOND TERM.

RYAN QUARLES THE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER HAS BEEN HINTING HEAVILY HE'S GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR NEXT YEAR OR IN TWO YEARS.

WE'RE PRETTY FAR OUT AT THIS POINT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHO ELSE SHOWS UP ON THE SIDELINES BECAUSE FANCY FARM ISN'T ALWAYS JUST WITH THE PEOPLE WHO GET UP THERE AND SPEAK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOW UP AND TRY TO RALLY AROUND.

>> Bill: BILL, YOU AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THAT DEMOCRATS USED TO BE THE ONES WHO HAD THE BIG SHOW OF FORCE AT FANCY FARM AND THE REPUBLICANS WOULD BE SPARSE.

>> Bill Estep: WHAT'S HAPPENED AT FANCY FARM MIRRORS WHAT'S HAPPENED ACROSS THE STATE GENERALLY WHERE YEARS AGO THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THAT'S FLIPPED NOW WITH SUPERMARKETS OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE -- YOU SUPER MAJORITIES OF THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

MOST OF THE FEDERAL MEMBERS, WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF CONGRESS WHO IS A DEMOCRAT.

SO WESTERN KENTUCKY USED TO BE SOLIDLY DEMOCRATIC IS NOW PRETTY SOLIDLY ALL THE REPS AND SENATORS FROM OUT THERE ARE OR NEARLY AURAL REPUBLICAN.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING AT FANCY FARM SHOWS WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH THE STATE GENERALLY AND EVEN ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: I IMAGINE THEIR GOAL WOULD BE TO TRY TO GET THINGS BACK ON TRACK NEXT YEAR IN THE SENATE YEAR.

>> Ryland: CERTAINLY, IT WILL BE AN ELECTION YEAR AND THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE CANDIDATES AVAILABLE TO SHOW UP TO IT, AND HOPEFULLY THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON, THE PANDEMIC BEING UPON US, HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE MORE IN THE REAR VIEW THE THAT POINT.

>> Bill Estep: THE OTHER THING GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE PINT, TRIED TO MAKE A MOUNT L. POINT ABOUT CORONAVIRUS ABOUT NOT GOING THIS EVENT.

THAT WAS PART OF HIS REASON.

THERE'S NO ELECTIONS AND WE CAN AVOID A BIG GATHERING OF PEOPLE.

>> Bill: FANCY FARM IS AUGUST 7th AT THE EVENT THERE IN GRAVES COUNTY AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

NOW, MELISSA, WE'VE ALL COVERED THIS OPIOID CRISIS EXTENSIVELY FOR YEARS NOW.

EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

KENTUCKY MAY BE SHARING IN A MULTI-STATE, MULTI-MILLION DOLLARS SETTLEMENT.

>> Melissa: WELL, IT IS A TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT.

THE STATE HAS ABOUT 30 DAYS TO DECIDE IF IT WILL TAKE THE MONEYS, ABOUT $460 MILLION, AND IT'S WITH THREE OF THE TOP DRUG DISTRIBUTORS, AND JOHNSON & JOHNSON AS A DRUGMAKER, THAT'S WHERE THE SUIT IS AGAINST, AND IF, IN FACT, THE STATE AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ACCEPT THIS MONEY, IT WILL BE SPLIT 50/50 WITH STATES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND BE THERE WILL BE A COMMISSION TO OVERSEE NOW HOWE THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT.

>> Bill Estep: THE BACKGROUND, THERE WERE SEVERAL THOUSAND OF THESE LAWSUITS, NOT JUST KENTUCKY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SEVERAL,000 OF THESE LAWSUITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARGUING THAT DRUGMAKERS AND DRUG DISTRIBUTORS CONTINUED TO PUMP MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF OPIOIDS, PAIN PILLS INTO KENTUCKY AND OTHER PLACES EVEN AS DEATHS WERE GOING UP AND THAT THEY IGNORED SIGNS THAT THESE PILLS WERE BEING DIVERTED ONTO THE BLACK MARKED FOR ABUSE, AND SO THIS WOULD SETTLE THOSE IN THE STATE JOINS IN, AND I THINK ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON HAD AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK ABOUT THE AMOUNT, AND THE STATE DOES HAVE SOME TIME FORMALLY SIGN ON BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE HE BELIEVES THE STATE WILL SIGN ON AND TAKE THAT MONEY.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH THAT.

THERE'S BEEN A MAJOR SHAKE-UP THIS WEEK AT KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY.

KSU PRESIDENT RESIGNED.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR ORDER AND IMMEDIATE INQUIRY INTO THE UNIVERSITY'S FINANCES.

BILL, THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS RAISED IN RECENT WEEKS.

>> Bill Estep: THERE'S A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS CLAIMING HARASSMENT AND OTHER PROBLEMS.

ONE LAWSUIT CLAIMING THAT SOMEBODY WAS FORCED OUT OVER A CONTRACT THAT WAS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THAT PERSON BELIEVED IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR CALLED FOR -- THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

THERE I WAS A MEETING AND IT LED TO THE SURPRISE RESIGNATION OF THE PRESIDENT, AND THERE'S BEEN AN INTERIM POINTED, BUT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST GO-AROUND OF PROBLEMS AT DSU THE PROBLEMS GO BACK TO THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.

>> Bill: AND CLARA ROSS STAMPS WILL BE THE INTERIM PRESIDENT FOR NOW.

PRESIDENT BIDEN LANDED AND LEFT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THIS WEEK.

HE WENT TO CINCINNATI FOR A TOWN HALL MEETING, AND IT WAS THERE THAT HE MADE A REFERENCE, USING COLORFUL LANGUAGE, TO WANTING TO FIND A FIX FOR THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

AND, RYLAND, THIS IS INTERESTING.

HE SAYS THAT IT COULD BE INCLUDED IN HIS MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT HE'S PUSHING THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING TO -- >> Ryland: WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL PASS.

INTERESTINGLY HE'S SHOWS E. SHOWING UP IN CINCINNATI, THE HOME OF ROB PORTMAN WHO IS THE TOP REPUBLICAN SENATE LEADER WHO WILL NEGOTIATING THIS SIDE OF THIS DEAL, SO HE'S TRYING TO MAKE HAD A LOT OF ARGUMENTS IN HIS BACKYARD BASICALLY, BUT BIDEN IS ALSO THE THIRD PRESIDENT IN A ROW TO BE SHOWING UP IN CINCINNATI AND SAYING WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

KENTUCKY GOVERNORS HAVE DONE THE SAME THING.

I'M SURE OHIO GOVERNORS HAVE AS WELL.

IT'S BEEN -- IT'S BEEN SCHEDULED TO BE -- TO BE FIXED UP FOR SEVERAL DECADES NOW, AND, YEAH, SO THIS MIGHT BE THE SOLUTION.

BIDEN IS AT LEAST TOUTING THAT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE COULD BE THE THING THAT FIXES IT.

WE'LL SEE ON DOWN THE ROAD IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT MATERIALIZES.

>> Bill: WELL, AND THE FIRE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION ON IT LAST MONTH.

>> Ryland: CERTAINLY, THE FIRE FROM LATE LAST YEAR, AND THAT WASN'T STRUCTURAL-RELATED BUT IT WAS A BIG FIRE AND EVERYBODY REALIZED ALL -- WORKING TO GET S DONE.

THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO PULLED FOR HIM FOR ALL OF THOSE MONTHS THAT HE WAS HOSPITALIZED AND THEREFORE OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

RYLAND, HE WAS 51 YEARS OLD.

>> Ryland: YEAH, LONGTIME STATE RETCH, AND HE WAS A HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND WRESTLING COACH, AND HE WAS A GREAT GUY TO TALK TO.

HE ALWAYS HAD A MINUTE TO SPARE TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER ISSUE IT WAS, AND HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ISSUES HE WAS WORKING ON.

CERTAINLY AS THE EDUCATION CHAIR, HE FOUND HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A LOT OF BIG POLITICALLY BATTLES, AND I THINK EVERYBODY ENJOYED WORKING WITH HIM, AND YOU, CERTAINLY SEE ONCE HE PASSED AWAY ALL THE REMEMBRANCE THAT CAME OUT FROM ALL DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE STATE TALKING ABOUT HIM.

>> Bill: IT WAS INTERESTING, YOU KNOW, SENATOR TOM BUFORD HAD DIED THE WEEK BEFORE, AND THE SAME SORTS OF THINGS THAT WERE SAID HERE WERE TWO GUYS WHO COULD DISAGREE WITH PEOPLE IN A COLLEGIAL WAY.

>> Ryland: CERTAINLY.

ANDPROFESSIONALISM AND BRING A GREAT DEAL OF KNOWLEDGE TO THEIR DISTRICT AND TRY TO DO THE BEST FOR THEIR DISTRICTS AND THE STATE AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Bill: AND TWO SPECIAL ELECTIONS WILL BE COMING TO FILL THOSE SEATS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED.

>> Ryland: GOVERNOR BESHEAR WILL BE ONE II TO BE CALL WHEN THOSE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE.

>> Bill: THE JOURNALISM INDUSTRY IS REMEMBERING DAVID HOP.

HOPPE MADE LONGTIME FRIENDS AT THE UK STUDENT NEWSPAPER, THE KENTUCKY COLONEL.

HOP WOULD GO ON TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY JOURNAL WHICH LED FOUR PULITZER PRIZES.

HIS FUN CLAIMS TO COME FROM BOTH EAST LOUISVILLE ANDY EASTERN KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS.

BORN IN.

HE PUSHED THOSE PLACES TO RETIRE AND ALL THE PLACES IN BETWEEN IN KENTUCKY IN THE STATE THAT HE SO LOVED.

HE WAS 78 YEARS OLD.

TUNE IN MONDAY NIGHT FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW WILL BE HOSTING A DISCUSSION ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL ISSUES, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM OUT THERE.