Governor Jacqueline Coleman in next year's Democratic race for governor, but others also.

I. The job in Western Kentucky.

Preparations are in full swing for the fancy farm, picnic and political speakings next weekend.

Governor Beshear uses the state's surplus to close a Medicaid shortfall.

[MUSIC] Bourbon distillers prepare for another round of U.S.

tariffs.

[MUSIC] After some tough weather earlier this week.

It all calms down out there 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 are Laura Cullen Glasscock editor and publisher of the Kentucky Gazette, McKenna Horsley politics reporter for the Kentucky Lantern.

And joining us remotely is Derrick Opal, news director for KMA in Murray in Western Kentucky.

Also tonight, KET is losing one of the best.

We'll have some thoughts about Renee Shaw's retirement announcement.

But first, to the big political news of the week.

Rocky Adkins officially jumped into the Democratic race for governor in a contest that also includes Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman.

>> Traveling Kentucky the way I have all 120 counties.

I think a lot of people know me more today than they did five years ago, ten years ago, 15 years ago.

I believe that the different challenges that face us, there's as many great opportunities that come along too.

And I think I'm the person that understands Kentucky, knows Kentucky, and I think I'm the person to step at the helm and lead Kentucky into a brighter day.

>> So McKenna Adkins is going with a fighter theme in his launch video.

In the interviews, he's obviously portraying himself calm and collected and so forth.

But he says Kentucky does need a governor who will fight against some of the policies coming from Washington.

Is that designed to stir up Democrats and let him not mention his opponent often?

>> I think that's definitely a message that we've seen Democrats who are on ballots around the nation move to, particularly over the past couple of years, since the second Trump administration came into office.

But I also think one thing that's interesting to note is while he has this fighter image in his video and some of his speeches that he's made so far, his campaign is also emphasizing that he's a friend to a lot of people as well.

One thing that former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said while he was announcing Rocky Adkins at his event earlier this week, he asked the crowd, how many of you would consider Rocky your best friend?

And dozens of people in the crowd raised their hands.

So that's definitely something I think that's coming out to play as well.

>> Lara Adkins says he will lean on those connections he's made.

And, you know, 30 years in the legislature and then the last several years serving in the executive branch.

And he told me that a lot of people have his cell phone.

>> Oh, yeah, I believe that.

I think we said earlier when we heard that, we checked to see if we have his number two and we have numbers for for Rocky.

But absolutely, he lost to Governor Beshear last time in 2019.

And the Democratic primary losing a lot of votes in the urban areas.

And I would think that he spent these last several years as the governor's advisor, traveling the state, shoring up those areas, those geographical areas where he may have felt that he fell short or where he did fall, excuse me, fall short last time.

That's one thing.

I think another thing that's interesting with the fighter motif, it's funny that he used boxers and he's rocky, but the, the, the lieutenant governor, Jacqueline Coleman and he are both of the Beshear camp.

So right now there's not a lot of ideological contrast between the two.

They're both going after labor as as voting blocs.

And I was told by a source that the lieutenant governor is considering a labor official as potential running mate.

So it's going to be interesting to see how they split up that vote.

>> So how do you size up this race early on if those are the two contenders?

Lieutenant Governor Coleman's been in the race since April.

She's raised about $300,000 that we know of and maybe more.

>> Yeah, Rocky raised about 1.7 million for his race last time.

I mean, he's capable of raising that kind of money.

I kind of think it's too early to tell right now.

The labor is going to be a big issue for them.

She has teachers on her side.

As a former teacher in his previous race, he had all kinds of labor support.

He had endorsements from, I believe, the steelworkers, the plumbers and pipefitters, even the Boyd County Education Association endorsed his 2019 campaign.

So it's hard to see where those people are going to fall.

I did have one person tell me that he feels like 30% of labor will go with Jacqueline Coleman, 30% with Rocky, and the other 40% will wait until the general.

>> Well, maybe that possibility.

McKenna, what do you see as you size up this race?

>> Yeah, I think the early thing right now is both candidates have to build up a coalition, and that depends on these people who are in labor, in education.

Those are typically Democratic strongholds.

I think one thing that's interesting on kind of Rocky Adkins side of it is I think a lot of people heading into this matchup would view Jacqueline Coleman as the progressive candidate in this race.

But an early endorsement that Adkins has received is from Erin Petrie, who is a progressive candidate that ran in this year's sixth Congressional District primary.

And since then, she's built this coalition of a progressive voice within Kentucky Democratic politics.

>> And you bring that up.

And very early on here, Adkins has moved to take abortion off the table as an issue.

>> Right.

And I think that's definitely a smart move for him.

It's a smart move for any Democratic candidate heading into this with 2022, when Roe v Wade was taken over, overturned by the Supreme Court, I think that became a strong issue for Democratic voters nationally.

And it's definitely something that played an issue in the 2023 race here in Kentucky.

>> Derek.

Yeah.

>> Go ahead.

I was going to say doesn't didn't Hadley Duvall endorse the lieutenant governor as well?

>> So so.

>> She's she's a reproductive rights advocate.

>> Yeah.

So it sort of has brought the issue into the into the race.

Derek.

Both Coleman and Adkins have spent considerable time there in Western Kentucky, especially after the tornadoes in 2021.

How do you think the two match up out there?

>> I think it's kind of a jump ball.

You know, neither of these candidates have true West Kentucky connections.

A lot of it.

Both of it came from Beshear.

They would come with Beshear on campaign trips or or at stops, especially in the wake of the tornado.

And I, you know, you saw Coleman launch her campaign in Paducah.

It was her first campaign stop after she announced in April.

But like Rocky said in that clip, he has been going around making sure that people know his name.

I think this is going to be a wait and see type thing for Western Kentucky voters.

As these two candidates differentiate themselves.

>> I think it will be interesting that basketball will be a theme as well, because Rocky was a standout player for Morehead State and she was a basketball coach.

>> Maybe instead of a debate, we can have a free throw contest or something.

>> They can.

>> Play one.

>> On one.

>> Horse or something, right?

Well, it's going to be interesting.

And we'll of course be following in Western Kentucky is getting ready for the 146th Fancy Farm picnic, and that is next Saturday, August 1st.

And Derek, the list of speakers has grown.

We have a fresh list that came out late this afternoon.

We now know that Rocky Adkins will be allowed to speak there, as will the Lieutenant Governor, who has accepted the invitation.

So we know that it's going to be interesting coming from that stage.

>> Yeah, I was told by fancy farm organizers that they extended the invitation to Rocky this afternoon.

And and he turned it around quite quickly.

So it seems like we're going to get our first preview of the of the primary race the next weekend.

It's coming pretty soon.

But in addition to that, we're going to see some really interesting battles.

You're going to have Andy Barr and Charles Booker sparring for the Senate race.

You're going to have comer and his in his opponent.

His Democratic opponent, Drew Williams, is going to be there.

Williams was the only Democrat that even spoke at Fancy Farm last year.

And now there's going to be four.

That's a huge difference from the past couple years.

>> Well, Western Kentucky used to be such a Democratic stronghold.

And then and until it wasn't.

Right.

>> Right back, back when I first went, my first fancy farm was 1999.

And there were all Democrats.

I think we need to note two to follow up on what Derek said.

The governor has declined the invitation to come.

So.

But yeah, it just kind of shifts with the tide, right?

It was the Western Kentucky was a Democratic stronghold and the speakers were Democrats, the office holders, the constitutional office holders were Democrats.

So it just goes without saying that the Democrats would be on the stage.

And now the converse is true.

So here we are, Derek.

>> We hear the Secretary of State, Michael Adams, who's originally from Paducah, who's a Republican, who says if he runs for anything, it will be for governor.

A potentially could announce a fancy farm.

Are you hearing anything like that?

>> That's right.

He teased that in a conversation with a Lexington Herald-Leader reporter.

And, you know, I haven't heard anything from the from the former Reidland Greyhound.

But, you know, I know that as a Western Kentucky native, fancy farm would mean a lot to him.

And it would be a very interesting place for him to mount his campaign.

>> Laura, organizers have to decide who takes the stage and who doesn't.

And anyone who wants votes in Kentucky wants.

On that stage.

We also hear an independent candidate for the U.S.

Senate, Christopher Campbell, who rounded up the 5000 signatures it takes to get on the ballot, has tried to be allowed to speak at Fancy Farm, but apparently will not be.

>> Yeah, that's my understanding, too, is that the organizers said no to him, which is interesting because as the electorate, just as the politicians parties shift those in power, so do the electorate.

So does the electorate.

And we are seeing now 11% of voters registered as independent.

So it's interesting that not only are those folks shut out of the closed primaries, but now they're they're potential candidates or representatives aren't allowed to speak at these events either.

>> Derek is so many questions surround U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell and his health right now.

And I don't know that he has missed a fancy farm since he got into politics, or at least was elected to the Senate, credited with bringing Republicans out there and and actually gets a lot of credit for switching Western Kentucky from Democrat to to a Republican stronghold.

But we don't know.

Again, I think he's listed as pending.

Right?

>> That's correct.

He's one of two pending invites that are still out himself and Michael Adams.

But, you know, Mitch has been to 30 fancy farms at this point.

We're talking about three out of every four fancy farms since this.

Since Mitch McConnell was first elected, he has been there.

And what is there a better.

Would there be a better stage for him to make his reentrance.

You know, for him to say, I'm here.

>> Thoughts?

No, I.

>> Mean, it would be interesting.

It definitely would make the national news cycle.

>> Oh yeah.

There's no doubt.

Well, we'll see on that.

And you're right about he I guess he didn't do every fancy farm because there were times there were votes and he couldn't get back.

And, and then I remember the times it was a very close calls.

He would get there just in time for the speaking.

Okay.

Derek.

Fancy farm brings tremendous attention to Western Kentucky.

Do you think locals savor that opportunity to to show their hospitality?

>> You know, I think some people are like, it's very cool.

Whenever, you know, politicians, they don't get to typically have face time with show up in Western Kentucky.

It's an important event.

But for a lot of people, it's just a church picnic in Graves County, where they spend time with their family, where they play games, you know, their families.

And some of my best friends come from families that they've been running the barbecue for, for for decades.

That's just what they do.

>> And Laura, we've we've made the case.

Everybody ought to go at least once.

>> At least once.

I'm going with a friend next week who's never been.

And we're high school friends from Oldham County and.

Yeah.

So it'll be an interesting trip for her, I'm sure.

>> AM I a long time colleague at KY T Dave Baker will be the emcee.

>> So yeah, that'll.

>> Be fun.

That'll be he'll make it fun.

It'll be it's going to be interesting.

Yeah, yeah.

>> Maybe you can do it next year.

>> Bill.

Yeah, we'll leave that to the the spirited ones.

All right.

Is there any kind of local issue quickly, Derek, that, you know, hog farms became an issue years ago in Western Kentucky.

Anything that people may draw attention to, maybe data centers or something.

>> You know, I think that could be interesting.

And, you know, something could happen between now and then that pops up an issue.

But I'm expecting a lot of eyes to be on the upcoming races, both for this November and for next.

>> Okay, so we're going to watch and it should be an interesting fancy farm next week with the coverage from KET.

Now, a federal judge ruled that Kentucky is not required to release unredacted voter information to the U.S.

Department of Justice.

McKenna.

Secretary of State Michael Adams had fought the release.

The judge dismissed it.

The DOJ, of course, was demanding in its lawsuit that that that information be handed over.

Now, I understand there's an appeal.

>> Yes.

Earlier today, the DOJ did file that appeal to the Sixth Circuit.

This is a case similar to several other cases we're seeing around the country, where the DOJ has requested states turn over unredacted voter information that includes sensitive information such as Social Security numbers.

And that's typically not something that Kentucky provides when people do ask for the voter roll.

So there was some back and forth on that request there.

But with this being appealed over and over again, with so many states involved, I think it's something that we'll see continue to linger in the courts, maybe even go to Supreme Court at some point.

>> Okay.

A lot of folks watching that ahead of the election cycle.

Well, this week, Governor Andy Beshear decided to use just over half of the state budget surplus to close a hole in Medicaid funding.

>> These dollars weren't expected by anyone, including the General Assembly.

But now we can provide relief for those who rely on Medicaid while still investing in our state.

It is a win win.

All I know is my actions today are the right thing to do.

>> So, Laura, Republican lawmakers said that they appropriated adequate money for Medicaid.

Beshear said that they didn't, and that many programs were about to face a 4% cut.

>> That's right.

So the governor took money from this.

The unexpected surplus, which came from corporate income taxes.

And he's allocating $476 million for to close the gap in Medicaid funding to provide meals for needy seniors and also to make the road fund whole from the the elimination of the temporary elimination of the gas tax from his executive order earlier this spring.

So that's, that's where that money is going.

And then there's overall, there's $781 million, I believe, in the surplus.

And the rest of that will be deposited into the state's rainy day fund.

>> McKenna, you know, there have been loud and organized pushback, obviously, to a lot of the cuts.

And, you know, obviously, it was becoming unclear where the blame might land.

>> Yes.

So last week, hundreds of Kentuckians went to the Capitol to protest these cuts and plead with lawmakers.

But what we've kind of seen from the messaging from elected officials is Beshear.

Since this issue has come up, he's blamed the budget passed by the Republican controlled General Assembly for forcing his hands toward these cuts.

But meanwhile, lawmakers have said that he could better manage the money that they provide him.

So I definitely think that's an issue that we'll see continue.

>> Does this means the cuts will not have the August I guess won't happen, correct?

Yeah.

All right.

As the interim legislative meetings are rolling on in Frankfort, there was some discussion this week about how to prevent children from accidentally ingesting substances like THC or prescription drugs.

>> Are there ways that we can and I guess is that do you all know if it's a federal or is it state that would we could require for childproof lids to be put on THC products or products not meant for kids.

>> I believe the state has the ability to do that.

>> Yeah.

I mean, I think that's true.

They do not the case.

Now, I think part of the challenge is you can go to Indiana and buy it or go someplace else and buy it.

>> What are the recommendations of where to store these things?

Because a purse on top of a fridge or somewhere out of reach, I mean, that doesn't sound unreasonable, but it's still terrifying to think that, you know, toddlers can get into these things.

>> We're huge proponents of medication lock boxes that literally have either keys or combinations.

>> Okay, so we're hearing a lot of child safety concerns here in the in the interim.

Recently, there was a talk about limiting screen time in schools and in this case, a discussion about protecting children in another way.

>> Right.

And with this interim session, as always, it kind of gives us a preview of what we will see lawmakers debate and file heading into the next legislative session, legislative session, which starts in January on this child safety issue.

I think this is a trend that we've seen over the past few years in Frankfort, particularly from Republicans.

You know, one thing I think that this kind of this talk reminds me of is the bill to ban cell phones in schools from students from using those during the day.

So I think this is a progression of that issue.

>> Laura, how well do the interim meetings predict what is likely to come up in the in the session to come?

>> I think there are strong predictors because the topics are hashed out.

The opposition gets to make their points and the proponents make their points.

And lawmakers can actually pre file the bills if they want to and get get that process started.

So when the when the legislature convenes in January, they just swap out the bill request number with the House or Senate number and the process starts moving on.

So I think it's a pretty strong indicator in a lot of ways.

>> The Pre-filed bill process has changed a little bit in recent years.

It's not so much like it used to be where we, the public, could read what's being said.

We have seen some lawmakers post their bills on social media to get feedback from constituents.

We've also seen some of these drafts of bills being made public in meeting materials whenever they do come up in a meeting.

So this is kind of where the public should go to learn about what's coming up.

>> All right.

>> Absolutely.

>> President Trump is imposing a 50% tariff on Canadian spirits, which could add to challenges for Kentucky's bourbon industry.

Eric Gregory of the Kentucky Distillers Association is trying to remain optimistic, even as the challenges for bourbon continue to mount.

>> We've got 17.1 million barrels, of which 16.1 million bourbon.

That's a record.

A lot of distilleries have halted or slowed production to try to right size that inventory.

Yeah, we've got challenges and headwinds going on right now, but sooner or later people are going to return to bourbon.

And when they return to bourbon, there's only one place they can return to, and that's Kentucky.

>> Good point.

And ever the optimist there with Eric, there's a lot of bourbon in storage, though, and the industry faces the fact that fewer people are drinking alcohol these days.

McKenna.

>> Right.

And so at the end of 2025, Jim Bean announced that it would halt production at Kentucky Distillery because of because of those issues that Eric did mention tariffs, the market, and also because it takes a really long time to make bourbon.

So that's why there's so much of it in storage as well, waiting for when it is ripe for the market in the future.

We've also seen Brown-Forman close its Louisville Cooperage earlier this year, so there's definitely some shifting there in the bourbon market.

>> A lot to watch certainly.

Well, Eastern Kentucky University is moving along with its plans for a college of Osteopathic medicine.

The hope is to help address the fact that 94% of Kentucky counties have a shortage of physicians.

Laura, they've named an advisory board this week to help guide the process along.

Kentucky truly does have a shortage of doctors and other health care professionals.

This is supposed to help address that, and EKU makes the case that most of its graduates stay in Kentucky.

>> That's right.

Including us.

>> That's right.

Exactly.

>> EKU alumni here.

So the advisory board was appointed this week is a dozen members, and there are lawmakers on the board, including State Senator Brandon Storm and State Representative David Mead.

And also Doctor Ralph Alvarado is a member of this advisory board, and he is the Republican nominee for the sixth district congressional seat.

And but not only is the university looking at at ways to increase the number of doctors, but the.

The legislature tried to address that during the legislative session.

They passed Senate Bill 137, which establishes provisional licensing for.

Out of state and out of country doctors in Kentucky.

And they also passed Senate Joint Resolution 13116, which directs Eastern, U of L and UK excuse me, to study the reasons for the shortages and more so to come up with solutions to address those shortages.

>> And EKU solution is to train them.

>> Train them, and hope they stay like we did.

>> Yeah.

Derrick Murray State University recently broke ground on a $60 million veterinary sciences building.

That is a big news.

It will be Kentucky's only veterinary school.

How soon do they plan to start classes?

Have you heard that?

>> Yeah, it's supposed to take about two years for them to build this, for them to actually build the physical school, but they still have an important hoop to jump through.

They have to get their their accreditation from the American Veterinary Medicine Association.

That's something that, you know, could take a while to get.

But if they're successful, they could start having students as early as fall 2028.

>> Okay.

We'll watch on that.

And Paducah continues to gather public input as it is pushing for a future in nuclear energy.

And that's an area with experience on the issue.

>> That's right.

Obviously, the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion plant was built in the 1950s, shuttered in 2013.

And over the past couple of years, you've seen two big projects announced, particularly general matter, which is a private $1.5 billion uranium enrichment project, and then global laser enrichment, which it would be a first of its kind laser uranium enrichment site in Paducah.

Right now, the big news is that there is a lawsuit on from Kentucky Resources Council and a couple of local residents trying to halt the licensing process for GLE because they say the government never had the authority to sell to, to, to transfer the spent nuclear fuel that they would be enriching.

>> All right.

We'll stay up to date.

And McKenna, federal judge denied a motion this week to temporarily prevent another former federal judge from starting as the dean of the UK Law School.

>> Right.

This is that lawsuit that was filed last week by UK professor Ramsi Woodcock to prevent incoming dean, Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove from starting that position.

The judge did start that this week on Monday.

And while that motion was dismissed, this lawsuit is still pending in court.

>> Derek, you recently did a story on Harry Dean Stanton, another on using some photos from the 1961 filming of How the West was won in Western Kentucky.

Once in a while you get to do some fun stories out there, right?

>> Yeah.

And it's especially fun whenever we get to highlight Kentucky's history in the realm of culture.

I think one of the things that Kentucky Public Radio and the Appalachian Mid-South newsroom that KMS is a part of is that we're trying to explore these ways that Kentucky is seen from the outside, especially as Kentucky itself is trying to throw a lot of money into film production, into TV production, to make sure that more productions happen in this state.

>> All right.

Well, this week, KET announced that Renee Shaw is retiring at the end of the month after 29 years.

It's a big loss because she has done it all over the years, and she has done it all very well.

Renee has reported, produced, and most memorably, she has hosted programs including the acclaimed Kentucky Tonight and the daily program Kentucky Edition.

Renee has also been known for her fairness and legislative coverage, and during political forums.

KET is executive Director and CEO.

Shea Hopkins called Renee one of the most trusted and respected voices in Kentucky journalism.

And those of us who knew and know Renee personally will miss her infectious laugh and her durable, optimistic spirit.

[MUSIC] We all know she'll be a text or phone call away so we can get our doses of that positivity.

But good luck, Renee, in your next chapter.

That's Comment on Kentucky.

Have a good week ahead.

>> That was fun.

>> Thank you.

Derek.

>> Thanks, Derek.

It was nice meeting you.

>> Yeah.

>> I got a I was telling them before I was like, I got to do this in person once because I get so nervous because I'm like, I can't interrupt.

And I don't know when.

>> I understand.

That