IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE.

EASTERN KENTUCKY NOW DEALING WITH DEADLY AND DEVASTATING flo DEADLY AND DEVASTATING FLOODING ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON APPEAL A JUDGE'S HOLD ON KENTUCKY'S ABORTION LAW.

SCHOOLS SCRAMBLE TO FIND TEACHERS, DRIVERS AND S PERSONNEL AHEAD OF THE START OF KENTUCKY'S POLITICAL CROWD PREPARES FOR THE SPICY BARBECUE FIERY SPEECHES AND ALL THE RUMORS OF A FANCY FARM.

HEADING TOWARD AUGUST, "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 NEW AND THE GUESTS OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR WFPL.

IN LOUISVILLE.

LAURA CULLEN GLASSCOCK, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE KENTUCKY G. AND JOINING YOU REMOTELY TONIGHT BECAUSE THEY'RE COVERING THE FLOOD, AUSTIN OWNER HORN, APPLICABLE REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

RUSS CASSADY, REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS AND BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER ALSO TONIGHT, JESSAMINE COUNTY'S REPUBLICAN PARTY CENSURES SENATOR MCCONNELL OVER GUN LEGI WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH TH HISTORIC FLOODING IN EASTERN KE.

WHICH COMES ONLY MONTHS AFTER THE DEADLY TORNADOES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE FLOODI HAS BEEN CLIMBING.

THE CLEANUP AND THE REBUILDING WILL BE LONG AND CHALLENGING.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN NUMEROUS COUNTIES.

HE VISITED THE REGION TODAY.

HE SAID THE STATE IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THOSE IN need.

>> KENTUCKIANS ARE OBVIOUSLY RESILIENT PEOPLE.

WE ARE ALSO G THE PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THIS ARE GOING TO LOSE JUST ABOUT EVERYT AND WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE IMPACTED.

>> Bill: LET'S START WITH OUR CREW COVERING THIS OUT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

RUSS, IT IS HOME FOR YOU.

I WAS OUT THERE YESTERDAY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY SEEING SOME OF THE DESTRUCTION.

IT WAS SUDDEN AND WIDESPREAD.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE WHAT'S HAPPENED?

>> Russ: WELL, BILL, IT'S HARD TO COME UP WITH WORDS THAT REALLY ADEQUATELY DESCRIBE HOW BAD THIS IS.

WE'RE NO STRANGER TO FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, BUT THE SCOPE, BREADTH, LOSS OF LIFE, THE LOSS OF PROPERTY, THE INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE IS STAGGERING IN THIS CASE.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, YOU'VE BEEN IN SEVERAL COUNTIES TODAY.

I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE COMING TO US FROM HAZARD THIS EVENING.

WHAT DID YOU SEE IN YOUR REPORTING?

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I'VE BEEN TO KNOTT, PERRY AND LETCHER COUNTY AND A LITTLE BIT OF FLOYD COUNTY AS WELL.

A LOT OF IT JUST COMES DOWN TO SHOCK.

PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T REALLY PERCEIVE ANY FLOOD THREAT AT ALL IN THEIR PLACES, THEIR HOMES JUST SAW EVERYTHING GO.

I MEAN, MY GRANDFATHER, WHO DOESN'T LIVE PARTICULARLY CLOSE BUT IS AN EASTERN KENTUCKIAN IN MARTIN COUNTY, SAID THIS IS THE MOST RAIN HE'S EVER SEEN, AND HE IS 83 YEARS OLD.

THE MOST RAIN IN THE SEASON, THAT IS.

SO SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST SO MUCH, INCLUDING THEIR LIVES, THEIR HOMES, THEIR BUSINESSES, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DIDN'T HAVE INSURANCE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A REGION THAT IS UNDERSERVED LARGELY, AND A LOT OF THESE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HIT THE WORST COMMUNITIES LIKE LITTLE TINY SORT OF HOLLER COMMUNITIES LIKE DWARF AND PERRY COUNTY, I BELIEVE, THAT I SPOKE WITH SOMEBODY WHO LOST THE ENTIRE BACK HALF OF THEIR HOME.

THEY HAD NO INSURANCE, NOWHERE TO GO.

SO A LOT OF IT IS JUST SHOCK AND DESPAIR, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THESE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN KENTUCKY ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER.

AND YOU'VE ALSO SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE HELP EACH OTHER AS WELL.

>> Bill: BILL, COMING AS IT DID IN THE NIGHT WAS CERTAINLY NO HELP.

THE DARKNESS GAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE PROBLEMS WITH ORIENTATION.

DEATH TOLL IS CLIMBING.

IT IS CLOSE TO 20.

SO AS AUSTIN MENTIONED, THE HEARTBREAK OF THAT ACTUAL LOSS OF LIFE IS THE TOUGHEST THING HERE, INCLUDING CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THIS.

>> Bill Estep: IT IS.

ONE THING, THE DEATH TO TELL YOU MENTIONED IS AT 19 RIGHT NOW, BUT GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID TODAY THAT THAT'S ALMOST CERTAIN TO GO UP.

WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF PEOPLE MISSING AND UNACCOUNTED FOR.

I THINK SIX OR EIGHT IN PERRY COUNTY AND HALF A DOZEN OR SO AT LEAST IN KNOTT COUNTY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS OUT IN PERRY COUNTY YESTERDAY, I WAS THROUGH LESLIE AND KLAY COUNTIES, AND THE THING THAT PEOPLE MENTIONED OVER AND OVER WAS HOW QUICKLY THE WATER CAME UP AND HOW PLACES THAT HAD NEVER FLOODED BEFORE, FLOODED THIS TIME.

I WAS ON GRAPEVINE CREEK, WHICH IS IN PERFECT COUNTY, AND SEVERAL PEOPLE SAID HA THAT'S -- PERRY COUNTY, AND SEVERAL PEOPLE SAID THEY LIVED ALONG CREEK OR 40, 50 YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF WATER BEFORE.

IT WAS A CLOUD BURST AND IT CAME UP VERY QUICKLY.

SO THAT'S WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE WEREN'T ABLE TO GET OUT OF THEIR HOUSES AND EVICT.

>> Bill: U. RUSS, WHAT WILL THE RECOVERY PROCESS NOW LOOK LIKE?

WE ARE TALKING, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT WEEK OR SO DEALING WITH.

THIS COULD GO ON FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Russ: OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

JUST THE INFRASTRUCTURE DAMAGE, THE DAMAGE TO PEOPLE'S HOMES.

PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE WEEKS, MONTHS, YEARS TO GET A HANDLE ON THIS.

IT REALLY IS ONE OF THE WORST DISASTERS THAT I HAVE COVERED IN MY CAREER AS A JOURNAL ITS.

>> Bill: AND, RUSS, LONG TERM, AS EASTERN KENTUCKIANS WORK TO TRY TO PREVENT FUTURE SUCH EVENTS, I MEAN, THERE ARE MAJOR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS IN PARTS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

WOULD YOU SEE THIS BEGINNING AND RESTARTING SOME OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS?

>> Russ: WELL, IT REALLY SHOULD.

WE CAN'T CONTROL THE WATER.

WE CAN'T CONTROL HOW MUCH IT FALLS ARE ON HOW FAST IT FALLS, BUT IN THE PAST IN PROJECTS SUCH AS THE CUT-THROUGH PROJECT IN PIKEVILLE WHERE PEOPLE LIKE MAYOR WILLIAMS HANDLEY THEY MOVED A MOUNTAIN TO KIND OF HELP MITIGATE AND PREVENT THIS KIND OF SUFFERING.

CAN WE COMPLETELY PREVENT IT?

NO.

BUT THERE ARE WAYS THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY MITIGATE IT BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE NEW IDEAS AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE RISK AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE COST, BUT IT'S WORTH UNDERTAKING.

>> Bill: BILL, YOU HAVE COVERED THAT REGION FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO BACK HOME, IN THE VAST MAJORITY, RIGHT?

>> Bill Estep: THERE'S NO QUESTION.

PEOPLE LOVE WHERE THEY LIVE.

THEY LIVE THERE FOR A REASON.

THEY'RE CLOSE TO FAMILY.

I TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE YESTERDAY WHOSE HOMES WERE DEMOLISH BUT THEY WANT TO BE BACK AT THAT SPOT WHEN THEY CAN BE.

THE REAL QUESTION IS THE RESOURCES.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY INSURANCE, SO THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES MONEY COME FROM TO HELP THEM GO BACK.

>> Bill: WELL, AS WE NOTE, THE RAIN WAS RELENTLESS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

WKYT'S CHIEF METEOROLOGIST CHRIS BAILEY IS AN EASTERN KENTUCKY NATIVE HIMSELF AND AUTHOR OF THE POPULAR KENTUCKY WEATHER BLOG, AND HE HAS SOME PERSPECTIVE ON JUST HOW RARE AND TOUGH THE FLASH FLOODING SITUATION IS.

CHRIS, THANKS FOR GIVINGS A MOMENT.

WHAT WHAT IS THE SETUP THAT LED TO THIS HISTORIC TRAGIC FLOOD?

>> WE HAD A STALLED FRONT, TROPICAL HUMIDITY COMING OUT OF OF THE GULF OF MEXICO AND WE SAW THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS THAT BECAME STATIONARY OH SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY.

THE TRAIN TRACKS WERE DOWN.

THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE THE INDIVIDUAL TRAIN CARS COMING THROUGH THERE, AND UNFORTUNATELY JUST HITTING THE SAME AREAS ONE RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER.

LOOK AT THIS RAINFALL MAP ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY.

BILL, THAT'S BETTER THAN 13 INCHES OF RAIN SINCE MONDAY.

THE MAJORITY OF THAT FALLING WEDNESDAY NIGHT WHEN SOME AREAS PICKED UP 6, 8, 10, 9 INCHES OF RAIN IN JUST A FEW HOURS' TIME.

THAT LED TO THE DEVASTATING FLOODING LEADING TO THE HIGHEST CREST EVER ON THE NORTH FORK OF THE KENTUCKY RIVER AT JACKSON IN BREATHITT COUNTY.

>> NOTCH US COULD REMEMBER A SITUATION LIKE THIS.

YOU DID FIND A HISTORICAL COMPARISON.

>> WE'VE GOT TO GO BACK ALL THE WAY TO 1939.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS THE FRONT PAGE PRESIDENT COURIER-JOURNAL FROM A FEW DAYS AFTER THE JULY 4th AND 5th DEVASTATING U. FLOODS INTO EASTERN KENTUCKY.

SOME OF THE SAME AREAS THAT WERE HIT THIS TIME WERE HIT THEN.

LOOK AT A RAINFALL MAP.

NOW, THIS IS AN OLD MAP HERE, BUT LOOK AT THAT.

THE FLOODING DID HIT BREATHITT COUNTY, A COMMUNITY CALLED FROZEN WHERE THE KENTUCKY BIBLE INSTITUTE, YOU HAD I BELIEVE 54 CHILDREN THAT WERE SWEPT AWAY FROM THAT FLOODING.

79 PEOPLE DIED TOTAL FROM ROWAN COUNTY DOWN INTO BREATHITT COUNTY, SO SOME OF THE SAME AREAS HIT BY A FOOT OF RAIN ON THAT 4th OF JULY NIGHT IN 1939.

>> WESTERN KENTUCKY HIT WI HORRIBLE TORNADOES IN DECEMBER.

NOW THIS HORRIBLE FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND ICE EVENTS IN BETWEEN.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> SEVEN MONTHS SEPARATING TWO HISTORICAL AND EXTREME WEATHER STREETS.

IN KENTUCKY THAT WILL, WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, HAVE CLAIMED THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 100 KENTUCKIANS JUST WITH TWO EVENTS.

CLIMATE IS CAN WEEK BECOMING MORE EXTREME.

WE KNOW THAT AND WE'RE SEEING IT POLITE IN FRONT OF OUR EYES RIGHT HERE IN DE .

>> Bill: LAURA, OBVIOUSLY THE DISASTER IS AWFUL AND YET THE RESPONSE IS AMAZING.

>> Lawrence: IT'S BEEN OVERWHELMING, YES.

OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SUPPORTED THE GOVERNOR'S QUESTIONS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION, THE DISASTER DECLARATION, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN GRANTED THAT TODAY.

AND WE'RE SEEING RESPONSES RESPONSES FROM OTHER STATES, FROM AREAS LIKE LEXINGTON, LOUISVILLE.

THE GOVERNOR CREATED A FUND SIMILAR TO THE TORNADO FUND THAT WAS SET UP AFTER WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADOES HAVE BEEN.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING BLOOD DRIVES AND THE CENTRAL KENTUCKY BLOOD CENTER AND THE RED CROSS ARE ASKING FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO HELP.

EVEN LOCALLY WE'RE SEEING SEARCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS, THE FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HERE IN LEXINGTON, FOR EXAMPLE, IS TAKING DONATIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL SYSTEM SO THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.

IT'S ALL HAND ON DECK TRYING TO HELP OUT OVER THERE.

>> Bill: RUSS, ARE YOU SEEING EARLY ON HERE, AND IT IS VERY EARLY ON, THE ASSISTANCE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

>> Renee: OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, BILL.

I MEAN, THE RELIEF EFFORT BEGAN BEFORE THE RAIN STOPPED.

PEOPLE WERE ON THE GROUND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY COULD DO, HOW THEY COULD HELP EACH OTHER.

THERE WERE PEOPLE RESCUING THEIR NEIGHBORS.

THERE WERE CHURCHES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS GOING OUT, BUSINESSES OPENING THEIR DOORS FOR PEOPLE.

IT'S AN ONGOING EFFORT.

IT KIND OF SHOWS WHAT'S REALLY GREAT ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY, IS THAT PEOPLE TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO SO THROUGH THIS, AND EVERYBODY'S GOING TO NEED EACH OTHER TO KIND OF PULL THROUGH THIS ONE.

>> Bill: JESS, WE KNOW THE CHALLENGES THAT SCHOOLS ALREADY FACE STATEWIDE TRYING TO GET CATHOLIC ROLLING, FROM THE TEACHER SHORTAGES, THE SRO SHORTAGES, COVID OBVIOUSLY, BUT THIS SITUATION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY LIKELY MEANS THAT A LOT OF SCHOOLS THERE WILL HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE COMING ON TIME AND PROBABLY CAN'T.

>> Jennifer: EVERYONE.

>> Jess: YEAH, I CAN'T SEE A SITUATION.

WHICH WE DON'T SEE SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND IMPACTED COMMUNITIES.

NOT ONLY ARE ROADS WASHED OUT, PEOPLE'S HOMES ARE GONE, BUT SCHOOLS, ENTIRE SCHOOLS ARE UNDERWATER, AND MULTIPLE SCHOOLS IN MULTIPLE COUNTIES.

SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY PLACE TO HAVE SCHOOL.

AND I THINK RIGHT NOW PEOPLE ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT MEETING THEIR BASIC NEEDS, BUT I THINK WE'LL SEE DEFINITELY SOME SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN OPENING SCHOOL.

>> Bill: AGAIN, WE HAVE HAD CHALLENGE AFTER CHALLENGE.

IN TERMS OF KIDS BEING ABLE TODAY TO IN-PERSON CLASSES.

IT JUST -- AND FOCUS ON THEIR STUDIES, YOU KNOW.

IT SEEMS TO BE ELUSIVE.

>>.

>> John: IT REALLY IS, AND I THINK WHAT'S CONCERNING ABOUT THE SITUATION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS THAT EVEN IF THEY DID WANT TO DO REMOTE SCHOOL, LIKE MTI, TO KIND OF HAVE SOME KIND OF LEARNING DURING THE DELAY, THERE'S A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS THAT WILL GET IN THE WAY OF THAT.

THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH WI-FI.

THERE'S -- IN SOME PLACES YOU CAN'T GET CELL SERVICE YET, SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR CHALLENGE.

>> Bill: LITTLE SIDE BAR HERE REALLY.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS ONCE AGAIN THRUST INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AS THE HEAD OF STATE GOVERNMENT IN RESPONDING TO THIS DISASTER.

AUSTIN, THE FOCUS OBVIOUSLY IS DEALING WITH THESE CHALLENGES, BUT THIS IS AGAIN INCREDIBLE VISIBILITY FOR THIS GOVERNOR AHEAD OF A YEAR IN WHICH HE WILL BE SEEKING RE-ELECTION.

>> Austin: RIGHT, YEAH.

HE'S LARGELY BEEN A DISASTER GOVERNOR, MAYBE NOT LARGELY BUT CERTAINLY A LOT OF HIS TERM HAS BEEN KIND OF ORIENTED AROUND VARIOUS DISASTERS, WHETHER THAT BE THE COVID PANDEMIC OR THE TORNADOES THAT WE SAW RAVAGE WESTERN KENTUCKY, AND THE IN THE HEIGHT OF BOTH OF THOSE HE WAS -- HIS RECEPTION AND HIS KIND OF REACTION WAS WIDELY POPULAR.

IT WAS A REALLY BIG THING TO HAVE A DRINK WITH ANDY AT 5:00 P.M. DURING COVID.

AND HE WAS LARGELY PRAISED FOR HIS RESPONSE TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY TORNADO.

AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF A HARD THING TO SORT OF PUSH BACK AGAINST HIM IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, RIGHT?

A STRONG RESPONSE TO A MAJOR PROBLEM THAT'S HAPPENING, AND KIND OF INDICATIVE OF HIS WAY TO NOT POLITICIZE THESE THING I THINK WAS HIS RESPONSE TO A QUESTION ABOUT THE ROLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THIS DISASTER.

HE DID ACKNOWLEDGE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL, BUT HE DIDN'T REALLY GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT IT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PARTICULAR EVENT, AND I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF INDICATIVE OF THE WAY THAT HE'S ABLE TO SORT OF TO THIS LINE IN TERMS OF -- TOE THIS LINE IN TERMS OF DISASTER RESPONSE.

>> HI AUSTIN'S RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR IS FRONT AND CENTER ON THIS AND HE HAS A CALM DEMEANOR.

PEOPLE SEEM TO TRUST HIM, AND THAT MEANS A LOT IN POLITICS IF YOU CAN HAVE THAT REPUTATION FOR SOMEONE WHO GETS THING DONE, GETS THINGS DONE EFFICIENTLY AND CARES WHILE THEY'RE DOING IT.

THERE'S A SINCERITY THAT SEEMS TO BE THERE.

IT WILL BE A LITTLE TOUGH I THINK FOR REPUBLICANS TO GO AFTER BESHEAR ON THIS ISSUE.

THEY PROBABLY WILL LEAVE IT ALONE BECAUSE IT IS -- THOSE ARE THEIR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE STORMS BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ACTUALLY GO AFTER GOVERNOR BESHEAR ON, BUT I THINK GOVERNOR BESHEAR PROBABLY HAS THE BETTER FOOTAGE FOR THE ADS ONCE GET TO THAT POINT.

>> Bill: RUSS AND BILL, AND WE'RE GOING TO LET YOU GO HERE AS WE CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ON OTHER TOPICS BUT JUST QUICKLY IN THE DAYS AHEAD, RUSS, CHALLENGES REMAIN, RIGHT?

>> Russ: OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG TERM.

THE REGION'S GOING TO NEED AS MUCH HELP AS IT CAN POSSIBLY GET FROM OUTSIDE AND FROM WITHIN IN COMING DAYS.

>> Bill: BILL.

>> Bill Estep: WELL, I MEAN, RUSS IS RIGHT.

YOU'VE GOT DOZENS OF BRIDGES WASHED OUT, SO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ISSUE OF GOING TO SCHOOL.

EVEN IF YOU GET THE SCHOOLS OPEN, CAN YOU GET THE KIDS THERE BECAUSE THE BRIDGES ARE OUT?

THERE'S ROADS THAT ARE BUCKLED.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO NEED HOUSING, AND THERE BEATENS A LOT OF EXCESS HOUSING STOCK IN EASTERN KENTUCKY TO BEGIN WITH, SO ALL THOSE CHALLENGES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH IN THE COMING DAYS.

>> Bill: BILL ESTEP FROM THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER AND RUSS CASSADY, THE EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS, REGIONAL PERPETRATOR THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU, AND WE'LL LET YOU GO HAVE DINNER NOW.

LET'S CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION.

WE'LL GET BACK TO FANCY FARM IN JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT MARILYN NEWS THIS WEEK IN THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON RON FILED A 56-PAGE APPEAL OF THE JEFFERSON CIRCUIT JUDGE AS RULING THAT BLOCK'S ENFORCEMENT OF THE STATE ABORTION LAW.

ONE REPORT CALLED IT FEISTY APPEAL THAT WAS FILED, JESS.

>> Jennifer: RIGHT.

IN HIS APPEAL, HE SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THE JUDGE UPHOLDING OR THE GRANTING THE INJUNCTION WAS ESSENTIALLY KENTUCKY'S VERSION OF ROE VERSUS WADE.

CAMERON'S ARGUMENT IS THAT BECAUSE ABORTION ISN'T EXPLICITLY MENTIONED IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION, THAT IT'S NOT A PROTECTED RIGHT.

OF COURSE, ABORTION ADVOCATES DISAGREE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY -- YOU MAY REMEMBER WE SAW AN APPEAL FROM CAMERON EARLIER THAT WAS AGAINST THE RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST THE LAW GOING INTO EFFECT.

THIS IS AN APPEAL AGAINST THE INJUNCTION THAT WILL LAST THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE CASE AS LONG AS IT'S NOT OVERTURNED.

>> Bill: THIS IS BEING HEARD BY THE KENTUCKY COURT OF APPEALS.

YOU DID A STORY ON HOW THE ROE V. WADE RULING COULD BE IMPACTING SOME KENTUCKY MEDICAL STUDENTS, THOSE WHO ARE STUDYING TO BE OB/GYNs.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND TO BECOME AN OB/GYN ONCE YOU GRADUATE MEDICAL SCHOOL YOU STUL HAVE TO GO THROUGH ANOTHER FOUR YEARS OF EDUCATION AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL THAT'S CALLED A RESIDENCY.

AND NOW HALF OF THE COUNTRY IS OB/GYN RESIDENCE IS ARE STATES WITH ABORTION BANS OR SEVERE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTIONS, AND SO THAT MEANS RESIDENTS OR WOULD-BE RESIDENTS WHO WANT TO BE OB/GYNs ARE WORRIED THAT IF THEY GO TO RESIDENCIES IN THE STATE, THEY WON'T GET THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO PERFORM ABORTION CARE, AND SO THEY'RE TURNING AWAY FROM STATES LIKE KENTUCKY, TEXAS, OTHER STATES THAT HAVE ABORTION RESTRICTIONS.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY VOTERS WILL HAVE SOME SAY ON ABORTION THEMSELVES IN NOT HAVE BALLOT.

THERE'S A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

AUSTIN, YOU'RE WATCHING THAT.

SEEMS TO BE ORGANIZED SUPPORT AND PUSHBACK FOR THAT AMENDMENT.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING THAT 2022 MIDTERMS THAT ABORTION IS ON THE BALLOT 234 A KIND OF METAPHORICAL SENSE, BUT IN KENTUCKY ABORTION IS QUITE LITERAL ON THE BALLOT.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD ADD TO THE CONSTITUTION AND IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY KIND PULL OUT THE JUDICIAL RECOURSE THAT A LOT OF PRO-ABORTION RIGHTS FOLKS HAVE IN THE COURTS.

YOU CAN BLOCK LAWS BASED ON INTERPRETATION, BUT THIS AMENDMENT WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NOTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS THE RIGHT TO ABORTION, SO AS YOU MENTIONED, BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE ARE GOING TO BE REALLY ANIMATED, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A TEST OF JUST HOW POPULAR AND HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE THIS STILL IS IN A RED STATE LIKE KENTUCKY.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

BUT IT'S A MAJORITY VOTE, SO IT'S GOING TO BE OVER 50%.

THEN YOU WILL NO LONGER HAVE A RIGHT UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION FOR AN ABORTION.

>> Bill: LAURA, I KNOW YOU'RE WATCHING A STATE SUPREME COURT RACE THAT HAS A APPLICABLE AND ABORTION OVERTONES.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S RIGHT.

THE 6th SUPREME COURT DISTRICT RACE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE JOE FISCHER WHO IS A RIGHT-TO-LIFE ADVOCATE OR -- YEAH, ADVOCATE, AND HE'S CHALLENGING JUSTICE MICHELLE KELLER, AND THE JUDGE'S RACES IN KENTUCKY, JUDICIAL RACES IN KENTUCKY ARE NON-PARTISAN, YOU THE ABOUT HE IS RUNNING VERY CLOSE TO THE LINE, THE ETHICAL LINE ON DECLARING HIMSELF A REPUBLICAN.

HIS CAMPAIGN SLOGAN SAYS "THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN."

AND SO MAYBE HE'S FOLLOWING THE LETTER OF THE LAW, MAYBE NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW.

BUT I THINK IN THESE TYPES OF RACES, JUDICIAL RACES TEND TO BE LOW-INFORMATION RACES, THAT IS, VOTERS DO NOT KNOW A LOT ABOUT JUDICIAL CANDIDATES, AND SO IF YOU CAN PUT A D OR AN R WITH YOUR NAME, MAYBE NOT NEXT TO IT BECAUSE THAT'S ILLEGAL, BUT SOMEHOW WITH YOUR NAME, YOU'RE PROBABLY LIKELY TO GET MORE VOTERS, ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHERE THERE'S A STRONGER CONSERVATIVE BLOCK OF VOTERS THERE.

AND JUSTICE KELLER YOU EVER, JUST FOR THE RECORD, WAS APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR.

SHE'S RUNNING FOR HER SECOND EIGHT-YEAR TERM RIGHT NOW.

SHE WAS APPOINTED TO FILL A VACANCY.

>> Bill: JUST BEFORE WE HAVE OUR FANCY FARM DISCUSSION, WHICH IS NEXT WEEK, THE BIG PICNIC, JESS, SCHOOL BELLS ARE ABOUT TO RING, AND WE'LL PUT UP THE MAP HERE TO SHOW YOU WHAT ACROSS THE STATE FOLKS ARE DEALING WITH IN TERMS OF COVID NUMBERS, AND A LOT OF RED, PARTICULARLY IN EASTERN, SOUTHERN KENTUCKY, NORTHERN KENTUCKY, THE METRO AREAS, WESTERN KENTUCKY.

I MEAN, YOU SEE IT THERE.

THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL ANSWER, AND SOME DISTRICTS ARE SAYING THEY'RE GOING TO START WITH MASKS AND OTHERS SAY THEY WON'T GO THERE.

SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO WATCH DISTRICT BY DISTRICT DECISIONS MADE.

>> Jess: AND THAT'S BECAUSE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS MADE IT SO THAT WE CANNOT HAVE A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE, AND SO EACH DISTRICT WILL KIND OF BE IN CHARGE OF ITS OWN RULES AROUND THAT.

JEWEL SEE SOME DISTRICTS MASK, SOME NOT.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING.

THOSE DECISIONS WILL GET MORE CONTENTIOUS.

WE'RE IN A SURGE NOW.

HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THAT IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE AS WE GET INTO THE FALL.

>> Bill: THE FANCY FARM PICNIC IS NEXT WEEK WITH ITS POLITICAL SPEECHES AND BINGO AND BARBECUE AND AS WE SAID ALL KIND OF RUMORS WILL BE GOING AROUND, LAURA.

WE KNOW GOVERNOR BESHEAR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN WILL NOT BE THERE.

SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE ADDED TO THE SPEAKERS' LIST.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT?

>> Lawrence: WELL, I THINK WE EXPECT WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

LAST YEAR GOVERNOR BESHEAR WASN'T THERE, SO IT'S NOT A SURPRISE.

HE'S NOT THERE THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE INCUMBENT WOULD STAY AWAY AND AVOID BEING A TARGET FOR THE REPUBLICANS ON STAGE.

HE ALSO IS -- HE'S GOING TO BE ON IT OF THE COUNTRY, BY THE WAY, JUST TO CLARIFY THAT, BUT I THINK THAT CHARLES BOOKER IS ON THE BALLOT.

I DON'T THINK THAT.

I KNOW THAT.

CHARLES BOOKER IS ON THE SPEAKERS' DAIS, AND SO IS COLEMAN ELRIDGE, THE CHAIR PMAN OF THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND THEY ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO WILL BE THERE.

THE GENTLEMAN RUNNING FOR THE 1st CONGRESSIONAL A DISTRICT SEAT, JAIME OS BROOKS ALSO IS ON STAGE, WILL BE ON STAGE SATURDAY AS WELL.

I DON'T THINK IT HURTS THE GOVERNOR.

YOU HAD ASKED THAT EARLIER.

I DON'T THINK IT HURTS HIM NOT TO BE THERE.

THERE'S ALSO SOME CONCERN THAT MAYBE HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH -- THESE ARE RUMORS, I SHOULD SAY -- THAT THE GOVERNOR DIDN'T WANT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED WITH CHARLES BOOKER BECAUSE BOOKER HAS TIES TO THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS THAT BESHEAR IS TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM.

WHEN CHARLES BOOKER RAN IN 2020 FOR THE U.S. SENATE, HE WAS SUPPORTED BY BERNIE SANDERS AND PEOPLE OF THAT -- THOSE LEANINGS, AND SO I THINK THE GOVERNOR MIGHT WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT A LITTLE BIT.

AGAIN,ES JUST TEAM TALKING.

THE GOVERNOR HASN'T SAID THAT HIMSELF.

>> Bill: WELL, THAT'S WHAT FANCY FARM IS ABOUT, RIGHT?

WE'LL BE WATCHING A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON ON THE GROUND.

AUSTIN, THE JESSAMINE COUNTY PARTY, THE LOCAL PARTY THERE CENSURED SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL OR HIS RECENT VOTE ON THE GUN LEGISLATION.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I WOULD SAY IT'S LARGELY JESSAMINE COUNTY, IF YOU ASK PEOPLE IN THE GOP, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE PERHAPS MORE BOLD PARTIES ARE, JESSAMINE IS ONE OF THOSE, AND IT ALSO SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF SENT SURES.

I DON'T REALLY HAVE THE -- CENSURES.

I DON'T HAVE THE HISTORICAL RESPECT TV FOR THIS BUT WE'VE SEEN A FEW HIGH PROFILE CENSURES IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

DURING THE PRIMARY PROCESS WE SAW A CENSURE OF REPRESENTATIVE BRANDON REID FOR ALLEGEDLY NOT TALKING TO SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF A COUNTY PARTY DURING HIS PRIMARY.

AND THEN IN BOONE COUNTY WE JUST SAW A CENSURE OF A SCATTER SEDATE MICHAEL ADAMS FOR HIS KIND OF -- SECRETARY OF STATE SPARRING WITH ADRIENNE SOUTHWORTH OVER ELECTION SAFETY.

SO THIS IS KIND OF A GROWING SPEND AND IT'S SORT OF FASCINATING BUT JESSAMINE COUNTY CERTAINLY PICKED THE MOST HIGH PROFILE TARGET OF THEM ALL WITH MITCH McCONNELL.

THEY REALLY DID NOT LIKE WHAT THEY SAW AS SORT OF A FLIMSY COMPROMISE ON HIS BEHALF ON GUN LEGISLATION.

>> Lawrence: I THINK, TOO, BILL IT ALSO SHOWS KIND OF A PROXY FIGHT BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE RIGHT OF HAD LEANING, MAYBE SUPPORT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND THE PARTY HERE IN THE STATE WHICH IS STILL MORE TERMLY CONTROLLED BY SENATOR McCONNELL.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY HORSE RACING COMMISSION HAS AWARDED A LICENSE FOR A QUARTER HORSE RACING TRACK NEAR ASHLAND.

IT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2024.

THE STATE SENATE MAJOR LEADER DAMON THAYER WAS CRITICAL SAYING THE APPLICANT WAS HAND-PICKED BY GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND THAT NOT ENOUGH QUESTIONS WERE ASKED ABOUT THE PROJECT.

NEXT WEEK, KET IS PLANNING FULL COVERAGE FROM FANCY FARM, INCLUDING BRINGING YOU "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" LIVE FROM THE HISTORIC GROUNDS OF THE ST. JEROME CHURCH THERE IN GRAVES COUNTY.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

BE THINKING ABOUT THE FOLKS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.