>> Bill: ABORTION BATTLES RAG ON IN KENTUCKY COURTS WITH PROCEDURES LEGAL FOR NOW.

COVID NUMBERS CLIMB AGAIN WITH A POSITIVITY RATE TOPPING 15%.

AND MORE COUNTIES WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION RATES.

THE MONEY CHASES OOH FOR NEXT YEAR'S STATEWIDE elections CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS SHOW WHO HAS RAISED THE MOST SO FAR.

SCHOOLS GET READY FOR A NEW YEA WITH CHALLENGES WAITING FROM SECURITY TO CLASSROOM STAFFING.

SOME SUMMER SHOWERS OUT THERE HEADING INTO THE weekend "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 ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

ERIN KELLY, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR SPECTRUM NEWS ONE.

AND MANNED MANDY MCLAREN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER FOR THE P ALSO TONIGHT A PLAN FOR A NETWORK OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS LEADS TO MORE QUESTIONS.

AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REMEMBERS LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS KILLED IN AN AMBUSH.

FIRST WITH THE ABORTION DEBATE IS NOW AT THE STATE LEVEL.

KENTUCKY IS SEEING IT POLITE IN COURTS.

THIS WEEK THE TWO SIDES, PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, MADENER CASES IN A LOUISVILLE ROOM.

>> THERE WILL BE SERIOUS TALKS FOR KENTUCKIANS INCLUDING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL HARMS, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL HARMS.

EXCUSE ME, PSYCHOLOGICAL HARMS.

AND FINALLY THESE COSTS WILL BE DISPROPORTIONATELY BORN BY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, IN PARTICULAR LOW INCOME PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> I THINK THE QUESTION REALLY COMES DOWN TO WHAT IS THE VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE.

THE VALUE OF FETAL LIFE IS, AND I THINK I'M GOING TO SAY THIS, IF THE VALUE OF FETAL LIFE IS -- IF THERE IS VALUE TO FETAL LIFE, THEN ITS DESTRUCTION IS PROBLEMATIC.

>> Bill: SO, ALEX, BRING US UP TO SPEED ON WHERE THINGS SEEM TO STAND RIGHT NOW IN THE ONGOING LEGAL BATTLE.

>> Alex: SURE.

SO TO RECAP, WHEN ROE VERSUS WADE WAS OVERTURN LAST MONTH, KENTUCKY'S TWO ABORTION PROVIDERS, PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND EMW, SUED THE STATE ARGUING THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A TRIGGER BAN OR TRIGGER LAW, AND THAT LOCKED INTO PLACE IMMEDIATELY WHEN THAT WAS OVERTURNED, WHICH MEANT THAT VIRTUALLY ALL ABORTIONS WERE BANNED IN KENTUCKY.

THEY SUED, ARGUING THAT THAT LAW VIOLATES ONE'S RIGHT TO PRIVACY BY EXTENSION ONE'S RIGHT TO LIBERTY, AND BY EXTENSION ONE'S RIGHT TO ACCESS ABORTION UNDER KENTUCKY'S CONSTITUTION.

SO A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WHERE THESE CLINICS ARE GRANTED A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, BLOCKING THE TRIGGER LAW WHICH MEANS THAT ABORTIONS FOR ROUGHLY THE LAST TWO WEEKS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE.

THIS WEEK THERE IS A HEARING BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WHAT PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND EMW WANT IS A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION.

AND SO THEY HAVE PETITIONED THIS JUDGE TO GRANT THEM THAT, WHICH WOULD MORE PERMANENTLY BLOCK THE LAW.

SO TWEED A HEARING THIS WEEK.

WE HEARD FROM WITNESSES FROM BOTH SIDES.

ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON'S AND ABORTION PROVIDERS.

MEANWHILE, WHILE THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING, AFTER THE RESTRAINING ORDER WAS PUT IN PLACE, ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON, WHO HAS LONG TRIED TO -- HE HAS LONG BEEN AN ADVOCATE OF, YOU KNOW, HOW BILL 3, GOP-LED BILLS THAT RESTRICT ABORTION ACCESS, HE ASKED A COURT OF APPEALS FIRST TO INTERCEDE AND BLOCK THIS RESTRAINING ORDER, SO IN OTHER WORDS, LET HIM ENFORCE THE TRIGGER LAW.

THAT WAS DENIED, AND SO THEN OVER THE LONG WEEKEND OVER THE 4th OF JULY WEEKEND HE ASKED THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT TO INTERCEDE.

THEY ALSO SAID NO.

AND SO NOW WE WERE IN THIS COURTROOM TODAY.

BOTH SIDES ARE PLEADING THEIR CASES, AND NOW WE WAIT WHILE THE JUDGE DECIDES.

>> Bill: ERIN, YOU WERE IN THAT COURTROOM.

TELL US SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE PUT FORWARD BY THE TWO SIDES AS THIS JEFFERSON CIRCUIT JUDGE, THEY'RE TRYING TO SWAY HIM TO RULE THEIR WAY.

>> Erin: WELL, THE ATTORNEYS FOR THE ABORTION PROVIDERS CALLED AN OB/GYN TO THE STAND WHO ALSO PROVIDES ABORTIONS AT EMW SURGICAL CENTER, ONE OF THE TWO ABORTION PROVIDERS IN KENTUCKY, AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF A PREGNANCY ON THE BODY AS WELL AS HEALTH RISKS, AND, YOU KNOW, TALKED ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE ABORTIONS.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM ECONOMICS PROFESSOR FROM TEXAS A&M WHO WAS ASKED TO EVALUATE WHAT WOULD BE THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF A BAN ON ABORTION IN KENTUCKY.

AND HE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THERE WOULD BE SIGNIFICANT COSTS FOR KENTUCKIANS.

AS YOU HEARD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW, FINANCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND THAT THOSE COSTS WOULD BE DISPROPORTIONATELY CARRIED BY VULNERABLE KENTUCKIANS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE'S SIDE WE ALSO HEARD FROM AN OB/GYN WHO IDENTIFIED AS BEING PRO-LIFE.

SHE STATED THAT HE DOES THINK ABORTION IS HEALTH CARE.

SHE SAID THAT SHE DOESN'T THINK THERE'S SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO STATE THAT HAVING AN ABORTION IS SAFER THAN CHILDBIRTH, WHICH IS WHAT THE OTHER SIDE HAS BEEN SAYING.

WE ALSO HEARD FROM A LAW PROFESSOR WHOSE ROLE IN THIS WAS TO TALK ABOUT THE ETHICAL DEFENSE OF THESE BANS.

>> Mandy: IT'S INDEMNITYING BECAUSE THE ARGUMENTS THAT TOOK PLACE AT THIS HEARING WAS AS ERIN WAS JUST SAYING, KIND OF TYPIFY WHAT THE DEBATE HAS BEEN BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FOR A ALONG TIME NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT NATIONWIDE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE LONG ARGUED THAT ABORTION IS HEALTH CARE, COMPREHENSIVE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE INCLUDES ABORTION, AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU AGREE THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION, THIS ECONOMICS PROFESSOR FROM TEXASA THAT ERIN MENTIONED ARGUED THAT THERE WILL BE FINANCIAL RAMIFICATIONS BECAUSE LIKELY THE CLOSEST ABORTION CLINIC WILL BE IN ILLINOIS, WHICH IS A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE FROM LOUISVILLE, SO IT'S FAR.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, WE HAVE THE ARGUMENT THAT IS OFTEN REPEATED BY CONSERVATIVES, WHICH IS THAT WE DON'T CARE THAT IT'S HEALTH CARE.

WE BELIEVE THAT LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION.

SO IT'S A LOT OF TALKING PAST ONE ANOTHER.

THE BIOETHICIST LAW PROFESSOR THAT WAS THERE THIS WEEK EXPLAINED HE WAS INVITED BY THE AG'S OFFICE TO EXPLAIN WHY A TRIGGER LAW LIKE THIS IS ETHICALLY DEFENSIBLE IF YOU BELIEVE THAT LIFE BEGINS A CONCEPTION.

YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT FETUS A PERSON THAT HAS THE SAME RIGHTS AS YOU AND ME.

AND SO NOW YOU HAVE A JUDGE BASICALLY NOT -- KIND OF MAKING THIS MORAL JUDGMENT ON WHICH ONE HE FIND MORE COMPELLING.

>> Bill: NOW, HE HAS ASKED FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BEFORE HE WILL MAKE A RULING.

>> RIGHT, SO BOTH SIDES WILL SUBMIT THEIR WRITTEN ARGUMENT BY JUNE 18th AND IT'S NOTE CLEAR HOW LONG HE'S GOING TO TAKE TO GO THROUGH AND THE AND ACHIEVEMENT GAPIS.

HIS CONCLUSION.

THE LAW PROFESSOR MENTIONED IF YOU BELIEVE THAT AN UNBORN CHILD HAS HUMAN RIGHTS, AS HE DOES, THEN HAVING AN ABORTION, EVEN IN THE CASE OF RAPE OR INCEST, HE SAID IN THIS CASE RAPE, WOULD COMPOUND IF INJUSTICE OF A RAPE AND, OF COURSE, THE TRIGGER BAN AS WE TALKED ABOUT DOES NOT HAVE EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST.

>> Bill: AND AGAIN, WE ARE AT THE POINT RIGHT NOW, THIS IS ARGUING ABOUT RESTRAINING THE LAW TEMPORARILY UNTIL THERE CAN BE A TRIAL HELD TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE LAW IS IN ABEYANCE WITH THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

>> Mandy: RIGHT UP.

EVEN IF JUDGE MITCH PERRY DECIDES TO GRANT AN INJUNCTION, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE TRIGGER LAW IS BLOCKED IN PERPETUITY.

IT'S MOST LIKELY BLOCKED WHILE BEING LITIGATED.

WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE.

YEAH.

>> Bill: ERIN, GOVERNOR BESHEAR INDICATED THIS WEEK HE WILL VOTE AGAINST A STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD SAY THAT THE CONSTITUTION CANNOT BE CONSTRUED TO CREATE A RIGHT TO AN ABORTION OR ABORTION FUNDING, AND IN THAT SAME BRIEFING HE ALSO SAID THAT HE OPPOSES LATE TERM ABORTIONS.

THIS IS IN THE POLITICAL REALM AS WELL.

>> Erin: HE HAS SAID THAT HE RAILROADS CONSIDERS THIS°IN BAN TO BE EXTREME OR EXTREMIST AND ABORTION RIGHTS SUPPORTERS REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS CRUCIAL, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THIS AMENDMENT IN NOVEMBER, THAT THEY REALLY NEED TO GET VOTERS TO VOTE IT DOWN.

AND THAT THIS MAY BE THEIR ONLY PATHWAY TO GET ABORTION PROTECTED.

>> Bill: AND ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WE ASSUME, ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE NEXT YEAR WHEN ALL OF THAT HAPPENS, THAT MOST OF THEM ARE ABORTION OPPONENTS AND THAT'S THE POSITIONS THAT THEY WILL TAKE.

>> Renee: RIGHT, AND IT'S NOTE CLEAR HOW ALL THAT -- THERE'S SO MUCH UNKNOWN AHEAD OF US.

WE DON'T CHRISTMAS EVE EVEN KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE TEMPORARY INJUNCTION.

THEN THERE'S HOUSE BILL 3 WHICH WAS PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT ADDS MORE RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION, AND THAT WAS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR AND THEN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVERRODE THAT VETO.

AND THEN FOR ABOUT EIGHT DAYS ABORTIONS STOPPED IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE THE ABORTION PROVIDERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT LIABILITY, THAT THEY COULDN'T COMPLY WITH THE LAW BASICALLY IS WHAT THEY SAID BECAUSE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE REQUIRED WEREN'T IN PLACE OR THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO COMPLY WITH IT BASICALLY.

AND SO THAT HAS BEEN BLOCKED AS WELL.

>> Bill: SO FOR RIGHT NOW LET'S JUST BE CLEAR, ALEX, THE PROCEDURES.

CONTINUE AND WE AWAIT THE DECISION OF THIS JUDGE.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

ABORTIONS CONTINUE RIGHT NOW AT LEAST UNTIL JULY 18th DEPENDING ON WHAT HE DECIDES, AND THEN ACCESS COULD BE REVOKED ENTIRELY AGAIN.

AGAIN, THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS BEING BASICALLY MEDICAL MENTION.

>> Bill: MANDY, WE CHECK YOU INTO THE GAME.

THE START OF THE YEAR IS FAST APPROACHING FOR SCHOOLS AND AND CLEARLY THIS ISSUE AND MANY OTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE SWIRLING AROUND WHEN STUDENTS AND TEACHERS GET BACK TOGETHER.

THE NEA HAS TAKEN SOME STRONG POSITIONS THIS SUMMER ON CHOICE AND SOME OTHER ISSUES.

THERE IS A LOT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

>> Mandy: THERE IS A LOT.

AND I KNOW THERE ARE SOME FOLKS OUT THERE THAT DON'T THINK TEACHERS SHOULD BE HAVING ANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE TOPICS WITH THEIR STUDENTS, BUT THAT DOESN'T NEGATE THE FACT THAT STUDENTS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WHILE THEY'VE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FROM THE DOBBS DECISION TO THE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN UVALDE, TEXAS, SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE COMING BACK TO SCHOOL WITH THOSE TOPICS ON THEIR MINDS, AND TEACHERS, IF THEY'RE LOOKING TO THE LARGEST TEACHERS UNION IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS ABOUT 2.3 MILLION MEMBERS, THEY'RE SETTING THE EXAMPLE OF WE ARE ADAMANTLY PUBLICALLY PRO-ABORTION RIGHTS, AND THEY PASSED A MEASURE STATING THAT THIS WEEK 234 CHICAGO AT THEIR ANNUAL ASSEMBLY, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING MONEY INTO THIS AND THEY'RE SPENDING, COMMITTED TO SPENDING NEARLY $50 MILLION ON ELECTIONS AND A LOT OF THAT WILL GO TOWARDS PRO-ABORTION RIGHTS CANDIDATES.

AS YOU KNOW, THE TEACHING PROFESSION IS A SURPASS MAJORITY ARE WOMEN, AND SO THIS IS A TOPIC THAT NEA FEELS VERY STRONGLY ABOUT.

>> Bill: WOULD YOU THINK THERE WOULD BE FACULTY MEETINGS AND MAYBE EVEN SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSIONS AHEAD OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TRYING TO SET SOME FRAMEWORKS ABOUT SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS OR AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS ARE LIABLE TO BE HELD?

>> Mandy: YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD DIFFER FROM DISTRICT TO DISTRICT.

I THINK SOME MIGHT HAVE THE INCLINATION TO SORT OF -- WE PRETEND THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.

WE DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT.

I THINK OTHER DISTRICTS MIGHT BE MORE PROACTIVE, AND IT MIGHT HONESTLY, A LOT OF THIS WE TEND TO THINK ABOUT THE SCHOOL BOARD.

A LOT OF THIS COMES DOWN TO A SCHOOL BUILDING LEVEL.

A PRINCIPAL HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH HER STAFF ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO ADDRESS THIS IF IT IS BROUGHT UP IN CLASS.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THAT IS HAPPENING.

>> Bill: WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER CHALLENGES FOR SCHOOLS IN A MOMENT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS QUICKLY, ALEX.

WE HAVE SEEN THE POSITIVITY RATE FOR COVID-19 TO JUMP ABOVE 15% THIS WEEK, AND WE HAVE MORE AND MORE COUNTIES NOW IN THE RED ZONE INDICATING THAT WE HAVE HIGH TRANSMISSION IN A LOT OF OUR AREAS.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

SO THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC HEALTH IS ONLY ISSUING WEEKLY REPORTS BUT ON JULY 4th THE RATE WAS 15.7% AND THAT IS NOT COUNTING THE CASES THAT WERE DIAGNOSED OVER THE HOLIDAY THE WEEKEND.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I COUNTED TODAY, SO WITH OUR INCIDENCE RATE MAP, 64% OF COUNTIES RIGHT NOW ARE IN THE RED, WHICH IS A LOT.

OUR CASE NUMBERS FROM WEEK TO WEEK, HOWEVER, AND OUR HOSPITALIZATIONS, ICU NUMBERS, VENTILATORS, ALL REMAIN STEADY, WHICH JUST IS PROBABLY SIGNALING THIS THE SORT OF REALITY THAT WE HAVE SEEN, WHICH IS THAT COVID WILL EBB AND FLOW LIKE THIS.

I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE TESTING POSITIVE WEEKLY.

SO IF YOU LIVE IN A RED COUNTY YOU MUST WEAR A MASK INSIDE.

IT'S ALMOST 15 FIRST.

THAT'S HIGH BUT IT'S NOT CAUSING SEVERE ILLNESS THE WAY IT USED TO.

WE HAVE MORE TOOLS.

INFANTS CAN GET VACCINES THIS WEEK.

THE FDA APPROVED PHARMACISTS PRESCRIBING AND DISTRIBUTING PAX LOAFED WHICH IS A PILL THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO CURB ACUTE COVID SYMPTOMS, SO WE HAVE MOW TOOLS BUT IT'S STILL SPREADING.

>> Bill: ONE SITUATION WE'RE WATCHING THAT CAME SORT OF OUT OF THE BLUE RECENTLY IS THAT THERE IS ROOKIE MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER WHICH IS A TICKBORNE ILLNESS THAT IS SHOWING UP IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

ONE HOSPITAL HAS HAD A LOT OF CASES.

>> Mandy: RIGHT.

MARIE CALLOWAY COUNTY HOSPITAL HAS HAD ALMOST 30 CASES IN THE LAST 8TH WEEKS, SORT OF LIKE LYME DISEASE, IT CAN CAUSE SEVERE ILLNESS, ESPECIALLY DAMAGE TO INTERNAL ORGANS, LUNGS AND THE HEART.

SEVERE HEAD ACHE IS A SYMPTOM.

ANKLE AND WRIST RASHES IS A SYMPTOM.

THE IT'S A GOOD REQUIREMENT WE LIVE IN KENTUCKY, IN THE SUMMER TICKS ARE EVERYWHERE SO BE COGNIZANT.

>> Bill: AMANDA, THIS COMES AS SCHOOLS TRY TO GET READY.

THEY HOPE DON'T HAVE TO TAKE MEASURES OBVIOUSLY AND PARENTS GETTING THEIR KIDS CHECKUPS AND SCREENINGS AND READY TO GO FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR.

ITS A BUSY TIME.

>> Mandy: IT IS.

THIS SUBVARIANT OF OMICRON VARIANT IS I GUESS NOT SHOWING THAT IT'S A SCARY AS IS THE VACCINE SO MAYBE THE PRIOR VAIRIENTS HAVE BEEN WHICH IS ALWAYS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN EVEN IF WE'RE GETTING FOLKS VACCINATED IS IT GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THEM FROM COMING DOWN TO IT, AND WE KNOW HOW TO HOW THAT HAS PLAYED OUT IN SCHOOLS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I THINK CLEARLY SCHOOLS ARE MUCH MORE FLEXIBLE, AGILE, ABLE TO PIVOT TO THAT ONLINE INSTRUCTION.

SOME OF THEM ARE JCPS IS CONTINUING ON WITH ITS ONLINE SCHOOL AS AN OPTION.

SO WE'RE IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD THAN WE WERE BACK IN SPRING 2020 BUT IT'S STIM A CONCERN.

POSITIVE NEWS, THOUGH, AS ALEX MENTIONED, BY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, ALL SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN KENTUCKY WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO BE VACCINATED.

IT REMAINS OF TO BE SEEN HOW MANY PARENTS WILL TAKE THAT UP.

BUT I THINK ONE PIECE THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS I THINK BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THIS WEEK WE'RE SEEING THE VACCINES FOR CHILDREN UNDER FIVE BEING GIVEN OUT IN KENTUCKY, AND, YOU KNOW, INFANTS AREN'T IN SCHOOL, BUT A LOT OF THEIR PARENTS ARE TEACHERS, AND WHAT WE SAW DURING THE PANDEMIC WAS THIS SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS BECAUSE THERE WERE NO -- THEY HAD TO STAY HOME WITH THEIR KIDS THAT MAYBE WERE EXPOSED AT DAY COMPARE AND THEN YOU SPIRAL INTO, WELL, THERE'S NO SUBSTANCE FOR THEM AND WE'RE SPLINING CLASSES.

IS NO SUBS FOR THEM.

I THINK IT REALLY IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE VARIANTS AND VACCINATION RATES.

>> Bill: MANDY, IT'S CLEAR THAT MANY SCHOOLS ARE NOT GOING TO BE READY FOR THE SECURITY MEASURES THAT REQUIRED UNDER KENTUCKY LAW, THAT EACH SCHOOL OF AN SRO WYE AUGUST 1st.

SCHOOLS ARE TELLING US, NO WAY.

THEY CAN'T HIRE THEM.

THEY CAN'T FIND THEM.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT.

THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THAT, JUST THAT MANDATE.

>> Mandy: EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHY I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR LOCAL NEWS BECAUSE THERE'S.

KWKYT TALK TO THE SULT HOE SAID HE HAS HAD AN APPLICATION UP FOSTER SRO SINCE STRING 2021 AND HASN'T HAD A SINGLE APPLICANT.

THE ON THE GROUND POST IN HOPKINS DESCRIBE HAS REPORTED THAT OVER IN CHRISTIAN COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR SROs GOING INTO 2 NEW SCHOOL YEAR, UP FROM THREE LAST YEAR, BUT THAT'S STILL NOT GOING TO MEET THE STATE'S REQUIREMENT ONE SRO PER CAMPUS.

BUT STILL I THINK THE FUNDING IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE, RIGHT?

BUT I THINK WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE LOCAL COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE SEEN THESE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS PLAY OUT AND GET MORE AND MORE GRUESOME.

THEY ARE WILLING TO SEE PART OF THEIR LOCAL TAX DOLLARS GO TOWARDS GETTING SROs, FOR EXAMPLE, OVER IN LOGAN COUNTY THE COUNTY IS PICKING UP 40% OF THE COST FOR SROs.

THE ISSUE IS THEY'RE STILL NOT ABLE TO HIRE BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY APPLICANTS OUT THERE.

SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Bill: JCPS TEACHERS WILL COME BACK TO STATE RAISES BUT STILL STATEWIDE WE HAVE THE TEACHER SHORTAGE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT IS A CRISIS THAT IS NOT OUT OF NOWHERE.

SORRY.

IT'S NOT THE PANDEMIC AND, OH, MY GOD, HERE IT IS.

THIS HAS BEEN COMING DOWN THE PIKE FOR YEARS NOW, THE TEACHER SHORTAGE, AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE BABY BOOMERS THAT HAVE BEEN RETIRING CONSECUTIVETIVELY, CONSECUTIVELY, THOSE ARE TEACHERS LEAVING AND WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE ENOUGH NEW TEACHERS COMING INTO BUILDINGS THAT TO TAKE THOSE PLACES, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT WHEN WE'VE SEEN THE LOW PAY,, YOU KNOW, HERE IN KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE STRIKING DOWN THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL THIS PAST STRING FOR A 5% PAY RAISE, AND WE'RE HEARING FROM LOCAL UNIVERSITIES THAT THEY'RE SEEING THE IMPACT IN THEIR PROGRAMS.

>> Bill: AND THEY'RE ACKNOWLEDGE THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE LURING STUDENTS INTO THAT CAREER PATH.

MANDY, THERE'S A NEW JCPS SCHOOL ASSIGNMENT PLAN THAT PARENTS NEED TO BE READY FOR, RIGHT?

>> Mandy: YES, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS I GUESS THEY DON'T REALLY NEED TO BE TOO PREPARED FOR IT IN ADVANCE OF -- I DON'T KNOW -- MID AUGUSTE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS THIS YEAR.

WHERE THEY'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE PAYING ATTENTION IS LOOKING TOWARD FALL OF 2024, SO FOR LOUISVILLE FAMILIES ONCE OCTOBER ROLLS AROUND AND YOU'RE MAKING YOUR SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE DIFFERENT PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING TO MAGNET PROGRAMS AND FOR FAMILIES IN THE WEST END, THEY WILL HAVE MORE OPTIONS CLOSER TO HOME.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DO SOME POLITICS.

THIS WEEK WE SAW FUNDRAISING NUMBERS IN THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S LACE RACE.

TOWNSHIP CANDIDATE ANDY BESHEAR RAISED MORE THAN $1 MILLION DURING THE SECOND QUARTER.

HE HAS ABOUT $3.2 MILLION ON HAND TO SPEND.

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT HE WILL FACE A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY.

BUT THE REPUBLICANS WILL FIGHT IT OUT IN A CRUDE AND GROWING CROWDED PRIMARY.

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES LEAD THE WAY IN FUNDRAISING BY BANK MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS.

NEXT WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON RON WHO RAISED ABOUT $300,000.

AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAVANNAH MADDOX ALSO RAKED IN SIX FIGURES FOR HER BID FOR GOVERNOR.

ERIN, FIRST OF ALL, BESHEAR LEADS THE WAY WITH FUNDRAISING BUT CAN HE CONTINUE TO JUST PILE UP MONEY UNTIL THE FALL OF NEXT YEAR AND REMAIN VISIBLE BY BEING GOVERNOR?

-E HE WHOSE REMAINED VISIBLE.

HE STOPPED DOING HIS DAILY BRIEFINGS DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC BUT HE HAS A VERY, VERY BUSY SCHEDULE.

HE'S CONSTANTLY TRAFFIC ACROSS THE STATE AND EVERY TIME HE SPEAKS AT AN EVENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HE CONSIDERS TO BE PROGRESS AND ECONOMIC INVESTMENTS WITH TALK ABOUT THE BATTERY PLANTS AND THINGS THAT HE CONSIDERS TO BE SUCCESSES.

>> Bill: CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER SAYS THAT HE WILL ENDORSE A CANDIDATE WHO IS IN THE IN THE RACE YET.

WE ARE ASSUMING THAT TO BE FORMER AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT.

HE ALSO SAYS THAT THE TWO FRONTRUNNERS ARE NOT IN THE RACE YET.

DO WE ASSUME THAT TO BE POSSIBLY MATT BEVIN THAT HE ASSUMES WILL RUN AGAIN?

>> Erin: I THINK THE FIELD IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> Bill: ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE RYAN QUARLES SAYS THAT HESS MONEY BECAME FROM ALL 120 COUNTIES.

AGAIN HE'S THE TOP UNDERRAISER.

IS IT A BOOST FOR HIM TO COME OUT ON TOP IN THAT FIRST KEY FINANCIAL FLOATER THERE WAS ONE WEB STORY THAT REFERRED TO HIM AS THE FRONTRUNNER RIGHT NOW.

HE ALSO HAS A LONG LIST OF ENDORSEMENTS.

>> Erin: I DON'T KNOW.

WE TALKED ABOUT PERSONALITY AS WELL IS A BIG PART IN THIS.

>> Mandy: HE DOESOFF LONG LIST OF ENDORSEMENTS.

IT'S HARD NOW WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VISIBILITY HOW GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS ORGANIC VISIBILITY.

QUARLES DOES, TOO, IN HIS ROLE IN THE CABINET WITH.

I THINK PARTICULARLY DANIEL CAMERON RON HAS A LOT OF VISIBILITY RIGHT NOW, AND HE'S SORT OF STRATEGIZE TON MAKE THAT SO.

RIGHT NOW AS THE TRIGGER LAW IS DEBATED, HE HAS COME OUT IN FIERCE DEFENSE IT, AND HE HAS FILED APPEALS THAT HE HONESTLY MORE THAN LIKELY KNOWS WHAT IT IS SUCCESSFUL BUT IT CONTINUES TO ASSOCIATE HIS NAME WITH DEFENDER OF THIS TRIGGER LAW WHICH WOULD BAN ABORTIONS, AND HE KNOWS THAT MANY CONSERVATIVES IN THIS STATE SUPPORT THAT STANCE.

SO I THINK HE HAS THAT GOING FOR HIM.

>> Bill: QUARLES IS INTRIGUING IN THAT HE'S RIDING IN PARADES WITH DRIVING HIMSELF IN A TRACTOR.

I MEAN, DOES HE HAVE A RELATABILITY FACTOR THAT IS IN HIS FAVOR?

>> Alex: I THINK SO, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING THAT HE RAISED FUNDS NEVER SINGLE COUNTY AND HE CAME OUT TOP OF ALL THE REPUBLICANS CANDIDATES THIS QUARTER, AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE A AVERAGE KENTUCKIAN OUT THERE, THERE'S A GREATER CHANCE THAT YOU HAVE SOME SORT OF INTERACTION OR SEEN COMMISSIONER QUARLES ON YOUR LOCAL NEWS, OFTENTIMES HE'S DRESSED DOWN, AND THEN WHEREAS THE DANIEL CAMERON RON MIGHT BE OUT THERE LEADING THE CHARGE FOR THE END OF ABORTION, HE'S ALMOST LIKE UP IN A PEDESTAL, RIGHT?

HE SEEMS DISTANT FROM YOU.

SO I THINK WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THAT'LL PLAY TO QUARLES' STRANG, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO DR.

EVER CAN.

>> Mandy: I THINK COMMISSIONER QUARLES HAS RELATABILITY.

HE GREW UP ON A FARM.

HE IS CERTAINLY TRYING TO POSITION HIMSELF AS TERRYMAN'S POLITICS AND SO FAR IT SEEMS LIKE HE'S BEEN SUCCESSFUL.

>> Bill: ERIN, WE'RE LESS THAN TO A MONTH AWAY FROM FANCY FARM AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE MOTION AND WHO CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE STATEWIDE SPOTLIGHT.

>> Erin: RIGHT.

IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WERE NO DEMOCRATS SUSPEND ATTENDING BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE PANDEMIC.

THEY HAD THEIR VACCINATION EVENT.

SO FAR GOVERNOR BESHEARS HAS NOT CONFIRMED YET.

CHARLES BOOKER I BELIEVE IS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT CONFIRMED AT THIS POINT AND, OF COURSE, SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING AGAINST GOVERNOR BESHEAR, ALL REPUBLICANS.

RYAN QUARLES, CAMERON, QUARLES ARE ALL CONFIRMED TO SPEAK.

I WOULD ASSUME MANY PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT MEDIA ATTENTION.

>> Bill: YOU GET THE FEELING THAT NOT ONLY WILL IT BE ACTION ON THE STAGE BUT A LOT IS GOING TO BE GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES AT FANCY FARM THIS YEAR AS WE GET INTO THAT.

LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

IN FRANKFORT THIS WEEK THERE WAS AN INTERIM COMMITTEE.

HE HERD A PROPOSE FOR A NETWORK ELECTRIC CAN VERY CHARGING STATIONS THAT WOULD BE ABOUT 50 MILES APART.

THE STATE IS GETTING ABOUT $70 MILLION.

THOSE WOULD BE ALONG INTERSTATES.

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP, WHAT ABOUT OUR PART OF THE STATE AND HOW WILL THE STATE GET REVENUE IF IT LOSES MONEY TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT IT NOW GETS FOR GAS TAXES THAT'S USED FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE.

INTERESTING DISCUSSIONS AHEAD ON THAT.

>> Erin: CERTAINLY AND THERE'S A AUTOPSY EVOLVE KY THAT THEIRET GOAL IS TO PROMOTE ELECTRIC TRANSPORT SO JUST IF THE LAST FEW DAYS THEY'VE POSTED ABOUT NEW COMMUNITY CHARGERS THAT HAVE GONE UPPERS AND THERE'S A NEW ONE IN LOUISVILLE AND ANOTHER ONE IN WILLMORE NEAR ELECTRICS.

THEY WANT IS ON TO SEE -- NEAR LEXINGTON.

WE WANT TIGHT ACROSS THE STATE.

I TALKED TO THE HEAD OF THAT ORGANIZATION AND HE GOES ON HIS APP TO SEE WHERE THEY ARE AROUND THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE'S INTEREST IN THIS, INTEREST IN RURAL AREAS.

>> Erin: ALEX AND I ARE LASHES AND THERE'S A CHARMING STATION AROUND THE CORNER FROM WHERE WE LIVE.

>> Bill: THAT'S CONVENIENT.

>> Erin: WE'RE NOT THAT RICH TO HAVE A NICE NANCE FANCY ELECTRIC CAR.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TRAVEL EITHER TWAY.

THIS WAS A DIFFICULT WEEK IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WHERE THE FLOYD COUNTY COMMUNITY SAID ITS FARE WELLS TO THREE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY IN AN RAM BUSH SITUATION.

DEPARTMENT WILLIAM PETRI -- RALPH PHRASE SQUERY SER AND JACOB CHAPEINS WERE KILLED THIS.

THE OFFICERS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE STATE AND BEYOND TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR MET PRIVATELY.

WITH THE FAMILIES THIS WEEK, AND A POLICE K-9 NAMED DRAGO WAS ALSO KILLED AND REMEMBERED THAT A UNIQUE SERVICE.

THE SUSPECT IS HOLD A $10 MILLION BOND AND SET TO APPEAR IN COURT MONDAY.

COVINGTON HAS PASSED WHAT LEADERS THERE CONSIDER TO BE A TRANSFORMATIONAL BUDGET.

THE ALMOST $168 MILLION SPENDING PLAN GETS A HUGE BOOST FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY TRIBUNE REPORTS THERE'S MONEY TO DEVELOP 23 ACRES DOWNTOWN AND A PERMANENT BUILDING FOR THE FARMERS MARKET, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.