THE COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT.

EVEN BEFORE REDISTRICTING, A PRIMARY IS TAKING SHAPE FOR THE THE ONLY CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IN KENTUCKY HELD BY A DEMOCRAT.

CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS DISCUSSED IN A S HEARING AS LAWMAKERS PREPARE FO THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE NUMBERS ARE IN.

KENTUCKY HAS A RECORD SURPLUS OF OVER $1 BIL HEADING INTO A STEAMY, MAYBE STORMY JULY WEEKEND, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT TH AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR WFPL IN DANIEL DESROSIERS, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERA AND LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FO WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT, KENTUCKY STATE POLICE IS CREATING A TEAM TO INVESTIGATE SEX CRIMES, AND REMEMBERING STATE SENATOR TOM BUFORD WHO DIED THIS WEEK AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF SERVICE I BUT FIRST SOME RENEWED CONCERN PRESIDENT ABOUT THE COVID-19 AND THE DELTA VARIANT.

DAN, WOODFORD COUNTY HAS THE HIGHEST VACCINATION RATE IN THE COMMONWEALTH BUT YET THEY'RE DEALING WITH AN OUTBREAK ASSOCIATED WITH A CHURCH GATHERING.

STILL, MOST OF THOSE WHO HAD COVID HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

>> Daniel: THIS IS STILL LARGELY AN UNVACCINATED PERSON'S PROBLEM.

WE HAVE THE TOOLS TO PROTECT OURSELVES.

IF YOU FETE THE VACCINE YOU'RE LARGELY PROTECTED.

BUT WE ARE SEEING CASES RISE, AND SO FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TIGHT AGAIN, CASES ARE GOING BACK UP, AND THAT'S A CONCERNING THING BRAS THERE ARE STILL LIGHT OF PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.

WE ARE HOVERING JUST A LITTLE UNDER 50%.

IT'S 49.8 PERS OF KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE UNVACCINATED EXPO THERE'S STILL A PUSH TO GET PEOPLE IS TO JUST GO IN THERE AND GET THE VACCINE BUT THAT'S PROVING HARDER THAN EVER.

MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN SAYING IT FOR MONTHS.

ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TELLING PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE FOR MONTHS AND IT HASN'T SEEMED TO MOVE THE NEEDLE THAT MUCH.

>> Bill: SOME HEALTH OFFICIALS IN LOUISVILLE ARE CONCERNED TO THE POINT THERE ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS MASK CAN AGAIN.

>> Lawrence: THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST FIVE CASES OF THE DELTA VARIANT FOUND IN LOUISVILLE.

PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SUSPECT THERE ARE MORE.

AND THEY'RE CONCERNED.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN TO THE HOSPITAL IS GOING UP.

BUT THE CURRENT CONCERN IS NOT URGENT YET FOR ONE REASON, ROUGHLY HALF OF THE METRO LOUISVILLE POPULATION HAS GOTTEN THE VACCINE, FULLY VACCINATED.

70% OR SO HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

BUT THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE POCKETS OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE VACCINATION RATE IS LOWER, AND THEY'RE SAYING PEOPLE SHOULD MATTER MASKS IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE VACCINE AND PRACTICE SOME OF THE SAME RULES THEY HAD IN PLACE BEFORE WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING, AVOIDING LARGE GATHERINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Daniel: AND IT'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING MOMENT BECAUSE, YES, THE CASES ARE GOING UP BUT WE'RE STILL AROUND MAY OR JUNE LEVELS 2020, SO IT'S STILL NOT QUITE THE SAME RISK THAT IT WAS, SAY, LAST FALL, AND THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE WHEN THINGS CLOSE DOWN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, A LOT OF THAT WAS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT HOSPITALS WOULD BE OVERRUN, AND SO NOW THE QUESTION WEEKS, BEL IF IT'S AN AREA WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VACCINATED, ARE YOU ABLE TO SHIFT HOSPITAL RESOURCES IN A WAY WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO AVOID THAT?

AND SO I EPP I THINK THE PUBLIC HEALTH DECISIONS START TO CHANGE WITH THIS NEW TINE MIX, AND THERE IS STILL THE KAREN VARIANT THAT THE VACCINE MIGHT NOT BE EFFECTIVE.

>> Bill: AND GENERALLY SO FAR WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN BREAKTHROUGH CASES, PEOPLE HAVE GENERALLY STAYED OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

>> Daniel: YEAH, IT'S BEEN MORE LIKE KIND OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING ABOUT COVID IN BEGINNING, RIGHT?

A COLD OR A FLU.

IT'S NOT SEVERE ILLNESS THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING.

>> Bill: SO, JESS, AS SCHOOLS PREPARE FOR THE NEW YEAR AHEAD AND THERE'S NEW GUIDANCE OUT FROM THE CDC -- IN FACT THAT CAME DOWN ON FRIDAY ABOUT MASKS IN SCHOOLS -- WHAT ARE THEY PLANNING TO DO?

>> Jess: SO IN THE FALL THE CDC IS NOW RECOMMENDING THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED WILL NOT HAVE TO WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS, SO IF YOU HAVE THE VACCINE AND YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL, YOU LIKELY WILL NOT HAVE TO WEAR THE MASK.

IF YOU'RE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS FOLLOWING CDC RECOMMENDATIONS.

IF STUDENTS OR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT VACCINATED, THE CDC IS STILL RECOMMENDING THAT YOU WEAR A MASK.

>> Bill: SO YOUNGER CHILDREN WOULD STILL HAVE TO WEAR MASKS, PRESUMABLY.

>> Jess: YES, BECAUSE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 CAN'T GET THE VACCINE, SO THEY'D HAVE TO WEAR THE MASK.

>> Bill: BUT THAT WILL STABLE DERRIK-BY-DISTRICT DECISIONS?

>> Jess: ICE DISTRICT-BY-DISTRICT DECISIONS.

YEAH, IT'S ESSENTIALLY UP TO INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS.

SO DISTRICTS COULD FOLLOW THAT GUIDANCE.

THEY COULD DECIDE TO SAY EVERYONE WEAR HAD A MASK ANYWAY.

IT'S REALLY UP TO EACH INDIVIDUAL DISTRICT.

>> Bill: SO IT IS AN INCENTIVE FOR KIDS TO GET VACCINATED, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THIS BEING APPROVED AT THE AGE 12, SOME, FOR INSTANCE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL, SOME WOULD BE ELIGIBLE MAYBE AND SOME WOULDN'T FOR THE -- TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> Jess: YEAH,.

AND MIDDLE SCHOOL AGES -- WHAT?

-- 11 THROUGH 13, SO SOME OF THEM WOULD BE ELIGIBLE, SOME OF THEM NOT.

>> Governor HOGAN: >> Bill: STATE HEALTH COMMISSIONER STEVEN STACK TRYING TO ZERO IN ON GETTING ELIGIBLE STUDENTS VACCINATED RIGHT NOW AND MAKING THE POINT THAT IF THEY MOVE NOW, TIME IS TICKING, THEY CAN BE FULLY VACCINATED BY ARE ALLOWED TO BEGIN TOMORROW SO YOU ALSO HAVE SUMMER SPORTS YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

KIDS ARE IS THAT RIGHTING TO CONGREGATE, AND SO STACK SAYS IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO START GETTING VACCINATED NOW SO THAT BY THE TIME SCHOOL ROLLS AROUND AND KIDS ARE REALLY IN THOSE CONGREGATE INVESTIGATES THEY'RE VACCINATED, AND HEY, IF YOU'RE VACCINATED AND YOU'RE BACK IN SCHOOL AND YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE TO WEAR A MASK IF YOUR DISTRICT IS FOLLOWING THAT NEW RECOMMENDATION.

>> Bill: WE HOPE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO START ANOTHER PROGRAM DISCUSSING THAT BUT NOW THE DELTA VARIANT FORCE THAT HAD.

E. NOW, WE GOT WORD THIS AFTERNOON THAT KENTUCKY'S GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS JUMPED ALMOST 11% IN THE FISCAL YEAR THAT JUST ENDED.

THERE IS A RECORD $1.1 BILLION SURPLUS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAD THIS TO SAY THIS AFTERNOON.

>> THE LARGEST GROWTH IN OUR GENERAL FUND IN 26 YEARS, HUGE GROWTH IN WHAT'S COMING IN FROM BUSINESSES, MEANING THEY ARE OUT THERE AND REVENUE IS COMING IN TO THEM.

FOLKS, IN ECONOMY THIS ECONOMY IS ON FIRE.

>> Bill: ON FIRE, THAT'S A STRONG TERM, LAWRENCE.

>> Lawrence: WELL, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN FOR HIM, BUT AS FAR AS WHAT TO DO WITH THIS MONEY, IT GOES INTO THE BUDGET RESERVE TRUST FUND.

THE RAINY DAY FUND AND AM, AND THEN NEXT YEAR LAWMAKERS WILL DECIDE WHAT IF ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.

IT'S UNUSUAL THAT THEY HAVE SO MUCH MONEY TO WORK WITH.

USUALLY THEY'RE HAVING TO CUT THE BUDGET BUT NEXT YEAR THEY'LL HAVE A SURPLUS OF MONEY TO DECIDE IF AND HOW TO USE IT.

>> Bill: THERE'S A RUSH TO TAKE CREDIT FOR GOOD NEWS, RIGHT?

"A.

>> Daniel: EVERYBODY WANTS TO TAKE CREDIT.

>> Bill: THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL, THEY'RE MANAGING THINGS WELL.

>> Daniel: THEIR POLICIES ARE THE REASON.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE, RIGHT?

BECAUSE YOU HAD THIS NARRATIVE A FEW WEEKS AGO OF, OH, MY GOSH, THE ECONOMY, IT'S OVERINFLATED, YADA, YADA, YADA, AND NOW LOOK IT'S ROARING, IT'S ON FIRE.

THING THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS AS LAWRENCE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS HOW THEY'RE ALLOCATING THE MONEY, AND THAT EVERY BEEN DOING VERY CAUTIOUS BUDGETS FOR THE PAST TO II YEARS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH UNPREDICTABILITY BECAUSE OF COVID IT.

WILL BE INTERESTING WHEN THE FEDERAL MONEY WAS INJECTED TOWARD THE END OF THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION THERE WERE THESE GRAND SPEECHES ABOUT A SPRIGGS FOR KENTUCKY AND HOW WE MOVE KENTUCKY FORWARD AND HOW TO INVEST THAT MONEY SO THAT KENTUCKY CAN REALLY CAPITALIZE ON IT FROM PRESIDENT -- THE SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS AND FROM MORGAN McGARVEY, FROM DAVID OSBORNE PALM THESE PEOPLE HAVE THESE GRAND IDEAS.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING NOW, THEY'VE GOT TO MONEY, HOW TO HOW THEY ARE GOING TO TURN THAT INTO A REALITY AND TURN IT INTO THESE LOVE IT PROMISES.

>> Bill: THE BUDGET WAS CUT FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

>> Daniel: LEXINGTON SENATOR REGGIE THOMAS LOVES TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AND THAT WAS A BIG, AND YOU I THINK PEOPLE SEE NORTH CAROLINA, THEY SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE KIND OF TRIANGLE RESEARCH REGION AND THEY LOOK IT AWAY LITTLE BIT OF GREEDY EYES.

THEY SEE THAT AS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE POSSIBLE HERE.

>> Bill: HOW MUCH OF A CONCERN THAT FEDERAL MONEY IS PROPPING THINGS UP, LAWRENCE?

THAT IT'S ARTIFICIAL.

>> Lawrence: AS DANIEL SAID, THEY'RE BEING VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN THEY PASSED THESE BUDGETS IN THE LAST, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY SAID IS THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T USE FEDERAL MONEY FOR CONTINUING EXPENSES, SO THAT'S THE ISSUE.

THEY HAD THIS MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ALWAYS HAVE THAT, SO HOW BEST TO USE THAT SO IT DOESN'T BECOME A PERMANENT DRAIN ON STATE FUNDS.

>> Daniel: AND THE AREA WHERE THEY AGREED WITH A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT, RIGHT?

SO THEY PUT THE MONEY INTO BROADBAND STRUCTURE AND FIXING OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE STATE, AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ALSO FREES UP MONEY FROM THE BUDGET THAT THEY MIGHT NEED FOR OTHER THINGS.

YOU HAD ALL THIS FEDERAL MONEY, YOU WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND THAT FREES UP A POT OF GOLD THEY CAN USE FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT USING IT FOR EXPENSES IT'S HAVE IT HELPS THEM IN -- THE OLD POLITICAL ARGUMENT WAS, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET MORE MONEY?

ARE YOU RAISE MORE TAXES OR ARE YOU GOING TO CUT THINGS?

HERE'S THIS MONEY FLOATING AROUND.

YOU CAN USE THAT.

>> Bill: IT WAS PUT AWAY, AS YOU SAID, IN THIS TRUST OR -- THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RETURN IT.

IT'S THE TAXPAYERS.

>> Lawrence: I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT AT ALL.

>> Bill: THAT HAS NOT COME UP YET.

SHOCKING.

SO WE TALK ABOUT THE FEDERAL MONEY AND SENATOR McCONNELL HAS BEEN TRAVELING THE STATE LATELY TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT THIS HE VOTED AGAINST.

McCONNELL SAID IT WAS TOO BROAD AND TOO EXPENSIVE.

HE ACKNOWLEDGES, THOUGH, THE MONEY IS ROLLING IN AND ADVISES STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO EXTEND THEIR MONEY WISELY, AND THIS WEEK PRESIDENT BIDEN MOCKED McCONNELL FOR TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY FROM THE BILL THAT McCONNELL OPPOSED.

>> LOOK IT P, MAN.

HE'S BRAGGING ABOUT IT IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S A GREAT THING FOR IT'S GETTING $4 BILLION TO HELP THE POOR.

THAT'S AMAZING.

CHECK OUT MITCH McCONNELL.

YOU CAN EVEN SEE IT ON TV.

>> Bill: IT'S NOT OFTEN KENTUCKY GETS MENTIONED THREE OR FOUR TIMES BY ANY PRESIDENT.

>> Lawrence: THAT WAS AIN'TING SOUNDBITE BUT I HAVE TO SAY McCONNELL WAS NOT BRAGGING ON ALL THIS MONEY.

HE IS ACKNOWLEDGING I THINK THE MONEY IS THERE.

KENTUCKY WILL GET A LOT OF -- MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THIS BUT OVERALL HE STILL DOESN'T LIKE THIS EXPENDITURE BECAUSE HE'S AFRAID OF THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE DOWN THE ROAD ON THE DEBT AND ON INFLATION AND THING LIKE THAT.

SO TO SAY THAT HE IS BRAGGING ON IT IS A BIT OF AN OVERSTATEMENT.

>> Bill: AND IT WAS PROBABLY FOR SOME ADDITIONAL RELIEF.

HE JUST THOUGHT THIS WENT TOO FAR, AND THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT MONEY COMING TO KENTUCKY.

>> Lawrence: AT THE TIME IT WAS PASSED.

>> Bill: I ASKED SENATOR McCONNELL A FEW WEEKS AGO WAS IT AWKWARD TO TRAVEL THE STATE AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HE HAD VOTED AGAINST, AND HE SAID, NO, HE'S EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT THE MONEY THAT'S OUT THERE AND THAT HE DID THINK THE BILL WAS, AS WRITTEN, TOO BROAD AND TOO MUCH, AND TOO MUCH DEBT.

>> Daniel: HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE MONEY, BUT ALSO HE HAS HAS A WAY OF SPEAKING ABOUT THE MONEY ON THE CAMPAIGN -- I'LL CALL AT THIS TIME CAMPAIGN TRAIL EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT CAMPAIGNING AS HE TOURS THE STATE.

WHEN HE DRAWS A REALLY CLEAR LINE THAT CAME INTO THE STATE BETWEEN 2 TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND HE DOESN'T MENTION THE MONEY THAT CAME IN FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

HE DOES FOCUS A LOT ON THOSE EARLIER PACKAGES THAT WERE PASSED WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS STILL IN OFFICE.

>> Bill: IN THE HEAT OF SUMMER, A DEMOCRAT PRIMARY IS FORMING IN KENTUCKY'S LOUISVILLE.

ATTICA SCOTT ENTERING THE RACE FOR THE SEAT HELD BY LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS 9 JOHN YAR MONTH LAWRENCE, HOW DOES THAT STACK UP?

>> Lawrence: THE BIG QUESTION IS WHY.

ATTICA SCOTT IS IN A SAFE SEAT IN THE LEGISLATURE, ALTHOUGH SHE HAS OFTEN EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION AT WORKING WITH THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, BUT SHE CAN HAVE THAT SEAT FOR AS LONG AS SHE WANTS IT AND WHO KNOWS HOW MUCH LONGER JOHN YARMOUTH WILL BE IN CONGRESS.

SHE RESPONDS BY SAYING IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT JOHN YARMOUTH.

IT'S ABOUT SCRANSING HER AGENDA, WHICH IS TO THE LEFT EVEN OF -- ADVANCING HER AGENDA, WHICH IS TO THE LEFT EVEN OF YARMOUTH'S AND HAVING SOMEBODY THAT THAT SEAT THAT LOOKS LIKE HER CONSTITUENTS, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN.

SHE SAYS SHE'S HAD LOTS OF BLACK WOMEN URGE HER TO RUN.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE REASON SHE SAYS SHE'S RUNNING.

>> Daniel: AND I MEAN, I THINK IT TESTS THE METTLEFUL PROGRESSIVE COALITION OF LOUISVILLE, RIGHT?

YOU CAN POINT OUT THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT LOUISVILLE'S MAYORS, THEY HAVEN'T EXACTLY BEEN PROGRESSIVES IN THE PAST.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2020 ELECTION, IT WASN'T -- THOSE ELECTIONS WEREN'T AS SUCCESSFUL FOR THE DALLES THEY WERE HOPING WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO TRY TO FLIP IT'S SOME HOUSE AND SENATE SEATS, AND SO THIS WILL BE A TEST.

I THINK SHE'S ALSO -- YOU KNOW, JOHN YARMOUTH IS IN HIS 70s.

SHE'S HE'S GOING TO RETIRE EVENTUALLY, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN LOUISVILLE WHO SEE THAT AS THE NEXT STEP UP, SO SHE WOULD BE GETTING HER NAME OUT THERE BUT THERE'S ALWAYS I RISK WITH THAT.

WHEN YOU GET INTO A RACE WITH SOMEBODY LIKE REPRESENTATIVE YARMOUTH, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A STRONG SHOWING, THAT COULD MAKE PEOPLE FEEL YOU'RE WEAKER RATHER THAN STRONGER, AND SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE EVEN IF SHE DOESN'T 2007 A STRONG SHOWING AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Lawrence: AND SHE'S STRIKING NOW WHILE THE IRON IS HOT.

SHE GOT A LOT OF NAME RECOGNITION FROM HER PARTICIPATION IN LAST SUMMER'S RACIAL PROTESTS, SOCIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS, SO MAYBE SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS NOW THE TIME FOR HER TO DO THIS.

>> Dave: MEAN 23 END OF THE DAY I THINK FOR LOUISVILLE VOTERS IS GOING TO COME DOWN TO POWER.

THEY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS A LOT OF POLITICAL POWER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND THEN DO THEY WANT -- ARE THEY LOOKING TO GIVE POWER THE KIND OF THE NEXT GENERATION, THIS NEW MOVEMENT OF MORE PROGRESSIVE POLITICIANS THAT, THE DEFINED SQUAD TYPES THAT ARE IN WASHINGTON, DC,.

>> Bill: AS THIS COMES, REDISTRICTING IS YET TO COME.

THERE ARE INDICATIONS THE REPUBLICANS MAY BE INCLINED TO LEAVE THE LOUISVILLE DISTRICT INTACT.

THERE'S A FEAR THAT A LAWSUIT COULD BE FILED AND WON.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER TOLD APPLICANTO, WHEN YOU GET REAL CUTE WITH YOU YOU END UP IN A LAWSUIT AND YOU LOSE IT.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S A GOOD QUOTE BY COMB PER WHAT HE'S SAYING IS YOU COULD GERRYMANDER TOO MUCH AND END UP BACKFIRING AGAINST AND YOU YOU COULD END UP, INSTEAD OF GAINING POWER ACTUALLY OVER TIME LOSING POWER IS WHAT HE'S SAYING.

>> Daniel: YEAH, AND YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES, TOO, RIGHT?

IF THINGS GO WHERE THEY ARE WHERE SOME OF THE SUBURBS ARE TURNING MORE AND MORE DEMOCRATIC, I THINK IT GETS A A LITTLE DANGEROUS TRYING TO CUT UP DISTRICTS, AND DISTRICTS THAT WERE ONCE SAFELY RED COULD TURN UP PURPLISH.

AN EXAMPLE OF THAT, OF COURSE, REPRESENT I THINK BEN CHANDLER.

THEY CARDIOUP THAT DISTRICT FOR HIM AND TWO YEARS LATER HE WAS OUT.

>> Lawrence: AND FACE IT, YARMOUTH IS RIGHT HOME IN THAT DISTRICT.

IT IS A MORE DISH DISTRICT THAN THE REST OF THE STATE -- A ERR MORE LIBERAL DISTRICT AND HE REFLECTS THEM WELL THAT THAT DISTRICT.

>> Bill: DAN, YOU LOOKED AT HOW OTHER STATES DO REDISTRICTING IN A MAYBE MORE TRANSPARENT WAY THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN PREVIOUSLY IN KENTUCKY.

KANSAS APPARENTLY, THEY'RE GOING TO GO ACROSS THE STATES HAVE 14 TOWN HALL MEETINGS, RIGHT?

>> Daniel: YEAH, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LEARN FROM TOWN HALLNESS THIS TYPE OF SETTING.

I MEAN, THERE'S ALSO JUST THIS -- I MEAN, I THINK WHEN PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT GERRYMANDERING AND THE FACT THAT IT'S LEGAL AND LOUDLY, THEY GET A LITTLE KIND OF -- ALLOWED, THEY GET DISCOURAGED WITH POLITICS, AND SO THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT HAVE TRIED TO DO NON-PARTISAN REDISTRICTING OR INDEPENDENT COMMISSIONERS APPOINT A SET GROUP OF LAWMAKERS TO STUDY IT TO TRY TO MAKE IT'S A FAIR AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S NOT REALLY THE WAY IT WORKS IN KENTUCKY.

IF POLITICAL PARTY THAT IS IN CHARGE IS GOING TO HAVE ALL THE POWER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT A TOWN HALL IS GOING TO TELL YOU BUT REPUBLICANS HAVE TALKED ABOUT TOURING THE STATE.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES AND PEOPLE ARE WATCHING FOR HOW TRANSPARENT IT IS.

JESS, REDISTRICTING IS JUST ONE OF THE ISSUES COMING UP IN THE SESSION IN 2022.

HOUSE SENATE JOINT COMMITTEE HELD HAD A MEETING THIS WEEK IN WHICH A POSSIBLE BAN ON TEACHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY WAS THE MAIN DISCUSSION.

>> Jess: YES.

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO BILLS THAT HAVE -- THAT ARE FILED, BOTH BY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS THAT WOULD, THEY SAY WOULD BAN CREDIBLY RACE THEORY FROM PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES.

THEY NEVER -- THEY DON'T ACTUALLY EXPLICITLY MENTION CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE LEGISLATION.

THAT'S ALL BEEN KIND OF LIKE WHAT THEY'VE PUT OUT IN PRESS RELEASES.

BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT THESE BILLS WOULD DO IS THEY WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR TEACHERS TO TALK ABOUT RACISM, SEXISM, ESPECIALLY SYSTEMIC RACISM, WHICH IS THE IDEA THAT RACISM ISN'T JUST A PERSONAL PREJUDICE HELD BY SOMEONE BUT THAT IT'S ACTUALLY BAKED INTO STRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONS.

SO THEY HAD A DISCUSSION.

THEY HAD A -- A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION -- A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WHY ANTI-CRITICAL RACE THEORY ADMIT THAT THEY'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY SPECIFIC BODY OF LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP THAT'S CALLED CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

THEY'RE REALLY USING IT AS AN UMBRELLA TERM TO LUMP TOGETHER ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES THAT WE HAVE SEEN TAKE OFF ESPECIALLY SINCE LAST SUMMER.

AND SO WHAT YOU SAW AT THAT HEARING WAS THE PRESENTERS OF THE BILL TALK ABOUT THE NEED TO OUTLAW CRITICAL RACE THEORY, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAD -- YOU HAD TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION JASON GLASS AND JCPS SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLLIO SAID THEY WERE STANDING BY EQUITY, DIVERSION AND INCLUSION AND TRYING DEFINED REALLY DRIVE THE PASSAGE MOMENT THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> Bill: AND BOTH SIDES PLACED THE CHAIRY REGINA HUFF FOR HOLDINGS THE HEARING AND HAVE THE HAVE HAVING THE DISCUSSION.

>> Lawrence: REALLY IT COMES DOWN TO HOW ONE DEFINES CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

I HAVE TALKED ON SOME SUPPORTERS OF THE BAN WHO SAY, I DON'T HAVE ME NO PROBLEM TEACHING MORE BLACK HISTORY, FILLING IN SOME OF THOSE GAPS IN HISTORY, BUT THEY BELIEVE CRT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT, THAT IT ACTUALLY FOMENTS DIVISION AND IT IS IN EFFECT RACIST AGAINST WHITE PEOPLE.

SO THERE IS SOME OF THAT GOING ON AS WELL.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH ESSENTIALS THE SESSION APPROACHES.

THE STATE CAPITOL WAS SHAKEN THIS WEEK BY THE NEWS THAT LONGTIME STATE SENATOR TOM BUFORD HAD DIED.

HE WAS 72 YEARS OLD.

U.S.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SAID OF SENATOR BUFORD, "THE IMPACTS OF HIS WORK COULD BE FELT FAR BEYOND THE BORDERS HERSELF SENATE DISTRICT, IMPROVING THE LIVES HAVE KENTUCKIANS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH."

AND IN A STATEMENT IS IF DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS MADE NOTE CALLING HELP A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS WHO WAS FULL OF LIFE, LAUGHTER AND HAD A CONTAGIOUS LAUGHTER THAT COULD LIGHT UP ANY ROOM.

LAWRENCE, A REPORTERS WE KNEW SENATOR BUFORD OVER THE YEARS.

WE EXPERIENCED THAT WARMTH AND WIT, AND HE COULD SEEM TO EMBODY THAT ABILITY TO DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE, WHICH IS RARE THESE DAYS.

>> Lawrence: CAN I NOT KNOW HIM WELL.

-- I DID NOT KNOW HIM WELL, INTERVIEWED HIM BUT I DID KNOW THIS.

HE WAS NOT A FLAMETHROWER.

HE IS NOT ONE OF THOSE ONES WHO WOULD TRY TO CUT DOWN THE OPPOSITION.

HE WAS A BUILDER OF CONSENSUS.

AND HE WAS VERY FUNNY, VERY WITTY, BUT HE HAD NO INTEREST IN SEPARATING SEPARATING PEOPLE BY POLITICAL LINES IF WE COULD AVOID IT.

>> Bill: DAN, HE SAW CHANGES.

HE WAS ELECTED IN 1990.

TOOK OFFICE IN 1991 WHEN THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN A MINORITY BY FAR IN FRANKFORT.

>> Daniel: AND HE WAS ELECTED TO LEADERSHIP THAT FIRST SESSION WHICH IS PRETTY RARE.

SHE SAW THE SENATE WITCH FROM DEMOCRATIC NOMINATED AND CAN BE DOMINATED TO REPUBLICAN DOMINATED, AND HE GETS CREATED.

LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS HE HAD, DOING WILLS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE DISABLED OR HELP PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS.

STATE SENATOR DAMON THAYER WAS SAYING HE LOVED EXPENSIVE BURR BOHN.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TAKEN ABACK BY THE DEATH.

THEY DIDN'T NECESSARILY SEE IT COMING AND I THINK THEY ARE STILL PROCESSING IT.

>> Lawrence: IT SHOCKED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

NOT MANY PEOPLE, IF ANY, KNEW THAT HE WAS ILL BUT HE DIED DOWN IN FLORIDA WHERE HE WAS AT THE TIME.

>> Bill: HE'LL BE MISSED.

THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO DECIDE WHO SERVES THE REMAINDER OF BUFORD'S TERM.

THE GOVERNOR WILL SET THAT IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

EDUCATION.

JESS, SUMMER SCHOOL HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT SUBSTANTIALLY.

I KNOW IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

IS THAT CATCHING UP FROM THE DIFFICULTIES OF COVID?

>> Jess: YEAH, THEY'VE BEEN INCREASED ENROLLMENT.

BEFORE THEY PANDEMICS THEY HAD 100,000 SIDS KIDS IN SUMMER LEARNING IN PERSON.

THIS YEAR THEY HAVE 6500.

THEY WERE PLANNING TO INCREASE SUMMER ENROLLMENT AS PART OF THE CONTRADICTS STRATEGY BUT THEY SEE IT AS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT NOW BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTIONAL SOME TIME AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT KIDS, A LOT KIDS MISSED OUT ON REMOTE LEARNING.

>> Bill: WE HAVE OBVIOUSLY AN UNSETTLED JOB MARKET OUT THERE THAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME BUT IN CONTRAST TO THAT, YOU'RE LOOKING INTO THE FACT THAT THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL ESTABLISHMENT LEAST IS DOING A TREMENDOUS JOB WITH TEACHER RETENTION.

PEOPLE ARE STAYING.

>> Jess: YEAH, IT'S KIND OF WILD.

THE LAST TWO YEARS THE PANDEMIC YEARS, TEACHER RETENTION HAS BEEN LIKE 94% AND 96%, WHICH IS JUST UNFATHOMABLE, CONSIDERING USUALLY IT'S IN THE 80s, AND SO THE QUESTION IS WHY.

IT COULD BE THAT TEACHER RETENTION DOES GENERALLY GO UP DURING TIMES OF ECONOMIC TURMOIL.

THERE'S FEWER OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIRE PAYING JOBS, TEACHING JOBS ARE PRETTY SECURE SO PEOPLE STAY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE'S A LOT OF POLLING GOING ON THAT TEACHERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO LEAVE THEIR JOBS THAN EVER BEFORE.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR WHAT'S GOING ON IN JEFFERSON COUNTY.

THEY'VE ALSO CAN BE THE DISTRICT STAFF SAY THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF INITIATIVES AROUND RETENTION SO THEY'RE TAKING CREDIT FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO IT'S NOT CLEAR YET BUT I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT.

>> Bill: YOU'RE FRYING TO LOOK INTO IT.

>> Lawrence: ALSO, POLLIO IS GIVING THEM A STIPEND.

THERE'S A AWARD ARE FOR STAYING.

>> Bill: AND THAT'S COMING OUT OF COVID MONEY.

HOW MUCH IS THAT?

>> Lawrence: $5 MILLION?

IS THAT HOW MUCH IT IS?

>> Jess: THE STIPEND IS $5,000 PER EMPLOYEE, AND IT'S PAID OUT OVER THREE INSTALLMENTS OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

>> Daniel: IF IT WAS $5 MILLION, I WAS GOING TO BECOME A TEACHER.

>> YES THE TOTAL AMOUNT TO JSPC IS $578 MILLION.

IT'S MORE THAN A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS.

IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

>> Lawrence: THERE'S A 5 IN THERE SOMEWHERE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

KENTUCKY STATE POLICE IS ESTABLISHING A TEAM TO INVESTIGATE SEX CRIMES.

DOES THIS GO BACK TO THE DISCOVERY A FEW YEARS AGO THAT SOME RAPE KITS HAD NEVER BEEN TESTED?

>> Lawrence: YEAH, IT DOES GO BACK TO THAT.

THAT WAS A BIG CONTROVERSY SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WERE SO MANY UNTESTED RAPE KITS.

THERE HAS BEEN A GREAT EFFORT TO GET CAUGHT UP ON THAT.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS, THIS STORY IS IT'S $1.5 MILLION BUT ESSENTIALLY IT'S SHIFTING SOME INVESTIGATORS FROM IF ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO THE CONSTITUENT STATE POLICE SO IT'S A SHIFTING OF RESOURCES, NOT NECESSARILY NEW RESOURCES.

>> Bill: SO THERE WILL BE THAT SPECIAL TEAM THAT -- >> Lawrence: THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL TEAM THAT WILL NOW INVESTIGATE THESE PAST RAPE CASES AND RAPE KITS.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, MORE THAN 22020 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ARE BEING DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER TO COMPLY.

>> Lawrence: THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS NOT DEPLOYING THEM BUT IT WAS A REQUEST FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEY'LL GO GOING COUN TO THE SOUTHWEST TO HELP LOGISTICAL AND BACKUP KINDS OF DUTIES TO HELP WITH THAT CRISIS DOWN THERE.

>> Bill: WITH THE SPED-UP TIMETABLE FOR TROOPS BEING PULLED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, MOVED TO AUGUST 31st, SENATORS McCONNELL AND RAND PAUL ARE SPLIT ON THAT ISSUE, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

>> Daniel: WHICH IS NOT UNUSUAL.

IT'S ABOUT THE WAR.

RAND PAUL HAS ALWAYS SAID, HEY, LET'S GET THEM OUT OF THERE WHEREAS SENATOR McCONNELL HAS BEEN MORE IN SUPPORT OF THE WARS IN THE AREA.

>> Bill: FANCY FARM NOW LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY.

WHAT ARE WE HEARING ABOUT THE SHOW OUT THERE?

>> Lawrence: I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ONE LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS, AND THERE'S NO STATEWIDE ELECTION THIS YEAR, BUT IT WILL BE A PREVIEW OF 2023 EVEN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND SOME OTHER RACES THAT ARE COMING UP OVER NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Daniel: AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE SIGN POSTS OF THINGS RETURNING TO NORMAL, KIND OF LIKE DERBY.

FANCY FARM IS THE DERBY OF POLITICS, AND TO HAVE THAT HAPPEN AGAIN, I WAS ACTUALLY OUT IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THIS WEEK AND I WENT TO THE FREIGHT HOUSE.

I.

IT FELT LIKE I WAS AT FRANCES FARM.

>> Bill: YOU HAD THE FULL EXPERIENCE OUT THERE.

THERE'S A MEMORIAL TO COVID-19 VICTIMS AT THE BACK SIDE OF THE STATE CAPITOL AND THOSE WHO LOVES LOVED ONES CAN COME PICK UP A FLAG AS A WAY TO REMEMBER.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IF YOU HAD A LOVED ONE WHO DIED FROM COVID, YOU CAN CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND THEY WILL TRY STONED YOU ONE OF THOSE FLAGS IF YOU CAN'T GET HERE YOURSELF.

>> Bill: THERE'S HAD A NEW BOOK COMING UP AT ABOUT THE LIFE AND CAREER OF PLANCK ARE SILAS HOUSE.

A NEWS JOURNAL IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY IS REPORTING THAT BOOK COULD BE CALLED "EXPLORING, AN PLAY,AN WRITERS' WORK" WILL BE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS MONTH.

HOUSE, WHO IS A PROLIFIC WRITER HIMSELF, SAID IT IS HAS BEEN HUMBLING TO BE THE SAFETY BOOK.

DUNE IN MONDAY FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" WHEN RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ON THE URBAN/RURAL DIVIDE IN KENTUCKY