TO CALLS ON END ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

BIPARTISAN EFFORT ON AN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL FALLS APART IN WASHINGTON, BUT IT MAY LEAVE UNDONE IN KENTUCKY.

AFTER A JUNE WEEK THAT HAS FELT TROPICAL, 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 WORKING TONIGHT ARE ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FROM THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER," MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE AND LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR WDRV IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON LEADERS ARE SET TO VOTE ON BANNING NO KNOCK WARRANTS.

AND PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING AGAIN.

IT COULD MEAN A RECORD IN A KENTUCKY AIRPORT BUT FIRST THIS AFTERNOON, KENTUCKY ESSENTIALLY RETURNED TO A PRE-PANDEMIC NORMAL.

AS GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR LIFTED RESTRICTIONS THAT HAD BEEN IN PLACE FOR 426 DAYS.

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF BEING AT WAR WITH THIS VIRUS, WE HAVE THE HARD WON KNOWLEDGE ON HOW TO LESSEN THE SPREAD AND NOW TO DEFEAT THE VIRUS WITH SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINES.

FOR THESE REASONS, THIS WILL BE THE LAST OFFICIAL BRIEFING CENTERED ON THE CRISIS PHASE OF COVID IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> THE GOVERNOR INTERRUPTED HIS REMARKS MOMENTARILY TO OFFICIALLY SIGN THE PAPERS THAT MAKE IT ALL OFFICIAL IT IS GREAT TO HAVE A STUDIO YO' FULL.

THE FIRST TIME IN 14 MONTHS SINCE THE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS STARTED.

GOOD SEE EVERYBODY.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

THANKS FOR MAKING IT ALL WORK WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WHAT DOES TODAY REPRESENT?

>> TODAY REPRESENTS A TRUE RETURN TO NORMALCY AND WHAT BESHEAR WAS SIGNING IS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OVERTURNING, AS YOU SAID, THE MASK MANDATE ON BUSINESSES AND BARS CAN SEAT AT 100% CAPACITY AND HEALTHY AT WORK REQUIREMENTS.

REALLY EXCEPT FOR PLACES LIKE HOSPITALS, NURSING HOMES, PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, COVID, YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO TAKE SORT OF ROUTINE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT AGAINST COVID.

HE WANTS PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED BUT MASK WEARING IS DONE.

>> AND THAT IS A GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENT.

HOWEVER, BUSINESS, ORGANIZATIONS CAN STILL MAKE THEIR OWN RULES, RIGHT?

>> THEY CAN AND HE EXPLICITLY SAID IF YOU WERE A BUSINESS, ESPECIALLY IN A COUNTY WITH A LOW VACCINATION RATE AND YOU FEEL LIKE IF YOU FEEL COMPELLED TO CONTINUE REQUIRING MASKS, THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE.

HOWEVER, THEY DON'T HAVE THE TEETH OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDER NOW TO FALL BACK ON AND IT WILL PROBABLY BE HARDER BECAUSE, I MEAN, LET'S FACE IT, THE PALATE FOR WEARING MASKS, IT HAS BEEN WANING, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL PARTS OF KENTUCKY.

PLENTY OF PEOPLE ARE JUST DONE AND OFFICIALLY TODAY THEY CAN BE.

>> LAWRENCE, FIRST THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WOULD LIFT RESTRICTIONS WHEN WE HIT 2.5 MILLION VACCINATIONS.

WE GOT TO 2.1 MILLION.

WHY DID HE DECIDE TO GO AHEAD AND SET THIS DATE CERTAIN AND MAKE THIS OFFICIAL, DESPITE NOT REACHING HIS TARGET?

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR WOULD NOT TELL YOU THAT HE WAS BOWING TO ANY PRESSURE AT ALL, BUT HE WAS UNDER PRESSURE FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS, FROM SOME BUSINESS LEADERS AND FROM SURROUNDING STATES THAT HAD DONE THIS.

SO THE PRESSURE WAS THERE.

WHAT HE WILL TELL YOU IS THAT HE SIMPLY IS FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE.

THE CDC WAS RELAXING ITS GUIDELINES OF THE INFECTION RATE IN KENTUCKY WAS GOING DOWN, THE TRENDS WERE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO HE FELT COMFORTABLE ENOUGH, AT THIS TIME, WITH THE SCIENCE HE HAS SEEN, HE SAYS, TO GO AHEAD AND DO THIS TO LIFT THESE MANDATES.

>> MARK, THE GOVERNOR MADE A POANT TO THANK HIS TEAM.

-- POINT A POINT TO THANK HIS TEAM.

HE SEEMED BORDER LINE EMOTIONAL AS HE HAS OVER THIS PERIOD.

>> HE SAID NUMEROUS TIMES, AND HE SAID IT AGAIN TODAY, THAT THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HE WILL EVER DO.

HE IS A YOUNG GUY.

AND AS LAWRENCE HINTED, THERE IS A LOT OF EXTERNAL PRESSURE AND THERE IS PROBABLY A LOT OF INTERNAL PRESSURE TO GET IT RIGHT.

>> AND THAT EMOTIONAL PART OF THIS, AT TIMES, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THESE BRIEFINGS HAVE GONE ON SINCE WE WERE ALL JUST WONDERING WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS GOING ON IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR.

HAS THAT EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO PEOPLE BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGING IN THIS?

>> I THINK IT HAS.

I THINK HE HAS LEANED ON THAT.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SORT OF LOOK BACK AT THE EVOLUTION OF HOW HE WAS INITIALLY PERCEIVED WHEN HE FIRST STARTED HAVING HIS PRESS CONFERENCES IN FEBRUARY OF 2020.

AS LAWRENCE WAS SAYING BEFORE WE WENT LIVE, PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS, THEY WANTED INFORMATION.

HIS GUIDANCE WAS CLEAR.

HE WAS ON THE TV EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY.

PEOPLE REALLY SUPPORTED HIM EVEN REPUBLICANS SUPPORTED HIM.

MEMORABILIA WAS MADE ABOUT HIM.

MEMES WERE MADE ABOUT HIM.

AS TIME WENT ON, PEOPLE GOT MORE TIRED, YOU SNOW, THE RESTRICTIONS WRAWNG WILLED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING THAT BESHEAR, HE HAS TRIED TO SAY THAT HE STAY ED ABOVE POLITICS WITH ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT HE HAS ENACTED.

YOU CAN TAKE THAT HOWEVER YOU WANT.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH HIM BECAUSE I THINK SO MUCH OF HOW HE CHOOSES TO RESPOND TO THE VIRUS IS LED BY, I THINK HE TRIES TO KEEP IN THE FOREFRONT OF HIS MIND, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY IT.

HE MENTIONED THE MORE THAN 7100 PEOPLE WHO DIED.

HE TOLD AN AN ANECDOTE OF PICKING UP ONE OF THE FLAGS OF ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED SO HE CAN ALWAYS REMEMBER.

IT IS HARD OBVIOUSLY TO BE A LEADER, TO LEAD A STATE THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC.

BUT I THINK HE HAS TRIED TO KEEP THAT HIS PERSPECTIVE, TO KEEP IN MIND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST AFFECTED BY IT AND IT HAS BEEN OBVIOUS.

>> ALEX, YOU TALK ABOUT THE DEATH TOLL HAS TOPPED 7,000.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL LOSING PEOPLE TO COVID.

WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE BUT THIS ISN'T OVER.

WHO OUT THERE IS STILL AT RISK IN THE CURRENT SITUATION?

>> WELL, I MEAN IF WE LOOK AT IT NOT FULLY HALF OF THE STATE IS VACCINATED YET.

SO, YES IT'S AN END TO THE CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS LARGELY.

BUT HALF OF THE STATE POPULATION IS STILL AT RISK.

YOU KNOW, LUCKILY, I THINK MORE THAN 85% OF PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 80 ARE VACCINATED.

OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE THE MOST VULNERABLE.

BUT I MEAN, SO THE RESTRICTIONS ARE OVER, BUT THE RISKS STILL REMAIN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED AND YOU SAID IT'S NOT OVER.

AND IN EFFECT, IT'S NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL STILL CONTINUE TO CATCH IT.

PEOPLE STILL WILL CONTINUE TO DIE FROM IT, IF THEY DON'T GET VACCINATED WE JUSTED WON'T PROBABLY TALK ABOUT IT AS OFTEN BECAUSE THE POSITIVITY RATE WILL PROBABLY STAY LOW.

IT IS A WEIRD PUSH-PULL.

IT'S OVER BUT IT ISN'T.

>> WHEN I TALKED TO HIM TODAY, HE SAID YES, THE CRISIS IS OVER BUT THE PANDEMIC IS NOT OVER.

HE LEFT THE DOOR OPEN A CRACK TO BE ABLE TO REIMPOSE SOME OF THESE MANDATES IF, AS HE PUT IT, STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN.

SO I THINK IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF A MASSIVE SPIKE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES AGAIN, HE COULD REIMPOSE SOME OF THESE THINGS.

IT WILL BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT, TO GO BACK AT THIS POINT AND REDO THAT.

THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF RESISTANCE BUT HE IS LEAVING THE DOOR OPEN A CRACK TO DO SO.

>> THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH CALL.

>> MANY REPUBLICANS EXPRESSED THAT FEAR YESTERDAY AT THE SUPREME COURT HEARINGS.

A LOT OF THEM SAID THEY HOPED THESE LEGAL ISSUES ARE SOLVED BECAUSE THEY WORRY, LIKE LAWRENCE SAID, THAT HE MIGHT BRING SOME OF THOSE MANDATES BACK.

>> REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNOR'S PANDEMIC RESPONSE, ALMOST SINCE THE BEGINNING.

G.O.P.

LAWMAKERS HAVE CONTENDED THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CALLED IN TO HELP SET THE POLICIES.

KENTUCKY SENATE MAJORITY LEADER THAYER SAID THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS TRIED TO REACH OUT AND HELP ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUES.

>> WE HAVE TRIED TO HELP THE GOVERNOR ON UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

WE OFFERED OUR EMPLOYEES AT THE L.R.C.

TO HELP SERVICE ITSELF CLAIMS.

OUR OFFER OF ASSISTANCE WENT UNHEEDED BY THE GOVERNOR.

AND, INDEED, THOSE EMPLOYEES IN TRYING TO HELP OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE DIRECTED TO THE SAME 1-800-LINE THAT THE CONSTITUENTS WOULD CALL ON THEIR OWN.

WE APPROPRIATED MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR TECHNOLOGY AND PERSONNEL TO HELP ONE EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO, GOVERNOR, TO HELP YOU ONE EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE?

WE WOULD BE WILLING TO COME IN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> LAWRENCE, FROM A PURELY POLITICAL STANDPOINT HERE, WOULD IT HAVE BEEN ADVANTAGEOUS FOR BESHEAR TO CALL IN THE LEGISLATURE, LET THEM SET SOME OF THE POLICIES AND THEN BE SADDLED WITH THE RESULTS FOR BETTER OR WORSE?

>> IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN POLITICALLY ADVANTAGEOUS TO DO THAT.

BUT WHAT HE WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, AND YOU CAN'T RUN AN EMERGENCY BY COMMITTEE.

SO HE WAS SURROUNDING HIMSELF WITH HEALTH EXPERTS WHO WERE GIVING HIM INFORMATION AND HE WAS RESPONDING, HE SAYS, TO WHAT THEY WERE TELLING HIM AS QUICKLY AS HE COULD.

YOU CAN ARGUE HE MADE A MISTAKE BY NOT BRINGING IN LAWMAKERS INTO THE PROCESS AT SOME POINT DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THAT COULD BE ARGUED.

BUT HE SAYS THAT IN THE BEGINNING, PARTICULARLY THOSE FIRST FEW MONTHS, HE COULDN'T RUN THIS THING BY COMMITTEE.

>> AND MARK, THE GOVERNOR SAID TODAY, THIS WAS HIS 250th AND FINAL BRIEFING ON COVID.

HE SAID THAT THAT WAS TO KEEP PEOPLE INFORMED.

HIS CRITICS SAY IT WAS TOO MUCH AND THAT HE HELD THE INFORMATION TOO TIGHTLY.

THAT WAS A CRITICISM WE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> WELL, I THINK A LOT OF THAT FRICTION IS JUST CLASSIC DEMOCRAT VERSUS REPUBLICAN FRICTION BUT THIS IS ALSO A DEBATE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED.

HOW MUCH FREEDOM DO YOU WANT TO GIVE UP TO HAVE SOME SAFETY AND SECURITY.

AND WE SAW DEMOCRATS CRITICIZE FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH IN THE POST-9/11 ERROR, ACCUSE ERA ACCUSING HIM OF BEING HEAVY HANDED AND CRITICIZING THE PATRIOT ACT.

I DON'T THINK IT IS TOO MUCH OF A SURPRISE REPUBLICANS WOULD BE CRITICIZING THE GOVERNOR DURING THE PANDEMIC.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER AS WELL THERE IS A BALANCE HERE THAT REPUBLICANS SAY THE BALANCE THAT THE GOVERNOR DID NOT MEET, PROTECTING PEOPLE YES, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THE ECONOMY CRASHED.

PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS.

BUSINESSES CLOSED.

SO THE REPUBLICAN CRITICISM IS THAT HE DIDN'T TAKE THAT ASPECT OF IT INTO ENOUGH CONSIDERATION.

THE GOVERNOR, OF COURSE, EVEN TODAY WHEN I TALKED TO HIM, SAID LISTEN, I WAS TRYING TO SAVE LIVES.

THAT WAS MY FOCUS.

IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE WAS THE SHOCK OF PEOPLE LOSING JOBS AND BUSINESSES CLOSING.

BUT THAT'S WHAT HE HAD TO DO.

>> YOU KNOW, AND NOW WE ARE AT A POINT WHERE THE HELP WANTED SIGNS ARE OUT THERE, PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO STAFF THEIR BUSINESSES AND REPUBLICANS WERE, AGAIN, VERY CRITICAL ON THURSDAY, OF THE GOVERNOR CONTINUING THE $300 FEDERAL ENHANCED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT.

>> YEAH THEY ARE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU SEE SO MANY HELP WANTED SIGNS OUT THERE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS THAT IS PUMPING SOME $35 MILLION INTO THE ECONOMY AND WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO, HE TOLD ME TODAY, IS AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO, HE IS GOING TO ANNOUNCE AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO GET PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, SOME KIND OF A BONUS THAT WILL BE GIVEN TO PEOPLE WHO REENTER AND FIND JOBS.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO CUT THAT BENEFIT OFF RIGHT AWAY, BUT RATHER EASE THEM BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

THAT APPEARS TO BE THE TACTIC HE IS GOING TO TAKE TO DO THAT.

>> LIKE ARIZONA AND ANOTHER WESTERN STATE OR TWO HAVE DONE THAT.

HE HAS WATCHED SOME OTHER STATES BEFORE HE HAS MOVED ON SOME THINGS.

LIKE THE INCENTIVES FOR VACCINES.

OHIO DID THE LOTTERY FIRST.

>> WELL, THE STATEMENT HE HAS ALWAYS MADE FROM THE BEGINNING IS WE WOULD BE WE DON'T WANT TO BE THE FIRST.

WE WANT TO BE THE BEST.

HE LOOKS TO SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING AND EVALUATES THAT AND TAKES WHAT HE LIKES AND USES IT EAR.

>> WE MENTIONED THE PENDING LAWSUITS BEFORE THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT ON THIS OR FUTURE GOVERNORS AUTHORITY.

THE ISSUES WERE HEARD IN THE CHAMBER THURSDAY.

>> THERE IS NO CASE OR CONTROVERSY NOR DOES THE GOVERNOR HAVE STANDING TO BRING THIS CASE.

INSTEAD, THIS CASE PRESENTS AN ABSTRACT ACADEMIC DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF STATUTES.

>> FACE WITH THIS UNDENIABLE EMERGENCY, AS WELL AS NEW LEGISLATION, WHICH SOUGHT TO SUPPLANT THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY TO CRAFT A UNIFIED STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE, THE GOVERNOR HAD TO TAKE ACTION.

>> WELL, HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS RULING IN CLARIFYING WHAT A KENTUCKY GOVERNOR CAN DO IN A LONG-TERM CRISIS?

>> HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE ISSUE HERE.

THE ISSUE IS CAN THE LEGISLATURE STEP IN AND CHANGE THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY OR POWER DURING AN EMERGENCY?

CHAD MEREDITH MADE AN ARGUMENT DURING HIS PRESENTATION.

SAYING THE LEGISLATURE GAVE HIM THE EMERGENCY AUTHORITY, THE LEGISLATURE CAN TAKE IT AWAY.

THAT'S THEIR ARGUMENT.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS LISTEN, I HAVE CERTAIN POWERS BY THE CONSTITUTION.

SO THE QUESTION IS WILL THE SUPREME COURT UNRAVEL THAT AND DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT LAWMAKERS, LEGISLATURE CAN REMOVE SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY IN THESE CASES?

>> I'M AFRAID THE RULING IS GOING TO BE A LOT MORE NARROWLY TAILORED AND THEY MAY EVEN SAY IT'S A MOOT POINT NOW.

>> THE RESTRICTIONS ARE OVER NOW.

IS THAT A POSSIBILITY, THAT THEY SAY IT'S NOT A PUBLIC ISSUE?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

UNLESS THEY WANT TO SET A PRECEDENT FOR THE FUTURE.

>> THERE IS SOME OTHER LEGISLATION AIMED AT COVID POLICY GOING FORWARD.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRANDON REED WANTS TO OUTLAW SO CALLED COVID PASSPORTS, SOME HAVE AND SOME REQUIRE.

OTHER BILLS WOULD TRY TO PREVENT VACCINES FROM BEING REQUIRED AT SOME LOCATIONS, FOR INSTANCE, STATE UNIVERSITYIES.

WILL THESE ISSUES STILL BE AROUND WHEN THE LEGISLATURE GETS TOGETHER IN JANUARY?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

YOU ARE SEEING SOME OF THESE COME UP IN OTHER STATES.

THE QUESTION IS, WITH THE CRISIS OVER, WILL THESE BILLS GAIN ANY TRACTION?

WILL THEY LOSE THEIR URGENCY?

THAT'S THE QUESTION GOING FORWARD, WHETHER THE 22 LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO HAVE TIME OR DESIRE TO TAKE THOSE THINGS UP.

>> ALEX, THE STORIES THAT WERE WELL DONE IN THIS FIRST WRITING OF HISTORY AS WE JOURNALISTS DO, WERE PERSONAL AND YOU FOLLOWED A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> I DID.

I MEAN REPORTING ON COVID, COVID-19 IS A DEVASTATING DID ITS'.

IT'S ALSO JUST IN ADDITION TO IT HAVING TRAGIC EFFECTS ON PEOPLE'S LIVES, IT ALSO HAS WEIRD FEBRUARIES ON PEM'S LIVES.

SO I WANTED TO FOLLOW A 17-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AT FRANKFORT HIGH SCHOOL JUST TO SEE HOW THE PANDEMIC WAS AFFECTING HER FINAL YEAR OF BEING A TEENAGER.

SHE STARTED THE SCHOOL YEAR VIRTUALLY LIKE ALL KENTUCKY STUDENTS, GRADUALLY WENT BACK TO CLASS.

MANY OF THE RITUALS AND EVENTS THAT SHE WOULD NORMALLY EXPERIENCE EITHER DIDN'T HAPPEN OR HAPPENED IN WEIRD WAYS.

SHE HAD A COUPLE OF HOMECOMINGS OVER THE COMPUTER, WHICH WAS BIZARRE TO WATCH.

AND THEN SHE FINALLY GOT TO AN IN-PERSON PROM A COUPLE WEEKS AGO BUT IT HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO SORT OF DOCUMENT, AGAIN, COVID-19 IS SUCH A TRAGIC DISEASE AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE IT HAS TOUCHED THEIR LIVES IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THE BIZARRE WAYS IT AFFECTS PEOPLE IN MORE BENIGN WAYS.

>> I THINK WE ARE ALL WONDERING, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, WHAT IS AHEAD FOR THEM IN THIS ERA WE ARE LIVING IN, RIGHT?

>> HOW CAN YOU EXPECT THEM TO DO ONE THING FOR A YEAR AND A HALF AND ALL OF A SUDDEN PIVOT TO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THEY DID WITH THE PANDEMIC, BUT, YOU KNOW, I WORRY THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF FALLOUT AND A LOT OF LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER NEWS.

THERE WAS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THIS WEEK THAT GOT SOME ATTENTION, A BILL PREFILED BY REPUBLICAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE RYAN DOTSON THAT WOULD PREVENT TRANSGENDER WOMEN FROM TAKING PART IN SPORTS.

>> THE KIND OF THING YOU ARE SEEING TAKEN UP ELSEWHERE.

THE ISSUE IS, YOU KNOW, ACCORDING TO THE BILL, THE PROBLEM IS DO TRANSGENDER WOMEN, WILL THEY HAVE A BIOLOGICAL-- WILL THEY HAVE A PHYSICAL ADVANTAGE OVER BIOLOGICAL WOMEN?

THIS IS DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE.

I DON'T THINK IT HAS COME UP IN KENTUCKY YET, BUT OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THIS LOOKING AT SOME OTHER STATES WHAT THEY MAY BE DOING.

>> A CIVIL PENALTY COMPONENT TO THE BILL AS WELL?

>> THERE WAS.

IT SEEMED TO SUGGEST THAT ATHLETES WOULD BE ABLE TO SUE IF THERE WAS AN INFRACTION AND THERE IS AN INTERESTING COMPONENT WHERE AN ATHLETE WILL HAVE TO GET A SWORN AFFIDAVIT FROM THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL ABOUT THEIR ACTUAL BIOLOGICAL SEX.

>> ALEX, LEXINGTON LEADERS ARE CONSIDERING A BAN ON NO KNOCK WARRANTS.

THERE WAS A SPLIT COUNCIL VOTE THIS WEEK, A FINAL VOTE IT LOOKS LIKE IS COMING JUNE 24.

THIS IS PROVING TO BE CONTROVERSIAL.

>> IT IS.

AND IT HAS DIVIDED THE COUNCIL.

IF LEXINGTON DOES VOTE FORMALLY TO BAN NO KNOCK WARRANTS, IT WOULD BE THE SECOND CITY IN THE STATE.

LOUISVILLE DID FIRST.

BUT THE VOTE WAS 9-6.

I MEAN MAYOR LINDA GORTON IS AGAINST THE BAN.

THE VICE MAYOR VOTED FOR THE BAN.

POLICE CHIEF HAS SAID THAT HE DOESN'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.

HE SORT OF LIKENED IT TO LUCHING THE TACTIC ALL TOGETHER.

HE SAID THAT HIS OFFICERS ARE TRAINED IN HOW TO CARRY OUT NO KNOCK WARRANTS AND THAT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE BOTCHED LIKE THE ONE LOUISVILLE CARRIED OUT THAT KILLED BREONNA TAYLOR SO HE IS AGAINST IT, TOO BUT BLACK FAITH LEADERS CALLED ON THE COUNCIL TO SAY THIS WOULD RESTORE FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY IF YOU WOULD DO THIS.

LEXINGTON HAS, I THINK, EXECUTED FOUR OR FIVE NO KNOCK WARRANTS IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

THEY'RE NOT USED TERRIBLY OFTEN.

THEY'RE USED IN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE ARGUMENT IS BASICALLY IF THEY'RE USED SO LITTLE ANYWAY, AND IT WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO RESTORE TRUST, WHY NOT.

>> A LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE OFFICER WAS FIRED AND FACED FEDERAL CHARGES CONNECTED TO THE PROTESTS OF LAST SUMER.

>> OFFICER COREY EVANS IS ACCUSED OF HITTING A PROTESTOR WHO WAS KNEELING DOWN WITH THEIR HANDS IN THE AIR.

HE IS ACCUSED OF HITTING THAT PROTESTOR IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITH A BATON AND THERE IS ACTUALLY BEEN A CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING SCHEDULE IN THIS CASE, WHICH TYPICALLY MEANS THAT SOMEBODY IS GOING TO BE PLEADING GUILTY MAYBE TAKING A PLEA DEAL.

AND A SPOKESPERSON FOR LMPD TOLD US THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PRETERMINATION LETTER DELIVERED TO THE OFFICER.

>> AND IT'S A JULY ON THE COURT?

>> JULY 17.

>> TRAVEL IS RETURNING, IT LOOKS LIKE, ALEX.

IT LOOKS LIKE MASK MANDATES AT AIRPORTS AND ON FLIGHTS FOR NOW.

>> FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, I THINK THIS IS PRESIDENT BIDEN'S GUIDANCE THAT MASK BE WORN IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SETTINGS WHERE PEOPLE ARE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN TIGHT CONFINED SPACES, EVEN IF YOU RIDE PUBLIC TRANSIT HERE IN LEXINGTON, YOU ARE STILL TECHNICALLY REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK.

SO WHO KNOWS WHEN THAT WILL CHANGE.

BUT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, THAT'S STILL THE CASE.

>> AND MARK, DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, WHAT IS GOING ON THAT HAD SUCH A GRIP, NEW AIR SERVICE OFFERED IN LOUISVILLE AND THE PENT UP DEMAND, SO THAT MUHAMMED ALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LOOKS TO BE ON TRACK FOR SOME RECORDS.

>> BILL, I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT STOCK IN THE AIRLINES.

LOUISVILLE MUHAMMED ALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAD 79% OF ITS PRE-PANDEMIC TRAVEL OVER THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND.

QUICKLY REBOUNDING AND LOOKING AHEAD, THEY HAVE 91% CAPACITY IN JUNE.

THAT'S A FORWARD LOOKING WAY OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH THAT AIRPORT.

THERE IS ALSO TWO NEW DISCOUNT AIRLINES THAT STARTED FLYING IN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

NON-STOP FLIGHTS ARE ADDED BY THE MAJOR CARRIERS.

THE ONLY DRAW BACK TO THIS IS THAT YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY AGAIN BECAUSE THE SECURITY LINES ARE GOING TO BE LONG.

>> AN HOUR AND A HALF OR SO.

>> SEEKING AN INJUNCTION TO KEEP THE RACING COMMISSION FROM TABLING ACTION ON BEMEAN ASPIRIT'S WIN.

>> AFTER THE HORSE TESTED POSITIVE, HE SAID IT IS NOT AN INJECTION, BAFFORD SAID IT WAS NOT AN INJECTION TO HELP MEDINA SPIRIT WIN THE RACE.

IT WAS A TOPICAL OINTMENT FOR A SKIN CONDITION BUT THE KENTUCKY RACING COMMISSION MAY DISQUALIFY THE KENTUCKY DERBY WIN.

HE HAS FILED SUIT IN FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT, ASKING THE JUDGE FOR AN INJUNCTION SO HE CAN GET SOME TIME TO DO SOME TESTS, GATHER FOR EVIDENCE TO PROVE HIS INNOCENCE AND PROBABLY MAKE HIS CASE TO MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY HORSE RACING COMMISSION.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS OFF TO THE G7 SUMMIT.

HE ENDED TALKS WITH REPUBLICANS ABOUT GETTING A BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

THE G.O.P.

WOULDN'T COME TO THE SCOPE OF THE BILL THAT HE WANTED.

AND THE PRESIDENT WANTED TAX INCREASES TO PAY FOR THAT.

IT WAS A NON-STARTER FOR REPUBLICANS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT NOW?

WHAT MIGHT THIS MEAN FOR KENTUCKY?

>> WELL, PROBABLY STILL SOME TALKS GOING WITH A DIFFERENT SET OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SO THERE IS STILL A CLANS CHANCE FOR BIPARTISAN ALTHOUGH THE CHANCE IS SHRINKING.

THE BIG OBJECT OF INTEREST IS THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

IF THERE IS A DEAL, WILL THAT BRIDGE GET REPLACED AND A NEW SPAN OVER THE OHIO RIVER BETWEEN CINCINNATI AND KENTUCKY.

THAT'S THE BIG PROJECT HERE EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT.

>> ROAD FUND IS A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW ISN'T IT?

>> THE ROAD FUND IS WOEFULLY UNDER FUNDED AND IT'S ALL DEPENDENT ON GAS TAXES AND FOR YEARS THERE HAS BEEN SOME BILLS TO MAYBE RAISE THE GAS TAX AND GET THIS ROAD FUND BACK UP TO WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE BUT IT'S JUST NEVER HAPPENED SO IF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE PASSED, IT WOULD BE THE BIG ONE BUT MIGHT HELP WITH OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUFFERING.

>> THERE IS SOME PRETTY STRICT GUIDANCE FROM THE U.S. TREASURY ON THIS, THE MONEY, THE COVID RELIEF MONEY UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

SO DOES IT SEEM THAT THE SPENDING IN THAT REGARD-- I KNOW LOUISVILLE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW, $40 MILLION OR SO.

DOES IT APPEAR THAT WILL BE AIMED AT PRIMARILY PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WILL THEY TRY TO DO SOME OTHER THINGS?

>> WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE YET.

THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE HAS RECOMMENDED WHAT TO DO, LIKE THE FIRST 40 MILLION OF THIS, AND IT'S A COMBINATION OF, YOU KNOW, VACCINES AND RELIEF EFFORTS TO HELP RECOVER FROM THIS PANDEMIC.

THE METRO COUNCIL APPROVED THAT AND THERE ARE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LEFT UNSPENT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING DOWN THE ROAD TO SEE HOW THE MONEY AND WHAT FINAL DIRECTION THEY GET AS FAR AS WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO WITH THAT MONEY.

>> YOU SAID EVICTION PREVENTION IS A BIG PART OF THAT.

>> $10 MILLION IS THE BIGGEST CHUNK FOR EVICTION PREVENTION AND ASSISTANCE.

>> WHAT DOES THAT-- DOES IT GO TO THE LANDLORDS OR TO THE TENANTS?

>> IT COULD BE BOTH.

IT COULD GO TO LANDLORDS AND TENANTS, ULTIMATELY IT ALL FLOWS TO THE LANDLORDS BUT IT COULD ALSO GO TO PROVIDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR TENANTS WHO ARE OAFN OVERWHELMED WHEN THEY GET CAUGHT UP IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM WHEN THEY'RE BEING EVICTED.

MOST LANDLORDS ARE SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY WITH YOU AND KNOW THE SYSTEM.

IF YOU ARE A TENANT, YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE SYSTEM SO HELPING THEM OUT BY GETTING THEM A LAWYER GOES A LONG WAY.

>> ALEX, COVERING THE PANDEMIC WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US BUT IT WAS ALL CONSUMING FOR YOU.

IT WAS YOUR BEAT FOR THESE MANY MONTHS.

WILL YOU BEGIN TO SHIFT YOUR FOCUS ON REPORTING NOW.

>> I WILL.

IT WILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN COVERING COVID-19, AS YOU SAID, FOR THE LAST YEAR AND CHANGE.

BE IT PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES.

I'LL COVER CHILD WELFARE, PUBLIC 4-G9 NOT RELATED TO CORONAVIRUS AND, BUT IT WILL BE A TRANSITION FOR ALL OF US TO NOT REPORT ON COVID ANYMORE.

>> WE LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC HEALTH ON THIS.

>> LAWRENCE, WE JUST PASSED FIVE YEARS SINCE THE DEATH OF MUHAMMED ALI.

THE FUNERAL WAS UNFORGETTABLE IN HIS HOMETOWN AND PROJECTS ARE CONTINUING THERE.

YOU MAKE A NOTE OF THIS SOME CHANGE.

>> WHAT IS STRIKING ABOUT IT BEING FIVE YEARS SINCE THEN IS HOW UNIFIED THE CITY WAS AT THAT TIME, AND HOW OPTIMISTIC EVERYBODY WAS AT THAT TIME BUT SINCE THEN IT HAS GONE DOWNHILL, THE MURDER RATE HAS SPIKED AND YOU HAD THE BREN TAN TAYLOR SHOOTING AND THE SOCIAL PROTESTS AND THE PANDEMIC.

IT SEEMS LIKE 100 YEARS AGO, NOT FIVE YEARS AGO THAT THE CITY FELT THAT GOOD.

>> KENTUCKY'S REVENUE COLLECTIONS CONTINUE THE UPWARD PACE IN MAY.

GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS WERE UP NEARLY 5% FROM LAST MAY WHEN THE PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS WERE IN FULL FORCE.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS REMAIN CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE'S ECONOMIC HEALTH.

NOW, THE RP "COURIER JOURNAL" WAS NAMED FINALIST FOR PULITZER PRIZE IN TWO CATEGORIES.

NOMINATIONS FOR REPORTING ON THE POLICE KILLING OF BREONNA TAYLOR AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE PROTESTS IN LOUISVILLE.

MONDAY NIGHT, KENTUCKY TONIGHT, RENEE SHAW WILL MOST A