[♪♪] >> Bill: NATIONAL ISSUES RESULT IN PROTESTINGS AND TOUGH CONVERSATION HERE IN KENTUCKY.

THE KENTUCKY DOCTOR WHO HEADED UP THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR TURNING ANGER INTO ACTION.

A REPORT SAYS KENTUCKY KIDS ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR POVERTY THAN THE AVERAGE BUT THERE ARE BRIGHT SPOTS.

KENTUCKY SETS A RECORD FOR TOURISM WITH MORE THAN $14 BILLION IF SPENDING.

HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND THAT INCLUDES FLAG DAY AND FATHER'S DAY.

COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, SARAH LADD, HEALTH AND POLICY REPORTER NOT THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

SYLVIA GOODMAN FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO AND MARIO ANDERSON ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS 1.

THE STATE AUDITOR WILL LOOK INTO THE FINANCES OF A MAJOR SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH A LARGE SHORTFALL.

LET'S BEGIN WITH A WEEK IN WHICH POLICIES IN WASHINGTON HAVE ENTERED A LOT OF KENTUCKY CONVERSATIONS.

HEADING INTO THIS WEEKEND, PROTESTS ARE PLANNED AND SEVERAL KENTUCKY CITIES AS A MILITARY PARADE IN WASHINGTON WILL MARK THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. ARMY.

THIS IS A WEEK IN WHICH THERE IS JUST NO SEPARATING THE EVENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER FROM THE CONVERSATIONS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

THAT INCLUDES IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PROTESTS IN LA AND THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE PLANNED THIS WEEKEND.

>> YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF ANXIETY RIGHT NOW, I THINK, BOTH SIDES OF THESE ISSUES.

AND YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO TELL AHEAD OF THE PROTESTS WHETHER THEY WARRANT SUCH ANXIETY BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO WATCH.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PROTESTS THEY ARE NOT JUST HAPPENING IN LA THEY ARE HAPPENING IN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND IT FEELS LIKE DAILY.

AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEMONSTRATIONS PLANNED TOMORROW THEY ARE PART OF A BUILDING MOVEMENT WE'VE SEEN FOR MONTHS NOW.

I WILL BE INTERESTING NOT ONLY TO SEE HOW THE PROTESTS THEMSELVES PLAY OUT AND HOW GOVERNORS CITIES RESPOND TO THEM NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT NATIONALLY.

IT'S BECOME A NATIONAL CONVERSATION HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO PROTESTS?

AND HOW DO YOU TREAT PROTESTORS AND POLITICIANS IN THE PROTESTS.

WORTH WATCHING.

>> Bill: WE'RE LIVE AND AS THE PROGRAM IS REPLAYED THERE WILL BE MUCH MORE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS THAT IS THE HANDICAP WE HAVE.

HERE WE ARE AGAIN ON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE KENTUCKIANS NO DOUBT BEING TO THE PRESIDENT'S MILITARY PARADE IN WASHINGTON.

>> MANY PEOPLE WILL BE MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL AND HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY THERE'S 15 CITIES THAT ARE HOSTING VARIOUS NO KINGS PROTESTS AND AGAIN IT'S CONSIDERED BY THE ORGANIZER A NATIONWIDE DAY OF PROTESTS IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND ALSO THE MILITARY PARADE THAT IS HAPPENING AND ALSO THE ORGANIZERS WEBSITE SHARE THEY ARE TAKING ACTION TO REJECT AUTHORITARIANISM AND WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS PLAY OUT A LOT OF ATTENTION TOWARDS WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE AND THE IMPACT HERE AND BEYOND.

>> Bill: LOTS OF DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THERE IS A PARTISAN DIVIDE ON THE IMMIGRATION PROTEST AND RESPONSE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR A POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CON TEPIDER DID NOT LIKE THE PRESIDENT'S MOVE TO SEND MILITARY ASSETS TO THE LA PROTESTS.

>> WE ALL WANT LAW AND ORDER BUT YOU OUGHT TO GO ABOUT IT IN A WAY THAT WORKS AND A PRESIDENT SHOULDN'T CALL UP THE STATE'S NATIONAL GUARD WITHOUT TALKING TO THE GOVERNOR MUCH LESS GETTING THEIR CONSENT TO IT.

>> Bill: MARIO, IN A STATE WHERE KENTUCKIANS REGISTERED THEIR SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE ELECTION AND BESHEAR IN POLLING WITH HIGH APPROVAL NUMBERS HOW DOES THIS ISSUE PLAY OUT?

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS TIME WILL TELL.

WE'VE GOT MANY DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR PARTICIPATED IN A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TALKING ABOUT NO KING'S DAY.

AND HIS COMMENTS HE DID SAY THAT PEOPLE AREN'T AS POLITICAL AS WE THINK AND IN HIS OPINION PAM ARE MORE FOCUSED ON THINKING ABOUT THE JOB AND WHETHER THEY MAKE SNUFF TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

HE THINKS PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE WEEDS OF ELECTION CYCLES.

BUT THERE'S DATA OUT THERE, I SAW THAT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER HAD INFORMATION SAYING THAT 54% OF REPUBLICANS FAVOR DEPORTING ALL IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY WITH 88% OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS FAVORING MASS DEPORTATIONS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE 56% OF DEMOCRATS SUPPORT ALLOWING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO STAY LEGALLY IF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

IT IS A WIDELY DEBATED TOPIC AND DEPENDING WHO YOU TALK WITH VARIOUS OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES.

>> Bill: STARK DIVIDE.

SYLVIA, HOW WOULD BESHEAR'S STANCE PLAY OUT IN DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS?

IS THIS MESSAGE INTENDED TO BE HEARD OUTSIDE KENTUCKY?

>> YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE IT'S ON BESHEAR'S MIND.

HE CERTAINLY MADE IT KEIR THAT AT LEAST SOME LEVEL OF PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS ARE ON THE BACK BURNER IF NOT THE FOREFRONT.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM MARIO THAT BESHEAR SAID THIS FREQUENTLY THAT PEOPLE CARE MORE ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES, LESS ABOUT POLITICS.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT WE HEARD HIM SAY ABOUT TRUMP AND LA PROTESTS THAT IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

THAT IS NOT UNDER HIS PURVIEW AS KENTUCKY GOVERNOR IT'S POLITICAL AND IT PLAYS INTO WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE TALKING ABOUT.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS NATIONALLY ARE TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S DEFINITELY A MESSAGE THAT IS MEANT FOR KENTUCKY AND ALSO, I BELIEVE, NATIONALLY AND SO WE'LL HAVE TO SEE ALSO HOW HE RESPONDS TO ANY PROTESTS THAT MAY GET A LITTLE BIT MORE ROWDY IN THE STATE.

IN 2020 HE ALSO DID SEND OUT THE NATIONAL GUARD IN LOUISVILLE.

SO HE HAS A HISTORY HIMSELF OF DEALING WITH PROTESTS AND THAT WILL GET MORE SCRUTINY ESPECIALLY IF HE DEPENDING HOW HE DEALS WITH PROTESTS THIS WEEKEND.

>> Bill: THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER WAS GOING TO BE UP AND RUNNING.

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR WHO WANTS TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT FOR HIS BID FOR MITCH McCONNELL'S U.S. SENATE SEAT HAS BEEN IN FAVOR OF TRUMP'S POLICIES.

AND MARIO, HE USED THE PROTESTS OVER IMMIGRATION POLICIES A CHANCE TO CALL FOR PASSAGE.

HOUSE RESOLUTION ONE, THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL AS THE G.O.P.

CALLS IT.

>> AND CONGRESSMAN BARR HE WROTE AN OP-ED SAYING IN HIS OPINION THIS LEGISLATION IS AN EASY VOTE.

AND HE SAID IF SENATE REPUBLICANS WHO NOW HAVE THAT BILL AND ARE REVIEWING IT IF THEY TEAM UP WITH SENATE DEMOCRATS TO PREVENT THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL FROM GOING TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK IT WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF THE GREATEST ERRORS IN AMERICAN POLITICAL HISTORY.

CONGRESSMAN BARR KEEPING CLOSE EYE ON THAT OUT OF LEXINGTON AREA.

BUT, AGAIN, HE'S GOT A LOT OF THINGS IN HIS COURT AS WELL.

HE IS RUNNING FOR SENATE AS WELL.

>> Bill: A LOT OF POTENTIAL CUTS ARE ALSO UNDER DISCUSSION.

DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN WASHINGTON SAID THIS WEEK THAT KENTUCKY WOULD BE THE STATE HIT HARDEST BY MEDICAID CUTS AND RURAL HOSPITALS COULD BE FORCED TO CLOSE IN SOME CASES.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MEDICAID, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ONE IN THREE KENTUCKIANS HAVE MEDICAID AS THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LARGE PORTION OF THE STATE THAT IS CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL CUTS.

AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THERE ARE TWO VERY DISTINCT IDEOLOGIES WHEN IT COMES TO THIS MEDICAID CONVERSATION ON ONE SIDE, THE GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG CONSERVATIVES IS THAT YOU SHOULD TRIM DOWN THE PROGRAM, AND ONLY SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AND THERE'S THIS IDEA THAT IS NOT EXACTLY BACKED UP BY DATA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ON MEDICAID THAT SHOULDN'T BE OR NOT WORKING WHEN THEY COULD BE.

THERE'S THAT SIDE OF IT.

THE OTHER SIDE IS THE IDEA THAT IF YOU ARE ON MEDICAID FIRST OF ALL YOU NEED TO BE ON MEDICAID AND ALSO BEING ON IT IS YOUR PATH TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE AND YOU HAVE THAT SAFETY NET AND THAT ALLOWS YOU TO LIVE THE HEALTHIEST LIFE AND REENTER THE WORKFORCE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ALREADY ARE WORKING.

SO, YES, THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF A SPLIT THERE IN IDEOLOGY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CUTS AND THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Bill: AND CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF HIS PEOPLE IN HIS DISTRICT ON MEDICAID SAYS THE CUT ALSO SAVE MEDICAID AND THE KENTUCKY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION UNDERGROUNDERRED THE PASSAGE OF THE BUDGET BILL EVEN AS THE INFORMATION WAS COMING OUT THAT THERE COULD BE THREATS OF THE SURVIVAL OF RURAL HOSPITALS.

>> ROGERS WHEN HE VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE BILL, HE SAID HE DIDN'T TAKE THE VOTE LIGHTLY BECAUSE HE ACKNOWLEDGED A LOT OF PEOPLE HIS CONSTITUENTS RELY ON MEDICAID.

AND DOES FALL IN THAT FIRST IDEOLOGY.

HE THINKS YOU GET A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT OF THE PROGRAM AND YOU BETTER SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LEFT.

THAT IS HIS THOUGHT PROCESS THAT HE EXPLAINED.

>> Bill: YOU DID A PIECE FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN WHERE Dr. BRUCE SCOTT SPEAKS OUT HE WENT OUT WITH A ROT OF THINGS TO SAY.

>> HE WAS QUITE ANGRY.

HE GAVE A GOOD-BYE SPEECH IN CHICAGO A WEEK AGO.

AND SO HE IS FROM LOUISVILLE.

SO HE BASICALLY, HE HE SAID TURN YOUR ANGER INTO ACTION WAS THE MESSAGE FOR DOCTORS AND THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

AND CALLED OUT THIS BILL SPECIFICALLY.

AND HE SAID THAT HE FELT IT WOULD HARM PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED SAFETY NETS AND THAT IS THE ONLY OPTION FOR THEM.

HE ALSO TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE STUDENT LOAN PROCESS BEING RESTRUCTURED UNDER THIS PROPOSAL.

AND FELT LIKE THAT HURTS DOWNSTREAM WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DOCTORS MEDICAL PEOPLE NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD GOING TO COLLEGE AND GETTING THE EDUCATION AND ENTERING THE WORKFORCE AND WE HAVE A WELL DOCUMENTED HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.

HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

IN HIS TAKEAWAY WAS TARGET THE SENATE TRY TO GET THE SENATE TO PULLBACK SOME OF THESE THINGS.

IT WAS A CALL TO ACTION.

HE WAS QUITE ANGRY AND TELLING DOCTORS PLEASE CALL YOUR REMANENTS.

>> Bill: AND IT MAYBE A FLUID PROCESS HERE BEFORE, THE FINAL SENATE BILL IS PASSED AND GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE IF THERE ARE CHANGES.

PUBLIC BROADCASTERS ARE CLOSELY WATCHING THE BUDGET PROCESS.

>> YES.

RIGHT NOW, I JUST RECENTLY THE HOUSE PASSED THE RESCISSION BILL SEPARATE FROM THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT IT IS A RESCISSION BILL THAT CLAWS BACK FUNDS FROM PUBLIC RADIO, PUBLIC BROADCASTERS THROUGH THE CORPORATION OF PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND IT AFFECTS A LOT OF FOREIGN AID.

AND BASICALLY IT WAS A PRETTY SOLID PARTISAN SPLIT WITH DEMOCRATS ARGUING THAT THIS WILL MOST AFFECT RURAL BROADCASTING STATIONS THAT RELY HEAVILY ON THESE FUNDS.

AND ALSO THAT IT COULD ENDANGER THE PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE THAT EXISTS IN THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING SPHERE.

WHEREAS REPUBLICANS SAID THE FUNDS ARE BETTER SUITED ELSEWHERE WE HAVE OTHER THINGS WE SHOULD BE SPENDING THIS MONEY ON AND THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A LIKIAL BIAS WITHIN THESE BROADCASTING STATIONS.

>> Bill: AND PUBLIC BROADCASTERS MOUNTED THEIR OWN INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS ABOUT THE REACH OF THEIR PRODUCT AND SO ON.

KENTUCKY SENATOR RAND PAUL AT ONE POINT SAID HE WAS DISINVITED TO A WHITE HOUSE PICNIC.

BUT THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT, OF COURSE, PAUL AND HIS FAMILY WERE WELCOME AT THE EVENT.

THIS WAS AN UNEXPECTED DRAMA OF THE WEEK.

PAUL SAID HE LEARNED HE WAS UNINVITED WHEN HE WENT TO CLAIM TICKETS FOR HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SENATOR PAUL SAID HE THINKS HE IS THE FIRST SENATOR?

THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO BE UNINVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE PICNIC AND HE SAID AT THE TIME HE THOUGHT IT WAS INCREDIBLY PETTY OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION TO DO THIS.

BUT HE SAID HE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT POLITE.

HE WAS PLANNING ON HIMSELF, HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND SIX-MONTH-OLD GRANDSON TO MAKE THE TRIP AND THERE WAS BACK AND FORTH AND THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SHARED THROUGH HIS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM THAT SENATOR PAUL IS THE TOUGHEST VOTE IN HISTORY.

OF THE U.S. SENATE AND HE SAID HE WELCOMES HIM TO COME TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND LOOKS FORWARD TO LOBBYING SENATOR PAUL TO GET HIM ON HIS SIDE SO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

>> Bill: THIS WEEK, PAUL HAD DEFENDED THE PRESIDENT'S USE OF THE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS AND MARINES IN THE CLASHES OVER IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

BUT PAUL ALSO SAID THIS WEEK THAT HE DOESN'T THINK MUCH OF A MILITARY PARADE SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY IN WASHINGTON.

>> NEVER BEEN A BIG FAN OF HAVING SOLDIERS AND TANKS AND MISSILES ROLLING DOWN THE STREET.

I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.

>> Bill: SENATOR PAUL OBVIOUSLY HAS HIS QUALMS WITH THAT.

AND DO THOSE DIFFERENCES THAT HE HAS FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE PRESIDENT, KEEP A LITTLE BIT OF THAT STRANGE GOING IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP?

>> SURE AND I DON'T THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY SENATOR ST. PAUL A HARD VOTE TO GET.

HE HAS NOT HELD BACK UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP EITHER.

HE HAS AGREED WITH PLENTY OF POLICIES AND DISAGREED ON OTHERS.

THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, HE HAS DISAGREED QUITE A BIT ON THE PRESIDENT'S TARIFF POLICIES.

HE HAS BEEN OF THE MAJOR VOICES.

KENTUCKY HAS SEVERAL POLITICIANS THAT HAVE GOTTEN ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S BAD SIDE INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE.

SO IT'S NOT THE SENATOR PAUL IS NOT AFRAID TO DISSENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AND IT HAS EARNED HIS IRE.

WE HAVE TO SEE IF THAT RELATIONSHIP IMPROVES.

>> Bill: BACK IN KENTUCKY THE NEW KIDS COUNT REPORT IS OUT AND SHOWS KENTUCKY KIDS ARE STRUGGLING TO CATCH UP WITH OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND POVERTY IS STILL A MAJOR BURDEN FOR KENTUCKY KIDS.

>> WE'RE RANKED AS THE 36TH STATE WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL CHILD WELL-BEING.

AND YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD BOTHER EVERY KENTUCKIAN.

THAT PUTS US RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM FOURTH OF STATES, POVERTY IS THE SINGULAR CANARY IN THE COAL MINE INDICATOR.

HOW OUR KIDS ECONOMIC STATUS LIES INFLUENCES EVERYTHING.

>> Bill: THAT ANNUAL REPORT IS ALWAYS EYE-OPENING, SARAH.

AND WHAT DOES IT SHOW?

>> WELL, IT SHOWS WHAT WE'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS, RIGHT?

WHICH IS IN A LOT OF WAYS KENTUCKY'S KIDS ARE NOT DOING WELL.

THE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME REALLY HEAVILY WAS THAT EVERY SINGLE MARK OF EDUCATION GOT WORSE IN THIS REPORT FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

WE HAVE KIDS WHO AREN'T PROFICIENT IN READING.

KIDS WHO AREN'T PROFICIENT IN MATH.

PART OF THIS YOU CAN LOOK BACK TO COVID WHERE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM SKYROCKETED.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER SOCIAL SUPPORTS WE ARE ONE OF THE WORST STATES FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SO KIDS ARE NOT GETTING WHAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE IS THE TAKEAWAY.

AND AS TERRY MENTIONED POVERTY IS HUGE IT AFFECTS 20% OF KENTUCKY'S KIDS AND THAT MEANS MAYBE THAT KID DOESN'T HAVE STABLE HOUSING, MAYBE THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM.

MAYBE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCESS NUTRITIOUS FOOD.

THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVE TAKEAWAYS.

THE DEATH RATE AMONG KIDS IS QUITE HIGH.

ON A POSITIVE NOTE, WE HAVE A GOOD PERCENTAGE OF HIGH PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WHO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

THERE IS THE POTENTIAL TO THAT'S AN UPSTREAM THING THE POTENTIAL THEY CAN GET CARE BUT THERE IS A LOT OF MARKS HERE THAT NEED IMPROVEMENT BY A LOT.

>> 100% MANY I ALSO THINK INTERESTING THING TO NOTE IS SOME OF OUR PERCENTAGES DID IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT.

LIKE OUR POVERTY PERCENTAGE IT DID DECREASE A LITTLE BIT.

LIKE TERRY BROOKS WAS SAYING IT PUTS US FAR BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

TEEN BIRTHS WE ARE GETTING BETTER IN THAT CATEGORY BUT IT'S WORSE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, I THINK, IN GETTING TO WHERE OTHER STATES ARE.

EVEN IF WE ARE MAKING SMALL STRIDES WHAT TERRY BROOKS TOLD ME WE NEED TO MAKE BIGGER ONES.

>> Bill: IT'S DIFFICULT FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN IN UNSTABLE SITUATION.

>> IT IS HARD MARKERS TO MOVE.

CHILDREN IN POVERTY IS A HUGE ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.

>> AND IT'S HARD TO STUDY IF YOU ARE HUNGRY.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD FOOD HOW CAN YOU STUDY AND DO WELL IN SCHOOL?

IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.

>> Bill: WE'RE WATCHING THE RACES TAKE SHAPE FOR THE U.S. SENATE HERE IN KENTUCKY AS WE'VE MENTIONED AND THE SIXTH DISTRICT HOUSE SEAT THE SEAT WHERE ANDY BARR WILL BE GIVE TO GO UP BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING FOR THE SENATE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE TWO CANDIDATES IN THE RACE FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHERLYNN STEVENSON AND FORMER LEXINGTON COUNCILMEMBER KLOIBER.

HE IS TALKING ABOUT TURNING DOWN THE TONE IN POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS THAT GOES WITH WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING TONIGHT.

IS THAT WHAT YOU DO, THOUGH, IF YOU ARE HOPING TO FLIP A SEAT?

>> WELL, ACCORDING TO KLOIBER HE THINKS THAT IS WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO DO.

AND TODAY'S POLITICAL CYCLE AND POLITICAL WORLD THAT ANSWER IS NO.

BECAUSE THE NATIONAL LEVEL, YOU HAVE BIG PERSONALITIES AND BIG VERY STRONG OPINIONS AND AGAIN, IT'S MORE A PARTISAN THAN IT'S EVER BEEN ACCORDING TO MOST PEOPLE.

EN TOKING THINGS DOWN YOU ARE MORE LIKELY TO NOT BE HEARD FROM BECAUSE YOU IF YOU ARE NOT SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT HIGH PROFILE TOPICS AND WILLING TO GET IN THE WEEDS AND GO BACK AND FORTH AND USE YOUR PLATFORMS AND SPEAKING SOCIAL MEDIA, AMPLIFYING THINGS YOU WILL GET LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.

AND IT MAY WORK IN A MORE LOCAL POLITICS WHICH KLOIBER RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL AND RAN FOR MAYOR.

THAT MAYBE WORK IN A NONPARTISAN RACE BUT LACKING TO GO TO WASHINGTON D.C. YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO BUCKLE IN AND BE READY TO GO AND TALK THE BIG TALK.

>> Bill: HE BELIEVES YOU CAN TALK ABOUT NATIONAL ISSUES IN A LOCAL WAY.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THAT.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN THAT RACE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE RYAN DOTSON IS IN THE RACE AND WENT TO WASHINGTON TO TALK WITH G.O.P.

STRATEGISTS AND AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE CONTINUES TO BE A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.

>> THE TIME-FRAME IS GETTING SHORTER NOT JUST FOR ME BUT OTHERS LOOKING AT THE SEAT IF I RUN, THE 12TH DISTRICT SEAT WOULD BE OPEN SO A LOT OF DOMINOES THAT FLY IN THAT SPACE.

EVERYONE IS LOOKING TO SEE WHO IS THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD FAYETTE COUNTY AND THE REST OF THE COUNTIES WHO IS THE BEST PERSON TO SERVE THE SIXTH DISTRICT.

>> Bill: IT IS A BIG DECISION IT WOULD BE A TOUGH CAMPAIGN FOR ANYBODY.

DOES AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE FEELING THE WEIGHT OF THAT COMMITMENT?

AS SHE GIVES IT CONSIDERS?

>> SHE IS BECAUSE SHE IS ACTIVE TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND PROFESSIONALLY AND SHE SERVED ON THE CITY COUNCIL FOR LEXINGTON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS BEEN IN STATE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTING FOUR COUNTIES THROUGH THE SENATE DISTRICT.

SHE HAS FRIENDS IN BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND OPEN ABOUT SHE IS RECOVERING FROM BEING KICKED IN THE FACE BY HER HORSE.

SO SHE SHARED WITH PEOPLE SHE HAS SURGERY.

HOPEFULLY A FINAL SURGERY IN JULY AND ONCE SHE GETS THROUGH THE PROCESS SHE WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO BUT SHE IS GETTING ENCOURAGEMENT FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE AND THE NATIONAL LEVEL ASKING HER TO CONSIDER MOVING TO THE NEXT STEP.

>> Bill: BOTH SIDES HAVE PRIMARIES AND THEY COULD GET MORE CROWDED.

NEW KENTUCKY LAWS ARE ABOUT TO GO INTO EFFECT THAT INCLUDES SENATE BILL 1 RE8ING THE KENTUCKY FILM OFFICE.

AND MARIO TALK ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS AND THE STATE'S ECONOMY MIGHT BENEFIT.

>> WE HAVE WORKED WITH FILM COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS AND SOME OF THE STUDIOS HAVE ACTUALLY FILMED ON OUR CAMPUS.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE NOT ONLY FOR OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE THEY HIRE STUDENTS AND MENTOR THEM BUT ALSO IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE THEY SPEND MONEY IN HOUSING AND FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE SUPPLIES.

SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR US.

>> Bill: SO THEY ARE REALLY IN THAT AREA RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT FOR DECADES AT THIS POINT SENDING STUDENTS OUT TO THE SUMMER OLYMPICS AND THE WINTER OLYMPICS AND WORKING ON PRODUCTIONS.

YOU GOT A LOT OF THE TOP TIER PRODUCTION QUALITY AND EQUIPMENT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE MOST UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE AND SENATE BILL 1 WHICH IS A PRIORITY BILL DURING THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT MOVED THINGS FORWARD TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE MORE PRODUCTIONS TO COME TO THE BLUEGRASS STATE TO FILM THEIR PRODUCTIONS HERE BUT THEN ALSO GET TAX CREDITS POTENTIALLY IF THEY DO INVEST THEIR TIME HERE.

THERE ARE OPPONENTS THAT ARE CONCERNED A LOT OF MONEY IS BEING SET ASIDE TOWARDS MARKETING OUTSIDE OF THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY, AND CONCERNS ABOUT SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DO EXTRA MARKETING ON THAT.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE IF THE KENTUCKY CAN CAPITALIZE ON SHOW BUSINESS.

WE KENTUCKIANS ARE INTERESTING PEOPLE.

MORE THAN 80 MILLION PEOPLE CAME TO SEE US LAST YEAR.

TOURISM EXPENDITURES TOPPED $14 BILLION THAT IS AN ALL-TIME RECORD.

SARAH THAT IS ABOUT 97,000 JOBS TOURISM IS A MAJOR SECTOR OF KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY MORE THAN WE REALIZE.

>> I AM BIAS I THINK KENTUCKY IS GORGEOUS.

WORTH VISITING.

>> SECONDED.

>> THIRDED.

>> Bill: IS IT THE PEOPLE, THE HISTORY THE BOURBON?

THE HORSES?

WHAT IS IT?

>> THE FOOD THE NATURE.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.

>> ENJOY IT BY YOURSELF OR TAKE FRIENDS AND FAMILY THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES.

>> ALL THE INVESTMENTS IN THE BOURBON TRAIL ARE PAYING OFF.

>> KENTUCKY'S GENERAL FUND JUMPED MORE THAN 10% IN MAY OVER THE SAME PERIOD.

THE STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR SAYS THE STATE TOOK IN $1.2 BILLION LAST MONTH.

STRONG GROWTH IN BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUAL TAX RECEIPTS.

THIS WAS INTERESTING CIGARETTE TAX RECEIPTS DROPPED MORE THAN 14%.

WE ALL ASSUME THAT MAY MEAN LESS SMOKING AT THIS TIME LESS CONSUMPTION?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY FOR SURE.

YOU CAN HOPE THAT FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE MAYBE PEOPLE GO OUT TO STATE TO BUY CIGARETTES MAYBE THEY ARE MOVED TO VAPING.

IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW HABITS CHANGED BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO LOOK AT AND WORTH A GOOD ANALYSIS.

>> Bill: ALLISON BALL IS GOING TO DO A SPECIAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE SCHOOLS IN LEXINGTON FACE A $16 MILLION SHORTFALL AND THEY BACKTRACKED ON A PLAN TO SEEK AN INCREASE IN THE PAYROLL TAX.

MARIO, WE GET INDICATIONS THAT THAT AUDIT IS GOING TO BE BROADER THAN JUST LOOKING AT THE BUDGETS AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

ALL OF KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS EACH YEAR THEY DO THEIR OWN INTERNAL AUDITS AND REVIEW THE BOOKS AND THE FINANCES.

BUT AUDITOR ALLISON BALL SHE SAYS THAT BECAUSE FAYETTE COUNTY HAS LOTS OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE HER OFFICE IS GOING TO DO AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS AND LOOK AT EVERY LINE ITEM AND FIGURE OUT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND HAS BEEN RECEIVING LOTTINGS OF FEEDBACK AND COMMUNITY INPUT ON THINGS TO PUT EXTRA EYES ON.

IT WILL BE A VERY EXTENSIVE PROCESS AND IT WILL TAKE SOMETIME AND SHE IS FOCUSED ON LOOKING AT EVERYTHING AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND UP.

>> Bill: AND THAT 16 MILLION SHORTFALL.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN SAYS 5 MILLION WILL BE AWARDED FOR OPIOID RESEARCH AND INNOVATIONS.

APPLICANTS CAN COME FORWARD SOON.

>> PART OF OUR SETTLEMENT DOLLARS THAT WE GET.

HE IS GIVING OUT $5 MILLION TO ONE BIG GRANTOR A LOT OF GRANT APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN JULY 1 UNTIL DECEMBER 20TH.

AND THEN DECISIONS WILL BE MADE NEXT MARCH OR APRIL.

HE IS LOOKING FOR INNOVATION, SO WHATEVER THAT MEANS TO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

NONPROFITS, FOR-PROFITS AND GOVERNMENTS CAN ALL APPLY.

>> Bill: BE CREATIVE.

>> OPEN ENDED.

>> .

>> Bill: IT WAS INTERESTING THE FIRST COUPLE OF ROUNDS THERE WERE LOTS OF IDEAS SOME MAYBE HADN'T TOTE OF BEFORE.

>> THERE'S BEEN SO MANY DOLLARS ALLOCATED ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> Bill: MANY IN BOTH PARTIES ARE REMEMBERING CHARLIE MILLER HE SERVED IN THE STATE HOUSE FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES.

BEFORE THAT HE SPENT 25 YEARS AS THE PRINCIPAL AT PLEASURE RIDGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL.

THE REPUBLICAN REPRESENT BOWMAN DEFEATED MILLER IN 2023 BUT WAS QUICK TO REMEMBER HIS LEGACY.

BOWMAN SAID THAT SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY LOST A LEGEND.

LOUISVILLE MAYOR GREG FISHER CALLED MILLER A GIANT.

CHARLIE MILLER WAS 86.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

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