[♪♪] IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR....REPUBLICAN DANIEL CAMERON SEEKS 'PLEDGES' OF SUPPORT WHILE DEMOCRAT ANDY BESHEAR DOMINATES THE POST-PRIMARY AIRWAVES AS JUNETEENTH APPROACHES...

IT'S A HOLIDAY FOR FEDERAL AND MANY LOCAL AND BUSINESS EMPLOYEES BUT NOT STATE WORKERS IN KENTUCKY COMING UP ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODING...

CHALLENGES REMAIN FOR MANY KENTUCKY RANKS 40TH IN THE NATION IN CHILD WELL BEING ON THE WEEKEND THAT LEADS TO SUMMER... 'COMMENT' IS NEXT ON K-E-T!

[♪♪] IT'S FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND.

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 COMMONEWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF 'WORKING' KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

TESSA DUVALL, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

AND RUSS CASSADY, REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS.

ALSO TONIGHT.... SHOULD THE DEATH PENALTY APPLY TO SUPPLIERS IN FENTYNIL OVERDOSE CASES AND A DENTAL SCHOOL COMING TO EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS FOUND ITS HOME LET'S BEGIN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE... AS WE HEAD TOWARD THE HEAT OF SUMMER... WE HAVE A SIMMERING RACE FOR THE STATE'S TOP JOB.

WE LEARNED THIS WEEK THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN OUTSPENT THE CAMERON FORCES SIX TO ONE ON T-V IN THE WEEKS RIGHT AFTER THE PRIMARY.

AND CAMERON IS SEEKING SIGNED 'PLEDGES' OF SUPPORT AS HE SEEKS DONATIONS AND INPUT ON HIS CAMPAIGN.

BESHEAR JUMPED ON THE AIR HARD MOSTLY WITH POSITIVE MESSAGES FOR HIS FIRST TERM AND A GROUP AFFILIATED WITH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION IS DOING THE ATTACKING >> RIGHT, SO IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PRIMARIES A MONTH AGO TODAY, WE SAW THE GOVERNOR COME OUT REALLY AGGRESSIVE.

HE SHIFTED GEARS FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO CANDIDATE BESHEAR VERY, VERY QUICKLY GETTING UP ON THE AIR QUICKLY AND IN ADDITION TO THE BUS TOUR HE TOOK PART IN AND LAST WEEK HE ROLLED OUT ADS ONE FEATURING THE MAYOR OF MAY 2350E8D WHICH WAS HIT BY THE TORNADOES IN DECEMBER OF 2021 TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE COULD DRAW SUPPORT FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND HOW HE WAS THERE FOR HER COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THEY DOT WHAT THEY NEEDED.

>> Bill: AND THAT IS A NONPARTISAN RACE BUT SHE IS A REPUBLICAN.

>> I THINK SHE IS A DEMOCRAT.

THERE WAS CONFUSION ON THAT.

>> Bill: ME IS IS ACTIVE SAYING SHE IS APPRECIATIVE OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR DID.

>> I BELIEVE SHE WAS AT HIS CAMPAIGN STOP AS WELL.

THERE IS THAT AD FEATURING MAYOR KATHY AND THERE IS AN AD ABOUT KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY IT WAS CALLED BOOMING OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

ABOUT THE NEW JOBS AND MAJOR PROJECT ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING TO THE COMMONWEALTH AND TRYING TO PLAY UP THE GOVERNOR'S RECORD ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND AT THE SAME TIME THAT THOSE ARE AIRING WE'RE ALSO SEEING THIS GROUP BACKED BY THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION WHICH IS A NATIONAL GROUP THAT AIMS TO GET DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ELECTED AND KEEP THEM IN OFFICE THEY ARE THE ONES GOING AFTER CAMERON AFTER THE BEVIN PARDONS AND THEY HAVE A CAMERON DOESN'T CARE AND TRYING TO GO ON THE NEGATIVE.

SO GOVERNOR BESHEAR CAN REMAIN THIS OPTIMISTIC, POSITIVE STATESMAN WHO IS ABOVE THAT.

>> Bill: DOES THAT SEEM TO BE WORKING ON WITH THE MESSAGING?

>> I THINK IT IS A CLASSIC STRATEGY LINK YOUR OPPONENT TO SOMETHING UNPOPULAR.

BEVIN WAS A SITTING GOVERNOR WHO LOST AN ELECTION.

AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING THEY ARE SAYING THESE FORMER ATTORNEYS UNDER THE BEVIN ADMINISTRATION STEVE PIT AND CHAD MEREDITH THEY ARE CLAIMING THEY WERE LINKED THE TO CONTROVERSIAL PARDONS THAT BEVIN MADE.

YOU LINK YOUR OPPONENT TO THAT CONTROVERSY.

>> Bill: SO CAMERON IS NOW SOLICITING DONATIONS AND ASKING FOR PLEDGES OF SUPPORT IN THE MAILINGS HE IS SENDING OUT.

SORT OF SEEKING ADVICE ON ISSUES?

>> THERE WAS A SIDE-BY-SIDE ISSUE MAILER I'M NOT SURE THAT SOME COMPARISONS WERE APPLES TO APPLES.

YES, INDICATING WHICH POSITION DO YOU LIKE BETTER MINOR THIS OTHER GUY?

AND BY THE WAY IF YOU ARE IN ON US WE'D LOVE MONEY.

DANIEL CAMERON'S CAMPAIGN IS NOT UP ON THE AIR WITH TV ADS YET WHICH WOULD BE NORMAL IN A LOT OF OTHER ELECTION CYCLES BUT WE ARE SEEING THIS IS NOT A NORMAL ELECTION CYCLE.

BUT A GROUP AFFILIATED WITH THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION TWO GROUPS AFFILIATED WITH THAT ORGANIZATION ARE BEGINNING TO PLACE TV ADS AND THEY ARE TRYING TO TAKE SOME OF THAT SHINE OFF OF ANDY BESHEAR AND THAT POSITIVE IMAGE AWAY FROM HIM.

>> CAMERON HAS DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

TRUMP NOW HAS LEGAL CHALLENGES.

BUT REMAINS STRONG IN POLLING.

DOES CAMERON HAVE TO SHIFT ANYTHING BASED ON THE TRUMP INDICTMENTS?

>> YOU KNOW, TRUMP IS STILL VERY POPULAR.

IN HIS STATEMENT, HE PUT OUT ONLY WHEN REQUESTED HE DID PUT OUT A STATEMENT THAT SAID WE'RE VERY CONCERNED AND KENTUCKIANS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WEAPONIZATION OF OUR GOVERNMENT OF OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AGAINST PEOPLE OF CERTAIN POLITICAL PARTIES SAYING THIS IS POLITICAL PERSECUTION.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE MORE REPUBLICANS SAY THESE ARE PRETTY SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

THOSE PICTURES OF DOCUMENTS VERY TOP SECRET INFORMATION JUST IN A BATHROOM IN BOXES THAT SPILLED OVER WE ARE SEEING SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL FIELD KIND OF PULL AWAY FROM THAT.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THAT IS SOMETHING HE IS GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM.

IN THIS INITIAL STATEMENT, IT'S NO BLAME ON TRUMP.

>> MARK DID ANYBODY TAKE SIGNAL FROM CAMERON GETTING HELP FROM McCONNELL'S AIDE HE ISIC TAKING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO GO OUT AND STEER THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN.

>> I THINK IT SHOWS THE NATIONAL PROMINENCE OF KENTUCKY'S GUBERNATORIAL RACE AND IT SHOWS THAT THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN IS NOT MESSING AROUND.

TERRY CAR MACK HAS BEEN WITH McCONNELL SINCE THE 80s AND HE HAS AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME.

HE WORKED FOR PRESIDENT PW BUSH.

HE HAS A LOT OF CONTACTS AND GUS HERBERT DID A GREAT JOB IN THE PRIMARY HE REMAINS WITH THE CAMPAIGN.

HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO A GREAT JOB BUT CAR MACK GIVES THE CAMPAIGN NATIONAL CONTEXT IMPORTANT IN A SERIOUS RACE.

>> Bill: IS THERE ANY TRUMP-McCONNELL DANCE THAT HAS TO BE CAREFULLY DONE GIVEN THAT THOSE TWO HAVEN'T GOTTEN ALONG?

>> I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK WHAT WE SAW UNDER TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY IS THAT THE TWO OF THEM CAME TOGETHER WHEN THEY NEEDED TO AND WHATEVER.

THEY HAD THEIR SPATS WHEN THEY HAD THEIR SPATS AND FOR KENTUCKY VOTERS, WHAT MATTERS TO KENTUCKY'S REPUBLICANS IS JUST THAT THEY BEAT ANDY BESHEAR: THEY ARE WILLING TO PUT UP WITH TRUMP AND McCONNELL.

THE AVERAGE VOTER WANTS TO GET CAMERON IN.

>> WHAT I WOULD ADD TO THAT IN THE CAMPAIGN E-MAILS WE ARE SEEING FROM THE BESHEAR FOLKS ARE PLAYING OUT THE McCONNELL CONNECTION THEY ARE SAYING THE MITCH McCONNELL ONE OF HIS TOP STRATEGISTS IS GETTING ONBOARD WITH THE DANIEL CAMERON CAMPAIGN.

WE ARE NOT SEEING THAT KIND OF TRUMP CONNECTION PLAYED OUT BY THE BESHEAR FOLKS AT ALL.

AND I THINK THAT IS A REFLECTION OF TRUMP'S POPULARITY AND THE LACK OF POPULARITY THAT MITCH McCONNELL HAS AMONG A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY.

HE HAS BEEN SENSORRED BY MANY OF THE PARTIES COUNTIES AROUND THE STATE.

>> Bill: AND YET MANAGED TO WIN THE LONGEST SERVING SENATOR?

KENTUCKY HISTORY, RIGHT?

SO WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTION TIME HE FIGURES IT OUT.

RUSS, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RACE UP IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WHICH COULD BE DECISIVE IN A CLOSE RACE.

CAN BESHEAR MAKE INROADS GIVEN THE MOUNTAINS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY RED IN RECENT YEARS?

>> I THINK EASTERN KENTUCKY IS MORE IN PLAY THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GIVING IT CREDIT FOR.

THERE IS HE ABEEN A SHIFT IN REGISTRATION TOWARDS REPUBLICAN.

BUT THE DEMOCRATS REMAIN STRONG HERE.

THE QUESTIONS THERE IS A LOT OUT THERE UP WITH OF THE QUESTIONS IS DOES CAMERON'S CONNECTION TO TRUMP DOES THAT HELP HIM OVERWHELM BESHEAR?

BUT BESHEAR ALSO HAS THIS STRONG PACE OF SUPPORT.

HE RECEIVED THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE UMWA AND POPULAR AMONG TEACHERS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF TEACHERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

IT WOULD BE UNWISE ON THE PART OF POLITICAL PUNISHED DITS TO CALL EASTERN KENTUCKY IS IN THE BAG FOR EITHER CANDIDATE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW OFTEN THEY COME HERE AND WHAT THEY SAY WHEN THEY DO COME.

>> Bill: CAMERON DOESN'T HAVE A RUNNING MATE YET.

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ON THAT.

SENATOR JULIE ADAMS AND RYAN QUARELS WHO FINISHED SECOND IN THE PRIMARY WAS MENTIONED.

RUSS, DOES ANYBODY PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHO A RUNNING MATE MIGHT BE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY?

>> WELL, IN EASTERN KENTUCKY QUARELS DID MAKE A LOT OF VISITS AND HE DOES HAVE RURAL BONEFIEDS THAT MIGHT MAKE HIM POPULAR.

HERE THAT COULD BE A BENEFIT.

>> Bill: WHAT ELSE IS ANYBODY HEARING ON RUNNING MATES?

>> THE DISCLOSURES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECULATION AND I'VE HEARD SPECULATION THAT SENATOR WHITNEY WESTERFIELD HE ANNOUNCED HE WAS NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

MAYBE HE HAS PLANS THERE.

OR A SENATOR STEVEN MEREDITH WHO SUPPORTED CAMERON IN THE FIRST RUN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL WHEN ALL THE OTHER G.O.P.

SENATORS WERE SUPPORTING THEIR COLLEAGUE WILL SCHROEDER, I BELIEVE MEREDITH WAS THE LONE REPUBLICAN VOTE AGAINST SENATE BILL 150 SPONSORED BY MAX WISE WHO IS CRAFT'S RUNNING MATE.

MAYBE IT WAS A SYMBOLIC VOTE.

>> Bill: TESSA YOU'VE MADE THE CASE THAT IS MIGHT NOT ALL BE ABOUT ELECTORAL NUMBERS WHEN USING A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT DANIEL CAMERON EMERGED FROM THIS 12-PERSON PRIMARY FIELD WITH ABOUT HALF THE VOTE.

SO I THINK YOU COULD ARGUE THAT WHAT HE DOES ANECESSARILY NEED IS TO PICK A RUNNING MATE WHO IS GOING TO NECESSARILY UNITE THE PARTY BRING HOME THOSE OTHER VOTERS.

WE'VE SEEN HE IS IN A PRETTY STRONG POSITION HE MIGHT CONSIDER WHAT ELSE A RUNNING MATE COULD BRING TO THE TABLE.

COULD IT BE THE STRONGER REGIONAL CONNECTIONS.

COULD HE PICK SOMEONE WHO TO BE A GOOD SURROGATE AROUND THE STATE CAMPAIGNING.

COULD IT BE SOMEONE WHO HAS AN INCREDIBLE FUNDRAISING ABILITY.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS HE WILL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE CAN ALMOST SEE A FANCY FARM ON THE HORIZON IT WON'T BELONG BEFORE THIS REALLY GETTING ROLLING OUT THERE.

THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT REPORTING HOW DIFFICULT IT CAN BE TO GET ANSWERS OUT OF STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT CAN BE AN ISSUE WITH AGENCIES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL.

BUT, RUSS, YOU HAVE SOME VERY RECENT WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE CHALLENGES?

>> YEAH, A FEW MONTHS AFTER THE FLOOD WE SAW SOME INFORMATION ON THE TEAM EAST KENTUCKY FLOOD RELIEF FUND OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WE DID REQUEST TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND INITIALLY REFUSED.

WE REVISED THAT REQUEST RESENT IT AND THEN THEY SAID WELL, NO, IT NEEDS TO BE TO THE ENVIRONMENT CABINET AND WE GOT SOME OF THE INFORMATION BUT WE DIDN'T GET ALL THE INFORMATION WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TRYING TO FIND THAT INFORMATION AND GET A FULL ACCOUNTING FOR WHAT IS GOING ON THERE.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT WHAT THEY GAVE IN THE WAKE OF THIS TRAGEDY, IS GOING TO THE RIGHT PLACES.

AND THAT MAY BE THE CASE.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE AND SEE.

>> Bill: AND MARK YOU'VE INDICATED THE CHALLENGES CAN BE AT EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT WHEN YOU ARE SEEKING THAT TRANSPARENCY.

>> YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT FRUSTRATES ME IS THAT I NEVER KNOW WHETHER IT'S GOVERNMENT AGENCY TRYING TO STYMIE ME ON AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST OR THEY ARE OVERWHELMED BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE THAT I TRUST IN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SAY THEY ARE GETTING WAY MORE OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS TODAY THAN THEY EVER HAVE.

AND A LOT OF TIMES I GUESS, SUPERFLUOUS IS IN THE EYES OF THE BEHOLDER BUT THEY ARE GETTING INUNDATED FROM ONE PERSON WHO IS SENDING THEM ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

>> Bill: TESSA YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS STUFF.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OPEN RECORDS I KNOW IT'S EASY TO LOOK AT THE SHOW AND BE LIKE THESE ARE JOURNALISTS COMPLAINING THESE ARE PUBLIC RECORDS, OPEN RECORDS ALL OF THEY BELONG TO YOU WILL AOF US.

EVERY KENTUCKIAN HAS A RIGHT TO ACCESS THESE RECORDS.

IF THINGS ARE BEING INTENTIONALLY HIDDEN OR BACKLOGGED IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY AT THE END OF THE DAY.

THIS IS INFORMATION BEING KEPT FROM THE PUBLIC.

AND YOU KNOW, THESE LAWS ARE MEANT FOR EVERYDAY PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS INFORMATION.

TO FILE A PRETTY PLAINLY WORDED REQUEST, SEND IT OFF AND GET A RESPONSE WITHIN A FEW DAYS AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE A LAW DEGREE OR A LEGAL APPEAL TO GET THIS INFORMATION AND THIS IS AN ISSUE NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE SEEING INCREASING RESISTANCE TO TRANSPARENCY.

I THINK THE STORY THIS WEEK CALLED IT CENSORSHIP BY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

AND YEAH, THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR CITIZENS WHO HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR GOVERNMENT IS DOING.

>> Bill: THE HERALD LEADER LOOKED INTO OUT KENTUCKY POLICE INVESTIGATE INVOLVING SHOOTINGS INVOLVING LOCAL POLICE AGENCIES.

>> THAT IS A BIG GOOD LOOKING HOW THEY INVESTIGATE THE SHOOTINGS.

THEY ARE FINDING IN SOME CASES THEY ARE SPENDING UP TO 200 HOURS ON THE INVESTIGATIONS PRODUCING HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF INVESTIGATIVE MATERIALS.

AND THEN AT THE END THEY SORT OF SIT ON IT.

RIGHT?

THERE'S NO PUBLIC DISCLOSURE.

IT IS NOT VOLUNTARILY PUT FORTH IT HAS TO BE RECEIVED THROUGH AN OPEN RECORDS REQUEST.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE KSP FINDINGS HAVE NEVER RESULTED IN A PROSECUTION AGAINST ANY OFFICERS.

SO THAT GIVES THE PUBLIC GOING BACK TO THE OLD SAYING OF WE INVESTIGATED OURSELVES AND FOUND WE DID NOTHING WRONG.

THAT RAISES WHEN YOU HAVE ISSUES OF TRANSPARENCY AND YOU SEE THAT OUTCOME IT RAISES A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING.

>> Bill: JUNETEENTH IS COMING UP ON MONDAY.

IT IS A STATE HOLIDAY IN MOST STATES IN THE COUNTRY AND IN SIX OF KENTUCKY SEVEN BORDER STATES.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, UNIVERSITIES AND BUSINESSES WILL OBSERVE THE HOLIDAY BUT NOT STATE GOVERNMENT IN A WAY THAT OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED.

A BILL THIS YEAR DID NOT GET OUT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE?

>> YES, AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE WE'VE SEEN THIS SINCE 2020 REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE BROWN IS ONE OF THE SPONSORS THAT FILES THE BILL AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR SIGNED A PROCLAMATION.

I SUSPECT THAT IF WE MAGICALLY HELD HEY FLOOR VOTE TODAY MORE LAWMAKERS WOULD VOTE FOR IT THAN YOU THINK BUT THEY HAVE TO COEXIST IN A CAUCUS WITH MEMBERS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO IT AND LUMP JUNETEENTH IN WITH CRT AND HOT BUTTON ISSUES.

>> Bill: SINCE 2005, THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN ON RECORD AS GIVING THE GOVERNOR THE AUTHORITY TO DECLARE AN OBSERVATION.

BUT STILL THAT BILL MAKING A STATE HOLIDAY HAS NOT MADE IT THROUGH.

MEANWHILE HEADING TOWARD THE HOLIDAY THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS LEAFLETS IN COMMUNITIES.

>> THESE FLYERS WERE INTERESTING.

THEY HAD IMAGES ONE HAD A KLAN GUY AND THEN THE STEREOTYPICAL HOOD AND IT CAME OFF AS LIKE THIS BLOCK WATCH FLYER TELLING PEOPLE TO REPORT SUSPICIOUS CRIME AND DRUG ACTIVITY BECAUSE THE KLAN IS AWAKE.

AND IN ANOTHER ONE IT HAD A BUNCH OF CULTURE WAR CATCHPHRASES THINGS TO DO WITH CRT OR LGBTQ ISSUES AND IT LISTED THIS I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROPER TERMINOLOGY IS, A CHAPTER OF THE KKK THE I BELIEVE IT WAS THE TRINDY WHITE KNIGHTS WHO I LOOKED UP AND THEY HAVE A SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM.

SO IT IS IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAYBE AN INCREASE IN THE KKK IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: RUSS COMING UP AFTER A YEAR IN THE FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND ALL OF THE CHALLENGES AND ONE KEY IS HOUSING?

>> YES.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR IN SEPTEMBER THERE WAS 360 PEOPLE SHELTERED FROM THAT FLOODING THAT NUMBER IS DOWN TO 14.

STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT I DON'T HAVE PERMANENT HOUSING.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT IN COMPARISON WITH THE HOUSING PROBLEMS WE WERE ALREADY HAVING THIS IS A HIDDEN PROBLEM IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THEY TALK ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERS LET FAMILY MEMBERS CRASH ON THEIR COUCHES FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THE NUMBERS DON'T GET COUNTED BUT THOSE PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS.

WHEN YOU ADD THOSE TOGETHER IT REALLY EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE FACING HERE.

AND THERE IS NOT A LOT OF LAND IN THE VALLEYS AND PLACES LIKE THAT TO BUILD NEW HOUSING THAT WE NEED.

>> Bill: A LOT OF FRUSTRATIONS AND CONCERNS AT LEAST ABOUT INSURANCE RATES GOING FORWARD, RIGHT AFTER THESE NATURAL DISASTERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

CAMERON ANNOUNCED HE WAS JOINING THIS LAWSUIT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A BIG CONCERN.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.

WE CONDUCTED A POLL ON OUR WEBSITE AT NEWS EXPRESS ASKING PEOPLE IF THEY BELIEVE THE COMMUNITIES AEXIFED BY THE FLOODING ARE ANY BETTER PREPARED NOW THAN THEY WERE THERE AND 90% SAID NO.

THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND A LOT OF UNEASE AND A LOT MORE TO BE DONE.

THE FLOOD IS NOT OVER.

THE IMPACTS OF THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR YEARS.

AND MY HOPE IS THAT AS OFTEN HAPPENS WITH EASTERN KENTUCKY ISSUES THAT GET FORGOTTEN ABOUT WE HAVE TO KEEP THIS ON THE FRONT BURNER.

>> Bill: THE U PIKE DENTAL SCHOOL ASK A GEORGIA.

IT USED TO HOUSE YOUR FLAGSHIP PUBLICATION?

>> THEY TOOK OVER OUR BUILDING RIGHT OFF CAMPUS AND WE'VE MOVED.

IT'S A WIN-WIN.

THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS DENTAL SCHOOL IS GOING TO HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PUBLIC SERVICE COMPONENT.

IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE WHO ARE LOW INCOME WHO ARE ON MEDICAID OR FIXED INCOME AND WHO CAN'T FIND DENTAL SERVICES WILL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THAT DENTAL CARE THEY NEED THROUGH THIS DENTAL SCHOOL PROGRAM.

PLUS YOU HAVE NEW DENTISTS COMING OUT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND OTHER AREAS.

IT'S JUST A WIN AND WE'RE GLAD TO MOVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO MOVE INTO THAT BUILDING.

>> CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS THE DEAN OF THE U.S. HOUSE REPUBLICAN INDICATED TODAY TO AUSTIN HORN OF THE HERALD LEADER UNLESS SOMETHING HAPPENS HE WILL RUN AGAIN IN 2024 HE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE 1980.

>> YEAH.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING HE SAID THIS.

AND CONGRESSMAN ROGERS REMAINS STRONG IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND UNLESS THE DEMOCRATS REALLY MOUNT A CHALLENGE, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO UNSEAT HIM.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY RANKS 40TH OVERALL OUT OF 50 FOR CHILD WELL-BEING.

THAT IS DOWN 37 FROM LAST YEAR.

THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK BASED OFF OF ECONOMIC WELL-BEING AS WELL AS EDUCATION, HEALTH, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE NUMBERS RIGHT NOW.

OVERALL, KENTUCKY IS SLIPPING TO 40TH FROM 37TH ECONOMIC WELL-BEING BEING AS YOU SEE ALSO A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE.

EDUCATION THE ONE WHERE KENTUCKY SHORT OF MIDDLE OF THE PACK.

AND TESSA, KENTUCKY REALLY DROPPING IN EVERY CATEGORY.

NOT ENCOURAGING?

>> RIGHT AND THIS RESEARCH IS CONDUCTED ANNUALLY.

IT'S BACKED BY A GROUP EVERY STATE DOES A WORK UP LIKE THIS EVERY YEAR.

LOOKING AT THE SAME MEASURES THE INDICATORS ACROSS FOUR CATEGORIES.

AND I'VE HEARD THAT THIS YEAR'S RESULTS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS AN EXTREME DISAPPOINTMENT FOR THE STATISTICS WE JUST SAW ON THE SCREEN.

AND THE HEAD OF THE LOCAL ORGANIZATION IN KENTUCKY THAT DOES THIS RESEARCH SAID THE PANDEMIC IS CERTAINLY A FACTOR BUT YOU CANNOT PUT EVERYTHING ON THAT THAT WOULD BE A COP OUT.

REALLY URGING BOTH GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND DANIEL CAMERON TO MAKE CHILDREN'S ISSUES FRONT AND CENTER BECAUSE THIS IS CONCERNING.

>> Bill: AND CHILDCARE IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO HOW MUCH WILL WE SEE THOSE TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT ALAN KECK TALKED ABOUT.

AND SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON TALK ABOUT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> Bill: RUSS ANOTHER PUSH TO MAKE FENTANYL SUPPLIERS TO FACE MURDER CHARGES.

STATE-WIDE WE'VE SEEN A 5% DECREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS.

BUT NOT IN MANY OF YOUR COUNTIES?

>> NO.

FOR EXAMPLE IN PIKE AND FLOYD COUNTIES THEY BOTH SAW INCREASES YEAR-OVER-YEAR 2021 AND 22.

YOU KNOW, HERE IN PIKE COUNTY WE TALK TO LOCAL OFFICIALS SPECIFICALLY WITH FENTANYL.

FROM OUR UNDERSTANDING OUR COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY TOLD US THERE HAVE BEEN 20 DEATHS LINKED TO FENTANYL IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

THAT IS TOO MANY.

YOU KNOW THERE'S ALREADY STATUTES AND LAWS THAT ALLOW FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO PROSECUTE ON MURDER CHARGES REGARDING THESE KINDS OF CASES.

SO YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS LIKE THE STATE WILL MOVE ON THIS.

THE BILL DID NOT MOVE THROUGH THIS PAST SESSION BUT I DON'T ANTICIPATE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO PASS ONCE THEY SEE THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING.

>> Bill: MARK TOUGH DETAILS CAME OUT ABOUT TWO LOUISVILLE NURSING HOMES THAT CLOSED.

>> THAT IS RIGHT AND THE UNFORTUNATE THING IS 200 RESIDENTS WILL BE DISPLACED.

IT WAS HILL CREEK REHABILITATION CENTER AND THE ST. MATTHEWS CARE CENTER.

AN INVESTIGATION FOUND A THE LOW OF VIOLATIONS.

TESSA'S COLLEAGUE CITED PART OF THE REPORT THAT SAID THERE WERE RATS AS BIG AS CATS.

SO THEY PAID A $200 MILLION CIVIL PENALTY AND CLOSED THE CENTERS.

>> Bill: SAFETY STEWARD IS BEING HIRED TO ASSIST WITH THE SITUATION AT CHURCHILL DOWNS AFTER RACES WERE MOVED TO HENDERSON.

>> THE KENTUCKY HORSERACING COMMISSION HAS THIS JOB OPEN.

THIS INDIVIDUAL WILL GO AROUND TO ALL THE TRACKS INCLUDING CHURCHILL DOWNS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE ADHERING TO SAFETY STANDARDS AND DO RANDOM INSPECTIONS AFTER 12 HORSES DIED AT CHURCHILL DOWNS DURING THE SPRING MEET.

MEET.

>> Bill: WE HAVE ENCOURAGING NEWS ABOUT OFFICER NICHOLAS WILT INJURED IN THE BANK MASS SHOOTING IN IS MAKING PROGRESS.

>> HE IS NOW ABLE TO SPEAK AND NOT TWO TO FIVE-WORD PHRASES AND CRACKING JOKES WHICH HAS TO BE A GOOD SIGN AND DOING A LOT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY HE CAN SUPPORT HIS WEIGHT FOR SEVEN MINUTES ON THE TREADMILL AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HE HAS A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ABOUT THIS JOURNEY.

>> Bill: TESSA CHARLES BOOKER WHO LOST TWO U.S.

RACES IS TRYING TO RECOUP CAMPAIGN DEBT.

>> RIGHT.

I NOTICED THIS WEEK THAT AN E-MAIL I HAD GOTTEN FROM THE BOOKER CAMPAIGN LOOKED FAMILIAR AND THE SAME E-MAIL ASKING FOR DONATIONS TO RETIRE THIS CAMPAIGN DEBT HAS BEEN SENT MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES.

HOW MUCH EXACTLY IS LEFT WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THE NEXT FEC FILING BUT THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL BE CHECKING.

>> Bill: MARK, I64 CLOSURE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

IT WAS WESTBOUND NOW IT'S EASTBOUND.

PROBABLY LOOKING AT TWO WEEKS.

>> Bill: PACK YOUR PATIENCE.

>> TAKE 71 OR 65.

PAUL ESTES WHO SERVED AS WILLIAMSBURG MAYOR AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES IN TWO DIFFERENT CENTURIES DIED THIS WEEK.

ESTES WAS A BUSINESSMAN AND RADIO STATION OWNER WHO SOMETIMES HOSTED LOCAL PROGRAMS.

ESTES SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE AND WORKED IN THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY BEFORE RETURNING TO WILLIAMSBURG.

HE WAS MAYOR IN THE 1970S AND PAUL ESTES WAS 91.O THE POST FOR IT HONORS RENEE'S COMIMENTD AND HIGHLIGHTINGS HER INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONALISM VALUED BY MANY ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND OF COURSE THOSE OF US HERE.

THANKS FOR JOININGOUS ON COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.