♪ ♪ GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN AND THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RETURN MORE THAN 200,000 DOLLARS IN CONTRIBUTIONS BUT REPUBLICANS RAISE QUESTIONS.

G.O.P.

CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON PUSHES FOR THE STATE TO EXPLORE A PSYCHEDELIC DRUG TO TREAT OPIOID DISORDER.

WHO IS GOING TO SHOW UP AT FANCY FARM?

THAT ANNUAL QUESTION HAS HIGH STAKES THIS YEAR.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR KENTUCKY AFTER THE COVID-19 NATIONAL EMERGENCY ENDS?

ON THIS FIRST WEEKEND OF SUMMER, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT ANDY WITH 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 JMENTS TONIGHT ARE MARIO ANDERSON, ANCHOR AND REPORTER FOR SPECTRUM NEWS 1.

MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS, AND AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER."

ALSO TONIGHT, THE ACLU OF KENTUCKY ASKS THAT ITS OWN LAWSUIT CHALLENGING AN ABORTION LAW BE DISMISSED AND AN INCREASE IN TICKS OUT THERE AS SUMMER BEGINS.

LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND SOME CONTROVERSY THIS WEEK.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN AND DEMOCRATS RETURNED 202,000 DOLLARS.

THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER SAID THE DONORS THEMSELVES RAISED THE ISSUE AND ASKED FOR A REMEDY.

THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE DANIEL CAMERON POUNCED ON IT, ASKED FOR A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, SAYING HIS OFFICE CAN'T CONDUCT A PROBE BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING AGAINST BESHEAR.

THE TWO DRAW VERY DIFFERENT PICTURES OF THE SITUATION.

>> EVERY ELECTION I'VE BEEN IN, I HAVE ADVISED AND REQUIRED MY CAMPAIGN FOLLOW THE LETTER AND SPIRIT OF EVERY CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW.

AND WHEN ANY SITUATION ARISES, TO ADDRESS IT WITH TRANSPARENCY, TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND TO WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE REGULATORS.

>> PEOPLE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF PAY TO PLAY POLITICS.

THEY'RE SICK AND TIRED OF THE WAY THAT DEMOCRATS, WHEN THEY GET IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TREAT THE OFFICE.

IT'S PAY TO PLAY AT ITS WORST.

>> WE'LL NOTE THE HEAVY LIFTING ON THIS REPORTING WAS DONE BY VETERAN REPORTER JOHN LOFTUS AND HE FIRST REPORTED IN APRIL ON LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT GOT HIS ATTENTION AND THIS WEEK CAME THE REPORT OF REFUNDS IN PROGRESS.

>> RIGHT.

IT CERTAINLY PAYS OFF TO SCOUR THROUGH THOSE FINANCE REPORTS FOR A CANDIDATE HERE IN KENTUCKY AND TOM LOFTUS, A KENTUCKY JOURNALISM LEGEND REALLY, REALLY WORKED THIS ONE SO KUDOS TO HIM.

YEAH, THIS IS REALLY AN ODD CAMPAIGN FINANCE STORY THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN KENTUCKY BEFORE, AT LEAST THE SPECIFICS HERE FOR ONE PERSON'S CREDIT CARD TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR $202,000 IN DONATIONS TO THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN AND THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY; WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WORKING FOR BESHEAR AT THIS POINT.

IT'S PRETTY UNPRECEDENTED AND I THINK THE BRAZEN NATURE OF IT IS WHAT IS REALLY REMARKABLE HERE ITSELF REPUBLICANS WILL SAY THIS IS PAY TO PLAY, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE AT ALL OF THAT THERE HAS BEEN ONE GRANT GIVEN TO THE CITY OF LONDON WHEN THEY SAY THAT AND A BUNCH OF CITIES DURING THAT TIME HAVE GOTTEN SIMILAR GRANTS AND THE MAYOR WAS APPOINTED TO A BOARD AND A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE, DONORS AND NON-DONORS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO BOARDS IN THAT TIME.

SO IT IS A PRETTY TRICKY SITUATION THAT I THINK THE DEMOCRATS FIND THEMSELVES IN HERE.

>> NOW, BUNDLED CONTRIBUTIONS ARE LEGAL, IF IT'S DONE CORRECTLY.

AND THAT'S COMMONLY DONE, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE SEEN A LOT IN KENTUCKY POLITICS.

THAT'S WHEN, LET'S SAY, YOU USE USED THE EXAMPLE EARLIER, A PROMINENT LAW FIRM HERE IN KENTUCKY GETS A BUNCH OF ATTORNEYS TO GIVE THE MAX TO A CANDIDATE.

NOW THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO FORCE ANYBODY'S HAND, BUT THEY CAN ALL SORT OF, AS A GROUP, COME TO THE CONCLUSION TO GIVE TO A PERSON.

THE INTERESTING THING HERE OR THE RUB THAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT IS THAT 1: IT IS DIRECTLY TIED TO A PERSON VIA HIS CREDIT CARD.

AND 2: AS WE HAVE SEEN IN TOM LOFTUS'S REPORTING HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR NAME AS A DONOR BUT THE CREDIT CARD WAS BACKING THEM, DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE PROFILE OF A NORMAL MAX DONOR AND $15,000 IS THE MAX FOR A PARTY AND IT'S $2,000 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL.

SO THIS IS WAY, WAY OVER THE INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTION LIMITS FOR BOTH OF THAT.

AND PARTIES IS A FEDERAL LYINGS IF YOU GO ABOVE THAT.

SO THAT'S DIFFERENT.

THE FEDS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE TEETH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT THAN BREAKING STATE FINANCE LAWS.

>> SPEAKING OF FEDERAL, REPUBLICANS JUMPED ON THE ISSUE QUICKLY AND BESHEAR'S OPPONENTS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON FIRST INDICATED THAT HIS OFFICE WOULD LOOK INTO IT ALL AND THEN CAME WORD THAT IT IS BEING REFERRED TO THE FBI.

>> RIGHT.

CAMERON'S OFFICE IS BARRED FROM ACTUALLY INVESTIGATING THIS BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS ETHICS OPINIONS.

I THINK ISSUED UNDER REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS BEVIN AND FLETCHER, BACK IN THE DAY.

AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE FBI.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO, I THINK, BE REALLY SHOWY AND UP FRONT IN THEIR INVESTIGATION AS PERHAPS A POLITICAL OPPONENT WOULD IN THIS SITUATION.

BUT AN INTERESTING REACTION, OR, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD MAYBE FRAME IT AS A REACTION, HAPPENED ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE BESHEAR CAMP REFERRED TO THE FBI A MEARLT THAT JUST-- A MATTER THAT JUST BROKE YESTERDAY, A RECOVERY CENTER THAT WAS BEING INVESTIGATED BY CAMERON, GAVE CAMERON'S CAMPAIGN $6900.

NOW ONCE THAT WAS FLAGGED, ACCORDING TO THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN, THEY REFUNDED THE MONEY AND THEY HAVE RECUSED THEMSELVES FROM THE INVESTIGATION.

SO THERE IS A PARALLELISM AT LEAST THAT DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO DRAW.

NOW GRANTED $6900 ISN'T QUITE $ 202,000 BUT I THINK YOU WILL SEE SOME COMPETING NEWS NARRATIVES TO SEE WHO CAN PAINT EACH OTHER IN A WORSE LIGHT ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE ISSUES AS THIS GOES ALONG.

>> AND IN BOTH CASES, THE MONEY HAS BEEN RETURNED OR IS IN THE PROCESS.

>> YES, AND IN BOTH CASES I THINK, AGAIN, JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU ARE GOING TO PROBABLY HEAR SOME PAY TO PLAY ALLEGATIONS IN BOTH SIDES AND WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT THAT IS THE CASE.

THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT IT COULDN'T BE THE CASE BUT WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE.

>> THE MONEY CHASE IS INTERESTING AND MARIO, WELCOME TO YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMING IN.

ALREADY ABOUT $5 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT OR RESERVED IN TERMS OF TV AND RADIO TIME BY THE CAMPAIGNS AND THE PACS THAT SUPPORT THEM.

THIS IS A BIG MONEY RACE.

>> BIG MONEY RACE AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT MONEY WILL TRIPLE POTENTIALLY DOUBLE AND TRIPLE AS WE GET CLOSER TO NOVEMBER.

THE CANDIDATES INDIVIDUALLY, DANIEL CAMERON FOR REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT ANDY BESHEAR, THEY HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF MONEY INTO TV AND RADIO, SPECIFICALLY TV BUT THEN ALSO THE PACS, AS YOU MENTION AND THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION, THEY HAVE BEEN DUMPING LOTS OF PAID MEDIA TELEVISION, BUT ALSO TEXT MESSAGING CAMPAIGNS, THE REPUBLICANS, GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION REELECTRICSED-- RELEASED A TEXT MESSAGE CAMPAIGN.

A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS SINCE THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IS ONE OF ONLY THREE THIS YEAR.

A LOT AFTER TENSION TOWARD THIS RACE.

>> THE CANDIDATES, YOU KNOW, THEY POLL TO FIND OUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE USEFUL TO THEM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND YOU KNOW, THEN WE HAVE THIS DISCUSSION THIS WEEK ABOUT THE MONEY, YOU KNOW, RAISING MONEY FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR A JOB THAT PAYS $160 THAW A YEAR OR SO.

-- $165,000 A YEAR OR SO.

BUT WE HAVE ISSUES THAT ARE NOT BEING DISCUSSED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

THE KIDS COUNT NUMBER LAST WEEK SHOW BIG CHALLENGES FOR KENTUCKY CHILDREN.

SCHOOL TEST SCORES OBVIOUSLY ARE A MAJOR CONCERN.

RECENT REVELATIONS ABOUT THE POOR HEALTH OF KENTUCKIANS CONTINUES TO COME OUT.

MANY ADVOCATES ARE HOPING THERE WILL BE SOME ATTENTION TO ISSUES LIKE THAT RATHER THAN THE BACK AND FORTH WITH THE CAMPAIGNS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE CAN ALL BE HOPEFUL THAT'S THEY'LL HIT ON THOSE TOPICS.

CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS GETTING WORSE AND WORSE IN KENTUCKY AND THERE ARE PROGRAMS FROM PARKS AND SIDEWALKS FOR COMMUNITIES ALL THE WAY UP TO TO REALLY AGGRESSIVE PROGRAMS THAT, FITNESS PROGRAMS FOR KIDS THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED.

AND OUR TEEN PREGNANCY RATES ARE STILL HIGH.

OUR CHILD CARE ISSUES ARE REALLY A CHALLENGE.

AND THAT'S AN ECONOMIC ISSUE.

IF PARENTS CAN'T HAVE CHILD CARE, THEY CAN'T WORK AFFORDABLE ACCESSIBLE CHILD CARE.

BUT EVEN IN THE AREA OF EDUCATION, OUR SCORES ARE AWFUL.

FOR OUR 40 GRADERS, 69% OF OUR FOURTH GRADERS ARE NOT READING ON LEVEL AND 79% OF OUR EIGHTH GRADERS AREN'T DOING MATH ON LEVEL.

245 THAT'S AN EDUCATION ISSUE THAT ALL OF THE CANDIDATES COULD ADDRESS.

>> HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL THAT MAYBE SOME OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL TAKE PLACE, RIGHT?

AS WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES, OPIOIDS IS A MAJOR CONCERN.

AND IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, MAYBE SOME CONTROVERSY KICKED UP BY CAMERON ADVOCATING USE OF A PSYCHEDELIC DRUG AS A TREATMENT FOR OPIOID ABUSERS.

SOME HAVE DIED USING THAT DRUG.

RIGHT?

>> THERE IS A GREAT ARTICLE IN THE "HERALD-LEADER" THIS WEEK THAT KIND OF DIGS INTO THIS PROPOSAL THAT STEMS FROM BRIAN HUBBARD, THE HEAD OF THE OPIOID COMMISSION UNDER CAMERON'S DEPARTMENT.

AND SO THIS ARTICLE REALLY INTERVIEWS A KENTUCKY WOMAN WHO HAS TAKEN THIS DRUG AND WAS SUCCESSFUL WITH IT.

AND CAMERON AND HIS OFFICE ARE REALLY WANTING TO-- BUT THE REPORTING SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN 30 DEATHS DOCUMENTED DEATHS IN STUDIES THAT HAVE BEEN PEER REVIEWED, AND THAT THERE IS A COMMON SIDE EFFECT OF HEART ARRHYTHMIA, WHICH CAN INCREASE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS.

SO IT'S NOT A PERFECT DRUG.

IT'S NOT THE ANSWER BUT IT COULD BE PART OF THE ANSWER AND THAT'S WHAT CAMERON AND HIS TEAM ARE HOPING FOR.

>> AND LOOKING INTO SO WHO IS GOING TO FANCY FARM?

THAT'S A QUESTION RIGHT NOW.

FIRST LET'S HEAR WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID TO MARIO IN AN INTERVIEW ABOUT WHAT THE GOVERNOR STEAD ABOUT HIS INVOLVEMENT IN FANCY FARM MIGHT GO.

>> FANCY FARM COMING UP ON THE FIRST SATURDAY IN AUGUST, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

IS THIS WHEN YOU PLAN TO ATTEND IN 2023?

>> WELL, I LOVE FANCY FARM AND WE ARE CERTAINLY TAKING A LOOK AT IT, HAVING SCHEDULED OUT THAT FAR YET BECAUSE IN A CAMPAIGN YOU ARE LIVING DAY TO DAY AND WEEK TO WEEK.

>> MARIO, WAS THE GOVERNOR SIDE STEPPING AN ANSWER TO THAT?

HE SEEMED TO INDICATE SCHEDULING OR DOES HE IN FACT WANT TO TO DO SOMETHING ELSE ON THAT DAY AND MAYBE STILL BE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

>> I BELIEVE IT'S A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR.

HE HAS SAID IT IS A PRIORITY TO GET TO WESTERN KENTUCKY.

HE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE 2021 TORNADO.

HE HAS BEEN THERE OR SOMEONE FROM HIS ADMINISTRATION EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS DOING VARIOUS EVENTS IN HIS GOVERNOR'S CAPACITY BUT AS FOR THE FIRST SATURDAY IN AUGUST, IF YOU ARE ON THE STATEWIDE BALLOT RUNNING FOR ELECTION, NO QUESTION FANCY FARM IS HAPPENING THE FIRST SATURDAY IN AUGUST AND FOR THE GOVERNOR NOT TO COME OUT OF THE GATE TO SAY I WILL BE THERE, THAT HAS CAUSED SOME PEOPLE TO WONDER WHAT ARE HIS PRIORITIES IF HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE THERE FOR THIS POLITICAL FUNDRAISER AND BENEFIT EVENT FOR THE ST. JEROME'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE REPUBLICANS CAME OUT QUICKLY TO HAVE A COMMENT TO BESHEAR NOT BEING UP FRONT ABOUT ATTENDING.

THEY ACTUALLY SAID, YOU KNOW, BESHEAR IN 2018, WHEN HE WAS A CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE SAID IF YOU CAN'T GO TO FANCY FARM, YOU SHOULD NOT BE GOVERNOR.

THAT'S HOW HE PARAPHRASED IT.

SO THE REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING HIM TO THAT SINCE HE IS NOT BEING COMMITAL RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE JUST YET.

>> AUSTIN, DO CANDIDATES PAY A PRICE IF THEY DON'T GO TO FANCY FARM STATEWIDE?

>> I'M NOT EXTREMELY CONVINCED THAT THEY DO I REMEMBER BEFORE I TOOK THIS JOB, I DIDN'T REALLY FOLLOW KENTUCKY POLITICS EXTREMELY WELL AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT FANCY FARM WAS BEFORE FOLLOWING KENTUCKY POLITICS CLOSELY IN A PROFESSIONAL SENSE.

I REMEMBER SEEING CLIPS FROM THE WHOLE ALLISON LUNDER GREN GRIMES AND MITCH McCONNELL BACK AND FORTH BUT I DIDN'T REGISTER THAT THAT WAS A DISCREET EVENT THAT POLITICIANS HAD TO ATTEND, WHICH I THINK PROBABLY WAS THE CASE FOR A LOT MORE PEOPLE BACK IN THE DAY.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S A CLEAR OPPORTUNITY, RIGHT, FOR POLITICIANS AND THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY COST TO NOT GOING.

YOU DON'T GET TO HAVE A FIERY SPEECH MOMENT.

I REMEMBER LAST YEAR THERE WAS A REALLY STRONG, I THINK, IN A POLITICAL SENSE, DANIEL CAMERON MOMENT WHERE HE KIND OF SAID I WILL ALWAYS BACK THE BLUE IN A REALLY THUNDEROUS VOICE OVER THE CHAPTS OF PROTESTORS.

SO BESHEAR, IN NOT GOING, WOULD MISS OUT ON A POTENTIAL MOMENT LIKE THAT BUT AT THE SAME TIME I'M NOT CONVINCED THERE ARE HUGE COSTS AND I STILL THINK HE IS PROBABLY GOING GO.

>> YOU DON'T COME AWAY CONVINCED BY THAT INTERVIEW THAT HE WILL NOT GO.

>> NO, NO IT'S VERY LIKELY THAT HE WILL NOT MISS A CHANCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN ALL THE OTHER DOWN BALLOT CANDIDATES ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL BE THERE.

SO FOR HIM TO BE THE ONE MISSING WHEN THE OTHER PEOPLE ARE THERE, WOULD BE SURPRISING HE DOESN'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THE CHANCE FOR MUTTON AND BARBECUE.

>> AND IT'S GOOD.

WHAT ARE WE HEARING ABOUT THE RUNNING MATES, THE SHORT LIST THAT CAMERON MAY BE WILL BEING LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW AND AUSTIN, I HEAR YOU ARE WORKING ON A STORY RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO GIVE AWAY.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU TELL US?

>> THAT'S FINE.

THIS SHOULD BE OUT ON MONDAY, I THINK.

I PERSONALLY, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING, I THINK THERE ARE A HANDFUL OF TOP PEOPLE AND THAT INCLUDES THE SECOND PLACE FINISHER COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE RYAN QUARLES.

FROM A PROFILE STANDPOINT, HE KIND OF MAKES SENSE.

HE ADDS THIS RURAL APPEAL AND HAS LOCAL CONNECTIONS AND CONNECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE THAT MAYBE CAMERON DOESN'T AS MUCH, BEING MORE OF A, BEFORE HE TOOK ATTORNEY GENERAL, MORE OF A D.C.

PERSON, D.C./KENTUCKY KIND OF PERSON.

AND ANOTHER PERSON TO REALLY LOOK OUT FOR, WHO I DON'T THINK HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT MUCH IS HOUSE SPEAKER PRO TEM DAVID MEADE.

SIMILAR TO QUARLES, I THINK HE HAS A RURAL FEEL TO HIM.

HE IS AN AUCTIONEER AND YOU CAN REALLY TELL WHEN HE TALKS AND HE IS ALSO A CULTURE WARRIOR.

I THINK A LOT OF ATTENTION HAS BEEN PUT ON SENATOR MAX WISE AND THE SB-150 DEBATE WHICH IS THE TRANSGENDER BILL, BUT DAVID MEADE WAS REALLY THE ARCHITECT OF THAT AND THEN I WOULD ALSO LOOK FOR REGIONAL PEOPLE TO BE CONSIDERED, IF YOU THINK THE RACE IS GOING TO BE LOST OR WON IN EAST LOUISVILLE, JULIE ROCKY ADAMS IS A NATURAL FIT.

IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY YOU HAVE STEPHANIE DEETS AND JUDGE EXECUTIVES LIKE REAGAN TAYLOR IN MADISON COUNTY AND GARY MOORE IN BOONE COUNTY AND A RECENTLY RETIRED JUDGE EXECUTIVE.

SO THESE PURPLE AREAS OR AT LEAST PURPLE IN 2019 PLIGHT BE WORTH A TARGET FOR CAMERON.

>> MADE US WANT TO READ THE STORY, DON'T WE.

>> WE'LL VOA TO TUNE IN MONDAY FOR THE ARTICLE.

>> JULIE ROCKY ADAMS IS SOMEBODY I KNOW WHO HAS BEEN CONSIDERED AND DANIEL CAMERON IS LOOKING FOR PROBABLY A MORE MODERATE REPUBLICAN THAT FILL THAT LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SPOT SO WE SHALL SEE.

THE DEADLINES LINE IS COMING UP THE FIRST TUESDAY IN AUGUST TO NAME THAT SLATE.

WE SHOULD SEE HOPEFULLY BEFORE THAT DATE WHO HE WILL SELECT.

>> THE ACLU OF KENTUCKY MOVED TO DISMISS ITS OWN ABORTION LAWSUIT THIS WEEK BASED ON A STATE SUPREME COURT RULING THAT SAYS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS DON'T HAVE STANDING TO SUE OVER THEIR PATIENT'S CARE.

THAT'S A TWIST.

THE ACLU SAYS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR PLAINTIFFS TO CONTINUE THEIR CHALLENGE.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IF THEY WANT TO REFILE THIS CHALLENGE.

THEY HAVE PUT THEIR PHONE NUMBER OUT THERE AND A TRUE CALL FOR ANYONE WHO, ANY WOMAN IN KENTUCKY, WHO IS PREGNANT AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ABORTION, BUT BECAUSE OUR LAWS DON'T ALLOW IT, THEY WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IF AS A PLAINTIFF IN THIS LAWSUIT.

>> THIS WEEKEND MARKS THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOBBS DECISION.

HOW HAS ACCESS TO ABORTION CHANGED IN KENTUCKY.

>> WELL, IN ESSENCE, WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ABORTION IN KENTUCKY.

THERE ARE A FEW EXCEPTIONS, LARGELY FOR THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER, BUT THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST AND WOMEN IN KENTUCKY WHO WANT AN ABORTION ARE GOING OUTSIDE OF OUR STATE BORDERS TO FIND ONE.

>> WE KNOW IT'S A DIVISIVE ISSUE.

IS IT IKELY TO BE A POTENT POLITICAL ISSUE OR BE BROUGHT UP A LOT IN THIS GUBERNATORIAL RACE?

>> I'M NOT EXTREMELY CONVINCES THAT IT WILL BE I THINK IF YOU TAKE THE THEORY THAT AMENDMENT 2 WAS A REFERENDUM ON THE CURRENT TRIGGER BAN ON ABORTION, WHICH A LOT OF REPUBLICANS LEADING UP TO THAT ELECTION SAID IT WAS UNFAIRLY BEING MADE A REFERENDUM ON THAT LAW AND IT LOST BY 5 POINTS, 5 OR 6, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IF YOU TAKE THAT THEORY, THEN I THINK ONE COULD CONCLUDE THAT MAYBE DANIEL CAMERON'S POSITION ON ABORTION, WHICH IS SUPPORTING THAT LAW, MIGHT NOT BE EXTREMELY POPULAR, BUT ON THE FLIP SIDE, ANDY ABOUT BESHEAR SAID HE SUPPORTS THE STANDARD SET BY ROE V. WADE WHICH ONE COULD ARGUE JUST FROM LISTENING TO A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS, THAT THAT MAY NOT BE EXTREMELY POPULAR AS WELL.

AND PERHAPS, BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD MUCH ABOUT ABORTION.

NOT IN THIS GENERAL ELECTION SO FAR.

MAYBE WE WILL ONCE IT REALLY STARTS TO HEAT UP.

BUT I SEE THIS AS MAYBE LESS OF A HOT TOPIC THAN LAST YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING AT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AFTER COVID AT THIS POINT, AND WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT OUR PREPAREDNESS FOR A PANDEMIC.

IT WAS REVEALED IN A LEGISLATIVE HEARING THIS WEEK THAT INITIALLY POSITIVE COVID RESULTS WERE BEING FAXED INTO FRANKFORT.

THERE WAS REPORTING THAT KENTUCKY LOST NEARLY 600 DOCTORS BETWEEN 2019 AND 2022, AND THAT RESULTING IN A BILLION-DOLLAR ECONOMIC IMPACT.

MELISSA, THE STATE IS STILL TRYING TO ASSESS THE PANDEMIC.

MOST AWFUL THING IS OF COURSE WE LOST MORE THAN 18,000 KENTUCKIANS.

AND IN THAT ASSESSMENT, WHICH IS ONGOING AND WILL LAST, YOU KNOW, THE RESEARCH THAT PEOPLE WILL DO ON HOW THE WHOLE PANDEMIC WAS HANDLED WILL GO ON FOR SOME YEARS, BUT IN THAT ASSESSMENT ALREADY WE KNOW THAT SOME THINGS WORKED AND SOME THINGS DIDN'T AND AS SENATOR MEREDITH SAID, IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO BECOME LAX IN THIS LULL THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE ALL SETTLING INTO THIS POST PANDEMIC WORLD AND WE KNOW ANOTHER ONE WILL COME.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN BUT, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE EXAMPLE OF HOW WE LET OUR WAREHOUSES AND THE SUPPLIES IN OUR WAREHOUSES DIMINISH, THAT WE DIDN'T PRIORITIZE THAT DURING THAT BIG LONG LULL OF NO EMERGENCY AND SO TO HIS POINT, WE CAN'T BE LAX AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY DILIGENT ABOUT PUTTING THE MONEY THAT IS NEEDED TOWARDS THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE READY FOR THE NEXT ONE, SECRETARY FREEDLANDER SAID WE NEED A NEW LAB.

THE LAB WE HAVE IS NOT ADEQUATE TO HANDLE WAS IT WAS CALLED ON TO DO SO THEY WILL BE ASKING FOR SOME MONEY THERE ASHED, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN JUST MAKING SURE WE KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH TELEHEALTH AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD WITH BROADBAND AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD THE IDEA OF REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THINGS, THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE TO KEEP HAPPENING.

>> THE LOSS OF PROVIDERS IS EYE OPENING, TOO.

WE WERE ALL HEARING ABOUT BURNOUT AND DOCTORS RELOCATING, BUT THAT WAS SOME TOUGH NUMBERS THERE.

>> THEY WERE TOUGH NUMBERS.

AND YOU KNOW, ADDED TO THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT DURING A WHOLE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AROUND NURSING SHORTAGES YOU KNOW, IT ADDS UP.

IT REALLY ADDS UP TO NOT HAVING ENOUGH CARE FOR THE PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY.

>> UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WILL HAVE ITS LARGEST BUDGET EVER.

IT'S NEARLY $7 BILLION AND SARAH LADD REPORTED FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN, A HUGE CHUNK OF THAT IS FOR YOU CAN HEALTHCARE.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF THINGS IN PROGRESS.

U.K. NEWS RELEASE SAID $4 BILLION OF THE 7 WILL GO INTO OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND IT WILL HELP TO FUND THE ACQUISITION OF KINGS DAUGHTER HOSPITAL IN ASHLAND WHICH WAS ACQUIRED LAST YEAR.

$2.4 BILLION TOWARD HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION, WHICH WILL ADD MORE BEDS AND PATIENT CARE AT THE HOSPITAL.

AND $500 MILLION FOR RESEARCH.

>> THIS WEEK STARTED WITH A HOLIDAY, JUNETEENTH IS NOT THOUGH A STATE HOLIDAY IN KENTUCKY.

AS IT IS IN MOST STATES.

AND YOU RECENTLY INTERVIEWED GERALD NEIL WHO HOPES TO GET IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

IT IS STALLED IN COMMITTEES.

>> HE HAS FILED IT THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

OTHER LEGISLATORS HAVE FILED SIMILAR VERSIONS IN THE STATEHOUSE, BUT SENATOR NEIL IS WANTING TO HAVE A JUNETEENTH NATIONAL FREEDOM DAY AS A STATE HOLIDAY FOR STATE EMPLOYEES.

HE SAYS THAT SOME BILLS SEEM LIKE A SLAM DUNK.

THAT WAS ONE OF HIS QUOTES BUT IT MAY STALL OR VARIOUS INTERESTS FROM PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT SIDES THAT MAY WANT TO HOLD OFF OR NOT READY TO PULL THE TRIG OTHER THAT YET HE PLANS TO FILE THAT AGAIN IN 2024.

>> KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE UNDER LEGAL CHALLENGE AS CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR.

THE LINES COULD MOVE.

WE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT.

THE CANDIDATES ARE MAKING THEIR PLANS FOR 2024, BUT AGAIN, THE DISTRICTS MAY BE DIFFERENT.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SAY THAT EITHER WAY, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PARTISAN LEAN ON THESE DISTRICTS IS STILL FIVE REPUBLICAN AND ONE DEMOCRAT.

THAT'S THE LOUISVILLE BASED DISTRICT WHERE HAVE YOU REPRESENTATIVE MORGAN MCGARVEY BUT WE HAVE AT LEAST ONE PRIMARY THAT SEEMS LIKELY TO GET LIVELY.

THAT'S THOMAS MASSIE'S 4th DISTRICT IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

ERIC DEERTS WHO JUST RAN FOR GOVERNOR AND FINISHED IN FOURTH PLACE.

AND FINISHED IN SECOND AND THIRD IN A LOT OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES SAID HE IS 989% PERSON HE IS SURE HE IS GOING TO RUN AGAINST MASSEY.

DETERS COULD HAVE A SHOT AGAINST MASSEY BUT ALSO BECAUSE PERSONALLY, I THINK IT OPENS UP A LANE FOR A POTENTIAL THIRD CANDIDATE TO SHOOT THE GAP ON HER AND RUN TO THE LEFT OR CENTER OF SOMEBODY LIKE MASSEY WHO IS AN OUT THERE DOES HIS OWN THING LIBERTARIAN AND ERIC DETERS WHO IS A DIE HARD TRUMP SUPPORTING REPUBLICAN.

>> TICKS ARE TURNING UP IN BIG NUMBERS AND THERE IS CONCERN.

>> THERE IS CONCERN.

I UNDERSTAND WE HAD THE SEVENTH WARMEST FEBRUARY THE TICKS ARE AWFUL AND PEOPLE ARE ANGRY ABOUT IT YOU HAVE TO WEAR YOUR DEET AND CHECK YOUR TICKS WHEN YOU COME IN.

>> AND A RABID BAT IN LEXINGTON CONFIRMED.

>> THERE SURE IS.

IF YOU FIND ONE, YOU NEED TO CALL THE DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND PROTECTION AND ALSO JUST MAKE SURE YOUR PETS ARE UP TO DATE ON THEIR VACCINES.

>> AND TO BE SAFE OUT THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS COMMENT ON KENTUCKY.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE CERTAINLY HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.