[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY'S TROUBLED JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM NOW UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION WILL LIKELY SEE MORE TEENS SENT TO DO TIME.

MORE MONEY FOR HOUSING, $223 MILLION WILL HELP WITH RENTALS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AFTER THE TORNADOES.

IT TURNS OUT, KENTUCKY'S OVERDOSE DEATHS MAY HAVE DROPPED NEARLY 10% BUT THERE IS CAUTION WITH THAT ENCOURAGING NEWS.

THE FAST GROWING BOWLING GREEN SETS A RECORD BUDGET AS VOTERS WILL BE PICKING LOCAL LEADERS IN THE FALL.

AND 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 SYLVIA GOODMAN, CAPITAL REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

MARCUS GREEN REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE, AND WES SWIETEK, MANAGING EDITOR OF THE BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS.

ALSO TONIGHT, TRANSIT DRIVERS IN LOUISVILLE WILL BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO JEFFERSON COUNTY'S SCHOOL BUS WOES AND VISITORS TO THE RED RIVER GORGE COULD FACE FEES FOR CAMPING OR PICNICKING.

BUT THE FOREST SERVICE WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THAT FIRST.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT LET'S GET TO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE CHALLENGES FRONT AND CENTER IN FRANKFORT.

KENTUCKY'S NEW COMMISSIONER RANDY WHITE STARTED APRIL FIRST HE APPEARED BEFORE LAWMAKERS AND SAYS SOME THINGS ARE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION INCLUDING STAFFING HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HIRE MORE.

BUT HE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT NEW LAWS NOW ON THE BOOKS WILL LIKELY REQUIRE MORE JUVENILES TO BE SENT INTO THE SYSTEM.

>> RIGHT.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF LAWS THAT ARE GOING TO GO INTO EFFECT THIS SUMMER THAT HE SAYS WILL SEND MORE TEENS TO DJJ FACILITIES.

SO LIKE YOU SAID, HE SAID THAT STAFFING IS PICKING UP.

THEY'VE GOTTEN MORE FUNDING TO INCREASE SALARIES FOR DIFFERENT POSITIONS.

BUT THEY STILL HAVE A STAFFING SHORTAGE AND IT WILL BE A LONGTIME UNTIL DJJ IS ABLE TO BE FULLY STAFFED.

AND SOME OF THE BILLS FOR EXAMPLE ONE FROM LAST YEAR, THAT WHITE POINTED OUT IN PARTICULAR, SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT KIDS THAT ARE ACCUSED OR CHARGED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES MUST BE HELD IN DETENTION FACILITIES UNTIL THEIR INITIAL HEARING.

THAT'S UP TO 48 HOURS.

SO THAT'S HUNDREDS OF KIDS MOST LIKELY ACCORDING TO OLDER DATA.

THAT COULD GO THROUGH THE SYSTEM THROUGH DJJ FACILITIES AND ACCORDING TO WHITE, THAT WOULD MAKE IT A BIT OF A SQUEEZE AT TIMES IN THOSE FACILITIES.

THAT ARE ALREADY OVERBURDENED WITH STAFFING WOES.

>> Bill: IF THERE IS AN INFLUX OF A NEW CHILD OFFENDERS DOES IT MAKE MORE OF A STRAIN TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS TO KEEP JUVENILES OUT OF THE SYSTEM?

>> THAT IS WHAT WHITE WAS SAYING HE IS FOCUSED ON KEEPING KIDS OUT OF DETENTION FACILITIES WHERE WE KNOW IT'S DIFFICULT FOR KIDS TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER LEAVING.

AND HE SAYS THAT HE WILL PUT A STRAIN ON THAT AND A STRAIN ON THE PROGRAMS HE HAS GOING ON INSIDE THE FACILITIES FOR KIDS CURRENTLY DETAINED.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, VOCATIONAL SERVICES, MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH.

ALL OF THOSE WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL STRAIN FROM THE KIDS THAT WILL BE COMING IN AND OUT OF THE FACILITY.

>> Bill: ALL OF THIS CAME UP BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON, INCLUDING RIOTS AT SOME OF THE FACILITIES.

>> YEAH, AND WE HAVE THIS DOJ DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION GOING ON NOW.

THAT WAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED INTO THESE RIOTS, INTO ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN PARTIALLY CAUSED BY STAFFING.

COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ISSUES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.

ACCUSATIONS OF EXCESSIVE FORCE ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS ARE GOING INTO THIS AND ARE CAUSING CONCERN OF HAVING MORE KIDS GOING INTO THESE FACILITIES THAT ARE ALREADY OVERBURDENED AND HAVE A LOT OF ISSUES.

>> Bill: YET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CULLINGS THIS WEEK, THE SENATOR McDANIELS SAID THE STAFF CAN'T BE AFRAID TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THE FACILITIES HE PRESSED FOR THE USE OF TOOLS THAT MAYBE AVAILABLE.

>> RECENTLY DJJ OFFICERS WERE GIVEN PEPPER SPRAY AND TASERS TO QUOTE MAINTAIN ORDER IN THESE FACILITIES.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORTING ALREADY LARGELY BY THE HERALD LEADER THAT SHOWN THAT SOME OF THE USE ESPECIALLY PEPPER SPRAY, TASERS HAVE BEEN RARELY USED I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE BEEN USED AT ALL.

BUT PEPPER SPRAY HAS BEEN USED AGAINST DJJ POLICIES LET ALONE WHATEVER THE DOJ DECIDES ON CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS TO KEEP KIDS IN LINE IF THEY ARE IGNORING AN ORDER VERSUS MAINTAINING THE LARGER ORDER OF THE FACILITY OR PROTECTING THEMSELVES OR OTHER KIDS.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE-OF-FORCE.

McDANIELS IS SAYING SOME OF THE KIDS COMMITTED VERY SERIOUS CRIMES THERE ARE MORE VIOLENT OFFENDERS IN THE DJJ FACILITIES AND THAT GUARDS NEED SOME WAY TO KEEP THOSE KIDS IN ORDER.

>> Bill: MARCUS, A PREVIOUS CLOSED LOUISVILLE DETENTION FACILITIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION HERE.

BUT THAT IS BEHIND, RIGHT?

>> IT IS, YES.

BACK IN 2023 LEGISLATION WAS PASSED TO HELP REOPEN LOUISVILLE'S YOUTH DETENTION CENTER BUT THAT REOPENING WOULD REQUIRE A LOT OF WORK, CONSTRUCTION, IT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING ON TIME.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO REOPEN THIS SUMMER.

THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IT'S NOT EXPECTED TO OPEN THIS YEAR AT ALL.

THAT IS A SOLUTION BUT IT'S ALSO BEHIND SCHEDULE.

IN THIS TIGHT ENVIRONMENT, THE FACILITIES AREN'T THERE TO REALLY HOUSE THIS POPULATION.

>> Bill: AND SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE TAKEN BIGGER SWINGS AT THIS THAN HAVE PASSED.

DANNY CARROLL WANTED ADDITIONAL EFFORTS TO ADDRESS BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS AND PUSHED FOR TWO MORE FACILITIES FOR GIRLS.

>> DANNY CARROLL LED THIS EFFORT THIS PASSION SESSION PUSHING TO HAVE TWO POSSIBLY A THIRD IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY FOR GIRLS IN THE SIM SYSTEM.

HOWEVER THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED WITH $100 MILLION THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET BILLS.

THE COMPROMISE WAS LEGISLATION THAT WILL CREATE A FEASIBILITY STUDY COST ANALYSIS TO BE DONE PRESENTED TO LEGISLATORS BY THE JUVENILE JUSTICE OFFICIALS LATER THIS YEAR.

WHILE THAT WASN'T FUNDED THIS YEAR, THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT TO GET A HANDLE ON IT TO WHAT COULD BE LEGISLATION AND FUNDING DOWN THE ROAD.

>> Bill: CLEARLY AN ONGOING DISCUSSION AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REVIEW IS GOING TO BE BRINGING SOME THINGS TO LIGHT.

WE WOULD ASSUME.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE WHAT HE SAYS IS THE STATE'S BIGGEST HOUSING ANNOUNCEMENT EVER MONDAY.

223 MILLION DOLLARS WILL GO TO BUILD 900 AFFORDABLE RENTAL UNITS IN CHRISTIAN, GRAVES, HOPKINS AND WARREN COUNTIES.

WES, WELCOME BACK.

THIS GOES BACK TO THE 2021 TORNADO OUTBREAK AND WARREN COUNTY WILL GET MOST OF THAT MONEY.

>> IT WILL GET MORE THAN HALF THE MONEY.

$130 MILLION AND IT WILL BUILD 635 APARTMENTS ROUGHLY.

SO BOWLING GREEN RAPIDLY GROWING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS ONE OF THE KEY ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

THE TORNADOES MADE IT MUCH WORSE.

THOUSANDS OF BUILDINGS WERE DESTROYED INCLUDING MANY HOMES AND APARTMENTS.

THIS PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN PUT TOGETHER THROUGH THE KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION WILL LEAD TO ALMOST A THOUSAND APARTMENT UNITS TARGETED FOR MODERATE AND LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE FOUR COUNTIES MORE THAN HALF 635 OF THOSE UNITS ARE SUPPOSEDLY GOING TO BE BUILT IN BOWLING GREEN THROUGH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS THAT SORT OF ANSWERED THE CALL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FROM THE STATE TO SPEARHEAD THESE EFFORTS IN THE FOUR COMMUNITIES.

THAT WILL PUT A DENT IN THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN BOWLING GREEN FOR SURE.

>> Bill: DID YOU GET A SENSE OF A TIME-FRAME?

>> THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME JUST THIS WEEK IT'S PRELIMINARY.

THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THE ZONING PROCESSES AND THAT SORT OF THING AND GETTING CONTRACTORS.

SO THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT 2025 BEFORE PEOPLE WILL START BEING ABLE TO APPLY AND THESE WILL BE RENT CONTROLLED UNITS AS WELL.

AGAIN, JUST SO THESE ARE FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

THEY ARE PROBABLY A COUPLE YEARS OUT BEFORE THE APARTMENTS ARE OCCUPIED.

BUT THE PROCESS IS NOW GOTTEN UNDERWAY.

>> Bill: THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE IS LARGE IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

WE KNOW, BUT ALSO HAS SPREAD TO MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND THE STATE.

HOW SIGNIFICANT OF A PROBLEM IS HOMELESSNESS IN BOWLING GREEN?

>> YOU KNOW IT IS AN ISSUE THAT REALLY DOES DEFIES AN EASY SOLUTION.

I THINK EVERY COMMUNITY THAT DEALS WITH IT AROUND THE COUNTRY HAS FOUND THAT.

SO BOWLING GREEN IS NO DIFFERENT.

THERE'S SORT OF A ANCILLARY ISSUE OF A LOT OF PANHANDLING THE CITY TACKLED BY PUTTING UP SIGNS AND HAVING A PUBLIC CAMPAIGN ABOUT SAYING DON'T GIVE TO PANHANDLERS IT IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE MANY OF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT HOMELESS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING WE'VE DEALT WITH FOR QUITE A WHILE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY DEFIES AN EASY SOLUTION ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Bill: I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT MORE BOWLING GREEN ISSUES IN A BIT.

THE GOVERNOR COMMENTED ON THE ENCOURAGING TREND THAT OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE DECLINING IN KENTUCKY THE NUMBERS DROPPED NEARLY 10% HERE IN KENTUCKY.

THE RATE DECLINED NATIONALLY BUT THOSE NUMBERS ARE COMING DOWN FASTER HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> IT'S BEEN SINCE 2018 THAT OUR COUNTRY COULD REPORT A DECREASE IN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS.

BUT THINK ABOUT THAT.

AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT YOUR WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IN KENTUCKY WHEN NATIONALLY, THE DECREASE WAS 3% AND HERE IT WAS ALMOST 10.

YOU LOOK BACK AT 2022, AND KENTUCKY WAS ONE OF ONLY EIGHT STATES IN THE COUNTRY WITH A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS THAT WAS 5% AND WE CELEBRATED IT.

AND THIS LAST YEAR WE DID ALMOST TWICE AS GOOD.

>> Bill: IT IS ENCOURAGING NEWS BUT COMES WITH A BIG CAVEAT THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE.

>> IT DEFINITELY DOES.

LIKE YOU SAID IT'S ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE RATES DROPPING.

IT'S NOT BEING FELT IN EVERY COMMUNITY THAT IS FOR SURE.

YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN BLACK KENTUCKIANS OVERDOSE DEATHS INCREASED OVER THE LAST YEAR.

AND THE YEAR BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, THE YEAR BEFORE WAS 22% INCREASE.

LAST YEAR IT WAS A LITTLE BIT LESS IT WAS 5%.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE FACT THE TREND IS DECREASING.

THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES TARGETED APPROACHES AND THAT IS WHAT BESHEAR WAS TALKING ABOUT WORKING WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS TO REACH SPECIFIC GROUPS SINCE THEY ARE NOT FEELING THE RELIEF THAT SOME PEOPLE IN CERTAINLY OVERALL ARE FEELING FROM THE OPIOID CRISIS.

>> Bill: MARCUS, IT DOESN'T COME DOWN UNIFORM ALI AND URBAN AND RURAL AREAS ARE SEEING THE [INAUDIBLE].

>> THE DATA I LOOKED AT WHILE THERE ARE ENCOURAGING SIGNS WE WERE AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO.

THE DATA IS DATA DEPENDS HOW YOU SLICE IT.

YOU CAN LOOK AT ALL KINDS OF ISSUES AND SEE GOOD AND BAD TRENDS.

BESIDES THE DATA WE ARE SEEING IN LOUISVILLE, MONEY FROM THESE OPIOID SETTLEMENTS COMING IN TO HELP FUND PROGRAMS SO THERE ARE SIGNS OF ENCOURAGING SPENDING AND ENCOURAGING PROGRAMMING.

BUT IT'S ALSO JUST A TERRIBLE CRISIS WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDST OF.

>> Bill: AND COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN CREATIVE WITH THE PROGRAMS.

JCPS ANNOUNCED IT CUT A DEAL TO GET BUS DRIVERS.

WHICH HAS BEEN A VERY TOUGH SITUATION, MARCUS.

WE KNOW ABOUT THE SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION MELTDOWN AS SCHOOL WAS STARTING LAST YEAR AND THE UNPOPULAR REMEDIES THAT HAD BEEN PROPOSED.

THIS MAY HELP WITH THAT.

>> THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY OF RIVER CITY IS THE PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCY IN LOUISVILLE IT'S BELEAGUERED ON ITS OWN.

IT'S FACING ROUTE CUTS EMPLOYEE LAYOFFS ARE LOOMING AND WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS GIVING 70 DRIVERS SLATED TO BE LAID OFF, HAVE THEM WORK FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND DRIVE SCHOOL BUSES TO HELP CUT INTO A DEFICIT OF DRIVERS THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS.

THE GOAL IS TO TRY TO REALLY REMEDY THIS OVERARCHING PROBLEM THAT THE █SCHOOL SYSTEM HAD THAT EVERYBODY IN THE STATE KNOWS THIS WAS THE DEFINING ISSUE OF LAST SCHOOL YEAR GETTING KIDS TO SCHOOL ON TIME, AND PROMPTLY AND IN GOOD STEAD.

SO WHAT TACKER IS TRYING TO DO WORKING WITH JCPS IS TRY TO FIND A WAY TO HELP THE DRIVERS AVOID GETTING LAID OFF AND STAFF BUS ROUTES AND SAVE SOME OF THE SCHOOL ROUTES THAT WERE GOING TO GET CUT.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE HOW IT WORKS.

LET'S GET CAUGHT UP ON THE BOWLING GREEN SCENE THE GROWING AREA OF OUR STATE.

THE STAGE IS SET FOR CITY ELECTIONS IN THE FALL AND THE CITY PASSED A RECORD BUDGET.

WES, IT SEEMS THE MONEY IS COMING IN.

THERE'S ENOUGH TO DO SOME NEW THINGS AND TO CONTINUE SOME PROJECTS.

>> SURE, YEAH.

OBVIOUSLY THE BOWLING GREEN IS THE FASTEST GROWING LARGER METRO AREA IN THE STATE.

AND SO THAT PRODUCES A LOT OF TAX REVENUE AND THE CITY INCREASED SLIGHTLY ITS OCCUPATIONAL FISCAL THE MAIN REVENUE SOURCE LAST YEAR YOU ARE SEEING FRUITS OF THAT INCREASE COMING INTO THE COFFERS OF THE CITY.

SO RECORD BUDGET, AND THAT INCLUDES GOING TO MYRIAD THINGS COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR EMPLOYEES.

AND THEN ONE OF THE LARGER POTS OF MONEY $4 MILLION IS GOING TO THE CONTINUING EFFORT TO SORT OF REVITALIZE BOWLING GREEN'S RIVERFRONT.

THE RIVER FLOWS THROUGH BOWLING GREEN BUT THE RIVERFRONT AREA HAS BEEN NEGLECTED AND THE CITY AND PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ARE NOW INVESTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO BUILDING ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

HOTELS, YOU KNOW, PARKS, AMPHITHEATERS, DOG PARKS.

YOU NAME IT THEY ARE TRYING TO BUILD ALONG THE RIVERFRONT.

$4 MILLION IS DEDICATED TO SORT OF PHASE TWO OR PHASE THREE OF THAT PROJECT TO AGAIN TO REVITALIZE THE RIVERFRONT ALONG WITH A MYRIAD OF OTHER PROJECTS THEY ARE SPENDING ON.

>> Bill: HOW WELL DOES BOWLING GREEN DO AT ATTRACTING VISITORS WHO COME TO MAMMOTH KAY TO COME INTO TOWN AND HAVE FUN.

>> BOWLING GREEN IS A BIG TOURISM TOWN.

NOT ONLY MAMMOTH KAY NATIONAL PARK THE MOST VISITED NATIONAL PARKS IN THE COUNTRY BUT WE HAVE THE CORVETTE MUSEUM, THE CORVETTE ASSEMBLY PLANT WE HAVE A LOT OF CAREY LATED EVENTS YEAR-ROUND.

TOURISM IS ONE OF THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN BOWLING GREEN.

YOU SEE HOTELS GOING UP ON EVERY SPARE CORNER BECAUSE A LOT OF VISITORS COMING IN FOR VARIOUS EVENTS.

TOURISM IS A HUGE PART OF THE ECONOMY OF BOWLING GREEN.

>> Bill: WE ONLY FOUND OUT THIS WEEK BECAUSE THE FILING DEADLINE WHO IS GOING TO BE COMPETING FOR THOSE CITY ELECTIONS AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOME SPIRITED RACES FOR MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER THERE.

>> YES, THE COMMISSIONER RACE IS DREW LESS CANDIDATES.

THERE'S FOUR SEATS VERY OFTEN THERE WOULD BE 12, 13 CANDIDATES AND NOW THERE'S ONLY SIX VIES FOR THE FOUR SEATS.

THE MAYOR'S RACE IS GOING TO DRAW A LOT OF INTEREST IN BOWLING GREEN.

PATTY MINISTER IS A FORMER STATE REPRESENT AND A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE SEAT THAT JODY RICHARDS HELD FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES.

AND THAT WAS A SEAT THAT HAS BEEN HELD BY DEMOCRATS.

AND THE G.O.P.

REDISTRICTED SPLIT BOWLING GREEN INTO THREE AND SHE LOST THE REELECTION BID AND NOW ME IS VYING FOR MAYOR AGAINST TODD ELLICOTT AND HE RAN FOR THE HOUSE SEAT AND LOST IN THE PRIMARY AND PATTY WON THAT SEAT AS A DEMOCRAT AND LOST THE REELECTION BID AFTER THE REDISTRICTING AND NOW THEY ARE VYING FOR MAYOR.

POLAR OPPOSITES.

PATTY IS A DEMOCRAT VERY PROGRESSIVE AND TODD ELLICOTT IS A REPUBLICAN AND MORE CONSERVATIVE.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING RACE.

>> Bill: AND IT MAY BE TOO EARLY TO KNOW IF THEMES ARE EMERGING IN THE RACES.

BUT WITH ALL OF THE GROWTH IN BOWLING GREEN, ARE THERE PUT ON THE BRAKES TYPE EFFORTS BY SOME?

OR DOES EVERYBODY WANT TO JUST KEEP IT COMING?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S I THINK FOR THE MOST PART PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING THE GROWTH AND PROUD OF THE GROWTH AND NOT TURNING A NOSE AT THE ALL THE NEW JOBS THAT ARE COMING THE ENVISION PRAPBT COMING, THE $2 BILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PLANT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE IF THEY ARE NOT SAYING WE'RE AGAINST THE GROWTH THEY ARE SAYING DON'T BUILD A SUBDIVISION IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE TRAFFIC IS GETTING WORSE.

AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRAFFIC AND THE ROADS.

AND I KNOW THAT'S THE CONSTERNATION OF THE CITY OFFICIALS WHO POINT OUT THAT THE ROADS ARE NOT CITY ROADS THEY ARE STATE ROADS AND THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.

GROWTH IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A CONCERN FROM HERE ON OUT.

>> Bill: THEY SEE CROWDS COMING TO THE MEETINGS AND KNOW SOMETHING IS UP.

DISCUSSION AHEAD.

MARCUS, ANOTHER GROWING AREA OF THE STATE IS NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND A BUSY, OF COURSE, I-75 AND I71 GO ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER.

MAJOR PROGRESS ON GOING AHEAD WITH THE CORRIDOR?

>> MAY WAS A BUSY MONTH.

FIRST THE PROJECT WHICH IS AGAIN JOINT KENTUCKY-OHIO PROJECT GOT FEDERAL CLEARANCE FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE OF FINDING NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT THIS IS NOT GOING TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.

THIS PROJECT BRENT EXPENSE FIXING THAT BRIDGE AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS GOT DESIGN TWEAKS MODIFICATIONS WHICH I THINK ARE STANDARD FOR THIS TYPE OF PROJECT.

RAMP REDUCTIONS AND HEIGHT CHANGES.

BUT REALLY ALL OF THIS IS GEARED TOWARDS GETTING THE PROJECT INTO A MORE STREAMLINE, DESIGN TO MOVE FORWARD TO CONSTRUCTION.

I DID FIND IT INTERESTING ONE OF THE THINGS TOUTED IN THIS DESIGN CHANGE WAS SOME CONNECTIVITY IN DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI AND MAKING IT PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY WHICH AS PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY AS YOU CAN GET PUTTING A MAJOR INTERSTATE THROUGH.

>> Bill: AND TALKED ABOUT GREEN SPACE AS WELL.

IF YOU GET OUT INTO THE GREAT OUTDOORS THERE ARE A FEW BETTER PLACES THAN RED RIVER GORGE AND NOW THE U.S. FORESTRY SERVICE WANTS TO ADD FEES FOR THOSE WHO CAMP OR PICNIC AND THE PUBLIC HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT BEFORE AND WHETHER IF THAT HAPPENS.

>> THEY DO.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ENDS IN LATE JULY THROUGH JULY 31.

AND WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT IS THAT WOULD ENACT FEES ON SOME OF THE MOREAU TEEN ACTIVITIES THAT PEOPLE EPB JOE AT THE GORGE.

IT WOULD PLACE FEES ON TRAIL HEADS THAT ARE WELL-KNOWN THAT A LOT OF FAMILIES AND PEOPLE WITH KIDS DO ON A WEEKEND OR ON A DAY TRIP.

A $5 PER DAY FEE AND $7 FOR A WEEKEND.

THERE ARE OTHER FEES IN THE FOREST IN THE GORGE AREA BUT THEY ARE FOR BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING NOT FOR DAY USE.

THE FOREST SERVICE SEEING THE INCREASE IN VISITORS DURING THE PANDEMIC AND GROWING IN GENERAL, IS TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO USE THESE FEES TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AT THESE FACILITIES TO HANDLE THE GROWTH AND SORT OF MANAGE IT BETTER.

SO.

>> Bill: HOW DO YOU FIND PICNICKERS TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE GOING TO SIT DOWN AND HAVE A MEAL ON THE GROUND?

>> THIS IS PART OF THE PROCESS.

DETERMINE HOW WILL YOU ENFORCE THIS?

THE BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING IS ENFORCED BY CAR TAGS THE WAY TO CHECK PEOPLE'S CARS.

AGAIN, THIS IS IN THE EARLY STAGES AND THE FOREST SERVICE RECOGNIZES THAT THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY A POPULAR PROPOSAL.

JULY 31 IS WHEN YOU CAN STOP COMMENTING ON IT.

>> Bill: FROM THE GREAT OUTDOORS BACK TO THE CITY.

BECAUSE OF RATE HIKES THERE IS A MOVE IN LOUISVILLE TO GIVE THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AUTHORITY OVER THE METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT.

>> YEAH.

DEATH TAXES AND PEOPLE ANGRY AT THE MSD BILLS ARE THE CONSTANTS IN LOUISVILLE AND RIGHT NOW, MSD ANNOUNCED A RATE HIKE THE HIGHEST WITHOUT SEEKING METRO COUNCIL APPROVAL AND THAT HAS PEOPLE UPSET AGAIN AND ONE OF THOSE UPSET IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE BOWMAN FROM LOUISVILLE AND HE WANTS TO SUBMIT LEGISLATION NEXT YEAR THAT WOULD PUT THE SEWER DISTRICT UNDER THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SO ANY RATE HIKE PROPOSAL WOULD GO THROUGH STATE REGULATORS.

HIS IDEA IT SHOULD HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF SCRUTINY THAT UTILITIES AND OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE.

>> Bill: WHICH HAS CURTAILED RATE HIKES RECENTLY.

ELECTRICAL AND WATER AND OTHERWISE.

>> CORRECT, THAT IS WHAT JARED BOWMAN WANTS TO HAVE THE RATE HIKES GIVEN A MORE THOROUGH LOOK AND NOT JUST BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THEY CAN RAISE THE RATES WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OR ANY REGULATORY APPROVAL EVERY YEAR.

>> Bill: YOU DID A DEEP DIVE INTO THE URBAN GOVERNMENT CENTER SITE A COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS THAT IS SITTING AND DECAYING AND SECURITY ALONE IS A MAJOR EXPENSE, RIGHT?

>> IS THIS A VERY UNIQUE PART OF LOUISVILLE THAT ONCE HELD GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDINGS ALL THOSE EMPLOYEES LEFT YOU HAVE 10 ACRES IN A WELL DESIRED PART OF THE CITY THAT'S BEEN EYED FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO PREVIOUS DEVELOPERS AND BOTH FELL THROUGH.

THE CITY'S ON THE THIRD DEVELOPER THEY HAVE REFUSED TO SELL THE LAND THEY WANT TO SHEPHERD THE DEVELOPER THROUGH THE PROCESS AND IT'S LED TO A LOT OF RED TAPE A LOT OF REQUIREMENTS A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND AS A RESULT OF THIS CURRENT DEVELOPER, THEY ARE NOT MOVING AHEAD AT THE PACE THAT THE CITY HAD EXPECTED AND THAT IS NOT JUST THE DEVELOPER'S FIND THE CITY IS BEHIND SCHEDULE.

AS A RESULT THE TAXPAYERS ARE FOOTING A LOT OF THAT BILL.

LOUISVILLE TAXPAYERS PAY MORE THAN $600,000 IN SECURITY, GRASS CUTTING OTHER TYPES OF MAINTENANCE.

>> Bill: EVERY YEAR.

>> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AND NOTHING'S HAPPENED.

>> Bill: MEDICAL CANNABIS BECOMES LEGAL IN KENTUCKY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR BUT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE AN ABILITY TO MAKE RULES REGARDING WHERE THEY ARE SOLD AND SOME ARE TAKING ACTION.

THE CITY IS WORKING ON RULES EACH CITY RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING ITS OWN ZONING REGULATIONS FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS.

OR THEY CAN SAY NO.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A VOTE IN CLARK COUNTY, AMONG THE PUBLIC THAT WILL COINCIDE WITH THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

>> RIGHT, SO THE LEGISLATURE GAVE A LOT OF LEEWAY TO LOCALITIES TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO DO THIS.

THEY CAN LIMIT WHERE THE BUSINESSES CAN BE WITHIN THEIR BORDERS.

THEY CAN YOU KNOW, SAY NO ALTOGETHER LIKE YOU MENTIONED.

THEY DON'T WANT MEDICAL CANNABIS WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF LEEWAY.

AND ESSENTIALLY, BUSINESSES CAN APPLY FOR LICENSES STARTING JULY 1.

THAT IS THE NEW THING THAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR.

AND ESSENTIALLY THE IDEA IS THAT EVEN IF THEY GET THAT LICENSE, LOCALITIES STILL HAVE UNTIL THE EBTD OF THE YEAR TO SAY NO.

THAT LICENSE COULD BE NEGATED.

>> Bill: SOMEBODY COULD GET A LICENSE AND THE CITY OR COUNTY VOTES NO.

AND THEY COULDN'T DO IT.

>> UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR.

AND SO LEGISLATORS RECOGNIZE THAT THAT IS A RISK FOR THEM ESPECIALLY IF THEY START INVESTING CAPITAL.

BUT STARTING NEXT YEAR, PEOPLE WILL BE GRANDFATHERED IN IF YOU DECIDE TO PASS AN ORDINANCE.

IT IS AN END OF YEAR DEADLINE FOR CITIES BUT THERE IS A PUSHING IT FASTER BECAUSE OF THIS LICENSING START IN JULY.

>> Bill: LOUISVILLE AND BOWLING GREEN ARE WORKING ON THEIR ORDINANCES AND RULES?

>> YES.

LOUISVILLE IN FACT, IT'S OUR PLANNING COMMISSION ALREADY PUT FORTH THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL AND LAYS OUT CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS WHERE THE DISPENSARIES CAN BE LOCATED CLOSE TO PARKS AND CHURCHES THAT WAS INTRODUCED THIS WEEK IN COUNCIL.

>> Bill: WES, THERE WERE D-DAY OBSERVANCES.

WE'RE LOSING THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN THAT HISTORIC TURN OF EVENTS.

>> YEAH, I WAS TRYING TO DO RESEARCH IN TERMS OF HOW MANY D-DAY VETERANS MAYBE ALIVE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIR DOES NOT KEEP THAT STATISTIC.

IF YOU ARE DOING THE MATH PEOPLE OVER 100 YEARS OLD FOR THE MOST PART.

SO VERY FEW WE KEEP DOING THIS STORIES ARE JUST INTERESTING.

BUT VERY OFTEN WE'RE DOING THEM ABOUT POSTHUMOUSIOUSLY ABOUT AN EXPERIENCE SOMEBODY HAD.

>> Bill: YOU HAVE AN ISIS TRIAL IN BOWLING GREEN.

>> IT IS A FEDERAL TRIAL A LOCAL PERSON ALLEGEDLY JOINING ISIS UNDER HEAVY SECURITY AT THE COURTHOUSE THEY ARE KEEPING THE WITNESSES SEPARATE FROM ANY OBSERVERS AND THEY ARE DOING IT SO THAT THEIR IDENTITY IS NOT REVEALED.

>> Bill: AND I KNOW MARCUS, CONTINUING TO LOOK INTO LINK RIVER LINK, YOU KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

THIS WEEKEND WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE IF U.K.

BASEBALL MAKES IT TO THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

AND PAT ZAJAC WHO JUST RETIRED THIS EVENING THE CO-HOST OF WHEEL OF FORTUNE HAS A KENTUCKY CONNECTION HE ONCE WORKED IN RADIO IN MURRAY.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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