[♪♪] LAW AND ORDER BECOMES AN EARLY ISSUE IN THE KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S RACE... WE'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL MORE 'TENSION' BETWEEN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION KENTUCKY WITHHOLDS ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR A PROPOSED ELECTRIC BATTERY PLANT UNTIL IT GETS MORE ANSWERS IN WASHINGTON... KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER BACKS OFF OF A MOVE TO HOLD THE F-B-I DIRECTOR IN CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS FINALLY CLEARER SKIES REPLACE SMOKE FROM CANADA... AND 'COMMENT' IS NEXT ON K-E-T!

GOOD EVENING...

I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO 'COMMNET ON KENTUCKY'... A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF 'WORKING' KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: LIAM NIEMEYER, REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

OLIVIA KRAUTH, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER JOURNAL.

AND MARCUS GREEN, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT... A BILL IS INTRODUCED TO MAKE MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK BIGGER.... AND THE CITY OF COVINGTON BLAMES REVENUE CHALLENGES ON SO MANY PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME.

A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT... LET'S BEGIN WITH THE LATEST ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN MADE A MOVE TO BLUNT REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON'S PUSH FOR 'LAW AND ORDER.'

SO WE'LL GET TO THAT...

HE OLIVIA YOU INTRIGUED ME WITH THE PRESENT TAGHTS OF THIS MAP THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK THAT SHOWS WHERE THE CANDIDATES ARE GOING.

YOU'RE TRACKING THEIR MOVEMENTS AND IT'S INTERESTING EARLY IN THE RACE.

>> DEFINITELY, FOR ME IT WAS INITIALLY SUPPOSED TO BE A PET PROJECT THAT I HAD ON THE SIDE.

BUT THEN MY EDITOR TOOK INTEREST SO IT IS NOW PUBLIC.

ESSENTIALLY I'M TRACKING THEIR OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN STOPS TO SEE WHERE THEY GO, ESPECIALLY A FEW WEEKS INTO THE RACE.

SEEING WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE AN IMMEDIATE PRIORITY IS FASCINATING.

AND SEEING HOW BIG OF A PUSH GETTING OUT THERE IS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WHAT DID YOU FIND WHERE ARE THEY GOING FIRST?

>> WITH BESHEAR, HE KIND OF WENT STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GATE ALL OVER THE PLACE IN A WHIRL WIND WEEKEND AFTER THE PAM AND HE HAS BEEN EVERYWHERE NORTHERN KENTUCKY TO THE WEST END OF LOUISVILLE.

CAMERON HAS BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE I GUESS REINED IN A LITTLE BIT.

HE HAS DONE A FEW STOPS AT A TIME.

HAS BEEN TO HALF THE SPOTS THAT BESHEAR HAS BEEN.

BUT THEY'VE BOTH BEEN TO THREE COUNTIES.

ONE OF WHICH IS WARREN WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG BATTLEGROUND SPOT.

>> Bill: A BATTLEGROUND COUNTY BECAUSE IT GOES BACK AND FORTH AND IT WILL BE HARD-FOUGHT AROUND THE BOWLING GREEN AREA.

THIS ISSUE, HAS COME UP.

CAMERON, OF COURSE, HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

HE PROUDLY TOUTED THAT DURING THE PRIMARY AND WE KNOW HOW EASILY HE WON THAT PRIMARY.

NOW THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS UNDER INDICTMENT.

ANY REACTION ON THAT?

>> YES, I MEAN HE'S SAID HE IS STICKING BY HIS MAN.

AND I MEAN, YOU CAN LOOK BACK A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN HE ALSO HAD TO STAND BY TRUMP DURING ANOTHER THING.

AND THAT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO CAUSE ANY ISSUE FOR HIM AT ALL.

HE WENT ON TO WIN THE PRIMARY BY A MASSIVE MARGIN.

SO.

>> Bill: THIS IS A STATEMENT SAYING KENTUCKIANS CONTINUE TO BE KENTUCKY DERBIED ABOUT THE WEAPONIZATION OF GOVERNMENT POWER DONALD TRUMP APPEARS TO BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN THE DEMOCRATS.

JOE BIDEN MISHANDLED CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND SO DID HILLARY CLINTON WHERE ARE THOSE INDICTMENTS?

THERE ARE TWO SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE ONE FOR REPUBLICANS AND ONE FOR DEMOCRATS.

CAMERON GOING ON THE OFFENSE IN THAT STATEMENT?

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY SO AND I WOULD THINK AT THIS POINT THAT IS THE REPUBLICAN TALKING POINT FOR A CERTAIN GROUP OF REPUBLICANS.

AGAIN, I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS WHAT HE SAYS TOO, TOO, TOO MUCH IN THIS REGARD BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HURT HIM BEFORE.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL HURT HIM.

>> Bill: WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM BESHEAR ON THIS?

>> NO.

>> .

>> Bill: THE BESHEAR STARTED A LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORT THIS WEEK WITH 35 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS ENDORSING THE GOVERNOR FOR A SECOND TERM.

BESHEAR SPOKE AT THAT EVENT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL CAMERON IS BLAMING BESHEAR FOR UPTICK IN CRIME.

>> I VIEW TODAY'S ENDORSEMENTS AS A CONTINUATION OF THE GOOD WORK FOR THOSE THAT DON'T RUN FROM THE CHALLENGES THAT FACE OUR STATE.

EVERY KENTUCKY FAMILY DESERVES TO FEEL SAFE.

>> ANDY BESHEAR BEARS ALL THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RISING CRIME AND HE ADDED TO THE RISING CRIME WHEN HE PAROLED FOLKS AND A THIRD HAVE COMMITTED FELONIES SINCE THEN.

>> Bill: LIAM, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING AS THE TWO TRY TO GET ADVANTAGE ON THE ISSUE OF CRIME IT APPEARS IS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT DISCUSSION IN THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> I IMAGINE, SO.

IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT CRIME HAS BEEN A POLITICAL TALKING POINT IN CAMPAIGNS IN THE PAST, OF COURSE.

BUT YOU KNOW THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN HITTING BACK AGAINST CAMERON IN THE SENSE SAYING THAT BECAUSE CAMERON IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL, THAT CAMERON DOES SHARE BLAME IN TERMS OF RISING CRIME STATISTICS ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

HE WAS TOUTING ENDORSEMENTS ALL THE WAY FROM THE FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS IN PIKEVILLE.

AND THOSE LOCAL ENDORSEMENTS FROM SAY ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE, OFFICES THEY ARE CENTRAL PARTS OF THOSE COMMUNITIES.

IN TERMS OF HOW MUCH THOSE LOCAL ENDORSEMENTS MATTER WE SAW THAT A LITTLE BIT WITH QUARELS CAMPAIGN THE AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER TOUTED LOCAL ENDORSEMENTS IN HIS G.O.P.

PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR.

AND YOU KNOW, DIDN'T GET IT DONE NECESSARILY.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> Bill: OLIVIA BESHEAR CLAIMED CREDIT FOR RAISES FOR KENTUCKY POLICE.

AND THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE LEGISLATURE SAYS WELL, WE MAKE THE BUDGET AND WE PUT THOSE RAISES IN THERE.

IT APPEARS THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH WHO GETS CREDIT FOR RAISES OUT THERE, RIGHT?

>> REALLY WHO GETS CREDIT FOR ANYTHING.

AND THIS ISN'T NEW.

THEY'VE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH ON THIS TOPIC FOR A WHILE NOW.

IT'S BEEN A TUG OF WAR.

YEAH, SO IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THEY ARE BATTLING IT OUT OVER WHO GETS TO CONSIDER THIS A WIN.

BUT I MEAN, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THE LAST TIME EITHER.

>> Bill: MARK, AS IT BECAME CLEAR THIS WEEK AT CAMERON IS GOING TO BE CRITICIZED ALONG THE WAY BY THE FAMILY AND SUPPORTERS OF BREONNA TAYLOR.

THERE WAS AN EVENT IN LOUISVILLE ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HER 30TH BIRTHDAY.

>> THIS IS A BONE OF CONTENTION THAT ACTIVISTS AND SUPPORTERS OF BREONNA TAYLOR AND HER FAMILY HAVE BEEN RAISING FOR SOMETIME NOW WHICH IS THAT CAMERON AS ATTORNEY GENERAL DID NOT INVESTIGATE AUTHORIZE RELY ENOUGH IN HIS INVESTIGATION OF HER FATAL SHOOTING AND IT -- BECAUSE THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO ONLY WANTON ENDANGERMENT FOR AN OFFICER SHOOTING INTO AN APARTMENT.

IT DIDN'T ADDRESS THE INTELLIGENCE GATHERING OR THE SHOOTING AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INDICTED FOUR OFFICERS IN 2022 THAT THOSE TYPES OF CHARGES CAME.

I THINK WE SHOULD BE EXPECTING THIS TYPE OF NARRATIVE, THIS TYPE OF CLAIM TO BE REPEATED TIME AND AGAIN.

CAMERON DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH IN THE BREONNA TAYLOR INVESTIGATION.

>> Bill: BEFORE WE LEAVE THE HORSERACE ISSUES OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, OLIVIA, 2300 NEW VOTERS REGISTERED SINCE THE PRIMARY.

AN INDICATION OF SOME GREAT INTEREST IN THE FALL CAMPAIGN.

AND AFTER SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS REMOVED SOME INACTIVE VOTERS, THE REPUBLICANS NOW HAVE A REGISTRATION OVER DEMOCRATS ABOUT 60,000.

DEMOCRATS HAD THE REGISTRATION ADVANTAGE IN 2019 WHEN BESHEAR WON THAT NARROW 5,000 VOTE VICTORY.

>> RIGHT.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I THINK LIKE LAST SUMMER THAT IT SWITCHED OVER TO REPUBLICANS FIRMLY HAVING THAT LEAD.

OF COURSE, INDEPENDENT VOTE HAS BEEN GROWING OVER TIME.

IT'S TOUGH TO SAY IF THIS IS REALLY GOING TO MATTER TOO MUCH BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A VERY LARGE GROUP OF KENTUCKY VOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN HISTORICALLY REGISTERED DEMOCRAT BUT HAVE BEEN VOTING RED FOR A LONGTIME.

IF THIS IS JUST SOMEBODY FINALLY MAKING THE SWITCH OFFICIALLY ON PAPER, IT WOULDN'T NECESSARILY MATTER.

>> Bill: DO YOU THINK THE FACT THAT 10% ARE INDEPENDENT IN KENTUCKY SCARES BOTH CAMPAIGNS THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY MIGHT LAND?

>> YEAH, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE KENTUCKY HAS CLOSED PRIMARIES.

SO THOSE THAT 10% NO IDEA WHERE THEY LAND RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: LIAM QUESTIONS CAME UP IN A LEGISLATIVE ECONOMY HOW MONEY RAISED FOR TORNADO VICTIMS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND FLOOD VICTIMS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS BEING DISTRIBUTED.

>> YEAH, THERE WAS YOU KNOW, MEMBERSHIP OF LEADERSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET WHICH IS HEADING THESE RELIEF FUNDS ESTABLISH THE RELIEF FUNDS.

THEY WENT BEFORE A COMMITTEE OF LAWMAKERS AND A LOT OF THE OLD CRITICISMS HOW THE FUNDS HAD BEEN HANDLED CAME UP IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING.

SAY THERE WAS QUESTIONS FROM REPUBLICANS ABOUT RELIEF CHECKS THAT WENT TO TORNADO VICTIMS THAT DIDN'T GO TO FOLKS WHO WERE AFFECTED.

THERE WAS ALSO QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS THESE FUNDS WERE SETUP.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED BY LAWMAKERS INCLUDED IF PUBLIC PROTECTION CABINET OFFICIALS CONSULTED WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ETHICS COMMISSION ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE FUNDS.

WHICH CABINET OFFICIALS SAID THEY DID NOT.

AND REPUBLICANS PUT A PRESS RELEASE AFTER THE COMMITTEE MEETING SORT OF DECRYING THAT NOTION.

BUT, LOTS OF OLD CRITICISMS AND THERE WAS A BILL THAT WAS PASSED THIS PAST SESSION WHICH WOULD REQUIRE REPORTS ON THESE RELIEF FUNDS AND WHERE THEY STAND, HOW MUCH MONEY HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED WHERE IT'S GONE TO BE GIVEN TO THE LEGISLATURE.

SO YEAH, POLITICS ARE ABOUND.

>> Bill: AS YOU SAID, RIGHT, AND EVEN AS THEY PREPARE FOR THE SESSION NEXT YEAR WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THE PANDEMIC, THE TORNADOES AND THE FLOODS.

THIS WAS A RESPONSE TO THAT.

WE ANTICIPATE THOSE QUESTIONS WILL CONTINUE.

THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION UPDATED THE GUIDANCE OF SENATE BILL 150 AND IT RESULTED WITH THE RUE DUKE OF THE G.O.P.

SENATE LEADERSHIP SPECIFICALLY SENATOR WISE AND IT COMES DOWN TO THE CON JUNG SON OR, RIGHT?

THAT IS UP FOR DEBATE.

>> IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A DEBACLE.

WE HAVE SB150 AND IT DOES A TON OF THINGS.

ONE THING LAWMAKERS SAID THEY WANTED IT TO DO WAS INSURE THAT ANY SORT OF SEX ED CLASS DIDN'T START UNTIL 6TH GRADE.

AND THEN AND ANY CONVERSATION ANY LESSON ANYTHING THAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE EXPLORING GENDER IDENTITY OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM SCHOOLS K-12.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IN THE ABSOLUTE INSANITY MAD DASH THAT WAS THE LAST DAY OF TRYING TO FIND A COMPROMISE AND GET IT THROUGH BEFORE THE VETO PERIOD, THERE SEEMS TO BE A COPY AND PASTING ERROR AND THERE IS A WEIRD SEMICOLON IN A SPOT WHERE MAYBE THEY DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE.

SO THERE IS AN OR IN A CRITICAL SPOT WHERE THEY DEFINITELY WANTED IT TO BE AN AND.

KED CAUGHT IT AND TOLD DISTRICTS IT DOES LEGALLY LIKE YOU HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN THESE TWO THINGS.

AND MAX WISE WAS NOT PLEASED.

HE CALLED IT ABSURD AND HE SAID YOU KNEW WHAT WE MEANT AND THE LAW IS PRETTY CLEAR.

>> Bill: UP TO THE SCHOOLS WHAT THEY ULTIMATELY DECIDE, RIGHT?

>> KED GUIDANCE IS HOSPITALLIONAL AND THEY WERE -- OPTIONAL AND THEY WERE LIKE TALK WITH YOUR OWN ATTORNEY.

>> COMMISSIONER GLASS ACKNOWLEDGES HE IS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER JOB AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HIS FEELINGS ON CERTAIN ISSUES ARE NOT IN STEP WITH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> YEAH, AND A FEW WEEKS AGO HE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A FINALIST FOR A JOB UP IN BALTIMORE ENDED UP NOT GETTING IT.

WHEN THAT NEWS BROKE, HE WAS JUST LIKE IT'S NOT ABOUT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS SAID ABOUT ME.

IT'S MORE ABOUT HAVING A SPOT WHERE WE CAN AS A FAMILY PUT DOWN LONG-TERM ROOTS.

BUT HE HAS ALSO BEEN CLEAR HE KNOWS THE PAST FEW EDUCATION COMMISSIONERS IN KENTUCKY HAVE LEFT UNDER POLITICAL CLOUDS.

AND HE COULD HAVE BEEN CAN STILL BE THE NEXT ONE.

SO HE'S NOT BLIND TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> Bill: MARCUS YOU HAVE BEEN DOING A DEEP DIVE ON THE MOBILE POLICE FORCE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY AND YOUR SEARCH FOR INFORMATION HAS BEEN CHALLENGING?

>> IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING TO SAY THE LEAST.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2022 WAS JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS CREATED A NEW SAFETY PLAN AND PART OF THAT PLAN INVOLVED IN-SCHOOL SAFETY ADMINISTRATORS AND IT CREATED A GROUP OF ROVING MOBILE POLICE OFFICERS SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICERS THEY ARE CALLED.

THE GOALS TO HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR BUT FEW HAVE BEEN HIRED AND OUR REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ESSENTIALLY TURNED UP NOTHING, NOTHING OF THE REQUIRED REPORTING THAT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL, TO THE ADMINISTRATORS AND IN FACT THE REASON BEING THERE'S TWO OF OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN HIRED AND WHILE ON THE ONE HAND IT IS AN ACCOUNTABILITY STORY TO SHOW THAT JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAS NOT DONE WHAT IT SAID IT WOULD DO BY POLICY, IT'S SHOWING THE CHALLENGES MANY PUBLIC AGENCIES FACE IN HIRING LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WHY JCPS RAISED STARTING SALARY, BECAUSE THEY ALONG WITH POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING PEOPLE TO TAKE THE POSITIONS.

>> Bill: AND 3 OR 4 MILLION ALLOCATED.

>> IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROGRAM AND THE FIRST YEAR WAS 7 OR 8 MILLION IT IS DEPENDING UPON GETTING THE PEOPLE IN THE POSITIONS AND THEY ARE NOT THERE.

>> Bill: AND KENTUCKY IS WITHHOLDING TAX INCENTIVES INTENDED FOR PROPOSED CAR BATTERY PLANT BECAUSE OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE BEING RAISED ABOUT IT AND CONCERNS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS A PROPOSED FACILITY IN HOPKINSVILLE THAT WOULD CREATE MORE THAN 500 JOBS.

THE STATE WOULD PROVIDE INCENTIVES NORTH OF $20 MILLION.

AND WHAT THE ISSUE IS THAT SOME CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS HAVE RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THIS COMPANY'S TIES TO CHINA.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PAUSED A LOAN OF $200 MILLION LOAN THAT IT HAD BEEN PREPARED TO GIVE THIS COMPANY AND KENTUCKY WANTS TO WAIT UNTIL THERE'S MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY BEFORE IT PROCEEDS.

>> Bill: LIAM KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER PRESSED FOR CONTEMPT CHARGES FOR F.B.I.

DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY AFTER WRAY BRIEFED COMER ABOUT AN F.B.I.

DOCUMENT AND DECLINED TO RELEASE IT.

AND THEN LATER IN THE WEEK THAT CONTEMPT DID NOT HAPPEN.

>> YEAH, OF COURSE, JAMES COMER THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

THEY HAD A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN A CONTEMPT RESOLUTION AGAINST F.B.I.

DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ACCUSING THE F.B.I.

AND WRAY OF NOT RELEASING INFORMATION A DOCUMENT THAT HAD INFORMATION ABOUT AN UNVERIFIED TIP RELATED TO BIDEN.

AND THEY WERE SAYING THAT IF THIS INFORMATION WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMITTEE THEY WOULD VOTE ON THE RESOLUTION.

AND A COMPROMISE WAS STRUCK.

THEY ENDED UP ALLOWING THE MEMBERS OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO SEE THE WHAT THE UNVERIFIED TIP WAS BUT NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHARED OUTSIDE OF THAT COMMITTEE.

>> Bill: IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ERIC DETERS WHO LIVENED UP THE GOVERNOR'S RACE SAYS HE IS LIKELY TO CHALLENGE FOURTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSEY.

THAT COULD GET INTERESTING UP THERE IN A PRIMARY.

>> OF COURSE.

YOU KNOW, ERIC DETERS YOU KNOW, A BIG TRUMP SUPPORTER WHO IS KNOWN FOR HOLDING HIS MEDIA SHOW GATHERINGS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW WELL HE WOULD DO AGAINST THOMAS MASSEY.

HE OF COURSE WAS IN THE G.O.P.

GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY AND WHILE HE DIDN'T REALLY REGISTER THAT WELL AMONGST THE OTHER CANDIDATES HIS STRONGEST SHOWING OF SUPPORT WAS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHERE HE LIVED.

SOME OF THE COUNTIES NEAR BOON COUNTY OR COVINGTON.

>> Bill: HE IS A TOUGH CRITIC OF SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL AS WELL.

>> CORRECT.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION REGULATES UTILITIES AND APPROVES THE RATES AND PEOPLE BRING THEIR DISPUTES THERE AND THE CHAIR SAYS THE COMMISSION IS SHORTHANDED.

>> YEAH IT WAS AN INTERESTING COMMITTEE HEARING TODAY PART OF SEVERAL COMMITTEE HEARINGS THAT LAWMAKERS ARE HOLDING THIS WEEK.

BASICALLY, THE KENTUCKY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS IN CHARGE OF A LOT OF WORK.

THEY REGULATE RATES AND SAFETY AND SERVICE OF SAY TINY RURAL WATER DISTRICTS, THAT PROVIDE WATER TO RURAL COMMUNITIES ALL THE WAY TO MASSIVE INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES SUCH AS KENTUCKY POWER.

AND THEY ARE DOING THAT WITH LESS STAFF AND LESS SKILLED THEY HAVE IN PREVIOUS DECADES.

THE NUMBERS WERE SOMETHING LIKE 96 STAFF WITH 12,000 CUMULATIVE MONTHS OF EXPERIENCE NOW DOWN TO 72 STAFF WITH ABOUT 8500 CUMULATIVE MONTHS.

AND THIS IS COMING AT A TIME THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION KEN CHANDLER SAYS THEY ARE FACING MORE COMPLICATED CASES THAN EVER.

>> Bill: MORE WORK WITH FEWER PEOPLE.

FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL FILE YOU REPORTED ABOUT 100 ABANDONED OIL AND GAS WELLS WILL BE PLUGGED AND CLEANED UP.

BUT THERE IS A LOT MORE TO DO?

>> IT BARELY SCRATCHES THE SURFACE.

THERE WAS ONE REPORT, I BELIEVE, A YEAR OR TWO AGO AN ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY RESEARCH GROUP THAT ESTIMATED MORE THAN 14,000 ABANDONED OIL AND GAS WELLS ACROSS THE STATE.

KENTUCKY HAS A LONG HISTORY WITH EXTRACTED INDUSTRIES FOSSIL-FUEL INDUSTRIES.

BUT OF COURSE ONCE THESE COMPANIES WERE DONE DRILLING FOR OIL, THEY LEFT THE EQUIPMENT THERE.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE FROM THE FACT THAT METHANE IS LEAKING OUT, IT'S EXPLOSIVE AND AN ISSUE IN TERMS OF EMISSIONS.

METHANE IS A GREENHOUSE GAS AROUND CLIMATE CHANGE TOO.

>> Bill: AND THESE ARE ALL OVER THE FORESTS.

TRANSFERRED PROPERTY BACK TO LOCAL CONTROL IN NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY BRACK TO THE BRADY INDUSTRY PROPOSAL FOR A PLANT THERE YEARS AGO.

>> THIS IS NOW, I THINK FIVE OR SIX YEARS SINCE THE INITIAL BRADY SUBSIDIES WERE APPROVED AND STILL NOTHING THERE AND MAYBE SOMETHING BEGINNING TO HAPPEN IN THAT PART OF THE STATE.

>> Bill: YOU'RE WATCHING THE SITUATION AND CONCERNS AT APP HARVEST THEY EMPLOY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> WELL, THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS.

ONE IS THEY ARE SHORT ON CASH AND ALSO ONE OF THEIR GREENHOUSES FACES A FORECLOSE ACTION IN MADISON COUNTY.

THAT COULD BE AN ISSUE IF IT CLOSES THE 60-ACRE FARM AND THEY ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH MOMENTUM TO GROW.

IT IS A BALLY-HOOKED PROJECT.

>> Bill: THE 65 MILLION PROJECT TO REVISITLIZE LOUISVILLE GARDENS.

>> THIS IS THE OLD ARMORY BUILDING IN LOUISVILLE.

IT WAS A CONCERT BUILDING AND IT CLOSED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE HAS BEEN TRYING AND TRYING AND TRYING TO FIND A TENANT.

THEY HAVE A SOUND STAGE PROJECT THAT WOULD CREATE SOME NEW LIFE FOR IT.

THE VICE-PRESIDENT.

AGREEMENT WAS SUPPOSED TOP BEEN SIGNED.

WHAT I'M TOLD IT'S STILL MOVING FORWARD IT HAS NOT MET THE DEADLINE AND NOT TO WORRY IT'S STILL LOOKS TO BE HAPPENING.

>> Bill: THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING WEEK IN NEWS WITH THINGS COMING FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.

A PROPOSAL FROM THE SECOND DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN GUTHRIE AND MITCH McCONNELL TO EXPAND MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK AND OPEN UP MORE OF THE CAVE.

>> IT WOULD BE MORE THAN 900 ACRES BUYING THE LAND FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY.

THE McCONNELL AND GUTHRIE WERE TOUTING THIS AND AS EVERYONE KNOWS MAMMOTH CAVE IS HUGE.

THEY MENTIONED IN I BELIEVE IN A PRESS RELEASE FROM McCONNELL GUTHRIE'S OFFICE THAT THIS IS ABOUT INSURING CRITICAL WHAT THEY DESCRIBED AS CRITICAL HABITAT IS PRESERVED IN MAMMOTH CAVE.

AND OBVIOUSLY MAMMOTH CAVE BEING QUITE BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE, UNIQUE PLACE IT SEEMS LIKE A WELL DESERVED EFFORT.

>> Bill: $69 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT DOWN THERE.

MARCUS IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH THE CITY OF COVINGTON IS BLAMING WORKING FROM HOME FOR SOME OF ITS REVENUE CHALLENGES.

LINK NKY REPORTED THAT LEADERS POINT OUT THAT PEOPLE PAY OCCUPATIONAL TAXES WHERE THEY WORK NOT WHERE THE COMPANY'S OFFICES ARE LOCATED AND THAT IS HAVING A MAJOR IMPACT IN COVINGTON.

>> IT IS INTERESTING THIS IS SORT OF THE UNINTENDED FALLOUT FROM PEOPLE CHANGING THE WAY THAT THEY WORK.

AND YOU KNOW I THINK AS WE SEE THIS IN COVINGTON OR PERHAPS OTHER CITIES AS WELL, IT'S GOING TO BRING THESE ISSUES ABOUT HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN RAISE REVENUE TO FILL THESE SHORTFALLS.

I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS FOR YEARS NOW TO DO A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TRY TO GIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MORE LOCAL CONTROL.

AND I'M TOLD THESE CONVERSATIONS GROUPS LIKE YOU DECIDE KENTUCKY TRYING TO BUILD STATE-WIDE COALITION TO GET SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN PUT BEFORE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND PERHAPS FINALLY GET OVER THAT HURDLE WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN HAVE THAT CONTROL.

>> Bill: THERE IS A MORATORIUM ON CITIES ANNEXING BECAUSE THE CITIES AND COUNTIES FIGHT OVER THE OCCUPATIONAL TAX MONEY THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE THERE.

OLIVIA, THE SMOKE FROM THE CANADIAN WILDFIRES DESCENDED UPON KENTUCKY THIS WEEK.

IT DELAYED TRAVEL FOR SOME.

LOCAL DOCTORS SAID THAT VULNERABLE PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID THE HAZE AND WE'RE SEEING THAT AGAIN THIS WEEKEND.

ATTENTION GETTING.

DOES IT RAISE THE CLIMATE CHANGE DISCUSSION AMONG KENTUCKIANS?

>> I THINK A LITTLE BIT BUT IT IS A A LITTLE BIT OF A TREND RIGHT.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE YOU ARE SEEING ALL THE PHOTOS COME OUT OF NEW YORK CITY.

AND ONCE THAT THE NEWS CYCLE TURNS OVER I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Bill: PEOPLE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING.

MARCUS HOW WILL MOVING THE HORSERACES FROM CHURCHILL DOWN TOSSEL LIST PARK IMPACT LOUISVILLE?

>> WELL, A LOT OF THESE JOBS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS ARE SEASONAL.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE ANTICIPATED TO WORK FOR THAT MEET ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

YOU ARE SEEING PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO SCRAMBLE AND FIND SOURCES OF INCOME WHERE THEY WERE COUNTING ON CHURCHILL DOWNS.

>> WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO DO WITH THE INVESTIGATION?

>> THERE ARE MANY WHO BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS ANDDALE, A HORSE TRAINER IN LOUISVILLE, BELIEVES THIS WAS CHURCHILL DOWNS CORPORATE OVERREACTING TO ISSUES ON THE RACETRACK.

HE BELIEVES THIS WAS A SHAREHOLDER OR BOARD DRIVEN INITIATIVE TO TRY TO PRESENT CHURCHILL IN MORE FAVORABLE LIGHT TO SAVE FACE.

THIS HAS BEEN A NATIONAL STORY.

WHEN I TALK TO FRIENDS OUT OF STATE THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE HORSE DEATHS RATHER THAN THE RACING.

IT IS A BIG STORY.

>> Bill: THE IS THIS THE KNOW NEW YORK, NEW YORK.

FULTON GIVINGS A LARGE AMOUNT OF CREDIT FOR HIS SUCCESS TO BLUEGRASS ROOTS AND HIS TIME IN LEXINGTON'S PROGRAM, THE ARTS PROGRAM IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

TUNE IN FOR THAT SUNDAY AT 8:00 P.M. ON THE CBS NETWORK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FOR COMMENT COMMENT HAVE A "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.