DOLLARS FROM THE FEDERAL COVID RELIEF ACT CHANGE UP THE DISCUSSION ABOUT THE KENTUCKY STATE BUDGET?

COVID TRENDS CONTINUE DOWNWARD AND VACCINATIONS ARE UP, SO CAN WE DO MORE?

A YEAR AFTER BREONN DEATH WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WHAT FLOOD CLEANUP CONTINUES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AS GROUPS FROM ALL OVER PITCH IN TO HELP.

AND DAMAGE IS STILL BEING DOCUMENTE AS WE SPRING FORWARD THIS WEEKEND, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON K. GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND SOME ANALYSIS.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN AND EASTER KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

RYLAND BARTON, CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

MORGAN WATKINS, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNA AND DAWNE GEE OF WAVE 3 IN LOUI ALSO TONIGHT, SCHOOL CHOICE IS DEBATED AGAIN IN FRANKFORT, AND UK SCHEDULES IN-PERSON GRADUATION CEREMONIES FOR THIS SPRING AND A NORMAL FALL SEMEST BUT LET'S BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH THE STATE BUDGET.

NO REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON SUPPORTED THE COVID RELIEF PACKAGE SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT BIDEN, BUT BILLIONS O DOLLARS WILL BE HEADED TO KENTUCKY FROM THE RELIEF ACT AN REPUBLICANS IN FRANKFORT MAY HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT HOW THA MONEY IS SPENT, AND THAT HAS LIVENED UP THE STATE BUDGET TAL.

SO RYLAND, THEY WERE MEETING THIS WEEK TRYING TO GET THAT to WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE WORD CAM THAT ALL THIS MONEY IS COMING TO IN?

>> I THINK THERE'S EXCITEMENT BUT CAUTION ABOUT THAT.

EXCITEMENT BECAUSE KWE'S REVENUES NOT GROWING AS MUCH AS BUDGET WRITERS WOULD LIKE IT TO BE GROWING RIGHT NOW, AND HERE COMES $2.4 BILLION THAT'LL REALLY HELP THE STATE PAY FOR SOME OF THESE CORONAVIRUS-RELATED EXPENSES BUT THEN SOME OTHER THINGS AS WELL, SO THIS MONEY CAN GO TO PAYING FOR VACCINATION PROGRAMS BUT ALSO RELIEF FOR BUSINESSES.

THE STATE CAN ALSO USE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR UP TO $13 PER HOUR RAISES FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

IT'S NOT -- IT'S STILL TO BE DETERMINED WHO EXACTLY THOSE ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE.

THOSE WILL KIND OF COME WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE TREASURY, YOU KNOW, NOMINATE COMING DAYS.

AND THEN -- IN THE COMING DAYS.

AND THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER PROJECTS IT CAN BE USED FOR.

IT JUST HAS TO BE DONE BY 2024.

THERE'S ONE STICKY WICKET WITH THIS-SHOW WHICH IS THAT NONE OF THE MONEY CAN BE USED TO FINANCE TAX CUTS.

THAT'S WRITTEN IN UNDER THE FEDERAL BILL.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY HARD TO MEASURE THAT, AND EVERY STATE IS GOING TO KIND OF BE IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION ON WHAT EXACTLY COUNTS AS A TAX CUT, ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH THIS.

CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EVEN TELL STATES HOW EXACTLY TO USE THIS MONEY?

THESE ARE THE THING THAT WILL BE FIGURED OUT IN THE COMING DAYS, AND LEGISLATORS ARE REALLY TRYING TO GET THEIR BUDGET PASSED BY WEDNESDAY, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S VETO PERIOD BECAUSE IF THEY DON'T GET IT PASSED BY THEN, THEN THEY'D HAVE TO PATES IN THE THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION LATER THIS MONTH, AND THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE ABLE TO LINE ITEM VETO WHATEVER HE WANTED TO.

>> Bill: THEIR APPROACH IS DIFFERENT ALL ALONG FROM WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTED WHEN HE MADE HIS SPENDING PROPOSAL WHICH INCLUDED RAISES FOR TEACHERS AND FOR STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID THEY WANT A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH, THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE RAISES WHEN THOSE ARE NOT HAPPENING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

DOES THIS CHANGE ANY OF THE HUE OF THAT DISCUSSION?

>> Ryland: NOT VERY MUCH.

I MAN, I THINK THEY'RE STILL BEATING THE DRUM WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE ONE-TIME MONEY TO PAY FOR ONGOING EXPENSES, AND A LOT OF THIS MONEY FROM THE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE 1Y AGAIN, IS ONE TIME MONEY.

IT HAS TO BE SPENT BY 2024.

BUT III NOT GOING TO COME OUT -- BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING FOUND WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTED, WHICH IS RAISES THE FOR TEACHERS, KIND OF CREATING A CORONAVIRUS MIN, MINI CORONAVIRUS RELIEF PACKAGE AS WELL, ALTHOUGH WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE SPECIFICS ARE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE LEGISLATORS HAVE UP UNTIL THIS POINT REALLY, ALL THEY HAVE DONE IS PASS CONTINUATION BUDGETS TO KIND OF MOVE THE PROCESS ALONG, SO IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE CRITICAL THESE NEXT TWO WORKING NI DAYS IN THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT WHAT THE BUDGET BILL EXACTLY LOOKS LIKE.

>> Bill: MORGAN, TO SOME EXTENT THEY'RE DOING A BUDGET BILL NOT KNOW THE RULES THAT WILL BE A THATCHED TO THIS MONEY.

COULD SOME OF IT, FOR INSTANCE, GO TOWARD BROADBAND PROJECT, TO WHICH ACCESS IS A PRIORITY FOR PEOPLE IN BOTH PARTIES?

>> Morgan: YES, IT COULD.

SO BASICALLY WHAT THEY KNOW IS THAT YOU COULD USE IT ON BROADBAND, WATER, OR SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

YOU COULD USE IT TO PAY BACK THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THE STATE BORROWED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COVER THE MASSIVE INCREASE NUN EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT IT NEEDED TO MIGHT AS PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS OR GOT FURLOUGHED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, SOME THINGS THAT THEY KNOW AT THIS POINT THAT IT CAN'T BE SPENT ON IS, AS RYLAND MENTIONED, FINANCING TAX CUTS, BUT THERE'S ALSO -- YOU CAN'T US OOH IT TO PAY DOWN PUBLIC PENSION DEBTS, SO THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE A GODSEND IN THAT SENSE FROM THE PUB PENSION ISSUES THAT KENTUCKY'S FACING.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO USE IT FOR CERTAIN OTHER KIND OF PROJECTS.

THEY'LL DEFINITELY TO WADE THROUGH TO SEE WHAT THE RULES ARE ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T SPEND BUT BROADBAND IS CERTAINLY ON THE TABLE.

>> Bill: AND RYLAND SAID A SHORT TIME TO DO THAT.

BILL, THERE IS FUNDING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL.

THAT AGAIN ONE-TIME MONEY, BUT IT CHANGES THE PICTURE FOR THEM, DOESN'T IT?

>> Bill Estep: IT DOES.

IT LOOKS LIKE -- I READ A SUMMARY OF THIS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES THAT SEEMED TO DATA THERE I WAS LOT OF LATITUDE.

CITIES AND COUNTIES COULD SPEND IT FOR SALARIES, ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS, TOURISM.

THEY COULD EVEN GIVE SOME TO NON-PROFITS TO HELP THEM.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG BOOTE FOR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS WELL.

>> Bill: SO THIS IS A STORY THAT SPANS FRANKFORT AND WASHINGTON.

THE FEDERAL RELIEF BILL WAS OPPOSED BY ALL REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS BUT HAD NEARLY UNIVERSALDIC SUPPORT.

REPUBLICANS CALLED IT WAY TOO BIG AND UNFOCUSED, AND DEMOCRATS SAY IT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS RIGHT NOW.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S INITIAL RESPONSE TO THIS IS POSITIVE.

WHAT THEY DO NOT KNOW IS HOW MUCH OF THE BILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC.

LESS THAN 1% OF IT DEALS WITH VACCINATIONS.

ONLY ABOUT 9% OF IT DEALS WITH HEALTH CARE.

ALL THE REST OF IT IS UNRELATED TO THE PROBLEM IT'S DESIGNED TO ADDRESS.

>> IF YOU WERE MEASURING IN TERMS OF RELIEF FOR NEARLY EVERY AMERICAN FAMILY AND HARD-WORKING INDIVIDUALS, IF YOUR YARDSTICK IS THE LIFTING MILLIONS OF CHILDREN OUT OF POVERTY AND GIVING PARENTS THE HELP DESPERATELY NEED, IF YOUR METRICS ARE A STRONG AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC FUTURE BOTH IN THE SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM, THEN IT'S EASY TO AGREE, AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DO.

>> Bill: SO, MORGAN, AS THE POLITICS OF THIS CONTINUES TO EVOLVE RIGHT NOW AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS ANNOUNCED THE CHECKS ARE ON THE WAY, WHAT MESSAGING ARE WE LIABLE TO HEAR FROM SENATOR McCONNELL WHO SAYS REPUBLICANS HAVE A LOT TO HIGHLIGHT AND CRITICIZE HERE?

>> YOU'LL DEFINITELY SEE HIM AND OTHER CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS DO THAT.

SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD SENATOR McCONNELL AND OTHER REPUBLICANS CRITICIZE SO FAR IS IN PART THE AID FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SAYING THAT A LOT OF THIS IS MONEY THAT THEY'RE GETTING, NOT SPECIFICALLY TO DEAL WITH PANDEMIC-RELATED THINGS, ALTHOUGH ON THE FLIP SIDE, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, OF COURSE, ASKING FOR -- THEY WERE ASKING FOR THIS LAST YEAR SAYING THAT THEY'VE BEEN ECONOMICALLY HURT BY THE PANDEMIC JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AND ARE STRAPPED FOR CASH, SO THAT'S SORT OF A DEBATE THAT WE HAVE SEEN FOR MONTHS IN THE PAST.

THERE'S ALSO BEEN SOMETHING ELSE THAT REPUBLICANS POINTED ON IS MONEY GOING TO EDUCATION BUT NOT WITH STRINGS ATTACHED REQUIRING THEM TO QUICKLY REOPEN FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES.

THE OTHER BIG THING I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR, THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM SENATOR McCONNELL SO FAR AND I THINK YOU'LL CONTINUE TO HEAR, IS NOT TO LET DEMOCRATS TAKE CREDIT FOR ALL OF THE PROGRESS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF THE PANDEMIC, BOTH ECONOMIC AND IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SPHERE.

SENATOR McCONNELL HATS SAID REPEATEDLY, LOOK, WE WERE ALREADY REACHING THIS TURNING POINT.

WE WERE ALREADY HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUFFS BIPARTISAN STIMULUS PACKAGES THAT CONGRESS PASSED LAST YEAR AND OTHER EFFORTS TO SORT OF SAYING, LOOK, JUST BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS PUSHED THIS BILL THROUGH, DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE THE ONES THAT GET TO KIND OF RIDE IN ON THAT WHITE HORSE AT THE END AND TAKE CREDIT FOR IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HE REALLY WANTS TO HAMMER HOME AS A POINT.

>> Bill: A LOT OF INTERESTING DISCUSSION, OBVIOUSLY AHEAD ON THAT.

WE'VE -- BILL DEALT WITH EMERGENCIES INSIDE EMERGENCIES HERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WITH THE ICE STORMS AND THE FLOODING, THE DAMAGE ESTIMATES ARE ADDING UP OUT THERE.

WHAT KIND OF ASSISTANCE IS KENTUCKY TRYING TO GET RIGHT NOW?

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF TEAM WORK OUT THERE.

>> Bill Estep: SURE.

THE GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND MICHAEL DAUS WHO IS THE HEAD OF KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, I HAVE SEEN HEM A COUPLE TIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS AT NEWS CONFERENCES ABOUT THOSE PERSONS OF COURSE YOU HAD IF ICE STORM IN EARLY FEBRUARY AND THE FLOODING AFTER THAT THAT WAS PARTICULARLY BAD IN BOONVILLE, JACKSON, IRVIN, BEATTYVILLE AREA.

BOTH -- THEY BOTH SAID THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, WHICH WOULD HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND STATE GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS LIKE WASHED-OUT ROADS, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT WE'RE ALSO GOING TO APPLY FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE WHICH WOULD MEAN IF IT'S A PROVED, WOULD BE PAYMENTS DIRECTLY TO HOMEOWNERS UP TO THRIVE HOW THE $500 THAT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE -- DEBBIE $35,500 THAT WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE REPAID.

WE'RE STILL DOING DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.

THEY'RE ON A 30-DAY CLOCK TO DO THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.

>> IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE THE PANDEMIC WAS DECLARED WORLDWIDE AND ALL OF OUR LIVES HAVE CHANGED.

KENTUCKY'S COVID NUMBERS ARE TRENDING DOWN WASHED THE POSITIVITY RATE UNDER 4% AND ABOUT 20% OF KENTUCKIANS HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE DOSE OF THE A VACCINE AT THIS POINT.

RYLAND, THE CDC'S RELAXING SOME GUIDELINES WITH UK PLANNING ON IN-PERSON GRADUATION.

THE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED THIS AFTERNOON THERE WILL BE A NORMAL FALL SEMESTER.

HE SAYS THERE WILL BE A CROWD AT THE DERBY.

THE PRESIDENT BRINGS UP THAT IMAGE OF FOURTH OF JULY ACTIVITIES.

ARE WE BEGINNING TO SEE THE HORIZON HERE?

>> Ryland: I THINK EVERYBODY HOPES SO, AND ALL THE NUMBERS ARE POINTING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS STILL A LITTLE BIT OF CONSTERNATION AND WORRY ABOUT THE VARIANTS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND IF THOSE START TO GROW, BUT CERTAINLY RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THE CDC'S GUIDELINES NOW ALLOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED TO HANG OUT INSIDE WITHOUT PLAQUES, WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE -- WITHOUT MASKS WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE ALSO RECEIVED THE VACCINE, ALSO WITH PEOPLE WHO WOULDN'T BE SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO A -- TO A SERIOUS REACTION TO EVERYBODY CORONAVIRUS, SO THAT'S ALREADY A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NOW AND WHAT'S BEEN GOING IN THE LAST YEAR, AND IT'S GOING TO OPEN UP UNLESS NUMBERS START GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

AND KENTUCKY HAS BEEN GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL AN ELEVATED NUMBER OF DEATH.

THE STATE IS STILL WONT CONTINUING TO REPORT AT LEAST TWO TO THREE DOZENS DOZEN DEATHS EVERY DAY.

>> Bill: BILL, NURSING HOME VISITS CAN RESUME IN KENTUCKY NEXT WEEK, INCLUDING THE MEDICAID AND MEDICARE SUPPORTED FACILITIES.

>> Bill Estep: THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL SAID ESSENTIALLY IF 70 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS OF A ASSISTANT LIVING OR NURSING HOME HAVE BEEN VACCINATED AND THE POSITIVITY RATE THAT COMMUNITY IS BELOW 10%, YOU CAN HAVE IN-PERSON VIS DYKES.

'S POSITIVITY RATE WAS 3.88% TODAY SO IT'S WELL BELOW THAT.

YEAH, YOU CAN GO BACK TO THOSE PIN PERSON VISITS.

I THINK SOME INNINGS ARE GOING TO BE A LITTLE CRASHES ABOUT THAT.

NURSING HOPES.

SIGNATURE HEALTH CARE IN KENTUCKY ISSUED GUIDANCE THAT SAID THEY'RE STILL GOING TO REQUIRE MASKS AND TEMPERATURE CHECKS EVEN UNDER THE NEW GUIDELINES.

>> Bill: OBVIOUSLY, THE POWER STRUGGLES CONTINUE IN FRANKFORT.

THERE I WAS RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE WHERE LAWMAKERS HAD PROPRIETORS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE SAID IF THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL BE THE PRIORITIES THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE EMERGENCY SITUATION.

DID IT NOT INCLUDES A MASK MANDATE.

>> Bill Estep: NO, THIS IS A HOUSE RESOLUTION THAT LAID OUT IF THEY HAD THE POWER TO DO IT WHAT PIECES OF OF THE MANDATES THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS PUT OUT THERE WOULD THEY KEEP.

DID IT NOT INCLUDE THIS MASK MANDATE OR RESTRICTIONS ON RESTAURANT CAPACITY IT.

KEPT SOME OF THE OTHERS.

>> Bill: THIS WEEKEND MARKS A YEAR SINCE THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR AND THAT THERE HAS ABOUT AN A PUSH FOR JUSTICE IN THE TIME SINCE.

LONGTIME DAWNE GEE IS A LOUISVILLE NATIVE WHOSE COVERED NEWS IN HER HOMETOWN THE SINCE THE EARLY '90S, AND SHE TALKS TO US ABOUT WHERE THINGS STAND.

DAWNE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT ON "COMMENT."

WE APPRECIATE IT.

AS YOU REFLECT ON THIS YEAR AFTER BREONNA TAYLOR'S DEATH, WHAT STANDS OUT IN YOUR MIND IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY'S CONTINUING REACTION AND WHAT HAS CHANGED AND WHAT HASN'T?

>> Dawne: WOW.

I MEAN, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LOT TO ENCOMPASS.

SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN A YEAR.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT BRION A'S LAW.

THERE'S BEEN TRANSPARENCY, RESOLUTION.

SO MANY PEOPLE EVEN BEFORE THE DEATH OF BREAKING MORE TRANSPARENCY, AND SO THAT CALL WAS HERD.

OF BROLIN, MORE TRANSPARENCY.

THE USE OF FORCE ORDINANCE NOW AGAIN IN PLACE WHEN WE SAW SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES WHO WERE TAKEN BY CHOKEHOLDS AND DIFFERENT THINGS, SO THAT CAME ABOUT.

HERE IN OUR OWN CITY, WE'RE SEEING A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD AND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE CALLED THAT FOR REALLY FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT NOW THAT IS IN PLACE.

AND SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ELEVEN PEOPLE NOW WHO HAVE BEEN RECOMMENDED FOR THAT BOARD.

SO MANY PEOPLE WERE SAYING DEFUND THE POLICE, AND SO THOSE CALLS WERE HEARD, BUT IT WAS MORE OF A DEFLECTION, NOT A DEFUNDING, SO METRO COUNCIL COMING UP WITH THE MONEYS THAT WILL GO TO OTHER PLACES BECAUSE THE POLICE ARE CALLED FOR EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING FROM HOMELESSNESS TO DOMESTIC DISPUTES AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS.

SO NOW THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THAT MONEY IN OTHER PLACES SO POLICE DON'T HAVE TO HANDLE ALL OF THAT.

SO THERE'S A LOT THAT'S CHANGED.

>> Bill: AND THERE ARE CALLS FOR MORE ACTION, OBVIOUSLY.

LOUISVILLE HAS BANNED NO KNOCK WARRANTS WITHIN THE METRO GOVERNMENT IT.

APPEARS THAT A STATEWIDE LAW RESTRICTING THOSE WILL BECOME THE LAW OF THE LAND BUT NOT AN OUTRATE BAN STATEWIDE.

DO SOME CONSIDER THAT TO BE URN FINISHED BUSINESS?

>> Dawne: WELL, EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, IS UNFINISHED BUSINESS UNTIL PEOPLE, I BELIEVE, THINK THAT IT HAS MADE A DIFFERENCE.

SO, LIKE YOU SAID, THOSE NO KNOCK WARRANTS TOTALLY BANNED HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

IN KENTUCKY IT'S KIND OF LIKE YOU HAVE TO PROVE THAT THE CRIME ALLEGED IS A CRIME THAT QUALIFIES THAT PERSON AS VERY DANGEROUS, AND THEN THEY ONLY CAN BE EXECUTED BETWEEN 6:00 A.M. AND 10:00 P.M., SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO SEE WILL THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, WILL IT KEEP THINGS FROM HAPPENING THAT SHOULDN'T.

>> Bill: THERE IS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION GOING ON SURROUNDING THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF BRIONA'S DEATH.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AND OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THAT MAY BE WIDENING.

THAT'S A PRETTY WIDE INQUIRY.

>> Dawne: WELL, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATION IS HAPPENING, BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A LOT ABOUT AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS QUICKLY.

YOU DO NOT WANT IT TO HAPPEN QUICKLY.

YOU WANT IT TO HAPPEN CORRECTLY.

SO WE KNOW THAT THAT IS HAPPENING, AND THEY'RE SAYING THEY'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT THE ACTIONS OF THE POLICE OFFICERS.

SOWHAT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

TOM MENTIONED THAT EARLIER THIS WEEK AND JUST ARE TELLING PEOPLE WE'RE NOT DONE.

SO WE HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE, BUT I DON'T EVER ALL YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT -- OVERALL YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THINGS ARE DONE CORRECTLY AND SAFELY FOR EVERYONE IN THE CITY.

>> Bill: DO A LOFT PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE IN THE CITY?

>> Lawrence: PRODUCTIVE.

>> Dawne: PRODUCTIVE.

I WISH I COULD GIVE YOU A BIG YES, BUT WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS WE HAVE TO LEARN NOT TO JUST RESPOND AS A REBUTTAL BUT TO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING AND TO REMEMBER THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE.

WE SEE THEM HOW WE ARE.

SO YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT SOMEONE ELSE'S FEELING ABOUT SOMETHING MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS BECAUSE THEY'VE EXPERIENCED IT DIFFERENTLY.

SO I PRAY THAT WE BEGIN TO LISTEN MORE AND JUST CUT EACH OTHER SOME SLACK MORE THAN ANYTHING.

>> Bill: DAWNE GEE FROM WAVE 3 IN LOUISVILLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR PERSPECTIVE WITH US.

>> Dave: IT IS MY PLEASURE, AND I APPRECIATE YOU.

>> Bill: AND BACK NOW WITH OUR PANEL OF BILL ESTEP, MORGAN WATKINS AND RYLAND BARTON AND MORE ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE, AND ONE OF THE THINGS GOING ON, A DISCUSSION OF SOME OF THE SOCIAL YOU HAVE THE J ISSUES OF THE LAST SUMMER AND THE LAST YEAR.

SENATOR DANNY CARROLL SPONSORED A BILL BANG TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR RIOTING.

SENATOR JERALD NEAL IS IN OPPOSITION TO THAT.

AND BOTH OF THOSE GENTLEMEN SPOKE ON THE FLOOR.

>> I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR PASSING LAWS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH TO PROTECT THE PROPERTY OF THE BUSINESS OWNERS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH, TO PROTECT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.

I WILL NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.

>> THIS IS BENEATH THIS BODY.

IT'S UNWISE.

IT'S PROVOCATIVE.

IT'S UNNECESSARY.

IT'S UNREASONABLE.

HOW DARE YOU?

>> Bill: RYLAND, OBVIOUSLY A TENSE DEBATE THERE IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.

>> Ryland: VERY TENSE.

SO THIS BILL WOULD MAKE IT A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR TO ESSENTIALLY INSULT OR TAUNT, EVEN MAKE SECREC GESTURES AT POLICE OFFICERS IF THE PERSON RECEIVING THE GESTURE OR THE TAUNT FEELS LIKE THEY COULD BE PROVOKED TO HAVE A VIOLENT RESPONSE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A REASONABLE OR PRUDENT PERSON, SO THERE'S SOME PRETTY BROAD LANGUAGE THERE AND LANGUAGE THAT CERTAINLY WOULD BE EVER COULD BE APPLIED FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND REALLY THIS IS DIRECTLY IN RESPONSE TO THE PROTESTS IN LOUISVILLE ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY LAST YEAR, AND REALLY IT WOULD JUST -- SENATOR CARROLL, WHAT HE SAID EXPLICITLY IS THAT HE WAS TRYING TO PROTECT POLICE OFFICERS, THAT POLICE OFFICERS WERE IN DANGERED DURING LAST YEARS PROTESTS AND THAT THIS WOULD HELP THEM.

YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THIS, I THINK WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE CONTEXT OF WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING.

THIS IS ONLY TWO DAYS BEFORE -- AT LEAST THAT SPEECH WAS ONLY TWO DAYS BEFORE THE ANNIVERSARY OF BREONNA TAYLOR'S DEATH.

IN THIS TIME AFTER SUMMER IN WHICH EVERYBODY WAS CALLING FOR DEMILLE TARRIZATION OF POLICE AND REALLY TAKING A LOT OF UMBRAGE WITH HOW LOUISVILLE POLICE AND POLICE ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHOWED UP AND, YOU KNOW, WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE AND AGGRESSIVELY DISPERSED WITH TEAR GAS AND PEPPER BALLS AND ALL SORTS OF DEVICES, LARGELY PEACEFUL CROWDS, AND THIS BILL JUST KIND OF -- THIS BILL IS A ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YEAH, SENATOR CARROLL, HE'S VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

HE'S A FORMER POLICE OFFICER, FORMER ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF FROM PADUCAH.

>> Bill: MORGAN, WHEN YOU GET TO THIS QUESTION OF INSULTING AN OFFICER, WOULDN'T THAT DEPEND ON THE INDIVIDUAL SENSITIVITY OF THE OFFICER?

MAYBE THEIR TRAINING AS TO HOW THEY WOULD HANDLE A SITUATION?

>> Morgan: ONE WOULD EXPECT.

THE WAY THAT THE BILL IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, IT SAYS THAT IF AN INSULT OR A GESTURE WOULD PROVOKE A VIOLENT RESPONSE, FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF A REASONABLE PERSON, IT DOESN'T EXPLICITLY LAY THAT OUT.

THAT COMES TO THE QUESTION OF WHAT WOULD A REASONABLE PERSON CONSIDER TO BE SOMETHING YOU COULD SAY THAT WOULD PROVOKE A VIOLENT RESPONSE.

I'M SURE THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO CONSIDER THEMSELVES REASONABLE AND SAY THERE'S NOTHING ANYONE COULD SAY OR ANY GESTURE THEY COULD DO THAT WOULD BE TOCK RESPOND TO VIOLENTY TO BUT OTHER PEOPLE WILL SAY, NO, I THINK HERE'S WHERE THE LINE IS.

I'M SURE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE AN ISSUE.

THE LANGUAGE WAS CRITICIZED DURING THE DEBATE BY DEMOCRATS AS SOMETHING HA WAS TOO BROAD.

SENATOR CARROLL MENTIONED THAT THAT LANGUAGE MIGHT BE EDITED OR TWEAKED TO TRY TO, HE SAID, 28 IT FROM A LEGAL CHALLENGE.

THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL IN THE SENATE, THERE WERE SEVERAL REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST IT, AND THEY RAISED CONCERNS SAG AS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW, WE'RE NOT SURE IF THIS BILL WOULD BE CONSIDERED CONSTITUTIONAL, SOMETHING THAT HAS CERTAINLY COME UP IS FIRST AMENDMENT CONCERNS.

WOULD CRIMINALIZING SPEECH, I INCONSULTING ANG EVER POLICE OFFICER, ESSENTIALLY -- >> Bill: A COUPLE OF SCHOOL CHOICE BILLS UNDER DISCUSSION AND FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN MIXED INTO THIS.

THIS BILL WENT TO A LOT OF CHANGES AS THE WEEK WENT ALONG, RIGHT?

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

THIS IS A KIND OF OMNIBUS SCHOOL CHOICE BILL, AND AI IT CHANGED A LOT IN ONE DAY.

IT PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND OFF THE HOUSE FLOOR WITH SEVER CHANGES BEING MADE THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS THIS WEEK.

SO RIGHT NOW THE BILL, IT WOULD CREATE THESE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACCOUNTS THAT COULD BE USED TO PAY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION BUT ON IN THE COUNTIES, LARGER COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY, FAYETTE, JEFFERSON, KENTON COUNTY.

LARGER COUNTIES BY POPULATION, THIS IS.

AND IT DOES A FEW OTHER THINGS.

IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE DISTRICTS TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO ALLOW STUDENTS FROM OTHER DISTRICTS TO COME INTO THEIR DISTRICT AND ALSO BRING MONEY ALONG WITH THEM, AND AS PART OF THIS, IT WOULD ALSO CREATE -- PAVE THE WAY FOR FUNDING FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN IN KENTUCKY.

ALTHOUGH THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD END UP HAVING TO BE RA PROVED AGAIN LATER BECAUSE IT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BUDGET ITEM.

THIS YEAR WOULD REQUIRE 60 VOTES, AND THAT BILL DID NOT GET 60 VOTES.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PIECES TO THIS, AND IT STILL HAS TO THE TO THE SENATE WHERE SENATORS WILL WEIGH IN ON THOSE CHANGES.

>> Bill: AND THERE ALSO IS A BILL PROPOSED THAT WOULD CHANGE THE FACT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO GET AN EYE TEST EVERY YEAR THAT YOU -- WHEN YOU GET YOUR DRIVER LICENSE, EVERY TIME YOU GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE RENEWED.

WE'RE FOLLOWING THAT.

AND CHANGES TO A BILL, A BILL THAT WOULD HAVE WEAKENED THE STATE OPEN RECORDS LAW, WHICH YOU HAVE USED VERY OFTEN IN YOUR REPORTING OVER THE YEARS.

>> Bill Estep: I WAS ON THE OPEN RECORDS QUESTION JUST TODAY.

SO THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD -- THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IT WOULD LET LEGISLATORS DECIDE WHAT BILLS TO RELEASE ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE, ABOUT THEMSELVES ESSENTIALLY.

SEEMS TO BE A RESPONSE TO -- THERE I WAS 2019 DECISION AT THE HERALD-LEADER TOOK A CASE TO THE SUPREME COURT, AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID THAT FRANKLIN CIRCUIT CORD COULD DECIDE APPEALS ON THOSE CASES.

THAT WOULD SWITCH WALK TO THE LEGISLATURE, HAVING PURVIEW OVER THAT.

>> Bill: YOU WERE DOING REPORTING THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT THAT LINCOLN COUNTY EXPLOSION FROM AUGUST 2019 BEVERAGES WHEN YOU GO 1, 2019 A GAS YOU PIPELINE BLEW UP IN LINCOLN COUNTY NEAR JUNCTION CITY.

THERE WAS ONE WOMAN WHO DIED, FIVE PEOPLE INJURED AND A POLICE OFFICER AS WELL, SIX INJURED.

THERE WERE -- THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD RELEASED SEVERAL THOUSAND PAGES OF DOCUMENTS ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK, POSTED THEM ONLINE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT WAS SORT OF A CONFIRMATION OF AVENUE AN EARLIER REPORT THAT THERE WERE DEFECTS IN THE PIPELINE AT THE SPOT WHERE IT BROKE.

>> Bill: NO CAUSE YET.

>> Bill Estep: NO CAUSE.

THAT SHOULD BE COMING SOON.

>> Bill: IN OWENSBORO THE MAYOR SAID A CONFEDERATE STATUTE REMOVED FROM THE COIN COURTHOUSE LAWN WON'T BE PUT ON CITY PROPERTY.

THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THE 120-YEAR-OLD STATUE GOES TO MUSEUM.

CITY LEADERS AGREE IT SHOULDN'T GO SOMEWHERE WHERE THAT IS OWNED BY THE CITY.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS THIS WEEKEND.

WE'RE A STATE WITH TWO TIME ZONES.

FORM GOVERNMENT WENDELL FORD FOUGHT THE TIME CHANGE.

HE FAMOUSLY SAID IT CONFUSED COWS AND LEFT KIDS WAITING FOR A SCHOOL BUS IN THE DARK WHEN RICH PEOPLE WERE OUT GOLFING LATE AT NIGHT, SO THAT WAS HIS ARGUMENT.

BE SURE TO STAY WITH US FOR