LAWMAKERS VOTE TO OVERRIDE VETOES FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR, INCLUDING SENATE BILL 150 ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES.

AFTER ADVOCATES PUSH HARD FOR YEARS, MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS LEGALIZED.

SPORTS BETTING WILL SOON BE LEGAL IN KENTUCKY.

IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, A PRO-DANIEL CAMERON AD TOUTS HIS ENDORSEMENT FROM DONALD TRUMP, JUST AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS INDICTED.

AND RYAN QUARLES SAYS HE IS INTENTIONALLY STAYING OUT OF GOP FIGHTING.

AS WE ROLL INTO APRIL, "COMMEN IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON-HERALD LEADER.

MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND JOE SONKA, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE ALSO TONIGHT, NARCAN GOES OVER THE COUNTER, AND IN WESTERN KENTUCKY A DEADLY HELICOPTER COLLISION AT FORT CAMPBELL CLAIMS NINE LIVES.

AS WE HIT THE AIR ON THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, SOME OF WESTERN KENTUCKY IS UNDER A TORNADO WATCH AND THERE IS A CHANCE OF SEVERE STORMS IN THE REST OF THE STATE SO BE CAREFUL AND STAY AWARE OF THAT.

A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.

WE BEGIN WITH SENATE BILL 150 WHICH DEALS WIT TRANSGENDER ISSUES.

IT IS NOW SET TO BECOME LAW.

SOME PARTS OF IT ARE ALREADY IN FORCE.

THE LEGISLATURE OVERRODE GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S VETO, AND IT CAME AFTER LOUD CONTENTIOUS DEBATE DURING WHICH SOME PROTESTERS WERE ARRESTED AT THE CAPITOL.

>> WE'RE HAVING TO MAKE DECISIONS BECAUSE THERE ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT CANNOT LEGISLATE ON THEIR OWN COMMON SENSE IN BATHROOMS, IN LOCKER ROOMS, IN SHOWER ROOMS.

>> WE'RE TAKING AWAY AN OPTION THAT A FAMILY, THAT A DOCTOR -- WE'RE NOT DOCTORS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A COUPLE OF US.

WE'RE NOT DOCTORS.

I TRUST THEM TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH THOSE KIDS IN THOSE SPECIFIC INSTANCES.

>> Bill: THIS BECAME AN EMOTIONAL DEBATE, JOE, A FLASHPOINT AT THE END OF THE SESSION ON DISPLAY IN THAT VIDEO.

THE DEBATES WERE TOUGH RIGHT TO THE VERY END.

>> Joe: YEAH, SENATE BILL 150 WASN'T ONLY THE BILL THAT ATTRACTED THE MOST PASSION AND EMOTIONAL DEBATE AND PROTEST BUT IT COMBINED TWO OF THE THE MOST EMOTIONAL ONES BECAUSE THEY BASICALLY COMBINED HOUSE BILL 470, THAT PROHIBITED ANY KIND OF GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR TRANSGENDER YOUTH DOWN TO HORMONES AND PUBERTY BLOCKERS, SO WE DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF CHANGES FROM THE VOTES FROM BEFORE THE VETO PERIOD.

THE VOTES WERE THE SAME, BUT THERE WAS STILL THE SAME PASSION, AND THAT EXTENDED TO THE FINAL VOTE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR WHERE THERE WERE ABOUT 19 PROTESTORS IN THE GALLERY WHO SHOUTED THROUGHOUT AND EVENTUALLY WERE LED OUT IN PROTEST, LED OUT BY THE STATE POLICE AND ARRESTED.

SO IT PASSED.

THERE WAS ALSO THE PROTEST OF THE KIDS BEFORE THE DEBATE THAT DAY IN FRONT OF THE ANNEX TRYING TO GET ANYONE TO CHANGE THEIR VOTES.

ULTIMATELY I THINK THERE WAS ONLY ONE VOTE CHANGE REALLY BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS.

NOW IT GOES INTO LAW, NOT ONLY THE BAN ON GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE BUT A LOT OF CHANGES THAT HAVE TO BE IMPLEMENTED RIGHT AWAY AT THE SCHOOLS DEALING WITH THE BATHROOM BAN FOR TRANSGENDER KIDS TO CHOOSE THE BATHROOM THEY CHOOSE, ANY DISCUSSIONS OR LESSONS INVOLVING SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, TEACHERS BEING ALLOW TO MISGENDER A TRANSGENDER STUDENT, SO THERE'S A LOT OF BIG CHANGES RIGHT AWAY BUT THIS ONE MIGHT GO RIGHT TO THE COURTS.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, A LOT AT BECAUSE THIS WAS SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE BILL.

>> Austin: SO MUCH.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO UNPACK.

IT'S A MOUTHFUL.

I CAN'T BELIEVE JOE JUST SAID IT ALL RIGHT THERE.

BUT I DO THINK WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO SEE SOME KIND OF LEGAL CHALLENGE HERE BECAUSE, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE PIECES OF THIS BILL, IT'S REALM TOUGH TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND, PARTICULARLY THE INSTRUCTION PIECE IS IMPLEMENTED.

IT BANS DISCUSSION OR INSTRUCTION ON I BELIEVE SEXUAL OR 18TATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AND GENDER EXPRESSION.

SO IT REALLY RAISES A BUNCH QUESTIONS.

WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU'RE A NON-BINARY ORE TRANSGENDER TEACHER?

ARE YOU ALLOWED TO DISCUSS YOUR IDENTITY?

ARE YOU ALLOWED TO DISCUSS YOUR ORIENTATION IF YOU'RE GAY?

IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DISCUSS YOUR ORIENTATION.

YOUR STRAIGHT?

I THINK CERTAINLY THE BILL AUTHORS WOULD ARGUE AGAINST THAT EXTREME AND SAY YOU ARE IF YOU'RE STRAIGHT OR POTENTIALLIY EVEN GAY, YOU THE ABOUT AT THE SAME TIME THE WORDING IS JUST VERY BROAD ON A NUMBER OF THESE ISSUES.

>> Bill: SO, JOE, SCHOOLS HAVE A LOT TO FIGURE OUT AND QUICKLY BECAUSE SOME OF THIS IS IMMEDIATELY IN EFFECT.

>> Joe: AH, L. YEAH, WHAT I MENTIONED THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE ON THAT PART OF THE BILL DEALING WITH THE LESSONS OF WHAT YOU CAN'T SAY, DEALING WITH BATHROOMS, DEALING WITH THE PRONOUNS THAT YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE.

THOSE GO INTO EFFECT RIGHT AWAY.

THE ONLY THINGS THAT WAIT UNTIL LATE JUNE TO GO INTO EFFECT ARE THE ONES DEALING WITH THE PROHIBITION OF HORMONES AND HUBERT BLOCKERS BY DOCTORS -- PUBERTY BLOCKERS BY DOCTORS, ALSO DOCTORS TO DETRANSITION KIDS WHO HAVE ALREADY STARTED THAT PROCESS.

>> Bill: LET'S TURN TO MELISSA ON THAT.

OBVIOUSLY 90 DAYS BEFORE THAT PORTION FORTUNATE BILL GOES INTO EFFECT, SO SOME FAMILIES AND HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO DO SOME PLANNING, RIGHT?

>> Melissa: THEY DO.

AND THE ANTICIPATION FROM THE ADVOCATES FOR THIS TO SUPPORT TRANS YOUTH ARE HOPING THAT IT WILL GO TO COURT AND THAT THERE WILL BE A DELAY OF IT JUMPING IN, BUT IF IT DOESN'T, THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS KNOW VERY WELL THROUGH THIS LAW, WHAT'LL BE LAW -- THAT THEIR LICENSE WILL BE REVOKED IF THEY PROVIDE THIS GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE TO YOUTH, AND I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WHAT FAMILIES WILL DO WILL LIKELY BE TO MOVE OUT OF STATE OR TO GO OUT OF STATE FOR THIS CARE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT WAS THE DRAMATIC VETO OF THE WEEK, AND THERE WERE OTHERS.

THE LEGISLATURE WAS ON A FAST MISSION OVERRIDING LOTS OF VETOES.

WE -- THE GOVERNOR TRIED TO KEEP AN EXPANSION OF MEDICAID IN PLACE THAT HE PUT IN PLACE FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.

AT A APPLIED TO NEARLY 900,000 KENTUCKIANS, BUT THE LEGISLATURE SAYS HE WENT ABOUT IT THE WRONG R. WRONG WAY.

>> Melissa: YES.

THE GOVERNOR THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER GAVE THESE BENEFITS TO PEOPLE ON MEDICAID WITH 90% OF THE MONEY FOR IT COMING FROM THE FEDERAL MONEYS, BUT THE REST OF IT COMING FROM MONEY -- FROM OUR STATE MOVING TO ONE SINGLE FARMERS BENEFIT MANAGER, AND SO THE -- PHARMACY BEVIN MANAGER, AND SO THE LAWMAKERS DETERMINED THAT THAT WAS APPROPRIATING MONEY AND THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT DECISION, AND SO THEY DEEMED THE REGULATION DEFICIENT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT HE ANTICIPATE -- HE THINKS THAT HE CAN ISSUE A NEW REG TO EXTEND THESE BENEFITS, BUT THE LAW CLEARLY STATES THAT IT HAS TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT, SO IT BE WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH HOW THAT EVOLVES.

>> Bill: AND THAT IS DENIAL, VISION AND HEARING.

>> Melissa: DENTAL, VISION AND HEARING.

THE BILL CLEARLY STATED BECAUSE THE DENIAL ASSOCIATION WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE THE FEES FOR MEDICAID DENY CARE, THEY THINK THERE'S MUCH PROVIDERS.

THEY'RE JUST NOT GETTING PAID ENOUGH TO TAKE MEDICAID PATIENTS.

SO THERE IS A STATEMENT WITHIN THAT BILL TO SAY THAT THE RATES CAN BE INCREASED.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, FUTURE EDUCATION COMMISSIONERS WILL BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE STATE SENATE, AND THIS COMES AS COMMISSIONER JASE OWN GLASS RAN AFOUL OF SOME LAWMAKERS DURING THE SESSION.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SENATE BILL 107, I BELIEVE, AND THEY PASSED THAT PRETTY EASILY ON A PARTY LINE VOTE.

JASON GLASS ALMOST KICKED OFF SOME OF THE DEBATE THAT WE'VE HAD ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS IN SCHOOLS.

REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS REALLY JUMPED ON SOME COMMENTS THAT HE MADE WHEN HE SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THAT TEACHERS WHO REFUSED TO USE A TRANSGENDER STUDENT'S CORRECT PRONOUNS SHOULD FIND ANOTHER LINE OF WORK, AND THAT REALLY UPSET A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ON THIS VERY HOT BUTTON ISSUE.

AND IF IT'S ANYCATION, THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION, WHICH MIGHT BE THE BIGGEST SOURCE OF MONEY IN THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S RACE, THEIR FIRST AD AGAINST BESHEAR, WHICH WAS OUT THIS WEEK, WAS ABOUT THAT INTERACTION AND WAS ABOUT JASON GLASS AND REALLY TRYING TO TIE BESHEAR TO JASON GLASS, AND BESHEAR HAS KIND OF SORT OF TRIED TO DISTANCE HIMSELF A LITTLE FROM GLASS' COMMENTS IN RECENT DAYS.

SO I THINK THIS IS ONE TO WATCH.

>> Bill: HOW MUCH POLITICAL IMPORTANCE IS THERE IN THIS?

I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS PUBLIC POLICY BUT WE'RE AT IN MIDDLE OF A GOVERNOR'S ELECTION YEAR.

>> Austin: I THINK EDUCATION HAS PROVEN TO BE A PRETTY STRONG ISSUE IN GOVERNOR'S RACES, AND PARTICULARLY, I MEAN, LET'S LOOK AT GLENN YOUNGER IN'S RACE IN VIRGINIA.

IT'S EITHER WHEN 2 ORE 21.

I FORGET WHICH.

22 OR 21.

THAT WAS WIDELY LAUDED AS A IMPRESSIVE REPUBLICAN WIN IN A PURPLISH-BLUE STATE, AND HE REALLY RODE ON THOSE ISSUES.

NOW THE QUESTION IS, IS THERE AS MUCH EMOTION ABOUT SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONERS AS THERE WAS DURING THE PANDEMI PANDEMIC.

BECAUSE THAT WAS A TIME WHEN PARENTS REALLY HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

AND NOW THAT ISN'T AS MUCH THE CASE, BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF THAT SENTIMENT.

>> Bill: WE PROMS EVERYBODY WE'LL GET BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN JUST A MINUTE.

BUT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

ANOTHER VETO OVERRIDDEN ALLOWS LEGAL CHALLENGES TO THE STATE TO BE MOVED OUT OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, RIGHT?

>> Joe: ANOTHER SESSION, ANOTHER BILL THAT WAS REALLY TARGETED RIGHT AT THE FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT.

PAST SESSIONS THERE WAS A BILL PASSED TO ALLOW PLAINTIFFS TO MOVE CASES OUTSIDE OF THE FRANKLINI CIRCUIT COURT, A COURT TO THAT REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES OF LONG CRIT SANITIZED THE JUDGE, JUDGE PHILLIP SHEPHERD AND JUDGE WINGATE IN THE FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT.

NOW THIS ALLOWS DEFENDANTS TO MOVE THE CASES OUT OF FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT INTO A RANDOM ONE.

SO WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES, LAWS LIKE SB 150, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IF YOU FILE THAT LAWSUIT IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, THEN THE DEFENDANT, WHICH COULD BE DANIEL CAMERON AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, WOULD SAY I WOULD LIKE TO TRY THIS IN ANOTHER COUNTY.

OBVIOUSLY ANOTHER -- ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO TRY TO GET THESE REALLY IMPORTANT CASES OUT OF FRANKLIN CIRCUIT.

>> Bill: THE LEGISLATURE REALLY GOT ROLLING ON THE LAST DAY OF THE SESSION WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND SPORTS BETTING BOTH PASSING AND BOTH BEING SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR BESHEAR THIS MORNING.

SO ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA, JOE, THIS COMES AFTER ADVOCATE HAD FOUGHT FOR YEARS.

>> Joe: YEAH, THIS WAS A DECADE IN MAKING.

IT USED TO BE A LONG SHOT THAT THESE ADVOCATES TRYING TO GET A LAW TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA, GIVE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM REALLY EXTREME MEDICAL CONDITIONS SOME COMFORT.

BUT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS IT'S REALLY STARTED TO PICK UP STEAM.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE TWICE, ONLY TO DIE IN THE SENATE BECAUSE IT JUST COULDN'T GAIN THE MAJORITY SUPPORT IN THAT REPUBLICAN CAUCUS FROM THE SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVES THERE.

IT FINALLY HAD A BREAKTHROUGH BEFORE THE VETO PERIOD AND PASSED THAT CHAMBER, AND REALLY IT WAS A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT THEY HAD THE VOTES IN HOUSE AND IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING SEEING THIS MORNING WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS THERE WITH ALL THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS WHO GUIDED IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, A LOT OF BACK SLAPPING AND BIPARTISANSHIP AND SHARING OF PRAISE WHICH YOU DON'T SEE A LOT.

IT WAS ALSO VERY TELLING ABOUT THE -- JUST AMAZING THAT THIS BILL, THIS MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL PASSED IN THE HOUSE AND THEN LITERAL 12 MINUTES LATER SPORTS BETTING, WHICH WAS ANOTHER BILL THAT HAD DIED IN THE SENATE LAST YEAR CERTAINLY UNEXPECTEDLY GOT TO THE FLOOR AND WAS VOTED INTO LAW.

>> Bill: THIS MEW MEDICAL LAW TAKES TAKE EFFECT IN 2025.

LOTS OF RESTRICTIONS ON IT, MELISSA.

>> Melissa: THERE ARE.

SO ONE OF THE MOST DISCUSSED RESTRICTIONS WAS THE FACT THAT IT CAN'T BE SMOKED, EVEN THOUGH IT COMES IN A FORM THAT COULD BE USED IN THAT WAY.

AND IT CAN BE USED WITH -- IT CAN BE USED WITH VAPING AND EDIBLES AND TOPICALS BUT I CAN'T BE SMOKED.

AND REPRESENTATIVE NEMES WAS VERY CLEAR AND PASSIONATE TO SAY PEOPLE WHO END UP SMOKING IT WILL BE PENALIZED AND PUT IN JAIL IF THEY'RE FOUND.

OTHER RESTRICTIONS, AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CARD TO USE IT.

YOU HAVE TO BE OVER 18.

IF YOU'RE UNDER 18 AND YOU QUALIFY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CARETAKER BE IN CHARGE OF THAT.

AS YOU SAID, IT DOESN'T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL 2025 AND IT'S ONLY FOR CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

>> Bill: IN THE MEANTIME, THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER REMAINS IN PLACE.

>> Melissa: RIGHT.

AND THE CHALLENGE WITH THAT, OF COURSE, IS THAT YOU TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER STATE TO GET IT, AND SO THAT MAKES IT OFF-LIMITS FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT'S WHY THIS BILL IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, THE RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT WAS SPORTS BETTING.

IT CAME VERY LATE ON THURSDAY.

SUPPORTERS HAD POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF KENTUCKY'S SURROUNDING STATES HAD IT.

>> Austin: ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

WE SAW A KEY FLIP I THINK PROBABLY.

DOMINO THAT MADE SOME OTHERS FALL WAS SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS WHO STILL SAID HE WAS AM BIFFLE AMBIVALENT WILL THE ISSUE BUT FLIPPED BECAUSE HE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.

NOW, SOME OF THE DETRACTORS, THERE ARE REAL CONCERNS HERE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST KIND OF SCOFF AT SOME OF THE CRITICISMS OF THE BILL.

BUT AS A 26-YEAR-OLD MAN, I CAN TELL YOU A LOT OF YOUNG MEN ARE GETTING REALLY INTO THIS STUFF AND THE COMMERCIALS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND I THINK AN INTERESTING THING ABOUT BOTH SPORTS BETTING AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA IS THE POLITICAL CALCULATION OF WHO WINS OFF OF IT, BOTH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND BESHEAR ARE TRYING TO SPIN THIS AS A WIN FOR THEM.

THE REPUBLICANS ACTUALLY PASSED THE LEGISLATION, BUT BESHEAR IS MAKING THE ARGUMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, HIS BULLY PULPIT KIND OF STYLE OF ADVOCACY FOR THESE THINGS.

>> Bill: THAT'LL BE THE CASE OVER ISSUE ALL YEAR LONG, RIGHT?

>> Austin: OF COURSE, RIGHT.

>> Bill: BOURBON BARREL TAX, A COMPROMISE REACHED ON THAT AND IS THAT IS TO EXTEND IT OUT EVERY A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME IN TERMS OF GIVING THAT BREAK TO THE DISTILLERIES.

>> Austin: YEA.

AND THERE IS A VERY COMPLICATED HOLD HARMLESS, TAX REVENUE FROZEN FORMULA FOR SCHOOLS, SO SCHOOLS KIND OF LARGELY FELL QUIET AT THE END, AND I THINK THAT WAS A BIG REASON THAT THIS GOT OVER THE FINISH LINE, BUT CITIES AND COUNTIES WERE STILL VERY UPSET, PARTICULARLY PLACES LIKE NELSON COUNTY WHICH HAS BARDSTOWN AND MARION COUNTY WHICH WAS LORETTO AND MAKER'S MARK.

>> Bill: JOE, ON CLOSING DAYS GOP SENATOR WESTERFIELD SAID HE WON'T RUN AGAIN.

THAT I WAS SURPRISE TO MANY.

>> Joe: YEAH, THATS I WAS SURPRISE.

IN 18 COUNTY HE'S BEEN DIGGING CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SPECIFICALLY JUVENILE JUSTICE.

HE PURDUE MARSY'S LAW, A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

HE ANNOUNCED IT ON THE MORNING OF THE FINAL DAY OF THE SESSION THAT HE NOT BE RUNNING AGAIN.

WE WANTED TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS FAMILY THERE IN CROFTON OR WHEREVER HIS NEW CITY -- >> Bill: FRUIT HILL, I BELIEVE.

>> Joe: I'VE BEEN MISLABELING HIS CITY ALL SESSION.

BUT, YEAH, HE WILL NOT BE RUNNING.

FOR RE-ELECTION.

HIS STATEMENT ANNOUNCING HIS RETIREMENT ALSO NOTED THAT HE WAS PROUD OF HIS FIGHT TO STOP THE EXPANSION OF SPORTS BETTING.

THAT MORNING WE ALL THOUGHT SPORTS BETTING WASN'T GOING TO PASS AND HOURS LATER IT DID.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT, YOU TWO.

RIGHT BEFORE THEY WALKED OUT THE DOOR, THERE WAS MORE DRAMA AS IF THERE HADN'T BEEN ENOUGH IN THIS SESSION IN THAT SOME HOUSE MEMBERS ARE M. REMOVED FROM COMMITTEES BY LEADERSHIP.

>> Joe: YEAH, ONE OF THE LAST THINGS THEY DID BEFORE THEY ADJOURNED THE SESSION, THEY ANNOUNCED FIVE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN KICKED OFF THEIR FEET.

FELICIA RAY BORN HAS BEEN KICKED OFF ALL BUT ONE OF THEY ARE COMMITTEES.

STEVEN DON'T ALSO FROM THE LIBERTY CAUCUS OF ON HIS REPUBLICANS, HE GOT KICKED OFF TOO.

HE HAS ONE REMAINING.

ALSO JOSH CALLOWAY AND KIM MOSER WHO IS NOT REALLY A LIBERTY PART OF THE CAUCUSES.

MARK HURT LOST A COMMITTEE.

I RAN INTO FELICIA RAYBURN RIGHT AFTER THIS HAPPENED AND HE WAS ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS, SAID THESE MEMBERS WERE ALL TARGETED FOR SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF CHALLENGING DECISIONS OF HOUSE GOP LEADERSHIP.

SHE WAS SAYING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO -- BOTH THE LEADERSHIP AND MAYBE PUT UP PRIMARY CHANGES AGAINST THEM, SO SHE WAS READY TO FIGHT RIGHT AWAY.

>> Austin: YEAH, AND WE'VE SEEN SOME ELECTORAL CHALLENGES AGAINST BOTH LEADERSHIP AND JUST KIND OF MORE ESTABLISHMENT WING REPUBLICANS FROM RAYBURN'S WING OF THE PARTY.

WE WON'T SEE THESE MATERIALIZE UNTIL I GUESS EARLY 2024 WHEN THOSE CAMPAIGN CYCLES HEAT UP, BUT I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL TO SEE SOME REALLY PROMINENT REPUBLICANS GET CHALLENGED FROM THE RIGHT.

>> Joe: IT'S A RISKY MOVE FOR OSBORNE IN LEADERSHIP BECAUSE A FEW OF THOSE VOTES WERE CLOSE AND TO UNITE THE LIQUOR CAUCUS WITH THE SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS THERE COULD BE TROUBLE.

>> Bill: THE STATE VOTED TO IMPEACHMENT JOHNNY GOLDING.

FIRST IMPEACHMENT SINCE 1888.

>> Joe: THE FIRST TIME THERE WAS A IMPEACHMENT ON THE DEPLORE OF THE CHAMBER, FORMER PROSECUTOR REGION GOLDING.

HE RESIGNED TO AVOID IMPEACHMENT.

THEY PUSHED FORWARD WITH IMPEACHMENT TO HOLD HIM OFF IN THE FUTURE.

HE DID NOT GET A SINGLE VOTE IN EITHER CHAMBER SO HE WILL NOT BE HOLDINGS OFFICE IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: NOW BACK ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND THE CROWDED.

AN AD ONE BY POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE PUSHING DANIEL CAMERON CALLED ATTENTION TO CAMERON'S ENDORSEMENT FROM DONALD TRUMP, AUSTIN, ON THE DAY IT WAS LEARNED THAT THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS BEING INDICTED.

>> Austin: IT WAS REALLY SOME TIMING.

NOW, I THINK THAT YOU COULD MAKE THE ARGUMENT EITHER WAY THAT TRUMP'S INDICTMENT HELPS OR HURTS DANIEL CAMERON IN HIS RUN RIGHT NOW.

ONE, IT'S AN INDICTMENT AND I THINK PEOPLE GENERALLY DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT PEOPLE GETTING POTENTIALLY ARRESTED.

BUT TWO, IT HAS IN SOME WAYS GALVANIZED THE TRUMP BASE AND THE REPUBLICAN BASE, WHICH IS IN A PRIMARY WHAT YOU WANT.

AND I THINK OVERALL I KIND OF INTERPRETED THE AD AS A RESPONSE THAT WASN'T TECHNICALLY A RESPONSE TO ALL THE SPENDING THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE KELLY CRAFT SIDE, BE IT FROM HER ACTUAL CAMPAIGN OR HER PAC.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH THEY CAN SPEND.

>> Bill: WHICH IS OVER $3 MILLION.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

AND THE CAMERON PAC BUY WAS 200K.

SO WE'LL SEE IF THEY KEEP ABREAST WITH THE CRAFT SIDE.

I WOULD BE SHOCK IF THEY'RE ABLE TO SURPASS.

>> Bill: IF THOSE TWO FIGHT IT OUT.

I INTERVIEWED AG COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES AND HE SAID HE'S INTENTIONALLY STAYING OUT OF FRAY.

HE SAID THE TOTAL VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS LIKE TOBY 325,000.

DOES THAT TELL YOU ANYTHING?

>> Joe: THERE'S HISTORY TO A CANDIDATE STAYING OUT OF THE MUD FIGHTS AND BEING ABLE TO SLIDE IN THERE AND WIN A PRIMARY.

BACK IN 2015 IT WAS HAL HEINER AND JAMES COMER IN REALLY HEATED NIGHTS THAT REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR PRIMARY.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MATT BEVIN SLID TO THE LEAD.

YOU GO BACK TO 1987, IT WAS STEVE BESHEAR AGAINST JOHN W. BROWN IN A REALLY HEATED AND UGLY, NASTY PRIMARY FIGHT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN WALLACE WILKINSON SLIDES IN.

SOOTHES THERE'S PRECEDENCE WHERE THE STANLEY STRA QUARRELS IS THE NICE GUY AND DOESN'T ATTACK ANYONE.

>> Bill: QUARLES GAVE SIGNALS ABOUT HOW HE WOULD GO AFTER BESHEAR IN THE FALL.

THAT INCLUDES SAYING HE WOULD GET ALONG WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND DRAWING A DISTINCTION ABOUT HOW WE WOULD HAVE APPROACHED THE PANDEMIC DIFFERENTLY.

>> I WOULD HAVE LISTENED TO PEOPLE AND SAY, HEY, IF THE BIG BOX STORES CAN FISHING FIGURE OUT THE CDC GUIDELINES, I THINK MAIN STREET KENTUCKY IS FAR ENOUGH TO DO THAT AS WELL.

HE KEPT ON US KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL LONGER THAN NECESSARY AND OUR TEST SCORES HAVE GONE DOWN.

AND HE VIOLATED OUR RIGHTS AS KENTUCKIANS, AS AMERICANS WHEN HEARD STATE TROOPERS TO GO TO CHURCH ON EASTER SUPPED AND WRITE DOWN LICENSE NUMBERS.

JUST BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A ONCE IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES SHOULD BE TOSSED OUT THE WINDOW.

>> Bill: IS THE PANDEMIC STILL POTENT THREE YEARS AFTER IT STARTED?

>> Joe: I DON'T KNOW.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CERTAINLY SEEMS TO THINK SO, AT LEAST TO THOSE SPECIFIC POINTS.

I THINK YOU COULD ARGUE THAT MOST KENTUCKIANS IN HINDSIGHT DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF SHUTTING DOWN CHURCHES FOR THE PANDEMIC.

BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU KNOW, BESHEAR MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL REALLY GOOD AND REALLY SAFE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO THERE'S THE ARGUMENT OF KIND OF FEELINGS OVER FACTS TO FLIP THE INFAMOUS BEN SHAPIRO LINE.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH ALL OF THAT.

MELISSA, SOME MAJOR NEWS ON THE OPIOID FRONT, INCLUDING FDA APPROVAL OF OVER SOME OF THIS COUNTER NARCAN.

>> Melissa: YEAH, THAT'S JUST GREAT NEWS BECAUSE -- BASS WE ALL NEED NARCAN IN OUR FIRST AID KITS BECAUSE YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP ON A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE HAS OVERDOSED, AND THIS DRUG, IF IT'S AN OPIOID OVERDOSE, WILL REVERSE AND IT SAVE THE LIFE.

THE CONCERN, OF COURSE, IS THAT NARCAN IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS APPROVAL AND THAT THE GENERIC BRANDS -- I CALL THEM GENERIC.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S EXACTLY CORRECT, BUT THE CHEAPER BRANDS NEED TO JUMP ONBOARD SO THAT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD IT.

>> Bill: IT WAS ALSO A NEW STUDY ON THE THIS WEEK FROM RESEARCHERS THEY UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WHO DETERMINED THAT SIX KENTUCKIANS I DAY ARE DYING OF AN OVERDOSE, AND IT LOOKED AT THE ROLE THAT COVID AND FENTANYL HAS BEEN PLAYING IN THIS SCENARIO.

>> Melissa: YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT PROMPTED THAT WAS IN 2020 WE HAD A 49% INCREASE IN OVERDOSE DEATHS IN KENTUCKY AFTER HAVING SOME SUCCESSES WHERE THE NUMBERS HAD GONE DOWN.

IT'S BEEN CALLED A PERFECT STORM.

YOU KNOW, THIS INFLUX OF FENTANYL THAT JUST KILLS SO MANY PEOPLE CAME INTO THE MARKET, AND AT THE SAME TIME COVID HIT, SO THE WORST THING FOR ANYONE SUFFERING FROM AN ADDICTION IS ISOLATION AND REMOVAL FROM THEIR THERAPIES AND THEIR RECOVERY PROGRAMS.

ON TOP OF THAT, PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS OR DIDN'T GO TO THEIR JOBS.

YOU KNOW, ALL OF THAT ADDED UP TO THE NUMBERS SHOW INCREASED OVERDOSE DEATHS.

SO UK IS GOING TO STUDY THAT AND SEE IN THE EFFORT TO -- IF WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN, HOW TO PREVENT IT.

>> Bill: APRIL IS STRESS AWARENESS MONTH.

WITH ALL THE HUB INCLUDED SEVER FACTOR INCLUDING HEALTH, A SLEEP AND DETERMINED KENTUCKY IS THE EIGHTH MOST STRESSED OUT STATE.

>> Melissa: WELL, YOU KNOW, HEALTH ISSUES ALONE CREATE STRESS.

DOCTORS' BILLS, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING INSURANCE OR NOT HAVING ADEQUATE INSURANCE.

ON TOP OF THAT WE ARE JUST COMING OFF THIS PANDEMIC.

WHO IS SURPRISED?

>> Bill: IT'S AT THE FOREFRONT, RIGHT?

AND WE KNOW KENTUCKIANS HAVE HEALTH CHALLENGES, LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

CERTAINLY A TRAGEDY AT FORT CAMPBELL WHEN NINE U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WERE KILLED IN A TRAINING EXERCISE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR CALLED IT A TOUGH AND TRAGIC DAY FOR KENTUCKY.

AND HE HAS ALSO ORDER THE FLAGS TO BE LOWERED TO HALF-STAFF FOR THIS WEEKEND AND FOR SEVERAL DAYS AHEAD.

THE KENTUCKY JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME HAS SOME NEW MEMBERS.

THE 2023 CLASS IS BEING INDUCTED TONIGHT IN A CEREMONY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

ONE THOSE BEING HONORED MY FORMER COLLEAGUE SAM DICK WHO SPENT DECADES A WKYT BEFORE RETIRE TONING PART-TIME WORK.

OTHERS ENTERING THE HALL-OF-FAMER INCLUDE THE LATE JOHN FETTERMAN, A REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

KIM GREEN A LOUISVILLE FIRST AMENDMENT CHAMP.

DAVID KIN DRON, WHO INTERVIEWED MUHAMMAD ALLY MORE THAN 300 TIMES.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE INDUCTEES.

THE BARGE PROBLEMS CON IN LOUISVILLE BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THAT IS BEING CLEANED UP.

AND THERE'S WORD THAT FOR THE MOST PART THINGS ARE HOPEFULLY ON TRACK THERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.