STATE LEGISLATURE WITH MOVEMENT ON UNEMPLOYMENT, TAX REFORM, SPORTS BETTING AND ABORTION.

MANY KENTUCKIANS SHOW SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE AND SOME MILITARY MEMBERS FROM THE STATE WILL BE DEPLOYED TO ASSIST NATO.

KENTUCKY SIGNS AN AGREEMENT WIT OHIO, JOINTLY PUSHING FOR A COMPANION SPAN NEXT TO THE BREN SPENCE BRIDGE.

TWO YEARS AFTER COVID SHOWED UP IN KENTUCKY, MOST MASK RULES ARE .

LIFTED AS NUMBER KEEP improving A SPRING FEEL IN EARLY MARCH.

"COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

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 AR AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER DEBORAH YETTER, REPORTER FOR TH AND MARCUS GREEN, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT, A BILL IS MOVING IN FRANKFORT THAT WOULD LET 18-YEAR-OLDS SERVE ALCOHOL EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN'T BUY IT.

AND THE ONLY POLICE OFFICER CHARGED IN CONNECTION TO THE RAID THAT LEFT BREONNA TAYLOR DEAD HAS BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY BY A JURY A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.

THERE IS NO SEPARATING WORLD EVENTS FROM WHAT'S GOING ON HERE AT HOME OR EVEN IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THIS WEEK, AS LOTS OF OTHER ISSUES WERE DEBATED, RUSSIAN AGGRESSION IN UKRAINE WAS A BIG TOPIC AT THE STATE CAPITOL AMON MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES.

>> I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THIS BODY SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY TO SHOW ITS SUPPORT FOR THE FREEDOM-LOVING PEOPLE OF THE UKRAINE.

FOR THEIR SELF-DETERMINATION, FOR THEIR ABILITY TO DEFEND THEMSELVES AGAINST A RUSSIAN THUG.

>> IT SHOWS AGAIN IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS COUNTRY, IN EVERY CORNER OF THIS COMMONWEALTH NO MATTER OUR DIFFERENCES, THAT WE STAND UNITED IN OPPOSITION TO THE ACTS OF VLADIMIR PUENTE AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE.

>> Bill: SENATE WILL THE ROBERT STIVERS LEFT THE CHAM BEATER ONE POINT DURING THAT DISCUSSION TO GATHER HIS EMOTIONS AFTER HE LEARNED HIS SON WILL BE DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT NATO FOR SIX MONTHS.

THIS SITUATION, MARCUS, HAS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT PROFOUND REACH.

>> Austin: IT DOES, AND EVEN HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH AS YOU ALLUDED TO, THE 4th CORPS BASED OUT OF FORESHOCK DEPLOYING ABOUT 300 SOLDIERS TO GERMANY AND POLAND TO SUPPORT NATO'S MISSION THERE.

THIS IS A GROUP THAT DATES TO REALLY WORLD WAR I AND SO THEY'RE DEPLOYING.

THERE ARE SOLDIERS LEAVING THE COMMONWEALTH FOR EUROPE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: SEVERAL RETAILERS IN KENTUCKY HAVE PULLED RUSSIAN VODKA FROM THEIR SHELVES.

SOME RESTAURANTS ARE DATING PROCEEDS TO GROUPS THAT SUPPORT UKRAINE.

DEBBIE, THERE HAVE BEEN GATHERING IN I HAVE BEEN CHURCHES AND PUBLIC SQUARES AS PEOPLE ARE SHOWING SOLIDARITY AGAINST THE AGGRESSION AND 2 THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

>> Deborah: THAT'S RIGHT.

KROGER AND SOME OF THE LIQUOR OUTLETS ARE REMOVING THE RUSSIAN PRODUCTS FROM THEIR SHELVES, AND ALSO THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RALLY.

THERE WAS ONE IN ELECTRICS THAT BROUGHT A BIG CROWD IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE.

-- IN LEXINGTON,.

AND THEN LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK THEY CALL IT GRANNIES FOR UKRAINE, A BUNCH GRANDMOTHERS STANDING OUT ON THE HIGHWAY HOLDING SIGNS IN SUPPORT UKRAINE AMONG OTHER THINGS GOING TO RIGHT NOW.

>> Commissioner GLASS: >> Marcus: THIS WEEK I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GROWING ON BUT THERE IS WITH A RALLY AS DEBBIE SAID NEAR THE COURTHOUSES AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT.

AND IT'S MOTHER WORTH MENTIONINGS, TOO, THERE'S A CENTRAL KENTUCKY SORT OF POCKET OF A UKRAINIAN POPULATION THANKS TO A PRETTY LARGE CHURCH THAT'S BEEN IN WOODFORD AND JESSAMINE COUNTIES AND A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE SHOWED OUT AS WELL.

>> Bill: YOU WENT TO SCOL WITH SO MANY.

>> Marcus: WOODFORD COUNTY HIGH.

I GRADUATED WITH PROBABLY A DOZEN OR MORE PEOPLE OF UKRAINIAN DESCENT WHO WENT TO THAT CHURCH THERE.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, THE HERALD-LEADER HAS BEEN REPORT ON KTRS, THE KENTUCKY TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, HAD A MAJOR RUSSIAN INVESTMENT.

THE EARLY INDICATIONS ON THAT WERE PROVEN TO BE FALSE, AND THEN IT'S LOOKED INTO AND THEY DID HAVE THAT INVESTMENT AND DID DIVEST OF IT.

>> Austin: THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE WAS A SOCIAL MEDIA UPROAR.

I THINK THE BANK WAS CALLED SPUR BANK, IF I'M PRONOUNCING THAT RIGHT, IN RUSSIA THAT THE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM HAD INVESTED THIS MONEY, AND THEN THE STOCK PLUMMETED 95% BUT THEY HAD ACTUALLY SOLD THEIR STOCK, YOU KNOW, SMARTLY ON FEBRUARY 23rd, WHICH I THINK MAYBE A DAY BEFORE THE WAR BROKE OUT, SO THEY DID NOT TAKE THE HIT THAT EVERYBODY SAID THEY WERE TAKING, AND ACTUALLY THEIR PORTFOLIO IS $26 BILLION SO EVEN IF THEY DID IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DENT.

>> Bill: INDICATIONS ARE OVER TIME IT GAINED TO OFFSET SOME OF THOSE LOSSES.

>> Austin: EXACTLY.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> Bill: DEBBIE, CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSEY HAS BEEN CRITICIZED FOR VOTING NO ON A RESOLUTION THWARTED IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE, AND HE HAS BEEN EXPLAINING HIS VOTE.

>> Deborah: THAT'S RIGHT.

HE WAS JUST ONE OF A FEW CONGRESS PEOPLE WHO VOTED AGAINST, HE EXPLAINED IN A SERIES TWEETS THAT HE WAS AFRAID THAT THE LANGUAGE WAS TOO BROAD IN THE RESOLUTION, AND THAT IT COULD LEAVE IT OPEN TO GETTING U.S.

TROOPS DEPLOYED AND INTO A CONFLICT, AND SO THAT WAS HIS EXPLANATION.

>> ELLEN: >> Bill: EVERY DAY KENTUCKIANS KEEPING AN EYE ON THOSE IT WAS PUMPS AND YOU WILL NOTICE THAT PEOPLE ARE FILLING UP RIGHT NOW, I GUESS IN ANTICIPATES THAT THEY WILL GO UP IN THE IMMEDIATE DAYS TOO COME.

>> Marcus: GAS BRIBES EVEN WHEN THERE'S NOT A WAR HAPPENING OVEROFFICERS ALWAYS A POUND ISSUE, AND REALLY WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS HOW HIGH THEY WILL GO.

THERE'S CONCERN NOT ON ABOUT GAS PRICES BUT WE HAVE ALSO SEEN THE IMPACT OF INFLATION ON OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES SOY IT'S A VERY CRITICAL TIME FOR HOUSEHOLDS RIGHT NOW.

>> Austin: THANK YOU HE SAW THIS WEEK SAN FRANCISCO HIT $5.

THAT'S A LONG WAYS AWAY FROM KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: THE LEGISLATURE HAS HAD A LOT TO DEAL WITH, AND THIS DISCUSSION, OF COURSE, HAS BEEN A PART OF IT IN THE BACKS OF MINDS OF MANY LAWMAKERS WHO DO HAVE THOSE CONNECTIONS.

AS WE MENTIONED THE SENATE PRESIDENT DOES.

AUSTIN, YOU BE EMPLOYMENT REFORM PASSED THE HOUSE IT.

APPROVED TO BE CONTENTIOUS, THOUGH, SORT OF REVEALED A RURAL/URBAN DIVIDE AND PUT THAT ON DISPLAY.

>> Austin: WE HAVEN'T SEEN MANY CLOSE VOTES ON THE HOUSE OR SENATE THROWER IN YEAR BUT THIS WAS ONE THEM, A BILL THAT CUTS A LOT OF UI PROVISION.

I THINK WE SAW KIND OF A BRIEF COALITION FORM BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS.

AND THOSE REPUBLICANS LED BY REPRESENTATIVE BLANTON IN THE HOUSE AND SENATOR PHILLIP WHEELER FROM PIKEVILLE IN THE SENATE.

THEY WERE REALLY SAYING THAT THIS IS A BILL THAT WOULD HURT A LOT OF OUR CONSTITUENTS, A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED TO FIND WORK IN AN ECONOMY THAT'S BEEN RAVAGED BY THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE COAL ECONOMY.

YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE THERE DRIVING TWO HOURS TO WORK AT TOYOTA AND GEORGETOWN AND GOOD JOBS ARE HARD TO COME BY IN THAT REGION.

>> Bill: AND THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT ADDED ON JOB SEARCHING, WHICH THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE SEARCHES BE ROBUST, THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR WORK, BUT IT WOULD ADD FRANK OPPORTUNITIES AND THAT WOULD COUNT AS YOU'RE SEARCHING FOR A JOB, RIGHT?

>>>YEAH.

SO IT'S A LITTLE LESS SEVERE ON THAT AMENDMENT.

BUT STILL ONE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CRIED OUT AGAINST AND PARTICULARLY DEMOCRATS IN THOSE EASTERN KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS.

>> Bill: WERE YOU SURPRISED HOW DIVISIVE THAT ISSUE WAS?

>> Deborah: I WAS, BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS -- THE REPUBLICANS, RATHER, WHO HOLD A SUPER MAJORITY HAVE BEEN LOCK STEP ON MOST ISSUES.

THERE REALLY HASN'T BEN A LOT OF DEBATE.

SO I WAS SURPRISED TO SEE SOME OF THE FAIRLY IMPASSION DEBATE INCLUDING FROM SENATOR WHEELER WHO WAS QUOTING A BIBLE VERSE ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE POOR AND URGING PEOPLE NOT TO VOTE FOR THE BILL.

>> Bill: WHERE IS THIS BEFORE IT GETS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK?

>> Austin: I BELIEVE WITH THE AMENDMENT IT'S A CONCURRENCE VOTE THAT GOES BACK TO THE HOUSE.

I CAN'T REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN THAT AMENDMENT CAME.

IF IT WAS ON THE HOUSE SIDE, THEN IT GOES TO GOVERNOR'S DESK, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE TWO.

>> Marcus: IT'S CLOSE.

>> Bill: WHILE YOU'RE HOT, TAX REFORM.

IT PASSED THE HOUSE TODAY.

WHAT WOULD THE NEW SYSTEM LOOK LIKE?

>> Marcus: FIRST OFF, I THINK IT'S HARD TO OVERSTATE HOW BIG THIS BILL COULD BE, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A SEA CHANGE IN THE TAX SYSTEM.

KENTUCKY IS GENERALLY AN INCOME-TAX RELIANT STATE.

40% OF OUR REVENUE COMES FROM INCOME TAX.

CURRENTLY IT'S 5 PERCENT.

AND THE FIRST CHANGE WOULD HAPPEN NEXT YEAR, WHICH IT WOULD GO DOWN TO 4%, AND THEN IT WOULD SORT OF GO DOWN FURTHER AND FURTHER IF REVENUE HITS A CERTAIN TRIGGER MARK.

THERE WAS SOME LIVELY DISCUSSION.

ALL THE WAY TO ZERO.

>> Bill: EVENTUALLY THERE IS NO STATE INCOME TAX.

>> Deborah: WHAT'S ABOUT THIS EXTROTHINK TOO PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY REALIZED THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT ELIMINATING THE STATE INCOME TAX WHICH IS A MAJOR SOURCE SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS, PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND ALL KIND OF SERVICES, AND HOW TO REPLACE THAT COULD BE A REAL ISSUE FOR THE STATE.

>> Austin: THAT'S BEEN ONE OF THE CONCERNS FROM THE GROUPS OPPOSING THIS, IS THAT IT'S GOING TO CREATE A MASSIVE HOLE IN THE STATE'S BUDGET BUT, OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS WHO ARE FOR THIS BELIEVE THIS IS A WAY TO NOT ONLY PUT MORE MONEY BACK IN THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SPENDING IT BUT IT ALSO IS A WAY TO PERHAPS BRING NEW PEOPLE INTO KENTUCKY.

VERY MUCH MODELED IN SOME WAY AFTER WHAT TENNESSEE AND OTHER STATES HAVE DONE, WHICH IS TRY TO USE THE LACK OF AN INCOME TAX AS A RECRUITMENT TOOL.

>> Bill: THE 1% REDUCTION IS ABOUT $1 BILLION IN REVENUE IN THE STATE.

NOW, THERE'S ALSO THIS BILL TO GIVE BACK -- GIVE A $500 CHECK TO EVERY KENTUCKIAN, EVERY TAXPAYER.

THAT IS ALSO A $1 BILLION IMPACT?

>> Deborah: THE PROBLEM, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE HOUSE HAS ITS PLAN WHICH IS TO START CUTTING THE INCOME TAX, WHEREAS THE SENATE HAS ANOTHER PLAN THAT MAY INCLUDE REBATES THAT MAY INVOLVE THIS $1 BILLION SURPLUS, AND THEN THE TWAIN HAVEN'T GOT TOGETHER TO RESOLVE AN ACTUAL -- >> >>> UH-HUH THE REBATE IS ONE TIME, AND THIS TAX BILL, HB 8, WOULD BE $1 BILLION OUT OF REVENUE EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

>> Bill: OF COURSE, THE OFFSET IS TO EXTEND THE SALES TAX TO ADDITIONAL SERVERS.

>> Austin: YES.

>> Bill: HAVE WE SEEN FISCAL NOTES THAT INDICATE THAT THAT WILL ALL EVEN OUT?

>> Austin: WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE FISCAL NOTE, NO.

BUT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE REVENUE GENERATED BY TECHS PANNED 6% SALES TAX WOULD SHAKE OUT AT ABOUT 160 MILLION-DOLLAR BUT THAT WAS BEFORE ADVERTISING GOT CUT, WHICH WAS THE BIGGEST PART OF THOSE PROVISIONS, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, BUT YOU'RE TAKING AWAY $1 BILLION IN REVENUE AND REPLACING IT WITH SOMETHING SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN $160 MILLION.

SO I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THATNESS A CUT IN REVENUE, BUT -- THIS IS A CUT IN REVENUE, BUT THEY'RE ALSO ASSUMING 5% STEADY GROWTH FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> Bill: AND THE GOVERNOR HAS THE CUT ON THE VEHICLE FACTORY.

>> Deborah: WHICH IS GOING TO BE -- I CAN'T REMEMBER THE AMOUNT.

>> Austin: $873 MILLION.

>> Deborah: VEHICLE TAX.

VEHICLES INCREASED IN VALUE BECAUSE OF COVID AND THE SHORTAGE OF VEHICLES.

SO THEY FROZE THE VALUE OF VEHICLES, AND SO THAT'S GOING TO MEAN A DECREASE IN APPROVE HAVE OPPRESSIVE FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

>> Bill: IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S RAY LOT TO BE WORK OUTED BEFORE THIS TAX REFORM IS DONE, AND MAYBE THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHY IT HAS BEEN SUCH AN ELUSIVE THING TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THE YEARS.

>> SENATOR MCDANIEL, THE A&R CHAIRMAN OVER THERE, HAS SAID HE LIKES TAX REFORM AND IT'S AN IDEA THAT HE'S GENERALLY SUPPORTIVE OF, BUT THE QUESTION IS CAN HIS REBATE PLAN JIVE WITH THE HOUSE'S BILL, AND I THINK THE ANSWER IS IT PROBABLY COULD ON PAPER FOR, YOU KNOW, SOME A I'M, BUT CAN WE -- AMOUNT OF TIME BUT CAN WE GROW ENOUGH TO REALLY FILL THAT HOLE AS THAT HB 8 CREATES.

>> Bill: THE HOUSE ALSO PASSED A LEGISLATIVE BRANCH BUDGET, AUSTIN.

LAWMAKERS, THEY SAY THEY'RE NOT GIVING THEMSELVES A RAISE, RIGHT?

BUT THEY'RE GIVING A RAISE TO THOSE WHO ARE ELECTED THIS NOVEMBER.

>> Austin: TECHNICALLY THEY ARE NOT GIVING THEMSELVES A RAISE BECAUSE, YEAH, THEY ARE CONSTITUTIONAL NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT, I THINK.

BUT AS YOU SAID, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELECTED, AGAIN, AND THAT'S A HOUSE THAT ELECTS EVERY TWO YEARS, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE RUNNING UNOPPOSED OR PRACTICALLY UNOPPOSED, SO THEY'RE GIVING, I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY, A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT CHAMBER A RAISE NEXT YEAR.

>> Deborah: THEY WILL BENEFIT THE NEXT ELECTION YOU CYCLE IF THEY'RE STILL IN OFFICE.

>> Bill: AND IT'S ALSO STAFF MEMBERS.

>> Deborah: IT ALSO GIVES RAISES TO STAFF MEMBERS IN ORC AND THAT'S HOW THEY SOLD IT.

THESE PEOPLE HAVEN'T HAD A RAISE IN A LONG TIME.

AND BY THE WAY THERE'S ONE INCLUDED.

IN THERE FOR LAWMAKERS TOO.

>> Bill: ABORTION GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION THIS WEEK, AND IT LED TO FIERCE AND EMOTIONAL DEBATE.

>> THE INTENT OF HOUSE BILL 3 STOW ENSURE WHILE ABORTIONS ARE LEGAL IN KENTUCKY, WE WANT THEM TO BE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

>> AT WHAT POINT DO WE GET OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S BEDROOMS WEEK OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES, OUT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S MEDICAL DECISIONS AND TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE?

>> Bill: DEBBIE, AN OMNIBUS ABORTION BILL HAS NOW PASSED THE HOUSE.

IT WOULD RESTRICT MEDICAL ABORTION PILLS AND DO SOME OTHER THING.

>> Deborah: YEAH, IT'S QUITE A LARGE BILL AND MAKES A LOT CHANGE TO EXISTING STATE LAW.

IT AFFECTS THE ACCESS OF MINORS, GIRLS UN18, TO ABORTION.

IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR THEM TO GET IT.

IT AFFECTS SOME OTHER AREAS IN TERMS OF REPORTING AND RECORD KEEPING, BUT THE MAIN THING IS IT RESTRICT ACCESS TO THESE MEDICATION ABORTION PILLS WHICH WERE AVAILABLE EARLY IN PREGNANCY.

THE FDA REASONABLE APPROVED THOSE TO BE OBTAINED THROUGH THE MAIL, AND THIS BILL BANS THAT.

>> Bill: THE DISCUSSION ON MEDICAL ABORTIONS ALSO LED TO SOME COMMENTS FROM A STATE REPRESENTATIVE THAT HE WAS CRITICIZED FOR AND THAT HE HAS APOLOGIZED FOR.

>>> >> Deborah: REPRESENTATIVE BENT HE WHO IS A PHARMACIST GOT UP TO SPEAK TO THE ISSUE, AND IN DOING SO INVOKED THE HOLOCAUST AND SOME DISPUTED CLAIMS ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE ABORTION PILLS, COMPARING TO IT GAS USED APPARENTLY WRONGLY TO GAS USED IN GAS CHAMBERS BY NAZI GERMANY.

THEN HE ALSO REFERRED TO JEWISH WOMEN AND THE FACT THAT THEY SUPPOSEDLY HAVE MUCH LOWER RATES OF CERVICAL CANCER.

AND THEN HE MANAGED TO OFFEND A LOT OF JEWISH PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY WHO PROTESTED, AND HE HAS APOLOGIZED.

>> Bill: U.S. SUPREME COURT ALSO RULED THIS WEEK TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DANIEL AM CA RON, CAN DEFEND A KENTUCKY ABORTION LAW THAT WAS STRUCK DOWN BY AN A PEOPLES COURT.

>> Deborah: YEAH, THAT'S A 2018 LAW AFFECTING ABORTIONS THAT OCCUR IN THE SECOND TRIMESTER SUSTAINABLE AFTER ABOUT 14 WEEKS.

THE STATE HAD ATTEMPTED TO -- THE LEGISLATURE ATTEMPTED TO BAN THOSE.

THE LAW WAS STRUCK DOWN BY AN APPEALS COURT.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DECLINED TO PURSUE AN APPEAL ANY FURTHER, BUT NOW DANIEL CAMERON IS SEEKING TO DO THAT, AND THE SUPREME COURT ON THURSDAY, YESTERDAY, SAID HE COULD DO THAT BY -- HE COULD INTERVENE THE IN CASE AND TRY TO GET THE 6TH CIRCUIT TO RECONSIDER.

>> Bill: SPORTS BETTING RETURNED AS AN ISSUE THIS WEEK.

REPRESENTATIVE ADAM KOENIG HAS AGAIN INTRODUCED BILLS TO TRY TO LEGALIZE IT.

I THINK IT'S A TOTAL OF FOUR BILLS, MARCUS.

DOES THE FACT THAT HE INCLUDES A PROBLEM TO ADDRESS PROBLEM GAMING, PROBLEM, FOLKS WHO GET HOOKED OH GAMBLING, MEAN THAT SPORTS BETTING HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF PASSING?

>> Marcus: I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF PASSING THIS YEAR.

IN INTRODUCING THIS BILL AND THE OTHER BILLS, REPRESENT YOU HAVE THE KOENIG IS REALLY TRYING TO USE THE RECENT PUBLIC BOWLING THAT SHOWS SIDESSABLE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SUPPORT SPORTS GAMBLING IN KENTUCKY.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ENOUGH TO GET ENOUGH MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD, IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT WE HAVE SEEN THESE BILLS INTRODUCED BEFORE.

WE HAVE SEEN THEM GAIN TRACTION BEFORE.

I JUST DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS THE YEAR IN WHICH THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Annie: AND IF YOU TALK TO KOENIG, COVID IN 2020 WAS THE BIG DERETAILER OF THESE SETS OF BILLS LAST TIME.

BUT THE BIG THING HERE IS NOT JUST A SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

I THINK BASICALLY EVERYBODY AGREES THAT IF HE'S GOT FLOOR VOTES IN BOTH OF THOSE TAME CHAMBERS, THEY WOULD BE PASSED, BUT THE QUESTION IS WILL A MAJORITY OF MANY REPUBLICANS SUPPORT THEM, AND THEREFORE THE LEADERSHIP WOULD ALLOW THESE VOTES TEAK PLACE.

>> Bill: WHAT ABOUT HIS TIMING?

THE BENGALS WERE IN THE SUPER BOWL.

HE IS IN THAT NORTHERN KENTUCKY SPHERE, AND CERTAINLY THE BENGALS HAVE FANS ALL OVER KENTUCKY AND THERE WAS SPORTS BETTING GOING ON.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT.

AND THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS ARE CONTENDERS THIS YEAR.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO WAGER ON THAT.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

WHO KNOWS.

MAYBE THEY'LL BRING COACH CAL BACK TO COMMITTEE, RIGHT?

THAT WOULD CERTAINLY DRAW SOME INTEREST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE THAT THE CATS ARE MAKING A RUN OR I GUESS NOT THE CARDS.

>> Deborah: THANK YOU.

>> Austin: ARE MAKING A RUN IN MARCH, AND THEY ARE ALSO CONSIDERING THIS BIG THING WHEN THERE'S THIS SPORTS CRAZE AND THEY NEED TO FILL THIS REVENUE HOLE THAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT CREATE.

>> Bill: IT'S EVERY STATE BUT MISSOURI THAT SURROUNDS KENTUCKY NOW THAT EITHER HAS OR IS -- >> Austin: OHIO IS WORKING ON IT.

>> Bill: THE FAMILY FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO SAY THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE, THAT THE CONSTITUTION FORBIDS SPORTS GAMBLING.

SO IF THE POLLS INDICATE THERE IS SUCH WIDE SUPPORT, WHY NOT DO AN AMENDMENT, MARCUS?

>> Marcus: I MEAN, WE JUST HAVE SEEN HOW CONTROVERSIAL THIS ISSUE IS, AND AN AMENDMENT, OF COURSE, REQUIRES A SIZE AB MAJORITY TO EVEN ADVANCE IT, SO IT'S JUST AGAIN -- THERE ARE OBSTACLES IN THE WAY THAT COULD BE DIFFICULT TO OVERCOMB, EVEN -- EVEN WITH THESE FORTUITOUS CIRCUMSTANCES WITH KENTUCKY AND THE BENGALS, IT STILL GOES TO SHOW HOW DIFFICULT THIS ISSUE IS IN KENTUCKY.

>> Deborah: LAWMAKERS DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON THE BILL, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO WANT TO VOTE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BECAUSE IN THE EYES OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS THEY WILL THINK THAT IS A VOTE FOR GAMBLING.

>> Bill: EVEN TIERED GET IT ON AS CONSTITUTIONAL "A."

>> Annie: 60 OUT OF 100.

>> Bill: A STORY THAT SPANS A LIVER AND FRANKFORT AND COLUMBUS, OHIO AND WASHINGTON IT.

APPEARS IT WAS A SUBSTANTIAL MOVEMENT THIS WEEK ON A FIX FOR THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

KENTUCKY AND OHIO HAVE SIGNED A JOINT REQUEST FOR FEDERAL FUNDING.

I TALKED ABOUT U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUD A DAN CAMPBELL THIS WEEK.

HE INDICATED HAVING ALL THE PLAYERS ONBOARD SHOULD BODE WELL FOR THE PROJECT.

>> ITS A BIG UNDERTAKING BUT IT IS EXACTLY THE KIND OF INITIATIVE THAT WE HAVE NEW RESOURCES TO HELP SUPPORT FEDERALLY THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT'S LAW, AND I'VE HAD GOOD CONVERSATIONS, INCLUDING A JOINT MEETING WITH GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND GOVERNOR DeWINE OF OHIO.

>> Bill: MARCUS, IS IT NOW OR NEVER ON THE BRENT SPENCE RIDGE?

>> Marcus: WELL, AS I THINK I'VE SAID BEFORE, NOW IS IF TIME IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A TIME, AND WHAT YOU HUH SAW THIS WEEK, WHILE IT'S PARTIALLY CEREMONIAL, SIGNING THIS WOMEN UM OR UPDATING THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, KENTUCKY AND OHIO ARE REALLY GETTING UNIFIED IN LETTING REALLY THE REST OF THE COUNTRY KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO PURSUE THESE GRANTS THAT SPECIFICALLY ARE DESIGNED FOR PROJECTS LIKE THE BRENT SPENCE, AND IF THEY CAN GET THOSE AND THEY AGAIN SEEM TO BE POSITIONING THEMSELVES WELL TO APPLY FOR THEM, IF THEY CAN GET THEM, THEN IT REALLY REDUCES THE BURDEN THAT OHIO KENTUCKY ABOUT WILL HAVE TO SPEND TO COVER THE ROSE OF THOSE COSTS.

THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING, AND THE MONEY IS THERE.

IT'S AN HISTORIC AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND IT'S THERE AND THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD ON IT.

>> Bill: THIS WOULD BE DONE WITH NO TOLLS.

THE LOUISVILLE BRIDGES HAVE TOLLS.

>> Marcus: THE LOUISVILLE BRIDGES HAVE TOLLS.

THIS WOULD BE DONE WITHOUT TOLLS IS WHAT DeWINE AND BESHEAR.

>> Bill: A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW MINORS TO SERVE ALCOHOL EVEN THOUGH THEY CAN'T ABOUT IT YET IS PASS.

>>> >> Austin: APPARENTLY YOU HAVE TO BE 20 YEARS AND A DAY, SO PURELY HYPOTHETICAL HERE IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A 19-YEAR-OLD HOME FROM COLLEGE TRYING TO MAKE AT A BUCK AT A RESTAURANT WEEK YOU CANNOT MAKE THAT EXTRA MONEY THAT YOU WOULD BEING A FULL SERVER THAT CAN SERVE ALCOHOL.

NOT SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE IN.

EXPERIENCE THERE.

THAT'S EXTRA MONEY THAT PEOPLE THAT AGE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET.

>> Bill: YOU CAN SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE ON THIS.

YOU COVERED THIS STORY THIS WEEK.

SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS WAS PART OF A FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR A CANDIDATE FOR JUDGE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, FOR CIRCUIT JUDGE, A NON-PARTISAN RACE.

>> Austin: FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT.

WE'VE SEEN JUDGE SHEPHERD MAKE A LOT OF BIG RULINGS, AND THE CHEE JUDGE OF FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT DOES MAKE BIG RULINGS ON STATE GOVERNMENT MATTERS, TAKING ALL THOSE LAWSUITS, AND THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT BEEN SHY ABOUT CRITICIZING HIM AT MOST EVERY TURN BE WITH REALLY.

BEVIN CALLED HIM A PARTISAN HACK, AND STIVERS NOW IS HOSTING THIS FUNDRAISER FOR HIS OPPONENT, JOE BILL BUY, WHO IS THE DEPUTY -- BILL BEWHO IS THE GENERAL DEEP OR THE GENERAL COUNSEL FOR AG COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES WHO, OF COURSE, IS A REPUBLICAN.

SO THIS NON-PARTISAN RACE IS UNDOUBTEDLY BECOMING MORE PARTISAN WITH THIS MOVE.

>> Bill: DEBBIE, IN LOUISVILLE A JURY FOUND FORMER POLICE OFFICER BRENT HANK, INC. INSON NOT GUILTY OF WANTON ENDANGERMENT IN THE RAID THAT LEFT BREONNA TAYLOR DEAD.

>> Deborah: THAT'S RIGHT.

HE WAS ONLY ONE OF THREE OFFICERS WHO WAS INVOLVED HOE WAS CHARGED AND THAT IS WAS FOR SHOOTING INTO THE ADJOINING APARTMENT.

HE WAS CHARGED WITH WANTON ENDANGERMENT.

THE OFFICER WHO ACTUALLY SHOT BREONNA TAYLOR AND WAS INVOLVED IN HERR DEATH WAS NOT CHARGED NOR WAS THE OTHER OFFICER INVOLVED IN THE SEARCH.

SO THIS APPEARS TO BRING TO AN END THE STATE PROCEEDINGS.

HOWEVER, THERE IS A FEDERAL GRAND JURY SUPPOSEDLY LOOKING AT CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES RELATED TO THIS.

>> Marcus: AND THE VERDICT, PERHAPS NOT UNSPICINGLY, WAS MET WITH A LOT OF DISAPPOINT FROM SUPPORTERS BREONNA TAYLOR'S TEAM, AND I THINK IT'S NOTEDDABLE THAT THE ATTORNEY FOR BRETT HANK INSON BELIEVED THAT LETTING HIS CLIENTS APPEAR TO THE STAND AND TESTIFY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE JURY'S DECISION.

THEY ONLY DELIBERATED FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS IN THAT CASE.

>> Bill: COVID NUMBERS HAVE BEEN IN A STEEP DECLINE THIS.

THAT'S ENCOURAGE.

THIS WEEK IS POSITIVITY RATE HAS DROPPED BELOW 6% FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME.

DEB, THE GOVERNOR ENDED THE MASK REQUIREMENTS FOR MOST STATE BUILDINGS.

>> Deborah: HE DID, AND THEN TODAY IN LOUISVILLE THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR ANNOUNCED LATE TODAY THAT THEIR GOING TO DROP THE REQUIREMENTS IN LOUISVILLE.

I THINK THE RATE OF POSITIVE CASES NOW IS TARN JUST A LITTLE OVER 6%, WHICH IS VERY GOOD CONSIDERING IT WAS 33% AT THE HEIGHT OF OPTIMISTIC SURGE, SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE WITH THEIR FINKED CROSSED, ARE HOPING TO SEE THIS MAYBE TAPER OFF AND WHAT WILL BECOME MANAGEABLE AND WE CAN GET BACK TO OUR LIVES.

>> Bill: I'M HEARING WE'RE AT BECOMES.IS HAVE FIRST ON THAT RATE RIGHT NOW.

DIDN'T 6.5%.

ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON HAS KENTUCKY INVOLVED IN A TIK TOK STUDY TO FIND OUT IN THAT SOCIAL MEDIA APP IS HARMALFUL TO YOUNG FOLKS.

>> Austin: THAT'S RIGHT.

WE'VE SEEN.

WITH A PHONE THEY ARE SOCIAL MEDIA APPS IT HAS BEEN FRONT OF THAT SCROLLING THROUGH MOST PEOPLE'S CONTENT MAY NOT BE THE BEST FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH.

>> Deborah: FOR KIDS KIDS AND ADOLESCENTS.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> Bill: MARKUS, TRAINER TRAINER BOB BAFFERT IS SUING TO TRY TO GET BACK IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

HE AND MEDINA A SPIRIT WERE STRIPPED OF THE 2022 KENTUCKY DERBY WIN.

WILL ALL OF THIS BE SETTLED BEFORE THE 2022 DERBY?

>> Marcus: I WOULD NOT BET ON THAT.

THAT WAS NOT A GOOD PUN.

RACING COMMISSIONER VOTED TO UPHOLD.

THIS SHOWS IF SORDID SIDE OF HORSE RACING AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY INDICATION IT'S GOING TO BE RESOLVED.

>> Bill: SENATOR .

McCONNELL MET WITH NOMINEE ANGIE BROWN, HE DID NOT VOTE WITH HER TO GO ON THE APPEALS COURT SO IT'S BEEN WATCHED, AND NOW TO SEE WHERE HE LEAD THE REPUBLICANS ON THAT.

THIS WEEK MARKED THE TEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF A TORNADO OUTBREAK THAT LEFT 26 KENTUCKIANS DEAD.

TWISTERS RAKE ACROSS THE STATE ON MARCH 2, 2012 HITTING KEN-TO-, URGE LAUREL, MAGOFFIN COUNTIES ESPECIALLY HARD.

THERE WERE SOME COMMEMORATIONS AND MANY THOUGHT BACK TO THAT ROUGH DAY AS WE ENTER SEVERE WEATHER SEASON ONCE AGAIN THIS MONTH.