KENTUCKY SEEKING FEDERAL DISASTER HELP AS CLEANUP IS UND A FLURRY OF LEGISLATION IN FRANKFORT AS WORK CONTINUES BEHIND THE SCENES ON A STATE BU KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE SAY NEXT YEARS CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE RACES WILL BE RUN I NEW DISTRICTS.

THIS WEEKEND MARKS A FULL YEAR SINCE THE FIRST CASE OF COVID IN KENTUCKY NOW SCHOOLS ARE REOPENING, SOME RULES ARE RELAXED.

MARCH SUNSHINE REPLACES ALL THAT RAIN "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

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 DANIEL DESROSIERS OF THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER IN LAUREN CULLEN GLASSCOCK OF THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE.

AND LAWRENCE SMITH FROM WDRB I ALSO EMILY BENNETT FROM WYMT IN ALSO TONIGHT THERE WILL BE A CROWD FOR THIS YEARS KENTUCKY DERBY, AND THE BILL IS ABOUT TO GO OUT FOR THOSE WHO UNSUCCESSFULLY PUSHED FOR IMPEA BUT FIRST, AFTER THREE TOUGH BACK-TO-BACK WINTER STORMS IN LATE FEBRUARY, MARCH ROLLED IN WITH HEAVY RAIN AND DEVASTATING GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS SEEKING TWO PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION IN HOPES OF OF GETTING FEDERAL HELP.

THINGS HAVE SETTLED DOWN NOW AND CLEANUP IS UNDERWAY BUT IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME IN MANY COMMUNITIES.

EMILY BENNETT HAS BEEN COVERIN THE FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCK FOR WYMT.

SHE JOINS US TONIGHT WITH A REGIONAL REPORT FROM HAZ EMILY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT FOR WHAT I KNOW HAS BEEN A VERY LONG WEEK FOR YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN OUT COVERING THE FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND BEEN IN SOME REALLY HEART-HIT AREAS WITNESS BREATHITT, CLAY COUNTY, OTHER PARTS OF APPALACHIA.

SOME HAVE SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN FLOODING LIKE THIS.

>> YES, BILL.

IT'S CRAZY.

THOSE ARE THE WORDS ECHOED ACROSS THE MOUNTAIN.

EVEN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CREWS SAID THEY WERE PREPARED FOR FLOODING BUT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN FLOODING IN HAVE IN SOME OF THE THE PLACES THEY HAVE.

I'VE BEEN IN E. CLAY COUNTY AND OTHER PLACES 28 TO GET TO A HOME THAT HAD A FOOT OF WATER IN IT AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE JUST LOSING THEIR HOMES AND THE FLOOD WATERS ARE STILL EVEN NOW RECEDING.

>> Bill: IT'S IRONIC AS WELL THAT SOME AREAS HAD SO MUCH WATER THAT THEY HAVE NO DRINKING WATER, WHICH HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE BECAUSE THE FACILITIES WENT DOWN.

I KNOW IN ESTELLE, BREATHITT, MAYBE A PLACE IN LAUREL COUNTY WHERE THE PLANTS WERE INUNDATED OR THERE WAS SOME ISSUES WITH THE WATER SUPPLY.

>> Emily: IT'S CRAZY.

ANOTHER THING, PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES.

NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A PLACE TO STAY AND TRYING TO FIND DRINKING WATER.

I KNOW IN MANCHESTER AND CLAY COUNTY THEY'VE ALSO BEEN HAVING WATER ISSUES.

NOW THAT THE WATER IS VEEDING AND PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY GET BACK TO THEIR HOPES 1 THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE WATER TO START THE CLEANUP PROCESS.

SO IT'S JUST CAUSING EVEN MORE AND MOISTURES.

IT'S JUST A DOMINO EFFECT.

AND EVERYONE IS STARTING TO DONATE WATER AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LACK OF WATER WITH HOW MANY DONATIONS THAT WE ARE SEEING.

>> Bill: THAT IS GREAT TO HEAR.

YOU KNOW, THIS FLOODING CAME OBVIOUSLY AFTER THOSE ICE STORMS AND THE SNOW THAT JUST POUNDED THE REGION.

SO THERE'S ALREADY BEEN SO MUCH PROPERTY DAMAGE NOW.

THE FLOODING IS ON TOP OF THAT.

IT'S ALL CUMULATIVE.

AND THE HUMAN TOLL ALSO HAS TO BE MOUNTING.

HOW ARE PEOPLE HOLDING UP?

>> Emily: BILL, IT'S DEVASTATING.

YOU GO TO THESE AREAS.

I'M STANDING IN FRONT HOME WITH THE HOMEOWNERS AND THEY'RE JUST STANDING THERE LOOKING ATE THEIR HOME THAT'S A COMPLETE LOSS AND THEY'RE JUST CRYING.

THEY JUST DO NOT KNOW HOW TO GO FORWARD.

IT'S JUST YET ANOTHER THING, AND THEY HAD COVID, THEY HAD THE ICE, THEY HAD THE FLOODING, AND NOW GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS BEEN SAYING STAY HEALTHY AS THE HOME WITH COVID-19, AND NOW THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A HOME.

AND IT'S JUST HARD ON EVERYONE.

A LOT OF THEM, THEY DON'T HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANY INSURANCE.

AND NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE THAT MECHS NEXT STEP FORWARD AND FINANCIALLY COULDN'T EVEN DO IT.

EVEN PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST EVERYTHING, BUT THEN YOU LOOK AT THE EMERGENCY RESCUE SQUADS AND THEY'VE BEEN BUSY FOR A WEEK AND THEY HAD JUST WEAN DEALING WITH THE ICE STORM AND EVERYTHING, AND THEY'RE BASICALLY EMOTIONALLY JUST EXHAUSTED, AND PEOPLE JUST REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE THEY CAN TAKE.

>> Bill: JUST SPENT.

BUT IN ALL OF THIS IT IS AMAZING TO SEE THE TEAM WORK AND THE COOPERATION AND THE GOOD THAT YOU WITNESS IN PEOPLE IN A TOUGH TIME.

YOU SAW THAT FIRSTHAND, WATCHING THOSE PEOPLE PITCH IN.

THERE ARE CELEBRITIES LIKE CHRIS STAPLETON REVVING UP HIS FAN BYPASS PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO HELP.

>> Emily: THAT'S THE THING JUST ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY.

WHEN A TRAGEDY HITS, EVERYONE BANDS TOGETHER, EVEN PEOPLE ACROSS KENTUCKY IT'S NOT JUICE EASTERN KENTUCKY.

OBVIOUSLY CELEBRITIES AS WELL.

BUT WE HAVE SEEN JUST AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE FROM ACROSS THE AT A TIME.

PEOPLE IN CORE OTHER COUNTIES, CUMBERLAND VALLEY NORMALLY SEES A LOT OF THE FLOODING THIS TIME OF YEAR BUT THEY WERE STARED.

COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN MOSER BRINGING IN WATER, OPERATION UNITE WITH EVERYONE PITCHING IN.

WE EVEN PEOPLE WE POST OUR STORIES ON FACEBOOK AND PEOPLE ARE COMMENTING, HOW DO WE HELP THIS FAMILY?

WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY GOFUNDME PAGES.

WANTING TO RAISE MONEY.

TRAGEDY BRINGS GOOD AS WELL.

PEOPLE BOND TOGETHER AND COMMUNITY GROW EVEN STRONGER AND JUST VOLUNTEERING AND EVERYONE IS REALLY TOGETHER AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS.

>> Bill: PEOPLE BEING TESTED ONCE AGAIN.

EMILY BENNETT OF WYMT.

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR REPORTING WITH US AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE THE WITH FOLKS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Emily: THANK YOU.

>> Bill: AS WE GET INTO OUR DISCUSSION WITH OUR PANEL TONIGHT OF DAN DESROSIERS WITH LAURA CULLEN GLACK LOCK AND LAWRENCE SMITH, REQUESTING THIS PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR TOURED SOME OF THE FLOOD AREAS FRIDAY.

HERE IS WHAT HE SAID YESTERDAY.

>> WE ARE TOUGH.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT TOGETHER, ALL OF UGS TOGETHER.

YOU WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP PEOPLE MAKE UP FOR THE DAMAGE THAT'S BEEN DONE, BUT KNOWING THAT STRUCTURES ARE LESS IMPORTANT THAN PEOPLE, WE ARE GLAD EVERYBODY OUT THERE IS SAFE, AND FROM HERE IT'S ABOUT DIGGING OUT AND REBUILDING.

>> Bill: DAN, YOU HAD TO ALTER YOUR ROUTE INTO FRANKFORT YOU WERE TELLING ME.

IT'S UPPER THE ROAD IN THE CAPITOL.

>> Daniel: YEAH, THE WATER IS HIGH AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING.

OBVIOUSLY YOU SEE ALL OF THESE POLITICIANS TRYING TO HELP AND REBUILD BECAUSE IT HAS FELT LIKE IT'S BEEN ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER IN A WAY THAT'S REALLY HIS TART H. HEARTENING.

>> Bill: IT IS THE FEDERAL TRIGGER TO MAKE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, AND FOR ONCE THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON GETTING THIS DONE FAST.

>> Daniel: YEAH, I THINK THERE'S NO WAY YOU CAN LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED AND NOT WANT TO HELP AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND I THINK THAT WE'RE SEEING THAT AT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL OF TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT AID COMES TO THE PEOPLE OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: LAURA, PEOPLE RIGHT NOW HAVE LOTS OF DECISIONS TO MAKE ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD HERE IN THIS SITUATION.

>> Laura: YES, THAT'S TRUE.

ALSO AT THE BRIEFING YESTERDAY YOU SHOWED THE CLIP OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR, ROCKY ADKINS WAS THERE, AND HE'S THE GOVERNOR'S SPECIAL SENIOR ADVISER, AND HE IS AN EASTERN KENTUCKIAN HIMSELF, FORMER HOUSE MEMBER.

HE SAID THAT THEY HAVE BEEN, OFFICIALS, OF COURSE, MEETING WITH U.S. REPRESENTATIVE HAL ROGERS AND MITCH McCONNELL'S OFFICE TO HELP GET FAST-TRACK THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

YOU MENTIONED, TOO, BILL THAT THERE ARE TWO EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS.

WRITTEN IS FOR THE ICE STORM A FEW WEEKS AGO.

THE OTHER IS FOR THE FLOODING.

AND ROC ADKINS SAID THAT FOLKS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY SHOULD DOCUMENT, SHOULD PHOTOGRAPH AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE SO THAT WHEN THE STATE MAKES ITS REQUEST, THE FEMA AUTHORITIES WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN THEIR DETERMINATION.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, ASSUME THAT THIS REQUEST IS GRANTED AND THAT ALL INDICATIONS ARE IT WILL BE, THEN KENTUCKIANS AFFECTED WILL BE NOTIFIED HOW THEY GET THE HELP, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: YEAH.

BILL, OF COURSE WE ALL GLADLY SAID GOODBYE TO 2020, BUT SO FAR 2021 IS NOT STARTING OUT GREAT FOR SO MANY KENTUCKIANS, BUT, YES, AS LAURA SAID 1 THE FIRST STEP IS TO DOCUMENT EVERYTHING, TAKE PICTURES, SUBMIT THAT INFORMATION TO YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

THEN EVENTUALLY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SUBMIT THE INFORMATION TO THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES THROUGH FEMA AS WELL ASSUMING THAT DECLARATION COMES, AND FEMA AT SOME POINT WILL ALSO COME INTO THESE AREAS TO OFFER DIRECT IN-PERSON ASSISTANCE, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT A LONG RECOVERY ROAD AHEAD FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

>> Bill: WE'RE HEARING THAT A FEMA TEAM WILL VISIT EASTERN KENTUCKY ON MONDAY BY THE WAY.

SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH AND REMEMBER EVERYBODY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND THOSE IN ALL AREAS HIT BY FLOODING.

THIS WEEKEND MARKS A YEAR SINCE THE FIRST CASE OF COVID WAS DISCOVERED IN A HARRISON COUNTY RESIDENT.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH TIME SINCE, A DEATH TOLL NEARING 5,000 IN THE STATE AND MORE THAN 400,000 CASES P. WE'RE VERY, VERY COGNIZANT OF LOSS OF LIFE AND THE NAMES BEHIND THOSE NUMBERS.

BUT IT CHANGED OFF THE OUR LIVES, LAURA.

WE JUST COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED WHAT WE WOULD GO THROUGH IN THAT YEAR WHEN WE WERE WERE HERE ON THAT WEEKEND WHEN THAT STORY WAS BREAKING LAST MARCH.

>> Laura: THAT'S RIGHT, BILL.

AS YOU SAY ALMOST 5,000 DEATHS.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY LIFE-CHANGING FOR SO MANY PEOPLE.

THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE DISEASE, YOU THINK ABOUT A PANDEMIC AND IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE IT'S A SCIENCE FICTION STORY, BUT THERE'S BUSINESS EFFECTS, THERE ARE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT HAVE CHANGED, SCHOOLS ARE OUT, CHILDREN ARE MISSING OUT, AND THERE'S THIS -- YOU KNOW, IT'S REACHED INTO EVERY ASPECT.

AUTOS AS EMILY SAID ABOUT THE FLOODING, WITH TRAGEDY COMES A LOT OF GOOD, AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING NOW HOW PEOPLE HELP ONE ANOTHER, HOW THE VACCINES WILL GET US HOPEFULLY BACK TO NORMAL SOON, AND WITH THE INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO CAN ATTEND OR WHO CAN GO TO BUSINESSES, THE GOVERNOR SAID CAPACITY IS UP TO 60%, SO THAT CAN HOPEFULLY START GETTING THE ECONOMY ROLLING BACK WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

>> Bill: DAN, YOU DID A PERSPECTIVE PIECE THAT WAS OUT THERE ON FRIDAY, AND IT WAS HOPEFUL, I MUST SAY.

>> Daniel: YES.

THIS HAS BEEN A YEAR OF REALLY, REALLY BAD NEWS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE WE WERE LAST MARCH 6th.

I HAVE BEEN TRACKING THESE COVID-19 NUMBERS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND TURNING THEM INTO A SPREADSHEET AND WATCHING THEM RISE AND RISE AND RISE.

FINALLY WE'RE AT THIS POINT WHERE THEY'RE STARTING TO FALL.

WE'VE HAD TEN STRAIGHT DAYS OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT KEY METRIC THAT WAS ONE OF THE BIG REASONS WHY WE LOCKED DOWN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THOSE HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS HAVE BEEN GOING DOWN FOR TEN DAYS.

WE'RE SEEING INCIDENT RATES, NUMBERS GO DOWN, PARTICULARLY AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER THAN 80, AMONG PEOPLE WHO ARE HORRIBLE 80 WHO WERE TARGETED TO BE THE FIRST PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE IT'S FALLEN 86% SINCE THEIR PEAK WHICH WAS ACTUALLY IN DECEMBER.

AND SO IN SEEING THESE POSITIVE SIGNS, IT'S GIVING US FINALLY THE GLIMMER OF HOPE THAT WE ARE CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO HAVE OUR LIVES RESUME IN A MORE NORMAL MANNER, RETURN TO WHAT THEY LOOKED LIKE BEFORE ON MARCH 4th OR ON MARCH 3rd OF 2020.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THIS VERY TRYING YEAR JUST REALLY FORCED US TO PUT A MIRROR UP TO OURSELVES, AND WE SAW A LOT OF WHAT BRINGS US TELLING AND WHAT DIVIDES US.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, WE'VE SEEN THE BEST AND WORST IN PEOPLE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

WE HAVE SEEN NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.

WE HAVE SEEN ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, FEEDING PEOPLE THAT HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, FEEDING SENIORS WHO NEEDED FOOD.

I THINK WE HAVE GAINED A BETTER APPRECIATION FOR WHAT ARE NOW CALLED ESSENTIAL WORKERS, HEALTH CARE WORKERS, GROCERY STORE WORKERS, BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE WORST, THE HOARDING OF TOILET PAPER AND OTHER ITEMS, AND WE'VE SEEN A POLITICAL DIVIDE REALLY EXPOSED, SOMEHOW WEARING A MASK BECAME A POLITICAL ISSUE.

SO YES, WE HAVE SEEN THE BEST AND THE WORST RESULTING OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC.

>> Bill: DAN -- GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS THE MASK MANDATE WILL REMAIN HERE DESPITE THE FACT THAT A COUPLE OF STATES HAVE DONE AWAY WITH IT.

>> Daniel: YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEW A SLOW SCALE-BACK TO WHERE WE CAN HAVE THINGS AT FULL CAPACITY.

OBVIOUSLY THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER BUT WE'RE STILL AT OCTOBER NUMBERS, AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION THAT'S BEEN VACCINATED, WE'RE ONLY ABOUT AT 17.66% GETTING THEIR FIRST DOSE SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY BEFORE SEE WE START SEEING LOSER RESTRICTIONS.

>> Bill: LAURIE EVER LAURA, IF THE LEGISLATURE HAD ITS WAY, THE GOVERNOR WOULD NOT TO BE THE ONE SET CAN THESE RULES.

THEY STRIPPED A LOT OF THE EMERGENCY AUTHORITY AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR IN SOME BILLS THAT PASSED OVERWHELMINGLY BUT THE GOVERNOR FILED LEGAL CHALLENGES AND HAS PREVAILED IN COURT EARLY ON.

>> Laura: THAT'S RIGHT.

THE LEGISLATURE IPAD THREE BILLS THAT WOULD LIMIT HIS AUTHORITY TO SENATE BILLS WITH ONE HOUSE BILL.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED THOSE.

THE LEGISLATURE OVERRODE THE VETOES AND THEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR SUED TO BLOCK THE LEGISLATION.

AND JUDGE PHILLIP SHEPHERD WITH FRANKLIN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT AGREED WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SAID THAT THOSE LAWS CANNOT BE IMPLEMENTED RIGHT NOW, AND SO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, DAVID OSBORNE SAID AS A PRESS CONFERENCE FRIDAY THAT HE IS LOOKING AT LEGAL OPTIONS TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT STEP WILL BE.

>> Bill: AND ONE OF THE THINGS RAISED WAS MAYBE A DISCUSSION THAT IT DOES NOTE APPLY STATEWIDE.

>> Daniel: SPEAKER OSBORN SPICILY SAID THERE ARE LEGAL MIND LOOKING AT WHETHER THIS ONLY APPLIES TO FRANKLIN COUNTY AND NOT TO THE REST OF THE STATE.

I'M NOTE SURE HOW THAT LEGAL ARGUMENT STANDS.

THE OTHER THING IS JUDGE SHEPHERD DID KIND OF RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE MICROMANAGING THE RESPONSE TO AN ONGOING PANDEMIC.

>> Bill: LAURA, NEAR ALL KENTUCKY SCHOOLS HAVE REOPENED OR HAVE PLANS TO GET BACK SOON, AND THE LEGISLATURE IS URGING THAT WITH ACTUALLY SOME LEGISLATION THAT HAS NOW BECOME LAW.

>> Laura: RIGHT.

HOUSE BILL -- IT WAS HOUSE BILL 208 WOULD PUSH SCHOOLS TO OPEN BY MARCH 29th OF THIS YEAR.

IT ALSO CODIFIES HYBRID AND ONLINE LEARNING, AND IT ALLOWS SCHOOLS TO CHANGE THEIR CALENDARS A LITTLE BIT, BUT THERE IS SOME CONCERN ABOUT VACCINATIONS BEING AVAILABLE TO TEACHERS AND STAFF WHO NEED THEM, AND WE'RE SEEING HERE IN FAYETTE COUNTY, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT THERE ARE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WHERE CHILDREN ARE BEING EXPOSED.

I THINK SIX OR SEVEN SCHOOLS HAVE HAD INSTANCES OF QUARANTINES WITH THE STAFF AND THE GROUPS OF CHILDREN.

SO THE YOUNGER KIDS WENT BACK TO CLASS HERE IN FAYETTE COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 22nd.

SO WE'RE SEEING POCKET OF THAT, BUT -- [NOT AUDIBLE] >> Bill: LOST LAURA THERE FOR JUST A SECOND.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE CASES, DAN, BUT ALSO IT SEEMS THAT SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IN A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER POSITION TO CONTINUE, WHEREAS LAST FALL WHEN A FEW CASES POPPED UP THEY WERE SAYING LET'S GO BACK VIRTUAL.

>> Daniel: BY GETTING TEACHERS VACCINATED AND SETTING THEM AS A PRIORITY FOR VACCINATION THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HELPS THAT STAY PUT UP I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT A WIRED PUSH NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT NATIONWIDE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S AT LEAST SOME FORM OF HYBRID EDUCATION GOING ON THAT KIDDER BACK IN SCHOOLS.

THERE WAS A BILL THAT IPAD THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THAT SAID BY MARCH 29th THEY WANT EVERYBODY TO BE AT LEAST IN SOME FORM OF HYBRID LEARNING.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THERE IS SOME CONTROVERSY FOR SCHOOLS BECAUSE JUST AS THEY'RE GETTING GOING AGAIN, THEY'RE REQUIRED TO DO FEDERALLY MANDATED TESTING, AND A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE OUT THERE SAYING, I CAN TELL YOU THEY'RE BEHIND.

RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: IT'S PRETTY GENERAL KNOWLEDGE THAT STUDENTS HAVE SUFFERED THROUGH WHAT'S KNOWN HERE AS REMOTE LEARNING.

THEY'RE NOT DOING AS WELL AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD HAVE IN A CLASS.

BUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAID DESPITE THAT PANDEMIC THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE STANDARD I'D TESTING MUCH TO THE CHA GRIFFIN EDUCATION ARE COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS.

HE'S GOING TO TRY TO BLUNT THE IMPACT OF THAT.

THE TEST WILL BE SHORTER, AND HE'S GOING TO TRY TO NOT HAVE TO REPORT SOME OF THE LOWER PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT FAIR, FOR ONE, BUT SECOND, THERE'S NO STATISTICS FROM LAST YEAR BECAUSE THERE'S NO TESTING LAST YEAR.

BUT THE TESTING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT IT'S UNCLEAR EXACTLY WHEN AND WHERE, & WHAT FORM IT WILL TAKE.

>> Bill: THERE'S ALSO A PROPOSAL FOR SO-CALLED SUPPLEMENTAL YEAR WHERE STUDENTS COULD APPLY TO TAKE -- RETAKE COURSES.

IT COULD MEAN EXTRA ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY.

IT SWEPT THROUGH THE SENATE 36-0.

IT HAS MOMENTUM IN THE HOUSE AS WELL.

BUT THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION.

>> YOU NEED TO HAVE HANDS-ON LEARNING IN SO MANY ASPECTS, AND THEN ALSO FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT JUST LOST OUT ON SO MANY THINGS THAT MANY OF US PROBABLY TOOK FOR GRANTED AND LOOK BACK ON.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, WHAT WOULD THAT LEGISLATION DO IF IT GETS FINAL PASSAGE?

>> Lawrence: WELL, TODAY IT IPAD THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE 8-0 SO IT HAS MOMENTUM BUT ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD ALLOW STUDENTS TO HAVE THE OPTION OF TAKING EITHER ALL OR PART OF CLASSES NEXT YEAR THAT THEY TOOK THIS YEAR PERHAPS DID NOT DO SO WELL.

IT WILL BE UP TO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS HOW THAT WOULD WORK.

BUT TODAY EMPHASIZED A COUPLE OF THINGS.

ONE SAID THIS IS K THROUGH 12.

IT APPLIES TO ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS.

AND SECOND THIS IS AN ACADEMIC BILL, NOT ATHLETICS.

YES, EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SPORTS, COULD BE REPEATED NEXT YEAR, BUT THEY'RE NOT LIKE WAIVING THE AGE REQUIREMENTS.

YOU CAN'T BE 19 YEARS OLD OR 20 YEARS OLD AND PLAYING THESE SPORTS, SO THEY'RE REALLY EMPHASIZING THIS IS PRIMARILY DONE TO HELP PEOPLE IMPROVE ACADEMICS AND NOT ATHLETICS.

>> Bill: AS WE SAID, LEGISLATION IS MOVING.

WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE BACKLOGGING OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS.

THERE'S A NAIL WOULD REQUIRE URN EMPLOYMENT OFFICES TO REOPEN IF THE STATE JOBLESS NUMBERS TOP 5%.

THERE'S ALSO LEGISLATION, DAN, THAT WOULD ALLOW SOME PEOPLE TO WAIVE UNEMPLOYMENT OVERPAYMENTS.

>> Daniel: I MEAN, I THINK WE'VE ALL HEARD THE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED TO GET UNEMPLOYMENT P. EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION WAS HAVING PEOPLE APPLY FOR UNEMPLOYMENT THAT WEREN'T NECESSARILY ELIGIBLE SO THIS BILL WOULD ALLOW THE PEOPLE TO KEEP THE MONEY AND NOT HAVE IT CLAWED BACK THE WAY IT ORIGINALLY SEEMED IT WOULD BE.

THIS HALLS JUST BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A VERY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE TO MAKE A LOT OF SPEECHES AND POINT THE FINGERS AND LAY THE BLAME ON THE FOOTSTEPS OF BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF PASSIONATE SPEECHES BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE HEARD A OF THE LO STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED TO GET THROUGH THIS SYSTEM AND HAVE STRUGGLED TO GET THE BENEFITS THAT WILL HELP THEM MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH THEIR EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING TO OPEN A CALL CENTER, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: RIGHT.

THEY'RE USING FEDERAL DOLLARS TO OPEN A CALL CENTER TO BE ABLE TO MORE EFFICIENTLY NEEDLE SOME OF THESE CALLS.

NOW, IT WON'T SPEED UP THEIR COMPUTERS BUT AT LEAST THEY CAN GET MORE CALLS ANSWERED IN PERSON WHEN THIS CALL CENTER OPENS SOME TIME IN APRIL.

>> Bill: LOUISVILLE'S TRADITION OF PARTISAN MAYORS RACES WILL CONTINUE.

A PART OF A BILL WAS STRIPPED OUT THAT WOULD HAVE FORCED A CHANGE ON METRO LOUISVILLE.

MOST KENTUCKY CITIES HAVE NON-PARTISAN CITY ELECTIONS AND THEY MAKE THAT CHOICE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FRANKFORT MAKING THAT CHOICE FOR LOUISVILLE.

BUT LAWRENCE, THAT PART AS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF OF THE BILL.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE WAS SOME DARRENT WOULD BE A NON-PARTISAN MAYOR'S RACE BUT STILL A PARTISAN METRO COUNCIL RACE.

AMONG THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED ABOUT THAT BILL.

SO THAT WAS TAKEN OUT.

BUT STILL IN THE BILL IS GIVING THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD, WHICH WILL REVIEW POLICE MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS, INDIRECT SUBPOENA POWER THROUGH THE METRO COUNCIL.

THAT COLLIDE WITH THE SIGNAL BILL FILED BY MORNING McGARVEY WHICH WOULD GIVE THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD DIRECT SUBPOENA POWER.

SO THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THIS.

WE WILL SEE WHICH ONE ULTIMATELY GETS PASSED.

>> Bill: THERE WILL BE NEW RULES FOR NO KNOCK WARRANTS BUT MAYBE NOT THE OUTRIGHT ABOUT AN THAT REPRESENTATIVE BREONNA TAYLOR'S MOTHER AND REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT HAVE BEEN SPEAKING.

>> Lawrence: TAMIKA TAYLOR BREONNA TAYLOR AREA MOTHER AND OTHERS MADE A CARAVAN TO LOUISVILLE DEMANDING THAT LAW PASS, A TOTAL BAN ON NO KNOCK WARRANTS.

AT THE SAME TIME A BILL HAS IPAD THE SENATE SPONSORED BY SENATOR ROBERT STIVERS WHICH WOULD LIMIT NO KNOCK WARRANTS, DIFFERENT FROM A TOTAL BAN.

THIS WOULD LIMIT NO KNOCK WARRANTS AND SINCE IT HAS THE BACKING OF THE SENATE PRESIDENT, IT IS LIKELY THE ONE THAT WILL END UP PASSING.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THE COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY MOVING TO PERMANENTLY DISMISS CHARGES AGAINST BREONNA TAYLOR'S BOYFRIEND, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: YEAH, LAST NAY TOM, THE COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY, DECLINED TO PURSUE CHARGES AGAINST KENNETH WALKER IN THIS CASE, BUT HE RESERVED THE RIGHT TO GO BACK LATER IF THERE'S NEW INFORMATION AND FILE NEW CHARGES, BUT THIS WEEK HE SAID THERE WILL BE NO NEW CHARGES WEEK HE WON'T PURSUE ANY CHARGES AGAINST KENNETH WALKER AND POSSIBLY WILL ASK A JUDGE TO DROP THE CASE.

>> Bill: DAN, WE KNOW THE IMPEACHMENT LEGAL COSTS AMOUNT TO MORE THAN $18,000 AND THAT'S TO BE PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO FILED THE PETITIONS BECAUSE IT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

>> Daniel: YES.

AND AS IS THE TREND OF THE IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE GET THE FINAL TOTAL.

>> Bill: THEY'RE GOING TO MEET AGAIN.

>> Daniel: YES, THEY MET TODAY AND STEAD ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON DID NOT GIVE THEM A BILL ON HUTCH IT COST HIS OFFICE SO THEY REQUESTED THAT INFORMATION AND THEY WILL MEET AGAIN NEXT WEEK BEFORE THEY COME UP WITH THEIR FINAL TOTAL.

>> Bill: LEGISLATORS MAY NOT BE REPRESENTING THE SAME DISTRICTS THAT THEY HAVE NOW AFTER NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.

SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS TOLD ME, QUOTE, HE IS VERY, VERY CONFIDENT NEW DISTRICTS WILL BE IN PLACE BEFORE NEXT YEAR'S FILING DEADLINE EVEN IF THAT FILING DEADLINE HAS TO BE MOVED.

LAURA, THERE'S ALWAYS INTRIGUE WITH THAT.

IT'S AN EMOTIONAL PROCESS, AND ALWAYS A TIME IN FRANKFORT WHERE YOU SEE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS BEING MADE ABOUT HOW TO DRAW THOSE LINES.

>> Laura: AND YOU SEE A LOT OF POLITICAL DECISIONS BEING MADE ON HOW TO DRAW THOSE LINES SO, YEAH, IT WILL BE INTERESTING THIS TIME WITH THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE DISTRICTS, THOSE BOUNDARIES WILL PUT INCUMBENTS AGAINST INCUMBENTS WHEN THOSE BOUNDARIES ARE REDRAWN.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF POPULATION SHIFT FROM KENTUCKY TO SO-CALLED GOLDEN TRIANGLE.

EASTERN KENTUCKY TO THE SO-CALLED GOLDEN TRIANGLE.

A PERSON TOLD ME THE OTHER DAY THE SWEET SPOT FOR HOUSE DISTRICT REPRESENTATION IS ABOUT 42,000 PEOPLE.

SOME DISTRICTS, HOUSE DISTRICTS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY HAVE 48, CLOSE TO 50,000 WHERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY 38,000 PEOPLE IN A DISTRICT.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THOSE NUMBERS BEING SHIFTED AS WELL.

AND THEN THE CENSUS NUMBERS WON'T BE RELEASED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30th.

AND THIS YEAR THEY'RE DUMPING ALL THE DATA OF THE AUTO STATE AT ONE TIME.

IN YEARS PAST THERE'S BEEN MORE OF A STAGGERED RELEASE OF THOSE NUMBERS.

BUT THIS YEAR IT'S ALL AT ONCE, AND SO THE SECRETARY ADAMS POINT, IT'S GOING TO BE A TIGHT SQUEEZE IF THE STATE OFFICIALS GET NUMBERS ON SEPTEMBER 30 AND THEN THE FILING DEADLINE IS EARLY IN -- OR IN LATE JANUARY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THAT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME.

>> Daniel: THERE'S A BILL TO PUSH BACK THE FILING DEADLINE TO LATE JANUARY IN ORDER LEARN THAT SO THAT THEY DO HAVE THE NEW DISTRICTS.

>> Bill: McCONNELL'S LIFE E LINE CHAO IN A INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT ACCUSED HER OF VIOLATING ETHICS RULES.

THERE WAS NO CRIMINAL CASE.

>> Daniel: YES, IT WAS IN REGARDS TO HER FAMILY SHIPPING BUSINESS.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DECIDED NOT TO INVESTIGATE, BUT THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S REPORT HAS RECENTLY COME OUT.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THERE WILL BE A CROWD AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND IT WILL BE THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY THIS YEAR.

LITTLE NORMALCY, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: THAT'S RIGHT, ET WILL BE MAY 1st AND THEY SAID IT WILL BE AT LEAST 60%.

WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT IS BUT THEORY PLANNING A CROWD ON DERBY DAY.

>> Bill: IF ANYTHING THIS YEAR HAS TAUGHT SUS HOW TO BE RESILIENT.

WE HAVE LIVED BY RULES AND RESTRICTIONS THAT NOBODY COULD HAVE IMAGINED, AND WE FORGE AHEAD.

WE HOPE YOU'LL STAY WITH US COMING UP RIGHT AFTER "COMMENT."

WE'LL HAVE THE "LEGISLATIVE UPDATE" AND THAT'S ANCHORED BY RENEE SHAW.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN RENEE ON MONDAY NIGHT FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" AND SHE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON WHERE THINGS STAND IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE