[♪♪] >> Bill: A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY PRESIDENT ELI CAP LIEU TOW FROM THE CAPILOUTO FROM THE FACULTY SENATE.

REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TOUR AREAS WHERE MAJOR MONEY IS BEING DIRECTED FOR PROJECTS.

KENTUCKY'S EARLY VOTING FOR THE MAY PRIMARY STARTS NEXT WEEK, IT'S QUIET BUT THERE ARE RACES TO WATCH.

AFTER MORE ROUGH WEATHER THINGS CALMED DOWN FOR MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

>> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE TESSA DUVALL, POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

RYLAND BARTON KENTUCKY BASED SENIOR EDITOR FOR NP R. AND JOE SONKA ENTERPRISE STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

ALSO TONIGHT HANDWRITTEN LETTERS REVEAL SOME OF WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY'S JUVENILE JUSTICE FACILITIES.

AND TOYOTA IS SET TO BEGIN PRODUCTION OF THE ALL HYBRID CAMRY HERE IN KENTUCKY.

LET'S GET TO THE SITUATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IT WAS RUMORED ON AIR LAST WEEK BUT EARLY THIS WEEK, THE FACULTY SENATE APPROVED A RESOLUTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN U.K. PRESIDENT ELI CAPILOUTO.

TESSA THIS CAME AFTER THE PRESIDENT GOT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO APPROVE A MOVE THAT TOOK POLICY MAKING POWER AWAY FROM THE FACULTY SENATE.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT THE UNIVERSITY SENATE WAS UPSET ABOUT.

FELT LIKE IT STRIPPED SOME OF THEIR POWER SOME INFLUENCE OVER HOW THE UNIVERSITY WAS GOVERNED.

SO THAT LED TO THIS NO CONFIDENCE VOTE WHICH IS THE FIRST SUCH VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN A PRESIDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THIS IS REALLY LARGELY SYMBOLIC HOW THE FACULTY IS FEELING ABOUT THE PRESIDENT AT THIS POINT.

BECAUSE THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HAS ALREADY BEEN CLEAR THAT THEY STAND BEHIND THE PRESIDENT SO THERE WILL BE NO ACTION TO REMOVE HIM FOLLOWING THIS VOTE.

BUT, OF COURSE, IT IS A SIGNAL THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE GROUPS AT THE UNIVERSITY ARE VERY STRAINED AND HAVE REBUILDING TO DO.

>> Bill: AGAIN YOU WOULD SAY IT IS SYMBOLIC VOTE?

>> I WOULD.

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHICH IS THE PRESIDENT'S BOSS SAID WE SUPPORT HIM UNEQUIVOCALLY.

WHILE THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT COMMUNICATION REBUILT WITH THE FACULTY, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE TO OUST HIM.

>> Bill: THEY STOPPED SHORT OF DOING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE TRUSTEES THEM THEY WAS?

>> THE SENATE DID STOP SHORT OF THAT VOTE AND THEY DO HAVE THAT SIMILAR FEELING ABOUT THEIR ROLE AND THE SENATE'S AUTHORITY BEING TAKEN AWAY AND THAT GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE CHANGE.

>> Bill: IN AN INTERVIEW WITH GOVERNOR BESHEAR HE SAID THESE ARE ADULTS REFERRING TO THE HAPPENINGS ON THE CAMPUS AT U.K. AND SAID IT NEEDS TO BE WORKED OUT.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> WE'RE PAST THE POINT THE TWO SIDES SHOULD HAVE TALKED THIS OUT BEFORE THE SENATE WAS STRIPPED OF THEIR POWER AND THERE WAS 0 A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE.

IT IS UNCLEAR WHERE THEY GO AT THIS POINT.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF A THIS HAS HAPPENED IN A LOT OF UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENCE IN HOW SOME OF THESE UNIVERSITY STRUCTURES ARE INTERFACING AND COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OTHER.

THERE IS A RECENT NO CONFIDENCE VOTE AT BELL MAN UNIVERSITY.

THAT IS PART OF IT.

THIS IS HOW THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT NOW.

I DO THINK THERE IS A LOT OF HURT FEELINGS FROM THIS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THIS IS A DIFFERENCE HOW THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IS GOING TO OPERATE.

YET TO BE SEEN HOW THEY ARE GOING TO MAKEUP AFTER THEY.

>> Bill: AGAIN, THERE'S EVERY INDICATION THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL CARRY ON NORMALLY.

TESSA, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THESE VOTES NATIONWIDE, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT GOOD.

>> YES, THERE IS DATA THAT SHOWS WITHIN A YEAR AFTER THESE VOTES ARE TAKEN, SLIGHTLY MORE THAN HALF OF THESE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS END UP LEAVING THAT UNIVERSITY.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH AND SEE HOW THINGS PROCEED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

>>> IN THAT INTERVIEW I REFERENCED WITH BESHEAR WE TALKED ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THE NEW STATE BUDGET AND HIS OPPOSITION TO THE SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT.

HE SAYS HE WILL WORK HARD AGAINST IT AMONG OTHER TOPICS.

I ASKED HIM HIS RECENTLY FORMED POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

THE OUT OF STATE TRAVEL HE HAS BEEN DOING AND WHAT INTEREST HE MAY HAVE IN NATIONAL POLITICS.

>> I GOT INTO THIS NOT TO BE GOVERNOR I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

DAD BEING THE GOVERNOR WAS ENOUGH.

BUT BECAUSE I THOUGHT I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

A BETTER WORLD FOR WILL AND LILA AND EVERYONE ELSE.

AND WE COULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

ANY DECISION I MAKE IN THE FUTURE WON'T BE ABOUT WHETHER I CAN BE THIS OR THAT OR WHETHER I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> Bill: IF YOU THOUGHT THERE WAS A DIFFERENT YOU COULD MAKE YOU MIGHT GO FOR IT.

>> Bill: IF I -- >> IF I THOUGHT I COULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER IT'S TO SOMETHII WOULD CONSIDER.

>> Bill: HE IS STILL COMMITTED TO FINISHING OUT HIS TERM WHICH ENDS IN DECEMBER OF 2027.

JOE, THAT IS FAR AS WE'VE HEARD THE GOVERNOR GO IN OPENING OPENLY SAYING HE IS INTERESTED IN NATIONAL POLITICS.

>> THE DOOR WAS BARELY CREEKED OPEN AND NOW IT'S MORE.

WHEN HE SAYS NATIONAL POLITICS WE'RE NOT SURE WHETHER HE MEANS RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE OR PRESIDENT.

HE DID SAY HE IS GOING TO RUN OUT HIS TERM.

IF HE DID WANT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028, HE COULD SERVE OUT HIS TERM AND DO THAT.

HE COULD NOT RUN FOR SENATE IN 2026.

HE WOULD BE BLACKS THIS PROMISE BUT A LOT OF POLITICIANS SAY THEY WILL FINISH OUT A TERM AND THEN THEY RUN FOR IT.

WE'LL SEE WHETHER THERE'S A SENATE RACE IN 2028.

HE COULD WAIT FOR THAT ONE.

>> WE HAVE SEEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR POP-UP IN MONTANA TO GIVE A KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO DEMS THERE.

WE'VE SEEN HIM WITH THE PACT SUPPORT CANDIDATES OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY.

THESE ARE NOT THE STEPS YOU TAKE IF YOU INTEND ON GOING BACK TO PRIVATE PRACTICE AFTER YOUR FULL TERM OF GOVERNOR IS OVER.

TO JOE'S POINT WHERE EXACTLY DOES HE POP-UP NEXT?

I THINK HE IS PROBABLY STILL EVALUATING THAT.

HE HAS UNTIL 2027 TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> Bill: WHERE WOULD HE FIT IF HE DID DECIDE TO DO THAT IF BESHEAR ENTERS THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE COULD THE BECOMIC PARTY BEING LOOKING FOR A MODERATE, A SOUTHERNER AS THEY DID FOR BILL CLINTON IN THE 1990s.

OR IS THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY TOO LIBERAL OR PROGRESSIVE THESE DAYS TO GO WITH SOMEBODY WHO IS A MORE CONVENTIONAL CANDIDATE LIKE BESHEAR?

>> I COULD SEE A POSSIBLE LAND THERE WHERE DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY COULD WARM-UP TO HIM.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO REALLY SAY, WHETHER BESHEAR'S MODERATE OR NOT.

IF YOU LOOK AT HIS TONE AND HOW HE SAYS CERTAIN THINGS IT'S EASY TO SAY HE IS MODERATE COMPARED TO OTHER DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON D.C.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLICIES HE IS SIMILAR TO A LOT OF DEMOCRATS THERE.

SO I DON'T THINK HE WOULD BE COMPLETELY SHUNNED FROM THE LEFT OF THE PARTY LIKE HE CERTAINLY NOT A JOE MANCHIN.

I CERTAINLY THERE THERE WILL BE A LAND FOR HIM THERE.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL RACE JOE BIDEN WAS NOT THE MOST PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL CANDIDATE RUNNING IN THAT PRIMARY AND HE EMERGED VICTORIOUS TO GO TO JOE'S POINT ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OF THE GOVERNOR.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS POSITIONS ON ABORTION, LGBTQ RIGHTS, UNIONS HE IS IN LOCK STEP WITH WHAT THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND VOTERS WHO WANT TO SEE.

WHERE IT MIGHT GET MORE TRICKY FOR HIM ARE ENERGY POLICY, COAL, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THINGS WHERE HE, OF COURSE, KEEPS KENTUCKY'S COAL INDUSTRY IN MIND WHEN TALKING ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

>> Bill: DO YOU SEE BESHEAR WORKING TO GET KNOWN OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY MORE AND MORE?

>> WE SAW THAT THROUGHOUT HIS FIRST TERM.

THROUGHOUT THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC AND THAT WAS NOT ENTIRELY SEEM TO ME LIKE A REELECTION EFFORT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT GOT HIM A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION AND HE SOUGHT OUT EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON NATIONAL TV AND GET HIS NAME OUT THERE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IS SOMETHING I EXPERIENCED IN TALKING TO PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTRY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY KNEW WHO THIS SUPPOSEDLY RED STATE'S BLUE GOVERNOR WAS.

AND I THINK FOR NATIONAL DEMOCRATS THERE'S SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT JUST GIVING UP ON POLITICALLY GIVING UP ON HALF THE COUNTRY AND HERE IS SOMEBODY WHO HAS A SECRET RECIPE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN A STATE-WIDE CAMPAIGN IN A OTHERWISE RED STATE.

THE QUESTION IS, ONE, WHETHER OR NOT THE BESHEAR CAN DO WINNIE SORT OF ELECTION STATE-WIDE THE SENATE RACE IN KENTUCKY IN AN EVEN NUMBERED YEAR BECAUSE HE HAS ONLY WON THE ELECTIONS IN THE ODD NUMBERS YEAR.

IT'S ONLY STATE RACES NOT WRAPPED UP IN THE NATIONAL FERVOR ON NATIONAL NEWS AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT TRANSLATES TO OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

>> AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION SPEND RECORD BREAKING AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO SUPPORT GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S REELECTION.

AND I'VE GOT TO THINK LIKE THEY SEE THAT AS A ROADMAP FOR HOW OTHER GOVERNORS IN BLUE GOVERNORS IN RED STATES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT ALSO THAT DOES A LOT FOR THE BRAND RECOGNITION.

THEY HOPE THAT THAT 20 MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT I'M SURE CAN PAY FUTURE DIVIDENDS IN SUPPORTING THIS POLITICIAN.

BECAUSE YOU DON'T PUT $20 MILLION IN SOMEONE IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN THEM.

>> Bill: NOW THAT HE MADE THE STATEMENTS, MORE QUESTIONS ARE OUT THERE ABOUT BESHEAR'S FUTURE.

>>> REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS INCLUDING SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS TOURED AREAS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY WHERE THE LEGISLATURE APPROPRIATED MONEY FOR PROJECTS.

TESSA, A VICTORY LAP FOR THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH SOME VERY REAL INVESTMENTS IN AREAS THAT HAVE LONG STRUGGLED?

>> RIGHT.

WE SAW A LOT OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS GOING AROUND EASTERN KENTUCKY HANDING OUT BIG CHECKS NOT WANTING BESHEAR TO BE THE ONLY ONE WHO GETS TO HANDOUT THOSE CEREMONIAL CHECKS.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

THIS IS A REGION THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THE INVESTMENT AND ROBERT STIVERS IS FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY AND THIS IS A REGION THAT HAS LOST A LOT OF JOBS AND POPULATION AS THE COAL INDUSTRY HAS DECLINED AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN THAT THERE IS A LOT OF REBUILDING TO BE DONE AFTER THE 2022 FLOODS THIS IS A REGION THAT CAN BENEFIT IN THINGS LIKE HEALTH AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND TOURISM.

>> Bill: THE EAST KENTUCKY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL EXPRESSED OPTIMISM IN THE REGION'S FUTURE.

AND MANY APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES HAVE LEARNED TO EMBRACE THEIR IDENTITIES.

AND TO PROFIT FROM THAT.

>> AND THERE IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.

I MEAN ONE JUST WITH THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE AREA AND THE CULTURE.

AND I THINK THERE IS A TIME FOR IT RIGHT NOW WHETHER THERE IS ALL THIS MONEY FLOWING FROM OTHER STATE OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE LEFTOVER MONEY FROM INFRASTRUCTURE ACT.

AND CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC MONEY.

BUT, YEAH, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SOME OF THE EASTERN KENTUCKY CITIES LIKE PINEVILLE AND HAZARD AND CORBIN TRY TO REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWNS AND REBUILD THAT TOURISM INDUSTRY AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WELL TO DO THAT.

>> Bill: TESSA, AUSTIN HORN HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO THOSE WHO HAVE TRIED TO INFLUENCE THE LEGISLATURE.

HE FOUND THAT 10 MILLION DOLLARS WAS SPENT EARLY ON COMPANIES AND ENTITIES DO SHELL OUT THE BUCKS TO TRY TO MAKE THEIR POINTS IN FRANKFORT?

>> IT WAS A RECORD-BREAKING YEAR.

AUSTIN FOUND IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR, THERE WAS $9.7 MILLION SPENT ON LOBBYING EFFORTS OF THE KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE WHICH SURPASSES LAST YEAR'S RECORD BY $400,000.

ONE OF THE REALLY BIG DRIVERS OF THAT LOBBYING SPENDING THIS YEAR HAD TO DO WITH SENATE BILL 349 WHICH WOULD IN A WAY EXTEND THE TIME THAT IT TAKES TO SHUT DOWN COAL POWERED PLANTS.

AND SO A LOT OF ENERGY GROUPS REALLY AND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES GOT INVOLVED IN THIS FIGHT ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER AND IT WAS A EXPENSIVE BATTLE.

ULTIMATELY THAT BILL WAS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR BUT THE LEGISLATURE OVERRODE THAT.

>> Bill: JOE IS ADVOCACY SOMETHING THE BUSINESSES AND ENTITIESES FIGURE INTO THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS.

THEY HAVE TO GET THINGS GOING IN FRANKFORT?

>> FROM A DOLLAR AND CENTS SOMETIMES IT IS A NO-BRAINER THAT YOU SAY SPEND $200,000 IN A YEAR ON LOBBIESTS AND THEY TURN THAT INTO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF TAX BREAKS OR BENEFITS TO YOUR COMPANY.

SO A LOT OF THESE BIG COMPANIES DON'T MIND PAYING THE LOBBYISTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN MAKE MORE OFF OF IT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE KNOW THAT MAJOR CHALLENGES REMAIN IN KENTUCKY'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR MADE SOME ATTEMPTS TO ADDRESS THAT.

JOHN OF THE HERALD LEADER USED THE KENTUCKY OPEN RECORDS ACT TO GET HANDWRITTEN COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED BY JUVENILES HELD IN SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES.

AND TESSA, IT'S EYE OPENING TO SEE THAT SOME OF THE 87 COMPLAINTS FROM TEENAGERS FOR THE MOST PART ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AAT THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT'S NOT EVEN ALL OF THE FACILITIES RUN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.

THOSE ARE THE FOUR WHERE JOHN HAS GOTTEN THE COMPLAINTS AND THESE ARE SUBSTANTIATED GRIEVANCES.

THINGS LIKE NO RUNNING WATER.

MEDICATION BEING WITHHELD.

SPOILED FOOD.

FILTHY LINENS.

THREATS OF VIOLENCE.

THESE ARE BEING MADE ARE THINGS BEING DONE TO TEENAGERS WHO ARE IN STATE CUSTODY.

AND WE HAVE SEEN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE OVER THE YEARS IT'S BEEN PLAGUED WITH A LOT OF ISSUES.

RIOTS, ATTACKS, ESCAPES, LAWSUITS ABOUT THE CONDITIONS IN THESE FACILITIES.

SO IT IS QUITE EYE-OPENING TO SEE IT DIRECTLY FROM THE MOUTHS OF THE TEENAGERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THIS.

>> Bill: THE FORMER JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSIONER VICTORY REED RESIGNED AT THE START OF THIS YEAR.

RANDY WHITE IS THE NEW COMMISSIONER AND SAID CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY.

>> HE SAID THERE WILL BE A NEW PROCESS TO RESPOND TO THE GRIEVANCES SUBSTANTIATED COMPLAINTS FOUND TO BE AUTHENTIC BY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES.

AND HAS ALSO SAID THEY WILL HIRE AN ADDITIONAL OMBUDSMAN TO RESPOND TO THESE AS WELL.

>> Bill: THIS IS A LONGSTANDING ISSUE YOU WOULD THINK OTHER STATES FACE SIMILAR CHALLENGES?

>> IT IS AND IT IS A LONGSTANDING ISSUE IN OTHER STATES.

I WAS READING ABOUT A SCANDAL IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE KICKBACK SCHEME OF JUDGES CHEF OF SHUFFLING JUVENILE KIDS WRAPPED UP IN THE COURT SYSTEM INTO SPECIFICALLY PRIVATE PRISONS.

AND THERE IS A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS GOING ON.

MARYLAND, TEXAS, ARKANSAS, RELATED TO IMPROPER CONDITIONS AND KIDS HELD IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR TOO LONG.

SOME HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT THIS EXACERBATEING AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

THE ACUTE STAFFING PROBLEM THEY CANNOT FIND ENOUGH PEOPLE TO WORK AT OFFERS TO WORK IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE INSTITUTIONS AND CAN YOU PAY THEM ENOUGH.

AND ONCE THEY ARE THERE, ARE YOU GOING TO ONLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW?

AND KENTUCKY HAS BEEN STRUGGLING WITH THAT PAYING AND RETAINING WORKERS AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY IS FACE RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: AND OBVIOUSLY THE HOPE IS YOU TURN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIVES AROUND AND THAT IS THE GOAL.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ON THAT.

>>> TURNS OUT THAT MOST OF KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT JUSTICES DID NOT FILE FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTS ON TIME FOR THIS YEAR.

JOE, THE DEADLINE WAS MARCH 15TH YOU LOOKED INTO THAT.

THE CHIEF JUSTICE SAID IT WAS AN OVERSIGHT.

>> THIS IS A LONGSTANDING LAW WHERE ALL OF THE JUMPS AND SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEYS IN KENTUCKY HAVE TO FILE THIS ANNUALLY TO DESCRIBE THEIR AFFILIATIONS AND INVESTMENTS AND LAST YEAR ONLY THREE FILED THEM.

FOUR JUSTICES DID NOT FILE THEM.

THIS YEAR ONLY TWO FILED BEFORE THE MARCH 15TH DEADLINE.

I ASKED WHY THEY ARE NOT TURNING IN THE FORMS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE GOT THEM IN FOR THIS YEAR.

THERE WERE EXCUSES FOR WHY THEY WERE NOT TURNED IN.

AND WHO WAS NOT KEEPING THEM IN CHECK.

BUT THEY ALL ARE IN THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT EVEN WHEN JUSTICES REGULARLY FILL THESE IN THESE FORMS ARE NOT VERY DETAILED.

THE JUSTICES DO NOT HAVE TO EVEN NAME THE COMPANIES THAT THEY OWN STOCK IN.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO LIST WHAT THEIR VALUE IS OR RANGE OF THEIR VALUE.

>> Bill: THE LAW WAS PASSED IN THE 70s AND AMENDED THE LAST TIME IN THE 90s, RIGHT?

>> THIS HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR A LONGTIME.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN NATIONAL GROUPS THAT GRADE STATES BASED ON THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE DISCLOSURES OF THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND KENTUCKY ALWAYS GETS AN F. OTHER STATES FEDERAL JUDGES THEY HAVE TO NAME THE COMPANIES THEY OWN STOCK IN.

AND THAT IS THE WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIARY THAT JUSTICES AREN'T OVERSEEING CASES AND RULING ON CASES WHERE THEY HAVE AN INVESTMENT IN ONE OF THE COMPANIES.

NORTH CAROLINA'S SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE THERE WAS A REPORT HE WAS RULING ON SIX DIFFERENT DUKE ENERGY CASES AND HE AND HIS WIFE OWNED DUKE ENERGY STOCK THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT TO GUARD AGAINST.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY PRIMARY IS COMING UP AND ADAMS HAS BEEN AWARDED THE PROFILE IN COURAGE AWARD FOR EXPANDING VOTING RIGHTS AND STANDING UP FOR FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

ADAMS WORKED WITH GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO CONDUCT THE 2020 ELECTION DURING THE PANDEMIC.

AND MANY OF THOSE TEMPORARY FIXES HAVE BECOME PERMANENT, JOE?

>> AS YOU LOOK AT THAT, HE WILL ACCEPT THE AWARD, OF COURSE, BUT POLITICALLY AS WE'VE MENTIONED ADAMS HAS PROBABLY INTERESTED IN A FUTURE IN POLITICS IS THAT HE THAT HELPFUL TO HIM?

>> SURE THERE ARE VOICES ON THE RIGHT WHO BELIEVE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT DONALD TRUMP DOES ABOUT ELECTION INTERFERENCE AND FRAUD WITHOUT A LOT OF EVIDENCE.

MICHAEL ADAMS WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE 2023 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY HE WON THAT EASILY.

HE HAS AMBITIONS FOR 2027 OF RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN AS LONG AS THE VOICES OF CRITICISM FROM THAT SIDE ARE LARGER THAN STATE SENATOR, THE PILLOW GOT MIKE LINDELL HE WILL HAVE AN EASIER PATH.

>> Bill: THE MAY PRIMARY SOME LEGISLATIVE RACES THERE ARE SEVERAL OPEN SEATS AND MANY OF THOSE WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE PRIMARY.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE'RE WATCHING.

>> YES.

DEFINITELY.

ONE OF THE OPEN SEATS WHICH KIND OF IS A GOOD ENCAPSULATION FOR 10 PRIMARIES IS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY HOUSE DISTRICT 66 BETWEEN ED MASSEY AN INCUMBENT THAT LOST IN 2022 TO ONE OF THE LIBERTY WING CHALLENGERS THAT TAKE A HARDLINE ON SPENDING.

HE IS RUNNING AGAIN FOR THE OFFICE.

HE IS TAKING ON TZ ROBERTS ONE OF THE LIBERTY CANDIDATES ALIGNED WITH SAVANNAH MADDOX OF THE PARTY.

SO WE HAVE ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT REALLY COMPETITIVE RACES WHERE IT'S REALLY LINED UP ON THE TWO SIDES THE LIBERTY SIDE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SIDE IN LEADERSHIP IN BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY BEING SPENT.

THERE ARE PACTS ONE PACTS ON THE MORE ESTABLISHMENT SIDE THAT DROPPED A MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF ADS AND GETTING INVOLVED IN THE RACES TRYING TO FEND INCUMBENTS MICHAEL MEREDITH WHILE GOING AFTER SOME OF THOSE LIBERTY INCUMBENTS WHO WON IN 2022.

>> .

>> Bill: A OFTEN USE NATIONAL ISSUES.

>> ALL OF THE ADS I SAW FROM THIS GROUP ARE SHOWING SIGNS OF THE BORDER ALL BORDER, BORDER, BORDER WHICH IS INTERESTING IT'S NOT REALLY THE DIFFERENCE IS BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES IN THE RACES.

>> Bill: TERM LIMITS HAVE COME UP AGAIN IN SOME OF THE KENTUCKY CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

PEW RESEARCH SAYS THAT 9 OUT OF 10 AMERICANS DO FAVOR TERM LIMITS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IN THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE THERE'S SEVERAL CANDIDATES RUNNING IN THAT PRIMARY.

WE HAVE SEEN AT LEAST TWO TODD KELLY AND SHAWNA RUDD SIGNED A FORMAL PLEDGE SAYING THEY WOULD SUPPORT TERM LIMITS AND THIS SPECIFIC PLEDGE IS THREE HOUSE TERMS TWO SENATE TERMS.

NOT NECESSARILY THE PARAMETERS OF THIS PLEDGE ABOUT 87% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT LIMITING THE NUMBER OF TERMS THAT THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS CAN SERVE.

INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THAT SAME SURVEY ALSO SHOWED THAT ABOUT 79% OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AGE LIMITS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL.

>> Bill: THAT IS INTERESTING.

CONGRESSMAN BARR THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT WAS FOR TERM LIMITS AND WOULD SAY HE IS IF IT CAME UP AS AN ISSUE.

WHEN HE ORIGINALLY RAN IN 2012 WAS ELECTED IN 2012.

>> AND AS WE'VE DISCUSSED IT'S POPULAR WITH VOTERS.

>> Bill: AND SO WE WILL WATCH THOSE PRIMARIES THAT ARE COMING UP, OF COURSE, THE ELECTION DAY MAY 21 WITH EARLY VOTING IN THE THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BEFORE THAT.

IN WASHINGTON, KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSEY JOINED WITH CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE IN GEORGIA IN AN EFFORT TO OUST THE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON AND RYLAND, THAT EFFORT FAILED?

>> IT DID.

THIS HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR MASSEY AND SOMETHING WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THERE'S A LOT OF SMOKE AROUND IT.

HE WAS OPPOSING THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP'S STANCE ON THE FUNDING FOR UKRAINE AND THE DEFENSE OF UKRAINE AND OTHER PARTS OF THAT SPENDING BILL AND THE LARGER GOVERNMENT SPENDING BILL AS WELL.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HE WAS IT DID NOT LOOK LIKE THERE WAS ANY POINT WHICH IT WOULD SUCCEED BUT SOME WONDERING WHETHER IT WOULD GUM THINGS UP BUT IN THE END REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS JOINED TOGETHER IN STRIKING DOWN THAT MOTION.

I THINK REPUBLICANS DIDN'T WANT TO BE THROWN INTO A PERIOD OF TURMOIL TRYING TO DECIDE THE LAST HOUSE SPEAKER.

>> Bill: A PAC IS SPENDING 300,000 ON TV ADS IN OPPOSITION TO THE CONGRESSMAN.

>> IN OPPOSITION TO HIS VOTES RELATED TO ISRAEL DEFENSE SPENDING THIS IS ANOTHER POINT.

MASSEY IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION HE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

>> Bill: TOYOTA IS MARKING A MILEN TO IN -- MILESTONE IN KENTUCKY THE 100% HYBRID CAMRY, THE SHARP LOOKING VEHICLE THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR $29,000.

TOYOTA HAS BANKED ON THE HYBRID MARKET WHILE OTHER AUTOMAKERS HAVE MOVED DIRECTLY INTO EV'S.

>> THIS IS ONE WAY OF THINKING ABOUT IT THERE IS A LOT OF ROAD LEFT FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE POWERED BY GASOLINE IN SOME WAY.

AND I THINK TOYOTA IS TRYING TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THIS.

IT IS ALSO ANOTHER THING THAT IS A POINT OF EXCITEMENT FOR THE PLANT IN KENTUCKY WHICH IS TOYOTA'S LARGEST PLANT IN THE WORLD.

AND YEAH.

SO THEY ARE BANKING ON THIS.

THERE'S WORRIES ABOUT ELECTRIC DESCRIBES AND WHETHER OR NOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE THERE IN TIME FOR THIS TO BE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY IS ABLE TO LATCH ON TO.

TOYOTA IS GOING ON THE HYBRID SIDE.

>> Bill: JCPS IS CHANGING THE SCHOOL START TIME SOME AT 9:40 AND A LOT OF DISCUSSION.

>> A LOT OF PARENTS AND PRINCIPALS ARE UPSET AND BOARD MEMBERS ARE UPSET THAT PRINCIPALS ARE UPSET.

MY KIDS' TIME IS GOING EARLIER.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

I WILL BE GETTING UP EARLIER.

>> Bill: WE ALSO GOT WORD THAT THERE'S BEEN FEDERAL APPROVAL OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY FOR THE BRENT EXPENSE BRIDGE PROJECT SO THEY CAN MOVE ON TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

>> HUGE DEAL FOR FOLKS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND OHIO.

IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST THOROUGHFARES IN THE UNITED STATES.

A LOT OF INDUSTRY AND COMMUTERS CROSS THAT BRIDGE.

THAT CASE WHERE ONE OF THE DECKS CAUGHT FIRE BUT THIS IS SOMETHING SLATED FOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR A LONGTIME.

IT WILL BE A COMPANION BRIDGE AND TAKE A BIT TO BUILD IT.

>> Bill: ANOTHER STEP FORWARD TODAY.

MOTHER'S DAY IS SUNDAY AND THE FIRST MOTHER'S DAY WAS IN KENTUCKY.

SCHOOLTEACHER MARY WILSON HELD AN EVENT IN HER CLASSROOM IN HENDERSON IN 1887.

HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS SAY IT WAS THE LOVE OF HER OWN MOTHER THAT INSPIRED HER TO HOLD THAT FIRST MOTHER'S DAY.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.