[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND IN KENTUCKY AS THE EYES OF THE WORLD SHIFT OUR WAY.

INTRIGUE IN KENTUCKY'S OPEN U.S. SENATE RACE AS CANDIDATES AND WOULD BE CANDIDATES JOCKEY FOR POSITION.

WHAT IMPACT IS FEDERAL COST CUTTING HAVING ON KENTUCKY AND THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE?

DRUG OVERDOSES TAKE A DRAMATIC DROP IN KENTUCKY.

AS THE CELEBRITIES ARRIVE FOR THE DERBY, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Announcer: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT >> Bill: THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, JANET PATTON, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

MARIO ANDERSON, ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS 1 AND JOINING US ON SCAPE IS RUSS CASSADY REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS.

A LITTLE BIT AGO GOOD CHEER WON THE KENTUCKY OAKS AS DERBY WEEKEND IS UNDERWAY.

WEATHER COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.

BUT THIS REALLY IS KENTUCKY'S MOMENT TO SHINE?

>> DO A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD, THIS IS I ONLY HORSERACE THAT EXISTS IN AMERICA.

THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THEY KNOW.

AND THIS IS ONE OF LIKE THREE THINGS THAT THEY KNOW ABOUT KENTUCKY.

THE DERBY, FRIED CHICKEN WHICH WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANOTHER TIME AND MAYBE A HANDFUL OF OTHER THINGS.

THIS IS OUR BEST FACE FORWARD.

THEY WANT TO SEE THE PRETTY DRESSES, THE FLOWERS, THE BEAUTIFUL HORSES.

YEAH, IT'S WHEN WE LOOK OUR BEST.

>> Bill: DO YOU THINK ALL THE ATTENTION MAYBE WORTH MORE THAN THE ACTUAL DOLLARS THAT BETTORS WILL PUT DOWN AND TOURIST ALSO SPEND?

>> IT'S WORTH A LOT AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR ELUDED TO THAT HE TALKED ABOUT HAVING COMPANIES THAT COME HERE AND THEY WINE AND DINE THEM AT THE DERBY.

FORD WAS ONE OF THEM AND THEY SEE THIS AND WANT TO COME TO KENTUCKY.

>> .

>> Bill: YOU BROUGHT PROPS TONIGHT.

>> I BROUGHT A DERBY GLASS AND THIS IS -- >> $22 FOR A MINT JULIP.

YOU CAN MAKE ONE AT HOME AND BUY THIS GLASS FOR FIVE BUCKS AT KROGER RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: YOU'RE TELLING SECRETS.

THE CELEBRITIES POUR IN FOR THE DERBY AND WE'VE SEEN THAT AND MANY ARE AT PARTIES TONIGHT IN LOUISVILLE AND WILL BE OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> WE HAVE SPORTS AND COUNTRY MUSIC NAMES SIMON BILES THE GREATEST GYM NEWSCAST PARTICULARS AND SIMONE BILES WILL BE CALLING RIDERS UP FOR THE DERBY TOMORROW.

>> Bill: YOU SPOKE WITH THE KENTUCKY SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OSBORNE ABOUT THE DERBY IMPACT AND HE IS A HORSEMAN HIMSELF.

>> HE IS.

HIS DAY-TO-DAY WORK HE PREFERS BEING IN HIS COWBOY BOOTS AND GENES.

DAVID OSBORNE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOURTH TERM IN FRANKFORT HE OWNS A THOROUGHBRED BREEDING ON INDICATION IN OLDHAM COUNTY.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW BIG OF AN ECONOMIC DRIVER THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND THE THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY IS IN OUR STATE AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACT IS $400 MILLION FOR OUR STATE.

WHEN YOU FACTOR IN THE EQUEEN INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE THAT IS $6.5 BILLION AND 60,000 JOBS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: DESPITE ALL THE PRIDE SURROUNDING THE DERBY AND ALL THE EVENS, THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS THAT ARE CREEPING INTO CONVERSATIONS THIS YEAR.

CHURCHILL DOWNS DECIDED TO TEMPORARILY SUSAN EXPANSION PROJECT.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THEY ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY, $900 MILLION PLUS PROJECT THAT WAS GOING TO CHANGE A LOT TEMPORARY SEATING INTO PERMANENT SEATING.

A BIG MULTIYEAR THING AND THEY SAID BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFFS THEY NOW HAD NO ABILITY TO FORECAST EXACTLY WHAT THE PRICES OF MATERIALS WOULD COST.

SO THEY ARE DELAYING THAT.

AND THEY'VE ALSO SEEN UNCERTAINTY IN TERMS OF BETTING IS SOFTENING IN SOME AREAS AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE.

>> AND THE WEATHER AND PUSHING IT BACK.

>> Bill: AND MARIO IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR LOUISVILLE TO GET READY FOR THE DERBY AFTER THE EARLY APRIL FLOODING.

AND EVEN SOME TROUBLES DURING THE DERBY WEEK.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

A LOT OF RAIN SHOWERS AND HISTORIC FLOODING FROM AIRPORT.

IMPACTING THE BANKS OF THE OHIO RIVER IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA CANCELED,000 CUSTOMER OVER LOUISVILLE WHICH HAS 625 PEOPLE A YEAR TO WATCH FIREWORKS AND THE AIRSHOW.

ALSO THE DERBY FESTIVAL EVENTS IN LOUISVILLE, TWO WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE DERBY.

SEVERAL WERE PUSHED BACK OR CANCELED OR RESCHEDULED DUE TO THE WEATHER.

AND YES, SLOPPY TRACKS DURING CHURCHILL DOWNS RACE SEASON THAT IS THE THEME OF THIS PARTICULAR SPRING SEASON RIGHT NOW.

BUT, AGAIN, THEY ARE OFF TO THE RACES WITH THEIR SPRING MEET CONTINUING NOW DESPITE THE WEATHER WE'VE HAD.

>> Bill: RUSS, JOINING IN YOUR DERBY EVE PEACH SHIRT WHICH WE APPRECIATE, THE DERBY REALLY IS A STATE-WIDE EVENT.

WE KNOW THE PEOPLE GATHER AND CELEBRATE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES AND PARTIES ARE HELD AND THERE IS AN EVENT IN PRESTONSBURG.

THE EXCITEMENT DOES EXTEND TO EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE?

>> IT DOES.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE RITES OF SPRING HERE IN THE EAST WE HAVE HILLBILLY DATES AND THEN THE DERBY AND PEOPLE WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN A SMALL WAY IN THE PAGEANTRY THAT IS THE DERBY.

IT IS KENTUCKY.

WE ARE PART OF KENTUCKY.

SO, YEAH, THERE'S SOME EVENTS THAT POPPED UP IN HAZARD AND APPALACHIAN ARTS LOTS THERE.

AND AN EVENT THAT GAINED POPULARITY.

PEOPLE REALLY DO WANT TO PLAY A ROLE IN THIS AND BE A PART OF THIS MASSIVE PART OF KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RACE ITSELF.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF CONNECTIONS TO FORMER GOVERNOR BURTON JONES.

>> THERE ARE TWO HORSES IN THE RACE PUBLISHER AND CHUNK OF GOLD THAT HE BRED.

SO I THINK IT WOULD BE A NICE SEN MENTAL TOUCH IF THE LATE GOVERNOR HAD A HORSE WIN THE DERBY.

THERE ARE OTHER LOCAL CONNECTIONS.

KENNY McPEEK WHO WON LAST YEAR MADE IT IN.

IT COULD HAPPEN WE COULD HAVE A LOCAL DERBY.

>> BOB IS BACK.

>> ALTHOUGH ONE OF HIS HORSES IS SCRATCHED.

HE HAS ONE IN.

>> Bill: AND THERE IS A HORSE NAME JOURNALISM IN THE RUNNING IT WAS THE FAVORITE I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT IS RIGHT NOW.

THAT SORT OF EXCITING FOR THOSE OF US IN THIS PRO SPHETION.

>> JOURNALISM CAN ALWAYS IN THIS DAY AND AGE USE A WIN.

>> Bill: IS THAT YOUR PICK MARIO?

>> OF COURSE IT IS THE HORSE IS KNOWN FOR ITS CONSISTENTSY AND WE LIKE TO BE CONSISTENT IN OUR WORK AS WELL.

>> Bill: JANET PICKED THE WINNER LAST YEAR.

WE HAVE JANET ON THIS IS HER BEAT AREA.

SO DO YOU HAVE A PICK THIS TIME AROUND?

>> GOSH I WISH I COULD SAY YES.

I LOVE JOURNALISM I LOVE SAND MAN'S BEAUTIFUL.

THAT COULD BE A TOUGH ONE.

>> Bill: JOURNALISM.

>> BIG J.

>> AND RUSS YOUR PICK?

>> I WILL PICK JOURNALISM.

I'VE GOT TO.

>> Bill: I WILL GO WITH YOU ON THAT, TOO.

THE DERBY IS ALSO A CHANCE TO SEE AND BE SEEN INCLUDING AMONG THE POLITICIANS AND ANDY BARR NOW IN THE RUNNING FOR THE SENATE LET IT BE KNOWN HE WAS GOING TO OAKS UNDERBY AND REPORTERS COULD TALK TO HIM IF THEY CHOSE.

SO MARIO IT IS A GOOD CHANCE TO DO RETAIL CAMPAIGNING.

I KNOW THAT DANIEL CAMERON WAS THERE AS WELL.

>> MANY POLITICIANS THE STATE LEVEL AND ALSO ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL THE CONGRESS MEMBERS THEY COME BACK BACK TO KENTUCKY AND HAVE SUITES AND ARE HOSTING DONORS, CONTRIBUTORS, PEOPLE THAT THEY WANT TO GET IN FRONT OF: THE BUSINESS OWNERS.

HANDSHAKING, BACK SLAPPING HELLOS AND CAN I GET AN ENDORSEMENT FROM YOU OR POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO MY CAMPAIGN.

AND AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR HE HAS HIS OWN GUESTS HE IS BRINGING IN.

A LOT OF THEM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE HE PUBLISHES HIS GUEST LIST WHO HE IS INVITING.

THE GOAL IS TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE AFTER DERBY.

>> Bill: NOW, THERE'S A WILDCARD IN THE SENATE RACE THIS WEEK, TELEVISION COMMENTATOR SCOTT JENNINGS WHO HAS BEEN MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR THE McCONNELL SEAT APPEARED ON STAGE IN MICHIGAN WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> DON'T WORRY WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU SCOTT.

SCOTT JENNINGS REALLY GREAT.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

MICHIGAN, WE WERE FLYING IN HERE TODAY AND I SAID LOOK AT THESE FARMS.

I GOT TO GET A FARM IN MICHIGAN BECAUSE WHEN YOU OWN AS MANY AS I DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEM ALL.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE HEARD NOTHING ABOUT A SENATE RUN BUT IT CERTAINLY GOT PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT JENNINGS APPEARING WITH THE PRESIDENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THE WORDS WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU SCOTT WHO KNOWS WHAT THAT MEANS.

SCOTT JENNINGS IS FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY AREA IN DAWSON SPRINGS HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED WITH RUNS WHICH PR CREATED THAT AGENCY OUT OF LOUISVILLE WORKING ON CAMPAIGN ADVERTISEMENTS AND MAILERS FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FROM VARIOUS STAGES AND ALSO HE WORKED ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH AS HIS POLITICAL DIRECTOR AND HAS CLOSE TIES TO MITCH McCONNELL THAT IS HOW HE GOT HIS START IN THE INDUSTRY.

HE HAS A DAILY PRESENCE ON "CNN" AND IS THE CONSERVATIVE VOICE ON THEIR PROGRAMMING.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT IS IN THE CARDS THAT'S BEEN TEASED.

>> Bill: JENNINGS DOES THAT PRESENCE, RUSS, GIVE JENNINGS UP IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THE SAME KIND OF NAME IDENTITY THAT HE WOULD HAVE EVERYWHERE ELSE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN IF YOU LOOK ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN JENNINGS GOES AFTER THE LIBS AS HE SAYS IT GETS A LOT OF TRACTION AND HE IS SEEN AS A CONSISTENT VOICE FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IN THOSE SITUATIONS.

SO, YEAH, I MEAN HE COULD DEFINITELY MAKE SOME IMPACT THERE AND BE SEEN AS TRUMP'S CANDIDATE SHOULD TRUMP ENDORSE HIM ESPECIALLY.

>> Bill: AND JANET, WAS THIS A HINT?

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING POSTED ON X BY JENNINGS TODAY.

AND THERE HE IS WITH THE PRESIDENT ON AIR FORCE ONE WITH SOME KIND OF BLURRED OUT PICTURE.

AND HE SEEMS TO BE MAKING A REFERENCE TO SOMETHING BIG IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

>> YEAH.

CERTAINLY CRYPTIC.

IF THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY ARE HINTING AT, THEN THEY ARE PLAYING GAMES.

BUT I FEEL LIKE THE PRESIDENT DOES LIKE TO THROW THESE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES TOGETHER AND SEE THEM KIND OF SCRAP AND SEE IF HE SEES SOMETHING HE LIKES.

>> Bill: AND THEY ARE ALL ACCORDING -- COURTING TRUMP DANIEL CAMERON WENT ON NEWS MAX AND NOTED THAT HE ENDORSED PRESIDENT TRUMP BACK IN 2023 HE SAID BEFORE OTHERS DID.

AND THAT HE SUPPORTS HIM NOW AND HIS AGENDA.

>> AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSED DANIEL CAMERON AS A CANDIDATE WHEN RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

BUT ALSO AS A NOMINEE NOR GOVERNOR.

SO I GUESS TIME WILL TELL AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT ANDY BARR HERE SHORTLY.

DANIEL CAMERON IS COURTING THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT AND ALMOST EVERY FEW SENTENCES THERE IS A TRUMP REFERENCE ON HOW HE IS READY TO BACK THE AMERICA FIRST AGENDA AND PRIORITIES.

AND SAYS HE IS FULLY ALIGNED 100% WITH ALL THE ITEMS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ON THE TABLE HE IS WANTING TO VOTE AND CAST VOTES ON THOSE AS A SENATOR.

>> Bill: BARR CIRCULATED ENDORSEMENTS.

FORMER STATE MAJORITY LEADER DAMON THAYER AND MARK METCALF AMONG THE TWO THAT WERE FIRST IN LINE FOR BARR.

THEN HE ALSO WROTE AN OP-ED REPOSTED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP ABOUT THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIKE A TRICKY CARD GAME TO FIGURE OUT WHO COULD COME OUT ON TOP WITH TRUMP SUPPORT.

>> THIS EARLY, YOU THINK THE ELECTION IS COMING UP IN A COUPLE WEEKS YOU COULD SEE ADS RUNNING ON DERBY DAY AND AFTER TO GET THE NAME RECOGNITION FROM ANDY BARR WHO HAS $5 MILLION IN THE BANK READY TO PUT TOWARDS A CAMPAIGN.

DANIEL CAMERON HE RAISED AROUND $500,000 DURING THAT FIRST QUARTER OF BEING A CANDIDATE.

BUT THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO GET THEIR NAME OUT THERE RIGHT NOW AND MAINTAIN IT FOR A FULL YEAR WE'LL SEE WHO HAS THE MOST STEAM IN THE PROCESS.

>> Bill: RUSS, WHAT WILL VOTERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY BE LOOKING FOR?

ISSUES THAT WILL GET MORE ATTENTION THERE THAN THEY MIGHT STATE-WIDE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY CERTAIN ISSUES.

BUT I THINK THE BIG THING THAT VOTERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WILL BE LOOKING FOR IS SOMEONE THAT SEES THIS AREA AS A CONSTITUENCY AND NOT JUST AN WILL BE TORL VOTING MAP.

ELECTORAL VOTING MAP.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE SEATS THAT THE PERSON REALLY HAS TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO TOUCH EASTERN KENTUCKY.

SO WE DEFINITELY WANT SOMEONE WHO KNOWS OUR ISSUES.

AND IS WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THEM IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> Bill: YOU ESSENTIALLY HAVE TO BE BACK TO JOHN SHERMAN COOPER TO HAVE A CONNECTION TO EASTERN KENTUCKY.

WOULD ROCKY ADKINS GET STRONG SUPPORT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IF HE WERE TO ENTER ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE THERE ARE A LOT OF VARIABLES AT THAT TIME GO INTO IT.

I LOOKED AT THE 2019 PRIMARY RESULTS AND ROCKY CAME OUT VERY STRONG AGAINST BESHEAR IN OUR FOUR COUNTIES AND HE MAINTAINS THAT POPULARITY THE AND WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR CROSSES THE WINCHESTER WALL ROCKY IS WITH HIM.

HE MAINTAINED THAT POPULARITY.

THERE IS A CONCERN OVER THE AGE OF CANDIDATES AND THE AGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVING THAT COULD GO AGAINST ROCKY.

HE IS ALSO GOING TO BE FACING AN ELECTORAL MAP THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY HE HAS RUN IN BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS VERSUS DEMOCRATS THE REGISTRATION IN MOST OF OUR COUNTIES.

>> Bill: THERE WERE WOULD BE A PRIMARY.

PAMELA STEVENSON IS IN THAT RACE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING ABOUT NATE MORRIS THE BUSINESSMAN WHO TEASED A POSSIBLE RUN.

>> IT IS A WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH AND WORKING TO SEE GET THE FEELERS OUT THERE.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S TWO SENATORS VOTED TO BLOCK PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TARIFFS THAT MOVE DID NOT PASS.

BUT SENATOR PAUL EXPLAINED WHY HE IS OPPOSING THE TARIFFS.

>> THE RULE BY ONE MAN EVEN A PRESIDENT I LIKE, LOOK, I'M SUPPORTIVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, EVEN THOUGH I'M SUPPORTIVE I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF LETTING HIM HAVE UNCHECKED POWER THAT IS NOT CONTROLLED BY CONGRESS.

>> Bill: JANET, SENATOR PAUL SEEMS TO HAVE TWO CONCERNS THERE, THE TARIFFS AND PRESIDENTIAL POWER.

>> YEAH.

HE DOESN'T LIKE THE TARIFFS HE CALLED THE TARIFFS HIGHER TAXES.

AND HE HAS CALLED IT TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

AND HE SAID THAT TRUMP'S ACTIONS WERE TEAR ANY.

AND -- TYRANNY.

AND HE CALLED CONGRESS SAID THEY WERE ACTING THERE WAS COWARDESS THAT THEY WERE NOT STANDING UP FOR THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL PREROGATIVE OF PUTTING ON A TARIFF.

I THINK HE WAS QUITE HARSH BUT HE HAS FACED BACKLASH OVER THIS.

>> Bill: AS WE GAUGE IMPACT U.P.S.

HAS A MAJOR PRESENCE IN LOUISVILLE WITH THE WORLD PORT FACILITY WITH THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES.

U.P.S.

IS PLANNING 20,000 LAYOFFS DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY.

DO WE GET A SENSE OF THE POSSIBLE IMPACT IN LOUISVILLE?

>> NOT YET.

U.P.S.

HAS NOT SHARED A LOT OF DETAILS ABOUT THE FULL PLANS.

BUT THEY DID SHARE IN PUBLIC STATEMENTS THAT THE COMPANY HAS NOT PROVIDED DETAILS.

THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE DETAILS UNTIL ALL EMPLOYEES WERE NOTIFIED.

U.P.S.

THEY ARE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN METRO LOUISVILLE AREA.

TIME WILL TELL ON THAT.

>> Bill: KEEP WATCH ON THAT.

ALTHOUGH ONE, OF COURSE IS TOO MANY IN THIS CASE, BUT KENTUCKY'S DRUG OVERDOSES DID TAKE A STEEP DROP LAST YEAR.

DOWN BY NEARLY A THIRD.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR TALKED ABOUT THAT PROGRESS.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: THIS AREA OF THE COUNTRY GOT HIT THE HARDEST AND WE LOST THE MOST CERTAINLY PER CAPITA.

SO TODAY'S NEWS SHOULD BE VERY MEANINGFUL TO ALL KENTUCKIANS AND IT OUGHT TO TELL US AN EPIDEMIC THAT AROSE IN OUR TIME WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DEFEAT IN OUR TIME.

>> Bill: RUSS, STILL, MORE THAN 1400 LIVES WERE LOST AND WE CERTAINLY UNDERLINE THAT.

ISN'T THERE NOW MEASURABLE PROGRESS IN DRUG OVERDOSE?

>> THERE IS.

YOU SAID IT YOURSELF, ONE IS TOO MANY.

IT'S A BITTERSWEET VICTORY.

IN OUR FOUR COUNTY AREA WE DID SEE AN AVERAGE OF 50% DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OVERDOSES.

STILL, YET, WE'VE LOST ABOUT 50 PEOPLE.

TO OVERDOSES.

SO IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE CAN SAY YES WE'RE GLAD THE NUMBERS ARE LESS BUT WE ALSO NEED TO SAY HOW DO WE GET THE NUMBERS DOWN AND KEEP THEM GOING DOWN.

AGAIN, IT'S WORTH REPEATING, ONE IS TOO MANY.

>> Bill: AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FINDING A WAY TO KEEP THE FOOT ON THE PEDAL IS GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT?

>> THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

THE NARCAN PROGRAMS, THE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS ARE HEAVY IN OUR AREA.

AND KEEPING THOSE GOING.

FINDING WAYS TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE.

AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE IN A SAFE AS POSSIBLE ENVIRONMENT, I GUESS, TO DO.

ALL THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO MATTER IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN SAVING LIVES.

>> Bill: THE TREND CONTINUES.

UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY PRESIDENT Dr. ELI CAPILOUTO IS EXPLAINING WHY THE SCHOOL HAS TAKEN STEPS REASONABLY IN A COMMUNICATION TO CAMPUS AND BEYOND CAPILOUTO TALKS ABOUT PROTECTING U.K.'S FINANCIAL FOOTING.

AND SAYS EVERY PART OF THE UNIVERSITY IS UNDER WHAT HE CALLS A STRESS AND SCRUTINY.

U.K.

CANCELED SPECIAL GRADUATION OBSERVANCES FOR LGBTQ, BLACK AND FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS.

CAPILOUTO SAYS IT WAS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AND STATE MANDATES.

>> CANCELING CELEBRATIONS FOR PEOPLE ON OUR CAMPUS, WHO HAVE NOT ALWAYS SEEN THEMSELVES IN OUR BROADER COMMUNITY IS ONE EXAMPLE.

WE HAVE TAKEN THAT ACTION BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IS REQUIRED.

AND WE BELIEVE COMPLYING WITH THE LAW IS THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR CONTINUED CAPACITY TO SUPPORT THEM.

>> Bill: JANET, HERE YOU HAVE CAPILOUTO MAKING IT CLEAR HE UNDERSTANDS THE WAY MANY PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE RECENT CHANGES BUT CASTING THE DECISIONS AS ONES THAT HAD TO BE MADE FOR THE FINANCIAL GOOD OF THE UNIVERSITY.

>> RIGHT.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT ALREADY BY THESE CHANGES.

BUT HE SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSITY'S RELIANCE ON GRANTS AND RESEARCH AND THIS IS A MOVE THAT HE FELT LIKE THEY HAD TO TAKE TO PROTECT THE GREATER COMMUNITY.

>> Bill: THAT HIS HAND WAS FORCED?

>> IT CERTAINLY SEEMS SO.

>> Bill: THERE WAS A DUST UP THIS WEEK WHEN STATE AUDITOR ALLISON BALL, A REPUBLICAN, ACCUSED DEMOCRATS OF TRYING TO INTIMIDATE HER.

MCKENNA HORSLEY DID THAT STORY FOR THE LANTERN.

BALL SAID HER OFFICE WAS HIT WITH OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AN ATTEMPT TO DERAIL HER INVESTIGATION INTO THE MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSES.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RESPONDED SAYING THE REQUESTS WERE NOT RELATED TO THAT INVESTIGATION.

BUT THEY DID SEND FIVE VARIOUS WIDE RANGING REQUESTS TO THE AUDITOR BALL'S OFFICE.

BUT SHE SAYS THAT GETTING HIT WITH THE REQUESTS HAD SLOWED THE PROCESS ON THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND BACK AND FORTH THERE WAS A DUST UP.

>> Bill: RUSS, LET'S TALK EASTERN KENTUCKY ISSUES THE DERBY WEEKEND IS A HUGE TOURISM DRIVER, PIKEVILLE WRAPPED UP ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST FESTIVALS HILLBYLY DAYS BACK TO PREPANDEMIC LEVELS.

>> WE ARE STARTING TO GET BACK.

NOT JUST IN NUMBERS BUT IN FEELING.

WE HAD TO CANCEL 2020 AND 2021.

BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

BUT YOU KNOW COMING BACK IT'S FOURTH YEAR IT FEELS LIKE IT'S COMING BACK TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT'S HELPING THE CHILDREN WHO ARE SERVED BY THE SHRINERS HOSPITALS FOR CHILDREN.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT PARTICIPATING BECAUSE YOU ARE HELPING KIDS ON THE OTHER END.

>> Bill: AND COUNTIES SET THEIR BUDGETS FOR THE COMING YEAR AND MOST OF THE FISCAL YEARS START ON JULY 1 THEY ARE INTO THE THICK OF THAT, SEVERANCE IS DOWN AND FEDERAL EXPENDITURES MAYBE IN QUESTION.

IS IT A BIG CHALLENGE THIS YEAR TO FIGURE OUT A SPENDING PLAN?

>> YEAH, I DON'T ENVY ANYBODY HANDLING COUNTY BUDGET OR SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET RIGHT NOW.

THE PIKE COUNTY FISCAL COURT IS EXPECTING ABOUT 1.6 MILLION IN COAL SEVERANCE IN THE COMING YEAR THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS IN THE BUDGET.

INTRODUCTION MEETING THE OTHER DAY.

JUST FOR REFERENCE IN 2009 THE COUNTY COLLECTED $12.4 MILLION IN COAL SEVERANCE.

THAT WAS A BIG CHUNK OF THE BUDGET THAT THE FISCAL COURTS HAD TO WORK WITH.

AND IT'S NOT LIKE THE CHALLENGES ARE GETTING LESS.

WE HAVE LESS MONEY TO WORK WITH.

AND THEN WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING WE'RE STARTING TO SEE ISSUES DUE TO CHANGES THAT ARE OCCURRING THERE.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE SETTLEMENT SCHOOL NOW THURSDAY TUESDAY WITH THE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE SCHOOL READING AND MATH INTERVENTION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN CUT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE LITTLE THINGS POP-UP AND IT'S GOING TO FURTHER EXAS BER RATE OUR BUDGETS.

>> Bill: AND A HEARTBREAKING DECISION HAS TO BE MADE.

THE ELEMENTARY WILL BE CLOSING THE PRINCIPAL CALLED IT THE LITTLE SCHOOL THAT DOES BIG THINGS.

HE SAYS IT WILL HAVE TO BE CALLED THAT DID BIG THINGS.

ALWAYS TOUGH FOR A COMMUNITIES.

>> IT IS BECAUSE IN A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE SCHOOLS DO MEAN TO THE COMMUNITIES.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF CONSOLIDATION AND WHILE IT IS NECESSARY, IT DOESN'T HURT ANY LESS.

>> Bill: SORE UNVEILED A RUNWAY PROGRAM AN OUTREACH FROM THE GROUP THAT CHALLENGES APPALACHIA TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AND HELP THEM MAKE THEIR DREAMS A REALITY.

>> YES.

ANY PROGRAM, I MEAN RIGHT NOW, THAT CAN COME IN WITH SOURCES OF FUNDING ESPECIALLY PRIVATE FUNDING AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE IS WELCOME BECAUSE, AGAIN, EASTERN KENTUCKY'S CHALLENGES AREN'T GOING AWAY BECAUSE FUNDING IS GOING AWAY.

WE HAVE TO FIND DIFFERENT WAYS TO FUND IT.

>> Bill: JANET KIM DAVIS WANTS THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO DECIDE IF THE FIRST AMENDMENT SHOULD PROTECT HER AFTER SHE REFUSED TO ISSUE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENSES BACK IN 2015 A STORY AROUND FOR A DECADE NOW.

>> IT IS AMAZING.

SHE LOST AGAIN AN APPEAL AT THE SIXTH CIRCUIT.

WHETHER OR NOT SHE HAS TO PAY DAMAGES AND SHE HAS 90 DAYS TO APPEAL TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

LEGAL EXPERTS SEEM TO THINK IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THIS WOULD BE TAKEN UP AND OVERTURNED THE DECISION.

>> Bill: YOU'VE WORKED UP A MOTHER'S DAY BOURBON GIFT GUIDE.

>> YES, I HAVE.

BECAUSE MOTHERS LIKE BOURBON.

THIS IS NOT A SHOCK TO ANYONE.

IN KENTUCKY, I WOULD HOPE.

BUT, YES, I BROUGHT A LITTLE SAMPLER BOX THAT ONE OF THE DISTILLERIES THAT OPENED.

AND I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING QUICK I MISSPOKE IN THE HORSE IS RENDERED JUDGMENT.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE WE GOING TO WATCH AFTER THE DERBY?

PARTICULARLY THE SENATE RACE GETS ROLLING?

>> TO SEE THE ENDORSEMENTS KEEP ROLLING OUT FROM THE ANDY BARR SIDE OF THINGS AND THEN DANIEL CAMERON A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WATCHING HOW MUCH MONEY HE CAN RAISE IN THE NEXT CYCLE BUT HIS NUMBERS ACCORDING TO SOME WERE NOT TOO HIGH.

WATCHING CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING NUMBERS FOR DANIEL CAMERON AND WHO KEEPS ENDORSING ANDY BARR.

>> Bill: AND KEEP WATCH ON THE SIXTH DISTRICT RACE AND HOW CROWDED THAT GETS TO REPLACE BARR WHO IS MOVING ON FROM THAT SEAT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

WESTERN KENTUCKY PROSECUTOR IS REMEMBERED MICHAEL STACY WAS COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY FOR BALLARD, CARLISLE, FULTON AND HICKMAN COUNTIES.

HE WAS KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT THIS WEEK.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN CALLS STACY TOUGH AND FAIR AND NOTED HE WAS RESPECTED BY HIS COLLEAGUES.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.