[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY DEALS WITH DISASTER ONCE AGAIN A DEADLY EF4 TORNADO TAKES LIVES AND CHANGES LIVES FOREVER.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR PUSHES FOR MORE FEDERAL DISASTER FUNDS AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS PROMISE HELP FROM FRANKFORT.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ENDS REFORM AGREEMENTS WITH LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE.

IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY'S HOUSE DELEGATION SPLITS ON THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

HEADING INTO A UNUSUALLY COOL MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE MCKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

ALEX ACQUISTO POLITICS AND HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER AND ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE.

ONCE AGAIN, KENTUCKY IS DEALING WITH A NATURAL DISASTER A DEADLY EF4 TORNADO THAT LEFT 19 PEOPLE DEAD IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY.

MANY MORE ARE INJURED AND STILL MORE ARE HOMELESS.

BUILDINGS AND HOMES WERE NO MATCH FOR THE TWISTER THAT HAD WINDS OF 170-MILES-PER-HOUR.

AND ONCE AGAIN STATE LEADERS INCLUDING GOVERNOR BESHEAR ARE MANAGING A CRISIS.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: WHAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME ARE FOLKS FROM OUR CITY FROM OUR COUNTY, FROM ALL PARTS OF STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ALL OF US STANDING HERE TOGETHER TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO BE HERE FOR THIS COMMUNITY TODAY, TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK, NEXT MONTH, NEXT YEAR AND THE YEARS TO COME TO HELP PEOPLE REBUILD.

>> WHATEVER THE NEEDS ARE FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY I'VE TALKED WITH MY COLLEAGUES ON A TEXT CHAIN WITH 31 COLLEAGUES IN MY CAUCUS SAYING WE WERE READY AND WILLING AND ABLE TO DO TO AID AND ASSIST IN THE RECOVERY OF THIS.

>> Bill: THE POLITICAL LEADERS IN UNISON AND IN A BIPARTISAN WAY COME IN AND MAKE THE PROMISES THAT THE WORK WILL BEGIN, AND OF COURSE, IS UNDERWAY.

ONCE AGAIN IN THIS DISASTER, WORDS DON'T COME EASY.

YOU DID A STORY ABOUT FAITH LEADERS WHO STRUGGLED TO EXPLAIN THIS DISASTER TO THEIR CONGREGATIONS.

>> SURE, IN KENTUCKY WE ARE A LARGELY CHRISTIAN STATE AND THE DISASTERS KEEP HAPPENING THIS IS MY THIRD COVERING FOR THE PAPER PEOPLE LOOK TO THEIR CHURCHES, PASTORS AND MINISTERS TO GRAPPLE WITH SUCH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.

SO I WENT TO A FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IN LONDON AND HEARD A PASTOR PREACH ASSURING PEOPLE THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE TRAGEDIES HAPPEN THEIR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS DIED, PEOPLE LOSED THEIR HOUSES ASSURING GOD IS WITH THEM IN THE RUBBLE.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE AT ONE POINT THEY SANG HOW GREAT THEY ARE AND I LOOKED AND SAW A WOMAN SOB AND IN THE PEW.

IT'S HARD TO COMPREHEND AND WE'VE COVERED SO MANY AND EACH ONE IS DIFFERENT BUT IT'S PEOPLE WHO ARE IMPACTED.

>> Bill: PEOPLE NEED CONNECTION.

>> IT'S CRUCIAL IT'S WHAT GETS YOU THROUGH.

LEANING ON THE COMMUNITY AND BUILDING THAT NETWORK.

>> Bill: WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH THAT AWFUL NIGHT AND WE WANT TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE NOW.

>> THE ROOF IS TWO HOUSES DOWN ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROAD BEHIND THEIR HOUSE.

AND THEN THE CEILING CAVED IN ON HER SHE WAS ON THE COUCH.

HER HUSBAND HAD TO DIG HER OUT FROM THE CEILING TILES.

>> IT'S TRAUMATIC, SOMETHING YOU CAN'T COMPREHEND UNTIL YOU SEE THE DAMAGE.

>> I OPENED MY DOOR I HEARD THAT SOUND, MAN THEY SAY IT SOUNDS LIKE A TRAIN.

IS SOUNDED LIKE A LION COMING IN.

THE GUY HAD THREE KIDS AND MY OLD LADY AND THE BATHROOM HOPING AND PRAYING.

MY COUSIN CALLED AND SAID IT WAS HEADED TOWARDS US AND SAID TAKE SHELTER.

I TRIED TO PULL THE COUCH OVER ME AND IT WAS TOO HEAVY.

I GOT THE RECLINER AND I COULD HEAR IT GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER, THINGS GOING UP AND PEOPLE SCREAMING AND STUFF SHATTERING, TRANSFORMERS BLOWING.

THE SCARIEST THING IN MY LIFE.

I DON'T WOULDN'T TO GO THROUGH IT AGAIN.

>> I REMEMBER TEXTING MY KIDS IN A GROUP TEXT SAYING IT'S GOING TO BE A DIRECT HIT SO I COULD HEAR IT COMING.

AND I LOVE YOU, MOM.

THINKING THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST COMMUNICATION I HAD WITH THEM.

MY NEIGHBOR THAT WE WALK DOGS TOGETHER WAS IN THAT HOUSE AND SHE PASSED AWAY BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WAKE UP.

>> Bill: SO MANY DIDN'T MAKE IT AND OTHERS AND THOSE EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WOULD.

>> DEVASTATING.

WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVE SPECIFICALLY IN LAUREL COUNTY IN LONDON WE HAD CREWS THERE FOR THREE DAYS AND SOME OF THEM FELT THIS SENSE OF GUILT.

THEY SAY WHY WAS I SPARED?

AND MY NEIGHBOR JUST DOWN THE STREET OR NEXT DOOR THEY ARE NOT HERE ANYMORE.

AND WE KNOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WERE SENIORS.

65 YEARS AND OLDER WHICH IS JUST TERRIBLE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STORM, STRENGTH OF IT, 170-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS YOU HEARD IN THE SOUND A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE KNEW IT WAS COMING THEY HEEDED WARNINGS AND GOT IN THEIR BATH TUBS AND GOT IN AS LOW OF A LEVEL THEY CAN.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A STORM THAT STRONG AND THAT WIDE SOMETIMES THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.

>> Bill: THE INITIAL STATE AND LOCAL RESPONSE WAS IMMEDIATE BY ALL ACCOUNTS AND HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE.

THE DISPATCHERS HAVE BEEN COMMENDED FOR HANDLING 600 CALLS AND 5,000 RADIO TRANSMISSIONS.

BUT THIS IS AN AWFUL EVENT THAT IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO COME BACK FROM?

>> RIGHT.

AND YOU CAN LOOK AT RECENT DISASTERS THAT THE STATE HAS FACED WE'RE STILL RECOVERING FROM THOSE.

I NOTED THAT THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS SELL OPERATING THE UNVEILING OF 10 HOMES FROM THE 2022 FLOODS.

SO HERE WE ARE NEARLY THREE YEARS LATER WHERE SURVIVORS OF THOSE DISASTERS ARE NOW GETTING HOUSING.

BUT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAVE THE PLAYBOOK OUT FOR HOW TO RESPOND TO THESE THINGS, INCLUDING LAWMAKERS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS AS WELL-BEING A PART OF THAT.

WE'RE SEEING NONPROFITS ALREADY GET ON THE GROUND AND REACHING OUT.

AND I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR TALK IN FRANKFORT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND WELL INTO THE NEXT SESSION AS LAWMAKERS DECIDE THE NEXT STATE BUDGET.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY SEEKING FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND WE ARE AWAITING WORD ON THAT.

>> WE ARE.

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ANY NATURAL DISASTER WITH A SCOPE LIKE THIS TAKES YEARS TO REBUILD FROM.

IN KENTUCKY, AS THEY START HAPPENING MORE OFTEN I REMEMBER DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN APRIL TALKING TO LEADERS ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO PROVIDE FUNDING.

FEDERAL FUNDING HAS NOT COME IN FROM APRIL STORMS.

IT IS A QUEUE THAT IS BACKING UP THAT ONLY EXACERBATES THE LENTSDZ OF TIME PEOPLE HAVE TO RECOVER.

IT'S CLEANING EVERYTHING UP ALSO.

>> Bill: AND TO McKENNA'S POINT YOU ARE DEALING WITH ONE THAT IS GOING ON ONGOING.

YOU ARE LOOKING BACK AND HAVING TO CONTINUE TO REBUILD FROM AN EVENT YEARS AGO.

AND YOU ARE ALWAYS PREPARING FOR THE NEXT ONE.

>> WE KNOW THERE WILL BE MORE.

>> Bill: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DID GET WARNINGS OUT AHEAD OF THE STORM.

JAMES COMER NOTES THE WEATHER SERVICE SHIFTED PERSONNEL TO THE JACKSON OFFICE AHEAD OF THE TORNADO.

HAL ROGERS APPLAUDED THE WEATHER SERVICE AND PROMISED TO USE HIS CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES THE WEATHER SERVICE TO FULLY FUND IT.

MORGAN MCGARVEY EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE CUTS TO THE WEATHER SERVICE AND ALEX WE KNOW THAT EACH OF THE THREE WEATHER SERVICE OFFICES IN KENTUCKY HAS PERSONNEL SHORTAGES.

>> RIGHT.

THE ONE IN PADUCAH IS SHORT SEVEN PEOPLE, LOUISVILLE IS EIGHT AND JACKSON IS SHORT EIGHT.

AND WE KNOW THAT I HAD MENTIONED THEY WERE FULLY STAFFED THEY DID SURGE STAFFING OVERNIGHT.

THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE EMPLOYED AT THAT WEATHER SERVICE TO DO OVERNIGHT SHIFTS.

WE LUCKILY HAD WARNING THE STORM WAS COMING IN SO THEY WERE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THAT QUICKLY BY PUTTING PEOPLE IN.

BUT I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO SAY WE LIVE IN KENTUCKY THERE ARE A LOT OF STORMS IN THE SUMMER.

STORMS WILL SPIN-OUT WITHOUT WARNING.

THERE IS NO WAY TO SAY THAT THESE CUTS AND THE VACANCIES WON'T HE AHAVE SOME IMPACT.

>> LOUISVILLE WE LOST A FAMILIAR FACE.

LOST AS IN THE JOB, THIS WAS JOHN GORDON METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN LOUISVILLE HE TOOK AN EARLY RETIREMENT AS PART OF ALL THIS.

HE NOW IS A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR FOR US AND HELPED US FORECAST THIS.

YOU SEE SORT OF ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL SOME OF THE IMPACTS WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH IT OR NOT.

AND SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT NEWS TOPICS WHERE IT FEELS INSULAR, WE HEAR ABOUT THINGS BUT THE GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T AS OFTEN.

I WAS SPEAKING WITH A WOMAN IN SOUTHERN INDIANA NATIONAL WEATHER LOUISVILLE THEY BROADCAST TO AND HANDLE THAT REGION AS WELL, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER RADIOS THAT THERE WAS THAT SCHEDULED OUTAGE TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM UPDATE IT AND ASKED ME IS THIS BECAUSE OF THE CUTS?

>> IT IS REVERBERATING PEOPLE ARE HEARING ABOUT IT.

AND THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.

>> Bill: IT'S ON THEIR MINDS WHETHER IT'S RELATED OR NOT.

>> EXACTLY AND THAT IS UP TO US TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Bill: LAUREL COUNTY SCHOOLS ENDED THE YEAR AFTER THE TORNADOES.

APPARENTLY FEELING THERE WAS NO ON SON AND MANY STUDENTS ANDS YOUNGER ONES, SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND OTHERS ARE OUT THERE HELPING WITH THE RESPONSE.

BUT THEY HAD TO GET SPECIAL PERMISSION FROM THE STATE?

>> RIGHT.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WAS FACING THE ISSUE OF ALMOST USING ALL OF THEIR 10NTI DAYS BY THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

HALFWAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BUT LAUREL COUNTY IN PARTICULAR IT CLOSED EARLY ON IN THE SCHOOL YEAR BEFORE ANY OF THIS WINTER WEATHER HAPPENED DUE TO AN ONGOING MANHUNT NEARBY OUT OF SAFETY FOR THE STUDENTS.

>> Bill: THE SHOOTER.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO WHEN THIS LATEST DISASTER HIT THEY MADE THE DECISION TO CLOSE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR TO HELP FOCUS ON STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES IMPACTED BY THIS AND WORK TO GET RESOURCES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.

GRADUATION WILL BE GOING ON.

THERE'S GOING TO BE SPACE TO CELEBRATE STUDENTS AS THEY ARE MOVING ON.

BUT LATER THIS MONTH.

>> Bill: YOU SEE THE BEST AND THE WORST OF PEOPLE IN THE SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE GOOD.

SO MANY KENTUCKIANS STEPPED UP AND PEOPLE HAVE COME FROM OTHER STATES TO HELP THE PEOPLE.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO LOOTING AND PEOPLE'S PETS STOLEN IN THOSE DAYS RIGHT AFTER THE STORM.

>> AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR ADDRESSED IN ONE OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCES HE HAS HAD.

AND HE DID NOT MINCE WORDS HE WARNED TO ANYBODY SHOULD THINK ABOUT THIS YOU WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

A REMINDER PEOPLE CAPITALIZE ON OTHER'S TRAGEDIES.

BUT HE HAS ASSURED THAT THEY WILL BE PUNISHED IF THEY ARE CAUGHT.

>> Bill: AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL INDICATING HE PUT IN FORCE SOME RULES AND HE MAKES IT VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WILL BE ENFORCED.

>> RIGHT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN'S OFFICE HAS ACTIVATED ITS AG PRICE GOUGING HOTLINE THEY CAN REPORT THAT TO THE OFFICE ON-LINE OR BY CALLING.

>> Bill: AS WE WRAP UP TALKING ABOUT THIS HORRIBLE TORNADO, WE HEAR SOME CHATTER AMONG LOCAL LEADERS AND MAYORS AND JUDGE EXECUTIVES ISAIAH, THAT THEY ARE TAKING A STEP BACK AND CONSIDERING ARE WE DOING ENOUGH AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE PREPARED, TO HAVE SHELTER SPACE, TO WARN OUR RESIDENTS WHO MAKES THE DECISION ABOUT SIRENS AND SO ON?

>> ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO SOME OF THE RECORDS WE'VE SEEN.

WE SAW A RECORD SNOWFALL IN THE WINTER.

AND WE'RE SEEING RECORD FLOODING.

AND SEEING THE WORST TORNADOES THAT I BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITY SPECIFICALLY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS SEEN IN 13 YEARS.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NOT TO GET TOO INTO IT HOW THAT REGION WHERE THE TORNADOES TYPICALLY HIT THE STRONGEST HAS MOVED EAST.

AND SUDDENLY INDIANA AND KENTUCKY ARE IN THE CENTER OF IT.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUESTION OF WARNINGS ARE GREAT.

BUT HOW DO WE PROTECT PEOPLE WHO KNOW IT'S COMING?

IN SOME OF THESE SMALLER COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE STATE.

AND I THINK THAT THE EMERGENCY SHELTERS THAT IS THE QUESTION THAT A LOT OF THESE LOCAL LEADERS WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANSWERS.

>> Bill: OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN RECOVERY THERE IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY ASTIES GOES ON.

IN THE WAKE OF THE STORMS, GOVERNOR BESHEAR APPEARED FOR SEVERAL NATIONAL INTERVIEWS AND THE SUBJECT OF HIM POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT CAME UP.

AND HE WALKS A FINE LINE HE DOES NOT DECLARE CANDIDACY, BUT HE SEEMS TO MAKE A CASE FOR WHY HE MIGHT RUN.

>> HE DOES.

AND HE GENERALLY HANDLES THESE SITUATIONS WITH FAMILIARITY.

HE TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE WAS 14 FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS JUST IN HIS FIVE PLUS YEARS AS GOVERNOR.

HE GENERALLY KNOWS HOW TO TOW THAT LINE AND EVEN IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE I WAS STRUCK BY ORIGINALLY HE WAS TALKING ABOUT FEMA AND TALKING HOW THERE IS A MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION AND HE MADE A POINT TO SAY, LISTEN, SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM HOMELAND SECURITY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP THEY LISTEN TO US AND FEMA ACTED AND WE'RE ASKING FOR IT AGAIN AND HE HAS SAID ESPECIALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AT TIMES LIKE THESE YOU CAN GIVE CREDIT FOR ONE THING BUT HE HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE PROPOSALS TO BRING FEMA FUNDING COMPLETELY TO A STATE LEVEL.

HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SORT OF TOUCH ON ALL THINGS DESPITE THE FACT WE ARE IN A SERIOUS AND TRAGIC SITUATION WITH THE TORNADO.

>> Bill: MAJOR NEWS IN KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS ENDING POLICE REFORM AGREEMENTS WITH LMPD BUT LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF PROMISED TO CONTINUE REFORMS.

>> WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE COMMUNITY COMMITMENT LOUISVILLE'S CONSENT DECREE.

THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT, LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITIZENS OF LOUISVILLE.

THIS COMMUNITY COMMITMENT WILL LEAD TO THE SAME RESULTS WE WERE PUSHING FOR IN THE COURT ORDERED CONSENT DECREE.

ACCOUNTABILITY IS SETTING A STANDARD AND HOLDING OURSELVES TO IT.

AND EXPECTING THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL HOLD US TO IT.

>> Bill: THIS CONSENT DECREE CAME OUT OF A BIDEN ERA INVESTIGATION THAT FOLLOWED THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR.

>> AND THAT PROMPTED IT WAS THE POLICE KILLING.

THIS WAS APRIL OF 2021 WHERE THIS INVESTIGATION STARTED AND NOW ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AS FAR AS THAT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT THIS AGREEMENT, IS ESSENTIALLY GONE.

I MEAN, THE JUDGE INDICATED TODAY THE FEDERAL JUDGE ALSO A TRUMP APPOINTEE I HAVE TO ADD, SAID OVER A HEARING TODAY VIRTUAL HEARING INDICATING THAT HE WILL DISMISS LIKELY DISMISS THIS CASE BECAUSE THE PLAINTIFF IN THIS CASE, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE UNDER TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP BASICALLY SAID WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN SUING LOUISVILLE WE HAVE NO INTEREST IN GOING THROUGH THIS FEDERAL COURT MONITORED AGREEMENT OVERSEE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND THEN LOUISVILLE ON ITS SIDE SAYING WE ARE NOT TAKING A STANCE AND THE JUDGE IS SAYING WELL YOU DON'T WANT TO SUE AND NOT TAKING A STANCE WHY SHOULD I STEP IN?

THIS AGREEMENT WILL CEASE TO EXIST ON A LOCAL LEVEL THEY SAY THEY ARE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING IN THEIR OWN VERSION.

>> Bill: HOW DOES THAT SEEM TO PLAY IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF SAYING THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO CONTINUED REFORM?

>> IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

YOU ASK LOCAL MAYBE CONSERVATIVES, REPUBLICANS, SPECIFICALLY, MAYBE FOLKS OUT IN THE COUNTY THEY WILL TELL YOU WE BELIEVE THIS REFORM IS BETTER ON A LOCAL LEVEL TO BEGIN WITH.

DO NOT TELL POLICE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FROM THE CITY AND DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY TELL POLICE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE DOING.

LET'S HAVE US IN THE CITY DECIDE THAT.

BUT IF YOU ASK SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO PROTESTED ON THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN IN LOUISVILLE IN 2020 A LOT OF THEM WILL WILL TELL YOU WE'RE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED IN THEIR WORDS BECAUSE LOUISVILLE WILL BE OVERSEEING LOUISVILLE.

THE MAYOR SAYS HE IS GOING TO GET AN INDEPENDENT MONITOR BUT THE CITY IS GOING TO HIRE THAT INDEPENDENT MONITOR AND DECIDE WHEN TO FIRE THEM OR STOP IT.

ULTIMATELY THE CITY WILL DICTATE THIS AND TO SOME IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IS WHERE THEY GOT TO THIS POINT IN FIRST PLACE.

>> Bill: AND THIS WAS A NATIONAL STORY.

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS I FEEL LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT WHERE SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL BRANCH IS AFFECTING THINGS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

BUT THE DOJ ANNOUNCED IT WAS STEPPING BACK IN OTHER CITIES.

PARTICULARLY IN MINNEAPOLIS WHERE GEORGE FLOYD DIED IN 2020.

SO SIMILAR SITUATION THERE.

AND THIS IS KIND OF NOT A SURPRISE.

SINCE DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED A LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDING OFFICIALS IN LOUISVILLE THOUGHT THIS MAY HAPPEN.

SO THIS WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

>> LOUISVILLE AGREED TO THIS IN DECEMBER AFTER TRUMP WAS ELECTED THEY KNEW IT WAS A POSSIBILITY.

THE QUESTION IS WHY THE TIMING?

AND PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU DIFFERENT THINGS.

>> Bill: WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW AND SEE WHERE IT GOES.

A NEW SUPERINTENDENT IS CHOSEN FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS.

INTERESTINGLY THE ANNOUNCEMENT INITIALLY CAME FROM A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

>> RIGHT.

REPRESENTATIVE JASON NEMES DID POST ON FACEBOOK TODAY THAT THE SCHOOL BOARD ENTERED CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRIAN YEARWOOD THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI.

THE BOARD SAID YESTERDAY THEY MET AND THEY ARE MEET -- THEY WERE BEGINNING THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ONE OF THE TWO BUT HAD NOT RELEASE THE NAME THEY DID PUT OUT A STATEMENT AFTER THAT POST.

SO AND CONFIRMED THAT THAT WAS TRUE.

>> Bill: AND WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT?

>> HE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

HE IS SOMEONE THAT THE DISTRICT WILL SAY HAS CONCRETE EVIDENCE THAT HE INCREASES AND IMPROVES STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.

AND HE IS VERY GOOD JCPS IS IN A 150 MILLION BUDGET HOLE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

AND APPARENTLY FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THIS GUY'S STRENGTHS.

SO THAT WAS SEEN AS A TIE IN.

THERE IS, THOUGH, CONTROVERSY AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY CONTROVERSY, MAYBE ATTENTION PUT ON THE FACT HE RETIRED.

SO THE DISTRICT SAID AT HIS LAST STOP IN COLUMBIA.

BUT THERE WAS A NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT SIGNED HE WAS PAID OUT DIFFICULT 700,000 HE LEFT.

THERE WERE QUESTIONS AS TO WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

ARE THESE RED FLAGS?

IT APPEARS THE BOARD FELT THAT OVERALL, THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGHED ANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVES HERE AND HE IS THE GUY FOR THE JOB.

I WILL NOTE IT SEEMED TO A LOT OF FOLKS THAT THE OTHER CANDIDATE SORT OF HAD IT IN THE BAG GOING INTO THE PUBLIC FORUMS.

AFTER SOME OF HIS COMMENTS, HE WAS VERY FORWARD ON THINGS LIKE D.E.I.

ON THINGS LIKE RAISING TAXES, DIDN'T GO OVER WELL WITH EVERYBODY.

>> Bill: HE WAS THE CANDIDATE NOT CHOSEN.

>> BEN SHULDINER OUT OF MICHIGAN AND HE WAS FORWARD, WE MIGHT HAVE TO RAISE TAXES AND D.E.I.

IS GOING TO BE INTERWOVEN INTO EVERYTHING WE DO.

AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE TURNED THE TIDE.

THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION HE WAS THE FRONTRUNNER GOING IN.

>> Bill: INTERESTING THERE.

WE'LL WATCH IN LOUISVILLE WITH THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.

THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY'S HOUSE MEMBERS SPLIT ON A BUDGET BILL THAT WOULD CUT PEND ISING AND CONTINUED TAX CUTS AND TAKE INCOME TAXES OFF OF TIPS AND OVERTIME.

IT HIT MEDICAID AND FOOD STAMP PROGRAMS, REPUBLICAN THOMAS MASSIE AND MORGAN MCGARVEY, WERE BOTH NO VOTES FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

>> THIS BILL DRAMATICALLY INCREASES DEFICITS IN THE NEAR TERM BUT PROMISES OUR GOVERNMENT WILL BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.

WHERE HAVE WE HEARD THAT BEFORE?

HOW DO YOU BUY IN FUTURE CONGRESS INTO THESE PROMISES?

THIS IS A DEBT BOMB TICKING.

>> 13.7 MILLION AMERICANS WILL LOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE.

WE ARE GOING TO GUT AMERICA'S PREMIER ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM.

IT'S GOING TO ADD THRILLIONS TO THE NATION'S DEBT.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] ONE OF THE RE79S IS HAL ROGERS WHOSE DISTRICT IS EASTERN KENTUCKY ONE OF THE MOST MEDICAID RELY ANTED DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY.

SO I THINK A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS OF HIS, HE SORT OF EXPLAINED IT TO US AS TRYING TO RATIONALIZE WASTE AND FRAUD AND ABUSE.

>> Bill: TRYING TO SAVE THE PROGRAM.

>> MY COLLEAGUE AUSTIN HORN REPORTED IN THAT REGION 398,000 PEOPLE ARE ON MEDICAID INCLUDING MANY KIDS.

ALMOST HALF OF KENTUCKY'S CHILD POPULATION IS ON MEDICAID.

AND SO WHETHER OR NOT WHICH SIDE OF THE IDEOLOGY YOU COME DOWN ON WHETHER YOU THINK THESE CUTS ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY INCREASE WORK REQUIREMENTS IT WILL FOR SURE HAVE AN IMPACT ON MILLIONS OF KENTUCKIANS MEDICAID ACCESS AND ALSO SNAP ACCESS.

>> Bill: IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH AND FIGURE OUT, REALLY.

ALL RIGHT.

SOME POLITICS THIS CONGRESSMAN MASSIE WAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS OPPOSITION TO THE BUDGET BILL.

>> I DON'T THINK THOMAS MASSIE UNDERSTANDS GOVERNMENT.

HE THINK HE IS A GRANDSTANDER, FRANKLY.

HE WILL -- WE DON'T TALK TO HIM MUCH.

I THINK HE SHOULD BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE AND I DON'T THINK HE UNDERSTANDS GOVERNMENT.

>> Bill: ISAIAH MASSIE IS AGAIN ON THE OUTS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP?

ABOUT LESS THAN A YEAR FROM NEXT YEAR'S PRIMARY?

>> AND IT CERTAINLY WASN'T THE FIRST TIME.

HE POSTED PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING WE WILL PRIMARY YOU IF YOU KEEP THIS UP AND THOMAS MASSIE, TO HIS CREDIT, HAS STAYED CONSISTENT.

HE SAID THE DEFICIT INCREASE YEAR BY YEAR IS A NONSTARTER FINANCE THAT'S THE CASE AND WE CONTINUE TO SPEND AND NOT CUT QUICKLY RATHER THAN PUNT TO GO YEARS DOWN THE LINE HE IS A NO.

>> Bill: INDICATIONS ARE THAT SENATOR PAUL MAYBE A WELL WHEN IT GOES TO THE SENATE.

>> SIMILAR THOUGHT PROCESS THERE.

>> Bill: ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN WENT TO THE U.S. BORDER WITH MEXICO THIS WEEK AND HE SAID THAT BORDER CROSSINGS AND DRUGS COMING INTO THE COUNTRY ARE BEING DRAMATICALLY REDUCED.

>> WE STAND IN A SPOT THAT A BRIEFING JUST ADVISED US ON AVERAGE 1500 CROSSINGS A DAY DURING THE DARK YEARS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOWN TO FOUR ILLEGAL CROSSINGS A DAY.

THAT IS A PRODUCT OF SOLID LEADERSHIP FROM OUR PRESIDENT.

AMAZING LEADERSHIP FROM THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO STAND BEHIND ME.

>> Bill: COLEMAN SAYS THE TIGHTER BORDER IS HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK A FEW MINUTES LATER HE SAID THAT THE LACK OF BORDER SECURITY RESULTED IN EMPTY CHAIRS AT KITCHEN TABLES HERE IN KENTUCKY.

BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COLEMAN HAS MADE A PLATFORM SINCE HE'S BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR OFFICE BEFORE HE GOT INTO OFFICE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

HE'S OFTEN SAID THAT THIS WOULD BE A PROMINENT ISSUE FOR HIM AND HE JOINED LAWSUITS AND LETTERS AND OTHER COALITIONS OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN SUPPORTING THIS ISSUE.

>> Bill: YOU DID A STORY THIS WEEK ON KENTUCKY'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TRYING TO GET BACK ABOUT $10 MILLION WORTH OF COVID RELIEF FUNDS.

GET THAT RESTORED FOR SCHOOLS.

>> RIGHT I'M SURE I TALKED ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF SCHOOLS AND STATE AGENCIES EDUCATION AGENCIES SEEKING AN EXTENSION TO USE SOME OF THAT REMAINING COVID RELIEF DOLLARS.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DENIED A 10.6 MILLION REQUEST FROM KED ON BEHALF OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS FOR PROJECTS.

>> Bill: MEMORIAL DAY OFTEN SEEN AS THE UNOFFICIAL KICKOFF OF SUMMER AND ALSO ALEX A SPECIAL TIME THAT WE REMEMBER THE REAL REASON FOR.

>> RIGHT IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER THAT IT'S NOT JUST A HOLIDAY AND WE SHOULD HONOR THE VETERANS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES AND WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE.

>> Bill: AND THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY.

TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO BREAK RECORDS WE HOPE YOU ARE SAFE OUT THERE AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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