[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND ARRIVES WITH HUGE CROWDS SPENDING BIG MONEY, TIGHT SECURITY AND NEW RULES INVOLVING THE HORSES.

KENTUCKY'S NEXT EDUCATION COMMISSIONER IS INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC AND LAYS OUT HIS PRIORITIES.

A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IS SCHEDULED AGAINST U.K. PRESIDENT CAPILOUTO.

REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS GET READY TO SQUARE OFF ON A SCHOOL AMENDMENT CHOICE AS THE WORLD SPOTLIGHT IS SHINING ON KENTUCKY, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA.

JANET PATTON REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND McKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS.

WE'LL START WITH THE 150TH KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND AND THOR PEED DOUGH WON THE KENTUCKY OAKS AT CHURCHILL DOWNS ON A SLOPPY TRACK.

IT'S ESTIMATED THAT VISITORS WILL SPEND THE MOST OVER DURING THIS DERBY WEEKEND AND SECURITY IS A MAJOR EFFORT INCLUDING AVOIDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.

>> IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT IS OFF AND YOU CAN FEEL IT'S OFF AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG, MAKE A CALL.

NOW, IF EVERYTHING'S OKAY, THEN NO WORRIES.

BUT NOT MAKING THE CALL MIGHT BE THE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE CONTINUING TO BE ABUSED ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND THEM FINDING SAFETY.

>> Bill: McKENNA, SECURITY IS ALWAYS TIGHT AT THE DERBY AND AGAIN THIS YEAR LOUISVILLE POLICE ARE ASSISTED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AND AGENCIES.

IS IT JUST THE HIGH PROFILE NATURE OF THE DERBY THAT IS SUCH A CAUSE FOR TRUE CONCERN?

>> I THINK SO.

WITH HIGH PROFILE EVENTS LIKE THIS, AT A LARGE EVENT IN KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY, SECURITY IS ALWAYS A CONCERN.

00 KENTUCKY WILL HAVE A LOT OF VISITORS FROM OUT OF TOWN, FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY AS WELCOMING IN.

AND ALSO THE CROWD USUALLY GETS HIGH PROFILE PEOPLE IN THAT MAY WANT EXTRA SECURITY WITH THEM.

WE'RE SEEING CELEBRITIES COME OUT.

TRAVIS KELSEY'S FRIEND, THE MOHAMMAD KAHN CITY CHIEFS PLAYERS WILL BE IN THE FOR THE DERBY AND HE MIGHT BRING TAYLOR SWIFT.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

>> Bill: WHEN THIS IS REPLAYED OVER THE WEEKEND WE WILL KNOW IF THAT HAS HAPPENED.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT RAISES THE STAKES CERTAINLY.

AND, AGAIN, THE ATTENTION THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THE DERBY IS HARD TO OVERSTATE, JANET.

THERE IS ONE ESTIMATE OF 400, 500 MILLION DOLLARS BEING SPENT DURING THIS DERBY WEEKEND.

>> IT IS A MILESTONE EVENT.

150TH DERBY THEY ARE FILLING HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS AND CABNESS AND LIMOS AND DISTILLERIES IN TOWN AND THAT IS NOT THE MONEY SPENT AT THE TRACK LIKE THE $22 MINT JULIPS OUT THERE THIS YEAR.

OR THE THOUSANDS SPENT ON TICKETS TO THE DERBY ITSELF.

AND THAT IS THE 400 MILLION IS ALMOST AS MUCH AS PEOPLE SPENT BETTING DERBY WEEK.

IN 2023 A RECORD 412 MILLION IN PARAMUTUAL BETTING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS AND ALL SOURCES AND THE HANDLE ON THE DERBY SET A RECORD AT 189 MILLION AND IT IS A SAFE BET IT WILL GO UP AGAIN THIS YEAR.

>> Bill: AND THIS COMES AS KENTUCKY EXPANDED THE GAMBLING OPTIONS THERE'S FULL ON SPORTS BETTING ON EVERYTHING.

AND, YET, THE COMMITMENT TO WAGER BUCKS AT THE DERBY SEEMS TO HOLD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK TWIN SPIRES THE CHURCHILL DOWNS APP IS READY TO TAKE ANY BET YOU CAN COME UP WITH.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THEY WILL HAVE SPORTSBOOK BETTING AS WELL AS PARAMUTUAL YOU CAN MAKE A WAGER SUCH AS WILL THE WINNING HORSE LEAD WIRE TOO WIRE?

OR YOU COULD BET DOES THE FAVORITE RUN THE FIRST QUARTER MILE UNDER A CERTAIN TIME ALL THOSE THINGS PEOPLE THINK ARE FUN.

>> Bill: RIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, JESS, IS THERE SOMETHING EXTRA SPECIAL ABOUT IT BEING THE 150TH KENTUCKY DERBY AND HAVE THE ORGANIZERS TAKEN FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT?

>> I'D SAY SO.

150 IS JUST A MILESTONE YEAR LIKE JANET SAID.

PROVIDES A GREAT BRANDING OPPORTUNITY AND I THINK PEOPLE WANT TO BE AT SOMETHING ON ITS 150TH ANNIVERSARY.

AND ALSO YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEVERAL YEARS OUT FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AND SO I THINK PEOPLE ARE JUST MORE LIKELY TO THEY WERE COUPED UP FOR YEARS AND THERE'S KIND OF THAT YOU KNOW, ENERGY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO BE AT BIG EVENTS LIKE THIS.

>> Bill: THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN AN EFFORT TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO THE HORSERACING INDUSTRY OVER THE DECADES.

A HISTORY THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN TOLD.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

YEAH, BLACK JOCKEYS HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF CHURCHILL DOWNS THAT HAS NOT ALWAYS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS AFTER CALLS FOR CHURCHILL TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.

THE TRACK IS DOING A LITTLE BIT MORE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT HISTORY HAD THIS YEAR.

>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR BESHEAR SIGNED A PROCLAMATION ON THAT FRONT TO RECOGNIZE THE HISTORY OF BLACK JOCKEYS IN THE KENTUCKY DERBY AND TRAINERS AS WELL.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT TRACK SAFETY.

LAST YEAR THERE WERE SEVERAL HORSE DEATHS OVER THE WEEKEND.

WE RECALL THAT THE HORSES WERE TRANSFERRED OUT TO ELLIS PARK.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

>> Bill: THERE ARE CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, RIGHT?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

CHURCHILL DOWNS TOOK EVERYTHING OFF THE TRACK AFTER A DOZEN HORSES DIED IN THE SPRING MEET INCLUDING ONE ON DERBY BAY THAT WAS REALLY BAD.

SO THEY REDID THE TRACK SURFACE IN 2,000 TONS OF SPECIAL DIRT ACCORDING TO ONE OF OUR SPORTS WRITERS.

AND THIS YEAR HORSES WILL WEAR BIOMETRIC SENSORS THAT CAN DETECT CHANGES TO THE GAIT IF SOMETHING IS HAPPENING IN REALTIME VETS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IT.

AND WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

THE HORSES HAVE BEEN ON THE TRACK FOR AT LEAST A WEEK.

THEY HAD TO BE THERE EARLIER THIS YEAR SO THE VETS HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK THEM OVER IN-PERSON.

SO WITH LUCK WE WON'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE LAST YEAR WHERE AT THE LAST-MINUTE ON DERBY MORNING A VET HAD TO SCRATCH THE FAVORITE.

>> Bill: CHURCHILL DOWNS WAS DETERMINED NOT TO HAVE A BOB TRAINED HORSE IN THE DERBY.

>> THEY WANTED TO DO OF THE THEY COULD TO AVOID ANY BLACK EYE.

AND THEY WANTED BOB BEHALF FORWARD NOT TO BE THERE BECAUSE IN THEIR MIND THEY FELT HE REPEATED THE MISTAKE IN SAYING HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE EVERYTHING DIFFERENT.

BOB WAS THE TRAINER OF THE SPIRIT WHO WON IN 2021 AND THEN THE HORSE WAS DISQUALIFIED AFTER IT TESTED POSITIVE FOR A BANNED SUBSTANCE.

BEHALFERED SAID IT WAS A SKIN CREAM AND HE SAYS I WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT AND CHURCHILL SAID SIT THIS ONE OUT THERE.

THE OWNER OF THE HORSE SUED CHURCHILL TO TRY TO GET HIS HORSE IN THE DERBY BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL.

HE WILL BE WATCHING FROM HOME.

>> Bill: AGAIN THAT WAS DECIDED IN COURT.

>> ALL THE WAY TO THE KENTUCKY COURT OF APPEALS.

>> Bill: THE BIG WEEKEND IS COMING UP.

DO YOU WANT TO DO THE DERBY PICK NOW AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO SERIOUS SUBJECTS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I'M FOR MYSTIC DAN.

>> Bill: YOU LIKE THE NAME?

I LIKE THE NAME IT'S SILLY WHAT CAN I SAY.

>> I PICK SIERRA LEONE TO WIN AND I PLACED MY BET TODAY.

>> Bill: MONEY DOWN.

>> I HAVE BEEN LEANING IN ON DOOR KNOCK BECAUSE IT IS A FULL BROTHER TO WHO WON THE DERBY AND I'M LEANING MYSTIC DAN BECAUSE THAT WOULD GIVE THE TRAINER A DERBY WIN AND NO TRAINER HAS WON BOTH IN THE SAME YEAR SINCE 1952 IT WOULD BE A CHERRY.

>> Bill: I LEARNED LATE THERE'S ONE CALLED FOREVER YOUNG.

SO FOR OBVIOUS REASONS I LIKE THAT PICK.

AND PEOPLE CAN LAUGH AT US OR CHEER US ON WHEN THEY REPLAY THE RUNS.

KENTUCKY NEW EDUCATION COMMISSIONER INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO THE PUBLIC AND LAID OUT PRIORITIES AND SAYS TEACHERS PROFOUNDLY CHANGED AND SHAPED HIS LIFE.

>> THE REASON WHY I'M HERE IS BECAUSE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE VERY FIRST TIME I WAS ON AN AIRPLANE, THE FIRST TIME I SAW FLAT GROUND, THE FIRST BASEBALL GAME I SAW, THE FIRST BODY OF WATER BIGGER THAN THE BIG SANDY IS ALL WITH A TEACHER THAT INVESTED IN STUDENTS TO TAKE US PLACES AS PART OF AN ACADEMIC TEAM.

THOSE ARE THE STORIES WE NEED TO HEAR MORE ABOUT.

>> Bill: JESS, WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT FLETCHER WHO GAVE THIS MEDIA OPPORTUNITY AS TO HOW HE MAY LEAD KENTUCKY SCHOOLS?

>> I THINK THAT BITE WAS TELLING.

HE IS PUTTING HIMSELF FORWARD AS A REAL KENTUCKY COMMISSIONER.

OUR LAST COMMISSIONER WAS ALSO FROM KENTUCKY.

BUT FLETCHER SEEMS TO BE PLAYING THAT UP A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN JASON GLASS DID.

YOU KNOW, HIS MESSAGE ABOUT HIS OWN EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT IN KENTUCKY, BEING A POSITIVE ONE, I THINK THAT IS A MESSAGE THAT WE'LL SEE HIM KIND OF ECHO AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

BECAUSE ONE THING HE MENTIONED DURING THAT PRESS CONFERENCE HE WANTS A REVIVAL OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION AND NOT SO MUCH IN HOW TEACHING IS DONE BUT MORE IN HOW THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS TEACHING AND HOW PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

>> Bill: HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE THAT?

>> WELL, I ASKED HIM AND HE SAID IT COULD LOOK LIKE A MARKETING CAMPAIGN.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE TEACHER SHORTAGE WHICH IS VERY SERIOUS IN KENTUCKY THAT IS ONE OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.

ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION IS TO PAY TEACHERS MORE.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT FLETCHER SAID HE WOULD ADVOCATE FOR.

AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS CAREFUL TO SAY THAT HE APPRECIATED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S INCREASES IN OVERALL EDUCATION SPENDING AND HE CALLED THE BUDGET AN EXCELLENT EDUCATION BUDGET.

>> Bill: ANY SURPRISES YOU HEARD?

>> WE HEARD THE SAME THING HE HAD SAID IN HIS SENATE HEARING WHERE HE APPEARED BEFORE A COMMITTEE BEFORE HE WAS CONFIRMED.

AND IN OTHER INTERVIEWS HE HAS HAD WITH REPORTERS SINCE BEING NAMED IN THIS PROCESS.

ONE THING OF NOTE WAS THAT HE DID SAY THAT HE DID BRING UP THE SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT THAT VOTERS WILL BE DECIDING LATER THIS YEAR.

HE SAYS THAT HE WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR THAT IN FAVOR OF THAT AMENDMENT WHEN IT GOES TO THE BALLOT BUT IF IT'S PASSED BY VOTERS HE WILL WORK TO MAKE SURE IT'S IMPLEMENTED TO THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

HIS REASONS FOR BEING AGAINST IT IS THAT HE BELIEVES THAT PUBLIC DOLLARS SHOULDN'T GO TO PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS.

>> Bill: HE DID SAY THAT GAVE SOME INDICATION THAT HE WOULD LIKE FOR PARENTS TO HAVE SOME CHOICE AMONG DISTRICTS?

>> AND HE GAVE THIS EXAMPLE WHEN SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE CONFIRMATION HEARING THAT STUDENTS WITHIN HIS DISTRICT IN LAWRENCE COUNTY MAY NOT ATTEND THEIR SCHOOL OF RESIDENCE BUT THEY ATTEND ANOTHER SCHOOL THAT IS ELSEWHERE IN THE DISTRICT.

IT'S JUST FOR HIM THE PUBLIC FUNDING IS THE ISSUE.

>> Bill: YOU MENTIONED THE SCHOOL CHOICE AMENDMENT HE WILL BE ENTERING OFFICE JULY 1 AND HE WILL RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT CAMPAIGN.

>> HE IS CAREFUL TO THREAD THE NEEDLE AND WHERE HE COMES DOWN.

HE TOLD LAWMAKERS DURING THE CONFIRMATION HEARING THAT HE SUPPORTED SCHOOL CHOICE.

AND LATER HE TOLD REPORTERS HE MEANT WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO I THINK WE FINALLY GOT A LOYAL MORE CLEAR PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM HIM IN THAT PRESS CONFERENCE THAT HE PERSONALLY DOES NOT SUPPORT MOVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, WHICH IS WHEN YOU SAY SCHOOL CHOICE THAT IS USUALLY WHAT PEOPLE MEAN.

BUT I THINK HE THREADED THE NEEDLE IN SAYING HE WILL DO WHAT THE VOTERS DECIDE THEY WANT.

>> Bill: YOU MENTIONED TEACHERS' PAY AND WE LEARNED THIS WEEK ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION THAT KENTUCKY SLIPPED A NOTCH IN RANKS OF STATES AS FAR AS PAY?

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT IS NO SURPRISE BECAUSE THOSE RANKINGS ACCOUNT FOR NOT THE CURRENT SESSION BUT THE PAST ONE.

WE DID NOT SEE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN TEACHER PAY ACROSS THE BOARD.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN AN ACROSS THE BOARD RAISE FOR KENTUCKY SCHOOL PERSONNEL IN MANY, MANY YEARS.

SO IT'S REALLY NO SURPRISE.

MECHANIC KENNA YOU HAVE THE STATISTICS WHERE WE ARE NOW?

>> YES.

SO WE ARE 41ST IN TEACHER PAY.

>> THAT IS BAD.

>> AND YOU KNOW THIS WAS A FACT THAT WE HEARD OVER THE LAST YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S RACE.

BESHEAR HIGHLIGHTED THE 40TH RANKING.

SO HE HAS NOT COMMENTED ON THIS YET BUT I'M SURE HE WILL AT SOME POINT.

AND THIS KIND OF ISSUE OF TEACHER PAY HAS LONG BEEN AN ISSUE IN KENTUCKY POLITICS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS OR SO.

AND YOU KNOW, KIND OF THE CRUX IS PEOPLE LIKE BESHEAR DEMOCRATS ARE ARGUING FOR AN ACROSS THE BOARD RAISE.

BESHEAR PROPOSED AN 11% RAISE FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES THIS SESSION BUT THE REPUBLICAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS REJECTING THAT NOTION.

AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WANTS TO LOOK AT THE SEEK FORMULA WHICH IS HOW THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DIVERTS MONEY TO PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS BASED ON DIFFERENT FACTORS.

SO THEIR ARGUMENT IT WOULDN'T BE ACROSS THE BOARD BUT IT WOULD GIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MORE RESOURCES TO ALLOCATE THEM AS THEY SEE FIT.

>> Bill: YOU GET IT THE WAY HE HAD A CONGENIAL HEARING AN OVERWHELMING APPROVAL, THAT MAYBE AT LEAST EARLY ON HE WILL HAVE AN EASIER TIME WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN TERMS OF SOME SUGGESTING SOME CHANGES HE WANTS TO SEE?

>> YEAH, WE DID SEE HIM TAKE A LOT OF CARE IN THE SENATE CONFIRMATION PROCESS TO SPEAK ONE-ON-ONE WITH SENATORS AHEAD OF THE HEARING.

EVEN BEFORE HIS HEARING WAS SCHEDULED TO START FIVE MINUTES BEFORE HE WAS ON THE SENATE FLOOR TALKING TO SENATORS.

HE HAS HAD AN OPEN DOOR POLICY WITH THEM AS FAR AS WE KNOW.

THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, HE HAS SAID THAT HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE A POLITICIAN THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL IDEA FOR HIM.

BUT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO AVOID POLITICS WHEN YOU ARE PICKED BY GOVERNOR APPOINTED BOARD AND YOU'RE CONFIRMED BY A SENATE OF ANOTHER PARTY.

>> Bill: HE HAS TO THREADED NEED NEEDLE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN FILED SUIT AGAINST NEW TITLE IX RULES BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

McKENNA THAT STORY CAME TO LIGHT SEVERAL ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARE CHALLENGING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> YES.

WHEN COLEMAN FILED THIS LAWSUIT, AND HE'S LEADING IT WITH THE AG OF TENNESSEE AND OTHER STATES, THEY WERE THE THIRD LAWSUIT OF ATTORNEYS GENERALS TO FILE A SUIT OF THIS NATURE.

IT'S GOING AFTER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ON TITLE IX RULES.

THAT WERE IMPLEMENTED TO PROTECT LGBTQ STUDENTS FROM DECISION CRIME NATION ON VARIOUS THINGS SUCH AS SEX STEREOTYPES AND GENDER IDENTITY.

AND COLEMAN ARGUES THIS LIMITS PROTECTIONS FOR WOMEN THAT THEY'VE HAD SINCE TITLE IX WAS IMPLEMENTED IN THE 1970s.

THAT, OF COURSE, IS ABOUT PREVENTING DISCRIMINATION IN PROGRAMS THAT RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING ESPECIALLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

>> Bill: IT'S FILED IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY.

>> YES.

AND BESHEAR WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS THIS WEEK AND HE HADN'T READ THE LAWSUIT BUT HE SAID THAT LGBTQ KENTUCKIANS HAVE A PLACE IN KENTUCKY AND SAID THAT THEY SHOULD BE ACCEPTED FOR WHO THEY ARE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IS SCHEDULED AGAINST U.K. PRESIDENT Dr. ELI CAPILOUTO AFTER THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MOVED THE FACULTY SENATE FROM A POLICY MAKING ROLE TO AN ADVISORY ROLE INSTEAD.

THE VOTE TO DO THAT WAS 19-1.

WHAT DO WE EXPECT THIS WEEK?

>> SO THE BOARD VOTED IN FAVOR OF THOSE CHANGES BUT THEY WILL HAVE A FINAL REVIEW AT THE JUNE MEETING TO FORMALLY IMPLEMENT THE RULES IF THEY SO CHOOSE.

THIS IS LOOKING AT SHARED GOVERNANCE AT U.K.

BETWEEN FACULTY, THE FACULTY, STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO ARE ON CAMPUS.

SO RIGHT NOW, THESE THREE FACTIONS HAVE SAY IN THE ACADEMIC PROCESS.

FACULTY IN THE UNIVERSITY SENATE HAS BEEN OPPOSING THESE CHANGES BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE POWER THEY HAVE OVER ACADEMIC DECISIONS.

BUT CAPILOUTO AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ARGUE THAT THIS WOULD STREAMLINE THE PROCESS AND ALLOW U.K. TO STREAMLINE THEIR SHARED GOVERNANCE MODEL TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND EASY TO USE.

>> Bill: HE SAID IT BRINGS MORE VOICES TO THE TABLE?

>> HE HAS SAID THAT.

FACULTY DISAGREE AS I'VE SAID.

BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT INSTEAD OF HAVING THE SAY AND BEING ABLE TO TAKE THE VOTES THEY WOULD BE GIVING THEIR OPINIONS TO A PERSON WHO THEN WOULD SHARE THAT CAN CAPILOUTO.

NOW, ON THE OTHER HAND, STAFF AND STUDENTS FEEL MORE WELCOME TO THESE CHANGES BELIEVING THEY WOULD HAVE MORE VOICE UNDER THIS PROPOSED MODEL.

STAFF SENATE AND THE STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION PASSED RESOLUTIONS IN FAVOR OF THESE PROPOSALS.

>> Bill: JANET, WOULD IT MATTER IF HE WERE TO GET A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE?

>> MONICA CASS WHO HAS BEEN FOLLOWING IT FOR US IT'S LARGELY SYMBOLIC.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT HE'S FIRED OR REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

BUT IT COULD MEAN THAT THEY NEED TO STEP UP THE SUCCESSION PLAN.

BECAUSE SOMETHING LIKE 51% OF PEOPLE WHO ENDURE WHO GET A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE ARE GONE WITHIN A YEAR ACCORDING TO DATA SHE FOUND.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL FOLLOW THAT.

THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES IS ADVISING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE READY FOR THE JANUARY FIRST START DATE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA TO BE LEGALIZED.

WE'VE HEARD CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS SIMPLY THE ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES ADVISING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO HAVE THEIR RULES IN PLACE AHEAD OF TIME, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

THEY ARE SAYING IT'S COMING YOU NEED TO GET READY.

DON'T WAIT AND LET IT LAND ON YOU.

>> Bill: MANY KENTUCKIANS HAVE BEEN FRUSTRATED BY LONG LINES AND WAIT TIMES AS THEY TRY TO REGISTER THE VEHICLES THE STATE IS TRANSITIONING FROM A COMPUTER SYSTEM IN USE FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS IT MEANS AND I LEARNED THIS THIS WEEK, IT MEANS 350 MILLION RECORDS ARE HAVING TO BE SWITCHED OVER.

ANYBODY WHO HAS GONE IN YOU'VE SEEN THE LONG LINES AND THERE'S BEEN FRUSTRATION IN THOSE COURTHOUSES?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

NO ONE LIKES WAITING IN LINE FOR AT THE DMV OR THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

IT'S JUST NO FUN.

YEAH, THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T PLAY WELL WITH THE PUBLIC.

>> Bill: THE STATEMENT LAMB MADE IS EVERY VEHICLE WILL HAVE TO BE TOUCHED BEFORE THEY HAVE THE PROPER INFORMATION IN THE NEW SYSTEM.

AGAIN, MAYBE A YEARLONG PROCESS AND THAT IS TOUGH TO DEAL WITH FOR MANY.

FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE CLEARED OF ETHICS CHARGES BY A FRANKLIN JUDGE ISSUED A $10,000 FINE AGAINST HER THIS ELIMINATES THAT.

WHAT ELSE MIGHT IT DO?

>> WELL, IN HIS ARGUMENT, JUDGE SHEPHERD HE AGREED WITH GRIME'S POSITION THAT THE CHARGES THAT WERE BROUGHT FORTH FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ETHICS COMMISSION WERE LIMITED BY STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

AND THAT RECORDS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS NO VIOLATION AT THIS POINT.

SO THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE SHE LEFT OFFICE.

WE'VE HEARD REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE ADAMS BRING THIS UP.

SINCE SHE HAS LEFT OFFICE.

COULD THIS BE A WAY FOR HER TO REENTER POLITICS?

IT IS UNCLEAR.

>> Bill: JANET, A QUESTION, SHE RAN FOR THE U.S. SENATE AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL AND TALKED ABOUT AS A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

AND THEN ALL OF THIS WAS GOING ON AT THE TIME OF THE 2019 ELECTION AND SHE LEFT THE SCENE.

>> SHE REALLY HAD A VERY, VERY HIGH PROFILE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND WAS GETTING A LOT OF VERY STRONG LOOKS.

BUT THIS WOULDN'T BE THE ONLY BAGGAGE BECAUSE HER FATHER FORMER KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN ALSO WENT TO FEDERAL PRISON.

HE IS OUT NOW ON CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT CAMPAIGN AGAINST McCONNELL.

SO THAT'S STILL THERE.

>> Bill: BUT IT COULD GIVE HER THE OPTION OF CONSIDERING MAYBE A RETURN?

WE'LL SEE, RIGHT?

SO AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER, JESS, YOU KNOW, EDUCATION ISSUES SWIRL.

I KNOW YOU ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON JEFFERSON COUNTY.

AND A LOT OF ISSUES GOING ON THERE?

>> RIGHT.

JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS HAVING A TRANSPORTATION CRISIS THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE AUGUST BEFORE THAT AND AUGUST IS WHEN THINGS CAME TO A HEAD.

SO THEY REALLY HAVE TO OVERHAUL THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

THEY'VE DECIDED TO CUT TRANSPORTATION FOR ABOUT 16,000 STUDENTS WHO GO TO MAGNET SCHOOLS.

THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE A WHOLE NEW SET OF START TIMES FOR SCHOOLS NEXT WEEK.

BUT I SPENT THE DAY ON THE PHONE WITH PARENTS WHO REALLY HAVE NO IDEA LIKE HOW TO ADJUST THEIR WORK SCHEDULES, HOW THEY ARE GOING TO GET THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

PARENTS WHO WERE GOING TO APPLY FOR JOBS AND NOW MAY NOT BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR A JOB.

>> Bill: IF THE TRANSPORTATION IS CUT IT MEANS THAT, THAT IT'S UP TO THE PARENTS?

>> RIGHT.

SO THEY ARE NOT SURE WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO START.

THEY MAY START AT 7:30 OR 9 TIME 40, AND YOU HAVE TO DRIVE YOUR KID TO SCHOOL IT IS A PROBLEM FOR PARENTS THAT ALSO NEED TO WORK A 9-5 JOB.

>> WHAT A NIGHTMARE.

>> IT IS A TOUGH SITUATION.

>> Bill: IS THERE ANY ENCOURAGEMENT OVER THE SUMMER IT MAY WORKOUT?

>> I THINK WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT THERE IS SO LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR FOR THIS DISTRICT TO MESS THIS UP AGAIN THAT I THINK THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO HAVE A SMOOTH ROLL OUT IN AUGUST.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY.

BUT I DO THINK THEY FEEL THAT PUBLIC PRESSURE AND THERE'S REALLY NO ROOM FOR ERROR.

>> Bill: JANET, YOU COVER THE RESTAURANT AND THE BOURBON SCENE ANY TRENDS YOU ARE NOTING OUT THERE?

>> WELL, MAKE OF THIS WHAT YOU WILL, BUT FOR THE DERBY, THEY PUT OUT A $15,000 BOTTLE ONLY 150 OF THESE AND THE WINNER OF THE RACE GETS ONE.

BUT THERE'S SOME AVAILABLE THOSE HAVE NOT SOLD OUT.

IS IT THE PRICE?

HAS BOURBON PEAKED?

IF YOU WANT TO GO IN ON ONE AFTER THE SHOW I KNOW WHERE WE CAN GET ONE.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN THE RESTAURANT SCENE?

ARE THE LOCALS DOING WELL OR IS IT BACK TO THE CHAINS?

IS THERE A TREND?

>> I AM SEEING A LOT OF NEW LOCAL RESTAURANTS CROPPING UP.

I MEAN, IT'S MIXED BAG.

SOME IN AND OUT.

I THINK PEOPLE LIKE YOU SAID, THE PANDEMIC PEOPLE ARE COMING BACK.

PEOPLE WANT TO EAT OUT.

PRICES ARE HIGHER THEY ARE BEING CAREFUL WHERE THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY BUT WE LOVE TO EAT OUT.

WE DO.

IT'S JUST -- >> Bill: ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF THE EVENING.

KENTUCKIANS ARE MOURNING THE LOSS OF STATE POLICE TROOPER JONATHAN JOHNSON WHO PASSED WAY FROM AN OFF DUTY MOTORCYCLE CRASH ON TUESDAY.

JOHNSON HAD BEEN ON FORCE FOR NINE YEARS.

ALSO THIS WEEK, A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR WASHINGTON WAS HONORED FOR WINNING THIRD PRIZE IN C SPAN'S STUDENT DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION FOR HER PIECE.

LEXINGTON MAYOR GORTON MADE APRIL 30TH WASHINGTON DAY TO CELEBRATE THE WIN.

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

[♪♪]