[♪♪] >> Bill: CLEAN UP CONTINUES AFTER DEADLY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND TORNADOES HIT THE BLUEGRASS STATE.

CHARGES ARE DROPPED AGAINST THE WORLD'S TOP GOLFER AFTER HIS ARREST IN LOUISVILLE.

A STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHAT BARELY HUNG ON TO HER PARTY'S NOMINATION TALKS ABOUT NEW MOVEMENTS WITHIN THE KENTUCKY G.O.P.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL TALKS ABOUT HIS LEGACY AND SHOWS A LIGHTER SIDE AS HE TRAVELS AND ANNOUNCES NEW PROJECTS.

HEADING INTO JUNE, 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, ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE.

AND LIAM NIEMEYER REPORTERS FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

ALSO TONIGHT, SOME KENTUCKY POLITICIANS REACT TO THE CONVICTION OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AND THE STATE SETS A NEW RECORD FOR TOURISM SPENDINGS.

LET'S BEGIN AND TALK ABOUT HOW KENTUCKY IS, AGAIN, DEALING WITH NATURAL DISASTER.

IN THIS CASE TORNADOES LEFT SEVERAL DEAD.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR VISITED SOME OF THE HARD HIT AREAS THIS WEEK AND TALKED ABOUT THE LOSSES.

>> LIKE AFTER ALL OF THEM WE MAKE THE SAME PROMISE WE WILL GET EVERYONE BACK UP ON THEIR FEET AND WE WILL REBUILD.

REMEMBER, IF A NATURAL DISASTER TAKES OUT 10 HOMES OR A THOUSAND FOR EACH OF THOSE FAMILIES THE IMPACT IS THE SAME.

AND OUR RESPONSE NEEDS TO HELP THEM ALL.

>> Bill: LIAM, THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND WAS TOUGH HERE IN KENTUCKY.

THE TORNADOES CAUSED DAMAGE IN SOME OF THE SAME AREAS THAT WERE HIT SO HARD IN 2021.

>> THAT CORRECT.

I WAS IN HOPKINS COUNTY THE OTHER DAY, AND SOME OF THE TORNADO DAMAGE IS JUST DEVASTATING.

THE TORNADO THAT TOOK PLACE EARLIER THIS WEEK TOOK A SIMILAR TRACT AS THE TORNADO THAT CAME THROUGH IN DECEMBER OF 2021 EXCEPT GOING THROUGH INSTEAD OF HITTING DAWSON SPRINGS, IT TOOK A PATH THROUGH THE RURAL PART PA OF THE COUNTY.

OF AND EVEN THEN, THERE WERE STORIES I FOUND OUT THERE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE HELPING THEIR NEIGHBORS THAT WERE IMPACTED IN 2021 WERE NOW IMPACTED THEMSELVES.

THEIR HOMES WERE HIT.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE FORMER ROTARY CLUB PRESIDENT FOR DAWSON SPRINGS WHO SPEARHEADED THE MEMORIAL IN DAWSON SPRINGS REMEMBERING THOSE LIVES LOST IN THE CITY, THEIR HOME WAS HIT, PEOPLE THAT SHE HELPED WERE VISITING HER DRIVEWAY THE MORNING AFTER SAYING WHAT CAN I DO?

HOW CAN I HELP?

AND FROM VARIOUS TORNADO SURVIVORS THERE'S SOME LEVEL OF SKEPTICISM OF HOW MUCH THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR STATE GOVERNMENT WILL BE THERE FOR THEM WITH THEIR OWN RECOVERY.

ESPECIALLY WITH DOCUMENTING CHALLENGES IN THE PAST WITH FEMA.

BUT THERE'S AT LEAST SOME CONFIDENCE THAT NEIGHBORS ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR NEIGHBORS.

>> Bill: AND SORT OF BOUND TOGETHER BY TRAGEDY AS WE'RE HEARING.

ISAIAH, MORE THAN A DOZEN COUNTIES DECLARED STATES OF EMERGENCY.

AGAIN, TO LIAM'S POINT, YOU WONDER WILL THEY HIT THE THRESHOLD FOR FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND MAYBE NOT IN SOME AREAS THAT GOT A LOT OF DAMAGE, BUT THEY MAY NOT GET THE FEDERAL HELP AND LOUISVILLE HAD TROUBLES.

>> IT'S ABOUT MEETING THE THRESHOLD.

WE TALK ABOUT A STORM HITTING AN AREA THAT IS ALL RELATIVE.

WE HAD RELATIVELY SMALL SITUATION IN LOUISVILLE.

BUT WE HAD A LOT OF POWER OUTAGES OF TENS OF THOUSANDS IT STARTED AND TOOK A WHILE TO GET BACK ON-LINE.

WE HAD FOLKS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE COUNTY IN OUR AREA, SAY THAT IT'S ALWAYS THEM.

AND WHETHER THE DATA BACKS IT UP IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO LOOK INTO.

BUT YOU DO HAVE FOLKS WHO FEEL LIKE EVERY TIME STORMS HIT THEY ARE THE ONES WITHOUT POWER AND GETTING HIT AND THEY ARE OFTENTIMES NOT AS QUICK AS SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY IN THEIR WORDS TO GET THE POWER BACK.

>> Bill: ALEX, YOU WONDER ABOUT THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL TOLL FOR MANY WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS AND SOME CASES TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE PATH EVERY OF THESE STORMS AND YOU ASSUME AS A LOT OF ANXIETY ON THE PART OF KENTUCKIANS NOW WHEN THE TORNADO WATCHES AND WARNINGS ARE OUT THERE.

BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> ESPECIALLY IF YOU THINK ABOUT THESE PLACES LIKE MAYFIELD AND DAWSON SPRINGS WHERE PEOPLE EXPERIENCED EITHER THE IMPACT OF THE TORNADO THEMSELVES BECAUSE IT DESTROYED THEIR HOME OR THEY KNOW SOMEBODY WHO DID WHEN YOU HAVE DISASTERS LIKE THAT YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH TEAMS THAT COME IN SEVERAL MONTHS DOWN THE LINE BECAUSE THESE ARE REAL RAMIFICATIONS THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE.

I FOLLOWED UP WITH A FAMILIAR SIX MONTHS AFTER THE TORNADOES IN 2021, AND TWO OF THE THREE MEMBERS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD FOR EXPERIENCING THAT.

THEY TALKED ABOUT WHEN THERE IS A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IT TRIGGERS THAT ANXIETY.

AND I READ A STORY AS WE ALL DID ABOUT AS CLIMATOLOGISTS TALK ABOUT TORNADO ALLEY EXPANDING IT'S REAL THAT SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THESE AREAS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO THINK ABOUT WHETHER THEY WANT TO STAY THERE.

>> Bill: YEAH.

>> MANY HAVE LEFT OR SAY THEY WILL LEAVE.

>> Bill: THEY HAVE, RIGHT.

WE HOPE THOSE OUT THERE DO GET THE COURAGE TO CARRY ON AFTER ANOTHER TOUGH BRUSH WITH THE WEATHER LAST WEEKEND.

A DRAMATIC CONCLUSION THIS WEEK TO THE DRAMA SURROUNDING THE WORLD'S TOP GOLFER SCOTTY SHEFFLER WAS ARRESTED IN LOUISVILLE IN THE PREDAWN CONFUSION OF A FATAL ACCIDENT OUTSIDE VALHALLA.

ALL CHARGES WERE DROPPED.

AS THE DAYS WORE OWN SINCE SHEFFLER PLAYED IN THE H FER PGA CHAMPIONSHIP THE STORY WENT UNFOLDING INCLUDING QUESTIONS WHETHER THERE WAS VIDEO EVIDENCE THAT WOULD CLARIFY THE SITUATION.

>> A STORY LOUISVILLE HAS HEARD BEFORE.

DOES THE TESTIMONY MATCH THE EVIDENCE.

WHAT EVIDENCE IS OUT THERE?

WHAT BODY-CAMERA VIDEO IS OUT THERE.

AND THE BIG FRUSTRATION ON ALL SIDES OF THIS WHETHER IT BE THE CITY, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING SCOTTY SHEFFLER IN THIS CASE, IN THEIR WORDS THERE WAS NO BODY-CAMERA SHOWING THE ACTUAL INCIDENT THAT PLAYED OUT BETWEEN DETECTIVE GILLIS, THE DETECTIVE WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE WORLD'S NUMBER ONE GOLFER, THE POLICE CHIEF SAYS HE FAILED TO TURN HIS BODY-CAMERA ON IN THIS MOMENT, AGAINST POLICY AND HE WAS REPORTEDLY REPRIMANDED FOR THAT.

BUT WE DIDN'T GET TO SEE THE HE SAID SHE SAID PLAY OUT THE ONLY VIDEOS WE SAW WERE SHOWING POST ARREST AND SCOTTY SHEFFLER IN HANDCUFFS.

AND SAW ANOTHER BODY-CAMERA VIDEO LEAK THAT SPECIFICALLY SHOWED SHEFFLER BEING READ HIS MIRANDA RIGHTS BY A DIFFERENT OFFICER AND PROCEEDING TO TELL IN HIS WORDS HOW THIS ALL PLAYED OUT.

SO THAT WAS REALLY THE KIND OF THE POINT THAT A LOT OF FOLKS WERE FRUSTRATED ABOUT.

>> Bill: WAS THERE A FEELING IN LOUISVILLE AND WITHIN LMPD THAT IT WAS BEST TO TRY TO MOVE BEYOND THIS VERY UNEXPECTED CHAPTER?

>> IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

WE HAVE FOLKS WHO LIVE IN LOUISVILLE WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH LOUISVILLE.

IF YOU ASK THE COMMUNITY THEY WOULD SAY SURE, LET'S GET BEYOND THIS SPECIFIC CASE WITH SCOTTY SHEFFLER.

BUT LET'S NOT FORGET SOME OF THE ISSUES WE'VE SEEN BEFORE.

COMMUNITY LEADERS TOLD ME THE ISSUE WITH SCOTTY SHEFFLER GETTING OUT OF JAIL IN AN HOUR NO BOND HEARING THEY SAY IF THAT WAS MY FAMILY MEMBER WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN THE CASE?

THE ISSUE WITH THE BODY-CAMERA VIOLATION.

IF IT WASN'T SCOTTY SHEFFLER WOULD WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT THIS QUICKLY?

HOW OFTEN IS THIS HAPPENING?

ALL QUESTIONS I'VE HEARD FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS.

BUT I WOULD SAY BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE ATTORNEYS HERE, MOST OF THEM, I SENSE FROM THE COURTROOM THIS WAS DONE.

>> Bill: AND AFTER THE CASE WAS CLOSED, THEY THE OFFICER CHOSE TO SPEAK OUT.

>> THERE WAS A LETTER CIRCULATING UNEXPECTED ON ALL ACCOUNTS FROM THE REPORTERS PERSPECTIVE WHEN THE CASE WAS DROPPED WE THOUGHT THAT WAS IT.

BUT WE ACTUALLY GOT WE SAW A STATEMENT THAT WAS SIGNED ALLEGEDLY WE YET TO HAVE IT INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED THAT SAYS I WANT TO MOVE ON LIKE SCOTTY SHEFFLER DOES BUT I PUSHBACK ON HIS ATTORNEY'S CONTINUED STATEMENTS THAT THE FACT THAT I WAS DRAGGED BY HIS CAR ESSENTIALLY DID NOT HAPPEN.

HE DOUBLED DOWN SAYING I WAS DRAGGED BY HIS CAR AND MY INJURIES ARE REAL AND A COMMENT PS THAT THE PANTS WERE $80 AND HE HAS TO PAY FOR THEM.

>> Bill: IT WAS QUITE A -- >> FULL CIRCLE.

>> Bill: QUITE A CHAPTER.

CERTAINLY.

SOME KENTUCKY POLITICAL LEADERS REACTED TO THURSDAY'S CONVICTION OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AMONG THOSE THOMAS MASSIE AND RAND PAUL QUICK TO COMMENT AND QUESTION THE PROCESS.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR CALL TO DO A SHAM TRIAL AND SAID IT WON'T STOP HIM FROM ACQUITTING TRUMP AND SENDING HIM BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

STATE SENATOR WESTERFIELD CALLED BARR'S COMMENT HIS STATEMENT DISAPPOINTING SAYING A JURY DECIDED THE OUTCOME FOR BETTER OR WORSE.

WESTERFIELD ALSO A REPUBLICAN.

DEMOCRAT McGARVEY CALLED TRUMP UNFIT FOR OFFICE.

VARIOUS STATEMENTS.

ALEX AS THAT STORY BROKE ON THURSDAY.

>> AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, SENATOR WESTERFIELD WAS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN WHO SPOKE PUBLICLY WHO DID NOT RALLY BEHIND TRUMP ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

YOU READ SOME ALOUD.

RUSSELL COLEMAN SAID IT WAS POLITICS NOT THE LAW THAT INDICTED TRUMP.

SENATOR CALL TO DO A WITCH HUNT.

I THINK IT'S INTERESTING YOU KNOW, THE JUDGMENT THAT THE TRIAL WAS A SHAM, THE VERDICT WAS A SHAM.

HE WAS JUDGED BY A JURY OF HIS PEERS.

IT WASN'T A JUDGE.

SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE AND I BELIEVE IT WAS SENATOR TISHER IN WHO SAID THIS PUSHBACK BLAMING IT ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EMBOLDENS TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

WHEN TRUMP ADDRESSED THE CROWD OUTSIDE OF TRUMP TOWER HE REPEATED THE REFRAINS WE'VE HEARD FROM STATE AND FEDERAL REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: LIAM?

>> AND OF COURSE, TRUMP EVER SINCE THE VERDICT HAS USED IT ALSO FOR A FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY ALSO TELLING BOUND BALLOT REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE STEERED CLEAR THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT AS MUCH OF THE FUNDRAISING THEY ARE DOING IS GOING TO THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

I THINK THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS SOMETHING UPWARDS OF OVER$30 MILLION IN SMALL DOLLAR DONATIONS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN RECEIVED.

SO YEAH, AT THE LEAST, IT'S ANOTHER FUNDRAISING MOMENT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO STATE SUPPORT, BILL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH THAT ALEX MENTIONED SENATOR WESTERFIELD WHO IS RETIRING.

I SPOKE WITH SENATOR WHEELER OVER ZOOM TODAY AS FAR AS SUPPORT FOR TRUMP ON A STATE LEVEL HOW THIS AFFECTS REPUBLICANS SUPPORT, I WOULD ARGUE FROM THE FOLKS I'VE TALKED TO IT SEEMS IT'S EMBOLDENED THAT SUPPORT FOLKS FEELING LIKE HE WAS CHARGED FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BROUGHT BY THE MANHATTAN D.A.

SPECIFICALLY SENATOR WHEELER SAYING THAT SENATOR WESTERFIELD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HE KNOWS OF ON TWITTER SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE DECISION.

BUT HE REFERRED TO HIM AS JUST THAT ONE.

IT SEEMS MANY OF THE LAWMAKERS ON A STATE LEVEL FEEL THE MAJORITY OF FOLKS ON ON HIS SIDE.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S REPUBLICAN DELEGATES ARE PLEDGED TO DONALD TRUMP AT THE JULY REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AFTER HE GOT MORE THAN 84% OF THE VOTE HERE.

AND THAT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY TO CHANGE IN ANYWAY, RIGHT?

THE DELEGATES ARE GOING FOR TRUMP?

>> SURE.

ANY POLITICAL ANALYST YOU TALK TO AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE VOTER ROLLS, THE STATE IS GOING REPUBLICAN.

AND IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT NOW THAT THOSE REPUBLICAN VOTES ARE SPLITTING.

WE'VE SEEN ON A NATIONAL SCALE NIKKI HALEY SOME OF HER VOTERS SAYING I MIGHT THINK TWICE BEFORE VOTING FOR TRUMP.

BUT OVERALL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WOULD RATHER VOTE REPUBLICAN STAY CLOSE TO THEIR PARTY RATHER THAN DEVIATE.

>> Bill: WE HAVE HAD A FEW DAYS TO GAIN PERSPECTIVE ON A KENTUCKY PRIMARY AND SETTLE THE RECANVASES AND CERTIFY THE VOTES.

AFTER THAT, ALEX, YOU TALKED WITH A NORTHERN KENTUCKY STATE REPRESENTATIVE MOSHER WHO SPOKE OUT ABOUT SOME ATTACK MAILERS AND OTHER EFFORTS TO TRY TO DEFEAT HER REELECTION BID.

>> SHE WAS CHALLENGED IN HER PRIMARY BY WHAT WE CALL LIBERTY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, REPRESENTATIVE MOSHER ONLY LOST OR RETAINED HER SEAT BY A LITTLE OVER 80 VOTES AND PART OF THE CAMPAIGN RUN AGAINST HER NOT BY KAREN CAMPBELL BUT DARK MONEY PACS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET THE LIBERTY REPUBLICANS ELECTED.

PUT OUT, AT LEAST A DOZEN PROBABLY MAILERS ATTACKING REPRESENTATIVE MOSHER CALLING HER THINGS LIKE WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING.

A FAKE CONSERVATIVE.

SOMEBODY WHO WANTS DRAG SHOWS IN CLASSROOMS.

REPRESENTATIVE MOSHER CAME OUT AND SAID THIS IS A GARBAGE CAMPAIGN SHE CALL TO DO VITRIOLIC INFIGHTING HAPPENING WITHIN THE G.O.P.

AND CALLED FOR A COME TO JESUS MOMENT WITHIN THE PARTY WHICH SHE AND OTHER ESTABLISHED REPUBLICANS BELIEVE IS BEING SPLIT RIGHT NOW.

SHE WANTS MORE COHESION AND LESS UGLY CAMPAIGNING.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT'S LIKELY NOT GOING TO BE THE CASE.

BUT IT'S INTERESTING THAT SHE CHOSE HARSH STRONG WORDS SHE IS A RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND SHE IS ANGRY.

>> Bill: ISAIAH AS WE TALK ABOUT THE LIBERTY MOVEMENT WITHIN THE STATE G.O.P.

IN THE OLD DAYS THE DEMOCRATS DOMINATED FRANKFORT AND THERE WERE FACTIONS AND EVERYBODY KNEW THAT.

AND THEY KNEW THE AUTO LEGION JEANSES.

AND ALLEGIANCES.

AND THERE ARE NAMED AFTER POWERFUL GOVERNORS IN THE DAY.

THESE DAYS IT IS LESS PERSONAL AND MORE IDEOLOGICAL?

>> AND IT'S GOTTEN MUDDIED UP A BIT.

ALEX BROUGHT UP PRIMARIES MAYBE BECOMING MORE MUD SLINGING ACCORDING TO CERTAIN CANDIDATES GOT OFF THE PHONE WITH TJ ROBERTS WHO IS A YOUNG CANDIDATE 26 YEARS OLD OVER IN BOON COUNTY, WHO ACCUSED HIS ONE OF HIS OPPONENTS A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE OF MAKING THIS PERSONAL RATHER THAN MAKING IT ABOUT WHAT MANY OF THE LIBERTY WING CANDIDATES OR LAWMAKERS SAY PLAIN AND SIMPLE THIS IS ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, BEING AS PRO CONSTITUTION AS YOU CAN BE AND ANTI-BIG GOVERNMENT AS YOU CAN BE.

IT'S VERY INTERESTING HOW SOME OF THESE VERY HARD ON CRIME BILLS MAYBE IN THIS PAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION DIDN'T GET ALL THE YES VOTES FROM SOME OF THESE LIBERTY REPUBLICANS, BECAUSE, AGAIN, VIOLATES CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SEE THE BREAK UP A LITTLE BIT IN SUPPORT FOR SOME OF THESE LAWS.

>> Bill: IT'S INTERESTING TO WATCH.

>> IT IS.

AND ALSO YOU HEAR FROM MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS LIKE KIM MOSHER, KILIAN TIM ANY LOST HIS SEAT TO A LIBERTY REPUBLICAN AND YOU HEAR THEM DECRY THIS SORT OF MOMENTUM BUILDING IN THIS LIBERTY PLATFORM.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE OTHER MAYBE SELF TITLED LIBERTY CANDIDATES LIKE OR LIBERTY LAWMAKERS LIKE MADDOX WHO DEFENDS THE ASSERTION THIS IS SOMEHOW NEW.

SHE AND OTHERS CALL THE LIBERTY MOVEMENT TRUE COVER ACTIVISM AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE BOTH SIDES OF WHAT IS REAL REPUBLICANISM AND WHAT IS REAL CONSERVATIVISM.

>> Bill: YOU WORKED IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND THINGS ARE CRANKING UP FOR FANCY FARM AND THAT UNIQUE EVENT ON THE FIRST HOT WEEKEND IN AUGUST.

WE KNOW THAT THE FATHER JIM, A CATHOLIC PRIEST WILL BE THE EMCEE HE IS KNOWN FOR HIS HUMOR AND CHARITABLE WORK AND HIS RELIGIOUS WORK AROUND THE REGION AND THE WORLD.

COULD FANCY FARM BE HARD TO HANDLE IN A TOUGH PRESIDENTIAL YEAR LIKE THIS?

>> FOR ONE THING, I CAN PROBABLY ALMOST GUARANTEE THAT THE ZINGERS, THE JOKES AND WHATNOT THAT THIS PICNIC IS IS SPEAKING EVENT IS KNOWN FOR WILL PROBABLY MENTION CONCERN PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IN SOME WAY OR CAPACITY.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE EVERYONE IS GOING FOR SWEATING AND HUMID.

BUT THE PICNIC, I MEAN I LIKE TO NOTE THAT THE PICNIC IS ALSO A VERY LOCAL EVENT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IT'S A FUNDRAISER FOR THE LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH.

ST. JEROME CHURCH.

AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS IN WEST KENTUCKY A PLACE WHERE IT SOMETIMES FEELS MAYBE FORGOTTEN ABOUT IN FRANKFORT TO PRESS THEIR ISSUES TO REALLY RAISE HIGHLIGHT VARIOUS ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS A VETERINARIAN SCHOOL AT MURRAY STATE OR DISASTER RECOVERY OR WHATEVER THE ISSUE MAY BE.

IT WILL CERTAINLY BE A HEATED AND HOT THING.

>> Bill: IT'S THEIR DAY IN COURT AND THE BARBECUE IS GOOD NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

KENTUCKY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN SAYS NEARLY 100 CALLS DID COME INTO THE ELECTION FRAUD HOTLINE AROUND THE PRIMARY AND HE ANNOUNCED THE 12 COUNTIES THAT WILL UNDERGO POST ELECTION AUDITS.

ELECTION SECURITY DOES REMAIN SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE WATCHING THIS YEAR?

>> CORRECT, YES.

THIS AUDIT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COLEMAN IS DOING IS ROUTINE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT OTHER ATTORNEY GENERALS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED WITH THE ELECTIONS AS A MOMENT TO JUST SHOW KENTUCKIANS THAT KENTUCKY ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND SECURE.

GENERALLY SPEAKING THESE AUDITS HAVE NOT REALLY FOUND MUCH AND THEY ARE USUALLY PRETTY NOT NEWSWORTHY IN ANYWAY.

BUT ANYWAY.

>> Bill: BUT SOMETIMES THEY ARE.

IS WHY YOU DO THEM.

RIGHT?

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL HAS APPEARED MORE RELAXED AND REFLECTIVE AS HE IS TRAVELING KENTUCKY AND OFTEN TALKS ABOUT HIS LEGACY WHILE ANNOUNCING NEW FEDERAL MONEY FOR THE STATE AND TALKING ABOUT WORLD AFFAIRS THERE WAS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHEN HE APPEARED FOR A RIBBON CUTTING FOR THE UNIVERSITY KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING.

>> I'VE BEEN THE LEADER OF MY PARTY IN THE SENATE FOR A LONGTIME.

ACTUALLY ENDED UP LONGER THAN ANYBODY IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

SO I'VE GOT A QUESTION FROM SOMEBODY RECENTLY, I THINK WELL SUMMED THIS SORT OF THING UP.

HE SAID BLASS' IT -- WHAT'S IT LIKE?

LIKE BEING A GROUNDSKEEPER AT A CEMETERY.

EVERYBODY'S UNDER YOU BUT NO ONE IS LISTENING.

[LAUGHTER] >> Bill: JUST A LITTLE DIFFERENT FLAVOR THESE DAYS FROM KENTUCKY SENIOR SENATOR.

MITCH McCONNELL MORE SELF DEPRECATING AND IS ENJOYING HIMSELF.

>> YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS BEEN THROUGH OR A HEALTH LEVEL WITH HIS FAMILY AND JUST ANNOUNCING NOT TOO LONG AGO THAT HE WOULD BE STEPPING DOWN AS THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER.

I MEAN, WHO WOULDN'T BE ENJOYING THE MOMENT A LITTLE BIT MORE AFTER HOW LONG HE HAS BEEN IN HIS POSITION.

BUT I THINK, BILL, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD PAST 2026?

WILL HE RUN AGAIN.

THAT IS THE QUESTION.

AND I ACTUALLY SPOKE WITH IRIS GLICK A POLITICAL CONSULTANT SHE FOLLOWS McCONNELL VERY WELL ALL THE DEVELOPMENTS AND SHE ESSENTIALLY SAID HE IS RUNNING UNTIL HE ISN'T AND IS ALWAYS FUNDRAISING AS HE IS RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: SO BEHIND THE CURTAIN WHAT GOES ON WITH OTHERS WHO MAYBE IN INTERESTED AND WALKS OUT AND SAID HE WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION.

>> SHE SAID IF A SEAT WERE TO OPEN SHE DESCRIBES THE KENTUCKY G.O.P.

HAVING A DEEP BENCH IN THE HOUSE DELEGATION AND DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN TO HAVE CURRENT OR FORMER CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS STEP INTO PLAY HERE.

SHE SAYS TO EXPECT ULTIMATELY, IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN A DECEDENT SIZED.

>> Bill: WE'RE HEARING HOUSE MEMBERS.

>> YES.

>> Bill: LIAM LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY McCONNELL WAS AT U.K. THAT VERSUS THE UNIVERSITY OF KEN KEN AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AND THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.

>> IT IS NOT TOO OFTEN THAT KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE COME TOGETHER FOR A COLLABORATION.

BUT, YEAH, IT IS A COLLABORATION DEFENSE FUNDING BASICALLY, THIS NEW LABORATORY IS GOING TO MAKE PRODUCTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY AND THE U.S. ARMY.

AND, YEAH, IT'S A MOMENT THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IS PROUD OF.

>> Bill: ALEX WE RECENTLY SAW THE NATIONAL OVERDOSE NUMBERS HAVE COME DOWN 3% T APPEAR NOWS THAT KENTUCKY'S DROP IS STEEPER.

IT'S VERY ENCOURAGING AND YOU SEE INITIATIVES LIKE NALOXONE GIVEN OUT AT THE MUSIC FESTIVAL.

IS KENTUCKY GET TO GO RIGHT IN THE OPIOID CRISIS?

>> IN A LOT OF WAYS YES WE ARE.

ARGUABLY IT'S EASIER TO GET INTO ADDICTION TREATMENT NOW THAN IT EVER HAS BEEN.

THERE IS A STUDY I BELIEVE FROM EAST TENNESSEE UNIVERSITY COUPLE MONTHS AGO, THAT NOTED THAT KENTUCKY HAS MORE TREATMENT BEDS PER CAPITA THAN ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY.

NALOXONE IS EXTREMELY ACCESSIBLE AND THE NASAL SPRAY YOU GIVE SOMEBODY IF THEY ARE HAVING A OVERDOSE AND IT REVERSES THE REACTION.

KENTUCKY LAUNCHED FIND IT NOW TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE.

YES, I THINK IT'S GETTING EASIER TO FIND TREATMENT.

FENTANYL IS STILL KILLING A LOT OF PEOPLE.

KENTUCKY'S OVERDOSE RATE SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE NEARER TO 8-10% REDUCTION BUT STILL THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE DYING.

>> Bill: THE COST OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS RISING.

AND ACCESS CAN BE LIMITED.

AND ALEX, AS WE TRY TO PUT PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ON PAR WITH EACH OTHER, IN KENTUCKY THERE'S CATCHING UP TO DO.

>> THERE IS.

YOU KNOW, AGAIN, NOW MORE THAN EVER, THE STIGMA FOR SEEKING OUT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS LOWER THAN IT HAS BEEN.

SO INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY SEEK THOSE OUT IT DOESN'T QUITE HELP WHEN THEY ARE BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE.

IT'S YET ANOTHER CHALLENGE TO ACCESSING THOSE SERVICES WHICH ARGUABLY MOST PEOPLE NEED.

AND IT'S A DISINCENTIVE IF ANYTHING.

>> Bill: ISAIAH WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING IN LOUISVILLE NOW THAT SCHOOL IS OUT?

WHEN SCHOOL GOES BACK IN.

>> JCPS CAN NEVER CATCH A BREAK.

WHEN AUGUST COMES AROUND GIVEN THE BUS DISASTER THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT TALKED ABOUT EVERYONE HEARD ABOUT EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE CLOCK HOW ARE THE ROUTES GOING TO TRANSFER NOW THEY ARE THAT REDOING THEM TO MAKE IT MORE ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE STUDENTS TO GET HOME EARLIER.

I DO RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NEGOTIATIONS GOING ON BETWEEN THE CITY, SPECIFICALLY, THE CITY'S PUBLIC TRANSIT SERVICE AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM TO POTENTIALLY WORKOUT AN AGREEMENT WORKOUT A DEAL THAT WHERE THESE LAID OFF WORKERS THEY ARE DEALING WITH FINANCIAL ISSUES OVER AT TACKER FOR THOSE LIKE A FEW DOZEN OF THOSE DRIVERS TO COME OVER TO JCPS AND FILL THEIR BUS DRIVER GAPS.

THEY ARE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL WAIT-AND-SEE WHETHER IT FORMALIZED.

>> Bill: TOURISM NUMBERS ARE CONTINUING TO CLIMB IN KENTUCKY.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID NEARLY $14 BILLION CAME TO THE STATE FROM TOURISM IN 2023.

TOURISM ECONOMIC STUDY FOUND 79 MILLION TRAVELERS VISITED KENTUCKY UP 4.5% FROM 2022.

THERE'S GOOD MONEY IN PEOPLE COMING TO SEE US.

LIAM I READ YOUR STORY ABOUT DEALING WITH WILD PIGS THEY GET EDUCATED?

>> THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES IS FINALIZING THE BAN TO PREVENT YEAR-ROUND HUNTING OF FERAL HOGS SAYING THAT HUMANS HUNTING THESE HOGS IF THE HOGS KNOW THAT THEY ARE BEING HUNTED THEY BECOME MORE WARY OF HUMANS.

THEY BECOME NOCTURNAL AND AVOID HUMANS AND HARDER TO TRACK IN GENERAL.

AND IT'S EASIER TO CATCH THE SOUNDERS THE NAME FOR A HERD OF FERAL HOGS AND I GUESS, THESE LARGE TRAPS THAT CLOSE DOWN AND CATCH THE HOGS ALL IN ONE GO.

AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A REVERSAL POLICY IN THE FACT THAT OVER IN THE LAKES BACK IN 2018, THEY WERE HUNTING FERAL HOGS VIA HELICOPTER WITH SHOCKING.

>> Bill: IF THEY ARE ON TO THEM THEY ARE ON TO YOU.

KENTUCKY'S BIRTHDAY IS SATURDAY.

THE COMMONWEALTH IS TURNING 232.

THE BLUEGRASS STATE BECAME THE 15TH ENTRANT TO THE NATION ON JUNE 1, 1792.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.