IMPACT IF ROE VERSUS WADE IS STRUCK DOWN AS THE LEAKED DOCUMENT INDICATES MAY BE THE CASE?

RYAN QUARLES ANNOUNCES FOR GOVERNOR AS REPUBLICANS GET SET FOR WHAT COULD BE A CROWDED PRI KENTUCKY NATIVE NAOMI JUDD'S DEATH PUTS A SPOTLIGHT ON MENTA HEALTH ISSUES.

AND COVID NUMBERS START TRENDING UP JUST AS SOME THINGS ARE RETURNING TO NORMAL.

IT'S DERBY WEEK IN THE COMMONWEALTH AS THE SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON KENTUCKY, AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

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 DID GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: JANET PATTON OF THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

JOINING US BY SKYPE FROM PIKEVILLE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, RUSS CASSADY OF THE APPALACHIAN AND MELISSA PATRICK OF KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

ALSO TONIGHT, A DO CALLED THE BIG CON IS RELEASED THAT DETAILS THE BIGGEST SOCIAL SECURITY SCAM EVER, AND IT HAPPENED IN EASTERN Kentucky.

AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT SOME STORY LINES FROM THE BIG KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND INCLUDING ITS HUGE ECONOMIC impact AND BY THE WAY, A LITTLE BIT TO GO, SECRET OATH WON THE KENTUCKY OAKS RACE AND DERBY WEEKEND IS WELL UNDERWAY.

DESPITE DICEY WEATHER OVER THERE, JANET, THIS IS A SPECIAL EDWIN THE IN OAKS RACE.

>> >> Janet: I THINK THIS WOOS THE FIRST OAKS WIN FOR D. WANE LUCAS AND WHAT MAKES THIS ESPECIALLY NICE IS HE DOESN'T HAVE A HORSE IN DERBY NOW SINCE HIS HORSE HAD TO SCRATCH SO IT'S NICE HE GOT THIS INSTEAD.

>> Bill: IT'S HARD TO OVERSTATE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CARTER ON COMMONWEALTH.

A LOT OF FOLKS COME HERE AND THEY SPEND MONEY, AND A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS GO TO THE DERBY OR HAVE THEIR OWN EVENTS.

>> Janet: 8337 THERE IS WITH A RECENT STUDY THAT ESTIMATED AT LEAST $400 MILLION, AND I DON'T THINK THAT EVEN PLUS THE BETTING.

I THINK THAT'S JUST HOTEL ROOMS, MEALS, AIRPLANES, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Bill: SO THE AIR TRAVEL INTO LOUISVILLE WAS 98% OF WHAT IT WAS IN 2019, SO IT LOOKS LIKE ALMOST A RETURN TO FULL NORMAL.

>> Janet: YEAH, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY BIG CROWD TOMORROW.

THE HOPE THE WEATHER'S A LITTLE BETTER TOMORROW.

>> Bill: WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE HORSES MORE LATER AND GOT DERBY ITSELF BEEP DO HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT, AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THAT LEAK THAT INDICATES THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IS ABOUT TO TURN BACK ROE VERSUS WADE WHICH WOULD EFFECTIVELY END ABORTIONS IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE OF THE TRIGGER LAW THAT'S IN PLACE.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL FOCUSED ON THE IMPACT OF THE LEAK RATHER THAN THE POLICY SHIFT THAT SUCH A RULING COULD REPRESENT.

>> HISTORICALLY THE JUSTICES, CLERKS AND STAFF HAVE PRIZED AND PROTECTED THE COURT'S CONFIDENTIALITY.

THE JUSTICES MUST BE ABLE TO DISCUSS AND DELIBERATE IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF TOTAL TRUST AND PRIVACY.

AMERICANS CANNOT RECEIVE A FAIR TRIAL IF POLITICIANS, PUNDITS, BULLIES, AND MOBS GET A SAY IN COURT.

>> Bill: JANET, McCONNELL'S COMMENTS SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CONFINED TO THE POTENTIAL CRIMINALITY OF THE LEAK AND HOW THAT UNDERMINES THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

HE HAS NOT HAD MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT SUCH A RULING COULD HAVE.

>> Janet: I WAS REALLY STRUCK THAT HE MENTIONED POLITICIANS AND THEIR IMPACT SINCE IT'S HIS ACTIONS ON COURT THAT HAVE PRETTY MUCH BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT.

McCONNELL CALLED THE LEAK A STUNNING BREACH AND BLAMED THE RADICAL LEFT AND SAID THIS LAWLESS ACT SHOULD BE PUNISHED AS FULLY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY STATEMENT ANYWHERE ON WHAT THE LEAKED OPINION OPINION ACTUALLY SAID SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE IS SAVING THAT FOR A POSSIBLE VICTORY LAP WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY RELEASED OR IF MAYBE HE'S TRYING TO TAMP THINGS DOWN IN ADVANCE OF THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

>> Bill: AND AS OF THIS LIVE PROGRAM ON FRIDAY NIGHT, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE LEAK CAME FROM.

>> Janet: THAT'S RIGHT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY WORD RIGHT NOW FROM WHERE THE LEAK CAME FROM.

>> Bill: MELISSA, KENTUCKY'S POSITION IS CLEAR IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A TRIGGER LAW IN 2019 THAT WOULD IMPLEMENT A VIRTUAL BAN IF ROE V. WADE IS STRUCK DOWN.

>> Melissa: KENTUCKY IS ONE OF 13 STATES THAT HAS SUCH A TRIGGER LAW, AND WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS FOR THE POTENTIAL DEATH OR HEALTH OF THE MOTHER, ALL ABORTIONS WOULD BE -- BECOME ILLEGAL IN KENTUCKY AS SOON AS -- IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS ROE V. WADE IS STRUCK DOWN.

>> Bill: DO YOU DETECT THAT THERE WOULD BE A TRUMPS TRANSPORTATION EFFORT MADE FOR WOMEN OUT OF STATE BY GROUPS FOR ABORTIONS FROM KENTUCKY IF THIS COMES TO PASS?

>> Melissa: OH, SURE.

YOU KNOW, KENTUCKY ALREADY EXPERIENCED EIGHT DAYS OF NO ABORTION SERVICES.

WE HAVE TWO CLINICS IN LOUISVILLE, AND AFTER THE HOUSE BILL 3 WAS PASSED AND THEN WHILE THEY WERE WAITING OH I A COURT RULING, THEY SHUT DOWN FOR EIGHT DAYS, COULDN'T PROVIDE SERVICES, AND ALREADY WE HAVE ABOUT AT LEAST THAT I KNOW OF TWO AGENCIES THAT ARE ALREADY HELPING WOMEN PAY FOR AND FIGURE OUT TRANSPORTATION TO OTHER STATES AS NEEDED FOR ABORTION.

>> Bill: IY KNOW THIS HAS BEEN A STRONG ISSUE FOR MANY REPUBLICANS AND CERTAINLY IN THE REPUBLICAN-LED STATE LEGISLATURE HERE IN KENTUCKY THAT HAS HAD THIS SERIES OF BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED IN RECENT YEARS.

RUSS, YOU NOTED THAT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY SOME DEMOCRATIC WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE TOOK A STAND AGAINST ABORTION.

THAT INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES ANGIE HATTON ANDAGELY TACKETT LAFFERTY WHO VOTED FOR THE RESTRICTIONS AND FOR OVERRIDING GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S VETO OF THEM, RIGHT?

>> Russ: IT CERTAINLY POINTS TO SO MANY LEVEL OF DIVISION, MAYBE AN EAST-WEST, RURAL-URBAN DIVISION.

PATTON DOES SIT ON THE NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE DEMOCRATIC FOR LIFE FOR AMERICA SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME SENTIMENT IN THE THE LEGISLATIVE EVER LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION THAT IT'S A BIPARTISAN MEASURE.

>> Bill: CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR, WHO REPRESENTS CENTRAL KENTUCKY, SAYS THAT IF THE RULING DOES COME DOWN THE WAY IT APPEARS, STATES WOULD LIKELY SET THEIR OWN RULES ON ABORTION, BUT BARR DID TALK ABOUT WITH THAT HE WOULD DO IF IT COMES UP IN CONGRESS TO SET A NATIONAL ABORTION POLICY.

>> THE MAJORITY OF MY CONSTITUENTS BELIEVE THAT ABORTIONS AFTER 15 WEEKS, CERTAINLY AFTER 20 WEEKS SHOULD HAVE RESTRICTIONS, AND THAT'S THE POSITION THAT I TAKE TO REPRESENT MY CONSTITUENTS.

>> WOULD YOU VOTE FOR A NATIONWIDE BENNETT 15 WEEKS?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S -- THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY POSITION, AND IN FACT, I SIGN AN AM CUSS BRIEF, A BRIEF TO THE U.S.E SUPREME COURT SPOTTING THE MISSISSIPPI LAW WHICH DOES RESTRICT ABORTION AFTER 15 WEEKS.

>> Bill: AND JANET AND MELISSA, THERE COULD BE LEGISLATION, AND IT APPEARS THERE MAY BE LEGISLATION IF THIS ALL HAPPENS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

OR PROPOSALS.

>> Janet: YES, THERE'S ALREADY BEEN TALK OF A BILL IN CONGRESS TO CODIFY ABORTION PROTECTIONS, AND I THINK THERE'S ALSO BEEN DISCUSSION OF A NATIONAL BAN AS WELL.

MENTAL AND THE CHALLENGES, OF COURSE, IS THAT THE SUPPORT WOULD LIKELY BE THERE IN THE HOUSE, THE U.S. HOUSE, BUT NOT WITHOUT A PHILLY PHIL FILIBUSTER NOT IN THE SENATE BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NUMBER OF REPUBLICAN VOTES TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> Beth: AGAIN, AS OF TONIGHT WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE LEAK CAME FROM, WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS, IN FACT, WILL BE THE RULING, BUT WE DO KNOW THERE CERTAINLY IS REACTION ON BOTH SIDES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND CERTAINLY HERE IN KENTUCKY.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS NEXT WEEK FOR THE KENTUCKY PRIMARY, BUT NEXT YEAR'S RACES KEEP GRABBING SO MANY ATTENTION.

AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES HAS JUMPED INTO THE TWEETED REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

HE TOLD ME ON WKYP E. CAN NEWSMAKERS THAT HE THINKS A REPUBLICAN ARE CAN WIN DESPITE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S RELATIVELY HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS.

>> OH, I THINK SO.

THERE IS AN UNDERCURRENT ACROSS KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DISSATISFIED.

THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS THAT I'VE TALKED TO ON A DAILY BASIS ACROSS OUR STATE THAT ARE EAGER FOR SOMEONE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE.

THEY'RE EAGER FOR THERE TO BE A CHOICE ON ELECTION DAY.

AND I THINK THAT ANDY BESHEAR IS VULNERABLE ACROSS -- FOR RE-ELECTION.

I THINK IT'S ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE MOBILIZE THE VOTERS AND GIVE THEM A CHOICE ON ELECTION DAY.

>> Bill: ANDY QUARLES IS THE SECOND REPUBLICAN IN RACE.

ANDRE MIKE HARMON IS ALSO IN THE RUNNING AND HAS BEEN FOR SOME MONTHS.

BOTH OF THEM HAVE WON TWO STATEWIDE ELECTIONS.

WHAT DOES QUARLES BRING TO THE TABLE?

>> Janet: WELL, I THINK HE'S PROBABLY GOING ON EIGHT YEARS HANDING OUT MILLIONS IN AG GRANTS AND POSING WITH PRIZE-WINNING LIVESTOCK ALL OVER THE STATE DID GIVE HIM QUITE A BIT OF NAME RECOGNITION, AND I THINKS CERTAINLY THAT'S TRUE.

I THINK HE ALSO HAS A FORMER STAFF MEMBER WHO IS NOW THEY SPOKESPERSON FOR THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

MAYBE HE HAS AN IN THERE AS WELL.

>> Bill: AND, RUSS, QUARLES HAS THOSE TIES TO FARMERS, TO RURAL KENTUCKY.

HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY?

DOES QUARLES STAND OUT IF IT BECOMES A CROWDED FIELD THERE IN YOUR REGION OF THE STATE?

>> Russ: YEAH, I THINK EVEN WITHOUT AGRICULTURE BEING A MASSIVE PART OF THE COMMUNITY'S ECONOMY, I THINK QUARLES HAS SOME NAME RECOGNITION, AND THE MORE HE SETS HIMSELF UP AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ANDY BESHEAR, WHICH HE'S ALREADY DONE IN SEVERAL INSTANCES, THANK YOU THAT WILL HELP HIS CHANCES, ESPECIALLY AMONG REPUBLICANS HERE IN THIS AREA.

>> Bill: JANET, QUARLES RECENTLY DOUBLED DOWN ON SOCIAL ISSUES RECOGNIZE THE BAN ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETES IN GIRLS' SPORTS.

SOME MAY HAVE PREVIOUSLY CONSIDERED SOME OF THINKS STANCES MORE MODERATE.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES THOUGH AT THIS MOMENT HAVE TO BE IN THAT CONSERVATIVE SPACE ON THE SOCIAL ISSUES TO BE VIABLE.

>> Janet: WELL, I THINK HE MUST THINK SO.

I MEAN, HE'S NEVER BEEN SHY ABOUT TAKING A SHOT AT ANDY BESHEAR IF HE FELT LIKE IT WAS WARRANTED.

BUT THIS I THINK WAS TO SOME PEOPLE A MORE OF A SURPRISE WHEN HE TWEETED ABOUT WHEN BESHEAR VETOED SENATE BILL 83 THAT BANNED TRANSGENDER GIRL FROM PARTING IN WESTERLY GIRLS AND WOMEN'S SPORTS IN AGES SIX THROUGH COLLEGE, AND QUARLES WAS FAIRLY CRITICAL IN A TWEET ABOUT IT ALONG WITH OTHER REPUBLICANS, INCLUDING KELLY CRAFT WHO IS ALSO A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE MUST THINK THAT HE CAN'T PULL ENOUGH SUPPORT FROM BESHEAR ON THE PROGRESSIVE SIDE, AND SO HE HAS TO TRY TO CARVE OUT A LITTLE BIT FROM THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE.

AND THAT'S A PRETTY CROWDIE FIELD ALREADY.

>> Bill: QUARLES, BY THE WAY, HAS A Ph.D., INTERESTING, AND APPARENTLY LOTS OF OPTIONS, WHETHER HE WINS OR LOSES THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR, BUT HE IS IN AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

WE ALSO EXPECT TO HARE SOMETHING VERY SOON FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON, CLEARLY GIVING A GOOD LOOK AT JOINING THE REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOVERNOR AS WELL, AND MANY OTHER NAMES, AS JANET WAS ALLUDING TO.

IT SHOULD BECOME -- IT LOOKS TO BECOME A CROWDED PRIMARY.

MELISSA, WHOEVER WINS THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION LIKELY TO FACE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT ANDY BESHEAR WHO THIS WEEK SEEMED TO GO EVEN FARTHER IN EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF EXECUTIVE ACTION THAT COULD AT LEAST PARTIALLY LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

>> Melissa: THE GOVERNOR'S LONG SAID THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WHOSE TIME HAS COME, AND SO IT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY, AND, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE NEM US, I CAN'T FATHOM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOWARD CONVINCING THE SENATE TO CHANGE ITS MIND RIGHT NOW ABOUT GETTING THIS LAW AT LEAST BROUGHT UP FOR A VOTE, THIS BILL BROUGHT UP FOR A VOTE.

BUT THE GOVERNOR SORT OF PUT OUT A TEASER ON THURSDAY WHEN HE SAID THAT DETAILS HAVEN'T BEEN WORKED OUT.

THERE'S MORE LEGAL ISSUES TO WORK THROUGH.

BUT HE SAID HE THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE ROOM FOR AT LEAST SOME EXECUTIVE ORDER ON THIS ISSUE.

AND REPUBLICANS HAVE SAID IT'S NOT POSSIBLE.

>> Bill: RUSS, AS WE TRY AND TAKE THE PULSE ON THIS ISSUE ACROSS DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, HOW DOES MEDICAL MARIJUANA PLAY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY?

>> Russ: WELL, YOU KNOW, OVERALL IT'S A MIXED BAG, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT A COMMUNITY THAT'S IN ITS SECOND DECADE OF AN OPIOID, A PRESCRIPTION OPIOID EPIDEMIC, FOR THOSE WHO ARE PROPOSING IT AS AN ALTERNATIVE, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY GOOD NEWS AND SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE ADVOCATING FOR.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL WATCH THAT VERY CLOSELY AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY ACTION OVER THE SUMMER.

MELISSA, YOU DROPPED A STORY THIS WEEK THAT INDICATES THAT NON-PROFIT HOSPITALS GIVE BACK TO COMMUNITIES LESS THAN THEY RECEIVE IN TAX EXEMPTIONS, AND THEY PUSH BACK PRETTY HARD ON THAT.

>> Melissa: THEY DID PUSH BACK PRETTY HARD THERE.

THEIR ASSOCIATIONS PUSHED BACK.

SEVERAL HOSPITALS RESPONDED TO INQUIRY, PUSHING BACK.

BASICALLY THE IRS ALLOWS NON-PROFIT HOSPITALS WHO TAKE TAX EXEMPTIONS, THEY HAVE THIS LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT ARE ALLOWABLE, AND THREE OF THOSE THINGS ARE MEDICAL SHORTFALLS, RESEARCH, AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, AND THIS LOUDON INSTITUTE REPORT DID NOT INCLUDE THOSE THINGS AND THE HOSPITALS WEREN'T HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

BUT THE REASONING BEING THAT THEY DON'T DIRECTLY IMPACT COMMUNITIES, THAT THEY HAVE MORE SORT OF VAGUE IMPACTS, AND THEY WERE LOOKING AT DIRECT IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY.

IN ESSENCE, AMONGST OUR NON-PROFIT HOSPITALS IN KENTUCKY, WE'RE RANKED 39TH AMONG OTHER STATES AND WE HAVE ABOUT $424 MILLION IN A DEFICIT THAT THEY SAY SHOULD BE GOING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF IN THE WAY THAT IT'S BEING USED.

>> Bill: DO THOSE HOSPITALS GET CREDIT FOR THINGS LIKE SPONSORING LOCAL EVENTS OR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH IN THE COMMUNITIES?

>> Melissa: OH, CERTAINLY.

YOU KNOW, THE -- ANYTHING THAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT BE HEALTH FAIRS OR COMMUNITY EDUCATION OR BRINGING VACCINATIONS TO SCHOOLS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, ALL OF THOSE THINGS, IF THE HOSPITAL SPONSORS AND PAYS FOR IT, THEN, YES, IT'S INCLUDED.

>> Bill: BUT IN THIS STUDY THERE'S AN INDICATION OF AN IMBALANCE.

>> Melissa: IN THIS STUDY THEY SAY THAT OUR HOSPITALS NEED TO BE DOING MORE, AND A UK PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT JULIA COST TICK SAYS THAT SHE FEELS THE APPROACH OF THE STUD I WAS APPROPRIATE AND THAT THE PURPOSE OF IT IS JUST TO HOLD THESE HOSPITALS TO THE FIRE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE SPENDING MONEY THE WAY IT'S MEANT TO BE SPENT WHEN THEY'RE GETTING THESE TAX EXEMPTIONS.

>> Bill: THE DEATH THIS WEEK OF COUNTRY MUSIC STAR NAOMI JUDD HIT HARD IN HER HOME TOWN OF ASHING.

THE 76-YEAR-OLD DIED OF WHAT HER FAMILY SAID WAS A RESULT OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

SHE AND HER DAUGHTER WYNONNA HAD HUGE HITS PERFORMING AS THE JUDDS FOR YEARS.

SHE WAS ALSO THE MOTHER OF ACTRESS ASHLEY JUDD.

RUSS, FIRST OF ALL, THE COUNTRY MUSIC HIGHWAY THERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS SPAWNED SO MANY GREAT MUSICIANS.

THE JUDDS WERE AMONG THE BRIGHTEST STARS FROM THE REGION, AND THEY WERE KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD, BUT DIDN'T THEY ALWAYS CONSIDER ASHLAND AND EASTERN E. CAN HOME?

>> Russ: YEAH, THEY NEVER LEFT ANY QUESTION THAT THEY WERE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND THAT THEY HAD A FONDNESS FOR THIS AREA, AND, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY WANTS THEM BACK.

THEY'RE PART OF THAT COUNTRY MUSIC HIGHWAY WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO THE REGION AND SUCH A BIG PART OF OUR CULTURAL EXPORT FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: THE PARAMOUNT THEATER WAS A PLACE THAT THEY WERE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THERE IN THE ASHLAND AREA.

>> Russ: OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, NO MATTER HOW BIG THEY GOT, THOUGH, IT ALWAYS POINTED BACK TO EASTERN KENTUCKY IN SOME WAY.

>> Bill: NAOMI, BY THE WAY, I WAS NURSE.

JANET, NAOMI'S JUDGE'S DAUGHTER EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THEIR MOTHER'S DEATH WILL SPAWN FORE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS.

>> Janet: YES, SHE HAD SPOKE AND WRITTEN A LOT ABOUT HER OWN STRUGGLES WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, AND TREATMENT AND HER STRUGGLES TO GET TREATMENT, AND SHE HOPED WITH HER WRITINGS THAT THAT WOULD GIVE OTHER PEOPLE HER MISSION TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR ISSUES AND TO SEEK HELP.

>> Bill: MELISSA, HOW CHALLENGING IS IT FOR SOME TO ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES HERE IN KENTUCKY?

>> Melissa: WELL, IT'S LIKELY BETTER THAN IT WAS.

THERE'S STILL FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

MANY PROVIDERS SIMPLY DON'T TAKE INSURANCE BECAUSE THE PAY IS SO LOW.

AND THE DEMAND IS SO HIGH THAT THEY CAN ANY SIMPLY CHARGE FULL PRICE AND NOT TAKE INSURANCE -- IN ORDER TO MAXIMUM THEIR -- THE BUSINESS END OF THEIR WORK.

THERE'S ALSO A LACK MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN KENTUCKY, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS, SO ACCESS IS AN ISSUE.

WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD ISSUES AROUND STIGMA.

AND JUST PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING WHEN THEY NEED HELP, JUST NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

AND THERE'S ALWAYS A NEED FORE TRUE MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HEALTH PAYMENT PARITY.

THEY -- IT NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES EQUALLY TO ANY SORT OF PHYSICAL HEALTH VISIT AND PAID FOR APPROPRIATELY.

>> Bill: AND MAYBE SOMETIMES INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION.

>> MELISSA: >> Janet: OH, MY GOODNESS.

TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH CARE, IS AS PROBABLY A BIG A HEALTH BARRIER AS WE HAVE IN ALL AREAS OF KENTUCKY HAVE.

>> Bill: MELISSA, WE KEEP HOPING THE COAST SPIKES MR. OUR REAR VIEW MIRROR YET SOME COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY ARE SEEING THOSE NUMBERS TICK UPWARD SOME.

>> Melissa: OUR POS EVER POSITIVITY RATE WENT OVER 5% LAST WEEK, AND THAT'S KIND OF EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC THAT WAS THE NUMBER THAT WAS STATED AS A LEVEL OF CONCERN, IS WHEN NOSE RATES GO OVER 5%, YOU'VE GOT -- A FAIR AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION IN YOUR COMMUNITY, BUT RIGHT NOW THE MEASURE THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT IS THE SEVERITY OF DISEASE AND ILLNESS, AND OUR HOSPITAL NUMBERS ARE SO LOW RIGHT NOW, AND EVEN AS THESE CASES AND POSITIVITY RATES TICK UP A BIT, PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING AS SICK FROM IT.

AND SO THERE'S NO -- THE GOVERNOR SAID THERE'S NO REAL REASON FOR CONCERN RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WE HANG ONTO THAT HOPE, RIGHT?

A DOCUSERIES IS BEING RELEASED THIS WEEKEND ON ERIC C. CONN WHO ORCHESTRATED A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME AND FAMOUSLY WENT ON THE RUN.

RUSS, YOU'VE SEEN IT.

IT BRINGS A BIGGER SPOTLIGHT TO A STORY THAT IS WELL-KNOWN IN THE MOUNTAINS, RIGHT?

>> Russ: OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY IT.

DOES BRING A NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT TO THAT.

IT'S BEEN SEVEN YEARS NOW SINCE THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIRST STARTED TAKING ACTION AGAINST HIS FORMER CLIENTS.

AND THIS DOCUMENTARY IS REALLY WELL DONE AND IT DOES SHINE A LIGHT ON THAT.

THERE'S HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE STILL DAMAGED BY THIS AND HAD THEIR BENEFITS TAKEN AND NOT RESTORED OVER THAT SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD BECAUSE OF THIS, THIS SITUATION, AND THIS DOCUMENTARY DOES A GOOD JOB OF SHOWING AND SCRUTINIZING THESE POEM MOST IMPORTANTLY.

>> Bill: SO STATUS OF THAT IS NOW THAT SOME DO HAVE THEIR BENEFITS RESTORED AND MANY DO NOT, RIGHT?

>> Russ: MANY DO NOT, AND THERE IS A LARGE CONTINGENT OF VOLUNTEER LAWYERS BEING LED BY -- IN -- IN PRESS TONSBURG WHO ARE HELPING THOSE PEOPLE FOR FREE BUT IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THE DOCUMENTARY WILL SEND A MESSAGE NATIONALLY THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THIS NOW AND THESE PEOPLE NEED HELP NOW.

>> Bill: THIS WEEK THE KENTUCKY PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION APPROVED THE SALE OF KENTUCKY POWER FROM AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER TO LIBERTY UTILITIES.

THAT'S ALMOST A $3 BILLION DEAL.

RUSS, KENTUCKY POWER WAS AENDS UNDERSTAND IT, OPERATES IN 20 COUNTIES.

THEY'RE PROMISING TO KEEP THE WORKFORCE.

>> Russ:Y THEY ARE.

THEY'RE PROMISING TO KEEP THE WORKFORCE, AND THERE'S SOME CONCESSIONS THAT THE PFC IS ORDERING.

IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HAD TO BUT THEY INCLUDE ESSENTIALLY BETWEEN 113 TO 158 MILLION DOLLARS IN BENEFITS TO THE CUSTOMERS WHICH INCLUDE BILL CREDITS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND IT'S -- THE PFC IS REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO HOLD TO COMPANY'S FEET TO THE FIRE ON THIS TO MAKE SURE THIS IS IMPLEMENTED.

AND IS IT ENOUGH?

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE.

WE'D LIKE THE SEE MORE.

BUT IT WILL HELP THAT TRANSITION TRANSITION.

>> Bill: RUSS, LEGAL THAT WILL GIVE COUNTY JUDGES IN FISCAL COURT MORE CONTROL OVER PUBLIC LIBRARIES HAS BEEN DISCUSSED FROM A LOT OF ANGLE,S INCLUDING POTENTIAL SENT ZERO SHIP OF READING MATERIALS, BUT THERE'S A PIKE COUNTY ELEMENT OR ANGLE TO THIS STORY HAS A LITTLE LESS WIDELY KNOWN, RIGHT, REGARDING A BUILDING UP THERE.

>> Russ: YEAH, THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT ASPECTS, AND I'VE TALKED WITH LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE WORKED ON THIS MEASURE.

THE REAL GENESIS IS ACTUALLY I BELIEVE LAWRENCE COUNTY BUT THERE IS A SITUATION HERE IN PIKE COUNTY, AND WHILE THIS ISSUE HAS GOTTEN CONFLATED WITH THE CENSORSHIP ISSUE, I'M SAYING THAT NOBODY IS GOING TO TRY TO USE IT FOR FOR THAT, ALTHOUGH THAT'S A POSSIBILITY, BUT THE LIBRARY BOARD INNER HU IN PIKE COUNTY HAS BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL BODY BECAUSE OF MANY THINGS BUT INCLUDING A BUILDING OWNED THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF PIKEVILLE WANTS TO USE TO EXPAND SOME SERVICES, AND THE LIBRARY BOARD HAS REFUSED TO ALLOW THAT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT DEFINITELY PLAYED INTO IT.

SO IS THE CENSORSHIP THING THERE?

CERTAINLY.

BUT ALSO THERE ARE OTHER ASPECTS TO IT THAT DIDN'T COME OUT AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL.

>> Bill: SO THIS MEANS LESS OF A DEGREE OF SEPARATION BETWEEN THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND THE LIBRARIES, RIGHT?

>> Russ: RIGHT, RIGHT.

IT JUST CHANGES THE WAY MORE MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED AND GIVES THE JUDGE/EXECUTIVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF FIGURING OUT WHO THOSE BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE.

>> Bill: THE BATTLE AGAINST OPIOID GOES ON IN PERSON EASTERN KENTUCKY WITH AM IS ON PROGRESS AND SOME SETBACKS.

WHAT'S PAY QUICK UPDATE ON THAT?

>> Russ: WELL, REAL QUICK, ON MAY 4th THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THE PLANCK REGIONAL PRESCRIPTION OPIOID STRIKE FORCE INVESTIGATIONS HAD LED TO CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST 14 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING 12 MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, SO, YEAH, THE BATTLE STILL RAGES ON.

AGAIN, THIS IS NOW -- AS I SAID EARLIER, THE SECOND DECADE BUT IT'S ACTUALLY DURING THE OAKLAND EVER THIRD DECADE.

IT'S STILL SOMETHING HA TOSS TO BE FUNDED AND FOUGHT OUT ON THE GROUND LEVEL.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK SOME DERBY HERE WITH JANET.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS AN UNUSUAL DERBY WITHOUT BOB BAFFERT.

>> Janet: THAT'S RIGHT.

NORMALLY WE'D EXPECT THE SEE BAFFERT IN THE HUNT WITH A HORSE WHO ARE MAYBE EVEN TWO, AND IF HE HAD BEEN ABLE TO OVERTURN HIS SUSPENSION THAT DATES BACK TO MEDINA SPIRIT'S POSITIVE OR IF HE SERVED IN IT TIME AND IF HE HAD BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGE THE CHURCHILL DOWNS BANISHMENT, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.

HE WOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO RUNNERS PROBABLY.

I OBJECT STEAD IT WILL BE A TRAINER NAMED TIM SADDLING MESSIER AND TO BE AA.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S GOING TO BE AN INTERESTING DERBY.

THEIR WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A POTENTIAL RECORD CROWD, CHURCHILL SAYS, AND THAT COULD MEAN A POTENTIAL WAGERING RECORD AS WELL.

THE CITY AND STATE WILL GET A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, GOOD PUBLICITY, ONE HOPES, AND IF THERE ARE NO DISASTERS BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER THIS YEAR, SO WILL THE SPORT OF RACING.

>> Bill: YOU'VE LOOKED THE BACKGROUNDS PEDIGREES OF THE FIELD.

A LOT OF KENTUCKY HORSES.

PARTICULARLY FROM THE BLUEGRASS REGION.

>> Janet: YEAH, THIS IS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS A BIG WIN FOR ELECTRICS HORSE FARMS WHO BRED EVENT 20 HORSES IN THE FIELD THIS YEAR.

>> Bill: AND THE BIG NAME FARMS IN KENTUCKY CONTINUE TO BE THE BIG PRODUCERS.

THIS IS A VERY TRADITIONAL SPORT, RIGHT?

>> Janet: IT IS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IS REALLY INTERESTING IS THERE ARE DIFFERENT NAMES IN THE HUNT THIS YEAR AND SOME DIFFERENTIAL STALLIONS, SO I DO THINK THAT THERE IS NEW BLOOD IN INDUSTRY, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD.

>> Bill: AND NEW RULES SET TO GO IN EFFECT THAT WILL GOVERN SOME OF RACING.

>> Jennifer: YEA, SOME OF THE SECREC NECESSITY TERMS OF WHAT HAPPENED WITH BAFFERT HAPPENS AGAIN, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT, FOR INSTANCE, AND SAY RIGHT AWAY WHO HAS A POSITIVE.

I DON'T THINK IT GOES INTO EFFECT FOR THIS DERBY BUT SOON.

>> Bill: THAT WAS FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

>> Janet: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION.

THOSE TOO.

>> Bill: A REMINDER THAT NEXT THURSDAY, FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL BE EARLY VOTING DAYS FOR THE KENTUCKY PRIMARY.

YOU CAN CHECK FOR YOUR LOCAL LOCATION WITH YOUR CLERK ABOUT WHERE THE EARLY VOTING WILL BE DONE.

ALL PRECINCTS WILL BE OPEN AND SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED ON PRIMARY DAY ITSELF WHICH IS MAY 17th.

MORGAN McGARVEY AND ATTICA SCOTT WILL DISCUSS THEIR RACE FOR CONGRESS IN 3rd DISTRICT OVER IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA.

THAT'S COMING UP MONDAY ON KET ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

WE DO VERY MUCH THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE DERBY WEEKEND AHEAD.