POLICIES ARE LOOSENED IN KENTUCKY AND THE VACCINE STRATEGY IS SHIFTING AWAY FROM THOSE MEGA sites KENTUCKY'S TWO U.S.

SENATORS SPEND THE WEEK TRAVELING THE STATE AND TALKING POLICY AND po TENSIONS GROW BETWEEN RIVAL GROUPS WHO WANT TO REPRESENT TE HOW INTERESTED ARE STUDENTS IN DO-OVER YEAR AT THEIR SCHOOLS?

HEADING INTO A CHILLY MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND IN THE COMMONWEALTH, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH, AND SOME ANALYSIS.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR DANIEL DESROSIERS, POLITICAL WRITER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

MARCUS GREEN, REPORTER FOR WDR IN LOUISVILLE.

AND OLIVIA KRAUTH OF THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

ALSO TONIGHT JOB SEARCH REQUIREMENTS RETURN THIS WEEKEND FOR KENTUCKIANS ON UNEMPLOYMENT.

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY SEEKS A TUITION HIKE BECAUSE OF AN ALMOST $8 MILLION shortfall AND THE SPEECHES ARE A GO AT FANCY FARM IN AUGUST.

BUT FIRST, AS THE EFFORT TO GE PEOPLE VACCINATED STARTS HITTIN MORE ROADBLOCKS OF RELUCTANCE, SOME LARGE VACCINE CLINICS ARE SHUTTING DOWN IN FAVOR OF SMALLER OPERATIONS, and GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS LOOSENING SOME MORE RESTRICTIONS EFFECTIVE MAY 28TH >> BUSINESSES AND VENUES THAT CATER TO FEWER THAN 1,000 PEOPLE 6 AGAIN WILL BE OPEN TO 75% CAPACITY.

THAT INCLUDES RETAIL, HAIR SALONS, RESTAURANTS, MOVIE THEATERS, GYMS.

IT ALSO INCLUDES WEDDINGS, MEMORIAL SERVICES 1 ALL OF THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE UNDER 1,000.

>> Bill: DAN, IS THE POLICY CATCHING UP WITH RELATE AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THIS?

YOU CAN SEE FAR FEWER PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS AND CROWDS ARE BETTING IRRELEVANT GETTING BIGGER EVERYWHERE.

>> Daniel: I THINK AS PEOPLE GET VACCINATED, THEIR MORE APT TO GO ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIVES BUT I ALSO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT POLICIES AND PEOPLE FOLLOWING THEM HAVE BEEN KIND OF IN FLUX THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, RIGHT?

WE HAVE SEEN A LAX FORM SINCE THE BEGINNING IN TERMS OF SOME OF THESE RESTRICTIONS AND REGULATIONS.

THAT SAID, WE'RE KIND OF BREACHING THIS REALLY INTERESTING PHILOSOPHICAL TERRITORY OF WHAT HAPPENS NOW WHEN YOU START TO GET THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANTED TO GET VACCINATED VACCINATED.

WHEN DOES IT SHIFT FROM BECOMING THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THE VACCINE WHERE THE GOVERNMENT IS NO LONGER NECESSARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING IN YOU THIS ASPECT.

YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND TAKE THE ACTION NECESSARY TO PROTECT YOURSELF.

>> Bill: THIS HAS HAD TO BECOME A VERY TARGETED EFFORT AT THIS POINT.

AT FIRST IT WAS THE BIG MEGA SITES, DRIVE UP AND GET YOUR VACCINE.

NOW IT'S A MOVE TOWARD A MORE MICRO LEVEL, RIGHT.

>> Daniel: YEAH, AND I THINK THEY WERE A LITTLE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH THEY WOULDN'T BE RELYING ON THESE MASS VACCINATION SITES.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS IS ON MAKING IT AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE FOR THESE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE, RIGHT?

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ITCHING TO GET THE VACCINE WHO ARE WAITING TO SIGN UP FOR APPOINTMENTS, THEY'RE ALL GOOD.

NOW WE'RE GETTING TO THE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, THEY MIGHT WANT IT, THEY MIGHT NOT WANT IT, AND SO IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT IF YOU'RE A KROGER, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO STOP AND GET THE VACCINE OR IF YOU'RE AT CVS OR WALGREENS.

THERE HAS BEN A PUSH THAT THIS NEEDS TO GO TO FAMILY DOCTORS.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT CENTERING TO THROW AWAY DOSES IF DOCTORS AREN'T ABLE TO USE UP ALL OF THEM, AND SO IT'S GOING TO BECOME A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT TO TANG THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE VACCINE RATHER THAN JUST SAYING, IT'S HERE.

COME AND GET IT.

>> Bill: THERE'S CONSIDERABLE POLITICAL PRESSURE TO DO THESE REOPENINGS AND BUSINESS PRESSURE, THOSE CALLS CONTINUE FOR A CERTAIN DATE, YOU KNOW, GIVE US A TIMETABLE FOR WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO BE SOMEWHAT NORMAL.

THE REPUBLICANS HAVE DONE THAT LOUDLY.

NOW WE'VE HEARD FROM BUSINESSMAN MATT JONES WHO IS AN ACTIVIST DEMOCRATIC.

>> Daniel: YEAH, MATT JONES IS A RESTAURANT OWNER, AND WHAT HE'S SAYING IS COMMON AMONG RESTAURANT OWNERS IF THAT THEY WANT A FIRM DATE TO KNOW WHEN THEY NEED TO STARTED SCALING UP THEIR STAFF, WHEN THEY NEED TO START PUTTING IN THE ORDERS FOR THE FOOD FOR 100% CAPACITY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF BUSINESS DECISIONS THAT GO INTO REOPENING FOR 100 SPERSE CAPACITY FOR RESTAURANTS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE ACTUAL PRACTICAL PHYSICAL REY REALITIES OF RESTAURANT SENSORINEURAL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN CALCULATIONS FOR THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE STRESSING THIS WHO ARE SEEING A LARGE PORTION OF THEIR BASE WHO SAY, HEY, WE WANT THINGS BACK TO NORMAL.

I PUSH BACK ON THAT A LITTLE BIT.

TIME ABLE TO GO TO THE BAR UNTIL 12:00 OR 1:00 A.M., HOW CLOSED THINGS REALLY?

THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME THINGS, DAYCARE CAPACITY, OBVIOUSLY BUSINESS CAPACITY, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY GETTING BACK TO THE STAGE WHERE THINGS ARE REALLY REOPENING, AND EVEN THE OTHER DAY GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS BRAGGING ABOUT HOW WELL THE ECONOMY HAS DONE, POINTING TO THAT AS A SIGN THAT, HEY, THINGS AREN'T AS A RESTRICTED AS A LOT OF THESE POLITICAL ARGUMENTS MAKE THEM OUT WOULD BE TO R. TO BE.

>> Bill: MARK BECOME THE KENTUCKY DERBY HAS THE MOST ATTENDED EVENT SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, AND ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT, MUCH LESS THAN USUAL, BUT IT WAS CONSIDERABLE.

DID THAT EVENT BRING A SENSE OF NORMAL, THAT PEOPLE ARE JUST REAGAN CRAVING RIGHT NOW?

>> Marcus: YEAH, I THINK IT DID.

I WAS OUT THERE ON OAKS ON FRIDAY IN DERBY SATURDAY AND IN MANY RESPECTS IT RESEMBLED A DERBY WEEKEND.

MANY WERE WEAR MASKS AND AM WERE NOT WEARING MASKS.

IT WAS A MIXED BAG.

THERE WAS STILL THE CHEERING AND EXCITEMENT AND SOCIALIZING, AND I THINK FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN LOUISVILLE, IT'S A BIG EVENT THAT'S REALLY THE EVENT ON THE CALENDAR THAT PEOPLE JUDGE THE YEAR FOR BEFORE AND AFTER AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS.

I SAW DAN OUT THERE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW IT WAS BOTH NORMAL APPEARING BUT ALSO VERY ODD AND IT DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT LESS ECONOMIC IMPACT BUT A LOT OF THE RESTAURANT AND BAR OWNERS THAT WE TALKED TO THIS PAST WEEK SAID THAT THEY WERE PACKED, IN SOME CASES MORE BUSINESS THAN EVEN THE 2019 DERBY.

IT WAS A SLICE OF NORMAL IN A VERY ABNORMAL TIME.

>> Bill: I THINK BY THE NUMBERS IT'S ESTIMATED $36 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT THIS YEAR.

NORMALLY OR AT LEAST IN 2019 IT WAS $400 MILLION.

THERE MAY BE SOME MORE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT THAT IS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR, BUT THE GOAL IS THAT NEXT YEAR FOLKS IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA ARE HOPING TO POSSIBLY TOP THOSE 2019 NUMBERS, RIGHT?

>> Marcus: I THINK THAT WHENEVER THE DERBY RETURNS TO A RESTRICTION-FREE DERBY, IT'S GOING TO RESEMBLE SOMETHING THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN A VERY LONG TIME WISHING WOULD NOT SURPRISE ME IF IT SET SOME KIND OF ATTENDS RECORD.

I KNOW PEOPLE WERE VERY READY FOR THAT.

THEY'RE READY TO GO BACK TO SPORTING EVENTS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED ARE READY TO GET BACK TO LIFE AS THEY KNEW IT.

THE DERBY WAS IN A WAY AN INDICATOR OF THE WHAT KIND OF DEMAND IS OUT THERE TO RETURN TO THAT SORT OF NORMAL ONCE THE PANDEMIC HOPEFULLY ABATES.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, IN DERBY LEXICON, THE SCHOOLS ARE HOPING TO CROSS THE FINISH LINE HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AND WE'VE LEARNED THAT A FEW OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE HAD TO RETREAT TO VIRTUAL LEARNING THIS LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF SPIKES IN COVID CASES.

BUT WE'RE ALSO AT A POINT WHERE SOME HIGH SCHOOLERS ARE OLD ENOUGH TO GET THEIR SHOTS, AND YET THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS HAVE THE SITUATION WHERE EVEN IF SOME OF THEIR KIDS HAVE THEIR VACCINATIONS, MOST OF THEM DON'T.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

I THINK THE NUMBER I HEARD LAST HERE AT JCPS WAS ABOUT 20% OF ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE 16 AND SO THEY WERE ABLE TO GO AHEAD AND GET THE VACCINE.

HOPEFULLY THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE WHEN THE 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLD AGE RANGE OPENS UP.

SO THE QUESTION REALLY BECOMES WHEN, WHEN THE YOUNGER STUDENTS CAN START GETTING VACCINATED, WHAT IS THE DISTRICT'S ROLE IN THAT AND HOW MANY STUDENTS CAN THEY GET VACCINATED BEFORE KIDS RETURN IN AUGUST.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

MASKS NO LONGER REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS WHEN THEY'RE OUTDOORS, RIGHT?

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

SO THIS IS STATE EDUCATION GUIDANCE CHANGING TO REFLECT THE LARGER GUIDANCE OF NO LONGER REQUIRING MASKS IN GROUPS OF FEWER THAN 1,000 OUTDOORS, SO RECESS RARELY HAS MORE THAN 1,000 KIDS, SO MASKS ARE OPTIONAL OUTSIDE.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, WHEN YOU TALK TO EDUCATORS AND PARENTS AND OTHERS ANECDOTAL, ARE THEY TELLING YOU THAT THEY ARE QUITE RELIEVED TO HAVE KIDS BACK IN FACE TO FACE WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS?

>> Olivia: OH, FOR SURE WITH, YEAH.

THE GENERAL REACTION HAS BEEN EVEN IF IT'S JUST A FEW DAYS A WEEK, IAN IF IT'S JUST A FEW DAYS REALLY AT THE END OF THE YEAR, BEGINNING TO SEE KIDS FACE TO FACE IS MUCH BETTER THAN SEE A ZOOM OR SKYPE.

>> Bill: MARCUS, COVID RELIEVE RELIEF MONEY IS COMING INTO THE STATE AND TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

IT WILL BE IN THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL TOLD SOME LOCAL LEADERS THIS WEEK SAID HE DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT BUT HE SAID HERE IT COMES SO SPEND IT WISELY.

I THINK IN LOUISVILLE IT'S $450 MILLION, $3 MILLION IN SHELBYVILLE.

ARE CITIES PLANNING WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH THIS OR DO THEY STILL NEED MORE INFORMATION BEFORE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO?

>> Marcus: WELL, THEY'VE BEEN PLANNING VERY TENTATIVELY BECAUSE THERE IS SOME GENERAL GUIDANCE IN THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED BACK IN MARCH, PASSED AND SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN IN MARCH, BUT REALLY THE KEY DATE IS NEXT MONDAY.

THAT'S WHAT THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT IS GOING TO ISSUETH FINAL GUIDANCE HOW CITIES, COUNTIES OTHER MUNICIPAL IN THE U.S. CAN SPEND THIS MONEY.

AND WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF COVID RELATED AND PANDEMIC RELATED PROVISIONS THAT, FOR INSTANCE, WILL ALLOW CITIES TO MAKE UP LOST REVENUE, THERE ARE SOME AREAS, SUCH AS INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, SEWER, AND EVEN BROADBAND, THAT A LOT OF CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES ARE HOPING THAT THE GUIDANCE WILL BE VERY FLEXIBLE SO THAT PERHAPS SOME SHOVEL READY PROXY AND PROJECTS THAT ARE THE AREN'T NECESSARILY PANDEMIC RELATED CAN BE STARTED OR ADVANCED, AND THIS IS REALLY A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM ANOTHER BATCH OF FUNDS THAT CITIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE CARES ACT.

WITH THIS MONEY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE IT UNTIL 2024 TO SPEND IT.

THEY'RE GOING TO FLAVOR TWO BATCHES.

SO THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE THE RUSH LIKE THERE WAS WITH THE CARES ACT TO SUBMIT REIMBURSE I WILL BE EXPENSES BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

WE'VE HAVE THEY'VE NOT ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO SPEND THAT MYELOMA AND A LOT OF CITY ADVOCATE ARE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> Bill: ON MONDAY THEY WILL HAVE MORE INFORMATION FROM THE TREASURY ABOUT HOW THEY CAN MOVE FORWARD.

>> Marcus: THAT'S RIGHT, ON MONDAY.

>> Bill: DAN, SENATORS McCONNELL AND PAUL WHO BOTH HAVE BEEN TRAVELING THIS WEEK, HAVE VOTED AGAINST THIS, BUT THEY'RE MEETING WITH A LOT OF LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO ARE EAGER TO GET THIS MONEY AND SPEND IT, AS MARCUS WAS SAYING.

IS THAT IN ANY WAY AN AWKWARD PLACE TO BE?

>> Marcus: DARNELL I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S NECESSARILY AN AWKWARD MACE TO BE.

THEY'RE MANEUVERING THEIR MESSAGING.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU GO AND WATCH SENATOR McCONNELL RIGHT NOW, HE TALKS ABOUT ALL THE MONEY THAT WENT INTO THE ECONOMY UP UNTIL TRUMP LEFT OFFICE, AND AFTER THAT HE DOESN'T REALLY ADDRESS THE PACKAGE THAT WAS PASSED WHEN BIDEN WAS PRESIDENT.

AND SO HE'S STILL TALKING ABOUT MONEY THAT'S FUNNELING THROUGH THINGS AND TALKING ABOUT THE SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT TAME CAME.

HE'S TAKING A.

FISCAL COVET SAYING WE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE DEBT AND INFLATION IF RAND PAUL WHEN HE DID I A TOWN HALL SORT THING AT THE KENTUCKY MUSIC HALL IN MOUNT STERLING HE ALSO ADDRESSED THE ISSUE SAYING NOBODY IS GOING TO BE SAD ABOUT FREE MONEY BUT HE TURNED THAT INTO A WARNING ABOUT INFLATION, A WARNING ABOUT THE NATIONAL GET.

THE KIND OF MANEUVERING AND MASSAGING THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THE NATIONAL DEBT ACTUALLY GREW THE THIRD MOST OUT OF I THINK -- FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME WHEN YOU LOOK AT PER CAPITA SPENDING BASED ON PRESIDENCIES.

THE ONLY TWO PEOPLE WHO INCREASED THE NATIONAL DEBT MORE WERE GEORGE W. BUSH AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND THEY WERE DEALING WITH DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAN WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS DEALING WITH.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY ECONOMY SEEMS TO BE PING UP AND OUR BOND RATING WAS UPDATED THIS WEEK, AND THERE'S A SCRAMBLE FOR CREDIT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS HIS ADMINISTRATION IS MANAGING THINGS VERY CAREFULLY.

REPUBLICANS SAY WE'RE HOLDING THE LINE ON SPENDING.

HELP SO WHO DESERVES CREDIT?

>> Daniel: SUCCESS HAS MANY FATHERS AND FAILURE HAS FEW NIP EVERYBODY WANTS TO TAKE CREDIT FOR HOW RELATIVELY GOOD KENTUCKY HAS DONE THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC.

THAT SAID, WE'RE STILL KIND OF WATCHING THINGS.

THERE WAS A NATIONAL JOBS REPORT THAT THAT TOOK A LOT OF PEOPLE ABACK TODAY WHERE WE WEREN'T ADDING AS MANY JOBS TO THE ECONOMY WAS PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LIKED, AND THAT'S JUST ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE OF THIS DEBATE OVER HOW WE REOPEN MOVING FORWARD, AND, YOU KNOW, SO, YES, GOVERNOR BESHEAR CAN POINT TO RELL -- A RELATIVELY GOOD ECONOMY, A RELATIVELY GOOD AMOUNT OF SPENDING ON SALES TAXES, BUT OBVIOUSLY THERE'S FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY PLAYING IN.

THERE'S A WHOLE TON OF FACTORS THAT ARE ALL BEING PUT TOGETHER IN THIS BIG SOUP GUMBO THAT THE POLITICIANS ARE PUTTING TOGETHER.

>> Bill: IF THEY NEED TO BOND A PROJECT OR BORROW MONEY, MORE FAVORABLE.

>> Daniel: AND IT MAKES THINGS EASIER.

>> Bill: SOME OTHER POLITICS AT THE MOMENT.

BOTH OF KENTUCKY'S HIGH PROFILE SENATORS HAVE BEEN CRISSCROSSING THE STATE THIS WEEK DURING THEIR BREAK FROM WASHINGTON.

SENATOR RAND PAUL IS SORT OF BEGINNING HIS RE-ELECTION EFFORT OUT THERE, THOUGH MAKING OFFICIAL APPEARANCES, AND SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER MITCH McCONNELL SAID PRESIDENT BIDEN IS POPULAR AND HE SAYS HE LIKES HIM, BUT HE SAYS HE AND THE GOP WILL FIGHT MANY OF HIS PROPOSALS.

>> 100% OF MY FOCUS IS ON STANDING UP TO THIS ADMINISTRATION, WHAT WE HAVE THE IN UNITED STATES SENATE IS TOTAL UNITY FROM SUSAN COLLINS ANDED THE CRUZ IN OPPOSITION TO WHAT THE NEW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DO TO THIS COUNTRY.

>> Bill: DAN, THAT WAS THE WAY THE SENATOR RETURN A QUESTION TO YOU, RIGHT, ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

>> DAVE: >> Daniel: I ACTUALLY ASKED HIM ABOUT LIZ CHENEY AND WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS GOING TO SUPPORT LIZ CHENEY AS SHE SEEMS TO BE OUT OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

BUT IT WAS INTERESTING TO WATCH WASHINGTON, DC, AND THE BELTWAY SEIZE UPON THOSE COMMENTS.

DEMOCRATS WERE QUICK TO MAKE COMPARISONS TO WHAT McCONNELL SAID IN 2010 WHEN HE SAID HIS GOAL WAS TO MAKE PRESIDENT OBAMA A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT AND IT'S PLAYING INTO THIS LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP THAT IS GOING ON IN WASHINGTON, DC, WHERE REPUBLICANS EVER STARTED TO PUSH BACK AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE AGENDA THAT HE IS SETTING FORWARD SAYING, LOOK, HE'S NOT TRYING TO WORK WITH US AT ALL.

NOW DEMOCRATS ARE POINTING TO WHAT McCONNELL JUST SAID AND SAYING THERE'S NOT ACTUALLY ANY ROOM FOR HIM TO WORK WITH US, HE'S 100% OPPOSED TO US.

THAT SAID, SHELLEY MOORE OUT OF WEST IS ALLEGEDLY WORKING ON A TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A SCALED-DOWN VERSION OF WHAT JOE BIDEN PROPOSED.

WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S ACTUALLY A PLAYABLE PACKAGE, WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S GOING TO GAIN ANY TRACTION IN CONGRESS OR IS JUST KIND OF A POLITICAL CHESS PIECE PAWN IN THE POLITICAL CHESS GAME THAT WE'RE SPLAYING A DIFFERENT QUESTION.

>> Bill: SO PAUL AND McCONNELL BOTH OPPOSE THE PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR THIS MULTI-TRILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

THEY SAY IT SHOULD BE MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON ROADS AND BRIDGESR.

MARCUS, WHAT, THOUGH, WOULD BE IN IT FOR KENTUCKY?

WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVE PROJECTS GOING ON AND SOME IDENTIFIED NEEDS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, OBVIOUSLY.

>> Marcus: WELL, AND NO NEED HAS BEEN MORE IDENTIFIED AND MORE SCRUTINIZED THAN A REPLACEMENT OF THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE CONNECTING KENTUCKY AND CINCINNATI.

IF YOU READ THE FINE PRINT OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL THERE'S MONEY TO REPAIR THE MOST TEN ECONOMICALLY VIABLE BRIDGES THE IN UNITED STATES AND WHILE THOSE AREN'T NAMES THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE DOES HANDLE 3% OF THE NATION GDP EACH YEAR.

IT'S OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR NORTH-SOUTH LINK EXPECT P. AND THERE'S A FEELING THERE COULD BE SOME MONEY FOR THAT PROJECT I IN THE BIDEN PLAN.

THERE HAS BEEN PUSHBACK FROM THE REPUBLICANS SO THE QUESTION IS COULD A MORE TARGETED INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOCUSING ON ROADS AND BRIDGES INCLUDE SOME MONEY FOR THAT.

I THINK WE ALWAYS NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK WHEN IT COMES TO THE BRENT SPENCE AND OTHER LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO REALIZED THAT ANY PLAN IS NOT GOING TO BE PRESERVE ALL THAT'S NEEDED TO MOVE FORWARD AND THERE'S ALSO THE TALK OF TOLLS OR USER FEES OR OTHER WAYS TO PAY FOR THESE AND REALLY A LOT OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS HAVEN'T BEEN FULLY FLESHED OUT IN THE COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

THERE'S HAS BEEN A LOT OF PUSHBACK FOR YEARS ESPECIALLY FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY'S DELEGATION TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY.

WHILE THERE MIGHT BE OPTIMISM THAT THAT COULD BE INCLUDED, I THINK THE RELATE IS THAT IT WOULDN'T BE A SILVER BULLET FOR THAT PROJECT EITHER WAY.

>> Bill: SENATOR PAUL SAID TO ME THIS WEEK IT COULD SPEED THINGS UP IF THAT DISCUSSION WAS SERIOUS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

OBVIOUSLY THE LOUISVILLE BRIDGES WERE DONE WITH TOLLS, RIGHT?

>> Alex: RIGHT.

AND I THINK WHEN WE TALKING ABOUT LARGE PROJECTS IN KENTUCKY, THE WAY LOUISVILLE'S BRIDGES GOT BUILT WERE WITH POLLS THE.

THE I-69 CROSSING NEAR INDIANA AND KENTUCKY IN HERNANDEZ WAS DONE WITH TOLLS.

I THINK FROM A POLITICAL SIDE IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE IF NORTHERN KENTUCKY COULD GET A BRIDGE BUILT TO OHIO WITHOUT TOLLS IT.

SEEMS LIKE LARGE PROJECTS ARE BEING DONE WITH TOLLS THESE DISPARKS THAT'S ONE MAJOR FUNDING COMPONENT OF ALL THESE LARGE PROJECTS.

>> Bill: SENATOR PAUL TO TRAVELED A LOT THIS WEEK MADE IT CLEAR HE'S SEEKING A THIRD TERM.

WHEN WE RAN IN 20 AT ANY TIME HE SAID HE HAD NO INTEREST IN BECOMING A CAREER POLITICS BUT AT THIS POINT HE SAID HE STILL SUPPORTS TERM LIMITS BUT THEY'RE NOT FOR HIM IN THIS SITUATION.

>> Daniel: HE SAID TERM LIMITS DON'T WORK IF ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT TERM LIMITS ARE ABIDING BY THEM, RIGHT?

UNLESS EVERYBODY IS ABIDING BY THE SAME SET OF RULES THERE'S NO POINT IN HIM FLIRS GIVING UP OFFICE BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY TO VOTE FOR TERM LIMITS IN THAT REGARD.

YEAH, I MEAN, THIS IS THE KICKOFF.

THIS IS WHAT INCUMBENTS DO, RIGHT?

WHEN THEY HOLD THE POLITICAL OFFICE, THEY DO A LOT OF POLITICAL EVENTS AND DIE SOFT LAUNCH THEIR CAMPAIGN.

YES, THE CORONAVIRUS DID LIMIT A LOFTY THESE SORTS OF EVENTS FOR A YEAR BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SENATOR PAUL IS OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC TRAVELING THE STATE SINCE HAVING AN OPPONENT WHO HAS FORMED AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE.

SO IN A LOT OF WAYS THIS IS A SOFT LAUNCH HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: AND THAT IS THAT IS DEMOCRAT CHARLES BOOKER WHO WOULD BE TRYING TO BECOME KENTUCKY'S FIRST EVER BLACK U.S.

SENATOR , AND RACE WAS MASTER THE DISCUSSION FROM SENATOR PAUL.

>> Daniel: IT GOT BROUGHT UP UNPROMPTED.

HE WAS GIVING A SPEECH AT THE PULASKI COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND HE BROUGHT IT UP TWICE.

HE FIRST BROUGHT IT UP IN TALKING ABOUT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, ABOUT KIND OF A DECRYING GOVERNMENT SPENDING SAYING THAT REPARATIONS ARE NOT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN HE BROUGHT IT UP AGAIN KIND OF TALKING ABOUT THE CULTURE WAR ISSUES OF THE DAY, HE WAS PAINTING IT AS LIBERALS ARE TRYING TOLL THAT YOU WHITE PEOPLE ARE TERRIBLE.

AND I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT.

HE SAID HE DOES NOT SUPPORT REPARATIONS, DOESN'T THINK IT'S FEASIBLE AND DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT WOULD WORK.

RACE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A DEFINING ISSUE OF THE 2022 CAMPAIGN, PARTICULARLY BECAUSE DEMOCRATS HAVE NEVER, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, LAUNCHED A STATEWIDE CANDIDATE WHO IS BLACK.

AND SO NOT ONLY DID HE BRING THIS UP, MAKE AT A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, HE ALSO GOT CHARLES BOOKER ON THE REGARD RECORD SAYING HE SUPPORTS REPARATION.

>> Bill: THERE WILL BE SPEECHES AT FANCY FARM.

WILL BOOKER BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK UNDER THE RULES?

>> Daniel: BASING THIS ON 2019 AND AMY McGRATH WAS A DECLARED CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE, SHE DID NOT GHETTO SPEAK AT FANCY FARM AND SKIPPED FANCY FARM ALTOGETHER.

AS WE BOTH KNOW, FANCY FARM IS BYRNE JUST THE SPEECHES THEMSELVES AND CHARLES BOOKER COULD STILL MAKE THE TRIP TO WESTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: SENATOR McCONNELL ROTE WROTE A THE TO THE EDUCATION SECRETARY ABOUT THE 1619 PROJECT.

>> Casey: AND THAT TEWES MOO THE SAME CULTURE WARS THAT SENATOR PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT.

THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT SCHOOLS TEACH THAT 1619, THE YEAR THAT SLAVES CAME TO AMERICA IS A VERY IMPORTANT YEAR AND KITES RILED UP BOTH SIDES.

>> Bill: OLIVIA MAY BE SURPRISING TO SOME PEOPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DO-OVER YEARS.

THE LEGISLATURE SAID THEY CAN DO THAT BUT SCHOOLS ARE WAITING RIGHT NOW TO SEE THE INTEREST, AND IT'S CONSIDERABLE FOR SOME DISTRICTS.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

YEAH.

SO THIS DO-OVER YEAR CONCEPT HAD A LOT OF HYPE WHILE IT WAS IN THE STATE HOUSE, A LOT OF EYES WATCHING IT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HYPE REALLY TRANSLATED TO FORMAL REQUESTS TO REPEAT A GRADE.

DISTRICTS ARE SLOWLY GETTING TO SEE EXACTLY HOW MANY KIDS THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER POTENTIALLY REDOING A YEAR.

FAMILIES HAVE UNTIL MAY 1st TO APPLY AND NOW SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE TO LOOK AT TYPICALLY WHAT'S A PRETTY LOW NUMBER, ACTUALLY IT AMOUNTS TO ABOUT 1% GENERALLY AND THE DISTRICTS HAD SEEN 1% OF EACH DISTRICT'S STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED.

>> Bill: KEEP A WATCH ON THAT.

JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS SUGA MARKETING FIRM FORTH ALLEGED ROLE IN THE OPIOID CRISIS CLAIMING THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS OUT MONEY RELATED TO SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WHO WERE EXPOSED TO OPIOIDS BEFORE THEY WERE BORN.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

JCPS IS ON BEHALF OF ALL KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS, IS SUING THE PURSUE PHARMA'S MANAGEMENT FIRM SENT SHE WILL HAVE ITS ROLE IN AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC ALLEGING THAT THEY'RE SEEING AN INCREASE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES BECAUSE OF STUDENTS BEING EXPOSED TO OPIOIDS IN THE WOMB, WHICH CAN CAUSE LEARNING DISABILITIES, COGNITIVE, BEHAVIORAL ISSUES, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES COST MONEY, AND DISTRICTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEBODY PAY FOR THAT.

>> Bill: ERVIA, TENG ARE GROWING BETWEEN RIVAL GROUPS THAT WOULDN'T TO REPRESENT TEACHERS.

THE KEA HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

THE THE KENTUCKY 121 GROUP THAT STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO IS NOW PART OF A NATIONAL TEACHERS UNION.

SO THERE'S SOME TENSION THERE.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

HONESTLY, THE TENSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE, AND THE TENSION IS A BIG REASON THIS IS EVEN GROWING INCREASINGLY TENSE BECAUSE KENTUCKY 120 UNITED, THEIR BIG ISSUE WITH KEA HAS BEENKEA, AS THEY PUT IT, ASSOCIATIONS ARE FULL OF WORDS AND UNIONS ARE FULL ACTION.

SO 120 HAS LARGELY SEEN KEA AS PASSIVE, AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ACTION BE TAKEN.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY SAYS IT NEEDS A 2% TUITION HIKE TO OFFSET A NEARLY $8 MILLION SHORTFALL.

UK WANTS A 1% HIKE SO THE COUNCIL ON POST SECONDLY EDUCATION WILL HAVE TO BALANCE LOTS OF THINGS WHEN THEY MEET NEXT WEEK AT THE PULL BETWEEN THE NEEDS OF THE CAMPUSES AND KEEPING THE COST REASONABLE FOR STUDENTS.

SO WE WILL WATCH THAT.

MARCUS, JOB SEARCH REQUIREMENTS RETURN THIS WEEKEND IN KENTUCKY.

IT MAN'S THOSE GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT HAVE TO SHOW EVIDENCE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB.

>> Marcus: RIGHT, THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT WAS PAUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S BEING REINSTATED.

PEOPLE WHO ARE APPLYING FOR BENEFITS WILL HAVE TO SHOW WHAT STEPS THEY'VE TAKEN TO TRY FIND WORK, WHO THEY HAVE TALKED TO, WHAT KIND OF JOBS THEY HAVE APPLIED FOR, AND PROVIDE REALLY SPECIFIC INFORMATION.

THE CHALLENGE, I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO ASSUME, IS GOING TO BE IN AN ERA IN WHICH MANY PEOPLE APPLY FOR JOBS ONLINE THROUGH PORTALS, WILL THAT INFORMATION BE SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY WHAT THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION IS NOW REQUIRING, BUT THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT A LOT OF STATES PAUSED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND JUST TODAY OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE NORTH, INDIANA, REINSTATED THEIRS AS WELL SO IT'S A SIGN IT'S RUNGE.

>> Bill: WE HAD THE REQUIREMENTS BEFORE THIS.

THEY WERE SUSPENDED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND RETURN ON SUNDAY.

LEXINGTON BECAME KENTUCKY'S THIRD CITY TO BAN CONVERSION THERAPY.

LEXINGTON LEADERS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO BAR THE CONTROVERSIAL PRACTICE.

LOUISVILLE AND COVINGTON HAVE ALSO BANNED IT.

CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS HAS TAKEN THE FIRST STEP IN WHAT COULD RESULT IN A FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT FOR BEATTY SPILL.

SEEKING MORE THAN $1 MILLION FOR A STUDY THAT MIGHT LEAD TO WAY TO PREVENT THE KIND OF DEVASTATING FLOODING THAT HAPPENED THERE IN MARCH.

SINCE THE DEATH OF RETIRED HERALD-LEADER PUBLISHING TIM KELL KELLY A FEW DAYS AGO, MANY HAVE BEEN REMEMBERING HIS STRONG COMMITMENT TO BIG JAY JOURNALISM THROUGH IMPACTFUL REPORTERRING.

A VETERAN REPORT CERTIFIED POWERFUL AND INFLUENTIAL TEAM INCLUDING ADVERTISERRERS AND POLITICIANS WOULD SOMETIMES CALL AND THREATEN THEY WERE GOING TO CALL KELLY HAD THEM, AND IT HAPPENED FROM TIME TO TIME BUT HE SAID THE STAFF WOULD NEVER HEARING ANYTHING FROM KELLY EXCEPT KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

TIM KELLY WAS 73.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

IT WAS ORIGINATED BY A KENTUCKY AN, HENDERSON COUNTY SCHOOL TEACHER STARTED HER PUSH IN THE LATE 1800S.

RENEE SHAW AND GUESTS WILL