[♪♪] >> Bill: A PROPOSED ACTION PLAN FOR DEALING WITH TOUGH CHILDCARE ISSUES IN KENTUCKY.

AN UPDATE ON KENTUCKY'S NUMEROUS CHALLENGES WITH ITS JUVENILE JUSTICE FACILITIES.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGES HIS POTENTIAL INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.

AN EMCEE IS CHOSEN FOR FANCY FARM AS NEXT WE'RE RACES START TO SIMMER ALREADY.

ON THIS MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND, FIRST CELEBRATED IN 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, SARAH LADD, HEALTH AND POLICY REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

SYLVIA GOODMAN CAPITAL REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO AND JOHN CHEVES REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

TONIGHT A NEW LANDSCAPE FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS, REAL ID ENFORCEMENT BEGINS AND KENTUCKIANS REACT TO A NEW POPE FROM AMERICA.

RIGHT TO THE PROPOSAL TO DEAL WITH KENTUCKY'S CHILDCARE ISSUES.

AND CERTAINLY, SARAH, THIS REPORT THAT IS OUT, UNDERSCORES HOW IMPORTANT ADDRESSING THAT CHALLENGE IS TO KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY AND HOW MUCH EMPHASIS IT FINDS KENTUCKIANS DO PLACE ON THIS ISSUE.

>> YES, WE HAVE A NEW REPORT OUT.

CAME OUT WEDNESDAY FROM THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND A GROUP FROM THE CHAMBER GATHERED ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS FROM LAST AUGUST TO APRIL AND THEY JUST LIKE SETTLED AND STUDIED THE ISSUE OF CHILDCARE.

WE KNOW IT IS A TOPIC THAT HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY LOOKED AT IT A LOT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES FACING THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY PAUSE YOU DO HAVE TO LOOK AT CHILDCARE FROM A LOT OF ANGLE IT IS SERVES DIFFERENT PURPOSES.

IT IS AN ECONOMIC ISSUE AND CHILD WELFARE ISSUE.

THIS REPORT LOOKS AT IT FROM ALL THESE DIFFERENT ANGLES.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHILDCARE YOU THINK ABOUT WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION.

IF PARENTS DON'T HAVE SOMEWHERE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN, THERE IS A RISK OF SOMEONE HAVING TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE AND WE'VE SEEN REPORTS OF PARENTS HAVING TO DO THAT THING.

AND KENTUCKY ALREADY TRAILS OUR NEIGHBORING STATES IN THAT ISSUE.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SAFE PLACE THAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO SEND YOUR CHILD, DURING THE DAY MAYBE YOU END UP LEAVING WITH THEM WITH SOMEONE THAT SO SAFE AND YOU HAVE NEGLECT AND ABUSE ISSUES COME UP.

THOSE FACTS ARE REFLECTED IN THE REPORT AND WHAT STOOD OUT IS THE SURVEY THEY SHARED WHERE THEY TALKED TO REGISTERED KENTUCKY VOTERS AND 80 PLUS PERCENT SAID IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR KENTUCKY'S FUTURE THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD CHILDCARE.

>> Christie: THE FINDING THAT TRANSCENDS POLITICAL PARTIES.

>> IT IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE AND LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY EVERYONE AGREES THAT CHILDCARE IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

THERE'S ALWAYS DISAGREEMENT WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT.

WE'VE SEEN DIFFERENT PROPOSALS THERE.

>> Bill: WHY DOESN'T IT MOVE?

>> A LOT OF ANSWERS.

FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE.

DEMOCRATS MIGHT ARGUE FOR A LOT MORE LUMP SUM PAYMENTS TO HELP PARENTS PAY FOR CHILDCARE.

MAYBE A UNIVERSAL PRE-K SYSTEM AND SOME REPUBLICANS WE DON'T NEED TO THROW MONEY AT THE ISSUE WHAT ABOUT CHANGING THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS ON CHILDCARE FACILITIES THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP OPEN MORE FACILITIES.

EVEN WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT PUT INTO PREVIOUS BUDGET, I THINK IT WAS $52 MILLION IN THE 2024 TWO-YEAR BUDGET, SOME REPUBLICANS SAID THAT WAS TOO MUCH THAT WENT TOO FAR IT'S NOT THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT TO PUT MONEY LIKE THAT INTO AN INDUSTRY THAT IS FROM THE MORE LIBERTARIAN WING OF THE PARTY AND SOME REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS CALLED FOR MUCH LARGER AMOUNTS OF MONEY.

IT JUST DEPENDS HOW YOU VIEW THE ISSUE AND WHAT THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS IN FOSTERING THE INDUSTRY FURTHER.

>> Bill: IT IS A HUGE PRICE TAG IS THAT KEEPS THE -- >> LAST YEAR SENATOR DANNY CARROLL OF WESTERN KENTUCKY HAD THE HORIZONS ACT AND IT HAD A LOT OF THINGS THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY IN KENTUCKY AND MADE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE FOR KENTUCKIANS.

IT DIDN'T SUCCEED IT DIDN'T GET OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE.

ONE THING HE WAS GOING TO ADDRESS IS THE CHILDCARE WORKER SHORTAGE FROM 2019 BEFORE THE PANDEMIC THROUGH 2024 LAST YEAR, ONE-THIRD OF THE CHILDCARE WORKERS DISAPPEARED IN KENTUCKY.

THEY MAKE ABOUT $12, $13 AN HOUR THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY DOING ANYTHING ELSE FOR A LIVING.

WE DROPPED ABOUT 11,000 TO 7,000.

IT'S PUT TREMENDOUS STRAIN ON THE INDUSTRY.

I'VE SPOKEN TO DAYCARE OPERATORS WHO TOLD ME THEY CANNOT ADEQUATELY STAFF THEIR FACILITIES AND THEY CANNOT BRING IN THE KIDS.

SENATOR CARROLL'S BILL WOULD HAVE PROVIDED MONEY FOR WORK READY SCHOLARSHIPS AND BEEFED UP TRAINING SCHOOLS AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM BUT THAT IS NOT A CHEAP OR FAST SOLUTION IT DOESN'T PRODUCE THE WORKERS YOU NEED BY FRIDAY IT IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT BY THE STATE TO SOLVE THIS NUMBER ONE PROBLEM, FOR THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY AS THE DAYCARE OPERATORS SEE IT THE STATE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GET ORGANIZED AND MAKE THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.

>> Bill: SARAH WHAT ARE THE PROPOSALS THEN?

>> SOMETHING THAT IS INTERESTING ON THE SENATOR CARROLL POINT IS THAT HE WANTED TO INVEST IN THIS AS EDUCATION NOT JUST SOMEONE TO BABYSIT YOUR KIDS.

HE WANTED TO THINK ABOUT IT YOU ARE STARTING YOUR KIDS OUT ON THE RIGHT FOOT ABOUT EDUCATION THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS IT WAS SO EXPENSIVE AND SOME IS REFLECTED IN THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT.

A FEW, THEY WANT MORE RESEARCH ON TAXPAYER RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

ANYTIME THIS ISSUE COMES UP SPENDING MONEY ON CHILDCARE EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT DO WE GET OUT OF IT.

THEY WANT MORE RESEARCH SHOWING WHAT WE GET OUT OF IT WHAT IT DOES FOR THE ECONOMY AND SECTORS.

THEY WANT MORE TRAINING FOR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO CARE FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AND THAT IS ALWAYS A BIG ISSUE IN KENTUCKY NOT A LOT OF PLACES TAKE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, LIKE NEEDING CHILDREN WITH HIGHER NEEDS.

THEY WANT BETTER TRAINING FOR THAT.

AND THEY WANT TO INCENTIVIZE BUSINESSES TO HAVE ON-SITE CHILDCARE THAT IS A BIG ONE TOO.

AND LOTS OF OTHERS.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS CALLED FOR UNIVERSAL PRE-K AND INDICATES THAT AS A PARTIAL SOLUTION WITH OTHER BENEFITS.

>> YEAH.

HE IS A BIG FAN OF UNIVERSAL PRE-K HE HAS RUN ON IT TWICE NOW AS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

AND DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE IT PART OF THEIR PLATFORM.

IT'S BEEN REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP MADE IT CLEAR THEY DON'T SEE THAT IN THE SHORT-TERM HERE IN KENTUCKY.

IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSAL SOMETHING THEY WOULD HAVE TO INVEST IN EVERY YEAR.

IT WOULD GO ON IN PERPETUITY.

SO IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT COMING OUT OF NEXT BUDGET SESSION.

BESHEAR IS GOING TO KEEP PUSHING FOR IT.

I HEARD HIM TALK ABOUT IT LAST WEEK.

YEAH, HE SEE IT IS AS A SOLUTION TO THAT.

LIKE WHAT SARAH WAS TALKING ABOUT HE SEES IT AS AN EDUCATION ISSUE.

WE HAVE PRETTY POOR STATISTICS HERE IN KENTUCKY FOR KINDERGARTENERS STARTING OUT THEY ARE NOT READY TO START SCHOOL AND HE AND OTHERS SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET KIDS STARTED ON THE RIGHT FOOT WHEN THEY GET TO KINDERGARTEN SO THEY CAN PROGRESS EFFECTIVELY.

YES, THAT IS ONE OF THE SOLUTIONS ON THE TABLE IT WAS NOT IN THIS REPORT WHEN I TALKED TO THE AUTHORS THEY SAID WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE CURRENT PRIVATE REGULATED CHILDCARE INDUSTRY THE EXISTING INDUSTRY NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CREATE SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO POLITICALLY VIABLE.

>> Bill: AND ACTIONABLE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Bill: JOHN YOU HAVE SPENT A GREAT EFFORT IN YEARS LOOKING AT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE ISSUES AND SINCE YOU WERE WITH US LAST YOU DISCOVERED SOME MATTERS INCLUDING FIGHT CLUBS WHICH WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT ARE NOW BEING INVESTIGATED INVESTIGATEDA DIFFERENT WAY.

>> I WROTE RECENTLY ABOUT THE MAYFIELD YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN GRAVES COUNTY.

I'VE REPORT THAT SEVERAL EMPLOYEES AND THE MANAGER OF THE FACILITY HAD BEEN REMOVED BY THE STATE AFTER SEVERAL STATE INVESTIGATIONS DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES WERE HAVING WORKPLACE SEX AT THE FACILITY.

THEY WERE HAVING SEXUAL ACTIVITIES IN THE CONTROL ROOM WHERE YOU DON'T WANT THAT THING GOING ON.

ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES NEEDLESSLY STARTED A FIGHT WITH A YOUTH IN THE HALLWAY.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TEAR GASSED PEPPER SPRAYED AND THERE WAS APPARENTLY THE STATE SAID A FIGHT CLUB HAPPENING IN A CLASSROOM CLOSET WHERE KIDS WERE ALLOWED TO FIGHT FOR 30 SECONDS FOR AMUSEMENT.

WHEN WE LOOK AT ONE OF THE JUSTICE FACILITIES THERE SEEMS TO BE A TERRIBLE MESS GOING ON AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.

>> Bill: HAS THERE BEEN A CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM?

>> WE HAVE A NEW COMMISSIONER THIS IS AT LEAST THE THIRD JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMISSIONER UNDER GOVERNOR BESHEAR THEY ROTATE THROUGH EVERY FEW YEARS.

>> Bill: SO THERE WAS A CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION THAT GOT UNDERWAY WE WERE HEARING ABOUT IS THAT STILL ONGOING?

>> THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS THE LAST I HEARD, A CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION PENDING TO SEE IF THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE KIDS IN CUSTODY ARE BEING VIOLATED.

THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION AS OF MARCH TOLD ME IT WAS STILL PENDING AND THEY WERE COOPERATING FULLY WITH IT.

WE DO KNOW THERE IS A NEW PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP AND HE HAS A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE PRIORITIES OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAVE RADICALLY CHANGED IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS STAFF HAS BEEN PURGED.

I WILL BE CURIOUS TO SEE WHETHER THEY CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE WHETHER THEY FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.

COULD BE GOOD IF THEY CONTINUED THEIR WORK BUT WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER THAT COMES TO A CONCLUSION.

>> Bill: WE KNOW YOU WILL KEEP WATCH ON THAT.

POLITICS THE ORGANIZERS OF THE FANCY FARM PICNIC ANNOUNCED THEIR EMCEE AND IT IS A REMINDER THE EVENT IS JUST OVER A COUPLE MONTHS AWAY.

THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE C.E.O.

ASHLI WATTS WILL BE FILLING THAT ROLE AND TRYING TO KEEP ORDER ON THAT DAY.

ASHLI WATTS IS A KENTUCKY NATIVE THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOST THE EVENT.

THE FANCY FARM LEADERS CALL HER AN IDEAL CHOICE.

HOW CHALLENGING WILL THAT ROLE BE GIVEN WE HAVE THE UPCOMING U.S. SENATE RACE, WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF POLITICS NEXT YEAR WAITING TO BREAK OVER THE DAM.

>> THEY WILL BE SIMMERING BELOW THE SURFACE I'M NOT SURE IF THE SENATE PRIMARY CANDIDATES WILL BE ON STAGE.

MAYBE.

IT'S UP TO THE ORGANIZERS.

IT CERTAINLY SIMMERING.

WE DON'T HAVE ELECTIONS THIS YEAR WHICH IS WEIRD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ELECTIONS ALREADY.

THE PRIMARY SENATE RACE IS HEATING UP AND I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO BE THERE PROBABLY HEAR AT LEAST SOME QUOTES EVEN IF IT'S OFF STAGE.

IT'S ALREADY GOTTEN TO BE QUITE AGGRESSIVE AND ENERGETIC SENATE PRIMARY ESPECIALLY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

I WOULD EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AND FANCY FARM COULD BE A PINNACLE OF THAT.

>> Bill: CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR AND THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON ARE FIGHT TO GO OUT FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION SO FAR.

CAMERON IS WORKING IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY IN BARR'S HOME TURF TODAY GOING TO AN EVENT IN BOURBON COUNTY TONIGHT.

HE SAID HE IS FIGHTING HARD FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND FIGHTING FOR HIS AGENDA.

AND REALLY IS NO SURPRISE THAT IS SEEN AS AN IMPORTANT LYNCH PIN IN THIS PRIMARY.

>> IT IS A KEY ENDORSEMENT TO GET IN THIS RACE.

IT WAS A KEY ENDORSEMENT IN THE KENTUCKY GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION WHERE CAMERON GOT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT BACK IN 2023.

AND YOU KNOW WE COULD SEE IT AGAIN THIS YEAR BEING A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE SENATE PRIMARIES.

WE'RE DEFINITELY SEEING THE TWO TOP CANDIDATES CAMP RIGHT HAND AND BARR VIE FOR THAT ENDORSEMENT.

THEY'VE MENTIONED TRUMP MANY TIMES ALREADY IN THEIR EARLY ELECTION MATERIALS.

YOU KNOW FIGHTING HARD FOR HIS AGENDA FIGHTING HARD FOR WHAT TRUMP WANTS FOR AMERICA.

SO I EXPECT TO CONTINUE SEEING THAT UNTIL WE HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT.

>> Bill: NATURE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES -- NATE MORRIS SAYS HE IS SUPPORTIVE OF TRUMP AND REPUBLICAN TV COMMENTATOR SCOTT JENNINGS CONTINUES TO STIR IN THE BACKGROUND.

I THINK THIS WAS WAS NOT MUCH NEWS ON THAT FRONT.

>> HE IS TESTING THE WATERS AND PUT OUT FEELERS.

SEE IF THERE'S INTEREST THAT BUBBLES UP FROM THAT.

NATE MORRIS IS A DEFINITE MAYBE ON THIS RACE.

WE'VE HEARD FROM HIM A LOT.

HE IS THROWING PUNCHES SAYING THAT BARR AND CAMERON ARE NOT AS PRO TRUMP AS HE IS.

THEY ARE ON THE McCONNELL SIDE WHICH THEY WOULD CONTEST.

WE'RE SEEING THE RACE HEAT UP IT COULD BE A CROWDED PRIMARY.

>> Bill: LAST WEEKEND'S KENTUCKY DERBY GAVE POLITICIANS ATTENTION AND THE BIGGEST SPOTLIGHT WAS FOR GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WHO TALKED ABOUT HIS POTENTIAL INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.

NOT A WELL KEPT SECRET GIVEN THIS TRAVELS HIS PODCAST, HIS INCLUSION AND LIST OF CONTENDERS.

IT SEEMED TO REMOVE PRETENSE THAT OBSERVERS HERE ARE IMAGINING THINGS, JOHN?

>> IT DOES.

HE HAS AMBITIONS APPARENTLY.

THERE WAS AN INTERESTING ARTICLE IN "POLITICO" THIS WEEK THAT ADDRESSED HIS DESIRE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN HIS MEETING WITH BIG DEMOCRATIC DONOR GROUPS ANONYMOUS SOURCE, I THINK IT WAS CITED IN THE ARTICLE TALKED ABOUT HOW HE STILL DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF NAME RECOGNITION OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY OR THE PEOPLE ON-LINE AND FOLLOWING POLITICS.

AND THEY MADE A COMMENT ABOUT HOW THE GROUP OF DONORS HE WAS SPEAKING TO DIDN'T KNOW WHO ANDY BESHEAR WAS.

NEXT YEAR HE WILL BE CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION THAT IS A HIGH PROFILE POST.

AND THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT COALESCED AROUND AN OPPOSITION LEADER TO DONALD TRUMP.

THERE ARE NOT MANY HIGH PROFILE DEMOCRATS SPEAKING OUT IN ANY UNIFIED VOICE IN THEORY, IF HE'S THE HEAD DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR MIGHT BE ONE OF THOSE VOICES GETTING MORE OF A PROMINENT ROLE.

>> Bill: HE MAYBE LOOKING FOR A PATH.

SO QUESTIONS LOOM IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW WITH 880 BILLION IN CUTS TO FEDERAL HEALTHCARE SPENDING IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS PROPOSED.

CONGRESSMAN MORGAN MCGARVEY A DEMOCRAT OF LOUISVILLE, IS EXPRESSING CONCERNS.

>> IT'S GOING TO HURT PEOPLE LIKE MY CONSTITUENT JUNE.

JUNE HAS A 10-YEAR-OLD.

10-YEAR-OLD WITH QUADRAPA LEGIONIC CEREBRAL PALSY AND REQUIRES 27/7 CARE.

NOBODY, CAN AFFORD CARE LIKE THIS.

SHE IS COVERED BY MEDICAID.

NOW, IT'S ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

SHE IS JUST A KID.

SHE DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS BUDGET.

>> Bill: SO THERE'S CONGRESSMAN McGARVEY ATTEMPTING TO PUT A FACE ON POTENTIAL CUTS.

AUSTIN HORN REPORTED FOR THE HERALD-LEADER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ONE OF THE MOST MEDICAID RELIANT IN THE COUNTRY.

AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO ENACT ANY CUTS OR FIGURE THEM OUT.

EVERYBODY SAYS THIS IS A STARTING POINT, JOHN, IN THE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

>> KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS HAVE GOT A VERY TERRIBLE BALANCING ACT.

THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO CUT 880 BILLION IN 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL HEALTH SPENDING.

A THIRD OF KENTUCKIANS RELY ON MEDICAID FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE.

HOW DO YOU FOLLOW THE MANDATE OF CUTTING GOVERNMENT WHEN SO MANY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS DEPEND ON GOVERNMENT?

THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO CUT ACTUAL MEDICAID COVERAGE.

THE OBAMACARE MEDICAID EXPANSION TO THE WORKING POOR THAT GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR MADE POSSIBLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE OFF THE TABLE.

WE'RE HEARING CUTTING WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE, MAYBE WORK REQUIREMENTS AND OTHER THINGS.

BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR WHERE THE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CUTS WILL COME FROM.

SO I GUESS WE HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE FINAL IMPACT IS GOING TO BE ON KENTUCKIANS.

>> Bill: THE LEGISLATURE'S DOORSTEP.

>> IT COULD.

I THINK IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE THERE'S BEEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THIS IN CONGRESS THAT SOME OF THE CUTS MAY COME DOWN TO THE STATE TO DECIDE HOW THEY WILL COME OUT.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CITED THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE LOWER REIMBURSEMENT RATES IT MEANS THE STATE HAS TO TAKE ON MORE RESPONSIBILITY.

THAT MEANS A BALLOONING BUDGET FOR A STATE LIKE KENTUCKY WITH SUCH HIGH MEDICAID RATES OR IT MEANS CHANGING ELIGIBILITY, IT COULD MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> Bill: AND EATING DISORDER CLINIC IS CLOSING GOING TO LOSE $300,000 AND THAT MAY MEAN IT'S CLOSING UNDERCUTS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION THE NOTICE SAY THE PROJECTS DO NOT ENHANCE HEALTH OR REDUCE ILLNESS.

AND YOU WROTE ABOUT THAT, SARAH THIS WEEK.

>> THE EAT LAB IN LOUISVILLE IS NOT CLOSING.

BUT IT LOST $300,000 IN GRANT MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND THIS IS SORT OF PART OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S SORT OF ANTI-D.E.I.

EFFORTS.

WE KNOW A LOT OF FUNDING HAS BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM DIFFERENT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.

WE ALSO KNOW HE HAS GONE AFTER D.E.I.

PROGRAMS IN THE GOVERNMENT.

SO BASICALLY THERE ARE TWO SCIENTISTS IN THIS LAB WHO ARE NONWHITE INDIVIDUALS AND THEY HAD GRANT MONEY UNDER WHAT IS KIND OF CALLED A DIVERSITY SUPPLEMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE PART OF MINORITY POPULATIONS.

AND SO THEY HAD THAT MONEY THROUGH THAT DIVERSITY SUPPLEMENT BUT THE RESEARCH THEY WERE DOING WASN'T RELATED TO D.E.I.

AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT IS SO UPSETTING TO THE PEOPLE AT THE LAB.

IS JUST THEIR WORK WASN'T D.E.I.

AND THEY FEEL LIKE THAT TAKING THE MONEY AWAY FROM THEM SENDS THE MESSAGE THAT THEY ARE DOING WORK THAT DOESN'T MATTER AS MUCH BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN IS THEIR TAKEAWAY.

SO THE ARGUMENT THAT THEY ARE MAKING IS WE KNOW EATING DISORDERS ARE RAMPANT.

WE KNOW THEY CAN BE DEADLY THEY ARE VERY SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESSES.

THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO STUDY HOW TO TREAT AND PREVENT EATING DISORDERS.

AND SO NOW, WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS GOING AND CROWD SOURCING AND TRYING TO USE "GOFUNDME" PAGE TO RAISE SOME OF THE MONEY.

>> Bill: WERE THEIR STUDIES WITHIN SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE POPULATION OR GENERAL?

>> ONE OF THE STUDIES DEALT WITH GIRLS.

SO TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WE KNOW THAT GIRLS ARE PORE LIKELY TO END UP WITH EATING DISORDERS.

ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS WAS LOOKING AT WHAT FACTORS MIGHT LEAD TO THAT.

AND ONE THING HE TOLD ME WAS WELL, IF BEING A WOMAN IS BEING A D.E.I.

ISSUE YOU CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT THIS IS D.E.I.

RESEARCH.

>> Bill: THEY DO PLAN TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> Bill: SARAH YOU LOOKED AT ALZHEIMER'S IN KENTUCKY AND YOUR STORY WAS HEADLINED THE DISEASE YOU CAN'T SEE.

A LOT OF FACETS TO THAT.

>> AND YES CALLING IT THE DISEASE YOU CAN'T SEE BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS BUT HAVE ALZHEIMER'S.

MAYBE YOU DON'T GET CARE EARLY BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW.

THE REPORT SHOWED MORE THAN 80,000 KENTUCKIANS HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER'S.

AND MORE THAN 160,000 KENTUCKIANS ARE GIVING UNPAID CARE FOR A LOVED ONE WHO HAS ALZHEIMER'S.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE REPORT TELLS US THAT KENTUCKY NEEDS TO INCREASE BY 200% THE NUMBER OF JERRY TRITIONS WE HAVE IN KENTUCKY WHICH IS SUCH A HUGE THING TO TRY TO DO.

BECAUSE AS THE BABY-BOOMER POPULATION AGES, WE EXPECT TO SEE MORE DIAGNOSES OF ALZHEIMER'S.

WE ARE GOING TO NEED A POPULATION THAT CAN CARE FOR THOSE PATIENTS AND THOSE KENTUCKIANS.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS ADVOCATES WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS, WELL, A WAY TO INCREASE THE GERIATRICIANS THAT KENTUCKY HAS AND A TAX CREDIT FOR KENTUCKIANS OFFERING THAT FREE CARE FOR A LOVED ONE WHO DOES HAVE ALZHEIMER'S.

>> Bill: IT HAS BEEN PROPOSED.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT MOVES.

ALL RIGHT, REAL ID'S ARE BEING ENFORCED BUT THERE IS STILL THE POSSIBILITY OF FLYING WITHOUT ONE, ALTHOUGH JOHN SAYS IT CAN BE INCONVENIENT.

A LOT OF CONDUCTIANS -- KENTUCKIANS DO NOT HAVE THAT ID.

>> WE WAITED TOO LATE.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN.

THE STATE IS OFFERING NEXT SATURDAY 1500 SPOTS AROUND THE STATE FOR THE 15-YEAR-OLDS TO TAKE THEIR WRITTEN TEST TO RELIEVE THE BACKLOG AND THE BACKLOG IN JUNE THERE WAS A SENATE BILL PASSED THAT WOULD ALLOW THIRD PARTY LOCATIONS LIKE AAA OFFICES TO OPEN UP AS DRIVER'S LICENSE BUREAUS TO GET THE CROWDS OUT OF THE BUREAUS.

>> Bill: IT'S BEEN A LOGJAM.

A CASE THAT IS GETTING ATTENTION WILL COME BEFORE A JUDGE THIS COMING WEEK THAT SOME ARE REFERRING TO AS ROSE TWO.

THAT IS GOING BACK TO THE EDUCATION RULING FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT IN THE LATE 1980s.

BUT THIS IS A NEW LOOK AT THAT?

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

IT IS A GROUP OF STUDENTS CALLED THE KENTUCKY STUDENT VOICE TEAM TRYING TO REVIVE SO TO SPEAK THE ROSE DECISION THAT LED TO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES OVER THE COURSE OF THE 90s AND THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES IN THE STATE'S EDUCATION SYSTEM.

BASICALLY THE STUDENTS ARE ASKING FOR A JUDGE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT THAT THE STATE'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS CONSTITUTIONALLY UNDER FUNDED AND INEQUITABLELY FUNDED JUST AS THEY DID IN THAT ORIGINAL DECISION IT WILL COME BEFORE A JUDGE FOR ORAL ARGUMENTS THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN A LONG PROCESS ONE OF THE EARLY STEPS IN WHAT WILL BE A MANY-YEAR PROCESS.

>> Bill: WHY NOT ASK THE COURT TO ENFORCE THE ORIGINAL RULING?

>> I DON'T KNOW THE LEGAL STRATEGY HERE.

BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT THEY ARE ARGUING THAT THE ORIGINAL DECISION WAS IMPLEMENTED TO A LARGE DEGREE THEY MADE NECESSARY REFORMS IN THE ORIGINAL ACT IN THE 90s.

BUT THAT IT HAD ITS PROGRESSION AND THEN IT'S DROPPED OFF IT'S NO LONGER BEING EQUITABLY FUNDED AND ENFORCED THEY NEED A NEW JUDGMENT THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS ONCE AGAIN UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND THEY NEED THESE NEW CHANGES.

>> U.K. PRESIDENT CAPILOUTO TALKED TO ME ABOUT ATHLETICS THE UNIVERSITY CREATED AN LLC TO RUN ATHLETICS IN A BUSINESS WAY.

>> BASICALLY TO HAM ALL OF THE NAME IMAGE LIKENESS MONEY AND ALL THE REVENUE U.K.

ATHLETICS IS REORGANIZING AS A BUSINESS.

YOU HAVE AND PROFESSIONAL SPORTS FRANCHISE.

>> Bill: SO THEY NOW HAVE FORMED THIS CORPORATION AND TRYING TO WORK ALL THAT OUT AND THE PRESIDENT SAID IT WAS MUCH OF A RESPONSE TO COURT RULINGS BUT U.K. IS THE FIRST TO ADOPT THIS MODEL.

ANOTHER MAJOR STORY THE ELECTION OF THE FIRST POPE FROM AMERICA.

CARDINAL ROBERT PREINVOLVE IS FROM CHICAGO HE BECAME POPE LEO XIV AN ESTIMATED 200,000 CATTED LICKS IN KENTUCKY AND MANY HAVE CELEBRATED.

THE SELECTION OF THIS AMERICAN POPE.

>> I'VE SEEN HAPPY COMMENTS FROM LEADERS, POLITICIANS EVERYONE.

AN ARCHISH BISHOP IN LOUISVILLE SAID I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE AN AMERICAN POPE.

AND THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF JOKES ABOUT SPORTS TEAM LOYALTIES AND DEEP DISH PIZZA IT'S BEEN INTERESTING.

>> Bill: A DISASTER LETTER HAS GONE OUT IN SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR ASKING FOR ADD ADDITIONAL -- ADDITIONAL HELP FOR KENTUCKY.

>> IN SUPPORT OF BESHEAR'S REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL AID.

THE PRESIDENT HAS OK'd SOME OF THE AID THAT HE ASKED FOR BUT HE HAS MORE REQUESTS OUT.

>> Bill: MOTHER'S DAY IS SUNDAY AND WE OWE THE OBSERVENESS SHE WAS A TEACHER FROM HENDERSON AND SAID TO HAVE HELD THAT FIRST MOTHER'S DAY ON HER MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY IN 1887 AND RECOGNIZED BY PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.