[♪♪] >> Bill: ELECTION TIME, KENTUCKIANS ARE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT AND OTHER OFFICES AND DECIDING ABOUT TWO PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR CALLS FOR ELECTING THE PRESIDENT BY POPULAR VOTE AND REPUBLICANS PUSHBACK.

AN 11-PERSON WRITE IN RACE WILL DECIDE HO REPRESENTS A SENATE DISTRICT IN SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY.

PICKS GROWERS AND PROCESSORS AHEAD OF A JANUARY FIRST START DAY.

IT'S THOF NOW 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 A LOOK AHEAD TO THE ELECTION.

THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, TESSA DUVALL, POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

MONICA HARKINS, ANCHOR AND REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

AND MARK VANDERHOFF REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT MORE THAN A BILLION 1 BILLION IS COMING TO TENNESSEE FOR SOLAR POWER TWO KENTUCKIANS HELPED THE DODGERS WIN THE WORLD SERIES.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT, BUT KENTUCKY'S EARLY VOTER TURNOUT IS STRONG AS WE AIR LIVE ON THIS DPRI DAY NIGHT.

WE ARE HEADING INTO THE FINAL DAY OF EARLY VOTING ON SATURDAY.

ALL POLLING PLACES WILL BE OPEN ON TUESDAY.

MICHAEL ADAMS NOTES THE LENGTH OF THE BALLOT AND IS URGING VOTERS TO GET TO THE POLLS BEFORE THE ELECTION DAY IF YOU CAN.

>> I'VE BEEN OUT AROUND THE STATE AND ALSO PLACING PAID MEDIA ASKING VOTERS TO VOTE EARLY I'M CONCERNED ABOUT CROWDS ON ELECTION DAY.

THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING IN 2020 WE HAD 57,000 VOTERS VOTE THAT DAY.

AND IN 2022 WE HAD 81,000.

IN 2024225,000.

THAT A A MASSIVE NUMBER.

THERE WERE LINES AT CERTAIN POINTS OF THE DAY BUT THEY PETERED OUT.

IT'S BEEN STEADY.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

IT'S GOOD TO SHOW WE HAVE A GOOD TURNOUT AND WE'RE SPACING THE TURNOUT OVER FOUR DAYS SO WE DON'T HAVE THREE DAYS OF CRICKETS AND ONE DAY OF CROWDS.

>> Bill: NO CRIT KETS.

DLFS LEGISLATION FILED IN THE LAST SESSION THAT WE HAVE ELIMINATED EARLY VOTING AND IT FAILED.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD EXPAND EARLY VOTING TO A WEEK.

MARK, OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT JUST HOW WE TAKE THE VOTE?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW IF I SEE A LOT OF APPETITE IN THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY FOR A WEEK OF EARLY VOTING.

AND EVEN IF THERE WAS, I THINK A LOT OF STATE LAWMAKERS WOULD HEAR FROM THEIR COUNTY CLERKS WHO LIKE THE IDEA OF SPREADING THE VOTING OUT SO THEY ARE NOT GETTING SLAMMED ON ONE NIGHT, BUT THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS COSTING THEM EXTRA MONEY IT BEING A LOT OF EXTRA WORK.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF ALL THE COUNTY CLERKS IN THE STATE WOULD BE SOLD ON IT EITHER.

>> AND SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS HE IS LUCKY WE'RE CONTINUING IT.

BECAUSE WE DID SEE LEGISLATION TO REMOVE IT.

AND IN A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WE WILL SEE MORE VOTER TURNOUT BUT THE SHEER AMOUNT ON THE FIRST DAY OF EARLY VOTING IT'S ALMOST GOOD FOR HIM IN THE LONG-RUN TO KEEP AT LEAST THE THREE DAYS THAT WE DO HAVE.

>> Bill: AND WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS WAS A COVID WORK AROUND IN KENTUCKY THE WAY WE GOT STARTED WITH EARLY VOTING.

TESSA YOU HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER STATES AND COMPARED AND KENTUCKY DOES NOT ALLOW AS MUCH EARLY VOTING AS MOST STATES DO.

>> WITH THREE DAYS OF EXCUSE-FREE EARLY VOTING, KENTUCKY IS AT THE BOTTOM.

THREE STATES DON'T HAVE ANY FORM.

SO WE HAVE SOME DAYS.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES, THREE DAYS IS THE SHORTEST WINDOW AND 46 IS THE LONGEST AND THE AVERAGE IS 20.

WE ARE CERTAINLY BELOW AVERAGE IN THAT REGARD.

BUT AS WE'VE HEARD SECRETARY OF STATE ADAMS HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING KENTUCKY VOTERS THAT IF YOU LIKE THIS AND YOU WANT MORE OF IT, I NEED YOU TO USE IT.

I THINK HIS WORDS WERE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD VOTE EARLY.

SO CERTAINLY THIS IS MAKING THE CASE TO OUR ELECTED LEADERS THAT KENTUCKIANS DO LIKE THIS AND THEY ARE USING IT.

AND WE'RE SEEING THAT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE TURNING OUT.

SO FROM JUST THE THURSDAY NUMBERS WHERE WE HAD 225,000 VOTERS SHOW UP IN-PERSON, THURSDAY ALONE, 121,000 WERE REPUBLICANS.

THERE HAS BEEN SKEPTICISM IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY REGARDING EARLY VOTING.

BUT WE CERTAINLY SEE FOLKS ARE COMING AROUND.

>> Bill: SO FAR MORE REPUBLICANS ARE VOTING EARLIER THAN DEMOCRATS SO FAR.

>> ON THURSDAY.

>> Bill: MONICA, YOU COVERED WHAT FIRST APPEARED TO BE A MALFUNCTION OF A VOTING SYSTEM IN LAUREL COUNTY.

>> WHAT IT TURNED OUT TO BE WASN'T WHAT YOU SAW IN THE ORIGINAL VIDEO.

WE ARE TAKING A LOOK AT A BALLOT MACHINE IT IS A MARKER.

YOU PUT IN YOUR BALLOT AND IT MARKS FOR YOU AND THE ONLY OPTION THEY HAVE IN LAUREL COUNTY.

WE SAW A WOMAN TOOK A VIDEO WHERE SHE CLICKED DONALD TRUMP AND IT DID NOT SELECT AND SELECTING KAMALA HARRIS WHEN SHE MOVED HER FINGER TO ANOTHER PORTION OF THE VIDEO.

WHAT THE VOTERS DID NOT SEE SHE WAS ABLE TO ACCURATELY AND CORRECTLY CAST HER BALLOT WITHOUT PROBLEMS.

WHEN THEY VIDEO IS PUT OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IT GOES LIKE WILDFIRE.

LAUREL COUNTY CLERK ADDRESSED IT AND SAID WE HAD TROUBLE REPLICATING THAT MALFUNCTION AND IT TURNED OUT IT CAME DOWN TO WHERE YOU PRESSED THE BOTTOM NEAR THE PERIMETER?

IN-BETWEEN THE BOXES?

MAYBE YOU WILL GET A MALFUNCTION THEN.

BUT WE CHECKED THIS AND CALLED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND IT WAS CLEARED AND THE MACHINE IS BACK INTO THE ELECTION CENTER AND IS WORKING FINE.

AND, AGAIN, THIS VIDEO REALLY SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE.

>> Bill: DID THEY PULL THAT PARTICULAR MACHINE OUT OF SERVICE?

>> TEMPORARILY.

TEMPORARILY UNTIL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE COULD INVESTIGATE.

AND THEN TO CERTIFY THAT IT WORKED WAS THE OFFICIAL PROCESS THERE.

>> I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE ABOUT ALL OF THIS, IS THAT IT SHOWS THE SAFEGUARDS WORK.

SO THIS WOMAN WAS ULTIMATELY ABLE TO CAST HER BALLOT FOR WHO SHE WANTED TO VOTE FOR.

IT WAS REPORTED TO THE AUTHORITIES.

IT WAS INVESTIGATED.

AND THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED.

SO THIS IS TECHNOLOGY.

AND HUMANS ARE INVOLVED.

MISTAKES HAPPEN.

AND THIS WAS CAUGHT AND IT WAS CORRECTED.

AND I THINK WHAT IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW IS LIKE PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR INFORMATION.

WE'RE ALREADY SEEING REPORTS COMING OUT AROUND THE COUNTRY ABOUT RUSSIAN MADE VIDEOS ATTEMPTING TO SPREAD MISINFORMATION ABOUT HAITIANS VOTING AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF THAT IS NOT TRUE BUT IT'S MEANT TO DIVIDE AND UPSET AND CONFUSE THE ELECTORATE.

PLEASE GET YOUR VOTING INFORMATION FROM CREDIBLE SOURCES LIKE THE JOURNALISTS AND MY COLLEAGUES AND YOUR ELECTION OFFICIALS.

EVERYONE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARABILITY TO VOTE AND IT IS A SAFE AND SECURE ELECTION.

>> AND THE LAST THING TOO ABOUT THIS, THE BALLOTS IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS YOU CAN SPOIL UP TO TWO OF YOUR BALLOTS IN KENTUCKY SO YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CHANCES.

IF YOU NEED HELP AT THE POLLS THEY HAVE POLL WORKERS AND TRAININGS FOR THIS TO HELP YOU AND YOU CAN EVEN BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU A TRUSTED FRIEND, GUARDIAN AND THEY SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM PERMISSION BUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF SAFEGUARDS.

>> Bill: MARK, THE EARLY TURNOUT IS STRONG IN KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKIANS MAKING A LOT OF DECISIONS.

DONALD TRUMP GOT MORE THAN 60% OF THE VOTE IN 2016 AND 2020.

HE CARRIED 118 OF THE STATE'S 120 COUNTIES.

AND BOTH OF THOSE ELECTIONS.

IS HE LIKELY TO REPEAT THOSE MARGINS IN THIS ONE?

>> I THINK MOST PEOPLE AGREE THAT TRUMP IS VERY LIKELY TO CARRY KENTUCKY.

I THINK THE BIG QUESTION WILL BE WILL THE MARGINS BE AS STRONG AS THEY WERE?

THERE IS A SMALL WILDCARD AND THAT IS ABORTION.

WE SAW RECENTLY WHERE KENTUCKIANS THEY VOTED INDEPENDENT OF THEIR PARTY ON AMENDMENT THAT WOULD WOVEN SHRID KENTUCKY ABORTION BAN.

THEY DEFEATED THAT AMENDMENT.

SO DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND SAYING WELL MAYBE, MAYBE SOME REPUBLICANS WILL BREAK WITH DONALD TRUMP OVER THE ABORTION ISSUE.

SINCE IT WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO APPOINTED THE SUPREME COURT PICKS THAT HELPED OVERTURN ROE VS. WADE.

>> Bill: SOME KENTUCKIANS FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS THAT EMPHASIZE THE BATTLEGROUND STATES.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR CALLED FOR ELECTING THE PRESIDENTS BY POPULAR VOTE.

HE SAYS THAT WOULD MEAN THE DECISION WOULDN'T BE LEFT UP TO SEVEN STATES.

>> I SUPPORT ANY CHANGE THAT GETS US CLOSER TO EVERY SINGLE STATE BEING A PART OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

I THINK THAT A POPULAR VOTE WOULD BE A BETTER FORM OF DEMOCRACY WHERE WE WOULD SEE MORE CANDIDATES COME TO KENTUCKY.

AND ALSO COME TO OTHER STATES.

>> Bill: TESSA, BESHEAR WAS RESPONDING TO A QUESTION AND THEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF KENTUCKY PUSHED BACK HARD SAYING A POPULAR VOTE WOULD GIVE THE POWER TO THE POPULOUS STATES AND KENTUCKY WOULD NEVER SEE THE CAMPAIGN ANYWAY.

>> WE HAVE SEEN REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY AND SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WHO JUMPED ALL OVER THIS SAYS IT SHOWS DISDAIN FOR THE FOUNDING FATHERS AND BESHEAR IS NOTHING BUT A NATIONALIZED DEMOCRAT.

THE THING IS THE POSITION BESHEAR HAS TAKEN IS ONE THAT IS INCREASINGLY MAINSTREAM IN THE LAST 24 YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN TWO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WHERE THE CANDIDATE THAT WON THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE DID NOT WIN THE POPULAR VOTE.

AND SO THAT HAS HAPPENED A FEW OTHER TIMES BUT TO HAPPEN RECENTLY IT'S FRESH IN FOLKS' MINDS.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROBABLY, I WOULD SAY A LOT OF REPUBLICANS IN CALIFORNIA WHO FEEL SIMILAR TO KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS.

LIKE ON ELECTION DAY WHEN IT COMES TO PRESIDENTIAL STUFF IT'S GOING TO GO HOW IT'S GOING TO GO WHETHER YOU ARE THERE OR NOT.

VOTING MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN LOCAL ISSUES.

>> Bill: THERE IS NO REASON TO THINK THIS IS GOING TO COME UP IN THE LEGISLATURE.

CONTINUANCE THE AN ANSWER THE GOVERNOR GAVE.

THE TALKER IN THIS ELECTION HAS BEEN AMENDMENT 2 AND THE EFFORTS TO PASS IT OR DEFEAT IT HAVE BEEN STRONG.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MONEY SPENT AND PIT TO DO GOVERNOR BESHEAR AGAINST RAND PAUL.

PAUL IS FOR IT AND BESHEAR IS STAUNCHLY AGAINST IT.

AND THERE'S BEEN A BATTLE OF SEMANTICS.

SUPPORTERS WERE FULL THROATED WITH THE WORDS SCHOOL CHOICE.

LATER IN THE CAMPAIGN IT WAS MORE LET US BEGIN THIS DISCUSSION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SO TESSA, THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING CAMPAIGN.

>> IT HAS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THE NO ON 2 CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN EFFECTIVE FROM THE GET GO IS THEY HAVE REALLY FOCUSED ON THIS MESSAGE THAT VOTING YES ON THIS AMENDMENT WOULD BE HARMFUL FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND X, Y AND Z WAYS AND THEY HAVE STUCK TO THAT MESSAGE.

ON THE FLIP SIDE, YOU HAVE THE YES FOLKS SAYING THIS IS TO HELP PARENTS TO HAVE MORE OPTIONS.

WELL IT'S ACTUALLY TO LET THE LEGISLATURE HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

AND PART OF THE REASON THAT THE NO FOLKS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REALLY SOLIDIFY THEIR MESSAGE ABOUT A BLANK CHECK FOR EXAMPLE GIVE THE LEGISLATURE A BLANK CHECK THAT THERE IS NO UNDERLYING LEGISLATION FOR WHAT AMENDMENT 2 WOULD DO IF VOTERS PASS IT.

YES, IT ALLOWS THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION BUT WHAT DIRECTION THEY GO WITH THAT THEY DON'T KNOW.

THERE'S NO REAL CONCRETE RETURN FOR VOTERS IF YOU VOTE YES.

YOU DON'T KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP TO SEND YOUR KID TO PRIVATE SCHOOL.

BECAUSE NOTHING IN THE AMENDMENT DICTATES THAT.

>> AND TESSA IS RIGHT WITH THAT RHETORIC FROM THE VOTE NO FOLKS SAYING IT WILL HARM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THIS IS NOW PITTING PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT RURAL COMMUNITIES AND RURAL VOTERS THERE ISN'T A PRIVATE SCHOOL.

THOSE VOTERS ARE SAYING WHY WOULD I VOTE YES ON THIS WHEN I DON'T HAVE A PRIVATE SCHOOL IN MY COMMUNITY TO EVEN CONSIDER.

AND FOLKS MEANWHILE IN THE JCPS SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS COULD BE THE SAVING GRACE I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.

>> Bill: AND THE BATTLE LINES ARE NOT EXACTLY CLEAR, RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE IS SOME PARTISAN DIVIDE ON IT.

AND THERE'S RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE AND OBVIOUSLY THE PUBLIC VERSUS PRIVATE QUESTION?

>> YES, AND THAT WHAT MAKES IT SO HARD TO PREDICT THERE'S NOT CLEAR BATTLE LINES.

AND WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE, I DON'T GET A SENSE FROM EITHER SIDE THAT THEY ARE EXTREMELY CONFIDENT THAT IT WILL PASS OR FAIL.

SO, AGAIN, IT'S WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING TO WATCH.

>> Bill: LIKELY TO GO?

>> EVERYTHING I HEAR IS THAT FOLKS ARE FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT AMENDMENT 2 WILL FAIL.

AND LARGE PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE THE TWO BIGGEST OPPONENTS IN THE STATE ARE THE GOVERNOR AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THAT IS A REALLY LARGE BULLY PULPIT THAT THEY HAVE TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST THIS AMENDMENT.

AND THE GOVERNOR JUST WON A COMMANDING REELECTION LAST YEAR.

HE IS POPULAR.

HE IS POPULAR WITH TRUMP VOTERS SURVEYS IS SHOWED US.

IF HE SAYS NO AND PUTS HIS FACE ON IT THAT CARRIES WEIGHT WITH PEOPLE.

>> POPULAR WITH TEACHERS FOR SURE.

>> Bill: AND YOU HAVE A SENATOR RAND PAUL WHO GETS HIGH APPROVAL AND HE IS OUT THERE AS WELL.

THIS WILL BE ONE WE WILL BE WATCHING ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

THERE IS A VERY CLOSELY WATCHED AND WILD WRITE IN RACE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THAT IS TO FILL THE STATE SENATE SEAT LEFT VACANT BY THE DEATH OF JOHNNY TURNER.

IT INCLUDES BELL, FLOYD, HARLEN, AND LECTURE COUNTIES.

IT IS A FREE-FOR-ALL HERE.

11 WRITE IN CANDIDATES WHO ARE VYING FOR THAT SEAT?

SY.

YES, YOU GET THE SENSE THAT ANYTHING WITH HAPPEN.

THAT BEING SAID WE SAW THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HAL ROGERS WHOSE OPINION CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT ENDORSE SCOTT MADE EN.

THAT WILL HELP A LOT.

AND ANDY BESHEAR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACKIE MCGRANAHAN EN -- JACQUELINE COLEMAN.

>> Bill: ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN SCENARIO WHEN YOU WERE POINTING OUT THIS IS 11 CANDIDATES IN 11 DAY RACE.

>> THE FILING DEADLINE FOR WRITE INS WAS FRIDAY THAT IS 11 CANDIDATES HAVE THAT CHANCE TO GET THEIR NAME OUT THERE AND THE DISTRICT IN THE EASTERN KENTUCKY MOUNTAINS, CERTAINLY NOT STRAIGHT SHOT THROUGH TO HIT UP ONE CAMPAIGN STOP AFTER ANOTHER.

ABOUT 1900 SQUARE MILES.

CERTAINLY HAVING A PARTY OR A PROMINENT OFFICIAL THROW THEIR SUPPORT BEHIND YOU WILL HELP BUT ULTIMATELY YOU HAVE TO GET FOLKS TO REMEMBER YOUR NAME WELL ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN WRITE IT IN.

>> Bill: AND A LAST NAME IS GOOD ENOUGH.

>> A STRAIGHT TICKET VOTE WON'T MATTER.

EVEN IF THE CANDIDATE YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR IS A REPUBLICAN, BECAUSE THOSE VOTES SENATOR TURNER WILL STILL BE ON THE BALLOT THOUGH THEY WON'T BE COUNTED.

>> Bill: IS THIS A LESSON FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THEY WOULD HAVE PICKED UP THIS SEAT IF THEY JUST HAD HAD A CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT?

>> I THINK THERE ARE TWO GREAT EXAMPLES OF THIS THIS ELECTION SEASON.

YES, I THINK SENATE DISTRICT 29 WITH THE PASSING OF SENATOR TURNER IS AN EXAMPLE WHY YOU SHOULD FIELD CANDIDATES IN AS MANY DISTRICTS AS POSSIBLE AND IN LOUISVILLE, REPUBLICANS ON THE FLIP SIDE THE REPUBLICANS DID NOT RUN ANYONE IN THE SAME DISTRICT AS DANIEL GROSSBURG, DISOWNED BY ALL PROMINENT DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE AND YET THERE IS NO REPUBLICAN CHALLENGING HIM.

>> Bill: MARK YOU ARE WATCHING THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL RACES AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE INROADS?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

THEY HAVE THREE SEATS THAT THEY ARE HOPING TO FLIP.

AND ALL THE SEATS ARE ROUGHLY IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHIC PART OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE SOUTHWEST PART AND THE THINKING IS VOTER DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE BEEN CHANGING IN THE POST TRUMP ERA MAKING THE SEATS MORE OPEN FOR THEM TO WIN.

>> Bill: THERE IS CONFUSION IF PEOPLE LIVE IN SPENCER COUNTY OR SHELBY COUNTY.

THE COUNTY IS BEING ASKED TO GIVE UP SOME OF ITS PROPERTY.

IT IS RESIDENTS.

>> IT IS A VERY UNUSUAL SITUATION IN SHELBY COUNTY.

VOTERS WILL SEE A REFERENDUM THAT SAYS DO YOU SUPPORT GIVING UP 925 ACRES OF SHELBY COUNTY TO SPENCER COUNTY.

THIS ALL HAPPENED BECAUSE YEARS AGO, PEOPLE BOUGHT HOMES IN A SUBDIVISION ON THE COUNTY LINE.

AND AT THE TIME THEY WERE TOLD THE SUBDIVISION WAS IN SPENCER COUNTY.

SO THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING TAXES IN SPENCER COUNTY AND THEY REGISTER TO VOTE AND SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN SPENCER COUNTY.

NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY ARE TOLD WAIT YOU LIVE IN SHELBY COUNTY.

SO I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST SHELBY COUNTY BUT THEY ARE WORRIED DO I HAVE TO TAKE MY KIDS OUT OF THE SCHOOL THEY ARE USED TO BEING IN?

AND TAKE THEM AHUAWEI FROM THEIR FRIENDS.

SOME PEOPLE SAID SPENCER COUNTY HAS LOWER TAXES THAN SHELBY COUNTY.

EITHER WAY THIS GROUP OF RESIDENTS WENT AND FORMED A PETITION AND THEY ASKED TO HAVE THIS REFERENDUM PUT ON THE BALLOT TO SEE IF SHELBY COUNTY VOTERS WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE THE LANDOVER OFFICIALLY TO SPENCER COUNTY SO THEY COULD KEEP THEIR ADDRESSES THE SAME AND THEIR LIVES COULD GO ON THE SAME.

>> Bill: THAT IS INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE MEDICAL MARIJUANA VOTES IN 103 OF OUR LOCALITIES.

YOU WILL WANT TO WATCH FOR THOSE.

BECAUSE IT MAY DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT SOME OF THESE FACILITIES CAN BE IN YOUR CITY OR COUNTY.

THE FIRST MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSES WERE ISSUED THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY A LOTTERY DETERMINED CULTIVATORS AND PROCESSOR.

MONICA, SOME OF THE SUPPORTERS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA HAVE THEIR DOUBT AS TO WHETHER THE STATE CAN ROLL THIS OUT ON JANUARY FIRST.

>> IT'S NOVEMBER FIRST.

LET'S THINK ABOUT IT.

THEY JUST GOT THE LICENSES.

NOW THEY HAVE TO GET THE WHOLE OPERATION UP AND RUNNING LET ALONE DISPENSE?

WE DON'T HAVE DISPENSARY LICENSES YET.

TO GET THINGS DONE IN THAT AMOUNT OF TIME ANY PERSON WOULD SAY A GREAT GOAL BUT I BET WE DON'T MAKE IT.

>> Bill: WE HAVE THE SEE THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS.

>> YOU CANNOT GIVE A LICENSE IF THE COUNTY SAYS NO.

>> AND THE AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION AND SO NOW MORE QUESTIONS REMAIN BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES 0 COULD RESTRICT THE USE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS IN THE WORKPLACE, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWS IT, DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOUR EMPLOYER HAS TO ALLOW IT.

SO A LOT OF COMPANIES IF YOU GET IN A RECOLLECT IN A COMPANY -- WRECK IN A COMPANY CAR OR AN ACCIDENT ON A JOB SITE THEY WILL DRUG TEST YOU AND IF YOU COME UP WITH THC IN YOUR SYSTEM EVEN THOUGH IT'S LEGAL IN KENTUCKY, YOU MAY GET FIRED.

>> Bill: AND SCHOOLS ALSO WITH DECISIONS TO MAKE.

ALLISON BALL OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CABINET FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND WANTS TO KNOW THE DETAILS WERE SOME FOSTER CHILDREN WERE TEMPORARILY KEPT IN STATE OFFICE BUILDINGS, PARKS AND HOSPITALS.

MONICA, THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE KENTUCKY HAS A SHORTAGE OF HOMES OR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FACILITIES IN ONE CASE A TEENAGER WAS KEPT IN THE ONLY LNN BUILDING IN LOUISVILLE ON A COT?

>> THIS SAY BUILDING RIGHT IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN RIGHT BY THE BUSES.

IMAGINE THAT LIVING FACILITY FOR A TEENAGER.

AND WHAT HAS BEEN REALLY HAPPENING IS THE KENTUCKY CABINET HAS BEEN DOING THIS WITH NOT JUST ONE KID BUT THE ONE CHILD THAT WE HAVE SEEN BE THE STORY THAT KEPT THE ATTENTION BECAUSE A JUDGE ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN.

THESE CASES ARE PRIVATE.

THEY ARE CHILDREN.

THEY ARE NEGLECT, ABUSE.

THEY ARE PRIVATE YOU CAN'T KNOW ABOUT IT AND A LOUISVILLE JUDGE MADE THE CASE TO OPEN IT.

ON BEHALF OF THE PUBLIC, KNOWING THAT THIS IS GOING ON.

OTHERWISE THIS STILL COULD HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE.

THE AUDITOR IS SAYING LET'S LOOK INTO IT.

>> Bill: TERRY BROOKS IS A ADVOCATE FOR CHILD WELFARE SAID THIS PROBE COULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVEMENT IF IT IS BASED ON FINDING FACTS AND SOLUTIONS AND NOT ON SOME POLITICAL SCENARIO.

>> YES.

THE CATCH IS THAT THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE JUST GOT THIS ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE THE CABINET.

BECAUSE LET'S REMEMBER, WHILE THE CABINET MIGHT NOT BE SO PARTISAN IT IS UNDER THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION.

SO THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION MIGHT NOT BE AS INTERESTED IN AIRING THE DIRTY LAUNDRY BUT A REPUBLICAN HELD OFFICE WITH THE AUDITOR SHE MIGHT BE MORE INCLINED TO POKE THE BEAR AND POKE THE CABINET UNDER THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION.

>> Bill: AND DO THEY KNOW WHERE THE CHILDREN ARE KEPT AT THIS POINT?

>> SO, YES, THEY HAVE RENOVATED THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING TO INCLUDE BEDS.

BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE PROBLEM IS NOT GOING AWAY.

WE DO KNOW THAT STATE PARKS AND OWE HOTELS ARE USED WHILE LNN MAYBE NOT SO MUCH ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF PRESS THE CABINET HAS KEPT ME UP-TO-DATE ON THE NUMBERS.

WE ARE TALKING HUNDREDS OF KIDS WHO NEED THE MOST CARE BECAUSE THEY ARE TYPICALLY VIOLENT OR HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

AND THESE ARE THE ONES FINDING THEMSELVES IN A HOTEL.

>> Bill: TESSA, THE BRETT TRIAL HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME DAYS THERE IS A PARTIAL VERDICT THAT IS COMING IN THIS EVENING.

>> SHORTLY BEFORE WE STEPPED IN HERE TO START THIS SHOW WE DID SEE THAT A JURY THIS IS A FEDERAL JURY, HAS FOUND HIM NOT GUILTY OF VIOLATING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF BREONNA TAYLOR'S NEIGHBORS.

THE JURY WAS DEADLOCKED FINDING IF HE VIOLATED THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF BREONNA TAYLOR AND THEY ARE DINING TO DELIBERATE.

THIS IS NOT A PARTICULARLY SURPRISING DEVELOPMENT SO FAR.

BECAUSE IT IS JUST WE KNOW FROM DATA FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY IT IS TREMENDOUSLY DIFFICULT FOR PROSECUTORS TO SECURE CONNECTIONS ON POLICE OFFICERS BECAUSE THEY ARE GIVEN A LOT OF LEEWAY IN THE EYES OF THE PUBLIC.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT LIKELY TO DEVELOPMENT OVER THE WEEKEND, THE FUTURE OF SOLAR ENERGY MEANS THE STATE AND SOME COMMUNITIES ARE FACING MAJOR DECISIONS RIGHT NOW.

A FEDERAL GRANT OF MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS WOULD LET EAST KENTUCKY POWER SHIFT TO SOLAR FOR ENERGY AND LINDA GORTON VOICED OPPOSITION TO A SOLAR FARM IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

SHE SAID IT WAS DESIGNATED AS FARMLAND.

MARK, SOME SAY THE FUTURE OF SOLAR IS BRIGHT.

BUT YOU HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THOSE LARGE FACILITIES THOSE SOLAR FARMS BEING IN THEIR VICINITY?

>> YES, WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE WHERE COMMUNITIES ARE COMING OUT AGAINST THE SOLAR FARMS.

AND YOU MIGHT THINK IT IS THEY ARE POW OPPOSED TO SOLAR.

MAYOR GORTON DOES COME FROM A COUNTY THAT IS STRUGGLING TO PRESERVE RURAL LAND.

IT IS A FAST GROWING AREA WITH THE BEAUTIFUL HORSE FARMS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP AND PRESERVE.

SO I THINK A BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT FOR A LOT OF UTILITIES IT'S EASIER TO BUY A PLOT OF LAND AND THROW DOWN SOLAR PANTS.

CRITICS SAY THEY SHOULD BE PUTTING THESE PANELS ON BIG BOX STORES AND PARKING LOTS AND THE ROOFTOPS WE HAVE.

THAT'S JUST PROBABLY A MORE EXPENSIVE AND COMPLEX ENDEAVOR.

SO I THINK THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS DEBATE PLAY OUT HERE IN KENTUCKY AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AS WE SORT OF FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS.

>> Bill: TWO KENTUCKIANS PLAYED MAJOR ROLES AS THE DODGERS GRABBED THE WORLD SERIES.

AND CATCHER WILL SMITH IS A FORMER U OF L AND KENTUCKY COUNTRY DAY STAR FROM LOUISVILLE.

SO THE LAST PITCH WAS THROWN BY BUELLER AND CAUGHT BY SMITH.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> A GREAT STORY.

SMITH IS A GOOD ALL AROUND PLAYER HAD A GREAT BATTING AVERAGE IN LOUISVILLE.

BUELLER INTERESTING THING ABOUT HIM, WHEN HE WAS IN VANDERBILT HE WAS OFFERED A SPOT ON THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES AND TURN TO DO DOWN.

IMAGINE HOW DIFFERENT HIS LIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN.

>> Bill: AND WKU GRAD TOOK ONE OF THE ICONIC IMAGES POSTED BY SPORTS CENTER.

>> Bill: YOU HAVE HALLOWEEN CANDY AROUND AND THE FOLKS ARE GOING TO THE POLLS.

HOLIDAY ITEMS ARE COMING OUT UNDERBY TICKETS ARE ON SALE.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING TIME OF THE YEAR.

THAT IS COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.