[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKIANS IN WASHINGTON SENATOR McCONNELL PREPARES TO STEP ASIDE AS REPUBLICAN LEADER AND RAND PAUL GETS A POWERFUL CHAIRMANSHIP.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR WRITES AN OP-ED PIECE TO URGE DEMOCRATS TO FOCUS ON WHAT THEY CAN FIX.

A LAW CHALLENGES KENTUCKY ABORTION BAN.

AND DAVID OSBORNE MAKES HISTORY WITH HIS REELECTION AS SPEAK HER OF THE HOUSE.

50 YEARS AGO KET DEBUTED A GOLD ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF 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 MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE, AND BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

ALSO JOINING US TONIGHT IS A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE TO HELP US CELEBRATE COMMENT'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY.

[APPLAUSE] AND ALSO AHEAD TONIGHT IN OUR DISCUSSION A MAJORITY OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL BE WOMEN FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

AND THE KENTUCKY HOUSE AND SENATE MAJORITIES SELECT NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE HOPE YOU CAN STAY WITH US FOR THE FULL HOUR LONG EDITION OF COMMENT.

WE'LL BRING BACK FORMER PANELISTS AND LOOK BACK.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE NEWS OF THE WEEK AND A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE LAST WEEK.

WE KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE MADE IT A SWEEP IN WASHINGTON THEY WILL HOLD ON STOTT U.S. HOUSE AS WELL.

THAT KEEPS FIVE OF KENTUCKY'S SIX HOUSE MEMBERS IN THE MAJORITY.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER WILL CONTINUE AS HEAD OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

WE HAVE GUTHRIE AND BARR JOCKEYING FOR CHAIRMANSHIPS, HAL ROGERS IS THE DEAN OF THE HOUSE AND A LOT IS GOING ON.

WE'LL KEEP KENTUCKY CLOUT IN PLACE.

>> IT WILL.

TWO THINGS THAT COUNT IN WASHINGTON ARE CHAIRMANSHIPS AND ASSERT AND KENTUCKY IS IN THE POSITION TO HAVE A LOT OF THAT WITH HAL ROGERS AS THE DEAN OF THE HOUSE AND ANDY BARR WANTS TO BECOME CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE.

AND CONGRESSMAN GUTHRIE IS ANGLING FOR ENERGY AND COMMERCE AND THEY CAN DO A LOT FOR KENTUCKY IF THEY GET THOSE.

>> AND YOU HAVE RAND PAUL ON THE SENATE NOW NOW SELECTED TO CHAIR THE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE.

VERY IMPORTANT, BECAUSE OF THE ROLE IT CAN PLAY IN CYBERSECURITY.

WE KNOW SENATOR PAUL HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS ON THE AGENCY, SAYING HE WANTS TO ELIMINATE IT.

WASN'T HAPPY WITH HOW THEY REACTED ESPECIALLY IN THE WAKE OF THE 2020 ELECTION SOME OF THE EFFORTS TO COMBAT DISINFORMATION.

HE WANTS TO SHAKE THINGS UP.

>> Bill: THERE IS NO GLOSSING OVER THE LOSS OF THE INFLUENCE OF SENATOR McCONNELL WHO HAS BEEN SO POWERFUL AND A STRONG VOICE WITHIN THE SENATE.

>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

BUT YOU CAN LOOK AT WHO WAS VOTED ON TO REPLACE HIM.

HE STILL HAS CONTROL AND TRUST FROM A LOT OF THE REPUBLICAN SENATORS IN DC.

BECAUSE WE SAW RICK SCOTT DID NOT END UP GETTING THE NOD THERE.

HE IS SOMEONE WHO MANY OF THE SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP WANTED.

>> >> Bill: THE AMBITIONS IN WASHINGTON.

ANDY BARR WANTS THE FINANCIAL SERVICES CHAIRMANSHIP AND THAT IS POWERFUL.

HE SAYS THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO ATTACK SOME OF THE INTEREST RATES AND THE REGULATIONS THAT HE SAYS ARE KEEPING BANKING FROM BEING ABLE TO LEND TO PEOPLE.

AND FOR BUSINESSES TO THRIVE.

>> INTEREST RATES ARE SUCH A HOT TOPIC.

WE'VE SEEN INFLATION GET DOWN TO OVER 2%.

WE'VE SEEN WHAT A COUPLE OBVIOUSLY THE FED MAKING A COUPLE CUTS THERE.

I MEAN IT IS TOP OF MIND WHEN IT COMES TO HOW FAR YOUR DOLLAR GOES AND WHAT PRICES ARE.

>> AND BRETT GUTHRIE WANTS AN ENERGY CHAIRMANSHIP.

>> KENTUCKY IS AN ENERGY STATE AND COULD BE A PLUS FOR KENTUCKY.

THINK ABOUT HAL ROGERS HE HAS BEEN APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR THE BEST OF THE JOBS IN WASHINGTON.

AND WHAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO FOR KENTUCKY DURING THAT TIME.

THAT COULD PUT IF THEY GET THESE SLOTS GUTHRIE AND BARR COULD ALSO DO THINGS FOR KENTUCKY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SO FAR.

>> Bill: AS YOU MENTIONED RAND PAUL AND THE POLITICS OF ALL THIS AS WELL.

HE MENTIONED IN YOUR INTERVIEW, APPARENTLY, THE POTENTIAL THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR MIGHT RUN FOR McCONNELL'S SEAT IN 2026, EVEN THOUGH BESHEAR SAID THAT IS NOT IN THE CARDS.

>> I ASKED HIM ABOUT GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND HE SMILED AND HE TOLD ME THAT SOUNDS LOOK A GREAT QUESTION FOR "GOVERNOR'S AWARD IN THE ARTS."

BUT NONETHELESS, HE DID TALK ABOUT IN HIS MIND, HE BELIEVES SOME OF GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S STANCES ON LGBTQ+ ISSUES KIND OF DISCREDIT HIM FROM BEING ABLE TO RUN AT LEAST EFFECTIVELY OR COMPETITIVELY FOR U.S. SENATE SEAT IF HE DECIDED TO IF McCONNELL CHOSE NOT TO RUN FOR REELECTION.

HE BELIEVES POLICY TRUMPS EVERYTHING ON A FEDERAL LEVEL AND THESE ARE HIS WORDS RATHER THAN SPENDING YOU MONEY AND SHOWING UP WITH CHECKS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS PART OF THE SOUL SEARCHING RIGHT NOW, TRYING TO POSITION HIMSELF THERE.

RIGHT?

HE PENNED AN OP-ED PUBLISHED FOR A NATIONAL AUDIENCED IN NEW YORK "NEW YORK TIMES" HE WILL MAKE AN APPEARANCE ON CBS, FACE THE NATION PROGRAM THIS WEEKEND.

HE SAYS IF DEMOCRATS WANT TO WIN THEY HAVE TO FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYDAY AMERICANS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IN THAT OP-ED, ONE OF HIS POINTS THAT HE MADE TWO OTHER DEMOCRATS WHO MIGHT READ THAT ARTICLE WAS THAT DEMOCRATS SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON A PLATFORM THAT WOULD INSPIRE BETTER LIFE FOR AMERICANS AND FOCUSED ON ISSUES THAT HE'S TALKED ABOUT A LOT IN HIS OWN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.

JOBS, HEALTHCARE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

BUT HE MADE THE POINT THAT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE TO ABANDON THOSE ISSUES THAT HAVE BECOME CENTRAL TO THE NATIONAL PLATFORM.

HE NOTED IN THE ARTICLE THAT HE, HIMSELF, HAS VETOED ANTI-LGBTQ LEGISLATION.

AND ANTI-REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS LEGISLATION AS GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY.

AND HE'S A SUCCESS STORY FOR DEMOCRATS, RIGHT?

HE IS A TWO-TERM GOVERNOR IN A RED STATE.

AND HE HAS TO LOOK FOR A NATIONAL AUDIENCE IF HE WANTS TO MOVE ELSEWHERE IN POLITICS BECAUSE HE IS TERM LIMITED.

>> Bill: THERE WAS ANOTHER NATIONAL PIECE THAT SAID THE BESHEAR BRAND AND MADE REFERENCE TO HIS FATHER AND ANDY BESHEAR IS DIFFERENT FROM ONE THAT DEMOCRATS ARE SOMETIMES CRITICIZED FOR WHICH WAS INTERESTING.

THAT DISTINCTION WAS MADE FOR A NATIONAL AUDIENCE.

>> IT GOES TO THE BREAD AND BUTTER ISSUES THE CORE ISSUES.

SOME OF THE CRITICISM THAT YOU'VE SEEN WITH DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY ESPECIALLY IN THIS ELECTION IS THIS FOCUS ON WHAT THE OPPONENT DOESN'T DO OR THE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY OR A LOT OF POSSIBLY THE IDENTITY POLITICS IN THEIR WORDS THEY BELIEVE THAT GET AWAY FROM KENTUCKIANS ARE USED TO SEEING DEMOCRATS LOOK LIKE.

AND YOU CAN SEE GOVERNOR BESHEAR VERY MUCH THIS OP-ED WAS TACTICAL.

IT WAS A WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION.

IT READ LIKE HERE'S WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET SHOULD HAVE DONE.

AND EVEN USED WORDS LIKE IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED.

HE VERY MUCH, YOU CAN'T OVERSTATE LOOKING TOWARD 2028.

THE LANGUAGE TO PAY ATTENTION TO.

>> Bill: IT'S EVIDENT HE WANTS TO BE PART OF THE NATIONAL CONVERSATION.

>> HE COULD HAVE PUT THIS OP-ED ON CHANNEL 27 OR THE HERALD LEADER HE CHOSE THIS NATIONAL AUDIENCE TO KEEP HIS NATIONAL PROFILE.

>> Bill: DO YOU FORESEE SOME KENTUCKY BUSINESSES AT THIS POINT TRYING TO LOOK AHEAD THE CHANGE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP WILL TAKE OFFICE JANUARY 20TH.

THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEREGULATIONS, CERTAINLY THE DEPORTATIONS HE HAS PROMISED.

ARE BUSINESSES PREPARING?

>> WELL, BUSINESSES DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN YET, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT THEY KNOW FROM THE FIRST TIME AROUND WHAT HAPPENED.

SOME BUSINESSES IN KENTUCKY ARE LOOKING TO BENEFIT FROM LESS REGULATION MANY I SAW A PRESS RELEASE THIS WEEK FROM THE UTILITY INDUSTRY SAYING WE MAY SEE SLOWDOWNS IN COAL PLANTED RETIREMENTS.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE WERE SOME KENTUCKIANS SAID WE'RE HURT BY THE TARIFFS IN THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN YET SOME COULD BENEFIT AND SOME COULD BE HURT.

>> Bill: THERE WAS TALKS ABOUT THE TARIFFS IN FRANKFORT, DAVID, THERE WAS TALK IN A COMMITTEE THERE.

AND THEY HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY DISTILLERS ASSOCIATION WHO IS WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR THOSE TARIFFS.

LET'S HEAR THAT REAL QUICKLY.

>> WE'RE VERY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT TARIFFS COULD DO TO OUR INDUSTRY.

WE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE STEEL AND ALUMINUM TARIFFS FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND THEY ARE SCHEDULED TO COME BACK AT 50%.

AND THAT'S THE EU.

IF THOSE COME BACK AT 50% IT WILL CRIPPLE OUR EXPORT INDUSTRIES.

>> Bill: SO THERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CONCERN.

>> THINK IN THE FIRST TERM THE WOOD PRODUCTS IN KENTUCKY TOOK A HIT.

THE BUSINESSES ARE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, TARIFFS ON CHINA WILL DRAW A RESPONSE IF TRUMP PLACES TARIFFS ON CERTAIN THINGS THEY WILL RESPOND WITH TARIFFS ON SOME OF OUR PRODUCTS AND THAT IS WHAT GREGORY IS TALKING ABOUT HOW IT COULD HURT HERE.

>> Bill: AND FRANKFORT AND MAYBE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS SEEM TO BE TRYING GET A HANDLE HOW THE ROUNDUPS MAY LOOK, RIGHT?

>> WELL, PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP HAS PROMISED TO DEPORT SOMETHING LIKE 11 MILLION PEOPLE.

HE CAN'T DO THAT WITH WHAT OFFICERS ARE AVAILABLE FEDERALLY.

THERE'S 6,000 SOME FEDERAL OFFICERS COULD BE APPLIED TO THAT.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT INVOLVING THE MILITARY WHICH MAYBE ILLEGAL OR STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND THAT GETS TO BE PROBLEMATIC AS WELL.

>> 6,000 AN I.C.E.

OFFICIAL TESTIFIED SAYING KENTUCKY HAS UNDER 30 OFFICERS WHEN IT COMING TO ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW.

THAT BILL MENTIONED THIS IS GOING TO TRICKLE DOWN TO THE LOCAL DEPARTMENTS WHO MANY OF THEM ARE SHORT AS WELL.

>> Bill: McKENNA IS IT A SURPRISE TO YOU THAT SO MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT IS POTENTIALLY GOING TO HAPPEN ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL HAS COME TO THE CAPITAL ALONG THE KENTUCKY RIVER?

>> NO.

I MEAN NATIONAL AND STATE POLITICS ARE INTERTWINED WE SEE THAT IN THIS PAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

WE SAW GOVERNORS VYING TO BE RUNNING MATES HERE IN KENTUCKY.

WE SAW BESHEAR TRYING TO BE KAMALA HARRIS' RUNNING MATE AND GET OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

AND WE'VE SEEN REPUBLICAN FIGURES TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT AS WELL.

IT IS NOT SURPRISING TO SEE THAT.

>> Bill: IN JANUARY WHEN JUSTICE ELECT PAM GOODWINE, IN THE SUPREME COURT IT WILL BE MAJORITY FEMALE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

KENTUCKY WILL HAVE THE FIRST WOMAN CHIEF JUSTICE WHEN THE COURT TERMS AGAIN IN JANUARY.

THE JUSTICE MOVED UP FROM SPHENNOGRAPHER AND LEGAL SECRETARY TO THE STATE'S HIGHEST COURT.

AND SHE TOLD ME, McKENNA HER MOVEMENT WAS INTENTIONAL.

SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT.

>> YES.

AND THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A HISTORIC SUPREME COURT FOR WOMEN IN KENTUCKY.

BECAUSE OF THIS NEW MAJORITY, I SPOKE WITH THE TWO FIRST FEMALE JUSTICES ON THE SUPREME COURT SARA WALTER COMES AND JANET ABOUT THEIR TIME IN A LEGAL CAREER AND SERVING ON THE COURT.

BOTH OF THEM SAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF WOMEN ON THE COURT IS A REFLECTION OF THE INCREASE IN WOMEN IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION AS A WHOLE.

BOTH OF THEM TOLD ME THEY WERE AMONG THE FEW WOMEN IN THEIR LAW CLASSES WHEN THEY WERE LAW STUDENTS NOW WE'RE SEEING A RISE OF WOMEN IN LAW SCHOOLS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

IN FACT, BOTH THE U OF L, AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY THE MAJORITY OF THOSE CLASSES WERE WOMEN.

>> Bill: SO THE PROFESSION HAS CHANGED PROFOUNDLY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH ME SAYING HAVING THIS MAJORITY IT'S TAKEN A LOT OF TIME TO HAVE THAT FOR WOMEN BUT IT'S BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE THAT'S HAPPENING IN LAW CLASSES.

A JUDICIAL CANDIDATE YOU HAVE TO BE A LAWYER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS DEPENDING WHAT POSITION YOU WANT TO RUN FOR.

BECAUSE THERE ARE MORE WOMEN BEING LAWYERS WE SEE MORE WOMEN BEING JUDGES IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: WE TALKED ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THE JUDICIAL BRANCH AND THE LEGISLATURE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID OSBORNE HAS BEEN REELECTED SPEAKER OF THE KENTUCKY HOUSE.

IT WILL BE HIS FOURTH TERM THE FIRST REPUBLICAN TO LEAD THE CHAMBER FOR THAT LONG.

DAVID MEADE WILL SERVE A FOURTH TERM AS THE SPEAKER PRO-TEM AND THE OTHER LEADERS ELECTED ON THE HOUSE SIDE.

IT WAS AN INTERESTING WEEK THERE?

>> YES.

SO YOU SAW THE SAME PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE KEEP THEIR LEADERSHIP ROLES.

AND THAT KIND OF SIGNALS THAT THERE'S AT LEAST A CONSENSUS IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE IN POWER.

THERE WAS LITTLE OPPOSITION, CLEARLY BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE WON THE REELECTION.

>> Bill: ON THE SENATE SIDE THEY'VE NAMED THEIR LEADERSHIP AND MOST OF THE FACES ARE FAMILIAR.

>> MOST ARE.

BUT SOME ARE NEW FACES.

SENATOR MAX WISE WAS ELECTED AS THE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER.

HE WILL BE SUCCEEDING OUTGOING SENATOR THAYER IN THAT ROLE.

THAYER ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR HE WILL NOT BE SEEKING REELECTION.

SO THAT WAS EXPECTED.

AND THEN ALSO SENATOR ROBBY MILLS WILL BE THE NEW MAJORITY CAUCUS CHAIR.

THAYER ON HIS OUTGOING HAS LONG SUPPORTED SENATOR JULIE ROCKY ADAMS WHO IS THE FORMER CHAIR CAUCUS CHAIR AND SO IT'S INTERESTING WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

>> Bill: AND WE DIDN'T HEAR WAS SHE IN THE RACE AT ALL?

>> I ASKED FOR THE VOTE TOTALS AND IF THERE WERE ANY ALTERNATIVE CANDIDATES.

BUT THEY WERE NOT RELEASED.

>> SEEMS SHE IS POPULAR YOU HAVE TO WONDER.

IS SHE LOOKING AT LOUISVILLE?

THE MAYOR'S RACE IS COMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE LOCAL PARTY THE JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY WANTS TO HAVE A CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE AS THEY SAY BECAUSE THOSE ELECTIONS WILL BE NONPARTISAN.

>> Bill: THERE'S SPECULATION.

ALL RIGHT.

OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE COMING UP THAT WE CAN JUST FORESEE AROUND THE HORIZON FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

A.I.

CAME UP THIS WEEK.

>> THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TASK FORCE HAD THE LAST MEETING THIS WEEK AND THEY MADE 11 FINDINGS AS WELL AS SOME -- 11 RECOMMENDATIONS AND FINDINGS THAT ARE SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION.

SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON, POLICY AREAS WITHIN A.I., INCLUDE ELECTIONS, AND PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THOSE ELECTIONS IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: WE ANTICIPATE THE INCOME TAX WILL BE LOWERED AGAIN?

>> THE REPUBLICANS WILL KEEP AFTER THAT UNTIL THEY GET IT TO ZERO.

>> Bill: AND CELLPHONES IN SCHOOLS.

>> STEVE WEST BEFORE THE ELECTION, THE CHAIR OF SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE SAID THAT WILL BE AN ISSUE COMING UP THIS TIME CELLPHONE USE IN SCHOOLS.

>> Bill: A PREGNANT WOMAN IS CHALLENGING KENTUCKY ABORTION BAN.

THE PLAINTIFF USED A PSEUDONYM AND SHE IS BACKED WITH LEGAL HELP FROM THE A.C.L.U.

>> A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO WANTS AN ABORTION CHALLENGES THE KENTUCKY LAWS THAT BAN THAT PROCEDURE.

SHE IS IDENTIFIED MARY POE IN THE LAWSUIT.

SHE SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT ENDING MY PREGNANCY IS THE BEST DECISION FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

AND THAT SHE BELIEVES THIS IS A PERSONAL DECISION, A DECISION THAT SHE BELIEVES SHOULD BE MADE BY HERSELF ALONE.

AND NOT BY ANYONE ELSE.

KENTUCKY DOES HAVE THAT TRIGGER LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT WHEN ROE WAS OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN 2022.

SO THIS IS THAT LAW SHE IS CHALLENGING.

AMONG THE DEFENDANTS IN THE LAWSUIT, IS REPUBLICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN.

AND HE SAID IN A STATEMENT AFTER THIS WAS FILED THAT HIS POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED ON ABORTION.

HE SAYS THAT THE AG'S ROLE IS TO DEFEND LAWS THAT ARE PASSED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

AND HIS OFFICE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT IN THIS CASE.

BUT HE BELIEVES THAT THE LAW SHOULD BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE EXCEPTIONS IN CASES OF RAPE AND INCEST AND THAT IS SOMETHING SAID ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> Bill: DO WE ANTICIPATE A BILL IN THAT REGARD.

>> RUSSELL COLEMAN IS BEING OUTSPOKEN AT THIS TIME ABOUT HIS STANCE ON THOSE EXCEPTIONS.

I'VE HEARD THERE IS SUPPORT AMONGST REPUBLICANS FOR IT WHO CONTROL THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

BUT MANY OF THEM HAVE SORT OF PUT IT ON THE BACK BURNER AS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION BECAME FIRST AND FOREMOST.

NOW WITH TRUMP IN OFFICE DOES THAT STAY SOMEWHAT OF A PRIORITY?

WAS THAT JUST A WAY TO POSSIBLY APPEAR TO TALK TO THE MODERATES IN THE STATE?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Bill: YOU'VE TALKED TO HADLEY DUVAL ABOUT WHY THE ABORTION ISSUE DID NOT LEAD TO VICTORY FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

>> SHE WAS HONEST.

SHE TOLD ME SHE WAS TRAVELING ACROSS THE COUNTRY SHE FELT LIKE DONALD TRUMP WAS GOING TO WIN.

AND ULTIMATELY WE SAW THE ISSUES THAT PLAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS BE HOW MUCH AM I PAYING FOR GROCERIES?

WHAT DOES IMMIGRATION LOOK LIKE?

WHAT IS THE SITUATION ON THE BORDER?

SHE SAID FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF BELIEVE IN HER WORDS WHO BELIEVE EXCEPTIONS, WHO BELIEVE IN AT LEAST SOME ABORTION RIGHTS, MANY OF THEM VOTED FOR TRUMP ANYWAY.

BECAUSE OF THE PRIORITY ISSUES REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS TOOK A BACKSEAT.

>> THAT ISSUE IS HANDLED AT THE STATES AND EVERY STATE, ABORTION RIGHTS HAVE WON.

A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE NATIONAL RACE FELT IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AT A STATE LEVEL.

>> SEVEN OF 10 STATES VOTED TO BAN EXCEPTIONS AND MANY STATES DID VOTE FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP INCLUDING MISSOURI AND MONTANA.

>> Bill: OF KENTUCKY CITY AND COUNTY THAT PUT MEDICAL CANNABIS ON THE BALLOT VOTED TO ALLOW IT.

THE ROLLOUT OF THE PROGRAM IS RUNNING BEHIND.

>> I WOULD REMIND FOLKS THAT WE ARE LIKELY NOT TO HAVE FULL PRODUCT ON THE SHELF OR PRODUCT ON THE CHEF JANUARY 1.

THE WAY THE PROGRAM WAS SETUP, WE HAVE TO BUILD THE SYSTEM OUT.

AND WE HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT.

GET TO GO RIGHT AND DOING IT SAFELY, IS THE NUMBER ONE GOAL HERE.

>> Bill: BILL, DO WE HAVE A SENSE OF HOW LONG THESE DELAYS MAYBE?

>> I SAW ONE ESTIMATE IT COULD BE FROM MARCH TO JUNE BEFORE YOU HAVE PRODUCT ON THE SHELF.

THIS IS A BIG SYSTEM YOU ARE TRYING TO BUILD OUT WHEN THE KENTUCKIANS APPROVED THE LOTTERY IT TOOK ALMOST A YEAR TO GET THAT SYSTEM BUILT OUT AND READY TO GO.

IT JUST TAKES A WHILE.

>> Bill: THE SK PLANT STARTED TRAINING EMPLOYEES.

750 SO FAR.

AND THERE IS A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT BATTERY RELATED BUT NOT AUTO BATTERIES?

>> I THINK BIG PICTURE YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE GROWTH IN THE AREAS.

SHELBY COUNTY, HOW DOES THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT THIS BOOM.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THAT HAPPENS FOR E TOWN GROWING SO QUICKLY.

>> Bill: SOME KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS CALLING ON JEFFERSON COUNTY'S SCHOOLS TO FIRE THE CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER AFTER CONTROVERSIAL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS?

>> YES.

HE MADE TWEETS ON HIS PERSONAL X ACCOUNT THAT WERE FOCUSED ON CONVERSATIONS HE'S HAD WITH BLACK YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND BLACK STUDENTS.

AFTER DONALD TRUMP'S ELECTION.

AND THOSE TWEETS WERE HIGHLIGHTED BY AN ACCOUNT OF LIBS OF TIKTOK AND THAT RESULTED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE WE SAW FROM REPUBLICANS.

>> Bill: DEADLY EXPLOSION AT A FOOD COLOR PLANT IN LOUISVILLE.

>> STILL WAITING ON THE CAUSE.

AND BILL, TODAY, BIG NEWS WE HEARD FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY, OF COURSE, THAT FOOD COLORING PLANT SHE TOOK FULL RESPONSIBILITY.

SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO HELP PAY FOR THE DAMAGES BUT THE RESIDENTS WANT TO SEE THEM IN-PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEY HAVE BEEN ELUSIVE.

>> Bill: THANKS TO OUR PANEL ON THIS BUSY NIGHT.

WE'RE MOVING ON.

COMMENT IS KENTUCKY THE LONGEST RUNNING PROGRAM HERE ON KET.

AS FAR AS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM AND TONIGHT WE ARE MARKING 50 YEARS ON THE AIR.

IT DEBUTED ON NOVEMBER 11, 1974.

KET FOUNDER LEN GNARLED PRESS CREATED THE SHOW AND RECRUITED AL SMITH TO HOST IT.

AND A GAD FLY NEWSPAPER EDITOR IN LOGAN COUNTY WOULD PROVE HIMSELF ABLE, PROVOCATIVE AND WISE CRACKING AS A BROADCASTER WHO COULD CUT TO THE CHASE.

HE RAN THE SHOW FOR 33 YEARS BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT IN 2007.

AS ONLY THE THIRD MODERATOR OF COMMENT IN 50 YEARS I'M PROUD TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION OF THE BROADCAST THAT GIVES INSIGHT WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

WE TALK ABOUT POWERPLAYS AND THE AMBITIONS THAT SOMETIMES SHAPE THE STATE AND SINCE THE BEGINNING WE HAVE BEEN ASPIRATIONAL.

KENTUCKY IS OUR HOME AND WE WANT ITS BEST VERSION.

JOURNALISM GIANTS TALK ABOUT THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO COMMENT AND HOW THEY APPRECIATE ITS IMPORTANCE.

AL CROSS AND FERRELL WELD MAN REMEMBER.

>> THERE WEREN'T VERY MANY STATE NETWORKS THAT HAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS FUNCTIONS.

IT WAS A VERY TRICKY THING.

THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING WAS ONLY CREATED IN 1967 AND IN 1974 HE AND LYNN PRESS WERE TALKING A PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOW AND THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR WAS ON THE KET BOARD AND OBJECTED THAT KET HAD NO BUSINESS OF GETTING INTO ANY SUCH THING.

BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER KENTUCKY IS DIVIDED BETWEEN 10 TELEVISION MARKETS.

AND ONE MAJOR MARKET LIES WITHIN THE STATE AND A LOT OF THE MARKETS HAVE TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO OTHER STATES THAN THEY DO TO KENTUCKY.

AND KET AND COMMENT REALLY HELPED GIVE PEOPLE A PLACE TO GO FOR BROADCAST COVERAGE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

AND COMMENT LED THE WAY WITH THAT.

>> NOW, HERE IS YOUR HOST WITH THIS WEEK'S PANEL AL SMITH.

>> GOOD EVENING AS WE SAY.

>> THE COMMONWEALTH HAS REALLY NEVER HAD ANYBODY QUITE LIKE ALBERT P. SMITH, JR. ONCE HE KICKED LIQUOR, HE KICKED HIMSELF INTO HIGH GEAR.

AND HE BECAME ACTIVE IN LOTS OF VARY OUT PURSUITS AND HE WAS THE INCOMING PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY PRESS ASSOCIATION WHEN LEN PRESS DECIDED THAT KET NEEDED A PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOW.

AND SOMEONE MAYBE AL THROUGH A THIRD PARTY SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE AL BE THE PERSON TO DO THAT.

THAT WAS IN THE HERALD NEWSROOM IN MAY OF 1975.

THE PHONE RANG.

MARY K. TRAIL ANSWERED IT AND ANNOUNCED TO THE ROOM IT'S AL SMITH HE WANTS SOMEBODY TO BE ON HIS TV SHOW.

AND I SAID GIVE ME THE PHONE.

AND I CAME TO LEXINGTON WITH AL AND HIS CAR I DROVE PART OF THE WAY, ACTUALLY.

OF AND WE GOT TO KNOW EACH OTHER VERY WELL.

AND I WOUND UP WORKING FOR HIM FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.

>> GOOD EVENING, NEARLY A MILLION SENIORS GRADUATED FROM AMERICAN COLLEGES THIS MONTH AND LAST.

THREE OF THEM FROM KENTUCKY ARE WITH US TONIGHT.

AL CROSS, FROM WESTERN UNIVERSITY, WHO WAS EDITOR OF THE COLLEGE.

>> FIRST SHOW I APRIORED ON WAS THREE RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES TALKING ABOUT THEIR COLLEGE CAREERS AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO GO INTO THE WORLD OF WORK AND WHAT COLLEGE HAD BEEN LIKE.

>> AS MY PLANS STAND RIGHT NOW I'M GOING TO MON SELL LOW TO WORK ON A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER.

>> IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE MUCH OF A SHOW BUT YOU KNOW AL HE COULD MAKE LEMONADE OUT OF LEMONS.

>> AND THE LATE 1970s, AL WAS APPOINTED THE FEDERAL CO-CHAIR OF THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION.

AND HE WENT TO WASHINGTON FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.

GLEN BASTEN THE NEWS DIRECTOR TOOK TURNS HOSTING COMMENT.

WE DID IT EVERY OTHER WEEK.

AND WE DID IT FOR THREE YEARS.

SO I HOSTED IT IN THE LATE 70s AND EARLY 80s.

>> I'M FILLING IN FOR AL SMITH.

>> AND WHEN AL CAME BACK, RETURNED AS A FAIRLY REGULAR PANELIST OR GUEST ON THE PROGRAM.

MARK HEBERT AND I USED TO JOKE THAT OUR JOKE WAS TO KEEP AL SMITH FROM TALKING ABOUT BANKING EVERY WEEK.

AND I BECAME THE REGULAR HOST IN EARLY 2008 AND I KEPT THAT UNTIL 2014.

>> LEGISLATORS LEARNED IF THEY WILL HAVE OPPOSITION FOR THE PRIMARY OR THE GENERAL ELECTION OR MAYBE BOTH.

>> WHEN COMMENT FIRST STARTED BACK IN THE 70s, THERE WERE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE STATE WHO WERE THEY WERE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHO HAPPENED.

BUT THEY DIDN'T KNOW THE INSIDE.

THEY ARE GETTING MOST OF THEIR NEWS FROM ACCURATE WIRE SERVICE STORIES, PRIMARILY ONCE YOU GET AWAY FROM LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE, PRIMARILY IN NEWSPAPERS, AND THEY WERE ACCURATE STORIES BUT THEY DIDN'T GIVE YOU THE INSIDE STORY.

SO AL STARTED HAVING PEOPLE ON WHO WERE CLOSEST TO THE STORY.

HE HAD OCCASIONALLY HAVE COLUMNISTS AND EDITORIAL WRITERS BUT BUT HE WANTED THE REPORTERS WHO KNEW MORE ABOUT THE STORY THAN ANYONE ELSE AND HAD AN OPPORTUNITY THROUGH THIS PROGRAM TO EXPLAIN THINGS THAT THEY COULD NOT WORK INTO THE STORIES THAT WERE PRINTED.

SO YOU WATCHED THE NEWS AND YOU GET AN IDEA OF WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU COULD WATCH COMMENT AND FIND OUT WHY IT HAPPENED.

>> I WAS WATCHING ON A SMALL BLACK AND WHITE TELEVISION IN MY APARTMENT IN ELIZABETHTOWN WHERE I WAS A REPORTER FOR THE NEWS ENTERPRISE.

AND CAME ACROSS COMMENT AND THOUGHT WOW, I WONDER IF SOME DAY I COULD KNOW ENOUGH TO BE ON THAT SHOW.

COMMENT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT INSTITUTION TO JOURNALISM IN KENTUCKY.

JOURNALISM MAYBE LESS SO THAN IT WAS IN PRIOR YEARS, IS VERY COMPETITIVE.

WE WORK HARD TO BREAK STORIES TO BE THE FIRST TO HAVE A BIG STORY.

AND COMMENT WAS COME TOGETHER IN A SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP AND UNITY AND FUN TO TALK TO KENTUCKIANS ABOUT THEIR GOVERNMENT, THEIR POLITICS, THE ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, THE ECONOMY, ALL THE THINGS THAT REALLY ARE SO IMPORTANT IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

AND TO BRING THAT KIND OF YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE CAPITOL EVERYDAY.

WE ARE THERE FOR YOUR AUDIENCE ON COMMENT.

>> WE LIVE IN AN ERA WHEN IT'S REALLY HARD TO TELL WHAT IS REAL FROM WHAT'S NOT.

AND THERE ARE FORCES OUT THERE THAT ARE CYNICALLY FEEDING THE PUBLIC MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION AND IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE REAL THING.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO COME ON COMMENT ARE DEDICATED TO FACTUAL REPORTING.

AND TO FERRETING OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN KENTUCKY.

>> I THINK THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL THAT THERE IS A "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" THAT THERE IS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS FUNCTION ON A STATE-OWNED NETWORK WHICH IS NOT THE EASIEST THING TO DO.

AND I AM THANKFUL EVERYDAY WE HAVE IT AND I WISH EVERY OTHER KENTUCKIAN WAS, TOO.

>> I THINK COMMENT IS IN GOOD HANDS, BILL BRYANT HAS A WONDERFUL REPUTATION.

HE IS A ESTABLISHED JOURNALIST AND IT IS AN ESTABLISHED SHOW.

AND I THINK NOW MORE THAN EVER, THERE IS A PLACE FOR COMMENT.

>> I KNOW THAT COMMENT VIEWERS APPRECIATE THE PROGRAM AND KET.

AND I'M HOPING FOR ANOTHER 50 YEARS AT LEAST.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT ERA WHEN "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" DEBUTED BACK IN 1974.

MANY KENTUCKIANS CONSIDERED THEMSELVES FORTUNATE TO GET THREE COMMERCIAL TV CHANNELS AND KET.

THERE WAS NO INTERNET, NO CELLPHONES.

CABLE SYSTEMS WERE JUST COMING ON THE SCENE TO BRING YOU DISTANCE CHANNELS.

THE LEGISLATURE MET EVERY TWO YEARS.

GOVERNORS WERE ENORMOUSLY POWERFUL.

WITH US TONIGHT TO REMINISCE SOME OF THE FORMER PANELISTS, LINDA BLACKFORD OPINION COLUMNIST FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

DEBORAH YETTER, FORMER REPORTER FORETHE COURIER JOURNAL.

TOM LOFTUS FORMER FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE COURIER JOURNAL AND JACK BRAMMER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND MARK HEBERT FORMER REPORTER IN LOUISVILLE.

WE ARE GOING TO LOOK BACK AND REMINISCE WITH A LIVE AUDIENCE JOINING US HERE THIS EVENING.

[APPLAUSE] WE SO APPRECIATE THAT.

IT IS LIKE BEING AT FANCY FARM WITH THE CROWD OUT HERE.

YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" WITHOUT STARTING WITH AL SMITH.

WHAT A CHARACTER, WHAT A GENTLEMAN.

WE ARE ALL BETTER FOR HAVING KNOWN HIM AND WE KNOW HE STARTED THE PROGRAM AND NURTURED IT AS HE DID SO MANY OF US.

MARK, YOU KNOW, IF WE OFFERED RESISTANCE LIKE WE HAD SOMETHING ELSE TO DO OR WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT THAT WEEK, HE WOULD TELL US WHAT WE'D COVERED AND WHAT HE WANTED YOU TO TALK ABOUT.

>> HE WOULD.

HE WOULD CALL UP ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND CAN YOU BE ON COMMENT FRIDAY NIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO COVER?

AND FRIDAY NIGHT IT CHANGED.

SHOW UP AT 10 MINUTES UNTIL 8:00 P.M., DRIVING IN HERE AL MARK YOU ARE DOING THIS AND JACK YOU ARE DOING THIS AND TOM YOU ARE DOING THIS.

BUT I THOUGHT YOUR INTRO TO HIM BEFORE THE SHOW STARTED, THE WISE CRACKING GAD FLY, BILL?

WHICH HE WAS.

BUT I THINK AL HAD A GREAT MANNER ABOUT HIM.

AND I THINK HE BROUGHT OUT THE BEST IN ALL OF US.

AND BEING ABLE TO SAY ALL RIGHT, TOM, HERE IS YOUR STORY FROM THIS WEEK BUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

>> WHAT MADE AL SPECIAL HE KNEW KENTUCKY AND HE LOVED KENTUCKY.

AND I THINK THAT'S AT THE CORE OF ANY GREAT JOURNALIST.

I WILL SAY, HOWEVER, THERE IS A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE AL SMITH YEARS AND THE FERRELL AND BILL YEARS.

AND IT'S PRIMARILY THAT AL'S LIKE JACK AND I, WE COME FROM THE PRINT WORLD WHEREAS BILL AND FERRELL IN ADDITION TO BEING SMART GUYS AND EXCELLENT REPORTERS, ARE JUST WORLD CLASS BROADCAST PROS.

I MEAN EVERYTHING CLICKS ON A BILL OR A FERRELL PROGRAM.

AL, I RECALL ONE PROGRAM THE FELLOW WITH A CAR BY THE CAMERA WAS FLASHING UP ONE MINUTE LEFT.

AND AL TURNS AND HE SAYS TOM LOFTUS, HAS THIS CARROT WORKED OR NOT?

30 SECONDS.

AND I SAID WELL, THAT IS A MATTER OF DEBATE, AL.

THANK YOU, TOM.

YOU KNOW.

SO HIS TIMING AS A BROADCASTER.

BUT THAT WASN'T HIS BACKGROUND.

HE JUST WANTED TO HAVE A PROGRAM WHERE HE KNEW HIS STUFF AND TRIED TO LAY IT OUT THERE.

>> Bill: WE NOTE THAT MARTHA HELEN AL'S WIDOW IS HERE WITH US AND WE'RE PLEASURED THAT THAT COULD BE THE CASE.

IN THIS CROWD HERE THIS EVENING.

AS LINDA, YOU LOOK BACK AND RECALL THOSE EARLY DAYS, IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME?

>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME.

AND ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT AL HE WAS SUCH A MENTOR TO YOUNG REPORTERS.

I WAS 28 WHEN I FIRST CAME HERE.

AND THAT WAS A LONGTIME AGO.

AND HE IMMEDIATELY WOULD TAKE FIND A YOUNG REPORTERS COVERING THINGS IN FRANKFORT AND INVITE THEM ON THE SHOW AND IT WAS TERRIFYING THE FIRST TIME I CAME ON.

I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT.

BUT HE WAS SO KIND AND SUPPORTIVE AND JUST HELPED YOU THROUGH AND ALWAYS WAS HILARIOUS.

AND THE ONLY TIMES HE WOULD FREAK US OUT IF HE SAID YOU ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS AND TURN AROUND AND SAY LINDA WHAT ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT?

I DON'T KNOW.

I COVER EDUCATION.

AND I THINK WE ALL EXPERIENCED THAT.

>> Bill: SURE.

THAT WAS PART OF THE LIVING ON THE EDGE.

>> YES.

>> Bill: DEBBY, AND THAT SPEAKS TO THE FRATERNITY THAT WE HAD WE FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING YOU DEBBY, DEBORAH YETTER WAS WITH THE COURIER JOURNAL FOR 30 YEARS.

>> 40.

>> Bill: WHOOPS.

>> IT'S OKAY.

>> Bill: AND YOU CAME ON THE SHOW IN DIFFERENT ERAS.

I KNOW DURING THE LAST FEW YEARS WE WERE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU BE A PANELIST BUT THE SMITH DAYS AS WELL.

>> I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME AL CALLED ME.

DEBBY, AL SMITH HERE I WAS SURPRISED.

I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS GOING TO GET THE INVITATION AND I WAS FRIGHTENED THIS IS LIVE TV.

LIVE?

WHEN WE GOT IN HERE AND GOT GOING IT WAS FINE AND COMFORTABLE LIKE BEING IN A ROOM WITH YOUR FRIENDS TALKING YOU FORGET THERE IS A LIVE AUDIENCE WATCHING.

AL WAS WONDERFUL IN MANY RESPECTS BUT HE DID HAVE A STREAM OF CONSCIENCE APPROACH TO THE SHOW WHERE HE WOULD LOB SOMETHING AT YOU.

HE WOULD GO THROUGH THE SCRIPT AND HAD HIS LEGAL PAD WITH THE LONG LIST OF THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.

FLIP PAGES AND HE WOULD GET THROUGH THE FIRST THREE TO FIVE ITEMS.

SOMETIMES HE LOB SOMETHING OUT OF THE BLUE.

WHAT ABOUT THAT PVA?

>> BUT THE BEAUTY, DEBBY, WAS THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU PROBABLY KNEW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT THAT COULD SAVE YOU.

>> STEP IN AND RESCUE YOU FOR THE QUESTION YOU DIDN'T KNOW AND IT WOULD KEEP MOVING.

>> THE BEAUTY IT'S LIVE TELEVISION.

THAT IS ONE OF THE GREAT QUALITIES OF IT.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Bill: JACK?

>> THERE WERE SO MANY REASONS WHY TO LOVE AL SMITH.

WE MENTIONED HE CARED, HE CARED ABOUT INDIVIDUAL REPORTERS, THE STATE, THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE, BUT ONE QUALITY HE HAD THAT ATTRACTED ME SO MUCH TO HIM WAS HIS CURIOSITY.

HE WANTED ANY STORY YOU HAD.

IT WAS THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STORY EVER.

AND HE WITH WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT IT AND GET INTO THE DETAILS.

AND THE EXAMPLE WHEN YOU THROW ME FOR A LOOP THE BARRY PEELS STORY HE WAS A TV JOURNALIST AND TALKED ABOUT A DRUG RAID IN MORGAN COUNTY AND GAVE ALL THE DETAILS DID A FINE JOB.

AND AL SAID WELL, BARRY, WHY MORGAN COUNTY?

AND BARRY SAID WHY NOT?

[LAUGHTER] >> Bill: THAT'S WHERE IT HAPPENED, RIGHT?

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN SAID THAT KENTUCKY PRESS CORE IS A FRATERNITY BECAUSE OF THE COMMENT AND WE GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER WE ARE COMPETITORS BUT WE SHARE LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS AND IT CREATES A CULTURE AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR SO MANY.

AND DEB, YOU MENTIONED THERE WAS SOME CREDITABILITY THAT CAME ALONG WITH APPEARING ON THE SHOW.

AND SOMETIMES YOU GET NOTICED TO THIS DAY?

>> MY KROGER EXPERIENCE.

PEOPLE TO THIS DAY LOOK AT ME AND GIVE ME THIS LOOK AND SAY DO I KNOW YOU FROM "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY"?

I AM ASTONISHED PEOPLE CAN REMEMBER BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE SHOW BUT IT HAS A DEVOTED VIEWERSHIP THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY.

IT HAPPENS NOT JUST IN LOUISVILLE BUT AT FANCY FARM IN WESTERN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

ONE TIME IN A LITTLE CONVENIENCE STORE I STOPPED IN.

AND PEOPLE WATCH THE SHOW AND THEY RECOGNIZE THE FOLKS ON IT AND IT MAKES THEM FEEL CLOSER HOPEFULLY TO THE JOURNALIST WOULDS TRY TO COVER WHAT IS GOING ON.

>> WHEN I STARTED ON THE SHOW THERE WAS ANOTHER EDITORIAL EDITOR DAVID WHO IS OFTEN ON THE SHOW AND WE HAD SIMILAR HAIRCUTS.

SOPHISTICATED HAIRCUTS.

AND I REMEMBER I WAS ON THE SHOW AFTER TWO OR THREE APPEARANCES.

PEOPLE SAID WILL START NOTICING YOU.

AND YOU WILL BE RECOGNIZED.

I WAS WALKING THROUGH THE BASEMENT OF THE CAPITOL AND THERE'S TWO WOMEN SAID WE LOVED YOU SO MUCH ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

JUST EVERYTHING YOU SAID WAS JUST SPOT ON.

WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH Mr. HALL WART.

[LAUGHTER] >> ONE TIME, BILL AND I WERE HAVING LUNCH TOGETHER AND SOMEBODY CAME OVER AND SAID I SAW YOU ON COMMENT DO YOU FELLAS GET IN TROUBLE FOR LYING ON TV LIKE THAT?

AND STRAWB SAYS, TYPICAL STRAWB, NO, YOU DON'T GET IN TROUBLE FOR THAT YOU GET IN TROUBLE FOR TELLING THE TRUTH.

>> I THINK IT WENT AROUND THE STATE.

IT DIDN'T MATTER WHERE I WENT I WAS A JOURNALIST FROM LOUISVILLE AND IT DIDN'T MATTER WHERE I WENT FROM PIKEVILLE TO ASHLAND TO WESTERN KENTUCKY SOMEBODY KNEW ME AND IT GAVE ME INSTANT CREDIBILITY WHEN I WALKED INTO THE COMMUNITY TO DO A STORY SOMEONE KNEW ME AND ASK ME WHAT IS MITCH McCONNELL DOING UP THERE?

WHAT IS GOVERNOR WILKINSON WHAT IS HE DOING WITH THE DAMN LOTTERY THING.

PEOPLE KNEW WHO YOU WERE.

AND WHEN YOU CAME ON THE SHOW IT GAVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY AS FERRELL POINTED OUT TO GIVE THE INSIDE SCOOP AND WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT THE STORY THAT THEY WERE NOT HEARING IN THEIR LOCAL NEWSCAST OR IN THEIR LOCAL PAPERS.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY WHAT COMMENT MEANT TO US PROFESSIONALLY, AND ALSO TO THE STATE OF KENTUCKY AND FOLKS OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE THAT WERE NOT GETTING THE NEWS THAT YOU WERE IN LEXINGTON, LOUISVILLE AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: WE NOTED YOU HAVE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THESE DAYS.

IT IS A DIFFERENT POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AND THE WORLD HAS CHANGED IN SO MANY WAYS.

PEOPLE HAVE THE INSTANT INFORMATION THEY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE BEHIND THE SCENES, WHAT WENT ON THAT WE CAN GIVE PEOPLE MORE INSIGHT.

BUT ONE THING THAT HAS REMAINED AND I MENTIONED THIS EARLIER, THE ASPIRATIONAL NATURE.

AND THAT IS WHAT YOU DO NOW AS A COLUMNIST.

WE CAN DO BETTER HERE.

AND THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IMPORTANT THAT KENTUCKY TRY TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF ITSELF.

>> AND NOT TO GO BACK TO AL THAT WAS IS WHAT HE WAS ALL ABOUT.

THAT'S ALL HE WANTED.

HE HAD ME ON THE SHOW A LOT BECAUSE I COVERED CARA AND THAT WAS THE MOST ASPIRATIONAL THING THAT HAPPENED AT THAT TIME.

AND I THINK THAT'S IT.

IT'S LIKE KENTUCKY IS OFTEN AN UNDERDOG IN THE NATIONAL PRESS OR IT'S MALIGNED AND PUT DOWN.

AND THIS SHOW HAS ALWAYS BEEN SORT OF I MEAN I DON'T WANT TO SAY CHEERLEADER BUT IT'S BROUGHT A COHESIVE VISION IN MANY WAYS.

>> Bill: IT'S RISKY TO NAME NAMES AND MARK POINTED THAT OUT TO ME EARLIER.

YOU GO BACK AND THERE WERE ERRORS AND PEOPLE THROUGH THE ERROR CY RAMSEY AND DICK WILSON HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO REALIZE THE MORE HE KNEW THE MORE HE DIDN'T KNOW.

RONNY ELLIS.

CERTAINLY, REST HIS SOUL AND BARRY PEEL YOU MENTIONED GREAT STORYTELLER.

AL CROSS WITH HIS LEGENDARY KNOWLEDGE OF POLITICS.

SUE WILEY COMES TO MIND.

IN RECENT YEARS, LAWRENCE SMITH WHO WOULD COME IN.

HE IS ONE WHO WOULD DROP THINGS AND COME IN BECAUSE WE NEEDED A PANELIST AND WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND SUCH A AND SIGHT.

AND I REILLY BARTON IN THESE RECENT YEARS BUT THERE ARE SO MANY.

I'M DOWN THAT SLIPPERY SLOPE ALREADY.

BUT FOLKS HAD A CONNECTION TO THE PROGRAM.

>> AND I THINK, TOO, BILL, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU MENTIONED ANYBODY FROM OUT OF THE STATE THAT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT AND AL WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO GET YOUNG REPORTERS OR VETERANS REPORTERS WHO GOVERNED POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT ISSUES FROM OUT OF THE STATE.

LIKE KEITH FROM OWENSBORO MESSENGER, BILL BARTLEMAN.

ASHLAND DAILY INDEPENDENT.

WE HAD REPORTERS FROM ALL OVER KENTUCKY THAT WERE ON THIS SHOW.

AND WHICH GAVE THE KENTUCKIANS, AGAIN, OUTSIDE THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE SOMEONE THEY COULD RELATE TO TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN PADUCAH AND BOWLING GREEN.

I THINK THAT WAS IMPORTANT IT WASN'T JUST THOSE OF US WORKING IN FRANKFORT THAT AL WAS GETTING ON THE SHOW, BUT JOURNALISTS FROM OUTSIDE THAT GOLDEN TRY TRIANGLE.

>> Bill: WELLMAN IS MORE OF A MENTOR THAN HE WILL EVER ACKNOWLEDGE OR REALIZE AND I APPRECIATE THE WAY THAT HE BROUGHT STABILITY AT DIFFERENT TIMES TO THE SHOW.

WHEN AL WENT ON TO DO OTHER THINGS, BRIEFLY, AND AT THE TIME WHEN HE STEP ADD SIDE IN 2007 AND 2008 WHEN FERRELL TOOK OVER AS HOST.

>> ALL THREE OF YOU WERE PREPARED ALL THE TIME.

I CALLED YOU THE CONDUCTOR.

YOU WERE ABLE TO CONDUCT THE REPORTERS PANEL ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO HAD NOT THE EXPERIENCE OF TV, THE PRINT JOURNALISTS LIKE TOM AND I.

AND YOU ALWAYS DID A GREAT JOB.

>> Bill: I APPRECIATE THAT.

>> WHEN WE ARE READY TO SINK TAKE CARE OF US.

THANK YOU.

>> Bill: I JOKED WITH TOM, HE MENTIONED ABOUT BEING ASKED TO DEFINE THE CARA IN 30 SECONDS.

BUT YOU DIDN'T TOM IS THOROUGH.

YOU DIDN'T HIT HIM WITH A QUESTION WITH A MINUTE LEFT.

AND WHEN I MADE THAT MISTAKE, HE GOT TO KNOW THE GLARE AND THE ROCKING BACK AND THE CONTROL ROOM AND HAVE A HOOT OUT OF THAT.

>> HE ALWAYS LET ME MENTION MY HOMETOWN OF MAYSVILLE.

>> Bill: YOU JUST WANTED TO GET IT IN.

>> BILL, DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE PEN.

>> Bill: TOM AND THE PEN.

WE HAD TO TAKE A PEN AWAY FROM YOU.

>> WE'RE CONDUCTING A NORMAL DISCUSSION ON COMMENT, AND I'M LOOKING OVER AND JOE ARNOLD, WHAS IS SITTING WHERE JACK IS AND HE HAS A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE AND GIVING ME A QUEUE.

AND HEY I AM A NERVOUS PRINT GUY ON TELEVISION I HAVE A CLICKING PEN AND I'M HOLD TO GO RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MICROPHONE.

AND BILL AND JOE ARNOLD ARE GIVING ME THE FUNNY LOOK AND ONE OF THE CREW COMES OVER AND SAYS THE SIGN SAYS STOP CLICKING THE PEN.

[LAUGHTER] AND THEY NEVER ALLOWED ME TO BRING A PEN AGAIN.

THEY CHECKED.

>> Bill: LET ME TELL THIS.

ALSO TOM AND LINDA WERE HERE THE NIGHT THE CENTERPIECE HERE OF THE SET FELL AND SHATTERED WHILE WE WERE ON AIR.

AND JUST LIGHTS BARS BEHIND IT.

AND I THINK LINDA WAS TALKING AND -- TOM WAS TALKING AND YOU KEPT GOING AND IT HAPPENED BY LINDA.

>> I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF SOMETHING WITTY TO SAY.

>> YOU BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN.

[LAUGHTER] >> WE JUST KEPT GOING.

>> DON'T WANT TO DWELL IT ONE TIME MY MIC FELL OFF DURING THE SHOW AND ONE OF THE STAFF IS CRAWLING AND I LOOKED DOWN AND REACHES UP AND GESTURING TO GET THE CAMERA ELSEWHERE.

>> Bill: WHAT CHOICE DID THEY HAVE?

>> A TRIBUTE TO THE PROS WHO RUN THIS AND KEEP IT GOING.

I'VE GOT TO SAY.

>> Bill: MARK YOU WERE A TOUGH REPORTER YOU SELL YOURSELF SHORT YOU ARE SURPRISED YOU RECOGNIZED BECAUSE YOU BROKE SO MANY STATE-WIDE STORIES OVER THE YEARS.

AND THE GOVERNOR A ONE-MAN BAND.

THE CAMERA AND THE INTERVIEWER AND THE REPORTER.

YOU DO A LIVE SHOT AND GET IN THE CAR AND DRIVE OVER HERE.

AND DO COMMENT.

WHAT STICKS OUT TO YOU OVER THE YEARS THAT QUICK DRIVE YOU WOULD MAKE HERE AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU MIGHT SAY ONCE YOU ARRIVED?

>> NO, USUALLY I WAS WORKING ONCE CELLPHONES CAME IN I WAS STILL DOING WORK AS I WAS DRIVING TO LEXINGTON.

I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT WAS THE BIG STORIES WHEN THE BIG STORIES HIT DURING THE WEEK YOU LOOKED FORWARD TO COMING ON COMMENT, THERE WAS STUFF THAT YOU COULDN'T PUT IN YOUR STORY THE BACK DOOR STUFF YOU COULDN'T TALK ABOUT IN YOUR STORY BUT YOU COULD ON COMMENT.

WHEN TOYOTA CAME TO KENTUCKY.

AND LINDA TALKING ABOUT CARA, THE LOTTERY.

OPERATION POT DROP WHEN THE GUYS GOT ROUNDED UP BY THE F.B.I.

IN THE STATE CAPITOL.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF SCANDALS.

>> HOW ABOUT THE ONE THAT YOU BROKE?

>> I REMEMBER THAT WE DID THE SHOW IN FRANKFORT THAT FRIDAY.

AND I THINK THEY SETUP SOMEHOW IN A COMMITTEE ROOM SOMEWHERE.

AND I THINK HE JUST HAD ME ON BECAUSE THEY NEEDED A FEMALE ON THE PANEL.

AND ALL THE GUYS WERE LIKE I THINK HE IS REALLY SORRY.

GOVERNOR PATTEN BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN EXPOSED BEING NAUGHTY.

HIGH MARK OVER HERE.

>> THERE WERE A LOT OF BIG STORIES THAT BROKE AND COMMENT WAS THE CHANCE FOR THE REST OF KENTUCKY TO HEAR NOT JUST THE STORY THEY HEARD THAT WEEK BUT THE REST OF THE STORY AS PAUL HARVEY WOULD SAY.

>> Bill: DEBBY, HOW MANY TIMES WERE YOU HERE THAT YOU A STORY THAT YOU WERE ABOUT READY TO BREAK AND EVERYBODY AROUND YOU WOULD LOVED TO HAVE HAD A HINT BUT YOU DIDN'T GIVE THAT UP.

THAT WAS IMPORTANT DO NOT GIVE THAT SCOOP AWAY ON FRIDAY NIGHT?

>> I COULDN'T TELL YOU.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Bill: BUT IT WOULD HAPPEN?

>> SOMETIMES, YEAH.

>> I DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY SCOOPS.

>> Bill: I HAVE A QUESTION, JACK, YOU ARE ONE OF THE KINDEST SOULS THAT I KNOW.

AS WAS MENTIONED YOU HAD TO COME ON AND TALK ABOUT TOUGH SUBJECTS AND SOMETIMES THEY WERE CRITICAL TOPICS OF PEOPLE YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND COVER AGAIN.

HOW DIFFICULT WAS THAT?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT.

BUT YOU ALWAYS YOU REMEMBER THEY ARE HUMANS AND THE GOLDEN RULE AND THAT YOUR JOB IS TO ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS AS MARK DID IN THE PATTEN CASE AND TO HIS CREDIT I DO NOT THINK PATTEN HELD THAT AGAINST YOU DOING YOUR JOB.

AND THE GOOD ONES REALIZE THAT.

AND SO YOU GOT TO BE TRUTHFUL TO YOURSELF.

AND TRUTHFUL TO THEM.

AND THEN SOMETIMES SOME WILL STILL KEEP TALKING TO YOU AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN.

>> THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHEN WE WERE REPORTERS IN FRANKFORT AND COVERING POLITICAL ISSUES AND NOW WHERE SOME REPORTERS ARE CALLED THE ENEMY OF THE STATE.

THAT NEVER HAPPENED.

I MEAN PEOPLE WOULD GET TICKED OFF AT YOU FOR STORIES BUT THEY UNDERSTOOD YOU WERE DOING YOUR JOB.

REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, EVERYBODY.

FOR THE MOST PART IT WAS JEANIAL.

YOU HAD -- I KNOW THAT EXCEPTION YOU ARE THINKING OF WHEN YOU WALKED UP A DRIVEWAY AND PEEKED IN SOMEBODY'S WINDOWS?

>> I NEVER DID THAT FOR GOSH SAKES.

I HAVE THE PHOTOGRAPHER WILL SWEAR ON A STACK OF BIBLES HE WAS STANDING ON EVERGREEN ROAD WHILE I WALKED UP THIS LONG DRIVEWAY.

>> THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE.

>> Bill: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE FRIDAY AFTERNOON NEWS DUMP.

AND, AGAIN, SOCIAL MEDIA HAS CHANGED SO MUCH OF THAT.

BUT IT USED TO BE THAT IF FRANKFORT OR THE ADMINISTRATION OR THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH COULD WITHHOLD SOMETHING UNTIL 4:30 OR 5:00 P.M. AND SLIPPED THINGS INTO THE BOXES OF THE PRESS THAT AFTERNOON, MAYBE IT WOULDN'T GET OUT.

SO IT WAS ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO CHECK THAT BOX, RIGHT?

>> WELL, IT WAS AN IMPORTANT STORY IT WOULD BE WRITTEN ABOUT NOT JUST FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, MONDAY, TUESDAY IT WOULD CARRY ON.

THAT DIMINISHES SOMEWHAT THE IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON THE NEWS.

BUT BILL BRYANT IS GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT HE WILL ASK SOMEBODY ABOUT IT ON COMMENT THAT NIGHT IF IT IS A BIG STORY.

>> THERE WAS A TIME IN THIS PROFESSION WHEN IF YOU GOT A STORY YOU WOULD WRITE IT AND IT WOULD GO INTO PRODUCTION AND NO ONE WHO KNOW ABOUT IT UNTIL THE PAPER APPEARED ON YOUR PORCH.

NOW IT IS A 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLE AND POSTED ON-LINE IMMEDIATELY.

>> HOW MANY REPORTERS WALKED INTO KET ON THE PHONE TALKING TO THEIR EDITORS ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT A STORY?

YOU HAVE TO TURN THINGS IN SO QUICKLY.

>> SPEAKING OF NEWS STUFF GOVERNOR BROWN, THAT APRIL 15TH IS THE FILING DEADLINE FOR YOUR TAX RETURNS TO HIS CREDIT HE WOULD RELEASE HIS TAX RETURNS ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

THAT WAS YOUR GIFT, RIGHT.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW WE DO THIS.

RENEE SHAW WORKED ON COMMENT FOR HER FIRST 11 YEARS AT KET AND CONSIDERS WORKING WITH AL A TREASURED TIME AND TREMENDOUS EDUCATION BEFORE SHE BECAME THE ESTEEMED HOST OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMS SHE IS TODAY.

AND HEADS UP THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.

DEED RA CLARK WE HAD GREAT TEAMWORK.

CASEY PARKER BELL HAS BEEN MY PRODUCER IN EIGHT YEARS AND IS IN LAW SCHOOL AND I KEEP CONVINCING HIM TO STAY.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE REALIZE, LINDA, IS THAT YOU ALWAYS NEED TO SEEK ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.

WE ALL COME FROM FOR INSTANCE CASEY AND I ARE FROM SMALL TOWNS ACROSS KENTUCKY.

AND THEN WE SOMETIMES WHAT ARE WE MISSING HERE?

SO YOU HAVE TO ALWAYS THINK IN TERMS OF HOW CAN WE GIVE A PULL PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROGRAM?

>> ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE SHOW IT BROUGHT PEOPLE FROM THE DIFFERENT NEWS ORGANIZATIONS WHO WERE OFTEN COVERING THE SAME STORY BUT HAD A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND IT GAVE MORE LAYERS TO THE STORY FOR THE AUDIENCE AND THAT IS UNUSUAL IN A LOT OF WAYS.

BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT TOGETHER WE ARE COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER.

>> Bill: HOW DID YOU PREPARE TO BE ON?

BEING THE BROADCASTER -- >> TONIGHT?

>> Bill: NO, THROUGH THE YEARS.

>> WELL, I WOULD TAKE -- >> Bill: YOU DIDN'T IS A GOOD ENOUGH ANSWER.

>> IT WAS THE STORIES THAT YOU COVERED GENERALLY SPEAKING AND AL WOULD HIT YOU UP WITH.

YOU KNEW ENOUGH ABOUT THE STORIES.

>> MOST OF US FEEL COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THE STORIES WE PROMOTE AND WROTE.

THE PROBLEM BECOMES WHEN EVERY PROGRAM WHETHER IT'S BILL FERRELL OR AL THEY HAVE TO SQUEEZE IN OTHER STORIES AND LINDA REFERENCED IT EARLIER WHEN YOU ARE ASKING ABOUT SOMETHING YOU KNOW LITTLE ABOUT AND YOUR OPTION IS IS TO FAKE IT OR SAY I DON'T KNOW.

>> I IF THAT HAPPENED TO HIM ON THE SHOW, JUST ANSWER WHO CAN SAY?

BECAUSE IT ACTS LIKE YOU ARE SMART.

I WAS WATCHING THE SHOW AND HE WAS ASKED THE QUESTION AND HE DIDN'T KNOW AND HE SAID WHO CAN SAY?

I CALLED HIM AND SAID THAT IS THE DUMBEST RESPONSE.

>> Bill: WE HAVE CATCHPHRASES THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

OR WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WE'LL KEEP A WATCH ON THAT ONE.

DEBBY, I GET QUESTIONS ABOUT A TERM I'VE INCORPORATED INTO THE INTRO, WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS.

PEOPLE ASK ME THAT QUESTION WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

IT'S MY WAY OF POINTING OUT HERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WORKED ALL WEEK AND STILL CAME IN ON FRIDAY NIGHT TO DO COMMENT SO IT'S APPRECIATED.

AND IT IS NOT EASY.

YOU USED TO SWIM BEFORE DAYLIGHT AND GO WORK ALL DAY AND COME DO COMMENT?

>> IT'S TRUE THE ONLY CHANCE I COULD GET AND THE DRIVE TO LEXINGTON AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE WOULD ASK ME WHEN DO THEY TAPE THAT?

THEY DON'T TAPE IT IT IS A LIVE SHOW.

YOU MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE BEGINNING OF EVERY SHOW.

YEAH, IT'S DEMANDING BUT IT WAS ALSO FUN AND REWARDING TO BE ON THE SHOW.

AND AS JAMIE, APTLY PUT IT IN HER INTRODUCTION IT IS SORT OF A COLLEGIAL ATMOSPHERE WHEN YOU GET TO MEET WITH YOUR FELLOW JOURNALISTS AND I DEVELOP A CAMP RODRY.

>> AND CAMARADERIE.

>> .

>> RECESS FOR REPORTERS.

AND I THINK SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO BUT IF THEY HAD A CHANCE TO GO OUT TO DINNER WE OFTEN WENT OUT TO DINNER AFTER THE SHOW THAT IS WHEN THE REAL JUICEY STUFF AND THE RUMORS WHEN WE SHARED ALL THAT STUFF.

>> Bill: THESE DAYS WE WOULD CALL IT A PODCAST AND WE WOULD CALL IT AFTER COMMENT WHAT YOU REALLY COULD TALK ABOUT.

WE LAUGHED WE HAD GREAT TIMES.

WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT THOSE DAYS OF HEBERT WHEN YOU WERE ON?

>> I HONESTLY JUST MISS THE PEOPLE.

IT REALLY WAS ABOUT AS DEBBY JUST SAID IS GETTING TOGETHER ON FRIDAY NIGHTS WHEN THE FOLKS YOU SHARED STORIES WITH, AND I KNOW THE PERSONAL LIVES OF EVERYONE OF THESE PEOPLE.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER JOURNALISTS THAT I KNOW THEIR PERSONAL STORIES AND I MISS THAT.

>> Bill: HOW DOES IT WORK THAT JACK AND TOM AND DEBBY KEEP BREAKING STORIES.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

I THOUGHT JACK RETIRED.

HE HAS ANOTHER STORY THE ANSWER IS JOURNALISM IS MORE THAN A JOB AND IT'S CALLING AND IT'S HARD TO GIVE UP.

>> Bill: THAT IS WELL SAID.

AND THANKFULLY YOU HAVEN'T.

>> IN HONOR OF GOING OUT I KNOW WE HAVE 14 SECONDS.

DOCK BEACH HAM STORY.

IN HONOR OF AL SMITH.

>> Bill: FROM LOGAN COUNTY.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US FOR THIS SPECIAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" AND FOR BEING WITH US ALL THESE YEARS.

[APPLAUSE]