APPROACH, COVID NUMBERS CAUSE CONCERN YET AGAIN, AND ALL ADULTS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR BOOSTERS.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IS NOW WHAT ARE THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES HERE IN KENTUCKY?

FORMER CONGRESSMAN LARRY HOPKI WITH REMEMBERED FOR HIS SERVICE AND HIS KINDNESS.

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY SEEKS $23MILLION TO PAY THE BILLS.

AS WE HEAD INTO THANKSGIVING WEEK, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

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 AR RYLAND BARTON, CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLIN GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON-HERALD LEADER.

AND LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT, SOME CONCERNING NEW HEALTH REPORTS ON KENTUCKY'S CHALLENGES WITH OPIOID OVERDOSE AND CHILDHOOD OBESITY.

BUT LET'S BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH A CHALLENGE THAT WON'T GO AWAY RIGHT NOW AND THAT IS COVID.

THOSE NUMBERS ARE SOMETHING ONCE AGAIN, ALEX, THAT WE ARE WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY TONIGHT.

>> Alex: WE ARE.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS THIS WEEK WHERE WE HAD 2,000 PLUS CASES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK IN BASICALLY TWO MONTHS WE HAD AN INCREASE IN CASES.

PRIOR TO THIS WE HAD HAD A FREE WAHLEFALL.

THE POSITIVITY RATE WHICH IS A LEADING INTEREST CARAT HOW BAD THE SPREAD IS FELL 4.9% BUT NOW IT'S BACK UP TO 4.6%.

IT'S A FAR CRY FROM THE 14% IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AGO BUT THINS ARE RISING.

HOSPITALIZATIONS FOD WERE A MONTHLY HIGH AND SO WE ARE AT A PLATEAU AND THINGS ARE TICKING UP SLIGHTLY WHICH IS AGAIN WHY BESHEAR CAME OUT THIS WEEK SIGNING THE EXECUTIVE ORDER MAKING COVID BOOSTERS AVAILABLE TO ALL ADULTS.

>> Bill: THERE I WAS STARTLING DEATH NUMBER AS WELL BUT THAT IS BASED ON SOME NUMBERS THAT ARE COMING IN FROM CASES THAT HAVE ONLY NOW BEEN RULED AS COVID, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> Alex: CORRECT.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 200 DEATHS REPORTED, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY HIGH.

84 OF NOSE WERE ACTUALLY DEATHS FROM 2020 THAT ARE BEING ADDED NOW, FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.

WHEN THE STATE FIRST COUNTED THEM, THEY DIDN'T DETECT THEM BECAUSE THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS LOGGED NUMERICALLY AS OPPOSED TO WRITTEN THAT THE CAUSE WAS COVID, AND JUST SORT OF TECHNICAL -- TECHNICAL THINGS.

PEOPLE -- SO BESHEAR SORT OF IN THE ONGOING AUDIT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING BASICALLY DISCOVERED 84 DEATHS.

SO THOSE WERE TACKED ON TODAY WHICH IS WHY THE TOTAL WAS ESPECIALLY HIGH.

>> Bill: YOU MENTIONED THE BOOSTER SHOTS WHICH ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL KENTUCKY ADULTS AFTER AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

HE SAYS BOOSTER SHOTS COULD HELP BRING DOWN COVID-19 NUMBERS.

>> WANING IMMUNITY IS REAL.

WE ARE SEEING MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IN THE HOSPITAL, ESPECIALLY SINGS MONTHS AFTER THEIR SECOND SHOT.

AND AS THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP, WHEN THE THREAT IS GREATEST, WHEN OUR NUMBERS LOOK LIKE THEY ARE, IF NOT PLATEAUED, EVEN TICKING UP A LITTLE BIT, NOW IS OUR CHANCE TO LIFT OUR IMMUNITY BACK UP.

>> Bill: THE BOOSTER SHOTS GOT FEDERAL APPROVAL THIS WEEK FOR ALL ADULTS.

HOW IS THAT ROLL-OUT GOING?

WHY THE FOCUS ON THAT RIGHT NOW?

>> Alex: FOCUS ON THAT IS BECAUSE ORIGINALLY WE DIDN'T KNOW IF BOOSTERS WOULD BE RUDDER.

AS TIME GOES ON IT'S CLEARER THAT WANING IMMUNITY IS REAL AND SO AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SEASONS IT'S A REAL PUSH.

THE THE CDC GRANTED ENDORSEMENT.

BESHEAR GRANTED HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON WEDNESDAY.

WE BELIEVE FROM OUR STATE NUMBERS THAT WANING IMMUNITY AMONG VACCINATED PEOPLE A REAL THING.

BESHEAR GAVE STATISTICS THIS WEEK THAT SHOWED BETWEEN MARCH 1st AND NOVEMBER 17th, 83.6% OF ALL CASES WERE UNVACCINATED.

THAT'S MARKEDLY LOWER THAN EVEN TWO MONTHS AGO WHEN THAT NUMBER WA 87%.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT MORE VACCINATED PEOPLE ARE BEING HOSPITAL SIDESSIZED SO HE'S REALLY PUSHING IT AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON TO APPEAL TO PEOPLE TOSCA BEFORE YOU GO TO I THINK ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES GO BET GET A BOOSTER SHOT.

>> Bill: IT APPEARS THE THAT VACCINES ARE OUT THERE AND AVAILABLE.

>> Alex: THEY'RE VERY AVAILABLE.

I LOOKED BEFORE I CAME IN HERE AT DIFFERENT WALGREENS LOCATIONS AND I SAW, 50 PLUS APPOINTMENTS EVEN ON MONDAY, SO THERE'S NO SHORTAGE.

>> Bill: THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH DISCUSSION AND CONFLICT OVER THE COVID RESPONSE HAS BEEN DEBATED OVER AND ENDEAVOR THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, AS WE KNOW AND THE YEAR BEFORE, LAWRENCE.

WE KNOW THE LEGISLATURE TOOK A LOT OF POWER AWAY FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO.

WE SEE SOME BILLS BEING PRE-FILED THAT INTEREST INDICATE THAT DECISION WILL CONTINUE GOING INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

REPRESENTATIVE JIM GUCH WITH A BILL THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY SOME LIABILITY FOR BUSINESSES.

THERE WERE REQUIRED VACCINE AND THERE WAS SOME KIND OF A REACTION TO IT.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, YOU MAY RECALL HAS SAYS THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GAVE GENERAL LIABILITY PROTECTION TO BUSINESSES FROM COVID LAWSUITS.

REPRESENT GUCH'S BILL WOULD REMOVE THAT LIABILITY FROM BUSINESSES THAT MANDATE VACCINES.

OH IF AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS REQUIRED TO GET A VACCINE HAS SOME REACTION TO IT, GOT SICK, THEN THEY COULD SUE THEIR EMPLOYER.

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A WAY TO GET SOME COMPANIES TO MAYBE THINK TWICE ABOUT MANDATING VACCINES KNOWING THAT THEY COULD BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES IF THERE'S AN ISSUE.

>> Ryland: AND THIS COULD BE ANOTHER ISSUE THAT COMES UP IN THE LEGISLATURE BUT IT MIGHT BE ONE THAT DOESN'T ENT UP GOING FAR IT.

DEPENDS UPON IF THE ENTIRETY OF REPUBLICAN CAUCUS FEELS THIS WAY.

I THINK SOME REPUBLICANS DON'T WANT TO BE TELLING BUSINESSES WHAT THEY CAN OR CANNOT DO, BUT ALSO TO THIS IF THE STICK TO THIS IS REMOVING LIABILITY PROTECTIONS I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER NO-GO FOR SOME FOLKS.

>> Bill: IT'S SUCH A TIGHT ROPE FOR MANY BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE ARE VERY STRONG FEELINGS ON THE PART OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S VERY TRUE.

AND THE QUESTION ULTIMATELY IS WILL THIS MANDATE EVEN BE PUT INTO PLACE BECAUSE IT'S BEING CHALLENGED IN COURT.

ONE OF THE LAWSUITS -- OR A COUPLE OF THE LAWSUITS BEING LED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON, A FEDERAL JUDGE RIGHT NOW HAS PUT A HOLD ON THE WHOLE THING.

IT WILL LIKELY GO ALL THE WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT SO IT COULD BE SOME TIME BEFORE WHEY WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS CONSTITUTIONAL.

IN THE MEANTIME, THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Bill: DO WEEP KNOW, ALEX, ARE EMPLOYERS IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY NEED TO BE GETTING READY FOR A POSSIBLE MANDATE?

I KNOW ONE LARGE EMPLOYER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD AN INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO SHOW SOME PROGRESS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BY EARLY DECEMBER THAT THEY WOULD BE READY FOR A JANUARY MANDATE IF IT COMES.

>> Alex: I THINK SOME DEFINITELY ARE THINKING ABOUT IT.

I WONDER, TOO, IF BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO WATCH HOW THE FEDERAL MANDATE PLAYS OUT BECAUSE, OF COURSE, HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN PLACES LIKE NURSING HOMES HAVE TO IMPLEMENT -- I KNOW THAT I WAS SPEAKING WITH SOMEBODY THIS WEEK, AND THEY HAVE TO HAVE THEIR FIRST DOSE BY DECEMBER 6th, AND I KNOW THAT NURSING HOMES, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE STRUGGLING WITH COMPLIANCE IN THAT AREA, SO I THINK THE SUCCESS OF THAT WILL DETERMINE A LOT FOR WHAT BUSINESSES DO TO FOLLOW.

>> Ryland: AND ALSO WHAT THE PANDEMIC LOOKS LIKE COME JANUARY WHEN THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK IN, AT LEAST FOR THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

IF IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MORE IN THE REAR VIEW, MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE INTERESTED IN SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT IF IT'S CONTINUING TO GO UP -- >> Lawrence: WE'VE NEVER LIVED TO A PANDEMIC LIKELY THIS, MOST OF US, BUT JUST WHEN YOU THINK MAYBE WE'VE FINALLY GOTTEN OVER THE HUMP, WE HAVEN'T.

THE CASES GO UP AGAIN.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE KIND OF WHERE WE ARE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> Bill: VERY UNPREDICTABLE AND A LOT OF HERE IT COMES AGAIN, RIGHT?

SO WE'LL KEEP VERY CLOSE WATCH ON THAT AS WE HEAD INTO THE HIGHLANDS WHEN PEOPLE GATHER.

ALL RIGHT.

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL OBVIOUSLY BE JAM-PACKED, A LOT TO DISCUSS.

OF COURSE, COVID POLICY BEING ONE OF THOSE, BUT ALSO THE BUDGETED, REDISTRICTING, BOTHY THOSE THINGS HAVE TO BE DONE.

LAWRENCE, WE KNOW THE STATE HAS A BUDGETED SURPLUS.

RECENT TAX RECEIPTS SHOW REVENUE KEEPS ROLLING IN, BUT THE LINE KEEPS GETTING LONGER OF PEOPLE WHO -- WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT INTERESTED IN RAISES ON IN THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED OVER TIME.

WE HEARD FROM SOCIAL WORKERS THIS WEEK, 600 OF THOSE HAVE LEFT THEIR JOBS THIS YEAR.

>> Lawrence: AS YOU SAID, THE LINE KEEPS GETTING LONGER AND INTERESTING WHAT YOU'RE SEEING I THINK WHAT WE SEE GOVERNOR BESHEAR DOING IS HE IS PUTTING HIS KIND OF STAKE IN THE GROUND OF WHAT HE WANTS TO SEE.

HE'S TALKING ABOUT RAISES FOR KENTUCKY'S STATE POLICE.

HE'S MENTIONED TEACHERS.

SO HE IS TRYING TO -- ALTHOUGH THE LEGISLATURE OBVIOUSLY IS THE FINAL DECISION, HE'S TRYING TO PUT STAKES IN THE GROUND ABOUT WHAT HE WANTS TO SEE, BUT AS YOU SAID, THAT LINE KEEPS GETTING LONGER, AND THE MONEY, IAN THOUGH THERE'S MORE RECEIPTS COMING IN, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH FORE EVERYBODY.

>> Ryland: ONE OTHER INNING A LOT OF REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS OF SAID OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO USE ONE-TIME MONEY TO FUND ONGOING EXPENSES, AND IF THESE ARE NOT ALL JUST ONE-TIME HERO PAY BONUSES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S ON THE TABLE, IT'S SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR HAD MENTIONED AND SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE MENTIONED 81 THEN THERE'S LIKE THE RAISES FOR STATE POLICE.

THIS IS AN ONGOING THING THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE HAPPEN.

SO THERE MIGHT BE SOME INTEREST IN MAKING SOME OF THAT HAPPEN BUT I THINK THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY KNOW THE TAX REVENUES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TOBY AT THIS ELEVATED LEVEL, FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO DO THAT, BUT ALSO THEY WANT TO DO THINGS LIKE CONTINUE TO SHORE UP THE PENSION SYSTEM, CONTINUE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THE RAINY DAY FUND.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BIG MOVEMENT AMONG REPUBLICS IN THE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW TO SPEND MONEY ON A LOT OF NOW THINGS.

>> Bill: CAN YOU IMAGINE THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, THOUGH, NOT COMING TO THAT STAKE IN THE GROUND, AS YOU SAID, LAWRENCE, THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS PUT IN, SAVE FOR STATE POLICE.

HE SAYS $15,000 RAISES?

>> Lawrence: IT WILL BE HARD.

NO ONE WILL DENY YOU DO NOT WANT TO PAY STATE POLICE MORE MONEY BUT THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION OF WHO GETS WHAT.

THERE ARE STILL LIMITED RESOURCES, BUT IT WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR THEM TO SAY NO TO GIVING RAISES TO CONSTITUENT PLACE ORE EVEN TO SOCIAL WORKERS TO SOME EXTENT.

THERE WILLING TOUGH DECISIONS TO BE MADE.

>> Bill: AND HE CAN GO BACK LATER AND SAY, I TRIED TO GET YOU THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT RIGHT, RIGHT.

AND I THINK RYLAND POINTED OUT DURING AN EARLIER CONVERSATION THAT REPUBLICANS MAY TRY THE, EVEN THOUGH THE GOVERNOR IS SUGGESTING SOME OF THIS, NECESSITY MAY TRY TO OWN IT THEMSELVES DURING THE SESSION SAY, YES, WE DID THIS FOR THIS CONSTITUENCY RIMER AND NOT TO MENTION MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL NEXT YEAR IS AN ELECTION YEAR FOR A GOOD THREE-QUARTERS OF THE LEGISLATURE SO THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PEOPLE LINED UP, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HEARING THESE THINGS, ABOUT HOW SUNNY THE FINANCIAL STATE IS RIGHT NOW, AND HEARING THE POSSIBILITY OF THESE RAISES ARE OR BONUSES HAPPENING, SO I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF LAWMAKERS WHO ARE GOING TO WANT TO BE ANSWERING ANSWERING THOSE QUESTIONS POSITIVITY.

>> Bill: BUT ULTIMATELY THE LEGISLATURE WRITES THE BUDGET.

>> Lawrence: RIGHT.

>> Ryland: AND IF THE GOVERNOR VETOES ANYTHING, IT'S VERY EASY TO OVERI'D A GOVERNOR'S VETO IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: RHODE ISLAND, ANY WORD ON REDISTRICTING, REQUIRED BY THE U.S. CONSTITUTION THAT KENTUCKY WILL COME INTO COMPLIANCE WITH THE FINDINGS OF THE CENSUS OF 2020?

>> Ryland: REALLY THE ONLY WORD IS THAT MAPS ARE GETTING DRAWN PRIVATELY.

RIGHT NOW.

REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE TRYING TO TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT THIS VERY COMPLICATED PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO BEGIN IN JANUARY.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN, PROBABLY DELAY THE FILING DEADLINE VERY QUICKLY SO THEY HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO ACTUALLY PASS THESE MAPS OVER THE COURSE OF, SAY, THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OR MONTH OF JANUARY.

BUT, YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE 4th CONGRESSIONAL A DISTRICT IS THE ONE THAT LOST A LOT OF POPULATION, ABOUT 5 PERCENT OF ITS POPULATIONOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.

IT'S GOING TO CHANGE ITS SHAPE, LIKELY GO INTO A LITTLE BIT OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY OR INTO CENTRAL KENTUCKY WHICH HAVE BOTH INCREASED IN POPULATION SO THOSE AREAS ARE GOING TO SHRINK A LITTLE BIT.

SAME DEAL WITH THE WESTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICT, 1st DISTRICT, LOST A LITTLE BIT OF ITS POPULATION.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GROW AND CHANGE A LITTLE BIT.

SO THERE'S THIS WHOLE PUSH ON ONE SIDE OF BALLOON, POPES ON ANOTHER SIDE, A BALANCING ACT THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>>> LAUNCH AND YOU MAKE AN IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT HAVING TO CHANGE THE FILING DEADLINE BECAUSE THEY'LL HAVE TO KNOW WHO THEIR CONSTITUENCY IS AND WHO MAY BE RUNNING AGAINST THEM.

>> Bill: AND DISTRICT YOU LIVE IN, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: IS THIS STILL MY DISTRICT?

>> Ryland: THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE PLICLY ARE THE ONES WHO VOTE FOR IT.

>> Bill: AND WE KEEP HEARING IT'S LIKELY THE REPUBLICANS WILL LEAVE THE 3rd DISTRICT IN LOUISVILLE WHERE THERE'S THE OPEN SEAT PRETTY MUCH ALONE.

>> Ryland: I KEEP ON HEARING THAT, AND MAYBE IT'S TRUE.

MAYBE IT'S NOT.

AGAIN, BASS WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE MAPS ARE GOING TO LOOKING ONE THING WE DO LOOK LIKE IS THAT THE 3rd DISTRICT WILL CHANGE SHAPE A LITTLE BIT DID IT.

INCREASE IN POPULATION SO AGAIN IT WILL BE PART OF THIS WHOLE BALANCING ACT.

WE'LL SEE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S RIGHT -- IT'S TOUCHING THE 4th CONGRESSIONAL, THOMAS MASSEY'S DISTRICT SURROUNDING A LOT OF REPUBLICAN AREAS.

IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO BE TEMPTING FOR SOME REPUBLICAN BUDGET WRITERS BUT THEN AGAIN IF THEY YOU THE CAN YOU PLEASE THE 3rd DISTRICT, THEN IT MAKES ANOTHER ONE OF THEY ARE DISTRICT MORE VULNERABLE.

>> Bill: THE ONLY REAL COMPETITIVE RACE THAT HAL ROGERS HAS AFTER THE 1990 CENSUS WHEN WE LOST THE 7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND THEREFORE HE HAD TO BATTLE FOR THAT DISTRICT, WHICH HAD BEEN MADE MUCH MORE DEMOCRATIC BY INCLUDING THE 7th AND THE 5th.

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

HAL ROGERS HAS BEEN ACORNMAN FOR THE 5th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT FOR -- OLD REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, AND THENCE THE 7th DICK DID THE THE DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD GETS SUBSUMED INTO IT, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS.

IT'S FARED WELL FOR HIM.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THE MERGING OF THE LABOR CABINET.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS THIS WOULD STREAM LINE.

>> Lawrence: THIS IS PART OF HIS SOLUTION FOR THE UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS THAT THE STATE HAS GONE THROUGH.

WHAT IS OVERWHELMED.

THE THE SYSTEM WAS OVERWHELMED BY ALL THE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS LAST YEAR DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WAS UNDERSTAFFING, OUTDATED COMPUTER SYSTEMS.

BUT HE BELIEVES BY MERGING THESE TWO CABINETS THERE WILL BE A LARGER POOL OF WORKERS WHO CAN BE CROSS-TRAINED AND BROUGHT IN TO HANDLE ANY UNEMPLOYMENT CRISIS SHOULD IT HAPPEN AGAIN, PREVENTING A CRISIS.

THAT'S PART OF WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, HE SAID THE PROCESS OF UPDATING DATING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM OR INSTALLING A WHOLE NEW SYSTEM IS STILL ONGOING AS WELL AS THE EFFORTS TO PREVENT FRAUD.

>>> >> Ryland: IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTENESS THE LATEST IN THE RESHUFFLING OF THE LEADERSHIP OF BOTH THE EDUCATION AND LABOR WORKFORCE CABINET.

SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE HAS KIND OF BEEN TOSSED BETWEEN THEM.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FIRED.

SECRETARIES HAVE RESIGNED.

IT'S GONE BACK AND FORTH FOR A WHILE.

AND POLITICALLY THIS IS A BIG ALBATROSS AROUND BESHEAR'S NECK GOING INTO THE ELECTION IN 2023.

THIS IS THE MOST DISCREET ISSUE THAT REPUBLICANS CAN REALLY POINT TO RIGHT NOW OR ONE OF THEM LAUNCH THESE CHANGES WILL NOT EFFECT PROBABLY SEVERAL THOUSAND STILL WAITING TO GET THEIR CLAIMS RESOLVED, BUT BESHEAR SAID SAID HE IS TRYING TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: WORD CAME TODAY THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ETHICS COMMISSION WILL TOOK THE FORMERRER SECRETARY OF STATE GRYMES GRYMES.

>> Laura: THE CHARGES HAVE TO DO WITH NOT PROPERLY USING VOTER INFORMATION, IMPROPERLY DOWNLOAD, INC.

IT AND USING IT FOR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

>> Bill: DOES SHE HAVE A POLITICAL FUTURE?

>> Lawrence: GOOD QUESTION.

I WOULD NEVER SAY NEVER BUT I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO WIN STATE OFFICE RIGHT NOW WITH THIS HANGING OVER HER.

OF COURSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A HEARING.

BUT WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH HER FATHER, JERRY LUNDERGAN, PREPARING TO GO TO FEDERAL PRISON, SHE MAY BE ABLE TO WIN SOME LOCAL RACE BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT RUIN FOR HER TO WIN A STATEWIDE OFFICE.

>> Bill: ALEX, WE'VE HAD A WEEK OF REPORTS THAT POINT OUT SOME OF THE ONGOING HEALTH CHALLENGES THAT KENTUCKY FACES.

NATIONALSY OPIOID DEATHS TOPPED 100,000 FOR THE FIRSTER YAT OF THE PANDEMIC, SORT OF SPRING TO SPRING.

KENTUCKY HAD ONE OF THE WORST SCENARIOS FOR THAT, UP 54%.

IS THERE CLEAR FOCUS IN THIS COMMONWEALTH ON TACKLING THAT?

>> Alex: THERE HAS BEEN.

ACTUALLY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THE PANDEMIC JUST HUTT AND US HIT A LOT OF STATES VERY, VERY HARD.

WE KNOW THAT LAST CALENDAR YEAR OUR RATE OF FATAL OVERDOSES DOUBLED, AND NOW THE CDC'S NUMBERS THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK, AS YOU MENTIONED, WERE FROM APRIL 2020 TO APRIL 2021, SO BLEEDING INTO THIS YEAR, AND OUR RATE INCREASED BY 54% PER 100,000, WE HAD THE FOURTH HIGHEST RATE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SO WE HAVE MADE -- I MEAN, LIKE WE HAVE DEVOTED A LOT OF RESOURCES TO TACKLING THIS PROBLEM IN RECENT YEARS.

IN THE LAST PROBABLY THREE YEARS WE HAVE HAD HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LITERALLY IN GRANTS COMING INTO THE STATE.

UK SECURED A BIG ONE TO NOT ONLY FIND SOLUTIONS BUT TO RESEARCH AND SUPPORT PEOPLE IN RECOVERY.

WE HAVE MORE RECOVERY PROGRAMS AND RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT BEDS AVAILABLE NOW MORE THAN EVER.

BUT THE PANDEMIC WAS JUST VERY HARD ON A LOT OF PEOPLE.

BOTH WHO HAD BEEN IN ACTIVE ADDICTION FOR PEOPLE WHO GOT INTO IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO I THINK IT'S A DEVASTATING PEAK THAT WILL TAKE US A COUPLE OF YEARS TO RECOVER FROM, BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND NOW WORKING TO SORT OF MITIGATE THE CRISIS, BUT IT'S JUST SO HUGE.

>> Bill: SO RECOVERIES WERE SORT OF INTERRUPTED IN SOME CASES, RIGHT?

>> Alex: THEY WERE, BECAUSE RESIDENTIAL FREMONT PROGRAMS IN RECOVERY FACILITIES OR CONGRESS GATD LIVING, PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GO INTO A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM.

A LOT OF PLACES REPORTED HAVING FEWER ENROLLEES.

THEN ONCE WE GOT PAST THE THICK OF OF IT IN THE WINTER THERE WAS AN UPTICK IN ENROLLMENT BUT GENERALLY PEOPLE HAVE AVOID SETTINGS LIKE THOSE BECAUSE, AGAIN, YOU DON'T -- AREN'T NECESSARILY KEEN TO GO LIVE AROUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE EVEN IF WHAT YOU NEED A RECOVERY PROGRAM SO IT'S VERY HARD.

THE PANDEMIC WORKED AGAINST EVERYTHING.

IT EXACERBATED EVERYTHING THAT SOMEONE IN ACTIVE ADDICTION STRUGGLES WITH.

>> Bill: WITH ALL THE HUB CRUNCHED NUMBERS AND FOUND KENTUCKY HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THE COUNTRY.

AND THE HIGHEST RATE OF SEDENTARY ADULTS, AND WE KNOW BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAVE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

>> Alex: THEY DO.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT DOES NO BODE WELL FOR US.

THIS IS ALSO NOT A NEW THING.

I THINK THAT IT WAS SECOND STUDY THAT I HAD SEEN, THE FIRST ONE, MAYBE LAST ONE WAS FROM THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION AGAIN FINDING A HIGH RATE OF OBESITY IN CHILDREN.

KENTUCKY HAS VERY SORT OF LOW TURNOUT OR BLEAK HEALTH DETERMINANTS.

AND IT'S A GENERATIONAL PROBLEM, AND IT'S SOMETHING AGAIN THAT PEOPLE IN PUBLIC HEALTH, TRYING TO INVEST IN TO SOLVE.

BUT AGAIN IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T JUST BOUNCE BACK FROM IN A YEAR AND THEY HAVE LONG-TERM IMPACTS.

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT OBESITY IN CHILDREN MAKES IT MORE LIKELY THAT A CHILD WILL GET REALLY SICK WITH COVID, WHICH IS JUST LIKE ANEDDED THING THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY NEED BUT IT'S JUST A REALITY.

>> Bill: THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL BECAME LAW THIS WEEK AND IT WILL MEAN $5 BILLION FOR KENTUCKY.

RYLAND, I NOTED THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR MENTIONED THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE, THE I-69 BRIDGE AND THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY AS LIKELY BENEFICIARIES FROM THIS MONEY COMING IN.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH.

>> Ryland: THERE'S A LOT OF HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH BUT INTERESTING THESE PROJECTS COVER A WYATT SWATH OF THE STATE AS WELL AND EVERYBODY GETS A LITTLE PIECE.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE LEND UP BEING THE ONES WHEN WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO DOLE OUT A LOT OF THIS MONEY, AND IT'S NOTE JUST OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

THE THE BUDGET U.S.

WRITERS HAVEN'T EVEN FIGURED OUTED WHAT THE RULES ARE AND HOW TO GO ABOUT THIS BUT THEY'LL FIGURE IT OUT SOON.

YEAH, IT WAS INTERESTING A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, IT WAS IN THE COVINGTON WATCHING MITCH McCONNELL CELEBRATE IF INFRASTRUCTURE BILL OR AT LEAST HE COMMENTED ON IT A LITTLE BIT, AND HE WAS ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT, KENTUCKY'S SENIOR SENATOR, MEANWHILE THE REST OF KENTUCKIANS IN CONGRESS VOTED AGAINST IT.

>> Lawrence: AND HE GOT HAMMERED BY DONALD TRUMP FOR VOTING FOR IT.

>> Ryland: ALMOST EVERY DAY.

>> Bill: AND CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR IN WESTERN KENTUCKY CALLED IT SOCIALISM.

INTERESTING DIVIDE POLITICALLY THERE.

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY CAME CALLING BEFORE A LEGISLATIVE COMPLETE THIS BECOME AND, LAWRENCE, THE COUNCIL ON POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION WANTS $23 MILLION TO KEEP KSU AFLOAT LAUNCH RIGHT, THEY DID A STUDY AND PETITIONED A REPORT WHICH THEY OUTLINE TO LAWMAKERS THIS WEEK JUST TALKING ABOUT IF FACT THAT ESSENTIALLY NO ONE IS WATCHING THE BOTTOM LINE WITH WATCHING THE BUDGET AT KENTUCKY STATE.

AS WE KNOW, THE PRESIDENT RESIGNED UNDER PRESSURE EARLIER THIS YEAR, BUT THEY SAID UNLESS THEY GET THIS MONEY, KENTUCKY STATE'S GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY, OUT OF CASH BY MARCH.

SO IT WILL BE A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION THAT LAWMAKERS HAVE TO MAKE ABOUT WHETHER THIS UNIVERSITY, THIS HISTORIC UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO GET THIS MONEY.

I THINK IT MAY BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO SAY NO BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY STATE, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME STRINGS ATTACHED TO THAT MONEY IF IT IS ISSUED.

>> Bill: FORMER CONGRESSMAN LARRY HOPKINS DIED THIS WEEK.

HE WAS 88.

HOPKINS IS BEING RECOMMENDED REMEMBERED FOR HIS BIPARTISAN APPROACH TO ISSUES AND FOR HIS CON GENALLIAL MANNER THAT LED MANY IN WASHINGTON AND HERE IN KENTUCKY TO CALL HUM A FRIEND.

LEE ROSE TO THE TOP OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVERS COMMITTEE AND HE PUSHED TO LOTS OF MILITARY MODERNIZATION AND VA REFORMS P IF HOPKINS GOT THE BALL ROLLING ON RID THE VA ARMY OF NERVE GAS.

A AS MOWED RAT REPUBLICAN HE LOST THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IN 1991 BUT HE WON THOSE SEVEN TERMS IN CONGRESS BEFORE HEE RETIRED.

THE CURRENT 6th DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN GATHERED SOME OTHER KENTUCKY HOUSE MEMBERS TOGETHER AND PAID TRIBUTE TO HOPKINS.

>> ABOVE ALL, MADAME SPEAKER, CONGRESSMAN HOPKINS WAS PROUD OF HIS WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, AND THE RELATIONSHIPS HE HAD WITH ALL OF HIS COLLEAGUES, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE.

IN THESE DIVIDED TIMES, LET US BE INSPIRED BY THE LEGACY OF CONGRESSMAN LARRY HOPKINS TO COME TOGETHER AND SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF OUR DAY, NOT AS REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, BUT AS AMERICANS WHO ALL LOVE OUR COUNTRY.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE HOPKINS REMEMBERED AS A GENTLEMAN, AND WE BOTH EXPERIENCED THAT.

>> Lawrence: SURE.

HE CAME INTO OFFICE ABOUT THE TIME I WAS STARTING MY CAREER.

I DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF INTERACTION WITH HIM BUT WHEN I DID HE WAS ALWAYS VERY NICE, VERY GENTLEMANLY, AND AS ANDY BARR SAID LEE WAS KNOWN FOR BEING A BRIDGE BUILDER, AND THAT WAS A GOOD PICTURE THERE.

YOU SAW JOHN YARMOUTH STANDING THERE, THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN DELEGATION SO THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF LARRY HOPKINS AND THE FACT THAT UNLIKE MANY POLITICIANS TODAY IN TODAY'S ATMOSPHERE HE WAS A MAN TO TRIED TO BRIDGE THE DIVIDE.

>> Bill: RYLAND, COULD YOU IMAGINE THE COUNTRY GETTING BACK TO A SCENARIO WHERE PROPOSALS ARE JUDGED ON THEIR MERITS RATHER THAN THE POLITICAL PARTIES INVOLVED?

>> Ryland: IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THAT WE GET THERE BUT HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE WILL.

YEAH, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE A TIME WHEN EVERY POLITICS WASN'T WORRIED ABOUT GETTING PRIMARIED BY SOMEBODY A LITTLE BIT MORE EXTREME THAN THEM, BUT THERE WAS A DAY AND AGE.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S NAME INCREASINGLY IN THE MIX WHEN THE WRITINGS ARE GOING OUT ABOUT 2024 AND WHETHER OR NOT PRESIDENT BIDEN RUNS FOR RELEASING AS HE SAYS HE WILL.

BUT HE KNOCKED THAT DOWN PRETTY HARD THIS WEEK.

>> Lawrence: HE GAVE IT AN ABSOLUTE NO TO RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

I HAVE TO MENTION ABOUT THIS, THIS ARTICLE THAT CAME OUT IN THE HILL, IT SEEMED TOBY WRITTEN BY SOMEBODY WHO HAS NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN HERE.

THERE WERE SOME ASSUMPTIONS MADE ABOUT THE BIPARTISAN NATURE OF KENTUCKY POLITICS THAT ARE NOT TRUE.

SO BOTTOM LINE, THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE'S HAPPY IN KENTUCKY AND PLANS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAIN.

>> Bill: RAND PAUL WHO BRIEFLY RAN IN 2016 EVEN HAD KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS DO A DUCKS HAS NEVER SAID NEVER TO POSSIBLY RUNNING IN '24.

>> Ryland: NO, I DON'T I THINK I'VE HEARD AN OUTRIGHT DISMISSAL OF THE NOTION.

PLAS LAST I HEARD HE SHED HE WAS WAITING TO HEAR WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES.

>> Billy: FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF JAM BRAMMER FREQUENT PANELIST ON THIS SHOW OVER THE YEARS HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

THAT WILL LEAVE A HUGE VOID IN FRANKFORT, AND FORE THOSE WHO COUNTED ON JACK FOR HIS REPORTING AND ALSO COUNTED HIM AS A FRIEND AND A MENTOR AND THAT INCLUDES ALL OF US HERE AT THIS TABLE.

>> Lawrence: AS YOU'VE SEEN OH SOCIAL MEDIA, HE'S A GREAT JOURNALIST BUT A GREATER MAN.

A VERY, VERY NICE MAN.

>> Alex: TRUE.

>> Ryland: WE WILL MISS HIM IN FRANKFORT.

HE'S A LEGEND.

HE'S HELPFUL TO EVERYBODY.

ONE OF THE NICEST PEOPLE YOU COVER ME THE ELEMENTS OF HE'S A LIFER.

SHE'S HE'S A NEW SUPER JOURNALIST THAT E WE DON'T HAVE.

WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY 4 YEARS HE'S A TITAN AND A GIANT AND A VERY TENDER MAN.

>> Bill: TUNE OF IN MODERN FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ON THE NCAA'S NAME AND LIKENESS POLICY.

WE CERTAINLY HOME HAVE A VERY