[♪♪] >> BILL: ON THIS THANKSGIVING WEEKEND, KENTUCKIANS LOOK BACK ON A YEAR OF ‘CHALLENGE’ AND ‘RESILIENCE’ AFTER NATURAL DISASTERS HIT 'BOTH' ENDS OF THE STATE.

WESTERN KENTUCKY 'REBUILDS' AND LOOKS AHEAD NEARLY A YEAR AFTER TORNADOES HIT THE REGION HARD• EASTERN KENTUCKY FACES 'WINTER' WITH MANY STILL 'STRUGGLING' AFTER THIS SUMMER'S HISTORIC FLOODING• AND KENTUCKIANS LOOK AHEAD TO WINTER ALREADY DEALING WITH CONCERNS ABOUT COVID, RSV AND FLU GOING AROUND• AS THE HOLIDAY SEASON GETS UNDERWAY, 'COMMENT' IS NEXT ON KET!

>> BILL: GOOD EVENING, I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU A SPECIAL EDITION OF 'COMMENT ON KENTUCKY', A LOOK BACK AT A TOUGH YEAR OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND SOME CHALLENGES AHEAD.

THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER• LIAM NIEMEYER, REPORTER FOR STATES NEWSROOM• AND RUSS CASSADY, REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS.

TONIGHT'S EDITION OF 'COMMENT' WAS TAPED ON NOVEMBER 17TH SO THAT THE STAFF AT KET AND OUR PANELISTS CAN ENJOY THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

AS WE CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING, WE'RE REMINDED OF HOW FRAGILE LIFE CAN BE AND HOW MUCH WE COUNT ON CONVENIENCES IN LIFE.

OVER THE LAST YEAR, KENTUCKIANS ENDURED HEARTACHE AND HUMAN AND FINANCIAL LOSS.

BUT WE ALSO FOUND OUT WHAT WE'RE MADE OF AS A STATE.

AND HOW WE 'CAN' COME TOGETHER WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN.

LIAM LETS FART IN MAYFIELD, THE TOUGH NIGHT WHEN THE TORNADOES ROLLED THROUGH THERE WERE PRO FOUND LOSSES INCLUDING LOSS OF LIFE.

THAT CAN NEVER BE REPLACED AND DAMAGE THAT IS TAKING YEARS TO OVERCOME?

>> YES, I -- I REMEMBER ARRIVING IN MAYFIELD THE MORNING AFTER THE TORNADO.

AND JUST THE TOWN THAT I KNEW THAT I VISITED SEVERAL TIMES YOU KNOW, PLENTY OF TIMES DURING MY REPORTING TRIPS WAS UNRECOGNIZABLE.

PLENTY OF HISTORIC CHURCHES WERE COMPLETELY TORN DOWN.

THE HISTORIC COURTHOUSE WAS TORN DOWN.

PEOPLE'S LIVES TORN APARTMENT PEOPLE TELLING STORIES OF LOST LOVED ONES, LIVELIHOODS T WASN'T JUST MAYFIELD THE NIGHT OF THE TORNADO, TORNADO WARNINGS AND ALERTS ON MY PHONE GOING OFF FOR MAYFIELD, BENTON, DAWSON'S SPRINGS.

I REPORTED ON A THREAT THROUGHOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY IS HISTORIC TORNADO AND HISTORIC NIGHT.

>> BILL: A LOT HAS BEEN DONE SINCE THOSE AWFUL STORMS AND THIS IS HOME TO FOLKS AND THEY WANT TO REBUILD AND MANY ARE FRUSTRATED HOW LONG IT'S TAKING TO GET THINGS BACK TO NORMAL TO START THAT PROCESS, TO WORK THROUGH THE RED TAPE AND GET PLANS APPROVED AND CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY, RIGHT?

>> YES, EXACTLY.

THERE IS A LOT OF NONPROFITS AND BOTH NATIONAL, LOCAL, THAT ARE BEGINNING TO IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING HOMES, HOUSES.

BUT IT IS A LONG PROCESS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE IN SORT OF A LIMBO RIGHT NOW LIVING IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING.

WHETHER THAT IS HOMES BUILT BY LOCAL CHURCHES.

THERE IS A NONPROFIT THAT IS HOUSING FOLKS.

THERE IS PEOPLE FOR EXAMPLE IN FOLKS DISPLACED IN MAYFIELD PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN NEARBY CITIES BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH HOUSING.

AND THAT JUST TAKES TIME.

SAMARITANS PURSE IS BUILDING A SUBDIVISION A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF MAYFIELD WHERE SOMETHING OF UPWARDS OF 80 HOMES SPECIFICALLY FOR RENTERS WHO LOST THEIR HOMES.

BUT THAT SUBDIVISION COULD TAKE, TWO, THREE YEARS TO BUILD.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE TIME.

>> MAYFIELD AND DAWSON SPRINGSES WERE STRUGGLING ECONOMICALLY BEFORE THE TORNADOES.

HOW DO THEY MOVE FORWARD IN A HOPEFUL SPIRIT THAT MAYBE SOME THINGS HAVE BEEN LEARNED FROM THIS AND YOU CAN BUILD BACK YOUR COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT CAN BE EVEN STRONGER?

>> SURE.

IT DEFINITELY IS A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR THE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE HIT.

TAKE DAWSON'S SPRINGS.

WHEN THE TORNADO CAME THROUGH, ONE OF THE SPEC BUILDINGS THEY HAD IN THE LOCAL INDUSTRIAL PARK, THEY HAD A DEAL IN THE WORKS FOR A COMPANY TO MOVE INTO THE BUILDING AND THE TORNADO DESTROYED THAT SPEC BUILDING ELIMINATING THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY.

BUT THERE ARE SMALL BUSINESSES IN DAWSON SPRINGS THAT ARE STEPPING UP TO JUST BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR EXAMPLE, THERE IS A MAN MARK WILLIAMS WHO HAS BEEN HOSTING DANCES IN THE COURT SQUARE EVERY FRIDAY TO SIMPLY HAVE THE COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FUN JUST TO PROVIDE A DISTRACTION FROM ALL THE HOME REBUILDING THAT IS GOING ON.

AND MARK WILLIAMS IS ALSO GOING TO BE STARTING UP HIS OWN MEDICINAL NATURAL REMEDIES BUSINESS IN DOWNTOWN DAWSON SPRINGS.

IT IS A BIG CHALLENGE FOR COMMUNITIES THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE BEEN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED.

BUT SMALL BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE WHO WORK AND ARE DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE.

>> BILL: A LOT OF FOLKS LOWER INCOME SITUATION BEFORE THIS.

AND LIVING IN RENTAL PROPERTIES THAT WERE WIPED AWAY PARTICULARLY IN MAYFIELD.

WHERE ARE THEY STAYING RIGHT NOW?

IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY PEOPLE ARE IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES?

>> YEAH.

IT'S JUST SORT OF A LIMBO FOR FOLKS.

ONE OF THE FAMILIES THAT'S STAYING AT THE NONPROFIT IN SOUTHERN GRAVES COUNTY, YOU KNOW THEY WERE BEFORE THEY MOVED INTO THIS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AT THIS NONPROFIT THEY WERE LIVING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME ALL IN A SINGLE ROOM.

SOME FOLKS ARE STAYING WITH FAMILY IN NEARBY TOWNS.

LIKE I SAID BECAUSE THE EXAMPLE IN MAYFIELD THERE'S NOT ENOUGH HOUSING.

AND IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE OR THE HOUSING STOCK IN A PLACE LIKE MAYFIELD TO REBUILD BUT THERE'S PLENTY NON-PROVES LIKE SAMARITAN'S PURSE THAT ARE TRYING TO FILL THE GAP BUT AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO TAKE YEARS.

>> BILL: IN THE MIDST OF THE STRUGGLE, THE MAYOR WAS A COMFORTING PRESENCE THE FORMER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER HAD RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE AFTER TELLING HER STUDENTS TO GET INVOLVED.

IN THOSE DAYS OF DESPAIR RIGHT AFTER THE TORNADO, MAYOR STAYED POSITIVE AND PRESSED HER CITY TO KEEP GOING.

>> BUT WE ARE GUARDING IT THAT IS US.

THAT IS US COMING TOGETHER FOR HEALING AND REMEMBERING THE ONES THAT WE LOST.

AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE WITH HOPE.

>> BILL: THAT WAS FROM AN INTERVIEW FROM WKYT FOR A STORY AIRING AROUND THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TORNADO TALKING ABOUT THE REBUILDING EFFORT.

ALEX, SOMETIMES IT IS THAT ONE LEADER WHO CAN HOLD A COMMUNITY TOGETHER OR SEVERAL LEADERS.

WHO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A TIME OF A CRISIS AND DESPAIR INTEREST RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE WHO LIVE THROUGH THE TORNADOES THEY LOST EVERYTHING.

WHEN YOUR LIFE IS IN SUCH DISARRAY YOU WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK TO SOMEBODY WHO YOU KNOW IS ADVOCATING FOR YOU WHO CAN SPEAK TO YOUR EXPERIENCE AND THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR HAS BEEN FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

OFTENTIMES, TOO, IT'S HAS SHOWN US THAT KENTUCKY HAS BEEN NO TRAININGER TO NATURAL DISASTERS AS WE'VE SEEN OVER THE LAST YEAR.

YOU SEE THE RESILIENCE OF COMMUNITIES AND THE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY MEMBER SUPPORT THAT EXIST WHICH NOT THERE IS A SILLER LINING BUT -- SILVER LINING BUT IF THERE IS ONE NEIGHBORS LOOK OUT FOR NEIGHBORS AND YOU HAVE CHURCH LEADERS LOOKING AT FORMING DISTRIBUTION CENTERS IN THE CHURCHES.

IT'S HEARTWARMING AND IMPORTANT TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE KATHY TO LOOK TO.

SHE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THAT TOWN.

TOWN.

>> BILL: THE MAYOR SAYS NO POLITICAL FUTURE SHE WILL DO THIS AS FOUR YEARS OF MAYOR.

SOME PEOPLE SAID WITH A NEW PRESENCE LIKE THAT WHY NOT RUN FOR HIGHER OFFICE?

AND SHE SAYS THAT IS NOT IN THE CARDS?

>> I FEEL LIKE ONCE YOU LIVE THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND SHE KNOWS THE VALUE SHE SERVES TO HER COMMUNITY NO BETTER PLACE TO BE THAN YOUR HOME.

>> LIAM, THE MAYOR WAS REELECTED THIS MONTH AND MAYFIELD WILL BE UNVEILING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE ON THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE TORNADO ON DECEMBER 10TH.

WHAT ARE WE EXPECTING?

>> .

>> THERE'S GOING TO BE SEVERAL EVENTS HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES HIT PIE THE -- BY THE HISTORIC TORNADO.

MAYFIELD FIREFIGHTERS WILL BE MARCHING TO THE DOWNTOWN COURT SQUARE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUM THAT AFTERNOON.

REMEMBERING THOSE WHO WERE LOST.

AND DAWSON SPRINGS THERE'S GOING TO BE A CANDLELIGHT SERVICE.

AND ALSO ANOTHER COMMUNITY DANCE AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.

SO EVEN WITH REMEMBERING WHAT WAS LOST AND THE GRIEF AND PAIN OF THOSE COUPLE DAY, THERE'S STILL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.

>> BILL: ALEX AS YOU HEAR THE COMMUNITY NAMES YOU ARE REMINDED WHAT A REGIONAL EVENT THIS WAS.

>> IT'S WILD TO THINK ABOUT YOU KNOW, IN THE WEATHER, NATURAL DISASTER THAT IS A TORNADO TYPICALLY IT'S MORE ISOLATED AND OURS TRAVELED ACROSS HALF OF THE STATE WHICH IS STUNNING AND REMARKABLE.

AND I LOOKED UP THE PATH OF THE TORNADO BEFORE I CAME IN AND IT'S JUST ONE ISOLATED COMMUNITY IT WAS A LARGE SWATH OF THE STATE THAT ALL NEEDS ASSISTANCE AND NEEDS TO BE REBUILT.

AS LIAM SAID IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF TIME.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN VISITED WESTERN KENTUCKY AFTER THE TORNADOES, COMING TO A STATE WHERE HE WAS SOUNDLY DEFEATED IN THE ELECTION AND PROMISING FEDERAL RESOURCES.

WHAT NO ONE KNEW IS A FEW MONTHS LATER HE WOULD RETURN AFTER ANOTHER MAJOR DISASTER.

THIS TIME IT WAS EASTERN KENTUCKY WHERE DEVASTATING FLOODING HIT BETWEEN JULY 25-AND JULY 30.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ESTIMATES 14-16 INCHES OF RAIN FELL DURING THOSE TOUGH DAYS.

IT WAS HISTORIC.

HOMES WERE WASHED WAY AND SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS WERE BADLY DAMAGE AND THE DEATH TOLL TOPPED 40.

IN THE AFTERMATH 600 HELICOPTER RESCUES AND COUNTLESS BOAT RESCUES WERE NEEDED TO GET PEOPLE TO SAFETY.

MONTHS LATER SOME ARE STRUGGLING AND FACE THE HOLIDAYS AND WINTER IN TEMPORARY HOUSING.

RUSS, WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO THOSE DAYS IN JULY, LITERALLY A NIGHTMARE.

IT STARTED IN THE NIGHT AND SOME PEOPLE WERE NOT AWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS EVEN THOUGH IT WENT OVER SEVERAL DAYS THE WORST ROUNDS OF RAIN KEPT COMING IN THE MIDDLE NIGHT AND THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

PEOPLE WEREN'T GETTING THE WARNINGS IN TIME.

IT WAS REALLY, REALLY, A NIGHTMARE SITUATION.

WE SAW THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE AND THE LOSS OF LIFE, IT REALLY DID BECOME CLEAR THAT THIS WAS NOT LIKE OTHER DISASTERS WE'VE FACED.

>> BILL: AND PEOPLE RESPONDED QUICKLY.

THE DAYS AFTER THE FLOODING CHALLENGES BUT WE CERTAINLY SAW A LOT OF TEAMWORK AND WE SAW PEOPLE PITCHING IN JUST TO HELP THEIR NEIGHBORS AND THE NATIONAL GUARD AND THE STATE POLICE SHOWING WHY IT IS THAT THEY TRAIN SO EXTENSIVELY FOR A DISASTER SITUATION?

>> YEAH AND IT REALLY WAS.

THE RESPONSE BEGAN IMMEDIATELY CHARITY ORGANIZATIONS CHURCHES, NEIGHBORS, GOT OUT THERE HELPING.

BUT THIS RESPONSE FROM THE RESPONDERS SUPPOSE AS KENTUCKY FISH AND WILDLIFE, THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD, THE STATE POLICE, LOCAL POLICE AGENCIES AND LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS WAS REALLY AN AMAZING EFFORT TO SEE.

IF THERE'S ANY BRIGHT MOMENT OUT OF ALL THIS IT'S SEEING THIS LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WORK AND SAVE LIVES.

REALLY, THE DEATH TOLL IS TERRIBLE AND HORRIBLE BUT IT ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE WITHOUT THEIR RESPONSE.

>> RUSS, MORE THAN 1300 HOMES WERE LOST DURING THE FLOODS.

THEY ARE REBUILDING IN MANY CASES JUST BEGINNING.

WHAT ARE THE ONGOING CHALLENGES AND HOW MANY ARE HOMELESS?

AS WE FACE THE COLD WINTER MONTHS AHEAD?

>> WELL, THE PRIMARY THING IS GOING TO BE GETTING A HANDLE ON FIGURING OUT HOW BAD THE PROBLEM IS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID ON NOVEMBER 17 THERE'S 900 PEOPLE BEING HOUSED IN TRAVEL TRAILERS AND IN STATE PARKS AND THAT IS PROBABLY JUST THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AS FAR AS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LEFT HOMELESS.

HOMELESSNESS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS DIFFICULT TO TRACK BECAUSE OFTENTIMES PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS BUT THEY HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR A FRIEND WHO WILL LET THEM STAY AND CRASH ON THEIR COUCH.

SO THEY DON'T TYPICALLY GET LISTED AS A HOMELESS PERSON BUT THEY ARE HOMELESS.

I'M SURE THIS PROBLEM IS MUCH, MUCH WORSE THAN WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE SHOWING US AT THIS TIME.

>> BILL: AND LOCALS HAVE BEEN OPEN ABOUT THE FRUSTRATION WITH THE FEDERAL AGENCIES ESPECIALLY EARLY ON THERE WAS A LOT OF THAT.

HOW HAVE, THOUGH, THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES BEEN TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THE LOCALS AND TRYING TO CONTINUE THE FLOW OF THE ASSISTANCE?

>> THE INITIAL PROBLEMS IN THE FEDERAL RESPONSE WERE JUST BASICALLY COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE AFEBRUARIED BY THE FLOODING.

THERE WAS A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND A LOT OF MISINFORMATION AND A LOT OF OUTREACH THAT THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES HAD TO DO AND SOME OF THAT GOTTEN TAKEN CARE OF IT'S STILL OUT THERE.

THE PROBLEM THAT DEVELOPED IN THE RECENT MONTHS, HOWEVER, IS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHO ARE TRYING TO REBUILD INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER LINES, ROADS, THEY'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY DOING THIS AND THE EXPECTATION AND PROMISE THAT THEY WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK.

HOWEVER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT REIMBURSING THEM.

SOME AGENCIES ARE HAVING TO BORROW MONEY IN THE HOPES IT WILL BE PAID BACK BUT THAT MONEY IS SLOW IN COMING AND IT COMPOUNDS THE FRUSTRATIONS.

>> AS WE'VE SAID ABOUT WESTERN KENTUCKY AND MAYFIELD, EASTERN KENTUCKY THAT IS HOME.

THIS IS WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

THEY WANT TO REBUILD THERE.

SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF GETTING THINGS LINED UP SO THEY CAN DO THAT.

>> IT IS.

AND YOU KNOW THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE UNDERSTANDINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE ABLE TO BUILD BACK BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF MORE FLOODING HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

AND THE OFFICIAL ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THESE PEOPLE'S NEEDS.

IT'S DIFFERENT THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.

WE ARE UNIQUE AND BEAUTIFULLY UNIQUE PLACE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

AND PEOPLE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO GET THEIR HEADS AROUND HOW TO RESPOND TO THIS PLACE IN A UNIQUE WAY.

>> LIAM, WE KNOW THE RESPONSE FROM THE ACROSS THE STATE WAS SWIFT WHEN THE TORNADOES HIT IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE AND IT ALSO TOOK NO TIME FOR PEOPLE FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY TO COME HELP EASTERN KENTUCKY.

WE REMEMBER THE MAYFIELD FIRE CHIEF JUMPING IN A VEHICLE AND HEADING TOWARD THE MOUNTAINS AS SOON HE KNEW THERE WAS A TOUGH SITUATION?

>> YEAH.

I REMEMBER MY WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR MENTIONED THAT DURING ONE OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCES FOLLOWING THE FLOODING AND MY COLLEAGUES AT PUBLIC RADIO STATION WE CALLED UP THE FIRE CHIEF AND JUST TO HEAR IN HIS OWN WORDS ABOUT WHY HE WAS GOING TO EASTERN KENTUCKY AND THE FACT WE'RE ALL KENTUCKIANS, EASTERN KENTUCKY WAS THERE FOR MAYFIELD AND OTHER WESTERN KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES AFTER THE TORNADOES.

THEY WERE RETURNING THE FAVOR.

IT WAS REALLY, TRULY BEAUTIFUL TO SEE.

>> BILL: ALEX YOU'VE REPORTED HOW FLOODING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT.

AND NATURAL DISASTERS ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT IT APPEARS.

AND THERE'S SCIENCE THAT INDICATES THAT THIS COULD BE SOMETHING WE FACE MORE OF IN THE FUTURE?

>> UNFORTUNATELY IT IS.

MODELS SHOW THAT AS THE CLIMATE CONTINUES WARMING, KENTUCKY LIKE A LOT OF STATES IS GOING TO GET MORE PRECIPITATION DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR REGIONS LIKE EASTERN KENTUCKY.

IT IS A QUESTION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S INEVITABLE HOW DO WE DO OUR BEST TO MITIGATE WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN.

AND UNFORTUNATELY AS RUSS WAS SAYING, FEDERAL SUPPORT IS SLOW GOING.

MANY MUNICIPALITIES HAVE TO FRONT THEIR MONEY TO REBUILD SOME OF THE WAYS AND THEY MAY NOT GET REPAID FOR YEARS.

HOW DO YOU ADAPT TO MORE PRECIPITATION IN A CHANGING CLIMATE IF YOU KNOW THE NATURAL DISASTERS ARE INEVITABLE.

IT IS A HARD REALITY THAT THERE IS NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER TO.

>> BILL: WHAT DO YOU THINK WE'VE LEARNED OURSELVES AFTER THE DISASTERS, COVID, THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY CHALLENGING IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN.

IT SOUNDS CLICHE BUT WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY IN SOME OF THESE SORT OF DISASTER ZONES AS WE ALL HAVE BEEN AND YOU SEE HOW INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS RESPOND TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING.

MAYBE THEY KNOW THEM MAYBE HEY DON'T.

I REMEMBER NOT EVEN A DAY AFTER ONE OF THE FLOODS, I WENT OUT AND FOLLOWED A CHURCH PASTOR AROUND AFTER HE HAD GONE TO A GAS STATION TO GET CLEANING SUPPLIES AND HE DROVE AROUND IN A LOOP THAT HAD BEEN FLOODED TO GIVE THEM TO PEOPLE TO CLEAN OUT THEIR GARAGES AND HOUSES.

BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE WAS GOING TO DO THAT.

HE KNEW HE HAD TO.

AGAIN NOT THATS A SILVER LINING BUT IT REMINDS US WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ALONE, THERE'S SOMEBODY THAT WILL LOOK OUT FOR YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT.

BUT IT REALLY HAVE SEEN KENTUCKIANS SHOW UP IN THAT WAY IN THIS PAST YEAR.

>> BILL: RUSS, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR IS A DEMOCRAT IN A ROSIE RED REPUBLICAN STATE BUT HE HAS A HIGH APPROVAL RATING IS THAT DUE TO HIS HANDS ON RESPONSES TO DISASTERS LIKE THESE?

>> YEAH, BILL, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DOUBT THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS GOOD AT CASTING A REASSURING FIGURE IN THE WAKE OF SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

HOWEVER, ULTIMATELY, I THINK WHAT HIS LEGACY IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT BUT IN THE LONG-TERM RESPONSE.

HE'S PLEDGED THAT THE STATE'S GOING TO BE THERE UNTIL THE END.

YOU KNOW FOR EXAMPLE, THE STATE HAS RAISED NEARLY $12 MILLION ON THE TEAM EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOOD RELIEF FUND.

THEY'VE DISPERSED 4 MILLION OF THAT AS OF THE TIME OF THE TAPING THE SHOW.

THERE'S 8 MILLION REMAINING AND PEOPLE ARE RUN WONDERING WHEN IS THE MONEY COMING.

AGAIN HE IS GOOD ON THE FRONT END IT'S THE TALE OF THE TAPE IS IN THE END.

>> BILL: THERE'S TOUCH ON OTHER ISSUES QUICKLY AS WE APPROACH THE CLOSE OF 2022 AND LOOK AHEAD TO A NEW YEAR, ALEX THE STATE SUPREME COURT HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS FOR A CASE THAT COULD DETERMINE THE FUTURE OF ABORTION ACCESS IN KENTUCKY THIS WEEK, SO THE RULING COULD COME ANYTIME.

BUT JUSTICES OPENLY QUESTIONED COUNSEL FOR BOTH SIDES ABOUT THE FACT THAT KENTUCKY VOTERS VOTED DOWN AMENDMENT 2.

>> THEY DID.

AND I WANT TO POINT OUT BY SAYING IT WAS HISTORIC SORT OF TO SIT IN THE COURTROOM AND WATCH THOSE ORAL ARGUMENTS BECAUSE KENTUCKY THE CONSTITUTION SUPREME COURT HAS NEVER WEIGHED IN ON ABORTION ACCESS THEY ARE FOR THE FIRST TIME NOW.

BOTH SIDES GOT TO PRESENT THEIR ARGUMENTS.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S ARGUEMENT IS THAT THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION DOES NOT MENTION ABORTION IT DOES NOT INCLUDE PROTECTIONS FOR ABORTION.

A DAY AFTER THE ELECTION AFTER VOTERS REJECTED AMENDMENT 2 WHICH ASKED TO INCLUDE A PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT WE HAVE PROHIBITED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION.

SAYING THE CONSTITUTION REMAINED UNCHANGED AND BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ABORTION NOW AND DIDN'T BEFORE IT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THAT WAS OPENLY QUESTIONED AND CRITICIZED BY TWO JUSTICES IN PARTICULAR, JUSTICE KELLER AND JUSTICE HUGHES WHO ASKED THE SOLICITOR GENERAL WHAT WAS THE POINT OF BRING TO GO TO VOTERS IN THE FIRST PLACE IF YOU ARE GOING TO TELL US TO DISREGARD THE RESULT.

VOTERS WEIGHED IN ON THIS.

HE PRESENTED THAT ARGUMENT THEIR DEFENSE OF THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THESE LAWS IS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NO RIGHT TO ABORTION INHERENTLY IN THE CONSTITUTION WE SHOULD ALSO, I GUESS, FACTOR IN THE ORIGINAL INTENT AT THE RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION IN 1890.

WHAT DID THE AUTHORS INTEND.

JUSTICE HUGHES UNDERCUT THAT SAYING YOU CAN SAY THAT BUT WOMEN WEREN'T PRESENT AT THE RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION, WOMEN DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND WORD WOMAN DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE CONSTITUTION.

DON'T YOU THINK THAT IS CONTEXT WE SHOULD CONSIDER IN WEIGHING THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE RIGHT TO ABORTION.

PLUS THIS 2022 WHERE VOTERS CLEARLY WEIGHED IN ON WHETHER THEY WANT THE CONSTITUTION TO PROHIBIT ACCESS TO ABORTION.

>> BILL: AND THERE ARE POLITICAL REALITIES ON BOTH SIDES.

KENTUCKY VOTERS REJECTED THIS.

BUT 99 OF KENTUCKY'S 120 COUNTIES VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT AND 21 VOTED AGAINST IT.

MANY LAWMAKERS REPRESENT AREAS WHERE THE AMENDMENT WAS LOOKED UPON FAVORABLY?

>> EXACTLY AND THAT HAS BEEN A DEFENSE SOME HAVE USED IN TAKING A SIMILAR TACT AND NOT DISREGARDING BUT DOWN-PLAYING THE RESULT.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT ACROSS THE COUNTY, A LOT OF PEOPLE VOTED YES AND A LOT OF NO VOTES WERE CENTERED IN CITIES AND MORE METROPOLITAN AREAS.

REGARDLESS, IT BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHAT RESULT LIKE IF IT HAD PASSED WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN THE SAME RESPONSE FROM THE G.O.P.

OR FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND FURTHER BEGS THE QUESTION OF WHAT WAS THE POINT OF BRING TO GO TO VOTERS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> BILL: ALEX MANY FAMILIES ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER BUT ILLNESSES ARE GOING AROUND, COVID, FLU, RSV IT IS A CHALLENGING SITUATION ONCE AGAIN.

>> IT IS.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE HERE TWO THANKSGIVINGS AGO WHEN BESHEAR ASKED PEOPLE NOT TO GATHER IT IS NOT SO DIRE AND NOW WE HAVE THE FLU AND RSV AND THEY ARE BURNING THROUGH THE POPULATION.

MANY KIDS ARE GETTING SICK.

29 SCHOOLS HAVE HAD TO CANCEL CLASSES.

MORE THAN 112,000 KIDS STUDENTS IN KENTUCKY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY SERIOUS.

>> RUSS, NOVEMBER ELECTION LEAVES REPRESENTATIVE ASHLEY LAUGHERTY AS THE ONLY DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THERE'S BEEN A POLITICAL REALIGNMENT OUT THERE IN RECENT YEARS?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

AND SEEING THAT AT THE MACRO LEVEL, WE'VE BEEN SEEING THAT ON THE FEDERAL ELECTIONS AND NOW THE STATE ELECTIONS.

WE'RE ALSO SEEING THAT MOVE TO THE MICRO LEVEL.

HERE IN PIKE COUNTY AFTER THIS ELECTION THE COUNTY COMMISSION EXCEPT FOR THE JUDGE EXECUTIVE, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY AND THE CLERK, THEY ARE ALL REPUBLICAN NOW.

AND THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNTHINKABLE 10, 20 YEARS AGO.

SO MAYBE THIS SHIFT IS CONTINUING AND IT'S MOVING ON FROM HOW PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR PRESIDENT TO HOW THEY'RE VOTING FOR THEIR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES.

>> BILL: LIAM A FEW SECONDS TELL US YOU'VE MADE KENTUCKY YOUR HOME AND NOW TELL US THE THIS NEW VENTURE WITH STATES NEWSROOM.

>> I WILL BE MOVING CLOSE TO FRANKFURT.

IT IS A NATIONAL NONPROFIT FORMING STATE HOUSE NEWS BUREAUS AND IN KENTUCKY IT WILL BE A WIRE SERVICE TO WHERE STORIES THAT COME OUT OF THE STATE HOUSE AND ARE PUBLISHED CAN BE REPUBLISHED BY OTHER NEWSROOMS FOR FREE.

>> BILL: ALL RIGHT.

KENTUCKY CITIES AND COMES COME TO LIFE WITH HOLIDAY DISPLAYS AND EVENTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

TAKE IN A PARADE OR A CONCERT OR ORNAMENT EXCHANGE.

IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR BUT KENTUCKIANS HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TOUGHER AND NOW IS OUR CHANCE TO SHOW KINDNESS AND LOOK AHEAD.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.