>> Bill: REPUBLICANS SWEEP KENTUCKY'S SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

NOW CANDIDATES ARE COMING FORWARD TO RUN FOR OFFICES NEXT YEAR.

SOME BUSINESSES FACE VACCINE MANDATES FROM WASHINGTON AS KENTUCKY'S ATTORNEY GENERAL JOINS A LEGAL CHALLENGE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR PUSHES TEACHES RAISES' AT AN EDUCATION IT?

AND BOASTS ABOUT THE ECONOMY AT OTHER STOPS.

A SIGH OF RELIEF IN THE BOURBON INDUSTRY AFTER TARIFFS ARE DROPPED.

CRISP FALL WEATHER AND A TIME CHANGE THIS WEEKEND, AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEW AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE: JOE RAGUSA, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR SPECTRUM NEWS 1.

DEBORAH YETTER, REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

AND JACK BRAMMER, FRANKFORT BUREAU KNEE OF FOR LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

ALSO TONIGHT, GEORGETOWN COLLEGE FIRES ITS PRESIDENT.

AND THE HOUSE EDUCATION CHAIR SAYS SHE WON'T RUN AGAIN AND ENDORSES THE WINNER OF THE SOLE SURVIVOR FOR HER SEAT.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT INCLUDING PLENTY OF POLITICS.

REPUBLICANS CONTROLLED ALL OF THE SEATS THAT WERE UP FOR GRABS BEFORE THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS LAST TUESDAY AND THE GOSPEL HAS RETAINED ALL OF THEM.

JOE, DR. DONALD DOUGLAS WON THE SENATE SEAT THAT HAD BEEN HELD FOR 30 YEARS BY THE LATE TOM BUFORD BEFORE HIS DEATH THIS SUMMER.

DOUGLAS WILL BE THE FIRST BLACK REPUBLICANS EVER IN THE STATE SENATE.

>> YEAH, AND HE RAN ON A PRETTY TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE CAMPAIGN THAT MIRRORED A LOT OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES THAT WERE ALSO RUNNING FOR THE OTHER HOUSE DISTRICTS INVESTMENT, AND I THINK ACTUALLY DOUGLAS' MARGIN OF VICTORY WAS PROBE THE SLIMMEST IF YOU WANT TO CHARACTERIZE IT THAT WAY.

HE HAD I 72% OF THE VOTE BUT IT WAS INDICATIVE OF THE IR BOO REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THOSE THREE UP-FOR-GRAB SEATS.

>> Bill: IT WAS CONVINCING.

EASY TO SAY THEY WERE A ROLL.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE HOUSE RACES.

REPUBLICANS PREVAILED IN JACKSON COUNTY AND PARTS OF LAUREL AND MADISON COUNTIES WHERE TIMMIE TRUETT EASILY DEFEATED MAE SER MIX IN THE VOTING THERE.

THERE'S THE IMAGE OF THE REPRESENTATIVE LOOK AT THE TRUETT WHO WILL BE COMING TO FRANKFORT, AND AGAIN NOT A CLOSE RACE THERE.

>> Joe: NO, IT WASN'T.

WITH TRUETT'S DISTRICT, THIS WAS A DISTRICT THAT OVERWHELMINGLY RELENGTH REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GOFORTH IAN THOUGH HE IS STILL FACING ALLEGATIONS -- THE ENTIRE SEASON REASON THE SEAT IS OPEN -- OF STRANGLING HIS WIFE.

HE RESOON AND THAT'S WHY THE SEAT IS OPEN UP, BUT HE PRETTY WON THE SEAT PRETTY OVERWHELMINGLY.

THAT DISTRICT WAS GOING TO GO REPUBLICAN.

I THINK PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY IN THE STATE KNEW IT, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

>> Bill: TAYLOR AND A DAIR COUNTIES, THE ESTATE REPRESENTED BY JOHN "BAM" CARNEY BEFORE HIS DEATH AFTER I LONG ILLNESS, THE WINNER THERE IS MICHAEL SARGE POLLOCK.

HE WILL BE GOING TO FRANKFORT.

HE DEFEATED AI FEATED A FORMER COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE IN TAYLOR COUNTY.

AGAIN A CONVINCING WIN.

AND BIG SHOES TO FILL WITH BAM CARNEY.

>> Joe: DEFINITELY.

IT WAS KIND OF WEIRD BECAUSE PERSONALLY I'VE BEEN HERE A COUPLE OF YEARS AND COVERED THE LEGISLATURE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT BAM CARNEY AND HIS PRESENCE, BUT FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS HE'S KIND OF BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ILLNESS AND UNFORTUNATELY HE SUCCUMBED U.

COUPLED TO THAT ILLNESSES OR COMPLICATIONS OF THAT ILLNESS AND NOW THE DISTRICT IS GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER REPRESENTATIVE.

AGAIN IT'S ANOTHER VICTORY FOR REPUBLICAN PARTY IN KEEPING A SEAT THAT A LONGTIME INCOMPETENT HAD HELD.

STRONG NIGHT FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> Bill: JACK, WAKE A WAYS FROM TUESDAY SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

>> Jack: SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE UNFORTUNATE BUT THEY'RE A NECESSITY SOME TIME.

WE SAW IT THIS YEAR WITH THE TWO DEATHS AND THE RESIGNATION.

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS.

THIS YEAR WE HAD NO ELECTIONS.

SO WE HAD THESE THREE.

I SAY THEY'RE UNFORTUNATE IN THE SENSE THAT TURNOUT IS USUALLY VERY LOW AND THEY WERE IN THESE THREE THIS WEEK.

AND USUALLY IF A DISTRICT IS SAFE FOR ONE POLITICAL PARTY, THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH OF A RACE.

AND WE MENTIONED THESE THREE DISTRICTS WERE HEAVILY REPUBLICAN, SO THE REPUBLICANS WON EASILY IN THESE CONTESTS.

>> Bill: DEBBIE, THREE DOCTORS.

>> Deborah: THREE PHYSICIANS IN SENATE NOW.

SENATOR RALPH DEVAL AD VALOREM, SENATOR KAREN BERG AND NOW THE LATEST.

>> Bill: DO THEY COME WITH ANY PARTICULAR SET OF ISSUES, DO YOU THINK, AS HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS OR -- >> Deborah: WELL, YEAH.

THEY TEND ON WEIGH IN ON MATTERS OF HEALTH AND WELLING FARE AND MEDICAL ISSUES, ESPECIALLY IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS, THEY TEND TO SPEARHEAD A LOT OF THAT LEGISLATION OR GET INVOLVED IN IT AND ASK THE QUESTIONS, SO, YEAH, I'D SAY SO.

>> Bill: THE LAY DAY AFTER THE ELECTION THE FILING WINDOW OPENED FOR CANDIDATES IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTIONS.

IT WILL BE A BUSY YEAR IN KENTUCKY.

THERE WILL BE LOTS OF KNOCKING ON DOORS AND LOCAL ADS AND SO FORTH.

KENTUCKIANS WILL CHOOSE A U.S.

SENATOR, MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND LOCAL OFFICES UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT MANY AT CITY HALLS AND COURTHOUSES.

POLITICS WILL TRULY BE LOCAL IN THESE MONTHS AHEAD.

BUT, DEBBIE, WOULD YOU EXPECT THE TUG OF THE NATIONAL ISSUES THAT SEEM TO BE EVER PRESENT NOW TO ALSO BE TUGGING?

>> Deborah: I WOULD SAY THEY WILL.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE INFILTRATED EVERY STATE.

WE SEE A LOT OF RAUKUS SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS IN OTHER STATES.

JEFFERSON COUNTY HAD A FEW OF ITS OWN WHERE THEY HAD TO LAY DOWN RULES AND SUSPEND ONE MEETING.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT OVER ISSUES SORT OF CULTURAL ISSUES LIKE MASKS IN SCHOOL, COVID RESTRICTIONS, CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS A HOT TOPIC EVEN THOUGH IT GENERALLY APPARENTLY IS NOT BEING TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT IT.

>> Jack: AS YOU SAID, THERE'S GOING TO BE ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR IN EVERY PART OF THE STATE, INCLUDING MAYSVILLE, DEBBIE.

I THINK THE NATIONAL QUESTION I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EVERY CANDIDATE AND ARE I THINK THE ANSWER WOULD BE VERY REVEALING, IS DO THEY THINK JOE BIDEN STOLE THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

AND I THINK THAT GIVES YOU A LOT OF INSIGHT WHERE THAT PERSON, WHETHER THEY'RE RUNNING FOR A COUNTY JUDGE OR RUNNING FOR A LEGISLATIVE SEAT, A LOT OF INSIGHT OF WHERE THAT PERSON'S VIEWS.

>> Bill:IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE INTEGRITIES OF THE ELECTION PROCESS IS ANYWAY AN ISSUE NEXT YEAR.

WE LIVE IN A STATE WHERE GENERALLY IT'S BELIEVED THAT THINGS HAVE GONE FAIRLY WELL, AND WE'VE HAD OTHER STATES THAT HAVE HAD A LOT OF ANGST ABOUT THAT.

>> Joe: ANYTHING ABOUT THE RESULTS OF SPECIAL ELECTION.

I ASSUMING THAT MEANS KENTUCKY DID WELL.

>> Bill: RIGHT.

WELL, THERE SEEMS TO BE MOW SHORTAGE OF INTEREST IN THE RACE.

GEORGE WASHINGTON FILED FORE CONGRESS IN 4th DISTRICT.

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

>> Jack: HE HAS A NAME ADVANTAGE.

>> Bill: BUT IT'S TRUE, GEORGE WASHINGTON DID FILE UP THERE.

THE BIGGEST RACE, OF COURSE, NEXT YEAR STATEWIDE IS FOR THE U.S. SENATE, CHARLES BOOKER WANTS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION AND THE CHANCE TO TAKE ON REPUBLICAN RAND PAUL.

BOOKER FILED THE FIRST DAY HE COULD, JACK.

>> Jack: HE DID.

THERE WAS SOME SPECULATION WHEN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL SEAT OPENED THAT HE MIGHT BE LOOKING AT THAT RISE BUT HE HAD ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE, SO HE DID FILE, HE BROUGHT HIS FAMILY WITH HIM TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE AND THE CAPITOL, AND TALKED THERE TO HELP ALL KENTUCKIANS.

THERE WAS A STORY A DAY OR TWO AFTERWARDS IN THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER FEATURING SOME PROMINENT DEMOCRATS WHO WERE SAYING WAS AN UPHILL BATTLE AND DIDN'T GIVE HIM VERY MUCH A CHANCE TO WIN.

I KNOW THAT FRUSTRATED HIS CAMPAIGN WHO THOUGHT MAYBE DEMOCRATS SHOULD NOW BE TALKING MORE ABOUT CONCERNS THEY HAVE ABOUT RAND PAUL INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT HOW POORLY THEY THINK BOOKER WILL DO IN THE RACE.

AND AS WE ALL KNOW, TWO WEEKS IN POLITICS IS AN ETERNITY BUT IT DOES LOOK LIKE THAT BOOKER DOES HAVE A STRONG BATTLE TO WAGE TO WIN THIS RACE.

>> Bill: HE PLANS TO TRAVEL THIS WEEKEND AND ROLL OUT WHAT HE CALLS A KENTUCKY NEW DEAL THAT, THE THE DETAILS OF THAT COULD TOM.

THERE WAS ALSO SOME REPORTING THIS WEEK ABOUT HIS SALARY FROM THE HOOD TO HOLLER CHARITABLE FOUNDATION THAT HE RUNS.

>> Jack: HE'S BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT A LOT IN P. THE.

KENTUCKY FLIED POLITICS REPORTED THE SALARY FROM THAT WAS $150,000, WHICH IS A GOOD GOOD CHUNK OF CHANGE.

I CALLED THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND U.S.

SENATOR RAND PAUL'S OS, IF THEY WANTED TO COMMENT ON THIS, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT.

>> Bill: IS SENATOR PAUL, WHO HAS RAISED A LOT OF MONEY AND HAS RAISED CONSIDERABLY MORE MONEY THAN BOOKER FOR HIS RE-ELECTION BID, ABLE TO SAVE IT AND WAIT FOR THE FALL CAMPAIGN NEXT YEAR BY MAKING NEWS IN WASHINGTON?

DEBBIE, AGAIN THIS WEEK HE AND DR. ANTHONY FAUCI HAD ANOTHER PUBLIC DUST-UP OVER THE ORIGINS COVID-19.

>> Deborah: YES.

SENATOR PAUL IS STILL QUESTIONING FAUCI ABOUT WHETHER THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH CONTRIBUTED IN ANY WAY TO THIS RESEARCH THAT SUPPOSEDLY STRENGTHENS THE VIRUS FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES AND IMPLYING THAT THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED IN WUHAN AND CONTRIBUTED MAYBE TO THE PANDEMIC.

FAUCI RATHER TART TOLD HIM AGAIN THAT HE DIDN'T IN SO MANY WORDS KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND THAT HE WAS EGREGIOUS LIST WRONG I THINK WERE THE WORDS.

SENATOR PAUL WAS CALLING HOW MANY TO RESIGN SO THE SPAT, THEY JUST WENT AWAY TO THEIR RESPECTIVE CORNERS AND NOTHING HAPPENED.

>> Bill: JOE, AS YOU LOOK AT THIS RACE DOES IT SEEM TO BE THERE COULD BE ANOTHER DEMOCRAT GET IN THE RACE AT THIS POINT?

PAUL COULD HAVE A PRIMARY.

WOULDN'T DOUGH KNOW AT THIS POINT, A SERIOUS CHALLENGE IN THOSE PRIMARIES.

AND THEN THERE IS OPPOSITION INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AS WELL.

-- IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO BOOKER.

DOES IT SEEM TOBY RIGHT TO BE AS THOSE TWO WILL BE THE LIKELY NOMINEES AND THAT'S WHERE THE STATE IS HEADED NEXT YEAR?

>> Joe: I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY OTHER NAMES.

I THINK THAT THE OPENING OF THE 3rd CONGRESS AM DISTRICT MAYBE TOOK SOME WIND OUT OF THE SAILS AND MAYBE SOME OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAYBE EYEING IT POSSIBLY KIND OF IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE EVERYBODY KIND OF WANTS TO GIVE BOOKER A LEGITIMATE SHOT AT THE PRIMARY OR AT THE NOMINATION AS THE LAS AFTER WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME AROUND WITH HIM AND I'M McGRATH AND THE KIND OF SURGING POPULARITY THAT HE SAW IN 2020 AND ALMOST PULLED OFF THE UPSET IN THAT PRIMARY, SO I THINK THERE'S A A LOT OF -- THERE'S A LOT OF MOAT SEPARATION IN DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO KIND OF PUT THEIR EFFORTS BEHIND HIM AND SEE IF MAYBE THEY CAN ACTUALLY RUN A KIND OF TRUE PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, ESPECIALLY AGAINST A GUY LIKE PAUL WHO HAS STAKED OUT HIS POSITION AGAINST GOVERNMENT YEAR.

AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE THESE ARE THE TWO NAMES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE YEAR.

>> Jack: AND I AGREE.

UNLESS YOU HAVE A LOT OF MONEY, YOU CAN ONLY GET IN THAT RACE, I THINK IT'S KIND OF LATE TO GET INTO IT UNLESS YOU'RE WELL FINANCED, AND SO RYAN IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO GET IN.

>> Bill: JACK, REDISTRICTING WILL PLAY IN INTO THE CONGRESS AND LEGISLATIVE RACES, AND YOU'RE REPORTING THAT REPUBLICANS ARE STILL HOPING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION AHEAD OF THE REGULAR SESSION TO GET THAT DONE BECAUSE THE FILING DEADLINE IS THE SAME WEEK AS THE SESSION BEGINS.

>> Jack: WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE CANDIDATES GEIGLE FILING.

THE THE DEADLINE IS JANUARY 7th.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS ON JANUARY 4TH.

SO THE REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE REDISTRICTING, THAT'S THE REDRAWING OF THE BOUNDARIES, ONE PERSON SAID IT'S THE LEGISLATORS PICKING THEIR VOTERS, THE CHANCE OF DOING THAT.

AND SO THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT DONE BEFORE THE SESSION BEGINS IN JANUARY.

ONLY THE GOVERNOR NOW CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION, SO THEY TWO HAVE TO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO DO THIS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THE GOVERNOR SAY THIS, BUT I WOULD THINK HE WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION IF REPUBLICANS DID GREAT HARM TO, SAY, LIKE THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF YARMOUTH AND CHANGED THAT ALL AROUND TO REPUBLICANS' BENEFIT BENEFITS.

>> Bill: ARE WE HEARING ANYTHING ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS?

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE LEAKS HERE AND THERE, RIGHT?

>> Jack: WE KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN POPULATION LOSSES IN THE RURAL AREAS OF EASTERN AND WESTERN KENTUCKY, POPULATION GAINS IN SEVERAL OF THE URBAN AREAS.

SO THOSE PEOPLE IN THE RURAL AREAS MAY HAVE TO HAVE A BIGGER DISTRICT TO GET THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THAT.

AND THERE MAY BE THE PITTING OF DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS IN THE SAME DISTRICTS, AND THEY HAVEN'T RULED THAT OUT.

I'M SURE THE REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS FACING EACH OTHER THAN THEIR COLLEAGUES.

>> Joe: AND PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, TOO, THAT I DON'T THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS HOW DELAYED THE PROCESS HAS BEEN BECAUSE NORMALLY THEY GET THE CENSUS DATA WHICH IS WHAT THEY BUILD THE REDISTRICT BEING MAPS OFF OF MUCH EARLIER THE IN YEAR AND BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC IT WAS DELAYED UNTIL SEPTEMBER.

THEY DIDN'T GET THE FULL SET OF DATA UNTIL THEN.

NOW, AT LEAST FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IT IS SOUNDS LIKE THEY WANT TO GET THIS DONE WANT LEAST GET MAPS MADE PUBLIC WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, MAYBE SOME TIME IN DECEMBER HOPEFULLY AT LEAST, AND THEY WANT TO AT LEAST MAKE IT PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE BE SEE IT BEFORE GOVERNOR -- BEFORE ASKING GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION ON IT.

WHETHER OR NOT BESHEAR IS GOING TO, DEPENDING ON HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THE MAPS, WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: THEY HAVE SO MUCH TO GET DIDN'T IN THAT SESSION I'M SURE THEY WOULD RATHER IT GET DONE BEFORE THEY START.

>> Deborah: IT IS YOU CANS THE ENERGY OUT OF SESSION.

>> Bill: THE THIRD COULD IMPACT THE OPEN CONGRESSIONAL RACE THERE.

JOHN YARMOUTH IS RETIRING.

WHAT IS THE LATEST, JOE?

Y.

>> >> Joe: EVEN THE REPUBLICANS AT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL THAT WERE DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE, THE STATE HOUSE LEADERS AND THAT KIND OF THING, THEY DON'T REALLY WANT THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO BE MANIPULATED IN ANY REAL WALE.

THEY WANT TO KEEP JEFFERSON COUNTY INTACT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REMAINS LARGELY JEFFERSON COUNTY.

EVEN BEFORE YARMOUTH ANNOUNCED HE WAS GOING TO RETIRE.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE KIND OF WANTING TO KEEP THAT ALONE BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE SUCH A COMMANDING LEAD OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

DO THEY WANT TO TRY TO DISRUPT THAT EVEN A LITTLE BIT TO TRY TO GET EVERY SEAT IN CONGRESS?

>> Bill: YOU THINK THEY MAY POTENTIALLY STIPULATE ONE SEAT.

>> Joe: THEY'LL GIVE THE DEMOCRATS ONE AND THEY'LL GIVE THE DEMOCRATS LOUISVILLE IT SEEMS LIKE BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY DILUTE JEFFERSON COUNTY AND PULL SOME OF THOSE VOTERS IN OTHER DISTRICT THAT MAYBE MAKE THE OTHER DISTRICTS SLIGHTLY MORE COMPETITIVE.

>> Bill: AND McGARVEY AND SCOTT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, THE MAIN CANDIDATES WE'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW?

>> Joe: STATE REPRESENTATIVE AT KAUR SCOTT HAD ALREADY ANNOUNCED SHE WAS PLANNING ON RUNNING-YARMOUTH ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT SO AT LEAST BEFORE THE RETIREMENT IT SOUNDED LIKE SHE WANTED TO PRIMARY YARMOUTH AND LEFT OF YARMOUTH WHO IS ONE OF THE MOST PROGRESSIVE LAWMAKERS IN CONGRESS TO BEGIN WITH.

NO THAT THAT'S OPEN IT BECOMES A MORE INTERESTING RACE AND IS WE SAW SENATOR MORGAN McGARVEY WITHIN FIVE SECOND ANNOUNCE THAT HE WAS GOING TO RUN.

>> Bill: I WAS TOLD IT WAS NINE MINUTES.

>> Joe: IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS 28 FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO SAY THEE WAS GOING TO RUN, AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHICH KIND OF LAWMAKER THE 3rd DISTRICT WANTS.

IF THOSE ARE THE TWO CANDIDATES ATTEND UP BEING THE TWO CANDIDATES THAT GET ALL THE ATTENTION -- WE STILL HAVE A ACCIDENT AMOUNT OF TIME BEFORE ALL THE CANDIDATES HAVE TO ANNOUNCE AND WE STILL HAVE TO SEE WHAT THE 3rd CONGRESSIONAL DICTATORIAL LOOKS LIKE, TOO, BUT THOSE TWO SEEM TO BE THE TWO DONATES.

>> Bill: 90-YEAR-OLD LOUISVILLE STATED REPRESENTATIVE TOM BURCH HA FILED AGAIN, DEBBIE.

>> Deborah: WHICH WOULD GIVE HIM ANOTHER TWO YEARS.

HE'S CURRENTLY THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE I THINK BY 18 TERMS.

I CAN'T REMEMBER.

BUT IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

AND HE SAID HE'S STILL UP THERE ATTENDING THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND PRETTY ACTIVE SO I DON'T THINK HE PLANS TO SLOW DOWN.

>> Bill: HOUSE EDUCATION CHAIR REGINA HUFF FROM SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY IS NOT RUNNING AGAIN.

SHE IS ENDORSING SURVIVOR WINNER NICK WILSON WHO WOULD BE KNOWN TO SOME IF HE ARRIVED IN FRANKFORT IF HE WERE TO WIN THAT.

>> Jack: HE WAS ON TV SHOW SURVIVOR.

SHE MAY NEED SOME OF THOSE SKILLS TO GO AROUND THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW ONE THING YOU WANT TO SAY WITH THE ELECTION FILE IF I MAY, YOU BILL.

A TREND I'VE SEEN DEVELOPING THAT THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL INCUMBENTS IN KENTUCKY SEEM TO BE ATTRACTING OPPONENTS IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES WHO SAY THAT THEY'RE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE CURRENT CROP OF REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS WE HAVE IN CONGRESS, AND I THINK THAT'S VERY INTERESTING.

I'M GOING TO BE WATCHING TO SEE IF WE SEE EVEN MORE OF THAT.

>> Bill: IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO WATCH ANOTHER.

THING THAT'LL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH THAT USUALLY.

>> RACE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY WHERE CIRCUIT JUDGE PHILLIP SHEPHERD IS BEING CHALLENGED BY JOE BILL BUY.

WE DISCUSS THAT HAD SOMEWHAT LAST WEEK, JACK.

HOW MUCH WILL OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AFFECT THAT LOCAL ELECTION?

>> Jack: I THINK A LOT.

BILL BUY STARTED HIS CAMPAIGN WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE THINKS THAT JUDGE SHEPHERD HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWING THE LAW, AND HE TOUTS HIS CONSERVATISM AND HIS BACKGROUND AS A LAWYER WHO DEFENDS RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES, A LOT OF CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, AND SO I THINK THAT WILL ATTRACT PEOPLE OF THAT ILK TO HIM AND FROM OUTSIDE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY TO SUPPORT HIM.

AND THEN PEOPLE -- PHILIP SHEPHERD, AND I THINK THE COURIER DID A STORY WHICH SHOWED HIS RULINGS HAVE AFFECTED, DONE HARM TO DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS TO REPUBLICANS.

>> Deborah: JOE GERTH WENT BACK AND RECONSTRUCTED HIS RULINGS BECAUSE REPUBLICANS, THE LEGISLATORS IN PARTICULAR, REPUBLICANS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT JUDGE SHEPHERD FOR SOME YEARS THINKING HE'S TOO LIBERAL OR BIASED, BUT WHEN JOE RECONSTRUCTED HIS YEARS GOING BACK TO THE LAST REDISTRICTING BATTLE THEY FOUND HIS RULINGS WERE PRETTY EVEN HANDED, IN FACULTY, I THINK CAME DOWN A LITTLE MORE ON THE REPUBLICAN CAUSES THAN DEMOCRATIC.

>> Jack: HE'S A FAVORITE WHIPPING JUDGE OF SOME REPUBLICANS AND SO IT HAD WILL DRAW OUTSIDE INTEREST.

>> Bill: ONE TO WATCH CERTAINLY.

THE PANDEMIC HAS CHANGED SO MUCH FOR ALL OF US, AS WE KNOW.

DEBBIE, THE BIDEN ADMINISTERING HAS FOLLOWED THROUGH NOW WITH RULES FOR BUSINESSES WITH 100 EMPLOYEES OR MORE TO REQUIRE A COVID EVACUATION OR REGULAR TESTING.

ARE BUSINESSES PREMARRYING TO COMPLY?

>> Deborah: I THINK THEY ARE.

THEY TAKE NEXT IN JANUARY.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TIME.

MOST OF THE MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN ARE ASSESSING THEM.

U:PS, LG&E.

I THINK GE SAID IT PLANS TO IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENT THAT PEOPLE EITHER GET VACCINATED ARE BE TESTED ONCE A WEEK, AND ALL THE MAJOR HOSPITAL SYSTEMS IN LOUISVILLE HAVE ALREADY IMPLEMENTED THESE RULINGS.

THEY DID THAT EARLIER IN THE YEAR AND THEY'VE ALREADY GONE INTO FICKEL AS FAR AS I KNOW.

>> Bill: ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON IS PART OF A LEGAL CHALLENGE TO THE VACCINE OR TEST MANDATE.

>> Deborah: THERE'S A COUPLE OF THOSE GOING ON AND LED MOSTLY BY REPUBLICAN ATTORNEYS GENERAL FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND CAMERON IS INVOLVED IN TWO OF THEM.

ONE CHALLENGE IS THE OSHA RULE THAT REQUIRE EITHER VACCINE OR TESTING FOR EMPLOYEES, AND THE OTHER WAS -- WHAT WAS THE OTHER?

THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT MANDATES AT ISSUE HERE.

AND THERE ARE LEGAL CHALLENGES.

>> Bill: THE FEDERAL CONTRACTORS.

>> Deborah: YEAH, FEDERAL CONTRACTORS, AND THERE THEY WENT A TESTING OPTION THERE.

YOU HAD TO BE VACCINATED OR HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES VACCINATED.

SO THOSE ARE UNDER CHALLENGE IN COURT AS WELL.

>> Bill: AGRICULTURE COMMISSION, RYAN QUARLES SAID HE WON'T ENFORCE IT IN THE LARGE DEPARTMENT THAT HE CONTROLS.

>> Deborah: YEAH, HE HAS INDICATED HE WILL NOT REQUIRE HIS EMPLOYEES TO DO THAT, AND BARBECUE DUTY BESHEAR, ON I GUESS IT WAS JUST THURSDAY, SAID HE BELIEVES IT APPLIES TO STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> Bill: AND HE TOOK HIS BOOSTER SHOT IN PUBLIC, BY THE WAY.

I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE A PICTURE OF THAT EARLIER THIS WEEK.

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS ON GETTING A BOOSTER, DEB?

ABOUT ANYBODY CAN GET IT NOW, RIGHT?

>> Deborah: IT'S A BIT COMPLICATED BUT IT'S PRETTY GENEROUS TO ANYONE.

AFTER SICK MONTHS AFTER YOUR SHOT OF PFIZER OR MODERNA YOU CAN GET A BOOSTER IF YOU ARE LIKE OLDER, IF YOU WORK AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT PUT YOUR IMMUNITY AT RISK.

WHEN DR. STEVEN STACK EXPLAINED IT, THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMISSIONER, HE SAID BASICALLY IF YOU ATTEST THAT YOU ARE ELIGIBLE, THEY WILL ACCEPT IT, AND SO THEY'RE ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO CAN TO GO GET THE BOOSTER.

>> Bill: KIDS FIVE TO 11 ELIGIBLE FOR A PFIZER VACCINE.

ARE THOSE ROLLING OUT ON THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

>> Deborah: THE VACCINES STARTED BECOMING AVAILABLE IN KENTUCKY ON FRIDAY.

IT'S IN PHARMACIES AND SOME OTHER LOCATIONS AT HEALTH CLINICS, PEDIATRICIANS OFFICES.

JEFFERDS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS GOING TO HOLD VACCINE CLINICS FOR KIDS FIVE TO 11, AND ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO GET VACCINATED ON NOVEMBER -- LATER IN THE MONTH, AND THEY WILL BE ROLLING THOSE OUT I THINK AT 24 LOCATIONS, SCHOOLS AROUND THE COUNTY.

>> Bill: THE PANDEMIC HAS CERTAINLY IMPACTED KENTUCKY SCHOOLS, AND THAT WAS A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION AS THE AN EDUCATION SUMMIT THIS WEEK.

EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS ACKNOWLEDGED EVER KNOWLEDGES THE STRUGGLE BUT SAYS THERE CAN BE BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD.

>> AS I'VE LISTENED TO FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT IS NEEDED FROM OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, IT'S ABUNDANTLY CLEAR TO ME THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE MEANINGFUL AND PROFOUND SHIFTS AND IMPROVEMENTS.

KENTUCKIANS ARE ASKING FOR CHANGE.

>> Bill: THERE WAS, JOE, A LOT OF DISCUSSION AT THE SUMMIT ABOUT FUNDING.

REPRESENTATIVE DAVID MEADE WONDER ALOUD WHY SOME DISTRICTS GET PLENTY OF MONEY AND SOME STRUGGLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL REMEMBER THAT IN THE LATE 1980S THAT LED TO A LANDMARK COURT CASE IN THE WHOLE EK EDUCATION SYSTEM WAS REDONE.

>> Joe: REPRESENTATIVE NEED'S COMMENTS MIRROR THE OVERALL DISCUSSION HAPPENING IN FRANKFORT.

IT'S 30 YEARS SINCE KERA AND AND WHILE LAWI MAY HAVE FULL I FUND TENSION SEEK FORMULA, UNLESS YOU SPEAK ABOUT TRANSPORTATION, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS AN ANTIQUATED MODEL THAT HASN'T NECESSARILY KEPT UP WITH INFLATION.

SO THERE'S THIS DISCUSSION GOING ON IN FRANKFORT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THE SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA NEEDS TO CHANGE.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S SCHOOL FUNDING TASK FORCE THAT'S GOING TO DISCUSS POSSIBLY SHIFTING FROM AN ATTENDANCE-BASED MODEL TO A ENROLLMENT.

-BASED MODEL TRYING TO SEE IF THABO THAT WILL HELP DOLLARS TO GO MORE PROPERTY POOR DISTRICTS THAN PROPERTY FRITSCH DISTRICTS BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING A DISPARATE BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND WEALTHIER AREAS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN POOR AREAS.

>> Bill: DEJA VU?

>> Deborah: IT'S DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN IF YOU LOOK AT THE EARLY DAYS OF KERA BECAUSE THAT STARTED WITH A TAX CASE.

IT WAS ABOUT INEQUITABLE APPLICATION OF TAX AROUND THE SCHOOLS.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR AGAIN CALLED FOR PRAISES FOR TEACHERS.

ALSO HE'S TRAVELING THE STATE MAKING ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS AND CALLING THE STATE'S ECONOMY ON FIRE.

JACK, WE LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT HE HAS DONE AN EMAIL GLASS TO GET DAINES FOR HIS 2023 REDIDN'T DOPE NAINS FOR HIS 20 BETWEEN RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

HE BASED THAT NOTE ON THE VIRGINIA ELECTION FOR REPUBLICANS WON.

IS HE IN FULL ON CAMPAIGN MODE?

>> Jack: MOST DEFINITELY.

I THINK HE REALIZED HOW CLOSE THE RACE WAS HE HAD AGAINST MATT BEVIN AND SO HE NEEDS TO START RAISING CAMPAIGN FUNDS FORE THAT.

AND SO -- AND HE'S TAKEN SOME STEPS.

I THINK THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT HER MOVING FROM THE WORKFORCE AND DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY POSITION, I THINK PUTTING HER OUT ON THE ROAD MORE BOOSTS HIS CAMPAIGN TOO.

>> Bill: JOE, YOU ASKED THE GOVERNOR ABOUT ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> Joe: BASICALLY, SO WHAT I HAVE NOTICED AND WHAT A LOT OF OTHER HAVE NOTICED IS THE GOVERNOR WILL MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE -- DURING THE PANDEMIC IT WAS LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE DAY AND HE DOES MAKE HIMSELF AVAILABLE FORE QUESTIONS, BUT WHEN WE HAVE COPY OF MORE THAN SPECIFIC TOPICS THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT INVOLVING STATE GOVERNMENT THAT MAY NOT BE THE FORMAT TO ASK AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO THE GOVERNOR, WE TRY TO REACH OUT TO CABINET SECRETARIES AND OFTENTIMES THEY'RE NO NECESSARILY AVAILABLE OR THEY PREFER TO SPEAK BY EMAIL WHICH CAN BE A SLOW BACK-AND-FORTH IN REGARDS TO A LOT OF THESE STORIES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.

>> Deborah: YEAH, SOMETIMES YOU ASK FORE AN INTERVIEW AND YOU GET AN EMAIL STATEMENT IN RETURN, SO THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FOR MORE IN-DEPTH OR MORE EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION ABOUT AN ISSUE.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR MAKES HIMSELF AVAILABLE, NOT THE CABINET HEADS.

THE PRESIDENT OF GEORGETOWNIST COLLEGE JONES A FEMALE EMPLOYEE WAS GRANTED AN EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDER AFTER ALLEGATION SURROUNDINGS A OUT OF TOWN TRIP.

>> Deborah: HA I WAS STARTENING DEVELOPMENT.

THE PRESIDENT HAD BEEN THERE WILLIAM.

>> Bill: JONES.

>> Deborah: -- HE HAD BEEN THERE TWO YEARS AT THE COLLEGE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE LEARNED THAT HE HAD BEEN TERMINATED, AND THE PROVOST PUT IN CHARGE OF THE LITTLE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE IN GEORGETOWN.

>> Bill: AND BOURBON MAKERS, A SIGH OF RELIEF.

THE TARIFFS ARE GONE.

>> Jack: VERY MUCH SO.

AN ARTICLE THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN WORKING WITH THE U.S. COMMERCE SECRETARY TO SEE THAT THAT HAPPENED.

>> Bill: LEXINGTON'S BASED RESTAURANT HAS BEEN OLD THE CHAIN THRIVED AFTER THE PANDEMIC SET IN WITH DRIVE-THROUGH AND PICKUP.

IT'S BEING SOLD FORE $130 MILLION TO FAT BRANDS BASED IN CALIFORNIA.

PAZ OLEY'S WAS FOUNDED IN KENTUCKY IN 1988.

TUNE IN MONDAY FOR KENTUCKY COUNTY.

RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ABOUT ABORTION RIGHTS AND RESTRICTIONS.