MUSK OF [♪♪] >> Bill: DEBATES BEGAN WITH CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR TALKING ABOUT ISSUES AND EACH OTHER.

THE STATE-WIDE CAMPAIGNS START MAKING A PIVOT TO GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS.

JUVENILE JUSTICE CHALLENGES AWAIT THE 2024 ASSEMBLY.

THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TELLS A LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEM IT DID NOT HAVE TO REMOVE LIBRARY BOOKS TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW STATE LAW.

OVER TWO WEEKS UNTIL ELECTION DAY.

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 ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE RYLAND BARTON, MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

ERIN KELLY, POLITICAL ANCHOR FOR SPECTRUM NEWS ONE.

AND JOHN CHEVES REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

ALSO TONIGHT KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON LIVES THE HISTORY OF NO HOUSE SPEAKER.

AND LOUISVILLE'S POLICE CHIEF INDICATES SHE WOULD WELCOME A KENTUCKY STATE POLICE POST IN THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY.

A LOT TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NOW THAT THE CANDIDATES ARE APPEARING FACE-TO-FACE FOR DEBATES, AND EARLY VOTING WILL BE UNDERWAY IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS.

THE CANDIDATES AGREED TO FIVE DEBATES INCLUDING ONE EARLIER THIS WEEK IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THAT GOT CONTENTIOUS AT TIMES.

>> AS GOVERNOR I HAVE STOOD WITH OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM AND AGAINST ANIEST TO DEFUND IT.

MY OPPONENTS CATCH UP PLAN HAS VOUCHERS IN IT WHICH WOULD DEFUND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TAKE MONEY OUT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PROVIDE THEM TO FANCY PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THAT DOESN'T CATCH ANYBODY UP.

>> THE FIRST PERSON I WILL ENROLL IN THE CAMERON CATCH UP PLAN IS ANDY BESHEAR IT APPEARS HE HAS NOT READ MY POLICY.

MY POLICY IS ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.

I GREW UP IN THE HARDEN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM MY WIFE IS A TEACHER MY SISTER-IN-LAW A PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHER.

THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND WHAT ANDY BESHEAR DID IN SHUTTING DOWN OR SCHOOLS FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS IS A SHAME.

>> Bill: SO THE DEBATE FEST IS UNDERWAY.

RYLAND BARTON FIRST OF ALL IT IS A CREDIT TO THE CANDIDATES THAT THEY ARE FACING QUESTIONS AND FACING EACH OTHER AND ARE WILLING TO GO BEFORE THE VOTERS AND MAKE THEIR CASES WHY THEY WANT TO LEAD KENTUCKY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

>> IT IS AND IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WERE GOING TO BE THIS MANY DEBATES OR FORUMS JUST A MONTH AGO.

I THINK THERE WERE LATE AGREEMENTS TO DECIDE TO APPEAR IN SOME OF THESE DEBATES.

BUT WE ARE ALSO AT THAT POINT IN THE CAMPAIGN SEASON WHERE IT'S BECOME THE MESSAGING IS SO STARKLY DIFFERENT AS TO WHAT KENTUCKY'S REALITY IS RIGHT NOW.

SO JUST ON THE EDUCATION FRONT, DANIEL CAMERON'S CAMPAIGN IS TALKING A LOT ABOUT HOW KENTUCKY SCHOOLS ARE BEING INFILTRATED INDOCTRINATED WITH LEFT WING IDEOLOGY.

AND ANDY BESHEAR AS WE HEARD THERE, TALKING ABOUT WHAT GOOD WAS GOING ON IN KENTUCKY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AND DANIEL CAMERON REMINDING EVERYBODY WHAT HAPPENED IN SCHOOL SAYING SCHOOLS WERE SHUTDOWN PEOPLE WERE IN REMOTE LEARNING AND ONE POINT IN THE SEASON WHERE A VOTER MIGHT FEEL STRAINED BY THIS BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL KNOW IT ISN'T AS STARK AS EITHER ONE IS PORTRAYING.

THERE ARE PROBLEMS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BUT THEY ARE NOT AS WILD AS THE CANDIDATES MIGHT PRETEND -- SAY THEY ARE.

AND VICE VERSA AS WELL.

>> Bill: YOU MAKE AN INTERESTING POINT YOU WILL RAISE A AND TOIC AND EACH CANDIDATE TAKES IT IN HIS OWN DIRECTION.

>> AND THIS IS WHAT POLITICAL MESSAGING IS ALL ABOUT.

SOMETHING THAT WILL GRAB THE ATTENTION OF THE WOULD BE VOTER AND TRY TO GET THEM TO PAY ATTENTION.

AND GET THEM TO REMEMBER IT AND TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

ESPECIALLY IN KENTUCKY WHEN WE HAVE THESE STRANGE ODD YEAR ELECTIONS THAT DON'T LINEUP WITH OTHER FEDERAL ELECTIONS TURNOUT CAN BE LOW.

SO IT SOMETIMES FEELS LIKE WE ARE IN A VACUUM, TOO.

I DON'T KNOW IT GETS EXACERBATED WHERE NATIONALIZING THE RACE.

THINGS GET MAGNIFIED, SKEWED, DISTORTED IN STRANGE WAYS.

>> Bill: TO THAT POINT CAMERON DOUBLING DOWN TO COMPARE BESHEAR TO BIDEN AND REPUBLICANS WERE EFFECTIVE USING HILLARY CLINTON IN 2016 AND PELOSI WHO TOOK FIRM CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE IS IT EFFECTIVE AGAINST BESHEAR OR DO PEOPLE HAVE A SET IMAGE OF THIS GOVERNOR WITH WHOM THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS?

>> WELL, BESHEAR HAS BEEN CALLING CAMERON A PARTISAN CANDIDATE.

HE EVEN PLACED A BET IN ONE OF THE MOST RECENT DEBATES HOW MANY TIMES CAMERON WOULD MENTION BIDEN'S NAME.

WE'LL KNOW NEXT MONTH WHETHER TYING BESHEAR TO BIDEN IS EFFECTIVE.

CAMERON IS USING WHAT IS GOING ON NATIONALLY WITH INFLATION TO COUNTER BESHEAR WHO IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN KENTUCKY WITH WHAT HE HAS BEEN CALLING A RED HOT ECONOMY.

WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: WE HEARD A LOT ABOUT DOBB DON WHO EN -- DONALD TRUMP WHO E ENDORSED CAMERON IN THE PRIMARY.

WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE THAT MESSAGE AGAIN.

>> WE'RE HEARING THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS ALL ABOUT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INDICTMENT SUMMER WE EXPERIENCED WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND OTHER FOLKS IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

BUT IT DOES CERTAINLY SEEM AS WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY IF THERE'S RISK IT IS A RISK THAT CAMERON IS WILLING TO TAKE RIGHT NOW REMINDING VOTERS AND WOULD BE TRUMP VOTERS HE IS THE ONE WHO IS ENDORSED BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

AND MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL GET FOLKS TO THE POLLS.

>> Bill: JOHN LOOKING AT THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE A LOT OF CHALLENGES FACING THE COMMONWEALTH RIGHT NOW, BESHEAR NOTES THAT HE IS AN THOUSANDS OF JOBS AS GOVERNOR COMING TO THE STATE AND CAMERON NOTES FEWER PEOPLE ARE WORKING THAN WHEN BESHEAR TOOK OFFICE IN 2019.

BOTH OF THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE?

>> THEY ARE.

THEY ARE BOTH LOOKING AT TWO SETS OF NUMBERS BOTH ACCURATELY.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS LOOKING AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE THE NUMBER PEOPLE ACTIVELY IN THE WORKFORCE, LOOKING FOR A JOB OR WORKING.

WHO AREN'T CURRENTLY EMPLOYED.

HE IS LOOKING TO PEOPLE GET IN THE WORKFORCE.

ABOUT 4% IN KENTUCKY.

VERY LOW.

VERY LOW NATIONALLY, TOO.

BUT EVERY GOVERNOR'S PROUD TO SAY I HAVE A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

GENERAL CAMERON IS LOOKING AT THE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE AND IT IS A DIFFERENT NUMBER IT DOESN'T LOOK SO GOOD FOR KENTUCKY AND IT'S BEEN ON THE DOWNWARD SLOPE FOR A LONGTIME, BEFORE ANDY BESHEAR BECAME GOVERNOR.

ABOUT 57% THE LAST TIME I LOOKED.

THAT IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY AGED 16 AND UP THAT ARE LOOKING FOR A JOB OR ACTIVELY EMPLOYED.

UP FORTUNATELY WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY WHO AREN'T WORKING.

BUT THERE'S REASONS FOR THAT WE ARE AN OLDER STATE SOME PEOPLE AGED OUT OF THE WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE A HIGH DISABILITY RATE IN KENTUCKY AND THERE ARE RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE JOBS AVAILABLE ANY GOOD JOBS.

SO BOTH OF THEM ARE CORRECT.

I WILL SAY THAT MOST ECONOMISTS HAVE TOLD ME OVER THE YEARS THAT THERE'S NOT THAT MUCH THAT A GOVERNOR CAN DO IN EIGHT YEARS TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE ON THE EMPLOYMENT ECONOMIC SITUATION IN A STATE.

WHAT GOVERNORS AND LEGISLATORS DO THEY INVEST WISELY HOPEFULLY IN EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEY SORT OF SEED THE EARTH FOR A GENERATION FROM NOW FOR A GOOD ECONOMY.

BUT ANY GOVERNOR THAT SAYS HE IS CREATED A GREAT ECONOMY ANY OPPONENT WHO SAYS HE RUINED THE ECONOMY DID EXAGGERATING A LITTLE BIT.

>> Bill: THE SEASON.

ON CRIME, BESHEAR SAID IF THE FIGURES TICKED UP AND CAMERON HAS THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE COMMONWEALTH SHOULD SHARE SOME OF THE BLAME FOR THAT.

DID CAMERON GET AN UNINTENTIONAL ASSIST WHEN LOUISVILLE'S POLICE CHIEF INDICATED THAT SHE WOULD WELCOME A KENTUCKY STATE POLICE POST IN THE STATE'S LARGEST CITY.

>> YEAH, AND THAT'S A PLANK OF GENERAL CAMERON'S PUBLIC SAFETY PLATFORM EARLIER THIS YEAR HE SAID HE WOULD WANT TO PUT A KENTUCKY STATE POLICE POST IN THE LOUISVILLE AREA.

I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR PANNED THAT IDEA WHEN THAT CAME OUT SAYING THAT THAT WOULD THAT SHOWS A LACK OF RESPECT FOR LOUISVILLE POLICE METRO POLICE'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE SITUATION TO LOOK AFTER PUBLIC SAFETY IN LOUISVILLE AT THE TIME.

>> Bill: YOU LOOKED INTO THAT ISSUE AS WELL?

>> THIS CAME UP AT THE LOUISVILLE FORUM THIS WEEK AND THE QUESTION WAS: WOULD HAVING THIS CASE BE POST HELP LMPD.

THE CHIEF SAYS SHE WOULD ACCEPT ADDITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE MAYOR GREENBERG THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR SAID THAT THEY HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH KSP BUT THAT THAT AGENCY IS STRETCHED THIN.

HE DIDN'T SIDE WITH THE CHIEF ON THAT, SAID THAT MAYBE THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD GIVE MORE MONEY TO LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

HOWEVER HE DID SAY HE SUPPORTS HAVING A STAND ALONE CARJACKING STATUTE BOTH PART OF DANIEL CAMERON'S PLAN AND ALSO REPUBLICANS IN LEGISLATURE HAVE THAT IN THEIR PLAN.

SO CAMERON WAS ABLE TO SEIZE ON THAT AND SAY THAT HE HAS GROWING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BECAUSE OF THE CHIEF'S COMMENTS AND WHAT MAYOR GREENBERG SAID.

>> Bill: LOUISVILLE WANTED ABILITY TO ENACT LOCAL GUN ORDINANCES THEY ARE NOT GETTING DAYLIGHT ON THAT FROM FRANKFORT WHICH HAS TO OK LOCAL ORDINANCES.

>> AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE'VE HEARD IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OLD NATIONAL BANK SHOOTING GIVE US AUTONOMY WITH MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE.

>> Bill: ABORTION IS A DIFFICULT TOPIC IN POLITICS.

CAMERON PRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE STATE'S BAN HARD UNTIL HE SAID IS HE COULD SUPPORT EXCEPTIONS.

BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN SEEN THAT EXCEPTIONS ISSUE EMERGING AS AN ISSUE IN RECENT WEEKS AND TOOK THAT RIGHT TO TELEVISION LAST MONTH.

>> LAST MONTH BESHEAR SHARED AN AD WITH A WOMAN TALKING ABOUT BEING RAPED AT THE AGE OF 12.

SHE ADDRESSES DANIEL CAMERON AND SAYS IT'S UNTHINKABLE TO TELL A 12-YEAR-OLD TO HAVE THAT BABY.

BACK IN MARCH AT OUR SPECTRUM NEWS MAYOR MARIO ANDERSON ASKED DANIEL CAMERON ABOUT THIS ABOUT THE ABORTION BAN AND HE SAID HE SUPPORTS THE LAW AS IS.

HE SAID THAT IF HE WAS BROUGHT A BILL WITH EXCEPTIONS HE WOULD SIGN IT AND BROUGHT TO HIM BY THE LEGISLATURE OR IF THE LAW WAS REQUIRED TO BE CHANGED.

BUT ALL OF THIS IS AT THIS POINT HYPOTHETICAL BECAUSE EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE MAJORITY WHIP REPUBLICAN JASON FILED A BILL WITH EXCEPTIONS AND IT DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE.

>> Bill: HAS CAMERON INDICATED THAT HE WOULD PUSH THE LEGISLATURE FOR EXCEPTIONS.

>> OR HE JUST WANTS HE WOULD SIGN A BILL IF THEY BROUGHT IT TO HIM?

>> IF THE BILL IS BROUGHT TO HIM OR IF THE LAW IS REQUIRED TO BE CHANGED HE WOULD SIGN IT.

>> Bill: ANOTHER TOUGH ISSUE IS THE STATE INCOME TAX.

THE LEGISLATURE WANTS TO ELIMINATE IT IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS.

BESHEAR VETOED THEIR EFFORT AND SIGNED THIS YEAR'S REDUCTION IN THE INCOME TAX A HALF PERCENT.

CAMERON KEEPING SAYING HE WANTS TO ELIMINATE THAT QUICKLY.

THE LEGISLATURE ALREADY HAS THE LAW IN PLACE THAT HAS TRIGGERS FOR WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF REVENUE BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANOTHER REDUCTION AND THE STATE HAS NOT MET IT.

>> RIGHT.

TO BE CONSERVATIVE AND CAUTIOUS THE LAWMAKERS PUT GUARDRAILS IN PLACE IN TERMS OF WHAT SURPLUS AND WHAT SORT OF REVENUE WE HAD TO HAVE SO WE DIDN'T WRECK OUR BUDGET WE WOULDN'T CUT THE INCOME TAX UNLESS WE HAD A HEALTHY REVENUE STREAM.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO CUT THE INCOME TAX AGAIN.

GENERAL CAMERON WANTS TO, I GUESS, GET RID OF THE INCOME TAX OR CUT IT DRASTICALLY.

THE LEGISLATURE COULD REVISIT IT BUT I THINK SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS WERE SATISFIED WITH THE CAUTIOUS APPROACH THEY TOOK.

I'M NOT SURE THEY ARE DIEING TO REOPEN THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: ERIN, PART OF THIS WAS TO GO AND EXTEND THE SALES TAX TO SOME ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DONE.

>> IN 2022 HOUSE BILL 8 SETUP THE STRUCTURE TO ROLL DOWN INCOME TAX AND MADE MORE SERVICES SUBJECT TO THE SALES TAX.

DEMOCRATS SAID THIS IS SHIFTING THE BURDEN TO PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD IT.

SO GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID THE REASON AT THAT TIME HE DIDN'T SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 8 WAS BECAUSE OF THOSE ADDITIONAL SERVICES BEING SUBJECT TO THE SALES TAX BUT HE SIGNED HOUSE BILL ONE THIS YEAR SAYING KENTUCKY COULD AFFORD IT.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON WILL SAY AND HAS SAID IN THE DEBATE THAT BESHEAR'S DONE THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN ELECTION YEAR HE WOULD HAVE VETOED THIS BILL IN A NONELECTION YEAR.

BUT IT'S NOT CLEAR IF BESHEAR'S SIGNING HOUSE BILL ONE HAS PULL WITH VOTERS GIVEN THAT THE INCOME TAX WOULD HAPPEN WITH OR WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE WITH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT CAMERON IS OUT OF STEP WITH WHAT THE LEGISLATURE PRESCRIBED.

HE'S ADVOCATING FOR TOTALLY ELIMINATING AND THE LEGISLATURE IS NOT.

THE SENATE BUDGET CHAIR COME OUT AND SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT NEXT YEAR BECAUSE WE DID NOT MEET THE THRESHOLD TO DO THAT.

YEAH, ONE POINT WHERE THE REPUBLICANS AREN'T ALL IN LINE ON THAT ONE.

>> Bill: I HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING HIM TO COMMIT ON THAT ISSUE AS TO WHETHER HE WOULD BE FOR RUNNING THROUGH THE LAW AS IT EXISTS TO GET TO THAT REDUCTION.

>> WELL, HE WOULD HAVE TO GET LAWMAKERS LINED UP TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> THREE MORE DEBATES TO GO INCLUDING LOUISVILLE'S WLKY SATURDAY NIGHT, DEBT'S KENNEBUNKPORT MONDAY EVENING.

I WILL BE HOSTING THE KENTUCKY DEBATE FOR WKYT ON TUESDAY NIGHT THE LAST CHANCE FOR VOTERS TO GET TO SEE THE CANDIDATES.

WHAT DO THE CANDIDATES HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS DEBATE DASH?

>> I THINK THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO APPEAR TO BE THE MORE COMPELLING CANDIDATE THAN THEIR OPPONENTS ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME WHERE POLLING HAS CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THAT THERE'S AROUND 10% OF UNDECIDED VOTERS WHICH WE'RE ALL WONDERING WHAT IS AN UNDECIDED VOTER AT THIS POINT WE ARE NOT SURE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO ABOUT 10% OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS IN KENTUCKY AT THIS POINT.

WE'VE REACHED THAT POINT.

FASTEST GROWING SEGMENT OF KENTUCKY ELECTORATE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR NAMES OUT THERE AND ALSO I THINK SOMETHING IN BESHEAR'S MESSAGING YOU'VE SEEN IS TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT DEMOCRATS DON'T FEEL LIKE OH, THERE'S ALL THIS POLLING SHOWS HIM AHE HAD HAD AND THEY WON'T SHOW UP TO THE POLLS.

THERE'S URGENCY THEY ARE TRYING TO THROW OUT IN THE LAST-MINUTE MESSAGING RIGHT NOW.

>> AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS GOING TO PROBABLY HEAR HIM SAY WHAT HE HAS BEEN SAYING DESPITE ALL THE CRISIS WITH COVID AND THE TORNADOES AND FLOODING THAT THERE'S HOPE WITH THE ECONOMY HERE IN KENTUCKY AND WITH THESE MAJOR PROJECTS LIKE THE COMPANION BRIDGE AND THE BATTERY PLANTS AND YOU WILL HEAR FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON ABOUT CATCHING KIDS UP FROM LEARNING LOSSES AS RYLAND MENTIONED AND VIOLENT CRIME YOU WILL HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT HOW HE HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE SOMETHING THAT BESHEAR HAD IN THE PREVIOUS ELECTION.

>> Bill: DON'T THE CAMPAIGNS HAVE TO TRANSITION INTO GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS?

AT THIS POINT AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ARE UNDECIDED, ERIN, BUT THERE ARE SOME UNDECIDED BUT MOST PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

THESE CANDIDATES NEED TO FOCUS ON GETTING THEIR VOTERS OUT?

>> SURE AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES THAT HAVE BEEN LEADING THE GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORT.

SECRETARY OF STATE PUT OUT TODAY THAT REGISTRATION SURGED AHE OF THAT VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE WITH 6400 VOTERS REGISTERING.

EARLY VOTING COMES UP NOVEMBER 2-4.

NOVEMBER 7TH IS ELECTION DAY.

AND THERE'S NOT A PROJECTION YET FOR TURNOUT CHECKING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE THE STATE-WIDE RACES THAT ELECTION IN 2019 TURNOUT WAS 44%.

AND THERE WAS NO PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT.

>> Bill: IT'S INTERESTING AND WE ARE IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN KENTUCKY WITH HAVING THAT OFF YEAR ELECTION.

SOME SCHOOL ISSUES CREPT INTO THE HEADLINES ARE VOTERS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE NOW.

AND THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING SOON.

RYLAND WE SEE THAT ABSENTEEISM RATES HAVE CONTINUED TO CLIMB ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN AND WESTERN KENTUCKY AND IN THE LEXINGTON AREA.

ARE SCHOOLS AT THIS POINT LEFT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO LURE STUDENTS BACK?

>> I THINK THAT A LOT OF ADMINISTRATORS AND TEFFERS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT HOW TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND FOLKS WHO AREN'T ALWAYS THAT ENGAGED WITH THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TO GET MORE ENGAGED.

SOME OF THE NUMBERS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ABOUT 18% OF KENTUCKY STUDENTS WERE CHRONICALLY ABSENT THAT NUMBER NEARLY DOUBLED DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PANDEMIC, 2021.

AND THEN IT WENT BACK DOWN IT'S BEEN ON THE WAY DOWN THIS LAST SCHOOL YEAR, 21-22 BACK TO 25%.

THAT IS HIGHER THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

KENTUCKY'S NUMBERS DO NOT COME OUT OFFICIALLY FOR THIS PAST YEAR UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH.

WE'LL SEE TO WHAT EXTENT HOW SERIOUS THIS IS CONTINUING TO GO ON.

BUT I THINK IT IS AN ISSUE FOR THAT WE'VE ALL SEEN AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE THINKING A LOT ABOUT IT.

>> Bill: AND JOHN IT IS AN ISSUE FOR FUNDING AND SOME SUPERINTENDENTS WANT THE FUNDING MODEL CHANGED THE MONEY THAT COMES FROM THE STATE TO THE LOCAL DISTRICTS TO REFLECT ENROLLMENT RATHER THAN DAILY ATTENDANCE.

>> SURE.

YOU DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY BASED ON AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO PAY FOR AN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR TEACHERS AND BUSES AND BOOKS AND BUILDINGS ON THE HOPE THAT EVERYONE SHOWS UP.

NOT BASED ON 18% OF PEOPLE CHRONICALLY BEING ABSENT.

>> Bill: WELL, THE BOIL COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT REMOVED 0 MORE THAN 100 BOOKS FROM THE SCHOOL LIBRARIES.

IT SAID IT WAS TRYING TO COMPLY WITH SENATE BILL 150 WHICH PROHIBITS INSTRUCTION ON GENDER RELATED ISSUES NOW THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID REMOVING THE BOOKS WAS NOT REQUIRED OF SCHOOLS TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW.

JOHN, THIS OBVIOUSLY IS OPENED UP A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS THIS WEEK?

>> IT HAS YOU IT'S NEVER GOOD REMOVING BOOKS.

THIS WAS A WEIRDLY WRITTEN LAW.

IT SAYS THAT ANY INSTRUCTION OR PRESENTATION THAT HAS A GOAL OR PURPOSE OF EXPLORING GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND THE BOIL COUNTY SCHOOL SAID ANY INSTRUCTION OR PRESENTATION THAT COVERS SCHOOL LIBRARY BOOKS.

IF KIDS GO IN AND SEE A BOOK THAT IS PRESENTATION AND INSTRUCTION.

AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAID NO IT'S CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION.

SO YOU CAN PUT THE LIBRARY BOOKS BACK BUT THEY WERE CONFUSED IT IS A BROADLY WRITTEN LAW AND AS A RESULT A GRAPHIC NOVEL ON ANNE FRANK AND AARON SLATER ILLUSTRATED AND CAPTAIN UNDER PANTS GOT REMOVED BECAUSE THEY POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THIS LAW.

THE DANGERS WHEN YOU WRITE LAWS THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND.

>> Bill: RYLAND WEREN'T THE SCHOOLS LEFT TO FIGURE OUT ON THEIR OWN HOW THEY WERE GOING TO COMPLY WITH THE SWEEPING MEASURE THAT IS SENATE BILL 150?

>> AND EACH ONE LEFT TO THEIR OWN THERE'S 171 SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN KENTUCKY.

THERE IS A LOT OF VERSIONS OF THIS.

THERE'S ONE SCHOOL DISTRICT DECIDED TO DO IT AND BOIL COUNTY DID IT WITH LIBRARY BOOKS.

NOT ONLY THIS BUT SCHOOL BATHROOM POLICIES RELATED TO TRANS KIDS, DISCUSSIONS OF SEXUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN FIGURING OUT SINCE THE LAW WAS PASSED AHEAD OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

BUT MIDSTREAM RIGHT NOW AS WE SEE WITH BOIL COUNTY, THE LIBRARY OR DECIDING HOW WHAT BOOKS LIBRARIES CAN HAVE MID-SEMESTER.

SO, YEAH, THEY ARE DEALING WITH A LOT THEY ARE FIGURING IT OUT AS IT GOES.

WE'LL SEE IF LAWMAKERS DECIDE TO SHARPEN THIS AT ALL AND GOING BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, I THINK WE'LL SEE TO WHAT EXTENT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT DRIVES VOTERS OUT TO THE POLLS.

REPUBLICANS PUT A LOT OF CAPITAL ON THIS ISSUE.

>> Bill: THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS COMING SOON REGARDLESS OF WHO IS GOVERNOR.

JOHN, JUVENILE JUSTICE ISSUES ARE CLEARLY BEING TEED UP IN THE COMMITTEES FOR DISCUSSION IN THE COMING SESSION.

>> THEY ARE.

LAWMAKERS HAVE KEPT A FOCUS ON THE JUVENILE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IN THEIR INTERIM COMMITTEE HEARINGS.

THEY THREW EXTRA MONEY AT THE DEPARTMENT FOR PAY RAISES TO BRING IN MORE STAFF.

THEY TRIED SEVERAL FIXES AND SOME REFORM BILLS THIS LAST WINTER.

THE PROBLEMS KEEP POPPING UP.

THEY'VE HAD THE STAFF AND SOME CASES PEPPER SPRAYING THE KIDS FOR NO GOOD REASON SOMETIMES IN THEIR CELLS WHEN THEY WEREN'T DOING ANYTHING.

THEY HAVE HAD ONE INCIDENT AT THE CAMPBELL FACILITY THE ALL GIRLS FACILITY WHERE A STAFF MEMBER WAS KISSING THE GIRLS.

STATE POLICE HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED TO THE LAWMAKERS GREAT FRUSTRATION THEY LEARNED THROUGH NEWS MEDIA REPORTS NOT BECAUSE THE AGENCY IS REPORTING BECAUSE IT COMES OUT IN NEWS STORIES LIKE MINE AND THEY FEEL LIKE NO MATTER HOW MUCH ATTENTION THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE KEEPS HAVING THE PROBLEMS THAT AREN'T ADDRESSED.

AND YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO ACTION BEING TAKEN THIS WINTER.

>> Bill: THERE WERE SOME THINGS ADDRESSED, SOME CHANGES WERE MADE?

>> THEY'VE REORGANIZED WHERE THE KIDS GO.

THEY BROUGHT IN ADMINISTRATORS TO TRY TO PUT MORE SPECIALIZATION MORE FOCUS AND TRAINING.

THEY BROUGHT IN OLD PRISON WARDENS TO BRING IN BETTER PROFESSIONALIZATION.

I THINK WHAT THE LAWMAKERS ARE AWAITING IS STOP HEARING HORROR STORIES COMING OUT OF THESE PLACES.

>> Bill: INTERESTING DISCUSSION AND IMPORTANT IN THE SESSION.

KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS OPERATING IN A TIME OF HISTORY IN WASH WASHINGTON D.C. WITH NO HOUSE SPEAKER.

ALL OF KENTUCKY'S REPUBLICANS HAD SWITCHED THEIR SUPPORT TO OHIO JIM JORDAN AND HE DROPPED OUT.

MORGAN McGARVEY SUPPORTS HAKIM JEFFERIES.

WE ARE AT A POINT NOW WITH SO MANY THINGS FACING THE WORLD AND THE UNITED STATES.

RYLAND IS THERE A KENTUCKY SOLUTION TO THIS?

>> I'M NOT SURE.

I BELIEVE THAT THOMAS MASSEY IS THE FOURTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN HE IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE KENTUCKY CONGRESS PEOPLE TO HAVE BEEN NOMINATED FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP.

SO THERE'S THAT.

THERE'S ALSO HAL ROGERS THE SENIOR MOST MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

SO HE HAS THE DEAN STATUS AS JOHN WAS POINTING OUT.

HE HAS A LONG RESUME AND WOULDN'T THAT BE A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT ON TOP OF THAT.

>> Bill: THEY ARE ALL FRUSTRATED.

>> I WOULD NOT PRETEND TO PREDICT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

>> Bill: RIGHT.

AND THE NEXT CHAPTER MAY COME MONDAY.

KET DEBUTED A FASCINATING DOCUMENTARY ABOUT JIM HOST U.K.

BASEBALL PLAYER TURNED RADIO MAN, SPORTS MEDIA EXECUTIVE TWO TENURES IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND DRIVEN LEADERSHIP THAT LED TO REFEREEING OF THE HORSE PARK AND THE KFC CENTER.

HARD TO PEG THINGS HOST HAS HAD A HAND IN BUT THE DOCUMENTARY ATTEMPTS TO DO THAT IN AN HOUR.

>> HE CHANGED SPORTS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM.

>> IN THE PROCESS HE BECAME EASILY ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FIGURES IN COLLEGE SPORTS.

>> THERE IS A WIDE SWATH OF COLLEGIATE ATHLETICS THAT SHOULD LOOK AT JIM HOST AND EXAMINE THE IMPACT THAT HE'S HAD AND TURN AROUND AND THANK HIM.

>> JIM SHOULD BE REMEMBERED AS THE FATHER OF COLLEGE SPORTS MARKETING.

AND BUT MORE THAN THAT, HE IS SUCH A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: WE'LL MAKE IT CLEAR, JIM'S ALIVE AND WELL BY THE WAY.

BUT HE IS A REPUBLICAN WHO HAS WORKED WITH DEMOCRATS, JOHN, A KENTUCKY FAN WHO WANTED TO DO SOMETHING FOR LOUISVILLE WITH THE YUM CENTER AND SOMEBODY WHO CHALLENGED IT EVERYBODY IN HIS PATH TO REACH A LITTLE HIGHER.

>> IT'S TRUE.

IT'S ONLY A SMALL EXAGGERATION TO SAY IN RECENT YEARS EVERY OWE BIT RATHER I'VE READ FOR A LEADER IN KENTUCKY SPORTS OR POLITICS HAS HAD Mr.

HOST QUOTED IN IT HE WORKED WITH THEM KNEW THEM OR SERVED WITH THEM.

>> Bill: YOU HAD AN INTERESTING STORY ABOUT KENTUCKY UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE.

IN 1968, KENTUCKY HAD ITS OWN UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE TO ROOT OUT COMMUNIST AND AND IT WAS USUALLY ANYBODY WHO LOOKED OR THOUGHT OR ACTED DIFFERENTLY AND IT RUINED A LOT OF LIVES IT DID DAMAGE ON ITS WAY OUT THE DOOR IN 18 MONTHS.

>> Bill: PEOPLE WILL LOOK UP YOUR STORY.

JUDY TAYLOR WAS REMEMBERED THIS WEEK FOR BEING THE FIRST FULL-TIME FEMALE LOBBYIST IN FRANKFORT SHE WATCHED OVER CLIENTS FOR DECADES.

HER OWE BIT RATHER NOTES SHE EMBRACED THE MOTHER OF CAPITAL MOTHER BUT NEVER TOLD HER AGE.

SHE WAS HONORED AT THE CAPITAL THIS WEEK.

JUDGE RAY HORNS WHO STRUCK DOWN KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM DIED.

HE WAS THE LEWIS COUNTY NATIVE AND WORKED IN STATE GOVERNMENT BEFORE BECOMING A JUDGE.

AND IN 1989 HE RULED IN FAVOR OF POOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE KENTUCKY EDUCATION REFORM ACT.

RENEE SHAW WILL BE HOSTING A CONVERSATION MONDAY NIGHT WITH THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON TUNE IN THERE.

THAT IS COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.