LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS WEEKS AW LAWMAKERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STATE BUDGET AND REDISTRICTING, BUT LOTS OF OTHER PROPOSALS ARE OUT THERE.

600 STATE SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE LEFT THEIR JOBS THIS YEAR ALONE.

MANY COMPLAIN ABOUT LOW PAY AND BURN-OUT.

UK SUSPENDS SOME GREEK ACTIVITIES ON CAMPUS AFTER A STUDENT'S APPARENT ALCOHOL RELATED DEATH.

AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION BEGINS WITH THE QUESTION, WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

CHILLIER WEATHER HAUNTS US IN LATE OCTOB "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 NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE, MANDY MCLAREN, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

AND LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN SWITCHES UP HER FOCUS IN FRANKFORT.

AND JOHN YARMUTH'S SON WON'T RUN FOR HIS FATHER'S SEAT NEXT YEAR.

A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT, AND WE CAN ALL SEE THE SAND STARTING TO RUN FAST OUT OF THAT HOURGLASS TOWARD THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, NOW WEEKS AWAY.

LAWRENCE, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE REQUIRES A BALANCED BUDGET BE PASSED.

THE U.S. CONSTITUTION REQUIRES LAWMAKERS REDRAW THESE DISTRICT LINES.

AND THEN THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PROPOSALS FLYING AROUND OUT THERE.

FIRST ON THE BUDGET, WHAT WILL BE THE MAIN THRUST OF THAT DISCUSSION?

>> Lawrence: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THEY'RE TRYING TO PACK A LOT OF MEAT INTO THIS VERY SMALL SAUSAGE THAT'S CALLED THE SESSION FOR NEXT YEAR.

COULD BE VERY BUSY, BUT THE BUDGET HAS TO BE DONE.

AND A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THERE INCLUDE HOW TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS.

THERE'S THAT DECISION THAT HAS TO BE MADE ALONG WITH THE REGULAR BUDGET, AND ONE IS GOING TO IMPACT THE OTHER, SO LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO UNRAVEL ALL THAT AND SEE HOW THEY CAN SPEND THIS MONEY AND NOT -- I KNOW THEY'RE NOT GOING TO OR NOT WANTING TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON CONTINUING EXPENSES, SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF DECISIONS THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE.

>> Bill: BUT THERE IS A SURPLUS IN BUDGET ITSELF, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: THERE IS, SURPRISINGLY COMING OUT OF COVID BUT, YES, THERE IS A BUDGET.

THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN GOOD IN THE STATE.

TAXES HAVE BEEN PAID IN THE STATE.

SO THERE'S A SURPLUS RIGHT NOW.

IN FACT, I THINK IT'S A RECORD SURPLUS.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR WILL NO DOUBT CALL FOR SOME SPENDING, INVESTMENT HE CALLS IT, IN LONG-TERM PROJECTS IN KENTUCKY, BUT REPUBLICANS HOLD THE KEYS TO THE BANK, DON'T THEY?

>> Lawrence: YES, THEY DO, AND THEY OFTEN REMIND YOU OF THAT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY ARE THE POLICYMAKERS.

THEY'RE THE ONES THAT HOLD THE KEYS TO THE BUDGET.

SO AS WE SAW DURING THE LAST BUDGET YEAR, THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED A BUDGET, AND THE LAWMAKERS PRETTY MUCH IGNORED THAT, WENT ON THEIR OWN WAY.

OF COURSE THAT WAS INTERRUPTED BY COVID.

BUT THEY'LL MAKE THE FINAL DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT MONEY GETS SPENT AND WHERE.

>> Bill: MARK, THE REPUBLICANS ARE A OMNIBUS ABORTION BILL THIS SESSION.

IT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT.

THE BILL ISN'T OUT THERE YET.

>> Mandy: EVE OF THESE PROPOSALS WOULD BE CONTROVERSIAL IN AND OF THEMSELVES ABOUT THE THERE'S THREE MAIN THINGS THAT IT WOULD DO.

IT WOULD BASICALLY REQUIRE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE SO-CALLED ABORTION PILL AT A CLINIC IN THE PRESENCE OF A PHYSICIAN, AND THIS IS A BIG NEW FRONT FOR ABORTION OPPONENTS.

RIGHT NOW THE FDA IS RECONSIDERING HOW IT REGULATES MEDICATION ABORTION, AND THE FEAR OF ABORTION OPPONENTS THAT THE FDA WILL ALLOW THESE PILLS TO BE ORDERED ONLINE AND THEN TAKEN IN YOUR HOME AND ACCESS TO ABORTION WILL BECOME EASIER.

THE OTHER TWO BIG THINGS THAT IT DOES, IT'S GOING TO MAKE THE MINOR CONSENT LAW EVEN STRICTER.

A PHYSICIAN WILL HAVE TO VERIFY THE PARENTS' IDENTITY, PERSONALLY IDENTIFY THE PARENTS' IDENTITY AND THEN SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT SAYING THAT THEY PERSONALLY VERIFIED THE PARENTS' IDENTITY.

IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY GET CAUGHT, IT'S A CLASS D FELONY.

FINALLY, THE FETAL REMAINS OF AN ABORTION OR A STILLBIRTH HAVE TO BE INDIVIDUALLY CREMATED.

THERE HAS TO BE A DEATH CERTIFICATE.

AND IT HAS TO HAVE THE FATHER'S NAME ON IT.

AND THERE'S A FOURTH THING THAT MAYBE ISN'T NECESSARILY DIRECTLY RELATED TO ABORTION, AND THAT'S A CONSCIOUS CLAUSE.

IT WOULD ALLOW MEDICAL PROVIDERS TO REFUSE TO PERFORM A SERVICE IF IT VIOLATES THEIR CONSCIOUS.

>> Bill: YOU ANTICIPATE SOME TOUGH DEBATES ON THAT, AND OBVIOUSLY SOME TOUGH DISCUSSIONS IN THOSE MEETINGS HEADING UP TO THE FLOOR VOTE.

>> Mark: WITHOUT A DOUBT, THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONALLY SENSITIVE BILLS, ONE OF THE HOTTEST BILLS OF THE NEXT SESSION.

>> Lawrence: THE DEBATE ABOUT IT, IT WILL BE A HEATED DEBATE AND IT HAD PROBABLY BE A LENGTHY DEBATE BUT REPUBLICANS WILL VOTE TO PASS THIS AND THEY'LL EBEL PRO BE JOINED BY SOME MORE CONSERVE DEMOCRATS AS WELL.

>> Bill: AND VOTES THAT OVERRIDE THE VETO IF THAT COMES AS WELL.

THE KENTUCKY LEAGUE OF CITIES IS THE BACK TO ASK FOR MORE FLEXIBILITY IN REVENUE FOR CITIES.

THE KENTUCKY RETAIL FEDERATION IS ALREADY SIGNALING THAT THEY WILL OPPOSE IT AS THEY DID BEFORE IF THAT MEANS THE OPTION OF A LOCAL SALES TAX, AND THAT'S WHAT CITIES ARE LOOKING FOR, IS AN OPTION FOR SOME MORE REVENUE BECAUSE THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO WAY RIGHT NOW TO RAISE MORE MONEY.

>> Mark: THAT'S RIGHT, AND THEY'VE ALREADY INDICATED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO ONCE AGAIN ASK LAWMAKERS TO APPROVE A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW RESPIRATORY TO VOTE ON THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMOUNT OF.

THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS.

LELL OPTION SALES TAX IS FAR OFF BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATE LAWMAKERS HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO USE THE AUTHORITY TO GRANT THE CITIES HE IS LOCAL OPTION SALES TAXES OR OTHER FORMS OF REVENUE, BUT JUST YESTERDAY THERE WAS A HEARING IN FRANKFORT, KENTUCKY RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND THE THE KENTUCKY RETAIL ASSOCIATION, WHEN THEY WERE ASKED HOW IS COVID AFFECTING YOU, HOW CAN WE HELP?

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THEY SAID IS DO NO HARM AND SPECIFICALLY ASKED LAWMAKERS NOT TO PASS A BILL THAT MIGHT ALLOW A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX.

>> Bill: THAT'S RESTAURANT TAXES APPLY IN SMALLER TOWNS WHO TAKE THAT MONEY AND GENERALLY THE USE IT FOR TOURISM EXPENDITURES, BUT IF YOU'RE A MEDIUM OR LARGER CITY, CAN'T HAVE THOSE TAXES IN KENTUCKY.

>> Lawrence: IF YOU LOOK AT, FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT RESTAURANTS ARE FACING OR ANY RETAILERS FACING, THEY'RE LOOKING A HIGHER PRICES ALREADY BECAUSE OF INFLATION, AND THEY SORT OF DON'T WANT TO ADD LOCAL SALES TAXES ON TOP OF THAT THAT THEY HAVE TO PASS ALONG MOSTLY TO THE CONSUMERS.

>> Bill: SO THERE MAY BE MORE TALK OF TAX RELIEF.

KENTUCKIANS VOTED FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL "A" IN 1998 TO ALLOW TAXES TO BE TAKEN OFF CARS, IF THE LEGISLATURE CHOSE TO DO THAT AND, OF COURSE,OVERS THE YEARS THERE'S ABOUT AN CLAIMS THAT REVENUE WAS NEEDED SO IT NEVER HAPPENED, BUT NOW REPRESENTATIVE ATTENDANCE NANCY TATE OF BRANDEN BIGGER IS ON SPONSORING A TARGET BILL THAT WOULD REMOVE USAGE TAXES FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY IN KENTUCKY.

>> Mark: ONLY TOOK THEM 20 YEARS TO GET AROUND TO IT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO THIS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, LAWRENCE?

>> Lawrence: PROBABLY S. THERE WILL BE SOME CONCERN ABOUT REVENUE OF COURSE.

THEY'LL BE THE BIG DEBATE ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY THIS WILL TAKE OUT OF THE BUDGET.

>> Bill: ONE OF THOSE RECURRING REVENUES.

MANDY, THE COURIER-JOURNAL'S DEBORAH YETTER DROPPED A PIECE THIS WEEK ON THE STATE'S REAL DIFFICULTY WITH SOCIAL WORKERS STAYING ON THE JOB.

THEY SEE SOME DIFFICULT THINGS.

600 STATE SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE LEFT THEIR JOBS THIS YEAR.

>> Amanda: YEAH, THAT'S A PRET SIGNIFICANT MUCH GIVEN I THINK THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 4300 SOCIAL WORKERS EMPLOYED BY DCBS, AND I THINK WE NEED TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT OF WHAT THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BEEN LIKE IN KENTUCKY.

CLEARLY, COVID PANDEMIC GOING ON, BUT THAT EXACERBATES A MILLION DIFFERENT ISSUES, FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE TO CHILD ABUSE, AND I THINK THE ROLE OF A SOCIAL WORKER IS VERY MUCH LIKE THAT OF A TEACHER.

IT'S NOT A 40-HOUR A WEEK JOB.

YOU'RE EXPECTED TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR A LITTLE PAY, LITTLE RESPECT, AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT APOSTLES IN THE PANDEMIC IS YOU HIT YOUR BREAKING POINT AT A CERTAIN POINT GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS, AND I THINK THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.

>> Bill: AND YOU THINK OF THE THINGS THEY'RE SEEING, CHILD ABUSE CASES, DOMESTIC ABUSE, AND SO IT'S BURN-OUT AND, OF COURSE, IT IS THE PAY, AND WE'LL SEE IF THE LEGISLATURE COMES UP WITH SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THAT, RIGHT?

>> MARCUS: >> Mandy: YES, IT'S PAY.

IT'S ALSO CASELOAD.

IF YOU ARE HAVING TO MANAGE SO MANY DIFFERENTLY CLIENTS AND YOU JUST FEEL LIKE YOU'RE NEVER GOOD AT YOUR JOB, THAT WEARS OUT, ESPECIALLY FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE SORT OF CARE TYPE PROFESSION.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE TODAY THE KENTUCKY NURSES ASSOCIATION RELEASED A SURVEY OF NURSES FRYING TO FIGURE ON IT WHY THERE'S A SHORTAGE, AND THEY NAMED SOME OF THOSE VERY SAME THINGS.

HIGH CASELOADS, HIGH PATIENT LOADS, NOT ENOUGH PAY, STRESS.

THE IN FACT, AND MORE NURSES BEING ASSAULTED BY VERBALLY AND PHYSICALLY BY PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

SO SAME THING IS GOING ON IN THE NURSING PROFESSION.

>> Bill: SO BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO TRY TO CHAIN TEHRAN MORE NURSES.

>> Lawrence: EXACTLY.

>> Bill: LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN'S ROLE IN THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION IS SUDDENLY CHANGING.

THIS WEEK SHE STEPPED DOWNS A SECRETARY OF THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CABINET.

>> THERE IS SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE IN THE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ARENA TO SUPPORT AN ECONOMY THAT IS ON FIRE.

WHILE I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE IN A DUAL ROLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION, I KNOW THAT SEEING THESE COMMITMENTS THROUGH REQUIRES A LASER-LIKE FOCUS.

SO TODAY I AM SAYING FAREWELL TO MY POSITION AS CABINET SECRETARY BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS IN GOOD HANDS.

>> Bill: SO THIS IS A SWITCH-UP FOR COLEMAN WHO WILL CONTINUE, OF COURSE, AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BUT IS LETTING GO OF THE POSITION AS CABINET SECRETARY.

>> Lawrence: A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPENING HERE.

ONE, THIS EMPHASIZES I THINK GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S RELIANCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ONE OF HIS BIG CALLING CARDS, HIS BIG LEGACIES ALONG WITH HIS HANDLING OF COVID, IS HOW HE'S DEVELOPED THE ECONOMY IN THE STATE, SO THIS PUTS HER KIND OF IN A MORE HIGH PROFILE POSITION PERHAPS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT SHE CAME UNDER CRITICISM BECAUSE INITIALLY THE OFFICE OF UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WAS IN HER CABINET, AND THAT'S WHEN EVERYTHING CRASHED DURING COVID, AND SHE CAME UNDER SOME HEAVY CRITICISM FOR HOW THAT WAS HANDLED, SO, OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR'S NOT SAYING THAT'S PART OF THIS, BUT THAT CERTAINLY HAS TO BE PART OF HER LEGACY IN THAT CABINET.

>> Bill: THERE'S AN ACTING SECRETARY NAME.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY, I THINK HER LAST NAME IS REAGAN, HAS GOT TO BE THE ACTING SECRETARY.

>> Mark: I THINK THIS FREES UP HER SUCCESSOR TO WORK WITH THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE AS WELL WHO -- I THINK THE WELL MAY HAVE BEEN POISONED BETWEEN LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN AND SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND IN THIS UPCOMING SESSION THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME KIND OF LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE ISSUES IN KENTUCKY.

JUST YESTERDAY THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE UNVEILED ITS BIG REPORT THAT THEY SPOKE TO LAWMAKERS ABOUT, ABOUT THESE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE WORKFORCE, NOT JUST THE LABOR SHORTAGE BUT THE NEED TO TRAIN PEOPLE AND CLOSE THAT SKILLS GAP, SO I THINK THIS FREES HER SUCCESSOR UP TO MAYBE START ANEW.

>> Bill: AMANDA MANDY, YOU HAD MADE THE POINT IT LETS COLEMAN FOCUS ON HER NATURAL CONSTITUENCY TEACHERS BECAUSE SHE CAME OUT OF EDUCATION.

>> Amanda: SURE.

I THINK IF YOU'RE A TEACHER AND YOU'VE SUPPORTED COLEMAN AT THE BEGINNING, MOST LIKELY YOU STILL SUPPORT HER, BUT FOR OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE, JOBS ARE A KITCHEN TABLE ISSUE, RIGHT N. AND AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION, WOULD YOU RATHER HAVE THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE ON THE -- YOU KNOW, WAVERING ABOUT WHO THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR BE THINKING JACQUELINE COLEMAN UNEMPLOYMENT DEBACLE OR JACQUELINE COLEMAN, THE ONE OUT THERE WHO IS PUSHING ALL THESE NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND DEVELOPMENTS BINGE BEFORE WE LEAVE FRANKFORT, THE BIG ITEM ON NORTHWESTERN THE BUDGET IS REDISTRICTING, WHICH HAS TO BE DONE.

ANY WORD ON HOW JOHN YARMOUTH'S DECISION TO LEAVE THE LOUISVILLE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT OPEN NEXT YEAR BY NOT RUNNING IS GOING TO PLAY INTO HOW THE LINES ARE DRAWN?

>> Mark: THAY WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT IN MID-NOVEMBER.

I'M HEARING FROM A WILL THE OF LAWMAKERS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT A THAT SECOND OR THIRD WEEK IN NOVEMBER WHEN A SPECIAL SESSION WOULD ADDRESS REDISTRICTING, SO WE'LL LEARN MORE THEN.

MOST OF THE LAWMAKERS I'VE TALKED TO, THEY DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT THE MAPS ARE LOOKING LIKE YET BUT ONE THING THEY COULD DO WITH ARE YA MOTH'S DISTRICT IS BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A POPULATION LOSS IN WEST LOUISVILLE, THEY COULD STILL KEEP WEST LOUISVILLE IN THINKS DISTRICT BUT THEY COULD ADD TO HIS DISTRICT AND THEY COULD ADD MORE CONSERVATIVE PARTS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY TO THE DISTRICT TO GIVE THE REPUBLICAN CONTENDER A BETTER CHANCE.

>> Lawrence: IN FACT, THAT'S THE WAY IT HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

THERE ARE SOME PARTS OF EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY THAT ARE NOW IN THOMAS MASS' DISTRICT.

OF COURSE HE'S FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

S. THEY COULD VERY WELL PUT THOSE FOLKS BACK IN YARMOUTH'S DISTRICT.

>> Bill: SO A SPECIAL SESSION WOULD HAVE TO BE IN NEGOTIATION BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR WOULD HAVE TO CALL IT, SO WHAT DO THEY GIVE HIM THAT HE WOULD WANT TO SEE?

>> Lawrence: HE WANTS HIS HERO BONUS FOR WORKERS WHO -- FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO HAVE LASTED THROUGH THE COVID PANDEMIC, SO HE COULD TRADE OFF, I'LL GIVE YOU THIS IF YOU GIVE ME THAT, SO IT COULD BE THAT KIND OF THING.

>> Bill: IN THE THIRD DISTRICT YARMOUTH'S SON AARON SAID HE WILL NOT RUN, CORRECT?

>> Lawrence: WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS -- YES, HE WILL NOT RUN.

HE IS GOOD FRIENDS WITH SENATOR MORGAN McGARVEY WHO IS IN THIS CASE, AND WITH McGARVEY IN IT HE WILL NOT WANTED TO BE IN IT.

HE HAS SAID HE'S KEEPING HIS OPTIONS FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN POLITICS.

>> Bill: AND McGARVEY'S GETTING -- ANNOUNCING A LOT OF SUPPORTERS.

SCOTT IS IN THAT RACE.

>> Lawrence: IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY OR SO I GET AN EMAIL ANNOUNCING A NEW ENDORSEMENT, SO HE'S PICKED UP LOT OF E. ENDERS DOMENTS AND A LOT OF MONEY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

ATTICA SCOTT ALREADY IN THAT RACE.

WE'LL SEE WHO ELSE MAY JOIN THEM.

>> Bill: REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR JULIE RAQUE ADAMS INDICATED SHE'LL STAY IN KENTUCKY AND NOTE RUN FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

SEEMED TO LEAVE A CRACK IN THAT DOOR.

>> Lawrence: SHE SAID SHE INTENDS TO FOCUS ON FRANKFORT.

FOCUS ON WORD "INTENDS."

I THINK SHE IS HAPPY DOING WHAT SHE'S DOING.

WOULD SHE LISTEN?

PERHAPS PERHAPS.

PARTICULARLY IF THE DISTRICT IS REDRAWN, THE 3rd DISTRICT, BUT RIGHT NOW SHE SAID SHE INTENDS TO STAY IN FRANKFORT.

>> Mark: YOU'RE NOT RUNNING UNTIL YOUR RUNNING.

>> Bill: ARE YOU HEARING OTHER NAMES, REPUBLICANS?

I KNOW JACK BRAM ARE MENTIONED THE FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY COLEMAN.

>> Lawrence: HE SAID SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE IS NOT PLANNING TO RUN, BUT, OF COURSE, THAT'S FOR NOW.

>> Bill: PLANNING TO RUN.

MANDY, YOU HAVE SPENT MONTHS LOOKING INTO RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DIVISIONS AND DISPARITIES WITHIN JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND AFTER ALL OF THAT RESEARCH AND ALL OF THAT WORK IT WAS INTERESTING THAT YOU STARTED YOUR PIECE WITH A VERY STARK QUESTION.

WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?

WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANTSOME.

>> IT IS A QUESTION THAT YOU JUST REALLY CAN'T ESCAPE.

IF YOU LIVE IN LOUISVILLE WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE FROM THERE -- I'M NOT FROM KENTUCKY HAVE BUT I'M PROBABLY LIKE A LOT OF THE "COMMENT" RESTAURATEURS.

I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN.

THERE WAS ONLY ONE HIGH SCHOOL.

I HAD A GRADUATING CLASS OF ABOUT 100.

SO YOU DIDN'T GO TO THE BAR -- HOPEFULLY YOU'RE NO GOING TO THE BAR RIGHT AFTER HIGH SCHOOL ANYWAYS.

BUT YOU DIDN'T ASK PEOPLE WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS.

IN LOUISVILLE THERE'S SO MUCH TO DO WITH THIS REPUTATION THAT THE HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE CONSIDERED THE GOOD SCHOOLS SUPERIORS THE BAD SCHOOLS, IT'S REALLY ALL WRAPPED UP IN LOUISVILLE'S EFFORTS AT SCHOOL INTEGRATION, WHICH WAS A NOBLE CAUSE, BUT IT'S HAD THESE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

>> Bill: YOUR REPORT INDICATES THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS TRIED OVER THE YEARS TO STRIKE A BALANCE, BUT THAT HAS BEEN ELUSIVE FOR NEM.

THEY FACE A LOT OF PRESSURE, RIGHT?

>> Mandy: A LOT OF PRESSURE.

I WOULD SAY, AGAIN I'M NOT FROM LOUISVILLE -- THIS IS JUST WHAT I HAVE PICKED UP SINCE MOVING THERE FOUR YEARS AGO -- IS SINCE LOUISVILLE STARRED INTEGRATING ITS SCHOOLS IN THE 70S, YOU'VE HAD BASICALLY TWO ENDS OF THE SPECTRUM.

FOLKS THAT ARE VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO BUSING, AND THEY WANT NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND THEY DON'T THINK ANYTHING GOOD HAS COME OUT OF THESE EFFORTS.

AND ON THE OTHER HAND YOU HAVE FOLKS THAT HAVE REALLY DUG IN AND DEFENDED EVERYTHING THAT JCPS HAS DONE WITHOUT ACTUALLY LOOKING AT, AGAIN, THOSE SORT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

SO WHAT I HOPE TO SHOW WITH THIS STORY IS THAT THERE'S TRUTH -- TO A LITTLE BIT TRUTH.

FROM BOTH SIDES, AND UNTIL LOUISVILLE AS A COMMUNITY STARTS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THESE CHILDREN, THESE TEENAGERS WHO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP IN THESE BAD SCHOOLS AND THEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH SOMEBODY ASKING THEM AT A JOB INTERVIEW "WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL?"

AND THEN KNEELING THAT JUDGMENT.

>> Bill: A LOT PERCEPTION ISSUES, IN OTHER WORDS.

YOUR STORIES ON THE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES ALSO OF ON THOSE PERCEPTIONS OF SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.

>> Amanda: YEAH, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS EARLIER.

A CHILD HAS BEEN BORN AND GRADUATED COLLEGE PRETTY MUCH SINCE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, WHICH WAS THE FEDERAL EDUCATION LAW THAT REALLY BROUGHT FORTH THIS STANDARDIZED TESTING AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.

AND AT THE TIME THE THINKING WAS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE ALL THESE, QUOTE/UNQUOTE, FAILING CHOOSE SCHOOLS.

WHAT THEY NEED IS THEY NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW WHEN THEY'RE FAILING STUDENTS, AND THAT'LL BE THE THING THAT FIXES EVERYTHING, THAT SOLVES IT.

CLEARLY WE HAVE THE SAME SCHOOLS THAT 2 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RANKING THEN, STILL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RANKINGS.

THE PUBLIC ATTENTION HAS DONE NOTHING BUT JUST SORT OF NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LOOP ON THESE REPUTATIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE'LL START SEEING POLICYMAKERS THINK WAS ACCOUNTABILITY REALLY THE PROBLEM OR IS IT POVERTY?

>> Bill: JEFFRIES COUNTY IS MISSING OUT ON SOME FEDERAL FUNDING BECAUSE OF THESE ISSUES MAJORITY OF.

>> Mandy: YES.

THERE IS THIS FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT IS UP TO $15 MILLION PER GRANT CYCLE OF MAGNET SCHOOL FUNDING, AND JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS TRIED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO LAND THAT FUNDING, AND THEIR PEER DISTRICTS ARE JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS NOT AND NATIONAL EXPERTS AND EVEN SUPERINTENDENT POLLIO WOULD SAY THAT PART OF THE ISSUE IS AND PERHAPS THE BIGGEST PART OF THE ISSUE IS THAT LOUISVILLE'S MAGNET PROGRAMS ARE REALLY NOT IN LINE WITH NATIONAL STANDARDS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SPECIAL PRIVILEGES THAT THOSE MAG NETS HAVE THAT ARE NOT REALLY EQUITY FOCUSED SUCH AS THESE EXITS BEING ABLE TO BASICALLY AC LOOK A PRIVATE SCHOOL AND SAY, YOU KNOW, YOUR GRADES AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH, YOUR BEHAVIOR HAS BEEN TOO MUCH, GOODBYE.

TYPICALLY THAT'S NOT SOMETHING WE THINK OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL BEING ABLE TO DO.

>> Bill: A LOT OF ISSUES THAT DID NOT START YESTERDAY WON'T BE SOLID TOMORROW, BUT IT WILL REQUIRE SOME FOCUS.

THERE WAS A TRAGEDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY THIS WEEK AS WELL, AN 18-YEAR-OLD FROM HENDERSON DIED AT A FRATERNITY HOUSE.

THE CORONER HAS BLAMED ALCOHOL POISONING.

HIS FUNERAL UNFORTUNATELY IS THIS WEEKEND, LAWRENCE.

>> Lawrence: THOMAS LOFTON HAZELWOOD WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE.

BELIEVE IT WAS ALCOHOL INTOXICATION.

THE UNIVERSITY SUSPENDED THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FRATERNITY AND REQUIRING ALL FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES TO NOW GO THROUGH TRAINING, FIRST ON CONSEQUENCES OF BING DRINK DRINKING BUT ALSO HOW TO DEAL WITH THESE KINDS OF SITUATIONS WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER SO THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

>> Bill: WE'VE COVERED TOO MUCH OF THIS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> Mark: THERE WAS AING AN ISSUE 20 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS AT UK AND WE COVERED THIS AT THE KENTUCKY KERNEL AND I APPLAUD UK FOR DOING WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN RESPONSE BUT IT'S ALSO A REMINDER WHEN WE SEND OUR KIDS OFF TO COLLEGE WE'VE GOT TO HAVE FRANK CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM, I GUESS.

>> Bill: AS WE TALK ABOUT THE CLOCK TICKING, 2023 IS JUST AROUND THE CORN SWELL.

WE'RE REMINDED OF THAT AND THE AN ACT THAT WE HAVE CANDIDATES.

ARE FOR GOVERNOR EITHER TALKING ABOUT RUNNING OR OUT THERE STIRRING.

POTENTIAL CANDIDATES.

FORMER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT SPOKE TO 500 STUDENTS AT ALICE LLOYD COLLEGE.

SHE'S DECIDING THAT SHE'S GOING TO AT LEAST STAY VISIBLE AND SHE'S TAKING A LOT OF QUESTIONS OUT THERE ON WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING.

SHE WAS IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND WHAT SHE MAY DO.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, SHE'S BEEN OUT THERE.

SHE'S ALL BUT ANNOUNCING THAT SHE'S RUNNING BUT SHE'S MAKING HERSELF VERY VISIBLE AND PLAYING UP THE CONNECTION TO TRUMP THINKING, OF COURSE, THAT THAT WILL HELP HER WITH KENTUCKY VOTERS.

>> Mark: I PREDICT WE'RE GOING SEE A LOT MORE OF THESE APPEARANCES BY KELLY CRAFT AT VARIOUS PLACES ACROSS THE STATE IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS.

>> Bill: AND WE'RE HEARING RYAN QUARLES APPARENTLY HAS A TIMETABLE, MAYBE IT'S AROUND THE HOLIDAYS, SHE IS HE'S GOING TO DECIDE EXACTLY WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

STATE AUDITOR MIKE HARMON IS RAISING JUST JUST OVER $13,000 IN HIS IF IT REPORTING QUARTER FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Lawrence: WHICH IS NOT VERY MUCH MONEY AT ALL BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND AS WELL THAT HE'S NEVER RAISED MUCH MONEY FOR EITHER HIS FIRST OR SECOND RACE FOR AUDITOR AND HE WON BOTH OF THEM, SO HE'S A GOOD CAMPAIGNER, BUT NOT APPARENTLY AS GREAT A FUNDRAISER.

>> Bill: FORM GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN IS MENTIONED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.

THERE WAS SOME REPORTING ABOUT PARDONS AND COMMUTATIONS ISSUED JUST BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE IN 2019.

ONE OF THOSE WHOSE SENTENCES WAS COMMUTED THIS WEEK PLEADED GUILTY AGAIN.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, HIS NAME IS DAYTON JONES HOPKINSVILLE.

HE WAS FACING -- HE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TEN-YEAR OR RATHER 15-YEAR SENTENCE IN STATE PRISON WHEN THEN GOVERNOR BEVIN PARDONED HIM SAYING THAT THERE WAS NO STRONG EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM.

NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WENT AFTER HIM, FEDERAL PROSECUTORS.

HE PLEADED GUILTY TO CHILD PORN CHARGES AND IS NOW FACING A 10-YEAR FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCE.

>> Bill: THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO TURN IN BETTER NUMBERS, AS WE WOULD SAY, THINGS ARE IMPROVING.

THE SEPTEMBER SURGE, OF COURSE, FUELED BY THE DELTA VARIANT.

MANDY, SOME SCHOOLS, I THINK CASE, MARSHALL COUNTIES, OTHERS ARE AT THIS POINT ENDING THE MANDATORY MASKS.

>> Mandy: YEAH, AND I THINK THIS COMMONALITY THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THESE DISTRICTS IS THAT THEIR COUNTIES HAVE BEEN CONSIST OF AT THAT ORANGE LEVEL WHICH IS FIVE TO 25 CASES PER 100,000 AND FOR SOME OF THESE, THESE ARE SUCH SMALL COMMUNITIES THAT YOU CAN GET TO THAT RATIO EVEN WITH A HANDFUL OF CASES.

>> Bill: IT WAS 24 CASES IN CASE COUNTY AND IT KEPT THEM IN MORNING.

>> Lawrence: WE HAVE TO MENTION, THOUGH, THE GOVERNOR IS WARNING AGAINST THAT SAYING IT'S TOO EARLY.

HE HOPES THAT STARTING PERHAPS AS EARLY AS NEXT MONTH FIVE TO 11-YEAR-OLDS CAN GET VACCINATED SO HE WANTS SCHOOLS TO HOLD OFF ON PULLING THE MASK MANDATE.

>> Bill: IN QUREIA AN ORANGE OR RED.

JCPS IMPLEMENTED A TEST TO STAY FRAM IN SCHOOLS.

IS THAT WORKING?

>> Mandy: IT IS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS IS THAT KIDS CAN STAY IN THE CLASSROOM WITH THEIR TEACHES LEARNING RATHER THAN GOING HOME AND QUARANTINING FOR SEVEN DAYS, SO IF FAMILIES VOLUNTARILY DO THIS, YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED, YOUR CHILD GETS TESTED, SHOWS UP NEGATIVE, YOU CAN GO BACK TO CARPOOL AND IT'S KEPT ABOUT 100 KIDS IN CLASS THIS WEEK.

>> Bill: MARK WEEK YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING UP ON A SITUATION IN LOUISVILLE.

ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING HAD TO DEAL WITH A POWER OUTAGE AND IT LEFT SOME REALLY FENDING FOR THEMSELVES.

>> Mark: YEAH, I MEAN, GOSH, THIS STORY I COULD TELL YOU A LOT BUT I'LL KEEP IT TO THE STORY ONE PARTICULAR RESIDENT, MARIANNE.

SHE WAS IN A PUBLIC HOUSING BUILDING AND MARK DU VAL FOR SENIORS.

THE POWER WENT OUT.

SHE WAS ON THE THIRD FLOOR.

SHE COULDN'T GET OUT OF HER CHAIR TO GET TO HER ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR.

EVEN IF SHE COULD HAVE, THE ELECTRICITY WAS OUT SO THE I WILL ELEVATOR WASN'T RUNNING.

SHY SAID NOBODY CAME AND CHECKED ON HER UNTIL METRO COUNCILWOMAN KEISHA DORSEY STOPPED BY TO CHECK ON THE BUILDING.

DORSEYY CALLED POLICE.

POLICE CALLED EMS AND THEY CAME BY TO CHECK ON ALL THE RESIDENTS.

NOW DORSEY IS CALLING ON THESE PRIVATE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANIES THAT MANAGE PUBLIC HOUSING KILLED TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO CHECK ON RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE ELDERLY RESIDENCE DURING THESE FOUR OUTAGES AND TO KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN.

>> Bill: MARKS, TOYOTA IT WASN'T TO SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS BATTERY PLANT NEAR ONE OF THEY ARE PLANTS, AND THERE'S SPECULATION ARMING GEORGETOWN.

>> Mark: YEAH, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WE'VE GOT ELECTRIC VEHICLE NEWS EVERY WEEK NOW.

THERE THIS PLANT IS GOING TO BE WITH AN THOUSAND 750 JOSS JOBS AND IT'S GOING TO OPEN IN 2025.

>> Bill: SENATOR RAND PAUL SAID THIS WEEK HE WILL MAKE COLLEGE DEBT TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

>> Lawrence: THAT'S HIS ALTERNATIVELY TO DEMOCRATS TEA PROM TO FORGIVE A LOT OF COLLEGE LOANS.

INSTEAD HE WANTS TO MAKE THEM TAX DEDUCTIBLE SO IT WILL SEND THEM TO WORK BUT ALSO A WAY TO PAY OFF YOUR DEBT A LITTLE BIT SOONER.

>> Bill: WE LEARNED TODAY THERE MAY BE A TENTATIVE SETTLEMENT OF THE HEAVEN HEEL DISTILL ENTRY STRIKE.

>> Lawrence: WHICH WOMAN'S AFTER THEY SAID THEY ARE GOING TO START REPLACEMENT WORKERS.

>> Bill: AFTER TWO YEARS OF BARGAIN LEXINGTON LEADERS AND THE POLICE WILL RAISE STARTING PAY TO POLICE OFFICERS TO $47,000 A YEAR AND PROVIDE A BONUS FOR ALL OFFICERS.

THERE WOULD ALSO BE MORE CITIZEN INPUT IN POLICE DISCIPLINARY MATTERS.

KENTUCKY NAVE HOLLY HARRIS HAS BEEN NAMED ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN WASHINGTON BY THE WASH TONIAN MAGAZINE.

HARRIS HEADS UP THE JUSTICE ACTION NETWORK WHICH PUSHES FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS.

SHE SPLITS HER TIME BETWEEN KENTUCKY AND WASHINGTON.

TUNE IN MONDAY NIGHT FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ON SCHOOL CHOICE.