>> Bill: REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS HOPE FOR A SPECIAL SESSION TO GET REDISTRICTING DONE, BUT DOES DECLINING AN INVITATION FROM TH GOVERNOR ON HERO BONUSES MEAN IT WILL WAIT?

KENTUCKY'S COVID NUMBERS CONTINUE TO DECLINE, BUT AN ERROR MEANS FEWER ARE VACCINATE THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT.

NURSES ARE AMONG THOSE HITTING THE DOOR AS KENTUCKY HAS THE HIGHEST RATE OF PEOPLE QUITTING THEIR JOBS IN THE COUNTRY.

A CHANGE ON THE STATE CAPITOL GROUNDS IN THE NAME OF SECURITY.

HEADING IN HALLOWEEN WEEKEND, "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS 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: ALEX AQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERA.

AUSTIN LOWER THAN, REPORTER FOR THE FRANKFORT STATE JOURNAL.

AND RYLAND BARTON, CAPITAL BUREAU CHIEF FOR KENTUCKY PUBLI RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, RICHARD AND Lexi ALSO TONIGHT, SPECIAL ELECTIONS WILL FILL THREE OPEN SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE NEXT WEEK, AND STUDENT-LED HIGH SCHOOL ASSEMBL MAKES HEADLINES.

FIRST, WE'RE GETTING SMOKE SIGNALS THAT REPUBLICANS WANT A SPECIAL SESSION FOR REDISTRICTING BECAUSE THE FILING DEADLINE IS THE SAME WEEK THE REGULAR SESSION BEGINS.

CANDIDATES WOULD HAVE VERY LITTLE TIME TO KNOW EVEN WHAT DISTRICT THEY'RE LIVING IN.

RYLAND, REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK ALSO REBUFFED THE GOVERNOR'S INVITATION TO BE ON A WORKING GROUP OF FOR HIS DISCUSSION FOR HERO BONIS US.

YOU HAVE REDISTRICTING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE DONE.

I MEAN, ARE THESE I COUPLE OF CHESS PIECES RYAN THAT ARE IN A GAME WE'RE WATCHING?

>>>RIGHT THEY'RE CERTAINLY ON THE SAME BOARD.

REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR THAT SPECIAL SESSION FOR REDISTRICTING FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT YEAR.

INITIALLY REDISTRICTING IS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE CENSUS DATA CAME IN LATE DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, AND THE FILING DEADLINE FOR THESE SEATS THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK.

IT'S JANUARY 7th.

AND ONCE THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK IN SESSION.

SO AS YOU SAID, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW WHAT SEATS THEY ARE RUNNING FOR.

GRANTED, THEY COULD EITHER COME IN AND DELAY THAT FILING DEADLINE IMMEDIATELY SO THEY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO DRAW THOSE MAPS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE -- THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE ASKING FOR THAT SPECIAL SESSION.

NOW, ON THAT OTHER ISSUE WITH THE HERO PAY, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT -- THIS IS A POLITICAL FOOTBALL THAT'S BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

DURING THAT SPECIAL SESSION LAST MONTH, REPUBLICANS HAD BEEN MAKING HAD A LOT OF NOISE, ASKING THE GOVERNOR TO SET ASIDE MONEY FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

THEY SAID THAT IT WASN'T WITHIN THE CALL OF THE SPECIAL SESSION, AND THEN ONCE THE SPECIAL SESSION ENDED 1 BESHEAR CAME OUT AND SAID THAT HE WANTED TO SET ASIDE $400 MILLION FOR VARIOUS FRONTLINE WORKERS, NOT ONLY THOSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS BUT ALSO GROCERY STORE WORKERS, POLICE OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS BE WITH SOCIAL WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY ON THE FRONT LINES HELPING FOLKS OUT DURING THE PANDEMIC AND FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC.

>> Bill: WYATT BE IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH SIDES TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION WHETHER THOSE TWO ISSUES COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AND THEN YOU GO IN WITH A CLEAN SLATE AND YOU DEAL WITH THE BUDGET AND THE OTHER ISSUES THAT WILL COME UP?

>> Ryland: I MEAN, YOU COULD MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR IT.

IT'S PRETTY RAW POLITICS AND JUST ARGUING OVER WHO GETS CREDIT FOR WHAT.

UNDER THIS CURRENT VERSION OF IT, REPUBLICANS GET TO KIND OF TAKE CREDIT FOR EVERYTHING IF THEY, YOU KNOW, DON'T GO ALONG WITH THE GOVERNOR'S WORKING GROUP TO FIGURE OUT HOW ALL THIS HERO PAY WORKS, AND SAME DEAL WITH REDISTRICTING.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT NO MATTER WHAT.

IT WOULD JUST BE A LOT EASIER IF THEY DID IT THIS WAY.

I'M VERY INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY DISCUSSIONS GOING ON TRYING TO TRADE ISSUES LIKE THAT, BUT THERE ARE CERTAINLY TWO OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES GOING INTO THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> Bill: REDISTRICTING WANT BE AVOIDED.

IT'S REQUIRED BY THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, ALTHOUGH THE CONSTITUTION DOESN'T SPEAK TO HOW THAT'S DONE BY THE INDIVIDUAL STATES, AUSTIN, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

YOUR FIRST APPEARANCE TONIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE THAT.

WE HEAR THERE ARE APPARENTLY SOME PROPOSED MAPS THAT ARE SOMEWHERE OUT OF THE PUBLIC VIEW THAT ARE BEING DRAWN UP AND LOOKED AT RIGHT NOW.

IF THIS HAS TO BE DONE IN THE FIRST DAYS OF THE SESSION, WHAT'S QUITE A SCRAMBLE, ISN'T IT?

>> Austin: YEAH, LIKE RYLAND SAID I THINK IT'S VERY LIKELY THEY'RE GOING TO PUSH BACK THAT DATE FOR FILING.

THAT'S JANUARY 7th RIGHT NOW.

AND REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH CHOICES WITH THE WAY POPULATION HAS MOVED.

THE POPULATION IS DRAINING FROM EASTERN AND WESTERN KENTUCKY TO THE URBAN CENTERS.

IT'S JUST A FACT THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH.

AND THEN ANOTHER WORD THAT WE'LL HAVE TO UTTER A COUPLE TIMES IS LAWSUIT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE AN INTHAT BUILT WITH THESE DISCUSSIONS, AND WHEN IT HAPPENS IT'S VERY LIKE THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> Bill: AND WHEN THINGS HAPPEN FAST, SOMEHOW THAT COULD BECOME A FACTOR.

>> Ryland: AND THERE'S HISTORY WITH IT.

SO LAST TIME THEY DREW MAPS, LAWMAKERS SUED OVER IT SAYING THAT COUNTIES WERE IMPROPERLY DIVIDED UP.

THIS TURNED INTO PROTRACTED CORTE BATTLE IN WHICH PEOPLE WERE RUNNING ON AN OLD VERSION OF MAPS AND IT WASN'T SETTLED SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THEY DREW THOSE INITIAL MAPS AND THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT NOW ONES.

IF YOU'RE -- YEAH, IF THE PROCESS IS BEING HANDLED REALLY QUICKLY, THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THESE MISTAKES GET MADE, BUT ALSO THERE'S A OF THE LO FEELINGS AND A LOT OF CAREERS ON THE LINE HERE WHEN -- WHEN LAWMAKERS ARE DECIDING WHICH DISTRICTS TO COMBINE YOU KNOW THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING TWO INCUMBENTS RUNNING THE IN SAME DISTRICT.

THAT'S WHERE IT REALLY MAKES REDISTRICTING DIFFICULT POLITICAL WEB ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PEOPLE IN YOUR OWN CAUCUS.

>> Bill: AND PEOPLE CAN TAKE THAT VERY PERSONALLY.

>> Ryland: VERY PERSONALLY.

>> Bill: AS IN LOOK WHAT LEADERSHIP HAS DONE TO ME.

THEY PUT ME TOGETHER HAVING TO RUN AGAINST AN INCUMBENT RIGHT NOW AFTER AND THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT HAVE TO VOTE ON THESE MAPS.

>> Bill: THE STATE SENATE IS VERY HEAVILY REPUBLICAN, AND ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR WON'T BE RUNNING AGAIN.

THEY DINZ PARROT OF ELIZABETHTOWN SAID HE WANTS TO SHOW DOWN.

DOESN'T THAT MAKE IT, AUSTIN, AN EVEN STEEPER CLIMB FOR DEMOCRATS TO TRY TO IN ANY WAY MAKE SOME PROGRESS IN THEIR -- THE MINORITY SITUATION THEYI FACE RIGHT NOW?

>> Renee: YEAH,.

>> Austin: THAT IS A FAIRWAY TO PUT.

DENNIS PARROT, AS WE KNOW HE HAD SOME HEALTH TEMPERATURES CAPITOL AND DECIDED TO CALL IT QUITS AFTER A GOOD 11 VEERS YEARS AND ELIZABETHTOWN IS HEAVILY REPUBLICAN.

DONALD TRUMP AND McCONNELL WON BY 20 PERCENTAGE POINT, SO I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE WHATEVER REPUBLICAN WINS THE PRIMARY TO BECOME THE FAVORITE IN THAT RACE, AND WE ALREADY AFTER HAVE ONE, ELIZABETHTOWN CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS DECLARE IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH, HE REALLY PRAISED BARRY OTT'S TENURE THERE.

>> Bill: YOU COULD SENSE THE FEEL OF THE ELECTION CYCLE COMING.

>> Ryland: THIS IS A LOW WATER MARK IN THE SENATE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

THEY HAVE ONE OPEN SEAT IN THE RANKS ALREADY.

>> Bill: WHEN I STARTED COVERING FRANKFORT IN THE 1980S, WAS EIGHT REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE.

THAT'S THE -- THE ARC OF HISTORY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS, WE'LL GET TO BACK TO SOME OF THESE UPCOMINGS RACES BUT, ALEX WE DO HAVE SOME VERY ENCOURAGING NUMBERS IN THE COVID PANDEMIC RIGHT NOW.

MANY HOSPITALS FINALLY ABLE TO RELAX THEIR VISITATION RULES.

MEANWHILE WE ALSO HAVE LEARNED THAT AN ERROR MEANS THAT WE HAVE FEWER KENTUCKIANS VACCINATED THAN WE THOUGHT.

>> Alex: CORRECT.

SO ON THE ONE HAND COVID IS RECEDING STATEWIDE.

OUR POSITIVITY RATE RIGHT NOW IS A LITTLE OVER 5%.

TWO WEEKS AGO IT WAS 8%.

A MONTH AGO IT WAS OVER 10%.

IT IS, BY ALL METRICS PRACTICALLY, THEY ARE IN FREEFALL, AND SO WE ARE ALMOST BACK TO PRE-SURGE LEVELS, WHICH IS VERY GOOD.

OUR HOSPITALS FOR THE MOST PART ARE NO LONGER STRAPPED WITH PEOPLE.

THEY CAN MANAGE.

BUT, AS YOU SAID, BESHEAR ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT KROGER, PHARMACY CHAIN IN KROGER ACCIDENTAL UNINTENTIONALLY LOGGED BASICALLY 252,500 FIRST CASES TWICE.

AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THOSE DUPLICATES, ONCE THEY ARE REMOVED FROM OUR OVERALL PERCENTAGE, PRETHAT WE HAD 62% OF THE POPULATION THAT HAD RECEIVED AT LEAST A FIRST DOSE.

THIS KNOCKS US MACK DOWN TO 56 OR 57%.

PER AGE GROUP IT DISABILITY A REDUCTION OF 5 TO 7.5 PERCENT.

SO IT'S NOT HUGE BUT IT'S ALSO NOT INSIGNIFICANT AND IT'S A ANOTHER TESTAMENT, BESHEAR USED TO IT SAY THIS WEEK THAT MORE PEOPLE NEED TO DEBT VACCINATED.

HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, VACCINATION LEVELS ARE LARGELY CONCENTRATED IN MP AREAS.

I COUNTED THIS WEEK 20 COUNTIES WITH 40% OR LESS OF THEIR POPULATIONS VACCINATED.

36 OR 35 WITH 45 PERCENT OR LESS.

SO DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GO, THERE ARE STILL VERY UNDERVACCINATED COUNTIES IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: SOME SCHOOLS ARE ALSO MOVING AWAY FROM MANDATORY MASKS RIGHT NOW.

>> Alex: CORRECT, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO LONGER HAVE AS MANY RED COUNTIES AS WE DID IN SEPTEMBER AND AUGUST, AND SO PLENTY OF DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING AT THE STATE OF TRANSMISSION IN THEIR COUNTIES AND SAYING, OKAY, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE MASKS OPTIONAL OR WE'RE GOING TO ONLY REQUIRE MASKS OF STUDENTS IF YOU'RE MOVING AROUND, BUT IF YOU'RE SEATED AT YOUR DESK, YOU CAN TAKE THEM OFF.

BESHEAR SAID THIS WEEK HE UNDERSTANDS THE SENTIMENT BEHIND IT BUT HE SAID IT'S A LITTLE TOO SOON, JUST TO MAKE SURE ESPECIALLY P BECAUSE, AGAIN, MOST OF RURAL KENTUCKY IS UNVACCINATED.

>> Bill: A LOT OF KENTUCKY PARENTS WILL FACE A DECISION BECAUSE THE PFIZER VACCINE IS ABOUT TO BECOME AVAILABLE FOR FIVE TO NINE-YEAR-OLDS, I THINK.

HOW WILL THAT ROLL OUT HERE IN COMMONWEALTH?

>> Alex: PROBABLY LIKE VACCINE AVAILABILITY FOR MOST OTHER IMAGE A AGE GROUPS, AND I IMAGINE WE WILL SEE MORE POP-UP VACCINE CLINICS A SCHOOLS SO THAT CHILDREN COULD VERY EASILY GET A VACCINE WHILE THEY'RE AT SEXUAL.

SCHOOL.

THEY ARE PLANNING WITH HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ROLL IT OUT IN AS EFFICIENT WAY AS POSSIBLE.

OF COURSE WE HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ROLLING IT OUT TO THE REST OF THE POPULATION SO YOU THE SHOULD BE FAIRLY SMOOTH.

>> Bill: THIS IS AB ALEX, AISHA -- CONFIRMS OF IT IN KENTUCKY.

DO WE KNOW MUCH ABOUT THAT?

>> Alex: NOT REALLY, OTHER THAN THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO THE FACT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE VARIANTS.

I THINK THE TRANSMISSIBILITY OF THE LAMBDA NOT QUITE KNOWN.

I THINK AT FACE VALUE IT'S NOT THOUGHT TO BE AS TRANSMISSIBLE AS DELTA BUT I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD EXPECT SUSPECT THAT VARIANTS ARE GOING TO KEEP POPPING UP IN KENTUCKY AS LONG AS WE ARE AT THE VACCINATION LEVEL THAT WE ARE.

IT'S STILL GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE VULNERABLE TO THAT SPREAD.

>> Kelsey Cooper: E.L. >> Bill: KENTUCKY NURSES HAVE BEEN LEAVING THEIR JOB AS.

A NEW SURVEY INDICATES THAT TREND IS VERY LIABLE TO CONTINUE.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY FACTORS DRIVING THAT?

>> Alex: KENTUCKY NURSES ASSOCIATION DID A SURVEY EARLIER IN MONTH TO BASICALLY FIND THE STATE OF HOW NURSES FEEL ACROSS THE STATE.

BASICALLY, BEFORE COVID THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF NURSES.

COVID EXACERBATED IT COMPLETELY.

AND SO THEY POLLED 850 OR SO NURSES.

THEY FOUND THAT 73% LINKED BURN-OUT TO TOO FEW NURSES JUST GENERALLY TO HELP OUT AND UNTENABLE PATIENT LOADS WHICH AGAIN WAS EXACERBATED BY COVID.

SOME PRETTY SHOCKING STATISTICS IN THERE THOUGH.

40% SAID THAT THEY WERE UNDERPAID.

A QUARTER OF THOSE SURVEYED SAID THAT THEY WERE LIKELY TO LEAVE THEIR JOB THE IN NEXT THREE MONTHS.

AND 16% SAID THAT THEY WERE LIKELY TO LEAVE THE PROFESSION.

SO WE HAVE HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATIONS RIGHT NOW PLANNING FOR MAYBE NOT A MASS EXODUS BUT A GRADUAL EXODUS BECAUSE THIS IS IS ON HOSPITAL OF ALL THE NURSES THAT ARE GOING TO RETIRE, ALL BOOMER NURSES, AND SO BY 2024 THEY ESTIMATE THAT WE'LL PROBABLY NEED TO REPLENISH 17,000 OR SO NURSING POSITIONS, WHICH IS A LOT IF YOU CONSIDER THAT MORE THAN HALF OF THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE RIGHT NOW IN KENTUCKY IS NURSES, ALMOST 90,000 LICENSED, SO IT'S A ACTUAL PROBLEM AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE $400 MILLION HERO PAY EARLIER.

THE NURSES REQUESTED BASICALLY $100 MILLION OF THAT TO GO TOWARD INVESTIGATING IN HERO PAY, RESEARCH, TRYING TO RETAIN NURSES FROM BECOMING TRAVEL NURSES WHICH PAYS MORE.

REPUBLICANS REJECTED THAT PROPOSAL FROM BESHEAR EARLIER THIS WEEK.

SO WHETHER THEY WILL GET THAT FUNDING IS TO BE DETERMINED.

>> Bill: THE EMPLOYMENT IS DEEP.

KENTUCKY IS LEADING THE NATION IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE QUITTING THEIR JOBS.

WE HAVE 160,000 JOB OPENINGS OUT THERE.

WHAT ARE EMPLOYERS PACE FACING A THEY TRY TO ATTRACT THEN?

>> Austin: A ACTIONS YOS REPORT CAME AND IT THAT THAT NUMBER IS TWO OPEN JOHNS HOPKINS FOR EVERY EMPLOYED KENTUCKIAN, THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION BUT THAT IS NOT THE HIGHEST RATE.

I THINK NEBRASKA HAS THREE OPEN SO WE'RE NOT THE WORST ON THAT FRONT.

AND THE REPORT SAID IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT IS IN THE WATER.

IT'S MORE KIND OF THESE INDUSTRIES THAT WE'RE RELYING UPON LIKE WAREHOUSING AND I THINK TRANSPORTATION IS ONE TOO.

THOSE ARE JUST BECOMING EXODUS INDUSTRIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE LEAVING FOR HIGHER-PAYING GIGS.

>> Bill: AND YET MORE JOBS ARE COMING.

WE CAN'T TO GET THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS, RYLAND.

TOYOTA IS EXPANDING ITS OPERATIONS AND JOBS IN GEORGETOWN.

THAT, OF COURSE, HAS FUELED SPECULATION THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THIS LARGE CAR BATTERY PLANT THAT TOYOTA WANTS TO BUILD SOMEWHERE NEE ONE OF ITS PLANTS COULD BE IN KENTUCKY.

DO THESE COMPANIES HAVE CONFIDENCE THEY CAN FIND WORKERS?

>> Ryland: I MEAN, THEY CERTAINLY SEEM TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN KENTUCKY.

THEY ALREADY OF THE LARGEST -- THE LARGEST -- THIS IS TOYOTA'S LARGEST PLANT IN THE WORLD, BASED IN GEORGETOWN, AND PART OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE TANKING 1400 OF THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE E. THEY'VE BEEN CURRENTLY CONTRACTING WITH AND TURN THEM INTO FULL-TIME TOYOTA EMPLOYEES.

YEAH, IT'S A HUGE INVESTMENT.

IT'S $460 MILLION.

AND, YEAH, IT'S FUELED A LOT OF SPECULATION THIS IS POSSIBLY GOING TO BE THE SITE FOR T. ONE OF THE BIG CAR BATTERY PLANTS THAT THEY'RE BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S GOING TO HAVE CAPABILITIES, LIKE ELECTRIC CAPABILITIES.

YEAH, I MEAN, CERTAINLY THE WORKFORCE ISSUES IN KENTUCKY HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR A LONG TIME, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

KENTUCKY'S ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF STATES THAT'S REALLY STRUGGLED WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TOTALLY EXITED THE WORKFORCE, AND IT'S BEEN INCREASING FOR A ALONG TIME AND IT'S BEFUDDLED A LOT OF ECONOMIC OBSERVERS.

YEAH, SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE ABOUT IT, AND HIGH-PAYING JOBS HELP.

>> Bill: THERE WAS TALK ABOUT TRYING TO FIX THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM THIS WEEK IN FRANKFORT AS WELL.

>> Ryland: RIGHT.

SO THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM.

THE STATE HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND A CONTRACTOR TO FIX THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

WE ALL SAW THE LINES AND THE PROBLEMS THAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, ESPECIALLY EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS REALLY UNABLE TO HANDLE THAT WAVE OF FOLKS APPLYING FOR BENEFITS.

AND SO THE STATE IS STILL TWO YEARS OUT FROM THIS BEING DONE.

THIS OVERHAUL.

AND THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A BRAND NEW SYSTEM.

IN THE MEANTIME THEY'RE JUST GOING TO KIND OF KEEP ON FIXING THE OLD SYSTEM, AND THERE ARE SOME SHOCKING REMARK CAME THIS WEEK THAT SOME OF THE CODE IN THE OLD SYSTEM IS 1970S CODE FROM ORIGINAL UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, SO WHEN THEY DO FIXES, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO AND FIND RETIREES WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT CODE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIND I.T.

PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE KIND OF IN THE CURRENT WORKFORCE THAT ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT BIT THE KEYS TO THE DUNGEON, RIGHT?

>> Ryland: SO WE'RE GOING FORWARD AND THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TRYING TO POLISH THIS FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Bill: THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION HAS CLEARED RADIO HOST MATT JONES WRONGDOING IN A COMPLAINT THAT WAS FILED BY THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THAT CAME WHILE JONES WAS CONSIDERING CHALLENGING SENATOR SENATOR MITCH MOM.

>> Ryland: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SAID THAT HIS WRITING THIS BOOK ABOUT MITCHELL McCONNELL AND ALSO HIS POSITION I WAS BROADCASTER ON KENTUCKY SPORTS RADIO AMOUNTED TO CAMPAIGN VIOLATIONS WHEN HE WAS CONSIDERING WEIGHING A RUN AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL.

THIS CERTAINLY SEEMED TO QUICKEN THE PROCESS OF SIM DROPPING OUT OF THAT RACE.

-- HIM DROPPING OUT OF THAT RACE.

BUT TWO YEAR'S LATER THE FCC FINALLY RULES ON THIS AND SAY HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

THE COURIER-JOURNAL HAD AN EXTENSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HIM, AND THE KICKER TO THAT WAS HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T REALLY REGRET DROPPING OUT OF THAT RACE, HE DIDN'T THINK HE COULD HAVE IT WON'T ANYWAY.

>> Bill: COULD IT TEMPT JONES TO REPEAT THE PROCESS?

>> Ryland: THÈ HE KNOWS BETTER WHAT SOME OF THE BEHAVIOR, WHAT SOME OF THE STRATEGIES TO TRY AND KEEP HIM OUT OF THE RACE MIGHT HAPPEN, AND REALM FOR HIM I THINK HOOEY WAS SCARED OF LOSING HIS LIVELIHOOD.

THAT'S HIS JOB.

AND HE WAS TAKEN OFF AIR FOR A BIT WHILE THAT -- RIGHT AFTER THAT INVESTIGATION BEGAN.

>> Bill: SPECIAL ELECTIONS TUESDAY WILL FILL THREE OPEN SEATS IN KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE.

THERE ARE TWO STATE HOUSE RACES IN 89th DISTRICT, VOTERS IN JACKSON COUNTY AND PARTS OF LAUREL AND MADISON COUNTY.

REPUBLICAN TIMMIE TRUETT WILL TRY TOEHOLD THE SEAT FOR HIS PARTY.

DEMOCRATIC WILL TRY TO CAPTURE IT FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

TAYLOR AND ADAIR COUNTIES, WILL CHOOSE A SUCCESSOR TO JOHN "BAM" COMPANY, REPUBLICAN MICHAEL SARGE POLEC FACES EDDY ROGERS.

AND IN THE 22nd STATE SENATE DISTRICT VOTERS WILL CHOOSE A SUCCESSOR TO TOM BUFORD TO WHO DIED LAST SUMMER.

THE DISTRICT INCLUDES A PORTION OF GARRETT, ALL OF JEFFERS, MERCER AND WASHINGTON COUNTIES.

THE REPUBLICAN IS DONALD DOUGLASS.

THE DEMOCRAT IS HELEN FACEBOOKAMEZ AND THERE'S A INDEPENDENT WRITE-IN CANDIDATE.

SPECIAL ELECTIONS ARE TOUGH TO RUN AND THEY'RE HARD TO PREDICT, AREN'T THEY.

>> Ryland: CERTAINLY HARD TO PREDICT BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH LOW VOTER TURNOUT IN THEM GENERALLY.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THEY'RE HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY IN THIS YEAR IN WHICH THERE ARE NO OTHER ELECTIONS REALLY ON THE BALLOT.

SO THESE ARE GOING TO BE SOME INTERESTING RACES, THOUGH, THEY'RE SOME EARLY WELL BELLWETHERS.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE RAISED MORE MONEY THAN THEIR REPUBLICAN OBESITY OPPONENTS.

THERE I WAS FILING DEADLINE THE IT'S NOTE GOING TO CHANGE WHO CONTROLS THE LEGISLATURE BUT IPING TO SEE WHO WINS THEM.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, THERE COULD BE AN INTERESTING RACE FOR CIRCUIT JUDGE, WHICH OFTEN HEARS VERY IMPORTANT CASES INVOLVING STATE GOVERNMENT, A CHANNELING TO DR. PHILLIP SHEPHERD.

>> Austin: YEAH, SO JOE BILL BUY NORTHBOUND THAT HE WAS-RUN AGAINST JUDGE SHEPHERD WHO HAS LONG BEEN CHIEF CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE IN FRANKLIN CIRCUIT DISTRICT, AND AS WE KNOW THAT'S AN EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT JUDGESHIP.

YOU'RE EDUCATING WITH MOST OF THE LAWSUITS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH STATE GOVERNMENT.

HE'S DEFINITELY MADE SOME STATE REPUBLICANS ANGRY OF LATE, AND THIS CHALLENGER, JOE BILL BUY, HAS BRAND HIMSELF AS A CONSTITUTIONAL CONSERVATIVE.

>> Bill: THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RULES ADJUSTMENTS IN RECENT YEARS WHERE JUDICIAL CANDIDATES CAN BE MORE OPEN ABOUT BASICALLY THEIR POLITICAL STANDS AND THEIR LEANINGS, RIGHT?

>> Austin: ABSOLUTELY, AND HE'S ALSO FURTHER SAID THAT JUDGE SHEPHERD HAS FAILED IN SEVERAL RULINGS, MOST REASONABLE THIS ONE THAT GOT OVERTURNED BY THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT UNANIMOUSLY REGARDING BESHEAR'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

AND I THINK THIS IS JUST A FASCINATING RACE.

IT'S REALLY GOING TO TEST THE LIMITS OF HOW A NON-PARTISAN JUDICIAL RACE CAN GET POLITICIZED.

BECAUSE JUDGE SHEPHERD IS AN EXTREMELY POPULAR MAN IN FRANK FRANKLIN COUNTY.

THAT'S NO CONTROVERSIAL TO SAY.

HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2006.

IF HE WINS THIS, HE'LL SERVE ARE FOR 24 YEARS.

THOSE JUDGES GET A LOVE FACE TIME WITH PEOPLE AS WELL.

DIDN'T A LOT OF FACE TIME.

A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST KNOW THE GUY.

>> Ryland: AS YOU POINTED OUT IN YOUR STORY, FRANKLIN COUNTY IS A TRUE PURPLE COUNTY.

IT HAS -- IT HAS BECOME MUCH MORE REPUBLICAN THAN IT HAS BEEN IN PAST.

>> Bill: THAT SEAT HAS IMPLICATIONS FAR BEYOND BECAUSE OF THE CASES THAT ARE OFTEN HEARD THERE.

ANYBODY WHO GOES TO THE STATE CAPITOL WILL QUICKLY NOTICE A BIG DIFFERENCE RIGHT NOW.

ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE CAPITOL.

>> Austin: YEAH, SO THEY'VE PUT UP TEMPORARY BARRIERS ON THAT ROAD BEHIND THE CAPITOL.

THEY'RE GOING TO EVENTUALLY PUT UP BOLLARDS TO BLOCK TRAFFIC THERE.

AND IT'S GOING TO BECOME GREEN SPACE.

AND THIS IS LARGELY BECAUSE OF A SECURITY CONCERN THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAD.

HE SAID HE WAS INFORMED BY KSP AND FBI THAT THIS WAS A REAL CONCERN.

THERE WERE MILITIAS MEETING EARLIER IN YEAR, ARMED GUARDS, WALKIE TALK ONCE THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

>> Bill: THERE'S MERGER TALK AGAIN IN FRANKFORT AND FRANKLIN COUNTY.

YOU ALSO HAVE LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE THAT HAD TAKEN THAT STEP.

OTHERS HAVE CONSIDERED IT OVER THE YEARS.

IS IT SERIOUS THIS TIME?

IT'S BEEN DEFEATED IN FRANKLIN COUNTY BEFORE.

>> Austin: IT WAS DEFEATED IN A MARGIN THREE-TO-I IN 200 FOR SO THAT'S AN UPHILL BEATLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME BOTH THE MAYOR AND THE JUDGE EXECUTIVE AND THE JUDGE EXECUTIVE TEASE COMPETITOR WHO JUST ANNOUNCED A RUNS RUN AT HIM TODAY ACTUALLY, SAY THAT THEY'RE KIND OF IN FAVOR OF THE MEASURE.

THEY CAN SEE IT HAPPENING IN NEXT FIVE OR TEN YEARS.

NOW, GRAND THAT'S NOT A COMMITMENT TO ANYTHING, BUT THEY'RE DEFINITELY EXPLORING THEIR OPTIONS.

>> Bill: AN EVENT A HAZARD HIGH SCHOOL GOT STATEWIDE ATTENTION THIS WEEK.

PICTURES WERE POSTED ON FACEBOOK OF A STUDENT-LED HOMECOMING EVENT.

IT WILL FEATURED A MAN PAGEANT AND OTHER EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MET WITH CRITICISM.

THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID DISCIPLINARIY STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND NEW RULES PUT IN PLACE FOR THE FUTURE.

BUT GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS THERE NEEDS TO BE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENCY ABOUT HOW IT'S BEING HANDLED.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AND ENSURE THAT THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER THING THEY NEED TO DO, AND THAT'S THAT THEY NEED TO BE TALKING TO THESE STUDENTS, THAT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT IS NORMALIZED IN THEIR MIND, THAT THEY THINK IS OKAY IN SCHOOL.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE KIDS ARE PUNISHED BECAUSE THE ADULTS WERE LETTING IT GO ON.

BUT WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RAISING OUR KIDS RIGHT ABOUT WHAT IS AND IS NOT ACCEPT ANNAL, ESPECIALLY IN THE WORLD THAT WE -- ACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN.

>> Bill: SEE IT'S BEEN A RANGE OF REACTION TO WHAT HAPPENED.

MANY HAVE CRITICIZED.

SOME HAVE SAID IT'S BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION, RHODE ISLAND.

>> Renee: THIS IS AN INCIDENT THAT WENT VIRAL THIS WEEK.

A COUPLE OF PICTURES FROM WHAT WAS REALLY A PEP RALLY WITH STUDENTS DANCING LEWDLY ON TEACHERS, AND IT REALLY TOOK -- IT WENT ACROSS THE WORLD.

THERE ARE STORIES IN THE GUARDIAN I THINK MAYBE THE BBC ON IT TODAY.

BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN PRETTY ROUNDLY CRITICIZED AND PANNED.

THERE WAS A -- THERE WAS A RALLY IN FAVOR OF THE PRINCIPAL/MAYOR WHO WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND PHOTOGRAPHED IN THAT THIS WEEK IN HAZARD.

BUT THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THAT THEY'RE INVESTIGATING IT AND THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE FALL IN THE COMING WEEKS.

>> Bill: STARTING MONDAY, OPEN ENROLLMENT STARTS ON KYNECT AND THE STATE HEALTH EXCHANGE THAT IS BEING RESTARTED.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BROWSE IT THE LAST FEW DAYS BUT THEY CAN START PICKING OUT PLANS AND ENROLLING NEXT WEEK LEVERAGES THEY CAN WHICH IS A BIG DEAL.

BESHEAR ANNOUNCED HE WAS OPENING THIS AGAIN PROBABLY HALF A YEAR AGAIN AND SO WE ARE FINALLIY AT THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE CAN BEGIN ENROLLING.

SO IT'S EXCITING AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Bill: AND AUSTIN, THERE'S A SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY.

THE NEXT LEADER AT KSU THAT WILL COME IN WILL INHERIT SOME BIG FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

>> Austin: OH, YEAH.

$24MILLION IS THE NUMBER THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO ASK FROM THE STATE FOR A BAIL-OUT.

FORMER PRESIDENT M. CHRISTOPHER BROWN II LEFT THE SCHOOL WITH SOME FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.

HE RESIGNED IN A BIG CLOUD.

AND THERE'S AN 11-PERSON COMMITTEE THAT HASN'T BEEN FULLY ROUNDED OUT JUST YET, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE TASKED WITH FINALIZING THAT BY NOVEMBER 5th AND THEN WE'LL KNOW THE COMPOSITION OF THE PEOPLE WHO WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE THAT DECISION.

>> Bill: DO YOU HEAR IF THEY'RE LIKELY TO MAKE HIRE A NATIONAL SEARCH FIRM TO DO THAT?

>> Austin: THEY HAVE PLANS TO DO A FIRM.

IT'S GOING TO BE A NORTH CAROLINA THOROUGH NATIONAL SEARCH, C PE PRESIDENT AARON THOMPSON HAS COMMITTED HAD TO THAT.

HE WAS THE PERFORMER INTERIM PRESIDENT AT KENTUCKY STATE, AND HE WAS A NAME SOME PEOPLE THREW AROUND TO COME BACK BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM THAT WAY.

IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED AT THIS POINT.

>> Bill: THE PRESIDENT OF BEREA COLLEGE HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

HE WILL STAY SINCE 2023.

SINCE ARRIVING THERE IN 2012 ROLLOFF HAS LIFTED BEREA'S NATIONAL PROFILE WHILE KEEPING TRUETT SCHOOL'S MISSION.

AND ALSO TONIGHT, THE JOURNALISTS AT WKMS IN MURRAY WERE AWARD THE 2021 AL SMITH AWARD THAT WAS LAST NIGHT FROM, THE RYLAND COLLAPSE -- FOR THE RURAL JOURNAL SUMP COMMUNITY ISSUES, THE INSTITUTE THAT'S RUN BY AL CROSS.

AND THAT, OF COURSE, RECOGNIZES SERVICE IN COMMUNITY JOURNALISM P. AND KENTUCKIANS REMEMBERING BLUEGRASS LEDGE SONNY OSBORN ARE HIS DEATH SUNDAY.

THE NATIVE A THOUSAND STICKS IN LESLIE COUNTY.

MONDAY RENEE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ABOUT de 'S SOCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.