[♪♪] >> Bill: THE ELECTION IS NOW A MONTH AWAY AS KENTUCKY VOTERS FACE A LONG LIST OF CANDIDATES AND QUESTIONS ABOUT CHANGINGED STATE CONSTITUTION.

WHO WILL LEAD ONE OF KENTUCKY'S FASTEST GROWING CITIES?

BIG DECISIONS ARE AHEAD IN BOWLING GREEN.

KENTUCKIANS COME TOGETHER TO HELP THOSE DEALING WITH FLOODING FROM HELENE.

DID FORMER KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON CONSIDER CHARGES AGAINST ABORTION PROVIDERS?

IT'S OCTOBER, KEEN LAB'S FALL MEET BEGINS AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT 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 ARE ALEX ACQUISTO, POLITICS AND HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

MARCUS GREEN REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

AND WES SWIETEK, MANAGING EDITOR OF THE BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE PRESIDENT OF MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY IS RETIRING AND FORGOTTEN CEMETERIES.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT BUT WE ARE CLOSING IN ON ELECTION DAY AND THE FINAL DATE TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN KENTUCKY IS MONDAY OCTOBER 7TH.

LIKE ALL AMERICANS KENTUCKIANS WILL VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE AND WE'LL ELECT STATE LAWMAKERS THERE IS A SUPREME COURT RACE IN PART OF THE STATE.

BOWLING GREEN WILL ELECT A MAYOR AND COMMISSION AND THERE ARE TWO PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE ON THE BALLOT.

ALSO, SOME WILL FACE QUESTIONS ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

SO A LOT TO GET TO.

MARCUS, LET'S GET TO THE CAMPAIGN OUT THERE.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP GOT 62% OF THE VOTE IN 2016 AND 2020.

TRUMP CARRIED EVERY AREA OF KENTUCKY EXCEPT LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON.

IS THAT APPARENT ADVANTAGE THE REASON THAT KENTUCKY IS GETTING NO ATTENTION IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE SMIVMENT I THINK IT IS.

I THINK THE FACT THAT KENTUCKY HAS GOTTEN REDDER ACROSS THE BOARD, CONGRESSIONAL SEATS, OBVIOUSLY U.S. SENATE SEATS THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BILL BRYANT WAS THE LAST DEMOCRAT TO WIN KENTUCKY IN 1996.

THE MARGINS REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES INCREASED.

I THINK KENTUCKY IT'S EIGHT ELECTORAL VOTES NOT SOMETHING THAT IS AT PLAY NATIONALLY AND REFLECTED WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

WE ARE SEEING NO ADS.

>> Bill: THERE HAS BEEN A SURGE IN NEW REGISTRATIONS 24,000 NEW VOTERS SIGNED UP IN SEPTEMBER.

>> DEFINITELY.

SHOWS THAT THERE'S INTEREST IN VOTING.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT INCREASE AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE FINAL TABULATIONS ARE IN NOVEMBER IN TERMS WHETHER THAT REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE CONTINUES TO GROW.

>> Bill: AND WE'LL REMIND EVERYBODY THAT REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MONDAY.

ONE OF THE ISSUES GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION IS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 IT WOULD GIVE THE LEGISLATURE THE POWER TO DIRECT TAX DOLLARS TO PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

IT IS A HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE IT SEEMS TO SPARK MORE INTEREST IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE THAN OTHERS.

WHAT FEELING DO YOU GET TO AMENDMENT 2 IN THE BOWLING GREEN AREA, THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT IT.

>> .

>> THAT IS THE LEADING ISSUE YOU HEAR ABOUT RELATED TO THE ELECTION.

A LOT OF FORUMS COMMUNITY EVENTS BEING HELD ONE SIDE AGAINST THE OTHER.

MAILERS ARE GOING OUT FROM THE GROUPS PROPONENTS OF AND OPPONENTS OF AMENDMENT 2.

AND THE SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE GOTTEN VERY INVOLVED HAVING A LOT OF PRESS CONFERENCES AND SPEAKING AS PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, THEY WILL NOTE WHEN THEY ARE MEETING IN THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, TO VOICE THEIR OPPOSITION SAYING BASICALLY THE AMENDMENT 2 IF PASSED COULD CRIPPLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEAD TO MONEY BEING DIVERTED TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY BEEN A PROMINENT ISSUE ESPECIALLY IN WHARTON COUNTY.

TEACHERS WE HAVE WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY A LOT OF EDUCATORS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE TAKING A DEEP INTEREST THIS.

>> Bill: DO YOU GET A FEEL HOW IT MAY GO?

>> I'M NOT SURE BUT I WOULD ASSUME IT WOULD BE ALONG THE LINES WE'VE SEEN MANY LARGER CITIES ARE AGAINST AND MORE RURAL AREAS MORE PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL, DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN IT WILL BE ALONG THOSE LINES BUT THE MARGINS WILL BE SMALL SO IT'S HARD TO TELL.

>> Bill: MARCUS THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN LOUISVILLE AND HOME TO THE STATE'S LARGEST PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

HOW DOES IT SEEM TO BE PLAYING OUT THERE?

>> IT'S REALLY A FASCINATING DYNAMIC.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE IN JUST THIS PAST WEEK I DREF BY TRINITY HIGH SCHOOL, A LARGE PRIVATE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN LOUISVILLE.

SAW SUPPORTIVE SIGNS FOR AMENDMENT 2 OUTSIDE OF THAT SCHOOL.

BUT YOU HAVE A SITUATION IN WHICH THE UNION SAY FOR THE JEFFERSON COUNTY TEACHERS OPPOSED TO THIS, OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT WOULD ALREADY HURT AN ALREADY SUFFERING SCHOOL SYSTEM THAT FACED A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND IS DEALING WITH SALVOS FROM DIFFERENT SIDES.

HOWEVER, ON THE OTHER SIDE, THOSE WHO BELIEVE THIS WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS DOWN THE ROAD BELIEVE IT WOULD INCREASE EXETION BUT -- COMPETITION BUT THE STRUGGLES OF JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS THIS IS WHY WE NEED THIS.

IT IS A FASCINATING DYNAMIC.

LAWN SIGNS I'VE SEEN MORE YARDLINES IN LOUISVILLE FOR ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

IT IS AN ISSUE THAT PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO.

>> Bill: DO YOU GET A FEEL BASED ON THE COUNT HOW IT MAY GO IN LOUISVILLE?

>> MOST OF THE SIGNS I SEE IN MY PART OF TOWN ARE SIGNS OPPOSING THE CHANGE.

BUT, AGAIN, IT'S HARD TO GAUGE THAT.

I'VE SEEN SOME SIGNS THAT ARE YES SIGNS IN YARDS THAT ALSO HAVE SUPPORTING DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

WHO KNOWS ANYMORE.

>> Bill: AND ALEX IN AREAS WHERE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM MAYBE THE LARGEST EMPLOYER AND THAT IS THE CASE IN MANY COUNTIES.

AND MANY AREAS THAT THERE ARE FEW OR NO PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

IS IT DIFFICULT TO GET VOTERS ENGAGED ON AN ISSUE LIKE THAT AMENDMENT?

>> YOU KNOW MAYBE YOU WOULD THINK SO ON ITS FACE BUT YOU HAVE TO THINK AND I VISITED COUNTIES IN EASTERN KENTUCKY WHEN THE NO ON 2 CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED.

YOU HAVE TO THINK, TOO, THAT IN SOME OF THE SMALLER MORE RURAL AREAS THAT HAVE NO PRIVATE SCHOOL OPTIONS BUT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THIS, EITHER EVERYBODY KNOWS A TEACHER OR EVERYBODY RELIES ON THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR SOMETHING.

WE TALKED ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODING BEFORE WE WENT LIVE.

THE SCHOOLS PROVIDED SUPPOSES FOR THAT.

I HAVE TO THINK YOU WOULD THINK THAT MAYBE AT ITS FACE YOU WOULDN'T BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BUT I ALMOST THINK THOSE COMMUNITIES MAY HAVE STRONGER OPINIONS BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE MORE INDIRECTLY IMPACTED BY IT.

AND SO IT'S SORT OF A TOSS UP.

WES SAID WE MIGHT SEE RURAL COUNTIES VOTING MORE FOR IT, AND URBAN AGAINST.

I WONDER IF WE WILL SEE MORE RURAL COUNTIES VOTING AGAINST IT BECAUSE THE RELIANCE ON PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS BIGGER THAN IT IS.

>> Bill: IT CHALLENGES CONVENTION DOESN'T IT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

>> DEFINITELY.

>> Bill: WES THERE IS CONCERN EXPRESSED BY THE CLERKS OUT THERE THEY WANT TO GET FOLKS IN AND OUT OF THE POLLING PLACE AND DO AN ACCURATE COUNT THEY WANT PEOPLE TO READ THE AMENDMENTS BEFORE GOING TO THE POLLS.

THEY ARE WORDY AND PART OF A LONG BALLOT IN A HEAVY TURNOUT PRESIDENTIAL YEAR?

>> YES, WELL THE PRESIDENTIAL YEAR OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A HIGHER TURNOUT AND DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE, THERE'S A LOT OF RACISTS FOR FEW WHO CAST BALLOTS ON.

GOING TO THE POLLS AND SEEING TWO AMENDMENTS AND YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION YOU ARE HOPEFULLY SITTING THERE AND READING THEM AND THIS HAS LEAD IN THE PAST LONG LINES AT POLLING PLACES BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE AMENDMENT.

AMENDMENT 2 HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF PUBLIC LISTSY AND AMENDMENT 1, AMENDMENT 1 CODIFIES THE NONCITIZENS CAN'T VOTE WHICH IS THEY ALREADY CAN'T BUT THIS HAS BEEN PUT IN THERE BY THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES PRIMARILY.

SO IF PEOPLE ARE READING BOTH AMENDMENTS, COULD LEAD TO LONG LINES AS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AT THE POLLING PLACES.

>> AS WES SAID, AMENDMENT 2 IS GETTING FAR MORE PUBLICITY AND WE'RE SEEING BIZARRE THINGS HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF THAT.

OBVIOUSLY MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE OPINIONS ABOUT THIS.

BECAUSE THE FACTS OF THE MATTER ARE QUITE CLEAR.

YOU CAN QUANTIFY THEM PUBLIC DOLLARS THAT GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BE DIVERTED MAYBE NOT EXACTLY WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS AMENDMENT BUT IT OPENS THE DOOR FOR IT.

>> Bill: THE LEGISLATURE COULD DO THAT.

>> AND THEY PLAN TO.

THEY HAVE BEEN CLEAR ABOUT THAT, FRANKLY.

YOU HAVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE VOICING MAYBE NOT OPPOSITION, BUT JUST EXPRESSING TO THEIR DISTRICTS WHAT THIS QUESTION DOES.

AND TWO OF THEM AT LEAST HAVE BEEN REPRIMANDED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE FOR COMMENTING ON POLITICALLY PARTISAN ISSUES.

SO IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE LATEST WAS AUGUSTA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS PULASKI COUNTY GOT REPRIMANDED IT PUTS SCHOOLS IN THE POSITION THEY ARE SUBJECT TO POTENTIALLY BE EXTREMELY IMPACTED BY THIS.

BUT THEY ALSO CANNOT QUITE PUBLICLY COMMENT ON IT, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE THE DIRECT RECIPIENTS OF WHATEVER HAPPENS WITH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW.

TEACHERS HAVE OPINIONS LIKE HE SAID.

MANY TEACHERS ARE SAYING THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION BECAUSE THEY CANNOT COMMENT ON IT BECAUSE THEY ARE PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

>> Bill: THEY ARE CLEAR IF THEY SPEAK AS AN INDIVIDUAL, RIGHT?

IT'S THAT POTENTIAL USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS WARNED AGAINST.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK YOU HAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT ARE HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND OTHER PLATFORMS TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT AND THE DISTINCTION IS TRYING TO BE DRAWN WITH THE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES NOT SOMEONE'S PERSONAL OPINION AS A TEACHER OR A SUPERINTENDENT.

>> Bill: IT'S THE WHO CAN SAY WHAT QUESTION AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN WHAT CAN BE USED IN THIS ELECTION.

KENTUCKY'S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER WARNED AGAINST USING THE NEWLY RELEASED ACHIEVEMENT SCORES TO CAMPAIGN FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 2.

>> TEST SCORES SHOULD NOT BE USED AS A WEAPON IN MY OPINION TO SAY THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS FAR AS AMENDMENT 2.

WE HAVE SCHOOL CHOICE.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THAT STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY THEIR PARENTS WHERE THEY WANT THEM TO GO.

AND WE HAVE CERTAIN BELIEFS THAT WE HAVE ABOUT PUBLIC SCHOOL FUNDS AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

>> Bill: WHEN YOU LISTEN TO COMMISSIONER FLETCHER'S ANSWER YOU CAN HEAR WHAT A TOUGH POSITION HE IS IN, ALEX, OVERSEEING PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ANSWERABLE TO LAWMAKERS WHO FUND THE SCHOOLS AND WHO PUT THE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT?

>> HE WAS LITERALLY APPOINTED BY REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

HE ALSO KNOWS EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT GOING TO SAY IT PUBLICLY HE KNOWS THE IMPACT IT WILL HAVE.

HE HAS TO PLAY THE DIPLOMATIC ROLE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE WHAT HE SAID IS PRESSURED HE IS ANTICIPATING PEOPLE WILL USE FALLING TEST SCORES IN SOME CASES TO SAY SEE THIS IS WHY WE NEED SCHOOL CHOICE.

HE WARNED AGAINST IT.

AND WE SAW REPUBLICANS GOING TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO DO EXACTLY THAT.

WHEN REALITY THE THINGS THAT COLOR OF THE TEST SCORES ARE VERY COMPLEX AND NUANCED YOU CANNOT LINK ONE CAUSE TO WHY THEY MIGHT BE FALLING OR EXCELLING.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THOSE RESULTS.

THE STATE-WIDE ACCOUNTABILITY TESTS DID SHOW IMPROVEMENT IN READING AND MATH BUT SLIPPAGE IN SCIENCE AND IN COLLEGE PREPAREDNESS.

>> AND TO ALEX'S POINT, USING FOR EXAMPLE, THE DECLINE IN SCIENCE.

FLETCHER HIMSELF MENTIONED HE HAS SPOKEN TO SUPERINTENDENTS WHO HAD TOLD HIM THEY HAD GONE A YEAR WITHOUT A CHEMISTRY TEACHER.

THE FACTORS BEHIND THE TEST SCORES ARE VARIED AND COMPLEX AND NUANCED AND THERE'S NOT JUST AN EASY ANSWER.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WE WANT AN EASY ANSWER TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING AND THIS IS A CASE IN WHICH IT'S TOUGH TO TRY TO FULLY PINPOINT WHAT IS DRIVING THE SCORES.

AS FLETCHER MENTIONED THERE ARE FACTORS THAT ARE IN SOME CASES AS SIMPLE AS THE TEACHERS ARE NOT THERE TO TEACH THE CLASSES AND FORCES DISTRICTS TO CREATE ARRANGEMENTS WITH OTHER DISTRICTS.

IT UPENDS THE SYSTEM WHERE YOU HAVE TEACHERS AVAILABLE ALL THE TIME.

>> Bill: WE ANTICIPATE BOTH SIDES WILL KEEP FIGHTING HARD AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON AMENDMENT 2.

>>> WES, YOU REPORT ON FAST GROWING BOWLING GREEN IT IS AMAZING WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE WITH FOLKS COMING TO TOWN AND BUSINESSES COMING.

YOU TOLD US THIS YEAR YOU EXPECTED LIVELY ELECTIONS FOR MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION.

IS THAT PROVING TO BE THE CASE?

>> YOU HAVE THE MAYORAL RACE IS GETTING A LOT OF ATTENTION.

IT'S INTERESTING DYNAMIC.

PATTY MINTSER IS CHALLENGING TODD ALCOT THE INCUMBENT.

AND TODD HIS FIRST TERM AS MAYOR, HE'S COMPLETING HIS FIRST TERM AND PATTY IS A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 20.

AND THEY HAVE MET IN THE PAST.

WHEN JODY RICHARDS THE 40-YEAR STATE REP IN THE 20TH DISTRICT RETIRED.

TODD ALCOT RAN AS A REPUBLICAN FOR THE NOMINATION.

AND PATTY MEANT FOR RAN AS A DEMOCRAT.

TODD DID NOT WIN AND PATTY FACED SOMEONE ELSE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND SHE WON THE SEAT.

THAT WAS AGAIN, HELD FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS BY A DEMOCRAT.

AND THEN THE LEGISLATURE SORT OF REDREW THAT DISTRICT AND PATTY MENTOR LOST HER SEAT.

SHE CAME OUT AND DECIDED SHE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR MAYOR.

AGAIN, THERE'S HISTORY THERE.

IT IS A NONPARTISAN RACE.

BUT THERE'S NO SECRET THAT TODD ALCOT IS A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.

AND PATTY MENTOR IS A PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT.

SO A LOT OF ATTENTION IS GOING INTO THAT RACE.

YOU ARE SEEING AS WE TALK ABOUT A LOT OF YARD SIGNS AND A LOT OF MONEY WILL BE WINDUP BEING SPENT IN THAT RACE.

>> Bill: YOUR NEWS ORGANIZATION IS COMING UP WITH A FORUM.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC THE CANDIDATES THIS IS THE ONLY TIME WHERE THEY ARE APPEARING TOGETHER WILL BE THERE AND ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY STAND ON THE ISSUES.

>> Bill: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE ISSUES TO BE WITHOUT GIVING AWAY YOUR QUESTIONS?

>> A LOT OF GROWTH.

YOU MENTIONED.

BUT THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

JUST DEALING WITH THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF JOB OPENINGS.

AGAIN, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF APARTMENTS AND HOUSES BEING BUILT EVERY YEAR AND THAT IT'S NOT KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMAND.

HOW THE INFRASTRUCTURE TAXES AND THINGS LIKE THAT RELATED TO GROWTH HOW THOSE CANDIDATES WILL KIND OF ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES I THINK IS GOING TO BE THE MAIN FOCUS 0 FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Bill: MANY COUNTIES ARE HAVING LOCAL OPTION MEDICAL MARIJUANA VOTES PEOPLE WILL BE VOTING IN A COUNTY ELECTION AND IN A CITY ELECTION WITHIN THAT COUNTY.

YOU MIGHT VOTE TWICE ON THAT ISSUE.

AND THAT WILL BE TO DECIDE WHETHER THOSE LOCALITIES WILL ALLOW MEDICAL DISPENSARIES OR SOME OF THE OTHER PROCESSING TYPE FACILITIES THERE.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING SITUATION.

SOME CITIES WENT AHEAD AND MADE THE DECISION THEMSELVES OR COUNTIES AND WON'T HAVE AN ELECTION?

>> THE LEGISLATURE BASICALLY GAVE CITIES THE OPTION TO DEAL WITH THIS THEY COULD BAN IT OR PUT IT TO A VOTE AS MANY CITIES HAVE DONE OR ADDRESS IF THAT WAR REB COUNTY ADDRESSED IT BY ZONING THEY PUT IT INTO A ZONING CATEGORY, HIGHWAY BUSINESS.

RESTRICTED IT HOW CLOSE THE FACILITIES COULD BE TO A SCHOOL OR ANOTHER BUSINESS OR A SIMILAR BUSINESS.

WHICH BASICALLY RESTRICTS HOW MANY THERE CAN BE IN A COMMUNITY.

SO, YEAH, THERE IS A VARIED APPROACH TO IT.

AND AGAIN, SOME PEOPLE GET TO VOTE ON IT AND SOME WON'T.

THIS IS GETTING CLOSE BECAUSE THEY GO IN EFFECT JANUARY FIRST.

A LOT OF THE DECISIONS WILL BE MADE QUICKLY AND THERE WILL BE A TURNAROUND AND YOU WILL SEE THE FACILITIES OPENING UP.

>> Bill: A NEW LANDSCAPE.

THIS LAST WEEK AT THIS TIME FRIDAY NIGHT WE WERE ON GENERATOR POWER AS REMANENTS OF HURRICANE HELENE BLOWN THROUGH.

MOST HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLEAN UP THE DAMAGE BUT WE HAVE ALL SEEN THE HORRIBLE DEVASTATION TO OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH.

IN TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA AND SOUTH CAROLINA THE DEATH TOLL IS CLIMBING THERE'S WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTION.

ALEX WE KNOW KENTUCKIANS ARE HELPING THE FIRST-RESPONDERS THERE, UTILITY WORKERS, VOLUNTEERS.

AND KENTUCKIANS ARE DONATING A LOT.

WE ALL REMEMBER HOW MUCH OTHERS HELPED US DURING THE TORNADOES OF 2021 AND THE FLOODING OF 2022.

>> I HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT PLAYS A PART IN MANY PEOPLE'S WILLINGNESS THE MEMORY IS SO FRESH.

THE ACTUAL FEELING THE VISCERAL REMINDER OF THE DEVASTATION LIKE IT DOESN'T TAKE A LOT TO BE REMINDED HOW TRAGIC IT IS SEEING THIS FEETAGE.

IT HAPPENS IN OUR REGION AND OFTENTIMES WHEN THE DISASTERS HIT REGIONALLY WE SEE PEOPLE COME FROM OTHER STATES TO HELP.

SOME OF THIS HIT FAR EAST KENTUCKY AND IT'S TRIGGERING BECAUSE IT REMINDS THEM OF THIS THING THAT HAPPENED RECENTLY.

AND SO THEY WANT TO DO THEIR PART TO HELP.

AND THEY ARE SO FAR.

>> Bill: MARCUS TRAVELERS FROM KENTUCKY TRUCKERS HAVE TO BE AWARE OF THE ROAD CLOSURES IN EAST TENNESSEE AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THIS ENTIRE REGION OF THE COUNTRY, RIGHT?

>> HUGE.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE FULLY BEGUN TO COMPREHEND HOW WIDESPREAD THE IMPACT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR THE WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS.

TO YOUR POINT, I40 THE MAIN EAST-WEST ROUTE BETWEEN TENNESSEE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AND KNOXVILLE AND ASHEVILLE A SECTION WAS WASHED AWAY WITH A MUDSLIDE NEAR THE STATE LINES.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG SAID THAT WILL BE MONTHS BEFORE IT'S REOPENED.

THAT IS THE MAINSTREAM PART OF THE TRAVEL NETWORK.

YOU'VE GOT BRIDGES AND ROADS AND OTHER WAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT FRANKLY THE ONES WE KNOW ABOUT WILL TAKE A LONGTIME.

THERE ARE MANY WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT.

I JUST THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MASSIVE INFRASTRUCTURE REBUILD ON A SCALE THAT I THINK THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS GOING TO BE ASTRO NO, MA'AMAL.

>> Bill: WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE HOW LONG IT CAN TAKE.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND OTHERS WERE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY JUST THIS WEEK TO BREAK GROUND FOR A NEW CITY HALL AND POLICE STATION FROM THE 2021 TORNADOES IN MAYFIELD.

>> WE'RE REBUILDING FROM THINGS THAT HAPPENED THREE PLUS YEARS AGO.

AND WE'RE ONLY A WEEK OUT FROM WHAT HAPPENED WITH HELENE IN EASTERN TENNESSEE NORTHWESTERN NORTH CAROLINA.

THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO REBUILD AND THE BUREAUCRACY INVOLVED IN PEOPLE GETTING INSURANCE CLAIMS HANDLED AND DEALING WITH THE REGULAR THINGS OF LIFE.

I THINK THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT COLLECTIVELY WE AS A SOCIETY HAVE NOT PROCESSED AND WHEN WE DO PROCESS THEM WE WILL SEE THIS DISASTER IS ON A SCALE THAT RIVALS ANYTHING WE'VE SEEN IN A LONGTIME.

>> Bill: WE KNOW WE'RE SEEING THEM MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY.

RECORDS REVEALED THIS WEEK THAT FORMER KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON MAY HAVE CONSIDERED CRIMINALLY CHARGING ABORTION PROVIDERS.

ALEX TELL US WHAT WAS REVEALED AND HOW IT CAME TO LIGHT.

>> A FRANKLIN CIRCUIT JUDGE HE MADE PUBLIC AT THE RECOMMENDATION FROM TWO MEDIA OUTLETS LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA AND THE KENTUCKY LANTERN TO MAKE MOST OF THIS CASE FROM 2023 PUBLIC.

AND WHAT IT WAS, WAS A YEAR AFTER KENTUCKY BANNED ABORTION IN 2022, DANIEL CAMERON HAD A SUSPICION THAT TWO UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE OBGYN'S WHO PROVIDE TERMINATION AS A PART OF THEIR JOB, PART PA OF HEALTHCARE WORKED AT EMW TRAINING PARTNERS THERE.

HE HAD A SUSPICION BECAUSE THEIR SALARIES ARE FUNDED WITH TAX DOLLARS, TAX DOLLARS MUST BE GOING TO PROVIDE ABORTIONS.

AND THAT IS ILLEGAL IN KENTUCKY.

BECAUSE OF A 2022 LAW.

SO HE FILED A GRAND JURY SUBPOENA FOR THEIR PERSONNEL AND PAYROLL RECORDS AND OTHER THINGS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT IF THIS EVIDENCE EXISTED.

THEY SAID NO.

SUED HIM TO QUASH THE SUBPOENA.

THAT QUASHING WAS HELD UP BY THE JUDGE AND THE CLEAREST CUT EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON TOOK STEPS TO POTENTIALLY BUILD A CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST TWO HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS FOR POTENTIALLY PROVIDING ABORTIONS.

USING PUBLIC FUNDS.

>> Bill: HAS CAMERON COMMENTED?

>> HE HAS NOT COMMENTED ON IT.

AND IT'S WORTH SAYING JUDGE SHEPHERD SAID THIS AND CAMERON APPEALED TO THE COURT OF APPEALS AND HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

AND BOTH COURTS SAID NO EVIDENCE EXISTS THE COURT OF APPEALS CALLED IT A FISHING EXPEDITION.

IT IS A DAMNING RELEASE FROM BOTH COURTS THAT BASICALLY, I THINK JUDGE SHEPHERD SAID HE WAS OUT OF HIS JURISDICTION TO DO THIS HE HAD NO AUTHORITY TO DO IT.

IT IS THE CLEAREST EXAMPLE THAT WE HAVE THAT HE DID HAVE SOME DESIRE.

>> Bill: INTEREST AT LEAST.

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

>> Bill: THERE ARE ABANDONED ASSEMBLY RATHERS IN LOUISVILLE AND THE MONEY TO EASE THE SITUATION WAS ABANDONED.

MARCUS, YOU HAVE BEEN DIGGING INTO THIS?

>> WE HAVE AND WE'VE DONE SO BECAUSE THESE ARE CEMETERIES IN LOUISVILLE THAT HAVE QUITE A SORT DID PAST THEIR OWNER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH HORRIFIC CRIMES OR ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMES IN THE LATE 80s OF STACKING BODIES AT ONE CEMETERY.

AND AS A RESULT THESE CEMETERIES HAVE BEEN WITHOUT AN OWNER FOR 30 YEARS NOW AND AS A RESULT IT'S BEEN UP TO THE COURTS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE PLAYED A SMALL ROLE IN THIS.

THERE'S BEEN NO ONE OWNING AND MANAGING THE SEAM TEMPORARIES AND AS A RESULT IT'S LEFT UP TO VOLUNTEERS TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTIES.

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY THAT WAS HELD IN A TRUST FUND AND THAT MONEY EVERYONE WOULD AGREE IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE SOME DIFFERENCE.

AND WHAT WE'VE DISCOVERED IS THAT ONLY WAS THE MONEY IN AN ACCOUNT THAT HAD WASN'T BEING USED IT COULD HAVE BEEN USED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE THERE AT THESE PLACES.

BUT THE REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MANAGING THIS MONEY LEFT HIS JOB, COURT APPOINTED APPROVED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND NO ONE REPLACED HIM.

FOR YEARS NO ONE HAS BEEN MANAGING THE MONEY.

RUSSELL COLEMAN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL PLEDGED TO MAKE CHANGES TO TRY TO GET STABILITY SO THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING TO THE CEMETERIES AREN'T GOING OUT AND SEEING THE THINGS WE SAW.

DOG FECES OVER GRAVES.

TREES OVER PEOPLE'S HEADSTONES ATROCIOUS THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY.

>> Bill: LMPD IS TRYING TO CRACKDOWN ON CRIME?

>> THEY ARE.

LMPD IS TRYING TO REVIVE AN ORDINANCE THAT BANS FACE COVERINGS THEY BELIEVE CRIMINALS ARE USING THOSE TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITIES.

THE TALK OF REVIVING THE ORDINANCE PROMPTED SOME TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER THERE WILL BE PROFILING OF COMMUNITIES.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A DEBATE WHEN IT GETS TO THE METRO COUNCIL IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR MADE THE TIME 100 NEXT LIST.

WES, WE KNOW BESHEAR WAS CONSIDERED TO BE VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS' RUNNING MATE HE HAS MADE TV APPEARANCES AND GETTING ATTENTION, STILL?

>> OBVIOUSLY HE HAS TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO IN THE NEXT STEP.

OBVIOUSLY HE IS A RELATIVELY YOUNG MAN.

SO WHEN HE WAS OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE CONSIDERED AS A VP CANDIDATE HE LEANED INTO IT.

AND MADE NO BONES ABOUT IT AND MADE A LOT OF TV APPEARANCENESS THOSE KEPT UP.

HE WAS ON "CNN" THIS LAST WEEK.

HE'S OBVIOUSLY IS NOT JUST GOING TO RETIRE AND GO AWAY.

HE IS LOOKING FOR THE NEXT STEP A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU ARE HAVE A HIGH PROFILE THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE THAT YOU MIGHT GET A CABINET POSITION.

HARRIS HAS TO WIN FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

ALEX, HADLEY DUVAL FEATURED BY GLAMOUR MAGAZINE.

>> SHE WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR FOR HER ABORTION RIGHTS ACTIVISM.

SHE IS A CHILD RAPE SURVIVOR AND ADVOCATED FOR THE RESTORATION OF THOSE RIGHTS AND THEY ARE PRAISING HER FOR TURNING HER PAIN INTO POWER AND SHE IS NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO WON AN ABARRED.

BILL BRYANT IF I MAY COOPT IT WAS INDUCTED INTO THE KENTUCKY BROADCASTERS HALL OF FAME.

AND THAT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION.

>> Bill: I APPRECIATE THAT.

MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT BOB JACKSON IS RETIRING A FORMER STATE SENATOR AND INVOLVED WITH THE UNIVERSITY FOR 43 YEARS.

HE WILL STEP DOWN AND BECOME PRESIDENT OF EMERITUS NEXT SUMMER HE WANTS TO CONTINUE MURRAY STATE RECRUIT STUDENTS AND ELIZABETH TORRE DIED FROM RADCLIFFE AND REPRESENTED THE 10TH DISTRICT FROM 1995-2011.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.