♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ SENATE CANDIDATE CHARLES BOOKER APPEARS ON STATEWIDE TV WITHOUT HIS OPPONENT.

SENATOR RAND PAUL EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT VIOLENCE AS HIS REASON FOR AVOIDING DEBATES.

NEW NUMBERS IN THE KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WHO IS RAISING THE MOST AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR'S SHOWDOWNS.

NEW ALARMS ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF NURSES IN KENTUCKY.

AND REMEMBERING THE COAL MINER'S DAUGHTER, LORETTA LYNN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HER HOME STATE.

THE HORSES ARE RUNNING AT KEENELAND AS THE FALL MEET OPENS.

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 PANELS OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER."

MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND RYLAND BORETON, MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

ALSO TONIGHT, A FORMER CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IS SENTENCED TO PRISON AND A MOBILE ABORTION CLINIC WILL BE POSITIONED NEAR THE KENTUCKY ILLINOIS BORDER AS THE CAMPAIGN HEATS UP OVER A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE RACE AT THE TOP OF THE BALLOT IN NEXT MONTH'S ELECTION.

IT APPEARS FOR THE FIRES TIME SINCE THE 1990S, THAT KENTUCKY U.S. SENATE RACE WILL HAVE NO DEBATE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES.

IN AN AD AND INTERVIEW THIS WEEK, SENATOR PAUL IS TRYING TO TIE CHARLES BOOKER TO COMMENTS THAT HE SAYS CONDONE VIOLENCE.

>> YOU KNOW, OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE BOOKER CAMPAIGN IS ADVOCATING BOTH MOCKING AND CELEBRATING VIOLENCE.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO SORT OF ENCOURAGE THAT SO WE ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO INTERACT WITH HIM IN PERSON BECAUSE OF HIS ADVOCACY FOR VIOLENCE.

>> PAUL'S AD POINTS OUT HE WAS ATTACKED BY A NEIGHBOR, HE WAS YELLED AT, HE AND HIS WIFE WERE YELLED THE AND JOSTLED AROUND NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE AND HE TRIES TO SAY THAT BOOKER DIDN'T CONDEMN THAT.

AND HAS NOT DISAVOWED COMMENTS OF OTHERS ABOUT THE SITUATION.

>> YEAH, AND THE TIMING OF THIS WAS SO INTERESTING, RIGHT?

IT CAME OUT RIGHT BEFORE THE DEBATE WHERE CHARLES BOOKER SHOWED UP AND RAND PAUL DECLINED TO RESPOND TO KET'S INVITATION TO JOIN THAT DEBATE.

AND WE FINALLY GOT THE EXPLANATION FOR WHY IN THAT AD, WHICH WAS A VERY LONG AD.

IT WAS LIKE A THREE MINUTE THING, CONNECTING, ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT CHARLES BOOKER TO SOME OF THOSE INCIDENTS THAT YOU MENTIONED.

SO SENATOR PAUL TACKLED BY HIS FORMER NEIGHBOR, ALSO THE THE WACKER WASHINGTON D.C., THE CONGRESSIONAL BASEBALL PRACTICE WHERE A SHOOTER OPENED FIRE ON SEVERAL CONGRESS PEOPLE INJURING REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE STEVE SCOLISE AND ALL THESE INCIDENTS THAT DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH CHARLES BOOKER BUT WHAT SENATOR PAUL WAS DOING IS THAT BOOKER DIDN'T DO ENOUGH TO CONDEMN THEM WHICH SEEMS LIKE A BIT OF A STRETCH AND ALSO THAT WE HADN'T REALLY HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

THIS JUST CAME OUT OF THE BLUE.

AGAIN, A COUPLE HOURS RIGHT BEFORE THE DEBATE.

AS THE RATIONALE FOR WHY HE WAS NOT GOING TO SHOW UP FOR THE DEBATE IN THIS HISTORIC FASHION.

THIS IS A TRADITION FOR CANDIDATES TO SHOW UP AND DEBATE SOMETIME IN THE MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTION, ESPECIALLY ON KET.

>> RIGHT, AND I THINK IT'S WORDS POINTING OUT JUST HOW KIND OF DEEP ON THE BENCH THE AD WENT.

IT WAS A THREE-MINUTE LONG AD, AND IT PICKED OUT CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS WHO MITE HAVE TWEETED SOMETHING ONE TIME.

IT REALLY WENT DEEP AND KIND OF TRIED TO PIN THE DIFFERENT PHOTOS ON THE PIN BOARD, IF YOU WILL.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, LOOSE CONNECTIONS, IN OTHER WORDS.

>> I THINK SO.

>> AND BUT HE-- THE AD SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT PAUL BELIEVED THAT BOOKER SHOULD HAVE DISAVOWED ANY COMMENTS THAT HE HEARD, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

THAT'S DEFINITELY THE GIST OF IT; THAT BOOKER DID NOT STRONGLY ENOUGH CONDEMN THESE ATTACKS WHEN THEY HAPPENED AND, TO BE FAIR, THERE WERE SOME TWEETS FROM THE BOOKER CAMPAIGN REFERENCING, I THINK THE NEIGHBOR INCIDENT THAT WAS ONE THAT WAS SHOWN IN THE AD.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT THIS COMMERCIAL MENTIONS SOMETHING ABOUT THE JANUARY 6 VIOLENCE AS WELL IN WHICH SEVERAL SUPPORTERS OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL AND RAND PAUL HASN'T EXACTLY GONE OUT OF HIS WAY TO DISAVOW THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL.

>> BOOKER HAS THE STAGE TO HIMSELF ON KET LAST MONDAY NIGHT WHEN HE APPEARED ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT WITH RENEE SHAW.

IT WAS A WIDE RANGING DISCUSSION, OF COURSE, BUT BOOKER MADE SURE HE REPEATEDLY CALLED ATTENTION TO PAUL'S ABGLENS RAND PAUL IS NOT HERE.

AND I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WILL WATCH AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SUPPORT ME BEFORE THIS SHOW.

REGARDLESS OF THAT, EVERYONE SHOULD BE DISAPPOINTED THAT RAND PAUL DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH TO BE HERE.

SO DOES PAUL LOSE ANYTHING BUT NOT DEBATING AND DOES BOOKER GAIN ANYTHING BY POINTING OUT THERE ARE NO DEBATES?

>> I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY IF PAUL LOSES ANYTHING I THINK WE CAN TAKE FROM IT THAT PAUL DOESN'T THINK HE LOSES ANYTHING BY NOT SHOWING UP.

WE KNOW HE IS A POPULAR POLITICIAN IN KENTUCKY.

POLLING IN THIS RACE IS SCANT.

I KNOW I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY I THINK BLACKER HIVE-- HIVE I THINK BOOKER COULD GAIN SOME.

THERE ARE SOME TRULY UNDECIDED VOTERS WHEN THEY GO INTO THE VOTING BOOTH, PARTICULARLY FOR A NATIONAL RACE LIKE SENATE, BUT IT'S POSSIBLE THAT HE PICKS UP SOME VOTERS FROM ACTUALLY SHOWING UP AND REALLY BEATING THE DRUM OVER AND OVER AGAIN BUT I DO THINK THE PEOPLE ARE THE LOSERS IN THE RACE, IF YOU WILL, WE DON'T GET A FACE TO FACE DEBATE FOR OUR TWO SENATE CANDIDATES.

AT LEAST IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WE WILL.

>> AND RYLAND, THAT REPRESENTS A CHANGE IN THE FLOW OF RECENT HISTORY IN THAT PAUL DID DEBATE IN HIS OTHER RACES WHEN HE RAN IN 2010 AND 2016 WHEN HE RAN FOR REELECTION.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL HAS ALWAYS DEBATED HIS OPPONENTS, MOST RECENTLY AMY McGRATH IN 2020.

JIM BUNKING DEBATED BACK IN 2004.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1990S THAT THERE IS NO U.S. SENATE DEBATE.

>> IT'S A REAL DEPARTURE FROM TRADITION AND I HOPE IT DOESN'T SET A PRECEDENT GOING FORWARD.

THIS HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER RACES FOR SURE BUT THE U.S. SENATE SEAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION AND THIS IS SOMETHING VOTERS ELECTS EXPECT.

THEY EXPECT THEIR CANDIDATES TO SHOW UP AT LEAST ONCE IN THE SAME PLACE TO TRY AND WEIGH AND CONSIDER THEIR IDEAS IN FRONT OF, YOU KNOW, IDEALLY IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE.

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF ISSUES TO TALK ABOUT IN THE RACE IF THE TWO EVER DID GET TOGETHER BEFORE VOTERS HAVE THEIR DECISION.

ABORTION IS ESSENTIALLY ON THE BALLOT NEXT MONTH.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER THE STATE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS IT OR DOESN'T PROTECT IT.

MELISSA, OBVIOUSLY A VAL BEGANNIZING ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES WORKING TO GET SUPPORTERS OUT FOR OR AGAINST AMENDMENT 2.

>> THE BATTLE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE IN ACCOUNT IS GEARING UP IN FULL FORCE THESE DAYS WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BEING PUT INTO ESSENCE CAMPAIGNS FOR AND AGAINST THIS ISSUE, WHICH BASICALLY A VOTE YES FOR IT WILL REMOVE THE ABILITY OF THE COURTS TO ESTABLISH A RIGHT TO ABORTION AND THUS CUTTING OFF A LEGAL CHALLENGE OPPORTUNITY.

AND A VOTE NO BASICALLY KEEPS THE DOOR OPEN FOR A STATEWIDE ABILITY TO MAKE ABORTION LEGAL.

AND SO TELEVISION CAMPAIGNS ARE STARTING AND RALLIES ARE GOING ON.

THIS IS A HOT TOPIC.

>> THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED BY THREE JEWISH WOMEN THAT SAYS THE ABORTION BAN VIOLATES THEIR RELIGIOUS RIGHTS.

>> THESE WOMEN ARE HAVE FILED THIS LAWSUIT BASICALLY SAYING KENTUCKY'S CURRENT ABORTION BAN VIOLATES THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS AND LARGELY BASED ON JEWISH DOCTRINE WHICH SAYS THAT CONCEPTION BEGINS WHEN A BABY IS BORN AND NOT AT CONCEPTION, WHEREAS THE LAW OR CURRENT LAW IS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT WHEN A SPERM AND AN EGG COME TOGETHER TO CREATE CELLS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE A BABY, THAT'S WHEN CONCEPTION STARTS.

AND SO THE LADIES ALSO ARGUE THAT SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE GONE THROUGH INVETO-- HAVE GONE THROUGH INVITRO SFERT LIZATION-- FERTILIZATION AND THERE ARE MORE THAN ONE LABORATORY-- THEY PUT THE SPERM AND THE ELK TOGETHER IN THE LABORATORY AND THERE IS EXTRA.

AND SO IF THEY DESTROY THOSE, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW IF, WHERE THAT FITS WITHIN THERE CURRENT LAW.

>> SOMETHING TO WATCH AND SEE WHAT THE OUTCOME IS.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE SPECTOR NOW OF A MOBILE ABORTION CLINIC OPERATED BY PLANNED PARENT HOOD THAT IS GOING TO BE POSITIONED IN ILLINOIS NEAR THE KENTUCKY BORDER SO THAT IS I THINK THEY CALLED IT A 37-FOOT R.V.

WHICH HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A MOBILE ABORTION CLINIC ON THE BORDER OF WESTERN KENTUCKY AND ILLINOIS, THEY WILL INITIALLY OFFER MEDICATION ABORTION UP TO 11 WEEKS OF GESTATION WITH PLANS BY THE END OF THE YEAR TO OFFER SURGICAL ABORTIONS SO IT'S JUST A WAY TO, THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD OFFICIALS FROM ILLINOIS, BASICALLY SAID IT DECREASES DISTANCE, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY MIGHT SUFFER FROM AS WELL AS WAIT TIMES AND HAVING TO PAY FOR HOTELS AND THAT SORT OF THING.

>> CREARLY A LOT TO YET BE FIGURED OUT, AUSTIN, ON ABORTION IN KENTUCKY.

MAIN ISSUE IN THE STATE SUPREME COURT RACE WHERE A CHALLENGER IS OPENLY SAYING HE IS A REPUBLICAN AND A NON-PARTISAN RACE AND THERE IS MONEY NOW QUICKLY FLOWING INTO THAT.

WE'VE GOT REPRESENTATIVE JOE FISHER IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY RUNNING AGAINST SUPREME COURT JUSTICE MICHELLE KELLER WHO IS ONE OF THE MORE SENIOR JUSTICES ON THAT COURT RIGHT NOW SHE IS POTENTIALLY A PICK FOR CHIEF IF SHE STAYS ON AND GETS RE-ELECTED JOE FISHER IS THE ARCHITECT OF TWO MAJOR LAWS, THE TRIGGER BAN IN EFFECT AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, ANTI-ORTHODOX CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT IS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER AND HE HAS GOT A BIG BOOST.

WE JUST LEARNED TODAY THAT THERE IS A SUPER PAC CALLED FAIR COURTS AMERICA THAT IS A CONSERVATIVE SUPER PACK TARGETING THREE DIFFERENT RACES, ONE OF THOSE IS HIS, ANOTHER IS A SUPREME COURT RACE THAT IS BOWLING GREEN BASED AND THE OTHER IS A LOCAL RACE FRANKLIN CIRCUIT COURT AND I HAVE TO MENTION THAT FISHER IS VERY MUCH PUSHING HOW PARTISAN A JUDICIAL RACE CAN GET.

HE IS EVEN TAKING PAINS IN HIS CAMPAIGN LOGO WHICH SAYS THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, HE HAS AN EL-- HE HAS AN ELEPHANT, NOT THE OFFICIAL REPUBLICAN ELEPHANT BUT A GENERAL GENERIC ELEPHANT.

HE IS NOT OFFICIALLY IDENTIFYING AS A MEMBER OF THE PARTY BUT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LINE HE IS TRYING TO CO-TOW.

>> AS YOU QACH THE CIRCUIT JUDGE'S RACE IN FRANKLIN THAT IS A COURT THAT HEARS SO MANY OF THE INITIAL STATE GOVERNMENT CASES, A LOT OF MONEY GOING THERE WHERE JOE BILLBY IS HOPING TO UNSEAT JUDGE PHILLIP SHEPHERD.

>> PHILLIP SHEPHERD AMASSED AN EXTREMELY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY ABOVE THE TABLE PER HIS REPORTS, WELL OVER 400 K, AND JOE BILLBY WHO IS THE CHALLENGER IDENTIFYING HIMSELF TO THE RIGHT OF PHILLIP SHEPHERD, SHEPHERD HAS MADE IN RULINGS MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF PEOPLE LIKE MATT BEVIN AND THE G.O.P.

SUPER MAJORITIES.

BUT THAT IS ANOTHER RACE THAT'S GOING TO GET FUNDED BY THE SAME GROUP AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW IT BREAKS DOWN.

SHEPHERD IS A LOCAL GUY, SOMEBODY THAT PEOPLE REALLY KNOW AND HE HAS HAD A LOT OF YEARS IN THAT JUDGE SEAT TO GET A LOT OF FACETIME WITH PEOPLE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WILL BE SOMEBODY WITH AN IMPRESSIVE RESUME WITH McCONNELL TIES AND HE HAS GOT THIS BOOST IN FAIR COURTS AMERICA.

>> WELL, AND THESE CANDIDATES ARE RAISING THEIR MONEY WHILE MONEY IS ALREADY FLOWING INTO NEXT YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S RACE, CONTINUING TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.

THE CANDIDATES GRABBING MONEY FOR THEIR CAMPAIGNS AND THIS WEEK WE LEARNED THE DEMOCRAT ANDY BESHEAR RAISED THE MOST IN THE LAST QUARTER AND REPUBLICAN KELLY CRAFT RAISED MORE THAN THE OTHER REPUBLICANS DESPITE BEING IN THE RACE LESS THAN A MONTH.

RYLAND, IS THAT A STRONG START FOR CRAFT IN FUNDRAISING.

>> IT IS A STRONG START AND WHILE SHE RAISED THE MOST OVER THE LAST QUARTER, SHE IS STILL TRAILING REPUBLICAN AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RYAN QUARLES BUT YEAH, SHE JUST ANNOUNCED ABOUT A MONTH AGO, RAISED $750,000.

SHE IS STARTING TO TIGHTEN THAT GAP AND I THINK IT WILL BE SINTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FIRST INITIAL PUSH AFTER THE FIRST INITIAL RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE CAMPAIGN BUT WE WILL, YOU KNOW, WE ARE STILL ABOUT SIX MONTHS OUT FROM THE PRIMARY IN MAY SO THERE IS A LOT OF ROAD LEFT AND AUSTIN, DOES THAT DOES THE FACT THAT KRAFT IS RAISING MONEY, GOING AFTER DONOR MONEY, GIVE HER SOME INOCULATION AGAINST THE EARLY ATTACKS THAT, YOU KNOW SHE IS A WEALTHY CANDIDATE AND WHO IS ACCUSED OF WANTING TO BUY A RACE?

>> I THINK THAT'S TOTALLY FAIR.

HAD SHE IMMEDIATELY DUMPED $5 MILLION OR SOMETHING WE KNOW SHE HAS AT HER DISPOSAL.

HER HUSBAND IS WORTH MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS, THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY FODDER FOR AREA CAMPAIGNS TO LATCH ON TO.

WE HAVE SEEN SOME OTHER PEOPLE LIKE SAVANNAH MADDOX WHO IS RUNNING TO THE RIGHT OF EVERYBODY CRITICIZE HER ALREADY.

I DO THINK IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT THAT EVERYBODY CANDIDATE KIND OF GETS THAT INITIAL RUSH PARTICULARLY SOMEBODY LIKE KRAFT OR RYAN QUARLES WHO IT WAS NO SURPRISE TO HARDLY ANYBODY WHO WAS WATCHING THIS THING WHEN THEY ANNOUNCED THE RUN.

THEY HAVE BEEN LINING UP THE DONORS FOR A WHILE.

BUT NONETHELESS, I THINK IT IS IMPRESSIVE THAT THEY THERE WERE THIS MANY INDIVIDUALS AND THIS MUCH MONEY AND THEY MADE AN INVESTMENT INTO HER CAMPAIGN, THE CYNICAL WAY TO THINK OF THAT, IT DOESN'T HURT TO HAVE A BILLIONAIRE OWE YOU A FAVOR IF YOU GIVE THE MAX DONATION TO A CAMPAIGN.

>> AND SHE COULD WRITE A CHECK AT ANY POINT ALONG THE WAY.

QUARLES STILL HAS THE MOST MONEY IN THE BANK WITH $800,000.

>> WELL OVER 800,000.

HE HAD A STRONG START.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, HE HAS BEEN AS EIGHT YEARS AS AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER, BEATING THE BUSHES AROUND THAT STATE FOR ALL THAT TIME.

I THINK PEOPLE HAVE LARGELY EXPECTED HIM TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR FOR A LONG, LONG TIME SO HE HAS STRONG CONNECTIONS, HE IS SOMEBODY WHO IS SHOWING UP TO PROMINENT PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND DOING EVENTS.

AND HE IS VERY PERSONABLE AROUND THE STATE BECAUSE HE KNOWS EVERYBODY ALREADY.

>> RYLAND, CAMERON HELD HIS OWN AND SAVANNAH MADDOX RAISED SIX FIGURES AS WELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND MIND YOU THERE IS A BIG CROWDED RACE OF REPUBLICANS AND THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE ALL BEATEN BY GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S RAISED A LITTLE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER IN THE ROW, HE HAS $4.5 MILLION WHICH, YOU KNOW, IS TO BE EXPECTED FOR AN CAN YOU PLEASE INCUMBENT WHO HAS THE BOWER OF THE OFFICE AND GOES ON TV A LOT AND PEOPLE KNOW WHO HE IS.

BUT YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WILL HAVE A BIG RACE AHEAD OF US.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION ROLLED OUT A POLL THIS WEEK AND I KNOW YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT WITH THE FACT THAT, OKAY, HIS SIDE PAID FOR IT, BUT IT SHOWED A 62% APPROVAL.

AND THAT IS SOMEWHAT IN LINE WITH WHAT OTHER PUBLIC POLLING HAS FOUND.

>> OVER THE LAST YEAR OR SO WE HAVE SEEN THINGS IN THE HIGH 50s OR LOW 60s OVER WHAT HIS APPROVAL RATING LOOKS LIKE.

GRANTED WE DO NOT HAVE ABACTIVE REAL LIKE ELECTION BEFORE US.

WE ARE NOT IN THE ELECTION YEAR OR ANYTHING BUT, YOU KNOW, IT KEEPS ON BEING SUGGESTIVE OF THIS IDEA THAT BESHEAR HAS BEEN ON TV SO MUCH OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THROUGH TORNADOES, THE FLOODS, PEOPLE KNEW HIS NAME WELL AND ASSOCIATE HIM WITH THIS NON-PART SON-- NON-PART PARTISAN GOVERNING ACTIVITIES.

IT LENDS PEOPLE TO THINK THAT WAY.

BUT I THINK THAT CONVERSATION IS GOING TO LOOK A LOT DIFFERENT ONCE WE ARE REALLY IN THE ELECTION YEAR.

>> AUSTIN, WE TOOK NOTE THIS YEAR, THE BESLEER ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED A TEAM KENTUCKY LICENSE PLATE THAT HAS CAUSED A STIR.

>> TEAM KENTUCKY DID ORIGINAL NAILT AS A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN FOR HIM IN 2019.

I THINK IT WAS NEAR THE END OF HIS CAMPAIGN LEG SO SOME PEOPLE HAVE CRIED FOWL ON THAT.

ALTHOUGH THE BESHEAR TEAM SAYS IT HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME WHICH I THINK THERE IS A REASONABLE ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THERE.

WE SEE ATTACKS FROM THE RIGHT REPRESENTATIVE SAVANNAH MADDOX WHO HAS SHOWN SHE IS NOT AFRAID TO ATTACK ANYBODY, CALLED HIM OUT FOR PUTTING WHAT SHE CALLED A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN ON POTENTIALLY PEOPLE'S DRIVER'S LICENSE PLATE.

>> MELISSA, WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE POLLING THAT INDICATES THAT KENTUCKIANS AND PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FEEL THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS A CRISIS THAT IS NOT BEING ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, MOST RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A CNN KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION POLL THAT FOUND PEOPLE THAT 90% OF U.S.

ADULTS THINK THERE IS A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN OUR NATION.

AND THAT THE TOP TWO CONCERNS WERE THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND ALSO MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN.

AND YOUTH AND SO SORT OF IN THAT VAIN, ANOTHER REPORT THAT CAME OUT THIS YEAR SHOWS THAT 16% OF KENTUCKY'S CHILDREN HAVE EITHER BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY.

THAT'S A LOT.

AND THAT NUMBER HAS GONE UP 28% SINCE 2016 SO IT'S A REAL CONCERN.

AND IT'S A REAL THING.

WE ALSO HAVE A SHORTAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS ACROSS THE STATE.

THAT'S BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED.

AND SO A CONCERN ABOUT THAT IS REAL.

AND SO I'LL JUST SIMPLY SAY WE HAVE A NEW 988 NUMBER.

IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND SUICIDE PREVENTION NUMBER AND IT'S THERE FOR EVERY KENTUCKIAN TO CALL 24 HOURS A DAY AND IT'S FREE.

>> SPEAKING OF SHORTAGES AND OFF THE HEALTHBEAT AS WELL.

WE CONTINUE TO GET GROWING EVIDENCE THAT KENTUCKY'S NURSE SHORTAGE IS LONG-TERM, PROFOUND AND IS EVIDENTLY GOING TO BE AN ISSUE IN THE UPCOMING SESSION.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS-- YOU CAN'T JUST PRODUCE NURSES OVER NIGHT.

I TAKES SOME TIME SO IT IS A PROBLEM THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO FIX.

AND THESE TRAVEL NURSES, THIS LATEST KENTUCKY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION REPORT TALKED ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OUR HOSPITALS HAVE WITH THE ASTRONOMICAL COST OF TRAVELING NURSES EXPECTED TO COST A BILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR TO COVER THAT.

IN 2019, THAT AMOUNT WAS 88 MILLION.

ONE OF THE WAYS THEY, BROADLY SPEAKING ONE OF THE WAYS TO BRING MORE MONEY INTO THE HOSPITALS IS THEY'RE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE TO APPROVE A PROPOSAL TO INCREASE MEDICAID PAYMENTS FOR OUTPATIENT SERVICES AND SO THEY HAVE DONE THAT FOR INPATIENT SERVICES AND EVERY INFLUX OF MONEY HELPS TO PAY THE BILLS AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE HOPING.

>> E-CIGARETTE USE APPEARS TO BE DOWN SOME AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE BUT THE NUMBERS CAN BE TRICKY.

>> THE NUMBERS ARE TRICKY.

THEY CHANGED THE METHODOLOGY ON THE NATIONAL YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY THEY DO ANNUALLY AND SO THEY'RE CAUTIONING PEOPLE TO NOT REALLY COMPARE YEAR TO YEAR, BUT AT THIS POINT, ABOUT 14.1% NATIONALLY ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE USING VAPES AND 3.3% OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS-- AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE LOWER THAN THEY HAVE BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

YOU KNOW, THE LAST, THE 2019 FEDERAL SURVEY THAT THEY DO EVERY YEAR OF YOUTH, I THINK MAYBE 26, 27% OF YOUTH WERE VAPING PRETTY REGULARLY IN THE LAST 30 DAYS.

SO ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS IN THIS IS THAT 30% OF THE HIGH SCHOOL USERS WHO USE VAPING PRODUCTS WERE VAPING EVERY DAY AND SO THAT IS-- SHOULD SOUND AN ALARM BELL THAT, IF YOU ARE USING A NICOTINE PRODUCT EVERY DAY, YOU ARE LIKELY EITHER ADISINGTONNED OR HEADED THAT WAY AND THAT CAUSES ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS IN YOUTH.

>> WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF PRESIDENT BIDEN PARDONING THOSE CONVICTED ON FEDERAL MARIJUANA POSSESSION CHARGES AND ASKING THE STATES TO SORT OF FOLLOW SUIT.

>> I THINK THE BIG TAKEAWAY FROM THIS IS THAT WHILE THE PRESIDENT IS PUSHING FOR THIS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL, THERE IS NOT A LOT OF MARIJUANA POSSESSION CHARGES HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

THOSE ARE REAL STATE CRIMES AND HE IS CALLING ON GOVERNORS TO PARDON PEOPLE CHARGED WITH THIS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID NOBODY SHOULD BE IN JAIL FOR USING OR POSSESSING MARIJUANA.

HE DIDN'T EXACTLY PARDON ANYBODY.

THAT COULD BE POLITICALLY RISKY ESPECIALLY AFTER FORMER GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN'S PARDONS BUT THIS IS SOMETHING HE HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR LATELY AND IT WILL BE UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT.

>> FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE GOFORTH RAN FOR THE NOMINATION IN GOVERNOR 2019, SENTENCED TO PRISON AND ORDERED TO PAY BACK MONEY.

>> ORDERED TO PAY BACK $2.7 MILLION AND $10,000 IN FINES.

HE WAS BILLING MEDICAID FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT PEOPLE NEVER PICKED UP.

HE PLEADED GUILTY TO THIS EARLIER THIS YEAR AND REQUEST FOR A LOWER SENTENCE BUT HE WILL SPEND A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.

>> KENTUCKY'S DAUGHTER LORETTA LYNN DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 90.

HER MUSIC WAS HONEST AND GUTSY AND TOLD ABOUT HER APPALACHIAN ROOTS AND TOLD OF WOMEN'S STRUGGLES ALL OVER.

I INTERVIEWED HER IN 2002 WHEN SHE WAS INDUCTED TO THE HALL OF FAME.

LET'S BEGIN WITH YOU.

YOUR OBSERVATIONS OF LORETTA LYNN'S CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> SHE IS A LEGEND.

POO WILL SHE STAYED RELEVANT FROM LONG AGO TO PRETTY RECENTLY.

I CAN THINK OF AN ALBUM DID SHE WITH JACK WHITE FROM WHITE STRIPE.

AND I GOT GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY NEIGHBORING HOME COUNTY, JOHNSON COUNTY, I MEAN THEY JUST PRODUCE COUNTRY MUSIC ARTISTS, CHRIS STAPLETON, LORETTA LYNN, THEY CAN SORT OF CLAIM TYLER CHILDERS.

I WOULD ASK ANYBODY WHO IS ANYWHERE NEARBY TO STOP BY THE COUNTRY MUSIC MUSEUM IN PAINTSVILLE.

>> ONE OF KENTUCKY'S GREATEST EXPORTS, HER SONGS WERE UBIQUITOUS, THROUGHOUT AMERICAN CULTURE THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE LIFE AND IT WAS AMAZING ALL THIS WEEK, JUST GETTING TO HEAR HER SONGS ALL OVER THE RADIO AND JUST LIKE COMING OUT OF PEOPLE'S CARS AND EVERYTHING.

SHE WAS ON LOTS OF PEOPLE'S MINDS.

>> AND SO I'VE SEEN SEVERAL INTERVIEWS BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN ALL OVER KET THIS WEEK AND JUST THE APPRECIATION OF HER SINGING ABOUT THE HARD SHICHES OF WOMEN AND HOW SHE CHANGED,-- THE HARDSHIPS OF WOMEN AND HOW SHE CHANGED PEOPLE'S DIRECTION WITH HER SONGS WAS JUST, IT MOVED MY HEART AND SHE ALSO, IT WAS VERY VOCAL ABOUT HER TIES TO KENTUCKY AND THAT WHAT SHE WAS IN A PLACE OF REFLECTION SHE WENT BACK TO BUTCHER HOLLER AND CALLED THAT HOME.

>> WELL SAID.

A COUPLE OF OTHER DEATHS THIS WEEK, DON WHITE WAS A KENTUCKY JOURNALIST FOR 50 YEARS, MOST OF IT AT THE SOMERSET COMMONWEALTH JOURNAL.

OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS HE WROTE A COLUMN FOR THE PAPER AND FOUND IT IMPORTANT TO TELL PEOPLE'S STORIES AND DOCUMENT HISTORY WITH PULASKI'S PAST.

LONG TIME KET EMPLOYEE JOHN SWORING I, III DIED.

WE KNEW HIM AS JOHNNY.

HE WORKED ON PROGRAMS LIKE OUR TOWN, KENTUCKY LIFE, DOCUMENTARY ON A HIGH SCHOOL IN LOUISVILLE BUT WE REMEMBER HIS KINDNESS ON FRIDAY NIGHTS AND HIS DETERMINATION TO MAKE US ALL LOOK GOOD ON COMMENT.

SOMETIMES THAT'S NO EASY FEAT.

HE WAS 63.

THAT'S COMMENT ON KENTUCKY.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.