CONGRESS AT DOCTOR AFTER FREEZING UP AGAINST WITH REPORTER.

THE CANDIDATES APPROACHING LABOR DAY COMING TO THE RACE FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.

THE EFFORT TO ELIMINATE KENTUCKY'S INCOME TAX MAY HAVE HIT A PAUSE.

COVID NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING IN KENTUCKY AS HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS KEEP A CLOSE WATCH.

WE'VE MADE IT TO SEPTEMBER AND COMMENT IS NEXT ONSET.

ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: 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 ARE TESSA DUVALL, FRANKFURT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LATINX TOLD HERALD LEADER.

SARAH LADD HEALTH AND POLICY REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LAND LEARN.

AND RYLAND BARTON MANAGING EDITOR FOR KENTUCKY RADIO STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

LET'S BEGIN WITH RENEWED CONCERNS ABOUT THE HEALTH OF KENTUCKY'S LONGEST SERVING U.S.

SENATOR EVER LEADER MITCH McCONNELL.

A MONTH AFTER HE FROZE IN MID-SENTENCE IN WASHINGTON HE SEEMED TO FAIL TO ANSWER REPORTERS THIS WEEK.

IT CAME WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHETHER HE WOULD BE RUNNING AGAIN IN 2026.

>> I'M SORRY I HAD A HARD TIME HEARING YOU.

>> WHAT ARE YOUR TOTES ON RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN 2026.

>> OWE.

THAT'S -- SENATOR RUNNING FOR REELECTION IN 2026?

WE WILL NEED A MINUTE.

>> Bill: IT'S DIFFICULT TO WATCH REMEMBERING THE SENATOR'S USUAL FAST UPTAKE AND PRECISION WHEN ANSWERING QUESTIONS OVER THE YEARS.

HOURS AFTER THAT EVENT PRESIDENT BIDEN THOUGH SAID HE TALKED TO McCONNELL AND HE WAS HIS OLD SELF IN A PHONE CALL BUT THIS TOUCHED OFF RENEWED CONCERNS.

>> PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.

FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO IN MARCH, SENATOR McCONNELL DID FALL AND HE HAD A CONCUSSION AND THAT IS SOMETHING HE IS STILL DEALING WITH THE FALLOUT AFTER THAT.

AFTER THIS EVENT THIS WEEK WHERE HE DID TRAIL OFF AND NOT EXACTLY DIDN'T SEEM ABLE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION HE DID CONSULT WITH A PHYSICIAN AND THE ATTENDING CONGRESS DOCTOR SIGNED A LETTER SAYING THAT CONCUSSIONS CAN CAUSE AND HE DID SAY HE WAS CLEARING McCONNELL TO CONTINUE WORKING.

>> RYLAND BARTON, AS WE'VE SAID YOU AND I AND OTHERS HAVE TROUBLE WITH McCONNELL MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS NOT TYPICAL OF THE WAY HE USUALLY COMMANDS A NEWS CONFERENCE.

>> YEAH.

IT'S ATYPICAL IT'S DISTURBING.

IT IS A CRUEL SPECTACLE TO WATCH AS A KENTUCKIAN AS A REPORTER.

SEEING THIS PERSON THAT WE ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND KIND OF LOVE HIM OR HATE HIM, HIS POLICIES I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S DISTURBING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO WATCH.

AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.

AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

WE KEEP ON GETTING MESSAGES BACK FROM THE SENATE LEADER'S OFFICE THAT THE REPUBLICAN LEADER'S OFFICE THAT HE IS OK. THAT THIS WAS TEMPORARY IN REACTION TO HIS CONCUSSION OR KEY HYDRATION AND THAT HE THEY ARE CALLING IT LIGHT-HEADEDNESS.

I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS SEEN ANYTHING SO FAR TO SHOW THAT HE'S THIS IS IMPROVING.

>> Bill: TESSA HE CAN COME TO FANCY FARM AND MADE A SPEECH TO THE CROWD ON THAT HOT AFTERNOON HE MADE A SPEECH THAT MANY SAID WAS ONE OF HIS BEST AT THE BREAKFAST THE MORNING BEFORE THE FANCY FARM EVENT.

DEMONSTRATING THAT HE WAS OK. AND THEN THERE'S THIS WEEK.

>> RIGHT.

HE CERTAINLY HAS THESE MOMENTS WHERE HE SEEMS JUST LIKE THE McCONNELL WE'VE ALL COME TO KNOW OVER THESE DECADES.

YES, THE MOMENTS WE'RE SEEING ON T HAVE THE THESE FREEZES PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT IT IS LIGHT-HEADEDNESS IT LOOKS VERY SERIOUS.

SO THEY MIGHT BE HEARING THIS MESSAGE FROM THE DOCTOR BUT PEOPLE ARE SKEPTICAL OF THAT.

AND IT'S BEGINNING TO REIGNITE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IF SENATOR McCONNELL RESIGNS OR CANNOT FINISH HIS TERM?

AND THAT PLAYS INTO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, OF COURSE AND.

>> Bill: THE VERY QUESTION ASKED AT THE TIME WILL HE RUN IN 2026 BUT AMENDED BY MANY TO SAY WILL HE COMPLETE HIS TERM.

IF THAT SEAT WERE TO BECOME VACANT FOR ANY REASON, THE MAP AHEAD DIFFERENT THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> RIGHT.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS ASKED ABOUT AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY.

OF COURSE THE GOVERNOR HAS THE POWER TO APPOINT THE REPLACEMENT UNTIL A SPECIAL ELECTION CAN BE HELD.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ANOTHER REPORTER ASKED GOVERNOR BESHEAR, WHO WOULD YOU PLAN TO APPOINT?

WOULD YOU FOLLOW THE LAW THAT WOULD REQUIRE YOU TO APPOINT A REPUBLICAN?

AND HE SAID YOU KNOW THE SENATOR SAYS HE IS GOING TO FINISH HIS TERM THERE IS NOT A VACANCY.

THERE IS NO POINT IN TALKING ABOUT THIS.

BUT CERTAINLY THERE ARE DEMOCRATS OUT THERE WHO SPECULATE THAT HE MIGHT JUST PROCEED TO APPOINT A DEMOCRAT AND TELL THE REPUBLICANS TO SEE HIM IN COURT.

>> Bill: THAT COULD PRESENT AN INTERESTING SITUATION IF IT CAME TO THAT UNDERLINING THERE IS NO VACANCY AND McCONNELL SAYS HE IS FINE.

IF THE DEMOCRATS WERE IN CONTROL OF THE SENATE AT THE TIME OF ANY VACANCY, I SPEAK OF THE U.S. SENATE, COULDN'T THEY SEAT ANYONE WHO WAS SENT UP THERE BY THE GOVERNOR?

>> AS FAR AS I CAN TELL THAT'S UNTREAD TERRITORY IN A STATE'S VACANCY REPLACEMENT PROCESS TO BE IN QUESTION AND YET SOME A NOMINEE A PERSON ALREADY PUT IN PLACE AS A GOVERNOR SELECTED THAT.

BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT WOULD BE THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF LAWSUITS OVER THAT.

AND FEDERAL JUDGES WOULD PROBABLY FEDERAL COURTS WOULD BE WEIGHING IN ON THIS.

IT IS A BIG QUESTION THAT IS HANGING OUT THERE.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR HE'S TRYING TO NOT GO DOWN THAT ROAD AT ALL.

LIKE TRYING NOT TO REALLY WEIGH-IN ON WHETHER HE BELIEVES IN THIS NEW VACANCY FILLING PROCESS OR NOT.

AND KIND OF TAKING THE CAREFUL ROUTE WHICH IS JUST TO SAY WELL WE ASSUME HE'S GOING TO FINISH HIS TERM.

BUT THERE WILL BE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER AT THAT POINT FOR WHAT EXACTLY HE IS GOING TO DO.

>> Bill: SOME TALK ABOUT TALK WE MIGHT SAY IN WASHINGTON AS WELL ABOUT LEADERSHIP GOING FORWARD AS WELL?

>> YES.

THIS HAS BEEN -- THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME.

McCONNELL IS 81 YEARS OLD.

THERE IS A LONG LINE OF OTHER SEASONED SENATORS REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO HAVE BEEN VYING FOR THAT TOP REPUBLICAN SPOT.

THE TOP DEPUTY AT THIS POINT IS SENATOR JOHN CORRECT ANYONE OF TEXAS.

AND KORNIN.

AND FROM WYOMING.

JOHN THEUN HAVE BEEN IN THE McCONNELL'S LEADERSHIP CIRCLE FOR A LONG TIME.

AND QUIETLY JOSTLING FOR PLACE.

RIGHT NOW FOR THE MOST PART ALL OF THAT REPUBLICAN TALK IS VERY POLITE, IS VERY, OH, HE IS BACK TO BUSINESS.

HE'S DOING WELL RIGHT NOW.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME OTHER REPUBLICAN JOSTLING AND SABER RATTLING NOTABLY FROM REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE NIKKI HALEY FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR WHO CALLED THE SENATE A NURSING HOME FOR THE PRIVILEGED.

THERE ARE SOME BREAKS IN THE WALL HERE OF THE REPUBLICAN MESSAGING AROUND THIS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST FOLKS ON THE FRINGE LIKE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE COMING OUT AGAINST HIM.

THERE'S BEEN CHANGE IN THINKING ABOUT THIS AND A LOT OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF THIS REAL SPECTACLE OF DURING A LIVE NEWS CONFERENCE OF HIM FREEZING UP.

AND I THINK IT'S RAISED A LOT OF QUESTIONS MORE THAN HAVE BEFORE.

>> Bill: AGAIN WE WANT TOWNDER LINE McCONNELL HAS RESUMED THIS SCHEDULE AND WE CONTINUE TO WATCH DEVELOPMENTS AS HE GETS SET TO RETURN WITH BUSY WEEKS IN WASHINGTON.

FROM FRANKFURT TO THE ATTENTION GETTING LETTER FROM THE STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR THIS WEEK INDICATING THAT KENTUCKY HAD MISSED ONE OF THE TARGETS FOR FURTHER LOWERING THE STATE INCOME TAX.

AND THERE IS A BUDGET SURPLUS WE KNOW THAT.

BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAYBE TO TRIGGER THE INCOME TAX REDUCTION.

>> LAST YEAR, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THIS BILL THAT WOULD LOWER THE STATE INCOME TAX EVERY YEAR BY HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT AS LONG AS CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET ONE THERE'S ENOUGH IN THE RAINY DAY FUND AND ANOTHER IS A HYPOTHETICAL TEST IF THERE'S A 1% REDUCTION WERE MADE TO THE STATE'S INCOME TAX WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH MONEY TO REVENUE TO MEET BUDGETARY DEMANDS.

AND THAT PART WAS NOT MET THIS TIME AROUND.

THIS TEST HAS BEEN DONE THREE TIMES AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HASN'T BEEN MET.

SO AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE SAID YEP, THAT'S HOW WE PLANNED IT OUT TO KEEP THE INCOME TAX FROM DECREASING TOO FAST AND IT CAME JUST THE WEEK IN WHICH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR DANIEL CAMERON SAID THAT HE WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE INCOME TAX AND HAS NOT SAID SPECIFICALLY WHAT HE WOULD DO IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION.

INTERESTING LITTLE ONE OF THOSE WONKY POLITICAL THINGS THAT MATTERS A LOT.

>> Bill: HE WAS TALKING ABOUT SPEEDING UP THE TIMETABLE.

>> WHICH IS AGAIN SUPPOSED TO BE THIS MEASURED APPROACH, HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT DOWN TO ZERO EVENTUALLY.

AND THIS IS A BIG THING THAT GOES BACK TO WHEN FORMER GOVERNOR BEVIN WAS IN OFFICE HE PROPOSED WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS AND IT'S BEEN CARRIED FORWARD BY REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: TESSA THIS IS A MAJOR PROMISE AND TALKING POINT FOR THE REPUBLICANS OUT THERE?

>> THE LETTER CAME OUT OR VERY CIRCULATED PUBLICLY THE DAY AFTER DANIEL CAMERON HAD HIS ECONOMIC PLAN SORT OF UNVEILED.

ONE OF THOSE PROMISES OR THOSE COMMITMENTS IS GETTING THE STATE INCOME TAX TO ZERO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

IN LIGHT OF THIS LETTER GETTING SOME ATTENTION ON THURSDAY, MYSELF AND A COLLEAGUE BOTH REACHED OUT TO THE CAMERON CAMPAIGN AND THE CANDIDATE AT A CAMPAIGN STOP AND SAID WHAT YOU CHANGE THESE TRIGGERS IF YOU WERE GOVERNOR?

WOULD YOU HAVE TRIGGERS AT ALL?

AND NOT GETTING AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION JUST A REITERATION THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET TO ZERO AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BUT NO ROADMAP AS TO HOW THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

>> Bill: WE SEE THE ISSUES THAT THE CANDIDATES CANNOT CONTROL THAT KEEP CREEPING IN AND ANOTHER HAS BEEN SENATE BILL 150.

THE ORAL ARGUMENTS IN THE FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT SEEKS TO BLOCK PART OF SENATE BILL 150 STARTED TODAY THAT IS THE BILL THAT BANS ACCESS TO SOME FORMS OF MEDICAL CARE FOR TRANS YOUTH.

WHAT WAS SAID?

>> SO A THREE-JUDGE PANEL HEARD ORAL ARGUMENTS IN OUR KENTUCKY CASE AGAINST PART OF SENATE BILL 150 AND IT ALSO HEARD ARGUMENTS IN A TENNESSEE CASE WHICH IS SIMILAR TO OURS AND ALSO COULD PROVIDE PRECEDENT FOR OURS GOING FORWARD.

SO WE DIDN'T GET A RULING AND WE WON'T UNTIL PROBABLY LATE SEPTEMBER.

BUT THIS WAS A CHANCE TO SEE THE REASONING ON BOTH SIDES.

AND THE A.C.L.U.

TODAY SORT OF MADE THE ARGUMENT THAT SENATE BILL 150'S BAN ON PUBERTY BLOCKERS AND HORMONES IS A DISCRIMINATION BASED ON THE BASIS OF SEX BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE TRANS FOR A CERTAIN TREATMENT TO BE ILLEGAL.

AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE THEN ARGUED THAT THIS IS ABOUT REGULATING MEDICATION, MEDICAL FIELD ITSELF AND NOT THE PATIENT.

AND IN THE TENNESSEE CASE WHICH WAS ARGUED BEFORE KENTUCKY THE LAWYER ARGUING AGAINST GENDER AFFIRMING CARE MADE THE STATEMENT THAT HE DIDN'T THINK THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY COULD BE TRUSTED TO REGULATE THEMSELVES AND POINTED TO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ON THAT.

SORT OF DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW THE JUDGES MIGHT BE LEANING BECAUSE THEY CERTAINLY DRILLED BOTH SIDES A LOT AT ONE POINT, THE JUDGE ONE OF THE JUDGES ASKED IF THE ARGUMENT IS BASED ON THIS IDEA THAT PUBERTY BLOCKERS ARE EXPERIMENTAL WHICH IS SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEN WOULD YOU BAN MINORS FROM GETTING ANYTHING THAT IS EXPERIMENTAL EVEN IF IT'S LIKE A CANCER DRUG IN A TRIAL?

THERE IS A LOT OF THINKING GOING ON IN THAT DIRECTION.

ONE OF THE JUDGES DID SAY HE FEELS HE HEARS COMPASSION FROM BOTH SIDES.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN AND HOW THEY RULE ON THAT.

>> Bill: WE HAVE NO IDEA ON THE TIME-FRAME?

>> END OF SEPTEMBER POSSIBLY.

>> Bill: AS LONG AS IT'S OUT THERE IT IS POTENTIALLY VIABLE ISSUE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?

>> THIS IS ALREADY A HUGE ISSUE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WE'VE SEEN OUTSIDE GROUPS BACKING DANIEL CAMERON OPPOSING GOVERNOR BESHEAR REALLY GOING HARD AT THIS ISSUE AND THAT RELATES TO THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF SENATE BILL 150 AND SPECIFICALLY THE PROVISION THAT WOULD BAN GENDER AFFIRMING SURGERIES FOR TRANS YOUTH AND THE GOVERNOR MADE IT VERY CLEAR HE DOES NOT SUPPORT THOSE SURGERIES AND RELEASED AN AD SAYING THAT.

THAT IS FODDER IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> Bill: IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS THE MONEY ADVANTAGE AND THEREFORE THE LUXURY OF RUNNING A VARIETY OF ADS SOME CASES REGIONAL ADS AND ONE OF THOSE ADS TURNED THE FOCUS TOWARD ABORTION.

>> WHEN A WOMAN OR GIRL BECOMES PREGNANT FROM RAPE, THE TRAUMA IS UNIMAGINABLE.

DANIEL CAMERON THINKS A NINE-YEAR-OLD RAPE SURVIVOR SHOULD BE FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH.

>> Bill: TESSA REPUBLICANS USED ABORTION AS A WEDGE ISSUE FOR DECADES.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT BESHEAR IS NOW USING THE TOPIC TO HIT CAMERON?

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO, KENTUCKIANS VOTED ON AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS SEEN AS PRO OR ANTIABORTION ACCESS AND THEY VOTE TO DO DOWN.

SO I THINK THAT THE BESHEAR CAMPAIGN IS FEELING A LITTLE BIT OF CONFIDENCE ABOUT THAT.

AND THIS AD IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THIS IS AN AD THAT IS VERY PLAINLY ABOUT ABORTION BUT DOES NOT USE THE WORD ABORTION AT ALL.

THE PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THIS AD DID NOT USE THE WORD ABORTION AND NEITHER DID THE CAMPAIGN E-MAIL TO SUPPORTERS.

IT'S VERY CLEAR WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

BUT IT'S ALSO NOT A FULL THROATED ENDORSEMENT OF THE POSITION THAT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS HAVE WHICH IS THAT ABORTION IS HEALTHCARE AND THAT IT IS A NECESSARY MEDICAL SERVICE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND THAT CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF ANDY BESHEAR SUPPORTERS BELIEVE.

SO IT'S INTERESTING TO ME THAT THEY TALK ABOUT AN EXTREME BAN THEY DON'T SAY A BAN ON WHAT.

RAPE SURVIVORS WILL BE FORCED TO GIVE BIRTH.

AND ALSO THERE'S THIS FRAMING TO IT THAT BECAUSE DANIEL CAMERON DOES NOT SUPPORT THESE EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE OR INCEST THAT IN A WAY THAT MAKES HIM PRO CRIMINAL.

IT SAYS THAT RAPISTS HAVE MORE RIGHTS THAN THEIR VICTIMS.

SO THAT IS ANOTHER ELEMENT THAT CREEPS INTO THAT AD AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN IN OTHER MESSAGING.

OF COURSE BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE OR WERE ATTORNEY GENERAL AT ONE POINT AND SO CRIME BEING TOUGH ON VIOLENT CRIME IS VERY IMPORTANT TO BOTH CAMPAIGNS.

AND THAT'S A SUBTLE MESSAGE IN THAT AS WELL.

>> Bill: BESHEAR IS RUNNING REGIONAL ADS AS WE NOTED.

AND THERE'S ONE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY THAT IS CLEARLY FOCUSED ON THE BRIDGE NOT LOST IS THE FACT THAT FORMER GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN SAID IT WAS UNLIKELY THERE COULD BE A BRIDGE WITHOUT TOLLS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MANY LITTLE FACTORS THAT I WONDER IF THE BEVIN CAMPAIGN CHANGED IN 2019.

SHORTLY BEFORE THE 2019 ELECTION, THERE WAS A TELEVISED DEBATE BETWEEN BESHEAR AND BEVIN IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND ASKED ABOUT THE BRIDGE HOW TO FIX IT AND PAY FOR IT AND ONE OF BEVIN'S ANSWERS TOLLING WOULD BE INVOLVED TO HELP DO THAT FIX.

BESHEAR KIND OF DEMURED IN ANSWERING THAT QUESTION.

AND YOU KNOW, LOW AND BEHOLD HE ENDED UP WINNING TWO NORTHERN COUNTIES.

AND THEN LOW AND BEHOLD ALSO LIKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND ACT PASSES WITH FUNDING TO HELP DO THAT FIX WITHOUT ANY TOLLS.

POLITICALLY SPEAKING, AS YOU SAY A LOT OF REGIONAL ADS TRYING TO PICK UP AS MANY OF THE OTHER SPOTS IN KENTUCKY OUTSIDE OF LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE THE STRONGHOLDS FOR DEMOCRATS AND I THINK THIS IS PART OF HIM TRYING TO SHORE UP THAT ADVANTAGE.

>> Bill: DANIEL CAMERON IS TRAVELING HE HAD STOPS IN CAMPBELLSVILLE AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHERE HE CAMPAIGNED WITH FOURTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSEY.

AND IN LOUISVILLE HE UNVEILED HIS VISION FOR PROSPERITY AND CONTINUED TO TIE BESHEAR TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

>> BESHEAR AND JOE BIDEN ARE SINGING OUT OF THE SAME HIM NATIONAL WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR FINANCES.

NO AMOUNT OF WINDOW DRESSING CAN HIDE THIS TRUTH A VOTE FOR ANDY BESHEAR IS A VALIDATION OF JOE BIDEN AND BIDENONOMICS.

>> Bill: CAN CAMERON TIE BESHEAR TO BIDEN?

>> I MEAN HE IS CERTAINLY GOING TO TRY.

THIS IS WHAT YOU DO IN A STATE-WIDE CAMPAIGN WHEN THE NATIONAL FIGURE IS UNPOPULAR IN THAT STATE.

YOU TRY TO TIE YOUR OPPONENT TO THAT NATIONAL FIGURE.

AND IT'S SOMETHING WORKED VERY WELL IN KENTUCKY OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO.

WHETHER IT'S PRESIDENT OBAMA OR NANCY PELOSI AND NOW JOE BIDEN THIS MESSAGING YES, IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE WITH PEOPLE.

AND YEAH AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE HEARING IT.

>> Bill: TESSA, HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IT THAT MASSEY CAMPAIGNED WITH DANIEL CAMERON?

>> IT IS A BIG DEAL A COUPLE MONTHS AGO THIS SUMMER THE CONGRESSMAN WAS QUITE CRITICAL OF ATTORNEY GENERAL CAMERON FOR AGREEING TO APPEAR AT FREEDOM FEST WHICH IS AN EVENT HOSTED BY FORMER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR THIS PAST PRIMARY SEASON ERIC DETERS WHO HAS SAID A LOT OF REALLY CONTROVERSIAL OFFENSIVE THINGS THAT PEOPLE CALL RACIST, SEXIST, HOMOPHOBIC.

AND THE CONGRESSMAN'S POINT WAS YOU KNOW, BY AGREEING TO APPEAR WITH SOMEONE LIKE ERIC DETERS, YOU INVITE A LOT OF NATIONAL SCRUTINY AND A SPOTLIGHT AND THAT KIND OF CRITICISM ALIGNING YOURSELF WITH THAT TYPE OF PERSON IS REALLY DAMAGING IN A RACE THAT IS GOING TO BE SO CLOSE.

AS WE KNOW, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WITHDREW FROM AGREEING TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT EVENT AND IT WAS CANCELED AND UNCANCELED AND I THINK IT'S CANCELED AGAIN I'M NOT SURE.

YES, THEY'VE MADE UP.

>> Bill: AND THIS WEEK, SPEAKING OF APPEARING WITH, THE FORMER RUNNING MATE OF KELLY CRAFT REPUBLICAN SENATOR MAX WISE APPEARED WITH CAMERON IN CAMPBELLSVILLE.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS UNITY MESSAGING HERE.

WE HAD A BIT OF A CROWDED PRIMARY IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN KENTUCKY.

AND THIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHORE-UP THAT PART OF THE VOTE AND SHOW THAT EVERYBODY IS TOGETHER AND THE SAME THING WITH THE THOMAS MASSEY THING WHERE THERE IS A SPAT IN SHOWING REPUBLICANS ARE BEHIND THEIR GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

>> Bill: THERE ARE OTHER STATE-WIDE RACES IN THE RACE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE BUDDY WHEATLY IS PUSHING FOR MORE EARLY VOTING AND LONGER POLLING HOURS ON ELECTION DAYS.

MICHAEL ADAMS MARKS HE DID THE BIGGEST EXPANSION OF VOTING IN YEARS AND THEY ARE TAKING NOTE OF THE INDEPENDENT VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE COUNTRY.

>> I WAS TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE ARE DISENGAGING FROM INSTITUTIONS.

LAST MONTH, WAS I THINK THE THIRD FOR FOURTH MONTH THIS YEAR NOT JUST INTERESTINGS OUT REGISTER REPUBLICANS POUR PATROLMAN THERE ARE MORE INDEPENDENTS THAT REGISTERED THAN REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS COMBINED.

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THE PLURALITY HAS US CLOSE IN REGULAR STATION FOR REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS THAT INCREASING AMOUNT OF INDEPENDENTS WHERE WE BRING IN THEIR ABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR DEMOCRACY IN OUR PRIMARIES SO THEY HAVE MORE SAY.

>> TESSA, THE PARTISANS KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE SURGE OF INDEPENDENT REGISTRATION.

>> IT IS A SIGN THAT A LOT OF VOTERS ARE NOT FEELING AT HOME OR SUPER ALIGNED ON A LOT OF THINGS WITH ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER IT'S 10% OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN KENTUCKY ARE INTERESTS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT GET TO PARTICIPATE IN A PRIMARY.

HAD NO SAY IN CHOOSING THE CANDIDATE FOR EITHER PARTY.

AND NOW THEY ARE A BIG CHUNK OF WHO GETS FINAL SAY ON WHO BECOMES KENTUCKY'S NEXT GOVERNOR THAT IS CERTAINLY BOTH CANDIDATES HAVE TO THINK ABOUT AS THEY CONTINUE TO HIT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

>> UNDERSCORING THAT POINT AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE BROUGHT UP, THE RATE OF INDEPENDENTS IS INCREASING BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS COMBINED FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.

AND THERE'S UNCHARTERED TERRITORY HERE.

HOW DO YOU MESSAGE TOWARDS THOSE.

AND YEAH THEY DIDN'T ENGAGE IN THE PRIMARY PROCESS AND NOW THEY WILL BE VOTING.

>> Bill: AND THE CANDIDATES DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO.

COVID NUMBERS ARE CLIMBING IN THE STATE AGAIN.

THERE WAS A 600% INCREASE IN CASES IN LEXINGTON DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

SCHOOLS REOPENING, FALL FESTIVALS AND SARAH THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WE'VE COME TO SEE THE SPIKES BUT IT'S ALWAYS CONCERNING.

>> IT IS AND WE HAVE A NEW SUBVARIANT THAT IS OUT THERE IT IS AN OMICRON, IT'S EG5 OR IRIS.

AND IT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN THE OTHERS WE'VE SEEN.

WE SEE A SUMMER SPIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE GETTING SICK BUT NOT MORE PEOPLE DYING OR BEING HOSPITALIZED.

SO THAT PART OF IT IS GOOD.

WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN CASES OF KIDS, 0-4.

SO THAT IS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING FOR PARENTS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK IN SCHOOLS.

COUPLE REASONS FOR THE SPIKE, I MEAN WE ARE SEEING WANING IMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO LAST GOT VACCINATED IN THE FALL.

THEY ARE TRAVELING A LOT BECAUSE THE WEATHER HAS BEEN NICE AND WE'VE HAD WHAT SOME MIGHT CONSIDER HIGHER TEMPERATURES, SOME HEAT AND THAT'S CAUSED PEOPLE TO BE CONGREGATING INDOORS.

PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS SAY TAKE PRECAUTIONS AS YOU SEE IF THEY APPLY TO YOUR PERSONAL RISK.

>> Bill: IT IS ANTICIPATED A BOOSTER THIS MONTH.

>> YES.

>> Bill: UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE IS GETTING $12 MILLION TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO TREAT ALZHEIMER'S, DIABETES AND HEART DISEASE.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE STUDYING THINGS LIKE YEAST, FUN FUNGY AND FIND IF THERE IS A CONNECTION BETWEEN HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES, ALZHEIMER'S AND WE KNOW KENTUCKY RANKS HIGH FOR THOSE CONDITIONS AND SO THEY ARE WANTING TO COME UP WITH NEW NOVEL THERAPIES THAT COULD HELP THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THAT.

SO I'M SURE THAT WILL BE MOST WELCOME.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS GOING TO MEET THIS WEEK TO SELECT AN INTERIM EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

THAT MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELED FOR NOW.

>> YES.

I BELIEVE IT WAS SET FOR SEPTEMBER 6.

AND IT'S BEEN CANCELED.

I DON'T KNOW IF A NEW DATE HAS BEEN SET AT THIS TIME.

>> AND SPORTS BETTING IS ABOUT TO ROLL OUT.

WE'RE SEEING THE ADVERTISING FOR IT RIGHT NOW.

AND WE SAW THIS EXTENSIVE CATALOG WHAT CAN BE BET ON IT'S ANYTHING THAT LAS VEGAS SETS ODDS ON?

>> FROM NFL FOOTBALL TO PING PONG TO CORN HOLE.

LIKE IT'S JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

THE IN-PERSON VERSION OF THIS AT THE RACETRACKS BEGINS NEXT WEEK, I BELIEVE.

AND THEN IN TIME FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NFL SEASON AND THE APP FOLKS BEING ABLE TO DO IT ON-LINE TAXED AT A HIGHER RATE IS LATER IN THE MONTH ON SEPTEMBER 28.

>> CORBIN'S MAYOR SERVED NOTICE THAT LOCAL POLICE ARE CRACKING DOWN ON RETAILORS WHO SELL VAPING PRODUCTS TO THOSE UNDERAGE 21.

AND THE MAYOR SAID WE'RE COMING FOR YOU IF YOU ARE SELLING TO OUR KIDS.

WE KNOW THAT TO BE AN ISSUE NOT JUST IN CORBIN BUT COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IT IS AND SOMETHING FOR YEARS FOLKS HAVE BEEN COMING TO THE LEGISLATURE TO FIND MORE WAYS TO CRACKDOWN ON THIS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE TAKING IT ON THEMSELVES.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY NATIVE STEVE CRUMP WHO SPENT 40 YEARS IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA DIED THIS WEEK.

>> I'M STEVE CRUMP.

THIS IS THE CITY, THIS IS THE COMMUNITY, THIS IS THE PLACE... >> Bill: CRUMP WHO GREW UP IN LOUISVILLE NEVER FORGOT HIS ROOTS.

HE OFTEN RETURNED HOME TO COVER THE KENTUCKY DERBY HE PRODUCED A FILM ABOUT MOHAMMED ALI.

HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE HALL OF FAME.

HE WAS 66 YEARS OLD AND WILL BE MISSED.

AND LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE OFFICER NICHOLAS WILT IS GOING TO BE HONORED AS KENTUCKIAN OF THE YEAR PART OF THE 10TH ANNUAL HUMAN AWARDS IN NOVEMBER.

HE IS BACK HOME AFTER DOING REHAB WORK AFTER BEING SHOT IN THE HEAD AT THE BANK IN APRIL.

HE ONLY HAD BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A FEW DAYS.

THAT'S COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.