♪ ♪ THE COVID POSITIVITY RATE TOPS 14%, 400 NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ARE BEING SENT TO HOSPITALS AND HAVE CANDID DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RATIONING HEALTHCARE.

IN A QUICK SPECIAL SESSION, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OVERRIDES THE GOVERNOR AND ENDS THE STATEWIDE SCHOOL MASK MANDATE.

LAWMAKERS AND REMOTE LEARNING AND AN ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PACKAGE.

SCHOOLS STRUGGLE TO DEAL WITH OUTBREAKS WITHOUT LOSING MOMENTUM.

WE DO HAVE SOME DELIGHTFUL SEPTEMBER WEATHER HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND.

COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

AT LEAST WE DO HAVE THE GOOD WEATHER.

GOOD EVENING TO YOU.

I'M BILL BRYANT.

WE WELCOME TO YOU COMMENT ON KENTUCKY, A LOOK AT AND ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JRNLISTS TONIGHT ARE LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR WDRV IN LOUISVILLE, JESSE CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR WFPL IN LOUISVILLE AND JACK BRAMMER, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER."

ALSO TONIGHT, KENTUCKIANS REMEMBER 20 YEARS AFTER 9/11 AND MORE POLITICAL RACES ARE STARTING TO TAKE SHAPE.

FIRST THE SITUATION IS BEYOND CRITICAL FOR OUR HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW.

THE POSITIVITY RATE, AS WE SAID, TOPPED 14% THIS WEEK.

MORE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS SENT TO 21 HOSPITALS AROUND THE STATE.

JACK, DOCTORS AND HOSPITALS ARE HAVING TO MAKE VERY TOUGH CHOICES RIGHT NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S GRIM ON ALL FRONTS IN THE BATTLE AGAINST COVID IN THE STATE AND ESPECIALLY HARD WHEN YOU CONSIDER LIKE TOMORROW SHANNON FUNERAL HOME IN SHELBYVILLE, ABOUT A BLOCK FROM OUR HOME WILL HAVE A FUNERAL FOR JUS DIN KLINE.

A 15-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE, A DRUMMER THERE AND HE DIED OF COVID.

>> MANY DOCTORS AT THIS POINT ARE NOT EVEN DOING SOME ROUTINE PROCEDURES OUT OF CONCERN, LAWRENCE, THAT IT COULD RESULT IN SOMEBODY ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITAL THAT'S TOO CROWDED TO DEAL WITH IT.

>> YEAH, IT'S AN INCREASING PROBLEMS.

WE ARE AT THE STAGE WHERE HOSPITALS ARE HAVING TO MAKE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ABOUT WHO GETS TREATED, AT LEAST WHO GETS TREATED FIRST AND WHO DOESN'T.

AND PATIENTS ARE SOMETIMES MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT ELECTIVE PROCEDURES, DO I DARE GO INTO A HOSPITAL NOW AND BE AROUND COVID SO ON BOTH SIDES OF THE EQUATION, IT'S GETTING MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT.

>> LET'S TAKE STOCK HERE.

WE HAVE THE NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED TO HOSPITALS.

WE HAVE TENTS UP IN CASE HOSPITALS RUN OUT OF ROOM AND LITERALLY HAVE TO USE THAT SPACE.

SOME HOSPITALS ARE TRYING TO TRANSPORT PATIENTS OUT OF STATE AS FAR AWAY AS PITTSBURGH.

THE HIGHEST NUMBER SO FAR IN THE HOSPITALS AND ICUS.

CAN WE KEEP THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM FROM COLLAPSING AT THIS POINT?

>> COLLAPSING IS A STRONG WORD.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT COLLAPSING, BUT CERTAINLY IT IS BEING STRAINED TO ITS VERY LIMIT AND AS I SAID BEFORE, HARD DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE AND WILL INCREASINGLY BE MADE ABOUT WHO GETS TREATED.

NOW I WILL SAY THIS.

WE INTERVIEWED SOME OF THE SENIOR DOCTORS AT U OF L HEALTH TODAY OR THIS WEEK, AND THEY SAID THEY'RE HOPING THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECREASE IN CASES IN LOUISVILLE LAST WEEK.

THEY'RE HOPING THAT MAYBE WE ARE AT OR NEAR THE PEAK AND LIT START TO GO DOWN FROM HERE BUT NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO BE OPTIMISTIC BUT PERHAPS WE ARE SEEING THE WORST RIGHT NOW AND IT WILL GET BETTER FROM HERE.

>> YOU KNOW, LAWRENCE, YOU NEVER WANT TO SEE A BIG ACCIDENT BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE AN AIRPLANE CRASH IN KENTUCKY OR SOMETHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE WHERE HOSPITALS WOULD HAVE TO DEAL WITH SO MANY PATIENTS ON TOP OF THE LOAD THEY HAVE NOW.

>> AND IN LOUISVILLE, OF COURSE, THERE IS ALSO AN UNUSUALLY HIGH HOMICIDE RATE SO THE U OF L HOSPITALS ARE OR DEALING WITH SHOOTING VICTIMS ON TOP OF THE COVID VICTIMS.

>> PROBLEMS COMPOUNDING EACH OTHER.

THE MAYOR OF CORBIN DID A FACEBOOK VIDEO IN WHICH SHE DESCRIBED THE OVERRUN HOSPITAL BAPTIST HEALTH CORBIN.

SHE SUGGESTED UNVACCINATED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY CONSIDER SHELTERING IN PLACE DURING THIS ONGOING SURGE.

>> I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW AND PLEASE IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED, CONSIDER SHELTERING IN PLACE, WEAR A MASK IF YOU HAVE TO BE OUT SOCIALLY DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM PEOPLE AND PLEASE CONSIDER GETTING VACCINATED.

>> LAWRENCE, MORE LOCAL LEADERS ARE EXPRESSING THEIR US FROM SFRAITIONS AND THEIR-- FRUSTRATIONS AND WORRIES RIGHT NOW.

>> ASKING PEOPLE TO SHELTER IN PLACE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED, THAT SHOWS HOW SERIOUS ESPECIALLY IN SOME OF THE SMALLER COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE THE HOSPITAL RESOURCES NECESSARILY, HOW BAD THE SITUATION IS THAT THE MAYOR WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE THAT: >> WE LOOKED AROUND THE WORLD, JACK, YOU KNOW, WHEN VACCINE RATES ARE BETTER, THE OUTCOMES ARE TENDING TO BE BETTER.

>> WE'VE HEARD REPORTS IN THE NATION OF DENMARK OVER 80% VACCINATION RATE AND THE COUNTRY HAS LIFTED ITS DOMESTIC RESTRICTIONS.

THINGS SEEM TO BE NORMAL THERE AND THE RATES HAVE GONE DOWN CONSIDERABLY.

IT DOES APPEAR TO BE A PREVENTIBLE DISEASE.

OF COURSE THERE ARE SOME BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS, SO YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND PLAN TO GET YOUR BOOSTER, BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE VACCINES WORK.

THEY DO WORK.

IT DOESN'T SEEM.

THEY DO WORK.

AND THAT MASKS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AND ONE OF THE ASSOCIATES OF THIS YOUNG MAN I TALKED ABOUT WHO DIED IN SHELBY COUNTY ASKED ME WHY AREN'T OUR LEADERS DOING EVERYTHING, USING ALL THE TOOLS THEY CAN TO FIGHT THIS COVID?

AND I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T KNOW.

>> EL WITH, JESSE,-- WELL, WHEN YOU HEAR THE DEATH OF A TEENAGER AND WE HAVE SOME KIDS WHO ARE GETTING THIS NOW WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINE, WE KNOW THAT THAT IS A GROUP THAT IS REALLY GETTING HARD HIT RIGHT NOW AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> RIGHT, MORE AND MORE, YOU KNOW, KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 ARE MAKING UP A LARGER PORTION OF THE CASES AND THE MAIN REASONS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET THE VACCINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO GET YOU BUSY TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE LEGISLATURE AND LET'S DO A QUICK TURN TO FRANKFORT.

MEMBERS OF THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAVE HEADED BACK HOME AFTER A WHIRLWIND SPECIAL SESSION THIS WEEK.

IT'S UNUSUAL FOR THE GOVERNOR TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION AND THEN VETO SOME OF WHAT WAS PASSED ONLY TO SEE THE VETOES OVERRIDDEN.

BESHEAR SAID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DEMANDED ITS SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND NOW IT HAS IT.

>> THE LEGISLATURE WANTED THAT BALL.

THEY WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT AND SAID THAT I, THE GOVERNOR SHOULD NOT BE MAKING THE CALLS.

THEY SHOULD BE MAKING THE CALLS.

THEY'RE THE POLICY MAKING BODY.

THE SUPREME COURT AGREED.

SO THE LEGISLATURE OWNS THIS PANDEMIC MOVING FORWARD.

>> STARK TALK FROM THE GOVERNOR, LAWRENCE.

>> YEAH, VERY STARK TALK, VERY STRONG WORDS, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS GOES BACK A LONG WAY.

THIS GOES WACK TO THE BEGINNING-- THIS GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC LAST MARCH AND LEGISLATORS GROWING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED OVER THE PAST 18, 19, 20 MONTHS THAT THE GOVERNOR IS MAKING ALL THE DECISIONS AND NOT BRINGING THEM IN.

THE GOVERNOR SAID YOU HAD TO MAKE FAST DECISIONS AND RELIED ON BEST HEALTH KNOWLEDGE BUT ONE WONDERS IF IT WAS A STRATEGIC MISTAKE NOT TO AT LEAST INCLUDE SOME OF THE LEGISLATURE IN THE DECISIONS THAT WERE BEING MADE: THAT FRUSTRATION BUILT UP TO WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

>> JACK, I KNOW YOU SUSPECT THE GOVERNOR WILL BE CONTINUE TO BE QUITE VISIBLE IN THE SITUATION.

>> I THINK HE WILL REMAIN THE FACE OF KENTUCKY EATS FIGHT AGAINST COVID BY VIRTUE OF HIS BULLY PULPIT, HIS REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCES ON THE SUBJECT.

HE WILL BE UP FRONT AND CENTER.

THINGS WILL CHANGE WITH THIS VIRUS.

THERE WILL BE NEW ASPECTS OF IT AND HE WILL BE THERE ON THE SCENE TO DEAL WITH IT.

OF COURSE IF HE WANTS ANY MANDATES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS, THEY CAN ONLY LAST FOR 30 DAYS AND THEN IT WILL NEED LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OR DISMISSAL.

>> WELL, THE LEGISLATURE OVERRODE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO OF THE BILL THAT ENDS A STATEWIDE SCHOOL MASK MANDATE I.

WAS THE FLOOR DEBATE THAT LED TO A LIVELY DEBATE AND SOME FINGER POINTING.

>> WHEN OVER 300,000 OF OUR KIDS ARE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE VACCINATED, WHY, WHY ARE WE DEBATING A BILL THAT TAKES AWAY ANYONE'S ABILITY ON THE LOCAL OR THE STATEWIDE LEVEL TO PROTECT OUR KIDS?

>> YOU WANT TO SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT UNMITIGATED FAILURE?

WHERE WE ARE TODAY?

THERE HAS BEEN NO DECISIONS BY THIS BODY OR THAT BODY DOWN THERE.

ONLY THE DECISIONS MADE ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

FIRST FLOOR THAT WERE WRONG.

>> FIRST FLOOR IS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, RIGHT, LAWRENCE?

>> THERE YOU SAW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE, THE FRUSTRATION AMONG REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS ABOUT NOT BEING INCLUDED IN SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT WERE MADE AND SOME STARK DISAGREEMENTS OVER THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK.

THE DEBATE GOT HEATED, SOMETIMES PERSONAL ON THE FLOOR.

AND I WAS WATCHING PRIMARILY, BUT THERE IS THE EXAMPLE OF THE BIG DIVIDE OVER HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH THIS COVID OUTBREAK.

>> SO THE SCHOOL MASK RULES RETURN TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND QUICKLY, THOSE DECISIONS WILL HAVE TO BE MADE APPARENTLY WITHIN FIVE DAYS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, IN THE NEXT FIVE DAYS SO SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEFORE THE MASK MANDATE, THEY HAD THE POWER TO DECIDE WHETHER STUDENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS AND WITHIN FIVE DAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL HAVE THE POWER AGAIN.

BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTED, TWO-THIRDS WERE PLANNING TO START THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH MASKS OPTIONAL SO IT'S PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE ARE GOING HAVE A PATCHWORK PIECE MEAL SYSTEM OF MASK MANDATES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> IT FAILED BUT THERE WAS A MOVE IN THE LEGISLATURE TO ACTUALLY FORBID THE LOCAL STRICTS FROM HAVING THE ABILITY TO HAVE MASK MANDATES, RIGHT?

>> VARIOUS MOVEMENTS ON THESE, BUT WHAT SURPRISED ME, JUST GIVING THEM FIVE DAYS TO DECIDE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THEY HAVE AN OUTBREAK A WEEK OR TWO LATER, CAN'T CHANGE THEIR MINDS, THAT SEEMED A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH TO ME.

>> IT BASICALLY MEANS MONDAY OR TUESDAY.

>> THE GOVERNOR DID SAY TODAY THAT HE WAS GRATEFUL THE LEGISLATURE DID NOT DO WHAT SOME OTHER STATES HAVE DONE AND PROHIBIT EVEN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM MAKE MAKING THE MASK DECISIONS BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IT IS UP TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

>> SOME SCHOOLS ARE CLOSING, ATHLETIC CONTESTS HAVE BEEN IT CANCEL.

CHALLENGING START TO THE ACADEMIC YEAR THERE.

WAS A PUSH FOR NTI FLEXIBILITY BUT THEY GOT IT IN AN UNUSUAL WAY?

>> THEY DIDN'T GET ANYMORE NTI DAYS.

THAT'S NON-TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION AND THOSE ARE THE DAYS THAT ALLOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MOVE INTO REMOTE LEARNING.

AND THEY HAD 10 BEFORE THE SPECIAL SESSION STARTED AND THEY HAD 10 COMING OUT OF IT.

BUT WHAT THEY HAVE IN ADDITION TO THAT ARE 20 REMOTE LEARNING DAYS.

>> WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN AN NTI DAY AND REMOTE LEARNING DAY?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION AND THE ANSWER IS NTI APPLIED TO THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IS REMOTE OR THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IS IN-PERSON CLASSES.

WITH REMOTE LEARNING, LAWMAKERS SAY THESE DAYS CAN BE USED TO SEND A SCHOOL IN REMOTE LEARNING OR A CLASS OF STUDENTS INTO REMOTE LEARNING.

MEANT TO BE MORE TARGETED SO THAT YOU CAN KEEP MORE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> HOW DO YOU KEEP UP WITH ATTENDANCE WITH THAT GOING ON.

>> THOSE QUESTIONS HAVEN'T QUITE BEEN WORKED OUT YET.

THAT'S KIND OF LIKE AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS THAT THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL TAKE CARE OF, BUT BASICALLY IF, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, IT WOULD WORK THIS WAY.

IF A FIFTH GRADE CLASS HAD A BUNCH OF OUTBREAKS AT WATERSON ELEMENTARY, THE SCHOOL COULD TRY TO GET AHEAD OF IT AND SAY WE ARE GOING TO QUARANTINE-- WE ARE GOING TO SEND THESE GROUPS OF STUDENTS INTO REMOTE LEARNING FOR THREE DAYS INSTEAD OF THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

THE ISSUE WITH THAT FOR A LOT OF SCHOOL LEADERS DEMOCRATS AND SOME REPUBLICANS, IS THAT 20 DAYS FOR A DISTRICT LIKE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO CUT IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE 155 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND IF YOU CAN IMAGINE TRYING TO SPLIT 20 REMOTE LEARNING DAYS AMONG 155 SCHOOL BUILDINGS, 96,000 STUDENTS.

>> THAT'S PER DISTRICT.

>> PER DISTRICT, RIGHT FIFTH GRADE AT WATERSON ELEMENTARY GOES INTO REMOTE LEARNING, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, JCPS HAS 19 DAYS FOR THE REST OF THE DISTRICT.

>> THEY ALSO PASSED THIS WHAT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A TEST TO STAY MODEL.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO QUARANTINE.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM A LOT OF PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT FRUSTRATIONS OVER STUDENTS GETTING QUARANTINED, NAT DO NOT TEST POSITIVE AND HAVING TO MISS A LOT OF SCHOOL.

IF A STUDENT WAS A CLOSE CONTACT OF SOMEONE WHO HAD COVID, INSTEAD OF QUARANTINING, BEFORE SCHOOL EACH DAY, THEY WOULD DO A COVID TEST AND IF THE COVID TEST IS NEGATIVE, THEY GET TO GO TO SCHOOL.

SO IT'S A WAY TO TRY TO KEEP MORE STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> IT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WHAT THEY DID WITH THE SCHOOL DAYS IS WHAT LAWRENCE IS TALKING ABOUT, THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THEIR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THEY CAN GET BY THIS SEMESTER AND IF THEY HAVE TO CHANGE IT, COME BACK IN JANUARY AND CHANGE IT.

>> THAT'S WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAYING DURING THIS SPECIAL SESSION THAT THEY HOPE THIS WILL BE A FIX FOR THIS FALL SEMESTER AND IF THEY NEED TO TWEAK SOME MORE, THEY'LL COME BACK IN JANUARY AND DO THAT SO THE IDEA IS LET'S GET TO JANUARY TO THE SPRING SEMESTER AND SEE WHERE THINGS ARE THEN.

>> A ROLLING ISSUES AND ROLLING SOLUTION MAYBE JACK, SOME OF THE FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS BEING APPLIED TO COVID RELATED HEALTH MEASURES IN SCHOOLS AND SOME OTHER PLACES.

>> MORE THAN $69 MILLION EARMARKED FOR THOSE PURPOSES.

LATE LAST NIGHT ON THURSDAY NIGHT, THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO AMEND THE CA YOU WILL TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE MONEY FOR PAY FOR FRONT LINE WORKERS TO ME, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY COULD HAVE DONE THAT WITH A SIMPLE RESOLUTION ASKING THE GOVERNOR AND ASKING HIM TO AMEND THE CALL WAS TOO POLITICAL.

>> HIGH DRAMA IN THE SENATE WITH ONE SENATOR INVITING THE GOVERNOR TO COME TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

>> HIGH POLITICAL THEATRICS THERE WAS A PUSH FOR EXPANSION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF HOSPITALS REPORTED IN SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE PERSONNEL TO PULL THAT OFF.

>> THAT'S A TREATMENT THAT IS SAID TO BE EFFECTIVE EARLY ON IN COVID MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES AND PART OF SENATE BILL 2 WOULD HAVE CLINICS SET UP ACROSS THE STATE TO ADMINISTER THE TREATMENT BUT THE PROBLEM MAY BE NOT OF IN PEOPLE.

>> WILL ANYTHING PASSED THIS WEEK HELP WITH STAFFING WITHIN THE HOSPITALS?

>> ONE THING THEY DID ALLOW E.M.T.S, EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS TO BE ABLE TO WORK IN THE HOSPITALS.

IT WON'T ADD TO THE NUMBER OF STAFF THAT HOSPITALS INTO ED BUT WILL FREE UP SOME OF THE HOSPITAL PERSONNEL TO DEVOTE MORE TIME TO TREATMENT OF COVID PATIENTS WITH THE SUPPORT FROM THE E.M.T.S THE LEGISLATURE BANNED THE GOVERNOR FROM BEING ABLE TO ISSUE ANY MASK MANDATES GOING FORWARD.

>> THAT WAS PART OF SENATE BILL 2 AS WELL.

PROHIBITION AGAINST ANY FUTURE MASK MANDATES BY THE GOVERNOR UNTIL SOMETIME IN 2023.

>> POLITICAL DYNAMICS ARE VERY DIFFERENT THESE DAYS AS WE ALL KNOW.

BUT HOW UNUSUAL IS IT, JACK, FOR THE GOVERNOR TO CALL A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SET THE AGENDA AND THEN VETO SOME OF WHAT HAS PASSED?

>> I'VE BEEN OVER THERE SINCE 1978 AND I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN.

ONE OF THE JOYS OF JOURNALISM IS THAT YOU ARE LEARNING NEW THINGS ALL THE TIME SO THAT WAS AMAZING TO ME LAST NIGHT.

>> I WILL SAY THIS, IT DOES SHOW AN INCREASING INDEPENDENCE BY THE LEGISLATURE.

WE HAVE BEEN A LONG WAY FROM WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS A VIRTUAL DICTATOR.

THE MAN UNQUESTIONED IN CHARGE OF THE STATE AND WHAT HE SAID WENT TO NOW WHERE YOU HAVE AN INCREASINGLY STRONG LEGISLATURE AND THEN INCREASINGLY WEAK GOVERNOR.

SO IT'S OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, TO NOW, IT'S REALLY FLIPPED AS FAR AS THE POWER STRUCTURE IN FRANKFORT.

>> AND THE GOVERNORS WILL BE WEAKER GOING FORWARD, RIGHT?

THIS IS THE LAW OF THE LAND NOW?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IT'S HAPPENING NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT OTHER STATES AS WELL.

>> NORTH CAROLINA AND THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY HAD A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE AND SAME SITUATION HAS HAPPENED.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS INCREASINGLY TAKEN MORE AND MORE POWERS AWAY FROM THE GOVERNOR.

>> EVEN THE SAME PARTY BECAUSE REMEMBER BACK IN 2018, GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION ON PENSIONS, SURPRISINGLY AND THE LEGISLATURE CAME IN AND ADJOURNED THE NEXT DAY GETTING NOTHING DONE SO EVEN AMONG THE SAME PARTY, THERE CAN BE THAT KIND OF FRICTION.

>> I JUST GOT A PERSONAL VIEW POINT IN THERE.

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A WORE OR A CRISIS.

YOU NEED A GENERAL, YOU NEED A DESIGNATED LEADER TO DO THAT AND I THINK THAT WORKS BETTER THAN TRYING TO GOVERN BY LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

>> THERE IS SOME AGREEMENT ON THE ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PACKAGE FOR POTENTIALLY BRINGING BUSINESS TO HARDIN COUNTY.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER THAYER COMPARED IT TO THE 19ATION INCENTIVES GIVEN TO TOYOTA, THE GOVERNOR'S SENIOR ADVISOR ROCKY ADKINS SAYS IT'S A GAME CHANGER AND SENATOR HORNBACK VOTED AGAINST IT.

>> PRIMARILY BECAUSE ONE OF THE PROJECTS LOOKED AT IS A MYSTERY PROJECT IN HARDIN COUNTY IN THE COMMUNITY OF GLENDALE NEAR SHELBY COUNTY AND SENATOR HORNBACK EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS MIGHT PUT SHELBY AT A DISADVANTAGE HIRING, EVERYBODY IS TRYING TO HIRE PEOPLE THESE DAYS AND HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH MONEY GOING TOWARD THIS AND COULD ULTIMATELY HURT EMPLOYMENT IN HIS COUNTY.

>> DO WE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE BUSINESS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD COME?

>> NO, BUT ENOUGH PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.

IT WILL LEAK OUT SOON.

THEY HAD TO SIGN NON-DISCLOSURE.

YOU WILL A PUBLICATION BREAK THAT.

SENATOR STEVEN MEREDITH IS NO THE A BIG CHEER LEADER OF GOVERNOR BASKETBALL GUT GAVE A GOOD SPEECH ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNOR WORKED WITH LEGISLATORS ON THIS PROJECT AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE GOVERNOR WORK MORE WITH THEM ON OTHER ISSUES.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN ISSUED THE VACCINE REQUIREMENTS THIS WEEK FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS AND WORKPLACES WITH MORE THAN 100 WORKERS.

THE JETION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS COMMENTED ON THE NEW REQUIREMENT AS IT RELATES TO SCHOOLS.

>> I ASKED HIM ABOUT THAT TODAY AND INTERESTINGLY, HE SAYS THAT THE EARLY COMMUNICATIONS FROM DIFFERENT LIKE THE COUNCIL OF CHIEF STATE OFFICERS IS THAT THOSE REGULATIONS WILL APPLY TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN 26 STATES AND U.S.

TERRITORIES AND KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THEM SO IT MAY MEAN THAT KENTUCKY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO GET THE VACCINE OR UNDERGO REGULAR TESTING, ALL THAT WITH THE CAVEAT THAT THIS IS LIKELY GOING TO BE TIED UP IN THE COURTS, SO IN THE MEANTIME ACTUALLY WHAT THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DID TODAY IS THEY ROLLED OUT THIS MEASURE WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO PAY SCHOOL EMPLOYEES $100 FOR GETTING THE VACCINE.

>> SO SOME INCENTIVE THERE.

THE PRICHARD COMMITTEE FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE BELIEVES WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH EDUCATION EVEN WITH THE AWFUL CHALLENGES THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

THEY HAVE A VERY OPTIMISTIC DIRECT ALREADY THERE, BRIDGET BLUM.

SHE THINKS THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE OF PARENTS BEING MORE ENGAGED RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK THAT'S VERY OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK THAT IF WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MASK MANDATES AND THE PARENTS THAT ARE SHOWING UP AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS, MORE OF THAT IS BASED IN POLITICS THAN INTEREST IN EDUCATION.

WHAT I WILL SAY IS THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM SOME TEACHERS WHO HAVE BETTER CONNECTIONS WITH FAMILIES THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST BECAUSE OF REMOTE LEARNING AND BECAUSE THEY'VE HAD TO CONNECT WITH PARENTS IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW FIGURE OUT WHERE-- PARENTS ARE MORE CONNECTED BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING THE EDUCATION HAPPENING SO I THINK FROM THAT ANGLE, YOU COULD SEE PARENTS BECOME MORE ENGAGED AND MORE AWARE OF WHAT IS INVOLVED IN K-12 EDUCATION.

>> LAWRENCE, MAYOR'S RACE CONTINUING TO TAKE SHAPE.

GREG FISCHER IS TERM LIMITED.

WE GET THE IMPRESSION THAT JEFFERSON CIRCUIT COURT NICHOLS HAS MAG MANAGED TO STRING OUT HIS ANNOUNCEMENT BECAUSE HE IS FOCUSING ON CRIME AND VIOLENCE.

>> YEAH, HE SAYS THAT'S THE REASON HE GOT INTO THE RACE, INCREASING CONCERN ABOUT CRIME AND VIOLENCE IN LOUISVILLE.

SO HE IS GOING TO OBVIOUSLY MAKE THAT THE CENTRAL PORTION OF HIS CAMPAIGN.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS RACE GOES.

CRAIG GREENBURGH RIGHT NOW, CONSIDERED THE FRONT RUNNER AND MAJOR LEAD IN FUNDRAISING MORE THAN $400,000 LAST QUARTER COMPARED TO NO ONE ELSE HAVING EVEN 20,000 SO SEEING IF ANYBODY GETS IN THE RACE.

>> COULD A REPUBLICAN WIN IN A CITY THAT SEEMS RELIABLY BLUE?

>> IT'S POSSIBLE.

IT'S UNLIKELY.

IT WILL REQUIRE A LARGE TURNOUT IN THE GENERALLY REPUBLICAN SUBURBS AND LIGHT TURNOUT IN THE URBAN CORE, A VERY DIFFICULT TASK BUT NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE OBVIOUSLY.

>> THERE ARE THREE SPECIAL ELECTIONS NOVEMBER 2 IN THE LEGISLATE LEGISLATURE.

STATE SENATE DISTRICT 22 TOM BUFORD'S DEATH, REPUBLICANS HAVE CHOSEN Dr. DONALD DOUGLAS.

HE WOULD BE ANOTHER DOCTOR IN THE SENATE.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN.

>> AND ANESTHESIOLOGIST FROM THE AREA, SUPPOSED TO BE VERY POPULAR.

I DON'T KNOW THE GENTLEMAN.

I DON'T HAVE KNOWLEDGE IF THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SELECTED THEIR NOMINEE.

YOU HAVE ANOTHER RACE DOWN IN LONDON PART OF THE STATE WHERE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT GOFORTH RESIGNED, A VACANCY THERE.

THEY PICKED, THE REPUBLICANS PICKED TIMMY TRUEWHY IT AND THEY NEED-- TRUEITT AND THEY NEED TO PICK THE SEAT FOR JOHN CARON HO DIED THIS YEAR.

>> AND THE SUBJECT OF REDISTRICTING ANOTHER TOP.

>> Nicki: PROBABLY WON'T COME UNTIL THE 22 GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION.

>> COVID HAS SUCKED UP ALL THE AIR.

I NO KNOW THERE ARE TALKS BEHIND THE SCENES ABOUT REDISTRICTING BUT THAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN A MAIN CONCERN PUBLICLY BECAUSE OF COVID.

>> THIS IS A SOMBER WEEKEND AS WE ALL REMEMBER 9/11 20 YEARS AGO.

SEVERAL KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS, NAVY PETTY OFFICER EDWARD AIR HART WAS STATIONED AT THE PENTAGON WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED AND HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS HAVE BEEN REMEMBERING HIM.

IT WAS A SURREAL TIME IN AMERICA WE WERE REMEMBERING THE DETAILS AND SEEING THEM ON THE TV AND RADIO.

I HOPE WE NEVER FORGET THE APG WISH-- THE ANGUISH, PAIN AND GRIEF WE ALL FELT AND ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE HOPE THAT WE SAW WITH THE FIRST RESPONDERS COMING THERE AND PRESIDENT BUSH WITH SOME OF THE WORKERS AT THE TOWERS WITH AMERICAN FLAG AND AMERICA'S PERSEVERANCE.

>> MANY HAVE WONDERED ALOUD WHETHER THE COUNTRY COULD COME TOGETHER THE WAY IT DID 20 YEARS AGO.

>> WELL, THE COUNTRY TENDS TO COME TOGETHER WHEN IT IS ATTACKED BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE.

OF COURSE SOME WOULD SAY COVID IS AN OUTSIDE FORCE AND IT HASN'T DONE THAT BUT WE HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR PEOPLE TO UNITE AND TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE COUNTRY.

WE HOPE IT DOESN'T TAKE ANOTHER BIG, BIG TRAGEDY LIKE THAT ONE.

>> KIDS IN SCHOOL NOW WERE BORN AFTER 9/11.

THEY'RE LITERALLY LEARNING IT AS HISTORY.

>> IT'S WILD TO THINK ABOUT.

I MEAN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN IT HAPPENED.

I REMEMBER BEING IN MY HIGH SCHOOL SPANISH CLASS.

BUT YEAH NOW IT'S BEING TAUGHT AS HISTORY AND THERE IS DIFFERENT WAYS THAT TEACHERS ARE TALKING ABOUT IT IN SCHOOL AND I MEAN YEAH, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PIECE OF AMERICAN HISTORY THAT KIDS ARE LEARNING.

>> BE SURE TO TUNE IN FOR KENTUCKY TONIGHT RENEE SHAW WILL BE HOSTING A DISCUSSION ON REMEMBERING 9/11 20 YEARS LATER AND STAY TUNED NOW AFTER COMMENT FOR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE, CASEY PARKER-BELL RECAPS WHAT WAS A BUSY AND QUICK SPECIAL SESSION IN FRANKFORT.