>> THE HARD MONEY CHASE IS ALREADY ON, IN NEXT YEAR'S RACE FOR KENTUCKY GOVERNOR.

THE CAMPAIGN'S FOR AND AGAINST THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON ABORTION RAMP UP AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

THE DEATH TOLL REACHES 40 FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODING AS THE STATE ASKS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR MORE HELP.

GUN VIOLENCE IN THE STATE'S LARGEST CITIES IS AN ISSUE IN THE MAYOR'S RACES AND REACHES THE FLOOR OF THE U.S. SENATE.

REALLY NICE WEATHER CONTINUING AS WE ROLL TOWARD FALL AND 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 PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE TESSA DUVALL, FRANKFORT BURROW CHIEF FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

MORGAN CAT WINCE, CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE KOWR-- COURIER JOURNAL AND RYLAND BARTON FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

ALSO TONIGHT ANOTHER DELAY IN FIXING KENTUCKY'S OUTDATED UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM.

AND NOW THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT LANTERN FLIES THAT COULD INVADE THE COMMONWEALTH, OF ALL THINGS.

A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.

LET'S START WITH THE INCITE THAT WE NOW HAVE, NOW THAT SOME CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS ARE OUT THERE.

IT COULD HELP DETERMINE HOW MANY SIGNS AND STICKERS AND POLITICAL ADS YOU GET TO SEE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO, THAT RIGHT.

MORGAN, FIRST TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

GOVERNOR BA SHEER HAS RAISED $4 MILLION FOR HIS RE-ELECTION EFFORT.

HE APPEARS POISED TO HAVE-- TO BREEZE THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

SO WHAT DOES HE DO WITH THAT MONEY?

DOES HE GET A MESSAGE OUT OR DOES HE WAIT UNTIL HE FINDS OUT WHO HE WILL BE UP AGAINST?

>> I THINK THERE'S A GOOD ARGUMENT TO BE MADE TO HOLD ON TO A LOT OF IT FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN.

YOU KNOW, HE'LL, THE HOPE HE MIGHT HAVE OR HIS CAMPAIGN MIGHT HAVE I IMAGINE WOULD BE YOU HAVE ALL THIS REALLY CROWDED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THEY ALL HAVE TO SPEND WHATEVER MONEY THEY ARE RAISING TO GET THEIR MESSAGES OUT JUST TO BEAT EACH OTHER TO BE THE NOMINEE AND ASSUMING HE DINT END UP WITH ANY KIND OF SERIOUS PRIMARY CHALLENGE WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLY SAFE BET.

HE CAN KIND OF JUST KEEP BEING GOVERNOR WHICH REALLY WORKS WITH HIS MESSAGE AND KIND OF WAIT UNTIL THE DUST SETTLES ON THAT, OR CLOSE TO T AND THEN HE'S SITTING ON A WHOLE BUMPLEG OF MONEY TO PUMP OUT HIS MESSAGE AND ADS AND ALL THAT, WHEN YOU ARE WAY CLOSER TO ACTUAL ELECTION DAY AND PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION.

>> SO RYLAND-- RYLAND DOES BASHEAR CONTINUE HIS TACTIC TO BE AN INCUMBENT AND STATE PARTY TO DO WHATEVER ATTACKS IT DOES ON THE REPUBLICAN FIELD?

>> DEFINITELY ALONG THE LINE THAT MORGAN WAS SAYING THERE, THE LONGER THAT BASHEAR CAN AVOID REALLY ACTIVELY CAMPAIGNING, THE BETTER IT WILL BE FOR HIM MOST LIKELY.

THE LONGER HE CAN STAY CANDIDATE OR GOVERNOR BASHEAR RATHER THAN CANDIDATE BASHEAR WILL BE GOOD FOR HIM.

HE HAS GOTTEN SO MUCH VISIBILITY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, REALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF HIS ADMINISTRATION.

BECAUSE REMEMBER COVID BEGAN JUST THREE MONTHS INTO THE BASHEAR ADMINISTRATION WHEN HE BEGAN TO HAVE DAILY JUST ABOUT PRESS CONFERENCES, THAT HAS CONTINUED TO AT LEAST BEING WEEKLY SO FAR.

HIS FACE AND VOICE IS KNOWN ACROSS THE STATE AND HE HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF BIPARTISAN OR NONPARTISAN ACCOLADES FOR HIS JOB AS GOOFER IN.

GRANDED THERE WILL BE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO WOULD SAY OTHERWISE BUT I THINK WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, THERE IS ALOT OF PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY WHO AT LEAST KNOW HIM, AND DON'T EXACTLY HAVE A VITRIOLIC REACTION TO HIM.

>> HE HAD COVID AND THEN HE HAS HAD TWO MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS AS WELL, THAT HAVE ENHANCED HIS VISIBILITY, TESSA.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HE'S GOTTEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LEADER IN A TIME OF CRISIS.

HE HAS GOTTEN TO SHOW COMFORTS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NEED.

AND I THINK THE LONGER THAT HE CAN HOLD ON TO THAT IMAGE AS OPPOSED TO BEING DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE ANDY BASHEAR, THAT WORKS OUT BETTER FOR HIM IN THE LONG RUN IN A STATE THAT IS INCREASINGLY RED.

AND SO YES, I DO THINK THAT THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY WILL PROBABLY STEP UP AND DO SOME OF THAT DIRTY WORK, START TO GO AFTER THESE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT WITH KELLY CRAFT WHO HAS JUST RECENTLY THROWN HER NAME OUT THERE.

AND IS ALREADY ACTING LIKE A GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE, TRYING TO LINK ANDY BASHEAR TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN.

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

YOU COVERED FORMER U.N.

AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT'S ANNOUNCEMENT IN HER HOMETOWN.

SHE CAME OUT WITH A VIDEO LAST WEEK AND THEN THIS WEEK DID THAT EVENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME OF THAT NOW.

HOW DID THAT GO?

HOW, SHE IS A FIRST TIME CANDIDATE.

>> SHE IS.

BUT THAT WAS A WELL OILED MACHINE.

THERE WERE LOTS OF FREE FOOD, FREE T SHIRTS, FREE HATS.

REALLY JUST PACKED THE PUBLIC SQUARE, LOOKED VERY PROFESSIONAL.

PEOPLE CAME FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO SEE WHAT SHE WAS ABOUT.

SHE HAD YOU KNOW SOME LAWMAKERS STANDING BEHIND HER.

SHE COULD GET OUT THERE AND TALK ABOUT HER TIES TO THE COMMUNITY OF GLASGOW AND BARON COUNTY, HER DAD WAS A WELL-KNOWN VETERINARIAN, HER MOM WAS A TEACHER AND MADE PROM DRESSES FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO SHE CAN KIND OF PLAY UP THOSE SMALL TOWN ROOTS.

DES PIERT THE FACT THAT SHE IS AN INCREDIBLY WEALTHY PERSON.

>> AND SHE IS HOLDING A FUNDER, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT HER CAMPAIGN MIGHT BE LARGELY SELF-FUNDED.

OF COURSE THAT REMAINS AN OPTION BUT APPARENTLY HOLDING A MAJOR, $2000 A PLATE FUNDRAISER IN LEXINGTON, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHE CAN, YOU KNOW, USE TO HER ADVANTAGE IF CANDIDATES COME AFTER HER FOR BEING SELF-FUNDED AND BEING WEALTHY LIKE WE IMAGINED THAT THEY WILL.

IS LOOK, I'M STILL OUT HERE, I'M STILL NETWORKING, GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE, PITCHING MY PLATFORM TO THEM.

WE'LL SEE, WE'RE STILL A LONG WAY FROM NOVEMBER.

>> RYLAND, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

POTENTIAL CRITICISM OF HER WEALTH, DOES SHE TRY TO TURN THAT INTO WELL, I HAVE SHARED THE WEALTH, IN FILL AN THROPY.

>> I THINK IT IS EXACTSLY WHAT SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO.

WE HAVE SEEP A LITTLE BIT, GRANTED RIGHT BEFORE SHE ANNOUNCED SHE WAS AT THE KENTUCKY HAM BREAKFAST WHERE SHE WAS PART OF A RECORD-BREAKING AUCTION TO BUY A COUNTRY HAM FOR $5 MILLION.

THAT GOES TO CHARITY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALKED TO HER AT THAT POINT, SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, EXCITED ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN THAT CHARITY AND ALSO TALKING UP ABOUT HOW SHE WAS GOING TO BE GOING OUT TO EASTERN KENTUCKY TO HAND OUT SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO KIDS.

I IMAGINE WE WILL SEE A LOT OF ADVERTISING TALKING ABOUT THAT.

NONE THE LESS THIS WILL BE A BIG TALKING POINT FOR DEMOCRATS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING IF AND WHEN THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE FOR REPUBLICAN PRIME AERO UPON ENTS.

COMING OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

BECAUSE SHE'S REALLY BEEN A CENTRAL REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISER FOR THE LAST DECADE OR TWO.

IF NOT LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IN KENTUCKY AND ALL THESE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE REALLY IN THE SAME, HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME GAME FOR A BIT.

>> A MAJOR DONATION TO UK ATHLETICS THIS WEEK, STARTING SOME CONVERSATION AS WELL.

>> INDEED.

THERE ARE NEW STORIES WRITTEN ABOUT IT, AND YOU KNOW, AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, IT IS, UK ATHLETICS, FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL IS A BIG DEAL.

AND ALL SHE IS MAKING A LOT OF CONNECTIONS, GETTING HER NAME OUT THERE, THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE BECAUSE HER NAME ISN'T EXACTLY SO WIDESPREAD AT THIS POINT GOING INTO THE CAMPAIGN.

I THINK IT WILL BE IN TERMS OF AS SHE PRESUMABLY KIND OF BUILT UP THAT, DONATION STYLE THING YOU WILL SEE PEOPLE TALK ON THE FLIP SIDE TRYING TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT OF WELL, SHE, YOU KNOW, DID SHE BUY HER WAY INTO BEING AM AMBASSADOR REPRESENTING AMERICA BECAUSE SHE WAS SUCH A MAJOR REPUBLICAN DONOR ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND JOE CRAFT SO BIG DONOR BECOMES UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR BIG DONOR BECOMES KENTUCKY GOVERNOR SO WITHOUT HAVING A PREVIOUS, YOU KNOW, ELECTED OFFICE I THINK WILL YOU SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE THAT ARGUMENT.

YOU ALREADY SEE THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC MAKING THAT ARGUMENT OF YOU CAN'T BUY KENTUCKY.

>> AS YOU KNOW CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMBER ENDORSED CRAFT EARLY ON AND PREDICTED SHE WOULD BE THE FRONT RUNNER IN NO TIME.

SHE SAID HOW DO THESE OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WORK NOW TO SET THEMSELVES APART TO SHOW THEY ARE IN THE RACE AND SERIOUS.

DANIELLE-- DANIEL CAMERON WE KNOW CRITICIZED THE MEDIA THIS WEEK.

>> WELL, I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET A LOT OF MONEY THAT EVERY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ON THE BALLOT IN THE PRIMARY IS GOING TO CRITICIZE THE MEDIA AS PART OF THEIR STRATEGY.

>> THAT IS A LANE.

>> THAT IS EVERYBODY'S LANE.

BUT I THINK YOU SEE ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON RUNNING FOR, HE WILL TOWLT HIS ENDORSEMENT FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU SEE STATE REP SAVANNAH MAD OX, SHE IS REALLY TALKING ABOUT, I WANT TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR DE SANTDIST FROM FLORIDA, AND PLAYING UP THE FACT SHE GOT AN ENDORSEMENT FROM THOMAS MASSEY IN KENTUCKY WHO IS VERY MUCH MORE OF A RENEGADE LIBERTARIAN, KIND OF, LIBERTY TYPE OF CANDIDATE AND SHE IS REALLY PUSHING THAT LIBERTY ANGLE FOR HERSELF.

>> OKAY.

SO IF YOU RYAN CORALS OR MIKE HARMON, HOW DO YOU MAKE SOME NOISE RIGHT NOW, DO YOU WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE FIGHT AND THEN YOU STEP IN AND SAY WE'RE THE GOOD GUYS?

>> SOMEONE HAS GOT TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE, RIGHT.

I MEAN RIGHT NOW WE'RE REALLY NOT SEEING CANDIDATES DIFFERENTIATE OP POLICY AT THIS POINT.

TO MORGAN'S POINT, DANIEL CAMERON CAN SAY I'M ENDORSED BY TRUMP, KELLY CAN SAY I WORKED FOR TRUMP, SAVANNAH IS UNAFRAID TO TAKE JABS AT HER OPPONENTS BUT EVERYONE ELSE IS KIND OF PLAYING IT SAFE RIGHT NOW.

EVENTUALLY THEY'LL HAVE TO DIFFERENTIATE THEMSELVES WHETHER THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE, BIO, TALK ABOUT WHAT POSITIONS THEY HAVE HELD OR IF THEY DO GO AFTER EACH OTHER REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

>> AS WE KNOW, THE RACE IS OFTEN COME DOWN TO A LOT ABOUT WHO GETS CREDIT AND WHO GETS BLAMED FOR SITUATIONS, ESPECIALLY, WITH THE ECONOMY.

TAX RECEIPTS KEEP ROLLING IN TO FRANK FURTHER, RYLAND.

FASTER THAN EXPECTED.

AUGUST ANOTHER SURPLUS MONTH, ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS IN UNANTICIPATED REVENUE, ROLLING IN OR YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT CAME IN OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE STILL CONTINUE TO GET THE UP ANTICIPATED REVENUE.

WE KNOW THE GOVERNOR SAYS THE ECONOMY IS ON FIRE.

THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE SAY IT'S US WHO SET THE STATE UP FOR SUCCESS.

HOW DOES THAT ALL PLAY OUT?

>> OY I THINK THAT UNFORTUNATELY FOR POLITICIANS TRYING TO PLAY UP POLICIES THAT THEY PASS TO MAKE GOOD ECONOMIC WINDS, YOU HELP THE STATE OUT, I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THAT DOESN'T READ FOR A LOT OF VOTERS, SO AND REALLY FOR A GOVERNOR WHO'S THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ONE WHO HAS BEEN SO VISIBLE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND REALLY HAS PLAYED SOME PART IN LANDINGS A LOT OF THESE BIG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS, GETTING FORD TO BUILD THEIR UPCOMES BATTERY PLANT IN-- YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WILL READ A LITTLE BIT MORE EASILY BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING IT'S GOING TO KIND OF COME TO ONCE ELECTION TIME IS AROUND WHAT IS INFLATION LIKE, WHAT ARE GAS PRICES LIKE.

WHAT IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE LIKE.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE SOFT RELATIONSHIP THAT A VOTER WILL END UP HAVING FOR, WHO DO THEY KNOW WHO IS IN CHARGE RIGHT NOW.

SO A LOT OF THAT STUFF IS GOING TO KIND-OF-PLAY OUT OVER THE COMING YEAR.

ONCE WE GETS, ONCE WE ACTUALLY GET INTO 2023.

GET INTO THE RACE.

SO WE'LL JUST KIND OF HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE COMING MONTHS.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE AN ELECTION LONG BEFORE THE GOVERNOR'S RACIAL COMING UP IN NOVEMBER.

LOTS OF DECISIONS TO BE MADE BY KENTUCKY VOTERS.

A FINANCIAL REPORTS OUT THERE SHOW SOME INDICATION ABOUT THAT AS WELL.

TESSA THE POLITICAL NRCHES AGAINST THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT 2 WHICH EN-- ABOUT ABORTION SEEMS TO HAVE MORE RESOURCES THAN THE MAIN ORGANIZED GROUP THAT IS PUSHING FOR IT.

>> RIGHT, PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS HAS RAISED ABOUT $1.5 MILLION THIS YEAR COMPARED TO YES FOR LIFE WHICH HAS RAISED ABOUT $350,000.

NOW OUTSIDE GROUPS ARE FINANCING A LOT OF THESE DONATIONS AM YOU HAVE THINGS LIKE THE ACLU AND PLANNED PARNTHOOD WHO ARE URGING PEOPLE TO VOTE KNOW WHEREAS YOU HAVE RELIGIOUS GROUP FUNDING THE EFFORT TO VOTE YES.

AND SO I THINK IT'S PROBABLY REALLY SURPRISING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE TO SEE JUST HOW SIGNIFICANTLY PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS HAS OUTRAISED THIS ANTIABORTION GROUP.

I THINK PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY ARE REALLY COUNTING ON THIS TO OR I GUESS RATHER WE'LL BE WATCHING CLOSELY TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE ANOTHER KANSAS.

CERTAINLY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL STRONGLY ON BOTH SIDES.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN AN ORGANIZER FOR THE CANVAS EFFORT YOU NO WORKING ON THE KENTUCKY EFFORT AND I THINK WE WILL SEE A STRONG PUSH ON THIS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF TALK ON AMENDMENT TWO IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

>> I'VE GOT A STORY ABOUT THIS ON MONDAY BUT ABORTION IS LIKE, IS THE X-FACTOR IN THIS ELECTION BECAUSE ROE V. WADE HAS BEEN OVERTURNED WHICH IS JUST AN UNPRECEDENTED THING TO HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND IT DIRECTLY LEAD TO, YOU KNOW, KENTUCKY ALMOST TOTALLY BANNING ABORTION BECAUSE OF A LAW THAT THE REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE PASSED.

AND SO I THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE GENERAL WISDOM IS THAT YOU KNOW KENTUCKY VOTERS ARE GENERALLY ANTIABORTION AND YOU KNOW, HAVE ELECTED PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED ANTIABORTION LAWS.

AND I THINK WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE IS PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS YOU KNOW AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT TRYING TO VOTE DOWN THIS AMENDMENTS, IS TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT TO PEOPLE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN OF WHAT IS AT STAKE WITH THIS AMENDMENT.

AND THE STAKES ARE HIGH, IF THE AMENDMENT, IF VOTERS REJECT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 THAT WOULD KEEP OPEN A POTENTIAL WAY FOR KENTUCKY CURRENT ABORTION BAN NEAR TOTAL ABORTION BAN TO BE POTENTIALLY OVERTURNED IN COURT ON STATE CONSTITUTIONAL ROUNDS.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE SUPREME COURT ESSENTIALLY SAYING THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE VOTERS.

>> CORRECT.

>> THE SUPREME COURT WAITING, LIKE THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THIS, WHATEVER KENTUCKY HAS DECIDED TO DO IS GOING TO POTENTIALLY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON ACCESS TO ABORTION IN THIS STATE.

AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF INTENSITIES OF PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES, BUT CLEARLY IN TERMS OF MONEY ALREADY ON THE VOTE NO SIDE REALLY TRYING TO COMMUNICATE TO VOTERS WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE.

>> IS THERE MORE GOING ON ON THE GROUND THAN WE'RE ABLE TO DE TEBLGHT AND WITH WHAT WE SEE IN THE ADS AND SO ON.

>> I THINK WILL YOU SEE MORE, I TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE ABOUT THIS.

AND I THINK WILL YOU SEE MORE, POST LABOR DAY IS WHEN THE REAL CRUSH OF CAM PAPERING HAPPENS FOR THE MID-TERM ELECTIONS YOU UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT SO I THINK YOU WILL SEE MORE OF IT I WAS TALKING TO A PROSK CERTIFICATE SHE IS ALREADY SEEING A LOT OF ENERGY AMONG COLLEGIATE WOMAN IN WARREN COUNTEE WHO ARE TALKING AMONGST THEMSELVES AND SAYING OH, WE NEED TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE.

WE NEED TO COME OUT AND VOTE NO ON TWO.

SO YOU ARE SEEING A LOT OF THAT, ON THE FLIP SIDE HAVE I TALKED TO ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS BEHIND PROT AMENDMENT 2 CAMPAIGN AND SHE SAID THAT THEY ARE HEARING A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, MOSS PIF-- POSITIVE FRIT PEOPLE WHO WANT AMENDMENT 2, SHE IS LIKE WE GET OUT THERE, WE TALK TO PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE ARE A GROUND SWELL OF SUPPORT IS GOING THERE.

SO THERE IS DEFINITELY A LOT OF ON THE GROUND WORK.

>> ONE OF TWO AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

NOW VIOLENT CRIME IS PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN THE CITY ELECTIONS IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON THIS YEAR.

BOTH CITIES STRUGGLED GETTING A HANDLE ON SHOOTINGS.

THE RECENT STRING OF VIOLENCE ESPECIALLY IN LEXINGTON PROMPTED SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL TO SPEAK ABOUT IT ON THE SENATE FLOOR IN WASHINGTON.

>> KENTUCKY EXPERIENCED A SPATE OF MURDERS AND ATTEMPTED MURDERS THAT RATTLED RESIDENTS, AND LITERALLY OVERWHELMED THE POLICE.

LEXINGTON SAW FOUR SEPARATE SHOOTING INCIDENTS ON SATURDAY NIGHT ALONE, LEAVING NINE HURT, SOME WITH LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.

LOUISVILLE ALSO SAW A FLURRY OF VIOLENCE, THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF HOMICIDES IN ONE WEEKEND THIS YEAR, SIX PEOPLE MURDERED, AND JUST THREE GUYS.

-- DAYS.

>> RYLAND, OBVIOUSLY THE CITIES ARE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE VIOLENCE.

LEXINGTON IS ON THE VERGE OF BREAKING ITS ALL TIME NUMBER OF HOMICIDES WHICH WOULD BE 37.

IT IS AN ISSUE IN LARGER CITIES AROUND ITS COUNTRY BUT CLEARLY IN KENTUCKY'S TWO LARGEST CITIES.

>> CERTAINLY, AND SEEING MITCH McCONNELL DELIVER THAT SPEECH ON THE SENATE FLOOR AT THIS MOMENT REALLY FEELS, A LOT OF IT IS THINKING ABOUT NOVEMBER AND TRYING TO GET SOME OF THESE CLOSE RACES, U.S. SENATE RACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO GO MORE IN FAVOR OF REPUBLICANS.

I THINK HE'S TRYING TO, TRYING TO GET VOTERS THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND THAT YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATIC-RUN CITIES AND THIS IS NOT THE WAY THAT VOTERS MIGHT WANT TO GO AND KENTUCKY CERTAINLY THIS IS ALREADY KIND OF, WE'RE SEEING IT COME DOWN INTO THE MAYORAL RACES AS YOU SAID IN LEXINGTON, IN LOUISVILLE HAS BECOME A CENTRAL ISSUE THAT CANDIDATES ARE KIND OF HAVE TO ANSWER TO AND TRY AND START COMING UP WITH SOME PLANS TO DEAL WITH.

SO YOU KNOW, IT IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT NOBODY EVER REALLY COMES UP WITH THE GOOD SOLUTION FOR HOW TO TACKLE A REALLY TERSE ISSUE LIKE THIS.

>> AND AS POLICE TRY TO FIGURE OUT THE RIGHT APPROACH, LEXINGTON'S POLICE CHIEF LAWRENCE WETHERS EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION OVER A LACK OF PUBLIC SUPPORT.

HE SAYS HIS OFFICERS NEED MORE INFORMATION, FROM THOSE WHO KNOW DETAILS ABOUT CRIMES AND HIS DEPARTMENT NEEDS SUPPORT FOR ITS EFFORTS FROM THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY ALONE.

WE NEED TO BE INVOLVED WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> A LOT OF EMOTION THERE.

YOU KNOW, WHETHERS SAYS HIS DEPARTMENT ASK SOMETIMES PAYING FOR THE HIGH PROFILE MISTAKES OF OFFICERS IN OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S NO UNDERSTATEMENT TO SAY THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ESPECIALLY IN KENTUCKY WITH THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN UNDER SCRUTINY FOR A LOT OF MY PROFILE INCIDENTS AND RESPONSES TO PROTESTS.

AND CERTAINLY THOSE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO IMPROVE OR REPAIR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES THAT THEY SERVE.

BUT THIS ISSUE OF PEOPLE BEING RELUCTANT TO COME FORWARD, THAT'S NOT NEW.

YOU CAN'T PIN THAT ON THE LAST TWO YEARS.

THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE GRAPPLED WITH FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW, IN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON, WE SEE LEXING TOP SPECIFICALLY WE SEE HOW POLICE RESPOND IN THE AFTERMATH OF A U.K. FOOTBALL GAME COMPARED TO HOW POLICE HAVE RESPONDED TO RACIAL JUSTICE PROTEST.

AND PEOPLE SEE THE DISPARITIES IN RESPONSE.

AND AGAIN THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TO REFLECT ON ABOUT HOW IT CAN REPAIR ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

IT IS A TWOWAY STREET.

>> MORGAN, SHOULD WE KNOW ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE RACE FOR MAYOR RIGHT NOW.

IT IS GETTING LOUD FROM TIME TO TIME.

>> WELL, IN TERMS OF WHEN ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE IN LOUISVILLE AND CITIES AND PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A BIG COMPONENT OF SOME OF THE VIOLENT CRIME WE'RE SEEING IS GUN VIOLENCE, SPECIFICALLY.

AND IN LOUISVILLE THAT'S ABSOLUTELY A MASSIVE CONVERSATION.

AND YOU SEE BOTH MAYORAL CANDIDATESES CRAIG GREENBERG AND THE REPUBLICAN, TALKING ABOUT THAT, AND ABOUT JUST THE VERY HIGH NUMBER OF GUNS IN CIRCULATION IN OUR COMMUNITY IN LOUISVILLE AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING NATIONALSLY AND HERE IN THE MAYORAL RACE ABOUT WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THAT, DO YOU PASS MORE GUN REGULATIONS OR CRAIG GREENBERG HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK BASICALLY TO TALK ABOUT WE HAVE TO RETURN, WHEN THE GUNS GET CONFISCATEDDED THEY HAVE TO RETURN THEM TO THE STATE POLICE OR TO SEND THEM TO THE STATE POLICE, THEY AUCTION THEM OFF.

SO GREEN BOARG IS LIKE WHAT IF WE MAKE THE GUNS INOPERABLE BEFORE WE SEND THEM TO THE STATE POLICE.

IT'S LIKE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT, BIG CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GUN REGULATIONS.

I MEAN-- IS OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO SEE THE REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ON THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE LOUISVILLE POLICE CONCERNING BREONNA TAYLOR.

POLICING AND GUN VIOLENCE IS A HUGE CENTRAL THING HAPPENING.

>> AREN'T THOSE TWO CANDIDATES TRYING TO YOU KNOW, PROVE THEY'RE DIFFERENT, IN EACH CASE BECAUSE THEY ARE BOTH SEEM TO BE GRAPH STATING TOWARD CENTRAL POSITIONS, RIGHT, FROM, AS ONE OBSERVING FROM HERE.

>> SURE, AND YEAH THERE IS DEFINITELY A AVERAGE TO DIFFERENTIATE.

YOU HAVE-- SUGGESTED THAT GREENBERG WAS FROM HIS IDEAS WITH GREEN BHERG TALKING ABOUT HIS DAY UP WITH PLANS AND DEAR IS LIKE HAVE I BEEN OUT HERE WITH A READY DAY ONE BRANDING SINCE I STARTED THIS CAMPAIGN.

ABORTION IS SOMETHING GREENBERG IS OUT THERE SAYING I'M VERY PROABORTION RIGHTS AND I WILL DO WHAT I CAN AS MAYOR ON THAT FRONT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND THE DAYLIGHT.

>> ON THE TOP OF WILL BALLOT WILL BE THE U.S. SENATE RACE, WE'RE LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY, RAND PAUL THE INCUMBENT HAS A LOT OF MONEY TO SPEND AND IS DOING THAT NOW WITH TV ADS.

DEMOCRATIC CHARLES BOOKER HAS BEEN RESPONDING SOME ON SOCIAL MEDIA BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE A RELATIVELY QUIET RACE, RIGHT?

I MEAN AS COMPARED TO ALL OF THE NOISE SURROUNDING BOOKER'S CAMPAIGN FOR CONGRESS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

>> RIGHT.

>> OR THE SENATE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

>> RIGHT THRSHES WAS JUST A DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS CLEARED LAST NIGHT.

I WATCHED IT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, CHARLES BOOKER WAS THERE THE FILMMAKER WAS THERE AND IT REALLY FOCUSED ON THAT 2020 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WHERE HE WAS UP AGAINST AMY McGRATD AND IT CAPTURED THE SORT OF ALMOST LIKE MAGIC MOMENT THAT CAME TOGETHER WEAPON WE HAD-- THE PROTESTS WERE HAPPENING IN LOUISVILLE WHICH IS WHERE CHARLES BOOK CERTIFICATE FROM, YOU HAD THE PRIMARY MOVED BACK BECAUSE OF COVID.

YOU HAD ACCESS TO ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND FOR A TIME IT REALLY LOOKED LIKE CHARLES BOOKER, THIS VERY OPENLY PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE COULD UPSET THIS ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRAT WHO HAD RAISED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

AND THAT DOCUMENTARY, WHETHER INTENTIONALLY OR NOT, VERY LIKELY NOT INTENTIONALLY HIGHLIGHTS KIND OF WHAT IS MISSING FROM THIS CAMPAIGN.

ARE YOU NOT SEEING THAT SORT OF, HE HASN'T FOUND THAT MOMENT TO GRAB AHOLD OF THE WAY THAT HE DID IN 2020.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH THE RACES.

THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY HAS NOW REACHED 40.

IT COMES AFTER THE DEATH OF A MAN WHO WAS HELPING WITH FLOOD CLEANUP.

WE ALSO LEARNED THIS WEEK THAT MORE THAN 6500 FLOOD VICTIMS WILL GET $500 CHECKS, THAT WILL COME FROM THE TEAM EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOOD RELIEF FUND, NOT TAX DOLLARS.

>> RIGHT.

AND THIS IS JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF EASTERN KENTUCKYANS NEED TO REALLY RECOVER FROM THIS.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE WATCHING WHAT IS GOING ON THERE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AS TEMPERATURES GET COLDER AND THERE IS STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING RIGHT NOW BUT YEAH, $500 CHECKS GOING OUT TO ABOUT 6500 PEOPLE, THAT WILL HELP A LITTLE BIT.

>> AND THE STATE WANTS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COVER 90% OF THE COSTS.

>> RIGHT, AND THAT IS REALLY HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS END UP PAYING FOR A LOT OF THE-- FOR A LOT OF THE CLEANUP AND RECOVERY AND INITIAL EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN 100 PERCENT PAID FOR, JUST ABOUT UP TO THIS POINT.

AND NOW THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE FEDS TO COVER AT LEAST 90% OF THAT FOR THE NEXT PERIOD.

>> ON THE OTHER END OF THE STATE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THE REGION BEGINNING TO REBUILD, OF COURSE, AFTER THE DEVASTATING TORNADOES BACK IN DECEMBER.

TODAY THE DEMOLITION BEGAN ON THE GRAVES COUNTY COURTHOUSE, YOU KNOW, REBUILDING THAT REGION IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME.

BUT RYELAND, THAT SAY SAD SIGHT FOR PEOPLE IN THE MAYFIELD AREA.

>> YEAH, AND REALLY THAT IMAGE OF THE SPIRE FROM THE GRAVES COUNTY COURTHOUSE TOPPLED OVER THE MORNING AFTER THE TORNADOES IS ONE OF THE CENTRAL IMAGES AFTER THOSE TORNADOES, IT HAS BEEN SITING THERE, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT, BUT THIS IS ALSO A BIG MOMENT WHERE THE DOWNTOWN MAYFIELD WILL HAVE TO START REBUILDING.

>> WE ALL REMEMBER THE UNEMPLOYMENT TROUBLES AFTER THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

THERE'S NOW ANOTHER DELAY IN A FIX TO THE SYSTEM BECAUSE OF TROUBLE WITH A MENDER.

AN ISSUE THAT HAS COME UP TESSA.

>> YES, THERE WAS A VENDOR SELECTED AND THEN ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE LEARNED THIS WEEK IS THE SPENDER-- VENDOR KIND OF STOPPED RESPONDS, MUCH TO THE DISPLEASURE OF PEOPLE AT THE STATE AND THEN IT COMES OUT THAT PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THIS ORGANIZATION THAT WAS HANDLING THE SYSTEM HAVE BEEN INDICTED BY FEDERAL GRAND JURIES.

ON ONE HAND THE STATE IS NOT INVOLVED IN SOMETHING THAT IS CONNECTED TO AN INVESTIGATION.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR YEARS TO GET THIS STRAINTED OUT.

>> BACK TO SQUARE ONE.

NTSB REPORT ON 2019 LINCOLN COUNTY EXPLOSION THAT LEFT A WOMAN DEAD, OTHERS INJURED, IT DREW SOME CONCLUSION.

>> THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ON PART OF IT, AND DE GRADED CODING ON THE PIPING, THAT WAS A HUGE T LOOKED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF IN LINCOLN COUNTY WITH THAT, GETTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.

>> LANTERN FLIES MAY SOON CALL KENTUCKY HOME.

THAT WOULD BE A PROBLEM.

IT IS CONSIDERED AN INVASIONIVE SPECIES, A U.K. ENTOMOLOGIST SAYS IF YOU SEE ONE, TAKES A PICTURE OF IT, REPORTING IT TO U.K. AND KILL IT THEY HAVE BEEN SPOTTED IN INDIANA AND THEY EAT ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

>> THEY CAN EAT SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL OAK STREE TREES AND STUFF IN LEXINGTON, WHATNOT, SO WATCH OUT FOR LANTERN FLIES AND KILL THEM IF YOU FIND THEM.

>> FIFTH DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS DEAN OF THE U.S. HOUSE, THERE WAS A BIPARTISAN SEAR MOAN IN WASHINGTON TO NOTE THE CEREMONYIAN TITLE, THAT IS COMMENT ON KENTUCKY HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.