♪ >> Well, one of the more frustrated than we are.

Why Kentucky is back to square one for updating its system to handle unemployment claims.

I don't think the General Assembly.

Would have telework policy that never had people coming up.

Governor Andy Beshear defends the state's new return to work policy.

And the concerns some groups have about a new rule that will make hearing aids available without a prescription.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET meant for Kentucky Productions.

The owner Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Friday, September.

The 16th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending some of your Friday night with us.

>> Kentucky is dealing with another major delay in replacing its antiquated computer system at the office of Unemployment Insurance.

The state canceled the latest request for proposals for the upgrade.

Project and reluctantly decided to start over testifying in front of a legislative panel yesterday.

Education and labor Cabinet Secretary Jamie Lake explained why.

>> We had.

In good faith.

We procured a new vendor.

We had gone through negotiations.

Everybody was in agreement.

We have the contract.

We sent it to the vendor to sign and they completely went silent on us.

We made numerous efforts to contact the vendor repeatedly.

They would not respond to us at all.

I think Sam, I'm okay to say it's public record, correct?

>> Yes, Mister secretary in late August of this year, there's a federal indictment of 2 of the people affiliated with that vendor.

>> So we elected to cancel that procurement and will be coming back out with a new No one is more frustrated than we are.

But in a I have to say I'm glad we didn't get into a contract with a company that has to people under federal indictment.

Now.

>> Secretary Lang says the upgrade was expected to take nearly 2 years to complete.

Now that the state is looking for a new vendor.

Secretary Lang says it will likely take at least 3 years before computer system is off and running.

In today's medical news the director of the World Health Organization says COVID-19 and is in sight.

His statement comes as weekly Virus-related deaths are now at the lowest point since March 2020 and Kentucky.

More than 40 counties mostly in eastern Kentucky are still saying high COVID activity.

That's down, though, from 70 counties earlier this week.

Fayette County, the state's second largest by population is also red, meaning high activity.

But Jefferson County, the county with the most people remains in the media.

More yellow category.

Many state employees who were allowed to work from home during the pandemic are now returning to the office.

But not everyone is being required to be in the office 5 days a week, a new state government policy went into effect on Monday requiring most employees to be in the office.

At least 3 days a week.

Governor Beshear was asked about this policy during a news conference yesterday.

He said allowing some flexibility was better than on and that he hopes this deal can be a compromise with the Kentucky General Assembly.

>> 2 out of 5 days that you don't have to come into the office at all is flexibility.

It's it's a more generous benefit than a lot of groups that are out there.

But, Joe, I also have to be able to justify or policies to a state legislature.

And I think they're going to be hearing it a in the hearing and there is a second shot at a large potential raise for state employees.

And I'm also trying to put us in the best position to have a reason reasonable policies that the Legislature can also agree with, but ultimately we can secure that second important race for folks.

But I don't think our General Assembly would have teleworking policy that never had people coming in.

>> But you're also said this new policy is meant to be a baseline and that some exceptions are allowed.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is pointing a finger at Democrats for a recent wave of violence, including in Kentucky.

9 people were shot and 4 separate shootings in Lexington on Saturday night alone.

And Louisville, 6 people were murdered in just 3 days.

Both cities saw record breaking homicide numbers last year.

And Lexington is on pace to break its record again this year.

Speaking on the U.S. Senate floor earlier this week.

McConnell calls law and order.

The second biggest issue on the minds of the American people behind only inflation.

>> Well, Democrats, economic policies have waged war on working from U.S. national security.

They're soft on crime policies eroding America's physical curry.

Should age and neighborhoods across the country.

Are reeling from a wave of violent crime.

Just last weekend by state.

Kentucky experienced a spate of murders and attempted murders that rattled residents and literally overwhelmed with police.

>> And Lexington Wk Whitey report city and university police plan to step up patrols following several violent acts on and off campus last weekend.

That includes parking restrictions on State Street ahead of Saturday's UK football game at Kroger Field.

It's a decline that has become a growing concern in Kentucky's agriculture industry.

The state is experiencing a shortage of large animal vet Marion's, especially those who deal with livestock.

According to the Kentucky Department of AG, more than 1 million cattle are being seen by only 3% practicing veterinarians in the state.

While it may be rewarding one large animal vet Marion we spoke to says he understands why most that school graduates don't want to do his job.

>> That's all I ever wanted to do.

Growing up.

My grandfather had a very my dad.

What have we have the farm and we were educated to where we are in a service industry and >> helping provide for the community.

We majority equine >> beef and dairy some small room.

It's coaching sheet, you know, and and that vested climbing, we probably have about 4 years with the team health 4 and a few be farms.

>> In Kentucky, there's about 1695 veterinarians and only 54 of them in the state of Kentucky actually service.

>> Primarily are large animal.

That would be our cattle or sheep in our goats and pigs very vital to.

So I heard some he's been coming about same thing I can years.

>> helps me figure out what I need to do.

The, you know, to better heard, you health wise and I'm reading was and and then you get vaccines to KET them healthy and stuff like that.

We have seen a progression over time.

>> Where we see less of that Marion's coming into large animal practice into Kentucky.

I would have a difficult time.

>> Get so sick to come in and do nothing.

But our gentleman.

>> I wasn't from a rule background.

I wasn't from this area and have that background.

I would have been as inclined to enter that.

>> A profession and do that.

Our John.

>> Why aren't vets going into rural What?

There are several factors.

Number one is the salaries.

The salaries are significantly lower.

And when you think of the debt load that's coming out of school, the average debt load is about $218,000.

So if you look at that and you're looking at a 10 year loan repayment on that, you're looking at almost $3,000 a month for that student to pay back their loans.

>> That's the reason I think you have more more new graduates leaning more toward.

The small animal, which is physically less demanding and probably better compensation.

>> There's definitely burnout in our large animal practitioners because of the long hours, the work is very hard in some of these areas.

Those that Marion's that in practice now because there's less not only are they driving further hours, there's having to see more there spent having longer days in the field.

And then if you get a call in the middle of night for an emergency and you're the only that Marion you're kind of you're going to go out to that emergency as well as I can.

So within the phylum problem, if it's something I can take care of, he comes out head up the market.

No, I haven't had to worry about it.

But if he decides to the tar.

>> Or whatever, I don't know almost 40% of our vet Marion's.

>> Are within 10 years of retirement.

So we are seeing an older population of retiring that Marion's that are serving our large animal areas and rural Kentucky.

So as they start to retire and we don't have a placements.

We're seeing that shortage, for example, last year, only one student veterinary student graduated.

>> Came back to Kentucky to practice on large animal.

And will Kentucky state of Kentucky has a contract.

>> With a over university in Tuskegee.

But a a 36 and I think 2 respectively and the state of Kentucky picks up the difference between in-state now state tuition, which is a really good deal for the state of Kentucky.

And that being said, that's 38 to 40 veterinarians.

For years.

All of us being turned out so it makes it hard to to make up from the farmer's perspective.

They are having more challenges of trying to find their local veterinarian.

>> If there's only one in the area and 2 farms have a crisis at the same time, Orrin have a need for that practitioner.

There's going to be a challenge of which which animal gets treated first.

I like having him close.

You you know, if you get it from.

>> Somebody why all you know, they're just normal.

But you talk about on this, you know, over the phone or not, actually here we're going have to travel up farther.

If they do come out, that's going to cost a lot more.

Well, always loved about.

>> Especially the large animal.

You know, I mean, their house after farms.

>> You know, I know their pants.

I know their their children a lot of time to sit down, have meals with them.

>> We're out working so it becomes more and more of a personal and that's a big return on that that a lot of these newer graduates don't have an officer.

>> We're coming up on Monday.

We'll examine how a shortage of large animal vet Marion's could impact your health.

Churchill Downs Inc has agreed to buy Ellis Park in Henderson.

The 79 million dollars cash deal is contingent upon the approval of the Kentucky horse Racing Commission.

Alice Park is in Henderson County along the Ohio River just south of Evansville, Indiana, the track runs a summer thoroughbred racing.

Meet Churchill Downs.

Inc is also planning to build a gambling and entertainment venue.

In Owensboro, the company expects to invest an additional 75 million dollars as part of that project.

Coaches from one of the biggest rivalries in college sports shared the stage this week to discuss leadership team building and how basketball can help bring the state together.

UK coach John Calipari and U of l's new head coach Kenny Payne were the featured speakers at the annual Kentucky Chamber of Commerce meeting midweek.

Payne work to 10 seasons with Coach Cal at UK.

I was honored to moderate the more than hour-long conversation where they talked about their friendship off the court and their soon-to-be rivalry on the court.

Both coaches agreed their special relationship is good for the Commonwealth.

>> When you go through, it is as a coach and you're young, you have the help man tools.

You have to have people that care about you first.

Where is not just a job?

And every single day that I was we care for 10 years believable experience learned a lot.

>> You have many leaders here government leaders, people in the know well, business leaders from all over this state.

So what I say this, you'll know in that nice to have people.

That are around you working with you like Kenny was working with me.

>> You can totally trust.

You.

You can let him go do this thing.

You can let them work at the pace.

>> And, you know, they're going to get it done.

>> Most times those guys, you got to slow him down like go home.

>> No need to be here.

Look, we play I want to beat you.

But 100.

>> Hunt.

But the reality of our stay.

>> That program in our biggest city has really got to go do things.

They want to come to school for an I o U.

>> I can take.

And they did it This would be the cherry on top.

But >> to have an equal playing field or better state than this one.

This is a basketball state.

I mean, it's the best of the best people.

>> The Wildcats play the cards on New Year's Eve at Rupp Arena.

We won't miss that for sure.

♪ >> And a review of some major political developments right here in Kentucky with the dynamic duo.

We've got recurring guest here on inside Kentucky politics.

Bob adage, he's a former Kentucky secretary of state and founder of Baggage co-founder and joining us via Skype is Stave Robertson, who is a former chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky.

And now he is the principal and Frost Brown Todd subsidiary of Civic Point called Civic Point.

We're glad to have both of you gentlemen here with us today.

Let's start with you, Steve.

Joining us by Skype, Kelly, Kraft finally made it official and joining the Republican primary for the race for Governor big event in Glasgow midweek.

Tell us about how that sets the stage for a competitive contest to come.

>> Right?

Yeah, I you know, there's really going to be a hot race leading up to May of 2023 in the Republican nominee.

He put it.

Governor Kelly Kraft is is well established.

You know, she served as ambassador to the United Nations.

President Trump and the U.S. ambassador to Canada.

You know, she a lot of interesting But, you know, more importantly, she she brings the ability to instantly and the very professional campaign >> and it is it's going to be an interesting field.

There are 3 in my opinion leading candidates, a Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, a attorney General Daniel Cameron now.

>> A former ambassador Crab.

So this is going to be a a really interesting race for sure.

>> So what will be the message that will define them each in separates them from each other.

They all pretty much have the same platform when it comes to policy and ideas and ideology.

What's going to set them apart?

>> You know, I think I think that's that's the question.

And I think it's hard to tell right now.

You're right.

I think they all they all sort of have a very, very similar world view of how well public policy in Kentucky.

And what it should look like them to the constituencies and who can argue best on one issue and who can run a campaign that has all the technical aspects that you would want a political campaign to have, you know, run corals as a the network and the and community across the state.

General Cameron has has really been duking it out on a lot of the issues Republican primary voters care about.

you know, you know, investor craft is is is going to have the resources in going to have that type of campaign that that every candidate wish to stay.

It.

And stuff like that.

It's it's hard to really handicapped, but they all think that the equation.

>> Bob Babich, what do you think?

And there is an important event to come next week, right?

Right saw a real Kentucky type of effort was well thought through.

Well presented a car crash spoke exceedingly well of response.

The energy there all very positive.

What?

We're always looking for in a is clues or signals from around the state and the Democratic Chair, Coleman Eldridge really took after Kraft and the way that I don't think he had for the other 6 Republicans in the race.

So what does that tell that Kraft is considered strong and maybe the Democratic Party is going to ramp up its responses in criticism to every Republican candidate for governor may be other office as well.

>> We need to know that state Senator Max Wise was in the crowd and at the event on Wednesday at the announcement in Glasgow.

But he did not speak, but yet he is seen often around former ambassador Craft.

So what does that tell us?

>> Wise is the presumed Lieutenant Governor candidate for I would say I guess there's 100% probability he's running mate.

There is likely to be a an event in Taylor County this week, a fundraiser for Kraft.

I'm not sure that becomes a magic moment when was finally named.

But he is the presumptive Lieutenant Governor running mate for Kraft.

>> But that doesn't have to be Well, after the primary, right, the Kentucky law was changed so that you can do that several months later in August 2023, right.

And that wasn't the case 4 years ago.

It is so other candidates have to weigh.

Is there a strategic advantage in getting a running mate now is Kraft is likely to do or do you wait till after the primary and maybe put together a unity ticket?

a good competitor who's become?

An even better friend, right to do was was a good vote getter right now.

How do you see it?

Stay Robertson about maybe the timing of the announcement of the Lieutenant Governor candidate from any of the >> Republican contenders in the governor's race?

Yeah, I think it's a interesting approach he's taking.

You know, she's certainly going to give people an idea.

>> The type of individuals that she's going to surround yourself with a, you know, should she should she be elected in?

You know, I think I don't think anyone the bodies of of chairman Wise Easy's lead the Senate Education Committee, quite a bully, you know, so that I do think it's interesting that she's just going to go ahead and it looks like put that out there.

Yeah, he's a cyber security expert.

Teachers at the Patterson School of Diplomacy, a very popular person.

So there's clear advantage, too, adding a person like that your ticket now.

But that eliminates all the rest of the possible field later on them.

>> We know that the ambassador crafted mention CRT Critical race theory.

We also know that Senator Wise did carry the water for a CRT light bill, I think is how it's been described that did become law.

So no coincidence there about some of the messaging we heard from Ambassador Craft versus maybe some of the actions that chairman taken during the most recent legislative session.

>> And a good observation.

Yeah.

>> Steve, anything final comment from you about that this particular race and what we can expect in the months to come?

>> No, I think it's going to be a wild ride.

And I think everyone is eager to see yeah coming finance you know, just to see how everyone else is doing, but no, so hold on to your seats.

Yeah.

>> And files on November.

The 9th.

After the election.

>> We're Expecting America Act of Somerset potentially to be yet another candidate for governor on the Republican side is running for mayor of Somerset where he is very popular and in the midst of all this this week, Governor Beshear announced that he is raise 4 million dollars for the race.

I think his total rays last time was 10 million dollars.

So it's almost halfway to what he had and 2019.

Yeah.

>> A lot to KET our eyes on.

A Steve Robertson, thank you for joining us and also Bob Babich.

Good to see you in person.

Thank you both.

Thank you.

♪ Last month, the Food and Drug Administration cleared the way for people with mild to moderate hearing loss to buy hearing aids over the counter.

>> That means no prescription or medical exam.

We spoke to the head of the Kentucky Commission on Deaf and hard of hearing as well as an audiologist for their reaction to the ruling.

They each had the same concern.

>> I'll be very honest.

Our first response is we were not in favor of this.

We talk with our local hearing loss association and we were involved with the national Hearing Loss Association that brought it to Congress.

We were not in favor of this for a couple of reasons.

One is.

How who's going to determine if their mild or moderate, what type of hearing screening are you going to use how will the person know when they pick that here that it's right for them.

Some of the issues that people have is if you have hearing aids for the first time.

You should not wear them for 8 hours a day.

You should wear them for an hour one day, the next day, 2 hours, the next day, 3 ares his your brain is taking in sound that it's not used to and it's mapping noise is trying to figure it out.

It does allow a little bit more of an >> the only thing is.

>> The only fear would be that people would not come into a professional to actually get their first checked before they purchased a voice like that.

There's a lot of things that can that we and our nose and we do actual diagnostic evaluation and some other things just contributing health factors to hearing loss and like diabetes and hypertension and those types of health conditions.

Heart.

Anything with those systems.

We can see some reflection of those on the hearing has mild to moderate can become severe.

Very quickly.

>> And I think that we need to push that concept.

>> I'm really glad that there's actually a regulation on these devices.

Now prior to this, there was all kinds of different things being sold and marketed in different ways that looks like a hearing aid that really was just an amplifier.

So now that these rules have kind of come out, we're actually able to have regularly and make sure they're not necessarily dangerous for patients.

>> When my parents found out I had here in LA, they really didn't know what what was out there.

And with the cost of hearing aids, it was, you know, my page and you could win able to afford to pay or so not little community.

My grandparents, aunts and uncles, neighbor, everyone just pitching in to buy my first pair.

Could they felt it was very important that the first pair of hearing aids.

Now, I will say, I understand why it was brought to Congress.

>> And I can understand what individuals here in Kentucky in the hearing Loss Association are saying about it.

It is so important here in a 2 so expensive.

The markup on hearing AIDS is tremendous.

So what over the counter hearing AIDS will do is.

Competition drive down the price, bring a more reasonable price here in aid to the market and has used all the expertise and professional care that you get as well.

>> Over the counter hearing aids are so want to be somewhere around $1000 or so are up so kind of here you need is still kind of year where the cost of those over the counter hearing aids are.

>> You know, want to do anything you're already paying out of pocket and then it doesn't do any good, though.

You know, you want to make a very informed decision of what you are going to be purchase.

8.

>> Chris Stapleton, Alanis Morissette Jack Wighton Pearl Jam are among the headlining acts of bourbon and beyond.

In Louisville this weekend, the world's largest bourbon music festival will also feature bourbon tasting, culinary demonstrations, unique food offerings and workshops with some of the world's leading bourbon experts.

Start celebrating October in September with the October fest at Hofbrauhaus in Newport this weekend.

This is the largest October fest in North America and celebrates the party that began in Germany and 18, 10 grab your friends and family and enjoy a weekend of food Breyer and the largest chicken dance.

There is.

You may know cornbread and pumpkin bread, but have you ever heard of spoon Bread?

Maria's annual Spoon Bread festival is back for a weekend of fun for all ages.

People gathered from all over the state and country to enjoy activities.

Vendors, inflatables and of course, with warm, fluffy, delicious spoon bread.

In more bourbon News, the Kentucky Bourbon Festival is happening this weekend in the self-described bourbon capital of the world.

Bardstown Watch the World Championship Bourbon Barrel.

Re like pick up your choice of 20 unique, a limited availability bottles of bourbon.

Enjoy the musical entertainment and food trucks.

All while you sample bourbon from over.

45 of Kentucky's finest.

Distilleries.

The Constitution Square Festival is back this weekend in downtown Danville.

This event has views it filled trucks, artwork on display and for sale.

And even a special appearance by the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile.

Enjoy all things jazz at the Kentucky Heritage Jazz festival that Shaker Village this Saturday and Sunday.

This do any of the 13 bands throughout the 2 days to the historic exhibits and 3,000 acre site and welcome Adrian Crutchfield, the last foreign player for music icon Prince.

The first-ever actc Fall Festival is next Thursday at the Ashland Community and Technical College.

The event has face painting Carnival games, crafts, delicious food vendors and a costume contest all adding up to an outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus.

What more could you ask for?

And that's what's going on around the commonwealth.

I'm kill the good news.

>> Of course, always a lot of good things to do this weekend.

So make it a great one and then return to ice Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition we inform connect and inspire.

I'm Renee Shaw have a terrific weekend and I'll see you Monday night.