[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY'S REVENUE IS LIKELY TO FALL MORE THAN $300 MILLION SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS.

MORE CANDIDATES COME FORWARD FOR THE SENATE SEAT THAT MITCH McCONNELL PLANS TO LEAVE NEXT YEAR.

WESTERN KENTUCKY LEADERS FLY TO WASHINGTON PUSHING FOR FUTURE PROJECTS THAT MAY INCLUDE NUCLEAR ENERGY.

AN AUDIT ALLEGES KENTUCKY MISMANAGED MEDICAID FUNDS THE STATE HEALTH SECRETARY CALLS IT A REHASH ON THIS WEEKEND THAT LEADS TO FALL.

COMMENT IS NEXT 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 MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

MARIO ANDERSON, ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS ONE.

AND JOINING US IS TODD FAULKNER, ANCHOR FOR WPSD LOCAL 6 IN PADUCAH.

THE STATE'S TWO LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS FACE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES AND THE CITY OF NEWPORT ASSUMES OWNERSHIP OF THE PURPLE PEOPLE BRIDGE.

LET'S BEGIN WITH POLITICS IN KENTUCKY'S WATCHED U.S.

SENATE RACE THE RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION GOT MORE CROWDED WHEN A FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT AND A FORMER C.I.A.

AGENT JOINED PAMELA STEVENSON ON THE TRAIL.

THEY ARE LOGAN FORSYTHE AND JOEL WILLETT.

>> LOOK, I'M NOT A BILLIONAIRE OR A POLITICIAN.

MOST FOLKS DON'T MAKE IT OUT OF A PLACE LIKE LYON COUNTY MUCH LESS RUN FOR SENATE.

AND MAYBE THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

POLITICS LIVING ON EASY STREET DON'T UNDERSTAND THE HARDSHIPS.

I'VE BEATEN THE ODDS BEFORE AND WITH YOUR HELP I WILL DO IT AGAIN.

I'M LOGAN FORSYTHE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EARNING YOUR VOTE.

>> SORRY DONALD, ACTUALSY AND THE REST OF YOU I AM RUNNING FOR THE SENATE TO TAKE DOWN THE SYSTEM THAT SCREWS EVERYONE ELSE.

I'M JOEL WILLETT I AM NOT A BILLIONAIRE OR A POLITICIAN JUST A KENTUCKY GUY WHO FOUGHT LIKE HELL TO GET HERE.

IF YOU GIVE ME THE CHANCE I WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR YOU.

>> Bill: DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT WON A U.S.

SENATE SEAT IN KENTUCKY SINCE 1992.

THAT WAS WENDELL FORD'S FINAL VICTORY UNTIL NOW MOST OF THE ACTION HAS BEEN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

AND ALL OF THE PUNDITS PAINT KENTUCKY BRIGHT RED ON THE MAP AND THAT IS NOT STOPPING WHAT COULD BE A CONTEST FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SINCE THE FILING DEADLINE IS NOT UNTIL JANUARY OF SEX YEAR, JANUARY THE 9TH, PLENTY OF TIME FOR PEOPLE TO ENTER THIS RACE WHETHER THEY ARE DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS.

AND MANY MORE CANDIDATES MAY STEP UP.

THERE ARE SEVERAL ON BOTH SIDES BUT TIME WILL TELL WHO ELSE WILL JUMP INTO THE RACE.

>> YES, IT'S HARD TO KNOW IF IT'S WE STILL HAVE CANDIDATES MAYBE COMING IN OR ANOTHER SHAKE UP IN THE RACE THAT MAY AFFECT THIS ON BOTH SIDES.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO WATCH.

AND IT IS AN ADVANTAGE TO TAKE AS MUCH TIME AS THEY CAN TO BUILDUP A NAME ID AND BOTH CANDIDATES ARE DOING AND WE'VE SEEN IT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

>> Bill: IT'S INTERESTING AS WE SAID NO DEMOCRAT HAS WON A U.S.

SENATE RACE IN KENTUCKY IN 33 YEARS IT WILL BE THIS FALL.

BUT THESE CANDIDATES SEEM TO BE CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN BE CONTENDERS.

>> THEY ARE CONFIDENT.

BUT THEY PROBABLY ALSO KNOW IT IS AN UPHILL CLIMB.

ESPECIALLY AS A DEMOCRAT IN SUCH A RED STATE AS THE COMMONWEALTH BUT WE ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THIS.

SO AS THE OTHERS MENTIONED WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND GET NAME RECOGNITION AND INTRODUCE THEIR PLATFORM TO POTENTIAL VOTERS.

>> Bill: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE CANDIDATES?

POT HAVE STARK ANNOUNCEMENTS OF FORSYTHE SAYING HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN A BULLET FOR A PRESIDENT WHILE WITH THE SECRET SERVICE.

WILLETT SAYS HE THINKS HE LOST SECURITY CLEARANCE FOR TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR THE SENATE.

>> LOGAN FORSYTHE IS FROM LYON COUNTY.

HE IS LIVING IN LEXINGTON BUT IS AN ATTORNEY AND A FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT AND GOT INTO THE RACE HE WAS CRITICAL OF THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FEDERAL TAX CUT AND SPENDING PLAN AND SOME OF THE THINGS HE WANTS TO SUPPORT TERM LIMITS AS WELL.

BUT JOEL WILLETT IS A MILITARY VETERAN AND EXC.I.A.

OFFICER AND WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE WITH BARACK OBAMA IN THE SITUATION ROOM BUT SAYS HE HAS HAD CONCERNS WITH THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO THE U.S.

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ACTUALSY GABBARD AND HER DECISION MAKING JOEL WILLETT HAD SECRET SERVICE NATIONAL CLEARANCE AND HE SAYS THAT ACTUALSY GABBARD PULLED THAT.

HE IS WANTING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AS WELL.

>> Bill: THERE WERE ALLEGATIONS IT COULD BE USED FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES.

PAMELA STEVENSON RUN ONE STATE-WIDE RACE AND LOST.

IS THAT AN ASSET FOR HER MOVE BEEN OUT THERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ACROSS THE STATE BEFORE?

OR DOES IT BRING SOME TARNISH TO HER EFFORT THAT SHE LOST A RACE?

>> IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

THAT 2023 RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CAMPAIGN STATE-WIDE, CAMPAIGN WITH OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AND GET HER NAME OUT AND HERSELF OUT IN FRONT OF VOTERS IN KENTUCKY.

ITS NOT TOO FAR TOGETHER AGO THAT THAT HAPPENED.

THERE MIGHT BE NAME RECOGNITION THAT SHE CAN BUILD OFF THERE.

BUT, YOU FOR, SHE DID LOSE A HIGH PROFILE RACE IN ATTORNEY GENERAL TO RUSSELL COLEMAN OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

REPUBLICANS DO HAVE THAT TO USE AGAINST HER IN THE RACE IF SHE BECOMES THE NOMINEE FOR SENATE.

>> Bill: THESE ARE LARGELY UNKNOWN CANDIDATES YOU HAVE STEVENSON WITH THE ONE RUN.

I DON'T THINK SHE SA PEERED IN FANCY FARM IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

YOU HAVE CANDIDATES THAT TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES.

>> THEY HAVE TO GET OUT AND EXPLAIN WHAT THEY STAND FOR AND HOW THEY ARE GOING TO HELP ANY KENTUCKIAN SHOULD THEY BE IN OFFICE.

ADDITIONALLY THEY WILL TRY AND SEARCH OUT AN ENDORSEMENT BY DEMOCRATIC "GOVERNOR'S AWARD IN THE ARTS."

WHETHER HE WILL DO THAT, HAS YET TO BE SEEN.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE PERCEIVED AS PUTTING HIS THUMB ON THE SCALE ESPECIALLY AS HE FLIRTS WITH A POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

>> Bill: AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAME OUT WITH A COUNTDOWN CUTS CLOCK.

THAT'S CALLING ATTENTION TO THE SLOW ROLL OUT OF THE FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS?

>> RIGHT.

AND WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS WEBSITE THAT IT GOES TO COUNTY BY COUNTY DATA ABOUT HOW MANY KENTUCKIANS IN THOSE AREAS WILL ARE POTENTIALLY COULD LOSE MEDICAID FUNDING, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AFTER THE SPENDING CUTS GO INTO EFFECT AFTER THE ELECTION.

BUT WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS IT'S LOCALIZING A NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM THAT WE'RE SEEING HEADING INTO THE MIDTERMS WHICH IS OPPOSITION OF THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT.

>> Bill: WE WILL BE WATCHING THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE IN THE RACE FOR THEIR NOMINATION AND IT IS A TOUGH CONTEST.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON AND BUSINESSMAN NATE MORRIS CONTINUE TO BATTLE IT OUT.

TODD, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM THE G.O.P.

CANDIDATES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY?

AND DOES IT SEEM THAT ANYBODY MAYBE BUILDING AN ADVANTAGE?

>> IT IS UNCLEAR WHO HAS THE ADVANTAGE.

OF COURSE, DANIEL CAMERON HAS THE NAME RECOGNITION BECAUSE OF HIS FAILED BID FOR GOVERNOR.

BUT RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE MAYBE FAMILIAR WITH ANDY BARR HE IS A CONGRESSMAN.

NATE MORRIS PERHAPS.

THEY JUST SEEM DISCONNECTED A LOT HERE IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

SO NO ONE REALLY HAS AN EDGE AT THIS POINT SO EARLY ON.

>> Bill: SHORT OF A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT DO WE SEE ANYTHING THAT COULD SHAKE UP THE G.O.P.

RACE OR A GRIND FOR THE TV ADS UNTIL WE GET TO THE MAY PRIMARY?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE A GRIND UNTIL THE MAY PRIMARY.

THIS PRIMARY AS A SUCCESSOR TO THAT 12-CANDIDATE G.O.P.

PRIMARY WE HAD FOR GOVERNOR A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT WAS INTENSE SPENDING CAMPAIGNING BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CANDIDATES.

SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE'LL SEE HEADING INTO THIS ONE.

>> Bill: MARIO NOT ALL THE ADS COMES FROM THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES THERE ARE GROUPS THAT ARE RUNNING ADS AS WELL.

AND THEN SOMETIMES THE CANDIDATES DON'T LIKE WHAT THOSE ARE SAYING.

>> THE PACS OUT THERE ARE SEPARATE USUALLY FROM THE CANDIDATE THAT IS RUNNING AND ANDY BARR RUNNING IN THE THAT RACE HE ACTUALLY SENT A LETTER TO TWO CONSERVATIVE PACS THAT OPPOSE HIS RUN FOR SENATE AND THE LETTER CENTERED AROUND AN AD ACCUSED OF ANDY BARR HAVING LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SUPPORT GENDER TRANSITION CARE FOR MINORS AND THE BARR CAMPAIGN SAID THE AD IS FALSE AND DEFAMATORY AND AGAINST THAT.

WHEN THEY ARE INVESTING MONEY INTO THE RACE THEY HAVE NOT ENDORSED THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES YET.

>> Bill: AND THEY ARE DOING RETAIL CAMPAIGNING AS WELL.

>> A LOT OF SHAKING HANDS AND SLAPPING BACKS.

>> Bill: WESTERN KENTUCKY LEADERS WERE IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK AND MANY IN THE DC DELEGATE MET WITH THEM AND TODD YOU WERE ALONG FOR THE TRIP AND SENATOR PAUL NOT RUNNING NEXT YEAR LIKELY WILL IN 2028 FOR SOMETHING, HINTED TWO RACES MAYBE A PRESIDENTIAL BID AND FOR THE SENATE.

BUT WE'LL SEE.

HE DID THAT IN 2016.

WHAT WERE YOUR TAKEAWAYS IN TALKING WITH SENATOR PAUL?

>> WE'LL SEE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL BID PLAYS OUT.

BUT IN TALKING WITH HIM AND SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE IS DOING ON CAPITOL HILL FOR KENTUCKY, HE EXTOLED THE VIRTUE OF CAPITALISM, FREE MARKET TRADE AND HIS GOAL IS ALWAYS TO PREVENT ANY SORT OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACH OR RED TAPE THAT COULD STYMIE ANY DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT NOT ONLY IN WESTERN KENTUCKY BUT ALL OF KENTUCKY.

AND MY CONVERSATION WITH HIM, I ASKED HIM TO WEIGH-IN IF HE HAD A FAVORITE FOR THE KENTUCKY SENATE PRIMARY.

HE SAID NO.

AND HE WASN'T GOING TO COMMENT.

BUT HE DID SAY THAT HE WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATES.

AND SPECIFICALLY, THAT WHOEVER DOES WIN THE PRIMARY, HE SAID HOPES THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL HAS THE GUTS TO STAND UP FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE N. WHICH MAY MEAN SEPARATING FROM THE PARTY THE PARTY LINE IF NECESSARY.

>> Bill: THAT WILL BE INTERESTING AND SENATOR PAUL ALSO APPEARED WITH MARIO ON IN FOCUS KENTUCKY AND THEY COVERED LOTS OF TOPICS INCLUDING TARIFFS.

>> WITHOUT QUESTION TARIFFS ARE TAXES AND THE CONSTITUTION SAYS THAT TAXES SHOULD ORIGINATE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GO TO THE SENATE AND BE SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.

THERE IS NO PROVISION IN THE CONSTITUTION FOR THE PRESIDENT TO JUST ENACT TAXES ON HIS OWN.

THE TARIFFS WILL BE PAID BY THE PEOPLE WHO IMPORT THINGS MANY ARE AMERICANS THEY ARE NOT PAID IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES THEY ARE PAID AS IT ENTERS INTO OUR COUNTRY.

>> Bill: DID SENATOR PAUL CONTINUE TO PUT DISTANCE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON SOME ISSUES?

>> HE DID ON SEVERAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE OPPOSITION TO TARIFFS AND REAR MINING HOW PEOPLE ACROSS KENTUCKY THAT HE CANNOT SUPPORT EMERGENCY POWERS TO GET MORE FEDERAL FUNDING.

HE IS WANTING TO STAND TALL ON THAT.

AND ALSO THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN POTENTIAL WOULD BE LOOMING SEPTEMBER 30TH IS THE DATE.

AND SENATOR PAUL SAYS HE IS NOT WANTING TO SHUT THE GOVERNMENT DOWN BUT IS WILLING TO STAND UP TOE-TO-TOE TO ENSURE THAT MONEY IS SPENT AS IT IS SET IN THE CONSTITUTION.

WE'LL SEE HOW SENATOR PAUL PROGRESSES WITH THAT.

>> Bill: THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET THAT THROUGH THE SENATE.

THERE WAS A HOUSE BILL THAT DID GO AND CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE VOTED AGAINST IT, ONE OF TWO REPUBLICANS WHO JOINED DEMOCRATS ON THAT.

WE NOTE THAT MASSIE AND SENATOR PAUL WILL MAKE JOINT APPEARANCES NEXT WEEK.

WHAT IS LIKELY TO COME FROM THAT?

>> THEY WILL BE TRAVELING TO THREE CITIES ACROSS KENTUCKY.

AND THEY HAVE KEPT THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION VERY VAGUE BUT WE ANTICIPATE THEY WILL BE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES THEY HAVE BEEN COMMUNICATING ABOUT ON THE NATIONAL SCENE.

A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES AND GIVING FEEDBACK FROM REPUBLICAN VOTERS HERE IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

TODD, I WANT TO SAY WE'RE DELIGHTED YOU COULD JOIN US FROM WESTERN KENTUCKY IT'S BEEN BUSY YOU HAD THE FLY IN TRIP BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WHAT WERE THE MAIN GOALS OF THAT TRIP?

>> 10,000 FOOT VIEW SO EVERYONE IS AWARE IT'S IMPRESSIVE THE PADUCAH CHAMBER GOES FOR THE DC FLY IN, 80 PEOPLE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUSINESS OWNERS AND OTHERS.

WHEN THEY GO THEY HAVE A LIST OF FEDERAL PRIORITIES.

PRIORITIES IN ASKING FOR SUPPORT, FINANCIALLY AND OTHERWISE FOR INITIATIVES BACK IN WEST KENTUCKY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOST IMPORTANT MEETINGS WITH LAWMAKERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, IS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PADUCAH SITE AND THE POTENTIAL THERE.

REMEMBER THAT RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE PLANS AND STUDIES FOR REINDUSTRIALIZATION OF THAT SITE THE FORMER PADUCAH GAS DIFFUSION PLANT AND THOSE PLANS INCLUDE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, DATA CENTER THERE'S PLANS INCLUDE AN ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FACILITY THAT WILL COST $40 MILLION.

AND THE POTENTIAL FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY.

SO THOSE ARE THE BIG TALKING POINTS DURING AT LEAST ONE OF THE DAYS WE WERE THERE IN DC.

>> Bill: DO YOU THINK THE BUSINESS LEADERS AND POLITICAL LEADERS HEARD WHO THEY HOPED TO FROM PEOPLE LIKE SENATOR McCONNELL AND JAMES COMER?

>> ABSOLUTELY DID.

AND THIS IS A YEAR'S LONG EFFORT IT'S PAVING THE ROAD OF FIVE YEARS AGO, AND LOOKING FIVE YEARS AHEAD.

AND THE LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES HAVE SAID AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE GENUINE, THE PADUCAH CHAMBER WHEN THEY SHOW UP IT'S BIGGER THAN LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON THEY KNOW WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.

IS WHAT THE CHAMBER WILL TELL YOU.

CONGRESSMAN COMER CALLED THE DIRECTOR A SQUEAKY WHEEL AND THEY GET THE OIL.

SO THEY ARE OPEN TO THE CONVERSATIONS.

AND THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE WHAT HAS ALLOTTED THE CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE CLEANUP AND OTHER PROJECTS.

>> Bill: WE DO SEE INCREASING INDICATIONS THAT KENTUCKY WILL EMBRACE NUCLEAR ENERGY.

THE LEGISLATURE HAS DIRECTED THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMERCE TO STUDY IT AND THEY ARE DOING THAT.

IS WESTERN KENTUCKY PARTICULARLY WELL POSITIONED GIVEN ITS TRACK RECORD FOR THAT?

>> WELL POSITIONED AND I WILL TELL YOU WHY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THE RIGHT WORK IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PREPARE.

THEY'VE ALSO BEEN PREPARING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO REMEMBER PADUCAH, KENTUCKY, IS BEING TALKED ABOUT AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL FOR ITS ABILITY TO HAVE THIS MASSIVE CAMPUS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR COMPANIES TO COME IN AND INVEST, BUILD, AND TALK ABOUT NUCLEAR ENERGY.

SOMETHING THAT I HEARD FROM LAWMAKERS SENATOR PAUL, McCONNELL, REPRESENTATIVE COMER IN WASHINGTON.

BUT THE GROUND WORK HAS BEEN LAID.

NOW IT'S JUST HURRY UP AND WAIT AND GET THE COMPANIES TO COME IN AND START.

>> Bill: IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA CENTER A DONE DEAL FOR WESTERN KENTUCKY?

>> NOT A DEAL DEAL UNTIL WE SEE IT BUILT AND OPERATIONAL.

IT'S ON THE WAY.

PADUCAH, KENTUCKY WAS ONLY FOUR LOCATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

ONE OF FOUR TO BE SELECTED.

AND SO I THINK THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT WHAT COULD BE CREATED HERE IN PADUCAH.

AND THE ENERGY BEHIND THIS GROWING BE ME MOTH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> Bill: SOUNDS LIKE A PURPOSE DRIVEN TRIP.

HERE IN KENTUCKY THE REVENUES LIKELY TO FALL $300 MILLION SHORT OF THE SPENDING PLAN FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT IS THE NEW ESTIMATE.

IT IS MORE MANAGEABLE BECAUSE THERE IS AN ALMOST $4 BILLION RAINY DAY FUND BUT McKENNA THIS IS ATTENTION GETTING?

>> YES, IT IS THE NUMBERS CAME OUT DURING A FOUR-HOUR MEETING THIS WEEK AT THE CAPITOL ANNEX FROM THE FORECASTING GROUP.

BUT AS YOU NOTED WE DO HAVE THE RAINY DAY FUND.

NOW MORE NUMBERS MAY COME OUT TOWARD DECEMBER MORE SOLID AND MORE KNOWN.

BUT, THIS INFORMATION IS LEADING INTO THE NEXT BUDGET SESSION FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN '26.

>> Bill: AND THE CONSENSUS FORECASTING GROUP WILL MEET IN DECEMBER AND GIVE THEIR BEST ESTIMATE THEN WHAT TO TRY TO PLAN FOR, FOR THE TWO-YEAR BUDGET.

>> AND LAWMAKERS RETURN TO FRANKFORT IN JANUARY.

>> Bill: THAT ALL COMES AS SOME GROUPS ARE CALLING FOR MORE SPENDING IN EDUCATION GROUP WANTS MORE THAN 700 MILLION FOR SCHOOLS.

BUSINESS GROUPS AND OTHER ADVOCATES WANT COMMITMENTS FOR CHILDCARE.

SOME ARE PUSHING THE STATE TO MAKEUP SOME OF THE FEDERAL CUTS.

COULD THERE BE A LOT OF PRESSURE THERE, PARTICULARLY IF THE REVENUES SHRINKING SOME?

>> A TALL TASK AND WE'LL SEE HOW THINGS SHAKE OUT.

THIS IS A 60-DAY SESSION AND IT STARTS IN JANUARY OVER FOUR MONTHS.

AND THE LEGISLATURE THEIR GOAL IS TO SET A BUDGET FOR TWO YEARS FOR STATE GOVERNMENT.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF ASK OUT THERE FROM THE VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS INDUSTRIES THAT ARE ASKING FOR A PIECE OF THE PIE AND DOING LOBBYING AND ADVOCATING A LOT OF RALLIES THAT WILL BE HELD LEADING UP TO THE SESSION STARTING ONCE THE SESSION GOES ON WE ANTICIPATE DAILY EVENTS FROM PEOPLE IN GROUPS WANTING TO ADVOCATE FOR STATE DOLLARS.

>> Bill: AND SPEAKING OF TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE LEGISLATURE, JOE DURBIN -- JOE ZONK ASPENT MONEY BETWEEN APRIL AND AUGUST.

THAT'S THOSE NUMBERS.

I THINK MORE WAS SPENT SINCE THE SESSION THAN WAS SPENT DURING THE SESSION?

>> RIGHT.

IN THE INTERIM SESSION IS WHEN A LOT OF IDEAS ARE FLUSHED OUT BETWEEN LAWMAKERS.

WE SEE COMMITTEES HAPPENING AND BILLS ARE BEING HEARD ALREADY FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

THOSE HAVEN'T BEEN OFFICIALLY I WILL FILED BUT THEY ARE GETTING LAWMAKERS TALKING AND PUTTING TOGETHER LEGISLATION FOR THE NEXT SESSION.

>> Bill: ALLISON BALL RELEASED A REPORT SAYING THE STATE MISMANAGED $800 MILLION IN TAXPAYER FUNDS BY PAYING OUT CLAIMS PAID IN OTHER STATES.

Dr.

STACK, THE AGENT L SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES REACTED.

>> HE CALL TO DO A REHASH WHAT FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS FOUND IN '22 STATES MADE PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAID RECIPIENTS ENROLLED IN TWO STATES.

SO THIS IS A BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE CABINET AND THE AUDITOR.

>> Bill: THE STATE AUDITOR WILL BE LOOKING INTO THE FINANCIAL SITUATION WITH THE FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SEPTEMBER.

DEMETRUS LIGGINS TESTIFIED IN FRANKFORT THIS WEEK BEFORE LAWMAKERS ABOUT A $16 MILLION SHORTFALL AND EFFORTS TO ADDRESS IT AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED SOME FRUSTRATION.

>> THERE ARE COUNTLESS THINGS I COULD SAY THAT I WISH WOULD HAVE HAPPENED, SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED, THAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN, AND I KNOW THAT HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYS 2020.

AND I WISH I HAD DONE MORE.

AND I REGRET THAT WE ARE IN THE POSITION THAT WE'RE IN TODAY.

>> Bill: MARIO, THE STATE'S TWO LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS JEFFERSON AND FAYETTE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEAL WITH DIGGING OUT OF DEFICITS.

IN FAYETTE COUNTY THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW IT HAPPENED?

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SUPERINTENDENT LIGGINS HE SHARED THAT IT IS THE RIGHT APPROACH BUT I RECOGNIZE THE PATH HAS CREATED CONCERN AND THE CONCERNS ARE RELATED TO TRANSPARENCY AND PUBLIC FAMILIES, PARENTS SPEAKING OUT WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WAS THERE BUDGET SHORTFALLS HOW IS THERE A DEFICIT THE NUMBERS FLUCTUATED OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS ON ACTUALLY HOW MUCH MONEY IS THE DEFICIT IN FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE LATEST NUMBERS ARE 16 MILLION AND THEN ALSO IN JEFFERSON COUNTY THEIR DEFICIT IS 188 MILLION.

THE SUPERINTENDENT IS WORKING ON ISSUES THERE.

IN FAYETTE COUNTY, MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS AND WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AS AUDITS START BEGINNING.

>> Bill: AND INTERESTING THE LEGISLATURE IS NOW ASKING THE QUESTIONS.

McKENNA YOU DID A STORY UPDATING SENATE BILL 207, SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION.

>> RIGHT.

SO SENATOR WEST REPUBLICAN BROUGHT FORTH THIS BILL THAT PASSED THE LEGISLATURE.

IT IS A LAW BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY WANT TO TAKE PART IN.

IT WOULD ALLOW LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO APPLY FOR WAIVERS FROM THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR SCHOOLS OF INNOVATION.

AND YOU COULD SUBCONTRACT THE MANAGEMENT OUT OF THOSE LIKE A CHARTER SCHOOL.

A FEW DEMOCRATS ASKED IS THIS NOT JUST A CHARTER SCHOOL?

AND SENATOR WEST SAID THAT HE FILED THIS BILL AFTER AMENDMENT TWO FAILED LAST YEAR, THE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO JUST FUND NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SO IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS WILL TAKE SHAPE.

THERE IS ALSO A CHARTER SCHOOL LAWSUIT AGAINST IN FRONT OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT RIGHT NOW.

IT'S INTERESTING HOW THIS WILL PLAY OUT.

>> Bill: WHAT OTHER ISSUES DO YOU SEE EMERGING BEFORE THE SESSION?

>> ANOTHER BILL I WROTE ABOUT WOULD BE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS FROM REPUBLICAN MARIAN PROCTER.

IT SEEKS TO DEFINE WHAT GROOMING IS AFTER A MINOR AND OUTLAW THAT PRACTICE.

ONE THING THAT THE COMMITTEE HEARD WAS THAT ONE ISSUE THAT PROSECUTORS ARE SEEING IS THAT THEY SEE THIS HISTORY OF INTENT TO GROOM A CHILD TO HAVE SOME KIND OF SEXUAL ACT IN THE FUTURE BUT THERE IS NOT A WAY TO GO AFTER AND PROSECUTE THAT ACT.

SO THE COMMITTEE WAS FAVORABLE FOR IT ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE WERE ISSUES LAWMAKERS DID NOT WANT TO HASH OUT BEFORE SESSION.

>> Bill: TODD WHAT IS HAPPENING IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND THE JACKSON PURCHASE AND ARE THERE PRIORITIES FOR FRANKFORT OUT THERE RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS MAKING HEADLINES ESPECIALLY TODAY THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE GREATER PADUCAH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP 60 MEGAWATT SOLAR FACILITY IS COMING TO MCCRACKEN COUNTY THEY WILL BREAKDOWN IN 2027, IT WILL CREATE 150 JOBS AND CREATE $7 MILLION IN REVENUE.

THERE'S ALSO CALLS TO SEE TO COME TO FRUITION A VETERINARY SCHOOL AT MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY.

BUT THERE ARE HICCUPS THERE IN TERMS OF HOW IS IT GOING TO BE FUNDING AND THE STAFFING GOING TO WORK AND DEBATE OVER THE TEACHING MODEL ITSELF.

BUT THERE ARE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS THAT LOOK LIKE IT IS ON TRACK TO POSSIBLY HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: IT LOOKS LIKE U.K.

IS GOING TO BE OFFERING AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MAJOR.

IT'S INTERESTING THE STATE'S FLAGSHIP UNIVERSITY IS FLANKING FOR THE FUTURE IN THAT WAY.

>> AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE SEEING THIS BEING TALKED ABOUT AT THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AS WELL.

AN A.I.

TASK FORCE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

FOR U.K.

OFFER TO THIS MAJOR THERE IS ACCREDITATION APPROVAL NEEDED.

>> Bill: MARIO, THE CITY OF NEWPORT ASSUMED OWNERSHIP OF THE PURPLE PEOPLE BRIDGE.

IT'S FUN TO SAY THAT.

NEWPORT LEADERS DECIDED THAT NEEDS TO BE PUBLIC PROPERTY.

>> PUBLIC PROPERTY AND ALSO UTILIZING A LOCAL REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS TO ENHANCE AND MAKE PAYERS TO THE EXISTING STRUCTURE THE LEADERS SAY THE BRIDGE IS STILL SAFE.

AND STURDY BUT THEY WANT TO ENHANCE AND MAYBE LOOK AT ADDING MORE PAINT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OTHER EVENTS.

>> Bill: PURPLE PAINT.

OKAY.

WE DO WANT TO LEAVE TONIGHT WITH THIS... LONG TIME KENTUCKY JOURNALIST ANDY WOLFSON DIED.

HE SPENT MORE THAN 44 YEARS AT THE COURIER-JOURNAL AND THE LOUISVILLE TIMES.

MANY HAVE COMMENTED ON HIS DETERMINED SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH.

IN FACT, WOLFSON WON TWO PULITZER PRIZES FOR COVERING THE CARROLLTON BUS CRASH IN THE 1980s, AND THEN THE PARDONS ISSUED BY GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN HE WON IN 2020.

ANDY WOLFSON WAS 70 YEARS OLD.

AND FINALLY RAIN IN THE FORECAST AND ACROSS KENTUCKY WE HAVE ALL NEEDED THAT.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AND WE HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.