APPROACHES, KENTUCKY STILL STRUGGLES WITH WORKFORCE ISSUES AND UNIONS GAIN FOOTING IN SOME UNLIKELY PLACES.

GROUNDBREAKING FOR A HUGE NEW AUTO BATTERY PLANT AS KENTUCKY HITCHES ITS HOPES TO ELECTRIC CARS.

THE WOMAN WHO HEADED THE SUCCESSFUL EFFORT TO DEFEAT AN ANTI-ABORTION AMENDMENT IN KANSAS IS COMING TO KENTUCKY.

A GROWING POLITICAL TREND, NEW KENTUCKY VOTERS GOING INDEPENDENT AT A RATE TWICE THA OF REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

HEADING INTO LABOR DAY WEEKEND, "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 AR AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER DEBORAH YETTER, REPORTER WITH THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

AND CHRIS OTTS, REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUI ALSO TONIGHT, CLEARING UP SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS AND THE LATEST ON CAMPAIGN 2022.

LET'S BEGIN WITH KENTUCKY SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS A TRAVELS AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH TO CONVINCE VOTERS THAT KENTUCKY ELECTIONS ARE FAIR.

HE SAYS MISINFORMATION IS MAKING IT HARD TO FIND POLL WORKERS AND IS UNDERMINING THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN A SYSTEM THAT HE SAYS IS THE BEST IT'S BEEN.

SO, AUSTIN, ADAMS ON A BIT OF A CRUSADE REALLY ABOUT THIS ELECTION INTEGRITY ISSUE.

HE'S WEAN ALL OVER THE LACE.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

HE WAS IN LOGAN COUNTY JUST TODAY TO KIND OF BUCK UP A REPLACEMENT FOR A COUNTY CLERK WHO HAD LEFT THAT OFFICE.

AND HE'S BEEN UNIQUELY CRITICAL OF MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY FOR WHAT E HE CALLS FRIVOLOUS RECOUNTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED IN A FEW DIFFERENT COUNTIES THAT HAVE TURNED UP TO BE, ARE THERE ONE DIFFERENCE IN A VOTE OR NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY WORTH POINTING OUT THAT HE HAS BEEN SO CRITICAL OF MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY, AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE THE GROWING PAINS OF A VAST MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY.

AND HE'S ALSO BEEN TRYING TO RECRUIT POLL WORKERS AS WELL IN SORT OF UNIQUE WAYS.

WE SAW A PRESS RELEASE TODAY WHERE HE'S USING A METHOD INVOLVING BREWERIES AND WINERIES WHERE YOU HAVE A TAB WITH YOUR GROWLER OR A BOTTLE OF WINE THAT ENCOURAGES YOU TO BECOME A POLL WORKER, SO IT'S DRINKING AND POLL WORKING, BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Bill: PART OF THE ISSUE HAS BEEN THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT STEPPING UP TO WORK ON ELECTION DAY, RIGHT?

>>> UH-HUH YOU'RE RIGHT.

HE EXPLICITLY SAID A LOT OF WORKERS ARE RETIREES AND PEOPLE AGING OUT OF THE VOLUNTARY PROFESSION.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL KEEP WATCH ON THAT TREND AS WE GO FORWARD HERE.

ADAMS ALSO REVEALED ANOTHER EYE-CATCHING TREND THIS WEEK, AND THAT IS THAT KENTUCKYIANS REGISTERING AS INDEPENDENCE AT A RIGHT THAT IS TWICE THAT OF REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, AND AS THE PARTIES GO HARDER RIGHT AND LEFT, VOTERS ARE APPARENTLY RUNNING FROM THE PARTY LABELS, RIGHT?

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I THINK NATIONALLY WE'RE SEEING A FAIR AMOUNT OF DISAFFECTION WITH BOTH OF THE PARTIES, AND THEN THE STATE, IT'S HARD TO KNOW THIS FOR SURE, BUT I THINK THE NARRATIVE THAT CERTAINLY A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING FOR IS THAT THIS MEANS MORE PEOPLE ARE REGISTERING TO VOTE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DOBBS RULING THAT SORT OF ALLOWED OUR TRIGGER BAN OR ABORTION TO GO INTO EFFECT, SO WE'LL SEE IF TO THAT BEARS OUT.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> Deborah: THAT'S INTERESTING.

I KNOW IN KANSAS WHERE THEY JUST REJECTED A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ELIMINATE THE RIGHT TO ABORTION IN KANSAS, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF VOTERS WERE REGISTERED INDEPENDENT, AND THE ONLY ISSUE THEY COULD VOTE ON WAS THAT PARTICULAR REFERENDUM SINCE IT WAS A CLOSED PRIMARY OTHERWISE, SO IT COULD AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> Bill: IN KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW IT IS 340,000 INDEPENDENTS IN THE STATE, NEARLY 10% OF REGISTERED VOTERS.

I MEAN, THAT COULD REALLY BE AN UNPREDICTABLE SWING VOTE FOR THE PARTIES, RIGHT?

WHO DO YOU SEND THE MAIL TO, THE MAILERS?

THAT BECOMES A QUESTION.

EVERYBODY, I GUESS.

>> Deborah: IT'S GOING TO COST YOU MORE.

>> Bill: YOU HAVE TO DO THAT.

CHRIS YOU SAID WHEN YOU FIRST MOVED TO KENTUCKY, YOU WERE A LITTLE NAIVE WITH THE LANDSCAPE, RIGHT?

>> Chris: HERE'S MY PET THEORY ON THIS BILL AND I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT, BUT I THINK WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG AND YOU'RE PERHAPS REGISTERING TO FORT FIRST TIME, YOU HAVE A REBEL JUST PIRT, YOU DO NOT FEEL LIKE YOU IDENTIFY WITH EITHER OF THOSE OLD STODGY PARTIES, AND SO YOU SIGN UP TO BE AN INDEPENDENT.

AND THEN YOU GET EDUCATED ABOUT HOW THE LIMITATIONS OF BEING AN INDEPENDENT IN KENTUCKY AND HOW IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS THAT MEANS THAT YOU EFFECTIVELY ARE SITTING OUT THE ELECTION.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

THE MAYOR RACE IN LOUISVILLE.

IF YOU'RE NOT A REGISTERED AS A DEMOCRAT, YOU'RE BASICALLY PASSING ON THE CHANCE TO DETERMINE WHO THE NEXT MAYOR WILL BE.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE RACE IS TOTALLY LOCKED UP, BUT FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES OR PROBABILITY SPEAKING.

SO EVENTUALLY YOU REALIZE THIS AND THEN YOU JUST DECIDE HA YOU'VE GOT TO IS YOU CAN IT AND UP PICK A PARTY.

THAT'S MY THEORY.

>> Bill: WOULD MORE PEOPLE REGISTER INDEPENDENT IN KENTUCKY ALLOWED INDEPENDENCE TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES?

>> Deborah: I THINK IT DEFINITELY WOULD.

I THINK THAT'S THE REASON PEOPLE DON'T REGISTER INDEPENDENT OR SWITCH TO PAY PARTY WHEN THEY REALIZE THEY CAN'T VOTE IN THE CLOSED PRIMARIES.

>> Austin: ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, I THINK FOR YEARS THIS WAS THE LAW BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAD A STRANGLEHOLD OVER MOST LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICES, AND THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WINDOW WHEN WE WERE SWITCHING TO REPUBLICAN AS A STATE WHERE THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED, BUT I THINK IT JUST -- IT BENEFITS REPUBLICANS TOO MUCH NOW FOR THERE TO BE MUCH MOMENTUM ON THAT FRONT.

>> Bill: INDEPENDENTS HAVE THAT I.

TO PAY FOR THE ELECTION OUT OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS AND THEN THEY CAN'T VOTE THE IN ELECTIONS THEY'RE PAYING FOR, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A CAUCUS, IT'S A PARTY FUNCTION.

THE PARTY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT.

SO ESSENTIALLY THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS GIFTING THE POLITICAL PARTIES AN ELECTION, RIGHT?

AND THEN EXCLUDING THE INDEPENDENTS.

I MEAN, EINSTEINING.

>> Chris: I THINK EVENTUALLY THERE COULD BE A DAY WHEN PERHAPS SOME PARTY OFFICIALS REALIZE THAT MAYBE THERE'S A BENEFIT TO LETTING INDEPENDENTS HELP CHOOSE YOUR NOMINEE.

MAYBE YOU GET A MORE WIDELY ELECTABLE NOMINEE WHO REFLECTS THE GENERAL ELECTORATE BETTER THAN A PARTY-BASED NOMINEE, AND PERHAPS THAT COULD BE AN ADVANTAGE.

>> Deborah: THAT MIGHT BE WISHFUL THINKING.

KIND OF THE LIKE REDISTRICTING.

NEITHER SIDE WANT TO GIVE UP WHAT THEY THINK A IS AN VAG.

>> Chris: IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN 202023 WANT SOME REPUBLICANS MAY WISH THAT WERE THE CASE.

>> Bill: IT'S AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.

AND IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE'LL WATCH AHEAD.

DEBBIE, ABORTION IS GOING TO BE A PART OF THIS COMING NOVEMBER ELECTION THAT WE'RE GETTING TO VERY CLOSELY NOW, JUST OVER TWO MONTHS AWAY.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS APPARENTLY WAITING FOR A DECISION FROM THE VOTERS BEFORE IT DECIDES A MAJOR CASE.

>> Deborah: THAT APPEARS TO BE THE CASE.

ABORTION IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCESSIBLE IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE THE TRIGGER LAW, AFTER SOME LEGAL SKIRMISHING, WENT INTO EFFECT AFTER A BAN IN KENTUCKY ONCE ROE V. WADE FELL, AND THE CASE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE SUPREME COURT, STATE SUPREME COURT, AND THEY HAVE SET A HEARING DATE OF NOVEMBER 15th ON THIS CASE WHICH IS A WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION.

NOW, IF THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PASSES AND AS LANGUAGE SAYING THIS IS NO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO ABORTION IN KENTUCKY, THAT'S THE END OF THE ROAD.

IF THEY ADD LANGUAGE.

THE SUPREME COURT REALLY DON'T WON'T HAVE A CASE TO ADJUDICATE, BUT IF THE AMENDMENT FAILS THEY WILL HAVE A LIVE CASE A WEEK LATER.

>> Bill: THIS IS I.

THERE IS A QUESTION OF HOW MUCH A BELLWETHER INDICATOR THE KANSAS VOTE WAS FOR KENTUCKY VOTERS IN SUNFLOWER STATE HAD DEFEATED AN ANTI-ABORTION AMENDMENT BY 18 POINTS, AND THE WOMAN HEADED UP THE WINNING CAMPAIGN IN KANSAS IS COMING TO KENTUCKY.

>> Deborah: RIGHT.

THAT'S RACHEL SOUTHEAST.

AND I THINK THAT WINNING CAMPAIGN IN KANSAS WAS A BIT OF A SHOCK PERSON TONS OF MONEY, $20 MILLION WERE POURED INTO IT FROM BOTH SIDES.

AND IT WAS PLACED ON A PRIMARY BALLOT WHICH THEY DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT A BIG TURNOUT, AND THEY GOT A HUGE NUN ANY WAY INCLUDING A LOT OF INDEPENDENT VOTERS, SO SHE'S COMING TO KENTUCKY TO HEAD UP THE EFFORT HERE.

ITES CALLED KENTUCKY ACCESS.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO RUN A SIMILAR BUT NOT IDENTICAL CAMPAIGN, SHE TELLS ME.

>> Austin: RIGHT, AND I WOULD ALSO ADD TO THAT THAT DEMOCRATS ARE IN A WAY EXCITED THAT THIS IS ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS I WOULD IMAGINE, AND I'VE HEARD SO FAR, ARE GOING TO REALLY TRY AND HUG TIGHT TO THIS "A" BECAUSE IT FAILED -- AMOUNT OF BECAUSE IT FAILED IN KANSAS BY 18 POINTS.

I MEAN, THAT IS A BIG LOSS FOR A CONSERVATIVE STATE.

KANSAS IS TRADITIONALLY RED.

SO THEY'RE LARGELY THINKING THAT EVEN IF IT PASSES, IT WILL BE AUM MUCH SLIMMER MARGIN AND THAT THAT BODES WELL FOR DEMOCRATS WHO DON'T OFTEN APPROACH SUCH SLIM MESSENGER IN KENTUCKY ANYMORE.

>> Bill: OF COURSE, THE RULING CAME TOO LIGHT FOR THEM TO FILE -- TOO LATE FOR THEM TO FILE CANDIDATES.

THEY DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF CANDIDATES IN THE LEGISLATIVE RACES.

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THIS CROWD OUT THE ATTENTION FOR AMENDMENT 1 WHICH SPECIFICALLY AFFECT THIS IS LEGISLATURE?

>> Austin: I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY CROWDS ATTENTION FOR AMENDMENT 1.

I COULD BE WRONG, BUT AS DEBBY SAID, THERE'S $20 MILLION SPENT IN KANSAS ON THIS THING, AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE THEM BEING ABLE TO SPEND AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY MIGHT NEED TO SELL AN AMENDMENT BECAUSE WHEN IT'S ONE THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT, YOU REALLY HAVE TO SELL IT FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE 'YOTE AMENDMENT.

YOU KNOW, OUR INERTIA IS WHAT WE'RE USED TO.

SO I'LL BE INTERESTED TO SEE IF THERE'S MUCH OF AN EFFORT.

>> Chris: SPEAKING OF WHICH, WHAT IS THE AMENDMENT?

>> Bill: EXPLAIN THAT BRIEFLY.

>> Deborah: THE TROUBLE IS THE BENEFIT, THE SUPREME COURT RULED A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT YOU'VE GOT TO PUT THE EXACT WORDING OF THE AMENDMENT AS IT'S PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE ON THE BALLOT, SO AMENDMENT 1 IS A FAIRLY DENSELY WORD IN LEGALESE WHICH ALLOWS THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION UP TO 12 DAYS A YEAR.

AND SOME OTHER PROVISIONS IN IT AS WELL.

BUT I READ THE THING, AND I HAD TO READ IT A COUPLE OF TIMES TO FIGURE IT OUT, WHEREAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2, WHICH IS ONE RELATED TO ABORTION, IS A SIMPLE ONE-LINE PROVISION THAT JUST SAYS, IF YOU WANT TO PROTECT LIFE IN KENTUCKY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO DECLARE THAT THERE'S NO RIGHT TO ABORTION IN THE CONSTITUTION, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> Bill: WELL, THE INTERESTED PARTIES FOR THOSE AMENDMENTS WILL BE INCHING CONTRACTING UP AND TRYING TO GET ATTENTION IN THE WEEKS AHEAD.

ON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND LET'S TALK SOME WORKFORCE ISSUES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THE U.S.

APPARENTLY HAS ABOUT 11.2 MILLION JOB OPENINGS RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S ROUGHLY TWO FOR EVERY JOB SEEKER.

KENTUCKY SEES THAT TREND AS WELL BUT THAT DOESN'T PAINT THE WHOLE PICTURE.

SO, CHRIS, WHAT ARE WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS PAINS RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF A LANDSCAPE OUT THERE?

>> Chris: WELL, EMPLOYERS ARE STILL FACING A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS.

THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF JOB OPENINGS, AS YOU SAID.

THAT'S CERTAINLY TRUE IN KENTUCKY AS WELL.

AND WORKERS ARE FACING -- YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE LOTS OF CHOICES TO PICK FROM, BUT INFLATION IS SO HIGH THAT IN MANY CASES THEIR WAGERS NOT KEEPING UP WITH INFLATION, AND SO, OF COURSE, THAT'S A SOURCE OF CONCERN AND FRUSTRATION FOR WORKERS.

BUT I THINK TODAY'S JOBS REPORT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL UNDERSCORES THAT A FEW MONTHS AGO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT ARE WE RIGHT ABOUT TO GET INTO A RECESSION?

IS IT RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER?

THERE WERE LOTS OF PROGNOSTICATIONS ABOUT THAT, BUT JOB GROWTH HAS BEEN NICE AND STEAD OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS NATIONALLY, AND SO I THINK THOSE FEARS ARE STARTING TO FALL TO THE WAYSIDE AND REALLY INFLATION IS SORT OF THE MAIN ECONOMIC CONCERN.

AND IN KENTUCKY, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT SHATTERING RECORDS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ACTUALLY, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND THE NATIONAL TREND IN TERMS OF RECOVERING JOBS FROM THE RECESSION, AND, OF COURSE, THE LABOR FORCE, WHICH IS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER LOOKING FOR WORK OR HAVE A JOB HAS NOT RETURNED TO ITS PRE-PANDEMIC LEVEL EITHER AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND ALSO IN KENTUCKY.

THAT'S A BIG CONCERN IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE WE ARE AMONG THE LOWEST STATES IN TERMS OF LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION.

>> Bill: ALSO ON THIS LABOR DAY WEEKEND WE'RE SEEING UNIONS GET FOOTHOLDS IN SOME INTERESTING PLACES, AND WE HAVE ONE INTERESTED PARTY TO THAT.

BUT, CHRIS, WE ASK YOU JOURNALISTS AT THE COURIER-JOURNAL VOTED THIS WEEK TO UNIONIZE, RIGHT?

>> Chris: THEY DID NOT ACTUALLY VOTE TO UNIONIZE.

THEY HAVE FILED A PETITION WITH THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A UNION.

THEY SAY THAT SUPER MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE BARGAINING UNIT, IT WOULD BE ABOUT 35 JOURNALISTS IN THE NEWSROOM, HAD INDICATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR FORMING A UNION.

GANNETT, WHICH OWNS THE COURIER, HAS FACED A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AMONG ITS JOURNALISTS OVER MANY, MANY ROUNDS OF STAFF CUTS, BUY-OUTS, DIMINISHING OF THE PRODUCT, SO TO SPEAK.

I'M NOT GOING TO PUT DEB ON THE SPOT HERE ABOUT WHAT SHE THINKS ABOUT IT.

BUT UNLESS LOUISVILLE ANOTHER THING WE'RE SEEING, COFFEE SHOPS ARE LIKE THE EPICENTER OF THE NEW UNION MOVEMENT, AND SO WE'VE HAD A FEW STARBUCKS THAT HAVE BEEN OVER 200 -- I THINK 250 STARBUCKS NATIONALLY THAT HAVE VOTED TO UNIONIZE, AND THERE'S A LOCAL CHAIN NAMED JAIME BROTHERS THAT HAS 17 STORES AND THEIR 200-SOMETHING WORKERS ARE GOING TO BE VOTING ON UNIONIZING NEXT WEEK.

THERE'S A BOOKSTORE THAT'S UNIONIZING.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A PICKUP, ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY THE LONG-TERM TREND, KENTUCKY WENT RIGHT TO WORK IN 2017, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE BROADER DATA ON IT, THE PERCENTAGE OF UNION WORKERS IS STILL ON THE DOWN TURN OVERALL.

>> Bill: DEB, WE'LL JUST ASK YOU ON THE SITUATION, AND WE DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT OWNERS HAVE NOT RECOGNIZED THE EFFORT THERE AT THE COURIER-JOURNAL, RIGHT?

>>> >> Deborah: NO, THEY HAVEN'T AND BELIEVE THE REPORTED ON IT YET.

WE'VE BEEN TALENT SILENT.

SOME OF THE OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS INCLUDING CHRIS' WDRB HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT IT AND FOLLOWED UP.

I THINK THE RESPONSE IS THAT WE RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OUR EMPLOYEES AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

>> Bill: WELL, 2,000 NEW JOBS, COMING TO THE BOWLING GREEN AREA.

GROUND WAS BROKEN THIS WEEK ON THE NEW ENVISION AUTO BATTERY PLANT, ABOUT A $2 BILLION INVESTMENT, 2,000 JOBS.

TO WHAT EXTENT DOES THAT REPRESENT A REAL FOCUS FOR KENTUCKY MANUFACTURING GOING FORWARD, COUNTRIES?

>> Chris: BILL, IT COULD BE THE FUTURE OF THE STATE A AUTOMATIC INDUSTRY.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WROTE A FAIRLY LENGTHY STORY SORT OF POSITING THAT KENTUCKY HAS MISSING THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE REVOLUTION, AND A LOT THAT IS CHANGED IN A YEAR.

SO THIS PLANT, AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE LARGER FORD, SK INNOVATION PLANT THAT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT WILL HAVE 5,000 JOBS, SOME $5 BILLION OF INVESTMENT, AND WE'RE ALREADY STARTING TO SEE THE NETWORK OF SUPPLIER PLANTS THAT WILL BE SERVING THESE BATTERY PLANTS.

I TALKED WITH ONE COMPANY THAT IS KOREAN, HAS ONE PERSON IN CALIFORNIA WHO ANSWERED THE PHONE, AND THEY'RE BUILDING A PLANT IN ELIZABETHTOWN THAT'LL EMPLOY 93 PEOPLE, VERY GOOD WAGES.

THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS SO IMPORTANT TO KENTUCKY, BILL, AND IT EMPLOYS SO MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE THIS SHIFT AND TO WHAT DEGREE THIS NEW SECTOR OF THE INDUSTRY GROWS UP ALONGSIDE THE EXISTING SECTOR, IS THERE EVER A POINT AT WHICH, YOU KNOW, ONE SORT OF CANNIBALIZEES THE OTHER WAS WHAT DOES THE FUTURE WORKFORCE LOOK LIKE, ARE THE JOBS AS GOOD AS THE ONES WE HAVE CURRENTLY.

BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT IN TERMS OF THIS NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE FOCUS THAT ALL THE AUTOMAKERS HAVE.

>> Bill: AND AS WE OBSERVE THE LITTLE CHANGES GOING ON ACROSS KENTUCKY, ALSO THIS WEEK NEW GAMING FACILITIES CAME ONLINE.

THE MINT OPENED IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY WITH HISTORICAL RACING.

IT HAS SOME TIES TO KEENELAND.

CHURCHILL DOWNS WAS CELEBRATED TURF WAY PARK WITH A BIG RENOVATION UP THERE, MAJOR RENOVATION.

HISTORICAL RACING IS EARNING SOME MONEY HERE.

>> Chris: BILL, THESE MACHINES THAT LOOK AND FEEL LIKE SLOT MACHINES, THEY PRINT MONEY.

I MEAN, THIS INDUSTRY HAS DONE INCREDIBLY WELL.

CHURCHILL DOWNS WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT ON THEIR EARNINGS CALL LAST MONTH ABOUT HOW THEIR THREE EXISTING FACILITIES AGAIN POSTING RECORD REVENUE, RECORD PROFITS, AND AS A COMPANY THEY ARE INVESTING A TON INTO THIS.

THEY ARE MAXIMIZING HISTORICAL HORSE RACING IN KENTUCKY.

I THINK THESE GAMING FACILITIES ARE GOING TO BE IN EVERY CORNER OF THE STATE WHERE THEY ARE NOT, AND, OF COURSE, THEY'RE BUILDING ONE IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE A VERY CASINO-LIKE FEEL RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN.

THEY'RE BUILDING A HOTEL AT THEIR EXISTING FACILITY IN LOUISVILLE.

SO THERE'S BEEN ALMOST $20 BILLION PUT INTO THESE MACHINES IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BETTING SINCE THIS STARTED IN 2011.

>> Bill: AND ARE THEY POSITIONED TO EVOLVE IF, YOU KNOW, IF CASINOS WERE EVER APPROVED BY THE VOTERS IF IT EVER GOT TO THE BALLOT OR, YOU KNOW, IF SPORTS BETTING EVER PASSED?

>> Chris: SO IF YOU LOOK AT A NOW, WHO CAN OPERATE A HISTORICAL HORSE RACING FACILITY?

ONLY A RACETRACK.

SO WE DON'T HAVE CASINOS AND WE DON'T HAVE COMPETITION FROM CASINOS WITHIN THE BORDERS OF KENTUCKY WE DO HAVE THEM IN BORDER STATES, OF COURSE, BUT YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF IF WE SUDDENLY AUTHORIZE CASINOS, WOULD THE STATE HAVE TO OPEN IT UP TO CAESAR'S AND ALL OF THE OTHER COMPANIES THAT DO CASINOS PROFESSIONALY?

I THINK THE HORSE RACING INDUSTRY REALLY LIKES HOW THIS IS SHAKING OUT WITH HISTORICAL RACING.

IT'S DOING REALLY WELL FOR THEM, AND IT'S ALSO PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THE LIVE RACING INDUSTRY WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE AS WELL.

>> Bill: THEY KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON THE LEGISLATURE, DON'T THEY?

>> Austin: THEY DO.

I WOULD BE SHOCKED IF THE HORSE INDUSTRY IS NOT WELL-POSITIONED FOR WHATEVER PIECE OF LEGISLATION COMES DOWN THE PIKE.

>> Chris: AND, OF COURSE, IF SPORTS BETTING WERE TO MAKE A RESURRECTION, OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD BE AN EASY ADDITION TO ALL OF THESE FACILITIES.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

AUSTIN, NEXT YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S RACE KEEPS GRABBING ALL THE ATTENTION AHEAD OF THE NOVEMBER ELECTION BUT WE HAVE A U.S. SENATE RACE IN KENTUCKY.

THIS WEEK GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR ENDORSE CHARLES BOOKER FOR THE U.S. SENATE, SOME OTHER KEY DEMOCRATS AND FORMER DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS DID AS WELL.

THAT WAS A PRESS RELEASE THAT CAME OUT.

AND SENATOR RAND PAUL LAUNCHED A TWO-MINUTE WEB AD.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A HEAD SCRATCHER WHEN THE BOOKER ENDORSEMENT FROM BESHEAR CAME VIA A PRESS RELEASE INSTEAD OF AN EVENT.

HE HAD AN EVENT WITH MCGOVERN MCGARVEY AND MATT LEMAN, AND I DON'T KNOW.

BESHEAR SAID THAT HE WOULD ENDORSE BOOKER AT A DATE AND TIME OF HIS CHOOSING, SO I GUESS WE HAVE TO ASSUME THAT THIS WAS HOW THEY CHOSE FOR THAT TO GO DOWN.

AND SENATOR RAND PAUL DID RELEASE HIS FIRST AD.

IT WAS A TWO-MINUTE LONG DIGITAL AD.

IT WAS VERY WORKMAN IN TONE AND KIND OF FOCUSED ON HIS MAJOR NATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND KIND OF A SIMILAR SORT OF THEME THAT YOU HAVE SEEN RAND PAUL HITTING ABOUT LIBERTY AND FREEDOM FOR REALLY HIS WHOLE CAREER.

>> Bill: AN ATTEMPT TO SOFTEN HIM A LITTLE SHOWING HIM PERFORMING EYE SURGERIES?

>> Austin: THANK YOU SO.

I FORGOT ABOUT THAT PART BUT EVERYBODY LOVERS THAT BIT FOR SURE.

>> Bill: KEB E. DEBBIE, THE CANDIDATES ARE FOR GOVERNOR RAISING MONEY IN INTERESTING WAYS.

NECESSITY WERE ALL TRYING TO BEAT AN END OF MONTH PROGRESS.

DANIEL CAMERON'S CAMPAIGN SAID IT WOULD PASS ALONG THE NAMES TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ANYBODY WHO CAVE HIM $50 OR MORE FOR HIS CAMPAIGN, AND DEMOCRAT ANDY BEAR'S CAMPAIGN RAISED THE SPECTER OF A WEALTHY REPUBLICAN ENTERING THE RACE, AND BESHEAR CAMPAIGN SAID THAT THAT WOULD ROLL BACK PROGRESS.

SO SOME INTERESTING WAYS THAT CANDIDATES ARE USING THEIR POTENTIAL OPPONENTS TO RAISE MONEY.

>> Deborah: DEFINITELY.

CAMERON PRESS RELEASE WAS A LITTLE INTERESTING.

IT MENTIONED FROM $50 DONORS, DANIEL CAMERON HIMSELF.

HE CLAIMED THEY WERE A LITTLE BIT BEHIND ON THEIR GOALS AND HE BLAMED BIDEN'S FAILING ECONOMY BUT ALSO SAID THE DEMOCRATIC BASE IS MORE EXCITED.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS KIND OF AN ODD APPROACH TO TAKE, TWO-EDGED BUT MAYBE IT'S WORKING FOR HIM.

BESHEAR KEEPS ALUONG TO THE SUPPOSED WEALTHY CANDIDATE WHO IS GOING TO JUMP IN, AND WE ASSUME HE'S TALKING ABOUT KELLIE THE CRAFT.

BUT MATT BEVIN?

>> Bill: AUSTIN BE, THOUGHTS?

>> Austin: ON BOTH OF THESE eMAILS, AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE REALLY ONLY HAVE EMAILS SO FAR TO KIND OF DIVINE THE TONE.

USUALLY WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS STUFF, IT INVOLVES TV ADS.

BUT BOTH OF THEM ARE REALLY TRYING TO STIR URGENCY, IN SOME CASES FEAR.

BESHEAR, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS RAISED A BOAT LOAD OF MONEY ALREADY FOR THIS EARLY IN THE PRIMARY, HE'S RAISING THE SPECTER OF KELLY CRAFT, AN EXTREMELY WEALTHY CANDIDATE GETTING IN, AND CAMERON IS BEING URGENT ABOUT HOW WE'VE MISSED OUR DEADLINE AND HE'S ONLY GOING AFTER BESHEAR.

MEANWHILE, ON THE REPUBLICANSIDE WE DO HAVE ONE CANDIDATE WHO ISN'T JUST BASHING THE OTHER SIDE AND THAT'S SAVANNAH MADDOX WHO HAS PREEMPTIVELY BAND OF KELLY CRAFT AND PRETTY MUCH CRITICIZED FOR BEINGY GO ALONG AND GET ALONG REPUBLICANS.

>> A NATIONAL ASSESSMENTS STUDENT ASSESSMENTS SHOWING THE WORSE FOR MATH SCORES AND WORST DECLINE IN REASONED SINCE 1990.

TO THAT WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION PROGRESS.

IT MEASURES THEFALL SINCE COVID HIT.

AND KENTUCKY'S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER DR. JASON GLASS TOLD ME THIS WEEK THAT HE EXPECTS KENTUCKY WILL BE IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL DECLINES.

>> IT MIRRORS A LOT OF THE NATIONAL TRENDS THAT WE'VE SEEN SO THERE'S NO GOING TO BE ANYTHING SURPRISING IN THAT.

I THINK IT'S DISAPPOINTING BUT ALSO EXPECTED DATA, AND IT IS SHOULD REDOUBLE OUR COMMITMENT TO HOW ARE WE GOING TO SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS AND OUR STUDENTS TOWARD IMPROVEMENT.

>> Bill: OH COMMISSIONER GLASS TALKING ABOUT HOW DEEP THE HOLE IS THAT WE'RE IN EDUCATIONALLY.

>> Deborah: I THINK IT'S MORE THAN DISAPPOINTING.

I THINK EDUCATORS VIEWED IT AS SOUNDING THE ALARM, THE SCORES HAVE DROPPED SO SIGNIFICANTLY, AND THIS MEASURES READING AND MATH SKILLS IN BASICALLY FOURTH GRADERS AND IT WAS THE FOURTH SIGNIFICANT DECLINE IN DECADES.

THIS WAS A SNAPSHOT OF THE NATION WHEN IT COMES TO MEASUREMENTS.

THEY WILL SAY THEY'LL RELEASE MORE DETAILED FINDING IN THE FALL, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE STATE BY STATE.

WE'LL KNOW MORE ABOUT HOW KENTUCKY DID THEN.

>> Bill: CHRIS, COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEY'RE BOURBON BARREL TAXES.

THE INDUSTRY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE GO WEAPON.

THERE'S SOME DISCUSSION UNDERWAY.

>> Chris: YES.

IN FACT THE LEGISLATURE HAS FORM A TASK FORCE TO DEAL WITH THE BOURBON INDUSTRY'S REQUEST THAT THISTEAU ON AGING BOURBON BARRELS BE -- TAX BE REMOVED OR DILUTED IN SOME FASHION, AND THIS WEEK THE LEADER OF BULLITT COUNTY CAME OUT TO LEGISLATURE TO TESTIFY, AND IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

WE GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE MONEY THAT THEY SPEND TO ENABLE INCREDIBLE GROWTH THAT THEY HAVE HAD IN THE INDUSTRY.

JIM BEAM, OF COURSE, IS THERE, FOUR ROSES AND OTHERS.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THIS MONEY PROVIDES TAXES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, AND DESPITE THE INCREDIBLE GROWTH OF THE BOURBON INDUSTRY IN THE LAST TEN YEARS, THEY ACTUALLY DON'T REALLY SHARE IN THAT GROWTH IN OTHER WAYS.

BULLITT COUNTY DOESN'T TAX WAGES, SO THEY DON'T GET THOSE TAXES, AND A LOT OF COUNTIES, BULLITT, NELSON AND OTHERS, HAVE ALSO GIVEN AWAY THE PROPERTY TAXES AS AN INCENTIVE TO GET THE BOURBONMAKERS TO DO THESE PROJECTS THAT THEY'RE DOING.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE THIS MONEY COMES FROM IF THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT MOVE.

>> Bill: WE PROMISED THE VIEWERS THIS.

THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IF LOANS, STUDENT LOANS ARE FORGIVEN, IS THAT TAXABLE.

>> Chris: BELIEVE IT OR NOT THERE'S MISINFORMATION OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET, AND IT TURNS OUT IN KENTUCKY IF YOU HAVE DEBT FORGIVEN, IT IS NOT TAXABLE FOR PURPOSES OF KENTUCKY INCOME TAX NOR AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, SO NO ONE LISTENING SHOULD WORRY ABOUT >> Bill: IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, DEBBIE, 7600 SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE STILL NOT BACK IN CLASS.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THERE.

>> Deborah: THEY HAD SO MANY SCHOOLS DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY THE FLOODING THAT THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON EITHER TRYING TO REPAIR THOSE PLACES.

SCHOOLS ARE EVER OR FINE ALTERNATE SITES FOR THEM.

>> Bill: IT'S INSPIRING THAT THEY'RE GOING TO RENAILED A SOME IGA.

>> Deborah: THAT ACHIEVED NATIONAL ATTENTION.

2S A LITTLE GROCERY STORE THAT WAS DESTROYED IN THE FLOOD, AND I THINK IT GOOD MOOCs EXPOSURE THIS WEEK WHEN FATHER JIMBO FISHER CO-WHO IS A CATHOLIC PRIEST FROM KENTUCKY SHOWED UP.

HE HAS A FLAIR FOR SHOWMANSHIP, AND HE SHOWED UP WITH $75,000 IN A BRIEFCASE HANDCUFFED TO HIS WRIST TO PRESENT TO THE PEOPLE AT THE IGA TO HELP THEM REBUILD THAT STORE.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, LEXINGTON APPARENTLY HAS ITS $4 MILLION BACK THAT WAS STOLEN.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

THOSE WERE TAKEN AND THEY WERE SEIZED FROM A PRIVATE ACCOUNT, AND RYAN THEY HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS AN INSIDE JOB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS.

>> Bill: THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

HAVE A SAY LABOR DAY AND A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.