NOVEMBER ELECTION, AMENDMENT 2 ON ABORTION DRAWS MORE ATTENTIO AND DEBATE.

IN NEXT YEAR'S RACES, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR KELLY CRAFT NAMES HER RUNNING MATE EVEN THOUGH THE LA REQUIRE THAT ANYMORE.

A CROWDED 2023 GOP PRIMARY RENEWS TALK OF RETURNING TO A RUNOFF ELECTION.

A PAROLE PANEL CAN'T AGREE ON THE FATE OF CONVICTED SCHOOL SHOOTER MICHAEL CARNEAL.

A CRISP FALL FEELING OUT THERE AS AUTUMN BEGINS, AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT O. KET GOOD EVENING, I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT AN SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEW IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR JOE SONKA, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

AND MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT, CLASSES ARE FINALLY BACK IN SESSION IN NEARLY ALL OF EASTERN KENTUCKY AFTER FLOODING, AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL BE YEARS BEFORE KENTUCKY CAN GET I UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM FIXED.

LET'S BEGIN THERE.

EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC THERE WAS A CRUSH OF UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS, AND THE STATE'S ANTIQUATED PROCESSING SYSTEM WAS OVERWHELMED.

PEOPLE STOOD IN LONG LINES AND SOME WAITED FOR MONTHS FOR BENEFITS.

EFFORTS TO FIX IT HAVE BEEN ELUSIVE, AND FINGER-POINTING HA BEEN ONGOING.

NOW THE STATE IS STARTING OVER WITH TRYING TO FIND A COMPANY TO FIX THE SYSTE.

>> WE DON'T HAVE AN OPTION BUT ON RESTART.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TIMELY PROCESS CLAIMS THAT ARE BEING FILED RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GOING TO DO THE JOB AT THE PRESENT AND THEN FIX THIS THING FOR THE FUTURE.

BUT TO SUGGEST THAT OVER DECADES THE LEGISLATURE CUT AND GUTTED AND UNDERFUNDED AND REFUSED TO IMPROVE AN PATIENT I.T.

SYSTEM AND THEN HANDED IT TO ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC, LISTEN, THERE ARE THINGS WE COULD HAVE DONE BETTER, BUT THIS FAULT GOES A LOT FURTHER THAN THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.

>> Bill: JOE, WE CAN SEE THAT THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY QUITE DEFENSIVE ABOUT THE SITUATION, AND WE SEE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT GOING AWAY SOON.

>> Joe: YEAH, WE JUST HAVE ANOTHER NEW CHAPTER OF THIS PERFECT STORM OF ERRORS ERRORS AND BAD LUCK THAT WAS PREVENT THIS UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM FROM GETTING FIXED, AND THE NEWEST EVENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING HERE IS THAT THE STATE PUT ON THE A BID FOR CONTRACTS FOR COMPANIES TO REBUILD THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM, WHICH IS SO REALLY VERY ANTIQUATED, BY 1970S COMPUTER LANGUAGE, AND THEY FINALLY PICKED A WINNER FOR THAT BID IN EARLY MAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS COMPANY STOPPED REPLYING TO THEM.

THEY DID NOT RETURN THE CONTRACT.

AND WE LEARNED IN LATE AUGUST THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD INDICTED TWO OF THOSE COMPANIES' TOP EXECUTIVES IN WEST VIRGINIA, BASICALLY ACCUSING THEM OF STEALING PROPRIETARY INFORMATION FROM ANOTHER COMPANY TO USE IN THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT WORK SERVICES FOR OTHER STATES.

SO NOW THE STATE HAS BASICALLY LOST A YEAR AS A TIME ON FINDING A NEW VENDOR.

THEY HAVE TO GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE AND THEY HAVE TO PUT OUT ALL OF THESE BIDS, AND TO MAKE MATTERS EVEN WORSE, SECRETARY JAIME LANK SAID THAT THIS COULD TAKE THREE TO THREE AND A HALF ADDITIONAL YEARS TO FIND ANOTHER VENDOR BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER STATES IN THE SAME SITUATION TRYING TO FIND A VETERAN AND THEY'RE ALL COMPETING WITH EACH OTHER AND THERE THAN THE ARE MANY VENDORS AVAILABLE.

>> Bill: AND DID THE TIME TO FIX ON IT TOP THAT.

>> Joe: THE TIME TO FIXATED TOP OF THAT.

SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A NEW VENDOR NEXT SPRING BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS.

>> Bill: STATE PURCHASING LAWS RULES ARE THERE FOR A REASON, BUT IF THE NUMBER ONE VENDOR DROPS OUT AND THERE ARE OTHERS, WHY CAN'T THE STATE ASSEMBLY MOVE ON TO NUMBER 2?

>> Joe: THAT'S A GOOD YES.

I THINK THERE'S NO ONE ELSE THAT WOULD WANT TO FIX THIS QUICKER THAN THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN SUCH AN EMBARRASSES AM.

BUT THEY SAY LEGAL THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS PROCUREMENT CODE AND THEY BELIEVE ACCORDING TO THE LAW THEY HAVE TO GO BACK ON THE DRAWING BOARD AND GO THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS AND CAN'T JUST PICK SECOND.

>> Bill: MARK, THE BLAME GAME IS ON.

IF GOVERNOR SAID HIS PREDECESSOR CLOSED DOWN OFFICES, BUT SOME REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS LIKE SENATOR MIKE NEMES SAY THEY THINKY THOUSAND BE FURTHER ALONG IN THE PROCESS.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GONE ON A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> Mark: I SAW WHERE SEAN ZORN KENTUCKY'S STATE GOP, HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WE HAVE GOT A RECESSION LOOMING AS WELL SO THE TIMING IS NOT GREAT HERE.

I THINK IN THE LONG TERM, I SUSPECT THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEW A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THIS IN THE UPCOMING GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: ALEX, IN THE END THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE AND NOT COMPUTER SYSTEMS REALLY.

IT'S ABOUT DELIVERING THOSE BENEFITS TO PEOPLE, AND EVERYBODY'S FRUSTRATIONS ARE UNLINED BY THAT.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE STATE AGENCIES THAT'S DESIGNED TO HAVE DIRECT, IMMEDIATE IMPACT WHEN IT'S CALLED UPON BY PEOPLE WHO NEED ITS SERVICES.

WE ALL REMEMBER THE LINES OF FOLKS STANDING OUTSIDE OF OFFICES AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, AS YOU MENTIONED, AND SO IT'S SORT OF EASY TO CONCEPTUALIZE, MAYBE NOT EASY TO SAY, OKAY, WE HAVE TO START OVER.

WE RECOGNIZE IT'S A MASSIVE EFFORT BUT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WHO LOST THEIR JOBS FROM THE PANDEMIC, AND IT'S JUST, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE ACTUAL SORT OF IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO GET FIXED.

>> Bill: WELL, WE WILL CERTAINLY BE LIVING THIS AND WATCHING IT IN THE LOOKS LIKE MONTHS AND MAYBE YEARS TO COME.

THERE WERE SEVERAL POLITICAL HAPPENINGS THIS WEEK.

THERE'S BEGINNING TO BE MORE TALK ABOUT GOING BACK TO A RUN OFF LAW WHERE THE TOP TWO VOTE-GETTERS IN THE MAY PRIMARY WOULD THEN BE FACING OFF FOR THE NOMINATION, LIKELY AN ELECTION IN JUNE.

JOE, KENTUCKY HAD A RUNOFF LAW FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS STARTING IN THE 1990S.

IT WAS NEVER USED BECAUSE IN THOSE DAYS THE WINNERS CLEARED THE THRESHOLD WHICH WAS 40%, BUT WITH THIS HUGE FIELD OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF CONCERN THAT THE WINNER COULD EMERGE WI SPLINTER OF SUPPORT.

>> Joe: GERIATRICS THERE'S DEFINITELY CONCERN ABOUT THAT.

YOU HAVE SO MANY REPUBLICAN CAPES 1 EVEN PROMINENT, DR.

VERY FORMIDABLE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES, IT'S CERTAINLY POSSIBLE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A WINNER COME OUT OF THAT PRIMARY WITH LESS THAN 25% OF THE VOTE, SO THERE'S TALK ABOUT GOING BACK TO THIS SYSTEM WHERE YOU HAVE A RUNOFF IF NO ONE REACHES THE 40% THRESHOLD IN THE PRIMARY, THEN THERE'S A APPREHENSIVE BETWEEN THE TWO TOP CANDIDATES.

KINDS OF A WEASEL WILKINSON RULE THAT'S PUT INTO EFFECT AFTER 18IEN AFTER THAT GOVERNOR'S RACE.

RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST TALK.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE EARN TALK AND MORE SERIOUSLY IF A CERTAIN CANDIDATE NAMED MATT BEVIN DECIDES TO JUMP INTO THE RACE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT WHETHER THE NOMINEE IS CAST OR QUARLES OR CAMERON, SOME OF THOSE BIG NAMES, THEY FEEL VERY CONFIDENT TO THAT THEY CAN BEAT BESHEAR THE IN GENERALLECTION.

MATT BEVIN WOULD BE ANOTHER MATTER.

SO I THINK RIGHT NOW THERE'S TALK ABOUT THIS.

IT'S KIND OF A BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF BEVIN RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WE'VE NEVER COVERED A RAHN ELECTION, MARK, RIGHT, IN THIS STATE?

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO SEE, AND CANCEL SOME JUNE VACATIONS NEXT YEAR, RIGHT?

>> Mark: WE'LL HAVE TO REACH FOR THAT BREAK GLASS HANDLEBAR.

>> Bill: ALSO THIS WEEK, FORMER REPUBLICAN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT ANNOUNCED HER RUNNING MATE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

STATE SENATOR MAXES WISE OF CAMPBELLSVILLE, ALTHOUGH SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE LAW HAS BEEN CHANGED AND CANDIDATES CAN NOW WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE PRIMARY.

IT MAY BE, I THINK THE THINKING WAS WHEN THAT LAW WAS PASSED, THEY MIGHT WANT TO CHOOSE SOMEONE THEY DEFEATED IN THAT PRIMARY, RIGHT?

>> Joe: YEAH, BUT THANK YOU IN IN CASE CRAFT NEEDS HELP IN THE PRIMARY, DURING THE PRIMARY.

A LOT OF VOTERS KNOW THAT CRAFT WAS AMBASSADOR UNDER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THEY KNOW THAT SHE'S WEALTHY AND SHE'S MARRIED TO THIS COAL BARREN BUT THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW HER IN THE SAME WAY THEY KNOW, SAY, DANIEL CAMERON WHO HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS FOR FOUR YEARS OR RYAN QUARLES WHO HAS BEEN COUNTRIES ACROSS 10 STATE FOR YEARS WRECK SONAR MAX WISE CAN HELP HER CAMPAIGN AND REACH VOTERS THE IN PRIMARY.

>> Mark: CAMERON AND QUARLES HAVE HAD SUCH A HEAD START OVER THE SUMMERS I CAN.

ING UP ENDORSEMENT.

CRAFT GOT THE FROM TRUMP.

YOU THE THIS IS KIND OF A WAY TO KIND OF SPEED UP THAT PROCESS AND SAY MAX WISE IS ONBOARD WITH ME TOO.

>> Bill: IF YOU TAKE AWAY POTENTIAL ALSO-RANS FROM BEING A RUNG MATE, DO YOU ALSO TAKE AWAY THE INCENTIVE TO BE NICE DURING THE PRIMARY ELECTION SEASON?

>> Mark: WELL, YOU COULD HAVE AN EARLY ATTACK DOG, GLOVERS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS ARE OFTEN THE ATTACK DOG TO SAY THE MEAN THINGS THAT THE MAIN CANDIDATE DOESN'T SAY, SO MAYBE THIS IS A FASTER WAY TO DO THAT.

>> Bill: WE SAID CRAFT PHENOMENAL ONE WHO HAS ANNOUNCED A RUNNING MATE.

AS BESHEAR SAID THAT JACQUELINE COLEMAN WILL BE HIS RUNNING MATE NEXT YEAR?

>> Mark: NI EVERYONE PRETTY MUCH PRESUMES THAT SHE WILL BE THE RUNNING MATE.

>> Bill: JOE, SENATOR WISE IS A COLLEGE PROFESSOR.

HE THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING TO GOVERNOR HIMSELF.

WHAT DOES HE BRING TO THE CRAFT TICKET?

>> Joe: WELL, I THINK HE'S GOT A LOT OF RESPECT AMONG FRANKFORT REPUBLICANS FOR THE TYPE OF LEGISLATION HE PUSHED THROUGH.

HE'S THE CHAIRMAN OF SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

HE IS PUSHED THROUGH RECENTLY HIGH PROFILE BILLS ON CURRICULUM AND HISTORY COURSES.

HE'S PUSHED THROUGH RELATION ON SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

HE'S EVEN PUSHED THROUGH THE NIL BILL WHICH AFFECTS WHAT COLLEGE ATHLETES CAN MAKE THROUGH NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS.

THAT'S WILL JOHN CALIPARI SITTING NEXT TO MINIMUM IN A COMMITTEE MEETING ON THIS, MEETING ON THAT BILL SO HE HAS THAT ADDED APPEAL OF UK ATHLETICS, WHICH IS CERTAINLY WHAT KELLY CRAFT ALSO LIKES TO PORTRAY.

>> Mark: HE ALSO BRINGS VOTERS AND A FUN RAISING NETWORK.

SEEMS PRETTY POPULAR IN THINKS DISTRICT IN SOUTH WESTERN KENTUCKY SO THAT'S A NICE CLASS OF REPORTERS THAT KELL CRAFT IS GOING TO WANT AND SHE'S HE'S FRIENDS WITH JAIME COMER WHO HAS ALSO SPOKEN WELL OF CRAFT SO PERHAPS SHE'LL BE ABLE TO TAP INTO CONGRESSMAN COMB AREAS FUNDRAISING AS WELL.

>> Bill: WITH EPISCOPAL CANDIDATES GEOGRAPHY COULD PLAY A ROLE IN THIS.

IT COULD BE FAVORITE SONS ARE ON DAUGHTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> Joe: AND QUARLES BEING AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER HAS PICKED UP LOTS OF RURAL SUPPORT AROUND THE STATE FROM DIFFERENT JUDGE EXECUTIVES SO THIS IS ONE THAT KELLY CRAFT CAN KIND OF MARK OUT A LOT OF SUPPORT IN THAT SOUTH-CENTRAL REGION.

>> Bill: BEFORE WE GET TO THAT ELECTION AND EVERYBODY'S KIND OF JUMPING INTO IT ALREADY, OBVIOUSLY IN KENTUCKY AMONG APPLICABLE OBSERVERS, BUT THE NOVEMBER ELECTION THIS YEAR IS CLOSE AT HAND.

MORE TALK, ALEX, ABOUT AMENDMENT 2.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO BUT ABORTION IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

>> RENEE: >> ALEX: THAT IS SORT OF THE HOT TOPIC.

WE ARE I BELIEVE THE SECOND STATE AFRICANS TO HAVE THIS ACTUALLY ON THE BALLOT AFTER WADE VERSUS ROE WAS OVERTURNED.

WE GOT SORT OF INSIGHT INTO BOTH CAMPAIGNS, THE CAMPAIGN TO PASS THE AMENDMENT AND THE CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT THE AMENDMENT.

THIS PAST WEEK WHEN CAMPAIGN 9 REPORTS WERE DUE AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEE HOW MUCH BOTH HAS RAISE PD PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS, THIS IS THE CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, HAS RAISED ALMOST FOUR TIMES AS MUCH AS YES FOR LIFE.

AND IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, IF YOU LOOK AT THE BREAKDOWN.

SO PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS RAISED ABOUT $1.4 MILLION IN 2022.

YES FOR LIFE CLOSER TO $350,000.

THESE CAMPAIGNS ARE STILL BEING FUNDED LARGELY BY ORGANIZATIONS.

YES FOR LIFE HAS LOCAL BAPTIST, CATHOLIC, THE KENTUCKY BAPTIST CONVENTION, OH, AND KENTUCKY RIGHT TO LIFE, THE SORT OF ORGANIZATIONS YOU WOULD EXPECT TO FUND SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE ACU WILL GIVEN THE BULK OF MONEY TO PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS OVER $1 MILLION.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO ROUGHLY 50 LICENSED PHYSICIANS THAT HAVE INDIVIDUALLY DETAINED TO PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS, MOST OF WHOM PRACTICE THE IN STATE, AND SO IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

I ASKED YES FOR LIFE THIS WEEK, YOU KNOW, SINCE THEY'VE RAISED SO MUCH LESS MONEY, DO THEY HAVE THEIR OWN POLLING THAT INDICATES THEY COULD HAVE SEMISOFT EDGE THAT DOESN'T COME FROM MONEY.

SOME SORT OF EDGE.

AND I WAS TOLD WHATEVER POLLING THEY HAVE IS CONFIDENTIAL.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY A WATCHED QUESTION.

>> Bill: MARK, I KNOW YOU'RE SEEING SOME ACTIVITY OVER LOUISVILLE, SOME EVENTS AND SO ON.

>> Mark: YEAH, JUST LAST WEEK THE KENTUCKY RIGHT TO LIFE ASSOCIATION HAD A TRAINING SESSION FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO GET THE WORD OUT, AND THEN THE WEEK BEFORE THAT ACLU AND PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND REPRESENTATIVE NEMEC AND KULKARNI SPONSORED THIS INFORMATIONAL FORUM WHERE THEY WERE BASICALLY TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AS WELL, AND I KNOW THAT NEXT, ONE WEEK FROM NOW ON A SATURDAY I BELIEVE THE RIGHT TO LIFE ASSOCIATION HAS A BIG RALLY CAPITOL, SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF EVENTS AS WELL AS BIG MONEY MOVES.

>> Joe: THERE'S DEFINITE GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS, AND I THINK IT'S AM WILL CERTAIN THERE WILL BE MORE MONEY SPENT ON THIS UNREQUEST AMENDMENT QUESTION THAN ANY OTHER RACE ON THE BALLOT IN KENTUCKY.

IN KANSAS, THERE WAS THE AMENDMENT THAT WAS DEFEATED THERE IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE STATE AND IT WAS DEFEATED BY A LARGE MARGIN.

THIS THERE WAS $22 MILLION SPENT ON BOTH SIDES ON THAT AMENDMENT AND IT WAS ABOUT EVENLY SPLIT BETWEEN BOTH SIDES.

I THAN THE WOO BE SURPRISED AFTER IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE THERE'S WELL OVER $10 MILLION SPENT ON THIS ONE.

>> Bill: ALEX, AMENDMENT 2 IS PRETTY TITLE WORDED HERITAGE IT IS.

AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY NOW THAT I THINK OF IT IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE THE KENTUCKY ACCESS MIRED HOWARD THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER THAT LED THE CAMPAIGN IN KANSAS TO SUCCESSFULLY DEFEAT THE AMOUNT OF OF RACHEL SWEET, SO ESSENTIALLY, AND IT WAS A PUSH █WYE REPUBLICANS.

I THINK JOE FISCHER WAS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF IT, RUNNING FOR STATE SUPREME COURT.

DO I WANT TO ADD YES OR NO?

DO YOU WANT TO ADD THE FOLLOWING WORDS TO THE KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION THAT NOTHING WOULD CLAYS BASICALLY GUARANTEE A PROTECTED RIGHT TO ABORTION OR THE FUNDING OF AN ABORTION?

SO I HAVE HEARD PROPONENTS OF THE AMENDMENT SAY THAT THIS WOULD IN FACT MAKE THE CONSTITUTION NEUTRAL BECAUSE THERE'S NO EXPLICIT MENTION OF ABORTION RIGHT NOW.

PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS IS SAYING THIS WOULD IN EFFECT BAN THE PRACTICE BECAUSE WHAT IT WOULD DO IS GIVE ULTRA CONTROL TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SORT OF REMOVE CONTROL FROM THE JUDICIARY IN HAVING A SAY ON THIS ISSUE, AND THERE'S A LOT RIDING ON IT.

WE KNOW THAT IT'S REPUBLICANS SUPER MAJORITY THAT HAS WORKED VERY HARD TO LIMIT ABORTION ACCESS IN THE STATE.

RIGHT NOW, A WEEK AFTER THE ELECTION, THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT IS GOING TO WEIGH IN ON THE CHALLENGE TO THE TRIGGER LAW WHICH BANS ABORTION STATEWIDE.

>> Bill: THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID THEY WANT TO SEE WHERE THE VOTERS GO ON THAT, RIGHT?

>> Alex: RIGHT.

AND SO WE GET VOTER INPUT ON THIS ISSUE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE I CAN REMEMBER.

AND SO -- AND AS MARK SAID, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EFFORT INTO CANVASSING.

GROWTH BOTH GROUPS ARE HAVING A LOT OF EVENTS.

THERE'S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS TONIGHT IN LEXINGTON.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUSHING HARD UNTIL THE ELECTION.

>> Bill: AMENDMENT 1 IS GETTING A LITTLE LOST IN CONVERSATION OUT THERE BUT SOME COUNTY CLERKS ARE URGING PEOPLE TO READ IT AHEAD OF TIME.

IT'S EXTENSIVE.

SOME SOME HAVE JOKED LIGHTS HIKE A CVS LENGTH RAT IN ITS LETTING BUT IT WOULD LET THE PART-TIME LEGISLATURE CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Joe: RIGHT NOW ONLY THE GOVERNOR CAN DO THAT SO THIS WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL THEMSELF INTO SESSION OF UP TO 12 DAYS.

IT WOULD ALSO LET THEM GO LATER INTO THE YEAR.

RIGHT NOW IT WOULDN'T CHANGE THE NUMBER OF DAYS FROM A 30 DAY SESSIONS AND 60 DAY SESSION BUT IT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO DELAY THAT UNTIL LATER IN THE YEAR.

SO IT'S REALLY A LONG BALLOT QUESTION AND I'M NOT SURE HOW FAR PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET INTO IT BEFORE THEIR EYES GLAZE OVER AND THEY MOVE WOULD BE BUT IT'S REALLY ABOUT GIVING THE LEGISLATURE MORE POWER TO BE IN FRANKFORT MORE DAYS MAKING LAWS.

>> Bill: WHICH GOVERNOR BESHEAR OPPOSES.

HE'S EXPRESSED A STRONG OPPOSITION TO IT.

HE SAYS THAT IT'S GREEDY THAT THE LEGISLATURE WANTS MORE PAY.

YOU SUSPECT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON.

>> Mark: I SEE WHY HE'S SAYING THAT BUT I THINK WHAT IT REAL BOILS DOWN TO IS POWER.

THE LEGISLATURE WANTS THE POWER TO CALL THEMSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION, AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY HAS A BEEF WITH GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

I MEAN, WE ALL REMEMBER THE SPECIAL SESSION THAT FORMER GERRY MATT BEVIN CALLED THAT LASTED ABOUT A DAY.

SO I THINK THIS JUST GIVES THEM MORE POWER, AND KENTUCKY'S INLAND ONE OF ONLY 14 STATS IN WHICH ONLY THE GOVERNOR IS ALLOWED TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION.

ALL THE OTHER STATES YOUR LEGISLATURE CAN ALREADY DO IT.

>> Bill: SO EVERYBODY READ UP ON THAT ONE BEFORE YOU TRY TO DO THAT ON ELECTION DAY.

COULD BE TOUGH MPT U.S. SENATE RACE THE REPUBLICAN RAND PAUL RUNNING A HEAVY SCHEDULE OF TV AND SOCIAL MEDIA ADS.

DEMOCRATIC CHARLES BOOKER DOESN'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MATCH THOSE ADS.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK LIKE THE CHANCES OF A DEBATE ARE AND IN THAT SENATE RACE IS PRETTY SLIM.

>> Joe: APPARENTLY RAND PAUL DID NOT INDICATE THAT HE'S GOING TO ATTEND THE KT EVENT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CHARLES BOOKS.

>>> >> Bill: AN APPEARANCE TO KET.

>> Joe: YES, THERE'S REALLY A QUESTION OF WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY DEBATE AT ALL IF RAND WON'T DO THAT.

HE OBVIOUSLY HAS A -- IS A STRONG FAVORITE TO WIN THE RACE, BEING THAT KENTUCKY IS SUCH A CONSERVATIVE VOTING STATE RIGHT NOW.

HE'S GOT A HUGE ADVANTAGE IN FUNDRAISING.

HE'Srd UP ON THE AIR WITH ADS NOW.

AND THERE'S ALSO THE FACT THAT HE HAS -- THERE'S A SUPER PAC SUPPORTING HIM THAT HAS UNLESS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CAST THE RACE DOES GET CLOSE AND BOOKER DOESN'T HAVE THAT.

HE'S CERTAINLY THE FAVORITE, AND A LOT OF TIMES IF YOU'RE UP IN THE POLLS AND YOU HAVE THE MONEY ADVANTAGE, YOU DON'T WANT TO RISK SAYING SOMETHING DUMB IN A DEBATE AND YOU WANT TO AVOID THAT.

>> Bill: BUT IT WOULD BE UNUSUAL.

GENERALLY THERE IS A SUSAN GRAYSON SENATE DEBATE IN THE KENTUCKY.

>> Mark: AND IT GET WHERE IT MAKES SENSE STRATEGICALLY SENATOR PAUL NOT TO DO DEBATE I.

IN AMERICA I BELIEVE EVERY RACE OF THIS MAGNITUDE SHOULD HAVE A I DEBATE, WHETHER YOU'RE A DEMOCRATIC DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, A HUGE FAVORITE OR CLOSE, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE DEBATES.

>> Joe: AND THIS WOULD BE RARE FOR RAND PAUL TO PASS UP THE CHANCE TO SPEAK IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.

HE LIKES THAT.

>> Bill: SO FAR IT HASN'T BEEN ARRANGED AS FAR AS JOINT APPEARANCE.

ALEX, SCHOOL BELLS ARE RING IN NEARLY OFF EASTERN KENTUCKY AFTER THE FLOODING.

IT'S BEEN ANOTHER DUFF HAVE TOUCH DISRUPTIONS.

MANY HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS ARE REALLY WATCHING STUDENTS AND FOR THAT MATTER STAFF AND FACULTY CLOSELY AS WHO TO HOW THEY EMOTIONAL HANDLE ALL THIS.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

MANY SCHOOLS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY ARE COMING BACK.

THEY WERE DELAYED A MONTH SORRY MORE IN SOME CASES.

AND IS THE CASE FOR MANY OF THEM, NOT ONLY WERE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS AFFECTED.

SOME LOST THEIRS HOMES.

HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ARE STILL DISPLACED OR WITHOUT HOMES.

MANY LOST EVERYTHING.

AND SO WHEN THEY COME BACK INTO SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, SORT OF WE'RE COMING OFF OF COVID WHEN I THINK TEACHERS ALSO DOUBLED AS COUNSELORS BECAUSE STUDENTS UNDERSTANDABLY NEED SO MUCH SUPPORT, I THINK THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE THE CASE NOW AND PROBABLY FOR YEARS TO COME AS STUDENTS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY LEAVE SCHOOL, THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME BASE TO GO HOME TO, MANY OF THEM, WHICH IS A HARD BURDEN OBVIOUSLY TO CARRY.

>> Bill: VERY DIFFICULT CHALLENGES UP THERE CONTINUING.

WELL, SCHOOL SHOOTER MICHAEL CARNEAL WAS CONVICTED THE IN 1997 SHOOTINGS AT HEATH HIGH SCHOOL NEAR PA DUKA.

HE IS NOW ELIGIBLE TO PAROLE AND A TWO-PERSON PANEL COULDN'T DECIDE WITH WHETHER TO RELEASE HIM.

HERE IS HEART OF WHAT HE TOLD THE PANEL THIS WEEK.

>> THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION OR EXCUSE FOR WHAT I DID.

I'M OFFERING AN EXPLANATION.

I REALIZE THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR WHAT I DID.

THAT'S JUST -- I'M JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN.

>> SO IF WE FAST FORWARD FROM THAT DAY UNTIL TODAY, ARE YOU STILL HAVING -- HEARING VOICES THAT TELL YOU TO DO THINGS?

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> Bill: MARK,, THOSE VOICES TOLD HIM TO COMMIT THE VIOLENCE AND HE STILL HEARS VOICES.

>> Mark: YEAH.

IN FACT, HE SAID THAT JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE THAT HEARING HE HEARD VOICES, THAT VOICES TOLD HIM TO THROW HIMSELF DOWN SOME STAIRS.

NOW, TO HIS CREDIT HE SAID THAT HE NO LONGER DOES WHAT THE VOICES TELL HIM TO DO AND THAT HE'S DEDICATED TO HIS MENTAL HEALTH AND THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE A VERY STRONG PLAN FOR WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO IF HE WERE TO BE RELEASED, AND I THINK THAT WAS A BIG CONCERN FOR BOTH OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PANEL.

YOU COULD TELL THAT NECESSITY REALLY WANTED TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT MORE -- THEY REALLY WANTED TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO GET A JOB, GET MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, THAT KIND OF THING.

>> Bill: AND THIS GOES NOW TO A FULL PAROLE BOARD MONDAY, RIGHT?

>> Mark: IT THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THEIR VOTE CAN JUST BE A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A UNANIMOUS VOTE IN THE SAME WAY, AND THEY COULD HAVE CONDITIONS FOR HIS RELEASE, LIKE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT.

YOU SEE THAT ALL THE TIME WITH PAROLE.

THEY'VE GOT THREE CHOICES.

THEY CAN EITHER PAROLE HIM, THEY CAN DEFER THE DECISION FOR MONTHS OR FOR YEARS OR THEY CAN BASICALLY TELL HIM WHY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SERVE OUT THE REST OF YOUR LIFE SENTENCE.

>> Bill: JOE HEATH WAS ONE OF THE VERY EARLY SHOOTINGS SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN THE COUNTRY.

DURING AN INTERIM HEARING IN FRANKFORT THIS WEEK THERE WAS TESTIMONY THAT SCHOOLS ARE DOING BETTER IN HIRING AND IDENTIFYING THE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, BUT THERE ARE STILL MORE THAN 500 SCHOOLS THAT DON'T HAVE ONE.

>> Joe: YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT HALF OF THE SCHOOLS IN THE ENTIRE STATE AND, OF COURSE, THIS WAS AN UNFUNDED MANDATE AND THERE ARE MANY SCHOOLS THAT SAID THEY JUST TONIGHT AT COULDN'T AFFORD THAT.

OTHERS ARE SAYING EVEN.

THEY WANTED TO THERE AREN'T ENOUGH OFFICERS FOR THEM TO HIRE IN THAT POSITION.

IT'S ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE LAWS THAT THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO HIRE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COUNSELORS, MENTAL HEALTH WORKERS, ONE PER 250 STUDENTS, AND ONLY HALF OF SCHOOLS HAVE FULFILLED THAT, TOO, SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TOCH KOPPE ON BOTH OF THOSE.

>> Bill: WE LEARNED THIS WEEK, MARK, MORE THAN 500,000 KENTUCKIANS, ABOUT A TENTH OF THE STATE'S POPULATION ARE ELIGIBLE FOR STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS.

PEOPLE ARE BEING GIVEN SOME GUIDANCE ABOUT HOW THEY APPLY AND THE TIME FRAMES FOR THAT.

BUT THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> Mark: THAT IS A BIG NUMBER AND THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF ELECTORATE.

THAT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THIS MOVE BY BIDEN MIGHT HAVE BEEN A MIDTERM ELECTION STRATEGY.

>> Bill: I DON'T, AN EMERGING FOR THE LEGISLATURE SEEMS TO BE WHERE THESE ELECTRICAL SARGE CHARGING STATIONS ARE GOING TO GO.

THERE'S A PLAN FOR STATE BUT THE KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES SAID IT'S A TOP PRIORITY FOR THEM IN THE COMING SESSION.

>> THEY WANT TO SEE HALL THESE NEW TAXES AND FEES ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THEY WANT THIS NEW FUNDING TO GO THROUGH OLD ROAD OPPORTUNITYING FORMULA THAT EVERYTHING ELSE GOES THROUGH THAT MAKE SURE HA THEY GET A PIECE OF THAT AND THEY GET THEIR FAIR SHARE BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY LOCAL ROADS AND LOCAL BRIDGES THAT THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN.

>> RENEE: >> Bill: ALEX, MEDICARE PART D UP 20% FROM 2020 TO 2021.

A SIMILAR TREND IN KENTUCKY.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KNOWS IT IS PAYING FOR DRUGS THAT ARE BEING USED.

>> Alex: YES, FLANKLY THEY'VE GONE KNOWN IT FOR A WHILE LIKE DOCTORS KNOW THAT DRUGS THEY ARE PRESCRIBING ARE BEING ABUSED.

JUST OVER 1 MILLION MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ARE DIAGNOSED WITH OPIOID USE DISORDERS.

ONLY 200,000 GOT TREATMENT FOR IT.

OOH ITS A BIG NUMBER.

IT'S AN INCREASE.

WE KNOW THAT OVERDOSES ALSO INCREASED DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT I THINK HAVING DATA HELPS AND IT HELPS YOU SORT OF MORE TARGET CERTAIN POPULATIONS TO HELP WITH CONNECTING WITH TREATMENT PLANS, WHICH I SUPPOSE IS THE SILVER LINING BUT OBVIOUSLY IT'S STILL A PROBLEM.

>> Bill: ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON AND A BAPTIST GROUP OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL WANTED FENNEL DECLARED A WEAPONCH MASS DESTRUCTION.

IT IS CONSIDERED A WEAPON IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Alex: IT IS.

FENNEL HAS DRIVEN KENTUCKY'S OVERDOSE RATES FOR YEARS.

SOME QUESTION, THOUGH, THE ACTUAL VALUE IN DESIGNATING SOMETHING LIKE THIS WHEN WE ALREADY HAVE SUCH A STIGMA AMONG POPULATIONS THAT STRUGGLE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, REALLY IT'S A SYMBOLIC THING AT THIS POINT, BUT FENTANYL HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A WHILE, WE'VE KNOWN IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A WHILE.

COMPAT COMBATING IT IS THE ISSUE.

>> Bill: LET'S LOOK AT THE MAP OUT ON COVID THIS WEEK.

WE HAD SO MANY TOUGH DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT EARLY ON.

ALEX, NOW SOME CONCERN ABOUT FLU SEASON.

>> Alex: THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT FLU SEASON.

COVID IS RECEDING.

BUT EVEN THAT IS PLATEAUING.

BUT THE CABINET FOR FAMILY AND HEALTH SERVICES AND THE FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY KENTUCKY STARTED A CAMPAIGN TO GET PEOPLE VACCINATED AND ALSO GET THEM VACCINATED FOR THE FLU BECAUSE IN AUSTRALIA IT'S BAD AND THAT PORTENDS.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY HALL OF FAME INDUCTED ITS 2020 CLASS LAST NIGHT IN LEXINGTON.

EIGHT JOURNALISTS WERE HONORED INCLUDING THE LATE LOUISVILLE MELISSA FORSYTHE, AND ONE OF OUR REGULAR COURIER-JOURNAL REPORTER DEBORAH YETTER.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW LAST OF HALL-OF-FAMERS.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.