IN LOUISVILLE - A STUDENT IN LOUISVILLE A STUDENT IS KILLED AND TWO OTHERS HURT IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AT A SCHOOL BUS STOP TOUCHING OFF ANGER AND GRIEF IN AN ALREADY VIOLENT YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS COVID CASES MAY BE LEVELING OFF.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS BUT THE BATTLE AGAINST THE VIRUS IS FAR FROM OVER.

MORE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS DISPATCHED TO HELP OVERWHELMED HOSPITALS.

AND KENTUCKY SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL DARING DEMOCRATS TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING - ON THEIR OWN AS A POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS.

THE START OF FALL BRINGS A SLIGHT CHILL TO THE AIR AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON K-E-T!

GOOD EVENING.

I'M LAWRENCE SMITH OF WDRB NEWS, SITTING IN FOR BILL BRYANT.

WELCOME TO COMMENT ON KENTUCKY YOUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS WILL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN COMMONWEALTH AND PROVIDE SOME ANALYSIS.

OUR PANEL TONIIGHT: DARCY COSTELLO, METRO GOVERNMENT REPORTER FOR THE COURIER JOURNAL ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER AND MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT A REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WANTS TO MAKE ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN PERMANENT.

AND THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO RESTRICT VEHICLE ACCESS TO THE STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX.

BUT FIRST GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR SAYS THE COVID-19 SURGE MAY BE LEVELING OFF.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE LEVEL IS STILL WAY TOO HIGH.

>> IF WE PLATEAU AT THE LEVEL WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, WE CANNOT SUSTAIN IT IN OUR HOSPITALS.

IT IS TOO MUCH WITH TOO MANY PEOPLE SICK WITH MORE PEOPLE PER SETS OF CASES GETTING SICK BECAUSE THE DELTA VARIANT IS MORE AGGRESSIVE.

>> THE GOVERNOR DELIVERING NEWS THAT'S BOTH PROMISING AND TROUBLING.

WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW WITH COVID?

>> AS GOVERNOR BESHEER SAID LAST WEEK, WE ARE NO LONGER SEEING THE RAPID WEEK-OVER-WEEK HOSPITALIZATIONS AND POSITIVITY RATE WE'VE SEEN FOR TWO MONTHS SO IT IS LEVELLING OFF.

FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS IT LOOKS TO BE.

THIS IS THE THIRD WEEK.

WE HAVE A PLATEAU OF NEW CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS AND THE POSITIVITY RATE BUT LIKE HE SAID AND YOU SAID, IT'S WAY TOO HIGH.

70%, NEARLY 70% OF OUR 96 ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS THIS WEEK ARE REPORTING CRITICAL STAFFING SHORTAGES.

TODAY WE ONLY HAD 107ICU BEDS AVAILABLE ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE WHICH IS 93% CAPACITY.

AS HE SAID, IT'S A GOOD SIGN BUT IT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE WITH THE LEVEL THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

>> A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ARE STILL DYING.

>> WE'RE STILL IN DOUBLE-DIGIT DEATHS.

YESTERDAY, 140 NEW DEATHS REPORTED.

TODAY 26.

HE REPORTS THE NEW AGES.

THE AGES RUN THE GAMUT OF PEOPLE IN THEIR 20S, 30S, 40S, AND 50S.

EVEN THOUGH HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE LEVELED OFF, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON ICU AND VENTILATORS IS YET TO LEVEL OFF.

>> THE GOVERNOR IS DISPATCHING NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO HELP WITH THE HOSPITALS.

>> WE HAVE THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD HELPING OUT AT 29, LAST I CHECKED, HOSPITALS BECAUSE, AGAIN, SO MANY ARE SHORT-STAFFED.

SO MANY HAVE WANING RESOURCES.

AGAIN, IT'S THE FIRST GLIMMER OF POTENTIAL HOPE AND YOU HAVE TO PLATEAU BEFORE YOU CAN DECLINE, BUT WE'RE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS BY FAR.

>> FOR THE FIRST TIME, THOSE TROOPS ARE GOING TO U K HEALTHCARE.

>> THEY ARE, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST HOSPITAL AND IT'S JUST LIKE A SIGN OF THE TIMES.

U K, LIKE ALL THESE OTHER SMALLER HOSPITALS IS STRAPPED.

THEY ARE EXPERIENCING STAFFING SHORTAGES TOO AND WILL HAVE HELP FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS.

>> THE NUMBER OF KENTUCKIANS VACCINATED HAS CREEPED UP SLOWLY.

WHERE ARE WE AT WITH THAT?

>> IT HAS.

AS MORE PEOPLE TEST POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS, ONE OF THE POSITIVE THINGS IS THAT IT HAS SPURRED MORE PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.

OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN MORE PEOPLE GET VACCINATED.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT ROUGHLY 60% OF THE POPULATION THAT HAS AT LEAST ONE SHOT.

HALF OF KENTUCKIANS ARE VACCINATED AT THIS POINT BUT WE'RE ABOUT TO GO INTO FALL AND MORE PEOPLE WILL BE INDOORS WITHOUT MASKS SO WE'LL SEE.

>> AND THE CDC JUST TODAY APPROVED BOOSTERS FOR A CERTAIN AGE GROUP AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE VULNERABLE.

>> RIGHT.

THAT WILL BE GOOD TOO BECAUSE IT MEANS MORE PEOPLE GENERALLY HAVE ACCESS TO A BOOVRT SHOT AND CAN BE SAFER FROM CONTRACTING THE VIRUS.

>> DARCY, THERE'S TALK ABOUT LOUISVILLE MAKING VACCINES MANDATORY FOR SOME CITY EMPLOYEES.

WHAT ABOUT THAT.

>> THE MAYOR HAS RESISTED THAT SO FAR DESPITE RELATIVELY LOW VACCINATION RATES IN SOME OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES.

WE'VE GOT RECORDS THAT SHOWED AS A WHOLE METRO GOVERNMENT IS 62% VACCINATED BUT THOSE VARY WIDELY DEPENDING ON WHAT DEPARTMENT YOU'RE LOOKING AT AND SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT OR METRO CORRECTIONS ARE 36% AND 40% ARE VERY LOW, AND IT HAS DISRUPTED SERVICES IN SOME CASES.

WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH TRASH PICKUP, STAFFING AT METRO CORRECTIONS HAS BEEN WORSENED WITH COVID.

ALTHOUGH THAT'S A PERSISTENT ISSUE.

HE SAID, MAYOR FISHER HAS SAID THAT HE'S WORKING WITH UNIONS TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO ENCOURAGE THEIR MEMBERS, AND HE'S KEEPING TABS ON WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S MANDATE MEANS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUT SOME ON METRO COUNCIL AND SOME MAYORAL CANDIDATES DO WISH HE WOULD DO SOMETHING MORE QUICKLY.

>> RIGHT NOW HE'S ENCOURAGING BUT NOT MANDATING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S NOT LIKE THE FACT THAT HE CANNOT ISSUE A MASK MANDATE.

>> NO, THE GOVERNOR BELIEVES IF THERE WAS A MASK MANDATE, THE INFECTION RATE WOULD BE DOWN, BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT POWER ANYMORE, AND HE ALSO WAS WORRIED THAT A LOT OF SCHOOL BOARDS MIGHT GET, QUOTE, BULLIED BY ANTI-MASKED ACTIVISTS.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPEALED THE STATE-WIDE MASK MANDATE.

>> THERE'S BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND THE GOVERNOR OVER HOW BEST TO HELP HOSPITALS.

SENATOR ALVAREDO CALLING ON GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO HELP HOSPITALS WITH STAFFING SHORTAGES.

>> GOVERNOR, IF YOU'RE WATCHING, I MADE THE PLEA DURING SPECIAL SESSION, AND I'M MAKING IT TO YOU AGAIN.

THIS GROUP STANDS READY TO ACT ON THIS ISSUE.

IF YOU NEED A FORMAL LETTER FROM ME, BUT IF YOU WANT TO HEAR IT DIRECTLY, I'M ASKING YOU TO CALL US INTO SPECIAL SESSION TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE BEFORE WE START LOSING ALL OF OUR STAFF.

>> WE'VE GOT TO STEP BACK AND LOOK, IS IT REAL?

OR ARE PEOPLE PUSHING DIFFERENT THINGS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS?

NONE OF THE WORK HAS BEEN DONE BY THOSE THAT ARE MENTIONING THIS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> ALVARADDO PRETTY AGGRESSIVE THERE.

HOW WOULD THIS MONEY HE'S TALKING ABOUT BE USED?

>> WELL, REPUBLICANS HAVE TALKED ABOUT USING MAYBE $81 MILLION TO OFFER BONUSES THAT WOULD ATTRACT AND RETAIN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO KENTUCKY.

THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF OTHER STATES ARE OUT THERE DOING.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THAT HE NEVER REALLY GOT A CONCRETE PROPOSAL WITH SPECIFIC IDEAS ABOUT HOW THIS WOULD WORK, AND HE SAYS THAT ALL THE FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY KENTUCKY HAS RIGHT NOW HAS ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN FOR.

WE'VE GOT 1.1 BILLION MORE COMING NEXT YEAR BUT THAT'S NEXT YEAR.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR ALSO SAID IF WE DO THIS, WE'LL BE IN A, QUOTE, ARM'S RACE WHERE EVERY STATE WILL BE OFFERING BIGGER AND BIGGER BONUSES TO TRY TO ATTRACT HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

REPUBLICANS ARE STILL INSISTENT ON DOING IT.

THEY SAY THAT EVEN THOUGH WE MAY NOT HAVE THE FEDERAL STIMULUS RIGHT NOW, WE CAN DIVERT SOME RAINY DAY FUNDS.

WE COULD TAKE MONEY THAT'S BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE OR THE BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT AND USE THAT.

>> WELL, THESE HOSPITALS ARE STRETCHED FOR STAFF.

BUT ALEX, SOME OF THEM ARE STILL FIRING STAFF OR NOT BEING VACCINATED.

>> RIGHT.

WE HEARD THIS WEEK THAT -- I WROTE A STORY LAST WEEK ABOUT 13 OR SO HOSPITALS LAST MONTH ANNOUNCED THEY'RE REQUIRING VACCINES FOR STAFF.

SOME OF THEM HAVE MADE IT A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

SOME HAVEN'T.

SOME HAVE FIRED STAFF OVER IT IF THEY HAVEN'T.

WE HEARD FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR THIS WEEK THAT IT HAS MADE NO DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE BECAUSE, ON AGAIN, CHRONIC STAFFING SHORTAGES ARE ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY PREDATED THE PANDEMIC.

THEY'RE EXACERBATED RIGHT NOW BUT SOME HOSPITALS ARE FIRING STAFF.

MED CENTER HEALTH IN BOWLING GREEN FIRED ABOUT 200 STAFF EARLIER THIS MONTH.

A COUPLE OF OTHER PIECE MEAL PLACES HAVE TOO.

THEY WILL FIRE STAFF IF THEY'RE NOT VACCINATED.

AGAIN, HOSPITALS ARE SAYING IT'S NOT CAUSING A BIG OF A DENT IN THE ALREADY EXISTING STAFFING SHORTAGES BUT IT WILL BE DETERMINED.

IF YOU FIRE STAFF, THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY STAFF TO GET EITHER TO REPLACE THEM.

>> WE'RE HAVING TO BALANCE THIS SAFETY DESIRE WITH THE STAFFING DESIRE.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE RIGHT NOW, MANY OF THEM ARE PREFERRING THAT THEIR PATIENTS AND STAFF BE SAFE AND GET THE VACCINE.

>> DEFINITELY.

IT'S UNANIMOUS ACROSS HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS IN KENTUCKY THAT HAVING VACCINATED STAFF IS SAFEST FOR STAFF AND ALSO FOR PATIENTS, WHICH IS THEIR NUMBER 1 CONCERN, AND SO THE ADMINISTRATORS I TALKED TO BASICALLY ARE LIKE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO TAKE A HIT BECAUSE THIS HAS TO BE MORE -- IT HAS TO BE MORE IMPORTANT HAVING 100% VACCINATED STAFF OR AS CLOSE TO IT AS YOU CAN GET.

>> DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, LIFE IS TRYING TO GO ON.

A BIG MUSIC FESTIVAL IN LOUISVILLE CANCELED LAST YEAR IS BEING HELD THIS YEAR, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN EASY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

LOUDER THAN LIFE IS TAKING PLACE AT THE EXPO CENTER IN LOUISVILLE AND IT DOES REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINATION OR A NEGATIVE TEST WITHIN 72 HOURS BUT WE HAVE SEEN SOME HEADLINERS AND SOME OTHER ACTS PULL OUT.

NINE INCH NAILS PULLED OUT.

THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CATHARTIC RETURN TO MUSIC BUT IT'S BECOMING CLEAR THAT WE'RE NOT AT THAT PLACE YET.

THEY'RE ONE THAT DROPPED OUT ALONG WITH SNOOP DOGG AND OTHER ACTS LIKE HELMET, HIRO THE HERO AND RED FANG.

THAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND.

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN LOUISVILLE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HEAR IT FROM YOUR HOUSE.

>> I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THESE PEOPLE ANYWAY EXCEPT SNOOP DOGG.

SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT MY AGE.

WE'RE HEADING INTO THE TIME PEOPLE ARE INDOORS.

HOW IS THAT EXPECTED TO AFFECT EVERYTHING GOING FORWARD?

>> I MEAN, WE HAVE TO HOPE THAT THE NUMBER OF KENTUCKIANS THAT HAVE GOTTEN VACCINATED RECENTLY AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECENTLY TESTED POSITIVE AND HAD SHORT-TERM IMMUNITY WILL HELP.

BLUNT, IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER SPIKE IN THE WEEKEND.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR DOES NOT HAVE SOME OF THE TOOLS HE HAD LAST WINTER GOING INTO LAST FALL, STATE-WIDE MASK MANDATE.

WE WERE UNDER A STATE-WIDE MASK MANDATE ALL FALL AND WINTER.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT THIS YEAR.

IT'S A WAIT AND SEE.

I THINK WE ARE POTENTIALLY IN A BETTER POSITION BECAUSE MORE OF THE POPULATION IS VACCINATED AND IMMUNE BUT IT'S STILL A RISK.

>> WE ALSO HAVE TO MENTION THE FIRST SCHOOL STUDENT DIED OF COVID THIS WEEK.

>> A 15-YEAR-OLD THAT WAS A SOPHOMORE AT THE LEARNING CENTER.

HE WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL ON SEPTEMBER 12 AND WAS BREATHING ON A VENTILATOR AND DIED.

HIS MOTHER SAID THAT HE WORE A MASK WHEN HE WAS IN THE CLASSROOM.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE HE GOT IT, BUT IT'S JUST YET ANOTHER INDICATOR OF THAT THE VIRUS CAN KILL PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

I MEAN, YESTERDAY, THERE WERE EIGHT KIDS IN THE ICU ACROSS THE STATE.

FIVE WERE ON A VENTILATOR.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY HARD-HIT.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE STORY FOR A LONG TIME TO COME.

LET'S MOVE ON TO SOMETHING ELSE, DARCY.

A HUGE STORY IN LOUISVILLE.

A 16-YEAR-OLD SHOT AND KILLED, TWO OTHERS WOUNDED IN THE DRIVE-BY SHOOTING, OF ALL PLACES, A SCHOOL BUS STOP.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AROUND 6:30 A.M., A GROUP OF STUDENTS WERE WAITING AT A BUS STOP IN THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD OF LOUISVILLE AND WERE TOLD THAT A CAR DROVE BY AND SHOT FROM THE CAR.

IT DID HIT ONE 16-YEAR-OLD WHO ENDED UP PASSING AWAY, TYRESE SMITH, AND TWO OTHERS WERE SHOT AND KILLED.

ONE WAS 13 AND ONE WAS 14, AND THEY WERE JUST WAITING FOR THE BUS TO TAKE THEM TO EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL FAR AWAY FROM RUSSELL.

AND THEY'RE STILL LOOKING FOR THE SUSPECTS.

LMPD SAYS HE HAS FALL FOLLOWED UP ON LEADS AND APPRECIATES THE COMMUNITY PROVIDING TIPS ON WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

THEY DID PUT OUT A VEHICLE THEY WERE LOOKING FOR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING, AND THAT WAS FOUND THIS WEEK ON FIRE IN THE ST. MATTHEWS NEIGHBORHOOD AND LMPD HAS SAID THEY'RE TRYING TO ANALYZE THAT AND SEE WHAT THEY COULD PULL FROM IT.

>> NOT ONLY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT ATF AND FBI INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION AND NOW THERE'S A REWARD.

>> A $10,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST OR CONVICTION.

THAT WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY BY A PASTOR AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER, AND HE SAID THAT CLERGY HAD COME TOGETHER TO RAISE THAT MONEY BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR SHOOTING IS NOT JUST ABOUT THIS ONE KID.

HE SAID IT'S ABOUT ALL OF OUR KIDS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, 60,000 PEOPLE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY WAIT AT BUS STOPS, AND HE SAID THOSE SHOULD BE SAFE ZONES, SAFE SPACES THAT ARE RESPECTED BY THE COMMUNITY.

>> THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN A VIOLENT YEAR IN LOUISVILLE.

MORE THAN 140 HOMICIDES.

BUT THIS ONE SEEMS TO HAVE REALLY TOUCHED A NERVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK PEOPLE ARE DISGUSTED.

IS NOTHING SACRED ANYMORE?

A KID CAN'T EVEN WAIT FOR THE SCHOOL BUS?

IT'S JUST OUTRAGEOUS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO HAVE THIS SENSE THAT WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

WHEN I MOVED TO KENTUCKY IN MAY 2012, WE HAD THAT 48-HOUR PERIOD WHERE THERE WAS A SERIES OF SHOOTINGS AND THE GIRLFRIEND OF ONE MALE VICTIM SHOT THE GIRLFRIEND OF ANOTHER MALE VICTIM RIGHT IN FRONT OF POLICE OFFICERS AND THE MEDIA.

THERE'S THIS BIG OUTCRY AND PEOPLE SAID THINGS ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

WE CAME OUT WITH THIS BIG PLAN, AND THINGS REALLY WEREN'T DIFFERENT AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD 7-YEAR-OLD DEQUANTE HOBBS SHOT WHILE EATING BIRTHDAY CAKE BY A STRAY BULLET IN 2017 AND NOW THIS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAKING THIS CALL FOR UNITY, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE JUST THINKING, WHEN IS IT GOING TO END?

WHEN IS IT GOING TO BE DIFFERENT?

>> THE MAYOR HAS COME UNDER PRESSURE BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, AND HE'S BEEN IN CHARGE THROUGHOUT A PERIOD OF A LOT OF VIOLENCE.

NOW, A LOT OF CITIES IN AMERICA ARE SEEING A HUGE UPTICK IN THE NUMBER OF HOMICIDES, SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT'S UNIQUE TO LOUISVILLE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE SAYING GOES, THE BUCK STOPS HERE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

>> THIS IS, AGAIN, FOCUSED ATTENTION ON THE FACT THAT JCBS DOES NOT HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS IN THE SCHOOLS, THEY LEFT FOR VARIOUS REASONS BACK IN 2019.

IS THERE SOME THOUGHT THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED?

>> YEAH, LMPD CHIEF ERICA SHIELDS SAYS SHE THINKS THAT SROS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THIS SITUATION USEFUL BECAUSE SROS CAN HAVE THEIR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF THE STUDENT BODY, AND THEY HAVE THE TENDENCY TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH WHO'S IN WHAT GANG OR WHETHER THERE'S A BEEF OR A FIGHT GOING ON, AND SHE SAID THEY COULD RELAY, QUOTE, CRITICAL INTELLIGENCE TO LMPD ABOUT THAT KIND OF THING.

JCPS SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLIO SAID THAT HE'S NOT SURE THAT REALLY WOULD HAVE HAD AN IMPACT IN THIS CASE.

SOME SCHOOLBOARD MEMBERS TOOK UMBRAGE WITH CHIEF SHIELDS.

ONE CALLED IT REPREHENSIBLE, EVEN.

THERE'S A FEELING OF A LOT OF DIVISION ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

THERE IS A FEELING AMONGST SOME THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT, OFFICER, AND HIGH SCHOOL WOULD ONLY EXACERBATE THE SITUATION AND MAYBE MAKE SOMETHING THAT COULD BE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE SCHOOLS TURN INTO A CRIMINAL CHARGE.

>> WELL, CERTAINLY THAT'S GOING TO BE A DEBATE ONGOING FOR KTBS AND THE COMMUNITY.

DARCY ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S A SHORTAGE NOW OF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS IN THE JAIL, AND THAT'S CREATING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

METRO CORRECTIONS HAS STRUGGLED WITH RECRUITING AND RETENTION FOR YEARS, AND THEY KIND OF PLUG THOSE HOLES WITH OVERTIME PAYMENTS FOR THE OFFICERS THAT ARE THERE, BUT OFFICIALS SAY THAT THIS IS GETTING WORSE BECAUSE OF COVID, BECAUSE OF THE JOB MARKET, BECAUSE THEY ONLY OFFER $17 AN HOUR FOR THE JOB AND ONE WEEKEND RECENTLY, THERE WAS REALLY CRITICALLY LOW STAFFING, AND THAT SORT OF BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT, AND THEY'RE NOW OFFERING DOUBLE PAY FOR OVERTIME TRYING TO, LIKE, AGAIN, PLUG THAT HOLE.

THE UNION REALLY WANTS TO SEE SALARIES RENEGOTIATED.

THEY SAY THAT'S A MORE LONG-TERM FIX AND CALLED THE OVERTIME PAYMENTS JUST A BAND AID.

THEY ALSO WANT TO SEE LOWER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HELD IN THE JAIL.

BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HAPPENING JUST YET, AND THEY ARE PLANNING TO HOLD A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE NEXT WEEK IN JAIL DIRECTOR DUANE CLARK WHO THEY SAY HASN'T MANAGED THIS PROPERLY AND HASN'T HELD HIS OWN ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE.

>> ADDED TO THAT MIX, THE FOP REJECTED THE LATEST CONTRACT OFFER FROM METRO LOUISVILLE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE LMPD FOF VOTED PRETTY OVERWHELMINGLY THE OFFICERS AND SERGEANTS TO REJECT THE PROPOSAL WHICH HAD A VERY SIZABLE PAY RAISE THAT ONE OF THE -- IF NOT THE LARGEST THAT METRO GOVERNMENT HAD EVER OFFERED.

I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO VIEW THAT SORT OF IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LAST YEAR OR TWO YEARS IN LOUISVILLE AND RANK AND FILE POLICE OFFICERS ARE VERY FRUSTRATED WITH MAYOR FISCHER AND HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN HIM, AND SO I THINK READING SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES ASIDE FROM THE SALARY THAT WERE MADE TO THE CONTRACT, I THINK THEY VIEW IT WITH MORE SKEPTICISM, AND THEY DON'T TRUST THEIR LEADER, SO THEY ARE BACK TO THE NEGOTIATING TABLE.

THEY HAVEN'T SET A DATE YET FOR WHEN THAT HAPPENED BUT IT'S STILL TO BE DETERMINED.

>> AND THE COMPETITION FOR POLICE OFFICERS IS FIERCE.

THE STORY ABOUT THE BULLET COUNTY SHERIFFS RAISING TO PAY FOR ITS DEPUTIES.

>> YEAH, WE HEAR SO MUCH ABOUT OTHER AGENCIES POACHING OFFICERS FROM LMPD.

IT TURNS OUT THE BULLET COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LOST SOME OFFICERS SO THE SHERIFF GOT A PAY RAISE FOR THEM.

THE PAY RAISE FOR TRANSFERS, OFFICERS FROM ONE AGENCY WOULD GO UP FROM ABOUT $18 AND SOME CHANGE TO $23 AND SOME CHANGE SO IT'S A BIG JUMP.

HE'S COMPETING WITH OTHER AGENCIES IN BULLET COUNTY, SHEPHERDSVILLE, MOUNT WASHINGTON, AND HILLVIEW, SO I THINK THIS IS A WAY FOR HIM TO KIND OF FEND OFF THOSE AGENCIES FROM TAKING HIS OFFICERS, BUT ALSO GIVES HIM A LITTLE BARGAINING POWER TO GO TO LMPD AND OTHER PLACES IN THE AREA.

>> DARCY, THE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE BRIANA TAYLOR SHOOTING ALSO MADE NEWS THIS WEEK.

WHAT'S THE LATEST THERE?

>> YEAH, JOSHUA JAMES, THE OFFICER WHO WAS FIRED FOR UNTRUTHFULNESS BASED ON A LINE IN HIS AFFIDAVIT FOR THE SEARCH WARRANT FOR BRYANNA TAYLOR'S HOME MADE AN UNSUCCESSFUL APPEAL TO THE BOARD THIS YEAR, AND THEY SAID NO YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR JOB BACK.

HE'S APPEALING THAT TO CIRCUIT COURT.

HE ARGUES THAT DECISION WAS ARBITRARY AND THE MAYOR DIDN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE COLLECTIVE KNOWLEDGE DOCTRINE WHICH IS BASICALLY THAT IF ANOTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER TOLD HIM THE INFORMATION THAT HE THEN PUT IN THE AFFIDAVIT, THEN IT'S STILL TRUE EVEN IF HE DIDN'T DIRECTLY TALK TO THE PERSON HE SAID HE TALKED TO.

THE OTHER OFFICER IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK IS BRETT HANKINSON WHO WAS THE ONLY OFFICER ON SCENE AT THE APARTMENT.

HE WAS FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES.

NO OFFICERS HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR HER DEATH OR FOR SHOOTING HER, BUT HANKISON FACES THREE COUNTS OF WANTON ENDANGERMENT FOR SHOTS THAT HE FIRED THAT TRAVELED INTO A NEIGHBORING APARTMENT, AND HE HAS A TRIAL COMING UP IN FEBRUARY, AND HIS ATTORNEY HAS ASKED THAT -- HAD ASKED HIS BOND REDUCED TO PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE.

THE JUDGE DIDN'T SIGN OFF ON THAT BUT DID REDUCE IT BY HALF.

SO NOW IT'S NOT $15,000.

IT'S $7500.

>> LOTS OF LOUISVILLE NEWS AND COVID NEWS.

LET'S MOVE ON TO OTHER THINGS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

ALEX, THE STATE BUDGET GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A BOOST FROM A SETTLEMENT OF A LONG-STANDING LAWSUIT.

>> RIGHT, VERY LONG-STANDING.

BACK IN 2011, THE STATE SUED POKER STARS FOR BASICALLY OPERATING AN ILLEGAL, UNTAXED GAMBLING SITE.

AND JUST RECENTLY, THE STATE WON SETTLEMENT OR GOT SETTLEMENT OF $300 MILLION WHICH GOES INTO THE GENERAL FUNDS, WHICH IS A NICE BOOST.

IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT LONG OVE OVERDUE.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS RIGHT NOW AS WELL AS ON THE FEDERAL BUT THERE'S A DEBATE ON RAISING THE DEBT CEILING AS A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN LOOMS.

MITCH McCONNELL ENCOURAGING THEM TO DO IT WITHOUT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT.

>> MY ADVICE TO THIS DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, THE PRESIDENT, THE HOUSE, AND THE SENATE, DON'T PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH OUR ECONOMY.

STEP UP AND RAISE THE DEBT CEILING TO COVER ALL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN ALL YEAR LONG.

>> LOTS OF COMPLEX ISSUES HERE, MARK, BUT WHAT'S INVOLVED IN THIS SORT OF A GAME OF CHICKEN?

>> WELL, THE DEBT CEILING IS THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT THAT THE U.S. TREASURY CAN BORROW TO PAY OFF BILLS, RIGHT.

AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, HEY, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED CONGRESS RAN UP A LOT OF BILLS THAT WE'VE GOT TO PAY OFF.

WE NEED TO RAISE THIS DEBT CEILING.

McCONNELL IS SAYING NO, NO, NO, YOU GUYS PASSED THIS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

NOW, YOU WANT THIS $3.5 TRILLION SOCIAL SPENDING PLAN.

THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS ARE TRYING TO RAISE THE DEBT CEILING.

IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, DO IT ON YOUR OWN.

IT'S A CLEVER STRATEGY BECAUSE IN THE MIDTERMS THEY CAN SAY LOOK WHAT THE DEMOCRATS DID, THEY RAISED THE DEBT CEILING, PUTTING AMERICA INTO DEBT.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THEIR OWN PLAN AND HAVE ATTACHED THIS TO A BILL THAT'S PASSED.

IF IT DOESN'T, THERE CAN BE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

WE'VE SEEN BEFORE WHERE AMERICANS BLAMED REPUBLICANS FOR A SHUTDOWN.

POLITICAL STRATEGIES.

>> HE MENTIONED FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND EXPRESSED HIS DISPLEASURE WITH MITCH McCONNELL.

>> HE WENT TO SOME G.O.P.

SENATORS TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND SOMEBODY TO RUN AGAINST McCONNELL FOR THAT LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT HE'S HELD FOR SO LONG BUT APPARENTLY, THERE WAS NO APPETITE FOR THAT.

>> A FORMER McCONNELL CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS IN TROUBLE AGAIN.

JESSE BENTON.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIM?

>> YEAH, SO WHAT HE DID WAS HE TOLD A RUSSIAN NATIONAL WHO WANTED ACCESS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP HEY, YOU GIVE ME $100,000, I'LL SET UP THE MEETING.

HE TOOK THE 100,000, POCKETED 75, ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS.

THEN ACCORDING TO FEDERAL PROSECUTORS, HE USED A STRAW DONOR TO MAKE A $25,000 DONATION TO PRESIDENT TRUMP TO SET UP THIS MEETING.

HE'D BEEN IN TROUBLE BEFORE FOR PAGAN IOWA STATE LAWMAKER TO SWITCH ALLEGIANCES AND ENDORSE SOMEBODY ELSE.

NOT HIS FIRST TIME DOING THIS TYPE OF THING.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP PARDONED HIM FOR THAT.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT, ONE MONTH BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE.

>> DURING THE LAST REGULAR SESSION, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FUNDED ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

NOW, THERE'S A REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WHO WANTS TO MAKE IT PERMANENT AT THAT HEARING.

>> I SPOKE TO REPRESENTATIVE JAMES TIPTON, A REPUBLICAN OUT OF SPENCER COUNTY, AND THERE WAS A HEARING TODAY ON HIS BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING, STATE FUNDING, FOR FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

KENTUCKY ALREADY PROVIDES FUNDING FOR HALF-DAY KINDERGARTEN, RIGHT.

BUT MOST DISTRICTS OUT THERE, THEY ARE CHIPPING IN SOME OF THEIR OWN MONEY SO THEY CAN HAVE FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

SO REALLY WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO WOULD GIVE THOSE DISTRICTS SOME FLEXIBILITY TO SPEND THAT MONEY, THAT LOCAL TAXPAYER MONEY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON HOPES THEY'LL SPEND IT ON EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

>> SO WHERE'S THE MONEY GOING TO COME FROM?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON DID SAY THAT THE STATE IS IN MUCH BETTER POSITION COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC THAN THEY WERE THE LAST TIME HE TRIED TO INTRODUCE THE BILL BACK IN 2019 WHEN A PANDEMIC STRUCK SHORTLY AFTER.

>> YEAH, THAT'S FEDERAL DOLLARS.

SO WE WON'T HAVE THAT BUT WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT ENDS UP.

ONCE YOU GET INTO ALL-DAY KINDERGARTEN YOU CAN'T GO BACK OUT, OBVIOUSLY.

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.

BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE HOUSE AND OUR CHAIR, JASON PEATREE GAVE HIS APPROVAL.

HE DID SAY HE WANTED TO SEE SOFT DATA ON THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT.

THAT'S NOT A DONE DEAL.

REPRESENTATIVE TIPTON WILL HAVE TO SELL A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THIS IDEA.

>> A BUFFER ZONE AT THE LOUISVILLE ABORTION CLINIC IS CREATING CONTROVERSIES.

DARCY, TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

LAST SATURDAY WAS THE LAST TIME THAT THE BUFFER ZONE APPROVED BY METRO COUNCIL WENT INTO AFFECT AT THE CLINIC DOWNTOWN THAT PROVIDES ABORTION SERVICES.

A REPORTER WAS THERE AND SAID SHE SAW NO POLICE PRESENCE.

LMPD SAID THAT THEY RESPONDED TO TWO CALLS FOR SERVICE.

IT'S NOT CLEAR EXACTLY WHEN THEY DID BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A POINT OF CONTENTION THAT'S GOING TO KEEP BEING A POINT OF CONTENTION.

IT'S ALSO PART OF A FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT'S STILL ONGOING, SO I DON'T THINK WE'VE HEARD THE END OF THE BUFFER ZONE.

>> AND QUICKLY, THOSE WHO TRAVEL TO THE CAPITOL A LOT, HAS TO USE A DIFFERENT ROUTE BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO CLOSE DOWN PART OF CAPITOL AVENUE FOR SECURITY REASONS, MARK.

>> IT'S THAT ROAD BETWEEN THENNEX AND THE CAPITOL AND POINT WE'VE PROBABLY ALL COVERED PROTESTS ON THAT ROAD.

SOMETIMES THERE ARE DRIVE-BY PROTESTS.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR LAWMAKERS TO GO FROM THE CAPITOL TO THE ANNEX.

GOVERNOR SAYS IT'S A SECURITY ISSUE BUT I'D BE WILLING TO PLACE A BET THERE'S GOING TO BE SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO FILE A BILL IN THIS UPCOMING GENERAL ASSEMBLY SAYING HE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE'LL SEE HOW THAT GOES.

>> WELL, THANKS.

NEW WORK ON A NEW HYDROELECTRIC GENERATING PLANT ON THE KENTUCKY RIVER.

IT PROVIDES ENERGY TO THE JACKSON ENERGY CO-OP CUSTOMERS AND PRODUCES REVENUE FOR THE SCHOOL.

AND MONDAY, TUNE IN FOR KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

RENE SHAW WILL HOST A DISCUSSION ON COVID AND THE CLASSROOM.