[♪♪] >> Bill: THE LATEST ON KENTUCKY'S OPEN U.S.

SENATE RACE.

DEMOCRAT AMY MCGRATH IS NOW SAID TO BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING GETTING IN.

KENTUCKY'S HEALTH COMMISSIONER AND THE GOVERNOR DISCOURAGE LISTENING TO SOME FEDERAL GUIDANCE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN PUSHES FOR KENTUCKY TO RESUME THE DEATH PENALTY.

THE OPEN RECORDS LAW GETS LOTS OF USE.

HEADING INTO OCTOBER, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE SYLVIA GOODMAN, CAPITAL REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

LUCAS AULBACH, REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

AND JOHN CHEVES, REPORTER FOR THE THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH POLITICS AND THE GROWING SPECULATION THAT DEMOCRAT AMY MCGRATH MAY MAKE YET ANOTHER RUN THIS ONE FOR THE U.S.

SENATE.

SHE NARROWLY LOST TO ANDY BARR AND SHE OUTSPENT MITCH McCONNELL IN 2020 AND HE DEFEATED HER BY ALMOST 20 POINTS, JOHN.

McCONNELL IS RETIRING BARR IS NOW RUNNING FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

SO THIS IS INTERESTING.

>> IT IS.

AMY MCGRATH HAS SPENT THE LAST FEW YEARS SINCE HER RUN AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL PUBLISHING A BOOK ABOUT HERSELF AND STARTING POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND GETTING INVOLVED IN DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS.

HELPING OUT OTHER DEMOCRATS SHE HAS BEEN BUILDING A PROFILE GOING ON CABLE TELEVISION DOING THE THINGS YOU DO.

AS AUSTIN HORN REPORTED, SHE IS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING GETTING INTO OUR SENATE RACE AS A DEMOCRAT FOR NEXT YEAR JOINING AN ALREADY CROWDED FIELD.

THE PROS FOR HER WOULD BE SHE HAS BEEN SEEN AS A MODERATE DEMOCRAT AS SHE HAS A MILITARY BACKGROUND IN CASE YOU HADN'T HEARD SHE WAS A FIGHTER PILOT.

BIG PART OF HER CAMPAIGNS TO DATE AND HAS THE NAME RECOGNITION HAVING RUN FOR FEDERAL OFFICE TWICE ALREADY IN KENTUCKY.

BIG CON AGAINST HER WOULD BE THAT SHE LOST TWO FEDERAL RACES HERE IN KENTUCKY.

SHE COULD BE SEEN AS A PROVEN LOSER HERE IN KENTUCKY POLITICS.

>> I WOULD SAY THE 2018 RACE AND 2020 WENT DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

AGAINST ANDY BARR IN 2018 SHE ALMOST KNOCKED HIMSELF WASN'T THE SAME IN 2020 SHE LOST THERE, SOME SUPPORT AMONG DEMOCRATS HER JUMPING BACK IN THE RACE SHE WOULD HAVE THE NAME RECOGNITION BUMP THAT THE OTHER CANDIDATES ARE LOOKING FOR.

BUT, YEAH, IT WOULD SHAKE THINGS UP.

>> Bill: AND MCGRATH WAS A FUNDRAISER AND BROUGHT IN $94 MILLION TO McCONNELL'S 63 MILLION ALTHOUGH HE DEFEATED HER.

AND WE REMEMBER HER CAMPAIGN ADS AND SHE WAS A FIGHTER PILOT AS A RESULT.

>> WE DEFINITELY DO.

SHE HAS GREAT NAME RECOGNITION IN THE STATE FOR THE BETTER OR WORSE IS UP FOR DATE LIKE JOHN WAS SAYING.

IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE THE TWO OTHER THREE OTHER CANDIDATES ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE A MILITARY RECORD HERE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

SO, I MEAN THAT HAS TO PLAY INTO THINGS WILL IT BE AS MUCH OF A SHIFT THAT HER FIGHTER PILOT MENTALITY?

AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S A MUDDY PRIMARY RIGHT NOW.

THE OTHER THREE CANDIDATES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR THIS SENATE SEAT DON'T HAVE A LOT OF NAME ID SHE WOULD BE SHAKING IT UP AS A BIG NAME.

AGAIN, SHE HASN'T SAID SHE IS GOING TO RUN IT'S SPECULATION.

>> Bill: BUT YOU CAN SEE WHY GIVEN THE MONEY SHE RAISED IN THAT RACE.

AS NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC OPERATIVES TRIED TO GET HIGH PROFILE CANDIDATES IN HERE AND THEY SETTLE ON ONE WHO IS ALREADY IN THE RACE WE DON'T KNOW, IS IT PART OF THEIR STRATEGY TO TRY TO MAKE KENTUCKY COMPETITIVE AT LEAST IN THE SENATE RACE SO THAT REPUBLICAN RESOURCES WOULD HAVE TO COME HERE THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE SPENT ON SEATS THEY ARE TRYING TO PROTECT?

>> YEAH, THEY WOULD LOVE TO MAKE IT COMPETITIVE THAT IS AN UPHILL CLIMB.

ANYBODY CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND TELL YOU THE SAME.

A LOT CAN CHANGE IN A YEAR.

A LOT CAN CHANGE IN A DAY IN THE POLITICAL CLIMATE.

I DON'T KNOW A LOT OF REPUBLICANS WORRIED LOCALLY ABOUT 2026 AGAIN A LOT CAN CHANGE.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATS PAY PUMPED A LOT OF MONEY IN 2020 TRYING TO GET AMY MCGRATH TO KNOCK-OFF MITCH McCONNELL AND THAT RACE WAS CALLED BY DINNERTIME.

IT SAYS A LOT.

>> Bill: THE DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE A FOUR-WAY PRIMARY IF MCGRATH GETS IN PAMELA STEVENSON, FORMER SERVICE AGENT LOGAN FORSYTHE AND FORMER C.I.A.

AGENT JOEL WILLETT ARE IN THE RUNNING.

WENDELL FORD USED TO SAY THAT DEMOCRATS THRIVED AFTER PRIMARIES IN KENTUCKY.

THAT WAS DECADES AGO.

WOULD IT STILL GIVE THE DEMS A CHANCE TO GET OUT THERE AND BE SEEN AHEAD OF THE FALL RACES?

>> THE DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY COULD EMERGE FROM THEIR PRIMARY NEXT MAY WITH ONE ADVANTAGE WHICH IS THE REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW ARE BEATING EACH OTHER UP VICIOUSLY.

NATE MORRIS AND DANIEL CAMERON AND ANDY BARR ARE SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER CALLING EACH OTHER NAMES SAYING BAD THINGS ABOUT EACH OTHER AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS.

IF THE DEMOCRATS STAY CIVIL AND HAVE A RELATIVELY POLITE CAMPAIGN WITH EACH OTHER, THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A WINNER NEXT MAY WHEREAS THE REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO HAVE A BRUISED, BLOODIED SURVIVOR WHO THEN IS GOING TO BE AT LEAST MORE VULNERABLE COME THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: THERE IS A LOT TO WATCH ON THE RADAR.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS IN JUST A MOMENT.

WE NOTE THAT CHARLES BOOKER WHO LOST THE 2020 DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION TO MCGRATH HAS RESANED FROM HIS POSITION IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

AND HE SAYS THERE IS A FIGHT AHEAD OF US THAT IS A DIRECT QUOTE.

DO WE KNOW WHAT HE MAYBE PLANNING?

>> VERY INTERESTING NAME.

A LOT OF CHATTER ABOUT HIM IN LOUISVILLE.

WE HAVE A MAYORAL RACE COMING UP COULD HE RUN TO THE LEFT OF GREENBERG?

WE'LL SEE.

MORGAN MCGARVEY THERE IS A BIT OF A RIFT BETWEEN HIM AND SOME OF THE PROGRESSIVE MEMBERS OF THE PARTY IN LOUISVILLE.

IS THAT AN OPTION?

A LOT COULD HAPPEN.

IT'S FASCINATING NAME, SOMEONE WHO HAD SUCCESS IN 2020 NOT AS MUCH AGAINST RAND PAUL IN 2022.

HE SOUNDS LIKE HE IS COMING BACK.

>> Bill: THE FIRST NONPARTISAN RACE FOR LOUISVILLE MAYOR IN A LONGTIME.

>> YEAH.

AND WE'LL SEE HOW THAT CHANGES THE DYNAMIC.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS.

BUSINESSMAN NATE MORRIS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT SREUF VEHICLE RAMP SAMMY ENDORSED HIM.

>> VIVEK RAMASWAMY IF THEY WERE TO PUT THAT ON DRAFTKINGS PUT MONEY ON THAT THAT IS A NATURAL FIT.

TWO GUYS, TWO BUSINESS GUYS, 2 GUYS WHO WANT TO RUN AS THE POLITICAL OUTSIDER FOLLOW THAT TRUMP FOOTPRINT WILL IT WORK?

WE'LL SEE.

THEY ARE BOTH ATTRACT THAT PORTION OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE THAT IS AGAINST THE CAREER POLITICIANS.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND COULD IT HELP NATE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY WHERE MASSIE SAYS DANIEL CAMERON IS THE FRONTRUNNER?

I KNOW PEOPLE SAY ANDY BARR MADE INROADS UP THERE.

WE'LL SEE.

AS FAR AS THE NOMADS THEY DO TAKE A DIFFERENT TONE.

HE'S BEEN I WOULDN'T BE BREAKING NEWS NOT SHY AT TAKES SHOTS AT MITCH McCONNELL THIS IS MORE MUTED AND I'M WONDERING I'M SURE IF YOU ASKED NATE HE WOULD SAY IT'S NOT THE CASE I'M WONDERING IF THEY ARE TRYING TO DIAL IT BACK AND NOT ALIENATE EVERY REPUBLICAN WHO HAS A TIE TO MITCH McCONNELL.

>> Bill: THE RULE IS THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO COORDINATE WITH THE PACS, BUT IT'S ALWAYS INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THEY GO IN THE STRATEGY.

THE ATTACK ADS FROM THE POLITICAL GROUPS TARGETING MORRIS AND BARR ARE CONTINUOUS AS WE'VE NOTED.

CAMERON HAS NOT RUN AN AD TO THIS POINT COULD IT BENEFIT THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL IF VOTERS GET TURNED OFF BY THE FIREWORKS IN THE RACE BETWEEN THE OTHER TWO?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

I THINK IF YOU FOLLOWED CAMERON BEFORE WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AND NOW THERE IS A TONE SHIFT IN HOW HE IS PRESENTING HIMSELF HE IS MUCH MORE UPBEAT AND POSITIVE MAYBE IT'S PART OF THAT HERE.

IT'S BLOODY PRIMARY ALREADY AND WE ARE MONTHS OUT.

SO A LOT MORE TO COME.

AND I EXPECT THAT CAMERON WILL START RUNNING ADS AT SOME POINT IS WHEN DOES HE KICK IN WITH THOSE DOLLARS WITH THAT KIND OF AD MACHINE THERE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE HAS A LOT MORE AUTOMATIC NAME ID IN THE STATE WHERE BARR HAS NOT RUN BEFORE AND MORRIS HAS NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE.

HE HAS THAT NAME ID MAYBE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO VOTERS AS MUCH AS THE OTHER CANDIDATES THAT MIGHT PLAY INTO HIS FAVOR AND WHY HE HASN'T GOTTEN IN THE FIREWORKS YET.

>> Bill: HE MAKES NOTE THAT POLLING SHOWS HIM AHEAD HE CLAIMS HE IS LEADING.

>> THAT IS WHAT THE POLLING SHOWS SO FAR.

>> Bill: AS YOU SAID IT'S INTERESTING BARR IS MAKING ALL THOSE TRAVELS INTO NORTHERN KENTUCKY UP TRYING TO GET KNOWN.

HE SERVES THE SIXTH DISTRICT, ONE SIXTH OF THE STATE.

>> YOU SAW IT AT FANCY FARM.

HE SAID HE IS STILL TRYING TO MAKE THE INROADS IN DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THE STATE.

HE BORDERS NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND IS CLOSE WITH HAL ROGERS.

HE IS STILL WORKING TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO VOTERS.

BUT HE HAS MOMENTUM BEHIND HIM.

>> Bill: CAMERON DISMISSED TALK HE MIGHT SHIFT TO THE FOURTH DISTRICT RACE WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TEAM IS LOOKING FOR A CANDIDATE TO CHALLENGE THOMAS MASSIE?

>> THERE WAS A POLITICAL ARTICLE, I BELIEVE AND HE HAS THROWN COLD WATER HE VIEWS HIMSELF AS THE FRONTRUNNER HE IS THE NAME RECOGNITION FRONTRUNNER THERE WAS A POLL PROMOTED BY ANDY BARR'S CAMPAIGNING SHOWING BARR'S MOVEMENT BUT IT SAID THAT DANIEL CAMERON IS THE NAME AT THE TOP OF EVERYONE'S MIND.

YEAH, I THINK HE'S LOOKING FOR MOMENTUM.

>> Bill: THAT RACE IS ONE TO WATCH.

PROBABLY, BECAUSE MITCH McCONNELL IS THE ONE WHO IS LEAVING OFFICE AS MUCH AS ANYTHING?

>> MITCH McCONNELL WAS THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER FOR MANY YEARS AND HIS SEAT SINCE 1985.

PEOPLE ARE CURIOUS WHO IS GOING TO GET IT AFTER HIM.

IT IS A SOLID RED REPUBLICAN SEAT BY EVERYONE'S PREDICTIONS BUT THEY WANT TO SEE WHO GETS IT NEXT.

>> Bill: AND CONGRESSMAN MASSIE AND SENATOR RAND PAUL MADE APPEARANCES THEY CARVED OUT POSITIONS THAT DIFFER FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS COMES ON THE DEFICIT SPENDING TRYING TO KEEP THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM SHUTTING DOWN NEXT WEEK.

THERE'S BEEN SOME PROPOSALS IN THAT AND PAUL AND MASSIE VOTED AGAINST REPUBLICAN BACKED SPENDING BILLS TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT FUNDED.

>> TWO REASONS I'M WITHHOLDING MY VOTE FOR THE CR ONE IT'S NOT CUTTING MONEY EVEN WITH INFLATION BECAUSE THEY HAVE INCREASED THE MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE IT WAS A PLOT TO GET US TO THIS POSITION.

AND THESE THINGS NEED TO BE VOTED ON SEPARATELY.

>> IT CAME TO US AND IT FAILED THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL.

IT IS A $2 TRILLION DEFICIT AND THE DEMOCRATS PUT FORWARD A $3 TRILLION DEFICIT AND IT FAILED.

AND IT WILL COME UP MONDAY AND I SUSPECT 10 DEMOCRATS WILL VOTE FOR IT AND IT WILL PASS.

>> Bill: IT WAS JUST INTERESTING TO SEE THE JOINT APPEARANCES IN SOME WAYS.

>> THOMAS MASSIE NOT NECESSARILY THE MOST POPULAR FIGURE AMONG NATIONAL REPUBLICANS AS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD.

DOESN'T BORANE RAN AT ALL.

HE IS ON THE TRAIL WITH HIM FOR TWO DAYS.

THEY ARE ALIGNED ON LOWERING THE NATIONAL DEBT AND PULLING BACK A LITTLE BIT FROM FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

AND MASSIE, A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE NOT HAPPY FOR HIS PUSH TO RELEASE MORE FILES RELATED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN IT DOES NOT BOTHER SENATOR PAUL.

>> Bill: AND THEY ARE BOTH DEFICIT HAWKS AND THEY WANT THE BUDGETING PROCESS TO BE MORE ORDERLY.

>> THEY DO.

WHAT IS ON THE TABLE WHICH MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN IS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION THAT WOULD KEEP THE FUNDING LEVELS STATIC FOR A COUPLE MORE MONTHS.

THEY SAY NO.

THEY WANT LESS MONEY FOR SPENT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEY ALSO DON'T WANT ONE LUMP SUM TO GO FORWARD WHAT WE USED TO HAVE AT ONE POINT WHICH WAS THE DIFFERENT EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS TO BE FUNDED WITH DIFFERENT BUDGETS.

AND THEY ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET IT.

>> I THINK KEY HERE IS THEY DON'T WANT CUTS DOWN THE LINE.

THAT BIG SPENDING BILL THAT JUST PASSED THE MASSIVE ONE, THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL HAD CUTS THAT COME DOWN THE LINE IN A FEW YEARS.

THE REASON THAT MASSIE GAVE IS HE WANTED CUTS NOW HE WANTS CUTS TO ADDRESS THAT DEFICIT.

HE WEARS THAT TRACKER ON HIMSELF.

THAT IS REALLY A VERY IMPORTANT TO BOTH OF THEM.

AND THEY WANT THOSE CUTS TO BE IMMEDIATE AND WANT THEM TO BE BIG.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

THIS, THIS WEEK KENTUCKY'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY STEVEN STACK SPOKE OUT ABOUT FEDERAL GUIDANCE AFTER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S ANNOUNCEMENT THAT LINKED TYLENOL TO AUTISM AND THE NEXT DAY GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE IT CLEAR HE TOO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT HEALTH GUIDELINES.

>> CERTAINLY THE PRESIDENT'S PRESS CONFERENCE ON TYLENOL AND PREGNANCY WAS RECKLESS AND DANGEROUS.

WE NEED OUR SCIENCE TO BE BASED IN SCIENCE.

NOT TO BE A POLITICAL AGENDA.

I'M PLEASED LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY WISH YOU COULD LISTEN RIGHT NOW TO HHS OR THE C.D.C., BUT LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR.

>> Bill: THIS GOT ATTENTION BECAUSE WHEN STACK WAS THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER AND OF COURSE, BESHEAR WAS GOVERNOR DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC THEY PUSHED FOR FOLLOWING FEDERAL GLANCE R GUIDANCE.

>> THEY PUSHED HARD WHEN IT WASN'T POPULAR.

THE KEY DIFFERENCE IS AT THE TIME THEY AGREED WITH IT THEY FELT IT FOLLOWED THE MEDICAL CONSENSUS.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS AND SCIENTISTS SAY WHAT THE C.D.C.

IS CURRENTLY PUSHING WITH THE F.D.A.

IS PUSHING IS DOES NOT FOLLOW WHAT THE MEDICAL CONSENSUS IS.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT ALL COMES BACK TO.

BELIEVING THAT IT'S POLITICALLY MOTIVATED RATHER THAN MOTIVATED BY THE SCIENCE.

>> Bill: AGAIN, THE GOVERNOR SAYING TRUST YOUR DOCTOR OR PROVIDER.

JOHN, OPEN RECORDS HAVE BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT LATELY SURROUNDING THE FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM AND ITS $16 MILLION SHORTFALL.

YOU DID A PIECE HOW THE KENTUCKY OPEN MEETINGS LAW THAT ACT WORKS.

WHAT ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS PEOPLE CAN FIND OUT?

>> SO MANY THINGS.

50-YEAR-OLD LAW THAT SAYS PUBLIC AGENCIES IN KENTUCKY HAVE TO SHARE MOST OF WHAT THEY HAVE ON HAND DOCUMENTS, DATA WITH KENTUCKY RESIDENTS ON REQUEST.

IT'S NOT JUST NOSEY REPORTERS IT'S ANY CITIZEN WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW PUBLIC AGENCIES ARE SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY.

CAN YOU GET E-MAILS, PAYROLL RECORDS, PERSONNEL RECORDS, INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS, POLICE TRAFFIC CITATIONS ALL SORTS OF GOOD STUFF.

THERE ARE A VERY NARROW SET OF EXEMPTIONS THAT WOULD LIMIT WHAT AGENCIES WOULD TURNOVER.

SOCIAL SECURITY DATA AND THAT SORT OF THING AND PRELIMINARY DOCUMENTS.

BEYOND THAT AGENCIES HAVE FIVE BUSINESS DAYS TO RESPOND TO AN OPEN RECORDS KW-GS.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE NOT GETTING WHAT YOU NEED BEING IGNORED YOU CAN APPEAL TO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IN FRANKFORT AND TRY TO GET JUSTICE FROM THEM.

WHEN YOU HAVE A PERSONALITY LIKE MINE AND NO ONE WANTS TO TALK TO, THE OPEN RECORDS REQUEST DOES A LOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS ARE DOING WITH OUR MONEY.

>> Bill: AND SOME OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND THE AGENCIES AND STATE GOVERNMENT WILL SAY IT'S ONEROUS FOR THEM TO STOP AND GO LOOK FOR THE RECORDS FOR PEOPLE.

YOU HEAR THAT PUSHBACK FROM TIME TO TIME AND YOU SAY?

>> TOUGH GO WORK FOR A SWISS BANK YOU WORK FOR GOVERNMENT YOU DON'T GET TO WORK IN SECRECY.

>> Bill: WE TEED JOHN UP ON THAT.

YOU HAVE LED THE STATE IN COVERAGE.

JUVENILE JUSTICE ISSUES NOW THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION HAS UPDATED SOME REGULATIONS.

AND AUDITOR ALLISON BALL RESPONDED TO THAT.

WHERE DOES THIS CHANGE THINGS?

>> I'M NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR.

DON'T YOU LIKE HEARING THAT ANSWER ON LIVE TV.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID HE SIGNED TWO EMERGENCY REGULATIONS THAT COVER HOW KIDS ARE TREATED IN THE STATE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS REGARDING ISOLATION.

HE CALL TO DO RESTRICTIVE HOUSING IT'S ISOLATION WHEN THEY ARE LOCKED UP BY THEMSELVES.

WE HAD POLICIES IN PLACE REGULATIONS REGARDING TIME LIMITS AND WHO COULD -- DECIDE HOW LONG THE KIDS ARE KEPT IN ISOLATION.

AND WHY THEY ARE KEPT IN ISOLATION.

THESE WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING AND IT WAS NOT USED AS PUNISHMENT OR THEY WERE NOT LOCKED UP BECAUSE THERE WERE NOT ENOUGH STAFF ON HAND.

THE STATE IGNORED THE RULES AND THE KIDS WERE ABUSED AND ISOLATION WAS MISUSED.

THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE HAD A FINDING THIS TO BE TRUE.

THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR NOW HAS MORE EMERGENCY REGULATIONS SAYING WE CAN'T DO THIS I HOPE THEY ARE OBEYED THIS TIME.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE DID NOT PROVIDE INTERVIEWS FOR ME TO ASK OFFICIALS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT SO I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT FOR A FACT.

WE CAN ONLY HOPE THEY FOLLOW THE RULES.

>> Bill: THE LEGISLATIVE IS COMING UP ARE THEY LIKELY TO TAKE INTEREST IN THIS ISSUE AGAIN?

>> I HOPE SO.

THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR YEARS.

AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR DROPS OUT A LAUNDRY LIST OF REFORMS HE HAS INCREASED SALARIES AND THAT IS WONDERFUL.

STAFFING HAS GONE UP AND THAT IS WONDERFUL.

I'M FINDING WHERE KIDS ARE GETTING THEIR ARMS BROKEN BY STAFF AND FINDING WHERE KIDS HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED BY STAFF.

IT'S NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM YET, IS IT?

>> THE HERALD-LEADER DID A STORY ON ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN'S PUSH TO RESUME THE DEATH PENALTY.

JOHN WE LEARNED HE HAS WRITTEN A LETTER TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR ASKING HIM TO SIGN THE DEATH WARRANT OF RALPH MAYS.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN RAN FOR OFFICE IN 2023 IN PART ON SUPPORTING THE DEATH PENALTY YET WE HAVE TWO DOZEN PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW AND IT'S FRUSTRATED ATTORNEY GENERAL COLEMAN THAT WE HAVE NOT EXECUTED THEM SINCE 2008.

SO EARLIER THIS SUMMER MY COLLEAGUE REPORTED HE DID DELIVER TO GOVERNOR BESHEAR A LETTER SAYING RALPH MAYS IS CLEAR TO BE EXECUTED.

THERE IS NO FURTHER HINDERANCE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR RESPONDED THAT ACTUALLY WE DO HAVE ISSUES THAT THE LETHAL INJECTION CHEMICALS ARE NOT AVAILABLE THE MEDICAL COMPANIES WILL NOT PROVIDE THEM.

WE ARE AT AN IMPASSE.

>> Bill: 2009 WAS THE LAST EXECUTION ALLEN CHAPMAN PUT TO DEATH GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR SIGNED THAT DEATH WARRANT.

THE GOVERNOR'S FATHER.

>> AND BESHEAR WHEN CAMPAIGNING FOR GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE DOES SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY FOR CERTAIN CRIMES.

OBVIOUSLY HE SAYS THAT THERE'S HINDERANCES NOW BUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL HE SAID HE IS IN FACT IN SUPPORT OF THE DEATH PENALTY.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES IN THE FUTURE.

DOZENS OF KENTUCKY HEMP FARMERS SIGNED A LETTER TO MITCH McCONNELL REQUESTING THAT CONGRESS THAT CRIMINALIZE THE SALE OF HEMP DERIVED CANNABINOIDS AND SYLVIA FARMERS WANT AN IN-PERSON MEETING MEETIH MITCH McCONNELL WHO PRESSED TO LEGALIZE HEMP?

>> NOW WE'RE SIGNS AT THAT TIME THEY WILL PUSH BUDGET LANGUAGE THAT WILL TIGHTEN UP THAT LOOPHOLE A LITTLE BIT.

AND YOU KNOW, SO FARMERS HEMP FARMERS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THAT THEY WANT A MEETING WITH McCONNELL.

AND ALSO AT THE SAME TIME, WE LEARNED THAT THE SEVERAL REPUBLICAN AND CONGRESSMEN SENT A LETTER TO SPEAKER JOHNSON INCLUDING SEVERAL KENTUCKIANS, BARR, MASSIE, McGARVEY, COMER, ASKING SPEAKER JOHNSON TO NOT PURSUE THIS SAME TYPE OF TIGHTENING OF THAT LOOPHOLE TO ALLOW THE LEGALIZATION OF HEMP.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL WATCH WATCH THERE.

YOU REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN MORGAN MCGARVEY OF LOUISVILLE EXPRESSED REGRET TO SOME RACIAL JUSTICE GROUPS FOR HIS VOTE TO HONOR CHARLIE KIRK.

>> YEAH, I THINK REPRESENTATIVE McGARVEY DOES NOT HE HAS NO LOVE FOR KIRK'S RHETORIC THINGS THAT HE SAID BUT WANTS TO CONDEMN POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND FOLLOWING DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP MORE DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR THE MEASURE IN CONGRESS THAN VOTED AGAINST IT.

AND VOTED PRESENT BUT THAT IS A VOTE THAT UPSET PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE'S BLACK COMMUNITY AND LOUISVILLE IN GENERAL.

I SPOKE TO THE HEAD OF THE URBAN LEAGUE AND THE N.A.A.C.P.

THEY TOLD ME McGARVEY CALLED THEM TO SAY HE REGRETS THE VOTE AND COMING TO ME AND KNOW I WILL CLICK THAT OUT AND PUT IT ON THE FRONT PAGE THEY WANT HIM TO APOLOGIZE PUBLICLY AND COME OUT AND SAY THAT HE WAS WRONG.

AND I WAS AT AN EVENT IN THE WEST END THIS MORNING WHERE McGARVEY WAS SUPPOSED TO COME BUT CAUGHT UP WITH LEGISLATIVE DUTIES SOMETHING ABOUT A GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN.

THAT WAS A ROOM FULL OF PEOPLE THAT RESPECT McGARVEY IS A WELCOME PRESENCE THERE AND A ROOM OF PEOPLE THAT WANTED ANSWERS FROM McGARVEY AND THERE'S PRESSURE ON HIM TO GIVE THE ANSWERS PUBLICLY.

>> Bill: YOU ATTEMPTED TO ASK HIM?

>> SEVERAL TIMES.

>> Bill: JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN AUBREY DIED AT AGE 86 HE STARTED SERVING IN 99 HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE RUNNING AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

SENATOR McCONNELL A REPUBLICAN CALLED THE DEMOCRAT AUBREY A DEDICATED PUBLIC SERVANT AND THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ACROSS THE AISLE ABOUT HIS SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

THE SHERIFF'S DEATH CREATES ANOTHER VACANCY THAT WILL NEED TO BE FILLED BY APPOINTMENT BY THE METRO LOUISVILLE MAYOR CRAIG GREENBERG WHO ALSO NEEDS TO FIND A TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT FOR BOBBY HOLES CLAW LAID TO REST.

>> IT'S BEEN TOUGH WEEKS IN LOUISVILLE.

THEY WERE IN OFFICE FOR A LONGTIME.

AND HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THEIR CORNER.

SO, MAYOR GREEN BERG HE HAS DECISIONS TO MAKE I WAS IN THE WEST END AND AUBREY DIED THIS WEEK.

IT WAS ROOM IS LEARLY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN A LOT OF WAYS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE ROOM HAD NOTHING BUT GOOD THINGS TO SAY IT WAS A DIFFICULT DEATH FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND MAYOR GREENBERG WILL MAKE THE APPOINTMENTS HE HAS NOT DONE IT YET THEY WILL BE IN PLACE UNTIL THE ELECTION NEXT YEAR AND PRIMARIES ARE UNDERWAY FOR BOTH SEATS.

NO ONE IS IN THE ROLES YET.

STAY TUNED.

>> Bill: DO YOU THINK THE MAYOR IS GETTING A LOT OF PRESSURE AS TO WHO TO APPOINT?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT YES, I CERTAIN FACTIONS HAVE PEOPLE THEY ARE SUPPORTING AND THESE APPOINTMENTS THAT WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE THERE IS AN END DATE.

BUT, THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE IN THAT OFFICE FOR A WHILE.

YES, I WOULD SAY SO.

>> Bill: IT LOOKS LIKE MORE KENTUCKIANS WILL BE GOING ON WAIT LISTS FOR MEALS AND PROGRAMS.

YOU REPORTED AND LOOKED INTO THAT THIS WEEK.

>> RIGHT.

SO THESE PROGRAMS ARE LARGELY DONE THROUGH AREA DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION SENT A LETTER TO THE DIRECTORS OF THESE DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AND TOLD THEM THAT THE ADDED FUNDING THEY HAVE BEEN GETTING BESHEAR HAS BEEN MAKING UP A LOSS THROUGH HIS OWN BUDGET THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER BE ABLE TO GET THAT MONEY IN THIS FISCAL YEAR WHAT THEY GOT IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET.

A LOT OF PROGRAMS THAT HAVE BEEN COUNTING ON MONEY TO ELIMINATE THE WAIT LIST FOR SENIOR MEALS WILL NO LONGER HAVE THAT OPTION HE IS MAKING THE CUTS IN ANTICIPATION OF A SHORTFALL.

THAT MEANS THOUSANDS OF KENTUCKY SENIORS WILL GO BACK ON A WAIT LIST FOR MEALS.

>> Bill: ANTICIPATE PRESSURE ON THE LEGISLATURE?

>> I IMAGINE THAT.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF HOLES TO FILL WITH FEDERAL CUTS IT DEPENDS WHAT THE CAPACITY IS.

THEY DID PUT MORE MONEY THERE'S BEEN HISTORIC FUNDING LEVELS ALL THE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS WERE CLEAR BUT THEY HAVE HOLES TO FILL, CAN THEY MAINTAIN THAT LEVEL OF FUNDING.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE TAKING THE SAT FOR THE COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM THAT STARTS THIS YEAR FOR 20 YEARS AFTER THE ACT THAT WAS REQUIRED FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS.

THAT CONTRACT EXPIRED THIS WEEK.

PUBLIC RADIO REPORTS THE NEW CONTRACT COULD SAVE THE STATE UP TO $350,000 A YEAR.

THAT'S COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

[Knocking]