[♪♪] >> Bill: THE SUPERINTENDENT OF KENTUCKY'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT.

BOTH SIDINGS QUICKENED PACE AND INCREASE EFFORTSES SURROUNDING PROPOSED AMENDMENT 2 ON SCHOOL FUNDING.

FORECALLS FOR A LOUISVILLE STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO RESIGN AFTER INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR TOWARD WOMEN.

KENTUCKY S&L HAVE ITS FIRST FEMALE CHIEF JUSTICE.

WHAT IS LEFT OF HELENE IS ROLLING THROUGH THE STATE AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

ED >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS REPORTER WITH THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AND JOE SONKA, STATE HOUSE REPORTER WITH KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.

ALSO TONIGHT, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR MAKES MORE PRIMETIME TV APPEARANCES AND A LOCAL MAYOR REFLECTS ON A SITUATION THAT THRUST HIM INTO THE SPOTLIGHT AS WE HIT THE AIR TONIGHT KENTUCKY IS CONTINUING TO DEAL WITH THE RECOMMEND NANTDS OF WHAT WAS HURRICANE HELENE FLOODING AND HIGH WINDS CAUSED PROBLEMS ACROSS THE STATE.

IRONICALLY STATE OFFICIALS DECLARED A STATE-WIDE DROUGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK WE'LL SEE IF THIS WEEK'S RAIN EASES THAT CONCERN BUT RIGHT NOW HARDSHIPS OUT THERE.

WE ARE ON THE AIR FROM KET WITH GENERATEDDER POWER TONIGHT AND MAKESHIFT LIGHTING THE CREWS WORKED HARD TO SETUP BUT HERE WE ARE.

AND JOE IT'S BEEN A TOUGH DAY ACROSS KENTUCKY WITH THIS WEATHER.

>> WE ARE OUT OF THE DROUGHT BUT NOT THE WAY YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF A DROUGHT WITH A LOT OF RAIN AND WIND TODAY AND A LOT OF DAMAGE.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID ABOUT AN HOUR AGO THAT THERE WERE EIGHT COUNTIES THAT HAVE A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND MORE THAN 220 CUSTOMERS WHO ARE WITHOUT POWER.

BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE.

THE DAMAGE DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE ANYTHING LIKE WHAT IT WAS IN THE DEADLY EASTERN KENTUCKY FLOODING IN 2022.

AND WE APPEAR TO BE MUCH BETTER OFF THAN EASTERN TENNESSEE AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA THAT PART OF APPALACHIA WHICH WAS HIT WITH DEVASTATING FLOODING.

THE RAIN ISN'T DONE IT WILL BE STICKING AROUND FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

SO WE'RE NOT TOTALLY OUT OF THE WOODS BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

>> Bill: IT ZOOMED FROM THE GULF UP HERE TO KENTUCKY AND IS SITTING WITH US IT LOOKS LIKE OVER THE WEEKEND MORE OF THAT RAIN ON THE WAY.

>> YEAH, I'M NO BILL MACK, BUT.

>> Bill: OR CHRIS BAILEY.

>> COME ON THIS NETWORK.

BUT YEAH, THAT VORTEX THING IS DOING ITS THING.

AND IT'S LEXINGTON HAS BEEN HIT REALLY HARD.

I WASN'T HERE TODAY BUT I WAS DIVING WITH MY -- DRIVING WITH MY DAD WHO LIVES AROUND THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND HIS NEXT DOOR APP WAS BLOWING UP AND THE COMMENTS WERE UNHINGED AND BEING GREAT.

>> Bill: HATS AYOU HAVE TO THE UTILITY COMPANIES THEY WERE GETTING REQUESTS TO SEND MANPOWER TO THE SOUTHEAST AND THEY ARE DOING THAT BUT THEY DID HOLD CREWS BACK BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE ISSUES IN KENTUCKY AND WE REMIND EVERYBODY TO CERTAINLY BE CAREFUL AROUND ANY DOWNED POWER LINES AND BE VERY CAREFUL USING A GENERATOR.

WE KNOW MANY PEOPLE WILL DO GIVEN THE NUMBERS JOE WAS SHARING.

A LOT OF NEWS TO DISCUSS.

WE HAVE MAJOR NEWS OUT OF LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT MARTY POLIO ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT.

HE WILL STAY UNTIL HIS CONTRACT ENDS JULY 1, 2025.

McKENNA SURPRISING NEWS THIS MORNING.

>> YES, THIS WAS SURPRISING NEWS.

BUT IT DID SOUND LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT Dr. POLIO HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR SOMETIME.

HE SA ANNOUNCED THIS IN A LETTER TO STAFF OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HE'S LED THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SINCE 2017.

BUT HE HAS WORKED IN THE SYSTEM AS BOTH A TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL AND HELD OTHER POSITIONS.

AND THIS COMES AMID THE LEGISLATIVE SCRUTINY THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS RECEIVED AND WELL HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY FROM THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE SOMETHING HE REFERENCED IN THE LETTER AS WELL.

HE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS FACED CRITICISM PARTICULARLY OVER TRANSPORTATION THROUGH THE LAST YEAR.

AND THERE IS A TASK FORCE THAT IS REVIEWING THE GOVERNANCE OF JCPCS GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

BUT HE SAID IN HIS LETTER HE IS DOING THIS MAKING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT NOW SO THERE'S AMPLE TIME TO PICK HIS SUCCESSOR WHOEVER THAT WILL BE.

>> Bill: JOE THIS IS NO EASY JOB AND AS McKENNA SAYS THERE IS A LOT OF SCRUTINY.

>> YES, ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PUBLIC OFFICIAL JOBS IN KENTUCKY.

IT'S WELCOME STATED BUT IT'S TOUGH.

FROM THE MOMENT HE TOOK OFFICE, HE HAD THE STATE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOVER JCPS.

THERE WAS A WAVE OF AUDITS.

HE UNDER WENT A STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PLAN CHANGE AND, OF COURSE, THE BUSING DISASTER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR THAT CANCELED A WEEK OF SCHOOL AND THEN HE MADE THE DECISION AT THE START OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR TO END BUSING FOR MOST MAGNET SCHOOLS THAT FACED A LOT OF CRITICISM, THE LOUISVILLE N.A.A.C.P.

CALLED FOR HIM TO RESIGN OVER IT.

IT'S DEFINITELY A POSITION WHERE YOU ARE UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT NOT JUST IN JEFFERSON COUNTY BUT IN FRANKFORT.

AND HE MENTIONED IT IN HIS RETIREMENT LETTER HE SPENDS HIS TIME PUSHING BACK ON A TAX FROM FRANKFORT.

THE BOARD HAS UNTIL NEXT SUMMER TO LOOK AND FIND A REPLACEMENT.

BUT IT'S GOT TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS NOT AFRAID OF THE SPOTLIGHT AND ARROWS FROM DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

>> Bill: AREN'T RECOMMENDATIONS COMING SOON FROM THE WORK GROUP APPOINTED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO LOOK AT THE SYSTEM?

>> THAT IS A WHOLE OTHER ELEMENT YOU HAVE THE TASK FORCE LOOKING TO DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THAT COULD DRAMATICALLY CHANGE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHETHER THAT'S BREAKING IT UP OR DOING OTHER CHANGES.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO RECOMMEND.

BUT THAT'S IN THE BACKGROUND OF THIS.

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT AND YOU DONTSZ'S KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE TASK FORCE.

>> Bill: IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD TAKE A PAUSE REGARDING JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS KNOWING THIS CHANGE IS COMING?

>> I DON'T KNOW YOU COULD SEE AN ARGUMENT THEY COULD TAKE A PAUSE AND WAIT-AND-SEE WHO IT IS OR OKAY GREAT THIS IS A PERIOD OF TRANSITION LET'S MAKE WHATEVER TRANSITION WE WANT THAT WAY WHEN THE PERSON IS HIRED THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE STEPPING INTO.

THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE PLAN GOING FORWARD IS.

I'LL BE INTERESTED TO HEAR FROM FOLKS, PARTICULARLY ONCE JANUARY COMES AROUND.

>> AND MARTY POLIO'S SALARY IS $3 AUTO 50,000 -- $350,000.

HE MAKES THE SAME SALARY IN THE PENSION.

HE CAN HAVE ALL THE SCRUTINY OR MAKE ALL THE MONEY IN RETIREMENT.

>> Bill: WE WILL KEEP ON TOP OF THAT.

WE'VE SEEN RAMPED UP EFFORTS TO PASS OR DEFEAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2.

IT WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO DIVERT TAX DOLLARS TO PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

>> THERE IS NOT A PRESS CONFERENCE LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO FULLY PROSECUTE THE CASE AGAINST AMENDMENT 2 BECAUSE THE CONSEQUENCES BOTH INTENTIONAL AND UNINTENTIONAL ARE ENDLESS.

>> THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ISSUED 2 WILL ALLOW FUTURE LEGISLATORS TO DEAL WITH SCHOOL CHOICE ISSUES.

IT IS NOT A SCHOOL FUNDING ISSUE AND IT WILL NOT TAKE MONEY AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

>> Bill: AUSTIN THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HARD-FOUGHT BATTLE WHETHER TO CHANGE THE KEN CONSTITUTION.

KENTUCKY CONSTITUTION.

IS A POLITICAL FIGHT MORE DIFFICULT TO READ THAN WHEN YOU HAVE THE PERSONALITIES OF CANDIDATES INVOLVED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

JUST AS A SIDE NOTE IT'S GOING TO BE SAD, I THINK, FOR AREA TV STATIONS WHEN DAY MON THAYER RETIRES.

THEY WON'T HAVE AS EASY OF AN INTERVIEW.

>> Bill: I HAVE A FEELING HE WILL AVAIL HIMSELF.

>> I THINK SO.

IT'S DIFFICULT, LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALLY POLITICS SNTS' EVERYBODY'S THING WE ARE THE WEIRD ONES THE PEOPLE WATCHING THIS ARE THE WEIRD ONES.

I HATE TO INSULT THE AUDIENCE WE'RE WEIRD WITH THEM.

AND MOST PEOPLE GO ON THE BALLOT AND THEY KNOW SOME ABOUT THE CANDIDATES BUT THEY GENERALLY ALIGN WITH THE R OR THE D OR THE PEOPLE THEY KNOW AND NONPARTISAN LOCAL ISSUES.

SO THIS ONE IS JUST A TOUGHER ISSUE TO CRACK.

AND IT'S A DIFFICULT THING, BECAUSE YES, ELECTED DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE ALIGNING ON EITHER SIDE.

DEMOCRATS ARE NO AND REPUBLICANS ARE YES.

BUT YOU'VE GOT THIS WEIRD CROSSOVER WHERE REPUBLICANS WANT TO PICKOFF VOTERS IN URBAN AREAS LIKE NORTHERN KENTUCKY LOUISVILLE, LEXINGTON, AND DEMOCRATS WANT TO PICKOFF VOTERS IN RURAL AREAS.

AND HOW PARTISAN OF AN ISSUE DO YOU MAKE IT?

DO YOU SIGNAL TO YOUR FRIENDS THIS IS A PARTISAN ISSUE BUT YOUR NORMAL POLITICAL ENEMIES THAT IT'S NONPARTISAN NN HOW DO BOTH OF THOSE CAMPAIGNS WORK THAT OUT?

I DON'T KNOW IT WAS TELLING THE NO SIDE STARTED OFF THEIR SECOND AD WAS A LITTLE GIRL SCHOOL AGED GIRL EXPLAINING EDUCATING TO HER PARENTS WHY NO WAS THE RIGHT CALL.

AND I THINK INDICATIVE WHERE PEOPLE ARE AT HERE.

THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO LEARN, BUT BOTH SIDES ARE TRYING HARD TO PERSUADE THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

>> AND POLLING IS ESPECIALLY HARD ON THIS BECAUSE THE QUESTION IS MAKING THEIR INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTION IS.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO READOUT THE WHOLE THING ON MOST POLLS.

IN ANOTHER THING COMPLICATING THIS IS IF THE AMENDMENT PASSES WE STILL DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO DO.

THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO USE PUBLIC FUNDS FOR PRIVATE EDUCATION BUT WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THAT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

A FLORIDA STYLE FULL OUT VOUCHER PROGRAM OR IF IT'S GOING TO BE LIMITED TO CERTAIN URBAN COUNTIES OR BE LESS THAN THAT.

AND CONFUSING THE MATTER IS YOU HAVE THE NO SIDE SAYING THIS IS GOING TO HURT PUBLIC EDUCATION IT'S GOING TO CAUSE A DECREASE IN FUNDING.

TEACHERS WILL GET LESS PAY AND THE YES SIDE SAYING NO IT'S GOING TO INCREASE TEACHER SALARIES IT WILL INCREASE FUNDING.

THEY ARE MAKING A THEORETICAL ARGUMENT IF YOU CREATE MORE COMPETITION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE EDUCATION, PUBLIC TEACHERS WILL MAKE MORE BECAUSE YOU NEED TO ATTRACT THEM.

THERE'S DIFFICULTY BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK AT FLORIDA THAT HAS THE VOUCHER PROGRAM THEY HAVE THE LOWEST PAID TEACHERS IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS A VERY CONFUSING ISSUE AND A LOT OF ADS ARE TRYING TO EDUCATE OR SWAY PEOPLE TO WHATEVER SIDE THEY ARE.

>> Bill: AND McKENNA THERE IS NO SHORTHAND.

YOU DON'T PUTTED THIS ON AS SCHOOL FUNDING OR SCHOOL CHOICE SOMETHING THAT SIMPLE.

THE ENTIRE AMENDMENT WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

SO KENTUCKY VOTERS HAVE SOME STUDYING TO DO?

>> YES.

AND YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, CAMPAIGNS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE HAVE JUST GOTTEN UP ON TV THIS PAST MONTH.

SO FOR A LOT OF KENTUCKY VOTERS WHO ARE HEADING TO THE POLLS THIS FALL, THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE HEARING ABOUT THIS AMENDMENT AND DOING RESEARCH.

AND DEPENDING ON WHICH INFORMATION REACHES THEM FIRST WILL SWAY THE VOTES.

ALSO, IT'S A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR.

VOTER TURNOUT WILL BE HIGHER AND IT WILL INCLUDE VOTERS WHO MAYBE AREN'T VOTING EVERY SINGLE ELECTION AND VNTS' PAID ATTENTION TO POLITICS IN THAT WAY.

DEPENDING ON HOW THEY FEEL THAT COULD SWAY HOW THIS AMENDMENT TURNS OUT.

>> Bill: CONSIDERABLE MONEY BEING SPENT ON BOTH SIDES.

>> OH, YEAH, THEY STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO OR SO, AND THERE'S NO SIGN OF SLOWING DOWN FROM EITHER SIDE.

>> Bill: CALLS FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL GROSS BERG TO RESIGN CONTINUED THE STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE SENATE DEMOCRATS JOINED THE CHORUS THAT FOLLOWED CALLS FROM GOVERNOR BESHEAR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR COLEMAN AND CONGRESSMAN McGARVEY.

GROSSBURG'S ATTORNEY WROTE AN OP-ED THIS WEEK ON HIS BEHALF.

AUSTIN, THE HERALD LEADER CONTINUED ITS REPORTING OF WOMEN CLAIMING TO HAVE MADE UNCOMFORTABLE BY CONGRESSBURG'S COMMENTS AND TEXTS.

HIS DENIALS HAVE ALSO CONTINUED.

>> YES.

A WEEK AGO, WE REPORTED ON A SPECIFIC INCIDENT THAT LEAD TO A LIFETIME BAN FROM A LOUISVILLE STRIP CLUB.

HE WAS A FREQUENT CUSTOMER AND ALLEGEDLY GROPED A DANCER ON STAGE.

AND ALLEGEDLY SOLICITED PROSTITUTION FROM ONE LEADING TO THAT LIFETIME BAN FROM A STRIP CLUB.

HE HAS DENIED PARTS OF THAT STORY NOT ALL OF IT.

HE DENIED THE SOLICITATION OF PROSTITUTION WHICH REMINDSER IT IS A CRIME IN KENTUCKY.

AND HE'S DENIED USING HIS OFFICE TO HIS ADVANTAGE.

WHICH ALLEGEDLY HE THREATENED TO SHUT THE PLACE DOWN SAID DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM ON THE NIGHT THAT HE WAS GETTING KICKED OUT OF THE CLUB.

BUT THIS CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AS YOU REFERENCED.

HIS ATTORNEY WROTE AN OP-ED THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY PINNED PART OF THE BLAME ON THE LACK OF A COMPREHENSIVE ANTI-HARASSMENT TRAINING POLICY IN THE LEGISLATURE.

ONE THAT WAS THAT USED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE WAKE OF A SIMILARRISH SCANDAL IN 2016.

SO RIGHT NOW YOU'VE GOT A CHORUS OF DEMOCRATS CALLING ON HIM TO RESIGN BUT HE'S SHOWN NO STEPS TOWARD THAT.

THAT COULD CHANGE.

AND THEN ONCE JANUARY 1 COMES AROUND WE MIGHT BE TALKING REMOVAL, IMPEACHMENT ANY OF THAT STUFF IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Bill: IF GROSSBURG DOES CONTINUE IS HE CUTOFF FROM HIS POLITICAL PARTY AND FELLOW LAWMAKERS AT THIS POINT?

>> WELL, BOTH THE LOCAL LOUISVILLE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE STATE PARTY HAVE COME OUT AGAINST DANIEL GROSSBURG AND ASKED HIM TO REFRAIN FROM TAKING PART IN EVENS.

HE HAS BEEN STRIPPED OF HIS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS HE IS NOT GOING TO THE ANNEX TO SPEAK ON A COMMITTEE AT THE MOMENT: AND THEN THE HOUSE CAUCUS HAS EXPELLED HIM FROM THE CAUCUS.

THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

HE DOESN'T HAVE -- IT BEGS THE QUESTION OF HOW WOULD YOU BE AN EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR IF YOU DON'T HAVE ALLIES WITHIN YOUR OWN PARTY AND I THINK THAT'S THE CONVERSATIONS THAT OR MESSAGES THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE TRIED TO PUSH OUT OVER THESE FEW DAYS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN CALLING FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

THIS WEEK THE SENATE DEMOCRATS JOINED IN THAT.

THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

BUT IF HE CONTINUES TO STAY, THE WAY TO REMOVE A LAWMAKER IF THERE IS ENOUGH TRACTION TO SUPPORT THAT MEASURE, UNDER THE STATE CONSTITUTION BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE ALLOWED TO REMOVE A MEMBER WITH A TWO THIRD VOTE OF THE CHAMBER.

SO IT WOULD BE UP TO THE HOUSE TO PUT THAT OPTION WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY THE REPUBLICANS.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH ON THAT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR PUT THE LETCHER COUNTY SHERIFF ON NOTICE HE IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING JUDGE KEF RIN MULLENNINGS TO DEATH.

STYNES PLED NOT GUILTY.

JOE, BESHEAR WANTS STYNES TO RESIGN OR INDICATES HE WILL TAKE ACTION?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

HE GAVE HIM UNTIL TODAY FRIDAY TO RESIGN SAYING THAT LETCHER COUNTY NEEDS A SHERIFF IN THAT POSITION.

AND IF NOT, HE WOULD START THE PROCESS OF REMOVAL.

BUT IT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT AWAY.

BESHEAR SAID IT COULD TAKE MONTHS AND MONTHS FOR THAT PROCESS TO PLAY OUT AND FOR HIM TO BE REMOVED.

THERE IS NO WORD ON WHETHER STYNES SUBMITTED THAT RESIGNATION AND WE HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE 0 ON THAT.

THERE IS A PRELIMINARY HEARING TO SEE IF THERE'S PROBABLE CAUSE NEXT TUESDAY AND WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S ANYMORE INFORMATION THAT THE PROSECUTION WILL HAVE TO MAKE A CASE THAT HE COMMITTED THE CRIME.

BUT WE RNTS' SURE WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO HEAR OF A MOTIVE.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR CONTINUES TO MAKE POLITICAL APPEARANCES HE WAS ON TELEVISION A LOT NATIONALLY.

ESSENTIALLY A SURROGATE FROM VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS' CAMPAIGN.

AUSTIN, THIS BESHEAR SEES OPPORTUNITY BEYOND THE BORDERS?

WHY DO HE REMAYBE SO VISIBLE?

>> I THINK SO.

WHEN YOU ARE AN AMBITIOUS YOUNG POLITICIAN ANY NATIONAL EXPOSURE IS JUST PLAIN GOOD.

THAT SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU DO IT BOTH FOR THE NAME ID AMONG A BROADER AUDIENCE.

BUT YOU ALSO DO IT FOR SPECIFIC AUDIENCE WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE LEAD UP TO A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THAT SPECIFIC AUDIENCE IS, I THINK KAMALA HARRIS AND HER TEAM.

IF SHE WINS SHE WILL BE THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON ON EARTH.

AND IT DOESN'T HURT TO BE SEEN AS A GOOD SOLDIERER ON PRIMETIME TELEVISION ON A VERY POPULAR NETWORK FOR THE MOST POWERFUL PERSON ON EARTH.

DOES THAT MEAN A CABINET POSITION?

DOES IT MEAN SOME OTHER SUPPORT FOR SOMETHING ELSE IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: HE HAS SAID NO CABINET POSITION.

BUT THE CALL HAS NOT BEEN MADE?

>> AND THESE THINGS IN POLITICS NOBODY REALLY LIKE SIGNS I WILL DO THIS FOR YOU IF YOU DO THAT FOR ME.

BUT IT JUST HELPS IN GENERAL TO BE SEEN AS A STRONG SUPPORTER OF SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE PRESIDENT.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY'S SECRETARY OF STATE ADAMS IS ASSURING VOTERS THAT THE STATE IS ON TRACK FOR THIS WEEK'S ELECTION.

HE TOLD ME THIS WEEK THAT KENTUCKY DOES A BETTER JOB THAN MANY STATES OF KEEPING THE ELECTION PROCESS SIMPLE AND BIPARTISAN.

>> NUMBER ONE WE HAVE JUST BETTER TECHNOLOGY SIMPLE TECHNOLOGY.

BUT NUMBER TWO WE DO IT IN A BIPARTISAN WAY NOT JUST AT THE POLICY LEVEL AND THE LAY SLAYTORS AND THE GOVERNOR EVERY BOARD OF ELECTION IS BIPARTISAN.

EVERY PRESTINTED IS BIPARTISAN.

YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WORKING TOGETHER AND THEY HAD TO AGREE ON THE COUNT BEFORE WE CERTIFY IT.

>> Bill: JOE, ADAMS SAYS KENTUCKY'S POLLING PLACES ARE NOT HOOKED UP TO MODEMS AND PAPER BALLOTS ARE REASSURING TO VOTERS AND WE GET ELECTION INTEGRITY RIGHT.

>> AND THAT WAS LITIGATED LAST YEAR IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WHERE ADAMS HAD REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OPPONENTS WHO SAID THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE VOTING MACHINES BEING HOOKED UP TO THE INTERNET AND THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH ELECTION INTEGRITY.

BUT REPUBLICANS GAVE HIM A HUGE VICTORY AND HE WENT ON TO THE GENERAL ELECTION AND WON BY MORE THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATES WITH A LOT OF DEMOCRATS CROSSING OVER TO VOTE FOR HIM.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE MOST KENTUCKIANS AGREE WITH ADAMS ON THIS.

>> Bill: THE F.B.I.

REPORTED NATIONAL CRIME STATISTICS THE TRENDS ARE DOWN NATIONWIDE BUT KENTUCKY DID SEE MORE VIOLENT AND PROPERTY CRIMES.

LAW ENFORCEMENT STAFFING LEVELS ARE MENTIONED AMONG SOME.

AND ALSO DRUGS CONTINUING PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY.

>> YES, VIOLENT CRIME DID GO SLIGHTLY UP IT'S DOWN FROM THE SPIKE THE STATE HAD DURING THE PANDEMIC.

YOU LOOK INDIVIDUALLY AT THE CRIMES AND MURDERS GONE WAY DOWN, GONE DOWN 15% IN THE PAST YEAR BUT AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WENT UP BY 7% TO NEARLY 7,000.

THAT'S KIND OF EVENS OUT, THOUGH BUT STILL SLIGHTLY UP.

>> Bill: LONDON MAYOR WHITTLE IS REFLECTING ON THE TWO WEEKS HIS CITY WAS ON EDGE DURING THE HUNT FOR THE I-75 SHOOTER.

THE MAYOR GOT WORD THROUGH A TEXT SOMEONE WAS SHOOTING AT MOTORISTS AND HE GOT A TEXT SAYING THIS IS REAL.

HE KNEW IT WAS GO TIME FOR HIM AND HIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> WE DIDN'T DO EVERYTHING PERFECT AND WE KNOW THAT.

WHEN YOU ARE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS THERE IS NOT A RULE BOOK OR SOMETHING TELLING YOU HOW TO DEAL WITH A MASS SHOOTINGER.

BUT I FELT LIKE WE DID OUR BET AND WE LEARNED A LOT AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE LEARNED IT'S IMPORTANT FOR LEADERS TO STEP UP AND TRY TO LEAD IN THESE TIMES THAT IT'S DIFFICULT.

AND MAYBE YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS BUT SAYING SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN NOTHING.

AND AGAIN, I THINK MY AGENCY WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE ON HOW WE RESPOND IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, YOU KNTS' PREPARE FOR A SITUATION LIKE THAT BUT THE MAYOR THOUGHT THAT KEEPING PEOPLE INFORMED WAS PARAMOUNT FROM THE FIRST MOMENT THAT HE KNEW THIS WAS UNDERWAY.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S TRUE.

IT'S HELPFUL TO GIVE PEOPLE SOME KIND OF INFORMATION AS OPPOSED TO JUST GOING DARK.

AND IT DOESN'T HURT TO HAVE THE CARROT OF THE 35,000 REWARD DANGLING IN FRONT OF PEOPLE LIKE THE COUPLE THAT FOUND THAT ENDED UP FINDING THE BODY.

35,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> Bill: AND APPARENTLY THEY WILL RECEIVE THAT AND THE MAYOR SAID THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO OFFER THAT UP TO KEEP THOSE TIPS COMING IN DURING THAT TIME.

SO IT WAS INTERESTING DISCUSSION WITH HIM.

KENTUCKY WILL HAVE THE FIRST FEMALE SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE.

DEBRA LAMBERT WAS SELECTED BY OTHER JUSTICES ON THE HIGH COURT FOR THE TOP JOB.

SHE WILL BE REPLACING CHIEF JUSTICE LAWRENCE VAN METER WHO IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

AND SO McKENNA, THE JUSTICE BRINGS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE TO THE ROLE YET SHE CALLS HERSELF A SMALL TOWN KID FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY WHO GOT A LOT OF ENCOURAGEMENT.

>> YES.

SHE WILL BE THE FIRST SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO WILL BE A WOMAN ON THE COURT AND ALSO.

>> CHIEF JUSTICE.

>> CHIEF JUSTICE, YES, OF COURSE.

AND I THINK WHAT IS ALSO INTERESTING ABOUT THIS TIME FOR THE SUPREME COURT IS THAT THERE IS AN ELECTION FOR JUSTICE VAN METER'S SEAT BECAUSE HE IS RETIRING.

WHOEVER WINS THAT ELECTION WILL BE A WOMAN.

THERE'S TWO WOMEN RUNNING IN THAT RACE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY ANDED WITH WINNER OF THAT ELECTION FOR THE SEVEN JUSTICES ON THE COURT WILL BE WOMEN.

GIVING A MAJORITY TO THE GENDER ON THE COURT AFTER THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

>> Bill: JOE, YOU REPORTED LOUISVILLE TEACHERS' UNION SPENT $200,000 ON THAT RACE BETWEEN JUDGE GOODWIN AND ATTORNEYER RON IS SO.

>> NOT ONLY HAS THE TEACHER SUPPORT BUT THE SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR WHO HAS COME OUT WITH A STRONG ENDORSEMENT.

KENTUCKIANS FOR GOOD JUDGES AND THE CHAIRPERSON IS GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S TOP POLITICAL ADVISER.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE RACES -- I SHOULD SAY THE TEACHER UNION PAC THROUGH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE PAC THE SAME PAC IN THE 2022 RACE PUT $350,000 OF ADS BEHIND MICHELE KELLER IN THAT RACE WHICH WAS DID NOT RESEMBLE A NONPARTISAN RACE.

THAT WAS OVERTLY PARTISAN.

AND YOU HAD TWO PACS MAKING PARTISAN MESSAGES.

AND THE RACE WITH GOODWIN IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE IT'S ONE-SIDED YOU HAVE THE UNION AND BESHEAR ON ONE SIDE AND I SO HAS NOT GOTTEN SUPPORT FROM OUTSIDE PACS MANY SHE HAS SMALL DONATIONS FROM REPUBLICAN GROUPS IT SEEMS LOPSIDED.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

SENATOR TURNER SAID TO BE MAKING PROGRESS AFTER BEING INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING A RIDING LAWN MOWER THIS WEEK.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT.

TOM WATSON WHO WAS A LONGTIME BROADCAST EDITOR FOR THE ASSOCIATESSED PRESS IN KENTUCKY HAS DIED.

HE IS REMEMBERED FOR HIS BARITONE VOICE AND ABILITY TO WRITE, CLEAN, CONCISE COPY FOR STATIONS AROUND THE STATE AND THE NATION.

HE WORKED FOR 50 YEARS IN JOURNALIST AND IN RADIO NEWS WHERE HE SERVED FROM 1973 TO 2009.

HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE KENTUCKY JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME KNOWN AS WATTTY.

WATSON DIED LAST WEEKEND AT THE AGE OF 85.

SERVICES WERE HELD THIS WEEK IN HIS HOMETOWN OF TAYLORSVILLE.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BE SAFE IN THE CONTINUING STORM SITUATION AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.