THE WORST IT'S BEEN YET.

MORE HOSPITALS SUSPEND SURGERY.

SOME DEAL WITH FULL MORGUES.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR AWAITS THE SIGNAL THAT LAWMAKERS ARE READY FOR A SPECIAL SESSION WHERE THEY WILL TAKE CHARGE OF THE PANDEMIC response MORE THAN 30 SCHOOLS CLOSED TO IN-PERSON LEARNING BECAUSE OF OUTBREAKS.

THE NTI LIMIT SPARKS TOUGH TALK AND CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS MAKE KENTUCKY HISTORY.

HEADING INTO LABOR DAY WEEKEND, "COMMENT" ON NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M BILL BRYANT, AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR: ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

OLIVIA KRAUTH, EDUCATION REPORTER FOR AND RYLAND BARTON, CAPITOL BUREAU CHIEF FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLING GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND ALSO TONIGHT SOME AFGH REFUGEES START ARRIVING IN KENTUCKY, AND SOME KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN U.S. HOUSE MEMBERS OPPOSE THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT SENATE GOP LEADER MITCH McCONNELL HELPED pass BUT FIRST, NO MATTE NUMBERS YOU LOOK AT, KENTUCKY'S COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS .

ARE RAGING.

ALEX, WE KNOW THE NATIONAL GUARD IS HELPING SOME HOSPITALS AT THIS POINT.

WE HAVE A DARK PICTURE HEADING INTO THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

>> WE DO.

I FEEL EACH TIME WE'RE ON HERE WE TALK ABOUT HOW IT'S AS BAD AS IT'S EVER BEEN AND THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE.

WE HAD OUR SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH HIGHEST DAYS OF SINGLE DANE CREASES AND NEW CASES THIS WEEK.

SO FAR WE'VE ALREADY HAD ABOUT ALMOST 22,700 CASES REPORTED.

WE'RE MAYBE ON TRACK TO BEATE H. BEAT LAST WEEK'S RECORD WHICH WAS AN ALL-TIME HIGH, AND WE CONTINUE MAYBE THE MOST DISTURBING THING IS WE CONTINUE TO HAVE RECORD NUMBERS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS.

THERE'S ALMOST 2400 PEOPLE IN HOSPITALS RIGHT NOW ACROSS THE STATE WHICH IS A PEAK.

89% OF OUR ICUs ARE FULL WHICH MEANS THAT I THINK AT LAST I LOOKED AROUND 160 BEDS ARE AVAILABLE STATEWIDE.

MOST OF THOSE ARE CONCENTRATED IN CITIES.

AND SO IT'S NOT GOOD.

I MEAN, OUR RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED THIN.

PLENTY OF HOSPITALS HAVE NO ICU BEDS AVAILABLE.

AND THAT BACKS UP THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

SO IT'S NOT IN A BOOED GOOD WAY.

>> Bill: ANOTHER DISTURBING THING IS MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GETTING HIT WITH THE CHRIST.

>> Alex: MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAFETY.

GETTING HOSPITAL SIDES.

MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DYING.

I HAVE TALKED TO COUNTLESS PROVIDER WHO HAVE TALKED TO PEOPLE IN 40s, 50s BEING ON ICUS ON VENT RATES ARE.

WE HAD A DAY WHERE BESHEAR RELATED OFF A LIST OF PEOPLE IN THEIR 30s, 40s AND 50s WHO DIED FROM THE VIRUS.

IT'S QUITE SERIOUS.

>> Bill: AND THE LAST TWO DAYS I THINK WE HAD 50 DEATHS.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

50.

WE KEEP HAVING 20-SOMETHING DEATHS EACH DAY AND WE KNOW THEY'RE GETTING YOUNGER.

THEY'RE LARGELY UNVACCINATED.

IT'S THE SAME THING, IT'S JUST GETTING WORSE.

>> Bill: AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE METRICS AND THE NUMBERS BUT DID YOU A STRONG AND EXTENSIVE LOOK AT REALLY WHAT'S GOING ON IN THESE HOSPITALS, AND WHAT WERE YOUR TAKEAWAYS WHEN YOU GOT THIS UNUSUAL ACCESS AND SAW SOME THINGS UP CLOSE?

>> Alex: MY TAKEAWAYS WERE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO AIR HOSPITAL TO BE OVERRUN IS MAYBE NOT WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT.

THE DEFINITELY THERE AREN'T BEDS IN THE HALLWAYS, FOR EXAMPLE.

USUALLY WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT RESOURCES AND STAFF ARE STRAINED TO SUCH A DEGREE THEY CAN NOT HANDLE PATIENT LOADS AND THAT CARE IS IN SOME WAY ALTERED BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PATIENTS.

NOW, IN SOME WAYS IT MEANS THAT ICU BEDS ARE COMPLETELY OCCUPIED, WHICH WAS THE CASE IN MY STORY AND HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR MULTIPLE DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL THAT I DISCOVERED ACTUALLY THE HOSPITAL THAT I COVERED HAD TO ASK FOR MORE VENTILATORS WHICH THEY GOT FROM THE NATIONAL STOCKPILE THIS WEEK.

BUT BASICALLY IT'S JUST A DELUGE OF PATIENTS AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH PEOPLE TO TREAT THEM.

OR NOT ENOUGH RESOURCES.

AND SO I FOLLOWED AN ER DOCTORS HE TREATED PATIENTS IN THE ER WHICH WAS OVERCAPACITY BECAUSE OF COVID PATIENTS AND REGULAR PATIENTS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE WAITING ROOM.

AND THEN THAT AFFECTS THE TIME.

ICU WAS FULL, AND SO THEY COULDN'T ADMIT PATIENTS QUICK ENOUGH SO BASICALLY THERE'S A LOGJAM.

EVERYTHING GETS STOPPED.

BECAUSE PATIENTS YOUNGER WHEN THEY'RE HOSPITALIZED, THEY STAY FOR LONGER WHICH ALSO JAMS UP THE SYSTEM, SO IT'S JUST BASICALLY STOP BY STOP PROBLEMS.

>> Bill: YOU DIDN'T USE NAMES BUT YOU WERE THERE WHEN SOMEONE DIED.

>> Alex: I WAS.

I WAS THERE WHEN A PALLIATIVE CARE DOCTOR BASICALLY HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A DOCTOR SAYING, YOUR WIFE, MOTHER, SISTER WHO IS IN HER LATE 60s HAS BEEN VALENTINE LATER FOR TWO WEEKS.

SHE'S NOT GOING TO RECOVER.

WE'RE BASICALLY GOING TO UNPLUG THERE.

I WAS THERE WHEN HE TOLD THEM THAT WEEK MADE A PLUG FOR VACCINATION AND THEN WATCHED IT HAPPEN AS IT WILL DOES COUNTLESS TIMES EVERY DAY AT THAT HOSPITAL AND OTHER HOSPITALS ACROSS THE STATE.

IT'S A GRIM SCENE.

>> Bill: RYLAND, WE KNOW HOPPERS HAVING TO REACH BEYOND THE RESOURCES THEY CAN MARSHAL AT THE LOCAL AREA.

WE HAD THE FEDERAL VENTILATORS NOW COMING IN AND THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD IS ALSO ASSISTING AT SOME HOSPITALS AND SOME HOSPITALS ARE ASKING FOR MORE HELP.

WHAT DOES THE GUARD TWO WHEN THEY ARRIVE?

>> Ryland: THEY HIGHWAY PATROL WITH A LOT OF THE REALLY BASIC FUNCTION OF A HOSPITAL, INTAKE WEEK TAKING TEMPERATURES, TRIAGE, BECAUSE AS ALEX WAS SAYING THIS BE ISN'T JUST BEDS BEING TAKEN UP.

THIS IS A STRAIN ON STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES, SO THE NATIONAL GUARD IS JUST KIND OF TRYING COME IN AND FILL SOME OF THOSE HOLES, AND AS A LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO HELP SOME OF THESE HOSPITALS ARE STRUGGLING SO MUCH WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: THIS PERSONNEL SHORTAGE IS WHAT IS SO ACUTE RIGHT NOW.

ALEX, DO HOSPITALS THINK THEY WILL LOSE EVEN MORE STAFF AS THEY HAVE VACCINE MANDATES IN PLACE NOW?

>> Alex: YES.

AND THAT WILL HAPPEN.

MOST HOSPITALS IN THE STATE THAT ARE REQUIRING VACCINATIONS, WHICH IS ABOUT A DOZEN OF THEM -- SOME OF THEM ARE HOSPITAL SYSTEMS -- MOST OF THE ONES I'VE TALKED TO HAVE NOT PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE.

YOU GET VACCINATED OR YOU'RE TERMINATED.

REQUIRING STAFF VACCINATIONS FOR HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL IS NOT A NEW THING.

OBVIOUSLY COVID IS HIGHLY CONTAMINATION SO A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IT MAKES SENSE THAT THEY WOULD REQUIRE THE VACCINE.

SO WHAT IT MEANS IS BECAUSE THERE ISN'T 100% COMPLIANCE AT HOSPITALS ALREADY, THEY WILL LOSE PRECIOUS STAFF THAT THEY NEED RIGHT NOW.

I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT I HOSPITAL IN WESTERN KENTUCKY THAT'S REQUIRING THE VACCINE AND THEIR DEADLINE WAS SEPTEMBER 1st ACTUALLY FIRED 180 PEOPLE.

THEY HAD SINCE SAID THEY FOUND REPLACEMENTS, BUT AGAINST IT'S A DIRE SITUATION WHEN YOU'RE ALREADY EXPERIENCING CRITICAL STAFF SHORTAGES.

WE KNOW THAT TWO-THIRDS OF THE HOSPITALS IN THE STATE ARE.

>> Bill: LET ME BACK UP JUST A SECOND.

SO YOU'RE SAYING IN THIS SITUATION THERE IS A HOSPITAL THAT HAS FIRED 180 PEOPLE.

>> Alex: YES, BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT VACCINATED.

NOW, THEY HAVE SCRAMBLED TO REPLACE ALL 180, AND APPARENTLY THEY'RE GOING TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.

BUT STILL, IT'S SERIOUS.

>> Bill: VERY, VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR HOSPITALS AND THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

IT'S ALSO VERY CHALLENGING FOR SCHOOLS TRYING TO START THE YEAR.

OLIVIA, MORE THAN 30 DISTRICTS HAVE CLOSED TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AT THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE OUTBREAKS.

HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS ARE IN QUARANTINE.

STAFF, TEACHERS, NORSE OTHERS IN QUARANTINE.

WHAT A CHALLENGE.

>> Olivia: ABSOLUTELY.

EVERYBODY WANTED IN-PERSON LEARNING AND, THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY IT'S BEEN DISRUPTED BY SCHOOL CLOSURES OR BY STUDENT QUARANTINES, SO ABOUT 4% OF JPCS STUDENTS RIGHT NOW ARE QUARANTINED.

THAT'S -- IT SOUNDS SMALL BUT IT'S NOT AN INSIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF KIDS WHO ARE MISSING OUT ON LEARNING RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: HOW DO THESE QUARANTINES WORK?

I MEAN, HOW ARE THEY SORT OF ENFORCED AND WHAT GETS DONE IF STUDENTS ARE IN QUARANTINE?

>> Olivia: RIGHTS.

SUPPOSED TO BE ESSENTIALLY YOU CONTINUE LEARNING FROM HOME AND THAT KIND OF DIFFERS FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL AND DISTRICT TO DISTRICT.

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A GET TO SKIP CLASS FOR A FEW DAYS TYPE OF SITUATION.

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT HANGING OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS OR SOMETHING.

YOU ARE -- YOU'RE IN QUARANTINE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO A VIRUS AND YOU'RE IN QUARANTINE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO SPREAD THAT VIRUS NOW.

>> Bill: EVEN IF SOMEONE IS NOT IN QUARANTINE OR DOESN'T HAVE THE VIRUS, THIS HAS TO BE VERY DISRUPTIVE, TRYING TO GET A SCHOOL YEAR GOING.

>> Lisa: ORPHANAGES ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

IT'S DISRUPTIVE, OF COURSE, TO THE STUDENTS WHO HAVE TO EXPERIENCE IT BUT ALSO THE TEACHERS WHO ARE TRYING TO NAVIGATE THIS.

THEY'RE ALREADY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEIR STUDENTS ARE AT AFTER ALL THIS TIME OFF, AND THEN YOU'RE HAVING THIS STUDENT OUT AND THEN THIS STUDENT'S OUT AND TRYING TO FIGURE ALL OF THAT OUT IS REALLY TRICKY.

>> Bill: WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE NTI SCRAMBLE HERE IN JUST A LITTLE BIT, BUT FIRST MANY DOCTORS HAVE EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION ABOUT HOW POLITICS HAS BEEN PLAYING A ROLE IN VACCINATION DECISIONS, AND A LEADING INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST IN LEXINGTON TALKED TO ME ABOUT THAT FOR A KENTUCKY NEWSMAKERS INTERVIEW THE THAT AIRS THIS WEEKEND ON KWYT.

>> BASICALLY IF YOU'RE, YOU KNOW,Y CONSERVATIVE, YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IN THE VACCINE AND CAN'T TAKE THE VACCINE BECAUSE -- BECAUSE -- THESE ARE WHAT PATIENTS ARE TELLING ME -- BECAUSE IT'S A BIDEN VACCINE.

NOW, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY PATENTLY NOT TRUE.

IT WAS DEVELOPED UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BUT SOMEHOW IT'S BEEN TWISTED INTO A POLITICAL ARGUMENT, AND PEOPLE ARE STAKING THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FAMILIES' LIVES BASED ON FALSE POLITICAL BELIEFS.

>> Bill: RYLAND, SINCE VERY EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC THE RESPONSE TO DEALING WITH COVID-19 HAS BEEN POLITICAL, BORDERLINE TRIBAL.

>> Ryland: REMEMBER, THERE WAS BIT OF A HONEYMOON FORTH FIRST MONTH OR SO WHERE IT SEEMED POLITICIANS WERE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE AND RIGHTFULLY SCARED ABOUT THE VACCINE, BUT I THINK QUICKLY, AS A LOT OF THE RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC BECAME RESTRICTIONS ON CROWDS AND RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT BUSINESSES COULD BE OPEN, IT BECAME THIS KIND OF PERSONAL LIBERTY ISSUE, AND SO PEOPLE WOULD GET ANGRY OVER THAT ISSUE, AND THEN ONCE WE KIND OF GET TO THIS VACCINE GETS DEVELOPED DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WEEK SOME HOW ABOUT THINGS GET CONFUSED AND THIS ISSUE ENDS UP FALLING INTO THE PERSONAL LIBERTY ISSUE AT THE SAME TIME.

SO, YEAH, WE'RE IN THIS VERY CONFUSING POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE EVEN THOUGH A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT GOT THIS VACCINE INTO INTO -- APPROVED AND HAS BEEN TESTED SINCE LATE LAST SUMMER -- >> Bill: AND HE TOOK IT AND HAS ENCOURAGED ERR OTHER PEOPLE TO TAKE IT.

>> Ryland: YEAH, CERTAINLY WE HAVE SEEN IN KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL HAS BEEN OUT THERE PROMOTING THE VACCINES LIKE CRAZY.

AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF -- I MEAN, IN THE POLITICAL ROLE, SOME LEGISLATURES BUT ALSO JUST A WHOLE LOT OF -- A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HESITANT, STILL RELUCTANT AND WORRIED ABOUT THE VACCINE BUT I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO MORE THAN BEING WORRIED ABOUT THE VACCINE.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE POLITICS OF IT AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE SOMEBODY WHO IS VACCINATED, AS IF THAT GIVING IN TO IT IS GIVING IN TO SOME POLITICIAN'S WILL THAT YOU DON'T AGREE WITH.

>> HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FALL INTO THIS TOO.

THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN KERRY GETTING VACCINATED.

THE ONES THAT AREN'T, AND THERE ARE HOSPITALS WHO HAVE 10% OF THEIR STAFF NOT VACCINATED, SOME HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE 30% OF THEIR STAFF NOT VACCINATED, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FALL INTO THIS TOO.

SOME OF THEM VIEW I H. IT POLITICALLY IAN THOUGH THEY ARE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS THAT ADMINISTRATOR VACCINES AND OTHER MEDICATIONS AS THEIR JOB.

I'VE HEARD ANECDOTE AFTER ANECDOTE OF EVEN ICU NURSES WHO WORK WITH COVID PATIENTS FOR THE VACCINATED.

I HEARD ABOUT AN ONCOLOGIST WHO IS NOT VACCINATED.

IT'S JUST MANY PEOPLE FALL PREY TO THE POLITICS OF IT, EVEN PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT.

>> Bill: AND AS RYLAND NOTED, SOME REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE VACCINES.

SENATOR -- THE SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS HAS SOME INCENTIVES GOING IN HIS DISTRICT NOW.

CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS IS URGING HIS CONSTITUENTS TO, AS HE SAYS, TAKE THE SHOT.

AND ONE REPUBLICAN WHOSE PUSHED KENTUCKIANS HARD FOR VACCINATION IS SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WHO DREW ON HIS OWN EXPERIENCE IN ROLLING OUT PUBLIC SERVICES ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT ARE PLAYING STATEWIDE.

>> AS A BOY, I FOUGHT YELLOW POLIO.

TODAY AMERICA HAS BEEN FREE FROM POLIO FOR 40 YEARS THANKS TO VACCINATION.

WE'LL BEAT COVID-19 WITH VACCINATION, TOO.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY.

GET VACCINATED.

>> Bill: ALEX, I KNOW THE NUMBERS HAVE COME UP SOME, BUT WE STILL HAVE SOME AREAS OF THE STATE WHERE TWO-THIRDS ARE UNVACCINATED.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

AS WILD AS THAT SEEMS, I WAS COUNTING TODAY AND I COUNTED ALMOST 20 COUNTIES THAT HAD 32% OR LESS OF THEIR POPULATION VACCINATED.

PLENTY OF COUNTIES HAVE LESS THAN 30%.

AND SO THE STATE OVERALL SAW AN UPTICK IN VACCINATIONS WHEN THE DELTA VARIANT BECAME REALLY SERIOUS.

WE'RE AT ROUGHLY 57% NOW.

BUT STILL, I AM I MEAN, THERE ARE COUNTIES WHERE THE NEEDLE HAS NOT MOVED IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS WAITING FOR WORD THAT THE REPUBLICAN ALERT.

HOUSE AND SENATE ARE READY FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

ONLY THE GOVERNOR CAN CALL A SPECIAL SESSION, AND HE SETS THE AGENDA.

AND, RYLAND, ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON MADE IT CLEAR THIS WEEK THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS FOUGHT FOR, AND NOW THE PANDEMIC RESPONSE IS LARGELY IN THEIR HANDS.

>> Ryland: YEAH, HE SAID THE CARRIES IN THEIR HANDS NOW.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, IF THEY PASS THESE LAWS LAST YEAR LIMITING THE GOVERNOR'S POWERS.

THE MOST CRITICAL ONE OF THOSE LAWS LIMITS THE GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY ORDERS TO 30 DAYS UNLESS THE LEGISLATURE COMES IN AND RENEWS THEM.

OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR IS THE ONLY PERSON WHO CAN CALL THE LEGISLATURE IN TO RENEW THEM.

SO NOW WE'RE AT THIS IMPASSE NOW OF OF THE GOVERNOR TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, ALL RIGHT, AM I GOING TO CALL THEM IN AND FOR WHAT REASON?

BECAUSE WHEN HE CALLS A SPECIAL SESSION, HE HAS TO COME UP WITH THE AGENDA, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO, AND THE THINKING IS, IS THAT HE COULD COME UP WITH A VERY SPECIFIC AGENDA, CONSIDER THIS BILL, YES OR NO, AND RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE THE GOVERNOR AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS OF THE LEGISLATURE ARE NEGOTIATING.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO GOING FORWARD.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THE LIKELY AGENDA?

WHAT DO THE REPUBLICANS WANT ON THAT CALL?

>> Ryland: ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES, WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IS THESE NTI DAYS, DAYS THAT SCHOOLS CAN HAVE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN WHEN THEY CAN THEY CAN HAVE SOME NORM OF ALTERNATIVE LEARNING THAT ISN'T IN-PERSON LEARNING.

ALSO PRESERVING THE STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE THAT IS ANOTHER ONE OF THESE EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS THAT'LL TOTALLY EXPIRE ONCE THIS COURT ORDER GOES INTO EFFECT.

THERE'S ISSUES OF FEDERAL ASSISTANTS THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT STATE OF EMERGENCY WITH OTHER KIND OF EASING REGULATIONS THAT JUST MAKE IT -- ONE OF THEM IS LICENSURE FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS COMING TO WORK IN KENTUCKY FROM OUT OF STATE.

AND I THINK REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE LEGISLATURE KIND OF REALIZE, OKAY, WE NEED -- WE DON'T WANT TO JUST DO AWAY WITH ALL OF THIS.

WE WANT TO PRESERVE SOMETHING, SO WHAT IS IT.

AND I THINK THAT PEOPLE, THEY ARE NEGOTIATING IN GOOD FAITH OVER WHAT THOSE ITEMS ARE STILL.

>> Bill: AN INTERIM COMMITTEE MET EARLIER THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE SPECIAL SESSION AND SENATE EDUCATION CHAIR MAX WISE HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL NTI DAYS.

>> I THINK IF WE LOOK TO GO TO A MODEL OF UNLIMITED NTI I WOULD BE AFRAID OF ABUSE THAT COULD POSSIBLY COME WITH that I'M ALL FOR CHILD SAFETY BUT I'M ALSO NOT FOR SHUTTING DOWN BECAUSE THE GOAL, ONCE AGAIN, JIM, YOU'VE MENTIONED IT, I'VE MENTIONED IT AND OTHERS, IS IN-PERSON LEARNING IN A SAFE MA.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, AS WE MENTIONED, ABOUT 30 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE CLOSED RIGHT NOW.

SOME ARE EATING INTO THEIR NTI DAYS.

THEIR TEN-DAY LIMIT.

SOME ARE HOLDINGS BACK, FEARING THERE COULD BE SNOWS OR FLOODS OR OTHER REASONS THEY WOULD NEED THOSE DAYS LATER ON.

DOES IT LOOK LIKE SCHOOLS WILL GET SOME FLEXIBILITY?

IS THAT WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR?

>> Olivia: YEAH, I THINK FLEXIBILITY IS DEFINITELY WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

JUST WHAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY THEY'RE ASKING FOR DIFFERS, AND JUST WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET ALSO UNSURE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT TRYING TO FIND A WAY WHERE DISTRICTS CAN SHUT DOWN ONE SCHOOL OR A GROUP OF SCHOOLS OR EVEN ONE CLASS IF THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK OR A SHORTAGE OF SOME KIND.

NO ONE'S REALLY ASKING FOR UNLIMITED NTI, BUT AT THE SAME TIME NO ONE'S REALLY ASKING, HEY, WE WANT X NUMBER OF DAYS.

THEY SIMPLY WANT ENOUGH TO GET THEM THROUGH THIS PART OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> Bill: YOU KNOW, ALSO THERE'S THE SCHOOL MANDATE QUESTION THAT HAS BEEN PASSED BY THE STATE SCHOOL BOARD.

DOES IT APPEAR THE LEGISLATURE WOULD LIKE TO RETURN THAT DECISION TO THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS?

>> Olivia: WELL, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE MATED PRETTY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT DVR MADE IT PRETTY CLEAR THAT THEY'RE NOT PARTICULARLY FOND OF THE SCHOOL MASK MANDATE, BUT IN THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT A SPECIAL SESSION COULD COVER, MASKS HAVEN'T COME UP TOO MUCH, AND ULTIMATELY WE NEED TO REMEMBER BESHEAR DOES CRAFT THE CALL FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION.

SO IF HE WANTS THE MASK MANDATE TO STAY IN PLACE, HE COULD EASILY KIND OF, YOU KNOW, AVOID TALKING ABOUT MASKS IN THAT CALL.

>> Bill: THERE'S ALSO THIS QUESTION THAT FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS IS BASED ON AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE, AND A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE FUNDING BEING DESTABILIZED BY WHAT'S GOING WOULD BE WHETHER IT'S QUARANTINES OR NO SCHOOL OR WHATEVER SCENARIO THERE IS RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE ALSO HAVING TO HIRE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS AND DRIVERS, AND THAT IS COSTLY.

SO THE EXPENSE TO SCHOOLS IS SOMETHING WE'RE HEARING MAY ALSO BE DISCUSSED.

>> Olivia: FOR SURE, YES.

SO SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED BASTE BASED OFF HOW MANY KIDS THEY HAVE ESSENTIALLY, AND IF YOU HAVE QUARANTINES ALL OVER THE PLACE, IF YOU HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE QUARANTINED BUT THEY'RE TECHNICAL MARKED AS ABSENT, ATTENDANCE IS JUST KIND OFIES CONTRACT RIGHT NOW.

SO FINDING A WAY TO STABILIZE THAT SO THAT DISTRICTS KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE AND CAN BUDGET ACCORDINGLY TO PROVIDE EXTRA STAFF THAT'S CRITICAL RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: THIS IS A PERSONNEL ISSUE IS CHRONIC.

THE START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAS MEANT BUZZERS CANCELED.

I THINK 15 OR 20 BUS ROUTES IN LEXINGTON HAVE BEEN CANCELED BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH DRIVERS.

ARE THERE PEOPLE TO TAKE THOSE JOBS EVEN IF THEY ARE FUNDED?

>> Olivia: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND WE WILL EVENTUALLY FIND OUT.

I MEAN, LIKE YOU SAID, THESE SHORTAGES ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT NEW, AND A BIG REASON FOR THEM IS LOW PAY, SO IF YOU WANT TO BE A BUS DRIVER, YOU HAVE YOUR CDL, YOU CAN EASILY MAKE MORE MONEY DOING SOMETHING ELSE.

>> Bill: SO, RYLAND, YOU DESCRIBE THIS AS NEGOTIATIONS TO TRY TO COME UP WITH A CALL FOR THIS SESSION.

IT COST TAXPAYERS ABOUT $65,000 A DAY TO HAVE THE LAWMAKERS MEET IN FRANKFORT FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

ISN'T IT IN EVERYBODY'S POLITICAL INTERESTS THAT THIS BE DONE IN AN ORDERLY WAY AND QUICKLY DONE?

>> Ryland: YES.

YOU'D THINK SO, BUT I THINK THEY WOULD ALSO ARGUE THERE ARE IMPORTANT POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR THEM.

THEY WANT TO DO WHAT THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED THEM, ELECTED THEM TO DO.

SO THEY ARE GOING TO TRY AND GET THIS DONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THERE IS A BIT OF A DEADLINE WHICH IS FRIDAY WHEN THESE SUPPOSEDLY, UNLESS ANOTHER COURT STEPS IN, THESE ORDERS WILL BE ZEROED OUT AND THE GOVERNOR, AND THE GOVERNOR, HIS HAND MIGHT BE FORCED IN CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Bill: HOW HIGH STAKES IS THIS NOR THE REPUBLICANS WHO FOUGHT SO HARD TO POSITION THEMSELVES WHERE THEY ARE?

>> Ryland: IT IS VERY HIGH STAKES, AND IT'S THEIR MOMENT TO GOVERN.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY ARE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE STATE'S CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE, AND I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME LAWMAKERS WHO ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THAT AND THEY REALLY WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S RIGHT, AND THEY'RE THROWING OUT A WHOLE LOT OF IDEAS ON THE TABLE.

ANOTHER THING TO MENTION THAT WE DIDN'T GET AROUND TO TALKING ABOUT EARLIER IS THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO COME UP WITH SOME HERO PAY ESSENTIALLY, GIVING MONEY TO HOSPITALS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN AMERICA HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHERE THERE'S A HUGE STRAIN RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE'S ALL THESE IDEAS RIGHT NOW TRYING TO FINALLY FIND WAY TO RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> Bill: WOULD REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP RELY ON DEMOCRATIC VOTES TO PASS SOME CONTROVERSIAL THINGS OR IS THAT A REAL TIGHT ROPE?

>> Ryland: I THINK IT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.

REMEMBER, AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE GOVERNOR SETS THE AGENDA OF THIS, SO ESSENTIALLY THEY WOULD MORE OR LESS BE VOTING FOR BALE THAT A LOT OF DEMOCRATS MIGHT AGREE WITH, AND SOME REPUBLICANS MIGHT GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO SUPPORT AS WELL.

WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN A FEW TIMES IN THE BESHEAR ERA OF THESE KIND OF BIPARTISAN EFFORTS AS WELL.

AND CERTAINLY IN SOME OF THE CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE TOO.

SO WE'LL SEE IF THIS IS ANOTHER MOMENT WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO GET TOGETHER, BUT THIS IS THE -- THIS IS THE MOST CRITICAL OF THEM BECAUSE THERE'S NO SINGULAR PERSON DRIVING THE BUS.

>> Bill: SO CALL YET FOR A SPECIAL SESSION SO WE'LL WAIT AND SEE.

5th DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS WASTE HONORED IN FRANKFORT THIS WEEK FOR BECOMING KENTUCKY'S LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF CONGRESS EVER.

HIS LONG TENURE IS NOW ECLIPSED THAT OF THE LATE CONGRESSMAN WILLIAM THAT THE CHER WHO REPRESENTED THE THE WEEKEND DISTRICT FROM 1953 UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1994.

ROGERS WAS ELECTED IN 1980 EMERGING FROM A CROWD REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THIS WEEK HE REFLECTED ON HIS YEARS IN WASHINGTON AND THE WORK HE SAYS THAT'S LEFT TO BE DONE.

>> IN MY CASE, 40 YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH.

I'VE GOT MORE TO DO.

AND MORE QUESTIONS TO ASK.

MORE PROMISES TO KEEP.

MORE PEOPLE IN NEED.

AND OBVIOUSLY I THINK YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY.

SO LET'S GO GET THEM.

>> Bill: ROGERS IS RUNNING.

FOR 22nd TERM NEXT YEAR, AND I ASKED HIM IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK, RYLAND, IF THEE HEE THINKS ABOUT RETIREMENT, AND HE TURNED THE QUESTION TO ME AND SAID "WHAT'S THAT WORD?"

>> Ryland: HE CERTAINLY HAS BEEN A PROLIFIC LEGISLATOR AND FOUGHT OFF ATTEMPTS TO DEFUND THE PLANK REGIONAL COMMISSION FOR YEARS AND BEEN REPRESENTING -- MATCHAN.

AND BEEN REPRESENTING APPALACHIAN KENTUCKY SINCE 1980 WAS THE FIRST COLONEL SORE A LONG AND STORIED HISTORY.

>> Bill: HE TALKS ABOUT HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED IN WASHINGTON CERTAINLY, THE FIGHTS ARE MUCH TOUGHER AND SO FORTH NOW.

SENATOR MITCH MOM HELPED PUSH THE BARNETT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

IT WOULD SEND ABOUT $5 BILLION TO KENTUCKY FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES.

NOW IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE HOUSE, AND SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM KENTUCKY DON'T INDICATE THEY'RE ONBOARD.

>> Ryland: WE'LL SEE IF THIS IS SOME GOOD OLD-FASHIONED NEGOTIATING TO TRY TO GET SOME OTHER MORE THINGS THAT THESE PARTICULAR CONGRESS PEOPLE WANT INTO THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.

YEAH, IT WAS REALLY NOTABLE THAT MITCH McCONNELL SUPPORTED THAT BILL IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THERE WAS THIS BIG PARTICIPANTS MOMENT.

ONE OF THE FEW THAT WE'VE SEEN IN WASHINGTON IN RECENT YEARS.

NOW WE'RE SEEING A LEAVE IT SKIZ MANY.

HAL ROGERS IS ONE WHO STILL SUPPORTS THE BILL.

ANDY BARR AND JAIME CORM HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THEY'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF IT.

RANGES FROM I THINK CONGRESSMAN BARR SAID THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH STUFF FOR CITIES AND NOT ENOUGH STUFF FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES.

AND CONGRESSMAN COMER SAID THAT HE WAS -- IT WAS A TWOFOLD LIBERAL IDEAS AND PROMOTIONS SINGLING OUT SOME ENVIRONMENT.

AM PROTECTION ISSUES.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THE NEGOTIATIONS LOOK LIKE AND HOW MUCH THIS CHANGE IS GOING FOR.

>> Bill: SOME AFTER CAN'T REFUGEES HAVE STARTED ARRIVING IN KENTUCKY.

THERE'S A CENTER IN BOWLING GREEN HELPING WITH RESETTLEMENT.

IN TOTAL 775 EVACUEES ARE COMING TO KENTUCKY RETIREMENTS OF KENTUCKY LININGS AND STORIED TRADITION OF ACCEPTING REFUGEES AND RESETTLING AND HEMMING THEM OUT.

THESE FOLKS WILL BE -- THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR SOME TRADITIONAL FEDERAL BENEFITS LIKE MEDICAID BUT THEY ARE GETTING SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE AND FROM THESE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE RESETTLING AROUND KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: THERE WAS REPORT FROM eMAILS FROM FORMER AMBASSADOR KELLY KNIGHT CRAFT INDICATED THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE STEERED BUSINESS TO TRUMP HOTELS.

>> Ryland: RIGHT, WHEN SHE WAS THE AMBASSADOR FOR CANADA.

KELLY KNIGHT CRAFT, OF COURSE, SHE'S BEEN HINTING AT A POSSIBLE RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2023, AND SHE'S A PROLIFIC REPUBLICAN FUNDRAISER, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IT'S A BIT OF THE EARLY CAMPAIGN TALK AND SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DEFINE HER FOR A BIT OF HOW HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

>> Bill: WHICH SHE, OF COURSE, THINKS COULD BE A CAMPAIGN ASSET AS WELL IN THE PRIMARY.

SPECIAL ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN SET FOR THREE VACANT LEGISLATIVE SEATS IN KENTUCKY.

THEY'LL ALL BE HELD NOVEMBER 2nd.

VOTERS WILL FILL THE STATE SENATE SEAT LEFT VACANT BY TOM BEAUFORD, HOUSE SEE THE AFTER JOHN "BAM" CARNEY AND ANOTHER HOUSE SEAT BECAUSE OF THE RESIGNATION OF ROBERT GOFORTH.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."