>> Bill: THERE ARE LOTS OF KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS AND EFFORTS TO HELP IN THE AFTER WRATH OF DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE IAN.

FORD EXPANDING ITS KENTUCKY TRUCK OPERATIONS, AND IT MEANS 500 NEW JOBS.

KENTUCKY GETS ITS MONEY BACK FROM A FAILED ATTEMPT TO BUILD AN ALUMINUM PLANT NEAR KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES EMPHASIZE DIFFERENT ISSUES AS VOTERS GET READY TO HAVE THEIR SAY.

ROLLING INTO OCTOBER WITH A NICE FEEL OUT THERE.

"COMMENT" IS 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 NEW AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TYPO ARE: DEBORAH YETTER, REPORTER FOR COURIER-JOURNAL.

JOINING US VIA SKYPE, LISA BENSON, PUBLISHER FOR LOUISVILL BUSINESS FIRST.

AND JOHN CHEVES, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERA.

ALSO TONIGHT, TELEVISION ADS BEGAN IN THE CAMPAIGNS FOR AND AGAINST A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OOH ABORTION, AND KENTUCKY LOSES REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR C.B.

EM BRIEF MORGANTOWN JUST DAYS AFTER HIS RESIGNATION FROM OFFICE FOR HEALTH REASONS.

FIRST, THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS TO THE AREAS HIT SO HARD BY HURRICANE IAN.

SOME KENS OWN PROPERTY THERE, MANY HAVE A CASE THERE, MANY HAVE FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN THE ERRORS AREAS HIT HARD BY THE STORM.

NAPLES, FLORIDA WAS FOUND BIDE KENTUCKIANS AS A TOWN BACK IN 1880s P IT.

PA PIERCE REMNANTS OF IAN ARE STEERING AWAY FROM THE BLUEGRASS STATE.

THAT'S FORTUNATE FOR US, BUT A LOT OF UTILITY CREWS AND OTHERS FROM KENTUCKY ARE IN FLORIDA OR HEADING THERE TO HELP.

DEBBIE, ONCE AGAIN, NATURAL DISASTER DEMANDING OUR ATTENTION.

IT'S NOT IN KENTUCKY BUT CERTAINLY TOUCHES A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS.

>> Deborah: IT DOES, AND APPARENTLY KENTUCKY IS INVOLVED IN SENDING A LOT OF RELIEF.

THE KENTUCKY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE SAID THEY'RE SENDING ABOUT 80 WORKERS DOWN THERE AND I'M SURE LGE AND KU WILL BE INVOLVED.

WE WERE ON A TRIP THERE WAS WEEK AND WE ALREADY SAW CONVOY TRUCKS GOING SOUTH ON 65, AND I ASSUME THAT WAS TO BE IN PLACE FOR THE RELIEF EFFORTS.

>> Bill: A LOT OF THEM WENT TO STAGE IN SOUTHERN GEORGIA AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED, AND AS WE KNOW IT'S DISASTROUS.

JOHN, WE KNOW ALSO THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS HELPING RESPOND IN TERMS OF NATIONAL GUARD.

>> John: THE GOVERNOR SEND THE NATIONAL GUARD DOWN AS WELL AS TO HELP WITH THE RECOVERY SEARCH AND RESCUE, WHICH THERE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT NEED IN COMING DAYS.

THEY'RE STILL SEARCHING HOMES FOR SURVIVORS RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WE SAW WHAT THEY'RE CAPABLE BACK IN JULY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Joe: WE DID.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY'RE GETTING A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AT THAT.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY FLORIDA CONNECTIONS, AS WE SAID, ARE STRONG AND HISTORIC.

JOHN, I KNOW YOU GREW UP IN FLORIDA.

YOU HAVE FAMILY THERE.

I HAVE FAMILY THERE.

LISA DOES AS WELL.

LET'S JUST TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

YOU TALKED TO YOUR FOLKS.

EVERYBODY IS ALL RIGHT.

>> Joe: I DID.

I'M FROM JENN IS IN SARAH IS ON THE A COUNTY AND THAT'S THE TOWN IAN WAS MAKING LAVALLE ORIGINALLY AND AT LAST BEHIND MINUTES IT VEERED OFF AND WENT DEB EAST INTO CHARLOTTE HARBOR WHICH IS WHY THE SUNS TO THE SOUTH, END PUNNED A GORDA AND NAPLES TOOK SUCH CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE MI OWN FAMILY, MY SISTER'S HOUSE LOST POWER AND WATER BUT IT'S INTACT SO SHE'S IN BETTER SHAPE THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE SO MANY KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE DOWN THERE.

-NAME STILL HAS A HUGE COLONY OF KENTUCKIANS.

ANYONE WHO SPENT TIME DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW YOU SEE THE KENTUCKY FLAG, THE UK FLAG ALL OVER THE PLACE DOWN THERE.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE YOU'RE BACK HOME WHEN YOU'RE VISITING.

>> Bill: LITTLE KENTUCKY THEY CALL IT.

SOME OF THOSE HAMLETS.

LISA, EVERYBODY IS OKAY FROM YOUR FAMILY YOU'VE CHECKED ON AS WELL.

>> Lisa: YES.

I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET AHOLD OF MY FAMILY TONIGHT.

THEY ARE IN ROTUNDA WEST IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY AND SAW A LOT OF THAT DIRECT HIT FROM THE HURRICANE.

IT WAS A HARROWING COUPLE OF DAYS BUT WE FINALLY GOT A TEXT MESSAGE THROUGH TODAY.

HAPPY TO REPORT THEY'RE DOING WELL.

>> Bill: THAT'S GOOD NEWS AND I HEARD FROM MY FAMILY THERE AS WELL.

MY BROTHER AND NEPHEW AND NIECE WHO WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE COAST, AND MY BROTHER'S PLACE IS IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE.

LISA, WITH THIS ALL COMING MONTHS AFTER, WE HAD THE TORNADOES IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, THE FLOODING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, WE'VE UNFORTUNATELY, AS WE HAVE SAID, BECOME USED TO BEING ABLE TO HANDLE THESE KIND OF SITUATIONS, AND YOU KNOW THAT AGAIN A LOT OF VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE SENDING HELP INTO FLORIDA.

>> Lisa: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

A LOT OF MOBILIZING OF KENTUCKY VOLUNTEERS AND RESOURCES IS HAPPENING TO HELP OUT WITH THOSE NEEDS.

I KNOW THAT KENTUCKY BAPTIST RELIEF IS PREPARING TO GO SERVE 25,000 MEALS A DAY FOR THE HURRICANE VICTIMS.

THEY'VE GOT ABOUT 30 VOLUNTEERS THAT'LL BE GOING DOWN TO FORT MYERS AND STAYING THERE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO HELP.

DOZENS OF VOLUNTEERS FROM AMERICAN RED CROSS IN KENTUCKY.

A NUMBER OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE ALSO STARTING TO CALL FOR DONATIONS AND SUPPLY DRIVES AS WELL.

HERE IN LOUISVILLE AN ORGANIZATION CALLED WATER STOP IS PREPARED TO PROVIDE CLEAN WATER WITH ITS MORAL PURIFICATION CARTS.

THEY CAN TAKE COMMANDMENT WART WATER AND RUNT THROUGH THEIR DRINKING SYSTEM AND PRODUCE CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND THEY'VE HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS IN HURRICANES 234 LOUISIANA.

THEIR CEO SAID THEIR ON STANDBY AT THE MOMENT AND WAITING FOR THE REQUESTS TO COME IN FROM FLORIDA, AND I'M SURE WE'LL SEE THOSE EFFORTS MANY RING UP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS WE GET MORE INFORMATION AND A FULLER SENSE OF WHAT THE NEEDS IN THOSE AREAS ARE.

>> Bill: AND THE LATE WORD SEEMS TO BE NO POST TROPICAL STORM IAN IS MOVING FURTHER TO THE EAST AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL SPARE MOST OF KENTUCKY THIS WEEKEND AND CERTAINLY THE FOLKS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THERE HAD BEEN CONCERNS THAT ONCE AGAIN THEY'D BE HIT WITH HEAVY RAIN.

THAT LOOKS LESS AND LESS LIKELY.

ALL RIGHT.

A LOT OF OTHER NEWS TO DISCUSS THIS WEEK.

KENTUCKY'S GETTING ITS $15 MILLION BACK FROM THE ALUMINUM PLANT THAT WAS NEVER BUILT IN NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY.

JOHN, KENTUCKY TAXPAYERS ARE OFF THE HOOK FORE THAT MONEY.

>> John: RIGHT.

THERE WAS THE WEIRDEST THING A $15 MILLION INVESTMENT IN A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT HAPPENED IN 2017.

IT WAS AT THE VERY END OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION, GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN CAME TO LAWMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC WASN'T TOLD WHAT THIS WAS AT FIRST.

WE WERE JUST TOLD IN THE FINAL HOURS OF 11:00 SESSION THAT EASTERN KENTUCKY WAS GOING TO GET JOBS, MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT, 500 JOBS.

IT WAS GOING TO BE GREAT.

WE NEEDED TO PRIVATE RIGHT NOW.

THERE CAN BE NO PUBLIC SCRUTINY OR EL IT WOULD KOCH THE DEAL, AND SO THE LAWMAKERS DID APPROVE IT.

AND, OF COURSE, THE ALUMINUM MILL NEVER CAME TO PASS UNFORTUNATELY.

IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF WHY PUBLIC MONEY SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN AWAY WATT PUBLIC SCRUTINY.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR ANNOUNCED WE'RE GETTING THE MONEY BACK.

ALSO, 205-ACRE PLOT THAT WAS GIVEN TO BRADY IS BEING RETURNED TO THE LOCAL INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY, MAYBE FOR SOME MORBIFIC FUTURE USE.

>> Bill: IN FACT, DEBBIE, BARBER PROMISES SOMETHING WILL BE DID IT BUILT THERE, AND HE SEEMED TO INDICATE THAT THERE COULD BE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

>> Deborah: RIGHT.

THE NEW IMPORTANCE OWNERS OF THE SITE ARE DETAINING IT BACK TO KENTUCKY AB APPARENTLY, AND BESHEAR INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD START -- OR THEY'RE LOOKING AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES FOR IT AND ALSO INDICATED THAT THEY COULD HAVE HAD SOMETHING THERE SOONER WHICH THEY HAD ACCESS TO THE LAND, WHICH I THINK IS A LITTLE BIT OF A FIG DID THE PREVIOUS SITUATION.

>> Bill: MAKER MAJOR ECONOMIC NEWS FORD WILL EXPAND IN LOUISVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT SEQUEST $700 MILLION AND CREATE 500 JOBS AT ITS TRUCK PLANT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS ENTHUSIASTIC AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT TUESDAY WHICH HE DECLARED KENTUCKY.

>> TRUCKIE DAY.

FORD IS INVESTIGATION $700 MILLION CREATING 500 NEW FULL-TIME JOBS.

JUST THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS COMBINED WITH LAST YEAR OVER 5500 NEW JOBS ANNOUNCED IN ONE YEAR.

THIS IS A SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP.

FORD IS AN IMPORTANT PAST TEAM KENTUCKY, AND TOGETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDINGS THE AUTOMOBILES AND TRUCKS OF THE FUTURE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS TO COME.

>> Bill: WELL, THAT MAY BE VERY FORWARD-LOOKING BUT YOU GET THE ENTHUSIASM FROM THE GOVERNOR THERE.

LISA, THIS IS ANOTHER MAJOR INVESTMENT BY FORD WHICH IS ALSO BUILDING THAT CAR BATTERY PLANT NEAR ELIZABETHTOWN, 5,000 JOBS COMING THERE.

HOW MUCH DOES THIS FURTHER BOLSTER KENTUCKY AS AN AUTOMOTIVE AND TRUCK MANUFACTURING CENTER?

>> Linda: SIGNIFICANTLY.

THE GOVERNOR CAME TO AN EVENT LISTED ON THE SAME DAY, CAME STRAIGHT HAD TO TO THAT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR UNDER 40 LUNCHEON, AND E HE WAS EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IS ALREADY A HUGE DRIVER OF KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY WITH MORE THAN BILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTMENTS NOW SINCE -- $10 BILLION OF INVESTMENTS SINCE 2020 AND ONE IN 11 OF OF THE STATE'S MONEY DOLLARS IS TIED TO THIS PROJECT.

CONSIDERING THE BATTERY AND THIS PROJECT IS STATE A CARVING EVER CARVING OUT A REALLY STRONG POSITION IN THE AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURING SPACE.

WHEN FORD CEO JIM FARLEY WAS IN LOUISVILLE EFFICIENTLY ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS $700 MILLION INVESTMENT AND THE LAUNCH OF THE FORD SUPER DUTY THIS WEEK, HE TALKED ABOUT HOW FORD IS BUILDING ITS FUTURE HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH, SO PUTTING SOME REALLY STRONG LANGUAGE AROUND ITS COMMITMENT HERE.

FORD IS THE LARGEST VEHICLE PRODUCERS HERE.

IT'S ONE OF THE LARGEST EMPLOYERS IN KENTUCKY ALREADY.

THE EV BATTERY PLANT IS PART OF A JOINT VENTURE WITH SKY INVOCATION.

THEY'RE BUILDING TWO KNOWN AS BLUE OVAL SK BATTERY PARK AND THAT'S AN $5.8 MILLION INVESTMENT AND IMPORTANTLY TO THAT ACT NUMEROUS NEW SUPPLIERS TO CENTRAL KENTUCKY TO SERVICE THAT PLANT, SO THAT WILL JUST CONTINUE TO ESTABLISH THE STATE AS A STRONGHOLD FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY.

>> Bill: WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT IN THIS RECRUITING?

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY GEOGRAPHY PLAYS A ROLE, BUT ALSO YOU HAVE TO HAVE TRAINING, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STATE HAS ONBOARD THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM TO WORK WITH THESE COMPANIES TO GET THE WORKFORCE POSITIONED.

>> Lisa: YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF COORDINATION GOING ON.

OF COURSE, THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION REALLY WITH THIS EV BATTERY PROJECT, IS HOW TO ATTRACT AND TRAIN THE 5,000 WORKERS WHO WILL BE NEEDED.

BLUE OVAL DOES INTEND TO CREATE AN ON-SITE TRAINING FACILITY BUT THEY'RE STILL GOING TO NEED TO LEAN ON A VARIETY OF COLLEGES AND NOVARTIS KENTUCKY FOR THAT WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND THAT THAT REALLY REPRESENTS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AS WELL TO ALIGN THEIR OFFERINGS, DEVELOP SPECIFIC PROGRAMS NEEDED TO TRAIN THESE THOUSANDS OF WORKERS, AND A LOT OF POTENTIAL HERE FOR ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ELIZABETHTOWN COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE WHICH IS PART OF KCTCS, AND HERE IN LOUISVILLE JEFFERSON COMMUNITY AND ELECTRICAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE ALREADY DOES THIS WORK, PROVIDING TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR THE LOUISVILLE FORD PLANT.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK WITH WORKFORCE.

WILL WAS A -- SHOWED KENTUCKY HAD THE BIGGEST JOB INCREASE IN THE NATION IN AUGUST.

GOVERNOR TWEETED ABOUT LOW UNEMPLOYMENT.

THE.

DEBBIE,S IS THE STATE'S WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IS LOW.

IS THIS THE BEST OF TIMES OR THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES?

>> Deborah: FOR EMPLOYMENT I THINK IT'S PRETTY GOOD TO KENTUCKY EMPLOYEES.

THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS FOR A WHILE BUT SO-CALLED LOW AMOUNT OF WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION IN KENTUCKY.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, AND NOW THE CENTER FOR ECONOMIC POLICY HAS DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS, THERE ARE SOME REASONS FOR THAT.

FOR ONE THING, KENTUCKY'S POPULATION IS AGING.

IT'S THE SILVER TSUNAMI.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RETIRING OR APPROACHING RETIREMENT AGE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DID RETIRE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEN YOU'RE GOT BARRIERS SUCH AS ACCESS TO CHILD CARE KEEPING MORE WOMEN OUT OF WORKFORCE, ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A FAIRLY HIGH POPULATION OF PROPORTION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND WHO ARE UNABLE TO WORK FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER.

>> John: WHEN YOU LOOK AT E. KENTUCKY'S NUMBERS IN AUGUST 50 PERCENT OF de 'S WORKING I'M POPULATION WAS ACTUALLY WORKING.

58% PARTICIPATION RATE.

THAT WAS A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, AND IT WAS LESS HAD AN THE 64% WE HAD AT AIR ALL-TIME HIGH IN THE LATE '90S.

BUT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE ALSO DROPS IN THE 1990S.

SO YOU'RE LOOKING AT THIS KIND OF PARALLEL DECLINE THERE, AND FOR A LOT OF THE REASONS DEB SAID.

WE'VE HAD AN AGING POPULATION NATIONALLY.

THE BABY BOOMERS HITTING RIMER FORCE, GETTING OUT OF WORKFORCE AND THERE'S NOT AS BIG A WORKFORCE COMING IN BEHIND THEM.

SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GOOD BUT THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE GOVERNOR OR THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAN NECESSARILY ADDRESS.

>> Bill: LISA.

>> Lisa: I'M WITH JEFF DEB.

THIS IT'S THE BEST OF TIME FOR WORKERS, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH FOR BUSINESSES, AND IF YOU THE LARGEST SECTOR OF INCREASE WAS IN GOVERNMENT JOBS WHICH IS LIKELY RELATED TO THE START OF SCHOOL YEAR.

IF YOU LOOK AT TOTAL JOBS WE'RE STILL OFF ABOUT 12,000 POSITIONS COMPARED TO 2019 PRE-PANDEMIC NUMBERS.

ON UNEMPLOYMENT LOUISVILLE IS DOING BETTER THAN THE STATE AS A WHOLE AT 3.1%.

IT WAS 3.9% LAST AUGUST SO THAT'S A REALLY SIGNIFICANT DROP, AND, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO HEAR ABOUT THE ENORMOUS CHALLENGES IN FINDING WORKERS AT ALL LEVELS AND THE LARGE AMOUNTS THAT EMPLOYERS ARE HAVING TO INCREASE WAGES IN ORDER TO GET HEM TO ATTRACT CANDIDATES TO GET THEM TO ACCEPT OFFERS.

>> WILL: >> Bill: LISA, AT THIS POINT YOU HAVE AT THIS POINT WORKERS WANT MORE FLEXIBILITY AND THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMETIMES A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT THAT MEANS TO THEM AND WHAT IT MEANS TO EMPLOYERS, RIGHT?

>> Lisa: ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAD A REALLY INTERESTING STORY RECENTLY THAT LOOKED AT THAT DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT WHEN IT COOMBS TO REMOTE WORK AND WHAT THEIR EMPLOYEES WANT, AND THERE WAS A SURVEY DONE BY MINISTRY.COM THAT SHOWED 66% WORKERS WOULD QUIT IF THEY WERE TOLD THEY HAD TO RETURN TO THE OFFICE FULL-TIME, KIND OF A STAGGERING FACT, AND 40% WOULD QUIT IF THEY WERE MANDATED TO COME IN JUST ONE DAY A WEEK.

SO EMPLOYEES ARE CLEARLY DEMANDING THAT FLEXIBILITY TO DECIDE THEIR OWN SCHEDULES, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO BE TOLD THEY HAVE TO PUT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE OFFICE.

YOU KNOW, AT THE SAME TIME YOU ASK PEOPLE FOR RUNNING COMPANIES, WHO ARE HEADING UP OFFICES, AND THEY TELL YOU HAVING WORKERS IN THE OFFICE IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THEIR BUSINESS.

SO THERE'S THIS TENSION THAT'S BUILDINGS BETWEEN BOSSES AND THEIR STAFFS, AND A LOT OF MANAGERS ARE TRYING TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT OF GETTING THE FLEXIBILITY JUST RIGHT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE GOOD PEOPLE AND THEN HAVE TO GO BACK ON IT INTO THE JOB MARKET WHERE THERE'S THAT 3.1% UNEMPLOYMENT.

AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN DOING SOME REPORTING ON COMPANIES WHO ARE STARTING TO LOOK AT OFFERING A FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK AC ANOTHER WAY TO OFFER FLEXIBILITY.

AND EMPLOYERS ARE TELLING US THAT HAVING THAT AS A BENEFIT IS RESULTING IN A LOT MORE JOB APPLICATIONS FOR OPENINGS, LOWER RATES OF BURN-OUT, LOWER RATES OF TURNOUT, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT IN A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET.

>> Bill: WELL, AND YOU'VE SEEN THIS TREND TOWARD UNIONS ORGANIZING IN LOUISVILLE AS WELL AND PLACES LIKE BOOKSTORES AND COFFEE SHOPS REMEMBER RIGHT?

>> Lisa: YEAH, VERY INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND IT'S REALLY PART OF A NATIONAL TREND TOWARDS UNION REPRESENTATION.

THE NUMBER OF PETITIONS FILED WITH THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD IN THE FIRST HALF OF FISCAL 2022 WAS UP 57% OVER THE LAST TIME -- OVER THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.

AND IT'S HAPPENING A LOT OF INDUSTRIES LIKE RETAIL AND SERVICE WHERE YOU'VE HAD PEOPLE REALLY STRUGGLING THROUGH SOME DIFFICULT CONDITIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

WE'VE SEEN WORKER MOVING TO ORGANIZE AT SOME WELL-KNOWN COFFEE COMPANIES LIKE JAIME BROTHERS AND SONDER GAS, HALF PRICE BOOKS, AND AT THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

AND IN RESPONSE TO THAT SPIKE IN PETITIONS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING A NEW DIGITAL KIT TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYEES NAVIGATE THE WATERS.

YOU CAN FIND THAT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION'S WEBSITE.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYERS AND FOR WORKERS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT UNIONIZATION.

>> Bill: INTERESTING.

NOVEMBER ELECTION IS FAST APPROACHING.

PEOPLE MAY BE VAGUELY FAMILIAR THAT THEY WILL FACE TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS ON THE BALLOT.

ONE IS A SENTENCE LONG.

THE OTHER IS SO LONG THAT CLERKS WANT YOU TO READ ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU GET TO THE VOTING PLACE.

DEBBY, A DROPPED A STORY ABOUT THIS CAN ABOUT AMENDMENT P 2, THE ONE THAT'S ONE SENTENCE LONG, BUT YOU SAY IT COULD HAVE MAJOR IMPACT.

>> Deborah: RIGHT.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT'S GETS ALL THE ATTENTION.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT RELATES TO ABORTION RIGHTS IN KENTUCKY.

IF YOU VOTE FOR THE AMENDMENT, YOU BASICALLY BE DECLARING THATTING NOTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION ASSURES A RIGHT TO ABORTION.

IF YOU VOTE AGAINST IT, YOU WILL BE LEAVING OPEN THE POS BARBECUE EVER -- AND IT PASSES, YOU WILL BE LEAVING OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT APPORTION IS A STATE RIGHT OR COULD BE FOUND TO BE A STATE RIGHT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION.

IT'S GETTING A HUGE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION RIGHT NOW FROM OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE WHO ARE PRETTY PASSIONATE ON BOTH SIDES OF IT, AND THE GROUPS FOR AND AGAINST ARE ORGANIZING AND RAISING MONEY, AND TODAY THE PROTECT KENTUCKY ACCESS, WHICH OPPOSES THE AMENDMENT, WENT LIVE WITH THE FIRST OF THE SERIES OF TELEVISION ADS THEY'RE PLANNING ON RUN ON THE AMENDMENT.

>> Bill: JOHN, AMENDMENT 1 IS ALSO UP FOR EDIFICATION.

IT'S WORTHY BUT IT REALLY BOIL DOWN TO WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE LEGISLATURE CAN CALL ITSELF INTO SPECIAL SESSION.

>> Joe: RIGHT.

AMENDMENT 1 WHICH NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT, NOBODY IS CURRENTLY RAISING MONEY FOR OR CAMPAIGNING ON ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WOULD LET THE LEGISLATURE BRING ITSELF BACK IN FOR UP TO 12 ADDITIONAL BUSINESS DAYS LATER IN THE YEAR INSTEAD OF ADJOURNING AFTER THEIR WINTER SESSION ENDS.

THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT TO THE GOVERNOR TO CALL THEM BACK IN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

IT'S A BIG DENSE WATT WAD OF 1508 WORDS THAT NO ONE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF BUT VOTE FOR IT AND YOU IF YOU WANT MORELECTION SESSION LATER IN THE YEAR, VOTE NO IF YOU DO NOT WANT MORE SESSIONS VOTED FOR 20 YEARS AGO.

A FEW YEARS AGO THERE WITH A MARSY'S LAW, A CRIME VICTIMS BILL OF RIGHTS AMENDMENT AND IT WAS A LITTLE TOO OVERSIMPLIFIED THE STATE SUPREME COURT SAID, AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT SAID FROM NOW ON YOU'VE GOT TO PUT EXACTLY THAT THE AMENDMENT IS GOING TO SAY ON THE BALLOT AND SO NOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT VERY PRECISE LEGAL LANGUAGE WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, SO ENJOY.

>> Bill: IN KENTUCKY'S SENATE RACE TWO CANDIDATES, TWO VERY DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS BUT SOCIAL i ARE PLAYING A KEY POLE.

SENATOR RAND PAUL IS TAKING A STAND ON FRANCE GENDER ATHLETES IN SPORTS, AND CHARLES BOOKER IS CRITICIZING PAUL ON LOTS OF TOPICS.

>> I TRAINED FROM AN EARLY AGE GIVING IT MY ALL TO ACHIEVE MY DREAM.

AND I ACCOMPLISHED IT, BECOMING A 12-TIME ALL-AMERICAN SWIMMER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

BUT FOR GIRLS ACROSS AMERICA THAT TRAIN IS BEING TAKEN AWAY BY MEN COMMITTEE COMPETING IN WOMEN SPORTS BUT RAND PAUL IS NOT AFRAID TO FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS AND THAT'S WHY I'M SUPPORTING HIM.

>> OUR POLITICS SHUT SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT DIVISION BUT ABOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEMS WE ALL SHARE.

MEDICINE COSTS TOO MUCH.

FOOD IS ZOO TOO EXPENSIVE.

HOUSING IS OUT OF REACH.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN PARTY.

THE SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING FOR US.

BUT WE CAN CHANGE IT.

>> Bill: A SAMPLE OF WHAT'S OUT THERE.

DEBBY, SENATOR PAUL STARTED HIS NEW AD.

APPARENTLY HE IDENTIFIES THE TRANSGENDER SUBJECTED AS A POTENT ISSUE.

>> Deborah: YES.

IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS CLEARLY TAKING UP -- THIS IS SORT OF A CULTURE WAR ISSUE, AND I THINK IT DOES DO WELL WITH REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND PROBABLY A LOT OF KENTUCKY VOTERS.

HE IS FEATURED ABOUT UK SWIMMER RALEIGH GAINS WHO IS OUTSPOKEN ABOUT HER OPPOSITION TO TRANSGENDER WOMEN COMPETING WITH OTHER WOMEN IN COLLEGE SPORTS.

>> Bill: JOHN BOOKER CAN'T MATCH PAUL'S TESTIFIED HAVE TV ADS.

HE SEEMS TO WANT TO TALK ABOUT A WHOLE DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES WHEN HE DOES REACH OUT.

>> John: YEAH, HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT POCKETBOOK ISSUES BECAUSE WITH BIDEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE THE REPUBLICANS WOULD SAY IT'S HIS PARTY THAT CONTROLS THE ECONOMY.

OF COURSE, NOBODY CROSS THE ECONOMY.

BUT CHARLES BOOKER IS NOT GOING TO WIN THE CULTURE WARS IN KENTUCKY.

THE CULTURE WARS ARE THE REPUBLICANS BREAD AND BURT BUTTERED.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE IF THERE'S MAYBE A U.S. SENATE PAIN DEBATED.

PAUL DID NOT RESPOND TO KENTUCKY'S INVITATION TO APPEAR ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

DEBBY, THE GOVERNOR'S MARIJUANA TASK FORCE TRAVELED AROUND THE STATE.

THEY HELD TOWN HALL TO HEAR NOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

TODAY THEY PUBLISHED THEIR FINDINGS.

WHAT STANDS OUT?

>> Deborah: NOT SURPRISINGLY, IT COMP CONFORMS TO THE GOVERNOR'S VIEW THAT IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN KENTUCKY.

HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT HAPPEN HAPPEN.

SOME OF THE CHIEF FINDING WERE THEY'RE FINDING PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT OF STATE FOR IT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T OBTAIN IT HERE IN KENTUCKY LEGALLY.

THEY ALSO DETERMINED THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT NEED FOR IT AMONG PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THEIR TOWN HALLS, AND THEY'RE SORT OF IN TWO CATEGORIES.

THERE ARE FOLKS WHO SUFFER FROM CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS OR CHRONIC PAIN THAT NOTHING ELSE SEEMS TO HAVE HELPED OR NOT AS EFFECTIVELY OR THEY WERE PERHAPS MILITARY VETERANS WHO SUFFER FROM PTSD AND OTHERS WHO SUFFER FROM THE STRESS ISSUES AS WELL THAT FIND THAT BENEFITS THEIR CONDITION.

>> Bill: SO WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY TAKE THIS REPORT AND WHAT IS DONE, RIGHT?

>> Deborah: WELL, THE LEGISLATURE HAS RESISTED ENACTING IT INTO LAW EVEN WITH SOME BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN RECENT YEARS, SO I'M NOT SURE UNLESS THEY CAN GET PAST THAT WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO.

>> Bill: CONVICTED SCHOOL SHOOTER MICHAEL CARNEAL WHETHER NOT BE LEAVING PRISON.

JOHN, HE WAS A TEENAGER WHEN HE WENT ON A SHOOTING SPREE.

>> John: RIGHT.

CARNEAL WHO IS 39 YEARS OLD IS GOING TO LOVE IT THE REST OF HIS LIFE IN PRISON.

THE THE PAROLE BOARD HAS CONVINCED HES HAS NOT CONQUERED THE DEE MOANS THAT ARE RELATING AROUND IN HIS SKULL.

>> Bill: THE ELDERLY LEADER HAS DONE AN INVESTIGATION THAT IS ROLLING OUT STORIES ABOUT TEACHERS WHO LOSE THEIR LICENSE.

YOUR REPORTER LOOK AT NEARLY 200 CASES AND FOUND THAT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WAS A FACTOR IN 61%?

>> JOE: >> JOHN: THAT'S RIGHT.

MY COLLEAGUES, THEY SPEND A YEAR LOOKING A 194 TEACHERS WHO LOST THEIR TEACHING LICENSES IN 2016 TO 202021.

THEY FOUND 61% HAD CASES TIED TO SEXUAL MONTHS CONDUCT OF WHOM MANY WERE NEVER PROSECUTED OSH IF THEY WERE PROSECUTED THEY HAD THEIR CHARGE DISMISSED OR IF THEY HAD THEIR CHARGED FOLLOWED THROUGH AND CONVICTED THEY HAD THEIR PENALTIES REDUCED.

OVERALL KENTUCKY HAS SOME OF THE WEAKEST LAWS REGARDING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT BY TEACHERS, AND IN SOME CASES THE TEACHERS WHO DID NOT LOSE HERR LICENSES, THEY ONLY HAD THEIR CERTIFICATE SUSPENDED SO THEY WOULD BE ABLE TOO REAPPLY AT SOME POUND TO RETURN TO TEACHING.

ONE LAST THING, PROSECUTORS SAID ONE REASON THE CASES SO OFTEN FELL APART, TEACHERS ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES WITH UPSTANDING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE VICTIMS ARE RELUCTANT TO GO INTO A COURTROOM AND TESTIFY AGAINST THEM.

IT'S A REALLY SERIOUS OFFENSE BUT IT'S HARD TO MAKE THESE CASES STICK.

>> Bill: ANOTHER LEGAL SETBACK FOR FORM RYLAND COUNTY CLERK KIM DAVIS.

>> John: 6th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, DEB.

>> Deborah: A THREE-PANEL REJECTED HER REQUESTS.

SHE'S FACING TRIAL ON LIABLE SHE DENIED MAJOR CERTIFICATES OF THERE.

THEY'RE SUING HER FOR DAMAGES AND THE PANEL INDICATED THAT CAN BE GO FORWARD.

>> Bill: A FEDERAL DRYLY FOR TWO OFFICERS IN THE BROLIN ABRAHAM CASE IS DELAYED.

>> Deborah: THERE ARE FOUR CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES.

ONE HAS PLEAD GUILTY IS COOPERATING WITH OFFICERS.

THE THEE OTHER ERRORS NO ONE IS GOING TO BE -- >> DIVYA: >> Bill: THE NAACP IS ASKING FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, DANIEL CAMERON TO RESIGN.

>> Deborah: RIGHT, THEY CAME OUT TODAY WITH A PRESS RELEASE ASKING, AND I THINK A LETTER TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HIMSELF ASKING THAT HE RESIGN OVER HIS HANDLING OF THE BREONNA CASE.

THAT WAS THE ONE WHERE HE BROUGHT A VERY LIMITED CHARGE I THINK AGAINST ONE OFFICER OR FIRING MOO THE ADJOINING APARTMENT WHO WAS ACQUITTED.

THE FEDS WERE ABLE TO INDICT ALL FOUR ON CIVIL RIGHTS CHARGES.

SO THEY'RE ASKING HIM TO RESIGN, AND IF HE REFUSES TO RESIGN FOR THE BURGLES LEGISLATURE TO IMPEACH HIM.

THAT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO ME AND CAMERON TODAY JUST ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING THAT HE IS PROUD OF THE WORK HE'S DONE AND PLANS TO CONTINUE DOING IT.

>> Bill: A SAILOR FROM KENTUCKY HAS WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF SETTING FIRE TO A SHIP.

WE GOT THAT WORD JUST AS WE WERE GOING ON THE AIR THIS EVENING.

>> Deborah: YEAH, THE GUY WAS FROM ASHLAND, RYAN SAWYER MAES IN ASHLAND AREA.

THAT IS IS THAT HUGE NAVY SHIP DOCKED IN SAN DIEGO FOR REPAIR, AND HE WAS PROSECUTED OVER STARTING THE FIRE OVER SOME DISGRUNTLEDMENT BUT HE WAS ACQUITTED BY A MILITARY JUDGE TODAY.

>> Bill: LISA, AND THIS IS A BRIEF ANSWER BUT LOUISVILLE IS A VERY IMPORTANT ECONOMIC DRIVER OF KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY.

I KNOW THAT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OVER THERE IS WORKING WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO TRY TO ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE.

>> Linda: WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KENTUCKY'S LOW WORKFORCE PARTICIPATE RIGHT AND ONE OF THE WAYS TO IMPROVE THIS, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES KENTUCKY LAUNCH ITS EXCEL WHICH IS A TUITION-FREE FOR ADULTS OFFERING HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS AND COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS COURSES.

IT'S MEANT TO GEORGETOWN MORE WORK READY CITIZENS AND REDUCE POVERTY IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: TENNESSEE.

C.V. EMBREY PASSED AWAY LAST NIGHT AFTER RESIGNING.

HE WAS 83.

HE HAD BEEN IN THE SENATE SINCE 2003.

THAT HE SURFED AS MAYOR, A CROWN JUDGE/EXECUTIVE AND A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

KENTUCKIANS AND MUSIC LOVERS ALL OVER MOURN THE LOSS OF SINGER AND SONG WRIGHT JOHN PRINE IN 2020 EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC.

NOW THERE IS A JOHN PRINE MEMORIAL PARK DOWN BY THE GREEN RIVER WHERE PARADISE LAY.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.