THE LOSS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH, SOME KENTUCKIANS FONDLY REMEMBE HER VISIT TO THE BLUEGRASS STAT AND HER LOVE OF HORSES.

FORMER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT ENTERS THE CROWDED REPUBLICAN RACE FOR BOWLING GREEN GETS READY FOR A MAJOR CAR BATTERY PLANT AND PROJECTED RAPID POPULATION GROW KSP LURES BACK SOME RETIRED TROOPERS TO HELP FILL THE RANKS WITH A SEPTEMBER FEEL IN THE AIR, "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 NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR OLIVE KRAUTH, POLITICAL REPORTE FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

AND WES SWIETEK, MANAGING EDITOR OF THE BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS.

ALSO TONIGHT, HOW MUCH FISH SHOULD YOU EAT FROM KENTUCKY'S ?

THERE'S SOME NEW INFO ON THAT.

AND LOUISVILLE DROPS BELOW THE COVID RED ZONE.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ABOUT THOSE SCHOOL MASK RE A LOT TO DISCUSS TONIGHT.

LET'S BEGIN WITH THE NEWLY SHAPED KENTUCKY GOVERNOR'S RACE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE A FULL MENU O CANDIDATES TO CHOOSE FROM, MAYB MORE TO COME.

IT NOW INCLUDES FORMER UN AMBASSADOR KELLY CRAFT, THE WIFE OF WEALTHY COAL MAGNATE JOE CRAFT WHO ANNOUNCED CANDIDACY THIS WEEK.

>> THIS CAMPAIGN ISN'T ABOUT ME.

IT'S ABOUT ALL OF US WHO STILL BELIEVE, BELIEVE WE CAN LEAD IN EDUCATION, TEACHING KIDS HOW TO THINK, NOT WHAT TO THINK, BELIEVE THAT HARD WORK MATTERS AND GOVERNMENT SHOULDN'T GET IN THE WAY OF OUR SUCCESS.

I BELIEVE THAT HERE IN KENTUCKY OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD OF US.

MAI MY NAME IS KELLY CRAFT.

AND I'M RUNNING TO GOVERNOR BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER POLITICIAN MAKING MORE PROMISES.

WE NEED A LEADER THAT IS READY TO KEEP ONE.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, THE STORY THAT YOU AND OREGON MORGAN WATKINS WROTE BOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL ABOUT CRAFT'S ANNOUNCEMENT WAS THE RUMORS WHY RIGHT.

WHEN SHE ENTERED THE RACE, SHE ENTERS A CROWD REPUBLICAN FIELD.

WE HAD SEEN LOTS OF SIGNALS BEFORE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT IT WAS COMING.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

THIS IS THE WORST KEPT SECRET IN RECENT MEMORY.

WE ALL KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE MORE OR LESS KNEW THAT IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

REALLY THE ONLY SURPRISE HERE WAS THAT SHE DIDN'T ANNOUNCE SENATOR MAX WISE AS HER RUNNING MATE.

THAT WAS ALSO WIDELY RUMORED TO BE IN THE WORKS.

SO -- >> Bill: AND HE APPARENTLY HAS TOLD PEOPLE HE BELIEVES HE WILL BE THE RUNNING MATE, BUT IN THE NEW LOGO COMES OUT, IT DIDN'T MENTION HIS NAME, AND SO FORTH, SO WE WONDER NOW, AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO APPARENTLY HER KICKOFF ON TUESDAY IF THAT ANNOUNCEMENT COULD POSSIBLY COME THEN.

>> Olivia: IT COULD YOU.

P NEVER KNOW AT THIS POINT.

>> Bill: AND THEN CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER CAME OUT AND ENDORSED CRAFT THE VERY NEXT DAY.

>> Olivia: YEAH, THAT WAS A PRETTY QUICKEN DOORSMENT FOR HER.

>> Bill: BILL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, TO HAVE COMER'S SUPPORT GIVEN THAT HE RAN A STRONG RACE FOR GOVERNOR HIMSELF AND REPRESENTS A LARGE SWATH OF RURAL AREA?

>> Bill Estep: HE LOST BY 83 VOTES TO MATT BEVIN IN 2018 IN THE PRIMARY SO IT WAS VERY CLOSE AND HAS REPRESENTED A PART OF KENTUCKY THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS WAS THOUGHT OF AS THE GI BARBARA WALTERS ARE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN KENTUCKY BUT HAS SWITCHED TO REPUBLICAN NOW.

AND COMB SER AS WELL THOUGHT OF THERE SO HE COULD WERE I A LOT OF INFLUENCE TO THAT RACE.

>> Bill: WHAT WOULD SENATOR MAX WISE BRING TO HER TICKET IF HE IS IN FACT A RUNNING MATE?

>> SENATOR WISE IS WELL INFECTED, HE'S WELL THOUGHT OF IN THE SENATE, DELL RESPECT, WELL THOUGHT OF IN HIS DISTRICT AS WELL, AND HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN EDUCATION SO HE'S AN AND ARE ON EDUCATION.

UNNOTED IN HER KICKOFF SHE MENTIONED EDUCATION.

THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT HE COULD HELP LEAD ON THERE.

>> Olivia: AND THAT LINE ABOUT TEACHING KIDS HOW TO THINK, NOT WHAT TO THINK, THAT'S A LINE HE USED WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO PASS HIS KIND OF ANTI-COT LIGHT BILL EARLIER THIS YEAR.

SO I THINK IF YOU GET SENATOR WISE IN THE MIX, YOU EASILY CAN GET A LOT OF THESE PARENTS WHO HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT HOW EDUCATION IS GOING, HOW PARENTS RIGHTS ARE BEING TREATED IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

I THINK THAT COULD BE A REALLY BIG GET FOR CRAFT.

>> Bill: IF SHE DOES THIS, BILL, SHE WRITES OFF THE OPPORTUNITY TO NAME SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE AN ALSO RAN IN PRIMARY IF SHE WERE TO BE THE WINNER, AND THAT IS I THINK WAS SOME OF THE CALCULUS BEHIND THE LAW TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

SOME OF IT WAS, IS THAT YOU COULD SEE WHO RAN STRONGLY BEHIND YOU, BUT, YEAH, IF SHE NAMES SENATOR WISE, THAT SORTS OF WRITES THAT OFF.

>> Bill: HOW DOES SHE, HOW DOES CRAFT HOPE TO SEPARATE HERSELF FROM THIS HISTORICALLY LARGE PACK OF REPUBLICANS CANDIDATES?

THERE ARE A DOZEN PEOPLE RUNNING NOW AND THERE ARE MAY BE MORE.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

I THINK PART OF IT'S DEFINITELY MONEY.

YOU HAVE TO REALIZED THAT SHE IS A VERY WEALTHY WOMAN.

SHE'S VERY WELL-KNOWN FOR SOME OF HER PHILANTHROPY.

SHE HAS PURCHASED A $5 MILLION HAND BEFORE.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING I HAVE DONE, GRANTED THAT MONEY DOES GO TO CHARITY, BUT THAT YOU CAN'T DISMISS THAT EXACT.

I THINK ALSO -- DISMISS THAT FACT.

I THINK SHE CAN DEFINITELY PLAY UP THAT TRUMP CARD.

SHE WAS AMBASSADOR UNDER TRUMP, GRANTED DANIEL AM CA RON IS ALSO RUNNING.

HE ALSO GOT TO TRUMP ENDORSEMENT SO IT'S NOTE REALLY GREAT IF YOUR FORMER BOSS GIVES A REFERENCE TO SOMEBODY ELSE INSTEADS OF YOU.

>> Bill: AND CAMERON WAS QUICK TO POINT OUT WITHIN MINUTES.

>> Olivia: WITHIN HOURS.

>> Bill Estep: SHE AND HER HUSBAND JOE ARE PHILANTHROPISTS TO KENTUCKY SPORTS AND THAT'S A BIG ISSUE IN KENTUCKY AS WELL.

>> Bill: WES, HOW WELL-KNOWN IS CRAFT IN THE -- HER KICKOFF IS COMING NEXT WEEK OUT THERE.

DO PEOPLE KNOW HER VERY WELL REGIONALLY OUT THERE OR WILL THIS BE A PROCESS OF INTRODUCING HERSELF STATEWIDE?

>> Wes: YEAH, YOU KNOW AS YOU MENTIONED SHE'S FROM GLASGOW, HER FAMILY WAS FAIRLY WELL-KNOWN GROWING UP.

A SMALLER CITY.

SO I THINK THE NAME WAS KNOWN AND SHE WAS KNOWN, BUT REALLY NOT IN A POLITICAL SENSE.

SHE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS FOR QUITE A WHILE BUT BEHIND THE SCENES.

SHE'S NEVER RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

SO IT WASN'T REALLY UNTIL SHE BECAME AMBASSADOR AND REALLY SHE WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN OF MATT BEVIN.

AND THOSE TWO THINGS SORT OF PUT HER MORE IN THE SPOTLIGHT, ESPECIALLY AMBASSADORSHIP OF COURSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK MOST PEOPLE KNOW HER NAME, BUT IN TERMS OF INTRODUCING HERSELF AS A POLITICAL FIGURE, WHAT SHE STANDS FOR, WHAT SHE IS GOING TO CAMPAIGN ON, THAT'S SOMETHING SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO BECAUSE AGAIN PEOPLE MAY KNOW THE NAME ABOUT ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE FROM GLASGOW, THINK IT THEY DON'T ECONOMY HER AS A CANDIDATE YET.

-- DON'T KNOW HER AS A CANDIDATE YET SO SHE WILL HAVE WORK TO DO IN THAT REGARD.

>> Bill: YOU SAID HER FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IS ON TO SOME DEGREE IN POLITICS BEFORE?

YOU SAID HER FAMILY HAS BEEN INVOLVED TO SOME DEGREE IN LOCAL POLITIC IN BARREN COUNTY, RIGHT?

>> Wes: YES, I'M SORRY.

HER FATHER WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN BARREN COUNTY, SO AGAIN, HER MOTHER WAS A TEACHER, SOMEBODY THAT WOULD BE WELL-KNOWN IN THE COMMUNITY BUT NOT SUPER WELL-KNOWN FROM A POLITICAL STANDPOINT.

>> Bill: BILL, HOW DID THESE REPUBLICANS CANDIDATES FIGHT IT OUT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND THEN REMAIN FRIENDS, AS THEY ALL CLAIM TO BE?

THEY MAY WANT YOU POLITICAL OR FINANCIAL HELP FROM EACH OTHER IN THE FUTURE, RIGHT?

>> Bill Estep: THAT'S A BIG PART OF IT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BURN BRIDGES AND SOME OF THE THESE ACQUAINTANCE HAVE SERVED IN OTHER CAPACITIES IF THEY HAVE HISTORIES TOGETHER.

THEY HAVE COME UP THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DURING THE TIME WHEN IT BECAME ASCEND IN KENTUCKY SO THEY'VE BEEN PART OF THAT MOVEMENT BUT AS YOU SAID MOSTLY YOU DON'T WANT ON BURN BRIDGES BUT THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK.

YOU THERE HAVE BEEN PRIMARIES, YOU THINK BACK IN 2007 NORTHROP AND ERNIE FLETCHER PRIMARY, I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY LOVE LOST AFTER THAT.

MAYBE THEY WEREN'T FRIENDS TO BEGIN WITH.

I DON'T KNOW THAT.

BUT THEY MOSTLY WANT TO KEEP PEACE WITHIN THE PARTY.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAVANNAH MADDOX, DOES SHE HAVE AN OPEN LANE BY REFERRING TO HERSELF AS AUTHENTIC REPUBLICAN WHICH IS WHAT OVER EVER EVERY TIME HE HEAR A COMMUNICATION FROM HER, THAT SEEMS TO BE A PART OF IT.

SHE'S TRYING TO PORTRAY THE REST OF THE PACK AS SOMETHING LESS THAN THAT.

>> Olivia: I AM WEEK SHE CERTAINLY THINGS THAT SHE HAS A LANE.

THINKS THAT SHE AS PLANE WHETHER SHE DOES OR DOESN'T REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

EV SHE HALLS AN BEEN MORE AFTER A LIBERTY FOCUSED, SOMEBODY VERY PROVIDE FREEDOMS AND SHE IS DEFINITELY RUNNING ON THAT WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THAT'S HER WHOLE THING.

SO DOES SHE REALLY HAVE THAT LANE?

WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: AND DOES THAT LANE GET PARTIALLY BLOCKED IF MATT BEVIN ENTERS THE RACE?

BILL?

>> Bill Estep: IF BEVIN ENTERS THE RACE, I SCRAMBLES A LOT OF THINGS AND THAT'S ONE OF OF THEM, POTENTIALLY IT.

ALSO SORT OF CHANGES THE CALCULUS ABOUT HOW MUCH OF THE VOTES YOU MIGHT HAVE TO HAVE TO WIN WITH IT BEING DIVIDED AMONG THAT MANY MORE CANDIDATES.

>> Bill: ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, BESHEAR APPEARS TO BE HAVING A -- AN EASY RACE TO RENOMINATION.

HE IS FOCUSED, HE SAYS, TO STATE GOVERNMENT AND WON'T ENTERTAIN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OTHER CANDIDATES, BUT HE'S RAISED OVER $3.5 MILLION FOR HIS ELECTION.

AND THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, OF WHICH HE IS THE AT THIS TIME LAR HEAD WANT WAS VERY QUICK WITH DIGITAL ATTACK ADS ON CRAFT.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

BESHEAR CAN SAY THAT HE DOESN'T CARE AND SURELY PART OF HIM HAS TO CARE AT THIS POINT.

AGAIN, CRAFT HAS BEEN RUMORED TO BE ENTERING THE RACE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, SO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DEFINITELY HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO MAKE THOSE ADS.

>> Bill: BEFORE WE GET TO NEXT YEAR, WE'RE NOW JUST TWO MONTHS AWAY THE FROM NOVEMBER ELECTION THAT'S COMING UP.

VOTERS WILL DETERMINE THE FATE OF TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND DECIDE A KEY U.S. SENATE RACE.

WES, ARE YOU BEGINNING TO HEAR ANY TALK ABOUT THESE AMENDMENTS OUT IN YOUR PART OF THE STATE?

ONE OF THOSE WOULD ALLOW THE LEGISLATURE TO CALL ITSELF INTO SESSION.

>> Wes: YEAH, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT HEARING A LOT ABOUT IT QUITE YET.

I THINK WE'RE HEARING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, AND THAT COULD BE A FUNCTION OF ALL THE CANDIDATES THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, BUT THE AMENDMENT WOULD BASICALLY, IT WOULD DO A LOT OF THINGS, BUT BASICALLY IT WOULD GIVE THE LEGISLATURE A LOT MORE POWER IN TERMS OF CALLING SESSIONS, OPEN SESSIONS AND CALLING SPECIAL SESSIONS AND THAT, OF COURSE, HAS ABOUT AN AN ISSUE OVER YEARS.

THIS DIRECTLY RELATES TO GOVERNOR'S BEING ABLE TO VETO THINGS OR AGAIN CALL SPECIAL SESSIONS WHEN HE SEES FIT.

ESSENTIALLY, IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO THE LEGISLATURE TAKING MORE CONTROL OVER WHEN SESSIONS CAN BE CALLED, HOW LONG THEY CAN BE, WHEN SPECIAL SESSIONS CAN BE CALLED, AND IT'S REALLY NOT SURPRISING CONSIDERING THE SET OF CONTENTIOUS RELATIONSHIP YOU HAD WITH THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, THE OTHER AMENDMENT WOULD SAY, AND THE CONSTITUTION CREATES A RIGHT TO AN ABORTION OR REQUIRES GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR ABORTION.

IT APPEARS THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS WAITING FOR THE OUTCOME OR AT LEAST A SIGNAL FROM THE PEOPLE ON THAT BEFORE THEY MAKE A KEY RULING.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

SO RIGHT NOW ABORTION ACCESS IS BLOCKED IN KENTUCKY.

THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS WAITING UNTIL A WEEK AFTER ELECTION DAY FOR FULLY DEAL WITH THAT TOPIC.

SO BY THEN THEY WILL KNOW WHETHER THE VOTERS WANT THIS TYPE OF RIGHT OR NOT.

>> Bill: AND SENATOR RAND PAUL AND HIS CHALLENGER CHARLES BOOKER ARE SET TO FACE OFF.

PAUL SPENT A LOT OF TIME DURING THE AUGUST RECESS IN KENTUCKY, VISITED SOME OF THE HARD-HIT FLOODED AREAS, BILL, AND HE CONTINUES TO SORT OF BE ON THE OFFENSE IN HIS CAMPAIGN TO THE EXTENT HE CAN WHILE AT THE SAME TIME BOOKER IS ATTACKING.

ARE THESE TWO GOING TO DEBATE?

WILL WE SEE THEM FACE TO FACE?

>> Bill Estep: WE DON'T KNOW THAT, OBVIOUSLY.

I WOULD THINK MR. BOOKER WOULD WANT TO DEBATE AND I WOULD SEE NO UPSIDE IN THAT FOR SENATOR PAUL.

HE'S THE INCUMBENT.

HE'S GOT THAT ADVANTAGE.

HE'S GOING TO TO HAVE PLENTY MONEY.

HE'S GOT THE NAME RECOGNITION.

SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF UPSIDE FOR HIM TO DEBATE CHARLES BOOKER.

>> Bill: LOUISVILLE HAS A PARTISAN MAYOR'S RACE.

MOST OF OUR CITIES DON'T RELATE TO THAT.

A FEW KENTUCKY CITIES CHOOSE TO HAVE A PARTISAN MAYOR'S RACE, AND YOU CAN DO THAT.

THAT IS YOUR RIGHT AS A CITY.

AND THAT'S A LONG TRADITION THERE.

OLIVIA, REPUBLICAN BILL DUR HALF'S CAMPAIGN HAS STARTED A DEMOCRATS FORE DUROFF ISOLATION IT WAS 20 EVER AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT THIS WEEK FOR SURE.

IT'S NOT FROM HIS CAMPAIGN.

IT'S FROM AN UNRELATED PAC, BUT THEY PUBLISHED TWO VIDEOS, BOTH OF WHICH WERE RATHER ODD AND GOT OBSCURED ONLINE FOR THAT.

ONE FEATURED A LINE ABOUT HOUSING POLICY AND THEN INSINUATED THAT CRUSH COFFIN IS GOING TO BE YOUR HOUSE IN LOUISVILLE.

ANOTHER ONE FEATURED A SUPPOSED FRONT MAN WHO NO LONGER LIVES IN LOUISVILLE AND CAN'T VOTE IN LOUISVILLE AND HAD SOME LINE ABOUT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO DOWNTOWN TO EAT A GOOD MEAL, WHICH IS LAUGHABLE TO MOST PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN LOUISVILLE BECAUSE THAT'S NOT REALLY WHERE WE'RE GOING TO EAT A GOOD MEAL.

>> Bill: HE WOULD NEED TO ATTRACT CROSSOVER VOTES TO DEFEAT DEMOCRATIC BILL GREENBERG.

IT'S SIMPLE MATH.

>> Olivia: MORE THAN HALF REGISTERED VOTERS IN LOUISVILLE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS.

>> Bill: WE CONTINUE TO WATCH THAT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT KENTUCKY'S OWN MEMORIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH WHO DIED THIS WEEK AT THE AGE OF 96.

HER LOVE OF HORSES DREW HER TO KENTUCKY IN 1984 AND 1987 WHEN SHE WENT TO KEENELAND AND AGAIN IN 2007 FOR THE KENTUCKY KENTUCKY DERBY.

THERE WERE SOME OTHER VISITS.

SHE HAD FRIENDS AND MANY HAVE MEMORIES HERE OF HER VISITS, AND KENTUCKY SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SPOKE ON THE U.S. CAPITOL FLOOR ABOUT THE QUEEN'S IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> THE QUEEN MET SITTING PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN WHEN SHE WAS A 25-YEAR-OLD PRINCESS.

SHE WENT ON TO MEET WITH A DOZEN MORE OUR PRESIDENTS DURING HER REIGN.

SHE PRESIDED OVER A PERIOD OF HISTORIC STRENGTHENING OF THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN OUR UNITED NATIONS THAT HAS CHANGED THE COURSE OF WORLD HISTORY.

FOR THE BETTER.

>> Bill: BILL, AS WE NOTED, QUEEN ELIZABETH HAD A LIFELONG LOVE HORSES AND HORSE RACING AND IT WAS A VERY BIG DEAL WHEN THE QUEEN CAME TO KEENELAND IN 1994 AND 1997 AND TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY AS WELL LATER.

>> Bill Estep: IT WAS.

SHE CAME FIVE TIMES BETWEEN '84 AND 2007 WAS THE LAST TIME WHEN SHE CAME TO THE DERBY IN 2007.

SHE WAS AS THE LANE'S END IN SER VALES A COUPLE OF TIMES.

THAT'S WILLIAM FARRIS THAT OWNS THAT FARM.

SHE BOARD HORSES HERE AND LOOKED AT BREEDING STOCK BECAUSE SHE LOVED HORSES AND KNEW THEM.

AND WE WERE -- ON ONE OF HER VISITS, PEOPLE WOULD GO TO THE AIRPORT TO SEE HER.

THERE WERE SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE THAT WENT TO THE AIRPORT JUST TO SEE HER GET OFF THE PLANE AND GET INTO A CAR AND DRIVE AWAY, TWO MINUTES.

AT ONE OCCASION PEOPLE CAME AS FAR AWAY AS TEXAS TO SEE HER, SO SHE WAS WELL THOUGHT OF OUTSIDE, EVEN OUTSIDE KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: THERE WAS HEIGHTENED SECURITY CERTAINLY IN 2007 WHEN SHE WAS HERE FOR DERBY.

>> Bill Estep: I'VE BEEN WHEN AL GORE AND GEORGE BUSH WERE THERE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

ANY TIME YOU HAVE A HEAD OF STATE OR A CANDIDATE LIKE THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE HEAVY SECURITY.

>> Bill: YOU GET IT THAT PEOPLE FELT IT WAS A VERY SPECIAL MOMENT EVEN IF THEY GOT, LIKE SAID, THAT TWO-MINUTE GLIMPSE OR CERTAINLY THOSE WHO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MEET HER AND TALK WITH HER.

>> Bill: WE HAD PHOTOS OF LITTLE GIRLS PRESENTING FLOWERS TO HER AND CURTSYING, YEAH, PEOPLE -- THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE WHO LOVE TO JUST GET A GLIMPSE OF THE QUEEN.

>> Bill: SO WE'LL BE FOLLOWING AS THE WORLD MOURNS AND WATCHES THE TRANSITION THERE NOW TO THE NEW KING OF ENGLAND.

IVELY OLIVIA, COVID NUMBS ARE COMING DOWN SOME.

THAT'S ENCOURAGING.

JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS DROPPED OUT OF THE RED ZONE AND A LOT OF FOLKS, ESPECIALLY THE SCHOOLS, WERE WAITING FOR THAT.

>> Olivia: RIGHT.

JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS HA HAD A MASK REQUIREMENT.

ANY TIME THE COUNTY IS IN RED MASKS ARE REQUIRED.

THAT, OF COURSE, BEEN NOT SUPER POPULAR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

SO MOVING INTO THE YELLOW, MASKS ARE BECOMING OPTIONAL ON MONDAY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THAT.

>> Bill: AS WE LOOK AT THAT MAP, BILL, STILL, A LOT OF RED, PARTICULARLY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AND INTO CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND OUT IN THE JACKSON PURCHASE AREA AS WELL.

>> Bill Estep: FAR WEST.

IT'S A DIFFERENT PICTURE IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES PI LIVE IN PLACID COUNTY WHICH IS THANKFULLY YELLOW.

>> Bill: IT'S GOOD TO HEAR THERE ARE SOME IMPROVEMENT BUT THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS IS SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT ATTENDANCE IN SOME OF OUR DISTRICTS.

SOME OF THAT IS THE COVID SITUATION.

SOME OF IT IS FLOODING.

THEIR MONEY IS BASED ON AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE, AND IN SOME CASES THAT'S BEEN RUNNING BELOW EIGHT YEARS.

>> Bill Estep: THERE I WAS MEETING THIS WEEK.

GLASS SAID THAT USUALLY ATTENDANCE RUNS 95, 96 PERCENT IN SAY THE SCHOOLS.

HE SAID SOME WERE 90 AND SOME AS LOW AS 70 OR 80.

THOSE IN THE MID-70s WOULD BE TAKING A REAL HIT ON THEIR ATTENDANCE MONEY.

AS I JUST SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS: ILLNESS, FLOODING.

ONE OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY SAID PEOPLE WERE NOT -- IT SOUNDED LINING CHILDREN HAD MOVED OUT AFTER THE TORNADOES LAST DECEMBER.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASONS.

'67 THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DID GET $40 MILLION IN THIS RECENT RELIEF PACKAGE THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED TO HELP GET SCHOOLS BACK UP TO SPEED IN FLOOD ZONES, AND THEY CAN WAIVE SOME ATTENDANCE DAYS SO THAT WILL HELP AS WELL.

AND THERE'S ALSO -- THEY'VE GOT THE POTENTIAL TO USE A DIFFERENT, A PRIOR YEAR ATTENDANCE COUNT TO -- THAT WILL HELP THEM THIS YEAR.

I THINK OLIVIA KNOW MORE ABOUT THAT THAN I DO.

>> Bill: THIS YEAR BUT NOT NEXT.

>> Olivia: RIGHT, BUT UNDER THE COVID SITUATION DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE THE 18-19 ATTENDANCE NUMBERS JUST TO STABILIZE FUNDING, BUT NEXT YEAR THEY HAVE TO USE THIS YEAR'S NUMBERS MAKING THIS YEARS ATTENDANCE ESPECIALLY IMPACTFUL.

>> Bill: BILL, STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, THE FLOODS.

>> Bill Estep: I WAS OUT THERE A COUPLE DAYS THIS WEEK.

FEMA ANNOUNCED TODAY THEY HAD PAID OUT $61 MILLION IN SPREAD ASSISTANCE TO HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS, BUT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE STILL DISSATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY'RE GETTING, A LOT OF FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE A GOOD HOUSING SITUATION YET, AND THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

>> Bill: WES, LET'S TALK SOME BOWLING GREEN.

HOW IS THE AREA PREPARING OUT THERE FOR THIS $2 BILLION BATTERY PLANT, THE CAR BATTERY PLANT THAT'S COMING AND THAT HAS NOW HAD ITS GROUNDBREAKING AND CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY?

>> Will: YEAH, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG DEAL DID,.

>> Wes: YEAH, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A BIG DEAL.

THEY HAD THE GROUNDBREAKING FOR IT FORMERLY THAT WAS ANNOUNCED IS HERE.

AS YOU MENTIONED, A MASSIVE PROJECT, 3 MILLION SQUARE FEET, 2,000 JOBS, A VALUE OF $2 BILLION.

IT'S GOING TO BE DETAIL BUILT ON THE KENTUCKY TRANS PARK, NOT GOING TO OPEN UNTIL 2025, BUT JUST BECAUSE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT AND A LOT OF OTHER DEVELOPMENTS, A LOT OF THE EMPHASIS ON THINGS IN WARREN COUNTY ESPECIALLY HAS BEEN RELATED TO GROWTH, UPDATING THE TRANSPORTATION PLAN, UPDATING THE MASTER PLAN FOR GROWTH, A LOFTY ZONING ISSUES.

PRETTY MUCH EVERY WEEK WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER PLANNING AND ZONING MEETING WHERE ANOTHER 100 HOMES, 200 HOMES, 300 OR 400 HOMES ARE BEING APPROVED, A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BEING BUILT, ROADS.

LOGAN COUNTY HAS GOTTEN APPROVAL FOR A MASSIVE SEWER FARM THAT IS GOING TO BE GENERATE ELECTRICITY FOR THE GM CORVETTE ASSEMBLY PLANT WHICH IS IN BOWLING GREEN AND BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.

IT'S KIND OF A MILLER WHIRLWIND OF DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S LITERALLY EVERY MONTH ANOTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT, NONE BIGGER THAN THIS ENVISIONED PLANT WHICH IS A JAPANESE COMPANY THAT'S GOING TO MAKE NEXT GENERATION PAT BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF BOWLING GREEN.

OF THE STATE, I'M SORRY.

>> Bill: SURE.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE BEING PROACTIVE IN TRYING TO PLAN FOR ALL OF THIS, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG TERM IF THESE PROJECTIONS FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU HOLD UP.

BOWLING GREEN WOULD OR WARREN COUNTY AT LEAST WOULD LEAPFROG NORTHERN KENTUCKY COUNTIES AND BECOME THE THIRD MOST POPULOUS COUNTY BEHIND JEFFERS AND FAYETTE IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

SO WHAT IS FALLING OUT GROWTH?

WHAT'S DRAWING PEOPLE TO BOWLING GREEN?

>> Wes: YEAH, SO YEAH, THE PREDICTIONS ARE THAT THE POPULATION WOULD BE OVER 200,000 BY 2050, SURPASSING KENTON AND BOONE, WHICH ARE LARGER COUNTIES RIGHT NOW.

NOT QUITE A DOUBLING OF THE POPULATION BUT VERY CLOSE.

AND IT'S THE THING THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, IT'S JOBS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF CONCERTED EFFORTS FOR RECRUITMENT OF PEOPLE, BASICALLY A LOT OF THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS, CITY, COUNTY, ARE WORKING ON EFFORTS AND HAVE BEEN INVESTING MONEY AND BASICALLY SAYING COME TO BOWLING GREEN, COME TO WARREN COUNTY BECAUSE WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF OPEN JOBS, GENERALLY GOOD-PAYING JOBS, GOOD BENEFITS, ABOVE-AVERAGE WAGES, AND SO -- AND THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS, VERY GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN WARREN COUNTY, RELATIVELY LOW COST OF LIVING, RELATIVELY LOW CRIME, BEING JUST AN HOUR'S NORTH OF NASHVILLE.

I THINK THAT'S A DRAW FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S AM WILL LIKE NASHVILLE AND BOWLING GREEN ARE BECOMING A METRO AREA IN AND OF ITSELF.

SO I THINK THAT A LOT OF FACTORS, BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE JOBS AND ALL THE JOBS THAT ARE COMING ARE BRINGING A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE INTO WARREN COUNTY.

>> Bill: LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS ALSO IN YOUR AREA.

THEY KEEP DISCOVERING THAT MAMMOTH XAVIER IS ACTUALLY BIGGER THAN -- CAVE IS ACTUALLY BIGGER THAN WE EVEN THOUGHT, RIGHT?

>> Wes: YEAH, MAMMOTH CAVE.

SO THIS IS THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF IT BEING DEEMED THE LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD, AND SO 50 YEARS AGO THEY ANNOUNCED THAT IT'S 144 MILES LONG, WHICH AGAIN MADE IT THE LONGEST CAVE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD.

WELL, NOW IT'S RECOGNIZED TO BE 426 MILES LONG, AND THOSE LAST 6 MILES WERE JUST ANNOUNCED ACTUALLY JUST THIS WEEK.

THEY ANNOUNCED THAT THROUGH EXPLORATION.

THEY FOUND 6 MORE MILES.

SO WE'RE AT 426 MILES, BUT WHAT'S KIND OF MIND-BOGGLING IS THAT PARK OFFICIALS SAY THAT THEY'RE JUST REALLY ALMOST LITERALLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE, SO TO SPEAK, IN TERMS OF MAPPING THE CAVE AND WHEN THEY'RE ALL SAID AND DONE THEY WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF THE ACTUAL CAVE SYSTEM IS 1,000 MILES LONG.

>> Bill: WOW, THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

BILL, YOU HAD A STORY ON AN ADVISORY ABOUT HOW MUCH FISH PEOPLE HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH SHOULD CONSUME, AND THERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.

>> Bill: WELL, THERE IS A NEW ADVISORY THAT WHAT IS ISSUED DODD BY THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CAB INEPT.

THEY HAVE DONE TESTING OF FISH THE ISSUE SAMPLES AND IT SHOWS THAT THEY HAVE LEVELS OF CHEMICALS KNOWN AS PFOS CHEMICALS OR FOREVER CHEMICALS BECAUSE THEY DON'T BREAK DOWN IN THE ENVIRONMENT, SEE THEY ISSUED AN ADVISORY TODAY FOR FOLKS TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CONSUMPTION OF FISH BASED ON THAT.

>> Bill: IT'S GETTING VERY TOUGH FOR STATE AND LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO HIRE OFFICERS, AND LOTS OF RETIREMENTS GOING ON.

KSP NOW IS LURING BACK SOME RETIRE EAST.

WE'VE ALL BEEN REPORTING ON SOMETHING CALLED THE TROOPER R PROGRAM-B RIGHT.

IT'S SOMETHING THEY'VE HAD IN PLACE FOR WHILE AND IT'S A GOOD DEAL FOR THEM BECAUSE NORMALLY YOU HAVE TO TRAIN AN OFFICER THROUGH THE ACADEMY.

THIS I. WA YOU GET EXPERIENCED -- THESE ARE GENERALLY OFFICERS THAT HAVE RETIRED, SO THEY'VE GOT 20-PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE PLUS THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH THE TRAINING, SO YOU GET AN EXPERIENCED OFFICER WITHOUT HAVING TO RUN AN ACADEMY CLASS.

>> Bill: OLIVIA, AS WE RUN UP TO THE ELECTION LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AWAY, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE WATCHING?

>> Olivia: I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO BE WATCHING SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS, ESPECIALLY IN JEFFERSON 89 MORE SLATE OF PARENTS' RIGHTS, CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES RUNNING SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A VERY INTERESTING SITUATION TO WATCH.

>> Bill: IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO WATCH.

$14MILLION IS COMING TO KENTUCKY FROM A JEWEL SETTLEMENT THAT INVOLVES SEVERAL STATES, THE VAPING INDUSTRY IS SEEING THE KINDS OF LEGAL ACTION THAT THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY SAW SOME YEARS AGO.

MIDWAY UNIVERSITY IS REPORTING RECORD ENROLLMENT, A TREND THAT HAS CONTINUED NOW FOR SEVEN YEARS.

ENROLLMENT HAS TOPPED 1900 AT THE PRIVATE SCHOOL IN TABERD COUNTY.

MIDWAY WAS KENTUCKY'S ONLY ALL FEMALE COLLEGE UNTIL 2016 WHEN IT OPENED ITS ENROLL TOMATO MEN AS WELL.

MID WRAY'S GRADUATE ENROLLMENT HAS ALSO REACHED AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF 238 STUDENTS.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY."

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD '67.