As polls open for early voting, we continue to ask Kentucky voters about the issues important to them.

This morning, our Laura Rogers spoke with the Breakfast crowd at a Bowling Green diner about the concerns weighing on their minds before they cast their votes.

It's mid-morning and the coffee and conversation are flowing at Lisa's fifth Street Diner.

Prices at the grocery store that.

Is gotten so sky high.

That's a worry, a burden I have that we should all be worried about because it affects all of us.

To public education and teacher salaries.

An extreme teacher shortage.

And I understand why it would be difficult to encourage teachers with the salaries that they pay.

As Election Day draws closer.

The talk turns to politics.

I've made my mind up early.

Some voters say they have inflationary concerns.

Their spending is crazy.

You know, you can't you can't run a government like that.

Spanish band, Spain Radio.

They're also passionate about social issues.

I'm pro-life.

Women's reproductive freedom rights.

And one of the candidates has taken a very narrow view of that.

Brenda Willoughby, who lives in downtown Bowling Green, also has concerns about redistricting.

The way that the legislative areas are gerrymandered now, a lot of them lean toward one candidate or the other, or at least one political party or the other.

She says she is fairly happy with efforts at bipartisanship in Frankfurt.

They've been able to do a pretty good job of working together, even though they don't always align.

A common refrain economic concerns and choosing the candidate they think will be best for their pocketbook.

You can have one bag, groceries, and because the 50 bucks, depending on what you've got and not really have anything.

And I worry about families, you know, especially with small children, kids how they can afford that.

Sandy Mayes wants to see more being done to tackle drug addiction and the opioid epidemic.

Just seems like everywhere I go now, I'm talking to people and friends.

Everybody has somebody, even in their family or they have a family member or friend that has lost someone, a child.

The views are varied, but one thing everyone does seem to agree on, they want elected officials who are honest.

Be upfront and don't lie about things to a truth and be truthful with.

People and to stand by their campaign promises.

I'd like to see, you know, things carry through.

I'd actually like to stand behind their words.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you, Laura.

And there are five early voting locations in Warren County.