(KMN) 9.26: Time to Veg - Hour 1

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We kind of made it. The weekend. It's it's kind
of here. It's Friday, welcome in.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's here, Bude, you said it.

Speaker 1 (00:07):
It's here, Scott Fitzgerald said it. So we're gonna we're
gonna speak it into existence. The weekend is here. Happy Friday, everybody,
It is Kentucky and this morning news Coffee and Company
with your hero on news Radio eight forty w h as.
The full crew is here today, myself, Nick Coffee, Scott Fitzgerald,
the Johns, John Alden, John Shannon alongside. And as I
as I get this thing started, I've realized I've got

(00:30):
a weekend here that really is pretty light for me.
Not a whole lot going on. And sometimes that's needed, right.
I mean, I got I got my daughter's baseball game tomorrow,
my son will play his flag football game. But other
than that, I don't really have any big plans. Sometimes
that's great, right.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
You need it, bro, you need it.

Speaker 3 (00:49):
You gotta disconnect, you gotta dial down, you got to
just take time to vege. And there are times where I,
like I tell my wife all the time, there's weekends
where I do not expect anything from me. I just
want to make that clear right now.

Speaker 4 (01:02):
Now.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
Can I tell that to my kids?

Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, yeah you can. I talk it to my kids
all the time, and I did, but I'll tell her.
I'll say, listen, you know, you'll get a day for
me this weekend if I.

Speaker 2 (01:12):
Go a little strong.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
You know, maybe I come home from the studio Saturday
and I just sack out upstairs, lay out in the
bed and watch the games.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
It's a state of mind too, though, Like even if
you end up getting into something, just the it happening,
I guess maybe spontaneously, there's something awesome about that. So
I'm looking forward to it. And we've got a lot
to get to today, but a sports weekend where all
three local teams on the road, Louisville, of course, their
first road trip of the season, taken on pit their

(01:38):
first seemingly real game of the season, and the mystery
surrounding their injuries to running backs continues to be exactly
that somewhat of a mystery. Although I think if you
were wanting to put some pieces together and assume that
they've got some real injuries going on, I think you're
probably safe to assume that maybe not anything serious, but
not ideal as they had on the road Kentucky. Of course,

(01:59):
a winnable game. They could really send their season in.
I guess a couple of different directions. One, Okay, maybe
they end up being pretty competitive, maybe better than those
most expected. Or if it doesn't go well then then
then maybe they start talking about I guess a fantasy,
which is life without stoops, and I don't think that's
the case. But anyways, and then Indiana they're on the

(02:19):
road at Iowa, John, you want me to give you
a fact, a stat that will really put in perspective
of of the like this is bizarro world, Like you
got Indiana football. They're they're clearly the real deal. But
is it Kinnick Stadium?

Speaker 2 (02:34):
Is that it is?

Speaker 1 (02:35):
Kinnick Stadium hasn't hosted a ranked opponent in three years.
It's the longest drought in the stadium's history since the
ap Poles inception in nineteen thirty six, Iowa had never
gone more than one season without hosting a ranked team.
So now they're salivating. They've got a ranked ball team
coming to town.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Iowa. Don't know what they do in Iowa, but I
know they like.

Speaker 3 (02:59):
That.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
Yeah, and they're they're they're salivating for a ranked opponent
coming to town to get a win with some value,
with some substance to it. There's currency and scare me
like this to the win and it's Indiana. That's just
insane to me. It is I'll say this. The last
time Indiana had any sort of momentum, they opened the
season with the Iowa back in twenty twenty one and
they got ransacked.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
With all due.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
Respect, that's no momentum compared to this.

Speaker 5 (03:23):
Oh, it's not not at all in the same ballpark,
but it was still it's still the last The last
team to really kind of deflate the Hoosiers was Iowa,
and so there is a little bit of nerves going
into this game for me.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
I probably I won't touch it as far as spread.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Actually I might.

Speaker 1 (03:37):
I might because I think Indiana is going to kick
their tail.

Speaker 5 (03:41):
I want to say that. There's always a part of
me that hesitates because it doesn't feel right that Indiana
should kick anybody's tail. But they've been doing it since Signette.
He's been around now, so why can I be a believer?
I need to be a believer.

Speaker 1 (03:53):
More so, He's not done anything to make you think
that exactly that that won't happen exactly.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
They could lose, but they they carry themselves in a
way as a program.

Speaker 1 (04:02):
Really that is there's a lot of his DNA, a
lot of his stinch on it, if you know what
I'm saying. So certainly a big football weekend, Scott.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
The Red's dead yet, No, not yet.

Speaker 3 (04:11):
But it's all must win, okay, I mean they have
got to must win. They've got to win out. It's
not looking good. Nobell at Marti who bats, fans will
know his name. We'll talk about that in sports coming up.
And had a great, great game last night, great great
play last night. They're not dead yet. You're saying there's
still a chance. There's still a chance, but it's gonna
have to take everything. The Reds have to pull it
out to get it done. And you were talking about Iowa,

(04:35):
and I'm right there with John because I cannot tell
you how many games. Nineteen eighty five comes to mind
for me when I was a Michigan fan, when they
walked in there and they thought they were going to
be giant, you know, they were just gonna steamroll Iowa.
Iowa took them down Kinnick Stadium is and it's happened
to Ohio State before. Kinnick Stadium is not a pleasant
place to go if you're ranked.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
Well, look, they've got nothing to do in Iowa. They're
gonna come and fill that stadium and get rowdy.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
They are they.

Speaker 3 (05:01):
Are And I'm with John though, and that's why the
spread is so light. I John, I feel I feel
what John is feeling today. I one percent feel that
I have felt that before. There's something about Iowa. I
don't like Kirk Frienz, not a personal thing. I don't
like him because of what I would did you like?

Speaker 5 (05:16):
Points like they play such a they have stayed in
the past for so long in their style of football,
and it's worked for them, and it just scares me
because like how they might get it done?

Speaker 1 (05:27):
I co Signette's not listening to this, right, I hope.

Speaker 2 (05:31):
John, I know that would be John. John is right
on though.

Speaker 3 (05:34):
I with you, John, I felt exactly how you have.

Speaker 1 (05:38):
All Right, We've got a lot to get to today.
Good start to get this thing rolling. A weekend full
of sports which is a lot of fun, but also
some of the things we need to get into. Uh.
This is something that John Shannon referenced yesterday in his
news updates that Kentucky Republican lawmakers are going to fight
any type of future JCPX tax hike due to the
financial malpractice really that's going on there. We'll certainly get

(06:00):
to that, and of course a lot more. I mean,
you got former FBI director James Comy indicted, so no
shortage of things to get into today, and we're going
to do exactly that right here on News.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
Radio eight forty whas.

Speaker 1 (06:12):
So, former FBI Director James Comy is officially facing federal
charges now. Prosecutors they say he lied to Congress and
blocked a congressional hearing. And as I'm sure a lot
of you know, these charges stem from a Senate hearing
on September thirtieth of twenty twenty, many years ago. And
this seemed to be something that led to what I've

(06:33):
seen a lot of lately, and that is the hypocrisy.
And I almost find it amusing as far as just
how blatant it is. With everything going on, think about
all the different things that both sides are fighting about
right now, and I mean, there's not many instances when
it comes to these specific things that people are fighting

(06:55):
about where you can at least find some layer of
its defended. It's defended when it's your side to an extent,
or it's you know, and it's and it's used as
the worst thing in the world whenever you can weaponize
it against the other side. And I just think if
more people really kind of take took a deep breath
and looked at that.

Speaker 2 (07:13):
Maybe you would, you know, maybe one maybe.

Speaker 1 (07:15):
You'd realize, hey, uh, we're clearly not on the same
page right now, seemingly a lot of people. And I'm sure,
in fact, I think it's I think, well, I think
there's currently one side that it's just a little bit
out of it just just you know, has has has
lost their way for lack of a better way to
to to describe it, but I mean, this is something

(07:39):
that that well, never mind, we'll get into the specifics
of this a little bit later on because I'm gonna
let I'm gonna let our man Rory O'Neil do the
heavy lifting here because obviously this one of the things
we'll talk about when he joins is coming up here
five forty five. But no doubt a lot of reaction
to this and not something that you typically see a
former FBI director being federally charged, but really not all
that surprising in the in the grand scheme of things.

Speaker 2 (08:00):
All right.

Speaker 1 (08:01):
So something else I want to let you guys here
this morning is yesterday there was the and I wish,
I wish I knew the uh the exact name of
the event, but uh, it was at a I guess
it's it's the lead up to the Sant x Trinity
High School football game, which of course is tonight. And
Pat Kelsey was the guest speaker at the Catholic Education
Foundation event. And by the way, our own Tony Venetti

(08:24):
was the was the host, the MC of the event,
and I felt like a proud son. I mean, I
had a few people there texting me Tony's doing great.

Speaker 2 (08:32):
Oh he's he's killing it, and he had.

Speaker 1 (08:34):
I mean, look, it's tough to stand out when you've
got Pat Kelsey, who is made for those moments. I mean,
I don't know, only time will tell how good of
a basketball coach he's going to be here. I think
he's got a bright future, and I think we're in
good hands as a little basketball fan, but I mean.

Speaker 2 (08:48):
He's made to speak at these these events. Regardless.

Speaker 1 (08:51):
If you're a little a fan, I think you have
a hard time not admitting that. I mean, he at
his introductory press conference really made a statement in any
time he's really been in a situation where he's speaking
to fans and to the public, he's I mean, it's
his time to shine. So but he shared a story
about a dream he had about Mark Pope. Pat Kelsey
did not Tony, even Eddie. I know Tony probably dreams
about Mark Pope a lot too, but those are different

(09:12):
kind of dreams. Pat Kelsey had a dream that he
was getting ready to fight Mark Pope in a UFC match,
and he shared that that dream in front of the
crowd yesterday. And I find it refreshing. I know those
that really get into the weeds and really and I look,
I love you all those of you that really just
take this rivalry as serious as can be. It's life
or death to some. And I say that tongue in cheek,

(09:33):
like that's why this rivalry is what it is. It's
super passionate. But I find it refreshing knowing that it's hard.
I think for for most I think it's hard, if
they're being really honest, to genuinely find the coach of
your rival to be unlikable. And I'll say that about
Mark Pope. I think he's I think he's a good coach.

(09:54):
I think he's a good dude. Don't know him personally.
I don't want him to win many basketball games as
a Louis a fan myself, but I I mean, I
wish I could say I had a different opinion, but
I don't. And Pat Kelsey talked a little bit about
that yesterday. But this all stems from last week where
a rumor surfaced that the two got into some kind
of a fight. And it if you're not familiar with

(10:14):
the the what do you call it, the the underworld
of sports meeting where people just you know, they consume
this stuff three hundred and sixty five days out of
the year, you're probably thinking, what, There's no way on
what world would these two individuals, these grown ups, actually
get into a fight and it wasn't real. However, there
was a situation where Pat Kelsey showed up to a

(10:35):
recruits house and he entered the home I guess a
little early because the scheduled visit for Mark Pope he
was late to. And I think these guys are going
to have a hard time not liking each other. But
maybe I'm wrong, Maybe it gets super contentious because of
just how competitive things are around here. But yeah, we'll
let you hear some of that sound throughout the morning here.
Also yesterday, both Josh Hurd and Mitch Barnhardt spoke in Frankfort.

(11:00):
I believe it's in Frankfort about a variety of things,
including the rivalry series potentially coming to an end, and
it's not. And I think at this point it was
pretty clear it was going to be hard to end
it without somebody looking like they're scared, but both sides
making it clear they want to play the game, which
made me feel like an idiot, you know why, because
that was always going to be the case, anybody taking

(11:22):
the bait, and I guess I did it too, that
they wouldn't play this game.

Speaker 2 (11:25):
It's foolish, all right.

Speaker 1 (11:26):
We've got Scott Fitzgerald coming up here in just a
few minutes with sports. We'll also get an update of
traffic and weather. We'll see how these roadways are looking
on a Friday morning. Also get a look at the
forecast coming up this weekend. It is a Friday morning
here at News Radio eight forty whas. Thank you very much,
John Shannon, it's five thirty five here at a Friday
morning coffee and company with you on News radio eight

(11:47):
forty whas So, the push to reopen Louisville's juvenile detention
center continues. Yesterday, Louisville Metro Council they're calling on state
leaders to act on the long delayed project of reopening
the city's juvenile detention centers, something that I think it's
safe to say is clearly needed, and it has not

(12:10):
been opened since twenty nineteen. It's shut down due to
financial issues six years ago, and the General Assembly, you
get to keep in mind, set aside funding two years
ago to get it back up and running. Clearly a
big project, but has not been opened since twenty nineteen.
And in twenty twenty three, state lawmakers set aside millions

(12:32):
of dollars towards these renovations, and it's just been kicked
down the road as far as actually getting started. And
it actually is needed now seemingly more than ever. I mean,
I've given you my thoughts on this anytime we discuss it.
The scenario where you can't lock up juveniles until they've

(12:53):
actually committed harm to the community and been a part
of violent crimes is not a good rest our city
when it comes to public safety, and the city is
aware of that. There's nobody here in Louisville seemingly with
any decision making power that would say otherwise. I mean,
maybe you could find somebody, but this is in the
red verse blue thing.

Speaker 2 (13:13):
This is I mean, but.

Speaker 1 (13:15):
The state's got to take action to actually get this
thing started. And I think there are parents in Louisville
that that are doing the best they can and their
environment and I'm sure other circumstances have led to their
kids living a violent life as a young criminal already,
which is scary, but it's real. It's happening. Children are
living lives of violent criminals. And I'm sure some of

(13:38):
these parents that are trying their best, they may prefer
their kid be locked up.

Speaker 2 (13:42):
In a juvenile detention center.

Speaker 1 (13:43):
So with that, with that they know where they are,
they don't have to worry about them being the latest
kid to be involved in a violent crime.

Speaker 2 (13:50):
Rather it be the perpetrator or the victim.

Speaker 1 (13:53):
And whenever they're not truly I guess, apprehended and held
until they've already committed a very violent crime, there's really
no I mean, they're just back out on the streets,
continuing to be a real harm to the community. And
if you don't think that there there are, there are
gang members, gang leaders taking advantage of having young kids

(14:16):
do the dirty work. If you will, I mean, I
think you're pretty naive. In fact, we're fueling a more
violent situation without you know, regardless if you're if you're fifteen,
or if you're thirty five, if you're violent and you're
a criminal and you've consistently shown that you need to
be locked up until you've learned your lesson, or until
you've shown that you you know, you've completed some type

(14:38):
of sentence, or until you've you've shown your the ability
to rehabilitate yourself and really learn from from from what
you've what you've done. I mean, as I say these
things out loud, I think it's I mean, I don't
really know what who would argue against that. I think
we have somebody at the state level that was appointed
by Bashir that just does not believe that any juvenile

(14:59):
should ever be incarcerated. And that's a scary world delive in,
if that's the way you see it, Because here in Louisville,
despite them being children under the age of eighteen, some
of them very dangerous, very dangerous. So Metro Council passed
resolution Thursday urging Basher and others to speed up this process,

(15:21):
and I hope that they do now. On the same day,
Basher announced two emergency regulations requiring changes to restrictive housing
for juveniles. So I saw these two different stories thinking
that they's somewhat connected, and they really aren't. To be
honest with you, what Bisher did yesterday was with these
two emergency regulations, he's changing how the Department of Juvenile

(15:43):
Justice handles restrictive housing for juvenile So he's going to
require more frequent medical and mental health checks, mandate STAB
training so isolation is used sparingly and safely, and the
DJJ leadership must approve and review time limits. So I
got no issue with any of those things. I'm sure
those are that that that those are things that that

(16:04):
are needed. But also, uh, in Louisville, this is needed,
and I don't I mean, who am I to say
that there are people that are that just don't care
about Louisville. I'm sure there are people like that, out
of sight, out of mind, right if you don't live
anywhere near Louisll and you're in Kentucky and you don't
ever think about what's going on here. I get it,
you're in your own world, you're living your life. But
I think if if others out of the state were

(16:25):
aware of of how real this is that it's it's
impacting our community in a major way. It is easily
one of the biggest talking points in our city now
when it comes to things that are an issue. Now,
there's also things going on that aren't. Is that that
that are positives. There's no doubt about that. I don't
act like it's all gloom and doom around here. But
one of the things that is a growing issue, and
there's more awareness of it than ever, is the juvenile

(16:48):
violent crime that that goes on. And I think at
a city level, until there is a juvenile detention center,
you getting it fixed. There's there's it's not gonna be
as easy. I mean it's gonna be easy at all.
But still, I just don't know how you could argue
that it's not needed. And to see that we now
have those here in Louisville Metro Council calling on Basher

(17:11):
in the state Hey, let's be this thing up all right,
quick break. We've got trafficking weather updates on the way.
Rory O'Neil, the NBC News set to join us on
the other side right here in News Radio eight forty whas.
Happy Friday to you, Kentucky and now welcome in. It
is Kentucky and it's morning news, coffee and company with
you on News Radio eight forty whas. We're now joined
by Rory O'Neil of NBC News. Rory, we now know

(17:33):
that former FBI Director James Comy has officially been charged federally.
What can you tell us about this decision? Obviously it's
one that's going to have a lot of reaction on
both sides.

Speaker 2 (17:44):
I'm sure, yeah, it certainly is.

Speaker 4 (17:46):
Now it's a two county indictment, essentially making claims that
James Comy lied before a Senate committee almost exactly five
years ago to the day. One of the reasons there
is a time pressure here is because the Statute of
Limitations runs out at the end of this month. So
that's why we saw the tweet from the Truth Social

(18:07):
Posts from the President last week to Attorney General Pam
Bondi saying, hey, look, you know, I've seen documents. We
need to take some action here. The President also removed
the acting US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia
after he declined to issue an indictment. So then the
President puts in his former defense attorney, a woman who's
never been a prosecutor, and now she's secured the indictment

(18:30):
personally to the grand jury yesterday. Now they secured a
two count indictment. A third count was rejected by the
grand jury, so that no charge was filed. Former FBI
Director Comy, accused of lying to a Senate committee, essentially,
will be before a judge today for a first appearance
in federal court.

Speaker 1 (18:49):
So you mentioned that Trump appointed this prosecutor to move
this case forward, but it sounds as if other prosecutors
had reportedly advised against these charges, just saying there wasn't
enough evidence. Trump clearly disagrees.

Speaker 4 (19:01):
Well, and that's one of the big issues, right, And
look normally present historically speaking, and this is a term
I should if I had a dollar for every time
I've said that now since January twentieth.

Speaker 2 (19:13):
I understanding.

Speaker 4 (19:13):
Historically, President sort of hands off with the Justice Department.
They let them do their thing. But clearly with some
of the two social posts that we've seen, some of
the comments from the President, he's got his fingers all
over this indictment coming down. Of course, the President has
a long track record with Komy. President Trump fired Komy

(19:35):
back in twenty seventeen and then of course with the
whole Russia investigation, so there's a long history there, and
the President Trump, I think, was happy to see this
indictment come down. Mister Komy put out a statement on Instagram,
a video statement saying that he would take this to
trial and is eager to fight against the allegation.

Speaker 1 (19:55):
So Starbucks is apparently going to be closing hundreds of
their story this month as part of a one billion
dollar restructuring plan.

Speaker 2 (20:04):
Do we know?

Speaker 1 (20:05):
Is this just trimming some expenses looking forward to just
I guess being in a better situation financially. Are they
facing more competition than they previously Where I see Starbucks
seemingly at every corner in America. Was not aware they
were looking to close down some of their locations.

Speaker 4 (20:21):
Well, right, I think they're trying to streamline, perhaps thinking
they got a bit too fat, Maybe they one of
those half fat something coffees that they have and a
billion dollars to Starbucks might sound like a lot to
the rest of us, but for them, that's money in
the tip cup, right because they are a major player
in this industry. Of course, a billion dollar restructuring plan
does include closing about five hundred stores. Today, nine hundred

(20:46):
non retail employees are being laid off by Starbucks, so
it's a it's part of a shakeup since their new
CEO came on board about a year ago. You'll remember
that CEO used to run Chipotle and turned it into
a big powerhouse in the in the fast food chain business,
and now they're hoping he could work his magic with
Starbucks too.

Speaker 2 (21:06):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (21:07):
Here where we are in Louisville, Kentucky, there are seemingly
countless new coffee coffee drive throughs that are that are
And I'm not somebody who drinks any despite it being
my last name, although spelled differently, I'm not a coffee
drinker myself. But when I first saw this news, I
thought to myself, maybe it could be that they're facing
some real competition. I think for the seemingly the fu

(21:30):
fu fancy coffee drink that people will wait in a
long line.

Speaker 2 (21:33):
For because they have to have it to get their
day started.

Speaker 1 (21:35):
It just seems like there's more options to get that
now than there was maybe five, six, seven years ago.

Speaker 4 (21:41):
Well, look, same store sales four Starbucks have essentially fallen
flat for six straight quarters now, and this is the
second round of layoffs under this new CEO's tenure. Eleven
hundred corporate workers were let go earlier this year. So
a lot of investors have sort of been clamoring for
more profit to be generated to buy the company. So
that's really what this is an effort to do, to

(22:03):
make a rid of fat and to generate more profit.
As you said, Uh, they've already got plenty of stores
out there, maybe too many. That's why we're seeing some
trimming around the sides here. But I think they're really
trying to emphasize profitability by the company.

Speaker 1 (22:16):
I'm about three to four months in from from waking
up in the three three am hour, so I'm eventually
probably going to be a coffee guy, right Like, I
don't think I think it's inevitable that I'm eventually going
to a coffee drinker.

Speaker 4 (22:27):
But look, as a guy originally from the Northeast myself.
I'm a guy who runs on Duncan so only say
that officially, but here, yeah, no, this is this is
a big part of our culture. And you know, I
think they're trying to boost the business in the afternoons,
you know, beyond the morning drive coffee, trying to get
that afternoon pick me up kind of thing in order
to boost both both ends of the business. But I

(22:48):
think financially speaking, they sell more ice products these days
than to do hot coffee.

Speaker 1 (22:52):
It's the new it's it's the new wave of iced coffee.
Everybody seems to love it. But Rory, as always, we
appreciate your time, have a good week in my friend,
and we'll talk next week.

Speaker 4 (23:01):
Thanks Nick, talk to you. Then.

Speaker 1 (23:03):
That is Rory O'Neil of NBC News. Let's get to
a quick time out. We've got traffic updates on the way.
We'll see how these roadways are looking on a Friday,
we'll get a look at the forecast with Matt Melosovich
at WLKY, and of course, Scott's back with another update
on sports right here on news Radio eight forty whas