April 22, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including ongoing cleanup and assistance to communities statewide after historic flooding. Guests: Bill Estep, Lexington Herald-Leader; McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern; and Isaiah Kim-Martinez, WHAS11 Louisville.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION ENDS ALL DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS
AND TELLS LOCAL DISTRICTS TO
CERTIFY THEY HAVE DONE THE SAME.
THE STATE AUDITOR LOOKS INTO HOW
MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSES WERE
AWARDED.
THE MONEY CHASES ON IN
KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE CONTEST
AND AS FLOOD CLEAN UP CONTINUES
(00:29):
THE RACE IS ON TO GET LOUISVILLE
READY FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY.
HEADING INTO EASTER WEEKEND,
COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
(00:51):
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 ARE
ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR
REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN
LOUISVILLE.
MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS
(01:11):
REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY
LANTERN AND BILL ESTEP SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER
FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.
ALSO TONIGHT THE ALMOST 300
MILLION RENOVATION OF KENTUCKY'S
STATE CAPITOL IS UNDERWAY.
UP FIRST, KENTUCKY EDUCATION
COMMISSIONER Dr. ROBBIE
FLETCHER SAID THIS WEEK HIS
DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLIED WITH NEW
(01:32):
FEDERAL RULES REQUIRING AN END
TO D.E.I. PROGRAMS.
AND BY TODAY LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS WERE SUPPOSED TO
CERTIFY THEY HAD TAKEN THAT
ACTION AS WELL.
IT COMES A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
DIRECTED SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE TO
END D.E.I. EFFORTS OR RISK
LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING.
(01:52):
RIGHT.
THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT
HAS BEEN GOING ON BETWEEN THE
U.S. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND
SCHOOL AND STATE AGENCIES.
THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.
BACK IN FEBRUARY, THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION SENT THAT LETTER
SAYING THAT THEY COULD RISK
FEDERAL FUNDING IF THEY
CONTINUED TO HAVE D.E.I. IN
THEIR SCHOOLS.
AND THEN IT GOT MORE
(02:15):
INCREASINGLY MORE SERIOUS.
SO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SENT OUT A
CERTIFICATION FORM WHICH IS WHAT
KDE HAS SIGNED AND DISTRIBUTED
TO PUBLIC JIBBINGS IN KENTUCKY
TO CERTIFY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
VIOLATE TITLE 6 OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ACT BY HAVING A D.E.I.
(02:36):
PROGRAM IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
SO KDE SIGNED IT BUT IT HAS ALSO
NOT PAUSED OR SUSPENDED EXISTING
PROGRAMS.
AND IN A LETTER TO
SUPERINTENDENTS, FLETCHER SAID
IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT TO SIGN
THIS LETTER, THEY SHOULD TALK
WITH THEIR BOARD ATTORNEYS AND
(02:56):
BOARD COUNSEL.
WE UNDERSTAND BY CLOSE
OF BUSINESS TODAY THEY COULD NOT
CERTIFY KDE THAT THE LOCAL
DISTRICTS COMPLIED WITH THE
LETTER.
>> AND THAT WAS THE DEADLINE
TODAY AT 5:00 P.M. BUT THERE ARE
EXCEPTIONS, JCPS THE BIGGEST
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE
THEY ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION FROM
KDE AND GOT IT.
(03:17):
SO THEY HAVE UNTIL USE APRIL 22
AT 5:00 P.M.
YOU HAVE TO ASK THIS IS A SCHOOL
DISTRICT THAT CAN FUND ITSELF
BETTER THAN MOST OTHERS, RIGHT,
ACROSS THE STATE.
WHAT ARE THEY WAITING ON?
WHAT COULD THEY BE TALKING
ABOUT?
ARE THEY NOT GOING TO SIGN THIS
THE LETTER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IF
YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF D.E.I.
(03:39):
PROGRAMS IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU COULD
BE RISKING FEDERAL FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT HARDEN COUNTY SCHOOLS WHO
SIGNED THE CERTIFICATION FORM
TOLD ME IN A STATEMENT THEY SAID
THERE WAS MOUNTING DEBATE AND
UNCERTAINTY ON THE POSSIBLE
INTERRUPTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO
DISTRICTS WHO DO NOT SIGN AND
(03:59):
RETURN THE DOCUMENT.
IT IS ON THE MINDS AND A BIG
REASON WHY SOME DISTRICTS SIGNED
IT.
YOU'VE COVERED THEM FOR
40 YEARS DOES IT SIGNAL THERE
COULD BE LEGAL ACTION?
>> NEARLY EVERYTHING THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE AS
BROUGHT A LAWSUIT.
THE PROBLEM, THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE UNDER THE GUN
BECAUSE YOU GOT A BILLION
(04:21):
DOLLARS A YEAR IN SOME SORT OF
FEDERAL AID SOME IS FOR SCHOOL
LUNCHES AND YOU HOPE THAT
WOULDN'T GET TIED UP IN THIS.
FOR READING, INSTRUCTION, MATH
THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY AT
STAKE.
SO THEY'VE GOT TO FACTOR THAT IN
AS WELL.
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION DOES DECIDE WHERE THAT
MONEY GOES.
THIS COMES AS KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC
(04:41):
UNIVERSITIES ARE DEALING WITH
THE FEDERAL FUNDING THREAT AND
THEY ARE REVIEWING HOW TO COMPLY
AS WELL WITH THE NEW STATE LAW
FORBIDDING D.E.I. INITIATIVES OR
OFFICES ON THEIR CAMPUSES.
>> RIGHT.
SO THIS IS ONE VERY LARGE
CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING
HERE AS YOU CAN SEE.
EARLIER THIS WEEK I DID A STORY
WHERE I ASKED ALL OF THE
(05:03):
KENTUCKY PUBLIC COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES HOW THEY ARE GOING
TO RESPOND TO THE PASSAGE OF
THAT LAW, HOUSE BILL 4 HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
IT'S FAIRLY LARGE BILL, BUT THE
THESIS OF IT IS TO ELIMINATE
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT WITHIN HIGHER-ED.
(05:24):
BUT ONE OF THE KIND OF LOOMING
DEADLINES IN THIS LAW NOW, IS
THAT BY JUNE 30TH, THE GOVERNING
BOARDS OF ALL THOSE UNIVERSITIES
MUST ADOPT A POLICY THAT MEETS
ALL THESE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS
TO THE LAW TO ELIMINATE D.E.I.
PROGRAMS.
SO ALL OF THE UNIVERSITIES SAID
THEY ARE REVIEWING IT.
SOME MAYBE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN
(05:46):
OTHERS.
LAST YEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF
KENTUCKY AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY
UNIVERSITY ALREADY CLOSED THEIR
DIVERSITY OFFICES THEY MIGHT
HAVE LESS CHANGES.
BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE
SHOULD SEE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE.
AND U.K. TOOK A STEP ON
FRIDAY?
>> YES.
SO THEY HAVE ELIMINATED
(06:07):
CEREMONIES THAT WERE MEANT FOR
MINORITY STUDENTS, LGBTQ
STUDENTS AND SPECIFIC BLACK
STUDENTS CEREMONIES FOR
GRADUATION AND ARE FOCUSING ON
THE LARGER GRADUATION AS A
WHOLE.
LOUISVILLE, U OF L I TALKED TO A
STUDENT McKENNA AND I WERE ON
CAMPUS ONE STUDENT WHO WORKS AT
THE CULTURAL AND EQUITY CENTER
(06:28):
SHE WORKS THERE IS A JUNIOR AND
SHE ASKED ME I'M NOT SURE WHAT
THIS IS GOING TO BE CALLED NEXT
YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO
BE OPEN NEXT YEAR AND QUESTIONED
THE LK CENTER ON CAMPUS, THE
WOMEN'S CENTER THIS IS A STUDENT
RAISING QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY
GOT THAT E-MAIL AND FROM A NEW U
(06:48):
OF L PRESIDENT JUNIORRY BRADLEY
WITH THE DEPARTURE RESIGNATION
OF THE NAME IS SLIPPING ME.
KIM SATCHEL, THE PRESIDENT THERE
FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND HE SAID
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR WORK
GROUPS AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING
FROM FINANCIAL AID AND
SCHOLARSHIPS AND ATHLETICS THERE
(07:09):
IS A LOT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.
YOU'VE BEEN ON A
HONEYMOON.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> I INTERVIEWED HIM THREE DAYS
AFTER GETTING BACK AND IF I SAY
ANYTHING THAT IS WRONG YOU KNOW
WHY.
THE KENTUCKY HUMANITIES
COUNCIL LEARNED IT WILL LOSE 70%
OF ITS BUDGET AND THAT IS DUE TO
(07:31):
DOGE CUTS.
>> IT WAS BILL GOODMAN A FRIEND
OF KET LONG TIME CONTRIBUTOR,
GREAT, AND HE ACTUALLY IN AN
INTERVIEW I DID WITH HIM AS THE
FLOODING WAS GETTING BAD HE SAID
THAT IS WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT
ABOUT 70% OF THEIR OPERATING
BUDGET $850,000 HE SAYS IN
(07:51):
FEDERAL GRANT MONEY THAT THEY
GET EVERY YEAR WAS CUT.
BASICALLY DRAINED DOWN TO ZERO.
IT WAS TAKEN AWAY OVERNIGHT
DEFUNDED OVERNIGHT.
SOME OF THIS MONEY GOES TO NOT
JUST LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS,
EDUCATION CENTERS AROUND THE
STATE SPECIFICALLY THE RURAL
AREAS, EASTERN KENTUCKY BEING
ONE HIT WITH FLOODS A COUPLE
(08:12):
YEARS AGO BUT IN MOMENTS WHERE
THEY NEED REBUILDING, THEY NEED
CLEAN UP AND RESTORATION AND
THAT IS SOMETHING HE SAID STUCK
OUT TO HIM.
THE PRESIDENT SAID ULTIMATELY
THEY NEED TO MAKE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT AND
CUTTING SPENDING BACK WASTEFUL
SPENDING IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.
WE NOTE TRUMP GOT
(08:33):
TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTE HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
DID PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WERE
VOTING FOR CHANGE.
DID THEY ANTICIPATE THE CHANGES
THEY ARE SEEING?
>> WELL, I THINK THE CHANGES
THEY'RE SEEING SO FAR YOU
MENTIONED THE DOGE CUTS DOGE
SAID IT CLOSED THINGS IN
KENTUCKY THAT IT HAS NOT CLOSED
YET AND ALREADY COUNTED THE
(08:53):
SAVINGS.
IT'S BEEN ERRADIC AND HAPHAZARD
AND THE ROLLOUT HAS BEEN CHAOTIC
FROM WASHINGTON D.C. ON DOWN
IT'S BEEN CHAOTIC AND THINGS
THAT TRUMP SAYS SOMETHING AND
THEN THE TARIFFS THEY ARE ON
THEY ARE OFF AND IT'S CREATED
UNCERTAINTY IN DIFFERENT FIELDS.
(09:14):
I'VE --
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
SUPPORTED TRUMP AND STILL GIVING
HIM TIME AND THEY WANT TO SEE
HOW IT ROLLS OUT.
I THINK IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY
THEY'VE BACKED AWAY.
>> GOODMAN DID SAY MAYBE THEY
RELY TOO MUCH ON FEDERAL FUNDING
WE'VE NEEDED TO REROUTE AND NOT
(09:35):
BE SO RELIANT FOR YEARS.
>> ONE PERSON'S WASTEFUL SPEND
SOMETHING NOT ANOTHER PERSON'S
WASTEFUL SPENDING THAT IS ALWAYS
THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON AND
FRANKFORT IN SPENDING PUBLIC
MONEY.
A PROGRAM IS SPECIAL TO
SOMEBODY.
IN FRANKFORT THE STATE AUDITOR
ALLISON BALL'S OFFICE LOOKING
(09:56):
INTO HOW THE BESHEAR
ADMINISTRATION AWARDED LICENSES
FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES
SHE GOT COMPLAINTS WHAT IS SHE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT?
>> THIS IS RELATED TO THE
MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSING
LOTTERY HELD LAST YEAR AFTER
MEDICAL MARIJUANA BECAME LEGAL
IN KENTUCKY.
DURING THAT APPLICATION PERIOD,
(10:17):
THE STATE RECEIVED ABOUT 5,000
APPLICATIONS FOR THAT PROCESS.
AND THEN BALL HAS SAID THAT HER
OFFICE AS CONTINUED TO RECEIVE
COMPLAINTS HOW THAT LOTTERY WAS
HANDLED UNDER THE OFFICE OF
MEDICAL CANNABIS.
THIS IS HER TRYING TO GET BACK
AT THAT.
HOWEVER, BESHEAR HAS SPOKEN
(10:39):
AGAINST THAT.
HIS SPOKESPERSON SAID THIS WEEK,
OUR STORY, THAT NOBODY HAS FILED
A LEGAL CLAIM CHALLENGING THE
CANNABIS LAWS HERE IN THE STATE
OR HOW THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL
CANNABIS MONITORED THE LOTTERY.
MOST APPLICANTS WERE
FROM OUT OF STATE?
>> WERE FROM OR HAD MOVED TO THE
(11:00):
AREA AND WE SAW THAT MIGRATION
BEFORE THIS LAW REALLY CAME INTO
EFFECT.
OBVIOUSLY IT TOOK A WHILE.
THE AUDIT SPECIFICALLY THE
OFFICE TOLD US TODAY THAT IT WAS
ACTUALLY REPORTING FROM OUR
STATION WHAS11, THE REPORTER
TALKED WITH A DISPENSARY THAT IS
(11:21):
OPENING UP IN LOUISVILLE.
AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY
BASICALLY SETUP 20 DIFFERENT
BUSINESSES UNDER 20 NAMES,
20LLC'S AND APPLIED THAT WAY TO
TRY TO GIVE THEMSELVES BETTER
ODDS THEY ADMITTED THAT.
AND THE AUDITOR SAYS THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO THEM LAUNCHING
THIS REPORT OR LAUNCHING THE
AUDIT.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS THIS PROCESS
(11:42):
HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT.
LOTTERY WAS ON LIVE TV IT WAS
STREAMED AND HE SAID IN A
STATEMENT HIS OFFICE, THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COME
FORWARD TO EXPRESS QUOTE
CONCERNS, WENT THROUGH THE FULL
PROCESS AND DID NOT COMPLAIN
UNTIL AFTER NOT BEING SELECTED
IN THE LOTTERY WHICH I THOUGHT
WAS SIGNIFICANT.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE
WAS TRYING TO GET THINGS GOING
(12:03):
AND TEAM KENTUCKY BRIEFING THE
GOVERNOR WAS NOT ASKED ABOUT THE
AUDIT BUT HE DID TALK ABOUT THE
PROCESS AND INDICATED HE THOUGHT
IT WAS FAIR.
>> Gov. Andy Beshear (12:14):
BECAUSE OF
THE WAY WE SETUP OUR PROCESS
WE'RE MOVING FASTER THAN ANY
OTHER STATE.
WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY STATES
THAT HASN'T HAD THE COURTS
ENJOINED OR ENTER AN ORDER
STOPPING THE RAMP UP OF ALL OF
THOSE BUSINESSES.
AND OTHER STATES WE SAW THAT.
SO WE ATTEMPTED TO DESIGN A
SYSTEM THAT PUT THE PATIENT
(12:34):
FIRST.
AND THEN ASSURED WE WOULDN'T
HAVE THE LEGAL IMPEDIMENTS OR
THE COURTS SLOWING US DOWN.
>> Bill (12:42):
BESHEAR SAYING IT WAS
ABOVEBOARD.
>> AND SAID THAT COMPARED TO
OTHER STATES THESE ARE HIS
WORDS, THAT HAVE RUN INTO LEGAL
ISSUES RUN INTO THE COURTS
SLOWING DOWN THAT RAMP UP
PROCESS, HE SAYS HEY, KENTUCKY
HASN'T HAD A SINGLE LAWSUIT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS
GOING AND THAT HAS BEEN HIS WAY
OF SAYING IT'S BEEN KOSHER.
(13:03):
>> AND THIS COMES ON THE HEELS
OF LEGAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE
ALREADY SEEN BETWEEN THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
LAST YEAR, THE OFFICES WENT TO
COURT OVER ACCESS TO A DATABASE
WITHIN THE OMBUDSMAN OFFICE
WHICH WAS INITIALLY IN THE
CABINET FOR FAMILY HEALTH AND
(13:24):
SERVICES BUT IS NOW PART OF THE
STATE AUDITOR AOFFICE.
SO THERE WERE ISSUES BACK THERE.
WE WILL SEE HOW THE
AUDIT GOES AND KEEP EVERYBODY
UPDATED ON THAT.
BILL, IT COMES AS THERE WAS A
GROUNDBREAKING FOR A CULTIVATION
AND PROCESSING FACILITY THE
MAYOR INDICATED SORT OF HUMOROUS
(13:45):
WAY THIS TIME IT'S ALL LEGAL.
>> THE MAYOR SAID THEY USED TO
PRODUCE POT ILLEGALLY AND NOW
LEGALLY.
THIS IS 10,000 SQUARE-FOOT
FACILITY THE MAYOR SAID THERE
WOULD BE 100 JOBS UP AND RUNNING
THE FIRST LICENSED MEDICAL
MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY
IN THE STATE.
(14:06):
YOUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
REPORTED WITH THE TARIFFS
LOOMING AND SUCH AN ISSUE A
STUDY SHOWS KENTUCKY IS THE MOST
RELY ANSWER STATE OF ALL ON
GLOBAL TRADE.
WHICH WAS EYE-OPENING.
>> RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THIS STUDY COMES FROM THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
REALTORS.
IT FOUND THAT IMPORTS INTO
KENTUCKY EQUAL ABOUT 32% OF THE
(14:27):
STATE'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST OF ANY
STATE WHILE EXPORTS MAKEUP 16%
OF THAT SAME NUMBER.
AND THAT IS BEHIND ONLY
LOUISIANA AND TEXAS.
U.P.S. HUB WOULD PLAY
INTO THAT?
>> BETWEEN CARGO AIRPORT THERE
AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY THESE ARE
TWO OF THE TOP 15 CARGO AIRPORT
(14:50):
AS FAR AS SIZE AND VOLUME IN THE
COUNTRY.
THIS IS MAJOR THIS IS ALSO
SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN BIPARTISAN
AGREEMENT ON A FEDERAL AND STATE
LEVEL.
OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HEARD GOVERNOR
BESHEAR SPEAK AGAINST THE
TARIFFS AND TALK HOW THE BOURBON
INDUSTRY, CANADA IS A BIG PLAYER
AND THE EU.
AND YOU'VE HEARD SENATOR PAUL
(15:10):
AND MITCH McCONNELL
REPUBLICANS SAY, VERY MUCH SORT
OF ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE ARE A STATE
THAT HAS A HUGE FORD AND TOYOTA
PRESENCE.
CARS ARE ANOTHER MAJOR EXPORT.
KENTUCKY'S RELY ANSWER ON
EXPORTS TO KEEP ITS ECONOMY
GOING.
WELL, LAST WEEK WE
TALKED ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
PLAN TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO COAL
(15:32):
MINING.
AND USE AND THIS WEEK STATE
SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS
PRAISED THE ACTION.
AND BILL, STIVERS CALL TO DO A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ROBIN WEBB INDICATED ANY
IMPROVEMENT IN THE COAL ECONOMY
WOULD BE GRADUAL.
>> ANALYSTS WOULD SAY EVEN WITH
SOME WITH TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE
ORDERS AND I WATCHED THAT NEWS
(15:54):
CONFERENCE THAT TRUMP HELD AND
READ THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS IT IS
AN ATTEMPT TO BACK OFF ON
REGULATION ON COAL-FIRED POWER
PLANTS WHICH A LOT CLOSED.
IN FACT THERE WERE MORE CLOSURES
OF COAL PLANTS IN TRUMP'S FIRST
TERM THAN IN BIDEN'S TERM.
BUT TRUMP IS TRYING TO SLOW THAT
DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF REASON
TO BELIEVE, ANALYSTS SAY IT'S
(16:16):
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO CAUSE A
RESURGENCE IN COAL JOBS.
MARKET FORCES.
>> COAL, UTILITIES SWITCHED TO
NATURAL GAS TO MAKE ELECTRICITY
AS OPPOSED TO COAL BECAUSE IT'S
CHEAPER AND CLEANER IT SATISFIES
A COUPLE OF THINGS.
STIVERS MADE AN
ATTENTION GETTING STATEMENT
DURING THAT EVENT.
(16:36):
>> HE SAID THAT THE ISSUE OF
WHETHER HUMAN ACTIVITY BURNING
COAL AND FOSSIL-FUELS CAUSES
CLIMATE CHANGE IS UP FOR DEBATE.
AND IT'S WORTH SAYING THAT
NEARLY EVERY CREDIBLE CLIMATE
STUDY AND CLIMATE SCIENTIST
WOULD SAY THERE IS NO QUESTION
OR HAVE SAID THERE IS NO
QUESTION THAT HUMAN ACTIVITY
(16:58):
DRIVES CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT
ONE OF THOSE BIG ACTIVITIES IS
BURNING FOSSIL-FUELS.
STIVERS DID MAKE THAT
POINT AND EXPRESSED HIS HOPE
COAL WOULD COME BACK TO SOME
EXTENT.
POLITICS TAKES NO BREAK THESE
DAYS THE MONEY CHASE IS UNDERWAY
IN THE FIGHT FOR THE U.S. OPEN
SENATE RACE WHERE MITCH
McCONNELL IS STEPPING DOWN OR
(17:19):
STEP ASIDE AND NOT RUN NEXT
YEAR.
WE KNOW THAT CONGRESSMAN ANDY
BARR RAISED $2 MILLION IN THE
FIRST QUARTER.
BUT THAT WAS FOR A HOUSE
CAMPAIGN.
NOW, HE CAN TRANSFER THAT MONEY
OVER TO A SENATE CAMPAIGN AND
WE'RE GETTING SIGNALS THAT THAT
MAYBE IMMINENT.
>> IMMINENT AND IT COULD BE
QUITE THE FIGURE WE'RE TALKING
(17:40):
PROBABLY OVER $5 MILLION TOTAL.
AND AS FAR AS THE CAMPAIGN
ITSELF, THAT IS IMMINENT LIKE
YOU SAID.
I TEXTED A FORMER LAWMAKER WHO
SAYS THEY RECEIVED ONE OF THE
INVITES TO THIS EVENT.
OBVIOUSLY AUSTIN HORN FROM THE
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER SAYS
THIS IS GOING TO BE LAUNCH HIS
SENATE CAMPAIGN.
WE KNOW THIS WAS SORT OF IN THE
(18:02):
WORKS FOR A WHILE.
HE'S HINTED AT IT I DID AN
INTERVIEW WITH HIM A COUPLE
MONTHS AGO AFTER SENATOR
McCONNELL ANNOUNCED HE
WOULDN'T BE RUNNING AGAIN AND
AFTER DANIEL CAMERON PUT HIS
NAME IN.
AND IT WAS RIGHT ABOUT THERE AND
IN THE INTERVIEW HE TALKED ABOUT
HIMSELF BEING THE BEST OF THE
(18:23):
FIELD.
I WOULD BE THE BEST SENATOR OF
THE FIELD HE IS GETTING A LOT OF
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM MAGA
REPUBLICANS TO RUN.
HE IS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IT.
AND BOTTOM LINE THE TRUMP SORT
OF ASPECT IN THIS, HE SAID
DONALD TRUMP KNOWS I'VE BEEN
WITH HIM SINCE THE BEGINNING.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEIR CALLS ARE
(18:43):
ABOUT.
AND TRUMP CAMPAIGNED
WITH HIM IN IN 2018 AND
CAMPAIGNED WITH DANIEL CAMERON
IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN 2023.
HOW DOES CAMERON ADJUST IF BARR
ENTERS THE RACE?
>> THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME
IN THIS SPECIFIC RACE THAT
DANIEL CAMERON HAS ANOTHER
REPUBLICAN OPPONENT THAT HE HAS
(19:08):
TO DIFFERENTIATE TO GET THE
REPUBLICAN VOTES IN THE PRIMARY
NEXT YEAR.
AND WE'VE ALREADY ELUDED TO IT
BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS OR
THEMES THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE
RACE SO FAR ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE IS WHO IS THE MOST LOYAL TO
DONALD TRUMP.
SO WE'VE SEEN CANDIDATES
CAMERON, AND BARR MAKE
STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW THEY
(19:28):
SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES
AND ALSO TAKING STEPS TO
DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM SENATOR
MITCH McCONNELL, WHO WHILE HE
HAS HELD THAT SEAT FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS IN KENTUCKY HE IS NOT
AS POPULAR IN KENTUCKY GOING OUT
OF HIS TERM.
IT IS A MESSAGE TO ARE HAVERS
THAT WHO CAN BE THE TRUMPYEST
(19:49):
PERSON IN THE ROOM.
>> THEY ARE QUESTIONING HOW
IMPRESSIVE THAT $500,000 NUMBER
IS BECAUSE HE ANNOUNCED THAT
SAME DAY.
PART OF THE BENEFIT OF DOING
THAT IS GETTING AHEAD ON THE
FUNDRAISING, THE MORE DONORS
COME IN THE FAR REACHING YOUR
MESSAGE GETS.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
MONEY WON'T BE AN ISSUE FOR THE
OTHER CANDIDATES.
(20:10):
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
PAMELA STEVENSON RAISED OVER
$70,000.
SHE AT ONE POINT INDICATED SHE
WOULD NEED $20 MILLION FOR A
SUCCESSFUL EFFORT?
>> THE FIGURE SHE TOLD ME AND
SHE HAS QUITE A WAYS TO GO BUT
SHE IS DETERMINED AND SOMEBODY
WHO IS NO STRANGER TO RUNNING
FOR OFFICE AND SHE IS THE LEADER
OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE.
(20:31):
BARR GETS IN THE SENATE
RACE HOW CROWDED WILL THE RATION
GET TO REPRESENTATIVE CENTRAL
KENTUCKY?
>> VERY.
>> THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF
CANDIDATES BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS
HAVE SOME IDEA THAT IT MIGHT BE
A DISTRICT THEY CAN FLIP.
THEY DO HAVE THERE'S FOLKS
INTERESTED ON BOTH SIDES.
(20:51):
BUT THE DEMOCRATS SEE IT AS A
POPE PICK UP FOR THEM.
AND EVERYBODY IS GOING
TO SAY WHO DO THEY TALK ABOUT ON
COMMENT ARE WE HEARING NAMES.
SENATOR MAYS BLEDSOE IS POPULAR
AMONGST THE G.O.P. AND AMONGST
DEMOCRATS WE'VE HEARD ONE OF
GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S RIGHT HAND
(21:12):
MAN, OBVIOUSLY ROCKY ATKINS.
NOTHING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BUT
HIS NAME HAS BEEN THROWN OUT.
CHERYL LYNN STEVENSON THE FORMER
STATE HOUSE MEMBER.
SHE LOST HER RACE BUT HAS BEEN
ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN
DOTSON INDICATED HE IS IN IF
THAT SEAT OPENS UP AND FRASER
(21:36):
GORDON OUT OF RICHMOND ANOTHER
NAME BUT WE KEEP HEARING THE
NAMES AND WE WILL UNTIL THAT
RACE FLUSHES OUT IF IT HAPPENS.
HISTORY IS MADE ON KENTUCKY'S
SUPREME COURT A NEW CHIEF
JUSTICE AND THE FIRST-EVER BLACK
FEMALE JUSTICE WERE PUBLICLY
SWORN INTO OFFICE THIS WEEK.
>> WHEN YOU GROW UP SO MODESTLY
(21:56):
YOU DEVELOP A STRONG SENSE FOR
THE NEED OF A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD AND FOR EVERYONE TO BE
HEARD.
THOSE CONCEPTS ARE FOUNDATIONAL
IN MY WORLD VIEW AND I HOPE YOU
WILL BE SATISFIED WITH MY WORK
PERFORMED AS CHIEF JUSTICE.
YOU ARE MY PEOPLE.
AND FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW
DOES GIVE ME JOY AND MAKES ME
FEARLESS ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD.
(22:17):
I HOPE TO SERVE YOU WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN
MY HUMBLE SERVICE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
THAT IS KENTUCKY'S NEW
CHIEF JUSTICE AND SEATED NEXT TO
JUSTICE PAMELA GOODWINE.
AND SO CHIEF JUSTICE LAMBERT
TALKED ABOUT BEING A COAL MINERS
DAUGHTER.
>> YES, ONE OF THE THINGS I
(22:38):
THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING DURING
HER SPEECH, SHE SAID SHE HAD A
PIECE OF COAL COMPANY SCRIPT
TUCKED IN HER SHOE FOR GOOD LUCK
BECAUSE HER FATHER WAS A COAL
MINER AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HER
UPBRINGING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
AND HOW THAT SHAPED HER INTO
GETTING A LAW EDUCATION AND
BECOMING THE STATE SUPREME COURT
(22:59):
AND NOW LEADING THE STATE
SUPREME COURT.
>> .
JUSTICE GOODWINE MADE
IT HER GOAL TO BE ON THE SUPREME
COURT AS A YOUNG WOMAN.
>> RIGHT.
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE PATH
SHE TOOK TO GET WHERE SHE IS
NOW.
SHE GAVE A FEW PARTING WORDS SHE
SAID NO MATTER WHAT LIFERIES YOU
(23:20):
KEEP DREAMING AND WORKING FOR
YOUR GOALS AND SHE IS AN EXAMPLE
OF THAT.
AND THIS COURT IS PARTICULARLY
HISTORIC NOT ONLY DOES IT HAVE
THE FIRST FEMALE CHIEF JUSTICE
AND THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN BUT
IT'S ALSO A MAJORITY OF FEMALE
JUSTICES ON THE COURT AS WELL.
HISTORY IS MADE.
WE WANT YOU TO SEE THIS WORK
BEGINS ON THE STATE CAPITOL IN
THE $300 MILLION RENOVATION, THE
(23:44):
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION
PUT OUT THE TIME-LAPSE VIDEO YOU
ARE SEEING THERE.
THE DESKS WERE REMOVED FROM THE
SENATE AND THE HOUSE CHAMBERS IT
WILL TAKE THREE YEARS TO
COMPLETE THE PROJECT IT INCLUDES
STRUCTURAL WORK AND MODERN
UPGRADES TO THE CAPITOL IT WAS
COMPLETED IN 1910.
FUN TO SEE THE VIDEO SPED UP BUT
IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO GET IT
(24:04):
VEN VACCINATED.
>> YES.
I'M HEARING A COUPLE TO THREE
YEARS AT THIS POINT.
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS WILL BE IN
A TEMPORARY STRUCTURE THAT'S
NEXT TO THE CAPITOL ANNEX.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THAT
CHAMBER FOR FREQUENT TIMES.
RACE IS ON TO GET
LOUISVILLE READY FOR THE
(24:25):
KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND TWO WEEKS
AWAY.
THE MAYOR AND MITCH McCONNELL
TALKED ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO
CLEAN UP THE CITY AND WELCOME
THE WORLD.
>> LAST TIME OUR CITY
EXPERIENCED A FLOOD OF THIS
MAGNITUDE IT TOOK SIX WEEKS FOR
THE CLEANUP TO HAPPEN.
WE ARE GOING TO BREAK THAT TIME
BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN.
THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE WORK BY
SO MANY PEOPLE.
(24:46):
WE ARE WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
>> I'M JUST HERE TO THANK THE
MAYOR AND HIS WHOLE TEAM AND ALL
THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN
SHOWING UP.
THEY GAVE ME A GOOD BRIEFING
BEFORE COMING OUT HERE.
IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE TEAM
EFFORT TO GET KENTUCKY READY FOR
THE DERBY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE VOLUNTEERS
AND ALL THE OUTSTANDING WORK
(25:08):
THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
ALL RIGHT.
A LOT OF WORK BUT IT IS AN
EXCITING TIME.
AND LOUISVILLE WANTS TO SHOW OFF
ITS BEST.
>> AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE.
THEY HIRED A NATIONAL DISASTER
RECOVERY CREW TO COME IN AND
CLEAN UP COSTING ABOUT $5
MILLION ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR.
BILL, ALICE WHITAKER
(25:28):
WHO LED ONE OF THE LAST
SETTLEMENT SCHOOLS DIED AT AGE
85.
YOU DID A STORY ON HER THIS WEEK
KNOWN FOR HER STRONG WILL AND
ABILITY TO KEEP THAT SCHOOL
GOING DESPITE THE ODDS.
>> SHE WAS THE HEAD OF THE
SCHOOL IN KNOTT COUNTY ONE OF
THE WOMEN WORKED FOR FOR 20
YEARS SAID SHE WAS A SPITFIRE
(25:49):
THAT IS ACCURATE.
BUT A TINY LITTLE SCHOOL AND
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOTT COUNTY
IN AN ISOLATED PART OF THE
COUNTY.
HER AUNT STARTED IT IN 1933 SHE
RAISED MONEY TO PROVIDE EXTRA
PROGRAMS THAT SOME OF THE
SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE.
WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT GOING FOR A
LONGTIME IN THE FACE OF AN
EFFORT TO CLOSE IT SEVERAL YEARS
(26:11):
AGO.
AND THE OLDEST KNOWN
SURVIVOR OF THE ATTACK ON PEARLL
HARBOR WAS BURIED VAUGHAN DRAKE
WAS 23.
HE SERVED WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS AFTER THE WAR HE
RETURNED TO KENTUCKY AND WORKED
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
VAUGHAN DRAKE WAS 106 AND BURIED
IN THE WINCHESTER CEMETERY.
(26:33):
THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION ENDS ALL DIVERSITY,
EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS
AND TELLS LOCAL DISTRICTS TO
CERTIFY THEY HAVE DONE THE SAME.
THE STATE AUDITOR LOOKS INTO HOW
MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSES WERE
AWARDED.
THE MONEY CHASES ON IN
KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE CONTEST
AND AS FLOOD CLEAN UP CONTINUES
(00:29):
THE RACE IS ON TO GET LOUISVILLE
READY FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY.
HEADING INTO EASTER WEEKEND,
COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
(00:51):
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 ARE
ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR
REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN
LOUISVILLE.
MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS
(01:11):
REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY
LANTERN AND BILL ESTEP SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER
FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.
ALSO TONIGHT THE ALMOST 300
MILLION RENOVATION OF KENTUCKY'S
STATE CAPITOL IS UNDERWAY.
UP FIRST, KENTUCKY EDUCATION
COMMISSIONER Dr. ROBBIE
FLETCHER SAID THIS WEEK HIS
DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLIED WITH NEW
(01:32):
FEDERAL RULES REQUIRING AN END
TO D.E.I. PROGRAMS.
AND BY TODAY LOCAL SCHOOL
DISTRICTS WERE SUPPOSED TO
CERTIFY THEY HAD TAKEN THAT
ACTION AS WELL.
IT COMES A COUPLE WEEKS AFTER
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
DIRECTED SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE TO
END D.E.I. EFFORTS OR RISK
LOSING FEDERAL FUNDING.
(01:52):
RIGHT.
THIS IS THE CONVERSATION THAT
HAS BEEN GOING ON BETWEEN THE
U.S. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND
SCHOOL AND STATE AGENCIES.
THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE.
BACK IN FEBRUARY, THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION SENT THAT LETTER
SAYING THAT THEY COULD RISK
FEDERAL FUNDING IF THEY
CONTINUED TO HAVE D.E.I. IN
THEIR SCHOOLS.
AND THEN IT GOT MORE
(02:15):
INCREASINGLY MORE SERIOUS.
SO A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, THE
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SENT OUT A
CERTIFICATION FORM WHICH IS WHAT
KDE HAS SIGNED AND DISTRIBUTED
TO PUBLIC JIBBINGS IN KENTUCKY
TO CERTIFY THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
VIOLATE TITLE 6 OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS ACT BY HAVING A D.E.I.
(02:36):
PROGRAM IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
SO KDE SIGNED IT BUT IT HAS ALSO
NOT PAUSED OR SUSPENDED EXISTING
PROGRAMS.
AND IN A LETTER TO
SUPERINTENDENTS, FLETCHER SAID
IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS WANT TO SIGN
THIS LETTER, THEY SHOULD TALK
WITH THEIR BOARD ATTORNEYS AND
(02:56):
BOARD COUNSEL.
WE UNDERSTAND BY CLOSE
OF BUSINESS TODAY THEY COULD NOT
CERTIFY KDE THAT THE LOCAL
DISTRICTS COMPLIED WITH THE
LETTER.
>> AND THAT WAS THE DEADLINE
TODAY AT 5:00 P.M. BUT THERE ARE
EXCEPTIONS, JCPS THE BIGGEST
SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE
THEY ASKED FOR AN EXTENSION FROM
KDE AND GOT IT.
(03:17):
SO THEY HAVE UNTIL USE APRIL 22
AT 5:00 P.M.
YOU HAVE TO ASK THIS IS A SCHOOL
DISTRICT THAT CAN FUND ITSELF
BETTER THAN MOST OTHERS, RIGHT,
ACROSS THE STATE.
WHAT ARE THEY WAITING ON?
WHAT COULD THEY BE TALKING
ABOUT?
ARE THEY NOT GOING TO SIGN THIS
THE LETTER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IF
YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF D.E.I.
(03:39):
PROGRAMS IN YOUR DISTRICT THAT
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU COULD
BE RISKING FEDERAL FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING
THAT HARDEN COUNTY SCHOOLS WHO
SIGNED THE CERTIFICATION FORM
TOLD ME IN A STATEMENT THEY SAID
THERE WAS MOUNTING DEBATE AND
UNCERTAINTY ON THE POSSIBLE
INTERRUPTION OF FEDERAL FUNDS TO
DISTRICTS WHO DO NOT SIGN AND
(03:59):
RETURN THE DOCUMENT.
IT IS ON THE MINDS AND A BIG
REASON WHY SOME DISTRICTS SIGNED
IT.
YOU'VE COVERED THEM FOR
40 YEARS DOES IT SIGNAL THERE
COULD BE LEGAL ACTION?
>> NEARLY EVERYTHING THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE AS
BROUGHT A LAWSUIT.
THE PROBLEM, THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS ARE UNDER THE GUN
BECAUSE YOU GOT A BILLION
(04:21):
DOLLARS A YEAR IN SOME SORT OF
FEDERAL AID SOME IS FOR SCHOOL
LUNCHES AND YOU HOPE THAT
WOULDN'T GET TIED UP IN THIS.
FOR READING, INSTRUCTION, MATH
THERE IS A LOT OF MONEY AT
STAKE.
SO THEY'VE GOT TO FACTOR THAT IN
AS WELL.
AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION DOES DECIDE WHERE THAT
MONEY GOES.
THIS COMES AS KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC
(04:41):
UNIVERSITIES ARE DEALING WITH
THE FEDERAL FUNDING THREAT AND
THEY ARE REVIEWING HOW TO COMPLY
AS WELL WITH THE NEW STATE LAW
FORBIDDING D.E.I. INITIATIVES OR
OFFICES ON THEIR CAMPUSES.
>> RIGHT.
SO THIS IS ONE VERY LARGE
CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING
HERE AS YOU CAN SEE.
EARLIER THIS WEEK I DID A STORY
WHERE I ASKED ALL OF THE
(05:03):
KENTUCKY PUBLIC COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES HOW THEY ARE GOING
TO RESPOND TO THE PASSAGE OF
THAT LAW, HOUSE BILL 4 HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
IT'S FAIRLY LARGE BILL, BUT THE
THESIS OF IT IS TO ELIMINATE
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
INITIATIVES, PROGRAMS AND THINGS
LIKE THAT WITHIN HIGHER-ED.
(05:24):
BUT ONE OF THE KIND OF LOOMING
DEADLINES IN THIS LAW NOW, IS
THAT BY JUNE 30TH, THE GOVERNING
BOARDS OF ALL THOSE UNIVERSITIES
MUST ADOPT A POLICY THAT MEETS
ALL THESE VARIOUS REQUIREMENTS
TO THE LAW TO ELIMINATE D.E.I.
PROGRAMS.
SO ALL OF THE UNIVERSITIES SAID
THEY ARE REVIEWING IT.
SOME MAYBE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN
(05:46):
OTHERS.
LAST YEAR THE UNIVERSITY OF
KENTUCKY AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY
UNIVERSITY ALREADY CLOSED THEIR
DIVERSITY OFFICES THEY MIGHT
HAVE LESS CHANGES.
BUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WE
SHOULD SEE WHAT THE CHANGES ARE.
AND U.K. TOOK A STEP ON
FRIDAY?
>> YES.
SO THEY HAVE ELIMINATED
(06:07):
CEREMONIES THAT WERE MEANT FOR
MINORITY STUDENTS, LGBTQ
STUDENTS AND SPECIFIC BLACK
STUDENTS CEREMONIES FOR
GRADUATION AND ARE FOCUSING ON
THE LARGER GRADUATION AS A
WHOLE.
LOUISVILLE, U OF L I TALKED TO A
STUDENT McKENNA AND I WERE ON
CAMPUS ONE STUDENT WHO WORKS AT
THE CULTURAL AND EQUITY CENTER
(06:28):
SHE WORKS THERE IS A JUNIOR AND
SHE ASKED ME I'M NOT SURE WHAT
THIS IS GOING TO BE CALLED NEXT
YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO
BE OPEN NEXT YEAR AND QUESTIONED
THE LK CENTER ON CAMPUS, THE
WOMEN'S CENTER THIS IS A STUDENT
RAISING QUESTIONS BECAUSE THEY
GOT THAT E-MAIL AND FROM A NEW U
(06:48):
OF L PRESIDENT JUNIORRY BRADLEY
WITH THE DEPARTURE RESIGNATION
OF THE NAME IS SLIPPING ME.
KIM SATCHEL, THE PRESIDENT THERE
FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND HE SAID
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FOUR WORK
GROUPS AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING
FROM FINANCIAL AID AND
SCHOLARSHIPS AND ATHLETICS THERE
(07:09):
IS A LOT THEY ARE LOOKING AT.
YOU'VE BEEN ON A
HONEYMOON.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> I INTERVIEWED HIM THREE DAYS
AFTER GETTING BACK AND IF I SAY
ANYTHING THAT IS WRONG YOU KNOW
WHY.
THE KENTUCKY HUMANITIES
COUNCIL LEARNED IT WILL LOSE 70%
OF ITS BUDGET AND THAT IS DUE TO
(07:31):
DOGE CUTS.
>> IT WAS BILL GOODMAN A FRIEND
OF KET LONG TIME CONTRIBUTOR,
GREAT, AND HE ACTUALLY IN AN
INTERVIEW I DID WITH HIM AS THE
FLOODING WAS GETTING BAD HE SAID
THAT IS WHEN THEY FOUND OUT THAT
ABOUT 70% OF THEIR OPERATING
BUDGET $850,000 HE SAYS IN
(07:51):
FEDERAL GRANT MONEY THAT THEY
GET EVERY YEAR WAS CUT.
BASICALLY DRAINED DOWN TO ZERO.
IT WAS TAKEN AWAY OVERNIGHT
DEFUNDED OVERNIGHT.
SOME OF THIS MONEY GOES TO NOT
JUST LIBRARIES, MUSEUMS,
EDUCATION CENTERS AROUND THE
STATE SPECIFICALLY THE RURAL
AREAS, EASTERN KENTUCKY BEING
ONE HIT WITH FLOODS A COUPLE
(08:12):
YEARS AGO BUT IN MOMENTS WHERE
THEY NEED REBUILDING, THEY NEED
CLEAN UP AND RESTORATION AND
THAT IS SOMETHING HE SAID STUCK
OUT TO HIM.
THE PRESIDENT SAID ULTIMATELY
THEY NEED TO MAKE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT AND
CUTTING SPENDING BACK WASTEFUL
SPENDING IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.
WE NOTE TRUMP GOT
(08:33):
TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTE HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
DID PEOPLE AND PEOPLE WERE
VOTING FOR CHANGE.
DID THEY ANTICIPATE THE CHANGES
THEY ARE SEEING?
>> WELL, I THINK THE CHANGES
THEY'RE SEEING SO FAR YOU
MENTIONED THE DOGE CUTS DOGE
SAID IT CLOSED THINGS IN
KENTUCKY THAT IT HAS NOT CLOSED
YET AND ALREADY COUNTED THE
(08:53):
SAVINGS.
IT'S BEEN ERRADIC AND HAPHAZARD
AND THE ROLLOUT HAS BEEN CHAOTIC
FROM WASHINGTON D.C. ON DOWN
IT'S BEEN CHAOTIC AND THINGS
THAT TRUMP SAYS SOMETHING AND
THEN THE TARIFFS THEY ARE ON
THEY ARE OFF AND IT'S CREATED
UNCERTAINTY IN DIFFERENT FIELDS.
(09:14):
I'VE --
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE
SUPPORTED TRUMP AND STILL GIVING
HIM TIME AND THEY WANT TO SEE
HOW IT ROLLS OUT.
I THINK IT'S TOO SOON TO SAY
THEY'VE BACKED AWAY.
>> GOODMAN DID SAY MAYBE THEY
RELY TOO MUCH ON FEDERAL FUNDING
WE'VE NEEDED TO REROUTE AND NOT
(09:35):
BE SO RELIANT FOR YEARS.
>> ONE PERSON'S WASTEFUL SPEND
SOMETHING NOT ANOTHER PERSON'S
WASTEFUL SPENDING THAT IS ALWAYS
THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON AND
FRANKFORT IN SPENDING PUBLIC
MONEY.
A PROGRAM IS SPECIAL TO
SOMEBODY.
IN FRANKFORT THE STATE AUDITOR
ALLISON BALL'S OFFICE LOOKING
(09:56):
INTO HOW THE BESHEAR
ADMINISTRATION AWARDED LICENSES
FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES
SHE GOT COMPLAINTS WHAT IS SHE
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT?
>> THIS IS RELATED TO THE
MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSING
LOTTERY HELD LAST YEAR AFTER
MEDICAL MARIJUANA BECAME LEGAL
IN KENTUCKY.
DURING THAT APPLICATION PERIOD,
(10:17):
THE STATE RECEIVED ABOUT 5,000
APPLICATIONS FOR THAT PROCESS.
AND THEN BALL HAS SAID THAT HER
OFFICE AS CONTINUED TO RECEIVE
COMPLAINTS HOW THAT LOTTERY WAS
HANDLED UNDER THE OFFICE OF
MEDICAL CANNABIS.
THIS IS HER TRYING TO GET BACK
AT THAT.
HOWEVER, BESHEAR HAS SPOKEN
(10:39):
AGAINST THAT.
HIS SPOKESPERSON SAID THIS WEEK,
OUR STORY, THAT NOBODY HAS FILED
A LEGAL CLAIM CHALLENGING THE
CANNABIS LAWS HERE IN THE STATE
OR HOW THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL
CANNABIS MONITORED THE LOTTERY.
MOST APPLICANTS WERE
FROM OUT OF STATE?
>> WERE FROM OR HAD MOVED TO THE
(11:00):
AREA AND WE SAW THAT MIGRATION
BEFORE THIS LAW REALLY CAME INTO
EFFECT.
OBVIOUSLY IT TOOK A WHILE.
THE AUDIT SPECIFICALLY THE
OFFICE TOLD US TODAY THAT IT WAS
ACTUALLY REPORTING FROM OUR
STATION WHAS11, THE REPORTER
TALKED WITH A DISPENSARY THAT IS
(11:21):
OPENING UP IN LOUISVILLE.
AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THEY
BASICALLY SETUP 20 DIFFERENT
BUSINESSES UNDER 20 NAMES,
20LLC'S AND APPLIED THAT WAY TO
TRY TO GIVE THEMSELVES BETTER
ODDS THEY ADMITTED THAT.
AND THE AUDITOR SAYS THAT
CONTRIBUTED TO THEM LAUNCHING
THIS REPORT OR LAUNCHING THE
AUDIT.
THE GOVERNOR SAYS THIS PROCESS
(11:42):
HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT.
LOTTERY WAS ON LIVE TV IT WAS
STREAMED AND HE SAID IN A
STATEMENT HIS OFFICE, THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COME
FORWARD TO EXPRESS QUOTE
CONCERNS, WENT THROUGH THE FULL
PROCESS AND DID NOT COMPLAIN
UNTIL AFTER NOT BEING SELECTED
IN THE LOTTERY WHICH I THOUGHT
WAS SIGNIFICANT.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HE
WAS TRYING TO GET THINGS GOING
(12:03):
AND TEAM KENTUCKY BRIEFING THE
GOVERNOR WAS NOT ASKED ABOUT THE
AUDIT BUT HE DID TALK ABOUT THE
PROCESS AND INDICATED HE THOUGHT
IT WAS FAIR.
>> Gov. Andy Beshear (12:14):
BECAUSE OF
THE WAY WE SETUP OUR PROCESS
WE'RE MOVING FASTER THAN ANY
OTHER STATE.
WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY STATES
THAT HASN'T HAD THE COURTS
ENJOINED OR ENTER AN ORDER
STOPPING THE RAMP UP OF ALL OF
THOSE BUSINESSES.
AND OTHER STATES WE SAW THAT.
SO WE ATTEMPTED TO DESIGN A
SYSTEM THAT PUT THE PATIENT
(12:34):
FIRST.
AND THEN ASSURED WE WOULDN'T
HAVE THE LEGAL IMPEDIMENTS OR
THE COURTS SLOWING US DOWN.
>> Bill (12:42):
BESHEAR SAYING IT WAS
ABOVEBOARD.
>> AND SAID THAT COMPARED TO
OTHER STATES THESE ARE HIS
WORDS, THAT HAVE RUN INTO LEGAL
ISSUES RUN INTO THE COURTS
SLOWING DOWN THAT RAMP UP
PROCESS, HE SAYS HEY, KENTUCKY
HASN'T HAD A SINGLE LAWSUIT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET THIS
GOING AND THAT HAS BEEN HIS WAY
OF SAYING IT'S BEEN KOSHER.
(13:03):
>> AND THIS COMES ON THE HEELS
OF LEGAL ISSUES THAT WE'VE
ALREADY SEEN BETWEEN THE
AUDITOR'S OFFICE AND THE
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
LAST YEAR, THE OFFICES WENT TO
COURT OVER ACCESS TO A DATABASE
WITHIN THE OMBUDSMAN OFFICE
WHICH WAS INITIALLY IN THE
CABINET FOR FAMILY HEALTH AND
(13:24):
SERVICES BUT IS NOW PART OF THE
STATE AUDITOR AOFFICE.
SO THERE WERE ISSUES BACK THERE.
WE WILL SEE HOW THE
AUDIT GOES AND KEEP EVERYBODY
UPDATED ON THAT.
BILL, IT COMES AS THERE WAS A
GROUNDBREAKING FOR A CULTIVATION
AND PROCESSING FACILITY THE
MAYOR INDICATED SORT OF HUMOROUS
(13:45):
WAY THIS TIME IT'S ALL LEGAL.
>> THE MAYOR SAID THEY USED TO
PRODUCE POT ILLEGALLY AND NOW
LEGALLY.
THIS IS 10,000 SQUARE-FOOT
FACILITY THE MAYOR SAID THERE
WOULD BE 100 JOBS UP AND RUNNING
THE FIRST LICENSED MEDICAL
MARIJUANA CULTIVATION FACILITY
IN THE STATE.
(14:06):
YOUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
REPORTED WITH THE TARIFFS
LOOMING AND SUCH AN ISSUE A
STUDY SHOWS KENTUCKY IS THE MOST
RELY ANSWER STATE OF ALL ON
GLOBAL TRADE.
WHICH WAS EYE-OPENING.
>> RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THIS STUDY COMES FROM THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
REALTORS.
IT FOUND THAT IMPORTS INTO
KENTUCKY EQUAL ABOUT 32% OF THE
(14:27):
STATE'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST OF ANY
STATE WHILE EXPORTS MAKEUP 16%
OF THAT SAME NUMBER.
AND THAT IS BEHIND ONLY
LOUISIANA AND TEXAS.
U.P.S. HUB WOULD PLAY
INTO THAT?
>> BETWEEN CARGO AIRPORT THERE
AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY THESE ARE
TWO OF THE TOP 15 CARGO AIRPORT
(14:50):
AS FAR AS SIZE AND VOLUME IN THE
COUNTRY.
THIS IS MAJOR THIS IS ALSO
SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN BIPARTISAN
AGREEMENT ON A FEDERAL AND STATE
LEVEL.
OBVIOUSLY WE'VE HEARD GOVERNOR
BESHEAR SPEAK AGAINST THE
TARIFFS AND TALK HOW THE BOURBON
INDUSTRY, CANADA IS A BIG PLAYER
AND THE EU.
AND YOU'VE HEARD SENATOR PAUL
(15:10):
AND MITCH McCONNELL
REPUBLICANS SAY, VERY MUCH SORT
OF ALONG THOSE LINES.
AND OBVIOUSLY WE ARE A STATE
THAT HAS A HUGE FORD AND TOYOTA
PRESENCE.
CARS ARE ANOTHER MAJOR EXPORT.
KENTUCKY'S RELY ANSWER ON
EXPORTS TO KEEP ITS ECONOMY
GOING.
WELL, LAST WEEK WE
TALKED ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
PLAN TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO COAL
(15:32):
MINING.
AND USE AND THIS WEEK STATE
SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS
PRAISED THE ACTION.
AND BILL, STIVERS CALL TO DO A
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
ROBIN WEBB INDICATED ANY
IMPROVEMENT IN THE COAL ECONOMY
WOULD BE GRADUAL.
>> ANALYSTS WOULD SAY EVEN WITH
SOME WITH TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE
ORDERS AND I WATCHED THAT NEWS
(15:54):
CONFERENCE THAT TRUMP HELD AND
READ THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS IT IS
AN ATTEMPT TO BACK OFF ON
REGULATION ON COAL-FIRED POWER
PLANTS WHICH A LOT CLOSED.
IN FACT THERE WERE MORE CLOSURES
OF COAL PLANTS IN TRUMP'S FIRST
TERM THAN IN BIDEN'S TERM.
BUT TRUMP IS TRYING TO SLOW THAT
DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
BUT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF REASON
TO BELIEVE, ANALYSTS SAY IT'S
(16:16):
PROBABLY NOT GOING TO CAUSE A
RESURGENCE IN COAL JOBS.
MARKET FORCES.
>> COAL, UTILITIES SWITCHED TO
NATURAL GAS TO MAKE ELECTRICITY
AS OPPOSED TO COAL BECAUSE IT'S
CHEAPER AND CLEANER IT SATISFIES
A COUPLE OF THINGS.
STIVERS MADE AN
ATTENTION GETTING STATEMENT
DURING THAT EVENT.
(16:36):
>> HE SAID THAT THE ISSUE OF
WHETHER HUMAN ACTIVITY BURNING
COAL AND FOSSIL-FUELS CAUSES
CLIMATE CHANGE IS UP FOR DEBATE.
AND IT'S WORTH SAYING THAT
NEARLY EVERY CREDIBLE CLIMATE
STUDY AND CLIMATE SCIENTIST
WOULD SAY THERE IS NO QUESTION
OR HAVE SAID THERE IS NO
QUESTION THAT HUMAN ACTIVITY
(16:58):
DRIVES CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT
ONE OF THOSE BIG ACTIVITIES IS
BURNING FOSSIL-FUELS.
STIVERS DID MAKE THAT
POINT AND EXPRESSED HIS HOPE
COAL WOULD COME BACK TO SOME
EXTENT.
POLITICS TAKES NO BREAK THESE
DAYS THE MONEY CHASE IS UNDERWAY
IN THE FIGHT FOR THE U.S. OPEN
SENATE RACE WHERE MITCH
McCONNELL IS STEPPING DOWN OR
(17:19):
STEP ASIDE AND NOT RUN NEXT
YEAR.
WE KNOW THAT CONGRESSMAN ANDY
BARR RAISED $2 MILLION IN THE
FIRST QUARTER.
BUT THAT WAS FOR A HOUSE
CAMPAIGN.
NOW, HE CAN TRANSFER THAT MONEY
OVER TO A SENATE CAMPAIGN AND
WE'RE GETTING SIGNALS THAT THAT
MAYBE IMMINENT.
>> IMMINENT AND IT COULD BE
QUITE THE FIGURE WE'RE TALKING
(17:40):
PROBABLY OVER $5 MILLION TOTAL.
AND AS FAR AS THE CAMPAIGN
ITSELF, THAT IS IMMINENT LIKE
YOU SAID.
I TEXTED A FORMER LAWMAKER WHO
SAYS THEY RECEIVED ONE OF THE
INVITES TO THIS EVENT.
OBVIOUSLY AUSTIN HORN FROM THE
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER SAYS
THIS IS GOING TO BE LAUNCH HIS
SENATE CAMPAIGN.
WE KNOW THIS WAS SORT OF IN THE
(18:02):
WORKS FOR A WHILE.
HE'S HINTED AT IT I DID AN
INTERVIEW WITH HIM A COUPLE
MONTHS AGO AFTER SENATOR
McCONNELL ANNOUNCED HE
WOULDN'T BE RUNNING AGAIN AND
AFTER DANIEL CAMERON PUT HIS
NAME IN.
AND IT WAS RIGHT ABOUT THERE AND
IN THE INTERVIEW HE TALKED ABOUT
HIMSELF BEING THE BEST OF THE
(18:23):
FIELD.
I WOULD BE THE BEST SENATOR OF
THE FIELD HE IS GETTING A LOT OF
ENCOURAGEMENT FROM MAGA
REPUBLICANS TO RUN.
HE IS SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING IT.
AND BOTTOM LINE THE TRUMP SORT
OF ASPECT IN THIS, HE SAID
DONALD TRUMP KNOWS I'VE BEEN
WITH HIM SINCE THE BEGINNING.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEIR CALLS ARE
(18:43):
ABOUT.
AND TRUMP CAMPAIGNED
WITH HIM IN IN 2018 AND
CAMPAIGNED WITH DANIEL CAMERON
IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN 2023.
HOW DOES CAMERON ADJUST IF BARR
ENTERS THE RACE?
>> THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME
IN THIS SPECIFIC RACE THAT
DANIEL CAMERON HAS ANOTHER
REPUBLICAN OPPONENT THAT HE HAS
(19:08):
TO DIFFERENTIATE TO GET THE
REPUBLICAN VOTES IN THE PRIMARY
NEXT YEAR.
AND WE'VE ALREADY ELUDED TO IT
BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS OR
THEMES THAT IS COMING OUT OF THE
RACE SO FAR ON THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE IS WHO IS THE MOST LOYAL TO
DONALD TRUMP.
SO WE'VE SEEN CANDIDATES
CAMERON, AND BARR MAKE
STATEMENTS ABOUT HOW THEY
(19:28):
SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES
AND ALSO TAKING STEPS TO
DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM SENATOR
MITCH McCONNELL, WHO WHILE HE
HAS HELD THAT SEAT FOR A NUMBER
OF YEARS IN KENTUCKY HE IS NOT
AS POPULAR IN KENTUCKY GOING OUT
OF HIS TERM.
IT IS A MESSAGE TO ARE HAVERS
THAT WHO CAN BE THE TRUMPYEST
(19:49):
PERSON IN THE ROOM.
>> THEY ARE QUESTIONING HOW
IMPRESSIVE THAT $500,000 NUMBER
IS BECAUSE HE ANNOUNCED THAT
SAME DAY.
PART OF THE BENEFIT OF DOING
THAT IS GETTING AHEAD ON THE
FUNDRAISING, THE MORE DONORS
COME IN THE FAR REACHING YOUR
MESSAGE GETS.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE
MONEY WON'T BE AN ISSUE FOR THE
OTHER CANDIDATES.
(20:10):
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
PAMELA STEVENSON RAISED OVER
$70,000.
SHE AT ONE POINT INDICATED SHE
WOULD NEED $20 MILLION FOR A
SUCCESSFUL EFFORT?
>> THE FIGURE SHE TOLD ME AND
SHE HAS QUITE A WAYS TO GO BUT
SHE IS DETERMINED AND SOMEBODY
WHO IS NO STRANGER TO RUNNING
FOR OFFICE AND SHE IS THE LEADER
OF THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE.
(20:31):
BARR GETS IN THE SENATE
RACE HOW CROWDED WILL THE RATION
GET TO REPRESENTATIVE CENTRAL
KENTUCKY?
>> VERY.
>> THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF
CANDIDATES BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS
HAVE SOME IDEA THAT IT MIGHT BE
A DISTRICT THEY CAN FLIP.
THEY DO HAVE THERE'S FOLKS
INTERESTED ON BOTH SIDES.
(20:51):
BUT THE DEMOCRATS SEE IT AS A
POPE PICK UP FOR THEM.
AND EVERYBODY IS GOING
TO SAY WHO DO THEY TALK ABOUT ON
COMMENT ARE WE HEARING NAMES.
SENATOR MAYS BLEDSOE IS POPULAR
AMONGST THE G.O.P. AND AMONGST
DEMOCRATS WE'VE HEARD ONE OF
GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S RIGHT HAND
(21:12):
MAN, OBVIOUSLY ROCKY ATKINS.
NOTHING HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BUT
HIS NAME HAS BEEN THROWN OUT.
CHERYL LYNN STEVENSON THE FORMER
STATE HOUSE MEMBER.
SHE LOST HER RACE BUT HAS BEEN
ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN
DOTSON INDICATED HE IS IN IF
THAT SEAT OPENS UP AND FRASER
(21:36):
GORDON OUT OF RICHMOND ANOTHER
NAME BUT WE KEEP HEARING THE
NAMES AND WE WILL UNTIL THAT
RACE FLUSHES OUT IF IT HAPPENS.
HISTORY IS MADE ON KENTUCKY'S
SUPREME COURT A NEW CHIEF
JUSTICE AND THE FIRST-EVER BLACK
FEMALE JUSTICE WERE PUBLICLY
SWORN INTO OFFICE THIS WEEK.
>> WHEN YOU GROW UP SO MODESTLY
(21:56):
YOU DEVELOP A STRONG SENSE FOR
THE NEED OF A LEVEL PLAYING
FIELD AND FOR EVERYONE TO BE
HEARD.
THOSE CONCEPTS ARE FOUNDATIONAL
IN MY WORLD VIEW AND I HOPE YOU
WILL BE SATISFIED WITH MY WORK
PERFORMED AS CHIEF JUSTICE.
YOU ARE MY PEOPLE.
AND FOLLOWING THE RULE OF LAW
DOES GIVE ME JOY AND MAKES ME
FEARLESS ABOUT WHAT LIES AHEAD.
(22:17):
I HOPE TO SERVE YOU WELL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE IN
MY HUMBLE SERVICE.
THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
THAT IS KENTUCKY'S NEW
CHIEF JUSTICE AND SEATED NEXT TO
JUSTICE PAMELA GOODWINE.
AND SO CHIEF JUSTICE LAMBERT
TALKED ABOUT BEING A COAL MINERS
DAUGHTER.
>> YES, ONE OF THE THINGS I
(22:38):
THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING DURING
HER SPEECH, SHE SAID SHE HAD A
PIECE OF COAL COMPANY SCRIPT
TUCKED IN HER SHOE FOR GOOD LUCK
BECAUSE HER FATHER WAS A COAL
MINER AND SHE TALKED ABOUT HER
UPBRINGING IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
AND HOW THAT SHAPED HER INTO
GETTING A LAW EDUCATION AND
BECOMING THE STATE SUPREME COURT
(22:59):
AND NOW LEADING THE STATE
SUPREME COURT.
>> .
JUSTICE GOODWINE MADE
IT HER GOAL TO BE ON THE SUPREME
COURT AS A YOUNG WOMAN.
>> RIGHT.
AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THE PATH
SHE TOOK TO GET WHERE SHE IS
NOW.
SHE GAVE A FEW PARTING WORDS SHE
SAID NO MATTER WHAT LIFERIES YOU
(23:20):
KEEP DREAMING AND WORKING FOR
YOUR GOALS AND SHE IS AN EXAMPLE
OF THAT.
AND THIS COURT IS PARTICULARLY
HISTORIC NOT ONLY DOES IT HAVE
THE FIRST FEMALE CHIEF JUSTICE
AND THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN BUT
IT'S ALSO A MAJORITY OF FEMALE
JUSTICES ON THE COURT AS WELL.
HISTORY IS MADE.
WE WANT YOU TO SEE THIS WORK
BEGINS ON THE STATE CAPITOL IN
THE $300 MILLION RENOVATION, THE
(23:44):
LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION
PUT OUT THE TIME-LAPSE VIDEO YOU
ARE SEEING THERE.
THE DESKS WERE REMOVED FROM THE
SENATE AND THE HOUSE CHAMBERS IT
WILL TAKE THREE YEARS TO
COMPLETE THE PROJECT IT INCLUDES
STRUCTURAL WORK AND MODERN
UPGRADES TO THE CAPITOL IT WAS
COMPLETED IN 1910.
FUN TO SEE THE VIDEO SPED UP BUT
IT WILL TAKE LONGER TO GET IT
(24:04):
VEN VACCINATED.
>> YES.
I'M HEARING A COUPLE TO THREE
YEARS AT THIS POINT.
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS WILL BE IN
A TEMPORARY STRUCTURE THAT'S
NEXT TO THE CAPITOL ANNEX.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE AS
SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THAT
CHAMBER FOR FREQUENT TIMES.
RACE IS ON TO GET
LOUISVILLE READY FOR THE
(24:25):
KENTUCKY DERBY WEEKEND TWO WEEKS
AWAY.
THE MAYOR AND MITCH McCONNELL
TALKED ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO
CLEAN UP THE CITY AND WELCOME
THE WORLD.
>> LAST TIME OUR CITY
EXPERIENCED A FLOOD OF THIS
MAGNITUDE IT TOOK SIX WEEKS FOR
THE CLEANUP TO HAPPEN.
WE ARE GOING TO BREAK THAT TIME
BY A SIGNIFICANT MARGIN.
THANKS TO THE INCREDIBLE WORK BY
SO MANY PEOPLE.
(24:46):
WE ARE WELL AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
>> I'M JUST HERE TO THANK THE
MAYOR AND HIS WHOLE TEAM AND ALL
THE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BEEN
SHOWING UP.
THEY GAVE ME A GOOD BRIEFING
BEFORE COMING OUT HERE.
IT'S BEEN A REMARKABLE TEAM
EFFORT TO GET KENTUCKY READY FOR
THE DERBY.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE VOLUNTEERS
AND ALL THE OUTSTANDING WORK
(25:08):
THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
ALL RIGHT.
A LOT OF WORK BUT IT IS AN
EXCITING TIME.
AND LOUISVILLE WANTS TO SHOW OFF
ITS BEST.
>> AGGRESSIVE TIMELINE.
THEY HIRED A NATIONAL DISASTER
RECOVERY CREW TO COME IN AND
CLEAN UP COSTING ABOUT $5
MILLION ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR.
BILL, ALICE WHITAKER
(25:28):
WHO LED ONE OF THE LAST
SETTLEMENT SCHOOLS DIED AT AGE
85.
YOU DID A STORY ON HER THIS WEEK
KNOWN FOR HER STRONG WILL AND
ABILITY TO KEEP THAT SCHOOL
GOING DESPITE THE ODDS.
>> SHE WAS THE HEAD OF THE
SCHOOL IN KNOTT COUNTY ONE OF
THE WOMEN WORKED FOR FOR 20
YEARS SAID SHE WAS A SPITFIRE
(25:49):
THAT IS ACCURATE.
BUT A TINY LITTLE SCHOOL AND
IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOTT COUNTY
IN AN ISOLATED PART OF THE
COUNTY.
HER AUNT STARTED IT IN 1933 SHE
RAISED MONEY TO PROVIDE EXTRA
PROGRAMS THAT SOME OF THE
SCHOOLS DON'T HAVE.
WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT GOING FOR A
LONGTIME IN THE FACE OF AN
EFFORT TO CLOSE IT SEVERAL YEARS
(26:11):
AGO.
AND THE OLDEST KNOWN
SURVIVOR OF THE ATTACK ON PEARLL
HARBOR WAS BURIED VAUGHAN DRAKE
WAS 23.
HE SERVED WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF
ENGINEERS AFTER THE WAR HE
RETURNED TO KENTUCKY AND WORKED
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
VAUGHAN DRAKE WAS 106 AND BURIED
IN THE WINCHESTER CEMETERY.
(26:33):
THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
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