June 16, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including responses from Kentucky members of Congress to legislation affecting the federal budget. Panelists: Mario Anderson, Spectrum News 1; Sylvia Goodman, Kentucky Public Radio; and Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern.
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(00:01):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:09):
NATIONAL ISSUES RESULT
IN PROTESTINGS AND TOUGH
CONVERSATION HERE IN KENTUCKY.
THE KENTUCKY DOCTOR WHO HEADED
UP THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR TURNING
ANGER INTO ACTION.
A REPORT SAYS KENTUCKY KIDS ARE
AT HIGHER RISK FOR POVERTY THAN
THE AVERAGE BUT THERE ARE BRIGHT
SPOTS.
KENTUCKY SETS A RECORD FOR
TOURISM WITH MORE THAN $14
(00:31):
BILLION IF SPENDING.
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND THAT
INCLUDES FLAG DAY AND FATHER'S
DAY.
COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO
"COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK
(00:52):
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, SARAH LADD, HEALTH
AND POLICY REPORTER NOT THE
KENTUCKY LANTERN.
SYLVIA GOODMAN FOR KENTUCKY
PUBLIC RADIO AND MARIO ANDERSON
ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS
(01:13):
KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS 1.
THE STATE AUDITOR WILL LOOK INTO
THE FINANCES OF A MAJOR SCHOOL
DISTRICT WITH A LARGE SHORTFALL.
LET'S BEGIN WITH A WEEK IN WHICH
POLICIES IN WASHINGTON HAVE
ENTERED A LOT OF KENTUCKY
CONVERSATIONS.
HEADING INTO THIS WEEKEND,
PROTESTS ARE PLANNED AND SEVERAL
KENTUCKY CITIES AS A MILITARY
PARADE IN WASHINGTON WILL MARK
(01:33):
THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
U.S. ARMY.
THIS IS A WEEK IN WHICH THERE IS
JUST NO SEPARATING THE EVENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND
THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER FROM
THE CONVERSATIONS HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
THAT INCLUDES IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT PROTESTS IN LA AND
THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE
PLANNED THIS WEEKEND.
>> YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF
(01:54):
ANXIETY RIGHT NOW, I THINK, BOTH
SIDES OF THESE ISSUES.
AND YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO TELL
AHEAD OF THE PROTESTS WHETHER
THEY WARRANT SUCH ANXIETY BUT
THAT IS SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO
WATCH.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THIS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
PROTESTS THEY ARE NOT JUST
HAPPENING IN LA THEY ARE
HAPPENING IN ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.
AND IT FEELS LIKE DAILY.
(02:15):
AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEMONSTRATIONS
PLANNED TOMORROW THEY ARE PART
OF A BUILDING MOVEMENT WE'VE
SEEN FOR MONTHS NOW.
I WILL BE INTERESTING NOT ONLY
TO SEE HOW THE PROTESTS
THEMSELVES PLAY OUT AND HOW
GOVERNORS CITIES RESPOND TO THEM
NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT
NATIONALLY.
IT'S BECOME A NATIONAL
CONVERSATION HOW DO YOU RESPOND
TO PROTESTS?
AND HOW DO YOU TREAT PROTESTORS
(02:36):
AND POLITICIANS IN THE PROTESTS.
WORTH WATCHING.
WE'RE LIVE AND AS THE
PROGRAM IS REPLAYED THERE WILL
BE MUCH MORE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS
THAT IS THE HANDICAP WE HAVE.
HERE WE ARE AGAIN ON THIS FRIDAY
NIGHT.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE
KENTUCKIANS NO DOUBT BEING TO
THE PRESIDENT'S MILITARY PARADE
IN WASHINGTON.
(02:56):
>> MANY PEOPLE WILL BE MAKING
THEIR WAY TO THE NATION'S
CAPITAL AND HERE IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY THERE'S
15 CITIES THAT ARE HOSTING
VARIOUS NO KINGS PROTESTS AND
AGAIN IT'S CONSIDERED BY THE
ORGANIZER A NATIONWIDE DAY OF
PROTESTS IN RESPONSE TO
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND ALSO
THE MILITARY PARADE THAT IS
HAPPENING AND ALSO THE
(03:19):
ORGANIZERS WEBSITE SHARE THEY
ARE TAKING ACTION TO REJECT
AUTHORITARIANISM AND WE'LL SEE
HOW THINGS PLAY OUT A LOT OF
ATTENTION TOWARDS WHAT WILL BE
HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE AND
THE IMPACT HERE AND BEYOND.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES THERE IS A PARTISAN
(03:40):
DIVIDE ON THE IMMIGRATION
PROTEST AND RESPONSE.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR A POSSIBLE
PRESIDENTIAL CON TEPIDER DID NOT
LIKE THE PRESIDENT'S MOVE TO
SEND MILITARY ASSETS TO THE LA
PROTESTS.
>> WE ALL WANT LAW AND ORDER BUT
YOU OUGHT TO GO ABOUT IT IN A
WAY THAT WORKS AND A PRESIDENT
SHOULDN'T CALL UP THE STATE'S
(04:00):
NATIONAL GUARD WITHOUT TALKING
TO THE GOVERNOR MUCH LESS
GETTING THEIR CONSENT TO IT.
MARIO, IN A STATE WHERE
KENTUCKIANS REGISTERED THEIR
SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
THE ELECTION AND BESHEAR IN
POLLING WITH HIGH APPROVAL
NUMBERS HOW DOES THIS ISSUE PLAY
OUT?
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS
(04:21):
TIME WILL TELL.
WE'VE GOT MANY DAYS AND WEEKS
AND MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR PARTICIPATED IN
A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TALKING
ABOUT NO KING'S DAY.
AND HIS COMMENTS HE DID SAY THAT
PEOPLE AREN'T AS POLITICAL AS WE
THINK AND IN HIS OPINION PAM ARE
MORE FOCUSED ON THINKING ABOUT
THE JOB AND WHETHER THEY MAKE
SNUFF TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
(04:43):
HE THINKS PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE
WEEDS OF ELECTION CYCLES.
BUT THERE'S DATA OUT THERE, I
SAW THAT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER
HAD INFORMATION SAYING THAT 54%
OF REPUBLICANS FAVOR DEPORTING
ALL IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY WITH 88% OF
TRUMP SUPPORTERS FAVORING MASS
(05:03):
DEPORTATIONS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE 56% OF
DEMOCRATS SUPPORT ALLOWING
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO STAY
LEGALLY IF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS
ARE MET.
IT IS A WIDELY DEBATED TOPIC AND
DEPENDING WHO YOU TALK WITH
VARIOUS OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES.
STARK DIVIDE.
SYLVIA, HOW WOULD BESHEAR'S
STANCE PLAY OUT IN DEMOCRATIC
(05:25):
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS?
IS THIS MESSAGE INTENDED TO BE
HEARD OUTSIDE KENTUCKY?
>> YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE IT'S ON
BESHEAR'S MIND.
HE CERTAINLY MADE IT KEIR THAT
AT LEAST SOME LEVEL OF
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS ARE ON THE
BACK BURNER IF NOT THE
FOREFRONT.
AND IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR
FROM MARIO THAT BESHEAR SAID
(05:45):
THIS FREQUENTLY THAT PEOPLE CARE
MORE ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES,
LESS ABOUT POLITICS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT
WE HEARD HIM SAY ABOUT TRUMP AND
LA PROTESTS THAT IS A NATIONAL
ISSUE.
THAT IS NOT UNDER HIS PURVIEW AS
KENTUCKY GOVERNOR IT'S POLITICAL
AND IT PLAYS INTO WHAT DEMOCRATS
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS NATIONALLY
(06:06):
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S DEFINITELY A MESSAGE THAT
IS MEANT FOR KENTUCKY AND ALSO,
I BELIEVE, NATIONALLY AND SO
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE ALSO HOW HE
RESPONDS TO ANY PROTESTS THAT
MAY GET A LITTLE BIT MORE ROWDY
IN THE STATE.
IN 2020 HE ALSO DID SEND OUT THE
NATIONAL GUARD IN LOUISVILLE.
(06:28):
SO HE HAS A HISTORY HIMSELF OF
DEALING WITH PROTESTS AND THAT
WILL GET MORE SCRUTINY
ESPECIALLY IF HE DEPENDING HOW
HE DEALS WITH PROTESTS THIS
WEEKEND.
THE STATE EMERGENCY
OPERATION CENTER WAS GOING TO BE
UP AND RUNNING.
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR
WHO WANTS TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT
FOR HIS BID FOR MITCH
(06:49):
McCONNELL'S U.S. SENATE SEAT
HAS BEEN IN FAVOR OF TRUMP'S
POLICIES.
AND MARIO, HE USED THE PROTESTS
OVER IMMIGRATION POLICIES A
CHANCE TO CALL FOR PASSAGE.
HOUSE RESOLUTION ONE, THE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL AS THE G.O.P.
CALLS IT.
>> AND CONGRESSMAN BARR HE WROTE
AN OP-ED SAYING IN HIS OPINION
THIS LEGISLATION IS AN EASY
(07:10):
VOTE.
AND HE SAID IF SENATE
REPUBLICANS WHO NOW HAVE THAT
BILL AND ARE REVIEWING IT IF
THEY TEAM UP WITH SENATE
DEMOCRATS TO PREVENT THE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL FROM GOING TO THE
PRESIDENT'S DESK IT WILL GO DOWN
AS ONE OF THE GREATEST ERRORS IN
AMERICAN POLITICAL HISTORY.
CONGRESSMAN BARR KEEPING CLOSE
EYE ON THAT OUT OF LEXINGTON
(07:31):
AREA.
BUT, AGAIN, HE'S GOT A LOT OF
THINGS IN HIS COURT AS WELL.
HE IS RUNNING FOR SENATE AS
WELL.
A LOT OF POTENTIAL CUTS
ARE ALSO UNDER DISCUSSION.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN WASHINGTON
SAID THIS WEEK THAT KENTUCKY
WOULD BE THE STATE HIT HARDEST
BY MEDICAID CUTS AND RURAL
HOSPITALS COULD BE FORCED TO
CLOSE IN SOME CASES.
(07:51):
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MEDICAID,
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ONE IN
THREE KENTUCKIANS HAVE MEDICAID
AS THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LARGE
PORTION OF THE STATE THAT IS
CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL CUTS.
AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT THERE ARE TWO VERY
DISTINCT IDEOLOGIES WHEN IT
(08:12):
COMES TO THIS MEDICAID
CONVERSATION ON ONE SIDE, THE
GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG
CONSERVATIVES IS THAT YOU SHOULD
TRIM DOWN THE PROGRAM, AND ONLY
SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE OF THE
MOST VULNERABLE AND THERE'S THIS
IDEA THAT IS NOT EXACTLY BACKED
UP BY DATA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE ON MEDICAID THAT SHOULDN'T
BE OR NOT WORKING WHEN THEY
(08:33):
COULD BE.
THERE'S THAT SIDE OF IT.
THE OTHER SIDE IS THE IDEA THAT
IF YOU ARE ON MEDICAID FIRST OF
ALL YOU NEED TO BE ON MEDICAID
AND ALSO BEING ON IT IS YOUR
PATH TO GET BACK INTO THE
WORKFORCE AND YOU HAVE THAT
SAFETY NET AND THAT ALLOWS YOU
TO LIVE THE HEALTHIEST LIFE AND
(08:53):
REENTER THE WORKFORCE AND A LOT
OF PEOPLE ALREADY ARE WORKING.
SO, YES, THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF
A SPLIT THERE IN IDEOLOGY WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THE CUTS AND THAT
CONVERSATION.
AND CONGRESSMAN HAL
ROGERS HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF HIS
PEOPLE IN HIS DISTRICT ON
MEDICAID SAYS THE CUT ALSO SAVE
(09:14):
MEDICAID AND THE KENTUCKY
HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
UNDERGROUNDERRED THE PASSAGE OF
THE BUDGET BILL EVEN AS THE
INFORMATION WAS COMING OUT THAT
THERE COULD BE THREATS OF THE
SURVIVAL OF RURAL HOSPITALS.
>> ROGERS WHEN HE VOTED IN FAVOR
OF THE BILL, HE SAID HE DIDN'T
TAKE THE VOTE LIGHTLY BECAUSE HE
(09:34):
ACKNOWLEDGED A LOT OF PEOPLE HIS
CONSTITUENTS RELY ON MEDICAID.
AND DOES FALL IN THAT FIRST
IDEOLOGY.
HE THINKS YOU GET A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUT OF THE PROGRAM AND
YOU BETTER SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE LEFT.
THAT IS HIS THOUGHT PROCESS THAT
HE EXPLAINED.
YOU DID A PIECE FOR THE
(09:55):
KENTUCKY LANTERN WHERE Dr.
BRUCE SCOTT SPEAKS OUT HE WENT
OUT WITH A ROT OF THINGS TO SAY.
>> HE WAS QUITE ANGRY.
HE GAVE A GOOD-BYE SPEECH IN
CHICAGO A WEEK AGO.
AND SO HE IS FROM LOUISVILLE.
SO HE BASICALLY, HE HE SAID TURN
(10:17):
YOUR ANGER INTO ACTION WAS THE
MESSAGE FOR DOCTORS AND THE
MEDICAL COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND CALLED OUT THIS BILL
SPECIFICALLY.
AND HE SAID THAT HE FELT IT
WOULD HARM PEOPLE WHO REALLY
NEED SAFETY NETS AND THAT IS THE
ONLY OPTION FOR THEM.
HE ALSO TALKED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE STUDENT LOAN PROCESS
BEING RESTRUCTURED UNDER THIS
(10:39):
PROPOSAL.
AND FELT LIKE THAT HURTS
DOWNSTREAM WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
DOCTORS MEDICAL PEOPLE NOT BEING
ABLE TO AFFORD GOING TO COLLEGE
AND GETTING THE EDUCATION AND
ENTERING THE WORKFORCE AND WE
HAVE A WELL DOCUMENTED
HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.
HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
IN HIS TAKEAWAY WAS TARGET THE
SENATE TRY TO GET THE SENATE TO
(10:59):
PULLBACK SOME OF THESE THINGS.
IT WAS A CALL TO ACTION.
HE WAS QUITE ANGRY AND TELLING
DOCTORS PLEASE CALL YOUR
REMANENTS.
AND IT MAYBE A FLUID
PROCESS HERE BEFORE, THE FINAL
SENATE BILL IS PASSED AND GOES
BACK TO THE HOUSE IF THERE ARE
CHANGES.
PUBLIC BROADCASTERS ARE CLOSELY
(11:21):
WATCHING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> YES.
RIGHT NOW, I JUST RECENTLY THE
HOUSE PASSED THE RESCISSION BILL
SEPARATE FROM THE BIG BEAUTIFUL
BILL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT IT IS A RESCISSION BILL THAT
CLAWS BACK FUNDS FROM PUBLIC
RADIO, PUBLIC BROADCASTERS
THROUGH THE CORPORATION OF
PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND IT
AFFECTS A LOT OF FOREIGN AID.
(11:42):
AND BASICALLY IT WAS A PRETTY
SOLID PARTISAN SPLIT WITH
DEMOCRATS ARGUING THAT THIS WILL
MOST AFFECT RURAL BROADCASTING
STATIONS THAT RELY HEAVILY ON
THESE FUNDS.
AND ALSO THAT IT COULD ENDANGER
THE PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT EXISTS IN THE PUBLIC
BROADCASTING SPHERE.
WHEREAS REPUBLICANS SAID THE
(12:03):
FUNDS ARE BETTER SUITED
ELSEWHERE WE HAVE OTHER THINGS
WE SHOULD BE SPENDING THIS MONEY
ON AND THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
A LIKIAL BIAS WITHIN THESE
BROADCASTING STATIONS.
AND PUBLIC BROADCASTERS
MOUNTED THEIR OWN INFORMATION
CAMPAIGNS ABOUT THE REACH OF
THEIR PRODUCT AND SO ON.
KENTUCKY SENATOR RAND PAUL AT
ONE POINT SAID HE WAS DISINVITED
(12:24):
TO A WHITE HOUSE PICNIC.
BUT THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID ON
SOCIAL MEDIA THAT, OF COURSE,
PAUL AND HIS FAMILY WERE WELCOME
AT THE EVENT.
THIS WAS AN UNEXPECTED DRAMA OF
THE WEEK.
PAUL SAID HE LEARNED HE WAS
UNINVITED WHEN HE WENT TO CLAIM
TICKETS FOR HIMSELF AND HIS
FAMILY.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
SENATOR PAUL SAID HE THINKS HE
IS THE FIRST SENATOR?
(12:44):
THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
TO BE UNINVITED TO THE WHITE
HOUSE PICNIC AND HE SAID AT THE
TIME HE THOUGHT IT WAS
INCREDIBLY PETTY OF THE
PRESIDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION
TO DO THIS.
BUT HE SAID HE HAS BEEN NOTHING
BUT POLITE.
HE WAS PLANNING ON HIMSELF, HIS
WIFE AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND
SIX-MONTH-OLD GRANDSON TO MAKE
(13:04):
THE TRIP AND THERE WAS BACK AND
FORTH AND THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP
SHARED THROUGH HIS SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORM THAT SENATOR PAUL IS
THE TOUGHEST VOTE IN HISTORY.
OF THE U.S. SENATE AND HE SAID
HE WELCOMES HIM TO COME TO THE
WHITE HOUSE AND LOOKS FORWARD TO
LOBBYING SENATOR PAUL TO GET HIM
ON HIS SIDE SO VOTE IN FAVOR OF
THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.
THIS WEEK, PAUL HAD
(13:27):
DEFENDED THE PRESIDENT'S USE OF
THE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS AND
MARINES IN THE CLASHES OVER
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
BUT PAUL ALSO SAID THIS WEEK
THAT HE DOESN'T THINK MUCH OF A
MILITARY PARADE SCHEDULED FOR
SATURDAY IN WASHINGTON.
>> NEVER BEEN A BIG FAN OF
HAVING SOLDIERS AND TANKS AND
MISSILES ROLLING DOWN THE
STREET.
I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.
(13:50):
SENATOR PAUL OBVIOUSLY
HAS HIS QUALMS WITH THAT.
AND DO THOSE DIFFERENCES THAT HE
HAS FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE
PRESIDENT, KEEP A LITTLE BIT OF
THAT STRANGE GOING IN THEIR
RELATIONSHIP?
>> SURE AND I DON'T THINK
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE FIRST
PERSON TO SAY SENATOR ST. PAUL A
HARD VOTE TO GET.
(14:11):
HE HAS NOT HELD BACK UNDER
PRESIDENT TRUMP EITHER.
HE HAS AGREED WITH PLENTY OF
POLICIES AND DISAGREED ON
OTHERS.
THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, HE HAS
DISAGREED QUITE A BIT ON THE
PRESIDENT'S TARIFF POLICIES.
HE HAS BEEN OF THE MAJOR VOICES.
KENTUCKY HAS SEVERAL POLITICIANS
THAT HAVE GOTTEN ON PRESIDENT
(14:33):
TRUMP'S BAD SIDE INCLUDING
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE.
SO IT'S NOT THE SENATOR PAUL IS
NOT AFRAID TO DISSENT FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND IT HAS
EARNED HIS IRE.
WE HAVE TO SEE IF THAT
RELATIONSHIP IMPROVES.
BACK IN KENTUCKY THE
NEW KIDS COUNT REPORT IS OUT AND
SHOWS KENTUCKY KIDS ARE
STRUGGLING TO CATCH UP WITH
(14:54):
OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND
POVERTY IS STILL A MAJOR BURDEN
FOR KENTUCKY KIDS.
>> WE'RE RANKED AS THE 36TH
STATE WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL
CHILD WELL-BEING.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD BOTHER
EVERY KENTUCKIAN.
THAT PUTS US RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM
(15:16):
FOURTH OF STATES, POVERTY IS THE
SINGULAR CANARY IN THE COAL MINE
INDICATOR.
HOW OUR KIDS ECONOMIC STATUS
LIES INFLUENCES EVERYTHING.
THAT ANNUAL REPORT IS
ALWAYS EYE-OPENING, SARAH.
AND WHAT DOES IT SHOW?
>> WELL, IT SHOWS WHAT WE'VE
(15:38):
KNOWN FOR YEARS, RIGHT?
WHICH IS IN A LOT OF WAYS
KENTUCKY'S KIDS ARE NOT DOING
WELL.
THE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME
REALLY HEAVILY WAS THAT EVERY
SINGLE MARK OF EDUCATION GOT
WORSE IN THIS REPORT FROM A
COUPLE YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE KIDS WHO AREN'T
PROFICIENT IN READING.
KIDS WHO AREN'T PROFICIENT IN
MATH.
PART OF THIS YOU CAN LOOK BACK
(16:01):
TO COVID WHERE CHRONIC
ABSENTEEISM SKYROCKETED.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER SOCIAL
SUPPORTS WE ARE ONE OF THE WORST
STATES FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
SUPPORT SO KIDS ARE NOT GETTING
WHAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE IS THE
TAKEAWAY.
AND AS TERRY MENTIONED POVERTY
IS HUGE IT AFFECTS 20% OF
KENTUCKY'S KIDS AND THAT MEANS
(16:22):
MAYBE THAT KID DOESN'T HAVE
STABLE HOUSING, MAYBE THEY DON'T
KNOW WHERE THE NEXT MEAL IS
COMING FROM.
MAYBE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO
ACCESS NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVE
TAKEAWAYS.
THE DEATH RATE AMONG KIDS IS
QUITE HIGH.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE, WE HAVE A
GOOD PERCENTAGE OF HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WHO HAVE
(16:42):
HEALTH INSURANCE.
THERE IS THE POTENTIAL TO THAT'S
AN UPSTREAM THING THE POTENTIAL
THEY CAN GET CARE BUT THERE IS A
LOT OF MARKS HERE THAT NEED
IMPROVEMENT BY A LOT.
>> 100% MANY I ALSO THINK
INTERESTING THING TO NOTE IS
SOME OF OUR PERCENTAGES DID
IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT.
LIKE OUR POVERTY PERCENTAGE IT
(17:03):
DID DECREASE A LITTLE BIT.
LIKE TERRY BROOKS WAS SAYING IT
PUTS US FAR BELOW THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE.
TEEN BIRTHS WE ARE GETTING
BETTER IN THAT CATEGORY BUT IT'S
WORSE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, I
THINK, IN GETTING TO WHERE OTHER
STATES ARE.
EVEN IF WE ARE MAKING SMALL
(17:23):
STRIDES WHAT TERRY BROOKS TOLD
ME WE NEED TO MAKE BIGGER ONES.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR
CHILDREN TO LEARN IN UNSTABLE
SITUATION.
>> IT IS HARD MARKERS TO MOVE.
CHILDREN IN POVERTY IS A HUGE
ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.
>> AND IT'S HARD TO STUDY IF YOU
ARE HUNGRY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD FOOD HOW
CAN YOU STUDY AND DO WELL IN
SCHOOL?
(17:44):
IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
WE'RE WATCHING THE
RACES TAKE SHAPE FOR THE U.S.
SENATE HERE IN KENTUCKY AS WE'VE
MENTIONED AND THE SIXTH DISTRICT
HOUSE SEAT THE SEAT WHERE ANDY
BARR WILL BE GIVE TO GO UP
BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING FOR THE
SENATE.
DEMOCRATS HAVE TWO CANDIDATES IN
THE RACE FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE CHERLYNN
STEVENSON AND FORMER LEXINGTON
(18:05):
COUNCILMEMBER KLOIBER.
HE IS TALKING ABOUT TURNING DOWN
THE TONE IN POLITICAL
CONVERSATIONS THAT GOES WITH
WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING TONIGHT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU DO, THOUGH, IF
YOU ARE HOPING TO FLIP A SEAT?
>> WELL, ACCORDING TO KLOIBER HE
THINKS THAT IS WHAT IS THE BEST
THING TO DO.
AND TODAY'S POLITICAL CYCLE AND
(18:26):
POLITICAL WORLD THAT ANSWER IS
NO.
BECAUSE THE NATIONAL LEVEL, YOU
HAVE BIG PERSONALITIES AND BIG
VERY STRONG OPINIONS AND AGAIN,
IT'S MORE A PARTISAN THAN IT'S
EVER BEEN ACCORDING TO MOST
PEOPLE.
EN TOKING THINGS DOWN YOU ARE
MORE LIKELY TO NOT BE HEARD FROM
BECAUSE YOU IF YOU ARE NOT
SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT HIGH
(18:48):
PROFILE TOPICS AND WILLING TO
GET IN THE WEEDS AND GO BACK AND
FORTH AND USE YOUR PLATFORMS AND
SPEAKING SOCIAL MEDIA,
AMPLIFYING THINGS YOU WILL GET
LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.
AND IT MAY WORK IN A MORE LOCAL
POLITICS WHICH KLOIBER RAN FOR
CITY COUNCIL AND RAN FOR MAYOR.
THAT MAYBE WORK IN A NONPARTISAN
(19:09):
RACE BUT LACKING TO GO TO
WASHINGTON D.C. YOU HAVE TO BE
READY TO BUCKLE IN AND BE READY
TO GO AND TALK THE BIG TALK.
HE BELIEVES YOU CAN
TALK ABOUT NATIONAL ISSUES IN A
LOCAL WAY.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH
THAT.
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN THAT
RACE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE RYAN
(19:29):
DOTSON IS IN THE RACE AND WENT
TO WASHINGTON TO TALK WITH
G.O.P. STRATEGISTS AND AMANDA
MAYS BLEDSOE CONTINUES TO BE A
POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.
>> THE TIME-FRAME IS GETTING
SHORTER NOT JUST FOR ME BUT
OTHERS LOOKING AT THE SEAT IF I
RUN, THE 12TH DISTRICT SEAT
WOULD BE OPEN SO A LOT OF
DOMINOES THAT FLY IN THAT SPACE.
(19:49):
EVERYONE IS LOOKING TO SEE WHO
IS THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD
FAYETTE COUNTY AND THE REST OF
THE COUNTIES WHO IS THE BEST
PERSON TO SERVE THE SIXTH
DISTRICT.
IT IS A BIG DECISION IT
WOULD BE A TOUGH CAMPAIGN FOR
ANYBODY.
DOES AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE FEELING
THE WEIGHT OF THAT COMMITMENT?
AS SHE GIVES IT CONSIDERS?
>> SHE IS BECAUSE SHE IS ACTIVE
(20:11):
TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND
PROFESSIONALLY AND SHE SERVED ON
THE CITY COUNCIL FOR LEXINGTON
FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS BEEN
IN STATE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTING
FOUR COUNTIES THROUGH THE SENATE
DISTRICT.
SHE HAS FRIENDS IN BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE AND OPEN ABOUT SHE IS
RECOVERING FROM BEING KICKED IN
THE FACE BY HER HORSE.
(20:32):
SO SHE SHARED WITH PEOPLE SHE
HAS SURGERY.
HOPEFULLY A FINAL SURGERY IN
JULY AND ONCE SHE GETS THROUGH
THE PROCESS SHE WILL FIGURE OUT
WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO BUT SHE IS
GETTING ENCOURAGEMENT FROM
PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE AND THE
NATIONAL LEVEL ASKING HER TO
CONSIDER MOVING TO THE NEXT
STEP.
BOTH SIDES HAVE
PRIMARIES AND THEY COULD GET
MORE CROWDED.
(20:53):
NEW KENTUCKY LAWS ARE ABOUT TO
GO INTO EFFECT THAT INCLUDES
SENATE BILL 1 RE8ING THE
KENTUCKY FILM OFFICE.
AND MARIO TALK ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS
AND THE STATE'S ECONOMY MIGHT
BENEFIT.
>> WE HAVE WORKED WITH FILM
COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS AND
SOME OF THE STUDIOS HAVE
(21:13):
ACTUALLY FILMED ON OUR CAMPUS.
AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE
NOT ONLY FOR OUR STUDENTS
BECAUSE THEY HIRE STUDENTS AND
MENTOR THEM BUT ALSO IT'S BEEN
GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE
THEY SPEND MONEY IN HOUSING AND
FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE
SUPPLIES.
SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE
FOR US.
(21:35):
SO THEY ARE REALLY IN
THAT AREA RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT
FOR DECADES AT THIS POINT
SENDING STUDENTS OUT TO THE
SUMMER OLYMPICS AND THE WINTER
OLYMPICS AND WORKING ON
PRODUCTIONS.
YOU GOT A LOT OF THE TOP TIER
PRODUCTION QUALITY AND EQUIPMENT
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE MOST
(21:56):
UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE
AND SENATE BILL 1 WHICH IS A
PRIORITY BILL DURING THIS LAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT MOVED
THINGS FORWARD TO TRY TO
ENCOURAGE MORE PRODUCTIONS TO
COME TO THE BLUEGRASS STATE TO
FILM THEIR PRODUCTIONS HERE BUT
THEN ALSO GET TAX CREDITS
POTENTIALLY IF THEY DO INVEST
THEIR TIME HERE.
THERE ARE OPPONENTS THAT ARE
(22:17):
CONCERNED A LOT OF MONEY IS
BEING SET ASIDE TOWARDS
MARKETING OUTSIDE OF THE STATE
AND THE COUNTRY, AND CONCERNS
ABOUT SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS
TO DO EXTRA MARKETING ON THAT.
WE'LL SEE IF THE
KENTUCKY CAN CAPITALIZE ON SHOW
BUSINESS.
WE KENTUCKIANS ARE INTERESTING
PEOPLE.
MORE THAN 80 MILLION PEOPLE CAME
TO SEE US LAST YEAR.
(22:38):
TOURISM EXPENDITURES TOPPED $14
BILLION THAT IS AN ALL-TIME
RECORD.
SARAH THAT IS ABOUT 97,000 JOBS
TOURISM IS A MAJOR SECTOR OF
KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY MORE THAN WE
REALIZE.
>> I AM BIAS I THINK KENTUCKY IS
GORGEOUS.
WORTH VISITING.
>> SECONDED.
>> THIRDED.
(22:59):
IS IT THE PEOPLE, THE
HISTORY THE BOURBON?
THE HORSES?
WHAT IS IT?
>> THE FOOD THE NATURE.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.
>> ENJOY IT BY YOURSELF OR TAKE
FRIENDS AND FAMILY THERE'S
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> ALL THE INVESTMENTS IN THE
BOURBON TRAIL ARE PAYING OFF.
>> KENTUCKY'S GENERAL FUND
JUMPED MORE THAN 10% IN MAY OVER
(23:20):
THE SAME PERIOD.
THE STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR SAYS
THE STATE TOOK IN $1.2 BILLION
LAST MONTH.
STRONG GROWTH IN BUSINESS AND
INDIVIDUAL TAX RECEIPTS.
THIS WAS INTERESTING CIGARETTE
TAX RECEIPTS DROPPED MORE THAN
14%.
WE ALL ASSUME THAT MAY MEAN LESS
SMOKING AT THIS TIME LESS
CONSUMPTION?
(23:41):
>> IT'S HARD TO SAY FOR SURE.
YOU CAN HOPE THAT FROM A PUBLIC
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE MAYBE PEOPLE
GO OUT TO STATE TO BUY
CIGARETTES MAYBE THEY ARE MOVED
TO VAPING.
IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW HABITS
CHANGED BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO
LOOK AT AND WORTH A GOOD
ANALYSIS.
(24:01):
ALLISON BALL IS GOING
TO DO A SPECIAL EXAMINATION OF
THE FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
THE SCHOOLS IN LEXINGTON FACE A
$16 MILLION SHORTFALL AND THEY
BACKTRACKED ON A PLAN TO SEEK AN
INCREASE IN THE PAYROLL TAX.
MARIO, WE GET INDICATIONS THAT
THAT AUDIT IS GOING TO BE
BROADER THAN JUST LOOKING AT THE
(24:21):
BUDGETS AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
ALL OF KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL
DISTRICTS EACH YEAR THEY DO
THEIR OWN INTERNAL AUDITS AND
REVIEW THE BOOKS AND THE
FINANCES.
BUT AUDITOR ALLISON BALL SHE
SAYS THAT BECAUSE FAYETTE COUNTY
HAS LOTS OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
AVAILABLE HER OFFICE IS GOING TO
DO AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS AND LOOK
(24:42):
AT EVERY LINE ITEM AND FIGURE
OUT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND
HAS BEEN RECEIVING LOTTINGS OF
FEEDBACK AND COMMUNITY INPUT ON
THINGS TO PUT EXTRA EYES ON.
IT WILL BE A VERY EXTENSIVE
PROCESS AND IT WILL TAKE
SOMETIME AND SHE IS FOCUSED ON
LOOKING AT EVERYTHING AND MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND
UP.
(25:03):
AND THAT 16 MILLION
SHORTFALL.
ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN
SAYS 5 MILLION WILL BE AWARDED
FOR OPIOID RESEARCH AND
INNOVATIONS.
APPLICANTS CAN COME FORWARD
SOON.
>> PART OF OUR SETTLEMENT
DOLLARS THAT WE GET.
HE IS GIVING OUT $5 MILLION TO
ONE BIG GRANTOR A LOT OF GRANT
(25:24):
APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN JULY 1
UNTIL DECEMBER 20TH.
AND THEN DECISIONS WILL BE MADE
NEXT MARCH OR APRIL.
HE IS LOOKING FOR INNOVATION, SO
WHATEVER THAT MEANS TO DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS.
NONPROFITS, FOR-PROFITS AND
GOVERNMENTS CAN ALL APPLY.
BE CREATIVE.
>> OPEN ENDED.
>> .
(25:45):
IT WAS INTERESTING THE
FIRST COUPLE OF ROUNDS THERE
WERE LOTS OF IDEAS SOME MAYBE
HADN'T TOTE OF BEFORE.
>> THERE'S BEEN SO MANY DOLLARS
ALLOCATED ALL OVER THE PLACE.
MANY IN BOTH PARTIES
ARE REMEMBERING CHARLIE MILLER
HE SERVED IN THE STATE HOUSE FOR
MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
BEFORE THAT HE SPENT 25 YEARS AS
THE PRINCIPAL AT PLEASURE RIDGE
(26:07):
PARK HIGH SCHOOL.
THE REPUBLICAN REPRESENT BOWMAN
DEFEATED MILLER IN 2023 BUT WAS
QUICK TO REMEMBER HIS LEGACY.
BOWMAN SAID THAT SOUTHWEST
JEFFERSON COUNTY LOST A LEGEND.
LOUISVILLE MAYOR GREG FISHER
CALLED MILLER A GIANT.
CHARLIE MILLER WAS 86.
THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
(26:27):
AND HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK
AHEAD.
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:09):
NATIONAL ISSUES RESULT
IN PROTESTINGS AND TOUGH
CONVERSATION HERE IN KENTUCKY.
THE KENTUCKY DOCTOR WHO HEADED
UP THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR TURNING
ANGER INTO ACTION.
A REPORT SAYS KENTUCKY KIDS ARE
AT HIGHER RISK FOR POVERTY THAN
THE AVERAGE BUT THERE ARE BRIGHT
SPOTS.
KENTUCKY SETS A RECORD FOR
TOURISM WITH MORE THAN $14
(00:31):
BILLION IF SPENDING.
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND THAT
INCLUDES FLAG DAY AND FATHER'S
DAY.
COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO
"COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK
(00:52):
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, SARAH LADD, HEALTH
AND POLICY REPORTER NOT THE
KENTUCKY LANTERN.
SYLVIA GOODMAN FOR KENTUCKY
PUBLIC RADIO AND MARIO ANDERSON
ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS
(01:13):
KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS 1.
THE STATE AUDITOR WILL LOOK INTO
THE FINANCES OF A MAJOR SCHOOL
DISTRICT WITH A LARGE SHORTFALL.
LET'S BEGIN WITH A WEEK IN WHICH
POLICIES IN WASHINGTON HAVE
ENTERED A LOT OF KENTUCKY
CONVERSATIONS.
HEADING INTO THIS WEEKEND,
PROTESTS ARE PLANNED AND SEVERAL
KENTUCKY CITIES AS A MILITARY
PARADE IN WASHINGTON WILL MARK
(01:33):
THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
U.S. ARMY.
THIS IS A WEEK IN WHICH THERE IS
JUST NO SEPARATING THE EVENTS
ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND
THE WORLD FOR THAT MATTER FROM
THE CONVERSATIONS HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
THAT INCLUDES IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT PROTESTS IN LA AND
THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT ARE
PLANNED THIS WEEKEND.
>> YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF
(01:54):
ANXIETY RIGHT NOW, I THINK, BOTH
SIDES OF THESE ISSUES.
AND YOU KNOW IT'S HARD TO TELL
AHEAD OF THE PROTESTS WHETHER
THEY WARRANT SUCH ANXIETY BUT
THAT IS SOMETHING WE'LL HAVE TO
WATCH.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THIS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
PROTESTS THEY ARE NOT JUST
HAPPENING IN LA THEY ARE
HAPPENING IN ALL OVER THE
COUNTRY.
AND IT FEELS LIKE DAILY.
(02:15):
AND OBVIOUSLY THE DEMONSTRATIONS
PLANNED TOMORROW THEY ARE PART
OF A BUILDING MOVEMENT WE'VE
SEEN FOR MONTHS NOW.
I WILL BE INTERESTING NOT ONLY
TO SEE HOW THE PROTESTS
THEMSELVES PLAY OUT AND HOW
GOVERNORS CITIES RESPOND TO THEM
NOT JUST IN KENTUCKY BUT
NATIONALLY.
IT'S BECOME A NATIONAL
CONVERSATION HOW DO YOU RESPOND
TO PROTESTS?
AND HOW DO YOU TREAT PROTESTORS
(02:36):
AND POLITICIANS IN THE PROTESTS.
WORTH WATCHING.
WE'RE LIVE AND AS THE
PROGRAM IS REPLAYED THERE WILL
BE MUCH MORE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS
THAT IS THE HANDICAP WE HAVE.
HERE WE ARE AGAIN ON THIS FRIDAY
NIGHT.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE
KENTUCKIANS NO DOUBT BEING TO
THE PRESIDENT'S MILITARY PARADE
IN WASHINGTON.
(02:56):
>> MANY PEOPLE WILL BE MAKING
THEIR WAY TO THE NATION'S
CAPITAL AND HERE IN THE
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY THERE'S
15 CITIES THAT ARE HOSTING
VARIOUS NO KINGS PROTESTS AND
AGAIN IT'S CONSIDERED BY THE
ORGANIZER A NATIONWIDE DAY OF
PROTESTS IN RESPONSE TO
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND ALSO
THE MILITARY PARADE THAT IS
HAPPENING AND ALSO THE
(03:19):
ORGANIZERS WEBSITE SHARE THEY
ARE TAKING ACTION TO REJECT
AUTHORITARIANISM AND WE'LL SEE
HOW THINGS PLAY OUT A LOT OF
ATTENTION TOWARDS WHAT WILL BE
HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE AND
THE IMPACT HERE AND BEYOND.
LOTS OF DIFFERENT
PERSPECTIVES THERE IS A PARTISAN
(03:40):
DIVIDE ON THE IMMIGRATION
PROTEST AND RESPONSE.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR A POSSIBLE
PRESIDENTIAL CON TEPIDER DID NOT
LIKE THE PRESIDENT'S MOVE TO
SEND MILITARY ASSETS TO THE LA
PROTESTS.
>> WE ALL WANT LAW AND ORDER BUT
YOU OUGHT TO GO ABOUT IT IN A
WAY THAT WORKS AND A PRESIDENT
SHOULDN'T CALL UP THE STATE'S
(04:00):
NATIONAL GUARD WITHOUT TALKING
TO THE GOVERNOR MUCH LESS
GETTING THEIR CONSENT TO IT.
MARIO, IN A STATE WHERE
KENTUCKIANS REGISTERED THEIR
SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
THE ELECTION AND BESHEAR IN
POLLING WITH HIGH APPROVAL
NUMBERS HOW DOES THIS ISSUE PLAY
OUT?
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS
(04:21):
TIME WILL TELL.
WE'VE GOT MANY DAYS AND WEEKS
AND MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR PARTICIPATED IN
A VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TALKING
ABOUT NO KING'S DAY.
AND HIS COMMENTS HE DID SAY THAT
PEOPLE AREN'T AS POLITICAL AS WE
THINK AND IN HIS OPINION PAM ARE
MORE FOCUSED ON THINKING ABOUT
THE JOB AND WHETHER THEY MAKE
SNUFF TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.
(04:43):
HE THINKS PEOPLE ARE NOT IN THE
WEEDS OF ELECTION CYCLES.
BUT THERE'S DATA OUT THERE, I
SAW THAT THE PEW RESEARCH CENTER
HAD INFORMATION SAYING THAT 54%
OF REPUBLICANS FAVOR DEPORTING
ALL IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN THE
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY WITH 88% OF
TRUMP SUPPORTERS FAVORING MASS
(05:03):
DEPORTATIONS.
ON THE OTHER SIDE 56% OF
DEMOCRATS SUPPORT ALLOWING
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO STAY
LEGALLY IF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS
ARE MET.
IT IS A WIDELY DEBATED TOPIC AND
DEPENDING WHO YOU TALK WITH
VARIOUS OPINIONS ON BOTH SIDES.
STARK DIVIDE.
SYLVIA, HOW WOULD BESHEAR'S
STANCE PLAY OUT IN DEMOCRATIC
(05:25):
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS?
IS THIS MESSAGE INTENDED TO BE
HEARD OUTSIDE KENTUCKY?
>> YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE IT'S ON
BESHEAR'S MIND.
HE CERTAINLY MADE IT KEIR THAT
AT LEAST SOME LEVEL OF
PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS ARE ON THE
BACK BURNER IF NOT THE
FOREFRONT.
AND IT'S INTERESTING TO HEAR
FROM MARIO THAT BESHEAR SAID
(05:45):
THIS FREQUENTLY THAT PEOPLE CARE
MORE ABOUT KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES,
LESS ABOUT POLITICS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT
WE HEARD HIM SAY ABOUT TRUMP AND
LA PROTESTS THAT IS A NATIONAL
ISSUE.
THAT IS NOT UNDER HIS PURVIEW AS
KENTUCKY GOVERNOR IT'S POLITICAL
AND IT PLAYS INTO WHAT DEMOCRATS
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS NATIONALLY
(06:06):
ARE TALKING ABOUT.
IT'S DEFINITELY A MESSAGE THAT
IS MEANT FOR KENTUCKY AND ALSO,
I BELIEVE, NATIONALLY AND SO
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE ALSO HOW HE
RESPONDS TO ANY PROTESTS THAT
MAY GET A LITTLE BIT MORE ROWDY
IN THE STATE.
IN 2020 HE ALSO DID SEND OUT THE
NATIONAL GUARD IN LOUISVILLE.
(06:28):
SO HE HAS A HISTORY HIMSELF OF
DEALING WITH PROTESTS AND THAT
WILL GET MORE SCRUTINY
ESPECIALLY IF HE DEPENDING HOW
HE DEALS WITH PROTESTS THIS
WEEKEND.
THE STATE EMERGENCY
OPERATION CENTER WAS GOING TO BE
UP AND RUNNING.
REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR
WHO WANTS TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT
FOR HIS BID FOR MITCH
(06:49):
McCONNELL'S U.S. SENATE SEAT
HAS BEEN IN FAVOR OF TRUMP'S
POLICIES.
AND MARIO, HE USED THE PROTESTS
OVER IMMIGRATION POLICIES A
CHANCE TO CALL FOR PASSAGE.
HOUSE RESOLUTION ONE, THE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL AS THE G.O.P.
CALLS IT.
>> AND CONGRESSMAN BARR HE WROTE
AN OP-ED SAYING IN HIS OPINION
THIS LEGISLATION IS AN EASY
(07:10):
VOTE.
AND HE SAID IF SENATE
REPUBLICANS WHO NOW HAVE THAT
BILL AND ARE REVIEWING IT IF
THEY TEAM UP WITH SENATE
DEMOCRATS TO PREVENT THE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL FROM GOING TO THE
PRESIDENT'S DESK IT WILL GO DOWN
AS ONE OF THE GREATEST ERRORS IN
AMERICAN POLITICAL HISTORY.
CONGRESSMAN BARR KEEPING CLOSE
EYE ON THAT OUT OF LEXINGTON
(07:31):
AREA.
BUT, AGAIN, HE'S GOT A LOT OF
THINGS IN HIS COURT AS WELL.
HE IS RUNNING FOR SENATE AS
WELL.
A LOT OF POTENTIAL CUTS
ARE ALSO UNDER DISCUSSION.
DEMOCRATIC LEADERS IN WASHINGTON
SAID THIS WEEK THAT KENTUCKY
WOULD BE THE STATE HIT HARDEST
BY MEDICAID CUTS AND RURAL
HOSPITALS COULD BE FORCED TO
CLOSE IN SOME CASES.
(07:51):
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT MEDICAID,
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT ONE IN
THREE KENTUCKIANS HAVE MEDICAID
AS THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A LARGE
PORTION OF THE STATE THAT IS
CONCERNED WITH POTENTIAL CUTS.
AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT THERE ARE TWO VERY
DISTINCT IDEOLOGIES WHEN IT
(08:12):
COMES TO THIS MEDICAID
CONVERSATION ON ONE SIDE, THE
GENERAL CONSENSUS AMONG
CONSERVATIVES IS THAT YOU SHOULD
TRIM DOWN THE PROGRAM, AND ONLY
SERVE THE MOST VULNERABLE OF THE
MOST VULNERABLE AND THERE'S THIS
IDEA THAT IS NOT EXACTLY BACKED
UP BY DATA THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE ON MEDICAID THAT SHOULDN'T
BE OR NOT WORKING WHEN THEY
(08:33):
COULD BE.
THERE'S THAT SIDE OF IT.
THE OTHER SIDE IS THE IDEA THAT
IF YOU ARE ON MEDICAID FIRST OF
ALL YOU NEED TO BE ON MEDICAID
AND ALSO BEING ON IT IS YOUR
PATH TO GET BACK INTO THE
WORKFORCE AND YOU HAVE THAT
SAFETY NET AND THAT ALLOWS YOU
TO LIVE THE HEALTHIEST LIFE AND
(08:53):
REENTER THE WORKFORCE AND A LOT
OF PEOPLE ALREADY ARE WORKING.
SO, YES, THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF
A SPLIT THERE IN IDEOLOGY WHEN
YOU LOOK AT THE CUTS AND THAT
CONVERSATION.
AND CONGRESSMAN HAL
ROGERS HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF HIS
PEOPLE IN HIS DISTRICT ON
MEDICAID SAYS THE CUT ALSO SAVE
(09:14):
MEDICAID AND THE KENTUCKY
HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
UNDERGROUNDERRED THE PASSAGE OF
THE BUDGET BILL EVEN AS THE
INFORMATION WAS COMING OUT THAT
THERE COULD BE THREATS OF THE
SURVIVAL OF RURAL HOSPITALS.
>> ROGERS WHEN HE VOTED IN FAVOR
OF THE BILL, HE SAID HE DIDN'T
TAKE THE VOTE LIGHTLY BECAUSE HE
(09:34):
ACKNOWLEDGED A LOT OF PEOPLE HIS
CONSTITUENTS RELY ON MEDICAID.
AND DOES FALL IN THAT FIRST
IDEOLOGY.
HE THINKS YOU GET A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUT OF THE PROGRAM AND
YOU BETTER SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE LEFT.
THAT IS HIS THOUGHT PROCESS THAT
HE EXPLAINED.
YOU DID A PIECE FOR THE
(09:55):
KENTUCKY LANTERN WHERE Dr.
BRUCE SCOTT SPEAKS OUT HE WENT
OUT WITH A ROT OF THINGS TO SAY.
>> HE WAS QUITE ANGRY.
HE GAVE A GOOD-BYE SPEECH IN
CHICAGO A WEEK AGO.
AND SO HE IS FROM LOUISVILLE.
SO HE BASICALLY, HE HE SAID TURN
(10:17):
YOUR ANGER INTO ACTION WAS THE
MESSAGE FOR DOCTORS AND THE
MEDICAL COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
AND CALLED OUT THIS BILL
SPECIFICALLY.
AND HE SAID THAT HE FELT IT
WOULD HARM PEOPLE WHO REALLY
NEED SAFETY NETS AND THAT IS THE
ONLY OPTION FOR THEM.
HE ALSO TALKED A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THE STUDENT LOAN PROCESS
BEING RESTRUCTURED UNDER THIS
(10:39):
PROPOSAL.
AND FELT LIKE THAT HURTS
DOWNSTREAM WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
DOCTORS MEDICAL PEOPLE NOT BEING
ABLE TO AFFORD GOING TO COLLEGE
AND GETTING THE EDUCATION AND
ENTERING THE WORKFORCE AND WE
HAVE A WELL DOCUMENTED
HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE SHORTAGE.
HE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
IN HIS TAKEAWAY WAS TARGET THE
SENATE TRY TO GET THE SENATE TO
(10:59):
PULLBACK SOME OF THESE THINGS.
IT WAS A CALL TO ACTION.
HE WAS QUITE ANGRY AND TELLING
DOCTORS PLEASE CALL YOUR
REMANENTS.
AND IT MAYBE A FLUID
PROCESS HERE BEFORE, THE FINAL
SENATE BILL IS PASSED AND GOES
BACK TO THE HOUSE IF THERE ARE
CHANGES.
PUBLIC BROADCASTERS ARE CLOSELY
(11:21):
WATCHING THE BUDGET PROCESS.
>> YES.
RIGHT NOW, I JUST RECENTLY THE
HOUSE PASSED THE RESCISSION BILL
SEPARATE FROM THE BIG BEAUTIFUL
BILL WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT IT IS A RESCISSION BILL THAT
CLAWS BACK FUNDS FROM PUBLIC
RADIO, PUBLIC BROADCASTERS
THROUGH THE CORPORATION OF
PUBLIC BROADCASTING AND IT
AFFECTS A LOT OF FOREIGN AID.
(11:42):
AND BASICALLY IT WAS A PRETTY
SOLID PARTISAN SPLIT WITH
DEMOCRATS ARGUING THAT THIS WILL
MOST AFFECT RURAL BROADCASTING
STATIONS THAT RELY HEAVILY ON
THESE FUNDS.
AND ALSO THAT IT COULD ENDANGER
THE PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE
THAT EXISTS IN THE PUBLIC
BROADCASTING SPHERE.
WHEREAS REPUBLICANS SAID THE
(12:03):
FUNDS ARE BETTER SUITED
ELSEWHERE WE HAVE OTHER THINGS
WE SHOULD BE SPENDING THIS MONEY
ON AND THEY ARE CONCERNED ABOUT
A LIKIAL BIAS WITHIN THESE
BROADCASTING STATIONS.
AND PUBLIC BROADCASTERS
MOUNTED THEIR OWN INFORMATION
CAMPAIGNS ABOUT THE REACH OF
THEIR PRODUCT AND SO ON.
KENTUCKY SENATOR RAND PAUL AT
ONE POINT SAID HE WAS DISINVITED
(12:24):
TO A WHITE HOUSE PICNIC.
BUT THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID ON
SOCIAL MEDIA THAT, OF COURSE,
PAUL AND HIS FAMILY WERE WELCOME
AT THE EVENT.
THIS WAS AN UNEXPECTED DRAMA OF
THE WEEK.
PAUL SAID HE LEARNED HE WAS
UNINVITED WHEN HE WENT TO CLAIM
TICKETS FOR HIMSELF AND HIS
FAMILY.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
SENATOR PAUL SAID HE THINKS HE
IS THE FIRST SENATOR?
(12:44):
THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
TO BE UNINVITED TO THE WHITE
HOUSE PICNIC AND HE SAID AT THE
TIME HE THOUGHT IT WAS
INCREDIBLY PETTY OF THE
PRESIDENT AND THE ADMINISTRATION
TO DO THIS.
BUT HE SAID HE HAS BEEN NOTHING
BUT POLITE.
HE WAS PLANNING ON HIMSELF, HIS
WIFE AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND
SIX-MONTH-OLD GRANDSON TO MAKE
(13:04):
THE TRIP AND THERE WAS BACK AND
FORTH AND THEN PRESIDENT TRUMP
SHARED THROUGH HIS SOCIAL MEDIA
PLATFORM THAT SENATOR PAUL IS
THE TOUGHEST VOTE IN HISTORY.
OF THE U.S. SENATE AND HE SAID
HE WELCOMES HIM TO COME TO THE
WHITE HOUSE AND LOOKS FORWARD TO
LOBBYING SENATOR PAUL TO GET HIM
ON HIS SIDE SO VOTE IN FAVOR OF
THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.
THIS WEEK, PAUL HAD
(13:27):
DEFENDED THE PRESIDENT'S USE OF
THE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS AND
MARINES IN THE CLASHES OVER
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
BUT PAUL ALSO SAID THIS WEEK
THAT HE DOESN'T THINK MUCH OF A
MILITARY PARADE SCHEDULED FOR
SATURDAY IN WASHINGTON.
>> NEVER BEEN A BIG FAN OF
HAVING SOLDIERS AND TANKS AND
MISSILES ROLLING DOWN THE
STREET.
I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT.
(13:50):
SENATOR PAUL OBVIOUSLY
HAS HIS QUALMS WITH THAT.
AND DO THOSE DIFFERENCES THAT HE
HAS FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE
PRESIDENT, KEEP A LITTLE BIT OF
THAT STRANGE GOING IN THEIR
RELATIONSHIP?
>> SURE AND I DON'T THINK
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE FIRST
PERSON TO SAY SENATOR ST. PAUL A
HARD VOTE TO GET.
(14:11):
HE HAS NOT HELD BACK UNDER
PRESIDENT TRUMP EITHER.
HE HAS AGREED WITH PLENTY OF
POLICIES AND DISAGREED ON
OTHERS.
THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, HE HAS
DISAGREED QUITE A BIT ON THE
PRESIDENT'S TARIFF POLICIES.
HE HAS BEEN OF THE MAJOR VOICES.
KENTUCKY HAS SEVERAL POLITICIANS
THAT HAVE GOTTEN ON PRESIDENT
(14:33):
TRUMP'S BAD SIDE INCLUDING
REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE.
SO IT'S NOT THE SENATOR PAUL IS
NOT AFRAID TO DISSENT FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND IT HAS
EARNED HIS IRE.
WE HAVE TO SEE IF THAT
RELATIONSHIP IMPROVES.
BACK IN KENTUCKY THE
NEW KIDS COUNT REPORT IS OUT AND
SHOWS KENTUCKY KIDS ARE
STRUGGLING TO CATCH UP WITH
(14:54):
OTHERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND
POVERTY IS STILL A MAJOR BURDEN
FOR KENTUCKY KIDS.
>> WE'RE RANKED AS THE 36TH
STATE WHEN IT COMES TO OVERALL
CHILD WELL-BEING.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT SHOULD BOTHER
EVERY KENTUCKIAN.
THAT PUTS US RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM
(15:16):
FOURTH OF STATES, POVERTY IS THE
SINGULAR CANARY IN THE COAL MINE
INDICATOR.
HOW OUR KIDS ECONOMIC STATUS
LIES INFLUENCES EVERYTHING.
THAT ANNUAL REPORT IS
ALWAYS EYE-OPENING, SARAH.
AND WHAT DOES IT SHOW?
>> WELL, IT SHOWS WHAT WE'VE
(15:38):
KNOWN FOR YEARS, RIGHT?
WHICH IS IN A LOT OF WAYS
KENTUCKY'S KIDS ARE NOT DOING
WELL.
THE THING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME
REALLY HEAVILY WAS THAT EVERY
SINGLE MARK OF EDUCATION GOT
WORSE IN THIS REPORT FROM A
COUPLE YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE KIDS WHO AREN'T
PROFICIENT IN READING.
KIDS WHO AREN'T PROFICIENT IN
MATH.
PART OF THIS YOU CAN LOOK BACK
(16:01):
TO COVID WHERE CHRONIC
ABSENTEEISM SKYROCKETED.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO OTHER SOCIAL
SUPPORTS WE ARE ONE OF THE WORST
STATES FOR FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
SUPPORT SO KIDS ARE NOT GETTING
WHAT THEY NEED TO THRIVE IS THE
TAKEAWAY.
AND AS TERRY MENTIONED POVERTY
IS HUGE IT AFFECTS 20% OF
KENTUCKY'S KIDS AND THAT MEANS
(16:22):
MAYBE THAT KID DOESN'T HAVE
STABLE HOUSING, MAYBE THEY DON'T
KNOW WHERE THE NEXT MEAL IS
COMING FROM.
MAYBE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO
ACCESS NUTRITIOUS FOOD.
THERE IS A LOT OF NEGATIVE
TAKEAWAYS.
THE DEATH RATE AMONG KIDS IS
QUITE HIGH.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE, WE HAVE A
GOOD PERCENTAGE OF HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF KIDS WHO HAVE
(16:42):
HEALTH INSURANCE.
THERE IS THE POTENTIAL TO THAT'S
AN UPSTREAM THING THE POTENTIAL
THEY CAN GET CARE BUT THERE IS A
LOT OF MARKS HERE THAT NEED
IMPROVEMENT BY A LOT.
>> 100% MANY I ALSO THINK
INTERESTING THING TO NOTE IS
SOME OF OUR PERCENTAGES DID
IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT.
LIKE OUR POVERTY PERCENTAGE IT
(17:03):
DID DECREASE A LITTLE BIT.
LIKE TERRY BROOKS WAS SAYING IT
PUTS US FAR BELOW THE NATIONAL
AVERAGE.
TEEN BIRTHS WE ARE GETTING
BETTER IN THAT CATEGORY BUT IT'S
WORSE THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, I
THINK, IN GETTING TO WHERE OTHER
STATES ARE.
EVEN IF WE ARE MAKING SMALL
(17:23):
STRIDES WHAT TERRY BROOKS TOLD
ME WE NEED TO MAKE BIGGER ONES.
IT'S DIFFICULT FOR
CHILDREN TO LEARN IN UNSTABLE
SITUATION.
>> IT IS HARD MARKERS TO MOVE.
CHILDREN IN POVERTY IS A HUGE
ISSUE TO DEAL WITH.
>> AND IT'S HARD TO STUDY IF YOU
ARE HUNGRY.
IF YOU DON'T HAVE GOOD FOOD HOW
CAN YOU STUDY AND DO WELL IN
SCHOOL?
(17:44):
IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
WE'RE WATCHING THE
RACES TAKE SHAPE FOR THE U.S.
SENATE HERE IN KENTUCKY AS WE'VE
MENTIONED AND THE SIXTH DISTRICT
HOUSE SEAT THE SEAT WHERE ANDY
BARR WILL BE GIVE TO GO UP
BECAUSE HE IS RUNNING FOR THE
SENATE.
DEMOCRATS HAVE TWO CANDIDATES IN
THE RACE FORMER STATE
REPRESENTATIVE CHERLYNN
STEVENSON AND FORMER LEXINGTON
(18:05):
COUNCILMEMBER KLOIBER.
HE IS TALKING ABOUT TURNING DOWN
THE TONE IN POLITICAL
CONVERSATIONS THAT GOES WITH
WHAT WE'VE BEEN SAYING TONIGHT.
IS THAT WHAT YOU DO, THOUGH, IF
YOU ARE HOPING TO FLIP A SEAT?
>> WELL, ACCORDING TO KLOIBER HE
THINKS THAT IS WHAT IS THE BEST
THING TO DO.
AND TODAY'S POLITICAL CYCLE AND
(18:26):
POLITICAL WORLD THAT ANSWER IS
NO.
BECAUSE THE NATIONAL LEVEL, YOU
HAVE BIG PERSONALITIES AND BIG
VERY STRONG OPINIONS AND AGAIN,
IT'S MORE A PARTISAN THAN IT'S
EVER BEEN ACCORDING TO MOST
PEOPLE.
EN TOKING THINGS DOWN YOU ARE
MORE LIKELY TO NOT BE HEARD FROM
BECAUSE YOU IF YOU ARE NOT
SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT HIGH
(18:48):
PROFILE TOPICS AND WILLING TO
GET IN THE WEEDS AND GO BACK AND
FORTH AND USE YOUR PLATFORMS AND
SPEAKING SOCIAL MEDIA,
AMPLIFYING THINGS YOU WILL GET
LOST IN THE SHUFFLE.
AND IT MAY WORK IN A MORE LOCAL
POLITICS WHICH KLOIBER RAN FOR
CITY COUNCIL AND RAN FOR MAYOR.
THAT MAYBE WORK IN A NONPARTISAN
(19:09):
RACE BUT LACKING TO GO TO
WASHINGTON D.C. YOU HAVE TO BE
READY TO BUCKLE IN AND BE READY
TO GO AND TALK THE BIG TALK.
HE BELIEVES YOU CAN
TALK ABOUT NATIONAL ISSUES IN A
LOCAL WAY.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH
THAT.
ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN THAT
RACE, STATE REPRESENTATIVE RYAN
(19:29):
DOTSON IS IN THE RACE AND WENT
TO WASHINGTON TO TALK WITH
G.O.P. STRATEGISTS AND AMANDA
MAYS BLEDSOE CONTINUES TO BE A
POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.
>> THE TIME-FRAME IS GETTING
SHORTER NOT JUST FOR ME BUT
OTHERS LOOKING AT THE SEAT IF I
RUN, THE 12TH DISTRICT SEAT
WOULD BE OPEN SO A LOT OF
DOMINOES THAT FLY IN THAT SPACE.
(19:49):
EVERYONE IS LOOKING TO SEE WHO
IS THE BEST PERSON TO LEAD
FAYETTE COUNTY AND THE REST OF
THE COUNTIES WHO IS THE BEST
PERSON TO SERVE THE SIXTH
DISTRICT.
IT IS A BIG DECISION IT
WOULD BE A TOUGH CAMPAIGN FOR
ANYBODY.
DOES AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE FEELING
THE WEIGHT OF THAT COMMITMENT?
AS SHE GIVES IT CONSIDERS?
>> SHE IS BECAUSE SHE IS ACTIVE
(20:11):
TALKING WITH PEOPLE AND
PROFESSIONALLY AND SHE SERVED ON
THE CITY COUNCIL FOR LEXINGTON
FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND HAS BEEN
IN STATE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTING
FOUR COUNTIES THROUGH THE SENATE
DISTRICT.
SHE HAS FRIENDS IN BOTH SIDES OF
THE AISLE AND OPEN ABOUT SHE IS
RECOVERING FROM BEING KICKED IN
THE FACE BY HER HORSE.
(20:32):
SO SHE SHARED WITH PEOPLE SHE
HAS SURGERY.
HOPEFULLY A FINAL SURGERY IN
JULY AND ONCE SHE GETS THROUGH
THE PROCESS SHE WILL FIGURE OUT
WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO BUT SHE IS
GETTING ENCOURAGEMENT FROM
PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE AND THE
NATIONAL LEVEL ASKING HER TO
CONSIDER MOVING TO THE NEXT
STEP.
BOTH SIDES HAVE
PRIMARIES AND THEY COULD GET
MORE CROWDED.
(20:53):
NEW KENTUCKY LAWS ARE ABOUT TO
GO INTO EFFECT THAT INCLUDES
SENATE BILL 1 RE8ING THE
KENTUCKY FILM OFFICE.
AND MARIO TALK ABOUT HOW SCHOOLS
AND THE STATE'S ECONOMY MIGHT
BENEFIT.
>> WE HAVE WORKED WITH FILM
COMMUNITY OVER THE YEARS AND
SOME OF THE STUDIOS HAVE
(21:13):
ACTUALLY FILMED ON OUR CAMPUS.
AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE
NOT ONLY FOR OUR STUDENTS
BECAUSE THEY HIRE STUDENTS AND
MENTOR THEM BUT ALSO IT'S BEEN
GREAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE
THEY SPEND MONEY IN HOUSING AND
FOOD AND EVERYTHING ELSE
SUPPLIES.
SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE
FOR US.
(21:35):
SO THEY ARE REALLY IN
THAT AREA RIGHT NOW.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT
FOR DECADES AT THIS POINT
SENDING STUDENTS OUT TO THE
SUMMER OLYMPICS AND THE WINTER
OLYMPICS AND WORKING ON
PRODUCTIONS.
YOU GOT A LOT OF THE TOP TIER
PRODUCTION QUALITY AND EQUIPMENT
THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE MOST
(21:56):
UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE
AND SENATE BILL 1 WHICH IS A
PRIORITY BILL DURING THIS LAST
LEGISLATIVE SESSION IT MOVED
THINGS FORWARD TO TRY TO
ENCOURAGE MORE PRODUCTIONS TO
COME TO THE BLUEGRASS STATE TO
FILM THEIR PRODUCTIONS HERE BUT
THEN ALSO GET TAX CREDITS
POTENTIALLY IF THEY DO INVEST
THEIR TIME HERE.
THERE ARE OPPONENTS THAT ARE
(22:17):
CONCERNED A LOT OF MONEY IS
BEING SET ASIDE TOWARDS
MARKETING OUTSIDE OF THE STATE
AND THE COUNTRY, AND CONCERNS
ABOUT SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS
TO DO EXTRA MARKETING ON THAT.
WE'LL SEE IF THE
KENTUCKY CAN CAPITALIZE ON SHOW
BUSINESS.
WE KENTUCKIANS ARE INTERESTING
PEOPLE.
MORE THAN 80 MILLION PEOPLE CAME
TO SEE US LAST YEAR.
(22:38):
TOURISM EXPENDITURES TOPPED $14
BILLION THAT IS AN ALL-TIME
RECORD.
SARAH THAT IS ABOUT 97,000 JOBS
TOURISM IS A MAJOR SECTOR OF
KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY MORE THAN WE
REALIZE.
>> I AM BIAS I THINK KENTUCKY IS
GORGEOUS.
WORTH VISITING.
>> SECONDED.
>> THIRDED.
(22:59):
IS IT THE PEOPLE, THE
HISTORY THE BOURBON?
THE HORSES?
WHAT IS IT?
>> THE FOOD THE NATURE.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.
>> ENJOY IT BY YOURSELF OR TAKE
FRIENDS AND FAMILY THERE'S
OPPORTUNITIES.
>> ALL THE INVESTMENTS IN THE
BOURBON TRAIL ARE PAYING OFF.
>> KENTUCKY'S GENERAL FUND
JUMPED MORE THAN 10% IN MAY OVER
(23:20):
THE SAME PERIOD.
THE STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR SAYS
THE STATE TOOK IN $1.2 BILLION
LAST MONTH.
STRONG GROWTH IN BUSINESS AND
INDIVIDUAL TAX RECEIPTS.
THIS WAS INTERESTING CIGARETTE
TAX RECEIPTS DROPPED MORE THAN
14%.
WE ALL ASSUME THAT MAY MEAN LESS
SMOKING AT THIS TIME LESS
CONSUMPTION?
(23:41):
>> IT'S HARD TO SAY FOR SURE.
YOU CAN HOPE THAT FROM A PUBLIC
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE MAYBE PEOPLE
GO OUT TO STATE TO BUY
CIGARETTES MAYBE THEY ARE MOVED
TO VAPING.
IT'S HARD TO SAY HOW HABITS
CHANGED BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO
LOOK AT AND WORTH A GOOD
ANALYSIS.
(24:01):
ALLISON BALL IS GOING
TO DO A SPECIAL EXAMINATION OF
THE FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
THE SCHOOLS IN LEXINGTON FACE A
$16 MILLION SHORTFALL AND THEY
BACKTRACKED ON A PLAN TO SEEK AN
INCREASE IN THE PAYROLL TAX.
MARIO, WE GET INDICATIONS THAT
THAT AUDIT IS GOING TO BE
BROADER THAN JUST LOOKING AT THE
(24:21):
BUDGETS AND SOME OF THE NUMBERS.
>> THAT IS RIGHT.
ALL OF KENTUCKY'S PUBLIC SCHOOL
DISTRICTS EACH YEAR THEY DO
THEIR OWN INTERNAL AUDITS AND
REVIEW THE BOOKS AND THE
FINANCES.
BUT AUDITOR ALLISON BALL SHE
SAYS THAT BECAUSE FAYETTE COUNTY
HAS LOTS OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
AVAILABLE HER OFFICE IS GOING TO
DO AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS AND LOOK
(24:42):
AT EVERY LINE ITEM AND FIGURE
OUT WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING AND
HAS BEEN RECEIVING LOTTINGS OF
FEEDBACK AND COMMUNITY INPUT ON
THINGS TO PUT EXTRA EYES ON.
IT WILL BE A VERY EXTENSIVE
PROCESS AND IT WILL TAKE
SOMETIME AND SHE IS FOCUSED ON
LOOKING AT EVERYTHING AND MAKE
SURE EVERYTHING IS ON THE UP AND
UP.
(25:03):
AND THAT 16 MILLION
SHORTFALL.
ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN
SAYS 5 MILLION WILL BE AWARDED
FOR OPIOID RESEARCH AND
INNOVATIONS.
APPLICANTS CAN COME FORWARD
SOON.
>> PART OF OUR SETTLEMENT
DOLLARS THAT WE GET.
HE IS GIVING OUT $5 MILLION TO
ONE BIG GRANTOR A LOT OF GRANT
(25:24):
APPLICATIONS WILL OPEN JULY 1
UNTIL DECEMBER 20TH.
AND THEN DECISIONS WILL BE MADE
NEXT MARCH OR APRIL.
HE IS LOOKING FOR INNOVATION, SO
WHATEVER THAT MEANS TO DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS.
NONPROFITS, FOR-PROFITS AND
GOVERNMENTS CAN ALL APPLY.
BE CREATIVE.
>> OPEN ENDED.
>> .
(25:45):
IT WAS INTERESTING THE
FIRST COUPLE OF ROUNDS THERE
WERE LOTS OF IDEAS SOME MAYBE
HADN'T TOTE OF BEFORE.
>> THERE'S BEEN SO MANY DOLLARS
ALLOCATED ALL OVER THE PLACE.
MANY IN BOTH PARTIES
ARE REMEMBERING CHARLIE MILLER
HE SERVED IN THE STATE HOUSE FOR
MORE THAN TWO DECADES.
BEFORE THAT HE SPENT 25 YEARS AS
THE PRINCIPAL AT PLEASURE RIDGE
(26:07):
PARK HIGH SCHOOL.
THE REPUBLICAN REPRESENT BOWMAN
DEFEATED MILLER IN 2023 BUT WAS
QUICK TO REMEMBER HIS LEGACY.
BOWMAN SAID THAT SOUTHWEST
JEFFERSON COUNTY LOST A LEGEND.
LOUISVILLE MAYOR GREG FISHER
CALLED MILLER A GIANT.
CHARLIE MILLER WAS 86.
THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
(26:27):
AND HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK
AHEAD.
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