May 28, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including the response by local, state, and federal government to a severe tornado striking southern and eastern Kentucky. Guests: Alex Acquisto, Lexington Herald-Leader; Isaiah Kim-Martinez, WHAS 11 in Louisville; and McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:02):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
KENTUCKY DEALS WITH
DISASTER ONCE AGAIN A DEADLY EF4
TORNADO TAKES LIVES AND CHANGES
LIVES FOREVER.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR PUSHES FOR MORE
FEDERAL DISASTER FUNDS AND
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS PROMISE HELP
FROM FRANKFORT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ENDS
REFORM AGREEMENTS WITH
LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE.
(00:28):
IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY'S HOUSE
DELEGATION SPLITS ON THE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL.
HEADING INTO A UNUSUALLY COOL
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, COMMENT IS
NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.
(00:50):
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND
ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN
THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS
ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY
JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE MCKENNA
HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR
THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.
ALEX ACQUISTO POLITICS AND
HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE
(01:10):
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER AND
ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ SENIOR
REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN
LOUISVILLE.
ONCE AGAIN, KENTUCKY IS DEALING
WITH A NATURAL DISASTER A DEADLY
EF4 TORNADO THAT LEFT 19 PEOPLE
DEAD IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY.
MANY MORE ARE INJURED AND STILL
MORE ARE HOMELESS.
(01:31):
BUILDINGS AND HOMES WERE NO
MATCH FOR THE TWISTER THAT HAD
WINDS OF 170-MILES-PER-HOUR.
AND ONCE AGAIN STATE LEADERS
INCLUDING GOVERNOR BESHEAR ARE
MANAGING A CRISIS.
>> Gov. Andy Beshear (01:43):
WHAT YOU
SEE BEHIND ME ARE FOLKS FROM OUR
CITY FROM OUR COUNTY, FROM ALL
PARTS OF STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ALL OF US STANDING
HERE TOGETHER TO SAY WE ARE
GOING TO BE HERE FOR THIS
COMMUNITY TODAY, TOMORROW, NEXT
WEEK, NEXT MONTH, NEXT YEAR AND
THE YEARS TO COME TO HELP PEOPLE
REBUILD.
>> WHATEVER THE NEEDS ARE FROM A
(02:04):
FINANCIAL STANDPOINT THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY I'VE TALKED WITH MY
COLLEAGUES ON A TEXT CHAIN WITH
31 COLLEAGUES IN MY CAUCUS
SAYING WE WERE READY AND WILLING
AND ABLE TO DO TO AID AND ASSIST
IN THE RECOVERY OF THIS.
>> Bill (02:20):
THE POLITICAL LEADERS
IN UNISON AND IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY COME IN AND MAKE THE
PROMISES THAT THE WORK WILL
BEGIN, AND OF COURSE, IS
UNDERWAY.
ONCE AGAIN IN THIS DISASTER,
WORDS DON'T COME EASY.
YOU DID A STORY ABOUT FAITH
LEADERS WHO STRUGGLED TO EXPLAIN
THIS DISASTER TO THEIR
CONGREGATIONS.
>> SURE, IN KENTUCKY WE ARE A
(02:42):
LARGELY CHRISTIAN STATE AND THE
DISASTERS KEEP HAPPENING THIS IS
MY THIRD COVERING FOR THE PAPER
PEOPLE LOOK TO THEIR CHURCHES,
PASTORS AND MINISTERS TO GRAPPLE
WITH SUCH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
SO I WENT TO A FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH IN LONDON AND
HEARD A PASTOR PREACH ASSURING
PEOPLE THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE
(03:03):
TRAGEDIES HAPPEN THEIR NEIGHBORS
AND FRIENDS DIED, PEOPLE LOSED
THEIR HOUSES ASSURING GOD IS
WITH THEM IN THE RUBBLE.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE AT
ONE POINT THEY SANG HOW GREAT
THEY ARE AND I LOOKED AND SAW A
WOMAN SOB AND IN THE PEW.
IT'S HARD TO COMPREHEND AND
WE'VE COVERED SO MANY AND EACH
ONE IS DIFFERENT BUT IT'S PEOPLE
(03:26):
WHO ARE IMPACTED.
PEOPLE NEED CONNECTION.
>> IT'S CRUCIAL IT'S WHAT GETS
YOU THROUGH.
LEANING ON THE COMMUNITY AND
BUILDING THAT NETWORK.
WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE
WHO WENT THROUGH THAT AWFUL
NIGHT AND WE WANT TO HEAR SOME
OF THOSE NOW.
>> THE ROOF IS TWO HOUSES DOWN
ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROAD BEHIND
(03:46):
THEIR HOUSE.
AND THEN THE CEILING CAVED IN ON
HER SHE WAS ON THE COUCH.
HER HUSBAND HAD TO DIG HER OUT
FROM THE CEILING TILES.
>> IT'S TRAUMATIC, SOMETHING YOU
CAN'T COMPREHEND UNTIL YOU SEE
THE DAMAGE.
>> I OPENED MY DOOR I HEARD THAT
SOUND, MAN THEY SAY IT SOUNDS
LIKE A TRAIN.
IS SOUNDED LIKE A LION COMING
(04:08):
IN.
THE GUY HAD THREE KIDS AND MY
OLD LADY AND THE BATHROOM HOPING
AND PRAYING.
MY COUSIN CALLED AND SAID IT WAS
HEADED TOWARDS US AND SAID TAKE
SHELTER.
I TRIED TO PULL THE COUCH OVER
ME AND IT WAS TOO HEAVY.
I GOT THE RECLINER AND I COULD
HEAR IT GETTING CLOSER AND
(04:30):
CLOSER, THINGS GOING UP AND
PEOPLE SCREAMING AND STUFF
SHATTERING, TRANSFORMERS
BLOWING.
THE SCARIEST THING IN MY LIFE.
I DON'T WOULDN'T TO GO THROUGH
IT AGAIN.
>> I REMEMBER TEXTING MY KIDS IN
A GROUP TEXT SAYING IT'S GOING
TO BE A DIRECT HIT SO I COULD
HEAR IT COMING.
AND I LOVE YOU, MOM.
(04:51):
THINKING THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST
COMMUNICATION I HAD WITH THEM.
MY NEIGHBOR THAT WE WALK DOGS
TOGETHER WAS IN THAT HOUSE AND
SHE PASSED AWAY BECAUSE SHE
DIDN'T WAKE UP.
SO MANY DIDN'T MAKE IT
AND OTHERS AND THOSE EYEWITNESS
ACCOUNTS DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER
THEY WOULD.
>> DEVASTATING.
WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVE
(05:13):
SPECIFICALLY IN LAUREL COUNTY IN
LONDON WE HAD CREWS THERE FOR
THREE DAYS AND SOME OF THEM FELT
THIS SENSE OF GUILT.
THEY SAY WHY WAS I SPARED?
AND MY NEIGHBOR JUST DOWN THE
STREET OR NEXT DOOR THEY ARE NOT
HERE ANYMORE.
AND WE KNOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WERE
SENIORS.
65 YEARS AND OLDER WHICH IS JUST
(05:35):
TERRIBLE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STORM,
STRENGTH OF IT,
170-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS YOU
HEARD IN THE SOUND A LOT OF
THESE PEOPLE KNEW IT WAS COMING
THEY HEEDED WARNINGS AND GOT IN
THEIR BATH TUBS AND GOT IN AS
LOW OF A LEVEL THEY CAN.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A STORM THAT
STRONG AND THAT WIDE SOMETIMES
(05:56):
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.
THE INITIAL STATE AND
LOCAL RESPONSE WAS IMMEDIATE BY
ALL ACCOUNTS AND HAS BEEN
EFFECTIVE.
THE DISPATCHERS HAVE BEEN
COMMENDED FOR HANDLING 600 CALLS
AND 5,000 RADIO TRANSMISSIONS.
BUT THIS IS AN AWFUL EVENT THAT
IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO COME
(06:16):
BACK FROM?
>> RIGHT.
AND YOU CAN LOOK AT RECENT
DISASTERS THAT THE STATE HAS
FACED WE'RE STILL RECOVERING
FROM THOSE.
I NOTED THAT THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR
BESHEAR WAS SELL OPERATING THE
UNVEILING OF 10 HOMES FROM THE
2022 FLOODS.
SO HERE WE ARE NEARLY THREE
YEARS LATER WHERE SURVIVORS OF
(06:39):
THOSE DISASTERS ARE NOW GETTING
HOUSING.
BUT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY
HAVE THE PLAYBOOK OUT FOR HOW TO
RESPOND TO THESE THINGS,
INCLUDING LAWMAKERS AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS AS WELL-BEING A PART
OF THAT.
WE'RE SEEING NONPROFITS ALREADY
GET ON THE GROUND AND REACHING
(06:59):
OUT.
AND I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR TALK IN
FRANKFORT OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS AND WELL INTO THE NEXT
SESSION AS LAWMAKERS DECIDE THE
NEXT STATE BUDGET.
KENTUCKY SEEKING
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND WE ARE
AWAITING WORD ON THAT.
>> WE ARE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE ANY NATURAL DISASTER WITH A
SCOPE LIKE THIS TAKES YEARS TO
(07:19):
REBUILD FROM.
IN KENTUCKY, AS THEY START
HAPPENING MORE OFTEN I REMEMBER
DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
IN APRIL TALKING TO LEADERS
ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO
CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO
PROVIDE FUNDING.
FEDERAL FUNDING HAS NOT COME IN
FROM APRIL STORMS.
IT IS A QUEUE THAT IS BACKING UP
THAT ONLY EXACERBATES THE
(07:40):
LENTSDZ OF TIME PEOPLE HAVE TO
RECOVER.
IT'S CLEANING EVERYTHING UP
ALSO.
AND TO McKENNA'S
POINT YOU ARE DEALING WITH ONE
THAT IS GOING ON ONGOING.
YOU ARE LOOKING BACK AND HAVING
TO CONTINUE TO REBUILD FROM AN
EVENT YEARS AGO.
AND YOU ARE ALWAYS PREPARING FOR
THE NEXT ONE.
>> WE KNOW THERE WILL BE MORE.
(08:02):
THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE DID GET WARNINGS OUT
AHEAD OF THE STORM.
JAMES COMER NOTES THE WEATHER
SERVICE SHIFTED PERSONNEL TO THE
JACKSON OFFICE AHEAD OF THE
TORNADO.
HAL ROGERS APPLAUDED THE WEATHER
SERVICE AND PROMISED TO USE HIS
CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE
THAT OVERSEES THE WEATHER
SERVICE TO FULLY FUND IT.
(08:22):
MORGAN MCGARVEY EXPRESSED
CONCERNS ABOUT THE CUTS TO THE
WEATHER SERVICE AND ALEX WE KNOW
THAT EACH OF THE THREE WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICES IN KENTUCKY HAS
PERSONNEL SHORTAGES.
>> RIGHT.
THE ONE IN PADUCAH IS SHORT
SEVEN PEOPLE, LOUISVILLE IS
EIGHT AND JACKSON IS SHORT
EIGHT.
AND WE KNOW THAT I HAD MENTIONED
(08:42):
THEY WERE FULLY STAFFED THEY DID
SURGE STAFFING OVERNIGHT.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE
EMPLOYED AT THAT WEATHER SERVICE
TO DO OVERNIGHT SHIFTS.
WE LUCKILY HAD WARNING THE STORM
WAS COMING IN SO THEY WERE ABLE
TO RESPOND TO THAT QUICKLY BY
PUTTING PEOPLE IN.
BUT I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO
SAY WE LIVE IN KENTUCKY THERE
ARE A LOT OF STORMS IN THE
(09:03):
SUMMER.
STORMS WILL SPIN-OUT WITHOUT
WARNING.
THERE IS NO WAY TO SAY THAT
THESE CUTS AND THE VACANCIES
WON'T HE AHAVE SOME IMPACT.
>> LOUISVILLE WE LOST A FAMILIAR
FACE.
LOST AS IN THE JOB, THIS WAS
JOHN GORDON METEOROLOGIST IN
CHARGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN LOUISVILLE HE TOOK AN EARLY
RETIREMENT AS PART OF ALL THIS.
(09:25):
HE NOW IS A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
FOR US AND HELPED US FORECAST
THIS.
YOU SEE SORT OF ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO THE LOCAL LEVEL SOME OF THE
IMPACTS WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH
IT OR NOT.
AND SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT NEWS
TOPICS WHERE IT FEELS INSULAR,
WE HEAR ABOUT THINGS BUT THE
GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T AS OFTEN.
I WAS SPEAKING WITH A WOMAN IN
(09:46):
SOUTHERN INDIANA NATIONAL
WEATHER LOUISVILLE THEY
BROADCAST TO AND HANDLE THAT
REGION AS WELL, AND WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER RADIOS
THAT THERE WAS THAT SCHEDULED
OUTAGE TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM
UPDATE IT AND ASKED ME IS THIS
BECAUSE OF THE CUTS?
>> IT IS REVERBERATING PEOPLE
(10:06):
ARE HEARING ABOUT IT.
AND THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
IT'S ON THEIR MINDS
WHETHER IT'S RELATED OR NOT.
>> EXACTLY AND THAT IS UP TO US
TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
LAUREL COUNTY SCHOOLS
ENDED THE YEAR AFTER THE
TORNADOES.
APPARENTLY FEELING THERE WAS NO
ON SON AND MANY STUDENTS ANDS
YOUNGER ONES, SENIORS IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND OTHERS ARE OUT THERE
(10:28):
HELPING WITH THE RESPONSE.
BUT THEY HAD TO GET SPECIAL
PERMISSION FROM THE STATE?
>> RIGHT.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THAT WAS FACING THE
ISSUE OF ALMOST USING ALL OF
THEIR 10NTI DAYS BY THE END OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
HALFWAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
BUT LAUREL COUNTY IN PARTICULAR
(10:50):
IT CLOSED EARLY ON IN THE SCHOOL
YEAR BEFORE ANY OF THIS WINTER
WEATHER HAPPENED DUE TO AN
ONGOING MANHUNT NEARBY OUT OF
SAFETY FOR THE STUDENTS.
THE SHOOTER.
>> RIGHT.
AND SO WHEN THIS LATEST DISASTER
HIT THEY MADE THE DECISION TO
CLOSE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR TO HELP FOCUS ON
STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES IMPACTED
(11:12):
BY THIS AND WORK TO GET
RESOURCES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
GRADUATION WILL BE GOING ON.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SPACE TO
CELEBRATE STUDENTS AS THEY ARE
MOVING ON.
BUT LATER THIS MONTH.
YOU SEE THE BEST AND
THE WORST OF PEOPLE IN THE
SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE GOOD.
SO MANY KENTUCKIANS STEPPED UP
AND PEOPLE HAVE COME FROM OTHER
(11:33):
STATES TO HELP THE PEOPLE.
BUT THERE WAS ALSO LOOTING AND
PEOPLE'S PETS STOLEN IN THOSE
DAYS RIGHT AFTER THE STORM.
>> AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
GOVERNOR BESHEAR ADDRESSED IN
ONE OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCES HE
HAS HAD.
AND HE DID NOT MINCE WORDS HE
WARNED TO ANYBODY SHOULD THINK
ABOUT THIS YOU WILL BE
(11:54):
PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
OF THE LAW.
A REMINDER PEOPLE CAPITALIZE ON
OTHER'S TRAGEDIES.
BUT HE HAS ASSURED THAT THEY
WILL BE PUNISHED IF THEY ARE
CAUGHT.
AND THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL INDICATING HE PUT IN
FORCE SOME RULES AND HE MAKES IT
VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WILL BE
ENFORCED.
>> RIGHT.
ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL
(12:15):
COLEMAN'S OFFICE HAS ACTIVATED
ITS AG PRICE GOUGING HOTLINE
THEY CAN REPORT THAT TO THE
OFFICE ON-LINE OR BY CALLING.
AS WE WRAP UP TALKING
ABOUT THIS HORRIBLE TORNADO, WE
HEAR SOME CHATTER AMONG LOCAL
LEADERS AND MAYORS AND JUDGE
EXECUTIVES ISAIAH, THAT THEY ARE
(12:37):
TAKING A STEP BACK AND
CONSIDERING ARE WE DOING ENOUGH
AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE
PREPARED, TO HAVE SHELTER SPACE,
TO WARN OUR RESIDENTS WHO MAKES
THE DECISION ABOUT SIRENS AND SO
ON?
>> ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
SOME OF THE RECORDS WE'VE SEEN.
WE SAW A RECORD SNOWFALL IN THE
WINTER.
AND WE'RE SEEING RECORD
(12:57):
FLOODING.
AND SEEING THE WORST TORNADOES
THAT I BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITY
SPECIFICALLY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
HAS SEEN IN 13 YEARS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NOT TO GET
TOO INTO IT HOW THAT REGION
WHERE THE TORNADOES TYPICALLY
HIT THE STRONGEST HAS MOVED
EAST.
AND SUDDENLY INDIANA AND
KENTUCKY ARE IN THE CENTER OF
IT.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUESTION OF
(13:19):
WARNINGS ARE GREAT.
BUT HOW DO WE PROTECT PEOPLE WHO
KNOW IT'S COMING?
IN SOME OF THESE SMALLER
COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY AROUND
THE STATE.
AND I THINK THAT THE EMERGENCY
SHELTERS THAT IS THE QUESTION
THAT A LOT OF THESE LOCAL
LEADERS WILL HAVE TO COME UP
WITH ANSWERS.
OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH
THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN RECOVERY
THERE IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY
(13:40):
ASTIES GOES ON.
IN THE WAKE OF THE STORMS,
GOVERNOR BESHEAR APPEARED FOR
SEVERAL NATIONAL INTERVIEWS AND
THE SUBJECT OF HIM POTENTIALLY
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT CAME UP.
AND HE WALKS A FINE LINE HE DOES
NOT DECLARE CANDIDACY, BUT HE
SEEMS TO MAKE A CASE FOR WHY HE
MIGHT RUN.
>> HE DOES.
AND HE GENERALLY HANDLES THESE
SITUATIONS WITH FAMILIARITY.
(14:02):
HE TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE WAS 14
FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS
JUST IN HIS FIVE PLUS YEARS AS
GOVERNOR.
HE GENERALLY KNOWS HOW TO TOW
THAT LINE AND EVEN IN THE PRESS
CONFERENCE I WAS STRUCK BY
ORIGINALLY HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
FEMA AND TALKING HOW THERE IS A
(14:23):
MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION AND
HE MADE A POINT TO SAY, LISTEN,
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM HOMELAND
SECURITY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP
THEY LISTEN TO US AND FEMA ACTED
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR IT AGAIN
AND HE HAS SAID ESPECIALLY ON
SOCIAL MEDIA AT TIMES LIKE THESE
YOU CAN GIVE CREDIT FOR ONE
THING BUT HE HAS ALSO BEEN
(14:43):
CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE
PROPOSALS TO BRING FEMA FUNDING
COMPLETELY TO A STATE LEVEL.
HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SORT OF
TOUCH ON ALL THINGS DESPITE THE
FACT WE ARE IN A SERIOUS AND
TRAGIC SITUATION WITH THE
TORNADO.
MAJOR NEWS IN
KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY, THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS
(15:03):
ENDING POLICE REFORM AGREEMENTS
WITH LMPD BUT LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR
AND POLICE CHIEF PROMISED TO
CONTINUE REFORMS.
>> WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH
THE COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
LOUISVILLE'S CONSENT DECREE.
THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN
LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT,
LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE CITIZENS OF
(15:25):
LOUISVILLE.
THIS COMMUNITY COMMITMENT WILL
LEAD TO THE SAME RESULTS WE WERE
PUSHING FOR IN THE COURT ORDERED
CONSENT DECREE.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS SETTING A
STANDARD AND HOLDING OURSELVES
TO IT.
AND EXPECTING THAT SOMEONE ELSE
WILL HOLD US TO IT.
(15:46):
THIS CONSENT DECREE
CAME OUT OF A BIDEN ERA
INVESTIGATION THAT FOLLOWED THE
DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR.
>> AND THAT PROMPTED IT WAS THE
POLICE KILLING.
THIS WAS APRIL OF 2021 WHERE
THIS INVESTIGATION STARTED AND
NOW ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AS
FAR AS THAT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT
THIS AGREEMENT, IS ESSENTIALLY
(16:07):
GONE.
I MEAN, THE JUDGE INDICATED
TODAY THE FEDERAL JUDGE ALSO A
TRUMP APPOINTEE I HAVE TO ADD,
SAID OVER A HEARING TODAY
VIRTUAL HEARING INDICATING THAT
HE WILL DISMISS LIKELY DISMISS
THIS CASE BECAUSE THE PLAINTIFF
IN THIS CASE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE UNDER TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP
(16:28):
BASICALLY SAID WE HAVE NO
INTEREST IN SUING LOUISVILLE WE
HAVE NO INTEREST IN GOING
THROUGH THIS FEDERAL COURT
MONITORED AGREEMENT OVERSEE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN LOUISVILLE ON ITS SIDE
SAYING WE ARE NOT TAKING A
STANCE AND THE JUDGE IS SAYING
WELL YOU DON'T WANT TO SUE AND
NOT TAKING A STANCE WHY SHOULD I
STEP IN?
THIS AGREEMENT WILL CEASE TO
(16:48):
EXIST ON A LOCAL LEVEL THEY SAY
THEY ARE DOING THE EXACT SAME
THING IN THEIR OWN VERSION.
HOW DOES THAT SEEM TO
PLAY IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE
MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF SAYING
THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO
CONTINUED REFORM?
>> IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.
YOU ASK LOCAL MAYBE
CONSERVATIVES, REPUBLICANS,
SPECIFICALLY, MAYBE FOLKS OUT IN
(17:08):
THE COUNTY THEY WILL TELL YOU WE
BELIEVE THIS REFORM IS BETTER ON
A LOCAL LEVEL TO BEGIN WITH.
DO NOT TELL POLICE DON'T HAVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FROM THE CITY
AND DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY TELL
POLICE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE
DOING.
LET'S HAVE US IN THE CITY DECIDE
THAT.
BUT IF YOU ASK SOME OF THE FOLKS
WHO PROTESTED ON THE STREETS OF
DOWNTOWN IN LOUISVILLE IN 2020 A
(17:29):
LOT OF THEM WILL WILL TELL YOU
WE'RE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE
STARTED IN THEIR WORDS BECAUSE
LOUISVILLE WILL BE OVERSEEING
LOUISVILLE.
THE MAYOR SAYS HE IS GOING TO
GET AN INDEPENDENT MONITOR BUT
THE CITY IS GOING TO HIRE THAT
INDEPENDENT MONITOR AND DECIDE
WHEN TO FIRE THEM OR STOP IT.
ULTIMATELY THE CITY WILL DICTATE
THIS AND TO SOME IN THE
(17:50):
COMMUNITY THAT IS WHERE THEY GOT
TO THIS POINT IN FIRST PLACE.
AND THIS WAS A NATIONAL
STORY.
>> RIGHT.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
WHERE SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL
BRANCH IS AFFECTING THINGS AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
BUT THE DOJ ANNOUNCED IT WAS
(18:10):
STEPPING BACK IN OTHER CITIES.
PARTICULARLY IN MINNEAPOLIS
WHERE GEORGE FLOYD DIED IN 2020.
SO SIMILAR SITUATION THERE.
AND THIS IS KIND OF NOT A
SURPRISE.
SINCE DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED A
LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDING
OFFICIALS IN LOUISVILLE THOUGHT
THIS MAY HAPPEN.
SO THIS WAS JUST A MATTER OF
TIME.
(18:31):
>> LOUISVILLE AGREED TO THIS IN
DECEMBER AFTER TRUMP WAS ELECTED
THEY KNEW IT WAS A POSSIBILITY.
THE QUESTION IS WHY THE TIMING?
AND PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU
DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO
FOLLOW AND SEE WHERE IT GOES.
A NEW SUPERINTENDENT IS CHOSEN
FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS.
INTERESTINGLY THE ANNOUNCEMENT
(18:51):
INITIALLY CAME FROM A STATE
REPRESENTATIVE.
>> RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE JASON NEMES DID
POST ON FACEBOOK TODAY THAT THE
SCHOOL BOARD ENTERED CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRIAN YEARWOOD
THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF
COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN
MISSOURI.
THE BOARD SAID YESTERDAY THEY
MET AND THEY ARE MEET --
(19:12):
THEY WERE BEGINNING THE
NEGOTIATIONS WITH ONE OF THE TWO
BUT HAD NOT RELEASE THE NAME
THEY DID PUT OUT A STATEMENT
AFTER THAT POST.
SO AND CONFIRMED THAT THAT WAS
TRUE.
AND WHAT DO WE KNOW
ABOUT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT?
>> HE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT
OF EXPERIENCE.
HE IS SOMEONE THAT THE DISTRICT
WILL SAY HAS CONCRETE EVIDENCE
(19:34):
THAT HE INCREASES AND IMPROVES
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
AND HE IS VERY GOOD JCPS IS IN A
150 MILLION BUDGET HOLE OVER THE
NEXT TWO YEARS.
AND APPARENTLY FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THIS GUY'S
STRENGTHS.
SO THAT WAS SEEN AS A TIE IN.
THERE IS, THOUGH, CONTROVERSY
AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY
(19:55):
CONTROVERSY, MAYBE ATTENTION PUT
ON THE FACT HE RETIRED.
SO THE DISTRICT SAID AT HIS LAST
STOP IN COLUMBIA.
BUT THERE WAS A NONDISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT SIGNED HE WAS PAID OUT
DIFFICULT 700,000 HE LEFT.
THERE WERE QUESTIONS AS TO WHY
DID THIS HAPPEN?
ARE THESE RED FLAGS?
(20:16):
IT APPEARS THE BOARD FELT THAT
OVERALL, THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGHED
ANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVES HERE AND
HE IS THE GUY FOR THE JOB.
I WILL NOTE IT SEEMED TO A LOT
OF FOLKS THAT THE OTHER
CANDIDATE SORT OF HAD IT IN THE
BAG GOING INTO THE PUBLIC
FORUMS.
AFTER SOME OF HIS COMMENTS, HE
WAS VERY FORWARD ON THINGS LIKE
(20:37):
D.E.I. ON THINGS LIKE RAISING
TAXES, DIDN'T GO OVER WELL WITH
EVERYBODY.
HE WAS THE CANDIDATE
NOT CHOSEN.
>> BEN SHULDINER OUT OF MICHIGAN
AND HE WAS FORWARD, WE MIGHT
HAVE TO RAISE TAXES AND D.E.I.
IS GOING TO BE INTERWOVEN INTO
(20:57):
EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THAT WAS
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE TURNED
THE TIDE.
THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION HE WAS
THE FRONTRUNNER GOING IN.
INTERESTING THERE.
WE'LL WATCH IN LOUISVILLE WITH
THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON
KENTUCKY'S HOUSE MEMBERS SPLIT
ON A BUDGET BILL THAT WOULD CUT
PEND ISING AND CONTINUED TAX
CUTS AND TAKE INCOME TAXES OFF
(21:18):
OF TIPS AND OVERTIME.
IT HIT MEDICAID AND FOOD STAMP
PROGRAMS, REPUBLICAN THOMAS
MASSIE AND MORGAN MCGARVEY, WERE
BOTH NO VOTES FOR DIFFERENT
REASONS.
>> THIS BILL DRAMATICALLY
INCREASES DEFICITS IN THE NEAR
TERM BUT PROMISES OUR GOVERNMENT
WILL BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
WHERE HAVE WE HEARD THAT BEFORE?
(21:40):
HOW DO YOU BUY IN FUTURE
CONGRESS INTO THESE PROMISES?
THIS IS A DEBT BOMB TICKING.
>> 13.7 MILLION AMERICANS WILL
LOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE.
WE ARE GOING TO GUT AMERICA'S
PREMIER ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM.
IT'S GOING TO ADD THRILLIONS TO
(22:00):
THE NATION'S DEBT.
(22:31):
[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] ONE OF THE
RE79S IS HAL ROGERS WHOSE
DISTRICT IS EASTERN KENTUCKY ONE
OF THE MOST MEDICAID RELY ANTED
DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO I THINK A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS
OF HIS, HE SORT OF EXPLAINED IT
TO US AS TRYING TO RATIONALIZE
(22:51):
WASTE AND FRAUD AND ABUSE.
TRYING TO SAVE THE
PROGRAM.
>> MY COLLEAGUE AUSTIN HORN
REPORTED IN THAT REGION 398,000
PEOPLE ARE ON MEDICAID INCLUDING
MANY KIDS.
ALMOST HALF OF KENTUCKY'S CHILD
POPULATION IS ON MEDICAID.
AND SO WHETHER OR NOT WHICH SIDE
(23:12):
OF THE IDEOLOGY YOU COME DOWN ON
WHETHER YOU THINK THESE CUTS ARE
NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY INCREASE
WORK REQUIREMENTS IT WILL FOR
SURE HAVE AN IMPACT ON MILLIONS
OF KENTUCKIANS MEDICAID ACCESS
AND ALSO SNAP ACCESS.
IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO
WATCH AND FIGURE OUT, REALLY.
ALL RIGHT.
(23:33):
SOME POLITICS THIS CONGRESSMAN
MASSIE WAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED BY
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS
OPPOSITION TO THE BUDGET BILL.
>> I DON'T THINK THOMAS MASSIE
UNDERSTANDS GOVERNMENT.
HE THINK HE IS A GRANDSTANDER,
FRANKLY.
HE WILL --
WE DON'T TALK TO HIM MUCH.
I THINK HE SHOULD BE VOTED OUT
OF OFFICE AND I DON'T THINK HE
UNDERSTANDS GOVERNMENT.
(23:54):
ISAIAH MASSIE IS AGAIN
ON THE OUTS WITH PRESIDENT
TRUMP?
ABOUT LESS THAN A YEAR FROM NEXT
YEAR'S PRIMARY?
>> AND IT CERTAINLY WASN'T THE
FIRST TIME.
HE POSTED PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING
WE WILL PRIMARY YOU IF YOU KEEP
THIS UP AND THOMAS MASSIE, TO
HIS CREDIT, HAS STAYED
CONSISTENT.
HE SAID THE DEFICIT INCREASE
YEAR BY YEAR IS A NONSTARTER
(24:15):
FINANCE THAT'S THE CASE AND WE
CONTINUE TO SPEND AND NOT CUT
QUICKLY RATHER THAN PUNT TO GO
YEARS DOWN THE LINE HE IS A NO.
INDICATIONS ARE THAT
SENATOR PAUL MAYBE A WELL WHEN
IT GOES TO THE SENATE.
>> SIMILAR THOUGHT PROCESS
THERE.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
RUSSELL COLEMAN WENT TO THE U.S.
BORDER WITH MEXICO THIS WEEK AND
HE SAID THAT BORDER CROSSINGS
(24:35):
AND DRUGS COMING INTO THE
COUNTRY ARE BEING DRAMATICALLY
REDUCED.
>> WE STAND IN A SPOT THAT A
BRIEFING JUST ADVISED US ON
AVERAGE 1500 CROSSINGS A DAY
DURING THE DARK YEARS OF THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOWN TO
FOUR ILLEGAL CROSSINGS A DAY.
THAT IS A PRODUCT OF SOLID
(24:55):
LEADERSHIP FROM OUR PRESIDENT.
AMAZING LEADERSHIP FROM THE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO STAND BEHIND ME.
COLEMAN SAYS THE
TIGHTER BORDER IS HAVING A
POSITIVE IMPACT HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
>> RIGHT.
I THINK A FEW MINUTES LATER HE
SAID THAT THE LACK OF BORDER
SECURITY RESULTED IN EMPTY
CHAIRS AT KITCHEN TABLES HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT
(25:17):
COLEMAN HAS MADE A PLATFORM
SINCE HE'S BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR
OFFICE BEFORE HE GOT INTO OFFICE
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.
HE'S OFTEN SAID THAT THIS WOULD
BE A PROMINENT ISSUE FOR HIM AND
HE JOINED LAWSUITS AND LETTERS
AND OTHER COALITIONS OF
ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN SUPPORTING
THIS ISSUE.
YOU DID A STORY THIS
WEEK ON KENTUCKY'S DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TRYING TO GET BACK
(25:39):
ABOUT $10 MILLION WORTH OF COVID
RELIEF FUNDS.
GET THAT RESTORED FOR SCHOOLS.
>> RIGHT I'M SURE I TALKED ABOUT
THIS.
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF
SCHOOLS AND STATE AGENCIES
EDUCATION AGENCIES SEEKING AN
EXTENSION TO USE SOME OF THAT
REMAINING COVID RELIEF DOLLARS.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
(26:01):
DENIED A 10.6 MILLION REQUEST
FROM KED ON BEHALF OF SCHOOL
DISTRICTS FOR PROJECTS.
MEMORIAL DAY OFTEN SEEN
AS THE UNOFFICIAL KICKOFF OF
SUMMER AND ALSO ALEX A SPECIAL
TIME THAT WE REMEMBER THE REAL
REASON FOR.
>> RIGHT IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER
THAT IT'S NOT JUST A HOLIDAY AND
WE SHOULD HONOR THE VETERANS
(26:22):
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES AND WE
LOVE AND APPRECIATE.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE
GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR OUR
COUNTRY.
TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO BREAK
RECORDS WE HOPE YOU ARE SAFE OUT
THERE AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK
AHEAD.
[♪♪]
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
KENTUCKY DEALS WITH
DISASTER ONCE AGAIN A DEADLY EF4
TORNADO TAKES LIVES AND CHANGES
LIVES FOREVER.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR PUSHES FOR MORE
FEDERAL DISASTER FUNDS AND
LEGISLATIVE LEADERS PROMISE HELP
FROM FRANKFORT.
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ENDS
REFORM AGREEMENTS WITH
LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE.
(00:28):
IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY'S HOUSE
DELEGATION SPLITS ON THE BIG
BEAUTIFUL BILL.
HEADING INTO A UNUSUALLY COOL
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, COMMENT IS
NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.
(00:50):
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND
ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN
THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE GUESTS
ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY
JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE MCKENNA
HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR
THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.
ALEX ACQUISTO POLITICS AND
HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE
(01:10):
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER AND
ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ SENIOR
REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN
LOUISVILLE.
ONCE AGAIN, KENTUCKY IS DEALING
WITH A NATURAL DISASTER A DEADLY
EF4 TORNADO THAT LEFT 19 PEOPLE
DEAD IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY.
MANY MORE ARE INJURED AND STILL
MORE ARE HOMELESS.
(01:31):
BUILDINGS AND HOMES WERE NO
MATCH FOR THE TWISTER THAT HAD
WINDS OF 170-MILES-PER-HOUR.
AND ONCE AGAIN STATE LEADERS
INCLUDING GOVERNOR BESHEAR ARE
MANAGING A CRISIS.
>> Gov. Andy Beshear (01:43):
WHAT YOU
SEE BEHIND ME ARE FOLKS FROM OUR
CITY FROM OUR COUNTY, FROM ALL
PARTS OF STATE AND FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT ALL OF US STANDING
HERE TOGETHER TO SAY WE ARE
GOING TO BE HERE FOR THIS
COMMUNITY TODAY, TOMORROW, NEXT
WEEK, NEXT MONTH, NEXT YEAR AND
THE YEARS TO COME TO HELP PEOPLE
REBUILD.
>> WHATEVER THE NEEDS ARE FROM A
(02:04):
FINANCIAL STANDPOINT THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY I'VE TALKED WITH MY
COLLEAGUES ON A TEXT CHAIN WITH
31 COLLEAGUES IN MY CAUCUS
SAYING WE WERE READY AND WILLING
AND ABLE TO DO TO AID AND ASSIST
IN THE RECOVERY OF THIS.
>> Bill (02:20):
THE POLITICAL LEADERS
IN UNISON AND IN A BIPARTISAN
WAY COME IN AND MAKE THE
PROMISES THAT THE WORK WILL
BEGIN, AND OF COURSE, IS
UNDERWAY.
ONCE AGAIN IN THIS DISASTER,
WORDS DON'T COME EASY.
YOU DID A STORY ABOUT FAITH
LEADERS WHO STRUGGLED TO EXPLAIN
THIS DISASTER TO THEIR
CONGREGATIONS.
>> SURE, IN KENTUCKY WE ARE A
(02:42):
LARGELY CHRISTIAN STATE AND THE
DISASTERS KEEP HAPPENING THIS IS
MY THIRD COVERING FOR THE PAPER
PEOPLE LOOK TO THEIR CHURCHES,
PASTORS AND MINISTERS TO GRAPPLE
WITH SUCH DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.
SO I WENT TO A FIRST UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH IN LONDON AND
HEARD A PASTOR PREACH ASSURING
PEOPLE THAT EVEN THOUGH THESE
(03:03):
TRAGEDIES HAPPEN THEIR NEIGHBORS
AND FRIENDS DIED, PEOPLE LOSED
THEIR HOUSES ASSURING GOD IS
WITH THEM IN THE RUBBLE.
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SERVICE AT
ONE POINT THEY SANG HOW GREAT
THEY ARE AND I LOOKED AND SAW A
WOMAN SOB AND IN THE PEW.
IT'S HARD TO COMPREHEND AND
WE'VE COVERED SO MANY AND EACH
ONE IS DIFFERENT BUT IT'S PEOPLE
(03:26):
WHO ARE IMPACTED.
PEOPLE NEED CONNECTION.
>> IT'S CRUCIAL IT'S WHAT GETS
YOU THROUGH.
LEANING ON THE COMMUNITY AND
BUILDING THAT NETWORK.
WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE
WHO WENT THROUGH THAT AWFUL
NIGHT AND WE WANT TO HEAR SOME
OF THOSE NOW.
>> THE ROOF IS TWO HOUSES DOWN
ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROAD BEHIND
(03:46):
THEIR HOUSE.
AND THEN THE CEILING CAVED IN ON
HER SHE WAS ON THE COUCH.
HER HUSBAND HAD TO DIG HER OUT
FROM THE CEILING TILES.
>> IT'S TRAUMATIC, SOMETHING YOU
CAN'T COMPREHEND UNTIL YOU SEE
THE DAMAGE.
>> I OPENED MY DOOR I HEARD THAT
SOUND, MAN THEY SAY IT SOUNDS
LIKE A TRAIN.
IS SOUNDED LIKE A LION COMING
(04:08):
IN.
THE GUY HAD THREE KIDS AND MY
OLD LADY AND THE BATHROOM HOPING
AND PRAYING.
MY COUSIN CALLED AND SAID IT WAS
HEADED TOWARDS US AND SAID TAKE
SHELTER.
I TRIED TO PULL THE COUCH OVER
ME AND IT WAS TOO HEAVY.
I GOT THE RECLINER AND I COULD
HEAR IT GETTING CLOSER AND
(04:30):
CLOSER, THINGS GOING UP AND
PEOPLE SCREAMING AND STUFF
SHATTERING, TRANSFORMERS
BLOWING.
THE SCARIEST THING IN MY LIFE.
I DON'T WOULDN'T TO GO THROUGH
IT AGAIN.
>> I REMEMBER TEXTING MY KIDS IN
A GROUP TEXT SAYING IT'S GOING
TO BE A DIRECT HIT SO I COULD
HEAR IT COMING.
AND I LOVE YOU, MOM.
(04:51):
THINKING THAT MIGHT BE THE LAST
COMMUNICATION I HAD WITH THEM.
MY NEIGHBOR THAT WE WALK DOGS
TOGETHER WAS IN THAT HOUSE AND
SHE PASSED AWAY BECAUSE SHE
DIDN'T WAKE UP.
SO MANY DIDN'T MAKE IT
AND OTHERS AND THOSE EYEWITNESS
ACCOUNTS DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER
THEY WOULD.
>> DEVASTATING.
WE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVE
(05:13):
SPECIFICALLY IN LAUREL COUNTY IN
LONDON WE HAD CREWS THERE FOR
THREE DAYS AND SOME OF THEM FELT
THIS SENSE OF GUILT.
THEY SAY WHY WAS I SPARED?
AND MY NEIGHBOR JUST DOWN THE
STREET OR NEXT DOOR THEY ARE NOT
HERE ANYMORE.
AND WE KNOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE
WHO LOST THEIR LIVES WERE
SENIORS.
65 YEARS AND OLDER WHICH IS JUST
(05:35):
TERRIBLE.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STORM,
STRENGTH OF IT,
170-MILE-PER-HOUR WINDS YOU
HEARD IN THE SOUND A LOT OF
THESE PEOPLE KNEW IT WAS COMING
THEY HEEDED WARNINGS AND GOT IN
THEIR BATH TUBS AND GOT IN AS
LOW OF A LEVEL THEY CAN.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A STORM THAT
STRONG AND THAT WIDE SOMETIMES
(05:56):
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO.
THE INITIAL STATE AND
LOCAL RESPONSE WAS IMMEDIATE BY
ALL ACCOUNTS AND HAS BEEN
EFFECTIVE.
THE DISPATCHERS HAVE BEEN
COMMENDED FOR HANDLING 600 CALLS
AND 5,000 RADIO TRANSMISSIONS.
BUT THIS IS AN AWFUL EVENT THAT
IS GOING TO TAKE YEARS TO COME
(06:16):
BACK FROM?
>> RIGHT.
AND YOU CAN LOOK AT RECENT
DISASTERS THAT THE STATE HAS
FACED WE'RE STILL RECOVERING
FROM THOSE.
I NOTED THAT THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR
BESHEAR WAS SELL OPERATING THE
UNVEILING OF 10 HOMES FROM THE
2022 FLOODS.
SO HERE WE ARE NEARLY THREE
YEARS LATER WHERE SURVIVORS OF
(06:39):
THOSE DISASTERS ARE NOW GETTING
HOUSING.
BUT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ALREADY
HAVE THE PLAYBOOK OUT FOR HOW TO
RESPOND TO THESE THINGS,
INCLUDING LAWMAKERS AND ELECTED
OFFICIALS AS WELL-BEING A PART
OF THAT.
WE'RE SEEING NONPROFITS ALREADY
GET ON THE GROUND AND REACHING
(06:59):
OUT.
AND I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR TALK IN
FRANKFORT OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS AND WELL INTO THE NEXT
SESSION AS LAWMAKERS DECIDE THE
NEXT STATE BUDGET.
KENTUCKY SEEKING
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND WE ARE
AWAITING WORD ON THAT.
>> WE ARE.
AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
NOTE ANY NATURAL DISASTER WITH A
SCOPE LIKE THIS TAKES YEARS TO
(07:19):
REBUILD FROM.
IN KENTUCKY, AS THEY START
HAPPENING MORE OFTEN I REMEMBER
DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION
IN APRIL TALKING TO LEADERS
ABOUT WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO
CALL A SPECIAL SESSION TO
PROVIDE FUNDING.
FEDERAL FUNDING HAS NOT COME IN
FROM APRIL STORMS.
IT IS A QUEUE THAT IS BACKING UP
THAT ONLY EXACERBATES THE
(07:40):
LENTSDZ OF TIME PEOPLE HAVE TO
RECOVER.
IT'S CLEANING EVERYTHING UP
ALSO.
AND TO McKENNA'S
POINT YOU ARE DEALING WITH ONE
THAT IS GOING ON ONGOING.
YOU ARE LOOKING BACK AND HAVING
TO CONTINUE TO REBUILD FROM AN
EVENT YEARS AGO.
AND YOU ARE ALWAYS PREPARING FOR
THE NEXT ONE.
>> WE KNOW THERE WILL BE MORE.
(08:02):
THE NATIONAL WEATHER
SERVICE DID GET WARNINGS OUT
AHEAD OF THE STORM.
JAMES COMER NOTES THE WEATHER
SERVICE SHIFTED PERSONNEL TO THE
JACKSON OFFICE AHEAD OF THE
TORNADO.
HAL ROGERS APPLAUDED THE WEATHER
SERVICE AND PROMISED TO USE HIS
CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE
THAT OVERSEES THE WEATHER
SERVICE TO FULLY FUND IT.
(08:22):
MORGAN MCGARVEY EXPRESSED
CONCERNS ABOUT THE CUTS TO THE
WEATHER SERVICE AND ALEX WE KNOW
THAT EACH OF THE THREE WEATHER
SERVICE OFFICES IN KENTUCKY HAS
PERSONNEL SHORTAGES.
>> RIGHT.
THE ONE IN PADUCAH IS SHORT
SEVEN PEOPLE, LOUISVILLE IS
EIGHT AND JACKSON IS SHORT
EIGHT.
AND WE KNOW THAT I HAD MENTIONED
(08:42):
THEY WERE FULLY STAFFED THEY DID
SURGE STAFFING OVERNIGHT.
THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE
EMPLOYED AT THAT WEATHER SERVICE
TO DO OVERNIGHT SHIFTS.
WE LUCKILY HAD WARNING THE STORM
WAS COMING IN SO THEY WERE ABLE
TO RESPOND TO THAT QUICKLY BY
PUTTING PEOPLE IN.
BUT I THINK IT'S REASONABLE TO
SAY WE LIVE IN KENTUCKY THERE
ARE A LOT OF STORMS IN THE
(09:03):
SUMMER.
STORMS WILL SPIN-OUT WITHOUT
WARNING.
THERE IS NO WAY TO SAY THAT
THESE CUTS AND THE VACANCIES
WON'T HE AHAVE SOME IMPACT.
>> LOUISVILLE WE LOST A FAMILIAR
FACE.
LOST AS IN THE JOB, THIS WAS
JOHN GORDON METEOROLOGIST IN
CHARGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN LOUISVILLE HE TOOK AN EARLY
RETIREMENT AS PART OF ALL THIS.
(09:25):
HE NOW IS A SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR
FOR US AND HELPED US FORECAST
THIS.
YOU SEE SORT OF ALL THE WAY DOWN
TO THE LOCAL LEVEL SOME OF THE
IMPACTS WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH
IT OR NOT.
AND SOMETIMES WE TALK ABOUT NEWS
TOPICS WHERE IT FEELS INSULAR,
WE HEAR ABOUT THINGS BUT THE
GENERAL PUBLIC DOESN'T AS OFTEN.
I WAS SPEAKING WITH A WOMAN IN
(09:46):
SOUTHERN INDIANA NATIONAL
WEATHER LOUISVILLE THEY
BROADCAST TO AND HANDLE THAT
REGION AS WELL, AND WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT THE WEATHER RADIOS
THAT THERE WAS THAT SCHEDULED
OUTAGE TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM
UPDATE IT AND ASKED ME IS THIS
BECAUSE OF THE CUTS?
>> IT IS REVERBERATING PEOPLE
(10:06):
ARE HEARING ABOUT IT.
AND THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
IT'S ON THEIR MINDS
WHETHER IT'S RELATED OR NOT.
>> EXACTLY AND THAT IS UP TO US
TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
LAUREL COUNTY SCHOOLS
ENDED THE YEAR AFTER THE
TORNADOES.
APPARENTLY FEELING THERE WAS NO
ON SON AND MANY STUDENTS ANDS
YOUNGER ONES, SENIORS IN HIGH
SCHOOL AND OTHERS ARE OUT THERE
(10:28):
HELPING WITH THE RESPONSE.
BUT THEY HAD TO GET SPECIAL
PERMISSION FROM THE STATE?
>> RIGHT.
THEY ARE ONE OF THE SCHOOL
DISTRICTS THAT WAS FACING THE
ISSUE OF ALMOST USING ALL OF
THEIR 10NTI DAYS BY THE END OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR.
HALFWAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT DURING THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
BUT LAUREL COUNTY IN PARTICULAR
(10:50):
IT CLOSED EARLY ON IN THE SCHOOL
YEAR BEFORE ANY OF THIS WINTER
WEATHER HAPPENED DUE TO AN
ONGOING MANHUNT NEARBY OUT OF
SAFETY FOR THE STUDENTS.
THE SHOOTER.
>> RIGHT.
AND SO WHEN THIS LATEST DISASTER
HIT THEY MADE THE DECISION TO
CLOSE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE
SCHOOL YEAR TO HELP FOCUS ON
STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES IMPACTED
(11:12):
BY THIS AND WORK TO GET
RESOURCES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
GRADUATION WILL BE GOING ON.
THERE'S GOING TO BE SPACE TO
CELEBRATE STUDENTS AS THEY ARE
MOVING ON.
BUT LATER THIS MONTH.
YOU SEE THE BEST AND
THE WORST OF PEOPLE IN THE
SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE GOOD.
SO MANY KENTUCKIANS STEPPED UP
AND PEOPLE HAVE COME FROM OTHER
(11:33):
STATES TO HELP THE PEOPLE.
BUT THERE WAS ALSO LOOTING AND
PEOPLE'S PETS STOLEN IN THOSE
DAYS RIGHT AFTER THE STORM.
>> AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
GOVERNOR BESHEAR ADDRESSED IN
ONE OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCES HE
HAS HAD.
AND HE DID NOT MINCE WORDS HE
WARNED TO ANYBODY SHOULD THINK
ABOUT THIS YOU WILL BE
(11:54):
PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
OF THE LAW.
A REMINDER PEOPLE CAPITALIZE ON
OTHER'S TRAGEDIES.
BUT HE HAS ASSURED THAT THEY
WILL BE PUNISHED IF THEY ARE
CAUGHT.
AND THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL INDICATING HE PUT IN
FORCE SOME RULES AND HE MAKES IT
VERY CLEAR THAT THEY WILL BE
ENFORCED.
>> RIGHT.
ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL
(12:15):
COLEMAN'S OFFICE HAS ACTIVATED
ITS AG PRICE GOUGING HOTLINE
THEY CAN REPORT THAT TO THE
OFFICE ON-LINE OR BY CALLING.
AS WE WRAP UP TALKING
ABOUT THIS HORRIBLE TORNADO, WE
HEAR SOME CHATTER AMONG LOCAL
LEADERS AND MAYORS AND JUDGE
EXECUTIVES ISAIAH, THAT THEY ARE
(12:37):
TAKING A STEP BACK AND
CONSIDERING ARE WE DOING ENOUGH
AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE
PREPARED, TO HAVE SHELTER SPACE,
TO WARN OUR RESIDENTS WHO MAKES
THE DECISION ABOUT SIRENS AND SO
ON?
>> ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO
SOME OF THE RECORDS WE'VE SEEN.
WE SAW A RECORD SNOWFALL IN THE
WINTER.
AND WE'RE SEEING RECORD
(12:57):
FLOODING.
AND SEEING THE WORST TORNADOES
THAT I BELIEVE THAT COMMUNITY
SPECIFICALLY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
HAS SEEN IN 13 YEARS.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT NOT TO GET
TOO INTO IT HOW THAT REGION
WHERE THE TORNADOES TYPICALLY
HIT THE STRONGEST HAS MOVED
EAST.
AND SUDDENLY INDIANA AND
KENTUCKY ARE IN THE CENTER OF
IT.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE QUESTION OF
(13:19):
WARNINGS ARE GREAT.
BUT HOW DO WE PROTECT PEOPLE WHO
KNOW IT'S COMING?
IN SOME OF THESE SMALLER
COMMUNITIES SPECIFICALLY AROUND
THE STATE.
AND I THINK THAT THE EMERGENCY
SHELTERS THAT IS THE QUESTION
THAT A LOT OF THESE LOCAL
LEADERS WILL HAVE TO COME UP
WITH ANSWERS.
OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH
THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE IN RECOVERY
THERE IN SOUTHERN KENTUCKY
(13:40):
ASTIES GOES ON.
IN THE WAKE OF THE STORMS,
GOVERNOR BESHEAR APPEARED FOR
SEVERAL NATIONAL INTERVIEWS AND
THE SUBJECT OF HIM POTENTIALLY
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT CAME UP.
AND HE WALKS A FINE LINE HE DOES
NOT DECLARE CANDIDACY, BUT HE
SEEMS TO MAKE A CASE FOR WHY HE
MIGHT RUN.
>> HE DOES.
AND HE GENERALLY HANDLES THESE
SITUATIONS WITH FAMILIARITY.
(14:02):
HE TALKED ABOUT HOW THERE WAS 14
FEDERALLY DECLARED DISASTERS
JUST IN HIS FIVE PLUS YEARS AS
GOVERNOR.
HE GENERALLY KNOWS HOW TO TOW
THAT LINE AND EVEN IN THE PRESS
CONFERENCE I WAS STRUCK BY
ORIGINALLY HE WAS TALKING ABOUT
FEMA AND TALKING HOW THERE IS A
(14:23):
MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION AND
HE MADE A POINT TO SAY, LISTEN,
SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM HOMELAND
SECURITY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP
THEY LISTEN TO US AND FEMA ACTED
AND WE'RE ASKING FOR IT AGAIN
AND HE HAS SAID ESPECIALLY ON
SOCIAL MEDIA AT TIMES LIKE THESE
YOU CAN GIVE CREDIT FOR ONE
THING BUT HE HAS ALSO BEEN
(14:43):
CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND THE
PROPOSALS TO BRING FEMA FUNDING
COMPLETELY TO A STATE LEVEL.
HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SORT OF
TOUCH ON ALL THINGS DESPITE THE
FACT WE ARE IN A SERIOUS AND
TRAGIC SITUATION WITH THE
TORNADO.
MAJOR NEWS IN
KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY, THE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS
(15:03):
ENDING POLICE REFORM AGREEMENTS
WITH LMPD BUT LOUISVILLE'S MAYOR
AND POLICE CHIEF PROMISED TO
CONTINUE REFORMS.
>> WE ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH
THE COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
LOUISVILLE'S CONSENT DECREE.
THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN
LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT,
LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE CITIZENS OF
(15:25):
LOUISVILLE.
THIS COMMUNITY COMMITMENT WILL
LEAD TO THE SAME RESULTS WE WERE
PUSHING FOR IN THE COURT ORDERED
CONSENT DECREE.
ACCOUNTABILITY IS SETTING A
STANDARD AND HOLDING OURSELVES
TO IT.
AND EXPECTING THAT SOMEONE ELSE
WILL HOLD US TO IT.
(15:46):
THIS CONSENT DECREE
CAME OUT OF A BIDEN ERA
INVESTIGATION THAT FOLLOWED THE
DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR.
>> AND THAT PROMPTED IT WAS THE
POLICE KILLING.
THIS WAS APRIL OF 2021 WHERE
THIS INVESTIGATION STARTED AND
NOW ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AS
FAR AS THAT FEDERAL OVERSIGHT
THIS AGREEMENT, IS ESSENTIALLY
(16:07):
GONE.
I MEAN, THE JUDGE INDICATED
TODAY THE FEDERAL JUDGE ALSO A
TRUMP APPOINTEE I HAVE TO ADD,
SAID OVER A HEARING TODAY
VIRTUAL HEARING INDICATING THAT
HE WILL DISMISS LIKELY DISMISS
THIS CASE BECAUSE THE PLAINTIFF
IN THIS CASE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE UNDER TRUMP'S LEADERSHIP
(16:28):
BASICALLY SAID WE HAVE NO
INTEREST IN SUING LOUISVILLE WE
HAVE NO INTEREST IN GOING
THROUGH THIS FEDERAL COURT
MONITORED AGREEMENT OVERSEE THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND THEN LOUISVILLE ON ITS SIDE
SAYING WE ARE NOT TAKING A
STANCE AND THE JUDGE IS SAYING
WELL YOU DON'T WANT TO SUE AND
NOT TAKING A STANCE WHY SHOULD I
STEP IN?
THIS AGREEMENT WILL CEASE TO
(16:48):
EXIST ON A LOCAL LEVEL THEY SAY
THEY ARE DOING THE EXACT SAME
THING IN THEIR OWN VERSION.
HOW DOES THAT SEEM TO
PLAY IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE
MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF SAYING
THEY REMAIN COMMITTED TO
CONTINUED REFORM?
>> IT DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.
YOU ASK LOCAL MAYBE
CONSERVATIVES, REPUBLICANS,
SPECIFICALLY, MAYBE FOLKS OUT IN
(17:08):
THE COUNTY THEY WILL TELL YOU WE
BELIEVE THIS REFORM IS BETTER ON
A LOCAL LEVEL TO BEGIN WITH.
DO NOT TELL POLICE DON'T HAVE
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT FROM THE CITY
AND DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY TELL
POLICE WHAT THEY SHOULD BE
DOING.
LET'S HAVE US IN THE CITY DECIDE
THAT.
BUT IF YOU ASK SOME OF THE FOLKS
WHO PROTESTED ON THE STREETS OF
DOWNTOWN IN LOUISVILLE IN 2020 A
(17:29):
LOT OF THEM WILL WILL TELL YOU
WE'RE RIGHT BACK WHERE WE
STARTED IN THEIR WORDS BECAUSE
LOUISVILLE WILL BE OVERSEEING
LOUISVILLE.
THE MAYOR SAYS HE IS GOING TO
GET AN INDEPENDENT MONITOR BUT
THE CITY IS GOING TO HIRE THAT
INDEPENDENT MONITOR AND DECIDE
WHEN TO FIRE THEM OR STOP IT.
ULTIMATELY THE CITY WILL DICTATE
THIS AND TO SOME IN THE
(17:50):
COMMUNITY THAT IS WHERE THEY GOT
TO THIS POINT IN FIRST PLACE.
AND THIS WAS A NATIONAL
STORY.
>> RIGHT.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS
I FEEL LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT
WHERE SOMETHING THAT THE FEDERAL
BRANCH IS AFFECTING THINGS AT
THE STATE LEVEL.
BUT THE DOJ ANNOUNCED IT WAS
(18:10):
STEPPING BACK IN OTHER CITIES.
PARTICULARLY IN MINNEAPOLIS
WHERE GEORGE FLOYD DIED IN 2020.
SO SIMILAR SITUATION THERE.
AND THIS IS KIND OF NOT A
SURPRISE.
SINCE DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED A
LOT OF PEOPLE INCLUDING
OFFICIALS IN LOUISVILLE THOUGHT
THIS MAY HAPPEN.
SO THIS WAS JUST A MATTER OF
TIME.
(18:31):
>> LOUISVILLE AGREED TO THIS IN
DECEMBER AFTER TRUMP WAS ELECTED
THEY KNEW IT WAS A POSSIBILITY.
THE QUESTION IS WHY THE TIMING?
AND PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU
DIFFERENT THINGS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO
FOLLOW AND SEE WHERE IT GOES.
A NEW SUPERINTENDENT IS CHOSEN
FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY SCHOOLS.
INTERESTINGLY THE ANNOUNCEMENT
(18:51):
INITIALLY CAME FROM A STATE
REPRESENTATIVE.
>> RIGHT.
REPRESENTATIVE JASON NEMES DID
POST ON FACEBOOK TODAY THAT THE
SCHOOL BOARD ENTERED CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS WITH BRIAN YEARWOOD
THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF
COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN
MISSOURI.
THE BOARD SAID YESTERDAY THEY
MET AND THEY ARE MEET --
(19:12):
THEY WERE BEGINNING THE
NEGOTIATIONS WITH ONE OF THE TWO
BUT HAD NOT RELEASE THE NAME
THEY DID PUT OUT A STATEMENT
AFTER THAT POST.
SO AND CONFIRMED THAT THAT WAS
TRUE.
AND WHAT DO WE KNOW
ABOUT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT?
>> HE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS A LOT
OF EXPERIENCE.
HE IS SOMEONE THAT THE DISTRICT
WILL SAY HAS CONCRETE EVIDENCE
(19:34):
THAT HE INCREASES AND IMPROVES
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT.
AND HE IS VERY GOOD JCPS IS IN A
150 MILLION BUDGET HOLE OVER THE
NEXT TWO YEARS.
AND APPARENTLY FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THIS GUY'S
STRENGTHS.
SO THAT WAS SEEN AS A TIE IN.
THERE IS, THOUGH, CONTROVERSY
AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY
(19:55):
CONTROVERSY, MAYBE ATTENTION PUT
ON THE FACT HE RETIRED.
SO THE DISTRICT SAID AT HIS LAST
STOP IN COLUMBIA.
BUT THERE WAS A NONDISCLOSURE
AGREEMENT SIGNED HE WAS PAID OUT
DIFFICULT 700,000 HE LEFT.
THERE WERE QUESTIONS AS TO WHY
DID THIS HAPPEN?
ARE THESE RED FLAGS?
(20:16):
IT APPEARS THE BOARD FELT THAT
OVERALL, THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGHED
ANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVES HERE AND
HE IS THE GUY FOR THE JOB.
I WILL NOTE IT SEEMED TO A LOT
OF FOLKS THAT THE OTHER
CANDIDATE SORT OF HAD IT IN THE
BAG GOING INTO THE PUBLIC
FORUMS.
AFTER SOME OF HIS COMMENTS, HE
WAS VERY FORWARD ON THINGS LIKE
(20:37):
D.E.I. ON THINGS LIKE RAISING
TAXES, DIDN'T GO OVER WELL WITH
EVERYBODY.
HE WAS THE CANDIDATE
NOT CHOSEN.
>> BEN SHULDINER OUT OF MICHIGAN
AND HE WAS FORWARD, WE MIGHT
HAVE TO RAISE TAXES AND D.E.I.
IS GOING TO BE INTERWOVEN INTO
(20:57):
EVERYTHING WE DO.
AND IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THAT WAS
SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE TURNED
THE TIDE.
THERE WAS AN EXPECTATION HE WAS
THE FRONTRUNNER GOING IN.
INTERESTING THERE.
WE'LL WATCH IN LOUISVILLE WITH
THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON
KENTUCKY'S HOUSE MEMBERS SPLIT
ON A BUDGET BILL THAT WOULD CUT
PEND ISING AND CONTINUED TAX
CUTS AND TAKE INCOME TAXES OFF
(21:18):
OF TIPS AND OVERTIME.
IT HIT MEDICAID AND FOOD STAMP
PROGRAMS, REPUBLICAN THOMAS
MASSIE AND MORGAN MCGARVEY, WERE
BOTH NO VOTES FOR DIFFERENT
REASONS.
>> THIS BILL DRAMATICALLY
INCREASES DEFICITS IN THE NEAR
TERM BUT PROMISES OUR GOVERNMENT
WILL BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE
FIVE YEARS FROM NOW.
WHERE HAVE WE HEARD THAT BEFORE?
(21:40):
HOW DO YOU BUY IN FUTURE
CONGRESS INTO THESE PROMISES?
THIS IS A DEBT BOMB TICKING.
>> 13.7 MILLION AMERICANS WILL
LOSE THEIR HEALTHCARE.
WE ARE GOING TO GUT AMERICA'S
PREMIER ANTI-HUNGER PROGRAM.
IT'S GOING TO ADD THRILLIONS TO
(22:00):
THE NATION'S DEBT.
(22:31):
[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] ONE OF THE
RE79S IS HAL ROGERS WHOSE
DISTRICT IS EASTERN KENTUCKY ONE
OF THE MOST MEDICAID RELY ANTED
DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY.
SO I THINK A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS
OF HIS, HE SORT OF EXPLAINED IT
TO US AS TRYING TO RATIONALIZE
(22:51):
WASTE AND FRAUD AND ABUSE.
TRYING TO SAVE THE
PROGRAM.
>> MY COLLEAGUE AUSTIN HORN
REPORTED IN THAT REGION 398,000
PEOPLE ARE ON MEDICAID INCLUDING
MANY KIDS.
ALMOST HALF OF KENTUCKY'S CHILD
POPULATION IS ON MEDICAID.
AND SO WHETHER OR NOT WHICH SIDE
(23:12):
OF THE IDEOLOGY YOU COME DOWN ON
WHETHER YOU THINK THESE CUTS ARE
NECESSARY BECAUSE THEY INCREASE
WORK REQUIREMENTS IT WILL FOR
SURE HAVE AN IMPACT ON MILLIONS
OF KENTUCKIANS MEDICAID ACCESS
AND ALSO SNAP ACCESS.
IT WILL BE SOMETHING TO
WATCH AND FIGURE OUT, REALLY.
ALL RIGHT.
(23:33):
SOME POLITICS THIS CONGRESSMAN
MASSIE WAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED BY
PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS
OPPOSITION TO THE BUDGET BILL.
>> I DON'T THINK THOMAS MASSIE
UNDERSTANDS GOVERNMENT.
HE THINK HE IS A GRANDSTANDER,
FRANKLY.
HE WILL --
WE DON'T TALK TO HIM MUCH.
I THINK HE SHOULD BE VOTED OUT
OF OFFICE AND I DON'T THINK HE
UNDERSTANDS GOVERNMENT.
(23:54):
ISAIAH MASSIE IS AGAIN
ON THE OUTS WITH PRESIDENT
TRUMP?
ABOUT LESS THAN A YEAR FROM NEXT
YEAR'S PRIMARY?
>> AND IT CERTAINLY WASN'T THE
FIRST TIME.
HE POSTED PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYING
WE WILL PRIMARY YOU IF YOU KEEP
THIS UP AND THOMAS MASSIE, TO
HIS CREDIT, HAS STAYED
CONSISTENT.
HE SAID THE DEFICIT INCREASE
YEAR BY YEAR IS A NONSTARTER
(24:15):
FINANCE THAT'S THE CASE AND WE
CONTINUE TO SPEND AND NOT CUT
QUICKLY RATHER THAN PUNT TO GO
YEARS DOWN THE LINE HE IS A NO.
INDICATIONS ARE THAT
SENATOR PAUL MAYBE A WELL WHEN
IT GOES TO THE SENATE.
>> SIMILAR THOUGHT PROCESS
THERE.
ATTORNEY GENERAL
RUSSELL COLEMAN WENT TO THE U.S.
BORDER WITH MEXICO THIS WEEK AND
HE SAID THAT BORDER CROSSINGS
(24:35):
AND DRUGS COMING INTO THE
COUNTRY ARE BEING DRAMATICALLY
REDUCED.
>> WE STAND IN A SPOT THAT A
BRIEFING JUST ADVISED US ON
AVERAGE 1500 CROSSINGS A DAY
DURING THE DARK YEARS OF THE
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOWN TO
FOUR ILLEGAL CROSSINGS A DAY.
THAT IS A PRODUCT OF SOLID
(24:55):
LEADERSHIP FROM OUR PRESIDENT.
AMAZING LEADERSHIP FROM THE MEN
AND WOMEN WHO STAND BEHIND ME.
COLEMAN SAYS THE
TIGHTER BORDER IS HAVING A
POSITIVE IMPACT HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
>> RIGHT.
I THINK A FEW MINUTES LATER HE
SAID THAT THE LACK OF BORDER
SECURITY RESULTED IN EMPTY
CHAIRS AT KITCHEN TABLES HERE IN
KENTUCKY.
BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT
(25:17):
COLEMAN HAS MADE A PLATFORM
SINCE HE'S BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR
OFFICE BEFORE HE GOT INTO OFFICE
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.
HE'S OFTEN SAID THAT THIS WOULD
BE A PROMINENT ISSUE FOR HIM AND
HE JOINED LAWSUITS AND LETTERS
AND OTHER COALITIONS OF
ATTORNEYS GENERAL IN SUPPORTING
THIS ISSUE.
YOU DID A STORY THIS
WEEK ON KENTUCKY'S DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TRYING TO GET BACK
(25:39):
ABOUT $10 MILLION WORTH OF COVID
RELIEF FUNDS.
GET THAT RESTORED FOR SCHOOLS.
>> RIGHT I'M SURE I TALKED ABOUT
THIS.
THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF
SCHOOLS AND STATE AGENCIES
EDUCATION AGENCIES SEEKING AN
EXTENSION TO USE SOME OF THAT
REMAINING COVID RELIEF DOLLARS.
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
(26:01):
DENIED A 10.6 MILLION REQUEST
FROM KED ON BEHALF OF SCHOOL
DISTRICTS FOR PROJECTS.
MEMORIAL DAY OFTEN SEEN
AS THE UNOFFICIAL KICKOFF OF
SUMMER AND ALSO ALEX A SPECIAL
TIME THAT WE REMEMBER THE REAL
REASON FOR.
>> RIGHT IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER
THAT IT'S NOT JUST A HOLIDAY AND
WE SHOULD HONOR THE VETERANS
(26:22):
THAT WE HAVE IN OUR LIVES AND WE
LOVE AND APPRECIATE.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE
GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR OUR
COUNTRY.
TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO BREAK
RECORDS WE HOPE YOU ARE SAFE OUT
THERE AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK
AHEAD.
[♪♪]
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