June 3, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including government response to more severe weather in the commonwealth and Gov. Andy Beshear's statement that a special legislative session might be called. Guests: Jess Clark, Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting; Bill Estep, Lexington Herald-Leader; and Phillip Bailey, USA Today.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:02):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:10):
GOVERNOR BESHEAR AS
SPECIAL LEGISLATION SESSION AS
KENTUCKY RECOVERS FROM
TORNADOES.
A LONGTIME STATE SENATOR
SWITCHES PARTIES.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR PLANS MORE OUT
OF STATE TRAVEL.
DOES HE HAVE A LANE IN THE 2028
PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST?
NEW LEADERSHIP FOR KENTUCKY'S
LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT WHAT IS
AHEAD FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND
(00:31):
FOR 96,000 STUDENTS?
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND THAT
TAKES US TO JUNE COMMENT IS NEXT
ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
(00:52):
ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND
SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF
WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS
TONIGHT ARE BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER
FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.
JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER
FOR THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.
(01:13):
AND PHILLIP BAILEY LOUISVILLE
BASED CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPOND
END FOR "USA TODAY".
FRIDAY BEGAN WITH MORE DEADLY
WEATHER IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN
WASHINGTON COUNTY TAKING ONE
LIFE AND INJURING AT LEAST A
DOZEN PEOPLE.
THE LOCAL LEADERS WERE
RESPONDING TO THAT EARLY TODAY.
>> THIS IS A REMOTE AREA OF OUR
(01:35):
COUNTY CLOSE TO THE COUNTY LINE
AND THERE IS NO TORNADO SIRENS
IN THAT AREA BECAUSE IT IS SO
REMUTE AND SPARSELY POPULATED.
A GOOD THING FOR THE AMOUNT OF
DAMAGE ONLY TWO HOMES WERE
AFFECTED.
WE HAVE TORNADO ALERTS THAT THE
COUNTY SENDS OUT ON CELLPHONES
BUT THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO SIGN
(01:55):
UP TO RECEIVE THOSE.
AND THE NUMBERS ARE REGISTERED.
AND FURTHERMORE, THE WARNINGS
WENT OUT VERY BRIEFLY BEFORE THE
STORM HIT.
SO IT SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SEEMS LIKE THE STORMS
JUST KEEP COMING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ADDS TO
THE DANGERS IS OFTENTIMES THE
(02:16):
DISASTERS ARE HITTING WHEN
PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP.
ANOTHER TOUGH DAY IN WASHINGTON
COUNTY.
DAMAGE ALSO IN MERCER COUNTY
THIS WAS A STRONG ONE WAS WELL.
>> IT WAS RATED AN EF-2 WINDS
130-MILES-PER-HOUR.
I THINK THERE WAS --
THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF LEAD TIME
ON THE WARNING.
(02:36):
THIS COMES TWO WEEKS AGO TODAY
THAT TORNADOES HIT RUSSELL,
PULASKI AND LAUREL COUNTIES AND
KILLED 19 PEOPLE THERE.
IT'S BEEN A LOT OF BAD WEATHER
AND TRAGEDY LATELY.
THE RECOVERY IN LAUREL
CONTINUES WHERE 20 PEOPLE LOST
THEIR LIVES AND MANY LOST THEIR
HOMES IN THE HUNDREDS.
NOW GOVERNOR BESHEAR INDICATES
(02:57):
THERE MAYBE A SPECIAL
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND
LAWMAKERS HAVE INDICATED THEY
ARE READY TO ANSWER THE CALL IF
AND WHEN THAT COMES.
>> Gov. Andy Beshear (03:06):
CERTAINLY
BEFORE WE SET ANY DATE WE WOULD
TALK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY I
WILL NOT CALL A SESSION UNLESS
LEADERSHIP IS FOR IT.
AND MAKE SURE IF WE DO IT IT'S
SUCCESSFUL AND THAT THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY HAVE ENOUGH TO BE
CONFIDENT IN IT.
>> I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT UP TO
THE LEADERSHIP, THOSE DECISIONS
ARE MADE BY HOUSE AND SENATE
LEADERSHIP.
AGAIN, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS
(03:28):
SHOWN WE CAN REACT QUICKLY WE'VE
HELPED WITH THE WESTERN KENTUCKY
ISSUES AND THE EASTERN KENTUCKY
FLOODING AND THIS ISSUE WOULD BE
ABLE TO BE DEALT WITH AS WELL.
>> Bill (03:38):
WE'VE BEEN PRACTICED IN
THIS.
BILL, TWO WEEKS LATE EARTH,
LONG-HAUL AND PULASKI COUNTIES
CONTINUE THEIR RECOVERY.
BUT IT IS A LONG ROAD BACK,
RIGHT?
>> YES, THE DESTRUCTION IS SO
WIDESPREAD.
I LIVE IN PULASKI COUNTY AND IN
SOMERSET THERE ARE 20
BUSINESSES, I MEAN, ONE GOOD
(03:59):
THING THERE THE TORNADO HIT AT
NIGHT.
IF IT HIT IN THE DAY HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE
BUSINESSES.
AND IT WAS AT NIGHT IT HIT
LAUREL COUNTY THAT SAME NIGHT
AND WHEN PEOPLE HAD GONE TO BED
SO YOU HAD 17 PEOPLE KILLED JUST
IN LONDON.
AND, YEAH, THE DESTRUCTION
BESHEAR ESTIMATED AND THE NUMBER
(04:20):
WILL CHANGE IN HIS REQUEST 1500
HOMES DAMAGED OR DES ROYED A LOT
CONCENTRATED IN THE THREE
COUNTIES.
THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE IN WESTERN
KENTUCKY.
WITH THE BULK OF THEM IN LAUREL
COUNTY.
THE SCALE OF IS JUST IS HARD TO
IMAGINE.
AND I WAS OUT YESTERDAY IN
(04:40):
PULASKI AND THEY WERE RESTORING
UTILITIES TWO WEEKS AGO TRYING
TO GET THOSE BACK ON.
YOU ARE A CRUSTY
NEWSMAN WERE YOU PREPARED FOR
WHAT YOU SAW?
>> I DON'T WANT --
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THIS I'VE
DONE IT FOR 40 YEARS AND SEEN
FLOODS AND TORNADOES BUT YOU
NEVER GET USED TO HOW BAD IT
(05:00):
SEEMS AND TALKING TO PEOPLE.
I WAS TALKING TO A YOUNG COUPLE
THAT HAD BEEN MARRIED A FEW
MONTHS AND HAD A NEW HOME AND IT
WAS STRIPPED DOWN TO THE
SUBFLOOR.
THEY HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND
ANY POSSESSIONS THEY WERE BLOWN
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND YOU ARE DEALING I HAVE TO
TALK TO PEOPLE WHOSE LOVED ONES
(05:21):
DIED.
THAT IS HARD.
I SPENT SEVERAL HOURS WITH A
GENTLEMAN WHOSE WIFE DIED.
MOST PEOPLE WANT TO
REBUILD WHERE THEY ARE.
>> WE A THAT AFTER THE FLOODS IN
2022 IN EASTERN KENTUCKY NOT
PERRY, WERE THE HARDEST HIT.
SOME PEOPLE MOVED AWAY BECAUSE
THERE WASN'T ANOTHER OPTION MOST
(05:44):
PEOPLE WANTED TO STAY THERE.
AND MAYBE THERE IS A
SLAB TO BEGIN WITH.
>> THAT IS THEIR HOME WHERE THEY
WANT TO BE.
PHILLIP, ANY SURPRISE
THAT THERE IS SOME TALK OF A
SPECIAL SESSION GIVEN THERE ARE
CAPS ON WHAT A GOVERNOR CAN DO
NOW IN AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE?
>> WELL, NO, I'M NOT SURPRISED.
(06:04):
LOOK, ANDY BESHEAR'S BREAD AND
BUTTER AND I THINK KENTUCKIANS
REFER TO HIM AS ANDY BECAUSE HE
SHOWS UP.
AND HE IS MAKING IT ONCE AGAIN A
MARK HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AS
BILL SAID NOT ONLY TO SCALE BUT
THESE AS FOLKS OF LITTLE MEANS.
AND THERE'S ONE ISSUE WHERE
KENTUCKIANS FEEL THAT ANDY
(06:25):
BESHEAR HAS THEIR BACK IS WHEN
DISASTER STRIKES AND HE WILL
SHOW UP FOR THEM AND CALL THE
LEGISLATURE TO DO THE SAME.
AND THEY INDICATE THEY
COULD GO ALONG THIS COULD BE A
QUICK SESSION AND IN AND OUT IN
TWO OR THREE DAYS.
>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE A LOT OF
HAMMERING ON THIS.
(06:45):
KENTUCKIANS KNOW KENTUCKIANS
NEED TO SHOW UP.
>> I'VE SEEN BESHEAR AND ROBERT
STIVERS THE SENATE PRESIDENT,
ACTUALLY SPENT PART OF HIS YOUTH
IN LONDON CLOSE TO THE AREA
WHERE ONE OF THE SUBDIVISIONS
WAS HIT AND I THINK THEY ARE ON
THE SAME PAGE.
THIS ONE OF SENATOR PAUL'S FIELD
REPS SAID DISASTER IS
(07:06):
BIPARTISAN.
AND I THINK THAT'S HOW THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE
GOING TO HANDLE THIS.
JESS, THERE'S BEEN
REPORTING ABOUT THE MENTAL
HEALTH OF FIRST-RESPONDERS.
A CHALLENGE NOT UNLIKE THAT OF
THOSE WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF THE
DISASTER.
THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO
PROCESS WHAT HAS HAPPENED FOR
PEOPLE.
>> YES, IT IS.
(07:27):
A LOT OF FIRST-RESPONDERS
EXPERIENCE SOMETHING CALLED
SECONDARY TRAUMA.
ALL SORTS OF FIRST-RESPONDERS
EXPERIENCE THIS.
POLICE, EMS, FIREFIGHTERS, FOLKS
RESPONDING TO TORNADOES LIKE THE
ONE WE SAW.
AND JOURNALISTS EXPERIENCE
SECONDARY TRAUMA.
AND IT'S DIFFICULT YOU MAY NOT
(07:47):
HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EVENT
FIRSTHAND BUT TALKING WITH
PEOPLE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEM.
OR SEEING VERY TRAUMATIC
INJURIES THOSE THINGS CAN
PRODUCE TRAUMA RESPONSES IN
PEOPLE INCLUDING PTSD.
AND CAN IT BE HELPFUL
(08:08):
TO DISCUSS THINGS OPENLY AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A TOUGH
TIME.
>> YES.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN SO
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN AREAS
THAT REACHED OUT TO FOLKS TO
SAY, HEY, IF YOU ARE EITHER A
SURVIVOR OR FIRST-RESPONDER
WE'RE OPENING UP MORE MENTAL
(08:29):
HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOU.
THE POLITICS IN THIS
PROGRAM ARE WEAVING IN AND OUT
OF OUR DISCUSSION.
HERE IT IS IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE
DISASTER RESPONSE IS SOMETHING
WE'VE SAID GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS
BEEN ALL TOO PRACTICED AT, HE
OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT WANT THE
HARDSHIP ON PEOPLE BUT COULD IT
BE A USEFUL IMAGE AS HE PURSUES
(08:51):
THE PRESIDENCY POTENTIALLY?
>> WELL, I THINK THE OLD LIKE IS
YOUR PRESIDENT IS HERE WHEN
DISASTER STRIKES.
AND DISASTERS CAN BE HARMFUL FOR
PRESIDENTS LIKE ABOUT GEORGE
H.W. BUSH AND HURRICANE KATRINA.
I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THESE
DISASTERS, BILL, THE EXECUTIVE
IS WHERE THE ACTION IS FOR
(09:13):
GOVERNORS THIS IS WHERE THEY
DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES MORE THAN
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THERE'S NO PARTISANSHIP HERE YOU
GET TO MEET WITH YOUR PEOPLE
THEY GET TO SEE YOU IN ACTION.
ALSO THERE IS A NATIONAL
CONVERSATION THANKS TO THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION ABOUT FEMA.
IN "USA TODAY" IN NORTH CAROLINA
GOVERNOR STEIN CRITICIZED FEMA
SAY TO GO NEEDS TO BE REWORKED.
(09:36):
FEMA SHOWS UP TOO LATE OR NOT
ENOUGH.
AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS MADE
PAST CRITICISMS OF FEMA I'M
INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT IS HIS
VISION OF WHAT FEMA SHOULD LOOK
LIKE IN FUTURE.
AND BESHEAR IS HEADED
TO FLORIDA AND WILL SHARE THE
STAGE WITH COREY BOOKER WHAT DO
YOU READ INTO THAT?
>> DEMOCRATS WANT TO FLIP AND
(09:57):
MAKE FLORIDA A SWING STATE
AGAIN.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS GOING TO BE
THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION NEXT YEAR
SO HE IS GOING TO BE IN A
PREMIER SEAT TO DO THAT.
HE MET WITH THE FLORIDA
DELEGATION DURING THE DNC
CONVENTION WHERE HE PROMISED
THEY WOULD ELECT A DEMOCRAT IN
FLORIDA.
LOOK, I THINK FOR ANDY BESHEAR
THIS IS WHERE HE IS GOING TO BE
(10:18):
TESTED AND GOING AROUND THE
COUNTRY IN THE GUBERNATORIAL
RACES LIKE THE DNC CHAIR HE IS
GOING TO BE A FACE OF REBRANDING
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND YOU ARE
SEEING HIM IN FLORIDA MAKING HIS
FIRST MARK THERE.
DOES HE APPEAR TO HAVE
A LANE EARLY IN THE RACE?
THERE ARE EIGHT OR NINE PEOPLE
AND SOMETIMES HE IS MENTIONED
AND SOMETIMES HE ISN'T.
>> EVERY DEMOCRAT WHO IS
(10:40):
MENTIONED AS A PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE LIKE STEVEN A. SMITH
IS TRYING TO FIND WHAT IS THEIR
LAND.
FOR GAVIN GAVIN NEWSOM, IS ANDY
BESHEAR IS TRYING TO RECONCILE.
WHAT I HEAR FROM NATIONAL
(11:00):
DEMOCRATS FOR ANDY BESHEAR HE IS
GOING TO HAVE TO OVERCOME AND
HIS PODCAST WITH HIS KIDS PART
OF THAT STRATEGY THE CHARISMA
GAP.
A LOT OF DEMOCRATS SAY HE
DOESN'T EXCITE ME LIKE OTHER
DEMOCRATS YOU WILL HAVE TO SEE
ANDY BESHEAR EXPAND HIS WINGS
AND SHOW A FUN ANIER BRIGHTER
SIDE OUTSIDE OF THE STRAIGHT
(11:22):
LACED POLITICS.
RAND PAUL WAS IN IOWA
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
IT IS NOT LOST ON ANY POLITICAL
OBSERVERS THAT THAT IS THE HOME
OF THE IOWA CAUCUSES.
THE FIRST CONTEST OF THE 2028
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND HE RAN
FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016.
>> DESPITE PRESIDENT TRUMP
FLIRTING WITH THE IDEA OF A
(11:42):
THIRD TERM THERE IS NOT TRACTION
ON THAT.
FOR RAND PAUL WHO CRITICIZED THE
BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT PASSED
OUT OF THE HOUSE HE IS REMAINING
CONSISTENT THAT THIS BILL WHICH
RIGHT NOW THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN
WOULD ADD $3.1 TRILLION TO THE
NATIONAL DEBT.
WE KNOW HOW RAND PAUL AND THOMAS
MASSIE AND OTHERS FEEL ABOUT
(12:03):
THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO
TALK ABOUT RAND PAUL AS A
POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE.
I THINK YOU SEE HIM AND HE
DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WHETHER ON
TARIFFS THE DEBT HE IS NOT GOING
TO FALL AND BE FILTHY TO DONALD
TRUMP HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
TALK ABOUT THE DEBT AND THE
FISCAL CRISIS NO MATTER WHAT THE
PRESIDENT SAYS.
(12:24):
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THINGS
HAPPENING IN STATE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW JCPS
SUPERINTENDENT.
THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
JESS, WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING
ABOUT THE NEW LEADER FOR THE
SCHOOLS IN LOUISVILLE?
>> SO, HIS NAME IS BRIAN
YEARWOOD.
HE IS YOU ORIGINALLY FROM
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, A COUNTRY
IN THE CARRIBBEAN.
AND HE MOVED TO THE U.S. AT 17
(12:46):
AS A ON A TENNIS SCHOLARSHIP.
HE BEGAN AS A TEACHER IN THE
TEXAS SCHOOL SYSTEMS A COUPLE
SMALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN TEXAS
AND BECAME A PRINCIPAL AND
ADMINISTRATOR.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY MOVED TO
COLUMN COLUMBIA, MISSOURI.
WHERE HE WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT
(13:09):
FROM TWUN-2024.
HE LEFT IN 2024 UNDER SOMEWHAT
MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE KIND OF ABRUPTLY LEFT AFTER
THE BOARD HAD RENEWED HIS
CONTRACT FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS
AND HE SIGNED AN NDA.
SO HE HASN'T SPOKEN OUT ABOUT
WHY HE LEFT.
HE SAYS THAT NDA PREVENTS HIM
(13:30):
FROM SPEAKING ABOUT IT.
AND HE TOOK A BUYOUT FOR
$667,000.
SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE
FULL ALL THE REASONS BEHIND HIS
DEPARTURE THAT MADE SOME PEOPLE
NERVOUS.
BOARD MEMBERS, FOR JEFFERSON
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAY THEY
ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
THEY THINK HE WAS FORCED OUT FOR
(13:52):
POLITICAL REASONS AND THERE'S
NOTHING TO SEE THERE.
AND THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT HIM.
HE RAISED TEST SCORES FAIRLY
SIGNIFICANTLY IN COLUMBIA PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI.
AND HAS A LONG TRACK RECORD AS
AN EDUCATOR.
THERE IS A SHORTFALL
AND THEY BELIEVE HE IS SKILLED
IN THAT AREA AS WELL?
(14:13):
>> YES.
THE DISTRICT IS FACING $100
MILLION SHORTFALL NEXT YEAR
BECAUSE OF ALL THE PANDEMIC
RELIEF FUNDING EXPIRING.
AND SO THEY WANTED SOMEONE WITH
GOOD FINANCIAL CHOPS TO COME AND
AND THEY BELIEVE HE IS THE GUY
TO DO IT.
HE WAS NOT THE CHOICE
OF A TEACHERS' UNION IN A SURVEY
THEY DID AFTER THE FORUM FOR THE
CANDIDATES?
(14:34):
>> YES, HE WAS BY FAR NOT THE
CHOICE IN A SURVEY OF AROUND 800
TEACHERS WHICH IS ABOUT 15% OF
THE TEACHERS' UNION MEMBERSHIP,
HE ONLY ABOUT 9% OF TEACHERS
SAID THEY PREFERRED HIM OVER THE
OTHER CANDIDATES.
THREE TIMES AS MANY TEACHERS
SAID THEY'D PREFER ANY OTHER
CANDIDATE THAN THESE TWO FOLKS.
(14:54):
AND MOST OF THEM PREFERRED
ANOTHER FINAL LIZ WHO DID NOT
GET THE JOB.
AND YEARWOOD HE KNOWS THAT.
REPORTERS WE ASKED HIM ABOUT
THAT DURING A CALL AND HE SAID
YES, I'VE SEEN THE POLL AND I'M
GLAD PEOPLE WERE HONEST ABOUT
THEIR OPINION AND IT SHOWS I
HAVE WORK TO DO TO BUILD TRUST.
HE THINKS HE WILL HAVE
(15:15):
TO EARN IT.
THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES RECENTLY PASSED
A RESOLUTION TO CUT EDUCATION
AND WORKFORCE FUNDING BY $330
BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
A LOT OF KENTUCKY SCHOOLS DEPEND
ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING.
>> KENTUCKY SCHOOLS GET ABOUT $2
BILLION A YEAR IN FEDERAL
FUNDING.
MOST OF THAT IS FOR THINGS LIKE
(15:37):
THE SCHOOL MEALS, BREAKFAST AND
LUNCH.
FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS.
ANOTHER BIG PORTION IS TITLE ONE
FUNDING FOR STUDENTS FROM
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
AND THEN ANOTHER BIG PORTION IS
FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW THEY WOULD
MAKE THESE CUTS WHAT THAT WOULD
LOOK LIKE BUT WHEN YOU ARE
(15:57):
TALKING ABOUT CUTTING FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR DISTRICTS THAT
REALLY RELY ON IT IT'S GOING TO
MAKE PEOPLE NERVOUS.
IT MIGHT BE WORTH
NOTING IT'S PROBABLY EASIER FOR
THE URBAN DISTRICTS TO RAISE
LOCAL MONEY THAN IT IS IN THE
RURAL AREAS AND THE POORER AREAS
OF THE STATE.
>> IT IS.
I'VE BEEN UP IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND
TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENTS.
(16:19):
THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT THIS
WILL FALL DISPROPORTIONATELY ON
SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
THAT DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
RAISE MONEY AS MUCH MONEY
LOCALLY AS YOU WOULD HAVE IN
MORE AFFLUENT DISTRICTS.
FAYETTE COUNTY SUDDENLY
DOING AN OCCUPATIONAL TAX
INCREASE IF THEY CAN GET THAT
THROUGH.
>> THEY ARE STUDYING THAT AND
(16:39):
THERE IS A CONCERN SOME COUNTIES
DON'T HAVE THAT SAME CAPACITY TO
DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND LONG TIME STATE
LAWMAKER, STATE SENATOR ROBIN
WEBB OF CARTER COUNTY IS
SWITCHING PARTIES FROM DEMOCRAT
TO REPUBLICAN.
SHE SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT SHE
RELEASED TODAY SHE DIDN'T FEEL
LIKE SHE WAS LEAVING THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SHE SAID IT
(17:00):
LEFT HER.
THIS IS AN IMAGE OF HER CHANGING
HER AFFILIATION.
THERE SHE IS WITH SECRETARY OF
STATE MICHAEL ADAMS A REPUBLICAN
AND WITH A REPUBLICAN SENATE
PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS WHO
QUICKLY WELCOMED HER TO THE
PARTY.
WHAT DOES THIS REFLECT?
>> THIS COULDN'T COME AT A WORSE
TIME FOR KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS.
A FEW DAYS AGO THEY WERE
(17:21):
FEATURED IN A NATIONAL STORY
FEATURING KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC
PARTY CHAIR COLMON ELRIDGE ON
HIS LISTENING TOUR OF EASTERN
KENTUCKY.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT YOU HAVE A
STATE LAWMAKER FROM EASTERN
KENTUCKY SAYING THE PARTY LEFT
ME I DON'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE DEMOCRATIC BLAND AND IT
GOES INTO NATIONAL ISSUES FOR
(17:41):
GOVERNOR BESHEAR AS HE IS
MENTIONED FOR A PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE.
PART OF HIS PITCH TO THE
NATIONAL PARTY LOOK I AM A
DEMOCRAT IN A TRUMP AREA I KNOW
HOW TO TALK TO REPUBLICANS AND
WIN OVER PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR
DONALD TRUMP.
IN YOUR HOME STATE, GOVERNOR,
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND
THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT HAD LUCK AT
(18:01):
ALL AND LOST ROOTS IN LARGE
SWATHS OF THE STATE WHETHER IT'S
STATE-WIDE OFFICES OR THE
LEGISLATURE.
THE TIMING IS NOT BAD FOR THE
KDP BUT UNDERCUTS ONE OF ANDY
BESHEAR'S CHIEF ARGUMENTS.
ROBIN WEBB IS KNOWN TO
BE MORE MODERATE WAS THERE A
FINAL STRAW?
WE SAW I THINK IN HER STATEMENT
(18:23):
SHE MADE REFERENCES TO COAL
POLICY AND ENVIRONMENTAL.
>> COAL POLICY AND OTHERS.
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS AN
EXPLANATION WHAT THAT MEANT.
THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY WHO FELT LIKE
DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS
UNDERMINE THE COAL INDUSTRY.
AND YOU SAW TRUMP A COUPLE
MONTHS AGO SIGN EXECUTIVE ORDERS
THAT WERE GOING TO HELP THE COAL
(18:44):
INDUSTRY A LOT OF ANALYSTS SAY
IT WON'T DO MUCH AS LEAST THEY
ARE PUTTING THE FOCUS ON.
DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE
THIS OUT IN THE NATIONAL LEVEL
IT'S THE DEMOCRATIC BRAND THAT
IS HAVING A PROBLEM FROM EASTERN
KENTUCKY ALL THE WAY TO THE
BRONX.
BOTH PARTIES SEEM TO BE
BOLSTERING THEIR KENTUCKY
OPERATIONS RIGHT NOW.
(19:04):
WE MADE REFERENCE A MOMENT AGO
TO COLMON ELRIDGE WHO HAS BEEN
ON THAT LISTENING TOUR.
AND THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN
PARTY ANNOUNCED ZACK JORDAN IS
THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HE
WAS PART OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN
IN ARIZONA BUT HE IS A GRADUATE
OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
CLEARLY BOTH PARTIES KNOW NEXT
YEAR IS BIG FOR THE LEGISLATIVE
(19:25):
RACES AND IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RACES.
>> I THINK YOU WILL SEE
INVESTMENT HERE.
I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW IN
2026 THE TWO PARTIES ARE GOING
TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS IN
KENTUCKY.
JUST MENTIONED ABOUT EDUCATION
FUNDING WHETHER IT'S MEDICAID
WHAT IS THE EFFECT TO RURAL
COMMUNITIES AND FOOD STAMPS AND
(19:47):
MEDICAID AND OTHER PLACES YOU
HAVE LAWMAKERS BY JOSH HOLLY
SAYING THIS IS GOING TO HURT
RURAL AREAS IN PARTICULAR.
HUFF'S HAD THE PRESIDENT BE
WARNED BY THE PRESIDENT'S
SUPPORTERS LIKE STEVE BENNETT
SAYING MORE MAGA FOLKS ARE ON
THESE PROBLEMS IN THE URBAN
AREAS.
I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW IN THE
(20:07):
REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES THESE
CANDIDATES AND INCUMBENTS WILL
DECIPHER WHAT HELPS AND HURTS
COMMUNITIES.
DO THOSE BECOME THE
ISSUES AND DOES EDUCATION FIND
ITS WAY INTO A U.S. SENATE
PRIMARY FOR INSTANCE?
>> I MEAN, I THINK EDUCATION HAS
(20:28):
BEEN A HOT BUTTON ISSUE IN
LARGER POLITICAL RACES IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS.
IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO MAKE A
CULTURE WAR ISSUE A BIG DEAL IN
ANY RACE.
BUT, YEAH, I MEAN I COULD SEE
THAT BEING AN ISSUE ESPECIALLY
AS PHILLIP MENTIONED WHEN YOU
HAVE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS ON THE
(20:48):
TABLE THAT IS DEFINITELY
SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE IT
INTO A SENATE RACE.
>> A LOT OF THOSE STATES ARE
RELIANT ON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT LIKE IN GEORGIA, THEY
ARE NOT HAVING TO DEFEND THE
PRESIDENT ELIMINATING THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THEY
HAVE TO DEFEND THAT IN 2026.
IS THIS SENATE RACE IN
KENTUCKY GOING TO BE BETWEEN
(21:10):
DANIEL CAMERON AND ANDY BARR OR
DO YOU EXPECT THAT FIELD TO
EXPAND?
>> NATURE MORRIS HE --
NATURE CONSERVANCY IS TALKING --
NATE MORRIS IS TALKING ABOUT IF
HE IS A CANDIDATE.
IF NOT THEN WE WILL HAVE A RACE
BETWEEN BARR AND CAMERON WHO IS
THE MORE MODERATE AND
ESTABLISHMENT IF ANYONE THAT CAN
(21:32):
THROW BOMBS IN THE RACE IT'S
NATE MORRIS.
THE CANDIDATES THOSE
TWO CAMERON AND BARR HAVE BEEN
IN THE SOMERSET AREA THEY SEEM
TO BE REALIZING THAT STILL THE
OLD FIFTH AS WE CALL IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT IN A REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY.
>> THE OLD FIFTH WAS CENTERED
AROUND SOMERSET, LONDON, CORBIN
AND CARTER WAS FROM MONROE
(21:55):
COUNTY, FOR MANY YEARS AND HAL
ROGERS HAS BEEN THE CONGRESSMAN
SINCE SELECTED IN THE 1980s.
THE OLD FIFTH CENTERS AROUND
THERE AND IT STILL MATTERS IN
REPUBLICAN POLITICS DESPITE WHAT
IS HAPPENING IN THE REST OF THE
STATE.
WE GOT EARLY HINTS
ABOUT THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION FIVE TASK FORCES WERE
SETUP.
(22:15):
ONE IS MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY
AGAIN KENTUCKY TASK FORCE AND WE
KNOW KENTUCKY HAS SOME OF THE
WORST HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE
COUNTRY.
HIGH DIABETES, CANCER AND HEART
DISEASE RATES AMONG THOSE.
ARE LAWMAKERS PREPARED TO WADE
INTO THAT AND MAKE THE
INVESTMENTS YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO
CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS?
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
I THINK WHEN YOU SAW LAWMAKERS
(22:37):
TALKING ABOUT THIS TASK FORCE,
THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
SKEPTICISM AROUND
PHARMACEUTICALS, SKEPTICISM EVEN
AROUND VACCINES.
AND SO THAT AND TALK ABOUT LIKE
REINING IN THE TYPES OF DRUGS
BILLED THROUGH MEDICAID THAT
(22:58):
DOESN'T SPEAK TO A POTENTIAL
INVESTMENT.
AND BUT THEY ARE IN THE BILL
THEY DO TALK ABOUT EXPANDING
TRYING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO
HEALTHY FOOD, EXPANDING
EDUCATION AROUND HEALTHY EATING.
THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW,
THIS LEGISLATURE HAS SEEMED MORE
(23:19):
INTERESTED IN CUTTING SNAP
BENEFITS AND CUTTING MEDICAID.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE
PREPARED TO MAKE BIG MONETARY
INVESTMENTS.
RECOMMENDED BEHAVIORAL
CHANGES MAYBE.
PHILLIP ANOTHER TASK FORCE FOR
FOCUSES ON ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
THAT IS JUST PART OF LOTS OF
(23:41):
CONVERSATIONS THESE DAYS.
AND TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO SORT
OF GOVERN THAT IS A CHALLENGE?
>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT AT
THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
WE SAW THE FIRST LADY DO A LAP
AFTER A BILL SHE WAS SUPPORTIVE
OF TO BAN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT
IMAGES GENERATED BY A.I.
(24:01):
AND I THINK WE SEE WITH THE TASK
FORCE STARTED BY AMANDA MAYS
BLEDSOE, I THINK WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO SEE IS TENSION PERHAPS
ON THE RIGHT BETWEEN THE
LEGISLATORS AND THE REPUBLICAN
CONGRESS.
IN THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT
IS GOING TO CHANGE A LOT FROM
NOW TO THE FINAL VERSION BUT
THERE'S $500 MILLION DOLLED OUT
FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OVER
THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO MODERNIZE
(24:23):
IT.
PART OF THE BILL IS THAT THERE
IS A PROVISION WHICH WOULD BLOCK
STATES FROM REGULATING
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
AT A TIME WHEN MANY STATES ARE
TRYING TO DO SO.
I'M INTERESTING TO SEE WITH THE
TASK FORCE HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING
TO SEE KENTUCKY SAY WITH CERTAIN
JOB INDUSTRIES AND ATTACKED BY
(24:44):
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WE MAY
WANT TO GO IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION.
BILL, TOUGH NEWS FOR US
HERE YOU'RE RETIRING AFTER 40
YEARS AT THE HERALD-LEADER.
I KNOW IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN HARD WORK
BUT IT'S BEEN A REWARDING
CAREER.
AND YOUR READERS HAVE BENEFITED
FROM IT.
(25:05):
WHAT DO YOU THINK HE YOU LOOK
BACK?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S BEEN A LOT.
I THINK HE'S BEEN A HONOR TO
SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY IN MY
HOME STATE.
I'VE HAD CHANCES TO GO ELSEWHERE
AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT COVERING
THOSE PLACES LIKE I CARE ABOUT
WHERE I GREW UP AND MY FAMILY IS
HERE.
IT'S JUST BEEN A TREMENDOUS
(25:25):
HONOR TO GET TO COVER THIS
PLACE.
WHO WILL DIG UP THE
THINGS YOU'VE FOUND IN THE COURT
RECORDS?
>> THEY WILL FIND SOMEBODY ELSE
TO DO THE WORK.
IF THEY HEARD EXCESS IN
THE HOUSE, PEOPLE BEGAN TO KIND
OF SCRAMBLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE,
BILL.
>> WE KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO
(25:45):
CONTINUE TO WRITE.
>> I WILL TRY TO DO FREELANCING
AND STORIES.
I DON'T WANT TO SIT AND DO
NOTHING.
GO WRITE A BOOK.
>> I DON'T THINK I HAVE THAT
MUCH MOTIVATION.
TWO TIME PULITZER PRIZE
WINNER IN KENTUCKY JOURNALISM
BILL LUSTER DIED HE WAS A
PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE CURE CURE
(26:06):
COURIER-JOURNAL 42 YEARS HE
CAPTURED ICONIC IMAGES OVER THE
YEARS GAINING ACCESS TO THE
WHITE HOUSE UNDER SEVERAL
PRESIDENTS.
BILL LUSTER WAS 80 YEARS OLD.
SUNDAY IS STATEHOOD DAY IN THE
COMMONWEALTH.
KENTUCKY JOINED THE UNION AS THE
15TH STATE ON JUNE 1, 1792.
WE'RE CELEBRATING 233rd
(26:28):
BIRTHDAY.
WAS THE WESTERN FRONTIER AND 4.6
MILLION PEOPLE CALL KENTUCKY
HOME.
THAT IS COMMENT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:10):
GOVERNOR BESHEAR AS
SPECIAL LEGISLATION SESSION AS
KENTUCKY RECOVERS FROM
TORNADOES.
A LONGTIME STATE SENATOR
SWITCHES PARTIES.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR PLANS MORE OUT
OF STATE TRAVEL.
DOES HE HAVE A LANE IN THE 2028
PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST?
NEW LEADERSHIP FOR KENTUCKY'S
LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT WHAT IS
AHEAD FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT AND
(00:31):
FOR 96,000 STUDENTS?
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND THAT
TAKES US TO JUNE COMMENT IS NEXT
ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
(00:52):
ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND
SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF
WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS
TONIGHT ARE BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN KENTUCKY REPORTER
FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.
JESS CLARK, EDUCATION REPORTER
FOR THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.
(01:13):
AND PHILLIP BAILEY LOUISVILLE
BASED CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPOND
END FOR "USA TODAY".
FRIDAY BEGAN WITH MORE DEADLY
WEATHER IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN IN
WASHINGTON COUNTY TAKING ONE
LIFE AND INJURING AT LEAST A
DOZEN PEOPLE.
THE LOCAL LEADERS WERE
RESPONDING TO THAT EARLY TODAY.
>> THIS IS A REMOTE AREA OF OUR
(01:35):
COUNTY CLOSE TO THE COUNTY LINE
AND THERE IS NO TORNADO SIRENS
IN THAT AREA BECAUSE IT IS SO
REMUTE AND SPARSELY POPULATED.
A GOOD THING FOR THE AMOUNT OF
DAMAGE ONLY TWO HOMES WERE
AFFECTED.
WE HAVE TORNADO ALERTS THAT THE
COUNTY SENDS OUT ON CELLPHONES
BUT THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO SIGN
(01:55):
UP TO RECEIVE THOSE.
AND THE NUMBERS ARE REGISTERED.
AND FURTHERMORE, THE WARNINGS
WENT OUT VERY BRIEFLY BEFORE THE
STORM HIT.
SO IT SURPRISED A LOT OF PEOPLE.
SEEMS LIKE THE STORMS
JUST KEEP COMING.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ADDS TO
THE DANGERS IS OFTENTIMES THE
(02:16):
DISASTERS ARE HITTING WHEN
PEOPLE ARE ASLEEP.
ANOTHER TOUGH DAY IN WASHINGTON
COUNTY.
DAMAGE ALSO IN MERCER COUNTY
THIS WAS A STRONG ONE WAS WELL.
>> IT WAS RATED AN EF-2 WINDS
130-MILES-PER-HOUR.
I THINK THERE WAS --
THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF LEAD TIME
ON THE WARNING.
(02:36):
THIS COMES TWO WEEKS AGO TODAY
THAT TORNADOES HIT RUSSELL,
PULASKI AND LAUREL COUNTIES AND
KILLED 19 PEOPLE THERE.
IT'S BEEN A LOT OF BAD WEATHER
AND TRAGEDY LATELY.
THE RECOVERY IN LAUREL
CONTINUES WHERE 20 PEOPLE LOST
THEIR LIVES AND MANY LOST THEIR
HOMES IN THE HUNDREDS.
NOW GOVERNOR BESHEAR INDICATES
(02:57):
THERE MAYBE A SPECIAL
LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND
LAWMAKERS HAVE INDICATED THEY
ARE READY TO ANSWER THE CALL IF
AND WHEN THAT COMES.
>> Gov. Andy Beshear (03:06):
CERTAINLY
BEFORE WE SET ANY DATE WE WOULD
TALK TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY I
WILL NOT CALL A SESSION UNLESS
LEADERSHIP IS FOR IT.
AND MAKE SURE IF WE DO IT IT'S
SUCCESSFUL AND THAT THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY HAVE ENOUGH TO BE
CONFIDENT IN IT.
>> I'M GOING TO LEAVE THAT UP TO
THE LEADERSHIP, THOSE DECISIONS
ARE MADE BY HOUSE AND SENATE
LEADERSHIP.
AGAIN, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS
(03:28):
SHOWN WE CAN REACT QUICKLY WE'VE
HELPED WITH THE WESTERN KENTUCKY
ISSUES AND THE EASTERN KENTUCKY
FLOODING AND THIS ISSUE WOULD BE
ABLE TO BE DEALT WITH AS WELL.
>> Bill (03:38):
WE'VE BEEN PRACTICED IN
THIS.
BILL, TWO WEEKS LATE EARTH,
LONG-HAUL AND PULASKI COUNTIES
CONTINUE THEIR RECOVERY.
BUT IT IS A LONG ROAD BACK,
RIGHT?
>> YES, THE DESTRUCTION IS SO
WIDESPREAD.
I LIVE IN PULASKI COUNTY AND IN
SOMERSET THERE ARE 20
BUSINESSES, I MEAN, ONE GOOD
(03:59):
THING THERE THE TORNADO HIT AT
NIGHT.
IF IT HIT IN THE DAY HUNDREDS OF
PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE
BUSINESSES.
AND IT WAS AT NIGHT IT HIT
LAUREL COUNTY THAT SAME NIGHT
AND WHEN PEOPLE HAD GONE TO BED
SO YOU HAD 17 PEOPLE KILLED JUST
IN LONDON.
AND, YEAH, THE DESTRUCTION
BESHEAR ESTIMATED AND THE NUMBER
(04:20):
WILL CHANGE IN HIS REQUEST 1500
HOMES DAMAGED OR DES ROYED A LOT
CONCENTRATED IN THE THREE
COUNTIES.
THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE IN WESTERN
KENTUCKY.
WITH THE BULK OF THEM IN LAUREL
COUNTY.
THE SCALE OF IS JUST IS HARD TO
IMAGINE.
AND I WAS OUT YESTERDAY IN
(04:40):
PULASKI AND THEY WERE RESTORING
UTILITIES TWO WEEKS AGO TRYING
TO GET THOSE BACK ON.
YOU ARE A CRUSTY
NEWSMAN WERE YOU PREPARED FOR
WHAT YOU SAW?
>> I DON'T WANT --
I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THIS I'VE
DONE IT FOR 40 YEARS AND SEEN
FLOODS AND TORNADOES BUT YOU
NEVER GET USED TO HOW BAD IT
(05:00):
SEEMS AND TALKING TO PEOPLE.
I WAS TALKING TO A YOUNG COUPLE
THAT HAD BEEN MARRIED A FEW
MONTHS AND HAD A NEW HOME AND IT
WAS STRIPPED DOWN TO THE
SUBFLOOR.
THEY HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND
ANY POSSESSIONS THEY WERE BLOWN
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND YOU ARE DEALING I HAVE TO
TALK TO PEOPLE WHOSE LOVED ONES
(05:21):
DIED.
THAT IS HARD.
I SPENT SEVERAL HOURS WITH A
GENTLEMAN WHOSE WIFE DIED.
MOST PEOPLE WANT TO
REBUILD WHERE THEY ARE.
>> WE A THAT AFTER THE FLOODS IN
2022 IN EASTERN KENTUCKY NOT
PERRY, WERE THE HARDEST HIT.
SOME PEOPLE MOVED AWAY BECAUSE
THERE WASN'T ANOTHER OPTION MOST
(05:44):
PEOPLE WANTED TO STAY THERE.
AND MAYBE THERE IS A
SLAB TO BEGIN WITH.
>> THAT IS THEIR HOME WHERE THEY
WANT TO BE.
PHILLIP, ANY SURPRISE
THAT THERE IS SOME TALK OF A
SPECIAL SESSION GIVEN THERE ARE
CAPS ON WHAT A GOVERNOR CAN DO
NOW IN AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE?
>> WELL, NO, I'M NOT SURPRISED.
(06:04):
LOOK, ANDY BESHEAR'S BREAD AND
BUTTER AND I THINK KENTUCKIANS
REFER TO HIM AS ANDY BECAUSE HE
SHOWS UP.
AND HE IS MAKING IT ONCE AGAIN A
MARK HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AS
BILL SAID NOT ONLY TO SCALE BUT
THESE AS FOLKS OF LITTLE MEANS.
AND THERE'S ONE ISSUE WHERE
KENTUCKIANS FEEL THAT ANDY
(06:25):
BESHEAR HAS THEIR BACK IS WHEN
DISASTER STRIKES AND HE WILL
SHOW UP FOR THEM AND CALL THE
LEGISLATURE TO DO THE SAME.
AND THEY INDICATE THEY
COULD GO ALONG THIS COULD BE A
QUICK SESSION AND IN AND OUT IN
TWO OR THREE DAYS.
>> I DON'T ANTICIPATE A LOT OF
HAMMERING ON THIS.
(06:45):
KENTUCKIANS KNOW KENTUCKIANS
NEED TO SHOW UP.
>> I'VE SEEN BESHEAR AND ROBERT
STIVERS THE SENATE PRESIDENT,
ACTUALLY SPENT PART OF HIS YOUTH
IN LONDON CLOSE TO THE AREA
WHERE ONE OF THE SUBDIVISIONS
WAS HIT AND I THINK THEY ARE ON
THE SAME PAGE.
THIS ONE OF SENATOR PAUL'S FIELD
REPS SAID DISASTER IS
(07:06):
BIPARTISAN.
AND I THINK THAT'S HOW THE
LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE
GOING TO HANDLE THIS.
JESS, THERE'S BEEN
REPORTING ABOUT THE MENTAL
HEALTH OF FIRST-RESPONDERS.
A CHALLENGE NOT UNLIKE THAT OF
THOSE WHO ARE SURVIVORS OF THE
DISASTER.
THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT TO
PROCESS WHAT HAS HAPPENED FOR
PEOPLE.
>> YES, IT IS.
(07:27):
A LOT OF FIRST-RESPONDERS
EXPERIENCE SOMETHING CALLED
SECONDARY TRAUMA.
ALL SORTS OF FIRST-RESPONDERS
EXPERIENCE THIS.
POLICE, EMS, FIREFIGHTERS, FOLKS
RESPONDING TO TORNADOES LIKE THE
ONE WE SAW.
AND JOURNALISTS EXPERIENCE
SECONDARY TRAUMA.
AND IT'S DIFFICULT YOU MAY NOT
(07:47):
HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EVENT
FIRSTHAND BUT TALKING WITH
PEOPLE ABOUT THE DETAILS OF WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEM.
OR SEEING VERY TRAUMATIC
INJURIES THOSE THINGS CAN
PRODUCE TRAUMA RESPONSES IN
PEOPLE INCLUDING PTSD.
AND CAN IT BE HELPFUL
(08:08):
TO DISCUSS THINGS OPENLY AND
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A TOUGH
TIME.
>> YES.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN SO
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS IN AREAS
THAT REACHED OUT TO FOLKS TO
SAY, HEY, IF YOU ARE EITHER A
SURVIVOR OR FIRST-RESPONDER
WE'RE OPENING UP MORE MENTAL
(08:29):
HEALTH SERVICES FOR YOU.
THE POLITICS IN THIS
PROGRAM ARE WEAVING IN AND OUT
OF OUR DISCUSSION.
HERE IT IS IN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE
DISASTER RESPONSE IS SOMETHING
WE'VE SAID GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS
BEEN ALL TOO PRACTICED AT, HE
OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT WANT THE
HARDSHIP ON PEOPLE BUT COULD IT
BE A USEFUL IMAGE AS HE PURSUES
(08:51):
THE PRESIDENCY POTENTIALLY?
>> WELL, I THINK THE OLD LIKE IS
YOUR PRESIDENT IS HERE WHEN
DISASTER STRIKES.
AND DISASTERS CAN BE HARMFUL FOR
PRESIDENTS LIKE ABOUT GEORGE
H.W. BUSH AND HURRICANE KATRINA.
I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO THESE
DISASTERS, BILL, THE EXECUTIVE
IS WHERE THE ACTION IS FOR
(09:13):
GOVERNORS THIS IS WHERE THEY
DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES MORE THAN
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THERE'S NO PARTISANSHIP HERE YOU
GET TO MEET WITH YOUR PEOPLE
THEY GET TO SEE YOU IN ACTION.
ALSO THERE IS A NATIONAL
CONVERSATION THANKS TO THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION ABOUT FEMA.
IN "USA TODAY" IN NORTH CAROLINA
GOVERNOR STEIN CRITICIZED FEMA
SAY TO GO NEEDS TO BE REWORKED.
(09:36):
FEMA SHOWS UP TOO LATE OR NOT
ENOUGH.
AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAS MADE
PAST CRITICISMS OF FEMA I'M
INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT IS HIS
VISION OF WHAT FEMA SHOULD LOOK
LIKE IN FUTURE.
AND BESHEAR IS HEADED
TO FLORIDA AND WILL SHARE THE
STAGE WITH COREY BOOKER WHAT DO
YOU READ INTO THAT?
>> DEMOCRATS WANT TO FLIP AND
(09:57):
MAKE FLORIDA A SWING STATE
AGAIN.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR IS GOING TO BE
THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION NEXT YEAR
SO HE IS GOING TO BE IN A
PREMIER SEAT TO DO THAT.
HE MET WITH THE FLORIDA
DELEGATION DURING THE DNC
CONVENTION WHERE HE PROMISED
THEY WOULD ELECT A DEMOCRAT IN
FLORIDA.
LOOK, I THINK FOR ANDY BESHEAR
THIS IS WHERE HE IS GOING TO BE
(10:18):
TESTED AND GOING AROUND THE
COUNTRY IN THE GUBERNATORIAL
RACES LIKE THE DNC CHAIR HE IS
GOING TO BE A FACE OF REBRANDING
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND YOU ARE
SEEING HIM IN FLORIDA MAKING HIS
FIRST MARK THERE.
DOES HE APPEAR TO HAVE
A LANE EARLY IN THE RACE?
THERE ARE EIGHT OR NINE PEOPLE
AND SOMETIMES HE IS MENTIONED
AND SOMETIMES HE ISN'T.
>> EVERY DEMOCRAT WHO IS
(10:40):
MENTIONED AS A PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE LIKE STEVEN A. SMITH
IS TRYING TO FIND WHAT IS THEIR
LAND.
FOR GAVIN GAVIN NEWSOM, IS ANDY
BESHEAR IS TRYING TO RECONCILE.
WHAT I HEAR FROM NATIONAL
(11:00):
DEMOCRATS FOR ANDY BESHEAR HE IS
GOING TO HAVE TO OVERCOME AND
HIS PODCAST WITH HIS KIDS PART
OF THAT STRATEGY THE CHARISMA
GAP.
A LOT OF DEMOCRATS SAY HE
DOESN'T EXCITE ME LIKE OTHER
DEMOCRATS YOU WILL HAVE TO SEE
ANDY BESHEAR EXPAND HIS WINGS
AND SHOW A FUN ANIER BRIGHTER
SIDE OUTSIDE OF THE STRAIGHT
(11:22):
LACED POLITICS.
RAND PAUL WAS IN IOWA
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
IT IS NOT LOST ON ANY POLITICAL
OBSERVERS THAT THAT IS THE HOME
OF THE IOWA CAUCUSES.
THE FIRST CONTEST OF THE 2028
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND HE RAN
FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016.
>> DESPITE PRESIDENT TRUMP
FLIRTING WITH THE IDEA OF A
(11:42):
THIRD TERM THERE IS NOT TRACTION
ON THAT.
FOR RAND PAUL WHO CRITICIZED THE
BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT PASSED
OUT OF THE HOUSE HE IS REMAINING
CONSISTENT THAT THIS BILL WHICH
RIGHT NOW THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN
WOULD ADD $3.1 TRILLION TO THE
NATIONAL DEBT.
WE KNOW HOW RAND PAUL AND THOMAS
MASSIE AND OTHERS FEEL ABOUT
(12:03):
THAT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO EARLY TO
TALK ABOUT RAND PAUL AS A
POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE.
I THINK YOU SEE HIM AND HE
DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF WHETHER ON
TARIFFS THE DEBT HE IS NOT GOING
TO FALL AND BE FILTHY TO DONALD
TRUMP HE IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO
TALK ABOUT THE DEBT AND THE
FISCAL CRISIS NO MATTER WHAT THE
PRESIDENT SAYS.
(12:24):
WE'LL TALK ABOUT THINGS
HAPPENING IN STATE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW JCPS
SUPERINTENDENT.
THE STATE'S LARGEST SCHOOL
DISTRICT.
JESS, WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING
ABOUT THE NEW LEADER FOR THE
SCHOOLS IN LOUISVILLE?
>> SO, HIS NAME IS BRIAN
YEARWOOD.
HE IS YOU ORIGINALLY FROM
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, A COUNTRY
IN THE CARRIBBEAN.
AND HE MOVED TO THE U.S. AT 17
(12:46):
AS A ON A TENNIS SCHOLARSHIP.
HE BEGAN AS A TEACHER IN THE
TEXAS SCHOOL SYSTEMS A COUPLE
SMALL SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN TEXAS
AND BECAME A PRINCIPAL AND
ADMINISTRATOR.
AND THEN EVENTUALLY MOVED TO
COLUMN COLUMBIA, MISSOURI.
WHERE HE WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT
(13:09):
FROM TWUN-2024.
HE LEFT IN 2024 UNDER SOMEWHAT
MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE KIND OF ABRUPTLY LEFT AFTER
THE BOARD HAD RENEWED HIS
CONTRACT FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS
AND HE SIGNED AN NDA.
SO HE HASN'T SPOKEN OUT ABOUT
WHY HE LEFT.
HE SAYS THAT NDA PREVENTS HIM
(13:30):
FROM SPEAKING ABOUT IT.
AND HE TOOK A BUYOUT FOR
$667,000.
SO THERE IS SOME CONCERN IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT WE DON'T KNOW THE
FULL ALL THE REASONS BEHIND HIS
DEPARTURE THAT MADE SOME PEOPLE
NERVOUS.
BOARD MEMBERS, FOR JEFFERSON
COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAY THEY
ARE NOT CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.
THEY THINK HE WAS FORCED OUT FOR
(13:52):
POLITICAL REASONS AND THERE'S
NOTHING TO SEE THERE.
AND THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT HIM.
HE RAISED TEST SCORES FAIRLY
SIGNIFICANTLY IN COLUMBIA PUBLIC
SCHOOLS IN MISSOURI.
AND HAS A LONG TRACK RECORD AS
AN EDUCATOR.
THERE IS A SHORTFALL
AND THEY BELIEVE HE IS SKILLED
IN THAT AREA AS WELL?
(14:13):
>> YES.
THE DISTRICT IS FACING $100
MILLION SHORTFALL NEXT YEAR
BECAUSE OF ALL THE PANDEMIC
RELIEF FUNDING EXPIRING.
AND SO THEY WANTED SOMEONE WITH
GOOD FINANCIAL CHOPS TO COME AND
AND THEY BELIEVE HE IS THE GUY
TO DO IT.
HE WAS NOT THE CHOICE
OF A TEACHERS' UNION IN A SURVEY
THEY DID AFTER THE FORUM FOR THE
CANDIDATES?
(14:34):
>> YES, HE WAS BY FAR NOT THE
CHOICE IN A SURVEY OF AROUND 800
TEACHERS WHICH IS ABOUT 15% OF
THE TEACHERS' UNION MEMBERSHIP,
HE ONLY ABOUT 9% OF TEACHERS
SAID THEY PREFERRED HIM OVER THE
OTHER CANDIDATES.
THREE TIMES AS MANY TEACHERS
SAID THEY'D PREFER ANY OTHER
CANDIDATE THAN THESE TWO FOLKS.
(14:54):
AND MOST OF THEM PREFERRED
ANOTHER FINAL LIZ WHO DID NOT
GET THE JOB.
AND YEARWOOD HE KNOWS THAT.
REPORTERS WE ASKED HIM ABOUT
THAT DURING A CALL AND HE SAID
YES, I'VE SEEN THE POLL AND I'M
GLAD PEOPLE WERE HONEST ABOUT
THEIR OPINION AND IT SHOWS I
HAVE WORK TO DO TO BUILD TRUST.
HE THINKS HE WILL HAVE
(15:15):
TO EARN IT.
THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES RECENTLY PASSED
A RESOLUTION TO CUT EDUCATION
AND WORKFORCE FUNDING BY $330
BILLION OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
A LOT OF KENTUCKY SCHOOLS DEPEND
ON THE FEDERAL FUNDING.
>> KENTUCKY SCHOOLS GET ABOUT $2
BILLION A YEAR IN FEDERAL
FUNDING.
MOST OF THAT IS FOR THINGS LIKE
(15:37):
THE SCHOOL MEALS, BREAKFAST AND
LUNCH.
FOR LOW INCOME STUDENTS.
ANOTHER BIG PORTION IS TITLE ONE
FUNDING FOR STUDENTS FROM
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
AND THEN ANOTHER BIG PORTION IS
FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.
SO IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW THEY WOULD
MAKE THESE CUTS WHAT THAT WOULD
LOOK LIKE BUT WHEN YOU ARE
(15:57):
TALKING ABOUT CUTTING FEDERAL
FUNDING FOR DISTRICTS THAT
REALLY RELY ON IT IT'S GOING TO
MAKE PEOPLE NERVOUS.
IT MIGHT BE WORTH
NOTING IT'S PROBABLY EASIER FOR
THE URBAN DISTRICTS TO RAISE
LOCAL MONEY THAN IT IS IN THE
RURAL AREAS AND THE POORER AREAS
OF THE STATE.
>> IT IS.
I'VE BEEN UP IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS AND
TALKED TO SUPERINTENDENTS.
(16:19):
THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT THIS
WILL FALL DISPROPORTIONATELY ON
SOME OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS
THAT DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO
RAISE MONEY AS MUCH MONEY
LOCALLY AS YOU WOULD HAVE IN
MORE AFFLUENT DISTRICTS.
FAYETTE COUNTY SUDDENLY
DOING AN OCCUPATIONAL TAX
INCREASE IF THEY CAN GET THAT
THROUGH.
>> THEY ARE STUDYING THAT AND
(16:39):
THERE IS A CONCERN SOME COUNTIES
DON'T HAVE THAT SAME CAPACITY TO
DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND LONG TIME STATE
LAWMAKER, STATE SENATOR ROBIN
WEBB OF CARTER COUNTY IS
SWITCHING PARTIES FROM DEMOCRAT
TO REPUBLICAN.
SHE SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT SHE
RELEASED TODAY SHE DIDN'T FEEL
LIKE SHE WAS LEAVING THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SHE SAID IT
(17:00):
LEFT HER.
THIS IS AN IMAGE OF HER CHANGING
HER AFFILIATION.
THERE SHE IS WITH SECRETARY OF
STATE MICHAEL ADAMS A REPUBLICAN
AND WITH A REPUBLICAN SENATE
PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS WHO
QUICKLY WELCOMED HER TO THE
PARTY.
WHAT DOES THIS REFLECT?
>> THIS COULDN'T COME AT A WORSE
TIME FOR KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS.
A FEW DAYS AGO THEY WERE
(17:21):
FEATURED IN A NATIONAL STORY
FEATURING KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC
PARTY CHAIR COLMON ELRIDGE ON
HIS LISTENING TOUR OF EASTERN
KENTUCKY.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT YOU HAVE A
STATE LAWMAKER FROM EASTERN
KENTUCKY SAYING THE PARTY LEFT
ME I DON'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE DEMOCRATIC BLAND AND IT
GOES INTO NATIONAL ISSUES FOR
(17:41):
GOVERNOR BESHEAR AS HE IS
MENTIONED FOR A PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE.
PART OF HIS PITCH TO THE
NATIONAL PARTY LOOK I AM A
DEMOCRAT IN A TRUMP AREA I KNOW
HOW TO TALK TO REPUBLICANS AND
WIN OVER PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR
DONALD TRUMP.
IN YOUR HOME STATE, GOVERNOR,
YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND
THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT HAD LUCK AT
(18:01):
ALL AND LOST ROOTS IN LARGE
SWATHS OF THE STATE WHETHER IT'S
STATE-WIDE OFFICES OR THE
LEGISLATURE.
THE TIMING IS NOT BAD FOR THE
KDP BUT UNDERCUTS ONE OF ANDY
BESHEAR'S CHIEF ARGUMENTS.
ROBIN WEBB IS KNOWN TO
BE MORE MODERATE WAS THERE A
FINAL STRAW?
WE SAW I THINK IN HER STATEMENT
(18:23):
SHE MADE REFERENCES TO COAL
POLICY AND ENVIRONMENTAL.
>> COAL POLICY AND OTHERS.
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS AN
EXPLANATION WHAT THAT MEANT.
THERE HAVE BEEN FOLKS IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY WHO FELT LIKE
DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS
UNDERMINE THE COAL INDUSTRY.
AND YOU SAW TRUMP A COUPLE
MONTHS AGO SIGN EXECUTIVE ORDERS
THAT WERE GOING TO HELP THE COAL
(18:44):
INDUSTRY A LOT OF ANALYSTS SAY
IT WON'T DO MUCH AS LEAST THEY
ARE PUTTING THE FOCUS ON.
DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE
THIS OUT IN THE NATIONAL LEVEL
IT'S THE DEMOCRATIC BRAND THAT
IS HAVING A PROBLEM FROM EASTERN
KENTUCKY ALL THE WAY TO THE
BRONX.
BOTH PARTIES SEEM TO BE
BOLSTERING THEIR KENTUCKY
OPERATIONS RIGHT NOW.
(19:04):
WE MADE REFERENCE A MOMENT AGO
TO COLMON ELRIDGE WHO HAS BEEN
ON THAT LISTENING TOUR.
AND THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN
PARTY ANNOUNCED ZACK JORDAN IS
THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HE
WAS PART OF THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN
IN ARIZONA BUT HE IS A GRADUATE
OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
CLEARLY BOTH PARTIES KNOW NEXT
YEAR IS BIG FOR THE LEGISLATIVE
(19:25):
RACES AND IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RACES.
>> I THINK YOU WILL SEE
INVESTMENT HERE.
I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW IN
2026 THE TWO PARTIES ARE GOING
TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS IN
KENTUCKY.
JUST MENTIONED ABOUT EDUCATION
FUNDING WHETHER IT'S MEDICAID
WHAT IS THE EFFECT TO RURAL
COMMUNITIES AND FOOD STAMPS AND
(19:47):
MEDICAID AND OTHER PLACES YOU
HAVE LAWMAKERS BY JOSH HOLLY
SAYING THIS IS GOING TO HURT
RURAL AREAS IN PARTICULAR.
HUFF'S HAD THE PRESIDENT BE
WARNED BY THE PRESIDENT'S
SUPPORTERS LIKE STEVE BENNETT
SAYING MORE MAGA FOLKS ARE ON
THESE PROBLEMS IN THE URBAN
AREAS.
I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW IN THE
(20:07):
REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES THESE
CANDIDATES AND INCUMBENTS WILL
DECIPHER WHAT HELPS AND HURTS
COMMUNITIES.
DO THOSE BECOME THE
ISSUES AND DOES EDUCATION FIND
ITS WAY INTO A U.S. SENATE
PRIMARY FOR INSTANCE?
>> I MEAN, I THINK EDUCATION HAS
(20:28):
BEEN A HOT BUTTON ISSUE IN
LARGER POLITICAL RACES IN THE
PAST FIVE YEARS.
IT'S ALWAYS EASY TO MAKE A
CULTURE WAR ISSUE A BIG DEAL IN
ANY RACE.
BUT, YEAH, I MEAN I COULD SEE
THAT BEING AN ISSUE ESPECIALLY
AS PHILLIP MENTIONED WHEN YOU
HAVE FEDERAL FUNDING CUTS ON THE
(20:48):
TABLE THAT IS DEFINITELY
SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE IT
INTO A SENATE RACE.
>> A LOT OF THOSE STATES ARE
RELIANT ON THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT LIKE IN GEORGIA, THEY
ARE NOT HAVING TO DEFEND THE
PRESIDENT ELIMINATING THE
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THEY
HAVE TO DEFEND THAT IN 2026.
IS THIS SENATE RACE IN
KENTUCKY GOING TO BE BETWEEN
(21:10):
DANIEL CAMERON AND ANDY BARR OR
DO YOU EXPECT THAT FIELD TO
EXPAND?
>> NATURE MORRIS HE --
NATURE CONSERVANCY IS TALKING --
NATE MORRIS IS TALKING ABOUT IF
HE IS A CANDIDATE.
IF NOT THEN WE WILL HAVE A RACE
BETWEEN BARR AND CAMERON WHO IS
THE MORE MODERATE AND
ESTABLISHMENT IF ANYONE THAT CAN
(21:32):
THROW BOMBS IN THE RACE IT'S
NATE MORRIS.
THE CANDIDATES THOSE
TWO CAMERON AND BARR HAVE BEEN
IN THE SOMERSET AREA THEY SEEM
TO BE REALIZING THAT STILL THE
OLD FIFTH AS WE CALL IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT IN A REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY.
>> THE OLD FIFTH WAS CENTERED
AROUND SOMERSET, LONDON, CORBIN
AND CARTER WAS FROM MONROE
(21:55):
COUNTY, FOR MANY YEARS AND HAL
ROGERS HAS BEEN THE CONGRESSMAN
SINCE SELECTED IN THE 1980s.
THE OLD FIFTH CENTERS AROUND
THERE AND IT STILL MATTERS IN
REPUBLICAN POLITICS DESPITE WHAT
IS HAPPENING IN THE REST OF THE
STATE.
WE GOT EARLY HINTS
ABOUT THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION FIVE TASK FORCES WERE
SETUP.
(22:15):
ONE IS MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY
AGAIN KENTUCKY TASK FORCE AND WE
KNOW KENTUCKY HAS SOME OF THE
WORST HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE
COUNTRY.
HIGH DIABETES, CANCER AND HEART
DISEASE RATES AMONG THOSE.
ARE LAWMAKERS PREPARED TO WADE
INTO THAT AND MAKE THE
INVESTMENTS YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO
CHANGE THOSE NUMBERS?
>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.
I THINK WHEN YOU SAW LAWMAKERS
(22:37):
TALKING ABOUT THIS TASK FORCE,
THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
SKEPTICISM AROUND
PHARMACEUTICALS, SKEPTICISM EVEN
AROUND VACCINES.
AND SO THAT AND TALK ABOUT LIKE
REINING IN THE TYPES OF DRUGS
BILLED THROUGH MEDICAID THAT
(22:58):
DOESN'T SPEAK TO A POTENTIAL
INVESTMENT.
AND BUT THEY ARE IN THE BILL
THEY DO TALK ABOUT EXPANDING
TRYING TO EXPAND ACCESS TO
HEALTHY FOOD, EXPANDING
EDUCATION AROUND HEALTHY EATING.
THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW,
THIS LEGISLATURE HAS SEEMED MORE
(23:19):
INTERESTED IN CUTTING SNAP
BENEFITS AND CUTTING MEDICAID.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WOULD BE
PREPARED TO MAKE BIG MONETARY
INVESTMENTS.
RECOMMENDED BEHAVIORAL
CHANGES MAYBE.
PHILLIP ANOTHER TASK FORCE FOR
FOCUSES ON ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE.
THAT IS JUST PART OF LOTS OF
(23:41):
CONVERSATIONS THESE DAYS.
AND TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO SORT
OF GOVERN THAT IS A CHALLENGE?
>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT AT
THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
WE SAW THE FIRST LADY DO A LAP
AFTER A BILL SHE WAS SUPPORTIVE
OF TO BAN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT
IMAGES GENERATED BY A.I.
(24:01):
AND I THINK WE SEE WITH THE TASK
FORCE STARTED BY AMANDA MAYS
BLEDSOE, I THINK WHAT WE'RE
GOING TO SEE IS TENSION PERHAPS
ON THE RIGHT BETWEEN THE
LEGISLATORS AND THE REPUBLICAN
CONGRESS.
IN THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL THAT
IS GOING TO CHANGE A LOT FROM
NOW TO THE FINAL VERSION BUT
THERE'S $500 MILLION DOLLED OUT
FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OVER
THE NEXT 10 YEARS TO MODERNIZE
(24:23):
IT.
PART OF THE BILL IS THAT THERE
IS A PROVISION WHICH WOULD BLOCK
STATES FROM REGULATING
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
AT A TIME WHEN MANY STATES ARE
TRYING TO DO SO.
I'M INTERESTING TO SEE WITH THE
TASK FORCE HOW MUCH ARE WE GOING
TO SEE KENTUCKY SAY WITH CERTAIN
JOB INDUSTRIES AND ATTACKED BY
(24:44):
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WE MAY
WANT TO GO IN THE OPPOSITE
DIRECTION.
BILL, TOUGH NEWS FOR US
HERE YOU'RE RETIRING AFTER 40
YEARS AT THE HERALD-LEADER.
I KNOW IT WAS A TOUGH DECISION
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN HARD WORK
BUT IT'S BEEN A REWARDING
CAREER.
AND YOUR READERS HAVE BENEFITED
FROM IT.
(25:05):
WHAT DO YOU THINK HE YOU LOOK
BACK?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S BEEN A LOT.
I THINK HE'S BEEN A HONOR TO
SERVE IN THAT CAPACITY IN MY
HOME STATE.
I'VE HAD CHANCES TO GO ELSEWHERE
AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT COVERING
THOSE PLACES LIKE I CARE ABOUT
WHERE I GREW UP AND MY FAMILY IS
HERE.
IT'S JUST BEEN A TREMENDOUS
(25:25):
HONOR TO GET TO COVER THIS
PLACE.
WHO WILL DIG UP THE
THINGS YOU'VE FOUND IN THE COURT
RECORDS?
>> THEY WILL FIND SOMEBODY ELSE
TO DO THE WORK.
IF THEY HEARD EXCESS IN
THE HOUSE, PEOPLE BEGAN TO KIND
OF SCRAMBLE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE,
BILL.
>> WE KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO
(25:45):
CONTINUE TO WRITE.
>> I WILL TRY TO DO FREELANCING
AND STORIES.
I DON'T WANT TO SIT AND DO
NOTHING.
GO WRITE A BOOK.
>> I DON'T THINK I HAVE THAT
MUCH MOTIVATION.
TWO TIME PULITZER PRIZE
WINNER IN KENTUCKY JOURNALISM
BILL LUSTER DIED HE WAS A
PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE CURE CURE
(26:06):
COURIER-JOURNAL 42 YEARS HE
CAPTURED ICONIC IMAGES OVER THE
YEARS GAINING ACCESS TO THE
WHITE HOUSE UNDER SEVERAL
PRESIDENTS.
BILL LUSTER WAS 80 YEARS OLD.
SUNDAY IS STATEHOOD DAY IN THE
COMMONWEALTH.
KENTUCKY JOINED THE UNION AS THE
15TH STATE ON JUNE 1, 1792.
WE'RE CELEBRATING 233rd
(26:28):
BIRTHDAY.
WAS THE WESTERN FRONTIER AND 4.6
MILLION PEOPLE CALL KENTUCKY
HOME.
THAT IS COMMENT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
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