September 15, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including comments from Kentucky politicians after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in Utah. Panelists: Sarah Ladd, Kentucky Lantern; Hannah Pinski, Louisville Courier Journal; and Sylvia Goodman, Kentucky Public Radio.
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(00:01):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
KENTUCKY LEADERS REACT
TO THE SHOOTING DEATH OF
CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE
KIRK.
THE ADS AND THE RHETORIC HEAT UP
IN NEXT YEAR'S OPEN RACE FOR A
U.S. SENATE SEAT IN KENTUCKY.
A GROUP PUSHES FOR MORE THAN
$700 MILLION IN NEW SPENDING FOR
KENTUCKY SCHOOLS.
THE SUPREME COURT HEARS CASES ON
(00:30):
CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING AND OPEN
RECORDS RULES.
A WARM STRETCH TO WRAP UP SUMMER
AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND
(00:51):
SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE
GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING
KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE
SYLVIA GOODMAN CAPITAL REPORTER
FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.
SARAH LADD HEALTH AND POLICY
REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY
LANTERN AND HANNAH PINSKI
POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE
COURIER-JOURNAL.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS WE WILL
(01:13):
BEGIN WITH THE POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IN UTAH THAT KILLED
CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE
KIRK HE MADE A STOP AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IN 2023
AND A MORE RECENT STOP AS WELL.
BOTH PARTIES WERE KICK TO
CONDEMN WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Gov. Andy Beshear (01:31):
IT IS AN
INCREDIBLY VIOLENT MOMENT THAT
SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
AND AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN RIGHTFULLY
EVERYBODY SPEAKING OUT AGAINST
IT.
>> THIS IS A HORRENDOUS THING
AND THE SIGNAL NEEDS TO BE SENT
TO THINKS THEY WILL BE A COPYCAT
THEY WILL MEET THE SAME FATE.
>> Bill (01:51):
WE KNOW THE DIVISIONS
AND DISAGREEMENTS ARE REAL IN
THIS COUNTRY BUT THIS IS A LEVEL
ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM
FIND HORRIFYING.
>> AS WE SAW NOT JUST IN
KENTUCKY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
WE SAW POLITICAL LEADERS
(02:11):
CONDEMNING THIS ATTACK IT'S
SOMETHING WE CANNOT NORMALIZE.
AND A LOT OF POLITICIANS ARE
SEEING THIS AS A BACK UP CALL AS
WE TALK ABOUT POLITICS NO ONE
SHOULD HAVE TO FEAR ABOUT THEIR
SAFETY FOR EXPRESSING A PERSONAL
OPINION.
>> RIGHT.
I THINK HANNAH HIT IS ON THE
HEAD THIS IDEA THAT LIKE YOU
(02:31):
SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK FREELY
WITHOUT FEAR AT ANY EVENT PUBLIC
EVENT.
AND WE HEARD THAT FROM BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE.
WE HEARD SOME PERHAPS MORE
ALARMIST RHETORIC.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FEARING
HEIGHTENING OF TENSIONS IN THIS
COUNTRY AFTER THIS ATTACK.
(02:51):
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO
COOL THE TEMPERATURE HERE.
GET BACK TO THE IDEALS OF FREE
SPEECH AND CONDEMNING VIOLENCE
IN ALL FORMS.
SOME IN KENTUCKY FACED
DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR SOME OF
THE RHETORIC THAT HAS COME IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WE'VE
SEEN SOME OF THAT.
>> WE HAVE.
WE HAVE.
WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS
(03:13):
OUT.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE
THE POINT HE HOPES SOMETHING
LIKE THIS DOESN'T FURTHER DIVIDE
THE COUNTRY.
>> LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I THINK
THERE ARE CONCERNS WHETHER OR
NOT LIKE WE SAID, IS SPEAKING
OUT PUBLIC EVENT ABOUT YOUR
POLITICAL VIEWS IS THAT GOING TO
MAKE YOU FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE?
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.
AND I THINK BESHEAR HIT IT ON
(03:35):
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT
BE DIVIDED ON WE SHOULD VALUE
FREE SPEECH AND OUR DEMOCRACY
AND VALUE TO HAVE CIVIL
DISCOURSE IN KENTUCKY AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
KIRK HAD SPOKEN AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IN 2023
THAT EVENT WAS INSIDE.
DO ORGANIZERS START TO HAVE TO
LEAN THAT WAY FOR SECURITY
(03:56):
REASONS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY
ON A LOT OF MINDS.
IF YOU ARE A SPEAKER GOING TO A
COLLEGE CAMPUS I'M SURE
SOMETHING YOU ARE THINKING
ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE
MORE POLARIZED IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT MAKING SURE
PEOPLE CAN SPEAK FREELY IN A
PUBLIC FORUM.
AND MAKING SURE THAT CIVIL
(04:18):
DISCOURSE IS POSSIBLE.
WE MIGHT SEE HEIGHTENED SECURITY
MEASURES OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, MAYBE YEARS.
WE'VE SEEN PLENTY OF HEIGHTENED
SECURITY MEASURES ACROSS THE
SPECTRUM AND I EXPECT MORE
DISCOURSE.
I WAS AT A CHARLIE KIRK EVENT HE
WAS HERE ENDORSING NATE MORRIS.
SO I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE ON
(04:40):
PEOPLE'S MINDS FOR A WHILE.
BUT WE'VE HEARD PLENTY OF PEOPLE
SAYING THEY ARE NOT PLANNING ON
CANCELING THEY WILL KEEP GOING.
WE HAVE A DEFAULT
CONVERSATION WHERE GUN CONTROL
AND GUN RIGHTS ARISE AFTER A
SITUATION THAT IS VISIBLE WITH
GUN INCIDENTS AND THIS CAME
AFTER EARLIER IN THE WEEK BEFORE
(05:00):
THIS A LOUISVILLE METRO
COUNCILMEMBER CALLED ON THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO LET
LOUISVILLE MAKE ITS OWN GUN
ORDINANCES.
>> STATE LAW SAYS LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CAN'T MAKE THEIR OWN
RULES WHEN IT COMES TO HOW YOU
PURCHASE A GUN OR HOW YOU
REGULATE THAT SORT OF THING.
AND IT ALSO DICTATES HOW GUNS
(05:21):
ARE DISPOSED OF IF THEY ARE USED
IN A CRIME AND THE POLICE
CONFISCATE THAT GUN.
THAT SET AT THE STATE LEVEL.
A LOUISVILLE COUNCILMAN, A
DEMOCRAT, BASICALLY HAS
INTRODUCED THIS RESOLUTION AND
IS ASKING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TO SAY LOUISVILLE CAN MAKE THEIR
OWN RULES.
YOU CAN SET YOUR OWN STANDARDS
(05:42):
THERE.
AND HIS THINKING IS THAT
LOUISVILLE NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE
A WAITING PERIOD WHEN SOMEONE
GOES TO PURCHASE A GUN, BECAUSE
SOMETIMES YOU SEE IN THESE SORTS
OF SHOOTINGS WHERE THE PERSON
OBTAINED THE GUN LEGALLY.
HIS THOUGHT PROCESS WAS IF WE
CAN GIVE THEM TIME TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO
(06:03):
DO, WHAT THEY INTENDED TO DO,
MAYBE THEY WILL HAVE SECOND
THOUGHTS AND NOT DO IT.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE IT REALLY
COULD GO ANYWHERE.
THE SENATE PRESIDENT SPOKESMAN I
TALKED TO DEFENDED THE LAW ON
THE BOOKS AND SAID IT'S
IMPORTANT TO HAVE UNIFORMITY IN
ALL COUNTIES SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO
EXPECT.
(06:23):
NOT A PATCHWORK OF
RULES.
>> NO.
THIS IS A TRAGIC
SITUATION THIS WEEK THAT
KENTUCKIANS ARE HOPEFULLY
LOWERING THE TEMPERATURE IN
THESE DISCUSSIONS.
>> AS HANNAH SAID, WE SEE
EVERYONE ACROSS THE POLITICAL
SPECTRUM SAYING THAT EVERYONE
HAS A RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE NO
MATTER WHAT YOU SAY OR BELIEVE.
(06:46):
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
KENTUCKY U.S. SENATE RACE
GETTING ATTENTION ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE THREE CANDIDATES
ARE BATTLING OUT.
CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR, FORMER
ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON
AND BUSINESSMAN NATE MORRIS ALL
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT.
ALL THREE ARE TRYING TO ALIGN
THEMSELVES WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AND BARR HAS AN AD UP WITH TRUMP
(07:06):
WISHING HIM WELL.
BUT IT DOES STOP SHORT OF AN
ENDORSEMENT.
>> I HELPED TRUMP DELIVER THE
LARGEST TAX CUT IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, KEEP MEN OUT OF GIRLS'
SPORTS AND FUND THE LARGEST
DEPORTATION EFFORT WE'VE SEEN.
>> GOOD LUCK, I HEAR GOOD
THINGS.
AND THE STRATEGY OF
(07:27):
TRYING TO GET PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
BACKING IS PLAYING OUT WITH ALL
THREE OF THESE CANDIDATES.
>> YEAH, I THINK THROUGHOUT THE
PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WE'VE SEEN
ALL THREE CANDIDATES KEEP THE
SAME CONSISTENT STRATEGY IN
MESSAGING.
LIKELY JUST SAW BARR IS FOCUSING
HIS MESSAGE SAYING HE IS ALREADY
IN THE HOUSE VOTING TO PASS
(07:47):
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA WITH
NATE MORRIS WE HAVE HEARD THAT
HE MET WITH PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP AND HE IS REALLY
EMPHASIZING THE RELATIONSHIPS HE
HAS WITH DONALD TRUMP JR. AND
VICE-PRESIDENT J.D. VANCE AND
WITH DANIEL CAMERON, DURING THE
2023 GUBERNATORIAL RACE HE WAS
ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
SAID IF I'M ELECTED TO THE
(08:08):
SENATE I WILL HELP TRUMP PASS
HIS AMERICA FIRST AGENDA.
WE'LL SEE IF TRUMP DOES ENDORSE
WHAT MESSAGING STICKS.
IS THERE ANYWAY TO KNOW
IF ANYBODY HAS AN EDGE IN
GETTING THAT ENDORSEMENT?
>> IT'S HARD TO TELL AT THIS
POINT.
ALL THREE CANDIDATES HAVE WHAT
THEY SEE AS DIFFERENT STRENGTHS
(08:28):
AS WELL AS DIFFERENT WEAKNESSES.
FROM FOLKS THE QUESTION TRUMP
WILL HAVE WHEN MAKING THE
DECISION IS WHO DOES HE THINK IS
GOING TO WIN IN THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY?
THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE MAIN
FACTORS IF HE DOES MAKE A
DECISION TO ENDORSE SOMEONE.
>> TRUMP MIGHT NOT ENDORSE
ANYBODY THAT IS NOT AN
(08:49):
IMPOSSIBILITY.
WHICH HAS HAPPENED.
TO THE POINT ON THE SUPPORT AND
WE SAW BARR RELEASE A POLL THIS
WEEK THAT SHOWED HIM GAINING.
BUT THEN CAMERON CALLED IT FAKE
THOUGH IT SHOWED HIM AHEAD.
>> YEAH, THAT WAS INTERESTING.
BARR FRAME TO DO THE POLL AS
(09:11):
SURGING AHEAD.
AND NAME ID IS GOING UP HE
REPRESENTS A SIZABLE DISTRICT
ONE IN KENTUCKY PEOPLE OUT OF
HIS DISTRICT DON'T KNOW HIM THAT
WELL.
IT SHOWS HEY I'M GETTING A LEG
UP IN THE POLLS AND CLOSING THE
GAP WITH CAMERON BUT THAT GAP
EXISTS.
CAMERON HAS A NATURAL LEG UP
BECAUSE HE HAS RUN STATE-WIDE
(09:33):
CAMPAIGNS BEFORE AND SUCCESSFUL
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
UNSUCCESSFUL AS GOVERNOR.
BUT HE DID WIN THE PRIMARY WITH
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.
OBVIOUSLY CAMERON DOESN'T LIKE
ANY POLL THAT SHOWS A GAP
CLOSING BUT THIS IS INTERNAL
POLLING IS WORTH NOTING AND WE
ARE A LONG WAY OUT FROM THE
PRIMARY.
WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THE FILING
(09:53):
DEAD LINE YET.
THE UNDIEDINGS HAVE TO
BE LARGER THAN IN A POLL.
THIS WEEK, THE LEXINGTON
HERALD-LEADER DID A DEEP DIVE
INTO THE BUSINESS THAT MORRIS
FOUNDED RUBICON A DIGITAL WASTE
COMPANY AND THE ART NOTES HE
BUILT THE BUSINESS AND TOOK IT
(10:13):
PUBLIC AND LEFT IN 2022 AND SOME
INVESTORS EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS
IN THE STORY.
INTERESTING BACK STORY BECAUSE
HE HAS TO RUN ON HIS BUSINESS
RECORD HE HAS NO RECORD AS A
ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND OF COURSE, HE SEES THAT AS
AN ASSET?
>> HE IS LEANING HEAVILY ON HIS
(10:34):
BUSINESS BACKGROUND.
HE'S POSITIONED HIMSELF AS A
GARBAGE MAN, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A
SOFTWARE COMPANY THAT DEALT WITH
GARBAGE AND HE DID MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
HE MADE TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ON THAT COMPANY.
HIS COMPONENTS HAVE BROUGHT THIS
UP BEFORE THAT THE STOCK DID
TAKE A DIVE AFTER HE LEFT.
(10:56):
BUT MORRIS SAYS HE IS PROUD OF
THE BUSINESS HE BUILT.
INTERESTING TO SEE IF A LOT OF
VOTERS TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION.
A LOT TO SEE IN THE
NEXT WEEKS AHEAD.
INCLUDING HANNAH, WE'LL SEE IF
THE FIELD IS COMPLETE ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE THERE COULD BE
ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES?
>> LIKE WE HAVE NOT REACHED THE
(11:19):
FILING DEADLINE YET AND THERE'S
POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
THINKING ABOUT JUMPING IN THE
RACE WHO COULD.
WE KEEPS KNOCK TO GO
DOWN IS GOVERNOR BESHEAR HE SAYS
HE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
INSTEAD GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S
PODCAST WENT NATIONAL ON CIRRUS
XM RADIO AND MADE NATIONAL TV
(11:40):
APPEARANCES WHICH HE DESCRIBED
THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HE MIGHT
RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
>> SO, THIS YEAR, TRYING TO DO
WHAT I CAN TO BE A REASONABLE
VOICE.
NEXT YEAR HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION WE WILL
WIN IN A LOT OF PLACES AND THE
CHANGE THE MAP.
AFTER THAT I WILL SIT DOWN AND
IF MY FAMILY THIS I CAN HEAL
(12:01):
THIS COUNTRY I WILL CONSIDER IT.
IF THERE IS SOMEBODY ELSE I WILL
SUPPORT THEM.
I CARE ABOUT THE UNITED STATES
THAN ANY TITLE I COULD HAVE.
BESHEAR IS FINDING HIS
WAY TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE AS
GOVERNOR OF A RELATIVELY SMALL
STATE.
HE IS SMACKDOWN ANY TALK THAT HE
IS GOING TO RUN FOR THE U.S.
SENATE SOME DEMOCRATS ARE
(12:22):
PRESSING HIM FOR THAT.
WHAT IS HE UP TO RIGHT NOW?
>> I MEAN I THINK IT'S SAFE TO
SAY FOR THE PAST YEAR HE HAS
WORKING ON BUILDING UP HIS
NATIONAL PROFILE AND BUILDING
HIS NAME ID IF HE DOES DECIDE TO
MAKE A 2028 PRESIDENTIAL RUN.
WE'VE SEEN HIM TRAVEL TO IOWA
(12:42):
AND MET WITH HUGE DEMOCRATIC
DONORS.
I THINK HE IS LAYING THE GROUND
AND THE SEEDS TO MAKE THIS
NATIONAL RUN IN 2028.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL SEE HOW THE PODCAST DOES.
AHEAD OF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION HERE IN KENTUCKY NOW A
FEW MONTHS AWAY ISSUES ARE
(13:04):
STARTING TO EMERGE FEDERAL CUTS
TO THE S.N.A.P. PROGRAM WILL
SHIFT COST TO THE THE STATE.
ARE KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO HANDLE THAT
BEFORE THEY START CRAFTING THAT
STATE BUDGET?
>> THEY ARE.
I MEAN THEY HEARD ABOUT THESE
NEW COST AND INTERIM COMMITTEE
MEETING AND WHAT THEY KNOW THEY
(13:24):
WILL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR AN
INCREASE IN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COST
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BOTH THE
FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND 2028.
I HAD SPOKEN TO SENATOR
McDANIEL ABOUT THIS CHAIR OF
THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS AND
REVENUE COMMITTEE AND HE TOLD ME
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS CAN BE
ABSORBED IN THE STATE BUDGET
(13:46):
FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND IT IS
SOMETHING THEY CAN DO.
THE SECOND PART AND WHAT WE
DON'T KNOW KENTUCKY COULD HAVE
TO PAY FOR SOME OF S.N.A.P.'S
BENEFITS BASED ON THE PAYMENT
ERROR RATE AND THAT IS A
PROVISION PASSED IN THE BUDGET
BILL.
WHAT IS AN ERROR RATE?
>> TRYING TO PUT IF IN SIMPLE
(14:07):
TERMS WHEN A HOUSEHOLD RECEIVES
MORE OR LESS THAN THE BENEFIT
AMOUNT.
RIGHT NOW THAT TOLERANCE LEVEL
IS $57.
AND IF THE RATE IS GREATER THAN
6% FOR A STATE, THEN THEY WILL
HAVE TO PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THE
BENEFIT COSTS.
ARE THERE OTHER AREAS
THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS
(14:28):
GOING TO HAVE TO COVER IN TERMS
OF CUTS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT?
>> YEAH, I MEAN ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CUTS WAS TO MEDICAID.
MEDICAID IS A HUGE POT OF MONEY
THAT KENTUCKY GETS EVERY YEAR TO
PAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE'S HEALTH
INSURANCE IN THE STATE.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT COULD START
AFFECTING KENTUCKY IS QUICKLY IS
(14:50):
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CHECKS
THAT WILL BE A BIG
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN FOR THE
STATE.
WE DON'T HAVE ESTIMATES ON THAT
THE STATE IS PUTTING THAT
TOGETHER.
THAT COULD BE A LOT OF EXTRA
STAFFING NEEDS.
IN TERMS OF THE
ADMINISTRATION TO DO THE CHECKS?
>> IF WE ARE IGNORING OTHER CUTS
MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE
(15:12):
TO DO THE WORK.
WE DON'T HAVE ESTIMATES BUT THEY
WILL HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT.
AND SARAH, WE KNOW THAT
CHILDCARE IS A HUGE ISSUE IN
KENTUCKY.
SOME SAYING IT KEEPS TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PARENTS OUT OF THE
WORKFORCE.
WE KNOW THERE ARE PROPOSALS TO
ADDRESS THAT.
THIS WEEK NEW MEXICO BECAME THE
(15:34):
FIRSTTATE TO APPROVE UNIVERSAL
CHILDCARE A $600,000 PROGRAM OUT
THERE.
THAT IS A HEAVY LIFT.
WHAT A SOLUTION LIKE THAT
POSSIBLY BE PROPOSED IN
FRANKFORT?
>> I'M SURE ONE LIKE THAT WILL
BE PROPOSED.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THAT IT
WILL PASS.
THERE'S CONFLICTING APPETITE
(15:54):
ABOUT THAT.
IN SOME CORNERS WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE IT IS
BIPARTISAN.
YOU HEAR DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN
PEOPLE ALIKE WILL SAY CITING
RESEARCH THAT IF A CHILD HAS
ACCESS TO EARLY EDUCATION THAT
IS QUALITY, THAT IS GOOD
EDUCATION, THEY LIVE LONGER THEY
LEARN BETTER, THEY LEARN FASTER.
AND IT SETS THEM UP FOR BETTER
(16:17):
SUCCESS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, YOU
WILL HEAR PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T
WANT TO PROP UP AN INDUSTRY OR
THE PERCEPTION THEY ARE PROPPING
UP AN INDUSTRY.
IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BE
SUCCESSFUL THE PROPONENTS HAVE
TO PROVE AND CONVINCE PEOPLE IN
LEADERSHIP THAT IT WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL IN THE LONG-RUN WHEN
IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY.
(16:37):
AND WE'VE SEEN DATA TO BACK THAT
UP SAYING WE COULD GET MILLIONS
BACK INTO THE ECONOMY AND MORE
MOTHERS IN THE WORKFORCE.
IT HITS WOMEN THE HARDEST WHEN
THEY CARE FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE
THEY CAN'T AFFORD CHILDCARE.
THE HOW IS THE BIG
QUESTION.
IS IT DIRECT PAYMENTS?
STATE RUN FACILITIES?
(16:57):
>> THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT PEOPLE DON'T AGREE.
I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE THE
DISCUSSIONS IN 2026 WE'VE HAD
THEM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I THINK IT'S WORTH FOLLOWING
CLOSELY HOW THAT WILL BE
PROPOSED AND WHAT GETS ACCEPTED.
INCENTIVES FOR
EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE
AS WELL.
IS ANOTHER OPTION TALKED ABOUT.
(17:17):
>> SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WHO
RESEARCH THIS OFTEN PUSH IS
FINDING A WAY FOR A EMPLOYER TO
HAVE A CHILDCARE CENTER OR
BENEFIT THAT HAS PARENTS.
AND MAKING SURE THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY FUNDS CHILDCARE FOR
CHILDCARE WORKERS.
IF YOU WORK IN A CHILDCARE
FACILITY MAKING SURE YOU STILL
(17:39):
CAN GET FREE CHILDCARE THROUGH
THAT JOB.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROPOSALS.
ZONING IS ANOTHER ONE THAT IS
UNDER THE RADAR.
BUT ZONING FOR CHILDCARE CAN BE
CLEARED UP A LITTLE BIT
ADMINISTRATIVELY.
WITH THAT BUDGET
SESSION COMING, SOME PUBLIC
EDUCATION SUPPORTERS CALLED FOR
KENTUCKY TO PUT ANOTHER $718
(18:01):
MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR
SCHOOLS.
>> THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO RAISE
SEEK FUNDS BY 14%.
FULLY FUND SCHOOL
TRANSPORTATION.
AND INVEST $38 MILLION TOWARDS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
TEXTBOOKS AND CLASSROOM
TECHNOLOGY.
THE GROUP IS PROTECT
(18:23):
OUR SCHOOLS KENTUCKY THEY
ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A BOLD REQUEST
AND THEY NOTE THAT PER PUPIL
SPENDING HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH
INFLATION IN KENTUCKY SINCE
2008.
>> YEAH.
AND IT'S WORTH NOTING OUR
SCHOOLS KENTUCKY WAS FOUNDED TO
COMBAT AMENDMENT 2 THE SCHOOL
CHOICE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOTS.
(18:44):
AND THEY ARE CALLING FOR THE
$718 MILLION FIGURE THAT NUMBER
MIGHT BE FAMILIAR TO SOME CLOSE
POLITICS WATCHERS BECAUSE IT'S
THE PRICE TAG FOR THE NEXT HALF
PERCENT BUDGET CUT.
THAT MONEY THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY
COULD HELP THE STATE DO ALL OF
THOSE THINGS.
BUT THEY WERE CLEAR THEY WERE
NOT SAYING WHERE THAT MONEY
(19:05):
SHOULD GO THEY ARE SAYING THAT
COULD BOLSTER DIFFERENT THINGS
ACROSS EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY.
YOU MENTIONED THE PER PUPIL RATE
THAT IT HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH
2008 INFLATIONARY FIGURES.
AT THE SAME TIME, REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP HAS SAID THEY ARE
INVESTING RECORD AMOUNTS IN
EDUCATION.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU INCLUDE ALL
(19:27):
THE MONEY THAT THEY'VE INVESTED
TO PAY DOWN UNFUNDED PENSION
LIABILITY WHICH IS A HUGE AMOUNT
OF MONEY.
WE'RE TRYING TO FUND EDUCATION
BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE MONEY
GOING INTO CLASSROOMS.
TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE,
RIGHT?
WE SPOKE TO THE KENTUCKY SUPREME
COURT TRAVELING AROUND THE STATE
(19:47):
WHILE THE CAPITOL IS BEING
RENOVATED THEY WENT TO DANVILLE
AND HEARD ARGUMENTS ABOUT
WHETHER THE STATE CAN SETUP A
FUNDING PLAN FOR CHARTER
SCHOOLS.
THE CHARTERS PASSED IN 2017 AND
HOUSE BILL 9 CAME LATER AND THE
ARGUMENTS ARE STARK.
>> YES, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING
(20:07):
DEBATE HAPPENING.
WHAT THE STATE IS ARGUING OR THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS
ARGUING IN FAVOR IS THAT PUBLIC
CHARTER SCHOOLS SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE COMMON
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AS ANYONE WHO IS FOLLOWING THE
AMENDMENT 2 DEBATE LAST --
THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT ALLOW
TAX DOLLARS TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE
(20:30):
COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM WITHOUT A
VOTE AT LEAST.
SO THE OPPONENTS TO THIS MEASURE
PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES, SAY
THAT THIS IS GOING OUTSIDE OF
COMMON SCHOOLS.
THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE NOT
GOVERNED BY THE SAME BODIES AND
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT OTHER
COMMON SCHOOLS ARE GOVERNED BY
AND THEREFORE THEY SHOULD NOT
(20:50):
COUNT AND THE FUNDING MECHANISM
IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
AND WE EXPECT A
DECISION LATER?
>> YES.
WHO KNOWS WHEN.
ON ANOTHER MATTER THE
SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS
ABOUT WHETHER PERSONAL DEVICES
AND PHONES USED BY PUBLIC
OFFICIALS ARE SHIELDED FROM THE
STATE OPEN RECORDS LAW.
(21:10):
THAT VERY INTERESTING CASE?
>> THAT IS ANOTHER ONE THAT THE
KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT HAD
HEARD.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE KENTUCKY
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
DECIDED NOT TO COMPLY WITH THE
OPEN RECORDS REQUEST OF NOT
PROVIDINGS TEXT AND E-MAIL
COMMUNICATIONS BY PRIVATE PHONE
OR E-MAIL.
AND THE COURT OF APPEALS RULED
AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT
(21:31):
THEY SAID THE SUPREME COURT IS
THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY IF THEIR
PRIVATE PHONES ARE SUBJECT TO
OPEN RECORDS LAWS.
MEANWHILE THE OTHER SIDE WAS
ARGUING IF WE ALLOW THIS RULE
THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE
TO RELEASE THOSE RECORDS, DOES
THIS ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO CONDUCT
(21:51):
BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC
VIEW.
THAT IS, AGAIN, A
CLOSELY WATCHED CASE.
KENTUCKY'S NEW MEDICAL CANNABIS
LAW WENT INTO EFFECT AT THE
START OF THE YEAR NO DISPENSARY
IS OPEN YET.
THERE HAVE BEEN DELAYS AND
FRUSTRATIONS NO DISPENSARIES
THERE ARE A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS
(22:11):
WHO RECEIVED CARDS.
>> LAST COUNT I SAW WAS 13,000
KENTUCKIANS WHO HAD CARDS.
IT'S WORTH A REFRESHER THAT TO
GET THESE YOU HAD TO HAVE A
CHRONIC ILLNESS THAT COULD BE
PAINFUL.
IT WOULD APPLY TO PEOPLE WITH
CANCER AND PTSD PEOPLE WHO
(22:32):
NEEDED MEDICAL RELIEF FOR PAIN
THAT COULDN'T BE SUCCESSFULLY
TREATED OTHERWISE.
THEY ARE WAITING A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE FRUSTRATED.
I BELIEVE GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID
HE HOPES AND BELIEVES THAT
SOMETHING CAN BE OPEN BY THE END
OF THE YEAR WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING YET.
YOU'VE COVERED STORIES
INCLUDING ONE NEW DEVELOPMENTS
FRIDAY.
>> DURING THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE
(22:53):
SESSION THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PASSED A LAW SAYING IF YOU ARE
ARE INCARCERATED IN KENTUCKY YOU
CANNOT USE PUBLIC FUNDS FOR
ELECTIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND
CARE AND THAT INCLUDED HORMONE
THERAPY THAT A TRANSGENDER
KENTUCKIANS USE.
THERE'S BEEN A LAWSUIT THAT THE
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
OF KENTUCKY IS INVOLVED IN
AGAINST THAT.
(23:15):
AND TODAY, A JUDGE RULED THAT
THE LAW CAN STAY IN EFFECT WHILE
THIS CASE THAT THEY FILED MAKES
ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS.
THEY ASKED HIM TO BLOCK IT AND
HE SAID NO.
AND THE OTHER STORY
THIS WEEK?
>> SO THERE WAS A SOCIAL WORKER
IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY WHO HAS BEEN
CLEARED IN THE BOARD THAT
(23:36):
GOVERNS HIS WORK SAID HE DID NOT
VIOLATE THE LAW WHEN HE MADE A
SOCIAL MEDIA POST SAYING THAT HE
DID NOT WANT TO AFFIRM THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
HE DID THIS DURING PRIDE MONTH
AFTER HIS EMPLOYER SAID HAPPY
PRIDE MONTH.
HE WAS FIRED.
AND THE LAW FIRM THAT SUPPORTS
KIM DAVIS AND HER EFFORTS TO
(23:59):
OVERTURN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS
TRYING TO HELP HIM GET HIS JOB
BACK AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY
CAN DO THAT.
CONGRESSMAN THOMAS
MASSIE CLAIMS HE IS NEARING THE
SIGNATURES NEEDED TO PASS THE
DISCHARGE PETITION THAT HE IS
PUSHING THAT WOULD FORCE THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE
ALL OF THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN
FILES.
(24:19):
JAMES COMER'S OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE CONTINUES ITS
INVESTIGATION.
>> RIGHT.
IT'S INTERESTING WE HAVE TWO
KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS CENTRAL TO
THIS DEBATE.
THOMAS MASSIE HAS BEEN LEADING
THE CHARGE FROM THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE TO GET THIS ON THE FLOOR TO
GET PEOPLE TO VOTE ON RELEASING
THE EPSTEIN FILES.
SO FAR HE HAS BEEN MINIMALLY
(24:42):
SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING HIS
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO JOIN
HIM ON THAT PETITION.
I BELIEVE HE HAS GOTTEN THREE
OTHER REPUBLICANS TO DO SO
INCLUDING MARJORIE TAYLOR
GREENE.
BUT HE NEEDS ONE MORE.
AND TO GET THAT ON TO THE FLOOR
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE RESOLUTION
WILL PASS.
THAT JUST BRINGS IT TO THE FLOOR
FOR A VOTE.
AND IT HASN'T MADE IT THERE YET.
(25:02):
HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO KEEP
PUSHING.
HE SAYS HE THINKS HE HAS OTHER
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HE CAN
CONVINCE ON THAT.
WE'RE HEARING EARLY
REPORTS OF FLU AND COVID CASES
ARE ON THE RISE AND CVS
PHARMACIES RELAXED RULES ON
VACCINES?
>> BECAUSE OF CHANGES ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, BEFORE CVS SAID
(25:24):
YOU NEED A PRESCRIPTION IN ORDER
TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE NOW
AT THE C.D.C. APPROVED IT FOR
SOME YOU DON'T NEED THE
PRESCRIPTION.
BUT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO FALL
UNDER A CERTAIN GROUP IN ORDER
TO RECEIVE IT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT
IS BECAUSE THAT EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FEDERAL
LEVEL HAS BEEN RESCINDED AND
(25:46):
THAT WHAT MADE THE COAST 19
VACCINES VIRTUALLY TO ANYONE ONE
HERE.
>> THOSE OF US OLD ENOUGH
REMEMBER THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF
9/11 NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE DIED
THAT DAY.
INCLUDING KENTUCKIAN EDWARD
THOMAS EARHART HE WAS OFFICER
FIRST CLASS FROM MOREHEAD HE WAS
(26:07):
JUST 26 AND SERVED OUR COUNTRY
FOR YEARS BEFORE BEING AT THE
PENTAGON ON THAT DAY.
AND LONG TIME REPUBLICAN LEADER
AND ONE TIME CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR, HAS DIED, BOBBY HOLES
CLAW, THE CLERK.
SHE BOBBIE HOLSCLAW WAS FIRST
ELECTED IN 1999 AND SERVED FOR
26 YEARS AND RAN FOR THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN 2011
(26:28):
AND LOST THE PRIMARY.
BUT SHE BUCKED THE POLITICAL
WINDS AND WAS ELECTED SEVEN
TIMES IN DEMOCRATIC LEADING
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
BOBBIE HOLSCLAW WAS 91.
THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
KENTUCKY LEADERS REACT
TO THE SHOOTING DEATH OF
CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE
KIRK.
THE ADS AND THE RHETORIC HEAT UP
IN NEXT YEAR'S OPEN RACE FOR A
U.S. SENATE SEAT IN KENTUCKY.
A GROUP PUSHES FOR MORE THAN
$700 MILLION IN NEW SPENDING FOR
KENTUCKY SCHOOLS.
THE SUPREME COURT HEARS CASES ON
(00:30):
CHARTER SCHOOL FUNDING AND OPEN
RECORDS RULES.
A WARM STRETCH TO WRAP UP SUMMER
AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND
(00:51):
SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE
GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING
KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE
SYLVIA GOODMAN CAPITAL REPORTER
FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO.
SARAH LADD HEALTH AND POLICY
REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY
LANTERN AND HANNAH PINSKI
POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE
COURIER-JOURNAL.
WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS WE WILL
(01:13):
BEGIN WITH THE POLITICAL
VIOLENCE IN UTAH THAT KILLED
CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST CHARLIE
KIRK HE MADE A STOP AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IN 2023
AND A MORE RECENT STOP AS WELL.
BOTH PARTIES WERE KICK TO
CONDEMN WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Gov. Andy Beshear (01:31):
IT IS AN
INCREDIBLY VIOLENT MOMENT THAT
SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ANYWHERE.
AND AGAIN, WE'VE SEEN RIGHTFULLY
EVERYBODY SPEAKING OUT AGAINST
IT.
>> THIS IS A HORRENDOUS THING
AND THE SIGNAL NEEDS TO BE SENT
TO THINKS THEY WILL BE A COPYCAT
THEY WILL MEET THE SAME FATE.
>> Bill (01:51):
WE KNOW THE DIVISIONS
AND DISAGREEMENTS ARE REAL IN
THIS COUNTRY BUT THIS IS A LEVEL
ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM
FIND HORRIFYING.
>> AS WE SAW NOT JUST IN
KENTUCKY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
WE SAW POLITICAL LEADERS
(02:11):
CONDEMNING THIS ATTACK IT'S
SOMETHING WE CANNOT NORMALIZE.
AND A LOT OF POLITICIANS ARE
SEEING THIS AS A BACK UP CALL AS
WE TALK ABOUT POLITICS NO ONE
SHOULD HAVE TO FEAR ABOUT THEIR
SAFETY FOR EXPRESSING A PERSONAL
OPINION.
>> RIGHT.
I THINK HANNAH HIT IS ON THE
HEAD THIS IDEA THAT LIKE YOU
(02:31):
SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPEAK FREELY
WITHOUT FEAR AT ANY EVENT PUBLIC
EVENT.
AND WE HEARD THAT FROM BOTH
SIDES OF THE AISLE.
WE HEARD SOME PERHAPS MORE
ALARMIST RHETORIC.
A LOT OF PEOPLE FEARING
HEIGHTENING OF TENSIONS IN THIS
COUNTRY AFTER THIS ATTACK.
(02:51):
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO
COOL THE TEMPERATURE HERE.
GET BACK TO THE IDEALS OF FREE
SPEECH AND CONDEMNING VIOLENCE
IN ALL FORMS.
SOME IN KENTUCKY FACED
DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR SOME OF
THE RHETORIC THAT HAS COME IN
THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS WE'VE
SEEN SOME OF THAT.
>> WE HAVE.
WE HAVE.
WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT PLAYS
(03:13):
OUT.
GOVERNOR BESHEAR MADE
THE POINT HE HOPES SOMETHING
LIKE THIS DOESN'T FURTHER DIVIDE
THE COUNTRY.
>> LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I THINK
THERE ARE CONCERNS WHETHER OR
NOT LIKE WE SAID, IS SPEAKING
OUT PUBLIC EVENT ABOUT YOUR
POLITICAL VIEWS IS THAT GOING TO
MAKE YOU FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE?
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING.
AND I THINK BESHEAR HIT IT ON
(03:35):
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT
BE DIVIDED ON WE SHOULD VALUE
FREE SPEECH AND OUR DEMOCRACY
AND VALUE TO HAVE CIVIL
DISCOURSE IN KENTUCKY AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
KIRK HAD SPOKEN AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IN 2023
THAT EVENT WAS INSIDE.
DO ORGANIZERS START TO HAVE TO
LEAN THAT WAY FOR SECURITY
(03:56):
REASONS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S CERTAINLY
ON A LOT OF MINDS.
IF YOU ARE A SPEAKER GOING TO A
COLLEGE CAMPUS I'M SURE
SOMETHING YOU ARE THINKING
ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE
MORE POLARIZED IN THIS
ENVIRONMENT.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT MAKING SURE
PEOPLE CAN SPEAK FREELY IN A
PUBLIC FORUM.
AND MAKING SURE THAT CIVIL
(04:18):
DISCOURSE IS POSSIBLE.
WE MIGHT SEE HEIGHTENED SECURITY
MEASURES OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS, MAYBE YEARS.
WE'VE SEEN PLENTY OF HEIGHTENED
SECURITY MEASURES ACROSS THE
SPECTRUM AND I EXPECT MORE
DISCOURSE.
I WAS AT A CHARLIE KIRK EVENT HE
WAS HERE ENDORSING NATE MORRIS.
SO I MEAN, IT'S GOING TO BE ON
(04:40):
PEOPLE'S MINDS FOR A WHILE.
BUT WE'VE HEARD PLENTY OF PEOPLE
SAYING THEY ARE NOT PLANNING ON
CANCELING THEY WILL KEEP GOING.
WE HAVE A DEFAULT
CONVERSATION WHERE GUN CONTROL
AND GUN RIGHTS ARISE AFTER A
SITUATION THAT IS VISIBLE WITH
GUN INCIDENTS AND THIS CAME
AFTER EARLIER IN THE WEEK BEFORE
(05:00):
THIS A LOUISVILLE METRO
COUNCILMEMBER CALLED ON THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO LET
LOUISVILLE MAKE ITS OWN GUN
ORDINANCES.
>> STATE LAW SAYS LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS CAN'T MAKE THEIR OWN
RULES WHEN IT COMES TO HOW YOU
PURCHASE A GUN OR HOW YOU
REGULATE THAT SORT OF THING.
AND IT ALSO DICTATES HOW GUNS
(05:21):
ARE DISPOSED OF IF THEY ARE USED
IN A CRIME AND THE POLICE
CONFISCATE THAT GUN.
THAT SET AT THE STATE LEVEL.
A LOUISVILLE COUNCILMAN, A
DEMOCRAT, BASICALLY HAS
INTRODUCED THIS RESOLUTION AND
IS ASKING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TO SAY LOUISVILLE CAN MAKE THEIR
OWN RULES.
YOU CAN SET YOUR OWN STANDARDS
(05:42):
THERE.
AND HIS THINKING IS THAT
LOUISVILLE NEEDS SOMETHING LIKE
A WAITING PERIOD WHEN SOMEONE
GOES TO PURCHASE A GUN, BECAUSE
SOMETIMES YOU SEE IN THESE SORTS
OF SHOOTINGS WHERE THE PERSON
OBTAINED THE GUN LEGALLY.
HIS THOUGHT PROCESS WAS IF WE
CAN GIVE THEM TIME TO THINK
ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE PLANNING TO
(06:03):
DO, WHAT THEY INTENDED TO DO,
MAYBE THEY WILL HAVE SECOND
THOUGHTS AND NOT DO IT.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT SURE IT REALLY
COULD GO ANYWHERE.
THE SENATE PRESIDENT SPOKESMAN I
TALKED TO DEFENDED THE LAW ON
THE BOOKS AND SAID IT'S
IMPORTANT TO HAVE UNIFORMITY IN
ALL COUNTIES SO YOU KNOW WHAT TO
EXPECT.
(06:23):
NOT A PATCHWORK OF
RULES.
>> NO.
THIS IS A TRAGIC
SITUATION THIS WEEK THAT
KENTUCKIANS ARE HOPEFULLY
LOWERING THE TEMPERATURE IN
THESE DISCUSSIONS.
>> AS HANNAH SAID, WE SEE
EVERYONE ACROSS THE POLITICAL
SPECTRUM SAYING THAT EVERYONE
HAS A RIGHT TO FEEL SAFE NO
MATTER WHAT YOU SAY OR BELIEVE.
(06:46):
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
KENTUCKY U.S. SENATE RACE
GETTING ATTENTION ON THE
REPUBLICAN SIDE THREE CANDIDATES
ARE BATTLING OUT.
CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR, FORMER
ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON
AND BUSINESSMAN NATE MORRIS ALL
LOOKING FOR SUPPORT.
ALL THREE ARE TRYING TO ALIGN
THEMSELVES WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.
AND BARR HAS AN AD UP WITH TRUMP
(07:06):
WISHING HIM WELL.
BUT IT DOES STOP SHORT OF AN
ENDORSEMENT.
>> I HELPED TRUMP DELIVER THE
LARGEST TAX CUT IN AMERICAN
HISTORY, KEEP MEN OUT OF GIRLS'
SPORTS AND FUND THE LARGEST
DEPORTATION EFFORT WE'VE SEEN.
>> GOOD LUCK, I HEAR GOOD
THINGS.
AND THE STRATEGY OF
(07:27):
TRYING TO GET PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
BACKING IS PLAYING OUT WITH ALL
THREE OF THESE CANDIDATES.
>> YEAH, I THINK THROUGHOUT THE
PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WE'VE SEEN
ALL THREE CANDIDATES KEEP THE
SAME CONSISTENT STRATEGY IN
MESSAGING.
LIKELY JUST SAW BARR IS FOCUSING
HIS MESSAGE SAYING HE IS ALREADY
IN THE HOUSE VOTING TO PASS
(07:47):
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA WITH
NATE MORRIS WE HAVE HEARD THAT
HE MET WITH PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP AND HE IS REALLY
EMPHASIZING THE RELATIONSHIPS HE
HAS WITH DONALD TRUMP JR. AND
VICE-PRESIDENT J.D. VANCE AND
WITH DANIEL CAMERON, DURING THE
2023 GUBERNATORIAL RACE HE WAS
ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
SAID IF I'M ELECTED TO THE
(08:08):
SENATE I WILL HELP TRUMP PASS
HIS AMERICA FIRST AGENDA.
WE'LL SEE IF TRUMP DOES ENDORSE
WHAT MESSAGING STICKS.
IS THERE ANYWAY TO KNOW
IF ANYBODY HAS AN EDGE IN
GETTING THAT ENDORSEMENT?
>> IT'S HARD TO TELL AT THIS
POINT.
ALL THREE CANDIDATES HAVE WHAT
THEY SEE AS DIFFERENT STRENGTHS
(08:28):
AS WELL AS DIFFERENT WEAKNESSES.
FROM FOLKS THE QUESTION TRUMP
WILL HAVE WHEN MAKING THE
DECISION IS WHO DOES HE THINK IS
GOING TO WIN IN THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY?
THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE MAIN
FACTORS IF HE DOES MAKE A
DECISION TO ENDORSE SOMEONE.
>> TRUMP MIGHT NOT ENDORSE
ANYBODY THAT IS NOT AN
(08:49):
IMPOSSIBILITY.
WHICH HAS HAPPENED.
TO THE POINT ON THE SUPPORT AND
WE SAW BARR RELEASE A POLL THIS
WEEK THAT SHOWED HIM GAINING.
BUT THEN CAMERON CALLED IT FAKE
THOUGH IT SHOWED HIM AHEAD.
>> YEAH, THAT WAS INTERESTING.
BARR FRAME TO DO THE POLL AS
(09:11):
SURGING AHEAD.
AND NAME ID IS GOING UP HE
REPRESENTS A SIZABLE DISTRICT
ONE IN KENTUCKY PEOPLE OUT OF
HIS DISTRICT DON'T KNOW HIM THAT
WELL.
IT SHOWS HEY I'M GETTING A LEG
UP IN THE POLLS AND CLOSING THE
GAP WITH CAMERON BUT THAT GAP
EXISTS.
CAMERON HAS A NATURAL LEG UP
BECAUSE HE HAS RUN STATE-WIDE
(09:33):
CAMPAIGNS BEFORE AND SUCCESSFUL
AS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND
UNSUCCESSFUL AS GOVERNOR.
BUT HE DID WIN THE PRIMARY WITH
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.
OBVIOUSLY CAMERON DOESN'T LIKE
ANY POLL THAT SHOWS A GAP
CLOSING BUT THIS IS INTERNAL
POLLING IS WORTH NOTING AND WE
ARE A LONG WAY OUT FROM THE
PRIMARY.
WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THE FILING
(09:53):
DEAD LINE YET.
THE UNDIEDINGS HAVE TO
BE LARGER THAN IN A POLL.
THIS WEEK, THE LEXINGTON
HERALD-LEADER DID A DEEP DIVE
INTO THE BUSINESS THAT MORRIS
FOUNDED RUBICON A DIGITAL WASTE
COMPANY AND THE ART NOTES HE
BUILT THE BUSINESS AND TOOK IT
(10:13):
PUBLIC AND LEFT IN 2022 AND SOME
INVESTORS EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS
IN THE STORY.
INTERESTING BACK STORY BECAUSE
HE HAS TO RUN ON HIS BUSINESS
RECORD HE HAS NO RECORD AS A
ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND OF COURSE, HE SEES THAT AS
AN ASSET?
>> HE IS LEANING HEAVILY ON HIS
(10:34):
BUSINESS BACKGROUND.
HE'S POSITIONED HIMSELF AS A
GARBAGE MAN, OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A
SOFTWARE COMPANY THAT DEALT WITH
GARBAGE AND HE DID MAKE A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY.
HE MADE TENS OF MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ON THAT COMPANY.
HIS COMPONENTS HAVE BROUGHT THIS
UP BEFORE THAT THE STOCK DID
TAKE A DIVE AFTER HE LEFT.
(10:56):
BUT MORRIS SAYS HE IS PROUD OF
THE BUSINESS HE BUILT.
INTERESTING TO SEE IF A LOT OF
VOTERS TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION.
A LOT TO SEE IN THE
NEXT WEEKS AHEAD.
INCLUDING HANNAH, WE'LL SEE IF
THE FIELD IS COMPLETE ON THE
DEMOCRATIC SIDE THERE COULD BE
ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES?
>> LIKE WE HAVE NOT REACHED THE
(11:19):
FILING DEADLINE YET AND THERE'S
POTENTIAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES
THINKING ABOUT JUMPING IN THE
RACE WHO COULD.
WE KEEPS KNOCK TO GO
DOWN IS GOVERNOR BESHEAR HE SAYS
HE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
INSTEAD GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S
PODCAST WENT NATIONAL ON CIRRUS
XM RADIO AND MADE NATIONAL TV
(11:40):
APPEARANCES WHICH HE DESCRIBED
THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HE MIGHT
RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
>> SO, THIS YEAR, TRYING TO DO
WHAT I CAN TO BE A REASONABLE
VOICE.
NEXT YEAR HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION WE WILL
WIN IN A LOT OF PLACES AND THE
CHANGE THE MAP.
AFTER THAT I WILL SIT DOWN AND
IF MY FAMILY THIS I CAN HEAL
(12:01):
THIS COUNTRY I WILL CONSIDER IT.
IF THERE IS SOMEBODY ELSE I WILL
SUPPORT THEM.
I CARE ABOUT THE UNITED STATES
THAN ANY TITLE I COULD HAVE.
BESHEAR IS FINDING HIS
WAY TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE AS
GOVERNOR OF A RELATIVELY SMALL
STATE.
HE IS SMACKDOWN ANY TALK THAT HE
IS GOING TO RUN FOR THE U.S.
SENATE SOME DEMOCRATS ARE
(12:22):
PRESSING HIM FOR THAT.
WHAT IS HE UP TO RIGHT NOW?
>> I MEAN I THINK IT'S SAFE TO
SAY FOR THE PAST YEAR HE HAS
WORKING ON BUILDING UP HIS
NATIONAL PROFILE AND BUILDING
HIS NAME ID IF HE DOES DECIDE TO
MAKE A 2028 PRESIDENTIAL RUN.
WE'VE SEEN HIM TRAVEL TO IOWA
(12:42):
AND MET WITH HUGE DEMOCRATIC
DONORS.
I THINK HE IS LAYING THE GROUND
AND THE SEEDS TO MAKE THIS
NATIONAL RUN IN 2028.
ALL RIGHT.
WE'LL SEE HOW THE PODCAST DOES.
AHEAD OF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION HERE IN KENTUCKY NOW A
FEW MONTHS AWAY ISSUES ARE
(13:04):
STARTING TO EMERGE FEDERAL CUTS
TO THE S.N.A.P. PROGRAM WILL
SHIFT COST TO THE THE STATE.
ARE KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO HANDLE THAT
BEFORE THEY START CRAFTING THAT
STATE BUDGET?
>> THEY ARE.
I MEAN THEY HEARD ABOUT THESE
NEW COST AND INTERIM COMMITTEE
MEETING AND WHAT THEY KNOW THEY
(13:24):
WILL HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR AN
INCREASE IN ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS
WHICH IS EXPECTED TO COST
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN BOTH THE
FISCAL YEAR 2027 AND 2028.
I HAD SPOKEN TO SENATOR
McDANIEL ABOUT THIS CHAIR OF
THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS AND
REVENUE COMMITTEE AND HE TOLD ME
THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS CAN BE
ABSORBED IN THE STATE BUDGET
(13:46):
FROM THE GENERAL FUND AND IT IS
SOMETHING THEY CAN DO.
THE SECOND PART AND WHAT WE
DON'T KNOW KENTUCKY COULD HAVE
TO PAY FOR SOME OF S.N.A.P.'S
BENEFITS BASED ON THE PAYMENT
ERROR RATE AND THAT IS A
PROVISION PASSED IN THE BUDGET
BILL.
WHAT IS AN ERROR RATE?
>> TRYING TO PUT IF IN SIMPLE
(14:07):
TERMS WHEN A HOUSEHOLD RECEIVES
MORE OR LESS THAN THE BENEFIT
AMOUNT.
RIGHT NOW THAT TOLERANCE LEVEL
IS $57.
AND IF THE RATE IS GREATER THAN
6% FOR A STATE, THEN THEY WILL
HAVE TO PAY A PERCENTAGE OF THE
BENEFIT COSTS.
ARE THERE OTHER AREAS
THAT THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS
(14:28):
GOING TO HAVE TO COVER IN TERMS
OF CUTS COMING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT?
>> YEAH, I MEAN ONE OF THE
BIGGEST CUTS WAS TO MEDICAID.
MEDICAID IS A HUGE POT OF MONEY
THAT KENTUCKY GETS EVERY YEAR TO
PAY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE'S HEALTH
INSURANCE IN THE STATE.
AND ESSENTIALLY WHAT COULD START
AFFECTING KENTUCKY IS QUICKLY IS
(14:50):
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY CHECKS
THAT WILL BE A BIG
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN FOR THE
STATE.
WE DON'T HAVE ESTIMATES ON THAT
THE STATE IS PUTTING THAT
TOGETHER.
THAT COULD BE A LOT OF EXTRA
STAFFING NEEDS.
IN TERMS OF THE
ADMINISTRATION TO DO THE CHECKS?
>> IF WE ARE IGNORING OTHER CUTS
MAKING SURE WE HAVE THE PEOPLE
(15:12):
TO DO THE WORK.
WE DON'T HAVE ESTIMATES BUT THEY
WILL HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH THAT.
AND SARAH, WE KNOW THAT
CHILDCARE IS A HUGE ISSUE IN
KENTUCKY.
SOME SAYING IT KEEPS TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PARENTS OUT OF THE
WORKFORCE.
WE KNOW THERE ARE PROPOSALS TO
ADDRESS THAT.
THIS WEEK NEW MEXICO BECAME THE
(15:34):
FIRSTTATE TO APPROVE UNIVERSAL
CHILDCARE A $600,000 PROGRAM OUT
THERE.
THAT IS A HEAVY LIFT.
WHAT A SOLUTION LIKE THAT
POSSIBLY BE PROPOSED IN
FRANKFORT?
>> I'M SURE ONE LIKE THAT WILL
BE PROPOSED.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY THAT IT
WILL PASS.
THERE'S CONFLICTING APPETITE
(15:54):
ABOUT THAT.
IN SOME CORNERS WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE IT IS
BIPARTISAN.
YOU HEAR DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN
PEOPLE ALIKE WILL SAY CITING
RESEARCH THAT IF A CHILD HAS
ACCESS TO EARLY EDUCATION THAT
IS QUALITY, THAT IS GOOD
EDUCATION, THEY LIVE LONGER THEY
LEARN BETTER, THEY LEARN FASTER.
AND IT SETS THEM UP FOR BETTER
(16:17):
SUCCESS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU KNOW, YOU
WILL HEAR PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T
WANT TO PROP UP AN INDUSTRY OR
THE PERCEPTION THEY ARE PROPPING
UP AN INDUSTRY.
IN ORDER FOR THAT TO BE
SUCCESSFUL THE PROPONENTS HAVE
TO PROVE AND CONVINCE PEOPLE IN
LEADERSHIP THAT IT WOULD BE
BENEFICIAL IN THE LONG-RUN WHEN
IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY.
(16:37):
AND WE'VE SEEN DATA TO BACK THAT
UP SAYING WE COULD GET MILLIONS
BACK INTO THE ECONOMY AND MORE
MOTHERS IN THE WORKFORCE.
IT HITS WOMEN THE HARDEST WHEN
THEY CARE FOR CHILDREN BECAUSE
THEY CAN'T AFFORD CHILDCARE.
THE HOW IS THE BIG
QUESTION.
IS IT DIRECT PAYMENTS?
STATE RUN FACILITIES?
(16:57):
>> THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT THAT PEOPLE DON'T AGREE.
I'M SURE WE WILL HAVE THE
DISCUSSIONS IN 2026 WE'VE HAD
THEM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.
I THINK IT'S WORTH FOLLOWING
CLOSELY HOW THAT WILL BE
PROPOSED AND WHAT GETS ACCEPTED.
INCENTIVES FOR
EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE CHILDCARE
AS WELL.
IS ANOTHER OPTION TALKED ABOUT.
(17:17):
>> SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WHO
RESEARCH THIS OFTEN PUSH IS
FINDING A WAY FOR A EMPLOYER TO
HAVE A CHILDCARE CENTER OR
BENEFIT THAT HAS PARENTS.
AND MAKING SURE THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY FUNDS CHILDCARE FOR
CHILDCARE WORKERS.
IF YOU WORK IN A CHILDCARE
FACILITY MAKING SURE YOU STILL
(17:39):
CAN GET FREE CHILDCARE THROUGH
THAT JOB.
A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROPOSALS.
ZONING IS ANOTHER ONE THAT IS
UNDER THE RADAR.
BUT ZONING FOR CHILDCARE CAN BE
CLEARED UP A LITTLE BIT
ADMINISTRATIVELY.
WITH THAT BUDGET
SESSION COMING, SOME PUBLIC
EDUCATION SUPPORTERS CALLED FOR
KENTUCKY TO PUT ANOTHER $718
(18:01):
MILLION IN THE STATE BUDGET FOR
SCHOOLS.
>> THIS WOULD ALLOW US TO RAISE
SEEK FUNDS BY 14%.
FULLY FUND SCHOOL
TRANSPORTATION.
AND INVEST $38 MILLION TOWARDS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
TEXTBOOKS AND CLASSROOM
TECHNOLOGY.
THE GROUP IS PROTECT
(18:23):
OUR SCHOOLS KENTUCKY THEY
ACKNOWLEDGE IT IS A BOLD REQUEST
AND THEY NOTE THAT PER PUPIL
SPENDING HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH
INFLATION IN KENTUCKY SINCE
2008.
>> YEAH.
AND IT'S WORTH NOTING OUR
SCHOOLS KENTUCKY WAS FOUNDED TO
COMBAT AMENDMENT 2 THE SCHOOL
CHOICE AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOTS.
(18:44):
AND THEY ARE CALLING FOR THE
$718 MILLION FIGURE THAT NUMBER
MIGHT BE FAMILIAR TO SOME CLOSE
POLITICS WATCHERS BECAUSE IT'S
THE PRICE TAG FOR THE NEXT HALF
PERCENT BUDGET CUT.
THAT MONEY THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY
COULD HELP THE STATE DO ALL OF
THOSE THINGS.
BUT THEY WERE CLEAR THEY WERE
NOT SAYING WHERE THAT MONEY
(19:05):
SHOULD GO THEY ARE SAYING THAT
COULD BOLSTER DIFFERENT THINGS
ACROSS EDUCATION IN KENTUCKY.
YOU MENTIONED THE PER PUPIL RATE
THAT IT HAS NOT KEPT UP WITH
2008 INFLATIONARY FIGURES.
AT THE SAME TIME, REPUBLICAN
LEADERSHIP HAS SAID THEY ARE
INVESTING RECORD AMOUNTS IN
EDUCATION.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU INCLUDE ALL
(19:27):
THE MONEY THAT THEY'VE INVESTED
TO PAY DOWN UNFUNDED PENSION
LIABILITY WHICH IS A HUGE AMOUNT
OF MONEY.
WE'RE TRYING TO FUND EDUCATION
BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE MONEY
GOING INTO CLASSROOMS.
TWO THINGS CAN BE TRUE,
RIGHT?
WE SPOKE TO THE KENTUCKY SUPREME
COURT TRAVELING AROUND THE STATE
(19:47):
WHILE THE CAPITOL IS BEING
RENOVATED THEY WENT TO DANVILLE
AND HEARD ARGUMENTS ABOUT
WHETHER THE STATE CAN SETUP A
FUNDING PLAN FOR CHARTER
SCHOOLS.
THE CHARTERS PASSED IN 2017 AND
HOUSE BILL 9 CAME LATER AND THE
ARGUMENTS ARE STARK.
>> YES, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING
(20:07):
DEBATE HAPPENING.
WHAT THE STATE IS ARGUING OR THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE IS
ARGUING IN FAVOR IS THAT PUBLIC
CHARTER SCHOOLS SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE COMMON
SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AS ANYONE WHO IS FOLLOWING THE
AMENDMENT 2 DEBATE LAST --
THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT ALLOW
TAX DOLLARS TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE
(20:30):
COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM WITHOUT A
VOTE AT LEAST.
SO THE OPPONENTS TO THIS MEASURE
PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES, SAY
THAT THIS IS GOING OUTSIDE OF
COMMON SCHOOLS.
THESE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE NOT
GOVERNED BY THE SAME BODIES AND
THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT OTHER
COMMON SCHOOLS ARE GOVERNED BY
AND THEREFORE THEY SHOULD NOT
(20:50):
COUNT AND THE FUNDING MECHANISM
IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
AND WE EXPECT A
DECISION LATER?
>> YES.
WHO KNOWS WHEN.
ON ANOTHER MATTER THE
SUPREME COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS
ABOUT WHETHER PERSONAL DEVICES
AND PHONES USED BY PUBLIC
OFFICIALS ARE SHIELDED FROM THE
STATE OPEN RECORDS LAW.
(21:10):
THAT VERY INTERESTING CASE?
>> THAT IS ANOTHER ONE THAT THE
KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT HAD
HEARD.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE KENTUCKY
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
DECIDED NOT TO COMPLY WITH THE
OPEN RECORDS REQUEST OF NOT
PROVIDINGS TEXT AND E-MAIL
COMMUNICATIONS BY PRIVATE PHONE
OR E-MAIL.
AND THE COURT OF APPEALS RULED
AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT AND WHAT
(21:31):
THEY SAID THE SUPREME COURT IS
THAT THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY IF THEIR
PRIVATE PHONES ARE SUBJECT TO
OPEN RECORDS LAWS.
MEANWHILE THE OTHER SIDE WAS
ARGUING IF WE ALLOW THIS RULE
THAT THE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE
TO RELEASE THOSE RECORDS, DOES
THIS ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO CONDUCT
(21:51):
BUSINESS OUTSIDE OF THE PUBLIC
VIEW.
THAT IS, AGAIN, A
CLOSELY WATCHED CASE.
KENTUCKY'S NEW MEDICAL CANNABIS
LAW WENT INTO EFFECT AT THE
START OF THE YEAR NO DISPENSARY
IS OPEN YET.
THERE HAVE BEEN DELAYS AND
FRUSTRATIONS NO DISPENSARIES
THERE ARE A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS
(22:11):
WHO RECEIVED CARDS.
>> LAST COUNT I SAW WAS 13,000
KENTUCKIANS WHO HAD CARDS.
IT'S WORTH A REFRESHER THAT TO
GET THESE YOU HAD TO HAVE A
CHRONIC ILLNESS THAT COULD BE
PAINFUL.
IT WOULD APPLY TO PEOPLE WITH
CANCER AND PTSD PEOPLE WHO
(22:32):
NEEDED MEDICAL RELIEF FOR PAIN
THAT COULDN'T BE SUCCESSFULLY
TREATED OTHERWISE.
THEY ARE WAITING A LOT OF PEOPLE
ARE FRUSTRATED.
I BELIEVE GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID
HE HOPES AND BELIEVES THAT
SOMETHING CAN BE OPEN BY THE END
OF THE YEAR WE DON'T HAVE
ANYTHING YET.
YOU'VE COVERED STORIES
INCLUDING ONE NEW DEVELOPMENTS
FRIDAY.
>> DURING THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE
(22:53):
SESSION THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PASSED A LAW SAYING IF YOU ARE
ARE INCARCERATED IN KENTUCKY YOU
CANNOT USE PUBLIC FUNDS FOR
ELECTIVE MEDICAL PROCEDURES AND
CARE AND THAT INCLUDED HORMONE
THERAPY THAT A TRANSGENDER
KENTUCKIANS USE.
THERE'S BEEN A LAWSUIT THAT THE
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
OF KENTUCKY IS INVOLVED IN
AGAINST THAT.
(23:15):
AND TODAY, A JUDGE RULED THAT
THE LAW CAN STAY IN EFFECT WHILE
THIS CASE THAT THEY FILED MAKES
ITS WAY THROUGH THE COURTS.
THEY ASKED HIM TO BLOCK IT AND
HE SAID NO.
AND THE OTHER STORY
THIS WEEK?
>> SO THERE WAS A SOCIAL WORKER
IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY WHO HAS BEEN
CLEARED IN THE BOARD THAT
(23:36):
GOVERNS HIS WORK SAID HE DID NOT
VIOLATE THE LAW WHEN HE MADE A
SOCIAL MEDIA POST SAYING THAT HE
DID NOT WANT TO AFFIRM THE LGBTQ
COMMUNITY.
HE DID THIS DURING PRIDE MONTH
AFTER HIS EMPLOYER SAID HAPPY
PRIDE MONTH.
HE WAS FIRED.
AND THE LAW FIRM THAT SUPPORTS
KIM DAVIS AND HER EFFORTS TO
(23:59):
OVERTURN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS
TRYING TO HELP HIM GET HIS JOB
BACK AND WE DON'T KNOW IF THEY
CAN DO THAT.
CONGRESSMAN THOMAS
MASSIE CLAIMS HE IS NEARING THE
SIGNATURES NEEDED TO PASS THE
DISCHARGE PETITION THAT HE IS
PUSHING THAT WOULD FORCE THE
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE
ALL OF THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN
FILES.
(24:19):
JAMES COMER'S OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE CONTINUES ITS
INVESTIGATION.
>> RIGHT.
IT'S INTERESTING WE HAVE TWO
KENTUCKY LAWMAKERS CENTRAL TO
THIS DEBATE.
THOMAS MASSIE HAS BEEN LEADING
THE CHARGE FROM THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE TO GET THIS ON THE FLOOR TO
GET PEOPLE TO VOTE ON RELEASING
THE EPSTEIN FILES.
SO FAR HE HAS BEEN MINIMALLY
(24:42):
SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING HIS
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES TO JOIN
HIM ON THAT PETITION.
I BELIEVE HE HAS GOTTEN THREE
OTHER REPUBLICANS TO DO SO
INCLUDING MARJORIE TAYLOR
GREENE.
BUT HE NEEDS ONE MORE.
AND TO GET THAT ON TO THE FLOOR
THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE RESOLUTION
WILL PASS.
THAT JUST BRINGS IT TO THE FLOOR
FOR A VOTE.
AND IT HASN'T MADE IT THERE YET.
(25:02):
HE SAYS HE IS GOING TO KEEP
PUSHING.
HE SAYS HE THINKS HE HAS OTHER
REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HE CAN
CONVINCE ON THAT.
WE'RE HEARING EARLY
REPORTS OF FLU AND COVID CASES
ARE ON THE RISE AND CVS
PHARMACIES RELAXED RULES ON
VACCINES?
>> BECAUSE OF CHANGES ON THE
NATIONAL LEVEL, BEFORE CVS SAID
(25:24):
YOU NEED A PRESCRIPTION IN ORDER
TO GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE NOW
AT THE C.D.C. APPROVED IT FOR
SOME YOU DON'T NEED THE
PRESCRIPTION.
BUT I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO FALL
UNDER A CERTAIN GROUP IN ORDER
TO RECEIVE IT.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT
IS BECAUSE THAT EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZATION FROM THE FEDERAL
LEVEL HAS BEEN RESCINDED AND
(25:46):
THAT WHAT MADE THE COAST 19
VACCINES VIRTUALLY TO ANYONE ONE
HERE.
>> THOSE OF US OLD ENOUGH
REMEMBER THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF
9/11 NEARLY 3,000 PEOPLE DIED
THAT DAY.
INCLUDING KENTUCKIAN EDWARD
THOMAS EARHART HE WAS OFFICER
FIRST CLASS FROM MOREHEAD HE WAS
(26:07):
JUST 26 AND SERVED OUR COUNTRY
FOR YEARS BEFORE BEING AT THE
PENTAGON ON THAT DAY.
AND LONG TIME REPUBLICAN LEADER
AND ONE TIME CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR, HAS DIED, BOBBY HOLES
CLAW, THE CLERK.
SHE BOBBIE HOLSCLAW WAS FIRST
ELECTED IN 1999 AND SERVED FOR
26 YEARS AND RAN FOR THE
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN 2011
(26:28):
AND LOST THE PRIMARY.
BUT SHE BUCKED THE POLITICAL
WINDS AND WAS ELECTED SEVEN
TIMES IN DEMOCRATIC LEADING
JEFFERSON COUNTY.
BOBBIE HOLSCLAW WAS 91.
THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
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