[♪♪] >> Bill: AFTER WEEKS OF SPECULATION ABOUT JOINING THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC TICKET, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WILL BE STAYING HOME IN KENTUCKY.

FANCY FARM OVER A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON SCHOOL CHOICE.

SCHOOL BELLS RING WITH NEW CHALLENGE AND NEW LAWS IN EFFECT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

OHIO BEGINS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SALES WHAT IMPACT COULD THAT HAVE ACROSS THE RIVER HERE IN KENTUCKY?

HEADING INTO A WEEKEND WITH A BIT OF A FALL FEEL.

COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE MARIO ANDERSON, ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY FOR SPECTRUM NEWS ONE.

JESS CLARK REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING.

AND JOHN CHEVES, REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

THE SPECULATION HIT FEVER PITCH ABOUT THIS TIME LAST WEEK WHEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S NAME WAS ON THE LIST TO BE VICE-PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS' RUNNING MATE.

HARRIS PICKED TIM WALTZ.

BESHEAR HAS BEEN PRAISING THE CHOICE AS SOMEONE HE DESCRIBES AS A CLOSE FRIEND AND KENTUCKY BENEFITED FROM ALL THE ATTENTION.

>> IT IS AN HONOR TO BE CONSIDERED AND HOW MANY PEOPLE GET VETTED TO POTENTIALLY BE A VICE-PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE.

THE THING I'VE LOVED THE MOST ABOUT IT IS HOW WE, KENTUCKY HAVE RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF POSITIVE PUBLICITY, OF POSITIVE ATTENTION.

PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE WRITING ABOUT OUR ECONOMY, OUR ACHIEVEMENTS, HOW WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER AND THE SPECIAL THINGS WE'RE DOING.

>> Bill: JOHN, THIS WAS A WHIRLWIND FOR BESHEAR FOR THREE WEEKS IT WAS PEDAL TO THE METAL OF APPEARANCES AND OUT OF STATE TRAVEL AND IT ENDS WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE WAS CHOSEN.

>> IT WAS.

MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ WAS KAMALA HARRIS' PICK.

11 YEARS AGO IT WAS 2013 AND ANDY BESHEAR A LAWYER IN LOUISVILLE SAID I'M GOING TO RUN FOR STATE OFFICE HE WAS THE SON OF GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SORT OF SKEPTICAL THIS GUY'S GOING TO RUN FOR STATE OFFICE?

BASED ON WHAT?

AND SUDDENLY HE WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THEN GOVERNOR.

THEN REELECTED GOVERNOR.

AND THEN SUDDENLY HE IS SERIOUSLY VETTED TO BE THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

ALL IN A SPAN OF 11 YEARS.

AT 46 YEARS OLD WHAT A POLITICAL CAREER SUDDENLY.

EVEN WHEN HE GETS OUT OF OFFICE HE IS ONLY GOING TO BE 50 YEARS OLD.

I MEAN YOU CAN TELL WHY PEOPLE IN FRANKFORT ARE SNIPING AT THE GUY BECAUSE PROBABLY JEALOUS THAT HE HAS GOTTEN SO MUCH DONE IN TERMS OF HIS CAREER.

>> Bill: WHAT A WHIRLWIND THREE WEEKS.

>> A GUY FROM KENTUCKY SITTING KENTUCKY GOVERNOR TRAVELING IN IOWA, GEORGIA, HE IS IN OKLAHOMA AND TALKING ABOUT THE KAMALA HARRIS CAMPAIGN AT THIS TIME NOT ONE DID HE ACKNOWLEDGE HE WAS BEING VETTED OR A TRUE CANDIDATE THE MEDIA WAS SPECULATING ABOUT THAT.

BUT NOW THAT OBVIOUSLY THE VP PICK HAS BEEN CHOSEN HE DID MENTION NOW I AM RIGHT WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE.

HE TOLD ME, AND TOLD YOU AS WELL, BILL, HE FELT IT IN HIS SOUL BEING IN KENTUCKY AND SERVING THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE IS WHERE HE IS CALLED TO BE.

AND HE IS ADAMANT ABOUT THAT NOW.

>> Bill: WE BOTH FOUND IT INTERESTING HE WAS WILLING TO TALK SUDDENLY ABOUT THE FUTURE AFTER HE DID NOT WANT TO SAY MUCH IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME WHEN HE WAS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

A FEW WEEKS AGO DURING THE UPDATE HE DID NOT WEIGH-IN TOO OFTEN ON THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CONVERSATION BUT THEN MOMENTS HOURS AFTER TIM WALZ WAS ANNOUNCED AS THE VP PICK, SUDDENLY GOVERNOR BESHEAR WAS KILLING TO TALK ABOUT THE PROCESS A LITTLE BIT.

HE WOULDN'T WEIGH INTO THE CONFIDENTIALITY CONCERNS THERE.

BUT READY TO TALK ABOUT HIS RECOMMITMENT TO KENTUCKY AND HE IS HERE TO SERVE AND HE ENJOYED THE PROCESS AS WELL.

>> Bill: ANOTHER OBSERVATION HE MADE WITH ME HE LEARNED DURING THIS PERIOD OF TRAVELING THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF STATES THAT FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE PROCESS.

THIS IS A BATTLE FOR FIVE OR SIX BATTLEGROUND STATES REALLY.

AND HE SAID YOU COULD FEEL THAT IN PLACES LIKE OKLAHOMA AND IOWA THAT THEY FEEL CAST ASIDE AS MANY IN KENTUCKY DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT CONSIDERED ON THE MAP OF PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS.

>> RIGHT.

HE LEANED INTO IT'S NOT ABOUT RED VERSUS BLUE OR LEFT VERSUS RIGHT IT'S ABOUT BEING AMERICANS RELATING THIS EXPERIENCE OF BEING THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY AND TALKING ABOUT WE'RE ALL IN THE SAME THINGS AND KITCHEN TALK IS MOST IMPORTANT TO VOTERS HE LEANED INTO THAT.

AND TO THE PEOPLE HE IS TALKING WITH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> Bill: JESS, THE FAMILY WAS SUPPORTIVE AS HE DID THIS TRIAL BALLOON.

BUT HE DID MAKE IT CLEAR THAT STAYING HOME IS MUCH LESS DISRUPTIVE THAN A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN OR NATIONAL SERVICE WOULD HAVE BEEN?

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

HE HAS THREE MORE YEARS LEFT IN HIS TERM.

THERE HAS BEEN SPECULATION THAT THE HARRIS IF HARRIS WINS, SHE MIGHT WANT HIM FOR A CABINET POSITION.

BUT, OF COURSE, THAT WOULD BE A TOUGH BALANCE WEIGHING THAT BETWEEN ANOTHER THREE YEARS IN THE GOVERNORSHIP.

I'M CERTAIN I THINK HE'S SAID WE'RE GOING TO SEE HIM ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL NATIONALLY.

I'M SURE SOME OF THAT DISRUPTION MAY CONTINUE FOR THE BESHEAR'S.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS OBVIOUSLY BESHEAR SAID THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT HIM RUNNING FOR THE BIG JOB, PRESIDENT, AND GOVERNORSHIP MIGHT BE A MORE -- IT'S MORE FREQUENTLY USED STEPPING STONE TO THE PRESIDENCY THAN CABINET.

>> Bill: I DIDN'T GET THE FEELING HE WANTS TO AUDITION FOR A CABINET JOB, DID YOU?

>> I DID NOT.

BUT POLITICS IS POLITICS, ESPECIALLY KENTUCKY POLITICS.

WHEN THAT PHONE CALL DOES COME ESPECIALLY FROM KAMALA HARRIS IT APPEARS HE HAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH KAMALA HARRIS AND ALSO TIM WALZ.

TIM WAS IN KENTUCKY MULTIPLE TIMES FOR GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND DURING THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

IF THAT PHONE DOES RING HE MAY HAVE A TOUGH DECISION.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> I'VE NEVER GOTTEN A CALL FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ASKING ME TO RUN ONE OF THE CABINETS I ASSUME IF YOU DO IT'S HARD TO TURN DOWN.

>> Bill: FEW DEMOCRATS VENTURED TO FANCY FARM FOR THE SPEAKINGS AND PICNIC SO REPUBLICANS HAD THEIR CHANCE TO TAKE SWINGS AT THE OTHERS INCLUDING GOVERNOR BESHEAR FOR BEING ABSENT AND FOR HIS NATIONAL PROFILE.

>> AND THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE GOVERNOR I HEAR IS SPENDING THE WEEKEND WITH VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS.

I'D RATHER BE WITH YOU GUYS.

>> IT WOULD BE NICE TO INTRODUCE THE DEMOCRAT LEADERS HERE.

BUT THERE AREN'T ANY.

I MEAN, THIS SIDE OF THE STAGE KIND OF LOOKS LIKE OUR BUSINESSES AND CHURCHES DURING THE ANDY BESHEAR'S DRACONIAN COVID LOCKDOWNS.

>> Bill: MARIO LET'S KEEP IT IN MIND IT WAS UP IN THE AIR THE REPUBLICANS HAD THEIR MOMENT TO CRITICIZE BESHEAR AS AMBITIOUS AND THEY TOOK IT.

>> THEY DID.

AND FANCY FARM IS KNOWN FOR THE BARBECUE AND MUTTON HOT AND SPICY AND SO WERE THE REMARKS FROM THE REPUBLICANS ON STAGE.

AND JAMIE COMER DID NOT MINCE THEIR WORDS THEY LEANED INTO TRYING TO TIE ANDY BESHEAR WITH JOE BIDEN CURRENT PRESIDENT AND KAMALA HARRIS, BUT ALL THREE DEMOCRATS AND IT WAS A COMER COUNTRY I WAS THERE IN PERSON FOR THAT EVENT AND A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR COMER AND A LOT OF AND CHEERS AND CHANTING BEING THE EXPECT FOR THAT AREA AND HIS REPRESENTATION IN OUR STATE OF KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: WHAT WERE THE HINTS YOU GOT FROM HIM?

DOES HE HAVE HIS EYE ON THE U.S. SENATE SEAT SHOULD MITCH McCONNELL CHOOSE NOT TO RUN OR THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN 27 OR BE A LONG-TERM MEMBER OF CONGRESS?

>> SIMILAR REFERENCES TO PEOPLE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE ABOUT HIS LOSS IN THE PRIMARY TO MATT BEVIN IN 2015.

83 VOTES AND THERE'S SPECULATION HE WANTS TO AVENGE THAT AND RESTORE THE ORDER SO WE'LL SEE THIS ELECTION CYCLE WILL DETERMINE SOME OF THE NEXT STEPS AND MITCH McCONNELL MITCH'S FUTURE WILL DETERMINE THE NEXT STEPS FOR JAMIE COMER IF HE DECIDES TO COME HOME AND TRY TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> Bill: YOU TALKED TO ROBERT STIVERS FOR THE IN FOCUS KENTUCKY PROGRAM AND HE PREDICTED KENTUCKY WILL BE A TRUMP STATE IN NOVEMBER.

>> THE POLITICS OF NUMBERS.

AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A TRUMP STATE WHETHER YOU LIKE HIM OR NOT I'M BEING ANALYTICAL.

YOU HAVE TO GET ELECTORAL VOTES.

I THINK HE WAS FLOATED BUT NOT SERIOUS IN CONSIDERATION.

>> Bill: SO THE REPUBLICANS ARE CONFIDENT OF WINNING AND THAT WAS ALSO FROM THE SENATE PRESIDENT SAYING HE NEVER THOUGHT BESHEAR WAS IN CONTENTION.

>> OF COURSE, KENTUCKY HAS EIGHT ELECTORAL VOTES AS IN RELATION TO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND ROBERT STIVERS HAS BEEN AT THIS SINCE 1977 HE HAS A GOOD LAY OF THE LAND FOR POLITICS HE IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE BESHEAR FAMILY AS WELL.

AND HE DIDN'T SEEM TOO CONFIDENT ABOUT BESHEAR'S STATUS ON THE NATIONAL SCENE.

BUT ALSO VERY STRONGLY LEANING INTO AS WE SAID, YOU HEARD IT IS A TRUMP STATE, KENTUCKY VOTES REPUBLICAN AND THE NUMBERS ANALYTICALLY SHOW THAT DONALD TRUMP AND THE J.D.

VANCE PARTICULAR HEALTH WHICH -- TICKET WILL PREVAIL IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: LOTS TO WATCH.

IN ADDITION TO THE CANDIDATES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROVIDED NEGLECTER ENERGY AT THE FANCY FARM STAGE.

REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN MILES A REPUBLICAN FROM OWENSBORO SPOKE IN FAVOR AND REPRESENTATIVE CHERYL ANNE STEVENSON SPOKE AGAINST IT.

>> AMENDMENT TWO WOULD ALLOW MILES AND PER BUDDIES TO SHIFT DOLLARS MEANT TO SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOLS HERE IN WEST KENTUCKY TO RICH FOLKS IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE SO THEY CAN SEND THEIR KIDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOL.

>> KIDS DEPEND ON THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR PARENTS TO CELEBRATE THEIR SUCCESSES.

AND ALSO BE WITH THEM FOR THEIR FRUSTRATIONS BUT THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP OUT THERE THAT THE KIDS REALLY NEED.

THEY NEED THE VOTERS' VOTE FOR, YES, ON SECOND AMENDMENT IN NOVEMBER.

>> Bill: MARIO, TELL US MORE WITH HOW THE TWO SIDES FRAMED THE SCHOOL CHOICE DEBATE AND HOW IT SEEMED TO BE RECEIVED FROM EITHER SIDE AT FANCY FARM?

>> IT WAS A MIX OF CHEERS AND YEARS.

THE CROWDS LISTENING TO THE SPEECHES.

AND THE EMCEE THE CATHOLIC PRIEST MILES REFERENCED TO STEVENSON THAT STEVENSON SHOULD DO A CONFESSIONAL AND NEEDS HOLY WATER FROM FATHER JIM BECAUSE SHE FELT THAT SHE WAS SHARING LIES.

BUT CHERYL LYNN SAID THAT SHE FELT THAT PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WAS THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND SUSAN MILES SAID IT WOULD DO NO HARM TO PUBLIC EDUCATION BUT GIVE PARENTS THE CHOICE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS ON BEHALF OF THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR KIDS.

A MIXTURE OF BOTH SIDES AS IT SHOULD BE BUT A SPIRITED TOPIC.

>> Bill: AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET A READ STATE-WIDE.

HOW DOES IT APPEAR SCHOOL CHOICE WILL DO IN LOUISVILLE?

THERE ARE A LOT OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THE CHALLENGES FOR JCPS WHICH WE WILL BE DISCUSSING IN A MOMENT WILL THOSE TRANSLATE INTO VOTES FOR THE AMENDMENT?

>> I THINK EVEN WITH THE CONCENTRATION OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND ALL THE ISSUES THAT JCPS IS EXPERIENCING IT WILL BE A TOUGH SELL IN LOUISVILLE BECAUSE IT IS A DEMOCRATIC CITY AND BECAUSE THIS SCHOOL CHOICE ISSUE HAS BECOME SO PARTISAN.

AND IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS PARTISAN.

I REMEMBER 10 YEARS AGO YOU COULD FIND MODERATE DEMOCRATS WHO DID SUPPORT SOME FORMS OF SCHOOL CHOICE USUALLY CHARTER SCHOOLS NOT SO MUCH VOUCHERS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

THAT IS HARDER TO FIND THESE DAYS.

SO I THINK AS THE ISSUEKS MORE POLARIZED YOU WILL NOT SEE ENOUGH SUPPORT IN LOUISVILLE FOR IT TO PASS OR TO GAIN THAT PORTION OF THE VOTE.

OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE, I THINK RURAL AREAS, AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE REPUBLICAN RED LEANING AREAS AND AT THE SAME TIME, THE ACTUAL ISSUE VOUCHERS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THOSE FOLKS CAN REALLY USE BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THOSE AREAS.

I THINK THE AREA OF KENTUCKY WHERE THIS WILL PROBABLY DO VERY WELL IS NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE BOTH VERY LIBERTARIAN VIBE UP THERE.

AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

I THINK THE REST OF THE STATE I THINK IT WILL BE A TOUGH SELL.

>> Bill: YOU HAVE BOTH MADE THE CASE THAT IT'S A LITTLE MUDDY WHAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD DO?

>> YES, EXACTLY RIGHT.

I'M SURE WE'LL SEE LOTS OF MONEY BEING PUT TOWARDS THIS CAMPAIGN SINCE THERE'S NO STATE-WIDE ELECTION.

BOTH SIDES WILL BE PUTTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO BE ABLE TO PUSH BOTH OF THEIR MESSAGING WHETHER IT'S FACTUALLY CORRECT OR NOT.

>> RIGHT.

SO THE AMENDMENT AS I UNDERSTAND IT AND JESS YOU CAN CORRECT ME, IT AUTHORIZES THE LEGISLATURE TO GO AHEAD WITH DIVERTING THE MONEY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IT DOESN'T SAY HOW IT WOULD WORK WHICH TO SOME PEOPLE IT MIGHT BE SCARIER.

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK THE ARGUMENT WE ARE NOT PASSING POLICY WE'RE JUST CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION AND WE WILL LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN.

SURE, THAT IS FACTUALLY TRUE BUT IT COMES AFTER REPUBLICANS HAVE TRIED TO PASS SPECIFIC POLICIES THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN LEGAL UNDER THE CONSTITUTION AS WRITTEN.

NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.

I THINK IT'S NOT A FAR STRETCH TO THINK THAT OKAY, THEY WILL PROBABLY GO BACK TO LOOKING AGAIN AT TAX CREDIT SCHOLARSHIPS, THEY HAVE NOT TRIED TO PASS VOUCHERS BUT THAT COULD BE IN THE MIX.

FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THINGS THAT THE CONSTITUTION HAS PREVENTED IN THE COURTS ALREADY.

>> Bill: AND SOME RECALL THAT VOTERS PASSED AN AMENDMENT YEARS AGO TO TAKE PROPERTY TAXES OFF CARS AND THAT NEVER WAS DONE.

YOU ARE AUTHORIZING THE LEGISLATURE AND THEN IT WOULD BE IN THEIR HANDS LATER ON.

WE'LL SEE ON THAT AND KEEP WATCH.

THE FIRST COUPLE OF DAYS IN CLASSES OF JEFFERSON COUNTY ARE IN THE BOOKS.

THURSDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY.

HOW DID THE TRANSPORTATION GO?

>> WAY BETTER THAN LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR'S LOW BAR IT IS.

LAST YEAR VIEWERS WILL REMEMBER THAT IT WAS AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.

THEY HAD THIS PLAN DEVELOPED BY A TECH FIRM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GET 60,000 KIDS TO SCHOOL WITH WITH 500 BUS DRIVERS IT DID NOT WORK.

KIDS WERE ON THE BUSES THE LAST CHILD WAS DROPPED OFF BEFORE 10:00 P.M. PARENTS WERE CALLING THE POLICE.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEIR KIDS WERE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWED YOU TO TRACK YOUR KID'S BUS IN REALTIME.

IT WAS A DISASTER.

THIS YEAR THEY WERE UNDER PRESSURE TO GET IT RIGHT.

THIS YEAR THE BUSES DID RUN RELATIVELY SMOOTHLY THEY WERE MOSTLY ON TIME.

AS FAR AS FIRST DAYS GO.

THEY ARE ALWAYS A LITTLE BUMPY.

THE LAST CHILD WAS DROPPED OFF AT 7:00 P.M. THAT MAY SOUND LATE AND IT IS LATE.

BUT IN THE WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN NOW WITH THE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE IT IS NOT THAT BAD.

>> Bill: AND REMEMBER THAT FAR FEWER STUDENTS ARE BEING TRANSPORTED.

>> AND THAT IS THE MAIN REASON WHY IT WORKED THEY ARE TRANSPORTING 18 THUS FEWER STUDENTS WITH THE SAME NUMBER OF DRIVERS.

AND SO THE MATH WORKS OUT THEY ARE ABLE TO DO THAT ON TIME.

OF COURSE, THOSE STUDENTS DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL, THEY ARE GOING ON THEIR OWN AND SO THOSE ARE STUDENTS GOING TO MAGNET SCHOOLS, THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF CHOICE THAT KIDS CAN GO TO.

THAT MAY HAVE LIKE SPECIAL PROGRAMS.

BUT I WAS ACTUALLY IN ONE OF THOSE TRAFFIC JAMS MERE THE HIGH SCHOOL AND BECAUSE YOU HAD SO MANY KIDS THAT THE WERE BECOMING 2,000 KIDS OVERNIGHT THEY ARE CAR RIDERS.

THE ROADS AROUND THE SCHOOLS LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL WERE HORRENDOUS.

YOU HAD PEOPLE STUCK ON THE ROAD FOR AN HOUR IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.

WHEN I MADE IT THERE IT WAS 8:00 A.M. AND THERE WAS A GOOD LINE OF CARS DROPPING KIDS OFF.

SCHOOL STARTED AT 7:30.

>> Bill: A LONG DAY.

>> AND THE SUPERINTENDENT THERE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY LAST YEAR HE ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY HAD TO DRIVE STUDENTS HOME BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES.

THIS YEAR HE WAS NOT DOING THAT HE AVOIDED THE SITUATION BECAUSE THE STUDENTS WERE ABLE TO GET BACK EARLIER THIS YEAR AND HE WAS ABLE TO DO A PRESS CONFERENCE AND TALK ABOUT POSITIVE UPDATES.

>> Bill: HOPEFULLY A SIGN OF PROGRESS AND WE KNOW THAT JCPS IS UNDER SCRUTINY AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO WATCH.

JESS, SEVERAL NEW LAWS ARE GETTING THE FIRST TEST, THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.

CURSIVE WRITING WILL BE REQUIRED NEXT YEAR AND NEW TREE WANTSY TRUANCY LAW THAT WAS HB611.

AND IT REQUIRES DISTRICTS TO USE TO REFER STUDENTS AND FAMILIES DIRECTLY TO COURT ONCE THEY'VE MISSED 15 DAYS WITHOUT AN EXCUSE.

SO IN THE PAST, THERE'S BEEN MORE LEEWAY WHERE SCHOOLS COULD WORK WITH FAMILIES.

WHAT IS THE ISSUE.

IS IT BULLYING?

IS IT SOMETHING ELSE.

HOW DO WE GET YOU TO SCHOOL.

NOW ONCE YOU HAVE 15 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES IT'S AUTOMOBILELY REFERRED TO THE COURTS.

>> Bill: IS IT STILL COVID THAT IS HOLDING BACK SOME OF THE ATTENDANCE?

>> PARTIALLY.

SO THAT'S WHAT SOME EXPERTS THINK.

>> Bill: THE CIRCUMSTANCES DURING COVID THE LOCKDOWNS?

>> THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY PRINCIPALS.

THERE'S A SHIFT IN HOW WE THINK ABOUT SCHOOL.

YOU KNOW, WE WENT THROUGH A TIME WHERE KIDS WEREN'T REQUIRED TO SHOW UP AT SCHOOL.

FAMILIES GOT USED TO THAT.

SO THAT IS KIND OF PART OF IT.

THERE'S ALSO MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES HAVE INCREASED SINCE THE PANDEMIC ESPECIALLY AMONG KIDS.

AND SO KIDS HAVE MORE ANXIETY.

HONESTLY LIKE A BIG PROBLEM IS LIKE BULLYING AND USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND THAT REALLY CAN AFFECT A KID'S WILLINGNESS TO SHOW UP TO SCHOOL.

SO IT'S KIND OF THIS CULTURAL SHIFT COMBINED WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

>> Bill: A LEAST OF COUPLE OF DISTRICTS ARE STARTING THE YEAR WITH NO PHONES ALLOWED.

>> YES.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH THAT.

JOHN, THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER REPORTED LAST WEEK ON LOUISVILLE STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANIEL GROSSBURG BEING INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT, THE HOUSE CAUCUS SUSPENDED GROSSBURG FROM ITS MEMBERSHIP, RIGHT?

>> Mr. GROSSBURG WHO IS A DEMOCRAT, APPARENTLY SENT TEXTS TO SEVERAL WOMEN WHO HAVE SAID THAT THE TEXTS COMMENTED ON THEIR PHYSICAL APPEARANCES.

THE TEXTS STRUCK THEM AS WEIRD OR CREEPY WOMEN WHO WORKED WITH LAWMAKERS IN FRANKFORT THIS WAS IN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAPACITY.

HE HAS DENIED INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT.

THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION IN FRANKFORT IS INVESTIGATING.

REPRESENTATIVE GROSSBURG'S LAWYER TOLD ME THIS LAST WEEK THAT HE DID NOT MEAN ANY HARM.

HE DID NOT MEAN ANYTHING INAPPROPRIATE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEURODIVERGENT HE IS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND HE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF MAKING PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE HE IS HAS A DIFFICULT TIME COMMUNICATING WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE THE BOUNDARIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.

>> Bill: DO WE KNOW WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE?

>> THERE'S BEEN CALL FOR THE ETHICS COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE.

HE IS UP FOR REELECTION WITH NO OPPONENT IN THE FALL HE IS CRUISING FOR A SECOND TERM FOR HIS HOUSE DISTRICT IN LOUISVILLE.

THINGS MIGHT BE AWKWARD COME THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION IF HE IS STILL IN THE HOUSE AND COLLEAGUES ARE DISTANCED FROM HIM.

>> AND HE IS SUSPENDED FROM THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE CAUCUS.

SO HE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO BE ABLE TO MEET WITH THE GROUP OR RECEIVE COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE MEMBERS.

AND THAT COULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE SESSION.

AND AGAIN HE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN PARTY WIDE TYPE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS.

BUT STILL HAS ACCESS TO LEGISLATIVE AIDES FOR HIS WORK.

BUT WITH THE SESSION STARTING IN JANUARY, IF HE IS STILL SUSPENDED HE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THE SERVICES AS A MEMBER AND VOTING BUT PARTICIPATING IN CAUCUS MEETINGS AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS THAT IS NOT ALLOWED.

>> I IMAGINE THERE'S MORE TO COME ON THIS STORY.

>> Bill: RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS SOLD LEGALLY IN OHIO THIS WEEK.

SOME KENTUCKY PROSECUTORS POINTED OUT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING IN KENTUCKY BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OR POSSESSION ARE STILL AGAINST THE LAW ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER.

JOHN, SO WILL THOSE CHANGES IN OHIO HAVE AN IMPACT OR MAKE IT CHALLENGING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT HERE IN KENTUCKY?

>> THAT'S THE CASE.

AND I SAW AN INTERVIEW WHERE KEN TON COUNTY COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE WE HAVE ALL THE BRIDGES ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER.

AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS LEGAL IN OHIO.

IT IS A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR HERE IN KENTUCKY.

Mr. SANDERS WAS SAYING IF YOU MUST PARTAKE OF THAT WEED OVER IN OHIO USE IT THERE.

BECAUSE IF YOU BUY IT LEGALLY THERE AND YOU BRING IT BACK TO KENTUCKY IT IS A CRIME.

WE HAVE NOT LEGALIZE TO DO HERE YET.

>> AND JANUARY 2025 IS WHEN MEDICAL CANNABIS BECOMES LEGAL FOR SPECIFIC CONDITION MEDICAL CONDITIONS BUT AGAIN THAT RECREATIONAL IS COMPLETELY BANNED HERE IN OUR STATE.

SO THERE COULD BE SOME CROSS FEATHERS AND CROSSWORDS BETWEEN LEGISLATORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THE REGULAR KENTUCKIANS WHO ARE UNSURE OF WHAT IS ALLOWED AND NOT ALLOWED.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH THAT.

IN EASTERN KENTUCKY TOWN IS HOPING TO CONFRONT THE HIGH GASOLINE PRICES HEAD ON OR FIGURE OUT HOW THEY ARE SET.

THE MAYOR STANLEY HOWARD HAS SENT A LETTER TO GAS STATION OPERATORS IN THE TOWN AND IS ASKING THEM TO APPEAR BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 19TH OR AT LEAST SEND A REPRESENTATIVE.

THE MAYOR SAYS IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO EXPLAIN HOW GAS PRICES ARE DETERMINED.

JOHN, I THINK HE SAID THAT THE PRICES ARE SINFULLY HIGH IN THIS TOWN.

WOULD THAT MAKE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IF THEY ARE HAULED INTO CITY HALL?

>> IT WOULD FOR ME.

I HAVE NOT GASSED UP THERE LATELY BUT ONCE IN A WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING THROUGH RURAL AREAS AND EVERY FOURTH OR FIFTH TOWN YOU SEE AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RATE IN THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

DO THE LOCALS NOT KNOW HOW TO FIND OUT OF TOWN AND GET CHEAPER PRICES DOWN THE ROAD.

I WILL BE CURIOUS WHAT THE MAYOR FINDS OUT.

>> Bill: JOHN YOU COVERED THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM LED THE COVERAGE IN THE STATE WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW WITH THAT FEDERAL PROBE?

>> WE ARE EARLY ON WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE'S CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION OF OUR STATE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS.

I HAD A PACKAGE ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AGO THROUGHOUT MORE SUBJECT STAINIATED INCIDENTS IN OUR JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS.

MISUSE OF PEPPER SPRAY.

MISUSE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE BY SOME OF THE GUARDS AND A CONTRABAND SMUGGLING OPERATION AT JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER THAT LED TO CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST STAFF MEMBERS WHERE THEY WERE HELPING THE KIDS BRING IN VAPES AND OTHER DEVICES SOME WITH THC.

AND NOW, THE STATE POLICE AND PROSECUTORS ARE INVOLVED.

SADLY AS LATE AS THIS YEAR WITH THE FEDS INVOLVED THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE.

>> Bill: JESS, NEW SCHOOL YEAR IS ROLLING WHAT ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR EYES ON?

>> YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I WILL KEEP MY EYES ON JCPS' TRANSPORTATION IT'S OFF TO A PRETTY GOOD START SO THAT IS GOOD.

THE OTHER ISSUE ACROSS THE STATE IS GOING TO BE STAFFING.

WE'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH TEACHER VACANCIES FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND I'M SEEING IT COME TO A HEAD IN SOME SCHOOLS WITH LOTS OF OPEN POSITIONS.

SO I WILL BE WATCHING THAT.

>> Bill: A NEW POLL SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THEIR ASHES SPREAD IN KENTUCKY IF THERE WERE NO RESTRICTIONS.

CHOICE MULLINS ASKED 3,000 PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY TO NAME THE TOP CHOICES IN KENTUCKY NUMBER ONE WAS THE RED RIVER GORGE FOLLOWED BY A STATE PARK AND CHURCHILL DOWNS.

SURVEYS NOTE IT'S HYPOTHETICAL CHECK OUT THE LAWS AND REGULATIONS AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS BEFORE SPREADING ASHES.

THAT IS COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

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