[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY DEALS WITH DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE FLOODING.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS DESIGNED TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR MORE COAL USE AND MINING.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATS EYEING KENTUCKY'S 6TH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IF ANDY BARR JUMPS INTO THE SENATE RACE.

BOWLING GREEN AND WARREN COUNTY ON THE TOP OF THE LIST OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

BETTER WEATHER HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" ON 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 WES SWIETEK MANAGING EDITOR OF THE BOWLING GREEN DAILY NEWS.

LAURA GLASSCOCK, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE.

AND MARIO ANDERSON ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS ONE.

AND TONIGHT GOVERNOR BESHEAR LAUNCHES A PODCAST AS A POLL SHOWS HIM WITH HIGH APPROVAL.

LET'S GET TO KENTUCKY'S RECOVERY FROM TOUGH FLOODING.

THERE WERE SEVERAL FATALITIES BLAMED ON THE SWOLLEN WATERS AND ALSO SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE THE ESTIMATES CONTINUE TO CLIMB AND IN THE BRIEFING BESHEAR NOTED THE RIVERS AND THE CREEKS HAVE GONE DOWN BUT DANGERS REMAIN.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: THE OHIO RIVER DID CREST IN LOUISVILLE YESTERDAY.

BUT IT'S ONLY DIAGNOSE TO CREST IN OWENSBORO ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY.

IN HENDERSON ON SUNDAY.

AND THEN IN PADUCAH SOMETIME NEXT WEEK, MAYBE EVEN A FULL WEEK FROM NOW.

IT IS STILL DANGEROUS OUT THERE.

DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH WATER.

DO NOT DRIVE AROUND BARRICADES.

DO NOT THINK THAT YOU CAN DRIVE AROUND WHERE THE MUDSLIDES OR THE LANDSLIDES ARE.

PLEASE BE CAREFUL.

>> Bill: MARROW HERE WE ARE AGAIN A NATURAL DISASTER IN KENTUCKY AND THE SCOPE OF FLOODING IS WIDESPREAD BUT ANOTHER MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR OUR PEOPLE.

>> IT SURE IS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE AND THE GOVERNOR CONFIRMED THERE WERE SEVEN DEATHS ACROSS OUR COMMONWEALTH INCLUDING IN BULLITT, CARROLL, FRANKLIN, MCCRACKEN, NELSON, PENDLETON AND TRIGG COUNTIES AND THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED THERE ARE 70 COUNTIES THAT DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY RELATED TO THE FLOODING.

BUT THE GOVERNOR DID MENTION SEVERAL TIMES THAT HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AVAILABLE MONEY BUDGETED TO RESPOND TO THESE NATURAL DISASTERS COULD BE MAXED OUT BEFORE LAWMAKERS RETURN IN JANUARY OF 2026 TO CRAFT THE NEXT BUDGET.

HE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO POTENTIALLY FEMA AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET INVOLVED TO HELP OUT WITH SOME OF THE ASSISTANCE TO KENTUCKIANS.

>> Bill: FEMA THERE'S NEWS FROM THEM TODAY.

>> THIS AFTERNOON FEMA SAID IT RELEASED $32 MILLION FOR HOUSING AND OTHER EXPENDITURES FOR 5700 KENTUCKY FAMILIES.

>> Bill: THE GOVERNOR IS APPLYING FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE WHICH WOULD HELP PEOPLE WITH THEIR IN EACH CASE.

KENTUCKY'S CAPITAL CITY OF FRANKFORT WAS HARD HIT.

THE MAYOR ENACTED A CURFEW AND TALKED WITH ME THIS WEEK ABOUT THE FLOODING.

>> WE ARE A RIVER TOWN.

WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT AT CERTAIN WATER LEVELS AND PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THOSE AFFECTED AREAS WHETHER YOU HAVE A HOUSE OR PISS, I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD KNOW WHAT WATER LEVEL IT NEEDS TO RISE BEFORE THEY NEED TO EVACUATE.

BUT THIS SITUATION WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT, BECAUSE OF THE PROJECTED CREST AND OVER THE WEEKEND, IT JUST INCREASING AND WE WERE REALLY CONCERNED IT WAS GOING TO GET TO A LEVEL WHERE IT WOULD BREACH THE FLOOD WALL.

>> Bill: WATER JUST KEPT COMING.

IN FRANKFORT THE KENTUCKY RIVER RAGED INTO THE STREETS THE COURTHOUSE, BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY, SOME HISTORIC HOMES ALL HAVE SUBSTANTIAL FLOOD DAMAGE.

THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

>> IN AND OUT I LIVE IN LEXINGTON.

BUSINESSES AND RESTAURANTS ON MAIN STREET AND WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS A LOT OF TEAMWORK THAT PEOPLE SAW.

THE DEVASTATION WAS REAL.

AND IT'S FORTUNATE THERE WERE NOT MORE DEATHS, OF COURSE.

BUT FRANKFORT PEOPLE REALLY PULLED TOGETHER THERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY.

THERE WERE COMPLIMENTS ON FACEBOOK IN PLACES FOR THE FRANKFORT PLANT BOARD FOR CITY WORKERS.

PEOPLE HELPING OTHERS MUCK OUT RESTAURANTS AND A LOT OF BUSY FOLKS DOWN THERE.

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DOWNTOWN ON CLINTON STREET OPENED THEIR DOORS TO FEED PEOPLE FLOOD VICTIM OR NOT.

ON TUESDAY I POPPED IN TO MEET A FRIEND AND WAS TOLD THEY FED 400 PEOPLE ON TUESDAY.

>> Bill: AND WE KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE RESIDUAL EFFECTS YOU DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH WATER AS TO ISSUES WHAT IS LEFT BEHIND?

>> I TELL YOU ONE THING I NOTICED I NEVER KNEW THIS I WENT TO THE POST OFFICE IN FRANKFORT YESTERDAY AND IT'S ACROSS THE ROAD FROM BUFFALO TRACE AND I WAS AMAZED AT THE SMELL.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

AS WES NOTED BEFORE THE SHOW THE SEWAGE COMES UP THERE'S RIVER WATER, AND THERE'S PROBABLY BOURBON MIXED IN WITH SOME OF THAT WHO KNOWS.

BUT IT WAS VERY PUNGENT.

>> Bill: THE COURTHOUSE THEY HAD TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS, THEY HAD TO SCURRY WITH RECORDS.

>> THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING.

AND THE COURTS WERE CLOSED FOR A FEW DAYS.

AOC, THE SUPREME COURT AND OTHER COURTS THERE AS WELL.

>> Bill: WES, THE BOWLING GREEN AREA GOT MORE THAN 10 INCHES OF RAIN IN FOUR DAYS.

THAT IS AMAZING.

WHAT WERE THE RESULTS THERE?

>> WELL, JUST LIKE WE SAW EVERYWHERE ELSE AROUND THE STATE A LOT OF FLOODED ROADS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

THE INITIAL ESTIMATES AND I'M SURE THE NUMBERS WILL GO UP AS OF YESTERDAY THERE WERE 200 STRUCTURES THAT WERE DAMAGED.

AND PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE IS $7 MILLION IN DAMAGE.

THAT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO GO UP.

A LOT OF SHELTERS HAVE BEEN OPENED AND WILL STAY OPEN THROUGH NEXT WEEK FOR FOLKS WHO HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES.

WHAT IS ALSO INTERESTING IN OUR REGION IS WE HAVE A LOT OF CAR STRAIN, HOME OF MAMMOTH CAVE AND OTHERS SO THAT WHEN THERE IS A FLOODING EVENT THAT UNDERMINES THE EARTH UNDER THE ROADS, WE HAD A SMALL SINK HOLES OPEN UP SO THE CITY HAS BEEN BUSY TRYING TO REPAIR THOSE AS WELL.

YEAH, SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE NOT AS BAD AS SOME PLACES.

BUT DEFINITELY HAVE FELT THE FRONT OF IT.

>> Bill: YOU HAD WATER COMING UP FROM THE GROUND?

>> THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS.

EVERYTHING PERCOLATES UNDERWATER AND YOU CAN NEVER TELL WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME UP.

>> Bill: THERE WERE CONFIRMED TORNADOES AN EF2, INJURIES MINIMAL THERE.

>> JUST ONE REPORTED INJURY AND A FEW BARNS WERE DAMAGED BY THE TORNADO THAT CAME THROUGH BARON COUNTY.

AND IT WAS A VERY RURAL AREA BUT THE DEVASTATION CAME AFTERWARDS WITH THE TORRENTIAL RAIN WE SAW.

>> Bill: AND BOONSBORO STATE PARKS CAMPGROUNDS WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30TH SO THE SUMMER CAMPING SEASON IS GOING TO BE LOST.

AND THIS WEEKEND'S "THUNDER ONEVER LOUISVILLE" WAS CANCELED A HUGE EVENT, A MAJOR CANCELLATION AND FOR THE ECONOMY BUT THEY INTEND TO GO FORWARD WITH OTHER KENTUCKY DERBY EVENTS.

THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE WAS THE KICKOFF TO THE DERBY SEASON ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND IT'S FULL OF AIRSHOWS AND FIREWORKS.

500,000 PEOPLE COME INTO THE LOUISVILLE AREA JUST FOR THUNDER.

FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE EVER, DUE TO WEATHER IT'S BEEN CANCELED.

IT WAS NOT HAPPENING BACK IN 2020 WHEN THE PANDEMIC WAS GOING ON.

BUT THEY ARE SAYING NOW THERE'S 126 MILLION DOLLAR ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT IS BEING LOST DUE TO THUNDER NOT HAPPENING.

AND THAT IS AGAIN AFFECTING THE CITY, LOCAL BUSINESSES, FOOD TRUCKS THAT BANK THEIR SCHEDULES AROUND THE THUNDER.

BUT THE DERBY FESTIVAL SEASON WILL CONTINUE AND IT'S GOT A SCHEDULE APRIL 24-MAY 2 LEADING UP TO DERBY DAY.

>> Bill: ROUGH SCENES IN LOUISVILLE NOT ONLY SOME TORNADO DAMAGE IN THE JEFFERSONTOWN AREA BUT A LOT OF WATER FROM THE FLOODING.

>> THEY HAVE THE WATERFRONT LAWN THAT IS RIGHT IN THE HEART OF THE DOWNTOWN.

A LOT OF THAT WATER HAS COME UP AND GONE STRAIGHT INTO THE CITY.

AND A LOT OF THOSE DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES AFFECTED.

AND IT'S CAUSING A NIGHTMARE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THAT AREA.

>> Bill: A LOT OF WORK AHEAD FOR FOLKS AND WE'LL SEE THE DAMAGE TOTALS AS THEY COME IN AND UP.

THIS WEEK PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDERS DESIGNED TO BRING BACK COAL.

HIS ACTIONS WOULD REMOVE SOME MINING RESTRICTIONS AND ENCOURAGE UTILITY COMPANIES TO ONCE AGAIN TURN TO COAL.

>> IN ADDITION I'M INSTRUCTING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO IDENTIFY AND FIGHT EVERY SINGLE UNCONSTITUTIONAL STATE OR LOCAL REGULATION THAT IS PUTTING OUR COAL MINERS OUT OF BUSINESS.

AND WE ARE WITHDRAWING ALL OF THOSE OBJECTIONS FROM OUR GOVERNMENT TODAY.

IT'S ALL BEING WITHDRAWN SO ALL OF YOU PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIVES, WE ARE WITHDRAWING ALL OF THAT TODAY.

>> Bill: LAURA, THE PRESIDENT NOTED THAT CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR AND HAL ROGERS WERE AT THE EVENT AS WAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EXECUTIVE TONY CAMPBELL WHO HEADS UP EAST KENTUCKY POWER AND HE SPOKE AT THE EVENT.

THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF KENTUCKY INTEREST IN THIS ANNOUNCE MANY.

>> THERE WAS.

EAST KENTUCKY POWER HAS PLANTS THAT CURRENT COAL AND SOME CO-FIRE, I THINK IS THE WORD THEY USE.

GAS AND COAL.

AND THEY ALSO HAVE SOLAR AS WELL.

IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THEM, OF COURSE, TO STAY IN FRONT OF THIS.

ONE THING THAT KENTUCKY COAL IS ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH COMING UP IS NUCLEAR ENERGY.

THAT IS MAKING GAINS HERE IN THE STATE.

LAST YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED APPROPRIATED $40 MILLION FOR THE KENTUCKY NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

A MOUTHFUL.

AND THIS YEAR THEY CREATED THE GRANTING AUTHORITY TO END THAT $40 MILLION.

NUCLEAR IS GOING TO COME THIS WAY AS WELL AND WE WILL BE LOOKING AT HOW DOES THAT AFFECT COAL?

BECAUSE THE MARKET HAS A LOT OF BEARING ON HOW THESE COMPANIES DETERMINE WHAT FUEL THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> Bill: MARIO?

A LOT OF COMPETITION FOR COAL?

>> IT SURE IS AND THE ELECTRIC CO-OPS THEY WERE PRAISING TRUMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO PRESERVE THE COAL PLANTS NEEDED FOR RELIABILITY AND DURING THAT SAME WHITE HOUSE EVENTS THE PRESIDENT MENTIONED HAL ROGERS BY NAME, CONGRESSMAN FROM SOUTHERN AND EASTERN KENTUCKY.

BUT ALSO REFERENCED ANDY BARR FROM LEXINGTON CONGRESSMAN AND SPECIFICALLY SAID TO HIM GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING I HEAR GOOD THINGS.

WE'LL SEE WHAT THAT MEANS IN THE FUTURE.

>> Bill: THAT MAYBE A WINK AND A NOD.

WES, I THINK THERE WAS ONE A THRIVING COAL MINING IN EASTERN AND IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

BUT THE DECLINE IN JOBS AND IN MINING HAS BEEN VERY STEEP.

YOU'VE LOOKED AT SOME NUMBERS IT WOULD BE A LOT TO COME BACK?

>> IT SURE WOULD.

IN 1948, IT SEEMED TO BE THE PEAK FOR EMPLOYMENT IN THE COAL INDUSTRY WITH 75,000 JOBS DIRECT JOBS IN THE COAL INDUSTRY.

AND THEN NOW IT'S LESS THAN 10,000.

PROBABLY CLOSER TO 6,000 OR 7,000.

PRODUCTION PEAKED IN THE 90s.

AND BECAUSE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

BUT EVEN IF YOU LOOK AT THAT THAT HAS BEEN A DECLINE OF 35 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

AND YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS ARE STILL THERE AND OF COURSE, THE RETURN OF COAL OR BRINGING BACK COAL IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE NOT NEW TO AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED.

AS LAURA MENTIONED THERE'S NEAR AND THESE OTHER CLEANER ENERGIES WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY A LOT OF SOLAR FARMS ARE BEING BUILT ON AGRICULTURAL LAND.

THERE'S TOUGH HEADWINDS FOR THE COAL INDUSTRY TO RETURN NEAR WHERE IT WAS.

>> Bill: IT WAS A HEADLINE THIS WEEK.

>> NICE TO BE IN THE NEWS.

>> Bill: THIS WEEK FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON NAMED HIS CAMPAIGN TEAM FOR HIS 2026 U.S. SENATE RUN.

LAURA, CAMERON WAS FIRST IN THE RACE HE IS SETTING UP A FORMAL CAMPAIGN.

IS THAT HEADSTART AN ADVANTAGE?

>> IT DEPENDS.

IT IS A HEADSTART IN LOCKING DOWN CONSULTING FIRMS.

ONCE A POLLSTER SIGNS WITH CAMERON HE IS NOT OR SHE IS NOT GOING TO SIGN WITH BARR OR ANYONE ELSE.

BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, TOO, CONGRESSMAN BARR AS ALMOST $5 MILLION IN THE BANK.

NEXT WEEK IS THE REPORTING DEADLINE FOR THIS QUARTER'S FINANCE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FINANCE FUNDRAISING BUT HE CAN ROLL THAT OVER INTO A SENATE CAMPAIGN.

SO BARR, IS ALSO PLANNING TO RUN, I THINK.

I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IN SAYING THAT.

HE HAS THREE WEB DOMAIN NAMES THAT HE HAS RESERVED ONE IS ANDY BARR FOR SENATE.

ONE IS ANDY BARR 4 SENATE AND BARR FOR SENATE.

I THINK HESITATE, I HESITATED TO SAY FOR SURE HE'S GOING TO RUN BUT IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS GOING TO.

AND THAT $5 MILLION THAT IS THE HEADSTART IN THIS RACE.

>> Bill: THERE IS ANOTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN?

>> THERE IS A GUY MICHAEL FARRIS.

HE IS A UNITED STATES AIR FORCE VETERAN AND HE RUNS A HELICOPTER MAINTENANCE COMPANY.

AND HE IS RUNNING A BIT TO THE RIGHT OF CAMERON.

HE SAYS THAT A PROTEGE OF MITCH McCONNELL CAMERON IS ADVOCATING A LEGACY THAT KENTUCKIANS ARE PUSHING ASIDE.

REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING ASIDE.

>> AND THAT CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING DEADLINE IS COMING UP MANY EYES WILL BE ON DANIEL CAMERON TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY HE HAS RAISED SINCE HE ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY AND DEPENDING ON THAT NUMBER WILL PROBABLY DEPEND ON THE LAY OF THE LAND AND WHO DECIDES TO GET IN OR DECIDES TO STAY IN NOW.

BUT, AGAIN, WE ARE TALKING IN APRIL OF 2025 AND THE FOLLOWING DEADLINE IS NOT UNTIL JANUARY OF 2026 AND THE PRIMARY IS NOT UNTIL MAY NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN THERE.

>> Bill: WHAT DID THE PRESIDENT MEAN BY I'VE HEARD GOOD THINGS?

>> THE FROM PRESIDENT MEANS A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS DEPENDING ON THE DAY.

>> Bill: HE CAMPAIGNED IN 2018 FOR BARR.

HE ENDORSED CAMERON IN 2023 IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> HE DID AND IN A PREVIOUS PRIMARY HE ENDORSED TWO REPUBLICANS WHO ARE RUNNING IN A THREE-WAY PRIMARY SAYING I SUPPORT BOTH OF THOSE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CANDIDATES.

SO, AGAIN, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS TIME AROUND.

>> Bill: THE DEMOCRATS ALREADY HAVE A PRIMARY?

>> YES.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAMELA STEVENSON AS WE KNOW IS IN.

AND THEN A MAN NAMED JARED RANDALL WHO CALLS HIMSELF A SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT.

HE HAS A FACEBOOK PAGE ANNOUNCING HIS CAMPAIGN AND HE ALSO HAS REGISTERED AN ACCOUNT WITH THE FEC.

THEY WILL POP-UP IT'S SO EARLY.

BUT PEOPLE HAVE TO GET IN EARLY TO START RAISING MONEY.

WHEN YOU HAVE A PRIMARY LIKE LOOKING AT CAMERON AND BARR RUNNING AGAINST EACH OTHER YOU HAVE TO LOCKDOWN YOUR DONORS AS WELL.

THE CONSULTANTS.

>> Bill: NATIONAL DEMOCRATS MADE SEE AN OPENING IN THIS KENTUCKY HOUSE SEAT.

AUSTIN HORN REPORTS FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER THE DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN CONDUCT CAUCUS COMMITTEE SAYS THE SIXTH HOUSE SEAT WILL BE IN PLAY.

ANDY BARR SEEMS TO BE POSITIONING HIMSELF FOR THAT SENATE RUN.

AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

MOST OF KENTUCKY'S SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE NOT COMPETITIVE.

DO DEMOCRATS TRULY SEE AN OPPORTUNITY IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY?

>> TIME WILL TELL SINCE CHANDLER WAS THE LAST DEMOCRAT TO HOLD THAT SEAT HE HAD IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND ANDY BARR LOST TO BEN CHANDLER THE FIRST TIME WHEN HE RAN AGAINST HIM IN THE EARLY 2010'S.

AND BARR WAS ABLE TO BEAT HIM.

THE BENCH IS LOW RIGHT NOW FOR DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE AT LEAST HIGH NAME RECOGNITION IN THE POLITICAL CIRCLES.

THERE'S CHERYL LYNN STEVENSON WAS IN LEADERSHIP IN THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

SHE LOST HER ELECTION FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUT SHE MAYBE CONSIDERING LOOKING TO GO TO CONGRESS OUT OF LEXINGTON.

BUT, AGAIN, TIME WILL TELL TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

>> ALSO, THE HOUSE MAJORITY PAC THE NATIONAL PAC THEY ARE TARGETING THAT DISTRICT AS WELL.

THE DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE MORE INTEREST IN THE RACE THAN WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

I'M TOLD THAT MORGAN McGARVEY IS RECRUITING A CANDIDATE FOR THAT RACE TO RUN IN THE SIXTH.

AND THE DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING AT SOME PEOPLE.

I'VE BEEN TOLD A NAME BUT I CAN'T SAY IT NOW.

YOU WILL HAVE TO READ IT IN IN THE KENTUCKY GAZETTE BUT THEY ARE RECRUITING FOR THAT RACE AND HOPING TO USE NATIONAL MONEY TO WIN IT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT INTERESTING THERE.

IN WASHINGTON KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE WAS ONE OF TWO REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BUDGET BILL BACKED BY THE PRESIDENT.

WHAT TRUMP CALLED THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL.

MARIO, CONSERVATIVE REVOLT MOSTLY FOLDED BUT MASSIE VOTED NO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

INITIALLY EVERYTHING STALLED WHEN SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON BROUGHT IT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AND SHARING THAT THEY WERE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH IT.

CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY HE HAS BEEN STANDING FIRM ON HIS BELIEFS AND ALSO STANDING FIRM ON HIS TITLE OF Mr. NO LABELED IN CONGRESS AND REFUSES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S SOME CONCERNS IN THE SENATE AS WELL EVEN RAND PAUL WHO ALSO ALIGNS SAYING HE IS NOT FOR SURE IF HE IS GOING TO APPROVE THIS AS WELL.

>> Bill: GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR LAUNCHED A PODCAST A BILLIONAIRE ATTORNEY JOHN MORGAN WAS THE FIRST GUEST AND HIS SON WILL JOINED AND THEY TALKED ABOUT GENERATION Z SLANG BESHEAR SAID HE WANTED TO BE AUTHENTIC INCLUDING WORDS USED IN THE DISCUSSIONS.

>> SO NO THIS IS NOT JUST A POLITICS SHOW.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT PARENTING, WE'LL TALK WITH FAITH, WE'LL TALK ABOUT SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT THE WAY YOU TALK WITH YOUR FRIENDS.

WE'LL COVER A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

MY GOAL IS THAT OUR LISTENERS LEAVE EACH EPISODE REFRESHED AND READY TO FACE THIS COMPLICATED WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN.

MY GOAL IS ALSO THIS CONVERSATION IS REAL.

>> Bill: OKAY.

LAURA WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE?

SPEAK TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE GIVEN HIS APPARENT INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT?

>> I THINK SO.

MAYBE HE'S FOLKSY DISPLAYING HIS PERSONALITY BUT IT'S INTERESTING TO HAVE JOHN MORGAN ON HE IS A BILLIONAIRE AND MEGA DON FOR FOR THE DEMOCRATS AND TALKED ABOUT FORMING A THIRD PARTY.

HE HAS THE MONEY TO DO IT.

AND "POLITICO" REPORTED IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY, THAT HE'S CONSIDERING STARTING A PARTY THAT WOULD COMPETE WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IT WOULD BE MORE CENTRIST AND THE WORKING NAME IS CAPITALIST PARTY.

>> Bill: INTERESTING.

REPUBLICANS WERE QUICK TO PICK THE PODCAST APART THEY WERE CRITICAL SAYING IT WON'T AMOUNT TO MUCH.

>> AGAIN, IN THE PARTICULAR PODCAST THE GOVERNOR SPENT TIME TALKING WITH HIS SON WILL ABOUT THE POPULAR WORDS THAT TEENAGERS USE INCLUDING A BIG DEBATE ABOUT SKIPDY AND FIRE.

I'M SURE BILL YOU MAY HAVE USED THE WORDS TALKING.

A LOT OF WIDE RANGING DISCUSSIONS MORE IN LIGHT HEARTED AND TALKING ABOUT POLITICAL ISSUES.

>> Bill: A POLL SHOWS BESHEAR'S APPROVAL AT 68%, ONLY 25% DISAPPROVAL OF JOB THE DEMOCRAT IS DOING IN A REPUBLICAN STATE.

SO THAT IS SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE RELEASE OF THIS PODCAST.

>> AND THE GOVERNOR IS STILL HAVING A HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS IN OUR STATE.

THEN, AGAIN HE IS ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA DOING ALMOST DAILY A SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS UPENDING PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT HIS THOUGHTS ON NATIONAL POLITICS.

APPEARING ON THE THAT NETWORKS AS WELL.

>> Bill: WES, BRING US UP-TO-DATE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE BOWLING GREEN AREA.

RIGHT NOW WE KNOW THAT GROWTH AND PLANNING FOR DEVELOPMENT HAS TO BE ONGOING.

AND RECENTLY BOWLING GREEN WARREN COUNTY NAMED ONE ONE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR U.S. CITIES SMALLER THAN 200,000.

>> LESS THAN 200,000.

AND THERE IS A LOT OF METRICS INVOLVED.

THIS IS THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS AND JOBS BROUGHT IN.

THE MONETARY WORTH OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE COMING IN.

AND SO WHEN THEY LOOK AT THOSE METRICS BOWLING GREEN HAS BEEN NUMBER ONE FOR A COUPLE YEARS IN A ROW.

HAS BEEN IN THE TOP 10 FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

A LOT OF THIS IS A PLACE CALLED THE KENTUCKY TRANS PARK BUT WE HAVE MAJOR PROJECTS ANNOUNCED IN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

BALL JAR COMPANY, TYSON BACON PLANT COMING IN THE BIG ONE IS THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PLANT THAT IS GOING TO BE A $2 BILLION INVESTMENT WITH 2,000 HIGH PAYING JOBS.

YEAH, IT'S PRETTY MUCH NOT A MONTH GOES BY WITHOUT AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE CITY.

>> Renee: LAURA -- >> Bill: LAURA TOLD US TO READ THE GAZETTE FOR NEWS AND READ THE BOWLING GREEN NEWS.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT THAT HAS PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

IT'S BASICALLY TRYING TO THINK OF NOT BE PROACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE TO THE GROWTH THAT IS COMING.

SO IT'S INVOLVED A LOT OF PARTNERS, THE DAILY NEWS HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THAT.

BUT IT'S TRYING TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE AND GET A LOT OF COMMUNITY INPUT.

THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF RESPONSES TO AN ON-LINE SURVEY.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THOSE RESULTS COMING OUT IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO IN TERMS WHAT PEOPLE WANT, THEIR CONCERNS AND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Bill: A NEW LAW PASSED IN THE 2025 SESSION MAKES IT EASIER FOR WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY TO RERATE DOCTORAL PROGRAMS A PH.D.

IN DATA SCIENCE RESEARCH?

>> THEY ARE LOOKING AT THINGS THAT ARE POPULAR NOW THAT WOULD BE WELL RECEIVED.

BUT IT'S I THINK PART OF A BIGGER PUSH WESTERN IS AIMING TO BE THE FIRST R2, RESEARCH 2 UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE.

YOU HAVE KENTUCKY AND LOUISVILLE THAT ARE RESEARCH ONE UNIVERSITIES BUT WE WOULD BE THE FIRST R2 UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE.

AND TO DO THAT YOU NEED TO DO A LOT OF THINGS LIKE OFFER ADVANCED DEGREES.

SO THERE'S BEEN A CONCERTED EFFORT LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO PUSH WESTERN TOWARD THAT R2 DESIGNATION THIS WOULD HELP WITH THAT FOR SURE.

AND THE BENEFIT OF THAT IS THEORETICALLY TO GET FEDERAL GRANTS, STATE GRANTINGS AND SO FORTH.

ALL OF THAT IS NOW UP IN THE AIR.

BUT THE PUSH CONTINUES FOR R2 STATUS.

>> Bill: TELL US ABOUT THE THEFT OF SEVERAL BRAND NUCOR VETS AT THE GM PLANT.

>> IT IS A WILD STORY.

THE CORVETTE PLANT IS IN BOWLING GREEN AND APPARENTLY SOME GUYS FROM MICHIGAN FIGURED OUT A WAY TO BREAK INTO THE LOT AND CUT THROUGH A FENCE AND DROVE OFF WITH EIGHT NUCOR VETS FROM THE PLANT.

AND THEY HAD A PLAN TO GET THEM BACK TO MICHIGAN BUT THEY WOUND UPTAKING THEM TEMPORARILY TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

SO THE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING OUT THEIR WINDOWS AND THERE'S EIGHT NEW CORVETTES WITH STICKER ON THE WINDOWS THERE'S SOMETHING FISHY HERE.

USUALLY NOT GOING TO HAVE NEW CORVETTES IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX AND THEY CALLED THE POLICE AND THE CHARGES ARE PENDING.

>> Bill: FACTS ARE STRANGER THAN FICTION.

ATTORNEY GENERAL COLEMAN WANTS PEOPLE TO DELETE THEIR GENETIC DATA FROM 23 AND ME.

>> 23 AND ME IS FILING BANKRUPTCY.

AND IF PEOPLE WANT THEIR INFORMATION DELETED, THEY NEED TO BE PROACTIVE AND REQUEST THAT IT DEDESTROYED OR DELETED.

HE IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DO THAT TO KEEP INFORMATION OUT OF THE HANDS OF OTHERS WHOEVER THOSE OTHERS COULD BE.

>> Bill: MARIO YOUR WORK WAS TO LOOK INTO THE HAMPTON FUSED -- HEMP INFUSED DRINKS ISSUE.

>> SENATE BILL 202 CAPS THE AMOUNT OF THC AT 5 MILLIGRAMS PER 12 OUNCE CAN THERE WAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT BUT THOSE IN THE HEMP INDUSTRY SAYS THEY WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION HOW TO DRAFT THIS LEGISLATION.

SO THEY WERE NOT HAPPY WITH THAT PARTICULAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WELL, TELEVISION PIONEER AND FORMER WKYT NEWS DIRECTOR IN THE 70s AND 80s CURTS GUIDE.

HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME IN TWROIN.

HE SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BROADCASTERS OF KENTUCKY AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR RADIO AND TELEVISION NEWS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

KEN WAS A CONSISTENT SUPPORTERS OF KET AND OF "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

KEN CURTS WAS 95 YEARS OLD AND A PERSONAL NOTE HE HIRED ME AT WKYT AND TAUGHT US ALL TRY TO BE FIRST BUT ALWAYS BE RIGHT.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.