ITS TOUGHEST MONTH YET IN
DEALING WITH COVID-19 AS SCHOOL
AND BUSINESSES NAVIGATE HOW TO
MOVE FORWARD.
KENTUCKY LEADERS REACT TO THE
NEWS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS
TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.
REDACTED RECORDING OF THE GRAND
JURY INVESTIGATION OF BREONNA
TAIR'S DEATH ARE released POLICE
REFORM IS ANOTHER ITEM ADDED TO
THE GROWING AGENDA FOR THE
UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
OCTOBER ARRIVES WITH A REAL
CHILL IN THE AIR, AND "COMMENT"
IS NEXT ON KET.
GOOD EVENING. I'M BILL BRYANT,
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
ON KENTUCKY," A LOOK BACK AT THE
WEEK'S NEWS IN ITS COMMONWEALTH
AND SOME ANALYSIS. AND THE
GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING
KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT AR
BILL ESTEP, SOUTHERN AND EASTER
KENTUCKY REPORTER FOR THE
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER. MANDY
MCLAREN, EDUCATION REPORTER
FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL. AND
CHRIS OTTS, REPORTER FOR WDRB I
ALSO TONIGHT, A BATCH OF NEWS
IMPACTING TOURISM FROM THE
KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY TO HORSE
RACING TO A PROPOSED MAJOR
DEVELOPMENT AT THE RED RIVER GO
BUT FIRST, KENTUCKY LEADERS HAVE
BEEN REACTING TODAY TO THE NEWS
THAT BROKE THIS MORNING FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND FIRST LADY
MELANIA HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FO
SENATOR MCCONNELL TWEETED THAT
THE PRESIDENT WAS IN GOOD
SPIRITS WHEN HE TALKED TO HIM T
MCCONNELL'S OPPONENT IN THE
ELECTION, AMY MCGRATH, ALSO
TWEETED HER WELL WISHES TO THE
FAMILY AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND
THE STAFF THERE.
AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR WISHED THE
PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY A
SPEEDY RECOVERY AND WENT ON TO
SAY, "THIS VIRUS CAN IMPACT
YIN."
SO, BILL, IT WAS SOBERING NEWS
TO WAKE UP TO TODAY AND NO DOUBT
THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATIONS
AROUND THE COUNTRY AND HEAR IN
HERE IN KWE BEVERAGES NO
QUESTION.
THERE WAS NOTED THAT THE
PRESIDENT WAS MOVED THE WALTER
REED MEDICAL CENTER.
IT SAID HE HAD F.E.A.R AND.
TRUMP HAS A LOT OF SUPPORT IN
KENTUCKY LIFE AND FOLKS
CONCERNED ABOUT THAT,
OBVIOUSLY.
THERE ARE FOLKS ON THE OTHER
SIDE OBVIOUSLY WHO FEEL LIKE
TRUMP HAS KIND OF MINIMIZED THE
DISEASE AND KIND OF MADE IF YOU
KNEW PEOPLE WEARING MASKS.
MEANINGSED THAT DURING THE
DEBATE TUESDAY NIGHT WITH JOE
BIDEN.
FOLKS KIND OF ACROSS THE
SPECTRUM.
BUT NOBODY WANTS THE PRESIDENT
TO BE SICK.
IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY,
AND SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF
CONCERN.
>> Bill: AND AS WE SAID A LOT
OF THE DISCUSSION AND WELL
WISHES GOING THE PRESIDENT'S
WAY.
THIS ALL COMES AS KENTUCKY IS IN
A TOUGH PATCH RIGHT NOW WITH
CORONAVIRUS.
SEPTEMBER WAS THE DEADLIEST
MONTH YET FOR THE PANDEMIC IN
THE COMMONWEALTH, AND THIS WEEK
WE HAD SEVERAL DAYS OF CASES
CLOSE TO OR ABOVE 1,000,
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THERE IS
COVID FATIGUE OUT THERE, THE
GOVERNOR REEMPHASIZED THE
IMPORTANCE OF TRYING TO SLOW THE
SPREAD.
>> I BELIEVE THAT SINCE MAYBE
THE TRADITIONAL START OF SCHOOL,
WE HAVE BECOME MORE CASUAL IN
OUR APPROACH TO COVID AND OUR
CONCERNS ABOUT COVID AND HOW
WELL WE FOLLOW THOSE RULES AND
GUIDELINES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
IT CAN BE NATURAL.
IT'S BEEN SEVEN MONTHS.
AND WHEN WE GET CASUAL, WHEN WE
DON'T SHOW URGENCY, WHAT WE SEE
IS ALARMING TRENDS IN THE VIRUS,
MORE CASES, AND ULTIMATELY MORE
PEOPLE PASSING AWAY.
>> Bill: SO, MANDY, OUR
SCHOOLS ARE HAVING A REAL
CHALLENGE AS THEY TRY TO RETURN
TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AND
THEY'RE HAVING TO RETREAT IN
SOME CASES OR DELAY IN OTHERS.
WHAT IS THE LANDSCAPE OUT THERE
FOR SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW AS IT
RELATES TO COVID-19?
>> Mandy: SO THE MAJORITY OF
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ALL BUT I
THINK ABOUT 50 OF KENTUCKY'S
SCHOOL DISTRICTS, ARE OPEN TO
SOME FORM OF IN-PERSON LEARNING
RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'VE GOT TO ASK
HOW MUCH LONGER IS THAT PATTERN
GOING TO HOLD WHEN WE ARE SEEING
THESE BIG SPIKES IN CASES ALL
ACROSS THE STATE, REALLY, AND WE
KNOW THAT AS YOU MENTIONED AT
THE TOP OF THE SHOW, IT'S
GETTING COLDER OUT THERE.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START
SPENDING MORE TIME INSIDE, A
SURE WAY FOR THIS VIRUS TO
SPREAD QUICKLY, AND THAT'S GOING
TO IMPACT SCHOOLS.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE MORE THAN
2,000 STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE
THAT ARE QUARANTINED DUE TO SOME
SORT OF INFECTION BEING
CONFIRMED AT THEIR SCHOOL.
I BELIEVE THERE IS 862 ACTIVE
INFECTIONS RIGHT NOW AMONG
STUDENTS AND STAFF MEMBERS.
AND ONE THING THAT HAPPENED THIS
WEEK IS THE STATE RELEASED ITS
SCHOOL COVID DASHBOARD, SO
PARENTS CAN GO ONLINE, GO TO THE
STATE WEBSITE AND LOOK AT THEIR
CHILD'S SCHOOL AND SEE HOW MANY
ACTIVE CASES THERE ARE, HOW MANY
PREVIOUS CASES THERE ARE.
THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO BE ABLE TO
FEEL YOU HAVE SOME POWER AND
SOME CONTROL OVER WHAT'S
HAPPENING TO YOUR CHILD'S
SITUATION.
ANOTHER THING THAT'S GOING ON IS
THE SCHOOLS ARE USING THAT DATA,
AND WE'VE ALL SEEN THAT MAP NOW
GOVERNOR SHOWS ABOUT THE
INCIDENT RATE FOR COUNTIES.
AND WHEN YOUR COUNTY TURNS RED,
SHOULD NOT BE IN SCHOOL.
IF YOU LOOK ACROSS STATE, WE'RE
SEEING RED COUNTIES FROM FAYETTE
COUNTY IN THE CENTRAL FOR FULTON
IN THE WEST, TO HARLAN IN THE
EAST.
AND THEN BEYOND THAT WE'RE
SEEING A LOT OF ORANGE WHICH
MEANS YOU SHOULD REALLY BE
THINKING ABOUT NOT BEING IN
SCHOOL BECAUSE THE COVID IS SO
WIDESPREAD THAT IT COULD CREATE
A SERIOUS SCHOOL-RELATED
OUTBREAK.
>> Bill: BILL, YOU KNOW, THE
SPREAD IN KENTUCKY HAS BEEN
WIDESPREAD FROM THE BEGINNING,
BUT IN THE EARLIER DAYS, THE
EARLIER MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, IT
SEEMED MORE CONCENTRATED NUR
ABOUT AN AREAS, AND NOW IT SEEMS
AT THIS POINT BEGIN IN YOU ARE
BAN BUT IT SEEMS THE RURAL AREAS
GETTING IMPACTED HARD.
>> Bill Estep: THAT I WAS
PATTERN NATIONWIDE, THEAT FIRST
NEW YORK CITY, NEW JERSEY WAS
ONE OF THE HOT SPOTS EARLY ON, A
LOT OF DEATHS.
THEN THAT MOVED TO THE MIDWEST
AND THE SOUTH.
SAME IN KENTUCKY.
THE YOU ARE BAN URBAN AREAS WAS
THE FIRST PLACE WHERE THERE I
WAS LOT OF SPREAD BUT IT HA
MOVED INTO THE RURAL AREAS.
THE GREENSBORO REPORTED THEY HAD
THEIR HIGHEST DAY YET TODAY.
THE AM CA RON, THE SOMERSET AREA
SAID IN A POST LAST NIGHT THAT
THE CASES WERE RISING RAPIDLY.
IT IS, SOME OF THE RURAL AREAS
ARE, SOUTHEAST KENTUCKY, HARLAN,
SOME OF THOSE COUNTIES A PRET
SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN RECENT
DAYS.
>> Bill: AND SOMETIMES THOSE
ARE TIED TO SPECIFIC SITUATIONS
THAT BECOME KNOWN.
>> Bill Estep: YEAH, SOME OF
IT HAS BEEN TIED, AS MANDY SAID,
GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, SOME OF
IT'S TIED TO OTHER EVENTS.
SO, YEAH, IT'S DIFFERENT
THINGS.
BUT AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, I
THINK PEOPLE HAVE SORT OF GOTTEN
TIRED.
AND THE JUDGE EXECUTIVE IN
HARLAN COUNTY DAN MOSLEY, I WAS
TALKING WITH HIM RECENTLY, AND
HE SAID YOU HAD THAT SAME
SITUATION THAT EARLY A SAW A LOT
OF PEOPLE WEARING MASKS.
OVER TIME THEY GOT TIRED HAVE
IT, THERE WAS FATIGUE AND THEY
LET THEIR GUARDS DOWN AND THE
CASES WENT UP BENEFITS AND THEY
ONLY HAVE SO MUCH MANPOWER, SO
THE WITH THE LARGER RETAILER
THAT ALREADY HAVE NATIONWIDE
POLICIES IN PLACE IT'S EASIER TO
DO THE ENFORCEMENT THEN IN THE
MOM AND POP STORES AND THE
CONVENIENCE LOCATIONS ALONG THE
ROAD.
>> Bill Estep: I'M OUT QUITE A
BIT.
I WAS IN HARLAN COUNTY, GARRETT
COUNTY TODAY, OF COURSE, I'M IN
PULASKI COUNTY.
EVERYWHERE I GO, EVERY STORE HAS
A SIGN ON THE DOOR THAT SAYS
"MASK REQUIRED."
BUT IN ALL OF THEM THERE ARE
PEOPLE WITHOUT MASKS AND THERE'S
NOT ANYTHING DONE TO ENFORCE
THAT.
AND PART OF IT IS THEY DON'T
WANT TO ALIENATE THEIR
COMMERCE.
THEY DON'T WANT TO RISK
RETALIATION BEANS ONE OF THEIR
EMPLOYEES.
IT IS DIFFICULT AND THE HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS, I KNOW THEY DO
RESPOND WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS,
STORE X IS NOT DOING THIS THE
RIGHT WAY.
I KNOW THAT CHECK ON THAT BUT
THEY'RE LIMITED IN WHAT THEY CAN
DO.
>> Bill: CHRIS, THE ECONOMIC
FALLOUT OF COVID IS OBVIOUSLY
WIDE AND DEEP, AND BUSINESSES,
THEY TRY TO GET GOING AGAIN,
THEY TRY TO GET A PLAN.
THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE OPTIMISM
THAT THINGS ARE COMING TO SOME
SORT OF NEW NORMAL.
AND THEN THE NUMBERS START
CLIMBING AGAIN.
FRUSTRATION ISN'T A STRONG
ENOUGH WORD, I'M SURE, FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE THEIR LIVES INVESTED IN
THEIR BUSINESSES.
>> Chris: YEAH, IT'S IMPORTANT
TO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE STILL
DOWN A LOT OF JOBS NATIONALLY
AND IN KENTUCKY, SO THE JOBS
REPORT NATIONALLY TODAY, THE
RATE OF JOB GROWTH, OF RECOVERY
IS SLOWING, AND WE'RE STILL IN
THE HOLE RELATIVE TO WHERE WE
STARTED WITH THE PRE-PANDEMIC,
AND IN KENTUCKY WE'RE DOWN ABOUT
120,000 JOBS, ACCORDING TO THE
MOST RECENT FIGURES FROM WHERE
WE WERE AT THE SAME TIME LAST
YEAR IN AUGUST.
AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE
INDUSTRIES.
THERE'S A VERY UNEVEN IMPACT OF
THIS, WHICH IS REALLY
UNFORTUNATE, AND FOR INDUSTRIES
LIKE RESTAURANTS, HOT, TOURISM,
TRAVEL, I -- HOSPITALITY,
TOURISM, TRAVEL, THESE
INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN
DEVASTATED.
IN LOUISVILLE SOME OF OUR
BIGGEST HOTELS DOWNTOWN HAVE HAD
TO FILE NOTICES RECENTLY SAYING
THAT THEY REALLY HOPE TO BRING
BACK MOST OF THEIR WORKERS, BUT
BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS,
NOW IT TRIGGERS THIS NOTICE
REQUIREMENT WHERE THEY HAVE TO
SAY, IN FACT, THIS HAS GONE ON
LONGER THAN WE HOPED OR WE
THOUGHT AND THESE FURLOUGHS ARE
CONTINUING INDEFINITELY.
SO THERE'S STILL QUITE A BIT OF
JOBLESSNESS.
AND WHILE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL
THE NEW CYCLE HAS MOVED ON TO
THE SUPREME COURT AND TO THE
PRESIDENT'S CORONAVIRUS
DIAGNOSIS, BUT A LOT OF WHAT
PEOPLE CARE ABOUT, THERE'S NO
PPP LOANS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
ANYMORE, THERE'S NO $600 A WEEK
TO BE THE UNEMPLOYED ANYMORE,
AND THAT MONEY WAS REALLY
PROPPING THINGS UP, AND SO I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
STRUGGLING WITHOUT THOSE
SUPPORTS AND NO AGREEMENT TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
>> Bill: AND IT CONTINUES TO
BE FRUSTRATION ABOUT
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS BEING SENT
OUT, WHICH IN SOME CASES PEOPLE
GO BACK TO THE SPRING AND THEY
STILL ENT HAVE THEIR BENEFITS.
>> Bill Estep: THE STATE HAS
BEEN TRYING TO WHITTLE THAT DOWN
BUT THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE
STILL HAVING TROUBLE GETTING
THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
OBVIOUSLY THE STATE WAS
INUNDATED, THE SYSTEM WASN'T
PREPARED FOR THE NUMBER OF
CLAIMS, AND THEY'VE MADE SOME
IMPROVEMENTS TO TRY TO FIX THAT
BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME FOLKS
WHO FEEL THEY'RE FALLING THROUGH
THE CRACKS.
>> LINDA:
>> Bill: THE LATEST HAVE TO
BREONNA TAYLOR CASE IS THAT
REDACTED VERSIONS OF THE GRAND
JURY WAS RELEASED ON FRIDAY.
A JUDGE GRANTED THAT REQUEST FOR
THE PROCEEDINGS TO BE RELEASED.
CHRIS, REPORTERS INCLUDING
YOURSELF HAVE SPENT HOURS GOING
OVER 20 HOURS OF RECORDINGS,
INCLUDING A LONG PROCESS TO HEAR
WHAT THE GRAND JURY WAS AND
WASN'T TOLD.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW SO FAR ABOUT
THE RELEASE?
I KNOW THIS IS AN ONGOING
STORY.
>> Chris: YEAH, BILL.
I'D REALLY PLEAD WITH YOUR
VIEWERS TONIGHT TO STAY WITH US
IN THE LOUISVILLE MEDIA AND
ELSEWHERE BECAUSE THESE
RECORDINGS ARE NOT VERY HIGH
QUALITY.
A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE'RE
LISTENING TO IS A RECORDING OF A
RECORDING BEING PLAYED THROUGH A
SPEAKER AND THERE MAY BE
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS OF THESE,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THOSE, AND
WE'RE NOT GIVEN THEM, SO IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE OUT WHO
IS TALKING, WHAT EXACTLY IS
BEING SAID.
SO YOU'RE JUST SEEING NUGGETS
DRIBBLE OUT RIGHT NOW ABOUT
REVELATIONS OF THINGS WE DON'T
KNOW BEFORE.
AND I WOULD SAY FOR THE MOST
PART THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED THE
OVERALL PICTURE.
I THINK THE NEXT REAL SCRUTINY
ON THIS CASE IS THE SEARCH
WARRANT THAT LED OFFICERS TO
BREONNA TAYLOR'S APARTMENT, AND
WE HEARD TODAY THAT THE GRAND
JURORS WERE TOLD THE SAME STORY
THAT THE COPS TOLD INITIALLY,
THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THERE WERE
SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES FROM A
SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER THAT WERE
GOING TO THE APARTMENT.
BUT MY COLLEAGUES AT WDRB AND
THEN THE COURIER GOT THIS REPORT
AS WELL THIS WEEK FROM
LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE THAT
RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
POLICE KNEW ABOUT THE VER AS
TIFF THAT INFORMATION AND --
VERACITY OF THAT INFORMATION AND
THE TIMELINE FOR THAT.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE
SCRUTINY IN THE CASE IS HEADED.
AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO SLOG
THROUGH THIS NEW INFORMATION
THAT WAS PROVIDED TODAY.
>> Bill: BILL, HOW UNUSUAL IS
IT FOR THE PUBLIC TO HEAR GRAND
JURY TESTIMONY?
>> Bill Estep: IT IS UNUSUAL.
I MEAN, GRAND JURY TESTIMONY IS
OLDER ORDINARILY CONFIDENTIAL,
SO IT'S PRETTY UNUSUAL TO GET
THIS MUCH EVIDENCE WHICH IS
GOOD.
IT'S GOING TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS.
BUT I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO BE -- THEY'RE STILL
GOING TO BE FOLKS WHO FEEL THEY
HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE FULL STARE
BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS BY --
STORY BECAUSE THE QUESTIONS AND
STATEMENTS BY PROSECUTORS, ANY
RECOMMENDATIONS THEY MADE WERE
NOT RELEASED AS PART OF THIS
PACKAGE TODAY.
I MEAN, GRAND JURIES
THEORETICALLY ARE INDEPENDENT
BODIES, BUT THEY'RE ALSO PLAY
PEOPLE, SO THEY LOOK TO
PROSECUTORS TO TELL THEM THE LAW
TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THIS.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE SEEN AS TOOLS
OF PROSECUTORS.
THE OLD JOKE ABOUT A GRAND JURY
WOULD INDICT A HAM SANDWICH IF
THE PROSECUTOR SAID TO DO THAT.
SO SOME FOLKS, BECAUSE WE DON'T
HAVE THAT PIECE OF THE STORY,
SOME FOLKS ARE GOING TO FEEL
THERE'S STILL SOMETHING
LACKING.
>> Bill: CHRIS, YOURIZATION
WDRB HAD AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
THE IN WHICH THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGED THE GRAND
JURY WAS NO PRESENTED WITH
MURDER CHARGES IN BREONNA TAYLOR
TASE.
>> Chris: YEAH, I THINK THIS
WAS AN IMPORTANT ACKNOWLEDGMENT
BECAUSE IN THE LONG PRESS
CONFERENCE THAT CAMERON GAVE A
FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN HIS FINDINGS
WERE FINALLY RELEASED, HE WASN'T
WILLING TO GO THAT FAR.
BUT WE WERE HOPING TO HEAR WHAT
PROSECUTORS TOLD THE GRAND JURY,
AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY -- HOW
THEY INFORMED THEM ABOUT THE LAW
AND THE LIMITS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, AS BILL JUST
SAID, THAT WAS NOT MADE
AVAILABLE BY CAMERON IN A PRESS
RELEASE.
HE SAID, PROSECUTORS'
STATEMENTS, THAT'S NOT
EVIDENCE.
SO WE DIDN'T RELEASE THAT.
SO THAT IS DISAPPOINTING BECAUSE
PROSECUTORS DO HAVE A TREMENDOUS
INFLUENCE ON HOW THE GRAND JURY
PROCESSES INFORMATION.
AND IF YOU WANT ANY DOUBT ABOUT
THAT, IT TOOK A GRAND JURY TWO
MINUTES, ALL OF TWO MINUTES TO
INDICT KENNETH WALKER, THE MAN
IN BREONNA TAYLOR'S APARTMENT
WHO SHOT AT POLICE AND TO CHARGE
HIM WITH MURDER.
THAT CHARGE WAS EVENTUALLY
DROPPED, BUT THAT GRAND JURY MET
AND HEARD ONE POLICE OFFICER
TESTIFY AND INDICTED HIM AFTER
TWO MINUTES.
SO PROSECUTORS DO HAVE
INFLUENCE.
>> Bill: BILL, WE ALSO HAVE
LEARNED THAT NAACP'S LEGAL
DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND SAID
IT WILL DOTS OWN REVIEW OF WHAT
HAS COME DOWN.
>> Bill Estep: THAT'S ONE OF
THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT HAVING
THIS INFORMATION RELEASED IS
OTHER PEOPLE, OUTSIDE EXPERTS
AND ATTORNEYS ARE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT
EVIDENCE WAS PRESENTED AND
FIGURE IT OUT IF THEY BELIEVE
THAT WHAT ULTIMATELY CAME OUT OF
THE GRAND JURY WAS THE PROPER
OUTCOME.
>> Bill: SENATE PRESIDENT
ROBERT STIVERS SAID THERE WILL
NOT BE A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE
SESSION ON POLICE REFORM BUT
ALSO SAYS IT HAD WILL PROBABLY
BE ADDED TO THE 2021 SESSION.
>> Bill Estep: BE GIVEN
EVERYONE EVER EVERYTHING THAT'S
HAPPENED, THERE'S ALMOST
CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A BILL
DEALING WITH POLICE PROCEDURE IN
THE NOTION LEGISLATURE.
NOW, NEXT LEGISLATURE.
WHERE THAT GOES, IT'S NOT SHEEN
AS BIG AN ISSUE IN RURAL AREAS
AS IN URBAN.
WHERE THAT GOES IS HARD TO
TELL.
>> Bill Estep: LOUISVILLE HAS
A NEW INTERIM POLICE CHIEF AND
YVETTE GENTRY HAS TAKEN OVER AT
THIS POINT.
MANDY, IT'S A TIME OF NO
QUESTION, SOME HUGE CHALLENGES
FOR THAT DEPARTMENT, AND SHE HAS
HUGE RESPONSIBILITY AHEAD.
>> Mandy: ABSOLUTELY.
AND WHILE SHE'S NOT A CANDIDATE
FOR THE FULL-TIME JOB, SHE'S
STEPPING INTO THIS POSITION,
IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB AT ANY
TIME, BUT CERTAINLY RIGHT NOW
IT'S UNDER NATIONAL SCRUTINY.
WITH THE DEPARTMENT ITSELF,
REALLY FRACTURED AND FEELING
LIKE IT HAS NOT BEEN SUPPORTED
BY ITS LEADERSHIP OR BY MAYOR
GREG FISCHER'S OFFICE.
AND THEN OUTSIDE OF THAT, A LOT
OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
INTERACTING WITH THE COMMUNITY
AND, AND THE COMMUNITY ITSELF
YOU HAVE STRONG CALLS FROM SOME
OF THE PROTESTORS TO OUTRIGHT
ABOLISH THE POLICE OR
SIGNIFICANTLY DEFUND THEIR
BUDGET.
SO IT'S A DIFFICULT JOB, NOT TO
MENTION THAT SHE'S ALSO IN
CHARGE OF FIRST RESPONDERS IN
THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC RIGHT
NOW.
>> Bill: THAT IS CERTAINLY A
LOT TO TRY TO NAVIGATE THERE.
WELL, KENTUCKY'S NEW EDUCATION
COMMISSIONER, DR. JASON GLASS,
SAYS SCHOOLS HAVE AN IMPORTANT
ROLE TO PLAY IN THE ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RACE RELATIONS
AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
I INTERVIEWED HIM FOR THIS
WEEKEND'S KENTUCKY NEWSMAKERS
PROGRAM OVER ON KWKYT.
>> SCHOOLS HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY, AS DOES
EVERYONE, TO EXAMINE DO WE HAVE
RACIST PRACTICES THAT ARE
PRESENT WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS AND
DO WE HAVE SYSTEMIC BIAS THAT'S
PRESENT WITHIN OUR SCHOOLS.
AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE
THAT?
AND REALLY WE WANT JUST AS A
MORAL OBLIGATION FOR EDUCATORS,
WE NEED TO SERVE EVERY CHILD
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEIR SKIN
COLOR OR BELIEF SYSTEM OR
BACKGROUND IS, WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A
QUALITY EDUCATION.
>> Bill: MANDY, DO YOU SENSE
THAT RACIAL JUSTICE AND
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES WILL BE
TAUGHT IN SOME NEW WAYS?
>> Mandy: WELL, I JUST WANT TO
SAY IT'S CERTAINLY SIGNIFICANT
TO HEAR THIS COMMISSIONER COME
IN AND IMMEDIATELY ADDRESS THE
FACT THAT THERE COULD BE
POLICIES ACROSS KENTUCKY THAT
ARE RACIST, AND I THINK YOU
UNDERSTATE THE SIGNIFICANCE WHEN
YOU DO HEAR THAT FROM A WHITE
MAN.
FORMER COMMISSIONER WAYNE LEWIS
WHO WAS BLACK, HE TALKED ABOUT
THE ISSUES, THE DISPARITIES
FACING BLACK CHILDREN HIGHLY
WHILE HE WAS IN THAT POSITION.
BUT I THINK IT'S A ANOTHER THING
THAT HOLDS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE
STATE TO HEAR IT COMING FROM A
WHITE MAN, AND I THINK WE'RE
ALREADY SEEING SOME TRACTION ON
THIS FRONT.
WE SAW THIS WEEK OWENSBORO
PUBLIC SCHOOLS MOVING FORWARD ON
ITS OWN RACIAL EQUITY PLAN.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT JEFFERSON
COUNTY HAS DONE ALREADY.
I DO THINK ONE THING THAT I WANT
TO POINT OUT FOR A SECOND IS
JUST SCHOOLS MAKING THE SPACE
FOR KIDS TO TALK ABOUT RACE AND
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH BREONNA TAYLOR AND GEORGE
FLOYD AND BEYOND THAT, AND WE
SAW THAT LAST WEEK AFTER THE
GRAND JURY ANNOUNCEMENT WHERE
YOU HAD SCHOOLS IN LOUISVILLE,
OF COURSE, BUT ALSO ALL THE WAY
OUT IN HAZARD WHERE THEY HAD
KIDS TAKING THE TIME AND BEING
ALLOWED THAT TIME, IS WHAT I
SHOULD SAY, TO TALK ABOUT THIS
REALLY TOUGH STUFF THAT'S
IMPACTING THEIR LIVES AND
THEY'RE SEEING IT ON SOCIAL
MEDIA AND TV, AND THEY HAVE
QUESTIONS ABOUT IT AND NEED SOME
GUIDANCE FROM AN ADULT.
BEYOND THAT WE'RE SEEING IN
LOUISVILLE A MOVE TO REVIEW ALL
OF THE SCHOOLS' MASCOTS AND
SCHOOLS' NAMES TO SEE IF THEY
HAVE ANY RACIAL BIAS TO THEM.
JUST THIS WEEK I WROTE A STORY
ABOUT THE BROWN SCHOOL, WHICH
ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO
ACTUALLY TOOK THE FULL NAME OF
JAY GRAHAM BROWN WHO, OF COURSE,
WAS A VERY PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN
AND PHILANTHROPIST IN LOUISVILLE
BUT HE ALSO HAD A HISTORY OF
BEING A STAUNCH SEGREGATIONIST.
SO THAT SCHOOL'S PARENT/TEACHER
COMMITTEE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH
THE PROCESS OF POSSIBLY CHANGING
THAT NAME.
OBVIOUSLY, NAME CHANGES ARE
SYMBOLIC, THOUGH, BILL, SO
BEYOND THAT I THINK WHAT'S GOING
TO REALLY NEED TO BE DONE TO
MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND THIS IS
WHAT EDUCATORS WOULD TELL YOU
YOU, IS A HARD LOOK AT THE
CURRICULUM AND WHAT STUDENTS ARE
BEING TAUGHT, HOW THEY'RE BEING
TAUGHT IT WHEN IT COMES TO
AMERICAN HISTORY.
>> Bill: AND IT SOUNDS LIKE
THE NEW COMMISSIONER WANTS TO GO
THERE WITH THAT.
2020 IS QUITE AN ELECTION YEAR,
AS YOU KNOW.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOT
APPROVED FAYETTE COUNTY'S PLAN
FOR THE ELECTION.
SECRETARY OF STATE ADAM SAYS
THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH
IN-PERSON POLLING PLACES.
THE COUNTY CLERK SAYS HE'S OUT
OF OPTIONS.
BILL, THE PROCESS OF THE
ELECTION IS STILL AN ISSUE.
>> Bill Estep: IT IS.
AND WE'RE A MONTH OUT AND IT'S
SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE
RESOLVED PRETTY QUICKLY.
EVERY COUNTY IS GOING -- THEY
HAVE TO HAVE THAT APPROVED BY
ADAMS, BY THE SECRETARY OF
STATE'S OFFICE.
I THINK THE LAST I CHECKED,
ABOUT 60 OR 70 HAD BEEN
APPROVED.
SO THEY'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT
PROCESS.
BUT THEY DO NEED TO RESOLVE THAT
PRETTY QUICKLY.
>> Bill: IN THE CLOSECLY
WATCHED U.S. SENATE RACE THERE
WILL BE A TELEVISED DEBATE
OCTOBER 12TH WITH AMY McGRATH
AND SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL,
GREAT TV STATIONS THAT BE BE
CARRYING THAT.
CHRIS, THIS IS A RACE WATCHED
AROUND THE COUNTRY WITH A LOT OF
MONEY FLOWING IN.
>> Chris: YEAH, THERE'S
OBVIOUSLY LIGHT OF ANTICIPATE
PATHY FOR MITCH McCONNELL
AROUND THE COUNTRY THAT HAS
FLOWN INTO THE COFFERS OF AMY
McGRATH, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A
VERY EXPENSIVE RACE, BUT IF YOU
JUST LOOK AT WHAT WE DO KNOW
FROM THE POLLS, AT 5:38 THE DATA
WEBSITE, ACCORDING TO THEIR
MODEL WITH McCONNELL HAS A 96
IN 100 CHANCE OF CARRYING AND
BEING RE-ELECTED AGAIN IN
KENTUCKY.
SO THERE'S DISCUSSION NATIONALLY
ABOUT WHETHER DEMOCRATS SHOULD
BE SPENDING THAT MONEY ON MORE
COMPETITIVE RACES.
>> Bill: AND YOU HAVE TO THINK
THAT AMY McGRATH SEES THE
OPPORTUNITY FOR DEBATE AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE GAIN SOME
MOMENTUM.
>> Bill Estep: THAT'S JUST A
FREE -- THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GET
TO SCORE POINTS FROM WITHOUT
HAVING TO SPEND A BUNCH OF
MONEY.
>> Bill: TOURISM IS ANY LARGE
GROWING SECTOR IN KENTUCKY AND
MANY ARE MAKING PLANS OR FOR
AFTER THE PANDEMIC.
FIRST TOUGH NEWS.
IF KENTUCKY SPEED WAY AT SPARTA
HAS LOST ITS FILL NATION WITH
NASCAR, BILL.
>> Bill Estep: THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT HAD THAT RACE FOR
MANY YEARS, THE NASCAR RACE.
AND A LOT OF FANS HAD GOTTEN
USED TO IT.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY REAL POPULAR IN
KENTUCKY.
BUT IT'S IN A SPACE, A LOT OF
THE OTHER TRACKS ARE FURTHER
DEEP SOUTH.
BRISTOL, VIRGINIA'S PROBABLY THE
CLOSEST ONE.
YOU HAVE MICHIGAN NORTH OF
HERE.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF A CENTRAL
SPOT WHERE FANS REALLY WERE USED
TO COMING TO.
>> Bill: BULK OF THE GENERAL
MANAGER IS OPTIMISTIC.
HE SAID THERE WILL STILL BE WILD
ADVENTURES HEAD HOOD.
WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.
KEENELAND AND THE OWNERS OF
KENTUCKY DOWNS HAVE BIG PLANS IN
SOUTHEASTERN KENTUCKY FOR RACING
FACILITIES IN CORBIN AND
WILLIAMSBURG, BUT THERE'S THE
SUPREME COURT RULING ON
HISTORICAL RACING THAT COULD BE
A FACTOR ON HOW AND WHETHER AND
IF THEY GET TO PROCEED.
>> Bill Estep: YEAH, THAT'S
GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO SHAKE
OUT BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT
SEND IT BACK TO JUDGE WIN KATE
IN FRANKLIN CIRCUIT, SO HE'S
GOING TO HAVE TO ROLE RULE GOING
FORWARD FROM THAT.
WE WERE GOTTEN KNOW WHAT'S
EXACTLY GOING TO HAPPEN PUT BUT
THERE IS WITH A NEW PRANN FOR A
NEW SARN BRED TRACK IN CORBIN
AND GAMING PARLOR IN
WILLIAMSBURG WITH 400 OF THESE
HISTORICAL RACING MACHINES.
THE MAYORS DOWN THERE, I TALKED
TO BOTH OF THEM.
THEY EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATED
WITH THAT.
WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHERE THAT
GOES.
SOME LEGISLATORS HAVE SAID WE
MAY NEED LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS
THAT ISSUE TO SPECIFICALLY
LEGALIZE THOSE.
>> Bill: CHURCHILL DOWNS IS
GOING AHEAD WITH PLANS FOR A NEW
STILT IN, WHAT, NEWPORT?
>> Chris: YEAH, AND OPEN
TODAY, ACTUALLY.
NEWPORT GAMING AND RACING OR
RACING AND GAMING.
AND IT IS HISTORICAL HORSE
RACING MACHINES, WHICH YOU'D BE
HARD PRESS TODAY TELL THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SHOWS AND
SLOTS MACHINES.
THEY'RE CERTAINLY DESIGNED TO
LOOK AND FEEL LIKE SLOT
MACHINES.
AND THAT SUPREME COURT DECISION
DOES THROW A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY
INTO THIS VERY BIG GROWING
INDUSTRY IN KENTUCKY.
NOW, CHURCHILL DOWNS SAYS
BECAUSE THEIR PARTICULAR GAMING
SYSTEM WAS NOT EXAMINED AS PART
OF THE COURT CASE THAT MADE ITS
WAY UP TO THE SUPREME COURT,
THAT THEY ARE NOT MEL IMPACTED
BY THIS.
I THINK IN ADDITION TO LOOKING
AT THE TRIAL JUDGE, ALSO I GOT
WORD TODAY THAT THE STATE HORSE
RACING COMMISSION AND THE
RACETRACKS HAVE ASKED FOR AN
EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE
PLEADINGS WITH THE SUPREME COURT
TO ASK THEM TO RE-HEAR THE CASE
AND CHANGE THEIR 7-0 DECISION.
SO THE LEGAL BATTLE CONTINUES.
>> Bill: SOME DEVELOPERS BIG
PLANS FOR A MAJOR RESORT IN THE
RED RIVER GORGE, BILL.
>> Bill Estep: THAT WOULD BE A
LUXURY RESORT, TRAIL
ENHANCEMENTS, REGIONAL MASHING,
VISITOR CENTER, THOSE SORTS OF
THINGS THAT COULD REALLY
INCREASE TOURISM IN THAT AREA.
THERE ARE STILL SOME QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHERE THE FINANCE, WHERE
THE MONEY COMES FROM FOR THAT.
>> Bill: LONDON AND CORBIN ARE
FIGHTING FOREVEROVER A NAPE
CHANGE DOWN THERE, WHO CAN ANNEX
IT.
>> Bill Estep: LONDON HAVE
ANNEX IT, THE RIGHT OF I-75 TO
GET TO CORBIN.
THERE'S GOING TO BE PART OF
LONDON THAT'S NINE MILES WEITZ
AND 250 FEET WIPED.
CORBIN HAS CHALLENGED THAT IN
COURT.
THERE'S TO A LAWSUIT.
>> Bill: MANDY, QUICKLY, FALL
BREAK FOR SOME SCHOOLS.
I KNOW THE PERSONNEL AT THOSE
SCHOOLS HOPE EVERYBODY IS SAFE
OUT THERE WHEN THEY'RE AWAY.
MESSENGER STAY SAFE.
AND A MARILYN IN KENTUCKY THE
THING TO DO IS TO GO TO FLORIDA,
WHICH I KNOW THE GOVERNOR IS
HOPING FOLKS CHOOSE NOT TO DO
THIS YEAR, BUT HOPEFULLY
EVERYBODY DOES HAVE TIME TO
RELAX AND GEAR UP FOR WHAT'S
GOING TO BE A COLD WINTER, I
THINK.
>> Bill: THE NEW GRASS CROYLE
SURVIVAL WAS AMONG THOSE
INDUCTED INTO THE BLUEGRASS HALL
OF FAME IN OWENSBORO.
HAD A VIRTUAL CEREMONY.
THE JOHNS BOYS AND THE STATION
OWNER J.T. GRAY ALSO INDUCTED.