2021 HAS BEEN A YEAR OF TRAGEDY
AND SOME HIGH POINTS FOR
KENTUCKY.
TONIGHT WE LOOK BACK.
NATURAL DISASTER STRUCK HARD
FROM ICE STORMS AND FLOODING TO
THE HORRIBLE TORNADO OUTBREAK
THAT HAS TEMPERED THE JOY OF THE
HOLIDAYS.
SOME KENTUCKIANS WERE CHARGED IN
THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK ON THE U.S.
CAPITOL.
COVID REFUSED TO LET GO AS
OMICRON THREATENS AS WE HEAD
TOWARD A NEW YEAR.
ON THIS CHRISTMAS EVE, WE BRING
YOU A SPECIAL EDITION OF COMMENT
NEXT ON KET.
GOOD EVENING ON THIS CHRISTMAS
EVE, I'M BILL BRYANT.
WE WELCOME TO YOU COMMENT ON
KENTUCKY AS WE LOOK BACK ON
2021.
AND ON THE REMARKABLE CAREERS OF
TWO OF OUR LONG TIME PANELISTS
WHO HAVE DECIDED IT'S TIME FOR
THE NEXT CHAPTER.
WE TAPED THIS PROGRAM TUESDAY,
DECEMBER 21, TO GIVE OUR PANEL
AND THE CREW HERE AT KET A
CHANCE TO ENJOY THE HOLIDAY.
AND OUR GUESTS TONIGHT ARE
LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR
WDRB IN LOUISVILLE, DEBORAH
YETTER, REPORTER FOR THE
"COURIER JOURNAL" AND JACK
BRAMMER, BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE
LEXINGTON "HERALD-LEADER."
LET'S START WHERE WE ARE BEFORE
GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF
THE YEAR, THE DEADLY TORNADOES
IN WESTERN KENTUCKY WERE TRAGIC
AND YET BROUGHT THE STATE
TOGETHER AND WE ARE MINDFUL OF
THE MANY HARD SHIPS FOR MANY.
IT IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG ROAD
BACK FOR MANY.
YOU KNOW, BILL, WE THREW AROUND
THE WORD UNPRECEDENTED A LOT,
BUT THIS IS TRULY UNPRECEDENTED,
THE WORST NATURAL DISASTER IN
THE HISTORY OF THE STATE.
AND YOU'VE HAD THAN TIRE
COMMUNITIES DEVASTATED.
THREE QUARTERS OF DAWSON SPRINGS
IS GONE.
SECTIONS OF MAYFIELD,
NEIGHBORHOODS IN BOWLING GREEN
FLATTENED.
THERE ARE MANY DECISIONS THAT
MUST BE MADE ABOUT WHAT IS
REBUILD, HOW TO REBUILD IT AND
HOW TO GET PEOPLE-- HOW TO GET
THEIR LIVES BACK TOGETHER,
ESSENTIALLY.
>> THERE COMES THE QUESTION, IS
THERE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE IS HOPE THAT THERE
WILL BE THAT SUSTAINED EFFORT
OVER TIME THAT IS NOT WEEKS OR
MONTHS BUT MAYBE YEARS?
>> THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION.
WHEN THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN,
THERE IS USUALLY A LARGE
OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT AND
ATTENTION EARLY ON.
BUT THIS IS GOING TO GO ON FOR
MONTHS AND YEARS AND THE
QUESTION IS WILL THAT SUPPORT--
WILL THAT STRUCTURE BE THERE
DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THESE FOLKS
ARE STILL TRYING TO PUT THEIR
LIVES BACK TOGETHER?
>> YOU KNOW, THE COOPERATION
THAT WE'VE SEEN IN KENTUCKY HAS
BEEN HEART WARMING, BOTH FROM A
GOVERNMENT STANDPOINT AND
EVERYDAY KENTUCKIANS WHO HELPED
IN LOTS OF WAYS FROM SENDING
SUPPLIES AND GOODS TO JUST GOING
OUT THERE AND IN SOME CASES
GOING OUT THERE AND PICKING UP A
SHOVEL AND LITERALLY HELPING.
IT HAS BEEN SOMETHING TO SEE,
DAN.
>> IT IS REMARKABLE.
I THINK GOVERNOR BESHEAR STARTED
A FUND FOR FOLKS EARLY ON AND
IT'S PICKED UP TO MORE THAN
$21 MILLION LAST I HEARD, WHICH
IS GOING TO BE USED INITIALLY
FOR FUNERAL EXPENSES FOR THE 76
PEOPLE LOST IN THE TORNADO.
AND THEN THEY WILL START HELPING
PEOPLE WHO WERE UNINSURED,
REBUILDING THEIR HOUSES BECAUSE
A NUMBER OF FOLKS DOWN THERE DID
NOT HAVE INSURANCE AND I THINK
FEMA PAYS A MAX OF 35,000 IN
THOSE CASES SO THEY'RE CLEARLY
GOING TO NEED MORE.
>> AND THE TOY DRIVE BY THE
FIRST LADY.
THEY WERE INUNDATED WITH TOYS
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY COMING
IN BY TRUCK LOAD.
IT REMINDS OF WHAT A TOUGH TIME
OF THE YEAR THIS WAS.
PEOPLE JUST WANTED TO GET INTO A
TRUCK AND MOVE IN AND I
UNDERSTAND THAT FEELING THAT YOU
WANT TO RESPOND THAT WAY.
I THINK A RESPONSE LIKE THIS HAS
TO BE ORGANIZED AND YOU CAN'T
JUST GO.
THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU
NEED RIGHT NOW AND CERTAIN
THINGS YOU NEED LATER.
IT WILL BE A TRICK TO COORDINATE
ALL THAT FOR THE LONG HAUL.
>> JACK, THERE HAS BEEN A
TREMENDOUS GOVERNMENTAL
COOPERATION THAT MAY HAVE
SURPRISED SOME THAT WE COULD
HAVE COME TOGETHER IN THIS WAY
WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE SEE
THIFNTION IN RED OR BLUE THESE
DAYS.
>> THAT'S THE MOST SATISFYING
ASPECTED OF THIS TRAGEDY THAT
WE'VE WITNESSED.
I'VE OFTEN SAID ON THIS SHOW
THAT TWO WEEKS IN POLITICS CAN
BE AN ETERNITY AND IT'S BEEN
ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW.
AND WE HAVE SEEN A GOVERNOR,
ANDY BESHEAR, IN MY OPINION, HIS
STATURE HAS INCREASED
TREMENDOUSLY.
JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY I'VE TALKED
TO GIVE HIM HIGH MARKS FOR THE
WAY HE HAS BEEN ADMINISTRATOR OF
THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
TO PEOPLE HOOS LIVES WERE JUST
TORN APART.
HE HAS BEEN ON THE SCENE, THE
COUNTLESS HOURS AND EVEN HAD A
REPUBLICAN FRIEND IN LOUISVILLE
LAST WEEK TELL ME, WELL, I GUESS
HE IS GOING TO WIN REELECTION
NOW.
I SAID THAT'S FARTHER THAN TWO
WEEKS AWAY.
THERE IS STILL A LOT TO HAPPEN.
BUT I THINK HE HAS-- HE DESERVES
HIGH MARKS FOR THE WAY HE
PERFORMED.
>> THAT IS GOING TO BE PART OF
WHAT HE IS JUDGED ON, PART OF
HIS LEGACY SO TO SPEAK IS BEING
THE CRISIS GOVERNOR, FIRST WITH
COVID AND NOW WITH THIS.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN QUICKLY
DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY
AND HE WAS IN KENTUCKY AS WELL
AND CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMBER, A
FREQUENT CRITIC OF THE PRESIDENT
WAS ON AIR FORCE 1 AND TOURED
THE AREA WITH THE PRESIDENT.
>> I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY
POLITICAL BICKERING THROUGHOUT
THIS ORDEAL DURING THE
TORNADOES.
>> THEY WERE SILENT AND PRAISE
WORTHY.
A SENATE REPUBLICAN PRAISED
GOVERNOR BESHEAR THAT DANNY
CAROL FROM PADUCAH, WHO IS A
FREQUENT CRITIC OF GOVERNOR
BESHEAR WAS PRAISING HIM FOR HIS
RESPONSE IN THE COMMITTEE
MEETING LAST WEEK.
>> AND GOOD FOR CONGRESSMAN
COMBER TO PUT POLITICAL
DISAGREEMENTS ASIDE FOR THE SAKE
OF A DISPLAY OF UNITY AGAINST
THE TORNADO AND SUPPORTING THE
DISASTER RELIEF.
GOOD FOR HIM FOR DOING THAT.
>> WELL, OUR THOUGHTS ARE
CERTAINLY WITH THE FOLKS WHO ARE
STILL OR DEALING WITH THAT AND
HAVE A LONG ROAD BACK.
IT WAS A WILD YEAR IN WEATHER,
EVEN BEFORE THE AWFUL TORNADOES.
WE HAD THREE ICE STORMS EARLY IN
THE YEAR; FLOODING ISSUES BACK
IN THE SUMMER, LOTS OF
CHALLENGES FROM MOTHER NATURE.
AS WE LOOK BACK AT 2021, LET'S
GO BACK TO THE FIRST OF THE YEAR
AND HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE EVENTS
AND CHALLENGES.
FIRST OF ALL, COVID CHASED US
RIGHT INTO 2021.
BUT WE WERE ALSO JUST GETTING
VACCINES AVAILABLE.
AND THE ROLLOUT GAVE MANY
KENTUCKIANS SOME MORE FREEDOM,
AT LEAST FOR I TIME.
THEN CAME THE DELTA STRAIN AND
OMICRON STRAIN IS ROLLING
THROUGH.
BUT ONCE THE VACCINES WERE
AVAILABLE, THERE WAS A
TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO GET PEOPLE
IMMUNIZED.
THERE WAS SOME RELUCTANCE AND
THAT BECAME PART OF THE STORY
LINE AS WELL.
>> WE ARE A YEAR AWAY FROM WHEN
THE VACCINES FIRST CAME TO
KENTUCKY.
AND THERE WAS GENERAL EUPHORIA
THEY FIRST GOT HERE AND THE
GREAT HOPE THAT IT WOULD GET US
TO THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF
COVID.
IT HASN'T REALLY WORKED OUT.
WE HAVE, AFTER A YEAR OF REALLY
MONUMENTAL EFFORT, WE'VE GO THE
ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE STATE
VACCINATED AT THIS STATE BUT
IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT AND THEY'VE
HAD TO FIGHT A LOT OF
MISINFORMATION, THE CONTROVERSY,
VACCINES HAVE BECOME POLITICAL.
THAT STILL DRAGS ON.
AND THE LONGER THAT GOES, PEOPLE
SAY THE MORE CHANCES WE HAVE FOR
MORE OF THESE PESKY VARIANTS
THAT KEEP COMING AROUND.
>> THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WAS
REALLY STRAINED AND CHALLENGED
AS WELL THROUGH THE YEAR.
>> DURING A COUPLE OF THE REALLY
BAD SPIKES OF LAST WINTER AND
THEN AGAIN IN THE SUMMER, THERE
WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
HOSPITALS AND WE ARE ALREADY
SUFFERING A NURSING SHORTAGE AND
THEY WERE INUNDATED WITH PEOPLE
DURING SOME OF THE BAD SPIKES OR
SURGES OF COVID.
>> THE NATIONAL GUARD BEING
DEPLOYED TO HOSPITALS, WHO
THOUGHT THEY WOULD SEE THAT,
RIGHT?
>> IT WAS A STARTLING IMAGE WHEN
I SAW THE TROOPS AT BAPTIST
HOSPITAL HEALTH SYSTEMS IN
LOUISVILLE COMING IN TO PITCH IN
BECAUSE THE HOSPITAL SHORT
STAFFED IN ALL AREAS AND THEN
THE SAME WAS TRUE THROUGHOUT
KENTUCKY.
>> DEB DEBBIE, IT MADE READILY
APPARENT THE NURSING SHORTAGE.
NOT ONLY IS IT ACUTE RIGHT NOW
WITH WAS IS GOING ON, BUT IT'S
OBVIOUS WE HAVE A LONG-TERM
CHALLENGE THERE.
>> RIGHT, THE NURSING SHORTAGE
HAS BEEN BUILDING UP FOR YEARS
AND THIS JUST KIND OF EXPOSED
IT, I THINK.
AND DURING THE PANDEMIC, THAT
ACCELERATED THE DEPARTURE OF
NURSES INTO OTHER FIELDS THAT
MAYBE THAT PAID BETTER, MORE
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK, A LOT OF
PEOPLE JUST RETIRED OR LEFT FOR
OTHER OCCUPATIONS BECAUSE IT WAS
JUST SO INCREDIBLY STRESSFUL.
>> AND RECENTLY A COUPLE MONTHS
AGO NOW ON A BRIEFING BY THE
KENTUCKY NURSES ASSOCIATION,
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW
NURSES ARE VIEWED MORE
DIFFERENTLY NOW THAN THE
BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.
THEY WERE HAILED AS HEROES AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC
BUT AS IT DRAGGED ON AND
ESPECIALLY AS NURSES ARRIVEED
AND NURSE-- MASK MANDATES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT, THE PUBLIC
OPINION HAS CHANGED.
BUT THE NURSES HAVE DONE
FANTASTIC JOB UNDER IMPOSSIBLE
CONDITIONS, THEY NEED TO BE
APPLAUDED FOR THAT.
>> NO DOUBT.
>> YOU HAVE TO FEEL FOR NURSES
AND OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
WITH THE OMICRON VARIANT
SPREADING SO QUICKLY AND WHAT
ELSE IS GOING TO HAPPEN I THINK
NEXT YEAR'S COMMENTS, THEY WILL
BE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE
BEEN RELUCTANT TO GET VACCINATED
AND GET THEIR BOOSTERS.
>> I THINK WE ARE ALSO SPEAKING
TO SOME OF THE YOUNG FOLKS AND
THEIR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS
SAY MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO LOOK AT
THE NURSING FIELD BECAUSE THOSE
JOBS ARE GOING TO BE IN DEMAND.
>> DEFINITELY.
>> GOING FORWARD.
>> LAWRPS, AS 2020 WE REMEMBER
IN TERMS OF COVID AND THE
GOVERNOR'S BRIEFINGS AND THE
LOCK DOWNS AND ALL OF THAT.
WHAT DO WE REMEMBER 2021 FOR IN
THE FIGHT WITH COVID?
>> WELL, I THINK INITIALLY, IN
THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE
REACTION TO ALL THAT, BY THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS REACTING TO THE
ACTIONS THE GOVERNOR TOOK AND
SEVERELY RESTRICTING HIS ABILITY
TO ACT UNILATERALLY TO COMBAT
THE PANDEMIC, REDUCING HIS
EMERGENCY POWERS.
HIM NEEDING TO GET PERMISSION TO
EXTEND EMERGENCY ORDERS SO I
THINK THE BIG THING IS THE
REACTION TO THAT FROM
REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE AND
SENATE TO WHAT THE GOVERNOR DID
DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF THE
PANDEMIC.
>> AND THAT LED TO A KENTUCKY
SUPREME COURT DECISION, WHERE
ALL THE JUSTICES, UNANIMOUSLY
AGREED WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND
THEY DID CURB THE POWERS OF THE
GOVERNOR.
>> AND THE GOVERNOR THEN CALLED
A SPECIAL SESSION AND HE KNEW
WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IN THAT
SESSION, RIGHT?
>> HE DID.
>> HE DIDN'T PUT IT ON THE
AGENDA TO CURTAIL HIS POWER BUT
HE KNEW IT WAS COMING.
>> HE HAS SAID NOW THE RESPONSE
IS ON THEM.
I'VE DONE WHAT I CAN DO.
NOW IT'S ON THE REPUBLICANS.
>> THEY DID CURTAIL HIS POWER
BUT I STILL SAY HE IS FRONT AND
CENTER OF THE STATE'S BATTLE
AGAINST COVID, BY VIRTUE OF HIS
WEEKLY NEWS CONFERENCES.
>> BIWEEKLY SOMETIMES.
>> SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR
STRUGGLED WITH HOW TO WORK IN
THE ERA OF COVID, MOST WERE SHUT
DOWN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THEN
THEY TRIED TO RETURN TO NORMAL
WITH MIXED APPROACHES AND SOME
MIXED SUCCESS AS WELL.
>> I THINK WE ARE STILL SEEING
SOME OF THE IMPACT OF KIDS BEING
OUT OF SCHOOL, LEARNING REMOTELY
FOR A YEAR, BOTH IN ACADEMIC
PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO IN
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES.
A LOT OF THE SCHOOLS ARE HAVING
ISSUES WITH STUDENTS FIGHTING
AND SERIOUS AS THAT TO NOT
PAYING ATTENTION AND BEING ABLE
TO CATCH UP ACADEMICALLY.
WE SEE FOWLT FROM THAT A YEAR--
FAULT FROM THAT A YEAR LATER.
>> THERE WAS A REFERENCE ALONG
THE WAY TO A TWINDEMIC THE COVID
CRISIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO
ANOTHER THING GETTING WORSE AND
THAT'S THE AWFUL BATTLE WITH THE
OPIOID ADDICTION WE HAVE IN
KENTUCKY.
>> THAT DEFINITELY DID SPIKE
DURING THE PANDEMIC.
IN FACT LAST YEAR WE HIT A
RECORD NUMBER OF OVERDOSE DEATHS
AND IT'S REALLY TOUGH.
I KNOW ONE THING, DURING THE
SHUTDOWN, PEOPLE LOST ACCESS TO
MEETINGS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LOST JOBS.
THEY WERE MORE ISOLATED SO IT
LED TO A LOT OF THE FACTORS THAT
MIGHT TRIGGER PEOPLE TO RELAPSE
AND START USING SUBSTANCES
AGAIN.
SO I KNOW THE STATE IS
DEFINITELY FOCUSED AND THEY'RE
TRYING TO GET MORE FEDERAL AND
STATE MONEY INTO PREVENTION AND
TREATMENT, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE,
I THINK, A HARD ROAD BACK.
>> YOU KNOW, THE SOCIAL WORKER
SHORTAGE REALLY CAME TO BEAR.
MORE THAN 600 HAVE LEFT THIS
YEAR.
>> IT WAS VERY STARTLING.
600 LEFT OUT OF THE WORKFORCE SO
MAYBE AROUND 4,000 SOMETHING
HAVE LEFT OVER THIS PAST YEAR,
CALENDAR YEAR, JUST CITING THE
INCREDIBLE STRESS.
MOST OF THEM WENT TO WORKING
REMOTE.
THEY HAD TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO
MEET WITH FAMILIES, MAYBE
OUTSIDE OR REMOTELY.
THAT WAS HARD.
CASES WERE PILING UP.
AND IT JUST LED TO AN EXODUS OF
RETIREES OR YOUNGER WORKERS
FINDING, ESPECIALLY WITH JOBS
BEING OFFERED RIGHT NOW IN OTHER
AREAS, THAT THEY COULD GO TO
WORK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR
HOSPITALS, FOR NURSING HOMES,
FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES
THAT NEED SOCIAL WORKERS, AND
MAKE MORE MONEY AND HAVE WAY
LESS STRESS.
>> WE'VE SEEN IN IN A LOT OF
PROFESSIONAL AND
NON-PROFESSIONAL CAREERS CALLED
THE GREAT RESIGNATION.
NURSES AS YOU MENTIONED.
WE SEE IT IN PUBLIC ADVOCATES.
WE'VE SEEN IT IN CORRECTIONS,
JAIL, WARDENS AND IT'S A
PROBLEM.
YOU GO TO ALMOST ANY RESTAURANT
AND YOU ARE GOING SEE A SIGN OUT
FRONT SAYING NOW HIRING.
>> CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE TO
COME UP WITH WAYS TO REHIRE SOME
OF THE PEOPLE, TO HIRE NEW
POLICE OFFICERS.
THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE
THE PAY, DO MORE INCENTIVES TO
GET THE JOBS FILLED BECAUSE THEY
HAVE TO BE FILLED.
>> AT A TIME LEXINGTON AND
LOUISVILLE HAVING A REAL PROBLEM
WITH CRIME RATE, THE VIOLENT
CRIME, RECORD HOMICIDES IN BOTH
THE STATE'S TWO LARGEST CITIES.
>> RECORD HOMICIDE RATES AND
POLICE SHORTAGES, A BAD
COMBINATION.
>> SO IT'S KIND OF A SIDE TO
THAT, RAMIFICATIONS FROM THE
BREONNA TAYLOR CASE CONTINUED
THIS YEAR AND NO KNOCK WARRANTS
WERE ADDRESSED DURING THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE TASK
FORCE WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON
WHEN REPORTED SOME
RECOMMENDATIONS AND LISTENED TO
PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.
>> YEAH, THEY WERE BASICALLY
EIGHT RECOMMENDATIONS HAVING TO
DO WITH TRAINING OF POLICE
OFFICERS IN DOING THESE WARRANTS
AND ALSO TRACKING ESSENTIALLY,
HOW THESE WARRANTS ARE ISSUED,
WHO ISSUES THEM, RESTRICTING
WHEN THEY CAN BE ISSUED.
THOSE KINDS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
THAT WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED
BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUT IT
WAS ALL A RESULT OF THE BREONNA
TAYLOR CASE.
>> WE TALK ABOUT THE WORKFORCE
ISSUES AND THE CHALLENGES ARE
REALLY APPARENT IN THE DAYCARE
INDUSTRY, RIGHT?
WHICH IS PART OF WHY IT IS HARD
TO GET SOME PEOPLE BACK TO WORK.
>> DEFINITELY.
FOR ONE THING, IT'S REALLY HARD
FOR WORKERS, BEFORE VACCINES
WERE AFRAID TO GET OUT AND GET
EXPOSED.
BUT IT PAYS, DOESN'T PAY WELL.
WORKERS ARE FINDING THEY CAN DO
OTHER THINGS AND IT'S REALLY
CREATING A CRISIS IN THE FIELD
BECAUSE PEOPLE NEED CHILD CARE
THEY CAN AFFORD SO THEY CAN GO
TO WORK AND THAT'S HURTING THE
WORKFORCE ISSUES AS WELL.
>> 2021, YOU HAVE TO LOOK BACK
EARLY IN THE YEAR, JANUARY 6,
THE INSURRECTION OF THE U.S.
CAPITOL, SEVERAL KENTUCKIANS
WERE EVENTUALLY CHARGED.
>> I REMEMBER WATCHING THAT.
THE JAW DROPPED TO SEE WHAT WAS
HAPPENING AT THE CAPITOL.
BUT WHAT HAS BEEN INTERESTING
NOW, ALMOST A YEAR LATER, IS TO
SEE HOW THIS IS BEING FRAMED
DIFFERENTLY BY DIFFERENT
POLITICAL PARTIES.
YOU HAVE TRUMP ALLIES TRYING TO
DOWNPLAY THIS THING, WAS NOT
REALLY AN ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL.
THERE IS OF COURSE, A COMMISSION
INVESTIGATING THIS THE IN HOUSE
AND LIZ CHENEY FOR ONE IS ONE OF
THE FEW REPUBLICANS WHO ARE
ACTUALLY GOING TO DIG INTO THIS.
BUT CERTAINLY A YEAR AFTER IT
HAPPENED, IS STILL SHAPING
POLITICS, STILL SHAPING OPINIONS
AT THE CAPITOL AND BEYOND.
>> LEER IN KENTUCKY ON THAT DAY,
JANUARY 6, WE REPORTERS WERE
PREPARING TO HEAR ANDY BESHEAR
AS GOVERNOR, GIVE HIS FIRST
STATE OF THE COMMONWEALTH
ADDRESS.
AND BECAUSE OF THE MAYHEM IN THE
NATION'S CAPITOL, THAT WAS
POSTPONED A NIGHT.
>> WE SHOULD SAY THIS AS WELL,
SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL A FEW
DAYS AGO SAID THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO.
SO HE IS SPLIT FROM FORMER
PRESIDENT ON THIS.
>> WHICH WAS ALWAYS SORT OF A
FRAGILE ALIGNS THERE.
>> YOU CAN SAY THAT.
>> BUT THEY REALLY FELL OUT OVER
THERE,-- OVER THIS, RIGHT.
>> FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS
BEEN TRYING TO GET SENATOR
McCONNELL OUSTED AS THE
MINORITY LEADER, UNSUCCESSFULLY.
HE STILL HOLDS SOLID SUPPORT
AMONG REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE,
BUT IT'S OBVIOUS THAT
RELATIONSHIP, SUCH AS IT WAS, IS
GONE.
>> WELL, HE HAD SOME OTHER, YOU
KNOW, HE BOOKED REPUBLICAN
CONSERVATIVES ON THE
INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH HE CALLED A
GOD SEND FOR KENTUCKY WHEN THAT
PASSED AND THE FUNDING OF THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT A COUPLE OF
COMPROMISES THAT HE WORKED OUT
ALONG THE WAY.
>> AND McCONNELL, YOU KNOW,
GOT WHAT HE WANTED DURING THE
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT
WAS JUDGES.
HE GOT JUDGES APPOINTED
INCLUDING SUPREME COURT JUDGES.
SO THAT CERTAINLY IS PART OF THE
REASON THAT SENATOR McCONNELL
WORKED WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP BUT
THAT RELATIONSHIP AS WE KNOW HAS
BEEN FRACTURED.
>> WELL, THE STATE LEGISLATURE
DURING A SHORT OF SHORTENED
SESSION BECAUSE OF COVID OR AT
LEAST THEY HAD TO REALLY
EXPEDITE THINGS, THEY DID PASS A
ONE-YEAR BUDGET AND THE REVENUE
HAS COME IN TO FAR EXCEED THAT
PLAN.
>> THERE IS A GROUP OF
ECONOMISTS THEY MEET AND
FORECAST HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE
AVAILABLE FOR THE NEXT TWO-YEAR
BUDGET.
IT'S CALLED THE CONSENSUS
FORECASTING GROUP AND THEY'RE
LOOKING AT A $2 BILLION SURPLUS.
SO THERE WILL BE SOME MONEY
THERE TO BE SPENT.
>> AND EXTRAORDINARY DEMAND FOR
IT.
>> AND THE TORNADO SITUATION
PLAY INTO THAT AS WELL.
>> I THINK THAT WILL FACTOR INTO
IT.
BESHEAR SAID RECENTLY THAT THAT
WILL FIGURE INTO HIS BUDGET
PROPOSAL FOR NEXT YEAR, OR AT
LEAST IT IS THOUGHT THAT IT
WOULD.
>> THERE WAS SO MUCH MONEY
AVAILABLE IS A LOT OF MONEY.
>> WHY IS THE MONEY FLOWING IN?
>> I THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO
WITH THE FEDERAL RELIEF FROM
COVID THAT HAS FLOWED INTO
STATES INCLUDING KENTUCKY IN
ADDITION TO A LOT OF DIRECT
SUPPORT FOR STATE PROGRAMS AND
BUSINESSES AND HOSPITALS AND
OTHER THINGS THAT HAS GIVEN
PEOPLE MORE MONEY TO SPEND
THROUGH UNEMPLOYMENT AND OTHER
ASSISTANCE THAT HAS HELPED THE
ECONOMY KEEP GOING, I THINK.
>> THERE HAS BEEN A PROPOSAL BY
ONE SECTOR TO REDUCE THE PENSION
STATE THE STATE HAS, BUT I THINK
THERE ARE SO MANY DEMANDS BY THE
SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS,
TROOPERS, OTHER ESSENTIAL
WORKERS, THAT THEY ARE GOING TO
NEED SOME KIND OF PAY INCREASE.
>> THERE WERE SOME MAJOR BRIGHT
SPOTS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE
KENTUCKY ECONOMY.
FORD PICKED THE BLUEGRASS STATE
FOR A MAJOR BATTERY PLANT.
TOYOTA HAD A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT.
SO REALLY KENTUCKY HAS BEEN PUT
IN THE FOREFRONT OF PRODUCING
WHAT LOOKS TO BE A FUTURE OF
ELECTRIC VEHICLES, RIGHT?
>> I THINK THE ECONOMY IS ON
FIRE.
CERTAINLY ALMOST $10 BILLION
WORTH OF INVESTMENT THIS YEAR.
>> WELL, IF CRISES ARE ONE PART
OF THE BESHEAR LEGACY, THE OTHER
PART IS GOING TO BE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, RECORD NUMBER OF
PROJECTS LAUNCHED THIS YEAR SO
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT
DOWN THE ROAD AS FAR AS THE
NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED.
AND REVENUE PRODUCED.
>> WE HAD A KENTUCKY DERBY
FILLED WITH CONTROVERSY.
THE WINNER TESTED POSITIVE FOR
STEROIDS, MEDINA SPIRIT DIED
LATER IN THE YEAR WITH SOME
QUESTIONS, MAYBE STILL UP IN THE
AIR.
>> MEDINA SPIRIT HAD ILLEGAL
SUBSTANCES IN HIS SYSTEM.
BOB BAFFORT SUSPENDED BY
CHURCHILL DOWNS FOR TWO YEARS.
LATER IT CAME OUT IT WAS A
TOPICAL APPLICATION, NOTHING
INJECTED BUT THERE IS STILL NO
RULING YET BY THE HORSE RACING
COMMISSION AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW,
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE KENTUCKY
DERBY, WHETHER MEDINA SPIRIT'S
WIN IS SUSPENDED OR PUSHED
ASIDE.
THAT'S AN ONGOING CONTROVERSY.
AT THIS POINT, BOB IS OUT OF THE
NEXT COUPLE KENTUCKY DERBY.
>> A BAD OUTCOME FOR THE FIRST
KENTUCKY DERBY WITH FANS BACK IN
THE STAND AGAIN.
>> ONE OF THE SURPRISES OF THE
YEAR CAME FROM LONG TIME
LOUISVILLE CONGRESSMAN JOHN
YARMOUTH, THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN
THE COMMONWEALTH ANNOUNCED HIS
RETIREMENT AND THAT SET OFF A
SCRAMBLE THAT BECAME APPARENT
VERY QUICKLY.
>> ATICUS SCOTT, STATE
REPRESENTATIVE ANNOUNCED SHE WAS
GOING TO CHALLENGE HIM AND THEN
WHEN HE STEPPED ASIDE, QUICKLY
STATE SENATOR MCGARVEY GOT IN
THE RACE AND HAS RAISED LOTS OF
MONEY.
THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN
COMBATANTS RIGHT NOW FOR THE
POST.
THE REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T PUT UP A
BIG NAME YET, BUT IT'S RIGHT NOW
THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION IS
BETWEEN SCOTT AND MCGARVEY.
>> 2021 DIDN'T HAVE THE
ELECTIONS EXCEPT FOR THREE
SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
BECAUSE OF VARIOUS REASONS.
BUT NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE
FILLED WITH ELECTIONS,
CONGRESSIONAL, U.S. SENATE,
LEGISLATIVE, JUDGES, LOCALS EVEN
VERY BUSY.
>> TOP TO BOTTOM.
WELL, THIS IS VERY BITTERSWEET
NIGHT FOR US AS WE NOTED A
COUPLE OF OUR GIANTS ON THIS SET
ARE LEAVING KENTUCKY JOURNALISM.
JACK AND LAWRENCE BOTH PLANNING
TO TURN THE PAGE IN THEIR LIVES.
KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
JOHN MINTON RECENTLY PRAISED
JACK FOR HIS DECADES OF WORK.
>> IF THE MEDIA IS THE FOURTH
ESTATE IN GOVERNMENT, THEN JACK
BRAMMER IS ONE OF THE STATE'S
FINEST STATESMEN.
HIS REPORTING HAS INFORMED THE
PUBLIC AND HAS HELPED MAKE OUR
INSTITUTIONS MORE ACCOUNTABLE.
MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THOSE THAT
THE GOVERNMENT SERVES.
JACK'S REPORTING HAS, AT ONE
POINT OR ANOTHER, SHAKEN UP
EVERY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT,
INCLUDING THIS ONE.
BUT MADE IT MORE OPEN AND MORE
RESPONSIBLE.
>> JACK, YOU ANNOUNCED YOUR
RETIREMENT A FEW WEEKS AGO.
WE KIND OF SAW IT COMING THROUGH
THE YEAR.
YOU WERE HINTING ABOUT IT MAYBE.
BUT YOU LEAVE THE LEXINGTON
"HERALD-LEADER" NEXT WEEK AFTER
MORE THAN 40 YEARS COVERING
FRANKFORT AND OTHER THINGS THAT
CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION.
I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN AWAY
ABSOLUTE PILLAR OF THIS PROGRAM
FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND TIMES
HAVE CHANGED, RIGHT?
>> IT HAS.
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
IF THEY DIDN'T CHANGE, WE
WOULDN'T HAVE NEWS.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR THE
CHIEF JUSTICE'S KIND COMMENTS.
I'M VERY THANKFUL TO KET,
HONORED TO HAVE ME ON THIS
PROGRAM FOR SO MANY YEARS WITH
BRILLIANT JOURNALISTS LIKE GABBY
AND LAWRENCE.
AS FOR MYSELF, I LIKE TO SAY
THAT I DRANK FROM THE SAUCER OF
LIFE BECAUSE GOD HAS OVERFILLED
MY CUP WITH SO MANY BLESSINGS.
I'M A VERY BLESSED MAN AND TO
QUOTE THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER
DR. SUESS, DON'T CRY BECAUSE
IT'S OVER.
SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED.
>> WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO
AFTER THIS?
>> HOPE TO BE A FREELANCE WRITER
IF ANYBODY NEEDS A WRITER OUT
THERE.
I WILL WRITE FOR FOOD.
SO A LITTLE PLUG THERE.
MY ONLY REGRET ON THE SHOW,
BILL, IS THAT I DIDN'T MENTION
ENOUGH THE TOWN OF MAYSVILLE.
>> ONE MORE TIME FOR THE GOOD
TIMES.
LAWRENCE, YOU TOOK US BY
SURPRISE THIS WEEK ANNOUNCING
THAT YOU ARE LEAVING AND GOING
IN ANOTHER DIRECTION.
WE SURE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON
THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING HOSTING
IT OVER THESE YEARS.
WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU BACK ONE
MORE TIME BEFORE YOU LEAVE TV.
>> LET ME SAY FIRST, I CAN'T
HOLD JACK BRAMMER'S PEN.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH
HIM.
I'M LEAVING THE TELEVISION NEWS
BUSINESS AND GOING TO BE THE
COMMUNICATION NEWS DIRECTOR FOR
THE KENTUCKY BAPTIST CONVENTION.
I WILL STALE HAVE ONE FOOT IN
NEWS BECAUSE THERE IS A NEWS ARM
FOR THE CONVENTION CALLED
KENTUCKY TODAY AND I WILL BE
EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THAT SITE.
SO I WILL STILL BE DOING SOME
NEWS.
BUT OF A DIFFERENT KIND.
>> I REFUSE TO HOLD UP A MIRROR
RIGHT NOW BUT WE WISH THESE GUYS
WELL.
>> DEFINITELY.
THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN SOLID IN THE
PRESS CORPS.
I LIKE LIKE TO CALL THEM THE
GENTLEMEN JOURNALISTS.
>> WE HAVE CHRONICLED A LOT OF
CHANGES OVER THE YEARS AND JACK,
WE WILL SEE YOU ALONG THE WAY,
ALL RIGHT?
>> I HOPE SO.
AND LAWRENCE, I'M TRYING TO GET
THAT COMMITMENT, ONE MORE SHOW
BEFORE YOU GO, ALL RIGHT?
>> HEY, I'M GOOD.
I'M GOOD FOR IT.
>> WE APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US
FOR THIS SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE
EDITION OF COMMENT ON KENTUCKY.
IT IS A TRUE HONOR TO HOST THIS
PROGRAM AND TO TALK ABOUT THE
ISSUES FACING OUR COMMONWEALTH
EACH WEEK.
AND WE TRULY APPRECIATE THE VERY
INFORMED PANELISTS WHO MAKE IT A
RELEVANT DISCUSSION, INCLUDING
THOSE HERE TONIGHT AND WE WISH
YOU AND YOURS THE VERY BEST IN
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON AND IN THE
NEW YEAR AHEAD OF 2022.