>> Bill: KENTUCKIANS GATHER

FOR THANKSGIVING AND REFLECT ON

A YEAR OF UPS AND DOWNS.

COVID TAKES AN AWFUL TOLL

DESPITE A REBUS VACCINATION

EFFORT.

KENTUCKY SEES RECORD ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS AND

REVENUE IS COMING IN STRONG.

EYES TURN TOWARD HOLIDAY

SHOPPING AND A BUSY 2022 ON THE

HORIZON IN FRANKFORT.

GRAB SOME LEFTOVERS AND MAYBE

YOUR FAVORITE CHAIR.

"COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

GOOD EVENING. I'M BILL BRYANT,

AND WE WELCOME

YOU TO A SPECIAL THINKING OF

WEEKEND EDITION OF "COMMENT ON

KENTUCKY."

WE'LL LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR AND TAKE

A PEEK AT WHAT'S AHEAD RIGHT

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. THE GUESTS

ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKS

FOR OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT are:

RYLAND BARTON, CAPITOL BUREAU

CHIEF FOR KENTUCKY PUBLIC RADIO

WITH STATIONS IN MURRAY, BOWLIN

GREEN, LOUISVILLE AND RICHMOND.

ALEX ACQUISTO, REPORTER FOR THE

LEXINGTON-HERALD LEADER. AND

LAWRENCE SMITH, REPORTER FOR

WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO, LISA BENSON, PUBLISHER FOR

LOUISVILLE BUSINESS FIRST.

WILL JOIN US FOR A SEGMENT.

WE WANT TO NOTE THIS PROGRAM WAS

TAPED ON NOVEMBER 19th IN

ORDER TO GIVE THE STAFF AT KET

AND AIR GUESTS A CHANCE TO ENJOY

THE HOLIDAY.

WE'LL COVER ANY MAJOR NEWS FROM

THIS WEEK WHEN WE RETURN LIVE ON

DECEMBER 3rd, SO TONIGHT WE'LL

TALK ABOUT THIS YEAR SO FAR, AND

THE LEAD-UP TO WHAT IS LIKELY TO

BE A LIVELY 2022 HERE IN THE

COMMONWEALTH.

ALEX, LET'S START WITH THIS.

WE BEGIN BY KIND OF TAKING STOCK

OF WHERE WE ARE.

MANY OF US DID NOT GET TO EVEN

GET TOGETHER WITH FAMILIES FOR

THANKSGIVING LAST YEAR.

IF YOU DID, IT WAS A

WORK-AROUND.

I SAT 25 FEET AWAY FROM MY

PARENTS' HOUSE ON THE PATIO AT A

LITTLE CARD TABLE THAT WAS SET

UP FOR ME WITH FOOD.

I KNOW YOU DIDN'T GO HOME.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

I DIDN'T GO TO MY FAMILY.

>> Bill: YET THERE'S A BIT OF

A RETURN TO NORMAL AND STILL WE

KNOW WE'RE IN A TROUBLE ZONE

HERE.

>> Alex: RIGHT.

CERTAINLY THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE

THIS YEAR IS THAT WE HAVE A

VACCINE, RIGHT?

SO THE AVAILABILITY OF THAT IS

MAKING A DIFFERENCE, FOR

EXAMPLE, I'M GETTING TOGETHER

WITH MY FAMILY BECAUSE WE'RE ALL

VACCINATED.

BUT WE'RE ALSO -- AND, YOU KNOW,

LOOKING BACK THIS TIME LAST

YEAR, THE POSITIVITY RATE WAS

ABOVE 9%.

RIGHT NOW NOVEMBER 19th IT'S

6.24%, WHICH IS LOWER, BUT

UNLIKE LAST YEAR WHERE WE HAD A

SURGE IN WINTER, NOW WE'RE

COMING OFF OF WHAT HAS BEEN THE

DEADLIEST SINCE SO FAR MOST

DESTRUCTIVE SURGE OF PANDEMIC

AND WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS

YET, AND SO WHILE THERE ARE

IMPROVEMENTS, WE'RE SORT OF

TEETERING ON THE EDGE.

WE SAW CASE INCREASES LAST

WEEK.

POSITIVITY RATE IS ON THE RISE,

LOPZATIONS ARE UP SLIGHTLY, AND

WE STILL HAVE A GOOD PORTION OF

THE STATE THAT ISN'T

VACCINATED.

NOW, BESHEAR WAS PUSHING THIS

WEEK BOOSTERS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE

FULLY VACCINATED TO GET THAT

ADDED LAYER OF PROTECTION, BUT

WE'RE STILL IN A PRECARIOUS

SPOT.

AS THESE INFECTION RATES GO, WE

HAVE NOT FALLEN SIGNIFICANTLY.

WE'VE BEEN IN A FREEFALL FOR THE

PAST FEW MONTHS BUT WE HAVE NOT

FALLEN TO THE DEPTHS THAT WE

FELL POST LAST YEAR'S WINTER

SURGE.

AND AGAIN I MEAN WE'VE BEEN IN A

PLATEAU, THINGS ARE TUCKING UP,

SO I THINK UNFORTUNATELY --

TICKING UP, SO I THINK

UNFORTUNATELY EVEN THOUGH WE

HAVE MORE TOOLS AVAILABLE,

THANKSGIVING COULD PRODUCE

ANOTHER SPEWING, AND WE'LL KNOW

IN A WEEK OR TWO.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, JUST AS WE

START TO FEEL THAT THINGS ARE

GETTING NORMAL AND WE START

ACTING NORMALLY, WE SEE WHAT

HAPPENS WITH THIS DELTA VARIANT

THAT CAME THROUGH SOME WEEKS AGO

IN LATE SUMMER AND EARLY FALL.

I MEAN, IT REALLY HIT US HARD.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, AND IT'S

GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE

HOW THE BOOSTER SHOTS GO.

WE KNOW HOW MUCH OF A STRUGGLE

IT WAS TO GET TO WHERE WE ARE

RIGHT NOW IN THE NUMBER OF

VACCINATIONS, SO THE QUESTION IS

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE

WILLING NOW TO GET THAT THIRD

SHOT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING

TO SEE.

THE GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY HAS BEEN

PUSHING GET BOOSTERS, GET

BOOSTERS.

IN FACT, AS WE TAPE THIS COMING

WEEKEND HE'S GOING TO BE

APPEARING IN LOUISVILLE TO

PROMOTE BOOSTER SHOTS, SO IT IS

GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE

IF IT'S GOING TO BE AS MUCH OF A

STRUGGLE TO GET BOOSTERS DONE AS

IT WAS TO GET THE FIRST AND

SECOND DOSES DONE.

>> Alex: AND I THINK TO A

DEGREE IT'S STRATEGIC, YOU KNOW,

THIS WEEK THE CDC CAME OUT WITH

ITS FULL-THROATED ENDORSEMENT OF

BOOSTERS WHEN.

WHEN WE FIRST LEARNED ABOUT

BOOSTERS, WE WEREN'T SURE IF

THEY WERE GOING TO BE A

REQUIREMENT OR IF IT WAS

SOMETHING -- NOT A REQUIREMENT

BUT SOMETHING A WAS OPTIONAL.

NOW WE KNOW THAT IT'S SOMETHING

THAT SEEMS NECESSARY.

WE KNOW THAT IMMUNITY FROM THE

VACCINE WANES OVER TIME.

AND SO BESHEAR, AHEAD OF THE

HOLIDAY SEASON, IS SORT OF

PUSHING, YOU KNOW, MAYBE

THINKING THAT IF YOU ARE FULL

OFY VACCINATED YOU ARE MORE

LIKELY TO GET A BOOSTER DOSE AS

OPPOSED TO SOMEBODY WHO ISN'T

VACCINATED AT YOU WILL TO GET A

VACCINE.

WE KNOW THAT UNVACCINATED PEOPLE

ARE STILL THE BIGGEST DRIVER

EVER CASES IN THIS STATE BUT I

THINK THIS COULD BE AN ADDED

TOOL TO HELP LIMIT SPREAD IF

MORE VACCINATED PEOPLE WOULD GET

A BOOSTER.

>> Lawrence: WHAT'S GOING TO

BE INTERESTING, THOUGH, THE

QUESTION IS WHAT ROLE NATURAL

IMMUNITY MIGHT LAY IN ALL THIS

BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME, MOST

NOTELY SENATOR RAND PAUL, WHO

DOESN'T OPPOSE THE VACCINE BUT

HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE

NATURAL IMMUNITY, THAT'LL --

IT'S ACTUALLY STRONGER IN SOME

CASES THAN GETTING THE SHOT.

SO WHAT ABOUT THE KIND OF

MESSAGING THAT'S GOING ON

THERE?

>> Alex: I THINK NATURAL

IMMUNITY CERTAINLY EXISTS,

RIGHT?

I THINK OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS

WHEN WE HAD THIS PEAK SURGE, I

THINK A COMBINATION OF FACTORS

CAUSED US TO SORT OF HIT THE

PEAK AND DROP AGAIN.

I THINK ENOUGH PEOPLE TESTING

POSITIVE AND DEVELOPING NATURAL

IMMUNITY PLAYED A PART, BUT ALSO

ENOUGH PEOPLE GETTING THE

VACCINE PLAYED PROBABLY A BIGGER

PART.

FROM WHAT WE KNOW, NATURAL

IMMUNITY WANES OVER TIME.

THE BEST WAY TO KEEP EXTENDED

IMMUNITY FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF

TIME IS THE KEENE BUT THOSE TWO

DEFINITELY, THEY GO HAND IN

HAND.

>> Bill: RYLAND, HOSPITALS

HAVE BEEN SO SLAMMED THIS YEAR,

AND THIS WEEK I TALKED WITH A

WOMAN WHO JUST HAD TO TAKE A

BREAK FROM HEALTH CARE.

SHE WAS WORKING AS A BREES A IN

A COFFEE BARISTA IN A COFFEE

SHOP BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE HAD

SEEN SO MANY THINGS THAT

COULDN'T BE UNSEEN.

WILL WE APPRECIATE OUR HEALTH

CARE WORKERS ANY MORE AFTER

THAT?

ARE WE SHOWING APPROPRIATE

APPRECIATION FOR ALL THEY'VE

BEEN DOING?

>> Ryland: I CERTAINLY HOPE

THAT EVERYBODY APPRECIATES OUR

HEALTH CARE WORKERS, AND I'M

SURE THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE

THAT WE CAN DO TO TRY AND

APPRECIATE THEM MORE.

THIS IS, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS

THE HARDEST JOB IN AMERICA OVER

THE LAST YEAR.

THE THINGS THAT THE PEOPLE --

THESE PEOPLE HAVE SEEN, THE LONG

HOURS THAT THEY'VE HAD TO WORK,

WITH THE LACK OF SUPPORT, THE

PEOPLE SHOWING UP INCREASINGLY

POLITICALLY SCREAMING AT THEM,

SPITTING AT THEM HOW DOES OF

HOSPITALS, WHICH IS JUST

UNCONSCIONABLE.

HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN OVER THIS

LAST YEAR WHEN, AGAIN, THESE OUR

FRONTLINE OF FRONTLINE WORKERS.

SO THERE'S BEEN LOTS OF TALK OF

TRYING TO MAKE THAT -- MAKE THAT

AN EASIER JOB FOR THESE FOLKS.

ONE HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIND A

WAY TO HIRE MORE -- HIRE MORE

HEALTH CARE WORKERS, HIRE MORE

NURSES AND PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS

ASSISTANTS.

THERE HAVE BEEN PROPOSALS BOTH

FROM LEGISLATURE AND FROM

GOVERNOR BESHEAR TO HAVE SOME

HERO PAY TO HELP REWARD SOME OF

THESE WORKERS OR TO JUST IF I AM

A LITTLE BIT OF THAT HOLE THAT

HAS BEEN DUG OVER THE LAST

YEAR.

IT'S A POLITICAL FOOTBALL THAT'S

GONE BACK AND FORTH OVER THE

COURSE OF THIS FALL BUT IT'S.

DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT'S

GOING TO COME BACK UP IN THIS

UPCOMING ECLECTIC SESSION.

SUPPOSEDLY 1st $400 MILLION

AROUND.

THAT'S WHAT GOVERNOR ANDY

BESHEAR SUGGESTED EXTRA AMERICAN

CARE PLAN WORKERS TO GO TO FRONT

LYE AND OTHER HELICOPTER WORKERS

AS WELL.

THAT'LL BE TAKEN UP IN JANUARY.

>> Bill: YOU MENTIONED SOME

POLITICS IN THERE SO LET'S SHIFT

SOME GEARS TO THAT AS THIS YEAR

IN PROPOSING UP, 2022 IS GOING

TO BE AN EXCITING POLITICAL

YEAR.

WE HAVE RACES FROM U.S. SENATE

DOWN TO LEGISLATIVE AND LOCAL

CONTESTS, MAYORS AND SHERIFFS

AND COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVES AND

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS BEING VOTED

FOR AND ON NEXT YEAR.

SO I GUESS THE SENATE RACE IS

ONE WE'LL WATCH CERTAIN BUT,

LAWRENCE, THAT 3rd DISTRICT

U.S. HOUSE RACE, THE OPEN SEAT

WILL BE ONE THAT WILL BE AN

EXCITING RACE.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, THAT'S

INTERESTING.

REPRESENTATIVE ATTICA SCOTT

JUMPED IN THAT RACE EARLY ON AND

MANY OF US WONDERED WHY IS SHE

CHALLENGING JOHN YARMOUTH.

THAT'S ALMOST A SUICIDE MIDGETS

MIGHT SEEM BUT NOW SHE LOOKS

SMART BECAUSE JOHN YARMOUTH SAID

HE'S NOT GOING TO RUN FOR

RE-ELECTION.

SO SHE IS IN THE RACE.

ALSO THE CURRENT STATE LEADER

MORGAN McGARVEY JUMPED IN

RAISE P A LOT OF MONEY.

THAT'S GOING TO BE AN

INTERESTING RACE, AND ONE IN

WHICH DEMOCRATS BECAUSE OF THE

REG EDGES IN THEIR DISTRICT ARE

GOING TO HAVE AN DISTINCT

SAN FRANCISCO TO KEEP THAT

SEAT.

>> Ryland:

>> Billy: RYLAND, TUESDAY

SENATE RACE IS LIKELY TO BE

INTEREST IN STATE AND GET NOTED

OUT OF STATE.

>> Ryland: AT THIS POINT IT

THAT PIERCE TO BE WON FOR

CHARLES BOOKER AND CURRENT

REPUBLICAN SENATOR RAND PAUL.

CHARLES BOOKER IS THE MOST

PROMINENT DEMOCRAT IN THE RACE

SO FAR.

THERE'S A LOT OF SPECULATION

OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR

WHETHER ANOTHER BIG DEMOCRAT

WOULD TRY AND GET INTO THIS

RACE.

THERE IS STILL A LULL MORE TIME

UNTIL JANUARY SO WE COULD SEE.

IT WAS INTERESTING, EARLIER IN

NOVEMBER CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH

ENDORSED CHARLES BOOKER, SO, YOU

KNOW, IT'S KIND OF A BIT OF A

FIELD-CLEARING MOVE.

IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT --

MIGHT MAKE SOME DPS WHO ARE ON

THE SIDELINES A LITTLE BIT MORE

WARY OF TOSSING THEIR HATS INTO

THE RING.

BUT, YEAH, THIS ONE'S BEEN TYPED

FOR A WHILE SO WE'RE LOOKING AT

A CHARLES BOOKER-RAND PAUL 2022

RACE.

>> Lawrence: WE ALSO SHOULD

MENTION THERE ARE A BIG MAYOR IN

LOUISVILLE.

GREG FISCHER IS TERMED OUT.

THAT SEAT IS GOING TO BE OPEN.

THERE'S A BIG BATTLE

PARTICULARLY AMONG DPS FOR THAT

SEAT, AND THERE'S A REPUBLICAN

MAYOR OF J-TOWN IS ALSO IN THAT

RACE.

SO REPUBLICANS HOPE THEY CAN

MAYBE TAKE THE MAYOR'S RACE BUT

IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY, VERY

UPHILL CLIMB AGAIN BECAUSE OF

REGISTRATION IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Ryland: BEFORE WE LEAVE THE

LOUISVILLE POLITICS TOPIC, IT'S

IMPORTANT TO MENTION REPORTERS

HAVE EITHER GOTTEN CLOSE IN

RISERS IAN HELD SEATS.

ANN NORTHROP WAS CONGRESS ARE YA

MOTH'S PREDECESSOR SHE'S A

REPUBLICAN.

>> Billy: HAL HEINER.

>> Ryland: GREG FISCHER,

2010.

SO REPUBLICANS ARE ALWAYS FRYING

TO WIN THIS SEAT, AND THEIR BEST

CHANCE, AT LEAST IN A

CONGRESSIONAL RACE OR A MAYORAL

ELECTION, IS WHEN THERE'S AN

OPEN SEAT BUNCH LET'S LOOK AT

THIS.

THE.

PARTY REGISTRATION THE TRENDLINE

HAS WEAN NARROWINGS.

MORE KENTUCKIANS ARE REGISTERING

AS REPUBLICAN REPUBLICANS AND

DEMOCRATS ARE LEAVING THE

PARTY.

DPS HAVE HISTORICALLY DOMINATED

THE REGISTRATION.

THEY STILL LEAD BUT YOU CAN SEE

FROM THESE NEW NUMBERS FROM THE

STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS,

DEMOCRATIC REGISTRATION NOW

OUTPACES REPUBLICAN REGISTRANTS

BY JUST ABOUT 55,000 VOTERS.

LAWRENCE, WOULD IT APPEAR THAT

REPUBLICANS WILL SOON OUTNUMBER

DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY?

>> Lawrence: CERTAINLY IF THAT

TREND CONTINUES, THEY WILL.

IT'S BEEN GOING THAT DIRECTION

FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, WHICH IS

AMAZING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN

COVERING POLITICS IN KENTUCKY

FOR A LONG TIME.

DEMOCRATS DOMINATED IN

REGISTRATION FOR SO LONG, AND

NOW THAT NUMBER IS NARROWING

DOWN TO THE POINT WHEREAS SOME

POINT IT SEEMED THAT REPUBLICANS

WILL OVERTAKE THEM IN

REGISTRATION, BUT EVEN THOSE WHO

ARE REGISTERED DEMOCRATS HAVE

BEEN VOTING REPUBLICAN FOR A

LOANING TIME ANYWAY, SO THE

REGISTRATION IS BEGINNING TO

MATCH HOW THEY VOTE IN THE

POLLS.

>> Bill: I WITH AN TO HAVE A

QUICK DISCUSSION ON THIS.

NATIONAL POLITICS IS SO DIVISIVE

AND SO UBIQUITOUS THESE DAYS

THAT IT MAKES ITS WAY INTO

THANKSGIVING CONVERSATIONS --

THAT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE

THERE FOR YOU -- AND GEORGETOWN

MAYOR TOM PRATHER WHO IS NOT

RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT

YEAR TOLD ME IN AN INTERVIEW FOR

KWYT THAT TOO OFTEN IT IS

SEEPING INTO PREVIOUSLY

NON-PARTISAN PLACES LIKE MANY OF

OUR CITY HALLS.

>> IT'S BECOME A VERY TROUBLING

TREND, BILL.

WE SEE THE INTENTS PARTISAN

NATURE OF POLITICS THAT EXISTS

ON THE FEDERAL AND STATE LEVEL

BECOMING MORE AND MORE PREVALENT

IN OUR LOCAL ISSUES.

I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT LOCAL

GOVERNMENT IS THE PLACE WHERE WE

LOOK FOR LOCAL SOLUTIONS.

NOT POLITICAL SOLUTIONS OR PARTY

AFFILIATED SOLUTIONS.

>> Bill: SO WE ARE SEEING

MAYOR PRATHER'S CONCERNS THAT

SEEM TO BE PLAYING OUT AT SCHOOL

BOARD MEETINGS AND COUNCIL

CHAMBERS AND THESE NATIONAL

NARRATIVES, LAWRENCE, ARE

GETTING MIXED INTO THE LOOK AT

HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SIDEWALKS.

>> Lawrence: YEAH, I THINK

FUELED IN PART BY, OF COURSE,

24-HOUR NEWSCHANNEL BUT ALSO BY

SOCIAL MEDIA.

THESE ISSUES GET INTERMINGLED

WITH SOME LOCAL ISSUES BUT I

THINK AT THIS POINT I THINK

POLITICIANS ARE AT THEIR PERIL

TO DISMISS THESE CONCERNS.

THEY HAVE TOADLESS THEM WHEN

THEY COME UP IN CITY HALL FOR TO

ADDRESS THEM WHEN THEY COME UP

IN CITY HALL OR IN SCHOOL BOARDS

BECAUSE WE SAW IN VIRGINIA THAT

THAT'S WHAT FUELED A REPUBLICAN

WIN THERE IS CONCERNS ABOUT

EDUCATION, AND TEACHING THEM

WHAT IS BELIEVED TO BE CRITICAL

RACE THEORY AND THINGS LIKE

THAT.

THEY'RE COMING UP AND

POLITICIANS CAN'T IGNORE IT.

IT'S THERE.

>> Bill: AND SOMETIMES IT IS

HARD TO REMOVE IT FROM THE FACT

THAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN

ACT, FOR INSTANCE, VOTED ON FOR

BY DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON IS

NOW COMING TO THE LOCAL

GOVERNMENT LEVELS TO BE SPENT.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THAT

MONEY, AND IT APPEARS THEY WILL

EXTEND IT, RIGHT?

>> Lawrence: SURE.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO STATE

GOVERNMENTS BUT ALSO LOCAL

GOVERNMENTS TO DECIDE HOW TO

SPEND THIS MONEY, AND YOU HAVE A

LOT OF HANDS OUT WANTING TO GET

SOME OF THIS FEDERAL MONEY.

>> Ryland: ESPECIALLY DURING A

PANDEMIC WHEN ALL THIS RELIEF

MONEY IS COMING IN, I THINK THAT

ANY REPUBLICAN LEADER WHO WINDS

UP WITH HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF

DOLLARS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO

SPEND TO THE BENEFIT THE PEOPLE

OF THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OR

THEIR STATE IS GOING TO THINK

WISELY ABOUT HOW TO TRY AND DO

THAT.

>> Lawrence: AND YOU'RE GOING

FOR A LOFTY POLITICIANS WANTING

TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS BRIDGE

THAT WAS BUILT OR THIS ROAD THAT

WAS PAVED, SO THAT'LL BE A

FACTOR AS WELL.

>> Bill: ON THE ECONOMY,

LAWRENCE, WE HAVE A RECORD

$10 BILLION IN ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS

YEAR, EVEN AS WE HAVE THESE

WORKFORCE ISSUES IN KENTUCKY,

BUT ARE WE EARNING A PLACE AS

A -- AS A GOOD SPOT TO DO

BUSINESS?

>> Lawrence: WELL, THIS IS THE

ISSUE THAT ANDY BESHEAR, THE

GOVERNOR, IS GOING TO RUN ON.

HE'S SAID IT A THOUSAND TIMES,

THAT THE ECONOMY IN KENTUCKY IS

ON FIRE.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE HIS BIG

ISSUE, ALONG WITH COVID, BUT THE

BIG ISSUE HE'S GOING TO RUN ON

IS ALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

PROJECTS HE'S ATTRACTED TO THE

STATE WITH FOREMOST BEING THE

BIG FORD BATTERY PLANT THAT IS

BEING BUILT IN HARDIN COUNTY.

YEAH, THIS IS SOMETHING THE

GOVERNOR IS GOING TO -- IT

WASN'T TO TAKE CREDIT FOR, IS

TAKING CREDIT FOR AND IS GOING

TO RUN HARD ON.

>> Bill: AS WE HIT THE

HOLIDAYS STORE KEEPERS AND

INVESTORS KNOW THE TRENDS ARE

STRONG OUT THERE BUT THERE ARE

SOME REAL CHALLENGES WITH SUPPLY

CHAIN ISSUES AND FINDING OF

STAFF.

LISA BENSON FROM LOUISVILLE

BUSINESS FIRST JOINS US NOW.

LISA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH

US.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING

ME, BILL.

>> Bill: AS THIS PROGRAM RUNS

ON BLACK FRIDAY, WHAT ARE SOME

TRENDS THAT RETAILERS WATCHING

AS THEY TRY TO STOCK THEIR

SHELVES AND HOPE TO RING UP

THOSE SALES?

>> WELL, I HOPE YOU HAVE YOUR

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ALREADY DONE,

BILL BECAUSE THE NATIONAL RETAIL

FEDERATION CAME OUT WITH ITS

HOLIDAY SALES FORECAST AND

THEY'RE SAYING THAT SPENDING IS

EXPECTED TO BE UP BETWEEN 8.5

AND 10.5% OVER 2020 AND REACH AS

HIGH AS ABOUT 859 BUILDINGS THIS

YEAR SO THAT WOULD RANK AS THE

HIGHEST HOLIDAY RETAIL SALES ON

RECORD.

AND RETAILERS HAVE BEEN REALLY

RAMPING UP IN PREPARATION FOR

THAT, INVESTING IN THEIR SUPPLY

CHAINS AND ENSURING THAT THEY

CAN KEEP PRODUCTS ON THE

SHELVES.

WALMART, TARGET AND HOME DEPOT

HAVE REALLY BEEN AT THE

FOREFRONT OF THIS DOING A HUGE A

AMOUNT OF PREBUYING PRIOR TO THE

HOLIDAYS AND THEY GET A LOT OF

VIP TREATMENT TO MAKE SURE THEIR

STORES WILL BE WELL STOCK BUT

WHERE IT'S LIKELY TO BE A LOT

TOUGHER IS ON THE SMALL BUSINESS

SIDE.

HALF OF ALL SMALL BUSINESS

OWNERS SAY THEY EXPECT INVENTORY

SHORTAGES COOKED TO DOOLING.COM

AND THE BUSINESSES I TALKED TO

TELL ME JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING

MAKES ITS WAY TO TAKE LONGER

THROUGH THE CHAIN, PRICES BEGIN

TO ESCALATE AND THEY'RE FACING

EXTREME CHALLENGES TO THE LABOR

SIDE AND THE NUMBER OF

BUSINESSES THAT REPORTED

UNPHILADELPHIA JOB OPTION IS THE

HIGHEST IN THAT BE FIVE YEARS.

>> Bill: LET'S JUMP TO THE

WORKER SHORTAGE THAT IS REALLY

IN KENTUCKY WE HAVE ONE OF THE

MIEST QUIT RATES IN THE NATION.

SO HOW ARE KENTUCKY BUSINESSES

HANDLE THAT?

TRYING TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE, YOU

KNOW, TO GET THOSE ORDERS FILLED

OR CUSTOMERS SERVED.

>> IT'S A DELICATE BALANCE.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR MONTHS

ABOUT THIS GREAT RESIGNATION AND

IT'S PITTING SOME STATES

PARTICULARLY HARD, KENTUCKY AS

YOU MENTIONED.

THERE'S THAT DATA FROM PAYROLL

COMPANY GUSTO WHICH HAS BEEN

TRACKING THOSE QUIT RATES ACROSS

THE COUNTRY.

KENTUCKY SAW A QUIT RATE AT 4%

SO THAT PUTS US OUTSIDE THE TOP

TEN FOR WORKERS QUITTING THEIR

JOBS.

IT'S A TOUGH TIME FOR BUSINESSES

TO BE DEALING WITH THIS AS WE

HEAD INTO THE HOLIDAYS.

COMPANIES LIKE APES THAT NEED TO

MYER A LOT OF SEASONAL WORKERS

ARE TRYING TO EP THE UP THEIR

WAGES AND BENEFITS TO COMPETE.

LOUISVILLE AMENDS IS ONE OF THE

LARGEST EMPLOYERS AND NEEDS TO

HIRE 1500 FOR THE SEASON SO IT'S

STARTING WAGE A $18, GIVING SIGN

ONE-BLOCK BONUSES OF $3,000 AND

SOMETIMES TACKING ON ANOTHER $3

A SHIFT.

>> Bill: SO THERE'S

COMPETITION OUT THERE FOR THOSE

WORKERS.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS FOR

LOUISVILLE AND SOME OF THIS

FEDERAL MONEY THAT'S COMING IN,

MORE THAN $1 BILLION FROM THE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND THERE'S

SOMETHING CALLED 9th STREET

REIMAGINED THAT MAY BE GETTING

SOME HELP?

>> YEAH, WE ALWAYS LIKE TO

RECORD ON A STORY THAT HAS THE

"B" WORD IN IT, AND THERE IS THE

POSSIBILITY THAT LOUISVILLE

COULD SEE A BILLION DOLLARS THE

NEXT FIVE YEARS DEPENDING ON HOW

IT LEVERAGES THE FEDERAL FUNDS

THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED ALREADY

AND WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING TO

GET.

MAYOR GREG FISCHER WAS AT THE

WHITE HOUSE RECENTLY WHEN

PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE JOBS

ACT AND LOUISVILLE IS WPDE TO

RECEIVE $5 MILLION.

NEACE IN A BIGS TO THE MONEY

ALREADY RECEIVED FROM THE

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND CARES

ACT.

SO THAT'S ABOUT $1 MILLION TO

RESHAPE OUR CITY.

AND ONE PROJECT BEING CONSIDERED

IS SOMETHING CAUD THE 9th

STREET REIMAGINED PROJECT THAT

WOULD -- THE 9th STREET WHICH

HAS HISTORICALLY SEPARATED WEST

LOUISVILLE AND DOWNTOWN, SO THIS

EFFORT WOULD REWORK THAT

CORRIDOR TO MAKE IT MORE

PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY, CREATE MORE

GREEN SPACE AND PUBLIC ART.

>> Bill: LOUVRE BUSINESS FIRST

HAS ITS OWN NICHE PROJECT

UNDERWAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE COVERING

INNOVATION IN KENTUCKY, RIGHT?

>> THEY'RE.

KENTUCKY I KNOW HAS A BLAND NEW

INITIATIVE TO COVER INNOVATION

NEWS HAPPENINGS RADIOS ACROSS

THE COMMONWEALTH.

IT'S DIGITAL PLATFORM ABOUT

START-UP BUSINESSES,

ENTREPRENEURS ENTREPRENEURS,

TRENDS IMPACTING INNOVATION

ACROSS THE STATE IT.

IT HAD COVERS OUT OF THE

LOUISVILLE AREA AND INTO THE

STATE FOR THE FIRST TYPE.

>> Bill: QUICKLY YOU'VE DONE A

STORY ABOUT THE CHALLENGE THAT

FEMALE BUSINESS FOUNDERS FACE IN

KENTUCKY.

IT CAN BE AN UPHILL CLIMB.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR REPORTER HALEY COPEN TOOK A

LOOK A TRENDS IN CAPITAL

INVESTMENT AND 20 WAS A BANNER

YEAR FOR THESE STARTUPS ACROSS

THE BOARD LANDING 16% MORE

VENTURE DOLLARS THAN 2019 BUT

UNFORTUNATELY FEMALE-LED

INVESTMENTS SAW THEIR COMPANIES

FALL BY 3% AND --

THE REASONS THAT ARE UNDER LYING

THAT DISPARATE AND TALKED TO A

NUMBER OF WOMEN ABOUT THEIR

EXPERIENCE RAISING MONEY FOR

THEIR STARR-UP IN KENTUCKY.

IT REVEALED THAT FEMALE

ENTREPRENEURS CAN STRUGGLE WITH

MAKING CONNECTIONS.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE ARE A

NUMBER OF SUPPORTS AVAILABLE TO

HELP REVERSE THAT TREND.

THESE ARE THE KIND OF STORIES

WE'RE WORKING ON.

>> Bill: LISA BENSON, THANK

YOU FOR JOINING FOURS LOUISVILLE

BUSINESS FIRST.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE, BILL.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Bill: WITH OUR HANDLE OF

LAWRENCE SMITH, ALEX ACQUISTO

AND RYLAND BARTON.

ALEX, WE'RE MENTIONING THE

HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON NOW

UNDERWAY BUT MANY ARE HAVING TO

WATCHNER BASIC EXPENSES.

DO YOU THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF

KENTUCKIANS OUT THERE WITH REAL

CONCERNS EVEN ABOUT THE COST OF

HEATING THIS WINTER?

>> Alex: DEFINITELY.

I THINK THERE ALWAYS ARE.

AND I THINK EVEN THOUGH THE

PANDEMIC UPSET, WE HAD A LOT OF

PEOPLE WHO RECEIVED UNEMPLOYMENT

BENEFITS, I THINK THE PANDEMIC

ROILED A LOT OF FINANCES FOR A

LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WILL TAKE

THEM A LONG TIME TO RECOVER

FROM, AND SO I THINK EVEN THOUGH

IT'S THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND

PEOPLE HAVE MORE ACCESS TO JOBS

NOW THAN THEY DID AT THE HEIGHT

OF THE PANDEMIC, IT'S STILL

SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE PEOPLE

A WHILE TO SORT OF GET THEIR

BEARINGS AGAIN.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY

LEGISLATURE WILL ROLL INTO

FRANKFORT JUST A FEW WEEKS FROM

RIGHT NOW IN EARLY JANUARY.

WILL THERE BE ENOUGH BANDWIDTH

TO DEAL WITH THE STATE BUDGET

REQUIRED BY THE STATE

CONSTITUTION, REDISTRICTING

RIDER I. REQUIRED BY THE U.S.

CONSTITUTION, INFRASTRUCTURE

WITH THE FEDERAL MONEY COMING

IN, AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER ISSUES

THAT ARE OUT THERE COMPETING FOR

ATTENTION RIGHT NOW?

>> Ryland: WE'LL SEE.

THIS IS THE LONG YEAR.

THIS IS THE 60 THE WORKING DAY

SESSION, THE BUDGET WRITING

SESSION SO THEY DO HAVE A LITTLE

MORE ADVERTISEMENT, AND GRANTED

I THINK ANY LEGISLATIVE OBSERVER

CAN SEE MOST OF THE WORK GETS

DONE THE IN LAST MINUTES OR THE

LAST DAYS OF THE LEGISLATIVE

SESSION RIGHT BEFORE THE FINAL

DEADLINE, SO I THINK THAT THIS

WILL BE BUSIER THAN USUAL.

THERE ARE SO MANY MORE

PRIORITIES, AND A LOT OF THAT'S

GOING TO BE FROND FRONTED LOADED

BECAUSE OF REDISTRICTING.

THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE

GETTING THAT OUT OF THE WAY

PRETTY QUICKLY JUST SO THAT

PEOPLE KNOW WHAT SEATS THEY'RE

GOING TO BE RUNNING FOR.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME IN

QUICKLY, DELAY THAT FILING

DEADLINE TO SOME TIME LATER IN

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN.

AND THEN, YEAH, THEN CANDIDATES

PASS MAPS OR TRY TO AT LEAST

MAPS WILL FINALLY BE PUBLISH SO

THAT PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THE

DISTRICTS LOOK LIKE AND

WHATNOT.

THEN THERE'S THIS WHOLE STATE

BUDGET TO DEAL WITH, BIG OLD

EXTRA MONEY FOR THE STATE BUDGET

FROM TAX REVENUES AND A BUDGET

SURPLUS LAST YEAR TO KEHL DEAL

WITH, SO IT WILL BE A VERY BUSY

SESSION.

>> Lawrence: I'LL SAY THIS AS

WELL AS WELL.

YOU'RE RIGHT IT'S GOING TO BE A

BEADS SESSION, BUT THE BIG

PRIORITY STUFF WILL GET DONE

FAIRLY EARLY ON INCLUDING I

THINK THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE

REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE WANTS TO

MAKE SURE THEY HAVE TIME TO

OVERRIDE ANY VETOES BY THE

GOVERNOR, SO SOME STUFF WILL

WAIT IN THE LAST MINUTE BUT

OTHERS WILL NOT.

>> Bill: WE MENTIONED THE

SOCIAL WORKERS.

WE LOST 600 OF THOSE THIS YEAR.

THEY OPENLY SAY THAT THEY HAVE

SO MANY CASES, THEY CAN'T KEEP

TRACK.

WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT WOULD BE

ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WOULD

LIKELY GET SOME DISCUSSION.

>> Alex: DEFINITELY.

THIS WEEK A NUMBER OF SOCIAL

WORKERS PROTESTED ON THE STEPS

OF THE CAPITOL.

UPON HEARING THE NEWS THAT

BESHEAR WAS ALLOCATING MONEY TO

FUNDRAISES, AMONG OTHER THINGS,

FOR KENTUCKY STATE POLICE,

BASICALLY SOCIAL WORKERS ARE IN

AS DIRE OF STRAITS IF NOT MORE

DIRE.

A LOT OF EM HAVEN'T GOTTEN

RAISES IN YEARS AND SO THEY WANT

A CUT OF THE PIE AND THEY SORT

OF DESERVE IT.

AND BESHEAR TOLD OUR COLUMNIST

LINDA BLACKFORD THAT HE IS GOING

TO INCLUDE RAISES FOR THEM IN

HIS BUDGET.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF WHETHER

LAWMAKERS APPROVE IT.

>> Bill: MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

THERE'S A PROPOSAL FROM STATE

REPRESENTATIVE JASON NEMES THAT

IS NARROWLY TAILORED.

>> Ryland: ANOTHER NARROWLY

TIRED MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL.

IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE

NARROWLY TIRED EVERY YEAR AND

SEEMS TO GET MORE SUPPORT.

IT PASSED OUT OF THE HOUSE A

COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

2020 WHEN THAT HAPPENED, AND

THERE'S LOTS -- AS THERE IS NOR

EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION,

PEOPLE SAY THIS IS THE YEAR THAT

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SUPPORT,

MORE SUPPORT THAN THERE WAS

BEFORE BUT IT'S ALWAYS THE

SENATE.

THE STATE SENATE HAS BEEN

RELUCTANT.

>> Bill: LAWRENCE, THERE'S

TALK OF AN OME ANY BUS ABORTION

BILL.

>> Lawrence: REPRESENTATIVE

NANCY TATE THE PRIMARY SPONSOR

OF THAT.

IT DEMOCRATS' WITH MAKING SURE

MINORS DON'T GET ABORTIONS, THAT

THEY HAVE PARENTAL EXTENT AND

REGULATING CHEMICAL ABORTIONS.

THAT IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

THERE IS PROBABLY BROAD SUPPORT

MOST OF THE TIME IN THE

REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.

EVEN SOME DEMOCRATS WILL SUPPORT

MEASURES THAT OPPOSE ABORTION.

>> Bill: IT'S GOING TO BE AN

INTERESTING SESSION, ISN'T IT?

>> Lawrence: INTERESTING IS AN

UNDERSTATEMENT I THINK.

>> Bill: I THINK SO TOO.

OVER THIS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY I

WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS FOR

COMING IN AND ALL OF THEM HOE

TAKE PART IN OUR PROGRAM

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM

AND MAKES IT SO SPECIAL, SO WE

REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

>> Ryland: THANK YOU FOR

HOSTING IT HAD.

>> Lawrence: HAPPY

THANKSGIVING.

>> Bill: AND TO ALL ON IT

THERE HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

HOPE YOU HAVE A CONTINUING NICE

WEEKEND.

WE DO RETURN LIVE ON FRIDAY

DECEMBER 5th WITH "COMMENT ON

KENTUCKY."

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

AND YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK

AHEAD.