>> 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.