The constant on-again, off-again schedule at Ford's Louisville plants has an economic impact far beyond the automaker itself. This week's show focuses on how automotive supplier plants are also going dark and struggling to keep their workers during a red-hot job market. Sara Wells, a former worker at Martinrea Heavy Stamping in Shelbyville, Ky., shares her story. WDRB business reporters Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer discuss their recent story, "Ford shutdowns ripple through Louisville-area supplier plants."

WDRB.com reporter Marcus Green discusses a recent court ruling and other developments in Louisville Gas & Electric's five-year-old plan to build a natural gas pipeline across Bullitt County, an effort opposed by Bernheim Forest and some rural landowners. Recent court documents raise the question: Is the controversial pipeline mainly for the benefit of one big customer: Jim Beam? 

WDRB's Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer discuss the years-long fight over two proposed 'affordable housing' apartment complexes that could provide public housing in the suburb of Prospect, home to Kentucky's second-wealthiest zip code.

Background:

Judge upholds rejection of low-income housing in Prospect

Prospect affordable housing complex on cusp of construction

WDRB sports columnists Rick Bozich and Eric Crawford discuss the controversy surrounding Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit's positive drug test and the shifting explanations from famed trainer Bob Baffert. Does Baffert have credibility? What does this mean for a sport already marred by past drugging incidents? 

WDRB's Jason Riley and Travis Ragsdale discuss their recent story about incidents in which Louisville Metro homicide unit personnel are alleged to have been drunk on the job or at the office, and the police department's lackluster internal investigation of the claims.

Background: ATF agent claims Louisville homicide chief was drinking before Kroger hate crime murders

WDRB.com education reporter Kevin Wheatley joins the podcast for an update on Jefferson County Public Schools. Wheatley discusses:

- How the district's classroom-virtual hybrid schedule is going

- Why some parents feel it shortchanges their children

- Whether the Louisville school district will be back to pre-pandemic operation in August when the next school year begins

- Why teachers and staff are resistant to the superintendent's proposal to add four school days to next year's calendar to make up for lost learning during the virtual school year

Background:

Hybrid learning at JCPS poses new problems for some parents

Revisions for school calendar, start times on the table at JCPS

Louisville Metro Police first learned of an accusation that narcotics Det. Brian Bailey, one of the department's top cops in obtaining residential search warrants, had abused a female confidential informant in 2016. What did police do with the information? WDRB News and the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting have learned that a total of four women have accused Bailey of coercing them into becoming confidential informants and sexually assaulting them. On this week's show, WDRB reporters Jason Riley and Travis Ragsdale and KyCIR's Eleanor Klibanoff discuss the latest chapter in this story and where things are headed. It's all our part of our newsrooms' joint investigation into Louisville police search warrants, which started in the wake of the Breonna Taylor tragedy. 

The latest story: LMPD cleared top warrant detective of sexual misconduct. Then, more women came forward.

One of the biggest Louisville business stories of 2021 has been the frequent disruption at Ford Motor Co.'s vehicle plants. Louisville Assembly Plant has borne the brunt, missing six weeks of production so far. The impact extends far beyond Ford's two factories to dozens of supplier plants in the region. WDRB's Chris Otts and Katrina Helmer explain the roots of the global shortage of computer chips that is roiling the auto industry, with the help of Joseph McCabe of AutoForecast Solutions LLC.

How close are we to having COVID-19 under control? Will Louisville's public schools go back to normal in the fall? Will COVID-19 shots become an annual ritual? Dr. Jon Klein, vice dean of research at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, says that much of life as we knew it may return by the of the summer, but the next one-to-three months are critical. There could be a costly fourth surge of COVID-19 as social behavior loosens faster than vaccines take effect, Klein says. He joins the podcast to explain. 

CNN Special Reports producer Matthew Reynard joins WDRB's Chris Otts and Gilbert Corsey to discuss the making of the network's recent hourlong special on Kentucky's unemployment insurance failure. Why did CNN chose to focus on Kentucky? How did the team handle the suicide of former unemployment director Muncie McNamara only 11 days after he was interviewed for the program and before it aired? The documentary, "The Price We Paid: The economic cost of COVID" premiered March 27. It is available to pay-TV subscribers on CNNgo and video-on-demand services.