♪ >> We need you guys.

>> Locals and activist and eastern Kentucky weigh in on a new prison project in the region.

It was a way to be here because I don't think I've ever seen so many people.

My own age have.

>> All of this amazing technology in the room.

It's an event where Kentucky students are using technology to learn and lead.

>> The chance we're going to see something amazing is very high.

>> What NASA researchers say they'll be looking for during the blitz.

>> It's beautiful.

It's one of the few riverfront towns that still so vibrant.

>> We take a trip to Western Kentucky, exploring a city known for its culture rats and was production of Kentucky edition is made possible in part by the KU Team Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Monday.

The first day of April.

I'm Laura Rogers filling in for Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for joining us.

>> It's official.

Congress has set aside money for a new federal prison to be built in eastern Kentucky.

>> This has been an ongoing conversation at the federal level for almost 2 decades.

The recent U.S. government spending bill that was passed by the Senate and championed by Mitch McConnell, including money for the prison prison project U.S. Representative Hal Rogers of the 5th district has long supported the plan.

But there are mixed feelings in the region about it.

Clayton?

Dalton has more.

>> The Federal Bureau of Prisons recently held a public meeting in Letcher County, the potential home for a new medium security prison to hear from locals and other interested parties.

The prison would be constructed on the site of a former coal mine somewhat or county and support the project.

They think it will boost the economy and bring in good jobs.

>> coming to the borders and for the local businesses.

the decision.

>> Out of the boulders, these trees in the NBA, your mission we need everybody to know them.

Including a degrees.

Is units.

We need the jobs, the good paying jobs are some >> But some locals feel differently.

They fear the prison will hurt the town rather than help it.

>> Loves concerned.

And I think it is President.

Tara, let me interrupt you.

>> Sometimes >> that definition building the salvation of legend Adam.

>> According to the Vo need a moment more than 100 and I foresee is then the psalm.

>> Whether having a normally are so national show, the overwhelming various laws.

And, you know, you're not suitable for building projects of this size and scale in their own savings of that series on signs.

And this isn't your magazines on other sites been Fed lies.

And Willie Mays and scientists use them as an incentive for a little bigger, even begins.

>> People from out of town even shared one person from Pound Virginia, the home of a federal prison just across Kentucky border says bringing in a federal prison isn't a lucrative venture.

>> And water treatment system is that is abilities that are bills in floodplain.

High school is low to the ground 1000 items and ends at this.

Some people down a little better.

He is than he's been.

And this is all >> A few people from Washington, D.C., who were previously incarcerated shared their opposition to the prison as well.

It's common for people convicted in DC to serve sentences in rural prisons and they say this project is a bad idea.

>> You can see the mission of the Bureau of Prisons, gifts and clothing, all the maintenance during bomb.

And I we now know as well as the only, you know, the name now for me.

we'll believe that when, you I know >> The Bureau of Prisons is still taking written comments on the project until April 15th for Kentucky edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Congressman, how Rodgers issued a statement about the project saying in part, building a medium security prison and camp in Letcher County will add more than 300 jobs in our region, employing people from surrounding counties and providing other economic development opportunities.

If this new prison facility isn't built in Letcher County, it will be built in another state and Kentucky will lose out on the funding and opportunities that come with it.

A federal investigation into last year last year's mass shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville has ended.

5 people were killed along with the gunman in the shooting.

8 others were injured.

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced the agency has closed its investigation.

In a statement, the agency says its findings were consistent with those of the Louisville Metro Police Department sent that no federal charges were filed and the investigation.

Communities hit by the 2022 floods can now apply for additional federal relief funds close to 300 million dollars will be distributed to 20 eastern Kentucky counties that suffered damage and the flooding according to Governor Andy Beshear's office, 80% will go to the 5 counties that sustained the most damage breath it Perry not lecture and Pike counties.

The other 20% will go to help.

15 counties also impacted by the flooding.

The state is taking applications from eligible cities and counties, nonprofit and for-profit organizations and other government agencies.

Officials say the groups will be conducting public outreach to make sure they are meeting housing needs and they're impacted communities.

The Post office is switching things up today.

UPS said it will become the primary.

Eric cargo provider for the U.S.

Postal Service.

It has been FedEX UPS says it will soon begin moving the majority of air cargo in the country.

The impact of today's decision may be felt here in Kentucky UPS World port is a major hub in Louisville where more than 10,000 employees process about 2 million packages a day.

>> Also sees about 360 flights in and out of the local international airport each day.

>> It was signing day at the state Capitol, but it wasn't a proclamation or a bill being signed into law.

It was students and graduates of Kentucky community and technical college signing on for jobs and industries.

The state says desperately need workers.

>> You know, Kentucky, we love our sports.

>> We celebrated when athletes, whether it's in high school or college sign onto major team, we should be just as excited when a Kentuckyian decides to sign on with an employer.

And so we're going to have a going pro signed a occur all across the state to celebrate employment and student success.

Just like we celebrate our athletic success in the Commonwealth.

>> We provide education for our students and companies like bastion solutions are guiding and mentoring them outside of the classroom.

This collaboration allows the student to learn the technical and soft skills that are taught on campus and then be able to apply these skills and industry while attending school.

>> We partner with a local college live bluegrass community Technical College to train students and the technical skills in a fashion dollars of professional practices.

The hands-on real world experiences as a pull your we know is crucial to invest in talent to people who not only have the right skills, but also like to learn grow and head on new challenges and make a great environment when your employer and your school work together to make sure there's a need to be successful.

>> I'm looking forward to apply.

Medication are under the CDC.

I started my career best solutions, rampant more experience and continue to learn to make its field for my >> Organizers say having the event on April first or April Fool's Day is a reminder to everyone that workforce needs around the state are no joke.

Stress is a part of life.

It's a natural response that Com says to addressed challenges or threats in our lives.

But when it comes to kids, experts say too much stress can damage the developing psyche.

More in today's medical news >> I wonder when we see kids.

Have been victims or least around environments where there's a lot of stressors negative stresses.

One.

Gunshots, deaths.

Housing kids supposed to process that.

How do you help them?

And they said they don't internalize that.

>> Yes, absolutely.

So that is a I mean, that's a challenge because a lot kids in those situations as their and their 6 those situations every day.

So they have they learned to survive.

They wanted apps are about they are way smarter than we give them credit credit for because at a very early age they learn to how to navigate their environment and how to protect themselves based on sounds based on certain people being around a plane to observe their environments to literally protect themselves.

Day in and day out.

And so you think you see a lot of that like when kids transition into school and you're expecting, you know, the expectations that they're going to act a certain way and people may even think are you even see that sun kids a transition like into foster homes?

People may think that now that you're in a safe environment, you should act like everyone else.

They don't know that environment.

They know how to operate and chaos.

They know how to operate when they don't know what to expect the next second, the next minute, they don't know how to operate that say calm down.

So want to buy like slowing down their nervous system and getting them to be able to one process their trauma.

But then introducing new ways to cope in these new environments in weather at home, dealing with the different stresses that they may do that at home.

>> And you can see Doctor Wayne talk since full interview with guest.

Lauren.

You are online at KET DOT Org, slash health and look for new episodes of Kentucky Health Sundays at one 30 Eastern 12, 30 central right here on KET.

Will stress also plays a key role when it comes to caregiving as the state's population grows older, more and more Kentuckians will face the challenges of caring for an aging loved one.

Tonight K E T S a panel of experts to discuss caregiving the resources around us and the enormous impact of stress.

>> Some unknown it happen, too, is that we have a lot of really great resources like the one you're talking about.

But something I just heard in the video that I hear a lot from caregivers working with them out in the field.

This this that the concept of guilt feeling guilty for asking for a respite to know.

And so really, you know, changing the discourse in the conversation around this to make caregivers more aware that, you know, taking rest, but taking time for yourself, that's all part of self care.

I think largely when we talk about self care just in general, there's been this movement towards the commercialization of that.

So we're told you have to buy the app.

You have to download the app.

You watch this program or follow this that or the other.

And that's really all focus at the end of the day from a self-care perspective, engaging in some of these various programs that we've talked about today and also engaging unrest.

But getting that support that you need to recharge your battery is really, really important when you consider that to be compassion.

We're in this.

Yeah.

Compassion fatigue sometimes.

Yeah.

There's 50% of our carriers to this disease yet truly from the state 50% correct from the stresses of the mistresses they're not taking.

There are going to the doctors are not taking there.

>> A blood pressure medication, you know, change is change so quickly for older adults in general.

They're not they're not taking care of themselves because they don't have the time.

And sometimes, you know, and we see this that the caregiver dies before the patient.

Yeah.

And and that's not the way they're supposed to be.

You know, they're just so stress and there's a lot of research that shows that that stress response is an immune response.

It's not healthy.

You know, you don't get sleep and you don't get sleep.

You just can't be healthy and push of a new doctrine of tunnels will take us with just that immune response?

People die from.

Learn more about options for providing care, including a list of resources by watching, caring for the aging KET forum.

>> That's tonight at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

♪ ♪ >> More than 20,000 students from schools across the state recently packed Rupp Arena in Lexington.

It wasn't for a sports tournament, although it sounded like it.

The students were there to celebrate their academic achievements.

Kelsey Starks takes us to the sdlp state championship in today's Education News.

Sdlp Sands for the Student Technology leadership program.

>> And for 30 years now, students have been gathering from all over the state to show off their talents, but also their excitement for learning.

>> It isn't every day you see students this excited about academics.

>> It goes into it to be here because I don't think I've ever seen so many people.

My own age have all of this amazing technology in the room.

>> They are computational thinkers, Knowledge Constructors and creative communicators all filling up Rupp Arena to share their ideas >> This is the largest single-day event.

The Central Bank Center and Rupp Arena helped.

We take up more space.

Anything else they have in a single day.

This is a lot because, you know, just last week we had the the boy Sweet 16 here we have 13,000 year.

We have 21,000 here today.

This breaks down those barriers.

And you know what?

I can do that I can do anything.

And I told him this is true.

If they're one of the best in Kentucky that makes him one of the best in the nation because our technology programs, the pioneer, a NASA leader, most aspects of education, technology.

>> Kentucky was the first state to connect schools across the Commonwealth to the Internet.

Back in 1994.

Since then, the Kentucky Department of Education has sponsored stop as a way for students to showcase what they've learned and what they've created using technology.

>> Our project is cleaning up the Ohio River using robots.

We decide to come here to show off what we think is a very important issue.

We can, you know, our reach to other people who share a very similar common interest, which is like robotics and coating.

And, you know, we can share these ideas with each other all come together.

>> The projects range from the lab or a coding to photography, art and media all solving problems with an emphasis on teamwork and leadership.

Every single.

>> Community.

It's outside collaborated.

We had welding carpentry, culinary, the Mr.

The Mt.

English mathematics.

Everyone collaborated carpentry built the frame of it.

Electrical that all the wiring.

I actually designed turning mechanism here to turn the grants back and forth.

So every product, everything that a kid or a group of students as a team.

>> Makes.

It's it's woven with high-quality academic standards.

And so like that's that's a core part of it.

When you watch students making and creating you kind of forget about that for a bit.

But it's at a super high bar level that they were excited about.

And so it is a very unique program.

We've actually work with other states to start too launch similar programs.

But so far, Kentucky, we continue to lead the way.

I just really want to be in the program stop stands for Student Technology leadership program.

>> And I want to be a lead there.

And the kids under my grade and the kids and my great.

Helping others is the most important thing you can do and might because when you help others, it makes you feel good worthy of healing and stop.

Our future is absolutely right.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Kelsey Starks.

>> The student Technology Leadership program.

Competition is open to all students kindergarten through 12th grade in Kentucky.

♪ >> Now to the next stop in our series Mondays on Maine.

Tonight we go to Paducah, home to museums, restaurants, shopping, arts and culture.

>> The seat McCracken County is the largest city in the Jackson purchase region home to so much of Western Kentucky's heritage.

♪ Should Sarah Bradley is known to many for her success on the television series.

Top chef.

>> But here in Paducah was a home down girl.

Paducah has this really just great.

>> Energy about it.

I'm a champion for pretty good.

When I'm making a decision.

It is.

Will it be good for me will be good for my family and will it be good for my city?

>> She opened her restaurant freight house in 2015 offering farm to table dining and western Kentuckyian Ohio Valley.

>> Working with the seasons is something that's very important to me.

I think the food tastes better.

I think it's better for our environment.

>> Bradley's culinary offerings are inspired by her upbringing.

I have Appalachia and Jewish roots.

>> Bradley's television explain competing most recently on top Chef World.

All stars.

>> A restaurant draws fans from far and why they come for the food and then they end up staying for the protein and the art and the UNESCO designation and all the other bars and shops and restaurants downtown.

>> It is the goal of Paducah, Main Street to make them feel welcome.

>> It's not too big.

It's not too small.

It's one of those kind of town.

We still have that small-town mentality.

>> And that kind of lean on each other attitude that I don't think you always get the merger cities.

There's much to appreciate about downtown Paducah from the riverfront to retail with an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants and nightlife.

>> It's beautiful.

It's one of the few riverfront towns that still so vibrant says Edwards has been a downtown merchants for a couple of decades.

She's seen a lot of change during that time and is pleased with the progress.

It's just such a wonderful economic area.

It's fun.

People come to visit and see what we're doing down here.

Visitors make up a large portion of the downtown customer base.

Most of our businesses say around 80 to 90% of their clientele is for us.

We're in a great position between like Nashville and St. Louis.

So we get lots of people traveling through.

They're drawn to attractions like the National Postal Museum and the historic Lower Town Arts district.

Their creativity is on full display.

I love the vibrancy and the culture down here and I love being part of the cultural fabric of our downtown western Kentucky native Landy.

Bryant studied at Murray State University before moving to the do get in 2002 when the arts district was being conceptualized.

I gave artists incentives to create bill work like live work spaces, studios and galleries and that revitalize that community.

Big time.

So that brought a lot of artists and I think that had a trickle down effect with the city.

The school of Art design her shop brick, a lost art collective is what she describes as an outside the box collection of unique art and things that represent the community.

She loves so much.

I also want to make Paducah Place.

I want to continue to live really focused on creating craft cocktails.

Whitney Wallace Center has been Tyler had the Johnson Bar really exploring the different world.

Modality is in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic coffee cocktails.

Just anything that's crafted in a little bit of original.

They created the nonprofit, beautiful Paducah to support programs, festivals and events that encourage city growth.

>> With a lot more creativity flowing a lot more unique business is coming down here and in a little bit more diversity and hopefully will be on the way.

It's already started creeping in.

So it feels good.

It feels like we're headed somewhere.

That makes me proud.

Downtown merchants meet monthly to discuss events improvements and collaboration.

The Duke of Main Street's goal is to have every storefront occupied.

We also inform people of the historic tax credits that they can apply for local say the historic character and the culture of downtown is part of its charm.

I love Market House Square where my shop is located.

It is but Pave streets.

It goes back to the 18.

100's honoring the past while looking ahead to the future, the vision of those who are passionate about Paducah.

>> I am just so proud to be from here.

I'm really proud to always show it off.

I say Paducah on the TV as much as I can.

So we do get the coveted that come to you guys.

>> And many will certainly come to Paducah this weekend for the total solar eclipse expected to draw thousands.

That's because far Western Kentucky is in the path of totality, meaning that for just a few minutes on April 8, the moon will completely block out the sun.

The event is not only cool, but for NASA.

It's also a cool opportunity for research.

>> It's a moment when millions of people across North America will look to the heavens.

As the moon passes in front.

In between the son of the and the years.

And it's a rare sight that we haven't seen in 7 years.

Eclipses have a special power.

They moved people to fields.

A kind of reverence for the beauty of our universe.

Their power is not only to us on Earth.

But to further science and Discovery.

By observing the temporary decrease in sunlight.

>> At a much quicker time scale, then we experience for sunrise and sunset.

We're going to gain insight specifically into how sunlight affects the ionosphere.

We'll be using rockets, planes and balloons and on the ground observations to optimize the science return of the eclipse.

>> And although the focus will be on our sun's corona or outer hot atmosphere as the moon blocks, the bright disk of the sun.

The eclipse also gives us the unique opportunity to research our Earth's reaction to that sudden loss of sunshine.

These past have been known for a while and they come in kind of cycles.

>> That are mathematically able to tell when we're going to pass the moon in between the earth and the sun just rate.

So you get that shadow cast and based on the orientation of the sun, the moon and the earth and and taking into account all the different tilts of everything we're able to make those ban predictions because we now know the exact peaks and valleys on the moon and were able to tell you just how far that shadow of the eclipse will will project onto the Earth.

>> Make sure you have the proper eye protection.

Like the eclipse glasses.

And as you look at the heavens on April, 8th, when the eclipse starts, please, please put those glasses on.

>> It just so happens.

We're at solar maximum.

So the chance we're going to see something amazing is very high.

>> And we are looking forward to it.

KET will be in Paducah and next Monday night for the eclipse.

Be sure to join us here on Kentucky edition and stick around for Eclipse 2024.

K E T special report next Monday in place of Kentucky.

Tonight.

♪ >> A string of deadly tornadoes touched down in the state and Kentuckyian heads to space and eventually lands in the history books.

It happened this week in Kentucky history.

Here's Toby Gibbs with more.

♪ >> Daniel Bowden, his party arrived in the area that would become for bones, borrow on April.

First 17, 75 the group set up a camp site at Sycamore Hollow near the shore of the Kentucky River.

Delegates to a Kentucky state convention met on April second 17 92 at drafted the Constitution in preparation for Kentucky joining the union which occurred June 1st of that year.

>> James, be Clark, a native of Warrensburg who moved to Missouri became speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives on 4/4/1911, better known as champ Clark.

He would remain as speaker until 1919.

63 Kentuckians died as 30 tornadoes touched down in Kentucky on April.

3rd, 1974.

Most of the tornadoes were EF Fours and at least one was an EF 5.

The first flight of the space shuttle challenger on April 4th, 1983, included story Musgrave, the astronaut from Lexington.

He would be the only astronaut to fly on all 5 space shuttles.

Kentucky INS view the partial eclipse of the sun on April 7, 1940, as the most covered 3 fourths of the site.

And those are some of the highlights this week in Kentucky history until begins.

>> Thank you so much, Toby.

We do encourage you to stay safe as Kentucky could see some severe weather tonight and tomorrow across the Commonwealth.

We do hope that you'll join us back here tomorrow night for Kentucky edition.

And also we hope that you'll subscribe to our Kentucky Edition email newsletters and watch full episodes and clips a bet Dot Org.

Shoot us an email.

>> With your story, ideas as well.

Have a good evening.

♪