[♪♪] >> Renee: HUNDREDS.

PINWHEELS DANCE ON THE LAWN OF THE KEN STATE CAPITOL BUT THIS IS MORE THAN JUST DECORATION.

>> PROBABLY THE MOST SURPRISING THING TO ME, IS THE RULE URBAN DIVIDE THAT EXISTS.

>> Renee: A FIRST-TIME LAWMAKER'S TAKE ON THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> HE IS MORE THAN HAPPY FOR YOU TO COME UP AND SCRATCH HIS EARS OR SCRATCH HIS BUTT OR PLAY BALL WITH HIM.

>> Renee: AND MEET THE DYNAMIC DUO THAT IS FLUSHING OUT CRIME.

>> PRODUCTION OF "KENTUCKY EDITION" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE KET MILLENNIUM FUND.

[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" ON THIS FIRST DAY OF APRIL, IT IS TUESDAY, APRIL FIRST.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR SPENDING SOME OF YOUR TUESDAY NIGHT WITH US.

>>> KENTUCKY NOW HAS 100 MILLION DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR FLOOD RELIEF AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO SEVERAL DAYS OF POTENTIALLY HEAVY RAIN.

AND BACK IN THEED INTOING IN MARCH.

SAFE FUND MADE POSSIBLE BY THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 544 DURING THE JUST COMPLETED ASSEMBLY SESSION.

THE BILL DOUBLES THE FUNDING CAP TAKING IT FROM $50 MILLION TO $100 MILLION.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR SIGNED THE BILL YESTERDAY.

IT WILL INCLUDE $45 MILLION ALREADY IN THE EASTERN KENTUCKY AND WESTERN KENTUCKY STATE FUNDS.

SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS PRAISED THE PASSAGE AND SIGNING OF HOUSE BILL 544 HE SAID THIS IN A STATEMENT QUOTE THE EFFORT IS ABOUT DELIVERING REAL HELP NOT JUST PASSING LEGISLATION.

WHEN CRISES HIT, FAMILIES AND LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN'T AFFORD TO BE STUCK IN A WEB OF DELAYS THAT IS WHY I WAS DETERMINED TO DRIVE MAKING THE FUNDS AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY SO EASTERN KENTUCKY GET THE SUPPORT IT NEEDS WITHOUT UNNECESSARY OBSTACLES.

END QUOTED.

DURING THE SESSION LAWMAKERS PASSED SENATE BILL 89 THAT WOULD DEFINE WATER WAZE WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT", I ASKED FOUR LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE THINKING BEHIND THE BILL.

WHY DO THIS?

MANY PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IT'S GOING TO IMPERIL AND FURTHER FLUTE GROUND WATER AND WELLS BY WHICH 1.5 MILLIKENIANS RELY ON.

WHY WAS THIS GOOD TO ALIGN THE STANDARDS WITH THE FEDERAL?

>> ONE JUST FOR CLARITY.

IT HELPS EVERYONE PLAY FROM THE SAME WHEEL AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE WATER WAZE AND CLEAN WATER IS IMPORTANT NOT JUST FOR DRINKING WATER BUT AGRICULTURE AND OUR RECREATIONAL USES.

AND MAYBE AN OVERREACH BY THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH FOR A WHILE AND DELAYS IN PERMITTING AND GETTING THE KENTUCKY FARMT BUREAU, THE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION SAYING WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN GET PERMITS AND DELAYS.

TIME IS MONEY IN A LOT OF THOSE AREAS.

THIS WAS THE RESPONSE TO SOME OF THAT OVERREACH ON BEHALF OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO OVERREGULATE SOME OF THOSE SPACES.

>> I THINK TYING THIS TO A FEDERAL MINIMUM IS ARBITRARY QUITE FRANKLY.

WE CAN MAKE MORE RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO WATER AND WE DO HAVE PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN KENTUCKY AND NOT WHAT THE MINIMUM IS DICTATED BY THE FEDERAL GANSZ.

THE PROBLEM -- GUIDANCE.

THE PROBLEM IS WE ARE ADVOCATING IN MY VIEW OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THAT RECORD REGARD AND WE SHOULD HAVE RETAINED THAT AND I'M SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT WE TOOK THAT TURN.

I THINK IT'S GOING BACKWARDS.

>> THIS BILL, I GOT A LOT OF E-MAILS ABOUT.

PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ALLOWING BUSINESSES TO POLLUTE THEIR WATER.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY IT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING IS BEING ROLLED BACK.

IF THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PERMITS, THEN WHAT THEY SHOULD DO IS WORK ON THE PROCESS AND THE PROCEDURE.

NOT ENDANGER PEOPLE.

AND MOST OF THE TIME, THIS IS WHAT'S FELT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT BUSINESSES WILL DO THINGS THAT PERHAPS THEY SHOULD NOT DO, BECAUSE WE'VE ALLOWED THEM TO DO IT BY ROLLING BACK THE RULES.

>> THE REASON FOR ROLLING THAT BACK IS BECAUSE WE HAVE BECOME VERY BUREAUCRATIC IN OUR REGULATIONS IN THE STATE.

THE OVERREACHING AT SOME POINTS AND YOU HEARD THE EXAMPLES AND ON THE FLOOR IT WAS SAID THAT SOME OF THESE JUST WEREN'T COMING TRUE.

I KNOW OF AN INSTANCE THERE WAS PERMITTING ON A DRAINAGE DITCH TO DEVELOP SUBDIVISIONS THERE WAS A LOT OF OVERREACH AND REGULATIONS.

WE HAVE NOT RELINQUISHED RIGHTS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

IT'S SAYING WE WILL NOT BE MORE STRINGENT THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS.

IF WE WANT TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR AND DO SOMETHING WE CAN.

THIS IS TO REIN IN SOME OF THE BUREAUCRATIC REGULATION THAT WE HAD.

>> Renee: WE TALK MORE ABOUT THAT ISSUE AND BILLS PASSED BY THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

YOU CAN SEE THAT CONVERSATION ON LAND ON DEMAND AT KET.ORG/KYTONIGHT.

>>> ON THE SUBJECT OF WATER, A RECENT STUDY DONE IN PART BY THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY TOOK A LOOK WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR WATERWAYS THE MOST INDEPTH STUDY SO FAR ON THE CONTAMINANTS FLOWING IN OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS.

HEAR FROM THE U.K.

PROFESSOR LEADING THE CHARGE.

>> 95% OF KENTUCKY'S DRINKING WATER COMES FROM SURFACE SOURCES IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR RIVERS STAY CLEAN BECAUSE THE MAJORITY TO DRINK IS COMING FROM RIVERS.

THERE ARE TWO WAYS WE'RE MONITORING.

SAMPLES WHERE YOU TAKE A BOTTLE AND GRAB A SAMPLE AND TAKE IT BACK TO THE LAB AND WE HAVE A POW SIS.

AND THIS LOOKS LIKE A CANISTER AND HAS A MEMBRANE AND THAT MEMBRANE WILL ABSORB CONTAMINANTS AND GIVE YOU AN AVERAGE CONCENTRATION.

WE DO A GRAB SAMPLE LIKE A SNAPSHOT WHAT IS IN YOUR STREAM VERSUS THE POW SIS WILL GIVE YOU AN AVERAGE CONCENTRATION THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SEE OTHERWISE.

MORE RURAL AREAS AGRICULTURAL AREAS WE SAW PESTICIDES ONE TIME OF YEAR.

TYPICALLY, AGRICULTURE AREAS WILL APPLY PESTICIDES IN THE SPRING WHEN THEY ARE PUTTING IN THE CROPS.

IT'S DIFFERENT IN URBAN SETTINGS WE HAVE MORE YARDS WITH A LOT MORE PEOPLE AND APPLY MORE PESTICIDES.

IN THE URBAN SETTLINGS IT WAS MORE CHRONIC WE SAW MIDWEST SIDES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WE HAVE BEEN COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS TRYING TO USE NATURE TO IMPROVE OUR WATER QUALITY.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON AN ENGINEERED DESIGNED WETLAND TO PUT ON PONDS AND RESERVOIRS THAT WILL REMOVE CONTAMINANTS WITHOUT TAKING UP SPACE AROUND THE AREA.

WORKING WITH FARMERS, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATORS AND THE DISTILLERIES HOW WE CAN IMPROVE OUR WATER QUALITY IN OUR WATER WAZE.

THIS IS FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AWARD AND YOU ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY AND THEN WORK WITH THE HIGH SCHOOLS AND THEY WOULD DO THE SAME EXPERIMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND VALIDATE OUR FINDINGS WHAT THEY WERE SEEING IN THE LABS IN THEIR OWN HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE THIS IN A MUCH LARGER SCALE LIKE BATH TUB SIZE IN OUR GREENHOUSES AT UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY'S CAMPUS.

THE STUDENT ALSO PUT THE NUTRIENTS INTO THE COSMS WITH SOME OF THE TREATMENTS WILL HAVE THE EMERGING CONTAMINANT WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SUCH AS CAFFEINE, HERBICIDE, SULFATE FROM THE MINING AREA AND WE'VE HAD A FEW THAT PUT DIFFERENT TYPES OF IF YOU HAVE A PET IT IS A FLEA AND TICK TREATMENT WE SEE THAT IN URBAN AREAS IT DOESN'T STAY IN YOUR DOG OR CAT IT'S ENTERING INTO THE VSH AND LATER IN OUR STREAMS.

THIS PROVIDES US GUIDANCE WHAT OUR FUTURE DRINKING WATER CHALLENGES ARE GOING TO BE AND HOW WE CAN PREVENT MORE EXPENSIVE CHALLENGES WATER TREATMENT PLANTS HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND POTENTIALLY PREVENT THEM FROM HAPPEN.

>> Renee: WITH FUNDING SECURED THEY PLAN TO EXPAND THE SITES FROM FOUR TO 20.

>>> THE AREA NEAR THE STATE CAPITOL LOOKS DIFFERENT THIS FIRST DAY OF APRIL.

YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS OF PINWHEELS IN THE CAPITOL'S ENGLISH GARDEN.

IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT.

BUT IT IS A REMINDER OF A GRIM REALITY.

>> APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

AND THE ANNUAL PLANTING OF THE PINWHEELS IS KIND OF A RITE OF PASSAGE TO MARK THE ENTREE OF APRIL AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: THINK ABOUT HOW FAR WE'VE COME.

THIS YEAR I WAS PROUD TO SIGN LEGISLATION CREATING HARSHER PENALTIES.

WE ALL KNOW WE'RE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE.

BUT THIS YEAR, I ALSO SIGNED A BILL THAT REQUIRES SCHOOL COACHES TO REPORT ABUSE, NEGLECT AND OTHER CONCERNS.

AND I SIGNED ANOTHER ONE THAT REQUIRES MORE ON-LINE PLATFORMS TO BE SUBJECT TO SUBPOENA, SO THAT WE CAN GET THE EVIDENCE WE NEED TO PUT THESE PREDATORS BEHIND BARS.

AND ALSO THIS YEAR WE ANNOUNCED UPSTREAM ACADEMY WITH PREVENT CHILD ABUSE KENTUCKY THIS WILL TRAIN ONE PERSON FROM EACH COUNTY TO PREVENTED AND RECOGNIZE CHILD ABUSE.

AND THEN, THAT PERSON IS GOING TO TURN AROUND AND TRAIN 50 MORE PEOPLE.

>> I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF A NEW OUTREACH CAMPAIGN ENTITLED 120 COUNTIES IN 120 DAYS.

PREMISE IS SIMPLE.

WE WANT WANT TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE KENTUCKY WANTS TO VISIT EACH OF OUR 120 COUNTIES IN 120 DAYS.

IT IS A LOFT GOAL BUT OUR CHILDREN NEED US, COUNT ON US, DEPEND UPON US AND NEED US TO DO THIS.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS LONGSTANDING AND NEW, TO ENSURE THAT FAMILIES ARE AWARE OF RESOURCES THEY CAN ACCESS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO WELLCARE OF KENTUCKY.

WELLCARE HAS DONATED $50,000 TO JUMP START THIS EFFORT.

>> CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT MAKE TOO BIG OF AN IMPACT ON TOO MANY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO ALL OF YOU, EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT A CHILD'S EARLIEST EXPERIENCINGS NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE LAY THE GROUND WORK FOR THE PATH FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE.

KIDS RAISED IN SAFE AND STABLE ENVIRONMENTS WITH RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE CARED FOR ARE MORE LIKELY TO GROW UP HEALTHY MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.

THEY ARE BETTER SOCIALLY TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL AND MAKE GOOD ADULTS.

THAT'S THE CYCLE WE'RE HERE TO SUPPORT.

ALL OF US ARE RESPONSIBLE.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PREVENTION IS POSSIBLE.

HOPE IS POSSIBLE.

IF WE WORK TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, MENTORS, SPIRITUAL LEADERS, WE HAVE THE ABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO LISTEN, CONNECT AND SUPPORT.

THAT'S WHY WELLCARE PARTNERED FOR ALMOST A DECADE AND WE'RE CONTINUING OUR WORK HELPING THEM SPREAD THE WORD ACROSS ALL 120 COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: THE PINWHEEL HAS BECOME A SYMBOL OF CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION BECAUSE IT SYMBOLIZES PLAYFULNESS AND JOY.

>>> A NEW LAWMAKER TO THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY WRAPPED UP HIS FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

OUT JUNE LEFFLER CAUGHT UP WITH CHRIS LOSE OF LOUISVILLE AND INTRODUCE YOU TO ONE OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FRESHMEN CLASS OF 2025.

[♪♪] >> CHRIS LEWIS FIGURED OUT THINGS EARLY IN LIFE.

HE MARRIED HIS HIGH SCHOOL SWEET HART AND HAS A LIFELONG CAREER IN POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT.

>> OUT OF COLLEGE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH ANNE NORTHUP A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO WORK IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> HE LATER WORKED FOR KELLY CRAFT DURING HER RUN TO BE KENTUCKY'S GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE.

HE SPENT MOST OF HIS CAREER IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

>> I TRANSITIONED INTO THE LOUISVILLE METRO COUNCIL ON STAFF IN SEVERAL POSITIONS FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES.

>> HE WAS DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR THE COUNCIL'S REPUBLICAN MINORITY CAUCUS.

BUT NOW, HE IS IN THE MAJORITY IN FRANKFORT.

>> THE EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I THINK, REALLY HAS SERVED ME VERY WELL AS A FRESHMAN HERE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> LEWIS IS ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEES AND HIS VOTING RECORDS SHOWS HE IS ALIGNED WITH HIS PARTY.

>> THE MOST SURPRISING THING TO ME IS THE RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE THAT EXISTS AS A LEGISLATOR FROM LOUISVILLE, EACH PART OF THE STATE IS VERY UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT AND WE FACE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CRAFT LEGISLATION THAT SERVES METROPOLITAN AREAS LIKE LOUISVILLE AND LEXINGTON PARTS OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY, VERSUS THE RURAL AREAS IN THE STATE.

AND SO I THINK THAT BALANCING ACT OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO SERVE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES, I THINK IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART THAT I HAVE COME TO UNDERSTAND.

>> DURING HIS CAMPAIGN HE KNOCKED ON 17,000 DOORS.

WHAT HE HEARS FROM CONSTITUENTS, SHAPES HIS PLATFORM.

>> HIS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY WILL BE PUBLIC SAFETY.

>> WHICH HE SAYS LAST YEAR'S REPUBLICANS IMPROVED UPON WITH HOUSE BILL 5.

ALSO KNOWN AS THE SAFER KENTUCKY ACT AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WE HAVE SEVERE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS.

SEVERE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN MY DISTRICT AND ALL OF LOUISVILLE TO BE FAIR.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE FORMULA FIFTHS IF YOU ARE PHENOMENA FAMILIAR WITH THAT IT IS AN OLD STATE ROAD FUNDING FORMULA THAT BENEFITS MILEAGE OF ROADWAYS VERSUS A NUMBER OF CARS TRAVELED PER DAY.

SO YOU'VE GOT NOT THAT WE DON'T HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE, WE OBVIOUSLY DO.

BUT THE ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN LOUISVILLE ARE CRUMBLING.

AND WE NEED MORE HELP FROM THE STATE TO FIX THAT.

AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY A PRIORITY OF MINE BECAUSE IT'S WHAT MY CONSTITUENTS WANT.

>> ONE CONSTITUENT INSPIRED HIM TO BRING FORWARD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

HOUSE BILL 211.

THE CIGAR BAR BILL.

>> SO A GENTLEMAN IN MY DISTRICT OWNS THE LOUISVILLE CIGAR COMPANY IN THE HIGHLANDS.

HE RENOVATED A BEAUTIFUL OLD HISTORIC HOME AND MADE A SHOW PIECE OUT OF IT.

AND THIS WOULD ALLOW SMOKING INDOORS IN THAT FACILITY.

SO HE BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION, I THINK IT PERFECTLY PAIRS WITH THE VERBISM AND TOURISM IN KENTUCKY AND OUR HORSERACING CULTURE.

I UNDERSTAND I HAVE NO DESIRE TO EVER ROLLBACK THE SMOKING BAN.

I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT MADE THAT DECISION.

I DON'T WANT TO WALK MY FAMILY THROUGH A RESTAURANT THAT SMOKE-FILLED.

AND THAT IS NOT WHAT THIS DOES.

>> HOUSE BILL 211 HAD EARLY MOMENTUM IT GAINED APPROVAL FROM THE FULL HOUSE AND A SENATE COMMITTEE BUT THE BILL NEVER CAME BEFORE A VOTE IN THE UPPER CHAMBER.

>> I THINK THE SENATE RAN OUT OF TIME.

THERE ARE SO MANY BILLS COMING THROUGH AND THEY RAN OUT OF TIME.

>> LEWIS SAYS THERE'S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR BUT WHERE THE SENATE STALLED LOUISVILLE CITY COUNCIL ACTED.

IT APPROVED CIGAR BARS LOCALLY IN A VOTE JUST LAST WEEK.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M JUNE LEFFLER.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, JUNE.

LEWIS FILLS THE SEAT LEFT BY FORMER STATE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE BRANCHTER.

HE RAN TO SIT ON THE LOUISVILLE CITY COUNCIL WHICH HE WON.

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR THE GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA AND 23 STATE ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARE SUING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER 11 BILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUTS TO STATE HEALTH PROGRAMS.

THE SUIT SAYS THE CUTS VIOLATE FEDERAL LAW, JEOPARDIZE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WILL HAVE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FOR COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE.

THIS SUIT ASKS FOR THE COURTS TO BLOCK THE CUTS.

>>> THE LAWSUIT COMES AS ONE COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIAL SPEAKS OUT ABOUT HOW GOVERNMENT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUTBACKS COULD AFFECT THE STATE'S HEALTH PROGRAMS AND A NEW DISTRICT JUDGE IS ON THE BENCH IN LETCHER COUNTY.

TOBY GIBBS HAS THOSE STORIES IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AT HEADLINES AROUND KENTUCKY.

>> LETCHER COUNTY HAS A NEW JUDGE REPLACING REF VIN MULLINS.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR APPOINTED NICK WHITAKER HE IS AN ASSISTTANT COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY AND SERVED AS' PRETRIAL RELEASE OFFICER.

MICKEY STINES IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING JUDGE MULLINS LAST SEPTEMBER.

>>> ALSO FROM WEKU, WOODFORD COUNTY'S PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR KATHY PRATHER IS WORRIED ABOUT CUTS BY DOGE.

DOGE PLANS TO END SEVEN HEALTH DEPARTMENT GRANTS THAT MEAN $121 MILLION FOR KENTUCKY.

PRATHER IS WORRIED ABOUT HER DEPARTMENT'S ABILITY TO STARK AND FIGHT ABOUT 100 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES INCLUDING BIRD FLU.

>>> THERE IS A MOVE TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE PLANTS IN FRANKFORT AND FRANKLIN COUNTY.

THE STATE JOURNAL SAYS THE REMOVE INVASIVES PARTNERSHIP AND THE JOINT TASK FORCE ON INVASIVES ARE SPONSORING A PHOTO CONTEST.

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO TAKE PICTURES OF INVASIVE PLANTS INCLUDING HONEYSUCKLE, BRADFORD PEAR AND ENGLISH IVY.

THE DEADLINE IS APRIL 15TH AT 8:00 P.M.

CHECK OUT THE STATE JOURNAL FOR INFORMATION.

>>> WITH HEADLINES AROUND CONDUCT, I'M TOBY GIBBS.

AROUND KENTUCKY, I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU TOBY GIBBS.

ACCORDING TO AMERICA'S HEALTH RANKINGS KENTUCKY RANKS AMONGST THE WORST STATES MEANING WOMEN LACK ACCESS OFFERING SERVICES RELATED TO CHILDBIRTH AND CARE FOR BABIES.

ALMOST HALF OF KENTUCKY COUNTIES ARE DESERTS.

NOW PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS EXPANDING IN KENTUCKY WITH A VIRTUAL HEALTH CENTER MORE ABOUT THAT IN TONIGHT'S MEDICAL NEWS.

>> THERE ARE 120 COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY, 76 DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SPECIALIST.

KENTUCKY HAS TWO PLANNED PARENTHOODS ONE IN LOUISVILLE AND ONE IN LEXINGTON THERE NEEDED TO BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE AND HAVE ACCESS TO CLINICIANS.

AND WE THROUGH THE TELEHEALTH SERVICES CAN BROADEN THAT THROUGH OPENING UP THE VIRTUAL HEALTH CENTERS.

IT HAS LAUNCHED AND IS ACTIVE AND IT WENT LIVE, I BELIEVE, LAST WEEK.

IT OPENS UP ACCESS TO OUR CLINICIANS FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT GEOGRAPHIC BARRIERS.

THE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THEIR BIRTH CONTROL APPOINTMENTS, STI APPOINTMENTS, THAT IS HEALTH TREATMENT AND INFECTIONS, GENDER AFFIRMING CARE AND THEY CAN ASK US QUESTIONS ABOUT SEX EDUCATION AS WELL.

THEY CAN GET IN THE DAY OF OR WITHIN A WAIT PERIOD OF THREE DAYS TO COME INTO A HEALTH CENTER THAT CAN BE LONGER IT CAN BE A WEEK OR 10 DAYS AND WE FIND THAT IF PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT NINE TO 10 DAYS THE DROP-OFF OF COMING IN IS LIKELY.

SO GETTING THEM IN SOONER REDUCES THAT DROP-OFF AND PEOPLE GET CARE AND IT REDUCES OTHER COSTS LIKE DRIVING, DAYCARE, AND BARRIERS THAT WE FIND LIMIT PEOPLE'S ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

PEOPLE ARE REALLY AFRAID ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CUTS TO MEDICAID AND POTENTIAL CUTS TO TITLE X MAKING SURE THERE ARE PROVIDERS WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM AND AT AN AVAILABILITY TO TALK THROUGH THEIR HEALTHCARE AND MAKE SURE THAT THEIR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH EXPERTS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE JUDGMENTAL AND COMPASSIONATE.

TITLE X WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1970 AND CREATED TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE BIRTH CONTROL REPRODUCTIVE TO HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES.

FEDERAL TITLE X FUNDING WAS INTENDED TO ENSURE THAT EVERY PERSON REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE, HOW MUCH MONEY THEY MAKE OR BACKGROUND, THAT THEY HAD ACCESS TO THE BASIC PREVENTATIVE HEALTHCARE.

NOW, IN KENTUCKY, WE ACTUALLY APPEALED DIRECTLY TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THESE FUNDS.

MANY PEOPLE IN KENTUCKY COME TO US TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN GET THEIR BASIC REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE THROUGH TITLE X SERVICES.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO MENTION SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT ABORTION IS COVERED HERE.

ABORTION IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS.

THIS IS JUST BIRTH CONTROL, SEXUAL HEALTH, YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH SCREENINGS AND EDUCATION.

THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH ABORTION.

>> Renee: TODAY PLANNED PARENTHOOD SET THE NEW VIRTUAL HEALTH CENTER IS AT RISK FOLLOWING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO WITHHOLD TENS OF MILLIONS OF TITLE X FUNDING.

>>> THE JOHNSON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN KENTUCKY IS TRYING A UNIQUE APPROACH TO PROTECT ITS STUDENTS.

TWICE A MONTH, SCOTT AND ZANE TEAM UP TO SEARCH THE EASTERN KENTUCKY DISTRICT'S MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS FOR DRUGS OR WEAPONS.

THE CATCH... ZANE IS ON FOUR LEGS.

>> OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN SEVERAL DIFFERENT INITIATIVES TO INCREASE THE SAFETY FOR OUR STUDENTS HERE IN JOHNSON COUNTY.

AND WE'VE ADDED MULTIPLE SECURITY CAMERAS, WE'VE ADDED WEAPONS DETECTION SYSTEMS.

AND NOW WE ARE UTILIZING THE CANINES TO SERVE REALLY AS A DETERRENTS TO KEEP KIDS FROM BRINGING THINGS INTO SCHOOLS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE BRINGING INTO SCHOOLS.

THIS IS OUR FIRST YEAR DOING IT, AND REALLY AS I STATEDDERRER, IT IS A DETERRENT A PRECAUTION.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE PARTICULAR CANINE WE ARE USING HE NOT ONLY CAN ALERT ON DRUGS, VAPING, THINGS LIKE THAT BUT HE IS ALSO TRAINED TO ALERT ON WEAPONS, ON AMMUNITION, AND THOSE THINGS AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR, YOU KNOW, GUNS CAN BE A SCARY THING.

>> WE COVER ALL COMMON AREAS ANY PLACES THAT MAY BE A HIDING PLACE ALL TRASH CANS.

BATHROOMS.

ANY KIND OF LOCKERS, BAGS, PURSES.

AND WHEN THE DOG ENTERS A ROOM IF THERE'S ANYTHING UP HIGH WE WILL KNOW THAT QUICKLY FROM THE CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR.

>> IT'S NOT DISRUPTIVE AT ALL.

IT IS SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM ONE CLASS TO THE NEXT.

DOWN THE HALLWAYS THROUGH THE LOCKERS, AND INTO THE RESTROOMS.

>> AT FIRST THEY WERE A LITTLE, STAND OFFISH NOT SURE WHAT WAS GOING ON WHAT THE PURPOSE WAS.

BUT WITH MORE AND MORE FREQUENCY THEY ARE USED TO THE DOG.

THEY LIKE THE DOG THEY ARE INTERESTED.

THEY'VE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO THE HANDLER ABOUT THE DOG AND THE TRAINING AND THINGS.

IT'S ALMOST BEEN A LEARNING PROCESS FOR OUR STUDENTS AS WELL.

>> WE HAVE JOHNSON COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND JOHNSON CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AND WE DO THE SWEEPS TWICE A MONTH AT EACH LOCATION.

HE BLENDS IN AND DOES HIS JOB.

AND IT IS A MORE SUBTLE WAY OF SWEEPING THE SCHOOLS AND MAKING SURE THAT THINGS ARE NOT IN HERE THAT SHOULD NOT BE IN HERE.

>> WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY BIG BUSTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THANKFULLY IT'S ALWAYS THE BEST THING.

NO FIREARMS WHICH IS ALSO A PLUS.

ZANE IS A GERMAN SHEPHERD.

I RAISED HIM.

HE IS FROM MY OWN DOGS THAT I BRED.

HE HAS BEEN WORKING IN DETECTION WORK FOR THE LAST THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS WE'VE STARTED DETECTION WORK WITH HIM.

AND HE'S FELL IN LOVE WITH IT.

IT'S ALL JUST HIM GOING OUT AND HAVING FIND AND FIND HIS BALL THAT IS HIS GOAL.

IT MAKES THE KIDS FEEL MORE AT EASE AND REALIZE THIS DOG'S NOT GOING TO HURT YOU.

HE'S MORE THAN HAPPY FOR YOU TO COME UP AND SCRATCH HIS EARS AND SCRATCH HIS BUTT OR PLAY BALL WITH HIM.

THAT'S WHAT HE IS ABOUT.

>> Renee: OFFICIALS WITH THE SCHOOL SAY THAT THE CANINE SWEEPS HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY THE COMMUNITY.

>>> A GALLERY IN LOUISVILLE IS SHOWCASING ART MADE BY INMATES ON DEATH ROW.

>> I DO HOPE THAT PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THIS GALLERY AND THEY HAVE HEARTS AND MINDS OPENED IN A WAY THAT SHAKES THEM.

>> Renee: LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST AND THE WORK THEY CREATED FROM SOLITARY CONFINEMENT THAT STORY AND MUCH MORE TOMORROW NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY EDITION" AT 6:30 EASTERN AND 5:30 CENTRAL.

WE HOPE YOU WILL CONNECT WITH US ALL THE WAYS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN, FACEBOOK, X AND INSTAGRAM TO STAY IN THE LOOP ON ALL THE THINGS HAPPENING AT KET AND SEND US A STORY IDEA BY E-MAIL TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT KET.ORG.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING TODAY I'M RENEE SHAW AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU BACK HERE AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT.

TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE.

[♪♪]