♪ >> I couldn't be prouder.

All of the accomplishments that we achieved.

>> Every Kentuckyian should have a place that they can call home.

>> Party leaders react to the policies and priorities of the 2024.

Kentucky General Assembly.

>> The Democrats argument to it is one sentence.

Don't think many with public public education says Will Kentucky voters say yes or no to a school choice Amendment?

>> We have a runner or steering everything toward what Chuck Schumer wants.

>> I want to thank my dedicated.

A Kentucky congressman says it's time for a new speaker of the House.

We wanted to make it a more public and wanted to.

I'm really tell the community that we have programs that we offer for them as well as college students.

>> And Asbury University unveils the Kentucky outdoors and STA twos.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

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

April, the 16th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Tuesday night with Oz Sine die.

It's over the 2024 session of the Kentucky General Assembly is now in the books.

More in tonight's Legislative update during this 60 day session, lawmakers created a two-year budget passed an anti-crime bill, put a school choice amendment on the November ballot.

Put some new limits on the governor's powers and more today.

Both parties are talking about the just-concluded session now, as you might guess, they have different takes on how it went.

First, the Republican reaction to the session today.

GOP leaders of the Senate talk to reporters about what they see as the big accomplishments this year.

Here are some of their thoughts on tax cuts, infrastructure, education, spending and a new education commissioner.

>> I couldn't be prouder >> all of the accomplishments that we achieved first and as I exit stage later this year, knowing that 2 years from now for the 4th time Republicans will have led the way to yet another tax cut, I believe is one of the biggest and best stories coming out of this legislature because of that conservative management and fiscal discipline we show during the budget process.

Kentuckyian by this time in 2026 will have their taxes cut yet again.

A four-time down to 3.5%.

>> We took 450 million dollars in general fund transferred it in 2.

The transportation Cabinet funds allow the roads and more roads to be built in areas in one of the areas we have added several millions of dollars to make sure or access to these dollars for the I-69 Bridge in western Kentucky in and around Henderson and also to continue the Mountain Parkway.

We've been able to make major.

Well, I mean, major investments in education.

You know, we did it last budget session when we did it for education that was record funding.

And this year we were able to do it again.

We did 3% this coming year for 25 budget in a 6% increase in the safe formula.

>> For the 26 budget bill that I sponsor last session.

Senate bill 107.

What you make.

The commissioner actually subject 2 actually being confirmed by the Senate, which we had never done before and thankful that we now have a commission is Kentucky born he's raised in Kentucky.

He's been in all the Kentucky school Systems.

Superintendent having that, a teacher principal, all of that knows our system has our values and Kentucky values.

And we're very excited to have him.

>> State lawmakers didn't pass a specific bill to break up the Jefferson County Public School system, the largest school system in the state.

A task force, though, was formed to do a top to bottom and zam, a nation of JCPS that some fear could lead to a splintering of the district.

Outgoing Scott County, Senator Damon Thayer, the Senate majority floor leader says he supports putting up JCPS and he says it could come back next year.

Publicly >> I would have voted to break up JCPS right now.

The I've seen enough.

I was ready to vote that way.

But the Louisville delegation who we we sort of follow their lead.

They would like to study JCPS holistically.

A look at what's happening in other similarly sized metropolitan School district.

So I support that and I'm sure that's going to be something all of you are going to follow very closely.

It's one of the biggest stories in Kentuckyian appropriately one out of every 6 students in Kentucky is educated or supposed to be educated in JCPS and quite frankly, what we're seeing coming out of is it's not it's not working.

It's not satisfactory.

And there are some people from Jefferson County who say leave us along.

We can figure it out, but that's that's not how it works.

You don't get to get all the money that gets sent to you from the General Assembly without input on your policies from the General Assembly.

It's not just going to be a Jefferson County centric approach.

Other people are going to be involved in the discussion.

And so that will be a big item during the interim.

>> Another item likely to be Scott be discussed during the and Tamar interim or before the next session.

Dei or diversity, equity and inclusion.

The House and Senate both considered bills to limit or even cut dei programs at Kentucky universities.

The 2 chambers, though, clashed on proposals.

But senator say are says he expects an agreement could be worked out for next year's session.

Also today, Democrats blasted their colleagues across the aisle for a legislative session that they say does more harm than good.

Kentucky's Democratic Party and minority leaders of the General Assembly talked about what they saw as the bad policies passed this session.

Kentucky additions June Leffler has that story.

>> Democrats slammed Republicans for putting their super majority power behind bills they say would hurt struggling families.

>> They would choose to force families to wonder where they may be able to safely and securely lay their head at night only because some of our families.

Need.

>> Assist House Bill 5 also known as the Safer Kentucky Act has a provision that sets penalties for people sleeping on the streets.

Democrats say the street camping ban paired with House Bill 18 is cruel to poor people.

>> Every Kentuckyian should have a place that they can call home.

Unfortunately, Republicans passed a bill that prevents cities from enforcing anti-discrimination housing ordinances.

This gives landlords a green light to turn away tenants who rely on federal assistance to pay rent.

We're talking about seniors and veterans has been like team took away city's power to ban income discrimination locally.

Democrats say that's just one attack on how cities, namely more urban and left-leaning in Louisville and Lexington govern themselves.

>> The Legislature changed how Louisville conducts its elections zones.

It's land and manages to air pollution.

Republicans claim to be all about local control, but only.

>> If it fits their agenda.

And only when it is in their backyard.

This strategy.

The compromise Louisville is unconscionable.

And we're going to fight back.

>> Democrats say Republicans should have taken Democratic Governor Andy Beshear's legislative priorities to heart.

After all, he did win re-election.

Republicans left the governor's goals of funding and 11% raise for school employees and universal Pre-K on the table.

>> Talk about a policy that would have had a major impact on parents statewide.

Many moms and dads are forced to dip into their savings are going to do it to for childcare.

Democrats claim they help stop bills to progressive takes on child labor and SNAP benefits.

Failed this session.

>> So did bills aimed at doing away with diversity, equity and inclusion.

A state has a long.

Painful history of structural racism.

>> There are many who would deny that, but it's obvious to all.

It's been the foundation for the inequities that we see to this day.

We need to confront these challenges head on.

>> Anti Dei bills failed this year, but Democrats say these will likely resurface from the 2024 legislative session for Kentucky edition of John Leffler.

>> Thank you, June.

Looking to elections later this year, Democrats hope to maintain and even flip seats in their favor.

They also say they'll work to defeat the constitutional amendment that could create a pathway to fund private schools with public dollars.

Now, more on that during the session, lawmakers voted to put a measure on the ballot that if passed would allow possibly money from the public to be used to spent on private schools.

That was one of the many topics last night on Kentucky tonight.

As we look back at the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly.

Our panel discuss the merits of the amendment and whether voters are likely to pass it.

>> I'm concerned about his chances on us supported us Porter school choice.

However, the Democrats argument to it is one sentence.

Don't think many with public public education.

>> There are many, many, many ways to report that argument.

However, they require a paragraph to record and pine campaigns.

When your messaging, the shortest message usually winds.

So, you know, I'm I'm concerned and also going from as you have multiple people who want education scholarship accounts, you have people who want charter schools.

You have people who want vouchers.

They're already pushing their messaging.

We're at the Democrats messaging against this.

Bill is singular and take money away public school.

So, you know, I think it's got an uphill battle, not because there's not public support for every poll says that there is.

But I think the messaging is just becomes very difficult in the campaign cycle win big in the the anti side has a very simple message is not about school choice.

That's than this number that's out there.

This is about school privatization.

>> And in every other say where you see a lot of big school choice efforts.

What you see is largely voucher programs where dollars are going to pay for kids who are already in private schools were already going to private schools.

Attending private schools on the state's dime.

And those are religious schools that could be schools for Christianity.

Catholicism, you know, Islamic could be anything but it really flies in the face of 200 plus years of Kentucky's constitution, which states public dollars go to public schools and into public schools say we've got what we need and we've got the accountability results to show him.

This is a really bold move for the don't forget the genesis of this whole amendment, though, is the striking down of the funding mechanism.

>> For the charter school bills, which is already in the books run by weight.

But you put what Republic Turner's schools and education opportunities.

Yeah.

the to the public charter school to be public employees.

The public schools.

And I think there's a lot of support for charter schools.

You have a lot of Democrats and a place in the country who are huge supporters of charter about charter schools.

Charter schools can already exist, but it's already have charter schools.

The funding mechanism strong reason that Speaker Osborn gavel down every member including members of his own party.

You're trying to talk about.

>> The implication right of this amendment on the floor.

He was trying to silence what will happen to not only our public school system, but the fact that these private schools receiving public taxpayer dollars.

We're not going to be subject to the same accountability system as our public schools.

So when people talk about the quote, unquote, poor performance of public schools.

You won't be able to look at a private school receiving public money and tell whether your kid who goes there can learn how to read because they're not subject to the same accountability standards.

>> I think it's going to Republican Democratic issue.

I think this is going to be a yeah cold dry over the rest of the state issue.

I think a lot of rural Republicans are to vote against it, especially on the You know, not really.

It's going to be well-funded on both.

I think a lot of urban lower Lou Williams who would love to get the kids out of the Jets going public school system into into a private school that are going to support it.

>> Pretty rigorous discussion last night.

We also talked about the budget, the Safer Kentucky Act, which is the major anti-crime bill and the Kentucky general.

So these other actions during the session, you can see that full discussion online on demand at K E T DOT Org.

Slash K why tonight?

Turning now to national politics.

Congressman Thomas Massie, the Republican from northern Kentucky's 4th district is calling for Mike Johnson to step down as speaker of the House.

Massey says under Johnson's leadership, Congress is spending too much money and he says Johnson wants to spend another 100 billion dollars on foreign aid.

Here's what Massey posted on social media.

Quote, I Mike Johnson in a conference that I'm Co sponsoring the motion to vacate that was introduced by Representative Marjorie Taylor.

Greene.

He should pretty announce his resignation as former Speaker John Boehner did.

So we can pick a new speaker without ever being without a GOP speaker, unquote.

Massie talk to reporters this morning.

The capital.

>> You come here to help us understand that you not to sign on the mission.

The big game.

But I will tell you that he is it is There will be a lot of people who vote for what how does the most how does a motion to be getting into the country?

>> someone say review rudderless, but we have a runner or steering everything toward what Chuck Schumer wants.

There has not been the change mean.

It's a country like Chuck Schumer, the nation like what Speaker Johnson's accomplishments are slight.

>> So the reference there is to Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Senate majority leader, Speaker Johnson later told a news conference he would not be stepping down as speaker.

He called efforts to remove him, quote, observed.

The Perry County Commonwealth's attorney has resigned.

As we told you yesterday, the FBI arrested Scott Blair accusing him of helping defendants in exchange for sexual favors and illegal drugs.

He's facing a federal wire fraud charge yesterday.

Attorneys General Russel Coleman called for Blair to resign last night.

He did.

That's according to Blair's attorney net pillars Dorf who told the Lexington Herald-Leader that Blair also waived his right to a preliminary hearing pillars.

Dorf declined to comment on the charges said Blair is presumed innocent and the pending case.

♪ ♪ A western Kentucky college is helping to KET America flying.

>> There could be some new uses for an IRS building and northern Kentucky and the central Kentucky County wants to promote itself as the birthplace of bourbon.

Our Toby gives tells us more an hour Tuesday.

Look at headlines around Kentucky.

♪ >> West Kentucky community and Technical College is launching an aviation technology program to address a growing need in Kentucky.

The Paducah Sun reports the program will allow students to receive a certificate or associate degree and aviation maintenance.

The program coordinator tells the Paducah Sun a large number of technicians in the aviation industry are beginning to hit retirement age.

And there are not enough workers to replace them.

State legislators okayed 1.4 million dollars to fund the program.

The program is expected to start in the fall.

And old IRS building could become the site for a college of law or medicine.

The city of Covington recently broke ground on the 23 Acre plot that will serve as a mixed use development.

The Kentucky landed reports the site of the former Internal Revenue Service processing center.

We'll have office space housing, retail and parks.

There's also talk Northern Kentucky University's Chase College of Law and the University of Kentucky's College of Medicine could open there.

Kentucky State University has received $40,000 to improve its campus.

The State Journal reports the grant comes from the Home Depot.

Retool your school program.

The program's mission is to empower historically black colleges by helping them make sustainable improvements to their campuses.

This is the 3rd time Kentucky State University has been awarded a grant through the program.

Woodford Counties Tourism Commission wants the county to be referred to as the birthplace of Bourbon W E K you reports the commission is in the process of applying for a trademark for the phrase the commission's executive director says there's enough history to support the designation.

With headlines around Kentucky.

I'm told the Good News.

>> The number of deadly accidents on Kentucky.

Roads is headed in the wrong direction.

The state transportation cabinet says 813 people died on Kentucky highways last year.

That's up from the previous year and the highest total since 2016 officials say more than half of the deaths involved people who were not wearing seat belts.

But the news isn't all bad so far this year, 170 people have died in crashes.

That's down almost 14% from this same time last year.

♪ It's the kind of vandalism that's encouraged.

Kentucky State Police and Special Olympics, Kentucky are teaming up to cover the cruiser starting Friday.

Troopers and athletes will be at businesses and the 16 cities encouraging people to buy a sticker for as little as one dollar and put it on a police cruiser.

Proceeds will be donated to the Special Olympics last year, Ksp raised nearly $9,000 for the cause.

The Special Olympics will be held this summer at eastern Kentucky University in Richmond.

More than 11,000 Kentucky athletes will compete in the Special Olympics this summer at eastern Kentucky University ♪ Kentucky had the 4th highest percentage of teenagers giving birth in 2022, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and U.S. News and World Report magazine >> in 2022 and Kentucky.

21.8 teenagers out of every 1000 gave birth Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana were numbers.

1, 2, 3, nationally.

The teen birth rate is declining.

The number of teen births in 2022 was lower than any year since 20.

0, 9, The results are out on a new survey that gave Kentucky educators the opportunity to weigh in on their work environment.

The Kentucky Board of Education released the results of a recent meeting with school superintendents.

The takeaway there's room for both optimism and improvement that in today's education matters.

>> The impact Kentucky survey administered every 2 years gauges working conditions among public school.

Educators.

More than 38,000 participated in this year's survey giving their input on 9 categories, including educating students, professional feedback, resources, school leadership and managing student behavior.

>> The current survey shows encouragement with all the areas of data on moving in a positive direction.

>> The category showing the most improvement, emotional well-being and belonging which increased 7% over the 2022.

Survey, but a breakdown of results by group shows teachers responding less favorably than principals and other staff in the category.

>> Continue to focus on emotional well-being and the long game it because those are areas where we folks are asking for support.

So I think that's a area.

>> Another key area, school climate, according to the survey, more educators believe the overall social and learning climate of their school has improved and will continue to improve.

>> So this is really an area of celebration for the state because we are seeing notables significant across all topics.

>> At a recent Kentucky Board of Education meeting, school administrators were encouraged to build on this feeling of optimism and to find more ways to support teachers.

>> So recognizing the importance of working conditions in this context is the middle.

And the most numerous studies have shown that factors such as leadership, support and resources played a critical role in the futures decision to stay or leave.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Toby, Get this.

>> The area showing the least improvement resources.

Educators who responded to the survey said their school needs better technology, more classroom space and more specialists to help students.

Help is on the way for a coal miners.

Today the U.S. Labor Department issued a new rule intended to protect coal miners from silica dost.

The poisonous Das has been linked to block long disease and has contributed to the premature deaths of thousands of mine workers.

The new rule cuts and half the allowable exposure limit for silica dust for an 8 hour shift and central Appalachia, an estimated one and 5.10, coal miners has black lung disease.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Asbury University invited the commonwealth to go camping last week.

It's all part of the creation of the Kentucky Outdoor Institute which gives Asbury students and the public.

>> A chance to embrace the great outdoors in a wide number of activities.

University students and officials say that the institute offers more opportunities than just the adventurous kind.

>> We're changing our name from the University Center for venture leadership to the Kentucky Outdoor Institute at the University.

And we wanted to make it a more public and wanted really tell the community that we have programs that we offer for them as well as college students.

What we really wanted to show is that these are all things that we can do outside of the university.

So we take people are calling and backpacking climbing, All these things in the Red River Gorge and around the areas there.

And if you would like us to go further, we can also be there as well.

We've done some backpacking trips in Colorado as well.

>> I did not come into the program with any previous experience in these really technical skills.

I like the outdoors, but I didn't have a lot of past coming into the program.

I think even regardless of where you're at with the year superficial and climbing or you love backpacking or you've done none of that.

I think it's a great.

Program for anybody because you will learn those things.

But then on top of that, you will learn how to relate with other people.

We're through different social challenges and just get really good experience with leadership skills, logistics kills all those other things are super clickable.

The lots of things.

I think it's super beneficial.

We've already had students come out of this that our directors and other programs, other they work as camp directors.

They work to motorists.

There are a lot of different things.

And even students who end up not going into the recreational field.

>> They learn a lot of leadership skills through this.

I've learned a ton of and practical skills along the way.

But I I definitely a big thing is just growing in my confidence.

Weather is in an outdoor setting or in the classroom in a workplace.

I've grown a lot in my confidence in my ability.

>> To lead and communicate.

There's so many different opportunities.

Also just guiding the general public is really nice to be able to teach how to.

>> I'm really like learn those skills and home those go so you can go out and do it safely.

It's really worth giving a shot going on some kind of trip as a community member or going on a trip as a student on campus?

I think it's a great opportunity to get to know why people love it so much and get to step in and experience the awesome program and what it provides even if it seems little scary.

A little daunting.

>> It's definitely worth it because I think at the end of the day, you have a really great time.

Except for that repellent part, according to officials at Asbury, the Kentucky Outdoor Institute offers leadership and team building exercises that have become popular among corporate groups.

♪ >> He's a and putting tunes together old School.

>> A cassette tape which is not only with more affordable, but you can put this together in your own house.

>> A Covington man runs a label putting out the music, the old-fashioned way, a talent that 8 tomorrow on Kentucky Edition.

Good to see that.

Back in circulation.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night for that story and many more at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central on Kentucky EDITION where we inform connect and inspire.

>> You can get with us all the ways you see on your screen there through Facebook, X and Instagram and send us a story idea of public affairs at K E T Dot Org.

Thanks so very much for watching tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

I hope to see you right back here again tomorrow night to cut him.

♪