>> The question is, are we willing to do this?

>> Members of Kentucky's minority party are calling for gun control legislation.

Will it happen?

So whether it's for a trauma like what we saw last week, a car accidents, whatever it is.

>> When the need is there, the blood has to be on the shelves.

>> Brought donations have been on the rise.

How organizers are looking to KET the momentum going strong.

5 Republican candidates for governor work to persuade voters in South Central Kentucky.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

The owner Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

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

April, the 17th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for starting off your work week with us.

Today marks one week since 5 people were killed in a mass shooting in Louisville.

>> Over the weekend, 5 more people were killed and 7 different shootings in Kentucky's largest city.

That includes another mass shooting Saturday night at Chickasaw Park.

Louisville Metro police said 2 people died at the scene and 4 more were taken to the hospital with injuries.

Governor Andy Beshear tweeted about the shooting at Chickasaw Park, calling it, quote, another senseless act of violence.

He added, quote, We must do better and lead, but love compassion and humanity to bring change.

Meanwhile, one of the officers injured and last week's shooting at Old National Bank continues to fight for his life.

Louisville Metro Police Officer Nicholas Wilt remains in critical condition.

The newly sworn-in officer was shot in the head as he and his partner Officer CJ Galloway approach the scene.

He is the only victim from the shooting to still be in the hospital.

LMPD said Officer Welts family, quote, sees and feels the love.

Funeral arrangements have been made for the remaining victim killed in last week's mass shooting visitation for 45 year-old Juliana farmer will be Friday at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Henderson.

Her funeral will follow on Saturday.

Farmer was alone analyst at the bank and just started working there a few weeks before she was killed.

Funerals for the other 4 victims were held over the weekend.

Members of Kentucky's minority party are calling for gun reform legislation after last week's mass shooting in downtown Louisville.

At a press conference this morning in Frankfort, the Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus called for the General Assembly to take up comprehensive gun control laws.

Our Casey Parker Bell was at the press conference this morning.

>> The first responsibility of government is to safety.

Of a sense.

And to the extent we do not do all that we can to protect life.

We have failed in that responsibility.

We can do no less.

>> A week after the mass shooting in Louisville, members of the Kentucky Black Legislative Caucus met in the Capitol Rotunda to push for gun control legislation.

House minority leader there Graham and pushed for red flag laws.

>> There are times when we need to step in and stop someone before they harm themselves harm.

Others.

These laws show there were in other states and I believe the Commonwealth of Kentucky should have won as well.

But the leaders of the General Assembly's minority party.

>> Did not say whether they believe gun control legislation could pass.

>> This is going to take all of us to come together to send down, have open and honest discussion about a factual discussion, by the way, about what we can do to lessen this gun balance.

There are methodology is out here.

Their experiences.

We've had demonstrated that we can do this.

The question is, are we willing to do this?

>> And they said they had not spoken with Republican leadership about the issue.

>> We will begin to make those conversations and hopefully meet with the leadership as well as within our caucus as well.

Here.

>> Legislators did not call on Governor Andy Beshear to call special session to address gun legislation.

But they were adamant the gun violence must be dealt with.

>> It's an epidemic and I think we have to do with an epidemic and we have to do with the suits them.

>> Members of Kentucky's Black Legislative caucus also spoke in favor of the Tennessee 3, the group of legislators, the protested for gun reform on the floor of the Tennessee State House.

>> Brown are heading to Nashville tomorrow for a human chain.

That human chain he's supposed to show support for gun control legislation across the country.

>> This human chain will start at the Children's Hospital for victims of the March.

27th shooting in Nashville were taken and will continue all the way to the state Capitol building in Tennessee for Kentucky edition.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

>> Thank you, Casey.

A poll released last week by Emerson College and FOX.

56 News showed a large majority of Kentucky's registered Republicans think Kentucky's gun laws don't need to be adjusted.

Almost 71% of those polled said they think the commonwealth's gun laws are, quote, just right.

Another 18% said Kentucky's gun laws are quote, too strict and just under 12% said they're too lenient.

Louisville State representative could tour Heron believes that creating a new gun violence prevention said office within the state public health Department is one way to make communities safer.

Parent who is a legal gun owner herself says it's not about taking away gun rights but collecting the right data that could help prevent mass shootings like Louisville experience last week.

>> It's acknowledging one.

We have an issue with gun violence it into the other thing it does is allows a to start funding and putting resources behind research and data as it relates to gun incidences in the written out as suicide, domestic violence, child abuse and in our community violence.

Right now, Kim break at the University of Kentucky, a Kentucky injury Prevention Research Prevention Research Center.

They have been collecting this data and hold this data for over 10 years.

So we have the data we're collecting it already here in Kentucky.

But what this bill says is that we're going to put money in resources behind it.

We're going to let the experts tell us and inform us about what's happening in our communities and give us solutions to what we can do.

And I think that what we'll find is in different regions.

We're going to learn different things and different reason.

Regions.

We may see some wet it is more is is that a higher rate?

And I think that when we get down and able to see what's really happening and as it relates to gun violence, I think that and then empowers communities.

It empowers regions to say this is what we need to do for our community.

And this is what they need to do for their community.

And if that was.

The reason I found this when I was sworn in last session when I came in the middle of the session a special election, this was the very first bill out of town.

This is what I ran on.

This is what I've told my people that I would do and I am here to work with lawmakers on both sides on the federal level, the state level, the local level law enforcement people from the medical field survivors, victims, perpetrators, families, whoever, to make sure that we do something to make sure that we do not continue to be traumatized by gun violence in our communities.

Well, state representative cut her hair and once again, our thoughts and hearts are with you and the greater Louisville community.

>> Please take good care of yourself.

>> Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Running.

>> While calls for improved gun safety laws have yet to yield action.

There's an impressive response to pleas for increased blood donation.

The Kentucky Blood Center says while their supply is doing better right now, they hope this trend will continue.

>> We have seen an uptick in donations in wake of the you know, even blown away by the people that want to want to do something to help and give And so we have seen whether it's, you know, here in Lexington are obviously in Louisville.

We have seen people come out >> and donate blood.

We really need going forward as people become regular donors.

I think the thing that people kind of lose sight, sometimes a blood donation is the blood has to be on the shelves when you need it.

So whether it's for, you trauma like what we saw last week, a car accident, whether it's for treating diseases like cancer or didn't return whatever it is when the need is there.

The blood has to be on the shelves.

It's a gesture.

And so we're hopeful from last week more than anything is that people going donate more regularly or if you never die for start to donate.

So that when unfortunate things like this happen to him, whenever the need is that the blood is already there.

We're kind constant communication, whether it's for an event like what the past week in Louisville for anything else, one constant in a case for hospitals to to understand what their needs are.

If they give us a call and say, hey, we're really short on supply or we need this certain blood type.

We're going to respond as quickly as we But again, it goes back to what we were talking before.

The biggest thing is making sure that the blood is there so that if something, you know, God forbid something happens like that or a car accident ever might be that the blood is already there to be able to help those people in need at that time comparing 2019 to 2023, I mean, it's just been a completely different different scenario for something far too often than not.

We're we're having to make, you know how to say about last year.

It seems like every few weeks we were we were begging people to come in because we were and what we call critical, urgent need.

That means we only have about a half a supplier last which is really worrisome.

If you think about it, if you're someone going into hospital that needs blood whenever the need is to know that they're only might be a half a supplier.

Even last is really troubling.

We just we don't want ever be there right now for our different blood types are about a 2 or three-day supply.

We consider really good healthy blood supply to be 3 or 4.

So we were in a good position.

Just not great.

And so we think we can do a lot better.

>> According to the Kentucky Blood Center there in critical need of blood type AB negative.

It's hard to know how to explain tragic events.

2 young children are how much information to share.

>> It's also hard to know if your way of helping them with their fears and anxiety is the right way.

>> But there are ways to help them feel safer and more secure and build hope for the future.

Okay.

It is curated a list of resources in hopes of providing families with a starting place for those tough conversations taking place right now about violence in our community.

Just visit education DOT K E T Dot Org and look for difficult conversations with young children.

We hope that to be a valuable resource for you.

♪ ♪ Turning now to politics, 5 candidates running to be the Republican nominee for governor spoke in Bowling Green Friday night.

They were guests of the Warren County GOP who hosted its Lincoln Day Dinner at the National Corvette Museum.

Our Laura Rogers was there and brings us this report.

>> It was an evening to mix and mingle and campaign has 5 candidates for Kentucky governor made their case to a room of Republican Most of them offering criticism of current governor Democrat Andy Beshear.

>> We've seen what Democrat leadership looks like over these last 3 years.

Smith, lockdowns and shutdowns.

it vaccine mandates being threatened.

He kept our kids out of the classroom longer than was necessary.

And now we wonder why our test scores have gone down.

He focused on fear over freedom.

>> When he shut down, our church is trying to tell us how we can worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

>> Attorney General Daniel Cameron and the sizing how he took legal action to reverse those pandemic era measures.

>> When Governor Beshear wanted to shut down churches after 9 days I went into federal court and got churches reopen in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

>> Cameron also mentioned his endorsement from President Donald Trump and his strong pro-life stance.

>> Since last August because of the work of our office.

The abortion facilities have been closed in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

>> Kelly Kraft stressing her roots in neighboring there in county and highlighting her time as ambassador to Canada and the United Nations during the Trump administration.

>> He also KET that I would stand up to the Chinese Communist Party so much so that I am now sanctioned for the rest of my life.

C*** says if elected she will dismantle the Kentucky Department of Education.

I'm going to take it apart and put it back together because there are great people in the Kentucky Department of Education.

They've just been silenced.

>> Kraft also with strong words for drug offenders.

>> And if you are a drug trafficker.

Interview are in the cartel.

Are you are someone who gives our children our grandchildren drugs and it cost their life.

In my book.

That's the death penalty.

>> State Auditor Mike Harmon says he has the most experience of anyone in the race serving 13 years in the state house before his 2 terms as auditor.

>> I encourage you to go and look at my voting record.

Those 13 years I was always rated is either the most conservative or close to the most conservative of everyone in their very supportive of our what our legislators do, eliminate the state income tax.

And I'm also very much about parental empowerment, including school choice.

I want my kids and my grandkids and some day if I'm blessed, my great grandkids to live in a state in a nation where they can accomplish anything.

>> Somerset Mayor Alan Keck sharing his city's economic success under his leadership.

>> Somerset like Kentucky was stale and stagnant.

It was struggling in so many ways, but I'm proud to stand before you tonight in say that in 4 short years, 2 of which were in battle with COVID, we had record revenue record job creation, record private business investment, record female entrepreneurs in our downtown without raising a single tax.

>> Kak noting obstacles currently facing our state and nation.

>> And he's proud conservatives.

We have to start asking ourselves, not just in Kentucky, but as a country.

What are we conserving?

Are we more free?

Are we more safe?

Are we more prosperous than the generation that came before us?

And if the answer is no, then perhaps we need to do something a little different.

Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles saying he wants to help children in Kentucky's foster care system.

>> I want to be the governor that warrants a star General Assembly about it leading reform for the broken adoption and foster care system in Kentucky.

We have too many kids.

1000 kids looking for a forever home.

He also expressed support for law enforcement and lowering unemployment.

>> I'll be a governor that stands up, supports and funds our men and women and law enforcement.

We've got to support the police.

We to put drug dealers behind bars and give those suffering from addiction.

A second chance as well.

And we need to stop paying people to sit at home and watch Netflix but got to get them back into the workforce.

>> The former governor of Arkansas and current presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson delivered the evening's keynote address.

>> You prevent war.

>> And you?

>> Preserve peace.

>> By being strong and not showing weakness.

>> Regardless of who wins the nomination, the evening's emcee Representative Michael Meredith urging the party to come together to elect the Republican candidates.

We have every war, one.

>> Of the statewide offices in Kentucky with the exception of governor and Lieutenant Governor.

And we have the opportunity to redeem ourselves on that this November.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Laura Rogers to the thank you, Lauren.

The 2019 election Governor Andy Beshear, one Warren County by a little more than 1000 votes.

>> The May primary is 4 weeks from tomorrow.

Tuesday May 16th.

As we near Election Day.

Governor Beshear maintains a large financial lead over his possible GOP contenders.

He's raised more than 5 million dollars for his campaign.

According to the Kentucky registry of election finance.

That's more than Daniel Cameron, Kelly Craft and Ryan corals combined.

But who's giving to the Beshear campaign?

A new article by veteran journalist Tom Loftus with the Kentucky Lantern breaks down the top contributors to Bashir and the Kentucky Democratic Party.

The reporting shows the largest group of can trip contributions was from people associated with WB, Transport and London.

The law firm Morgan and Morgan Churchill Downs and historical racing venue, Kentucky down were some of the other largest groups to donate.

Today.

Governor Beshear released his tax returns and he's calling on other constitutional officers and legislative leaders to do the same.

The governor says he's 2022.

Income totaled just over $194,000, which includes his salary as governor and some stock dividends.

He also released his statement of financial disclosure, which list gifts he's received including tickets to UK football and basketball games and honorary membership in the Frankfort Country Club.

Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman also released her tax returns and her statement of financial disclosure.

Guidance for how Kentucky school should handle.

New state laws was released today.

School policies were a big topic during the 2023 legislative session that just ended one bill that drew a lot of attention, as you know, with Senate Bill, one, 50, some have called the bill among the most extreme anti LGBTQ pieces of legislation in the country.

The bill bans gender transitioning medical care for trans youth.

It allows teachers to use a student's gender pronoun at birth.

Even if that means ignoring the students wishes and it bans schools from providing instruction on sexual orientation.

We'll be discussing challenges facing Kentucky schools tonight on Kentucky tonight, our panel of education stakeholders will talk about school policies concerning transgender students.

The teacher shortage teacher pay school choice and more.

You want to join us for that discussion of Senator questions in at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

A sad note tonight, former state representative Lonnie Napier passed away on Friday.

Born in Garrett County.

Napier represented the 36 district for 28 years until he retired in 2012.

Napier also served in the Kentucky National Guard owned Napier Brothers, clothing store in Lancaster and started the Jared County newspaper.

In a statement, House Speaker David Osborne said in a pure quote, brought to the House's experience as a successful small business month and service and local government and served with distinction for almost 3 decades.

Lonnie worked tirelessly to provide his constituents with not only a voice in the house, but an advocate of state government agencies end quote.

Ronnie Napier was 82 years old.

And that's Garrett County, by the way.

Senate president or Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was back at work in the U.S. Capitol today.

Almost 6 weeks after suffering a concussion from a fall at a hotel in DC he spoke on the Senate floor this afternoon.

>> It's good to be done.

I want to thank all my colleagues for their warm wishes.

Sure.

And over the past few weeks.

Suffice it to there is one of the first time that being hard to those are very, very well.

We're truly and love.

They get to serve in this remarkable institution.

Rivers on our home page >> and serve our country.

And new.

This I'm very happy to be done.

>> Senator McConnell went on to criticize the Biden administration for not negotiating over how to raise the debt ceiling.

♪ For more than 100 years.

The Louisville Urban League has been committed to helping African-Americans and other marginalized groups, a tank, social and economic equality and stability.

But in the past 6 months, it's leadership has been in flocks last week.

Kentucky additions Kelsey Starks sat down with the new interim president and CEO.

Well, just a few months ago I sat here with the newly named president and CEO Doctor Kish Comey.

talked about her long-term plan is head of the global Louisville Urban League.

And then.

>> On March, 20th, an announcement came that she was transitioning out of that role effective immediately in London prior is the chief engagement officer for the organization right now who recently stepped into that role as president and CEO.

by the change and do you intend to KET the role?

>> In terms of the wind was just a decision that the that was made between board and doctor Price.

It's just a change of leadership in so.

>> I am honored and glad to be able to step in and continue this work that I work for the last 8 years.

Almost at this point.

>> One of the main pillars of the work you all do has been about gun violence, gun reform.

And here we are in the aftermath of another.

>> Mass shooting.

>> What can we do from here and what is.

You are organizations kind of path forward.

>> we released a statement about how we as a country, we as a state, we don't have to live like this.

And so we just need to choose differently.

And so that starts in many ways with the folks in front for good with the folks in DC I'm choosing to do better in terms of policy.

I mean, very simple things like in Kentucky right now.

Police departments are not allowed to destroy confiscated weapons, which is just absolutely silly cry like that.

That would not even be an option at their disposal.

And in fact, there was legislation just this past session to to be able to change that.

And it moved nowhere.

And so very simple.

Common sense solutions might go a long way.

>> Let's talk about Department of Justice report on LMPD.

A scathing report in in wake of the death of Breonna what is are your takeaways from from that?

>> And again, how do we move >> as I said in a at a public forum.

Well, Matt Fraizer just a couple weeks ago, you know, we're not interested in reform, ation This has to be transformation.

We have to do things wholesale in order to change the way in which policing works.

And so that is really at the foundation in rebuild the retooling completely redoing rethinking the way in which we we understand policing.

And so we're going to continue to push on the issue from all areas.

And so for us, one of the big places that that starts with the police union contract that the city is is negotiating right now.

We believe that public participation, it is critically important for that process that we need to have impacted individuals in the room to be a part of those negotiations because that is where accountability starts for policing.

That is how we start to move in a better direction.

>> If you want to know more or figure out how you can get The Louisville Urban League's Derby gala is coming up on Wednesday.

May the 3rd tickets are still available and you can also inquire about sponsorships for that fund raising event.

All of that information is online.

That's Wednesday.

May 3rd.

>> Thank you.

Cal say the Louisville Urban League also offers mental health counseling services job and housing placement services and education opportunities.

Right now they have 1500 spots for free tutoring for JCPS students.

♪ A presidential visit to Kentuckyian the story behind the name of a key Kentucky River.

Toby gives has that and more.

And this.

Look at this week in Kentucky history.

♪ >> Doctor Thomas Walker name the Cumberland River in April of 17 15.

It's believed he named the 687 Mile Long River after William Augustus, the youngest son of King George.

The second of anyone Augustus was also known as the Duke of Cumberland.

The Cumberland River begins in Harlan County flow south into Tennessee and empties into the Ohio River in Livingston County, Kentucky.

>> Confederate forces burned the Tompkinsville courthouse in Monroe County on April 22nd 18.

63.

It was in retaliation after union forces burned the courthouse in Celina, Tennessee.

President Dwight D Eisenhower visited Fort Knox and then Abraham Lincoln's birth home in Hodgenville on April 22nd 1954.

He also spoke at Transylvania University in Lexington as part of the school's 100 75th birthday celebration.

They can later.

Lionel Hampton was born in Louisville on April.

20th 19, 0, 8, He let his own band and also worked with such musical greats as Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker and Louis Armstrong.

And that's a look at what was happening this week in Kentucky history.

I'm Cole Higgins.

>> IQ much Toby Gibbs.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky edition where we inform connect and inspire.

>> Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter.

Watch full episodes and clips a K E T Dot Org.

You can also find us on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV and send us a story idea.

Public affairs at KET Dot Org.

Thank you so much for watching.

Hope to see you right back here at 8 o'clock tonight for Kentucky tonight.

As we talk about education issues facing Kentucky schools.

Thanks for watching.

See a little later.