[♪♪] >> I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE GOOD THE RAIN'S OVER YOU'RE GOOD.

AND FOR US IT'S LIKE GOSH IT FEELS LIKE IT'S JUST BEGINNING.

>> Renee: MEET A KENTUCKY FLOOD VICTIM WHOSE NEIGHBORS REALLY DELIVERED.

>> IT'S SO EASY TO JUST USE YOUR PHONE AND PLACE ANY NUMBER OF BETS ON ANY NUMBER OF SPORTING ACTIVITIES.

>> Renee: SPORTS BETTING IS POPULAR IN KENTUCKY, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS A WINNER.

>> IT GIVES THE CHILD AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE GROWING AND LEARNING BEFORE THEY EVEN SEE THE CLASSROOM.

>> Renee: AND WE GO TO A SCHOOL TEACHING PARENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF A CHILD'S EARLY YEARS.

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

[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" ON THIS THURSDAY, APRIL THE 17TH.

I'M RENEE SHAW AND WE THANK YOU FOR SPENDING SOME OF YOUR THURSDAY NIGHT WITH US.

>>> KENTUCKY'S AUDITOR IS LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION INTO KENTUCKY'S MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM.

IN A STATEMENT AUDITOR ALLISON BALL SAID HER OFFICE HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LOTTERY PROCESS USED TO AWARD MEDICAL CANNABIS BUSINESS LICENSES.

QUOTE, KENTUCKIANS SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT STATE OFFICES OPERATE WITH TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY.

AND MY OFFICE IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THOSE STANDARDS END QUOTE.

AUDITOR BALL SAYS THE INVESTIGATION WILL BEGIN BY EXAMINING THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS' BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS.

LAST YEAR THE BA SEAR ADMINISTRATION PARTNERED WITH THE KENTUCKY LOTTERY CORPORATION TO CREATE A SYSTEM FOR AWARDING BUSINESS LICENSES.

AT THE TIME, GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID THE GOAL WAS TO QUOTE ENSURE THAT OUR LICENSING PROCESS WAS TRANSPARENT AND PROVIDED EVERYONE A FAIR SHOT.

REPORTING BY LOUISVILLE PUBLIC MEDIA FOUND MOST OF THE BUSINESSES AWARDED MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSES WERE FORMED BY PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN KENTUCKY.

THE GOVERNOR RESPONDED TO THOSE CONCERNS BACK IN DECEMBER.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OUR STATES ARE LAWSUITS WHEN STATES HAVE TRIED TO FAVOR ONLY IN STATE COMPANIES THAT HAVE NOT RUN A LOTTERY LIKE THIS.

THERE'S BEEN ONE STATE THAT HAS BEEN ENJOINED FOR TWO YEARS THAT THEY HAVE THEIR LEGISLATION IN PLACE, BUT FOR TWO FULL YEARS, THEY CAN'T EVEN RUN THE END OF THE SELECTION PROCESS OR THE REST.

FOR US IT WAS PUTTING THE PATIENT FIRST.

AND WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION.

DO WE PUT THE PATIENT FIRST AND IF SO WE DESIGN A SYSTEM THAT WILL HAVE THE FEWEST LIKELY SUCCESSFUL CHALLENGES ON THE LAWSUITS SIDE.

>> Renee: WE REACHED OUT TO THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS ABOUT AUDITOR BALL'S INVESTIGATION.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SENT US A RESPONSE INSTEAD SAYING THEY ARE COMMITTED TO TRANSPARENCY WHICH IS WHY THE LOTTERY PROCESS WAS STREAMED ON-LINE.

THE STATEMENT GOES ON TO SAY QUOTE TODAY NO ONE HAS FILED A LEGAL CLAIM CHALLENGING KENTUCKY'S MEDICAL CANNABIS LAWS OR THE OFFICE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS' REGULATIONS.

THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COME FORWARD TO EXPRESS CONCERNS WENT THROUGH THE FULL PROCESS AND DID NOT COMPLAIN UNTIL AFTER NOT BEING SELECTED IN THE LOTTERY.

END QUOTE.

THE STATE SAYS WATCH OUT FOR THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY THROUGH EASTER SUNDAY.

KENTUCKIANS ARE URGED TO BE READY FOR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS FRIDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.

SATURDAY, EXPECT MORE WINDS AND ON SUNDAY THERE IS A TORNADO RISK.

IN ADDITION TO MORE THREATS OF HAIL AND WIND.

SO BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.

>>> THE NEW SEVERE WEATHER THREAT COMES AFTER LAST WEEK ESTORMS AND FLOODING.

TODAY, GOVERNOR BESHEAR TALKED ABOUT THE EFFORT TO RESTORE BASIC SERVICES TO FLOOD VICTIMS.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: WE STILL HAVE ABOUT 3035 METERS WITHOUT POWER MOST OF THAT GOES ON AND OFF AS PEOPLE ARE MAKING REPAIRS.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF THAT POWER TO DO IT SAFELY.

AND THEN YOU TURN IT BACK ON.

INCREDIBLE WORK ON OUR WATER SYSTEMS.

WE HAVE ONE SYSTEM IN THE ENTIRE STATE THAT IS NOT OPERATIONAL AND ONE WITH LIMITED OPERATIONS.

WE HAVE 854 HOUSEHOLDS UNDER BOIL WATER ADVISORY AFTER A MAJOR FLOOD FOR THAT TO HAPPEN THAT QUICKLY IS INCREDIBLE.

TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON OUR BOAT CREWS URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS THAT WE PREPOSITIONED AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH KNOWING THAT THIS FLOODING WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY SAVED 142 LIVES THAT WE CAN DOCUMENT AND THEY MADE 293 EVACUATIONS.

ALL TEAMS HAVE BEEN DEMOBILIZED THEY ARE BACK WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

PUBLIC HEALTH RECEIVED TETANUS AND HEPATITIS A VACCINES IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR TETANUS VACCINATIONS UP-TO-DATE.

FLOODWATERS CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH SEWAGE AND THE HEPATITIS A VACCINATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR ANYONE DOING THIS WORK.

>> Renee: THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE AGREES WITH LOUISVILLE'S DECISION TO CANCEL THE "THUNDER ONEVER LOUISVILLE" FIREWORKS SHOW.

HE SAYS WITH THE DEBRIS EVERYWHERE IT WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN SAFE TO GO FORWARD WITH IT.

>>> WE HAVE NEW VIDEO TODAY SHOWING THE FLOODING OF THE GREEN RIVER IN DAVIESS COUNTY.

THIS VIDEO IS FROM THE DAVIESS COUNTY FISCAL COURT.

ERIN BLEEMEL LIVES IN THE BIRK CITY AREA SHE SAYS SHE WAS GRATEFUL TO NEIGHBORS FOR HELPING HER FAMILY TO TRY TO SAVE HER HOME AS FLOODWATERS APPROACHED.

>> OUR CHURCH CAME OUT AND WE FILLED ABOUT A THOUSAND SANDBAGS.

IT WAS AMAZING.

IT WAS JUST A FEW HOURS WITH SO MUCH HELP AND WE PUT THEM AROUND THE HOUSE HOPE TO GO WASN'T GOING TO GET TO THE HOUSE.

IT DID GET TO THE HOUSE IT GOT UP TO OUR FIRST STEP WE THINK THE SANDBAGS HELPED BUT IT WASN'T RUSHING WATER OR ANYTHING HERE BUT EVERYTHING WAS COVERED.

>> JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE BEFORE THE GREEN RIVER IS IN YOUR FRONT YARD.

>> YES, YES, IT'S USUALLY FAR DOWN.

I'M NOT GOOD AT HOW FAR DOWN BUT IT IS AMAZING TO ME THIS MUCH WATER WAS HERE.

I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE GOOD THE RAIN'S OVER YOU'RE GOOD.

AND FOR US IT'S LIKE GOSH IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE IT'S JUST BEGINNING WE'RE HALFWAY THROUGH NOW WE HAVE THE CLEANUP AND WE'RE WAITING ON THE WATER TO GO DOWN.

THERE IS A LOT LEFT AHEAD FOR US, I FEEL LIKE.

>> Renee: OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THEM.

DURING A 2018 FLOOD THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF THEIR HOUSE USING A TRACTOR.

THIS TIME THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL BY BOAT.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS, KENTUCKIANS SPENT $3.6 BILLION ON ON-LINE SPORTS WAGERING SINCE IT BECAME LEGAL IN THE FALL OF 2023.

AND HERE ARE MORE SPORTS BETTING NUMBERS REPORTED BY THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

78% OF KENTUCKY ADULTS GAMBLED OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

47,000 TO 64,000 KENTUCKIANS HAVE A GAMBLING ADDICTION.

WE SPOKE ABOUT THIS WITH A LEADING GAMBLING ADDICTION COUNSELOR IN THE STATE.

HERE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY COUNCIL ON PROBLEM GAMBLING.

>> SINCE SPORTS GAMBLING OPENED UP IN SEPTEMBER OF '23, OUR HOTLINE HAS BEEN INCREASING TO THE POINT OF AVERAGING ABOUT DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF CALLS THAT WE'VE HAD BEFORE.

SPORTS GAMBLING SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE GET INTO AND GET QUICKLY ADDICTED TO IT.

AND GET INTO SERIOUS TROUBLE.

IT'S SO EASY TO JUST USE YOUR PHONE AND PLACE ANY NUMBER OF BETS ON ANY NUMBER OF SPORTING ACTIVITIES.

WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE YOUNGER MALES, ESPECIALLY, CALLING US AND WHEN I SAY YOUNGER ANYWHERE FROM 18 TO 30 AGE RANGE WITH SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS.

I'M HEARING AMOUNTS THAT THEY ARE GAMBLING IN THE RANGE OF AMOUNTS THAT THEY WOULD OWE FOR GAMBLING DEBT ANYWHERE FROM 10-15,000 UP TO CLOSE TO 100,000.

BECAUSE I DO TREAT GAMBLERS, THE VERY FIRST THING I DO WHEN I GET THEM IN THERE IS TRY TO BUILD HOPE IN THEM.

AND DO A SUICIDE ASSESSMENT, BECAUSE I NEED TO KNOW WHERE THAT WHOLE PIECE IS.

AND I TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF HOW THEY GOT TO THIS POINT.

AND IF IT'S SPORTS GAMBLING I TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE DIFFERENT APPS THAT YOU CAN PUT ON YOUR PHONE THAT HELP YOU IN BANNING THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO REACH YOU.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON YOUR PHONE, ON YOUR COMPUTER IT'S WHAT TECHNOLOGY DO WE HAVE FOR BANNING THEM FROM ANY KIND OF REACHING OUT TO SOMEBODY.

AND THAT HAS HELPED A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BE TO DOWNLOAD THOSE APPS.

THEY ARE LESS THAN $5 A MONTH.

WHICH IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE BETTING THEY ARE DOING.

>> Renee: THE STATE'S GAMBLING HELP LINE IS 1-800-GAMBLER.

IT'S RECEIVED MORE THAN 3200 CALLS IN 2024.

>>> WE ARE MORE THAN A YEAR AWAY FROM THE 2026 U.S. SENATE PRIMARY IN KENTUCKY BUT CANDIDATES AND POTENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE ALREADY RAISING MONEY.

REPORTS FROM THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION SHOW REPUBLICAN DANIEL CAMERON HAS ALREADY RAISED ABOUT $500,000 IN THE FOUR WEEKS SINCE HE ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY.

CAMERON IS THE FORMER KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO RAN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2023 LOSING TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR.

CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR ALSO A REPUBLICAN HAS MORE THAN $5 MILLION IN CAMPAIGN FUNDS AND HE RAISED MORE THAN A MILLION IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

HE IS NOT AN ANNOUNCED U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE YET BUT IF HE RUNS HE CAN MOVE MONEY IN THE CAMPAIGN.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAMELA STEVENSON HAS RAISED $70,000.

SHE RAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 2023 AND LOST TO REPUBLICAN RUSSELL COLEMAN.

>>> THIS IS THE U.S. SENATE SEAT HELD BY MITCH McCONNELL WHO ANNOUNCED HE WOULD NOT SEEK AN EIGHTH TERM IN 2026.

>>> ACTOR AND KENTUCKY NATIVE GEORGE CLOONEY IS PRAISING GOVERNOR BESHEAR AS A POSSIBLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN 2028.

BUT BESHEAR IS NOT CLOONEY'S FIRST CHOICE.

HE SPOKE TO "CNN"'S JAKE TAPPER.

>> WHO DO YOU HAVE YOUR EYES ON?

>> THERE IS ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR I THINK IS SPECTACULAR THERE ARE A FEW.

I LIKE ANDY BESHEAR, I LIKE.

>> YOU ARE A KENTUCKY GUY.

>> I LIKE HIM HE IS A GOOD GUY AND SMART AND WON IN A RED STATE A DEMOCRAT.

I LIKE GRETCHEN I THINK IS GOOD BUT WHO I THINK IS LEVITATING ABOVE THAT IS WES MOORE.

HE IS A GUY THAT HANDLED THIS TRAGEDY IN BALTIMORE BEAUTIFULLY.

HIS TWO TOURS OF DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN.

HE SPEAKS BEAUTIFULLY.

HE IS SMART HE RAN A HEDGE FUND AND THE ROBINHOOD FOUNDATION.

HE'S A PROPER LEADER AND DEMOCRATS, THE THING IS DEMOCRATS FALL IN LOVE AND REPUBLICANS FALL IN LINE.

I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE FALLING IN LOVE A LITTLE BIT.

I LIKE HIM A LOT.

I THINK HE COULD BE SOMEONE WE COULD ALL JOIN IN BEHIND.

WE HAVE TO FIND SOMEBODY RATHER SOON.

>> Renee: SO GOVERNOR WES MOORE WHO YOU HEARD HIM REFER TO IS THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND.

IN 2024 CLOONEY WAS ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOICES URGING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO DROPOUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

CLOONEY SAYS HE WISHES THERE HAD BEEN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY TO PICK A NOMINEE AFTER BIDEN'S WITHDRAWAL.

[♪♪] THIS WEEK, GEAR UP KENTUCKY CELEBRATED 25 YEARS.

IT IS A COLLEGE READINESS PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME KENTUCKY COMMUNITIES THAT HELPS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GO ON TO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, WITH FEDERAL FUNDING NOW IN QUESTION, THOUGH, GEAR UP STAFF AND STUDENTS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO DEMONSTRATE WHY THE PROGRAM IS IMPORTANT.

>> MORE IN TONIGHT'S EDUCATION MATTERS REPORT.

>> WE'RE HERE TODAY FOR OUR FINAL INSTITUTE FOR A COLLEGE GOING CULTURE.

SO THIS IS A TIME WHEN KENTUCKY BRINGS TOGETHER ALL OF THE 12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE SERVED.

THIS IS OUR FINAL YEAR OUR SEVENTH YEAR OF THIS GRANT OUR FOCUS IS ON SUSTAINABILITY.

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONCE THIS GRANT ENDS, HOW CAN SCHOOLS BOTH SCHOOL STAFF AND STUDENTS KEEP THE TORCH BURNING.

WE'RE RECOGNIZING OUR GEAR UP STUDENTS OF THE YEAR.

THIS YEAR WE'VE SERVED HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS AND THESE STUDENTS WE HAVE BEEN WITH FOR SIX YEARS NOW.

GEAR UP HAS BEEN PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THESE PARTICULAR STUDENTS SINCE SEVENTH GRADE.

THEY ARE NAMED STUDENT OF THE YEAR WHEN THEIR GEAR UP STAFF IN THEIR SCHOOL EVERYDAY, IDENTIFIES A STUDENT LEADER WITHIN THEIR SCHOOL WHO HAS A REALLY SHOWED INITIATIVE AND DEMONSTRATED LEADERSHIP AMONGST THEIR PEERS.

>> IN SEVENTH GRADE I DIDN'T HAVE THE MOTIVATION OR THE DRIVE TO WANT TO COMPLETE ANYTHING IN SCHOOL.

SO WHAT MAKES ME REALLY EXCITED EVEN MORE TODAY, IS THAT I HAVE THIS AWARD.

AND I FOUND THAT DRIVE THROUGH GEAR UP.

AND GEAR UP HELPED ME SO MUCH BECAUSE I WAS IN A PLACE TO WHERE I DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL.

I HAD TRUANCY FOR A WHILE.

BUT GEAR UP, I CAME TO GEAR UP AND THEY HELPED ME LIKE REALIZE.

>> GEAR UP HAS SHAPED ME TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR THE KIDS.

WE WANT TO LEAVE THE WORLD AND OUR PROGRAM BETTER THAN WHERE WE FOUND IT.

WE'RE ABLE TO HELP KIDS FEEL THE NEED TO BE INSPIRED TO GO TO COLLEGE AND TO GRADUATE FROM THAT EVEN IF THAT'S FIRST GENERATION OR EVEN IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WANT TO BE IN CAREERS MAYBE COLLEGE IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY.

WE'RE HERE TO BE ADVOCATES AND GUIDANCE FOR THE KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE ANYBODY AND GEAR UP HAS ALWAYS DONE THAT AND THE REASON I WANTED TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS TO BE ADVOCATES FOR KIDS THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE ANYBODY.

>> WE HAVE REAPPLIED FOR A NEW ROUND OF FUNDING THIS YEAR AND SO WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR BACK ON THE RESULTS OF THAT.

FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> EVERY STUDENT IN A GEAR UP SCHOOL IS HAVING ACCESS TO THOSE RESOURCES.

WE'RE GETTING WAIVERS FOR FREE ACT'S, AND WAIVERS FOR FREE COLLEGE APPLICATIONS WHICH CAN MEAN APPLYING TO COLLEGE FOR SOME STUDENTS.

SOME STUDENTS WOULDN'T BE FILLING OUT THE FAFSA OR APPLYING TO COLLEGE WITHOUT THE PUSH FROM GEAR UP.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPACT ITS BEYOND WHAT WE SEE AT A CONFERENCE LIKE TODAY.

WHEN WE SEE THE LIVES TOUCHED, IT'S MORE THAN I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO QUANTIFY IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

THE IDEAS OF GEAR UP ARE NOBLE AND WONDERFUL AND WE'VE SEEN WHAT THEY MEAN FOR STUDENTS.

BUT THE SPECIFIC ORGANIZATION AND THE PEOPLE THAT HELP MAKE IT SO SPECIAL, ARE REALLY HELPFUL FOR KENTUCKY SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS NATIONALLY.

>> WE'VE SEEN SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN GEAR UP EXCEED STATE-WIDE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES.

WE'VE SEEN MORE STUDENTS APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID.

WE'VE SEEN COLLEGE APPLICATIONS INCREASE.

AND OUR GEAR UP STUDENTS ARE GOING TO COLLEGE AT HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR PEERS ACROSS THE STATE.

THEY ARE ALSO PERSISTING FROM THEY ARE NOT JUST GETTING TO COLLEGE THEY ARE STAYING SO THEY ARE PERSISTING FROM THAT FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE TO THAT SECOND YEAR OF COLLEGE AT HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR PEERS AS WELL.

IN THE MEANWHILE WE WANT TO JUST GET THE MESSAGE OUT THAT GEAR UP TRULY DOES WORK AND IT'S WORKING IN KENTUCKY.

>> GEAR UP IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU ARE OFFERED, YOU KNOW.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF THINGS THAT THEY ARE LIKE EXPOSED TO AND LIKE SHOWN TO TO BETTER THEMSELVES FOR THE FUTURE.

THIS MEANS A LOT TO ME, BECAUSE I WAS CHOSEN FROM SOMETHING THAT I WAS GIVEN.

AND IT FEELS REALLY GOOD FOR ME TODAY.

>> Renee: 12 STUDENTS WERE NAMED GEAR UP STUDENTS OF THE YEAR WITH 12 EDUCATORS RECOGNIZED AS GEAR UP CHAMPIONS OF THE YEAR.

>>> THE CRADLE SCHOOL IN DANVILLE DOESN'T JUST TEACH CHILDREN IT TEACHES PARENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF A CHILD'S EARLY YEARS FROM BIRTH TO AGE THREE.

IT'S BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS THEN CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE THROUGHOUT A LIFETIME.

>> I ABSOLUTELY LOVE WORKING WITH THIS AGE.

WE WORK FROM BIRTH TO FOUR.

AND I LOVE THAT THE KIDS ARE MOLDABLE AND STILL READY TO LEARN AND THEY ARE EXCITED.

AND WE FOUND THAT THE PARENTS ARE SO WILLING TO HAVE SOMEONE THAT WILL COME ALONG SIDE THEM AND HELP THEM THROUGH THAT JOURNEY.

>> OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO INCREASE KINDERGARTEN READINESS.

AROUND 70-80% OF THE STUDENTS LOCALLY COMING INTO KINDERGARTEN ARE NOT CONSIDERED KINDERGARTEN READY.

SO THAT'S WHY IT REALLY GOT STARTED.

>> WE DO A LOT OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES ONCE A MONTH THEY WILL GET WITH YOU AND THEY SEE WHERE YOUR CHILD IS, WHERE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL THE WAY FROM BIRTH.

>> ARTHUR WAS NOT GETTING HIS NUMBERS AND HE ALREADY GOTTEN TO EIGHT AND HE IS ONLY THREE.

>> WE CONSIST OF TWO PARTS, INDIVIDUALIZED VISITS WHERE WE ASSIGN EACH STUDENT A PARENT EDUCATOR AND THAT PARENT EDUCATOR PLANS INDIVIDUALS BASED ON WHERE THEY ARE AND AREAS WHERE THEY MIGHT NEED EXTRA WORK, COGNITIVE SKILLS, LETTERS, NUMBERS, COUNTING.

>> OUR GROUP SESSIONS ARE ABOUT AN HOUR, HOUR-AND-A-HALF LONG.

WE START WITH A CIRCLE TIME AND IN THAT CIRCLE TIME WE FOCUS ON NUMBERS, LETTERS, COLORS, WE ALSO ARE KIND OF HELPING THOSE CHILDREN LEARN HOW TO SIT IN A CIRCLE TIME AND HOW TO INTERACT WITH OTHER KIDS AND HOW THAT WORKS.

>> BIG INTO READING.

WE'LL SIT DOWN AND READ A BOOK.

THE KIDS GET TO INTERACT.

WE TRY TO GET THE GROUP TOGETHER AND GET EACH KID TO SAY THEIR NAME OR WE'LL SAY THEIR NAME AND READ A BOOK AND HAVE THEM INTERACT WITH THE BOOK.

>> WE GO FROM THE CIRCLE TIME TO THE GROUPS WHERE WE DO DIFFERENT SKILLS MIGHT BE A CUTTING STATION, A FINE MOTOR PLAYDOUGH STATION THAT IS JUST WHERE THE PARENT AND THE CHILD CAN WALK AROUND TOGETHER AND THEY CAN PARTNER IN THOSE TASKS THAT MAYBE THEY WOULDN'T DO AT HOME.

>> HE LOVES TO COME AND IT'S GREAT TO LEARN HOW TO SHARE SOME OF THE KIDS ARE ONLY KIDS.

OR THEY GOT OTHER SIBLINGS AND THEY ARE WAY FAR APART.

FOR THEM THEY GET TO LEARN HOW TO INTERACT WITH KIDS THEIR AGE.

>> HAVING THIS ROOM HAS BEEN A BLESSING IT HAS ALLOWED US TO SET IT UP LIKE A KINDERGARTEN ROOM WHEN THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN COME IN THEY ARE LEARNING WHAT DOES A CIRCLE TIME LOOK LIKE, YOU MAY HAVE TOYS IN THE ROOM BUT YOU CAN'T PLAY YOU HAVE TO DO MAYBE YOUR STATIONS FIRST.

SO IT GIVES THE CHILD AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ARE GROWING AND LEARNING BEFORE THEY EVEN SEE THE CLASSROOM.

BECAUSE THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE INTIMIDATING TO THE KIDS WHEN YOU GO INTO KINDERGARTEN AND YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A CLASSROOM BEFORE.

SO THIS GIVES THAT LEARNING CURVE FOR THE KIDS AND THE FAMILIES.

>> Renee: THE PROGRAM RECEIVED A UNITED WAY GRANT TO HIRE TWO ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS WHO HELP LEAD GROUP ACTIVITIES AND WILL ULTIMATELY WORK WITH THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

>>> KENTUCKY HAS A NEW POET LAUREATE FOR 2025 AND 2026.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR TODAY ANNOUNCED POET AND TEACHER, KATHLEEN DRISKELL WILL REPLACE SILAS HOUSE WHOSE TERM IS ENDING KATHLEEN DRISKELL IS AN AUTHOR OF SIX COLLECTIONS.

TODAY SHE TALKED ABOUT WHAT WRITING CAN ACCOMPLISH.

>> I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE ENGAGE OUR CREATIVITY WE ARE SEEING EVIDENCE OF THE DIVINE, THE SACRED.

WHEN WE ACTIVATE OUR IMAGINATIONS WE ARE ACTIVATING OUR CAPACITY TO LOVE OURSELVES AND TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

WE CREATE A WORLD THAT DEMONSTRATES OUR SHARED COMMUNITY, STRENGTHENED THROUGH PARADOXICLY WRITING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES AMONG US.

>> Renee: KATHLEEN DRISKELL WILL BE INDUCTED ON APRIL 24TH IN THE STATE CAPITOL ROTUNDA.

CONGRATS TO HER.

[♪♪] LOUISVILLE'S KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM IS CELEBRATING 40 YEARS WITH A BIG UPGRADE TO ONE OF ITS MOST THRILLING EXHIBITS.

THE GREATEST RACE IS A MOVIE SHOWN EACH HOUR ON THE MUSEUM'S ONE OF A KIND 360° THEATER SCREEN.

OUR KELSEY STARKS GIVES US A FIRST LOOK ON THE NEXT "INSIDE LOUISVILLE".

>> SINCE ITS DEBUT 40 YEARS AGO...

THE KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM'S IMMERSIVE 360° THEATER HAS BEEN GROUNDBREAKING.

>> THIS TYPE OF PRESENTATION IN A MUSEUM ENVIRONMENT IS RATHER UNIQUE BECAUSE OF THE SCALE OF IT.

>> THE GREAT HALLS THEATER IS ONE OF THE ONLY 360° SCREENED THEATERS IN THE WORLD.

THERE IS A COUPLE OTHERS MOST WILL HAVE A DOME OVER THEM.

OUR IS UNIQUE IT IS A 360° STRIP IN AN OVAL SHAPE TO REPRESENT A RACETRACK.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WALK IN AND ASK WHERE'S THE THEATER BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPECTING THE SCREEN TO BE ALL AROUND THEM.

AND THEN WHEN THEY THE MOVIE OPENS AND YOU SEE ALL THESE NAMES OF PAST WINNERS AND ROSES ON THE SCREEN, THEN THEY REALIZE WHAT THEY ARE IN AND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE EXPERIENCE LIKE THEY ARE NOT REALLY HAVE SEEN MUCH OF BEFORE.

>> WHEN IT OPENED IN 1985, THE GREATEST RACE WAS A SLIDE SHOW OF DERBY PHOTOGRAPHS.

IN 2015, IT BECAME THE WORLD'S FIRST SEAMLESS 360° IMMERSIVE MEDIA EXPERIENCE.

WHILE THE FILM IS UPDATED EACH YEAR TO REFLECT THE NEWEST DERBY WINNER THIS YEAR'S UPGRADE IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IN A DECADE.

>> THE GREAT HALL 40 FOOT BY 80 FOOT OVAL AND 40 FOOT TALL UP TO THE CEILING.

NOW WHAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE'RE ADDING WE'VE NEVER HAD AMBIENT LIGHTING DURING THE FILM.

WE HAVE LIGHTING FOR EXHIBITS.

WE'RE ADDING A SERIES OF NEW LIGHTING FIXTURES SOME OF WHICH WILL BE LASER CONTROLLED AND SOME WILL HAVE SPECIAL EFFECTS LIKE ROSE PETALS CUT OUT AND GOBO'S FOR THEM.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ADDING.

WHEN YOU SEE THE MOVIE YOU WILL HAVE THIS KIND OF LIGHT SHOW THAT IS GOING TO GO ON AND SOMETIMES YOU WILL NOTICE IT AND SOMETIMES YOU WON'T.

YOU WILL BE LIKE WOW THAT'S SUCH AN ADDITION I WASN'T EXPECTING.

>> IT IS A 2.3 MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT AND IN ADDITION TO THE NEW LIGHT SHOW, IT INCLUDES FRESH FOOTAGE FROM DERBY 150 AND UPDATES TO CHURCHILL DOWNS.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE NEW VOICES THAT WE'RE BRINGING IN FOR EXAMPLE FOR THE FIRST TIME PENNY FROM SOME ARCHIVE INTERVIEWS SECRETARIATES OWNER.

WE'RE BRINGING IN BRAD COX ONE OF THE MAJOR LEADING TRAINER OF THIS GENERATION OF TRAINERS.

WE HAVE MIKE SMITH IN AND WE'RE INCORPORATING FOOTAGE OF HIM WINNING WHICH WE NEVER HAVE WHEN WE HAVE THE MOVIE WITH JOCKEYS NOW WE HAVE DERBY AND THEY ARE DERBY WINNING JOCKEYS AND NOW A WINNING JOCKEY WITH SHOWS HE IS TALKING AND YOU ARE SEEING HIM WIN THE DERBY IN THE 2018 YEAR WHERE THE RAIN IS POURING DOWN AND A GREAT LOOK.

YOU SEE TRULY WHAT IT MEANS TO HIM TO WIN THE DERBY.

THE ONE THING EVERYTHING IN THE MUSEUM AS WELL AS ESPECIALLY THIS EXHIBIT THE GREATEST RACE WE WANT PERSON WHO HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT GOES ON HERE THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY, COME IN AND SEE OUR MOVIE AND OUR EXHIBITS AND WANTING TO OUT HERE AND BE IN PERSON THE NEXT DERBY.

THAT IS WHAT WE WANT.

THAT IS THE EXPERIENCE WE WANT TO GIVE.

>> PRETTY COOL.

>> Renee: LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM AND WHAT IS STILL TO COME WHEN KELSEY STARKS SITS DOWN WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE DERBY MUSEUM ON THE NEXT "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" THIS SUNDAY AT 12:00 NOON, 11:00 A.M. CENTRAL HERE ON KET.

>>> YOU KNOW HIM FOR HIS LOVE OF TRAVEL.

NOW, RICK STEVES IS TEAMING UP WITH THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA FOR A MUSICAL JOURNEY THAT BEGINS IN THE U.S. AND TRAVELS THROUGH SEVEN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

[♪♪] >> Renee: EXPERIENCE THE HISTORICAL TRAVEL LOG OF HISTORY AND CULTURE WITH REMARKABLE SCENERY AND RICK'S INSIGHTS.

PLAY MUSICAL TOUR GUIDE RICK STEVES UTILIZES HIS KNOWLEDGE OF EUROPEAN HISTORY AND CULTURE TO SET THE CONTEXT FOR EACH PIECE.

>> THIS CONCERT HAS BEEN A CELEBRATION OF HOW GREAT IT IS TO TRAVEL.

BUT YOU KNOW THE HAPPIEST DAY FOR ME IS ALWAYS THE DAY I COME HOME.

AND I BRING HOME WITH ME MY TWO FAVORITE SOUVENIRS.

A BROADER PERSPECTIVE AND A BETTER APPRECIATION OF THIS PLACE THAT WE ARE SO BLESSED TO CALL HOME.

>> Renee: SEE RICK STEVES EUROPE WITH THE LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA FRIDAY NIGHT AT 10:00 P.M. EASTERN ON KET AND DON'T MISS US TOMORROW BECAUSE WE'RE BACK AT 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

I'M RENEE SHAW AND I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT.