>> I just hope that.

>> I just hope that we can turn into a room because I think our kids future depends on the education we can provide for them.

>> Students are skipping too much school.

What will it take to get them back on track?

>> I'm going to be a little more outspoken in some of these primaries coming up next month.

Also and for whom?

For normal Republicans, a departing states Senator talks about battling some of his fellow Republicans.

>> I don't know of anyone in the country.

That has a track record that we have of being one.

>> A Kentucky city known for the tops.

He's also tops when it comes to business.

>> We lose a billion birds is in the U.S. and Canada every year to building collisions.

Do the city lights?

>> Plus, find out how you can help protect the migrating birds that fly over Kentucky.

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

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

April, the 18th, we're almost to the weekend.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending some of your Thursday night with us.

Kentucky lawmakers spent a lot of time discussing education issues.

This legislative session, particularly student discipline and absenteeism.

Students are missing too much school districts all across the state large and small role and urban are having trouble getting kids to show up for class.

Some experts say chronic absenteeism is the most pressing educational issue as schools try to move past the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Clayton Dalton has this report.

>> Last school year, almost 700,000 students were enrolled in Kentucky.

Public schools of that number, almost 200,000 were chronically.

Absent, meaning they missed 10% or more of the school year.

That means one in every 4, Kentucky students is missing too much school before the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was one in 5.

>> During we had a lot of students learning from home.

So they kind of got used to the fact that I can be at home and I can be on some kind of a device and learn, but it wasn't the same as face-to-face education for their teachers, you know, with COVID, it kind of got us out of our routine a little bit and parents to say, well, you know what?

>> We can miss some school and still and for many kids, I can still recoup that lost learning time and still warm either at home and makeup work for some kids and Marge last student populations that don't have kind of all those resources and support systems they don't really have the opportunity to to recoup that lost time.

So to speak.

>> Students who qualify for free or reduced meals at school are considered economically disadvantaged.

They make up about 60% of the statewide student body.

>> But they account for 75% of chronically absent students, school districts work to connect kids with resources they need like regular meals, clean clothes and hygiene products.

But they have to make it to school to receive that assistance.

Experts and educators agree it's a complex problem without a simple solution.

We the capacity to address any need the barrier.

>> That a student may have for not coming to school.

You know, whether it's an aversion or whether it's anxiety, whether it's a health issue.

Are just whether it's a societal issue that we advertise to stay home during COVID so that we have to advertise to come back.

It's just a mind shift we have to.

We have to try to regroup and understand that the tenants is important in all of our schools.

>> We're missing our interaction with their peers and then to the staff and the school or spending time.

Dealing with that large group.

If you specially have a large population are chronically absent kids who spend a lot of time, you know.

Recouping there are and making sure they have the things >> When kids have too many unexcused absences, they can be referred to the court system.

>> The goal is to hold parents and students accountable and motivate families to prioritize education.

But it doesn't always work.

>> I don't know.

I think across the state everybody has tried and were not being very successful because our overall attendances really jobs.

But chronically absent kids and a highly truant kids often are the ones that are going to end up in the court system because no rules apply to them.

It was always a diversion diversion diversion.

And that's not effective.

That's not helpful for kids.

And if we don't have consequences then and in no rules apply, then we just KET doing the same thing.

>> It's likely there is no single solution to this problem.

But educators say they're trying to share a simple message.

Attendance matters losing 10%.

Many you evolve instruction time for any reason.

It is really obstacle that we have to address.

>> To me, the value of in-person learning is connection with other people.

You get other viewpoints.

We need to get them ready for the world.

We're trying to change things so that their collaborators communicators, we want them to the more than just a bucket of knowledge.

We want them to have those soft skills, too.

They need that collaboration with their peers in order to do that.

I just hope that we can turn it around because I think our kids future depends on the education we can provide for them.

>> For Kentucky edition, I'm Clayton.

Do.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

This session legislators passed House Bill 6.11, which requires school districts to pursue legal action against parents and their children who miss 15 or more school days without an excuse.

Schools can already refer students to truancy court on their 7th unexcused absence.

No bills were filed to directly address chronic absenteeism, especially for students who miss too much school.

But U.S. doctors and parents notes to get excused.

The U.S. Department of Education says chronic absenteeism is a problem across the nation.

Well, Governor Andy Beshear has signed what's been dubbed as the Momnibus bill, a bill that ensures access to critical prenatal and post the birth care for new moms and babies.

The bill increases health care coverage for expecting mothers and it provides increased accessibility to mental health care.

The governor is also defending his decision to sign Senate bill.

One.

91.

It includes the academic outcomes of nontraditional students who are adult learners aged.

25 to 64 into the state's funding plan for Kentucky's public colleges.

But it also blocks the Kentucky Council on post-secondary education from considering race in its performance based funding model.

The governor says he didn't like removing race as a consideration, but decided vetoing the bill would do more harm than good.

>> The bill continues to reference underrepresented students and it provides significant additional help to Kentucky State University and CB HBCU as well as as our regional universities that have struggled under the funding.

And so, you trying there to to decide whether to veto a bill in its entirety because of its removal of that word, which I support in there.

But at the same time and have less funding coming to KSU to Morehead into those other institutions.

And so that was one where to get the money where it needed to go.

I have to sign something into law that I did not fully can entirely agree with.

But I think that was the same decision made by a number of our legislators, including in Senator Neal and others.

>> Also today, the governor announced changes to Kentucky's medical cannabis program.

Businesses will be able to sell medical cannabis to qualifying patients in 2025. in order to make sure those businesses will be ready.

The state is moving up.

The licensing date.

Now businesses can apply for medical cannabis licenses from July.

First to August 31st.

To be fair to all businesses, the state will issue licenses is showing using a lottery, a system that has been used in other states.

Daniel Cameron, the Republican nominee for governor last year has formed a political action committee.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports it's called the All One 20 PAC, a reference to Kentucky's 120 counties.

Cameron says the committee will raise and donate money to Kentucky Republicans who share his philosophy.

Cameron told the newspaper he hadn't ruled out running for office in the future.

Some have mentioned Cameron as a possible U.S. Senate candidate in 2026. if Senator Mitch McConnell doesn't one again.

But Kentucky's Senate majority floor leader is also going to be active for certain GOP candidates on the ballot this spring.

Those who also share his philosophy toward governing Georgetown Republican Damon Thayer, who is retiring from the Legislature at year's end says he's turning his attention to helping elect what he calls normal Republicans.

When asked what he means by that, here's his response.

>> But I just believe that there are fringes and both parties sort of like that.

One hit wonder from the 1970's by stealers clowns to the left of me.

Jokers to the right.

And I'm tired of the jokers.

>> Do you have those members in your caucus right now?

>> It's it's less so and our caucus.

I think it's more so in the House of Representatives.

When when you've got district of 45,000 people in all you have to do is win a Republican primary and that that smaller district.

I think it's a little easier for that to occur with 11% turnout or whatever you get a low turnout election like they had a northern Kentucky in a part of the state where voter turnout is low to begin with.

Then you take a non-presidential your primary like we had 2 years ago.

And this is where we are.

>> Does that come at the cost of losing some seats, though?

And the Republican super majority in the House?

I don't think so.

I think projections.

>> Are House Republicans will probably continue to be it 80, maybe even 81 or 82 after this election cycle.

You got to remember.

And by the way, I'm going to continue to be critical of the Kentucky Democratic Party and its leaders.

The KDP failed to field candidates in a majority of House you know, I'm I'm going to focus on trying to elect.

Republicans who are focused on solutions to help move Kentucky forward.

>> Is there any point where you reach a point of diminishing returns with more members?

I mean, you really only made 65 to have a safe super majority.

And and the house.

When you get above that, do you risk getting more of what you would maybe call the fringe element?

I think that's probably true.

>> But, you know, as a proud Republican and former vice chair of the state Republican Party who started out as a treasure of the Grant County Republican Party.

When I lived in northern Kentucky, I'm proud of of the growth we've had.

I remember when Democrats controlled everything I remember when they were 32 or 33 Republicans in the House of Representatives.

So, you know, there's a little bit of the who likes the bragging rights of being able to say these are numbers.

We worked hard for this.

I'm proud of the role I played in it but in some cases, I want better people.

>> They are also discusses the state budget and a few other key measures.

Lawmakers passed this session.

You can see my full extended interview with states Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer Sunday at 11:30AM, Eastern time on KET connections.

A former Kentucky state auditor has died.

George Atkins was a Democrat who served as state auditor from 1976, to 1980.

He also ran for governor unsuccessfully in the 1979, Democratic primary won by Jon.

Why Brown junior Atkins played basketball for the University of Kentucky graduating in 1963.

He also served as mayor of Hopkinsville.

The city of Bowling Green has been recognized nationally for economic development, city county and state leaders gather this morning at the National Corvette Museum to celebrate the achievement.

Our Laura Rodgers was there and tells us more about the top ranking.

>> This is an incredible victories.

Number one is incredible feat site Selection magazine showing it hearts BG and its latest rankings.

>> This is the magazine that track second ongoing activities and then ranks how different communities and the economic development organizations are performing.

>> Publication listing Bowling Green number one among populations under 200,000.

The ranking based on announcements concerning capital investment, jobs and new projects.

>> We're pretty proud of what it means for the community.

We never set our sights on being ranked.

We only set our sights on winning as much investment creating as many jobs as we can and work with the private sector to do that.

>> It's absolutely amazing to be here in Bowling Green in Warren County to celebrate, the Lieutenant Governor says she credits much of the success to the relationship between the Chamber of Commerce and area schools.

They really get it.

They understand that the genesis of economic development is education and they know that the future of this economy they're building is in our classrooms today.

She also says that the sheer administration's investments in infrastructure have been critical to support the growth, all of the funding that we put into Clearwater programs to roads, bridges, highways, all of those types of things.

Also broadband, high-speed Internet for every household.

That is truly what is enticing these businesses to come to Kentucky.

>> Pulling Green serves as a regional hub for employment, health care and education and economic development also impacts surrounding counties.

We had some companies in the transfer of some companies in Morgantown.

We had some companies that the innovation campus.

So we have a really diverse base of companies, 16 different companies that made investments in creating jobs.

>> That came together to propel us to that number one ranking in the country.

>> And then there's the multiplier effect.

How those capital investments will also support growth and housing restaurants and retail to accommodate more business.

A lot of the other economic activity is pulled and driven.

>> By the announcements and investments by these companies.

We have better quality jobs and more diverse jobs.

And so what a great benefit for not just on the one hand, but our whole 10 county region.

We value the work that this community has put in the way that it's built things the right way.

Now sights are set on the future as the city's been awarded millions of dollars in funding for roads.

>> And 20 million dollars for a sewer project at the Kentucky Transport.

>> What are we going to be next?

Well, it's about what we're doing now and it's what we did 20 years ago to get to where we are.

>> We're Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

>> Thank you, Laura.

Bowling Green has been nationally ranked for 11 straight years and this is the second time they've been first.

>> The Big Kentucky sports news today.

UK's Reed Sheppard will not be sticking around for the mark Pope era.

>> Kentucky is home to Kentucky will always be home.

However, there is another part of my dream to play basketball in the NBA in.

>> Shepard was a fan favorite.

The Laurel County native was named Mister Kentucky.

Basketball in 2023. this season.

He averaged 12.5 points.

A game with 3 point percentage of 52%.

He's heading to the NBA.

The Kentucky Derby festival kicks off this weekend with North America's largest annual fireworks show.

Thunder over Louisville has been lighting up the skies 2 weeks before the Kentucky Derby for the past.

35 years, the same man has been producing the show for all that time.

He tells our Kelsey Starks what to expect.

And this year's big show.

>> Tell us about this year.

What can we expect?

>> It is truly a totally different show as everybody knows and build the fireworks is the people who do are for words every year.

And they've to new designers and I've been meeting them for most of the year and they are incredible.

I mean, their credentials and background from shows that they've done all over the world as incredible.

What I was first viewing some of the videos that they were sharing with me.

It was like I've never seen anything like this.

So I I'm telling you, it's a totally new show that you won't see effects and color patterns that we've never seen before.

So and the music track itself is the fastest pace track that we've ever had.

So that, in fact, the one thing I insist with these guys thunder is known about the firepower.

So when we get to that finale, we've got to let the world know this is what funder is.

Yeah, and we're going good and you you feel it when you're there.

>> No question about it is incredible.

>> Tell me with this is meant to you.

>> Giving back to the community and making something like this.

>> Well, I means the world really because I was born and raised in Louisville come long line of farmers.

And this is a long way from the farm.

So it's a big source of pride to be able to do this for for my own community.

And over the years, I'd love to have so that people leave the show with a sense of pride for the community sense of pride our military.

And hopefully they're thrilled to death that they came to see the show.

So that's always the ultimate.

Look fought that you've got.

We've got to get to that point.

So, yeah, it's been a blast.

yeah, I when we started that I thought and I KET it was going to be a good size show.

The driving force was when I grew up and in the production world, people are going can we do something like they do?

And in Atlanta to we do something like they do in St. Louis?

I thought I want to build a show that tops anything.

We don't have to be like everybody else.

They're going to want to be like what we do in Louisville.

>> True story.

Thunder over Louisville is the first of 70 Kentucky Derby events leading up to the run for the Roses at Churchill Downs this Sunday on inside Louisville.

Kelsey takes us behind the scenes to learn what really goes on and planning a festival of this magnitude.

We did.

You know that on the night of last year's Derby, almost 4 million migrating birds flew over Jefferson County alone.

>> That's just one night of the spring migration birds are especially vulnerable during this time lights out.

Louisville is asking Louisville Younes to do their part in protecting birds from light pollution, which can disorient them and lead to building collisions and death.

>> What's going to reminds me of book, a very influential book called Silent Spring that was written by a scientist.

Rachel Carson, about 60 years ago.

In it, she warned us that our springs who are becoming silent because we're losing birdsong.

We have 3 billion birds.

Few are.

>> Then we had in 1970, and that's been mostly due to habitat loss.

But a lot of that loss is also >> due to deaths during bird migration, we lose a billion birds.

It in the U.S. and Canada.

Every year to building collisions.

>> Mostly at night due to city lights, they start circling areas that are well-lit and circle and circle and circle till they get exhausted and then just collapse into city locations which are going to be safe for them.

Luckily, though, there are a lot steps and actions we can choose to take if we want to.

And that's where lights at.

Louisville comes in.

>> Once that Louisville is really an opportunity for everyone in our community to be part of the solution.

So what does that They're really simple things you can do turn lights off between 11:00PM and 06:00AM especially during peak migration times, which in the spring April through May and in the fall again, it would be September to October things that people can do.

Our turn your outside lights off.

If you have blinds shutters, curtains, you can close those to help KET inside light.

And so there's not the white clear spilling out outside put wife, son motion detectors, which is really the best thing you can do because in life.

So we come on when they're needed shading facing lights, downwards or using shields, light shield.

So that light is directed down just what you needed to be on.

And it doesn't spill out up into the night sky.

Adding to the light pollution.

And we do ask that people use warmer colored balms rather than those bright led blue or white bulbs that are going to mean, even though we're focusing on home people, homeowners.

Right now, we are working with downtown building owners and managers in hopes that they will be on board with light the lights out program as the fall migration comes up and we're hoping that we can rally people to help save our birds they do a lot for us that we don't realize when they are in the food chain.

>> They do a lot of insects.

Some of them are pests in our ag work for agricultural crops or force, you know, caterpillars of various kinds chickadees their small woodland birds.

But they are in our neighborhoods.

One nest nestlings.

Those parents have to go out and catch 6 to 9,000 caterpillars for one nest of maybe 6 to 9 little babies.

They really are important leaders of things that would otherwise get out of control and the nice thing about lights out is everyone can participate.

You know, it isn't some decision makers somewhere politician or a conservation manager.

Whatever.

>> It's everyone can play a role which I think a lot of people like knowing that that they, too can take individual action.

And help nature.

Because nature helps us a lot.

>> Cutting off lights isn't just good for the environment.

It's also a cost saver.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration and Kentuckyian nearby states lighting is an office buildings, highest energy consumption cost averaging about 30%.

The Blue Grass Riders coalition celebrated the finalists and winners of its inaugural short story contest.

It included pieces from authors around Kentuckyian even riders outside the state who have set their stories in Kentucky.

>> Well, dressed Riders coalition is a grab the ring of writers of all genres.

All styles we meet in Frankfort in central Kentucky, but we have members that are across the state of Kentucky and we support each other.

We provide educational opportunities for riders to learn the craft to practice the craft we network on it for sure.

I started writing I thought was probably the only rider in Kentucky.

>> And I was amazed to find out, you know, how many, how many, how many wonderful writers there are in Kentucky in the past and current and I'm sure in the very much.

>> We came up with the idea of the Kentucky visions, short story contest.

Well, over a year ago.

And our purpose really was too highlight.

Good fiction that is written in Kentucky.

We love the Bluegrass State and the IT is it is just such a state that is so rich with the arts and we really think said many times the arts when people think of the arts, they think the paintings and sculpture and and things like that.

But literature is an art.

It absolutely is.

And and the craft is.

Not easy.

It looks easy when you read it when you read well written fiction or rel well written essays or nonfiction.

Good riders make it look easy.

And that's our goal is we want to represent Kentucky well, and we want to support Kentucky offers.

>> Anything about the creation of the arts.

To me, it's a feeling that I I can't quite say anything You know, it's it's lonely the way.

I mean, you do it by yourself.

But it doesn't feel like you're by yourself, but you're tapping into some kind of spirit of the human race, our home and a man caught.

I describe it.

But it's something.

And that's what I enjoy most about writing.

I want I want to be published.

You know, and I enjoyed winning contests like this.

But the writing itself is so enjoyable and just something that's hard to put a ceiling on graduations to her and others.

The coalition had more than 60 entries, including one from England and one from South America.

>> Well, that'll do it for us tonight on Kentucky Edition that we hope to see you again tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen there, the social media channels.

Send us a story idea and look for us on the PBS app.

Thanks so much for watching.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Take good care and I'll see you tomorrow night.

♪