[♪♪] >> Christie: KENTUCKIANS REMEMBER THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF THE MAN KNOWN AS THE PEOPLE'S POPE.

>> WE WILL NEVER RETURN TO THE WAY WE WERE PRIOR TO THE 2025 FLOOD.

>> Christie: FLOOD RECOVERY IS UNDERWAY IN WOODFORD COUNTY.

>> I SAID WHEN YOU GET IN LINE YOU REALIZE IT'S ONLY STUFF.

>> Christie: A FORMER TEACHER AND THE LIFE LESSON SHE IS SHARING AFTER FLOODWATERS DESTROY HER HOME.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: KNOWING HOW TO DRIVE SAFE IS ONE THING BUT THE TEENS WERE PUT TO THE TEST.

>> Christie: SOME TEEN DRIVERS REWARDED FOR KEEPING THEIR EYES ON THE PRIZE AND THE ROAD.

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

[♪♪] >> Christie: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" FOR THIS MONDAY APRIL THE 21ST FROM THE LOUISVILLE STUDIO I'M CHRISTIE DUTTON FILLING IN FOR RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TRIBUTES CONTINUE TO POUR IN FOR POPE FRANCIS... WHO DIED EARLIER TODAY AT THE AGE OF 88.

FRANCIS SUFFERED A HEALTH CRISIS EARLIER THIS YEAR AND SPENT MORE THAN A MONTH IN THE HOSPITAL WITH DOUBLE PNEUMONIA.

HIS DEATH COMES ONE DAY AFTER HE APPEARED IN PUBLIC TO GIVE THE BLESSING FOR EASTER MASS.

FRANCIS SERVED AS HEAD OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR 12 YEARS.

HE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE POOR AND WORKED TO MAKE THE CHURCH MORE INCLUSIVE.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR SAYS HE WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS COMPASSION AND LEADERSHIP....

POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA QUOTE: " POPE FRANCIS EARNED THE TITLE "THE PEOPLE'S POPE" BY SHOWING KINDNESS AND MERCY STANDING FOR LOVE ABOVE HATE AND EXTENDING A HAND TO HELP ALL PEOPLE.

HE LED BY EXAMPLE, AND HIS HUMILITY AND DEDICATION TO GOD BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER.

HIS LOSS IS GREAT, BUT HIS IMPACT IS GREATER."

END QUOTE.

SEVERAL MEMBERS OF KENTUCKY'S DELEGATION... ALSO COMMENTING ON THE PASSING OF POPE FRANCIS...

INCLUDING SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL.

IN A STATEMENT..

HE SAID..

IN PART, QUOTE: "FROM THE BEGINNING OF HIS PAPACY, THE HOLY FATHER INVITED CHRISTIANS FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE TO MORE FULLY EMBRACE THE CALL TO CARE FOR THE VULNERABLE, INCLUDING THE UNBORN AND THE POOREST AMONG US.

HE REMINDED US BY WORD AND DEED THAT WE ARE ALL CALLED TO LIVES OF FAITHFUL SERVICE."

FATHER JIM SICHKO... WHO SERVES THE DIOCESE OF LEXINGTON AND MET WITH POPE FRANCIS ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS... POSTED A STATEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT READS, IN PART QUOTE: "A SHEPHERD OF DEEP COMPASSION, UNWAVERING HUMILITY, AND BOUNDLESS MERCY, POPE FRANCIS EMBODIED THE VERY HEART OF CHRIST FOR OUR TIME.

HIS LOVE FOR THE POOR, THE FORGOTTEN, AND THE BROKEN OPENED THE DOORS OF THE CHURCH WIDER THAN EVER BEFORE REMINDING US ALL THAT MERCY IS NOT A CONCEPT—IT IS A WAY OF LIFE."

THE VATICAN HAS NOT ANNOUNCED ANY SPECIFIC FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, BUT IT'S EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX DAYS.

WOODFORD COUNTY ISED IN CLEAN UP EFFORTS FOLLOWING THE FLOODS.

"KENTUCKY EDITION" TRAVELED TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF SHORE ACRES TO SEE HOW THEY ARE REBUILDING.

>> THIS WAS THE BIG ONE, THE RECORD FLOOD THAT EVERYBODY HAD ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT BUT NOBODY REALLY TRULY IMAGINED WOULD HAPPEN.

SO WE'RE LIVING THROUGH IS IT.

BUT WE'RE IN FULL RECOVERY MODE IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK.

AND FOLKS ARE, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY'RE SEEING THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.

THINGS WON'T BE FULLY BACK TO NORMAL FOR ANYBODY FOR SOMETIME.

MOST PEOPLE ARE STILL DISPLACED AND THEY ARE STILL JUST ACTUALLY MOVING ALL OF THE MUD OUT, THE DEBRIS EVERYTHING IN THEIR HOUSE AND GETTING CLEANED UP.

WE ARE IN A HEAVY CLEAN UP STAGE.

IN SHORE ACRES THE PROPERTIES SAW 48 FEET IN THE ELEVATION OF THE FLOODWATERS.

SO THAT MEANT MULTIPLE FEET OF WATER IN SEVERAL OF THE PROPERTIES.

SOME SIT A LITTLE LOWER OR CLOSER TO THE RIVERFRONTAGE.

AND AT LEAST ONE CASE THE WATERLINE IS ON THE SHINGLES OF THE ROOF.

>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED BUT WE KNOW SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 250 HOMES ARE I AM PACKAGED.

AND, AGAIN, MOST OF THESE ARE NOT LIVABLE AND SOME WILL ULTIMATELY BE CONDEMNED AND TORN DOWN.

>> THE NEIGHBOR WHO LIVES UP THE STREET FROM US HE CALLED ME AND THAT HE THE REASON WE EVACUATED HIS HOUSE HAD FLOODED.

HIS HOUSE WAS UNDER WATERED ALMOST UP TO THE TOP OF THE ROOF AND HE CALLED BE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

MY WIFE AND I THOUGHT WE WOULD STAY BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THE HOUSE WAS HIGH ENOUGH AND WE CALLED THE SHERIFF AND THEY HAD THAT LEFT THE AREA.

THEIR BOAT WAS THREE-AND-A-HALF FEET BELOW THAT WINDOW SILL.

I HAD TO HELP MY WIFE CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW INTO THE BOAT WHICH I DID AND WE HAVE TWO WONDERFUL PUPPY DOGS BUT IT WAS CRAZY TO HAVE TO GO OUT OF A TWO-AND-A-HALF STOREY WINDOW INTO A BOAT TO BE SAVED.

WE ARE THINGFUL THEY WERE HERE.

>> WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO TAKE INVENTORY AND DEAL WITH THE CLEAN UP SO PROPERTY AND BRING IT ROADSIDE AND IT ALLOWS OUR ROAD CREWS AND OUR CONTRACTORS TO APPROPRIATELY DISPOSE OF THE DEBRIS.

THERE IS A BIG LIFT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FLOOD DEBRIS.

YOU HAVE VEGETATIVE DEBRIS WHICH WE DEAL WITH COMMONLY DURING SEVERE WEATHER AND WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS, DRYWALL AND THAT SORT OF THING.

I DON'T KNOW ANY PROPERTY OWNER THAT'S GOT, LEFTOVER CAN OF PAINTED FROM A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT CAN'T GO TO A LANDFILL HOUSEHOLD WASTE HAS TO BE SEPARATED AND THERE'S APPLIANCES WHICH WE CALL WHITE DEBRIS AND A LOT WILL GO TO RECYCLE.

IT'S HARD TO SORT THAT ON A NARROW COUNTRY ROAD AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DEBRIS GETS INTO THE RIGHT PILES SO IT'S DITS POSED OF PROPERLY.

>> WE NEED THE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP FOLKSES AND SOME FOLKS WON'T HE ABE ABLE TO AFFORD TO COME BACK AND THAT IS THE TRAGEDY.

WE WILL NEVER RETURN TO THE WAY WE WERE PRIOR TO THE 2025 FLOOD.

BUT OUR GOAL AS COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS TO REBUILD STRONGER, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE MORE RESILIENT.

THOSE THAT CHOOSE TO STAY AND REBUILD WE WILL SUPPORT THEM AND MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS FIND GOOD, LOW PRESSURE LIVING ARRANGEMENTS AND WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY NO MATTER WHERE THEY WERE IMPACTED WE WANT THEM TO REBUILD THEIR OWN LIVES BETTER AND STRONGER.

>> THERE IS NO WAY WE COULD HAVE SAVED OURSELVES.

A LOT OF THINGS I WILL DO DIFFERENTLY.

I'VE LOST A LOT OF VEHICLES AND A LOT OF EQUIPMENT.

THAT IS NOT INSURED.

I WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFE THAN WHAT I PLANNED BUT I HAVE A LIFE TO LIVE SO I'M HAPPY.

>> Christie: FLOOD RECOVER ARE I AND CLEAN UP ALSO CONTINUES IN FRANKLIN COUNTY.

FRANKFORT OPENED A MULTIAGENCY RESOURCE CENTER THIS MORNING.

CITY LEADERS SAY THE CENTER WILL CONNECT THOSE AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD WITH LOCAL RESOURCES TO HELP IN THE REBUILDING PROCESS.

LAYNE WILKERSON POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT FEMA IS EXPECTED TO BE AT THE LOCATION ONCE PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

HOWEVER, HE IS TELLING PEOPLE THAT TO WAIT UNTIL THEN TO GET HELP.

>> LOCAL NONPROFITS WILL BE ON-SITE AND SOME WILL NATIONAL NONPROFITS LIKED RED CROSS, THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAD BUSINESSES AFFECTED BY THE FLOODS.

AND ONCE THE PRESIDENT SIGNS THE INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE DECLARATION FROM FEMA, THE FEMA LOCATION WILL BE ON-SITE HERE.

HAT HAS BEEN GETTING A LOT OF PRESS IN TERMS OF WHETHER THE PRESIDENT WILL SIGN THE FEMA DECLARATION OR NOT.

I'M ENCOURAGING OUR RESIDENTS NOT WAIT ON THAT AND NOT COUNT ON FEMA ALONE.

WE HAVE OTHER RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE INCLUDING THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.

IN THEIR EYES FRANKLIN COUNTY QUALIFIED FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE CALL 1-800 RED CROSS SO THEY CAN START HELPING YOU GET ASSISTANCE NOW.

I WILL PUT THE LINK IN THE COULDN'TS OF THIS VIDEO AND THEY WILL BE ON-SITE AT THIS RESOURCE CENTER GOING FOR.

>> Christie: THE CENTER IS OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 9:00 A.M.-7:00 P.M.

THE FLOODWATERS KENT UP HER STREET, FORMER SCHOOLTEACHER SALLY DAVIS WAS HAVING A COOKOUT AND NEVER THOUGHT THE WATER WOULD END UP IN THEIR HOMES.

AT 90 YEARS OLD SALLY SAYS THE LESSON SHE IS SHARING IS TO COUNT THE BLESSINGS NOT THE THINGS THAT WERE LOST.

>> WELL, WE THOUGHT IT HAD NEVER GOTTEN UP AND THE NIGHT BEFORE WE HAD HAD A COOKOUT AND SAT OUTSIDE WATCHING THE WATER COME UP.

NEVER DREAMED IT WAS GOING TO GET UP.

SO WE HAD NOT PREPARED.

WE MAY LOSE STUFF BUT WE WEREN'T REALLY AND AT 3:00 A.M.

THE NEXT MORNING I GOT UP ON THE PORCH AND IT WAS ON MY FRONT STEP.

IT REALLY DIDN'T GET IN THE FRONT DOOR.

BUT THE BASEMENT, AND IT CAME UP THROUGH THE VENTS.

LUCKILY, THE CITY MANAGER LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM ME.

HE CALLED AND THEY SENT ONE OF THE BIG RUBBER RAFTS SO THEY CAN COULD PULL UP TO MY FRONT DOOR.

AND THEY PUT ME ALL THIS GEAR AND I HAD ME AND MY DOG INTO THIS BOAT.

OTHER THAN FLOOD IMPACT IT'S HAD ON PEOPLE THAT I KNOW, PEOPLE THAT I DON'T KNOW, THEY ARE HAVING REAL PROBLEMS, I FEEL VERY LUCKY.

PEOPLE IN FRANKFORT HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP TO HELP.

AND I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT I COULD HIRE SOMEBODY TO COME AND CLEAN MINE UP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE GET IN THERE WITH NOTHING.

AND NOBODY UNLESS SOMEBODY JUST CAME TO HELP THEM.

IT IS A VERY SAD FEELING WHEN OUR COUNTRY IS IN SUCH A MESS AND SO THAT WASN'T MY BIG CONCERN.

ARE WE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET FEMA, ARE THEY GOING TO GIVE FUNDS ARE THEY GOING TO FIND A PLACE FOR THE PEOPLE TO GO.

SO IT WASN'T SO MUCH THE FLOOD, AS IT WAS THE IMPACT IT'S GOING TO HAVE ON THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

THAT CAN'T GET HELP.

YOU KNOW, IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO WONDERFUL TO HELP ME, THAT I TOLD SOMEONE YES, I SAID WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD THAT WE STILL DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT ABOUT OTHERS AND NOT JUST WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THEM.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THINGS.

IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE THAT ARE SAFE, THAT CARE ABOUT YOU, AND ARE THERE AND THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT WITH THE FLOOD.

SO I SAID I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WHATSOEVER.

I'M JUST HAPPY THAT I AM HERE TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.

>> Christie: DAVIS WILL BE MOVING BACK TO HER HOMETOWN WHILE REPAIRS ARE BEING MADE ON THE HOUSE SHE LIVES IN FRANKFORT.

>> KENTUCKIAN AND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT DAKOTA MEYER RETURNED TO MILITARY SERVICE.

THE 36-YEAR-OLD RELIESED IN THE MARINES LAST WEEK.

MEYER PARTICIPATED IN A WORKOUT ALONGSIDE PETE HEGSETH ON THE DAY HE REENLISTED.

THE ADAIR NATIVE SERVED IN THE MARINE CORPS SERVED IN 2006-2010.

MEYER WAS AWARDED THE 34ED DAHL OF HONOR FOR HEROISM IN THE AFGHANISTAN WAR.

MEYER SAYS HE IS RETURNING TO MILITARY SERVICE AFTER 15 YEARS BECAUSE HE 23E89 HE QUOTE HAD MORE TO GIVE.

>>> TUITION INCREATIONS AT KENTUCKY PUBLIC COLLEGES WILL BE LIMITED.

THE COUNCIL ON POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION HAS APPROVED NEW LIMITS ON UNDERGRADUATE TUITION AND FEES FOR STUDENTS FOR THE NEXT TWO SCHOOL YEARS.

THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO RAISE RATES BY 685.

IT WILL BE CAPPED AT 630.

AND THE KENTUCKY COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEMS CANNOT RAISE PRICES BY MORE THAN $9 PER CREDIT HOUR.

C36789E APPROVED A NUMBER OF NEW PROGRAMS INCLUDING MASTER OF SCIENCE PROGRAMS IN AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING AT KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY.

A DOCTOR OF ENGINEERING PROGRAM AT MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY.

AND AN ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE IN DENTAL HYGIENE AT MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY.

>>> SOME KENTUCKY TEENS WERE HONORED IN FRANKFORT FOR THEIR HABITS BEHIND THE WHEEL.

THEY TOOK PART IN THE KENTUCKY SAFE TEEN DRIVING CHALLENGE HOSTED BY THE KENTUCKY TRANSPORTATION CABINET'S OFFICE AND AAA IT WAS OPEN TO TEENS AGES 16-19.

PARTICIPANTS DOWNLOADED AN APP THAT ANALYZED THEIR DATA SCORING WAS BASED IN HOW OFTEN THEY ENGAGED IN RISKY BEHAVIORS.

ACCELERATION AND CORNERING.

OVERALL WE HAVE SEEN A DOWNWARD TREND IN HIGHWAY FATALITIES BUT WE MUST DO MORE.

ONE DEATH IS TOO MANY.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TODAY TO DO EVEN MORE TO SUPPORT YOU.

THIS CONTEST IS A POSITIVE INCENTIVE FOR NEW DRIVERS WILL E AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

KNOWING HOW TO DRIVE SAFE IS ONE THING BUT THE TEENS WERE PUT TO THE TEST.

THEY WERE MONITORED AND GOT TO SEE WHERE THEY NEEDED IMPROVEMENT.

THIS CONTEST IS JUST ONE WAY WE'RE MAKING SAFETY HEY PRIORITY.

YOU KNOW THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU ARE HEAD OUT THE DOOR AND MOM OR DAD SAYS BE SAFE?

NOW YOU CAN SAY DON'T WORRY I'M OFFICIALLY ONE OF THE SAFEST DRIVERS IN KENTUCKY.

THOSE ARE BRAGGING RIGHTS.

>> DURING THE COMPETITION I DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS TO MY DRIVING HABITS AS I'VE PRACTICED SAFE DRIVING FROM THE MOMENT I GOT MY DRIVINGS PERMIT.

I DID WITNESS NEGLIGENCE FROM OTHER DRIVERS.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THE SEVERITY OF THE CONSEQUENCES THAT COULD COME IF THEY CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE THE BEHAVIORS.

DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGE AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AS IT CAN TAKE YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE.

>> Christie: FOUR CASH PRIZES WERE GIVEN OUT THE FIRST PLACE WINNER GETTING $2,000.

NOT TOO BAD.

KENTUCKY STATE POLICE WILL BE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COVER THEIR CRUISERS IN STICKERS TO RAISE FUNDS AND AWARENESS FOR LOCAL ATHLETES COMPETING IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPIC SUMMER GAMES.

STARTING TODAY TROOPERS AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES WILL BE TAKING DOUGH NATIONS FOR A MINIMUM DONATION OF $1, PARTICIPANTS CAN PLACE A STICKER ON A KSP CRUISER.

THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS KENTUCKY.

FOR TIMES AND LOCATIONS GO TO KENTUCKYSTATEPOLICE.KY.GOV.

[♪♪] IT IS A CRUCIAL PART OF ONE OF OUR CRUCIAL SENSES BUT OUR NOSES DO MORE THAN JUST HELP US SMELL.

IT'S ALSO ONE OF OUR FIRST LINES OF DEFENSE WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING US HEALTHY.

ON THE LATEST EPISODE OF KENTUCKY HEALTH Dr. WAYNE TUCKSON AND HIS GUEST DISCUSS THE WONDERS OF THE HUMAN NOSE.

>> I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING THAT ABOUT SIX LITERS OF AIR GOES IN AND OUT THROUGH OUR NOSES IN A TYPICAL MINUTE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT ARE COMING IN THAT MAY GIVE US A PROBLEM?

>> IT DEPENDS ON YOUR ENVIRONMENT BUT THERE COULD BE MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO OBVIOUSLY POLLUTION IS A SIGNIFICANT ONE, PARTICULATE MATTER IS AN IMPORTANT ONE.

IT NOT CAN GET INTO THE NOSE BUT ALSO GET INTO THE REST OF THE AIRWAY.

AND THEN, ALLERGENS, THEY ARE AN INTERESTING PHENOMENON BECAUSE REALLY WE'RE -- WE SHOULDN'T OUR BODIES SHOULDN'T FEAR AN ALLERGEN A POLLEN BUT IT DOES.

AND THE NOSE IS THAT FIRST PLACE TO BLOCK ANY SORT OF PATHOGEN THAT COULD COME IN.

AN ALLERGEN, WHEN A BODY REACTS TO AN ALLERGEN IT'S OVERREACTING TO SOMETHING THAT IS NOT TRULY HARMFUL.

POLLUTION CAN BE HARMFUL BUT IT'S TRYING TO REACT TO IT.

THAT IS GR IT GETS SWOLLEN AND BLOCKS THE AIRWAY IT'S THAT FIRST PATHWAY OF DEFENSE.

>> YOU ARE A SPECIALIST WITHIN A SPECIALTY, SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS IN THE NOSE THAT MAKE IT UNIQUE AS FAR AS OUR BODY PARTS ARE CONCERNED?

>> SO, THE NOSE IS MORE COMPLEX THAN YOU MAY INITIALLY REALIZE.

SO ONE, AS I'VE SAID, IT PROTECTS THE AIRWAY.

IT ALSO MOISTURIZES THE AIR THAT COMES IN TO TRY TO HELP FLOW OF THE MUCUS AND HELP THE ENTIRE REGULATORY SYSTEM.

YOU ALSO HAVE SMELL.

WE HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH COVID-19 WITH SMELL LOSS.

AND OTHER OTHER VIRUSES THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.

AND SMELL IS A VERY IMPORTANT SENSE AND IT CAN BE COMPLEX BECAUSE THERE'S NOT JUST ONE THING THAT CAN CAUSE IT.

>> Christie: AND YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FACTORS THAT CAUSE A LOSS OF SHELL AND GET YOUR NOSE DIRTY WITH THE FACTS ON THE LATEST EPISODE OF KENTUCKY HEALTH IT'S STREAMING ON-LINE AND ON DEMAND AT KET.ORG.

[♪♪] PICKLEBALL IS THE FASTEST GROWING SPORT IN AMERICA AND KENTUCKY IS NO EXCEPTION.

THERE ARE MORE THAN 700 COURTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

OUR FRIENDS AT KENTUCKY LIFE EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF THE SPORT AND EVEN PUT HOST CHIP POLSTON ON THE COURT TO LEARN A THING OR TWO ABOUT PICKLEBALL.

[♪♪] >> AT PARKS AROUND THE STATE YOU CAN HEAR THAT NOW FAMILIAR SOUND OF PICKLEBALL.

TO SEE WHAT THE HYPE WAS ABOUT I DECIDED TO MEET UP WITH COACH LARRY ROBTDS.

AT 80 YEARS OLD HE HOLDS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SINGLES, DOUBLES AND MIXED DOUBLES PICKLEBALL.

I'M HOPING HE CAN TRAIN ME TO FACE PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION.

BUT MAYBE I'M GETTING A LITTLE AHEAD OF MYSELF.

LARRY HOW BIG IS PICKLEBALL?

KENTUCKY?

>> IT'S HUGE OVERWHELMINGLY HUGE.

WE HAVE PLAYERS THAT CAN'T GET ON THE COURTS NOW.

AND WE ARE IN THE WILD WEST BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS BUILDING AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH COURTS.

WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PRIVATE COMPANIES COMING IN TO BUILD PICKLEBALL COURTS IN LEXINGTON.

>> SO THEY ARE MEETING THE MARKET NEEDS.

>> AND THEY KNEW IT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HUGE.

>> I LIKE TO HACK AROUND ON THE WEEKENDS WITH GUYS I WENT TO COLLEGE WITH.

YOU THINK YOU CAN HELP ME IMPROVE MY GAME?

>> SURE.

>> LET'S DO IT.

[♪♪] WHAT IS THE ONE THING MOST PEOPLE WHO FIRST START PLAYING PICKLEBALL DO WRONG AND HOW DO THEY CORRECT IT?

>> THEY GO LIKE THIS.

THEY BEND THAT ELBOW AND FLIP IT UP IN THE AIR.

>> NOTHING OUT OF THE ELBOW.

>> NO, KEEP IT STRAIGHT.

AND YOU WANT TO CLEAR IT ABOUT HERE.

SO IT WILL DROP IN THE KITCHEN AND MAKE ME HIT UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> YOU CHANGED YOUR STROKE.

THAT IS A VERY DIFFICULT SHOT AND NOBODY DOES IT EVEN THE PROS DON'T DO THAT.

>> LARRY WAS DETERMINED I WOULD HIT LIKE THE PROS, TOO, OR AT LEAST NOT HIT LIKE THAT.

>> YOU GOT TO GET I HAD RID OF THAT SHOT.

THAT SILLY CUT.

[LAUGHTER] AND YOU LOVE IT.

>> I DO LOVE THAT SHOT.

>> YOU'RE HITTING JUST LIKE THAT AND TRYING TO CUT THE BALL IN HALF, TURN IT LIKE THIS FLAT.

THE ANGLE OF THE PADDLE MAKES IT GO UP.

>> FLATTER.

SO IT'S ANGLE UP AND PUSH FORWARD.

THAT'S THE SHOT.

>> GOT IT.

>> THAT'S PERFECT.

>> LARRY THAT WAS FUN.

[♪♪] >> Christie: I THINK HE DID GOOD.

YOU CAN SEE IF CHIP'S TRAINING PAID OFF AND LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE BY TUNING INTO KENTUCKY LIFE ON-LINE AT KET.ORG.

[♪♪] A KENTUCKY GIANT, A LEGENDARY VOICE AND A RAT RACE GONE AWRY.

OUR TOBY GIBBS HAS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

[♪♪] >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MERCER COUNTY NATIVE MATTHEW HARRISON JEW IT, THE MAN HAILED AS THE GREATEST PORTRAIT PAINTER.

DURING HIS CAREER HE PAINTED PORTRAITS OF KENTUCKY'S FIRST GOVERNOR, HENRY CLAY AND OTHERS.

CONFEDERATE FORCES BURNED THE MONROE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND OTHER BUILDINGS ON APRIL 22, 1863.

IT WAS CONSIDERED PAYBACK AFTER UNION TROOPS BURNED THE COURTHOUSE IN CLAY COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

THE KENTUCKY GIANT JAMES D. PORTER DIED OF A HEART ATTACK IN LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK IN APRIL OF 1859.

THERE'S DISAGREEMENT OVER EXACTLY WHICH DAY HE DIED.

SOME SOURCES SAY THE 24TH AND OTHERS THE 25TH, OTHERS THE 26TH.

HE WAS 7'8" AND HIS COFFIN WAS MORE THAN NINE FEET LONG.

LEGENDARY KENTUCKY SPORTS BROADCASTER KAY WOOD LED FORWARD WAS IMPORTANT APRIL 24, 1926.

HE COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF SPORTS DUR THIS CAREER BUT BEST KNOWN AS THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL FOR 39 YEARS.

PRESIDENT DWIGHT EISENHOWER VISITED KENTUCKY ON APRIL 22 AND 23, 1954, EEUK VISITED FORT KNOX.

10 YEARS LATER ON APRIL 24, 1964, PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON VISITED TOMMY FLETCHER AND HIS FAMILY AS PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S WAR ON POVERTY.

APRIL 24, 1991, SCANDAL ROCKED SPALDING UNIVERSITY'S 19TH ANNUAL RAT DERBY AFTER ALLEGATIONS THAT GENERAL RATTEN USED STEROIDS.

AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S LOOK BACK AT THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> Christie: YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BAKING ON A SECURE FINANCIAL FUTURE.

>> THE CHOICES YOU MAKE IN REGARD TO YOUR FINANCES CAN AFFECT YOU LATER ON IN LIFE.

>> Christie: SEE HOW KENTUCKY TEENS ARE GETTING THE CHANCE TO GET AN EARLY START ON MANAGING AND INVESTING MONEY.

ALL THAT TOMORROW ON "KENTUCKY EDITION."

AND WE HOPE AT THAT TIME YOU WILL JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION."

WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT, AND INSPIRE.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR "KENTUCKY EDITION" E-MAIL NEWSLETTER AND WATCH FULL EPISODES AND CLIPS AT KET.ORG AND YOU CAN FIND "KENTUCKY EDITION" ON THE PBS VIDEO APP AND SMART TV.

SEND US A STORY IDEA AT PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT KET.ORG AND FOLLOWING KET ON FACEBOOK, X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM AND WE'LL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THIS MONDAY EVENING.

HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT.

[♪♪]