[♪♪] >> I'VE WATCHED IT FOR YEARS, I DON'T KNOW.

BUT HE LIKES TRUMP.

>> Renee: A TRUMP RALLY IN MICHIGAN INCLUDES AN APPEARANCE BY EYE POSSIBLE U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE IN KENTUCKY.

>> HE GAVE US A CHANCE TO OPEN UP ABOUT WHAT WE EXPERIENCED, WHAT WE SAW, WHAT WE DID.

>> Renee: HISTORY COMES TO LIFE AS VETERANS SHARE WITH STUDENTS WHAT IT WAS LIKE SERVING IN VIETNAM.

>> I RECENTLY MADE A MEDIEVAL FANTASY FILM IN KENTUCKY.

>> Renee: COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE GETTING A TASTE OF HOLLYWOOD IN A DEGREE PROGRAM THAT HAS THEM MAKING THEIR OWN MOVIES ALONG THE WAY.

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

[♪♪] >> Renee: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" ON THIS WEDNESDAY APRIL THE 30TH.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE THANK YOU FOR WINDING DOWN YOUR WEDNESDAY WITH US.

>>> IS CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR SCOTT JENNINGS RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE?

KENTUCKY?

THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER REPORTS SOME KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS SAY JENNINGS IS INTERESTED IN THE RACE.

JENNINGS HAS VOICED SUPPORT FOR TRUMP'S AGENDA WHILE APPEARS ON "CNN".

AND JENNINGS WAS ON STAGE LAST NIGHT DURING A PRESIDENT TRUMP RALLY IN MICHIGAN.

>> COME HERE, SCOTT.

THIS GUY, REALLY, I'VE WATCHED HIM FOR YEARS I DON'T KNOW HIM BUT HE LIKES TRUMP.

COME HERE, SCOTT.

"CNN" THIS IS THE END OF SCOTT.

WHO CARES.

DON'T WORRY WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU SCOTT.

SCOTT JENNINGS REALLY GREAT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MICHIGAN, WE WERE FLYING IN HERE TODAY AND I SAID LOOK AT THESE FARMS I GOT TO GET A FARM IN MICHIGAN BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE TO PUT THEM ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Renee: THE DAILY BEAST QUOTES JENNINGS AS SAYING HE WILL RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE IF TRUMP WANTS HIM TO RUN.

AND JENNINGS SAYS IF TRUMP PREFERS SOMEONE ELSE, JENNINGS WILL SUPPORT THAT CANDIDATE.

ON MAY 9TH, JENNINGS WILL BE PART OF A JEFFERSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY FUNDRAISING EVENT WITH TICKETS AT $250 APIECE.

>>> IF JENNINGS JOINS THE RACE HE WILL FACE AT LEAST TWO OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AND MAYBE MORE.

ONE OF THOSE REPUBLICANS CONGRESSMAN ANDY BARR OF KENTUCKY'S SIXTH DISTRICT IS RAISING MONEY WITH THE HELP OF POLITICAL ACT SHOWN COMMITTEES OR PACS AS THEY ARE CALLED.

THE KENTUCKY LANTERN REPORTS THEY GAVE BARR 330,000 IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

AND THE ALAN TERNE SAYS HE MOVED 3.7 MILLION FROM HIS HOUSE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE INTO A NEW SENATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.

AT THE SAME TIME, FORMER KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON RAISED $508,000, $1,000 OF IT FROM PACS.

BARR PICKED UP AN ENDORSEMENT FROM FORMER STATE SENATOR AND MAJORITY LEADER DAMON THAYER OF GEORGETOWN.

THAYER SAYS BARR HAS BEEN A MODEL CONGRESSMAN.

NO ONE ELSE IS MORE BATTLE TESTED.

IN ADDITION TO BARR AND CAMERON, NATE MORRIS OF LEXINGTON IS ALSO CONSIDERING THE RACE.

AND ONE OTHER NOTE...

THE U.S. SENATE IS EXPECTED TO VOTE TODAY ON A RESOLUTION TO CURB A PRESIDENT'S POWER TO IMPOSE TARIFFS.

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN USING AN EMERGENCY POWER TO RAISE TARIFFS.

RAND PAUL OF KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THE BILL'S SPONSORS SPEAKING ON FOX BUSINESS YESTERDAY HE SAYS CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE THIS POWER.

>> TO HAVE A PRESIDENT DO IT UNILATERALLY EVEN IF YOU LIKE TARIFFS IT IS A BAD WAY TO RUN A COUNTRY BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET BERNIE SANDERS OR CARL MARX OR WHOEVER THE DEMOCRATS PUT FORWARD WHAT IF THEY USE EMERGENCIES TO SAY NO MORE GASOLINE?

OR NO MORE GASOLINE POWERED CARS TOMORROW.

EMERGENCIES ARE NOT A GOOD WAY TO RUN A COUNTRY.

YOU NEED THE SEPARATION OF THE POWERS AND THE CHECKS AND BALANCES TO ENSURE FREEDOM.

>> Renee: THE BILL GOES TO THE HOUSE IF IT PASSES THE SENATE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE WILL VETO IT IF IT GETS TO HIS DESK.

>>> CONGRESS HAS JUST PASSED THE TAKE IT DOWN ACT, A BILL CREATING STRONGER PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO DISTRIBUTE SO-CALLED REVENGE PORN THAT IS WHEN SOMEONE POSTS INTIMATE PICTURES REAL OR ARTIFICIAL WITHOUT CONSENT OF THE OTHER PERSON.

THE HOUSE PASSED IT 409-2.

IT'S ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE SO IT'S HEADED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DESK.

THE BILL IS SIMILAR TO SENATE BILL 7, THE RIGHT OF PUBLICITY ACT INTRODUCED IN THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY IT WAS SPONSORED BY AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE A REPUBLICAN FROM LEXINGTON.

SENATE BILL 7 PASSED THE SENATE BUT IT DID NOT BECOME LAW.

>>> SENATOR BLEDSOE REACTED TO THE PASSAGE OF THE LAW, QUOTE AS A MOTHER AND LEGISLATOR I KNOW HOW URGENT IT IS TO MODERNIZE OUR LAWS TO MEET THE THREATS OF A RAPIDPY CHANGING DIGITAL WORLD TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES FROM EXPLOITATION.

NO KENTUCKIAN WHETHER A PUBLIC FIGURE, ORDINARY CITIZEN OR HEAVEN FORBID A CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO FIGHT TO RECLAIM OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN IMAGE.

END QUOTE.

THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE IT DID NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

MASSIE VOTED AGAINST IT BECAUSE QUOTE BIGGER MORE INTRUSIVE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.

END QUOTE.

>>> A COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY HAS DIED IN A CAR CRASH.

MICHAEL STACY SERVED AS COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY FOR THE FIRST JUDICIAL CIRCUIT MADE UP OF BALLARD, CARLISLE, IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

STACY VEERED OFF U.S. HIGHWAY 51 IN HICKMAN COUNTY AND HIT A TREE.

HE WAS 68 YEARS OLD.

KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN SAID QUOTE MIKE STACY IS WHO YOU WOULD WANT IN A COURTROOM STANDING UP FOR KENTUCKIANS.

HE WAS TOUGH BUT FAIR.

AND AS A PUBLIC SERVE APARTMENT HE EARNED THE RESPECT OF HIS COLLEAGUES AND THE FAMILIES HE SERVED.

END QUOTE.

>>> I'M LAURA ROGERS CHECKING IN WITH NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO'S RYLAND BARTON AND RYLAND, THE FIRST THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE FIRST PERSON THAT I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS IS A NAME THAT USED TO BE A HIGH PROFILE ONE IN THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THAT IS ALLISON GRIMES.

HER NAME IS REAPPEARING IN NEWS HEADLINES AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MS. GRIMES THESE DAYS?

>> ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY LANTERN THE ETHICS COMMISSION DECIDED NOT TO APPEAL A RULING THAT CLEARED HER OF WRONG DOING THIS GOES BACK TO 2021 WHEN THE ETHICS COMMISSION SAID SHE VIOLATED THE ETHICS CODE BY ORDERING HER STAFF TO DOWNLOAD VOTER REGISTRATION DATA TO HER OFFICE WHEN SHE WAS SECRETARY OF STATE.

THEY SAID THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE THROUGH THE OPEN RECORDS PROCESS OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL PROCESS.

SO LAST YEAR, A COURT REVERSED THE COMMISSION'S DECISION.

THEN THE COURT OF APPEALS AGREED WITH THAT AND THEN THE COMMISSION THE LATEST NEWS IS THE COMMISSION SAYS THEY WILL NOT APPEAL THAT TO THE SUPREME COURT.

THIS IS INTERESTING, BECAUSE GRIMES WAS PROBABLY THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE DEMOCRAT IN KENTUCKY FOR A WHILE MANY SHE RAN THAT HIGH PROFILE RACE AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL IN 2014.

SHE WAS SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TWO TERMS.

THESE CHARGES TOOK AWAY THAT POLITICAL MOMENTUM.

SHE STILL ONLY 46 YEARS OLD AND COULD RUN FOR OFFICE IN THIS CLEARING OF HER NAME COULD AS MENTIONS HER POTENTIALLY RUNNING FOR HIGHER OFFICE.

MITCH McCONNELL IS NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION NEXT YEAR.

THERE IS A COUPLE REPUBLICANS THAT WILL RUN FOR THAT.

BUT SHE COULD POSSIBLY BE A DEMOCRAT.

THERE'S BEEN NO DEMOCRAT TO CLAIM SO FAR.

FOR THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, SHE LIVES IN LEXINGTON.

AND PEOPLE ARE WONDERING IF SHE WOULD RUN FOR THAT.

SHE HAS NOT COMMENTED ON ANYTHING ON THAT.

THE HERALD-LEADER REACHED OUT TO HER AND SHE DID NOT REPLY.

IT'S INTERESTING ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS DEMOCRATS IN KENTUCKY WHO WAS HAD HOBBLED POLITICALLY AND WASN'T RUNNING FOR EVERYTHING AFTER BEING A RISING STAR FOR SOMETIME.

REPUBLICANS ARE SURE TO STILL CRITICIZE HER AND BECAUSE HER FATHER'S JERRY, PARDONED AS ONE OF THE LAST ACTS IN OFFICE BY JOE BIDEN HE MADE ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS CONVICTED OF DOING SO, TOO GRIMES' CAMPAIGN IN 2014.

>> AND IT COMES AT A SOMETIME WHEN KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS ARE LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO RUN.

>> GETTING MORE PEOPLE ON THE BENCH.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES AND ALSO ONE GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR FINISHES HIS TERM HE WILL RUN ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET FOR GOVERNOR.

AND THEN LET'S TALK ABOUT A HIGH PROFILE WOMAN AND THAT IS AUDITOR ALLISON BALL.

AND SHE IS ACCUSING KENTUCKY DEMOCRATS OF THINGS.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THIS STORY.

>> THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A COMPLICATED STORY.

SHE SAYS THIS IS ALL RELATED TO HER INVESTIGATION INTO THE BESHEAR ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS.

SHE ANNOUNCED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THAT EARLIER THIS MONTH.

HOW IT PROCESSES LICENSES FOR GROWERS AND DISTRIBUTORS FOR THE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM.

ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY LANTERN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FILED OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS RIGHT AFTER SHE ANNOUNCED THAT INVESTIGATION AND SHE IS SAYING THAT WAS AN ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE HER FROM CONTINUING IT.

LANTERN SAYS THE REQUEST HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL CANNABIS OFFICE BUT RELATED TO TRAVEL RECORDS, RELATED TO A RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE THAT SHE WENT TO.

THE LANTERN REVIEWED THOSE REQUESTS AND CONFIRMED THE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING I WAS HAPPY TO SEE IN THE ARTICLE THAT ANDY BENSON HABBER OF THE OPEN GOVERNMENT COALITION, THE FORMER ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL SHE SAYS ALL IS FAIR AND OPEN RECORDS AND THAT IN STATE LAW IS INTENDED TO BE BLIND TO WHO IS ASKING AND THAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS SHOULDN'T BE SO THIN SKINNED SKD ABOUT PRODUCING PUBLIC RECORDS WHATEVER THEY ARE.

>> AND A STORY THAT DATES BACK TO 2015 WHEN FORMER ROWAND COUNTY CLERK KIM DAVIS REFUSED TO ISSUE THE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LICENSES WHEN THAT BECAME LEGAL IN ALL 50 STATES.

WE ARE STILL HEARING DEVELOPMENTS ABOUT THIS CASE AND THIS COURT BATTLE THAT SHE HAS HAD SINCE THEN.

TELL US WHAT IS NEW WITH FORMER CLERK KIM DAVIS.

>> THIS CASE IS RELATED TO A RULING THAT SHE PAY MORE THAN $360,000 IN DAMAGES TO ONE OF THE SAME-SEX COUPLES SHE DENIED MARRIAGE LICENSES TO IN 2015.

SHE TRIED TO APPEAL IT AGAIN AND AGAIN, MOST RECENTLY DENIED A REHEARING BUT THE COURT OF APPEALS THE FEDERAL COURT.

NOW, SHE COULD TRY AND APPEAL THAT TO THE SUPREME COURT.

THE KENTUCKY LANTERN SAYS I TALKED TO HER LAWYER WHO IS SAYING THEY WILL DO THAT.

HER LEGAL TEAM HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS TO THE SUPREME COURT FOR YEARS TO TRY AND OVERTURN THAT LANDMARK RULING THAT SHE WAS RESPONDING TO IN 2015 THAT LEGALIZED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

THE SUPREME COURT ALREADY REJECTED THE APPEAL BACK IN 2020.

AT THIS POINT THE CASE IS ALMOST 10 YEARS OLD.

THIS IS JUNE AND JULY OF 2015 IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.

IT'S UNLIKELY TO GET TO BE A GOOD CANDIDATE TO REACH THE SUPREME COURT AT THIS POINT.

MANY SAME-SEX MARRIAGE OPPONENTS ARE STILL HOPING THAT SUCH A CASE WILL HAPPEN AND REACH THE SUPREME COURT ESPECIALLY UNDER THIS MORE CONSERVATIVE VERSION OF THE SUPREME COURT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

>> NPR'S RYLAND BARTON ALWAYS GOOD TO SPEAK TO YOU AND HEAR FROM YOU.

WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, LAURA.

[♪♪] >> Renee: TODAY MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

A WAR MOST STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT IN SCHOOL.

BUT FOR SOME FREDERICK DOUGLASS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LEXINGTON, THE LESSON WENT BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK WHEN A GROUP OF VIETNAM VETERANS VISITED THEIR SCHOOL AND SHARED THEIR WAR STORIES.

>> I HAVE LONG THOUGHT ABOUT HOW CAN I TEACH VIETNAM IN A MEANINGFUL WAY ESPECIALLY NOW THAT MOST OF THESE PARTICULAR GENERATION THIS PARTICULAR GENERATION OF KIDS THEIR GRANDPARENTS MIGHT HAVE SERVED OR GREAT UNCLES.

I REALLY WANTED TO BRING IN AS MANY VETERANS AS POSSIBLE SO THEY COULD HEAR FROM REAL PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE AND THAT SERVED.

>> WE GET VIETNAM SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T HAVE SOUTH VIETNAM WE GAVE THEM FREEDOM.

>> WELL, I THINK IN THIS DAY AND TIME THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE VIETNAM WAR.

ALL EXCEPT FOR MAYBE WHAT THEY HEAR OR READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

>> I THINK THAT TELEVISION AND MOVIES SOMETIMES WRONGLY DEPICT WHAT A VETERAN GOES THROUGH.

WHAT I WAS TOLD SOME OF THE THINGS I WENT THROUGH.

>> I HAVE THREE PURPLE HEARTS AT HOME.

>> I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY KNOW WHAT REALLY WENT ON AND TALK TO THE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO WERE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

LET THEM REALLY KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, READING BOOKS AND MAGAZINES ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN TALKING TO SOMEONE ACTUALLY LIVED THAT LIFE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

>> I HAD A LOT OF VETERANS THAT WANT TO COME, BUT THEY WERE NERVOUS ABOUT THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GET ASKED.

I TOLD THE KIDS IF THEY ARE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THOSE THINGS AND SHARE THOSE THINGS WITH YOU ALL THAT IS FINE.

BUT IF THEY DON'T WANT TO, THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I REALLY ENJOYED IT.

THE QUESTIONS WERE GREAT.

I RESPONDED TO EVERYONE OF THE QUESTIONS.

>> THINGS THAT PEOPLE DODGED THE DRAFT?

>> THEY DODGED THE DRAFT [INAUDIBLE].

>> I WAS HONEST WITH THEM.

I THINK THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD OPERATE BE HONEST.

>> I WANTED THEM TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS HOW THEY FELT ABOUT IT AND THE QUESTIONS THEY ASKED AND BE THAT I COULD ANSWER JUST AS TRUTHFULLY AS I COULD.

SO THEY'LL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF IT.

>> I THINK IT CAN BE HEALING FOR THEM.

I THINK JUST GETTING TO SHARE THEIR STORY AND GET THAT OUT IN THE OPEN.

>> IT ACTUALLY HELPS THE VETERANS.

THAT'S THERAPY FOR THE VETERANS ESPECIALLY THE VIETNAM ONES.

>> IT GAVE US A CHANCE TO REALLY OPEN UP ABOUT WHAT WE EXPERIENCED, WHAT WE SAW, WHAT WE DID.

BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT A LOT OF US WON'T TALK ABOUT THE VIETNAM EXPERIENCE.

SO THIS IS A CHANCE TO, I GUESS, NOT NECESSARILY VENT BUT TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE LIFE WAS REALLY LIKE BEING IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

>> THIS DIDN'T BOTHER ME AS MUCH AS I THOUGHT IT WOULD.

ESPECIALLY I HAD MY DAUGHTER WITH ME WHO SUPPORTS ME 100% AND SHE HAD PHOTOGRAPHS IN A I CALL IT A VIETNAM BOOK OF PHOTOS AND SO FORTH THAT REALLY TELLS THE STORY.

AND THE STUDENTS LOVED THAT.

>> FOX TROT ONE WHERE DOES THAT COME FROM?

>> THAT WAS JUST A NAME.

>> WHEN YOU ARE A KID THERE'S THINGS THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY CARE ABOUT OR DON'T CARE TO HEAR AT THE TIME.

AS YOU GET OLDER THINGS YOUR VALUE SYSTEMS AND YOUR MORALS AND MAN I WISHED I LEARNED ABOUT THAT.

AND WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVED IT AND THEY CAN HEAR FROM THEM.

AND SO I THINK SOME OF THEM THEY MAYBE DOING IT BECAUSE IT IS JUST A PROJECT, BUT I THINK THE BENEFIT FOR THE KIDS IS THEY REALLY GET TO HEAR THAT EXPERIENCE.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAKE DECISIONS WE MAKE LAWS BUT THERE ARE REAL PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THESE DECISIONS.

>> I HOPE THEY LEARNED THAT FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR IT.

WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF LIBERTIES, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, ASSEMBLE AND SO FORTH BUT THERE'S MEN THAT FOUGHT FOR IT AND DIED FOR IT AND I HOPE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> Renee: INDEED.

MAGGIE SCHOLL THE TEACHER YOU HEARD FROM IN THAT STORY SAYS HER STUDENTS SPENT A MONTH TALKING ABOUT VIETNAM AND PREPARING FOR A PODCAST FEATURING CONVERSATIONS WITH VIETNAM VETERANS.

[♪♪] >> Renee: AN AACCENT ISN'T JUST THE WAY YOU PRONOUNCE THINGS IT IS A REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMUNITY YOU ARE A PART OF.

THE PODCAST APPODLACHIA RECENTLY PUBLISHED THE APPALACHIAN ACCENT PROJECT, COLLECTION OF 1500 AUDIO SAMPLES OF ACCENTS FROM THE STATES THAT MAKEUP APPALACHIA, INCLUDING FROM 54 COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY.

THE CREATOR WANTED TO SHOWCASE THE DIGNITY AND DIVERSITY OF THE APPALACHIAN ACCENT.

>> WE WANTED TO TAKE AWAY THE STIGMA OF THE APPALACHIAN AND THE SOUTHERN AND APPALACHIAN ACCENT.

SO WHAT I DECIDED TO DO IS ASK PEOPLE TO SEND US THEIR ACCENT.

WE HAD A SIMPLE PROMPT THAT WE SENT OUT TO OUR FOLLOWERS.

>> I WAS GENUINELY SHOCKED HOW MANY SUBMISSIONS WE GOT.

I WAS BLOWN AWAY THAT WE GOT OVER FIVE00 LET ALONE 1500.

>> HI I'M TOMMY.

I AM FROM ADAIR COUNTY KENTUCKY AND THIS IS MY APPALACHIAN ACCENT.

THIS IS MY APPALACHIAN ACCENT.

>> THIS IS MY APPALACHIAN ACCENT AND HOW I SAY APPALACHIA.

>> I'M JULIETTE FROM CASEY COUNTY KENTUCKY AND THIS IS MY ACCENT.

>> THE ACCENT THING HAS BEEN AN ONGOING KIND OF A JOKE MY WHOLE LIFE WHEN I GO PLACES AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT MY SOUTHERN ACCENT AND THEN WHEN I WAS IN THE ARMY, THEY WANTED US TO TONE THOSE OF US WITH SOUTHERN ACCENTS THEY WANTED US TO TONE THEM DOWN.

I'M PROUD OF WHERE I COME FROM AND PROUD OF THE PEOPLE AND I WANT THE REST OF THE WORLD TO KNOW WHAT WE SOUND LIKE AND WHAT WE LOOK LIKE AND WHAT WE DO THE THINGS WE CREATE AND MAKE.

>> I SAW MORE VARIATION IN COUNTIES IN KENTUCKY THAN MOST OTHER STATES.

AND I THINK THAT WAS REALLY COOL.

KENTUCKY SOME OF MY FAVORITES.

AND SO LISTENING TO THEM WAS A TREAT.

AND I THINK SOME OF THE ONES WAS COOL, CLAY COUNTY, IT WAS REALLY COOL.

AND PIKE, AND ALL OF THOSE WHY INTERESTING TO LISTEN TO.

AND LIKE HEAR THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM.

>> THIS IS HOW I SAY APPALACHIA.

>> FOR ME I COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE ACCENTS WHERE I'M FROM EVEN JUST OVER SOME KNOBS AND MAYBE IN PULASKI COUNTY AND HOW MUCH DIFFERENT SOME OF THE WORDS ARE.

THE WAY THEY SOUND.

BUT YOU CAN ALMOST HEAR IT AND IT'S MUSICLY THE SAME.

IT SOUNDS THE SAME ON YOUR EARS.

THE PEOPLE WHO GAVE YOU THAT ACCENT ARE THE PEOPLE WHO LOVED YOU MOST IN THE WORLD.

YOUR PARENTS YOUR GRANDPARENTS, YOUR GREAT GRANDPARENTS THEY ARE YOUR ROOTS THAT IS HOW YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM.

YOU KNOW THEY ARE GOOD PEOPLE AND THERE'S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED ABOUT THE WAY THEY TALKED AND NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED ABOUT THE WAY YOU TALK EITHER.

>> I WAS GREAT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE I WILL SAY VULNERABLE TO ENOUGH TO SHARE THEIR ACCENTS WITH US.

OUR ACCENTS HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THROUGHOUT HISTORY.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REACH OUT TO US HAVE HAD TO SUPPRESSTER ACCENTS OR GET RID OF THEM BECAUSE OF THE STIGMAS THAT HAVE BEEN LEVIED AGAINST THEM AND THEIR ACCENTS.

I WAS HONORED TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH THOSE.

I DIDN'T TAKE THAT LIGHTLY.

I REALLY DIDN'T.

>> Renee: THE APPALACHIAN ACCENT PROJECT IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON YouTube.

THE COMPLETE PROJECT IS OVER FOUR HOURS LONG.

[♪♪] CONGRATULATIONS NEWPORT, THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY TOWN IS ONE OF THE 10 BEST SMALL TOWNS IN AMERICA.

ACCORDING TO READERS OF "USA TODAY".

NEWPORT FINISHED SIXTH IN THE VOTING AMONG TOWNS WITH LESS THAN 25,000 PEOPLE.

THE NEWSPAPER PRAISED NEWPORT AS A FAMILY FRIENDLY TOWN WITH A STRONG HISTORIC CORE WITH SIX DISTRICTS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

CONGRATS TO THEM.

>>> NOW TO YOUNG ADULTS CHANNELING THEIR INNER STEVEN SPIELBERG THIS IS 30 YEARS THAT STUDENT FILMMAKERS THAT WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY HAVE SHOWCASED THEIR WORK ON THE SILVER SCREEN.

OUR LAURA ROGERS TAKES US TO WKU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FILM PROGRAM AND ITS SENIOR THESIS.

THAT IS PART OF TONIGHT'S ARTS AND CULTURE SEGMENT WE CALL TAPESTRY.

>> CHRISTIAN TYLER COLEMAN IS A WKU SENIOR.

>> FILM IS VISUAL STORYTELLING.

>> THAT DECISION WAS TO STUDY FILM AT WKU NAVIGATING CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY.

>> ROAD BUMPS, SCHEDULING CONFLICTS ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE CONSTANTS WHEN YOU ARE MAKING A MOVIE.

>> HE IS MAKING THE MOVIE TO GRADUATE IN MAY WITH A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN FILM PRODUCTION.

>> I DEVELOP THE PREMISE AND PRODUCE IT, CAST IT, WRITE IT, DIRECT IT.

>> IT WAS THE 13-MONTH ENDEAVOR WITH CLASSMATES LIKE CATHERINE THOMPSON OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS.

>> IT'S HARD WORK BUT IT'S REWARDING.

>> THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES THE TOOLS FOR SOUND, CAMERAS, LIGHTING AND TRANSPORTATION.

COLEMAN AND THOMPSON RECEIVED A FACULTY UNDER GRADUATE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT GRANT TO FUND THEIR FILM.

>> I HAD TO HAVE AN IDEA TO GET THE GRANT.

AND I HADN'T FINISHED MY JUNIOR FILM WHEN I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA.

IT WAS JUST A PREMISE.

>> THAT WOULD BECOME A 12-MINUTE FILM CALLED THE TESTIMONY.

>> THE STORY ABOUT A KNIGHT WHO IS NAIVE AND STRUGGLING WITH A LOT OF THE CONCEPTS WHEN IT COMES TO FANTASY AND MEDIEVAL STORYTELLING.

>> WE HAD CHARACTERS LOOK AUTHORIZE.

>> ONE OF MORE THAN 50 STUDENT FILMS TO BE SCREENED AT THE WHITE SQUIRREL FILM FESTIVAL.

>> THERE IS AN ENERGY IN THE ROOM.

IT'S A CELEBRATION OF ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE PAST YEAR.

>> THOMPSON WAS THE PRODUCTION DESIGNER WORKING ON COSTUMING AND SET DESIGN.

>> GETTING TO SEE THE STUFF YOU MAKE COME TO LIFE AND THE STUFF YOU'VE BEEN WORKING HARD ON TO SEE IT ON THE BIG SCREEN AND HOW OTHERS REACT TO IT IT IS A GOOD FEELING.

>> INTRODUCED IN THE FALL OF 2020, WKU IS THE FIRST UNIVERSITY IN KENTUCKY TO OFFER A BSA IN FILM PRODUCTION.

A MAJOR GETTING STUDENTS INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE.

>> FILM PRODUCTION IS TREATED MORE LIKE A TRADE LIKE LEARNING, BE AN ELECTRICIAN.

IT'S HOURS BASED AND LEARNING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRACTICAL COURSES RATHER THAN WRITTEN TESTS.

>> FROM DEVELOPING A SCRIPT AND MEETING DEADLINES IT CULMINATES IN THE WEEKEND'S FILM FESTIVAL PUTTING STUDENTSAL TALENT ON FULL DISPLAY.

>> YOU CAN HEAR EVERYBODY AROUND YOU AND ALL THE SOUNDS AND LITTLE LIKE GASPS AND LAUGHS.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING AND IT REALLY REFILLS YOUR CREATIVE BUCKET, IF YOU WILL.

>> IT IS A CELEBRATION TO WATCH FILMS AND SEE WHAT YOUR CLASSMATES ARE DOING AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM AND JUST SEE WHAT'S COMING OUT OF THE PROGRAM.

>> THE PROGRAM IS PRODUCING IMPRESSIVE TALENT BOTH COLEMAN AND THOMPSON WANT TO CONTINUE FILMMAKING USING THE FESTIVAL AS INSPIRATION.

>> I CAN DO THIS BUT BIGGER AND I CAN DO IT BUT BETTER AND IT INSPIRES YOU TO PUSH YOURSELF.

>> PEOPLE SIT AROUND CAMP FIRES AND TELLS STORY.

I WILL CONTINUE THAT.

>> FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION", I'M LAURA ROGERS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU, LAURA.

AND GO TOPS.

SENIOR FILMS WILL BE SCREENED THIS SATURDAY EVENING AT THE CAPITAL THE THEATER IN BOWLING GREEN.

THE FLOODS EARLIER THIS MONTH TOOK SOME KENTUCKIANS BY SURPRISE INCLUDING THE PEOPLE AT ONE CENTRAL KENTUCKY LIBRARY.

>> WE DID NOT EXPECT IT.

AND WHEN WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT THE FLOODING WE DID NOT EXPECT IT TO GET AS HIGH AS IT ENDED UP BEING.

>> Renee: WE'LL SHOW YOU THE CLEANUP AT THE PAUL SAWYIER LIBRARY AND HEAR HOW THE FLOOD DID NOT STOP THE LIBRARY FROM DELIVERING FOR THE PUBLIC.

MORE ON THE FLOOD TOMORROW NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHICH YOU KNOW IS 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL WHERE WE INFORM CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

WE HOPE YOU WILL CONNECT WITH US ALL THE WAYS YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN, FACEBOOK, X AND INSTAGRAM TO STAY IN THE LOOP.

SEND US A STORY IDEA BY E-MAIL.

AND LOOK FOR US ON THE PBS VIDEO APP THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD ON YOUR SMART DEVICE AND PHONE.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE AND WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT.

SO LONG.

[♪♪]