[♪♪] >> WE CON FIRMTED TWO MORE DEATHS BRINGING OUR TOTAL TO FOUR INDIVIDUALS.

>> Kelsey: THE DEALT TOLL RISES AS RESCUES AND CLEAN UP CONTINUE FOLLOWING HISTORIC WEATHER EVENTS ACROSS KENTUCKY.

>> WE'RE STILL GOING TO HELP THESE EIGHT BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES COME BACK.

>> Kelsey: THE FLOODWATERS CONTINUE TO RISE.

WE'LL TAKE YOU TO WESTERN KENTUCKY TO SEE THE IMPACT THERE.

>> YOU LIVE NEAR THE KENTUCKY RIVER, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET WET.

>> Kelsey: A WOODFORD COUNTY WOMAN EXPECTED TWO TO THREE FEET OF WATER AND ENDED UP WITH NINE.

>> THE LODGER YOU'VE SMOKED THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO GET CANCERS IN THE ORAL CAVITY.

>> Kelsey: AND ORAL CANCER IT IS A BIG PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY SO WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW?

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

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" FOR TUESDAY APRIL THE 8TH I'M KELSEY STARKS IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO FILLING IN FOR RENEE SHAW THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

FIRST TONIGHT, THE DEATH TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE AFTER FLOODS AND STORMS HIT KENTUCKY LAST WEEK.

THE STATE'S DEAD TOLL IS NOW FOUR.

A MAN MISSING IN MCCRACKEN COUNTY HAS BEEN FOUND DEAD AND ANOTHER MAN DIED IN TRIGG COUNTY ACCORDING TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR.

WE HEARD FROM HIM AND THE FEMA ABOUT THE STATE AND FEDERAL RESPONSE.

>> SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS CONTINUE TO SAVE LIVES.

THIS WEEK WE'VE HAD TWO RESCUES HERE IN FRANK FORWARD BY BOAT.

67 INDIVIDUALS WERE EVACUATEDDED BY BOAT FROM A HOTEL IN LOUISVILLE.

OVERALL WE'VE SEEN 142 RESCUES, 272 EVACUATIONS BY BOAT, 87 BOATS IN USE.

AGAIN, THE BIGGEST CONCERN THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, ARE CARS DRIVING THROUGH WATER.

ARE PEOPLE GOING AROUND BARRICADES I SAW A NEWS STORY ABOUT A RESCUE THAT HAD TO OCCUR BECAUSE SOMEONE DROVE AROUND BEAR KIDS.

WHEN YOU DO THAT YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR LIFE IN DANGER AND PEOPLE COMING TO RESCUE YOU IN CANINGER.

WE NEED PEOPLE TO WAIT THIS OUT.

IN PLACES WE'VE SEEN RIVERS CREST AND THE FLOODING WILL BE GOING DOWN.

PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH EITHER STANDING OR RUNNING WATER, TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.

>> WE'RE MAKING SURE THE COMMONWEALTH AND KENTUCKY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT KNOWS WHAT RESOURCES THE FEDERAL HAS TO BRING TO BEAR AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE ON THE TABLE.

AS THEY ARE REQUESTED WE STAND READY TO SUPPORT.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT KENTUCKY AND THE COMMONWEALTH AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND AS THE SUPPORT FLOWS THROUGH THEM TO THE LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICES AND LOCAL OFFICIALS, WE WILL CONTINUE DOING THAT THROUGHOUT THIS FIRST PHASE OF LIFE-SAVING.

>> Kelsey: ALSO TODAY, THE GOVERNOR CRITICIZED THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S CAP ON DISASTER RELATED SPENDING.

HE SAYS IT LIMITS HIS ABILITY TO DEAL WITH THIS KIND OF EMERGENCY.

>> Gov.

Andy Beshear: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PUT A CAP ON RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES.

WE HAVE $3 BILLION PLUS IN RAINY DAY FUND.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER THEY SAID NO WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO RESPOND.

WE'LL PUT A CAP ON IT.

WE WILL NEED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE.

THE FACT WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL SESSION FOR A LEGISLATURE TO SAY YES YOU CAN HELP PEOPLE, THAT'S SILLY.

IN THE END WHAT DOES IT COST TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE FROM A NATURAL DISASTER?

IT COSTS WHAT IT COSTS.

AS A COMMONWEALTH WE OUGHT TO BE THERE FOR OUR PEOPLE EACH AND EVERY TIME.

>> Kelsey: THE SOUND OF WATERED PUMPS WILL REPLACE THE SOUNDS OF FIREWORKS AND AIRPLANES IN LOUISVILLE THEY'VE CANCELED "THUNDER ONEVER LOUISVILLE" IN DERBY CITY.

WE ARE 23 FEET ABOVE NORMAL WE EXPECT THAT THE OHIO RIVER WILL RISE ONE FOOT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

AT WHICH POINT IT'S EXPECTED TO CREST TOMORROW AT 37 FEET.

WHICH IS DEFINITELY A TOP 10 FLOOD IN LOUISVILLE'S HISTORY.

>> Kelsey: THE C.O.O.

OF THE LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT SAID EIGHT BILLION GALLONS OF WATER PASSED THROUGH THE PUMP STATIONS SINCE FRIDAY.

THE FLOOD SYSTEMS BUILT IN THE 1950s ARE WORKING WELL AND NOTED THAT IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE SYSTEM AFTER THE HISTORIC 1997 FLOOD, PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN PROTECTING PEOPLE IN THIS LATEST FLOOD.

>> BUT NORMALLY IF WE HADN'T BUILT THAT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE FLOODING.

THIS IS A MAJOR WIN FOR COMMUNITY.

WE DID HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO HAD WATER IN THEIR BASEMENTS AND A FEW THAT DID GET FLOODWATERS IN THEIR HOMES.

BUT THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EVENT WITH HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF HOUSES FLOODED.

>> Kelsey: MAYOR GREENBERG WENT ON TO SAY WHILE THE CITY STARTED CLEAN UP EFFORTS HE EXPECTS TO ISSUE ANNOUNCEMENTS ON LARGER EFFORTS AS THE WATERS RECEDE.

HE ALSO NOTED OTHER DERBY FESTIVAL EVENTS WILL CONTINUE BUT SOME MAY HAVE TO CHANGE LOCATION.

>>> WHILE THE ENTIRE STATE IS DEALING WITH FLOODING THE WESTERN REGION OF THE STATE BORE THE BRUNTED OF SEVERAL DAYS OF CONTINUOUS RAINFALL.

JUSTIN GIBBS LEAD FORECASTER AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PADUCAH SAYS SEVERAL AREAS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY BROKE RECORDS, AMONG THEM THE CITY OF DAWSON SPRINGS, STILL RECOVERING AFTER BEING HIT BY A TORNADO OUTBREAK IN 2021.

>> IT'S VERY SERIOUS HISTORIC TYPE FLOODING GOING ON IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

10 TO 15 INCHES OCCURS OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR DAYS, WHICH IS THE MOST WE'VE EVER HAD IN OUR AREA RECORDED GOING BACK AS FAR BACK AS RECORDS GO.

FLOODING WAS SIGNIFICANT EVEN AT STREET-LEVEL AND NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL.

AND NOW THAT WATER HAS COLLECTED INTO PLACES LIKE THE TRIGG RIVER, THE GREEN RIVER AND ALL THE TRIBUTARIES THAT IT GOES TO AND THAT IS CREATING MAYBE NEAR RECORD FLOOD ON THE GREEN RIVER ESPECIALLY AT PARADISE AND EVEN SIGNIFICANT FLOODING ON THE OHIO RIVER AT NEWBURGH AND EVANSVILLE INCLUDING HENDERSON AND DAVIS COUNTY IN KENTUCKY.

AND SIGNIFICANT UPSTREAM ON THE OHIO RIVER AS WELL.

IT'S DOING SOMETHING THAT IMPACTED A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS AND FOLKS IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE AND FURTHER SOUTH INTO PADUCAH, AND WESTERN KENTUCKY, THE MAYFIELD CREEK, ALL WELL EXCEEDED THEIR BANKS AND WE'VE HAD FOLKS HAVE TO EVACUATE THEIR HOMES EVEN IN MCCRACKEN COUNTY DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO THEM OR THREATEDENING TO CUT THEM OFF FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE AT THIS MOMENT WE HAVE EIGHT BUSINESSES THAT WERE IMPACTED.

AND MAYBE TWO TO THREE RESIDENCES THAT WERE IMPACTED.

THE ACTUAL FLOODING DID OCCUR IN WHAT WE CALLED 1 100-YEAR FLOOD PLAIN AREA.

AND THE THING THAT MADE IT DEVASTATING IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, NOT ONLY DID THE FLOODING COME UP, BUT IT CAME UP PAST OUR 1 100-YEAR FLOOD LEVEL.

IT WAS WHAT WE CALL 402 FEET.

AND THIS FLOOD, AGAIN I'M NOT AN ENGINEER BUT I'M TELLING YOU THIS FLOOD CAME UP THREE FEET OVER THAT.

SO IT IMPACTED -- IT CAME INSIDE BUSINESSES THAT WERE NOT EXPECTING IT.

CERTAINLY CAME INSIDE RESIDENCES THAT WERE NOT EXPECTING IT.

AND IT HAS DEVASTATED ONE OF OUR PARKS.

WE HAD BUILT THAT PARK ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL PANELINGS, ALL OF THE -- PANTS ALL THE CONCESSION AREAS ABOVE THE 1 100-YEAR FLOOD PLAIN AND IT CAME FROM 402 TO 405.

IT IS A VERY BIG IMPACT AND A LOT FOR A SMALL TOWN AND SMALL FAMILY BUSINESSES TO SUSTAIN.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT ANY COMMUNITY IS EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH 10 OR 15 INCHES OF RAIN.

EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR FLOOD MITIGATION SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

WE HAVE WARNING SYSTEMS IN PLACE.

EVERYBODY DID WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO, BUT THERE'S JUST LIMITS WHAT YOU CAN PREPARE FOR.

AND I THINK THIS SORT OF ECLIPSED THAT IN SOME PLACES.

FORTUNATELY, THE HUMAN LOSS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN FAIRLY MITIGATED BY THE WARNING SYSTEM ABOUT PEOPLE TAKING ACTION AND BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND MOVING QUICKLY WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO BE SAFE TO REMAIN WHERE THEY WERE AT AND WE HOPE THAT STAYS THAT WAY AND WE DON'T LEARN OF ANYMORE LOSSES OF LIFE IN THAT PART OF THE STATE.

>> TOTALLY DOWN, BUT PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE FLOODWATERS ARE OUT OF THE BUILDINGS AT PRESENT.

AND THERE WAS ALMOST EVERYBODY'S BASEMENT IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS IMPACTED.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE FLOOD PLAIN OR NOT.

IT WAS AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF RAIN.

>> IT WAS SOMETHING THAT IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO COPE WITH AND HARD TO RECOVER FROM AND CAN'T BEGIN UNTIL EVERYTHING DRAINS OUT WHICH MAY STILL TAKE SEVERAL MORE DAYS.

THERE'S SO MUCH WATER, IT TAKES SEVERAL DAYS PROBABLY FOUR OR FIVE DAYS WHEN EVERYTHING STARTS TO GET CLEARED OUT AND SOME OF THE RIVERS RETURN TO NOT NECESSARILY NORMAL, BUT BELOW THE CURRENT LEVEL WHICH IS SO PROBLEMATIC.

>> WE ARE STILL STRUCK AND WE WILL TRY TO HELP THESE EIGHT BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES COME BACK.

BUT WE'RE RESILIENT.

WE'RE RESILIENT.

>> Kelsey: MEANTIME AT CHURCH AND FRANKLIN COUNTY IS HOPING TO SPREAD JOY AND FEEDED COMMUNITY AFTER THE SEVERE FLOODING LEFT PARTS OF FRANKFORT UNDERWATER.

>> THE RIVER HAS FLASH-FLOODED MOST OF FRANKFORT IN A LOT OF PLACES AND A LOT OF PLACES NEVER FLOODED BEFORE GOT HIT.

THE HOTELS AND THINGS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE COMING IN FROM OTHER COUNTIES AND OTHER STATES TO HELP OUT.

OF COURSE, THIS IS THE CAPITAL.

AND MY PASTOR DECIDED HEY WE'RE GOING TO FEED EVERYBODY.

>> EVERYONE HAS BEEN AFFECTED IN SOME WAY SHAPE, FOR ARE 0 FASHION.

WHETHER SOMEONE LOST A HOME, SOMEONE HAS HAD TO EVACUATE OR SOMEONE WHO IS HELPING OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVE BEEN FLOODED INSTEAD OF THEMSELVES.

WITH THAT BEING SAID WE JUST WANTED TO FEED EVERYBODY.

WE JUST WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST 48 HOURS.

>> I CAME DOWN HERE AND I SAW A FEW PEOPLE THAT I KNOW.

SO IT'S NICE SEEING THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND HELPING EACH OTHER OUT.

MY GRANDPARENTS LIVE OFF OLD LARGEBURG ROAD AND EVERY YEAR WE GET A FLOOD IN THE DRIVEWAY AND GET LIKE AFFECT THE HOUSE TOO MUCH, BUT THIS TIME, MY GRANDDAD THAT LIVED THERE ALL HIS LIFE HE SAID HE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BAD BEFORE IN HIS LIFE.

AND WRAPPED AROUND THE HOUSE AND IT GOT WITHIN, PROBABLY, A FEW INCHES FROM GETTING UP INSIDE OF THE HOUSE.

BUT THE BASEMENT WAS COMPLETELY FLOODED.

>> KEEP PUSHING.

KEEP FIGHTING.

KEEP TRYING AND KEEP LIVING, YOU KNOW.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT WE CAN'T ALLOW THE FLOOD TO KEEP US FROM ACHIEVING, SUCCEEDING, LIVING AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS THE ENTIRE CITY HAS COME TOGETHER TO HELP EACH OTHER.

AND SO WE'RE GRATEFUL.

>> Kelsey: A SMALL CITY IN MERCER COUNTY IS REELING FROM THE FLOODS.

OFFICIALS ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY BECAUSE TOURISTS COMING TO LOOK AT THE IMPACT OF THE HISTORIC FLOOD HAVE BEEN GETTING IN THE WAY.

>> THIS IS WHERE WE CAME AND NOW WE HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

THESE WERE OUR SAFE HAVEN HOMES HERE AND WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD FLOOD THIS FAR.

>> IT HAS BEEN A ROUGH FEW DAYS.

WE'VE STILL GOT A LOT OF WATER THAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF AND TRYING TO MOVE.

WE HAVE FOLKS WITHOUT SEWER DUE TO THE FLOODING KNOCKING OUT A PUMP STATION.

AND WE'VE GOT 22 PEOPLE THAT ARE DISPLACED FROM THEIR HOMES RIGHT AT THE MOMENT.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO STRESS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, IS THE CITY IS BEGGING FOR SIGHTSEERS NOT TO COME INTO THE AREA THAT IS FLOODED.

IT IS A SAFETY RISK AND IT'S ALSO THE FOLKS THAT ARE TRYING TO GET PERSONAL POSSESSIONS OUT THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING IN AND OUT.

>> I HAD TO PARK HEAVY EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE ROADS TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THE AREA.

IT'S THAT BAD.

>> DON'T PANIC SO MUCH.

WE KNOW THIS IS A DEVASTATION.

BUT YOU STILL HAVE YOUR LIFE AND YOU STILL HAVE YOUR HOME.

AND IT WILL TAKE A WHILE TO GET IT BACK TOGETHER, BUT IT WILL COME TOGETHER AND IF YOU NEED HELP, JUST CALL, JUST HOLLER OUT AND HELP WILL COME.

>> ONCE THE WATER GOES DOWN, THEN WE CAN START CLEANING UP HOMES.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LIST.

IF ANYBODY WANTS TO HELP CONTACT CITY HALL REACH OUT TO US WE'LL PUT YOUR NAME ON THE LIST AND WE'LL CALL YOU WHEN WE'RE READY TO START THAT PROCESS.

>> Kelsey: KRISSY FRASER OWNER OF THE COURTYARD DELI IN DOWNTOWN LEXINGTON IS DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF WEEKEND FLOODING AT HER HOUSE IN WOODFORD COUNTY.

WE SAT DOWN WITH HER TO SEE HOW SHE PREPARED FOR THE FLOOD AND HOW THE CUSTOMERS SHOWED UP TO SERVE HER.

>> IT'S NINE FEET IN OUR HOUSE.

WE LIVE IN WOODFORD COUNTY ON BUCK RUN ROAD ON THE KENTUCKY RIVER.

AND WE KNEW THE RIVER WAS GOING TO COME UP.

AND WE HAD PREPARED FOR ABOUT A TWO-THREE-FOOT FLOOD.

FRIDAY MORNING, WE LOOKED AT THE NOAA FORECAST, THERE IS A PAGE THAT DOES A FORECASTING THE RIVER IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE LIKE OUR SECTION OF THE RIVER, AND SAW THAT 2-6S GOING TO BE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER.

WE DASHED OFF TO U-HAUL AND GOT A TRUCK.

HIRED MOVERS THAT WERE GOING TO MOVE US OUT ON SATURDAY MORNING.

AND GOT OH, THIS IS GREAT.

BY FRIDAY AT NOON WE'RE GOING, SO FORTUNATELY WE CALLED U-HAUL, THE TRUCK WAS AVAILABLE.

CALLED THE MOVERS.

MOVERS CAME DOWN.

THESE GUYS WERE WONDERFUL.

AND THEY MOVED US OUT IN THREE HOURS.

90% OF OUR FURNITURE OUT.

YOU LIVE ON THE KENTUCKY RIVER, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET WET.

THERE ARE HOUSES DOWN THERE THAT HAVE NEVER FLOODED THAT HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AND COMING IN BOATS TO GET SOME OF MY NEIGHBORS OUT.

THIS IS DEVASTATING TO, IT'S CLIFTON, BUCK RUN IN WOODFORD COUNTY.

AND IT'S SO SAD.

SOME PEOPLE GOT CAUGHT UNAWARES, YOU KNOW.

AND LOST SO MUCH MORE THAN WE HAVE.

WE ARE REALLY IN THE BIG PICTURE OF THINGS MORE FORTUNATE THAN MOST.

AND I'M PRETTY PROACTIVE, I HAVE SERVE PRO ON DECK TO GO IN THERE ON FRIDAY AND THEY COME WITH THE MACHINES THAT SUCK ALL THE WATER AND MUD OUT AND PUT DEHUGH MILD FISTERS -- DEHUMID PHIERS.

WE HAVE A FACEBOOK GROUP AND EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THEIR HOUSE AND WHAT THEY MIGHT NEED.

PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE.

IT'S CLOSE TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW, RIVER PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE KENTUCKY RIVER.

AND I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY OF US LEAVING.

I THINK WE'RE ALL GOING TO JUST CARRY ON AND GET IT FIXED.

>> WE'RE STAYING IN THE VERSAILLES SWANKY HOLIDAY INN.

IT'S LOVELY AND THEY ARE BEING ATTENTIVE A LOT OF FLOOD VICTIMS IN THE HOTEL.

>> THE COURTYARD DELI MY HUSBAND AND I OWN IT TOGETHER BUT I STARTED IT.

WE'VE BEEN IN DOWNTOWN FOR 32 YEARS.

AND WE'VE BEEN IN THIS LOCATION FOR EIGHT.

>> THEY CAME UP AND JUST DROVES AND NOW WE DIDN'T EXPECT THIS SO I DIDN'T BUY EXTRA BREAD I MADE A USUAL DAY'S AMOUNT AND WE SOLD OUT BY -- SOLD OUT EVERYTHING BY QUARTER OF 1:00 P.M. AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO GENEROUS AND KIND.

IT REALLY MAKES YOU FEEL ALL WARM ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

AND HOW LOVED WE ARE AS A LITTLE RESTAURANT.

THE LITTLE RESTAURANT THAT COULD, YOU KNOW.

MANY, MANY YEARS.

[♪♪] >> Kelsey: THE U.S. SENATE TODAY CONFIRMED ELBRIDGE COLBY TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR POLICY.

IT'S CONSIDERED THE NUMBER THREE JOB AT THE PENTAGON.

HE WAS CONFIRMED 54-45, DESPITE THE OPPOSITION OF U.S.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL OF KENTUCKY WHO SAYS COLBY IS TOO FOCUSED ON THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND NOT FOCUSED ENOUGH ON UKRAINE OR THE MIDDLE EAST.

SENATOR McCONNELL PUT OUT THIS STATEMENT ABOUT COLBY.

QUOTE, ELBRIDGE COLBY'S LONG PUBLIC RECORD SUGGESTS A WILLINGNESS TO DISCOUNT THE COMPLEXITY OF THE CHALLENGES FACING AMERICA, THE CRITICAL VALUE OF OUR ALLIES AND PARTNERS AND THE URGENT NEED TO INVEST IN HARD POWER TO PRESERVE AMERICAN PRIMACY.

ABANDONING UKRAINE IN EUROPE AND DOWN-PLAYING THE MIDDLE EAST TO PRIORITIZE THE INDO-PACIFIC IS NOT A CLEVER CHESS MOVE.

>> SENATOR McCONNELL VOTED AGAINST SEVERAL NOMINEES INCLUDING PETE HEGSETH, TULSI GABBARD AND ROBERT KENNEDY, JR. AND SIGNED ON A BILL TO GIVE CONGRESS MORE SAY IN TARIFFS IMPOSED BY PRESIDENTS.

ALSO TODAY, McCONNELL'S KENTUCKY COLLEAGUE RAND PAUL INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD END A PRESIDENTIAL EMERGENCY POWER TO IMPOSE TARIFFS ON INCOMING GOODS.

IT IS A BIPARTISAN BILL COSPONSORED BY A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR FROM OREGON.

SENATOR PAUL SAYS QUOTE TARIFFS ARE TAXES AND THE POWER TO TAX BELONGS TO CONGRESS NOT THE PRESIDENT.

OUR FOUNDERS WERE CLEAR TAX POLICY SHOULD NEVER REST IN THE HANDS OF ONE PERSON.

UNQUOTE.

>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDERS TODAY THAT HE SAYS WILL HELP THE COAL INDUSTRY, "THE ASSOCIATED PRESS" REPORTING ONE OF THE ORDERS WILL ALLOW OLDER COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS TO STAY OPEN PAST THEIR RETIREMENT DATES.

ANOTHER ORDER WOULD LIFT BARRIERS TO COAL MINING ON FEDERALLY OWNED LAND.

AS THE PRESIDENT SIGNS THOSE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, THERE ARE NEW CONCERNS ABOUT HOW FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CUTBACKS COULD AFFECT MINE SAFETY.

OUR TOBY GIBBS HAS MORE ON THAT IN OUR TUESDAY LOOK AT "HEADLINES AROUND KENTUCKY."

>> ADVOCATES FOR COAL MINERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT PLANS TO CLOSE DOZENS OF MINE SAFETY FIELD OFFICES.

THE KENTUCKY LANTERN REPORTS THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY PLANS TO CLOSE SEVEN OFFICES IN KENTUCKY INCLUDING BARBOURVILLE AND HARLAN.

IF THEY CLOSE AND INSPECTORS HAVE TO TRAVEL FROM FARTHER AWAY, A 30-MINUTE TRIP COULD TURN INTO A THREE OR FOUR-HOUR TRIP.

THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT MEANS INSPECTORS WILL SPEND LESS TIME IN THE MINES.

>>> ASCEND ELEMENTS SUPPLIER OF VEHICLE BATTERIES IS PAUSING CONSTRUCTION IN CHRISTIAN COUNTY.

IT'S BECAUSE OF CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS AS SOME OF ASCEND ELEMENTS CUSTOMERS ARE ASKING FOR DELIVERRY DELAYS.

ASCEND SAYS IT WILL RESTART CONSTRUCTION LATER THIS YEAR WITH FACTORY OPERATIONS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN LATE 2026.

>>> CONGRATULATIONS TO MARK EVITTS A MUSIC COMPOSER FROM PADUCAH.

WKMS REPORTS HE WON A CHILDREN'S AND FAMILY EMMY AWARD FOR HIS WORK COMPOSING MUSIC FOR THE ANIMATED TV SHOW FROG AND TOAD.

HE COMPOSED THE MUSIC FOR THE TWO SEASONS.

WITH HEADLINES AROUND KENTUCKY I'M TOBY GIBBS.

[♪♪] >> Kelsey: APRIL IS ORAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

IT IS A PROBLEM ALL OVER THE U.S.

BUT ESPECIALLY IN KENTUCKY, A STATE WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF ORAL CANCER BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SMOKE OR USE SMOKELESS TOBACCO.

WHAT IS ORAL CANCER?

AND WHAT SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

IN MEDICAL NEWS A CONVERSATION WITH PAUL TENNANT A HEAD AND NECK ONCOLOGIST WITH THE NORTON CANCER INSTITUTE.

>> ORAL CANCER IS ANY CANCER THAT IS PRESENTS IN THE MOUTH TYPICALLY THAT COULD BE ON THE TONGUE, BUT ALSO UNDERNEATH THE TONGUE THAT CAN BE ON THE GUMS ON THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH.

SO IT IS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SITES GENERALLY DESCRIBED AS BEING IN THE MOUTH.

WHEN SOMEONE DEVELOPS A CANCER IN ORAL CAVITY OR IN THE MOUTH, TYPICALLY A LESION DEVELOPS IT'S OFTEN SOMETHING THAT LOOKS ABNORMAL.

HAS A TEXTURE THAT WOULD BE DESCRIBED AS MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE FIRM AND OFTEN PATIENTS FEEL THE SYMPTOM OF PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH A LESION THAT ENDS UP BEING A CANCER.

I WOULD SAY ANY SORT OF MASS OR LESION THAT HAS FIRMNESS AND PAIN, THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY AFTER A PERIOD OF TWO OR THREE WEEKS, LESIONS CAN ARISE IN THE MOUTH THAT COME AND GO.

BUT A LESION THAT PERSISTS THAT DOESN'T GO AWAY AFTER THREE WEEKS, IS SOMETHING THAT DEFINITELY OUGHT TO BE PRESENTED TO SOMEONE A MEDICAL PROVIDER.

SO CANCERS IN THE ORAL CAVITY TEND TO BE MORE BEHAVIOR BASED.

THE MAIN RISK FACTOR FOR THESE TYPES OF CANCERS IS SMOKING AND THERE IS A RISK SO THE LONGER YOU SMOKED AND THE HEAVIER YOU SMOKED THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO GET CANCERS IN ORAL CAVITY.

CERTAINLY, IF SOMEONE USES ALCOHOL REGULARLY, THAT ADDS TO THAT RISK.

SO THOSE ARE THE TWO MAIN RISK FACTORS IN THE ORAL CAVITY.

>> IT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DETECTED EARLY AND CERTAINLY WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT LESIONS IN THE MOUTH THAT COULD BE CONCERNING FOR CANCER, THE EARLIER YOU CATCH SOMETHING, THE BETTER THE TREATMENTS ARE FOR IT.

MEANING, THE LESS LIKELY THE CANCER IS TO PROGRESS.

AND ALSO, THE LESS INTENSE THE TREATMENT ENDS UP BEING.

WE FIND THAT WE WORK WITH MANY OF OUR DENTAL PROVIDERS AS A FIRST LINE TO KIND OF ORAL CAVITY DETECTION.

AND CERTAINLY, HAVING THOSE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH A DENTAL PROVIDER THEY OFTEN PUT THESE PATIENTS ON OUR RADAR WHO MAY HAVE CONCERNING LESIONS AND IN FACT NEED A BIOPSY.

>> Kelsey: THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORAL SURGEONS SAYS ORAL AND THROAT CANCERS KILL NEARLY ONE PERSON EVERY HOUR OF EVERYDAY.

EVEN MORE OF THOSE NEWLY DIAGNOSED, ONLY 60% WILL LIVE LONGER THAN FIVE YEARS.

[♪♪] WELL, THE INTO GATORS WON THE NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TITLE BEATING HOUSTON 65-63.

THE GATORS FINISHED NUMBER ONE IN THE FINAL ASSOCIATED PRESS MEN'S POLL.

THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS WHO REACHED THE SWEET 16 UNDER MARK POPE ARE 12TH IN THE POLL AND THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS FINISHED 21.

AND THE KENTUCKY WOMEN WERE 16TH IN THE WOMEN'S POLL RELEASED YESTERDAY.

>> RENEE WILL BE BACK TOMORROW AS SHE TALKS POLITICS WITH NPR'S RYLAND BARTON.

AN ART PROJECT THAT BEGAN IN LEXINGTON IN 2016 IS NOW A NATIONAL PHENOMENON.

>> I REALLY DON'T THINK WE ARE AN ART PROJECT.

WE ARE REALLY A SPIRIT PROJECT.

>> Kelsey: THE I WAS HERE PROJECT EMPHASIZES THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR IN LEXINGTON ARE SCENTEDS OF NATION BUILDERS MANY WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MEME NEWSLETTER TO WATCH FULL EPISODES AND CLIPS AT KET.ORG AND YOU CAN FIND "KENTUCKY EDITION" ON THE PBS VIDEO APP ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE AND SMART TV AND YOU CAN SEND US A STORY IDEA AT PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT KET.ORG.