A federal appeals court deals a blow to transgender youth undergoing gender affirming medical care in Kentucky.

My decision to leave was influenced by the political situation that we find ourselves in in Kentucky, but also in many other places across the nation.

Education Commissioner Jason Glass shares why he's stepping down from his position.

So things were really changing here.

And Paducah was looking to see how could we adjust to these wonderful assets that we had.

How Paducah is Thriving Arts scene received Internet Journal attention.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions, the Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for Tuesday, August 1st.

I'm Casey Parker Bell filling in for Renee Shaw.

A ban on gender affirming care for transgender minors will remain in effect for now.

SB 150 Kentucky's New law preventing Transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapy went into effect this year In a 2 to 1 decision last night, the six U.S.

Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled Kentucky is allowed to enforce the ban while lawsuits challenging it move through the courts.

Seven transgender children and their parents sued to block SB 150, arguing it violates their constitutional rights and interferes with parental rights to seek established medical treatment for their children.

The ACLU of Kentucky reacted to the ruling, tweeting, quote, While we are disappointed in this decision, we remain undeterred as it is not based on the full facts of the case.

Trans people belong in Kentucky.

Lawmakers don't belong between providers and patients.

The ruling comes hours after the Family Foundation announced it was joining 30 other family policy organizations in filing a friend of the court legal brief urging the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold Kentucky and Tennessee's ban on gender affirming care.

David Walls of the Family Foundation said he's optimistic about their chances of getting a favorable ruling from the court following last night's decision.

We just continue to be encouraged that this important law, SB 150, and specifically its protections for kids against these so-called gender transitions remains in effect.

So that means that kids are protected.

SB 150 is fully in effect, which is which is a good thing, especially for four children in Kentucky.

And I think it continues to give me optimism that we're going to see a a strong ruling upholding this law, not just Kentucky's law, but Tennessee's law as well at the at the Sixth Circuit.

At least 20 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender affirming medical care for transgender minors.

Most of those states face lawsuits.

It's because of such politics that Kentucky's education commissioner says he's stepping down.

Jason Glass accepted the position three years ago during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Since then, he's been criticized by Republican lawmakers for support for inclusive LGBTQ policies in schools.

Today in Frankfurt, Dr. Glass discussed the timing of his decision.

My decision to leave was influenced by the political situation that we find ourselves in in Kentucky, but also in many other places across the nation here.

This is part of an effort to turn education into a political wedge issue.

You don't take a job like the one that I have.

Not knowing that things can get political and that something like this can happen.

In fact, it's becoming more common.

Exit story for state education chiefs around the country and including the last few here in Kentucky.

And that kind of turn and turn over is not good for anybody.

I do not wish to be part of implementing the dangerous and unconstitutional anti LGBTQ law that the legislature passed this last session.

So it is time for me to move on.

Glass took time to respond to comments made by Attorney General and Republican candidate for Governor Daniel Cameron, while also sharing his thoughts on what challenges the role of education commissioner will face going forward.

I've seen some of the statements that have come out over the last couple of days, which honestly I think reflect the partizan nature of where education is right now and how it's being used as a cultural wedge issue in this gubernatorial race.

I think it's it's good that Daniel Cameron's finally figured out that I'm not on the ballot, that I'm not running against him.

I think the role in Kentucky of being an independent agency is going to become more and more difficult, the legislature, to sort of structure that, to try and create more influence that they have over the the politics and then the ways that the rhetoric has been amplified and directed at this agency and at me over the past couple of months and even the past 24 hours.

You can see the the effect of that.

So I think that's going to become more difficult.

It's going to be it's going to be more difficult to be an independent voice.

I think there is a strong desire in many states to have a partizan education agency.

And you can look at states that have done that and some of the decisions that they made and some of the things that they do and see the effect of that.

And Kentucky needs to ask itself, is that what we really want?

Is that what's in the best interest of our students to have a partizan state agency over education?

So I think that it's going to be difficult going forward.

Honestly.

Glass has accepted a position at Western Michigan University.

His final day as education commissioner will be September 29th.

A former candidate for Lexington City Council is facing charges for his alleged actions during the January 6th riot at the US Capitol.

The FBI of Louisville says Barry Saturday was arrested today.

He's facing four charges, including disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

Federal investigators accused Saturday of being one of the rioters who worked to push past officers defending the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

Records with the secretary of state's office show Saturday ran for Lexington City Council three times, most recently in 2022.

Two weeks ago, a new chief was appointed to the Louisville Metro Police Department.

Yesterday, we introduced you to Chief Jacqueline Gwyn.

Phil Royal.

She was promoted after serving six months as interim chief of LAPD.

In part two of her interview with our Kelsie Starks.

The new chief says you'll see increased police presence on the streets in Louisville.

You've also promised some increased patrols.

Are those targeted in specific areas or more in general?

And will the public notice a change here?

The way officers are patrolling, yeah, the public is already noticing a change because we have an increase.

So we're doing both of those.

So more targeted, more directed patrols and in general.

So our amount of patrols.

I am of the belief that we just don't wait till we have a special event before you see the amount of patrol officers they can are able to go downtown just on a normal business day and patrol and keep our city safe and have that visibility.

You have more walking patrols now in each division and they're set times in which those officers are to get out of their cars and actually walk the community and the community.

I'm getting those emails and those text messages.

They're seeing the officers and they're more visible and the officers want to do it.

And they they appreciate the celebration that the community gives them when they are being seen.

So it's it's a win win for both sides.

And so you'll see more.

You see officers on ATVs and all of that.

And so I'm excited about that and making sure that officers go to sometimes pop their head and church services and stand in the back of the church and wave at the pastor, not engaging any window.

We're not there to do an investigation.

We're just there to let you know that we support you in your worship and we want you to be safe along those lines.

I know we've talked about before, but some people don't know that you are an ordained minister.

And I think that's an interesting part of your background.

How does that influence you as now a police chief?

How?

My faith has always been a part of me.

It keeps me grounded, keeps me stable.

It allows me to see the humanity in all.

And it allows me to be the leader, the leader that I need to be for LAPD.

Firm, able to make a firm decision and lead, but also to able to provide my officers with the compassion and love that they so deserve.

And they know that.

And so they're appreciative of that.

So my faith, it helps me make decisions and I want to make wise decisions for myself, for the department and for the city.

You're coming here from Atlanta.

What is your impression of Louisville in general?

And do you consider this your long term home?

Are we going to see you here for a long time to come?

I hope so.

I hope so.

I'm hoping that I'm able to do the work and see it through.

I want to leave a legacy here in Louisville and also to and I want to say this, my job also, too, as I'm leading the department, is to develop the next chief so there won't be another national search.

What do you hope that legacy is to be able to to provide a stability within this department, that we have strong leadership within LAPD, that now we have even some of our critics of LAPD now joining LAPD and saying we see the change.

That is a that's a true legacy.

I want to see the department stabilize where now we won't have this turnover of officers, but now we have longevity.

But the right officers are staying.

That is it.

That's that's the legacy I want to build.

You're also already making history as the first black woman chief of police in the city.

What does that mean to you?

It's huge.

I mean, it's it's humbling.

It's overwhelming to know that I'm a part of history now, But I'm hoping that I inspire other young black children to see me and aspire to do what I've done.

I'm hoping that aspire and inspire them that they see there is no barriers.

There's no limits to what I'm able to do.

Only limits.

There are the ones that I place on myself.

I'm hoping that I can encourage them to to truly think outside of the box and know that they can do whatever they want to do.

And I'm also hoping that they can see or even ask, how can Chief Jackie help them?

I'm hoping that I get those questions.

Can you help me, Chief?

Absolutely.

And I want to.

So I'm going to I embrace that being the first black permanent chief within Louisville and and in the state of Kentucky.

I embrace that.

But I also, too, I want it to coincide with being a competent, experienced, professional leader for this city.

Right.

Thank you so much.

We appreciate your time.

She is a 26 year police veteran from Atlanta, taking over for the former chief Erica Shields, who resigned back in January.

Back to school districts are bearing the brunt of bad weather.

The state has been experiencing lately and the help wanted sign goes up at the company behind the largest economic project in Kentucky's history.

Here's your look at headlines around Kentucky.

The Webster County School District is feeling the impact of bad weather in western and eastern Kentucky.

The journal Enterprise said last week the Webster County Board of Education heard from an insurance industry representative who told members the tornadoes that hit Mayfield, Dawson Springs and other Western Kentucky towns in 2021, as well as flooding in eastern Kentucky, have driven up property insurance costs.

The school district said its insurance deductible is now $100,000.

The journal Enterprise said the Kentucky Department of Education is facing a 12% increase for exposure risk, as well as a 5% rate increase.

Blue Oval S.K.

is officially hiring.

WQ Public Media Reports Blue Oval ESQ has created a website to accept applications for 5000 jobs at two electric vehicle battery plants under construction in Hardin County.

The plants will manufacture EV batteries for Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

Blue Oval is the largest ever economic development project in the state.

A spokesperson for Blue Oval ESQ tells WQ that administration, management and engineering make up most of the current positions posted.

A groundbreaking last week for the new Ashwood Solar project.

Close to 230,000 solar panels will be located on the field near the west Kentucky Correctional Complex, according to the Times Leader newspaper.

Kentucky Municipal Energy Agency will purchase power from RWC for eight communities, including Barbourville, Corbin, Falmouth and Frankfort for the next 20 years.

It reports the project will produce enough electricity to power nearly 15,000 homes, and it will create more than 200 jobs.

Several animal shelters across Kentucky are struggling with overcrowding and are asking for the public's help.

According to WQ Public Media.

Local and state animal welfare officials say several factors are to blame for the overcrowding, including economic challenges and a shortage of vets to spay and neuter animals.

Many of Kentucky's animal shelters are in what they call code red situations and are running specials to encourage adoptions.

Animal welfare officials are also encouraging people to consider fostering a shelter animal to help with some of the overcrowding with headlines around Kentucky.

I'm Daisy Parker, Belle.

The union representing UPS workers has signed off on a new contract, avoiding what would have been the largest single employer strike in U.S. history.

Last week, UPS and the Teamsters Union, representing roughly 340,000 UPS workers, reached a tentative agreement.

On Monday, the Teamsters voted to endorse the agreement and recommend all members vote in favor of it.

All UPS Teamsters will have the chance to vote on the agreement starting Thursday.

On Monday night's Kentucky tonight for Kentucky, political consultants and strategists talked about the fancy farm picnic and the lead up to the November election.

One of our Democratic guests, consultant Will Curley, argued that Democrats can win back rural voters in places like western Kentucky if voters will focus on the issues that he says really matter.

There have always been strong ties to the Democratic Party and working class family values and farm families or factory workers that all add air to the Democratic Party line.

Culture wars lately have really separated us from those people, and that's what's concerning to me is instead of common sense government, where we're talking about issues that actually affect people like their pocketbook or how they send their kids to school or any of the other important things we're talking about, who gets to go to the bathroom.

We're talking about things that shouldn't matter to anybody because it's not your business.

That's not what we lead on.

But it is what separates us from actually getting real work done in government.

I dare Kentucky Democrats to tell voters what should matter.

What kind of what we'll just outline is like, well, what should matter is this.

What should matter is that at the end of the day, when we connect with Kentucky voters, they tell us time and time again that they do not agree with a Joe Biden National Democratic Party platform, period, full stop.

And when we talk about family values, that is a dominant issue.

It's a dominant issue.

Cannot ignore what families are talking about their kitchen table, what they're talking about with their neighbors.

You know, people have influence in their circles of influence.

So these social and family sort of based issues and parental choice are very, very important to Kentucky voters.

And so I would caution and almost dare Kentucky Democrats, if they're going to tell sort of top down what your average Kentucky voter should care about, we'll see how unsuccessful they'll be come November.

So watch the full program, which includes a discussion of the down ballot races and Senator Mitch McConnell's health online on demand, a K.T.

Dawg slash K-Y.

Tonight, Kentucky edition is going on the road this Friday.

We will be in a fancy farm in western Kentucky.

And starting tomorrow, we're in Paducah.

This year, Paducah celebrates its 10th anniversary as UNESCO's Creative City, one of the only nine in the United States.

The global designation reflects the creativity and culture you will find there.

Laura Rogers spoke with the Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau about what this means for the area.

I love we're doing what the big cities are, but you don't have to be a big city.

Fewer than 300 cities in the world are members of the UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.

And Paducah, Kentucky is one of them.

It opens doors for us.

I have to say, it has opened doors for us International.

It's opened doors for us nationally, across the state.

Mary Hammond is executive director of the Paducah Convention and Visitors Bureau.

She says it was the craftiness of early settlers that began.

Paducah has rich heritage of culture and creativity.

They came through the Cumberland Gap and down the Ohio River while they brought their goods with them, but they didn't bring a lot of clothes.

So every scrap of fabric was precious.

They saved all the fabric they pieced together, made layers for warmth, and used those stitches from the home country.

Today, Paducah is home to such cultural assets as the National Quilt Museum, the Carson Center for the Performing Arts and the Lowertown Arts District.

NASCO has seven sub networks, and we found that we could check all the boxes for craft and folk art in Esko.

Creative cities are chosen through a rigorous application process showing how they prioritize creative and cultural industries and development plans.

You need to be a well-rounded community, a creative community that does value creativity and culture for sustainable urban development.

Once chosen, they also help review applications for future UNESCO's Cities.

It's really cool to see relationships grow.

If it be in Japan, Philippines, Thailand has become to be very active.

One perk of the program hosting artists, performers and chefs from all over the world who share their time and talents with Western Kentucky.

A Paducah team also travels overseas and a recent trip to Spain.

They taught locals how to hand stitch on quilt blocks.

It distinguishes us from all of those inland river cities that we share so much heritage with.

Each one has done something different.

Owensboro with the bluegrass music.

You know, we all have something that we've taken hold of.

Culture and creativity are very much alive throughout our state.

And says the distinction gives them a, quote, seat at the table as she also serves on the U.S. Travel Association Board and is involved with the Americans for the Arts.

It's inclusive of all different types of people in your community and other communities and finding those common bonds within your community that gives your city an identity.

And I think that's what I like the most.

We are a creative community.

She says it's proven an invaluable tool for marketing and promoting Paducah on the world stage.

For Kentucky Edition, I'm Laura Rogers.

Santa Fe, New Mexico is the only other UNESCO's creative city for craft and folk art in the United States.

Arts and culture are big draws in Paducah, But Sandra Wilson, the city's mayor, pro tem and executive director of the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, said the city is growing economically in many other areas.

Renee Shaw recently spoke with her about the new projects and attractions in the works for the city.

Talk to us about how Paducah is just really growing and in what ways.

You know, for a while before the 2020 census came out, you could just kind of feel it with the chamber.

We have a Paducah Young Professionals program.

So I was I was seeing a lot of our young professionals coming back to the community, moving in and buying homes, funding their careers there.

And so we were beginning to sense it, I guess.

And so all along, we've been working on quality of life and programs and projects that would help attract people to want to come back to Paducah.

So in 2020, when the census came out, it did show a growth of 2000 people in the city of Paducah.

And, you know, I know some people would look at it, you know, in Nashville or read everything 2000.

But for Paducah, it was awesome.

We had seen some decline.

But in our community in 2020, we see it for say, now if you're driving down the street, you better just be prepared because it's going to take longer to get somewhere.

But it's so exciting to see that growth and to see young people moving back into our community.

Right.

And you're so close to a lot of places like Nashville, like Metropolis.

I mean, so there's a lot you're really well-positioned for lots of activity.

I mean, you're really close to some major metropolitan areas.

We are we're you know, 2 hours from Nashville.

If the traffic is moving smoothly on a good day, you know, three and a half hours from Louisville, Lexington and St Louis and Memphis.

So we're centered very well for entertainment.

If you want to go to some of those cities or for economic development, we are honestly say we're kind of in the middle of the country and on a river.

You know, we have the riverfront right there in Paducah that attracts a lot of people to see it.

So we have a lot of projects under construction or completing or planned that will really, I think, propel our community forward even more.

So let's talk about that river commerce and the riverboat industry is I don't know how you would describe it, make a resurgence or it's being revived or Paducah is becoming a place where now we're seeing some of that.

We have, I think the summer, about 60 riverboats stopping in our community.

And so it's been just awesome when you drive down to the riverfront and you see those big boats and they're right now, they just kind of pull up and hook on the riverfront.

And it's just fun to see that.

And they the people get off, they tour our downtown and really kind of become part of it for that day.

A week ago Friday, we had three boats down there that were overlapped just for a short period of time.

But it was fun to see that when you drive down and see one, it's exciting.

When you see two, it's even more exciting.

And next year, Viking is going to start a new cruise and they will stop in Paducah too.

So they already have a couple of stops planned for us as a city and a community.

We applied for a build grant in 2019 that would allow us to build a new pier, a landing pier for those riverboats that come in.

Also, our own citizens would be able to walk down on it to see and really feel like they're more a part of the river and to do some other infrastructure improvements in the downtown riverfront area.

So that is in the progress right now.

We should start construction on it.

Hopefully in 2024.

It'll take about a year or so to build.

But you know, we have a lot of growth going on in our downtown area.

Once that starts under construction, we'll have that on the riverfront right in the heart of our downtown area.

We have what's called our City BLOCK project, which is a new downtown boutique hotel.

So we're so excited about that.

We finally got a tough district in our downtown area.

And for that, of course, you have to recruit investment.

And Whalen Ventures is coming in and building a really beautiful hotel.

It's already, you know, the parking lots already kind of tore It is already torn up right now.

And we're putting in the parking in the center, the hotel on one side, and the other side will be some more development.

So we do have a lot of growth going downtown, a lot of excitement, a lot of new specialty type shops and restaurants and bars that will help attract people to come downtown and really want to spend some time there.

So talk to us, too, about this new airport terminal expansion at Berkeley.

Like how is this going to be a game changer for the region, not just Paducah?

You know, the airport has the new terminal at Berkeley Regional Airport.

It's been a project of the Paducah Chamber for many, many years.

In 2007, I believe it is, we were in D.C. and there was some FAA money available, but not really enough.

And so we didn't really pursue it at that time.

In 2018, 17, 18, we found out that there was money available from the FAA through the Department of Transportation that we could apply for for a new terminal.

But we also had to do a lot of additional fundraising.

So the state stepped in Kentucky, our city and our county, and then, of course, the federal government.

So we really have to be so appreciative of all of those sources of money.

It is beautiful.

We just had the ribbon cutting a couple of weeks ago.

It's a $42 million terminal.

They put in some beautiful artwork.

All right.

Now we're serviced by Contour Airlines.

They fly from Paducah to Charlotte and then from Charlotte.

You can basically fly anywhere in the world.

And so we feel so fortunate to be one of only five commercial airports in Kentucky and to have that ability to really provide that service to the whole region.

Passengers do come from the four state area to Paducah to fly to wherever they want to go.

Tomorrow on our Kentucky Edition Road trip, we visit the National Quilt Museum in Paducah for a traveling exhibitions allow us to bring in more than what we have in our own collection so that people can really understand what you can do with quilting, which is a lot.

You can make a lot of different styles, different sizes, different methods, different techniques.

The museum is a popular attraction for tourists and also western Kentucky locals.

We'll give you a look inside.

Tomorrow on Kentucky Edition.

We hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 630 Eastern, 530 Central for Kentucky Edition, where we inform, Connect and Inspire.

And we appreciate you showing up tonight.

I'm Casey Parker Bell.

We'll see you in Paducah tomorrow.

Have a great night.