♪ >> faceless and meritless.

What Kentucky State representative says and his response to accusations of wrongdoing.

>> Kentuckians brought home the gold from the Paris Olympics.

More as we go inside Kentucky sports.

>> And >> if you like everything from bovines to beauty queens, to rides, there's something for you at the Kentucky State.

Fair.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition we made it to Friday.

It's August the 16th.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for kicking off your weekend with U.S.. >> State Representative Daniel Grossberg calls an investigation of him, quote, baseless meritless and a travesty.

And he asked for the complaint against him to be dismissed.

Grossberg is a Democrat from Louisville, the Legislative Research Commission is now investigating him.

Weeks ago.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that at least 3 women claim Grossberg sent them inappropriate.

Text messages and his response released through his lawyer, Anna Whites.

Grossberg says those claims are just rumors.

He says the complaint against him doesn't even include copies of any inappropriate texts.

He says there's a text that discusses rumors about inappropriate communications and he says the complaint includes a newspaper article about the alleged tax.

He also disputes other claims mentioned in the complaint over the purchase of a used car fundraising phone calls and help you provided for freshman member of the General Assembly since the allegations became public House Democrats have removed Grossberg from the Democratic Caucus and this week he was removed from his interim committee assignments, gross birth through his attorney says that's disenfranchising the voters.

He represents.

Grossberg is a candidate for reelection in November.

He is on opposed to government.

It.

U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell says he'll continue to be a leading voice for foreign aid and alliances even when he steps down from his floor leadership role at the end of this year.

The senator from Kentucky spoke to the U.S.

Global Leadership Coalition in Louisville yesterday.

He was on stage with CNN contributor Scott Jennings.

>> Make it take, for example, the system to you cry and most of the money has been spent in this country.

38 different.

Take.

Producing more modern weapons that we may need ourselves in the future and sending over.

But material.

To Ukraine.

So we've been benefiting from that.

And you've heard that the Europeans are doing their part.

That's not true.

They're doing at least as much as we are not more so.

You've heard I would not concentrating Asia.

Well of Prime Minister Japan came to Congress couple of weeks ago and said about it for the Bisbee teachers about the importance of helping Ukraine.

In fact, he said at one point.

We want to send President Xi a message.

The food and Ukraine.

The whole Democratic world is.

The effort.

And it needs a leader and a leader, as always been, you know, that.

>> The event brought global businesses, NGO's and national security officials to the river city last year, Kentucky export and 40 billion dollars in goods to foreign markets.

According to the state.

Those top exports are aerospace and car parts along with pharmaceuticals and chemicals.

Kentucky's top importer is Canada.

Senator Rand Paul's state offices officially up and running in its new location and open House and ribbon cutting was held yesterday to show off the new space located in the hub development of lovers lane in Bowling Green.

It follows a fire last summer at his former office, which is in a historic building downtown.

Senator Paul says he lost hundreds of books in the fire.

The state office offer services including help with federal agencies and requesting disaster relief.

He says much of what they do involves helping with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

>> The VA is a has a good service and a lot of ways that some of that as a bureaucracy and red tape, to be denied care to wait too long and they have someone can get in.

And so we try to cut through that red tape to get people into the hospital or into a VA clinic if they needed.

>> Paul says his office can also help you get a passport and a travel visa for relatives who live outside the country.

We asked the senator's perspective on the presidential race as vice President, Kamala Harris is given the Green Democratic Party a boost in polls against former President Donald Trump.

>> I think the problem will be for Kamala Harris is that she's so far to the left.

His father left than Bernie Sanders and she's against fracking.

She's against automobiles.

I mean, she's against things that really ordinary Americans.

Fun, bizarre.

I mean, 3, 4, maybe 5 million people work in the oil industry.

>> The number one thing that is reduce the carbon footprint of America has been fracking.

Fracking reduce carbon footprint of America like 15, 20% over a five-year period.

So it's hard to understand people that would just sort of and something like fracking.

Now she's trying to say that no longer her position, eliminations of internal combustion cars.

I mean, there's a lot propositions that people just aren't really in favor of.

>> Senator Paul is scheduled to give the opening convocation at Kentucky Wesleyan College tomorrow.

Congressman James Comer, Republican from Kentucky's first congressional district says he's investigating Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president Comer is chair of the House Oversight Committee.

Comer says Walls has longstanding ties to China.

A Minnesota newspaper says in 1993 walls, a teacher organized a class trip to China for a group of high school students.

Comer says Walls visited China 30 times.

Kentucky's a school districts are getting some help understanding how to handle constitutional amendment.

2, which is on the ballot this November in Kentucky.

The amendment if it passes, could allow the Kentucky General Assembly to authorize public money for private schools.

As we reported earlier this week, the Pulaski County school System posted a No on amendment 2 graphic on its Facebook page and website, Kentucky Attorney General Russel Coleman, a Republican, but out a statement saying schools can't use school resources to support or oppose amendment 2 Pulaski County took down the postings.

But in a statement, the school system said it disagrees with Coleman, Kentucky.

Today, a public Haitian reports that the Kentucky school Boards Association conducted a webinar Wednesday to educate school board members about what they can and can't say concerning amendment 2.

The ksb attorney John Powell says school boards can discuss amendment 2 as long as they're providing information but not advocating for or against it.

2024 was a budget year for the Kentucky General Assembly during the session.

State lawmakers earmarked more than 400 million dollars for the University of Louisville just over 1 million will go towards an immigration law clinic at U of L's Brandeis School of Law.

Republican lawmakers and Louisville business leaders say this will get more people into the workforce.

>> The shortage is really continuing to cause headaches for businesses and and creates operational challenges.

But it also hinders our ability as a regional economic development organization to attract new businesses.

We have to be able to fill the jobs that we have in order to attract new companies to the region.

The immigrant community represents the fastest growing demographic in our city.

And they face unique barriers to work.

One of the biggest hurdles is obtaining the proper documentation to work treating U.S. immigration system.

You're talking about hundreds, if not thousands of people.

>> Who could help in the workforce who have a really good reputation for being.

>> A very honest and have a good work ethic.

>> So it made sense for us to partner with the university to Curry is to create the legal capacity.

They have these individuals who are legally.

To stay here, be here and be productive.

>> Is anyone that has a chance for legal undocumented status to work here.

If we want to help them do that because we don't want them underground by paying taxes, not been able to get a good job as a citizen and they're going to become.

>> It's not that we are processing with hundreds of cases.

Our focus is on training the next generation of immigration law attorneys.

>> U of L students will work with the newcomers and well settled.

Immigrants aiding those with temporary status to extend their stays and get work permits or helping permit residents become citizens.

The clinic will not serve undocumented immigrants.

The program has state funding for 5 years.

Kentucky is in a housing crisis.

You've heard about it.

There are estimates.

Kentucky is short about 200,000 housing units and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce says the state will need an additional half a million units in the next 25 years.

We talked about affordable and available housing Monday night on Kentucky tonight.

This week, one member of our panel state Representative Lindsey Burke, a Democrat from Lexington that the Kentucky General Assembly has been cutting regulations and recent sessions.

She worries that could hurt efforts to find quality housing for vulnerable Kentuckians.

>> I don't want to see full of all Kentucky INS the the most likely to end up in a home that isn't safe.

So I don't want us to race to those types of solutions.

When we could look at other solutions.

First, especially agree with that last point, Representative Burke.

>> Yes or easements.

I think.

On one hand, we do need to look at our housing costs and what what what role regulations to play in in in driving those?

At the same time?

We'll run a safe place to to Layer hens.

>> You can see our hour long discussion about Kentucky's housing needs online on demand at KET DOT Org Slash K White tonight.

♪ >> The Kentucky State Fair began yesterday in Louisville marking 120 years for the festival.

A celebration of the Commonwealth's 120 counties.

So join us as we take in the sights and sounds of the Kentucky State Fair.

♪ >> It's a very join the sights.

The sounds and the smells enjoy the taste.

Wayne and what we're doing here at the state fair.

Enjoy yourself.

Create a legacy by bringing your kids.

So if this continues on for generations ago, thank you all so much.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> A >> good time was had by all there.

The fair runs until August, the 25th at the Kentucky Exposition Center and Louisville.

♪ >> And every week, Governor Andy Beshear names a team, Kentucky All-Star.

This week's All-Star is a Kentuckian who just won gold at the Paris Olympics.

>> Here is the governor from yesterday.

>> There was a great year for America.

It was also a great year for Kentucky.

We had so many athletes because Prout but one athlete in particular I want to recognize is Olympic fencer week high for who grew up in Lexington.

We want her second consecutive gold medal in individual foil in Paris.

She also won a gold in team foil, making her the first American Fencer in history to win 3 Olympic gold medals.

It is truly amazing to leave represent Kentucky and the United States of America so well, we are so proud of you and we're really excited.

We've got a video from you to share with everybody that.

>> Hi, governor, and thank you so much for recognizing me this week.

And it is an absolute honor as Kentucky into members and our state in our country on take a second to the Men College alum, it means that we're s pen says, quote, My family and just everyone else who supported me and enjoy the London games, then check out >> time now to review some big sports news of the week as we go inside Kentucky sports with sportscaster Stuart Mayor Kristin Thomas is good to see you.

Good to see you.

You're too kind.

Know you are.

You are the woman.

I know you're ramping up.

Yes.

With sports with football and all bbn all the time.

I know you're excited about that.

This time of year is wonderful.

This is something about it in the air.

You can start to feel fall coming on just a little And that signals football season and I think it's like a light switch going on that all the sudden, all the things are all happening at once and it's all that it is a good time at all.

A lot of excitement.

Yeah.

Feel it.

That's right.

Yeah.

With special the day like today where it's got a little rainy outside, it feels like okay.

We're on the cusp of the of football season at it.

Well, we've had some good sports activity going on in the last few weeks.

The Olympics and Kentucky had a great show.

And what were their 11 former Wildcats came home with medals.

We've got some standout extraordinary.

And Lee Kiefer and fencing.

>> Volleyball track.

I mean, talk about who your favorites are and how well Kentucky did at the line.

But it's pretty incredible, really to think about how well represented not only was the University of Kentucky, but the state of Kentucky in general was so well represented in Paris.

>> It's kind of like a mourning period for me that one day, I'll be honest because I was so attached to eggs.

I was so into it really watching everything and got that.

Now that it's over, it's like, well, now, what do of it?

No, it's absolutely incredible.

And when you think about every Skinner who was part of a 2020 national championship team at the University of Kentucky, the first ever volleyball championship.

That May one there.

And so for her to be represented in the Olympics, not a Kentucky was talked about over and over again on this broadcast.

And they were talking about their coaching staff.

The coaching staff was there.

Craig Skinner was actually in attendance so over and over again, we kept hearing the commentators talk about the University of Kentuckyian what they've been able to do there.

So that was a ton of fun.

But then we heard the exact same thing in track and field.

I mean, my goodness, you talk about what the track program has done it at UK is really phenomenal and these are just athletes that are going and winning Olympic medals.

They're going and setting world records right to Sydney Mclaughlin-levrone live Roni was setting world records says she is absolutely the best in the world at what she does.

And she ran track right here at Kentucky, won an SEC championship in the hurdles.

I mean, you know, the it's really phenomenal what they've been able to do in the men's basketball.

How fun was that?

I mean, yeah.

The dream team stays the dream to write every Kentucky players, former players win medals there.

I mean, really just so well represented.

And what I think is great is even you think about Louisville was represented with 1500 meter bronze medalist.

Was there.

Eventually Kiefer grew up here in Kentuckyian then always talks about her time here in Kentucky.

The best ever in America and saying yeah, for women.

So, you know, it's really incredible what is happening here and especially the University of Kentucky in the athletic program in certain departments.

They're just been such a search, a surge of athletes that are world class that are making Kentucky homes.

Well, and yesterday at the governor's press conference, he recognize leaky for yeah.

And there was even a video that we've seen before.

We got to our interview with you know that she's proudly showing off those medals and she should be a dive bar graduate.

I mean, you know, this is a young lady that that's had so much going on going for her and then really representing our state so well, it's it's really incredible to see.

It's a ton of fun.

Yeah, it's great.

And you know, I we are kind of in morning now that it's over a lot like what we do is we're going to rebound because football season and we said is upon us.

So tell us what you're expecting, especially from bba.

Yes.

So this will be an interesting football season for a lot of reasons.

One is.

>> There's a new offensive coordinator at the university, Kentucky Bush, Hamdan.

So that really changes things.

They'll be a new quarterback.

Brock Vandagriff is is on his way to being the number one guy there for Kentucky.

So that'll certainly be different where, you know, some new names, some new faces that Kentucky will have to get to know.

Also from a running back perspective.

I mean, this will be the first time that we've not had someone named Benny Snell.

Our Chris Rodriguez in that backfield.

Yeah.

So who's going to be the guy who's going to stand up and be the guy?

But the big thing, too, is going to be the addition of Oklahoma and Texas into the SEC.

I mean, that's huge.

>> 11 national titles between the 2 of those schools and football.

So we're not just bringing just any teams here to the SEC.

We're bringing some really, really high caliber football teams for sure.

But then they also have really excelled in other areas.

So all part of the big 12 now joining the SEC.

So that really makes this a Super league.

Yeah, just had it is.

Oh, my gosh.

It just kind of goes through the roof.

This is now 16 teams and the SEC has done away with divisional partner.

So it would be an SEC east in an SEC west.

Those have gone away.

So now it's just yes, a 16 team SEC.

So use to what you would do is take the SEC East winner and the SEC West winner.

And that's who played for the SEC championship.

And now it's just going to be the first 2 teams that finish in the league will now play for the SEC And so it makes perfect sense.

And I think it's going to make it a lot of fun.

There been plenty of times where teams from the east or the West.

Yeah, we'll have that number 2 team and think, gosh, they deserve to be there.

So this will be their opportunity to be able to do that.

But this also comes on the heels of the College Football Playoff expanding from 4 teams to 12 teams.

And that really could not that spills.

A lot of good news for the SEC because that means now the SEC could definitely get more teams into that mix.

Yes, and what took him so long to get to this point, right?

Everybody knowing all everybody wanted it, you know it.

And this just makes it a ton of fun.

And really, if you're someone like me, don't want to you do in college football in.

So this kind of keeps it going for us for a little while and then really just makes this thing a lot of fun.

Yeah.

Well, K from football to Goff.

So we got some good news this week about the holiday in the Solheim in 2028.

This is the ladies.

Yeah.

Right version.

Talk about the impact that could have and what it means for Louisville after some.

>> Little snafu.

Who's with the last thing?

Yeah, which we all know about it.

DeLand in the meaning of that for Louisville and for Kentucky.

I think it's huge.

I think it speaks volumes to what the LPGA's after what they what they deem as a great place to be able to go and have an event.

So I think yet to your point, they've head men's events there.

They've had met your team events that have been there.

They've had major events, but nothing for the women.

So this is the first time >> that that Halas been able to to host something like that.

And I think it's huge for the city of Louisville, a little redemption certainly could come into play for them, you know, I think.

But, you know, this is one of those situations where you live and learn a little bit.

So I think the hollow will live and learn from that event.

So no, I think it's fabulous.

I think any time that you can showcase Kentucky anywhere in the state, in any venue in the state, you can showcase an international event.

This is match play international event.

So it's going to be us versus Europe that always brings the competitive juices out in a ton of fun.

So I mean, I think it's great that the state get showcased in this way.

And I think they'll do a fabulous time.

Economic impact of that was due to Joe Calyn a few seconds.

Big Blue Madness on October.

11th.

>> I mean, it hits.

Just KET on coming to us that.

Well, here's what I'm going to tell.

Big Blue Nation that is get your get your your study.

Got out that the study a little bit.

Lots of new faces.

I said yeah.

Aims.

But that's gonna make it a lot of fun.

So you have to get that will study get out.

Make sure that you know who everybody is, you're going to see great shooting an excellent defense.

Mark.

Pope's teams are known 4 really having an excellent defensive scheme.

And from what we're hearing already out of practice the summer is that these boys can shoot these young men can shoot.

So I think that that's going to be we know how Bbn loves that, right?

Yeah, everybody get ready for some great defense and some excellent shooting.

Yeah.

Well, thank you, Kristin Thomas and her signature Wildcat blue and you'll never see anything but a a your jam.

We appreciate ♪ >> Plenty on the menu this weekend.

Coffee hamburgers and yoga with the Bison are Toby gives explains had this look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> It's just getting started in Morganfield.

Is Iron Stein coffee's coffee day blast as downtown fresh and delicious coffee concoctions including cold brew cocktails.

Enjoy live music and delicious food vendors.

As you sip some evening brew.

One of the most anticipated summer events in Lexington is happening on Sunday.

Don't miss the Woodland Art Fair, where more than 180 artists and craftspeople will be selling their unique handmade goods, Woodland Park.

It's a beautiful shady venue.

Spend some of your Sunday at this great event.

The 11th Kids, Creative Arts Street fair is tomorrow in Paducah Time.

Check out the lit.

They have crafts and activities available tie dye stations to the instrument petting zoo.

There's something for everyone to explore.

Come celebrate community and creativity tomorrow at Market House theater.

Art lovers and eastern Kentucky are in luck this weekend.

A natural bridge artists and festival in quilt show celebrates Appalachian heritage through art music, food and of course, the mountains take advantage of the gorgeous scenery.

When you head to the Red River Gorge for this terrific event.

Back-to-school season can be a stressful time.

And if you're in need of relaxation big Brown Lake State Resort Park as you covered, you know, go with the big b**** bison is tomorrow and it's exactly what it sounds like.

Bring your mat and unwind with some bovine tomorrow.

If you prefer your cat.

A lot of played Harlan's Burger Week might be more up your alley.

6 local dreamed up some delicious new purpose for you to taste.

Try the Hawaiian hillbilly burger or the stuff mozzarella burger.

If you get stamps from at least 5 locations, there's a special prize in store for you.

Webster County Public Library is currently running a seat library.

If you're not familiar with the concept, you can pick up free seeds, planted them in your garden.

When the crops blow, he can return the favor by dropping off seeds.

This is a great way to get started in gardening and the seed library and this month.

So be sure to check it out.

And that's what's happening around the commonwealth.

>> I'm told he gives.

>> Thank you, Toby.

I think some people will on wine with their bovine in July.

The FDA approves something called a net, a device it stands for near electric Therapy, delivers electrical stimulation and is used to treat opioid disorders without medicine.

It's only available at a place called Isaiah House a treatment center.

We sat down with someone who's used the device to talk about her experience and you'll hear about it Monday night on Kentucky edition, which we hope will join us.

You'll join us for its 6.30, survive 30 central on Monday, but we inform connect him to fire.

>> You can connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Send us a story idea to public affairs at KET Dot Org.

>> And with on the PBS app, you can find us there.

You can download that on your mobile device and smart TV.

Thanks so very much for watching.

We appreciate you so very much.

Have a great weekend and we'll see you right back here again Monday night.

Take good care.

♪ ♪