♪ >> People can sometimes get sick when they're showering.

Flooding can hurt your health and ways you might not expect.

And it's a tradition of old fashioned fun that stretches back more than 200 years.

>> And that will really, really helps.

>> The story behind a quilt that provides more than just warmth.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Teen Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION for this Thursday.

August the 18th.

Thank you so much for joining us.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Kentucky's abortion ban stands for now.

The Kentucky Supreme Court ruled today that to Kentucky laws banning abortion can go into effect while they're being challenged in court.

One is a trigger law passed in 2019 to ban abortion immediately.

If the courts overturn Roe v Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe on June 24th.

The other is a law banning abortion after 6 weeks, 2 Louisville clinics challenge the laws and a judge initially blocked them.

But an appeals court and now the Kentucky Supreme Court roll the bands can go into effect.

The Supreme Court also set a court date for November 15th to hear arguments about the laws after the decision.

Today we spoke to Angela Cooper, communications director for the ACLU of Kentucky.

Angela Cooper with the ACLU of Kentucky.

Thank you for your time.

You let me ask you about today's order by the Kentucky Supreme Court.

What does it mean for abortion access in Kentucky at this time?

>> Those are on the Kentucky Supreme Court means that I'm fortunate ready access to abortion care of the league on Kentucky at the time.

>> And can that change?

>> It is likely to change between now and the date for oral arguments, which is November 15.

Now, of course, this ruling only applies to the Some some that was originally grant that allowed the entire year served one surgical center and Planned Parenthood to continue providing player.

But that comes on is not I'm not a fact and will not be in effect until after oral arguments on 15 when the case is actually argue.

>> So November 15th, that is an important day.

Tell us what can be expected then.

And we know that on November 8th, when Kentucky voters to go to the polls on the ballot will be a question about whether there is a state right to abortion or in the government funding of it.

You say yes or no depending on whether you agree.

Is it more than coincidental that the Supreme Court date of November 15th comes after the ballot decision on November 8.

>> But not coincidental at all.

Some for justice for them to hold of them are coming for us that they wanted to hear from the people of Kentucky.

I'm very interested to know how the ballot initiative for Veterans and of course, of the ACLU of Kentucky.

We are urging them to vote now on constitutional amendment.

Number 2, as the amendment would prohibit.

>> The access to abortion for any reason, with no exceptions for rape, incest or the health of the pregnant person.

>> Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and abortion rights opponent released this statement.

Quote, and Dobbs United States Supreme Court returned the issue of abortion to the elected representatives of the people of each state so that the promises of Dobbs may be realized and to avoid being embroiled in another 50 years up a little political acrimony courts around the country and here at home must allow our policy makers and the General Assembly to speak for the people they represent, end quote, Governor Andy Beshear reacted today during his press conference.

>> But the Kentucky Supreme Court has left in place one of the most extremist laws across the United States.

It bands options for everyone.

>> Meaning that victims of rape and incest.

Absolutely.

No options.

You have to potentially carry.

They're rapists, that means a victim of incest.

We've seen young girls to 11, 12.

Violated by a family member has no options.

I think that's wrong.

And the majority of Kentuckians agree with me.

>> The governor today also discuss the flood cleanup and recovery efforts.

He says 455 people are still in shelters.

More than 5200 Kentuckians have been approved for FEMA.

Help of the more than 10,000 who applied.

He again said if you've been denied appeal more than 34,000 people have donated more than 6.7 million dollars to the team.

Eastern Kentucky flooding relief fund the flooding death toll remains at 13, but 9 and the governor also says we could be a day or 2 away from the announcement on a date for a special legislative session to deal with the flooding.

What happens when flood water mixes with drinking water.

We spoke with Jason Marion and associate professor of environmental health at eastern Kentucky University to find out how flooding impacts water quality and what eastern Kentuckians need to know about their water.

>> Flooding can impact a drinking water and a multitude of ways the actual water plant can be totally inundated.

That creates the problem of you have no way of actually treating water.

The second issue is the distribution winds and water level gets high enough.

You can actually break those pipes and that creates problems because you're now no longer providing pressurized water and they also have the risk of the water having to be then decontaminated.

When you reopen those lines, be on city water.

You also have private drinking water systems and we think of like wells and springs, those wells can be totally inundated with flood water that could be carrying with it.

People contaminants, organic chemicals, solvents, you name it.

But this power it makes the call I go.

Oh, it's ill advised to assume Well, that's been inundated by flood waters would be immediately safety use thereafter.

There are certain degree at least minimum tests of just people contaminants and probably nitrates for public water if the drinking water plant is giving the okay on it, then the likelihood that that water is safe is pretty high because they have the ability to treat the water and it's coming out of water source and they have the resources for routine monitoring and testing.

Many of those resources are typically not available to private homeowners due to the immediate costs associated with If the drinking water plant is operational and it's a conventional system.

Those conventional systems can get back going pretty quick.

>> From a private?

Well, it varies some of them a test, OK, fairly swiftly.

But they saw after some of the Hurricanes and Louisiana that months after.

They're well as an undated.

It's still contaminated.

Some people say I'm not going to I'm just going to shower and bathe in that.

But they're still exposure.

Potential people can sometimes get sick when they're showering the aerosols, they they they breathe that and there could be contaminants that are in the air assaults as well.

It could be problematic.

This one was below range.

Local health departments, our resource for helping folks disinfect their wells and will provide guidance about, you know, who's doing testing?

Who can do testing in some cases entirely.

New wells are having to be drilled.

>> President Biden says climate change was a factor in the Eastern Kentucky floods.

And a new report is out this week saying Kentucky is likely to become part of what's called an extreme heat about in Middle America with higher heat indices expected in the coming decades.

We spoke to Kentucky's acting state climatologist to break down this report and what it could mean for the Commonwealth.

>> The 6 National Risk assessment as the state put out by the First Street Foundation is a What we have will be expecting and 2053 with regard to heat index.

It is in particular with heat indexes that are consider extreme heat days.

Richards a of 125 difference very KET to note that this is a report regarding heat index.

Now governments not temperature.

We have actually seen some of this was happening here in Kentucky.

We have Pat actual temperatures that have been measure about 100 here as well as you know, the access that Ben over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

So it may be just a new term that has come out.

There been other terms that have been very trendy and ask for more tax or so popular apps or things like that.

So I'm not sure this is another trending name.

But with regard to the actual data, it is something that we have been seeing here in Kentucky and this is just 6 expanding that to just a little bit higher degree.

For different areas of the country.

It will look different.

And Texas, for example, it may be those actual higher temperatures, but moistures lower.

But here in Kentucky, we're seeing this increase in moisture.

And unfortunately, the combination of that with the increase in minimum time, pictures that we're seeing as a general trend in Kentucky that that bodes poorly getting relief overnight and being able to get some of that.

Cooler temperatures overnight that we look forward to in the summer.

Whenever we do see an increase in the tax, it does provide the availability for increasing flooding.

And that is because as you have a warmer air mass that has the ability to hold more water.

And so if you have more available water and you have the right kind of set up weather wise.

You have the ability to have this kind of flooding that happened.

Right now.

We have both and this this drought in the West and the flooding in the east and we actually sense the significant event at the end of July.

We've actually had other minor flooding events that happened over there.

And so it's not a new.

It's not a new situation.

It is a regular problem, but it's coming more frequent.

>> So now on to business news we've all heard about companies having trouble hiring and keeping workers wallet.

Hub says Kentucky ranks 3rd for employers struggling to find workers.

Alaska and Georgia are first and second, it wallet Hub says in the last year Kentucky's rate for job openings was almost 8%.

The state says Kentucky's July unemployment rate was 3.7%.

That's unchanged from June.

Speaking of jobs, 100 are headed to Simpson County, D a S companies will spend 15 million dollars and expand its facility there to 200,000 Square feet.

The company distributes automotive supplies, travel gear and mobile electronics.

One group that often struggles with unemployment to people with disabilities.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people with disabilities were much less likely to be employed than those without them.

It's one of the challenges the disability advocates say they are fighting to overcome.

>> We've seen significant progress in our country since 1990, in terms of protecting the civil rights of >> people with disabilities.

It's kind of amazing.

The largest minority in America really didn't have any federal protections against discrimination.

Mental 32 years ago.

I mean, the ad is basically the Civil Rights Act with those of us with disabilities to Florida.

So many opportunities to cover or part of the community and to be inclusive and really participate in activities that a lot of dust before the ADA didn't have that opportunity.

I was injured in things are much different like to have.

That was not a lot of Kirk Hudson ramps and were some of those things coming into.

>> And I'm being at that point.

But then I saw a huge amount of that construction and stuff happening after that.

And of course, we had a lot of from accessibility in other areas.

But for the blind within your family and those kinds of things, another area that we're seeing incredible success in Kentucky.

>> Is in the area of inclusive, higher education.

We are increasing options and opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities to enroll in and engage in and participate in and we trust be successful in a higher education in Kentucky.

Any a celebration of progress.

I think we also recognize the work that has to be done.

We know that people with disabilities are unemployed and more than double the rate of when compared to people without disabilities.

And we passed employment first legislation in our state and what that means is there's an expectation and a policy in this state that a competitive integrated employment is the first in preferred option for people with disabilities of working age.

I think the misconception is that we should do this as as good will.

Why does that we should hire people or disability because it looks good for business so we should >> Make a building accessible it's it's just a nice thing to do when really what it is and saying, you matter as a group as much as anybody else matters.

Parking is is a significant difficulty for a lot of people.

One of the biggest most egregious things are the are the Yum.

Parking lot where you have a stripe lines and the biggest honestly, the people who volleyed that the most are people with accessible parking tax.

I think it's extra parking or something that's that space walk and get out of my man off of, you know, I left because I KET that space transportation still a big, significant issue.

Lot of people can't afford an accessible van.

The place is public transportation isn't available in rural areas very much.

And just to get from here to there makes a huge difference in your independent going definitely takes all of us working together to continue to realize the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

>> Most of us with disabilities should be afforded the opportunity to participate fully our communities just like everyone else for accessibility.

I'm not sure what that looks like.

>> But I know.

Hopefully the goal I think would be that you would never see it.

I couldn't one point everybody just as able to do the things they need to do and go to the places they need to go and be part of the programming be part of education, the part of decision making all those kinds of things.

And we went into politics.

S ability at that point.

We're just that integrated society.

>> Recent data shows that 33% or more than one in 3 adults in Kentucky has a disability.

They're already 9 entrance into the Republican Party or the public and primary rather for governor and 2023, 3 hold statewide office.

Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles an auditor Mike Harmon and one Savannah Maddox as a representative in the Kentucky General Assembly, Somerset Mayor Alan CAC has been rumored to be interested in the race today at an event in Lexington, he told KET he is still weighing his options.

>> Yeah, I'm still giving a strong consideration.

I get asked about a lot of always flattered.

You know, what I'll say is it's an honor to serve my hometown.

And I also say that of what was going on in Somerset was happening across the Even more special place.

>> Kak was elected Mayor Somerset in 2018.

He is the founder and board chairman of the University of Somerset and served as president of Somerset, Recycling.

♪ ♪ Shifting now to education with Kentucky school kids heading back to the classroom.

It's the first academic year since the onset of COVID that in-person learning isn't disrupted by the pandemic yesterday.

Kentucky's education Commissioner Jason Glass talk with OSS about how kids and educators are getting back into the swing of things has issues with staffing persist.

Commissioner Glass is a privilege to have you with us.

Thank you so much for your time.

>> Thank you.

It's a delight to be here.

So let's talk about several things will start off talking about educator shortages.

What do we know about whether that's teachers or administrators or other staff bus drivers when it comes to being ready on that first day of school.

We know that varies across all the 170 plus districts that those staffing is there or not.

There.

>> Yeah, I think what we're hearing straining of the system.

So it's not broken.

Schools are open and getting going.

But we are hearing reports of a limited bus routes.

So they're having to shorten routes or ashore, the number of stops so that they can run more loops we're stories the summer and that now into the fall as schools got going around.

I'm not plethora of applicants certainly over the past couple of years, we've seen an increased reliance on emergency certifications.

So that's hiring someone that either out of content area or has a a sort of lesser background and putting them in that role.

We're glad to have them.

But it's it's a different standard.

So all those things, I think Kersh, we're showing some cracks in the labor market in really in all jobs in education that are concerning.

We've talked to the legislature about some ideas, some things that we can do.

But I I really think it's important that we take a long-term view on this and think about teaching being a profession and we have to support a talented people getting the right experience in committing to the lifetime that it takes to master the art and science of teaching.

So that's the goal.

I think we want right.

>> So are you concerned if these other alternative routes affair embraced?

Does that do detriment to trying to elevate the professionalism and profession of education and teaching public education?

I think many of the alternative routes bring in individuals with backgrounds that are real to our public schools in into the experiences that students have.

>> But we have to make sure that in all of those routes, we're not creating a lesser standard.

So you still way if you have someone from the military or from a science background or someone that's been an entrepreneur or bring those experiences in the classroom is really valuable and we want them.

We want to make sure that this person has done the work to be a professional educator.

If if you believe teaching as a profession, that needs to mean something that everybody can or should do it.

And it really takes that lifelong commitment of learning the craft to be a professional.

>> Studies from the American Pediatric Association pointed to the fact that in person learning was the best route.

And we know that many people had complained during COVID that is public education didn't return to that consistently that it would cause parents to seek alternatives, whether that's private school, education or home schooling.

And I want to talk to you about the perhaps increasing number of parents who are choosing homeschooling is their option for educating their children.

What is that like?

>> Well, we've really seen an increase in the number of homeschool families over the past several years.

But that jumped up during the pandemic as parents, I think saw that that they could do this at home, sort of some of them were forced into it.

And really, there's a widespread use of or availability of different resources and supports for families that want to home school that haven't been there in the past.

So you're a homeschool situation where a parent is acting as the teacher and the parent is relying on outside resources that they purchased or through other home school families to to use or in rolling student in online courses.

And I think those trends are going to continue or are likely to see the blending of different student experiences both in homes, schools and private schools and different public school offerings that are more diverse.

So I think we're standing on the What will be a a large proliferation of different schooling types, different learning options for kids.

And I think that's that's ultimately a good thing.

If you think about what's in the best interest of the kids out of the best nurture their talents and passions and Informa and have an education experience that's customized for for them.

We'll see opportunities for that.

Homeschooling is going to be one of those will.

I think have you still have to see if the increased number that we saw during the pandemic really stays.

I think some parents experience the tried this.

Maybe it's for them.

Maybe it's So I wouldn't make any inferences are generalizations based on the pandemic is really unusual time.

But I think it is safe to say that we're likely to see wider educational options going forward.

>> As you heard commission glass say there's been a surge in home schooling in the last few years is more than 15,000 school aged children are being homeschooled as compared to data and 2018.

♪ ♪ >> If you like food rides, music animals and more.

Louisville is the place to be the next 10 days.

The Kentucky State Fair Open today and they're something for everybody be on the rise.

Cooking escapist exhibitions.

A dog show music ranging from John Michael Montgomery to the Oak Ridge Boys.

The fair runs through August.

The 28th at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

The Fair began all the way back 18, 16 come a long way.

200 years.

Kentucky veterans and service members are being honored and a very special way.

They're being gifted, homemade quilts as a way to say thanks for their service.

Here's this story from Kentucky.

Life.

The quilt of Valor is a national nonprofit organization.

>> It started in 2003 I Catherine Roberts.

Her son was deployed.

she was looking for a way to recognize his early.

But one night she had a dream.

And there was a soldier sitting on the side of the bed.

And despair.

And then just like in the movie, the curtain closed.

And he appeared again.

With fear and despair was gone.

And there's a cool factor out.

So the message was Wilkes that was the seed that >> I was in the air wing and nose a crew chief and a helicopter.

So we flew all over the place and got to see things that probably ground troops wouldn't see from here.

So, you know, it's pretty nice.

And from there was kind of like a home base from there.

We went to Korea.

We want to do and we want to the Philippines.

We want all over Asia.

I'm a member of the Marine Corps League and the American Legion.

And there's quite a few vets within the last 2 months they receive.

You know, there are quotes of dollars.

So they're pretty excited about it as well.

I think it's fantastic because, you know, it's all volunteer organization and they serve better.

>> And sometimes with veterans or >> in need of.

And that quill really, really helps them to feel the one.

Again, you know, I feel good about life.

So I think it's a fantastic organization.

>> It was in for 8 years.

And that was it.

You 6 talk first mate, first class.

You know, it wasn't easy, but I loved it was an amazing adventure.

You know, the sept the ports, but the 6th Fleet Admiral went to.

>> Were But the life on the set.

>> It was.

>> It would change forever.

The only place I had ever been really genuinely thing for my service.

>> Was in Israel.

And when I came back, we know nobody shared and welcome me back.

>> I just can't believe the that a group of women.

>> That finding a way to.

>> Show appreciation to >> One of the moving that everyone was able to experience at the presentation was that one of our local presentations one of the veterans after we wrapped in with this quilt, he's amassed speak.

And we've never had that once before us to speak.

So.

But this was a Vietnam vet.

And he wanted everyone to know.

But this was the first time at the time.

♪ >> What an awesome tribute tomorrow on Kentucky Edition, our experts talk about what's happening inside Kentucky politics.

You'll hear more from Education Commissioner Jason Glass and find out what's happening over the weekend and beyond in our around the Commonwealth segment.

We do hope to see you again here tomorrow night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition, we inform connect and inspire.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for being with us and I'll see you right back here tomorrow night.

Take it.

♪