[♪♪] >> AS FAR AS ANYONE IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE CAN REMEMBER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT LIKE THIS HAS BEEN DONE ON THE KED.

>> A MONTH'S LONG AUDIT OF KENTUCKY'S EDUCATION SYSTEM WITH RESPONSE FROM LAWMAKERS.

>> IT WAS A LONG TIME COMING.

IT WAS OUR DREAM.

AT THE TIME, THIS WAS JUST AN EMPTY FIELD.

>> JUST A DREAM NO MORE... AS THIS PLOT OF LAND NOW HONORS THOSE... WHO'VE TAKEN FLIGHT.

>> U OF L HEALTH HAS A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND DIFFERENT SCREENINGS YOU CAN DO FOR FREE.

>> HOW FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS AT THE STATE FAIR ARE HELPING KENTUCKIANS CATCH MORE THAN JUST THE MIDWAY FUN.

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

[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 18TH.

I'M LAURA ROGERS, FILLING IN FOR RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

WE BEGIN TONIGHT IN THE STATE'S CAPITAL CITY.

FRANKFORT POLICE SAY THEY'RE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING ON THE CAMPUS OF KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY.

IT HAPPENED EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING.

POLICE SAY MULTIPLE PEOPLE FIRED SHOTS FROM A CAR TOWARDS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WALKING NEAR YOUNG HALL.

TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED, INCLUDING ONE PERSON WHO SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON, K-STATE CONFIRMED NO STUDENTS WERE INJURED.

THE UNIVERSITY ALSO SAID THE CAMPUS REMAINS ON HEIGHTENED ALERT.

YOUNG HALL AND A KSU POLICE VEHICLE WERE ALSO DAMAGED BY GUNFIRE.

FRANKFORT POLICE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC'S HELP.

TODAY WAS THE FIRST DAY OF CLASSES AT KSU.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE RESPONDING TO A RECENT AUDIT OF KENTUCKY'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

TODAY, STATE AUDITOR ALLISON BALL PRESENTED HER FINDINGS TO AN EDUCATION COMMITTEE IN FRANKFORT.

OUR JUNE LEFFLER HAS MORE IN TONIGHT'S LEGISLATIVE UPDATE.

>> EARLY JULY, THE STATE AUDITOR RELEASED HER MORE THAN 500-PAGE AUDIT OF KED.

>> AS FAR AS ANYONE IN THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT HAS BEEN DONE ON THE KED.

>> THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TASKED BALL TO AUDIT KED IT TOOK MONTHS ON MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS TO COMPLETE.

>> THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO DO THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE CRAFTING A STRATEGIC PLAN AND THIS WILL HELP THEM, I THINK, QUITE A BIT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY.

>> ONE FINDING THAT MADE HEADLINES, KED DID NOT USE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IT WAS GIVEN.

>> OVER THE PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS, KED HAD $250 MILLION OF SEEK FUND THAT THEY HAD ALLOWED TO LAPSE.

THEY HAD A SHORTFALL OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND VOCATIONAL TRANSPORTATION $40 MILLION A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT $250 MILLION SOME OF THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PLUGGED IN IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS.

>> THE MONEY WAS NOT LOST OR MISUSED INSTEAD IT WENT BACK INTO THE STATE'S BUDGET RESERVE AND GENERAL FUNDS.

>> WHAT YOU ARE TELLING US YOU DIDN'T FIND MAJOR GLARING DISCREPANCIES IN THE FISCAL POLICY OR THE MONEY SPECIFICALLY?

>> WE DIDN'T FIND GLARING PROBLEMS.

WE DIDN'T FIND A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY GOING OUT THE DOOR THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE.

>> BALL TESTIFIED BEFORE A LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION COMMITTEE TODAY.

LAWMAKERS COULD DRAFT STATUTORY OR FUNDING REMEDIES FOR KED BASED ON THE AUDIT.

THE REPORT FOUND THE BEST RATED PRESCHOOLS IN KENTUCKY ARE NOT NECESSARILY PREPARING KIDS FOR KINDERGARTEN.

>> DOESN'T YOUR REPORT MAKE THE CASE THAT KENTUCKY NEEDS TO FOLLOW THE REST OF THE COUNTRY NOW AND ADOPT SOME FORM OF UNIVERSAL PRE-K, IS THE GOVERNOR ABSOLUTELY CORRECT IN PUSHING FOR THAT?

AND IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT EXPLAIN WHY NOT.

>> TWO QUESTIONS THERE SENATOR THOMAS.

I WOULD SAY LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS FROM OUR ASSESSMENT, IF WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB ON THAT AT THIS POINT WE DON'T WANT TO EXPAND THAT OUT TO OTHER KIDS.

STEP ONE, WOULD BE MAKE SURE OUR PRESCHOOLS ARE PERFORMING TO THE HIGH ELF FERREST LEVEL THEY CAN BE.

>> WHILE THE HEAD OF KED ROBBY FLETCHER WAS IN THE AUDIENCE HE WAS NOT CALLED TO TESTIFY.

FLETCHER HAS BEEN ON THE JOB FOR JUST MORE THAN A YEAR.

I'M JUNE LEFFLER FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION."

>> IN OTHER NEWS, >> IN OTHER NEWS, A KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN SAYS HE EXPECTS DOCUMENTS IN THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN CASE WILL BE TURNED OVER SOON.

CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER, A REPUBLICAN FROM KENTUCKY'S FIRST DISTRICT, IS CHAIR OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE COMMITTEE SUBPOENAED THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, REQUESTING ALL DOCUMENTS RELEVANT TO THE EPSTEIN INVESTIGATION.

CONGRESSMAN COMER GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE INVESTIGATION TODAY.

>> WE ARE HAVING A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY YOU COULD IMAGINE HOW MANY DOCUMENTS THERE ARE.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE -- I THINK WE'VE RECEIVE THE DOCUMENTS VERY SOON.

THEY ARE COMPILING EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

I THINK WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER IN A GOOD FAITH EFFORT AND EVERYTHING'S COMING ALONG.

I EXPECT TO RECEIVE THE DOCUMENTS VERY, VERY SOON.

>> TODAY, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL BILL BARR TESTIFIED BEFORE THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.

HE'S THE FIRST OF TEN HIGH-PROFILE OFFICIALS SUBPOENAED BY THE COMMITTEE TO DO SO.

AND SPEAKING OF CONGRESSMEN, U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ANDY BARR OF KENTUCKY'S SIXTH DISTRICT PAID A VISIT TO NORTHERN KENTUCKY LAST FRIDAY.

BARR IS IN THE RUNNING FOR A UNITED STATES SENATE SEAT-HE HOPES TO TAKE THE PLACE OF RETIRING SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL.

THE CONGRESSMAN SPOKE TO MEMBERS OF THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT THE LATEST HAPPENINGS IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND HOW THEY TRANSLATE TO THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> ON TRADE, I DO PREDICT THAT THINGS WILL SETTLE OUT IN 2026 AS WE APPROACH THE MIDTERM ELECTION.

AND HOPEFULLY, THE END RESULT OF THIS SHORT-TERM TURBULENCE IS THAT YOU GET BETTER, MORE RECIPROCATED, AND YES, MORE FREE TRADE DEALS.

I KNOW BOURBON IS A TRADE-SENSITIVE KENTUCKY INDUSTRY, AND WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT RETALIATORY TARIFFS.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN EU RETALIATION YET.

WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH CANADA WE'RE STILL WORKING ON, BUT THE REAL POTENTIAL OF THIS TRADE AGENDA IS OPENING UP INDIA.

IF WE CAN GET THOSE TARIFF AND NON-TARIFF TRADE BARRIERS OFF OF OUR KENTUCKY BOURBON, WE COULD TRIPLE PRODUCTION IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY AND NOT MEET THE DEMAND OF INDIA.

>> THE CONGRESSMAN ALSO DISCUSSED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND HOW KENTUCKY'S FUTURE MIGHT BE SHAPED BY THE NEW INDUSTRY.

>> KENTUCKY IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO LEAD THE COUNTRY IN HOSTING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA CENTERS WITH ALL OF THE POWER THAT IS REQUIRED TO DO THAT.

WE CAN HELP US WIN THE RACE FOR AI WITH DATA CENTERS AND ALL OF THESE SOURCES OF ENERGY THAT WE HAVE, AND WE CAN BUILD THEM BECAUSE WE HAVE MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE.

>> BARR VISITED WITH THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY CHAMBER FOR A NEAR HOUR-LONG PRESENTATION.

THE CHAMBER SAID IT DOES NOT HAVE PLANS TO HOST OTHER U.S. SENATE CANDIDATES AT THIS TIME.

>> IT'S THE FINAL STRETCH FOR AN EASTERN KENTUCKY HIGHWAY PROJECT THAT BEGAN A DECADE AGO.

TODAY, GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR, ALONG WITH OTHER STATE AND LOCAL LEADERS, WERE IN PRESTONSBURG TO BREAK GROUND ON THE FINAL SECTION OF THE MOUNTAIN PARKWAY EXPANSION PROJECT.

THE 13-MILE STRETCH OF NEW FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY WILL CONNECT SALYERSVILLE TO PRESTONSBURG.

ONCE COMPLETED, IT WILL CLOSE THE ONLY REMAINING GAP IN A CONTINUOUS, FOUR-LANE, HIGH-SPEED CORRIDOR LINKING EASTERN KENTUCKY TO THE REST OF THE STATE.

THE STATE SAYS THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE SAFER, FASTER COMMUTES FOR DRIVERS, INCREASE COMMERCE, AND BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY.

[♪♪] >> NOW TO MORE COVERAGE FROM LAST WEEK'S ROAD TRIP TO BOWLING GREEN.

OUR NEXT STOP IS ABOUT THOSE WHO TRAVELED A PATH OF HIGHER ELEVATION.

THE AVIATION HERITAGE PARK AND MUSEUM HONORS AVIATORS FROM SOUTHCENTRAL KENTUCKY.

ITS MESSAGE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION: THE SKY'S THE LIMIT.

>> THEY TURN HEADS AT THE AVIATION HERITAGE PARK AND MUSEUM-THOSE RESTORED WARBIRDS THAT HAVE CALLED THE PARK HOME FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS.

?>> THEY'RE ALL PART OF THE STORY OF SOMEBODY WHO CAME FROM OUR REGION AND WENT ON TO DO GREAT THINGS.

>> LET'S FIND AN AVIATOR.

NOW, LET'S FIND THE AIRCRAFT TO HONOR THAT AVIATOR.

>> AVIATORS LIKE COLONEL ARNIE FRANKLIN.

BORN IN SIMPSON COUNTY AND RAISED HERE IN BOWLING GREEN, I WAS A FIGHTER PILOT FOR THE 30 YEARS THAT I SERVED.

>> HE FLEW THIS F-111, CURRENTLY ON LOAN FROM THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE.

>> PEOPLE ASK ME, "WHAT'S IT LIKE?"

AND I SAY, "I WANT YOU TO CLOSE YOUR EYES AND THINK OF THE MOST FUN THING YOU'VE EVER DONE IN YOUR LIFE.

AND THIS IS 100 TIMES MORE FUN THAN THAT."

>> FRANKLIN'S STORY IS FEATURED INSIDE THE NEWER ADDITION TO THE PARK, A $2.5 MILLION, 12,000-SQUARE-FOOT MUSEUM THAT OPENED IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

>> I WAS VERY HUMBLE THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER ME WORTHY OF BEING ON DISPLAY WITH ALL THESE WAR HEROES.

>> PEOPLE LIKE ASTRONAUT TERRY WILL OF RUSSELLVILLE, WHO JOINED THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS AND FLEW FOR MISSIONS TO SPACE, AND WILLA BROWN OF GLASGOW, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO GET A COMMERCIAL PILOT'S LICENSE.

AND WHEN THERE WAS SEGREGATION BACK IN THE DAY FROM WORLD WAR TWO, SHE JOINED THE CIVIL AIR PATROL, STARTED TEACHING THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN-THE PEOPLE WHO WOULD FLY THOSE BEAUTIFUL RED-TAIL MUSTANGS, GUARDING THOSE BOMBERS THAT WERE GOING INTO BATTLE.

THE AVIATION HERITAGE PARK AND MUSEUM HONORS SOME 60 AVIATORS, INCLUDING THE RED RIVER VALLEY FIGHTER PILOTS ASSOCIATION, OTHERWISE CALLED THE RIVER RATS.

>> AND OUR MISSION REALLY, AS WE TELL THE STORY OF SOUTHCENTRAL KENTUCKY AVIATORS, IS TO LET EVERYBODY COME THROUGH HERE KNOW THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

OUR MISSION IS REALLY TO EDUCATE, INSPIRE, AND ENGAGE-WHATEVER THEIR ASPIRATION MAY BE, WHETHER IT'S PILOTING AN AIRPLANE OR ANOTHER HIGH ACHIEVEMENT, ENCOURAGING THEM TO REACH FOR THE STARS.

>> ATTACK YOUR LIFE LIKE YOU ARE A FIGHTER PILOT.

TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD.

YOU CAN'T LET ANYTHING STOP YOU.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU WANT TO BE, NO MATTER WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, IF YOU KEEP FOCUSED, IF YOU DON'T LET ANYTHING-DON'T LET ANYBODY-TELL YOU YOU CAN'T BE THAT AND JUST STAY FOCUSED, YOU CAN DO IT.

I'M A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE THAT WAS ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> COLONEL FRANKLIN'S SERVICE INCLUDED EXTENSIVE COMBAT EXPERIENCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND HELPING LEAD THE U.S. AIR FORCE PORTION OF THE 1986 STRIKE ON LIBYA.

YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT HIS STORY AND SO MANY OTHERS BY VISITING THE MUSEUM ON THREE SPRINGS ROAD IN BOWLING GREEN.

BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR STUDENTS IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC COULD BE BRACING FOR IMPACT AS A LEARNING CENTER THE IMPACT CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND INNOVATION IS EXPECTED TO OPEN NEXT YEAR TO GIVE KIDS CUTTING EDGE LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN AVIATION, A.I.

AND CYBERSYSTEMS, ROBOTICS, BIOMEDICAL INVACCINATION AND MORE.

OUR RENEE SHAW SPOKE WITH WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT, ROB CLAYTON ABOUT THAT AND HOW THE DISTRICT IS HANDLING THE GROWTH OF THE COUNTY IN EDUCATING KIDS.

>> SUPERINTENDENT THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME ON A BUSY DAY.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN SCHOOL AT THE TIME WE TALKED A WEEK OR SO.

AND I KNOW THAT JUST FROM WHAT I'VE READ ABOUT THE GROWTH OF THE STUDENT POPULATION IN WARREN COUNTY, YOU GUYS MIGHT BE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS.

TALK TO US HOW A LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICT IS AND HOW YOU ARE DEALING WITH AN EVERGROWING STUDENT POPULATION.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, RENEE FOR HAVING ME, I ENJOY SPEAKING EDUCATION WITH YOU.

BUT AS YOU MENTIONED WE ARE A GROWING DISTRICT WE HAVE GROWN EACH YEAR THIS BEING MY 13TH SCHOOL YEAR HERE AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING HITTING 19,000 STUDENTS THIS YEAR.

JUST FOR PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S ABOUT AN INCREASE OF A LITTLE MORE THAN 5,000 STUDENTS OVER THE LAST 12 YEARS SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.

BUT IN TERMS OF CAPACITY, OUR TEAM REALLY HAS ALWAYS TRIED TO FORECAST THE FUTURE ENROLLMENT, THE FUTURE GROWTH OF OUR CITY WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR PLANNING AND ZONING OFFICIALS AND OUR LOCAL LEADERS HERE ABOUT THE GROWTH IN WARREN COUNTY.

AND WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE WE CAN STAY OUT IN FRONT.

NOW, I WOULD HAVE TO SHARE THAT THERE WERE A COUPLE YEARS THERE THAT WE REALLY QUESTIONED WERE WE GOING TO BE IN A POSITION TO BE ABLE TO STAY OUT IN FRONT?

BUT WE HAVE.

AND THAT'S NOT TO SAY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS IN OUR HALLWAYS, BECAUSE WE DO.

BUT ALSO, THE MODERN FACILITIES AND THAT APPROACH IS REALLY HELPED US IS WHERE MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO, SOME OF THE FACILITIES WOULD REALLY BE CHALLENGED IN TERMS OF THEIR SPACE BECAUSE OF THE BUILDING DESIGN.

BUT, NOW, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A LIMITED CAPACITY IN EACH OF OUR SCHOOLS OUR NEWER FACILITIES CAN EXCEED THAT IF NECESSARY AS WE'RE TRYING TO PLAN FOR THE NEXT FUTURE SCHOOL.

>> YOU WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT CENTER AND HOUR LAURA ROGERS WHO IS EMBEDDED HERE IN BOWLING GREEN HAS DONE GREAT STORIES ABOUT THIS INNOVATIVE SCHOOL THAT I UNDERSTAND WILL BE THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND POSSIBLY IN THE WORLD.

SO TALK TO US ABOUT THE POPULATIONS OF STUDENTS THAT WILL BE SERVED AND WHAT KIND OF MAYBE SPECIALTY AREAS OF SKILL AND EDUCATION THEY CAN RECEIVE ONCE THIS BUILDING IS UP AND GOING?

>> WE'RE EXTREMELY EXCITED.

THIS IS A FIVE-YEAR LONG PROJECT BROKE GROUND LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO.

LOOKING FORWARD TO OPENING IT IN AUGUST OF 26.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SELF 12 CENTER.

>> Renee: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT WILL SERVE STUDENTS FROM SEVENTH GRADE THROUGH 12TH GRADE.

WHEN WE OPEN WE ARE ANTICIPATING A FULL CLASS OF 7-10TH GRADE AND OFFERING SELECT PROGRAMMING FOR OUR 11TH AND 12TH GRADERS SO THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED THERE.

BUT DUE TO THEIR STAGE BEING MIDWAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, WE FELT IT WAS BEST ALL FOR SELECT PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BE IN A POSITION TO TRY TO COMPLETE A PATHWAY.

THERE WILL BE FIVE ACADEMIES, WITH 18 ADDITIONAL PATHWAYS SO THAT'S AN EXCITING POINT FOR US.

I WILL SAY THERE'S INNOVATION CENTERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND WE'VE BEEN TO DOZENS.

WE HAVE WANTED TO SEE THE GREAT THINGS THAT WERE HAPPENING OUT THERE.

SOME OF THE NEW ANSWERS THAT SOME OF THESE NUANCES THAT SOME OF THE INNOVATION CENTERS WERE PROVIDING AND SO FORTH.

AND WHAT REALLY MAKES THIS UNIQUE IS THE LEADERSHIP PIECE.

LEADERSHIP WILL BE A FOUNDATIONAL ASPECT OF THE CENTER ITSELF.

AND SO WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR STUDENTS THAT TRULY WANT TO BE IMMERSED IN LEADERSHIP.

NOW, THIS OCCURS IN ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS.

WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE FOCUS THAT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF PUT ON LEADERSHIP KNOWING THAT IF WE CAN DEVELOP PROFICIENT EFFECTIVE LEADERS, WE TRULY FEEL THAT THEY WILL HAVE ALL THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

THAT IS WHAT EVERY MOM AND DAD GUARDIAN WANTS.

WE WANT THE SAME THING.

BUT I THINK THE LEADERSHIP AND THEN THE PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY LEADERS.

THEY'VE BEEN AT THE TABLE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

OUR BOWLING GREEN AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR ME TO SHARE HOW INSTRUMENTAL THEY HAVE BEEN IN THIS PROJECT.

AND WE MADE IT CLEAR FROM THE BEGINNING, RENEE, IT IS A COMMUNITY SCHOOL.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO PROVIDE A BENEFIT FOR OUR GREATER COMMUNITY.

>> Renee: HOW MANY KIDS WOULD BE SERVED EACH ACADEMIC YEAR?

>> RIGHT NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY A THOUSAND STUDENTS.

IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO GO UP TO 1500 STUDENTS AND THEN POSSIBLE EXPANSION IF NECESSARY.

WHICH I THINK, AS THIS DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW, THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE SOMETHING FOR DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT WE FEEL LIKE THE APPROACH THAT WE'RE TAKING HERE OF EASING IN THE 7TH-10TH GRADE AS FULL-TIME STUDENT ALSO HELP POSITION US TO BE IN A GREAT SPOT IN TWO YEARS WHERE WE'LL HAVE FULL CLASSES AT EACH GRADE LEVEL.

>> Renee: WE HAVE SEVERAL MONTHS OUT FEWER OUT FROM A BUDGETARY SESSION IN FRANKFORT WHERE STATE LAWMAKERS WILL CRAFT A BUDGET AND WE KNOW THAT ALL KINDS OF THINGS CAN SURFACE IN THOSE DISCUSSIONS.

WHAT IS ON YOUR WISH LIST?

YOU FREQUENT FRANKFORT OFTEN WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE A PLEA FOR?

>> FIRST, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE VERY PLEASED WITH THE FACT THAT LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION DID PROVIDE US ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SO WE'RE THANKFUL.

STILL BELIEVE WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO GOING BACK TO BEING ABLE TO ATTRACT HIGHER AND RETAIN THE BEST PEOPLE.

WE KNOW THAT COMPENSATION WILL ALWAYS BE A KEY PIECE TO THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CHAMPION THAT.

WE KNOW, AGAIN, IF WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE WORKING WITH OUR KIDS THE SUCCESS FOLLOWS.

THESE PROGRAMS AND OTHER RESOURCES ARE NECESSARY WE IMPLEMENT THEM.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR QUALITY IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO REST ON THE BACKS OF OUR PEOPLE.

AND SO WE WANT THE VERY BEST NOT JUST TO CERTIFY EDUCATORS HALF OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE NONCERTIFIED.

OUR BUS DRIVERS PLAY A TREMENDOUS ROLE IN ENSURING THE SAFETY SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL.

OUR FOOD SERVICE.

WE ARE THE LARGEST FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY IN OUR REGION.

LARGEST TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY IN OUR REGION.

AND SO WE NEED HIGHLY CAPABLE PEOPLE LOOKING AFTER AND TAKING CARE OF OUR KIDS.

>> Renee: WORRYING ABOUT THREATS WHETHER IT'S NOT AS MUCH FUNDING AS YOU THINK OR HOPE FOR IN THE SESSION OR JUST SOME CONCERN ABOUT THE TONE PERHAPS FROM WASHINGTON BEING MORE PERVASIVE IN TERMS OF HOW FRANKFORT LEGISLATORS OPERATE?

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT, THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT SOME OF THE RHETORIC WE HEAR OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY AND WHAT IMPACT WILL THAT HAVE ON OUR COMMONWEALTH.

AND FOR ME, IT COMES BACK TO OUR COMMONWEALTH IS UNIQUE.

AND OUR INDUSTRY IS UNIQUE.

I'VE ALWAYS SHARED THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF REVENUE.

BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S EXPENSIVE TO EDUCATE KIDS.

IT JUST IS.

AND THAT WILL ALWAYS BE AT THE FOREFRONT.

WE'LL ENCOURAGE OUR LAWMAKERS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HAVE ASKS AND WE GET THAT.

BUT WE'LL ALWAYS LEAN BACK WHEN IT COMES TO OUR CONSTITUENTS' NEEDS IT'S QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION, QUALITY HEALTHCARE.

AND THOSE TWO ARE BOTH ARE STRUGGLING.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUTTING THE RESOURCES THERE SO WE CAN ATTRACT THE TYPE OF PEOPLE WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF US.

>> Renee: IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU AND GOOD LUCK THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>> THANK YOU, MY PLEASURE.

[♪♪] >> LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF WARREN COUNTY AND BOWLING GREEN IN A SPECIAL ON THE ROAD EDITION OF KENTUCKY TONIGHT, RECORDED ON THE CAMPUS OF WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

THAT'S TONIGHT AT 8 EASTERN, 7 CENTRAL, RIGHT HERE ON KET.

[♪♪] THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR IS NOT ALL CORN DOGS AND GAMES.

YOU CAN GET SCREENED FOR HEALTH ISSUES WITHOUT STEPPING INTO A DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

HERE IS A LOOK HOW THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE IS GIVING KENTUCKIANS THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> U OF L HEALTH HAS A LOT OF GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND DIFFERENT SCREENINGS THAT YOU CAN DO FOR FREE.

THERE IS A BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK IF YOU ARE NOT SEEING YOUR PCP I RECOMMEND COMING IN TO HAVE THAT DONE.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT GROUPS DIFFERENT MEDICAL GROUPS THAT WILL BE HERE THROUGHOUT THE FAIR.

LIKE WE HAVE OUR HEP-C CLINIC AND CPR AND BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS.

HEPATITIS C IS A HUGE ISSUE AND THE BIG DEAL IS FOLKS DON'T KNOW THEY HAVE IT.

SO WHEN THEY START HAVING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS ADVANCED LIVER DISEASE IS WHEN THEY ARE GETTING SCREENED AND BY THEN YOU HAVE TWO PROBLEMS.

YOU HAVE CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER AND HEPATITIS C IT IS A VIRUS THAT LIVES IN YOUR LIVER.

WE ARE SCREENING FOR THE ANTIBODY.

YOU SCREEN FOR THE ANTIBODY AND IF IT'S REACTIVE WE SCREEN FOR INFECTION.

A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD NOT BE SCREENED FOR HEPATITIS C IF WE ARE NOT OFFERING IT AT AT FAIR.

IT IS A CURABLE DISEASE BUT YOU NEED TO GET SCREENED TO SEE IF YOU HAVE HEPATITIS C AND NO VACCINE FOR HEPATITIS C. WE DO LOTS OF EDUCATION.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A FUN THING WE'RE DOING CALLED AN INBODY SCAN IT IS A BODY COMPOSITION SCAN USING YOUR ELECTRICAL CURRENT IN YOUR BODY AND ANALYZES YOUR FAT, YOUR WEIGHT, YOUR SKELETAL MUSCLE MASS YOUR BMI AND TELLS YOU INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT YOUR HYDRATION LEVEL.

LIKE YOUR CELLULAR WATER RETENTION.

PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE BIT LEARY I DON'T WANT TO SEE I KNOW I'M OVERWEIGHT BUT IT SHOWS YOU YOUR MUSCLE MASS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO IT WILL ALSO TELL YOU MAYBE HOW MUCH BODY FAT YOU WANT TO LOSE OR MAYBE MUSCLE THAT YOU WANT TO GAIN TO GET IN A MORE OPTIMAL ZONE FOR YOUR WEIGHT, FOR YOUR HEIGHT, AND FOR YOUR AGE.

SO WE'RE DOING THOSE SCANS FOR FREE.

A LOT OF GYMS AROUND THE AREA HAVE THOSE ITEMS.

SOMETIMES THE A COST.

SO IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THAT.

IT MAY NOT BE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SEE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN PROVIDE YOU OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE.

[♪♪] TWO HISTORIC BATTLES, BECOMING A STATE PARK, AND THE FOUNDING OF A SEAFOOD CHAIN.

OUR TOBY GIBBS HAS A LOOK AT SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

[♪♪] >> KENTUCKY WAS HOME TO THE LAST MAJOR BATTLE OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

THE BRITISH AND AMERICANS CLASHED IN THE BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS IN PRESENT DAY ROBERTSON COUNTY ON AUGUST 19782, 10 MONTHS AFTER THE BATTLE OF YORKTOWN.

THE AMERICANS WON THE WAR, THE BATTLE OF BLUE LICKS WAS WAS A BRITISH VICTORY WITH KENTUCKIANS DYING INCLUDING ISRAEL BOON SON OF DANIEL BOON.

INCUMBENT FALLS CALLED THE NIAGARA OF THE SOUTH BECAME A STATE PARK IN 1931.

PRESIDENT TRUMAN PRESENTED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR TO COLONEL WILLIAM BARR BER IN 1952.

A CAPTAIN AND HIS COMPANY OF 220 MEN HELD OFF MORE THAN 1400 CHINESE SOLDIERS DURING SIX DAYS OF FIGHTING AT THE BATTLE OF THE RESERVOIR IN NORTH KOREA.

AUGUST 20, 1966, VICE-PRESIDENT HUBERT HUMPHREY DEDICATE THE BARK LAY DAM NAMED AFTER ANOTHER VICE-PRESIDENT KENTUCKIANS ALVIN BARCLAY.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LONG TIME U.S.

SENATOR JOHN SHERMAN COOPER OF SOMERSET BORN AUGUST 23, 1901.

THE FIRST-EVER LONG JOHN SILVER SEAFOOD RESTAURANT OPENED IN LEXINGTON ON AUGUST 18TH, 1969.

THE CHAIN WOULD HAVE A THOUSAND RESTAURANTS THERE WERE 385 AS OF EARLY 2025.

AND THAT IS A LOOK BACK AT THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY, I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH TOBY.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" TONIGHT.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US TOMORROW EVENING AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION."

WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]