[♪♪] >> DON'T GET TIRED OF HEARING ME SAY THAT BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHY WE ARE NOT BLACKTOPPING AND REPAIRING THE RURAL AND SECONDARY ROADS.

>> Laura: KENTUCKIANS ARE DRIVING MORE BUT FILLING UP THEIR TANKS LESS.

HOW THAT IS IMPACTING ROAD PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> DAYTON, OHIO AND THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, NORTH CAROLINA HAD KITTYHAWK.

KENTUCKY HAS [INAUDIBLE] >> Laura: HOW ONE KENTUCKIANS WHO EARNED HIS PLACE IN AVIATION HISTORY IS BEING REMEMBERED.

>> EVERYWHERE YOU GO YOU HEAR ABOUT A TRACK CLOSING DOWN AND YET KENTUCKY IS OPENING EVERYTHING UP THEY ARE LETTING US USE THE ROADS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN.

>> Laura: AND HOW THE MOTOR SPORTS INDUSTRY IS GAINING SPEED IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

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

[♪♪] >> Laura: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY EDITION" FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 19TH.

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

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SO YOU WILL KAD DESIGNER EXPAND IN ACCORDANCE IS NOW BANNED IN KENTUCKY.

GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR ANNOUNCED THE EMERGENCY DESIGNATION YESTERDAY.

IT IS A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE IN KENTUCKY THAT MEANS IT CAN'T BE SOLD IN THE STATE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN MAKE ARRESTS FOR SELLING OR POSSESSING THE DRUG.

THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION FOLLOWS A REQUEST BY KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN.

HE SAID PEOPLE ARE USING THE DRUG TO EXRET A VARIETY OF DISORDERS BUT ADDED IT CAN BE DEADLY WHEN COMBINED WITH OPIOIDS AND OTHER DEPRESSANTS.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS IT'S BEEN LINKED TO A GROWING NUMBER OF FATAL OVERDOSES IN KENTUCKY AND ACROSS THE NATION.

KENTUCKY IS NOW THE SIXTH STATE TO RECLASSIFY THE DRUG.

>>> FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS MAY ONCE AGAIN CONSIDER RAISING THE OCCUPATIONAL TAX TO DEAL WITH A BUDGET DEFICIT.

THE STATE'S SECOND LARGEST PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT ATTEMPTED TO RAISE THE TAX BACK IN MAY, BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN CALLED THE MOVE ILLEGAL SAYING THE SCHOOL BOARD FAILEDDED TO PROVIDE PROPER PUBLIC NOTICE BEFORE THE TAX VOTE.

LAST FIGHT, THE ABOARD APPROVED A MEETING FOR DECEMBER FIFTH TO DISCUSS OPTIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE DISTRICT'S $16 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL THAT COULD INCREASING THE TAX.

OVER THE SUMMER THE DISTRICT PUT TOGETHER A WORK GROUP TO EXAMINE WAYS TO INCREASE THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET RAISING THE OCCUPATIONAL TAX WAS THE LEAST FAVORED OPTION.

AMANDA MAYS BLEDSOE, A REPUBLICAN, REPRESENTING PART OF LEXINGTON IS CALLING THE DISTRICT'S CONTROVERSY QUOTE A CRISIS OF THEIR OWN MAKING.

AND A STATEMENT SHE ADDED QUOTE PUBLIC TRUST REQUIRES REAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE.

THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR FCPS MUST BE WRITTEN WITH TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY AT THE CENTER.

>>> KENTUCKIANS ARE PAYING SLIGHTLY LESS TAXES ON GAS SINCE JULY FIRST, THE STATE MOTOR FUELS TAX HAS DROPPED 1.4 CENTS PER GALLON.

LAWMAKERS AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS SAY THAT DECREASE PLUS INCREASED FUEL EFFICIENCY MEANS LESS MONEY FOR STATE AND COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS.

>> THERE'S ALSO THIS ISSUE OF CAFE STANDARDS, BIG PICTURE, LONG-TERM, U.S. CARS BECOME MORE AND MORE FUEL EFFICIENT OVER TIME OR AS THEY ARE PROJECTED TO BE SO, THEN THEY HAVE TO FILL UP WITH GAS LESS OFTEN.

WHICH MEANS THE DIRECT IMPACT AT THE PUMP.

SO THAT'S ALSO IMPACTS OUR ABILITY TO FUND OUR PROGRAMS.

>> MILES DRIVEN IS WAY UP, NOT WAY UP MILES DRIVEN CONTINUES TO INCREASE EVERY YEAR BUT USAGE STAYS THE SAME BECAUSE OF FUEL ADDITIONAL FUEL EFFICIENCIES.

SO I THINK WE'RE PAYING -- COLLECTING THE SAME ON OUR FOREMOST GENERATING THE SAME AMOUNT OF CENTS PER GALLON, 26 CENTS AS IN 2011.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> YOU WILL GET TIRED OF HEARING ME SAY THAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WHY WE'RE NOT BLACKTOPPING AND REPAIRING THE RURAL AND SECONDARY ROADS THAT WE SHOULD.

>> Laura: KENTUCKY'S ROAD FUND IS STILL HEALTHY.

TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS ARE POURING IN $61 MILLION IN SURPLUS ROAD FUNDING THIS PAST FISCAL YEAR.

BUT THE FUND'S REVENUES LAGGED BEHIND IN RECENT YEARS.

AND LAWMAKERS SAY INFLATION MEANS ROAD DOLLARS DON'T GO AS FAR AS THEY USED TO.

>>> ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES ARE BEING MADE IN KENTUCKY.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS PRODUCTION IS UNDERWAY AT THE BLUE OVAL SK BATTERY PARK IN GLENDALE.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES FOUR YEARS AFTER FORD AND BLUE OVAL AGREED TO INVEST $6 BILLION IN KENTUCKY MAKING IT THE LARGEST ECONOMIC INVESTMENT IN THE STATE'S HISTORY.

BLUE OVAL HAS TWO BATTERY PLANTS.

OPENING FOR THE SECOND PLANT WON'T HAPPEN NEXT YEAR AS PLANNED.

TOGETHER BOTH PLANTS ARE EXPECTED TO CREATE 5,000 JOBS.

TODAY LESS THAN 1500 PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED THERE.

>>> WE ALL KNOW THAT HEAVY ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION CAN CAUSE LIVER DAMAGE.

NOW, NEW EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT FOREVER CHEMICALS WORSEN THAT DAMAGE.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE, OUR CHRISTIE DUTTON SPOKE WITH TWO U OF L RESEARCHERS FROM THE STUDY ABOUT THE HEALTH IMPACT IN TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS.

[♪♪] >> HERE WITH US TODAY IS Dr. FREDERICK, AND Dr. KAY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

NOW, YOU BOTH WORK DIRECTLY ON THE STUDY FINDING THAT LINK BETWEEN FOREVER CHEMICALS AND ALCOHOL-RELATED LIVER DAMAGE.

DOCTOR, WHAT DID YOU FIND IN THIS STUDY?

HOW DID YOU TEST IT?

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

FIRST OFF, WHAT WE DID WAS USING ANIMAL MODELS, PLACED THEM ON ALCOHOL DIET, CONCURRING WITH EXPOSURE TO PFOS, A TYPE OF PFAS COMPOUNDS.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE SOMETIMES CALL THEM FOREVER CHEMICALS PFAS.

Dr. KAY, WHAT ARE FOREVER CHEMICALS AND HOW ARE WE EXPOSED TO THEM?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

SO FOREVER CHEMICALS ARE A CLASS OF LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF CHEMICALS.

SO THESE CHEMICALS WERE PRODUCED FOR A VARIETY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MAKE SCOTCH GUARD, TEFLON THINGS OF THIS NATURE AND MANY, MANY MORE USES.

FLAME RETARDANTS.

UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE COME TO CONTAMINATE THE WATER SUPPLY AND THE FOOD CHAIN AS WELL.

AND THEY ARE -- WERE USED FOR SCOTCH GUARD AND OTHER APPLICATIONS, BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGHLY RESISTANT TO DEGRADATION.

THEY DON'T BREAKDOWN THEY LAST FOREVER AND THEY GET INTO OUR BODIES AND LAST FOREVER.

>> THE FOREVER CHEMICALS IN OUR BODY.

DO WE ALL HAVE THEM?

>> YES, UNFORTUNATELY SO.

BUT WE CAN HAVE THEM TO A DIFFERENT DEGREE.

THERE'S THOUSANDS OF THESE, SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE THEM TO A HIGHER DEGREE THAN OTHERS.

AND RECENTLY, IT WAS SHOWN LEADING BACK TO THE STUDY, THAT FOREVER CHEMICALS THEY ARE IN DRINKING WATER AND SO YOU CAN LOOK ON-LINE AND SEE WHAT THE CONCENTRATION IS IN LOUISVILLE AND OTHER MUNICIPALITIES.

BUT THERE WAS A RECENT PUBLICATION THAT CAME OUT JUST BEFORE OURS THAT SAID KENTUCKY BEING A BOURBON STATE, IF YOU ARE MAKING IN THIS CASE IT WAS BEER, MAKING BEER IN A CITY THAT HAS PFAS CONTAMINATED WATER, THE FOREVER CHEMICALS ALSO CONTAMINATE THE BEER.

HOPEFULLY THAT DOESN'T APPLY TO KENTUCKY BOURBON BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

>> HOW MUCH WORSE DID DOES IT MAKE THE DAMAGE TO YOUR LIVER WHEN YOU ADD IN THE PFAS OR THE FOREVER CHEMICALS TO IT?

IS IT MORE THAN THE SUM OF THE TWO RISKS?

>> YES.

WHAT WE REALIZED WHILE ALCOHOL IN ITSELF IS A RISK FACTOR FOR ALCOHOL ASSOCIATED LIVER DISEASES, CURRENT CLINICAL DATA SHOWN THAT ONLY ABOUT 35% OF THOSE WHO MISUSE ALCOHOL HAVE SEVERE LIVER AFFECT.

SO THAT'S WHY WE WERE TRYING TO LOOK AT THE ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES, CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE OVERALL LIVER HEALTH DISEASE PROGRESSION.

AND WHAT WE FOUND WAS THAT ALCOHOL ALONE GENERATES A LOT OF FATS IN OUR LIVER, AND ALSO CAUSES LIVER DAMAGE WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF PFAS TOGETHER WITH THE ALCOHOL, IT'S EXACERBATED THIS OUTCOME OF HIGH LIVER FATTY COMPOSITION TOGETHER WITH LIVER INJURY, WHICH MAKES THE LIVER DISEASE EVEN MUCH PORE WORSENED.

>> OKAY.

NOW THAT WE KNOW THIS, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO WITH THIS INFORMATION?

HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?

>> SO, YOU KNOW THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON THIS AND OTHERS.

BUT, I THINK, IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT THAT DRINKING HAS BECOME A REALLY BIG PROBLEM.

AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

BUT I THINK AS YOU AND PROBABLY MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS ARE AWARE, BECAME MUCH WORSE IN THE PANDEMIC.

SO I'M A LIVER PHYSICIAN AS WELL AS LIVER RESEARCHER AND WORK WITH A TRANSPLANT TEAM AT JEWISH HOSPITAL.

AND WE'VE SEEN A BIG CHANGE IN THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF LIVER DISEASE.

AND MUCH MORE ALCOHOL-RELATED LIVER DISEASE THAN WEIGH USED TO WHEN I STARTED 20 YEARS AGO AND ALSO IN YOUNGER PEOPLE.

AND MORE WOMEN THAN WE USED TO SEE AS WELL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO DRINK IN MODERATION IF YOU DRINK.

AND WE'RE WORKING ON CONFIRMING THESE MOUSE FINDINGS IN HUMANS AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THEM PRELIMINARILY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

IT WAS A PLEASURE TO GET TO TALK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Laura: THE DOCTOR SAYS THE NEXT STAGE OF THIS RESEARCH WILL BE TO DETERMINE IF MEN AND WOMEN ARE IMPACTED DIFFERENTLY BY FOREVER CHEMICALS AND ALCOHOL-RELATED LIVER DISEASE.

[♪♪] >> TWO KENTUCKY COUNTIES TAKE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO DATA CENTERS.

OUR TOBY GIBBS TAKES A LOOK AT STORIES THAT ARE MAKING HEADLINES AROUND KENTUCKY.

[♪♪] >> THE FISCAL COURT STOPPED DATA CENTER DEVELOPMENT TEMPORARILY.

THE DECISION STOPS APPLICATIONS FOR 90 DAYS.

THE TRIMBLE BANNER SAYS DURING THAT TIME THE COUNTY WILL GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECTS.

AND DEVELOP GUIDELINES TO DEAL WITH THEM.

THE COUNTY'S CONCERNED THAT DATA CENTERS EMPLOY FEW WORKERS BUT USE LARGE AMOUNTS OF POWER AND WATER IN DATA PROCESSING AND STORAGE CENTERS.

>>> DATA CENTERS ARE ALSO A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION IN MASON COUNTY.

THE LEDGER INDEPENDENT REPORTS THE FISCAL COURT RECENTLY HEARD FROM TYLER McCUE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.

HE SAYS THE COUNTY IS WORKING WITH A FORTUNE 100 TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, BUT HE CAN'T REVEAL THE NAME FOR COMPETITIVE REASONS.

CONSTRUCTION ON THE CENTER WOULD MEAN A THOUSAND JOBS AND THE CENTER WOULD EMPLOY ABOUT 400 PEOPLE.

>>> BULLIT COUNTY IS THINKING ABOUT STARTING A EMS.

THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD VOTED IN FAVOR OF IT.

NOW, THE DISTRICT WILL TRY TO GET A STATE CERTIFICATE OF NEED.

THE CHIEF SAYS THE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE TO TAKE OUT A LOAN OR RECEIVE A LINE OF CREDIT OF ABOUT $5.6 MILLION ANNUALLY WITH PLANS TO PAY OFF THE DEBT IN FOUR YEARS.

PROPERTY TAXES COULD GO UP BY 10 CENTS PER $100 OF VALUE AS A RESULT.

>>> WITH HEADLINES AROUND KENTUCKY, I'M TOBY GIBBS.

[♪♪] >> Laura: EDWARD DUDLEY ROUND WAS AN ACCOMPLISHED BLACK HORSEMAN IN THE EQUINE INDUSTRY KNOWN AS A SUCCESSFUL JOCKEY AND TRAINER, TO AMPLIFY HIS LEGACY A LEXINGTON NONPROFIT WAS STARTED IN HIS MEMORY.

THROUGH EDUCATIONAL EVENTS AND INDUSTRY EXPOSURE, THE ED BROWN SOCIETY CELEBRATES BLACK FIGURES IN EQUINE AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS ACROSS THE NATION.

>> THE ED BROWN SOCIETY CELEBRATES THE RICH HISTORY OF THE EQUINE INDUSTRY PARTICULARLY IN THE THOROUGHBRED PORTION OF THE INDUSTRY AND AND WE ALSO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET THE EXPOSURE, THE EXPERIENCE, THE DEVELOPMENT, PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS INDUSTRY AND TO BE SUCCESSFUL REALLY, IN THE WORKFORCE AND IN WHATEVER AREA THAT THEY PURSUE.

>> I'VE ALWAYS HAD THE SIDE HOBBY IN EQUINE AT HOME.

I DO HORSE THERAPY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SO THE INTEREST WAS THERE.

AND SCHOOL WISE, I WANTED TO PURSUE A BUSINESS DEGREE SPECIFICALLY MARKETING.

SO I SET EQUINE TO THE SIDE AND THEN WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE PROGRAM, I WAS ABLE TO PUT BOTH THOSE THINGS TOGETHER.

I HAD A BACKGROUND IN SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT SO I WAS DOING A LOT OF GRAPHICS, AND REELS.

BUT WHEN I GOT TO CHURCHILL DOWNS WHERE I'VE DONE THE RESEARCH SIDE TO MARKETING, I'VE ABSOLUTELY LOVED WORKING IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

CHURCHILL DOWNS IS AN ICONIC SETTING AND THAT IS COOL TO KNOW THE WORK I'M DOING IS GOING TO IMPACT CHURCHILL DOWNS IN THE FUTURE.

>> MY GOAL COMING INTO THIS INTERNSHIP WAS TO LEARN ABOUT AMERICAN HORSERACING AND HOW THEY PROMOTE BRINGING IN A NEW GENERATION TO THE RACING INDUSTRY.

AND SO BY WORKING HERE, I HAVE LEARNED ABOUT HOW THEY TAKE THE VIDEOS AND HOW THEY PUT OUT ARTICLES, WHICH IS A LOT ABOUT BETTING AND HOW THE HORSES ARE DOING.

AND I ALSO GOT TO TOUR SOME FARMS AND STUFF AND JUST LEARN ABOUT THE BACKGROUND AND WHERE IT ALL STARTS WITH THE YEARLINGS ON THE FARM.

>> EVERY SEMESTER WE HAVE SPEAKER SERIES, STUDENT MEET UPS AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE THE SPORT FOR THEMSELVES.

WITH THEM COMING IN WITH MINIMAL EXPOSURE, WE DO THAT TO GET THEM EXCITED AND MOTIVATED TO UTILIZE THE SKILLS THAT THEY ARE LEARNING IN SCHOOL, TO THEN HAVE A CAREER IN THIS INDUSTRY.

SO WE BRING IN SPEAKER FROM THE INDUSTRY SO THEY CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN IT.

WE ALSO DO WORKSHOPS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY, NETWORKING, AS WELL AS MENTAL HEALTH TO DO A HOLISTIC APPROACH AND ENSURE THE STUDENT IS WELL ROUNDED IN THEIR PROFESSIONALISM.

>> I FEEL LIKE I'VE GROWN IN ALL ASPECTS EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE EQUINE INDUSTRY AND THESE ARE SKILLS I WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN YOU GET TO DEFINITELY OPEN UP YOUR HORIZONS TO NEW THINGS.

>> I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT FOR THE FACT OF EXPOSURE AND NETWORKING AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU HAVE AS A YOUNG PERSON THERE'S SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT THAT I NEEDED.

AND HAVING THE PROGRAM EVEN IF I DIDN'T GO INTO THE EQUINE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN FUNDAMENTAL FOR WHATEVER THE NEXT POSITION I WILL TAKE.

>> MY HOPE FOR THE STUDENTS IS TO LEARN AS MUCH AS THEY CAN, BE WELL ROUNDED SO THEY WILL BE EQUIPPED FOR FUTURE CAREERS.

>> WE WANT TO GIVE BACK AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT EVERYONE WHO WOULD WANT TO BE INVOLVED THEY LEARN ABOUT IT AND GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT EXPOSURE.

>> Laura: THE ED BROWN SOCIETY CURRENTLY HAS 25 STUDENTS PLACED IN INTERNSHIPS.

>>> ON THIS NATIONAL AVIATION DAY, WE WANT TO SHARE A SPECIAL HONOR GIVEN TO AN AVIATION PIONEER FROM KENTUCKY.

CAPTAIN BEE OSBORNE WAS KENTUCKY'S FIRST ARMY PILOT HE MADE HISTORY AFTER TAKING A PLANE FOR A TEST RUN DURING WORLD WAR I.

HE WAS HONORED IN AVIATION HISTORY.

>> DAYTON, OHIO HAD THE WRIGHT BROTHERS.

NORTH CAROLINA HAD KITTYHAWK.

KENTUCKY HAS BEE OSBORNE.

[♪♪] >> TODAY WE GATHER TO CELEBRATE A TRUE PIONEER, A PATRIOT AND A PERSON OF REMARKABLE COURAGE AND CONVICTION.

CAPTAIN BEE OSBORNE, THE FIRST AVIATOR IN THE HISTORY OF THE KENTUCKY NATIONAL GUARD.

IN 1917 HE WAS DEPLOYED TO TRANS.

HE AUM ZOOD THE ROLE OF CHIEF TEST PILOT AND COMMANDER OF THE 1106 SQUADRON.

>> HE IS ONE OF THE FIRST PILOTS THAT FLEW IN THE FOUR AIRPLANE WHEN IT WENT TO FRANCE TO BECOME PART OF THE WAR EFFORT.

HE TESTED THE AIRPLANES AS THEY ARRIVED AND HE CREATED THE ORGANIZATION THAT DID ALL THE TESTING OF THE AIRPLANES THATTEN WITH TO FRANKS.

NOW THE SIGNIFICANCE IS THE FACT THIS AIRPLANE IS THE FIRST COMBAT AIRPLANE THAT THE UNITED STATES CONSTRUCTED, BUILT, FOR AMERICAN TROOPS TO FLY, AMERICAN PILOTS TO FLY IN FRANCE.

NOW, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THESE AIRPLANES WERE LIKE IN WORLD WAR I.

THEY WERE WOODEN AID.

THEY HAD CLOTHE COVERS AND A LOT OF CASES AND THIS CASE THEY WERE MULTIPLE WING AIRPLANES AND PEOPLE HAD NOT DONE A LOT OF TEST FLYING TO KNOW HOW TO FLY.

HE BASICALLY HAD TO TEACH HIMSELF.

HE DID GO TO A SCHOOL.

HE WAS SELECTED TO DO A SPECIAL TRAINING AND TO BE THE FIRST PRODUCTION AVIATOR FOR THE KENTUCKY GUARD.

WE DIDN'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT FLYING AND WHAT THE SKILLS WERE.

HE WAS TAKING IT UPON HIMSELF, BASED ON THE TRAINING THAT HE HAD, IN ORDER TO DO THE JOB.

AND IT'S ALWAYS RISKY.

EVERY TIME YOU FLEW YOU WEREN'T SURE OF THE RESULTS.

>> HE WAS ONE OF THE RARE VISIONARIES WHEN FLIGHT WAS CONSIDERED DANGEROUS, EVEN FOOLISH BY SOME, BEE OSBORNE EMBRACED IT WITH A SENSE OF PURPOSE.

FOR OSBORNE AVIATION WAS A WAY TO SERVE, THE WAY TO DEFEND THE HOMELAND, TO ANSWER THE CALL OF DUTY AND TO ASPIRE A NEW GENERATION OF KENTUCKIANS TO BELIEVE THAT THE SKY WAS NOT THE LIMIT, BUT MERELY THE BEGINNING.

CAPTAIN OSBORNE DIDN'T INHERIT A LEGACY IN THE SKY.

HE CREATED ONE.

[♪♪] >> Laura: THE BACK ROADS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY COULD HELP PUT THE REGION THE PATH TO ECONOMIC GROWTH.

FUELING IT, THE MOTOR SPORTS INDUSTRY.

THE AREA HOSTS MOTOR CROSS AND RALLY CAR RACING EVENTS THAT DRAW BIGGER AND BIGGER CROWDS EACH YEAR.

AS WE EXPLAIN A NEW PLAN TO BUILD A STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING FACILITY MAKING EASTERN KENTUCKY A MAJOR HUB FOR MOTOR SPORTS.

>> SINCE 2023 THE BOON FOREST RALLY HAS BEEN DUSTING UP THE FOOTHILLS OF EASTERN KENTUCKY.

RALLY CAR RACING SEES TEAMS OF TWO NAVIGATE THROUGH ROUGH TERRAIN AT HIGH SPEEDS.

IT'S PART OF A GROWING MOTOR SPORTS MOVEMENT THAT IS GAINING POPULARITY IN APPALACHIA.

WITH THE ANNUAL BOON FOREST EVENT GAINS MORE COMPETITORS AND SPECTATORS EVERY YEAR.

>> YOU HEAR ABOUT A TRACK CLOSING DOWN AND KENTUCKY IS OPENING EVERYTHING UP AND LETTING US USE THE ROADS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN LIKE THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT IS FANTASTIC.

IT MEANS A LOT TO THE RALLY.

>> IN OUR AREA TOURISM IS ALL WE'VE GOT.

WE DON'T HAVE THE FACTORIES.

WE DON'T HAVE THE HISTORICAL LOCATIONS.

BUT WE DO HAVE BEAUTIFUL TERRITORY.

WE HAVE THE WOODS.

WE'VE GOT THE RIVERS.

WE'VE GOT THE DIRT ROADS AND WE'VE GOT THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR RALLIES RACING, KAYAKING, ANYTHING WITH OUTDOOR RECREATION.

I'VE SEEN AN INCREASE EVERY YEAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

I REALLY THINK THIS IS OUR TICKET IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> ACCORDING TO BACK ROADS OF APPALACHIA, THE NONPROFIT EVENT ORGANIZER SUPPORT FROM THE STATE'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND THE LOCALS, HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN KENTUCKY GAINING TRACTION IN THE MOTOR SPORTS INDUSTRY.

>> WE REPRESENT THREE STATES OF MOTOR SPORTS.

WE CHANGED BILLS AND LAWS TO MAKE MOTOR SPORTS MORE FRIENDLY.

LAST YEAR FOR $250,000 FROM STATE OPERATION BUDGET WE WAS ABLE TO INVEST IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY OF 92.6 MILLION AND BROUGHT 77,000 VISITORS INTO SPEND THEIR MONEY INSIDE OUR REGION.

WITH THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF RALLY CAR RACES IS $2 MILLION FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, KENTUCKY WITH BECOME A HUB FOR RALLY AND SNOT FOR SPORTS IN GENERAL AND IT'S EXCITING.

>> ANOTHER SIGN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS ON TRACK FOR BECOMING A HUB, THE AMERICAN RALLY ASSOCIATION AND BACK ROADS OF APPALACHIA ANNOUNCED PLANS TO CONSTRUCT A MOTOR SPORTS TRAINING FACILITY IN OWSLEY COUNTY.

>> BACK ROADS OF 'KA IN THE OVERLANDING TRIANGLE EFFORT HAS BEEN ABLE TO SECURE A PLOT OF LAND.

AND THAT IS GOING TO BE A HUB FOR SEVERAL MOTOR SPORTS ACTIVITIES.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GEARED TO DRIVER TRAINING.

THERE ARE THREE SUCCESSFUL DRIVER SCHOOLS FOR RALLYING IN THE U.S. AND I WANT TO A PLACE TO BE ABLE TO QUIETLY TRAIN ORGANIZERS, VOLUNTEERS, SAFETY PERSONNEL, YOU KNOW EXTRACTION OF VEHICLES, MARSHALLS ANYTHING AROUND RALLY.

AT SOME POINT, IT MAYBE USED FOR DRIVING INSTRUCTION.

>> HUBBARD AND OTHERS BELIEVE THAT THE FACILITY CAN BE THE KEY TO TAKING THE BOON FOREST RALLY AND EASTERN KENTUCKY MOTOR SPORTS TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

GROWING ITS FAN BASE AND THE REGIONAL ECONOMY EVEN MORE.

>> THE KEY TO BECOMING A NATIONAL EVENT IS THIS PROPERTY WE'RE ON.

TO HAVE A POWER STAGE WHERE WE CAN BRING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ON A CLEARED AREA WHERE THEY CAN WATCH THE FINAL PARTS OF THE RACE.

THIS WILL BECOME A DESTINATION FOR ANYBODY IN THE OFF ROAD INDUSTRY TO COME TO EASTERN KENTUCKY, AND SPREAD OUT TO OUR REGION AND SPEND THEIR HARD-EARNED MONEY.

>> Laura: THE FACILITY IS BEING FUNDED IN PART BY A $7.4 MILLION GRANT FROM THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION WHICH AIMS TO BOOST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION THROUGH MOTOR SPORTS AND ADVENTURE TOURISM.

>>> CONTESTANTS WEIGHED IN AT THE LARGEST PUMPKIN AND WATERMELON CONTEST AT THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR.

AND A COUPLE GROWERS ARE TAKING OUT PAYOUTS FOR PRODUCING RECORD-BREAKING GOURDS.

THIS YEAR'S CHAMPIONS A MASSIVE 1600 POUND PUMPKIN GROWN, IT SQUASHED LAST YEAR'S RECORD BY MORE THAN 480 POUNDS.

HE SAYS IT TOOK 64 DAYS TO GROW THE GREAT GOURD.

HE RECEIVED MORE THAN $3,000 IN PRIZE MONEY.

ALSO CARVING OUT A BLASE PLACE IN THE RECORD BOOKS A 258 POUND WATERMELON.

IT WAS GROWN BY NICK FROM HOGSVILLE IN OHIO COUNTY.

HE PICKED UP $500 FOR THE MASSIVE MELON.

YOU CAN FEAST YOUR EYES ON THE WINNING GOURDS AT THE KENTUCKY STATE FAIR WHICH RUNS THROUGH SUNDAY.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

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

WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

HAVE A GOOD EVENING.

[♪♪]