♪ >> Is there any way for a noncitizen to be able to vote?

>> State lawmakers talk voting rights as Election Day draws near.

It's a hotline number that could save lives.

And now one group is making sure a Kentucky high school students know about it.

>> And not only allows us to practice our scales but allows us to kind of help within the community.

>> Nursing students from the University of Kentucky offer some hope for better health.

>> We want to make these kids feel special and get some attention and just feel like all the other kids in the barn.

>> Plus, giving those with special needs the chance to step in to the show.

Ring and the spotlight at the state fair.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Friday.

The TWENTY-THIRD of August.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for kicking off your weekend with us.

The general election is just 73 days away and Kentucky, 2 constitutional amendments are on the ballot yesterday.

We discussed amendment 2, which if passed could allow the Kentucky General Assembly to authorize public money for private schools.

Amendment one deals with voting specifically if passed, it would prohibit noncitizens from voting and state and local elections yesterday at a legislative meeting at the Kentucky State Fair state.

Lawmakers pressed election officials about whether it's possible for non citizens to cast a ballot in Kentucky elections.

Here's more from Kentucky additions Clayton Dalton.

>> The Kentucky State Fair is more than fine rides and fried foods.

It's also the venue for a few summer legislative meters.

State lawmakers from both chambers convened to discuss voting in Kentucky elections, particularly whether non-citizens can find a way to participate.

>> Is there any way that a non-citizen from your perspective and the process that you're involved and is there any way for a noncitizen to be able to vote?

From my perspective, not from your roles and responsibilities.

For me.

I wrote years was a billion to go actually not.

You have to have a Social Security number.

>> To be even entered into the vra system.

It's against the law to give a driver's license ID out.

>> Without being a citizen of the United Nations says, though, the Kentucky so Kentucky does have a law in place.

So for us when we say that drivers license come through, we we feel confident that that person is a resident of the state, Kentucky.

>> So you said driver's license, but there's also the ID as well.

And so is there a way for someone to get an in for them to use that for for the voter registration process?

It's just the same just from by knowledge, the same standard applies.

But I will say for for our county, most counties, I think we did a study that was 98% of the people that checked >> A further further ballot used their driver's license.

So that was by and large, the the most that we say is the Kentucky driver's license.

>> The line of questioning is tied to one of Kentucky's constitutional amendments that will be on the ballot this November.

Amendment.

One, if passed by the voters will explicitly bar noncitizens from voting in any state or local elections.

Some legislators worry there are loopholes in current law that could allow non-citizens to vote.

>> Green card holders who are here legally.

>> And I think everybody agrees ought to be able to drive and not to be able to have a Social Security number.

So they work.

They all have the.

So if you're relying upon driver's licenses or Social Security numbers, that's not an accurate representation of who can actually vote.

>> When you go to drivers licensing, if if they are putting in the prompt where you have your birth record documentation, you have documentation where you became a U.S. citizen that prompts a registration for voters to fill out the information.

If you're coming in with their green card or visa and that gives you the permission to drive on U.S. roads.

It does not.

The system will not prompt the driver's life or the voter registration card to come up.

>> If voters approve amendment one, Kentucky will join a growing list of states indirectly prohibiting noncitizens from voting in any and all elections for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Clayton Dalton.

>> Thank you, Clayton.

Testifying in a committee meeting earlier this summer.

Secretary of state Michael Adams, Kentucky's chief election official said in his tenure his office has, quote, saying no evidence that noncitizens have voted or attempted to vote in our elections, end quote.

The Democratic National Convention is over.

The tickets are set by Babij and Trey Grayson will join me in just a few minutes to discuss the campaign season ahead and we'll discuss national politics Monday night on Kentucky tonight with political leaders and consultants in both parties.

So join us Monday night at 8 Eastern 7 central right here on KET.

High School students in Kentucky will soon see something new in their schools, Kentucky right to life is distributing 300 awareness posters to every high school in Kentucky.

They made the announcement during a press conference yesterday at the Kentucky State.

Fair.

The posters promote Safe haven baby boxes.

Those boxes which are usually installed at fire stations, allow mothers to safely and anonymously surrender their infants.

Several lawmakers joined the group yesterday to discuss their efforts.

>> Mike isn't just about stopping abortion.

It is that to be sure.

But it's also about making sure that our mothers and our fathers, I know that they have other choices and that they have supports around.

It's about supporting foster care.

It's about supporting adoptions.

It's about making sure that our families are strong enough that they can raise healthy babies.

And if if, if they believe they're not in the communities around them and that we assist them in doing that.

>> You know, with House Bill 272, this gets at the schools, the authority and actually dictates that them that they need to put the 1, 8, 100 number for Safe Haven baby Box.

There's 257 boxes across the nation as of August 14 and 39 in Kentucky.

>> Thank you.

>> Nationwide, 50 babies have been surrendered in a safe haven baby box.

4 of those were in Kentucky.

2 in Bowling Green.

Time now to check in with some major political news over the course of the week with our favorites, Drag Racing and Bob Babbage to kind of break it all down for us.

Good to see a gentleman.

Thank you.

So we were once again, Kentucky on the national stage in terms of Governor Andy Beshear, who gave the opening night address dealing with mostly reproductive rights.

Hadley Duvall, who was a sexual abuse survivor, has become reproductive rights advocate and it was in the ad on his behalf in his own reelection last year introduced the governor.

And what do you make the most asked?

Bob first about?

The governor being on stage and really kind of taking ownership of this abortion rights position really digging in on it.

>> It may be kind of a turn from this state election days, too.

The bigger picture for him in the future.

In the most recent campaign, there was an issue but not always the top issue for a discussion of for emphasis.

So it was a change versus a look at it on time.

And there are other people taking other topic.

I want to read too much into it, but it certainly but the focus right there.

And that's that's a big question.

And Kentucky as well as all across the country.

It's on the ballot in a couple of states.

And essentially on the ballot everywhere with the presidential campaign.

>> And with the Democratic National Convention now over Republican convention was last month in July.

I was like a million years ago.

It seems like a million years ago.

And now we're coming up in a little bit on the Labor Day weekend.

Things are really going to take off right?

>> Yeah, you know it.

We're going to have some debate that's been think the Senate yesterday at 10.

And as we learned earlier this summer debates matter times, I think in this again, I think this cup coming will matter.

Democrats had a good convention, their own message to show what energy and enthusiasm unity.

They had a lot of good surrogates like like Governor Beshear vice president as an interview she's got time said, though, somebody like you she's got a good speech.

She's got a good message but a debate is totally unscripted.

So I think there's still some questions about her.

But she's that it's been a great I can't imagine if you're a Democrat.

I can't imagine he could have anticipated.

It would be this successful of a transition from that debate night with that performance and whether Biden would stand or not to the conclusion of the convention.

Yeah, I got a lot of people is going to get.

That's right.

Carol said yes.

And I think even Scott Jennings kind of said.

>> Similarly during the convention coverage because he's been a staple on CNN.

He said the law, he was a nice looks like he's having.

He was having fun ones.

And that's that's a good group together.

And you can tell that they respect each other, even though they may have differences of opinion in Kentucky.

University of Kentucky is shuttering the Office of Institutional Diversity, which is essentially the diversity office without really losing jobs of in the just reshuffling, folks.

This is in reaction to some of that push in the last session.

2 deal with dei programs and anticipation of that happening again and 2025, what do you make of other universities?

Public universities follow suit?

What it allows.

UK.

I think it's probably a smart move.

Given the likelihood of legislation because what it does allows on the set up an office the way they want to do.

How do you how do you address inclusion?

How do you address this economic differences?

>> And a way that maybe doesn't have as much of the negative connotations that dei has developed into it.

Your own way without the lets it you're reading a loss and now they've got this.

The Legislature storm to pass a law.

They have to contend with UK did this you kind of asked him to do is don't write a law that makes them change a thing.

So getting ahead, there are some advantages.

It will also be itching to see.

UK is often well as the leader when it comes to wash up universe.

Watch it right.

And so my suspicions will see other universities now do this since UK's gotten has done it.

They've shown a way to do it and it wouldn't shock me if over the next couple months.

We see more of these universities, reallocate offices, reallocate personnel to try to on the ultimate.

We need to get more people into universities and help those who are First Gen Z under represented to succeed.

And he's probably ways to structure those offices without some of those words and renaming an inning and the Senate.

What's and that's all they're doing.

No problem with this letter.

She will say.

>> Well, that's the that's the question last Bob Babbage.

Does that quell any kind of activism by the lawmakers next session since perhaps universities follow what UK is doing?

Well, this kind of nip that in the battle.

Do you think they're going to say, well, they're trying to get sand.

We've got an answer to that, right?

What's in a name?

A new name is Stephanie.

A changeover.

>> But the purpose is still the same for the university as trade.

So very well said.

>> How do you welcome first generation students?

How do you welcome the students who have other challenges or white to succeed in that great big environment?

That's what universities are supposed to try to do to retain and graduate at the same time, July very powerful business group in Louisville.

The chamber, essentially where members active members is putting a big emphasis on dei.

They're not renaming their conference.

They're not renaming their efforts and was a tell you big business.

All kinds of businesses are members of the chamber who are a little business that big business wants to KET the focus on attracting talent.

There is an ongoing war for talent to bring people in to attract younger people will has a lot of advantages for that.

That's been proven lately.

So does northern Kentucky for sure.

And Cincinnati, the region and Lexington's on fire in that way.

So this is more than just a simple conversation.

You can maybe analysts further by the legislature and a lot of questions to ask about what are you doing?

But the fundamental goals of the car to welcome all help of the successful and those are laudable goals we could all embrace.

I think.

>> And essentially UK's President Eli Capilouto said the very same thing, right.

And his video message, right?

He got roasted by our friend Marc Murphy is a Courier journal, one and some of those rules.

Powell on the same way.

Let's talk about school Choice Amendment number 2, which has been in the news a And the attorney general's office this week when they appeared the state fair for the interim Joint Committee.

>> Hearing they said, okay, we're drawn the line here between, you know, teaching and preaching.

Yeah, right.

Essentially, I think one of the lawmakers actually posed the I was like I was actually there and saw they were in an exchange.

It wasn't.

>> Because of the state fair, y'all didn't have to go to the market.

We didn't have a camera crew there.

Yeah, yes.

But not to broadcast a meeting and so is itching.

Conversations.

They released a statement saying you can't use taxpayer resources for about question that in itself is actually not all that controversial, but then they further added that every school district, the state actually adopted a policy similar to this, including Pulaski County, which is the district that very clearly put on their website.

But no one too.

So their chambers, Armstrong, us the question you know, try to clarify about could they offer data and information in a neutral manner?

And they say the say yes, but then the question becomes, how do you?

Frame that?

You had a very careful.

With with that.

But Christopher Thacker has been in office for a while meant reference in 1974.

AG opinion that they based it on a lot of us off of.

And so it's unusual for us to have to have a lot about him in any way, right, and something like this.

And that's that's the hardest race.

The hardest thing about my guess is the best way to describe it for this for this year.

And Preston County, credible controversy for us to write a while.

And it's not just because the show is a just a Democrat issue or a Republican issue.

This is sometimes rural urban.

It's very different.

When we talk about school choice is where we look across the state for sure.

It's going to seem like a U.S. Senate race.

Most our guests, November York, signs in the works.

>> About this.

But both of us having to the state Board of Elections and thought about elections.

A lot of trade continues to do that.

Work very well across the country.

Be careful as you're using resources.

Be careful.

There are plenty of ways to get your message out.

Teaching people.

Different methodologies are better ways to do things will avoid that controversy that issue should be about the issue, not about people are going about the issue to the governor, who is I think pretty articulate spokes a woman in opposition in some respects pay these tips to avoid that.

The governor's left by doing more national work.

She's used her official account of a couple of occasions for some tweets tonight.

I think that that promote violence the same world, she might need to know if she has an official account or personal account that she.

To be doing it there to avoid that kind of controversy or complaint?

Yeah, yeah.

A lot to follow them.

Sankar favorites for always doing such a good job of that.

>> Thank you.

You're our favorite that you see that every week and cutting.

>> The Kentucky Department for Public Health is expanding its partnership with Kentucky State University in Frankfort.

It's a win-win.

KSU students will be able to take part in a student internship program with the department and department staff will get tuition help and training at KSU Ks use President Dr. Kofi a Capo says the partnership will create new opportunities to benefit KSU students.

The public health workforce and the people of Kentucky.

About 50 senior nursing students from the University of Kentucky spent there Thursday afternoon providing health screening and education services to around 150 people at the Hope Center, as you're about to hear, it's a service that's rewarding for everyone involved.

>> We've had a longstanding relationship with the Hope Center and this is an opportunity to have our students perform service, which is so much a part of the role of the nurse.

And so everything just sort of came together and we're celebrating a proud tradition for nursing.

So we're providing service to a population that's near and dear to our heart.

>> I'm really excited to be able to screen people as well as teach them health promotion just because in my home town, it's pretty small on from Somerset, Kentucky.

And I feel like there's just not a lot known regarding h*** in general.

And any time you can kind of teach someone a little bit about their health and let them know, you know, this is how it would benefit.

Who is a really good thing for me.

I'm very thankful for the partnership we have with the Hope Center because it not only allows us to practice our scales but allows us to kind of help within the community.

And we're kind of taught in nursing school with the building block of, you know, nursing care is and that is health promotion and teaching your any day.

You're able to do that as a nurse is a really good day.

I feel like we're going to be in good hands.

I thank God.

This generation is coming along with new exciting ideas.

In fact, health care is the brainchild of Doctor Rice and Doctor Higgins to decide it was time to get back in the community forms and Sarah and their modeling that for their students.

So I couldn't be a better opportunity for us to provide some service.

>> It's deadly.

Great to start out with an event like this because I've heard through multiple other nursing students that this semester is definitely a harder one in to be able to started on such a positive note at the very beginning is definitely something that gets you through being able to kind of brush up on some old scales as well as just help out is right now to start the school year out on.

>> Indeed, this is the first year UK and the Hope Center have partnered to put on the health fair.

♪ For most.

The Kentucky State Fair is about fun for others.

It's about competition.

>> A program being offered at the fair is giving those with special needs the opportunity to step in to the show ring and experience both.

>> We really wanted to put an emphasis on our special needs individuals in the state of Kentuckyian had we get a greater participation this year than we've had in the previous years.

>> In the first year that we had this, we had 3 participants the next year 5, the next year 12.

We want to really see if we could expand this in such a way that it really made a difference in the community for special needs individuals and their families.

>> Back in the spring commissioner show reached out to us, told us about this wonderful opportunity at the state fair was showing shape.

We have never heard of it.

It's sort of news new to our purpose.

We wear year-round sports training and competition program.

We offer 15 traditional sports and when he met with us without me, what a great idea to offer an additional opportunity for our athletes to excel this year.

We had over 60 participants show up at the state fair and participate.

>> I'm to SA and staff.

>> Absolutely.

Yeah.

We first learned about the class last year.

We think it's an awesome event to really shine the light on kids with special needs and give them an opportunity to do it.

Every other kid gets to do a lot of times.

They kind of end up in the background and she loves especially to have the spotlight on Earth.

We want to make these kids feel special and get some attention and just feel like all the other kids in the barns, a lot of the kids that volunteer to bring sheet to the men today have never interacted with a special needs child.

So it's a good opportunity for them to see that just like them.

It's made a little bit different, but we do love them any less.

So I think it's great exposure for those kids and their families as well.

>> I worked with her.

She was she was lovely and see, really enjoyed.

Get nothing but hands on the land really working with the stock is and there is class was actually a lot of fun just bringing in a new kids and kids with special needs into the industry is really fun with it.

And to just see and experience to go out there with the lambs was really was really like a heartwarming.

I'd say it was really nice to see everybody just kind of all come together to show it lambs.

>> The first-year president was really scared.

She wouldn't touch to see.

And this year she was out there driving it around by the halter and being really aggressive with this.

They will get over this year.

Just give it a try.

Suppose into something new plans for its shows because probably the easiest best bonding animals just for them to bond with the kids.

It's very just amazing.

It crosses over what they were lessons they learned in sports.

You know, the the camaraderie, they have to learn patience.

They have to learn how to where you might in sports needed learn to work with teammates are now learning to work with an animal and they're learning to present that animal and just just really garner new relationships as well.

>> Good program.

You just heard Ed Commissioner Jonathan Shell talk about one of the youth program spotlighted at the Kentucky State.

Fair Shell also spoke with us last week about 2 other programs he says are giving young people the opportunity to explore a future and agriculture.

And as you'll hear, one of the programs led him to the job he has now.

>> Our youth organizations across state in Kentucky are extremely important for every culture.

4 H and FFA are embedded in every community in the state of Kentucky.

We also have the AG to program that we have in the state to wear that.

If you have a commercial license for Arab culture and you get that AG tag put on your vehicle, you can donate $10 to the AG Tag Fund.

A 3rd of it goes to for a 3rd of it goes to fade.

A 3rd of it too.

Kentucky Brown and the Department of Agriculture work on AG Education for children.

It's something we're really We actually broke a record this year.

We had the highest increase from year to year and the most money ever raised in that fund.

And we're really excited to be able to push that out.

They will continue to fortune is the greatest recruitment that we have in their culture for a next generation.

That's where those are our legacy organizations to where that we know that the next generation is being educated in understanding where their food comes from and our culture works.

And those are the next leaders in your community, whether it's they've been a part of a bank or whether they're part of the hospital or whether they're on the local farm bureau border, their teacher or farm or were we are graduating out of the F and for its programs being a member of the FFA was extremely important in the development of leadership for you know, some for most kids, it wasn't for me.

You know, speaking, there really was a fear of mine.

But for a lot of kids public speaking in front of people getting out of their comfort zone is a is an issue and you can't not do that.

And if they they push into the front line, get you out in front legis peak, get you comfortable those things.

And beyond that, it helps you learn how to work in a group setting getting consensus and working on issues.

Whenever you have a difference of opinion and really teaches leadership qualities that are going to impact them regardless if they go in agriculture or not.

If is one of the greatest leadership building in America and in Kentucky.

>> Before becoming AG Commissioner shall was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019 and served as House Majority leader.

♪ >> If you like a sweet honey, cold caves and hot air, you'll love what, KET, what Kentucky has to offer over the next week and KU to 2.

Our Toby gives as more and this look around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> A buzz on down to breath at county for the 2024 Honey Festival next weekend.

Downtown Jackson will be a hive of activity.

Check out the food and craft booths Honey festival parade and quote, show I the Levy will have a great time at this event.

It's already happened in Hopkinsville today.

The hop town Summer salute has started that it's not slowing down from free concerts to food trucks.

This family festival has everything you need for an end of Rock.

You don't want to miss it.

If you're looking to escape the summer heat consider crawling into the cold is cave in the Commonwealth.

Salt.

Peter K take part in the wild caving adventure and descended to the chilly cavern tomorrow interest.

It's bonkers should be prepared to get muddy, reservations required.

The Saint James Community Picnic is tomorrow afternoon in Elizabeth Town.

Cash prize raffles, chicken dinners and cake wheels.

A late picnic goers plus the evening will conclude with a fireworks show.

Come on out to this great summer event.

A pop punk rock flea market is happening in Richmond tomorrow and you want to be there.

This creative vendors live entertainment and totally rad food and drink options.

Be there or be square balloons are a sight to see.

But glowing hot air balloons are downright magical.

And people in Hopkins County at the chance to see them at the Madisonville illuminated hot Air balloon glow next Friday.

Enjoy the beautiful.

Just like a delicious food and even go up in the tethered balloon at this luminescent event.

And that's what's happening around the commonwealth on Tony >> Thank Youto begins some of the best first responders from around the globe are in Kentucky this week.

>> They're able to do the skills that most of us can do an 8 to 10 minutes they're doing in 2 minutes.

It allows them to see how far they can push their body no different than the Olympics.

This is their Olympics.

>> We'll take you to the firefighter Challenge League that's being held in Lexington.

That's Monday on Kentucky Edition, which we hope you'll join us for again at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

We hope that you'll connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook X and Instagram to stay in the loop of what's happening on K E t N Kentucky Edition, you can look for us on the PBS app on your smart device and phone and said it's a story idea at public affairs at KET Dot Org.

Thanks so very much for watching Kentucky Edition this week you have a great weekend ahead and we'll see you again Monday night.

Take a kid.

♪