[♪♪] >> JUST LIKE WE DEVELOP INDUSTRIAL PARKS, WE USE, YOU KNOW, STATE AND LOCAL DOLLARS TO DO THAT.

WE MAY NEED TO DEVELOP BUILDABLE LOTS FOR HOUSING.

>> KENTUCKY NEEDS TO UP ITS HOUSING SUPPLY.

STATE LAWMAKERS AND LOCAL LEADERS SHARE IDEAS ON HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> IT IS A SURGE, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, THAT IS IT'S NOT AS HIGH AS IT HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT YET IT IS STILL A SURGE.

>> COVID IS BACK.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

>> THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON HERE IN KENTUCKY WHICH HAS NOT REALLY BEEN GIVEN DUE ATTENTION AND THAT IS MAPLE SYRUP.

AND MAPLE SYRUP LOVERS, YOU DON'T NEED TO VISIT VERMONT.

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

[♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO KENTUCKY EDITION FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 25TH.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> IT'S NATIONWIDE PROBLEM STEEP HOME PRICES MARKET RENTS MADE HOUSING OUT OF REACH FOR MANY.

THE KENTUCKY AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONFERENCE IN COVINGTON DISCUSSED WAYS TO ACCELERATE THE HOUSING SUPPLY.

AS OUR EMILY SISK REPORTS STATE LAWMAKERS AND HOUSING LEADERS SAY IT MAYBE TIME FOR KENTUCKY TO SPEND GOVERNMENT DOLLARS TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE.

>> WE FEEL LIKE THE MOST ESSENTIAL ISSUE IN HOUSING IS SUPPLY.

>> THE KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION IS WARNING THE STATE THAT IT'S CRUNCH TIME TO BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.

DATA SHOWS THAT KENTUCKY NEEDS MORE THAN 200,000 NEW HOMES TO MEET GROWING POPULATIONS.

WENDY SMITH IS THE KENTUCKY HOUSING CORPORATION'S DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING PROGRAMS.

SHE EXPLAINED HOW THE STATE'S LACK OF HOUSING IS TRICKLING DOWN THE EFFECTS ON RESIDENTS.

>> WHAT YOU HAVE IS FOLKS ARE RENTING WHO WOULD LIKE TO BUY.

AND THEY'RE RENTING A UNIT THAT SOMEONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO RENT, BUT THEY'RE HAVING TO RENT MAYBE A SLIGHTLY LESS DESIRABLE UNIT AND SO ON.

AND THE FOLKS THAT GET PRESSURED OUT OF HOUSING OR INTO HOUSING THEY CAN'T AFFORD ARE THE FOLKS WITH THE LOWEST INCOMES OR OTHER BARRIERS TO KEEPING THEIR HOUSING.

>> STATE LEGISLATORS ON THE HOUSING TASK FORCE SPOKE TO CONFERENCE ATTENDEES, EXPLAINING THEIR PROGRESS.

CO-CHAIR AND SENATOR ROBBY MILLS SAID THERE'S AN ONGOING DEBATE WITHIN THE STATE GOVERNMENT ABOUT THEIR INVOLVEMENT.

>> OUR BIGGEST HURDLE IS JUST A DOLLARS AND CENTS HURDLE, AND GETTING PAST THE PHILOSOPHICAL DEBATE OF HOW MUCH SHOULD GOVERNMENT BE IN ON INCENTIVIZING HOUSING.

>> REPRESENTATIVE SUSAN WITTEN IS THE OTHER TASK FORCE CO-CHAIR.

SHE SAID THEY'RE LOOKING AT HOUSING LEGISLATION IN THREE DIFFERENT SECTORS.

>> THERE'S ZONING BILLS, THERE'S KIND OF BUILDING REGULATION BILLS AND THEN THERE'S FUNDING BILLS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN EXPLAINED ONE OF THE HOUSING BILLS SHE'S ACTIVELY WORKING ON.

>> MOST OF THE SOLUTIONS WE'VE IDENTIFIED NEED TO BE ON THE SUPPLY SIDE.

WE HAVE A SUPPLY ISSUE.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN KIND OF TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS CRISIS AND FIX.

I'M WORKING ON A BILL THAT DEALS WITH EVICTIONS THAT IS GOING TO SEAL EVICTION, EVICTION RECORDS.

I THINK THAT TIES INTO THE HOUSING ISSUE SO MUCH.

>> SENATOR GERALD NEAL IS ONE OF TWO DEMOCRATS ON THE HOUSING TASK FORCE.

HE VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT MAKING SURE HOMELESS POPULATIONS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE INCLUDED IN SOLUTIONS.

>> I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE A MINDSET THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SOLUTIONS, AND IT'S NOT JUST A SECTOR.

>> WHEN ASKED IF IT'S TIME FOR STATE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND SPEND MONEY ON HOUSING, SMITH HAD THIS TO SAY.

>> WE'RE NEEDING TO VIEW HOUSING AS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TOOL, AND JUST LIKE WE DEVELOP INDUSTRIAL PARKS, WE USE, YOU KNOW, STATE AND LOCAL DOLLARS TO DO THAT.

WE MAY NEED TO DEVELOP BUILDABLE LOTS FOR HOUSING TO RUN ALONGSIDE THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> SENATOR MILLS EXPRESSED A SIMILAR POSITION.

HE SAID THE STATE HAS BEEN CONSERVATIVE WITH ITS BUDGET RESERVE FUND, AND NOW MAY BE THE TIME TO LOOSEN THE PURSE STRINGS.

>> I REALLY THINK THAT INCENTIVIZING HOUSING SUPPLY IS ONE OF THOSE TOP ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO SPEND SOME MONEY ON.

>> THE TASK FORCE WILL CONTINUE LOOKING AT SOLUTIONS AS THEY APPROACH A BUDGET YEAR IN THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

FOR KENTUCKY EDITION, I'M EMILY SISK.

>> REPRESENTATIVE WITTEN SAID SHE WILL PRESENT HER PROPOSED BILL ON SEALING EVICTION RECORDS TO AN INTERIM JOINT COMMITTEE SOON.

>> STICKING WITH POLITICS... WE DON'T KNOW WHO WILL BE ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATE FROM KENTUCKY IN 2026.

BUT WE KNOW THIS....

SENATOR RAND PAUL WILL BECOME KENTUCKY'S SENIOR U.S.

SENATOR....

IN JANUARY OF 2027.

HE TALKED ABOUT THAT... WITH THE COURIER JOURNAL.

>> PAUL SAYS HE MIGHT SPEAK WITH A LOUDER VOICE, AS THE STATE'S SENIOR SENATOR.

HE SAYS HE DOESN'T SEE HIMSELF RUNNING FOR A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE SENATE.... BECAUSE HE DISAGREES WITH BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ON SOME ISSUES, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL DEBT.

>> COVID-19 IS ON THE RISE IN KENTUCKY.

CASES HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED SO FAR THIS MONTH COMPARED TO JULY, ACCORDING TO NEW DATA FROM THE KENTUCKY CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

CHRISTIE DUTTON SPOKE TO A PHYSICIAN WHO SPECIALIZES IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE TO FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING THE INCREASE AND TO HELP PUT THE NUMBERS INTO PERSPECTIVE.

MORE IN TODAY'S MEDICAL NEWS.

>> JOINING US TODAY IS MARK BURNS FROM U OF L HEALTH THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

COVID CASES IN KENTUCKY THEY ARE SURGING RIGHT NOW.

IS THAT TYPICAL?

WHAT IS CAUSING THAT?

>> IT IS TYPICAL TOWARD THE SUMMER ESPECIALLY WHEN IT GETS REALLY, REALLY HOT.

THE KEY IS, THOUGH, IT IS A SURGE RELATIVELY SPEAKING.

THAT IS IT IS NOT AS HIGH AS IT HAS BEEN IN PREVIOUS YEARS BUT YET, IT IS STILL A SURGE.

>> OKAY WITH THE SURGE OF COVID CASES, WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS STRAIN?

ARE THEY DIFFERENT FROM ONE'S PREVIOUSLY?

>> NO REAL DIFFERENCE YOU HAVE THE FLU TYPE SYMPTOMS, FEVER, CHILLS, MALAISE, MUSCLE ACHES AND SORE THROAT.

>> IF YOU DO TEST POSITIVE IT'S TOO LATE TO GET A COVID SHOT?

>> A COVID SHOT.

YES, HOWEVER THERE ARE ANTIVIRALS THAT ARE AVAILABLE THE TWO MAJOR ONES THE PAXLOVID AND [INAUDIBLE] THOSE ARE STILL AVAILABLE AND, AGAIN, BY CONTACTING YOUR PRIMARY CARE GETTING GUIDANCE AND THEY CAN WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS FOR THE ANTIVIRALS.

>> NOT EVERYBODY MAY NEED THAT.

>> NOT EVERYBODY MAY NEED IT.

AGAIN, YOU HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED SO THEY MAY NOT BE PROTECTED.

IT'S TOO LATE FOR A COVID SHOT PER SE.

AGAIN, THE ANTIVIRALS ARE AVAILABLE.

>> AND FOR THE REST OF US WHO ARE NOT SICK RIGHT NOW OR YET IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR A SHOT.

DOES THE SHOT PROTECT AGAINST THIS STRAIN THAT IS GOING AROUND?

>> YES.

THE LATEST VACCINE DOES PROTECT AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR STRAIN OF COVID.

THE LATEST ONE IS CALLED THE NB1.8.1.

THAT COMPRISES 43% OF ALL THE CASES ACROSS THE U.S. AND, YES, THE PREVIOUS COVID VACCINE DOES PROTECT AGAINST THAT.

>> GOOD.

AND HOW LONG DOES THE SHOT LAST?

HOW LONG ARE YOU PROTECTED IF YOU GET THE SHOT?

>> IN GENERAL, YOUR IMMUNITY STARTS TO WANE AFTER FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS.

AND THEN WHICH IS ANOTHER REASON WHY DURING THE SUMMERTIME, YOU MAY SEE A SLIGHT UPTICK.

BECAUSE PEOPLE WHO GOT THEIR VACCINE IN THE FALL BY THE TIME THE SUMMER ROLLS AROUND THEY ARE AT THE LOWEST POINT OF PROTECTION WITH THE VACCINE.

AND THE IDEA NOW IS GOING TO BE THAT JUST AS YOU GET A YEARLY FLU SHOT, YOU KNOW, DURING THE BEGINNING OF FLU SEASON, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, YOU SHOULD BE ALSO BE GETTING A COVID SHOT AS WELL, TOO.

>> Dr. MARK BURNS THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND HELPING US STAY HEALTHY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND THANK YOU, CHRISTIE.

THE C.D.C.

REVISED GUIDELINES.

UNDER THE NEW GUIDELINES PEOPLE WILL NOT NEED TO ISOLATE IF THEY ARE FEVER FREE FOR 24 HOURS WITHOUT MEDICATION AND IF THEIR SYMPTOMS ARE MILD AND IMPROVING.

>> TONIGHT ON KET... A NEW FORUM IN OUR NEXT CHAPTER SERIES...

CENTERED ON KENTUCKY'S AGING POPULATION.

IN REWIRE... NOT RETIRE... WE FOCUS ON OLDER WORKERS.

LAURA ROGERS SPOKE TO A BOWLING GREEN MAN WHO RE-ENTERED THE WORKFORCE IN HIS 60S... AND WE VISIT AUDUBON AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES IN OWENSBORO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT HELPS SENIORS FIND AND KEEP EMPLOYMENT.

>> WE'RE DOING WORK THAT IS REALLY HELPING PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR LIVES.

>> BUT IT'S WORK THAT HAROLD BUCY ALMOST DID NOT PURSUE.

I HADN'T WORKED IN SO LONG.

I HAD SO MUCH ANXIETY ABOUT WOULD I BE ABLE TO DO IT.

CAN I LEARN THE COMPUTER?

AND IT'D BEEN SO LONG SINCE I'D DONE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> HAROLD HAS DRAWN SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE SINCE 2009.

>> SO I HAD THAT ANXIETY TOO, ABOUT, WILL I LOSE MY DISABILITY.

I CAN EARN SO MUCH EACH MONTH.

I DON'T EARN OVER THAT.

>> THAT WAS SIX YEARS AGO AND BUCY HAD BEEN OUT OF THE WORKFORCE SINCE 2005.

BUT HE TOOK A CHANCE, TURNING HIS VOLUNTEER ROLE INTO A PART TIME PAID POSITION AT HOTEL INC.

IT'S BEEN LIFE AFFIRMING AND LIFE CHANGING FOR ME EVER SINCE.

IN HIS ROLE AS A NAVIGATOR, HAROLD MEETS WITH PEOPLE TYPICALLY IN POVERTY OR CRISIS, AND HELPS THEM WITH CRUCIAL NEEDS LIKE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT.

>> AND TO SEE THEM BECOME HOUSED OR GET A JOB OR START MEDICATION AND JUST SEE HOW WELL THEY DO CONSISTENTLY YEAR AFTER YEAR.

BY FAR THE MOST REWARDING THING I'VE EVER DONE.

>> THERE ARE RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE LIKE HAROLD TOO, INCLUDING THE SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, WHICH FALLS UNDER THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

>> IT IS FOR OLDER AMERICANS AND IT'S AUTHORIZED UNDER THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT.

>> SCSEP IS A COMMUNITY SERVICE AND WORK BASED JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME UNEMPLOYED SENIORS.

>> THEY GET SOME PAY AND THEY ARE LEARNING NEW JOB SKILLS AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM FIND LONG TERM PLACEMENT.

>> PARTICIPANTS MUST BE 55 OR OLDER, CURRENTLY UNEMPLOYED, BE AT 125% OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL AND HAVE CHALLENGES FINDING AND KEEPING A JOB DUE TO THEIR AGE, LACK OF SKILLS OR OTHER BARRIERS.

>> OUR GOAL IS TO GET YOU THOSE SKILLS THAT YOU NEED TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE.

WE'RE GOING TO HELP THEM WITH RESUME WRITING, WITH SKILLS, CERTIFICATES AND TRAINING.

>> HEATHER YEISER SAYS THE BENEFITS FOR OLDER WORKERS GO BEYOND EARNING A PAYCHECK.

>> FOR SENIORS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY STAY ACTIVE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO THEY'RE GETTING A SOCIAL ASPECT, THEY'RE GETTING A PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ASPECT THAT INCREASES THEIR WELL-BEING.

IT MAKES THEM FEEL BETTER, LOWERS DEPRESSION.

>> MY CONFIDENCE IS BACK, TOO.

>> HAROLD, WHO'S 66, AGREES WITH HEATHER'S ASSESSMENT.

>> I'VE PROBABLY EXPANDED MY LIFE EXPECTANCY BECAUSE I'M ACTIVE.

I WALK EVERY DAY.

I'M AVERAGING 16,000 STEPS A DAY.

MY OUTLOOK ON LIFE CHANGED WHEN I STARTED VIEWING MYSELF DIFFERENTLY.

>> IT'S ALSO BENEFICIAL FOR THE EMPLOYER.

THE SENIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM WORKS WITH NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, HELPING THOSE HOST AGENCIES PROVIDE NEEDED SERVICES.

>> A LOT OF THESE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, DESPERATELY NEED PEOPLE TO WORK TO FILL IN THAT GAP WHERE THEY NEED ADDITIONAL PEOPLE.

>> WITH AGE COMES WISDOM, AND OLDER WORKERS BRING A LOT OF ADVANTAGES TO THE WORKPLACE.

THEY'RE TIMELY, THEY'RE PROMPT, THEY'RE RESPECTABLE, THEY'RE PROFESSIONAL.

THEY DO WHAT THEY'RE ASKED TO DO.

THEY'RE EAGER TO LEARN.

>> HAROLD SAYS HE ENJOYS WORKING IN AN INTERGENERATIONAL OFFICE.

>> WHAT I CAN OFFER IS LIFE EXPERIENCE AND THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN AND BEEN THROUGH.

SO IT'S A GREAT MARRIAGE OF HAVING THE YOUNG AND THE OLD TOGETHER.

>> THOUGH HE'S NOT A SCSEP PARTICIPANT, FINDING HIS POSITION THROUGH HIS LOCAL CHURCH, HE CALLS THEIR SUPPORT AND SERVICES VITAL.

>> TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT ARE 55 OR OLDER THAT THEY STILL MATTER, THAT THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS YOU CAN DO.

YOU HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE.

FOR KENTUCKY EDITION I'M LAURA ROGERS.

>> AUDUBON AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES CURRENTLY HAS 24 PARTICIPANTS IN 13 COUNTIES ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM.

WORKERS CAN STAY ON THE JOB 48 MONTHS• BEFORE TRANSITIONING INTO LONG-TERM EMPLOYMENT.

WORKERS AGES 75 AND OLDER ARE THE FASTEST-GROWING AGE GROUP IN THE WORKFORCE.

THE REASONS... LONGER LIFE EXPECTANCY, BETTER HEALTH, LESS PLUSH RETIREMENT PLAN OFFERINGS BY EMPLOYERS, AND POLICY CHANGES THAT HAVE DISCOURAGED EARLY RETIREMENT SUCH AS RAISING THE AGE FOR FULL SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

A COLORADO-BASED ANTI-AGEISM ACTIVIST WHO ADVOCATES FOR AGE-FRIENDLY WORKPLACES TALKED WITH ME ABOUT THE MYTHS AND STEREOTYPES OLDER THAT BOTH EMPLOYERS AND OLDER WORKERS FALSELY ASSUME AS TRUTH.

>> I WILL TALK ABOUT TWO IF PARTICULAR THAT IRRITATE ME.

ONE OF THE WORKSHOPS I DO IS CALLED TEAR UP THE GENERATIONAL CHART.

AND SOMEHOW OUR AGE DEFINES HOW WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE, WHETHER WE'RE WILLING TO LEARN OR NOT.

AND IT IS NOT TRUE.

THERE IS THAT OUTDATED STEREOTYPE OLDER ADULTS AREN'T WILLING TO LEARN.

AND THAT IS DEFIED NOT ONLY BY THE RESEARCH AND YOU LOOK AT THE GROWTH OF ADULT LEARNING AND THE NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE DOING SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE AGED 50 AND OVER AND THAT ARE BEING EMBRACED, OF COURSE PEOPLE WANT TO.

ANOTHER IS THAT MYTH OF GENERATIONAL CONFLICT THAT SOMEHOW WE CAN'T GET ALONG IN THE WORKFORCE AND ONE OF THE THINGS I KNOW WITH MY WORK WITH EMPLOYERS I'M BROUGHT IN BECAUSE SOMEBODY BELIEVES WE'VE GOT MULTIPLE GENERATIONS IN THE WORKFORCE AND IF WE JUST SHOW A GENERATIONAL CHART THAT WILL HELP US AND THE GENERATIONAL CHART SAYS STUPID THINGS LIKE BOOMERS ONLY WANT TO TALK ON THE JOAN AND GEN Z DOESN'T WANT TO TALK AT ALL.

AND THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN WE DO WANT TO WORK TOGETHER AND ALL PEOPLE OF ANY AGE WANT THE SAME THING.

WE ALL WANT MEANING AND PURPOSE WE ALL WANT FAIR COMPENSATION.

WE ALL WANT OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW IN THE WORKPLACE AND WE ALL I WILL SAY THIS, WE ALL WANT A BOSS IS NOT A JERK.

WE WANT TO BE SURROUNDED WORKPLACE WHERE WE CAN THRIVE AND THAT HAS NO GENERATIONAL LABEL ATTACHED TO IT.

A LOT OF THE MYTHS ARE NOT TRUE AND THAT'S WHAT I ENJOY THE MOST IS TALKING TO EMPLOYERS HOW YOU CAN ACTUALLY SLED THOSE CHARTS AND BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO GET THE BENEFITS OF INTERGENERATIONAL TEAMS.

>> GOOD ADVICE THERE.

WE EXPLORE HOW THE NEUROSCIENCE OF WORKING IN YOUR LATTER YEARS AND HOW TO ACHIEVE WHAT'S CALLED THE FLOW STATE.

THAT AND SO MUCH MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN USE ON REWIRE NOT RETIRE: A NEXT CHAPTER FORUM AT 8 EASTERN, 7 CENTRAL ON KET AND ONLINE AT KET-DOT-O-R-G. [♪♪] >> THE 11TH ANNUAL SOAR SUMMIT BEGINS TOMORROW IN CORBIN.

HOSTED BY THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SHAPING OUR APPALACHIAN REGION... OR SOAR...

THE EVENT IS FOCUSED ON FINDING WAYS TO BRING ECONOMIC GROWTH, INNOVATION, AND OPPORTUNITY TO EASTERN KENTUCKY.

WE RECENTLY SPOKE WITH COLBY HALL, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOAR, ABOUT WHAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO THE SUMMIT AND HOW IT HAS INSPIRED CHANGE IN RURAL AREAS OUTSIDE KENTUCKY.

>> IT'S SUCH A INTERESTING DIVERSE MIX OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE SUMMIT EVERY YEAR.

IT'S BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, PUBLIC SECTOR AND POLICYMAKERS, IT'S STUDENTS, YOUNG PEOPLE.

IT'S CONCERNED CITIZENS.

IT'S A REAL MIX AND THE UNIFYING PART IS THAT PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT EASTERN KENTUCKY THAT WANT IT TO BECOME A BETTER VERSION OF ITSELF.

THAT WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS PLACE WHERE THEY ARE FROM THAT WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR A TALENT.

THAT WANT IT TO BE A PLACE WHERE OPPORTUNITY COMES AND IT CAN GROW AND DEVELOPMENT I THINK AT A HIGH LEVEL IT'S PEOPLE THAT JUST CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS AND THE ISSUES THAT IT FACES AND THEY SEE VALUE IN COMING AND SPENDING A DAY, TWO DAYS, THREE DAYS WHATEVER THEY CAN TO LISTEN TO IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS AND NETWORK, TO BE ABLE TO SHARE.

AND DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS.

RIGHT?

I MEAN, WE LIVE IN A VIRTUAL WORLD TODAY WHERE IT'S SO EASY TO SIT ACROSS ON A COMPUTER SCREEN AND TALK WHICH IS GREAT IT HAS A LOT OF BENEFITS.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN SOMEBODY CONSTITUTE FOR ALL BEING IN THE ROOM TOGETHER AND IDEAS AND FEELING THAT ENERGY THAT UNSTRUCTURED NETWORKING THAT COMES WITH EVENTS LIKE THIS.

THE EVENT ITSELF THAT TO ME IS THE MOST PROBABLY VALUABLE THING IS JUST GETTING EVERYBODY IN THAT ROOM.

I MEAN, IT MAY SOUND SIMPLE BUT GIVEN THE VENUE AND THE OPPORTUNITY AND SOME OF THE INITIAL CATALYST.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING WE BRING TO THE MASSES AND TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THERE.

WHEN I LOOK AT OUR ATTENDANCE, IT GROWS EVERY YEAR AND WE ALWAYS HAVE AROUND 30-40% OF FIRST TIME ATTENDEES AND WE SEE THE PEOPLE COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THAT IS PROOF ENOUGH THAT LIKE WE'RE SETTING THE STAGE AND WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS TO BRING THE RIGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE IT'S SOMETHING WORTH THEIR TIME AND WORTH THE INVESTMENT TO BE THERE THAT THEY GET SOMETHING OUT OF IT AND FEEL LIKE IT'S GOOD FOR THE REGION.

WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE GOOD COMMUNITY BUY IN YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT FOR THE EVENT.

AS WE SEE OUR NATIONAL AUDIENCE GROW AND MORE PEOPLE COMING FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN AREAS LIKE EASTERN KENTUCKY, THAT REPRESENT RURAL PARTS OF AMERICA OR PARTS OF AMERICA THAT HAVE ALSO BEEN HIT HARD AS THE ECONOMY HAS SHIFTED AND CHANGED AND HAVING DOMINANT INDUSTRIES THAT FAULTERED AND PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING FOR HEY, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP.

THERE IS A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE THINK TANKS, POLICYMAKERS, INDUSTRY EXECUTIVES THAT ARE SAYING, HEY, LIKE, LET'S CHECK OUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN EASTERN KENTUCKY MAYBE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE SCALED IN ANOTHER PLACE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AS WE PREPARE THE WORKFORCE WE ARE CONTINUING TO TELL OUR STORY EXTERNALLY SO MORE EMPLOYERS AND SECTORS UNDERSTAND THAT EASTERN KENTUCKY IS AN OVERLOOKED PLACE THIS IS A PLACE TO FIND GOOD SKILLED WORKFORCE.

THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE TO GETTING IN EARLY SO THAT WE CAN GET IN AND HAVE EARLY ACCESS TO THOSE TYPES OF PIPELINES.

ALL THAT GOES INTO THE FOCUS AREAS IN THE CONVERSATIONS.

BUT WE ALWAYS TRY TO BE FORWARD LOOKING AND UNDERSTANDING LIKE WHERE DO WE SEE -- WHERE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS WE NEED TO BE PREPARED LOOKING FORWARD.

[♪♪] >> A NEW STUDY FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY REVEALED THAT THE STATE HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO SUSTAIN A SUCCESSFUL MAPLE SYRUP INDUSTRY WITH THE HIGHEST POTENTIAL IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

OUR MACKENZIE SPINK TELLS US WHAT THIS SWEET OPPORTUNITY TO MEAN FOR OUR STATE'S ECONOMY.

>> RESEARCHERS SAY MAPLE TREES COULD BE OUR STATE'S UNTAPPED SECRET.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON HERE IN KENTUCKY.

WE JUST NOT REALLY BEEN GIVEN DUE ATTENTION.

THAT IS MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION.

>> AN ECONOMIC STUDY FROM THE FORESTRY DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY ESTIMATES THAT MAPLE SYRUP PRODUCTION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A $25 MILLION A YEAR INDUSTRY IN THE STATE.

AND COULD CREATE OVER 1500 JOBS.

WHILE STATES LIKE VERMONT AND MAINE ARE THOUGHT OF AS THE SYRUP STATES ACCORDING TO RESEARCHERS MAPLES ARE ONE OF KENTUCKY'S MOST COMMON HARDWOOD TREES.

MANY LAND OWNERS HAVE THEM ON THEIR PROPERTY.

>> THE FIRST THING IS TO HAVE MAPLE TREES SYRUP AND NOT JUST ANY TREE.

THEY HAVE TO BE BIG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CERTAIN QUANTITY OF THE SYRUP WE NEED.

TWO, YOU NEED SUITABLE WEATHER OR CLIMATE CONDITIONS YOU NEED A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE RANGE.

>> A FREEZE-THAW CYCLE IS ESSENTIAL.

WHEN IT'S COLD, THE SAP OF A MAPLE TREE IS DRAWN UP AWAY FROM THE GROUND AND THE MORNING TEMPERATURES MUST WARM ENOUGH FOR THE SAP TO START SEEPING BACK DOWN.

THEN THAT TREE CAN BE TAPPED AND THE SAP CAN GATHER IN A BUCKET OR TRAVEL DOWN TUBES TO A TANK.

IF TREES AT AT A HIGHER ELEVATION THERE IS NO NEED FOR A PUMP AND GRAVITY CAN DO THE WORK WHERE KENTUCKY'S TOPOGRAPHY COMES IN HANDY.

>> THE TOPOGRAPHY IS RUGGED.

SO YOU HAVE ROCK CLIFFS AND THAT REALLY MAKES THE SUBFLOOR VERY EASY COMPARED TO JUST A FLAT GROUND.

>> THE DOCTOR SAYS THERE IS A NATIONWIDE APPETITE FOR MAPLE SYRUP.

KENTUCKY STANDS TO BENEFIT FROM THE MARKET.

>> U.S. AS A WHOLE IS HAVING A HUGE DEFICIT OF MAPLE SYRUP.

THEY ARE IMPORTING MAPLE SYRUP FROM CANADA.

THE U.S. FOREST LAND OWNERS HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO FILL IN THE VOID SO THERE IS HUGE POTENTIAL OF MARKET.

>> TO GET OUR POTENTIAL MAPLE SYRUP INDUSTRY OFF THE GROUND, THE DOCTOR SAYS THE NEXT STEP IS EDUCATING LAND OWNERS.

WHERE DO I START?

HOW DO I START?

I HAVE MAPLE TREES ON MY LAND THAT I CAN TAP AND PRODUCE THIS.

WHERE DO I START?

THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR EXTENSION COLLEAGUES, WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT FOREST AND NATURAL RESOURCES ARE DOING A GOOD JOB IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THE NECESSARY TOOLS THAT THE LAND OWNERS NEED SO THEY CAN CONSIDER THIS AS A POTENTIAL INCOME DERIVING ACTIVITY ON THEIR LANDS.

>> ANOTHER HURDLE TO STARTING ANY NEW BUSINESS IS THE UP FRONT COST ESPECIALLY FOR RURAL LAND OWNERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

THE KENTUCKY CENTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT HAS AN ON-LINE GUIDE TO FIND GRANTS AND FUNDING OPTIONS FOR THOSE LOOKING TO GET A START IN MAPLE SYRUP.

FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" I'M MACKENZIE SPINK.

[♪♪] >> PLENTY OF HISTORIC EVENTS AND MILESTONES, THE LAST WEEK IN AUGUST....

INCLUDING A RECORD-BREAKING WATER BALLOON FIGHT.

OUR TOBY GIBBS TELLS US MORE...

IN THIS LOOK BACK AT THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

[♪♪] >> THOMAS METCALFE - NAMESAKE OF METCALFE COUNTY -- BECAME KENTUCKY'S GOVERNOR ON AUGUST 26TH, 1828.

HIS PREDECESSOR, JOSEPH DESHA, DIDN'T LIKE HIM, THOUGHT HE WAS AN UNWORTHY GOVERNOR, AND REFUSED TO MOVE OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION UNTIL SEPTEMBER SECOND.

>> AN F-2 TORNADO HIT LOUISVILLE ON AUGUST 27TH, 1854, KILLING 25 PEOPLE.

AND 18 OF THOSE DEATHS CAME WHEN THE TORNADO HIT THE THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

ANOTHER 100 PEOPLE WERE HURT.

>> UNION AND CONFEDERATE FORCES CLASHED DURING THE BATTLE OF RICHMOND ON AUGUST 29TH, 1862.

THE RESULT WAS AN OVERWHELMING CONFEDERATE VICTORY, GIVING THE REBEL FORCES A CLEAR PATH TO LEXINGTON AND FRANKFORT.

AS A RESULT, THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY FLED FRANKFORT FOR LOUISVILLE ON AUGUST 31ST.

>> UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY FOOTBALL COACH JERRY CLAIBORNE WAS BORN AUGUST 26TH, 1928.

HE LED THE WILDCATS FROM 1982 TO 1989 AND DIED IN THE YEAR 2000.

>> U-K WAS HOME TO A RECORD-SETTING WATER BALLOON FIGHT ON AUGUST 27TH, 2011 WHEN ALMOST NINE-THOUSAND PEOPLE THREW 175-THOUSAND WATER BALLOONS AT EACH OTHER AT THE CHRISTIAN STUDENT FELLOWSHIP ON U-K'S CAMPUS.

AND THAT'S WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THIS WEEK IN KENTUCKY HISTORY.

I'M TOBY GIBBS.

>> THANK YOU, TOBY GIBBS.

>> WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EASTERN, 5:30 CENTRAL FOR "KENTUCKY EDITION" WHERE WE INFORM, CONNECT AND INSPIRE.

CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK, X AND INSTAGRAM TO STAY IN THE LOOP.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE AND I WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT.

[♪♪]