But they certainly tried to put together what they believed was a responsible framework.

And our job is simply to report to them where that is.

Kentucky fails to meet all the conditions to keep reducing the state income tax.

We have reaction.

The latest on Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after he appears to freeze up during an event in Kentucky.

What the physician who evaluated him is saying about McConnell's condition.

The housing market today is just absolutely ridiculous.

This student housing isn't just affordable.

It's also teaching its residents the skills they need to live on their own.

Turkey Monthly is celebrating its 25th year of celebrating Kentucky and Kentuckians.

And find out why this magazine has stuck around for so long.

Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET Endowment for Kentucky Productions, the Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs, and the KET Millennium Fund.

Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition.

On this final day of August, can you believe it?

Thursday, August the 31st.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for winding down your Thursday with us.

Campaigning yesterday in Louisville, Republican candidate for Governor Daniel Cameron pledged to keep Kentucky on track to eventually eliminating the individual income tax.

That's why my first budget and every one I submit as governor will keep Kentucky on the path to eliminating the income tax.

But new information out today suggests further reductions in the income tax may have to wait.

And 2022, the Kentucky General Assembly passed House Bill eight to gradually reduce the income tax to zero.

If two conditions were met.

Jason Bailey with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, a progressive leaning research organization, cites a letter from the state budget director that says only one condition was met.

Jason Bailey with the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

Good to have you speaking with us about some news that we learned about where we are with the triggers or they or if we've met the triggers for an income tax reduction the next time the Kentucky General Assembly meets.

What letter came out that will inform what the General Assembly should do?

Well, the Office of the State Budget Director is charged under legislation with determining whether these triggers are met.

They released their report, their letter saying that the triggers were not met for the year that just ended at the end of June.

Essentially, we're not generating enough revenue relative to our budget to justify another cut by the rules that the General Assembly put into effect.

So there will not be another income tax reduction that would take place in January of 2025 because of this.

So and let's be very clear about that, because the General Assembly had already acted on the trigger that goes into effect January of 2024.

That's right.

That's correct.

So so we had a 5% income tax rate.

It already went down to four and a half.

It will go down to four.

But this trigger would have reduced it then to three and a half.

But the trigger conditions are not met.

So the triggers and when we talk about triggers, we can help our viewers understand.

And in layman's terms of what those triggers are, what conditions were not met or factors that were not met that causes this action or inaction.

Well, one of the two triggers is it says that revenue has to exceed in spending by an amount equal to a 1% income tax cut.

And that did not happen.

It's important to note it did not happen even though unemployment is at a record low and inflation is high, both of which increase tax receipts.

And I think what this shows us is, you know, reducing the income tax is just very, very expensive, as the legislature is trying to do and heading toward elimination.

And our needs are very serious, our budget needs.

We can't cut enough to justify these continued reductions and individual elimination of the largest source of revenue that we have.

41% of the state budget is funded by the income tax.

And already very early in this process.

What this shows is that it just it just can't be done.

The numbers do not add up.

So the legislature has no power.

Let's be clear to override this.

Right.

They don't have the statutory authority to enact the trigger anyway.

Well, they have the authority to do whatever they want to when they come back into session.

And even if the trigger was made, they would still have to act during the General Assembly.

So of course they could do anything they want, including past tax cuts.

But to do that after this report would be to move the goalposts on what they themselves said was acceptable.

So that would be going against the rules that they established.

They said it was okay.

And so I don't I don't anticipate them doing that, and they certainly shouldn't.

What this shows is that we just can't afford to eliminate our biggest source of revenue and also fund our schools, our hospitals, our child care system and other things we know are so important.

Well, thank you.

Jason Bailey from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

We appreciate you.

Thank you, Renee.

State Senate Budget Chairman Chris McDaniel responded to today's news, saying the bill is working exactly as intended.

Quote, He says Naysayers have often criticized comprehensive tax reform and the Kentucky General Assembly as a responsible lowering of working Kentuckians income taxes.

However, this development is evidence we appropriately weigh the importance of lowering taxes with the need for critical government functions such as education, corrections and more.

End quote.

Governor Andy Beshear was also asked about this during today's weekly news conference.

The legislature tried to do was set up a responsible method for determining when to take.

They're not incremental steps.

They're real steps in reducing income tax.

Now, they may revisit that, but they certainly tried to put together what they believed was a responsible framework.

And our job is simply to report to them where that is.

Tomorrow, we'll have reaction from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, who lobbied for the state income tax roll back.

That's tomorrow.

Governor Beshear was also asked about US Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate minority leader, appeared to freeze up during a news conference yesterday in Covington, Kentucky.

He had a similar incident last month while speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C. We reached out to McConnell's office for an update and were sent a statement from Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of the US Congress.

It says, quote, After evaluated in yesterday's incident, I have informed Leader McConnell that he is medically clear to continue with his schedule as planned.

Occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration and quote Today, Beshear was asked about the process for selecting McConnell successor if he doesn't finish out his term.

Well, I respect Senator McConnell and his health.

Now, first of all, to not sensationalize it.

And second, there is no vacancy.

So he has said he's going to serve out his term and I fully believe him.

Meanwhile, some members of McConnell's own party are weighing in.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor GREENE of Georgia shared yesterday's video on social media and said, quote, Severe aging health issues and or mental health and competence in our nation's leaders must be addressed.

End quote.

McConnell, who is 81, was first elected to the Senate in 1984.

We'll have more on what his condition could mean tomorrow on Inside Kentucky Politics on Kentucky Edition.

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day.

Governor Beshear signed a proclamation recognizing the occasion.

According to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.

More than 2100 people died from overdoses in Kentucky last year.

Several members of Kentucky's federal delegation just announced the state's first comprehensive Opioid Recovery Center's Grant Mountain Comprehensive Care Center in Preston's burg was awarded $850,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The money will be used to help provide the center to rapper to give wraparound substance use disorder, treatment and recovery support services to those most affected by opioid use disorder.

Congressman Hal Rogers said, quote, This is a life saving grant program that is needed now more than ever before.

Rogers worked alongside Congressman Brett Guthrie and U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell to secure the grant.

Kentucky's Republican candidate for governor received some help on the campaign trail today.

Daniel Cameron was joined by Congressman Thomas Massie, who represents northern Kentucky in Washington, D.C..

The two made three stops today, including in Maysville.

We're here because we got to get rid of Andy Beshear and we've got just the guy to do it.

When I say leave it up to the states, frankly, terrifies me when I stop and think that Andy Beshear is our governor.

And you may say, well, listen, Congressman Massie, don't worry, we've got supermajorities in the House and the Senate.

He can do no harm.

Oh, my gosh.

The things that he has done, the harm that he has done to this Commonwealth and the missed opportunities in Andy Beshear has gotten really good at going out and taking credit for things that our General Assembly has done.

He's gotten good at taking photos and spending other people's money.

But what he hasn't been good at it and is addressing those foundational issues that are important for any community to thrive or flourish.

We'll have more from the campaign trail tomorrow right here on Kentucky.

Addition, Attorney General Cameron's office has filed a motion saying it intends to seek the death penalty against a man charged with killing a sheriff's deputy.

Chin Chang is accused of murdering Scott County deputy Caleb Connelly during a traffic stop in May.

Today, the attorney general's office filed a notice of aggravating circumstances in connection to the case.

A grand jury indicted Sean Chang on multiple charges last month, including murder of a police officer, which is a capital offense since Chang has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A new rule by the Environmental Protection Agency could impact wetlands in Kentucky.

The EPA announced more than half the wetlands in the U.S. no longer have federal protections.

It said the new rule complies with the Supreme Court decision limiting the scope of the Clean Water Act.

In May, the high court ruled wetlands are off limits to any government pollution controls because they do not connect directly to larger bodies of water.

The rule takes effect immediately and is expected to impact 63% of U.S. wetlands.

Kentucky has more than 324,000 acres of wetland.

Labor Day holiday is almost upon us and many Kentuckians are traveling to celebrate the three day weekend.

If you're traveling this weekend, you may be wondering how much you'll pay at the pumps.

A spokesperson with triple J tells us what to expect when we all hit the road.

Right now, we're looking at a national gas price average of about 382 here in Kentucky or averaging right around 349.

Now, both of those are very close to what we saw one year ago today.

The national is actually $0.02 lower than what we saw a year ago while the Kentucky is up a couple of cents.

So very, very close to what we saw this time last year.

We have plenty of time for your trip if you're heading out.

Friday is going to be a busy day.

And so try to leave real early that morning, if you can, to avoid the most of it.

Same thing for Saturday if you're leaving Saturday or Sunday.

Traffic congestion should ease off.

So if somebody is just doing kind of a day trip or just one night, Sunday's your day to go Friday, Saturday, they'll be busy times on the roadways.

So I remind people, be patient.

We don't want road rage to take over and put yourself and others in danger and then stay focused on the roadways.

It's always, I think, a little bit more of a challenge when you maybe have more people in your vehicle.

You may have distractions like your navigation system, vehicle tags, audio, climate controls, get all those things set before you go and don't let others in the vehicle distract you from that roadway is very important.

Hawkins said gas prices aren't deterring travelers, so expect to see more people on the roads.

Safe travels.

Transitioning from high school to college is a daunting task for many young people, especially when you consider the cost of housing both either on or off the campus.

The Opportunity House on Northern Kentucky University's campus aims to eliminate that barrier, providing affordable housing for students needing support while earning their degree.

So we welcomed our first residents last August.

So it's just celebrating in a year now and it really has been a fantastic year so far.

Youth can apply on their own.

We also get referrals from particularly school counselors for our high school students.

They have to qualify for Section eight housing.

So once they're accepted through the program piece of it, then we submit all of the necessary paperwork for housing.

Residents here are enrolled at least part time in some sort of post-secondary education, whether it's an associate's bachelor's or just a one year certification within the trades.

My time at the Opportunity House has been exciting and adventurous and allowed me to have a fresh start.

It's really helpful because, you know, if you're having a hard time struggling or something, you can always come down and talk to Monika, the case manager.

So kind of like listen to you and outsource you to like different resources and stuff like that.

I wouldn't have like a primary care physician if it wasn't for her trying to push me to get primary care physician and now I'm an adult.

The goal of our programing here is to make sure that the youth feel like they are supported, that they are part of a community, and that they have someone to go to when they are struggling and have needs, as well as building those independent skills.

We offer self-defense classes, cooking classes, different skill building resume workshops.

So we're always looking for new partnerships with different services within the community and bringing them onsite.

As for the other services offered by the Opportunity House, I've been doing a lot of budgeting and planning out savings and such, as well as taking driving lessons, which helped me get my license.

One big one is definitely going to be cooking classes.

I'm not very good at cooking.

I know how to boil an egg.

So far it's been a lot better than the dorms.

I have my own bathroom and shower and I live by myself, but I still get to interact with a lot of people, and it just feels more independent than living with a roommate.

It's been pretty cool meeting new people and experiencing, like, you know, just hanging out, you know, with other residents.

It's amazing what we realize with this population is that they come from struggling situations where they haven't had a lot of support, whether it's family or friends otherwise, or they may have some but not actively engaged and they might feel isolated within the situations that they're struggling with.

So being able to bring all of them together to recognize that they're not alone, that there are other individuals that are gone through similar situations and that they're facing the same struggles and that it's not just their own problem.

I'm really helps them to identify their goals and strategies and plans for moving forward and working together to be like, okay, yeah, you did that.

I see that you're making progress.

How can I do the same thing?

You don't have to be an NCCU student to live in the Opportunity House, but all residents have access to NCCU student services while living there, and many of the workshops mentioned are open to young adults who do not live in the opportunity House, but want the chance to learn some valuable skills.

Talent has no age.

That message is especially important when it comes to kids.

The Louisville Youth Orchestra has been cultivating musical talents for young musicians across Kentucky since 1958.

Our Kelsey Starks explains how your kids can get involved in the.

The Louisville Youth Orchestra has been in operation for 65 years.

In fact, it was one of the first youth orchestra organizations in the country.

Matthew Vanover is the executive director.

Welcome and welcome to Louisville.

You are new to this role, new to the city.

Tell us why you are here and the importance of the tradition of this organization.

Absolutely.

So I moved here just a month ago.

I'm about a little bit longer to join the Louisville Youth Orchestra.

And I spent the last seven years in Cincinnati and pouring my heart into music, education and arts administration in there with a school with about 700 students.

And the Louisville Youth Orchestra began a nationwide search some five, six months ago now.

And and they were really eager for the Louisville Youth Orchestra to really become a destination in this community.

It's been successful for 65 years, but we're really interested in growing.

And so they reached out to me and to them, and we started talking about ways in which that the Elijah Wood can continue to grow and reach and parts of our community that are underserved and don't have music programs in their schools.

And we've got big dreams.

And you know how important music and the arts in general are for kids.

You've seen that throughout your career.

What do you hope that brings to kids here?

You know, music belongs to everybody.

As a kid, music was my very best friend.

And so I think that it's a powerful gift.

And musicians are special because at some point in our life, someone poured into us.

We were their responsibility.

And so as we become older, I think it's the responsibility of musicians to get back and to share that gift with their kids.

And I think that Leo has been doing a great job of that for 65 years.

I see photos that go back to the early 1960s and they were serving underserved students then.

Probably a great cost to the organization.

They were brave to do some of the things they were doing back before anybody was doing them.

And so we're really proud of that heritage.

But we're looking forward and we're looking forward to and really growing that organization and shared that gift with more kids.

You never know when that small spark, and that's when we'll really light a fire inside of them.

And that's that's exactly what you all do.

So tell us about auditions that are coming up for the next season.

What are you looking for and how can kids get involved here?

So any kid that plays a classically oriented string or woodwind brass percussion instrument, I can go to our website, Leo Dawg, auditions, and they're going to find everything they need to know.

We call it an audition because we want students to take this really seriously each year.

We want them to kind of arrive at the moment of saying, I can play these excerpts, and that prepares me for this orchestra.

But every kid that wants to be a part of Leo is going to be a part, and it's more of an evaluation or a placement.

And then we've got several orchestras that are appropriate for different grade levels and some for kids that are just beginning and some for kids that have been playing for a really long time.

I say kids, young adults, students.

And so we've got a place for every kid that loves making music.

You get to interact with kids from all over.

And we 16 counties.

So if your school kind of looks like your community, you get to come be a part of Leo and interact with kids that come from different backgrounds and walks of life, It's it's, it's it's a true just kind of a spot of belonging for the kids where they get to explore music and be in a great community.

That's wonderful.

And there are more than 250 musicians right now on the local youth orchestra representing 80 schools, as you mentioned, across 60 counties.

Back to you.

You Kelsey.

Auditions for the upcoming season are happening September 3rd and fourth at Collegiate School in Louisville.

You can register in advance online at ly0 dot org.

While many print publications have struggled and what's becoming more and more of a digital society.

Kentucky Monthly is still going strong.

The magazine has been publishing stories about the Commonwealth for 25 years, and they say the physical magazine is far more popular than its online counterpart.

We looked at several different options and then we tried to come up with some of those things that are iconic about Kentucky that people recognize.

And then we had an artist created a cover.

And if you squint and look, you know, it shapes it shapes out.

The 25.

When Steve first had the idea of Let's do this, and we got a piece of paper out and wrote down a list of the topics that we would cover, and I thought, what do we do when we get to the bottom of that list?

And we've written those stories, but we just never run out of stories.

There's always someone calling with with an idea that we hadn't thought of before.

We knew it was going to be a challenge.

We didn't know it was going to take as long as it did to take off or to be popular.

But we knew Kentuckians love Kentucky, and you know that state pride is part of what we we base the magazine on, you know, outside of Texas and maybe New Yorkers.

You don't hear a lot of people talking about how proud they are of their state.

But Kentuckians do.

And so we thought, you know, if we could put together a magazine that appealed to people in all parts of the state of Kentucky, that that love of Kentucky would take us to be successful.

One of the things we didn't count on was we actually grew out of state faster than we grew in state.

We have a lot of subscribers that live in Florida or live in Ohio or move to California.

We have a subscriber in every single state and a lot that go overseas as like to military people.

People love their site, They love it's home.

And I'll have a subscriber call on the phone and say, Oh, I moved away 25 years ago, but I still want my magazine every month.

Happy Chandler, I think, said he never met a Kentuckian that wasn't either on his way home or wanting to go home.

A Kentucky Monthly strives to to create a community of Kentuckians regardless of where they may live.

If you're really honest, you know, people in the far, far western part of the state and people in the far eastern part of the state don't necessarily have that much in common.

They live in different geographic areas, different altitude, the whole bit.

But what they share in common is that love of Kentucky.

And so I think that's what has carried us more than anything else, either that in the stubbornness of not quitting.

I mean, there have been times that, you know, we just didn't think we'd go on.

But we have.

And, you know, as part of that Kentucky perseverance, I think to commemorate their silver anniversary, Kentucky Monthly will be holding celebrations across the Commonwealth over the next couple of months.

The first will be in Frankfort on September the 24th.

You can find out more and more information on the Kentucky Monthly magazine Facebook page.

Well, we are one week away from sports betting beginning in the commonwealth.

Governor Andy Beshear says he will be the first person to place a bet.

Find out where he'll be and what sports Kentuckians can soon bet on.

That's tomorrow right here on Kentucky Edition.

And, of course, we'll have more Friday.

It's inside Kentucky politics.

Our political commentators tomorrow will be a Republican, a CNN special contributor, Scott Jennings and Democratic strategist Will Carly.

You don't want to miss that discussion about the health of Senator McConnell.

And so much more on the political happenings this week.

So we'll hope you'll join us again tomorrow night at 630 Eastern, 530 Central for Kentucky Edition, where we inform, Connect and Inspire.

Subscribe to our email newsletter that comes out twice a week now, and you can watch full episodes and clips at KET dot org You can also find us on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV.

And you can send us a story idea at Public Affairs at KET dot org and make sure you follow Katie and Kentucky Edition on Facebook X, formerly known as Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

We thank you for watching.

Tune in tomorrow.

My more great stories coming your way and more analysis about the income tax and the trigger that may not happen next year.

We've got great stories lined up for you and we hope you'll see you tomorrow night.

In the meantime, take good care.

I'm Renee Shaw.