>> We are seeing more flu cases in a short period time ever see.

>> The flu is here with a vengeance.

Not everybody gets to have that big Christmas.

So I try to provide at least some fun time for the kids to get out of their home.

As I said, get out of the community and have a little fun.

>> A little fun on a lot of hard power.

Louisville legend is giving back in a big way.

And old Coca-Cola plant is selling much more than soda.

>> Production of Kentucky Edition is made possible in part by the KET and down that for Kentucky Productions.

Leonard Press Endowment for Public Affairs and the KET Millennium Fund.

♪ ♪ Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Thursday, December 1st.

>> I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for spending some of your Thursday night with us.

>> The state is taking steps to KET female jewel safe and state facilities.

Governor Andy Beshear says there's been violence in the past, including a riot in Adair county and he says keeping male and female juveniles separated in the same facility isn't an off.

>> Today I'm announcing that we're creating our first female only juvenile justice detention center in northern Kentucky.

That center is in Newport it right now.

Houses boys and girls.

And it's going to be transition to a girl or women only facility while this is going to create some travel issues, it's going to move some female juveniles that might have been able to be house closer to their homes.

We now believe that this is an essential step to protect these individuals.

So we that both with law enforcement that may have a longer drive or parents or or guardians or or folks trying to provide services, Mike, that they will understand that this is a significant additional level of protection to try to ensure we don't see any of these individuals harmed.

In situations like we.

Recently saw in Adair counting.

>> The governor says the state will look at how it can help provide transportation to parents and guardians who will have to travel longer distances because of the change.

A Republican has joined the race for state Treasurer Andrew Cooper writer has officially filed to run in the 2023 Republican primary.

He announced his plans to Ron over the summer.

Cooperrider is a Lexington Coffee shop owner who fought COVID restrictions.

He ran for a seat in the Kentucky state Senate and the May primary as a quote, Liberty candidate losing to incumbent Senator Donald Douglas on his website.

Cooperrider says he is running for Kentucky state treasurer to ensure Kentuckians tax dollars are not being spent to violate their constitutional rights.

2 term state Treasurer Allison Ball cannot run again as an and is term limited.

And Cooper writer isn't Alone O J Alaqua also says he will run for Kentucky state treasurer as a Republican, a lack of tweeted this video today.

He says he's running to build a commonwealth where every family has access to opportunity and prosperity.

Alaska is stepping down as the president of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities.

Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins junior, the Clark since his father retired in 2009 will retire himself at the end of January.

Blevins has been reelected 4 times he won again last month.

Blevins says he will wait almost 2 months to retire to give incoming Fayette County Judge Executive Mary Hannah Time to appoint a successor.

The Kentucky Democratic Party is appealing a judge's decision allowing Republican John State House and U.S. House district boundaries.

The Kentucky General Assembly read through boundaries during the last legislative session, Democrats complain that Democratic districts were split up so that Republicans could win more seats 3 weeks ago, a circuit judge said the districts were legal.

The state Democratic Party now wants the Kentucky Supreme Court to decide.

Democratic State Chair Colmon Eldridge says, quote, We are continuing our fight to stop the partisan gerrymandering of the GOP supermajority and are appealing this case to stop extreme Republicans from slicing up cities and counties every 10 years to put political gain about the best interests of Kentuckians end quote.

In a statement, Sean Southern of the Republican Party of Kentucky responded that the Democrats, quote, run to the courts to save them from their poor recruiting class, an attempt to nullify the results of the most recent election.

Fleming Birds mayor has died.

Bobby money had been elected mayor in 2018 and reelected just last month.

Money was a lifelong resident of Fleming County.

Went to Morehead State University and served as a military policeman in the U.S. Army money had 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

Yesterday, a representative for the city said Flemingsburg had no immediate plans for an interim mayor.

The coroner said money died of natural causes.

Kentucky youth advocates have released their residential foster care analysis report.

The report features interviews with young adults who experience living in residential foster care facilities in Kentucky and offers recommendations to improve outcomes for use in foster care.

>> We interviewed a total of 40 young adults, a few of the major things that we picked up and just heard a lot from.

Are you was just the dynamic environments we need came to the relationships between the young people in their peers and then.

The young people and the staff.

And how that might affect.

Then positive or negative ways.

>> When it came to interviewing residents, I noticed a lot of themes around being uninformed and that includes being uninformed or the reason behind being in the residential facility being informed about resources.

They have access to and even being an informed about their treatment in treatment goals and plan.

Institutional as Asian of young really affects ability in occupational social, physical, emotional well-being as they're going into young adults.

>> What we found when it comes to the use of incentives and residential care facilities is that they were incentivizing youth with basic needs such as food and time outside.

Many of them reported having eating disorders, physical and mental health conditions and issues with their education because of the time spent in residential.

>> We heard that it would take about 3 months prior to discharge for you to adjust to returning back to home.

And the community the way you learn to communicate in the facility can affect.

The way that you can gauge without the outside World Cup 100 to stretch.

Mentorship and opportunities to engage with volunteers and off-campus activities.

Are you to do some very beneficial to their social needs and engage me.

With their peers and just in community.

>> Some actually had a positive residential experience.

Some of our young people, they thrive off the structure and the mentorship that is provided within these facilities.

But there are many improvements that need to be made as there is with, you know, everything.

And it's important that we take these recommendations given in the report.

Environmental researchers and consider those starting outline for improving these facilities.

There definitely needs to be an improvement in the way that residential facilities function.

But without them, there would be many you through have nowhere to go.

We just simply don't have enough foster homes, placements for these youth.

So even though you know, there can be a lot of long-term impacts and barriers that come from residential experience.

Some youth did find it beneficial.

So it's really just about revamping the system and making sure that every use has a positive experience and residential rather than eliminating the program.

>> According to Kentucky Youth Advocates over 8,000 Kentucky children were placed in foster care in 2020, roughly one in 10 of those children resided in group home or institutional placements.

Good news for drivers in western Kentucky.

The state says work will start this month to bring 21 miles of the Julian Carroll Purchase parkway up to interstate standards.

That means Interstate 69 will extend for Mayfield to Fulton.

It's a 33.9 million dollar project expected to be complete by the end of 2024.

♪ >> We are seeing more flu cases in a short period time.

I think that we've ever seen.

>> And respiratory diseases like RSV are spreading across the commonwealth.

>> Well, you just heard Governor Andy Beshear talk about flu and we have a dos.

The state's top doctor, Doctor Steven Stack, who is the commissioner for the Department of Public Health to talk about this.

Thank you.

Doctor.

Stack.

Thanks for having me.

It's good to have you here.

So we heard the governor say there are more flu cases in a short period of time than we've ever seen.

That sounds pretty dire.

Where are we when it comes to flu here in Kentucky?

>> It is.

So the flu has risen and I truly vertical climb.

Now it's earlier in the season than is typical and the rate of climb is a incredible thankfully, unlike COVID couple years ago, it's it's a dangerous disease.

It's one we should take lightly and people who have the flu know how miserable you can be.

But it's not as lethal.

You know, it's the is COVID was.

So the cases have skyrocketed.

It's causing people want to kill MS but thankfully at the moment we're still keeping up.

>> Closing schools, they're having to shutter because so many students staff are out for those who've gotten the vaccine and they haven't gotten the flu yet.

Are they immune from getting?

No because of the vaccine?

>> You know, so that the flu is almost all flew way.

There's 2 major types, flu, a and B and it's over.

95% of belief away right now.

The vaccine this year is well matched to this year's influenza strain.

So if you get vaccinated, it should protect you pretty well.

It should help KET you out of the hospital.

KET you from getting severely sick.

You may still have the illness, but it will be a lot more mild.

Unfortunately, only about 43% of school-age children in the state are are vaccinated for the flu.

Now that's better than last year.

This time, which is 35%.

But the target is to try to get to 70% in adult vaccination rates are probably even lower.

So we really need people to still go out and get their flu shot.

>> And it's not too late.

It's not too late.

All season too late.

Well, I would say when you start to get to the back into February and March, the flu season is starting to abate.

But right now it's so intense and you're going to get together with people over the end of your holidays.

It takes about 2 weeks for most immunizations to have a robust response.

I go out and get it.

I go out right now.

If you haven't gotten a flu shot or the COVID booster, unfortunately for the COVID booster, the new improved one it's only about one-third of people.

65 and older nationwide who have gotten out and it is as low as 12.

Some percent of people people over the age of 5.

I'm Tony, if you are in your 60's or older and you have not gotten your bivalent COVID shot, you're taking a risk.

You just don't need to take.

They work very, very well.

And I'd urge everyone to go out and get both the flu shot in the COVID shot.

>> I want to go back to the flu.

Minimum return to COVID and talk about.

We know that during the COVID pandemic, that flu cases were relatively low.

And is that because of the mitigation measures and our numbers seeming to trend like they were pre pandemic or even worse.

It's worse now this year.

So >> the the influenza virus is a perfect example of that.

Those masks to work.

There was no influenza.

The winter of 2020 to 2021.

It was eliminated.

It was eliminated most of the worldwide wherever people imposed masks as is a part of the mitigation efforts.

When we took the masks away and now that when we go out, we see people aren't wearing masks.

And so we are back to normal.

And I think what you're seeing now is influenza circulating.

People are mixing and mingling without any of those mitigation measures.

Influenza has come back with a fierce pendant vengeance.

And I think that's why it's such a high peak this year.

>> RSV also on the rise as the governor said, he called it widespread.

So what is RSV and is it also prevalent in adults?

>> Right.

So RSV is respiratory Syncytial virus for adults.

It's the common cold.

Almost always so you never really think twice about it.

You have cold symptoms for little kids under 2.

It can be really hard.

It can cause them to have an asthma like illness where they have wheezing and difficulty breathing and some of those kids end up having to go to the hospital specifically to be put on oxygen and supportive therapy in the state of Kentucky.

Remember, we only have 2 substantial children's Norton and U K and Norton has has been overrun with kids with RSV.

Now that it's the bad news, the good news is it looks like it may be receiving already like we're on the back end.

So hopefully that situation will improve.

But the best way to KET that from spreading.

If you have children and they are sick, please KET them out of day care and out of school until their fevers are gone and their symptoms are improving.

>> Is it true that most kids under the age of 2 won't get RSV at some point?

>> Probably because kids are such social beings and in that age they don't know how they don't have that capacity to to I, you know, KET themselves away from other people.

So when you put them together, they spread germs.

We all know that they share toys, U.S. law burns, not yeah.

And so that just happened.

So again, we're in a very different world now.

This is much like the world we used to know before COVID the simplest kind thing you can do is if you know you are sick.

If you know your children are sick, KET away from other people in town are not sick.

That's the best and easiest way to avoid the spread of disease.

>> COVID real quickly, let's talk about that.

What are we saying in terms of many people suspect that after the Thanksgiving holiday, we might see an uptick in cases is that bearing out?

>> I don't think so.

Just yet.

But again, it will take some time right now.

Our map of the COVID.

That map looks fantastic.

So there's only 3 counties in the eastern part of the state that are red and there's less than 20 counties total that are red or yellow combined.

So the map looks fantastic at the moment.

Remember, that's a assessment of hospital capacity and disease presence.

And so I think what we'll see is is the winter goes on.

If the hospitals are not strained by COVID, I think will you'll find another recalibration as we exit winner about how what we really need to track for COVID going forward.

But people still need to get vaccinated because it's still a pretty dangerous disease, particularly for people who are elderly or medically frail.

Yeah.

>> Well, thank you.

Doctor Steven Stack is always a pleasure.

Thank you.

May steer.

Thanks for me.

More health news.

As of today, the King's daughters Health System is now part of the University of Kentucky.

The UK Board of Trustees approved the move in October.

King's daughters is based in Ashland and serve 16 counties in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia with 2 hospitals and more than 5,000 employees.

>> If you're looking for something to KET the kids busy over the holidays, there are multiple activities happening over the winter school break.

And Louisville, a U of L basketball legend is hosting one option as his way to give back to the community.

Our Kelsey Starks sat down with Robbie Valentine to find out more.

>> Well, some say Robbie Valentine's legacy may star on U of L'S basketball team in the 80's, even winning the national championship in 1986.

But it turns out his legacy is shaping up to be much more than that.

And Robbie Valentine is here with us.

Thank you so much for being You've been doing these free basketball camps for youth in Louisville for 36 years now this year, no different.

Tell us about the winter camp coming up.

>> first, I want to thank the city a little on Metro Parks because they allow me to go in their community centers and and have these clinics for the kids.

that partnerships been great.

Boys and girls ages 5 to 14 years of age and basically just try to get the kids in a very safe environment, have some fun over Christmas break.

Not everybody gets to have that big Christmas.

So I try to provide at least some fun time for the kids to get another home.

And as I said, get other community and have a little fun.

>> Yeah.

And so this is about some learning some basketball fundamentals.

But as you said, they learn a lot more than that.

You bring in guest speakers.

They learn about leadership.

What else?

>> Well, the one thing that we want, you know, I'm a big believer Christ in Christ and all my staff.

We we want to motivate kids and so many different ways off the basketball court and they don't know it's happening.

You know, just pat them on the back.

Tell my great they love you got a great smile.

Just as little small motivational tools that we try to use to take them to a whole nother level and get them to feel good about themselves.

Because when you do you grade to better your attitudes better and just a small things and KET it simple.

And and hope they achieve some big things in life and if they live in a tough environment at home, maybe one of those guys are one of the ladies that work with me can and, you know, maybe motivate them to be a successful person and want to be a doctor, an attorney and I go out of place in Louisville.

We have a lot of kids we work with in the past that are in and very good decision-making positions.

>> Yeah, and that we were talking about this earlier, doing it for 36 years.

Now you run into adults who have been through the camp.

I know you have a lot of success stories to share.

>> That there's a lot.

But you know, the I guess the biggest thing for me is.

The kids that came a camp that are now parents now they have in their kids at my clinic.

And so that's showing me that I must have been a pretty good impact in our life for them to drop their kids off and trust me with them.

And you know, Casey, I guess the biggest thing is the sponsors.

It come in and support the kids and get, you know, we're able to get them registered and get them to church and him the pizza and get them to Pepsi's all those things.

It's it's a hard job.

But and I'm saving lives, you know?

And so it's it's fun.

I'm really enjoying it.

58 watching young people in chief.

>> Well, >> to let the success that you had on the basketball or you could have done the same work anywhere you could have gone anywhere and frankly done anything.

But you decided to come back to Louisville and get back here.

Why?

>> I love this place.

You know, Louisville to the to the risk in having Robbie Ballantine via student athlete on the yield on campus and the professors and University athletic department for for so much hurt showing me that I could be successful for going to class and stay out of trouble and do the right thing.

And and that's that's the city is just something very special to me.

And I'm Craig Greenberg.

You that do a good job coming after you got a name in this community.

I'm coming after you buddy.

>> You heard it will real quick.

I know you're still very involved with U of L So what are your thoughts on the the program going forward now after the Irp ruling, new coach, you got Kenny Payne.

Well, is this a new chapter for U of L?

>> It's a new chapter in Kenny's.

Going to a tough time right now which were talking to him every day and you know, the fans up a lot of money to come and support the U of L men's and women's basketball tournament.

The Yum Center.

The most important thing right now is patients.

if he can get a couple 3, 4 years under his belt will be a top 10 team again.

And it's going to happen right now.

The kids, that's who I feel sorry for right now because these young men have to go to class.

They have to go out known in the community their volunteer.

It N we just got to just get that one win.

Get to one win and get over that hump.

that's one thing that the former players are really chatting with them about as you get this, you know, and that's important, but that there's a new chapter and Kenny and get it there.

Sure.

Yeah.

>> Well, they're lucky to have you on the court with them.

So we appreciate you and thank you so much for all you do for our community with thanks for being here.

I'm Robbie Valentine's basketball skills camp runs December 19th 20th and 21st.

You can sign up for free and register online right now.

Tonight.

Thank you, Kelsey, the free campus for boys and girls of all skill levels from ages 6 to 16.

It's at the cell Allgaier Community Center.

In fact, all 14 of Louisville's community centers will be open throughout the winter break with various activities for the kiddo's.

>> All centers are equipped with WiFi computer labs, gyms, exercise equipment, and more to KET them busy.

♪ Years ago, Coca-Cola turn its Paducah bottling plant into a warehouse and later abandoned the building altogether, a couple decided to turn it into a creative space for business owners and consumers.

In the years sense it's become a place of comfort for all generations while getting attention all over the world.

♪ >> The Coke plant is certainly a landmark and has been for many, many years.

And so so many for Duke and of all ages have memories of this building and its various stages.

You know, whether it was actually coming as a young person and some of the older generations are some of the younger generations driving through this neighborhood and seeing this beautiful art deco structure.

Have sat empty for so long.

So now with summons, bring that back.

And bringing so many people into this building.

We're in a new chapter in a very, very exciting for help.

I remember as a child going downtown Paducah, so often to the different things happening down there and that revitalization had already really taken hold.

But now I'm on my husband and I bought a house.

In Paducah and one of our main considerations was how close to the to this building to the Coke plant.

And so we're actually halfway between downtown and the Coke plant.

And it really is becoming that, you know, place and that driver that so many people, I think in my generation and all generations from Paducah are finding I'm finding their place.

♪ ♪ >> Right >> now as it sits roughly 47,000 in some change on square feet.

And this was a bottling facility in the Carson, Carson Meier It's a his daughter.

Jane Meyer took over ownership.

Want to pass the bill be passed in roughly 55, not mistaken.

They bottle here up until 86 87.

And whenever cocoa came and purchased it from the Carson Meier family, this was not a facility that they kept as a bottling plant.

So late closed down, made it a warehouse over the years.

Just just became an obsolete facility for them and they closed down 2005 and built, you know, modern a warehouse.

The interstate.

>> The building sat empty until we purchased it until 2013.

And it was summer of 2013 it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places.

So we were proud to do that.

And we just kind of went to work on getting a new roof on the areas that needed a new We restored all the original but we were getting the building secure and dry.

>> And then as far as our concept for the you know, and had a great way of kind of summarizing and that.

>> He wanted the building to be a snippet of what Paducah had to offer and he wanted businesses in the building that either want in Paducah currently or that showcase some of the best of what Paducah had to offer.

So as visitors passing through would be like, oh, you got to stop it.

Coke plant because you'll be able to see this this this and that.

>> How cool.

Coming up tomorrow, our usual Friday check on Kentucky politics.

And how would a rail strike affect Kentucky?

We'll talk to an expert about the impact possibly tomorrow on Kentucky Edition.

And we hope to see you for Kentucky edition at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central.

What we inform connect and inspire.

We hope you'll subscribe to our Kentucky weekly Kentucky Edition, e-mail news letter and watch full episode.

Okay.

You T Dot Org.

>> And you can find Kentucky Edition on the PBS video app on your mobile device and smart TV and follow KET on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop.

You're more than welcome to follow me on Twitter at Renee K E T. Thank you so very much for being with us on this Thursday night.

I will see you right back here tomorrow at 6.30, eastern for Kentucky edition.

Take good care.

♪ ♪ ♪