♪ >> this investment in Kentucky is now eclipsed 11 billion dollars.

>> Moore, Toyota Maday is bound for the Bluegrass.

>> Made the Kentucky teacher who's bringing home the gold.

>> A beautiful thing about community radio is that, you know, it's supposed to reflect the character and the attitude of the people that serve.

>> And see how.

And eastern Kentucky radio station state on the air by going on the road.

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

♪ ♪ Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Thursday, December, the 12th, it is Friday Eve.

>> Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Will state lawmakers vote to cut the state income tax yet again, many Republican lawmakers want another half a percent caught taking the tax down to 3 and a half percent.

That's despite a projected decline in state revenue from last year to this year.

Governor Andy Beshear says he thinks the tax cut can work in 2025, but he's not sure about what would happen after that.

>> After this one moving forward, we'll really see if it meets the guardrails that are set up by the General Assembly.

One concern that I have as well.

I'm glad there are guardrails.

The train only moves one direction bright and at some point we will hit a point where we can provide the services that people expect from government if we lose too much revenue.

But I believe are booming economy that this next income tax cut is something we can do and still provide the services that are out there.

>> Also announced starting next summer state government workers will be able to take 6 weeks of paid leave for the birth adoption or fostering of a child.

A state worker can also use the 6 weeks to deal with the qualifying medical condition that benefit big ends the day and employee starts work and 6 additional weeks are added for every 10 years of employment.

Governor Beshear says this new benefit is based on an existing regulation and will not require Kentucky General Assembly action.

The governor also says he is against taxpayer supported gender reassignment surgery.

4 Kentucky prisoners.

Republicans are blasting a Department of Corrections protocol that could allow for that in the future in order to comply with federal laws.

The Republican Party put out a statement about it, quote, It's appalling that the Beshear administration wants to force Kentucky taxpayers to pay for transgender surgeries for convicted criminals, especially with the litany of issues that Kentucky hands are currently facing.

And quote, but the governor says the attorney general will review federal laws to see what's required.

He says Republicans are oversimplifying things and overreacting.

>> The Department of Corrections is is just trying to get this right under federal law and it appears at least a little unclear to me and what's required under federal law.

So for Republican lawmakers to get upset that we're going to a Republican attorney general to try to get an opinion there on what is required.

That seems a little silly and it seems like just wanting to pick a fight and argue instead of to say let's work together.

Let's figure out what's required.

Let's figure out what's reasonable.

It's trying to find common ground.

Middle of the road common sense approach to an issue we're talking about.

>> During his news conference today, the governor also acknowledge the three-year anniversary of the deadly western Kentucky tornadoes.

You'll hear from a field Mayor Kathy on an about that a little later on in Kentucky edition tonight.

Now more state tax talk and takes on social issues.

This time from 2 state legislative leaders from Jefferson County who gave a preview of what to expect in the next legislative session that starts January 7th, our June Leffler covered the Louisville Forum event yesterday and filed this report.

>> Middletown Republican Jason a mess says state lawmakers will lower the state income tax echoing what Republican leadership has said.

>> That states that have lower income tax.

Bigger growth.

And so what we're trying to do is we're trying to overtime get to a place where we can tell our businesses, expand here.

>> Louisville Democrat David Yates brushes off some of that enthusiasm.

>> But if you look really deep into our budget summit, we did some bonding and other things to make sure we hit the post different levels.

So we want to make sure we're being really treat with ourself.

Now, honestly, I think this can be a good thing the way to the great set right now, the 3.5, as long as we do it responsibly.

>> Kentucky has a mechanism to gradually reduce the income tax which NEMA says is proving to not get in the way of investment.

>> So for 20 years before we took over in 1998, to 2017, we did not pay the pensions.

We pay pensions and billions on top of that.

So much so that we had a pit.

We had a bond reduction rating reduction when we took over.

It's been increased twice now the debt ratio is better read are now on this to come with Kentucky than it's been.

>> The General Assembly keeps a close eye on Jefferson County, Public Schools.

The state Committee is laser focused on JCPS and what changes the state should impose on the district.

>> I think there was a lot of talk early on and lot at least in my session about breaking up JCPS and because they're too big.

And I think that the task force really quickly, they realized that would actually cost more money and actually would not be very been tipped to kids across the firm go from school to school.

The problem is not the superintendent, our problems.

Our school board is an absolute clown show.

It doesn't take things seriously.

If we have 592 weapons.

Deadly weapons brought on the property last year.

Not one expulsion.

What we need to do is get a good superintendent give him or her the the rain to get him or the power to do the job.

>> Last year, the AIDS filed a bill to change Kentucky's abortion ban.

He proposed then as he does now to allow rape victims to terminate a pregnancy if they choose as an attorney, he AIDS has worked with sex crime victims.

>> It's this beyond politics.

This is don't people's lives.

And I think that the majority of people who understand that believe that there should be exemptions in place.

>> In fact, I think than that the majority of the legislators that I've talked to, maybe the majority close believe that there should be exemptions in place.

And so I this at this point all of asked is that I want to I open, honest discussion in committee.

>> Yates also propose spelling out how doctors should intervene and complicated pregnancies.

Something me miss might support.

>> You know, I'm talking with be do ions about they tell me that they they believe that there.

There are a frozen and they don't know what to do in certain circumstances of where the woman is presenting with a danger to her life.

Maybe not in imminent, but what they think they should be able to act and they're worried if they have the authorities.

>> Yates forced a vote on the Senate floor to consider his abortion exceptions.

Bill last session, which nearly all Senate Republicans voted against for Kentucky to LaFleur.

>> Thank you, June and May miss in Yates do agree on one matter.

And that's that housing is a critical issue that needs to be addressed.

The city of Louisville has reached a deal with the U.S. Justice Department to reform the city's police force.

The consent decree is the result of a federal investigation prompted by the police killing of Breonna Taylor in 2020 last year the Justice Department released a report that found Louisville police engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discrimination against black people.

It also noted the use of excessive force and searches based on invalid warrants.

>> This conduct harmed community members and undermined public trust in law enforcement.

That is essential for public safety.

This consent decree outline specific reforms and measurable standards that will help achieve these goals.

Implementing these reforms will ensure constitutional policing promote public safety and safeguard people's civil rights.

>> Today, Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg called the deal a historic agreement, adding that it will help build up on police reform efforts already underway.

>> This agreement meets the 3 conditions.

I insisted upon from the beginning of our negotiations with the Department of Justice.

The agreement had to build upon significant police reforms.

We began when I took office 2 years ago.

Second, the agreement could not handcuff our police as they work to prevent crime in our city.

And 3rd, the agreement had to be financially responsible.

And set clear terms for how and when it would end.

Unlike some other cities, we didn't wait to take action until a consent decree was signed.

Significant improvements were needed immediately.

And it's been implemented by LMPD over the last 2 years.

>> The consent decree still needs to be approved by a judge if approved.

A federal officer will monitor the progress made by the city under the Biden administration.

The Justice Department has opened 12 civil rights investigations into law enforcement agencies.

This is the first that has reached a consent decree.

Ahead of each Kentucky legislative session, Kentucky youth advocates releases data on the welfare of Kentucky's kids.

>> The goal of that data to lobby for Kentuckians too young to vote.

>> We know kids don't have political action committees.

They don't have campaign money to spend to influence the agenda in Frankfort.

>> And that's what today is about.

Bring in folks from all over Kentucky all over Kentucky to come together and talk about what we expect from our lawmakers when that opening gavel falls in 2025. to improve the lives of boys and girls all over the state.

>> Talk about it stays in Syria people's lives.

We have a >> it does priorities.

The one that just jumps out at me because it's such an urgent issue is around schools.

Abuse.

One of the patterns that has emerged in Kentucky.

Is that employees of schools.

Who are under investigation for abuse.

They cut a deal.

I'm going to resign.

If you stop the investigation.

And then what happens is that employee moves right down the road to the next school system.

And it's a Graham, Paul.

I want to make sure that my granddaughters and grandsons, we are not going to a school where somebody skated from the law just a year ago.

We know that in the environment in which we live.

It is very easy to be cynical isn't about Frankfort.

Nothing's getting done.

They don't care.

We actually see a very different landscape.

We do think that those folks, our Brian Common sense, common ground solutions for the common good of Kentucky's kids.

That's what today is about.

That's what the blueprint for Kentucky's kids is about.

>> A stand Noma is the premier of the Bay area is the word is the same strategy times and we can expect over time to work for >> So whether it's housing, insecurity.

Child welfare.

Education, policy, early childhood juvenile justice.

We know that the 2025 General Assembly, it can make a difference for kids if they will have the courage and the commitment to do so.

>> Brooks said that over the past 10 years, Kentucky has seen a 48% decrease in the rate of child abuse and neglect in Kentucky.

Economic Development news now, one of Kentucky's biggest employers is about to get bigger.

Toyota is investing almost 1 billion dollars in an advanced paint facility in Georgetown.

It will be 1 million square feet.

This is how it will look when it opens in 2027.

Toyota says it will mean more color options for its vehicles earlier this year, Toyota announced it was investing 1.3 billion dollars at the Georgetown site for the Assembly of and all New Electric SUV, which is expected to hit the market in Twenty-twenty 6.

♪ ♪ 3 years after deadly tornadoes barreled through Western Kentucky leaving 160 mile path of destruction in its wake.

Mayfield residents, our resolve to build back better charities and nonprofit organizations are still working to help families call a new place home.

Mayfield, Mayor Kathy on and talk with me earlier today about how folks realize the didn't know how much they love their hometown.

And so they nearly lost it and marking the 3 years since an EF 4 tornado claimed 2 dozen lives there and distort homes and businesses and then says the sober milestone also brings some good news.

>> It had some very good news.

In fact, for the last 2 years, just about as far as our rebuilding goes, it seems as if the first year we focused on debris removal, which that's the first step to get those lots.

All of the committee back down to where you can rebuild on them.

During that year.

Home construction began by the nonprofits have been so amazing.

We've had in over 200 homes built for the people here who lost their homes on that night.

And so that began the first year as well as some profit industry and businesses, local businesses rebuilding in the second year for us is the city government.

We begin our plans for an architect's work on our municipal buildings as we lost every one of those.

And so we have had a public works.

Man had moved on moving right now into their new facility.

The new fire station there doing the ground work on it as we speak, maybe foundation's being poured pretty soon.

And then we've had a groundbreaking on the city hall, a ceremonial one in the police station.

And we will we hope they are in construction by sometime next.

May.

We know that with the Jennifer's Surrey December 10 to even though you're celebrating some good news and rebuilding as we spoke about before we started recording.

>> There are lives that are forever shattered rides and that rebuilding and repair isn't possible with the lives that were lost.

And how how does the community rally during this time?

>> When I I think we draw an honor, sales were so supportive of these people.

And while throughout the year we're focused on rebuilding.

We're excited about the rebuilding.

But always foremost in our mind, are these families of the 24 we lost on that day 3 years ago.

we caught.

We stay in touch with them.

There was a Pilgrim's pride here headed the Memorial Walk again this year, we dedicated a new homes on Tuesday for 8 came ways to get in to get into nice new homes.

There.

So we do it while we celebrate those accomplishments on that day.

Never far on this week.

Are those 24 precious lives?

That is exciting.

As we get about rebuilding.

Those holes in those families will never be quite never be filled up as they should be.

Our town will feel with buildings, but their hearts will not fail to all over the last 90 pan.

When we were there a couple of years ago, one of the things we kept saying was the word hope you had that in your office and there were just these memorial notes with hope in big homemade signs.

It places that had been devastated.

Does that does that singular words still described?

>> Graves County Mayfield, it will start excuse me.

It most certainly does.

I think you saw here the middle signs of hope.

>> They were on the sidewalks around town, the one downtown in front of the bank is still there.

If you're around now for us for 3 years, we sent Iran that we say it every time we drive through town and that's what keeps us going it was a devastating loss.

But the rebuilding began.

The very next morning with the plans of people for for their hometown.

I think my despair early about the rebuilding and it didn't last very long was we've lost everything.

We also was there, the man, but because of hope and because of determination of the cause of the people who love their hometown, that wasn't going to stop them.

And the governor has said you're going to have a new town and I think 3 years down the road, we are certainly making strides in that direction.

And I think that 2025 or home downtown's going to be just a big construction mask.

A wonderful man us that's going to show that that we are certainly on this right path to recovery.

Earlier this week, there was a remembrance ceremony and dedication of a new homes in Mayfield.

As you heard, the mayor say.

>> The team, western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund raised more than 52 million dollars to help with the recovery efforts.

The National Weather Service says nearly 20 tornadoes touched down across Kentucky during the outbreak killing 81 people.

On the other end of the state, the people who run Whitesburg Community radio station WMT found their studio devastated by the flooding in July of 2022.

Wmt is part of the story of media group.

Apple Shop Run by an eclectic group of volunteer deejays.

The radio station didn't let the lack of a studio KET them from broadcasting.

Thanks to the support of their community and the creative use of an RV.

I'm an unreleased.

The person, you know.

>> But I looked at some of those photos where they where the water was halfway to the first floor that was shot.

And it was really sad.

>> And I when we come back, how do we were going to be that he was just a matter of time because we're too much of a >> too much of a voice not to come back.

And it's a boys to the whole world.

Not just a Appalachia or anything like that.

You know, we're doing great things on the beat him in K. >> Wmt started I think in 1985, and it's always been a community.

Radio station were not public radio were not in PR affiliated, but we've always had mostly volunteer deejays who playing all public, mostly played music and all different formats, all different kinds.

We >> suffered pretty devastating impact of the flood of July.

>> 22.

And so we're not in our our building further down the street.

And so we are move in and setting up new spaces.

And this is the new studio space.

There was a good idea.

Brought up between development and T. >> The general manager to get an RV for the station and that way in case it does flood again.

We just put the keys and started up basically close up.

The entire are vey and then we drop it off to somewhere, you know, safe.

We've done that a number of times that the Winnebago aspect, 2005, it's not meant to have a radio station in it, but we made it work, you know, and the called the Possum been got to pass something in here and everything.

And the you know, it's kind of magical.

>> It's a very limited kind of set up.

We're very grateful to have had.

It was very grateful that it's gotten us through the last 2 years.

We are sitting in the upcoming new studios for wnt.

We were pretty lucky and getting the space in the summer.

It was finally Apple shopped board voted and allowed us to retrofit the space and build this new studio.

This studio states that we've built is actually an entirely enclosed self-sufficient space inside of another building space.

>> And the goal is that the whole states outside of the studio will be used for.

>> Community film screenings and other kinds of community events.

It's set up in the back for for that purpose.

>> So we're looking forward to being able to have our deejays and hear more often.

We're looking forward to having the community and hear more often.

And I think just having a community presence is so important with the work that we do want to tell the rest of the world what it's like to be an Appalachian.

>> And how proud we are of our newsy.

And it's it's an education within itself.

When you listen to that music and beautiful thing about community radio is that, you know, it's supposed to reflect the character and the attitude of the people that it serves, the people that, >> you know, are in the community of the community radio station.

So I think that's one thing that you can say about Appalachian people in eastern Kentucky, people and general is that we're very this.

This front comes up.

A lot of that's come up a lot, especially in regards to the 5 that just resiliency.

And so I think that as a station, we had to reflect that.

>> Resilient, indeed.

While the doors of W m M T's new studio will be opening and a few weeks.

The Possum, Dan RV will still be used to take their shows on the road.

♪ Some call it the Oscar for teachers.

It's the Milken Educator Award and it's been around since 1987 every school year.

Teachers in different states are given the Milken Award and prize money.

45 teachers are getting it this year and one of them is from Long Branch Elementary School the Kentucky Town of Union.

Kentucky.

Addition was there during a school assembly that included the moment the teacher heard the news.

Here's more in tonight's Education Matters.

Report.

>> It just and the most important society because they have the responsibility of a a >> W*** ranch is a leader a school has been named a leader in me lot.

How school 3 times this tells me that your school, your leadership and your teachers.

>> Want to build a coal to leadership and believing in your sails.

We only believe in your sales but also helping each other.

>> Also understand that you were named a blue-ribbon school in 2022, that's a big accomplishment.

>> We wish and teach us to thinking about.

There's >> When >> my name was called out as the I think I kind of blacked out for a moment.

I was shocked there are tons of educators here in Long branch that are not at all and to hear my name.

I just I couldn't believe it.

I think our profession is a challenging beyond words that what is known to the public relationships are my wife.

So I think building relationships with students and family is very much so that he didn't want to come to school to learn.

And I think you feel that you care about them beyond academics, be on the tax bill to be on the computers.

You care about them as a person and you know, you want them to know that you want >> I'm here.

♪ >> Seeing former students really help keeps me motivated and inspired as an educator.

I just finished a master's degree in counseling and I've been spending a lot of time in the middle school before school and getting to see the other students are doing.

It just keeps me motivated.

I'm doing what I'm doing.

My current students and hope to see their future of learning and excitement continue.

>> She is a rock star.

Jenna Stewart teaches 5th grade math.

She received a $25,000 check.

It will be given an all expense paid trip to Los Angeles in April of next year to meet fellow Milken Educator Award winners from this year.

And from the past, congrats to her.

The New Madrid earthquakes centered mayor Western Kentucky.

More than 200 years ago could be felt as far away as Canada.

There have been a few small quakes this week along the New Madrid fault.

Should Kentucky ends be concerned?

We'll talk to an expert about the earthquakes tomorrow on Kentucky Edition, which, you know, to join us for 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central where we inform connect and inspire.

Connect with us all the ways you see on your screen, Facebook, X and Instagram to stay in the loop on Kentucky edition.

>> And other programs around here at KET and then make sure you send us a story idea.

Public affairs at KET Dot Org.

Thanks for watching tonight.

Now, see you right back here again tomorrow night.

Take good care.

♪