>> It's not an unlimited right.

It's just it's just not neither the other constitutional rights.

>> Emotional testimony in Frankfort today as lawmakers consider legislation that would remove guns from those deemed a danger.

>> And if you commit 3 violent felonies, this will put you to the House.

>> Jefferson County Republicans are fat off with crime.

>> I would call Julian Carroll.

My friend.

Travel far.

And now it's time for your restored.

>> And a final goodbye today to Kentucky's 54th governor.

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

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

♪ ♪ >> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Friday, December, the 15th, I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you so much for starting off your weekend with us.

While the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly is now just a few weeks away.

The temperature is beginning to heat up in Frankfort today, a committee room was overflowing with people as lawmakers heard about draft legislation intended to save people suffering from a mental health issue from hurting themselves or others.

The crisis over Jen writes, Retention or CAR act.

He's been crafted by Republican state Senator Whitney Westerfield, who has announced he will not seek reelection.

Our Toby Gibbs breaks down today's debate.

>> The legislation attempts to allow law enforcement to temporarily seize someone's guns if that person poses a threat without violating that individual's rights.

Today, Senator Westerfield described 2 versions of his proposed bill.

One starts with someone notifying police, then give the person in question 2 options.

Hand over your guns.

Now attend a court hearing about a week or KET your guns and attend a hearing in the next couple of hours.

In version, 2 of the bill law enforcement goes straight to a judge and asked for the case to be reviewed as quickly as possible.

Speaking in favor of the proposed bill was Whitney Austin, executive director of the Whitney Strong Foundation that we heard from on this program yesterday.

She was shot multiple times at a bank in Cincinnati in 2018.

>> Think about your innocent spouse.

Your parents, your friend or God forbid, pitcher child.

I'm telling you, there's nothing that you wouldn't do to prevent them from experiencing this.

>> A strong opponent of this proposed legislation is Republican Representative Savannah, Maddox of Dry Ridge today.

She said this bill is a slippery s**** that could lead to more gun restrictions in Kentucky.

>> Whether you call it a red flag, whether you call it in the RPO, whether you call it car or any other euphemism, you're still talking about a proposal that a bare minimum has the potential to violate at least 3 constitutional rights.

When law enforcement comes to seize the farms, do they automatically know where to find them?

Are they told where to find them to.

They dig through the entirety of the House.

Do they saw all into the safe that they did see the Barnes?

Did they dig through the cars?

They tear apart the 4th Amendment in the process.

I think the question then leads to where we would be in potentially a scenario to have a foot in the door for registry.

>> State Representative Jason Davis, a Republican from Louisville, also raised concerns about this bill saying it would infringe on someone's constitutional rights based only on a prediction that they might hurt someone.

Senator Westerfield responded saying they're already reasonable limits on our constitutional rights.

>> But if you KET.

But the shooter at the bank in Louisville in April was going to go and shoot all those people.

If you KET in advance.

I don't think anybody in here with him.

Do.

We have to make some best guess based on a list of based on concerns raised by people who know that individual.

>> As the best that we've got, if you've got a different solution, man, I'm all ears.

We have.

The law has to allow us to protect people in a way that.

Honors the Constitution but protects people at the same time.

It's not an unlimited right.

It's just it's just not neither the other constitutional rights.

There are limits in lines drawn for all of them.

We've got to figure out where the law needs to be drawn here.

State Senator Karen Burns spoke in favor of this proposal.

Her transgender son took his own life last year.

>> Today speaking through tears, Senator Berg said she meets weekly with others who lost a loved one to suicide and tried to describe the pain she and others feel.

>> And it is unfathomable.

And if we could do one thing, this to prevent one.

Garrett from having to go through that.

It is worth it.

>> Senator Westerfield said he knows there are flaws with the 2 version of his bill and said he's open to working with anyone who wants to help for Kentucky edition.

I'm Toby gives.

We've talked about.

>> Thank youto be Kentucky.

House Republicans say one answer to violent crime is the Safer Kentucky Act which was also discussed in committee today.

Kentucky additions June Leffler has that story.

>> The foundation for our civilized society here in Kentucky.

Is public safety security and protection.

And our foundation is broken.

Jefferson County Republicans unveiled their crime bill back in September.

Lawmakers got a slightly revised version last night.

The cornerstone provision is a 3 strikes law.

Most of your traditional 3 strike laws after that with any 3 felonies and the stealing my phone, this is 3 violent felonies.

Only violent felons count.

And if you commit 3 violent felonies, this will put you to the house for the rest of your life.

Some Democrats say this bill goes too far involving a judicial discretion in terms of sentencing.

We're just removing that entirely.

>> Second, we have sentencing credits >> that we that we are supposed to implement in terms of like good behavior in terms of education credits, valor credits.

>> This would remove any of those incentives for individuals to get credit because they're going to be there for life without parole.

The bill would increase the classification and penalties for all sorts of crimes carjacking, wanton endangerment, vandalism attempted murder and drug dealing that results in a fatal overdose that this poisonous killing our people every day in Kentucky.

All right.

These are some of those faces right here.

And so we want someone that knowingly sells.

>> Then all this poise and for profit motive and kill someone that they are charged with murder.

>> The bill also targets people sleeping on the streets.

The city of Louisville has already criminalized public camping.

This bill would make it illegal across the state and place restrictions on how to house people have been working with people experiencing homelessness for more than a decade.

And what this bill says is that you can't provide permanent housing unless there's a treatment program as a condition.

>> And there's more than 2 decades of research across the country and across the world that shows the housing first gets dangerous drug addicted people off the street and then you can start working on those things.

But it's not a condition of starting your treatment and then getting housed.

It's getting housed and then starting your treatment and those things need to go in that order.

>> That will likely be up for debate come session.

>> And we look forward to getting out those concerns and working with everyone again to ensure that we put forth the the best possible version of this policy for the betterment of Kentucky.

>> Provisions to set up a Kentucky State police post in Louisville and allow state law enforcement to use wiretapping have been axed from the legislation for Kentucky edition.

I'm John Leffler.

>> Thank you.

June the full bill will be filed for consideration at the beginning of the 2024 legislative session.

Kentucky U.S.

Senator Rand Paul is voicing his support for proposed legislation that would have violent offenders in Kentucky spending more time behind bars.

State representative Jennifer Decker, Republican from Wadi proposed the legislation that would amend the state's current violent offender statute.

It would require all violent offenders serve 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole or probation under current law.

Some felony offenders are only required to serve 20% of their sentence, even if the crime resulted in death or serious injury and recorded testimony played during the meeting today, Senator Paul told state lawmakers one of the main reasons he supports the lead that legislation is it gives offenders a better chance at rehabilitation.

>> Justice demands more than our current laws provide our responsibility to the people of Kentucky is to protect them from those who would do them harm.

Our current statutes do not adequately punish incomplete, violent crimes.

Innocent people are put at risk by quickly releasing violent offenders back into society.

Please don't misunderstand me.

I do not want to disincentivize prisoners from participating in rehabilitative programs.

That might be a good time credits.

We must accept the reality that most offenders will be released from prison.

We should do everything possible to ensure that these individuals are rehabilitated so that they're able to live independently without posing a threat to their communities.

But the long as currently written fails to do just that, it treats conduct that could just as easily as resulted in loss of life are seriously body else, serious bodily harm.

As though we're a misdemeanor, Kentucky law all but assures that via individuals will quickly re-enter society without the opportunity to rehabilitate them.

>> Also speaking in favor of the legislation, the family of a woman killed in an impaired driving crash.

The drunk driver pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 5 years.

Her family said the life sentence he received only adds to their pain.

>> Kevin's case is considered essentially a nonviolent crime.

And every year we are forced to dispute his eligibility for parole.

Despite the agony he has caused our family.

If you can imagine the person you love most, how would you feel knowing their offense is treated in the same manner as someone forging checks or steal on license plates, you recover from forged checks, you can purchase a new license plate.

However, a sibling mother and father, a family has a home never recovers from death due to intentional negligence.

>> The proposed legislation also adds to the list of violent felony offenses.

Strangulation, arson robbery in the first and second degree and burglary in the first and second degree.

If the victim is present.

Today marks the 3rd time in 14 months that Kentucky has mourned a former Kentucky governor Julian Carroll passed away Sunday at the age of 92.

He was more than the state's 54th governor who served from 1974.

To 1979.

He was also Lieutenant Governor speaker of the Kentucky House in a state senator during today's memorial service at the state capitol rotunda.

Notable politicians praised his public service.

>> I'm not sure we can say about anybody else that their service spanned over 6 decades from his election in the 60's to the House of Representatives to his retirement as a state senator in 2020, he was an orator.

He was a stump speaker.

He liked to pick up the microphone and go and he did not need.

>> Or teleprompter or a script.

He was one of the best pure speakers on the stop off the cuff.

There were few and far between lot.

Julian Carroll.

>> You know, it was the voice that remarkable voice that was marked by its residents, its zeal, its passion, its energy.

It's persuasive power.

It was not for ice company by that broad smile that let everyone know.

Julian Morton Carroll was in the room.

>> I will tell you how and what I would call him today.

All because this is how we well, the are years in the Senate.

I would call Julian Carroll.

My friend.

You travel far and now it's time for you to restore it.

>> You can see former Governor Julien Carroll's entire capital memorial service online on demand at K E T Dot Org.

♪ >> Time now to go inside Kentucky politics as we break down the political news of the week in Kentucky with a couple of our favorite political payments.

We have Trey Grayson and Bob Babbage.

You all the time, especially on election night which they're still getting rave reviews about.

Let's start.

Gentlemen, thank you for being here.

Happy early holidays.

Let's talk about today and this service for Julian and Carol, it was quite lovely relative a short and I think it was an hour and 5 minutes you were there.

I saw you there.

What you think so is excellent.

>> And his service.

Not just the funeral service, but they comments all through the week about how he amassed power came up to the system.

A gifted orator, a scholar of all parts of state government and a very determined person to use the.

Resources of the state at that time, too overdue education and historic way.

Yeah.

>> And we heard from Senate President Robert Stivers who spoke of him not just as a colleague, but as a friend.

>> Yeah.

It was interesting having that final code.

It is careers a state senator where he was nearly 20 years.

So that's my interaction with him.

He was he got elected the year.

I started in Frankfort and he would tell history stories during committee meetings.

We struggle when I was running do because I didn't know whether to call the senator.

I know our And so you just call the governor, Mister yeah, he was.

He was always year-old young man who was calling young man when I was, you know, I've been here a lot longer than, you >> you know, we we've lost quite a few governors in the last little bit over a year.

>> And it's important to understand the times in which they live the good and the bad.

And so we can try to be all better.

>> And meanwhile, Paul Patton was having a book which e a probably made almost on time.

And and just the fact that Carol, ask Savard Stivers who had been his colleague in the Senate.

Mark Carroll had presided over the Senate is Lieutenant Governor back when that was the Pretty touching.

This is an emotional, dramatic week in many ways.

My and ask him a while back right to provide the eulogy.

And the senator said jokingly, not anytime soon for it.

And it was it.

And you can see that service online.

>> At KET Dot Org.

It's right there right now.

Other big news of the week, some some court rulings.

Let's start with what happened on Thursday.

The Kentucky Supreme Court said those maps for the Congress for Congress and for the state House are good to go.

>> It's free for years.

The put whoever was in charge of the Legislature obviously did gerrymandering through a partisan lens where Republicans did when they got to control the state Senate Democrats have done it since they had control of everything.

But this is the first time it actually been challenged on those grounds.

It was an issue of first impression for the Supreme Court.

The decisions a little confusing because there's some concurrent says in part that hole.

But they're pretty united to say, yeah, you might not like it, but it's not against the Constitution to gerrymander to draw districts with up through a partisan lens.

So the districts that were in 2022 will remain in effect until the next census.

Yeah.

>> Imagine what kind of chaos would be an F it overturned on the lines.

June January 5th, you have to have an immediate emergency.

A lot of push that weeks which we've done before.

That's 10 years ago.

And I think they even did it 2 years ago to get more time when they redistricting.

That was supposed to wait.

Is that right?

That's correct.

That's always going to be partisan.

But some states that you're worried about are really, really Jeremy gerrymandering, gerrymandering.

>> And this way is gerrymandering light.

Haha.

>> Minority Publicans got rid of the 2 member of Congress from in Kentucky.

For example, there was some talk about that.

Then they said, no, we want to KET the 3rd district intact with Louisville in particular.

So Donna was Well, in Morgan McGarvey, probably happy to yeah.

But the court stuck to the plan.

Yeah.

>> The other big decision from Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shepherd can turning Tartan concerning charter school funding >> so this one on like the redistricting, which was the final verdict because the Supreme Court, this is in the trial level, not a particular surprise, given some of the prior rulings from the court.

But what it said was the the funding formula for charter schools, which was passed a couple of years ago.

But never there's that.

We don't have any charter schools that was struck down basically the judge that Shepard said, we have this definition of common schools and any money you spend on public education K 12 public education has to basically go through the common school formula.

So we're expecting some of the challenge, although interestingly, Department of Education will not even though they're the plaintiff or the defense says they are the defendant.

They will not be part of that.

But the attorney general probably way and allow to go up.

And so this will go to the Supreme Court where we'll have to see what But if it is an opening loss and there is a charter school application pending, This one up in the air.

Yeah.

Yeah.

We have to KET following that.

Finally.

>> Senator Damon Thayer joins the rash of announcement was had in the last 3 or 4 weeks about retirement.

He doesn't like the word retirement.

>> We want our money.

Yeah, that's a good word.

I can say it.

to proceed to the next chapter.

Right.

And many were shocked by this for you shot that it was.

Cathy, you remember where you were when you Yeah, it was.

>> Big years is big news.

He's had a tremendous impact in his 12 years as later.

22 years as senator and people express.

I'm shocked that he offered the possibility he might run for Heard talk of Damon Thayer statewide 15 or 20 years ago.

And, you know, he's always been a prospect just because he is dynamic and were forced to settle in for federal office.

Right?

There was not an incumbent Republican incumbent.

He could see himself going to watch it.

We've got a couple dominoes, the Senate race, the governor's race and a whole lot of Dave and I were texting last night.

He's really excited about trying to figure this out weather as a cause for elected politician.

Hi, this is what I had a CS or if it's just going to find a new chapter and sure enough to do it either way.

Let's just say yeah.

Andy Burns from the Saint.

26.

>> Sure.

A lot.

A lot to KET our eyes on.

The time is never long enough that it's always good to see you all before the holidays and check out the pan.

>> And that is the ship and the shoes and socks Babbage didn't quite meet the challenges of the federal in his defense.

He was, you know, that's true.

That's true.

you know, certainly try got the memo.

>> Holiday airport where a passenger or a pastor here.

>> Yeah.

That's good choice.

Yeah.

Thank you, guys.

Thanks.

>> A holiday tradition for many this time of year is seeing a live performance of The Nutcracker Ballet.

The Louisville Ballet has been performing the classic since 1963, the official state Ballet of Kentucky is also the 5th oldest ballet company in the world.

Our Kelsey Starks takes us behind the curtain to see how the magic is made each year.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> Fire >> before you experience them and it got the brown forming a cracker on stage.

The Louisville Ballet is putting in the work.

I think it takes over 200 people.

>> Any one given that cracker between the the theater crew, our crew, our dancers, children's cast volunteers, usher's everybody at the theater.

It's it's 200 people pressed to get us on stage every every So that's a lot.

>> Thousands of rehearsal hours, hundreds of dancers and dozens of national and international production and set designers make magic on stage every year.

A tradition for so many families and so many performers to.

>> But it's a really fun to grow with the ballet.

You know, I started as a snowflake in a teenager aside Arabian girl.

And so it's been really great over the years.

>> With the story and tradition remain the same.

But if you take a closer look, you notice that this tradition is unique to the place.

The Louisville Ballet calls home.

>> When we did our new cracker in 2009, we add it all.

The Kentuckyian Louisville specific Saint James Fountain Saint James Court Fountain is in the back of our snow scene.

We instead of Madam Bon Bon and her passion else.

We have.

Madam Derby and her jockeys, Brown Street and form an avenue and the old clock tower that used to be downtown Louisville.

They took a vintage photo of that and they they incorporated that into our front clock scene.

So it's really truly tied to the city of Louisville in the state of Kentucky in that way.

>> I think in party scene, you should always look for the I think the amount of magic in this one is pretty impressive.

>> Just how physically training this production is, particularly the snowflakes.

I think that is one of the hardest things I've ever against.

It is a snowflake in this production.

It is so musical the crowd to see.

It's my favorite snow scene I've ever seen.

But I think any anyone that stands to can say that it's like running a marathon.

Yeah.

What difference?

>> Haha.

>> It's the tradition that makes it a classic.

It's the Louisville Ballet makes a ♪ >> Stunning.

Indeed.

You can learn more about the Louisville Ballet on this weekend's episode of Inside Louisville with Kelsey Starks, Meet the CEO and hear how rapper Joc Jack Harlow is getting involved with the ballet that's this Sunday at 12 noon Eastern's 11:00AM Central right here on KET.

♪ Just 2 weekends to go before Christmas.

Are you ready?

Well, our Toby gives us some great activities around Kentuckyian tonight look at what's happening around the Commonwealth.

♪ >> Swing on down to sell your tail tomorrow for Christmas on the farm at Creekside Stitching and more Santa Missus clause in the Grange will be there as well as some of Santa's favorite bats.

This is a great family event to enjoy some cocoa.

Pick up some reindeer, fade and make lasting Christmas memories.

And Turkey might not have the northern lights.

But tonight in London, you can see another kind of magical light show lights over.

London is a Christmas drone show that you can see from almost anywhere in town.

Christmas festivities began in the town center at 06:00PM at the First Light show starts at 08:00PM.

Be sure to look to the skies in London this evening.

The Kentucky Symphony orchestras playing its first Christmas program since 1999 this weekend in Highland Heights tonight and tomorrow evening at 7.30.

Enjoy the show.

Merry Christmas, darling.

Inspired by the Carpenter's 1978 album a Christmas portrait.

It along with vocalist in these pro go, the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra will bring you a night of sacred secular, classical and contemporary holiday songs.

You don't want to miss it.

>> Tomorrow in Lexington is the poster and s*** sale to Kentucky theater from 10:00AM to 02:00PM Browse.

A huge collection of film posters and shops from Kentucky theater merge.

This event is the Perfect Christmas shopping opportunity for the film lovers in your life.

>> With the New Year just around the corner, this is the perfect time to start a new hobby.

And the Kentucky Contemporary Art Museum in Louisville has a great workshop this weekend to get you started inspired by his current exhibition Sawyer, a solo show by day and gun the workshop on Sunday will simple book binding and collage scales to make your own journal for the New Year.

This is a beginner's class and a great way to start the year with a new skill and a new journal.

And that's what's happening around the commonwealth until the Gibbs.

>> As always, thank you to be gives our Mondays on Maine Series continues on Monday with a trip to Morehead.

We hope you'll join us for that and so much more Monday night at 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central for Kentucky Edition where we inform connect and inspire.

And a program note, we hope that you'll tune in at 8 o'clock Eastern.

We'll have some remarks from the governor, his budget address followed by a panel discussion in reaction to his budget recommendations.

Now back to Kentucky Edition, you can follow us all the ways you see on the screen.

Facebook X and Instagram to stay in the loop.

You can also send us a story idea to public affairs at KET Dot Org and you can find us on the PBS video app that you can download on your smart device or tablet once again.

Thank you for being with us.

All this week from our inaugural coverage on Tuesday all day.

So many of you have told us how much you enjoyed that you can still see back online if you wish at K E T Dot Org and it will air on the Kentucky Channel.

>> Tomorrow, so check that out tomorrow afternoon.

While you're finishing up and wrapping up your holiday gifts.

I appreciate you so very much.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you right back here again Monday night.

Taking care.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪