♪ >> Now it's pro family pro.

What first I've seen first-hand the benefit of one employees feel supported at the workplace that have better support at home.

>> A key lawmaker talks about paid leave for state workers and the governor's plan.

It's really great experience because one more in a school, we're all doing our own thing and you don't know what's going on.

>> Outside and other buildings.

Jefferson County public school teachers and principals met yesterday to share how they've made improvements in their schools.

>> And the holidays are always the stall check for most people.

It's certainly the case at this historic home.

We take a look at holiday traditions from days gone by.

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

♪ ♪ >> Good Evening and welcome to Kentucky EDITION on this Wednesday, December, the 18th a week from Christmas.

Thank you so much for joining us tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

President-elect Donald Trump is demanding changes to a stopgap spending bill to KET the government open U.S..

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is threatening to hold up a government funding bill because of how much it costs and Paul is slamming the Republican speaker of the House, Mike Johnson for supporting that Bill.

Paul says the bill spends too much money and is no different from a bill the Democrats would have created.

Senator Paul posted this on social media.

Quote, I had hoped to see Speaker Johnson grow a spine, but this bill full of pork shows he is a weak, weak man.

The debt will continue to grow.

Ultimately the dollar will fall.

Democrats are clueless and big government.

Republicans are complicit.

A sad day for America, unquote.

The Hill reports that Paul is threatening to hold up the bill's passage unless congressional leaders agree to vote on amendments to offset the costs of new spending.

Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a longtime critic of Speaker Johnson is also critical of the bill.

He says he's September prediction about what would happen this week.

Turn out to be true.

>> This sucker, whatever happens on December, 20th, whether it's another CR to punt the kick, the can down the road for 3 more months or whether it's an omnibus that funds all of government with with one it's going to be written behind closed doors in every lobbyist in this town is going to try to attach their little thing to this bill.

>> I know that from September now, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is praising the Senate for passing a 900 billion dollar defense bill.

It's already passed the House, but McConnell says he would have liked even more spending.

McConnell praised the bill for including money for state-of-the-art aviation facility at Fort Knox in Kentucky.

Kentucky's 2026 primary election is more than 16 months away and already one man says he's ready to throw his hat into the race.

Maxx.

Morley says he intends to seek the Democratic nomination and Kentucky's 30th House district.

The seat is currently held by Louisville State Representative Daniel Grossberg who is under investigation for alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.

Despite the allegations Grossberg has refused calls to resign and denies any misconduct.

Morley, a former public educator with political experience says the community deserves better leadership.

This would be his first run for political office.

State workers are set to see some at all bonds to their benefits package.

This upgrade will apply to more than 30,000 employees across the state last week, Governor Andy Beshear announced a 6 we'd pick leave plan to for executive branch employees to care for a new child or deal with a serious illness.

It would be available in 3 in a voice over their career.

The enhance leave plan starts for a new higher on day one.

Another 6 weeks is available at 10 years of employment and another at 20 years on the job, the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, a progressive leaning think tank recently released a study on parental leave policies, policy, positive impact and hiring and keeping top talent.

I talked with state and amaze Bledsoe today at our Capitol Operation Center in Frankfort about the plan that resembles a policy change she'd propose last legislative session that stalled.

Well, and amaze blood.

So it's good to have you here.

Thank you so much.

Thank you and so let's talk first about paid leave.

We know that the governor has said that state employees in the executive branch will soon be eligible for paid leave on day one.

>> Right.

This is something that you advocated for a new version of it during the last legislative session.

First, why do you think this is so important for executive branch employees?

You know, it's pro family, pro workforce and I've seen first-hand the benefit of when employees feel supported.

>> At the workplace that have better support at home.

And so it's a great opportunity for I think us to offer some benefit.

State employees are salaries not are always competitive with the private sector.

And so this is a way to offer a benefit to working moms and dads to provide letter stability and helps with retention recruitment.

Public morale.

And it's an important step to support families.

Do we know how much this would cost?

I mean, if they had to do a fiscal impact on it, what's the Casa de fiscal impact last year?

Because I was also very concerned about that.

And really the opportunity cost.

We don't typically Bethel positions for short sort at Texas is unless you really have a of an important job, we might back fill some of those.

But really it's opportunity cost of the cost really isn't a significant at all to the to the budget.

How does what you would propose different or similar to what the governor's action is?

So, you know, as President Trump in his first administration that they've 12 weeks to federal employees, which is by the substantial years ago.

And that's more standard in the private sector as well.

those 4 weeks as a way to kind of start the conversation the governor is proposing 6, which honestly would be is closer to what child care really needs.

One.

If you're a new mom and baby, most of this child cares don't open up opportunities to 6 weeks.

So it does get a little bit more of a bridge for that and offers more things than minded on his proposal.

Increases for him for medical issues are for look for leave for foster and birth as well as a belief or for kinship care as well.

So he's he's got some other things.

A major medical.

I know it's something people have asked for and you agree with all of that?

I do.

I think it's an important step in the plan is certainly different than mine.

It the 10 years is a rather unique when explaining why a kind of said, well, where where did you get this?

And they've made it up on their own.

So we'll see how it plays out.

Yeah.

So just if our viewers to connect them to what you're saying, it says it first time an employee can access the benefits from day one to year 10.

>> And then they can access it again between years, 10 20 and between 20 between year 20 and the end of their career.

So we're talking about some people.

So that seems odd that she would be considering adoption or foster care per perhaps toward the end of your career.

I agree with you.

I was very interested in.

Why can ask the question is why it's so unique.

But I do think the major medical piece is why they did that.

So if you've been there for a long time, once they do have a cancer situation or another major medical illness, you may need that additional time different.

When you're early in your career, you are having babies are having foster action.

So I think that does make sense.

But it is unique, which is why I kind of suggested let's go through the administrative red process with the public that this as well as the General Assembly and then if we need to codified or change it into actual law will do that after we've had a little bit more time to think about the plan, right?

So so our viewers understand an executive order of the governor doesn't necessarily need to have General Assembly approval, right?

It does not in this case and that was kind of some of the conversations I have to House members who felt like they were supportive of of my my proposed bill legislation that felt like it was something the governor has had the opportunity to do if he so chooses.

And so this was really his decision and and so it will go through administrative regs in the jaw.

Also, we will hear it right.

It won't have our stamp of approval if you also a future governor could change the regulation.

Of course, an that's why I'll be interested to see if we need to codify it on our side for in perpetuity.

Yeah.

And do you think as a preemptive measure you should pass a law?

Not right now.

Not right now.

No, I think of our bills had my bill and their proposal had matched.

Yeah, perhaps I would have run the same the same piece of legislation.

But given the difference is that I think are more substantial that needs to process and get a little bit more vetting before I do that.

Yeah.

Okay.

So let's switch gears and talk about more of what could be happening in 2025 session, which is gosh, we can count the days now.

Can we do start to believe you?

Our vice chair of the Appropriations and Revenue Committee, what kind of legislation do you expect to consider during this 9 budget year?

Sure.

And the one of the things we learned from the election this last year's how important fly shun the purchasing power of the dollar.

So that down the cost of groceries.

So the economy has been on the hearts and minds of, I think the voters for the last couple years.

And so we're going continue to get to tax reform and go see the very first week, a reduction from the house and a 3 and a half percent, which even the governor said that was unmanageable.

Good idea to kind of stabilize the economy and put more money back in the hands of taxpayers.

So that'll be the first thing we do.

And then I think as you move this session, you may see some workforce development and retention efforts, which I think is important and growing workforces have room to grow the economy.

So finding a way to make sure recruiting the best, retain the best will be addition.

Part of that as well.

>> We'll have more with and amaze Bledsoe tomorrow night when she talks more about what legislators could consider and the lawmaking session that begins January 7th.

♪ >> I'm Laura Rogers and we are checking in with Ryan Lynn Barton and editor for National Public Radio and a lot to talk about Rosalind.

And let's begin with news today from State Attorney General Russel Coleman saying that he is leading this multistate coalition to support Louisiana's 10 Commandments law that a federal judge recently struck down.

What can you tell us about this story of the year with the?

>> Yes of this law passed out of the Louisiana legislature earlier this year that requires schools to display of the 10 Commandments of ball that allows and is slated to commence and requiring them to display this contacts.

Statement allow along with which tries to show how this has been a fundamental part of of American education since its founding.

A lot of these are old historical documents that are textbooks that also cited the 10 Commandments that, you know, say have been adopted by a school board early in the 20th century early in the 19th century.

There's a lot of states that after Louisiana pass this law started to want to pass laws like this.

Some conservative legislators because for a long time and it just didn't assume that you couldn't pass a law like this is actually this land Park First Amendment case involving a Kentucky school that put up the 10 Commandments.

And if Lisa Night late, 1970's early 1980's and was struck down with all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

And that's the kind of the the law, the layer.

But this has been this law that have some of the Louisiana legislature's kind of testing the waters on that.

Obviously, as you said, the federal court has already struck it down.

But there's this coalition of Republican attorneys general and others that are trying to support this and get all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which it's a more conservative Supreme Court that has been in the past.

And so some concerns are hoping that this would be able to get through.

And there's a lot of other legislatures would say Kentucky is probably one of them that are poised to try and pass a similar law like this.

And they're getting a lot of pressure from religious conservatives to do that.

>> It seems the perception is that their argument is, hey, these documents, these words are as historical as they are religious.

>> That's the argument is our and again, a part of doing that is trying to draw this connection where there have been examples of the 10 Commandments of being most of the schools in the past or in textbooks that were used in schools in the past, trying to draw that connection.

There, saying that there's some precedent for this, but it is also kind of trying to create a whole new.

Order of things.

A new precedent itself going forward that allows states to do this.

>> And the movie now you and I talked quite a bit to Kentucky rolling out its medical cannabis program and we are learning that a former high ranking Democrat in the state House will be leading those efforts.

Tell us about Rachel Roberts, new role.

>> Yeah, Rachel Roberts is a northern Kentucky legislator.

She did not seek reelection this year and will now be leading the state of Kentucky.

Cannabis Industry Association, lots of industries have their own associations that go on and lobby the Legislature advocate for certain issues.

She said that one thing that she really wanted to do through this is try and push to open up Kentucky's medical cannabis law, which will go into effect beginning in 2025, there's very limited conditions that candidates can be prescribed for, including epilepsy cancer, chronic nausea.

It's a very limited set that people can get actually get prescribed.

This.

It's really the most conservative medical cannabis law in the country and she and the medical cannabis industry that is starting to come online in Kentucky.

They're worried that there really isn't going to be enough of a pool of patients to be able to support this industry.

And it really would require an opening up of the conditions that candidates can be prescribed for to get to that level.

And yeah, that is also what a lot of conservatives who opposed the cannabis law in the first place for saying we're worried about the they wanted this to be a very limited restrictive law and didn't want this to be, you know, the the slippery s**** to beginning to something that would open up to more expansive cannabis program.

So that's what the new job is.

What kind of see, see how this industry comes online after January.

1st.

>> Yes, a lot to learn about how this is going to look once the new year rolls around and we know those licenses are being announced and distributed who's going to be able to be a dispensary and to cultivate medical cannabis.

A lot to learn about the industry.

>> As that unfolds and then let's also talk about Leader Mitch McConnell.

We know longstanding member, of course, in Congress representing the state of Kentucky.

But there are some new calls questioning his health.

He had that recent fall at the U.S. Capitol the Republican Party has changed a lot since President Trump has now become the helm in the face, the party.

Let's talk about what we are hearing as far maybe calls from Mitch McConnell to step down.

>> Yeah, that's very right.

It is this combination of their son's health factors have been going on with Mitch McConnell, but also there's this whole the Republican Party has changed dramatically over, say the last 8 years.

And McCall really representing 8, you likely outgoing version of the Republican Party and become.

>> A little less popular among the Donald Trump wing of the Republican Party.

But this also this comes at a time when he's 81 years old.

He's stepping down from Senate Republican leadership.

He's the longest-serving Senate leader from either party.

So he's already got his accolades here.

But in the end of his speech is announcing his retirement from leadership.

He we really talked about how you know about those changes within the party and changes to the governance of the United States.

And I think one thing that he's trying to hold onto and tried to be a voice and is regarding the United States position on the world stage when it comes to porn intervention, especially is something like the United States support for Ukraine in the as Russia's full-scale invasion of the continues on into its 3rd year.

There are a lot of Republicans view of those in MAGA Republicans that were calling for him to say enough is enough.

After that fall saying that the this is now the time for him to step down, which would, of course, you can't just trigger a special election in Kentucky, but he's the seams.

These remain determined so far to stay.

And he hasn't said officially whether or not he will run for reelection in 2026.

Weny's up again but will be 84 about point.

I think it's very likely that he wouldn't that and we're kind of waiting Kentucky to see what what that reshuffling of power will be.

He's really been at the helm of Republicans here for for so so long and really kind of wait and see what the new version of that looks like.

A report.

>> Very true.

And all of this as we anticipate 2025 and Rylan.

We want to wish you.

>> Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and many thanks to you for the insight and perspective that you bring to us every week here on Kentucky Edition, we really appreciate it.

Thanks, Laura.

Happy New Year to you, too.

>> Some Jefferson County schools are seeing improved test scores and more principle.

The trust and teacher trust school leaders joined the Kentucky Department of Education yesterday to look at the numbers and celebrate the games.

More in tonight's Education Matters.

Report.

>> In elementary schools, middle schools and high schools and the kids are kids are different ages and sizes.

But me, the problems in education are very similar.

So we have an opportunity to network with their elementary principles and our high school principals.

We have 30 schools are showing examples of of improvement.

And so whatever common practice that they chose in all of our JCPS schools, we we see successful plans taking place.

are working on a deal with approving instructional practices and whether it's in reading or math but examining outcomes in figuring out what or change ideas are next steps to to move the learning forward.

And these are complex from the salt.

So our principles are able to showcase their learning with with with their colleagues.

We recently accident CSI.

>> And so we are seeing some improvement in our data and we have I really had our teachers committed to raising those high expectations for our kids and working with them to to improve its a great opportunity, figuring out what is working in within our school system.

We believe in the collective genius.

We we want that to manifest itself inside our schools.

We want that to manifest itself with power.

Teachers, collaborate.

>> We are actually sharing some of our map data.

And one thing that we have done is we've 30 minutes.

>> Each day we call it time and we are mathematicians.

And so we're trying to find the joy in math for our kids.

And one of the complaints from our teachers.

As with the program, they don't have time for the kids to be involved in the center's.

The hands-on practice.

And so we invented that indoor schedule for them.

And so the kids during that time, it's differentiated games where the teacher works with the kiddos.

They get to play the games to build fluency in this foundational skills.

And so we have noticed from fall to winter on our according to our map data and that in the fall, 22% of our kids were scoring at or above grade level in math.

And that's K through 5.

And now we have 29.7% of our kids scoring at or above grade level.

I'm at this is an opportunity for our schools and we're working with with the state to showcase the great work that is occurring inside of our schools so we can improve in those accountability.

So it's really great experience because one more in a school, we're all doing our own thing and you don't know what's going on.

>> Outside and other buildings.

And so it's great to hear all the success that all the schools are having, but also learning from each other because we don't have that opportunity very often.

But to hear all of the great ideas that we can all take back to >> These schools are known as CSI schools and that stands for comprehensive support and improvement.

The Kentucky Department of Education and Dana finds them as lower performing schools.

They're in the bottom 5% of schools in the state.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in the U.S. according to the Centers for Disease Control or CDC, sudden cardiac arrest is a type of heart disease that can occur without any warning signs on a recent episode of Kentucky Health, our Doctor when talks and talks with a doctor from Kentucky Children's Hospital about the rare occasions when this type of trauma happens during youth sports.

>> So that's been reported then young kids may get some blunt trauma to the chest either from playing Little League Baseball or even soccer was that that that trauma to the chest is causing them to have a cardiac arrest south the term, the term for that.

That is what you're describing is actually what you know.

Now we know after the fact with Damar Hamlin and I'm sure he had a very extensive medical workup.

You know, it was and kudos to the team on the field and recognize that.

>> There was something going on like why he wasn't getting a first.

They went in assessed him and I'm sure he was evaluated by very thorough cardiology team.

So commercial court.

This is what you're that's the term when there's, you know, clear, clearly it was and there was blunt trauma to the chest and has to do with the timing.

There's actually a critical window during normal cardiac rhythm.

When you have a blunt trauma to the chest, it can actually trigger something called ventricular fibrillation.

Okay it then that is a dangerous rhythm.

That where it's the hardest is quivering.

It's not able to profuse and the way we kind of KET about this was actually through some basic science models.

You know, there are some studies done and I feel bad for the animals that had to have to stand.

There would be depicts parents.

They actually tested projectiles like like little shooting at the pigs chest and they would.

And they realize with that occurs in this particular window, you know, they obviously hadn't dcg over the monitoring.

It's what triggers V f. >> Last year the Kentucky General Assembly passed a bill requiring middle and high schools to have a Deas.

The bill also requires coaches to be trained in CPR and how to use an AED.

Now you can see the full episode of Kentucky Health.

That one we just showed you part of online on demand at KET DOT Org.

A historic home in Kentucky dating back to the 19th century is all decked out for Christmas.

Its an authentic look at how the upper class celebrated the holidays during the Victorian era.

And this week's tapestry, our Laura Rogers visits the House full of history, heritage and holiday spirit.

As we take a weekly look.

>> I atop a hill in Bowling Green overlooking the Barron River since a Riverview at Hobson Grow.

A historic landmark whose construction began in 18, 57 wasn't during the Civil war.

And this was a typical Kentucky House divided.

We had Mister Hobson who was for the union and his wife's family.

The van Meter's before the Confederacy.

The home was finally finished in 18, 72 staying in the Hopson family until the 1950's silent to decorate.

So I get to decorate my home and the Hobson's home.

So that's a special treat for me.

Executive director broke West.

Scott Peterson says it takes about a week to get the home ready for Christmas.

>> Using greenery fruit and a tabletop tree in the front parlor.

A lot of people are surprised when they come to not see a full size Christmas Tree.

Prince Albert who was married to Queen Victoria was of German heritage and he actually introduced the Christmas tree.

There's a very famous rendering of >> Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and Go Nice.

Ladies book with their table.

Top Christmas tree.

The gifts under the tree and stopped in stockings.

>> Are quite different as well.

The wealthy able to afford fruit, a rare treat.

Of course they didn't have grocery stores like we did now.

So if you are going to decorate or give gifts like oranges and apples, bananas, grapes, you would have to have quite a bit of money to get those.

It was also custom to make a game for the children to find their gifts like this cobwebs, a party in the nursery since there weren't as many gifts to make it a little more exciting.

They would usually top piece of string to a present.

And then create a web with the strings and you would give the child the ball of yarn at the end.

And they would have to follow that to find their present in the room.

Petersen says Christmas dinner was a formal affair lasting several hours.

We are so lucky.

We have a lot of the Hobson's original pieces on the table.

That table also includes a scattering of gilded walnuts with something the Victorians did, they would either pain for Guild walnuts.

And those could be scattered across the table or they would use a little takin ribbon to hang those on the tree's ornaments with no electric lighting like modern times the tree was lit with real candles say would have lit the candles maybe the night before and had an easy way to extinguish those things went badly for them.

Riverview at Hampson Grove recently hosted its annual candlelight tour.

Its biggest event of the year celebrating the Traditions and customs from Christmases past.

Always love it.

When grandparents coming with grandchildren, the connections that they make is they talk about things from their childhood, something, maybe hear that sparks that that memory for them for calling memories and making new ones set against a backdrop of Bowling Green and Kentucky history.

Were Kentucky edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you.

Laura Riverview is located are Hopson Grove Park in Bowling Green.

Currently closed for the winter season.

It reopens for tours and March.

>> He's the end calming states, Senate majority floor leader.

And we have a lot to ask Senator Max Wise as the Kentucky General Assembly gets ready to January 7th, I sat down with him and you'll see part one of that interview tomorrow on Kentucky EDITION, which we know you'll join us for 6.30, Eastern 5.30, central.

We inform connect and inspire.

It's been great to connect with you all this year.

We have some special programming next week.

>> During the holidays, but you can always KET in touch with us on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Thank you so much for watching tonight.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Take really good care.

And I will see very same tonight.

♪ ♪